bonitarichter.com

By guest author, Ken Carlson

So…I’m a recovering achiever. You know the type. The kid that sits in the front row in every class in high school and college. The adult that goes shopping for the perfect shirts and ties for work so the boss is impressed. The never miss a deadline type—even if it means staying up until 3am and getting up at 4am to get back to work. Some of you might have called me a kiss up. Whatever—I got A’s and I got promoted.

I still think sitting in the front row is a good idea.  I’ve got a kid in high school and a kid in college and I would definitely encourage them to sit as close to the front as possible. Why?  Because when you sit in the front row you A) have to pay attention and B) you get a much better idea of what is most important to the teacher; we all know that only part of doing well in school is knowing the material—to get A’s, you have to know what matters to the teacher.

Somewhere along the way though—I decided that sitting in the front row wasn’t giving me everything I wanted in life. It certainly gave me nice paychecks. I got to drive a nice car, live in a nice neighborhood, have nice friends, go to a nice health club. All so very NICE.

The new question. The one that kept me up at night was this: What was it all costing?

I could clearly see what I was getting. Stuff. Lots of good stuff. Travel. Fun. Some financial security. A great lifestyle for my wife and kids. The ability to retire at a reasonable age. I was also getting accolades from bosses, my family, and my friends. All good things.

It was costing me a lot more though. Mostly, it was costing me my days. I was spending at least 250 of 365 days per year inside and I absolutely adore being outside. It was costing me sometimes three hours a day behind the wheel of a car. I was helping corporations make money and making very little tangible difference in anyone’s life. I certainly wasn’t passionate about the work that my company did.

So, I decided to get in the front row again. This time though—I wasn’t in a college classroom or a corporate boardroom—I got in the front row of my own life.   I started going
to therapy. I started reading all sorts of books. I hired a coach. I started talking to my best friends regularly about what was next in my life. I wanted to figure out me. I wanted to take charge of my own life and my own future. So I did.

Right now, it’s several years later and sitting in the front row of my own life is the best decision I ever made. There is definitely a cost to living my dream. A cost to doing what I most love. A cost associated with leaving the corporate world and starting my own business. However, for me, the cost is worth it to have the things that I most want for my own life. I want to make an impact on people every day. I want to spend time outside every day. I want to be creative. I want to be present for my children.

Here is my challenge to you: What is it that you want for your life? What cost are you willing to pay to have what you want? I have yet to meet anyone that has regretted the choice to get in the front row of their own life and do the work.

Ken Carlson is a life coach, father, business owner, athlete, and 40-year old from Geneva, IL with clients all over the world. He specializes in working with individuals that are successful in their lives and career and are looking to fully follow their dreams. He named his company Authentic Development because he believes that entering into our true selves is really the only way to fully come alive! Website: www.authenticdevelopment.com

I see a lot of women entrepreneurs who are busy ’doing’ a lot of different activities to grow their businesses.  On the surface this seems all good because they’re investing energy and time. 

The problem is too many times they’re not getting the results they desire for all their expended energy.  This keeps their business and income stuck at the same levels, or they experience small amounts of growth.

How can you tell if you’re not getting adequate results for your invested efforts?  Here’s a list of two ways to tell:

1. Your income in 2011, compared to 2010, either decreased, stayed the same, or grew less than 20%.  (no whining about the economy)

2. Your hourly fee rate decreased or did not increase (annual revenues ÷ total hours worked)

The bottom line is if you are working harder, and not gaining significant forward movement toward your goals, you probably need to change what you’re doing.  

Here are 3 ways you can “change up” your activities to ensure you reach your 2012 goals:

1. Review 2011 and determine 1) what went well and CELEBRATE!, 2) what didn’t go as planned, and 3) why things didn’t go as planned. 

Were you lacking support or some skills and know-how?  Or, did you simply not invest the time into certain activities you could have?  Diagnose the reasons so you can course correct in 2012.

2. Create your 2012 vision and goals – what do you want your business and personal life to look like 12/31/12?  What personal mastery skills do you need to develop?

Be very specific.  Without specifics, you may be wasting time and energy doing activities that will not move you closer to your vision and goals.  Example: Are you part of a networking group that has few of your ideal clients?  This time may be better invested doing something else.

3. Create your plan to make it all happen!

Your business plan needs to include an income goal and key strategies you must implement to make it all happen. 

For example, this year my income goal is $300K.  Key strategies I will implement to make it happen are:

1. Become more visible to my ideal clients

2. Increase traffic to my website and subscriber opt-ins

3. Increase marketing activities

Then, for each of the above three strategies I will create objectives, identify activities to do, and put a timeframe to reaching the objective.

For example, to become more visible to my ideal clients I could, 1) lead one teleseminar every week, 2) be a guest on someone else’s teleseminar every 2 weeks, 3) speak to live groups one time per week, and 4) attend two networking meetings per week.

Then, I will keep track to make sure I am investing the required time and energy to get the results I’m seeking.  In my case, I am tracking achievment of my $300K income goal.

Now is the time to evaluate and review what you’re doing so you can be proactive about making necessary course corrections to achieve your 2012 goals!

How many times have you wanted to invest in a coaching program, but the first thought that entered your mind was, “I don’t have the money”? This is an automatic response that usually has nothing to do with money. It usually has to do with thoughts of lack, scarcity, that there ‘won’t be enough.’

The problem with this scarcity thinking is it prevents you from making decisions and taking required steps that will move you and your business forward, keeping you stuck right where you are, and actually putting you in an even worse position over time.

The truth is you probably do have enough money in your world to invest in yourself (hooray!), and get the coaching, support, and accountability you need to move your business forward.

Here are 10 places to look to find the money you need so you can invest in you, and your business, and achieve your income goals.

1. Business loan

Even though banks aren’t lending business loans as freely as they once did for small business entrepreneurs, some lending organizations are. ACCION is a microloan lender, offering loans ranging from $200 to $25,000, even for start-ups. They also have very flexible payment terms, and will work with you to creatively “go the extra mile” above and what banks will do to finance your loan.

2. Business loan from family and friends

One of the best sources of startup or expansion capital. Think about people in your life who care about you, and want to see you succeed. Reach out to them, and share your business plan.

3. Part-Time Job

Getting a part-time job to fund your dream is nothing to shy away from, or be ashamed of. You’re “doing what it takes” to get the seed money you need to start or grow your business. ALL businesses need investment to start and grow. It is impossible to grow a business without investing money in it. Period.

4. 401ks and other investments

There may be ways to get money out of your 401k to fund your business without suffering a penalty. Do the research, and ask your accountant about the rules. Taking money out of your 401k is an investment in YOU.

5. Create a program and sell it

When I invested in a 5-figure program a few months ago, I was immediately motivated to create a program and get new clients. I can honestly tell you I may not have been as motivated had I NOT invested the money. The result: I created the most money I’d ever created in 5 week’s time—$28,000.

When you invest at a certain level, you can then CHARGE at a higher level immediately.  This is an immediate boost to your fees and income!

6. Low interest credit cards

Credit is not bad if it is managed properly. Low interest credit cards can be a very good way to finance an investment in your business. Again, have a plan to turn your investment into income, and pay back the loan as quickly as possible.

7. Sell your stuff

Do you have things you’re storing away and keeping that can be turned into cash? It’s not uncommon for people to sell old cars, jewelry, and other items on eBay.  You can always create the money for a new “stuff.” You can never get back time wasted and income opportunities lost.

8. Home equity line of credit

If you have equity in your home, this is another option to get the money you need to fund an investment.

9. Streamline your budget

Take a look at your budget, look at your current spending, and decide what can be shifted around. Redirect the money you’re spending to higher priorities, such as investing in yourself.

10. Say “yes” to yourself

Decide to invest in yourself. Once you do, the WAY about how you will make the money to fund your investment will become clear to you. Getting the coaching you need will help you find the way.

Get connected to the TRUE cost of thinking you don’t have the money to invest in yourself.

Time is a non-renewable resource. When it’s gone, it’s gone. Which means when you give in to scarcity-based thinking that you don’t have the money to invest in yourself, you are giving away your dream.

Say “yes” to yourself and create a 6-figure business in 12 months or less.  To inquire about private 1-on-1 coaching with me contact me at http://www.bonitarichter.com/contact.

Many women entrepreneurs I mentor state they have trouble “finding clients who will pay.”  It seems everyone has in their world people who “don’t have any money.”

If you limit your perspective to “no one has money,” then you’re most likely limiting your potential income generating opportunities.  There are PLENTY of people who have money, and are willing to invest in their personal and business growth.  You just have to look at the people in your world in a different way, and look in places you may not have thought about before.

When it comes to getting clients there are always income opportunities right in front of you.  You can begin by asking, “Who needs my help?”  To get you started,here are two ways to quickly get in front of high-paying clients.

1. Identify Hidden Income Opportunities

Think of…

• current clients and what help they need – make them an offer to invest in a VIP Day as an up-sell to their current program (no need to wait until they are finished with their current program)
• past clients and think about what they still need help with – inquire if they are interested in a specific program you put together
• who is already in your world, even if they aren’t your ideal clients, and how you can help—make an offer (example: most women at Chambers of Commerce meetings are not my ideal clients.  Yet, I can create an offer that would serve many of them, such as ‘how to find a lucrative niche’)
• ‘freshen up’ an older program and offer it again, re-title it, update it
• have a sale (products, only, not your high-end services)
• speak with ‘influencers’ and request they put you in touch with potential clients
• who is already serving your ideal client and form a joint venture collaboration

Set an income goal, which includes a specific amount of money you want to make, price your program, and then figure out how many people you need to meet your goal.  Write out
your action plan and implement it!

2. Speaking (Live or Virtual)

One of the fastest ways to get high-paying clients is through speaking, either live or virtually, such as in a teleseminar (yours or someone else’s).

Potential clients ‘see you in action,’ and get a good sense of your energy and style.  If you deliver a compelling topic they’ll want more, and likely take the “next step”  with you.  Without fail, every time I speak I get ‘invested” new clients.

To be successful using this strategy you’ll need a ‘speaking system,’ which includes a:

• compelling signature talk
• system to get speaking gigs
• system for getting people on your teleseminars
• “next step,” such as a strategy session to get into conversations with potential clients
• follow-up system to get strategy sessions booked after your speaking gigs

Using these strategies, you’ll be able to find opportunities to quickly get in front of high-paying clients, and be on your way creating 5-figure months over and over again!

Would you like me to personally walk you through my system how to attract high-paying clients and create a 5-figure month at your whim?  A small exclusive group of women will be part of my 6-Figure Empowered Woman Leadership Platinum Master Mind.  We start in January, and the investment is very affordable.  Get all the details by contacting me and noting you want to learn about ‘Empowered Master Mind.’

Are you a woman entrepreneur investing a lot of time in your business, yet, feel you earn too little money for this effort? 

If so, you’re not alone.  To get your income to the break through 6 figures—where you’re consistently earning 5 figures of income per month— all you need to do is make a few simple changes.

1. Raise Your Fees

There are three ways you can make more money in your business:

1)      Serve more people

2)      Increase the number of buying transactions per person

3)      Raise your fees

The fastest way to increase your income is to raise your fees.

How much can you raise them?  I advise my clients to initially raise their fees 20% to 40% immediately.  How much you raise them depends on your current fees, as well as your own comfort level.

Here’s a great tip: if you raise your fees 20% right now, no one will probably notice, and you’ve just given yourself a 20% raise!

2. Package Your Services into High-Value “Platinum Style” Programs

There are still many women coaches and consultants selling their time ‘by the hour.’

Granted, some services are commonly sold this way.  However, from my experience, there is an opportunity to sell your services as a high value package 80% of the time.  This moves you away from charging by the hour, and increases your fees and income.

3. Design a New High Income Business Model

I promised you 5 ways to make 5 figures every month.

Here are 5 examples of business models you can use to earn 5 figures (or more), getting you to the 6 figure yearly income mark  (while making more money per hour and working less time)

1) Get 5 new VIP Day clients @ $2,000 each

2) Host a VIP Day Workshop and enroll 10 clients @ $1,000 each

2) Get 2 new 6-Month Private Platinum Clients @ $5,000 each

3) Get 1 new 12-Month Private Platinum Client @ $10,000 each

4) Get 2 90-Day Private Platinum Clients @ $2,500 and 1 6-Month Private Platinum Client @ $5,000 each

These are examples of business models that are perfect if you are just starting out offering high-end programs.  The fees are also extremely doable!  Very quickly, you will want to raise your fees from the guidelines I’ve given you.

As your business grows you can leverage your offers, help more people, and increase your income even higher.

Which is your favorite model?

Choose one and implement it today to begin earning 5 figures in your business each and every month!

To keep your “well full” of new clients, there are 3 easy steps you can take to create a lucrative, joyful business.  

Surprisingly, many women don’t do these 3 things, which keeps their businesses earning far too little income…and them working way too hard for too little money.

Here are 3 easy, ”must do” steps to keep clients flowing to you.

1. Market consistently

This seems like an obvious tip.  But, it is one of the most common problems I see as to why women entrepreneurs aren’t getting enough clients.

They speak once or twice a year (or not at all).  They send out an e-newsletter once every 3 to 4 months (or not at all).  The attend 1 networking function a month.

This is not consistent, nor enough marketing to build your business! 

To build your business you must market it every single day.

Choose 2 to 3 different marketing activities you will do consistently.  Do at least one of them on a daily basis.  To get the most impact, also attach a goal to the activity.  For example, if one of your chosen marketing activities is speaking, set a goal to book 2 speaking gigs on a particluar day.

If another goal is to publish an e-newsletter, then make a pact with yourself to publish it, at a minimum, bi-weekly.

2. Follow-up with people you meet

Networking, attending live events, and meeting people is a wonderful way to meet prospective new clients.  But, if they never hear from you again guess what happens?  You guessed it.  They never become clients.  Letting people “fall through the cracks” is another biggie mistake I see.

Keep track of every person you meet or speak with who is interested in your services.  Then, follow up with them on a timely basis after meeting them with a phone call, ‘nice meeting you’ card sent in the mail, or even email.

By keeping in touch, this comes across as caring, and is deeply appreciated.  Just because someone says, “not now,” doesn’t mean it’s a “not now” or “no” forever.  Continue to follow-up with them periodiocally.

3. Get people past FREE

I’m sure you’ve heard that once people invest with you one time, there’s a high likelihood they’ll invest again.  (like 80%!)

That’s why making a super high value, low cost, “no brainer” offer makes sense.  You want to get people investing with you so they can see first-hand how valuable your services and content are.

Get people over to the “land of the first purchase” as quickly as possible after meeting them or signing them on to your list.  You can do this by setting an autoresponder series of emails that begins a few days after someone new joins your list, or make an offer for a low cost teleseminar series.

With consistent marketing, follow-up, and intensely attractive, high value, low cost offers, you will experience steady income growth, and create a business you love!

Do you want to get up to 10 new clients in the next 30 days?  For a LIMITED time, I am offering my home study system, Breakthrough Secrets: How to Become Irresistible to Clients at an incredible 35% ONE-TIME savings that ENDS 11/22/11.  ($140 value).  Get this LOW-COST, HIGH- VALUE program here: http://bonitarichter.com/getnewclients-2/

Many women entrepreneurs have agonizing difficulty ‘asking for the money’ when having a sales conversation with a potential client.   By not asking for a money commitment to enroll in their program, it quickly costs them thousands of dollars in lost income.

Following are actions you can implement immediately to make ‘asking for the money” a graceful activity you will begin to enjoy in your business!

To start, it is vital to get in touch with specific situations you have difficulty asking for the money.  Then, you must become aware of the financial cost of “not getting a handle” on these situations.

Typical areas women have trouble talking about money are:

• Making an offer in a Discovery Session (they freeze when it comes time to state their fees)
• Taking payment immediately over the phone (they wait for a check that never arrives)
• Making an offer to a client currently enrolled with them to invest in additional services (fear of being “pushy” / greedy)
• Asking a client to get current with payments (boundaries issue)
• Making an offer when speaking or training (fear of thinking ‘what other people will think’)

To transform your mindset into one of empowerment when ‘asking for the money,’ look at the list above and choose one situation that repeatedly crops up for you.  You may think of another situation you struggle with, as well.  Write your chosen situation down on a piece of paper.

Now, with your chosen situation, identify what it is you are secretly fear will happen; I’ve listed common reasons below.  Write down the fears that resonate with you:

• Being rejected
• Being judged
• Not being liked
• Losing love / friendship
• Losing business
• Worried what people will think
• Not being approved of
• Other fears

To make a change, you need to get in touch with the cost of not correcting this problem and calculate the financial cost.

To calculate the financial costs do the following simple math:

A. How many clients a month do you typically lose by not ‘asking for the money’ to make a sale?

B. What is the dollar value of each client lost?

C. What is the monthly cost of this situation (Multiply A x B)?

D. What is the yearly cost of this situation (Multiply C x 12 months)

If you’re like many women, you are now picking your jaw up off the floor because this situation is hurting your income BIG time.  And for many, the amount represents more than their entire year’s worth of salary from their business!

For a simple solution to immediately change this situation ask yourself the following questions:

“What if being afraid of the situation noted above were no longer important to me?”  

“What actions would I take?”

These questions are an opportunity for a breakthrough, and begin shifting your mindset around why you must become comfortable, so you feel confidence, ease and grace ‘asking for the money.’

Keep in mind that you are offering a service that has tremendous value to your clients.  By not making an offer to help them, you are depriving them of your gifts, and helping them be more successful.

Do you want to learn strategies how to generate immediate income in your business?  Stay tuned!  I’m excited about a *BRAND NEW* program I’m creating that is ALL about accelerating your income generation.

Do you know why you’re marketing? The first thing many women entrepreneurs will quip when asked that question is, “To get clients.”

It may surprise you this is not the reason you’re marketing.

And, not knowing “why” you’re marketing puts you at a steep disadvantage to successfully getting clients.

Before you market and make a sale, you must have an authentic marketing MESSAGE that resonates with your ideal clients, so they line up and willingly say “yes” to your offers.

When this happens, making the sale is easy.

So, what’s your message? (and, I’m not talking about features, benefits, outcomes or results)

Going deeper, the message I’m talking about is what MOVEMENT do you stand for?

Definition: A movement is when group action is inspired by a passionately shared idea directed toward positive change. A movement is inspiring, and brings out your audience’s passion, as well as your own, to change the world.

Marketing flows with ease when we emotionally engage our desired audience in what we stand for— why we do what we do— and, how we can help them when they “come along with us.”

Taking a stand on an issue makes you stand out from the pack. Being outspoken and having an opinion will get you noticed. Appearing “plain vanilla” is, well… boring. By taking a stand for something; something you’d ‘go to the mat for’ makes you interesting, and gives your marketing message juice.

Your goal is to share your movement frequently, and effectively, that selling flows easily from your marketing. Here is my movement statement:

“I am a stand for empowering women to assert their natural gifts to the world, to be independent, and to make choices to live their lives on their OWN terms, by creating a wildly successful, passionate businesses that makes millionaresses of each of them!”

I feel strongly about this because I value independence, and I want women to be successful running their own business. So many women aren’t successful. They barely get by, barely make a living, or they give up.

I just want to yell and scream, “Get the help you need! Let me help you! You can do it if you take a stand for yourself! Be in charge of your own life.  You don’t have to be dependent on anyone else!”

Is this a strong statement? You bet!

The bottom line is marketing (and sales) strategies and tactics can work if you’re solid in knowing your movement, and you express this message authentically and consistently to your market.

To reveal your unique point of view to start your movement ask yourself the following 4 questions:

1. What do I feel strongly about?
2. “What would I “go to the mat for?”
3. What changes do I want to see?
4. What is my movement?”

To create a highly profitable and successful business that can make you thousands and even millions of dollars, start a movement, and make this the centerpiece of your marketing communications message!

For those of you who are ready to stop struggling to get clients, want to SIGNIFICANTLY raise your fees, make more money in your business, while marketing LESS, call (847) 989-0513 to inquire about coaching with me in a 6-month Private Platinum coaching program.  ONLY 2 OPENINGS AVAILABLE.  If interested, call now to inquire to SAVE $$$ until DECEMBER 31, 2011.  (my fees are INCREASING January 1, 2012)

To create major transformation in your business, new patterns, habits, and behaviors must be put into play.

You have to consciously make new choices at every moment and with every action you take so that you are moved continuously closer to your goals and dreams.

It is important to recognize ways of acting that hold you back, otherwise you may never get to the heart of the problem why you can’t move your business forward. Once you identify self-limiting patterns, then you can consciously “catch yourself in the act” and make the necessary shifts in behavior.

Here’s a list of common ways women “take themselves out the game” and keeps them playing small in their business:

Overwhelm. Caused by trying to do too much yourself, not getting help, confusion about how to do things, over-scheduling.

Remedy: Take a step back and look at it from an “outside” view. What would you advise someone to do in this position? Decide what needs to be done, make a list, get help with things you don’t know how to do, get into action!

Comparing yourself to others. Looking at what everyone else is doing, and inevitably “falling short.”

Remedy: Stop comparing yourself to others because you and your business are unique. Put you, your desires, goals, expertise, and who you want to serve front and center in your business. Build your business model, marketing and income plan around YOU; not someone else’s idea of their business.

Indecision. Waffling back and forth about a decision you must make, which wastes a tremendous amount of energy and time. Common “waffle” decisions revolve around “who’s your niche,” what programs to offer, pricing issues, what to write in your e-newsletter, and so on.

Remedy: Make a decision and move forward. Don’t be afraid of failure, because it probably won’t happen to the extent you visualize it in your mind.  Things may not go as planned.  And, you can always course-correct and change your plan.

Not implementing. Usually caused by fear of failure, doubt, indecision, doing a lot of research about what others are doing, collecting data and information. All this causes your income to stay stuck.

Remedy. Make a decision. Put a time limit on the amount of time you spend on research. Remember, what you put together doesn’t have to be “perfect” or everything you know about a particular subject. Things WILL turn out okay.

Making excuses. Saying things like, “I’m not ready yet,” or blaming someone else or your coach for lack of results, being a victim, giving up your power.

Remedy: Take responsibility for results. Doing so restores power relinquished to others.

“Hiding out.” Not speaking up, not marketing enough, not being seen, hiding out behind computer, being the “best kept secret,” marketing churning (revising/refining materials, website, brand over and over and over again).

Remedy: Stop seeking perfection in marketing materials. Resolve to get out and meet prospective clients, network. Let your voice be heard in your e-newsletter, in meetings, on phone calls, group forums, etc.

Not asking for support. Not having a coach or community of people to support you in your growth, not being open to receiving help from others.

Remedy: Have people who support you in your realm. This could be a coach, a spouse, a coaching community, friends, family. People who believe in you and your potential, and will support you in your journey, provide you guidance. Anything great that’s been accomplished has never been done alone.

Over-scheduling. Being a “yes” person, over-committing yourself, never having “enough time.”

Remedy: Time block your calendar and don’t feel guilty about it. Time batch similar tasks together. Plan for creative and you time in your schedule. Say, “No” to requests that you don’t want to do or that won’t support you reaching your goals. Don’t let other peoples’ priorities and emergencies drive your daily schedule.

Perfectionism.  Working  and working it until whatever you’re doing is “just right.”  The result is you don’t get things accomplished quickly, delays occur, and your income suffers.   

Remedy: Striving for perfection is an unachievable task.  I’m not saying put low-quality work out, as this will hurt your brand image.  What you can do is strive for implementation—not perfection.  And when things aren’t perfect, try not to sweat it.  (I suffer from this one BIG time.  So, I know how hard it is.  Do your best, and keep moving.  Don’t “sweat the small stuff.”)

After reading this list you may come up with some of your own ideas how you self- sabotage your own efforts achieving success in your business.

My coach’s request of you this week is to take a look at this list and write down the ways that you are taking yourself “out of the game.” Which of the above topics resonate with you most?

Then, to make a positive shift and overcome these limiting behaviors ask yourself the following question—

“If I were to make a different choice in this moment, what would it be?”

By identifying your limiting behaviors and making better choices, you will overcome the very actions that are holding your business back on a daily basis. Once you do, your business will immediately begin to transform and beautiful things will begin to unfold for you!

When I mentor my clients on how to quickly raise their fees 20-50%, one of the very first things we work on is mindset.

A woman’s emotional mindset influences whether she will be able to successfully ASK for higher fees, or if she’ll cave into self-sabotaging limiting beliefs, such as “No one will pay that much,” “I don’t know enough,” “I’ll have to work harder and won’t have a life.”

To ask for higher fees, and GET them, you have to have a to-the-core-of-you belief that YOU are worth it. If you don’t feel this way, you’re prospective clients are going to “tune in” to the shaky vibes you’re emitting.

So, what can you do to embrace a state of mind that you are worth every penny you charge? Here are 3 ways to start:

1. Identify Self-Sabotaging Fears and Beliefs

Bring light to the negative internal dialogue you have with yourself to take the first step toward changing self-sabotaging fears and beliefs. By doing so you’ll identify what is holding you back from achieving your vision and goals.

For the next 1 to 3 days, carry a journal with you and write down any negative thoughts or beliefs about yourself that you say or think about yourself. This is the internal negative self-talk you want to banish. Pick ONE message you frequently have running through your mind and decide to shift it, right now. You’re going to feel so much lighter energetically, and empowered right away!

2. Up-level Your Internal Self-Talk

Now that you’ve chosen a limiting belief or fear to address, you want to collect “proof” that what you keep telling yourself is simply not true. What I want you to do is take that negative thought, and change it into a positive, the complete opposite of the negative thought.

For example, for the limiting belief, “I’m not ready yet,” change it to “I am completely ready right now.” To support this belief, think of legs of a table that can “hold” this belief up. Each of the legs is evidence or proof-positive that the empowering belief is true! Evidence of this belief can be 1) specific training you’ve received, 2) work experiences, 3) degrees/awards, and 4) noting all you’ve done up to this point to prepare.

Support your positive belief, and walk into any fear you feel. I assure you, what you want is on the other side of your fear.

3. Clean Up Your “Money Stuff”

Because you’re working toward up-leveling your fees and attracting higher-paying clients, it’s time to get how you handle money in order, because more of it is going to be flowing to you.

Cleaning up your “money stuff” can be overwhelming, so here’s a simple place to start…

Begin to track EVERY bit of income that comes to you, every day, to the penny. Everything counts, including your partner’s money, interest income, reimbursement checks, stock dividends, and of course all the money you bring in! The reason it all counts is because every bit of it influences your lifestyle, and adds to your net worth.

These three steps are a powerful first step to transform your sense of your own value, and prepare you to allow the flow of greater income into your life. When you value yourself FIRST, others will follow, and you’ll attract higher-paying clients!