Successful entrepreneurs see lessons in everything around them. It can be a business meeting, a personal interaction with family or friends, or simply by observing nature. Recently I noticed some things in nature that reminded me of the many lessons we can find if we allow ourselves to have an awareness in everything we do.

Knowledge and growth is in everything we experience.CLICK TO TWEET

Onion – There is a dry outer crunchy skin. It isn’t until we peel that off that we find a fresh beautiful juicy onion inside. A reminder that what we see on the outside, isn’t necessarily what is found by going inside ourselves. We all have something valuable and beautiful inside to give, if we are willing to peel back the layers of what is stopping us.

Coconut – The hard shell can be deceiving. It is only upon cracking it that we discover the fruit inside. A reminder that a hard exterior doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t something worthwhile inside. When things are tough in business, push through and stay committed, the payoff for your tenacity is always worth it.

Garlic – Must be planted in the fall, and isn’t ready to harvest until the following summer. A reminder that anything worthwhile is worth the time and effort it takes. So often people give up because the result they want is taking too long. Anything worthwhile takes time. Be willing to do what it takes for as long as it takes.

Perennials – They cost a little more than annuals, and take a season or two to really mature. When I look at perennials that have matured, it reminds me of investing in things in my business that will pay off for the long run. I don’t have to keep planting them, they come back every year, better than the previous. When we invest in something that will be valuable for our business, it is a smart long term business decision.

Leaves – We enjoy the beauty of green grass and leaves all summer long. Fall arrives and all the trees turn magnificent colors and lose their leaves. A reminder that change is constant, and by leaving behind the old, we discover new and beautiful things. By going through the change, we witness growth the next season. Don’t be afraid of or resist change. There is always something great waiting for those that have vision and see new opportunity in the change.

Flowers – We had some flowers we had planted in planters that we couldn’t seem to get to grow all summer. We kept watering regularly and then towards the end of the season, got very busy and didn’t have time to baby them as we had all summer. After a few week of not watering as regularly, they absolutely blossomed! We realized we had been watering too much. This was a great lesson…sometimes we overdue it and we just have to allow the work we have done to take hold. We can’t force results….we must learn that perfect blend of doing what it takes and then stepping back and letting the power of what we have done bring forth the results.

Pomegranates – There are a couple of months a year we can’t get them. I was so excited early October to see them back in the stores! I didn’t discover poms until about 2 yrs ago. I had no idea there were beautiful, sweet little seeds inside these tough skins. They have become one of my favorite fruits! I didn’t think it was something I would like, and hadn’t even allowed myself to try it. So often we are hesitant to try anything new. It is by testing new things that we discover new ways of doing things, new passions and new results. The pom fruit is a reminder to be willing to test new things in business….there is always more than one answer and more than one way to do things. By being willing to push through doing things differently we often discover a better way, or more productive way, which can lead to better results.

Pumpkins – I started a pumpkin collection a couple of years ago. I wanted to dress them up and make them look fancier. I have many shapes and sizes now, sprayed silver, with crystal beads and pearls etc. A reminder that we can take an idea, and make it our own by customizing it. We don’t have to do things the same way as everyone else. We can be inspired by ideas and totally reinvent to make it suit what resonates with us. This is where we learn about the innovative and creative side we all have within us….we simply have to allow ourselves to tap into it.

Knowledge and growth is in everything we experience….make a switch in your conscious mind to actually notice these things and ask yourself what lessons are in it that can accelerate your life, and/or your business.

As posted on:  http://bizcatalyst360.com/entrepreneurial-lessons-from-nature/

I recently had an experience with my cell phone provider that holds a great lesson for entrepreneurs. I set up a new phone for a very specific business purpose. I explained to the cell phone rep what it was for, and he signed me up with the service I required. When I went to use the phone, it was not working properly, so after exhausting every possible solution I could think of, I went to the company for assistance. Two reps could not find a solution at the store, and told me to call tech support.

I made the call to tech support and was on hold, twice, with tech support for over an hour, with no resolve.

Do your people have the training they need to deliver great service?CLICK TO TWEET

One tech support person advised me they are not trained to check to see if phones are compatible with their network. Shouldn’t this be standard practice if you are signing people up for your service?

The third rep I spoke to assured me he would look into it and call me back same day with the solution. He never did call back. I went from being a very happy customer, to questioning my continuation with this company.

This article is not about the cell phone provider….I simply wanted to paint a picture of what can cause an unhappy customer. Where did this company go wrong? The customer service in this situation was massively lacking. I have been very happy with this provider for many years, but never had a tech issue I had to ask for assistance with. It is during times of customer challenges that a company has an opportunity to prove their value to the customer. Lack of employee training and poor customer support are what drive customers away. Lost business is a huge waste of time, advertising costs and future business for companies. Spending millions on advertising to gain customers is a complete waste of money if you are not training staff to service clients so they REMAIN happy, loyal customers. Word of mouth about great experiences is one of the most powerful FREE advertising methods there is. When a customer is not happy, it can be one of the most destructive.

It is vital for companies to train their people effectively. When a client needs assistance this is when a company has an opportunity to shine. If it is not handled correctly, most customers will leave, bad mouth the company, perhaps yell at the customer service rep, and post negative comments across social media. Something that many companies do not consider is that when a customer is unhappy, they will often take it out on the employee. Employees that are dealing with complaints all the time, get worn down. That negative experience is not just bad for the customer, it is equally as bad for the employee, who feels a lack of effectiveness in their job. This leads to dissatisfaction in their work and disengagement in the workplace. It becomes a domino effect. That employee will discuss with other employees, disengagement multiplies, good people leave and companies spend money replacing them. So now the company has lost the customer and the employee! That money would have been better spent training existing employees, which would have built their confidence, made them more effective in their work, and given them the ability to serve clients better so they stay happy clients. This is such a no brainer, but sadly so many companies just don’t understand this.

There is so much red tape to push through in many bigger organizations and this results in employee training being neglected. However, if you are an entrepreneur, you can absolutely learn from this and make sure you don’t make the same mistakes. Give your people the training they need and deserve. It isn’t just to benefit them. This is a huge benefit to you and your business.

As featured on:  bizcatalyst360.com/the-importance-of-company-training/

I am inspired daily by other entrepreneurs that have created success, and study these successful people on a regular basis. There is so much to learn from others that we can implement into our own path towards success as an entrepreneur. Here is a simple success tip from Richard Branson – Never let an opportunity pass you by

I do my best to live into those words every day in my business life as an entrepreneur. It is something that I have learned to do, it didn’t come naturally to me back 30 years ago when I became an entrepreneur. I was shy, timid and did not have confidence in making powerful, bold decisions. I have learned that one of the best ways to learn is to start something new and be forced to find solutions. It is empowering and confidence building to figure things out and find those solutions. It prepares you to take on bigger things going forward, builds your knowledge, and your confidence.

We don’t have to have all the answers before attempting something new. As a matter of fact, we can gather the basic knowledge we need, and very often it is that fresh perspective that allows us to excel quickly at something new because we don’t have any pre-conceived limitations in our minds of what is possible.

We can see things that need to be done and put in place, and create solutions. When we are starting something new, we have a fresh energy and unlimited enthusiasm that gives us the drive and ideas that often are missing when you become complacent.

Going back to Richard Branson’s quote – Never let an opportunity pass you by – When an opportunity is presented to you, don’t allow yourself to buy your own excuses.

The timing isn’t right – There is never a “perfect” time to do anything in life really. Buying a new car is a good example. How many people buy a new car at a time that just isn’t right? The old one conks out and you are forced to buy a new one to get to work, and do all the things you need your vehicle for. We are conditioned to do what it takes in these type of situations…many take out a loan if necessary to put a new vehicle on the road and don’t give it a second thought. People wouldn’t consider being without a car if their old one stops working, even if the timing isn’t right. To create success as an entrepreneur, we need to have that same mindset, and never let an opportunity pass you by…find a way where there appears to be no way.

What would you do if you had just started a business and the opportunity to expand came up? Do you take it, or use the excuse the timing isn’t right yet. People often believe that success has to take a long time. Success can indeed happen quickly for those that don’t put the brakes on, and keep making bold powerful decisions when opportunity presents itself.

I don’t have the ______ (money, time, etc.). If something is important enough to you, you will solve the money or time or whatever other excuse you are selling yourself. Figure it out….ask yourself what you would do if your life depended on it. It is amazing how creative you can get. Obviously, this has to be ethical, within the law, etc.

I don’t know how to ________. There are always things we don’t know how to do. Don’t be afraid to learn and understand you absolutely CAN learn anything you want to. The desire has to outweigh the excuse you are attempting to sell yourself. This is where personal growth lies. Today the resources online are endless. There is nothing we can’t learn if we are self motivated.

I need security – We all have a choice to work hard for “perceived” security, or, take a bold move with new opportunities that come up to be the CREATOR of your own security. This is taking personal responsibility for your results. The only true security that exists today is the willingness to create your own security. Work as hard for YOURSELF as you would for an employer and watch how your life changes in a positive direction.

Challenges – There will be challenges in anything we do that is worthwhile. It is simply part of the process. Stop telling yourself there are too many challenges in creating success as an entrepreneur. There are challenges with everything! It is part of life. Decide whether you want to put up with challenges to live a mediocre life working as an employee being unfufilled in your work, or if you are going to be the person that creates your life on purpose, on your terms, pushing through the challenges. Don’t wish it were “easier”…commit to being the best you can be and you will find you can handle things you never dreamed you could.

Unknown – We all have the choice to step out of our own personal comfort zones to do something new or unknown. Is it scary? Yes, many times it is. A better question to ask yourself would be “Is is worth it and how can I grow?

What if I fail? WHAT IF YOU SUCCEED? Ask yourself better questions! How could this change your life in a positive direction?

I learned recently of a local food chain that is expanding in our area. The franchise owner has gone from a very small space to a new space about 4-5 times the size, and is launching a new concept in the franchise (the first of it’s kind in the country). Is it the “right time”. Some may say no, it hasn’t been proven. This owner obviously recognizes Richard Bransons words Never let an opportunity pass you by, and sees this as a huge opportunity to pioneer something great. We all have a choice when given opportunities like this, to either “be the first” or needing proof. Successful entrepreneurs make the decision and don’t let opportunity pass them by.

Another food chain that closed in our community has reopened and they don’t yet have their staff in order. Do they wait until that perfect time to hire all the “right” people, or, do they jump in and get things going trusting they will attract the right people? Those that wait tend to never get anything off the ground. Those that jump in, may have to work harder initially, but tend to be the people that create long term success.
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Those that embrace opportunity create results that others only dream about. We all have a choice to be the person that actually lives into their true human potential, or wastes it. Some helpful words that I live my life by are: We have potential for a reason…to live into it…..

​As published on   http://bizcatalyst360.com/successful-entrepreneurs-act-on-opportunity/

As I have often mentioned in previous articles, through my journey as an entrepreneur, I have learned to observe and learn in everything I do….

Yesterday, we were out for a convertible ride, and as we were passing through small villages in out of the way places, I couldn’t help but notice all the small businesses being run by residents in small villages. Almost every building in each small village, as well as the houses, had a business sign out. It reminded me of “the way it was” before the industrial age. Everyone had their own small business and were very self reliant. People then did not rely on corporations or government to provide for them. Locals supported each others business, and it created a community.

I believe this is becoming more important to people again. We see this in small and medium sized towns. People wanting to support their local merchants. In talking with many in the millennial generation, I have found it is important to them to support local people in business, and many go out of their way to do that, which is wonderful! All types of local businesses, farmers markets, etc are part of what make a community, a community. A loyalty is built in reciprocal business.

Another consideration is, we live in a very changed world. No longer are people working at a job for life, retiring and being looked after. Many are finding themselves needing to continue working past 65 due to economic challenges over the last few years. A challenge for those in this age group is being hired at their age. What many forget is the vast amount of knowledge and experience, interests, and hobbies they have gained over their working lives. There are so many directions a person like this could take to start some type of business for themselves so they are not a victim of age discrimination, and are creating a self reliant financial future for themselves.

There are many people that work more than one job. Many millennials hold 2 or 3 jobs. This is an indication the individual is not afraid to work and are willing to do what it takes to earn a living. What most just don’t consider is taking that time and energy you are using for the side jobs, and put that time and energy into your own start up. It doesn’t have to be a big business idea. Think about how much you are earning at the side job, and ask yourself what you could do instead to equal or exceed that income in some type of business of your own. It isn’t a lack of opportunity for self employment that stops people from taking this step. It is a lack of belief in themselves, and a lack of creative, solution oriented thinking. Why “sell” your hours to an employer for minimum wage when you could start building your own future in a business that you actually enjoy. Remember, you are either building YOUR own dream, or working to build SOMEONE ELSE’S! If you are willing to work, why build someone else’s? The ONLY job security there is today, is building your own security.

Downsizing has affected many that never thought they would be affected. There are many professionals that thought they had a lifelong career with their employer. Downsizing isn’t the end of the road for these individuals. It is a FORK in the road, requiring creative thinking to determine what different direction could be built with the knowledge and experience you have gained. A question to ask yourself in this scenario is “my work and my experience is highly valuable to any employer…therefore it is just as highly valuable to my own potential startup….how can I utilize it to build my own business”.

Think back to the days when everyone had their own “shop”….the butcher, the florist, the vet, the baker, the seamstress, the shoemaker, etc., etc. Those people managed to create a living for themselves. They didn’t have corporations or government to “look after them” or provide “security”. They got busy and created it themselves, or they didn’t eat or have a roof over their heads. They took personal responsibility and found a way to create a living for themselves and their families. I have also noticed some of the most successful entrepreneurs are often people from other countries, that came here and DECIDED to take their skills and build a business and not wait for someone else to save them. This comes down to a choice….a choice to utilize your own human potential to build your future, instead of selling your hours to an employer that has absolutely no interest in your long term future.

The more people that realize and take responsibility to create their own work, the more self reliant and mutually supportive our communities will become. As I passed through these small towns, I got a feeling that everyone there seemed to be an entrepreneur. They wouldn’t have all their signs for business services out if they bought into the perceived need to only work for employers. These small town business people are demonstrating independent thinking, community support and self reliance. A lesson that anyone from any size town or city can learn from.
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-As published on: http://bizcatalyst360.com/getting-back-to-the-entrepreneurial-mindset/#sthash.PBzEXKYg.dpuf

Many dream of starting a small business, however few actually follow through. There are a number of reasons for this lack of follow through, but most are avoidable.

I don’t have the money – A business decision is not based on “having the money”. If this was the case, most would never start a business. Make the decision, and then figure out a way to raise the capital. It is amazing how creative one can get when they want something bad enough.

Raising capital – this is one of the biggest things that holds people back. Many will say “if I can raise the capital I will get started”. Their “decision” to start their business is dependent on this. Successful business owners think the opposite. They make the decision to get started, and then go to work to figure out where they are raising the capital required. Even if it is a challenge to find the funds, they do not give up…they go to plan B, C, D, or E if necessary. All successful business owners figure out how to raise the capital required. A line of credit or, LOC, is a great way to finance start up costs with small businesses.

I don’t have experience in that type of business – I have never had experience in any of the businesses I have started over the last 30 plus years. What you need is a willingness to learn, and take personal responsibility to learn whatever you need to. This can often be an advantage over someone with years of experience – those individuals can get stuck in the past instead of continuing to learn and grow. The new person sees the business with a fresh perspective and new ideas.

I am afraid I will fail – This is a fear almost everyone has. Those that create success as an entrepreneur push through this fear and are willing to do what it takes for as long as it takes, and understand, it is simply part of the process. Change your mindset to: “I will make this work”. Be willing to learn, grow, and do what it takes. Keep the commitment you make to yourself!

My kids are too young – This was the REASON I started my first business. I wanted to be home with them, so I started a home based business. There are so many options available that allow you to work around your family. Today there are more people than ever working as independent contractors – providing their work service to companies from their own homes. You have to decide if the age of your kids is going to be the REASON you take this control of your work, or the EXCUSE why you can’t.

I have to pay for my kids college – This is in the same category as my kids are too young. Many businesses can be launched in your spare time around your F/T job to allow you to make more money and actually pay for their education. It is not an “either/or”. Ask yourself how you can start a side business to pay for their college expenses, instead of attempting to take it out of the income you have.

The timing isn’t right – Successful entrepreneurs often start a business at the worst possible “time”. When the door of opportunity opens, successful entrepreneurs do not hesitate to jump in with both feet. It is vital to embrace opportunity when it is presented. When you have experienced this, you will understand everything usually falls into place, despite whatever perceived obstacle you may have been concerned about. Successful entrepreneurs embrace new ideas and make bold decisions to move forward when opportunity is presented to them.

One of the skills I have developed as a business-owner, is the ability to make decisions quickly. When opportunity presents itself, it is vital to make the decision quickly, and then figure out the details to launch the small business. Often I see individuals attempting to have everything figured out in advance, and many end up not moving forward and miss the opportunity they have in front of them, because of some small detail. Those that drag out the decision making, will usually find a million excuses why they can’t move forward. Just as interesting is those that make quick decisions and take action to make it go right, are utilizing a powerful entrepreneurial skill that will assist them in creating success.

It's important to understand that each action step we take will often reveal the next step to take. CLICK TO TWEET

We can’t always predict what that step will be, and those that are attempting to have everything perfectly figured out will usually never get started.

I don’t have time – It’s been said if you want something done, give it to a busy person. It’s interesting how much you can actually get done, when you eliminate all the time wasted, and only focus on spending time on high payoff activities.

Age – I’m not old enough/experienced enough, or I’m too old – Desire and attitude outweighs the number on your birth certificate. You may not have experience, are you willing to learn? You may be in your senior years but have the desire to be self employed. Stop using that number on your birth certificate as an excuse. I have known very young entrepreneurs as well as people in their 70’s and 80’s starting businesses.

Another quality of a successful entrepreneur is the ability to make powerful, bold decisions. One must trust their intuition and be willing to take action. The decision making doesn’t require long drawn out “thinking” and analysis. Make the decision, and then start working step by step to launch the business.

Successful entrepreneurs have developed the ability to make judgement calls. CLICK TO TWEET

This comes from trusting your gut. This could be in hiring staff as an example. You may have 2 equally qualified people, but your gut is favoring one over the other. Trust your gut and make the judgement call.

Make a list of everything that needs to be done once you have made the decision to move forward. Check each item off as you complete it. Some things will take longer because there may be a learning curve. Don’t let that stop you. Be willing to learn whatever you require and keep taking positive action steps forward. If you get stuck on something that is going to take longer than anticipated, get busy doing something else on the to do list. You must keep the momentum going and keep taking pro-active action.

Avoid the critics – I absolutely guarantee that someone close to you will think you should not get your business started. This “well meaning” advice is one of the biggest reasons people don’t get their business ideas started. Every single successful entrepreneur has had to push through the well meaning advice of those that are NOT QUALIFIED to give you that advice. Stop listening to those that have never had the courage to pursue their own dreams, or those that “tried” and gave up. That would be like taking marriage advice from someone that has never been married, or has been divorced 3 times!

Trust your intuition – Trust your heart, and if it feels right, don’t waste time, keep taking the next action step you can take, as quickly as possible. When a business idea is in front of you, make a decision! One of the most successful entrepreneurs on the planet, Richard Branson has a saying – “screw it, let’s do it” When a business idea is in front of you, ask yourself, does this make sense, do I want to move forward? If the answer is yes, don’t let any of the excuses stop you. Be solution oriented, and move forward as quickly as possible.

Successful entrepreneurs make decisions quickly and change their minds slowly if at all. CLICK TO TWEET

Successful entrepreneurs don’t need weeks or months to make a decision. They get the details and decide – yes or no. They don’t have to “think about it”. If it makes sense, they take action right away. Successful entrepreneurs understand, they don’t need to “think”….they need to DECIDE. This is a key difference in those that want to start a business but never do…

As posted on:  http://bizcatalyst360.com/starting-a-small-business/

#startingasmallbusiness

It’s been stated that over 65% of the work that will be done by today’s youth, hasn’t been invented yet. To some this will look like a negative, something that can’t be avoided, leaving no possibilities. For others it is a time of excitement, creation and possibility! Those that have developed entrepreneurial thinking will be excited and see huge possibilities for the future.

Robotics are going to be replacing a lot of work that is typically done by students.  CLICK TO TWEET

I recently read about a big food chain that is talking about replacing their workers with robots. These workers have typically been students, saving for their education.

This brings up the need to educate students to develop entrepreneurial thinking…so they learn to be the “creators” of their work…not the victims of underemployment.

Is is ok to sit back, and “hope” this doesn’t affect youth, or, wait for someone to create some new type of work they can do? There are two types of people in the world. Those that are given a vision, and then live in fear of it becoming a negative reality…. and those that have that same vision and can see problems before they occur, and as a result, go to work to create a solution.

Anyone reading this article, has the option of which category they choose to fall into.
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Those that live in fear of a negative reality play the victim, waiting for someone else to solve the problem.  CLICK TO TWEET
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Those that create solutions are visionary leaders the world needs to move forward, and ANYONE can make a choice to align themselves with others that have this type of mindset.

When you have developed the mindset of an entrepreneur, you are able to see opportunity when it is presented.  CLICK TO TWEET

You are not afraid to make bold decisions, and take action. This is one of the major differences between an employee mindset and the mindset of an entrepreneur, and it CAN be learned. Our world is changing, and it is changing fast. Those that develop their entrepreneurial thinking will give themselves an edge to create success in the 21st century! Contact me (details below) if you would like to learn how.

As posted on:   http://bizcatalyst360.com/its-vital-to-develop-entrepreneurial-thinking-for-success-in-the-21st-century/#sthash.9uoDrObt.dpuf

Every successful person, from all walks of life, leave clues we can follow. The key is to have an awareness and look for their messages so we apply them to our own lives to accelerate our results.  Muhammad Ali gave us many, so I put together some "success lessons from Muhammad Ali", followed by my own tips, all in one spot, so you can print it off and refer to it often.

It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you down.  It's the pebble in your shoe.  This is so true..just yesterday I was out for a walk, and have a cut on the back of my foot....I had to cut the walk short because my shoe was wearing on the cut and causing pain.  It wasn't the walk, it was the "pebble", or in this case the cut.  A solution - change shoes!

Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they have been given, than to explore the power they have to change it.  Impossible is not a fact.  It's an opinion.  Impossible is not a declaration, it's a dare.  Impossible is potential.  Impossible is temporary. - I love this one!  Two people can look at the word "impossible"....one will find no hope, the other will find opportunity.

I am the greatest. I said that even BEFORE I knew I was.  This is visionary leadership, belief in yourself, demonstrating your self worth, and self esteem, and believing in your human potential.

Don't count the days, make the days count. - Be in the moment and make your days count by doing and being everything you are fully capable of.  We all have potential for a reason - to live into it!

Don't quit.  Suffer now, and live the rest of your life as a champion. - Successful people are willing to do what unsuccessful are not, so they can live their lives doing what others only dream about.

Champions aren't made in gyms.  Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision.  They have to have last minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, and they have to have the skill and the will.  But the will must be stronger than the skill. - I have found personally when the WILL is stronger than the skill, you can learn any skills you require to reach the dreams you have inside of you.  This is the basic starting point...from there your WILL will drive you to do what it takes for as long as it takes.

It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief.  And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things being to happen.  Something fascinating to understand is that our brains do not know the difference between what is real and what is imagined.  When you first start out with affirmations, you may not believe them, but keep at it, with this knowledge in mind.  Eventually, you reprogram your mind for success and start attracting the people, the situations, everything you require to manifest your goals.

It's the lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challengers, and I believe in myself.  - You must believe in yourself.  Understand you do not have to have all the answers and everything figured out in advance.  Always take the first step, believing you will figure it out, and then keep taking each new step as it is revealed to you, with courage, knowing if you follow this with complete faith in yourself, results will follow.

If your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough. - This relates to our comfort zones.  Be willing to take consistent steps out of your comfort zone and stretch yourself.   This is the process that is necessary to raise the bar and live into what you are truly capable of.

To be a great champion, you must believe you are the best.  If you're not, pretend you are. - This builds belief as the mind doesn't know what is real and what is imagined.

If my mind can conceive  it and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it. - We are never given a goal we are not capable of achieving...start with the dream in your mind, believe in your heart you CAN achieve it, and take the necessary action steps.

A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life. - I LOVE this one!  If we are viewing the world the same way 30 years later, we have not spent any time learning and growing ourselves.  If we are not learning and growing, we are dying....with our potential left inside of us....what a waste!

The best get knocked down.  The greatest get back up. - Every successful person has had challenges, made mistakes, and gone through adversity.  The difference between those that have success that those that don't are, successful people keep getting back up and pushing through, understanding, it is simply part of the process.

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth. - Another one of my favorites! The more you are of service, the more success you will create.

Thank you Muhammad Ali, for all your inspiration and words of wisdom.  He understood a basic principle of success....reach back and help others achieve their dreams.    We can all do that....sharing what we have learned to help inspire and accelerate the dreams of others.

 Click HERE for my FREE e-course:  

 Debbie Ruston has been an entrepreneur and trainer since 1986. She works with individuals, and groups interested in developing their entrepreneurial leadership mindset.Was this article of value to you? Feel free to share it on your  social networks and with your contacts, join in the discussion below, and FOLLOW her on the top right corner of this pg.

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As published on LinkedIn:  ​https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/success-lessons-from-muhammad-ali-debbie-ruston?trk=mp-reader-card

Things are changing in our world.  There are some very disturbing things of course, but I see a lot of good things happening.  The key is to focus on how we can be a positive influence and bring about positive change.    
This brings up the idea of yoga & mindfulness - should it be implemented in schools?

Yoga & mindfulness is being implemented in schools and businesses around the world, however, as with everything, there are those for and against.  I read an article recently about a school budget quarrel happening over paying for yoga in elementary schools.  I also recently saw a Canadian Police force practicing meditation.  

Yoga, meditation, & mindfulness is becoming more widely accepted in schools and in business, and is hugely beneficial for health, wellness, stress, etc.   Although some see this suggestion as a waste of money, or, believe there is no money in the budget, an option may be to utilize part of the existing  phys ed budget towards yoga.  Train existing phys ed teachers in yoga so they have someone already on staff that is responsible for the yoga practices, rather than bringing in and paying for outside instructors.  An investment in the existing staff could be a solution instead of continuous spending for an outside yoga instructor.  There is always a solution for things that are worthwhile.

According to Jodi Komitor, (who is considered a leading authority on yoga for kids), yoga has this list of benefits:

-Maintains flexibility and strengthens growing bodies
-Enhances concentration
-Increases self esteem
-Teaches present moment awareness
-Cultivates a peaceful, relaxed state of body and mind
-Gives tools for stress management
-Sparks creativity in ripe imaginations
-Encourages kind peer and social interactions
-Enhances body awareness
-Teaches discipline and responsibility

I have been discussing this across various social media platforms over the last couple of weeks and it has been interesting to hear some of the comments.  A huge percentage of individuals are absolutely behind this and believe it is a great idea.  As with anything, there are the few naysayers that have nothing good to say.   I have observed that many of these individuals are speaking from a lack of personal experience, and expressing what they "think", without any background knowledge or experience in yoga themselves.  

I personally find it very hard to understand why this is such a long drawn out, over analyzed decision to make for schools.  The benefits to health and wellness go far past taking a class.  This is something that would benefit young people their entire lives, and give them specific tools for success, in all aspects of their lives.  If we can spend money on track and field, basketball, football, volleyball, and every other sport involved in phys ed classes, why not implement something of such tremendous life long value.  Yoga and meditation can be enjoyed by an individual into their old age.  It doesn't end after graduation, it becomes a part of someone's  lifelong health and wellness journey.

If you believe yoga & meditation should be implemented into schools, take a stand,share this article, and share your thoughts, and let's create an overwhelming awareness and really get this conversation going.   Everything worthwhile starts with an idea, and people that are willing to speak up, and take a stand for change.  There have been some remarkable things accomplished through social media.  This could be a lifelong gift we give to our youth, by working together for change, simply by working together to get the message out.

 Click HERE for my FREE e-course:  

 Debbie Ruston has been an entrepreneur and trainer since 1986. She works with individuals, and groups interested in developing their entrepreneurial leadership mindset.Was this article of value to you? Feel free to share it on your social networks and with your contacts, join in the discussion below, and FOLLOW her on the top right corner of this pg.

Debbie's also on:
FB
Twitter
YouTube
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G+https://plus.google.com/+DebbieRuston-TheSuccessEducatorAnd now on iTunes

As posted on LinkedIn:  ​https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/should-yoga-mindfulness-implemented-schools-debbie-ruston?trk=mp-reader-card

 It's common to hear people saying "I wish I had _________"  Fill in the blank, we have heard many things people wish for, and many of us have said these words ourselves.

There is nothing wrong with wishing, this is where dreams are born, as long as you put ACTION behind the wish.  Action is the DOING part.  Without taking action, you are simply dreaming and nothing will ever change.

I wish I had more time - More time isn't going to magically appear.  Make a list of everything you are spending your time on.  Then it's time to get authentic with yourself.  What are some time "sappers" that are not important and unproductive that you can get rid of?  Very often we do things out of habit, boredom, etc., and have not even thought about why we are wasting time on it.  Only allow time for things that lead you towards what is important in your life.  A good spot to start is taking a look at what you do in the evenings after work.  how much time do you spend watching TV as an example?  Add it up over a week, and look at how much time you can free up for other things that are important to you.

I wish I had more money - Again, get authentic with yourself.  Are you overspending, do you earn enough, are you working smart?  If you are overspending, take control and start choosing where your hard earned cash gets allocated.  Every purchase, ask yourself, do I really want or need this?  If you don't earn enough, perhaps you need to find a new job.  Work SMART....there is a huge difference between working smart and working hard.  Some people will work 2 or 3 jobs for minimum wage, while others work 1 job and get paid what they are worth.  This comes down to self esteem and self worth.  What do you feel your time is worth?  Do you need to upgrade your skills or knowledge to earn more?  The time and commitment required to do that is far less than the time and commitment you make working long hrs for low pay your whole life.  Also consider the toll this takes on your relationships and your health and well being.  Nothing will change until you identify and change what is required to take you to the next level.  Stop settling!

I wish I had a better job -   What are you DOING about it?  Determine what you are looking for in a job, and start taking ACTION on it.  An employer isn't going to show up on your doorstep and ask you if you would like to work for them.  Be proactive and get out there and find what you are looking for.  Have the courage to make different decisions, and embrace change as a growth opportunity instead of being afraid of change.

I wish I had a better relationship - Our relationships start with US.   Do you have the same interests, do you DO things together regularly?   Do you show respect for your partner?  Do you DO things for each other, just because?  Our self esteem, confidence, and self worth play a big role in this.  BE the person you expect in your partner.  Set the example first.  We are treated the way we ALLOW ourselves to be treated.  If you are in a mentally or physically abusive relationship, start taking a firm stand for what you expect and for what you won't allow.  Have the courage to make a change if necessary.

I wish I had more energy - What is causing your lack of energy?  Are you unmotivated?  Are you overweight?  Are you out of shape?  If you feel a lack of energy, find the CAUSE of it.  Don;t just accept the fact that your energy is low.  Get to the root cause of it, and then correct THAT.  If you are unmotivated, WHY are you unmotivated, what change do you need to make?  If you are overweight, what are you going to DO about it?  Healthy eating and exercise is always the solution, not fad diets.  Get your THINKING straight first and commit to taking the ACTIONS necessary through healthy eating choices and regular exercise.  Are you out of shape?  Find yourself struggling to do simple things that you could before?  This is a red flag to take ACTION and correct it before it leads to health problems.  Get active and start rebuilding your stamina and energy.

I wish I knew what I want in life - You DO, you simply have to stop sugar coating, stop making excuses, and start getting authentic with yourself.  Journalling is a great way to have the breakthroughs you are looking for.  A simple exercise is to make a list of everything you don't want.  Once you are clear on that, make a list of everything you do want.  This is called clarity through contrast and is a very effective exercise.  Once you have identified what you DO want, make decisions based on what you need to do to make that happen and have the courage to boldly take those steps.
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Wishing won't build the life you want.  It is simply where your dreams are born.  DOING is the key to creating the results you are looking for.  It isn't wishing vs doing....it is birthing your wish, and then taking action to bring it to fruition.

Click on the HERE for my FREE e-course:  
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 Debbie Ruston has been an entrepreneur and trainer since 1986. She works with individuals, and groups interested in developing their entrepreneurial leadership mindset.Was this article of value to you? Feel free to share it on your social networks and with your contacts, join in the discussion below, and FOLLOW her on the top right corner of this pg.

Debbie's also on:
FB
Twitter
YouTube
Pinterest
G+https://plus.google.com/+DebbieRuston-TheSuccessEducatorAnd now on iTunes

As posted on  LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/pulse/wishing-vs-doing-debbie-ruston?trk=prof-post

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Recently I wrote an article about “success tips from baseball” – I am going to share a series of posts to point out success tips from the many life encounters we have to help you develop an awareness to look for these in your everyday life.

Recently, we were at the beach celebrating our friends birthday. One of our friends promptly went in for a swim as soon as she got there. She is an amazing woman, always leading the charge in everything we do. It was the 28th of May, and certainly in everyone’s mind the water would be much too cold for swimming. After all, two weeks prior, it was snowing.

After sitting in the blazing sun all afternoon, I had to go in to cool off. I had my bathing suit on underneath my dress, and my intent was to walk in to my knees and if it was warm enough I would take off my dress and go for a swim. I was very surprised at how warm the water was, so ventured in a little further and attempted to step over a big rock to the sandy area, but slipped and went under. That made the decision to go for a swim easy! After that about 6 or 8 of our friends joined me for a swim. The water was beautiful, about 75 degrees.

What is the lesson in this?

We can choose to believe something without ever testing it and miss out on life's journey.CLICK TO TWEET

We all thought that my friend that went in the water first was brave to jump in the freezing water. Our perception was it had to be freezing….we had only had warm weather for just over a week. The fact was, she simply lives life to the fullest, never misses an opportunity for fun and adventure and doesn’t use anything as an excuse. She simply decided to go for a swim, and took action. Oh and by the way, she isn’t in her 20’s, 30’s or even 40’s…she is in her 70’s!
This is a powerful way to build a business. What lessons can we learn from this example my friend set? Jumping in with both feet, not being afraid to lead the way, not “testing” the water, but boldly going forward in your decision. Seizing opportunity. She didn’t over analyze the water temperature. Trusted her heart and followed through in what she wanted to do. She didn’t need the approval of those around her to do what she wanted to do. She took immediate action on the idea she had.
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Successful entrepreneurs practice this same type of thinking in their businesses. They make decisions quickly and change their minds slowly, if at all. They take action. They make decisions that support the goals they have, regardless of the possible obstacles. They trust their intuition. They don’t make excuses. They take action as quickly as possible on their ideas.

As Richard Branson so often says: Screw it, Just do it.CLICK TO TWEET

It’s a great philosophy to live life by and to create the success in business that others just dream about. Always be on the lookout and have an awareness of the lessons that are right in front of us….most would never think you could gain entrepreneurial lessons from the beach, or a ball game, but lessons are all around us for those that have the awareness. Once you have the awareness you will see lessons in absolutely everything you observe and take part in. It becomes a fascinating way to live life, and allows you to learn every single day, something new you can apply to your life or your business.

After Muhammad Ali’s death, I watched a documentary about his life, and that gave me some more new distinctions to share in an upcoming article. Remember, everything and everyone is our teacher. Success messages from the beach, or the ball field….there are messages everywhere. Our job is to have the awareness to pick out the success tips that are right in front of us.

As posted on:  http://bizcatalyst360.com/success-tips-from-the-beach/

Every day as we do business either in person or online, we experience either great customer service, or a total lack of it. Business owners can gain credibility quickly as they are starting out in order to gain business….there are so many clues for success that we can implement from our own personal experiences.

Our daughter is expecting our first grandchild and is going through the process of sorting out everything they will require for the baby. It’s been many years since I have stepped inside a baby store to search for all the gear young parents need. A big difference since we had our children, is the amount of knowledge young parents today have. They are educated, they have done research online, and they know what they want.

When they come into a store they have specific things they want to know. Our daughter and son-in-law are in the process of deciding on a stroller. Today it is not uncommon to spend over $700 on a stroller. For a $700 investment, you would expect great customer service. Our daughter went to a specialty shop first to “test drive” the stroller she had in mind. The reps there were extremely knowledgeable and helpful and answered all of her questions. Next, she brought our son-in-law to another store (chain store) that was nearby to an appointment they had. This store carried the same brand and make of stroller, so she thought he could also get all his questions answered. They couldn’t get anyone to help them, and after a long wait, tracked a rep down to ask questions. The rep knew nothing and gave absolutely no service whatsoever.

This is an example of two stores, both carrying the same product with the same price tag. One store had 5 reps on the floor, 1/10th of the size of the chain store. It wasn’t a matter of the specialty store being more expensive so they could hire and train more staff. They simply understand the importance of providing outstanding customer service.

Today our daughter went back to the specialty shop to look at the car seats, which again, is a much bigger decision than it was 30 years ago. Car seats today expire and are government regulated, at least here in Canada. The car seat is somewhere around $300, so just these two purchases alone will be over $1,000. For that type of price, one expects to have their questions answered.

This goes a lot further than just the mom & dad purchasing what they need. Guaranteed they have friends that are also having children, and will be sharing their shopping experiences with them. Add to this the “registry” the expectant parents are putting together for showers. They are not going to direct any business to the store with no service.

This is one of the differences between thinking like an employee, and thinking like a business owner. Successful business owners understand it isn’t just about the immediate potential sale, and it isn’t simply a matter of ringing it in on the till. Each person that comes in looking for something specific, no doubt has a list of other things they need, friends that also are going to be needing similar items, and in this case, dozens of other potential customers that will be buying something the parents put on the registry.
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But it also goes even further. This business with the exceptional service is 1 hour away from our town. I had never heard of it. We used to have one of the chain stores in our town that provided the poor service. It is closed now. Anyone that decides to purchase something from the registry from this store with the exceptional service, will remember this next time they have a baby gift to buy. We have a tight-knit group of friends, about 40+ in total, and the biggest majority of them don’t have grandkids yet. These are all potential future customers for this store. Of course, the staff has no way of knowing the potential of 1 single client that comes into their store, but here lies the importance of getting to know your customer, and providing outstanding service.

Good customer service is vital to building a successful business.CLICK TO TWEET

​There is nothing more powerful in advertising than simple word of mouth, which doesn't cost anything.CLICK TO TWEET

As published on:  http://bizcatalyst360.com/staff-training-why-its-important/

We have all talked about, and heard about the importance of work/life balance. Society today is more connected than ever. There doesn't seem to be a downtime for most, as we witness people attached to their cell phones everywhere we go.  We see people in restaurants sitting across from each other, talking to someone else through text messages.  This also happens within homes, around the dinner table.  People leave their work day, and respond to messages from the office during their evening family time.

I have been self employed since 1985, working out of my home.    While this is wonderful, it's important to have disciplines in place.  Something effective I did many years ago when our children were young, was install an unlisted phone in our home. That number was only given out to family and closest friends.  If it rang during family time, I knew it wasn't work related.    Another discipline I put in place was closing my office door when I was done work for the day.  Over 30 yrs later, I still maintain these practices.  I thank my daughter who actually woke me up to this when she was young. We were baking Christmas cookies and I took a business call in the middle of it, and she started crying and said "mommy you promised you wouldn't work".  We have an opportunity to either shuffle moments like this under the carpet, or, recognize it as a wake up call and take different actions.

There are also those "important" meetings that just can't be missed.  Many work "mandatory overtime", which is a concept I will never understand.  These people will lose their jobs if they don't work this "mandatory overtime".   Don't get me wrong, I do understand, but I will never accept this is their only choice.  There is no way an employer would ever tell me I "must" work overtime or lose my job.  It's interesting, when you are self employed you gain a sense of independence and become very solution oriented.   We work to live and provide a better life for our families...we do not live to work.   There are other jobs, there are other solutions, but as long as employees all "accept" this type of rule, companies will continue to force this upon their employees.  

There is great danger in neglecting work/life balance, that many do not recognize until it sneaks up on them.  All of a sudden an individual feels stressed, unhappy, too busy, pulled in too many directions, and ends up feeling burned out.  When you come to this spot of being burned out, you have no energy, and are totally unproductive, in your work, and in your personal life.  You cannot possibly bring the best you have to give to the table when you are in an emotional state like this.  Your work production goes down, as does what you put into your relationships.

Let's look at one of the  busiest work roles and learn some powerful distinctions.....

I came across an article about our Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, who was taking a day off on a Japanese business trip to celebrate his wedding anniversary with his wife Sophie.  Something important I have noticed about this prime minister, is the way he DEMONSTRATES through his actions, the words he uses.  We can't talk about work/life balance if we let things that are important in our personal life go.  If the Prime Minister of Canada can take a day off, what is so  important in your business life that you can't?

Think about this example from another perspective.  Let's say the Prime Minister put his wedding anniversary on hold until he had more time. What message would this give to his wife?  How supportive would she be of his career?  What would this do to their relationship?  How would that guilt affect his meetings?  What would he be demonstrating to his children?  Credibility is built by our actions, not our words.

If you don't understand the importance of your down time, eventually you will come to resent the work you do, regardless of how much you love your work.  We work to live, we don't live to work.  If you are putting the important things in your life on the back burner, the joy goes out of your work, you feel resentful and it becomes something you are doing just to pay the bills.  You will not be producing at your maximum potential and your work will suffer.

Those that understand the importance of work/life balance, understand the many benefits associated with it.

Creativity - I have personally found that it is during my downtime I get some of my most creative ideas.  Being around water is particularly effective for me, pools, the beach, on a boat.  The same type of effect can also come from fire - fireplaces, campfires, etc.  It is the action of sitting still and staring at either water or fire, that the mind slows down and you identify new ideas.  It is important to understand the ideas come because the mind is still and relaxed,  not because you are attempting to force creativity.  We CAN create this type of feeling at any time.  We have often built a campfire in our backyard on a week night for instance.  It is amazing how much of a treat this feels like, and how refreshed you feel, as if you have been away for the weekend.

Refreshed - When you have taken some downtime to do those things that fill your heart with joy, you become refreshed, and you can see new perspectives.  It gives you a renewed energy to get back to work.

Happiness - When we are stressed we lose our sense of happiness.  When we come back from a break, we feel happier, we have created some new memories and the "reason" for working is felt through the reward of time off with those we love.  This translates into feeling happy.
Happy, refreshed, creative people are obviously more productive in their work, in their relationships, and in their personal lives.  It's vital to understand that this is all intermingled.  When we have balance between work and our personal lives, we naturally perform better in everything we do.
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I challenge anyone reading this to take a moment and reflect....are you "too busy" and putting things in your personal life off?  Take a moment and ask yourself what is so important?  If the Prime Minister of Canada walks the walk of work/life balance, and can take a day off, so can you.

Click HERE for my FREE e-course:  

 Debbie Ruston has been an entrepreneur and trainer since 1986. She works with individuals, and groups interested in developing their entrepreneurial leadership mindset.Was this article of value to you? Feel free to share it on your social networks and with your contacts, join in the discussion below, and FOLLOW her on the top right corner of this pg.
Debbie's also on:

FB
Twitter
YouTube
Pinterest
G+https://plus.google.com/+DebbieRuston-TheSuccessEducatorAnd now on iTunes

As published on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/importance-worklife-balance-debbie-ruston?trk=prof-post

It’s no secret that employee retention is important, and lack of focus on this area, costs companies millions of dollars per year. Yet, many companies continue to experience high turnover and are not doing anything to address it.

The first step is to actually VALUE your employees. When you have good people in a position, do what it takes to keep their engagement high and their job satisfaction at a peak. Realize if you don’t keep employees happy, another company will be happy to.

Today's employees want to FEEL valued.CLICK TO TWEET

There are many ways employers can accomplish this. Recognition is often overlooked. When people are going beyond the call of duty, recognize them. This could be done verbally, in a staff meeting, employee of the month recognition, taking them for lunch, a small gift certificate for a local coffee shop, or many other ways.

If you choose to take them for lunch, it can benefit in a couple of different ways. The obvious is they will appreciate the gesture. Secondly, and often overlooked, is the opportunity to talk in a non work environment about the goals they have, what they would like to learn, etc. A casual conversation over lunch is different than a formal mtg in an office. You may very well gain some valuable information that you wouldn’t otherwise get, in the office.

Because today’s employees want to learn and grow, you could tie this into feeling valued. Give out gift certificates for books, or actually take 60 seconds to wrap up a favorite business book that you would like them to read. What a great way to provide training, get the messages across that are important to your organization, and to help them learn, grow, and feel valued.
Remember if they cannot learn, grow and advance in their present role, most will not stay past 2-3 years.

The millennial generation is looking to make up time and hit their career goals.CLICK TO TWEET

If this can’t be done where they are, they will move on to another company that will support this. Make sure you are supporting their ongoing learning and development to help them reach their potential. This benefits them as well as your company.
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Being a part of something meaningful is another area of importance to today’s employees. Get creative, ask for feedback on things you can do as a company to make a difference. Your employees have ideas, give them the space to share those ideas. This will also help them feel valued. Nothing feels better inside than to feel what you do actually makes a positive difference. When employees are happy, self motivated, feel they have a “reason” beyond the paycheck to do what they do, they are more engaged, and employee retention is a natural result.

​As featured on:  http://bizcatalyst360.com/employee-retention-is-important-to-your-business/

IT IS VERY COMMON to hear people say becoming an entrepreneur is just too risky, or too much work, or not secure. Yet, everyday, people have that dream in their hearts, but don’t act on it.

Let’s look at some of the things we have done in our lives that have been risky:

• asking someone out on a first date
• going on a first date
• learning to drive
• buying a car
• going to college or university
• choosing a career
• getting married
• having a child
• buying a home

These things all include taking a risk. Some cost us in terms of simply pushing through fear. Some cost us financially, and this varies in cost. For instance buying a car is less expensive than buying a home. What most don’t consider is that a car depreciates in value the moment we drive it off the lot, and a home gains value over the years. Most people accept that it’s normal to spend $30-50,000 or more on a vehicle, have a monthly car loan, and work to pay if off, only to have a car that has worn out, and you have to repeat this commitment every 5-10 years.

Learning to drive can be fearful and risky. What if you have an accident, what if you injure someone, yet look how many drivers are on the road. It’s normal to get your license.

Choosing a career path and going to higher ed to obtain the knowledge/degree to pursue that career can be considered very risky, yet most have also accepted this is normal. It is not uncommon today for young people to be carrying $50,000+ in outstanding student loans. What if after a 4, 5, 8 year program, and all the cost that goes with it, you find it doesn’t fulfill you and isn’t what you want to do for a living? What if you incur all that debt and can’t find work in your field? This is happening to many grads, there is a very high underemployment rate. Something else to consider is people who thought they would be working in a particular field their entire careers are being downsized that never thought they would be – teachers, health care professionals, etc. Again, this investment into higher ed is considered “normal”.

Making a life commitment of marriage can feel risky. Some people become very anxious at the thought, while others embrace it fully. For the most part marriage is something that a very high percentage of people accept as being a normal risk to take.

Remember buying your first home? What if you can’t keep up the payments, what if you lose your home? These are all risks that every home owner has taken, yet, like marriage, it is considered to be a normal risk to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars to put a roof over your head. Add to this, that most leave that home they are paying for to work 40, 50, 60 hrs a week, just to pay the bills, and don’t have the time they want in the home they are working their butts off for. Again, this is considered normal.

Starting a family is risky. Will you be a good parent? Will it affect your relationship? Will your children be healthy? Yet everyday, new lives are brought into our world. There is also the expense of raising children, that is a lifetime commitment….again, society accepts this as normal.

Stop for a moment and ask yourself: WHY IS ALL THIS CONSIDERED “NORMAL”, AND WHY ARE PEOPLE WILLING TO TAKE THESE RISKS? It isn’t RISK that people are afraid of…people take many risks every day. It is doing something that is not considered NORMAL. If most of the population isn’t doing it, it doesn’t feel “normal” . THIS is what stops people from following their hearts…if they don’t see everyone around them doing it, they think it’s not normal and therefore too risky. This is the way we have been conditioned to think. Once you have an awareness of this, it is a wake up and you have the opportunity to actually start thinking for yourself.

Really reflect on this….how many of these “risks” have you taken? Were there challenges with any of these things? Did you push through those challenges? Why did you push through the challenges you encountered?

We tend to push through and find solutions to challenges when our desire outweighs the challenge. CLICK TO TWEET

It’s amazing how creative we can be when our desire is strong enough.

100 years ago, it was “normal” to be an entrepreneur. Everyone had their own little business of some sort, and took responsibility to provide for themselves. When the industrial age started, companies started “conditioning” people that they “needed” the security of working a job, being paid a set salary, having benefits, etc. Society bought this belief and today, there are so many years of conditioning, that people have forgotten just how capable they are, and, how to think for themselves. Those that want to become entrepreneurs often talk themselves out of it, or listen to “well-meaning” people that discourage their dreams. Their fear of risk, and their conditioned belief to be normal, outweighs their desire.
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The first step is to recognize it is not fear of risk that is holding you back, it is fear of not doing what society considers NORMAL. Next look at all the areas you have successfully taken risk and had success. Identify how much capital it requires to start the business you want. This can vary greatly….from a few thousand dollars to several million. Something I see on a regular basis is potential small business owners giving up on their dreams of becoming an entrepreneur because they are afraid to invest $2,000, $5,000 $10,000 into a business they want to start. A wake up for these individuals is to ask themselves “why would I invest $50,000 in a car that will only depreciate, and not invest a small amount like this into a business that will pay me over and over again. When you bring it into perspective like this, you recognize how small you are playing in life, and how you are letting fear of risk stop you from achieving your goals.

​As published on:  http://bizcatalyst360.com/is-it-normal-to-become-an-entrepreneur/_

A very simple principle that all successful people understand fully is to surround yourself with people that you can learn and grow with, and those you enjoy spending time with.  When you surround yourself with those that you can learn from, it accelerates your own progress. This applies to all aspects of life.  Here are a few I have experienced....

Work - like minded goal driven people.  There is nothing more frustrating in business than to be surrounded with small thinkers, people that are just settling for whatever life brings, and those that do not pull their own weight.  That is, unless that is what you want in your life.  

I am very fortunate to be surrounded by visionary, creative, fun, happy, self motivated, supportive,  big thinkers in my work.  This adds to the fulfillment I gain, we learn from each other,  share in each others's successes, and work doesn't seem like work.

If you find yourself constantly frustrated with your work, reflect and ask yourself if you are on the same page as your co-workers and employer.  If not, you will feel like you have no sense of control...work just becomes something that pays the bills and in many cases, leaves you coming up short.  Identify what is important to you, what you want to experience in your work, and have the courage to make a change.

If you are the employer, and your staff is not on the same page, you either have to explore to find out what is missing, and start providing it, or, you have the wrong people in the role and may be time to replace them.

It's vital in the workplace to be surrounded with those that are in sync with the vision you have and are doing what it takes.

Cooking - I have never been interested in cooking.  To me, it was always just another domestic "job" to do each day.  I've always had a career, and I wasn't interested in spending time cooking.  Of course I did it to feed my family, but didn't enjoy the process.  That all changed when our daughter grew up and met her future husband.  They spend a ton of time with us, and are extraordinary cooks.  Something that I first learned from them, was to make cooking fun.  Put on some music, have a glass of wine, have some laughs together as a family as you are preparing the meal, and make it a real experience.  It was such a different perspective than I had all the years our kids were growing up, and I am very grateful they had such a positive influence and demonstrated how to really enjoy the process of cooking.  

Let's face it, it's something we have to do everyday to live...why not enjoy the process?  A good strategy is to identify something that you don't enjoy doing, but needs to be done, and find a way to implement these type of ideas.  Find someone you know that does enjoy the activity, and pick their brain on their methods.  You will find some distinctions you can implement that you may not have thought of.

Exercise - Many years ago, our grown son was working at a gym.  He was in a sales position, so of course, one of his first sales was to my husband and I.  I had avoided exercise my whole life and only signed up for the gym to help him out.  However, since I paid for it, I was determined to attend classes and get my money's worth.  I started losing weight, feeling better, having more strength and energy, was capable of doing things I had never been able to.  Because of that experience, I became committed to my health and fitness.  Simply helping him, gave me a gift of better health and fitness and I have been fully self motivated for many many years now.  He is very committed to his health and fitness and because of that, it rubbed off on me.

Friends - We are fortunate to be surrounded with fun, happy, funny, music lovers as friends.  We all also love to get together for pot luck dinners, wine & cheese, appetizers, attending live music events, etc.  These are all things that we personally love, and by surrounding ourselves with friends that enjoy the same things, it adds so much joy to our lives.  Our grown kids are always at these events, and our friends are a big part of their lives as well.  It takes these experiences up another notch when you share these things with people you love.  The ordinary, becomes the extraordinary and increases the joy in your downtime.
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If your life isn't where you want it, take a look at all the areas that you are dissatisfied with, and reflect on who you are surrounded with in each area.  This will be very revealing.  The next step is to have the courage to go forward in the direction you want to go and seek like minded people in those particular areas.  

As Published on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/accelerate-your-life-debbie-ruston?published=t

Click HERE for my FREE e-course:  


Debbie Ruston has been an entrepreneur and trainer since 1986. She works with individuals, and groups interested in developing their entrepreneurial leadership mindset.Was this article of value to you? Feel free to share it on your social networks and with your contacts, join in the discussion below, and FOLLOW her on the top right corner of this pg.
Debbie's also on:
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Twitter
YouTube
Pinterest
G+https://plus.google.com/+DebbieRuston-TheSuccessEducatorAnd now on iTunes

“Why are we doing “it” this way? It’s the way we’ve always done it.“

IF YOU ARE LIKE MOST PEOPLE, you have heard this said more than once in your life. It is a way of thinking that tremendously holds people back in life and in business.
As an entrepreneur, it is vital that you don’t make this mistake.

If you are doing things the way you always have, you will miss out on new growth opportunities.CLICK TO TWEET

For instance, you may have always done your marketing through print…newspapers, magazines, trade publications, etc. Although social media has been around for many years now, it is something you have avoided, and believe you have always done print, it’s been good enough, why change. The key distinction is, if you are missing out on something that is new and proven to work, you are limiting your growth potential. Adding a FB page where your clients can follow, learn about updates, post sales, gain knowledge through added value content you post are all free forms of marketing you just can’t get through print. You are missing a whole market of people if you are not on social media and will be left behind as millennials continue to become part of the largest demographic.

Another example might be looking at something that isn’t quite producing what you want. It might be a service, a product, or simply your way of interacting with clients. If it isn’t producing the result you want, it is time to tweak it…ask yourself how you could do it differently. The answer may not come to you immediately, and you may be married to your old idea. Be willing to be flexible and think out of the box. If you keep asking yourself how you could tweak it, you will get new ideas that you can test. It’s important to understand, that not every idea will work…be willing to test new things, and run with your inspired ideas when you have them.

Test, and test again until you find the magic idea that takes you to the next level you aspire to.CLICK TO TWEET

Maybe you have thought about adding to your product line, but not sure how it would go over. Why not ask your existing clients? Send them out a survey and get some valuable feedback from people who already do business with you. I just had this experience with a business I support, and was happy to do the survey, and excited about what they are looking at bringing in as a new product.

Another local business just posted this on their FB account: In celebration of the fact that we really, really like you. Our Friday Half Price Margarita Pizza and $5 Beer Promotion will now be served ALL DAY all YEAR ROUND. Get the word out: Share and Like and we will pick a name to win dinner for 2. What an easy way to reach the people who already support your business, and to spread the message to the people THEY know. By posting something similar to this, you will benefit from your clients spreading the news on your behalf.

Have the courage to step out the box of conformity and test new things….very often one little idea can bring about brand new, amazing results!

As published on:  http://bizcatalyst360.com/follow-your-inspired-ideas-to-create-more-success-as-an-entrepreneur/

Have you ever gone through a period where you felt like you were stuck?

It could be writers block, no ideas, forcing it, no direction, etc.

This comes up for me as well every  once in a while when I am writing.  Like many, I sit in front of my computer attempting to come up with something, forcing it, and I'm never satisfied with what I produce in this state of mind.  This could be stressful and frustrating because I made a commitment to myself to provide valuable content in several different forms each day of the week, Mon-Friday, to anyone who follows me.  If I have a down week when nothing is coming to mind, I would be so stressed out and beat myself up because I wouldn't be keeping that commitment to myself.  I have learned through trial and error that makes you even more unproductive, and have found some solutions around it that have been very effective.

Something that has proven time and again, to get me out of that funk where I can't seem to create, is to read, or listen to TED talks or something of that nature.  I don't read to"get" ideas.  I read and watch things of interest.  I get back to noticing things.  I watch educational videos.  I watch and listen to people, everywhere in every interaction I have.  I look for lessons, that apply both to life and business.  Even though I consider myself "the student" and always learning and growing myself, I put my "student" cap back on, with an awareness that if I am not creating, I can be learning new things.

Before i know it, I am back in to "flow"....ideas come rushing to mind as if I never had the block at all.  And when this rush starts, I sit at my computer and write and write and write about my ideas.  The really interesting part of this, is when I attempt to force, it can take hours to write an article and I am never happy with it.  Yet, when I am in "flow", I can produce each article in about 5 min., and I rarely change anything about it.

I also produce my material in advance so that if I have a week or two were I can't seem to create, or, if I have other commitments coming up,  I can keep my commitment I have made to myself of bringing valuable content to my followers 5 days a week.  I have a vault, so to speak, of material I have produced that is ready for release.  This allows me to pull from the vault when I have these little down times, without beating myself up.  It also allows me to maintain balance in my life and be present for things that are important in my personal life.  My daughter is having our first grandchild in Oct., so I have been working away filling up that vault of content the first few months of this year while it was cold and snowy, so that I won't miss a beat when the baby comes and I can maintain my schedule even though I will be taking some time off.

Inspiration is fascinating...when we are in an inspired state, it is like someone turned on the tap of ideas....they come fast and furious.  The key is to take advantage of this.  It will take far less time to get the job done when you are in an inspired state of mind.
Click on the HERE for my FREE e-course:  


Debbie Ruston has been an entrepreneur and trainer since 1986. She works with individuals, and groups interested in developing their entrepreneurial leadership mindset.Was this article of value to you? Feel free to share it on your social networks and with your contacts, join in the discussion below, and FOLLOW her on the top right corner of this pg.
Debbie's also on:
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G+https://plus.google.com/+DebbieRuston-TheSuccessEducatorAnd now on iTunes

As published on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/lacking-creativity-debbie-ruston?trk=prof-post​

WHEN YOU WANT to grow your business in a new direction, sometimes you can be at a loss as to what will work and what won’t. Most people have a “built in” fear to attempt to do anything new or different. We are conditioned to play it safe, and “color within the lines” so to speak.

This is fine if you want the same results as you have always had, or if you are happy settling for what everyone else has. The most successful entrepreneurs think differently however. Successful entrepreneurs are not afraid of testing new things, thinking out of the box, doing things differently than others in their field.

If you want to raise the bar in your results, ask yourself, what could be done better? CLICK TO TWEET

Very often if things are running along just as always, we never think to ask ourselves what we could improve upon. Just because something is working well, doesn’t mean it couldn’t be done better.

Let’s say you have a website that is bringing in business on a regular basis. You may think it brings in business, why would I change it? Take a different approach. Develop another website that would attract a whole different market. Allow yourself to think out of the box and determine who else could benefit from your product or service that you are not currently servicing as clients. Once you determine that niche, work from there and put together a site that speaks to the needs of that niche and how you can provide service. This can also be duplicated on social media channels. There is no rule in business of having only one website. What you offer most likely would benefit many different niches, and to capture that in all one website is not effective. Direct your sites to the markets you want to penetrate. Imagine just adding one new niche market every year. How could that lead to massive growth in your business.

A question that may arise is, what if I spend the time and or money (if you can’t do it yourself) and it doesn’t work? This type of thinking is what holds businesses back. If it doesn’t work, you will learn some new powerful distinctions that could be the stepping stone to finding what does work.

They key is to listen to your heart. I read a great book by Elizabeth Gilbert recently called Big Magic that addresses this principle if you would like to learn more about following your inspired ideas. If an inspired idea comes to you, act on it…there is a reason you are being inspired in that direction.

As posted on:  http://bizcatalyst360.com/successful-entrepreneurs-innovate/_

I read a great article recently by CEO Kim Shepherd, talking about culture in organizations.  

She stated something powerful that many in business miss.
"Great culture welcomes like family. Invest in onboarding and you’ll see the returns. When a new team member starts at DT, we send a giant fortune cookie that says, “We predict a very bright future for you at Decision Toolbox.” We let them know they have the freshest eyes, and that makes them one of the most important people on our team . . . please tell us what you see that’s missing or inefficient or redundant. Not only does that set the stage for them to engage and participate, but it also sends a loud and clear message that they are valued."

I have a new puppy, and as I was sitting outside on the first day this spring, it reminded me of this.  She notices and observes everything!  A couple of flies were buzzing around the grass, and ants crawling on the deck, and she was watching them with amazement.  She notices every sound, and is curious about absolutely everything, just as we are as infants.  As we progress through life, we start to lose this childlike curiosity and stop noticing all the little things around us.

This also happens in business.  When we are new, we notice everything and how things are done.  We are usually conditioned on the "how".  After some time, we become almost robotic....performing our work without having to think.  This is both good and bad.  It's great to become competent, however, it's so important to maintain the fresh perspective, curiosity and observations that we have when we are new at something.

We have all heard the phrase "we couldn't see the forest for the trees".  Reflect and think about  how long you have been in your current career.  Bring yourself back to the first day.  You most likely felt like you were on information overload.  You may have felt overwhelmed at all there was to do and learn.  But, you got through it, and are now sitting where you are today.  What if you stopped, and asked yourself some new questions....could this potentially bring about new, innovative ideas you haven't identified?


Ask yourself:
-How long have I been in this role
-What has changed
-What hasn't changed
-Are there any new ways of doing different tasks that I haven't learned about
-What needs improving
-Does anyone I work with know how to do things I would like to learn
-How could we help each other learn and grow

You could literally add as many questions here as you like.  The point is, to step out of comfort, step out of the box, be willing to shake things up a bit, be willing to be the student and look at things with a fresh perspective.

If you are a business owner, you could make this a new project with your existing staff.  Hold a "innovation" week, where you encourage staff to submit any and all ideas they have to make it a better place to work, more effective ways to communicate, deal with customer service, marketing ideas, etc.  You could start an "employee suggestion of the month" club, whereby you use this exercise as the launch pad to create an environment where staff is self motivated to bring ideas to the table.  The rewards could be as simple as their picture up for the month where clients can see it in the place of business, and perhaps a feature spot on your website and social media channels.  Give them recognition, it builds their confidence, their sense of feeling valued and their self esteem and self motivation.  You might include a gift card for a coffee shop, or online shopping.  It doesn't have to be much, even a $25 gift card is valued by people.  This will also be noticed by your clients, that will see you value your employees.  
Think for a moment what one new idea could do for your business.

-increased profits, new clients
-happier, more engaged employees
-build loyalty in the workplace
-employees taking on stronger leadership & personal responsibility
-staff teamwork
-clients will "feel" the strength of the company through those employees
-clients will be confident in doing business because of this
The rewards absolutely outweigh the very small cost.....

As featured on LI:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/importance-fresh-perspectives-business-debbie-ruston?published=t
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Click HERE  for my FREE e-course:  


Debbie Ruston has been an entrepreneur and trainer since 1986. She works with individuals, and groups interested in developing their entrepreneurial leadership mindset.Was this article of value to you? Feel free to share it on your social networks and with your contacts, join in the discussion below, and FOLLOW her on the top right corner of this pg.
Debbie's also on:
FB
Twitter
YouTube
Pinterest
G+https://plus.google.com/+DebbieRuston-TheSuccessEducatorAnd now on iTunes

DO YOU UNDERSTAND the difference between being busy and being productive? It’s common to have conversations with people that are just “so busy” They run from one thing to another, and talk about how busy they are.

Often these individuals thrive on the attention they get from being “so busy”….they have a false sense of accomplishment. However, are they actually accomplishing what they desire and are they getting ahead?

As an entrepreneur, it is vital that you spend your time effectively, and not waste it on things that are not important to your business growth. It’s important to distinguish the difference between doing things for the sake of doing them, often due to habit, or believing this is the way that “everyone” does it, or, thinking out of the box and eliminating the habits, and only focus on doing things that are actually productive. Many years ago, I learned a powerful distinction – only do things that lead me towards my goal.

How does this look?When arranging my schedule, I look at how much time I have and what my goals are for that day. I only do things that lead me towards those goals. I recognize if I am doing something that doesn’t contribute to my goals, I am making the wrong decisions and am getting stuck in being busy, not productive.

I prioritize the tasks that are most important and do those first thing in the day. I then fit everything else I am responsible for around that.

I use a daytimer faithfully! I have a paper daytimer with a month at a glance, and also a week at a glance, broken down by day in 15 min increments. I schedule everything! My work, my fitness, my family, my dog, my hobbies, everything you can think of. This is a way to know if you have over scheduled and can’t possibly get everything done, or, if you have space somewhere you can squeeze something in. It may sound a bit anal, but I have done this for over 30 yrs and it has been highly effective. I have the peace of mind knowing when I get through my list for the day, I am done.

I also use a diary system to keep track of things I want to remember and things I have to do. Each morning I pull out my file for the day and everything I have to remember is in that file. It works hand in hand with my daytimer, and allows me to stay on top of things, and remember points I wouldn’t normally.

Something else that has been highly effective for me is working ahead on tasks. For instance, when you are in a productive state, it is easier to get more done in a short time, then if you wait to do the task when it is actually time to do it. One way I have implemented this is with my weekly podcasts. When I sit down to do a podcast, I have my equipment all ready to go, and find I am in the peak state of mind to do them. I record 4-10 at a time because I have already done all the set up work. I can then pull from the archives I have filed each week. It takes far less time to do them this way, and if I have a week where I have other commitments or maybe not feeling the right energy to record, I don’t miss a beat….the podcast is already done and waiting to be released. I use this strategy on many business tasks like this, also in keeping my home in order, gift buying, everything you can think of. It’s so simple to implement this strategy into everything we do, but so overlooked by most, including myself until about 4 years ago.
Being productive rather than busy is important to your business growth. Without this awareness, you will be spinning your wheels, wasting time, and missing opportunity because you think you don’t have time. When we are productive, we seem to gain more time, be more relaxed, and are able to engage in things “busy” people just don’t seem to have time for.

As published on:  http://bizcatalyst360.com/entrepreneurs-focus-on-being-productive/_

Opportunity is around us always, however, how often do you seize the opportunities presented to you?  Have you ever stopped and reflected on the many opportunities that you have accepted and the many you have missed?

Opportunity to learn something new - if we are not learning and growing ourselves, we are dying.  If everyday is the same as the last with nothing new and exciting to learn, it affects our moods.  Life gets boring, with nothing to look forward to.  This can lead to depression, stress, and just "existing".  How many people do you know that are just going through the motions of going to work just to pay the bills, coming home and watching TV, going to bed and repeating every day?  There is so much opportunity to learn today, and it keeps life interesting.  It doesn't have to be earth shattering.  I just watched a 5 min video on the intelligence of elephants.  It taught me something new I wasn't aware of, and give you a fresh perspective, something to discuss with others, can make you more compassionate, and just a more interesting person.

Opportunity to mastermind with successful people - when we surround ourselves with others that are achieving things in their life we want, we learn distinctions that allow us to accelerate our own growth.  We tend to become like the people we surround ourselves with.  By surrounding ourselves with people that have success in their lives, it gives us the knowledge we can apply to our own results.

Opportunity to better yourself - Because I am committed to my own continued learning, I am interested in learning about a wide range of things.  I read a short post about something important to the environment the other day, and it prompted me to take different actions than I previously would have.  When we know better, we can then DO better.

Opportunity to improve your health - when we take actions to improve our health, we not only benefit personally, but we set an example for others in our families and social circles. Improving our personal health is not just about us.  It is a gift we give to those that love us.

Opportunity to get in shape - being in good physical shape is vital to living an active, full life.  If you don't keep in shape, it limits what you can take part in.  Look around at people in your age bracket.  This becomes particularly evident as we age.  Are people complaining about aches and pains and looking for excuses to get out of an exercise routine?  For instance, I hurt my neck and my knee about 6 months ago.  I absolutely needed to take the time to heal, but this was never an excuse to stop exercising for good.  My chosen exercise is yoga, and as many will know, there is a lot of stretching and strength required, which I couldn't do for several months.  However, after 4 months of giving myself the time to heal, I made a decision to get back at it and do what I COULD do.  I am not back to the level I was prior to the injury, but, I am not sitting on the couch feeling sorry for myself either.  I am pushing myself to do what I can and can see an improvement every day.  I am also getting out in the garden, which is a bit tricky since I can't bend my knee to squat down, however, I am getting around it by using other methods.  As I become a grandma, I am determined to stay in shape and live life with my kids and grandkids, not sit on the sideline and watch them live their life.  This requires being in shape and making my fitness a priority in my life.

Opportunity to take a promotion - when one takes on a new role there will be new things to learn that open up new possibilities for you.  Many people avoid this because they are stuck in their ways, don't want any more responsibilities, and often have a fear of learning something new.  A promotion offers new possibilities that will often teach you things you can apply to other areas of your life, builds your self confidence and self esteem, and gives you the chance to increase your income.

Opportunity to start a new business - I fell into being an entrepreneur back in 1986.  It would have been easy to not take that opportunity because I had no experience and was scared to death.  But, my REASON for taking the opportunity was stronger than my lack of experience and fears.  I wanted to be home with our children.  THAT was my driving force, and that is what allowed me to overcome any excuses I had.  Little did I know what an incredibly powerful experience this would be for my life, and how it would shape my kids lives, when they were growing up, and today as they both are entrepreneurs themselves.
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All of these opportunities and more are around all of us every single day.  The question to ask yourself, is, Am I seizing opportunities and living my life to the fullest, or, am I on the sideline watching others do it.  There is a massive difference in being a spectator and playing the main role in your own life.

As published on LI:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/do-you-seize-opportunity-debbie-ruston?published=t_

WHAT DOES LUCK have to do with success and is it a requirement? Do all successful people have good luck? Are they just in the right place at the right time? Actually if you take the time to study successful people, in most cases you will learn some amazing things about them. You will learn about the struggles they had, just like everyone else does, and how they overcame those struggles.

Here are a couple of real life struggles I have dealt with to give you some perspective:
Many years ago, when I was pregnant with our son, our daughter became very ill and was hospitalized. It was something very serious and I was 9 months pregnant. When we have personal challenges, it is easy to take your focus off other responsibilities. I stayed at the hospital with her day and night, sleeping beside her bed for two weeks. I was busier than I had ever been in my business, and was working from the hospital room. I had a ladies wear business then, and I had orders coming in that needed to be sorted and delivered to clients. I just wanted to cancel all my business appointments and just be with my daughter, but felt a responsibility to my clients. We often believe we must choose one thing or the other. I decided to choose both. My husband would bring boxes of clothes each day for me to sort and tag for clients, and then he would take them back and deliver them for me. I also had appointments to meet with clients in the evenings, so he would come to the hospital and watch over our daughter while I went on the appointments. I came back about 3 hours later, and stayed with her again when my appointments were completed. My feet were so swollen I couldn’t fit them in my shoes, so wore slippers from the hospital to their front doors, where I slid my swollen feet into my shoes to look presentable when the client opened the door. That year I had my personal best year in sales. Wasn’t I lucky?

I changed businesses about 12 yrs ago because my income had dropped to about 1/3 of what I had been earning for 5 yrs in a row. That had left us in a tough financial position and it was the worst time ever I could consider starting a new business. It was a time that most would choose to play it safe, and not take any risks. I knew if the new business didn’t work out, we could lose everything we had worked for. I had to go through the learning curve of learning everything I needed to know to operate this new business successfully. I was still running my prior business part-time, and with the added hours I was putting in to the new business, it was normal to still find me in my office at 2 am, and back up at 6 to start the next day. That went on for 6 months before I was in a position to leave my original business. I went on to have my personal best year ever the following year. Wasn’t I lucky?
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Do you see the pattern in these stories? I was willing to face adversity, make changes, push through tough situations, never gave up…took massive actions. Was I lucky? Luck is found when you are willing to do what it takes, despite adversity, despite not feeling like it, despite having guarantees. I learned through all of this over the years…the harder I worked, the more committed I was, the more risk I was willing to take, the more I learned, the luckier I got…. Success is a result of being willing to do what it takes, like it or not.

As published on:  http://bizcatalyst360.com/luck-success/_

Not a day seems to go by that I don't see an article about meditation being embraced in the workplace and in schools.  The most recent was a Canadian police force, meditating.

This is happening all over the world, as a focus on well being is becoming more important in business and in education.  To see something like this being recognized and accepted in so many places globally, and in previously "unlikely" spots,  is an indication that people are searching.  Searching for answers, solutions, positivity, better results....and starting to realize that we find that not by looking outside of ourselves, but by going within.

What are the benefits that so many are waking up to recognize about meditation?

Reduces stress and anxiety.  We stop thinking about stressful things in our lives and this allows us to weaken the neural connectors relating to stress and anxiety, and become calmer and more rational in dealing with these things.

Improves health.  As a result of reduced stress and anxiety, health improves and stress related ailments start to correct themselves.

Gain clarity.  When we are stressed out, it limits blood flow to the frontal part of the brain and we can't tap into our creative solutions.  Removing the stress helps us gain more clarity as we free up this part of the brain.

Nourishes the mind.  Instead of filling our minds with negativity and worry, we are actually providing positive nourishment for our minds.

Increased happiness is a result of the calming and new control you feel within.
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Quiets the mind and improves our ability to focus when we are not meditating.  You gain more control over your thoughts and are able to make choices more on purpose, while ignoring distractions that can take you off course. 

Brings about answers to questions we are searching for.  We cannot effectively solve challenges when we are busy and stressed.  When we calm the mind, we can start tapping into our creative  side to find the answers to our questions.
We feel calmer, more in control, more confident, happier, healthier, more self assured when we engage in practices like this that focus on developing our mind. The ways that we "feed" our minds are as important as how we feed our bodies. 


Click HERE for my FREE e-course:  

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Debbie Ruston has been an entrepreneur and trainer since 1986. She works with individuals, and groups interested in developing their entrepreneurial leadership mindset.Was this article of value to you? Feel free to share it on your social networks and with your contacts, join in the discussion below, and FOLLOW her on the top right corner of this pg.
Debbie's also on:
FB
Twitter
YouTube
Pinterest
G+https://plus.google.com/+DebbieRuston-TheSuccessEducatorAnd now on iTunes

RECENTLY, I WAS in the grocery store and the clerk asked the gentleman in the check out beside me how he was. His reply was “I’m not rich yet”. Instead of saying “wonderful thanks”, or “great, how about you”, this was the only thing he could muster.

Have you ever observed this type of useless conversation? We see it everywhere we go. People complaining about everything… the weather-too hot, too cold. People that pay to go south in the winter because it is too cold where they are, so they pay to go somewhere hot. The same people usually complain about it being too hot in the summer and sit in their air-conditioned houses. Then there are those that complain about the government, about work, co-workers, traffic, the price of gas, you name it, they will complain about it. They spread this negativity everywhere they go.

Think for a moment….do you want to be around these type of people? Most don’t. As a business owner, it’s important to make sure you are not getting caught up in this type of negative, useless conversation. You have an opportunity to inspire people, and give them more reason than just your product or service, to do business with you.

I know of another gentleman in my community. He works at a minimum wage job, but goes beyond the call of duty in his work. He greets everyone with a huge smile and a positive greeting. He does extra things for his clients that are not part of his job role. He brings you candies with your bill, which is not part of the service of this business, as no other employee does this. I can only think he purchases these himself, to give to his clients. He brightens everyone’s day, and I know for myself personally, I have gone out of my way to make a purchase at this establishment, because of this gentleman, even when it would have been more convenient to go to a business closer to me that provides the same product/service. He is making a positive difference to people, and the business he is employed by benefits. People go there because of him….not because of the product, because it is the exact same product you can buy anywhere.

As a matter of fact, I had recommended a different business to someone I know because it is close to their home. This individual did not want to go to that business because of various reasons. However, this wonderful employee I have described, has switched jobs and is now working at this other business. My contact stopped in there for convenience a few months ago, and now won’t go anywhere else because of this wonderful employee. That business who couldn’t gain my contacts business for various reasons, now has a very loyal new customer, because they have employed this gentleman. THAT is the power of positive energy and great employees. The original business I spoke about has no idea how valuable that gentleman was, and what a loss it will be to their business.

When you make people feel good, it builds up a sense of trust, credibility, and goodwill. They enjoy coming into contact with you, and will refer you to others. There is nothing like the power of positive referrals. It is free marketing! Not only does it make your clients feel good, you will feel great as a result. Lead by example as a business owner, and set the bar for your employees to follow in your footsteps. This type of positivity will always increase your business and create loyalty and referrals.

We have a choice to be negative or positive in how we deal with people in every interaction we have. When you make a conscious choice to live your life with a positive attitude, it will bring about positive results in all aspects of your life.

As posted on:  ​http://bizcatalyst360.com/entrepreneurs-be-the-inspiration/_