Ok, yeah, I know - we’ve had enough of the economy talk. I promise - this is not a post ALL about that.

I had lunch with a really good friend of mine the other day who is at a cross-roads in her career. She’s currently working for a big giant corporation, and finally came to the realization that she’s not meant for this work and she wants to follow her heart.

She’s lucky - she doesn’t quite know what she wants yet.

And, I say she’s lucky, because she’s sitting in this vastness of uncertainty. Which, for as uncomfortable as that can be (or maddening, or anxiety-inducing…), it’s also a really great space.

When you get to that point, you have nothing to do BUT listen to what your heart wants.

She’s doing all the right things - meditating, spending quite time alone asking herself what she wants, exploring options and talking to loads of people that support her.

She’s definitely looking at alternative health or holistic businesses as a viable option for her (which, I think she’d be brilliant at…)

She asked: Is it feasible to start a business in this economy?

My short answer - YES.

My longer answer - there is no longer corporate security - it doesn’t exist. I know that sounds blunt, but I’ve seen example after example after example that proves that to me.

You can thrive in your own business and you do not have to worry about what the media or the government says the economy is doing.

There are two BIG keys to having a thriving business:

1. Follow your heart. I know, probably sounds overly simplified. But if you aren’t following your heart - if you’re listening to what everyone else is telling you to do, if you’re following someone else’s formula for success and it’s not right for you - you will not thrive.

I have seen so many examples of people being stuck, stalled, stressed, anxious… all because they aren’t listening to what they’re heart is telling them.

You KNOW what’s right for you. When you follow that, and you’re connected, you can’t go wrong.

And sometimes, that’s easier said than done.

Sometimes, we know we’re stuck, we just don’t know what is going on. It just feels like a big block, or a big invisible wall holding us back - we don’t even realize we’re not listening to ourselves.

(By the way, if this feels like what you might be going through, I have a suggestion on how to work through it. Check out this site for more info and a free resource to help you get back in touch with your inner guidance).

2. The other big key - knowing who you want to serve, being genuinely interested in serving them, knowing where to find them and knowing how to genuinely talk to them and help them with their needs.

In other words - have a niche. Don’t just come out of the gate wanting to serve everyone. That’s very noble. But it won’t get you anywhere.

Serving a select group of people helps you in so many ways. First and foremost, you get to know them, and specifically what they want. You don’t have to guess at what to offer, you can just talk to them about their needs.

Start off small in your offerings - again, don’t guess at what these folks need. Put together a small offering, start there, and build as you draw more and more people to your business.

You do not have to be some big marketing guru, or even write like one to thrive in this economy. The “economy” has absolutely nothing to do with your success (I know, people blame it for a business closing, but I’m willing to be there’s something deeper going on…).

The only thing you need to do to be successful is listen to yourself and take inspired action.

And again, if you feel like you’re blocked, stuck, stalled, stagnant, and you can’t figure out for the life of you why, I’m offering a brand new service - Intuitive Movement Guidance. Check it out here. This service is a 1 on 1 session that will get you back in touch with your inner guidance and help you get moving in the direction that makes your heart sing, and allows your life and business to flow.

Have you ever asked for feedback for something in your business - whether it’s a new service, a blog post, a sales page - whatever - and you hear exactly what you DON’T want to hear?

Someone tells you it’s all wrong. They tell you it won’t work. They wonder why you’re even attempting it. They say the exact phrase you are most afraid of hearing.

And actually sometimes, it’s not that obtuse. Sometimes, they just say something in passing - something anyone else would think was harmless. But for whatever reason, it sends you into a tailspin.

All the sudden, your Naggy Second Guesser steps in.

The Naggy Second Guesser is that part of you that starts to think everyone else is right, even though you know deep down in your heart, they aren’t.

But, the Naggy Second Guesser will start thinking that maybe they have something there. Maybe you are crazy for offering this new thing. Maybe the sales page is all wrong.

Then, the Naggy Second Guesser hands the reigns over to the Negative Nelly. And she starts telling you how you’ll never succeed with this, and how everyone else is really right - they know so much better than you. And then, The Great Comparitor has a say, and he talks about how all these other business owners are doing so much better and they’re successful because they have the exact right formula…

ACK! It’s enough to make ya want to chuck it all and go find some dessert island.

You are the one that knows what’s exactly right for your business.

YOU. You know. Deep down, you know what’s right. Your heart is telling you what’s right. It’s up to you to either listen to the Sabotage Committee, or what your heart really wants.

And the big secret is - whatever your heart wants is what’s going to bring you success, joy, fulfillment, flow… all the things you want for your life and your business.

Asking for feedback is important…

It’s tough to work in a vacuum. You can’t always see the forest through the trees. You get so married to what you’re doing, it’s easy to miss spelling errors, missing information, stuff that’s out of alignments…

Sometimes, it just helps to have another set of eyes look at what you’re working on. And it helps to get feedback so that you make sure you’re covering your bases.

But, it’s important to get feedback in the way that feels best to you.

Tips for asking for and receiving gentle feedback:

1. Be ultra specific about what you want. Tell people in very clear terms what you need feedback on. Asking for general feedback leaves the door wide open for whatever someone wants to offer.

Asking for very specific feedback ensures that you protect your heart and your spirit - and won’t allow anyone to tell you they don’t think this will work, or that the whole thing is all wrong.

And quite honestly - if someone does that, disregard what they’re offering. No one has the right to be that brazen about YOUR business and what’s right for it.

2. Take whatever comes in with a grain of salt. Don’t think that just because someone offers feedback that they unequivocally know better than you.

Again - YOU know what’s right for you and your business.

3. Be confident in your work and what you’re asking for feedback on. Check in with yourself. If you’re asking for feedback because what you’re really seeking is validation, hold off on asking for feedback for a little bit.

Feedback and validation are two different things. And if you’re really seeking validation, and you ask for feedback, it’s going to cause the complete opposite reaction within you.

If you want validation, that’s a whole other conversation - seek out a very close friend or family member who will support you and lovingly tell you what you want to hear.

If your Negative Nelly, Naggy Second Guesser, and Great Comparitor are wreaking havoc in your psyche and you need to be able to hear what your heart has to say again, I’m offering a brand new service that might help. Check it out here.

I’ve heard from quite a few people this week that they are feeling scattered and unfocused. One person told me she felt so dizzy she thought she was going to pass out - she couldn’t concentrate on her work, and she had a horrible time staying in the present moment.

Could be Mercury Retrograde…

Mercury is retrograde, and that can cause that feeling of needing to slow down, and not being overly focused. Or it could be spring fever - which is also known to cause that scattered, not-knowing-what-to-put-your-attention-on feeling. Or heck, it could even be allergies!

Whatever the case, the point is, there’s a feeling of being scattered and unfocused, and there is a sense of wanting to be more grounded.

Might I offer though, that sometimes, it’s ok to sink into that feeling of being unfocused and just go with it. And, I’m not saying to blow important things off and float through your day without a care. But, sometimes, we just need to nurture ourselves and not try to force the focus if it just won’t come.

However, if you’d had enough of being nebulous, and it’s time to get on with life, why not try some movement.

Yep, movement.

It doesn’t have to be anything rigorous - I’m not talking about committing to a whole new exercise program, I’m simply talking about getting out of your chair and moving.

You could:

– Walk around the perimeter of your house a few times - and you can do it slowly if you want.
– Take a few deep breaths; maybe reach your arms over your head as you inhale and then float them down by your sides as you exhale.
– Stretch.
– Do some jumping jacks.

See how easy it is to do a little movement?

Moving like this helps us get present.

When you’re feeling scattered, or unfocused, chances are you’re focusing on too many things at once - or your brain isn’t sure what to do next.

Doing some movement and focusing on that for a few minutes can be just what your brain needs to get back in the habit of focusing.

Try it!

The horrors - I’ve skipped blogging!

Oy! Would you look at this?? It’s been over a week since I’ve blogged.

Oh my gosh, what is wrong with me?

Nothing.

Nothing is wrong with me. I’m having a perfectly natural ebb in my energy. And I’ll tell you - it’s been mighty productive!

Ebb and flow is natural. It’s how life works.

And yes, I’m here to tell you - I don’t always perfectly stick to my blog schedule. But that’s because, I don’t really have a formal schedule - because that’s what works for me.

When these ebbs happen, I just don’t have it in me to give in certain ways… so I don’t. I’ve learned that there is something to honor about the ebb - usually, for me, it’s because I’m in a very deep exploratory phase within myself, and something new is wanting to emerge.

And this time, emerge it did - WHEW!

Thanks to this ebb, and me honoring it, I’ve got a whole, brand-spanking-new program coming in June. It involves movement, and marketing - my two favorite things. And it’s called “Move Into The Flow Of Your Marketing.”

But I can’t tell you more than that… and no, I’m not trying to be all “internet-marketing-secretive.” It’s just that this program is still in the process of revealing itself to me - so I can’t let anything fly yet, because I don’t even know all the details.

So why am I telling you this? Because, I’m so darn excited to be adding movement to my business - but really - I want you to see that it’s ok to not always stick to a rigid schedule with things.

It’s ok to honor you and your natural ebbs and flows.

And deeper than that, it’s not only ok to honor it, it’s essential. Putting something out in the world “just to get it out,” or “just because you should” puts very constrictive energy around whatever you’re releasing.

It can feel forced - for you and the folks meant to receive it.

Going with the flow is better for you, your work, and the people you serve.

And no, I’m not giving you permission to stay in ebb all the time, or to blatantly slack off. But, when you’re truly feeling like you are forcing something:

– Stop. Take a few deep breaths and focus on your breathing for a few minutes.
– Get up and stretch your hands to the sky, maybe bend down and touch your toes.
– Check in with yourself and see why it feels forced.
– Ask yourself what you could do instead of this particular task - where is your energy leading you.

Once you’re clear on where your energy is leading you, you can decide what it’s best to do in this moment. And then, you can come back to the task that feels forced when you’re feeling more in the flow.

This is going to be a soap-box post… I’m just warning you. I have very strong opinions on this particular topic, and it’s been at the top of my mind for a few weeks - and I just need to get it out…

I’m a marketing professional - but I’m not one of those marketing professionals.

I get paranoid. When I friend someone on Facebook, or when I follow someone on Twitter… it says right there in my profile that I teach holistic and creative business owners how to market their business.

And I worry because, I don’t want people - the people I love to hang out with because we share common interests - I don’t want them to think that the only reason I want to be their friend is because I want to peddle my wares to them.

That’s not why I friend or follow.

I friend or follow because I’m creative, I’m a dancer and a yogini, I’m a Reiki Practitioner, I’m an Aromatherapist, I’m a soap-maker, I love herbs, I love nature… and darn it - I think we probably have a lot in common.

I get tired of the hype and manipulation too.

Believe me; I am followed and friended by more marketing “gurus” than you can shake a stick at. And you know who I’m talking about… the people who, it’s obvious they don’t give a hoot about hanging out with me, they just want that digit in their numbers so it looks like they have a big following.

Honestly - I don’t follow those folks back. So, you gurus who might be reading this, be warned… (ha ha).

Another bit of honesty - mindlessly building a following does NOTHING for the success of your business. Business success is about trust, and about being in service to people that you are passionate about helping.

Mindlessly building a million-person following isn’t gonna help ya. Mindfully building a following… well - that’s a whole different story…

I’m not into puffery… I’m keepin’ it real.

I’ve been seeing a LOT of hype and manipulation marketing lately… lots of stuff that tells you that you should be making a billion dollars - and not working hard.

I see lots of stuff that touts how to get bazillion friends or followers in a short amount of time.

But I have to ask - why on Earth do you want bazillion followers in a short amount of time? I mean really - aren’t we on social media to build relationships? And if that’s the case - should we be building our network mindfully?

YES.

And really - when you’re in business - you’re working hard. Trust me. I know. After being in business for 10 years - there is no room to be on vacation 50 weeks out of the year and still be “in business.”

My friend DonnaMaria over at IndieBeauty has a great blog post about not giving up and working hard. She talks about the fact that business CAN be hard work - and most of the time, it is.

I do not know ONE SINGLE successful entrepreneur who is successful and only works 4 hours a week (and yeah, I know about that famous book on the subject, but quite frankly, I don’t buy it - nor did I buy it… I’ve heard there’s flaws in his so-called 4 hour work week…).

Ok, deep breath… here’s what I want you to know…

Businesses take time to grow. You will not be an overnight success nor should you put that amount of pressure on yourself.

Do not compare yourself to others. You have no idea what their real situation is. Don’t make up stories in your head about how successful they are, and what they must be doing… there’s only one way to success - planning and taking action. Save yourself the banging-your-head-on-your-desk and stay true to yourself. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing - or how it looks on the outside; rarely are things exactly how you think they must be.

Like I said in my comment on DonnaMaria’s post: Being in business for yourself is this blissful mix of love, contentment, overjoyed satisfaction, stress, hard work, sweat, tears, and passion (not necessarily in that order)

You do not need Bazillion followers or friends to be successful. Nor should you think that you have to make Bazillion dollars. Don’t strive for someone else’s ideal of success. Define what YOU want, and then make a plan and take action toward that.

Always be true to yourself. Decide how you can live your best life, and go for it.