Entrepreneur Women Coaching and Training's Blog

Key to success for women entrepreneurs

I'm sitting in a beach of Beautiful Maui, wondering why is that I've been able to achieve my goals and my dreams, one after another every time, but so many people haven't been able to be so "lucky" as they refer to me for being able to, take a family vacation, and work at the same time from paradise.

First, I have to tell you it has nothing to do with luck.  We women entrepreneurs tend to be caught up with life and everything around us and spend most of our lives catering to our loved ones needs, but ours; but just imagine for a second:

What will happen if you start to champion your own life the way you champion others? 

At that moment, you will understand that luck is not part of the equation, but hard work and most importantly having the right process build internally to achieve your personal goals and business goals.

Now, the process is quite simple, once you learn it and make the decision to make it part of your life, and this is exactly why I help my clients do through coaching.

In order to achieve your goals, you need to do the following:

1. Get Ready: To get in the right mind set, you have to learn to achieve your dreams in your mind before you can conceive them in the real world, have trust in yourself and focus on what is that you really want.

2. Get Set: You need to be able to influence your subconscious mind and create the pressure you need in order to move always forward, always towards your goals.

3. Write your Goals down: remember that you can not achieve a goal that you have not set.

I know this may sound extremely difficult and perhaps overwhelming, but with the right guidance and accountability partner, I can ensure you, that your dreams are always within reach.

If you are considering coaching as an option for you, make sure to sign up for our FREE Discovery Coaching Session, the most insightful 30 minutes you will have.

Carmen Shearer

http://www.entrepreneur-women-coaching.com

Why every successful woman entrepreneur should have clarity and direction for their journey

Being able to draw clearer distinctions regarding present behaviors, intentions, situations and future directions is what I call Clarity.

Are you clear about your path?  Are you clear about your future? In fact, let's go even deeper on this question. 

Are you clear about your present?

In order to be successful, which we should define right here, I understand for being the best you can be using all the might of your abilities; you as a woman entrepreneur, need to have a clear cut path to follow.

What are you doing to gain clarity for your life? Do you understand why you are doing the things you do, or avoiding those that you skip?

Are you in control of your fears and associations?  Do you know how they can direct your life unless you take over the cruise control feature of your brain?

On the other hand, being able to see new possibilities, regardless of present behaviors; and knowing which one to pursue; is what I call having direction for your life.

Now, imagine having a clear direction.  Wow... In case you haven't guessed this yet, this is one of the most powerful tools you will have at your disposal. 

Successful women entrepreneurs have clear direction in their lives, in their business and as a whole.  Because of it, they are able to evaluate multiple scenarios especially when they find themselves at the famous "forks in the road", which by the way happen quite often.

So you may be wondering, how to create clear direction for yourself?

1. Write down your dreams, and your goals.  If not, how are you supposed to know where are you heading to?

2. Create a plan to accomplish them.  Set up tasks, quantify your obstacles, create a plan to overcome them.

3. Stay focus.  Don't let the small roadblocks discourage your from achieving your goal.

4. Have a strong reason that drives you and make sure you associate extreme pain to not achieving your goal.

5. Seek for help if you need it.  Someone that can give you honest feedback and hold you accountable.

Successful women entrepreneurs know how to focus

Focus is to put all your good eggs in one basket and then watch that basket.  

Contrary of what you may be used to hear, you should try to achieve your dreams and become a successful woman entrepreneur with all your heart and all your might.

Trying with all your might implies that you use all your knowledge, skill and talents; focussing and directing them towards the accomplishment of your goals.

How do you expect to do so, when acting based on fear instead of purpose, you divide your strengths instead of focusing on your goals?

When you conscious or unconsciously decide to play the game of success only half way instead of all the way, you are not focusing on winning, but on failing.

Leave fear behind, give all you got and make the decision to focus on becoming what your dreams tell you to become.

Not sure how to do all that?  Check out the benefits of coaching to learn more about what you can expect when investing on yourself and learning how to focus and play the game of life with the determination needed to win.

Finding opportunities where there is adversity

Opportunities, defined as "the favorable juncture of circumstances"; but how is it possible that some women entrepreneurs find opportunities under the same circumstances than other find nothing but discouragement?

Could it be the disposition that those fortunate women entrepreneurs show for life, the appreciation for challenges and the ability to be flexible enough to adjust their business and life strategies to what life has to offer them?

But what make us different in regards this thing called attitude?  Why are some women wired to turn anything into good things and some other are not?

Unfortunately, that is and perhaps will remain a mystery, but what is not a mystery is that you can do something about it.

With few changes a day, you can transform your life from a average, non exciting live to a thrilling, fulfilling, and exciting experience.

How?  By finding opportunities where there is a problem.

A problem, defined as something that we don't know how to approach, something that bugs you.  Something that can potentially bring some pain with it.  But, the interesting thing is that once you figure out in your mind, how to deal with that "situation" that problem, isn't a problem anymore. Am I right?

And isn't it true as well, that every time that you have found yourself in the middle of a problem, you have come out of it, just to find yourself wiser and stronger?

So, why not start today looking at "problems" like exciting challenges presented to us to strength our will and to make us wiser women entrepreneurs.

Once you make this switch in your attitude, your horizons will broad to an impossible to quantify dimension; and your life will become a much rewarding journey.

Not sure how to break into old bad habits and form new ones?  Let me help you!

How to become successful and happy all day long every day

Did you know  that: "The minute you alter your perception of yourself and your future, both you and your future begin to change.” ~Marilee Zdenek

Imagine, just imagine for a second a life full of success and happiness, wouldn't it be a great thing? Perhaps, just like your dream come true?

What would it take for you to achieve that? 

Frankly, it wouldn't take more than just believing you can become a successful woman entrepreneur, and beyond that a happy and fulfilled woman.

Studies have shown that people and that includes us, women entrepreneurs, have to deal on a daily basis with two things: 

1. Failure of Fear
2. Failure of Success

The first one sounds logical, yes everyone at some point or another experience fear of failure, because it brings pain to our lives and we, human beings and women entrepreneurs fit into that category as well, will do anything to avoid pain, but fear of success?  What's up with that?

Could it be that if you are afraid to succeed, even at a unconscious level, perhaps you are constantly self sabotaging yourself to avoid the pain that no one but yourself have associated in your brain with success?

The good news is that all this behaviors can be reversed and replaced by new and better habits, philosophy and beliefs that will drive you to become the successful woman entrepreneur you have always wanted to be.

As a coach I help women entrepreneurs overcome fear and transform their lives by achieving their dreams.

If you want me to help you achieve your dreams, click here

The key to success for women entrepreneurs

I'm sure you are wondering what is it and how do I know the key to success for women entrepreneurs.

Well, I've learned about this key through several avenues; first by studying success and secondly by trying success on my own; in other words I have both theoretical and practical experience in the subject matter.

The most amazing thing, is that such key is something so simple and basic that you may have take it for granted one or many times before.  However, it's never too late to reclaim your rights to be successful woman entrepreneur and achieve your dreams.

The key to success for women entrepreneurs is: Do what you love and love what you do!  that simple!

It may take months or years to find what you love.  It may take months or years for you to be in the position where you can do what you love full time, but in some ways large or small, you can start doing what you love today.

You may not be paid, or recognized right away; and that's ok!  Once you engage in what you  love doing, even for an hour a day, you will compound an enormous amount of passion and energy into your life.

Life is about love.  Do what you love to do and be what you love to be; and as a consequence you will be a successful woman entrepreneur, because with passion, energy and focus you can achieve any dreams.

How successful women entrepreneurs achieve their goals by making progress

Are you the type of woman who feels overwhelmed by a big goal laying down in the far horizon of your future?

Will you be among the thousand and million of females who never start making progress towards their goals, because they just seamed to big to begin with?

Research shows that when we decide to take the lead in our lives and start to works towards our goals, therefore start to make progress one step at a time, we become happier, less stressed and as result of the last one, healthier individuals.

Successful women entrepreneurs know that it all becomes a compound effort of energy and passion, because when we feel that we are making progress, we tend to be enthusiastic, positive and purposeful people; as progress and the recognition of it fills us with gratitude for the now and hope for the future.

Fortunately for you, there are only two type possible scenarios here:

1. You are making progress, but you haven't acknowledge so; or
2. You are not making progress, because you haven't tried.

It's really as simple as that.  Perhaps it will become more obvious to you if we define progress. 

What is progress?  Progress is change for the better.  It is in fact, any change, however small, that moves you closer towards your goals and dreams, whatever they are.

So, if any change towards your dreams is progress, do you see how you either fit into categories number 1, where you haven't really noticed your progress yet; or number 2, where you haven't made any progress, because you haven't tried?

Stop, pause, allow yourself to feel successful.  Take note to all the progress you have made so far in 2010, in these short 7 days and just imagine what is in store for you at the end of the 358 remaining days.

Or, regroup, pause, plan, and take action.  What change can you implement today, right now; in order to start moving towards your dreams for 2010?  What phone call do you need to make, what appointment do you need to confirm, what book do you need to read, what task do you need to cross off your list?

Yes, it's truth; as of today there is one week gone from 2010, but there is 51 more to go!

Join other successful women entrepreneurs, by taking actions towards your goals and by making progress today.

What does money have to do with it?

How many times have you been in a position when everything else is at fault for your shortcomings, but yourself. Have you ever wonder what will happen if you decide to take a leap of faith and change your life forever? What will happen if for once you leave the fear of failure, fear of rejection and even the fear of success aside, and commit yourself to taking action. How many goals do you think you will be able to achieve?.

The true is that very few people have the discipline of becoming accountable on their own, and that is when a coach will be your best resource and investment; however, if you are capable of doing such a thing own your own, kudos to you, but I want to make sure you know to choose the right type of motivator as a pushing mechanism for you.

Notice, that money is not a good motivator, not a good limitation for success.

I could spend hours telling you stories about people that did not have any money yet became very successful and influential people, and obviously the list is in favor of men, but what about women like Madonna who made an empire out of nothing. The only tools she had in her tool box where: persistence, willingness to change and a big dream, because even though I own perhaps every CD she has produced, we have to admit that she is not the greatest singer, and she did not have money when she started.

But guess what? she did not need money to make money. She made mistakes, adjusted her course and changed her plans, until she accomplished her goal. That is what is all about.

Having a flexible enough business plan that you can tweak as you go, but the most important part is to have a business plan.

If money or lack of money is the reason you have not really started to live your dreams, what if you visualize yourself as if money would not be a problem, could you write down your goal and come up with five things you need to do to start accomplishing your goals?

In other words, fake it until you make it! Believe in yourself, pretend you achieved your goal already, allow that energy to resonate in your body and mind and get empowered by it over and over.

Becoming Financially Independent

"To become financially independent you must turn part of your income into capital; turn capital into enterprise; turn enterprise into profit; turn profit into investment; and turn investment into financial independence" -Jim Rohn

Notice that the entire concept of Financial Independence is broken into six different categories that I have listed below.

We have not imply that you will become financial independent overnight, but we make a great emphasis in the idea of breaking a huge goal, like becoming financially independent, into small manageable pieces, same concept you should use with any goal you have.

This is how you break into small pieces the huge goal of becoming financially independent:

1. Income: You are working for someone else, in a 9-5 job. You do not have real flexibility nor expecting a huge raise over the next years, but you can start saving some money to create the capital that you need to start a business. This capital could be anywhere from few hundred dollars to few thousands or more, depending on what type of business you want to start, your expertise, skills, education, etc.



2. Capital: Saved some income and got some capital, now you can start your own business, pay for the initial expenses; perhaps with your savings or with someone money from someone else (Venture Capital, Family members, Bank, Credit card companies). This Capital is going to be the foundation of your Enterprise or Small Business, which is the vehicle that will allow you become your own boss and the master of your time. It will also allow you to have more time to spend with your family and kids; which is an immense player when talking about anything independence.



3. Enterprise: Call it your Small Business, home based business, part time business to begin with; it does not matter. You are half way through the process of becoming financially independent, and your glass is half full and getting fuller every day. Hopefully you have a good team and mentors to make your enterprise such that will produce the profits that you are looking for.
   

   This Enterprise should also fulfill most of your needs in order to contribute to the ultimate purpose of your life: Happiness.
   
   This is why is so important that you do not elect a business for the money, but for the passion you have on it. The money will follow!

4. Profit: Once you find that passion and niche market to service, the profits will come. The profits should be such that you are able to not only run your business without debt, give yourself a salary and start saving again. This time the savings will be directed towards the investments that will secure your financial independence. Do not make the mistake of working for free for your business in the long run. Remember, the main financial objective of any business is to make profits for the owner.



5. Investment: There are several types of Investment you should consider, being the stock market the most commonly known alternative, and one that you should consider; but leaving it to the experts. Do not try to buy and sell stocks, rather get a financial adviser that will plan your retirement and will tailor your investments to your requests and needs.
   

   Another thing that you should consider is reinvesting in your company or another company. You know that the stock market will give you around 8% return per year (as per the historical return has been over time), but if you have a business that is giving you a return on investment of 13%, you perhaps should reinvest the money in your business. The same was with Real Estate when you were able to get those phenomenal returns, not to say that perhaps now is a great time to buy and get a great return in a couple of years.

   The key to knowing what and how much to put in each bucket, it is not a mathematical formula, and it will vary from woman to woman. Keep in mind that diversification is crucial to ensure you are mitigating your risks and whatever you do, make sure you know exactly what is that you are doing and feel comfortable with that decision.



6. Financial Independence: First key to achieving financial independence: Defining it!
   
   When my clients tell me they are setting a goal to be financial independent, the last thing they expect me to tell them is that they need to re-do their goal.
   
   The reason for this is, because becoming financial independent is not an specific and measurable goal, therefore is not rewarding; not to mention it does not have a time line attached to it.


Take a moment to write down your goals the way they will empower you to achieve them. Define your goals as specific as you can, and make sure you have a strong reason behind them, because that is the only way you will have the driving force to push you towards your goals.


Carmen Shearer, founder of Entrepreneur Women Coaching and Training, LLC; a company dedicated to empower women entrepreneurs by helping them overcome their fears and achieve their dreams. http://www.entrepreneur-women-coaching.com.

Take advantage of our current promotional FREE Discovery Coaching Session, the most insightful 30 minutes that you will have, guaranteed! To do so, go to: http://www.entrepreneur-women-coaching.com/free-session.html

Things you need to know about yourself before becoming a successful woman entrepreneur

Becoming a business woman can be a very intimidating thing, especially if you are a wife and a mom; and the most difficult part of the process is identifying our strengths and weaknesses.

It is important for you to realize than while your passion, confidence and sheer determination will take you far on your entrepreneurial journey, knowing your limitations and weaknesses will take you even farther.

Once you have faced your shortcomings, and embraced them; that is when the real fun begins.  You will not need to feel discourage by this process, as these are the unique gifts and talents that make you who you are; and I am including your weaknesses on that bundle.

In order to identify your real strengths and weaknesses, you can ask yourself the following questions:

1. How comfortable are you making tough decisions?
2. How comfortable are you taking risks?
3. What are you passionate about?
4. Does your business will help you fulfill your passion?
5. What tangible resources do you currently have? (Financial, equipment, credit, customers, relationships, etc)
6. How committed you are to stay the course?
7. What do you personally do well?  What can you bring to the table?
8. What are your gifts and talents?
9. What are your weaknesses?
10. What do you enjoy doing?
11. What do you dislike doing?

Remember, ignoring your shortcomings will come back and bite you, so it will be wiser for you to identify them and plan to fill in the blanks with people and services that will supplement the needs of your business.