Business Strategy Coach - How to Achieve Your Desires With a Goal Achievement System - Part 2

In part 1 of this article, I showed you how to properly set goals by being specific, giving yourself a deadline and making your goals positively oriented. I also showed you a technique where you actually visualize yourself after you've hit that goal and you imagine what it actually feels like. In part 2 of this article, I'm going to show you a step by step process to take that goal, and create a plan of action for achieving that goal. When you are creating this plan, remember this:

"You can't reach the top of the mountain in a giant leap-but b
So in essence, what we are about to do is take your mountain of a goal, and break it down into individual obtainable steps. For the sake of this exercise, we are going to continue with the example we used in part 1, which involved losing 30 pounds in 10 weeks. Remember the goal that you wrote down? This is our end all final achievement. We will call this our mission statement. Here is what we came up with last time, and the one that you wrote should be posted in plain view.

"Today is December 5, and I am 30 pounds lighter. I look a lot better, and I feel great. People have complimented me on how I look healthier and am a more enjoyable person to be around. I can now participate in activities I've always wanted to do but felt limited by my weight."

So how can we break this down? Well since we gave ourselves 10 weeks, the best way to me sounds like breaking this up into 10 obtainable milestones that we need to complete along the way. Hitting the 10th and final milestone would complete the mission. Now we need to set up each milestone accordingly. Please note, 30 pounds in 10 weeks can be a big stretch if losing those 30 pounds would mean giving you six-pack abs. I don't personally believe that this is obtainable to do so in a healthy manner. But for an individual who is much more overweight, it is very possible. I am using weight loss for the sake of this exercise. If your goal is weight loss, I recommend speaking to your physician about what is realistically possible for you (and then try to outdo what they say of course).

Since we are using weight loss as our mission, it is ok that we don't set our milestones equally because it is much easier to lose those first 10 pounds then it is the last 10 pounds. I would recommend this schedule. Weeks 1 & 2 lose 4 pounds a week. Weeks 3 - 8, lose 3 pounds a week. Weeks 9 & 10 lose 2 pounds a week.

Now did you notice something about these milestones? Pounds don't just disappear in chunks just because you made the number smaller. Completing a milestone may not be the same as leaping to the top of a mountain, but it is like leaping to the top of a hill. So, like what we did with our mission statement, we will continue to chunk down on our milestones until we can break them down into smaller more obtainable goals. I would recommend writing each milestone down on an index card on the top line (sticky notes work well too). On each index card, further break down your milestone into individually achievable goal. For example, on one card, you may list:

Week 1 Milestone: lose 4 pounds

Monday: run 1 mile

Tuesday: lift weights for half an hour

Wednesday: run 1 mile

Thursday: lift weights for half an hour

Friday: run 1.25 miles

Saturday: lift weights for half an hour

Sunday: day off (eat healthy!)

If you are really feeling diligent, you can break this down even further! You may want to list exactly what you eat on Monday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You may want to plan out a healthy sleeping schedule. Remember, the more specific and detailed you are, the more likely you are to achieve your desired outcome.

Do you remember hearing about the straight A high school students who flunked out of college? Do you know why? In high school, everything was planned out for them. They had English first period, Math second period, Chemistry third period and so forth. They followed a schedule that was strictly enforced, and they were able to thrive in that situation, even if it was to avoid the negative consequences of things like cutting class (this is away from motivation and we want to use towards motivation - we want to look great and feel healthy). However, once they got to college, they were given a lot more freedom, such as optional lectures and readings, and eventually they couldn't keep up because they lost that feeling of an automatic schedule, where everything is laid out for them. We can argue about there being many other reasons, but I'm not going to go there right now.

You may think that this involves a lot of work. But in reality, the amount of time spent on this activity is only a fraction of the amount of time spent on achieving your mission. If you spent 5 hours a week working on your mission, what's an extra half hour the first week? I'll give you a little hint to help start you off so write this down. Goal #1: write down your milestone schedule!

Remember, in order to have success, you must first plan to have success.

Business Strategy Coach - How To Achieve Your Desires With A Goal Achievement System - Part 1

Have you ever gotten really excited about that million dollar idea only to end up going nowhere? Often times, the idea itself was not what had resulted in failure, but a lack of a systematic process to take that idea and turn it into a reality. This is like driving your car across the country, and never filling up your tank with gas. You will only make it a certain distance, and you will never reach your final destination. What I am about to teach you is a way to create "mental gas stations," with the Goal Achievement System (GAS). The GAS will allow you to refuel your motivation and allow you to achieve extraordinary results that you did not know were possible.

The great thing about this process is that you can use it anywhere in your life that you choose. You don't need a million dollar idea, and you might have a different desired outcome, like losing weight. For the purpose of this blog, we will use weight loss as an example, but you can apply this same process for any type of goal.

The first part of the system is creating a well defined goal. A problem well stated is a problem half solved. We are going to take a simple ambiguous goal, the type that we are used to setting, and turn it into a clearly defined problem.

1. Set a specific goal. You cannot be ambiguous. If you tell yourself, "I am going to lose weight," does that mean you lose 5 pounds, or do you lose 30 pounds? Your mind will probably end up giving you that satisfied feeling if you only lose 2 pounds, because that means you lost weight. Be specific. "I am going to lose 30 pounds or better yet I am going to weigh 125lbs."

2. Give your goal a deadline. Human beings are procrastinators! If you say "I am going to lose 30 pounds" you can easily tell yourself that you are on the right track a year later and 10 pounds lighter, because you don't have a finish line. At the same time, if you GAIN 10 pounds, you still have not technically missed your goal, because it will never come due. Imagine if your boss said: "I'd like you to hand in that report sometime before you die." Would you do it? Probably not. If you tell yourself "I am going to weigh 125 pounds in 10 weeks" you add a bit more pressure on yourself and you force yourself into taking action.

3. Use Towards Motivation. There are two types of motivation. Towards Motivation, and Away From Motivation. Away From Motivation is the act of doing something for the sake of NOT doing, being, or feeling something else. For example, If you tell yourself "I want to lose weight because I DON'T want to be fat," your mind focuses on what you don't want, because the human nervous system cannot process a negative though without first focusing on what it is you don't want. For example, "Don't think about Benjamin Franklin's face on the $100 bill." Did an image briefly flashed through your head before you forced it out? Away From Motivation usually ends up in us doing just enough to not have that feeling. You might lose 15 pounds and feel 'not fat,' and that will end up keeping you satisfied enough, but not completely satisfied. Instead, use Toward Motivation, as that will allow you to set a positive standard that you are continually trying to seek out and make better. "I am going to weigh 125 pounds in 10 weeks so I can look great, be healthy, and feel more energetic." Which sounds better to you?

4. Put yourself in the future, when you've achieved your goal. This is an exercise that you can use every day to help motivate you towards achieving your goal. Look at your calendar, and find out the exact date 10 weeks later. Close your eyes and tell yourself "Today is December 5, and I am 30 pounds lighter. I look a lot better, and I feel great. People have complimented me on how I look healthier and am a more enjoyable person to be around. I can now participate in activities I've always wanted to do but felt limited by my weight." Imagine that picture in your head of that skinnier you, and associate yourself with that image as if you are seeing the world through your own eyes as people are complimenting you on the 'new you.' Take a moment to feel that excitement and energy. Smile. You will get there.

5. Write down your new goal from step 4 and display it where you can see it. Personally, I like sticky notes. I like to write my goals down and place them on my computer screen, so I end up looking at them many times a day. So write down your goal, and make sure you place it somewhere it can be easily viewed at least once a day. "Today is December 5, and I am 30 pounds lighter. I look a lot better, and I feel great. People have complimented me on how I look healthier and am a more enjoyable person to be around. I can now participate in activities I've always wanted to do but felt limited by my weight." Now, whenever you see your goal, you will be able to revision your experience from part 4 and it will help energize and excite you.

Congratulations! You have just concluded part I of the Goal Achievement System. Remember, 'a problem well stated is a problem half solved.' You might not have lost any weight yet (or whatever it is that you are trying to achieve) but you are already half way there. Trust me. An NFL coach who goes into a game without a game plan will have lost the game before the opening kickoff. In part II, I will show you how to pick all the right plays from your play book so that you can take your newly defined goal and make it into a reality.

Business Strategy Coach - Now is the Time to Plan for 2010!

I am totally blown away by the many business owners who do not actually have a business plan. We know the quote "Those who fail to plan, plan to fail." However, with every client that I coach and consult with one of the first things I ask them is what goals do they have for their business. The business strategy plan is the tool that will help you stay on tasks. It is basically your compass to make sure that you are reaching your goals.

Many people I speak to become overwhelmed by the process of creating a plan. There are many great softwares that you can use for example BizPlan Builder is an amazing tool to use to help you through the process.

So let's get started. These are the 3 major components your plan must have:
(1) Income Goals - How much money do you want to make for 2010? What is the total gross revenue? What increase do you want for your business? Begin with knowing what type of lifestyle you wish to live.This will help you in planning your income goals.
(2) Budget - What are your planned expenses for 2010? How much are you allocating for advertising/marketing? Do you have a budget for education/training for yourself and your staff? Are there some expenses that you need to cut for 2010?
(3) Marketing Strategy- Do you have a 6 month marketing strategy in writing? Do you know who your ideal client is and how to reach them? Are you planning on using social media, print, direct mail? Do you have a referral program or affiliate program? What is your expected return on investment (ROI) for the marketing you plan to do? Do you have a tracking mechanisms to gauge your results?

It may seem challenging and daunting but with the right support and a well thought out strategy you will create a "working" plan to accelerate your business.

Coaches Tip: Start NOW and work on one section at a time. By December 31st, you will be ready to take your business all the way and please know we will love to help you on your journey.

Business Strategy Coach - How to Build a Vision for Yourself

If you are someone that needs to find a vision for yourself you will want to make sure that you are following through with what life has in store for you. There are endless possibilities for everyone. If you are looking to make something great of yourself then you will need to set some priorities and goals for yourself so that you are well on your way to a better and bigger future.

When you are looking for something to keep you motivated, you need to first think, about what you are doing for your own life. What are the most important things to you? Are you satisfied with everything that you are doing? Are you ready for a change in your life? If you are answering these questions truthfully, you will soon realize that maybe you are not living life to your full potential and maybe there is something better out there for you.

Make sure that you are thinking about your goals and dreams in life. You need to think about what you want to do in your future. Setting goals for long term and short term is going to be one thing that makes your life so much better and easier because you are going to have something to look forward to in the end.

Never give up on something that you really want. If you have goals set for yourself you will want to make sure that you are doing everything possible that you can so that you can feel good about who you are. Be prepared to work hard at your goals. There is nothing that should ever stand in your way. You need to recognize that you are the one that is going to be in control of your life. When there is something that you really want to have, you should try to find different ways to go about them. Finding motivation is one part of it. When you are energized and motivated to make something happen you will get there.

Think about what you are doing and then you can move on to something else. You can build up your own goals in life by thinking about what you need to do in order to improve your own goals. Thinking about something that makes you happy will help you get to where you need to be. There is nothing wrong with making choices that fit your needs. Do not be afraid to go out there and make things work for you. It is going to take time but you will see in the end that you are going to improve your life by a lot and find ways to make things different. You have to be willing to provide yourself with a set of goals that are going to work for you and all of your needs.

Try to find a way to see into your future. You have to be ready to take on challenges that are going to help you become stronger and more together. You should always know that you are going to be in control of a situation. When you are not happy with something that you are doing you should go out there and make your life just how you want it to be.

Do not be afraid of who you are and what you do in life. There are so many good ideas out there for you to choose from. Make sure that you are creating the goals in life that are going to help you be more productive and more enthusiastic about what you have in mind. There is nothing out there that should stop you from being who you want to become in life.
Think about your attitude and how far it has brought you. There is nothing in the world that you should think about more than where your life is going to end up. Success is something that you should always have on your mind. It is up to you to go after your dreams.

Business Strategy Coach - 10 Strategic Ways To Be Time Rich And Stress Free

1. Retrain your self-talk, to remove selfish from your vocabulary and replace it with self-care. In order for you to take care of the people you love you need to take care of yourself first. Friends, family, loved ones look to you as a model, make sure to model self-care, taking time to play, relax, and read. This is especially important for parents; this will give your children the confidence to have the same healthy behaviors.

2. Give yourself time for delays and unexpected events. When mapping out your day add an extra hour cushion to your schedule. This extra time will keep you stress free and running on time if some of your appointments are delayed, or if you run into someone you haven't seen in a while, so you can enjoy a spontaneous conversation without the guilt of running behind schedule.

3. Balance out your commitments. A great way to cut down on a hectic schedule is to balance out all new activities by removing an old activity. Don't add anything new, work, classes, volunteer activities, etc unless you first remove something from your schedule to balance it out. This will help you to let go of projects and time wasters that no longer serve you.

4. No is not a bad word, in fact, it's not only a complete sentence it's a great stress reducing word. There is no need to justify or explain when you say no to someone's request. Just give them a friendly smile thank them for including you and tell them you can't do it this time. If you are having trouble getting used to saying no right away, tell the person you need some time to think about it, then call them later and decline to be involved this time.

5. Maximize your commute and errands. If you have errands to run for business or home combine them to one trip. Make doctor’s appointments for yourself or your family members back to back and see if you can get appointments first thing in the morning before the doctor is running behind. Order you business supplies online to save time, most business supply websites can store your most frequently ordered purchases in a file so all you have to do is select the item you want and have it delivered with just one click.

6. Improve your home environment one room at a time. Even if you have the budget for a complete makeover, remodeling and redecorating can be very time consuming and stressful projects. Try working on just one room at a time. Pick a few rooms in your house that you enjoy the most and spend most of your time in when your home. Select your favorite and create an environment that is pleasing to the eye and gives you comfort and positive energy. This will give you a haven in your home and the encouragement to tackle another room when you're ready.

7. Being spontaneous is a very exhilarating feeling that gives you a real sense of freedom. Make sure to leave time in your life every week to be spontaneous. Cutting things out of your life that are time zappers and stressful will also give you the energy to be spontaneous. Keep at least two weekends a month free from scheduled activities. Then you can decide to take a short trip, have a date with your partner, a special family event, or kick your feet up and do absolutely nothing and feel wonderful about it.

8. Highlight those time wasters. Instead of just making up another long to do list so you can beat your self up about all the things you didn't and couldn't possible have accomplished in one day. Make a realistic to do list. Put the things that are most important to YOU on the top, then next to each item list the amount of time you think it will take to get it done. This will help you get your important things done and show you where your time wasters are.

9. Under promise and over deliver. This is very useful in business and in your life. By selecting reasonable deadlines you avoid the stress of crunch time, use your time effectively and you will be able to finish ahead of schedule giving you satisfaction for a job well done and turned in early.

10. Define what life and work without stress would look like to you. Describe what your ideal schedule is, what leisure activities you want to do and who you want to spend time with. By creating a detailed image of what a stress free schedule looks like, you can begin to take the steps necessary to clearing out the stress.

Business Strategy Coach - Maybe Now Is the Time to Reinvent Your Business

You have to realize just how important your business is to your personal success. You will also find that there are times where you are going to have reinvent your business. You need to keep in mind that if you really want your business to work out then you are going to have to constantly be looking at ways to innovate your business. You also want to make sure that your business reflects everything that you would like people to think when they hear about your business.
When it comes to the times when you are going to have to re-invent the business you will find that it may be when the profits stop coming in as fast or just after so long when people have gotten comfortable with the business. You will also want to make sure that you have everything that you offered in the beginning, but you re-invent yourself and the business through many techniques so that you can build on the business.
You will find that a business innovation involves the use of new products, new business goals and plans, new business models, new communication and marketing techniques, and so on. You will find that it is important for you to constantly work and change your communication ways so that you can make sure that you are on the way to becoming a household name.
One of the biggest changes that you are going to have to deal with is the change of competitive advantage. You will find that your competitive advantage will make a huge difference in the company and you are will also notice a change (positive or negative) in the profits of the business. You will want to make sure that you think about all the changes and their consequences, because you will want to make sure that you are making the right changes and also that you can make more of a profit. You will also want to consider the changes and how the public will react. You need to make sure that you get a positive rise out of your public and out of your potential customers.
You will need to consider the fact that you are working on a piece of art. Every now and then you will think about things that you can add or change to make it better. This is exactly how you will approach your business. You will need to take inconsideration that there are going to be some problems, but you will be able to work through all the issues and bring in some potential customers. You will need to think about your business as something that is forever growing.
Take inconsideration that there this some general knowledge of the business and there is a general knowledge about your clientele that you are going to have to use in order to decide if your business ideas are a go or a bust. You will want to make sure that you do all the appropriate research so that you can take care of all of the business decisions, but also feel confident in your business decision-making.
If you are looking to re-invent your business you may even want to get a professional business coaching company to consult with. You will feel a lot better about making decisions when you get the opinion of a professional. You will want to consider doing what you can to make the best decisions possible. You will need to set some personal business goals so that you can have some sort of direction and reasoning to the re-invention of your business.

Rae A. Majors-Wildman is an international business strategist and results coach. She is the CEO of the strategic consulting and training firm All the Way Success, Inc. Rae hosts the blogtalk radio show Coach Rae and is working on her first book, Success Is Not Optional. She can be reached by phone at 760-290-7111 or by email at rmajorswildman@allthewaysuccess.com

Business Strategy Coach - Blast Through All Barriers to Reach Your Goals

One of the reasons we do not face our goals is because when we are faced with an unexpected barrier that we're unsure how to deal with, we shut down. We become discouraged, we start making excuses, and we allow ourselves to back off of our original plan. While this is a human and natural tendency, it's not conducive to success.

An important step that you can take to avoid this barrier blunder is that of carefully planning your goal to include backup plans for all those little "what ifs."

"What if I don't pass the prerequisite course?"
"What if I don't get the loan?"
"What if I run out of time?"
"What if the marketing doesn't work?"
"What if I just don't feel like it?"

These are all very real barriers that keep us from realizing our life dreams. By preplanning for them, we greatly improve our chances of succeeding and experience the power of being unstoppable.

What kind of barriers can you preplan?

Internal Barriers
Internal barriers include the thoughts you have about your goal, success, and yourself that keep you from being successful. They include your personal fears, motivation, self-esteem, and paradigms.

"What if I just don't feel like doing my assignment?"
Solution - commit to working on it for at least 15 minutes. Then take a break and come back to it later

"What if my fear of the phone keeps me from following through on my marketing campaign?"
Solution - have a friend help me make phone calls. It might not be so bad if I'm not alone.

"What if I find myself procrastinating?"
Solution - ask a friend to call me every day to remind me to spend a little time on my goal. Work on my goal first thing in the morning to get it done and over with. Better yet, hire a business coach such as All the Way Success who is committed to helping you reach your goals.

External Barriers
External barriers include barriers such as money, time, other people's reactions, resources, and results. We are not in direct control of them, but we can affect how they work and we can still plan around them.

"What if the client turns down my proposal?"
Solution - ask questions to find out why, and resubmit it.

"What if I forget the worksheets?"
Solution - fax a copy to the hotel and get new copies made.

"What if the landscaping blocks don't come in on time?"
Solution - pad the timeline and notify the client of this possibility in advance. Realign timeline to work on other projects until the blocks come in.

Practice this technique with even your small, short-term goals. It feels great to know that when a brick wall appears in your path, you have the perfect solution for getting around it and getting back on the road to achievement!

Business Strategy Coach - The Buck Stops Here...A Leader Should Be Willing to Take Responsibility

A leader should be willing to take responsibility. Who would forget the ever-famous line of Peter Parker’s grandfather, “With great power comes great responsibility.” The society expects Spiderman, a comic book, TV, and movie superhero, to be responsible for saving his town, or even the world, in some instances, from evil because he has super powers.

From all the episodes he appeared in, he never let us down. With the power he possesses, he makes sure to be responsible in using it for the good of the people around him.

Leadership is not at all different from being superheroes. Yes, you may not have super powers like Superman and Spiderman, but you have the authority to lead other people towards success. This is so much greater and stronger since it is a power that can be used by real people in this real world.

Hence, being a leader requires great sense of responsibility, the second quality a successful leader should attain.

The power to lead your people towards aiming your vision comes with responsibilities like making sure they are on the right direction, being aware of each and everyone’s tasks and mistakes, and putting them back on the right track when they get lost.

Who said it is easy to be a leader? Well, it is not…It comes with tons of responsibilities. True leaders are willing to accept them all.

There are instances where sometimes it makes us feel better to blame somebody or something else when something goes wrong in a task. However, this should not be practiced, especially by a good leader!

A leader should take full responsibility of a task - not just before he accepts to take it, but also after it has been accomplished. As much as he is responsible for his team’s success, he should also be responsible for any failure. He represents the whole team so whatever happens to it, he is the one responsible.

Making excuses and blaming something or someone else for failed jobs is not a quality of a good leader. What he should do, instead, is to accept the fact that something went wrong with the organization, even if it is not his fault. It is normal to make mistakes. In fact, mistakes are opportunities to learn something better. As a leader, he must ensure that the team members learn from these mistakes and that these errors will not be repeated next time.

You may not have full control over other people and are not expected to have full control over their actions, but you have full control of your own reactions. Knowing what to do over unexpected and unpredictable situations will make you responsible, hence giving you the feeling of power.

Business Strategy Coach - Driving to Your Goals..3 Steps to Get You Where You Want...

Every time you get in your car to go anywhere, you are working on achieving a goal. There is somewhere you want to be, so you take action to get there. The three major things that get you where you want to go when driving are a specific destination, directions for getting there, and a way to track your progress. You must also have these three things to achieve any goal.

1. Specific Destination

Before even getting into your car, you must know where you are going. Unless you have a specific destination, you're just moving the car and wasting gas. There isn't anything particularly wrong with this; some people enjoy just driving around and looking at the scenery. But if you want to get somewhere, you must know where you are going.

When setting your goals, you must know exactly what it is that you want. Get a clear picture of it in your mind. If it's a new job, picture yourself in that job. If it's more money, visualize that monthly bank statement. Imagine what you will feel like when you reach whatever it is you are striving for. Write it down, like you would write down the address of a house you are visiting for the first time.

2. Directions

If this is a destination you've been to before, you don't need directions. It's automatic, like tying your shoes or chewing your food. But what if it's somewhere you've never been before? How do you get there?

You ask. You ask someone who's been there before. You pull out a map. You check the Internet. The directions may not be perfect, and often they aren't. "It's either the second or third light, I can't remember which," is something often heard when getting driving directions. But you get the best directions you can.

Goal setting is the same. You get in touch with others who already have what you want. You read books, you listen to tapes, you attend seminars, or you hire a “results coach”. You get as much information as possible that will assist you in reaching your goal.

3. Tracking Your Progress

You know where you are going and you've got your directions, so now it's time to take some action! You hop in the car and you're off!

But wait! It wasn't the second or third light, it was the fourth! So what do you do when you realize you are off course? You check your map, you pull into the nearest gas station, or you make a phone call. You try to get back on track. But you don't give up! You don't turn around at the first closed road and go back home, saying "I didn't really want to get there anyway." If this were to happen, you'd never get anywhere you hadn't been before, and your life would be pretty limited. Even if you have to head all the way back home, you start again. Eventually, you get to that destination, and isn't it even more exciting when you get there after a difficult journey!

You may get sidetracked on your journey. If you get hungry, you stop for a bite. If you need to use the restroom, you stop to take care of that. But do you stay stopped? Do you sit in the restroom all day, wondering why you aren't where you want to be? No, you do what you need to do and continue on.

Don't quit on your goals, either. There may be setbacks, dead ends, even car accidents. But don't forget that you'll never get there if you don't keep taking action and moving towards your destination. When that prospect says no, it's not a failure; it's another mile under your belt. When nothing seems to happen for a long period of time, you're just getting closer to that next landmark. If you're not sure what to do next, don't be too embarrassed to stop and ask for those directions!

Business Strategy Coach - Transformation Begins With Us.

This past weekend, I had the great honor to volunteer with one of my favorite transformational leaders and friends, Lisa Nichols. The weekend was extremely powerful and I watch the participants literally transform right in front of my eyes. There were many stories shared with tears of joy, pain and triumph.

However, what became crystal clear to me was how many change agents we have on this journey called life. These amazing "angels" in the flesh were willing to risk it all in order to gain it all. They would not settle any longer for a life of but they choose to be "alive."

Please click on the link to watch an amazingly beautiful video which is a gentle reminder of how blessed we truly are. Enjoy!
Click Here!

Support All the Way Success, Inc. in the 2009 StartupNation Home-Based Business Competition

Support All the Way Success, Inc. in the 2009 StartupNation Home-Based Business Competition

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Business Strategy Coach - 7 Effective Ways to Set Your Goals In Motion Today

The 7 effective ways to set your goals in motion today:

1. Stop seeking approval from people.

You don’t need anyone’s permission to fulfill your dream. Trust yourself and give yourself permission to succeed. Having support from people whose opinion you value is a wonderful thing but it should not be the criterion for whether you begin acting on fulfilling your goals or not

If you really desire to turn your idea into reality, constantly floating it around and seeking the approval of people will waste your time and kill your dream. What will happen to your idea if you don’t get the approval of those whose permission you so desperately need? Nothing!

2. Don’t wait for perfection.

Waiting for a time when everything is perfect and in place will cause you to lose your enthusiasm and abandon your goal. Conditions may never be as perfect as you desire. You may never have all the money, time, or knowledge you desire to begin working on your goals.

You must take risks, learn and improve as you go along and then watch as everything begins to fall in place. If you have to wait for the perfect time to begin working on your goals you will be waiting a long time!

3. Create time for the goal.

Many people have dreams, ideas or goals, which remain unfulfilled because they are too busy doing everything else but work on the goal! If you have a goal to accomplish, you must be ready to invest your time, and resources to ensure that it succeeds.

Making excuses about lacking the time to work on goals that are important to you is a procrastination tactic, which will kill your dream before it has a chance to see the light of day. There is always time to work on what we love and consider important. Create that time and see your dreams begin to unfold!

4. Decide once and for all!

The process of goal accomplishment, like most things in life begins with a decision. You decide what you want to achieve and then you plan how you intend to achieve it.

If accomplishing your goal is important to you, your inability to make crucial decisions about what you should do, how you should do it and when you should do it, will waste your time and choke your dream. Make up your mind and stop second-guessing yourself. When your mind is made up nothing can stop you from making progress with fulfilling your goals.

5. Be bold and take the initiative.

Be bold! You are the one in charge of turning your dreams to reality. You need to be proactive and actively involved in the process of working on your goals to ensure you achieve them.

Just because you have shared your ideas with others does not necessarily mean that you are no longer responsible for turning them to reality. Don’t sit around waiting for others to make suggestions and guide your idea to reality. Don’t leave your dream entirely in the hands of others. Nobody cares about your dream like you do.

6. Invest in your dream.

No idea is self-funding. Don’t be deceived into thinking that people will invest or finance your idea just because it is brilliant. If you are lucky, someone may invest in it, but if you are not, you will have to invest your time, energy and finances towards activities that will fortify and fulfill your dream.

You may have to invest in the acquisition of knowledge or expertise that will help you achieve your goals. It would be a good idea to keep some money stashed away to finance your goal.

7. Do one thing at a time.

Commit yourself only to projects and activities which are connected to your main goal. Whatever you do should directly or indirectly add up to a move toward your main goal. Failure to do this will confuse, overwhelm, sidetrack, and drain your energy.

To get started on achieving your goals, you need to plan for it and make it a priority. If you keep crowding and cluttering your life with what does not matter, you many never, ever accomplish your goals.

Remember that you can’t do all things, but you can do one thing!

Business Strategy Coach - Eight Steps to Take Control of Every Situation in Your Life

Like it or not, we are all gladiators. We go to sleep and wake up in a social arena from which there is no escape. Challenge upon challenge confronts us, walls restrain us, and a mob of spectators mocks, sneers, or cheers us. Each and every day brings new battles whether we want them or not and whether we're up to them or not. Life forces us to face one skirmish after another - no choice in the matter.

What we can choose, though, is which kind of gladiator to be, victor or victim.

Being a victim in this social arena translates into having bad relationships.

Most people are victims - victims of their own perceptions.

That's because people don't develop and listen to their own unique, authentic self. Rather they allow their mental spectators - those little tyrants rattling around in their heads - to tell them second by second how to fight their battles, what they can and cannot do. These tyrants applaud and they hiss, they encourage and they discourage.

These mental spectators are the memories of the judgments of real-life people. For example, it's the memory of your aunt saying, "I hope you marry someone rich, because you're not going far on brains." It's the echo of your father growling, "You've got a back problem - no spine."

And their influence over your relationships can't be overestimated.

Millions of people accept the judgments of their mental spectators as the truth and, therefore, the mediocre results that come from believing those judgments.

With so many people living this way, the question becomes, is this the way I have to live? Fortunately, the answer is not unless you want to.

Once you identify your mental spectators - and your interactions with them - you can move beyond victim and assume the role of victor.

What it takes are eight steps for getting command, eight steps you can apply to most any situation you want altered. You can positively influence your relationships, your employment options, any aspect of your life.

Let's look at the steps.

1. Define What Ails You.
Ask, what's my problem? Am I a jealous weasel, troubled that others have what I want? Am I ticked off most of the time? Am I sad and whiney? Anxiety ridden? Moody? All of the above? Without this step, you're doomed. It will take personal courage, but you won't get results without identifying what ails you.

2. Discover the Effects.
Ask, how are my problems affecting my life? Am I a lousy parent, a friendless dork, a backstabber, a liar, a drunk, a junkie? Am I none of the above, but someone who is less than I could be? This step requires absolute self-honesty, but the truth will help set you free.

3. Seek the Source.
Ask, from where are my problems coming? Who are my real and my mental spectators? What do my mental spectators look like, say, and do? Exactly who or what is keeping me from taking command of my life? This could be one of the most incredible experiences of your life. You will look into the abyss and see who is looking back.

4. Identify Your Role.
Ask, how am I contributing to my problems? What is my responsibility in all this? Did I decide to be a garbage disposal? Do I beat myself to death trying to please others? Do I expect things of myself that are unfair? Do I treat myself as a friend or an enemy? Do I allow my mental spectators to drive me to distraction, depression, anger, anxiety? Recognizing your role in your own problems is a positive - but scary - step toward knowing yourself and gaining personal command.

5. State Your Desires.
Ask, what do I specifically want to do about my problems? Do I want to be a doormat, a liar, a drunk, a friendless geek? Or do I want to rule my mental spectators? Do I want to stand up to a spectator, real or imagined, who puts me down? Do I want to take command of my education, my bank account, my relationships? Until you can actually list your desires in the order of their importance, you will be a victim. However, once you do this, you are on your way to being a victor.

6. Seek Options.
Ask, what are my options, and in what order should I place them? What is the first option I should concentrate on? The second one? The third? If you have a soul-sucking hangover most mornings, you might opt to give up your booze buddies for some real friends. Secondly, take the money you normally spend at bars and deposit it in a college fund for yourself or your kids. If, instead, you're a workaholic and you want to spend more time with your kids, then DO IT. Very few people on their deathbed have said, "If I could live life all over again, I'd spend more of it at work and less with people I love." Choices are involved here, but by weighing options and alternatives, and then making personal choices, you are taking command. Do this and you'll begin to gain real power.

7. Learn Winning Techniques.
Ask, how do I rule my real and my mental spectators? Must I collapse in a heap when they point thumbs down? How can I learn to take charge on every level and get a grip on my life? There is no "magic" involved, but you might feel as if there is. Unlike a vanquished gladiator falling at the whim of spectators, you decide your own course.

8. Master Your Relationships.
Ask, what more can I do to master my relationships by strengthening myself and my perceptions? How do I take command right now in developing my own identification and self-worth? Congratulations! You're working on the one person in the entire world you can work on - YOU! And any improvements in yourself can't help but enrich your relationships with other people and the world around you.

Although this is only a brief overview of each of the eight steps for jump-starting your relationships and taking control of your life, you'd be amazed at how significant the effects of a few minor adjustments in perception can be.

Business Strategy Coach - Leadership is Action...Not Position!

People respond to good leadership! Period! It is in all aspects of our lives, not just business. A mother is a leader in her home; a son may be leader of a team sport or a daughter the leader of the debate team. A group relies on the person in charge to actually lead them to success. A true leader is highly ethical, honest and respected.

In our society we have leaders and followers. Are we born to one or the other? No! Can you hone your leadership skills? Absolutely!

The leaders that I admire seem to have all of these in place:

a) They think BIG! They don’t put a ceiling in place. Instead, no limit is set as to how big or how much better something can be.

b) The goals are firmly set in place and the eye does not come off of it.

c) They make known to all involved the final product that they are all going for, example, if you sell widgets, it takes x number of widgets to be affluent, or you want to win that football game and ultimately the title. Know what you’re going for.

d) They can get compliance to orders.

e) When goals are met they set new goals or raise the bar.

People will follow your lead willingly if you are honest, ethical, if you are consistent and treat them with respect. Rewarding someone when a job is well done is always appreciated. A good leader will also off load someone who consistently hinders the group who is just not a team player.

You can improve your own self- respect and become an inspiration to others. How great is that!

"When you think of the blur of all the brands that are out there, the ones you believe in and the ones you remember... are the ones that stand for something." ~ Ralph Lauren

Business Strategy Coach - How to Find Out the Key Challenges You Face as a Business Owner

There are a lot of obstacles and challenges that you are going to have to face as a business owner. You will need to make sure that you think about some of the goals that you have for yourself and the goals that you have as the business owner. You will need to keep your personal and business goals in mind through the challenges so that you don't lose sight of the ideas that you once had.

As an entrepreneur you will need to overcome some of the obstacles in order to find success for your business. These roadblocks exist for everyone who is a business owner and there are by no fault of your own. You will need to keep yourself in check every now and then so that you can track your personal gain from the goals that you have, but also so that you can keep yourself moving forward.

The most common obstacle that you will run into is the fact of funding. When you start a business you may not realize that it is going to take a lot of capital to get the business going, even if you are buying a business. You will need to take inconsideration that you are going to have to have good credit and also good credit options. You will find that this obstacle is so easy to overcome, but it does take a little bit of planning. If you want to overcome this, you will need to have a good business plan to present to the bank so that you can the most funding that you can get as a start up capital. You will also need to use the plan in order to get investors (silent or just a business partner) so that you can keep the funds rolling in. It will take at least two years for a business to start generating money. If you honestly would like to start a business you will need to have enough funds to cover the general bills for at least two years. This will keep the financial issues at bay.

Secondly, you have to consider the fact that you have many responsibilities. You will need to make sure that you can give the business the proper amount of time, but also not neglect your school or family responsibilities. You will need to make sure that the drawers are counted at the end of the night, but you also need to be home to tuck your kids into bed. It is very important that you mate understands how important it is for you to have business success and also how important it is for you to have the success at home. They will need to give you some slack and support when it comes to the family roles.

Finally, you are going to have to overcome your own feelings. You may find yourself feeling insecure about your age or even the business. As long as you know that this is what you want and you know that this is something that you would like to pursue, then you need to gain the confidence to support your business. You will find that confidence through the planning of the business, by having a good start up fund, and also by having the support of your family.

Keep in mind that it is hard to run a business and it takes a lot of time, money, and energy to make a successful business. Do you have what it takes, right now, to focus on other areas of your life and the business? You will need to have the support of your family and loved ones to really make the business work. To find out if you have a sound business strategy, please contact us at www.allthewaysuccess.com for a complimentary business strategy session.

"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go." ~ T.S. Eliot

Business Strategy Coach - Plug In...With a Purpose

Imagine that each person on this planet carried with them a teaspoon of soil or rock from Mt. Everest. Certainly Mt. Everest would shrink! Those individual teaspoons of material from the tallest mountain on Earth now in the pockets of billions of people also wouldn't mean much. Well I suppose each of us could put that small amount of mineral material into a bottle and keep it as a souvenir. But like most souvenirs we collect, we get tired of dusting them and they become added to the already crowded drawer or box of meaningless, useless items. A teaspoon of dirt, in a jar, in a drawer, that by itself, means little.

But, wait a minute…. What about it's P-0-T-E-N-T-I-A-L?

From Webster's Dictionary:

"Contribute": to give or supply in common with others

What if each person on this planet brought their teaspoon of Mt. Everest to the site where it used to stand and contributed it? What would happen? Why, we would build the highest, mightiest mountain on Earth…TOGETHER.

Good thought! Doubtful it would happen. Why not? Let's explore that. We can start by applying this Mt. Everest metaphor to our own lives.

Modern times finds we human beings have, at least in the developed world, become rather insular (just think of the word "insulate"). We cocoon in our homes. We don't have time, we don't have enough money, we are tired. We don't have any time to ourselves, we go to work and slave for someone else's goals and often receive a pay check for much less than we feel we are worth. We provide for our families, do the myriad of tasks and chores in and for the home. Sacrifice for and fearfully protect our children. We amass debt to do many of these things. We feel trapped in a vortex of stress. And yet, with all this striving for what we think we want, if we are honest, we still feel unfulfilled and probably guilty for feeling that way!

Something elusive is still missing.

We are living our "separateness". We are not acknowledging our "interconnectedness".

We avoid asking ourselves "Who am I, why am I really here?" because we already know that we don't know or are afraid the answers will jolt us out of what we think is our comfort zone. Finding out may take more of that precious time we don't' have or take more of that effort we are too tired to perform! It's one of those conundrums: we want to know, but we don't want to know because it may shake up our lives, it may cause our lives to….here it comes…..CHANGE! Human beings don't like change, yet it is the one thing we can all count on. So there we are, unfulfilled vs. having to change. Yup, it's scary. But so worth it!

Have you ever listened to Nelson Mandela, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Mother Theresa, the Dali Lama or so many other highly spiritually evolved human beings? And I mean really listened to them? Would you say all of them know "who" they are? And are they living their purpose, their passion? Of course. We can 'feel' that they are. All of them have their roots in different countries, all of them teach the same message, which is, we are all interconnected. We were not put on this earth to be separate, we are all teaspoons of the Whole. And the way we can come together and build a "Mt. Everest" world of harmony is through contribution.

We likely think of ways in which to contribute as the usual volunteering our time or donating our money. Heck, we receive unsolicited begging for money via telemarketing phone calls and the postal system on an endless basis! Of course charitable organizations do need our donations of time and money, but there is another, more intangible way to "add your teaspoon". It is through fulfilling your life's Purpose. This means:

Living life intentionally, not by accident

Capturing the essence of what it means to be fully alive

You have a powerful direction in your life

You make choices that increase the value of life to yourself and others

Being fulfilled today and every day

Living your life based on your values

Due to our spiritual interconnectedness, there is no true life Purpose that does not include contribution. There is no contribution that does not include reward for you, tangible or intangible. You are here to make a difference on this planet. Wouldn't you like to know what you will leave behind, the difference you will make in the lives of those you touch?

Your life Purpose is an underlying theme to your life, not a specific job, parenting or partnering. Your Purpose can be fulfilled through these, but it is not these. Your life Purpose is not to be a title, it is to do something, something that contributes. Never underestimate your power, your "teaspoon" has the potential to become Mt. Everest! You can be fulfilling your life Purpose with as little as an acknowledgment, a warm touch, a phone call, a letter, a kind smile or word, lending an ear, anything that contributes to the mental, physical or emotional well being of another living soul. Or conversely, refraining from judgment, harsh words within or without the presence of the target, anything that you know, deep in your heart, would be hurtful to another.

The special wording of your purpose is uniquely yours. Certain words have specific meaning to each of us. When you speak your purpose, something physical happens to you, you know this is you. Others hearing it may not feel that power, because it is not theirs, but it is not meant to impress anyone else, it is the Universe speaking to your heart and that is all that matters.

Who Rae is and what I am here to do is the following:

"I am a strong and courageous woman, leading and inspiring people to overcome their limiting beliefs and step into their God-given destiny."

When I say this I feel an angel kiss my forehead, my heart is full and I have such a peace and understanding. And even better, I know I am contributing to the lives of others.

Up to now, I have been fulfilling my life Purpose to about 80% potential in the career aspect of my life. It is through Business and Personal Life Coaching that I know I am fulfilling my life's Purpose 100%. I know the potential of my 'teaspoon' and through my Purpose I hope to touch as many lives as I can reach to enable them to know their potential as well.

You are not separate, you are connected, just Plug in with a Purpose!

Business Strategy Coach - A Secret Technique that Entrepreneurs Can Use to Almost Guarantee Success!

If you were to walk up and ask successful and unsuccessful entrepreneurs what they did to succeed or fail, most of them would cite some mentor or lack of trait... Blame genetics or outside influence. But if you were to ask the exact same group if they used this secret, 99% of successful entrepreneurs would say yes - and almost all of the unsuccessful entrepreneurs would ask what you were talking about...

The secret to being a successful entrepreneur is very, very simple. It is called "Quantifiable Goals". It might sound complicated, but when you have finished reading this article you will completely understand what it means - and why it is so important.
Let’s say, for example, that you walk into a room full of entrepreneurs, and ask them to state their goals. To state why they are ultimately in business for themselves. Most of them will respond something along the lines of time or money. But watch them puzzle when you ask them WHY they want to earn money or have that extra time. This is the most essential part of Quantifiable Goals. Any John Doe can say he wants to make money, but why? Is there something in particular he wants to buy? Something he wants to do with that time?
Once you establish WHY you want that extra time or money, you have just taken a big step towards success. You now have a goal. For example, you want that extra money to buy a house. Buying a house is your goal. Now comes the Quantifiable part.
How much are you going to spend on this house? $250,000? $1 million? You need to come up with a dollar amount or time amount, something of quantity, to properly set your goals. That way, once you earn that $250,000 or gain those 3 hours, you have essentially attained your goal.
But waking up one morning and deciding to earn $250,000 doesn't make it happen. So how do you achieve your long-term Quantifiable Goal? By breaking it up into smaller, medium term quantifiable goals.

For the example we have been using, buying a house for $250,000, your medium-term goals would most likely be monetary. You could set goals to complete two projects that would each bring you $125,000, or even 10 projects that would bring you $25,000, or break it down even further.

But what good are these goals anyway? They are still difficult to achieve, and how do you know what to do to achieve these goals?
Well, you break each of your medium-term quantifiable goals into short term goals. For example, if you chose to get two projects with a price tag of $125,000 each, your first goal might be to think of what kinds of projects you can do that would bring that kind of money in for you. Your next goal would be to close the sale on such a project, and then to complete the project, and finally to collect payment. That way, each medium-term goal is broken down into manageable tasks.

At this point, you want to break everything down into a flow chart to help establish your goals. Put your life quantifiable goal at the top on its own piece of paper. Then, put each of your medium-term goals on their own paper in a horizontal line directly beneath your life goal. Then directly below each medium goal, fill a sheet with the short term goals that it will take to achieve each medium term goal.

This method will help you visualize what you are working towards, and how each step is necessary to achieve your dream.

Now you'll want to check off each short term goal as you complete it, completing one sheet at a time. By doing this, you will be able to visually SEE your results progress quickly. Each time you complete a short-term goal, you are one step closer to completing a medium-term goal, which brings you one step closer to completing your life goal.

Now that you know the secret, what are you going to do about it? I suggest following the visualization techniques given, and build yourself a "life pyramid" on a wall that is visible while you are working. Glance at it every so often, and it will keep you on track. Reward yourself when you complete your goals - from the smallest achievement to completing the entire pyramid. It will most likely be the most positive experience in your life to see that pyramid completed - and the construction process of the pyramid itself will set you on the right path.

Happy Monday ~ My intention for today is to be fully presence, to enjoy everything that this day has to bring and to joyfully BE.

"The greatest revenge is MASSIVE success" ~ Tony Robbins

Preparing to watch my youngest graduate from middle school today. Wow! I can't believe he will be going to high school in the fall.

Thank you for your patience I am going to celebrate with a glass of vino.

Let's see if this works. Fingers crossed =0)

Today I'm experimenting with all the various social media website that I belong to & looking to streamline & add efficiency. Wish me luck!

Time or Energy Management?

Launching a company requires many pieces of the puzzles to fall into place and it is so important that you manage your energy as well as your time.

As a business owner, it is so easy to find yourself doing everything especially if you are a solopreneur. I must admit that wearing the numerous hats of CEO, CFO, COO, CMO, receptionists, secretary, marketing and advertising dept. (you get the point) are needed but how much time are you giving yourself to rest and recover.

If you are a home-based business your first inclination is to get the job done. I would submit that you will never get it all done so to support yourself and your family I recommend the following:

1) Determine what are your working hours? It may seem simple but most small business owners do not have set working hours. So determine, how many days and hours per day you wish to work? How many vacation days per year? How many sick and personal days? Once decided it is important to honor and adhere to this commitment.

2) Take breaks during the day. Schedule a minimum of (1) 15 minute break where you can disengage from the business and refresh yourself. I would recommend taking a power nap and if you would an amazing technology to support you visit my website http://www.allthewaysuccess.com/ and go to resources I have a link to one of the tools that I use. You can also go for a brisk walk around the corner or have a cup of tea. The goal is to give your body and mind an opportunity to recharge itself. Believe or not you will find that by incorporating this strategy you will become more efficient and your work performance will increase.

3) Plan your week in advance. I am amazed by the amount of individuals who do not plan their week or even their day consistently. What you will find that by doing this it will eliminate schedule conflicts and give you more breathing room in your day.

Lastly, I would encourage you to schedule time just to have fun. As you build your business it is important that you create a fulfilling life.

To your success,

Rae