Do You Suffer from "Lackofocus" Disease?

Today was my first day to moderate on the Strictly Business Network on RYZE and I blew it! I was late. 5 hours late to be exact! I should have introduced myself at 9 am and immediately tackled a topic that would interest the members of the network. After all, that's my job as a moderator - to promote conversations among members and to be a resource.

Has that ever happened to you? You get so engrossed in what you are doing you forget to show up/take a break/eat/etc.? It's been happening to be a lot lately. So today I posted my comments about the POWER OF FOCUS. Because I really need to start focusing and I know how much it helps me personally and professionally when I do. What about you? Do you have trouble focusing sometimes?

Does it feel like you are constantly going in ten different directions, are you easily distracted, have you really planned what it is you want or should be focusing on, you have a hard time saying no to other peoples requests or favors, does it feel as though sometimes all you want to do is get through the day? If so, then you may be experiencing varying degrees of what I call "lackofocus" disease. When you suffer from lackofocus disease, productivity is down and stress is on the rise. That's the bad news. The good news is that it is curable :).

First you have to Define your Purpose, Set Goals based upon your purpose, and have an "Expiration date" on achieving your goals so you can get closer to fulfilling your purpose.

Here are some tips to get and stay more focused:

Don't say "YES" to anything right away - Take time to assess the request. Then turn down any requests or opportunities that will not help you either achieve your goals, realize your purpose or increase your knowledge. Don't do projects simply because you feel obligated to do them. Pay attention to how you spend your time.

Capitalize on your "productive time." IF you are a morning person, then that is most likely your optimum time to accomplish your goals and you will find yourself more productive in a shorter time frame than forcing yourself to focus on a goal during another time of day. My best time is 10 am to 1pm so that's when I do the important stuff such as writing, planning and working on projects. I use the other times of day to communicate with my colleagues and friends, network, check email and file.

Ask for help - If you find it difficult to stay focused, get a mentor or coach to help keep you on track. Tell her or him about your aspirations, what your current and future goals are and how you plan to achieve them - its amazing how much more you can accomplish with an accountability partner.

Eliminate unnecessary activities - that includes the busy work you do every day that does not help you achieve your goals. Think email - instead of checking email every few minutes try scheduling time during the day to focus only on email - make it during your less productive time.

For one week (or even one day) keep a journal of all the distractions you have faced. Take a good look at the list and decide to eliminate or manage those things that are causing your lackofocus.

Learn to enjoy down-time without feeling "unproductive" - this will re-energize you to begin again. Focus is about Purpose and Determination and Balance. When you get focused, you accomplish more, you feel empowered, not to mention it can really add to your bottom line.

Start with baby steps - if you take on more than you can handle, you will be right back where you started. When planning your goals, break them down into smaller do-able activities then pat yourself on the back as you work through and reach each goal.

If you want to know just how focused you are, take this quiz: http://www.thepoweroffocus.ca/take_our_quiz.asp

What rituals you have for getting (staying) focused? Feel free to share in the comments section of my blog.

BTW, feel free to stop by the Strictly Business Network on RYZE – it’s a brand new network on RYZE run by the visionary, Rima McDonald of Business Resources Podcasting Directory.

Stay focused!

Heidi (getting focused) Richards

This and that for Women and Online Tools Recommendations

When I was surfing the net the other day I came across a few interesting things about and for women and thought I'd share it with my blog buddies ...

The International Museum of Women invites YOU to be a part of Imagining Ourselves, an online global exhibit featuring art, photographs, essays and film by young women in their 20s and 30s answering the question, "What defines your generation?"If you have a story to tell, images to share, a voice that wants to be heard, we welcome your submission. We are accepting film, audio, images and text on these issues: War and Dialogue, Young Men, Motherhood, Image and Identity and for an Online Film Festival. Get to know our exhibit by going to our site and clicking on the Imagining Ourselves exhibit.Read stories, view artwork and film and listen to music and spoken word from the many young women from all around the world.Be inspired. Get involved. Take action.Visit the International Museum of Women online here!



UBS and Wharton Executive Education — Partnering To Support Women in Transition - Are you a professional woman who is returning to the workforce? Jump-start your transition! UBS and Wharton have designed a program to support women returning to the workforce after a career break. This program is designed for women in the process of returning to the workforce. Participants will update their business knowledge, develop transition strategies, and network with business leaders. This highly-selective program is offered at no charge to qualified applicants through funding from UBS.

Online tools I recently discovered ... they're FREE!

Go2It -Do you have tons of links you want on your page but you don't want your page to reach the moon? Get Go2It. It lets you place millions of links in one drop down menu. Not only that, since there is no configuration, it's very easy to setup! And it’s FREE!

Keyword Marketing Buddy v.2.3 is a great tool that lets you compare the popularity of several different key- word groups at once. Enter in a few general keywords, and Keyword Marketing Buddy will generate a list of keywords related to the original keywords and or.der them according to popularity. It will even tell you how many searches each keyword gets a month.

Wurldbook Personal Internet Intelligence is very useful for gathering your own personal intelligence to monitor competitors, monitor news, find opportunities and save time.

Happy Saturday,

Heidi

Redhead Luncheon Cruise to Nowhere on March 8th - Save the DATE!

Are you a redhead? Did you grow up a redhead? Want to meet dozens of other redheads in South Florida? Do you have a favorite childhood story you would like to share with other redheads? Then the Redhead Luncheon is for you! Bring your redhead friends too.
Join us aboard the Carnival Cruise Ship Legend (Port Everglades, Florida) as we share stories, enjoy a great meal and surround ourselves with the beauty of the Legend (and each other).

There will be food, fun and a few surprises!

Cost $25.00 per personTo register please go to www.wecai.org/redhead_cruise.htm

FYI – Carnival requires registration at least 3 weeks prior to the event in order to attend. No Exceptions! RSVP before February 17th!

The Redhead Luncheon event is limited to the first 100 people to attend Don’t delay, RSVP TODAY!

Please forward this SAVE THE DATE invitation to your redhead friends Women and men are invited to attend!

How to build a business from "Scratch" to "Success." Free Webcast Wednesday

On Wednesday, January 24th at 12 Noon Eastern Time the WECAI Network™ is hosting a FREE Webcast. The program is "Going from Part time Business Owner to Full Time Entrepreneur - How to build a business from 'Scratch' to 'Success.'" with Angel Brown of the Women's Business Gallery. Here's the scoop:

You have this great idea; you know there is a market, now what? Angel will discuss the characteristics, skills, and experience necessary to go into business for ourselves, the risks involved in entrepreneurship, finding your niche, funding for your business, some of the common problems small business owners make, tips and resources for new business owners and more.

Angel Brown is our guest for this one-hour content-rich interview. She is the founder and president of the Women's Business Gallery, an all-in-one information resource for women entrepreneurs, small business owners, and solo professionals. After leaving her paralegal job in New York City six years ago, Angel became a small business success coach, specializing in business start-up and development strategies that emphasize goal setting, project planning and implementation, and effective business communication skills. Now based in Arizona, Angel brings more than 15 years of managerial, publishing, and legal experience to the small business community to help her peers maximize their business potential. Visit her on the Web at www.womens-business-gallery.com and sign up for her free biweekly newsletter, The ART of Business, and receive the free eReport, "Success Strategies That Supercharge Sales."

We invite you to join us by registering at eWednesdayChat. eWednesdayChat is co-sponsored by the Verbal Networking site and is hosted on the Hot Conference Platform, an easy-to-use webinar/conference software program. All you need are a computer and speakers to participate. If you have a microphone you can also intereract with the presenter and guests.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Looking into the Crystal Ball

“Forecasts, trends and ideas about the future” that’s the purpose of the World Future Society. I have been a member of WFS for several years and I always find the information and predictions made the many experts who are a part of this innovative organization interesting and useful. Interesting in that it makes one think about where we are headed. Useful in that it can help you better plan how you live and do business today.

Here’s just a sampling of some of the trends and predictions listed in the Winter 2007 issue of FUTURIST - the WFS newsletter:

Two to five years:
Car tires that need air only once a year (think of the time this will save you)

Drinkable water produced from air with go-anywhere concentrators (don’t leave home without these)

Five to 10 years:

Powerful mini computers that can be folded into your purse or wallet or even worn (I want mine shaped like a rose that I can accent my suits with)

Smart buildings that self-stabilize during major disasters such as earthquakes or bombings (I wonder if they will be good for hurricanes?)

10 to 15 years:

Artificial intelligence so sophisticated you can’t tell if you’re talking on the phone with a human or a machine.

In addition here are some forecasts for the next 25 years:

By 2015, New York, Tokyo and Frankfurt are predicted to emerge as hubs for high-speed, large-capacity supersonic planes. These hyper- speed planes will take passengers across continents in the time it takes most people to drive to the airport.

Schools as we know them may be a thing of the past as the virtual classroom becomes more predominant.

Genetic engineering, nanotechnology and robotics will allow humans to change their bodies in profoundly new ways that can change their physical appearance, extend their lifespan and increase brain capacity in remarkable ways.

While some of the forecasts may rub us the wrong way either intellectually or spiritually, what I appreciate about the WFS is that it can really help you shape your own future. I would much prefer to know what can be than be in the dark and find out when it’s yesterday’s news.

Information that is cutting-edge and covers a wide range of topics makes the World Future Society unequaled in the role that it plays in revealing new ideas to the world. The FUTURIST newsletter “briefs you on the most important trends that affect your business, career, family, investments, and the world in general.” It has been called the “essential competitive intelligence tool, outstanding, helps us profit from change'… and much, much more.

The late Ronald Reagan, former president of the United States said “The future belongs to those who make ready for it.”

Former president Bill Clinton said of the WFS, “With the benefit of your insight, we can create a future of peace, prosperity and freedom for people around the globe.”

Why wait until you read it in the news when you can have a jump on the future today? If you are interested in more information or wish to join the World Future Society, visit: www.wfs.org.

Yesterday’s Gone….

Yesterday was one of those days. You know, one of those days that sticks in your memory because it was what I call an “A” day. An “A” day to me is a day when I learn something new, meet some new people and am able to pass on some of my new-found knowledge to others.

It started with me giving a presentation to the Florida Direct Marketing Association. The topic: “Marketing to Women – Reeling in Your Most Discerning and Influential Customer. Co-presenting was Megan Connelly, Director, Marketing & PR for Medelia Communications. Delia Passi, President of Medelia wrote “Winning the Toughest Customer – The Essential Guide to Selling to Women.” The company creates customize marketing programs, strategic alliances and more.

You may wonder why I was asked to present on this topic. For three reasons.

#1 As a retail florist my target market is and generally has been women. With the exception of Valentine’s Day – the only day of the year men buy more flowers than women.

#2 In addition I had the privilege to interview 9 experts on the topic for the Women's Success Series™ presented bythe WECAI Network™They included: ~Fara Warner, Author The Power of the Purse: How Smart Businesses Are Adapting to the World's Most Important Consumers - Women , Andrea Learned and Lisa Johnson, Authors of Don’t Think Pink: What Really Makes Women Buy, Holly Buchanan - Marketing to Women Online, Mary Hunt, Author - In Women We Trust, Yvonne DiVita – Author - Dickless Marketing: Smart Marketing to Women Online , Tessa Weggert, Columnist and Media Buyer for the Women’s Market with ClickZ, Tami Anderson and Elizabeth Howland Co-founders, AndHow Marketing and Denise Michaels, Author – Testosterone Free Marketing.

#3 And finally – I am Founder & CEO of the WECAI Network™ - our audience is women and our mission is “To help women do business on and off the WEB.”

Each of these aspects of my experience has taught me to pay attention to what women want, how they want it, when they want it and the reasons they buy. And when I learn something new, it is always my nature to “pass it on.”

After the FDMA program I went back to the office for a little while to catch up on email, and do some writing.

At 6:30 last night I attended a local Dan Kennedy Mastermind Networking event as a guest of my good friend Will Perego, author of Biz Cards That Sell – Free Offer. Dan Kennedy is known as “The Millionaire Maker” because of his track record of helping literally thousands of individuals achieve wealth. Known for his No B.S. books, Dan has written dozens of books on the topics of management, leadership and entrepreneurship. IMHO Dan is the guru of closing sales.

From what I could tell as a guest, the purpose of the chapter is to facilitate networking as well as to learn Dan’s secrets to direct response marketing. Last night we studied headlines. It was an interesting format, to say the least. I went on the invitation of Will, with no expectation (except to meet some new people). What I found was an eclectic group of business owners waiting to devour every morsel of direct response knowledge they could in a little more than an hour. I met four new people during the networking portion of the meeting. In networking I always opt for quality over quantity so meeting four out of the 40+ people in attendance was perfect. They were: an author, a chiropractor, a psychologist and a realtor. Each was interesting and multi-faceted with more than one iron in the fire. People just like me!

And the information was worth listening to – even though much of it I already knew it reminded me of things I should be doing in my businesses such as selling to the buyers I currently have (provided they need or want it). Since the topic of discussion was creating compelling headlines, I wanted to share a great resource they mentioned. It is “350 of the Best Headlines Ever Written” by Milana Lashinsky. And you can get this resource for free when you visit: http://www.coachinglab.com/catalog/ML-350-Best-Headlines.html.

The point I am attempting to make is that it was not a wasted day. I learned new things, met knew people and shared knowledge I had gained with others. Yesterday may be gone, but it definitely won’t be forgotten any time soon.

BTW, If you are interested in knowing more about Marketing to Women, The WECAI Network™ recorded each of those interviews and they are available for purchase (through February 15th you can buy them for $67 – regular price $87). Send me an email with “M2W Audio Program” in the subject line and I will send you information on how you can get your copy.

A Word for a Word

Today is Thesaurus day! How do I know? Because I am a frequent visitor to Brownielocks - where I find the listing of monthly, weekly and daily celebrations.

So let’s talk about the thesaurus. A thesaurus is – “A book that lists words related to each other in meaning, usually giving synonyms and antonyms”

It can also be a tool that comes with the many programs you use on your computer, such as WORD

I love words! Words are a writer’s raison d’etre (reason for being). And the thesaurus is such a great tool for finding just the right word.

Want to stretch your vocabulary? You can subscribe to Wordsmith, or any number of sites that will either send you the word or you visit daily to find the word of the day. Wordsmith sends me a new word in my inbox. When you subscribe, you receive the word of the day, the definition, the origin of the word and at least one example of how to use the word.

In addition to Wordsmith there are a couple of other sites to check out for great vocabulary lessons.

They are: New York Times Word of the Day, The Oxford English Dictionary and Wordsmart. What is different about Wordsmart is that you subscribe and the word gets sent via text message to your cell phone.

There’s also Transparent Language which will give you an English word of the day with an alternate language translation of your choosing.

What's interesting are the words that will resonate with you and stick in your mind - and you never know when they might come in handy. I am a Toastmaster and we learn a new word at each weekly meeting. When the grammarian forgets to bring a word or does not show up, I can pull one out of a "hat." Learning a new word every day makes me feel smarter - even if I never ever use it! Must be the writer in me...The New York Times said of Wordsmith.org - "The most welcomed, most enduring piece of daily mass e-mail in cyberspace."

And what about when you can’t find just the right word? You know what you are trying to say but the word just doesn’t come to mind. Check out One Look Reverse Dictionary – it’s pretty simple. You enter an idea or concept and it gives you a list of words and related concepts. This is a great tool for writers, speakers and marketers.

Why use an almost right word when the right word is at your fingertips? Why say, “an utterance for an utterance,” when “a word for a word” will do? Celebrate your Thesaurus every day (or at least every time you need it).

Heidi

A Prince Among Men

Today we celebrate Martin Luther King Day in the United States. A day to symbolize freedom, and choice and hope. In 1964 - The late Martin Luther King, Jr. became the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work as a peacemaker, promoting nonviolence and equal treatment for different races.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said - "Let us come together, not only on this day, But on every day, as brothers and sisters united. Together we can fulfill his dream - The dream of the people."

Today, I am reflecting on the freedom I have, thinking about those I so often take for granted and hoping for a better tomorrow for those who don't have the same opportunties and freedoms. Today I honor the people of the earth and dream of world peace.

What are you doing today?

To read more about Dr. King and his contributions to society visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.

I'm a Mother First...

It seems like only yesterday that my partner was born. My partner being my 23 year old daughter Suzannah. Suzannah is my business partner in the WECAI Network™ and for the past several years the manager of my retail florist. She has been one of the most important elements of my success – in more ways than one. She is one of those exceptional young women – self-confident, intelligent, extroverted, engaging and about 100 other adjectives one would use to describe an incredible human being.

I am going to miss her. Why, you ask? Because she just graduated from college and started working for someone else. That someone else is Jay Berkowitz, President of Ten Golden Rules – a “B2B internet marketing agency with a wide array of internet advertising and marketing consulting services to help small, medium and large businesses get qualified traffic to their websites.” Jay is also a friend and colleague. He is one of the smartest men I know and what I most appreciate about him is his willingness to share his knowledge with others – including the competition. You will read more about Jay in future posts.

A few months ago, as Suzannah’s graduation was approaching, I started to think about her future. She has a Bachelor’s in Business and Marketing and her Master’s is going to be in eCommerce. She loves the Internet even more than I do. I value Suzannah – her knowledge and her viewpoint about business and life. She has wisdom far beyond her years and I appreciate her opinions and advice. She has taught me so much I could write books about the subject (maybe I will).

Back to her future – I realized that Suzannah had a choice to make. She has all this newly acquired education that she really needed to do something with or she could continue to work with me running my flower shop. To me this is a no-brainer. You don’t spend thousands of dollars and years in college to be a manager in retail unless you hope to one day own your own. And I knew Suzannah wanted to do something with the Internet, that retail, as much as she loves the people, she prefers the unlimited opportunities the Web offers. She needed a challenge – to get out in the world and learn new things, be exposed to new people.

And although there is comfort in knowing what to expect every day when you go to work – there is little challenge. Women like Suzannah need a challenge. They need to be intellectually stimulated and feel a strong passion for what they do.

Suzannah has never really worked for anyone else (unless you count the year she spent in Orlando when she was a mattress tester or when she sold a water solution system by appointment). I don’t count that because she was only gone a year and when she returned, it was as though she never really left.

She’s not here every day anymore. Jay was so impressed with her experience and skills, he asked me if I would consider letting her go. Letting her go? I would never let her go – but I do know she has to spread her wings. So I encouraged her to apply for the job at Ten Golden Rules – and she started last Monday.

You might ask, "why?" Well, I’m a mother first. I want what is best for my children. And she isn’t the first one to go out on her own … my oldest daughter Jennifer left a couple of years ago to run her father’s roofing company. He made her an offer she “couldn’t refuse.”

Suzannah still “works” for me one day a week, but it’s not the same. I am trying really hard to adjust, and I miss her. It isn’t always easy because I can’t just pick up the phone and intercom her … of course there’s always email. And I’ll always be her mother.

PS. We are still partners in the WECAI Network™ and she still maintains our websites – this is something we are both passionate about – and we are building a company that has great potential and promise.

Date-ing for Dollars

Yesterday I mentioned Web Content Awareness Day created by my good friend Dina Giolitto. And it got me thinking...about using the calendar and special dates to promote your business. I use the months observances as motivation to find ways to market my company each month. In fact, I write a monthly article called Calendar Marketing. So, before the month of January gets away - I thought I'd share it with you.

Here's an excerpt:

Did you know January is International New Year’s Resolutions Month for Business? “The keys to success with any resolution are: believing in it, commitment to the outcome and confidence that you will succeed.” …Even if you find yourself with no time to plan, it is important you at least think about the coming year and start mentally making your marketing resolutions. To read my article – A New Year, A New You – Marketing Resolutions that will Improve Your Image and Your Bottom Line, visit: http://www.speakingwithspirit.com/ANewYearANewYou.asp

January is also National Mentoring Month – who mentored you? Thank them during National Mentoring Month and pass it on – mentor someone in business and help them achieve their goals. I am a Mentor on the Classy, Chic ‘N Elite Forum of Ryze and Shelley Hill and Robin Nessel started the Business Buddies Mentor Match to help newer business women get the help they need from women who are successful business owners.

To read the rest of the article, click here: http://www.speakingwithspirit.com/JanuaryMarketingCalendar.asp

I have found that using the calendar as a marketing tool is interesting and inspiring - it really gets my creating juices flowing. My staff and I look forward to reading about unusual holidays such as Take the Cake Day, or Show and Tell Day at Work. We call it Date-ing for Dollars because many of the ideas and strategies that come from this type of marketing have more than added to our satisfaction, they have added to our bottom line! Isn't that what marketing is all about???

To your success in January... and the months and years to come.

Heidi

January is Web Content Awareness Month...

Did you know that January is Web Content Awareness Month? My good friend Dina Giolitto sent me the following press release - perfect timing after our great program yesterday with Rosalind Sedacca on the topic of Copyrighting! Dina is a seasoned professional with a wealth of great information to share with her audience. I encourage you to check out the WCAD site today.

Web Content Awareness Day 2007 is Month-Long Information Celebration

January 11, 2007--

Tuesday, January 9 marked the first day of a month-long "information celebration" centered around internet marketing and taking place online at http://webcontentawarenessday.com/. Hosted by Wordfeeder.com Copywriting and Marketing and running for its second consecutive year, Web Content Awareness Day will educate website owners on how to leverage the power of the web to drive sales and profit for their businesses.

Web Content Awareness Day falls on February 9, 2007, although interested parties are encouraged to subscribe now and get the full benefit of a steady, month-long stream of valuable marketing tips from seasoned experts. Hosted by web copywriting consultant Dina Giolitto of Wordfeeder.com, this year's Web Content Awareness bears the tagline, "A Month-Long Information Celebration, Right in Your Email Inbox." Topics covered include web design and search engine optimization, copywriting, ezine publishing, article marketing, podcasting, virtual assistance and public relations - all advanced-level marketing tips from seasoned professionals.

While last year's Web Content Awareness Day was a something of an "all things to all people" theme, 2007's online celebration has been considerably trimmed and shaped to fit the audience. Says creator and host Dina Giolitto, "I get questions from copywriting clients all the time. They want to know, 'What steps do I need to take to get noticed in my niche? Who can I rely on for copy, marketing and website development that builds a favorable impression for my brand, while funneling new clients in and keeping old ones coming back for more?'

It's such a thrill to meet entreprenurial people who aren't afraid to try new things and think out of the box. I've met so many talented people who can help each other. It just makes sense for me to open up my list of strongest contacts to everyone I know who's serious about growing a business online. Web Content Awareness Day serves that purpose - and all you need to do to reap the benefit of a free online marketing education, is open your email."

To learn more about Web Content Awareness Day, visit http://webcontentawarenessday.com/ and drop your name into the sign-up box.

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Free Webcast on Copywriting

One of the things I hope to accomplish with this blog is to share valuable information and resources. They will sometimes come from others and often from the organizations in which I belong. So today I wanted to tell you about a free webcast on copywriting that could help you with your marketing messages. I don't know about you, but when it comes to using the "right words" I could learn more. Copywriting is an art and I know just the "artist" to share her experiences and wisdom with us.

Tomorrow at 12 Noon Eastern time the WECAI Network™ is hosting a webcast on the subject of Copywriting Myths and Musts Featuring ROSALIND SEDACCA, CCT - a business communication strategist with a twenty-five year background as a marketing consultant, award-winning advertising copywriter, professional speaker and corporate trainer. Through Rosalind Sedacca and Associates she has provided marketing, advertising and public relations services to businesses in finance, hospitality, real estate, technology, healthcare, sports and other industries.

Rosalind is the author of the ebook, How to Break In as a Professional Speaker or Trainer. Her newest book, How Do I Tell the Kids about the Divorce? will be launched on the internet in just a few months. Rosalind is profiled in Blythe Camenson’s VGM Career Portrait book, Writing as well as Dana Cassell’s book, Writers At Work and is a guest columnist in Linda Brakeall’s book, Unlocking The Secrets of Successful Women In Business. She has shared her marketing and business expertise on numerous TV and radio programs and has written articles featured in many business and trade publications including WE Magazine for Women

Rosalind believes that words are the most important element in marketing any product or service. Make yours powerful, convincing and distinctive – and watch your business success soar!

You are invited to attend this FREE webcast at http://www.eWednesdaychat.com. All you need are a computer and speakers to attend. If you also have a microphone you may be able to participate "live."

I hope to see you there!

Warmest regards,

Heidi Richards, Founder & CEO - The WECAI Network™

“The Self-empowered Woman – Realizing You”

Today begins the week of the Self-empowered Woman. So I thought “what a great topic to begin the week.” However, when I began my research for the topic, I could not find anything about who started “Women’s Self-empowerment Week.” If you know, I would welcome the answer.

In the meantime, let’s discuss the topic of self-empowerment. I don't know about you, but for the past 15+ years I have lead my life as a very self-empowered, self-directed, self-actualized woman. Before that, let’s just say that I lived my life for others (their ideas of how I should live, eat, breathe, behave). And of course, that was because I didn’t know there was something called self-empowerment - or as I like to refer to it today, “a mind of my own”.

As I look back on my life, up to today – I see patterns of belief and behavior that helped me to get to “now.” I also realized there is a definite system to achieve empowerment. What about you? Do you feel self-empowered? Do you know other self-empowered women? Do you know what it means to be self-empowered?

According to Wikipedia – “An empowered person is one who has control of the decisions which impact his/her life. The same applies to a group. Empowering marginalized people is merely working toward helping the marginalized people gain the kind of control of their lives that the rest of us enjoy. To get it, they have to do it for themselves - albeit with external help for a while.”

Some people might say that a “powerless” person is one who feels inferior or “less than.” That she/he believes others are more worthy than she/he is. My mother’s philosophy on life was that, “either everyone is important or no one is.” I have lived my life believing and practicing that every day. Even when I come across people that seem to be somehow “inferior,” I have to remind myself of my mother’s wisdom.

Here are some ideas I have used to feel self-empowered (in no particular order). Some of them involve looking inward while others involve you and the outside world – staying connected, giving freely of yourself, and helping others.

1. Stop comparing yourself to others.

2. Stay connected.

3. Diversify your relationship circle.

4. Say “Thank you."

5. Forgiveness begins with you.

6. Look for the good.

7. Find your purpose.

8. Pay it forward.

9. Do more than survive – thrive!

10. You are responsible for your life.

These ideas are described in more depth in my article “Tips for Living a FULL Life” – to read it, click here: http://www.speakingwithspirit.com/TispforLivingaFullLife.asp. While these are by no means a complete list of self-empowerment tactics and skills, they are a place to begin the process.

Empowerment is a complex idea. There are hundreds if not thousands of books and entire libraries written on the topic of self-empowerment. And I am no expert. However, I know a few who are. Lorraine Cohen is an expert on the topic of living a fear-less life. She is a coach, writer and the author of “Fearless – Keys to Turning Mountains into Molehills,” audio program. There’s Viveca Stone-Berry of Get Ready for Love – she explores love, life and all things loving. And Leah Jackman-Weitner author of Unlocking the Confidence Code: 5 Steps to Complete Core Confidence who helps people build their self-confidence. And then there’s Marilyn Jennet – who talks about using your mind to achieve prosperity on the “Feel Free to Proper” website. These women live their days helping others to achieve an empowered life.

There’s an article entitled “Ten things you can do today” that you might find interesting.

This week we celebrate the Self-empowered woman. You!

Toasting the New Year and Setting Goals

Shortly after posting to my new blog my staff and I had a toast - to a new year, new goals, new blog, new knowledge, new friends, new business, new SHOES - all things new. In fact, I was so excited to share this with some of my friends, that when Leah Jackman-Wheitner invited members (of Denise Michaels' Real Women, Real Business, Real Success forum on RYZE) to post their New Year's Goals, I couldn't wait to share mine.

Here's what I wrote:

My goals have been clearly set since about December 15 - so thanks for the reminder to put them out there - a great way to help us with accountability - tell the world!

Here they are:

To establish 2 blogs - one for me and one for the WECAI Network™. Half of this one is done! I just started my blog today - after reading Leah's request for sharing goals I got to work - mind you it is just a page and I will add to it daily such as links, resources, etc.

To Launch the WeChamber (we are in the countdown now and this "should be ready to launch any day now) - God willing and my web designer cooperating.

To write my next book - "From Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur" (The outline and one chapter are finished).

To increase membership in The WECAI Network™ by 20% (we now have 1032 members). We have so many ideas for benefits that the only thing holding us back is the time to implement them. This is going to be an exciting year for us.

To learn something new every day - today I learned that if you hold down the ALT key and simultaneously type the numbers "0153" you get the ™ symbol when typing a plain text documents. Thanks Suzannah for teaching me this one!

To finish my new presentation "Power of the Mouse" because that is what people are asking me to speak about these days (I have 3 programs coming up between March and May on this very topic).

So there you have it. Or do you? Have you taken the time to set your goals? Have you thought about how you are going to accomplish them? Have you ranked them in the order of importance to you and your overall mission in life? If so, Congratulations! If you haven't yet done so, I encourage you to start thinking about them today. WRITE THEM DOWN and TELL YOUR CIRCLE what they are. You will be amazed at your level of commitment when you share your goals with others.

If you are so inclined, I inivte you to check out my article, A New Year, a New You - Marketing Resolutions that will Improve Your Image and Your Bottm Line at: http://www.speakingwithspirit.com/ANewYearANewYou.asp

As I sit here writing (and enjoying a Margarita) my wish for each of you is to achieve all the goals you set for yourself ... and then some.

Warmest regards,

Heidi

Ps. And if you are inclined, make yourself a margarita while your at it.

Getting on the Blog Wagon

Today I decided it was time to get on the blog-wagon. Actually it’s been a goal of mine for nearly a year now. Something inside me has been yearning to take this blogging thing seriously for my business and for my own sense of satisfaction. And yet it scared me! After all who would read it? And what could I say that hasn’t been said hundreds of times before by others? Then I realized … blogging is a great platform to put your ideas and thoughts out there for posterity. And maybeeven my family and close friends will read it!

Those of you who know me know it’s not just about me, however. It’s about you, providing you with value, with insight and maybe even helping you to learn something the “easy way,” instead of having to start from scratch and learn from the “ground up.”

After all, I consider myself somewhat of a mentor – it excites me to see others grow and prosper, knowing I had a small part in their success. It is the greatest gift I can offer this world.

And we are in the WEB 2.0 generation. So blogging is becoming the “norm” for people who take the Internet seriously. Many of my friends and colleagues have inspired me over the years and blogging about it is a great way to publicly thank them. Women such as Suzannah Richards (my business partner and youngest daughter), Gina Aronoff (my Office Manager and right hand), Linda Pereira of CPL Events in Portugal, Mary Hunt, author of In Women We Trust, Holly Buchanan of Marketing to Women Online, Toby Bloomberg of Diva Marketing, Yvonne DiVita of Lip-Sticking, Teresa Morrow of Morr Services and others whom you will read about in the days, weeks, months and years to come.

And then there’s the men – Jay Berkowitz of Ten Golden Rules (who teaches the world about WEB 2.0), Bob Burg, author of Endless Referrals (who taught me the art and science of networking early in my career), Dan Poynter, author of The Self Marketing Manual (who inspired me to publish 8 of my books), Tom Antion who shares his Internet Marketing Secrets with everyone, Terry Brock who is one of my Technology Coaches, Jim Barber, of The Barber Shop who believed in me when I didn’t, John Dennison and Mark Halpert my mastermind buddies… and the list goes on.

The idea that I can post my random thoughts that really have no where to go – except my head – is really exciting. It is really cool to comment on the “world” and then be able to access it immediately. This blog thing is instant gratification at its best. My suggestion to you – if you haven’t gotten on the blog wagon yet, 2007 is the perfect time to do it. Don’t wait ‘til 2008 – it might be too late.

To your success... and then some!

Heidi