amazing women magazine april 2015

owwomenAmazingAmazinAmazing

magazineBUSINESS EMPOWERMENT LIFESTYLE ENTERTAINMENT

APRIL 2015VOLUME 2 ISSUE 3

a publication of Raven International Media

An Interview with LEGENDARYTalk Show Host

MONTELWilliams

Raven Blair Glover

Out ofAFRICARev. Basia Christ, Ph.D.

10Ways to Get

MOREOut of Life

Terri Levine

Out ofAFRICARev. Basia Christ, Ph.D.

Good-HEARTEDCustomerSERVICEChristina L. Suter

Good-HEARTEDCustomerSERVICEChristina L. Suter

An Interview with LEGENDARYTalk Show Host

MONTELWilliams

Raven Blair Glover

10Ways to Get

MOREOut of Life

Terri Levine

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April 2015 Amazing Women 3

Letter from the PublisherA

Raven Blair GLOVER

PublisherPowered by Raven International Media Producer and Founder of

Amazing Women of Power, positive programming radio network

Subscribe NOW by clicking on the link below to receive your next issue FREE:

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Manifest Your Dream for Business and Life with a Vision BoardWant to know a secret? Goal setting and creating big changes in your life and business does not have to involve some boring corporate-like list of measurable and deadlines.

In fact, for many creative entrepreneurs, thats the thing which makes us feel stiff and anxious. We look at the list and were instantly overwhelmed with the enormity of it, so we file it away for later. And we all know when later is - its never.

However, thats how we were taught to approach goal setting. Weve all heard the expression A goal without a deadline is just a dream. But sometimes dreaming is what we need to see a clear path to our destination. And thats what vision boards are for - Dreaming.

Rather than a bland calendar or spreadsheet with dates and impressive sounding goals on them, vision boards give you the creativity to let your dreams grow. Which is more inspiring?

Most goal-setting programs focus on the outcome - the result you want. While thats perfect for a business plan, its not the best way to keep you inspired and motivated.

Vision Boards are not some airy-fairy make-believe, either. Weve known for decades daydreams have power and purposeful visualization is the key to greater success in every area of life. Top athletes practice endlessly, not only on the field, but also in their minds. They see that perfect shot, winning race, or stunning back flip. They concentrate on the minute movements which make it possible, how their muscles will react every second, and how they will feel at the end of a stellar performance. Visualization creates neural pathways which are virtually indistinguishable from those caused by completing the act itself.

You deserve to have it all ...so don't wait to be great! Create your Vision Board today and manifest your dreams for your life and business.

I would love to see what you create. If you want to share, email it to [email protected] with your contact number and receive a free 30-second commercial for your business...how cool is that!

Raven

Do you have a business youd like to take to the next level?Do you have a career youd like to take to the next level?

Do you have an idea youd like to bring to market?

CEO Space is in its third decade as the ultimate Business Growth Conference

- Dine with CEOs and experts: shrinks time to achieve your goals

- Create or refi ne business plans: some of the top minds in the country working with you

- Accelerated, hands-on business training: advanced, next generation training technology

- Revolutionary team-building skills: cooperation culture replaces older competitive systems

- High level business coaching: thirty-hours of meal meetings with deal-making speeds up results

- Develop better strategic plans: Fortune expert trainers help you evolve essential upgraded designs

- Media marketing; cross marketing over multiplatforms: superior experts polish fi nal plans in real time.

I raised 14-million dollars through CEO Space, and its still coming in. I was a third grade teacher when I enrolled. Chris Salter, Chairman of Piano Wizard

I raised 14-million dollarsthrough CEO Space, and its still coming in. I was a third grade teacher when I enrolled. ChrisSalter, Chairman of Piano Wizard

I guarantee your satisfaction with CEO Space, something I have never done with any other program . . . just DO IT. Jack Can eld, co-creator of ChickenSoup for the Soul

I guarantee your satisfactionwith CEO Space, something Ihave never done with any otherprogram . . . just DO IT. Jack Can eld, co-creator of ChickenSoup for the Soul

The program is absolutely amazing; a week of some of the most high-end interactions, networking, capital raising you could ever have to grow your business to the next level. It is absolutely worth your time and effort to be here. Put yourself in an environment where you are going to nd the best of the best. Adam Markel, CEO Peak Potentials

ceospaceamerica.com/raven

We are seeking entrepreneurs who want to bridge the gap between where they are in business and where they want to be - really fast! Who do you know?

Make an appointment for a free business strategy consultation

Super Teaching technology at CEO Space allowslearning with higher levels of retention.

http://ceospaceamerica.com/raven


womenAmazingAmazingAmazingBUSINESSJoin the Conversation in Your Prospect's Head ................ 6

by Sheryl Wolowyk

3 Keys to Crafting an Amazing Elevator Pitch ...............10

by Michele PW

Treat Your Customers Like Real People ..........................12

by Regina Baker

0 to 200 Leads in 23 Days Using Facebook Ads ..........15

by Kristen Robinson

2 Article Templates with Examples: They'll Help You Write More Articles....................................................................18

by Maima Jones

Good-hearted Customer Service ...................................24

by Christina L. Suter

EMPOWERMENTIs the Past in the Past? .......................................................... 26

by L. J. Jackson

The Purpose of Gratitude ...............................................27

by Lorena Douglas

My, How You've Grown ...................................................28

by Boni Oian Trouble Doesn't Ever Come at a Convenient Time .........30

Dr. Renee Hornbuckle

Up is About Hope ............................................................31

by Roberta Harris

10 Ways to Get More Out of Your Life......................32

by Terri Levine

Shine Your Light ...............................................................34

by Tracey Doctor

LIFESTYLEA Day of Self-Love - Loving Yourself with

Compassion and Kindness ...................................................36

by Charmaine Smith

Will You Age Gracefully or Fight It Until the End? ........40

by Mary Smith-Moore

How to Use Spring Cleaning to Lose Weight .................42

by Kim Acedo, MS, CHWC

Out of Africa ......................................................................... 44

by Rev. Basia Christ, Ph.D.

ENTERTAINMENTAn Interview with Legendary Talk Show Host Montel Williams ...........................................................................52

by Raven Blair Glover

AMAZING MENPut Some Skin in the Game .............................................61

by Ced Reynolds

You Can't Do It All! ..........................................................63

by Andrew Angle

MAGAZINE STAFFPublished by Raven Blair Glover, Raven International Media Productions

Editor-in-Chief, Creative Director Rev. Basia Christ, Ph.D.

ON THE COVERRev. Basia Christ, Ph.D. with 4-year-old cheetahs, Faith and Eden

APRIL 2015

Do you have a business youd like to take to the next level?Do you have a career youd like to take to the next level?

Do you have an idea youd like to bring to market?

CEO Space is in its third decade as the ultimate Business Growth Conference

- Dine with CEOs and experts: shrinks time to achieve your goals

- Create or refi ne business plans: some of the top minds in the country working with you

- Accelerated, hands-on business training: advanced, next generation training technology

- Revolutionary team-building skills: cooperation culture replaces older competitive systems

- High level business coaching: thirty-hours of meal meetings with deal-making speeds up results

- Develop better strategic plans: Fortune expert trainers help you evolve essential upgraded designs

- Media marketing; cross marketing over multiplatforms: superior experts polish fi nal plans in real time.

I raised 14-million dollars through CEO Space, and its still coming in. I was a third grade teacher when I enrolled. Chris Salter, Chairman of Piano Wizard

I raised 14-million dollarsthrough CEO Space, and its still coming in. I was a third grade teacher when I enrolled. ChrisSalter, Chairman of Piano Wizard

I guarantee your satisfaction with CEO Space, something I have never done with any other program . . . just DO IT. Jack Can eld, co-creator of ChickenSoup for the Soul

I guarantee your satisfactionwith CEO Space, something Ihave never done with any otherprogram . . . just DO IT. Jack Can eld, co-creator of ChickenSoup for the Soul

The program is absolutely amazing; a week of some of the most high-end interactions, networking, capital raising you could ever have to grow your business to the next level. It is absolutely worth your time and effort to be here. Put yourself in an environment where you are going to nd the best of the best. Adam Markel, CEO Peak Potentials

ceospaceamerica.com/raven

We are seeking entrepreneurs who want to bridge the gap between where they are in business and where they want to be - really fast! Who do you know?

Make an appointment for a free business strategy consultation

Super Teaching technology at CEO Space allowslearning with higher levels of retention.

BUSINESS

6 Amazing Women April 2015

By Sheryl Wolowyk

J oin the Conversation in Your Prospect's Head

As an Expertpreneur, you understand the importance of knowing your target market inside and out. You know where your Ideal Clients hang out, their hopes, dreams, fears, problems and frustrations, as well as how best to reach them and help transform their lives.

Because you have done your research.

Now, with the advent of social media, the new wave of marketing gurus encourage us to join in our prospect's conversation. Get in the trenches, and meet them on their level. Speak to them in their words.

However, contrary to what you might believe, this concept was introduced way back in the 1930's. Long before computers were even invented. (To be honest, almost every

good marketing concept you hear gurus pass off as their own has a foundation in the early days of Direct Response Marketing.)

Anyway, joining the conversation in your prospect's head is an age old Direct Marketing strategy introduced by Robert Collier in his book The Robert Collier Letter Book. It's a powerful way to guarantee you reach your prospects and get them to listen to what you have to say. Ultimately earning you more sales.

That's why today I'm sharing with you the foundation of this powerful marketing technique, and how you can implement that in your business.

You'll find out about Robert Collier and his incredible

legacy...


The secrets to this marketing technique you must know before implementing it...

And tactics to tackle challenges like your prospect's sophistication...

The Early Days of Direct Response Marketing

It's fascinating to think that a method of marketing has been in use for over 100 years.

Truly, Direct Response has been a large source of businesses' success since the late 1800s. In fact, many of the techniques we use today are largely unchanged from what worked then. Any shift in the industry has primarily been due to new means of communications.

Robert Collier was born in 1885, and was on course at a young age to become a priest. However, before taking his vows, he decided to move away from home to seek fortune.

After an 8-year stint in West Virginia working as a mining engineer, he moved to NYC where he joined the advertising department of the P.F. Collier Publishing Company. There he developed his skills in writing sales copy and created incredibly successful letters selling thousands of products. http://exper televation.com/newsletter/june-2014-coaches-corner-if-youre-not-direct-response-youre-not-marketing

Eventually, after suffering through and recovering from a serious illness, he started to research New Thought metaphysics and ideas around success being possible when you envision it. Youve probably been exposed to some

of these philosophies, made popular in the book called The Secret. In doing so, he became a big proponent of abundance, visualization, and becoming the best you can be.

He developed many books and courses on the topic, teaching people how to transform their lives for the better (much like you do!). Within six months after his publishing his first book set, he received over one million dollars in

orders. All due to his incredible and focused sales copy.

Collier is considered one of the greatest marketing minds of our time. And his most famous book among marketers, The Robert Collier Letter Book, is a true gem. In fact, for a long time it was out of print, and you couldn't find a print

copy for less than $1000.

What His Success Can Teach You

Any good copywriter will tell you that understanding the conversation your prospects are having in their own heads is vital to the success of your marketing.

Imagine if you were having a deep chat with a friend when all of a sudden a salesman loudly interrupts you trying to sell you a book. You probably wouldn't be too thrilled with that, right?

That's exactly how your prospects will feel if your communications dont relate to their needs or their hopes and aspirations. Your marketing must take into consideration what is on their mind.

That's not to say you need supernatural powers to understand what they're thinking about exactly at any given moment. You just need to understand their overall deepest fears, problems, frustrations, hopes and dreams. So you can tap into those feelings right away with your marketing communications, and compel them to listen to you.

Basically, you have to put yourself in their shoes. If you were your Ideal Client, what would you want to read about? What would make you want to read more? What is the conversation going on in your head?

I've written a blog series about A.I.D.A. (Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action http://expertelevation.com/how-to-get-in-front-of-your-target-market-attention), the

BUSINESS


fundamental formula for good copywriting. Successfully getting your prospect's attention requires you to immediately tap into what they are thinking. What is nagging them in the back of their minds. What they are thinking to themselves as they read your sales copy.

Do it effectively, and you'll be well on your way to making the sale. Ignore it, and they will ignore your communications.

Specific Ways to Implement This

Part of joining their conversation in their head is considering how sophisticated your prospect is. Sophistication is essentially the amount of exposure they've had to marketing and messaging from companies like yours.

If they are consistently bombarded with big claims in your industry (a plague in the health and wellness niche), you should avoid doing the same. Approach your prospect in a personal way, showing you understand their deeper needs. Prove you can get them to where they want to be.

Another huge element to consider is what they are thinking while they are reading your sales letter. Is this even doable? Can I be successful with this? Why can't I wait until tomorrow? It's up to you to strategically counter these questions through your sales materials with social proof, demonstrations, etc...

For example, as your prospect gets close to the end of your letter, they will probably become anxious. In order to counter those feelings, you would have to address head on the danger of putting things on hold.

If you are a personal finance coach, you might say, you

may be thinking that you want to wait. That you'll have time tomorrow, next week, or next year to get out of debt. You just have to get through this wedding, or that vacation, or this family affair.

Well, I want you to know that if you wait... tomorrow will never come. There will always be something in the way. An excuse not to turn your life around. You'll always carry around a burden, wondering when it will ever go away. Even worse, you'll be paying more and more in interest each and every month. Digging a hole so deep, you don't know if you'll ever get out.

But if you let me help you right now you will finally lose that

heavy burden on your shoulders. You'll be free from the shackles of debt and the fear and worry for your family. You'll finally be able to live the life you've dreamed of.

Attacking it head on like that effectively addresses the issue, while keeping your prospect engaged in how you can help them.

Another side of this coin is addressing issues before your prospect can think of them. Perhaps they've seen a lot of products like yours. Or there's an obvious misgiving with your product perhaps it's expensive, lengthy, or a huge time commitment.

To address this potential problem, you'd want to bring up the objection right away and deal with it. Lay everything right out on the table and explain why its not as big an issue as not taking action to solve their problem, with of course, your solution.

Raising objections will be disarming because it will be unexpected. People arent used to having objections raised for them, so you will build trust and when you give solid rational as to why it's still a good idea to go ahead. They will be open to the idea of making the purchase. They can't help but listen to what you have to say because youve overcome all their objections.

Converse Your Way to Success

While social media has opened a world of possibilities for communications, you shouldn't allow yourself to be solely swept up with what's new and trendy in marketing.

Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms are valid means of marketing your business. However, standard direct response


Sheryl Wolowyk is Founder of Expert Elevation a business coaching and entrepreneur training company for expertpreneurs who make a living sharing their knowledge and expertise. Sheryl shows expertpreneurs how to grow a lucrative business and influential brand with her income acceleration system and expertpreneur roadmap. She provides online

programs, live events, coaching and VIP days to help clients develop an effective business strategy and utilize simple but powerful marketing and sales techniques to attract a steady stream of ideal clients, so they can live the life of their dreams while making a big difference in the lives of their clients. www.expertelevation.com; Sheryl Wolowyk - http://expertelevation.com/about; [email protected]

marketing is still the best option for you to experience the success you dream of. You'll spend less money, get better results, and earn more in the process.

Plus, you'll know exactly what works and what doesn't.

Joining the conversation in your prospect's head is just one of many direct response elements you can incorporate into your marketing. So, in the interest of embracing the old along with the new, try following what your Ideal Clients are saying on social media, and then utilize that intelligence to make an effective sales page for an info product, to use it in a webinar, or incorporate it in a sales presentation from stage. When you speak about what your Ideal Clients are already thinking, they will feel that you understand them better than any of your competitors, and in some cases better than they understand themselves.

You will be amazed by the results. And if you are really fascinated by the Direct Response Marketing world, I highly recommend you give The Robert Collier Letter Book a read. It is fantastic (and now it's available at a very reasonable price on Amazon.com).

www.NetworkLeads.com

BUSINESS


By Michele PW

3Keys to Crafting an Amazing Elevator Pitch

"So what do you do?"Are those the words that haunt your nightmares? Cause you to flee in terror at networking events?

If so, you're not alone. Lots and lots of entrepreneurs struggle with the "what-do-you-do-in-30-seconds-or-less" statement. That's why today I thought I'd give you 3 keys to creating an elevator pitch that rocks.1. Just like not knowing what to say when you introduce

yourself keeps you up at night, your elevator pitch should touch on what's keeping your ideal clients up at night. This can either be obvious (i.e. I coach mompreneurs who are constantly feeling torn between their business and their family) or implied in the solution (i.e. I coach mompreneurs on how they can easily balance being a mom with being an entrepreneur and feel great doing it).

Your ideal clients are searching for a solution to what's keeping them up at night, so you want to make it clear YOU are the one who has the solution -- otherwise you run the risk of seeing their eyes glaze over as they nod their head and move to the next person.

2. Make it about them. In other words, make sure you touch on the transformation they'll get working with you. Like the above example -- I coach mompreneurs on how they can easily balance being a mom with being an entrepreneur and feel great doing it -- you want to focus on the "hope" or what their life could be like after working with you. That's what will make their eyes light up and inspire them to ask more questions.

Now, note I said "focus on the transformation" NOT "focus on your system." So do NOT say "I have a great home study course for mompreneurs where I teach them my 7-step system on how to balance their life and business." And then launch into describing the system. Your ideal clients don't care about your system -- they care about getting the results they want. So talking about your system is the fastest way to have them edging toward the bar for another drink.

3. Use action verbs. In other words, avoid "I have" or "I am" but instead say "I teach," "I consult" or "I coach." If you are a coach, I like saying "I coach" because then people also realize you're a coach without you saying you're a coach.

I know sometimes when I've gotten lost in entrepreneurs' elevator pitches, I'll resort to asking them "So are you a coach? Do you coach them on X?" Because that grounds it for me and gives me some context. When you either get too clever or try and disguise what you do, it can be confusing. (And the last thing you want to be is confusing to your ideal clients.)

Above all, don't be afraid of testing different elevator pitches to see which one "sticks." The only way you're going to really know or don't know what works is to let the market tell you (i.e. actually say it to your ideal prospects and see what sort of response you get). So don't feel bad if your first few tries don't get the desired response -- it's all about testing and tweaking until you get the desired response.

Michele PW (Pariza Wacek), Your Ka-Ching Marketing Strategist, is the best-selling author of Love-Based Copywriting" and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a premiere direct response copywriting and marketing company that helps entrepreneurs attract more clients, sell more products and services and boost their business. To grab your FREE Love-Based Biz Kit visit www.MichelePW.com.

Link to get free copy of Loved Base copy writing book http://lovebasedcopywritingbook.com/template

April 2015 Amazing Women 11www.PrepareToLaunchChecklist.com

BUSINESS


By Regina Baker

T

Do you understand what relationship marketing is? Its more than just trying to develop repeat customers and bringing in more money. It is about the way you actually treat your customers.

Do you view your customers like the real people they truly are?

Or do you just consider them to be a sales statistic?

The worst mistake any business owner can make is to look at their customers as an item in their accounts ledger. If you do this, you will never be able to form good customer relations with them.

Instead you need to change your mindset and start treating your customers like real people. Think about how you would like to be treated by your favorite business, and then take steps to put this into action in your company.

An easy way to start relationship marketing is by thanking

and appreciating your customers. This involves more than just a quick hand shake and saying thanks. It means working on learning more about your customers, and then looking for ways to provide them with their needs. What it all boils down to is showing them that you care, isnt this true of any relationship?

Any customer is looking for you to provide them with value and some form of benefit. Why should they purchase from

you and what do they get in return if they do?

Start thinking about how you can add value for your customers. Could you add a newsletter each month? Could you offer coupons and special deals for them, just for being a loyal customer?

Relationship marketing is another marketing method, with a twist, it adds the human element to it. You need to communicate and interact with your customers. You cannot afford to hide behind your website or in the back office.

Being a good business owner entails putting your best foot forward and showing your face. You have a company that you are proud of, so show it off!

With so many businesses online you cant afford to be left behind. Make use of mobile devices, social media pages, email marketing, Skype, forums., and more.

Try to include as many as possible in your business practices. Or at least test the waters so see which ones work best for you.

Using email is a fantastic way to build a relationship with your customers. It is so easy to send out a quick thank you note, or to send out a birthday or Christmas card. It is the small things you do that really count with your customers. You enjoy it when people show you that extra appreciation

reat Your Customers Like Real People


and kindness, dont you? So why not treat your customers in the same way?

Developing Relationships with Your Customers

Not sure where to start when it comes to working on relationship marketing in your business? Then use the following points to guide you.

Who is Your Customer?

Do you really know who your customers are? Can you write a summary of a typical customer, what they like, where they live, their income and age? If not then this is your first step.

You should also find out what other places they like to visit

when online. Do they visit certain forums or are they all members of a certain group? When you discover where they hang out, get into the habit of visiting the same places. This will provide you with even more valuable insights into who your customer truly is.

It Takes Work

I am sure you thank your customer for making a purchase, but do you go any further than this? Do you follow up with your customers or offer them any advice or information on using your products?

Unfortunately too many business owners overlook this step. Instead of trying to build customer loyalty, they are always looking for new customers. If you want your business to grow and thrive, then it is crucial that you work on developing a relationship with your customers.

It is much easier to get a current customer to buy another product or service, than to constantly keep looking for new ones. If you dont have many repeat customers then take a look at your business model.

Did you take the time to build a database or mailing list?

Do you ever offer your customers related products and tools that complement their original purchase?

If not you really are leaving money on the table.

You can improve this area of your business by offering great customer service and by following up with your buyers.

Knowing Your Own Products

Are you confident that you know your products well enough

to answer any questions that may come your way? If not, then you are lacking in relationship marketing.

Relationship marketing is all about developing a good line of communication with your customers. One of which is knowing everything you can about your product. In addition, this helps build trust and respect with your customers. If they can see that you know what you are talking about, it will be easier for them to buy from you.

A satisfied customer is only too happy to keep buying from

you. They know they can trust your opinions and judgment and they know you are looking after their interests. If you can continually deepen this relationship you will have customers for life.

The Key to Customer Retention

Customer Retention means that your goal is to keep your customers loyal to you for as long as possible.

Customer retention is a two way street, it involves you as the business owner, and your customer. The business owner needs to demonstrate to the customer that they are worthy of their business. This is done by building a solid relationship. When you display this correctly the customer responds by remaining loyal and buying your products or services.

So what is the key to customer retention? To do this effectively you need to set up a solid customer relationship marketing structure in your business that will include more than just a basic marketing plan. You are really going to focus on the customer and their wants and desires. Instead of relying on flyers and other traditional marketing methods you want to

get your customers to really know, like and trust you.

What this means is that you need to have open lines of communication available with your customers. This can be done in a variety of ways including via your customer service or help desk and by being active on your social media pages. In scheduling regular emails to your customers. These emails allow you to stay in touch, offer tips and advice and keep everyone informed on upcoming sales and new products.

Collecting feedback from your customers is key and it provides you with more information than doing general market research. What better feedback can you ask for than that of your current customers?

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Current feedback allows you to see how your company is viewed in real time, not 6 months later. Plus it provides you with the opportunity to launch creative campaigns targeted at your findings. By allowing your customers to tell you what

they need and want, you can cater their every need.

In the April 2014 survey, Netcraft received responses from 958,919,789 ACTIVE websites online. An increase of 242,097,742 from 2013. Online since 1996, Award Winning Internet Marketing Consultant, Author, Speaker and Trainer, Regina Baker understands the power of the Internet and how entrepreneurs are striving to making their mark in "cyberspace." Baker says, "Becoming an entrepreneur and making money are two separate

things. When she got online, she didnt make money right away because she didnt know how. She did however, research like a mad Woman, learning everything she could, buying product after product, some to her amazement and much of it to her disappointment. She believes the process of a journey including

mistakes is what makes us better, stronger and wiser to achieve the goals we set out to obtain.After research, applying proven principles, networking, and learning how to pursue goals in spite of the learning curve challenges, Regina now helps entrepreneurs understand how to better position themselves online by creating strategic internet marketing plans, affiliate programs and affiliate marketing resulting in increased visibility, credibility, and profitability creating buzz on and offline. She was one of the 25 Outstanding Women Who Inspire 2014 by Hope For Women Magazine, named the Leading Business Woman of the Year by The Women Business Owners Organization, one of the Top 50 Fabulous Women Entrepreneurs by Black Business Women Online, 50 and Fabulous Top Bloggers Named by Boomer Diva Nation, and one of the 2011 Social Media Superstars Blacks in Technology.

www.facebook.com/reginabakerwww.twitter.com/reginabakerwww.linkedin.com/in/reginabakerhttps://plus.google.com/u/0/ ReginaBakerwww.reginabaker.com

http://redcarpetinterviewsecrets.com/icon


By Kristen Robinson

Hi, Im Kristen Robinson, the Social Media Ambassador of KR Design. KR Design is a social media marketing company dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and business professionals achieve social media success.Thats how I would introduce myself at networking events until October 2014. The truth is, I had spent the last 4 years attracting entrepreneurs and business professionals for my business. When KR Design first started in 2010, we were a marketing agency. In September 2012, I wanted to change direction. I was getting tired of doing websites, logos, and promotional products and I loved social media. So, we scaled down our services to offer only social media marketing. It was the best decision I ever made for my business and I never looked back. I was awarded the NAPW Executive Woman of the Year in 2012 and I had over 25 speaking engagements in Hawaii the following year. KR Design was growing with clients and we were a local household name.In November 2013, I was approached by a military spouse who wanted to start her own business. We had known each other for a while and she knew my reputation as a military spouse and social media marketer. She had seen the success I had in my business online with social media and success offline with various speaking engagements in the community. I decided to mentor her since I was a fellow military spouse and was flattered that she came to me for help. Fast forward 6 months later, and she was doing amazing things in her business. This caused me to look for other military spouses to mentor and help them start their businesses. In 2014, it was evident that I was going to change directions in my business again. I was in love with helping military spouses start online businesses that allowed them to work from home doing what they loved! That year, I mentored several military spouses on how to become entrepreneurs and how to avoid the pitfalls I had made in my business. I felt like I was on the brink of something exciting and

0 to 200 Leads in 23 Days Using Facebook Ads

great! I decided to move forward in this new direction and host "The Military Spouse Business Summit", a virtual 4-day event, to see if there was any interest from military spouses who wanted to start a business.As I was planning the event, a dark cloud came over me and I realized that I had a big problem. The problem was that I had spent all of my business years marketing to business owners and professionals and I had no clue on how to reach military spouses. It's kind of embarrassing to admit since I am a military spouse but the truth was that I had no idea how to market to them. Here I was, this savvy social media marketer and I had no clue how to reach military spouses. Some expert I was! After panicking for a couple of days, I calmed down. There had to be something I could do, someplace I could start on social media to get the word out about what I was doing. Social media had worked so well for me over the past 4 years, getting KR Design in front of potential clients. Maybe, just maybe, it could work for getting me in front of military spouses as well.Just so were clear on this, lets recap

I wanted to help military spouses start online businesses

I had been mentoring military spouses for some time and they were getting good results

I wanted to find military spouses who interested in starting a business and attend my Military Spouse Business Summit virtual event

But I had NO CLUE on how to find them or reach out to them about my services

And then it hit me! Everyone had been talking about Facebook Ads: many online marketers and colleagues of mine were having success with Facebook Ads. I saw how well it was working for their businesses and how fast their results were. Maybe, it could work for me too! Ill admit that I was hesitant at first, because my previous experiences with Facebook Ads were not pleasant ones. But, I had nothing to lose. I started looking at other Facebook Ads in my NewsFeed and applied some of the tips and techniques I had learned from previous courses.Over the next 23 days, I added over 200 military spouses to my email list! Awesome right? I was so excited to see 8-12 people being added to my email list EVERY DAY thanks to the help of Facebook Ads. This instant surge of potential clients made a HUGE difference in my business and the summit was a success!How did this happen? Well, the biggest difference

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between previous failed Facebook Ad campaigns and this successful Facebook Ad campaign was how focused my audience was for my Facebook ad. Its one of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when it comes to Facebook ads. Looking back at my past Facebook ad campaigns, this is where 90% of my mistakes were made: I didnt target the right people. My target audience was entrepreneurs and that was too general. I should have targeted a specific group of entrepreneurs such as real estate agents, business coaches, speakers, etc. This time around, I targeted women who are 21-55, who like military spouse business pages, live in the United States, and are married. If that doesnt tell Facebook to show my ads to military spouses, I dont know what does! The key with Facebook ads is the more general you are, the harder it is for Facebook to serve your ad to the right people. I had the best success with Facebook Ads when I targeted a specific group of people. If youre having a tough time narrowing down your audience, is to create a survey. I created a survey using Survey Monkey and posted it on my personal Facebook account and encouraged my military spouse friends to fill it out. Some of the questions

Kristen Robinson is known as the Military Spouse Business Mentor and helps military spouses build online businesses that create flexibility and freedom within the military lifestyle. As an active duty US Marine Corps military spouse, Kristen created her business to support her husbands military career while constantly moving from one location to the next. Kristens company, KR Design, allows her to do what she loves from anywhere in the world. To learn more about Kristen Robinson and KR Design, visit www.KristenRDesign.com.

that I asked were about demographics and what Facebook Pages did they visit to get more information about starting a business or maintaining their business.My best piece of advice to you is to just do it and get started. You will get better as you do it. Its kind of like practice. Once youve done it the first couple of times, you know where you can improve and adjust. Since the summit, I have tripled my email list of military spouses to 600 in 45 days! If I can do it, you can do it too!

Available via Amazon.com


To get more info on the summit, visit:www.MilitaryWomeninBusinessRadio.com/Summit

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2 Article Templates with Examples...They'll Help You Write More Articles

By Maima Jones

You may have heard or read that content rules or that content is king in marketing nowadays. It is true that you dont have to put up expensive ads to market yourself any longer or get your message to reach your market. But how do you stay in touch with your market on a regular basis so you can grow your business and sustain it at the same time?

1. Do you want to become the Go-to-Person? Use your articles to market and stay in touch with your market.

Your articles will position you as an expert in your market. It will also position your business as a trusted resource.

2. Do you want to connect with your market? Use your articles to get the traction you need and desire. Your articles will allow you to send online traffic where you

want and need it to go.

3. Do you want to get traffic to your website? Use your


??

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articles and give value to the prospective clients. Your articles (of value) will create more traffic by motivating

visitors to check out what you have to offer on a regular basis

Write More Articles in Less Time!

Template 1: The Top Reasons

Every market, field, or niche has its top reasons. When you

give proven reasons why a particular service or product deserves attention or should be used, you become an expert in the eyes of your market.

Title Examples

The 5 Top Reasons to Write to Your Market

The 10 Top Reasons to Grow your Business through Multiple Streams of Income

The 3 Top Reasons to Develop, Build, and Nurture Relationship with your market

The 5 Top Reasons to Determine Your Niche Market

The Template

1. Pick one of the titles.

2. Write an opening of why you believe these are the Top Reasons.

3. Write supporting statements from statistics or others to back up your top reasons.

4. Include how working with you or using one of your services/products would make it possible to achieve such benefits in their business.

The Example: The 5 Top Reasons to Write to Your Market

Here is a fascinating fact: Writing to your market grows and sustains your business like nothing elselook at all the ads and promotional materials that come your way.

The author of Riches in Niches, Susan Friedmann, writes, Writing constitutes the single most cost-effective, practical way to establish your name and reputation. It costs next to nothing except your time, and is accessible to everyone. She goes on to say that, the credibility you gain from being in print far outweighs any other tool available to the Nichepreneur; plus print retains longevity not available in any other type of media.

So here are the 5 Top Reasons to Write to Your Market

1. Writing to your Market positions you as authority in your field.

Recently my daughter had a problem with her right eye. Rather than taking her to a general doctor, we took her to an ophthalmologist who specializes in treating problems with the eyes. If you were a Writing Coach and someone needed help with writing content for their teleseminar or their stay-in-touch articles, they would likely come to you rather than a Weight-loss Coach.

2. Writing to your Market helps you stay focus on what your market wants to hear and talk about.

Your staying focus on your markets needs is fundamental to growing your business and keeping it sustained at the same time. Your market will change and evolve, so will your business. As your market changes in some aspects, your business will need to be open to adapt in order to make meaningful and relevant contact.


3. Writing to your Market connects you with it like nothing else.

You, as a Coach or a Service Professional are in a relational type of businessso the growth and sustainability of your business will depend largely on your connecting with your market a consistent basis. And writing is the vehicle through which that is possible.

4. Your writing materials/content becomes the gateway to multiple streams of income.

The authors of Content Rules, Ann Handley and C.C. Chapman write, Reimaginedont recycle. Recycling is an afterthought: good content is intentionally reimagined at its inception, for various platforms and formats.

Examples of some of the platforms or formats that you the service professional have to build and nurture a relationship with your market are; Teleseminars, Audio CDs, Articles, Ebooks, DVDs, Web Videos, Retreats , E-classes, Masterminds and Group Coaching.

5. Writing is your legs and armsgoing and touching your market to make a difference by giving needed value.

So write because you the Service Professional have no other choiceeven if it means you contract with a ghost writer.

Template 2: Q & A

1. Begin by asking one or two questions followed by your answer. Questions could come from your prospects, clients, and colleagues.

2. Or, make up questions from what you see happening in your market now or has taken place in your market.

Question:

Answer:

Question:

Answer:

Title Examples

Why do I as a Service Professional need to write to my market?

Why are multiple streams of income essential to growing and sustaining my business?

What is the difference between a target market and a niche market?

The Template

Q & A

1. Ask the question/s.

2. Give the answer/s.

3. Remember to pitch your products/services as solution to the problem/s.

The Example: Whats the Difference Between a Target Market and a Niche Market?

Q. I have been coaching for about 3 years and I love what I do. But it seems like my business has remained in a parked mode. It is like a car with its engine on for about 3 hours but its not moving backward or forwardit just sits there. What can I do to move my business forward? I believe I have a target market, but I keep hearing that I have to narrow my market. I keep hearing also that I have to spend my energy on a niche marketIm so confused! Whats the difference between a target market and a niche market?

A. Before answering your question, lets look at this illustration.

Lets say a fisherman went out to fish in the Pacific Ocean.

Before going, he made the biggest, sophisticated net there was during his time. He learned all of the fishing

tips and techniques available. He felt confident about

what he was going to accomplish. He said good-bye to his friends and family before embarking upon his

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adventure. He knew what to do when he got to the Pacific Oceanwhich was cast his net. He also knew

the Pacific was full with all kinds of fish. Just the thought

of casting his net in such a large body of water gave him great excitement.

At last he was in his ship and on the Pacific Ocean. He

found the exact spot he was told in his fishing courses to be

but decided to go a distance further for a bigger catch. He took a deep breath, thought about all he went through to get here. He cast his net! This was the moment he had worked so hard for.

He felt the weight of the net. He drew up the net carefully. How many fish could there be, he wondered. Just the joy of

having caught so many fish on his first trip kept him going.

He pulled and pulled. The task of drawing up the net into the ship was tedious.

He pulled with all his might and at last he got his net out of water. He dumped all of his catch on the floor and at once

he noticed somethingHe was in awe of what he saw. He saw that he had caught millions of different kinds of fish.

Disappointment began to set. Some of his catch seemed strangehe did not know what to do with them. How could he separate his catch? Which ones could he throw back into the ocean? The work in doing such, he thought, would take so much time and energy. What could he do?

What would you do?

Target Market as defined by biztazlaw.about.com is a

specific group of customers which you have identified who

have needs or problems which your products or services can fulfill.

Maima's mission is to provide client-centric coaching and training to women business owners, coaches, authors and speakers in helping them to empower themselves in building successful and profitable businesses while making a positive difference in their communities and world. Maima specializes in the leveraging power of your Offer to your market for wealth building. She teaches women business owners,

coaches, authors and speakers who are struggling to sustain their businesses due to the lack of cash flow how to craft, package and leverage their Offer to achieve steady cash flow and build profitable businesses. Maima is in Google's Top 50 Wealth Building Experts (of 98.) [email protected]

Niche Market as defined by Wikipedia is the subset of the

market on which a specific product is focusing.

What if your Target Market was Parents of Teenagers?

1. You will do research on some problems faced by Parents of Teenagers. As you research, you might come across drug addictions, poor grades, hanging out with the wrong crowd, lack of communication, etc. If you decided to cast your net as the fisherman in the

illustration; your catch would include all of the problems listed. But if while still in the target market, Parents of Teens, and you decided to narrow your focus and cast your net. For instance

2. You cast your net and caught lack of communication.

3. Your niche then becomes How to communicate with your Teenager/Communicating with Your Teens.

4. Your role then will be to offer solutions to the parents of teens on how to communicate with their teens.

http://blackwomenmillionaires.com


SpeakingEmpire.com

[email protected]

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By Christina L. Suter

By this stage of life and business you already have an understanding of how you treat people. As children our caretakers taught us how to respect others by using words like polite, social, or customary. Someone taught you how to treat others, you how to shake hands, make friends, etc. All of the social training you received as a kid is a part of your customer service.Our beliefs about customer service come from three layers of who we are. One layer is what we are taught about how to treat people, the second is our vision, and the third is our nature. Are you naturally inclusive, an introvert, or are you a work alone type? Some people offer facts and give clear instructions on products while others are about getting to the bottom line. How will my customer use this or what will they get from it?Customer service starts from the moment your phone rings or from the first time a person walks in. It could also sometimes be your marketing tactics. Customer service can be established by how you deliver the product, how you develop the product, and how you secure it afterwards. These are similar to branding, but this is more relatable to customer service versus how you market the product.As business owners, our visions come from our nature and training. Weve all had a vision of what our companies

would become, whether weve developed a product or a new way for our customers to experience an already created product or service.

What affects customer service?The brand affects customer service. If you're selling a $25 product, there shouldn't be a lot of customer service because you probably can't afford to do it. The customer service surrounding a $25 product should be about meeting the masses and selling as many products as possible. This will keep you from spending much needed time on customer service. However, if you sell a luxury car for $100,000 you can spend an acceptable amount of time on customer service. How much money can you put into your customer service?Our Brand Dictates Our Customer ServiceIn my opinion, the single most important aspect to customer service is your time, effort, and energy. We all have a vision, a nature, and what were taught. If youre fulfilling the original vision, are you exhausting your bottom line and yourself? Do you offer 600 hours of customer service on a $25 product? Are you offering too much? Are you dictating what your pay rate is by giving more than you receive? Our time and energy is what were really delivering to people. Do the work to calculate how much you give versus what you earn then take that and make the necessary adjustments to your level and system of customer service.See more at: Good Hearted Customer Service On www.groudlevel-consulting.comLinks: article on site: http://www.groundlevel-consulting.com/article/5779-good-hearted-customer-service

Good-hearted Customer Service

Christina L. Suter is the founder and CEO of Ground Level Consulting in Pasadena, CA. Christina works with small business owners to improve business performance and work/life balance. Focusing on the unique challenges facing small business owners, Christina helps clients increase profits, reduce management hours, and improve business quality and service. During her 20 years of successful small business experience, Christina has developed a

variety of programs based on key fundamental principles for building and managing a small business and meeting personal goals. Christina has used her intrinsic understanding of essential business practice to help her clients triple business revenue, turnaround failing businesses, create consistent and predictable cash-flow, prevent unnecessary loss, increase gross sales, achieve financial clarity and mastery, and attain family/personal life balance. www.groundlevel-consulting.com


To order, click on the following link: www.highticketsellingbook.com.

www.LuVskool.com

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Connect with L.J. Jackson, Inspirational Speaker, Womens E m p o w e r m e n t Expert, Coach and Mentor at www.personalpowerwithin.

com. L.J. is the Host of the Wise Up and Rise Up Radio Show on Amazing Women of Power Radio Network. She has twenty years of experience and is passionate about providing the best tools, tips, and strategies so you tap into your personal power, achieve your dreams, and restore hope to your heart. Shes a certified Master-Success Coach, certified Master-NLP Coach, and Strategic Interventionist trained through Tony Robbins official premiere life coach training program with degrees and credentials in Psychology and Counseling and Guidance.

A better question isdo you need to clear out negative memories that are creating negative experiences in your life today? Or is your past keeping you from achieving your current goals? If the answer is no, then great! Your Past is something that doesnt have to be discussed or brought up as you work to grow personally and pursue your goals during your work with a Life Coach or Counselor/Therapist. If you're working with someone with training in both fields, it's a good idea to have a conversation and decide together whether or not your past is relevant and should be part of the conversation during your first session or two. I often say, If the past is not affecting your present, then lets leave it where it belongs- in the Past. Otherwise, lets revisited it so you can do some work to release negative emotions and memories.What do you think? Should your past be brought up or ignored? Over the years, Ive had the pleasure and privilege of learning and using the top 10+ methods found in the world

of counseling and psychotherapy to help clients see beyond their current circumstances and limiting beliefs. But interestingly enough, during my research into coaching certification programs, it seemed that there was 1 overall arching method being used, Gestalt therapy, with coaches using the Here and Now process, that says to only focus on present moments in helping a client. If a client brings up their past, state the past is irrelevant, and redirect them to focus on present moments. For me, this was surprising. Dont get me wrong, there are many coaches doing amazing work using this method. Its especially great for clients who need focus, accountability, and a mindset shifts without revisiting their past. The point, Im trying to make is that the past should be factored in when its necessary to help clients grow and shift. For example, during an interview of Dr. Susan Kane-Ronning, she reminded women listening that the Amygdala is the emotional center of the brain (fight or flight/emotional response part of

the brain) and has the ability to store emotional memories that cant even be put into words. She then went on to share how these memories were Immemorable yet Unforgettable and that we cant be emotionally free unless we understand the things that hold us captive and cause our triggers to be activated.So again, what do you say? When working with an expert to support you in your personal growth, it really depends. Over the years, Ive found for some clients, the Gestalt type method was the best method or technique for them. In other cases, using methods such as Narrative therapy, allowed clients the space to tell their story in an empowering way. Especially for clients who had spent years or decades keeping everything hidden (i.e. skeletons in the closet) or spent her entire life being told no one wanted to hear what she had to say. For these reasons, I love having the option of both for clients to discover the power of her personal story before moving on to focus on present moments and her future goals and dreams.You decide!

Is the Past the Past?By L.J. Jackson


By Lorena Douglas

The Purpose of Gratitude

The purpose of gratitude as a tool will bring you happiness. It has been around the mainstream for many years. A long-term study supports gratitudes effectiveness, suggesting that a confident, appreciative attitude contributes to ones greater success, better health, peak performance in sports and occupation. Gratitude brings about a eminent sense of wellbeing and a faster pace of recovery from lifes roadblocks and illness we experience.While we may acknowledge gratitude and its benefits, it still can be hard to call it back at times. Consequently, many people are groomed to throw away the things that are unfinished or missing in life. Yet, for gratitude to fulfill its full healing potential in our lives, it demands to be experienced by more than just the word thanks but a piece of our life at all times. We can make a new way of looking at things; evolve a new habit in our everyday animations, which can require more

or less time.This is why when practicing gratitude it is important to employ it daily. When we practice giving back and thanks for all that we serve, instead of complaining about what we do not possess. When we are in gratitude for the little things, we give ourselves the chance to find out all of the life opportunities and a benediction.Gratitude remembers; it is more a matter of where we put our focus and attention on. It is not a blindly optimistic approach in which the bad things in life are glossed over or brushed aside. Its a matter of what is important to us and what we do to not focus on the small things in life. The pain, anguish and injustice that exists in this world, but when we focus on the little gifts of life that we take for granted, we gain a tactile sense of well-being and life satisfaction. Gratitude balances us and grants us hope and motivation to continue lifes journeys.There are many things that we should be grateful for such as:Waking up at the break of every the day, the first fresh breath of clean air, the sun shining today. We had our health and strength today to chat, hear walk and talk. We have been able to move about safely to work and made it home safely. Get in touch with the right people for the right path. The smell of the coffee aroma at Starbucks. You inspired someone and thank-you!What's on your gratitude list today?Helpful Practices to stay in Gratitude Live in the moment of gratitude.

Think of 5 things each morning in which you are thankful. Days will be better when you are creating new roles. Being placed before you start your busy day, you will have a more serious attitude when you are present

to overcome lifes happenings where you can be sure it will cue you to remember in a grateful way.

Start your morning off every day while you are getting groomed for work, school, by repeating five things a day and by repeating the sentence below, filling in the space to meet your needs:

I give thanks that I live in gratitude for being capable to see another day (Example; my health, my strength, another day of blessings,)

Practice gratitude around your animation and make it part of your morning routine.

Make a point to see the hidden blessing in a challenging position.

When you feel like complaining, stay in gratitude and remember it could be worse. You will be amazed how much better you feel.

Notice how gratitude will make an impact in your life. Squeeze it; experience it and utter thanks for the appreciation.

As you practice, an inner mindset begins to happen, and you may be amazed to discover how you will feel more inspired with a sensation of fulfillment plus gratitude that works.

Lorena Douglas, F o u n d e r Destiny Driven Purpose and Exc. Producer of an Award Winning Talk Show Host of The Destiny

Driven Radio Show Published Author, Motivational Speaker, Certified Life and Business interview Business Professionals who shares, empowering real life stories of business Strategist. www.destinydrivenradio.com

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Now is the time to notice new growth. It was easy when you were growing taller and you could measure with a measuring stick. Now youre growing wiser and youre not sure what kind of measuring stick to use.

Are you happier? Depending on the day, you might say yes so how do you know for sure?

Solution: Mark your calendar. You could start with just a happy face at the end of the day to mark which days left you feeling satisfied. Then add

them up at the end of the month and see how youre doing.

You might graduate to 3 different faces. A Happy face for those great days, a straight line for a mouth for the days that you felt pretty neutral and of course the frown on the days you flop into bed and wish you had

never gotten out.

Now why would you go to all this trouble?

Because its easy to spiral downhill after just one event in your life and start thinking youll never get happiness, get what you want or be loved.'

You are the person who is with you all the time so its up to you to be in

charge of telling yourself the truth. This event was only one of hundreds in your life, it isnt your whole life and it really only came up so it could be cleared. This part of you wants to know itself as love and be acknowledged as lovable.

So lets get started. At the end of your frown face day, think back over what happened on that day. What were the facts and what were your perceptions of that fact.

Now that you have the two separated, comes the hard part. Go back to the first time you ever felt that way

or had that perception. Usually an uncomfortable feeling accompanies the perception so you can use either one.

Ask that part of you to come out and sit on your lap, if you know the age of it thats a bonus but not essential. Now ask it what it needs from you? Give it whatever it needs. Then ask what it needs to tell you. Listen as if listening to a small child. Thank it for sharing. Tell it, it did nothing wrong and it did its job so well, letting you know it was hurting, that its job is complete and it can now go off and play or come into your heart where itll always have a home.

Let me give you an example of how this has worked for Deb.

y how you've grownBy Boni Oian

M


y how you've grown

Deb was sitting in her car in the parking lot of the grocery story making her list of things to buy. The person in the car beside noticeably banged her car door on Debs car, hard enough to jolt the car.

Debs first reaction was to be mad. Then

she felt hurt. Luckily she remembered this technique to list the facts. She got her grocery list and on the other side of the paper she wrote the person hit my car with her door and didnt say anything even though she saw I was sitting in the car.

Debs perception is that the person doesnt care about me, which brings up the feeling that I am alone and no one cares about me.

She asked the part of her that feels that way to come out and sit on her lap. When she asked it what it needed, it said it wanted her to know it felt lonely because she was too busy to notice or play with her so she doesnt feel important.

So what it needed from Deb was to be acknowledged and told it was loved and wanted even when she was busy doing other things. Which Deb explained to her.

Deb then asked is there anything else you want to tell me. It said yes, could we play on the swings sometime. Deb remembering as a child how much she loved sitting on the swing, twisting it up then letting it untwist her feeling like she was flying, said please come into

my heart and I will remember to play every day. Deb also told this part of her, you did nothing wrong and your job here is done so if you want to go swing with the Angels, you can do that.

Having cleared this hurt self, Deb asked the lady who hit her car if there was a problem. The lady said no and she was sorry for the fact she had absent mindedly hit her car. Wanting to make light of it, Deb said, just one more ding, not a problem and went into the store.

Upon arriving back at Deb's car, there was a sweet apologetic note and a $20 bill under her wiper.

Are you never going to have the frowning face days?

Probably not, but hopefully youll remember and use this tool so they get fewer and farther between. If you need someone to walk you through it, Im only an email or phone call away.

Happy travels.

Boni Oian is a Life Navigator who helps people uncover their potential and the Author and Instructor of Claim Your Life Transform Your Unwanted

Subconscious Beliefs into an Exhilarating Source of Power. She also trains teachers to instruct her Claim Your Life process worldwide. She is certified by the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapist Association and shes certified as a Catalyst Coach by the Ace Success Center and the International Association of Professional Life Coaches. Bonis certified as an Akashic Record Teacher and Consultant and has her own radio program on Raven International Positive programing [email protected]

https://girlsceoconnection.wordpress.com

www.youtube.com/user/wisdom sylvia

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By Dr. Renee Hornbuckle

business and rebuild my life doing what I love!I learned early in life SUCCESS is the completion of goals and objectives necessary to achieve a particular task realize a particular dream or satisfy a particular need or want, for a particular period of time. This definition of success implies you always be in a state of constant motion because you must focus on and move toward that thing that you want so badly. Often those things we want so badly seem impossible, difficult or out of reach. But, the real success is not in the attainment of the thing itself, but it is in the process you go through to get it. It is the sweat you put out and the long hours you put in. It is in the decision you make to stay in the fight. It is the lessons you learn as you strive to reach higher levels.This is the reason you can make bold statements about your success even in the absence of physical evidence because of the process. You become able to visualize yourself as strong and successful regardless of the environment you temporarily find yourself in. To be successful is to remain in motion in order to use all of your potential within. The SECRET of your future SUCCESS is hidden in your daily routine! Keep your daily routine in motion and you will find your success!

Five years ago, my life was challenged in ways unimaginable, as she found herself faced with the GREATEST CRISIS ever. I NEVER (and I do mean NEVER) in a million years, would have imagined my life as I knew it and every dream I had for others, my family and me would be shattered. I NEVER would have envisioned my life would fall apart and there would be attacks of the magnitude I experienced against me, my family and others personally caused me to almost lose everything!But like most of us, I had become comfortable with her life and assumed because I was blessed, I had nothing to worry about. Because life was GREAT, I expected it to always BE GREAT! What I learned from this experience is TROUBLE doesnt ever come at a convenient time. It actually tends to come at times of inconvenience - as an interruption; when we least expect it! So, the truth is that as much as we desire for things to be just right in life - there will be troubles. I like to say it this way, Life Happens and when it does, will I be ready?

So, in the midst of your life and your dreams coming to pass...and things being wonderful...LOOK OUT! Trouble may be lurking around the corner. I learned quickly that when you have mishaps in life, thats when you must KNOW WHAT TO DO!Coping with any type of loss/crisis/tragedy, whether it involves personal possessions, a job or a family member, can be very stressful and quite painful.I will not sugarcoat; the stuff we go through hurts, YET, we can overcome if we know WHAT to do! Every day, we see the collapse of major financial institutions, major corporations, national disasters and more; yet, we must know without a doubt WE CAN smake it through these things. When faced with a loss, crisis or life-changing event, you are suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar world, one that can be frightening and unsettling. Knowing HOW to make it can help.In the midst of my crisis, because I FOUND HOPE, KNEW WHAT TO DO, and followed THE PROCESS, I have been able to launch a home-based

Trouble Doesn't Ever Come at a Convenient Time

R e n e e H o r n b u c k l e , Ph.D. is a Coach, Author, and Speaker. Although she is in demand as a speaker and bible teacher

she believes family comes first. Connect with Dr. Renee at www.mylifecompass.com/womenofinfluence; www.reneehornbuckle.com; www.facebook.com/reneehornbuckle; ww.twitter.com/reneehornbuckle


Up is about HopeBy Roberta Harris

Roberta Harris was born in Passaic, New Jersey and grew up in Houston, Texas. She has lived in New York, Washington, D.C., and Santa Fe, NM.

She was chosen for the Independent Study Program, Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Harris studied at Parsons School of Design and Hunter College in New York. Her paintings and sculptures have been exhibited nationally and internationally and her work is included in private and corporate collections including MTV Corporation, NY; Chase Manhattan Bank, NY; Frito-Lay Dallas, TX; Dynegy, Houston, TX; Compaq (Hewlett-Packard), Houston, TX and Texas Heart Institute, Houston, TX. Harris has instructed at Glassell School of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; and the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston. www.robertaharris.com

Somewhere along the line I learned that one should always look up to art. The context relates to the hanging of art on a walla little higher is better than lower. In retrospect, throughout my career as an artist, I have been inspired to create images that move the observer upphysically, emotionally and spiritually.Sometimes it feels like life serves us a ubiquitous diet of DOWN. News is rarely news unless it is bada fire, a murder, a hurricane, a death. The market is down; another leader has fallen; a child is abducted; a plane crashes. Another terrorist attacks, another marriage breaks; another friend is diagnosed with cancer. When is gossip ever empowering?I consider this preoccupation with DOWN a fundamental distortion of life. Certainly life presents its challenges. The stresses we feel are real. Our grief can be deep. But to me, being human means that we cultivate the ability to tap internal and external resources of power to bring light out of darkness, joy out of sorrow, order out of chaos, and life out of death. Metaphorically, while the climb may be steep and treacherous,

nevertheless, we climb.UP is fundamentally about hope.Hope is not wishful thinking. Hope is rather the ability to stand amid what is broken and chaotic and envision a positive future story. Hope is based on an honest assessment of individual and community resources and the commitment to employ these in a personal and collaborative way to create an environment in which people can thrive. Hope is therefore the catalyst of power and the antithesis of victimization.Throughout my career, through a variety of media, my mission as an artist has been to inspire hope and its corollariesdialogue, joy, encouragement, strategy, peace, kindness, and imagination. This approach is not the least bit sentimental; given the challenges that we face, hope demands courage, commitment, endurance and renewalthe best expressions of the human spirit.Throughout history and in every culture, women and men have symbolized hope through varieties of color and shapebirds, sticks, rectangles, checkerboards, rainbows

and religious images, to name a few. Out of this tradition, my art employs these primitive and modern symbols to create a dialogue with the viewer (and among viewers) and ultimately to inspire actions that shape the future by bringing to life the voices, talents, achievements and aspirations of those who experience it.My journey of coming to see and understand the world through art has followed what has been for me an interesting and integrated path. Exploring one idea or area of focus has consistently led me to the next. As a child drawing a ballerina on point, experiencing the feast of senses I discovered in the forest next to our home, spending hours with my father in his workshop as he cut and fit glass and mirror into perfect rectangular shapes, or watching my mother meld mosaic shapes into colorful designsall these early experiences have influenced both what I have come to recognize as familiar in the world and what I have chosen as the symbols of hope in my work.

EMPOWERMENT


Whether you work in a large corporate office or manage a home business, despite advances in technology, you probably work as hard today as you did five years ago and put yourself at the bottom of your list of priorities. You'll take time out for yourself when and there are conditions you have that will signal when that time is right. Am I correct?If you believe everything hinges on you, and this justifies your decision to do everything and be all things to all people, you are placing huge, unnecessary demands on your time and energy. How can you serve others and stay on the top of your game if you are rundown and tired? There is only one way to achieve peak

fitness: Take care of yourself. There is no magic pill to replace self-care. This goes beyond the work/life balance concept and involves you serving yourself as much as you serve others.Here are 10 tips to get you started:1. Know What You Want. Even if

you are in your dream career, there is more to life than work. What do you want to experience and discover? What would make you happy and keep the oughts and shoulds out of it! Think only of dreams and wants.

2. "Live" your passion. I'm not talking about your career or business. What non-work related activities, hobbies, sports, etc. are

you passionate about you want to incorporate into your life?

3. Don't just dream, do it! Dreams have a better chance of becoming real if you do more than think about them. If your dream is to play golf with friends on Sundays, do it. You will be surprised how easily it fits in once you do it. You will wonder why it took so long!

4. Plan. Sometimes, it is easier to plan by working backwards. Start with where you want to end and work backwards to where you are. If you look to the future and plan, you are taking the first step forward your desires.

5. Learn to say no and avoid burnout and stress. Most people's problems stem from the inability to say "no". Set boundaries if you want to "have a life" balanced with fun and enjoyment. No one will say no for you. They're too busy saying no so they can focus on their needs!

6. Be detached from the outcome. We are usually attached to specific outcomes. When things don't turn out the way we hope, we become disheartened. We plan goals, visualize, and imagine what end result we want, but don't think of alternative results. Whatever happens is for the best and highest good of all concerned whether it makes sense or not. Sometimes, we do not have the answers and we don't have to. Relinquish and experience the freedom of living in the flow. Open up to wonderful "coincidences."

7. You Attract What You Think About the Most. Ever heard of the laws of attraction; you attract that which you think about most? You don't have to know how it works, It does. Attract what you want by focusing your thoughts,

10 Ways to Get MoreOut of Life

By Terri Levine


Terri Levine, PhD is the owner of Terri Levine Worldwide, is a business/executive coach, and experienced entrepreneur. She assists businesses globally with growth,

sales and marketing. She has 30+ years of business experience, encompassing work with more than 5,000 business owners and entrepreneurs in many industries. She is a best-selling author and keynote speaker. Terri's most recent venture is her Rapid ROI Marketing Model, which combines Terri's passion for helping businesses to grow with experience gained while building multiple successful business from the ground up. Learn more at http://www.TodaysCoaching.com Contact Info at [email protected].

like a laser, on those "wants." If you think about what you don't want that is what you will attract and you don't want that! For example, if you desire to lose weight, you should visualize yourself as already thin and "see" your new slim self in new clothes and NOT overweight even if you are. Your mind doesn't know the difference between imagined and real.

8. Help others. Do you help others when you're not paid to do it? It might be something like getting information to save them time, or returning a library book. When you do this, you get good "karma" (the

law of cause and effect, or what goes around comes around.)

9. If you're really "stuck," hire a Coach. If you were sick, you'd see a doctor. If your life is unbalanced, see a Life Coach who helps people achieve work/life balance and achieve more than just professional glory.

10. We are here to have fun! We are humans with feelings, interests, passions, and dreams, not robots. There is no law that says we must only work and never enjoy ourselves. Enjoy your life. Don't wait until it is too late.

http://outstandingvirtualassistance.com [email protected]

EMPOWERMENT


My entrepreneurial drive began out of a need and a desire to find a viable solution for my hair challenges. I was determined to create a unique hair

product to help achieve fuller longer, healthier hair within 30 days.

From the initial idea, I started my home-based business. I began doing friends and familys hair from home and soon became a successful salon owner who specialized in providing, healthy hair growth solutions for women with hair loss.

I developed and created a unique concept whereby women would be able to get additional coverage without damaging their hair

My clients were excited and relied on me for my knowledge of herbs and natural remedies. My real passion and purpose, being of service to others, began to blossom and I added consulting.

hine Your LightBy Tracey Doctor

S

The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams.:~ Eleanor Roosevelt


One of my favorite quotes is:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. - Marianne Williamson

This explains my unique ability to help women find holistic solutions to

their health concerns. While doing so, I also encourage them to understand the healing powers of herbs as well as other holistic and alternative modalities.

I have faced challenges along the way as have most in life. My mother became very ill and had to undergo a life-threatening surgery, but through the Grace of God she pulled through. There was a long recovery period once she was sent home and I was determined to give her the care she needed and became my mothers full time caregiver. I was just as determined to not let that responsibility stop my dream of having a successful health and beauty consulting practice.

Tracey Blair Doctor Tracey has more than 15 years of experience in holistic life coaching. Her passion and goal is to educate support and empower women from all walks of life. She is committed to helping women fully realize their own potential and God given talents, and to strive for there excellence in whatever they desire to fulfill by creating emotional balance and exploring various natural ways to reduce and limit stress in their everyday lives so they remain focused and empowered. For more information, call 713-575-0078 or write [email protected],

In fact, I quickly realized God had placed me in that position so I could truly understand the importance of what many of my clients had felt and expressed to me throughout my career, from the challenges of being healthier to the fears and emotional ups and downs that often come along with them.

My hunger for assisting my clients more authentically led me to willingly replace many hours of sleep for hours of research. The goal was to put together an effective coaching program that would be of benefit to

my clients, but more importantly, one that was heartfelt and unique.

Once I began my action plan and things seemed as though they were finally coming together, I began to

experience many adversities including financial setbacks. These hard times

were not without lots of prayer. During this time, I learned how to become resourceful and resolved not to focus on what I did not have, but instead focused on what resources I did have. I began to concentrate on the task at hand, staying laser-focused on achieving my goal despite the odds and setbacks. My motto became If its meant to be it's up to me!

Being the resourceful woman I am, I bartered and traded services. Because of the intriguing and inspiring stories of life lessons that many of my clients shared, I began to realize that I, too, had the desire of bringing these amazing women to the forefront. Thats when I shared the idea with my sister, Raven, who immediately suggested that I take her Kitchen Table Radio Personal Broadcasting

Course and create a show around my vision - interviewing the women who are making a difference and paying it forward.

A wonderful transition from my wellness coaching, where I was helping women make healthy lifestyle changes to hosting and producing a radio show where I was able to take my passion for helping women to a whole new level.

Now I not only provide individual wellness coaching, but also group coaching. My clients love the fact I have a true passion for helping others and it shows.


LIFESTYLE

Imagine spending a whole day nurturing and nourishing, loving and laughing and enjoying the essence of who you are in the present moment! We get all caught up in doing, doing and more doing.we forget how to be present, live in the present and love in the present. Can you relate? I know I can. I spent years trapped in the past, having no confidence to be the woman I secretly thought of being for many years. Not embracing all of my deliciousness and goodness.

When I turned 40 I realized that my life was out of balance. I became hungry and thirsty to experience life in a new way. Something had to change and I was

determined to make that happen.

It took me several years to truly embrace me and to seek out people, places and things that I needed to help me with my personal transformation. I encountered many challenges on my journey. At one point I felt like the walls were closing in all around me. There was rejection after rejection, but I was determined to keep moving forward, one foot in front of the other.

There was one constant joy in my life. My son who became my only reason for wanting to be more and to figure out ways I could experience living and loving me during the hard place

I found myself.

I started out with a simple process to help me on my journey of loving me with kindness and compassion. It worked each and every time. As the days, weeks, months and years went by I did not realize how much I had changed. The changed was more on the inside than the outside.

I grew spiritually. My belief in God was stronger than ever.

My confidence and self-esteem soared. I had a fearlessness and boldness that I never knew existed.

I gained more wisdom and understanding. This resulted in having a healthier relationship with family

ABy Charmaine Smith

Day Of Self-Love: Loving Yourself With Compassion and Kindness


and friends.

My overall health and well being was so much better. I smiled more, I enjoyed spending time with myself, I slept better at nights.

My thoughts were more focused. I got clarity on my purpose. The passion to become an inspirational speaker and life coach, knowing it was a real possibility was so exciting.

The best damn thing was that I had discovered a way to have the most intimate, loving, unconditional, joyful, compassionate and respectful love affair with myself.

Thats Self-Love!

Heres how to begin creating lasting change in your life one day at a time.

Its simple, easy, fun and

amazing women magazine april 2015

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