#3      Write...then write some more!

For some, writing comes naturally, for other's it's more of a challenge. When it comes to writing for your business, the most important thing is to simply get your thoughts on paper and to realize that you don't have to be a great writer to reap the enormous benefits that result from doing so. As an entrepreneur writing is critical to your business' success. Writing plants the seeds for new products or services, marketing, defining your niche, refining your offer and discovering your real value in the market. Writing is an important component to building a great business.

Writing releases energy and promotes creativity. It reveals hidden knowledge and talents, gets to the root of what inspires you, allows your real identity to emerge, and unearths sabotaging behavior. By writing regularly, without self-censorship, your greatest desires and goals will emerge. Writing presents answers, reveals truths, and uncovers passions.
 
Writing frees up valuable brain space to allow new ideas to germinate. It is the perfect remedy for "mental constipation", that overwhelming feeling that you can't fit one more thing into your brain and that nothing of substance is coming out. Getting everything out of your head and onto paper allows for creativity, ideation and problem solving--all critical to running your business.

Whether you write for an hour, several minutes or take a moment to simply jot down a phrase or word, the point is--write. The paper or computer serves as a safe repository to bank your thoughts, your "ah ha!" moments, your bursts of inspiration, your amazing ideas. You will tap into this repository often, so fill it regularly with your writing. Carry a little journal or spiral notebook with you everywhere. Don't worry about finding your "voice". As you write, it will emerge naturally. Don't worry about  organizing your thoughts. They won't be truly clear until you get them on paper. Through writing, your thoughts become actionable and marketable. Until then, they are simply thoughts.
 
When you write, consider letting go of any perceived limitations (money, time, resources, knowledge). Write abut possibilities. Think about "what if." Think about what "could be." Think about how something could make you feel. If you are up against a hurdle, write about it, then make up the solution. This trains your mind to start focusing on solutions instead of hurdles, on moving out of "stuck," into action, and on to success.

As you write, include everyday business, client, vendor, or partner experiences. Write about patterns you see in your customers' needs or your industry. Write about why you know you're better than the competition. Write about everything you know in your business. You will discover just how much knowledge you truly have. The brilliant gems of knowledge that you take for granted may become future products or services or can be turned into marketing products such as articles, e-books, newsletters, e-cards, workshops, seminars, e-courses, teleseminars, speeches, client presentations, white papers, videos, industry tips, and more. Clients will pay for your knowledge.  Write about it. Own it. Leverage it.

Take five minutes now and write about something you do really well.

"You never know what you will learn till you start writing. Then you discover truths you never knew existed."
~Anita Brookner

#2      Let Go!

As a woman business owner you are amazing! You have the power to do ten things at a time and are often very proud of that, but as the head of your business, being a superwoman, doing it all yourself, can be counterproductive and is not the wisest use of your time. As the CEO, president, owner of your business, your primary role is to:

• Strategize the growth of your business
• Build your brand and be the "face" of your business
• Create or develop new products and/or services
• Get funding or investments

What can you let go of to grow your business?

Your time, your energy, and your money are your greatest resources. How do you know if your using them wisely? What can you let go of, outsource, or eliminate altogether so that these resources are optimized?

The first step towards letting go is to track where your time and energy are being spent.  Track your activities for a day or two, or a week to get a realistic look at where you're spending your time. Be sure to write it down. Then, for each activity, ask yourself the following question:

1. Is what I am doing right now going to positively impact my business' bottom line, or give me or my business greater credibility and visibility?
2. Can someone else do what I'm doing better, faster, or more efficiently than me?  
3. Am I spending time on this task because I'm procrastinating on doing something else?
4. Where could I better spend my energy if I let go and gave this task to someone else?
5. Am I hanging onto a process, product, service or employee that is no longer benefiting my company?
6. What benefits or payoffs from not letting go of this am I getting?

A great way to put this into perspective is to look at CEOs of larger businesses. They aren't in that role because they can perform every function in their company. They are in that role to lead the company to greater success through developing strategy, being the face of the business, creating strategic partnerships, and ensuring the company develops products and services that will impact the bottom line and ensure growth.
 

Some reasons we don't let go:

• Perfectionism. It's important to remember that nothing is ever perfect. Perfection is subjective.  Your idea of perfect may not be your customers, so don't lose an opportunity or time pursuing it.
• Procrastination. Can be the result of fear of the unknown, fear of success, not knowing how to do something, feeling overwhelmed, not knowing where to start.
• Enjoying the task. You are very good at or enjoy the task, but your time can be better spent elsewhere.  
• Not trusting others with the task.There comes a time when you need to allow others to do the work so you can focus on other critical tasks.
• Needing to have all the answers first before launching.  We are reluctant to let go and launch a product, program or business until we feel we've resolved any potential issues first.

Don't be so invested in your business that you won't "let go" of that which is not working. It will only cost you in the end.

Building and running a business is an evolutionary process. Be prepared to let go of, or modify, an offer, process or product that isn't working or is no longer a core product of your business. Particularly in the early stages of your business (the first three years), it's important to pay close attention to what is working--or not, what's making money--or not, what's resonating with clients--or not. Let go of that which "is not."
 

Holding on too tightly, needing to "do it all" limits your success--in business and in life.

I'm a believer in the power of "putting it out there" to the universe and allowing the world--and others--to "conspire to help me." Letting go of needing to know it all, do it all, have it all frees up spiritual, emotional and mental space that allows the new to come in. New ideas, resources, business, friends, partners, and opportunities.
 
Kelley Black of Balancing the Executive Life puts it this way, "Open your heart and live in alignment with the Universal energy of service and abundance. By doing so, you will enable the grace and flow of the Universe to guide you to achieve much more for your business and life than you could have ever imagined."
 

What are you going to let go of today?

#1      ASK: It isn't personal, it's business!

As a woman entrepreneur or small business owner you know the anxiety and overwhelm that accompanies starting or growing your business.  Over the next two weeks, I'll share with you  how you can take your business to the next level by simply shifting the way you think about and run your business.

These are easy-to-adopt changes that don't require spending tons of money. Rather, they focus on simple actions that can eliminate unnecessary pain and free up valuable resources like your time, energy or money.
 
Asking for what you need in order to grow your business is one of the best ways to fast track to success. For many of us, however, this is often the very thing that we avoid doing, even though it is critical to your business development-and your sanity. As the owner, CEO, and chief strategist of your business, it is your job to request the necessary help that can propel your business to the next level. Asking is one of the most valuable and necessary acts you can practice. In fact, it is so critical to the success of any business that it is a cornerstone of the llumin Accelerator Workshop.

Asking for help can come in many forms. It can be asking your spouse, partner, or kids to pitch in on housework so your time is freed up to make important phone calls, do some writing, or attend a networking event. It can be asking colleagues friends, mentors, advisors or family members to mention an upcoming workshop, new product, or speaking engagement to those in their circles. It can be asking industry associates for advice on a best practice or a vendor recommendation. It can be asking clients through questionnaires about what they most like about your product or service to gain testimonials or refine your offering or marketing. People want to help. Allow them to give you that gift.

Women are particularly reluctant to ask for help or advice. We don't want to impose, appear weak, inexperienced, or ignorant. Yet, most people are more than happy to accommodate such requests.

Asking for advice or help is one of the sincerest forms of flattery and indicates that the person being asked is valued for his or her experience or expertise.