Running your business (& your life) doesn’t need to be overwhelming or hard. Amazing results are just 1-2-3 steps away!

As a coach, I have learned what it takes to find joy, create ease and achieve prosperity. I’ve personally taken these three steps and seen the positive impact in my life as well as the clients I serve.

It’s this simple:

1. Gain clarity of purpose and vision and keep it in front of you,
2. Have the right support behind you (and beside you, above you, and in front of you) and,
3. Take focused and inspired action consistently!

You might be asking yourself “how” do I start? It begins with saying “yes” to investing in yourself as you walk the path of change. For this type of transformational journey, partnering with a coach is imperative if you’re really serious about creating amazing results that are lasting and sustainable. This was confirmed for me yesterday when one of my clients shared, “I matter” and “I am worth the investment.” This is the place where you learn to believe in yourself and have the ability to accomplish what’s necessary for steps 1-2-3.

Too often I see people “stop” when it gets difficult. You’ve probably found yourself here as well as you begin to doubt and question; before you know it you find yourself doing the same old thing and expecting different results.

The truth is when it matters you can expect opposition. Don’t take it as a sign to stop but as an opportunity to pause and assess so you know how to proceed based on intention, wisdom and discernment. Partnering with a coach will give you the ability so stay the course. In my opinion, coaching is the “circle of life” as it relates to achieving extraordinary results by following the 1-2-3 steps.

Are you taking action on steps 1-3 above? If not, start today because you matter and the world needs what you have to offer.

So, what’s your next step? What will you commit to to achieve amazing results starting now? Post your comments at the blog and share 1. what you’ll commit to and/or 2. how working with a coach has helped  you achieve amazing results in your life!

“Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours.”–Ayn Rand

Photo Courtesy of Photoxpress © Olaru Radian

With the holidays ending and a new year beginning, now is the time to open the door to your 2012 vision. Why is this important? The abundance you desire is on the other side awaiting you!

As part of your year end celebrations, I strongly encourage you to set intentional time aside to reflect and acknowledge 2011. This check-in process is essential as it will allow you to really embrace your accomplishments as you dream for the year ahead. It also allows you to step back and access the wisdom for the sake of doing things differently in the year to come.

To support you in this process, I’ve provided you with a resource to Celebrate 2011. Be sure to download this tool and make the time to acknowledge all that you have become!

I would also like to thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey this year. In 2012, you will see many changes to my work with the launch of a new business. My goal is to support you in making sustainable and positive changes that increase your productivity and profitability so you can have greater impact and influence. Stay tuned for the details to come and in the meantime, take the next step to open the door to your 2012 vision!

To your success and joy!

“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.”
Hal Borland

Your life is on the fast track; school is ending, you’re preparing for the summer, and somewhere inside there’s a nagging question whispering “How will I do it? How can I be effective this summer as a Mompreneur when both my home and my business need me at the same time?”

The answer? It’s an inside job and only you hold the wisdom.

I’m asking myself these same questions, especially during this season of my life. My daughter just completed 4th grade last week and as I watched her with great joy at the awards ceremony, I wondered what happened to my little girl? Now that she’s 10, I realize that we are on a new trajectory of her life that is preparing her to become a woman and honestly, I don’t want to miss any of it.

My reality is that I’m a single parent which means I need to work; however, I’m on a mission to do this in the most life-giving and fruitful way. I am dedicated to leveraging my time, energy and resources for the sake of achieving my “lights on” vision. I am committed to thriving as a woman, showing up consciously and engaged as a Mom, while growing a sustainable business that leaves a positive impact on others and makes a larger contribution in the world.

How about you? What do you want?

It’s a tall order and I truly believe it’s possible for you and for me. It requires tenacity, perseverance and commitment to continue finding your way in the midst of an ever changing world as you create a life that is “less, yet more”.

I’m not alone in this movement….This is what I’m up to with Wendy Balman and our work through The Leadership Collaborative and Compass. Wendy and are just two examples of thousands of others who are after the same thing; another movement of these types is led by Soren Gordhamer who shares his thoughts about the 2010 Wisdom 2.0 Conference that he created.

Soren poses the question:

“What does it mean to say “yes” to a connected life and use all of the great technologies of our age AND say “yes” to what it means to have an inner life and cultivate wisdom, compassion and awareness?”

Ahhhh, sweet music to my spirit as I listen to industry experts from Google, Twitter, Facebook and more share their insights and ask provocative questions at the Wisdom 2.0 Conference Highlights. Be sure to watch the video and post your comments at the blog.

So what  do you think? Is it possible to live from the heart, honor your role as a Mom AND build a sustainable business at the same time? Let’s get the conversation going…the time is now!

Are you on a roller coaster going up and down so quickly that it’s difficult to get off the ride? Perhaps the treadmill of your life is going too fast because you are being bombarded by too much coming at you? If you resonate with any of these statements, it’s time to stop the madness!

Since launching The Leadership Collaborative at the end of April, I’ve been out in the marketplace with intention; I’ve been speaking, networking and engaging the field to learn more. And boy am I learning what others in business are facing and it can all be boiled down to one word:

OVERWHELM!

This overwhelm is showing up in many ways; see which of these you can relate to:

• Life changes/transitions are at an all time high—loss of a well-loved pet, moving, personal health issue, graduation, end of school, ailing family member and unexpected financial matters just to name a few.
• Wearing too many hats—trying to run multiple businesses, taking on activities that aren’t aligned with passion or expertise, adding more to the plate without assessing what needs to be let go.
• Mediocre financial results—just getting by, barely covering the expenses, surviving instead of thriving.
• Too much activity—doing, doing, doing without any time to slow down, assess and plan with purpose.

If you can relate to any of these scenarios, let me ask from a place of deep humility and love the question that Dr. Phil always asks… “How’s that working for you?”

My hunch is that it’s not.

Now let me contrast the above scenario with another person I met last week. She decided to make a 180 degree shift from her 20-year career in the judicial system to launching a speaking/training business. She’s following her “lights” and integrating her love of photography into a platform that reconnects others to the core through nature as a vehicle to help them find their passion. She has a book coming out in August, she’s working on her website, promoting her speaking and because of her clarity, passion and plan she has opportunities abounding and she’s getting tangible results.

So why isn’t she overwhelmed? What makes her different that the others I mentioned above?

1. She knows herself which helps her to know when to say “yes” and when to say “no”.
2. She has a vision which guides her even in the chaos.
3. She has a plan to take care of herself and slows down daily.
4. She has a strategy and continually revisits it to adjust and stay in momentum.

Here’s the truth: If you want to stop the madness in your own life and eliminate the overwhelm, these four elements are essential and non-negotiable.

So what’s true for you? Are you ready to stop the insanity which is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results?

I’m on a mission to stop the madness! If you’re serious like me, then let me help you take a stand for your heart. Give yourself the gift of a 15-minute free, no obligation call to find out what your one next step is. Contact me to schedule your appointment today. At a minimum, schedule 15-minutes in your own calendar to slow down.

You have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

Photo Courtesy of Photoxpress ©Andrejs Pidjass

Are you crystal clear on what will bring vitality to your life and keep your business sustainable? Consider this question and then explore  “Where do I spend my time?” Take a moment to write your answers.

As you look your responses, step back and make observations without judgment. Are you focused on a list of action steps that support you in “how” to take action? Are your answers and actions supporting you in creating “what” you want? In other words, are you focusing on “what” really matters and are your actions getting you where you want to go?

I met with local business leaders this week to share ideas around the “hot” topic of The Fortune is in the Follow-up. These are energetic and committed people passionate about serving their clients; it was so much fun to be in their presence! At the start of the meeting I asked what outcome they desired from my talk. Ultimately, the question being asked of this group which, I assert is a recurring one for all business owners, is “how?” Questions like:

• How do I balance my time between doing the work and following-up?
• How do I making meaningful connections that produce results?
• How do I keep in touch with the people I meet?

These are important and relevant questions; I imagine you can relate to these. However, I assert that “we” as business owners are focusing our attention on the wrong question. “How” sets you up to look for answers outside of you which can take you away from what you want and what matters to you.

The questions I want to us to be asking are based on “what”. For example:

• What is important to me?
• What information is available that will support me in having the impact I desire?
• What impact do I want to make at home, with clients and in the marketplace?
• What’s the best way for me to forward?
• What investment in relationships, coaching and/or training are necessary for me?

Shifting your attention to the “what” questions draws you inward to find your internal compass that is true and right for you. Here you tap into your core wisdom that provides clarity around your answers for “how?” Specifically, your “what” answers become the filter to run everything through as you decide “how” to move forward in meaningful and purposeful action.

What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? I’d love to hear your comments about this so be sure to post them at the blog.

I also have an invitation for you if you want an opportunity to connect to your core to access more of your “what”. Join me for a FREE and complimentary Discover your Compass Group Coaching Session on the theme “The Power of Choice”.  As I prepare to become a Compass Certified Coach I’m offering two options, one on this Thursday, 5/19 at 10:30a Pacific and another on Monday, 5/23 at 1:45p Pacific.

Perhaps now is the perfect time for you to refresh and renew from the inside-out. Find out the “what” that will lead you to the “how” that’s true for you.

Christmas is over yet there is still one present remaining if you are willing to open it. It’s the gift of reflection time spent during this last week of the year.

There is a slight “catch” with this gift. Someone isn’t going to come to you and hand you extra hours in your day for this reflection. This is one of those presents that you must decide you will get for yourself. Even once you choose this gift, you must be intentional and disciplined to make use of it.

You might be wondering why it’s so import to experience this gift. For me, this time has become non-negotiable and I guard it with intention because:

1. Reflecting back on your year helps you identify your successes and wins achieved during the year. You can celebrate your accomplishments and own the many ways you’ve grown and become more of your true and authentic self.
2. You clear out unnecessary thoughts, paperwork and possessions you no longer need for the coming year. This frees you up to move into the new year without hindrance.
3. You identify what you want for your life and work in the coming year and can make intentional plans with action steps to get you there. This helps you begin your new year in action, being proactive toward what you want to create for 2011. This results in a thriving and fulfilling life rather than reacting to life and just surviving.

I imagine that many of you reading this blog probably still have kids at home who are on break. You’ve probably checked out from reading this post because you see this reflection time as a luxury rather than a necessity. I challenge you to take on a different perspective consider these questions:

• What if you deciding to make this time for yourself is the way you model healthy self-care to your kids?
  
• How might the future of your children be different if you choose to celebrate your year and plan intentionally for the one ahead?

As you choose to open the gift of reflection this week, use this celebration tool to guide you through the process. This is my free gift to you and for those of you that need a little extra encouragement, I’m going to sweeten the deal.  The first 4 of you who send me an e-mail with your answers to the questions will receive a FREE 15-minute laser coaching session from me. To be considered you need to e-mail me by Wednesday, January 5th, 2011 and it’s first come, first served.

As we wind down the year, I want to celebrate each of you by thanking you for being a part of my blog community. It’s been a privilege and joy to support you with wisdom, resources and encouragement this past year and I look forward to partnering with you in 2011.

Here’s to celebrating 2010 for the sake of an extraordinary and abundant new year!

“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.”
Hal Borland

Life is a developmental process as you stretch and grow. You see this in your kids no doubt as they grow physically, emotionally and spiritually. Somewhere along the way though, you might have let go of the notion that you are continuing to develop as an adult because physically you’ve stopped growing. You have a set shoe size and have reached your height that you will be for the rest of your life so your done growing, right?

But what about your emotional and spiritual growth?

See if this sounds familiar as you think about your business (or life if you prefer to look here). You have a new direction that you wish to pursue so you develop a plan of action. You start moving forward and all of a sudden you hit resistance. You get sick, your car breaks down or some how  “life” gets in the way. You feel discouraged and frustrated.

But wait! Step back and take a look at what’s really happening. Eight steps forward, five steps back. You get healthy again. Three steps forward, two steps back. Your car is fixed. Now do the math: 8-5+3-2=4. Notice the net positive gain! It is forward progress even in the midst of your set-backs!

So don’t give up! You are making headway and you’re growing, changing and evolving at the same time so keep your eye on your vision!

Go ahead right now. Take a moment and think about this idea in your own life.

• Where have you made forward steps?
• Where have you moved backwards?
• What’s your net number if you turned each of these “steps” of movement forward and backward into a math equation?

It really doesn’t matter whether you have a net gain or loss. The key is to celebrate every step ahead as you acknowledge your frustration for steps backward. Let that frustration fuel you to persevere as you keep your ultimate vision in front of you. Then decide what your one next step is that will move you toward your vision and take it!

I’m curious what you’re learning as you go through this exercise? I invite you to share your comments at www.shannonbruce.com. Perhaps writing your comments here is your one next step forward to your vision. If you don’t know your vision, contact me for a complimentary 15-minute informational call or watch this TED Video on what it means to discover your “why”.

Remember the journey of a 1,000 miles begins with a single step. Even you though you may go backwards and there are detours along the way, you can experience the richness of life and joy as you embrace what comes. And one key to “moving” is that sometimes you need to “deepen your learning” before you can “forward the action”. It’s all a part of the developmental process leading you to your destiny!

Photo Courtesy of Photoxpress ©Alfonso d’Agostino

In my expert call for the Direct Selling Telesummit, Sallie Meshell asked me this question: “Sometimes people listen to these calls, but then don’t take action, so what is the one action step you suggest the listeners take to incorporate your information into their businesses?” Before I share my answer to this question, I want to give some background to set the stage for my response.

My message in the book, “Direct Selling Power: Expert Advice to Accelerate your Business“ is not a traditional message. Essentially, it’s a message of “slowing down” in order to “speed up”. After coaching women in the industry for 7 years, along with being a leader in my own direct sales business, I’ve come to realize how vital it is to understand who you are in business and the unique values, mission and success you wish to create, not just for your business but also for your life.

You might be wondering why I see this as so important. Let me explain further.

At some point in your business you’ll go through a transition that requires you to reevaluate and assess where you’re headed and what you really want. These transitions could be as exciting as learning how to balance your life and business because of your team expansion and your rising up to the next level of leadership. It could also be the result of a lull in your business where you aren’t achieving the results you desire or envisioned.

Whatever the case, it becomes a crossroad point of choice inviting you to “slow down” in order to “speed up”. During this “slowing down” point, you need to look inward to gain the internal clarity and truth that is right for you, helping you make purposeful choices that will keep both your business and your life thriving.

What happens if you don’t look inward at this point? You run the risk of:

• Becoming overwhelmed and scattered which causes you to feel fragmented.
• Working harder with less impact yet expecting different results (aka “insanity”).
• Experiencing diminished results at home and in your work making you feel ineffective.

On the flip side, as you slow down and work through the exercises from my chapter “Ignite your Passion & Live with Purpose: A Guide to a Thriving Life and Prosperous Direct Sales Business”, you’ll come to understand your personal values, identity, mission, purpose and personal definition of success.

These filters provide a point of reference for making conscious, intentional and empowered choices that will bring internal peace and joy and greater results with less effort. In essence, your slowing down actually propels you beyond!

The truth is every business owner (and woman for that matter), needs to continually reevaluate and assess to make sure you’re on track to the inspired life you desire. After all, Alice in Wonderland was told, “If you don’t know where you’re going any road will get you there.” Why not be proactive, rather than reactive?

My answer to the question Sallie asked was simple:

• Block time in your calendar today by scheduling a non-negotiable appointment with yourself in the next few days.
• During this time, evaluate on a scale of 1-10 how satisfied you are in your life and business.
• Once you have your answer, decide what changes will improve the quality of your life and business? If you’re already at a 10, what more is possible? If you’re less than a 10 what action step will bring greater impact and fulfillment?

I assert that this time with yourself is not optional but rather a non-negotiable. Yesterday I actually shared, “Self care isn’t selfish; its essential to live out who you are completely.” What do you think?

We’ve all heard the quote that the journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step. What’s the intentional step you’ll take today? Share your comments at the blog and contact me if you’d like a recording of yesterday’s call.

Enjoy your time to yourself; may it propel you into all that you hope for and imagine!

Photo Courtesy of PhotoXpress © Gale Distler

Remember that commercial years ago where  a woman is overwhelmed and frustrated by the many demands for her attention? She finally took a stand and declared “Calgon, take me away!” This woman was really onto something that I think bears repeating. Her declaration points to the truth that we all need to step away from the chaos and demands of life to slow down, pause, breathe, check in and reassess.

So what about you? Could you use a “Calgon” break? Permission granted…Go for it! Maybe it’s not a bubble bath, but it could certainly be a ten-minute break to breathe or go for a quick walk. Or how about sitting down to eat your lunch at the table rather than “on the go” or standing up?!

At some point, you will get caught up in the “doing” and “serving” others through your business and your life that you barely have time to think, let alone feel.  Some of you might press in and push through, while others shut down and just stop all together. In either scenario, you’ll reach the point where you are ineffective and unproductive forcing you to reevaluate.

So what’s the answer?

The answer is this: give yourself permission to pause. Take a quick assessment right now and contemplate the following questions.

• What are you currently experiencing internally? Are you at rest inside? Or are you feeling chaos within? Name what you notice.

Once you tune in to what’s happening in your internal world, take a look at what’s going on externally by answering these questions.

• What’s working?
• What’s not?
• What really matters?
• What changes are needed?

Your answers to these questions will reveal some powerful truths. However, you’re just scratching the surface at this point.

There are actually deeper truths that need to be accessed.  This internal wisdom will actually help you on the front-end to be proactive in your life and business rather than reacting to the shut-down or burn-out that comes after you hit the proverbial wall.

When you give yourself permission to glean this inner wisdom, you’ll discover your true identity and life mission which reveals your purpose. With this information, you have filters for your choices and you can design a path to the life you’re intended to live. This keeps you anchored in peace while achieving greater impact and tangible results with less effort in both your life and your business.

There’s actually a coaching journey that can help you tap into these deeper truths. It’s called The Destiny Project and this week it went virtual under one website location with it’s own unique brand, identity, mission and purpose. What’s really cool about this journey is that it provides enough structure to keep you moving forward, blended with enough process that takes you deeper into the learning of who you truly are at the core.

Many say they don’t have enough time to dream because there’s too much to do.  How about you? What do you think?

What if the question isn’t how can you afford to dream, but rather the question was how can you afford not to? I invite you to contemplate this in your “Calgon” moment as you exercise your permission to pause.

Post your comments at www.shannonbruce.com; I’d love to read your thoughts and be sure to check out the new website because it’s pretty amazing! Thanks Michael Warden and Josh Tilton.

Photo Provided by www.photoxpress.com, Copyright Julia Britvich

As a solopreneur, you wear many hats as you plant a variety of seeds to keep the garden of your business thriving. These seeds are activities such as marketing, administration, serving, selling and developing, all which keep your garden flourishing.

While I’m not a gardener, I do know that weeds begin to grow if you don’t tend to it. If you aren’t careful, these weeds will slowly choke the life out of the healthy plants destroying the beauty and harvest of the garden that’s planted. The same holds true for your business and life!

As you plant these seeds and your garden grows to produce a harvest, there is one thing to remember. Each day is limited in time and because of this you must be intentional as you tend to your garden. Nurturing the seeds already planted, as you continue to seed for the future, are both important and necessary. At the same time, you must be aware of the weeds that need to be removed to avoid losing the harvest you’ve planted.

What are some of the weeds that might show up in your garden of your business?

• Activities that are no longer energizing and take away from producing a fruitful crop.
• Administrative tasks which drain you and could be done by someone other than you, the master gardener.
• Duties outside of your expertise like technology, social media, graphic design, web site maintenance, newsletters, developing promotional materials, etc.

Take a moment to look at your own garden. What are your weeds?

Once you’ve identified them, here are some next steps:

1. Hire others to help. You cannot grow the garden of your business without expanding your team. At some point, it’s essential to hire a virtual assistant, bookkeeper, accountant, technology person, and a professional certified coach to support you through the expansion. Bottom line: you cannot do it alone forever!
2. Dedicate time to plan and strategize. Block time in your calendar to evaluate and assess: What’s working? What’s not? What changes are needed? If you don’t, you risk being reactive rather than proactive.
3. Remove the “good” so the “better” and “best” have room to flourish. As you grow and narrow your focus, some of the opportunities that were one ideal and considered healthy plants in the garden of your business may actually become weeds. This is because the good plants can take up space and time in your garden and keep you from growing and harvesting the best plants that produce greater abundance.

You’ve probably heard all of this before but it warrants repeating. As the garden of your business expands, growing beyond being a solopreneur doing it alone, to becoming an entrepreneur with a support team is critical. Every business owner reaches this fork in the road and needs to decide what the garden needs to grow, otherwise you run the risk of the weeds taking it over and wreaking havoc not only in your business, but also in your life.

As you contemplate your own business (and life because this metaphor applies here too), how would you answer this question:

What next step will help the garden of your life and business thrive to produce a more abundant crop?

This month, there are several coaching programs and products available to you to help your garden grow, flourish and thrive. If you want to know what’s coming, sign up for our monthly newsletter.

What comments do you have? Share at the blog and may the harvest of your life and business be abundant!