No business can succeed without clarity in five basic areas. Clarity in these areas will help you get to the true heart of who you are, so that you can confidently and boldly step out to do the work you have been called to do. Clarity will help you find the words to market effectively, so that you can naturally and authentically attract more clients. I will be honest, either you have clarity or you don’t. You cannot move forward without clarity in these areas

1. Know and value who you ARE-  It may sound simplistic but this foundational piece is absolutely essential. It’s more than just seeing and understanding your gifts, it’s VALUING what you really give to people. Success isn’t “out there somewhere”, it lies within you. When you are clear about who you are at your core and what your gifts are, you can build your business on a solid foundation…YOU!

2. Know what your designed brilliance is- You are specially gifted in specific areas but underneath your gift(s) lies your brilliance. Your brilliance is the thing that makes you remarkable and distinct from everyone else who does what you do. This goes deeper than just the services you offer; it is the work you really do with your clients. Discovering and putting your brilliance into your own words will serve as a foundation for developing your business or ministry.

3. Know what your vision is- You need to have a clear vision for your business. What is it that you are trying to create? Take time to unpackage your vision. Write it down; get very specific. It may change over time, that’s okay. Let your vision pull you forward. Make sure your vision is in alignment with who you are. Your business needs to “fit” you.

4. Know who your clients are-  There is a target market and ideal client that you are best suited to serve! Get really clear on who your ideal clients are. Zero in on them and get to know them inside and out. Ask them questions. What fears do they have? What struggles do they consistently come up against? What problem are they looking to solve?

5. Know HOW you are going to serve them- The better you know your clients, the better you can serve them. You are the solution to your ideal clients’ problem. What would they come to you for? Why you, as opposed to someone else? What ONE thing will you be known for?

Your business will not feel fulfilling to you if you do not allow your personality, your passions, and your gift to shine through. It must absolutely resonate with you first. When it does, you will feel aligned and on purpose. You want your business to sizzle, to have the “wow” factor, so it stands out from all the rest. That is why it is so important to have this clarity. If you need help finding out what your brilliance is, I would be glad to help.

Doreen Penner, Coach and Mentor, teaches solo-professionals and others, how to have absolute clarity in designing a business around their brilliance so that they can naturally and authentically attract more clients, make more money doing what they love. Doreen is known for “holding space and safety” for clients to discover and explore who they really are, see their value, and to really OWN their true gifts so they can step into their personal power and build a profitable business. Doreen teaches a step by step system to show service professionals how to make great money doing what they are called to do. You can find out more at www.groupedgelifecoach.com

What does it really mean to join? It is a short simple word that if embraced more fully and more often might just be the ticket to getting unstuck.  Do you have something you’ve been meaning to do but haven’t because you’re not sure if you’re fully ready to make the commitment?  Is there something you’ve got brewing in your soul and you just haven’t joined the other big players yet because you’re scared or think you don’t measure up? Are you waiting until you are more organized or better prepared before you take the chance?  Take a moment to consider what joining something now could do for you and your dreams.

J:  JUMP

O:  ON

I:   IN

N:  NOW

We all know how invigorating your first jump can be but oh so scary at the same time.  This is usually the hardest step and many times is the one that takes the longest to make.  We stay caught up in our heads with the “what if’s” that we’ve dreamt up as if we “know” what obstacles might come our way.  We very well might be worrying about things that won’t even happen.  Worst case scenario, should the obstacle or challenge you have been worrying about present itself, you are now wiser and more prepared for whatever comes your way because you’re actually “living” it instead of only “thinking about” it.  It is in the living we are able to create the knowing.  We know this concept well, we learn best by doing.  It is when we do things new that knowledge becomes crystalized in our brains and we are able to develop a new normal.  If dreams stay only in our minds, we remain exactly the same.

So are you ready to JUMP ON IN NOW or are you going to create another excuse about why it needs to be later?  If in your heart you know today it’s time for you to JOIN and connect with other women for support, reach out for help, hire the coach, make the call, send that email, write the first chapter, go to that event, create a movement, be part of the conversation- please do it today and never look back.  Start small if you have to, but JOIN in on action somewhere today!!

As a solution focused clinician in mental health for over a decade, Laurie’s passion to remain in the helping profession inspired her to create her coaching company supporting people to act in the direction of their dreams by getting organized, prioritizing action plans, and using unique gifts and talents to create passionate legacies.   Laurie is also a professional singer songwriter who has shared her music nationwide after the release of her Debut Album “Call it a feeling” recorded in Nashville in 2007.  Laurie continues to share her motivational music and message of DIVA living to women and girls groups.  To receive Laurie’s free song “To be Happy” and companion DIVA living workbook visit: http://www.LifeCoachLaurie.com

Are you in the midst of a transition, personal or business change?   Perhaps you find yourself in an unexpected loss or stubborn relationship issue. If so, there may very well be some ‘desert crossings’ you’ll inevitably need to make in order to reach your desired oasis of resolved issues, completed transitions or positive fresh change.

The situation, transition or change you face may seem like a vast desert at times ~~ forlorn, lonely, endless and virtually uninhabited.   Yet, there you find yourself. So what’s an innovative person to do in this unwelcomed desert expanse?

Time to set up a tent, of course!

And if you are going to be a good tent-dweller, however temporary, here are a few guidelines.   Remember, tents are temporary, provide limited shelter, but work well for intermittent life ‘camping out’ experiences.

• Know your tent-time is temporary. Since problems and change are part of your desert trip, pitch your tent, purpose to dwell and ponder well.  Ask the tough questions of yourself, of others and of God.

• Confidently expect change.  Don’t get too cozy in the tent-dwelling mode.  Snoop around outside the tent, you may spy some other passers-by that could give some sage advice, wise counsel and much needed friendship.   Take in and absorb what you need —trusting and knowing that change is imminent.  Problems will resolve.  Relationships heal.   The winds of change always come.

• When the winds of change come—purpose your heart to yield.   The wind gusts at times may prove a bit unsettling.   Yet trust this fresh wind to move you and your situation for the better.  Contrary to what may seem logical or feel safe, choose not to hunker down in the tent.  The wind is here!  It is time to pull up stakes, pack up the tent, load your proverbial camel and MOVE ON. You may need sand goggles and have to deal with a bit of sand grit in your teeth, but you are on the move!  Remember, the wind is in your favor!

So, as you see, when you purpose to view your tent-dwelling time as temporary, confidently expect change and yield to the wind of purposeful change,  there will be positive movement, some surprising unexpected solutions and much personal progress and satisfaction.  You may also experience a healing or two.

You will undoubtedly have some success stories, as well as sage advice of your own to share with your particular world, as you reach your much sought after oasis.  Dwell well my friend!

Coachpreneur™ Judyann, your ‘Brilliant Life by Divine Design™’ Coach-Mentor-Insights Specialist, is a multi-faceted creative entrepreneur dovetailing marketplace and ministry for transformational success.  Anointed for business~~career highlights include over $85 million in nationally awarded and recognized real estate new home sales, gleaned marketing expertise, training and recruiting spanning a 15+ year success career.    Anointed for ministry~~Judyann’s ‘divine design’ spiritual path and passion, opened doors for training, equipping and release in transformational and inner healing, prophetic  ministry and intercessory prayer, leadership and mentorship.  Gifted as a prophetic visionary-seer, insightful inspirational voice, wisdom mentor and creative entrepreneur, Coachpreneur™ Judyann through coaching, mentoring, consulting with empowerment  resources provides a breakthrough atmosphere, empathetically provokes change as you uncover, discover and recover your authentic self, abundant life, and joy-filled path of claiming and releasing your God-given ‘blueprint giftings’ to the world!

Bear

When you don’t have children, the world is different.  My dog Bear became my furry child in 1999, my first dog ever.  You see, growing up we were a “cat family”, and then I had cats of my own when I was in college and grad school.

But in 1999, I had gotten a “real job” at a hospital, and decided that I was not going to wait for a man or marriage, and purchased a house all by myself.   And this led me to be willing and able to get my first dog too.  Bear was from the “foster to adopt” program and I adopted him when he was 6 months old.  He was already named Bear and so we kept that name.

We spent the last 13 years together and he just went home to doggy heaven on April 3^rd at 13.5 years of age.  I miss him so very much!!   It has been a difficult year of transition as I went through a divorce last summer and now losing my little “child” has really rocked my world.  For the last week I have had many moments of intense grief where I truly felt as if I had lost my entire family…and in fact, that is my truth.   So for me to heal, it is important to write.  I want you to know Bear from my perspective and to hear the 13 things that he taught me during our 13 years together.

1. Don’t bark if you don’t need to.  Bear was such a quiet dog.  I really only think I    heard him bark a few times each year.  He would bark if a stranger came to the door unexpectedly, but really not much else got him talking.  From this, I have learned that there is no need to “BARK” at people or get mean just to get attention.

2. Sleep is fun.  As we all know, dogs love to sleep and Bear was no different.  But it is     an important lesson to learn in the fact that we all need time to turn OFF and close our eyes.   We need time to rest, rejuvenate and recover.  This has never been more evident to me than it is at this moment.  This year has been full of sleepless nights and hours of insomnia.  I am ready to get some sleep. 

3. Eat what you love.  Bear ate the strangest things including peas, chocolate, shoes, socks, and even some of my lipsticks when I first got him.  Most recently it had been socks, the long trouser socks.  Let me tell you, when they come back up, it is not pretty….in fact, I thought he had eaten a snake.  NOPE.  Trouser sock.  I think he managed to eat about 7 or 8 of them this last year.  YUMMY!  I have learned to eat what I love to…and often that means something non-traditional but that works for me.  See the carrot video HERE!

4. Moving is an adventure.  Bear moved a lot with my ex-husband and me.  We started in Spokane, WA, then to San Antonio, TX, then to our current location Wichita Falls, TX.  In all of those locations, he lived in 9 different homes as we moved, rented, etc.   Bear was totally happy in every place, excited as we drove down the road, ready to “settle in” once we got there.   During one of our last moves, Bear was sick of watching us pack the UHaul and I think he was a tad bit worried that we might leave him behind. So he finally got into the Uhaul and sat down.

5. Walking is exciting.  Bear sure did love his walks with his dad Robert each night.  They would go around the neighborhood and have adventures, with new smells and new goodies to be found.  We all need to keep moving, keep walking, and keep taking good care of our bodies, just like a dog.

6. Don’t play games if you don’t enjoy them.  Bear had no idea how to fetch or play catch….and he really seemed to feel no need to learn.   I tried to teach him or “play” with him many times over the years.  Nope.  He was just not “into it” at all.  So I let him off the hook.  No need to play those silly games anyway.

7. Follow those you love.  He followed me back and forth throughout the house all day long.  To the kitchen and back to the office.  To the bedroom and back to the office.  Here and there. And he was always close by when I was doing my coaching calls, leading webinars, teaching a group.  Be willing to follow the people you love and learn from them.

8. Be true to yourself.  Be who you are. Bear was just himself.  He did want he wanted, when he wanted.   He was authentic and flawed, and fabulous.

9. Find a comfy spot and rest.  Bear was a constant companion to me as I moved my office back home and set up shop.  I got him a giant old comforter that was not being used and had it folded up into a mock bed for him and he just loved that spot.  I am learning from him to find my own “comfy spots” and let them be a great place to rest.

10. Spend time with your friends.  Bear had a friend named Carson who he had the joy of staying overnight with, when we were out of town.  He loved Carson and they got along great, having similar temperaments.   It is crucial and non-negotiable for me to spend time with my friends.  I must do it.

11. Sit on your front porch.  In his last year with me, I had moved to a house that has a cute front porch.  We enjoyed sitting out there together watching the birds, cats, people, and trees.  In honor of Bear, I am committed to doing this more often.  Sometimes we just need to sit, not in front of the TV or the computer. But in our front yard, or back yard.

12. Ask for what you need.  Bear knew how to ask for treats, or to go outside, or whatever it was that he was wanting from me.  This is a crucial lesson that I am.  That I cannot assume you know what I need, or that you can read my mind.  Nor should you have to guess what I am thinking or feeling.

13. Love unconditionally.  He looked like a puppy even in his last years…in fact, so much so that no one ever believed that he was 13, they always thought he was a puppy.  He was always waiting for me to come home.  He loved me with no agenda, letting me cry when I needed to, or talk to him.  Or just sit in silence.  He was my constant companion for 13 years.  I love him and miss him every day.

So as I let go of my furry child and know that he is waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge, I am sad, and yet comforted.  He had a wonderful life.  We had more years than many are given that have a furry child.  He will always be with me in my heart.

My life was forever changed by this little dog named Bear, my first dog.

Diane Cunningham is the Founder and President of the National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs. She is a “business therapist”, plane crash survivor, author, consultant, speaker, marathon runner, and fun friend.
Find out more about NACWE and why 165 women joined in the first year at www.NACWE.org. Connect with Diane at www.facebook.com/DianeCunningham for fun updates, silly videos, and lively conversation.

Even snails have a purpose, don’t they?  I had been thinking of my business as running a race.  I wanted to cross the goal line.  Of course patience is not one of my virtues, so that did nothelp.  I was grumbling and complaining to my sister, that when it came to my business, I wasn’t where I wanted to be.   I determined, “I must be called to be a snail”!

My sister’s response startled me.  “Snails leave an imprint.  Think about how many lives you have impacted (referring to my past work as a counsellor).  You have made a lasting imprint on many people’s hearts.   Other people are too hurried to take the time to make the difference you’ve made.  You’re thinking of it the wrong way.  Snails leave a trail.  Look at the trail you’ve made in the type of work you’ve done.  Most people don’t want to do your line of work”.

Her statement brought tears to my eyes because, now as a coach, that’s what I DO!  I give space and safety for people to discover their true SELVES and find their authentic voice.  I hear and help them see what their heart really wants!  That’s my brilliance work, and no, you can’t rush the process.  Each person has a pace of their own.  I get the sheer pleasure of experiencing their delight, as they give voice to their heart, and discover who they really are at their core.  Now THAT is deeply meaningful work for me.

My sister’s reply reminded me to value the work that I do with my clients.  Sometimes we forget to honor our own gifts until people point them out to us again.    I think as entrepreneurs we focus so much on “growing our business” we forget that “what we DO matters”.

I got so caught up with moving ahead that I forgot to celebrate the distance I’ve made.  I might not have covered much ground, but I have covered deep ground, which is where the true reward lies.  No, I will never look at a snail in quite the same way again.  Yes, I am proud to be a snail!  Take it from me; value the work you are here to do.  I mean REALLY value it.

 

Doreen Penner, Coach and Mentor, teaches solo-professionals and others, how to have absolute clarity in designing a business around their brilliance so that they can naturally and authentically attract more clients, make more money doing what they love. Doreen is known for “holding space and safety” for clients to discover and explore who they really are, see their value, and to really OWN their true gifts so they can step into their personal power and build a profitable business.

Doreen teaches a step by step system to show service professionals how to make great money doing what they are called to do. You can find out more at www.GroupEdgeLifeCoach.com.

Sometimes all of the challenges that accompany the pursuit of purpose and greatness make me wish I could settle for a mediocre life.   While I am grateful for all the gifts God has placed in me, sometimes the pressure and the responsibility can be a bit overbearing.   In those times, I ask myself – what if I just give up?   What if I settle for a life of “just enough”?   What if I stop pressing forward and exist right where I am?   That wouldn’t be so bad.   Mediocre is average and would get me a passing grade.   Why strive for the “A”, when the “C” will also get me to the next level?   Is the extra effort necessary?

Yes, it absolutely is.   Why?   Because we serve a God that is above and beyond all; who came into this world so we may have life and life abundantly.  We serve a God who sent his son to bear our sins so we can have eternal life.  We a serve a God who dwells in us so that we can live righteous.   Once you know that and accept it in your life, it becomes very hard to accept “less than”.  Yes, it is hard to push through the norm and yes it is often lonely to go against the grain.  I agree a life of discipline is hard but I am sure crucifixion wasn’t a party either.   This means that Jesus understands our struggle and He has also shown us we can push through it and rise above it.

Try as you may, average is not for you.   You can settle there but you will not find peace there.    You are a lighthouse and you are meant to shine.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16

A lover of the continuous improvement, Tiffany Lymon has naturally fallen into the roles of business owner, coach, speaker and mom.   Each of these roles enables her to learn more about herself and to nurture others in the process.    Through her education and experiences, she has developed a passion for Marketing, Social Media, Business and Personal Growth.   Most of her work involves sharing tools, resources and information in these key areas to help others launch their gifts.   She strives to grow her business into one that holistically supports business women nationwide.   To join the mailing list for updates on tools and resources visit http://www.pearlsinpursuit.com or http://www.facebook.com/TiffanyInspires.com

As a songwriter, I have been known to experience writers block on occasion.  On July 20^th 2011, I was struggling to find a reason to write, yet was feeling a strong urge to do so and didn’t want to ignore the feeling in my gut.  Typically, when I’m writing a song, I have a melody in mind or a thought or situation I’d like to build upon and it usually just goes from there.  However, this particular day I knew I was feeling creative but couldn’t find the spark within me to get the ball rolling.  So I took my urge to Facebook and entered a status stating: “Feeling inspired to do some writing today… Anyone have ideas about song ideas/ themes/ words to build a song around?? Want to see if anything someone says triggers different parts of my creativity!!”

My status update resulted in many subsequent comments from various Facebook friends that did just what I was hoping, inspire me!  It appeared to be fun for the people answering too.  There having fun with it made it a more meaningful process as well. The very comment that struck a cord with me was from our very own NACWE founder Diane Cunningham with the words: “Invite. Connect. Find. Love. Seek. Follow. Capture.”  My response back was: “Thanks Diane… I write a lot about Dreams/ God’s mission for me/ Love/ relationships too… I’m liking the word Seek and Capture for some reason. I’m gonna play with it. Capture what I wonder?? Hmmm….. I really like invite too.. Any more ideas on this??”

What I learned from that day is, what is meant to resonate with us will when we are truly interested in seeking answers. So whether we are writing songs, articles, or copy for products and services, we must not be afraid to ask for help in jolting our own creativity every now and then.  The creative process can then be less about putting pressure on ourselves and more about just having fun!

If you are anything like I am, you put a great deal of pressure on yourself to be at your most creative all the time.  You also tend to have high expectations of yourself when it comes to your business. Sometimes, we simply need a boost in the direction we are heading to get clear and let the magic happen.  I am glad I asked that question that day.  Without it this particular song would have never been born.  How awesome is that?  What question will you ask today to become more inspired and clear?