Archive for Law of Attraction
Why Buy the Cow if the Milk Is Free
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No, this post isn’t a maternal rant on premarital sex. I just read a great article on Forbes.com called No, You Can’t Pick My Brain. It Costs Too Much.
The gist of the article is you need to avoid getting sucked into giving away your expertise without getting paid. You worked hard for that knowledge and it’s worth good money.
If you’re a consultant or some other knowledge-based entrepreneur, this article is a must-read. In fact, I think I’m going to print a copy and post it next to my desk.
I’ve fallen into that trap before. In the name of “being helpful” I give away too much free advice so that person doesn’t need to pay me. They got it all for free.
Now I’m not saying I don’t give anything away for free. Hello?!? Have you read this blog? All free.
However, I need to make sure Read More→
What’s your relationship with money?
Posted by: | CommentsIf you are in business you must focus on making a profit. Without profit, without earning descent money, you don’t have a business, you have a hobby.
Putting your focus on profit doesn’t make you a Ferengi. It is a necessary part of the business world. When you have a j-o-b, someone else is responsible for marketing, office space, administration and designing a business plan. You show up, do your job and get paid for your time.
But when you own your own business, even if you have employees, you are ultimately responsible for every part of your business. That’s why you charge a higher hourly rate than you would if you worked for someone else. Very few entrepreneurs bill 40 hours per week.
But in spite of this, many entrepreneurs have an uneasy relationship with money. And it is a relationship, as I was reminded by Iyabo Asani in a teleseminar I attended last night. In this teleseminar she said that money represents an exchange of energy. You provide a services (expend energy) and the customer gives you money in exchange.
However, if you have a problem relationship with money, it spills over into other parts of your business life. If you always feel there is never enough money, then it is often because you lack value in yourself. This can manifest itself in a lack of clients or in attracting clients who can’t or won’t pay what you’re worth.
What Iyabo said made a lot of sense to me. I know in my own life, my relationship with money hasn’t always run smooth. I don’t come from an entrepreneurial background so making money isn’t always seen as a good thing. This makes for some interesting thought processes when you’re in business, let me tell you.
However, when I focus on money, when I focus on cleaning up my relationship with money, things improve.
How? Read More→
The Law of Attraction Strikes Again
Posted by: | CommentsRecently I made a decision to consciously use the Law of Attraction to increase my income. Even though I teach this stuff, I still occasionally need to remind myself to put it into action. I set some goals for the type of income I want and the places I wanted that income to come from. Once of my goals is to do more speaking engagements.
As part of this goal, I’ve been working with a team of local marketing professionals to create a full day marketing workshop called Brand Camp. We’ve been meeting weekly for several months to germinate this idea then work together to implement it.
As the workshop date neared, we started planning what we’d like to do next. Last week we declared a goal of taking our workshop and presenting it in other nearby cities. We hashed out some ideas of where we’d like to present and how we’d market ourselves to achieve this goal.
Less than 24 hours after we set this goal, we were contacted by two people from a nearby city (the same city) about bringing Brand Camp to their town! The same day, I received a call from the coordinator of a conference in yet another city. She’d heard about me and wanted to hire me. In the week since we set that goal, I’ve been asked to speak to a group in Toronto, had an inquiry about advertising on this site, set up a meeting with the mayor and Brand Camp has been asked to set up a second local date.
Thank you Law of Attraction!
Now if you’re read some of my other posts about the Law of Attraction, you know I’m not one of those people who thinks just setting an intention will activate the Law of Attraction. It takes a little more.
How did the Law of Attraction work in this case?
- I created a written goal. It’s a goal I truly want to achieve; it’s not something I think I should want.
- I committed to achieving the goal. This step is the key to the Law of Attraction. Until you can say, “I’m going to make this happen, even if I’m not quite sure how yet,” you’ve made a wish not a goal.
- I shared my goal. In this case part of the goal was working with my Brand Camp colleagues to get our workshop on the road. In any case, publicly stating your goal – even if it’s only to a trusted colleague – adds power to your intention.
- I created a plan for how to achieve the goal.
- I took concrete steps to move closer to the goal.
The really great thing about the Law of Attraction is when you take these steps, often the universe steps in to help you along. Instead of steadily following your plan to achieve your goal, a shortcut drops in your lap. Even though I believe in the Law of Attraction and teach workshops about it, it still freaks me out a little each time it happens.
But it’s really fun when reaching a goal happens easily; when you can skip some of the hard work because an opportunity just lands in your lap. Not only that, but when the Law of Attraction steps in to give you a helping hand, you get energized. You’re ready to take on more goals, reach new heights. It’s a snowball effect.
Andrea J. Stenberg
Do you have a story about how the Law of Attraction helped you reach your goals? Please leave a comment and tell us what happened.
How to Maintain a Positive Attitude in Difficult Economic Times
Posted by: | CommentsI believe that keeping a positive mental attitude is essential when you’re a solo-preneur, particularly during these troubled times. If you’re feeling desperate or scared it’s really hard to keep going. It’s hard to make plans and even harder to implement those plans. When speaking to potential customers, it’s harder to make the sale if you’re worried about making the mortgage payment.
And although in the fall I wrote a blog post called Survive a Recession? Some Businesses Are Thriving!, I too am having days where it is a struggle to stay positive.
How can you not worry? Unless you bury your head in the sand, you’re being told from all sides that the sky is falling. Turn on any newscast and you hear about the auto sector, job loss statistics climbing higher, retail sales figures plummeting. People keep dropping the “D” word. It’s not good!
And for baby boomer entrepreneurs, the situation is exacerbated by our looming retirement. We don’t have decades to make up for any losses today. We need to make our money now.
So how do we keep from being overwhelmed by the doom and gloom?
At the risk of sounding like a Pollyanna, I have to say that a conscious and strategic use of the Law of Attraction is what’s helping me through.
I’m not suggesting ignoring what’s happening in the world. However, throwing up your hands in despair doesn’t help. You can’t change what’s happening around you. But you can change your actions and thoughts. And changing your thoughts and actions can have a big impact on your success.
Try this experiment. Say the following aloud (with feeling):
“I can’t do this.”
Then try:
“I wonder if I can do this?”
And finally:
“I don’t know how, but I’m going to do this!”
Notice the difference in energy, how you feel when you say each of these statement? If you’re like me, I’ll bet the last one feels a whole lot better than the first one.
That’s what the Law of Attraction is about; focusing on what you want, rather than on what you don’t.
And it’s not just about feeling good. Changing your thoughts from negative to positive has a real impact on what happens.
If you go around thinking “I can’t” then your subconscious is going to help you be right. You’ll have less energy for your business, be half hearted in your marketing efforts (after all, they won’t work anyway) and you’ll overlook unexpected opportunities that arise because you’re focused on what’s not working. You’ll wonder why you went in business in the first place and start checking out the want ads in the paper in order to find a “real” job.
On the other hand, if you tell yourself you’re going to succeed no matter what (and you believe it), you’ll have more energy to devote to marketing and running your business. Because you believe things can go right, opportunities will seem to fall into your lap. And you’ll take advantage of them.
Now some Law of Attraction practitioners will say those opportunities arise because of your positive thoughts. I personally think that’s crap. I really believe that opportunities arise all the time, but we don’t always recognize them as opportunities or worse, don’t always act on them. But when you’re focused on success, you’re mentally prepared when something appears that will help you reach your goals.
As part of using the Law of Attraction to overcome fear about the economy, we more then ever need to have a profit motive in our business. It sounds obvious, but often times we can get distracted by administrative tasks, tidying our offices, and doing things we’ve always done. But if you’re really focused on building your business and making money, you’ll make sure you’re spending the majority of your time doing things that earn money – selling, delivering services and marketing!
It’s very simple. Have an expectation that your business will succeed. Take positive actions every day that move you towards your goals. Be open and receptive to unexpected opportunities that will help you get ahead. It won’t always be easy, but it will get you to ahead faster than giving up.
Andrea J. Stenberg
So, tell me what you think? Does keeping a positive attitude really make a difference? Do you use the Law of Attraction to get through difficult economic times? Please share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a comment below.
Does Financial Market Chaos Have to Mean Financial Chaos for You?
Posted by: | CommentsWith the financial markets in turmoil, gas prices in perpetual flux and the media pronouncing economic doom and gloom at every turn, it’s no wonder many people are nervous about their financial situation.
Many small business owners are worried; some with good reason. My parents have noticed several businesses they have shopped with in the past have gone under in recent months. Their landscaper had to close down because high gas prices ate up all his margin. I’ve noticed some similar things in my home town as well.
On the other hand, many top-level internet marketers are telling us not to worry; there is still money to be made. They tell us they are still making thousands each month and we can too; it’s just a question of mindset.
But is that true? If you’re mired in debt, not sure of where your income is coming from shouldn’t you be worried? Maybe even give up your business and look for a dreaded j-o-b? Isn’t it a little insane to adopt a “don’t worry, be happy” attitude when Chicken Little is telling us the sky is falling?
But what if these successful people are right? What if money is just a matter of mindset, regardless of what the economy is doing?
I’ve certainly had my financial ups and downs over the years. And yet currently while I am surrounded by all this talk about financial doom, I’m experiencing financial calm in my business and personal life.
My income hasn’t gone up dramatically; in fact it’s been pretty steady for the past six months or so. And my expenses haven’t gone down. I don’t know where economists get their numbers when they tell us that inflation is low. My grocery bill has increased by 50 percent and we all know what gas and utility prices have been doing. Sure, electronics and appliances have gone down. But really, how frequently do most people make those types of purchases?
So what’s changed?
My attitude towards money. Six months ago I made a decision to stop worrying and take concrete action to improve my financial situation. I set some clear financial goals – both for my business and my family. I took a hard look at where I was and what I needed to do to get to where I want to be. I started keeping better financial records; something I’d neglected in the past.
The results: currently I’m in a position of financial calm instead of financial chaos. Where in the past I’d be scrambling at the end of the month to get money for the mortgage payment, I’m now looking at how much money I have in the bank for January’s mortgage – two months ahead. I’m up-to-date on all my bills and have started to reduce my debt. I’m on track to have my personal debt cut in half by next September. Plus I have money available to invest in my business.
This wasn’t rocket science, nor magic. It really was a case of taking what I already knew and implementing it. Isn’t that always the case?
If you are worried about your financial situation, stop! Worrying doesn’t help – actions help. Take a good hard look at your current financial situation. Then create a plan and take action. Use the Law of Attraction and stop focusing on your financial woes. Instead, focus on having more money, attracting more paying clients and achieving your financial goals.
Feel like you need some help?
Two books I highly recommend are Overcoming Underearning: A Five-Step Plan to a Richer Life
These practical and inspirational books by Barbara Stanny really helped me overcome some of my personal money issues. I think they’ll help you too.And yes, Stanny has written them with women in mind as her target audience, but her advice is universal.
Andrea J. Stenberg
