Are you game?

I have always thought in years past, many of them working in my Frame Shop, and the Christmas season being absolutely crazy busy, that January was the time for setting goals.  You know those "New Year's Resolutions" that usually last about three weeks!

But really what better time then now to set your business and personal goals for 2013. 

I have been thinking of where my "download" spot could be, just for new ideas to populate and expand--what possibilities there could be if I use more of my intuition and brainpower!  Just think, it is so exciting to imagine what could be!

So for the next two weeks, I am setting up 2013's marketing plan!  And I challenge you to do the same.  Let's see how many we can get to jump on board with us and accept the challenge.

Think of business goals for sales, customer retention, customer acquisition, setting up a loyalty program, rewarding employees, building up the average sale, or how many times a client comes to you during the year.

Let's put on our thinking caps, find us a great "download" spot for some quiet introspection and make 2013 much more profitable than 2012!

Are you game?

Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

When they say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, I say they are so wrong!  Just saying, I am not old per say, at least inside I do not feel old, although some days the mirror says otherwise!

Becoming, such a great word, as you learn & grow, you become more than what you were before.  

Even in our trials, thru faith, determination, enduring to the end, or whatever you call it, you can choose to grow, live your life to the fullest, sharing your gifts, giving back, & becoming more than what you were, or kick against the pricks & live your life angry & not to the fullest.

As I become a Character Coach with Brandy Mychals, I find myself becoming & enjoying the journey more each day.  That doesn't mean my challenges have magically disappeared, but I am more up to the challenge.

My husband, Donn, came home from a meeting last week & said to me, “We have forgot to dream.”

The last few years have been really hard on us financially, survival mode, just keeping the roof over our heads mentality.  In that space, there is no room for growth, let alone dreaming.

So when my hubby talked about forgetting to dream, he opened the door for me to dream again & gave me permission to do so.

I brought out my dream board (the one that I have been talking about doing for how many years?) & started adding all the things I want my life to be, what I want to give, & who I want to spend my time with!

So as I dream, I ask you to help me meet my goal, my dream.   

I have this great dream of walking up to the Eifel Tower with my oldest granddaughters & my hubby & showing them Paris in Fall of 2013.

This all started when I walked into the Paris hotel in Las Vegas, yes far from the real thing, I know, holding the hand of a then 5 year old granddaughter, who looked up with awe in her eyes & voice, & said “ohhhh, Paris.”  It was then at that moment, I knew that I had to take my girls to the real Paris, Florence, the Italian coast, Venice, oohhh, yum!

As I opened up to my BNI group on this past Friday, I am open to your referrals to fuel my dream!  Let’s start dreaming together!  Share your dream, stand up for yourself, & become!

Pug photo courtesy of:
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=194

Hobby or Business?

Hobby or business?  Have you ever heard that a large percentage of your occupation is really classified as someone having a hobby?  

 So what are you?  A hobbyist or a real, dyed in the wool entrepreneur?  

Sometimes we have to ask ourselves the hard questions and dig deep for their answers, being brutally honest with ourselves.  What is it that I really desire?   

Am I really willing to work hard, commit, & have the tenacity to endure for the long haul & sacrifice to get there? 

Are we running our business with good retail management techniques?  Do we have a written plan?  With outlines for what our advertising campaign will be?  Will it include logo’d promotional items that can bring a return on investment?  That brings attention to our ideal client that makes them sit up & think, wow, I would like to work with this company/coach/consultant.  A written  budget?  A clean mailing list?  Professionally printed brochures, business cards, marketing materials?  Are you collecting email addresses?

And you think, oh my, where do I start?  Just start!!   Ask a friend or hire a coach to help you get there.  An accountability partner seems to be a good motivator for some of us!

Start small, but write it down, give yourself a one year plan, a 3 year plan, a 5 year plan.  You can get there!   

Get it all down in ink & then imagine, vision yourself there at your one year goals, your 3 year goals, your 5 year goals.  What does it look like, smell like, what is happening around you & where are you?  

 Bring all the details into play, write it down, draw it, cut it out of magazines, display it, & you will be surprised what your subconscious brain will go to work on while you are doing the daily consistant work!