Every once in awhile a joint venture partner will just fall in your lap. But, that’s not the norm. More often it requires a little more effort if you’re looking to find the “right” partner.

My first suggestion is to get out there and connect. It’s extremely critical to become more visible. You need to grow your network among like-minded people. To create a successful joint venture, you want to connect with people who are moving in a similar direction, share a similar goal and common interests.

I’m really happy to say that quite a few joint venture partnerships have blossomed among Metromom members and from entrepreneurs that have participated in my interactive coaching programs. These partnerships work because not only do they have a lot in common, but they’re working towards similar goals.

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What to write in Twitter? Lots of new tweeps and even veterans ask this question. Should I tell people I had chicken salad for lunch? Should I only write about business? etc.

The answer to that depends on how you want to use Twitter. If you prefer to connect with people only professionally, then only tweet about business stuff. If you’d like to connect on a more personal level occasionally, then tweet about personal stuff and respond to other’s personal tweets. The more you do whatever you are comfortable with, the more your tweeps will respond in kind.

Ho hum. So what’s the real secret? Read the rest of this post »

Visit the websites of ten business owners who you know to have a track record of success.  Look through their websites, and sign up for one free or paid program or e-course.  The more time you spend with successful business owners the more successful you will become.

Take some time to analyze what you believe has made them successful.  What seems obvious to you?  Then you may want to contact a couple of these people and ask if you can set up a time to talk with them briefly.  In interviewing them you may find that what you think led to their success is very different than their own perspective.

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I’m headed out of town to attend a private training this week with one of my mentors. Now, traveling is not my favorite thing to do (I would so much rather stay home and play with my “ponies”, go out dancing with Richard or cuddle up with a good movie). So what lures me away from home so frequently?

Learning.

I thought you might like to know HOW I turn so much learning into action, and how I stay out of overwhelm even though I frequently attend events.

You see, for me, learning isn’t just attending an event. It’s the excitement of discovering more about what makes people tick. It’s hearing how to do what I do even better and it’s the anticipation of getting even just one idea that can transform my life or my business.

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“What do you mean that might be part of my problem?” I asked Ralph.

Recently, I had decided to start asking around for a business coach. I realized I needed a business coach after losing my steam about creating a business. I had wanted to get the word out about obedience classes being for humans, not dogs. I thought dogs would be beating down the door to drag their humans to obedience classes.

I was trying to talk to Ralph, my outdoor friend. I don’t know what animal he is, I only see his eyes because he lives in the rocks.

Ralph blinked his eyes. “Other animals eat quails. Like dogs. Dogs eat quails. So when you chase after the quails and yell at them, you scare them because they think you might eat them.”

I thought about this. “So what do I do? How do I approach them?”

Ralph blinked his eyes again. “Why don’t you pretend to be a quail. If you were a quail, how would you approach other quails?”

Wuff,

Nick, the border collie

Hey Everyone,

I’ve been tagged in a “blog tag” by my friend and Mastermind buddy Nancy Marmolejo of Viva Visibility.  These are so much fun and will give you a little more info on bloggers you like to follow.

The name of the game is for me to share 10 honest things about myself and then invite more people to do the same.

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I’m thrilled to share with you a new book coming out soon.  It’s called Emerging Trends Every Online Entrepreneur Must Know published by the Association of Web Entrepreneurs.

I have a chapter featuring Joyful Business trends. I’m very pleased to be in the company of such wonderful and successful online marketing experts and colleagues!

Watch for it in January 09!

With Joy,

Laura

No one wants to hear about someone else feeling icky so I’ll spare you the details of my last week’s bout with the stomach flu (let’s just say I’m not a few pounds lighter and VERY happy to be back to work on my business!).

But, I DO want to share a revelation I had while lying on the couch recovering.

The revelation is that despite having four virtual assistants, my husband, my mom and my brother working with me in my business, I am STILL doing too much of the stuff I shouldn’t be.

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Who would have thought that at almost-age 40, I’d own my first KISS shirt? Thanks to my good friend, Nancy Marmolejo, VivaVisbility.com, who bought it for me after seeing my fab photo with KISS star Gene Simmons.

I must say wearing it gives me a whole new perspective on life. I keep feeling like I should be blasting my 80s hair-band music and digging out my lighter. Ah, those we’re the days.

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Want to get the name and website of your woman small business in front of thousands of potential clients AND honor the gift of gratitude? Easy…give enthusiastic, honest, “results-based” testimonials.

At first, I had no idea this strategy could be as powerful as it is. It wasn’t until I started hearing how new clients enrolled in my success coaching programs “found me” via testimonials I had on other woman small business owners’ websites that I realized the potential testimonials have to create new leads.

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