Discovering Your Inner Samurai Blog

11 Benefits of Being Positive

My friend Linda Childs brought this article to my attention. I loved it so much, I thought I would share it with you all.

Written by Jon Gordon, author of The Shark and the Goldfish, this article tells about the benefits of being positive.

As Jon say's "Being positive is not just a nice way to live. It’s the way to live." Here a portion of Jon's 11 reasons to be positive. It's taken from 11 Benefits of Being Positive, if you'd like to read his article in full. 

1. Positive People Live Longer - In a study of nuns, those that regularly expressed positive emotions lived on average 10 years longer. (The Nun Study)

2. Positive work environments outperform negative work environments. (Daniel Goleman)

3. Positive, optimistic sales people sell more than pessimistic sales people. (Martin Seligman)

4. Positive leaders are able to make better decisions under pressure. (Heartmath.org)

5. Marriages are much more likely to succeed when the couple experiences a 5 to 1 ratio of positive to negative interactions whereas when the ratio approaches 1 to 1, marriages are more likely to end in divorce. (John Gottman)

6. Positive people who regularly express positive emotions are more resilient when facing stress, challenges and adversity. (Several Studies)

7. Positive people are able to maintain a broader perspective and see the big picture which helps them identify solutions where as negative people maintain a narrower perspective and tend to focus on problems. (Barbara Fredrickson)

8. Positive thoughts and emotions counter the negative effects of stress. For example, you can't be thankful and stressed at the same time. (Several Studies)

9. Positive emotions such as gratitude and appreciation help athletes perform at a higher level. (Heartmath.org)

10. Positive people have more friends which is a key factor of happiness and longevity. (Robert D. Putnam)

11. Positive and popular leaders are more likely to garner the support of others and receive pay raises and promotions and achieve greater success in the workplace. (Several Studies)

Some good inner samurai business stuff here, huh?

Susan L. Reid
Inner Samurai Business Expert

Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

How to Write a Great Business Vision Statement Video

Here's our most popular 5-minute "how-to" instructional video on how to write a great business vision statement.

Follow these easy guidelines and use the vision statement formula at the end of the video to perfectly articulate your dream, your passion, and the direction you envision for your business.

 

Sometimes You Need to Stay in Touch but . . .

Inner Samurai Business thought for the week:

Sometimes you need to stay in touch but be out of reach.

- Jim Rohn

Hmmmmm . . . good point, huh?

Susan L. Reid
Inner Samurai Business Expert

Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Inner Samurai Business thought for the week:

Sometimes you need to stay in touch but be out of reach.

- Jim Rohn

Hmmmmm . . . good point, huh?

Susan L. Reid
Inner Samurai Business Expert

Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Inner Samurai Business - Eight Ways to Restore Balance in Your Life

From an Inner Samurai perspective, balance is everything. You can not be inner inspired while outwardly stressed.

The path to restoring balance in your life begins by taking eight decisive steps each and every day. These eight steps will not only reduce the amount of stress in your life, they will also help put you in control and make balance a way of life naturally and simply.

Step One: Set your positive intention for the day.

First thing each morning, set your intention for the day ahead. Make sure it's a positive one.

Step Two: Set a “balance goal” for your mind.

Right after you set your positive intention for the day, spend the next five to ten minutes mentally picturing your life the way you want it to be. Clearly see and experience how it feels to be perfectly balanced, centered, and whole. By doing this you will have set a goal for the mind and a feeling state for the body to achieve.

Step Three: Simplify.

After you've set both the balance goal for your mind and the feeling state for your body, look over your week and see what you can do to simplify your life for the next seven days. Be very Zen about this. Invite simplicity to be your new way of life.

Step Four: Let things go.

As simplicity becomes your new way of being, you'll find that many of the things you compulsively thought just "have to get done" no longer need to be done. Do you really have to stay up late putting the final touches on that report or can you do it in the morning after a good night’s sleep? Does the car really have to go in for detailing or is it OK to just go through the car wash for now? Begin today to recognize the things that don't really have much impact on your life, then allow yourself to let them go.

Step Five: Set priorities and create boundaries.

When you begin living more simply and letting things go, you'll find yourself coming quite naturally into alignment with a more balanced lifestyle. You'll feel in charge again. You'll be eager to set priorities. You'll find yourself wanting to create healthy boundaries in order to maintain balance. The key here is to figure out what you want your priorities to be, not what you think they should be.

Step Six: Learn to say no to others.

The more balanced you become, the more you will come to appreciate and utilize the word "no." Saying no helps you to maintain the balance and equilibrium you so crave. Quit doing things you only do out of guilt or a negative sense of obligation. Instead, make more room in your life for the activities that are meaningful to you and bring you joy.

Step Seven: Practice saying yes to you.

Now that you've learned to say no to others, it's time to practice saying yes to you. In order to restore balance, it's important to experience fun and relaxation as essential to your balanced life and lifestyle. Therefore, make sure that you set aside time each day for an activity that you enjoy, and set aside one night each week for something special you know will rejuvenate you.

Step Eight: Protect your private time.

The final thing to do as you go about living a balanced life is to fervently guard your personal and private time. There are very few things that actually warrant a necessary and urgent intrusion into your personal time. Let no one and nothing distract or intrude upon you. Turn your cell phone off!

Susan L. Reid
Inner Samurai Business Expert

Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

How to Write a Vision Statement

This question came in from one of our readers wanting to know about what a vision statement is and how to write one for her business.

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

Q: I have lots of questions about vision statements:

• 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?

A: Here's my business made easy answer:

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 statement in a nutshell. 

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

Susan L. Reid
Inner Samurai Business Expert

Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Life Preview Exercise for Balance

Finding balance in today's frenetically paced world is no simple task. Yet it can be done. One way I have done this in my life is to complete a Life Preview each year. Every January, I set aside time to sit down with paper, a pencil, and a chai tea latté to warm my hands. I sit on my favorite spot on the couch where I can watch the snow falling and the cardinals playing. Then I plan my Life Preview.

I begin by writing across the top of my paper:

What My Life Will Be Like in 2010

Then I draw lines creating three columns on the page: Purpose, Outcomes, and Theme. In each column I write a corresponding attraction statement, as follows:

•    Column One – Purpose
In 2010 I will __________. I will focus on __________. (This statement summarizes the major activities and goals I'm energetically aligning myself with this year.)

•    Column Two – Outcomes
At the end of 2010, I will ____________. (This statement defines the key measureable outcomes I will achieve based on the goals I set above.)

•    Column Three – Theme
This time next year, _____________. (Here I declare to the Universe the most important outcome for me to achieve, by saying out loud, "2010 is the year of ____________.")
I take some time thinking about my purpose, the outcomes I desire, and my theme for the coming year. Then I fill in the blanks in each statement.

Next, under the "Purpose" column, I categorize my goals. Some categories might include relationships, finances, health, etc.

Some of my categories this year are:

Personal Development - Here I'll be focusing on what I want to learn this year (speak Mandarin Chinese more fluently and learn how to write, too, as well as sailing lessons), limitations I want to overcome, how I want my body to look and health to be (just started the Kathy Freston 21-day cleanse that Oprah did), and specific relationships I want to cultivate (attracting the perfect mate into my life).

Business - This year, I'll be focusing on making writing for profit the most important thing I do this year. This includes growing my eZine readership to 5,000 and my blog readership to 200 page views per month. I'll also be intentional about specific product development this year, and working with more women to create their business plans and find their niche.

Adventure Travel - This is the fun one. I'm planning a trip back to China this fall, have scuba diving in Fiji in the works, and will begin planning for my writing and painting adventure in Santorini Greece in 2011.

Economic Earnings & Investments - This year I have set a definite amount of money I intend to earn each month ($10,000) and how much of that I will be putting into savings and investments (20%), and how much of that I will be contributing to my travel (10%) and to the foundation I have in the works to start in 2010 (5%).

Contributions - I've always had a dream of starting a Foundation that helps creative women get started in business. This year, I'm turning that dream into a decision by doing the research and investigation of what needs to be done to start-up my Foundation. In addition, I have two specific organizations I'll be contributing my time and money to (Hospice and Peace Corp).

Under "Outcomes," I list what next steps I need to take to achieve each of my goals.  Under "Theme" I list the deadlines for each of the actions I set for myself.

Here's an example of what my action step and deadline look like for:

Personal Development - Speak Mandarin Chinese more fluently - Complete lesson 50 by December.

1. Since this goal is a continuation of one that I had last year, I will be continuing to use the same Mandarin podcast lesson format, so I don't need to research that part before I begin.

2. Sign-up for next 6-month segment of Mandarin Chinese Lessons with Serge Melnyk.

3. Download lessons to iPod.

4. Print out lessons and exercises.

5. Set up time each week I will study Mandarin.

Business - Writing for profit - Increase earning from $500 to $2,000 per month by September. 

1. Brainstorm with Yvonne DiVita of Windsor Media Enterprises (my book publisher) for ideas of where I might submit my writings for paid publication.

2. Research places where I can submit my writings for publication.

3. Explore my local and regional newspapers for possibilities to write regular business columns.

4. Talk to five professional writers for tips and suggestions.

5. Submit 10 articles for paid publication by June.

Finally, I take my calendar out and set dates in the spring, summer, fall, and winter when I will return to my favorite spot on the couch to review my Life Preview. This helps me see how I'm doing, make certain I'm on track, and make adjustments as needed. In this way, I ensure that I'm intentionally using the Law of Attraction to attract exactly what I want into my life this year.

Here are my dates (all around 3-day weekends, so I'll have plenty of time to review and revise):

• Spring review - April 2
• Summer review - July 2
• Fall review - October 8
• Winter review - January 4, 2011

And that's how I roll, folks.

Have fun planning your Life Preview!

Susan L. Reid

Inner Samurai Business Expert

Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Who or What Inspires You When You Hit the Wall?

As women entrepreneurs starting up and running your own businesses, I know you, like me, have experienced what it's like to hit the wall. When you can't see a way over, around, or through to the small business success you so passionately want to be.

When that happens, watch this 5-minute video. I guarantee it will not only bring tears to your eye, it will give you the strength to move beyond any wall you're facing.

Nature Does Not Hurry, Yet . . .

Inner Samurai Business thought for the week:

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

- Lao Tsu

Hmmmmm . . . good point, huh?

Susan L. Reid
Inner Samurai Business Expert

Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Inner Samurai Business thought for the week:

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

- Lao Tsu

Hmmmmm . . . good point, huh?

Susan L. Reid
Inner Samurai Business Expert

Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Funding Women Entrepreneurs - Seven Opportunities

Grants for women starting up businesses in America are hard to come by, especially if you don't know where to look.

If you've been searching for small business grant money and had difficult finding any, or thrown up your hands in frustration because of all the scam sites promising money that lead to nowhere, don't give up yet!

Funding opportunities for women small business owners do exist.

Here are seven of them:

1.    National Association of Small Business Investment Companies (NASBIC) - This is an investment company that funds small businesses. It is venture capital, but considered well known, recommended, and safe.

2.    National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC) - This is an association that funds ethnically diverse businesses. It is also venture capital, but thought to be a bit more secure.

3.    Woman Owned - A very good article on women-owned small business funding.

4.    Count Me In (for Women’s Economic Independence) - Here is an online community with events and funding for women-owned businesses. A minimum of two years in business and $250,000 in revenue are required to apply for financial assistance.

5.    Women’s Funding Network - A network that is a collection of organizations that fund women's solutions.

6.    American Association of University Women (AAUW) formerly, now: Breaking through Barriers -
An association for the advocacy of women's equality that provides funding for outstanding women.

7.    Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - A branch of the SBA that funds small, high-tech and innovative businesses.

    

 

 

Susan L. Reid
Inner Samurai Business Expert

Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

How to Set Goals That Stick Video

Want your small business to be successful this year? Then it's time to be fierce about your goals and guard them with your time.

Welcome to the Inner Samurai Business Leadership Video series. In this 3-minute video you'll learn how to set goals that stick.

The Zen of the One Page Business Plan

Having a business plan is a strategic and financial asset. Not only does a business plan strategically guide your business, it is also invaluable for obtaining financial support and backing.

The only problem is . . . the traditional business plans are a long, arduous, and sometimes costly process filled with hours of crunching numbers, lots of grinding teeth, and struggle.

Since using the One Page Business Plan books with my clients, I've had nothing but rave reviews. They love the ease, the simplicity, and how quickly they can get their business plan done -- usually in six weeks time. Hats off to forward thinker Jim Horan, for making business planning a breeze.

If you are a in your first year of business and are interested in creating a business plan, here's how you can get started. 

Susan L. Reid
Inner Samurai Business Expert

Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

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 your first year of starting up your business to ensure its success?

A: Congratulations on starting up 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 10%, that means that 90% 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
Inner Samurai Business Expert

Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

The Key Is Not to Prioritize...

Inner Samurai Business thought for the week:

The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.

- Stephen Covey

Good point.

Susan L. Reid
Inner Samurai Business Expert

Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Inner Samurai Business thought for the week:

The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.

- Stephen Covey

Good point.

Susan L. Reid
Inner Samurai Business Expert

Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

What Makes Women Entrepreneurs Excel?

As a business coach and author of a business book for women, Discovering Your Inner Samurai, I am frequently asked in interviews this question, "How are women entrepreneurs who excel different from men entrepreneurs who excel?"

What I've discovered about women entrepreneurs who excel is that they do so in some ways that are similar to their male counterparts and in other ways that are distinctly different.

Here's how I answer that question:

 Both women and men entrepreneurs who excel:

• Are self-disciplined.
• Hold strong, clear visions about the direction of their companies.
• Follow detailed plans of action to support their visions.
• Know how to make tough-call.
• Use mentors and coaches to keep them strategically aligned for success.
• Exude confidence and determination.
• See problems, failures, and setbacks as opportunities, openings, and clarifiers.

Women entrepreneurs do all that and then some. More often then men, women also:

• Create lifestyle businesses that encompass the full spectrum of their lives.
• Have a natural affinity for customer care and service.
• Are three parts “strong woman” and one part “good girl.”
• Have strong, values-led businesses.
• Trust and follow their intuition.
• Are "whole"-istic in their decision-making.
• Measure success by their quality of interaction with people and how much they help others.

What would you add to this list? Are their things you do that are specific to being a woman entrepreneur that our male counterparts don't do as often? If so, let us know!

Susan L. Reid
Inner Samurai Business Expert

Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Inner Samurai Business - How Will You Lead Your Team To Success?

Have you ever given much thought to the energetic difference between motivation and inspiration?

Not many people do.

However, one of my clients recently asked about the difference when I asked her if she wanted to lead her team to success via inspiration or via motivation.

That question stopped her short.

"What's the difference," she asked?

Often we use the two words interchangeably, though energetically they are quite different.

Motivation is when we are pushed forward, from behind, toward a desired outcome. This usually happens when someone other than yourself is using his or her thoughts and words to influence your behavior.

These thoughts and words can belong to a real, live, external person, like a boss, sister, or mother, or they can belong to the voice inside your head that is telling you what you should and ought to do.

Inspiration, on the other hand, has a whole 'nuther feel to it. Inspiration feels as if you are being magnetically drawn toward doing something or being someone from an inner inspired source. With inspiration, there's no voice inside your head telling you what you should do. Neither is there the feeling of guilt if you do not. Instead, there is an inner inspired joy that bubbles up, connecting you and igniting you toward.

It's rather like the energetic carrot out in front beckoning you onward, inspiring you to success and greater fulfillment in your life. 

When my client and I talked about what leadership style she wanted to use with her team, which one do you think she decided upon?

"Drawn toward or pushed forward, which feels better," I asked?

She knew, right away, that she would rather be inspired to success rather than motivated for success.

Weigh-in. Which are you? Are you a motivator or Inspirator? Which do you prefer?

Susan L. Reid
Inner Samurai Business Expert

Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

How to Set Goals That Stick

Want your small business to be successful this year? Then it's time to be fierce about your goals and guard them with your time.

Welcome to the Inner Samurai Business Leadership Video series. In this 3-minute video you'll learn how to set goals that stick.

How to Create a Great Business Name for Your Business

Is this your first year in business? Want to get your new small business off to a great start? Then make it great by creating a fabulous name for your business.

Welcome to the Turn Your Business Dreams into Reality Video series. In this 4-minute video you'll learn exactly what goes into creating a great business name and also what popular trends to avoid.

Always Bear in Mind . . .

Inner Samurai Business thought for the week:

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.

- Abraham Lincoln

Be resolved.

Susan L. Reid
Inner Samurai Business Expert

Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Inner Samurai Business thought for the week:

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.

- Abraham Lincoln

Be resolved.

Susan L. Reid
Inner Samurai Business Expert

Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success