Press Release: Ladies Who Launch Partners with Laura West

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ladies Who Launch and The Center for Joyful Business
Create The Fresh Entrepreneur

Ladies Who Launch, the first new media company to provide resources and connections for women entrepreneurs, has partnered with Laura West, Founder and President of The Center for Joyful Business, as their Fresh Entrepreneur Expert.  Laura is creating a Fresh Entrepreneur workshop and workbook package for their licensed leaders to host around the U.S., Canada and soon worldwide as well as, offering Fresh Entrepreneur Expert advice to the Ladies Who Launch community on our website.

The Fresh Entrepreneur workshop is designed to help women entrepreneurs launch to the next level in their business growth and success with a modern approach to planning, growing and doing business. This workshop and product materials include the seven essentials for launching to the next level and a strong focus on the modern way of growing a business with the foundation of life mission and vision. The program extends to creating multiple streams of income to real marketing strategies using current media plus practical action tools with current success mindset management tools.

“The Fresh Entrepreneur workshop is unique in that it honors the feminine approach to launching by actually combining wellness strategies with business growth tools. It addresses the fact that women view their lives holistically, integrating their businesses and their lives,” states Victoria Colligan, Founder of Ladies Who Launch.  “The workshop is the first of its kind to combine real case studies with lifestyle components as they relate to business growth; this is a groundbreaking brand new offering to the community of women launchers everywhere.”

“I am honored and excited to support creative women around the world birth their creative dreams and take them to the next level of success through The Fresh Entrepreneur workshop and materials,” said Laura West, Founder and President, Center for Joyful Business.  “This is an ideal collaboration as we are on the leading edge of creating the new paradigm of business needed to integrate the mind/body/spirit approach to a holistic and healthy business that serves its clients while honoring lifestyle and the impact it makes on self, family, community and ultimately the world.”

About The Center for Joyful Business
The Center for Joyful Business is a personal and business growth-focused company supporting creative lifestyle entrepreneurs to create healthy and holistic businesses based on spirit-rich principles of joy, authenticity and prosperity. Laura West is known for her mindset and confidence shifting style and creating a feminine style of building a business that is personally fulfilling and financially successful. More information about her programs, products and speaking can be found at www.JoyfulBusiness.com

About Ladies Who Launch
The Ladies Who Launch company mission is to make entrepreneurship accessible to any woman with a project, dream or aspiration to start her own business and be successful. The company has a worldwide online community with resources, success stories, assessments, forums, and classifieds – all designed to help women entrepreneurs at all levels be successful. The company has franchised Local Communities in over 25 cities in North America.  More information can be found at www.LadiesWhoLaunch.com

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Is it Time to Upgrade Your Client? How to Know

Your business is always changing and evolving. As you grow, your business grows. Growing can mean a lot of different things - higher paying clients, creating products or programs, or adding a new line of revenue. As your business continues to shift, you will find that it might be time to upgrade your client.

What does "Upgrade Your Client" mean? It means that you are ready for a new type of client. It might be one who is committed or further down the experience curve than your current client. In my first few years of business I was great at attracting brand-new business owners. Those who were just leaping into the solo-entrepreneur home-based experience. I loved them at the time. Over the years, my business has evolved, and I attract a much more seasoned and committed type of business owner who is adding multiple streams to her business, leveraging her marketing with systems, and creating products and programs to reach more people. Now I really love this client! The evolution has kept it interesting and allowed me to grow along with my business.

There are certain points in your business life cycle where things are ready to change. You just have to listen and pay attention to the signals!

Signs that you are ready to Upgrade Your Client:

1. You are restless.
You find that you feel restless and even impatient with clients and your daily tasks. You find you are just grumpy and irritated that your clients are having the same problems over and over again.

2. You are bored.
You look at your calendar in the morning and you start sending messages to the universe... "Oh, how I hope they cancel today!" You know something is up if you don't even have the energy or interest to meet with your clients.

3. Your clients are restless and bored.
How do you know this? They start canceling, rescheduling or not even showing up for appointments! Or they show up but are not prepared or obviously not enthusiastic about being with you.

4. You are distracting yourself with other things.
You find that you are running errands, doing laundry, losing yourself in endless computer time - anything but calling a client or doing the work.

Ok, before you think that you are a hopeless business owner and you should just close your business down, consider this...these are all signals - good signals - that your business is wanting to shift. That it's time to upgrade your client. These are flashing beacons asking you to pay attention that it's time to let your business evolve to the next level. It's funny, but your business will speak to you if you just listen.

There's one more signal. This one feels really good.

5. Your clients are asking for "what's next"
Yes, they are outright asking you for more. They want more from you. It's time to go further than you've gone before with your services or products. They are calling you forth into the new evolution of your business! This happened to me. I had clients signing up for my year-long Platinum Style program before I even officially launched it. My clients were ready. I just had to keep up!

These 5 signals mean that it's time to shift your business model - maybe it's time for a more successful and committed client - one who can pay you more too; maybe it's time for a new type of client or a similar client in a new industry to making things more interesting, or you might be getting the signal that it's time to package your wisdom, knowledge and expertise into products or programs to reach more people. It's time to create multiple streams of income.

All these avenues to shift your business are part of the natural evolution. The big message for today is to pay attention to the signals. Don't think your business is going down because you are irritated or bored - it's a good thing!

What signals are you experiencing? Where is your business telling you it wants to move to?

En-JOY!

Laura

If you would like to use this article in your newsletter or blog please feel free to do as long as you include our credit information: Written by Laura Howard West, Center for Joyful Business, http:/www.joyfulbusiness.com I would also appreciate it if you'd send us a copy for our media files. ©Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

Laura West is an award-winning online entrepreneur and president of The Center for Joyful Business. If you are ready to shift your marketing and mindset for more success with joy and ease, get your free report: Business Attraction Success Kit

Eight Places to Look for Opportunities to Create Systems in Your Small Business

 Part 2 of 2

As a small business owner, you may be a classic do-it-yourselfer. And it got you pretty far – but then you got stuck. Your growth came to a standstill. So now, as you attempt the leap to the next level – it makes sense to scour your business for system-creating opportunities. After all, you need to create time for your “great work,” or what you’re passionate about.

Here are a few more places to look:

5. Co-Creating With Your Team. This will sound familiar to my coaching clients: if you want to increase your capacity for greater growth in your business, you must expand your team. A caveat: just putting a team member into place isn’t enough. You’ll want to co-create systems for your success with them. For example, my assistant, Jan, helps me get my newsletter out by sending me our newsletter template when it’s time for me to write it. She doesn’t wait for me. She knows the schedule, she fills in what she knows we are going to promote (teleclasses, blog postings, etc) and then sends it to me to write the welcome, article and make edits. We co-created this system together. It helps me get the newsletter out consistently, and helps her plan her work schedule as well.

What systems can you co-create with a team member to support YOUR success?

6. Personal Systems. One of my favorite personal systems is my Daily Giggle Goals. Each day I sit down as I’m planning out my priorities for the day and I pick 3 goals (bite-sized is key) to get done today. These are 3 things that would have me smile and giggle with delight at the end of the day when I know they are done. For me, this is about being purposeful – having my actions aligned with my purpose. If this sounds like it would be a good focus tool, check out the Joyful Business Guide for a whole system of attraction tools to help you “focus and flow” in your day.

Another favorite personal system is related to time management. When planning my time, I group similar types of activities together (like writing, creative brainstorming and reflection). Each of these activities takes similar energy and inspiration, so I find I can get on a roll and accomplish more when I group them together instead of trying to do a little here and a little there.

When will you schedule your similar activities this week? Do you think you could be more effective if you weren’t jumping from one unrelated thing to the next?

7. Internal Energy Systems. We all have days when we wonder if we can “do it,” we doubt our ideas, or our confidence wobbles. It’s important to have systems in place to help you shift your energy and beliefs so you don’t get stuck in that mindset.

Consider having a support team you can tap into: a massage therapist, energy worker, Reiki specialist or Homeopathic doctor all can be part of your team that helps you shift your energy when you need it. Whether it’s stress manifesting as a muscle ache, your thoughts, or a sinus infection wanting to happen – your team stands ready to help you manage your energy – physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally.

The next time you experience an “off” day, who will you call on to help manage your internal energy? What can you do to care for yourself?

8. Working with a Coach or Mentor. When it comes to marketing and building your small business, there’s no need to spend your precious energy reinventing the wheel. One of the best time-saving systems of all is to find a mentor or coach who has been there, one whose values and business you admire. You can learn from their mistakes, successes and resources, and experience accelerated success in less time.

Who is a model of success for you? How could you work with them to gain greater momentum in your business?

En-JOY!

Laura

If you would like to use this article in your newsletter or blog please feel free to do as long as you include our credit information: Written by Laura Howard West, Center for Joyful Business, http:/www.joyfulbusiness.com I would also appreciate it if you'd send us a copy for our media files. ©Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

Laura West is an award-winning online entrepreneur and president of The Center for Joyful Business. If you are ready to shift your marketing and mindset for more success with joy and ease, get your free report: Business Attraction Success Kit

Discover Your Unique Presence(TM) in Atlanta GA!

I am super excited to share with you a special live workshop "Discover Your Unique Presence(TM)?" by Laurie Mandato! Laurie is one of my Magic & Miracles Platinum clients and she is becoming well known fast! 

Because I get requests all the time about image consultants from my clients and colleagues, I asked Laurie to come to Atlanta. Laurie designed this speciaI workshop specifically for women who want to step into the spotlight with confidence and style.

Here's what she will be covering ...

• Discover your personal essence and how to use it to dress with confidence and style.
• Start dressing with intention and watch your client list AND your bank account grow!
• Discover how to use color to empower yourself and impact your audience.
• Start achieving your personal and professional goals.
• Start getting noticed and learn how to stand out in a crowd.
• Increase your confidence and motivation.

You can get all the details at www.LaurieMandato.com! Make sure to reserve your early bird spot with special pricing only until July 31st.  Or grab your special 1/2-Day Personal Consultation here and you can attend the 1-Day workshop FREE!

I'll be there - hope to see you too!

En-JOY!

Laura

Virtual Creative Retreats - Solo-entrepreneurs support each other in getting projects done!

I work with solo entrepreneurs. Professional who mostly work from their home office. Many of them have a virtual assistant or team of virtual professionals who help make their business run more efficiently.

When it comes time to get a creative project done, it can be tough to sit yourself down and "get 'er done"! I've introduced the idea of a Virtual Creative Retreat to all my clients and I'm amazed at the results and inspiration!

Today I held our 3rd Virtual Creative Retreat and my Magic & Miracles Private Platinum-level clients and my Attraction Marketing & Money Mindset clients joined together literally all over the U.S. and Canada for 4 and 1/2 hours of creative focus, support and inspiration.

Each business owner picked a creative project she wanted to work on for the afternoon in the comfort of her own home office  - one that would move her business forward in some way. We kicked off the program with a special connection ritual to open up our creativity from a surprise guest, Amethyst Wildfyre and everyone claimed their creative intention for the retreat.

Everyone goes off and creates away!  We check in each hour for inspiration, celebration, accountability and coaching and then they are off!  We wrap it up with a celebration call!

I am feeling so inspired by the projects from these women.  Here is a sampling of what they accomplished:

• Wrote articles to get ahead on their ezine
• Ceated a new account on Typepad, created a blog and wrote her 1st two blog entries
• Created materials for her new Platinum Coaching program
• Freed the chi in her office by moving out and donating old computer equipment and created space for her Vision Board
• Got rid of piles and created systems for success
• Created a presentation and power point for their signature talk
• Created an audio gift for women stepping into what's next after breast cancer
• Got rid of 5700 emails and organized inbox
• Created an information product which turned into a bigger system and content for her big corporate clients
• Created and recorded weekly audio series on pleasure

Wow - isn't that inspiring!  I know I was moved forward by all their commitment.  It's powerful what we can accomplish in our businesses when we support each other - even energetically.  Imagine what's possible in the world!

En-JOY!

Laura

Eight Places to Look for Opportunities to Create Systems in Your Small Business

Part 1 of 2

So you’ve made the commitment to yourself: you’re determined to find ways of systemizing your small business. You know that conserving your energy for your “great work,” or what you’re most passionate about, is the key to your success.

The question is, where do you create those business systems? Here are the top eight places to start looking:

1. Marketing Basics. It helps to create systems for those repetitive marketing basics – like having a variety of photos and bios on hand and ready to go. Keep your professional and casual photos of yourself easily accessible, along with short and long versions of your bios – so you can respond to opportunities quicker, with less “thinking,” and less stress!

What is one marketing basic you use over and over again that you could put into a system – so next time it’s quick and easy?

2. Client Relationship-Building. Think about your relationship-building process for a client from beginning to end. Every stage can be systemized so that it takes very little time.

Your initial follow-up system could include a business card scanner, thank you cards or e-cards. Create a system for your initial consultation (I use a client questionnaire to get the ball rolling), and a New Client Package, even use email birthday alert systems or online appointment setting systems once they become clients.

These systems not only make you look more professional – they inspire confidence and position you as an expert. You must be, because you have a system for handling these things!

What is one Client Relationship-Building system you can add to streamline your client nurturing right now?

3. Online Marketing. To fully utilize online systems that can automate your marketing – so you can reach more people with less effort – it helps to have a great support team that knows how to maximize the programs. Shopping carts, autoresponders, an online newsletter, blogs, and social networking sites can all work together to support marketing you and your small business. A great assistant or virtual assistant can set up and maintain these for you – allowing you more time for marketing, working with clients, or relaxing at the pool.

Another area to consider for time-saving systems: if you have standard information that you share frequently, such as in teleclass introductions and scripts, podcast openings, thank you pages for your products, etc. In all of these, you basically say the same thing over and over. Take a few minutes (or get a team member) to put this information into a template. I find it’s easier to get inspired when I’m working from a template – instead of a blank page staring at me!

What is one “script” you find yourself saying over and over again? How could you simplify it into a template?

4. Recycle & Reuse. Recycling isn’t just good for the environment – it’s good for your business! You can take content you’ve created in one format and repackage it into multiple formats (this is often called “repurposing”). For example, this blog post came from a teleclass I gave on systems. I recorded the teleclass for a future audio product. Then it was transcribed for a supplemental booklet. I then used the transcription as the basis for an article that appeared in my newsletter and on Facebook. Then my team will publish the article at online article sites, as well as on community sites where I am on their Expert Panel. One idea: a minimum of eight ways to use it!

What is one idea you could take and reuse in another area of your marketing?

More “Places to Look for Systems in Your Business” coming…

En-JOY!

Laura

If you would like to use this article in your newsletter or blog please feel free to do as long as you include our credit information: Written by Laura Howard West, Center for Joyful Business, http:/www.joyfulbusiness.com I would also appreciate it if you'd send us a copy for our media files. ©Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

Laura West is an award-winning online entrepreneur and president of The Center for Joyful Business. If you are ready to shift your marketing and mindset for more success with joy and ease, get your free report: Business Attraction Success Kit

Allow More Success - Pay Attention to Your 5 Energies

As your business grows and you experience more success it becomes increasingly important to pay attention to your 5 Types of Energy to maintain the growth and also to enjoy the journey. Your energy is your #1 most important resource when it comes to growing your business. It's more important than money, ideas and, yes, even time. You see, if your energy is depleted, you'll never follow through, no matter how great the idea, how much money you can throw at it or even if you have plenty of time available.

Let's look at Your 5 Types of Energy and how they impact your business:

Physical Energies

This is the one we are most familiar with, although it may be one we most often take for granted. Our physical energy is about eating healthy food, drinking plenty of water, getting good sleep, exercising regularly and taking care of our physical bodes. I'll share that over the last year my business has grown exponentially, and I let it become more important than taking good care of my body. Slowly and unconsciously, I started making quick food choices (not the healthy kind), allowing myself to get dehydrated, drinking just one more soda for the caffeine jolt, and then skipping walking and tennis more and more frequently.

So, I started gaining a few extra pounds, getting tired more easily, feeling overwhelmed and having trouble sleeping through the night. It's also a catch-22 - as I started getting more tired easily, it seemed like it took more effort than I would expect to keep up with my business growth.

As I made a commitment to taking care of my physical energy, everything is getting back into alignment again. I see how my physical energy makes creativity easier, enhances my clarity and physically makes me feel more confident. All of this leads to growing a business with ease, confidence and flow. Sounds good, doesn't it?

What are you noticing in your physical energies? What is the one place you want to commit to a change?

Mental Energy

Your mental energy is about your clarity, your thoughts and beliefs. We have 68,000 unique thoughts a day - that is a lot of mental energy! Are yours pulling you down, coming from scarcity and keeping you circling in doubt and anxiety? Or are they generally life supporting and business enhancing?

Just developing an awareness of your consistent thoughts can start to shift them. It's important to notice when you are in doubt, stuck, have fear or anxiety and then shift these corresponding thoughts even a bit to something that is more believable and supportive. It will release the hold on your energy to take confidence and inspired action.

Today, notice if your mind chatter is business-enhancing or business-inhibiting. Just that alone will start to shift you to thinking about what's possible.

Emotional Energy

Your feelings are your body's way of communicating with you. Your body is a brilliant communication instrument - it will tell you if it feels the emotions we label as anxiety, love, joy, happiness, stuckness, doubt, concern, and worry. You want to pay attention to your body's signals: tightness in your gut, expansiveness in your heart area, a lump in your throat, a headache, tingles in your shoulders.

If your body is talking to you and you aren't listening, then it will get more intense and loud. That's where simple signals of stress will turn into illness and ailments you'll have no choice but to deal with.

Notice what your body is saying to you right now. What messages are you receiving?

Spiritual Energy

How aligned are you with your values, your purpose, and your joy? Are you living your life in integrity? Is your business built upon those principles you truly endorse? Any conflicting choices and actions will inhibit your creative flow - which we often call a divine download. It will block your awareness of your connection to source/god/spirit/universe. This happens when we are in a job we don't like; when we are playing small in our business and not getting our message out there in a bigger way, or when we don't treat our clients how we really want to be treated because we think we have to do it like everyone else.

Where are you feeling your spiritual energy is blocked? What is one step you can take to open up the connection?

Environmental Energy

The energy around you impacts you and your ability to be clear, focused, in your joy and taking inspired actions. Everything is your environment, from big concerns like the air quality of your community, to the people you hang around with to the clutter in your office. When these aren't dealt with, they make you irritable, resistant to take action and confuse your mind. So you sit in overwhelm and doubt and don't move into the action you know that will bring you closer to your success.

What are you putting up with in your environment? What is one change you can make to improve your energy in this area?

You want to remember to be compassionate with yourself. It's not about beating yourself up because you aren't being perfect in one or more of these areas. It's about developing the commitment to these areas of your personal energy and business energy and understanding how they will impact your personal and business in a fulfilling and joy-filled way.

Believe me: you'll always be moving between all of these types of energy. All 5 will never be perfectly in balance all the time. I don't believe in balance. You are a creative human being, and your creative nature means that you will be changing, evolving, moving to the next new place. You know that - just look at your business. It's always changing and growing. That automatically means you'll be dancing with all 5 energies as you create and move through the evolution of your business. Just by creating awareness in these 5 areas of energy, you can increase your creativity, your clarity, your confidence and your business results!

EN-Joy!

Laura

If you would like to use this article in your newsletter or blog please feel free to do as long as you include our credit information: Written by Laura Howard West, Center for Joyful Business, http://www.joyfulbusiness.com I would also appreciate it if you'd send us a copy for our media files. ©Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

Laura West is an award-winning online entrepreneur and president of The Center for Joyful Business. If you are ready to shift your marketing and mindset for more success with joy and ease, get your free report: Business Attraction Success Kit

Repurposing Content: Is it Cheating?

Absolutely not!

Now, allow me to elaborate on that answer. Because it makes no sense to spend your energy feeling guilty about something that’s actually one of the secrets to success in your small business – leverage!

You’ve heard of repurposing. It’s the smart, systematic practice of taking a piece of high-quality content – say, a teleclass – and re-using it in other forms, like blog posts, articles, podcasts, videos, news releases and more.

Here are some reasons why repurposing your content is actually a good business practice:

1. The truth is, people are so busy that they’re unlikely to view this as repetitive. While a reader might miss your latest blog post, they might catch a podcast or read an article. And so on.

2. Even if the information does reach a small, dedicated minority of your community members more than once – repetition is good for retention of your messages. So hooray!

3. Everyone learns and absorbs information differently. Some of us are visual learners, some are audio learners – and some learn best by doing (kinesthetically), like in a workshop. So if you provide good content in a variety of ways, you’re appealing to a variety of people with varied learning styles.

4. Not all repurposing is created equally! Keep in mind that you can vary your introduction, tie your message into a current news event, or put a new twist on it – for example, by incorporating a teleclass participant’s comment into your next blog post.

5. And finally, if you insisted on designing a separate message for each and every video, podcast, teleclass, e-book, blog post, article and news release – imagine the stress, and how that would affect your energy for running your small business. I’m betting that your output would decrease significantly.

Repurposing is a way to keep that energy flowing! More time, more ease.

Have you written or created something you’re particularly proud of (and that elicit great responses from your clients)? Are you sure it’s reached its largest possible audience? Can you rework it into some other formats, to reach new prospects and community members? 

En-JOY!

Laura

If you would like to use this article in your newsletter or blog please feel free to do as long as you include our credit information: Written by Laura Howard West, Center for Joyful Business, http:/www.joyfulbusiness.com I would also appreciate it if you'd send us a copy for our media files. ©Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

Laura West is an award-winning online entrepreneur and president of The Center for Joyful Business. If you are ready to shift your marketing and mindset for more success with joy and ease, get your free report: Business Attraction Success Kit

5 Ways to Use Photos and Facebook

As a coach, consultant, author or speaker or other small business owner, you are always in the mode of creating your "expert status." That means that you know enough about your clients, their needs and desires and solutions to help them, that you can claim expertise in this area. Many marketing gurus talk about being a "rock star" or "celebrity," and many heart-centered entrepreneurs have trouble with these terms.

I like to position it that you are creating your "Celebrity with Integrity" status. It has a ring to it, not only when you say it, but also for being authentic and in the limelight, and at the same time aware of your responsibility and values.

Let's face it... your clients want to work with successful people, just like you do. You like to know that when you hire a coach or a consultant they have a certain amount of experience, they have resources, they invest in themselves, and are constantly keeping up with the fast changing world.
With social media, it's easy to create and share real examples of your expertise. Here are 5 easy examples of how to post pictures on Facebook to build your "Celebrity with Integrity" platform.
(Remember your friends want to know you are successful and you want to portray your success in real, authentic ways.)

1. Post Pictures of you speaking. Whether you are speaking to a small group or large, post pictures of you in action. Nothing speaks louder than photos (well, except video) of you sharing your expertise with people who want to be with you.

2. Post a photo of you attending a workshop. Your potential clients and colleagues (think potential joint ventures and referrals) like to know that you invest in yourself, are learning new strategies and tools, and are connected with movers and shakers in your industry. The fact that you spend money on your personal growth speaks volumes.

3. Post a photo of you with a well-known leader or celebrity. Success breeds success! Who you hang out with sets a tone for your own credibility (just like momma said!).

4. Post a photo of your vacation and travels. I know this goes down the path into sharing personal information, but in this day and age where many potential clients will hear about you first on the Internet - they want to know that you walk your talk of enjoying your success.

5. Share photos of your passions, hobbies and loves. Your peeps are getting to know you first through your words and photos. I know you worry about being "professional" - I think that word alone can kill a marketing brand. Professional can also mean boring, vanilla, blending in to the sea of other "professionals" just like you. You have to stand out and be interesting and remarkable. Share photos of your kids, cats, cars, your hobbies - be tasteful, of course, unless being un-tasteful is your style.

You'll stand out as having confidence - that's success!

So, bring your camera with you wherever you go or learn how to download your cell phone photos. You never know when a "Celebrity with Integrity" opportunity will come along. As my boy scout sons say, "Be Prepared!"

En-JOY!

Laura

If you would like to use this article in your newsletter or blog please feel free to do as long as you include our credit information: Written by Laura Howard West, Center for Joyful Business, http:/www.joyfulbusiness.com I would also appreciate it if you'd send us a copy for our media files. ©Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

Laura West is an award-winning online entrepreneur and president of The Center for Joyful Business. If you are ready to shift your marketing and mindset for more success with joy and ease, get your free report: Business Attraction Success Kit