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

 Find Yourself, By Taking Time For Yourself

  “The myth is, when you focus on yourself you are being selfish.  The reality is, if you don’t know your true self and cultivate an ongoing relationship with her, you can’t truly be with or give to anyone else.”  Jennifer Louden, Author of The Woman’s Comfort Book

  “No Boys Allowed!”  I recall being 9 or 10, and creating a girls-only club with my best girlfriends.  We created our exclusive clubhouse out of sheets and dining-room chairs, and we hung our sign, No Boys Allowed!  Did we always know, even back then, how important it would be for us women to retreat?  And, what exactly does it mean to retreat?

  According to Jennifer Louden, in “The Women’s Retreat Book,”    “A woman’s retreat springs from and is guided by a woman’s inner knowing.”  Perhaps we did have this internal knowing when we were 9 that it was important for us, at least for a period of time, to shut ourselves off from the noise and distractions of our outer world.  So, if this is true, what is this woman’s innate guidance trying to tell us?  Louden goes on to say, “A woman’s retreat is about stepping out of your ordinary existence to listen to and attune to your truest, most authentic self.  It is about being self-referenced to become self-restored.”  Somehow I know that I did always know that particular truth.  And that is the reason I have been doing mini-retreats with girlfriends and clients my entire life.  

  Recently, I have partnered with a brilliant life coach, Jeannie Anderson, author of the Women’s W.E.A.L.T.H. program.  Together, Jeannie and I have co-created our own women’s club; “Abundant Young Women Over 40.”  This club is for women who want more for themselves and are ready to step into their biggest game yet.  We will host a live experiential retreat in October, in the secluded mountainous area in the heart of Arizona , for a small group of women committed to going deeper into their own existence and reclaiming their dreams.  Jeannie and I will be releasing more information about “Abundant Young Woman Over 40” in the near future.  

  Last week, I hosted a free teleclass called “Discover the Energy of Success.”  I am so excited to say that we had an overwhelming positive response to this teleclass!  Thank you all for your kind and supportive comments and feedback, it is sincerely appreciated.  This 6-week teleseries, “Journey for the Best of Your Life,” begins on June 24^th and I am thrilled to have many of you joining me!  If you missed it, you can find out more here: “Journey for the Best of Your Life.”

  There is a definite power in self-discovery.  A power that comes from being in total integrity with who you were born to be.  A power that arises only from being deeply connected with your true passion and purpose.  And a power in being of service to yourself, your family, friends, community and the world, in the way that only you, through your own unique purpose and brilliance can serve. 

  Make sure you take the time to do your own mini-retreats to deeply connect with your true self.  When you are connected with your authentic nature, you become centered in your own personal power.  You are in total integrity with who you were born to be.

Here are 5 simple ways you can take yourself on instant mini-retreats: 

 Remember to be selfish at least once every day.  As Louden said, “ … if you don’t know your true self and cultivate an ongoing relationship with her, you can’t truly be with or give to anyone else.”

Being clear about who you are, what you do, and the benefits of working with you, will dramatically affect your ability to attract and connect with more of your ideal clients and manifesting the success you want. 

That sounds simple enough, doesn’t it?  Why, then do so many entrepreneurs struggle to attract clients?  Most often it is not because there is anything wrong with what you do, or how you do it, but the problem lies in being able to clearly define and communicate your authentic message in a way that really connects with your ideal clients.

Here’s an important understanding:  You know you have a unique gift that no one else has, and you know that you can help others.  It is your mission to identify your gift, do it to the very best of your ability, and create your compelling branding and marketing message that is authentic to you and attracts clients who want what you offer.


Here are 3 things you must be very clear on that will help you instantly transform the way you feel and communicate about your business, and expand how your potential clients perceive and connect with you and your business.

1)  Know what your unique gift is.  What do you do, exceptionally well, that no one else does?  In other words, what sets you apart from others in your field?

2)  Know who you serve.  The more well-defined your niche market is, the easier it will be to create your messages.  You will also become known as the authority in that area.

3)  Know what authentically connects you with your prospective clients.  People buy on emotion and then back their decisions up with logic.  What emotions do you and your services evoke in people that makes them want to work with you?

As I shared earlier, you must be clear about who you are, including your unique gifts and your core values.  You must be clear about what your services deliver, and what need or desire that fills within your clients.  And, you must know – very, very well, who your ideal clients are so that the connection you make with them is clear, true and authentic.


To your joyful and inspired success~

Namaste,

~Laurie

Spinning Gold Marketing

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

  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

Be sure to take the time to build that solid foundation under your business.

Here are the:

7 Key Steps to Taking Control of Your Business This Year

Laurie Polinski
Spinning Gold Marketing

Back To Business Basics

With the beginning of a new year only weeks away, now is the perfect time to start laying a solid foundation for a successful 2010 in your business. As this year is coming to a close, this is a perfect time to take a step back and take a close look at where you can make adjustments to make 2010 your most profitable year yet! Here are 3 ways to put your business on the right track for the coming year.

 Research Your Niche

 Take some time to examine your niche market and area of expertise. Observing how other professionals in your field do business may be an inspiration to try a new approach to your own business that may open some profitable doors for you. Also, research potential clients for ideas on how to win over new business opportunities and how you can continue to serve the needs of your current clients. 

Invest In  Business Education

When applied properly, the axiom “you have to invest money to make money” really pays off. For you, the entrepreneur, investing time and money to further your education in your business niche through college courses, training and certification and coaching will expand your knowledge and skills and strengthen your position as an authority in your field, helping you to better recognize and respond to the needs of your clients while pulling you ahead of the competition.

 Create a Clear Business Plan

 Having a comprehensible business plan is vital to the success of your business. Begin constructing your 2010 business plan now by determining and recording your goals and strategies for the year. In other words: where would you like your business to be by the end of 2010, and what is the best course for you to get it there? One of the biggest mistakes many entrepreneurs make is not mapping out a clear and precise plan. If you don’t have a clear vision of where you want to be, how do you expect to get there?  By creating a clear business plan now, you’ll be able to bring in the New Year hitting the ground running.  

Researching your niche, investing in continuing business education and creating a business plan are some key ways to ensure that 2010 will be the best for your business, and for you, so far. Here’s to a profitable New Year—here’s to your success.

Laurie Gracie Polinski

Spinning Gold

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Act 2 Reinvent, founded by visionary, Leah Young, and co-owned by a Dream Team of gifted coaches, is a new on-line reality show committed to helping women over 40 step back into their authentic life  and move forward with power and purpose. 

Act 2 Reinvent is still in the filming stages, and the first episodes will air this fall.  Viewers will be able to watch the Dream Team coach each one-on-one with these women, and will follow the brilliant transformation that occurs.  Viewers will also have an opportunity, through an on-line community, to have access to the tools and techniques these women were given so that viewers can transform their own lives right along with the participants!

Dream Team Coach, Laurie Polinski, walks Leah Young through the Personal Branding Wheel

Get acquainted with the Dream Team Coaches and the fabulous, courageous show participants, by visiting www.act2reinvent.com.  Go there now to learn about the Dream Team coaches, the participants, and how you can become part of the transformation!

The self-development / self-improvement aisles at the Barnes & Noble are overflowing with books by new authors and new subjects every day.  Admittedly, many of those books have found a place in my own ever-expanding personal library.  For me, it has been a passion for years, to read as much as I could on these self-improvement subjects. I love attending workshops and having deep discussions with like-minded friends about life’s purpose.

One of my friends recently commented, “Laurie, you should be perfect by now with all of the self-improvement books you have and workshops you’ve attend!” 

My friend was right; I have spent tons of time and money on learning to develop and improve myself.  So why, after years of reading, studying and practicing self-improvement was I not yet perfect?  Why did I feel as far away from perfect as one can possibly be?  Why was I still buying books thinking, “Ah, this is the one that will change everything for me!”?

What I finally discovered is that I already am, and always was perfect!  The only thing I had to do, before I could develop or improve, was to discover and uncover my unique life’s purpose.  And so I did!  Through two deeply insightful tools, CORE MAP®, by Dr. Sherry Buffington, and Branding With Archetypes®, by Kendall SummerHawk, I have discovered the perfect child I was born to be.

Once I “met” myself it was like Disney’s Tinkerbell in Peter Pan being let out of the box that Captain Hook kept her in.  The transformation from who I was trying to be, into who I was born to be, was amazing both personally and professionally!  My light was free to shine and I was free to fly!

Does that mean that I now do everything perfectly?  Absolutely not!  Just ask my husband, children and friends; they’ll assure you that I still have a lot of development and improvement to do.  (It’s a good thing my bookshelves are full of books for this work.)  But it does mean that everything I do, the decisions and choices I make are all in perfect alignment with who I truly am.  Everything is flowing in one direction.  All of my energy goes into fully and joyfully expressing my unique gifts and passions.  My physical and spiritual goals are in line with who I am from the deepest part of my being.

The freedom to be my authentic self, and the joy of sharing my treasury of gifts with the world are like nothing I had ever imagined possible.  Once you “remember” who you are you can create your world with purpose and allow your unique energy to fully express itself.  You are inspired to transcend helplessness and step into the perfectness of You.

I know what you’re thinking, “opportunity?!” While your mind may not be set on optimism, the best thing you can do is start revisiting some of those goals you had always set aside to be done later.  What better time will you get than right now to make the career changes that you had always put off. Perhaps you know that you’ve always had the skills, now you just need the motivation to achieve your goals and have a can-do attitude.

Spinning Gold can’t fill your bank account overnight, but with your hard work, Spinning Gold can help you achieve some of the goals that you have left unaccomplished.  By learning how to recognize and overcome your own personal boundaries, the goals you have set for yourself will become your new opportunities to help yourself overcome these hard times. And even better, when the economy does improve, the skills that Spinning Gold can teach you will allow you to stay ahead of the curve!