SoloSavvy Blog for Solo Entrepreneurs » Solo Entrepreneur Challenges

What is the Purpose of the Oil Spill in the Gulf?

Stacey Mayo — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:30:52 +0000

This is a different topic for me to write about. But then these are different times. It probably needs its own blog but given this needs to be read now and I am not ready to start yet another blog, I have created a new category of posts called Heal Your Planet.

To me, healing the planet is a part of the Sentelligent Solution. It is about listening to what is happening on the planet and what is needed and responding sentelligently. Sometimes it can be hard to make sense of what is happening in our world. In those times, we might call on a higher source to help us understand. That is what happened below.

This post came about because I was not feeling inspired to write an article on any particular subject. I checked in with my guides to ask if they would help and was surprised at the response. This is the information I received from them:

We have a great deal to say. We want everyone to know that you are here because you intended to be here during this time. And it is a great honor to be here in these times. Most people think it is a terrible time.
It is a turbulent time . . . but not a terrible time. It is a time fraught with challenges but they are the challenges you signed up for . . . because you knew what was on the other end was more beautiful than anyone could imagine and you wanted to experience that and you wanted to help in the creation of that.
You are creators. You are here for a divine purpose. You are in this together. You are not alone. So buckle your seat belt and get ready for the ride of a lifetime.
What do you want to ask?

Q. Is there a greater purpose for the oil spill?

A. There is a purpose for everything on earth. Nothing is really an accident. The oil spill looks like an accident but it was not. It was for the good of your people to wake up the clean up efforts. Your planet was already dirty but you needed to see it in magnification so you would get serious about cleaning up. No one can do it alone and no single person is to blame. All are one.
BP are the ones who will take the fall for this. It is in their CEO’s soul agreement to do that. He is carrying out his role perfectly although he does not remember that he is doing so. He agreed to be the fall guy so the planet would wake up to what must be seen — That no one is being responsible at the level that is warranted.
This is your mother earth and you must take care of her. You must honor her. You must cherish her. You must love her. And obey her. She wants to be cleaned and purified. She wants you to wake up.
She wants you to make companies responsible but also make individuals responsible for what they do every day to pollute mother earth. Wake up. Not later but now, please wake up. Please take responsibility for your homeland. You, not anyone else but you.

NOTE: I am the messenger for this information. I am putting it out there with some reticence because I know how angry people are about what has happened to our gulf. This is understandable. None of us like what happened but we must shift that anger into productive action to take care of our planet. Let’s all wake up and do our part.

For those who would like to read more about the idea of agreements and challenges we may have planned in this lifetime, I recommend reading Your Soul’s Plan by Robert Schwartz.

3 Ways to Ensure Your Business is Busy — No Matter The Economy or Season

Sandra Martini — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:00:02 +0000

It’s summer. . .a time of school vacations; hazy, hot and humid weather; and, according to some, the slowest business season of the year.

Not so here in Lakeville! We’re going gangbusters and there’s a few reasons why which you can easily use/adapt for your business:

Plan for success and work the plan. Nothing secret here – it actually makes things easier if you have a plan to work by as there’s no wondering “What should I focus on?” thoughts when you walk in the office each morning.
Generate exposure all year round for a steady flow of business: consistent article marketing; regularly (at least 2x/week) posting on your, and others’, blogs; connecting with people “live” through social media; “touching” your readers through direct mail and, if conducive to your business, regularly hosting f.r.e.e. teleclasses.
Create systems to work for you. The busier you get, the more important it is to have the right systems in place so “no balls get dropped” and every client experiences Extreme Client Care™ from you and every member of your team. And the busier you are, the more clients who want to work with you.

The above is a longer way of saying that:

Ordinary things, done consistently, create extraordinary AND consistent, results!

My Request to You

It’s true. . .the above may not seem like the sexiest or most amazing secrets in the world.

It’s also true that 99% of all entrepreneurs and small business owners don’t do them. Always searching, hoping for the magic pill, they fail to do the things which practically guarantee success.

Every day you sit down to work, you have a choice: move steadily forward or sit and wait for success to find you.

Which are you going to do today?

How To Take Your Business To The Next Level With Ease

Bria Simpson — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:00:19 +0000

We talk a lot about taking your business to the next level. For you, does that mean the next level of income, the next level of business growth, the next level of freedom or a combination of all three?

Whatever your version of “the next level” is, the BEST way to get there is to let go of the smaller stuff.

Recently, we have spent a great deal of time, energy and money trying to implement the best possible team. Why? Because we’ve learned the hard way that we can’t do it all ourselves. We spent years trying to do too much in several of our businesses, including our coaching business- and it has always slowed us WAY down.

Save yourself some agony.

What can you let go of in your business that will help free you up for “the big stuff?” Think of what you love to do, what you do well, and what you know you MUST do to move your business forward. Put YOUR focus there and delegate the rest.

If you can’t do it all now, that is okay. Do it in baby steps. Begin to shift your awareness and your actions to focus on the big stuff and let go of the items that others can do for you at minimal costs (such as running errands, paying bills, scheduling clients, doing paperwork, answering phones etc).

If you are already running a 6 or multi-6-figure business, the next step is to let go of some things that “you know you can do yourself well” because…again… you can’t “do it all” AND enjoy your business. And life is too short not to enjoy what you do every day.

The very acts of prioritizing, sharpening your focus, and delegating is what helps you get to your “next level” with ease. So, ask yourself, “What can you let go of today, to sharpen your focus on “the big stuff” and help you move forward?”

What Hollywood Can Teach You About Business Success (and Keeping Your Clients Happy)

Michele Pariza Wacek — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:00:25 +0000

A few weeks ago I decided to go to the movies with a girlfriend. We chose Prince of Persia.

As it happened, it was opening weekend so I hadn’t seen the reviews. However, I was a little worried about seeing it. The previews made it look sort of muddled and I was a bit puzzled by the choice of Jake Gyllenhaal as the lead. (He never struck me as the action adventure type hero.) Worse yet, it was based on a game.

Yee gads. Why did I agree to see this movie again?

Needless to say I walked into that theater with VERY low expectations.

So imagine how happy I was when the movie DIDN’T suck. Yes I know, it got some bad reviews. But truly, if you’re looking for a light, mindless, action packed summer flick, Prince of Persia delivers. (And I was also pleasantly surprised at Jake Gyllenhaal — talk about some nice eye candy.)

The interesting part about all of this is I think my impression of that movie is higher than it should be. Why? Because my expectations were so low and the movie beat them so significantly — thus my overall impression is that it’s
a good movie.

Now, let’s take another movie where I went in with HIGH expectations and the movie DIDN’T deliver. Like The English Patient. Won an Academy Award. Everyone was buzzing about it. I found it slow and terribly depressing. I also didn’t quite get why the Kristin Scott Thomas’s character would have an affair with the terribly depressing Ralph Fiennes’s character when her husband seemed like such a charming fellow. (This was before I saw the Seinfeld episode where Elaine fell asleep during the movie and was ostracized about it. Happy to know Elaine and I have something in common.)

So my overall impression of The English Patient is that it wasn’t a very good movie at all. Despite winning an Oscar. Because it came in so much lower than my expectations.

(And if you take this one step further, it certainly seems like I’m saying The Prince of Persia is better than The English Patient. Hmmm, maybe I shouldn’t go there.)

So what does all of this have to do with you and your business? Well, let’s take a look at your client and customer expectations.

If your customers and clients are hiring you or investing in your products and service with high expectations, and you aren’t meeting them, their overall impression is going to be they had an unpleasant experience with you. Even if your offerings are better than your competition, they’re still going to be disappointed.

But if your customers and clients come in with slightly lower expectations, and your products and services blow those expectations away, they’re going to be thrilled to death with you, tell all their friends and associates about you and maybe even write a newsletter article about you.

This is why it’s so important to underpromise and overdeliver. Especially now. Because people are becoming more careful with their money so the last thing you want to do is leave them with a sour taste in their mouth after doing business with you.

Are You in the Driver’s Seat?

Loren Fogelman — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:00:19 +0000

Our daughter, Roxanne has been home on a two week leave from the Army. Steve and I wanted to take full advantage of this opportunity and planned a long weekend getaway with our kids, Roxanne and Jarrett. We packed up and drove to San Francisco for a family weekend.

We agreed to no distractions. Spending family time together was the only agenda. We went to Pier 39, saw a Giants game and walked all over the city. Time flew by.

The way home is where it gets interesting. We didn’t realize we missed a turnoff. Well, that led to one mishap after another.

When we finally stopped to ask directions, we were given a “shortcut” to avoid holiday traffic. The country road was poorly marked; once again we ended up getting lost. We stopped at the one lone countryside store where directions were a commodity for sale. No purchase, no directions. This adventure added three hours to our driving time.

Taking detours, continually feeling lost, and unsure whether we were heading in the right direction, reminded me of running a business without a plan. Avoiding systems and support because you want to do it all yourself can be a long and solitary process.

Consider the tears, frustration and time lost from not having a business plan for guidance. You might not realize you were off course until it was too late. You don’t have to do it all yourself. The choice is yours.

What are some of the obstacles you have been facing, preventing you from growing your practice?

Interested in joining a mastermind group, but not sure it is for you? Well let’s talk. Contact me at info@mindsetformarketingsuccess.com

What is Your Life Saying?

Zahra Efan — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 22:30:32 +0000

I have been paying close attention to the news about the economic crisis and listening to the deeper reasons. I couldn’t help becoming aware of the new books, Slow Love and Unfinished Business recently brought to fame by Oprah. They are the stories of two executives and how they built their lives after the economic crisis and how the economic crisis made it possible for them to face deeper truths.

I sincerely believe that there is something to be learned by the economic crisis. Perhaps a new understanding of the most important things in life, things we may not have been paying attention to prior to the crisis. We are now invited to do meaningful work that we love. When the security of having a set income goes away, we are free to choose our own path and writing our own destiny. That’s why many of people have finally chosen to follow the path of entrepreneurship, doing what they love after the economic crisis left them jobless.

Being an entrepreneur is the most fulfilling and exhilarating path. It is also a spiritual journey. That’s why I call entrepreneurs, spiritprenuers. When one is responsible for one’s own destiny, there is freedom in addition to the challenge of doing deep inner work, addressing beliefs about money, acknowledging your value in the world and your sincere desire to make the world a better place through your work.

This is why I am passionate about supporting creative female entrepreneurs including coaches, healers, filmmakers, writers and designers. I support them to express their talents and claim the value of their life work.

If you are a creative female entrepreneur and have had enough playing small, I would urge you to pay attention to what needs to happen in order for you to express your talents in your own unique way. How do you need to step up abundantly and claim your life in your own unique way? What do you need to give birth to in your business so that you too can shine your light on the planet and claim your piece?

Being Agile, Adaptable and Flexible are the Keys to Success For Small Businesses

Bria Simpson — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:41:25 +0000

So how does riding a scooter have anything to do with your business success? Let me make the following analogy:

We have all been stuck in bumper to bumper traffic. There we sit in our big cars and trucks not moving at all or moving forward in fits and starts. Everybody is in the same situation. No one is making any substantial progress. Does this sound like how you feel with your business?

Suddenly, you get a glimpse of something moving in your rear view mirror. How can this be? No one else is going anywhere? Here comes this dude on his scooter (or motorcycle or bike) weaving in and out of the bigger vehicles. He is zigging and zagging and squeezing through the spaces that the rest of us can’t utilize. I am always envious of that guy when he passes my car and keeps right on moving.

He is making progress for many reasons. His size…he’s small, nimble, and flexible. He sees opportunity where the rest of us see gridlock. And he is willing to take a little risk for the reward of moving ahead of everyone else. This is the essence of today’s successful small business.

So how can you embrace your small business flexibility and use it to your advantage? In looking at this analogy, you need to use some strategies that others in your field are NOT doing. Let me use Social Media as just one example (and Bria and I have many, many more).

Do you fully utilize Social Media? Are you Tweeting to your list of clients about a new product or upcoming event? Do you know the tricks and tips for a successful Facebook campaign? Do you even have a Facebook account? When was the last time you posted a video to YouTube to promote your business? I am betting that a lot of you are not doing this at all or are doing it too infrequently. Guess what? So is your competition!

The Entrepreneur’s Model: Why You’re Not Making Money, Part 2

Sandra Martini — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:30:10 +0000

One of the primary things new clients come to me with is a list of everything they’re doing in their business (and it’s A LOT) and confusion over why, with all the activity and, yes, even accomplishment, they’re not making the type of revenue they know they’re capable of.

Today’s quick 1-minute video explains the reason. . .

If you’re inspired, please leave a comment below. And if you’re ready to break the cycle and start generating consistent and sustainable revenue in your business, please visit From Your Vision Board to Reality: Create Your Best Fall Ever here. . .you’ll be glad you did.

The Entrepreneurs’ Model — Why You’re Not Making Money, Part 1

Sandra Martini — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:00:09 +0000

I have a quick 3-minute video to share with you which shows The Entrepreneurs’ Model and why most entrepreneurs/small business owners aren’t making any money.

If inspired, please leave your comments below. . .

How to Get it All Done

Michele Pariza Wacek — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 21:00:21 +0000

I’m writing to you from sunny San Diego (which is FINALLY sunny). First I was at Nancy Marmolejo’s I Heart My Biz event, then I walked the San Diego half marathon yesterday, recovering today and tomorrow then off to Lisa Sasevich’s Invisible Close Speak-to-Sell Bootcamp. (If any of you want to join me “virtually” I’ve arranged for you to get a backstage pass to Lisa’s event here: http://tinyurl.com/mejmxs )

Whew.

So while I don’t have time to give you a full article this week, I still wanted to share some tips I learned from Sandra Martini, Business Optimization Specialist, www.SandraMartini.com, about getting things done. (Seemed timely with everything I know I have going on and my guess is you have the same challenges.)

Sandy spoke at Nancy’s event, and she was the perfect Saturday morning speaker because it was about taking all the great ideas we got during the event and turning them into reality.

Below is a quick summary of what she spoke about so you too can start implementing her suggestions and getting more things done.

What Sandy recommends is to create a daily “action” list with no more than 7 items on it. (Yes, I know. Only 7. I’m having trouble with that one too.)

Create a new list every day and do the tasks in the order you write them down in. Lastly, accept the fact you may not get everything done. It’s okay. You’re an entrepreneur. You’re NEVER going to be done unless you’re dead or your business is dead.

This is why it’s crucial to prioritize what you need to be doing every day and only do what’s MOST important of all the important tasks on your list.

But what about the rest? Well, this is where delegating comes in. Start building a team, even if you can only afford a bookkeeper or one virtual assistant right now. You need to start outsourcing all those tasks that need to be done but you don’t need to be the one doing them.

You also need to learn how to say “no” to things that don’t fit YOUR goals. Be brutal. The more you can get things off your plate the faster your business is going to grow.

Once you have your list, get your calendar out and start scheduling for the week. Make sure you schedule EVERYTHING you REALLY want to get done. Put those “big” rocks in first (i.e. meetings, phone calls, blocks of time for working on a big project, etc.) then fill in the rest. And don’t forget about scheduling self-care time or you’ll end up falling apart, which isn’t going to help anyone (much less your business).

The next step? Actually doing it. I challenge all of you to take the next 5 or 10 minutes and plan out your day and your week RIGHT NOW. I know that’s what I’m going to do.