Virtual Retreats by Jen Louden

Best-selling author and Comfort Queen Jen Louden is doing it again - her soul-filling Virtual Retreat February 12-14th, featuring a roster of world famous teachers.  This is NOT another talking head tele-summit, but it is an interactive experience that's all about taking care of yourself so you can share your unique self with the world. 

And for Business Goddesses, it's so important that we take care of ourselves.  Only then can we really soar in our businesses and lead the lives we want, without getting weary in our businesses.

Jen's Virtual Retreat is a series of 12 mini-retreats -- led by teachers like Mary Manin Morrissey, Christina Baldwin, Bill Baren, Stephanie McWilliams, and Tama J. Kieves.  THey'll give you a deep experience of rest and nurturing - and with help you renew yourself to share your gifts with the world more easily. Of course, all the sessions are recorded and transcribed so you can participate in some live and some later - and all of them in your pj's! 

And - really cool - Win a seat at the retreat for free or a Nano with all the sessions from this year and last year by telling Jen why *you* need a retreat!

En-JOY!

Laura

Don’t Miss It: SpiritRICH Business Teleseries!

The world is shifting, and there's a different way to do business than what we've been taught or modeled.

Traditional business has been built around a model of "get it done & get it done quick." It very much requires a lot of masculine action-oriented energies and strengths. That has served us well in the past, but now, especially for women (and honestly, for men too), it’s time for business to change.

It's the idea that both the feminine and masculine energies have a place - and should have a place - in business and life. That your business is one nourishing part of your life, not an energy-drainer or all-consuming. You want a business that is an outlet for your passion, a business that helps you change the world or makes it better in some way. And your business should provide you with financial success so you can continue to do your world-changing work.

As women, we can't continue with the current way of being in business. As women, we can't continue to drain our energy trying to do it like someone else who doesn't understand our natural strengths, our individual rhythms and our lifestyle priorities.

It's a brand-new way of doing business--and there aren't many models out there and certainly not a map of how to go about running such a business.

That's what the SpiritRICH™ Business Teleseries is all about. I want to help women entrepreneurs understand that they can grow their business to wildly successful heights while at the same time honoring their whole lives –whether it’s children, parents, travel, hobbies, vibrant health or (and) life purpose.

Join me for three calls (while they can all be listened to individually, they'll be the most powerful when you join us for all three):

• Thursday, November 5: The 5 Shifts Happening in the World For Women Entrepreneurs – and Why YOU Need to Know About Them to Be Successful!
• Thursday, November 12: The 7 Traps that Keep Women Entrepreneurs From Authentic Success
• Thursday, November 19: What You Need to Know To Market Yourself Like a Business Goddess

*All calls are 3:00 – 4:00 eastern

The first call is tomorrow on those very shifts in business. If you want to be successful in your business, you have to know what these shifts are all about! Join me as I encourage you to think differently about how you run your business, and how you show up in your business.

Click to read more and to sign up now!

I look forward to having you on the first call tomorrow!

En-JOY!

Laura
 
PS: Be part of the movement - sign up for the SpiritRICH™ Business Teleseries now!

How Does She Do It? - Teleseries - October 16th - 18th

Join me as I am interviewed along with 16 other successful women so you can get a peek behind the curtain of our businesses. This series is invaluable to any woman who is comparing herself to others and feeling frustrated, doubtful or just plain wondering if other women know something you don’t.

This thought-provoking interview series hosted by Gina Bell exposes the comparison trap as it relates to "success" stereotypes and draws attention to how our knee-jerk reaction to compare ourselves to others or to "model success" the wrong way sabotages authenticity and confidence. This is a unique Teleseries in that it’s not just more marketing tips – you really get to hear how we get it done – you get the peek behind the real curtain.

The series also reveals the top five challenges that women in business online commonly face and directs the how does she do it question to these relevant topics with the intention of protecting your authenticity.

I'm proud to be one of 16 successful women who are speaking up to reveal our own experiences with comparison as well as my real life stories for how I manage my mindset and energy behind the scenes. Our goal is to provide valuable insight, share lessons learned and inspire you to take YOUR next steps all from a caring and supportive approach that ensures your authenticity. Click here to sign up. 

En-joy!

Laura

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

Joyful Business Podcast #23: Becoming the Complete Entreprenuer

Don't miss another episode - subscribe today and be the first to know when a new podcast comes out  - Join our "Creating Your Joyful Business" newsletter - http://www.joyfulbusiness.com/subscribe.html

Here is the latest episode of the Joyful Business Podcast featuring interviews with some of the most talented and joyful entrepreneurs on the Internet. Each interview is full of nuggets of wisdom about how being joyful and mindful in your business brings you the success you deserve. You'll find tips, stories, and real life ideas for keeping the joy, passion and creativity alive.

Join us every two weeks in Cafe Entrepreneur for a new interview.

In episode #23, we talk to "Street-Smarts" Marketer, Kathleen Gage, who is the CEO and founder of Turning Point, Inc. and Maxwell Publishing, as well as a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and an internationally recognized Internet marketing and publicity expert for speakers, trainers and authors. She enjoys working with spiritually minded entrepreneurs who want to learn how to package their expertise and knowledge into money making products and service, while using their spirituality to enhance their business and to complete their lives.

Through Kathleen's success, she has found that as long as she makes living in a state of gratitude the cornerstone of everything she does, then things will work out better on the whole - no matter what the circumstances are around her. She has taken time to work on gratitude daily through small spiritual rituals, and suggests ways we can do this as well.  As we take the time to work on this aspect of our lives, we will find that we feel more complete, and we will be able to enjoy our work, our business, and our lives more completely!

Listen Now: 

If you enjoy this Joyful Business Podcast then you'll love our bi-weekly newsletter, Creating Your Joyful Business, filled with resources and how-to's for creating a financially successful business while honoring your lifestyle, your relationships and your creative expression!  Subscribe at: www.JoyfulBusiness.com  and receive your Free Business Attraction Success Kit!

Enjoy!

Laura

I've Been Featured in a Book!

A quick note from me today... I am so excited that I had to share this information with you right away! I just got word that the book that I contributed to, The Official AWE Emerging Trends Guide 2009 is now ready for distribution!

This book is the one book every entrepreneur must buy for 2009!

Here is a sneak peek as to what is included in the book:

Build Your Business

• Top Business Networking Trends to Watch For in 2009 by Gina Bell

• ·Key Web Development Trends That Entrepreneurs Need to Know by Susan Daffron

• The Most Powerful Trend in the History of Business: The JV Explosion by Stefanie Hartman and Vickie Jimenez

• The Emerging Trends of the Virtual Membership-Based Business Model by Sheri McConnell

• Emerging Legal Business Trends and How They Affect Your Ability To Think Big by Alexis Martin Neely

• How The Ever-Changing Landscape of Internet Marketing Affects Your Message And Why You Must Adapt by Lisa Manyon

• Cold Calling in the 21st Century: The New Rules by Wendy Weiss

Grow Your Business                      

• Three Key Elements for Business Success in 2009 by Melanie Benson-Strick
                             
• The Future of Virtual Assistance: Lifestyle, Mindset, and the Team-Based Business Model by Erin Blaskie
                             
• Online Book Marketing Trends by Penny Sansevieri
                             
• Emerging Trends in Social Networking for 2009 by Mari Smith
                             
• Top Five Trends You Must Know to Continue Growing Your Info-Profit Business by Adam Urbanski
                             
• Trends in 2009: Video, The Internet, and Your Bottom Line by Viki Viertel

                        

Go Beyond Your Business

• How to Consciously Capitalize on the Biggest Trend in Business Ever by Christine Kloser
                             
• Why Savvy Web Entrepreneurs Will Find Even More Opportunity In The Growing Cultural Creative Market by Christina Merkley
                             
• The Intersection of Technology, Information, and Transformation: Using the Internet as a Tool for Change by Marilyn Schwader
                             
• The New Solo Entrepreneur: The Secret to Business Success - Tapping Into Your Joy Energy! By Laura West

If you'd like to purchase a copy, click here.  

 

En-JOY!

Laura

P.S. - Don't forget... please let me know how you enjoy the book!

7 New Ways to Launch 2009 As Your BEST Year Ever!

Are you excited about what's possible for the new year for your business and yet are you secretly afraid that it won't be any different than this year?

Working too much, too hard, not making your dream money?

And even though you love the law of attraction, it seems to break down in your business somewhere?

Are you ready for next year to be different? Join us on my last free teleseminar call of 2008 and learn 7 ways to start the new year and create your BEST year ever!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Time: 2pm eastern/ 11am pacific / 7pm UK

Click here to register

I look forward to "hearing" you on the call!

The Power of Gratitude

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and if there's one thing we can
take from this holiday that will transform our lives, it's the habit of
gratitude. There is a power in gratitude that enables us to tap into
blessings, receive abundance, seize opportunities, and find joy in life.
It's especially fascinating when you look at how you can bring gratitude
into your business - a key attraction energy for creative entrepreneurs!

I'm thrilled to share with you a special program discussion I was recently a
part of called "The Power of Gratitude to Transform Your Life." You may
listen to this f.r.e.e audio or download a written transcript of it at
http://www.ideamarketers.com/experts/calls/gratitude.cfm. 

Experts on this call include marriage & family expert Dr. Linda Miles,
attraction marketing expert Laura West, relationship expert Nancy Gerber and
Marnie Pherson from IdeaMarketers.

I hope you enjoy it!

Laura

Joyful Business Podcast Episode #18: Successful Creativity Takes Time

Don't miss another episode - subscribe today and be the first to know when a new podcast comes out  - Join our "Creating Your Joyful Business" newsletter - http://www.joyfulbusiness.com/subscribe.html

Here is the latest episode of the Joyful Business Podcast featuring interviews with some of the most talented and joyful entrepreneurs on the Internet. Each interview is full of nuggets of wisdom about how being joyful and mindful in your business brings you the success you deserve. You'll find tips, stories, and real life ideas for keeping the joy, passion and creativity alive.

Join us every two weeks in Cafe Entrepreneur for a new interview.

In Episode #18, Jill Badonsky, M.Ed. joins us to share some of her amazing ideas to help keep creativity alive in your work.  Jill is a nationally recognized workshop leader, artist, performer, humorist, and author of the book, "The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard): 10 Guides to Creative Inspiration for Artists, Poets, Lovers and Other Mortals Wanting to Live a Dazzling Existence". Jill is also founder and director of Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching - a ground-breaking model for coaching resistant and sensitive creative people or anyone wanting to create a positive change in their lives. And for those looking for a boost in the body image department, check out her great site:  www.2bodyblissmas.com.

Jill gives us some useful nuggets of creative wisdom, including the importance of taking breaks as a spring-board for new ideas, and how to ask for money for your services, in a professional and confident way.  You can sense her passion for looking at life through a creative lens to see all the possibilities out there - don't miss out on this great inspiration, and a chance to find out if you are in need of a little creative refueling! 

Listen Now: 

If you enjoy this Joyful Business Podcast then you'll love our bi-weekly newsletter, Creating Your Joyful Business, filled with resources and how-to's for creating a financially successful business while honoring your lifestyle, your relationships and your creative expression!  Subscribe at: www.JoyfulBusiness.com  and receive your Free Business Attraction Success Kit!

Enjoy!

  Laura

Energy's Up! and New Teleseminar info...

This morning I was on a call with one of my mastermind groups, and it was my turn to get some coaching.  I started talking about my upcoming teleseminar and the launch of my new year long program....this is the biggest program I've ever launched and as I was talking it was obvious that I was "ready".  My energy was clearly aligned toward the exciement of the programs, the possibilities for the amazing creative entreprenuers who are going to join me and the power of our work together.

All my masternind members had to do was to help me grow my "aligned energy" bigger...we tapped into the "why" I'm doing this program.  My whys are....

• I've been in the shoes of my potential clients...loving my work and yet yearning to make better money at it - consistenly!
• Being embarressed to admit that it IS ALSO about the money!  Somehow I thought I was "less than spiritual" wanting to have a sustainable and flourishing business that financially brought me joy!
• I know what it's like to chase marketing ideas all over the Internet, signing up for teleclasses with this person and that person and feeling overwhelmed.  I know the reflief when you finally decide to commit to one mentor who resonates with your heart AND your mind.
• I'm incredibly amped up on what is possible for these amazing women after a year of this program - just imagining the celebrations in 2009 of how this was truly their BEST year ever!

Whew!  My energy is threw the roof! (Hmmmmm...maybe that's why my Internet connection keeps going down!)

If you are ready for your best year ever, then please join us for a special teleseminar this Thursday where I reveal...

ATTRACTION IN ACTION:  My 5 Most Powerful Attraction Marketing Secrets So You Can Create Your Dream of a Six Figure Business Quickly and Easily!

Thursday, October 30
12 noon-1pm Eastern
Link:  www.joyfulbusiness.com/attractionsecrets

Be sure to sign-up even if you can't make it -  we will send you the audio recording.

I'll also be opening the doors to my new year long mentor program:  Attraction Marketing and Money Mindet Program - AMMMP!  I'll give you a preview on the phone and let you in on some special incentives for signing up soon!

We've had over 150 people register for the teleseminar already.  I've also recieved many wonderful messages about how excited joyful business owners are to hear all this information in one place.

I'm so grateful to have you as part of my community!

En-JOY

Laura