eWomenNetwork Blog

Your success will begin and end with your mindset. Your mindset creates the opening for success to flow to you… or not. It’s the mechanism that turns on or shuts off the flow of ideas that can and will be the keys to your success.

A mindset will make you as mechanical and as predictable as a calculator… hit number and it appears on the screen. If you have a “Success Mindset” you will gain support in your endeavor to achieve success.

Your mindset takes in, digest, uses or rejects what is valuable and what is not.

A mindset is like a command post. I’ll try or I won’t try. I’ll learn or I won’t learn. I’ll make the call or I’ll put it off. I’ll get the job done or I’ll procrastinate.

Your mindset influences your behaviors, and your behaviors bring forth your successes or failures.

The good part is that your mindset is created and controlled by you. Your voluntary, controllable thoughts, beliefs and feelings, backed by a firm decision, can, and do, form your action patterns that lead to the results you produce.

Expand your mindset and you will expand your range of possibilities. When your thoughts, beliefs, feelings and actions are in perfect alignment, the conditions in your life will change like magic! Simply put, if you develop a millionaire mindset you will then become a millionaire! Everything you have in your life, good or not so good, is a result of your mindset. If you want to accomplish

ANYTHING you must first develop the mindset necessary to accomplish it.

What is a mindset? A mindset is a decision that creates that feeling inside that you’ve already accomplished your chosen objective. It’s not a goal of “someday” I will get there, or “next month” I will accomplish it. It’s a mental and emotional state of being that says you are already there!

So if you want success in any endeavor, start to own success, feel it, see it, taste it, become it, and it will be yours.

Assignment for this week:

This week take a look at the firm decisions you make and how easily you accomplish them. On the other hand take a look at those things you struggle with and discover what decisions you need to make in order to end your struggles.

Join Jim Britt on Success Institute 10.18.11 at 1:30 pm CST as he shares his positive insight on “Cracking The Rich Code, The Six Traits That Wealthy People Have In Common”.

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I recently met with a fellow entrepreneur who had some concerns regarding networking and philanthropy. When she arrived in our community and started her business, she was already accustomed to getting involved and giving back, so she continued those practices. As her networking circle grew, she was approached by many of her new business contacts to support their non-profit endeavors, which she gladly did. After all, this was a great opportunity to give financially to some great causes, get involved, and nurture new relationships to the next level… Right? But when it came to her turn to hold fundraising events, she found that many of her colleagues did not reciprocate their support. She was left discouraged and disappointed in her attempt at mixing networking and philanthropy together. Can this work effectively?

KEY TRUTH: When it comes to networking and philanthropy, be authentic. That means you gift generously to causes that you are passionate about without any expectation of anything in return.

Networking is about building relationships with people.

Philanthropy is about giving money to causes that you are passionate about.

Giving money to causes in order to build relationships with people is not always authentic.

But giving money to causes because people you care about are passionately involved in that cause, and you want to support them in that passion is authentic.

KEY TRUTH: When it comes to networking and philanthropy, recognize that everyone is limited in TIME and MONEY. No one can attend everyone’s events, and everyone has a limit on how much they can give away, regardless of how great the causes may be. So don’t expect the impossible. It’s unfair to hold grudges against people who didn’t support your endeavors… and that only ends up working  against you. Instead, focus on what you can manage. Put together a Philanthropic Budget for your company.

7 Steps in putting together a Philanthropic Budget .

1.  Determine the amount of money you want to give to non-profit organizations for the year. What can you afford? Be careful there. If you  only give what you can afford, it’s likely that you’ll never give a thing. I challenge you to pick a number that exceeds that.

For example: Let’s say $4000

2.  Decide which cause or causes you are most passionate about. Stick to one or two for starters. If you are unsure about which causes to support, spend a year really getting to know the non-profit organizations in your community so that you can make a wise choice the following year.

For example:  Let’s say we choose the eWomenNetwork Foundation as our main organization to support.

3.  Designate a higher percentage  of your budget to your key cause(s).

For example: 50% of my budget will go to the eWomenNetwork Foundation annually. I’ll write a check for $2000

4.  Designate a smaller percentage of the budget to other causes you are interested in supporting.

For example:  25% of my budget  ($1000) will go to:

$ 500.00       The Boys and Girls Club

$ 250.00       The Community Food Bank

$ 250.00       The Salvation Army Homeless Shelter

This money will be distributed in the form of a check at their annual fundraisers.

5.  Don’t forget to set aside still another portion of the budget for undesignated support.

Think of this as your Philanthropic Petty Cash that allows you to support new non-profit organizations that you hadn’t considered before. Perhaps you’ll use the money to attend an awareness luncheon. Or maybe you’ll give a donation to an important colleague, who is running in a 5k race for Breast Cancer.

For example:  I have set aside 25% of the budget ($1000) for undetermined giving that may end up looking like this:

($600)  1 misc. non-profit/networking luncheon a month at $50 each ($250)  1 big fundraising event for a new cause I’m interested in    ($100)  2 friends ran a 5k race for various causes at $50 each     ($25)    1 of my clients asked me to support her child’s fundraising  ($25)    a Christamas gift card donation for Big Brothers Big Sisters

6. Determine to stick to your budget.

This is an important factor. When you have a philanthropic budget in place, you’ve made arrangements to give generously to key causes you are passionate about, as well as having money available for unexpected and undetermined giving. Once the money is gone, you can easily and honestly tell people that your annual giving budget has been used up for the year, and that you’ll consider them in the future.

7.  Diversify your giving methods to give even more!

Although your money may have been used up for the year, keep in mind that giving/gifting isn’t always monetary. You can always gift your time and/or expertise by volunteering or participating on a Board or Committee.

For example:  I may do the following in addition to my annual financial giving:

Walk 1 mile for Relay for Life and collect sponsorships.

Serve on a committee that helps plan an annual fundraiser.

Do the tax reporting for a small church group in the community.

Invite other business colleagues to non-profit awareness events who may consider financial donations.

Networking and Philanthropy can work. A Philanthropic budget will help you pull it all together in a more effective way! Let me know how you make out.

Happy Giving!

Gail

Gail A. Sullivan lives in Sarasota FL. She is the CEO and founder of BECAUSE WOMEN which helps women get to the next level of success through quality conferences, forums, workshops and events. One of her greatest joys is teaching people about Philanthropy and helping them implement that as a key component in their personal and professional lives. Gail is a motivational speaker and author of the book:  The Yellow Brick Road: A Woman’s Journey to the Edge and Back.

Do you wake up tired every day?

Do you tend to run out of steam as the day goes on?

Are your days so busy that you miss meals?

Do you feel that you’re eating healthy but just don’t have the energy you want, and the weight is still creeping on?

IN TODAY’S WORLD we are all so busy multi-tasking, with schedules jammed to the hilt! We are demanding more and more from ourselves, and yet letting the fundamental things slip that would fuel it all!

WHAT IF you could have more energy all day long – be more alert and attentive – be in better moods – feel  great – awaken feeling refreshed – eliminate cravings – and maybe even lose those stubborn pounds that you’ve meaning to ‘get around to’ doing?

Sure, you want all this, who doesn’t? But there is never time to stop and address any of these concerns? And, if you did manage to stop long enough, where would you start? There is so much conflicting information out there.

So, in a world where women think about food and weight as much as men think about sex (yes it’s true!), let’s do something about it, so we can get on with and maximize the other areas of our lives!

What I am going to do is outline for you the basic needs of your body—what it needs, why, and how you can give it just that. Start this simple plan immediately and you WILL notice the difference: a difference that will ripple positively throughout your life, both personally and professionally.

First, it is important that you understand the facts behind the fuel!

We need five things: Energy (from calories), Nutrients, Hydration, Sleep, Movement/Exercise. These five pillars are the springboard for your life! Think about that for a moment. We need all of these in a certain: Quantity, Quality, Timing.

If you mess with any of these, it’ll have a domino effect with the others. The result? Cravings, tiredness, running out of steam, not sleeping well, waking up tired, weight gain. All those things that hold you back in life – eh? Those things you wish would just disappear! So let’s get that happening!

If you don’t get those five things outlined above in a certain quantity, quality and timing, it will mess with your blood sugar, metabolism, and hormone levels. Why is this important? Because these control your hunger, your energy, and therefore, performance every moment of your day! So, what’s the key? Keep these three things (blood sugar, metabolism, hormones) level and constant. Here’s how:

ENERGY - You MUST eat regularly. Do NOT miss meals or let long gaps go between them. Your body needs fueling every
3-4hrs. Otherwise, your blood sugar and metabolism will drop, causing irritability, being lethargic and cravings.  Eat breakfast. It boosts your metabolism (and fat burning), and it brings your blood sugar back up after sleeping.  If you don’t, your energy will be depleted, you’ll crave more bad foods as the day goes on, and your metabolism will stay really low.

NUTRIENTS – It’s all about fueling your body with what it needs. Think natural and fresh, as much as possible, fruits /veggies. Unfortunately, so often now (with the food BUSINESS!) these are empty/depleted of nutrients. So, try and get more organic foods/local/in season or frozen. In addition, the fiber and water in these will keep you full longer and aid digestion.

HYDRATION – Make sure you get consistent intake during the day from foods and water. A 5% drop in your body’s water levels leads to a 25-30% loss of energy. And, even with mild dehydration, your metabolism slows down by 3%. Again, it’ll help fill you up, and you may be mistaking thirst for hunger, so sip away!

SLEEP – I know, I know!  It’s one of the first things to let slide in our hectic lives. But, I cannot stress how IMPERATIVE it is to maintain as EVERYTHING stems from sleep. Cells renew; body burns fat; memory sorts itself; you produce hormones for controlling your appetite/registering when you’re full; and your ‘happy’ hormone for your moods. If you continually lack in this area, you will eat more, and more bad ‘empty’ high-calorie foods (as your body will be screaming for quick energy), you will run out of steam, you will suffer bad moods, be irritable, put on weight  … and basically end up being no good for anyone or anything. And, you will eventually get ill/ailments. Solution? Time your sleep in 90 min. increments. If you can’t get 7.5hrs, then aim to wake up at 6 hrs. Why? Because your sleep goes through 4 stages of deepness taking 90 mins., and it’s in the 4^th where all the ‘good’ takes place. So, max the number of repetitions of that stage, and wake up when you go back into the light stage (stage 1) and you’ll feel more refreshed. Try it!

MOVEMENT/EXERCISE – Do I hear another groan as this slips down your ‘to do’ list? I’m sure you know the benefits:  boosts your metabolism so you burn more fat, improves the quality of your sleep, your moods, etc. Yes, it all fits together like a jigsaw puzzle! So wherever you are or go, just move! Take the stairs, stand up whilst on the phone, walk around – hey, even jumping jacks!

LASTLY, know that your body burns food/fuel at different rates: carbs first, then fats, then proteins. So, if you want to stay full and satiated longer, eat protein at every meal.

Know that ‘simple’ carbs are the quickest source of energy for your body – white sugars, white breads, etc. (more processed foods). These are pure calories and completely devoid of nutrients. It’s best to avoid them altogether. Choose ‘complex’ carbs – fruits, vegetables (basically your more natural foods). They contain fiber and nutrients, help keep your insulin/blood sugar stable, and therefore your energy levels. Also, because of the fiber and water content, they’ll fill you up, keeping you satiated longer, and provide volume to boost your metabolism. Yes, eat fats! But, go for the ‘good’ ones with omega 3’s, i.e., olive oil, avocados, fish, nuts, chia seeds. And, without fail, eat protein at every meal, and even snack, if you can – fish, meat, chicken, beans, dairy, and soy.

Ok – that’s the science – and hopefully more than enough reason and motivation! What about in real life?

#1 -  Plan to eat – the healthy way! You plan everything else in your life – why not your health?! A little bit of planning goes a long way. Stock up your fridge and freezer at home as well as at work. Ask yourself “What can I eat to get maximum volume, minimum calories, and the most nutrients?!”

#2 -  Eat regularly. Missing meals WILL work against you.

#3 -  Eat protein at every meal/snack.

#4 -  Eliminate white foods from your diet such as sugar, bread, rice, pasta. These are poison to your body! There are plenty of healthier alternatives.

#5 -  Eat more natural foods – lots of color (less processed).

#6 –  Think nutrients.

#7 –  Take your supplements.

#8 -  Make time to get more sleep.

#9 –  Carry healthy snacks everywhere to avoid temptations.

#10- Hydrate consistently throughout the day.

#11 -Move every day.

I implore you to take control now with every mouthful you, your family and loved ones take. Live your best life, be the best in business you can. Fuel yourself for peak performance everyday!

Dawn Peters

Naked Health

www.NakedHealthgrp.com

Guest Post by Sheri’ Taber of  The Peak Performance Group, Inc.

It is estimated that networking can yield 80% more results than cold calling. Networking can also increase your chances of landing a job by more than 70%. Whether you own a business, have a job or are looking for one, you should be networking.

Some common and misinformed reasons include, “I’m not a sales person, I can’t do face-to-face selling,” “I don’t even know where to go to network” and “I don’t have the time.”

Networking is NOT direct sales, and it isn’t a new idea. People have always done business with people whom they know and trust.  How else to trust someone other than getting to know them?

Networking is all about developing relationships and can be the highest yielding strategy of your marketing plan. You can’t afford not to get involved.

Networking Basics

Who is your ideal referral or strategic partner? These are the people who already have trusted relationships with your target customer or employer; they are their:

• Clients,
• Community,
• Associations,
• Vendors,
• Networking groups or
• Professional services suppliers

You aren’t looking to sell to these people, you are looking to build relationships, market yourself, then earn their referrals and give them referrals in return.

Identify what events these ideal partners attend, and be there! They could be market or vendor related events, associations, client events or even community and humanitarian activities.

Networking isn’t an overnight sales tool. Relationships built on trust and credibility take time, but they also have longevity far beyond a quick sale. Networking also isn’t a one-way street. These relationships should be mutually beneficial. Understand their business, what they do, what their personal and professional goals are, and what qualifies as a good lead for them. Pass them referrals as soon as you are comfortable and able and they will do the same for you.

Strategic Planning

Networking drives the growth of your business.  To make the most out of every networking opportunity you must create an action plan wherein all of your networking activities are aligned to your strategically defined business goals.

What are your networking goals?

• Reach business goals?
• Build relationships to generate new clients?
• Meet colleagues for possible collaborations?
• Develop brand and name recognition?
• Look for funding opportunities?

With a clear understanding of your desired outcomes, you’ll be able to develop a networking strategy that out delivers previous experience and your expectations!

The forethought put into preparing physically, mentally, conversationally and emotionally will contribute to a successful networking event as well as long-term results toward your goals.

Be Physically Prepared

• Name badge
• Business cards
• Smartphones
• Pen and notepaper
• Brochures (if appropriate for your business)
• Professional attire and posture that reflects confidence

Be Mentally Prepared

• Focus on connecting and sharing with others
• Consider how you can support those you meet – then do it
• Have a “full practice” or “booked solid” mentality, energy and essence
• Avoid approaching networking from a “must make a sale” mindset ‐ it projects a scarcity mindset and attitude

Be Conversationally Prepared

• Listen and ask genuine, relevant and strategic questions
• Frame your responses and business oriented conversation to their needs and network
• Make your pitch emotionally compelling; emotional benefits garner higher interest
• Be enthusiastic
• Know how to create and leverage opportunities for your ideal contacts

Be Emotionally Prepared

• What you believe and feel on the inside is projected outwardly – have a winning attitude
• Align your thoughts and behavior with your level of service and integrity
• Disconnect from the problems and challenges that are occurring in your world

It’s not what you know, it’s whom you know – and networking is your most powerful path to mutually profitable relationships.

Join Sheri’ Taber, CEO of  The Peak Performance Group, Inc. on August 23, 2011 at 1:30pm CST for the one-hour, eye-opening Networking C.R.I.S.I.S. Tele-Session.  Register Now!