I hear entrepreneurs refer to their business as their �baby� all the time. Sure, why not? It�s precious to us, it�s a lot of work, and it�s a part of who we are. Imagine if your business could thank you, like someday you hope your children do. What would it say to you? I can only imagine�..

From your business�.

You gave birth to me one day, long ago. I was the sparkle in your eye, an idea growing inside of you, impatient for the day when I would become a reality.

I know that I�m not an easy child. I know that I�m demanding and always hungry for your attention. Thank you for staying up with me into the wee hours of the night and carrying me with you everywhere you go. I�m your most demanding child, yet you nurture and care for me like no one else ever could. Thank you for feeding me with your creativity, passion, and endless devotion.

I wish to give you something in return. I wish to give you the gift of freedom; I wish to give you something for which you will be forever proud; I wish to give you security and financial independence. Mostly, I wish to give you the means to help others as you do so well � and the satisfaction of knowing that this world is a better place because of you � because of us.

Perhaps I�m still too small to give you all of that right now, but we�ll grow together. Please know that gratitude comes in many forms and while I may not give back to you in the ways you expect, there is a gift in every moment that we spend together. Like the child you hold close to your heart I will bring you joy, even in the most trying of times. Thank you for being you.

Hostess gifts aren�t the only thank you gifts we carry with us on Thanksgiving Day. In the midst of the shopping, menu planning, organizing, and housecleaning, we sometimes forget that Thanksgiving isn�t really about the food, but about giving thanks � and the benefits of gratitude are many.

For some, giving thanks is a pure and simple prayer at the dinner table; and it�s important to stop and count our blessings on this special day. This year, take notice of how you feel as you concentrate on giving thanks for your good health, your family and friends, and all of the other important aspects of your life. Do you feel lighter? Is your spirit elevated? Are you smiling a little more than usual?

Gratitude does, indeed, raise our energy level. It�s the most powerful energy that the body can produce because it has the ability to create joy. If you live in gratitude 365 days a year, your life will change drastically. I don�t mean in just the way you feel, but also in what is happening around you. You will literally find yourself manifesting your dreams.

Why? Because we are made of energy, and so is everything around us. We are like magnets that are programmed to attract like-kind energy. So if you feel bad most of the time, the things that come into your life will match the way you feel. If you feel good, then the things that happen in your life will feel good to you. This is a simple version of what we call The Law of Attraction, but beginning with the basics will get you strong results.

So, if you�ve attracted things that don�t feel so good, or you want your life to get even better, try feeling gratitude � and the joy that comes with it � many times throughout your day. Begin with 20 seconds, 3 times a day. Close your eyes, focus on your heart, and think about something that brings joy to your heart. Hold that elevated emotion for a mere 20 seconds and notice how it affects you. Ahhhh, feels good doesn�t it?

Go ahead, take this challenge, and let me know how it feels after 30 days. The changes will probably be subtle at first; you may feel less stress or a bit more energy. But over time, I think you�ll be surprised at the gift that gratitude itself will bring into your life.

Singin� the Work at Home Blues? Jazz It Up With Feedback from These Successful WAH Stars�

All of us who work from home know that it can have its pitfalls. That doesn�t mean we�re not grateful, or that we�re ready to throw in the towel, but this coach will be the first to say that life at home 24/7 doesn�t always rock. There are days that I find myself singin� the work at home � WAHhhh � blues!

Last week we got great feedback from 3 of my successful entrepreneurs. Here are 3 more - I hope you’ll add your feedback and ideas as well!

______________________________________________________________

Barbara Rozgonyi
Founder, CoryWest Media, LLC
Wired PR Works

Q -� What is the greatest recurring work-at-home challenge you have encountered?

Barbara�s Answer: Recruiting and organizing a virtual team to seamlessly deliver integrated marketing communications and pr projects.

Q -� What solutions have been most effective in combating the challenge?

Barbara�s Answer: Developing a systematic approach for every client and their projects helps keep the team on the same track. Using a Hollywood casting approach allows us to match the right people to the right roles as writers, designers or consultants for each project. Expanding your team beyond you is key if you want to grow and take on bigger projects.

Q -� What is the greatest work-at-home challenge you encountered during your first 6-months in business in your home office?

Barbara�s Answer: Getting enough clients to start my business from the ground up.

Q - What solutions were most effective in combating the challenge?

Barbara�s Answer: After choosing a name, CoryWest Marketing Communications [after my mother and grandmother] to sound like a real company, I decided to play off of my corporate sales training experience and focus on the healthcare industry. So, I picked up the phone and started making calls to introduce my company to hospitals, home health care agencies and insurance companies. On each call, I offered to send them my quarterly newsletter with updates about the latest in health care communications. It worked! My first cold call turned out to be one of my best clients. Our relationship lasted for six years.

______________________________________________________________

Deb Villarese
President, Bella Well Lifestyles
follow Deb on Twitter @debvillarese

Q -� What is the greatest recurring work-at-home challenge you have encountered?

Deb�s Answer: Needing order in my life and surroundings. Years ago, I wanted everything perfect. ( beds made, dishes done etc) Then I came to the strong realization that what I was really doing was procrastinating and avoiding what I needed to do, which was to pick up the phone or write the article, or prepare the speech�����..

Q -� What solutions have been most effective in combating the challenge?

Deb�s Answer: I had to decide that I had a real job and set a time that I had to show up at the office. Whether the things around the house were done or not. IF there had to be a change in time, then it had to be made up. Just like if a boss required 8 hours a day. I had a 12 hour time span to fit the hours into MY schedule.

Q -� What is the greatest work-at-home challenge you encountered during your first 6-months in business in your home office?

Deb�s Answer: The purpose of working at home is to have more control over my life. Once I got the hang of working at home, I found that my business was running me, rather than me running my business. It all came down to total time management.

Q - What solutions were most effective in combating the challenge?

Deb�s Answer: I have set hours I work. I usually take Friday afternoon�s off. I work 2-3 nights, but I don�t have those carved in stone. They are flexible. I call those evening hours the golden hours because that is the time which I have the most success finding people available to participate in web cast, conference calls and the like. IN summary - Time management, and discipline to myself and my business. BALANCE it ALL.

______________________________________________________________

VALERIE G JONES
Pre-Paid Legal

Q -� What is the greatest recurring work-at-home challenge you have encountered?

Valerie�s Answer: Balancing my time between appointments and phone call/follow-up time to get appointments. I can get so busy on appointments, then I have a slump because I haven�t set aside time to make new appointments.

Q -� What solutions have been most effective in combating the challenge?

Valerie�s Answer: Set blocks of time that are only available to do follow-up phone calls and treat that phone time as appointments and make that time unavailable for appointments.

Q -� What is the greatest work-at-home challenge you encountered during your first 6-months in business in your home office?

Valerie�s Answer: It was easy to put off work tasks or do personal tasks during work time.

Q - What solutions were most effective in combating the challenge?

Valerie�s Answer: Treat my business like a job and set goals for the day, the week and the month. Prioritize the items and do the �A� items (urgent and important) before �B� items (important but not urgent) and �C� items.

Singin� the Work at Home Blues? Jazz It Up With Feedback from These Successful WAH Stars…

Many of us who work from home know that it can have its pitfalls. That doesn�t mean we�re not grateful, or that we�re ready to throw in the towel, but this coach will be the first to say that life at home 24/7 doesn�t always rock. There are days that I find myself singin� the work at home � WAHhhh � blues!

So - I reached out to a group of successful WAH business owners with 4 quick questions. I hope you enjoy � and benefit from � a few words from the wise!

_______________________________________________________________

Patti Dobrowolski
Chief, Strategy & Creative Design
Alchemy: The Art of Transforming Business
Follow Patti on twitter @pdobrowolski

Q -� What is the greatest recurring work-at-home challenge you have encountered?

Patti’s Answer: Getting caught up in email and surfing on line when I need to be focusing on creating or delivering client work or developing new business

Q -� What solutions have been most effective in combating the challenge?

Patti’s Answer: I went to this 3 tiered system:
Focus Day: During this day, email gets checked 2 x a day and not first thing! You are working directly with clients.
Buffer Day: On this day you are preparing for your delivery days, you can also do business development, and return key emails
Rest Day:

Q -� What is the greatest work-at-home challenge you encountered during your first 6-months in business in your home office?

Patti’s Answer: What is the greatest work-at-home challenge you encountered during your first 6-months in business in your home office?
Making sure that I didn’t cut the grass and clean the house instead of focus in my office.

Q - What solutions were most effective in combating the challenge?

Patti’s Answer: Set and keep a schedule. I’m a list person, so I make a list for the day and check things off as I complete them. I understand now that I have a short attention span for deep projects to I do the HARD stuff first and the secondary stuff last. Since I am a competitive cyclist, I reward myself with the completion of my task list by going for a training ride!

_______________________________________________________________

Ilene Segal
Founder | Creative Director
baby idesign
www.babyidesign.com

ILene’s Answer: Isolation. It was a big adjustment going from an office filled with people, some of whom were my closest friends, to being in a small NYC apartment alone, all day long. Six years later and its still a challenge.

Q -� What solutions have been most effective in combating the challenge?

ILene’s Answer: The good news is that when you’re alone all day, your anxious to get out at night. I love to go for a run after work, go to the gym and/or socialize with friends in an effort to have human contact. Unlike most people who are tired after work and just want to go home, I’ve actually taken this opportunity to get in shape and be more social.

Q -� What is the greatest work-at-home challenge you encountered during your first 6-months in business in your home office?

ILene’s Answer: While it may sound silly, maintaining my sense of style. I went from a glammy job where I wore great clothes and accessories every day, to being alone in the apt, where it�s easy to fall into the pitfalls of no make up and pajamas daily.

Q - What solutions were most effective in combating the challenge?

ILene’s Answer:I remember when I first started my business, every person would say to me “oh you’re so lucky, you can work in your pajamas all day.” I hated that. I believe in the look good, feel good theory. And I do not believe in wearing sweatpants just because I work from home. I have coined my new style as “comfortable chic!” I’ve even implemented dress up day where every Wednesday my assistant and I dress up in either a skirt or dress. Even if I’m in the apartment all day, I feel good and more productive in a dress. You learn to be creative for inspiration when you’re alone a lot of the day.

_______________________________________________________________

Brad Shorr
Founder of the award-winning blog, Word Sell, Inc

Q -� What is the greatest recurring work-at-home challenge you have encountered?

Brad’s Answer: Working in a vacuum. Like Gregory House on the TV program “House”, I need to bounce ideas around with people to be at my creative best.

Q -� What solutions have been most effective in combating the challenge?

Brad’s Answer: I look everywhere for opportunities to collaborate, and continue cultivating relationships with people I’ve worked with in the past.

Q -� What is the greatest work-at-home challenge you encountered during your first 6-months in business in your home office?

Brad’s Answer: Deciding whether to go whole hog in one direction or try a variety of business models all at the same time. I’d go back and forth between one approach and the other, which pretty much guaranteed nothing would work.

Q - What solutions were most effective in combating the challenge?

Brad’s Answer: First, I gave myself permission to stumble. Then, I sought out help and input from people I knew, trusted, and had been successful in ways that I wanted to excel. Finally, I learned to be patient. Business plans need time to ripen.

_______________________________________________________________

Have you launched a new website or product lately? Hosting an event or won an award? Are you speaking at the local library or Rotary Club? If so, your local news wants to know�.really they do!

Small business owners often feel intimidated or uncertain about submitting press releases. If that�s you, just stop it now! It�s time for your 15 minutes of fame.

Writing a press release isn�t as tricky as you might think; thinking of a newsworthy topic doesn�t have to stop you either. Let�s look at some of the common myths about press releases and next week we�ll go through the how to behind the art of an effective press release.

Myth 1. Press Releases are for the Big Guys

So you don�t have a marketing and PR division, that�s no reason to think you can�t submit regular press releases. If you�re not into writing copy, outsource it. There are plenty of copywriters out there who can put a spin on just about anything. And yes, you and your company are newsworthy. Don�t devalue what you�ve achieved, you�re a business owner and the local press loves a good success story.

Myth 2. I Tried That Once and They Didn�t Write About Me, Why Bother?

Once? You tried it once? Guess what? It can take months of submitting releases before the press bites, but once they do they�ll come back for more. When I owned my coffeehouse, I submitted at least one release a week to the local press. It took about 6 months, but soon they realized that there was always something cool going on at The Fat Bean. They also caught on that I knew a lot of people and had tons of resources. Within my first year of business I began receiving calls from the press at least twice a week � and my business was featured at least once a month, often more. We were just a coffeehouse; we were the darlings of the press. Submit, submit, submit. Soon your logo will become a familiar beacon for a good story.

Myth 3. I�ll Never Figure Out Where to Send These Things

Ask your VA or even a savvy friend to check out all of your local press outlets and find the name and email address of the editors in charge of the sections that would be relevant to your business. For my coffeehouse, I submitted to the editor in chief, as well as the entertainment editor, the food critic, the local business and the local scene editors. Don�t forget local magazines, nearby towns and communities, and television. Your list should be pretty lengthy, much like having a large mailing list for your on line marketing.

Myth 4. It�s Not Worth the Trouble

Well, if you have a business that doesn�t enjoy or benefit from publicity, it�s not worth the trouble. Otherwise, having your name in the press adds credibility to your business, creates a buzz, and might even bring new customers. When you get a write up, scan it, and put it on the �about us� or �media� section of your website. I can�t count the ways it�s �worth the trouble.�

Myth 5. There�s Nothing to Write About

One of my clients landed a contract writing content for a large corporation who�s headquartered in our area. I suggested she write a press release about it and she was baffled. After all, why would they care? �Local work-at-home Mom works for BIGCOMPANY, Inc in her pajamas.� One of the local papers liked that concept enough to call her for an interview and she was featured in the �People You Should Know� section. Now, she�s writing press releases for other companies as well. All because we took a simple piece of information, put a fun spin on it, added a touch of the human interest angle, and took a chance.
Tip: Remember to combine personal tidbits (when appropriate) to spice up your story. In this case my client was a single mom who lost her job and started her own business. A nice human interest story.

Next week we�ll talk about formatting your press release. Meanwhile, I would suggest making a list of your recent �wins� and other items that may be of interest to your hometown publications. Need help? Ask questions here on Ask The Coach.

Add a more professional edge to your printed marketing material. Don�t forget to enter the SparkPlugging Espon printer contest! Hurry! The deadline looms!

When I take on a new client, I ask them to fill out a questionnaire before we begin working together. One of the questions is: �Success means different things to different people; what does success mean to you?�

It seems like a pretty basic question at first glance, but when you really think about it, it’s fairly loaded. Your answer might sum up why you chose the business you did, how you feel about your family, what global issues are important to you, how important your physical and mental health is, what money means to you, and more. I�ve learned that very few successful business owners will describe success simply as running a profitable business. In fact, that is often one of the last things mentioned. The business is typically a means to the end; a way to accommodate values that represent whole life balance.

Another interesting and telling point is that many of the people who answer this question are thinking about it for the first time. Now I ask you, how can you possibly achieve success if you don�t know what success means to you? If you don�t even know what success is? It�s like trying to achieve goals that you�ve never set! Achieving clarity around your definition of success is a great start to growing a successful business and living a balanced life.

As an entrepreneur, success is probably one of your top values; one of the things that is most important to you in the world. So give this question some serious consideration. Ask yourself, �What is important about success to me? How do I define success?� Remember, this is YOUR definition, not that of society as a whole. This is all about YOU � Yay!

Now, if you respond by saying that you must have a profitable business and be highly regarded in your field, that�s great. But I challenge you to look at the bigger picture. If you achieve those things, but don�t have any time to spend with your friends and family, will you feel successful? How about philanthropic activities? Will you feel successful if you can�t devote time and money to causes that are important to you? Or � I don�t know � say� if your company adds to the effects of global warming? What if you feel and act like a total Scrooge to keep your company profitable and you don�t treat others in a way that�s in harmony with your ideal values � in the way you like to be treated? Will you feel successful if you make a profit, but have to work 12-hours a day to do it? Some people would say yes, some would not. And that�s ok. Remember, this is YOUR definition of success.

Well, you get the idea. Knowing what success means to you today will help you to build your ideal company tomorrow. Your company is an extension of you; identify and define your most important values and apply them to the way you run your company and live your life � inside and outside of work. This is a critical layer in the foundation of a sound business and a happy lifestyle. So, hello, my name is Marla and I’d like to ask you a question: What does success mean to you?

Going to this year�s BlogWorld (enjoy the pics) was a real treat for me. First of all, it was my very first blogging conference � yay! Secondly, it was paid for by our wonderful sponsor, Epson � yay again! The list goes on and on: I met most of the other SparkPlugging authors, what a great group and great time. I got to spend a good chunk of time with my dearest friend in the world, Wendy Piersall. I love her more each time I see her! We had a fantastic travel experience on Southwest Airlines � you won�t believe it when you watch this video! And of course, I met some of the most amazing people and listened to information-packed presentations. A number of fun-filled, information-filled experiences all tied up in one tidy package named BlogWorld.

I have to mention that there was a downside; the Sahara Hotel was the most god-forsaken place I�ve ever stayed. But the upside is that I�m now willing to try camping. I figure if I can survive 4 nights at the Sahara, I can deal with doing dishes in river water and peeing in the woods. See, I even learned that I possess greater survival skills than I would have thought!

But I brought home more than that. I have to admit that, prior to this conference, I didn�t fully understand the power behind blogging and other social media outlets. I was a twit about Twitter, I didn�t understand the level of relationship building that these resources offer, and I had a limited scope of understanding about on-line marketing. I had the honor of doing several interviews with people who get it�.and teach it. And each time I walked away with a 100-watt light bulb glowing above my head�and it feels great. I could go on and on about the things I learned and the people I met, but today let�s talk about how to keep the light bulb bright by creating and following through on the action plan.

I�ve come home with tons of insight, information, and a goals list the length of my arm. Now, how do I assimilate, process and take action? Isn�t that what we all face when we complete a workshop, seminar, or conference? Urrgghh! It�s so overwhelming! Here�s the process I use when I learn a lot of new stuff and want to put it into action. It takes away the feeling of being overwhelmed and helps me feel good about what I�ve learned. If you have something to add to the list, please do!

• Create a bulleted list of the most significant takeaways and AhHa moments.
• Divide the business into chunks; products, services, public speaking, and future products, services and growth plans.
• Now list your tools; blogs, marketing resources, on-line marketing/websites, social media outlets, email lists, etc
• Cross-reference your conference takeaways with each individual piece of your business. What will you add, change, and phase out? For instance, I�ve learned more about the value of interviews so I�m adding one interview per month to my SparkPlugging blog. I came to grips with the value of Twitter, so I�m building short snippets of time into my day to participate and TwitterFeed my blog posts. And I learned more about the power behind FaceBook, so I�m going to create a presence there and add that to my list of resources/tools. Obviously, since this was a blogging conference, most of these fall into the on-line marketing section of my business. But I also have ideas for the products and services pieces of my business and I�ve built those ideas and the research behind them into my plan.
• Next make a goals list with targeted dates for completion and each step you will take. Don�t forget to build in time for your learning curve. It�s important not to set yourself up for failure.
• Do one thing at a time! This is important. When I came home last week I felt anxious and frustrated. I felt like I was behind the trend and would never catch up. How was I going to make these enhancements to my business overnight? The answer is obvious; I can�t. This process helped me create balance and resume my more natural state of calm, confidence, and orderly thinking. That�s the state I need to be in to create change.

This may sound like a lot of work, but frankly, it took me about two hours to achieve. When you separate and cross-reference, it�s easier and less overwhelming. Now I have a list of steps that I refer to each day and I don�t have to decide or think about what to do. That�s half the battle!

What�s the next educational experience that you plan to embark on? Hopefully, this action plan will help to make your investment of time and money create a strong impact on your business. And remember � have fun doing it!

I’m just back from a week-long retreat and discovered that, while I was away, StomperNet added at least 16 bonues worth over $10,000 to their already amazing FREE offer for Stomping the Search Engines 2.0 and their new Net Effect Journal.

If you’re a business owner with an online presence - or want to start your online presence - and have not yet registered for your free copy of this program, now would be the time. Monday, September 15th is the last day to get the bonues.

Sorry I wasn’t around to get you this info sooner.

Even if you’re reading this after the bonuses have been pulled, you’ll still want to grab your free copy of Stomping the Search Engines 2.0.

And here’s the thing, Search Engine Optimization has never been the top priority in my Internet Marketing strategy. But after watching just the first two modules in Stomping the Search Engines, not only has SEO moved way up on my priority list, but I now have some amazing new tools that will help me in all areas of my Internet Marketing.

Go grab your copy here.

As a small business owner or solo entrepreneur Vision is often an afterthought. But there’s a very good reason why Stephen Covey made the second habit of highly successful people “begin with the end in mind.”

Covey Says:

“‘Begin with the end in mind’ is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There’s a mental or first creation, and a physical or second creation to all things.”

One of your most important tasks as a business owner or entrepreneur is that mental, or first creation that Covey speaks of. You must envision the outcome. You must know what you want for your business. Only then, can you successfully engage in the second, or physical, creation.

When you know where you’re going, you know the direction you need to travel and the the roads you need to take to get there.

Whereas Mark Twain reminded us that “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.”

Far too many businesses, fall into this trap. Because they don’t know where they’re going, every road looks like a good option. And so they end up trying them all, heading this way and that way, circling back and realizing they’ve already been there.

If you’ve ever wondered why your business keeps ending up in the same place, it’s probably because you don’t know where you’re going, you don’t have the end in mind!

Your business vision describes the way you imagine and intend your business to look in five, ten or more years. This vision should engender passion and excitement to keep you moving forward. It motivates you, any employees, and all who come into contact with you and your business to take the inspired actions necessary to attain the vision.

To be effective, your business vision needs to be bold, expansive and inspiring. Think of the phrase that Neale Donald Walsh uses in his Conversations with God series: The Grandest Version of the Greatest Vision you’ve ever had.� That should apply to your business vision.

When formulating your business vision, step outside the box of your own limiting beliefs and the beliefs of those around you. It’s much better to have a business vision that is too grand, too large, too expansive and not achieve it than to be too realistic and limit yourself before you even begin.

It was Michelangelo who said,

The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.

An expansive vision provides you with motivation to keep going. A grand vision, one that clearly and passionately expresses a big dream, can also help call in the support you need to create it. People are attracted to boldness. People want to attach themselves to and support a big dream. Make it yours!

When beginning to work on your business vision, don’t get caught up in style or format. Just start dreaming and writing. Ultimately you may refine these ideas into a formal vision statement.

But for now, let your imagination play and let yourself experience the feelings associated with your big vision.

For a great story about the power of vision, check out this interview that Ryan Higgins did with Frank Kern.

Your vision is the top of the mountain you are climbing. If you know you’re going to the top, you know that if you just keep hiking up, you’ll eventually get there.

But don’t worry… there are always other mountains to climb!

What is your business vision?

If you’ve tried to order your copy of Stomping the Search Engines yesterday you know that they’ve been having some problems over there. Apparently the amount of traffic they received was significantly more than they anticipated (and they anticipated a LOT!) Well they’ve worked out the technical glitches and seem to have their site up and ready to take your order.

If you haven’t already heard, they’re GIVING AWAY the $500 Stomping the Search Engines 2.0 and the $39 first issue of The Net Effect Monthly Action Guide. You’ll just have to pay shipping (and they’re not even marking that up!)

I’ve had a review copy for a couple of weeks, and I can say without hesitation that you’d be insane not to get these amazing resources for free!

If you’ve got a website or are considering launching one, you WANT this information! Go grab your copy of Stomping the Search Engines Now.