Debra Kasowski, Author at Debra Kasowski

Episode 55 – Effort Surpasses Talent Any Day

December 22, 2016 by Debra Kasowski Leave a Comment

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Your level of effort tends to come from how much you believe in yourself. If you are overcome with self-doubt or have a lack of belief you will cap the level of your success. The only way you can see what you capable of, is to take action. We do not tap into all of our skills as much as we could. We usually need to be challenged in some way to tap into our internal resources. What you will probably learn is that many of the challenges we face are the challenges created in our minds.

An effort is fueled by a person’s passion for achieving a goal. With commitment, determination, and perseverance achieving what seemed impossible can become possible. Don’t be afraid to put in the hard work necessary to achieve your goals. You will get better through repetition and pay attention to the smallest increments of change.

Daniel Coyle also talked about how hockey great Wayne Gretzky would fall while doing solitary drills on the ice. Gretzky purposely did this so he would find ways to improve his skating ability. In Hank Haney’s book about Tiger Woods, he talks about how Tiger Woods would change up his swing so that he could develop greater precision with his swing. By disrupting patterns and practicing a new ways, you create new neuropathways that provide an opportunity to rewire the way you do things and by doing so they achieve greater success. Even with talent in order to get better you have to be willing to make mistakes and to learn from them see you can become better at your strengths.

Put in the effort let them take your talents farther than you allow them to be. You are meant for greatness- don’t hold back.

We would love to have you subscribed to the Success Secrets newsletter on my website at www.debrakasowski.com where you’re going to get us free MP3 download 10 Surefire Strategies to Power Up Your Productivity and Performance. I would love to hear about this podcast has impacted your life. E-mail me at Debra@DebraKasowski.com. Thank you for listening to The Millionaire Woman Show where we talk about leadership, business, and human potential to help you live rich from the inside out. Subscribe to The Millionaire Woman Show. Share it with Your Friends. Give us a 5-star rating!

DEBRA KASOWSKI, BScN CEC is an award-winning best-selling author, transformational speaker, blogger, and Certified Executive Coach. She has a heart of a teacher and is certified in Appreciative Inquiry and Emotional Intelligence. Her writing has been published in a variety of print and online magazines. Debra Kasowski International helps executives, entrepreneurs, and organizations boost their productivity, performance, and profits. It all starts with people and passion. Sign up the Success Secrets Newsletter and get your free mp3 download today! www.debrakasowski.com

Episode 54: Say Yes to Your Success

December 20, 2016 by Debra Kasowski Leave a Comment

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[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpX-cdo1oSY[/embedyt]

Meet our Guest:

Debra began transforming lives in the 1970’s when she studied at the feet of the greatest spiritual masters of the east — often in deep meditation for 10 to 12 hours a day and complete silence for weeks at a time – and then taught meditation to thousands around the world.

In the 1980’s Debra immersed herself in the knowledge of the Masters of western metaphysical thought and founded Yes to Success Seminars bringing then radical ideas like “your thoughts create your reality” into the mainstream.

Within a few short years, Debra’s seminars were being taught in cities across the US and in seven countries on four continents – before the days of the Internet. Debra appeared regularly in publications as well as on radio and TV.

As a sought-after trainer, her clients included McDonnell Douglas, Mattel Toys, and the Xerox Management Group—at a time when it was practically unheard of for women to be doing trainings in corporate America.

Using the knowledge they learned from Debra, her students went on to become mega-successful entrepreneurs, NY Times bestselling authors, millionaires, billionaires—even household names.

In 1988, at the height of her success, on the verge of launching her own national TV talk-show, Debra walked away from her career and disappeared from the public eye for over 20 years when she chose to follow a different passion—to be a stay-at-home mom.

Now a best-selling author, world-renowned speaker, and the co-founder of Your Year of Miracles mentoring program for women, with thousands of students from over 50 countries around the world, Debra has taken the idea of success and abundance to a whole new level as she now teaches how to create a life filled with miracles.

She is also the proud mom of two amazing young adult children.

Expect the Unexpected by Taking a Coach Approach in Difficult Conversations

December 18, 2016 by Debra Kasowski Leave a Comment

Anticipating a difficult conversation can be gut wrenching at times. We let our imagination go in so many different directions as to how the person might respond or even react. We make assumptions and judgments before we even walk in a room. No matter what the difficult conversation is, I am always surprised in some way as to how the conversations turn out. Not only do I learn a little bit about the other person, I learned a lot about myself.

As I reflect on some challenging situations in which difficult conversations had to be had, I may prepare and plan and there will be sometimes the plan needs to get pushed aside because the unexpected occurs. There will be times when a conversation doesn’t go as planned. There’ll be more times that your conversation will go better than expected if you are able to recognize your own emotions and how they are serving you before you enter the conversation.

By taking a coach approach to a difficult situation, you help others become self-reflective and more self-aware. When a person is self-aware, change may begin. You can step into a difficult conversation with ease when you go win with the expectation that the unexpected may occur.

1. Be open minded. When you enter a conversation, Park your judgments and assumptions at the door. Your preconceived ideas only taint the situation. If you come from a place of curiosity you will learn so much more.

“The single most important thing [you can do] is to shift [your] internal stance from “I understand” to “Help me understand.” Everything else follows from that. . . .

Remind yourself that if you think you already understand how someone feels or what they are trying to say, it is a delusion. Remember a time when you were sure you were right and then discovered one little fact that changed everything. There is always more to learn.”

― Douglas Stone, Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most

2. Trust the process… Detach from the outcome. Ask questions that allow you to gain more information and then ask more questions. Allow the person to share their story. Avoid asking “Why?” or “How?” as these questions tend to put people on the defensive. Ask “What?” questions to explore.

3. Let go-don’t take things personally. When emotions are high, people can say and do things that they normally wouldn’t say to you. Long-winded e-mails or e-mails in CAPLOCKS say more about the other person than they do you. Do not respond right away especially if your emotions have shifted to high. You may choose to pick up the phone or meet in person instead of making assumptions about a person’s intent or tone in an email.

A person’s reaction or response is based on their perception of the world or situation. It is up to you to learn and understand what that perception is. Their reaction is often not about you; it’s how they feel about the situation. They may be triggered by something in their past or even their environment and you have no clue what that may have been.

4. Acknowledge the courage it takes for the person expressing themselves. It takes a lot of energy to have the courage to be vulnerable in front of your peers or colleagues. Take notice of the effort it takes to share their feelings as no one wants to be seen as weak and often this is what hinders people from asking for help when it is truly needed.

5. Clarify any misunderstandings. Now that you have heard the other person’s perception, ask for permission to share yours. This is your opportunity to ask more questions or further discuss each other’s perceptions of the situation.

6. Discuss next steps. Everything is laid out on the table. Now you have the opportunity to talk about the next steps and how you plan to move forward together. There may be times when you agree to disagree. No matter what the situation looks like there needs to be a plan to move forward. What will that look like?

7. Express gratitude. Thank the other person for meeting with you to have the discussion as this was an opportunity to be curious and to learn more.

When you take the time to be fully present in open, you become curious and willing to gain a full understanding of the situation. You don’t allow hearsay or your imagination to dictate what the outcome may be.

There have been times when people have vented their thoughts and I do know what to say. What I learned is that if I ask questions and stay curious I can discover what the ideal is that the person is trying to express. I can read frame they’re venting energy and ask them what that ideal is. There have also been times when people have been so overwhelmed in their lives that they didn’t hear a person’s concern or see the help that someone was offering until there was some quiet time to self-reflect. I find these to be some of the most rewarding conversations because there is no agenda and there is a free-flowing dialogue in which everyone is heard, valued, and appreciated. Be open to expecting the unexpected by using a coach approach to a difficult conversation and you will be pleasantly surprised.

DEBRA KASOWSKI, BScN CEC is an award-winning best-selling author, transformational speaker, blogger, and Certified Executive Coach. She has a heart of a teacher and is certified in Appreciative Inquiry and Emotional Intelligence. Her writing has been published in a variety of print and online magazines. Debra Kasowski International helps executives, entrepreneurs, and organizations boost their productivity, performance, and profits. It all starts with people and passion. Sign up the Success Secrets Newsletter and get your free mp3 download today! www.debrakasowski.com

Episode 53: Seeing the Opportunity in the Struggle

December 15, 2016 by Debra Kasowski Leave a Comment

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When you decided to become an entrepreneur, chances are you became one for one of the following reasons. You may have been climbing the corporate ladder and decided that it wasn’t taking you to where you wanted to go. You became bored or your work lacked meaning. You decided that you could make a bigger difference by doing something on your own or with the team that you helped put together. You may have decided to become an entrepreneur because you needed an outlet where you could be innovative and use those creative juices. Another reason for choosing this lifestyle may have been because you wanted to have control over your own actions or maybe even for work life balance. You chose this route for flexibility and to develop a deeper connection with people. You may have even chosen to be an entrepreneur because you just didn’t feel like you fit into the mold of the business or organization you are working for. You may have seen the pain point in the industry and you decided that you are going to provide a solution. All of these were game changing decisions to live life differently.

Do You Really Work?

To the outside world, being an entrepreneur might look like you have no rules or boundaries. You may be attending charity events and socials more than they see you work. What the outside world doesn’t know, is that you put in a lot of hard work and many long hours that are on not on display for them to see.

Are You Struggling in Silence?

There may be even times where you’ve been struggling in silence not wanting anyone to know about some of the lack of results for the lack of money coming in. This can be devastating as you may have family or yourself counting on you and you feel like you’re failing. The fear of failure may consume you to the point that you may become depressed. Where there is action, failure is seen as optional. Where true failure occurs, there is no action and hence no results. You may have a fear of uncertainty not knowing what the future will hold. I fear is more common than you think whether you are an entrepreneur are not everyone faces an uncertainty the moment they awaken.

What ACTION can you take? Know your numbers so you can make better decisions. Pay attention to what money is coming in and what money is going out. Look at your sales process, do you need to change up your approach?

“Just because you are struggling does not mean you are failing.” Neil Patel

You may be overwhelmed by the increasing competition. One of Neil Patel’s business philosophies is to not talk about your successes as you may be bringing on more competition. It is more powerful for others to share your successes. Be careful not to get caught up in the comparison trap. W loneranger hen you start comparing other people successes to your own you diminish your own worth. You need to be aware of the strength that you bring to the marketplace and how you and what you deliver is different and can stand above the crowd. Ensure that competition and comparisons don’t lead you into a Lone Ranger mentality. There is a difference between being alone and being lonely. Sometimes when were lonely we latch on to anyone -even if they’re not the ideal client. But when you are alone, you can be true to yourself and get really clear about your compelling vision. Your job is to delegate or outsource to others so that they can help you achieve that compelling vision. Build your team gradually. They don’t need to be full-time team members; you can hire people on a part-time basis or by contract. If you tried to do everything by yourself for a long period of time, your business will not be sustainable. You may even burn out.

As an entrepreneur, know that you are not alone. Know that the struggles you face others are also facing, they are just not talking about it. Join groups and associations were you can surround yourself with like-minded people who can help push you to the next level and who can see the potential of your greatness. Talk with others who been where you want to go or find a mentor to share their experiences. Use competition to your advantage by paying attention to the finer details of what you deliver and truly listen to your customers’ needs and wants and deliver value.

52337615 - people meeting friendship togetherness coffee shop concept Go to networking events and build relationships beyond the hello. Connect with associations in your industry. Discover what their goals are and how you can help. As you help others achieve their goals, they in turn will want to help you. This is called the law of reciprocity. You will build a loyalty and trust like no other. Learn to be happy for those who are succeeding around you instead of being caught in the comparison trap. Believe in yourself and believe that your success is on its way as well. What you are admiring is one moment or period of time. Their dream is their dream. Your dream is yours. You need to stay focused on why you are doing what you’re doing and what you want to accomplish. The outcomes may not be the same. Don’t lose sight of yourself by wishing that you are living someone else’s life, you have so much to offer and we need it done your way.

Turn inwardly and look for the opportunity that exists in your struggle. What are you struggling with? What is the lesson that you are learning from the situation? What can you do differently? Whose knowledge skills and abilities can you tap into to share their experiences? Ask for recommendations or resources. In what ways, can you view this situation differently? Is it time to let go of one idea to really focus and develop another?

How are you getting in your own way? You may be preventing yourself from achieving success with your own mindset. Are you willing to take a risk, at least a calculated one? Are you willing to go out and meet people and move beyond the hello? Are you willing to follow-up and ask for the sale? Listen to what you are telling yourself. Are you being supportive and encouraging to yourself? Challenge your assumptions. Push yourself farther than the day before. You do not have to feel alone. You may want talk to a trusted friend or a mental health professional. Sometimes when you are too close to your problem you cannot see the solution. Asking for help is a strength. What would you tell someone in the same situation? Follow your own advice!

Time: 12:22 min

Keywords: entrepreneur, struggle in silence, struggle, see the opportunity, solution focused, entrepreneur lifestyle, lone ranger mentality, failure, success, reasons why you became an entrepreneur, entrepreneur struggles, entrepreneur strategies, entrepreneur strengths and weaknesses

Episode 52: Stepping into Becoming a Go-Giver

December 13, 2016 by Debra Kasowski Leave a Comment

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[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIz6BAY5eao[/embedyt]

Meet our Guest:

Bob Burg is a sought-after speaker at company leadership and sales conferences sharing the platform with everyone from today’s business leaders and broadcast personalities to even a former U.S. President.

Bob is the author of a number of books on sales, marketing and influence, with total book sales of well over a million copies. His book, The Go-Giver, coauthored with John David Mann has sold over half a million copies and it has been translated into 21 languages. It has been released in a new, expanded edition, with a foreword by Huffington Post founder and publisher, Arianna Huffington.

Bob is an advocate, supporter and defender of the Free Enterprise system, believing that the amount of money one makes is directly proportional to how many people they serve. He is also an unapologetic animal fanatic, and serves on the Board of Trustees of Furry Friends Adoption & Clinic in his town of Jupiter, Florida.