Have you ever stopped to realize that you created your life to be exactly the way it is today?  Consciously or subconsciously, the choices, decisions, beliefs, and actions you took (or didn’t take) resulted in what you have in your life at this very moment. 

“But,” you may be saying, “my life isn’t exactly as I would like it to be.”

Where you are and what you have in your life today is no accident.  Your life is the result of all of the decisions you have ever made (or chose not to make) every moment, every day of your life. 

This is powerful news!  Because, it’s a tremendous testimonial as to the amazingly creative person that you already are!  This means that you have the power to create the life you really want for yourself.

The Power of a Decision:  The first step to actually achieving your goals is to make the decision to do so!  Making the decision to have what you really want must be a real and conscious choice, not simply a wish. 

“To get new results you must take new actions and all actions are fathered by a decision.”  Tony Robins

  Making a Decision:  Your decision must be powerful enough to make the difference you want to see in your life.  This is where many people get stuck, because making a decision to have or create different things in your life most likely means that you are going to have to leave the safety of your current comfort zone.  (I will be writing a lot more about the comfort zone in upcoming articles because this is a biggie, yet it doesn’t have to be as difficult or frightening as it may seem!) 

Here are 5 Keys to help you make powerful decisions that can change your life and help you have exactly what you DO want:

1. Ask yourself what you really and truly want.  This means that you must expand your thinking beyond what you currently think you can have.
2. Decide and commit to making it happen.  Ask yourself, “What decision can I make right now that will support my commitment to having what I want?”
3. Make a clear and concise choice to have what you want and deserve.  You must be clear about what you want and how you are going to get it. 
4. Picture where you will be and what it will look like when you have reached your goals.  Really let yourself imagine and feel what it feels like to be in the experience of what you want for yourself.
5. Take responsibility for your dreams.  It’s easy to point fingers or blame something or someone else for what shows up in our lives.  Don’t give your creative power away by imagining yourself in a victim role when it comes to making choices and decisions that impact your life and your dreams.

  Once you determine your direction, you must be committed to taking the actions that match that decision in order to get it.  When you decide and commit, your subconscious mind will work to help you get exactly what you say you want.  That’s where the phrase, “Be careful what you ask for!” comes from.  The subconscious mind is more powerful than most of us had ever been were aware of in the past.  More and more science and research is showing us the amazing power of our subconscious mind.  (I also plan to write more about that in future articles because this is powerful and fascinating!)

  You have created many miracles in your life, even those you don’t necessarily like.  Setting clear goals and taking responsibility for making conscious choices and decisions that are aligned with those goals is the most powerful thing you can do for yourself and those who you influence.

Make the decision to start now.

“Every choice and decision leads us closer to, or farther way from, what we want.” 

Spinning Gold

The Biggest Thing Most Entrepreneurs Do to Sabotage Success

  If you’ve been in business for a while, you realize that there are ups and downs, and peaks and valley.  When things are going well, you are doing the work you love, you’re working with your ideal clients who appreciate you and your work, you’re making money, and everything feels like it flows.  But when things aren’t going so well, you feel like everything’s a struggle and often you aren’t sure what to do to get back into that flow!

  What many entrepreneurs do is dig their heels in, put their nose to the grindstone, and worker longer and harder.  Unfortunately, that’s exactly what keeps them stuck!

  It’s important to remember that it’s not about working harder.  The most important thing you can do is step back and refocus so your energy is aligned with the results you want.

Here are 3 Keys to Jumpstart the Flow of Success in Your Business:

Key 1:  Be clear about what you want.  One of the biggest reasons most people don’t get what they want is because they don’t know what they want!  

  You must have a crystal clear vision of what you want.  I know you’ve heard this before, and you’ve undoubtedly done this exercise at least once, but I’m going to encourage you to do to it again; write out the story of your perfect life, exactly as you want it to be, and re-read it daily. 

  Make this a priority; schedule time in your calendar, just like you’d schedule any other important meeting.  Give it your full, undivided attention.  Put on relaxing music (I find that music without lyrics works best to allow creative thought to flow.).  Write out every single detail of what you want your life and your business to look like.   What will bring you the most joy and the least stress?  Include colors, smells, ideas and feelings.  In fact, put as much emotion into your story as possible! 

  After you have your story written out, just the way you want it, take time every day to re-read your story.  Be sure you actually feel yourself in the story as if it is already just that way!  You might even find that you want to add some additional visions or details in, and I encourage you to do that!  Make it as detailed as possible.  You will be activating the creative part of your subconscious mind to begin creating this life for you.

Key 2:  Be clear about your “receiver” and what “frequency” they are set at.  In other words, you are in business to provide a service; you are the “generator.”  Your target market is the people who need or want your service; they are the “receiver.” 

  If business has slowed, one of the things you need to ask yourself is, “Am I delivering exactly what my ideal clients want, and is my marketing message clearly reaching them?”  In other words, “Am I still tuned in to them?”  Just like a radio frequency, you as the generator must be precisely tuned to what your receiver wants and be sure you are generating a high-quality message, or they won’t receive it!  By taking the time to be crystal clear, you can reach your target audience and easily attract them with far less effort.

Key 3:  Take “right” action.

We’ve all experienced it, when our business isn’t working the way we want it to, we begin to feel frustration.  The worst thing about frustration is often entrepreneurs start doing anything and everything they know to just try to get business moving again.  This is not the time to work harder, it’s the time to step back, clear the clutter and stop doing what’s not working!  Just working harder, longer hours is nothing but an energy drain if what you are doing isn’t directly related to getting the exact results you want (see Keys #1 and #2.). 

  This is like the definition of insanity; continually doing the same thing and expecting different results.  This is a very common way that entrepreneurs fail to move their business quickly and easily forward.

  Imagine that you are stranded in the middle of nowhere.  You call someone, on your cell phone, for help.  The person who answers is not the person you expected; in fact they don’t even speak the same language as you!  You hang up the phone, and dial the same number again – and again you get the same person. 

  This happens several times, you are becoming more and more frustrated.  You’ve read that you can get what you want if you think positive thoughts, so you think positive thoughts and you even visualize (Key #1) that the exact person you want will answer your call.  You repeat your affirmations, and you dial the same number.  You get the same person.

  Now your cell phone battery is almost dead and you can only make one more call.  Do you repeat your affirmations harder and louder this time?  Or do you stop, reconsider what’s not working, and try a new strategy?

  This sounds absurd, but it’s exactly what many people do with their lives and business.  They continue taking the same actions, getting more and more frustrated and exhausted, and they can’t figure out why they’re not getting ahead.

The fact is, when you have these 3 keys working together;

1. have a crystal clear vision of what you want;
2. know what your ideal clients want so you can generate a clear service and message that reaches them; and
3. eliminate what’s not working and start doing only those things that will bring you the results you desire

 you will quickly and easily get the results you really want for yourself and your business!

    If you are feeling stuck, frustrated and want to jumpstart your business success, call me for a fr^ee 30 minute Business Breakthrough Consultation.  In less than 30 minutes, I will show you exactly what is keeping you stuck, and what you most need to do right now to quickly move forward.  I do only 2 fr^ee Business Breakthrough Consultations each week, so call now to schedule yours and do what it takes to get the results you know you want and deserve! To contact me, call: 1-630-515-1722

Spinning Gold

Our world is evolving, and so are we.  Isn’t it time to evolve the way you’ve been working?  You can have more freedom, less stress, do what you love doing, AND make much more money doing it! 

Here are 7 essentials you need to be magnetically attractive to your ideal clients. 

 1)      Start with being crystal clear on your natural gifts, strengths, purpose and passions. 

A  nyone can make money doing just about any job if they choose to.  Those who have the most joy in their work, and make the most money are those who have discovered their purpose.  They capture the pure potential that exists when they hone in, and capitalize on their natural-born gifts.  Get clear on who you came here to be and align your business and your marketing efforts with that to become magnetically attractive.

2)      Be absolutely clear about who you are meant to serve and exactly what your ideal clients want from you.

  We’ve all heard that we must pick a niche, but many resist the idea, saying they don’t want to be “boxed in.”  If you truly want to super-charge your business, you must have a clear niche!  Then you will be able to work only with people who energize and appreciate you.  Have a clear definition of who your ideal clients are and what they want so you can move forward with the focused intention of helping them. 

3)      Know what sets you apart from the competition, and clearly communicate to your prospective clients how you *uniquely* help them .

  Even when you are in a room full of people who are in the same field, or offer the same type of services, it’s imperative that you are clear about what makes you different.  Be crystal clear about what you do in a way that no one else does it, and the results you get that no one else gets, and you can easily set yourself apart from the competition.

4)      Have a business model that easily allows you to make 6-figures, even multiple 6-figures, with fun, unique, and energizing multiple streams of income.

  Like so many others, you are probably exhausted by working the dollars-for-hours model.  And, worse yet, you realize that you can only make so much money because there are only so many hours in a day!  With a new way of looking at your business you can have the time and energy to help more people and make the money you want to make!  It’s far easier than you may think!

5)      Have a proven process or system that you love, believe in, and know gives your clients the results they want and expect from you.

  Your “signature system” is your proven process that gets the results your clients want and expect from you.  People are more likely to be attracted to someone who has a system that has repeatedly gotten the results they want.

6)      Have an attractive, healthy sense confidence, grace and ease about yourself and your business. 

  You want everything to feel like it just flows.  You want to be doing what you are meant to do.  When your business is a natural extension of your gifts, purpose and passions, your prospective clients will easily be attracted to you and you will be serving with the people you are meant to help.

7)      Find, and clear away, the hidden blocks, limiting beliefs, and sabotaging habits that hold you back.

  We all have blind spots!  They stand in the way of reaching our true potential.  What secretly slows you down, holds you back, or stops you from doing, being and having what you desire?  Clear these hidden sabotagers away and be freed up to move toward the purpose and potential you know is there for you!

  You too can easily move beyond the “dollars-for-hours” model.  Create exciting and easy to implement multiple streams of income.  You’ll love your business – and your life!  You’ll wish you had made this move in your business, and for your life, long ago!

  If you don’t already have the clarity, freedom, grace and ease in your business, and you aren’t already making the money you want, don’t wait any longer!  Learn what so many others have learned about the evolution of operating your soul-inspired business.  Learn now to take your business from working hard, dollars-for-hours, to aligning your business with your purpose and passions.  Create a better business model that allows you to serve more people.  I am offering you the opportunity for a complimentary 30 Minute Business Evaluation Session so you can get started right now!

  Click here to request your complimentary Business Evaluation Session.  I do 3 complimentary sessions each month.  Request yours now!  You’ll want your complimentary Business Evaluation Session before the end of the year so you can have a fresh perspective and powerfully move forward with the possibilities, opportunities and potential that are there for you!  Start 2011 off with a whole new way of doing business and living and loving your life!

~Laurie Polnski, Spinning Gold

1. Refine and Narrow Your Niche

   Narrowing down your ideal clients and understanding what their specific needs and challenges are will allow you to consistently put out a focused and clear message.  If your attempt is to market to too wide of an audience, your message gets lost because it is vague and without focus and direction.  You want your ideal client to say “Yes that is me, I need that!” when they see or hear your message.

  Every successful business knows the answer to these questions:  Who are my customers?  How will they know I am here?  Why do they want to buy from me?  How can I reach more people like them?  Clearly and concisely answer these questions, and you have the first key ingredient for success.  

  The answer to these questions should influence every the design of each of your products and services.  The answer to these questions will influence your pricing, where you put your message out (distribution) and will be the catalyst to crafting the right communication that speaks directly to your perfect niche.

- “She who chases two rabbits catches none.” – Chinese proverb

2.  Construct a Clear Message

 Networking events are a great place to build relationships and attract new clients.  Do not make the mistake of investing your time and money without having a clear and powerful message to share.

Have you ever been to a networking event where someone asks you what you do, and you feel a slight sense of panic arise within you?  Suddenly you find yourself rambling on trying to explain what it is that you do and you realize that the other person’s eyes have glazed over and in your mind, you know they are now probably more confused than anything?

Here’s a tip to crafting your message; go back to Number 1 above.  Your message starts with your “niche.”  Chances are, if people are not fully getting your message, your ideal clients aren’t hearing you either.

3.  Get Out of Your Own Head

   Most entrepreneurs work on their own.  When you are trying to do everything and be everything for your business, frustration and overwhelm tend to build up.  Do you love your business, but sometimes feel the heartache every business owner feels from time to time?  Have you felt that sense of doubt and fear move through you?  

  When this happens, is it your tendency to just work harder?  That’s okay, it’s what most people do, work harder, put in longer hours which builds up more stress.  The problem is, that if that’s all you do is work harder doing the very same things, you probably won’t get any better results.  When you feel like you are always busy, but your business has hit a frustrating plateau – or worse, if your sales are sliding downhill, you don’t need to work harder, you need to work right!

  I know that you know that your best, most creative thinking do not come from being tired and frustrated.  It’s important to get out of your own head and learn the right steps to rev up your business and jumpstart your marketing program.

  When this frustration and exhaustion begin to overwhelm you, it can be disheartening.  But it doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with you, or that you can’t do this!  The truth is that you CAN do it, and you can do it really well when you know the right steps to take.  Taking the right steps will add the fuel to your business and quickly get you back on track attracting plenty of your ideal clients.

To your joyful and inspired success~

Namaste,

~Laurie

Spinning Gold Marketing

The Importance of Being Unique In Business

In last week’s article “What is the Marketing Hook in your Business?” I talked about the importance of having that attention-grabbing message in your website or sales copy that makes someone stop in their tracks and notice you.

Did you implement that concept in your business?  If so, then congratulations!  You a are obviously a person who takes action.

So what’s next?  You’ve got their attention, now what?

Once you have attracted the attention of your ideal client, you need to keep their interest.  What you don’t want them to say is “Oh, another coach or another web designer, nutrition expert, another……” 

What you do want them to say is, “This person is interesting, different from the others.  I’ll take a closer look!”

Let’s face it, you can look at most crowded fields of expertise and the basics for each business are the same.  So, what makes you and your business different?  In other words, what is unique about you and/or the process of your business that others don’t have?  This may be some past experience, some certifications, some prominent associations you may have that others cannot claim for themselves.

How Do I Find the Unique Business Angle?

There are several ways of doing this and I will cover two of them here:

1)  Ask Your Clients and Customers

An easy way of doing this is by doing a survey.  You must be specific with your questions.  Remember, you want to elicit responses that set you apart, what do they perceive about you that is unique and special?

2)  Ask them directly after you have worked with them or served them.

Laurie Polinski

Spinning Gold Marketing




   >

  Let’s face it, without marketing, your business has little chance of succeeding. You may start getting clients to work with, but eventually, you will find yourself struggling to find clients who want to buy what you have, and burn yourself out.

  Actually, many entrepreneurs dip a toe in the water with their marketing by giving their business a name, coming up with a catchy tagline and getting an icon or clip art to put on their business card and website. Yes, done right, this is a piece of your marketing. So, what else is there, and how can you make marketing the piece that ensures your business success?

  Recently, I was at a local networking event and one of the people in the group was allowed 5 minutes to get up and speak about her business. As she was speaking, I realized that I was having a hard time understanding what it was that she wanted to get across, and why I might want what she had to offer. And, I was not at all compelled to want to find out more about her or her product. That’s not to say that there was anything wrong with her or what she said…… in fact it was more in what she didn’t say.

  I learned her name and her business name right away. That’s always a good thing ~ however, believe it or not, neither really told me what she does.

So, here’s tip #1: Having a business name or tagline that tells people what you want them to know and remember about you.

  This is the beginning of getting your branding across. Putting all of your pieces together in a concise, clearly understood message so people remember what you want them to remember about you. Yes, you want them to like, trust and respect you, but more than that, you want them to know and remember what you can do for them.

  If your name, business name or tag line doesn’t clearly tell people who you are, what you do, how you uniquely help, and why they should choose you to spend their time and money with, then this needs your attention now! Typically, we have only 30 seconds to capture someone’s attention. In those 30 seconds we want to be sure they walk away with what we want them to remember about us. Basically, what’s in it for them?

Here’s what you need to know to craft an effective tagline.

  An effective tagline helps you clarify what makes you or your service special and enables you to sum up your “competitive advantage” in just a few words.

  Next, this speaker handed out her brochure which was professionally printed, on nice cardstock. That’s always a good thing ~ however, believe it or not, the picture on the cover was of a forest of fern plants. Is she a gardener? A botanist? A landscaper designer? No, she is a financial investment manager. I guess money is green and so are ferns and that’s where that connection comes in???

So, here’s tip #2: Your Brand Isn’t Just a Logo, or the Colors You Use, or Your Business Name

  …… it is all of these things, and more, together. Everything must consistently give the one singular message you want people to remember about you. Money management / ferns; I still don’t get the connection.

  A company’s logo, colors and the images it uses all serve to support and reinforce the brand identity. The more you reinforce the features of your brand identity, the more familiar people will become with it and the more likely they will be to do business with you repeatedly.

To strengthen your brand identity, be sure it is:

  Your brand identity can be extremely valuable if done and used effectively. Do everything in your power to build a strong, well-regarded brand image and just about every aspect of building your business – especially the marketing piece – will be much easier.

  Then, this speaker went on to tell the facts about her company and what she does. Actually at that point, I was disinterested because I already know someone who does what she does. In fact, there were 3 others in the room who do the same thing; one of them sitting right next to me! So, what would compel me to learn more about how she can help me, or to recommend her to someone else who may need her services? What does she do brilliantly well that the others don’t? What makes her unique? What differentiates her from the rest? Perhaps it is that she grows ferns in her yard? I don’t know, she never said that, but it’s a guess on my part based on her brochure.

So, here’s tip #3: Your Brand Identity is, or Should be, Unique to You.

  That’s why people choose you to work with over someone else in the same field. You must unearth your own brilliance and unique qualities so that you can make them part of your brand identity.

To create a strong brand identity, you must be clear on:

Make a list of the values you want your company to reflect and be associated with.

Develop the core message for your company:

  Your core message, including your set of values, is what defines your brand. It’s what you want customers to remember about you. When you have a strong, clear message, you’re much better able to develop a strong connection with your customer base.

  These are three key drivers which help to create a strong, memorable image and message for your business. You need to keep your core message in mind when you’re developing your advertising, website, packaging and marketing materials (such as brochures, business card, catalog, etc). It must permeate every aspect of what you do and be the foundation of all your marketing activities.

  The message that clients or potential clients get from you about your business is the key to success. It’s imperative that you create the core message you want to send for your business or service. Without articulating your core message and consistent brand identity, it’s impossible to develop an effective, meaningful marketing program.

  Remember, if you don’t create the message that you want people to “get” and remember about you, they will create their own.

Laurie Polinski
Spinning Gold Marketing

If your business feels more like the wallflower right now, and you’d like to have more of what the rock star has, ask yourself these 3 three key questions:

1) Have I articulated and written down my brand promise?

2) What do I want my clients to remember about me and/or my business?

Your core message should be based on:

It’s important that you understand and clearly articulate the core message you want to send for your business. You need to keep your core message in mind when developing all of your advertising materials such as your website, brochures, business card, etc. Your core message is what you want your clients to remember about you. This is how you create a deeply meaningful connection with your clients and prospective clients.

3) Does my company name and/or tagline explain the nature of my business or what I do?

My tagline tells 3 things:
  1) Who I work with – “Entrepreneurs”
 2) What I do – “Business Growth Coach”
  3) What I promise – “Focused, Fast Results.”

Laurie Polinski
Spinning Gold Marketing

What Is Your Business Brand?

  Your brand is the message that you create around your business from the inside out. Its primary function is to let your audience know who you are, what you do how you help people and what they can expect from you. An authentic branding message will also express how you’re different from others in the field of your expertise; it’s developing your positioning and staying true and in perfect alignment with the core of who you are and what you promise to deliver.

What Will An Authentic Business Brand Do For You?

  In addition to letting people know about your business with a single glance, a brand message is one of the most important tools that a business has in marketing itself and letting people know that the business exists to serve their needs. Most entrepreneurs are passionate about helping others by doing what they do best, but if people don’t know that you’re out there, or don’t quite understand how you can help them, then you won’t be doing much of what you love or making the money that you need to make in your business.

  To be successful, a business must have a magnetic, positive and authentic branding message that connects with their audience on a deep and emotional level. And, remember, your brand is who you are and what you stand for, so not only will the right brand message attract more of the right clients, but it will also strongly symbolize your vision and allow you to be more confident when asked, “what is your business, and what do you do?” And it will provide the guiding light to where your business can go. 

Laurie Polinski
Spinning Gold Marketing

1)  Give some serious thought to what differentiates you from the competition.  We’ve all heard that we need our “elevator speech”–the 30-second infomercial that quickly tells people who you are and what you do.  Your elevator speech should answer the question:  “Why should I work with you instead of any of the others?”

-         How do you get clear on what you can offer?

-         Do you offer a product or service that others don’t?

-         Do you have special training or certification that others don’t have?

-         Do you understand what you are truly expert at that sets you apart?

-         What core values do you have, or does your business reflect?

  Once you know the answers to these questions, you will have the basis for your elevator speech. Stick with it—that is your story.  That story is the one that will stick in customers’ minds and, if it sounds authentic, they will repeat your story to others.

2)  Start a word-of-mouth campaign.

    Word-of-mouth is free and can be your most effective form of advertising as long as your message is authentic to who you are, what you offer and how you help people.

3)  Do you have a membership or club that offers discounts or other incentives to your loyal, repeat clients?

This gives clients incentive to continue coming back to you instead of trying a competitor.

  Remember, though, almost no discount or incentive will be enough if your client is not satisfied with your service.  Again, this is where your message must match what you deliver.

4)  Give your clients incentives or discounts for referrals.

  Create some kind of reward for your clients who share your message with others.  For example, you might have special cards printed for your clients to give to friends and when their friends use your services, both your referring client and the new client receive a discount or incentive.

  Be sure your branding and authentic message is clear on whatever card or piece you use so that your existing customer doesn’t have to do the work of trying to communicate who you are, what you do and why their friend should go to you.

5)  Make sure you have good marketing materials to give to potential clients.

  Your brochures, fliers, website and any other marketing materials must reflect your authentic branding so that people quickly and easily understand who you are, how you can help them and why they should choose you.

  Some of these suggestions may cost a little money, but when you have the right branding message–one that is truly authentic to who you are and what you are an expert at delivering–it will be the catalyst to what makes you stand out in a crowded field.

  With the right branding message—one that is authentic to who you are and what you are an expert at delivering—these inexpensive advertising suggestions will be the catalyst to what makes you stand out in a jam-packed market.

Laurie Polinski
Spinning Gold Marketing

  Your unique brilliance is what you are inherently good at, and what you enjoy doing so much that it doesn’t even seem like work to you; it’s what you get so lost in that you completely lose track of time. Determining and harnessing your unique brilliance will allow you to provide your talent to others in a quality that no one else can, and will make you stand out against the competition. Understanding your unique brilliance will help you get paid for doing something that you would do even if you weren’t getting paid!

Uncovering Your Unique Brilliance

  Although everyone is born equipped with a unique brilliance, not everyone is able to recognize theirs immediately. Throughout childhood, years of nurturing often (and often times involuntarily) causes people to lose touch with their natural talent. For example, you might grow up thinking that you want to be an astronaut because a parent or teacher encouraged you to be. Once more cognizant of yourself, however, you realize that you hate math and are terrified of heights and cannot stand the smell of burning rocket fuel, so you pick up the paint brush that you’ve been eyeing since fifth grade and become a world-famous artist, just as you were born to be.

Transforming Your Unique Brilliance Into a Business System

  When you use your unique brilliance with your business, you focus on what you are truly exceptional at, or what comes natural to you. Concentrating at what you are truly great at will allow your business to flourish and the tasks which are not in alignment with your brilliance get delegated or just pushed aside. Identifying your unique brilliance is not always easy, so specialists have developed professional personality assessments to help people better understand themselves. As a marketing and soul coach, I am certified to assess multidimensional awareness profile evaluations that will help you pinpoint your innate talent.

Laurie Polinski

Spinning Gold Marketing