Canadian Small Business Women

Connection, Synergy, Community

Why your mental game is infinitely more important for your business success than you think.

Uchechi

There’s no denying it, business success is 80-90% about your mental game. This is something I see every day because I’ve worked with people and coached them through the mechanics of building a successful business. They know what to do, however, they’re either not doing it, or they’re not getting the results they really want.

Take an example of someone who wants to expand her reach and start blogging for her business. However, 6 months later she’s stuck on having the ‘right’ thing to post. This is not about lack of topic ideas or even about knowing how or why to blog, but really about committing to the process and pushing past the fear of judgment and criticism from family, friends and colleagues.

Another example is someone who just launched a great product or service, but is afraid to reach out to others and share it. They are so consumed with fear of appearing pushy, ‘salesy’ or intrusive. As a result, they sit on their great offering and do very little with it.

This is why I believe 100% in working on the mental game with my clients, because without that, no matter how much I teach them about marketing, business financials etc., they will not get the results they’re looking for. Maximum results occur when they’re able to break through blocks and resistance that holds them back!

Another side of the coin is seeing business owners pushing really hard to make things happen. Sometimes, yes, this is needed, but there’s also another side of ‘allowing’ for guidance. We often don’t speak about this in business, but this has been the foundation for all the success I’ve personally experienced.

It’s very common for me to send my clients links to EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique aka Tapping) videos and ask them to tap when I know they’re overcome with fear, anxiety and overwhelm. Sometimes, when I see they’re stuck financially, even though they’re doing the work, I send them forgiveness exercises to do, because I know there’s a huge correlation between resentment, grievances and anger to financial struggles. This is something we don’t discuss in most business training and education, but it’s vital for the success of your business.

I like to think of it like striking a right balance of taking action, and also turning inward, and getting connected. You need to identify how your subconscious mind is keeping you from your dreams. When you’re able to do this, your work will flow better and easier and you’ll begin to see opportunities and resources to help you achieve your goals.

You also need to be conscious on how you feel about your business. Are you in a constant state of doubt, worry, and fear? These feelings will repel the success and financial abundance you want. Focus on feeling positive, confident, and expect positive results. This feeling is more powerful and important than any activity you’ll ever do for your business!

So, I challenge you to focus and add in mental activities to your business strategy. Start cultivating a success mindset that will give you the results you truly want for your business!

Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, Creator of the 4-Week Business Success Bootcamp and Mind Money Miracles. Uchechi helps passionate entrepreneurs (+aspiring entrepreneurs) master their mindsets to increase their wealth, confidence, and sweet, sweet freedom!  Visit Uchechi at www.myempoweredliving.com and sign up for her FREE video training series The 4 Keys to your Business Success! This free 4-day business training reveals her 4 key strategies needed to build a profitable and successful business, and how to put them to work for you!

Are you stopping three feet from gold?

Uchechi

If you’re into personal growth (which is highly recommended for all business owners), then you most likely have come across Napoleon Hill’s classic book Think and Grow Rich. There was a story he shares called Three Feet from Gold. It’s basically a story during the time people went digging for gold to achieve wealth.

There was a man (Mr. Darby) that used his savings and those of his family’s and bought a great deal of equipment in order to dig for gold. He went on his quest to dig, but then got to a point where all signs of gold seemed to disappear. Feeling disappointed and frustrated, he then sells all the equipment’s to some ‘junk man’ who sought counsel of an engineer that lead him to finding gold just three feet from where Mr. Darby left off!

This story struck me because there are so many times when many of us face what seems to appear as a defeat and failure as we take on a project that we hope will bring us success. This is something many business owners face. We get an idea that we are passionate about, and then we plan and start taking action. At first things are going well and we are surprised at all the opportunities that seem to present themselves to us. As time goes on, things may get stagnant and we feel that our business is not progressing and we find it difficult to get to the place we envision in our dreams. Months, even years go by and nothing. As a result, many of us see this as a sign that it was not meant to be and often times, just when the tide is about to turn, we give up!

What would have happened if Mr. Darby kept going? He would have had all his dreams come to reality. However, his dreams of finding gold never came to pass because he stopped just three feet from gold!

How many times has that happened to you? Have you ever started something just to give up because it was just too difficult? If you knew you could not fail, what would have been your choice? I truly, believe that we can never fail! I know some people may not agree with this statement, but that is my belief! If we are persistent enough and keep working on our dreams, we will see it in physical form.

I am also reminded of the story of Jim Treliving who is Owner of Boston Pizza International Inc. and also one of the dragons in Dragon’s Den, the show where “wealthy high-powered entrepreneurs are pitched ideas from hopeful entrepreneurs looking for the dragon’s investments.” I saw a feature story on Jim when he was just starting out. There were times that were so difficult for him and his business that it was difficult to make ends meet. He worked several different jobs just to keep his business going. It amazes me when we look at him now, and admire or even envy his success and not realize nor think about all the trials he went through before he “reached gold”. He did not stop when times got tough, but keep persisting until his goal became a reality.

This is not easy to do, I know this, and that is why I always advise people to have passion in whatever business they wish to pursue. Your passion will fuel your energy and not allow you to give up just shy of your goal. It is the passion and love for what you do that drives and inspires you to keep going and push past any delays or detours in your journey. During these times, it is important to remember that these delays are not denials and that it only becomes a denial when you say so! Only at the point that you call it quits will you lose because if you keep persisting you will eventually achieve your dreams. It is not a matter of if, but when!

Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, Speaker and Writer, but most importantly, a proud Mother and Wife. Uchechi is Founder of My Empowered Living (http://www.myempoweredliving.com) a website aimed at helping women shift their mindset and live their passion! Whether it’s starting and building their dream business, or helping them create a lifestyle they crave, Uchechi is the modern woman’s secret to success! Visit Uchechi at www.myempoweredliving.com to get her FREE online video training series The 4 Keys to your Business Success! This free 4-day business training reveals her 4 key strategies needed to build a profitable and successful business, and how to put them to work in your business!

This may be the missing piece to making more money and having more fun in your business!

Uchechi

You often hear that clarity is king when it comes to growing and building your business; and I couldn’t agree more. If you want to make more money and attract ideal customers, then you need to be clear on who they are.

If you’ve taken any marketing programs, then you would’ve come across the concept of Ideal Customer Avatar (ICA). The work of getting ‘inside the skin’ of your ICA is one many business owners find difficult to do. However, getting to know them at this level allows you to really hone in on those you want to work with.

Customer clarity helps you attract those who need and value your products and services the most. They are also more fun to work with. When you start to market your business without this clarity, you often attract people who are not the best fit for your business. Business is hard enough without you working with the wrong people.

Another important part of knowing your ICA is that it helps you better market your business and communicate to them in a way they understand. Get to know what issues and concerns your ideal customers have, and how your business solves them. What need do they have, that you’re able to fill? Understanding your customers is key to growing them, because you are then able to tailor your products and services to solve their needs.

A major mistake many business owners make is not using the same language their customer use to describe their concerns. The ‘language’ is the words your customers use to describe their wants, needs and desires? These are the same words you should be using in your marketing materials. Oftentimes as business owners, we tend to speak as if we’re speaking to our colleagues, and our customers may not get it. You need to use the same words they use to describe the problems and solutions they’re looking for. This allows your ideal customers to understand the value of what you have to offer.

An example I gave at a recent workshop on this topic was a personal trainer who used the word “functional exercises” in her marketing material. When I asked what that was, I was told, ‘it’s exercises that maximizes your time so your burn more calories in less time.’ I then said, use that in your copy! Instead of saying ‘functional exercise’ (which the majority of her target customers will not know what that means), she should have said something like; “burn more calories in half the time’.

When getting clear on your ICA, you really need to dig deep and understand what is happening in their world. What are the biggest frustrations they’re looking for solutions to? Overall, it’s important to answer the following questions:

  • Who is my customer?
  • What does my customer need?
  • How can I serve them?

You also need to find out where your ideal customers are. What websites do they frequently visit? What blogs do they read? What groups do they belong to on Facebook? When you have this information, you can then go where they are and offer valuable resources to them (I.e. guest blog, joining the FB group and contributing etc.). Build up your know, like and trust factor and strengthen your relationship with them. It is through this connection that you are able to form lasting relationships. This relationship will lead them to know you’re the obvious choice for them. When you’re able to master this, you’ll be well on your way to making more money and having more fun in your business.

Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, Speaker and Writer, but most importantly, a proud Mother and Wife. Uchechi is Founder of My Empowered Living (http://www.myempoweredliving.com) a website aimed at helping women shift their mindset and live their passion! Whether it’s starting and building their dream business, or helping them create a lifestyle they crave, Uchechi is the modern woman’s secret to success! Visit Uchechi at www.myempoweredliving.com to get her FREE online video training series The 4 Keys to your Business Success! This free 4-day business training reveals her 4 key strategies needed to build a profitable and successful business, and how to put them to work in your business!

4 Questions to ask yourself each month, to achieve your goals this year!

Uchechi

 

So, we’re headed towards the last week of the first month of 2015! If you’re like most people, you’ve already given up on your goals and resolutions. This is why it’s important to do a regular review of your progress. Take inventory of all your successes and areas of opportunity in reaching your goals.

This is something I plan to do every month, because as we all know, time flies. We often think we have so much time to accomplish our goals and do things that truly matter. However, we will turn around and one day realize that half the year has already gone by.

This year, I have lots I plan to achieve. The major one being to finally finish writing and publish my book, in addition to launching a new online program based on my book. This has been something that I’ve wanted to do for some time now (years even), but have always put it off. I finally made a commitment to myself and took the steps necessary to complete it.

I know in order to achieve my goals along with family commitments to my husband, 4-year old son, and 8-month-old daughter, I need to plan and be disciplined. The disciplined part doesn’t always come easily for me. I’m a personal development junkie and with so many amazing programs out there, I find myself sucked into the vortex of researching more and more things. I also love looking into things in order to share them with my readers, not to mention getting caught up in social media (mainly Facebook for me).

This is why I felt the need to do a monthly round up, to ensure that I am not only making progress towards my goals, but I am also taking the time to schedule in important things that matter the most to me.

So, as we head into the last week of the month, it’s important to take some time this week and review the following questions.

 

1) What went well this month?

2) What areas do you feel you could have improved upon?  

For me I found it a challenge to be consistent with the writing for my book. This will be an area of focus for me as I plan on implementing a writing schedule with weekly goals to reach.

3) How well did you do at keeping up with your goals? 

Like many people, fitness is an area where I wanted to improve. I’m happy to report that I’ve kept up with my personal fitness and committed to becoming stronger so I can keep up with my little ones!

4) What can you commit to this month to help you move towards your goals? 

My commitment is to make sure I show up and do my part in the co-creation process and ensure that I align my thoughts, beliefs and actions to be consistent to that which I want.  I will also commit to continuing my meditation practice and working on my mindset!

Now it’s your turn. How is January going for you? What are you going to continue or do differently for February? Please share in the comments below.

Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, Speaker and Writer, but most importantly, a proud Mother and Wife. Uchechi is Founder of My Empowered Living (http://www.myempoweredliving.com) a website aimed at helping women shift their mindset and live their passion! Whether it’s starting and building their dream business, or helping them create a lifestyle they crave, Uchechi is the modern woman’s secret to success! Visit Uchechi at www.myempoweredliving.com to get her FREE online video training series The 4 Keys to your Business Success! This free 4-day business training reveals her 4 key strategies needed to build a profitable and successful business, and how to put them to work in your business!

Before you make your resolutions and set your goals, DO THIS first!

Uchechi

So, 2014 is about to come to a close, and I’m sure many of you have been thinking about resolutions you want to set in the New Year. I’m one for planning and setting goals, but late last year, I discovered something that I thought was just genius and I wanted to share it with you today. It may be the ticket that actually guarantees that you strive for the right goals; ones that you will actually enjoy pursuing.

So, what is this new method I’m talking about? Well, it’s from one of my mentors, Danielle Laporte, author of The Desire Map. The Desire Map’s core concept is that, because we set a goal in order to feel a certain way, we need to start from there (the feeling place). She says, “You’re not chasing the goal itself; you’re actually chasing the feeling that you hope achieving that goal will give you.” She calls these feelings, your core desired feeling. When we take this approach, we then set our goals based on how we want to feel. If you take a look at past goals you’ve set for yourself and your business, if asked, “why did you want it”, it really boils down to a feeling. Let’s take a goal to get 10 new clients for your business. It really isn’t just about the 10 new clients, but more about how getting those new clients will make you feel: the desire to reach more people with your product or service, feel accomplished, productive, and of service. Those are the goals you’re really going after, not just the number of clients.

Let’s take another example of a resolution many people have which is to lose weight, say 20lbs. It really isn’t just about the number 20, but really about how losing 20lbs would make you feel: the desire to feel fit, strong, healthy, confident and sexy. So, before you set your resolutions and goals this year, it is critical to establish your core desire feelings first!

Next year, my biggest focus is on my core desire feelings. My specific tangible goals, which are important to have, is now based on my core desired feeling not the other way around. So many times, we subscribe to society’s definition of success and achievement. We then strive to reach it, even though reaching it does not evoke feeling of success for us! You need to understand what success feels like for you, and then align your goals to those feelings. If we take the example of losing 20lbs, and focused on the core desire feelings of being strong, fit, confident and sexy, you can set goals to strength train and work out 3-5x/week, because that’s what it will take to feel that way versus just having a goal to lose 20lbs. Even buying that cute little black dress that hugs all the right places will give you the same feeling! How great is that?!

Another great thing about this is that it allows you to evaluate opportunities that come up through the year. So many times we lose focus on our goals or have the “shiny object” syndrome. However, if you have something to compare the opportunities against, it makes it much easier to decide what is best for you. You are then able to make decisions that are aligned to your values and missions.

When you’re clear on your core desired feelings, you become an “intentional creator” of your life as Danielle puts it. As we all know, we start of the year with great intentions. However, along the way, we may hit some roadblocks. When we focus on our core desires, we are able to recognize when we’re not on it. We can’t control what happens, but we can control our reaction and experience of what happens. Focusing on your core desires allows you in those moments to take back your control and ask yourself; “what can I do to generate my core desire feelings”. This allows you to not be a victim to your circumstances.

Check out my two of my favourite gals in this video (Marie Forleo and Danielle Laporte) talking about the steps to match your goals to your core desired feelings here.

So when setting your goals this year, be clear on why you’re setting your goals and look to match them to your soul’s desires.

Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, Speaker and Writer, but most importantly, a proud Mother and Wife. Uchechi is Founder of My Empowered Living (http://www.myempoweredliving.com) a website aimed at helping women shift their mindset and live their passion! Whether it’s starting and building their dream business, or helping them create a lifestyle they crave, Uchechi is the modern woman’s secret to success! Visit Uchechi at www.myempoweredliving.com to get her FREE online video training series The 4 Keys to your Business Success! This free 4-day business training reveals her 4 key strategies needed to build a profitable and successful business, and how to put them to work in your business!

Know your Numbers!

Uchechi

Most people that know me well know that I love looking at numbers. I love creating budgets and expense tracking sheets to manage both my personal and business expenses. I love to look at how my business makes money and look at different opportunities to bring in additional sources of revenues into my business. However, I find most business owners do not do this.

How does your business make money? Yes, you may have a product or service that you sell, but there are so many different areas to consider in terms of how you make money. Who are your strongest consumers, and which outlets do you make the most money in? How profitable is your business? You’ve got to understand the financial health of your business.

It’s unfortunate, but finances tend to be where most small business owners tend to fall short. Entrepreneurs are highly creative, and there’s so much we have on the go, and sometimes the numbers part is what we tend to look at last. However, I’m a firm believer that you really need to look at your numbers and understand your numbers on a consistent basis. Understanding your finances allows you to make the right business decisions, know how healthy your business is, and will help you build a business with longevity.

Take time to sit down and add all the numbers. Do not be afraid of the numbers. When you’re afraid of the number, and ignore them, that’s when you get yourself into trouble. Set an annual (yearly) target and break it down into monthly and weekly targets. Depending on how big your business is, you may want to start with monthly, but I really love breaking it down into weekly.

When you do your budget, don’t forget to take account your own basic needs. Some business owners tend to budget solely on their business expenses. That’s great if you have a full-time job and you’re bridging your business. However, if you want your business to sustain you and you want to run it full-time, you really need to take your personal expenses into account.

You also need to also understand your break-even point. Your break-even point is the point where revenue actually starts to cover your expenses. The more money you make on top of that will go into your profitability.

Start tracking the return on all those activities you’re doing. So, if it’s Facebook marketing, your email newsletter– how are those converting? You need to know how much money you’re getting in return for all the money you’re spending to bring in sales.

Taxes are another great thing to consider. A lot of small business owners miss this completely, and I’ve been guilty of this too in the past. What tends to happen is we forget to set money aside for taxes. But once you do your taxes, especially when you start making more profit, you’ll have to pay taxes, and depending on how much profit you made, you may get a big tax bill. If you have not been setting any money aside for it, it will leave you scrambling to get money to pay for the taxes. Furthermore, it will cause you so much stress and energy. It will also take the focus from running your business to worrying about finances. Always set some money aside, especially if you’re making profit to pay for your taxes.

There’s so much I can write about this, and feel it’s so important to the success of your business that I dedicated a whole module in my 4-Week Business Success Bootcamp online program to ‘Know your Numbers’.

I like to say, ‘your numbers tells you a story’.  That story will show you how healthy your business is and areas you need to improve to make it more successful!

 

Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, Speaker and Writer, but most importantly, a proud Mother and Wife. Uchechi is Founder of My Empowered Living (http://www.myempoweredliving.com) a website aimed at helping women shift their mindset and live their passion! Whether it’s starting and building their dream business, or helping them create a lifestyle they crave, Uchechi is the modern woman’s secret to success! Visit Uchechi at www.myempoweredliving.com to get her FREE online video training series The 4 Keys to your Business Success! This free 4-day business training reveals her 4 key strategies needed to build a profitable and successful business, and how to put them to work in your business!

Are you having some fun on your journey?

Uchechi

Wow, it’s crazy how much the year has progressed. Periodically, I like to reflect on my goals and accomplishments and determine where adjustments are needed. What’s come up for me today is the need to enjoy my journey as I reach towards my goals.

Those that know me well know that I always have something on the go, with ideas and programs to develop. However, along with this, is the calling to take time to reflect on my accomplishments and ensure that the journey towards the attainment of my goals in an enjoyable one. Being a wife and a mother of 2 has made this even more essential in my life!

As humans, we are meant to stretch and take on challenges. Most of us don’t always stretch past our comfort zone, which is needed to grow and succeed, but that yearning to be and want more is a human desire that we all have in common. What we tend to do is focus solely on the end goal (destination) that we don’t sit and consider how much growth and accomplishments we’ve had along the way.

Enjoying the journey also includes adding ways to make accomplishing your goals fun and exciting. This is important because at some point, we will get to the part where things start to become difficult or mundane and the beginner’s excitement is gone and we need to work at it to stay inspired and motivated. As business owners, we know this part very well! This is when enjoying the journey and infusing some fun and excitement into it helps to sustain your energy.

It could a relaxing massage for dedicating a full day to business development for your business and gaining more leads. You can also reach out to someone you admire and ask them to mentor you, spending an afternoon at your favourite restaurant ‘picking their brain’. Another great thing is to attend an inspiring event (like Hay House I Can Do It) or join a mastermind group with like-minded people. There are so many ways to add some fun and excitement to the process of reaching your goals. One of the things I personally plan to do in the future is get together with some great ladies and do a wealth creation mastermind that includes a fun day of pampering, yoga, masterminding and talk on personal development.

Yes, there are some tedious and difficult tasks that we must do consistently to turn our dreams into a reality. However, it is equally important to have time to reflect and inject some fun into your life and business. After all, that’s the reason why you established your goals and do the work in the first place. You wanted to share your unique talents and create something that will improve your life and make you happy, while serving others. It’s important to make the effort to enjoy the ride and be happy during the process and not just after the goal is reached. As we all know, once one goal is reached, you will have a need to establish another. Therefore, it truly is all about the journey!

Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, Speaker and Writer, but most importantly, a proud Mother and Wife. Uchechi is Founder of My Empowered Living (http://www.myempoweredliving.com) a website aimed at helping women shift their mindset and live their passion! Whether it’s starting and building their dream business, or helping them create a lifestyle they crave, Uchechi is the modern woman’s secret to success! Visit Uchechi at www.myempoweredliving.com to get her FREE online video training series The 4 Keys to your Business Success! This free 4-day business training reveals her 4 key strategies needed to build a profitable and successful business, and how to put them to work in your business!

Don’t give up before the miracle happens!

Uchechi

 

So, we’re now entering into the last quarter of the year. If you’re like most people, you started off the year with specific goals and list of accomplishments for 2014. And like most people, you probably either have given up on your goals and vision, or you’re struggling to achieve it. If you’re at the stage where you feel about to give up (or have given up), this post is for you!

At some point in our lives, we come across times of frustration and disappointment. This is especially the case as a business owner. You’ve worked hard, followed the rules and taken steps to create your dream business… however nothing happens. The change you want to see does not seem to be transpiring, and you wonder if you can ever have or create the business that you want. It is at those times that you want to give up and quit.

One of my favourite authors and manifesting teachers, the late Florence Scovel Shinn writes, “Every great work, every big accomplishment, has been brought into manifestation through holding to the vision, and often just before the big achievement, comes apparent failure and discouragement.” This is a favourite quote of mine, and one that I go to when I come across any setback in my life or business.

The thing is, we will all experience times when we want to give up on our goals. This is particularly the case if you take on something big, that’s outside your comfort zone. The first thought when you come across obstacles is to quit and go back to what is safe and comfortable. However, we all know that staying in our comfort zone does not give us the growth and expansion that we’re meant to have. It’s quite ironic that as humans we resist change and find comfort in what is familiar and what we know. However, we are built to have a need for expansion and to reach beyond where we are. Thus, comes the struggle of life, the need to change and grow, but then resisting that change and growth.

One of the best ways of overcoming this is to stick with the change and work long enough for it to materialize. It’s just a matter of holding on to your vision and doing the work long enough for the miracle to happen and for your dreams to come to fruition. You need to be persistent and cultivate the right mindset to sustain your efforts.  Look how many times Edison attempted to invent the lightbulb. When a reporter asked, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.” See your journey and ‘set-backs’ as just another step towards the attainment of your dreams.

So, if you’re about to give up, I want to remind you that your miracle is just around the corner. Can you hold on long enough to experience it? Let me know in the comment below.

 

Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, Speaker and Writer, but most importantly, a proud Mother and Wife. Uchechi is Founder of My Empowered Living (http://www.myempoweredliving.com) a website aimed at helping women shift their mindset and live their passion! Whether it’s starting and building their dream business, or helping them create a lifestyle they crave, Uchechi is the modern woman’s secret to success! Visit Uchechi at www.myempoweredliving.com to get her FREE online video training series The 4 Keys to your Business Success! This free 4-day business training reveals her 4 key strategies needed to build a profitable and successful business, and how to put them to work in your business!

What’s your definition of success?

Uchechi

If you’re a business owner, then it’s fair to say you’re in a state of constant striving. Whether it’s striving for increase in sales, profit, customers or client engagement, there is always some goal that you have and are always chasing. To be honest, I would say everyone fits this criterion, because it is a human need to always be reaching and striving for more success in our lives. 

It’s a good thing to strive for success and reach beyond where you’re at, but it’s also important to really sit down and define what that success means to you.  What does it look like? Oftentimes, we tend to strive for what others have put in our head as to what’s important. Or we see other’s, who we feel are successful and go after the same thing, not recognizing what it took for them to get there and more importantly what it’s costing them to maintain it.

I’ve had conversations with small business owners who want to turn their business into a huge empire. This is all well and good, but then they also tell me that family and time is #1, and they want to have flexibility to travel the world at leisure without being tied to things, and work minimum hours. Now, can you see how building and sustaining a huge empire and leisure time and family life may conflict? Also those that they admire in business who have built a huge empire are the very ones that say it cost them leisure time and quality family life. However, these individuals who are striving for this, do not take a look at the whole picture and to see if that definition of success (business empire) fits within their own definition of success. If it does not allow them to have quality family relationship and time, I say it does not fit within their definition. It is important to take a holistic look at what is it you want, and are chasing and see if it fits into your core beliefs and values. 

Another important reason to define what success means to you, is because it allows you to have a clear picture of what you want. I read somewhere that ‘you cannot achieve that which you cannot define’. Once you define it, you will have a clear picture of what it is you’re chasing after. You will also recognize all the opportunities that aligns with it, plus ones that may not be the right fit for you.

Your definition of success will change over time and that’s okay. Once you hit one goal, you will then have the need to hit another, which is a human condition that we all have.

We also go through periods of growth and development and what once was important is no longer so. This happened in my life. About 7 years ago, my sister and I opened up a 3000sqft wellness centre with a spa, fitness & yoga studio, and therapy clinic, employing various alternative health care practitioners. Now at that time, I was single and my sister and I did not have any kids. Over time, that wellness centre although it began to grow with more opportunities coming to us, demanded more of our time and energy managing such a large facility with so many staff and contractors. I remember how difficult and stressful it was for me shortly after having my son and trying to manage that business and being a new mom. Fast forward to now where my sister and I both have two kids each and time and family taking #1 priority in our lives. It became clear over the years that that particular dream of a big wellness center, was not in alignment to our core desires, especially during this stage of our life. We later sold the centre and transitioned our business into one where we can manage from both our home offices, with fewer overheads and staff to manage. This now fits our definition of success. 

So I challenge you this week to take a look at what “success” looks like for your business and share it with our community below!

 

Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, Speaker and Writer, but most importantly, a proud Mother and Wife. Uchechi is Founder of My Empowered Living (http://www.myempoweredliving.com) a website aimed at helping women shift their mindset and live their passion! Whether it’s starting and building their dream business, or helping them create a lifestyle they crave, Uchechi is the modern woman’s secret to success! Visit Uchechi at www.myempoweredliving.com to get her FREE online video training series The 4 Keys to your Business Success! This free 4-day business training reveals her 4 key strategies needed to build a profitable and successful business, and how to put them to work in your business!

Your business is not a ‘Do-It-Yourself’ project; you need all the help you can get!

Uchechi

Lately, it’s become evident to me how critical support communities are needed in order to grow, develop and achieve your goals. This is relevant both in your life and business.

I saw just how important this was when I was fortunate enough to enroll in Marie Forleo’s B-School program in Spring 2013 (if you haven’t heard of Marie, google her, you won’t be disappointed!). One of the strongest benefits of this program is having a network of 12,000+ amazing, supporting and loving entrepreneurs. These are business owners who get what you go through on a daily basis. As different as we all are, there is always a level of love and support within the group. It’s fantastic because you can post a business or tech related question, to questions regarding support launching a new business and program, or even support of a personal nature where all you’re looking for is a virtual hug and reassurance that all is well. And you get an influx of support no matter what you’re looking for. It can be quite empowering.

We all know that business ownership can feel lonely at times, and when you’re a female business owner with family responsibilities and obligations, the feeling of overwhelm can add up. This is why it is so critical to have a network of people you can call upon to help you navigate through the ups and downs.

This support network should consist of those who understand what you’re going through and are able to inspire and motivate you to keep going. Your network should also be able to hold you accountable to your business goals, in addition to supporting and sharing resources with you to help achieve your goals. Forming or joining a mastermind group is an amazing way to get this support and bring like-minded people together, along with various social media groups that you can join.

Another benefit to having this kind of support is that a funny thing tends to happen as you start to grow and evolve in your business. Sometimes, those closest to you become distant and may not support your growth and aspirations. They no longer become aligned to your goals and needs as a business owner. This can be difficult and lonely because it’s hard for these people to understand the risks that you take, and the committed needed to achieve the success you crave. They may resist the change in you as you start being the person needed to reach your goals. Consequently, you no longer become comfortable in the crowd you’re currently in.

Jim Rohn says, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” So I ask you, look to those that you spend most of your time with. Are they ones that inspire you? Do they support your growth? Do they encourage you? Or do they sabotage your desire for growth and success? Be honest and strong enough to walk away or distant yourself from those that do not support you, and look for those that do.

Remember, you may be self-employed, however you need the help of others to achieve your business goals.

 

Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, Speaker and Writer, but most importantly, a proud Mother and Wife. Uchechi is Founder of My Empowered Living (http://www.myempoweredliving.com) a website aimed at helping women shift their mindset and live their passion! Whether it’s starting and building their dream business, or helping them create a lifestyle they crave, Uchechi is the modern woman’s secret to success! Visit Uchechi at www.myempoweredliving.com to get her FREE online video training series The 4 Keys to your Business Success! This free 4-day business training reveals her 4 key strategies needed to build a profitable and successful business, and how to put them to work in your business!

Turn your business around by knowing and owning your worth!

Uchechi

I was speaking to a fairly new business owner recently, who was feeling high level of anxiety and frustrations over her business. As I was speaking to her, I could sense the fear, doubt, and frustration that were coming up for her around the security of her business.

As we dug deeper into her feelings and sharing tools to help change her perception, which would allow her to see solutions vs. feeling like a victim, an interesting realization surfaced. Although, it was her desire to succeed and thrive in her business, deep down she did not feel worthy of it. She also realized that subconsciously she felt that she had to struggle. This deep-rooted belief then became her reality. It was such a great ‘aha’ moment for her and I truly believe the start to her turning her feelings and business around. Her feeling of unworthiness and need to struggle is a perfect example of how much our past programming and conditioning plays in our lives and business.

Many of us grew up in a household where money was scarce and as such we developed the belief that money is hard to come by and struggling is a natural way to live. Beliefs like this relate to all areas of our lives, especially when we’re trying to build a successful business! This is the very reason why many personal development literatures and programs often state that we don’t go searching to ‘find’ success. It is all inside us. All we need to do is identify and remove the blocks, which we have built up against it. These blocks includes feelings of unworthiness and need for struggle that we have picked up growing up, which is now preventing us from having all the success and prosperity we crave in our lives and business.

Understanding your sense of self and knowing and owning your worth and power is essential in changing negative perceptions and programming that often keeps you from being successful and achieving your goals. Below are some tools I shared in a past workshop that will help you take back your power and start to build a better relationship with yourself. This will ultimately help you move past the need to struggle and past the feeling of unworthiness and undeserving of success.

Ditch the inner critic – Ditch that small voice of the ego that tells you that you are neither good enough nor worthy of your goals and success. It’s time to call b.s. on that voice and prove it wrong by stepping out with faith and taking action towards your goals. When that voice acts up, remind them of your power and that you were meant for success and to prosper!

Break your inner glass ceiling– We’ve all heard of the glass ceiling in the corporate world, where no matter what we do or how hard we work, there is a glass ceiling that we feel we just can’t break through. Well, the same holds true internally. We have this limited thinking of what we can or can’t do. We’ve created a set point through our past programming that limits our capability. For example, you can’t see yourself making more than $10,000 a month in your business, because you are small with limited resources and can only grow so much. We’ve set so many false limits on ourselves. It is important to realize that your limit is only based on what you choose to be true for you. You must always remember you are an abundant being and that your eyes and ears cannot comprehend the abundance and success that is waiting for you to claim. Everything you need to thrive and build a successful business is inside of you. I know this sounds like such a cliché, but it’s true! You just need to remove your self-limiting beliefs about yourself that holds you back and keeps you stagnant.

Be conscious of your internal and outer dialogue– Watch the language you use to describe yourself and your business. Many times, we say “I can’t, I don’t have enough, I’m too small” etc. We need to remember that our self-talk turns into stories, which then becomes our beliefs; thus we’ve just programmed ourselves. We then experience these beliefs and programming in our physical environment. We need to harness and master our thoughts and self talk to empower us. Using affirmations and consciously intending your wishes and desires for your business and knowing that it will come to pass is one way to do this. What words and thoughts are you using to describe your business and it’s current condition? Would you want your thoughts and words to materialize? Be conscious of your thoughts and speak words that best serve you and your business.

 

Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, Speaker and Writer, but most importantly, a proud Mother and Wife. Uchechi is Co-Founder of Elite Wellness Services Inc. (www.elitewellness.ca) and Founder of My Empowered Living (http://www.myempoweredliving.com) a website aimed at helping women change negative and disempowering mindset and live their passion! Whether it’s starting and building their dream business, or helping them create a lifestyle they crave, Uchechi is the modern woman’s secret to success! Visit Uchechi at www.myempoweredliving.com to get your FREE copy of 5 Simple Steps to Create a Life you’re Crazy About! A 15-page workbook!

Business got you feeling overwhelmed? Here’s 5 surefire ways to help!

 

Uchechi

Whether you’re an inspiring, new or seasoned business owner, there comes a time when you will feel stretched and overwhelmed. Actually, some business owners seem to find they’re living in this condition, more often than not. You have a lot of demand on your time and you feel that you don’t have time to breath and people are looking to you for answers and direction. Or, you may be bridging your business with a fulltime job;throw in family responsibilities and this can add to an overwhelming feeling of stress.

You would think all the advances in technology that’s supposed to make our lives easier and more efficient would help save time and make us more productive. However, the opposite seems to have happened. People, especially business owners are feeling stressed and overwhelmed more than ever.

When I find myself in this place, there are some tips that really help me get through it. These tips help me to feel more grounded and reduce the stress and overwhelm that I may be feeling. Some of my favorites include:

Setting Boundaries – This is an area that has really cut down on my level of stress and overwhelm. In the past and especially when I got into coaching, I used to take clients anytime in the evenings and weekends. I would change around my schedule completely to accommodate. Now this was at a time when I was fairly new to motherhood, and with work, wellness business, coaching, group coaching, and family commitments, it became very overwhelming. I then had to set standards where I did not take calls past a certain time (and this was very early) and cut back on weekend work. I was also not an evening person (very much a morning person) so evenings became a no work/business space. I gave myself permission to relax and unwind, and this helped me in so many ways. Not only was I more rested and in a state of mind to help others more, but I felt more present with my family which was a priority for me.

Ask for help – Why is this so hard for some of us to do (myself included!)? When you get into the place of overwhelm, it is important to reach out to your support networks (friends, family, colleagues etc.) and ask for help. We tend to have this Superwoman mentality that we can do it all, and feel that we will somehow get a prize for being a martyr. This is an area I know I personally struggle with and have to be very conscious off. Asking for help does not imply that you are weak, but rather the opposite. It takes great courage to ask for help, and the amazing thing is, you give those around you the opportunity to be of service to you. I know how amazing I feel, when someone I care about is in need and they come to me for help and I am able to help them. When you don’t do the same, you’re depriving your loved ones the opportunity to feel amazing by helping you. Think about that the next time you are in need and are afraid to ask for help!

Consider if you’re being too controlling – Another thing I have to admit to myself is that when the feeling of overwhelm is high for me, it is at those times that I am having a hard time letting go of some form of control. I tend to sometimes want to do everything myself, and have things be exactly the way I want them to be. This thinking is something that will lead you to get stressed. I often have to remind myself, that just because I started something, it is okay to delegate the rest and let someone else finish it. And that yes, it is okay that it is not done 100% to the way I would have done it. This control is a form of attachment and the need for us to have things a certain way. Letting go the need to control can be good and allows us to see things differently and know that there are many different options and solutions that will yield the same results.

You can’t do it all…and that’s okay – Sometimes just the thought of a task or deadline not being met raises our stress level. We push pushpush and then when the realization that a deadline will not be met, you go into a frantic state. Something that has helped me is the realization that sometimes not everything on my to-do list will be done. As long as I try my best, and prioritize those things that need to be done, that will have to do. I know some of you may be thinking, “Well everything is a priority!” But I am going to call BS on that.  What I find at times is that things may be of priority to others, but not to you, however, you let others place their urgent matters on you.

Remembering to Breathe –Our breath is home base. Think about it, without our breath we would not be alive. It is breathing in the air that keeps us alive. When you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed, you often have hard time breathing. You then take short shallow breaths, when what you need it do is take long deep breathes. Inhale for a count of 5 and exhale for a count of 5. And as you inhale, expand your belly like Buddha belly. We often breathe wrong and if you’ve done any yoga practice you would know the best way to inhale is to expand your belly (we tend to do the opposite). Do this for a minute or so with your eyes closed, and for added bonus, throw in some affirmations. Inhale, “I receive Divine guidance and support now” and exhale “I release all that no longer serves me”.

Now your turn, which tips resonate with you the most and what have you done in the past that has helped you cut down on your feelings of overwhelm? Share in the comments below.

 

Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, Speaker and Writer, but most importantly, a proud Mother and Wife. Uchechi is Co-Founder of Elite Wellness Services Inc. (www.elitewellness.ca) and Founder of My Empowered Living (www.myempoweredliving.com) a website aimed at helping women change negative and disempowering mindset and live their passion! Whether it’s starting and building their dream business, or helping them create a lifestyle they crave, Uchechi is the modern woman’s secret to success! Visit Uchechi at www.myempoweredliving.com to get your FREE copy of 5 Simple Steps to Create a Life you’re Crazy About! A 15-page workbook!

That Overnight Success was years in the making!

Uchechi

Have you ever read or saw an interview of someone in your industry or anyone whom you admired that reached a high level of success that you aspire too? Have you ever felt a pang of envy wishing you had the same level of success they had? Heck, even just half of it would be great! Yeah, I’ve been there too.

You see someone who seems to have come up from nowhere and just seem to be everywhere and crushing it! Everything they touch seems to turn to gold and you wish you had the secret formula that they had to be an overnight success.

Something I’ve come to know about these so-called “overnight success” is that most of them were years in the making. Yes, there are those small few that seem to have things fall into their laps, but those are not the norm. Many of the people you admire, whether they’re in your industry or not, had put in a tremendous amount of hard work for years prior to them seeing the success they now have.

I’ve seen people get so frustrated and down on themselves because of where they’re at. They research people they admire for inspiration, but then find themselves feeling even more frustrated because they then compare where they’re starting out to someone else who is much further along. This is a huge mistake because many of these high achievers will tell you that their so-called overnight success you see took time, hard work, dedication and setbacks along the way. Oftentimes they started exactly where you started and it was only through hard work, dedication, faith and perseverance that they achieved the high level of success that they now have.

Know that their success did not just magically happen and come about overnight. They went through similar journey that you now embark on. Even though things may seem slow or even stagnant for youright now, you are exactly where you need to be for your growth and development.

Lasting success takes a lot of work and time. You need to lay the foundation to build sustainability in your business. This can be long, hard, tedious, and takes time to develop. It’s also important to remember that overnight success is not always a good thing, because you will not be prepared to handle it.

Stay consistent and enjoy and celebrate the small successes that you get along the way, and use it to help you build momentum and to keep going.

So now I ask, how can you put in the time to prepare for your “overnight success”? Share in the comments below.

 

Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, Speaker and Writer, but most importantly, a proud Mother and Wife. Uchechi is Co-Founder of Elite Wellness Services Inc. (www.elitewellness.ca) and Founder of My Empowered Living (www.myempoweredliving.com) a website aimed at helping women change negative and disempowering mindset and live their passion! Whether it’s starting and building their dream business, or helping them create a lifestyle they crave, Uchechi is the modern woman’s secret to success! Visit Uchechi at www.myempoweredliving.com to get your FREE copy of 5 Simple Steps to Create a Life you’re Crazy About! A 15-page workbook!

Is time to step up and go pro!

Uchechi

Have you recently had an idea for a great new project, or possibly recently launched one? Maybe you’ve already set up a business, but sometimes find yourself not stepping up and making the commitment you need to get the results you want.

I see this so many times with people. I get into a conversation with someone who passionately wants to build and grow their business. They are blessed with amazing gifts that they one day hope to cultivate further, and become more successful; however they do not take ownership of their gifts. They stay stagnant and remain stuck or dabbling in it and not fully committing to it, and sometimes treating their business like a hobby.

The key to unlocking your potential and building the business you crave is to stop being an amateur and going pro. This is something I’ve learnt from Marie Forleo and Steven Pressfield, who are strong advocates of the need to stop living our lives as amateurs.

I recently read that “in every moment of your life, you’re either operating like an amateur or a professional. An amateur does things half-assed, is late for meetings, doesn’t give 100% of themselves and let’s their negative attitude and self-limiting beliefs {i.e.: “I can’t do it. It’s too hard. I don’t have the money”, etc.} run the show. In contrast, a professional gets up every morning, practices extreme self-care, is on time, doesn’t let their mind-chatter run the show and is in it, to win it.” How honest and direct is that?!

If you do not have the level of success you want in your business, it’s time to take inventory and see in what ways you’ve been operating like an amateur. Where have you not stepped up and committed to growing your business? If you want more clients, but don’t make offers and network with potential clients. Or, you have an idea of great new product that can help grow your sales, but find yourself constantly procrastinating and never getting started. How many times have you stopped and quit at the first sign of opposition, or complained, gotten frustrated and angry because things are not working out as you’ve plan and you’ve yet to reach your ideal goal?

Going pro means being fully committed and not just being interested in achieving your goals. When you are just interested you do what is convenient versus being committed which means doing whatever it take.  When you are committed, you will not make any excuses. You focus on how you can and will.

This is not an easy task, but it starts with making a firm decision and going after your goals, regardless of the inner critic voicing its concerns. You keep going and working towards your dreams. It also means doing the things you don’t feel like doing, and facing possible rejection and criticism.

Think about how the greatest athletes practice their craft. Yes, they have a passion that fuels them, but they’re also disciplined and committed to being the best they could be. This is something each and every one of us is able to do in our own lives and in our business. This will lead us to the desired results we all crave. But it starts with a decision to stop being an amateur and going pro.

So I ask you, in what ways are you ready to turn it up and go pro? Let me know in the comments below.

Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, Speaker and Writer, but most importantly, a proud Mother and Wife. Uchechi is Co-Founder of Elite Wellness Services Inc. (www.elitewellness.ca) and Founder of My Empowered Living (www.myempoweredliving.com) a website aimed at helping women change negative and disempowering mindset and live their passion! Whether it’s starting and building their dream business, or helping them create a lifestyle they crave, Uchechi is the modern woman’s secret to success! Visit Uchechi at www.myempoweredliving.com to get your FREE copy of 5 Simple Steps to Create a Life you’re Crazy About! A 15-page workbook!

Do your beliefs about your business really matter?

Uchechi

“If you believe you can, you probably can. If you believe you won’t, you most assuredly won’t. Belief is the ignition switch that gets you off the launching pad.”

~Denis Waitley

I’ve heard it said that business ownership is one of the best personal development tools you can ever take on. Think about it, what platforms pushes you to step outside of your comfort zone, face rejection and criticism on a daily basis and strive to become better every day? It places you in a vulnerable place and requires you to push past your comfort zone, and have confidence and the utmost belief in yourself and your business.

This is why cultivating the right mindset is critical to your business success. What are your core beliefs about your business success? Do you believe in your products and services? Do you have faith in your unique gifts and know that you are making a difference in the lives of your clients and customers? It is important to remember that your beliefs about yourself, brand and business are critical to your success. They act as a magnet that draws circumstances consistent to it into your life. Plainly stated your beliefs will manifest into physical form, and you will experience evidence to prove them correct; thus creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Many business owners doubt themselves and their ability to provide excellent service. They do this through not charging enough, by not asking for the sale or feeling that others have more knowledge and expertise than they do. They tend to play small and oftentimes treat their business as a hobby. They also fear both success and failure due to the unknown and what it may mean.

I once read that two ingredients needed for success is belief + time. The higher the belief the less time needed to succeed. However, the lower your belief the more time it will take to achieve it. Your beliefs are so powerful and once you grasp its power, it will help propel you forward to start living the life you want. It may be difficult at first, but the more you practice this the easier it becomes and the more you will see your outer circumstances reflecting your new empowered beliefs.

If you’re business is not flourishing as it should and you feel that you are not making ends meet, it is important to look at the root cause and your subconscious beliefs about your business. On the surface, it may appear that all business owners want the best, but many times there is an underlining limiting belief that is holding them back from the success that they crave and deserve. It is really crucial to dig deep and uncover what they are and begin to replace them with empowering ones. You do not have to work to remove the negative ones, because that is a difficult task. The best approach is to start feeding your mind with new empowering thoughts, and in time it will expand and there will be less room for the negative limiting beliefs that oftentimes holds most business owners back.

If you are lacking belief in your business, you need to re-program your mind, and change your mind-set about what is possible for your business. Your mind acts like a powerful computer and it is up to you to program empowering beliefs that will lead to your success. The great news is that it is up to you and under your control. You just need to harness this power, which will translate to you enjoying a successful profitable business that you deserve!

 

Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, Speaker and Writer, but most importantly, a proud Mother and Wife. Uchechi is Co-Founder of Elite Wellness Services Inc. (www.elitewellness.ca) and Founder of My Empowered Living (www.myempoweredliving.com) a website aimed at helping women change negative and disempowering mindset and live their passion! Whether it’s starting and building their dream business, or helping them create a lifestyle they crave, Uchechi is the modern woman’s secret to success! Visit Uchechi at www.myempoweredliving.com to get your FREE copy of 5 Simple Steps to Create a Life you’re Crazy About! A 15-page workbook!

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