Ease for the Entrepreneur

If you are an entrepreneur…you are busy. Too busy to spend months or years trying to figure out how to take back or maintain your life (not to mention your sanity) while you build and continue to expand your business. 

You have launched or are almost ready to launch your business, and you are feeling scared. And excited. And nervous. And hopeful. And wondering HOW to get it all done without working every waking hour of your life.

You feel good about who you are and what you do. You are confident in your strengths and abilities. You don’t want to sign up for a business school program, let alone pay for one. You simply want to understand how to have the most fulfilling and wonderful life and career possible. 

You want to get clear on what you really want, and you want to learn from other professionals who have taken the GIGANTIC LEAP OF FAITH to become entrepreneurs. You want a plan to get you to that seemingly elusive place of happiness and exquisite fulfillment. No fuss, no muss.

But.....HOW do you do it? What works? What doesn’t work?

Wouldn’t it be great if there were a way to STOP WORKING SO HARD?

You will be happy to know that I have designed a system to help you take back your time, energy, success…and sanity!

I have designed a simple system to help you get control of your time, energy and ultimate success so you are prepared to build your business with the right mindset in as little as 6 months. This is a MINDSET opportunity, not a business or marketing program (your business and marketing plan are on you and your tribe of trusted advisors, or we can talk and I can refer you to some amazing experts.)

Read the interview below to learn more about Ease for the Entrepreneur...

Q: How long have you been doing what you do and how did you start working with Entrepreneurs?

I have been an executive coach since mid-2010. I joke that I became a coach “kicking and screaming” after leaving the corporate and consulting world and being home with babies for 6 years. When I was ready to rebuild my career, I was re-thinking consulting since I had traveled extensively, with short notice, for long periods at a time - a lifestyle not fitting for my family and young children.

Trusted friends and colleagues continually encouraged me to become a coach, and I reluctantly worked with a coach to learn about career options and moving forward. After working with the wonderful Jodi Nicholson of Success Coach Institute, I became a Certified Professional Success Coach (CPSC).

Q: Who are your clients exactly?

Over time, I discovered that I absolutely love working with entrepreneurs, and so have honed my skills in this niche of amazing, inspirational people. In my one-on-one coaching practice, I work with established entrepreneurs who are on the brink of massive expansion in their businesses. Many of these incredible people are preparing to launch their grander vision, which takes a tremendous amount of faith, courage and serious gumption and tenacity.

My clients are big thinkers. They have HUGE VISIONS. They have a lot of drive. AND…they get easily distracted, feel like almost every opportunity is a great opportunity, and sometimes lack focus and energy. They often find themselves feeling over-worked and frustrated with their progress, no matter their financial success.

Q: What happens if you haven’t yet worked with people in my situation?

As a subject matter expert on clarity, direction and inspired action, I can help you get crystal clear on your vision of success. Once you have established your vision, the action steps will become more and more obvious, and you will write your plan. We understand that THIS is your inspiration, and that…

INSPIRATION + ACTION = MOTIVATION 

Motivation is not inherent. Inspiration is. So we tap-in to your inspiration and get you taking “inspired daily action” - THE BEST motivational tool available.

Q: How are you different from other “Life Coaches”?

I would first say that I’m not your typical Life Coach. I am an Executive Coach who has developed a system to help entrepreneurs stop working so hard. What makes me different is that I approach business and success as I do anything else in life, including projects, relationships, lifestyle management and wellness. I am passionate about helping people find empowerment and harmony in a way that leads them to a feeling of exquisite fulfillment, with the understanding that from this feeling, we can create anything our hearts desire. My approach is holistic, and we examine every area of life, including sleep, exercise, water consumption, thoughts and other habits.

Incorporating my experience and applying the coach skill set, I will help you get very clear on what you really want, and you will write your personal vision of success - also called “updating your story” - which will allow you to take the inspired daily action steps to achieve it.

Q: What type of personality do you work best with and what is expected of me?

My requirements and expectations are very simple: Show up willing and open. With willingness and openness, you can expand your vision, grow into it and manifest your heart’s desire. Truly. The “work” is easier, and feels almost effortless, when you are willing and open.

Q: What type of person is this program NOT going to work for?

A person who is not ready to take full responsibility for his or her success and failures would probably not be ready to do the “work” it takes to create unspeakable success and fulfillment (and, as a side note: I believe that failure is the best launchpad to our highest success). If excuses, procrastination and blaming are your game - and you are not ready or willing to change that - then you will not get the results you desire.

Q: What exactly is Stop Working SO HARD! Ease for the Entrepreneur, and what does it include?

Stop Working SO HARD! Ease for the Entrepreneur is a simple system of daily actions, mindset practices and course corrections that help the entrepreneur get very clear about their real desires. Once this clarity is established, then we start to look at regular roadblocks to success, strategize the work-around methods to getting past those roadblocks (which we could also call “self-sabotage”) and celebrate every success to keep the inspiration and motivation necessary to continue moving forward. This proven methodology incorporates years of study and practice in various schools of thought and their application, condensed into bite-sized chunks.

Q: Does this “Ease for the Entrepreneur thing” really work?

Yes! It will work under very specific conditions: you must be willing and open. Each person decides and commits to the level of desired success. It is that simple.

Q: What results can I expect?

First, show up willing and open. You can expect to leave the webinar with a clear vision of your own success, a method to access your genius (yes, YOU have genius; we all do!) and simple ways to stay motivated, even on the toughest days.

Q: How will we work together and what does the program entail?

First, listen to the webinar to learn more about the concepts. As I said, you will leave with a clear idea of your vision of success, ways to break through your own barriers to success, and knowledge of what inspires you, which will help you stay motivated.

During the webinar, I invite you to join one of two mastermind groups for entrepreneurs - one for “Emerging” and one for “Established” Entrepreneurs. If the opportunity resonates with you, then you will apply for the program by email, and we will take it from there.

Q: How long is the Entrepreneur Mastermind program?

Each mastermind group will work in similar, yet different ways:

The Emerging Entrepreneurs (EE1) will meet for 90 minutes, once per month, for 6 months. Email me for details and application if you would like to learn more about upcoming mastermind groups.

The Established Entrepreneurs (EE2) will meet for 2 hours, once per month, for 6 months. Email me for details and application if you would like to learn more about upcoming mastermind groups.

Learn more about Stop Working SO HARD Mastermind Workshops for Entrepreneurs!

Q: What’s the investment?

The webinar is a complimentary introduction to these concepts. YOUR INVESTMENT is your time, energy and undivided attention to the concepts and ideas presented. The more focused and attentive you are, the greater the benefit to you.

Q: OK, I’m ready to do this for myself, but I have a couple of additional questions. Can I call you?

Of course! It would be my pleasure to speak with you and answer any questions you may have. Let’s schedule a time to chat!

I look forward to meeting you and helping you expand and grow!

Blessings. Gratitude. Love.

7 Things You Need to Know to be Successful

Do you wish you had a quick checklist to track your success? It's not in to-do/ta-da! lists. These are helpful and vitally important, to be sure, but I'm talking about how you feel. How do you feel when you complete a project, when something amazing happens or when you realize that you have accomplished a goal that you had thought was impossible? Do you celebrate or diminish your success?

If you catch yourself saying any of the following (or some rendition thereof):

• (after receiving kudos) "Thank you, but I'm just doing my duty as a human being."
• (after accomplishing something challenging) "Well, I could have done X better."
• (after receiving a compliment) "Yeah, but my (body part) is still kind of big/ugly/fat/too skinny/whatever-other-perceived-imperfection."
• (after hitting all green lights on your commute) "Well, that was a fluke. It'll never happen again."
• (after receiving thanks for anything) "Oh, no problem! It was nothing!"

STOP THAT! Those types of reflexive responses, without any thought, are blocking the flow of abundance! Yes…flow, abundance, airy-fairy speak for some, I know. But think about it. Have you ever paid a compliment to someone only to hear all the reasons why you are either wrong or that they do not deserve the compliment? How did you feel in that moment? It feels a bit like one foot on the gas, one on the brake.

Do you want more out of life? Do you want improved self-confidence, better health, more success, a great relationship, more money? Are you willing to make some changes? If so, then consider printing the list below and practicing this every day. Commit to 7 days, and make note of how different you feel each day. Then extend this practice to 21 days, keeping track of how you feel. Note any changes in your life, your outlook, what "happens" around you and what you notice. After 21 days, see if you are practicing these 7 things regularly without thinking much about it. WOW! You have formed a new habit, and I predict at a bare minimum, that you will experience change. It is up to you if that change is positive, though I am pretty comfortable saying that I believe you will experience positive change.

Below is a list of the 7 things I have learned, re-learned and re-re-learned, especially in the last few months, and I share them with you freely. You're welcome (insert goofy emoji smiley face of your choice).

Here are the 7 things you need to know to be successful:

1. Get CRYSTAL CLEAR on your vision, and believe in it relentlessly.
2. When a door doesn't open, make sure you've tried pulling as well as pushing - just in case.
3. If the door doesn't open either way, lean back and look to see if it's a facade; the real door is probably very close by, and all you need to do is adjust your view so you can see it. Then gently push/pull that door, or find a window and do the same.
4. Draw up your plan, then let go of the exact details of the final outcome. Think: "This or even better…"
5. Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.
6. BELIEVE that "it" will come together. When you believe it, you will see it.
7. CELEBRATE and invite the flow of abundance. Stay open to it, do not diminish the good stuff. The more you allow yourself to see and feel the awesomeness of your accomplishments, the more you will accomplish.

I wish you the best of success as you continue to strive toward your highest fulfillment. You've got this.

Blessings. Gratitude. Love. ~ TLC

Two Questions You Need to Ask Yourself

I have tried to write about two different topics this week, and continued to bump into resistance around both. The first required research I didn’t really have time to complete this week, so I decided to table it for a few weeks when my schedule is lighter. The second topic is willingness, and what I find kind of ironic is that I was unwilling to stretch my own thinking enough to embrace the message that I really wanted to convey. Hmmm... This begs the question:

How do we know when it is appropriate to lean back, and how do we know when to push through to the finish?

My personal and coach-y answer is this: It depends.

There are so many times when it makes sense to lean back, soften the lens and see what we might not be seeing (you know, the forest for the trees thing). Actually, it makes sense to always lean back before pushing through. How often do you find yourself rushing to the finish, missing details? Have you ever pushed yourself to finish a project, or to “get over” a hurt, to later find that you have missed important details, or that you continue to feel hurt?

I know I say this a lot, though I also know at the very least that I will benefit from hearing my “steady drumbeat” message again, so I restate: Sometimes we need to slow down to speed up.

This is not the same as giving ourselves permission to quit or to stall progress, to procrastinate or make excuses for not stepping into our powerful genius. This leaning back gives us a moment to scan our energy, find resistance in our thinking (often manifested as physical pain, by the way - perhaps I will write about that another day), then address the resistance and take inspired action.

If you shoot an arrow, you must first get your eye very keenly focused on the target. Once you clearly see your target, you pull back on the bow, re-focus your eye in-line with the arrow, and finally release the arrow in the direction of the target. Imagine trying to shoot the arrow without pulling back on the bow. It would fall to the ground next to your feet, right? What if you take your eye off of the target as you release the bow? The arrow will launch in whatever direction you have it pointed, but will most likely land nowhere near the target. If you have a cramp in your shoulder or neck, how much energy is available to pull back the bow in order to launch the arrow with great speed and precision?

To avoid wandering too far into the metaphor weed patch, I will make this point: If you bump into resistance along the way, sometimes you can power through and just “gitter done,” possibly hampering your best energetic output. If you take your eye off the target (your goals, desired outcome, a dream you are making into your reality) you may miss it by a long shot. If you do not take a moment to lean back so you can get crystal clear on your goal, how will you aim, and will you even see the target? What’s more, how will you prepare yourself to build the momentum needed to get you through to the finish?

So, “it depends” is a simple and complex answer to the question: How do we know when it is appropriate to lean back, and how do we know when to push through to the finish? 

It depends, really, on your answers to the following 2 questions:

1. Do you know what you want and why you want it?
2. Are you willing to commit to reaching your goals, even if you need to slow down, lean back, adjust, re-adjust and re-focus regularly?

It seems that I have circled back to willingness. One way to measure your willingness is by taking action. If you can answer question 2 honestly, and you answer “Yes”, then the easiest and most obvious “proof” is in your action. Here is where I may muck-up the simplicity of “it depends” and contradict myself: Sometimes we need to take a step even if we are uncertain if we are heading in the right direction.

Wait.....didn’t I just say to slow down, lean back, focus on the target? Yes. However, if you are prone to “Analysis Paralysis” (and you know who you are, right?!) and you painfully comb-over every detail, ultimately stalling getting started, let alone making any progress, you might need to look at your target, remind yourself of why you want to get there, and just go for it. This is a kind way of telling you to kick your own backside into gear, with love.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said it best,

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

When we are very clear on what we want and WHY we want it, then stepping out in faith is easy. Ask yourself those two questions regularly, and write down or speak-out your answers. Breathe life into your dreams and desires every day, and take at least one step toward them. You are actively leaning back and focusing by asking those two questions, so if you continue to ask and answer honestly, you will be performing the delightful dance of slowing down to speed up, and you know what? You’ll launch forward like a rocket. You will. Trust me; I’ve been there, I return there, I re-start there and I manifest from there. Know that you are fully supported in your journey, and have faith in yourself and your abilities. Stepping out in faith requires very little beyond understanding why you want what you want.

Blessings. Gratitude. Love.

If you want to get crystal clear on what you want and why you want it, click here to schedule a powerful coaching consultation.

Are you ready to commit to yourself? Do you want to go beyond thinking and talking about making change in your life, and flip to DOING? Schedule your complimentary powerful coaching consultation.

Courage Without Strength: will you carry on?

Lately I have been hearing about a lot about courage and strength. A friend who is going through a difficult time recently said to me, “I just have to be strong and carry on,” which got me thinking: do we really have to be strong to keep going? I would argue that it does not always require strength to keep going. I am reminded of a woman I worked with a number of years ago who was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. At one point, she was very ill from the chemo drugs, and in a moment of frustration and extreme fatigue, she told her husband she felt like she wouldn’t be able to carry on, to which he replied, ‘You have to; we need you.’ She said she experienced a renewed sense of courage to face this disease head-on and to carry on, even in the absence of strength. She was physically and emotionally depleted, and yet she gathered up her might and continued forward. The last I heard, more than 10 years post-treatment, she has been cancer-free and living a very happy, healthy life.

• Have you ever asked for help when you felt you didn’t have the strength to carry on?
• Have you not asked for help when you didn’t have the strength to carry on?
• What kind of outcome did you experience?
• Did you learn?
• Did you grow? 

“Courage isn’t having the strength to go on - it is going on when you don’t have strength.”         - Napoleon Bonaparte

Even in the worst of times, we can gather our courage and carry on without strength. I would even argue that one of the most courageous acts we could undertake would be to ask for help when we feel we do not have the strength to face or manage something on our own. We are encouraged to be independent, even fiercely so, and yet, by nature we are interdependent. We need one another at times, and there is much opportunity for growth and learning when we ask for help.

I invite you to consider asking for a helping hand here and there to get comfortable with the idea of receiving. One day, you might truly need someone’s assistance, and you will be primed to accept and receive without resistance. If you are not so sure about this, consider times when you’ve helped a friend or loved one in need. Chances are, you did it willingly and without judgment. Remember the compassion you felt for that person, and offer it to your own self. Be open. Be willing. Ask. Receive.

Give it a try, and remember this question: How can it get any better?

Blessings. Gratitude. Love.

The Importance of Laser Focus (and a hint of fairy dust)

 

Today I am focused on love. I have been focused on holding that intention for the past three days. Here is what I have noticed:

• Increased sense of self
• More patience with my children
• More energy and desire to “get things done”
• A calm knowing that all is well
• Creativity soaring
• Mindful awareness of breathing patterns
• Increased willingness to let go
• Present in (almost) every moment
• Understanding of the “slow down to speed up” philosophy
• Detachment from outcome
• Stronger attachment to sharing my gifts and talents
• Exquisite sense of purpose

You may be thinking: How does one focus on love? What kind of love? What is love? How do you know it’s love? WHAT? Have you taken a hit of (airy) fairy dust, Tracy?

Perhaps it’s the fairy dust we all need to be enjoying together. What if you were to hold one intention for a whole week? How would you be able to hone your focus? You see, I have a ton of balls in the air, a lot on my plate, I am juggling...you get the gist. What I have come to realize is that I am not “bad” at focusing. I have trained myself away from focusing.

Ooh... Hold on a minute. Yes, a moment of self-disclosure. I have a tendency to be easily distracted, and when I am, I allow myself to get off course, and in that process, I trained myself away from my laser focus. Can you relate?

What if...you allowed yourself to hold one intention for a week? How would you change your attitude, focus, attention and accomplishments?

I invite you to choose one intention, hold it as your focal point for one week. That is it. You can take it further by writing it down, praying or meditating on it, speaking it out loud in your car or bathroom mirror, or even sharing it with the world. Choose the intention, hold it near and dear, and in every moment possible, bring your awareness back to your intention. Let me know how it goes.

Good intentions are at least, the seed of good actions: and every one ought to sow them, and leave it to the soil and the seasons whether he or any other gather their fruit. ~ William Temple, Sr.

Let’s look at my intention, love. My intention is to be, feel, do, love, speak, see, understand and invite love. This is in conjunction with a chakra mediation that a fantastic yoga instructor taught me. I have chosen simplicity so I can stay focused on the one thing: love.

In your mind, or say out loud:

I AM love

I FEEL love

I DO (acts of) love

I LOVE (the feeling of, sharing, demonstration of) love

I SPEAK (with, words of) love

I SEE love (in myself, in others, in my varying forms of entertainment)

I UNDERSTAND love (of myself, others)

I INVITE AND RECEIVE (more, feelings of) love

I invite you to share your experience, either via email, Facebook message or a comment on this blog post.

Blessings. Gratitude. Love.

Learn more

Ask 3 Simple Questions:

There are many ways to apply laser focus to your life. If you find yourself scattered, slow down, take a deep breath, and if possible, stop what you are doing so you can investigate how you can sharpen your focus and get yourself on track.

It is not always easy, but slowing down and re-gaining focus can be simple, and I'm offering 3 simple questions you can ask yourself to help clarify your purpose, and begin to craft a plan to move yourself forward.

Ask yourself:

1. Where else can I apply this simple focus technique?
2. What specific benefits will I gain from honing my focus?
3. How will this affect other areas of my life?

Invitation to Experience:

Experience coaching with Tracy. Offering 30 minute free consults, no up-sell.

OR, experience 30 minutes free with option to enter coaching partnership. Are you willing to be fully supported in your life’s dreams? If not, why not? If so, how about now? Are you willing to invest in creating an exquisite sense of fulfillment?

Playin’ it Cool, True Blue

Have you had a day/week/month where you just cannot remember which day it is, and yet, all is well? Yeah, That's been my experience the entire month of November. I've been in such a state of gratitude, enjoying the moment, working my way thru some new plans to improve programs and to expand my coaching and speaking business. So, I sometimes forget which day it is. I truly believe that life is a journey, and rather than worry so much about the destination, we would be wise to keep in the moment. Wherever your final destination may be, enjoy the journey.

"Voyage upon life's sea. To yourself be true. And, whatever your lot may be,          paddle your own canoe." - Sarah Bolton

So, as you contemplate your journey, and possibly forget which day it is, keep a few things in mind:

• Life is a journey
• Enjoy the scenery
• SLOW DOWN...
• Breathe deeply, and often
• Smile
• Say “Bless you” when someone sneezes
• Envision what you want from life, believe that you deserve it, and occasionally pretend that you already have it
• Know what you want, and go for it - unapologetically
• Help others, even if you don’t have “anything” to give (hold a door open, help someone carry their groceries, pay for the coffee of the next person in line, give an “overly” generous tip to your server, etc.)

Want to have everything you want? Give it away! Forget the day, forget whether you’re there or not, and just live each moment as if it’s the best moment you’ll ever experience in your life. I guarantee you’ll love the life you’re in.

Blessings. Gratitude. Love.

Pinch Me, I’m Dreaming! Using dreams as a guide

“A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.” - Oscar Wilde

Our dreams tell us a lot. Sometimes the brain is simply uploading and organizing information while we sleep, and this is one of the reasons why sleep is critical to our overall wellbeing. However, our dreams can also give us insight to our internal workings when we are processing information from our waking life. If you are trying to sort out an emotional situation or if you are ignoring something, the brain and subconscious have a way of bringing you to attention by sending you a whopper of a dream. Some people experience recurring dreams. Some experience chasing, scary or euphoric hero dreams. All of this is your subconscious sorting out situations and input from your waking life.

The study of dream analysis has been varied over the years. In ancient Egypt and Greece, dreams were seen as a supernatural communication or as a means of divine intervention. In Europe toward the end of the 19th century, dreams were used as an integral part of psychoanalysis, and the perceived content of those dreams was said to reveal the latent meaning to the psyche of the dreamer (Sigmund Freud’s work The Interpretation of Dreams is a famous and relevant example of dream interpretation.)

While I believe that dreams offer us some juicy symbolism for our waking lives, I also like the word “dream” for how we see our lives unfolding. Our hopes and aspirations are also “dreams.” When I was younger, I had a number of dreams: go to college, grad school, get married, have a couple of children, own a home, etc. I have achieved all of those dreams, yet I still see my complete dream as unfulfilled. I continue to expand the idea of that dream and fill it in with some very interesting and fun experiences, new people and brighter outlook.

How do you feel about your dreams? Are they still alive? Have you ever felt like your dream was shattered? I have. When my marriage ended, I had to examine what my dream was, why it felt shattered into a million bits, and whether my dream was really my own, or something I had worked toward because I thought that was what I was supposed to be doing. I have since learned that my dreams were tied into what I believed I was supposed to be doing, what I believed I should dream of. I had coffee with an amazing coach, Margie Warrell, and she said we all need to stop “should-ing on” ourselves. The moment we use the word “should” we are already wrong, because “should” automatically places judgment on ourselves or others.

I want to tie this to dreams because as my life unfolds, I open myself to all the possibilities and watch everything come together, I recognize that when I stopped “should-ing on” myself and allowing myself to dream of what I really want, I started to feel free. That freedom has allowed me to expand my dreams and aspirations. Now my dream includes expanding my business, helping people change their lives, hopes for my children, our life together and a whole host of future experiences.

Would you like to fulfill your dreams? How can you do that? I can help you get the ball rolling, with a few easy steps. What lies ahead might seem somewhat disjointed, but I assure you that you will enjoy changes and see results almost immediately if you open your mind and heart to creatively choosing a new path for yourself.

“Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today.” - James Dean

1. Dream big. Write down what you want from life. Be adventurous, bold and aim high. Write it out with specifics like places you want to visit, things you want to see, the salary you know you deserve and how you envision your life in the bigger picture. When we put it down on paper, it becomes more real to us. You can get more specific by setting mini-goals to keep you going, or keep it big picture, stretched-out across the horizon.

2. Pay attention to your dreams. Your dreams can shed a lot of light on your waking life. If you have a very symbolic dream that leaves you scratching your head, write it out and jot down your thoughts on what it could mean in your life. I often refer to a dream analysis website when I have a crazy dream that needs some more thought, and I pulled some basic symbolism for you to shed some light on your own dreams:

Recurring Dreams: indicates unresolved issues or unhealthy patterns

Nightmares: suggests that there is an unresolved issue with emotional or frightening content, perhaps a health issue you have been avoiding

Chasing Dreams: a metaphor for some type of insecurity. You are avoiding a situation you think is not conquerable

Animals: your own physical characteristics, primitive desires or sexual nature, depending on the animal.

3. Try lucid dreaming. Lucid dreams occur when you are somewhere between asleep and awake. In a lucid dream, you can actively participate in, and manipulate, imaginary experiences in the dream. You can confront perceived threats and improve your self-confidence. Using lucid dreams can help you sort out a problem from your waking life and visualize and practice asking for what you want and need - practice a speech, prepare for an event, ask for a raise, etc.

Set high goals for yourself, give yourself permission to touch and embrace your dreams. Be mindful of what your subconscious is telling you while you sleep. Use the symbolism to sort out issues you may have buried that need attention. Your dreams can guide you to your better path, to the life you want, if you are willing to listen and take action to change your life.

Blessings. Gratitude. Love.