This started out as a quick, Happy 4th shout out (and a fab excuse to say hey to my non US friends but I realized there’s more to talk about.

Let me ask you…

Have you ever felt like you were going through some kind of transition?

Like the “old you” is done.

But the “new you” isn’t fully cooked yet?

That’s a bit how I feel right now.

Like there’s some alchemy happening inside me and whether I like it or not, the finished picture is not ready to be revealed.

And here’s the really wild part.

It’s exciting and terrifying all at once.

If you’re going through anything similar, I want you to know that you’re not alone.

And thankfully, there are some really simple strategies you can use to manage the ever changing mix of excitement and fear that come along with every transition – no matter what the size.

1.  Stay connected to your heart.

When you’re in a transition, it’s tempting to close off your heart and put up a protective shell.

This is especially true for women.  When we find ourselves in a vulnerable space, it’s tempting to “tighten up” and get hard.

Don’t do this! Trust me on this one. I’ve done it before and it’s not cute, or useful.

Your heart is your place of strength and wisdom.  When you close off, you disconnect with your true source of power.

2.  Never be afraid alone.

There’s a big myth that exists in our minds that admitting our fear somehow makes us weak or unsuccessful.  That’s total baloney.

I feel fear regularly…especially when I’m in the midst of creating a lot of cool, new stuff.

When you step outside of the norms in business and life, expect some fear.  Just don’t let it stop you.

The best thing thing to do is to gently call yourself out on it and more importantly, call a friend.

The secret is to share your fear from a neutral place (meaning: don’t FREAK out and believe your fearful thoughts) and allow your friend to “talk you back from the ledge.”

3.  Put your excitement into action.

With every transition, there comes bursts of excitement and inspiration.

When you have one, get into immediate action.

Here’s what I mean.

Last weekend in LA, I was bubbling with excitement about new Rich, Happy & Hot programs for 2010.  They are so different than anything that’s been done before, it’s beyond cool.

Rather than just luxuriating in my excitement, I sat down with a with a good and brilliant friend and took action.

We mapped out a game plan, organized a time line, created content and then celebrated with cocktails on the beach.

Transitions spur creativity urging to be brought to life.  Strike while the iron is hot.

Okay…

There’s a lot of action happening downstairs so I gotta run.

(My brother, his girlfriend and their huge English Bulldog “Bently” are here at the beach house for the holiday!)

Thanks, as always, for reading and I’m excited to share more about my transition with you as it unfolds.

Alrighty yo! I’m running the second Rich, Happy & Hot Mastery Group Retreat here in New York City.

These entrepreneurs are en fuego. I’m thrilled to spend three full days helping them build their businesses and of course, lavishing them with VIP treatment.

But listen up.

I need you to mark your calendar for October 22, 23, & 24 2009 for the first ever Rich, Happy & Hot LIVE event.

This will be a binder-free, pitch-free experience guaranteed to help you make more money and more of a difference than you could ever imagine!

And yes.

In classic Marie style there will be loads of dancing, almost illegal amounts of fun, some profanity (classy profanity, of course) and so much freaking good energy you’ll barely be able to take it.

Rich, Happy & Hot LIVE will be like no other live event you’ve ever ever ever experienced.

I’ll be releasing more details soon, but for now just mark your calendar for October 22, 23 & 24.

More soon!

Do you ever do this?

You’ve got a new project that you’re REALLY excited about.

(could be anything from re-arranging your panty drawer to launching a million dollar business. You choose.)

You’re so darn pumped that your face hurts from continuous grinning and friends think that someone must have spiked your lemonade.

You’re about to get going and….

It happens.

You start THINKING.

(Let’s go with the panty drawer example for sh*ts and giggles, okay?)

“Hmmm. What IS the best way to re-arrange this panty drawer??

Thongs upfront?

By color?

Butt coverage?

Sexy first?

Grannies in the back?”

Before you know it, you’ve over-thought this whole underwear organization thing to the point that you’re terrified of making a mistake, throw all your panties in the air and collapse in tears and despair.

Now obviously, I’m stretching this a bit. Panty drawer re-orgs rarely cause meltdowns.

But you get the point.

In business, and life, over-thinking sucks.

Yes. Literally.  It sucks the freaking life out you.

While planning absolutely has its place, I’ve found the most profitable thing to do 99% of the time is TAKE ACTION.

Especially when you’re starting a brand new venture.

It’s way easier to adjust your actions as you go than to get lost in thinking and planning land until your idea loses steam or worse, you’ve lost your window of opportunity.

So the lesson for today?

Over-thinking bad.  Taking action good.  Grannie panties should be chucked and not organized.

And if you like this line of thought, you’re gonna love the book that inspired today’s post.

It’s called The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur by Mike Michalowicz.

If you don’t have it, I highly recommend you grab it from Amazon today.  And be sure to check out what’s on page 109.

Killer stuff.

Mike M, the author, is a good friend of mine.

Mainly because he uses potty language almost as much as I do.  And, he really gets a kick out of how effortlessly I blend two seemingly unrelated subjects.

(Like panties and biz success.)

Kidding.

Honestly, the only reason I’m recommending his book today is because it truly rocks.

And I want you to have every ounce of wisdom, inspiration and how-to advice to kick some serious butt in your entrepreneurial endeavors.

So leave a comment and me know if you’ve ever fallen victim to the dangers of thinking too much, or if you just want to trade panty re-org stories.

Why?

Because Saturday, May 9th I’ll be teaching a class called“Stiletto Strength” at Self Magazine’s Annual Workout In The Park here in NYC and I’ve been rehearsing my butt off

Tickets are only $15; proceeds go to charity and the gift bag and all days classes are killer.

Come by – I’d love to see ya! I’m on the main stage at 1:40PM

Okay…

Now onto my latest obsession.

It about a simple, powerful, three-letter word that can quickly turn your business from blah to bountiful.

Want to know what it is?

Thought so ;=)

This powerful little word is YES.

The past few weeks I’ve been saying YES a lot more often and the adventure, fun and flow in my life has increased TEN FOLD.

Some of the things I’ve been saying yes to are:

- Invitations to speak at new events.

- Dance parties and changes to my schedule.

- Spur of the moment outings with new friends.

- Random, lovely requests made by Josh.

It’s been super fun saying YES to stuff without letting my “mechanical reasonableness” get in the way.

(You know “mechanical reasonableness” – the voice in your head that worries about time, money and what other people will think…and convinces you to say “no” and play it safe.)

What’s really funny is that this YES obsession started 3 weeks ago and just last Monday I was on a plane back from a whole bunch of YES time in San Diego.

Guess what movie I watched?

A Jim Carrey movie called “Yes Man.”

It’s about a guy who has a sucky life until he attends a self help seminar and makes a covenant to say YES anytime someone asks him a question.

The movie is a bit cheesy, but makes an awesome point.  Saying no to everything = a sucky, boring, contracted life.

Saying YES more often = good frickin’ times!

Of course, saying YES to everything that comes up may get you into trouble or overwhelmed.

Here are three quick tips you can use to activate your own power of YES so it’s fun and profitable.

1.  Do a quick body scan.

Does saying YES produce an expansive or contracted feeling inside?  We all have a body truth that knows EXACTLY what our **right answer** is each and every time.  Use it.

2.  Ask yourself: “Is this illegal, immoral or just plain stupid?”

This is pretty straight forward.  It’s called common sense. If you can confidently say no to all three points, then say YES.

3. Ditch petty thoughts about money and time.

Many of us needlessly say “no” to things because we’re habituated to being cheap and feeling like “there’s not enough time” to do it all.

Screw that.  If something inside you lights up, that’s a big clue to jump on the opportunity and say YES.

So what do you think about this whole YES thing?  I’m interested.  Leave your comment and let me know.

P.S.  We’re still getting questions about our Rich, Happy & Hot Virtual Mastery Program.

YES! You can still jump on board and have me coach you for the rest of 2009 and have TONS of cool people around the world to mastermind with.

In fact, these people are movers and shakers.

Want proof?  One member has already doubled her income from all of 2008 in just the first 3 months of 2009 and she’s working 50% less. (Sweet!)

Outside my window, everything is wet and mushy. (I’m at our beach house and we just had a gorgeous spring rain!)

Anyhoo…

Something really cool is happening that I want you to get in on.

You see, a few weeks ago I shot video with my friend Mike that created a bit of stir online.

It’s quite saucy and controversial.

We had Twitter messages, Facebook messages and emails thanking us for getting this information out in the open.

(Some women gave us a big “Hallelujah!” LOL)

You can see the video here.

(I’d love to know what YOU think so go ahead and leave a comment below the video.)

With the enthusiastic response we’ve had, I figured we should kick this up a notch and make it more “interactive.”

At the end of the video, you’ll hear us talk about a challenge that you can participate in for free.

Not only will this challenge be a ton of fun and give you a a VERY unique opportunity to build your business, happiness and well being…

But you’ll also have the chance to get your name, business and website in front of over 100K other entrepreneurs, centers of influence and yes, the media.

(Yes, that’s over 100,000 like-minded people who are up to cool things in the world!)

So if you’re game for having fun, creating more results and want an easy and no cost way to promote what you’re up to, check this out and follow the instructions at the end.

We’re shooting another video later this week so I’ll keep you posted on how it’s going.

Time for my next cup of Yerba Matte and more writing.

Sending you tons of love and a huge thanks for reading, as always.  Have thoughts?  Please leave a comment below.

I’m interested.

Marie

P.S. We’ve just had more folks register for my Rich, Happy & Hot Virtual Mastery Program. If you think it’s too late for you, it’s not!

In fact, now is the perfect time because we’re adding even more unadvertised, freaking AMAZING components to the program this week that I’ve never seen anyone offer before.

HINT: It involves getting money, fame and making a BIG difference in the world all at the same time….

If you’re up to playing big this year, join us now. The party has just begun

Money and happiness are most definitely related.  Of course, there are boatloads of unhappy rich folks out there, but I’m hoping you don’t plan to be one of them.

Working on the assumption that you want both inner and outer wealth, here are three simple ways to take your happiness straight to the bank.

1.  LOVE What You Do.

At least once a week, Josh and I eat at a little Thai restaurant in the West Village called Toons.  Yes, the food is fresh and amazingly delicious. But what pulls us in like bees to honey is how much the owner, Mrs. Toon, freaking LOVES what she does.

We get kisses and hugs upon arrival and each dish is cooked to order with mega amounts of TLC.

(If you go there, try the chicken Panang Kai.  It’s ri-dic-u-lous.)

Not only are we regular customers, but we’re constantly taking friends and colleagues there to spread the love.

While this idea may sound too simple, rest assured that one of the most powerful ways to turn happiness into money is to really, really love what you do.

Whether it’s sending an email, writing marketing copy, or delivering a service – train yourself to do it with so much darn passion that people get turned on by the mere mention of your name.

2.  Make Doing Business With You F-U-N.

Okay.  Tell the truth.  If you had to choose between two equally competent service providers, except one was FUN with a capital F and the other was as enjoyable as watching paint dry, which would you choose?

The fun one, right?  No contest there.

Here’s the deal:  Happiness = a fun business = mo money.

Fun is a grossly underrated business success tool.

Having a good time in business is so rare these days that if you did nothing else but ensured doing business with you was fun, you could charge a healthy premium for your services and have folks lined up around the corner with Visa cards in hands.

Life is short, party peeps.  Why not have a good stinkin’ time while we get stuff done that we’re going to get done anyway, right?

3.  Help People With No Strings Attached.

Have you ever noticed that when you’re happy, you’re naturally more generous and helpful?  Yeah, me too.

Parlay your happiness into money by writing excellent articles, sharing useful resources and posting cool stuff via your blog, Facebook and Twitter that can help folks get what they want with no strings attached.

The only aim:  Help. Be of service.  Make a difference.

This is an excellent way to become the go-to expert in your field(s) of expertise and create mega amounts of good karma and warm fuzzies to further fuel your creativity.

So there you have it.  Three simple ways to turn your happiness into money.

Now, there’s a lot more to tell on this topic.

Like how to turn your awesomeness into a money making biz; how to create amazing products and services that change the world; and how to do it all without pulling your hair out or setting anything on fire.

If you like what I’m throwing down, and you want a big juicy gang of creative entrepreneurs from all over the world (US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, Hong Kong, Russia, UK, the Netherlands, France, Germany, and Australia – just to name a few) to propel your biz forward and make sure you actually get s***t done, then join us for the Rich, Happy & Hot Virtual Mastery Program.

It’s the only program that’s combining entrepreneurship with the lifestyle of living in the moment. It’s perfect anyone who’s committed to mucho results and mucho fun.

Get the full scoop here:

http://www.virtualmasteryprogram.com

Talk with you soon.

Love,

Marie

I’ve known for a while that combining the magic of transformation (AKA the lifestyle of living in the moment) with entrepreneurship, marketing and business building was going to be MORE powerful than anything I’d ever seen.

After the retreat, even I was blown away.

One of my team members (who regularly sees tons of these kind of high-level mastermind groups in action) said it was hands down the most brilliant mastermind retreat she’s seen. (Yay for us!!)

Here are two pictures for you.  The first is your more traditional “happy group picture.”  Cute but…

This second picture is really more in line with our vibe.

This kind of fun tends to happen after tons of delicious outdoor meals, crazy breakthroughs, and lots of masterminding with hot babes in a hot tub. (The two men at the retreat had such a hard time

The high level Rich, Happy & Hot Mastery program is closed for the year, but if you want to join our Rich, Happy & Hot Virtual Mastery Program, we’d love you to join the party!

It’s affordable, effective and the only mastermind program on the planet that combines the magic of living in the moment with serious marketing and business building. Be prepared.  We have almost illegal amounts of fun, laughs and good times.

Intrigued? You can check out what other entrepreneurs have to say about working with me and my team here.

And if you’re an entrepreneur who’s bursting with ideas you want to turn into profit (and you want my personal help and advice to do it), get yourself over to my brand new Rich, Happy & Hot Virtual Mastery Program launching in March.

It’s crazy affordable, effective and as with everything I do, super fun.  

Want more inspiration?  Head over to watch the trailer for Virtual Mastery Program.

Let me know what you think about all this stuff below.  I’m interested

“Take the first step in faith.  You don’t have to see the whole staircase.  Just take the first step.”

-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Do you ever wonder whether or not you should move ahead with a business idea? Do you procrastinate on your biggest dreams and find that time is passing by faster and faster?

Many of us make the mistake of suppressing our creative desires because we’re afraid.  Mostly, we’re afraid of failing and looking foolish. We play it safe and get stuck in our comfort zone because we falsely think we should know exactly how our venture will turn out before we take any action.

Well guess what?  The “playing it safe” mentality is deadly to your aliveness and success.

You have a creative truth that lives inside of you.  And taking action on that truth before you have proof of how it will turn out is the secret to living powerfully and authentically. 

When you have faith in yourself and your dreams, and take action from your truth, your inner desires become outer realities faster than you can imagine. 

Faith is an essential part of entrepreneurial success.  You’ve got to start exercising your faith muscles if you want to use your business as a vehicle to make the difference in the world you are meant to make.

Here are 3 key ideas that will help you strengthen your faith muscles.

1.  Your Ideas Are Here for A Reason.

Isn’t it wild how passionate and alive you become when you talk about growing your business and sharing your creations with the world?  That sense of aliveness around your ideas is an indicator that you’re meant to take action.  It’s a signal from a greater intelligence to turn your dreams into a reality.

God (The Universe, Source, etc.) gave you unique talents and gifts for a specific reason.  You are designed to create and serve others. 

And as an entrepreneur, you have an incredible opportunity to use your business as a force for good and make a tremendous difference in the world.  Have faith in your ideas and take action on them.  Otherwise, you’re squandering the beautiful gifts your Creator has blessed you with.

2.  The Universe Is Always Supporting You.

The Universe is always supporting you.  If you are present in the moment (vs. lost in the chatter of your mind) you’ll always see the **perfect opportunity** to move your business (and life) ahead. 

I pay close attention to what shows up in my world.  Whether it’s a magazine article that leads me to a website, a workshop I feel compelled to take, or a big “scary” (a.k.a. exciting) opportunity that requires me to step up and play bigger, I do my best to take action as quickly as possible.

Take a look in your own life. Are you lost in the conversation in your mind or are you in sync with your truth and your Universe? What opportunities are in front of you right now, just waiting to be claimed?

3.  Motion Beats Meditation Every Time.

What if you started playing with the idea that it was impossible for you to make a mistake?  What if you couldn’t make a “wrong move?” What if all the time you spend thinking about whether or not you’ll do your project “right” (whatever that means) is just an old habit that keeps you stuck in dissatisfaction land?

What if having faith and taking consistent action was enough to radically transform your business and life? 

In my experience, I’ve found that faith-based motion beats meditation every time.   While I may not know what the heck I’m doing at first, consistent action allows me to gain knowledge and experience fast.  And once I get moving, I’m unstoppable. 

Here’s a secret: It’s a heck-of-a lot easier to change direction when you have momentum behind you vs. trying to get something started from ground zero. 

As always, your entrepreneurial success begins and ends with you.  Remember, having faith means recognizing the value of what you are here to contribute to the world and allowing your actions to be grounded in that truth.

© 2009 Marie Forleo, Inc.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Marie Forleo teaches women entrepreneurs how to live Rich, Happy & Hot.  If you’re ready make more money, have more fun and transform the world with your business, sign up for FREE tips and articles now at www.MarieForleo.com

Are you a woman entrepreneur who wants to boost your bottom line?  Are you ready to serve more people, make a bigger difference and grow your wealth – no matter what’s going on in the economy?

Good.  Because I’m about to share 8 unexpected ways you can jumpstart your income – starting right now.

1.  Stop Watching the News

If you’re a regular news watcher, I’ll bet you one thing: you don’t feel enlivened, inspired or abundant after watching the news.

Want the truth? The news media is filled with negative hype that is costing YOU precious time, money and well-being. 

The media makes their money by selling drama.  More drama = more ratings.  More ratings = higher ad revenue.  So the more they can scare the crap out of you, the better it is for their bottom line.

If you spend 30 minutes a day on the news, you likely experience 20 – 30 minutes of a post-news “worryfest.” That’s nearly 7 hours a week, minimum, voluntarily spent on toxic, wealth-destroying information! 

Imagine what will happen to your income if you spend 7 hours a week marketing your business, investing in your well-being, making a difference to others, or creating a new product?  Nuff said.

2.  Upgrade Your Money Mindset

Many entrepreneurs (especially women) have limiting beliefs around money that clog up their income potential.  Until you “clean out” those old, scarcity-based money-blocks, you’re keeping a tight lid on your income.

Here’s an assignment: start loving money.  Welcome it.  Take care of it.  Let it flow in and out of your life. After all, money is just energy. It’s a tool that we use to take care of ourselves, our families and the world. As Martha Stewart would say, “It’s a good thing.”

Remember, prosperity is your birthright. By upgrading your money mindset, you give everyone around you the gift of expanded possibilities – and expanded income.

3.  Launch a New Service, Product or Program

When was the last time you released something new?  Most entrepreneurs wait way too long before coming out with a new service, product or program.

Don’t let the economy fool you.  We are all still buying goods and services.  We’re just being more selective about it.

Ask yourself:  How can I create a new offering with more value and higher quality service?  (Note that more value does not necessarily mean less expensive. It means listening to your customers and offering more of what THEY want from you!)

4. Invest in Something BIG

Most entrepreneurs make the big mistake of “waiting until they make more money” to invest in something BIG.  No, no, no my friend.

The truth is, most of us need to invest in something BIG in order to step up and start producing more money and results on a consistent basis.

When you financially commit to something BIG (a high-level program, a new space, an investment for your business), you make a strong statement to the Universe that you’re ready to receive more wealth.  Only then will you attract more. 

Of course, you’ve got to be willing to do the work.   But if you truly want to jumpstart your income, investing in something BIG is a sure-fire tactic that will help you leapfrog your earning potential fast.

(Note: There’s a huge difference between investing in something big that will enhance your business and well-being vs. being financially irresponsible.)

5.  Find Extra Work

When I first started my business, I was determined to have success without financial struggle. Translation:  I worked my butt off every chance I got.

I worked as a teacher, bartender and personal assistant to make sure money was always flowing.  Rather than whine about not being able to afford the resources I needed to grow, I worked as many jobs as I could to fund my “growth” habit.

BONUS TIP:  Busy entrepreneurs tend to get a lot more done than those with loads of free time on their hands. 

7.  More Sex (whaat??)

Yes, you heard me right.  Women entrepreneurs need to honor and indulge our need for pleasure on a regular basis. When we go too long without sex, we severely limit our income potential. (I’ve seen it.  I’ve done it.  Don’t go there!) 

Studies have shown women who have regular sex are happier.  And make no mistake:  your happiness and income are intimately related.

Sexual arousal releases a natural hormone in women called oxytocin. 

This hormone not only relieves pain, but reduces stress, allows us to sleep more fully, and be more energetic and engaged throughout the day.  What kind of impact do you think less stress and more energy will have on YOUR income?  No doubt a big, juicy positive impact.

And it doesn’t matter if you’re single or with a partner, enhancing your sex life is a guaranteed way to quickly increase your income.

(NOTE:  We’re talking about safe, consensual sex here people.)

8.  Marketing, Marketing, Marketing

I’m often shocked by women entrepreneurs who wouldn’t know a smart marketing strategy if it strolled up and sat on their laptop.

If you’re a business owner with a valuable product or service that can dramatically improve the quality of people’s lives, you MUST learn how to use smart marketing to get the message out to as many people as possible!

Otherwise, you’re stealing from us.  That’s right – Stealing.  If you have something that will help the world and you keep it to yourself, you are doing a disservice to us all.

Whether you’re a dog walker, a coach, a writer or an artist – nothing happens in business until you make a sale.  And marketing, done right, does all the selling for you.  Become a marketing maven and learn how to create irresistible and authentic marketing messages that quickly convert your life changing product or service into cash.

In sum, you can use any combination of these strategies to jumpstart your income and create the business and life of your dreams. 

Remember, no matter what’s going on in the economy, your wealth and well-being are always in your hands.

(NOTE:  If you’re want a quantum leap in your wealth and well-being, apply for Marie’s 2009 Rich, Happy & Hot Mastery Program, please click here to learn more and download your application.  Spaces are filling up fast, so if you’re interested, apply now.)