SoloSavvy Blog for Solo Entrepreneurs » Ann Ronan

How Are You Intelligent?

Ann Ronan — Wed, 05 May 2010 23:00:17 +0000

Now please notice I didn’t ask, how intelligent are you? That’s an entirely different question. Our culture puts a great deal of weight on assessments given to you when you’re in school…I.Q. tests, S.A.T.s, A.C.T.s…alphabet soup. This is unfortunate. These tests only measure a portion of the different types of intelligences including linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligences.

Years ago, I was delighted to find Howard Gardner’s work on multiple intelligences in the K-12 school systems. He identified 8 different types of intelligences. They include linguistic (good with words), logical-mathematical (good with numbers and reasoning), spatial (picture smart), bodily kinesthetic (body smart), musical (music smart), interpersonal (people smart), intrapersonal (self smart) and naturalistic (nature smart).

Another author, Daniel Goleman, says we can also have emotional intelligence and that this kind of intelligence is an even stronger indicator of success than I.Q. Emotional intelligence can be learned, it’s not fixed at birth. The different emotional intelligences include self-awareness, altruism, personal motivation, empathy, and the ability to love and be loved.

Ok. So what does all this have to do with you being happily self employed, working from home doing work you love and making plenty of money? I find that many of my clients doubt that they are “smart” enough to succeed in their own business. They often don’t recognize the gift of their own unique intelligence and how that gift can solve problems for others.

For example, I’ve met many interior designers who downplay their talent and under charge for their services. Now being someone who has had to return just about every piece of furniture I’ve ever bought on my own, I recognize clearly the gift of spatial intelligence in these designers. And that’s one intelligence I sure wasn’t blessed with! I save my self (and the sales clerks) lots of time and frustration by hiring designers.

Another example, I never knew that I had a natural ability for writing until I got to college. I assumed it was not difficult for anyone to write. Wrong! A college professor had us take an exam to determine if we needed to take a basic writing class. Of the 15 people who gave a writing sample that was judged by 3 teachers, mine was the only one that “passed” so I didn’t have to take that writing course. That’s when I had an aha moment of “oh, so this isn’t easy for everyone.” Prior to that, I just had no awareness of this gift. And now I am able to serve others with and charge well for my services.

So how are you intelligent? Don’t downplay your interpersonal and/or intrapersonal skills. Those are often even more important than some of the others. They allow you to build rapport and relationships, to empathize with others and to be a good listener. These are some of the strongest skills you need in business and sales. Would love to hear about how you are intelligent -post a line or two here on my blog: www.authenticlifeinstitute.com/blog and how you are starting to honor your unique intelligence. I can just about guarantee that you have far more capacity than you give yourself credit for!

Why Blog?

Ann Ronan — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:00:39 +0000

When I first heard of blogging, I said to myself –that looks silly and time consuming and how the heck could it help my business? And I buried my head in the sand for a couple of years. And then, one of my coaches started nudging me and showed me some practical reasons to blog. And now I’m hooked. Today I ‘m going to share with you the top reasons to blog and how to get started.

1. Internet interaction is here in a big way and is here to stay. With the advent of social media (linked in, facebook, twitter) and smart phones, people now expect to be able to interact with you online. Your website is a one way street. You give out content. Your readers receive it. With a blog, people can comment on what you post and a dialogue occurs.

This is great because it builds relationships AND it’s great for driving traffic. Search engines and blog directories are notified of your updates and they love that!

2. Google Loves New Content. In the past, google would find your web pages and if they hadn’t been around for 9 months or so, it was considered too “new” to land high on the search engines list. Now, fresh content is queen. Google loves it. I use “google alerts” to keep an eye on several keywords I’m tracking. Don’t know what I’m talking about? I’ll explain!

Go to google and type in “google alerts”. You will be taken to a google tool that allows you to put in words you want to track that are being picked up on the internet. For example, I track Ann Ronan, @anncoach (my twitter address), self employment, and Providence, RI (to get new content for my www.providencelover.com site and to see when that site is mentioned).

Each day, google sends me a list of websites and blogs that have used one of my articles, or mentioned my name or keywords. Often when I post a blog, google picks up the content the very next day. It’s not so quick at finding my website content. This is powerful for bringing readers to your website/blog.

3. It’s Easy To Upload Content. For years, I had to rely on others who were expert at html language (don’t ask!) to update my website content. Now, I can easily type in what I’m thinking and click a button and it’s done! I recommend using WordPress (it’s free and powerful).

I also recommend having an integrated website/blog –don’t worry… I didn’t want to learn the technical aspects…and if you don’t either, I have a resource for you. If you want resources to help you start your own blog, post a comment on my Authentic Life Institute blog and I’ll get back to you.

Repurpose Your Way To Making More Money With Less Effort and Time

Ann Ronan — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:00:20 +0000

What the heck do I mean by “repurpose?” Well it’s when you do one thing and then spin that one thing into many. Let’s take a look at how this might work.

1. Write a top ten tip sheet. My first one was called “Top Ten Ways to Live Authentically.” I wrote it 10 years ago and put it online and I still get feedback from it!

2. Flesh out each of your top ten tips into a few paragraphs and now you have an article. Write a 400-600 word article expanding on your top ten tips. You put a “call to action” resource box at the end of the article. A resource box is the jargon term that online article databases use…kind of like a byline, only it’s much more.

Don’t make the mistake of using the few sentences you have here by talking about your bio data. Instead, give people a reason to go to your website and get something free, and of value, in exchange for their email address.

That one article becomes a client list builder. And the beauty of it is that article remains online for a very long time AND other website/blog owners looking for good content, may ask you if they can post your articles WITH your website, on their webs/blogs…this happens to me several times a year.

3. Create an e-course out of your top ten tips. Set them up in an autoresponder like Aweber or 1shopping cart. Now you have something of value to give away in exchange for a person’s email address. AND the best part is, they will receive 10 different emails from you, maybe one a week. That helps build relationships. If you’re really on top of it, you’ll have a call to action at the end of each of the weekly emails.

4. Rework your article into a press release. The key to getting your press releases published is to tie your content into something interesting and newsworthy. An example from my biz might be to write about how self employments may be the key to turning around the economy and then add the content of my article.

You can submit press releases to your local newspapers, business journals and online for free (or fee).

5. Create a teleseminar based on your article content. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Your content can be used in many ways. Teleseminars are a great way to build your list and to promote an upcoming fee-based teleseminar series.

6. Create a video of you teaching some of the content and post it on YouTube. You can do this easily with an inexpensive FlipCam. It doesn’t have to be professional. Just be you. YouTube gets tons of web searches each day. Some folks just plain prefer to learn by video.

And that’s just the beginning! The next time you decide to create something, brainstorm all the possible ways it can be used.

Facebook: How to Set Up A Fan Page

Ann Ronan — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:00:20 +0000

Yes, Facebook is a fun way to keep in touch with your buddies and family and to reconnect with people you’ve lost contact with. AND, it’s also a powerful marketing tool if you use it right.

Some people choose to set up a private page for just family and friends while creating a separate page for business. I’ve chosen to blend the two on my “wall” so that potential clients/customers can get a feel for who I authentically am.

I’m in the process of creating a “fan page” specifically for my business (watch for a contest announcement in March!). I thought I’d share some of what I’ve learned with you.

1. Some facts about Facebook. Think that your ideal client is not on Facebook? Think again. In 2009, Facebook had 350 million users and it keeps growing. Facebook reaches 56% of people using the internet in the U.S. and many more in other countries. Just over 70% of Facebook users come from outside the U.S.

11% of users are ages 13-17, 29% are 18-25, 23% are 26-34, 18% are 35-44, 12% are 45-54, 7% are 55-65. Facebook is the #3 site visited by users 65 and older!

2. Why Are You Doing This Anyway? Before you dive in take some time to set your goals and expectations of your Facebook Fan Page. You may want to sell a certain number of books, you may want to get booked for a certain amount of speaking gigs each month, you may want to establish yourself as an expert, or you may want to fill up your coaching group.

3. How to Create a Fan Page. Go to www.facebook.com. Scroll way to the bottom to the fine print and click on “advertising”. On the left hand side of the page, click on pages. Then click on “create page”. Now you’re ready to create your fan page (it’s free!).

4. Start a discussion. One of the great things about a Facebook Fan Page is that you can interact with your tribe. You’ll see a “discussion” folder tab at the top of the page. Post a question you’d like to get opinions or ideas about.

5. Post some photos and videos. Everyone enjoys seeing you in “real life” situations. It’s also great to post photos of you with experts or local celebrities.

6. Invite people to join your fan page. Send an email to your list inviting them to become a fan. Run a contest like I’m doing to encourage participation. If you already have a Facebook profile page (this is different from the Fan Page) you can invite your “friends” to become fans. On the Facebook Fan Page, scroll all the way down to the bottom left. You’ll see a “share” button. Click on it and you’ll see your Fan Page Profile and your list of current Facebook Friends. You can select who to send an invitation to or click “all”.

You can post an invitation on your blog, you can twitter about it, if you have a profile on Linked In you can post an update about your new Facebook fan page.

Want a powerful, no cost way to build your list of raving fans? Get going on building your Facebook Fan Page!

Building Your Business Income Streams So They Provide a Continuous Flow Of All The Money You Need

Ann Ronan — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:00:31 +0000

If you’re just starting out with your business, you may not have a clue as to where your money will come from. Or maybe you’ve given it a go and are not bringing in the income you need and deserve. The topic of how to have multiple income streams is a murky one for most people.

I find that there are five huge mistakes entrepreneurs make when thinking about their upcoming income. Are you making any of these? (Don’t worry –I did too –until I was coached by the best to expand my thinking and to translate my big visions into doable steps!)

1. You don’t set income goals. You just toil away at this and at that maybe bringing in dribs and drabs of money but not enough to be confident that you can make a living. You’ve got to create a clear blueprint of where the money will come from.

If this is you, you probably don’t like thinking about money and tend to stick your head in the sand. The need here is to make it very practical.

2. You don’t think about the idea that you can bring in several income streams. I coach my clients to decide on 3 income streams at a time. This allows you to offer different services/products, in alignment with your purpose and mission of course. It also takes away the risk of having all your eggs in one basket. You don’t want to have one client that you depend on for the bulk of your income.

3. You don’t create an action plan for each income goal. This is probably the biggest mistake I see. You set some great goals, you’re excited about them, but then you don’t spend your daily actions working in baby steps towards them. You need to know, step-by-step how to reach your clients and sell your products or services to meet each income goal. And then you need to move forward each day.

Continued here: http://authenticlifeinstitute.com/blog/

5 Top Reasons I Love Being Self Employed

Ann Ronan — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:29:24 +0000

I’ve been self employed for 10 years and coach others over 40 to enjoy the life first/work second lifestyle. My top 5 reasons:

1. FREEDOM! I enjoy and choose to work 30-35 hours a week AND I get to choose when I write, teach teleseminiars and coach.

2. FREEDOM Part II: I get to choose WHERE I work. My home office, the local funky coffee shop or at the harbor overlooking the Pacific ocean.

3. Working alone most of the time. This is perfect for me! I love several hours a day in complete silence. But do know, you can get out to coffee shops and networking meetings and have as much interaction as you like…your choice!

4. Choosing projects and clients I love. I get to say no.

5. More vacation time. No more 2-4 weeks of vacation time. I take 4-6 weeks a year in addition to 3-4 weeks of professional development conferences.

Grateful to be working from home!

Ann Ronan — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:18:59 +0000

Today I’m feeling extra grateful!

The French call Gratitude “the memory of the heart.” And gratitude is now even being studied scientifically! Robert Emmons, a professor in the new field of positive psychology at University of California Davis, is conducting research on gratitude. He found gratitude contributes to emotional equanimity and pleasure, richer personal relationships and greater health. He says ‘Gratitude is more than a tool for self-improvement. Gratitude is a way of life.”

A simple way to cultivate your gratitude is to keep a Gratitude Journal. For the next four weeks, make a commitment to write down five things you are grateful for each day. Include the ordinary as well as the extraordinary.

Create a ritual time to do this each day. Science shows us that keeping a gratitude journal for as little as three weeks results in better sleep and more energy!

Igniting Your Spirit,

Ann

P.S. Want to take a powerful step towards creating your ideal life – a life filled with gratitude? Join our inspiring and supportive Success Circle FREE for 2 months. Yes it takes courage to join AND you have nothing to lose (except regrets if you don’t live the beautiful life you deserve to have!)

P.S.S. If you give us your postal address when you register we’ll send you a gift to help you remember Gratitude!

Join here: http://www.authenticlifeinstitute.com/SuccessCircle.htm

How to Focus…the Secret is in Your Unique Genius

Ann Ronan — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:41:22 +0000

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Mary Oliver

James Hillman, in the Soul’s Code says that “just as the giant and majestic oak is embedded in the acorn, so a person carries inside them an active kernel of truth, or an image, waiting to be lived. The idea is not a new one – the Greeks had the word ‘daimon’ to describe the invisible guiding force in our lives, the Romans the ‘genius’.”

I read those words in 1996 and bought a ceramic symbol of an acorn…which still hangs in my office today. It reminds me that if I started out as an acorn…it makes no sense to try and be a pine tree….That I must live MY life….as the GENIUS that I am (and so are you!)

Your true essence has ALWAYS been there…from before you were born…and you got the clearest glimpses of it when you were a child and still KNEW you were a Genius.

So think about what you loved to do, what was it you loved about it and what words would describe it? My example? I loved to spend LOTS of time alone in solitude, I loved writing and I loved playing “teacher”….and guess what I do today.

When I stay focused on feeding my spirit by allowing plenty of time to be with my thoughts and THEN take those thoughts and write about them and teach them to others.. I am in bliss….AND making money!

So…what’s your Genius? And are you sharing it with the world?

Just choose!

Ann Ronan — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:00:11 +0000

I was working today with someone who wants to be self employed but can’t decide what business to choose. I have several strategies I use when someone is stuck in this boat -but my favorite, particularly when someone is between 2 choices, is to tell them to flip a coin. Yup, flip a coin. It’s not that the coin will make your decision. Here’s how it works.

Imagine a situation that you might be in…where you are feeling stuck about making a choice between 2 things. Now go ahead and assign heads to one choice and tails to the other -did you notice that while the coin was in the air, you suddenly were rooting for one of your choices to appear over the other? Now you know what to do!

I’d love to hear your stories about successful self employment or your challenges to becoming or staying self employed. Drop a line!

Igniting Your Entpreneurial Spirit,

Ann

P.S. If you’d like a free 7 Part Audio Seminar: Igniting Your Entpreneurial Spirit:7 Easy Steps to Success then click here: http://www.authenticlifeinstitute.com/

Tap Into the Secret Behind “The Secret”

Ann Ronan — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 16:47:16 +0000

Tap into the Secret behind "The Secret"

Have you heard of the movie called "The Secret"? It’s about the Law of Attraction – a principle that states -what you focus on, you attract.

All the spiritual traditions, along with philosophers and scientists, recognize the power of thinking. "Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life", Ernest Holmes said. Or, "It is done unto you as you believe" as the Christian bible tells us. Or, "With our thoughts, we make our world" as Buddha said. There are many more examples.

Now, this principle, this "law" works just like other laws you are familiar with. It is impersonal. Take electricity for instance. The laws behind electricity always say yes – if you turn on our light switch – you get electricity that lights up your room. If you choose to cross wires incorrectly, you get electrocuted. There is no judgment by the law whether the purpose you are using electricity for is "good" or "bad." It is the same with the Law of Attraction.

What you think about you get. The law always says yes. And you know what’s really fun -you don’t even have to understand how it works! But you DO have to know who you are at your core and what you really love. There is a great poem by Mary Oliver called "Wild Geese" that talks about this. Here are a few lines:

"You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves."

So what I am talking about when I say the secret behind "The Secret"? Remembering your Essential Self – cracking open the hard veneer of a shell you’ve created to protect yourself, to "look good" – reconnecting with the magic of the unbounded Essential Self. Once you do this, the miraculous can occur. Things that seemed unattainable are suddenly within reach and your incredible capacities are unleashed. Once you do this, you can fully use the Law of Attraction to change your life.

– Ann Ronan, Ph.D.
Authentic Life Institute
www.authenticlifeinstitute.com

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