Some people wrongly think that you shouldn’t be rewarded financially for living your purpose and being of service to others, especially those who do spiritual or healing work. But this is simply not true. Let me explain.

As you may know, there is a spiritual revolution happening right now in business. It’s an exciting time. The collective consciousness is shifting…AWAY from greed, competition, dishonesty, taking and accumulating for accumulation’s sake…and instead shifting TOWARD authenticity, integrity, love, compassion and being of service. Read the rest of this post »

If you are at the ramp up phase of building your business, let me share the single most valuable piece of advice I can give you:

Get out from behind your computer and meet people!

Many new business owners struggle with many marketing concerns such as naming their business, constructing a website or picking the best niche. But in truth, the most effective steps you can take for building your business is to network like crazy?and speak to groups. Read the rest of this post »

How do you talk about your business without sounding like a robot?

You know that whole “30 second pitch” thing “they” say you must have? You hate that, don’t you? Does ANYONE sound natural reciting those?

I have an aversion to fakery. The 30 second pitch sets off every button in my being.

Learn how to have a human to human conversation that feels as natural as saying hello. Read the rest of this post »

Professors are smart, but professors are also also boring (except for my animal nutrition professor whose goal was to relate every single lesson to beer).

You don’t have to be boring and stuffy though to position yourself as an expert. Read the rest of this post »

This week was Brand Promise week in the Branding Game. To give you a little background this is where we examine what makes participants unique from 4 different angles and find the common thread that becomes foundation of their brand.

What often comes up is that the common thread or what we define as a participants “uniqueness” isn’t actually unique at all and there are other solopreneurs conveying the same message.

The truth is, nothing is ever truly unique. There will always be someone that has already gone before you and that’s ok.

It’s ok because even though your message may be the same, how you deliver that message, how clients experience working with you, and why that message is important to you will be different and they all add up to a unique brand!

Read the rest of this post »

Marketing your business during the summer months can be difficult because just about every other business in your industry will be trying to market and sell as well. Instead of doing the same ole’ thing and trying to market louder than your competitors, do something that stands out.

Here’s a Few Ideas to Get You Going:

Amp Up Your Affiliate Program

Affiliate marketing can boost your business dramatically during the summer season. So, if you have a program, promote it and if you don’t have one, think about creating one.

Read the rest of this post »

When you first venture onto Pinterest and see all the pretty things that people have Pinned, it can be rather intimidating.

It leaves you wondering how you compete with that as a small business owner? Will you have to hire a team of photographers and graphic designers to create images worth Pinning?

Don’t panic. It’s much easier than it looks. Here are some tips that will have you creating stunning Pins in no time.

• Take great photos. You don’t have to have a lot of fancy equipment to take Pinterest-worthy pictures, but it helps to have a reasonably good camera. Pay attention to the lighting when you’re shooting, and keep the background free of distractions. For product photos, a solid white background is usually best. If you’re taking pictures of small objects, consider using a lightbox.

Read the rest of this post »

Waiting. It’s an inevitable aspect of human life and it’s not something that most of us enjoy.

We wait in lines, we wait while our gas tank fills, at traffic lights, in doctor’s offices, to be served at our favorites restaurant, and while waiting to pick up our kids.  Statisticians have estimated that in a lifetime of 70 years, the average person spends at least three years waiting.

THREE YEARS!

But we can use these “down times” to be productive. Waiting doesn’t have to mean wasting time. You can manage your time better by conducting tasks that will assist you in business or things that can save you time at later date.

Read the rest of this post »

Of all the mascots I would expect a high-end luxury hotel to have, the lowly mallard duck is certainly not one of them. And yet, that was what greeted me when I stepped into the Peabody Orlando Hotel.

There is an actual story behind the ducks (which is printed on the napkins) but the reality is the story is less interesting than how the hotel has built a brand around ducks.

First, you have the “March of the Ducks” — at 11 am the ducks “march” (or more accurately waddle) on a red carpet to spend the day in a luxurious fountain. This fountain is located in the middle of the hotel and is actually quite a nice place to get a little work done or enjoy a coffee and cupcake (while watching the ducks splash around). At 5 pm they then “march” (waddle) back to their Duck Palace to enjoy a duck dinner and a “quiet evening” together.

Read the rest of this post »

It’s true: first impressions are lasting impressions.

You may be incredibly talented and a sheer genius, but many business owners are coming across as clunkers (as opposed to the Hot Rods they should be!) in their  marketing.

Let’s start with social media profiles.

Your profile page – whether on Linked In, Facebook, YouTube, etc- is the gateway  to new opportunities, clients, and valuable connections. It might seem like a casual  place to hang out, but it’s one of your most important marketing tools that can be seen by the exact people who’ll hire you and pay you top dollar for your work!

Read the rest of this post »