Hey there, Boss Lady.

First off, look, I know you’re busy and life feels crazy, but you. are. killin’ it out there! …even if it doesn’t feel that way all the time. (I get it.) As an online business manager (OBM) and entrepreneur mentor, I’ve found that many CEOs haven’t yet realized these truths.

So let’s get down to business. Whether you’re building your business or business is booming—there’s always more to learn about being a CEO!

Turns out, there are quite a few universal truths about being a successful CEO, no matter how your revenue looks or where you are in the business growth process.

As an online business manager (OBM), I’ve worked with CEOs (including celebs) who run the gamut from big businesses to small, working across a whole bunch of industries—and I’ve found that many CEOs haven’t yet realized these truths, even though they’re out there running the show every day! (But hey, sometimes it’s hard to see the whole sky until you’re really flying the plane.)

So I’d like to share these secrets of successful CEOs with YOU. The sooner you learn how the role of CEO really works, the sooner you can level up and become the CEO you need to be.

You got this!

1. You must set the tone and the vision.

You wouldn’t go on a road trip without a map or GPS, right? Well, you can’t run a business without a strong vision—and when you’re CEO, it’s all eyes on YOU.

I’ve seen plenty of companies wander along—not really failing, but not thriving either. They’re just…wandering. Why? Because the CEO didn’t set a strong tone and vision for the organization.

It’s hard to arrive a destination when you have no idea where you’re going. So many entrepreneurs start out with an idea for their product, but they lack a clear vision for their business. You set the tone. You make the timeline. This is your vision and your baby. No one else will do it for you and it won’t happen without deliberate effort.

2. You need to live and breathe by the data.

Wouldn’t it be great to gaze into a crystal ball and see a totally clear picture of exactly how everything in your business is working? (Like who doesn’t want that, right?) Great news! You already have access to an even better fortune teller: it’s your data.

Data is the pulse of your business. Your data tells you what’s working and what’s not. It tells you if your customers are satisfied and if your product is performing. Data guides you. Data makes the decisions. Just like your vision, you need data to help you map out your products, diversify your offerings, expand your brand, and grow. Maybe you aren’t a “math person.” Maybe you hate spreadsheets. (Maybe just the thought of spreadsheets sends you into a panic, for that matter.)

Well, you don’t have to love data, but you can’t afford to ignore it.

So look at your numbers. Check out your analytics. A/B test your communications. Don’t fear the truth behind feedback and testing. Welcome it, and use it as a platform to direct your next moves toward business growth.

3. You cannot lose your cool.  

We’ve all done it at some point: we’ve completely lost it at our spouse, our kids, an employee…someone. As CEO, you must resist the urge. Fight it. If you lose your cool, you’ll just frighten your spouse, your team, your investors, and your customers. Seriously not cool.  

Sounds lonely, right? Well that’s why most CEOs nowadays have a coach of their own or a mastermind group—so they can privately express and work through their fears and doubts, without causing trouble on the outside. Now, I’m not saying you can’t ever vent, but you have to understand it’s a careful slippery slope. Use your coach. That’s what they’re there for.

Get someone you can work with—someone who will help you deal with work baggage before you start slinging it at your employees or customers. Hey, we ALL have fears, doubts and frustrations. It’s OK to express them! Just find someone who can help you process your struggles behind the scenes and keep moving forward as the face of the company.

4. This is no longer your passion project.  

Okay, okay, of course it’s great to like (or even LOVE) your work. Go for it. But you’re in business now, so your focus is revenue and growth. So now’s your time to think BIG. So instead, use your business wins to finance your passions.

If you’re currently standing in that middle ground, moving from hobby to full-fledged business, yes, this can be particularly challenging. But it’s time to STEP UP your game. Your team relies on you, so you need to shift to business-mode: always thinking about what’s best for the business as a whole. You’re going to make some super tough choices and you’re going to have to think beyond yourself (which I’m sure you’re already used to, but there you have it).

This is a new normal—and a powerful, new era you’re entering.

What fits with your brand? What works best for your business, your employees, your customers? What shifts do you need to make to ensure continuity, stability and growth? Do that. Do that today!

5. You won’t love it every day.

Most business owners eventually realize they no longer love coming to work every day. *Gasp!* What?? Well, it’s true. Even if you loooove being in charge of your own business, executing your own vision and running the show every single day…you will NOT always love coming to work.

I’m not going to lie. It’s not always easy. But you chose to be an entrepreneur, so YOU chose to go down this fun (but crazy and sometimes miserable) path.

Work is still work. It’s not going to be 100% fun 100% of the time. Days off still feel like a relief and you’re still going to crave a vacation that allows you to just enjoy your kids and/or hang out with your spouse, and stop thinking about your business.

And hey, that’s OK. You deserve time to take off work and take care of yourself. Working yourself into exhaustion is pretty much the worst, and it’s really not helping your business in the long run.

Even if you’re passionate about your craft and you truly love it—you’ll still have days when you’re crabby and tired. So it’s OK to ask for help and give yourself a well-deserved break.

6. You’ll feel like a fraud sometimes (but you’re not).

COO of Facebook Sheryl Sandberg once attended a speech at Harvard University called “Feeling Like a Fraud.” She said she felt like they were speaking directly to her the entire time. Seriously. Sheryl Sandberg, with a net worth of $1.3 billion.

Alllll of us have suffered a moment of imposter syndrome—maybe even a lot of moments. As CEO, there will be times when you’ll feel like, “OMGoodness, they’re onto me. They know I have no clue what I’m doing!!”

The reality is…they don’t know. You DO have a clue. You’re doing the things and you’re awesome at running your own business. But yes, being a CEO is a learning experience. There’s a new moment of growth every single day. It’s hard and sometimes fraught with stress and scary moments, and yet you are doing it and rocking it! GO YOU.

7. You say NO 1000 times more than you say YES.  

Every mom knows this feeling and so does every CEO. You say no over and over and over. No, we can’t do that right now. No, I don’t think this is the right plan yet. No, I don’t think this is ready to launch. No, this color won’t work.

Saying YES is far harder than saying no:

Yes is commitment.

Yes to moving forward.

Yes to progression.

The yeses are far harder to come by because the yeses take more of your time, more of your energy, and/or more of your money. So you have to be very careful. If you come across a potential YES situation, but it’s not 100% aligned with your business goals, then that’s a NO.

Plan to say NO more often—but don’t be afraid of a great YES! As CEO, you make the decisions and you need to make them with confidence. Answer both without fear!

8. You get to take the credit (and occasionally the blame).

This is your business, your creation! When it thrives, you get to hear the praise. You get to reap the benefits and the rewards from your success. You get to have the corner office (or if you work from home, the prime space above the garage, ha).

This also means that when things get messed up…well, you just have to put on your big girl pants and deal with it. The buck stops and starts with you—which it totally wonderful and totally scary. People love their scapegoats, from “my dog ate my homework” to “my employee messed up your order.” But when you’re the CEO, you have to take the kudos and the critique in stride.

And how fun is THAT?!? This is YOUR baby. This is your responsibility and nobody can take it away from you.

So, the trick is to accept the feedback and be constructive with it. Rather than looking for somewhere to place the blame, look at how YOU can fix the problem and move forward. How can you make this a growth experience?

9. You have to diversify.

No matter what your business, whether you’re an entertainer, a widget saleswoman, a blogger or an inventor, your product isn’t your brand. Your company is your brand—and your brand is more than just one product.

Let me repeat: Your company is your brand and your brand is more than one product!!

If you aren’t looking for different ways to promote your brand, and change up and diversify your offerings, you’re missing opportunities. No idea how to do that? Keep asking yourself questions. If you run a blog, what other products can you offer? Can you promote affiliates? Can you create an eBook? Can you offer an online course? Can you present as a guest speaker at a conference?

You don’t have to put all your eggs in one basket. If you do, you’ll miss out on opportunities to expand and grow. With today’s online world, products and ideas can become obsolete very quickly. You have to be ever-changing, always offering new products and ideas to the world.

10. You don’t need to do everything, but you do need to inspire.

As CEO, you don’t have to do it all. And you don’t have to be everything to everyone in your company…or to your clients. Do what you do well and lead others into doing the rest. You are the source of inspiration and YOU are the one that sounds the call to action!

So often we feel we have to do it ALL, including the parts we might not do well—even the parts we aren’t even interested in. Maybe you’re great at writing, but terrible at tech. Learn the very basics (because it’s important to understand all of your business on a floor level) and then outsource it! Delegate it and move on to the things you’re really good at.

Promote your company, grow your business, oversee your employees—but don’t get bogged down in minutia. Keep yourself focused and moving forward.

As CEO, it’s most important that you lead. Remember, you are the head of your brand and your company. YOU are the boss.

You’re already out there kickin’ butt and takin’ names because you hit the ground running and you’re amazing at what you do! Add these CEO secrets to your arsenal and you’ll be ready to take on the WORLD. Go get it!!

Today I am going to jump right in. It's Monday and I mean business. I'm your online business manager and I know what's holding you back. It's one of these 2 things.

Here it is, the 2 things holding you back:

It's your focus. Or your lack of focus. Period.

Don't roll your eyes! I'm not your mother!

You are making decisions in one of two ways. With how you feel or by what the data is telling you. Truthfully, you need to use a combination of both. Both activities will aid you in becoming the next powerhouse in your industry.

Start here. Start today.

What is the data telling you? Here is a quick list of what to look at.

Tweet: When your OBM says: "I know what's holding you back" http://ctt.ec/498Rc+ via @ashleighblatt

Emails

• What emails are being read?
• What emails are being tossed?
• What emails have the most clicks?
• What emails have the most responses?
• Where does your email funnel shine? Where do they start to lose steam?

Sales

• Where is the sale coming from?
• How many sales were generated per platform?
• How many sales were generated per push?
• What is your Cost Per Acquisition?

Engagement

• What is Google Analytics telling you? Where and how are your peeps finding you?
• How many Likes / Hearts / ReTweets are you getting per post?
• Which post has the most engagement?

Yes. All of this matters in your business. All of this information tells you what is connecting and what is not.

Now what are you to do with this data?

Take it step by step. One by one. Task by task.

-> Data (or a transfer of information) is what made Fast Fashion (you know Zara, H&M and Primark) is what made these business owner ga-gillionaires. They use their data from their quick sales to make decisions about product creations and sales prices.

-> Data is why the Pop-Up Shop exists. You test your products, prices and players and let the data tell you what to do. Check out #2 in this article - data is king.

-> Data is what won The Donald his seat in the White House. Like it or not, moving on the data they had took them to the Oval. This article was a fascinating read on that topic.

This is the era we live in. This is era where business is won.

Data

More Data.

and You.

Don't forget you have to do the work.

You have to take the data, absorb it, make the changes necessary and move forward.

Step by step. One by one. Task by task.

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Business ideas are super easy to come by. But what do you do with them once you have them? First - we have to take a look at what is happening in your business today. We have to know what’s going on and where to build from, and what works best for you.

Are you like me? Do you settle into an evening and think about the day that just passed? The future days ahead? This time of year, everyone - and I mean everyone - is thinking about the next year. Will it be more of the same? Or will change really happen? Will you do anything that is exciting??

There’s something about the holiday season that tells us to lapse on life and in business. But man oh man there is also a very strategic power movement happening too.

You know the quote “Work hard in silence, let your success be your noise”? Many entrepreneurs are doubling down today so they can hit the ground running tomorrow. Right now, they are doubling down.

I have had so many conversations like this lately, I want to get you started in the right direction.

First, let’s talk about IDEAS and what to do with them.

Business ideas are super easy to come by. Well, for me they are super easy to come by. I read like a maniac. I work with people in all sorts of fields and industries. I love having the insider knowledge of how businesses operate. I soak it in like others soak in US Weekly. My IT experience had me working with CEOs and CTOs of government agencies and Fortune 500s - even Fortune 100s. We were building kick-*ss systems to keep us safe and to protect our people abroad, to keep Americans healthy - like legit healthy, to help our Vets in very real ways, and yes to also manage hundreds of millions of dollars. Now I get to work with the most amazing entrepreneurs who are not shy about wanting to build build build in this online world. It’s a random combination, but nothing short of a whole lot of fun!

Where to Start? With your Deep-Dive -> Ideas and Needs -> and then your For What & Gut

You know in marketing when people tell you that you have to do the research on your ideal client or figure out your avatar. You nod your head and slightly roll your eyes saying, "yeah yeah, I already know that." Then, not until you have done that actual work do you realize how amazing and important that activity was?

Well, my first steps here are as important to follow through on as figuring out the ideal client and avatar is for the marketer.

First - we have to take a look at what is happening in your business today. We have to know what’s going on and where to build from, what works best for you.

When you take a deep-dive look into your business, you want to be honest. You want to go into the data and write out what is working, what’s not, and where the improvements need to be. How and where you need to improve your business in the current state. Look at your sales, presence, exposure (2 different things), and your purpose. At the end of your review, you will know where you are awesome - where you are rocking it! And quite frankly, where you have room for improvement. Within this review you will also get a clear understanding on what you want - what your ideas and needs are.

For example:

There is this amazing designer out that has an almost 7-figure business strictly through word-of-mouth referral business. 7-figures and no advertising whatsoever. What’s even more amazing is that this designer gets referrals from Billionaire to Billionaire (yes with a B) and from Celeb to Celeb. His work is as gorgeous as the clients are high-end. But get this, the man has no (none, zip, zero) social media presence. No Facebook page. No Twitter account. Has no email list. Has no outreach program. Crazy, right?

It’s so crazy you kind of love that, right?

But listen to this, he also knows he’s losing business because of it. He knows the “younger kids” look to see what he’s doing online and when they see nothing, they move on. He also knows that he’s missed client work and then even partnership opportunities because he has no presence. One of his designer friends, who has a decent social media presence, partnered with another brand to make window coverings.

Boring, right? Not so much.

Not until you hear those window coverings bring in over $10,000 / month.

FOR WINDOW COVERINGS.

That’s real money. That’s less clients you have to take on. Less time out of your busy schedule.

So, you start with an understanding of where you in your business currently, review and understand your needs and does this line up with your "for what"? When you have this information, you understand how to lay the foundation and where you need to build from. Make sense?

You understand how your business is currently operating. You know what you should do. Now what do you want to do? What are your natural extensions? What do your customers want? What do you want to do?

How oh how will you choose?

2 Ways:

1. You have to look at the numbers. There is no way around it. Numbers do not lie.
2. You have listen to what your gut is saying.

When we run the numbers behind creating a new project or product, we take a look at time, effort, materials, and marketing and we compare that against a conservative and an aggressive sales or impact outlook. You are in the business to make money. Will this effort and investment be worth it?

Where can find quick wins? Where do we want to be long-term?

Let’s say you’re thinking about pulling together booklets, notepads, and stickies! There are short term projects here and there are long term projects here.

When you look at the numbers - customer base? Conservative sales estimate? Margins vs investment? Is the initial design and maintenance worth it to you??

In the short term, this could bring in a few hundred to a few thousand dollars - more even. Is that worth it to you? Then thinking long term, is this a good tool to use for additional customer acquisition?

Could these new products drive traffic to your other products and services? What is the cost acquisition for a low cost product vs a high cost product? What conversion estimates can you determine from one to the other?

For example:

Maybe planners and scratch pads are not thrilling for you, per se, but what if I told you the one-time design and product has KILLER margins. You know there is a reason why you see so many pads and planners in the stores. What if I told you these low-cost items that are sold in the aisles at big box stores account for as much as 30% of their annual revenue and bring in the highest margins. There is a reason why when you’re standing in the checkout line that you’re surrounded by these goodies.

A real, specific reason. People want to BUY more.

THEN, not sure if this is of interest to you, but as an example, I know several specific people who market their lower priced items like the workbook / planner / stickies for revenue AND customer acquisition purposes. Planners and pads bring in revenue yes but they also help create new client relationships from which you can build. These women bring in decent monthly revenue from their products and then also use this as their starting point for a killer sales funnel for their more expensive products and services too. All in all bringing in 7-figures a year.

And then suddenly are you going to look at the sticky pad a little bit differently aren’t you??

(And now you know why I soak in business stories like they are an US Weekly!)

And if you still don't care, that brings me to my final point.

If you just don’t care, then you just don't care, and not a minute more needs to be spent on it... at this time. No effort or time will be worth it. This is when you have to go with your gut. This is when you have to be honest with what excites you, what doesn’t, where you want to spend your time and not.

Everyone has different business ideas, different goals and is coming from a different starting point. The quick wins are different for everyone. The long-term build is similar, but different for everyone.

That’s why I want you to 1) do a deep-dive of understanding into your current business 2) know where the ideas are 3) know what the needs are (from your data) 4) know what really excites you and for what you doing this work for.

Your information, your data, and your gut will tell you, if you listen to it, where oh where you should go next year!

Once you know where you want to go, you have to make room for it! Click here to sign up for my Make Room for Revenue 8 Step Checklist. You don't have to be 1 thing. Not at this stage. Not anymore.

An awesome Online Business Manager on your team will take your work from beige to bold in a matter of weeks.  You see, as I see it, there are 2 kinds of people out there - those who wear beige and those who live in and seek out color!  

Let me repeat, you either wear beige or seek out color.  A good OBM will help you seek out the latter vs settling on the beige.

If you're one that seeks out color - then this post is for you.  

Here's what I know.  You're an awesome cross between excitement and knowledge.  Everyone who knows you loves you. They love the work you do including the fun (and funny) that you put out.  Your energy all around is what excites others!  That coupled with your masterful skill in web design has referral after referral coming in.  

As far as I can tell, you have 2-3 launches on your programs a year, one big event and sure you'll take some 1:1 work when it comes in and when it's a good fit.

You team up with some friends to do the occasional promotion because - why not - it's fun to work with your girls.

AND now I see that you are building up a Video & YouTube platform.

You're a creative.  I get it.  I love it.  I love your work!  I'm not going to lie.

But here's a brutal truth too.  My brutal truth and I hope I am not pouring water on your fire of excitement.  But I am disappointed for you too.  Because from what I can see, you're really awesome, you do awesome work and now, next year is going to be more of the same.  

More of the same.  

YouTube?  Really?

What I want and am DYING to see from you is sooooo much more!  

You're bold not beige!  

Where are the gigs?!  Where are the products and partnerships?!  Where is your book??  Where is your speaking tour?  Where are your planners and post-it notes? How come you're not making Matt Lauer swoon first thing in the morning?!

I'm shaking my virtual head over here in sadness.  

The first thing I would do as your Online Business Manager is BURN THE BEIGE and shake you out of your own status quo.  

YouTube?  Really?  

NO!

You're bold! Not beige! 

You don't wear those dirty boring dingy nude bras do you?  NO!  You'd burn it I am sure!

Then why oh why would you settle your life and business on beige or boring?  

Okay.  Now I am opening your eyes.  Right?

Your eyes have needed to be opened.  You need to get excited again.  You need to think bigger.  

That was and is Step 1.  

Step 2 happens when I have you thinking about shaking things up, I want to hear about your out-of-reach "thing" that you rarely allow yourself to think about.  Together we will get out of you that very super fantastic awesome out of this world dream that you really want to work on but never go there.  AKA What do you want?  What do your dreams dream about?? Is it that book and speaking tour?  You having your own product with "in collaboration with" your favorite brand?  Hello American Rag - feature my style?!  Hellooo Jonathan Adler - we've got some great collab ideas!  Hellooo fun post-it notes!

Step 2 is crazy fun.  You start thinking bigger and dreaming up the awesomeness again.  Once we have figured out the most awesome ideas for you, then we start making plans!  These fun, crazy ideas build out your brand, get you closer to your own awesomeness, keep your peeps loyal and grows your business.  Grows your pockets with revenue too! 

So, um, YouTube?  What in the world does YouTube have to do with anything??

YouTube is just more of the same.   You don't want more of the same.  Do you?

When working with an OBM you will go through Steps 1 and 2.  Heck, truthfully, sometimes you can do this on your own or when you're at Happy Hour, a little buzzed and are dreaming with your best girls.

The problem is that more times than not, the next morning happens, you wake up thinking how fun that was.  Then you shake it off and continue on your day as usual.  

This is precisely why you need an OBM.  Enter in Step 3. 

A really good OBM will not only help you think bigger, they will bring to life the big dreams you dream of.  Instead of shaking off the Happy Hour as a fun night with the girls, your OBM will have a plan of action that next day for how you're going to make those G&T dreams come true.  Specifically, she would hand you the steps you need to take to write that book, create that product and make that partnership happen.  Then together we would work with your team to determine who will perform which activity, what needs to be researched / hired out and how, specifically, this action plan will be executed on.  Not to forget from within what timeframe.  She would orchestrate a step-by-step plan and activities the moves you and your team need to make last night's dreams happen. 

Let me repeat, a really good OBM will not only help you think bigger, they will bring to life the big dream you dream of.  They will show you how absolutely POSSIBLE this dream is. They will work with you and your team step-by-step to orchestrate the moves you and your team need to make your crazy dreams, not your boring, beige dreams, come true. 

Let's say, my darling, that you want to publish a book.  That is what you realllly want.  Then this awesome OBM would break it down the steps and tasks for you.  You want a book?  

Here's where we would start:

• What are you going to write about? 
• What are the goals of your book?  This matters because it will determine what and how we create it.  Is it worth trying to go through a Publisher or is it something we can Self-Publish?  Your goals determine which path here is best. 
• If you decide you want to get it published, then you need a "One-Pager."  This one pager is 7-10 pages long and will cover the gamut of information you need to present to a publisher.  What is the book, who is the audience, what the book's uniqueness. Why why why. 
• Then we pull a list of publishers
• And we start connecting with them.  Think 100 publishers in 45 days.  

From there within a very short period of time we will have you working on your book and the process started.  No more "I always wanted to write a book."  Now you are taking action and by the time Q1 is up, you will know be writing that sucker and know when it will be released!  Burn the beige! Go for bold!

Today, in your crazy busy life, there is space to do the work of the big dream.  You don't need to shake off the excitement as a Happy Hour with friends.  You can actually get working, as you are, to makes these things real.

It's your OBM's job to create the steps, hold your hand and walk you (and your team) through the process.  Beginning to end.  The OBM will create the plan and facilitate these conversations, day in day out until those connections, collaborations and creations are made.  

Tweet: Why You Need An Online Business Manager! http://ctt.ec/cdpdk+ via @ashleighblatt #entrepreneur

In real terms this means that everybody has a role.  Everybody has expectations.  Everybody and every task has deadlines. And everybody has help.  If something is not clear, we clear it up.  If a deadline is too soon, we push it out to a reasonable time.  If a hand is raised we ask and we answer.  Your team is excited again and they become accountable again.  Excuses disappear and commitments are made.

Real work gets done.  Magic happens. 

This Burn The Beige 6-month program will: 

• Give you the clarity on what it is you reallllly want to achieve or point it out to you if it's clear as day!
• Give you the actual steps (Steps 1, 2 and 3) you need to take to achieve those big, crazy dreams.
• THEN we will work these steps into your and your team's day.  We won't extend hours, we will focus the work. 
• Finally, just as important as the rest we will have regular conversations, in fact several times a week, to answer questions, get past hold-ups, hang-ups and any other randoms that prevent us from meeting our marks.  
• Within a matter of a month or 2 you will have real progress to the real stuff that matters to you and your people.

Burn the beige and go for the bold!  Get an OBM on your team that will not only push push push you to think bigger but to also put the steps and team in order to make that happen. 

I have 4 spots available beginning in January. Click here to secure your spot.  Burn the beige and go for bold! 

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The #1 thing you need to know about online business is not about how good you are, nor how hard you work, it's something entirely different. You're an expert and feel confident in your field. No doubt about it. 

Everyone tells you how much they love your work. How you're a gem and you're one of a kind.  Add in some extra expletives and an awesome giphy for flavor and fun!  

The truth is - you know you're good.  

It's not being conceited.  You're actually really really good at what you do.  

I know lots of people like you.  I am super blessed that way.   People who are AWESOME at what they are doing, AWESOME at the work they are doing and yet their business is still reminiscent of being a college kid when you are digging in the seat cushion for change for the pizza boy.  

Running a business can be very expensive.  And if you are not careful you have to run the business simply to pay the bills.  

What's crazy is you see other people, who you know, doing similar things and they aren't half as good as you!  

Yet, they are working on so many cool projects that are leading to more projects.  To more income.

You die every time you see them posting about some other cool project or thing they are doing that you could easily do.  Okay, you may not d.i.e.  But you definitely choke back that bit of vomit in your mouth and roll your eyes thinking - "don't get me started." 

You could run circles around them.  No question.   

Here's the #1 Thing You Need To Know About Online Business. 

It's not how good you are.  It's not enough to feel confident. The difference is made in how strategic you are. 

Being strategic, my friend, is the single differentiating practice that separates you from them.  That's it.  Do you think all this success fell in their lap. 

No. They worked hard for it. (Choke.)  Or someone else did.  

The reality is that your friend, you know the one that you could crush in a one-on-one competition, is being specific and strategic.  OR they have someone on their team, someone on their side, being strategic for them.   Are they smarter than you? No!  Are they better at selling widgets than you are? No!

Heck no!

They are being strategic with their time.  Period. 

It's as simple as that.  

So, my friend, this is what you need to do.  You need to think bigger.  You need to think more.  You need to think of all the things that you, your brand, your voice would or could connect with.  Could sell.  

Tweet: Are You Doing #1 Thing You Need To For Your Biz http://ctt.ec/BJqi5+ #entrepreneur #femaleentrepreneur via @ashleighblatt

Here's an example:

Ok, so my friend teaches people how to sell the s**t out of themselves.  It's a hard, hard thing for a lot of people.  And her advice is spot on.  SPOT ON.  She's an expert.  She's a Master.  There's no doubt about that. No one who works with her denies that.  Everyone loves her.  When people love someone like that so much, you / they just want more.  

You get the point. 

So why isn't she out there all over the place?  Why isn't she partnering with other programs and products?  That's what the other guy is doing.  

Her revenue now is from individual client work and a program she holds a few times a year.  In my mind, immediately she needs to become an affiliate of her favorite brands so that every time she makes a genuine recommendation, she can ask her peeps to use her name as a referral.   Easy.   Multiple streams of income just because you love a product.  

She has an awesome persona, witty and crass without being vulgar.  It takes a special person.  Why is she not on speaking tours?  Why is she not speaking at every conference high and low?  What industry doesn't need to learn how to sell themselves better in real, actionable way??  I literally can't think of one.  

Just think, if we add in partnerships, products and retreats!  Oh my! 

Now she's gone from an expert that everyone loves to a Magnifier out there.  OUT THERE growing her brand and generating revenue from multiple streams of income!!

And she becomes that person and brand, that revenue-generating machine, she has been thinking and dreaming about!

Instead of gritting your teeth when you see your friend's post about how awesome they are or what other thing they are hawking. You are genuinely growing your gig to be a top tier brand that everyone knows and wants to do work with.  

How seriously awesome is that??

She can do it.  She's on her way.  You can too. 

Conclusion - it's not as hard as it seems.  Grab the 8 Steps Checklist on how to Make Room for Revenue.  

---

PS: You May Also Enjoy These...

We all know the potential to grow, create, and draw in multiple streams of income from an online business is unparalleled.  No one has to tell us of the awesome opportunities here.  As an Online Business Manager, I don't just empower women, I share actionable line items for your success. Discover the 5 Myths that most mompreneurs fall victim to and see if you're one of them.

Here’s the craziest thing that is missing in today’s fast-paced online business world.  

Traditional business thinking. 

Say, what??
I’m old school.  I'll admit it.  

Traditional business thinking is what missing from today’s fast-paced, everyone-everything digital world.  

Traditionally, in business, you did something to make money.  Hobbies and habits came later.  Passion was reserved when you were out of work.  

Forget finding your passion.  Put passion into your work and knock your work out of the park.  

Remember the traditional business practice: Cash is king. 

If the revenues aren’t where you want them to be.  Expand.  Change.  Alter.  

Partner.

Ping. 

Promote.  

Sure, you have your business and it’s generating revenue but you are still often thinking - what the heck?! - how are the others kicking butt as they do??

Your end goal is to use your business to start generating multiple streams of income. (yes multiple)

Do not let any of these myths block you from finding success:

Myth #1: Page views and followers = cold, hard cash

I know how it feels to look at a social media account and see that “k” next to a number. It’s even more impressive when that “k” becomes an “m”… as in 1.4m followers, or 286k followers. While that looks nice and is an ego boost, that is actually sort of low on the priority list. How many views your page receives and the number of followers you have are vanity statistics. Websites don’t send you a check based on your popularity. 

What actually matters is your engagement, meaning the percentage of people who are actually commenting, sharing, liking, and buying your product. BUYING YOUR PRODUCT.  It’s better to have a less ‘impressive’ follower count and to be making sales and connections than to have a million people who scroll past you. 

If your sales are in the red, this does nothing for you.  Sure it’s an ego boost but aside from that, it does nothing.  You need to transfer your following (no matter how large or small) in to revenue-generating.  

Remember cash is king. 

Myth #2: Being featured on another website or podcast will immediately bring in sales

Wouldn’t that be nice if all connections lead to sales?? 

It’s funny because I have a podcast and a blog.  I am on other podcasts and blogs too.  Generating these new sets of eyes, yes!, is a great way to expand your network.  It’s a great way to meet new people, make friends and work towards future collaborations.  

What’s missing in these conversations all. the. time?  

What is the purpose of you being on a podcast? 

What’s the purpose for you being on this podcast?  

Even when you are “just” sharing your story - you have to have an end goal in mind.  You have to have your end goal in mind.

I don’t mean to sound heartless and too much like a hustler but the truth remains, just putting yourself out there is not good enough anymore. 

You have to have a reason and a purpose behind it.  Drive people to you.  To working with you.

Myth #3: You have to do one thing

It’s unbelievable to me how many missed opportunities is happening everyday. It’s one thing to focus on your core business.  I get that.  You need to have a base and your house needs to be in order.  

I get that.  You have to have some foundational pieces in place.  

And then guess what.  You need to just start.  

Does Starbucks only sell coffee?  No.  They sell you coffee, CDs, pastries, ornaments galore!

Nordstroms was a shoe store.  Amazon sold books.  Apple had a computer.  

Everyday they are improving their business. 

Everyday you can too.  Expand. 

Where oh where can you expand?

Partnerships, affiliates, events - oh my!

Products, courses, clients - hooray!

Don’t let your one thing limit you from exploring other opportunities. 

You’re a multi-faceted, complicated woman with more than one interest and talent. Let these fuel you into other opportunities and pump up your income.

Myth #4: You have to do only online work

If you think that online businesses are only for work that can be done through ethernet cords, you’re limiting yourself again! 

Think of your website as your storefront. It should be an inviting place for people to stop in, peruse, book, and buy. 

What they’re buying, however, doesn’t have to be something made and transferred on the computer. 

I have a friend who is a carpenter– perhaps the most hands-on, least online type of work around. He started an online business that offers both traditional carpentry services and made-to-order craftsman woodwork. Customers browse his handmade pieces, put in requests, and book his time for things like cabinet consultations. 

Online businesses aren’t just about blogs and tech work.   

What revenue streams can you create if you included a local opportunity?  What and how would it look like if you had a partner-in-crime to work with on a special project?  There are all sorts of ways to generate multiple streams of income. How could you partner with your beloved lunch spot for a cool local event? 

Myth #5: You have all the time in the world to start

The landscape of online businesses is always evolving.  Two years ago would you have ever guessed where you are today?  Could you have planned that out?  Guessed that this was how things would unfold for you?? 

No.  

Me either.  

But how did you get here, where you are today?

What did you do then?  

You started.  You went for it.  

Now is the time to go for it again.  

Just start. 

Build.  Grow.  Add.  

Remember your traditional business senses.  Cash is king.  

That shouldn’t scare you or deter you from pushing your business further.  Rather it should propel you and energize you into new thoughts, new fields and of course, new revenue streams! 

Focus on generating revenue and making your business (product + service quality) top notch, because the rest is all vanity. And vanity doesn’t pay for vacations, rent, or even the babysitter. 

Conclusion - it's not as hard as it seems.  Grab the 8 Steps Checklist on how to Make Room for Revenue.  

---

PS: You May Also Like These...

What's the question you are dying to know but don't ask because you don't want to ask a question you are supposed to know the answer to.  You want to feel confident in your business and you don't want to look stupid in front of your peers. What are you doing wrong?

What's the number #1 question I am asked all. the. time?

What am I doing wrong?  Why are they making so much money and I am not?  You do good work, people love you, and you have the credibility.  

It's like those times when you go into your neighbor's Open House.  You see how they have decorated, where they have put upgrades, that the coffee maker you use is just like yours.  You see your house decorated that much nicer. You smile and tell them it's beautiful as you grit your teeth.   You can't help but compare.  

You can't help but compare. 

What are they doing that you are not?  

That's the question.

Here's the answer.

You're not thinking big enough.  Those peers of yours that are "all over the place" making tons of money and are involved in so many different things...  It's because they thought it up and then they took action to put themselves in their most optimal situations.

What in your life right now is a good natural extension for your business?  Don't know, email me and I can tell you in a 5-minute conversation.  I'll have no less than 10 options for you.   But you probably don't need me to answer those questions for you.  You already know what and where you can go.  

The next question is HOW.

Dare I say that's the difference between the haves and the have-nots.  

Taking action.  Taking the right action.  This is what "they" do.  And that is what changes lives.  Below are a few steps

1. Understand what you’re trying to accomplish.

I’m starting out broad, but not vague I promise! The answer to this is likely something different for each of you, because we all have different business ideas. We also have different reasons for starting those businesses. No matter what it is that motivates you, I’m not judging! Whether it’s pure, unadulterated passion for your industry or making a large profit, you need to be honest with yourself about your overall goal. Then, you need to make sure that “bigger picture” is always front and center in the decisions you make for your company. Narrow it down to one goal and work from there. Establish two goals (maximum) to complete in the next 90 days. These tasks should be rooted in your “bigger picture,” the central point that you’re working to accomplish. 

2. And WHY you are trying to accomplish this

It’s not to be trite or cutesy. Self-reflect on the roots of your overall goal for your business so that you can then go about formulating your plan of attack. Your WHY will help answer future questions about priorities, company direction, and production– and will always drive you to the best choice. 

If your ambitions are mostly monetary, you’re going to want to add a broader customer base so that you’re taking on as many new clients as possible. You will also have to get aggressive about your margins, meaning finding the best wholesalers and haggling them down to the lowest price, fastest production time, etc. A profit-driven goal should also be looking to expand into other markets and developing new versions of the original product. 

If you realize that your goal for your business is more about satisfying a personal or emotional interest, then you will be headed off in a completely different direction. You want the niche. Your hard work is aimed at a specific market, and more time will have to be spent nurturing those customer relationships than in a more commercial setting.  

No matter what you’re trying to accomplish, you still need to grow, but your path toward new revenue will be shaped by your goal and all answers will come from your WHY. 

3. Write a list

Remember those two goals you set for the next 90 days? Put them in writing. Make a list of what needs to happen for you to check off those goals. Do a little at a time so that your progress remains steady in the face of school drop-off traffic, last-minute dinner obligations, and the mornings where you just need one more tap on the snooze button. Each list item or task item is less than 6 hours of time.  By having this list in front of you, you can then focus and work step by step, action by action to reach your goal. 

Forcing yourself to focus and produce for large, cumbersome blocks of time isn’t sustainable (or enjoyable.) Work on quick sprints of productivity and do. not. stray. from your list. 

5. Audit your activities

It’s unbelievable how much time we inadvertently waste.  We can very easily start the day by getting sucked into email, Facebook, then Twitter.  Then we have a few meetings and there went the morning.  Now you need a break, a snack and quick chat and there went the day.  You’re sure you did some actual work but really, how productive were you? 

Take a look at where and how you spend your day.  Does it seem like you’re taking more steps than necessary to accomplish everyday tasks? How often are you leaving to go pick up coffee instead of sending someone else or making it in your home or office? These things add up!

A huge one is checking email! I would had never considered this to be a progress inhibitor before. In fact, I had figured that checking my email every few minutes translated to how committed I was to my customers and employees. Wrong! Every time you pick up your phone, read through emails, and then think of a well-worded response, press send… is all time that you’re distracted from what you need to do!

Tweet: How the Other Are Making So Much Money & Why You're Not 1 Of Them http://ctt.ec/_47LC+ #entrepreneur #solopreneur via @ashleighblatt

4. Break it down into a plan

Break your list down even further and sketch out your goals for the month, followed by your goals for the week. There is no rule against having too many lists! It’s important tobe able to see your pyramid of tasks and goals visually in front of you. Just the simple act of writing everything out forces you to mentally untangle and reorganize all of those little– and large– want-to-do’s and “ugh, need-to-do”… and “uh-oh, should’ve-done-last-week’s!” 

A little bonus: when you really feel lost and unsure of your next move, no worries! Everything you need to do has already been written down and scheduled out so that you have a few less activities, timelines, and deadlines to keep track of. The mind is an amazing entity, but a hardcopy backup never hurts. 

6. Delegate and outsource

You want to be hands-on and involved in your company, but your time is valuable and your expertise must be well-spent. If a task can be taken care of by another, then hand it off.  Delegating more work out can be a little tricky.  It doesn’t come naturally to all of us, but a request for help is just that, a request for help.  No one will be offended when you step into that leadership role of your business. Whether they’re being paid or are just helping you out, that is what they are there for! 

Don’t fear outsourcing either! For tasks that require a specific skill set– possibly one that you don’t have or don’t have time for– hire a freelancer on a per diem basis. You don’t need to worry about adding them to payroll or taking out taxes with an independent contractor, and websites like upwork.com and Freelancer.com take care of the annoying paperwork. They also ensure that neither party gets duped– either left unpaid or unsatisfied by the finished product. 

Focus on your 90 day goal, and delegate or outsource the activities that don’t directly benefit that goal. Help is there, you just need to ask for it. An Online Business Manager can help get everything organized for you.  

7. Host effective team meetings

Early and often! A few times a week, round up your entire crew for a quick 20 minute meeting to make sure everyone is on the same page. These are the perfect time to set your expectations for the week.  Give each person a turn to update the group on what they have recently completed and what they’re working on. Besides keeping the group up to date, this can be a subtle tactic to keep your folks interested, on task and yes, motivated too! 

Sometimes, when I tell people how I do what I do it seems too basic for them.  But basic or simple is good.  Simple processes with clear intentions is what makes sh*t happen.  It's how they are making type of money you are not.

"There was so much work that needed to be done it was overwhelming. We had a hard time getting things done.  Now, we have 2 courses that are selling, signed partnership agreements, will be doing a speaking tour and have a book coming out next year.  It's unbelievably exciting!" - Beloved Reality Star

"We wanted to tap in to a new market and needed to know how the others were so successful.  I don't understand how Ashleigh knows so much.  Now we have hired designers and manufacturers, have 2 stores opening and have our website up and running. I carry Ashleigh's recommendations with me everyday." -International London-based Guru

Click here to sign up for my Make Room for Revenue 8 Step Checklist.  No joke.  It's real and it's possible for you too.

What could you accomplish in your business with a trusted, experienced, entrepreneur mentor and advisor whom you can work out the muck with? Would you gain confidence that things could  be accomplished without consuming your entire day? I am opening an exclusive service that delivers just that.

I am so pleased to introduce to you a new service I am offering called the Tomahawk Takeover.  It's a service I have been quietly offering for years now and am now opening only a few spots for the New Year.  

Seriously, the Tomahawk Takeover is a monthly retainer that creates a high-performing, revenue-generating team moving you from 6-figures to 7-figures by optimizing today's workflow & by adding new revenue streams.

During the Tomahawk Takeover I am going to cut through and cut out the BS in your business so we can focus on driving your business to higher levels.  Higher profits and stronger impact. 

Here's what I know.  Without an ounce of judgement, I know there is a bit of a mess happening behind-the-scenes in your business.  Sure, you present yourself well to the outside world, to your clients and to your team but on the inside, there is laundry list of things that need to get cleaned up AND an even more important list of growth and revenue generating items you want to tackle.  You have opportunities in front of you but fail to act on them. Because why?  Because, at this moment, you don't have the capacity to take on yet another project.  

You don't have time for it.  You don't have space for it.

But man, wouldn't you love to?  

This is where I come in.  

I created this service, the Tomahawk Takeover, to give you time and space to maximize your current opportunities and to add new ones.  Let me be specific - time to add multiple streams of income.

But how I do do it?  How do you create more time to take advantage of more opportunity?

Really, that's the ultimate question.

The first thing I am going to do is talk with you.  No really, we go old-school and we talk.  Now, of course, we talk with intention.  I don't have time to waste nor do you.  

Then I talk with your team.  I work to understand your business as a whole and your people as a whole.  I actually go old-school again and pick. up. the. phone.  You wouldn't believe how much gets accomplished in a 20-minute phone call.  It's life-changing.  Then we add in regular 20-minute conversations and guess what happens.  Everyone is focused. Everyone has answers.  Everyone has marching orders.  You not only become a team again, you become a high-performing team.  

That's just one of the benefits you get when you work on the Tomahawk Takeover.  Oh - and let me be clear, our conversations are not for diddle-daddling along.  They are not for the wishy-washy.  If you have no purpose in my meeting, you are not invited.  Every conversation has an intention and every conversation has a purpose behind it.  

Sounds kind of amazing right?

With those simple activities, you have no idea how many times I hear "I wish you were here sooner" and "thank you, thank you so much". 

So we use our conversations, our capabilities and our workload to produce.  We streamline the activities that are happening, shelve the waste and put our goals in into action.  Our work into motion.  

And then suddenly you realize you can take a breath for the first time in years.  This solid motion allows you to breathe easier because now you know things are going to happen and how.  

Sounds kind of amazing, right?  It is.  

It is actually really, really fun.  

This is what you need.  I have no doubt about it.  It's where I enter and takeover.  Takeover the conversations, takeover the movement.  I get people working in a very intentional, purposeful, clean way. 

BENEFITS OF THE TOMAHAWK TAKEOVER

• You stop wishing for growth and have real revenue coming in.  You will know when it will happen and how.

• You have a "right hand woman" (that you don't have to train) to help you with the execute on your vision

• You have intentional conversations that go where and how they should

• You have a team that delivers on its promises

• You have a trusted, experienced confidant, entrepreneur mentor and advisor whom you can work out the muck with

I have 3 spots available for the New Year click here to secure your spot!

Do you love listening to Podcasts?  Or do you not really know what one is quite yet?? Let me make it easy for you.  It’s perfect for you -- the super-busy-always-running-around woman that you are.  Pull up the podcast on your phone, plug-in your headphones, and listen as you work out, do your errands, or even the dishes late night!  

CLICK on the LINK Below & Go!

OR another easy way you can pull up the Mompreneur on Fire podcast is via the Podcast App that is already. on. your. iPhone.

This post may contain affiliate links.

Rachel Adams is a Realtor, Public Speaker, Coach, Author & Entrepreneur.  She is 32 years old, lives in Northern California, and is the CEO of 4 different companies. In just 3 years in the real estate industry, Rachel hit the top 1000 agents in the country for the Wall Street Journal.  On the outside looking in, her life was perfect.  She had the perfect car, the perfect social life, and everything looked top notch.  You could say she had the perfect "Facebook" life.  But as well all know reality isn't always what it seems.  And then one conversation changed everything.  Rachel decided to start leading her life with full authenticity and intention and everything changed!  She now travels around the United States teaching others and coaching on her life changing book and program, "Lost to Found in 90 Days".

“You can’t be the best person you want to be if you are not taking care of you. ”

— Rachel Adams

“You’re never going to have balance. You’re always going to be in a state of counter balance.”

— Rachel Adams

The Interview:

We talked about so many different things:  

• Being a 100% percenter
• Create enough passive streams of income 
• Investment Company
• Mommy's & Mimosas & Kids & Crafts
• From Limited to Legendary 
• How your personal development directory
• Lost to Found in 90 Days
• Navigating through the messiness
• When fancy makeup was streaming down her face
• Embrace your bounce back ability
• Take 90 days
• Writing Joy & Happy Lists
• Set really clear boundaries with my personal & professional life 
• Reason, Season or a Lifetime
• Editing your peer group
• Eating healthy
• Huge believer in leverage
• Relationship-based businesses
• Breakdowns lead to Breakthroughs
• High-level Mentors
• Where you put your priorities

“The right people are going to come into my life and the right people are going to leave my life. It’s not the wrong people who are leaving your life, like people always say. They don’t deserve to be in your world. Because when you are really leading a life at a high level, you start to crave deep conversations, passionate conversations and people that have big goals and you don’t want to talk about surface stuff anymore. ”

— Rachel Adams

Links

• Nina Rowan Heller

• Lost to Found in 90 Days

• The first 3 chapters of the book

• Chalene Johnson

• Linsey Mataway

“When I cut out drinking I finally hear what my body felt. A diet is what you eat. ”

— Rachel Adams

Rachel's Morning Routine

Rachel shares her morning routine that preps her for a successful day! She does this 7 mornings a week and my body has changed as well as my mindset! Enjoy!

“Breakfast like a queen, lunch like a princess, dinner like a pauper. ”

— Rachel Adams

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An Online Business Manager (OBM) is your partner-in-crime and your second set of eyes on your business. Sort of your entrepreneur mentor, if you will. They help you travel the muddled road of stuck to un-stuck. An online business manager helps get you to that promised land of doing less and making more. I bet you're wondering why you haven't you heard about this before?

What is an Online Business Manager?

They help you accomplish the things you don't have time for anymore. In order to grow your business, and add multiple streams of income you have to work in the big picture and out of the weeds of your business.  Yet, how does one do that when they ARE the business?  An online business manager will keep you focused on operating your business as a business.  Growth, revenue, profits and efficiencies are the only focus.  The OBM is the one to work with you, in your business, to help you specifically grow your business and to take advantage of all the opportunities coming to you.   Period. 

Does that make sense?  They help you maximize the opportunities in front of you, eliminate the waste and things always on your shoulder, eliminate the hold-ups and then also generate more revenue.  More and more revenue.  You get your shop set up so you can maximize.  

Where Most People Have Fears

It can be scary to hire an OBM.  All sorts of questions immediately arise when you think about bringing someone in to work with you.  

Most people have fears and don't know what to expect.

How will they really help?  Will this add more work for me? Is this another scheme?

Are you ready?

Are you organized enough to have someone come in? Will they really help?

Or will they make it worse? 

What if they want to tear apart what you have built?  What if they want to change ... well ... everything? Change who you are?  

What if they see what a terrible job I am really doing?

The fears are valid.  It would be scary to have someone come in and tell you all the things that you did wrong, are doing wrong.

Tweet: What it's like to work with a powerhouse OBM #entrepreneur #startup http://ctt.ec/12Yg7+

Where Most People Fall Down

Just like my kiddo learning to ride her bike, she is going to fall.  And you are too.  That's how you grow.  You fall.  You fail.  And you get up as fast as you can and try try again.  

So let me tell you where most people fall down in their business.  

1. Not taking advantage of real multi-income stream opportunities.  This happens all. the. time. Admittedly, it's kind of an easy oversight since you are often busy running your business and running your own life.  Adding more work doesn't sound like it's worth the extra effort.  Yet, effort is only temporary.  With the right team and system in place, the effort is minimal and the revenue potential is endless. 

2. Wasting so much time.  You're busy.  I get that.  So is Beyonce.  So is Bethenny.  So is Glennon.   So are Mariah and Ruth and Rosemarie.  It's hard to know where to focus sometimes. It's hard to know how to focus sometimes.  How did they choose?  How do they handle all of the same things coming at them as you have?  How do they cut the waste and hyper-focus on the the revenue and goals as they do?

3. Wasting so much money.  It's easy to throw money at a problem especially when you are out of time.  You just want it to work.  I get it.  So if you can throw money to help solve a problem, then you're going to do it!  I get it.  Absolutely get it.  But then... you realize that just throwing money at the problem won't change things. 

Truth be told most people fall in their business.  Being an entrepreneur, being a business owner is the hardest of hard and isn't for the weak.  The roller coasters are real.  Instead of merely surviving, how do you grow in such a way that you are thriving??

How I Work

I first get to understand the big picture.  What is happening.  What is slow to happen.  What are the dreams.  Then, I talk with your team to really understand what's going on.  No judgement. Just work.  This helps to create and then clean up your big picture.  

I take you out of your weeds and together we work backwards to "make it happen".   I cut the time wasters, return intention to conversations and hold people accountable.  Yes, I babysit too.  

Let me repeat.  I cut the time wasters, return intention to conversations and hold people accountable.  

I keep you focused and moving.  It's that simple and that hard.  

If it were really that simple, you'd already be doing it.  Your business would be generating revenue through multiple streams in an effective and efficient manner. 

That could all sound generic and "yeah yeah" but if you are not doing the work you want to do or if there is room for growth in your business, then you need to work on this here too.  In fact, I would argue you need to work on this first and foremost otherwise you are going to be spinning your wheels.  

You may say "I don't want to do that" it's wish-washy.  And haven't I already created the "big picture"?  

Thing is, you are not at your big dream goal because you want to be because you haven't done this work yet.  It's not easy.  It's not wish-washy.  It's specific work.  Direct and intentional.   Do you want to add multiple streams of income?  Do you want your days to be easier and your time to be used more efficiently?  Do you want to do the work you want to do?? 

What does it mean to "return intention to conversations"?  We are going to cut the email in half.  And cut the reliance on Slack.  Cut the IMing on Skype and texting - oh my!  We are going have real conversations.  Real conversations that will have a purpose behind it.  (Wait, what?) The conversations will either teach, inform or problem solve.  

And then guess what will happen after that conversation?  You will work.  Your team will work. And guess what else.  

You will accomplish.  

Why I Work This Way

For me, this work is a two-step process.  The first step is to understand what you are doing and why.  Once I know your WHAT and WHY, then the next step is as simple as implementation.  And remember implementations are my expertise!  

Just wanting exposure is not enough.  Just having an online presence is not enough.  What are you trying to accomplish?  For what purpose?  Once I have a clear understanding of the what then like a chess game I am a master at I see and know the steps it takes to get there.  Period.  

After I know what we want to do, I have conversations.  I hold and host the most effective conversations out there.  I like conversations, real, live conversations because I get to know you, I get to work with you and together we get to make promises to one another from which we will keep.  

Truly, this is how and where the magic happens.  Conversations, commitments and promises is how the work gets done.  

With that, anything is possible. 

I have only 3 spots available for the New Year.  Click here to secure your spot to add additional revenue streams to your business next year.

Your business is going to hit some snags. No one who has built a business will tell you that success is a smooth, effortless glide to the top– and neither will I. There will be moments when you wish you had a boss to shift blame onto, or rely on to hoist everything back on track… but what fun is that? 

You know you’re starting to lose momentum, and this checklist will help you figure out which are the weak links in your process. When you’re frustrated and want to just throw your hands up and scream, go ahead and do it. Get it all out. But then assess where the holes in your raft are. I’ll help you plug them. 

1. You can’t say no.

We don’t like to hear it, and we don’t like to say it– especially to the people whose business, expertise, or support we depend on. Guess what? It’s part of the entrepreneur, leadership role package. Maybe you didn’t notice it in the fine print when you had a business idea and signed up to be an ambitious go-getter, but it was definitely there. And no matter what your fears are, no one is going to hate you for having the strength to say it. In fact, they’re going to respect you. If a client is always asking to reschedule, it gets to a point where you need to say no. That’s not impatient, it says that you value your time and have important things to do with it. 

2. You worry about what people think

This is such a tough one, because who is actually immune to the judgments, comments, praise, or shady side-eye glances of others? Even celebrities admit that all of that white noise gets to them! The point is to not indulge the voices or seek them out. Don’t invite the opinions of those people that you don’t respect or who may try to purposely hurt you. Even when working with consultants, take every nugget of advice with a grain of salt because ultimately, it’s your opinion that matters most. It’s all a distraction from progress, so worry more about your goals than what people will say when you achieve them.

3. You are too wrapped up in the work

You set your own hours, but do you always know when to call it quits for the day? When I feel like I’m not getting enough done, my automatic instinct is well, okay, I just need to work until I get a lot done. That plan works fine until… I’m too exhausted to continue, my family and social life suffers, I get resentful of the work and lose interest, etc. I truly believe it is better to limit your hours and spend all of that time working diligently than blocking off weeks at a time for strictly work purposes and spending half of them on Buzzfeed or dusting your keyboard. 

4. You need it to be perfect

Your name is going on it, so you want to take pride in the finished product. Understandable. Commendable, also. But running yourself ragged to make something absolutely perfect may be a waste of resources and energy. As an entrepreneur, you need to be able to do at least one thing really, really well– better than your competitors– and consistently. It’s this simple truth that birthed the industrial revolution! Machines could produce quality items much quicker and cheaper than master craftsmen slaving over one item for weeks and weeks, only to sell at a much higher markup. To make money, you need to produce often and, ideally, for a growing client base. 

5. You say yes too many times to your customers

The customer is always right, but are they right to be so demanding? You need them, and you hope that they need you and whatever you’re peddling… but you are a business and not their personal magic genie. Even still, genies only grant three wishes so I hear. Nurture your customer base, but don’t be entirely at their beck and call to the point where it’s taking time away from your work. 

6. You don’t know how to delegate

Your business is your baby. I know how hard it is to put your trust in a babysitter the first couple times, but gosh does it feel good to go to dinner sans diaper bag! You need to let go. You’re the boss and the brains, so stop wasting your time on the little things! Take on some help, even if it’s just part-time or intern-based. Let someone else answer the phone and respond to emails. You can’t push ahead if you’re too busy just trying to stay afloat. 

7. You have your hands and thoughts in every little action

If you’re intent on doing everything yourself, and find yourself worried and anxious when you finally do let someone else take over… chances are, you haven’t delegated to the right person. You need to hire a staff that you trust, or at least one person whom you feel truly grasps your intentions for the business. It’s a process, just like dating, but it pays off. 

8. You answer every email

It amazes me how many random companies and people make their way into my inbox. From persistent sales reps to people pretending not to be selling something (EVERYONE is selling something!) I just don’t have time to read through everything, let alone respond. For people you actually want to hear from, try giving them a keyword or phrase to put in the subject line. For example, when I give my email address out to someone I would like to interview, I tell them to make the subject line say PODCAST INTERVIEW and their name so that it immediately jumps out and can be found with a quick inbox search. 

9. You are easily distractible 

We immediately want to blame iPhones and cute puppy videos on Facebook for getting distracted, but getting distracted is much broader than social media. Making yourself too available to social invites or new business ideas can slow you down even more than constantly updating your Twitter. Write out a mission statement for your business and put in words what you actually hope to accomplish. I know an entrepreneur that wanted to start a website, and before it was even really off the ground, was already setting meetings to go into TV and radio. Don’t let shiny offers lead you astray before you’ve even finished your first project. Commit to your business and your original intentions with an iron-clad focus. 

10. You don’t work on what you need to focus on

There’s always something to be done, business related and otherwise. Some of these tasks will of course be quicker and easier than others, which is usually an indicator that they’re also less important. Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize! And then stick to that list! Think of it this way: a giant boulder takes more effort to push down a hill, but it will have more momentum than casting a bunch of tiny stones down the same hill. We want momentum! Real, quality momentum. 

11. You continuously want more from everyone else

Here is some hard truth: expecting too much from people will lead to disappointment. You can absolutely want others to help and support you, but it is so unbelievably rare to find people who will want to work as hard as you for the things you want. Be reasonable in your expectations of others. Putting stock in the unwavering commitment of others is a bad investment. 

12. You jump on the new bandwagon

Trends are tricky. If you’re the one setting them, it’s like striking gold. Joining in once a fad has already begun makes me a little nervous. Here’s why: I like things to be time-tested and proven. I prefer to read about other people’s risks paying off, or not, than to see my own name in the headline. I have worked hard for what I have. As Bruce Springsteen sings in “Because the Night,” 

What I got, I have earned. What I’m not, baby I have learned.

Jumping on the bandwagon of some new idea or business venture is a gamble. Chances are, the person who started the trend is the one who will cash in. Be hesitant of over-glorified options that seem to poof! out of nowhere. Let someone else discover the inevitable pitfalls. It’s better to be inspired by new trends and build off of them to better your company than to follow someone else’s lead completely. 

13. You watch TV

Everyone does. But not everyone runs a business. If your momentum is dipping, ask yourself if you’re keeping up with the Kardashians more than you’re keeping up with your business. I love a good binge-watch, but find I’m much more productive when I limit myself to one episode a day. It comes down to time ladies! Be choosy. 

14. You eat like hell

They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but that doesn’t include apple fritters or Apple Jax. I’ll even go out on a limb here and say we should think twice about our coffee choices. All of the little ‘quick-fix, I’ll just go to a drive-thru’ meals take a toll. You don’t need a PhD to research what foods promote energy and brain health. I was so pleasantly surprised to find I could replace my triple-shot macchiato with a chia seed kombucha (and save myself $2) without compromising on my necessary morning energy boost. The littlest switches can make the biggest difference in your energy and work performance. 

15. You don’t sleep enough

I am a truly frightening person when I don’t get enough sleep. Of course, even “enough” sleep (8 hours) never really feels like enough. The health consequences for sleep deprivation are even worse than my crankiness, and much more serious. Your memory, concentration, appearance, and personality all suffer when you burn the candle at both ends and sleep for only a few hours a night. It’s a lot harder now to shrug off an all-nighter than it was in college.

16. You only work

Just ask Jack Torrance. If you haven’t seen The Shining, spoiler alert: all work and no play does not work out for him or anyone within a half mile radius. Your work should be your passion, not your life sentence. You work so hard so that you can have a beautiful life to enjoy when you leave the office. Spending too much time doing only work evaporates any sense of urgency. Knowing that you have a fun activity planned for 7pm makes you fired up to get sh*t done so that you can make it there on time. You need diversity in your schedule. 

17. Your workspace is lacking

Your workspace is crucial for productivity and feeling good while getting stuff done. It should be your absolute sanctuary… somewhere you don’t dread going to, with a vibe that matches your personality and business. I know an executive in the publishing business who spends most of his day reading and thus has a loft office that resembles a library. Because of this, he takes all of his meetings to a restaurant two blocks away instead of having people drop in and out, disturbing the serenity of the place. There is a feature in this month’s Marie Claire (with Nicki Minaj on the cover) that showcases hot new jewelry designer Kendra Scott’s recent office remodeling. It is a stunning dream office with a mani pedi salon included, but what I found most interesting is that her desk is in the shape of a precious gem. Her workspace not only nurtures her employees and makes them feel welcome and cared for, but the design is geared to inspire and provoke new business ideas. Total #goals .

18. Anxiety is getting in the way

A common complaint I hear nowadays is social anxiety slowing people down. Networking events and meeting with investors don’t go so well when you were up all night in a cold sweat over presenting yourself and your business to established, intimidating new people. Some people have anxiety about traveling by plane for work, or even sending emails. There’s no judgment here, but you have to let your determination to succeed overpower your anxieties. Come up with a mantra to repeat to yourself about how powerful you are, how you trust in yourself, and will not be defeated by the hypotheticals swirling in your psyche. Put a lavender oil diffuser in your workspace and breathe deeply. 

19. You’re not marketing

A business needs customers, and customers have to hear about the business to know it even exists. I know that you probably don’t have money to throw around, but advertisingis crucial. Even social media is a pay-to-play game. If you really believe in your business, it will be worth it to make a marketing budget to get your website seen. Of the millions of people out there, someone will want to hear what you have to say. They just might not be able to find you yet. There are some guerrilla marketing strategies that don’t cost anything… like researching online forums and communities that would be interested in your business. On the other end, there are large, professional marketing firms that will do it all for you…for a price. You just need to make sure you’re being seen.

20. You don’t say thank you

With so much big business competition, you want to make sure your customers and employees feel a difference when choosing the little guy (you). Back in the day, I worked as a hostess for a small, locally owned restaurant that opened at the same time as a major chain located directly across the river. My boss insisted that I memorize our customer’s names, preferred seating areas, and thanked them profusely for stopping in, even if they were just looking around. I still remember our customers’ appreciation for these little differences that we implemented. People want to feel valued. Many want to know that their money is going to a deserving entity… or at least a kind one. 

21. You don’t have a set goal

Your business has to have a trajectory in mind. Where are you going with this? What do you hope to accomplish short term and long term? You need to be clear on what you’re working toward, or it is guaranteed that your progress will decline. Breaking your goals into benchmarks can help give your overall dream some plausibility. This week work on crawling. Next month work on walking. By six months figure out how to run, and then work on flying. 

22. You’re not managing your money

Most businesses fail within the first five years. They have either lost their seed money, the excitement-fueled drive of owning a new company, or both. It is definitely discouraging to see your business bank account dwindle, but that is not the time to panic. That is when you need to work your hardest and innovate. There may be times when you, as owner, will not be able to take a paycheck. Owning a business is not always glamorous. Extra cash should be thought of as a way to boost your company further, otherwise you’ll be in the red with a lot of red-bottomed heels and no business to wear them to. 

23. You’re ignoring the victories

The biggest way for a business to lose momentum is for its team to feel like they’re just spinning their wheels. Why work hard for a business that is seemingly going nowhere? I’ve done it, and trust me, even the paycheck stops being worth it after awhile. No one wants to feel like they’re wasting their time. To avoid this, point out the progress and achievements that you and your team have made to boost morale. Even if you have to start really small at first and look realllly closely, there are good things that have happened and victories that should be celebrated. Give yourself and your employees a pat on the back; it will go a long way. 

24. You’re not innovating

Business is hard in a capitalist society. There will always be competition springing up with new ideas to steal your spotlight. You will steal the spotlight, and you will need to fight to remain in it. That means keeping up with recent innovations and always being willing to learn. You might’ve been the best at what you do 5 years ago, but it will never hurt to brush up on your skills– from managing to learning the new Photoshop or Microsoft Office programs. Read everything you can! Attend talks with industry leaders. Never stop learning!

25. You don’t have the right support

Even if you run a one-woman operation, no one can truly go it alone. Emotionally, you need the support of your family and friends to keep you sane and remind you that yes, you can do it! You need the right financial backing, from people who won’t hold it over your head or legitimate banks that (hopefully) have a decent interest rate. And you also need good employee support, from people who believe in your business and not just your hourly rate. 

Are you shaking your head?? That's a lot to digest right?  

Where to begin? 

Okay, it's not so bad.  I promise you.  A few tweaks here, a few tweaks there and you're back in business.  You back with opportunity and momentum on your side.  

I promise you.  

I have only 2 spots left open for 2017.  Click here to secure your spot and start generating revenue from multiple spots!

Do you love listening to Podcasts?  Or do you not really know what one is quite yet?? Let me make it easy for you.  It’s perfect for you - the super-busy-always-running-around woman that you are.  Pull up the podcast on your phone, plug-in your headphones and listen as you workout, do your errands or even the dishes late night!  

CLICK on the LINK Below & Go!

OR another easy way you can pull up the Mompreneur on Fire podcast via the Podcast App that is already. on. your. iPhone.

This post contains affiliate links.

“Having other women entrepreneurs you can connect with is quite powerful.”

— Malea Anderson

I am always curious how people get into their businesses.  How do they start? How does one decide they are going to create a fitness apparel company?? To me, that would never ever cross my mind.  But when you talk with Malea Anderson from Moxie Fitness Apparel, you see how it fits, how it makes sense, how she created a business and sales off of the things and needs happening in front of her.  In our conversation, she talks about each year, every step, and how she and her business have evolved.  Have you not yet taken "the leap" and want to know how another woman (and mom!) did so?  Have you taken the leap and are still thinking about your own evolution and growth?  Malea talks with me about all these steps, her 3 steps forward, 2 steps back.  Quite frankly, it's inspirational to hear what and where she's going. 

We talked about many things including: 

• Taking what's natural to you and turning it into a business
• Creating additional revenue streams
• Creating relationships with people in the industry
• Evolution of her businesses and sharing her passion
• Primary driver of sales
• Importance of defining your customer and how (in nitty gritty details)
• Process of educating herself during business growth
• How her business has evolved over the years
• Developing relationships with influencers
• Evolving her business whole fit lifestyle
• HOW to live the whole fit life
• Adding more resources
• Mentors
• Loneliness in being a entrepreneur
• Benefits of a mastermind
• How she guards her time
• How she wasn't an entrepreneur herself and became one

“All the awesome education is out there. It’s so neat that we have so many ways to learn right at our fingertips but it can be a little bit overwhelming. You can overload on all of these cool ideas and then run out of time to implement them.... I ahve been on a self-imposed hiatus. No more courses until I implement more. ”

— Malea Anderson

Links

• Chalene Johnson
• Amy Porterfield
• Pat Flynn
• Lewis Howes
• Tiffany Lee Gaston

More from Malea

What did you want to be when you grew up??

• When I was a kid I wanted to be a teacher, a doctor or a veternarian.

What was your first job?

• Ocean lifeguard.

What are your go-to books and apps?

• I love personal development books.  My all time favorite is You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero. I am also LOVING Gabby Bernstein's new book The Universe Has Your Back. As for apps, I am usually listening to podcasts or Audible, and I've recently gotten more organized using Evernote.

• I love personal development books.  My all time favorite is "You Are a Badass" by Jen Sincero.  I am also LOVING Gabby Bernstein's new book "The Universe Has Your Back." As for apps, I am usually listening to podcasts or Audible, and I've recently gotten more organized using Evernote. 

What are your favorite gifts to give?

• I love to give cute, girly gifts like fun jewelry, a cute trucker hat, or a fun water bottle.  Something personalized or motivational is always fun to give too! 

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Do you love listening to Podcasts?  Or do you not really know what one is quite yet?? Let me make it easy for you.  It’s perfect for you - the super-busy-always-running-around woman that you are.  Pull up the podcast on your phone, plug-in your headphones and listen as you workout, do your errands or even the dishes late night! 

CLICK on the LINK Below & Go

OR another easy way you can pull up the Mompreneur on Fire podcast via the Podcast App that is already. on. your. iPhone.

“I don’t take no for an answer. I am going to push until we can make it work.”

— Cassie Krygsman

When was the last time your kiddos got mail?  How excited are they when something comes and it’s for them?  Ever wonder - what am I going to do with the Littles today?  Of course you have!  Cassie Krygsman combined the joy and the problem into one solution with Curiosity Box a craft & activity subscription box for the kiddos.  

Genius, right?? 

My podcast guest Julie Cole (remember her from awesome Mabel’s Labels?)  recommended that I talk with Cassie as she is making waves in Canada.  With each turn she is winning award after award for her ingenious product.  Now she is giving back her (very little) extra time to help up and coming entrepreneurs.   

Today’s conversation you will learn about how she created the product, how and when she has shifted gears, how she pushes herself and who pushes her.   I really love both answers there.  How and who she works with.  Then how she utilizes a great cross between partnerships, mentors and accountability partners to achieve her successes and also giving back. 

We talked about many things including:

• Igniting & Start-up Mompreneurs
• How it's good to see other mompreneurs come together
• When going back to work and your heart changes
• Being open to shifting your business idea
• Who pushed her beyond limits
• Entertaining kids
• How being an entrepreneur can be lonely sometimes
• Developing partnerships and how it opened up other doors
• Their first big WIN
• Good old fashioned hard work - giving back & hard work
• How much & how little sleep
• Her upbringing and what her family taught her
• How do you push yourself?
• How her lists push her
• How she manages the day and how it's changed over time
• Where and when she turns off AND HOW
• Where has she changed her mind
• How her systems allow her to get things done
• Her mentors & accountability friends
• What's for dinner tonight?!

Links

• Elaine from Easy Daysies
• Maria from Mompreneurs 
• Julie Cole from Mabel's Labels

More From Cassie

• What did you want to be when you grew up? 
  • A teacher - this is my informal way of doing that without having to be in the classroom!
• What was your first job?
  • My first job was babysitting
• What are your go-to books and apps?
  • I don't have a lot of "go to" books. I'm kind of all over the place with my books that I read. Apps I love are Facebook, Instagram, Instacollage and my Nike running...lol
• What are your favorite gifts to give??
  • Of course a Curiosity Box ;) and then I love giving unique gifts based on that person's interest. I have a lot friends that have small businesses so I like to support local and see what can be custom made or bought for each person. I have given soaps, lotions, caramels, chocolates , and some direct sales gifts.

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As an entrepreneur mentor, I've coached thousands of busy mom's. I've discovered the #1 thing you need to be successful and why it's not too late to start now.

“I can give you a six-word formula for success: "Think things through - then follow through.”  Sir Walter Scott

We all have a lot of great business ideas, needs and wants.  Some of us seem to have all the luck and get all of their wishes fulfilled, while some seem to be satisfied with status quo and never achieve their dreams.  The difference between the haves and have-nots is the follow through. 

Last summer my girlfriend fulfilled a lifelong dream of living in Paris.  Without even really knowing it, this was one of my life-long dreams.  The difference is that she planned for her month in the City of Lights and she had the gumption to make it happen.  

“Follow through” is what makes the difference in making dreams (or even just cool stuff) happen.  We have great ideas, all of us; but what are you following through on?  What are you consistently working towards?  It may not be a month in Paris exploring the city; rather, it may be something simple.  Where you spend your time and energy is where you will find success.  Period.

Following through does not mean making one single attempt and then giving up.  If you are trying to land your dream client will you reach out one time and then think “well, I tried”.  No!  That wouldn't get your client for you! 

Jane Wurwand and her husband of Dermologica, the world’s number one skin care line, worked with 78 different technicians before finding the right product. 

Ariana Huffington, you know the Founder of The Hufffington Post, contacted 48 different publishers before getting her first book deal.  Following through is being passionate enough about your dream and goal to be consistent with the effort required to make it happen. 

Following through on your dreams and goals also means following up.  Here are 3 ways I follow up: 

1. The Friendly Follow Up

When I send a reminder email, text or call I actually state "This is your friendly reminder to xx".  I want the person that I am talking with to feel confident talking with me and not to feel guilty about not following through themselves.  I know that we all have lots and lots of things happening, we have many reasons we get sidetracked and I am okay with that.  I am simply reminding them to focus on me and my needs for the moment.  When the timing is correct, they will come back through.   Your friendly reminders will help keep your needs at the forefront. 

2. Putting a Process Behind My Relationship Management

Oh goodness, don't run away from the technical necessary evil stuff.  Just hear me out.

When I was younger, like 20, I would call my brother and sister-in-law on a regular basis "just to say hi".  I told them it was friendly message to let them know I was thinking of them, they didn't even have to call me back.  I would call them every couple of weeks or even months and on occasion, I would get a call back.  I do the same with my friends.  I am that loyal kind.  And I honestly don't get upset if you don't call me back.  I just don't take it personal and I keep it up.    I apply the same principles with my work relationships.  I develop meaningful relationships as I work next to someone and I want to continue that even when our work doesn't proceed forward.  

This past year as an entrepreneur mentor, my business started to get busier and busier, I am not going to lie, developing and maintaining relationships started coming at a faster pace than I have ever worked with.  I am pleased, of course.  I started using a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool called Insightly.  The number of emails I am sending was getting out of control.  Even with loads of categories and folders, you / one can't organize the workload in an email system.  Then with the birth of the podcast, I am putting many interview invitations out there.  I needed a manner to help me remember who exactly I have invited, a reminder to follow up and a note to follow up after the interview has occurred.  Everyone I talk to, I want them to be connected with me and I them.  How do I manage it?  I keep track (not perfect track but good enough) of the people I am working within Insightly.  It's actually quite amazing.  What was that movie line? "Set it and forget it."  All the emails I send out to a particular person are saved under their contact information.  I can then categorize them which I sometimes do.  Ideally, I would do create this designation to say it's a Mompreneur on Fire contact or a Consulting Contact.  I don't - I just use my notes to remember.  Then, my favorite part, is to set up Tasks for when I need to follow up with them.  Then I can "set it and forget it".  I get a reminder in my email, as I choose, to let me know today is the day to send a quick note!  

I love it.  It makes my life that much easier.  I need the friendly reminders too!

3. Be Thoughtful (And Here's How)

You know there are studies that show how that pharmaceutical sales methods of bringing lunches and hosting dinners is directly related to the increase of a prescription drug sales.  It's not surprising.  The doctors learn more when the sales reps are around and are politely, kindly following up all. the. time.  

• Are you close enough to bring coffee?  
• Can you pop on over to just say Hi?  
• Can you shoot them a text or an idea?  
• Can you find them the drycleaner they were searching for?
• Can you recommend them to someone else?

Follow through on what you say you're going to do.  Follow through on the relationship.  Be that friend even when you are busy.  It's appreciated and will help you full circle. 

“When you get right down to the root of the meaning of the word "succeed," you find that it simply means to follow through.” – F.W. Nichol

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The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.  ~Pierre Corneille, Le Menteur

Doesn’t it always seem like the customer wants “just” one more thing?  Heck, I don’t blame them. I do it myself.  Aren’t we trained to always want more?  Sometimes, even when we get what we want, it isn’t what we really need.  

So it’s no surprise that our customers want one more thing. 

One small thing. 

When you give your customers that one small thing they want ahead of time, they are not only surprised but they are excited to see what comes next.  That one small thing is big because it's big to them. These business ideas will keep your customers happy and increase your referrals.

This small thing is there to make them feel special.  And that’s the ultimate end goal, right? We want our customer to be excited with our delivery and to feel special. 

Now when reality sets in and when we have multiple customers who want multiple additions to what was promised, we can get to a place where we have added on tons of work, higher expectations, and lower profit revenue.   To me, “just” doing one more thing always ends up taking much longer than expected. 

So how do we manage both? Surprise and delight our customers and all of them?  This is the power of low-hanging fruit.  Low-Hanging Fruit: What is it?  There's always the core offering or product that you are delivering.  The low-hanging fruit is the thing that helps them that much more, it's something that would make it easier and nicer for them to use or achieve. 

Low-hanging fruit is something seemingly small, a minimal effort, but it provides a surprisingly big impact to the your client. 

Below are some things you can do to make your customer happy while not adding loads of work to you and your team:

1. Powerful & Friendly Follow up.  By checking in with your client you are keeping them engaged and in-the-know with how you care about them.  This could a quick email to them, a text or call.  Give your client an unexpected follow up and have them light right up. 
2. Send them a Thank You Note.  When was the last time you received a hand-written thank you note?  Spend the few minutes to tell your customers how appreciative you are to work with them.  Your client would be thrilled and feel appreciated themselves.  The impact and improvement on the relationship will be great.  
3. Proactively Give Them a Service They Would Pay For. Do you offer services by the hour?  If so, then during that appointment, add in 15 or 30 minutes just for fun.  Time is a commodity and something we all need more of.  Why not give some additional time? Won't your client love and appreciate that?!  

Bonus Steps:

1. Bring Them a Treat. Are you local? Who doesn't want a surprise afternoon coffee break?   The pharmaceutical industry relies on this practice and it truly generates sales for them.  They bring breakfast, coffee, sweet treats.  You're are getting in front of your client, face-to-face.  What better way to remind them you are there than being there?
2. Give Them a Recommendation.  Do you know someone who could use their services?  Do they do good work? Share the good will.   Speak highly of them and recommend them too.  Even write them a recommendation on LinkedIn.  That takes minutes but the effect and goodwill will only improve your relationships.

Making the extra effort for your client will grow the relationship leaps and bounds.   People admit there is always a better service or better price but they enjoy the comfort and loyalty of people they work with.  If you have a relationship where your customer is surprised and delighted, why would they not want to work with you??  Low-hanging fruit is one of the simplest ways to make your customer happy.  You're showing a customer that you are thinking of them when they are not there.  This thing that you do will require a minimal effort on your part but will make big impact to your customer.    

Your customer will be excited, feel special and be happy with you! You'll feel confident that they are there to stay.

Good luck!

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My primary job as an Online Business Manager and entrepreneur mentor is to get people working.   We need to cultivate our teams to do work that is internally satisfying and meaningful to each team member all the times but really that conversation can be left for another blog post!  What I know to be true is that a lot of the times, we aren't doing, we are delaying.  

Don't you hate it when you are working with a team of people, you have the conversations and think everyone is on the same page only to wait, wait and wait some more for the work to be completed?

In all the projects, large and small, I have managed, the same thing happens.  Everyone is in agreement and then as they go on their own with good intentions a distraction or higher priority arises and your work is put off.

We all start out excited but when the real work is required, we procrastinate.  

I am convinced it is in our nature to be this way.  Maybe it's our culture and we are attracted to the shiny objects always changing, always having a hard time focusing.

Here's the thing, I take this knowledge, that we are going to be distracted or shifted as a given.  I know we will procrastinate for whatever reason, I don't care nor do I judge, I plan around it..  

What I know to be true is that a lot of the times, we aren't doing, we are delaying.  

Why do we procrastinate?  Why do we wait?  Why does it take until the 11th hour to actually start the work??

Then it can be the worst managing over others who are dragging and delaying.  You feel like a mother nagging.  

OR you take a different approach.  

My most effective step to get work done is in a genuinely caring and helpful approach.  

In all the work I have done, I swear by the friendly and powerful follow-up.  

It has helped me cultivate relationships within my teams and clientele.  I have no doubt my products are stronger too because of the caring I go into a project.  

And sometimes, translating what we do into word format doesn't come across quite as nicely as you hope.  So I put together a brief video for you to follow along to. 

Following-up is brief, frequent and worthwhile. 

Good luck!  I'd love to hear what you think or how it went!  

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Do you love listening to Podcasts?  Or do you not really know what one is quite yet?? Let me make it easy for you.  It’s perfect for you - the super-busy-always-running-around woman that you are.  Pull up the podcast on your phone, plug-in your headphones and listen as you workout, do your errands or even the dishes late night! 

CLICK on the LINK Below & Go

OR another easy way you can pull up the Mompreneur on Fire podcast via the Podcast App that is already. on. your. iPhone. 

“It’s not about networking and getting ahead, it’s about scaffolding and bringing people along with you as you make your own way.”

— Ann Imig

Imagine one day you are at a conference going from talk to talk, mingling and smiling, taking notes and doing your best.  And then suddenly you are in a room and realize you are soaking in every. word. spoken.  

You have found your people.  

You have found your tribe.  

Ann Imig, took that moment and built the Listen To Your Mother, a National Reading Series and Media Company production, that celebrates and validates all things motherhood and is hosted around Mother’s Day year now for the last 6 years.  Starting with a single show in Madison, WI, 6 years ago, this year, the show will be in 41 cities across the US, 2000 shows on YouTube.  And just recently Ann was awarded the 2016 Game Change of the Year for the IRIS Awards. 

In the conversation not only was I trying to soak in what she had to say, but I was a little nervous too.  Ann was kind and informative.  Real and knowledgable.

Below are a handful of things we discussed:

• When she feels stuck.
• What Blogging was to her in the beginning
• How being a stage actress prepared her for today’s work
• The seeds that were planted that began LTYM
• Authentic Connections & Authentic Collaborations
• How her production grew
• How being out of her comfort zone prepared her
• How luck and strategy helped her grow and a really great team
• How she almost did a reality show and DEB helped her without that…
• Who make the best producers
• How she makes it through her busiest time of the year
• What she doesn’t do with her business
• When she’s pulled off the miraculous
• Her mentors
• Her tribe.  Her tribe. Her tribe.

“Authentic collaborations really pushed me to be better.” - Ann Imig

LINKS

• BlogHer Voices of the Year
• Deb Rox

Update

• What did you want to be when you grew up?
  • A teacher-ballerina-actress-mom
• What was your first job?
  • I was a bus girl at a deli at age 13. I could barely lift the bus-tubs full of dishes after I cleared the tables.
• What are your go-to books and apps?
  • My favorite go-to book is Melody Beattie's "More Language of Letting Go" because I'm very clenched. 
• What are your favorite gifts to give??
  • I love giving gifts of jewelry, books, accessories--if I seriously consider keeping the gift for myself instead of giving it to the intended, I know it's the right gift.

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Do you love listening to Podcasts?  Or do you not really know what one is quite yet?? Let me make it easy for you.  It’s perfect for you - the super-busy-always-running-around woman that you are.  Pull up the podcast on your phone, plug-in your headphones and listen as you workout, do your errands or even the dishes late night! 

CLICK on the LINK Below & Go!

OR another easy way you can pull up the Mompreneur on Fire podcast via the Podcast App that is already. on. your. iPhone. 

“Personal & professional development go hand-in-hand.”

— Cameron Cruse

“Personal & professional development go hand-in-hand.” - Cameron Cruse

Two running buddies became business partners with a WHY in mind.  Their passion and commitment here has led them down a great path also a deal with Mark Cuban on Shark Tank.  This week’s podcast, I talk with Cameron Cruse Co-Founder of R.Riveter a company owned and operated by military spouses.  Their WHY, to offer mobile income to the consistently moving military spouses, has led them all along.  Their beautiful hand-stitched bags are pieced together around the country.  I talked with Cameron not only excited for them for the deal they landed with Mark Cuban but also because the mission was simply amazing.  

 A few of the things that we talk about include: 

• How their WHY really helped them come this far
• How “jumping right in” paid off
• Their first big break
• How your personal & professional growth help each other out
• Learning about "Goal Setting Mentality"
• Finding the right person for the job
• Finding out what is most important 
• Putting themselves out there
• Hesitation behind Shark Tank and how they ultimately decided to go ahead
• How they celebrated the Shark Tank win - both publicly and privately
• What Mark Cuban is like
• A wish she could have done differently
• Mentors
• Books on her nightstand
• Favorite gifts to give
• Things Cameron simply doesn’t do

Links

• Girl Boss by Sophia Amoruso
• Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande
• Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't (Rockefeller Habits 2.0) by Verne Harnish
• Mini Polaroid

MORE FROM CAMERON

• What did you want to be when you grew up?
  • Depending on the day I wanted to be an artist or a teacher. 
• What was your first job?
  • My first Job was folding towels at a high end spa and fitness club, I also worked summers with my Dad in construction. 
• What are your favorite apps?
  • Basecamp for productivity + work. TED app for listening. 
• What's your guilty pleasure these days?
  • Doodling with my kiddos on the weekends + going to bed early on Friday night!

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You know your project is going to be late, but your boss does not and worse yet, the customer does not know.  You laid your best plans and gave your best effort in telling everyone when you would be done.  You feel confident that you would have had enough time if you weren’t answering questions, putting out fires or attending meetings you didn’t know why you were attending. 

Hello – you have work to do! 

In the end, you finally sat down and realized, this work is going to need more time. 

And the worst part is - the due date is right around the corner. 

When you do your best, speak openly and honestly, it's respected.  It's appreciated.  It fosters engagement and a willingness to work together. 

So now you have talk with your client and boss that the project is not going as smoothly as you hoped.  What do you?

6 Steps - How To Tell Your Boss the Project Will Be Late: 

1. Determine what you can do on-time.  Can you do 50%? 80%?  Can you do all of the major work but not the nice and pretty stuff? 

2. Determine how much more time would you require to finish the entire thing.  And determine how much time it will take finish the core piece. 

3. Determine whose help, if any, you require to complete the project on time.  Is there someone else who can focus on other details while you hunker down?

4. Next, schedule a meeting for today with the person responsible for the delivery of this project.  That could be the Project Manager, your boss, your Client, the Project Coordinator; it could be a variety of people.  Don’t delay and spend days working on this knowing that you won’t be able to deliver. And if there is no free time on their calendar, walk to their office.  If they are out of the office – email, call, or tell them you require 5 five minutes of their time. (If you can’t get in the door, then that is another issue all together!)

5. In your meeting, in a calm, conversational manner, this is what you SAY:  

I need to give you an update on the project.  As I am looking at the work, I realize it is going to take me X number of hours to complete the task as it stands now and I will have a hard time delivering by the due date.  

I have determined that with X person’s help, we could work together and deliver on time.  Or without (name part of the project) I can deliver that to you on time.  

Where do you want me to focus my efforts? On completing the task with the new deadline?  Gaining assistance from X person and working together to complete the project on time? Or completing the task without certain bells and whistles?

6. Proceed as determined between you and your counterpart.  

I have seen many people panic, work unbelievable hours and run around like their head has been cut off because they are fearful of telling “bad” news to their boss or client.  

In my experience managing many large projects, 99% of the time people are understanding when you are honest with them.  Isn't that the most respectful trait?  

How many of us have started a project or task and once in it, realized that it is going to take longer than expected? Doesn’t it seem that everything you do takes longer than expected??  By working with your lead, boss, and customer on delivery dates as an active, moving piece on what can reasonably be delivered, you are not only managing expectations but forming a deeper working relationship with this group of vitally important people in your career. 

Now, I have given you the steps, the words even, to have the conversation.  

Practice if you need to, come in a manner of openness and good luck!

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If you want your business to be successful, you need to be setting goals and accomplishing them daily. With so much to do and so little time, priorities are a must. As an online business manager, I help keep things organized and keep everyone on task. Here's how you can apply my methods.

Love them or hate them status meetings and regular check-in will actually determine your project success rate.  

These meetings that we dread - actually get-it-done.  

If they are strategically held.  

When I am managing projects, I have several status meetings a week.  They can be 5, 15 or 20 minutes.  This is several meetings each week with my team, and one with the end client.  The team meeting is to review internal progress, answer any questions and strategize for any problems that have arisen.  The client meeting is to review accomplishments and discuss work-in-progress.  The client can answer any questions and set priorities for continuation. 

When a project is created, we know the scope of work is determined, a team is assigned, and a timeframe is provided.  If not, then we have a lot more to discuss, but this focus will be what and how baby steps and teamwork get you where you need to go.

The Only 3 Things You Need to Do in a Status Meeting:

1. Review the current and active week’s activities and goals.
2. Ask each team member’s progress on their tasks,
3. Ask if they need support and/or extra time.  

This information isn’t about micro-managing a team member or prying too much, it’s about knowing if we will get what we need done this week or not, if that person needs assistance, or if further changes are made.

• Once we have an understanding of how each team member’s workload is, I then either try to find assistance from within the team to help any overloaded members, or I make requests to the client based on feedback from the team.

Yikes! I know that last statement probably raises fear in a lot of people.  You mean talk with the client about the work, timelines, and productivity?? This leads me to discuss my status meeting with the client.

At least weekly I meet with the client to discuss Accomplishments and Work in Progress. 

Note: that my words are specific here.  I want to present Accomplishments as a regular thing to my client and to keep our accomplishments on their mind.  I want my clients to know all that we have achieved and not surpass it.  As they say, we want to acknowledge and celebrate wins.

• As I talk about our "accomplishments", note just about everything is an accomplishment.  I don’t hogwash things nor am I overly annoying, but I do communicate all of the project activity that is taking place. Me personally, I am a glass is half-full person.  I find that clients appreciate knowing, on a regular basis, the work that was involved in accommodating their requests. 
  • For example, you could communicate: “In order to put together this presentation, it took pulling information from 3 different locations, 9 different sources, organizing it, and formatting it so it will have the information we want to deliver.   It took a while but we got it done!”
• Also I discuss "works in progress". A client makes a request and you must deliver.  What happens when you finally get into your work and find that it will take twice as long as expected?  There are 2 reasons this could happen, you came across something unexpected, which causes the extra delay, or you are working on extra tasks.  It is completely fair to communicate to the customer what either has or is occurring.  
  • From there you can request them to confirm their priorities.  Do they really really want X if it takes (and costs) this much longer?  Or are there other priorities that can be shifted?  In my experience – no one has ever gotten mad because things aren’t what they seemed.  (One other rule here is: don’t start this communication when the deadline is there.  I address all this in another post.  Then the customer will rightly get mad.)

In the end, open and active communication with the team and client not only creates a deeper relationship but also actively helps you accomplish your goals.

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FINAL FINAL NOTE: 

If you are working primarily on your own these status meetings (or regular check-ins) are still quite effective.  What is the goal for the week?  What needs to be re-prioritized to get it done??

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