12 Tips to Grow Your Business & Enhance Your Life

1. 

   Your PASSION will keep you in FIRST PLACE!

   Have passion –Certainly for your business, but also for life. Your passion will help you overcome difficult moments and persuade people to work for you and want to do business with you.  I notice that people always flock to a person with passion. If it diminishes, take some quiet time to reflect on why you started the business and why you like being your own boss.                                                           Find your “why”…your compelling vision that drives your success, a central, significant reason for devoting yourself, your time, talents and energy into your business or makes your life more meaningful.

2. Your major asset is YOU-Take care of yourself.  Your health is more valuable than the most expensive machine or computer software.  Exercise, eat right and get enough rest.  Maintaining your health and balancing your business and family time will give you energy that will enhance your mental outlook.
3. Seize every moment-Look at every day as a gift filled with opportunities to rise above fear, self-doubt, and mediocrity.   Set specific goals to succeed and make every effort to exceed your own expectations.
4. Set an example of trustworthiness and integrity-maintain a strong work ethic.  Treat others with honesty and respect and the business will come.  It’s not about the bottom line, but about building relationships.
5. Be flexible, except with core values-At one point or another, your best laid plans will falter and will need to be changed.  Sometimes a trip in a different direction is just the way to increase growth.  However, NO matter the pressure for immediate profit, do NOT compromise your core values or integrity.
6.  Don’t let fear of failure hold you back-Look at failure as an opportunity to learn.  If you encounter a roadblock, think of ways around it and take action.  There is more than one road to success.  There will be plenty of ups and downs as you build your business.  Learn from them and move on.  You cannot change the past, but you can use it to your advantage and not make the same mistake twice.
7. Use your time wisely- It is crucial to think ahead and plan your course of action.  Schedule wisely.  Don’t put off doing something just because you think it takes too much time, is hard to start or is boring…do it anyway.  Procrastination leads to missed opportunities.
8. Discover your innate power-Find the power within you…your power source and use it to fuel your passion, and release that greatness within you.  Use that power to deal with challenges.
9. Believe-You need to believe in yourself, your company and your products.  Your confidence is contagious.  See yourself as a go-getter with the power to turn a no into a yes.  Be determined to blaze new trails to success.
10. Have the right attitude-How many times have you seen the underdog team or player win over the more talented opponent?  Attitude is everything.  Stay positive and find ways to keep that first day freshness, enthusiasm and determination.  Reflect often on why you are doing what you do.
11. Constantly improve yourself-Stay abreast of what is going on in your field and constantly improve your knowledge and skills. Enroll in classes or access self help tools that will help you improve yourself.
12. Periodically step outside your comfort zone.  Challenge yourself to try something new.  Make a new friend, call an old friend, Take a class, make a cold call, go door to door or join a networking group or do a radio interview.  Complacency can be our worst enemy.  There is always room to grow, we just have to keep making the effort.

Most of these tips can also apply to enhancing our lives.

Of all these tips, passion is the most important.  We can learn the other 11 tips, but passion comes from within.  You cannot fake it for long.

Love your life, love what you do and do what you love.

References:  Build It Big by Direct Selling Women’s Alliance

12 Tips for Business Success by Bob Reiss

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The Responsibilities of a Leader

Lead, Empower, Impact

Now, I am not a great leader by any stretch of the imagination, but I think a great leader takes their responsibilities seriously. Now that doesn’t mean it has to be filled with rules, is stuffy or has to have “inside the box only” thinking. Having fun along the way makes the journey so much more enjoyable, at least that is what I believe… for me and those I am surrounded by. As a coach, I know my clients count on me for coaching (of course), but also for words of wisdom, encouragement, support, and sometimes motivation and direction. Coaching is a form of leadership, where others are counting on me and perhaps following me. I am sure you will agree that we must therefore, lead by example.
According to the book, Build it Big, by Direct Selling Women’s Alliance…These are some of the responsibilities of a leader (I added #8):

1. Maintain a positive attitude
2. Demonstrate a good work ethic
3. Train your team on success principles and skills to develop their own business & personal life
4. Support your team through Principle-Centered Coaching
5. Stay informed and trained-offer trainings for your team
6. Maintain balance in your life so that you can be a positive example
7. Empower your team, rather than creating dependency
8. Have fun and enjoy the journey

True leaders can help develop strong, successful individuals and teams…as well as an atmosphere that reflects integrity, character, quality, and excellence-one that is God-directed and a blessing to our families, communities, and each other.

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Reference Build it Big, by Direct Selling Women’s Alliance, Dearborn Trade Publishing page 170/171

In Business with God

Freedom to Speak & Choose

Being politically correct isn’t always easy for me…not that I am or want to be disrespectful to anyone…but when it comes to my faith, I want to be able to speak of our Creator whenever I choose. It is high on the list of things our founding Fathers took great pains to protect.

The First Amendment says, “Religious freedom is an absolute right, and includes the right to practice any religion of one’s choice, or no religion at all, and to do this without government control”. I see in the news a lot lately how people and organizations are being targeted with negative press simply because they believe in God. I am fearful of where this will end if we do not stand up for our rights. If we believe…why is it becoming politically incorrect to say so.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to be in someone’s face about it, but I want to maintain the right to be able to share when I want to. Why is it offensive to others when I say I believe in God? It is my personal choice and a constitutional right. It does not matter whether others believe as I do, and it certainly does NOT make me think less of them, HOWEVER it IS important that I am not afraid to show that I believe.

Many people shy away from that for the reasons stated above…we don’t want to offend anyone. If fact, I was thinking along those lines too… When I first came up with the name of my business…My Father’s Wellness.

I was awakened at 2:00 a.m. one morning when God whispered that name to me. I had been searching for a name for quite some time. I wanted a name that fit where I felt health & wellness came from. I had also recently lost my earthly father to illness and was distraught that I could not make him well. But would this name hinder my business? What would people think? I did not use the name for almost a year for fear of being rejected or ridiculed. One night I felt convicted to use the name God had given me and trust that He would Bless me for it. It was a struggle between my way and His way. I am so glad I surrendered my will to His.

My belief in God is interwoven throughout the fabric of my life and certainly my business. I believe it is important to show Whom I believe in, Whom I work for (an ultimately answer to) and Who is running my life and my business.1 I want to remain unashamed to let people know that I walk in faith…to know that I tap into a Higher Power, that I am partnered with God…not to brag about it or think that I am better than anyone else for it…but to show that on the inside I am a BETTER SELF BECAUSE of it…(It should also show up in my actions and shine from within).

I wish to operate my business with intergrity, honesty and ethics.2 I wish to NOT compromise who I am because I know WHO is watching me. It is He Who has given us ALL the rights to pursue life, liberty and happiness. So on this Independence Day, I hope you enjoy your FREEDOM and please GUARD your RIGHTS as our Fathers before us fought to do and carefully documented in the Declaration of Independence,
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

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Reference, 1 & 2 Build it Big by Direct Selling Women’s Alliance, Dearborn Trade Publishing page 255

Leading the Way

INTEGRITY LEADS the WAY

Being a leader is more than having the title. It is more about who you are…it is your inner being, the core of your self within that shines through in all you do and say. The character and values of a leader shows up in what she/he SAYS but brightest by what he/she DOES.

I am sure you have come across people in your life who tell you one thing and yet you find out they do another…People can say anything, but what they actually do is something different and probably more determines who they are.

“A great leader has integrity and is consistant in action and word, is honest, compassionate, trustworthy and authentic”. from “Build it Big”

What character traits do you most admire, do you think are noble and role model worthy? To be the leader others will follow and maybe hope to become, you MUST be the leader that YOU would follow.

So are you out in front leading the way with integrity, honesty and compassion? I hope you are!

Reference “Build it Big” Direct Selling Women’s Alliance by Dearborn Trade Publishing page 169

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Seeing the Greatness in Others

We all like to hear praise, that we did a good job. It makes us feel good. As a team leader I pay attention to my team and what they are doing. I like to tell them when they are doing a good job, but compliments fade quickly and sometimes sounds so superficial. There is a difference between recognition and acknowledgement.

When we give a compliment, we are speaking about what the person has done…like, "You did a great job running your meeting". Acknowledgement goes deeper and has a more powerful impact on the person receiving it.

In Principle-Centered Coaching from Build it Big, they calls this ICU Acknowledgement as in (I see who you are!). This goes beyond the person’s action to recognize the qualities and characteristics that enable that person to accomplish what they did. It recognizes inner character-who they really are-and meets that person’s basic need to be “seen“. Seen as a person who has talent, value and ability.

Example:
Recognition: “You ran a good meeting yesterday”
Acknowledgement: “Pam, as I watched you run your team meeting, I saw your ability to deeply listen to your team. Your openness and patience allowed team members to speak honestly, which in turn helps them grow”.

When you look for positive qualities in your team rather than looking for problems to solve, that creates a shift in the interpersonal dynamic and establishes an environment of trust and mutual respect.

I find, more often than not, people are not aware of their own strengths and what they can accomplish. As team leader, it is my job to coach and come along side and build up my team by revealing their strengths, qualities and capabilities they display. Sometimes, it is the first time they have heard about these qualities and it builds their self-esteem and can empower them to keep learning, growing and doing their best.

It also helps us as leaders too. It is so amazing to watch someone light up as they recognize their own greatness and move forward with new enthusiasm to reach their full potential…not with empty compliments but truths that will empower. I just love that!

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Reference Build it Big by Direct Selling Women’s Alliance, Dearborn Trade Publishing page 128/129

How to Ask For What You Want

ASK for what YOU WANT

Once you have discovered what you want, now you need to know how to get it.

I found a few tips in Build it Big by Direct Selling Women’s Alliance where they reference a book called, The Aladdin Factor by Mark Victor Hanson.

Ask as if you EXPECT to get it. Ask with a positive expectation. Ask with an attitude that you have already been given it. Ask as if you expect to get a YES.

Assume you CAN. Don’t start with the assumption that you can’t get it. If you are going to assume, then assume you CAN get it, that your prospect will say YES. Never assume against yourself.

Ask someone who can help you get it. Qualify the person. “Who would I have to speak to, to get…?” “Who is authorized to make a decision about…?” What would have to happen for me to get…?”

Be clear and Specific. Vague requests produce vague results. Your requests need to be specific. When it comes to money, assk for a specific amount. When it comes to when you want something, don’t say “soon” or “whenever I get around to it.” Give a specific date and time. When it comes to a behavior, be specific about what you want from others.

Ask repeatedly. One of the most inportant princilpes of success is persistance-NOT GIVING UP. Whenever you ask others to participate in the fulfillment of your goals, some people are going to say No. They may have other prioritirs, commitments and reasons to not participate right now. It is not a reflection of you. Ask again at a later date or keep on finding new people to ask.

Reference Build it Big, by Direct Selling Women’s Alliance, Dearborn Trade Punblishing, page 264

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It Works products http://www.WrapwithTLC.com

Building Bonds of Value

Team Building

People notice everything you say & do and that includes your team members. Each one can be inflenced by your commitment, your goals and plans, your ability to follow through, and your willingness to help her/him succeed. All these things create value. A leaders job is to remove doubt and add value…create enough value and team members will want to stay. Making team members feel valued and important is vital.

When you measure the sucess of your team building efforts, it is not how many members you have or even how much money you make…it is about how many people you empower, how many lives you help change and how many people learn to see their full potential. These are THE results that are most rewarding.

I love it when a stranger becomes a friend…and I see it happening over and over as I grow my team of unique and amazing individuals!

To read more of my blog posts, please visit http://www.myfatherswellness.com

Reference: “Build it Big” by Direct Selling Women’s Alliance, Dearborn Trade Publishing, page 113

To coach is to serve, to serve is to succeed—AUTHENTICITY

PRINCIPLE # 5

The foundation of Principle-Centered Coaching is built on five core principles that present an image of the kind of coach I want to be.

By following these five principles found in “Build it Big” by Direct Selling Women’s Alliance, I strive to cultivate a supportive, safe environment in which my team will flourish. This is principle number FIVE.

The Principle of AUTHENTICITY: An AUTHENTIC leader is comfortable being herself (or himself) and does NOT put on appearances. Strive to be natural, genuine, and honest in your dealings with your team.

I would go a step further and say, “Be genuine and honest with everyone you come into contact with”.
Authenticity” is all about being real. Genuine, not an imitation. Guard your character. It is who you are when noone is looking…Be aligned with your core values. When you are noble and trustworthy, your team and others will respect and listen to you.

Authentic leadership is all about being the person you know in your heart that you are and NOT what others want you to be or what is popular in the world to be. Authentic leadership does not come from your title or from the size of your bank account. It comes from your very being and the person that you truly are. It is taking the previous 4 principles, TRUST, RESPECT, SERVICE, and INTEGRITY (and I add FAITH)…I believe this is our AUTHENTICITY.

“Authenticity is the alignment of head, mouth, heart, and feet – thinking, saying, feeling, and doing the same thing – consistently. This builds trust, and followers love leaders they can trust”. Lance Secretan

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Reference: “Build it Big” by Direct Selling Women’s Alliance, Dearborn Trade Publishing, page 140

To coach is to serve, to serve is to succeed—INTEGRITY

PRINCIPLE # 4

The foundation of Principle-Centered Coaching is built on five core principles that present an image of the kind of coach I want to be.

By following these five principles found in “Build it Big” by Direct Selling Women’s Alliance, I strive to cultivate a supportive, safe environment in which my team will flourish. This is principle number FOUR.

The Principle of INTEGRITY: Do you do what you say you will do? INTEGRITY is when our thoughts, words, and actions are the same AND we follow through with our commitments.

Principles 1, 2 and 3 will be lost if you do not follow through with what you say. Being true to my word is very inportant to me. INTEGRITY means doing what is right, and what is honorable…even if no one else is looking. INTEGRITY is my internal compass. As I build up my team through TRUST, treat them with RESPECT, and keep an attitude of SERVICE…If I am doing things right, hopefully I will inspire others to stay the course…even when things aren’t going quite as planned.

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Reference: “Build it Big” by Direct Selling Women’s Alliance, Dearborn Trade Publishing, page 97 & 140

To coach is to serve, to serve is to succeed—SERVICE

Principle # 3

The foundation of Principle-Centered Coaching is built on five core principles that present an image of the kind of coach I want to be.

By following these five principles found in “Build it Big” by Direct Selling Women’s Alliance, I strive to cultivate a supportive, safe environment in which my team will flourish. This is principle number three.

The Principle of SERVICE: When we serve others through our actions, we express the essence of leadership. Bu helping others get what they want, we experience the joy of making a difference. This is a way of working with your team that opens your heart and expands your own capacity to lead in the spirit of service.

I strive to form a deeper connection with my team by my willingness to serve and support them. Service is an attitude and must be interwoven into our daily lives. It is backing up my words with actions.

I choose to live by the Golden Rule, “Do to others as I would have them do to me. To Bless and not impress. A servant mind means putting others first, to not be afraid to forge the path through my own toil & sweat so others may follow.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”. ~Winston Churchill

“Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking “What’s in it for me?” ~Brian Tracy

SERVICE says, “How can I help you?”

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Reference: “Build it Big” by Direct Selling Women’s Alliance, Dearborn Trade Publishing, page 140