Podcasts Archives - Page 88 of 112

EPISODE 123 – The Simplicity of Success with Milana Leshinsky

August 17, 2017 by Debra Kasowski 2 Comments

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[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdCeIs9mEAU[/embedyt]

Meet our Guest

Simplicity Circle Founder Milana Leshinsky is creating a simplicity revolution for coaches, authors, speakers and entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses with ease. Creator of Recurring Revenue Revolution, author of Coaching Millions, co-founder of JV Insider Circle, and an inventor of telesummits, Milana is known as a serial entrepreneur and paradigm shifter by many luminaries. She came from Soviet Ukraine 25 years ago as a classical musician with zero knowledge of the business world, and has built multiple six and seven-figure businesses since. Today sheʼs passionate about showing entrepreneurs how to use simplicity as a growth strategy and say goodbye complexity and overwhelm. Hello simplicity, profits, and ease.

EPISODE 122 – Accountability with Purpose

August 15, 2017 by Debra Kasowski Leave a Comment

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[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2OQ7754Nhw[/embedyt]

“Maybe you’re not perfect, but you’re willing to actually look at yourself and take some kind of accountability. That’s a change. It might not mean that you can turn everything around, but I think there’s something incredibly hopeful about that.” Brie Larson

Let’s start by exploring what accountability means to you and why it is important. Accountability is about standing behind (or beside) the actions and decisions you make. Accountability is like a checklist to see if expectations have been met and who is responsible for what they said they were going to do. When people must claim responsibility for their actions, this is where you may see people start finger pointing, blaming or complaining about why they did not meet expectations. Funny thing is for the finger point outward, there are three fingers pointing back. Each person in a relationship or interaction can take 100% responsibility for their actions. It builds trust because you have faith that the other person is going to put in their 100% effort like you are. This type of commitment gets results. You will want to go back and listen to our first episode on Taking 100% Responsibility.

To be accountable, you must have a clear purpose or WHY for doing what you do, driven by a vision, mission, and core values. Your core values act like a compass directing you and keeping you on track to meet your goals.

Accountability serves a purpose. By being accountable for your actions, you will tend to pay more attention to whether you are taking the actions necessary to meet expectations. You will notice that your performance increases because you need to be accountable for your actions through reporting your outcomes or explaining the consequences of the results you achieved. You will start valuing your work more because it is your heart and soul or sweat and tears invested in the results. Goal setting and setting clear expectations are important in laying out a plan to be accountable with a purpose. When you have a goal in mind, you can set up accountability check points to ensure you are on the right track. Without a clear set goal, you lack direction of what you are working towards. Therefore, it is so important to ink your goals.

Let’s look at finances. If you do not have a financial goal of what you are aiming for, how will you know when you have met it? What are your expectations? What will you sacrifice short-term for long term success? When you are accountable for your finances, you give every dollar a job. You know what money coming in and what money is going out. You may call you credit card or internet company every 3-6 months to see if you can get a better rate. You can look at what is costing you the most money and learn where you can find cost savings. You can make better decisions knowing what your money can do for you.

Let’s take a look at professional development goals. What are areas you want to strengthen? Is there a book you want to read or a course you want to take? Consider working with a coach to keep you accountable and help you uncover where you may be sabotaging your efforts. Again, what gets measured gets managed so you will want to ink the goal.

Being accountable is NOT about pointing fingers or picking sides. It is about OWNING what you have control over and FINDING solutions to get the desired results. It is NOT about pretending to know everything or pretending to be something you are not. You need to be willing to admit when you do not know something BUT you can ask someone or put in the effort to figure it out. You need to drop the excuses and stop getting defensive when someone asks you to take responsibility for your actions.

Have you ever noticed that people get angry or defensive when they do not want to take responsibility for their actions? These people try to deflect responsibility and do not realize that they could be sabotaging their own success because of their lack of commitment. If you make a mistake, own it right away! People are more forgiving if you OWN your mistakes versus deny them. Everyone makes a mistake at one time or another.

Be accountable with purpose. Find an accountability partner – this can be a family member, colleague, or friend or hire a coach to hold you accountable. They can support you as being a cheerleader when things are going well and hold you accountable for when things are not going as planned or you fail to take the actions you said you would. When you start running your business, organization, and daily life with intention and deliberate purpose, you will get the results that you are seeking or something better!

What are you going to do to be accountable with purpose?

We would love to have you subscribe 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. Book your complimentary Discovery Session by going to the Coach with Debra page on my website and send me your interest and we will set up a time and date to learn about how coaching can benefit you. 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 121 – Embrace Your Challenges as Gifts

August 10, 2017 by Debra Kasowski Leave a Comment

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“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.” – Paulo Coelho

Have you ever thought how easy life would be if only we did not have challenges? According to the Cambridge Dictionary Online, a challenge is: (the situation of being faced with) something that needs great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and therefore tests a person’s ability. There is probably a challenge you are even facing today. There may be a strong possibility that you are trying to dodge or avoid the challenge. You may see the challenge as a pain so dodging it prevents suffering. Not all challenges result in pain but they often teach us lessons and expand the way you and I do things. There is no point in resisting it for whatever you resist tends to persist. Accept it and rise to the challenge.

Challenges stretch us and often make us uncomfortable because you need to change the way you show up. When you are first faced with a challenge, you may hesitate to evaluate the risks and rewards. You may be wondering, “What will I have to give up or stop doing to make this work?” You may hesitate because of your fears. The fear of failure, making a mistake, rejection, and even success. The fear of what others will say about you for making a choice, dressing a certain way, having opinions, or the way you speak. Don’t worry – everyone has an opinion so don’t take things personally. Their viewpoint is just that – the view of the world from their previous encounters and experiences. You do not have to do things that they do or they have done. Do you! Decide what you must do to face the challenge.

Sometimes a challenge is just what you needed to save you from getting stagnant or complacent. When life or your role gets too routine your brain does not get the stimulation it needs. Life becomes boring. You lose those creative juices that help you set yourself apart. Worry is not a useful emotion. Self-doubt robs the world of what you have to offer. Instead of being focused on self-doubt and worry which is a default to do and nothing but a waste of your energy. Channel your energy to believe in yourself and know you have what it takes to figure out the solution. Take stock of your knowledge, skills, and abilities. If you do not know something, you can always find a way. You must develop the “never give up” attitude to move through challenge.

Remember to embrace challenges as gifts. Challenges keep you relevant and relatable to others. Re-frame your challenge – what is the lesson you are meant to learn? How will this strengthen you? How can you take advantage of the challenge as an opportunity? Some people find comfort in sharing their challenges on and offline. Whereas, others tend to keep challenges private. What you need to know is that everyone faces challenges at one time or another. You do not hear about them. These challenges shape our character and often make us help us step into our potential to become a better version of ourselves. You may discover a new and improved way of doing things. Use your challenges to be of assistance to others in some way.

I remember one performance appraisal I had when I was a new manager years ago. My boss had suggested that I develop my “people management skills” which meant I needed to start having some difficult conversations. I was to avoid them. At the same time, I also knew that if I avoided dealing with a problem it may only get bigger. At first, I scripted out what I wanted to say even though the conversations did not always go as planned. I reminded myself – it was only a conversation. If I stick to the facts, emotions can settle. One conversation at a time, I got better. I am not nearly as nervous as I once was.

Tackle the Challenge as Early as You Can. No one wants to experience a challenge longer than necessary so brainstorm or make a list of the actions that need to be taken to push through to the other side. Remember you do not have to face a challenge alone. Talk to someone you trust or someone who has been through what you are going through to hear their experience. Sitting around and doing nothing does not get you ahead.

Discover and embrace your challenges as gifts or blessings. When you start to do this, your world with change. Push through your challenges – who you become in the process will inspire you.

EPISODE 120 – Creative Ways to Attract the Right Customers

August 8, 2017 by Debra Kasowski Leave a Comment

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“I attract a crowd, not because I’m an extrovert or I’m over the top or I’m oozing with charisma. It’s because I care.”

Gary Vaynerchuk

An entrepreneur does not make money without attracting the right customers to pay for it. There is more to attracting the right customer than focusing on your profit. Profit is a measure of the value you provide for others. When you are first starting out you may think you need to work with anyone who is willing to pay you. Wrong! This decision can cost you time and energy – the money will not be worth it. You may even be chasing them to pay you. Do you want that hassle? Why not attract the right customers for your business?

Know WHO your customer is. One of the most important position tools in business is to know WHO you customer or avatar is. Do you work with men or women or both? Do you have a specific age range of your ideal customer is? Are they married or single? With Children? Pets? What job, career, or business do they have? What are their needs? The more you know about your customer (avatar) the more you will know about providing the best solution. Learn where they shop, dine, or network. What are their likes or dislikes? What charities or causes are they passion about? Find out what their needs are right now. Listen carefully to what drives them and even annoys them. Discover a way to help! You can have more than one customer type or avatar.

Position Yourself as the Answer – Showcase your expertise by writing articles, commenting on blogs, becoming a guest blogger, and speaking at local events or conferences. Let people experience you through video, written word, or podcasting to get to know, like, and trust you. Most people do not buy the first time they meet you.

Get Out There – Back Away from the Computer! You have heard the saying, “Like attracts like.” Be the example! Go and live life! Go to the gym, get on the golf course, or volunteer and the road race or art gallery event. Do you! Do the things you are passionate about. Be curious about people, ask questions, and learn about them. People will be attracted to the energy, enthusiasm, and the passion you have in life. They will say to themselves, “I would like some of that.” No different than magazine ads or TV commercial. They sell the feeling – “What will you feel like if your have this product or service?”

Open the Conversation. Follow up with the people you meet to continue the conversation to build rapport and trust. They are not the only ones determining whether they like, know, and trust you but you should be doing this as well. It was Theodore Roosevelt who said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”. What is frustrating or irritating them right now? What are their needs or pain points? What can you offer as a solution? What ways do you let prospects know what you offer? As you start learning more and deepening the conversations, you can do many unique things to attract the right customers who will resonate what you are offering.

Depending on the type of industry you are in, consider the following creative ways to attract the right customers:

Support a local artist or someone on Etsy to design a special thank you or follow up card for your business.

Do a Facebook Live Video and draw for a free book for all those who, like, comment, or share your video.

Sponsor a sports team or an award.

Offer a scholarship.

Put your customers in your marketing with testimonials, videos, or pictures of them with or using the product.

Give away your BEST stuff! Share your articles, interviews, or videos.

Send articles that are relevant to a conversation you had with someone you met.

Offer to demo your product or service.

Collaborate with complementary services. You are partnering up or cross promoting with individuals who are not your competition but complement the work that you do. For example, a blind installation company may consider connecting with a window installation company or a window cleaning company or someone in interior design.

Use creative software applications to create stunning attention grabbing social media posts like Canva or PicMonkey.

Send out a Warm Letter letting people know what you are up to.

Ask for referrals or offer a free gift or bonus for every qualified lead that does business with you.

Offer a free e-book or write a blog post specific to common themes your avatar faces.

Get creative and create curiosity about around your offer. Pique their interest. People will want to learn and do business with you.

What ways do attract the right customers for your business?

EPISODE 119 – Celebrate Your Mistakes

August 3, 2017 by Debra Kasowski Leave a Comment

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“You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don’t try to forget the mistakes, but you don’t dwell on it. You don’t let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.” Johnny Cash

Many people avoid putting effort into projects and tasks because they are afraid to make a mistake. Chances are they associate making mistakes with some sort of punishment. To truly grow as a person, we need to make some allowances for risk and making mistakes. Every successful entrepreneur or leader has made many mistakes and has learned from them. You have heard the saying, “If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.” If something is easy, chances are you already knew how to do it!

You do not learn and grow as a person if you are always doing the EASY stuff!

It may be time to challenge yourself! When you do things that require effort, you are learning and growing and once you complete it you will feel accomplished.

When you make mistakes and take time to self-reflect and learn from those mistakes, your brain grows. When you make the allowance for your mistakes, others will feel they have the permission to do the same. They will start acting, making mistakes, and taking new actions until they accomplish what they set out to do. You may have opened the door to conversation and got them engaged in making improvements or sharing their experiences.

Why celebrate mistakes?

Everyone has a time when they feel challenged or “stuck”. When you able to explain your thinking to another person or even out loud to yourself, you can gain a better understanding of the situation and the actions you need to take. By sharing your mistakes or understanding with others, they may see the gaps that you cannot see as they are not directly involved. They can offer objective feedback and suggest some strategies.

Here’s the thing – you can use the same strategies as someone else and still get different outcomes. It is important to ask yourself: “Am I using the right tools or strategies or could something else work better?” Entrepreneurs are constantly re-evaluating the profits and losses and looking for a better way to accomplish their goals.

Working through your mistakes to learn what you can do differently the next time feels good. Even though, you might not discover the complete answer, it feels good just to know you were working on it and therefore working your brain. Embrace the challenges and build new neuropathways in the brain. Develop a growth mindset and expand your critical thinking skills. You can apply the same process and adjust to new situations.

When you make a mistake, you could be opening the door to opportunity that would not have occurred had you not made the mistake. There are many mistakes that life-changing inventions. Spencer Silver, a researcher in the 3M laboratories was trying to make a strong adhesive but it was weaker that what currently existed. He spread the new adhesive on a piece of paper and realized he could remove it without leaving a mark. He was attempting to find a marker for his choir hymn book when the idea of Post-It Notes were born. Richard Jones, a naval engineer, was working on a meter to monitor power on naval battleships when one of the tension springs fell to the ground and the “Slinky” was born. There many more examples for you to be inspired by.

Mistakes are how creativity and innovation are born. We discover new ways to do things. Peter Drucker has suggested that if your people do not make mistakes that you should fire them as they are not doing anything interesting. Ultimately, mistakes lead to progress.

Ask yourself…

What is RIGHT about the mistake?

Are you on route to achieving your goal or finding the answer?

Are you able to identify your mistakes?

Are you able to remove the emotion and focus on the facts?

Are you being solution focused?

Remind yourself – it is okay to make mistakes! When you are making mistakes, you are growing and learning so make many and learn quickly.

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.”

Neil Gaima