By Simone Kelly

There’s a war going on ladies and gentlemen! Oh no, I’m not taking about in Iraq,  Afghanistan, or Korea either.  There is the war of self-sabotage that many of us face on a daily basis. Many times its become so much apart of our make-up that we don’t even realize we are doing it. Getting closer to your inner-being will help you uncover when you do the things you do, so you can stop yourself from sinking in the quicksand even further. That’s why I’m such a big advocate of ME TIME so, that we can start to wake up.

I caught myself getting in a funk the other day and had to snap out of it and thankfully because of the self-development tools I have access too, I’m able to catch myself. One of the tools is something you can all get is A  JOURNAL!

Hey, we’re all human and it’s normal to go through ‘it’ sometimes, but if we don’t pay attention to US… the war inside of us can explode in all areas of our lives. So, WAKE UP  to what’s going on with you…

Here’s a little peek at what happens on both sides of the game.

Some of us:

• Have poor habits that are detrimental to our health and well-being (alcohol, drug addiction, over-eating, etc.)
• Are surrounded by toxic energy and don’t work on ways to improve the situations.
• Continue to host lavish pity parties and drown ourselves in sorrow and pull others in.
• Rather focus on “what ain’t” more than “what could be.” What you focus truly does EXPAND.
• Are in love-less or abusive relationships just to feel worthy because you are in a ‘relationship’.
• Become workaholics to avoid what’s really happening in our lives.
• Are saving everyone else except ourselves and continuously put ourselves LAST!

These people who are living this way are clearly on the path to self-destruction. There are many dealing with just one or two of the things I mentioned or maybe even all of them. This can lead to depression, hopelessness, violence, rage and even a terminal illness.

Then, ah, then there’s Self love—(sweet music starts to play) Yes, self-love the other side of the game called life.

Some of us on this side:

• Value our time alone to work on ourselves.
• Surround ourselves with positive people.
• Are in the process of forgiving ourselves or others.
• Stay in a state of appreciation of a situation even if it seems like a bad situation at first.
• Listen deeply to the messages within and trust our intuition.
• Realize that there are options and we are not victims.
• Actively seek assistance and not try to do it all on our own.
• Dig deep to understand the lessons in life.
• If we fail, we dust ourselves off and get back up again.
• Express love for others.
• Are emotionally open and don’t bottle things up.

Now the question is…which side are you on? Are you somewhere in the middle? Hey, there  is no judgment here, since it’s very rare that you can find someone 100% on either side. No one is perfect!

The key now is to realize that you definitely do have a choice of which side you want to be on. Think of the things you can do each day…you know? The  little baby steps towards self-love to honor and respect yourself. As I always say, it’s okay to be selfish. Me time spent working yourself has abundant rewards!

With that said, grab a journal and try answering the following questions.

1. Take a few moments to review that last three years of your life.

2. Write down three major indicants that lead you to where you are now.

3. What did it mean to you? Take a deeper look at the results of a death in family, break up, move, birth, illness, accident, new job, etc..  How did it effect you?

Incident 1:

Incident 2:

Incident 3:

4. Review each incident and write next to  them…What really happened? (Sometimes we make up stories and change the situation just to justify things. Take a step back and be honest with what REALLY happened here.)

5. What’s next for you? What are your options to move forward and move towards self-love in each  area. Realize that we have a choice, what choices will you make?

Please post your comments on where you are and what helps you move toward self-improvement each day! The more me time tips we can share the better 

Own Your Power!

Simone Kelly

P.S. Remember you don’t have to fight this battle alone. There are tools, people, coaches, and resources available to you. As a member of the Own Your Power Community you’ll get a complimentary session. Join us and let’s help you get 100% focused on what living the life that you deserve! www.ownyourpower.ning.com

Certified Law of Attraction Master Life Coach & Holistic Business Coach, Simone Kelly is the passionate visionary behind Own Your Power Communications. She encourages you to own your business and pursue a holistic lifestyle. Check out the Own Your Power community out and connect with like-minds here: ownyourpowerlifestyle.com

Last week, I shared with you the basics of branding and why it’s important to have a brand. Now, let’s break down the goal of your brand and also the steps that go into developing a powerful one that can live on without you and leave a legacy.

STEP ONE: EXPLORE

•    Focus on your core service and the emotion it creates. Really know that button it pushes in your audience. (Does your target market want to turn over a new leaf, save time, gain more control, keep up with the Jones’, improve their health or sex appeal, launch a business, improve finances?) Really know what they want and work hard to deliver it!

•  Get extremely clear on your target market (your ideal customer.) Know what they think, eat, read, surf, do…etc.

•  Know Your Brand personality: What are the fundamental beliefs of your organization? How do you communicate it? Really brainstorm with your team and come up with ways to market that ‘personality’ of your brand.

• Get in touch with personal brand. How do you show off your personal style? Is it the crisp suits, the funky flared dresses, the way you wear your hair, or your stylish eyeglass frames? Let people get to know who you are and be memorable! Get from behind the computer and start meeting folks. Volunteer for projects, join committees, join boards that let you shine and show your passion.

•    What’s the number one compliment you hear from clients/customers?  Start gathering testimonials to support your brand and show results in your marketing materials on why people should choose YOUR COMPANY.

•    Get clear on your positioning in market place w/ competitive analysis—really understand your competitive advantage. Is it your money back guarantee, stellar customer service, your location, quality, timeliness, etc?
•    TEST/SURVEY-Don’t assume just because you like it everyone else will!

STEP TWO: DEVELOP

•    Be consistent  with the use of you logo, colors, slogan, etc…Don’t have your logo on your business cards and they not on your email blast. If you colors are purple and gold, stick to them consistently!

•    Have a defined brandmark –your brandmark are your badges of your identity, your logo/icon, name and tag line. It must be backed with the promise of what you are going to deliver.  Best example we all know is:  (ICON-SWOOSH, NAME-NIKE, TAG LINE)—JUST DO IT

•  BECOME A WALKING TALKING BILLBOARD…an expert at selling yourself. Make sure your team is on the same page as you and you are all express the same message i.e.: elevator speech.

•  Strategize: Develop your marketing strategy and know the tools that you will use. Here are some examples:

•    Direct contact
•    Networking
•    Public Speaking
•    Writing/Publicity
•    Promotional Events
•    Online ads/Social Media
•    Advertising
•    Strategic Partnerships (Cross Promotions)

STEP THREE: EVOLVE

Your business is just like your baby. It will go through changes, it will grow, there may be some adjustments needed based on the demand and the direction the company is headed. Be prepared for the growth and change!

•    Measure for success: Surveys, interviews,  testimonials, focus groups to gather data and see if your reputation is what you’ve been promoting.

•    Track your progress over time and keep doing things that strengthen  your brand identity. These  innovations will  improve things that aren’t working.

•  Revamp your image from time to time, if needed. However, if it AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT! If money is flowing into your bank account, you must be doing something right. If not, go back to measuring for success and find out where you need to improve.

Good luck with developing a POWER HOUSE BRAND!  Don’t forget to catch the first article!

Holistic Business Coach, Simone Kelly Brown, the passionate visionary behind Own Your Power Communications, encourages you to own your business and pursue a holistic lifestyle. Check her community out and connect with like-minds here: http://www.ownyourpower.ning.com

Let me just cut to the chase. EVERYONE IS NOT YOUR CUSTOMER. If you don’t know what your brand stands for, who your target market is, then I’m sorry to break the news to you, you truly don’t have a business strategy. You won’t know how to identify your services or how to communicate what you do effectively and worst of all YOU WON’T BE MEMORABLE.

Okay, now that I got the bad news out of the way…let’s get down to the nitty gritty of what you can do to stay on the minds and hearts of your consumer…

DEVELOP A KNOCK-YOUR-SOCKS OFF BRAND!

What is Branding?

I like to look at branding as a little more than just your logo and colors. Its story telling about what you do via your messages, your activities, and of course your image… your mark. It’s a promise about what you are going to deliver.

•    Your brand is the heart and soul of your company. It’s apart of what you stand for.

•    A brand can give a small company a corporate identity that is larger than life. A highly developed brand can position your company alongside the ‘BIG DOGS’ in your industry if done correctly.

•    The more consistent you are with your message, the more memorable you’ll be.

As a small business owner it’s also why you wake up every morning. Your brand is what you live for and what you stand for! Own Your Power stands for helping people awaken to their greatness, heal and transform…it stands for power, passion and freedom.

It’s a collection of meanings that we carry around with us. The feeling, emotions, results, and  trust we put into a company.   It’s also about quality and service.

Okay…Quick ‘Lil Exercise:

Here are a few brand names to look over. Think about what emotions, memories, or images come to mind… Jot something down for each one.

1.    McDonald’s

2.    Spirit Airlines

3.    Whole Foods

4.    BP

5.    Barbie

6.    Nike

7.    American Express

8.    Phillip Morris

9.    Jack in the Box

10.    Target

11.    Jet Blue

12.    Barnes and Nobles

13.    Starbucks

I bet you thought about more than the logo, huh? ☺  Some made you feel good and some might have made you feel upset and disgusted! LOL  Some you probably didn’t know much about and felt indifferent.

Think about what came to mind when you read those names. Now…put your company name on that list. What would you like to hear your customers say after they saw your name or logo?

Branding also sums up the beliefs of your organization and your mission. But oh…it goes even deeper than that. It’s the music you play in your restaurant,  the smell of that incense in your yoga studio, the way  your team dresses in all red at  your hair salon, your top-notch customer service, the colors on the walls, the way you advertise. It’s that cute and fun way you answer the phones, it’s in your email signature . It’s in your own signature style, your podcast theme song, the font you use. I could go on…but I won’t. You get my drift by now!

Who knew you could drop little bread crumbs of your brand around in all that you do each day? ☺  Just about anything that can connect your customers emotionally to you is a part of your branding.

And a big one, that I can’t forget: It’s about how you interact in social media networks!  It’s so important to inject a little personality and a touch of your own life within your postings.  You just have to find a balance where it’s not soooo much about your kids and how you’re about to go to Walmart to catch that sale on Ice cream vs. being too sales pitchy and only talking about your business.  Think of your social media interactions as a conversation.

When you are in small business, being authentic truly matters. Bring a bit of your personality and your business brand mixed together. It’s extremely hard to HIDE BEHIND your brand these days. It’s actually a plus to have a personality to represent what you do.  Like I jokingly tell my clients new to social media…You can run, but you can’t hide.

Really dig deep and understand WHAT BUSINESS YOU ARE TRULY IN? What does your brand represent?

Holistic Business Coach, Simone Kelly Brown, the passionate visionary behind Own Your Power Communications, encourages you to own your business and pursue a holistic lifestyle. Check her community out and connect with like-minds here: http://www.ownyourpower.ning.com

Esther spoke about how many of us think life is supposed to be hard. We think it’s supposed to be a fight, a battle, or a struggle. She used the analogy of Life being a river and us being in a boat. We want to go upstream all the time, because of our belief. We have to fight, battle, or struggle to get anywhere in Life. Esther mentioned we should just go with the flow of the stream. To stop paddling against the current.

“The moment you let go of the oars, the majority of that resistance you have subsides.” – Esther Hicks-Abraham

You’ll begin to really enjoy Life’s lessons when you pay attention to the messages that cross your path—sometimes hurling straight for your head at 500 MPH!  I like to call those the RED FLAGS that we tend to ignore ☺ Red flags can be good signs and bad signs, we just need to WAKE UP and SEE them for what they truly are!

When you let go of the “oars”… relief comes, even though it might not come exactly when you want it, it will come!

My Second A-Ha! Moment:
Doing the work that I do, I no longer believe in coincidences! Yesterday morning, I popped in The Wayne Dyer Collection CD that I haven’t heard in probably a year or so. He started to talk about a childhood song that has a simple message that we should all take heed to.

Then he asks the audience to sing along…

“Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream….Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily life is but a dream.”

He said, and I’m paraphrasing here, “Row your boat, not your brother’s boat, not your wife’s boat, but YOUR boat!” LOL … He also used the same analogy as Esther and talked about the stream is like our life and how we need to go with flow.

I say, when you let go of the oars—you don’t even need to row anymore. Let the current take you and trust your intention and intuition to lead you to the right path of your soul’s journey.

When you go with the flow, you truly take time to remember who you are, and the honor values and dreams with the integrity your soul’s mission desires and deserves. You don’t go against the grain, but do what comes easy for you … what you LOVE to do.  It’s also about releasing your inner control freak and sending her or him away to a far off place! Come on … admit it. We all have one.  For this article, I’ll just call her Ms. Jackson. (Some of you 80’s kids might get it.) LOL

I’m saying good-bye to Ms. Jackson because:
•    She refuses to go with the flow. She won’t accept things that come with no effort. She believes that’s just being lazy!
•    She wants to have it all planned, scheduled, lined up, and the reservations called in three months in advance.
•    When things don’t go as planned, she loses it. She says, “Who needs some rinky-dink oars? I’m going to get me a high powered MOTOR and strap it on to my tug boat of life of fight against the flow, because I can!”
•    Not only would she want to fight for her life, but she wants to take every wounded soul around her for the ride. (You Suzy Save-em-Alls, know who I’m talking about!) Oh yeah, she’ll stuff them all in her little boat. She has a motor, so why not?
•    If she runs out of gas….aka BURNED OUT, no problemo, Ms. Jackson will try the oars again and pull the weight of EVERYONE in the boat.

But wait…it’s not moving. She isn’t going anywhere. The waves are hitting her in the face, she’s paddling with all her might, but she’s stuck. She can’t understand why things weren’t working in her life. Why her career, friendships, love life, and health were heading into a downward spiral.  But then, she looked back and noticed a few of those people she took along for the ride were just DEAD WEIGHT, like anchors holding the boat in place while she paddled, paddled, paddled with no success and no one was volunteering to help.

Ms. Jackson, aka your INNER CONTROL FREAK, wants Life to have no waves and wants everything to be perfect! However, we all know that the waves (things we call problems) bring with them gifts of abundance and love. Though, at times, we don’t see it in the moment. A gift can be sickness that allows us to sit still and really evaluate our life or let people take care of us for once. Or, a break up with lover who may have been taking advantage of you. Or, a huge blow out with your teenager that taught you that you CAN’T CHANGE anyone. Or, the unexpected layoff from a job of 10 years that allows you to finally focus on your dream business.

Of course, it looks like a tidal wave about to take us under when it hits,  but the gift is coming in the form of a lesson.  Stand strong and don’t worry. When it’s over, you’ll be able to wring out your wet clothes, shake off that water, and continue down the stream to realize that there are more gifts all along the way.

Don’t Be A Control Freak Like Ms. Jackson
Oh, if she only knew from the beginning to go with the flow!  You can, too, when you consider the following:

1.    Do things that come effortless to you in your life. Focus on your God Given talent, even if it’s not your main way of making money right now. Work on it part-time, until it is!

2.    Dump  the heavy weight out of your boat. Focus ON YOU FIRST! Those anchors can be toxic relationships with friends, co-workers, and even family members and lovers who might be holding you back or draining your energy and nay-sayers that are not interested in your personal dreams.     they are not reciprocal relationships, and can’t or won’t support the vision you have for yourself.

3.    Honor your values and stand by your beliefs!

4.    Become an allower!
The Art of Allowing is finding a vibration that feels SO good when you find it, feels better and better as you maintain it, and gives you evidence of that connection through THRIVING. You’ll learn to recognize an immediate response of to that connection … It is joy in the moment (NOW). The long long-range evidence is abundance in all things you consider good — like health, relationships, and dollars.  —Abraham-Hicks, Phoenix 3/29/2003

5.    Get good at finding an appropriate release. Let go of what it is that doesn’t make you feel good.

6.    Realize you are the creator of your experience. You do have a choice … downstream with the flow or upstream with the struggle? Take your pick!

Once you begin to flow — circumstances and events become immediate. It will feel like magic and you’ll be slapping yourself in the head for not “letting go of the oars” sooner.  The only thing holding you back is yourself. Come into vibrational alignment with who you are.

Most importantly, RELEASE THE OARS and go with the flow of life. Pay attention to your A-HA! MOMENTS. Oh, what a ride on river it will be!

Sources:

Tune into Love, Atttract Romance Through the Power of Vibration Matching
By Margaret McCraw, PHD

The Wayne Dyer CD Collection

The Art of Allowing CD

“I only allow that which is good into my life. No one can depress you. No one can make you anxious. No one can hurt your feelings. No one can make you anything other than what you allow.” – Dr. Wayne Dye

I find that many of us are so disconnected with ourselves we sometimes don’t even know why we’re so angry.

Many people have asked me, “Simone are you ever in a bad mood? You’re always so happy, you’re always smiling.” Well, for the most part that is true. I am a very happy person, because I CHOOSE to be. I try to let a lot of things roll off my back and not rub me the wrong way. I am happy for the most part but trust me, when I’m mad, ~cracking knuckles~ watch out. Let’s just say, you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry. LOL In other words, it really takes a heck of a lot to make me lose it.

What I have been able to do most of the times, before I turn into the Incredible Hulk is to try to get a few moments of peace. I meditate, chant, pray, and journal….oh man, if I didn’t have my journal there would be a problem for all of y’all! Writing out my feelings whether good or bad is an amazing release.

One of the biggest cures for anger is catching yourself in the moment. Realizing that you do have the power to control yourself. If you can stop blaming others for “your feelings” you’ll see an instant turn around.

Examples:

• You make me so angry!
• You drive me nuts!
• They get on my dang nerves!
• He makes me lose it!
• My co-workers piss me off!
• You @#$#$#%#%#$#$% (okay, this is a PG article-Just making sure you are paying attention. Hahah)

Pick one, I’m sure you’ve said one or two of these in your lifetime!

How you react to situations is the first step and taking responsibility for what you actually have control over. The fact of the matter is that some people unfortunately enjoy being miserable, they enjoy the lavish pity parties they put on for themselves – some complete with an orchestra of violin players or a depressing DJ with only sad slow jams, you take your pick.

These are the parties that I will gladly ditch, so please don’t invite me to yours! Granted, everyone has to vent every once in a while, but after you do so, dust yourself off and work on feeling good. Work on thinking about the positive motivators in your life. The things you have to be grateful for. Be conscious of the mood you are creating and intend to forgive and let it go. You know that Law of Attraction, what you focus on you get more of. What do you want your mind to be focused on?

Life doesn’t have to be hard. It doesn’t have to be a struggle. It’s a glorious journey when you walk each step of the way with a smile. Set your intentions for each day and embrace each lesson you face, no matter how challenging it may be.

So, before you lash out on your next helpless victim who probably doesn’t deserve your attack, take a moment and get clear on what’s really bothering you. Sometime you’ll realize its not because they left their toys in the way, or the tube off of the toothpaste. I’m sure it goes deeper then that! It might not come to you right away, but it will come with some soul searching exercises.

Anger Management Solutions

Below are some great strategies to use to get in touch with your feelings, release anger, and to reduce stress. Remember, anger and resentment transforms into REAL illness in your body.

You want to learn how to not carry around all that baggage with you to live a longer and healthier life.

1. SMILE: Yes, even when you’re angry. It actually works
It is hard to feel any negative emotion – bad, worried, overwhelmed, etc. – while grinning away!

2. Journal for FREE Therapy: Maybe you’ve been dying to tell someone off. Well, without starting World War III, I’d like to introduce you to your new BBF (Translation in kid slang: Best Friend Forever). Everyone needs a BFF. Get ready to share your inner and deepest thoughts with…your journal.

3. WRITE it out to let it ALL go: I’ve done many Letting Go workshops with women who have been hurt in the past to write a letter to that person. I encourage them to just go crazy with it. Tell them off, cuss, complain, whatever you want to do, just give it to them straight. Then read the letter and get clear that it’s now off your chest. The best part…tear up, flush it down the toilet, whatever works for you! LOL We burned them in a fireplace and it felt so freeing. (Disclaimer: I DON’T ADVISE YOU MAIL IT, UNLESS YOU WANT MORE DRAMA. IT’S FOR YOUR EYES ONLY!)

4.Meditate: Chill out and relive stress within one to 15 minutes.
Try these techniques and dive deep into your meditation minute makeover! If your mind wanders, it’s okay. Just try to bring it back to the task at hand. Be patient with yourself.
Practice one or all of these and you’ll get the greatest benefits of feeling grounded, calm and well, sane!

5. Balance Your Energy with Reiki: The art and techniques of Reiki help loosen and balance energy in your body. The energy of Reiki will bring a state of deep relaxation, promote healing, relieve stress and produces an overall sense of wellness. This treatment will leave you feeling peaceful and refreshed.

The technique is completely non-invasive. Transmitted through the hands, which are placed on or above the energy centers and meridians of your body, Reiki restores a sense of well-being and balance.
# Balances the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual body
# Remove emotional and energy blockages
If you’re in Florida, let me take care of you ☺

6. Walk Away: Tell the person you want to calm down and go for a walk away from them if possible. Learn how to step down and defuse the arguement.Walk away until you are calm enough to have a discussion without yelling. It’s hard, trust me I know, I’m married. lol No matter how much you love someone, you will have disagreements. But walking away does work. One of you have to be the bigger person and just let it go and stop fighting to prove who is right. Learn how to argue effectively.

7. Focus on What’s Working: It might be bad, but I guarantee you there is something working in your life right now. Make a LONG list of things that are working, what your grateful for and your mood will begin to shift. Nothing is too silly. Start with being grateful to be alive The art of being grateful works wonders!

Are you ready to free yourself from the prison of anger? Ready to send those violin players packing and shut down your pity party? If you do, you are ready take back control of your life and OWN YOUR POWER. Never let anyone take control of your emotions. Always remember that no one can MAKE you angry, pissed, livid, upset etc… It’s up to you on how you deal with your emotions.

No one can make you angry. No one . . . that is, unless YOU let them.
Stay Tuned for PART TWO where we’ll cover more strategies. We’re going to get into holding grudges and resentment. We’ll cover especially how it can affect your health in the long run.

Holistic Business Coach, Simone Kelly Brown, the passionate visionary behind Own Your Power Communications, encourages you to own your business and pursue a holistic lifestyle. Check her community out and connect with like-minds here: http://www.ownyourpower.ning.com

It’s about time you tapped into your buried treasures, don’t ya think?

I tell my clients all the time, that your list is GOLD. After years of
networking and cultivating my contacts, I’ve been able to build a nice
sized mailing list. I developed my own event and women’s network and
although I didn’t know it at the time…it was the start of something
big.

I started to see a demand to get in touch with my audience
of women entrepreneurs and the resources I have access to. I finally
realized what my buried treasure was. In addition, I have my marketing
background that can help out many of my business partners. My podcast
that can give them more exposure is definitely a plus as well. So, when
I need something that I might want to spend the cash on, I dig into my
pot of buried treasures and see if I can find a match for my prospect.

Now, I’ve seen many people shy away from the idea of bartering, because they
don’t realize what their buried treasure is. They don’t realize that
what they are sitting on is probably worth a lot more than they think.
Do you have something that you might not even realize is of value to
the next businessperson?

What’s your buried treasure that you haven’t tapped into?

Contacts:
Do you have a healthy mailing list and address book? Do you network a
lot and know who’s who. From business referrals to cool restaurants to
dine in, you never know what you can offer people. If you can be the
GO-TO PERSON for many, trust me, you’ll be a valuable asset to many!

Skills:
What are you trained in? Are you an amazing presenter or chef? Can you
design websites, teach Belly Dancing, make handbags? Are you a wiz in
Finance, Art, or Producing Commercials? What are some things you do
full-time and even in your spare time that is a talent that you can
offer to the world?
Knowledge (insider secrets): I’m not talking stock exchange now, I
don’t want you to get locked up. I don’t think you can barter bail.
LOL! But maybe you were the first in your industry to do something
different. Are you a copywriting pro for e-mail marketing campaigns? Do
you know how to beat parking tickets? (True story … a woman at one of
my events bartered these tips with another woman for business tips. She
used to be a parking attendant.)

Spend a few minutes brainstorming and build up your list of things you have access too and I’m sure you’ll be very surprised.

Ask yourself:

What do you have access to, what can you do better than anyone else you know?

Ask
yourself, what’s your buried treasure? What do you have that’s a pot of
gold to someone else? What do you have The key is bartering smart is
where you don’t have to use too much energy or time. It might be
something you have right now collecting dust in your garage, something
as simple as an overstock of inventory, maybe?

When you’re bartering with individuals on a one-to-one barter, here are some tips.

Some guidelines to keep in mind before you get started:

-When working on projects for each other, our goal should be to MEET AND EXCEED the needs of that person.

-We all have expertise in various areas and can do incredible things as
long as we see eye-to-eye and are in agreement before we get started.

-The barter can be considered a short-term partnership. You do your part
and I’ll do mine. Therefore, take the focus off of “me” and put it on
“we”.

- Don’t know the person’s work? Ask for up to three
referrals of past customers. It’s up to YOU and no one else to do the
research before you come to an agreement.

-Do your best. Your work and attitude is a reflection of you. People
make decisions about you based on your work ethics. Always remember,
your reputation is your wealth!

- Be professional. Treat others the way you would like to be treated.

-Be responsible. Manage your time and commitments. Confirm meetings a
day before. If you are going to be late or can’t make a meeting, please
be conscious of each other’s time. Missing meetings and being
irresponsible doesn’t sit well with anyone and quite frankly you might
not get a second chance! Don’t burn your bridges … you never know who
can help you.

-Pay attention, listen, and take notes, so that “we” understand what the job entails and “we” can deliver on the
services. There may be details that are not included in the agreement.

-Professionalism, sensitivity, consideration, respect, and integrity are
key attributes to not only operating within a barter network, but in
business in general. It’s important to be authentic and be true to our
word. Our WORD is so important!

How Does It Work?

-Discuss exactly what you are doing for each other. Describe
services/products and expectations up front so that there are no
surprises in the end.

-Be clear about what you charge. It’s
hard to barter with someone who doesn’t have a set fee structure or who
can’t tell you how much they charge for specific services. Barter
dollar for dollar. I’ll give you $500 worth of work for $500 worth of
work. When bartering, keep a list of SPECIFIC deliverables for each
barter session.

- Put all details IN WRITING. What is the
monetary value? What are you both delivering? What’s the deadline? Have
both parties SIGN the agreement. It doesn’t have to be filled with
legalese that no one understands! Contracts are highly recommended. If
you’re not paying cash, that does NOT mean that you don’t have
expectations of deliverables. Bartering is a valid business deal just
like any other. If you start putting things down in a contract, the
other person is less likely to behave unprofessionally.

After the Barter is Completed…
Don’t just end it there, keep the relationship going:
-Provide each other with testimonials for your website and/or marketing materials
-Refer clients to one another and offer a finders fee of 10-15%
-Exchange website/blog links
-Offer discounts to each other for future cash paying projects
-Do a personal assessment. Provide them with a survey to get feedback on
your performance. See where you are doing a great job and where you can
use some improvement. You know what you did well and the areas that you
need to improve. Make a commitment to do better the next time.
I’m sorry, but I can’t end without telling you that Big Brother is watching
you. Good Old Uncle Sam does want you to tell him about your barter
deals.

In fact, the IRS offers no loophole whatsoever for bartered transactions.
According to the IRS, the fair market value of bartered products and
services must be included in income during the tax year it is received.
Make sure you speak with your accountant to find out how to file.

Keep Livin’ Good,

Simone

Holistic Business Coach, Simone Kelly Brown, the passionate visionary behind Own Your Power Communications, encourages you to own your business and pursue a holistic lifestyle. Check her community out and connect with like-minds here: http://www.ownyourpower.ning.com.

Stay on Top and Create Your Success!

If you’re like me, you’re trying to stay positive…yet realistic. However, I know it’s getting harder to do unless you live under a rock. Every time you turn on the news, turn on the radio or read the paper you hear a snazzy new, yet depressing way to remind us that we are doomed. Okay, I kid, I kid. Doomed is what they want us to think, so that we’ll keep tuning in. However, you can’t escape phrases such as, “in these tough economic times”, “we have to remain recession proof”, “it’s a credit crunch”, “get debt-free”, “you can escape foreclosure and bankruptcy”, etc. etc. Scary how fear drives our society, huh?

I thought the one place I could escape it all was the peaceful steam room of my gym and get my “me time” on. WRONG. As I sat down, ready to release a deep sigh, on both sides of me were two gentlemen belly-aching about the economy. Great!
In a loud obnoxious voice one says, “Man, the only place you can probably get a job now is McDonald’s! Their sales are up 80% from what I heard.”
The other guy replies, “McDonald’s? Yeah, they have those $1 meals. Times are tough man. I heard Condoms are up in sales though, crazy huh?” We all had to laugh at that one. Hot passion and greasy Big Macs don’t actually go together, well, ~a-hem~, maybe if your into that. LOL

But..see how rumors get started? I found out McDonald’s is actually up 7.1% since January. However, even if it was 80%, I doubt flipping burgers at Mickey Dees is the last solution for us all. I did a little research on the condom information and low and behold…Trojan is doing pretty well.Their VP of Marketing says. “If people don’t have the money to go out to a fancy dinner or are looking to cut back, Trojan gives them some real affordable ways to stay in and make some great memories together,” Contraception may also be more popular during a time when families are stretching dollars and want to avoid having more mouths to feed. “Obviously people in general want to avoid … unintended pregnancies.”
Hmmm, when you put it that way, makes a lot of sense. And here I thought people were just relieving their recession stress in a safe and fun way. LOL

Well, my point I want to get across, and believe me I have one is please don’t give up and don’t get sucked in. Trust and believe there are still people making money and spending money. It’s your job as an entrepreneur to find them! Many entrepreneurs might be a tad shaken up by the news, especially if you have all of your eggs in ONE basket. However, when you add Entrepreneur to your title, you also inherit “Risk Taker” as your middle name . You also should know you have to have a few services and products to rely on, not just ONE. If you don’t have a risk-taking bone in your body…well, this might not be the life for you.

If you haven’t operated your business on your toes as yet, there’s no better time than now. Get cracking with some basic strategies to keep your business momentum and not get lost in the shuffle with all of the others who have shut their doors. You have to work on creative ways to stay current and stay on people’s minds all without breaking the bank!

Gone are the days of having one job or one big contract.Whether you just started your business as a ‘side hustle” or you’ve been in business for many years, you should know that BEING CONTENT AND COMFORTABLE is a recipe for disaster.

Key Ways to Stay on Your Toes (ah what the heck) in These Economic Times. (It does have sort of a ring to it.) LOL

Know Your Vision

• Create your vision for your business.
• Get clear on what you want, how you want to be remembered and who your target market is
• Create an action plan and go for it. Don’t be another person with an idea that never comes to pass.

Join Forces

• Don’t try to take on all costs alone. Work with a partner on various projects.
• Cross promote and get creative.

Tighten up your spending!

• Print less and if you have to print to review something on paper, recycle paper in your home.
• Have two cells phones and a home phone? Consolidate! Eat out? Start cooking more.
• Barter more!
• Share an office space or cut it out if you really don’t need it.

Become a social marketing superstar or a local celebrity.

• Put yourself out there and start promoting yourself.
• Turn yourself into a local celebrity.
• Create a blog or an ebook.

Never Be Forgotten!

• If you still have a full-time job, work on ways on becoming indispensable. Go above and beyond Ask for projects and create some of your own.
• Learn new skills and also ask your manager what can you do to go to the next level.
• Surprise an old client with a “Thinking of you” card
• Shoot them an article with tips. They’ll remember you next time around when they need you!
• Call call call…Go through old numbers and stay in touch with old contacts. You never know how things have changed for either of you. One may in the position to help another.

Seek Support

• Get the guidance you need to key you on track to achieve your goals.
• Create a mastermind group, advisory board, find a mentor, or a coach ~shameless plug~ Try me out at NO COST!

Get a sales team or sales rep who work on commission only

• Don’t think you can do it alone. Learn how to delegate and get help!

Work that Room Baby!

• Network more. Get from behind that desk and work that room! Get out of your comfort zone and be seen!

 
Remember, challenging times for some mean opportunities for others. Work on developing a mindset shift and push your fear out of way. I’m not saying to live in a bubble of denial behind rose colored glasses, however as a collective, let’s all try to be mindful of our words and thoughts and remain positive and persistent in achieving our goals

Anything you want IS attainable.

Own Your Power!

Simone

Holistic Business Coach, Simone Kelly Brown, the passionate visionary behind Own Your Power Communications, encourages you to own your business and pursue a holistic lifestyle. Check her community out and connect with like-minds here: http://www.ownyourpower.ning.com

Last month, I got a very nice wake up call. It was an email I received from my friend Tamisa, who I hadn’t spoken to in a few months. She told me she just finished reading my book, At Second Glance. She said she read it in one weekend and couldn’t pull herself away and only took a few breaks to stop and eat. LOL It’s 400 pages, so that alone was impressive! I wrote that book years ago, but never really pushed it like I should have.

“At Second Glance is a real page turner! I laughed, I cried, and laughed some more as I felt a little connected to some of the characters and their situations. I highly recommend this fantastic novel by multi-talented author Simone Kelly Brown!” Tamisa Covington, NJ

That email she sent made me feel so good; it was an ego boost at first, but I have to admit, I felt guilty. I was mad at myself for not really writing or promoting it like I should have. Writing is really one of my first loves and my favorite form of expression. However, I have to admit, because it’s so much fun and like a hobby to me, I still have to force myself to promote my fiction work. It’s also not bad to have an extra revenue stream from doing things that you love. That is what ‘Owning Your Power’ is all about!

After I read Tamisa’s email, I looked at my book At Second Glance again. I started reading some of it , smiling, blushing, laughing and getting into the book as if I didn’t write it! It’s mind-blowing how new things can feel when you haven’t looked at it in a while. I was excited again about my work! I posted a link on my network, Facebook and Twitter about it and then a new order came from a member who lives in Japan about twenty minutes later! A few others ordered it in the next few days. I was pleasantly surprised to wake up in the morning to “You’ve Got Cash” emails from Paypal.

I began to wonder what was the “block” with this book in particular. It’s like deep down I still believed, “Oh, artists don’t really make any money. Who wants to be a starving writer? Not me! I’m a respectable business coach!” I’d tell myself,” You got real work to do, no time to be playing around writing fiction.”

However, as the law of attraction states, what you focus on expands.

What Tamisa’s little email did for me was make me revisit my second fiction novel that I’ve been picking up and putting down for the last few ~shivers~ years! I know if I really work on it, I could knock it out in about three months.

I keep hearing the faint whisper in my ear of my writing coach, Sophronia Scott telling me, “Respect your work.” Those were the words she uttered to me in a coaching session a few years ago to help me with procrastination with my first fiction book, At Second Glance. Those very words drove me to action to complete it, along with her amazing tips on re-writing your manuscript.

Just like I love to blog on lifestyle and business tips, host podcasts and events; my fiction writing is a part of my soul. It’s a part of me that I shouldn’t push to the side as a silly hobby. It’s my way of sharing my message, voicing my opinions, creating my own little universe of characters that help heal others, make people laugh and teach lessons.

So, enough about me. What have YOU been kicking to the curb? Maybe you think it’s just too much fun and it’s not going to bring in instant income, so why do it?

2. Get a coach to help in this area to increase your productivity.

3. Ask a friend to be an accountability partner that is aware of your goals and can help crack that whip on you. Set up weekly calls.

4. Join a network of like-minded people. Surround yourself with positive energy and influences.

5. Stop making excuses and worrying about what people will think or say. ~a-hem~ Yes, it’s one of my issues with my fiction books. Well, there are juicy sex scenes and all. My father almost passed out when he read a scene on my site. I did say I was a respectable holistic business coach, what if it gets out that I write like that? LOL. Oh…so sorry, I digress

6. Spend me time with yourself so that you can remember what your TRUE passions are. You know, in case you forgot or never made time to find one.

If you need a push, I’m here for you, as long as you give me a push back too.

You have a talent to share with the world, and believe me we’re waiting…

P.S.
You probably had no idea what an impact your funny little email had on me, but thanks again for encouraging me to respect my work again, Tamisa. Sophronia, I’m a forever grateful to you for doing what you do encouraging writers like myself to just do it, love it, commit to it, and of course…respect it!  ☺

Own Your Power,

Simone

Holistic Business Coach, Simone Kelly Brown, the passionate visionary behind Own Your Power Communications, encourages you to own your business and pursue a holistic lifestyle. Check her community out and connect with like-minds here: http://www.ownyourpower.ning.com

I’ll admit it. I’m a people watcher and I enjoy seeing how people talk, move, dress, eat, play, and express emotion. As a writer it’s sometimes a challenge to translate what you see on paper, so I enjoy observing and trying to come up with creative ways to do that. Now, in my role as a coach and instructor I lead workshops on personal and business development I’ve learned to go in deeper and see things from various perspectives to empower others. I have a good eye for let’s just say a “pretender” who is putting on a façade for the rest of us, because maybe they just aren’t ready to face themselves and look in the mirror.

Sometimes the things that come up in my workshops enlightens me and the attendees to realize that we’re a lot of children running around pretending to be “Big Boys and Big Girls.” We’re running corporations, schools, churches, restaurants, and families as wounded little teenagers.

My theory is that life happens to us all way so fast. We don’t make time to heal. Especially when we approach the college years, we grow up within the blink of an eye and we’re hit with responsibilities, stress, and relationship issues. Then school is over and it’s WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD NOW. On the outside, we’re in crisp suits, hair is flawless, standing tall and proud. When deep within still needs a bit of dusting, shining, and clearing out the clutter like an old abandoned attic.

I have a workshop that I used to do with just my girlfriends and eventually started doing it for other small groups of women called “Me Time Escape Parties.” My first time hosting for someone else was done for an acquaintance and about six of her friends. These women were executives, nurses, teachers, and entrepreneurs in their 30’s to late 40’s. At first glance, you’d say, “These ladies have it going on! Look at them!” Boy was I in for a surprise.

I am in no way saying I’m perfect and have it all together. Let’s just be clear. LOL However, I feel that I’m a pretty happy and grateful person. I actually enjoy tackling my flaws and figuring out how I can improve to be a better person. Let’s just say I hang out in the Self-Growth section in the bookstore. Most of my friends are the same way, but my biggest over-optimistic mistake is thinking that everyone else in the world was like that!

In the workshop there are many self-reflection questions I posed and the ladies were to write the answers down and when we were finished ONLY if they were willing, they could share what came up for them. I was amazed when the majority of this group of women who “got it goin’ on” were stumped on the first question as if it was a calculus equation. They were baffled, confused and tightly grasping their pens like I asked the hardest and most confusing question in the world.

My first question was simply:
What do you like about yourself? (i.e.: I’m creative, outgoing, great singer, I love to help elderly, I’m a visionary, etc..) Five things? I was in absolute awe. I actually was stumped myself, because I had to learn how to have more compassion that day and figure out how to help others who needed a bit more guidance then the rest of us.

One of the ladies who was a nurse sat still, looking nervously at her paper and then back up at her reflection across the room on the huge wall mirror. She tapped her pen, sighed, and then looked at me shamefully since she couldn’t find anything to write. Her hair looked as if she just stepped out of the salon, make-up was light and flawless, her outfit very hip and stylish. From the outside she had it all together. Then there’s me, the instructor, loud and lively as I usually am, walking around saying, “What’s up ladies? You can’t find ONE THING you like about yourself? Come on, that’s easy!” Okay, compassion, Simone, compassion…I know, I told you I’m not perfect didn’t I?

Suddenly, I watched a tear drip out of this woman’s eye and went over to her and started to console her. I sat down on the sofa next to her and started to help her find some things to give herself credit for, since for some reason she felt undeserving it. I poked fun to break the ice and said, “You’re saving lives as nurse, for goodness sake! Let’s start with that. Write down, ‘I like that I’m a life saver’.” I rubbed her back and she laughed. That worked and then she loosened up to write down that she was a good mother, she was kind, and a good cook. We started to come up with many more things together.

That evening, a few years ago moved me so much, because it showed me just how hard it was for some people to really love themselves. It showed me how hard it was for some to really look in the mirror with love and appreciation instead of tearing themselves down with self-hate. This woman who was a ‘fly’ as she could be, couldn’t find one thing she liked about herself without a helpful push.

From living my own life, coaching, and of course ‘people watching’…these are some conclusions I’ve come up with:

1. You can’t be with someone and hope that they will “complete” you. You should already be the full package on your own.
2. That top VP or CEO position doesn’t hide that fact that deep down inside you still feel powerless.
3. You can’t buy a tummy tuck or nose job to make him love you.
4. You can’t get cut a new hair style, color, or weave to erase all your faults and fears.
5. Teeth whiting and braces might get you that acting gig, but it won’t help you find and KEEP your friends.
6. A new car won’t let you forget that you’re really in over your head in debt.
7. Two obsessive hours in the gym each day can’t make your dysfunctional family disappear.
8. Moving away, getting a new circle of friends, and changing your name won’t help you truly reinvent yourself.
9. Having the hottest designer wardrobe doesn’t disguise the fact that you walked on others to get where you are now.
10. Bragging about your bank account and surrounding yourself with luxuries doesn’t hide that fact that deep down you are poor as a pauper.

All of those things are just that …things. They are distractions and they help take you away from what you need to do. The work! The work on ourselves is something we run away from. Self-love is an inside job. It takes work, dedication, and yes, it takes time. It takes time to really embrace yourself for all of your faults and amazing qualities that you might not give yourself credit for. It takes time to forgive yourself for your not so smart moves; to love the new you you’ve created for learning from your mistakes. It takes time to face your fears and to finally step out of your comfort zone.

Self-love is an inside job that takes time. Are you ready to do the work? Try out this exercise that those same ladies did in my “Me Time Escape Party” and see what comes up for you. You might surprise yourself….Give yourself the time and space to really work on your answers for best results.

Pretend you are on the outside looking in. You see yourself for all your greatness and faults. Now tell us about this person you see…

What do you like most about this person? List 3-5 things

What do you want to tell her to improve upon? List 3-5 things. Don’t delay; tell her what she needs to do to get started.

Two years have passed and you FINALLY listened to your own advice. You were finally honest with yourself and learned to right your wrongs. So now, tell us about…

What new people are in your life now?

What have you learned from your past? (mistakes, heartaches, people you met, jobs, etc.

What do you look like now? How do you feel? (Health wise, appearance)

What obstacles have FINALLY disappeared from your life?

What brings you the most pleasure with the NEW YOU?

Who is the most surprised about your fabulous turn around?

(THIS EXCERPT IS FROM MY BOOK, JACK OF ALL TRADES MASTER OF NONE) Chapter 1: Diggin’ Deep)

“SELF-LOVE: it’s the starting point for giving love to others. It opens the door to abundant living. With it we limp through life, become part of the walking wounded, the living dead. Self-love. Our cornerstone. We can’t grow or glow without it. It’s time to go within and love yourself”…Susan L. Taylor, from “In The Spirit”

Own Your Power,

Simone

Holistic Business Coach, Simone Kelly Brown, the passionate visionary behind Own Your Power Communications, encourages you to own your business and pursue a holistic lifestyle. Check her community out and connect with like-minds here: http://www.ownyourpower.ning.com