Category Archives: Books

Friday Joy Infusion: Go Ahead and Dump the Junk, I Dare You!

Dump the Junk and be Happy book cover

Do you need to be perfect?

Do you want to have everyone like you?

Do you want to be in control and make 6 figures in the next 6 months or you will consider yourself a failed entrepreneur?

(No, no, I didn't answer "yes" to any of those questions. Nope. Not at all. Yeah, right.)

I know how damaging those voices and thoughts can be. As you grow and your business takes you into new adventures, the voices and thoughts get louder!

My colleague Kimberly Englot calls it "JUNK" – fear, lies, limiting beliefs, & comparisons.

She's just come out with her second volume 2 of her Dump the Junk series: Dump the Junk & Be Happy, Volume 2: Biz, Career, Money – with 12 inspirational and action-oriented chapters.

One of those chapters is written by me, and I shared my tools for dumping the mindset junk around business and money – 5 Habits that pull you into the Cycle of Doubt and what to do about it!

I always think that you can never have too many “energy shifting” tools on hand, so I highly recommend to check this out. One inspiring message could shift your energy and confidence, you make that important phone call or send that email, and opportunities open up!

We're here to show you how to dump that Junk and be happy where you are, while creating a life of happiness, health, and wealth!

Be the very first to receive your FREE copy of the eBook (but it won’t be available forever.)

Let's dump that JUNK!

En-JOY!

P.S. You only have a short amount of time to get your hands on Volume 2: Business, Career, Money for free, as this is a limited edition and not replacing the original Dump the Junk & Be Happy eBook.

Q & A with Michael Stelzner – author of Launch – my newest fav book!

Launch book coverI have devoured the new book, Launch: How to Quickly Propel Your Business Beyond the Competition, written by the founder of SocialMediaExaminer.com, Michael Stelzner.

It’s not that the ideas he talks about are necessarily new to me – it’s that he totally believes in the “give and you will receive” concept.

I work with a lot of creative women entrepreneurs who are embracing their expert status (I call it their “Go-To-Goddess”) and Michael shares how really being willing to own your expertise by freely sharing your ideas, resources, and expertise will naturally attract more opportunities, collaborations, clients ... and yes, ultimately money to you.

He talks about his Elevation Principle – I just love it:


Great content + Other People – Marketing Messages = Growth

As a marketing coach – I think it’s brilliant! Especially the “minus the marketing messages”!

Read on for an interview with Michael about his new book:

Q & A with Michael Stelzner, author of Launch
and founder of SocialMediaExaminer.com

Why did you decide to write Launch?

I honestly want to show business people a different way to succeed without having to sell their souls in this crazy economy. You don't have to have a lot of money or buy any advertising. You don't have to bow at the altar of famous people or engage traditional media. You don't have to have a list. You don't even have to be a good writer. My content model is replicable and scalable. It works for an audience of ten to one thousand to millions.

How should readers use your book?

Follow the step-by-step roadmap I lay out in the book. All of my content strategy secrets are there.

What is the Elevation Principle and why is it useful?

At its core it's all about focusing on the needs of people with content. Here's the simple formula: Great content plus other people minus marketing messages equals growth.

It's useful for the person who wants to quickly catapult a business into the next galaxy from where they are. The number one reason it works is because it establishes you as a trusted resource—which is your biggest marketing obstacle. You'll attract an audience of loyal, raving fans who want to learn from you. Many of those will evangelize your business.

The elevation principle says that great content combined with other people and without marketing messages will help your business rapidly grow.
Caption: The elevation principle says that
great content combined with other people
and without marketing messages will help
your business rapidly grow.

How can one start using the Elevation Principle now?

Step one - determine who you want to reach and what they're interested in.

Step two - give them what they want for free.

Step three - grow.

What are some of the book's key takeaways?

Marketers are frustrated; all they have to do is stop selling. Give something away. Create primary and nuclear fuel. Don't expect anything in return—that's when things start happening. Launch is for anyone who wants to grasp how new media has forever changed the way marketing must function in a digital world.

What surprises you the most about the 'Elevation Principle'?

The consistent return on investment. I wasn't prepared for my business to take off at a thousand miles an hour; to get three buy offers in the first eighteen months; and to fend off so many advertisers wanting to spend money at my site.

What's the number one question you get asked the most?

Mike, how do you do all this without advertising? My answer: content surrounded by marketing messages scare people away. If you wouldn't want telemarketers camped out in your living room, why would you be okay with them squatting on your virtual property.

How would you describe yourself?

Giving.

What do you want people to do as a result of buying your book?

I want my readers to follow the model outlined in the book, transform their business, and let me know how it's working for them. I want to see businesses develop thriving communities around topics like gardening, yoga, mechanical engineering, cancer survival . . . you name it . . . just like Social Media Examiner did.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Description: http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/launch/images/MichaelStelzner-Street2-tm.jpgMichael Stelzner is the founder of SocialMediaExaminer.com, author of the books Launch: How to Quickly Propel Your Business Beyond the Competition and Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged, the popular Social Media Marketing Industry Report, and the man behind large summits, such as Social Media Success Summit.

Follow Michael Stelzner on Twitter @mike_stelzner

Visit www.elevationprinciple.com

Friday Joy Infusion: Become a Wealthy Woman

When I talk about being a Business Goddess, I’m really talking about owning your creative power as a business owner. 

This means not being a victim to what is happening around you and truly owning the responsibility of gifts and the work you are meant to do in the world.

Part of that includes being willing to be seen as a Likeable and Trusted Expert in your specialty niche.  When you step out of hiding, that’s where the abundance of opportunities, clients, projects and wealth really ramps up!

Related to ramping up your wealth from your source of creative, I wanted to let you know about an amazing project I’ve been involved in.

It’s a free, downloadable eBook chock full of articles written by some of today’s top thought leaders from all over the world, including yours truly!

It's called Becoming a Wealthy Woman, and it's 120 pages from leading authors and mentors such as:

Becoming a Wealthy Woman cover
  • Elyse Hope Killoran
  • Gretchin Rubin
  • Mariel Hemingway
  • Lisa Sasevich
  • Kendall Summerhawk
  • Loral Langemeier
  • Morgana Rae
  • David Neagle
  • Laura West Smiley
  • and about 90 others!

This eBook project was compiled and put together by my friend, Heather Wilson, who also happens to be a wealth-esteem coach. She helps women develop a fun and rewarding relationship with their money, leading to crazy wealth and ultimate happiness.

Click here to get your copy. Imagine combining money AND joy!

Warmly,

Laura's Signature

PS: When you get your copy of Becoming a Wealthy Woman, make sure to have some tissues handy. Joyful AND inspiring. Click here for your copy!

My Client’s New Paperback Release is Out Today!

Julia Hamrick and Laura WestEasy World Day by Day book coverI love sharing exciting news from my coaching clients! Julia Rogers Hamrick, author of one of my favorite books, Choosing Easy World is releasing the paperback version of the new best selling book! You can get this oh-so-practical guide to Easy World …well, really easily! Get your copy of Choosing Easy World TODAY and not only will you learn how to align with Easy World and all the bounteous blessings available there, you'll get great bonuses from some of your favorite teachers including me, of course!

Click here for Choosing Easy World + bonuses

En-JOY!

Laura's Signature

Friday Joy Infusion: How My Art Journaling Hobby Increases My Business

One thing you may not know about me (or maybe you do, especially if you own my Joyful Business Guide) is that I love to do art journaling. There's something about the pictures, markers, glue, words…. that allows me to express my true self, let ideas flow, and opens the floodgate to creativity.

And that creativity, in turn, impacts my business. All the sudden, ideas and details for projects, articles and programs come tumbling out, and I almost can’t capture them all. (Thank goddess for mindmaps!)

So, you can imagine how excited I was when I came across this video. While it's an advertisement for their super-quick collage journal and products (which do look cool, I have to admit), you could easily do this with whatever you have around.

It's called Smash It, and you can watch the 2:35 minute video here.

Link to Smash Book by K & Company video

(And if you want to buy products, K&Company Smash Collection – their website is a little hard to navigate – evidently, there are a ton of subcompanies, so I tried to make it easy for you.)

So what could you do with an idea like Smash It or some other form of art journaling? How does it tie in with your business?

  • It's an easy way to create a vision book for your life and business
  • The quick and non-perfection attitude is the perfect kick start for creativity in your business!  Do something else creative (that maybe doesn't even have anything to do with your business) and get in the flow of ideas and creation – it’ll rub off in your business!
  • This easy, “no rules” way of doing Smash It journals frees up blocks and creates momentum. What could THAT do for your business?
  • Just let loose and have fun with it!  That joy factor makes EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT!  Then just breathe easy and allow in goodness!  It’ll have an amazing impact on your bottom line, really!

I know what I'll be doing this weekend, if I can – smashing art journaling!!

Where can you open up your creativity and let it “rub off” on your business?

Warmly,

Laura's Signature

Friday Joy Infusion: What If Writing a Book Were Easy and Joyful?

Do you have a yearning to write a book?

Do you feel like it will be too hard?

Maybe it's not the writing, but the publishing, launching, or marketing of the book that has you at a standstill?

How is any of this easy, natural, and fun… much less full of joy?

(As a matter of fact, if you’ve gotten this far in this email, then you probably are suffering with the attract/repel energy of writing and publishing your book...)

But I bet somewhere deep down you WANT – NEED – to write YOUR book. At the very least, you know it could be key to promoting yourself and establishing yourself as an expert.

But the work! The angst! Where do you start? How do you keep going?

My friend and colleague, Amazon best-selling author and online marketing expert, Ellen Britt, has persuaded me and sixteen (yes, 16!) other successful marketers to reveal our personal book writing, launch, and marketing secrets, habits, strategies and resources.

The cool thing is that it's free! You can sign up for the free Write Your Book, Build Your Business Telesummit (Even though it's free, you DO have to register!)

The line-up includes:

Laura West Marnie Pehrson Adela Rubio
Amazon Best-selling Author
& Business Goddess
(that's me!)
 
Best-selling Author
and Publisher
Amazon Best-selling Author
and Online Mentor
Lynne Klippel Connie Ragen Green Felicia Slattery
Best Selling Author, Expert
Book Coach & Publisher
Author & Online
Marketing Mentor
Author, Speaker,
Communication Consultant
and Coach
 
Michele Scism Denise Wakeman Maryam Webster
Author, Third Generation Entrepreneur and
Business Strategist
Best-selling author, Business Blogging and Online
Marketing Advisor, and
Founder of the Blog Squad
 
Author and
Evolutionary Leader
Stacy Karacostos Shannon Cherry Sandra De Freitas
Author, Practical Marketing
Expert and Business
Lifestyle Architect
The Power Publicist: 
Author, International
Speaker and Public Relations
and Marketing Pro
 
Top Tech Coach, Speaker,
Trainer and Expert in
Internet Technology
Sandy Martini Paula Scardamalia Lisa Bloom
Small Business Growth
Marketing Mentor
and Consultant
Award-winning Author and
People Magazine's Dream
Coach to the Stars
 
The Story Coach
Ellen Violette Hueina Su Dr. Ellen Britt
The EBook Coach, Author
and Entrepreneur
Best-selling Author,
International Keynote Speaker
and Master Coach
Amazon Best-selling Author
and your host for the Write
Your Book, Build Your
Business Telesummit.
 

That's quite a line-up! Imagine all that you can learn from these fabulous authors and mentors!

Even if you learn just ONE strategy or resource that will get you unblocked from your success at writing and publishing your book – this is SO worth it!

You can sign up for the free Write Your Book, Build Your Business Telesummit and see how joyful and easy it can be to write, publish, and launch your book!

Warmly,

Laura's Signature

P.S. You might be surprised how easy it is to be a book author!  I started by writing a chapter in a collaborative book… and have been featured in 4 of these types of books.  Find out more strategies like this in these interviews! Check out Write Your Book, Build Your Business Telesummit and get your book juice going!

Friday Joy Infusion: Get Creative with Your Summer Business Planning - Save $100 Today Only

Poolside chair with book, glasses, and drink on a tableI find that summer's natural relaxing rhythms let our minds "soften up" a bit and allow our hearts to have a turn. The gentle relaxation and pausing allow our innermost dreams to arise. I also see how it's a natural time to tap into our creativity.

It's a juicy time to let your visions make themselves known, to start brainstorming, writing, and joy-fully planning your next product, launch, or project. Not at a hard pace, but with a gentle creative flow of inspiration and ideas put to paper.

(Think about it – this is the time when the earth is nurturing and growing crops that will be ready to be harvested in the later summer months and in the fall.)

I've heard for years how many women take my Joyful Business Guide, a creative business planning system, to the pool or the beach.... just so they can start planting the seeds for their business. They get in touch with their gifts, get clear about their ideal clients, map out projects, create their vision.... and more.

The Joyful Business Guide isn’t your banker’s business plan that will sit on a shelf. It’s a living plan that you’ll use throughout the year to add to, evolve and keep your vision and your projects alive. We call it a creative business plan for a reason. It brings your creative right brain together with the focus and practical energy of your left brain. And you’ll keep on using the tools no matter how long you’ve been in business!

If you are looking to reinvent your business, launch new and bigger projects, and want to create a living plan you can use throughout the year, then I’ve got something special for you!

I'm offering a special summer savings that's only good for today! You can get $100 off the price of the Joyful Business Guide system (I have NEVER offered it this low!) if you purchase by midnight eastern tonight.

Just use coupon code SUMMERFUN to buy your copy of the Joyful Business Guide

Enjoy your summer inspiration and creativity!

Warmly,

Laura's Signature

Friday Joy Infusion: My JoyFlow Sightings: I'm part of the new Success Rituals 2.0 book!

Success Rituals 2.0 BookYou may have noticed on Facebook or in this week’s newsletter that I’m published in the new Success Rituals 2.0 book, which was just released on Wednesday.

My JoyFlow Sightings List:

Joy #1 – It’s so cool to be published! It’s a personal thrill each time it happens (you writers know what I’m saying!).

Joy #2 – It’s a beautiful, creative book

Joy #3 – There are some really great stories about rituals in this book. I truly believe in the power of rituals to set our intentions for success. Just one of these rituals can change your business!

Joy #4 – I’m excited to share one of my most powerful success rituals that I have been doing for over 7 years! It works for me to align my energy and open my creativity – you’ll have to read about in the book though ;)

Joy #5 – While collaborative books might be all the rage, they are a really an easy and fun way to get published. I look at the lovely photo below of all my co-authors, and I’m just so thrilled and honored to be a part of this project!

30 authors of Success Rituals 2.0

I’m celebrating the joy of collaboration – working with others – being part of a more global movement to bring the feminine success principles and strategies into business. This is one of those shining moments where I know I’m on my purposeful path.

I’m so thrilled to be sharing this with you. I know you enjoy rituals, setting intentions and working with your creative energy for authentic success – you’ll love this book! It’s a good one to add to your inspirational library!

En-JOY!

P.S. Kudos to my colleague and friend, Gina Bell, for putting together such a fantastic group of women and a really fun project to be a part of! AND… for helping us get the book into the #2 spot on Amazon’s bestseller list on launch day! I have "be a bestselling author" on my vision board… what’s on yours?

Launch Day for My Book, Success Rituals 2.0, and Special Bonuses FOR YOU

Success Rituals 2.0 BookI'm so excited to be part of this amazing book. I love the idea of ritual and bringing something sacred and spiritual to my business. So, I was honored to share my own ritual of Creative Bagel Time (beyond creative and way beyond bagels some days!).

More than that, I loved reading my co-authors' stories and their rituals… I now have plenty of ideas and systems to incorporate into my life and my business.

29 other authors and I share those winning habits that you definitely want to bring into your own business! Beyond the cover you will discover personal stories and strategies that will inspire you to become increasingly aware of the things you THINK and DO, day in and day out, that support or sabotage the life and business you crave.

The book is Success Rituals 2.0 - Winning Habits of High-Achieving Women: How She Does it and You Can Too! Sound juicy? It is!

What's really exciting is that when you order your copy TODAY, you get added BONUSES of $100's of dollars in gifts from me and my co-authors!

To meet the all-star co-author team and view the full list of BONUSES, go to www.TheSuccessRituals.com

30 authors of Success Rituals 2.0

Purchase your book on amazon.com and then go back to the bonus page to claim your "women in business" bonus gifts!

And remember – these bonuses are only available TODAY, June 1st, in celebration of the launch of this book!

So hurry on over to amazon.com now and order your copy of Success Rituals 2.0 And enjoy creating your own Success Rituals!

Friday Joy Infusion: Have You Ever Dreamed of Writing a Book?

For this Friday’s Joy Infusion, I want to tap into a dream that I know many of you share in common: writing and publishing a book. The dream of being an author, putting your work into the world, touching lives through your crafted words, thoughts and stories – it’s a very magical impact you can have on someone else’s life through your book.

I know for many of you the dream of publishing a book is so big that you have no idea how to start, what to do, where to go....

I am really thrilled  that I just had a book come out this week in which I'm a co-author (Trust Your Heart: Transform Your Ideas into Income – woo hoo!), and already I have heard people telling me how my written words have changed their lives.  It’s a dream coming to life for me.

You too have easily claim your dream of writing a book!  My friend and colleague, Christine Kloser, is launching a free virtual book-writing program, the Transformational Author Experience.

You'll learn from top New York Times Best-Selling Authors and leading book experts the 6-Step system to transform your book idea into an actual, published book!

Here's a very cool and joyful part.... there's a Transformational Author Writing Contest, and if you enter, you could win a prize (and these are COOL prizes!):

  • Personal review of your book proposal by Marc Allen, President and Publisher of New World Library (Eckhart Tolle's publisher) and be considered for a traditional publishing contract
  • Publishing packages with Balboa Press (a division of Hay House Publishing)
  • Have your book professionally edited
  • A gorgeous book cover designed to sell!
  • A professional book marketing consult
  • Custom creation of a video book trailer
  • Guaranteed publicity for your book

So, if you too have a dream of publishing your book, you won't want to miss Christine Kloser's Transformational Author Experience program!

En-JOY!

My Photo

Laura Howard West

Laura Howard West is a certified professional coach, writer, speaker and the President and Chief Creative Officer of The Center for Joyful Business. She is the creator of The Joyful Business Guide™, a business attraction system blending law of attraction principles with smart business designed for solo-entrepreneurs and business owners.

Subscribe to this blog's feed

 Subscribe to this blog's feed

Or, simply enter your email address and get our posts delivered directly to your inbox:

Delivered by FeedBurner



Joyful Entrepreneur
Cafe Entrepreneur Categories

Cafe Entrepreneur Categories

Template developed by
Sharilyn Horne Business Concepts.

Powered by TypePad