One of my favorite quotes is by beloved author Dr. Suess.  He said, “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter an those who matter don’t mind.”  That is the wisest advice I can think of when you are faced with someone who doubts what you can accomplish.

My parents and my 2 sisters and their families will be there so 2 little nieces and 1 nephew running around (and one yet to be determined in my youngest sister’s belly).   Mark, the kids and I should get 5-6 good ski days on the mountain.   Skiing is something that we really enjoy as a family.

I am looking forward to getting a chance to unwind, relax and reflect on what a wonderful year it has been.  I hope you will make the time to do the same.

I wish you all the best this holiday and into the new year!

For solo entrepreneurs in particular, you are often your brand and that brand needs to have a face.  People make a connection when they see who they are working with.  Your face should be prominent on your website, on your business cards, blogs, and anytime you are reaching out to a new audience.

And not just your face- your voice too.  Videos are a powerful way to have people really see you in action.  Get a video up on your website or get your own YouTube site and record a video on something that you are promoting, launching or on a important topic that you want to discuss.  Not only do people enjoying watching what you have to say, but search engines love video material, so it is great for organic ranking.   Don’t obsess over the quality of the footage and the subtlety of the lighting.  Get the video shot, post it on your site and get it done.  Progress…not Perfection.

If you are not comfortable promoting yourself, than who will?  Tell people what you do, get your face associated with your business and unleash your inner superstar.

Tip #1- Turn up your voice of courage and turn down your voice of fear.

Courage is not the absence of fear.  Courage is feeling your fear and not allowing it to stop you.   Every successful business person has wanted to hide and quit at times.  Every single one.  What breeds rich success, is the ability to feel fear and do it anyway.

At every stage of your growth, you need to work on turning down the volume of fear, and turning up the volume of courage.

Tip #2- Give clients what they really want, not what you think they need

As you may know, I used to try to convince stay-at-home moms to go back to work- as part of their healthy balance.  Guess what I learned?  They must be ready to return to work.  That’s an internal shift that I can’t make happen.  That chapter of my career was one of painstakingly slow growth- because I was giving them what I thought they needed- not what they really wanted.

Now, I give my clients what they really want- a clear path to reach their financial goals, so they can live their values and enjoy their freedom.

My earlier mistake is all too common.   Are you giving your clients what they really want?

Tip #3- Market, market and market some more.

Most of us don’t like to market ourselves.  However, I can promise you that you won’t become or remain a premier expert in your field, without consistent marketing.

First, think of marketing as sharing your wisdom and service with others. If you don’t tell them about you, how will they learn about you?  How will they benefit from your services if they don’t know what you offer?

Figure out which forms of marketing work best for your clients.   Then, hire assistance to make sure ongoing marketing is a part of your business.

Tip #4- Ask for guidance and be open to new opportunities that appear.

Spiritual literature is filled with examples of how the Universe offers us opportunities when we ask for them.  I’ve experienced this phenomenon throughout my life.

At each level of your business, ask for help where you are stuck, and then pay attention.  It’s up to you to trust your intuition and take action with what is in front of you.

How about YOU?  What do you value most and how will a bigger income help you live your values?

2)    How much money do you want to make next year? Stretch yourself. The money goal you set should make you a little uncomfortable.  The amount needs to be at least 50% above your prior income.  (And yes, you can get there in this economy).

3) To reach your money goals, offer a variety of services and programs that you know your ideal clients want.  If you aren’t 100% certain of what they want (not just what you think they want), survey them now.  And remember, people don’t pay a lot of money for information, they pay a lot of money for transformation.

4)    Offer two or three payment options. I’ve recently allowed longer payment plans and I know some of my platinum clients have really appreciated it.  Offer a reduced full-pay option and two or three payment plans.

5)    Invest in a Platinum Coaching Program that includes:

• high-level masterminding
• savvy list building and up-to-date marketing strategies
• customized business development that highlights your unique offerings.

Nothing will pull you forward faster and hold you more accountable than a masterful Platinum coaching program. Find a mentor that you resonate with, whose values you share, and who is where you want to be.  And then invest in yourself – this will be the single best business decision you’ve ever made.

The more we tap into our inner guidance, the better our decisions.  Learning to trust our inner voice opens us up to a well of wisdom.  We don’t always know WHY it’s a good idea (or not) to do something (or not) but it’s our gut feeling that speaks our truth.

If you missed an opportunity by ignoring your intuition, how will you correct that next time?  In business, and in life, those gut feelings are critical for happiness and success.

I always resurface from these rare weekends a bit tired- but so happy to reconnect with people we love.   And, it’s so nice to take work breaks and return mentally refreshed!

Then I ask myself- What is the financial reward of doing this?  The emotional reward?  The energetic reward?

As an example, if you are pondering whether to invest in mentoring or a high-end coaching program, what are the costs to you if you DON’T do it?  What money are you leaving on the table by not participating?  How are you emotionally or energetically effected by not doing it?  Will you be more drained?  Will you keep running in circles?

And, in contrast… How will the program help move you forward financially?  Emotionally?  Energetically?

What do you think?  I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I also faced some pitfalls when technology wasn’t working as it is supposed to.  Among other glitches, the shopping cart that sends out my teleclass recordings sent out the wrong one…twice!  We had to send emails trying to explain, and I felt really frustrated with how unprofessional this appeared.

Fast forward… I decided to add some complimentary strategy sessions to the first 5 entrepreneurs who applied, as a make-up for the technical mistakes, and I spoke with some remarkable women, a few of whom enrolled in my Platinum Coaching Program.  I would not have made myself available to them, had the technical mistakes not occurred.

The lesson I learned is that we all must keep our eye on the big results we want.  Sometimes HOW we get there is NOT the direct route we have planned out in our minds.  I was reminded that sometimes we just need to accept that our paths zigzag.

Achieving a powerful outcome is what matters most – NOT that we control every detail along the way.  Often times, the unexpected “problems” help us progress.  We just don’t understand why until later!

Learning what you need to let go of in business is essential not only to your happiness, but to your financial success as well.

Here are some areas where you might need to “let go” in order to boldly expand your income.

#1)  Let go of allowing “mistakes” to defeat you. 

Things happen for a reason.  It’s our job to take a step back, learn the lesson and incorporate what we’ve learned.  Mistakes are an opportunity for growth. 

As an example – I recently felt defeated when my shopping cart sent out the wrong link (twice) to my subscribers on my high-content teleclass. I decided to make-up for this mistake by offering some complimentary “strategy sessions”.  In these conversations, that I would not have otherwise had, several phenomenal women enrolled in my upcoming Platinum coaching group! 

In essence, the “mistake”, that I briefly let bother me, turned into a wonderful opportunity to connect with some ambitious entrepreneurs (my favorite type)! 

#2) Let go of allowing fear to stop you in your tracks.

We ALL have fears and doubts.  They take us to a crossroads where we can either hold ourselves back or courageously push through our fear and enjoy rich success on the other side.

When you feel fear and doubt, ask yourself- What do I need to learn from my past experiences?  Then, incorporate those lessons, ask your coach to help you manage your fears, and keep marching forward.  A breakthrough is just around the corner!

#3) Let go of saying yes all the time.

You MUST become masterful at saying “NO” if you want a 6-figure, or high 6-figure business.   Saying yes to all your client’s requests or to solving friends or families’ problems can distract you from the bigger picture.  Agreeing to attend too many business functions or social engagements can drain your energy and sabotage your business.

Stay focused on your highest priorities, including your business goals, and get comfortable saying NO!

#4) Let go of thinking you can powerfully grow your business without investing with a masterful mentor. 

Jumping around to different workshops and events can provide some excellent information.  But it does NOT help you  masterfully align your business and add 6-figures to your income. 

In addition to cutting-edge information, you need high-level coaching to help you manage your fears and overcome the inevitable obstacles that arise. You need to invest in a mentor to help you pinpoint and implement what is missing in your business - whether it is designing your programs and services, creating a signature system, implementing effective marketing, launching your offerings, crafting your Bold 12-Month Action Plan… OR the daunting task of coordinating all of these essential components.

Let go of thinking you can do it all on your own- by piecemealing together your learning.  Rather, invest in ONE masterful mentor, who shares your values and is where you want to be.  This is the most effective way to powerfully PULL yourself forward.