Listen to internet radio with The Chelsea Krost Show on Blog Talk Radio
3 Easy Ways to Step It UP and Build Your Platform
You put up your shingle and started your business. You built the dream. Why isn’t anyone coming or hiring you? Why? You need to build your platform and spread the word about your business.
Maybe you have been in your business for awhile but hit a plateau and not sure what to do next or perhaps you would like to uplevel your game. Remember – you will continue to get the same results unless you change the game your playing.
Life is very much like a game. One of strategy and vision. Determine your vision and what you want it to look like. Take the action steps it takes to get there. Imagine it – touch and feel it as if it were real.
Now let’s make it happen. It is your time!
Step it up and build your platform with 3 easy strategies:
- Dress for Success – You are your personal brand. When people see you what do you want them to say about you? Is your brand congruent with your message? When you go to a networking event, do you look like you just rolled out of bed? You want to have a professional polished look and it does not have to break the bank. It all starts with a great haircut, outfit, well-manicured hands, and your smile.
- Intentional Networking – Create a warm welcoming environment when you enter the room. You do not want people dodge each other to get away from you as you shuffle out your business cards. Netowrking is NOT a blackjack game! Network with intention by trying to connect with 3-5 people that you can build and nurture relationships with. Don’t forget to follow-up! Not just 24-48 hours from meeting them, 3 months, 6 months, or even a year. Continue to develop the relationships you have as you expand your network.
- Be Seen Everywhere. In today’s day and age, you can be seen more often in the see of social media. Utilize the greats – Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Share articles in directories like ezinearticles.com. Give away your best compelling valuable information! People will come back for more and better yet they will share you with their network!
Your platform can be expanded by boosting your credibility, increasing your visibility, attracting your ideal clients. Join us and listen to 9 incredible experts February 4-8, 2013 as they share sought-after secrets to become unstoppable! SIGN UP here The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Platform Building Teleclass Series. Please share!!!
3 Steps to Setting and Achieving Your Goals
Have you ever wondered why you have not achieved some of your goals? Have you achieved everything you set your mind to? If so why? Henriette Anne Klauser ‘s book Write It Down, Make It Happen: Knowing What You Want – And Getting It! addresses just that. Writing down your thoughts, ideas, and goals gets you closer to achieving them. Klauser states that the action of writing down what you want actually helps you develop clarity and a better understand of what it is you really want to achieve.
Your writing does not need to be in the form of a novel or big notebook.
There are several ways to capture your late night brainstorms or the gym meditative moments of sweat and tears.
“Don’t just write about what you want, but include why you want it. Why does it make a difference whether you have this or not?” – Henriette Anne Klauser
1. Journaling is a great way to clear your thoughts or reflect on how your day went or how you may do things differently in the future. Many people use a journal to capture what they are grateful for or what their intentions for the day are. Journaling is also very therapeutic and is a safe place to express your feelings and ambitions.
2. Index Cards or sticky notes are a great way to record goals and affirmations. They provide those quick reminders when we look in the mirror or our daytimers. You can capture ideas throughout the day for future writing, blog posts, or product development.
3. Writing Letters to God This is a powerful method that Klauser views God as an interventionalist. she writes down a request or concern to a pressing concern before she goes to bed and in the morning she starts writing both sides of the conversation. To her surprise often with the answers she had been seeking. Seek and you shall find!
Writing things down – makes a big difference in that it brings a person to:
– making a commitment and need for completion
-focus on the task or goal at hand;
-imprints what they want into their behavior
-affirms their desires and dreams
– and develops clarity in knowing what you truly want!
Start writing what you want down. Keep them within sight and look at them regually to achieve what you want. Otherwise, the moment has passed and the commitment may be weak. What do you really want?
Please share this Great Book with others!
Disclaimer: If you purchase the book from this page, I will receive a commission. You can puchase it through this link or your favorite book store, it is my mission to spread the message about good reads. No guarantees.
The Naked Truth About Video Creation for Business Blogs and Websites
Did you know that over 4 billion hours of video are watched on YouTube every month? Did you know that there are over 800 million unique users visiting YouTube every month? According to YouTube statistics, 72 hours of video are uploaded to You Tube every minute. Now you are probably wondering how do you get you video to stand out from the crowd? 
Did you know that video also increases your ranking on Google?
Video is a powerful way to communicate your message. There are several things you can do position yourself in the marketplace without breaking the bank.
1. Authenticity – Be yourself, unless you are putting on a drama play or comedy skit – just be you! You are representing your brand. What do you want people to know about you and your business?
2. Discover the “why” before you achieve results. Develop a clear picture of what you would like your blog content or video to do. Is there a call to action? Do you want them to like or share the video or content?
3. Don’t aim for viral, aim for good compelling content that is educates, entertains, or inspires. The more you try and create something that you want to go viral, the more and more it may look like an American Funniest Video contest. Let the epidemic or viral campaign occur naturally.
4. All video does not have to be professionally done. Take heart my fellow small business owners. There are flip cams, iPads, and iPhones that can capture good quality video. Place on a tripod and voila! You can create your own studio right where you are at. I suggest that you may want to hire a professional to create your welcome video for your home page but for your blog you can use amateur video. I know many people who use the webcam on their computers.
5. Good lighting is a must. Try to video where you can capture as much natural light if possible but be aware of too much light or areas that may cast shadows on your face. Do some test drives to ensure your lighting is good as some may cast yellow or green skin pigmentation due to the lighting. You may even consider a green or blue screen with extra lighting (Worklights work great!)
6. Frame your scene. Are you looking for a close-up, 3/4 shot or showing some background? Ensure that you are capturing what you reference unless you are the main focal point. Position yourself just off centre so the eye is draw to you.
7. Eliminate background noise or distractions. Even though smartphones have a fairly decent microphone, you will still want to speak up unless you are quite close. Music and background noise can deter from your message. You may shift your attention to the distractions and break eye contact with the people you are speaking to. This action can lead to distrust unless your viewer knows what is distracting you.
8. Be prepared. Before you capture the video, you want to have a good idea of the message that you want to get across. Think of 3-5 bullet point type message you would like to convey. Tell a story and share a lesson learned. You may script your information but share it like a natural conversation otherwise people may think that you do not know what you are talking about.
9. Smile, Camera, Action! – of course, have fun! Let your personality shine. I cannot tell you how many times I have retaken videos until I am feeling relaxed and letting my personality come through. It is about taking inspired action and just going for it! It is much easier than you think.
You can upload directly to You Tube or edit it with photos, trailers, music, and text. Play around with the editing process – it can be a lot of fun. Your skillset will develop over time or you can always hire it out!
I would love to hear your video creation tips!!!
If you like this post, please share it! If you want to use this in your blog or newsletter, please contact me at Debra@themillionairewoman.com
8 Lessons I Learned from Seeing Oprah LIVE!
Whether she is walking onto her Oprah Show or walking on stage, Oprah has a presence of no other person I know. I am grateful for seeing in her Calgary LIVE. They announced she was coming to Edmonton a month after I already had my tickets. All I knew is that I needed to be there. Oprah is a living legend that has inspired and changed the world by being true to herself. She has navigated the obstacles that have come her way – a role model of resilience!
My children were also excited to see and hear her. My son had tears at the end saying that he was inspired by her and that he knows that he will achieve his dream of being a professional golfer because “Whatever follows “I am” will find you.” from Pastor Joel Osteen. I learned many years ago in Jack Canfield’s book, The Success Principles, that it is important to share this inspiration and encoouragement with your children as they will aspire to become more. I love to involve my children in what my passions are. They end up being my greatest cheerleaders.
I wanted to share her most profound messages from that night: OPRAH QUOTES
“Your competition is within you. You set the bar.”
How many times have you been distracted by checking out what others are doing or devaluing your own accomplichments and journey? The competition you have is between your ears. Challenge yourself. Strive for your personal best. Set your OWN (pun intended) expectations of yourself. If is unfair to measure yourself to another person’s standards.
“Education is the door to freedom.”
I have always believed this. Growing up my parents would say, “Education is never a waste.” You may change your path or take classes or courses that you think you may never use but you learn information, discipline, and even most importantly more about what you like and dislike. You get closer and closer to who you are meant to be.
“You become what you believe.”
There is so much power in the words we use as they affect our thoughts, actions, and behavior. Believe in yourself.
“Everyone wants to know they are seen, heard, and that they matter.”
We all want to know that we bring value to the world. This is secret to creating long last relationships in business and life. Be fully present and engaged with the people you interact with. They will remember that you took the time and made them feel that they were the only person in the room.
“Follow the threads of your experiences to figure out what you are here to come to do.”
Reflect on the moments that have brought you to where you are today. How have you been prepared along the way to be where you are today? There are clues and events that have led you on yoru path.
“You honour your calling when you do what you came here to do.”
When you go after what it is you want in life, you honour a higher power – God or Source or whatever you believe to be true. I like to describe this as that burning desrie to succeed at what you have your heart set on. I know I am here to serve others in a big way through writing, speakign, and coaching. I am here to help others finding meaning and passion in their life through my messages.
“God does not require your belief, he requires you to experience. You are breathing right?”
Your life is an experience. Choose to live fully and honour the truth that lies within you.
“Your real job is to know your calling.”
Discover your purpose and you calling and you will be a light in the world. When you act in accordance to what you know to be true, life is not work it is there to be enjoyed.
Although this may be considered a one in a lifetime experience, I look forwad to one day meeting her in person. I grew up watching and learning from this phenomenal woman. I aspire to “be the change in the world.” I will remember this night forever.
What is your favorite Oprah quote? Who inspires you?