Are You Still Out of GAS?

Recently, I joined about 1,000 women as a participant in the Mudgirl Run here in Las Vegas.

I started off great with a ton of energy as I ran with the group toward our first obstacle course. As we progressed through the 3K course I noticed that after each activity my energy started to wane a bit. When I hit the final obstacle course I started climbing through the roped holes and realized that I was just out of gas and had to come back down. That is how we are sometimes as we navigate through our entrepreneurial journey. We start off excited and full of enthusiasm and then as we face challenges in our business and we start to lose energy.

This is something that every business owner goes through and most often it serves as a pinnacle turning point in their business journey.

It is at this crossroad that they decide if they will choose to move forward despite the challenges they are facing and run across the finish line or if they will end their entrepreneurial journey.

No one becomes a success in a silo. It takes a team to help you win.

In the business world, this could take on the form of a business coach, mastermind group or a networking group. We all need someone to stretch out their hand to us and give us a tug to make it through the inevitable challenges that arise as a business owner. As I climbed down the ropes on the last obstacle course and instead walked around to the other side, my friend was there waiting for me with a smile and a pat on the back. She grabbed my hand and we hoisted our arms in the air and ran across the finish line with pride.

I finished the race and you can too.

Keep It Sunny!

February Bright Spot Round - Up

Hey There Awesome Entrepreneurs!

The month is over and I hope you crushed your goals for the month and learned something new to help grow your business. I have decided that each month that I would provide a round-up of the month’s blogpost for you because I know you are busy and might not have had a chance to check out what I wrote for you.:)

This month’s themes were about finding the love again for your business by remembering your purpose and networking.

As we walk into March and the lovely spring season we will talk about how we can share what we do more with others by providing value first.

Happy Binge Reading!

Keep It Sunny!!

Is It Worth It To Go To Networking Events?

It was once said that it takes a village to raise a child.

I believe that it also takes a business village to grow a business. We can only do so much on our own that's why it's important to get out of our comfort zone and go meet other entrepreneurs. The best way to do that is by attending conferences.  According to Crunch.co, "54% of those who had attended a networking event agreed that networking “is very important for their professional development”.

I know what your thinking: I don't have time to attend conferences!!

It is easier than you think.

Introducing: Meetup

For those of you not familiar with Meetup it is a great online networking tool. You go on the site look for groups that have similar interests and join.

It's that simple.

I did just that and it led me to attending a conference in my own backyard called Amplify Live Experience which was amazing and led by a terrific guy by the name of Keith Yackey. I got a chance to hear nationally recognized speakers on all things entrepreneurship and I met some really cool like minded business people.

I even met one of my favorite podcasters Lewis Howes which I wrote about in a previous post. And got a chance to talk to a lot of people about my business and gain new insights and possible new clients. All this came from joining a local Meetup.

So do you think it is worth it to go to networking events? I would say absolutely YES!!

What do you think? Are you going to sit in a silo or go out and make new business friends and start telling people about how you serve others?

 

Keep It Sunny!

3 Tips For Starting an Online Business in Health and Wellness

Image courtesy of blackzheep at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 

You love all things health: nutrition, coaching people, holistic living. So you decided that you are finally going to follow your bliss and start your online business focusing on health and wellness. Or you may already be in business.  In any case it never hurts to do a business checkup periodically to make sure everything is running smoothly.  If you have jumped into the health and wellness space to help people in person or online via coaching or both, having the right business basics in place will help you to serve your clients well.

 Tip 1: GET A BUSINESS COACH

I think this is the best place to start when you are ready to move from being an employee to an owner. It's also great if you're an owner right now and your business is not growing. According to Entrepreneur.com, "A business coach is somebody who helps you move from where you are to where you want to be, and does so by solely focusing on your goals". Here is a great article on 10 ways hiring a coach will help you reach success. 

TIP 2:  INVEST IN YOUR OWN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

There is a myriad of ways to gain knowledge for your health and wellness business:

Podcasts: The Wellpreneur by Amanda Cook is a great audio resource for health and wellness professionals filled with great tips on how to make your business a success. The podcast Entrepreneur On Fire by John Lee Dumas will keep you inspired about your entrepreneurial journey.

Networking: If you are looking for a great place to learn about how coaching fits into your business and network with like minds then check out Dan Miller's site 48days.net. It is a hub for entrepreneurs in general but more specifically coaching entrepreneurs.

Certification: A great way to continue to stay abreast of the latest trends in the industry and display credibility to your clients is to have a certification in your field of focus. The Integrative Nutrition site is a great place to start the research process. This list on the Exercise Science Guide site is another great place to check out.

TIP 3:  PUT THE NUTS & BOLTS  FIRMLY IN PLACE

Do you have a robust internet connection? Have you maintained your business license or researched your business name? On the site Long Live The internet, they suggest that "One of the most important steps to starting an eCommerce business is getting organizing with a To-Do list". Here are a few things they suggest you have on your list:

• Define your startup capital $$
• Decide on a name
• Register your domain name
• Setup your email
• File your corporate paperwork
• Get a federal Tax id EIN
• Register with the State for Sales Tax
• Setup your bank account
• Fund your account
• Get checks and debit/credit card
• Get a phone number
• Decide on an accounting strategy
• Design your logo

The journey to being a successful health and wellness entrepreneur can be exciting. It will run more smoothly if you have a good plan in place. These 3 tips are a great place to start to help you along the way. 

Do you have some other tips for getting started or restarted as a health and wellness entrepreneur? Share with me in the comments below.

Keep It Sunny!

Is Networking Overrated?

As a business owner we have all heard the importance of making time to network.

But is it really necessary?

If you have all your ducks in a row and business is coming in the door and everything is smooth sailing then what is the point? And who has time for that anyway? 

Well if you're a lifestyle entrepreneur and if you aren't sure check out last week's post about that topic then networking is extremely important. As a lifestyle entrepreneur networking is all about making friends and building honest authentic connections with people. Since most lifestyle entrepreneurs work from home or are location independent then carving time out to mix & mingle may seem cumbersome but it is crucial. There are a myriad of ways to network with others such as online via virtual conferences, in person at specialized meetups, local chamber organizations or through volunteerism.

Have you ever found yourself in need of a professional endorsement or a key connection to that "right" person? We all have. I bet you were thinking I wish I would have kept in touch with "fill in the blank". Don't be that person who only reaches out to others when you need something. Get out there make friends and build lasting relationships with other professionals. According to Rishi Chowdhury of the Business Insider, "Your net worth is only as good as your network." Now that's food for thought!

What do you think about the whole idea of networking? Is it overrated, a lost art or necessary in your world?