Are you focused and fully present with what's right in front of you?

Whatever you do, do it with your full, focused attention.
~Charlon Bobo

We live in busy times and yet precious moments are slipping past with us engaged in most activities with our half-attention, or less. Here are only a few recent examples:

1. I see children with their parents completely distracted by technology (cell phone, iPhone, etc.) instead of engaging in conversation, and yet we have the audacity to demand that those same children snap to attention when we want it!
   
2. In restaurants I see couples sharing a meal with both people obviously distracted by private thoughts instead of enjoying the moment of now fully engaged with each other.
   
3. I responded to a request from a prospect and in those 10 minutes of trying to connect and give her something of value, she took two other calls. (Needless to say, this is all the information I needed to decide she is not my next new client. When we cannot give our full attention to someone who genuinely wants to help us, our priorities need a major adjustment.)

I see the inefficiency of fragmentation. Checking and responding to emails as they come in; acting on every mental impulse to do something other than what you're currently doing; telling others you can focus on them while you're doing two or three other tasks (and believing the lie, because if you called a bullshit on yourself, you'd have to actually take responsibility and change your behavior).

I'm not exempt. Believe me, I get distracted by the next shiny object as much or more than anyone else on the planet. And I pride myself on efficiency and my ability to manage many tasks at one time. BTW, when did that become an admirable trait?! (It's the perfect recipe for fragmentation at its best and insanity at its worst.)

However, when it comes to engaging with others in a meaningful way--whether in person, via telephone or via email--I am committed to consistently being fully present; giving those in front of me my very best... now that's a present!

You can never give your kid another childhood. You can never re-do an evening out with your beloved. You never get another chance to make a first impression on someone who can help you thrive in business.

Whatever you do, do it with your full, focused attention.

My best business advice? Scare yourself silly on a regular basis

"Sometimes you have to scare yourself silly in order to play a bigger game and participate in something amazing."

~ Steve Errey, The Confidence Guy


There's no better season to talk about scaring yourself silly.

With Hallowe'en quickly approaching, common scary activities include ghost tours, the telling of ghost stories and frightening tales, and watching horror films. But, there's nothing more scary than scaring yourself silly.

The term itself is comical to me and makes actually doing it a little easier. It brings light-heartedness to something that can be so off-putting that we find ourselves paralyzed in mediocrity--existing, but never deeply contented; living within the illusion of safety, but never fully exploring our infinite possibilities.

The only way to play bigger and be a part of something bigger than yourself is by doing something that completely unnerves you; makes you sick to your stomach; makes you think you'd go to most any extreme to avoid doing the thing. Each of us has at least one thing that scares us silly; some many more.

Have you ever wondered how much energy is being silently and stealthily siphoned off by inaction? However, if you face your issue(s) head-on by taking an action step, it's incredible how much personal power remains within to multiply exponentially so you can accomplish even greater things.

The truth is: the subconscious voice of inaction doesn't go away, although it may quiet down temporarily. Don't be mistaken! In some way it will continually make itself known. It's not going anywhere until it's appeased; with an action toward its resolve.

Even though it might not seem or feel like it, your inner voice is actually providing an opportunity for you to shine! It's leaving clues that a belief is ready to be shattered and replaced by something much more empowering. Wouldn't you rather have that?

I will let you in on a secret, but lean in closer; I don't want everyone to know!

I had a BIG fear of public speaking.

And it wasn't just public speaking; teleseminars were the worst. Any time I knew my conversation was being recorded, I froze. All the free-flow that was so comfortable in every other conversation; all my hard-earned knowledge; all my insights; all my conversation skills; flew right out the window leaving me a bumbling mess. And it felt terrible because I knew there was importance in the message.

But, I just couldn't get beyond the belief that I wasn't a good public speaker. In spite of support and opportunities to get better, I held that belief for years until I was tired of being limited by something I didn't really know to be true; after all, it was just a belief! Maybe, just maybe, I had been wrong, but I wouldn't know until I took action.

I knew if I simply focused on getting better every time, that was my personal measure of success. My goal was not to be the world's best speaker. My goal was to move beyond paralysis of unfounded beliefs.

Here's another secret: You may not have made the correlation by reading my newsletter, but until a few months ago, I didn't offer teleclasses. You know why I started? Because it forced me to take an action. I knew if I was accountable to others, I would have to come through for them. I used the exercise to scare myself silly. It was a beautiful self-orchestration to play at becoming better.

When I lightened up and prepared a platform for me to practice, based on my terms, my confidence soared. Now I am unstoppable. But it wouldn't have happened without my initial decision to scare myself silly and take an action step; little by little, you know?

This is how I did it. I set up the first teleclass to practice sounding more natural using a script. The second one was set up to "wing it" using only bullet points. I aced both, based on my personal measure of success. And completely gone is the fear. I only aspired to be better than I was before the experiment and I accomplished that.

Another way to say scare yourself silly is: go out on a limb. Why is this so important? Because that's where the fruit is! This applies both literally and figuratively. Literally, nature provides fruit in abundance. It's right there within eyesight, but it might require effort to enjoy the bounty; climbing high and reaching far. Figuratively, we must go out on a limb to access life's fruit (abundance). Based on my observations, it's after we invest something of ourselves that we reap the most benefit.

Are you afraid of public speaking? Contact everyone you know and let them know you're available to speak (choose a comfortable topic based on your personal expertise). Then follow through, meaning: go do it.

Are you afraid to make sales calls? Get a list, sit down, and start dialing.

Are you afraid to hire a support team? Run the numbers, establish a budget and a plan for implementation, ask for referrals and start interviewing.


Whatever your scary thing, take some action toward it. Go out on a limb and scare yourself silly on a regular basis. Soon that becomes your norm and you wake up one day to realize you are playing bigger and participating in something amazing; it's called your life.

Teleclass THIS WEEK: The Art of Money Magnetism Revealed

It's time we all WAKE UP to embrace our birthright; our relationship with outrageous abundance. It's a natural, comfortable state when you get there, but whew! what a tumultuous journey for so many of us.

I made peace with outrageous abundance and I want to share "the how" with you because the results of my own life tickle my heart; the information must be shared.

You'll become a money magnet, but don't be fooled by the title; when you make peace with outrageous abundance, it shows up in EVERY facet of your life. Money is only one facet, but it's one of the most important relationships to heal because it can be intertwined with issues of self-value and block outrageous abundance.

The techniques I give you are inspired, heart-based, and provide immediate relief.

One hour and one registration fee gives you access to:

1. both live calls (same content, just offered at different times to accommodate busy schedules) 
2. both recordings, AND
3. a copy of my best-selling book personally inscribed with the wording of your choice; Overcomer's Inc.: True Stories of Hope, Courage and Inspiration

PLUS, the first 25 registrants receive a complimentary 20-minute private consult with me on the topic of your choice including copywriting, copyediting, online marketing or personal empowerment (an additional value of $31.00). If you've ever wanted an insider's expert input for f*r*e*e, this is a perfect opportunity!


For full details and registration, click here.

Hey, give me back my wrinkle!

These were my words to the photographer who touched-up my recent business headshots. She did a beautiful job editing out my wrinkle and had no idea that with a few strokes of her mouse, she was erasing something I value. Assuming I would want it removed, I was adamant about having her start over again, making any other changes she wanted, but leaving my adored wrinkle.

You see, that wrinkle represents something... something important: It represents the 45 years I have invested in understanding who I am and how to make a positive contribution to this planet, and leave her inhabitants better for my being here. I EARNED that wrinkle!

With so much emphasis in our society on youth and flawless, external beauty, I stand for something else: a more graceful, peaceful journey to embrace and adore the many indicators of aging. I may be bald, but I have gray hair. My skin is thinner. Hair is sprouting in the strangest places and is sparse in others. And what happened to my upper arms? My Pilates teacher says it's changing hormones. Whatever the explanation, it's kinda weird.

Committed to being an excellent steward of my precious life resources, it just makes sense to invest my time, money and effort in celebrating the work-in-progress that is I. Honestly, even the thought of how much energy it would require to struggle and fight the process of maturing leaves me yearning for a nap. Yes, there are changes and adjustments, but looking back, no stage of life was free of the necessity to be flexible, so why should this one be any different? Life is, after all, in perpetual motion. Change is inevitable and the more willingly I bask in the truth of what is, the more free I am to be the most glorious and free version of myself.

Besides, removing the inevitable indicators of our age with technology changes nothing. As time goes by, it only reflects our inability to embrace what's real and true, and prevents us from loving what is so lovely about ourselves when we love ourselves without condition. When you think about it, can you expect others to love you when you don't?

I am leaving a legacy and sometimes that is represented in the most peculiar ways. For me, it's reflected by my forehead wrinkle. So, lady, give me back my wrinkle!

(BTW, she did.)

As an awakening or awakened woman, what information would be helpful to you RIGHT NOW to educate you, and ignite and fuel your journey?

As women, it’s our time in history to stand.
Not for anything. Not against anything.
But to simply stand in our power.
Power is not our birthright.
Power is our nature; our very essence.

~ Charlon Bobo

With expertise in the handmade beauty industry, female entrepreneurship & leadership, conscious entrepreneurship and the women's empowerment paradigm shift, I am developing a series of real-world, real-time, real-benefit teleclasses. And I want to hear from you so I can deliver content that has true value and meaning.

From your personal experience and of the women in your circles, what message do you think women most need to hear? Is it about relationships? Health & wellness? Finances? Career? Overall happiness? Obliterating self-imposed barriers to confident living? Tangible skills during this shift? The hows of standing in power? Let me know your thoughts.

I thank you in advance, Sisters. We are a powerful collective and can accomplish anything our hearts desire in conscious collaboration.

This is why women rock this planet!

I just asked a dear colleague, friend and confidant for her help in spreading the word via social media channels about an inspired project that is rocking my world. It is the work-of-a-lifetime and not only does it have me fully engaged and captivated, it is blossoming with a life of its own as the message travels worldwide. Anyway...

Her response? on it! That's it, just, "on it!"

It doesn't take much to support the women in our lives who assume the many diverse roles in shape-shifting the existing paradigm. Sometimes the fullness of support is contained in 4 letters, 2 words and 1 exclamation point. Thank you, dear friend.

Right now, think of one thing you can do to encourage, inspire or support a smart, savvy, strong woman in your life and go do it! Yes, now. Sense the urgency? It's that important.

a direct message from the Feminine Divine: Mother God

Like never before we are being guided as women to rock this world by operating from a position of personal power.

As women, it's our time in history to stand.
Not for anything. Not against anything.
But to simply stand in our power.
Power is not our birthright.
Power is our nature; our very essence.
~ charlon bobo

I invite you to join me next Wednesday, August 25th at 6 PM (Pacific) for an inspired message straight from Mother God. Who better than The Source herself to enlighten and inspire us?!

Transform Adversity Into Personal Triumph

Recently, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Pete Winiarski of the Institute of Success and Goal Achievement. Listen to the 60-minute interview now. Enjoy!

Following is the marketing content authored by Pete to promote the call.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Is there a traumatic event in your past holding you back in some way? Here are common examples:

1. You just received a pink slip and lost your job.
2. You had a parent, child, sibling, or close friend die unexpectedly.
3. You just ended a long-term relationship or got divorced.
4. You were abused as a child and have been carrying that around with you for years.
5. You lost your life savings due to poor investment choices.
6. Your favorite car was totaled in an accident.
7. You have a permanent physical disability.

And the list goes on. The bottom line is: you've been impacted by something traumatic at some point in your life. We all have.

First, know that you're not alone.

Second, realize that your personal adversity is likely impacting you and your performance in other areas of your life.

For many of us, past events created wounds that we unconsciously carry around, impacting every area of our lives. For some of us, these events may have occurred in childhood.

Would you like to learn how to overcome this adversity and turn your traumatic experience into a personal triumph?

Our guest this week, Charlon Bobo, is an empowermentor and entrepreneurial visionary, as well as a copywriter, editor and best-selling author. She's here to share with us her raw and very personal story of overcoming and the 5 key insights she uses often as her life guide. You, too, will be able to overcome your personal adversity.

I promise: you will be shocked by what Charlon went through, and amazed at the power of her decision to work through it. You will learn how to manage and overcome your personal adversity, and learn to incorporate her "Whole Life Approach" for everyday peace and success.

You, too, can learn to live a life of ease. Listen to this 60-minute interview to find out how.

Do you heart you?

Do you know that it's impossible to heart yourself too much? Yep, not even possible. So, how about giving yourself a BIG DOSE right now in the way that means the most to you.

Whether you relish quiet time, indulge in the luxury of sitting on the beach or in your favorite chair with a good book, finish that painting masterpiece, take a break from work to enjoy a cool glass of tea/lemonade, you are deserved of self-love. Hey, what about standing in front of a mirror and watching you hug yourself? Powerful.

There's no reason to wait for someone else to heart you. Give yourself a gift; heart yourself.

Celebrating You In Sisterhood, Light & Love,

Mother God Azna has a gift of physical healing just for YOU

Rebecca Marina is a cherished friend, trusted mentor, masterful online marketer and valued copywriting client. From my many personal interactions with her, she is the REAL DEAL. No one is more genuine--or more committed to serving others--than Rebecca.

As a Channel/Energy healer, she receives powerful guidance from Spirit so you can reach out and grab success... the easy, joyful way. The necessity of "growth through suffering" is no longer necessary!

I am continually amazed at the content Rebecca delivers. It is like NOTHING else on the planet; the information is downloaded and immediately disseminated in real-time via her life-changing f*r*e*e and low-cost teleseminars.

My success resources are of the highest caliber, but when something especially remarkable--and truly miraculous--crosses my path, I am compelled to share it with you.

Rebecca's inspired Heart Point Technique (HPT) for physical healing is directly from the Feminine Divine. As the very first recipient of this healing modality, I can personally attest to its power to mend the physical body and eliminate pain. Hear my session during this 90-minute audio that completely details the 4 Protocols so you can perform the technique on yourself and your loved ones. It's simple and most importantly IT WORKS.

Physical healing with Azna's Heart Point Technique

Life’s Experiences Go Deeper Than The Surface: What An Overweight Personal Trainer Taught Me Today

On my daily walk/run today, I noticed an overweight personal trainer. She was teaching a group of moms with strollers how to exercise with stretch resistance bands. I wondered what each of them thought the first time they saw her. Could it have been something like What can *she* teach me about physical wellness, strengthening, toning, etc.? She doesn’t even have a masterful grasp on it herself!

And yet, this trainer obviously has some expertise because this isn’t the first time I’ve seen her with what I assume are clients. As the babies watch their Mommas stretch, grunt and bend, laughing often and enjoying the camaraderie, the Moms are focused on following the instructions from their trainer. They know there’s more to this experience—and their trainer—than how it appears. There’s more; so much more.

I’ve started to say, “It’s never the thing.”

What I mean is: regardless of the situations in which you find yourself, it’s never about what you initially think it’s about. It’s about something much bigger than the current circumstance. It’s about attracting yet another experience so you can exercise the muscle of self-mastery.

For those women, this experience may be about setting aside prejudices, or taking the most positive benefit from everyone who crosses their path. It may even be about being a teacher themselves… of compassion and acceptance. And that may be the biggest gift that trainer receives all week.

No matter what you see in front of you, consider that there’s so much more going on if you’ll take even a moment to look and simply wonder about that possibility. Approach every circumstance by posing this question: If this isn’t what it seems, what IS it… what IS it about?

With this question, you lift the veil that conceals the energetic component behind or beneath experiences to discover the delightfully unexpected; what you could never have anticipated! As a usual practice, it’s fun and a true delight because you see that which is rarely seen by others; they just don’t take the time. You experience a rich fullness that is always there, but often goes unrecognized because most of us think that what’s on the surface is all there is.

And what happens when you see the true energy (the purpose, the value, the dynamic, etc.) behind what is?

When you honor the energy of what is with your attention, it responds in recognition. Because you acknowledged its presence, it wants to continue the conversation. In response to it, your gratitude floods and infuses it with your unique vibrance. Then what? With your genuine curiosity, you have established an invisible yet powerful connection to duplicate the process again and again! Essentially, you are inviting it to guide you to refining this skill through more opportunities to practice. Just like practicing anything, the more you do it, the easier it is and the better you become. With practice, this can become your first-nature. This insider knowledge can be yours instantaneously.

The better you are at this technique, the quicker you will know in any situation what’s really going on and can immediately attune yourself to bringing in the highest benefit for all parties. Whether it’s saying something, taking an action or powerfully focusing your thoughts, you are a catalyst for change in-the-moment; where and when it’s needed most.

Thank you, personal trainer. You inspired me today.

Action as a self- and life-affirming gesture

Bald-by-choice isn't for every woman. But then again, what is? One of the most fun aspects of life is the freedom to choose what’s best for us as individuals. Who knows better for ourselves than we do, right?

On a regular basis, as I’m conducting the business of my life, women smile at me and make some gesture or comment about my near-hairless head. They often say, “I’d love to do that, but I don’t have the courage.”

And I say, “Sure you do. You just don’t know it yet.” And with a few words, a stealthy but powerful seed-of-thought has been planted, to burst into bloom at some perfectly-orchestrated moment in the future.

Shaving my head wasn’t an act of courage. Rosa Parks had courage. Eleanor Roosevelt had courage. Amelia Earhart had courage. Lucia Rene has courage. I have a bald head. But it means something to me and that’s all that matters.

It’s been so long since I had hair that bald is now my norm. However, in the moments when I stop to think about what it means to me now, it serves as a reminder of the importance of doing what is right for each of us, regardless of social convention or what others think. It’s your life. Live it!

Within your body and your being, you must be at peace to make your greatest contribution.

Free yourself from the imposing beliefs of others on your life, with action. Do what makes the most sense to you. Maybe it’s shaving your head. Maybe it’s saying, ‘No.’ Maybe it’s obliterating a limiting belief. Maybe it’s creating more ‘you’ time. Maybe it’s responding, ‘Yes,’ to the beckoning voice of your soul.

Whatever the prompting, propel your transformation with action.

The 'Aligned Female' Shape-Shifts Business Based on Innate Feminine Gifts

Entrepreneurship is shifting dramatically and the aligned female influence cannot be ignored. The feminine:

• brings a sense of community to business
• is cooperative because we know that is the road to thriving
• achieves results by nurturing others
• wants all members of our tribe to succeed
• encourages others
• challenges others with love
• champions others with kind accountability methods
• celebrates milestones and goal attainment

There is no doubt—with the shifting business paradigm in full swing—women have made a powerful impression and will continue to do so. Our innate gifts as birthers of new ideology will change the face of entrepreneurship so much that soon the old façade won’t be recognizable. It’s the dawning of a new age and we’re the luminaries.

Allowing intuition, spirituality and pure intent to guide us, we’re in a very powerful position to creative positive and lasting change. The way business is conducted will never be the same.

Now, let's return to the reference of 'aligned female' and elaborate for the fullest understanding.

Being born female (a gender identification) does not an empowered woman make!

It’s vital to understand that being strong, allowing the feminine divine to be honored in our words, thoughts and actions, referring to ourselves as “conscious,” embracing our roles as leaders and visionaries, and intentionally creating our lives, is a journey… the journey of a lifetime.

The aligned woman is so much more than female. She:

• has a vested interest in bringing her best to everything she does
• willingly surrenders her plan to the wisdom of the Universe, when it's appropriate for her to do so
• commits on every level to the ever-unfolding process of life
• pushes on with courage, no matter how hard the task
• walks with herself, if necessary, so as not to dilute her efforts and energy with anything/anyone that might take her off-course
• graciously serves others in accordance with her inner wisdom guiding her to choose if, when, and how to use her innate talents and gifts
• models integrity because it’s the core of who she is and how she conducts the business of her life
• celebrates her unique talents—removing all hindrances to shining brilliantly—because she understands this world benefits from her exceptional contribution
• is bold in her approach to life because there’s no value in standing for nothing
• accepts herself as-is, always

Modeling empowered divine femininity has many rewards and it also comprises great responsibility; to whom much is given, much is required. Wielding power with benevolence requires a solid understanding that true power never attempts to manipulate, dominate or control (or even influence or persuade); only insecurity behaves that way. We are actively defining the future of business with our actions. We are creating something dynamically different.

What is your unique role in this shift and what are the innate gifts you bring to business as an 'aligned female'?

Counter-habitual Magic

I granted myself permission to take a personal hiatus for the past few months. My soul needed a break from outputting my creativity. Clearly it was time to go within.

During this time, I excavated more of my authentic myself. I recognized patterns that no longer serve me and dismantled the beliefs that kept me confined to old habits; the ones that prevented me from devouring life at the rapid pace that I desire.

As is true for many life embarkations, I had no idea what was ahead, but I was ready and willing to begin the journey. I promised to act on all inspirations.

It all began with my awareness of increasing physical and mental exhaustion. I kept saying my soul and body were so tired, but succinctly this is the underlying basis:

Unbeknownst to my conscious awareness, at some point very early in life, I learned (and assimilated the belief in my being) that achieving was the result of hard work. So, work hard I did!

However, I looked at my results and they didn't equate to the focused energy and effort I expended. I looked at this from every possible angle and realized that my assessment of the results didn't mean I was necessarily unhappy or dissatisfied; that would be an over-simplification. It felt much more that something was just misaligned.

There had to be another way, or I would destroy my well-being trying to be of service to this planet. I KNEW there was something I could experience differently, but what? how? Was I not doing something right? Was I doing something wrong?

Although that's a natural wondering, it felt right to allow these thoughts to move past me without further consideration. I don't function from a perspective of right and wrong; it just doesn't resonate for me.

So, on an impulse--and in the spirit of fun exploration--I decided to try something new: I began doing everything the exact opposite of my usual habits.

If my habit was to work at specific days or times, I went to the beach. If my habit was to focus on doing something a specific way for higher productivity, I did it in a way that was more fun. If my habit was to be unkind to myself in my thoughts, I was sweet and patient and kind to myself. If my habit was to mentally link my hard work with results, I consciously reminded myself of the natural ease-of-life and that I had already decided life was full of ease. I raised my awareness of every thought. My full attention was on the tiniest details that showed up. When I felt anything other than aligned and on and happy, I immediately switched my thinking, my words or my actions to something that felt better.

Two months later, you want to know the results of this fun adventure?

• a life that provides much deeper enjoyment of every activity
• subconscious beliefs permanently replaced with new, high-vibrance stories
• manifestation of $6,000 in less than one week
• new clients who value my services
• a renewed passion for who I am and what I have to offer
• birth of a project that's been dormant for 5 years
• clarity-of-purpose
• delight in all aspects of myself

So, what is my recommendation for you if you're feeling something isn't quite right? If you're feeling your efforts aren't materializing in equal measure? Begin doing everything differently than you have in the past! Be genuinely interested in what you think you know about yourself. Now could be the perfect time to replace dead-weight habits with fresh, healthy, inspired ones. Let me know how it goes!

6 Success Tools To Accomplish Any Business Goal

As business owners we are inundated with "success tips." Some are highly overrated, while others are merely untested theoretical tidbits taken from other sources, and repurposed and marketed as the golden morsels to achieving.

These 6 Success Tools have been time-tested and proven effective in real-world applications to propel you toward your business or personal goals.

After implementing these discoveries, achievement is much more likely than jumping in impulsively and praying or hoping for success. As you well know, hope is not a plan! These tools were compiled to get you thinking--and planning--for your inevitable success in accomplishing your goals when you work with passion toward them.

6 Success Tools

1. Establish a succinct statement of your goal(s) and your motivation. Write this one-sentence statement on a notepad or 3x5 card as a reminder of why you're doing what you're doing. Place these in several prominent locations in your work environment as a frequent and powerful visual reminder (desk, restroom, purse, briefcase, car, on the back of a door/closet, etc.). You can always refer to this to determine if the items on your to-do list will/won't get you closer to your goal. Obviously, you must focus on the tasks that move you ever-closer to goal attainment. The rest may be "busy" work, delay tactics, or actions of self-sabotage.
   
   
2. Complete a target market analysis. It is CRUCIAL to know your target market. Without this information, you are writing the most generic, white-bread, bland, one-size-fits-all, boring, bedtime story content that will put your audience to sleep! You MUST know and speak the language of your unique target market. If not, opportunities to truly connect pass you by every day. Yeah, it's THAT important! How can knowing your target market help you accomplish any business goal? It brings a laser focus of the needs of that market to all your activities. The more you understand them, what motivates them, what drives them to actually purchase products or services, the more you can cater your offerings to them and capture their interest. Helping other people reach their own goals--by giving them what they want, like and need--pushes you closer to you reaching yours.
   
   
3. Assess your existing skill set to accomplish your current goal. Simply, there are tasks that you love to do, take very little time and refuel you in the process. Yes, complete these action items yourself. Everything else must be delegated to others. If you try to do everything yourself, you will be drained of your precious time and energetic resources. It's smart to delegate because it gets you in the habit of hiring others to do what they do best in assisting you to accomplish your goals. Collaboration is the most powerful and effective business model.
   
   
4. Honestly assess your support system, both personal and professional. The truth is, your spouse or friends may not be the best supporters for goal achievement. Don't take it personally! It's not about you. People cannot give you what they don't have the capacity to give. The reasons don't matter, so don't invest time trying to figure out why. It will never matter, and the exploration will most likely take you way off-course; a distraction from your vision. The most successful people attain their success by having and depending on a strong support system. If you don't already have one, you must create your own network-of-support. Create both personal and professional support networks so you get your business and emotional needs met as you delve into the process of bringing your next goal to fruition.
   
   
5. Get your head "in the game." A committed, whole-life effort is required to consistently accomplish your goals. Your mind and heart must be fully wrapped around your vision so nothing deters you from achievement. Getting your head in the game is initially about making a private, often silent, pact with yourself that nothing will take you off-course until you have realized your intended goal. We do this in different ways, but prayer, mantras, visioning, and exploring the spiritual aspects of the process can assist you in bringing your whole, full intention to the game of goal manifestation. And yes, it can be as fun as a game!
   
   
6. Develop a detailed mission statement. This is an extended version of tip #1. Writing a mission statement is a simple way of capturing the details of your goal. However, the idea is often overlooked as being too simple to be effective. If this is your sentiment, reconsider. Achieving even our wildest dreams doesn't have to be hard. We just have to understand that even the simplest efforts to identify what we really want to experience, putting it in writing, and working toward it is enough to bring manifestation into our physical reality. Detailed mission statements include:

Work schedule - What is the schedule you're committing to? 5 hours per week? 2 hours per day?

Time commitment - What are the time commitments you will adhere to that work best for you? Before the kids awake? From 10 AM - Noon Monday-Friday?

Work environment - Where will you complete the tasks required to meet this goal? Is it clean? Is it orderly? Does it facilitate maximum creativity?

Recovery plan - What is your plan should you begin to feel overwhelmed, frustrated or discouraged? What happens when you have lost your momentum? Is there a go-to person who can assist?

Built-in breaks - What is your specific plan for stepping away from tasking to give yourself the necessary mental breaks so when you work, it's the most efficient and effective? What is the most relaxing and enjoyable thing you do for yourself? Movement? Solitude? Being in nature?

Target deadline - What is a reasonable, yet challenging completion date? On what is this based, and how exactly is it both reasonable and challenging?

There's no easy path to accomplishment. No set of six tips will eliminate the necessity for inspired, focused effort. However, clear goals, reasons for attaining those goals and a few other simple techniques relating to pre-planning will certainly pave the way, making the journey easier.

That On Which We Focus, Manifests

This piece is inspired by TUT.com; a Note from the Universe on Monday, March 29, 2010.

Whatever you focus on, you will experience.

When you talk about "what is" or "what was,"
even if you're just explaining to a friendly ear,
you project more of the same into the future.
If you ask more than you give thanks, you'll believe less in your own power.
And if you insist that it's hard and that you're lonely, you'll find that it is, and you are.

Yet, always you can choose to focus on what's good.

It's common to want to share all of life's experiences with those we love; including the "downs." The simple question, "How are you?" by a close friend often opens a pandora's box of the details of what's going on in our lives. Rarely do we stop and wonder about the impact of our words on our future experience.

So, how do we remain authentic AND honor what's actually happening, AND pave the way for manifesting what we really want if it's different than what we are living right now?

As best we can, with our words, thought and actions we must shift our focus to the positive aspects of what's happening in our lives.

Positive thinking is getting a bad rap recently with the launch of a new book. To be sure, I'm not advocating the manufacture of some artificial pasted-on smiley face when we are truly hurting. What I am saying is that if we take just a moment to reframe our responses, we can see something beneficial in what is happening right now. And THAT'S what's worth focusing on and sharing with others.

Eradicate Incessant Mind-chatter

Today I was asked by a consulting client how to silence mind-chatter. The process below is overly-simplified, but these are the 3 steps I shared to effectively shush that voice, so you can focus and be at peace:

Take an authoritative position--Give yourself permission to silence that invasive voice. No one ever told us that we can direct our inner critic. We can and we must if we are to be the masters of our minds.

Take action--As if it resided outside of your head, tell your voice to go sit in a corner or assign it a task, physically distanced from you. Feel free to have fun with this; set a time limit or other specification, e.g. "For 10 minutes" or "Until you can come back and be quiet."

Consciously choose another thought--Instead of being the servant of your inner voice, turn the tables and while your critic is otherwise occupied, choose a pleasant thought that feels better and allows you to focus.

The more awareness you create around this dynamic, and take assertive action every time it happens, the less interested your mind will be in bothering you. After some time has passed, you realize you have mastered--or at least have begun to master--your own inner voice because after awhile it stops tormenting and distracting you. Just like a child in the throes of a tantrum, it stops because it no longer gets the reaction it's looking for. And, voila; success!

Y: The Question and The Funnel

The Question

We often ask ourselves “Why?” Why this? Why that? Why now? Why me?

These wonderings usually involve extreme impact of some kind:

• Why did I lose my job?
• Why did my child get sick?
• Why didn’t I foresee losing my retirement money in the stock market?
• Why was the timing of the auto accident so soon after the death of my father?
• Why does my longtime acquaintance seem disinterested in continuing our friendship?
• Why have there been a string of circumstances that have evaporated the solid foundation of my life?
• Why has my business so completely changed that I have no reliable monthly income?

Although it’s common to wonder about the whys of life, this exploration is the ultimate distraction. In the end, if you had the answer to the question, would it matter? Does knowing change anything? Maybe yes, maybe no.

Why is it a distraction? Because it only prolongs the inevitable: taking the next step toward regaining your soulful stability; your groundedness; the conscious creation of that which positions you securely in your personal power.

I submit that the only why question worthy of your attention is: Why not?

That leads me to…

The Funnel

If you go outside, turn your face toward the heavens and lift your arms, your body forms a Y.

This is the ultimate representation of surrender, willingness, openness or welcoming, depending on your mindset and heartset.

Do you realize that this is also the shape of a funnel? From this position, the Universe can pour its very essence directly into you: all that is goodness, abundance, opportunity, joy, etc. Amassing in the ether and narrowing into a direct stream, if you are open and allow this influx directly from Source, you can be transformed.

When you look at the vastness of the sky, and allow yourself to be engulfed, you are too transfixed by the magnitude to wonder why this? or why that? You don’t have answers to the questions of why me? or why now?, but you don’t need them. When you really think about it, all of that is irrelevant in the grand scope of all that is. Besides, you may never know anyway, so why even pose the question? Why invest the time and energy in something that simply is? Instead, allow whatever isas-is. to be okay

The next time your mind naturally goes to the question of why?, consciously shift it to why not?:

• Why not embrace what is?
• Why not allow myself to surrender to my current circumstances?
• Why not operate from a position of knowing that all is well, regardless of external situations?
• Why not pursue my biggest dreams?
• Why not give myself the gift of all that is accessible?
• Why not be grateful for the events in my life, especially when I don’t understand why?
• Why not try something new?
• Why not completely change my perspective to view life as a process?
• Why not admit I don’t know everything?
• Why not treat myself with the kindness I gladly give to others?

Why not, indeed!

Get Paid What You’re Worth… With Creative Payment Methods and Terms

There are many ways to be compensated for your time and expertise. If you are a service provider, you may meet a new colleague, have a strong mutual desire to work together, but need to be creative in terms of being paid.

The possibilities are limitless. Combinations are myriad. Here are a few options to get you started:

1. 15% discount for prepayment in full
2. Purchase 3, pay for 2 (1 free)
3. 50% deposit, balance paid in products or services
4. 50% deposit, balance paid in marketing efforts to promote your business
5. 50% deposit, balance due in two payments instead of the usual full balance due at project completion
6. 50% deposit, 50% of all sales until the balance due is paid in full
7. 50% deposit, balance paid in products or services by someone they know
   (e.g. I provide you services, you provide your products/services to someone you know who offers massages. I receive a massage! Yay! It’s a beneficial triangle of services.)

You’ll notice a theme: 50% deposit in cash. Because money is the culturally-agreed upon method of exchange, that is a solid foundation for your business relationship. The 50% deposit represents your commitment to start projects with a universally-understood practice. The rest is negotiable.

Keep in mind that your intent is to create a win-win scenario. Each party must contribute to the workability of the exchange. If you find you’re the only one giving or compromising during the negotiations, it is not an energetically balanced interaction. If you proceed, you will unnecessarily set other dynamics in motion–even if they are subtle–regarding unclear or unspecified boundaries.

The last place you want to find yourself is feeling compromised. Your services have value. Treat them that way by continuing to massage the details until you both have what you need to make it a dynamic, workable arrangement.

When both parties give, both parties benefit.

Fearful, Forceful or Fierceful: Which Is Your Approach To Life and Why Does It Matter?

Admittedly, fierceful isn't a word, but for the integrity of the headline, it stays. Word or no word, it doesn't change the message of this exploration.

Definition of Fearful: Feeling fear, dread, apprehension, anxiety or concern
Definition of Forceful: Acting or driven with force
Definition of Fierce(ful): Extremely intense or ardent

If you're fearful, there is something--usually something BIG--underlying that feeling. Maybe it's conscious, maybe it's subconscious, but either way your actions are steeped in this overpowering and often paralyzing feeling, often to the point that you are incapable of making wise choices. Fear only begets more fear. It festers. It grows. And feeding the monster of fear with your words, thoughts and actions only makes you feel worse. If you're a worrier, you know exactly what it's like. Day in, day out, it is your constant companion and yet you may have an inkling that because of the grief it causes, it's no way to run your business or your life.

If you're forceful, you are constantly pushing people, events and circumstances, to respond to your sheer will that they comply with your vision. You cannot be bothered with how people perceive you or the impact on them of your words, thoughts and actions. After all, you have a vision and it is a driving force! You feel absolutely justified in your approach, regardless of external signs that something is amiss. Sometimes, you and your agenda are literally a force to be reckoned with, making even minor issues, very big ones. You are unapproachable. Life lacks anything resembling effortless flow. You are in charge and it's up to you to make everything work... at the greatest expense imaginable: your peace-of-mind and of those around you. You shoulder the weight of the world and the cracks in the fortress are beginning to split wide open. At it's core, force is fear. It's an attempt to control, driven by the need for safety or security, which never actually manifests peace or flow, but only creates more of the same: fear.

Let's move beyond the many limitations of fearful and forceful living to a whole-life approach based in healthy, powerful resolve: fierceful living.

Using the brief definition above of fierce, notice the word ardent. The definition of ardent includes words like intense feeling, passionate, fervent, intensely devoted, eager, zealous, burning, fiery and hot.

All these words or terms are powerful and positive. They motivate and inspire. They propel and energize. They excite and prompt. They contain the juice that positively moves us from where we are to where we'd rather be.

Neither fear nor force motivates, inspires, propels, energizes, excites or drives. Fear and force are old patterns based in pain. They are our deeply ingrained habits, developed long ago as coping mechanisms. And the truth is they no longer serve us.

So, it's time to let them go. It's the perfect time to step into our fierceness-of-being. It's time to release debilitating habits and create ourselves anew.

What is fierceful living?

1. In its wisdom, it recognizes injustice in its many forms and stands up to say, "No more," regardless of the consequences.
2. It is courage, to the core, no matter how things actually feel inside.
3. It sets personal agendas aside and puts people first, always.
4. It has an unshakable and undeniable clarity guiding its every strategic move.
5. It assumes full responsibility for all outcomes.
6. It continually creates room for more fullness, variety, color, grandness and opportunity.
7. It stands for something, instead of nothing.

You cannot create from fear or force, for they do not contain the elements to deliver such an outcome. With either, you can only create more of the same.

Be fierce. Be bold. Be you. Now is the time.

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