Getting things done can bring such a great feeling of accomplishment, but it can also be overwhelming if the task seems insurmountable to you. Sometimes, the days just don’t seem long enough to do everything we want to do. When that happens, worry can set in, but it really doesn’t have to!

You can do more than you ever thought was possible, and in less time, too – giving yourself time to relax and really enjoy life!

It all begins with a solid foundation of time management and scheduling. It’s okay if you’re not an efficient time manager right now; you can learn to be. It just takes a little bit of practice and you’ll soon be getting more and more done.

When you see how much you’re accomplishing, you’ll most likely work even harder during your busy times, and enjoy those down times more thoroughly.

These scheduling strategies will help you become an expert manager of your time:

1.    Schedule your life for maximum benefit. You can avoid procrastination and the big stressed-out rush to meet a deadline by scheduling each day and using just a bit of self-discipline to stick to your schedule. It usually helps to break things down into smaller tasks. For example, do you have a big presentation coming up at work in two weeks? Don’t try to do it all the night before it’s due. Start now. Working for just a half hour each day can help you get that presentation done with plenty of time to spare.

By scheduling your day according to your priorities, you can better utilize the time that you might otherwise have wasted doing unproductive things – like watching television or waiting for the next item on your to-do list to come to you.

2.    Disallow doubts from getting in your way. That little voice in the back of your mind that tells you, “It’s too much work,” or “It’s not going to happen,” doesn’t know what it’s talking about! You can do anything – or at least, almost anything – you set your mind to. Keep that thought in mind as you go through your day. The more you think it – or even say it out loud – the more you’ll internalize and believe it.

When you remind yourself how much you’re capable of doing, you’ll work harder so you can reap the rewards of being done with work. No matter how you reward yourself, make it a point to do so regularly. Finished that presentation? Take the evening off and watch your favorite movie! Whatever reward works for you is a good one – as long as it is healthy and the work’s done first.

3.    Recognize when you’re getting anxious and why. Sometimes, in an effort to get more done, you’ll find that you aren’t getting the time for yourself that you’d hoped for. When this happens, stop and reassess your schedule. Are you following your agenda? Are you productive during your scheduled working times? Are you meeting your goals? Where can you make changes for better success?

Do you concentrate and get your work done during your working hours? If not, you may find that you still have to work when you should be relaxing. This is a vicious circle that leaves you feeling anxious, while getting nowhere.

4.    Eliminate your stressors while building in stress relief. Think about the following as you go about your workday:
By focusing during working hours, you’ll complete each task much sooner. Get your drudgery tasks out of the way as quickly as possible to make more time for more enjoyable tasks. Work time is for work only – so avoid distractions. Ringing phones and other issues can stop you from accomplishing your work. Forward calls to your voice mail and establish “do not disturb” times. You’ll be amazed at how much work you can get done without distractions!

If you complete your tasks early, keep working until your schedule says it’s time to stop. Perhaps you can tackle some work for the next day to get ahead. Being a little ahead gives you the flexibility to take care of inevitable emergencies without falling behind in productivity.

Recognize when you need a break. People are not machines so be sure your schedule reflect that. Realistic break times should ideally be part of even the busiest schedule.

By planning your time wisely, you’ll accomplish more and be able to reap the many benefits of true relaxation when you’re done. It’s well worth the effort!

Copyright © 2012 Chantal Beaupre

Procrastination is a habit that kills your productivity and robs you of the success you were born to experience.

When you put off until later what you can quickly handle now, you are more likely to multiply your anxiety. The things you put off rarely take care of themselves by the time you get to them, and the molehills of your life become mountains as a result.

Instead, you can experience a life of abundant joy and peace simply by making the decision to take action on a consistent basis. Accordingly, you’ll feel more decisive and confident, and you’ll more efficiently and effectively move through your schedule.

Try these tips to banish procrastination and take action in the direction of your dreams:

1.    Employ the one-minute rule. Throughout your day, your mind will constantly bring to your attention things that need to be accomplished so that you achieve your goals. As you think of these things, write them down. If the task would take less than a minute to complete, why not just do it now and get it over with? This step alone will help you feel more productive.

2.    Get rid of clutter. Clutter is a drain on your mental energy. A clutter free environment promotes action, while cluttered space fuels procrastination. Commit to spending 10 minutes per day straightening up your home or office. In those 10 minutes, throw away as many papers and things you don’t need as you possibly can. Remember that the things that clutter your space are robbing you of your peace. Reclaim that peace by reclaiming your space.

3.    Seek the help of a professional organizer. If you find that your procrastination is due to your lack of organization, a professional can quickly help you regain control. An organization professional is often the fastest way to turn a life of chaos into complete order.

4.    Discover why you’re procrastinating. Ask yourself questions to determine the reason for your indecision. Every form of procrastination is simply a delayed decision. Do you need more information to make the right choice? Is there a fear that you’re avoiding? Is the task unpleasant? Once you find out what’s truly in the way, you can get past it and get to work.

5.    Break it down. Most big jobs can be broken down into smaller, bite-sized pieces. List the steps for your project. Make each step something that can be accomplished in a single short session of work. Focus on one small task at a time to keep you from getting overwhelmed, and complete the tasks on your list one by one until the project is completed.

6.    Reward yourself. Sometimes, tasks you really want to complete are boring and seek to provide little immediate payoff. If you find that the job still has to get done but you’re having trouble getting yourself going, bribe yourself with a small reward for completing the task. A warm bubble bath, your favorite TV show, or indulging in your favorite hobby are possible rewards.

By using these simple tools, you can banish procrastination from your life forever. Learn from your feelings of hesitation, but don’t let those feelings stop you from experiencing the success you desire in life. Instead, put these tips into practice today to experience a greater sense of peace, self-confidence, and control over your busy schedule.

Copyright © 2012 Chantal Beaupre

Money loves understanding.  And when you take the time to create that understanding, it will surely come to you much more easily.  I’ve taught literally hundreds of business owners in my Revenue Breakthrough Programs and here’s what I’ve learned – if you don’t determine your money story and money type – all the marketing and business skills in the world can’t help you.  It is like pouring water into a can with holes in it.   

I want to really help you understand your own money beliefs and create new ones.  Once you’ve got this part handled, the marketing and sales skills will be so much easier.  

What is Your Money Story?
Let’s do an exercise where you’ll get a chance to identify your money beliefs.  You’ll also get a chance to see where they came from.  It is called the ‘The Roots of Money Exercise.’

Be totally honest with yourself in these questions.  Nobody’s going to read this.  You’re not going to have to turn this in to a teacher.  

Create a box at the top left of your paper. In this top left box we’re going to try to get at the root of where some of your beliefs around money came from as you were growing up. 

Answer these questions fully…

“What was money like for you growing up?” 

What did your parents teach you about money? 

And what did your family spend money on? 

So go ahead and fill that out.  Take a couple of minutes and write down what money was like for you growing up and about your family.

Okay, once you’re done with that left box, create a box on the right hand side of the paper.  In this box, you’ll answer the following questions:

Do you expect to make money in the future? 

How much? 

What will you do to earn this money? 

It can be a dollar amount, it can be a monthly amount, it can be anything you want.  In the future, I’m talking about the next five years.

Now create a third box on the bottom left and answer these questions:

Do you think it is better to do exchanges rather than charge for services?

Do you feel awkward charging for friends?

How do you feel about charging for the services that you are providing? 

Do you expect to be charged when you visit a healer, a massage therapist or a doctor? 

Again, be totally honest here.  

Now create the fourth box on the bottom right and answer these questions:

How do you feel about money currently, friendly, adversarial?

Do you have enough money now? 

Do you spend, save or avoid money? 

Do you pay your bills on time? 

Please take your time with this.  Write down everything that comes to mind, even if you have to turn it over and do a new page.  Believe me, every moment that you spend on this is well worth it. 

You are doing deep work here that will pave the way for you to clean up your money beliefs and prepare you to attract lots of new money!

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When you think of creating an inviting and nurturing living space what comes to mind? For me it represents how I feel when I visit my Mom. The sanctuary she lives in makes me feel lovingly adored. A big part of this is the healthy connection we share. But it’s also the aroma of a roast in the oven, freshly laundered sheets, fresh flowers and fragrant candles. My mother is the mistress of creating a  nourishing oasis where you can exhale and relax while taking in the beauty of a sacred feminine environment.

The almost 100 year old Craftsman home I live in with my family is cozy and warm. The walls in our living space are painted with warm and rich colors. Granny apple green, barn red and school bus yellow make for a colorful environment and complement all of the maple flooring and built in cabinets.  Original paintings and drawings stand at attention on the walls. Most of the art was created by local artisans, friends and my young daughter. Gaze around the room and you will find a special heirloom or unique treasure from a holiday adventure. Every piece has a story. My favorite painting by Simon Bull came home with me from a shopping trip to the lanes in Brighton, UK. After sharing a delightful visit with a talented potter, a piece of his exquisite pottery traveled over the Atlantic to be displayed in our kitchen. The wool throw on my favorite chair came from a small shop in Bruges.  Our second floor hallway is covered with photographs from adventures in Hawaii, Antigua, Aruba, Scotland, England, Germany, Holland and more.  

•    What does your ideal environment look like?

•    How does this living space make you feel?

•    How does this compare to your current environment?

Here are five steps to create your sacred sanctuary:

1. Clean up your act
Creating a a nurturing space begins with cleaning and de-cluttering your environment.  Years ago my particular brand of cleaning was out-of-sight, out-of-mind. I would fly through the house unconsciously stashing away clutter in drawers, closets and cupboards. As long as the immediate area was free and clear.  I could breathe a little easier until I went to find whatever it was I’d absentmindedly put away.

Chances are you have at least one grocery bag full of items in each room of your house that you could be rid of. When was the last time you donated you gently used items to Goodwill. Have you considered selling some of your old books, electronics or CDs on Ebay?  Is there a neighbor who could use some of the items that no longer serve you?

Want to get a jump-start on cleaning up your space? Hire a maid service to come and spring clean your home. Dust bunnies and refrigerator creatures be gone! Make a list of all of the areas you wish to be cleaned and make it happen. You can find a number of cleaning services online.  Look for Molly Maid or Merry Maids. Better yet, ask a friend if they can recommend someone. What a treat!

Once you’ve cleaned up your living space you can begin an meaningful inventory of your belongings.

2. Keep only meaningful items and pitch the rest
Let go of old clothing, dishes, linens and outdated decorations. Clean out folders and shred old documents to create more spaciousness. There is something rewarding about keeping only the items that you love and documents that you need. You can let go of all the rest. Take a minute to request electronic invoices for your credit cards, bank statements  and cell phone bills.  Recycle old magazines.

Do you really plan to keep all of your children’s grade school homework forever? If you can’t part with your children’s school work, choose a few items from each grade and store these special treasures in a safe place.  How many gifts have you received that you are hanging on to just in case the person who gave you the gift comes for a visit? Will your Aunt Beverly be devastated if you give away the tea set you never use? Do you really need to keep every book you’ve ever read? What can you let go of?  

My rule is that if something new comes in something old goes out.  I only buy items that I absolutely LOVE.  Shopping therapy can clutter an environment quickly. I recently let go of  a skirt that I bought years ago ( and never wore) that still had the tags on it!

What would your sanctuary be like if it contained only items that were either highly functional or incredibly beautiful?

3. Add color, texture and light
Now that you have eliminated most of the non essential items from your living space, you can begin to  personalize your environment. What is your favorite color? Do you have anything in your living space that is this color? When was the last time you painted your living room, kitchen, bedroom? Is it time for a color change?

I love going to the spa. When my husband and I renovated our master bath my goal was to create a spa like feeling. Can you recreate a spa environment in your bathroom? How would it feel to slip into a luxurious cotton robe and warm slippers after a relaxing bath? You can easily create a spa environment with a new shower curtain, absorbent towels, candles and soft music.   

What about your bedroom? Is the place you sleep, dream and make love an oasis or an eyesore? What might your sanctuary feel like with a high thread count sheets, a new duvet comforter and the absence of a television set?  

You can breathe new life into your kitchen by getting rid of cracked dishes and mismatched glasses and coffee cups. I collect Fiesta ware and do not like the coffee cups that come with each place setting. Rather than store them for some unknown reason, I pass them along to a friend who has a yoga studio.  Keep a vase on your dining table for fresh flowers, greens, dried grasses or eucalyptus.

Can you see how could can improve the feel of your living space easily and inexpensively?  

4. Invite nature in
My home and office contain some kind of natural wonders from the shores and forests of Michigan.  I love to collect wild flowers, pussy willows, cat tails, beach stones, pine cones, driftwood and acorns. Each item is a delightful gift from mother nature.

Fresh flowers bring more beauty into any environment. I am graced by a hot pink Gerber daisy on my desk. Beautiful. Invite nature in to your home by displaying a rock or shell collection. I live in an area with four seasons and collect items fitting of each seasonal change.

Another fun way to let nature in is to have some fun with your camera. Get outside and capture images of your favorite tree, flower or breathtaking sunset. You can easily enlarge and print your image, pop it in a frame and Voila! You’ve just brought something you love from nature into your personal space.

5. Set the mood  
Music and aromatherapy are perfect for staging the desired mood of an environment. Feel like dancing? What kind of Pop or Rock music might you be listening to? Need to chill out and relax? Classical music or a new age playlist might be a good choice.

You can enhance your environment with scented candles, incense and essential oils.  Lavender is perfect for calming effect. Citrus will awaken your senses. I love burning the earthy sweet scent of Shoyeido White Cloud incense when I bathe or meditate. Before bed I often spritz my young daughter’s room with lavender.

When we experimented making our first batch of soap my husband requested a lemon scent because of the invigorating effect citrus has on his senses. I chose lavender for before bed bubble baths.

Begin creating a nurturing sanctuary by getting clear about how you want to feel in your own space. Once you know what you want it’s time to clean and clear the area. Once your space is clean it’s time get rid of the items that longer serve you. Say goodbye to clutter, one room at a time.  Paint the walls, add a new throw rug, pillow or special blanket. Invite nature in with collections from the earth or landscape photography. Create the desired mood with your favorite music and fragrances. Follow these simple steps and enjoy your personal oasis of sacred nurturing space.

Taking a leap to the next level of success in life – whether it is in relationships, finances, business, career, health, or service to the world – usually requires an increase in awareness of what is happening in our inner world. Each and every time I’ve expanded my capacity in my life or business I’ve had to do my inner development work first.   There are certain things I’ve discovered along the way that have helped me tremendously in understanding how to navigate my inner world. Grace-filled success is not simply what happens in the outer world. It’s also how we internally handle the situations that life presents to us.

From listening to my coaching clients and those I facilitate in workshops, I find that people face similar scenarios as they focus on creating the life and business success they choose to experience. As they expand, they bump up against old beliefs about themselves, old feelings of inadequacy, an overall feeling of disbelief about their capacity to produce results; they may also experience a deeply transformational event in their lives, which leads to a soul “knowing” about what actions are in full alignment with how they want to live in the world.

I know from my years as a ballet teacher and then my years of supporting others in their personal, spiritual, and business development that skills strengthen over time. In order to improve anything we need consistent practice and focus.

Mastery develops in a couple of ways. It stabilizes in the physical world with step-by-step skill development. we can also take a quantum leap in our abilities by aligning energetically with where we want to be and with people who are experiencing the level of success that we choose to obtain.

Louise Hay and Cheryl Richardson say in their wonderful book You Can Create An Exceptional Life : “Every day our creative currency of thoughts, words, actions, and feelings are working in Divine cooperation with the energy of the Universe to create our lives. By focusing our energy in a positive way, we are far more likely to generate good experiences. It’s really that simple. Staking claim to this creative power and using your energy wisely can be challenging at first. After all, most of us have been trained to live in fear and to think and act defensively—looking for what doesn’t work, what might go wrong, or what isn’t good about our lives.”

I know from experience that what they say is true; in life energy flows where attention is focused. The element of Air teaches us about the mental realm. It is invisible and yet is the animating force of creation. Our mind – through the power of our thoughts, directs the forces of creation in our life. In the same way Air breathes life into the physical body it brings our creations to life through the focus and intention of our thoughts and words.

Louise Hay has been teaching about the power of affirmations for many years. Using affirmations as a tool for directing our mental power will assist us in creating the energetic and vibrational tone we want to hold, which helps us align with what we choose to bring forth.

For many people, old issues of perfection stop their forward progress. It’s easy to fall into the mental trap of believing “if my creation is not here yet, it’s not coming, and I should just stop going for it.”  But honestly, that is like taking a couple of ballet classes and then expecting dancing perfection.  Only through repeated practice, realignment, adjustment, and continual growth, can you move into creation grace. You have to release the need to get it right so you can actually reach mastery.

Looking for even the tiniest evidence of success will support your journey. Nature shows us this all the time: tiny seeds take root and grow over time into life-producing plants and strong trees. Remember that it takes time for things to grow and develop in the physical world.  

Over the next few days ask yourself some questions:

Do I look for evidence of success?

Do I keep my mental energy focused on what I am choosing to create in life and business?

Where do I need more practice to produce better results?

Do I need to be more patient with my development?

Am I open to receiving creation grace?

As you answer these questions and notice your answers, have fun taking a leap into graceful success.

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Our lives run on rhythms. At the deepest level we are rhythmic creatures. Yet we hardly ever give these rhythms any thought regarding whether they serve to take us toward success or away from it. Most of the time, we function absentmindedly, rarely evaluating our habits and routines.

The movement of breath in and out of the body follows a rhythm. The beating of our heart, the intake of food and water, and the release of waste are all rhythmic. The body has a multitude of rhythmic functions, and so do our lives.

We rhythmically wake up every morning, go to bed at night, brush our teeth, eat throughout the day, pay our bills, pay our taxes, get haircuts, and maintain our cars, homes and clothes. If we have a profession or business then rhythmic procedures happen all the time.

Actually, if we don’t have good rhythmic procedures in place in our life and  business then things start to break down. When it’s time to eat there is no food in the house. Revenue doesn’t meet expenses because the rhythmic flow is out of sync. Homework isn’t  finished. Meetings are missed, the laundry isn’t done, and new clients aren’t routinely brought into the business to replace those completing service.

At home and in the work place, the more we’ve created good rhythmic systems the more success we experience. Rhythm helps us to feel aligned and full of grace and ease, in the flow.

Every one of the elements of creation contribute to our rhythmic success.

With Earth, we have the cycle of the seasons and which impacts our rhythm of dressing, eating, how much time we spend outside, as well as what needs to be done to accelerate business growth.

We engage Water rhythmically by drinking and releasing it but also all the ways we use Water to clean ourselves, our clothes, homes, and cars. We ensure our plants and gardens receive Water. We take time to tune into our feelings when we feel fear, frustrated, sad, happy or exuberant. Sometimes emotions need to be felt and released and sometimes they can help expand our ability to create success.

In the same way we breathe in and out, we need to rhythmically refocus our minds to produce effective Air results. Anytime we are working toward creating better habits, if we daily remind ourselves of the new focus we achieve much better outcomes.

The sun rhythmically guides our life each day as it rises and sets. It helps us create energy through activity and rest. If we don’t get enough rest, we won’t have enough energy for our activities. Not enough Fire in a business means there’s not enough momentum to make things happen. Action and energy fuel a business.

In order for our souls to feel fulfilled, we have to rhythmically align with activities that bring us pleasure and enrich our lives. Spending time in nature, dancing, playing with children, biking, gardening, singing, gathering with friends and family, and taking time to nourish our spirit can fill us up.

Our lives function in daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal, and yearly rhythms. The more attuned to Nature our rhythms are, the harmonious we feel. One of the places the calendar and Nature are out of sync is on the monthly cycle. The Gregorian calendar says the month begins on day one and yet if we want to be in alignment with the growing cycle of the moon we need to start our projects on a new moon.

When you begin to align your creations with the new moon by rhythmically energizing and focusing them you will find an increase in success. Experiment with consciously staying focused daily on something you want to bring into form from one new moon to the next and notice your results.

Tune into the ways rhythm impacts your life. Ask yourself if you need to strengthen any of the rhythmic systems in your life or business in order to dynamically align with soul-filled success.

It’s interesting to me how many people truly don’t know who their clients are let alone how to reach them. I don’t mean the clients you’ve already done business with – chances are you’ve developed a relationship with them and know what they respond to. What I mean is the prospects you hope will become your ideal clients and customers. The ones you want to continually attract with the RIGHT marketing message– focused messaging.

Although this concept is not new, focused messaging is shaping the way marketers approach consumers. The need for narrowly focused messages that have been developed specifically for your ideal consumer; as opposed to wide spread demographics is imperative to the success of any marketing campaign. And it’s becoming increasingly so for websites.  Building successful relationships online hinges largely on the “know, like and trust factor”. People need to know you, like you and trust you to do business and at the same time, your message must truly be crafted to connect with them and motivate action.

Savvy marketers know it’s completely passé’ to ask, “Who is your target market” and receive an answer of something as broad as “Women aged 18 – 34.” (people are not defined solely by demographics and shouldn’t be treated as numbers). It simply isn’t efficient or effective to try to be all things to everyone and there needs to be more psychographic information to truly identify your ideal client. It’s important to create a client avatar or profile when developing your marketing message.

Gone are the days of being all things to everyone. If you are not really clear about who you’re talking to, your writing will reflect that and it won’t connect. So, to truly be of service and help the people you are meant to help with your products and services, you must know who you’re writing to.
 
This may seem obvious to you. At the same time, I’ve seen seasoned business owners grossly underestimate how crucial it is to get crystal clear about who their ideal clients are and what they respond to. When you lack clarity about this, the marketing messages created don’t build relationships and as a result they don’t connect with your intended audience (this means no action is taken and your bottom line suffers). Before you begin writing a single piece of copy you must know who you’re speaking/writing to.
 
If you think “everyone” is your target or prospective market, your copy will be watered down. Vanilla, if you will. Bland copy doesn’t build relationships, attract your ideal clients or promote action.
 
I actually once had a marketing professor in a small market claim he advised his students to target everyone in small markets because it’s too expensive to segment. I was shocked and amazed by this methodology, especially since it’s proven time and again that direct marketing to your ideal clients works best. Not everyone is your ideal client. Not everyone has interest in your product or services. And, most importantly, not everyone is prequalified to invest in what you have to offer.

 Although creating “positioning” messages (sometimes referred to as institutional ads) to reach the masses has been standard in traditional radio, print, television and even brochure style website advertising, Web consumers aren’t buying it. Consumers crave real interaction and specialized attention like never before. Your message needs to REALLY speak to consumers on a personal and emotional level. It’s no surprise then that simple positioning marketing, advertising and promotional materials have become less effective as consumers demand more authenticity and accountability in marketing messages. Budgets also dictate the use of direct response tactics (meaning you’re motivating action and inviting people to take the next step) to bring results. Traditional positioning campaigns are becoming supplemental (budget allowing) only after direct response is in place (which is where most ad dollars are being spent). This shift necessitates alliances of copywriters and direct response marketers who manage complete direct marketing systems for clients or at the very least to ensure all messages are congruent and speaking to the ideal customer via marketing mediums they also relate to.

Finally, acknowledgement that women are the primary consumers and respond differently than men (although not new information) is beginning to show in the majority of marketing messages. Savvy marketers know who is responsible for the largest portion of buying decisions and they’re doing their homework so they can craft messages that truly connect based on media preference.

So, with all this being said:

•    Do you know who your customers are and how to reach them?

•    Or are you sending the wrong message to the wrong people?

•    What shifts in advertising and marketing have you seen and how is it impacting how you strategically create your messaging?

Most of us have been taught from childhood not to trust our feelings, not to express ourselves truthfully and honestly, not to recognize that at the core of our being lies a loving, powerful, and creative nature. We learn easily to try to accommodate those around us, to follow certain rules of behavior, to suppress our spontaneous impulses, and to do what is expected of us. Even if we rebel against this, we are trapped in our rebellion, doing the opposite of what we’ve been told in a knee-jerk reaction against authority. Very seldom do we receive any support for trusting ourselves, listening to our own sense of inner truth, and expressing ourselves in a direct and honest way.

When we consistently suppress and distrust our intuitive knowingness, looking instead for authority, validation, and approval from others, we give our personal power away. This leads to feelings of helplessness, emptiness, a sense of being a victim, and eventually anger and rage — and, if these feelings are also suppressed, to depression and deadness. We may simply succumb to these feelings and lead a life of quiet numbness. We may overcompensate for our feelings of powerlessness by attempting to control and manipulate other people and our environment. Or we may eventually burst forth with uncontrolled rage that is highly exaggerated and distorted by its long suppression. None of these are very positive alternatives.

The true solution is to re-educate ourselves to listen to and trust the inner truths that come to us through our intuitive feelings. Following our inner guidance may feel risky and frightening at first, because we are no longer playing it safe, doing what we “should” do, pleasing others, following rules, or deferring to outside authority. To live this way is to risk losing everything that we have held on to for reasons of external (false) security, but we will gain integrity, wholeness, true power, creativity, and the real security of knowing that we are in alignment with the power of the universe.

In suggesting that our intuition needs to be the guiding force in our lives, I am not attempting to disregard or eliminate the rational mind. The intellect is a very powerful tool, best used to support and give expression to our intuitive wisdom, rather than as we often use it — to suppress our intuition. Most of us have programmed our intellect to doubt our intuition. When an intuitive feeling arises, our rational minds immediately say, “I don’t think that will work,” “nobody else is doing it that way,” or “what a foolish idea,” and the intuition is disregarded.

As we move into the new world, it is time to re-educate our intellect to recognize the intuition as a valid source of information and guidance. We must train our intellect to listen to and express the intuitive voice. The intellect is by nature very disciplined and this discipline can help us to ask for and receive the direction of the intuitive self.

What does it mean to trust your intuition? How do you do it? It means tuning into your “gut feelings” — your deepest inner sense of personal truth — in any given situation, and acting on these feelings, moment by moment. Sometimes these “gut messages” may tell you to do something unexpected or inconsistent with your previous plans; they may require that you trust a hunch that seems illogical; you may feel more emotionally vulnerable than you are used to feeling; you may express thoughts, feelings, or opinions foreign to your usual beliefs; you may follow a dream or fantasy, or take some degree of financial risk to do something that feels important to you.

At first you may fear that trusting your intuition will lead you to do things that seem somewhat hurtful or irresponsible to others. For example, you may hesitate to break a date, even though you need time for yourself, because you fear hurting your date’s feelings. I’ve found that when I really listen to and trust my inner voice, in the long run, everyone around me benefits as much as I do.

People may sometimes be temporarily disappointed, irritated, or a bit shaken up as you change your old patterns of relating to yourself and others. But this is usually because as you change, the people around you are automatically pushed to change as well. If you trust, you will see that the changes are also for their highest good. (If you do break that date, your friend may end up having a wonderful time doing something else.) If they don’t want to change, they may move away from you, at least for a while; therefore, you must be willing to let go of the forms of relationship you have with people. If there is a deep connection between you, chances are good that you will be close again in the future. Meanwhile, everyone needs to grow in his or her own way and time. As you continue to follow your path, you will increasingly attract people who like you as you are and relate to you in a way that feels honest, supportive, and appreciative.

©2011 by Shakti Gawain. Excerpted from the book Living in the Light – 25th Anniversary Edition. Printed with permission of New World Library, Novato, CA. www.newworldlibrary.com

There is a BIG shift occurring. Several years ago I was asked to contribute to a book and write about my thoughts on marketing on the Internet. Even then I felt the collaborate shift in marketing and business. I highlighted this in a chapter titled “How the Ever Changing Landscape of Internet Marketing Affects Your Message and Why You Must Adapt.”

I noted that many of the standard marketing techniques, especially in the copywriting arena, were antiquated and not as effective as they once were. The list included hyped-up claims, overly “sales-y” spiels, hard-sell tactics, broad-based messages, scare tactics, stretching the truth, false claims of scarcity, over-dramatizing pain and problems and more. All tactics that don’t resonate with me and that I felt deeply were not resonating with conscious, heart-based entrepreneurs in general.

Several years later, my predictions continue to hold true. There’s a shift from competition to collaboration and the Internet allows us to reach more people, connect with other creative, conscious business owners and do the work we love from the comfort of wherever we might be. This shift also requires a different approach to marketing. It requires creating marketing messages with integrity.

For as long as I can remember I’ve been drawn to writing, marketing and advertising. I grew up in a home in very rural Northern California. I was blessed to have both my mom and dad in the home. When I was a small kid, we only received signals from two television stations and watched the tube on an old black and white model with modified rabbit ear antennas (keep in mind, we were one of the houses ‘in town’ that actually had electricity). The old rotary dial telephone is still the trusty standby in power outages and life is pleasantly simple there. My exposure to advertising and marketing was limited to the two television channels and few radio stations. I can still remember watching commercials at a very young age and thinking “I can do better than that”. Even then advertisers and marketers were missing the mark (and even as a child, I could see that).

In fourth grade a gal pal and I created the first school newspaper for our elementary school. We produced it on a mimeograph machine (yes, I know I’m dating myself). Even then I knew I had a voice and that I needed to share it to make a difference. I also know I am very blessed to have parents who supported me in that pursuit.

For women especially, it’s hard to share our voice. I was shocked to find that the saying “Children should be seen and not heard”  is a Victorian-based idea that obedient, quiet children are superior to other children. Interestingly enough, it originally applied specifically to young women.

With history like this, it’s not surprising that the societal and generational impact of specific sayings like “It’s not polite to brag,” and rhetorical questions like, “Who do you think you are?” continue to hold back women (and men, as well) even today. It’s hard to imagine a time when keeping to yourself was seen as a superior quality. I imagine this programming makes it difficult for many women to create marketing messages to support their businesses.

Fast-forward to present day, and we see that many women still find themselves bound by the invisible chains of antiquated thinking and even familial programming. They shrink, hold back and don’t speak up. They are subconsciously afraid, maybe because they were taught as children that bragging isn’t polite or they simply don’t want to outshine their peers because they crave acceptance. The possibilities are endless, but the fact remains the same: Each of us is born with a unique gift. Our particular gift or talent might be similar to others’ but it cannot be fully duplicated because it is uniquely ours. To take it a step further, we must accept that we are meant to share our gift with the world. When we don’t, without realizing it, we actually do a disservice to the world.  One of the ways to get our message out is by marketing. In fact, if you don’t market your business, a funny thing happens… nothing. We must market to thrive.

We’ve got tons of information coming our way about the right way to build our businesses and how we need to go about it. We receive faxes, e-mails, telephone calls, cell phone calls, instant messages, text messages, QR codes, blog posts, social media updates and more. There’s permission marketing techniques, outrageous business growth philosophies that tout being aligned with your customers, qualifying prospects, the need for a website and comprehensive marketing plan and the list goes on. Many of the techniques being taught are dated and no longer apply (they just aren’t working like they once did). On the flipside, getting back to basics has more merit than many are recognizing.

As the landscape of marketing and advertising continues to change there are some tried and true principles that remain solid. My dad taught me some of them without me realizing it at the time. When I started selling ads for my high school and college papers I asked my dad to advertise his woodworking business and he wasn’t interested, I was baffled. He simply didn’t want to reach out to the masses. In fact, he refused to have his business telephone number listed in the phone book (you get one complimentary listing when you have a business line). Instead my dad was really clear on his values and his mission. He limited his accessibility, accepted work only by referral and he turned down work he didn’t want to do. This in turn increased the demand for his work.  

I didn’t know it at the time but my dad was teaching me to create my niche, be uniquely different, work with only people I want to work with, limit my accessibility to be in higher demand and be true to myself while maintaining integrity.

As I continue to step into what I’m truly meant to be doing I’m discovering new ways to market my business (and the businesses of my clients).  I’m finding that the formulas being taught for copywriting (the foundation of all of our marketing messages) aren’t working as well as they once were. These formulas are not resonating with women who help make the majority of all purchasing decisions.

I challenge the age old industry adage that “Copy is King.” I’ve found that copy is actually QUEEN and content strategy is KING and together they are the key to creating strong and effective results. Even the best copy in the world won’t work if you don’t have a strategy in place. Think of strategy as masculine energy and copy as feminine energy –both are vital but if they are not working together it’s a struggle.

I’ve also found that the traditional copywriting formula of “Problem. Agitate. Solve.” isn’t resonating with women. Women are looking for solutions to their challenges. What’s really working is the new copywriting formula of “Challenge. Solution. Invitation.”
In the traditional formula we highlight the issue, we agitate that issue to focus on the pain points and then we solve the problem. I believe people are in enough pain. We don’t need to be agitated to make a decision.  In fact, especially for women, when someone acknowledges our challenges (and really understands where we’re coming from), provides a helpful solution and extends a friendly invitation, we’re more likely to take action.  Nothing truly flows when it comes from a place of pain and fear…

When we know in our hearts we are meant to make a difference, we owe it to ourselves and our fellow humans to step forward and be heard. More women are choosing to express these gifts by starting a business or becoming an entrepreneur. We create new opportunities as a conduit to share our gifts by providing services and benefits for the greater good. We have the power to share our gifts in many ways, and one of the most important ways is by letting people know how our unique gift can benefit them and creating marketing messages with integrity. The new marketing model for success comes from a place values and service first. Anything else is transparent and not in a good way. How do you choose to market your business?  Are you creating marketing messages with integrity?

“A funny thing happens when you don’t market your business…nothing!”

5 Ways to Create Marketing Messages with Integrity

1.    Be uniquely different

2.    Work with people you want to work with

3.    Acknowledge the challenges of your clients

4.    Offer a real solution

5.    Extend a friendly invitation to take the next step

Join Publisher Linda Joy & guest Lisa Manyon for this Free Call!

1.  Know thyself.  Feedback, input, guidance, mentoring…all vitally important to brilliant women BUT, no one knows you like you.  Finding your authentic voice and listening to your intuition should always be the barometer for your next steps.  Trust it, it will never steer you wrong.  When you live authentically, honoring who you are, courage and confidence are natural ingredients and increase exponentially.

2. You are enough.  You’re smart, talented to the stars and back, but you find yourself second guessing your capabilities and allowing that mean lil’ devil girl on your shoulder to poke you with her pitchfork of fear, insecurity, doubt, and limiting beliefs.  You wait, feeling that you are not quite ready, when in fact you are more ready than you know.  Courageous confident women know that they will feel fear and uncertainty, but push forward in spite of it, knowing that mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow.  You have infinite and priceless worth in your authentic self.

3.  Clarity Is Queen.  You know exactly what you want (and what you don’t want); you are aware of when your values and priorities change and adjust accordingly.  Being afraid to say what you want and declare it does not serve you.  Courageous confident women have their own personal blueprint for success.  Clarity is personal power squared.

4.  Balance Does Not Exist.  In honoring all the wonderful pieces of you, you know that the traditional term of balance does not exist.  Balance indicates no motion; when a scale is perfectly proportioned it doesn’t move.  Your life is about proportion, equilibrium, seasons, and ebbs and flows.  In reality, balance should be redefined as a blend of your life, not pieces of a pie that must be divided equally.  True balance is about flexibility, adaptability, and course corrections on your personal compass.

5.  Thou Shall Practice Self Care.  Eating well, getting enough sleep, exercising, taking time to feed and nourish your body, spirit and soul are your divine rights.  Successful women make themselves a priority and not an option.  Practicing self care is allows you to stretch, grow and learn; as well as providing you with comfort, cozy rituals, and time to decompress and recharge.  Courageous confident women show the world that they respect and love themselves.

6.  This Too Shall Pass. Courageous confident women know that there will be challenging, trying, and the ‘valley of shadow’ times in their lives, but they do not dwell on them nor do they live in the past or worry about the future.  They do not fixate on the things that they do not have the power to change and look for solutions in what they can control.  They focus on the present and what the priorities are here and now.

7.  The Sky Is Beyond the Limit. Dreaming big is a state of mind.  Why not you?  Why can’t you live your biggest, most audacious, bodacious dreams and desires?  Successful women know that ‘playing big’ has nothing to do with quantifying bigness and everything to do with the quality of bigness.  The key is knowing making sure your values are in alignment with your dreams.  They are the soul twins of playing big.  Courageous, confident women are optimistic, expansive in their thinking, and know that manifesting and action go together.

8.  Follow Thy Passion.  The most illuminated and brilliant women heed the call of their passion.  It may not be loud trumpets sounding or angels singing; it may be a quiet voice that keeps trying to be heard in your soul.  It may not appear as a job or a career; it may feel like a calling or a vocation.  However it appears to you, it is irresistible in its siren song.  Courageous confident women know there may not be one grand passion, but a ‘portfolio of passions’, it’s about creating a ledger of legacy that reflects the gifts, value and service you bring to the world.

9.  Surround Thyself with Success. Brilliance begets brilliance.  Believe it and it will rub some sparkly light on you.  One of my mentors refers to this as your Jedi Council.  These are the people that are role models, coaches, supporters, and encouragers.  These Jedi Knights aid and abet in your awesomeness.  They show you the possibilities that you don’t see in yourself.  They may be near and dear to you or people you’ve never even met.   They inspire, motivate, and kick your gorgeous little tush when needed.  Courageous confident women have a wise council of like minded Jedis on their side.

10.  Energy In=Energy Out. You are the Energy Force in your life.  Everything (people, activities, thoughts) either give you energy or drain it from you.  The whole concept of balance (see Commandment 4) is created because you are doing too many activities that drain you.  Courageous confident women know that to live their ideal life they must create boundaries, learn to say a gracious no, and continually seek the energy giving moments.

Live in the infinite beauty and possibilities of who you are…it.is.so.very.bright.here.