As entrepreneurs, we have so many great ideas, right?!  We have numerous conversations a day with so many great people, it feels like we need to act on every impulse or an opportunity may slip through our fingers, right?

Here's the deal.....the original idea (your business) IS the great idea.  It is what will help feed your family, it is what brings pride and happiness, and it is what we have chosen to deliver to the world in order to make it a better place while we make money.  Let's stay focused on that and here are some thoughts on how I do it.

It just so happens that my word for 2021 is FOCUS.  :)   This article is being written because I intend on helping women to grow their businesses in 2021. Organization, less stress, and moxie are all key ingredients for a successful business.  Do you agree?  As a business women, and a leader of Women In Connection, I cannot only provide pieces of information (like only marketing) and expect you to be successful.  

I call this desk organization the 10 minute turn around and it can happen every week, if needed.   Once you have done it a couple of times, it takes less than 10 minutes.   I find the best days are on Friday or Saturday because my phone isn't ringing (as often) and I have time to reflect on the goodness of what just happened over that week.  Below, I have listed the process of the organization while I was doing it. 

To me, sticky notes are my saving grace for the A.D.D. that plagues me through every single day.  When I have a thought, I can scribble it onto a sticky note and set it aside.  That leaves room for my brain to focus on what is truly important and often that is when I am talking with someone on the phone!    The struggle is real....ideas bombard me because I am an entrepreneur, an early adopter, a trailblazer, and I see fun and energy in almost all things!  I've decided to embrace these attributes and use them to help make money while keeping my business fresh with new ideas and excitement.  Now, it's my job to roll all of this out to my clients in a way that feels organized and professional.   Below are my thoughts on how I do this.  And again, even though I specialize in marketing, I am also a women business owner and leader of a group of women who want to be successful, so sharing this is not off brand (in my opinion).

​So here we go!  In my marketing plan, I have quarters that will be devoted to unique aspects of the business which is the Women In Connection Membership.  We have regular networking, marketing training, and business growth support groups each month.  We also have special events like the Women's Business Growth Summit in March and writing a book with the members co-authoring it in October.  Maintaining these monthly events takes a great of effort and we cannot wait until March and October for working on these special events -- the plans need to be created now but they are not urgent to my day to day operations. These are a lot of moving pieces with getting the "daily" work set up on automations and growing the membership needs to be first and foremost. This  work has to be my #1 priority and truth be told, the Women's Summit and writing our book is super exciting too!  When I talk with an amazing women who could be a speaker, I create an index card on her so I can recall the conversation and I know how to find her when I am working on the planning for the conference.  Every week, I grab that folder and move that project forward with tasks.  Keeping this tucked away is great because then, I can stay focused on the daily tasks which help me gain money.

I do take the top 3 items that need to get done in order to hit my goals and/or move my business forward. I write that on a stick note and keep them front and center.  I am sure to get those tasks done before the week is up. Three tasks of forward movement are necessary in order to get you closer to achieving goals. Many of us will allow the daily tasks to run our lives.  As an entrepreneur it is YOUR responsibility to always keep yourself moving forward.    

Toolkit for a successful and profitable office - Varying colors are best and most fun!

• Folders  
• Sticky notes  
• Pens  
• Index cards - you can get these from the dollar stores
• Motivation - Your why front and center. A pic of your family is a great motivator.
• Lighting
• Comfort
• Positive Energy
• Room to work
• Remove distractions This isn't possible for some. Asking your family for quiet time is important and we will save that for another blog post.  It's called respect and some women do not know how to expect or ask for that from their families.  I hear it all of the time from women business owners so it will be on our training schedule this year.  :)

Priorities:

• What makes the most money for you?  That should be your focus.  Front and center each day are activities that revolve around and focus on that aspect of your business.  This does include, of course, taking care of your clients.

​Folders are critical. These allow you take portions of your company and file them together for easy recall at a moment's notice.  It helps your heart and mind feel at ease and calm.  Then, the moxie, creative ideas and excitement can happen when it is appropriate. I always need to keep my excitement in check.

• Throughout the week, when you are distracted by shiny objects and fun ideas, quickly put a few words  onto an index card and put this card into one of your 5 folders.  You can go back and expand upon it when you have time.  Put these thoughts onto a sticky note when there is urgency to them.  Such as, "call this person because they want to give you money".  Or, "sign up for this class because RSVP deadline is today".   These are urgent and once they are done, they can be crumpled and tossed aside which is super gratifying!  At the end of the day, I LOVE seeing all of the crumpled and done tasks on the floor. 
• I try to keep my folder count to a minimum which are the main aspects of my business.   I use: Members, Events/Speakers, Training, Leads.  These are front and center and the same color because I am excited to work on these folders every single day.  
• I have a folder called Freebies / Templates which is another color so I can easily grab it off the desk. I also keep these folders in the same order within my folder holder for easy location which cuts down the stress. One of my pet peeves is searching for things.......so it's up to me to make sure that does not happen.
• Then, the  back  folder is a super fun color (PURPLE) and it is called Ideas / Growth/Programs/Alliances - that is where all of my shiny objects live. 

 Keeping a tablet next to you at all times also allows for easy release of thoughts and ideas.  I often will write a thought and draw a highlighted circle in front of it. When I review my notepad, and I see a thought bubble was not checked off...that means it needs to turn into a notecard and put into a folder for safe keeping.

Here's a kicker that blows some people away but I live my life by this rule. 72 hours. I give myself 72 hours to bring an idea to fruition.  This means that my ideas do not get tucked away in a folder and forgotten.  Forward movement.  Digging In.   These are terms I use every single day of my life. 

Visual mapping is great for my mind.  Getting it out of my head and into some sort of workable plan. Keeping these in front of me and well organized electronic files are crucial.  Omg..I could write a book on all of this!!!  See what just happened....I created a shiny object.  It's a great idea and I could do it.  However, it does not fit my top priority of growing my membership and automating my systems so I need to put this onto a note card and tuck it safely into my ideas folder.   Just like when we were pregnant -- it's really up to YOU to maintain your moxie -- put systems in place to help keep you on track - and do what is needed to make your business successful.   You can do this!  

Oh, PS....meet Geofferey.  He is my driving Why for growing this membership so he is right on my desk each and every day.  He was created by a women in Africa that is magical.  She works hard to create these so she an feed her family and help her daughters out of the system which still sells their daughters for 2 goats, into a household for of slavery, abuse, and mutilation.   My goals include helping 1 million women within 5 years to start and grow their business.  Women just like the person who made Geofferey are included in this vision because we will not leave any sisters behind. 

Keep going. Stay focused, and never give up.  We've got you!

Christine 

Below are links to learn more and connect!
 
Avid Marketing Alliance (Marketing Training & Services)
Women in Connection  (Women Networking Group & Membership)
Heart, Mind, & Moxie  (Women’s Marketing, Sales, and Moxie Training)
 
Email: Christine@avidmarketingalliance.com
Text is best or the initial contact: 616.581.5876
 
LinkedIn
 
Personal Facebook
Heart, Mind, & Moxie Facebook
Women In Connection Facebook
​

Massive Brand Expansion Tip:

Do you want to appear on more podcasts as a guest? If you want visibility for your brand - this is an EXCELLENT free tool.

Do not be afraid to offer your knowledge because they want it! When they deliver great guests to their listeners, it makes them look better so it's a win-win.

Below is my process:
Yesterday, I sent an email from my Constant Contact to 100 podcast hosts. It had 26 opens total with 50 unique opens. One guy opened it about 9 times. He probably has ADD like me.

This is a 36% open rate and the industry standard is only 10%. Yay for me! That feels like a win. It confirms the fact that podcasters (all media personalities) seek great content, on a regular basis.
4 people have accepted my content onto their show so those will get scheduled today.

I will send a direct email from me to the ones who opened but did not respond. I will re-send my information after I read more about their show. I will add a little bit about WHY I would be a great fit for their show and ask if they are interested in adding me to their line-up.

Like all marketing, it is about building relationships. I am respectful of what they have worked so hard to create and humbly ask them if my knowledge would be a good fit for their listeners.
Then, I will send a direct email from me to the rest of the list who did not open the first email repeating the same process above.

Once I am scheduled for the show. I will promote that I am going to be a guest on "_____________" and give people the date and times. They typically have a great image for helping me promote because that helps them to get more listeners. It's a circle of goodness for sure.
After I'm on the show, I also post the recording if I think it was a great interview. Tagging the host is a big plus and typically appreciated because again, it is giving them props and PR. I make sure I thank the host and try to type about the great experience and compliment something he/she did to make it great. It is a respectable practice and one that encourages them to invite me AGAIN!

A BIG bonus is when they ask you to be a regular speaker. For me example, I have about 62 areas of knowledge I could provide on marketing tips and how to use free and low-cost tools for turning marketing into sales. I would LOVE to be on their show 62 times! If I build a relationship, it could happen.

This isn't a rude thought because that person likes to do podcasts and so do I but I do not have time or resources to devote to managing my own show. Someday I will.....today, I enjoy being a guest and using it to build my audience.
​
Please let me know your thoughts on this process or ask any questions you may have. And, if you listen to a great podcaster who provides marketing tips -- please give me their name.

Enjoy your experience and do not be afraid to ask...what do you have to lose?

You can also create a free account here and happy hunting:  https://podmatch.com/

PODMATCH USES A.I. TO PAINLESSLY MATCH IDEAL PODCAST GUESTS AND HOSTS TOGETHER TO PRODUCE HIGH QUALITY INTERVIEWS.

Getting started on paper as a business owner is probably the hardest part. You begin figuring out a name, if you’re going to be anything from a sole proprietor to an LLC, file with the state, go to the bank/credit union, and so on and so forth. But what if you’re not confident in yourself and your finances to get things moving, then where do you go?

Grand Rapids/West Michigan has a ton of tools and resources for you and your business to be financially independent. If your credit is poor, there are banks and credit unions that offer secured loans and credit cards to boost your credit. If you need financing for your business, you can choose to go to your trusted representative at your financial institution, but there is also plenty of other resources for you to look at.

• Start Garden, an incubator for your ideas.
• Spring GR, using their program to showcase your business.
• GROW, seed funding for starting a business.
• Women in Connection, the women that are surrounding you. Use the resources that Leah and Rivka have started from the ground up with this group and that they make available everywhere and every day.​

One mistake, that I think many business owners make in general, is going with a financial institution due to the convenient locations. When you’re opening personal accounts, I think that is great to take into consideration. However, banking has truly turned into more of a transactional industry. If you look back 30 years ago, everyone had a banker that they trusted. As a business owner, I urge you to first ask immediate friends and family members if they know their banker, and secondly, if they would recommend them. Often times, the banks that are located everywhere, are the banks that don’t look at a person or a business as an individual, you’re looked at as a number.

Essentially, a fiduciary is a financial advisor who is required by law to act in the best interests of the client. But there’s more to being a fiduciary than meets the eye. It’s not just a label you can slap on.  Only one kind of financial advisor – one who acts exclusively as a Registered Investment Advisor or “RIA” – is required to act as a fiduciary at all times. That little three letter word “all” is really important.

It is possible, and increasingly popular, for financial advisors to be dually registered, meaning sometimes they wear a fiduciary hat to provide investment advice while at other times not; getting commissions through an affiliated broker-dealer on other investments. So the question to be asking is not, “Are you a fiduciary?” but rather 

“Are you required to act as a fiduciary at all times?” 

These dually registered advisors are blurring the distinction between broker and advisor, which can be confusing to investors. Other key differences between these two approaches include the following:

The fiduciary standard goes beyond the traditional requirement that broker-dealers “reasonably believe” the recommended investments to be “suitable” for the client, based upon their needs, objectives and circumstances. The broker’s duty also remains to the broker-dealer by whom she is employed, not necessarily to the client. To make matters worse, many of these broker-dealers are publicly traded companies which means their duty remains to the shareholders. The fiduciary standard requires RIAs to maintain a “duty of loyalty and care” to their clients, which means the advisor is required to be on your side, regardless of whether it makes her, or her employer, more money.

​The essential difference between the suitability and fiduciary models is their primary focus: a product vs. client orientation. The licensing requirements for these two professions back this up. A broker is trained and licensed primarily to be a salesperson and has a Series 7 license to sell a product. An RIA, however, maintains a Series 65 license to provide investment advice. 

I can hear you protesting as I type these words - “But my Financial Advisor is a great guy!” or “We’ve been with XYZ Brokerage forever… of course they’re looking out for us!” I am not saying your Financial Advisor isn’t a great guy, or that you haven’t had good service from your brokerage. But the bottom line is that under the fiduciary standard, an advisor working with an RIA would be prohibited from putting your money in an investment from which she would receive a higher fee because it would cost *you* more money. The great guy at your brokerage would not, as long as that was one of many investments deemed suitable for your situation. In fact, a broker might even be incentivized to invest you in his brokerage’s products because he earns a higher commission on them, regardless of whether they are the best choice for you.

Another byproduct of the sales or transactional orientation of most brokers is that once the sale is completed and they’ve received their commission, you may not hear much from them. I often hear people say they “feel like a number” or don’t hear from their financial advisor regularly which makes sense when you think about it - if they’ve already received their compensation and are not bound by a fiduciary duty to keep working in your best interests, why would they call more than they need to?

Unless you’re an investor with a lot of assets, it is not cost effective for them to spend time on you. This is often true for many RIAs, as well, because they tend to be paid a fixed percentage of the invested amount. This is why many investment management firms have minimum account sizes that exclude less profitable clients.

Which brings us to another problem in the scope of advisor compensation: in a compensation structure where everyone is moving to fee-only, and those fees are required to be “reasonable,” who is the arbiter of reasonableness? If everyone is charging around the industry average of 1.00% - 1.25% of assets under management – and we may see that increase as advisors seek to make up for lost commissions – investors don’t have many better options. So it turns out a fiduciary can act in your best interests, but still charge too much. Sometimes WAY too much!

I don’t believe in minimums either. I currently help investors that range in size from just getting started to tens of millions. If you’ve got a little to invest, I want to steer you in the right direction. If you’ve got a lot, I want to help you avoid expensive mistakes. I want to help you enjoy your life and save responsibly for the future.  

The problem with this assumption is two-fold.
First, this industry average range of 1.00-1.25% AUM is antiquated and has not adjusted for the current environment. As returns on money markets, bonds, and other fixed income based assets have come down over the years, advisory fees have actually gone up according to leading research firm PriceMetrix.

The second problem is that “reasonableness” has historically been defined by, and interchangeable with industry-average. In other words, the financial services industry itself has been the arbiter of reasonableness. That’s right, the industry that is incentivized to make as much profit as possible is the same group that gets to determine what is reasonable. So while the fiduciary rule is a nice step in the right direction, it doesn’t go nearly far enough. Investors not paying attention are still likely to lose large amounts of money, just now in the form of annual fees instead of commissions.
​
Keep in mind this does not even include the expenses associated with investment funds in your accounts, or any transactional costs. If you think that’s too much – and you should – what are your options?

I believe that in the future, clients’ expectations should drive down the industry average AUM fee, and rightly so. There’s no surprise that what I advise you to seek is what I offer: transparent, low cost, fiduciary investment advice. 

A: Had a previous career as an educator/administrator. Currently, state president of a women’s organization. I am a longtime advocate for women’s causes.

A: My passion for women’s equity and having the time to pursue this passion.

A: Leveling the playing field for women and seeing them succeed.

A: Providing practical strategies/tips for women in the workplace – individual, groups, and speaking engagements. Also providing written materials – books, e-courses, etc.

A: I am self-driven, intelligent, and well educated. I know my best times of the day to accomplish what is needed. I have a priority list that keeps me focused. I don’t have time of “fluff” and keep my boundaries.

A: I am single and live alone. My time is my own – except for visits with friends and family – which is under control. I do have my priorities in order.

A: For many years I have been on my own and really enjoy the freedom is provides. I have already raised my family. Yet, I am spiritual and rely on those practices to ground me. I do have outside hobbies which adds to my balance.

A: My passion.

A: Social media. I need to get awareness out there. I need to “get” in front of my specific audience.

A: Learn from my mistakes – I don’t want to repeat them.

A: Best- Be yourself – don’t let anyone take that away from you.  Worst- Girls are to behave according to societal expectations.

A: Ilka's Healthy Heaven; I'm a Spiritual coach helping people improve their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. I use Young Living oils to do that: releasing their physical stress and pain through the Raindrop Technique and other essential oils and doing an Emotional release 1-on-1 consultations and  group classes helping people assess which oils can help release which blocks, So they move forward free and create the life of joy, success and fulfillment they desire!

A: My parents raised me to respect people and - Mother-nature and to work hard for everything I want; to study and constantly improve. I taught my daughter (and 2 step-daughters) the same.

A: I wanted to make my own schedule/be my own boss; knowing that if I messed up - I can ONLY blame myself; wanted to do things in my business that fit my personality and I like the flexible hours.

A: The "rewards" of seeing my clients healthier and happier, more empowered about themselves after a session or a group class with me; hearing their "Thank you! or - "I'm glad I came to your class!", etc.- that's what keeps me going!

A: Having 1-on-1 emotional clearing (release) consultation with someone or doing it as a group class with a few people; scheduling and doing a Raindrop Technique individually on people or if I get (at least 3) people min.: I can teach a class. So- doing the emotional, spiritual and the physical health coaching! And - helping my partners that want to do the same - be successful.

A: Writing my book on healing the Planet!!! It somehow happened naturally: I love helping PEOPLE heal, and- that's on healing our Earth! Originally I was ready and planning writing a health book but somehow it turned into addressing our MOST URGENT issue we have NOW...It just...went through me: I didn't have a choice...:) It's my MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE to the world!!!

A:  Calling people to answer questions, helping them with their oils (or other products) orders; scheduling classes; 1-on-1 appointments for the Raindrop technique/massage, Emotional release/Ancestral clearings or- chakra clearing.

A: Learning NOT to take "NO-s" personally and realizing that most of the time is the fact that people don't have a compassion for themselves: they struggle, but don't want to do nothing about it; they need help, but they don't want to get it. So 15 years ago or so, when I started my Healthy Heaven/the oils business, I was upset and confused with those kind of people: "You don't feel good, but YOU DON'T want to feel better?". So I learned to have compassion for all those people; I learned a lot more then I thought I'd ever  need to learn!!!

A:  To trust that there is a Divine Intelligence out there, so I need TO ALLOW things to happen... instead of pushing and going nowhere with it.

A: I wished I learned better the skills of promo and advertising!- I spent a lots of $$$ on things that I shouldn't had... 

A: To trust my intuition and- when hesitating on something to ask myself: "Does that serve THE HIGHEST GOOD OF ALL?" and - if not- not do it.

The worst: taking advice from others when it didn't feel right.

A: Well...many years ago I was awarded a prize for trying so hard and...going nowhere...! My one mentor at that time thought I need an award for being persistent and not giving up, I guess...

A:  I am a life and entrepreneurial coach offering coaching packages that help
people live in alignement with their purpose, power and potential. I do a lot of speaking and facilitating of workshop along with being a co-founder of The Wellness Collective located in Grand Rapids MI. 

A:  Both of my parents were entrepreneurs and I have such a creative opportunistic brain, it actually never occurred to me NOT to be and entrepreneur. 

A: The only job I ever had was waitressing in high school and college. Other than that I have always created my own stream of income. I grew up on a farm, and had ADHD so I always struggled with academics. Both of these thing require you to work extra hard at life and looking back I believe that is what has given me such a strong work ethic. The ADHD has also contributed to me always wanting to do things my way so building my own company was really my only option.

A:  I love it when people “get it”. When a light bulb of clarity goes on or when the dots connect and they are able to leave or work together feeling so empowered.

A:  I created my own coaching methodology. It is exciting to me because it is not what I set out to do, it was more so given to me in the work that I was doing both professionally with clients and in my own life. I am so humbly grateful that I get to be the one taking people through this process that I have been shown. 

A:  Working with a client in a 4-month to a 1-year program that is focused on helping them live their life in an entirely new way. We are making and integrating shifts at such a deep level that most people experience dramatic changes in how they navigate their life after our work.

A:  5am rising, feed and kiss all of the dogs, and then meeting myself on my meditation mat.
Mid-morning I prep my day and am usually working 1-on-1 with clients until late afternoon.
Evenings I wrap up my work tasks, usually go for a walk and then make dinner.
 
Every Tuesday I work ON my business instead of IN my business to ensure that I am always moving forward to the next vision.
 
About 3 times a year I will do a work retreat where I get to really let myself go deep into a creative project; usually writing new coaching workbooks or developing a new seminar.

A:  ​My “inner boss” and my “inner worker” have two different voices within me. What has developed over time is that my boss is a hard-ass bitch that doesn’t let me get away with much. 

A:  I seclude myself so much more because I am an entrepreneur and this causes me to be in my head and developmental mode a lot of the time. I LOVE my work, it is an evil obsession that trumps my desire over most social casualties.
 
I have noticed when I am not working on developing a new project or evolving the business, rather when I just “go to work” and do my job, that I feel like a balanced “normal” person. I like and crave that feeling but not enough to practice it for very long.

A:  It is a fine line of a tight-rope that I am not great at walking, yet I do get better every year as I learn more about myself.
 
One way is that I set some non-negotiables in my life as pillars that help keep some routine and balance in place. Things like my morning meditation and that I am in bed by 10 at the very latest – even if there is still so much to do. The work will never be done, but it took me way too many years to realize that if I am not getting enough rest, none of it is going to get done anyway

A:  I am really good at what I do. I remember that and do not let the fact that I am bad at writing, make mistakes all of the time, can be disorganized etc. make me think that I am not worthy of having my dream practice doing what I love. 

A:  Knowing what to outsource and how to get organized enough to do it.
 Also, even though I have done this for 15+ years there are still times when it is an emotional roller-coaster. I do not think that you can put live your whole heart and soul into your business and not have some emotional attachments. 

A:  To trust what my gut was telling me all along.

A:  That there is a whole lot of failure involved, and that it's normal. That the path to more yes's also includes more no’s. Get over it.

A:  ​The best advice I ever got what to keep it simple and that if you are good, you do not need to talk about how good you are, they will know.
 
The worst is always about someone’s strategy and rules and regulations around that strategy. Strategies are great and I love them, but the truth is, if it is not in FULL ALIGNMENT with your unique truth and business – then it is worthless and even possibly damaging.

A:  OMG there are so many! What comes to mind as the most strange is just a general comparison to the things I have had to do to make my business go vs. someone who has a pretty typical 9-5 job. Things like staying up for days working so hard, doing crazy projects in the middle of the night, being scared out of my mind and facing my fears ALL THE TIME, procrastinating like I am a pro, approaching people who want nothing to do with me, gracefully dealing with people that I want nothing to do with, reaching certifiably crazy levels of indecisiveness, hating myself, being grateful to myself, and just generally living my life having no idea if I am totally stupid or amazingly courageous. 

A: I grew up in an entrepreneurial family, and it just seemed like a natural direction to go in. I’ve always loved the idea of working for myself and having the freedom to grow a business in a way that fit my life and priorities.

A: It feels impossible to choose one defining project, because each one is unique and exciting in its own way. Each of my clients run a business that is one-of-a-kind – because they put so much of themselves and their own purpose into it – and bringing that to life in a visual way feels significant each time.

A: I help people create a visual identify for their business. Sometimes I’ll help them put their business online by building and designing a website that matches their brand and functions in a way that helps them achieve their goals. Other times I’ll help them build their brand from scratch – with strategy planning, logo design, print material design, brand guidelines (colors, fonts, etc.), and website.

A: A really simple thing I do to help me stay focused is make my daily to-do list the night before. I list my most important projects or tasks first, and then the other things I’d like to accomplish after that.

The other thing that helps me stay motivated and focused is taking time to get out and be with other entrepreneurs. If I stay in my office too much, I start to get restless and unproductive. Meeting with other motivated people helps me get back on task.

A: Support from my family. There are a lot of things that contribute to success as a business owner – like a community of engaging peers, education, and persistence – but without the support and encouragement from my husband I doubt I’d be pursuing this career on top of raising a family. Having support is crucial.

A: That you can try again. As a business owner – especially in a creative industry – it feels like you are being constantly exposed and evaluated. When you don’t make the cut or you mess up on something, it can feel like you’ll never recover. I’ve had to learn to not take everything so personally and to just pick myself up and try again.

A: I wish I had understood from the beginning that businesses don’t grow in isolation. Being very introverted, I started my business “online” – working by myself at home and promoting my services and working with clients over the internet. I still work with clients from all over the world and the internet makes that possible – but getting out in the local community and building relationships with other business owners face-to-face is the best thing I ever did for my business. Being actively involved in groups and communities in person is so important to the sustainability of business, creativity, and entrepreneurship in general.