I was going to share MY definition of success, but decided that it would be more profound to share the opportunity of defining success.

According to Wikipedia…

Success may mean, but is not limited to:

• a level of social status
• achievement of an objective/goal
• the opposite of failure
• the succession of successfully executed tasks and successes

According to Dictionary.com…

–noun

I think I prefer the definition from Wikipedia as it seems more in line with my own definition–all four points.

Success in terms of “social status” for me doesn’t seem like a good definition. While I see myself as a leader, I feel successful in empowering one or many people which is accomplished during daily activities–important or not.

My success goals are currently focused on educational opportunities for my children–getting a good eduction and having a good education that opens doors and allows my daughters to have more choices in life. Another goal for me is to have a lifestyle filled with good food, travel, time with extended family and a dependable, comfortable car.

I guess failure is something I feel when I don’t accomplish my “list” for the day and other mundane tasks. But I really think success comes from persevering despite failures.

To wrap this up, success is the execution of successfully executed tasks–at least one more than the failed tasks. Right?

What do you think?

I was recently installed as the President of my local chapter of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners). I was also on the nominating committee for the Women Business Owner of the Year and Rising Star Awards for 2010. And I had the honor of interviewing Gretta Spendlove and Amanda Moxley–the award winners.

It was inspirational to hear these successful women discuss their perspective of SUCCESS.

The first question I asked them both was “How to you define success?” This is a question I have asked many great women and I love the answers I get.  In my presidential acceptance speech, I discussed my own thoughts on this question.

I believe that success comes from the following:

First, success is a feeling, not a destination. It comes from when you are “on the right track”. This is when you have a mission and you are consciously working on that track.

Success also comes from connecting to your PURPOSE–that WHY you do what you do. When you are clear about why you work as hard as you do and juggle all of the pieces of your life and the lives of those around you, their is a feeling of accomplishment.

Also, when you are clear about the VISION of where you are going and your VALUES of how you will accomplish that journey, success becomes the path.

What is YOUR definition of success?

What can blogging everyday for 30 days get you?

1. More online visibility. The more people who see your stuff, the more likely you will start to monetize things, right?
2. Increased credibility. When you are sharing good advice regularly, you become the expert.
3. More traffic to your website. The more often you post good information, the often people will come to your site to read it and the more often they will share it with others.
4. More friends. When you are sharing yoru blog posts in your social media, more conversations will start and new relationships will begin.
5. More money. If you are an online business, then you need visibility, credibility and traffic to make money. And they more friends you have, the easier this is.

Why are you going to blog everyday?

Please see items 1-5 above.

How are you going to blog?

1. Start with subscribing to this blog.
2. Publish a quick post that explains what you want to accomplish over the next 30 days. This is for goal setting and for tracking (and to share with your readers–who want to get to know you more).
3. Make a list of 4 topics that are relevant to your business/industry/expertise.
4. Take each topic and create 5 tips that support that topic.
5. Lay out your 30 day blogging plan: post one overview of the topic followed by 5 tips about the topic. Then move to the next topic. Drop in a weekly podcast or video (either that YOU create or from YouTube) that supports your topic for the week. Along with the first blog post (the purpose) and your last blog post (your accomplishments for the month), you have 30 days.

Your 30 day blogging plan may look a bit different. I really would like you to share some other experts content at least once each week because this can help build great relationships AND share great content that you don’t have to create. Either way, create a plan.

Whatever you do, keep it simple and easy so it doesn’t get overwhelming. And then let us know how it’s going!

Happy Blogging!

Today is Day 1 of my commitment to blog….everyday.

And I would really enjoy having some friends join me on this journey to create a profitable habit for my business. Are you in?

Here’s 3 reasons why you should join me and 1 task to get you started.

Why?

1. IT’S FREE. It only costs your time. And really, that should only be a few minutes…maybe 10 each day. I bet you waste more than 10 minutes everyday. Find that 10 minutes and it won’t even cost you that! If you don’t have a blog yet, you can start one in about 10 minutes on Blogger.com or Wordpress.com for nothing.

2. It gives people something to talk about…you! When you are sharing good information on your blog, and especially if that information is feeding into your social media, your friends and network WILL start talking about you.

3. It builds relationships. After you are done sharing your opinion, ask your readers to add THEIR opinions. Your readers will start to get to know you better, and you will have the opportunity to get to know them.

So “Where do I start” you ask.

Well start by clicking on the SUBSCRIBE button next to this post. That will allow you to keep up on these posts as I share resources and tips for keeping blogging simple and sweet. If you have Outlook 2007, there is a blog reader built in. If you use another email program, simply subscribe to this blog in the box where it says “Emailed to you” so that it lands in your email.

Next, if you don’t have a blog, start one (see tip1 above).

And here is your real STARTING POINT FOR BLOGGING:

Write two paragraphs about what you want to accomplish over the next 30 days of blogging. This is your purpose. And you need to know WHY you do everything in your business so that you can track it and know if it works or not.

And then share that in your first post!

And don’t forget to post a comment here on this blog along with your blog url so that we can follow you!

Happy blogging!

30 Days to more traffic, more friends, and more fun in your business!

Interested in joining me and Karen in our 30 day blogging challenge?

I was on a call with one of my dear clients, Karen Dennison, earlier this afternoon and we were discussing how to get more traffic to her web site. After talking about optimizing her Facebook and YouTube accounts, up-leveling her Twitter account and launching a product on her site, we started talking about the benefits of blogging to drive quality traffic to her site.

Blogging is a great way to drive traffic. But we both agreed, it takes determination and persistence. And neither one of us is in the habit of blogging.

They say (not sure who, but I’ve heard this my whole life) that it takes 21 days to create a habit. So I’m pretty sure that after 30 days of blogging, not only will we have created a great habit for sharing content, but we should also have a number of other great benefits as well.

I am committed to blogging everyday for the next 30. And some of my blog posts may be short. But I am committed.

Join me and Karen in our Blogging Bonanza and we can share this experience together!

Are you in?

What do “values” have to do with JV’s, joint ventures or other business relationships?

Short answer: money, friends, programs and fun!

Long answer: When you connect with people for business and your values–those things that motivate you–are similar or complimentary, then you have a foundation for building opportunities that will support your relationship as you and your business grows!

What are your values?

Money is not USUALLY the value that motivates most people–although some are motivated by the KaChing! Most people–especially purpose-driven, conscious people–are mostivated by other things like family, faith, community, integrity, honesty and relationships.  Click this link for a more complete list of values.

Why are values important in business relationships?

Because these are the foundational pieces for long-term, repeat opportunities. We can all connect with someone for the money once. But after that, there must be a connection that is deeper. We really need to like the person in order to keep “subjecting” ourselves to interviews, programs and events with that same person.

And when we DO connect with someone multiple times for business programs, teleseminars and other list-building and/or money-making opportunities, our tribe comes with us. With each connection, it becomes easier to sell our services and we are all more profitable.

Make sense?

What to do next?

Click on the list of values to identify your top values. There are hundreds of values listed here, so just review the list and write down the top 10 that really resonate with you. Then circle the top 3-5 values that feel the most compelling to you. Just start there. You can update your list as often as you like. But now you have a starting point for connecting with some great people!

The last few months have been spent interviewing and mentoring hundreds of entrepreneurs world-wide (as part of my business and also for my upcoming book). At least 90% had some key recurring beliefs that were FALSE!

And that’s exactly why I’ve written this must-read post. I’ve been making waves in my industry debunking many of these myths – I’m about to address 3 of them right now in this article!

Are you a busy entrepreneur who thinks you don’t have time for a love life? How do you expect things to change if you never take action? Last time I checked, FedEx is not in the business of shipping dates to your doorstep. That would be lovely though, sigh…

Whether you want a travel partner, companionship, more dates, a long-term relationship or want to get married, here’s an easy way to start. The good news is that it only takes minutes!

No more excuses. Let’s dive in and debunk the myths that have making your love life fizzle!

Entrepreneur Dating Myth #1: Online Dating is Time-Consuming.

Entrepreneur Dating Fact:

Online Dating can be quick, simple and successful if you have a plan. Try the “30-Minute Email Plan”. Dedicate 15 minutes a day, twice a week, to answering email. For example, Sunday is a great day to answer e-mail if you’d like to have a date lined up for the next weekend. Wednesday is mid-week and by then you may have some offers for the weekend or the following week. Stick to this simple schedule and you won’t get worn out.

Quick Tip – Don’t worry about men who fret if you take 2 or 3 days to read and respond. They are NOT compatible with your lifestyle and they will auto-vet themselves in the process. This is not about playing games – you’re a busy entrepreneur! Patience and understanding are key characteristics your ideal guy must have.

Entrepreneur Dating Myth #2: Instant Messenger is a quick way to connect with a man to see if he’s your type.

Entrepreneur Dating Fact:

Avoid Instant Messenger at all costs because it typically attracts low quality men who waste your time, leaving you exhausted and fed up. There are plenty of lonely (and married) men who will IM chat you forever. Men should be qualified before you give them that amount of direct interaction. A man who is truly interested in you will ask to speak with you almost immediately – or in 2 or 3 emails.

Actually, a quick chat on the phone as soon as possible is the best way to see if there is a connection. Why? It would be a shame to spend weeks emailing back and forth only to find out there is no connection when you speak live.

Quick Tip – Have men phone you first but keep your number private.

During a session, a woman wanted to know how to let a man phone her first without giving out her number. This is a major concern for many women.

I suggest you get a local number from Skype or another service and route it to your cell phone. That way a man can call you first and you never have to give out your private number until you feel comfortable.

Entrepreneur Dating Myth #3: It is hard to meet men during the week.

Entrepreneur Dating Fact:

Take a more creative look at how to schedule your time. Who said you have to go out at night? You can meet during the day. This is a great solution most overlook. You have to eat or take a break during the day anyway, so why not meet for a quick lunch or coffee a 5-minute taxi ride away from your home or office?

It is less intimate, so there is no “date pressure” and you don’t have to “make time”. Plus, if you don’t click, no worries – you have to get back to work.

There you have it – 3 entrepreneur dating myths exposed and debunked. Listen to my complimentary audios to increase your magnetic attraction (in personal and business) download them now at: http://magneticmojo.com

About Rhonda Cort:

With over 10 years experience living and working internationally with entrepreneurs, CEOs, diplomats and influential people on 6 continents, mentor, speaker and author Rhonda Cort unleashes your powerful presence to quickly, naturally and magnetically attract successful, top quality people to accelerate your business and personal life.

Make sure you download Rhonda’s complimentary audios “Magnetic Goddess Secrets” for powerful magnetism in your personal life and the “Mojo Acceleration” audio mini-course for entrepreneurs who want to create an almost instant know, like and trust connection. Download them now at: http://magneticmojo.com

Increasing workloads are forcing people to spend more time in the office, even when the office is at home. This means that many parents are unable to stay involved in their children’s lives as they develop, and are becoming mere spectators instead of loving role models. The result is an undermining of their relationships, higher stress levels, a lack of balance and a generally unfulfilled life.

However, this should not be the case. Working at home allows greater freedom and independence and should result in less time being wasted. Yet many of us fail to successfully make this transition. Discipline is a key factor when running a business from home… and believe me; I know what I’m talking about as I am one of the thousands of business owners who enjoy the benefits and also the challenges of as a home-based business owner.

DISTRACTIONS DETRACT
One of my clients used to run his own successful accounting practice from home. With pre-school children and trying to grow his business, he and his wife used to get very frustrated with the fact that they could never remove themselves from the workplace. They felt their business totally overwhelmed them and caused many challenges which affected their personal relationships.

We were able to identify exactly where their time was being spent and found that there were simple ways they could do more in their growing business and still have a life. Three years later with the growth of their practice they have had to move their business to new premises.

Here are seven ways you can successfully work from home and enjoy the benefits…

1. ESTABLISH A ROUTINE
Structure your day so that it is both purposeful and productive. Decide on a starting and finishing time for your day; allow for breaks so that you work smarter, not harder. Doing this will also allow you to better differentiate between work and home, and will encourage you to be more professional.

2. FOCUS ON YOUR STRENGTHS, OUTSOURCE YOUR WEAKNESSES
Spend the maximum amount of time working on the parts of your business that you are best at. If your billable time is worth $200 an hour, then make sure you spend most of your time on the activities that will produce that for you.
If you don’t want to employ an administrative assistant, invest in a virtual assistant who works off-site. Avoid filling up your day with non-productive activities. Invest your time and money into the right areas of your business; don’t just keep yourself busy.

3. ORGANISE YOUR ENVIRONMENT
Have the right tools and systems to work with - an appropriate chair, desk, computer, filing system. This will make you look, feel and act more professionally. In addition, if a client comes to your home, your professionalism will inspire confidence in you.

4. DECLUTTER THE CLUTTER
A messy working environment which forces you to be continuously spending valuable time searching for things, whether files and emails on the computer or documents in filing cabinets and cupboards, cumulatively wastes hours a day. In fact The Wall Street Journal found that the average white collar worker spends 6 weeks a year looking for things around the office! Clutter is distracting and causes stress, and it is the primary enemy of productivity.

5. LEARN TO SAY ‘NO’
Inform your family and friends of your working hours and that because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you’re ‘available’. If you were in a corporate office, you would not allow your friends to drop by. Enforce these same rules at your office at home.

6. NETWORK TO EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS AND YOUR MIND
Join local networking groups to meet other like-minded business people. Share knowledge and discover new ways of doing things. Check out your local council and chamber of commerce. Enquire about active small business networks.

Join your own trade association and share ideas. An organised business referral group like BNI can also be of enormous benefit to the home based business owner.

And without leaving home you can become part of www.theproductivitycoachingclub.com to stimulate your brain and keep you up-to-date in how to run your business more effectively and improve your lifestyle.

7. TAKE TIME OUT FOR YOU
It can be easy to lose yourself in your work. Take time to ’smell the roses’ and to make human contact. When I’m spending the day working from home, I always go out for a walk at lunch-time. Plan time to have coffee or lunch with a friend or colleague once a week. Go for a walk every day. Have a weekly or fortnightly massage. Visit the gym more often.

THE FINAL WORD
These ideas are simple… and guess what? It’s generally the simple ideas when acted upon consistently that will make a dramatic impact overall in your business and your life. You’ll feel happier and more fulfilled. You’ll also discover extra time in the day that you never had before.

******************************

Lorraine Pirihi, The Productivity Queen, is founder of ProductivityQueen.com and creator of “The Productivity and Profit System™” … the proven step-by- step program that shows you exactly how to work less and earn more! To receive your F.R.E.E. CD “10 Habits of Highly Productive and Profitable People” valued at $47 by mail and weekly how-to articles to increase your productivity and your profits visit http://www.productivityqueen.com

By Guest Blogger Allison Maslan, CCH,  HHP

Did you know that from age twenty-five to sixty-five, we spend 73,600 hours at our work? And that 87 percent of Americans dislike their jobs? That means that 87 percent of Americans spend 73,600 hours in their lifetime doing something they don’t like. What a massive loss that is! Because every part of our lives has an influence on every other part of our lives, this could make for a lot of unhappy people. Why is this? Could it be that so many people have settled for because of fear or lack of direction when it comes to going after their dream career?

What is your purpose? Your destiny? Have you known for some time what you are meant to do for a career, but you just aren’t sure how to transfer it to real life? Are you still searching for that path you can call your very own? Everyone was blessed with certain gifts, talents and personality traits that can be transferred into a fulfilling, satisfying and financially prosperous line of work. Some people know from the get-go what they want to be when they grow up. Others, like me, find their purpose through an evolvement of life’s experiences and challenges. Either way, you come to find that it is perfectly right for you.

I truly believe that you have the full potential to pinpoint, develop and achieve your dream career. Yes, you! One of the things that really saddens me is when I see someone with such potential for greatness, who is not allowing themselves to step into it and fully own it. I can share with you the important do’s and don’ts and give you valuable tools and support; however, you need to be the one to take that first step.

As you set out to find your purpose, or first commit to living a life of purpose, what drives you may still feel a bit elusive. Many people have no idea if they have a real purpose on earth. Ask a friend randomly what their life purpose is, and they may take a long pause before answering, “Good question. I’m not sure.” Well, I’m here to tell you (and them) that you do have a purpose and it’s probably not as mysterious as you think. Most likely it’s right under your nose. Maybe your purpose is to feed hungry children, build a gigantic bridge, love your children, or just be in the moment. Your life purpose is most likely connected to the areas that create passion and meaning in your life. Here are some simple steps for accessing your life purpose.

• Get in touch with what really matters to you in the world and in your life. What do you get passionate talking about, reading or exploring? Before taking impulsive action steps toward a new career, business opportunity, or new relationship, ponder what gives you that inner surge of excitement. This could be the most important key for long-term staying power and success.

• Gather your thoughts and focus your energy toward these ideas. Find a way to involve yourself in this activity.

• Explore several possibilities before settling on one. However, if one really moves you, then go for it!

• Connect with other people on a regular basis who are passionate about these ideals or activities.

• See how you feel in this new arena. Does it stir your passionate energy? This is what we call “alignment,” or “being congruent.” When we are expressing our true inner thoughts, beliefs and ideals through external actions that match those thoughts, beliefs and ideals, we are operating in harmony rather than in conflict. The “practice-what-you-preach” philosophy.

• Not doing what you ove could be very harmful to your health and your prosperity.
  

Most people think that doing what you love is a luxury, so they settle for something they don’t enjoy. Someone who loves your career more than you do will no doubt perform the job better than you. This person will eventually be greatly rewarded because this work matters to them. Part of what you’ll get from being out of alignment in your work is dissatisfaction and burnout.

I know you can do it. After all, it’s your greatness I am talking about.

Allison Maslan, HHP, CCH is a homeopathic physician and the author of Blast Off! The Surefire Success Plan To Launch Your Dreams Into Reality. As a life and business coach, she helps people create a new business and the best chapter of their lives. www.myblastoff.com/booklaunch.

Have you created a Facebook Fan Page but it’s fizzled?

Are you wanting to move your “business” conversations to a Fan Page so you can clean up your profile?

Are you concerned about how to manage yet another social media “idea” in the midst of everything else you have going?

Fan Pages on Facebook are becoming more popular everyday. As you near the 5K mark on your network of friends, you will need to migrate your peeps over to a page in order to continue to build your network and communicate effectively. But how do you “move” your friends over? And how do you keep them engaged and active on your page?

If you have created a Fan Page or are thinking about creating one, please take a minute to complete this quick survey. I will be hosting a teleclass on January 14th  where I will be answering your questions!

http://bit.ly/2LC5JK