Love the Plan

If you haven't already, it's time to plan for your success in 2011. I find most entrepreneurs fall into one of two categories when it comes to planning. See which one resonates with you.

You resist planning, thinking that it will restrict your freedom and creativity. This means that you just let your business flow in any direction. The result is that you probably are frustrated that you don't get any truly big success or momentum. 

Or you love planning so much that you never seem to get to the manifesting part of your plans. You stay in ideation. Falling in love with writing and talking about your plans, but you never seem to be able to get them off the ground. 

Either way leaves you disappointed and frustrated... and NOT achieving the success you are truly capable of! 
Let me share with you my three-step process which will make all the difference between your plan just staying a plan and never meeting with success. I call this my Living Business Plan.

 
In my corporate career I literally created or reviewed over 1000 business plans. I can tell you for a fact--the year never goes as planned; all sorts of unimaginable things happen to throw your plans off track. But when you have a plan, you have a focus. You have intentional energy. That gives you momentum to attract opportunities to you and then you can co-create with the universe. 

You'll want to break your creative planning process into three different stages. 

Step #1 in successful creative planning is Dreaming. Before you jump in with your plans and to-do lists, you need time to just dream and brainstorm the possibilities. What are your "what if's" for the new year? What if this is the year you finish that book, write that screenplay, record that song? What if this is the year that you create the mediation CD or launch your first information product? 

I know you have lots of creative projects, marketing ideas -it's an everlasting list of possibilities. I believe this: You can do anything. Truly anything is possible. But first, you need some time to just dream and put those possibilities out on the table. See where your ideas lead you. Allow them to get bigger. Let them evolve into an even bigger idea that could impact more people than you first imagined. 

Keep asking, and be curious. "What if...?" Let yourself dream first before anything else. 

Step #2 in successful creative planning is Organizing. Now it's time to take those ideas and projects and put them in some order, and, yes, this means editing down your ideas. You have lots of great ideas, but you can't do them all in the first quarter. For some of you, you can't do all your creative ideas in one year! So a big part of planning is prioritizing your ideas. Listen to your joy-o-meter, follow your energy, listen to your heart--let it tell you which projects are ripe and ready for now. 

Then, put those projects on your calendar. Chunk your projects down into manageable pieces and actually get out your calendar and plan them. WHEN do you want to launch your info product? Reverse engineer your way through the steps from launch back to creation - go backward from launch date to the first steps. You'll figure out what resources you need (time, money, support), and you're more likely to get it done. 

Step #3 in successful creative planning is Taking ACTION. First you dream the plans. Then, you organize and schedule the plans. And then you take action on your plans. This is where many plans fall apart. The secret is you need to schedule time to take the actions. Schedule time to write the book, record the audio, research, write the blog posts, hire a team member. Put your action time into your calendar. It won't get done if it just stays a plan. You have to schedule WHEN you going to write it, create it, research it, hire. And then follow through on that commitment. 

Once you start taking action, pay attention. Keep following your energy. This is what makes it a Living Business Plan. And then say YES to opportunities that are in alignment with your vision. Remember that the universe works with you by presenting you with opportunities. Most importantly, trust the process. 

I wish you a magical year full of prosperity in every area of your life and business! 

En-JOY!

Laura

5 Essentials You Need to Know to be a Go-To-Goddess

As a women entrepreneur you probably have in your business vision to be well-known in your industry and to easily attract clients and opportunities to speak, write and contribute; I call this being a Go-To-Goddess.

Being the Go-To-Goddess means having enough confidence in what you offer and how you change people's lives so that you are at the top of the list for other people to recommend you for clients, to the media, and to their colleagues for joint ventures. Getting to the Go-To-Goddess level means it gets easier to attract clients and opportunities. But to get there, you have to commit to 5 things.

5 Essential ingredients to be a Go-To-Goddess:

1. Take a Fresh and Powerful Stand
You can't play small. This isn't a time to do what everyone else is doing. Quite frankly, the world/Internet/marketing has changed so much that doing what everyone else is doing will kill your business.

This isn't a time to hide. You have to tap into your confidence, your inner strength, and your knowing that what you offer will make people's lives better. And be willing to write and speak about it in a way that grabs their attention by your unique style and claim.

If you are not writing, speaking, or using video or audio, then how will people find you? If you are using these marketing strategies but you are doing what you were doing three years ago, then your business will certainly disappear. It's time for deep listening to your tribe and to take a stand for your service and how it will truly address their problems and change their world. (Yes, change their world - it needs to be that bold of a claim!)

2. A Very Specific Tribe
I'm talking about a group of people who are flourishing, engaged and are actively interested in what you stand for. Who are these people? What do you know about them? What do you need to find out? The more specific you can be about who your services are for, then the more of an impact you can have with your marketing efforts. (Big fish-small pond still works.)

To take this further, you want to develop a sense of what your tribe wants, their problems, dreams, aches, and pains. What are their buzz words? What do they hate? What do they love? How do you fit in?

3. Multi-media Approach to Creating Your Go-To-Goddess Brand Mystique
You can't just send a few emails and expect people to flood into your business. The world is so fragmented and, quite frankly, tired so that you have to use 10 ways to reach one person.

Example: You offer a teleclass and market with an email, a blog post, a Facebook event, a YouTube video tip, Tweet, preview teleclass, and an affiliate program. It's not that people will see you everywhere – they just need to see you. You don't know which is their favorite way of getting information. You need to use more than one or two or three ways to reach your tribe.

4. Offer Compelling and Clear Packages, Products and Programs for Your Tribe
People want choice. They want a DIY Starter Kit, some want a little guidance, many want a lot of information, and some want you to help them put the information into place. You want to be creative with the types of packages you create to address your tribe's needs and wants at the level they are.

For example, in my business for women entrepreneurs I have beginner entrepreneurs who are just starting or dreaming of their businesses. They need lots of inspiration and ideas on possibilities. My seasoned clients have been in the trenches a bit and need information, knowledge, and wisdom for how to keep going, how to run their businesses better and more how to's. My mature business owners need inspiration for the next evolution of their business and bigger business knowledge about leverage, scalability and managing business systems and money management.

You can't offer a one-size-fits-all program. In this economy, people are buying, but they are buying cautiously. They want to know that what you are offering will truly help them.

5. Relationship Building is Queen
To be the top of mind Go-To-Goddess, you need all these in place -- and then always remember that it's about the quality of the relationship. Are you reaching out to your clients and your colleagues and letting them know what you are up to? Are you inviting them into your business to collaborate, to be a client, to help them in some way?

You have to give what you most want to receive, and it starts with you valuing the relationship. You can't hide in the ivory tower and watch your computer ka-ching all alone. You need to reach out and talk, connect, speak, and most of all listen to what your clients, the media, and what your colleagues want and then take the inspired action to deliver.

Being a Go-To-Goddess doesn't just happen. You need to be conscious, take inspired action, and build relationships. And with this powerful energy, you can change the world.

Learn the secrets to have your business, body, and mind all working together ...

Do you ever feel like you are missing a crucial piece for gaining the momentum you want in your business — but you aren’t sure what it is?

Are you working really hard and wondering how you will EVER be able to carve out the time you need to take care of yourself?

Do you ever wonder how other women juggle all the balls that we seem to have up in the air?

Could you use more energy, sales, positivity or mojo? 

Do you want to always have joy in your business?

Guess what?

One of the biggest challenges women entrepreneurs face is maintaining a working balance between so many important priorities.

The truth: your body, your mindset, and your business are all intimately related (YOU are your most valuable business asset after all!). ALL the pieces are important, and when the balance gets out of whack, none of the parts operate as effectively and as incredibly or with as much joy as they should.

My friends Dr. Melissa McCreery and Therese Skelly GET IT and they’ve put together the perfect event for busy women entrepreneurs. The best thing is, you can attend it for free!  These women have put together the Body Mind and Business Breakthrough Telesummit.

This event has kicked off this week but there is still time to jump in! You’ll have the unique opportunity to learn from some of the top experts in the areas of health and wellness, mindset and mental strategy, and business breakthroughs—experts like Alexis Martin Neely, JJ Virgin, Suzanne Falter-Barns and Stephanie McWilliams. These speakers know their stuff and I am so honored to be one of them!

CLICK HERE to check out the line up of speakers and grab your seat! Making your body, mind and business work together doesn't have to be a secret any longer!

EN-Joy

Laura

2-Day Joyful Business Sale - Work with Me for a Steal!

I'm opening up 10 Intuitive Strategy Consultation spots for a really great price during my two-day Intuitive Strategy Consultation sale!

This 60-minute time with me is a bargain at $497 considering I don't offer monthly coaching for clients (my private platinum programs start at $20,000). However, you can work with me for 60 powerful minutes with an Intuitive Strategy Consultation for way less if you act quick! You’ll get $200 off the regular $497 price.

I expect these 10 spots to go really fast. If you are interested, go ahead and grab yours today!

If you've ever thought about working with me, this may be your perfect opportunity to bring a heart-centered, authentic-marketing business coach into your business. Even in just 60 minutes, you'll be stunned at how much we can accomplish - and where you'll be at the end of those 60 minutes. Here are some examples of how you can use this Intuitive Strategy Consultation with me:

• Gaining clarity on your message, service, or product so it will have maximum impact and success
• Removing blocks for you to be aligned with your highest joy and vision
• Strategizing on product and program creation to round out your attractive offerings
• Launching a new program or creating a new product
• Focusing on your overall marketing strategies on list building or visibility and credibility building
• Creating or refining your marketing hourglass model
• Getting clear on your ideal client so you can focus your energy, experience and marketing effectively and efficiently
• Determining the next steps for you to maximize your marketing actions with ease, authenticity and impact.

To find out more and to get YOUR Intuitive Strategy Consultation with me for only $297, click here. Use coupon code MAYSALE to get your $200 discount immediately. This sale is only active through today and tomorrow. After tomorrow, the regular price for an Intuitive Strategy Consultation is $497. Save $200 by signing up today!

I love these Intuitive Strategy Consultations - I get the chance to work with some amazing women entrepreneurs. Will one of them be you?

En-joy,

Laura

P.S. Whether you need an objective eye from an expert heart-centered, successful entrepreneur, or a laser-focused strategy session, an Intuitive Strategy Consultation is perfect to help you get clear about what’s next for your success. Don’t wait, or I’m afraid they’ll be gone. Sign up for yours here.

Myth: Conscious Entrepreneurs Don’t Market with Sales Pages

I hear a lot of conscious entrepreneurs and women business owners say they are hesitant to create a sales page for a program or an information product because they don’t feel that sales pages are authentic or spiritual.

My answer:  Sales pages aren’t any less spiritual than a conversation, a business card or a web site.  The question isn’t whether a marketing tool is spiritual – any tool (like a sales page) is neutral until YOU infuse it with your intention and energy.  That means YOU are in charge of the energy of the sales page and how it comes across to your audience.  If you want conscious marketing tools – then create your marketing tools consciously – with intention, with integrity and treat people how you want to be treated.

Bottom line:  Know your ideal client and be authentic and genuine.

If you want to learn more about creating sales pages with integrity AND success so you can showcase and promote your programs, events, teleclasses, workshops and products then check out:  The Business Goddess’s Guide to Creating Powerful Sales Pages with Ease, Authenticity and Heart by Laura West.  Save $100 through May 12! 

Just Let Go

If you are like me, as a woman entrepreneur I know there are times in your business or in your life when you get yourself in a bunch, you start going in circles, chasing your tail, second guessing, doubting…. It still happens to me but with practice it doesn’t happen as much anymore.  I can get myself out of the “tailspin” quicker and usually with more grace. 

There are times where people have told me over the years. “Laura, just let go.”  Let go.  Let go and what?  Note:  If someone is telling you to let go – that means you are holding on tight.  It can be hard to just let go.  There needs to be a second part to “let go and ….”.   And then what do I do? (I know, you enlightened souls will say…let go and just be….but sometimes when you’re “in it” you need a more specific redirect). 

So here’s mine…( I share it so that it might help you..should you ever find yourself in the need)

Let Go AND…

*Stop Doing what you are doing

*Do Something Different

*Breathe – In and Out

*Do the Opposite of what you think you’re *supposed* to do

*Do Something Crazy, Fun, or Creative

*Go for a walk, take a nap or a shower (my 3 favs – insert yours)

*Ask your Higher Self:  “What would ______ Do” (I’ll ask Jezzie - she’s my Spirit Doll)

*Do what you think you can’t possibly do

*Take a Step and Lead

*Love Yourself

I hope this list will help you …in those moments when you need to let go and….

En-JOY!
Laura

Does Everyone Love You, But They Don't Buy From You?

Do you find that your readers, fans, friends, colleagues, audiences love you, and yet they aren't buying from you? How frustrating!

It's a common hurdle you face as a heart-centered business owner growing your business.

The good news is that you are getting their attention. You are getting feedback about your great content. You are connecting! Now, you need to work on confidently educating, inviting in, and being relevant with your offers.

Here are the 4 most commons traps why your people aren't buying from you even though they love what you are up to:

1. Do they even know how to work with you?

This might seem like a silly question at first, but really I have to ask the obvious - Are you making offers and inviting people to work with you? I often see heart-centered entrepreneurs putting out lots of content, great resources (for other people), and yet they NEVER mention how their fans can work with them. These days it is all about building trust, rapport and relationships first… AND you also need to let them know how they can work with you.

Sometimes it's just a simple education process. If you don't tell them, then they don't know that you have a product that will help them. They may not realize that you can work virtually over the phone and, therefore, you can work with clients all over the world. They may not have read through your entire website to know that you offer one-on-one coaching and consulting in addition to your programs.

Don’t assume your market knows what you offer and how they can work with you. You have to tell them – each and every time.

2. You are so joy-focused that you avoid the pain.

I hear from many heart-centered business owners, especially women, that they don't want to talk about the negatives, and they don't want to market from pain. They just want to focus on the positive and the possibilities. Hey, my whole business is wrapped in the virtue of joy, so I get it! And here's what I have learned. Only talking about joy doesn't work very well. You'll be frustrated with very little success and, quite frankly, it isn't really doing a service for your clients.

What if your doctor only came from a place of positive and possibilities? Imagine going to the doctor because your throat hurts, and you have a slight fever and a headache. You don't know if it's the flu, allergies, strep throat or something else. The doctor doesn't focus on the negative or the pain. So, he just talks about the possibilities of you feeling vibrantly alive and recommends these fantastic vitamins! Wouldn't you be appalled, angry, frustrated and maybe even want to turn him in for malpractice?

You have to talk about the symptoms and the pain so that you both can agree on what your client's problem is. Then your potential clients know you understand them. Then you take them to the hope - the vision - the dream - and YOUR SOLUTION! (which is full of joy!)

3. You aren't owning your excellence and expertise.

"Don't brag! Don't be too big for your britches!" And the one my parents used a lot: "You're really full of yourself, aren't you!" (with a tsk, tsk for added emphasis).

These words were meant to protect us when we were small, but now these are the very beliefs that will keep trigger shame and guilt and hold you back. These beliefs will keep your business small. You won't help as many people if you market with these beliefs in mind. This is a tough place to be when you are an entrepreneur in a service profession where you need to promote yourself to get clients and make money.

It's imperative to your success and your client's potential transformation that you shift your beliefs to ones that are life enhancing and focused on business expansiveness. Your clients need you to own your excellence and expertise powerfully and confidently. When you do this, your confidence givesthem confidence in you and your services. You can own your career experience, PhD, certification, success in a way that is authentic, in integrity and full of graceful power.

4. There is no reason to buy right now.

Once I was in a workshop with a famous author and psychic intuitive. It was a truly transformative weekend. There were probably 30 of us who were loving the experience and our new-found power. At the end of the workshop, she told us how we could work with her in various programs (yay - see #1), but then she said, "There's no pressure; we're here. Whenever you want, just contact us".

Now I know she didn't want to manipulate us or put pressure on us to buy now, but there is a better way. First, she could have given us the forms in our hands, and several of us would have gladly signed up because she would have made it easy. She could have given us an incentive or bonus to sign up, and she would have saved marketing time and effort because we'd gladly sign up now. Since there was no reason to buy now - I didn't. I meant to do it when I got home, and, well, now it's a year later and I haven't gotten around to it.

We both missed out.

The same is true when you offer a product or service online. If it's always available, then why should they buy from you right now? They'll do it... someday. Hopefully, you won't be out of business by then.

Looking at these four areas ask yourself, "If I were being a courageous, committed business owner, what would I step into boldly?"

You'll amazed at how little steps into these important areas will bring new clients, income and opportunities - which means you are making a bigger difference in the world!

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,www.joyfulbusiness.com. I would also appreciate it if you'd send us a copy for our media files. ©Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

Laura West is an award-winning online entrepreneur and president of The Center for Joyful Business.

Spirituality Marketing - Second Chance to Grab your Free Spot!

Great news! If you didn't make Suzanne Falter-Barns' freebie call on why spiritually oriented businesses don’t make more money you have a second chance!

A WHOLE HECK OF A LOT OF FOLKS were there, (more than 2500 signed up!) hanging with Suzanne and her panel of experts, exploring how to create more $$ in anyone’s spiritual businesses.

It was a sizzling call, but no worries if you couldn’t make it.

Suzanne’s going to present the VERY SAME CALL all over again! You can listen this Saturday, April 24 at 1:00PM ET/10AM PT.

http://ow.ly/1zJVf

If you didn’t get on the first time, you’ll get all the same juicy content as before. And this time with the leisure of a Saturday to relax and enjoy the call.

Here’s the scoop:

If you’re NOT making all the money you could make from your spiritually guided business …

If you KNOW something is wrong in your psyche, your spirit, your energy … SOMEWHERE … that really impacts your business

If you KNOW you’re meant to step up to a higher calling and lead from the heart, and you know you need guidance to make more money doing this …

… then we’re here to help. Because not enough spiritually-minded entrepreneurs make the money they want.

So what’s up with that?

Suzanne asked in a team of her favorite spiritual marketing experts in for a powerful panel discussion. That would be Mark Silver of Heart of Business, and abundance psychic Andrea Hess of Empowered Soul. Plus my partner, Jeffrey Van Dyk, and Amethyst Wyldfyre – my favorite shamaness who knows how to move your energy around your business.

Here’s some of what they covered:

• Energetic blocks YOU may have that keep you stuck financially
• How to make offers that come from the heart … not just your concern for your bottom line
• Why so many spiritual marketers just aren’t making the money they want (Hint: It’s not the economy!)
• Some vibrational ‘secrets’ to manifesting … and why it works better for some of us than others
• A great process for connecting directly to your own spiritual guidance

    … and much, much more

In this special 90-minute free call, Suzanne and her buddies get to the bottom of the mystery! So don’t miss it, OK? And yep, you’ll get the recording link as soon as the call ends.

Join this special encore presentation of this call on Saturday, April 24 at 1:00PM ET/10AM PT

http://ow.ly/1zJVf

EN-Joy

Laura

DARE to Live Your Dreams, Passions & Indulgences

This can be the year you take your Joyful Business to the NEXT LEVEL!

Join me and Francine Allaire, Founder of The Daring Woman™ and The Daring Woman™ Global Alliance for a Free, Yet Priceless Teleseminar.

What You Need to Breakthrough to the Next Revenue Level
in Your Passion-Based Business!

Tuesday April 20th, 2010
5:00pm Pacific / 8:00pm Eastern

You’re a passion-based entrepreneur, which means you’ve created a business you love, that feeds your soul, fuels your passion, and gives life to your purpose.

And for that business to be viable – to *really* make a difference – it – and you – need to be profitable. What most entrepreneurs don’t understand is that there are revenue plateaus. You reach a certain level. You stay at that level.

At any level you can’t keep doing the same things you’ve been doing and expect to double your sales results. TThere are only so many hours in the day.

During this information-rich session, you will learn the essentials to breakthrough to the next revenue level in your passion-based business." with Laura's sentence below: "During this information-rich call, Francine Allaire will interview *yours truly* as I share with you the essentials you need for you to breakthrough to the next revenue level in your passion-based business.

This event is NOT to BE MISSED! Easy, FREE Registration yet priceless information. Don't worry if you can't make the call live, there will be a recording. But you must register first!

For more information or to register:
http://www.thedaringwoman.com/teleseminar/laurawest.htm

FORMAT: Simulcast! (Attend via Phone or Webcast - It's Your Choice!)

I’m giving a Special Bonus Gift to The Daring Woman Success Circle Members – SECRETS TO A SUCCESSFUL JOYFUL BUSINESS AUDIO GIFT PACKAGE which includes:

* Immediate Access to my 3 Favorite Teleclasses Audio Recordings (not available to the general public)

**The Key to Thriving in Any Economy- Isn’t What You Think!

*** My 5 Most Powerful Law of Attraction Strategies to Help You Create the 6 Figure Business of Your Dreams

**** What You Need to Know about Money, Marketing and Spirituality

Get access to My Special Bonus Gift by joining The Daring Woman Success Circle for only $57.00 for an entire year. Plus you’ll have access to a complete audio library of 40+ Interviews with Success Experts and Special Bonus Gifts from other Success Experts just like me valued at over $1,000.00.

For more information or to Join The Daring Woman Success Circle click here:
http://bit.ly/DaringExpertLaura

Don’t let your busy schedule prevent you from joining us on Tuesday April 20th at 5:00pm Pacific / 8:00pm Eastern.

I hope to “see you” on the call. Francine and I invite you to Take on THE DARE together.

EN-Joy,

Laura

Business Goddess Marketing Tip #7: Women Don't Flourish Alone

Business Goddess
Audio Marketing Tip Series

Helping you market
like a Business Goddess...
from the inside out

I hope you've enjoyed the Business Goddess Audio Marketing Tip series - my free gift to you to help you market like a Business Goddess - from the inside out.

Today's Business Goddess Audio Marketing Tip is women don't flourish alone.

Business Goddess Marketing is not just about the actions you take, but connecting to that deeper power inside that leads great marketing actions.

To listen now, visit http://www.joyfulbusiness.com/audiotip/tip7.html

EN-Joy

Laura