Self Mastery

Why Do We Forget How Good We Are?

November 30, 2009 By Cara Lumen

Passionately On Purpose Radio with Cara Lumen, Your Idea Optimizer, who keeps you passionately on purpose while you make a difference in your world. As a Business Coach, Content Developer and Educator she talks about how to uncover your passion, define your purpose, identify your path, make money from what you already know and attract the people you are meant to serve. But most of all, she’ll help you believe you can!!! Join her Mondays on www.blogtalkradio.com/passionatelyonpurpose

This Show

I wrote a great sales page for a new client and was surprised and pleased at how good it was. But why wa it a susrprises? Why do we persist in losing faith or forgetting the depth of skills and talents we have been given

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

What Do You Need To Learn Next?

February 21, 2009 By Cara Lumen

by Cara Lumen

I used to do temp work. And every time I was without an assignment I learned a new software program – I upgraded my skills to make myself more valuable as an employee. I still do that with my own business. When there is a lull or I perceive a need to make a change, I look around to see what I need to learn next.

Create your own curriculum

There’s always something more you can master. If you are a natural marketer, study your administration skills and streamline them. If you know that networking is a valuable strategy and you have yet to successfully find your comfort zone with it, study that and make your version of it happen. It’s always easy to go learn more about what you love to do, but don’t neglect those skills you would do well to strengthen. Be willing to include them in the curriculum you create for yourself.

Is your marketing foundation in place?

If you don’t have a strong who and do what statement, if your Red Velvet Rope policy is not in place, if your target market is not well defined you have to start there. You cannot leap off and create a web site or start writing an ebook until you know why you are doing it and for whom you are doing it. You may benefit from having a coach help you move through these defining stages. An outside eye can often identify what you are too close to see. You have to lay a strong foundation for whatever it is you need to do next.

What strategies have you mastered?

When I became a Book Yourself Solid Coach I discovered I had mastered the more complex self-promotion strategies of Web, Writing and Speaking but I did not have the mandatory strategies in place. I went to work on my Networking, Referral, Direct Outreach and Keep In Touch Strategies. Some are easier for me to do than others, but they are all in my self-curriculum

Can people find you and start to connect?

The whole point of business is to build relationships with others so you have to find a way to meet them and greet them. Online we use a web site with a strong opt in offer to create that initial connection. If your foundation is in place you are ready for a web site. Get some guidance and coaching on this. It will save you time and money. You need to install the most effective back ends like your shopping cart and autoresponders and learn to use them. You need to create compelling opt in offers, and write content that pulls your visitors into your sphere of influence. Writing for the web is a specific technique you can learn.

Take the technical aspects one step at a time

Ok, I put off learning audio for a year. But I did learn it and it was actually easy after I moved through it and is invaluable to know. I’ve worked in Camtasia, I create my own web site in DreamWeaver, I can work in CoralDraw and Photoshop, I use PowerPoint all the time for my teleclasses, I can edit my teleclasses in SoundForge but video still sits there like some huge challenge. I just need to take it one more step at a time. And I probably need to get help from a coach or take a class or find some good on-line video to teach me. And yes, we need to push out of our comfort zones and master some of these wonder technical opportunities because once we do a whole new place to play opens up for us.

Learn from Others

There is so much great information given away for free on the internet. Find a few people to follow and sign up for their blogs, listen to their interviews and take notes. New book author interviews are a fascinating source. People promoting their workshops give away tons of valuable information. Be selective. Find the people that deliver good content and make it a habit to tune in to their calls.

Enroll in a class

My first teleclass was a two month marketing class. Since then I’ve had training to become a certified teleclass leader, an information product development expert, a Guerrilla Marketing Coach and a Book Yourself Solid Coach. I’ve taken classes on podcasting, radio publicity, and attracting traffic to your web site. I have volunteered in learning environments as a team leader where I got to deepen my knowledge, expand my coaching/leadership skills, make great connections and learn from the participants. On line courses range from one call to 15 weeks or longer. They are usually recorded and are packed with valuable information. Learning online is easy, fun and cost-effective.

Get a coach

A coach will keep you on track, guide you where you want to go, hold your vision and keep you moving toward it. A coach will help you move through your barriers, help you identify and develop your strengths, and get you up and running in a business that you love to do. If you want to make rapid personalize progress, 1:1 or mastermind group coaching is the way to go.

Teach what you need to know

A few years ago I wanted to expand my article writing strategy so I created a teleclass to teach others how to write magnetic articles and in the process upleveled my knowledge and my own participation in the strategy. As I explore and strengthen my own skills I create teleclasses in which I teach others small segments of the marketing process or the process of creating compelling information products. Teaching helps me own the material and it creates interesting products to offer my clients.

Keep your curiosity vibrant

I love to learn so whenever something peaks my interest I go learn at least a little something more about it – enough to know whether I want to explore it further. Keep an eye out for what’s new and interesting. You don’t have to pursue it but at least understand what it can do for you. As a business coach I have to know at least a little something about nearly everything that will show up for my clients and if I’m not knowledgeable I must have a resource in place. Look at your business. See what you need to know and sign up for something. Whatever you need to know next – go learn it!

Do What You Love, Love What You Do

December 15, 2008 By Cara Lumen

by Cara Lumen

Most of what I do I love. But recently I’ve noticed there is a resistance, a reluctance to make a list and set some plans and take certain steps. There’s even a tightness in my stomach when I put certain items on my "To Do" list.

What needs to change? What do I need to do differently?

I do — deep inside. It’s time to see where I am, decide where I want to be and make some new choices. It is about finding my new rhythm. Where do I place into my day the things I want to do?

Deepen Your Spiritual Practice

One of the major changes I have made is to find a place to fit in a daily Falun Gong practice. I do it in the morning after I’m dressed for my day. The last step in the practice leads me into meditation. I can feel my energy balancing as I thoughtfully practice this powerful moving meditation. I notice the increased deepness of my sitting meditation. There is deep inner work going on that I know only by sensation, not by recognition.

Deepening your spiritual practice is one way to make change.

Allow it to unfold

I started to write “make a bold goal, think a big vision.” But that’s part of the doing, not the being and being is where change is made.

I have deepened my level of gratitude. Before I go to sleep. Upon awakening. During the day. I continue to feel the blessings that surround me. The goodness that is in my life. The fluidity of my experience. And I am grateful.

Allowing your life to unfold is like going on an adventure. You don’t know what will be around the next corner. And if you truly want to have an adventure, you will allow yourself to follow new paths on a whim — this feels right, I’ll go here, I’ll do this.

There is patience that is needed to allow it to unfold. Patience and a belief that there is a grand plan, that you are an integral part of it, and that all is and will be well in your world.

Do what you love

Do the parts of life you love. Do the parts of your business that you love. Be with the people you love. Follow your emotions. Allow them to lead you to fulfillment and celebration, happiness and affection. Your emotions are your guides. They help you choose what will nourish you and help you leave behind everything and everyone that no longer serves you.

Love what you do

If you no longer love what you do, change it. Tweak it, toss it, start again. Whatever it takes to let you fall back in love with what you do.

It’s when we are in love with what we do, when we are in celebration of all we are, that others find us attractive and come to join in our enthusiasm. Honor your heart’s calling. Allow yourself the freedom of choosing to do what makes your heart sing. You will be happiest when you do what you love and love what you do.

7 Ways to Energize Your Business

October 27, 2008 By Cara Lumen

by Cara Lumen

The great thing about being an entrepreneur is that we are responsible for our own success.

The scary thing about being an entrepreneur is that we are responsible for our own success.

I am so far removed from where I started my business that I make it a policy to rethink my business every year. It often happens organically. Things slow down and I have time to think about how I’m doing. I love those times. Every time I take time to realign my business to my vision, good things start to happen. There are seven elements I examine and the first is always my business plan.

#1. Rework your Business Plan

Every time I rework my business plan I uncover another layer that brings me clarity and a new sense of purpose. It gives me an opportunity to drop what’s not working and expand on what is. I use my business plan to expand my vision based on the new skills I have developed and the new possibilities I see. I look carefully to see that my passion is still high or if I’ve developed a new area of interest that needs following. And then I set new objectives and make the changes I have discovered that will take my business to a new level.

#2 Keep on marketing

Start marketing smarter. Find creative, innovate, inexpensive ways to uplevel your marketing plan. Find new ways to get free publicity. Interview and be interviewed, have a podcast, add another specific subject blog to attract people to one particular aspect of your business. Offer free introductory calls to stimulate interest. Survey your clients. What do they need? How have their needs changed since you started marketing to them. Are you supplying them with what they want? Rethink your product positioning and bundles.

#3 Cut Expenses

This may be a bit tricky if you are a solopreneur. But look closely. Reexamine your phone bill, shop for better long distant rates, cell phone deals. Shop your internet provider for combo offers. Sometimes you pay less when you pay for an entire year of a service like your shopping cart or web host rather than monthly. Get creative. What service can you share with another entrepreneur?

#4 Add new money-making services

It’s usually easier to add new services than new products because there is only the investment of time. For instance, group coaching allows more people access to your services at a lower rate. There is the potential they will become private clients. Bundle your services to encourage larger sales. Change your services packages to encourage people to sign up for longer periods of time. Once I found my copy writing services were needed, I added that as a service. I can do that on the days I don’t schedule coaching clients. Ask your clients what they need that you might provide and see if that is something you can add.

#5 Keep the cash flowing

I have a friend who hates to put out invoices. Her cash flow would improve if she would set up a monthly payment plan. Think of the time the money is not in her account earning interest. My coaching clients are on monthly automatic payments through my shopping cart. My invoices are updated every time I finish a task. If I’m doing a copy writing job I send them invoices in increments of $500 so the amount is manageable. Offer a discount to people who pay you within 30 days. Add a penalty to slow payees. Put a percentage into savings for those one a year renewals.

#6 Stay close to the money

Your time is your most valuable asset. Be certain you are using it wisely. Don’t spend your time doing things that other people could do for you even if you do them well. You are the brains, the creative fire that fuels your business. Your time and focus should be directed at ways to make more money.

#7 Keep high expectations

Expect the best. Do not settle for second best. Expect to attract people who value what you do and easily have the money to pay you. Keep an eye for the unexpected joint venture possibility that suddenly appears. Keep a list of your ideas and periodically check them out to see what you should do next. Then take action. When I decided to offer my Magnetic Business Plan teleclass I wrote the sales page in one evening and the class in the next two days. Let your passion create your next service and product.

Remember, the great thing about being an entrepreneur is that we are responsible for our own success. And we can have a great time doing it!

Why You Are Worth More Than You Think You Are

August 25, 2008 By Cara Lumen

by Cara Lumen

It’s time to raise my prices. Why? Because I am worth more. I know more than I did a year ago. I have more experience than I did a year ago. I am more skilled in how I offer what I do.

So what’s stopping me?

Me.

It’s not about time

I have a web designer friend who sometimes says, "But it only took me an hour to do that." And I have to remind her to think what the value of her design is to her client. How many years it will be in place. How much income it will bring her. It’s not about how much time we take to do it, it’s about the value we give.

It’s not about money

Sure, there are people who spend time looking for the lowest price and pit vendor against vendor to save a few pennies. We have to let them be the judge of how best to use their time and resources. But each of us offers so much more than money and we must incorporate that added value in our pricing.

It is about the intangibles

You want to attract people who value you because they relate to you, because you understand their needs Look beyond the tangibles to place a value on the underpinning of the service you offer.

Reliable service has value

Never underestimate the value of offering reliable service. Only if you have wasted time waiting on someone to fulfill an order or create a project upon which others must act do you understand the full impact of reliable service.

If you get things completed when you say you will and if your back end system is efficient and fulfills orders on time, that is worth money to your customers and clients.

Understanding your clients’ market adds value

As you expand your own knowledge of your clients’ market base, you increase your value to them. Because of your knowledge of their competitors, your client will be miles ahead in their field. Think how that enriches the value of your offerings.

Strong project management adds value

Remember a time you had to work with someone who was disorganized? It was a mess. Things got lost, they didn’t get their work done and there was confusion even in the conversations you had. Huge amounts of time were wasted.

I’ve worked hard at my project management. I have a strong intake form that helps both my clients and me identify what is in place and what is missing that we need to develop. I developed a Coaching Call Prep Form that allows the client to report their weekly progress. It allows me to quickly tune in before a call to see where we left off and what we planned to do in the next call. I send them their weekly assignment right after each coaching call.

Strong project management keeps efficiency at a premium and saves both you and your client and money.

What your time is worth to satisfy your own financial objectives

This is not about anyone but you. What do YOU think you are worth? How does your financial math work out? How many hours do you need to spend with clients to meet your personal financial needs? How much time do you spend with marketing, with administration? How many hours are there that you want to work? How many do you not want to work? These are choices only you can make.

Do you just want to "get by?" Are you playing it "safe?" Or can you raise your vision and your expectations of what you would like to earn? Even if you are staying within your comfort zone at least move to the outer level and set your intention at least two steps beyond that. Growth is good. Higher expectations are good.

Giving wise counsel has more value than you can ever put a price on

My brain is worth more than my service. My brain things up fabulous ideas, it sees possibilities where others don’t, it recognizes the connection between one idea and another, it holds a vision of success for my clients.

What possible price can I put on that?

It is invaluable.

NEVER permit competitors, industry norms, or community norms to set YOUR prices.

Look at these intangibles. Give some thought to how much value they add beyond the time you spend with your clients. YOU decide what you are worth. Then find the kind of client or customer who has reason to accept your evaluation of that worth.