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Jeanette was a typical go-getter who wanted it all. Mother to three children, owner of a thriving consulting firm to Fortune 500 companies, chairman of her industry association and wife to a successful doctor. Jeanette had goals, dreams and visions of a billion dollar company but there was just one problem.

Jeanette was chronically exhausted and couldn’t grow her business to the next level.

Her days started around 5:30 am and ended around midnight. Between client meetings, homework and school activities for the kids, and fitting in time to balance her check book, Jeanette barely had time to shower and brush her teeth, let alone eat a balanced meal or exercise. She was desperately trying to balance all of her priorities but always ended up feeling torn, depressed and like a failure. Inevitably, some area of her life was crashing and burning.

In our first coaching conversation, I asked Jeanette what her immediate goal was.”Life balance”, she said.

“With everything on your plate, is that ever going to be possible?” I asked her.

Silence. More silence. Sounds of holding back tears. More silence.

Bingo!

For most people on this planet, the idea of life balance is a complete fantasy. Somehow many of us try to manage our lives like an octopus, balancing eight things when we only have room for two, with nothing winning and everything losing. There is always way more to do than there is time in the day. Priorities can fill a yellow-pad and yet time is limited.

How does someone who is super busy ever create life balance? Reality check: you don’t!

People who are able to create a lifestyle-business don’tt have a magic pill. A freedom-based lifestyle occurs with a constant evaluation of priorities followed by discipline, tough choices and focused resolution to always say yes to the best options that are aligned with our desired outcome.

Typically, something must lose our attention to win our desired outcome. Which leads me to one of my favorite sayings:

Everything you say yes to means you must say no to something else.

In an October 2004 issue of Fast Company Magazine, the author of article ‘Balance is Bunk!’ makes a bold statement: Many of us live by a horrible myth that — by making a few compromises we can have it all, that is all wrong and is making many of us crazy!

My personal philosophy is life is a constant series of choices.

Some days work gets more attention, other days my spiritual practice, on others I carve out sacred time for my friendships and treasure every second. There are days I get all my exercise and other days when I barely can catch my breath between coaching calls. Unlike the octopus who can balance multiple things at one time, we truly can’tt. The brain can only really handle 5 plus or minus 2 chunks of data at one time. Anything more and overwhelm sets in.

You know your life is working if you are happy. If you are spending time on what’s important to you. When you are achieving your desired goals.

If you want something else to fit into your life then say NO to something that is a lesser payoff. Or outsource it to someone who can do it faster, cheaper or better than you while you focus on your bigger, and more joyful, opportunities.

I’d like to share a coaching challenge with you from our Fast Track to a 6 & 7 Figure Lifestyle Business Mastermind program. I think of it as an octopus recovery technique and I encourage you to explore this new strategy this week.
1. Identify just one thing that you’d like more of in your life
2. Determine how much time you would need for it
3. Identify what you would be willing to STOP doing to make room for it
4. What will you do to eliminate it from your task list
oDelegate it. Outsource it to someone else.
oDelay it. Reschedule it to a future time.
oDelete it. Just get that it doesn’t serve you anymore and get rid of it.
5. Schedule the new event/opportunity/task into the new free time in your calendar (before something else shows up and takes your time away.)

If life balance is a myth, then priority management seems to be the key. Be willing to make the choices every day for what truly serves you, your family and the world around you. It’s the best short-cut to happiness and fulfillment that I know!

Melanie Benson Strick, Million Dollar Lifestyle Business Coach, teaches entrepreneurs how to stop feeling overwhelmed so they can create more money, freedom and prestige. Revolutionize your results with a free chapter from, The Power of The Virtual Team, at http://www.thepowerofthevirtualteam.com

What do Donald Trump, Oprah, Richard Branson and I have in common? Well I may not quite be at the billionaire level yet but what we do all have in common is we are all entrepreneurs who get things done in record time.

Consider this: Over 80% of the entrepreneurs I mentor have great ideas with less than stellar results. Many struggle to get to the six figure mark simply due to a perceived lack of time, resources or energy to get the right strategies in place to grow their results.

So what is it that the billionaires know about getting things done fast that you might be missing?

First of all, we all share a speed implementation mindset.

There is a way of seeing the world that is just different. We share an attitude of just get it done NOW, even if it’s not perfect. This speed mindset results in a certain way of being. We stay in a state of perpetual forward momentum because that’s just who we are.

This state of mind causes us to develop an internal filter that only lets in the stuff that needs our attention so we quickly delegate or delete the rest.

From your state of mind, certain habits, behaviors and actions come naturally. When you have a speed implementation mindset it causes you to do the things necessary to get things done quickly.

We just make better choices for how we use our time. Kind of like riding a bike. Once we discover the right combination of actions that move the bike forward, we do it over and over again, getting faster and faster, as we tweak and refine our system.

I’ve noticed some definite similarities in the types of activities we engage in to achieve results with speed. For instance: We outsource anything and everything that doesn’t absolutely require us to do it personally.

We know what our high payoff activities are and we are disciplined about getting everything else off our plate. (I even found myself delegating converting my handwritten notes to a Word document.)

We say NO a lot. When you realize that everything you say yes to means saying no to something else, you start saying no to anything that won’tt directly result in your guaranteed success.

We make decisions quickly rather than spending months trying to figure out how to make it happen. Just decide you will do it, when you want it done, then figure out the how.

We have something really important at stake. And not getting it just isn’t acceptable. We are willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to get things done. We are willing to invest more time, money and energy in the right tactics to move forward quickly.

We are resourceful. Sorry, “not possible” is not an answer that we accept. We constantly scan for, ‘What would have to happen to have this in my life?’ There are no obstacles that can’t be overcome, just opportunities to explore other options.

Getting things done fast is about possessing a certain attitude that causes you to take consistent action on your highest payoff activities.

If you find that you don’t yet possess a speed implementer’s mindset and habits, then it’s time to get some help. The truth is you probably won’t be able to change this without some mentoring or coaching. So find someone who is embodying the success you desire and hire them to mentor you! I’ll also suggest checking out the Fast-Track to a 6 & 7 Figure Lifestyle Business mastermind for coaching and accountability on getting things done quickly!

Melanie Benson Strick, Million Dollar Lifestyle Business Coach, teaches entrepreneurs how to stop feeling overwhelmed so they can create more money, freedom and prestige. Revolutionize your results with a free chapter from, The Power of The Virtual Team, at http://www.thepowerofthevirtualteam.com

In years past, many made assumptions about the lifestyle and duties of stay-at-home mothers. After decades of discrimination, stay-at-home moms are achieving success and recognition at impressive rates. As the home becomes easier to care for and maintain, moms are shifting any extra time and monetary resources into creating websites, products and services. This is the most promising time for any mom interested in home business.

The term “stay-at-home mom” is rapidly becoming obsolete, as are the negative implications that once lingered upon mention. Today, we can find countless mothers working from home. Women are finding great reward and fulfillment from the new term “work-at-home mom.”

The Internet is perhaps the greatest equalizer of all in the corporate world. A mother who works from her kitchen has as great an opportunity to reach the same web audience as a billion-dollar corporation. New and exciting website opportunities are developing on a daily basis.

Since telecommuting, or working via your computer, is such an ideal setting for both company and mom, it is rapidly becoming mainstream. Companies are finding the rewards of telecommuting employees to vastly decrease paperwork and issues with tardiness or absentees. Working late to meet deadlines is a thing of the past. Virginia Governor Tim Kaine has already stated he hopes to have 20 percent of all state workers telecommuting by 2010. This is only the start of a popular and promising way of life.

The odds of success have never been better for those who may not have the opportunity of remaining with their employer post-pregnancy. Moms have many distinct advantages from owning their own home-based company. Primarily, their entire livelihood isn’t riding upon a risk. If their company fails starting out, they have the resources to continue attempting their venture. They also don’t have the initial costs involved as they would to rent a store, furnish utilities, seek building licenses or permits and pay other charges a physical location would require.

There are also other benefits to working from home that aren’t always highlighted. Aside from the potential for monetary gain, working from home has the potential to further your career. For example, if you are a registered nurse and you decide to stop working to raise your children, there may be issues upon returning to work. There may be individuals who believe your skills have became outdated. However, for this example, you form a website online dedicated to providing free information on childhood ailments and their treatment while you are raising your children. You have not only established needed medical resources to improve your community, you have also given yourself a professional credential.

Starting a home business is as simple as doing a little research today. Mothers from all walks of life have created companies centered around new ideas, solutions and products. Many moms are finding the consulting business profitable. Some are teaching classes on their favorite topic. Others are becoming affiliates with many of the major online retailers and find they can create a good income by selling products for a major company.

Products that aren’t available in the standard retail stores are also in demand. These often appear far more personalized and unique. Such moms have started businesses centered around gourmet foods, apparel, cosmetics, candles and nearly every other product imaginable. Some are even using such items as designer greeting cards and unique food greetings for their business.

The first thing a mother should do when considering a work-at-home venture is to ensure it is realistic. Will you have the time and the physical space to make your business work? Can you fit your job duties in with your children’s school hours and extra curricular activities? Does your family understand it is a job and will require time, just as a standard job? Be certain those who live with you see that this is not just surfing the Internet or browsing through websites. Working at home may allow you to work at two hour intervals, but you may need to work for or five times a day, depending upon your business.

When you find your household is in agreement and you believe you have the time for a business venture, the decisions have only started. Will you be working for a company or independently? Are you striving to create wealth or a sustainable, secondary income? Most often moms are more concerned with stability than the promises of vast financial fortune.

Working from home isn’t for everyone. Moms should always take that into serious consideration before planning a home business. There are occasions where long hours will be required and the socialization found in an office isn’t there. You may find there are people who still don’t respect your decision to work at home. However, if you can overcome these facts, working from home can be a rewarding experience that improves your life and the life of your family.

John Cantu provides expert analysis of home based business opportunities and invites you to visit his site that shows reviews and comments on the current Top 10 Work at Home Opportunities.
Visit: www.wahometop10.com for more information.

You may be someone who is wondering about the effectiveness of email marketing and if it is a good way to cash in with your Internet business. You may have heard about the guys that make a lot of money in a single day just by mailing their lists. It can be done but you can bet it will not happen overnight.

You can be sure this will not be as easy as you may think and it may be awhile before you start cashing those checks. The most important thing you will have to do is build up trust before you start pitching products.

Often people think they will get rich fast by getting into list building. When they discover all of the hard work that goes with it they often quit. They think it will be as easy as mailing them about a product and the list will grow automatically.

You may have to give away a lot of videos and free reports if you want to build a big list. It does not ever stop. Look at your favorite marketer and you will see they are always coming up with new ways to get more names on their lists.

There are many different ways to build your list if you get a little creative. There are places like web 2.0 sites and all of the new video websites just waiting for your submissions.

You can create a newsletter or mini course or a free report. This will still take some work because you need to make sure the quality is good. If you want subscribers the quality has to be there.

Even if they do not know how good your product is before they sign up they are going to read it after they subscribe. How long will they stay on your list if your product is no good? They are going to hit that unsubscribe button fast.

Now you have that list built up. It still takes a lot of work to keep your subscribers happy. That list will not help you if they are not satisfied enough to make a purchase from you.

It is wise to send out a freebie once in awhile. There needs to be products developed just for your list. Tips and helpful hints are nice additions. This means more work for you. The effectiveness of email marketing can really happen with the right amount of effort.

Are your tired of trying to figure out how to get your mailing list going? Go to http://www.seventeenmethod.com to get your free 53 page Ebook “THE SEVENTEEN METHOD”. Are your ready to discover the 17 simple tweaks that could put your list building into overdrive?

Many online business opportunities are, in fact, only opportunities for the individuals selling them. Countless books, software, e-books and other media are available in cyberspace and will promise you everything imaginable. You can make $1000 on your first day. Start your own company and have a six-digit profit margin within a year. You can become a real estate magnate with no money down, a stock tycoon with the help of a $69 e-book or an affiliate who earns $200 an hour.

These claims are both amazing and fraudulent. They are also emerging at epic proportions online. With such tantalizing claims as “work from home,” they often use the angle of more money for your children or family as bait. They flash banners, buttons and commercials boasting of your earning potential. You can get paid to fill our surveys, test video games and even stuff envelopes. If you decide to take the plunge into working from home, take several steps to protect yourself. The best adage to bear in mind is, if it sounds too good to be true, it is.

The first step is to explore what options you have available. Will you sell your own product or service? Will you work with another company? Selling your own products requires little attention to other companies and is fairly straight forward. Many home business owners will go into business with affiliates or other programs, and this process does require investigation.

Give yourself plenty of options before deciding on a single company. Create a list of various companies of interest and explore them as much as possible. Be certain you are excited about the company and the product or service they offer before choosing one. Never opt for something merely because it looks like a good deal. Always choose the program that looks the most interesting. Also each company should keep their information posted online, including an address, telephone number and e-mail addresses.

It’s time to start thoroughly researching when you have narrowed your choices to three or four. Your first stop will be with the Better Business Bureau. Visit their website and check all listings both nationally and in that company’s region. Look for warning signs, such as complaints over abuse or fraudulent behavior. Are complaints against the company over a lack of service, attention or pay?

Even if the records have a clean listing, or no listing with the bureau, you still need to look through a good online search or two. Look for complaints in forums, message boards, blogs and newspapers against the company. A good listing with the Better Business Bureau is a positive factor; however, it doesn’t mean every bureau will be attentive to consumers on a local level. One or two minor complaints should be expected if the company is large. Look elsewhere for an opportunity if the complaints start to add up.

Once you have checked for public complaints of malfeasance, you should visit the website or sites of the companies left in good standing. How are they arranged? As an affiliate or associate, you should have access to many free tools to help you sell. Many companies offer a free Web page or small site to associates to get them started. Do they provide your first leads? Do they help you with new leads starting out? Are they eager to offer training and advice on promotion?

While most of these opportunities require some form of financial investment, at some point, they should offer you a great deal of free information upfront. Beware of a company that requires you to pay anything just to look through their website. There may be a secure section for members only, but this should concern only those who are signed up with the company. You shouldn’t have to pay $9.95 to have access to the company’s history or other such general information.

You should ensure the company you are interested in has a proven return. It should be in operation at least five years before you sign with them. Many dubious companies that scam consumers for “at home work” seldom last longer than two or three years.

A final way of evaluating a company’s regard to their business is the way your concerns are handled. Are you given prompt attention? Are your e-mails returned quickly and professionally? Are the answers written in professional sentences with a personalized salutation and signature or are they automated? Are you given a ticket of any kind and told to wait 48 or more hours for a response? This is a final way of investigating how a company will interact with you once you are working with them.

Consumers need not fear the work-at-home field with these methods. With common sense and some investigation, you can avoid much headache and anxiety over a dubious or questionable company. Working at home is a goal that is both realistic and attainable.

John Cantu provides expert analysis of home based business opportunities and invites you to visit his site that shows reviews and comments on the current Top 10 Work at Home Opportunities.
Visit: http://www.wahometop10.com:80/1659.html for more information.