Discovering Your Inner Samurai Blog

One Law of Attraction - Three Approaches to Delibeerate Creation

There's so much confusion surrounding the Law of Attraction and how to use it effectively, isn't there?

Find out why!

The key to using the Law of Attraction is two-fold:

• recognize how much resistance you have toward manifesting what you want, and
• determining which of the three approaches to deliberate creation is best to use, when.

The Three Approaches to Deliberate Creation

First Approach – Hold a vision specifically of what you want.

This approach is perfect if every fiber of your being knows that what you want to manifest is going to happen very soon. That it's right around the corner. So close you can taste it.
This is when you can get specific and detailed about what you want.

People who are in this stage of creation have no resistance, are ready for what they want to manifest, and are in a state of great appreciation about the manifestation. They just know in their knower that it's going to manifest very soon.

Second Approach – Find the essence of what you want and feel into it.

Finding the essence means finding the core of what having this thing that you want means to you. For example: the essence of being in a relationship could be happiness, fulfillment, or companionship. The essence of having money could be freedom or ease.

Feeling into it means dwelling on the essence of what you want and deeply feeling how it would be to manifest it.

This approach to deliberate creation is perfect if you are experiencing just a little bit of resistance  around what you want to manifest. It's also a good approach to use if you have a sense that what you want will manifest in the not to distant future.

This approach won't work for you if you have a lot of resistance toward it, or feel as if manifestation is a ways off. You'll know this is the wrong approach for you because you will feel overwhelmed and frustrated with not getting what you want.

Third Approach – Take what you want completely out of the equation and don't focus on it at all.

This approach to deliberate creation is perfect for you if every time you think about what you want to manifest all you can see is that it hasn't manifested yet. When there is no gut-level knowing that it will manifest anytime soon.

People who are in this stage of deliberate creation have high resistance and the balance of their feeling about the manifestation is in the direction of not having it. People who are in this stage of creation are not really ready for manifestation to occur, even though they may want it, very much.

When you have high resistance going on, it means you are quite a ways off from manifesting what you want. You may even be in a state of anger, feeling some fear around it, and desperation. If you are finding yourself in a moderate or higher rate of resistance, than focusing on something specific will only increase that resistance and your feelings of anxiety and doubt.

Therefore the best thing for you to do is to take what you want completely out of the equation. Don't even focus on it. Focus on some other aspect of your life that is going well – Something that has no resistance to it. Once you do, the resistance in other areas of what you want to manifest will lessen and you'll be able to focus on it later, perhaps using the second, or even the first approach to deliberate creation.

How was that? Did that clear things up for you? Leave a comment and let me know.

Happy manifestation!

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Three Steps to Creating Your Marketing Funnel

Today . . . I am thinking about this question that came in from one of our readers. She's been in business for a couple of years and wanted some suggestions about what to put into her marketing funnel.

If you have a small business question that you'd like for me to answer, let me know.

Q: What's a marketing funnel and what goes in it?"

A: A marketing funnel is a visual representation of the actual products and services that you are offering your prospects. The point of a marketing funnel is to keep people flowing down from the top of the funnel to the bottom. As you go deeper into the funnel your products and services will be priced higher and higher, until you get to the bottom where your highest priced offering awaits.

Here's how it works: Picture a funnel—wide and open at the top and tiny and narrow at the bottom. At the top of the funnel is where you want to get as many prospects in as possible. At the bottom of the funnel is your highest priced product or service. In the middle are in-between levels and prices.

Three Steps to Creating Your Marketing Funnel

Step one: Get your prospects into the funnel by offering them something free, such as a special report, e-Book, e-Zine, PDF chapter from your book, intro teleclass, or tip sheet. The important thing to keep in mind when creating your free offering is that it must be of value to your prospects. In other words, it must be something that they want. In exchange for signing up to receive your freebie, you get their names and e-mail addresses (leads).

Step two: Strategically fill the middle of your funnel with information products and other programs to sell. This will give your prospects the chance to "sample" you and get to know you at a lower price point before committing to your highest priced product or service at the bottom of the funnel.

10 Information Product Ideas for the Middle of Your Funnel

•    Audio Programs (MP3s or CDs)
•    Books
•    E-Books
•    Home Study Courses
•    Special Reports
•    Teleclasses
•    Teleseminars
•    Video Programs (MP4s or DVDs)
•    Webinars
•    Workbooks

Step three: Choose 2-3 high priced and highly sought after products and services for the bottom of your funnel, such as, private consultations, extended coaching packages, weekend live workshops, or a year-long personal mentoring program.

That's it!

Do you have any other suggestions? If so, leave a comment and let us know. And, if you have a small business question that you'd like for me to answer, let me know.

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

You Can Have Anything You Want

"You can have anything you want

if you want it desperately enough.

You must want it with an inner exuberance

that erupts through the skin

and joins with the energy

that created the world."

Sheilah Graham

Lisa Otto on Accidental Pren-her Podcast

Business podcast with Lisa Otto – subscribe now via iTunes.

Today's special guest is writer Lisa Otto of Creative Writing Studios. Lisa left the security of a traditional job for the adventures of entrepreneurship. Learn what sparked her transition, her advice to other women entrepreneurs, and how Creative Writing Studios can help you with your new business.

• Listen to the interview. (If needed, click here to access easy download instructions page.)
• Read the transcript.

This episode of Accidental Pren-her: Stories of the Unexpected podcast is brought to you by OPT Solutions, Inc. Technology management consultants optimizing business processes and technology for small to mid-sized organizations.

How to Create a Twitter Background Image

Hot Business Strategy Tip of the Week

Have you ever seen those snazzy Twitter backgrounds and wondered how you could create one for yourself? You know the ones I'm talking about? Not the pre-set ones Twitter provides. Not the one where you can upload a personal image.

I'm talking about the ones that look as if a graphic designer designed them.

I've been looking for a way to do that for my Twitter background. Enter Leah Dossey, graphic designer and the voice behind Creative Wisdom blog. She wrote a post on How to Create a Twitter Background that outlines exactly what to do.

Then, there is the easy way. You can create free Twitter backgrounds through Twitbacks in two minutes. I used it to design my updated Twitter background, so I know it works. Take a peek. 

Have fun!

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Seven New Business Referral Ideas

This question came in from one of our readers. She's been a CPA for a long time, though has decided to start up her own business by providing specialty services. She had some questions about how to get referrals when you're just starting out.

If you have a small business question that you'd like for me to answer, let me know.

Q #1: "I am a CPA, and I’ve started my own practice performing business valuations and forensic accounting. Attorneys will refer most of my business valuation clients to me. How can I get referrals when my competitors are much more experienced in valuations than I am?"

A: This question is frequently asked by many new business owners. Whether you are a CPA or travel consultant, the answer is the same.  

Referrals are one of the very best ways to grow your business. Asking for a referral is the tricky part. How do you ask? Whom do you ask? Especially when you're just starting out.

Two things to keep in mind:

First, think about this from the perspective of the people thinking about referring clients to you. They are all asking the same question: "Why on earth should I give you a referral?" Sure, they can see that it's important to you and your business if they refer someone to you. "But why," they ask themselves," "is it important to me?" If you can answer that question from their viewpoint, you will give them a reason to be happy about referring someone to you.

Second, people who refer a friend or client to you have a lot to lose. If you do an excellent job, that’s great. If not, it colors how the referrer is viewed. As a result, they could even lose their client's business.

So you need to think carefully before asking for a referral. Here are some ideas you may find helpful.

Seven New Business Referral Ideas

1. Become a low risk referral by adding high value assurance. For example: Give a money back guarantee or free consultation to each person referred to you. 
2. Make sure you have something to offer that either other CPAs don't want to do or that you are specialized in doing.
3. Don’t hide the fact that you’re brand new. Instead, capitalize on it. Offer a start-up discount during your first six months in business.
4. Make a list of people and businesses in your area that offer complimentary services and whose clients may need the  services you offer. Then contact them in person.  
5. Approach local churches and charities and offer to teach classes in your area of specialty. Teach the class for free. Then give a discount on your services to everyone who signs up at the end of the class.
6. Talk with your hairstylist about your services. Give him or her a stack of referral cards. Offer your stylist $5 for every customer who purchases a service from you as a result of one of the cards he or she passed out.
7. Find another new business owner and cross-promote each other. They key here is to find a strategic partner who is in a complementary business and will benefit from promoting your business as well as theirs.

Do you have any other suggestions for your fellow reader? If so, leave a comment and let us know. And, if you have a small business question that you'd like for me to answer, let me know.

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

You Oughta Know About Inbound Marketing

Today . . . I am watching a very cute, entertaining, and informational video sent to me by one of readers, Linda Alisesky of HuggaBooks.

If you are an Internet entrepreneur, you'll want to watch this HubSpot video. It's about inbound marketing. What's that? Inbound marketing draws potential customers and clients to you by leveraging Internet technologies and social media tools. This is different from traditional, outbound marketing which pushes information about your products products or services into the marketplace.

Watch this video to see how inbound marketing can be an asset to your small business.

How to Have Anything You Want

"You can have anything you want if you want it desperately enough.

You must want it with an inner exuberance that erupts through the skin and joins with the energy that created the world."

Sheilah Graham

Patt Osborne on Accidental Pren-her Podcast

Business podcast with Patt Osborne – subscribe now via iTunes.

This week’s guest is life and adventure coach an outdoor retreat leader, Patt Osborne. Her business, Adventure Coach, helps inspire, motivate and support women and men who want to discover what they really want to do with the rest of their lives. Patt worked 25 years as an elementary school teacher, and decided she was ready for a change. Listen to this interview and learn how Patt researched and planned her career change, how she continues to update her business, and how she attracts her perfect clients. 

• Listen to the interview. (If needed, click here to access easy download instructions page.)
• Read the transcript.

This episode of Accidental Pren-her: Stories of the Unexpected podcast is brought to you by OPT Solutions, Inc. Technology management consultants optimizing business processes and technology for small to mid-sized organizations.

30 + Business Applications for Facebook

Hot Business Strategy Tip of the Week

I'm a fan of Facebook. Are you?

While I've only been using Facebook for a couple of weeks, already, I can see such value and benefit that I will continue doing so. Not only has it brought me into contact with many long lost friends, it's also helped me connect with lots of new ones.

Wanting to learn more about how to use Facebook for business, I came across Josh Peters' 30 + Apps for Doing Business over at Mashable and thought it was great.

If you are a small business owner and only thought LinkedIn was the only place for serious business owners to connect, think again. Facebook is the hip, cool, place to promote, network, communicate, and connect your business.

Read Josh's blog post over at Mashable and find out what you can do to accomplish more at Facebook.

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Five Hot New Retreat Ideas for Coaches

Who hasn't heard of personal coaching?

It seems as if everyone from Oprah to Investors Weekly is raving about the value of having a personal coach.

In the 90s, it was cool to have a therapist. Now, it's cool to have a coach.

While coaching has been around for a long time, it wasn't until this decade that personal coaching became a bona fide profession. Now, it's recognized as a "must have" service for motivated individuals who are serious about making positive changes in their lives.

Today, there's a coach for just about everything. And specialized coaching practices, such as retreat and getaway coaching, are on the rise. 

Make your coaching retreat business big in 2009 with these five hot, new retreat ideas:

1. New job and skill retreats.

While there are many non-profit vocational training and job placement centers in the U.S, most are offered in a building. It's time to take these out of the classroom and into nature, where people can connect with nature while exploring options and learning new skills.

2. Turn your current skills into a freelance business retreats.

People with a lifetime of skills and training need help converting their assets into a viable freelance business. Retreat coaches who specialize in helping people make the transition from worker to freelancer will be in demand this year. Consider partnering with a business coach to provide weeklong retreats that combine niche clarity with rest and relaxation.

3. Be ready to relocate retreats.

Many U.S. corporate jobs are moving overseas.  Think about the ways that you, as a retreat coach, could be of value and service to individuals and families who will be relocating overseas. The list is endless.

4. Find work that you can do on the weekend retreats.

All over the U.S. people are getting creative about paying their bills and taking care of their families. People, everywhere, will be looking for ways they can make some extra money during the weekend. What better way to do that in a natural retreat setting with an experience retreat or getaway coach, who can both help them explore extra money possibilities and affirm their value as individuals.

5.  At home retreats.

How many times have you heard people say "I'm too busy to get away for a retreat!" No problem. Bring the retreat to them. Design one-day retreats for busy executives, moms, or business owners in their own home. You provide the structure, exercises, and support coaching throughout the day. They spend the day reflecting and visioning their life, direction, or business within a nurturing, self-care experience that allows them to slow down, relax, and unveil their inner knowing.

So what do you think of these ideas? Do you think you can use any of them in your business this year?

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

What's a Vision Statement and How do I Write One?

Today . . . I am thinking about a question that one of our readers asked about vision statements. She said, "I have lots of questions about vision statements." Then asked me to address these five things:  

• What is a vision statement?
• What's the difference between a vision statement and a mission statement?
  
• Which should I write first? 
• What does a vision statement look like? Is there a formula?

Here we go.

Vision and mission statements are two separate entities that answer two different, yet complementary, questions about your business.

Simply put, your vision statement answers the question: "Where do you see your business going?" Your mission statement answers, "Why do we exist?"

From the start, vision statements are future focused and written with the end result in mind. Mission statements are focused in the present and tell you the fundamental purpose of that business.

Which comes first, the vision or the mission?

If you are a new business just starting up, or if you are a larger company getting ready to add a new program, or an existing organization planning to overhaul your current services, then write your vision statement first.

If you are an established business with a mission statement already in place, then let your mission guide the writing of your vision statement.

Top Five Things to Keep in Mind When Writing Your Vision Statement

1.    Describe outcomes that are five to ten years out.
2.    Dream big and focus on success.
3.    Write your vision statement in the present tense.
4.    Infuse it with passion.
5.    Paint a graphic mental picture of the business you want.  

There is no space limit when writing a vision statement. Vision statements are written in paragraph form, and often contain one or more paragraphs. Write as much as you need to create a dynamic mental picture of your business that will serve to energize and inspire you and your team. 

Two Vision Statement Formulae for Success

Here are two basic vision statement formulae. The first one is for businesses starting up without a mission statement, and the second is for those businesses that are already established or have a mission statement in place.

1. Five years from now, _______________________________ (name of your business)
will become a successful ___________________________ (type or description of business including whether it will be local, regional, national, or international in its scope)
by providing ____________________________(description of your products and/or services)
to _____________________________________________(your customers).

Example:  Five years from now, the Sierra Woman's Shelter will become a successfully run non-profit shelter serving the Greater Pittsburgh area providing education, life-skills training, and the necessary support to help women who have been previously battered or abused build self-sufficient, sustaining, prosperous lives. 

2. Within the next ________ (add a number) years,
grow ___________________________________ (name of your business)
into a successful _______________________________________ (type or description of business including whether it will be local, regional, national, or international in its scope),
increasing revenues to ____________________________ (amount) by _________________ (date)
providing _______________________________(description of your products and/or services)
to _____________________________________________(your customers).

Example: Within the next five years, grow Cultural Awareness Travel into the premier North American woman's tour company increasing revenues to $225,000 by 2012 by becoming known for helping women develop greater self-awareness, confidence, and discover a new respect for diversity through cross-cultural exposure.

So, that's it. Vision statements in a nutshell. Was this helpful?
If you have a small business question that you'd like for me to answer, let me know.

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

What is Enlightment Like?

This is one of my favorite Dogen poems about enlightenment.

Enlightenment is like the moon reflected on the water.
The moon does not get wet, nor is the water broken.
Although its light is wide and great,
The moon is reflected even in a puddle an inch wide.
The whole moon and the entire sky
Are reflected in one dewdrop on the grass.

Contemplate that!

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Gwen Austin on Accidental Pren-her Podcast

Business podcast with Gwen Austin – subscribe now via iTunes.

Today's special guest is inventor Gwen Austin of RC Art Toys.  Gwen created the Color Bug, a remote controlled art product that is shaped like a ladybug. Gwen discovered her passion for designing toys 10 years ago. Even though it took her almost a decade to get back around to her passion, she never lost sight of what it was she wanted to do. Click below to learn all about this exciting product, and Gwen’s journey to creating it.

• Listen to the interview. (If needed, click here to access easy download instructions page.)
• Read the transcript.

This episode of Accidental Pren-her: Stories of the Unexpected podcast is brought to you by OPT Solutions, Inc. Technology management consultants optimizing business processes and technology for small to mid-sized organizations.

Top 10 Things to do in Your First Year of Business to Ensure Success

This question came in from one of our readers. It's a great question for new business owners with their eye on the prize. If you have a small business question that you'd like for me to answer, let me know.

Q: What is the most important thing to do in the developmental stage to ensure success once the business is launched into the marketplace?

A: Congratulations on launching your business! And even more so for looking beyond your start-up and asking the question that will lead to your success. Here are my suggestions:

1.    If you haven't created your business plan, do it now.

2.    Don't let yourself get sidetracked from your business plan. There will be lots of distractions that will make it seem like deviating from your business plan is a good idea. Don't be seduced. Work the plan.

3.    Keep the big picture in mind. If unemployment is at 7%, that means that 93% of the market is gainfully employed and spending money.

4.    Remember that everything cycles. Keep moving forward.

5.    Make sure you differentiate yourself in the market. Create an apples and oranges comparison and convey the contrast to your market.

6.    Stick with your core values. Remember why you are in business and what values are important you.

7.    Be transparent and honest in your dealings with people. During your first year, honesty will matter. Being a good person will matter. Being authentic will matter. Integrity earns trust.

8.    Master social networking to create inbound marketing.

9.    Keep things simple your first year. Don't over-complicate solutions, make situations more complex than they are, or react when you have the power to respond.

10.    Unplug from your business one day a week. I know. I know. There will be lots to do your first year. Your tendency will be to do whatever it takes to get things done. In addition to working long and hard, though, your business also needs you to refresh and renew yourself. Schedule one day a week off and stick to it.

Let me know if this was helpful, or if there is anything more you'd add. If you have a small business question that you'd like for me to answer, let me know.

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

How to Figure Out What Business to Start in 2009

Today . . . I am thinking about this question from one of our readers. I thought it was particularly interesting because of both how general it is and how searching. It got me thinking: How do you figure out what business to start when all you know is that you want to start one up? Here's one suggestion.

If you have a small business question that you'd like for me to answer, let me know.

Q: "How do I figure out what business to start in 2009 when all I know is that I want to start one up?"

A: Because I focus on helping women turn their passion into profit by building a business from the inside out, my first response to your question is don't even think about starting up a business that you're not passionate about. 

The reason for this is because everyone, no matter who they are, at one time or another during the start-up process will feel like throwing in the towel and giving up. When that happens, often all you have to keep you going is your passion and absolute conviction that what you are doing is right for you and that the vision you hold for your business will make a difference in the world.

However, maybe what you’re passionate about is starting up a business this year, period, even though you aren't exactly sure what kind of business you want to create. If that’s the case, here is one idea to help you start exploring possibilities.

Go to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and do some research. Scan the home page for the latest from the BLS. Then, click on the "Economic Releases" tab and read the 2008-09 edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook for employment projections. Next read the information in the “Major Economic Indicators” link. Finally, click on the "Databases and Tables" tab and spend some time researching which occupations are hiring and which are not.

When starting up a business, it's important to have your finger on the pulse of the economy, and the BLS is the perfect place to start. Hopefully, between your enthusiasm to start up a business and what you are reading over at the BLS, you’ll come up with an idea for the specific type of business you can feel passionate about creating this year. 

That was my clever suggestion. What's yours? If you have a small business question that you'd like for me to answer, let me know.

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Karen Bullard on Accidental Pren-her Podcast

Business podcast with Karen Bullard – subscribe now via iTunes.

This week I speak with Karen Bullard of Karen Cole Paper. Karen’s business is a “lifestyle collection of stationery and paper products” that are “stylish and whimsical”, “sophisticated and fun”. In this interview, Karen shares how connection with her inner-knower guides her business, how she balances family and work, and how to give back to the community.

• Listen to the interview. (If needed, click here to access easy download instructions page.)
• Read the transcript.

This episode of Accidental Pren-her: Stories of the Unexpected podcast is brought to you by OPT Solutions, Inc. Technology management consultants optimizing business processes and technology for small to mid-sized organizations.