What to Know Before You Hire Your Next Coach

STOP HIRING THE WRONG CONSULTANTS!
{What to Know Before You Hire Your Next Coach}

What to Know Before You Hire Your Next Coach

Article by Toya Styles
Magazine: Issue #16

I know what the title has you thinking; “But Isn’t Toya a consultant?” Yes, yes I am. But this article is about choosing the right consultant for your business. Now I believe that every entrepreneur should have a coach. 

Personally, I have hired three different consultants for my business. One thing I learned quickly with my first consultant was setting expectations. Looking back, I would have had a much better experience if I had known what I wanted out of their services and what I expected to gain. A business coach is just going to tell you what they personally know about the game. For instance your coach may be the foremost authority in the world of Facebook, but if your clientele isn't on Facebook then what’s the point? You just wasted a ton of money and it is no one’s fault but your own.

Are you looking for business development? Are you looking to learn a new skill? Do you want to grow your small business? These are the questions you need to ask yourself because your answers will lead you to different types of consultants, one of which will be the right one for you.

Be careful not to get caught up in the excitement of a certain coach if you are not ready. Good coaches are successful, energetic and they are encouragers! You can easily be swayed by that alone. For example, during my rebranding process I “cyber stalked” 4 different business coaches. This time, I needed business development, so that is what I was focused on. I finally settled on a business coach that was perfect for me and where I was in my process.  But there was another coach that I seriously considered hiring and realized I wasn’t ready for her. She focuses on increasing and building upon what you already have but, at the time, I needed more foundational help. I was transitioning from fashion styling full time to helping CEOs who need help with networking skills and social media strategy (which I didn’t know at the time).  If I had hired her I would not have the incredible business I have now that is laser focused in on what I love and have been doing, unknowingly, for years! 

I am a firm believer that you should invest not only in yourself but in your business growth. If you are not investing in yourself then how are you expecting to grow? (Did I mention it’s tax deductible?)

So, I leave you with this thought. Take the time to know what YOU need as a business owner for your business. Don’t just jump on the next coaching bandwagon, do what makes sense for your business.

How to Use Candle Magick to Improve Your Business

HOW TO USE CANDLE MAGICK TO IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS

Use Candle Magick to Improve Your Business

Article by John Scardina
Photo Credit: Sajas Minrah
Magazine: Issue #39

As practitioners especially in the Holistic realm do we know for sure that random coincidences and well thought plans pull all of our efforts together in a positive manner to bring about success? We educate ourselves, we plan, we brainstorm, and carefully drive towards a calculated effort that produces events that we are all looking for. This is our dream, our life, it is what we do every day as entrepreneurs. I have written about meditation, positive energy, astral events and many other methods that can benefit the entrepreneur so now let’s add one more tool to our arsenal. Quite frankly we can use a break from our daily routine and embrace new methods. Who wants to make some Magick?

Magick, maybe a different spelling of the word as most see it but yet spelled correctly by many whom are spiritually inclined. 

Definition: (just a couple} 

The art of producing a desired effect or result through the use of incantation or various other techniques that presumably assure human control of supernatural agencies or the forces of nature.

Any extraordinary or mystical influence, charm, power, etc.

Who does not want their desired effect or any extraordinary influence providing extra power into their business? Let’s be honest and take help from wherever we can.

Magick can be no different than focused intent, prayer or meditation in it’s use. There is only a need to focus on one event in your business and create as a visualization upon how you wish the outcome to be. You may also light a candle while focusing. With this type of Magick you are directly asking and aligning with the universe to provide you with what you are in need of at that moment in time. Please remember to not demand or place a timeframe on whatever it is you need, as the universe will provide you with it when it is right for you.

Candle Magick: Yes I’m guilty of burning candles, who doesn’t love a candle lit room, my excuse is I’m a Reiki Master! Why not light candles in your office space with intent of peace and success. In Magick the following colors and their intended uses are listed for the entrepreneur as there are many other uses for these colors. 

RED: Fire, strength, courage, driving force, survival, career goals, and fast action. It is the color that represents the South quarter element of fire.  

ORANGE: Fortune, prosperity, plenty, success, business, career, ambition Justice, legal matters, selling, taking action.

YELLOW: Air, creativity, concentration, confidence, insight, knowledge of healing, memory retention, breaking mental blocks, selling yourself. It is the color that represents the East quarter element of air.

GREEN: Earth, employment, ambition, personal goals, prosperity, success, finances. It is the color that represents the North quarter element of earth.

COPPER: Passion, money goals, professional growth, fertility in business, career. (My favorite)

BLUE: Reassurance, guidance, inspiration, wisdom, creativity sincerity. It is the color that represents the West quarter element of water.

So next time you are setting up your office or space for peace and creativity do it with a Magickal intent in regards to your business needs.

4 Lessons Learned About Coaching

4 LESSONS LEARNED ABOUT COACHING
{FROM THE VOICE}

Lessons Learned About Coaching

Article by Lynne Dominick
Magazine: Issue #39

I admit I am a little obsessed with NBC’s The Voice. 

Season after season, I’m amazed at the incredible pool of talent that they are able to amass. From pre-school teachers, to medical students, to child stars fallen and redeemed. These are fierce, determined competitors pursuing their ultimate dream.

I also applaud their coaches, and value what I’ve learned from them as it relates to my coaching practice. Here are four valuable lessons about coaching that I’ve been able to take away as a regular viewer:

1. Identify the secret sauce…

Or, as Blake Shelton would say, “Man, I didn’t realize you had that great vibrato!"
    
Each and every one of us has our own secret sauce; that special something that allows us to shine. As coaches, it is essential that we spend enough time helping uncover the special something in each one of our clients. We have to lead them in the self-discovery process and uncover the talent, driving force and unique purpose that can allow them to achieve success on their terms.

2. Failure is a nebulous term…

Or, as Adam Levine would say, “I loved that your voice cracked when you hit that high note, it shows you're human, man.”

We all fail. Living in fear is far worse than failing. Put your client at ease by sharing your failures and allow them to see your vulnerable side. By owning it you are able to remind him or her that lessons are not learned by success alone, and that failure presents an opportunity to get it right the next time. It’s great to be human.  

3. Sometimes all someone needs is a helping hand… 

Or, as Christina Aguilera would say, “I’m here for you."

Any process can be made easier when you allow someone to accompany you on the journey. As a coach you can help lift the psychological burden of going it alone. Let your client know that they can reach out to you with questions and you’ll be there to guide them to the answer.

4. Confidence is everything…

Or, as Pharrell Williams would say, “Dude, I have watched you go through this process, and man, you are incredible; you got this."

At the end of the day, our clients need to believe. Believe in their idea, believe in their skill, and believe in their ability to go the distance. By instilling confidence, a coach paves the way for his or her client to experience the success they seek.

Never Chase Anyone: 5 Tips For Attracting Your Ideal Client

NEVER CHASE ANYONE: 5 TIPS FOR ATTRACTING YOUR IDEAL CLIENT

Attracting Your Ideal Client

Article by Marlo Wright
Photo Credit: Victor of Valenica
Magazine: Issue #17

We’ve all been there in business. In desperate need for some help; even willing to pay for it! Yet, despite our best efforts, things just don’t seem like they’re coming along at all! You want so badly for things to fall in place, including hiring the right people and attracting the right clients, to no avail. When things are not quite going the way you hoped for, it’s probably the best time to regroup and look at things differently. Here are 5 quick tips for regrouping, reassessing and reassuring yourself solid relationships are worth the wait. 

Is your target market interested in your service?
Entrepreneurs think people want what they have! Instead of thinking, do the market research! It will save you a lot of headache and waste of time, money and resources you may spend on a project no one is interested in. 

When people are blowing you off, go somewhere else.
We all know when we’re getting the cold shoulder! Keep moving because obviously the person doesn’t want your business or to do business with you! 

Remember not all people are professionals.
Consider yourself first by having the proper paperwork in place. Ask for what you need from the vendor and make sure they deliver. It’s ultimately your responsibility to hold them accountable for their contract! 

Hostile tactics.
You never have to agree to work with someone who makes you feel inferior, especially when you’re paying them for a service. You’re hiring them because they’re the expert! Not so they can use you as their personal verbal punching bag! 

Desperation & Perspiration.
You’re only as desperate as you seem to be. Take your time closing deals, taking on new contractors/vendors, or clients. Never let them see you sweat, because if they do, they’ll feel like they can take advantage of you! 

There will be times where you feel desperate to get things done! Like nothing is moving and you’re work pile is mounting so high it’s blocking the sun! Take heart and know that behind the scenes, the universe is conspiring in your favor! That the wheels you’ve set in motion are working on your behalf to bring to you what you need to fulfill your purpose! 

All things work for the good of your purpose! Sometimes, it’s about building your patience. Other times, it’s helping to develop you in ways only rejection can. In special ways, it’s preventing the wrong people from coming around you. 

Business is about synergistic relationships. Not about ones that only benefit one party. Build a better business by building better relationships, those will flow naturally and you’ll never have to chase anyone! 

3 Steps to Gain Momentum in Your Business

3 STEPS TO GAIN MOMENTUM IN YOUR BUSINESS

Article by Fabiola Giordani
Photo Credit: Victor of Valencia
Magazine: Issue #18

Gain Momentum in Your Business

Ever feel unmotivated like you need a break from everything? I know exactly how you feel my friend. Sometimes, you find yourself buried under a pile of work with little to no time to work on what's most important.

That's why I wanted to share with you "Three Ways to Help you Gain Momentum in Your Biz" right now.

1| Create your own self-care space

This is the number one thing you need to do right away to get your mojo back. Find time in your schedule to add self-care time.

Ask yourself: What do I want to do during my ME time? You can meditate, take up yoga, read your favorite book, get a pedicure or even sleep. Whatever you decide just schedule your me time. This is going to keep you inspired and refresh through your day.

2| Organize Organize Organize

One of the main cause of chaos is the lack of organization. I'm guilty myself so I won't pretend to be perfect. I can just share that when I get things organized life is so much easier.

Take 1 hour a week to prepare for the week. Plan out what you need to do in your business and a few action steps on how you will tackle them right away.

A few tools you can use to get yourself organized are Trello, Google Cal or Evernote. Create systems for your business to help you get focused and organized.

A great book that I highly recommend to help you with building systems for your biz is : The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber.

3| Know your Why?

Honestly, the best motivation comes from knowing your why. Why do you want to build your biz? Why are you blogging? For everything you do in life there is a reason. If you need motivation think about your reason. In the words of my favorite speakers Les Brown "Your why will be your rod and your staff that carries you through it all"

There you have it friend! Three ways to gain momentum in your "Three Ways to Help you Gain Momentum in Your Biz".

Being Overly Flexible is for Yoga, Not for Business

Being Overly Flexible is for Yoga, Not for Business

BEING OVERLY FLEXIBLE IS FOR YOGA, NOT FOR BUSINESS

Article by John Scardina
Photo Credit: Laura Jade Stone
Magazine: Issue #38

Being flexible in business is such a great attribute, we need flexibility in order adapt and solve problems for our business. We as entrepreneurs do everything we can to become and maintain a successful business, sometimes even bending over backwards to please a customer or client. At so many levels this is acceptable in order to survive. Other times this can be a trying event. 

As a Reiki Master/Teacher I have always managed my practice to cater to all and any client willing to come my way. It was in these efforts I realized that I was practicing what I like call “Business Yoga”. I found myself bending and contorting to every need in order to reach and teach students. I would do everything I could possible do in order to secure a client up to and including changing class dates, fee structures, and letting clients dictate what was once a business plan of my own making. I was allowing all clients to run their plan, not mine.

Again I will say that being flexible is a fine quality, but to what extent do go to? We all have those clients that will dictate their availability even after scheduling, and those in addition who are consistently late for appointments. Even those who just need an extra everything to please them. These are the types of clients that greatly reduce your ability to run your business as efficiently as it should run.  In place of running your business you are actually performing a yoga routine. Being in tune with and preventing these events can make your business run with greater reward and general well being.

Knowing when to say no is the key to stop being overly flexible. We all are solving a problem and providing a service, it’s of the upmost importance that we remain clear with all clients of what our expectations are. Our time and sanity it just as important as the services we provide. We can provide a great service to all clients without giving into “Business Yoga”, let’s save that for our down and meditative time in a studio rebalancing and relaxing. Your real clients will get it.

1| Project your expectations to every client, potential and current.
2| Know when to say no
3| Do not accept schedule changes repeatedly
4| Take charge of what is your schedule
5| Know when to let go of clients that consume excess time
6| Do not be overly flexible!

Stop Making These 5 Excuses! Grow your Design Business Today

STOP MAKING THESE 5 EXCUSES!
GROW YOUR DESIGN BUSINESS TODAY

Article By Jennifer Nesbit Holt
Photo Credit: Dasha & Mari
Magazine: Issue #30

Stop Making These 5 Excuses! Grow Your Design Business Today

I have two questions for you... Are you trapped in all the reasons NOT to start that dream design business? Are you still swimming in uncertainty splashing around in the kiddie pool of imagination because its 'safe’?

You know you really want to unleash your design voice! So why not STOP making these 5 excuses and dive off the high-dive into the ocean of success!? Get inspired to move past your blocks so you can grow your design business today.

1 :: I Don't Have Enough Money

Who does? You could sit in this false mindset all day, every day. This is the most costly mistake holding you back.    
By saying “I don’t have enough” is an example of the “lack” mentality holding you back from attracting abundance and the design career that you are meant to create. You’re simply denying yourself of a higher possibility—a soul goal.  
There is an ancient business idea that all start up businesses need ’funding’. Frankly, this is old-school and limiting to your success. There are 101 ways you can open the doors to your new design studio! Here are some things to consider to determine if you are ready to move past ‘not enough’:
        |Are you resourceful? Who do you know and how can you cut corners in the beginning?
        |Are your sights set TOO high? Think about if you have a tangible plan. Is jumping strait to the idea of having a fully staffed, design firm with 100k+ clients really feasible?
        |If you say you REALLY want to do this, plan smart and work hard!

2 :: I Don't Have Enough Time

If you have your clear vision but the excuse of time is holding you back, you’re not alone. I struggled with this mindset before opening my wellness studio. Being a mother, fine artist and teaching yoga full time had me strapped, I thought there was no way in hell I could do start a successful wellness studio but I found the time because I was on a mission and passionate. Maybe..
You are in the corporate world and feel exhausted at the thought of launching a new business on the side. Or maybe you have children and feel “the timing not right” so “I’ll wait it out”. Whatever your current reason, remember we live in an age of “quick and easy”.
        |Within minutes you could have a website up and a pay button added to your site through a Stripe account or PayPal.  (This, by no means, means that you’re completely legit as a business entity and there are till details to be ironed out but this is a start!)
        |Get selfish with your time and find hidden pockets in your day you can commit to growing that brilliant design studio.  Get off Netflix and wake up 2 hours earlier… BOOM! You’ve got a bonafide part-time gig going!

3 :: I Don't Know How To Build A Successful, Lucrative Business Plan

Your business plan should evolve and change over time. Entrepreneurs are always finding creative ways to improve and be malleable in order to find success. A formal business plan is time consuming. While it is important to have clear vision and growth strategies, laying out any and all ‘what ifs’ can be depressing!  
Is a business plan important? You bet your bottom! But if you’re using this as an excuse to not move forward, STOP! If you are looking for clarity and momentum, this ends up being the fun and exciting part my clients love and it can be done in as little as half a day. (CTA—call me).

4 :: I Wasn't Trained At The Best School So I Can't Start A Freelance Design Biz

I don't have enough credibility to draw in high paying clients. I’ll be seen as a fraud. Clients only hire designers with years of experience. STOP! I want you to take a long deep breath right now….
You are the owner of your own design destiny! Don’t fall into the trap of feeling that you’d have to suffer INTO your new solo career. If you believe in what you do, you’re passionate, open, skillful in your art, respectful and professional you will be seen as an expert worthy of being hired.

I have to confess, I had these limiting beliefs about myself even when my career was taking off. As you grow, so will your client base. While it’s ok to have dreams of climbing to the top in one step. Stay grounded and focused on your current capabilities, do quality work and keep manifesting your design dreams.
You will be tempted to make excuses because you are a visionary taking exciting risks.  

Return to the feelings of positive possibility and your big ‘WHY’. You will be opening the doors to your new design business soon!

3 Steps to Building a Business Online... Create, Collaborate & Thrive

3 STEPS TO BUILDING A BUSINESS ONLINE...
CREATE, COLLABORATE AND THRIVE!

Article by Denita Austin
Photo Credit: Laura Jade Stone
Magazine: Issue #38

I know what you’re thinking right now. I don’t prefer to collaborate on projects in business simply because it never works out or, I just prefer to work alone. News flash! Was Apple managed by Steve jobs only? Was he the only employee at Apple? It takes a team to build an empire and that traditional way of thinking will create a road block in the middle of your plans real fast. If you have horror stories with collaborating, it’s only because you chose the wrong person or people to collaborate with. Have you ever selected a restaurant to try out and walk away disappointed? Did you try another restaurant or did you call it a quits and decided never to visit any other restaurants ever in life? 

We are students first in this world of learning and exploring. We are constantly learning about what we stand for in our businesses and in life period. I promote and encourage ladies to collaborate. It’s a beautiful opportunity to create magic. Here’s a perfect example: If I am great at graphic design and you are great at sales and we both are in the same industry, why not work together? No one wants to admit it but I believe a few egos are getting in the way of creating this magic? What are your thoughts? 

BE BRAVE – BE BOLD – BE COURAGOUS

Let’s just name a few benefits of collaborating shall we?

Personal and Business Development – Not only will you grow as a person but you will learn additional tools and techniques for your business. Two heads are always better than one

Sales and Marketing - Not only are you cheering for a common goal, theme and project, but both of you are working together as a team. Less stress right?

Relationships – Not only are you building your communication skills in business but you are building a strong foundation for future business partnerships. 

Ideas and Creation – I’m not sure about you but as a creative spirit, my brain is all over the place so it’s great to have someone who speaks the same language (creativity) Do you know how much you can create with two or more people?

CREATIVITY IS YOUR SUPER POWER

Don’t allow past experiences to get in the way of your success. Build your business and new chapter of your life one step at a time. Create, Collaborate and celebrate your business in true bliss. I’ll be here to cheer you on. Woo Hoo! You Rock!