Discovering Your Inner Samurai Blog

Virtual Book Tour Coming to a Place Near You!

Whew, we've had another exciting couple of weeks of touring!

On January 18, 2008: Liz Fuller interviewed me on More Than We Know in Today’s Woman Entrepreneur - Dr. Susan L. Reid, discussing my book and the process of writing a book and getting it published.

On January 24, 2008: I was a guest, posting Is Retirement Even Relevant Anymore For Midlife Entrepreneurs? on the Think Retirement blog.

On January 24, 2008: BZ Riger hosted a guest post by me, life transition; a journey of the soul, on her blog Art of Allowing Success Mindset.

On January 25, 2008: BZ Riger posted a written interview with me and announced a contest for a free copy of Inner Samurai in Insights on intuition, resistance, and your inner samurai an interview on Art of Allowing Success Mindset. BZ also posted a podcast of a conversation with me about the principles and background behind my book.

On January 25, 2008: Diane K. Danielson posted From “Girls’ Guides” to Samurais, a review of Inner Samurai and another book, on the Entrepreneur.com Blog Network's Top Shelf Reading Picks: Book and Blog Reviews for Savvy Entrepreneurs.

On January 29, 2008: I was a guest on Lisa Haneberg's blog Management Craft: Discussions About the State of the Art of Management, posting Take Time Out of Time Management for Business Success.

Today: Anne Zelenka will be reviewing my book on her blog Anne Truitt Zelenka: a blog about the connected age.

Over the next couple of months, I will be traveling around the world from blog to blog, visiting with my tour hosts and discussing different aspects of my book, Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success. By clicking on the VBT icon (as pictured above) in the upper right-hand corner on my permanent blog site you will be able to see my tour schedule and visit on the days that interest you. Better yet, come along for the whole ride!

Have any of you ever been involved in a virtual blog tour, either as a guest or a host? If so, what tips, ideas, or insights did you find most helpful and uselful? What would you have done differently or better next time?

Sling Shot Girl Bungee Jump

Today . . . I am wondering . . . What do you get when you cross a wild and crazy woman, with an ATV and giant bungee cord? Hump-day is the perfect day for this mid-week laugh. Enjoy!

Inner Samurai Wisdom from Tom Brady

Love the New England Patriots or hate them, they've done something that no other football team has ever done . . . they've have a perfect season, going 18-0.One reason for their success is quarterback, Tom Brady's inner knowing, his Inner Samurai strength. His quotation below says it all:

Don't let other people tell you what you're capable of. As long as you believe in yourself and work hard to achieve whatever you set your mind to, you just keep plugging away. It may not be up to your timetable, but you can get it done.

One of the things I like about this quotation is that he does not allow other people to define him. He determines what he is capable of, what he can do. That's Inner Samurai conviction.

What part of Tom's quote do you like best?

10 Reasons to Become a Midlife Entrepreneur

Last week, I had the opportunity to write a guest blog for Think Retirement. I wrote about a topic that many Accidental Pren-hers in their 40s and 50s are just beginning to think about . . . retirement.

So, what does retirement mean to an Accidental Pren-her who has become an entrepreneurial women and successfully woven passion into what she does as a small business owner? Does she plan on retiring when she reaches the age of 65? Does she even want to?

If you are passionate about what you doing, happily turning your passion into profit, it's hard to think about stopping what you're doing, isn't it? Oh, sure, you could use some time away, an extended vacation, even a more relaxed pace. But do you want to retire? As in cease what you are doing. Or, would you rather stay involved, continuing to contribute, and following your passion?

Today's Baby Boomers are redefining retirement, and are finding that there are some very compelling reasons to either become or continue being an entrepreneur in midlife.

10 Reasons for Being a Midlife Entrepreneur

• You’re healthier and living longer.
• You want to stay involved and engaged.
• You enjoy generating extra income.
• You get to build a business around something you enjoy and are passionate about.
• You have a full Rolodex and 20-30 years of experience to back you.
• You want the independence and flexibility that comes from working for yourself.
• You have confidence and experience, and know what you’re good at.
• You may already have a pool of money saved to help finance your business.
• You can do business from home, using the Internet as your storefront.
• You aren’t discriminated against because of your age.

If you'd like to read more, check out the entire post, Is Retirement Even Relevant Anymore For Midlife Entrepreneurs, published as a guest post at Think Retirement.

Then, weigh in and let us know your thoughts on retirement. Do you see yourself retiring at 65 or do you see yourself continuing on as a midlife entrepreneur?

Virtual Book Tour Stops at Think Retirement and Art of Allowing Mindset

YAY!

Gregory Bell at WME Books has put together an exciting Virtual Book Tour for my newly published book, Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success.

Today kicks off the second leg of our book tour at Think Retirement. For those of you who are not familiar with this new blog site, Think Retirement is an exploration of possibilities and relevant issues for people who are about to retire, are already retired, or care for someone of retirement age. Topics range from finance and lifestyle, to employment, politics and health care. Retirement comes in several forms, many of which would not have been recognizable 20 years ago. I've written a guest post for this stop on the tour. Head on over and see what you think of, Is Retirement Even Relevant Anymore for Midlife Entrepreneurs?

On Friday, we'll be at BZ Riger's blog, Art of Allowing Mindset. If you aren't familiar with this blog site, The Art of Allowing Mindset is a place to come for passionate, bold, lively conversation about master success mindset, using the law of attraction to get real results daily and taking inspired action for delicious success. BZ gives you ideas, tools, resources, and a step-by-step approach to winning a woman's inner game to wealth.

Then check out the Virtual Book Tour Schedule to find out where else I'll be. I'd love to have you come along with me on tour, reading and commenting as we go.

All Aboard!

The Marriage of Music and Business

Today . . . I am reflecting on the article I read in the Kansas City Star called Thinking right in a left-brain environment.

It's an article sent to me by my good friend, Dr. Robin Lipke, who shares my interest in right and left brain thinking. What I found interesting about this article was the marriage of music and business -- the very same combination of strengths I bring to the table as a small business consultant, and Beverly Sills brought to the business world of New York's Metropolitan Opera. 

I've included the first part of the article for you to read, in the hopes that it will generate discussion.

Lori Diffendaffer, who holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance and a master of fine arts in performing arts management, finds that her musical background is right in tune with her job as a marketing senior associate at Grant Thornton LLP. In a business firm full of CPAs, an MFA stands out like an oboe in a room full of calculators.

Yet Lori Diffendaffer says the degree and her musical background prepared her well to handle marketing at Grant Thornton LLP in Kansas City.

Diffendaffer is a marketing senior associate at the accounting, tax and business advisory firm. She works with accountants, auditors and business advisers to write promotional pieces, prepare proposals, create direct mail campaigns and plan special events.

“Whenever I write a piece, I consider if the tone is right, the voice is right — skills I applied in music — but in a more abstract way,” she said. Her job requires creativity, empathy and an ability to see the big picture — what are called “right-brain” skills because they originate in the right hemisphere of the brain.

The skills that make her stand out in a left-brain environment are becoming increasingly important in all jobs, maintains author Daniel H. Pink in Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future.

Left-brain skills — linear thinking, logic and analysis — still have a role to play, Pink writes, but success belongs to those with a skill set that also includes imagination, a sense of humor, intuition and understanding the needs of others.

So, what do you think about this discussion? Do you agree with Danial Pink? Do you think right-brainers will rule the future? Weigh in. I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Deepak Chopra Knows the Inner Samurai

In this short (just over a minute), video clip, Deepak Chopra explores the mystery of your body in its growth from a single cell to a symphony of activities guided by an inner intelligence that mirrors the wisdom of the universe. This inner intelligence is what I call your Inner Samurai.

So what did you think of this short video? Do you agree? Do you think you have an inner intelligence that mirrors the wisdom of the universe? Weight in. Let us know.

Can Intention Change the World

Women who have become Accidental Pren-hers have had something happen to them that has rocked their world and changed their lives, forever. Along their journey from Accidental Pren-hers to entrepreneurial women, they discover something about themselves . . . that they can change their world. And how do they do it? By intention. Watch this short (just over a minute) video of Lynne McTaggart as she talks about the power of intention.

Then, let us know what you think. Do you believe you have the power to change your world and, as a by-product, effect change all over the world? Yes? No? Let us know.

Virtual Book Tour

Whew, we've had an exciting week of touring!

January 10, we were over at Anita Campbell's site -- Small Business Trends. In addition to reviewing my book, Small Business Trends also hosted a guest post I wrote, How Many of You Became Entrepreneurs Accidentally?.

On January 11, I served up the guest post Recession Proof Your 2008 with 7 Sure-fire Ways to Boost Productivity and field comments all day on B5Media's Slacker Manager with Phil Gerbyshak. On January 14th, Phil also announced a contest to win a free copy of Inner Samurai on Slacker Manager.

On January 12, Liz Fuller reviewed my book in the post Discover Your Inner Samurai on her blog More Than WE Know: Information, Inspiration and Support for Women Entrepreneurs.

And on January 15, Holly Buchanan of FutureNow's GrokDotCom.com posted Entrepreneurial and Female: Discover Your Inner Samurai review of me book with insights from a conversation she had with me last month.

Over the next couple of months, I will be traveling around the world from blog to blog, visiting with my tour hosts and discussing different aspects of my book, Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success. By clicking on the VBT icon (as pictured above) in the upper right-hand corner on my permanent blog site you will be able to see my tour schedule and visit on the days that interest you. Better yet, come along for the whole ride!

Have any of you ever been involved in a virtual blog tour, either as a guest or a host? If so, what tips, ideas, or insights did you find most helpful and uselful? What would you have done differently or better next time?

Sisterhood of The Rope

Today . . . I am thinking about Sir Edmund Hillary. Who was Sir Edmund Hillary? The first person to climb Mount Everest. He died last week, at the age of 88. Though in 1953, probably before most of us reading this blog post were born, he became the first man to stand atop the world's highest mountain, with his Nepalese Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay the second.

What an amazing success. However, not a signgular success. Sir Hillary was not alone in his success, neither was he alone in his assent. He had people around him who supported him and shared his vision. He knew trust. He knew risk. He knew failure, yet, most of all, he knew connection.

David Zinger over at Slacker Manager blog writes about Sir Hillary and The Brotherhood of the Rope.

The Brotherhood of the Rope refers to the psychological, social, and spiritual connection that mountain climbers share . . . I encourage you to think about the ropes in your life - your accomplishments, summits, and relationships.

As I encourage you to think about the sisterhood of your rope. We all connected to significant women in our lives. Women who support us, care for us, and hold our vision for us along out journey.  Who is on your rope? Who can you depend upon to scale the heights of success with you. Who'se your sherpa?

Hillary Clinton Knows Her Inner Samurai

Love her or hate her, Hillary Clinton is focus, confident, and sure. In this interview with Katie Couric, Hillary is asked: "If it's not you, how disappointed will you be?" Couric asked. “Well, it will be me,” she said. But she said she would stand behind any other Democratic nominee, if it came to that. “We're going to have unified party, behind whoever we nominate.” Clearly, she has considered the possibility she won't be the nominee? "No, I haven't," Clinton said.

Are You An Accidental Pren=her?

An Accidental Pren-her is a woman who finds herself starting up a business, perhaps for the very first time. She probably has had no, or very little experience starting up a business, though she may have exhibited early entrepreneurial leanings as a child. It is most likely that she has a dream — something she has been thinking about for a very long time — although she has taken no significant action to foster that dream’s development.

The “accidental” part comes in because most women, when facing starting up a business for the very first time, say that they never anticipated doing so. They may have been happily working in corporate, academic, or other traditional work places for most of their adult lives until something happened. What happened? Some kind of activating event — something big enough that it required them to view life differently from that point on.

For some, they were downsized. For others, they lost their job by getting laid off or fired. Still others decided they wanted more out of life than working for a paycheck, so they quit. Sometimes the activating event was getting married, becoming a mother, or children growing up and leaving home. The loss of a parent or other loved one caused some women to rethink life. Other activating events include divorce, near fatal accidents, recovery from a serious illness, and, as was the case for me, spiritual awakenings.

Whatever the activating event, all Accidental Pren-hers share a common theme. They know that something unexpected has happened to them and that this event is now shaping who they are and what they do.

Are you an Accidental Pren-her? What unexpected event is currently shaping your life?

The “accidental” part comes in because most women, when facing starting up a business for the very first time, say that they never anticipated doing so. They may have been happily working in corporate, academic, or other traditional work places for most of their adult lives until something happened. What happened? Some kind of activating event — something big enough that it required them to view life differently from that point on.

For some, they were downsized. For others, they lost their job by getting laid off or fired. Still others decided they wanted more out of life than working for a paycheck, so they quit. Sometimes the activating event was getting married, becoming a mother, or children growing up and leaving home. The loss of a parent or other loved one caused some women to rethink life. Other activating events include divorce, near fatal accidents, recovery from a serious illness, and, as was the case for me, spiritual awakenings.

Whatever the activating event, all Accidental Pren-hers share a common theme. They know that something unexpected has happened to them and that this event is now shaping who they are and what they do.

Are you an Accidental Pren-her? What unexpected event is currently shaping your life?

Virtual Book Tour Stops at Small Business Trends

How exciting!

Gregory Bell at WME Books has put together an exciting Virtual Book Tour for my newly published book, Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success.

Today kicked off the book tour at Small Business Trends. I have long been a fan of Anita Campbell and the work she does as editor of the Small Business Trends site, the Small Business Trends newsletter, and as the host of Small Business Trends Radio.

Head on over to Anita's site to see what's happening on today's Virtual Book Tour stop, then check out the Virtual Book Tour Schedule to find all stops on the tour so you can come along with me.

All Aboard!

Virtual Blog Tour

Today . . . I am thinking about how valuable virtual blog tours are to entrepreneurial women launching new businesses, new products, and their new books into the world.

What is a virtual blog tour? According to guest blogger Mary Emma Allen over at Grow Your Business Writing Blog:

The latest popular technique for authors, and freelance writers, to promote their work consists of virtual book signings or blog tours. Rather than taking time to make a physical tour of bookstores, many writers now appear on blogs throughout the world. Many publishers have begun to expect authors to engage in online tours.

She explains what a virtual blog tour (VBT) is all about, how to set one up, and common practices to observe.

Tomorrow is my official VBTtour launch. Over the next couple of months, I will be traveling around the world from blog to blog, visiting with my tour hosts and discussing different aspects of my book, Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success. By clicking on the VBT icon (as pictured above) in the upper right-hand corner on my permanent blog site you will be able to see my tour schedule and visit on the days that interest you. Better yet, come along for the whole ride!

Have any of you ever been involved in a virtual blog tour, either as a guest or a host? If so, what tips, ideas, or insights did you find most helpful and uselful? What would you have done differently or better next time?

Eckhart Tolle Knows His Inner Samurai

Here's a great quotation from Eckhart Tolle.

Clearly, Eckhart knows his Inner Samurai, knows what to do to get himself in touch with his inner knower, and has made it a habit of his to do so.

When Challenges come,
as they always do,
make it a habit to go within at once
and focus as much as you can
on the inner energy field
of your body.

What do you think? Have you made going within to connect with your Inner Samurai one of your New Year resolutions?

Interview with Accidental Pren-her Dana Weekley

Today's special guest on The Accidental Pren-her Show, Stories of the Unexpected is Accidental Pren-her Dana Weekley. This 12 minute interview talks about Dana's interesting transition from being a traditionally employed accountant to how she recognized her inner artist and founded her successful small business, Nine Tomatoes. Dana is an artist who specializes in entertainment for the third eye.

You can listen to Dana's interview from your computer by clicking on the play button, download the MP3 file and listening on your iPod or other MP3 listening device, or read it in full below.

Enjoy!

The original Accidental Pren-her™

Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Discovering Your Inner Samurai Review at Amazon.com

It really does take a village to publicize a book. Thank you to everyone who has let a review at Amazon.com. Here's one from Carol McClelland of Green Career Central.

I've been an entrepreneur since 1991. In the intervening sixteen years I've read a number of books about running my own business. None has struck me as deeply as Susan L. Reid's book, Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success.

Susan's descriptions, ideas, and client stories are engaging and draw you inward to your own inner voice that becomes such a powerful business partner when you know you can trust its message.

Although written for the new or inspiring entrepreneur, I found plenty of powerful tidbits sprinkled throughout the book. Even when I could nod my head in agreement during a particular passage or chapter, there was always a nugget of insight, a stunning new perspective, that gave me a new way to be in relationship with my own business.

Taken together, the nuggets I gained from Susan's book, help me stay in a natural, productive flow with my business success. The anxiety, fear, and frustration drop away as I focus inward and listen.

When I don't know an answer, I know I can ask a question and receive a wise answer in return...a wise answer from within that I can trust and allow to unfold in its own way and time.

Want to learn how to connect within with your inner guidance system?

Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success is now available from WME Books, Amazon.com and directly from me, if you would like a signed copy.

Thank you!

Happy reading,

Don’t Set any Goals this New Year . . . without Applying the 60-40 Rule

Today . . . I am thinking about not setting any resolutions or goals this year.

Why? Because the problem with goals is that they are made in the present, to be fulfilled in the future. But the present is always changing. That means the future is always changing, too. So, if you’ve created a static goal for a future time in a dynamic and ever changing present, it’s almost impossible to attain that goal. This is why, after the first couple of weeks of working toward your goal, setbacks often occur.

Not all is lost. Human beings aren’t static, so why should their goals be? There is a way to meet your goals and to accomplish all that you have set out to achieve this New Year. The only thing is, it’s different from what you’re used to doing, and it will require setting aside your old way of setting goals. This new way of setting goals is what I call the 60-40 Rule.

The 60-40- Rule

Never heard of the 60-40 rule? Well, now you have. The 60-40 rule states that, once you set a goal, 60% of your action is to be taken in the present; only 40% of your action is to be taken in the future. This rule does three things that the traditional way of setting goals does not:

1. It takes into account the dynamic, ever changing present that we all live in.
2. It sets the intention for your goal to be fulfilled.
3. It puts you in energetic vibration with prosperity and abundance, making manifestation of your goals just a matter of time.

Of course, you can increase the percentage of action to be taken in the present to 70%, 80%, even 90% or more. The higher the percentage of action in the now, the faster your goal will be reached. Anything less than 60% in the now makes your goal just a wish, a want, and a dream that may never be fulfilled.

Do yourself a favor this New Year. Don’t waste your time setting goals if you aren’t committed to spending 60% of your action toward your goal right now, in the red, hot present. Whether in business or in your personal life, set attainable goals that you know you can reach, rather than rigid, ultimatum-driven goals that are doomed from the start. Then, follow the 60-40 Rule to achieve them. Take 60% of your action toward your goal today with only 40% of your action remaining for the future. Remember, you aren’t static. Why should your goals be?

What's been your experience with setting goals and making resolutions? Have the worked? Do you think they would work better with the 60-40 Rule?

Happy New Year!

2008 is an energetically fast year for all of us, ushering in great personal and business success.

Make it great!

Happy New Year from my Inner Samurai to yours.