When setting goals, it’s great to set them high so that you have to reach. But don’t set them so high, you can’t reach them. This is setting you up for failure instead of success. So, let’s talk about how to avoid this is the future. Here are a few things to consider when setting goals:

1. Look at your “whole” life.

Besides achieving your business goals, you may have health goals, relationship goals, family responsibilities, etc.  Write out all the things that you are working to achieve in all areas of your life.

2. Honestly determine how much time you can dedicate per day/week.

Now, look at ALL the things you listed in #1 and take those into consideration while you determine how much time you can dedicate per day/week to your business. And, don’t overshoot because if you do, you are setting yourself up for failure and you’ll be back to square one.  If you can only dedicate 2 hours a day, don’t pretend you can dedicate 8. Make a commitment you can keep.

3. Determine your business goals. 

Now that you have looked at your whole life and determined how much time you can dedicate to your business, create some realistic goals taking all of that into consideration. Be realistic in your projections. Does it have to be prefect? Of course not, but it should be well thought out given all the information.

To Your Success,

P.S. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you need support or have questions, I can answer them on our RYIM Coaching Club Q&A Call.  If you are not yet part of the Release Your Inner Millionairess® Coaching Club, you can:

1. Read about it here. We have packages starting at only $25…OR

2. Attend our FREE CALL: Intro to the RYIM Coaching Club. Register here: http://amyapplebaum.com/ryimintrocall

Why am I telling you this? Because working too hard is frustrating and will kill your productivity. I have been avoiding daily updates on my social networking sites because it was too difficult to deal with. Imagine how silly that is… not communicating with your community because it’s too hard – especially when I don’t have to.  I avoided it because I was afraid of the new technology and was set in my ways. Now that I have this phone, I can’t believe I put this off. All communications are easier for me.

Am I saying go out and get the iPhone. Not necessarily. You have to do what is right for you in terms of setting up systems. What I am saying is look at what is NOT working in your business. Look at what’s too hard or frustrating and figure out a solution so you can get to the business of doing what you’re great at.

To Your Success,

Do you try to do your own PR? Do you use HARO to find leads on reporters and editors working on stories so you can pitch them on your product or business? If yes, then you understand the value of media exposure. You understand that a mention in an article is worth a ton more than paid advertising.

Here’s the problem… most busy entrepreneurs actually intend to read HARO but don’t actually do it! And, what’s worse is that HARO is not the only resource out there for important leads. There’s also Pitchrate, Newsbasis, profnet (which costs several thousand a year) and more… So even if you are keeping up with HARO, you’re really not keeping up!

So what do you do? Do you hire an expensive PR agent to research and find leads for $3,000 to $10,000 per month? Well, if you’re just starting your business, then… NO! So… what do you do? My recommendation is this:

Sign on with PR-123.com to do the searching for you… every day. PR-123 searches through all the resources listed above – all of them – and then sends you an email the minute they find a lead that’s a fit for you.

My friend, Ann Baker created this company and it’s brilliant for those seeking PR with limited funds. And… it works! Clients using PR-123 have been featured in:

Big Bonus! When you first sign on, you get one-on-one coaching from Ann Baker, CEO of Publicity Pros and creator of PR-123, for the first full month to help you write and send the best pitches ever and follow best practices when you deal with the media.

PR-123 does this service for small businesses and even works behind the scenes for some PR agencies. That means that some of those PR agents charging $2,500 monthly are actually having PR-123 do all their research and matching for less than $200 a month!

The cost of the PR-123 service is $169 a month. It’s a no brainer if you want publicity but not the “publicist price tag.” And… Ann Baker, CEO of Publicity Pros, has promised me that if you email her directly (Ann@PublicityPros.net) and mention that I sent you, she’ll personally give you a free phone consultation to determine the best stories and angles you can be pitching to the media, plus she’ll send you her firm’s 10-point checklist of best practices when pitching. The consult alone is worth $75 so this is a great freebie!

I am absolutely thrilled to share this recommendation with those of you who want publicity but can’t afford hire a publicist. Thanks Ann! Go get publicity people!!!

PR-123/Ann Baker
www.PR-123.com
ann@publicitypros.net

All My Best,

Now… determine how you can choose something other than frustration? What new solutions can you choose to implement? What new perceptions can you choose that will open up your mind to new possibilities? What new choices can you make even if it’s acceptance?

NOTE: If you need support or have questions, get on our RYIM Coaching Club Q&A calls.

If you are not yet part of the Release Your Inner Millionairess® Coaching Club, I recommend you check it out here. We have levels starting at only $25 per month.

NOTE: What’s your business profile? Find out here.

1. First… Determine what you’re looking for in an investor. Do you just want money? Do you want partnership… someone who will share connections and help you build the company? This is important because if you’re not clear, you may attract the wrong type of investor and end up with a headache on your hands. If you want someone who is involved, do you want them to have experience in your industry? Probably! They will also, more than likely, be more attracted to the investment because they are familiar with the business you are in.

2. Second… Craft an outstanding presentation. Make sure to include the following:

a. Outline the overall vision, purpose and mission of your company.

b. Describe your target market and make a case for why they need your products/services. What is the problem that your target market has that your company solves? Use statistics. You need to prove that there is a problem that exists and that your company is the solution.

c. Outline your revenue opportunities? How will your business make money? Are there multiple streams of revenue? List them.

d. What are your company goals? How big is your target market? How much of that market do you plan to penetrate over a five year period? Prepare financial projections that outline where your company will be in 1 yr, 2 yrs, 3 yrs, 4 yrs, and 5 yrs.

e. Give them up to date achievements/sales if you have them. What credibility do you have? Trademarks? Patents? Customer base? How about sales? This way they can see some basis for your projections. If you don’t have this information, can you use competitor’s information to project what you might look like in five years?

f. What is your execution strategy? How will you achieve your goals? This is critical. They must see the sales and marketing plan.

g. Who is on your Team? Advisors? Who will help you achieve your goals? An investor wants to know that if they are going to back your company with investment capital that you have a great team advising you. If you have strategic partnerships with people already lined up… list those too. Don’t hold back. This is your moment to shine.

h. Know what you want from the investors. How much money for what? What do you expect from them in terms of involvement?

3. Third… Practice your presentation and get feedback. If you know your presentation, you will feel more confident. Practice your presentation in front of at least 10 people: people who are smart in business as well as people who are not. It is your job to win them over with your presentation so practice on others and ask for feedback.

4. Fourth… Show your enthusiasm and passion for your business. If you’re not excited, why should they be?

To Your Success,

Amy

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you need support or have questions, I can answer them on our RYIM Coaching Club Q&A call. If you are not yet part of the Release Your Inner Millionairess® Coaching Club, you can check it out here. We have packages starting at only $25 per month.

ANOTHER NOTE: Determine your business profile.

Start applying the “Millionaire-ess Code” to your life, immediately and see success happen right before your eyes.

1. Look over the list of commandments below and determine which one you KNOW you need to work on, first.

1. I Choose My Life, Every Part of It: thoughts, actions, everything!
2.  I Want Failure Fast!
3. I Love All Feedback
4. I Live Right “Now”
5. I Am Self-Aware
6.  I Live in Solution Mode
7.  I Interpret Powerfully
8. I Communicate Respectfully Always
9. I Am Resourceful
10. When I Break The Code, I Take Responsibility, and Recommit!

2. Post that commandment everywhere: mirror in the bathroom; car; on the door when you leave your bedroom; on the door when you enter the rooms in your home; at the office near your computer.

3. Live by that commandment for the next week. The bottom line is to start living by that commandment, you must practice that commandment. You must remember it throughout your day and be aware of how you are applying it to the activities of your day, to your thoughts, to your action, to other people, etc.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you need support or have questions, I can answer them on our RYIM Coaching Club Q&A call. If you are not yet part of the Release Your Inner Millionairess® Coaching Club, you can check it out here. We have packages starting at only $25 per month.

ANOTHER NOTE: Determine your business profile.

Maybe it has something to do with how you think. For example: maybe you never act on your ideas because you don’t think you are good enough or smart enough. Or is it because you are attached to a particular result and afraid you won’t be able to achieve that result? Maybe it is because you can’t identify which ideas are the ones you want to pursue: in other words, you simply don’t know what you want?

Your lack of follow up may also be a result of your behavior. For examples maybe you don’t know what actions to take or you lack discipline in terms of following an action plan. Ask yourself this: is it difficult for you to stay on track?

The first step towards becoming the kind of person who ACTS on their great ideas is to begin looking for solutions to the problems you identified in your investigation. For example, if you lack discipline when it comes to following through with the action steps it’s time to hire that kick ass life coach. Determine what you want specifically and how the way that you think and or behave actually contributes to the problem that you are having. By performing this crucial self-examination you (together with a kick ass life coach) can assess how to best remedy the situation. Once you do that, you’ll be able to bring all your killer ideas to fruition!

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you need support or have questions, I can answer them on our RYIM Coaching Club Q&A call. If you are not yet part of the Release Your Inner Millionairess® Coaching Club, you can check it out here. We have packages starting at only $25 per month.

ANOTHER NOTE: Determine your business profile.

The “Millionairess Code of Thinking” is a Code made up of several Commandments. Each commandment provides you access to success. When you live by all of these, like a code for life; like your bible, the universe of success will open up for you in unimaginable ways.

My “Millionairess Code of Thinking”

1. I Choose My Life, Every Part of It: thoughts, actions, everything!

If you choose to believe that you are the source of everything that happens in your life, then that puts you in the driver’s seat providing you with options and opportunities. If you choose to be responsible for all of your thoughts and actions, you will be your own leader. So think about your business–how are you responsible for it? How does your thinking support it? How do your actions support it?

2. I Want Failure Fast!

The faster you fail, the more you’ll experience, the more you’ll learn, and the faster you will succeed. I was told a story about a family of four. Mom, Dad, Son and Daughter. Each night at dinner, Dad asked the kids what they had failed at that day. Every night it was the same question. There would actually be disappointment from the parents if the kids had NOT failed at something that day. Who does that? As I read the story, I was overcome with a sense of relief. No fear of failing? Imagine what wanting failure as opposed to avoiding it could free up for you?

I work with people every day who are so afraid of failing, making a mistake, and not being good enough that they don’t allow themselves the necessary failures to actually be successful. And here, these kids will NEVER have to deal with that. All because of a seemingly insignificant question asked by their father at the dinner table.

3. I Love All Feedback

Most people reject feedback. They often take it as criticism, faultfinding and labeling. When you can welcome every kind of feedback, and choose to take it as that–simply feedback, and not an assault on your personality–then you are free to disregard feedback you feel doesn’t apply, and accept and use feedback that does.

4. I Live Right “Now”

Not someday when….RIGHT NOW! There is nothing else…the past is over and the future hasn’t happened and the only thing you can do anything about is NOW. So if you want clients now, go get them now. There is nothing to fear if you welcome failure…just start…now.

5. I Am Self-Aware

If you want success in any area of your life, you must be aware of your thinking and your actions and how they relate to you achieving what you want. Self-awareness is the key to any breakthrough.

6. I Live in Solution Mode

You must learn not to dwell on challenges and problems, not to obsess or talk about them to death. Instead choose to focus on the solution and the actions you must take to get there. If one solution doesn’t work, try another.

7. I Interpret Powerfully

You must stop looking at events and people in negative terms. You must stop making assumptions about what other people mean and start asking questions for clarity and understanding. Interpret people and situations in ways that make you happy. In ways that motivate and inspire you. In ways that support what you want in your life.

8. I Communicate Respectfully Always

*I give others an opportunity to express themselves fully and completely.

*I listen from a 3^rd person perspective

*When I speak, I am patient, understanding, and open.

*I don’t make assumptions about other people’s meaning; instead, I ask for clarification whenever I’m confused or unsure.

9. I Am Resourceful

Being resourceful means that if you have a problem you can’t seem to fix, you pick up the phone and call someone who can help. It means you will do what it takes to get the support you need, whatever it might be. It means you refuse to stop looking for a solution until you find one.

10. When I Break The Code, I Take Responsibility, and Recommit!

This is critical. It’s your “code” and it’s YOUR “success.” It’s your choice to be successful. Choose powerfully either way!

To Your Success,

Looking to grow your business and need support, check out Amy Applebaum’s Release Your Inner Millionairess Coaching Club

Hi Amy and Laura. I have not had a chance to check in during weekly calls lately, but wanted to update you on the status of my business, Corrective Fitness Studio, SportZal.There are 3 partners in my business: me, my sister and someone I’ll call Lina. About a month ago, Lina decided that she is no longer interested in being part of the business and wanted us all to quit. My sister and I put a lot of effort into this venture and we weren’t about to give up everything we’ve built so far. Lina became very negative and told us that we will never succeed without her, since she is the one who is a fitness expert.Later we found out that as we were building our new business, she was also trying building her own behind our backs using the knowledge that we provided.It was a very stressful moment in my life; I was panicking, not knowing what to do. My sister was relieved that Lina was leaving because she felt that we would do much better without her since her attitude has always been that this venture will not succeed. My sister felt that Lina was more of a heavy load than help.One night we were sitting at the kitchen table, I was feeling overwhelmed but decided that we need to listen to one of your training calls (I am in your RYIM Coaching Club – Level 2). It was the Month 3 Training Call….and….it was a perfect call for the situation. First of all, you started it by reading a letter from a woman who was told by everyone that she will not succeed, but she took a chance and was successful. Then at some point on the call you began discussing the importance of creating your “all star team.” And how you CANNOT be successful without an empowered team that shares the vision of your company and is willing to do what it takes to create that vision. You were so right to the point! What we needed was not Lina, we needed someone who could share our vision, who could see our bigger picture, who was excited about our business, and who was willing to put everything on the line to create the future we had envisioned for ourselves and this company. To say the least, it was an uplifting recording! It not only gave us hope but we knew, step by step, what to do next. Now, for the even better news! You always talk about “not giving up before the miracle happens.” Well… through all our hard work up to this point, through our marketing efforts and lots of prayers, we met a person who was super excited about corrective fitness, someone who was interested in building a career in this field… not just having a job. Because of that, he was willing to work more for less, for the future benefits of building and being part of a successful business. Today we signed all the papers, and just a few hours into his brand new job, our new teammate was able to book 6 appointments with potential clients for tomorrow. He is positive, energetic, futuristic, a hard worker, and most importantly, he believes that we will be the next biggest trend in the industry, thus he shares our belief! On top of that, my husband, who didn’t get involved in the business before, decided to join the team. He has a mind of a CEO and is capable of juggling many balls at the same time. It has been a great experience having him as a part of the team for the first time in our 18 years of marriage. Yes, this whole situation threw us back a bit because we had to virtually start all over again, but i think it was a perfect chance to start it over with a team that will take us to the top! I wanted to thank you for the great insights, lessons and step by step training that you provide with your program. Hope all my rambling made sense Sincerely, Galina Fedorova

Congratulations Galina! You have officially achieved ENTREPRENEUR STATUS! This is an amazing story of courage and determination. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that you will achieve all the success you desire because you have the “it” factor! The “it” factor in my world means this: You have vision, passion and heart and you will, under no circumstances, give up or let another person, entity, or situation kill your dreams. You have already achieved success despite your future goals. You are an entrepreneur in every sense of the word. I am honored to know you and honored to be part of your process. Thank you for sharing this story and being an incredible role model for all of us.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you need support or have questions, I can answer them on our RYIM Coaching Club Q&A call. If you are not yet part of the Release Your Inner Millionairess® Coaching Club, you can check it out here. We have packages starting at only $25 per month.

ANOTHER NOTE: Determine your business profile.

1. Grab a pen and paper and write a description of your “perfect customer”.

2. Determine how many new customers you want in a week? 2? 50? I don’t know your business so I can’t make that choice for you. What I can say is pick a number that makes you “stretch” but that is achievable. This way you’ll have to work hard but won’t start off frustrated because you set the bar too high.

3. Set-up at least one Systematic Referral System in your business. (refer to article above for details).

4. Offer a “thank you” of some type to those that have referred you in the past: a gift card towards a future purchase for example.

5. Establish at least 2 Strategic Relationships this week. (refer to article above for details).

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you need support or have questions, I can answer them on our RYIM Coaching Club Q&A call. If you are not yet part of the Release Your Inner Millionairess® Coaching Club, you can check it out here. We have packages starting at only $25 per month.

ANOTHER NOTE: Determine your business profile.