My 2 Secrets to Closing a Sale!

As a coach and speaker, there is one question that I hear all the time – “how do YOU close the sale?” There appears to be some mystery around the actual sales language that ‘brings it all to a close’.

For those of you who know me and my style, you know I like to keep things simple. It’s typically US who makes things complicated and we get in our own way. In my F.R.E.E. CD, “7 Steps to Growing Your Business By Getting Out Of Your Own Way” I address this and much more.

In this article, I will address my 2 secret strategies for closing the sale.

1. L.I.S.T.E.N. Yes – it’s that simple. Most of us are so keen on telling the prospect everything about US, and about everything that WE do and have to offer – that we do not stop and listen to the pain that the prospect is sharing. They’re bleeding all over us and we aren’t hearing a word of it. NEWS FLASH, people – it’s not about YOU!
   
   Yes, you do need to share the essence of who you are and what you have to offer, but not until you have heard the pain or the challenge that the prospect is experiencing. So, that’s my secret formula #1 – LISTEN!

1. ASK FOR THE SALE. Sounds simple, I know. It is simple. When I hear my clients say they need to ‘get psyched up’ to make a sales call, that raises a huge red flag for me. Psyched up to share your talent – to provide a solution – to throw someone a life jacket – really? What’s that all about?
   
   This would be the time when you really need to self-examine to understand what’s going on here. Why in the world would you need to get psyched up? The world needs you. We are all unique – we have a purpose – you have a passion for what you’re doing – you have a solution. Psyched up to do what, exactly? Help people out!
   
   Now, I know I am simplifying this – one way that I was able to improve, and master, this skill is in working with my coach – she asked me to record some of the sales calls I was making and then send her the link to the recording. She then provided feedback on specific comments/timing that I was making during the call – and then had me go do another one. It was an ideal way to fine-tune and recognize where I WAS getting in MY own way – rather than focusing on the needs of the prospect.
   
   Once I had those insights, and continued to make more and more calls (it is a numbers game, ladies!) – I am able to facilitate a positive end result for both the prospect and me within a half hour time frame.

Does this sound simple? Well, it really is simple. When you focus on your passion and purpose and get over yourself, you will realize that S.A.L.E.S. is not a four-letter word. But rather, consider it a life-jacket – consider it being of service – consider it your life mission.

All entrepreneurs want to attract new clients and make money. That is the truth. Put the focus on being of service rather than psyching yourself up to make a sales call. Reframe your thinking.

Now – get going! It’s a big world out there and WE have a lot of work to do, collectively, with our talents and expertise. People are waiting for you! Let me know when you’ve applied these tips and how they worked for you, ok? Because I care………

Please share your thoughts!

Pat Mussieux is fast becoming regarded as a highly valued Canadian mentor for women entrepreneurs taking her own business from zero to a multiple 6-figure home-based business in less than 4 years. Much of her success can be attributed to her expertise in marketing, mindset and money!

Pat Mussieux is a business coach, author, speaker and radio host. You can reach her at http://www.wealthywomenleaders.com

6 Habits Of Unsuccessful Entrepreneurs!

There are so many articles, books, videos and ezines telling you how to be successful. That’s cool – but where and how do you learn where your current habits are holding you back?

Well, the wait is over. I’m going to share with you some of the unsuccessful habits I have had and which many of my clients have overcome as a result of coaching. You’re not going to be able to get new clients and make money if you continue to do certain things over and over and over – and expect different results.

So, here’s the litmus test – keep reading – am I speaking to you?

“It’s so hard when contemplated in advance, and so easy when you do it!” – Robert M. Pirsig

1. Not having a focus. This is a big one for many entrepreneurs and for people in general. You have no focus on a daily basis – let alone for the year. I know that many of you get up in the morning, do a little bit of ‘this’ and a little bit of ‘that’ and, poof, before you know it – the day is over – the year is over, LOL!

   My success habit: I write a list, each morning, of my top 3 (revenue-generating) priorities for the day – post it on the wall in front of my face and DO NOT WAIVER from that list until each of the 3 items is complete! Period! Watch your business grow when you do this.

2. “I can do it myself!” Yeah – that’s a winning mindset – NOT! Who do you think you are? No one can do it alone. Case in point – in the past month, as I dealt with the personal challenges in my life with my Mom, I was so extremely grateful that I have such a great, dedicated, professional, talented team! They kept things going for me – and offered ME unconditional support.

   My success habit: Hire a VA – or 2, depending on where you are in your business. Life happens. You cannot keep your business running, attract new clients, serve your current clients, make money if/when you are doing it all yourself.

3. Hang out with the same old crowd. Please – people – give your head a shake. You keep going to the same old networking events, hanging out with the same old people, talking about the same old stuff. Are you serious about growing your business, making money and making a difference in the world? Know that you are the ‘average of the 5 people you spend time with’. Oh, scary, huh?

   My success habit: I constantly review who I am spending time with – I no longer hang around with mediocre entrepreneurs – I just don’t. I am serious about working with, and helping, women around the world achieve financial freedom. I am on a mission! I must surround myself with people who will help me learn, grow and stretch. What about you?

4. “I know that already.” Another poisonous thought that holds you back from growing and succeeding. Really? You know it? Well, good for you – because, for me, I need to hear and apply information on a repeated basis in order to MASTER it. It is all about mastery! I am doing really well in my business – and I welcome every opportunity to hear things again and again and again. What’s got you so stuck? Are you working with a coach? Someone who can help you – someone who has ‘been there’ – if not, why not? EVERY entrepreneur needs a coach!

   My success habit: Committing the time, on a dedicated basis, to learning and learning and learning something until I have mastered it. I work with the best coaches I can find – you need to do that, too.

5. “I can’t afford it” . If you can’t afford knowledge, imagine the price of ignorance. (I heard that quote somewhere and can’t put my finger on who wrote it – but it’s brilliant, don’t you think?) Shift your thinking to ‘HOW can I afford this?” when it comes to growing, developing, learning and succeeding. The ‘I can’t afford it’ thinking is simply a very bad habit – get over it! You have money – everyone has money – how are you spending your money? Need money to invest in your business – then go make some, find some, borrow some – just do it.

   My success habit: I make a commitment to invest in myself and in my business on an annual basis. I do my homework – check out referrals – learn who is at the level I want to be in business – and go after it! I’ll figure out the HOW later – and it has paid off very well for me. What are you waiting for?

6. “What will people think?” Oh, yes, the comparison game! We do it all the time. Well, who cares what people think? And stop comparing yourself to others while you’re at it. Talk about a bad habit! (“Stop comparing the inside of you to the outside of someone else!” – Lou Tice) Stop wondering about what people will think when you succeed beyond your wildest dreams! You have a purpose – you are on a mission – you can make a difference in this world. And shame on you if you let this crappy mindset and habit hold you back! Get over yourself. You are spending too much time thinking about this – get to work!

   My success habit: Some people aren’t good for you – Les Brown says it so well. They just aren’t. I keep a weekly list of my Successes and celebrate myself – often BY myself. (my family doesn’t have a clue what I do anyway, quite frankly! – so there’s no point in worrying about what they think- and that’s typically WHO we worry about when we climb the ladder of success, right?)

Does this sound simple? Well, it really is simple. It’s the start of a new year – a new month – or even consider when it’s the beginning of a new week – timing doesn’t matter.

As an entrepreneur who is living their life purpose – it is critical that you shift your habits. It’s not that habits are right or wrong – good or bad – it is simply a matter of identifying whether or not they move you towards your goals. Take a look at your current habits – are they helping you to get new clients, make more money and make a difference in the world? No? Then change them. YOU have the power!

Now – get going! It’s a big world out there and WE have a lot of work to do, collectively, with our talents and expertise. People are waiting for you!

Pat Mussieux is fast becoming regarded as a highly valued Canadian mentor for women entrepreneurs taking her own business from zero to a multiple 6-figure home-based business in less than 4 years. Much of her success can be attributed to her expertise in marketing, mindset and money!

Pat Mussieux is a business coach, author, speaker and radio host. You can reach her at http://www.wealthywomenleaders.com

You Must Learn To Be Resilient!

This time of year is not always happy and jolly for everyone. My Mom passed away last week and one thing that keeps me going is the fact I have learned to be resilient.

You, too, must learn this skill to succeed in business these days. It’s not always easy – so, it’s not necessarily how hard you fall – but how well you bounce – and how well you bounce BACK! Tough stuff happens and you must equip yourself with the mental skills to cope and move on.

I have learned a lot from the teachings of Dr. Robert Schuller. I want to share some of what I have learned with you today.

“Pain is temporary – memories are forever!” – Dr. Robert Schuller

1. The Mystery of Memories. Hopes, dreams and accomplishments are positive memories. Memory is not always a positive healing force. There are mysteries surrounding our past – our thoughts – our experiences. When going through stressful times, focus on the good because the mind cannot hold two conflicting thoughts at the same time. When you focus on the good, you remember the good.
2. The Ministry of Memories. God uses the memory system to motivate us. Fill the memory system with positive stuff! Surround yourself with positive people who will uplift you.
3. The Management of Memories. Decide what books to read, what TV to watch; decide not to be shaped by our culture; feed your memory with good stuff; impact your memory with positive repetition.

For me, right now, all I have are the memories of the times with my Mom. Since I made the major life move across the country five years ago, I have focused specifically on my relationship with my Mom – which had been strained for many, many years.

I made a dedicated effort to change that – and change it we did – together! Such a blessing for me, now, to know that the past five years have been filled with joyful visits (our trips to the ‘chip truck’ for a hot dog and French fries to take down by the water to enjoy), fun adventures (our road trip through the Maritimes the first summer I was here – and we returned to the place where we were both born – and where her ashes will be taken) – the time we spent together watching Wheel of Fortune (Jeopardy was too difficult, she said) and laughed when we couldn’t get the simple phrases – through to the commitment I made, along with my brother, to send her flowers at the beginning of each month. My Mom always said that flowers are for the living to enjoy – not for when you are dead. She loved each and every bouquet that showed up, regularly, and just for her……just ‘because’!

To succeed in life and to succeed in business, you must learn to be resilient! There is no question that tough times happen –

“Tough times never last – but tough people do!” – Dr. Robert Schuller

I am having a tough time right now – and have a HUGE hole in my heart – but I have some really great memories of the times spent with my fabulous, smart, articulate, brave and inspiring Mom. I am resilient – I will move forward – and I will continue to make her proud because I am a chip off the old block!

Rest in peace, Helen Fortin!

Pat Mussieux is fast becoming regarded as a highly valued Canadian mentor for women entrepreneurs taking her own business from zero to a multiple 6-figure home-based business in less than 4 years. Much of her success can be attributed to her expertise in marketing, mindset and money!

Pat Mussieux is a business coach, author, speaker and radio host. You can reach her at http://www.wealthywomenleaders.com

It’s Time to Get SMART About Your Goals!

by Ali Brown

Are you a pro at setting goals, but not quite the master at achieving them yet? You’re not alone. And fortunately, you’re not a lost cause either. Breaking your goals down into a few key elements could be the difference between all talk and all action.

One way to remember these key elements is to think of your goals as SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Let’s take a look at what each of these elements mean, and how you can apply them to better set and reach your goals…

1. Specific

You’re much more likely to achieve a goal if you get specific. But most people don’t realize how vague their goals actually are. Take a look at this example:

I want to start using online marketing to promote my business.

It sounds specific enough, but do a little digging, and you’ll find there’s a lot more to “online marketing” than meets the eye (as you likely know). In fact, the overwhelming online marketing options we have these days is what keeps many people paralyzed. So, start breaking it down by talking yourself through the process required, step-by-step…

You could ask yourself these questions:

To start out, do I want to do an ezine, email marketing, or social media?

How often do I want to send out an ezine, email blast, or tweet?

Getting specific will not only give you clarity of what’s required, but it will also make it less daunting because you have a specific area to focus on.

2. Measurable

Establish concrete criteria so you can evaluate your progress as you go. Break your big goal down into small targets that you can track.

Using our example from above, you could decide that you will tweet once a day on Twitter, post a status update once a day on Facebook, and send out one ezine every other week. Now, you’ve got a set item that you can add to your to-do list, just like you would any other task—and you can cross it off your list as “done”. Your goal is now in action.

3. Attainable

You want your goal to be a challenge, but also one that you truly believe is possible to achieve. Don’t say you’re going to write a book this summer if you know you’ve got speaking engagements every other week. Pick something reasonable that you could really see yourself achieving.

Can you see yourself writing 250 words a day or 5 pages a week? If you know you can do it, and you start meeting your quota, you’ll notice that you’ll gain momentum. Goals that once seemed out of your reach become attainable, and you’ll grow and expand to match them.

4. Relevant

Your goals should feed into your main purpose, so you must get in touch with the underlying purpose tied to your goal.

For example, if you want to grow your client list, your priority will be to spread the word. In this case, you’d want to use your ezine, social media, etc. to reach out to new prospects that are in your ideal target market.

Make sure you review your goals on a regular basis—at least once a month. That way you can track your progress, and ensure you’re actions are in line with your vision.

5. Time-bound

Set a deadline for you to achieve your goal. It will give you a sense of urgency and also help you keep things in perspective in real time. For example, you want to grow your list by 2,000 people by September 30, 2011. This way, you go from having a “someday” kind of plan to having a concrete guide for the months ahead.

© 2011 Ali International, LLC

Entrepreneur mentor Ali Brown teaches women around the world how to start and grow a profitable business that make a positive impact. Get her FREE CD “Top 10 Secrets for Entrepreneurial Women” at www.AliBrown.com

Turn Your Hobby into a Business…in 5 Steps

Click to download Ali's fab special FREE report!

by Ali Brown

You’ve heard the stories: the office manager quits her job and becomes a successful wedding cake decorator, or the talented dressmaker makes the leap and opens a hip downtown boutique. Transforming a hobby into a lucrative business may sound like an impossible dream, but thousands of people are getting paid for doing what they love by turning their passions into profitable enterprises.

Inside every hobby is a goldmine waiting to be discovered, but you must find your unique twist. Before you wave goodbye to your day job, check out these five steps to help you turn your hobby into a profitable business.

STEP 1: Research Your Market

You may love sewing unique garments, but will people spend the money on what you have to offer? The only way to find out is to start doing some market research. Find out what people, like your family and friends, are prepared to pay for your products or services, and whether it will be enough to make a profit. Scope out the competition. Who are they? What are they doing? And how well are they doing it? Is there anything you can adopt from them, or improve upon that would make you stand out?

STEP 2: Figure Out How You’re Going to Make Money!

Consider all your costs. Every business is different, but common startup costs include bookkeeping setup, logo and branding, business cards, computers, website costs, advertising, stationery, supplies, inventory, and possibly office space.

Then consider what you can charge. Will what you bring in cover what’s going out? If not, how will you finance your enterprise? Do your savings cover all the initial costs, can you use existing credit (like I did when I got started), or will you need to borrow? Can friends or family lend you the money, or will you need to turn to banks or investors?

STEP 3: Determine What Skills You Need

Entrepreneurs don’t succeed by passion for their products alone. Take inventory of your skills and be honest about your strengths and weaknesses when it comes running a business. Do you know how to market yourself, and to convince people to work with you above all others in the field? As an entrepreneur you are constantly selling your products, your vision, your company, and yourself. Are you ready to be this type of person?

If you’re lacking in any of these areas (and everyone has one or two things they’re just not that good at), then find out how you can strengthen those weaknesses. Can you work with a consultant, hire a contractor to take on those roles, or enlist a mentor?

STEP 4: Map Out Your Milestones

It’s good to have big ambitions, but give yourself a reasonable timeline to transform your hobby into a lucrative career. Keep your eye on the prize, and set specific and measurable deadlines.

Your initial timeline of milestones will include all the processes, tasks, and objectives to see your company safely to the launch pad and into its first year of business. These might include developing your product or assembling a portfolio, and setting a desired launch date. (Of course, don’t let any of this stop you from getting out there and making money right away if you can!)

STEP 5: Get the Word Out!

Now take a deep breath and launch your new enterprise. There are lots of ways to do this: You could announce your website, attend events, hand out business cards, pound the pavement, do a mailing, etc. There are a hundred different ways to get the word out and market yourself. Choose at least three to get started!

© 2011 Ali International, LLC

Entrepreneur mentor Ali Brown teaches women around the world how to start and grow profitable businesses that make a positive impact. Get her FREE CD “Top 10 Secrets for Entrepreneurial Women” at www.AliBrown.com

How to Write a Sales Letter That SELLS

Make Time to Accomplish Your Goals Now

Have you ever had one of those days when you are busy working on your business all day, but at the end of the day you feel like you’ve accomplished nothing? You’re not alone. In today’s competitive environment, it’s not enough to be busy — you need to be productive, working toward your goals and your bottom line, or your business won’t thrive.

Your most important skill is being able to make TIME for your money-making business visions. That’s the difference between being a “hamster on a wheel” versus finishing that information product, starting that membership program, or hosting the live event of your dreams.

So, if you need some strategies to get your day moving in the right direction, read on for a few helpful tips:

Know your most productive time. Are you the type who jumps out of bed full of energy and your highest level of creativity, or do you not hit your stride till the afternoon or evening? Know when you hit your peak and schedule your most important tasks then.

Block your time for designated tasks. Your most vital appointment to keep is with yourself. Schedule time for getting your important goals accomplished each day and don’t let another week, month, or year go by without achieving your business visions.

Delegate your distracters. That email needs answering, and you need to update your social media accounts, and that invoice needs to get sent out. Life needs attention, but delegate everything you can to your virtual assistant to clear your decks and your mind for productive work.

Create a Zen workplace. You won’t get your best work done if the TV is blaring, the phone is ringing off the hook, and a pile of overdue bills is staring you in the face. Make your workspace a place where you love to be that is tidy, comfortable, and beautiful and that promotes your creativity.

Take breaks. It’s tempting when you are under a deadline to power through your lunch and not get up from your chair. But getting up, moving around, and getting the blood flowing will help reenergize and refocus your mind. So take 10 or 15 minutes to revitalize, and then get back to it.

Fend off the time zappers. Whether it’s your smart phone alerting you to a post on your Facebook account or your friend down the street who drops by, you need to guard your productive time. Turn off the smart phone and let your friend know you’ll touch base later and get back to work.

Keep it simple. You know how you decide to recover a chair and pretty soon you’re remodeling your entire home? It’s easy to complicate things and then they become overwhelming. Keep your goals in front of you and when you go off on tangents, gently guide yourself back to the essential task at hand.

Let go of what doesn’t matter. You can waste time obsessing about some of the little details that can be highly distracting. Step back, get some perspective, and stay focused on the big, money-making picture.

Schedule downtime. It’s tempting when your overloaded to work the weekend, but don’t do it. You need your time off to rest, recharge, and play so that you won’t get burned out. It’s amazing how much creativity emerges during these restful times. Sleep is essential as well (and recent studies reveal how important sleep is for weight loss too!).

Work on one thing at a time. In case you haven’t heard, multitasking doesn’t work. You’re less efficient at each task you try to do at the same time. Focus on your one essential objective and you’ll get it done faster and better.

© 2011 Ali International, LLC

Millionaire entrepreneur mentor Ali Brown teaches women around the world how to start and grow profitable businesses that make a positive impact. Get her FREE CD and articles at www.AliBrown.com

Get Past Procrastination: My 5 Steps to Getting It ALL Done

Have you ever looked at your to-do list and just wanted to run away? Sometimes, procrastination gets the best of us self-employed people. It seems that everything is priority and we tend to put some things on the back burner. The thing is, if the items on your to-do list have to do with marketing and Client Attraction, then you don’t want to ignore them (if you do, your pipeline of prospects will be empty in 6 months, or less).

Procrastination creeps its ugly head in my business every now and then. Personally, I think it’s more overwhelm than procrastination and the list can be so overwhelming that I tend to go into avoidance/denial mode, preferring to just not deal with it. (Has that ever happened to you too?)

Realistically, you can’t ignore having to market yourself, so you sometimes just have to bite the bullet and do what it takes. Here’s my personal action checklist to take me from procrastination to massive action:

Prioritize: Your list may be a mile long or just a half page long. Either way, the best way to get into action is to sort out what your return on investment for each item on your list is going to be (financially, time-wise, resource-wise) and then sort them by the one that will reap the most benefits (e.g., clients and re-venue) from the littlest output on your part. You’ll start with that one.

What’s getting in the way? Sometimes, I find procrastination is more about something getting in the way than anything else. It could be you don’t have every piece of the puzzle to be able to move forward into accomplishing something. It could be you don’t know how to do ONE aspect of it. It could also be that this is a SHOULD and isn’t absolutely necessary to your success. Whatever’s holding you back, just get clear on it.

How long will it REALLY take: I’ve found that often, I delay on a marketing task (or any task, for that matter) because I anticipate it taking a lot longer than it really will. To get past this, look at a task and ask yourself how long it will realistically take to get done. Then, take out the to-do list and write down the time it will take you to accomplish it next to each item (15 minutes, 2 hours, etc.).

Schedule it: Look at your calendar and find time slots that correspond to the time allotment for each task you did above and schedule them, as if they were client appointments you were unable to cancel.

Just do it: Once you’ve got the “task appointments” scheduled in your book, just do them. You’ll power through them like you’ve never done before. It’s actually pretty cool.

Your Client Attraction Assignment:

When marketing yourself, take notice of when you start slipping into procrastination mode (it happens to most everyone, believe me). Prioritize the tasks on your list to focus on the ones that will get you the highest return on investment, notice what’s getting in the way or what piece is missing, and solve the issue accordingly, establish how long it will take to get done, and then schedule it in your calendar. You’ll have no excuse not to do it.

Remember, there’s never a point at which you can say (about marketing), “I’m successful now, I might as well take a nap.” Notice the very successful entrepreneurs you look up to. They never stop marketing. In fact, they’re always adding new things to their existing marketing plans. Do the same. Get past your procrastination and into Client Attraction. ALWAYS BE MARKETING and you’ll always have clients (especially if you have systems in place).

You may be wondering WHAT to do to market your business that’ll give you the most returns with little effort on your part. If so, I recommend getting the Client Attraction Home Study System™. It gives you the most important things to do to set up simple, solid marketing systems, so that you consistently fill your pipeline and continually get new clients. It’s all step-by-step, not a big mishmash of things. So, you do step one of the system, and when you’re done with that, you move on to step two, and so on. All the tools, scripts, templates, and examples are handed to you on a silver platter. Easy. You can get it at www.theclientattractionsystem.com

© 2010 Client Attraction LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Fabienne Fredrickson, The Client Attraction Mentor, is founder of the Client Attraction System , the proven step-by-step program that shows you exactly how to attract more clients, in record time…guaranteed. To get your F.R.E.E. Audio CD by mail and receive her weekly marketing & success mindset articles on attracting more high-paying clients and dramatically increasing your in.come, visit www.clientattraction.com.

Your Fortune is in the Follow Up!

By Ali Brown

Most business owners are good at pitching clients or reaching out to new customers. It’s the follow-up where they fall down. Why? Because they figure, “if they wanted my product, they’d finish the transaction,” or they worry that, “if I bug them too much, I’ll come off as needy.” Here’s the thing: while you’re worrying about bugging a prospective customer or telling yourself that maybe “they’re just not that into me,” someone else is following up and sealing the deal!

“No” is just a little bump on the road to “yes.”

When someone expresses interest in your business, but they aren’t quite ready to sign on the dotted line, they can often be persuaded with a polite follow up. Say you were trying to convince a local business to purchase advertising on your website. They might say, “this sounds like a good opportunity, but I’ve already used up my marketing dollars for this quarter.” By following up before the beginning of the next quarter, you could get on your contacts’ radar and get her business while she’s in the planning stages.

Here are some other follow-up methods to consider:

Ask if they’d like to be added to your ezine. Creating an email newsletter is a great way to keep in contact with prospects and update them on new promotions or offerings. Since nobody likes getting spam, ask their permission first and include useful content in your ezine so it’s not a pure sales message. Once people expect timely and insightful information from you, they’ll become more likely to open your emails and conduct business with you.

Send useful links. If you know the prospect pretty well, you could email her sporadically when you find articles that might be useful for her business or see networking events she might like to attend. That way you’re keeping the lines of communication open without pressuring her.

Send a holiday card. The holidays are a great time to reconnect with prospects and spread seasonal cheer. But if you’re afraid your holiday card might get lost in the shuffle or you simply don’t have time to coordinate another mailing, then consider sending a card at other times of the year, perhaps a mid-summer greeting or a Labor Day card (as people return from vacation, this can be a good time to snag new business). That way you’ll become more memorable and have an excuse to connect with people outside of the regular holiday season.

Hold an event. Consider hosting a symposium on a timely topic or a free seminar on an issue that will interest potential customers. Invite prospects who were on the fence and use the opportunity to also bring in new prospects.

Follow up is key in any business, but you can also be creative and have a little fun with your strategies. The bottom line? Be persistent, but always be polite.

© 2010 Ali International

Self-made millionaire entrepreneur and Inc. 500-ranked CEO Ali Brown teaches women around the world how to start and grow profitable businesses that make a positive impact. Get her FREE weekly articles and advice at www.AliBrown.com

Working From Home? Tips To Succeed Without Distraction

By Kendall SummerHawk

Do you love the idea of working from home but you’re wondering how to handle distractions such as housework, kids, hubby and friends?

Working from home affords many benefits. Think about it: no traffic, commuting or annoying coworkers. But without the right mix of people contact and structure you can easily fritter away your time without the things you need to show for it, such as new clients and lucrative opportunities.

I’ve run my business from home for nearly ten years — from when I just started to now, as a multi-million dollar business — and would never trade in my home office for a “real” office, no matter how big my business gets.

Here are my favorite secrets for turning your home into what I call, a “success sanctuary.”

Tip #1 Keep Your Home Your Sanctuary

Even if space is limited, I recommend setting up a separate work area for your business. A private room devoted to running your business is ideal but if you must share space then set up a screen or some other type of divider to separate your business from the rest of your life. Creating this kind of privacy will help you focus and feel professional.

Tip #2 Know When To Close The Door

Running a business can consume every waking hour of your life unless you put into place much needed boundaries as to when you work and how much you work. I get the most done when I follow a daily ritual. That means I don’t answer phone calls, turn on the computer or answer email until I’ve completed my personal, morning routine.

Likewise, at night I have a clear stop time, and an end of day ritual that includes shutting down the computer, neatening my desk and updating my to-do list for the next day. Rituals like these give you a feeling of order, which will help you relax during your off hours so you can start up again the next day feeling refreshed and recharged.

Tip #3 Take Daily “Energy” Breaks

Some business owners crave company while others (like me) prefer to recharge by spending time outside or exercising. Whichever your preference is, make sure you build that into your day. You’re the “boss” so don’t wait until you feel stir-crazy to take action. I recommend taking a daily social or get-back-to-nature break daily to keep you focused and inspired about building your business.

Tip #4 Establish Clear Boundaries With Your Family

Women entrepreneurs are easily side-tracked with household demands such as making lunches, laundry, playing referee when your kids aren’t playing nice, etc.

Listen, running a business takes focus, concentration and creativity, which you won’t have if you’re constantly interrupted with the demands of others, even if they’re your family.

Tell your family up front that when you’re working you’re not available to handle their disputes or to “play mom.” Tell them why growing your business is important to you, then ask for their help. Tell them EXACTLY what the rules are, such as no interruptions unless the house is on fire or someone is bleeding (think I’m kidding? I’m not!).

Make sure to thank them frequently for helping you grow your business. Above all, do NOT cave in and give up your priorities for the day. Successful businesses are built on creating strong boundaries so now is a great time to practice strengthening yours. Besides, when your family sees that “mom means business” they’ll respect you and what you’re doing even more, making you an awesome role model for the people you care about the most.

There’s No Place Like Home…

Whether you have a private home office all to yourself, or you’re office is the dining room table, the more you practice these simple tips the more professional and focused you’ll feel. Remember that building a successful home based business is a dream that many aspire to and YOU can achieve!

Would you like to learn more simple ways entrepreneurs can brand, package and price their services to quickly move away from ‘dollars-for-hours work’ and create more money, time, and freedom in their businesses? Check out my web site, http://www.KendallSummerHawk.com, for fr.ee articles, fr.ee resources and to sign up for my fr.ee audio mini-seminar “7 Simple Steps to Create Your Multiple Streams of In-come “Money and Soul” Business.

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