1. It is easy to listen to audio books while doing daily tasks.  You can listen while doing simple business tasks such as starting your computer, filing, or driving to networking events or appointments.   Since these types of tasks are part of most entrepreneurs’ weeks anyway, you can add the pleasure and the benefits of learning something new or interesting to the process too.  You may find as I do that you can listen to at least one complete book each week, and sometimes more. this way.  That’s 52 books each year which can give you a lot of great knowledge, ideas and inspiration!   I also slip in a few mp3 audios into the mix too–usually from teleclasses I want to listen to.

2. If you also enjoy fiction or books on other non-business topics, try listening to business-related audio books during the day, and personal books in the evenings and on weekends.  This system has worked very well for me. You may find that it gives you a nice blend of both personal and business reading each week. 

3. You can often find good audiobooks at your local library, either directly or through Interlibrary Loan programs.  Finding audio books through the library  rather than purchasing them can help you keep your book  expenses lower.  You can save money by only purchasing books or audio books that you really want to add to your personal collection of business books.

Coaching action tip:  The next time you hear about a good book recommendation, see if you can find the audio book version through your local library.  Try listening to it while you do simple tasks.  If you enjoy it, make audio books a regular method for enhancing your professional knowledge and skills.

If you have a favorite business-related audio book title, I invite you to post it to the comment section below.  Let us know the title, the author, and perhaps a sentence or two about how you found the audio book information to be useful in growing  your business!  We will alll benefit from the titles you share!

Today’ Spotlight Good Cause is http://FeedingAmerica.org which is a network of local Food Banks all over the United States.They help provide food to hungry children, seniors, and families.  Especially now, as holidays are approaching, these organizations provide tremendous service.  Most local Food Banks are eager for people in their communities to participate in this good work by sharing their abundance to help others in need.  If this is a cause that feels good to you, I encourage you to find out about the Food Bank in your local community.  You can help by donating food or money, volunteering your time, or by sharing information about their work.  Thank you for making a difference in the world!

Question 1:  What is one key project that you would like to make
great progress on, or even to complete, by the end of this year?

This may be a project you are already working on, or a new
business project you have been thinking about.  Choose a project
that could make a big difference in your business, or that could
position you well for 2010.

I encourage you to choose only one project, even though you may
have several projects in mind.  The reason for this is that by
choosing one key project, you have time to make some significant
progress on it, even though November and December are often busy
months.  I personally find choosing a single project a tough
thing to do because I always seem to have LOTS of project ideas
going through my mind.  You may have this experience too. I think
it is a characteristic of many entrepreneurs to always have an
abundance of ideas and possible projects!  Just choose one for
now, knowing that you can circle back to the other projects
later.  This leads us to the second question…

Question 2:  What projects or tasks could you put on the back
burner just for the next four to six weeks without much risk or
cost?  Or, is there a lingering project or two that perhaps
should be shut down altogether?  Use your good judgment and
business sense to make these decisions.

Use the extra time and space that you open up to work on the one
key project you have chosen to focus on.  Set a clear, specific
goal about what you would like to accomplish on this project by
the end of the year.  Then go to the third question…

Question 3:  When is your best time of the day for energy and
mental focus on project tasks?

See if you can arrange your schedule so you can do some work on
your chosen project almost every business day for the rest of the
year.  Even small steps each day can add up to some very good
progress on your key project!

Have fun with this experiment and see how much you can
accomplish!  I would love to hear about the project you choose,
and about your accomplishments with it so we can celebrate your
success!

I will be right in there with you doing the same thing in my own
business.  (The project I am working on is launching and
regularly sending Cardinal Business Success Tips via email along
with making the related posts on this blog. If you would like to
receive them by email too, just enter your email address in the
box at the top of this page.  Watch your Inbox for the
confirmation email, click on the confirmation link in that
message, and that will do it!)

 As always, if you would like help with achieving your goal, just
 call 210-496-3304 and let’s talk. There are several great
 affordable options for coaching services and other resources
 that can be tailored to fit you, especially the Cardinal
 Business Strategy Sessions.  They are perfect for helping you to
 take a leap forward with your most important projects!  It would
 be an honor and a joy to help you achieve success!

Have you ever taken a planning retreat, in a beautiful place, with time to think about your professional and personal goals, with great coaching support throughout the process?  And, with plenty of time to relax, eat great food, and even get some spa-type pampering, too?

I returned late last night from a delightful business planning retreat just like this.  The location for the retreat was the beautiful Casa Luna Bed and Breakfast in Tucson, Arizona.  Check out these pictures:

The retreat was with my coach and with the four other women in my Platinum Coaching Group.  Each of us received lots of personalized coaching, and time to plan our next professional steps.  We also had some great mastermind time together to share ideas and encouragement for each other.

Our schedule was great!  We met each day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 or 6:00 p.m., to do our planning, dreaming, and coaching.  This gave us plenty of time to relax, enjoy gourmet breakfasts, and eat dinner at some delicious restaurants nearby.

My travel schedule included almost a full day before and after the retreat.  I used this time for a pampering bodywork session, lunch with a local friend, exploring the historic downtown Presidio area, visits to an art museum and gallery, and watching lots of exciting aircraft taking off from the local Air Force base.

I came home from this planning retreat feeling very refreshed, and at the same time very excited about my vision and my next steps for professional growth!

Coaching tip:  Schedule some time for yourself to have a planning retreat.  Even a half-day mini-retreat in your own town is beneficial.  You could devote two hours to dreaming, planning, and action steps, with an hour left over for a bit of relaxing spa-style pampering too.

(Just a quick note…I offer planning retreats for women leaders here in beautiful San Antonio, Texas.  When you are ready to have a retreat like this for yourself, just let me know.  We will create a retreat that is perfect for you, so you can relax, refresh, and return home with renewed zest and a great action plan to achieve your goals!)

Your relaxed and yet excited coach,

~Leslie

I am excited to start blog posts again, to talk with you, and to share ideas and resources.

Are you like many of my clients… a successful leader of leaders, who is ready to make some changes?   I would love to hear about the changes and challenges and opportunities that you are seeing now!

Several of my clients are mid-level leaders who are making big professional changes now.  Some are staying in their organizations and…

•     starting a new job
•     leading a new project or a new team
•     managing after a merger or acquisition
•     developing new skills
•     developing new revenue streams

Several other clients are planning their exit strategies, so that they can eventually leave their jobs with style and grace.  Their plans include…

•     moving to a new company
•     making a career change
•     starting a their own business
•     planning for retirement
•     leaving a job that no longer fits them
•     shifting to part-time, home-based work

Changes like these are very exciting!  What changes, challenges and opportunities are you seeing now in your own life?

Coaching Question:  What changes are you making now (or want to make)?  What info or resources would help you most in making these changes successfully?  Please post here on the blog and let me know, okay? I will keep my eyes and ears open for things I can share with you in future blog posts to help you make those changes.

Some exciting changes are happening for me, too. My business is evolving in some great new directions. I am eager to fill you in.

So, I invite you to stay tuned…I will be sharing this with you in future blog posts and Cardinal Success Tips.

Have a great week!

~Leslie

Which of these goals are YOU ready to achieve?

• Get and keep more customers
• Make more money
• Accelerate your business growth
• Clarify your key success factors
• Develop great referral partners
• Stay focused on your top priorities
• Have more free time for family and fun

Join The Mastermind Coaching Group to help you achieve your goals Faster and Easier!

It starts next week on Wednesday, May 2 at 9:30 a.m.!!

To register, just call 210-496-3304.

Here’s how the Mastermind Coaching Group works:

• Starts Wednesday May 2, 2007
• Meets twice each month by telephone conference
• Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Central time
• Mastermind with other growing business owners like you
• Get professional group coaching with me at a very affordable price
• Extra one-on-one coaching available at a discount to members

I love to see your business grow and the Mastermind Coaching Group can help you achieve this more quickly and easily.

Call now–so you can get the Special Introductory Rate
Only $97 per month! (regularly $147, save 33% right now)

Wishing you great success, 

Leslie Cardinal

210-496-3304
The San Antonio Business Coach

www.LeslieCardinal.com

TEN GREAT WAYS TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS, EVEN DURING THE BUSY HOLIDAY SEASON

Even during this busy holiday time of year, there are many ways to grow your business. Here are ten of my favorites. Some will generate more business now. Some of the ideas will position your business for growth in the new year. Which of these ideas will you choose to help your business grow?

1. Plan ahead to take some time to enjoy the season. Take some time off from work, if possible, whether just an afternoon or a week or more. By deciding this now, you can more easily focus your attention on work until your time off. Even on days when you are working, you can notice and appreciate aspects of the season that you especially enjoy such as the weather, the music, and favorite holiday foods.

2. Identify three things that would help you feel that you have truly celebrated this holiday season. Choose only three thinkgs and be sure that they are within your control. This is especially important if you must work during most of the holiday season. Don’t fall into the trap of having unrealistically big expectations of the holidays.

3. Identify three key things in your business that you would like to complete before the end of the year. Consider something in the area of marketing, something in the area of your business systems, and something in one of your key strategic projects. Resist the temptation to try to squeeze too much into a time of year that is often very busy already.

4. Identify what needs to be cleaned up, cleared out, given away, thrown away, completed, or declared complete. This could be files, clutter, equipment, furniture, tools, products, or projects. Even a small amount of time on these actions will free up energy for your new year. Make space in your business environment for new clients, projects, goals, and opportunities in the new year.

5. Make a list of ten highlights of this year, both personal and professional. Are any of these things that you will want to continue into the new year, too? Reflecting on the positive aspects of your year helps you to complete the year mentally and emotionally and to start the new year on an upbeat note.

6. Have a seasonal or year-end sale or a special promotion. Any of your products or services that could be given as a gift are candidates for a special promotion to stimulate extra sales now. Anything that you want to clear out or discontinue or replace with a new version are also good candidates for sales. You can also offer a special multi-month or annual price for customers willing to purchase a larger quantity at one time. People love to get a special discount and may be willing to make a purchase now that they might otherwise defer until the new year.

7. Schedule a half day and do some planning for the future. Let yourself dream about where you would like your business to be in one year, three years, and beyond. Then translate your vision into a several specific goals for the new year. You may also want to choose a theme or a broad intention for the year. What are two or three action you can take early in January to make progress toward your vision? Schedule a strategy session with your coach in December or early January to accelerate your achievement of your vision and goals.

8. Thank your customers for their business this year. You can send cards, give gifts, make phone calls, send letters, buy coffee or a meal, or perhaps a combination of several of these strategies. Express your appreciation to your employees, subcontractors, vendors, suppliers, referral sources, and colleagues too.

9. Meet with your accountant for a year-end planning session. Ask for his or her advice about year-end actions that you can take now. Discuss your goals and dreams for your business. If they recommend it, consider making any year-end purchases or investments that may offer tax benefits to you, such as equipment, supplies, software, or other business expenses.

10. Celebrate the end of the year in some way. Have a dinner out, order lunch in for the team, or just make a toast with your closest friends or family members. Attending business and social events during the holidays can be enjoyable ways to celebrate. They can also be a part of your overall marketing plan because they help you make contacts and maintain relationships.

Leslie Cardinal is a business and executive coach who specializes in working with business owners, leaders, and independent professionals. She can be reached at www.LeslieCardinal.com and at 210-496-3304.

If you would like to reprint this article, you are welcome to do so. Just use it in its entirety including the author and contact information.

I have an invitation for you. You may know that I have been learning how to teach teleseminars in my business as a way to add a new revenue stream. Leading teleseminars could be a possible revenue stream for your business too!

My absolute favorite mentor in this area is Alex Mandossian. And he is teaching an intro teleseminar this Thursday, December 7, about how to create and lead teleseminars and make money doing it.

I would love for you to be on this call along with me, or to listen to the recording if you cannot be on the call directly. The information Alex will teach could open the doors to a revenue stream for you.

The teleclass is at 8:00 p.m. Central, but if that is too late for you, the recording should be available the next day for you to listen to it…at no extra cost.

Because I am affiliate/co-sponsor of the call, I can share a discount with you for this teleseminar. Alex always teaches a huge amount of valuable info!

I would love for you to click on my affiliate link and get the discount: Invitation from Leslie to register for the call. Then just enter the discount code AM3964 to register for the call for $20, instead of the regular $99 tuition!

You will then receive the information about how to dial into the teleseminar, as well as access to the recording for the class afterward.

I am forwarding an email (below) from Alex that has more info about the call. And when you click on the link there is more info on the page there too.

Here is the link again: Invitation from Leslie Or you can cut and paste this into your browser: http://www.TeleseminarSecrets.com/cmd.php?af=524858

I hope you will join me and Alex on this exciting call!

Wishing you the best of success,

Leslie
===========================================================
Here is the email that Alex sent with more info about the call…
===========================================================
Dear Leslie,

I’m so excited, I hope this email reaches you in time…

I made a special arrangement to get you $20 access to an historic
teleseminar on how to make a very strong income from teleseminars.

And because I’m co-sponsoring this teleseminar, you can
attend as my special “VIP” guest for $20, not the $99 for
the normal tuition.

(Please see how to get private phone access below)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Your VIP Discount Code is: AM3964

To claim your $79 discount and register
at the lowest fee, click this link now:

Teleseminar Invitation
http://www.TeleseminarSecrets.com/cmd.php?af=524858
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

—>> What You’ll Learn On From This Tele-Training < <—

During this tele-training, my mentor Alex Mandossian
will reveal his teleseminar secrets that converted his
annual income in 2001 into a hourly income in 2006!

I’m learning and I would love to have you learn along with me!

In just 90 minutes, you’ll discover:

->> 8 advantages whenever you conduct teleseminars so
you too can win more sales at the speed of sound

->> 7 embarrassing mistakes most telemarketers make
DURING their teleseminars and how you can avoid them

->> 9 common mistakes most telemarketers make BEFORE
teleseminars and how to easily side-step them forever

->> Alex’s 7-Step Plan to quickly triple your passive
income as an “Tele-Interviewer” of industry leaders

->> 4 closely-guarded teleseminar Case Studies that
generated 6-figure profits with little human effort

->> 5 core attributes to find low-cost reliable vendors
for sales copy, winning website designs and much more!

->> 11 sneaky low-cost secrets so you will repeatedly
and automatically build your own highly responsive
online list(s) from scratch!

And much, much, much more!!

(Please see how to get private phone access below)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Your VIP Discount Code is: AM3964

To claim your $79 discount and register
at the lowest fee, click this link now:

Teleseminar invitation

http://www.TeleseminarSecrets.com/cmd.php?af=524858
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

—>> Turns Your Phone Into An ATM Machine < <—

According to Alex, it really doesn’t matter what
business you’re in, he claims that teleseminars are
the fastest, easiest, most economical way to boost
sales and profits without spending a single penny
more on advertising or promotional costs.

Case Closed.

In fact, Alex will show you how it’s possible to make
a 6-figure income doing just 1 teleseminar per week.

That’s why it makes sense to attend this training
and claim an unfair advantage in your industry as
as a world-class teleseminar marketer or consultant.

And because I’m co-sponsoring this teleseminar, you
now can attend as my special “VIP” guest for $20, not
the $99 for the normal tuition everybody else pays!

(Please see how to get private phone access below)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Your VIP Discount Code is: AM3964

To claim your $79 discount and register
at the lowest fee, click this link now:

Teleseminar invitation

http://www.TeleseminarSecrets.com/cmd.php?af=524858
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

If you’re ready to get private access to this
tele-training and listen to Alex’s time-tested
teleseminar secrets, I also encourage you to
pick-up his fr^ee Study Guide he has prepared
for you.

This Study Guide will motivate and inspire you to
learn his battle-tested strategies and makes it
really, really easy for you to follow along!

You’ll get access to this Alex’s Study Guide
and an additional Special Bonus Gift ($97 Value)
after you register with your VIP Discount Code!!

To Your Success,

Leslie

Teleseminar invitation

http://www.TeleseminarSecrets.com/cmd.php?af=524858

Leslie Ann Cardinal, LLC

P.O. Box 701908

San Antonio, TX 78270

210-496-3304

If you prefer not to receive email from us,

please send an email with “Unsubscribe” in the

subject line and we will honor your preference.

In the U.S., the Labor Day weekend marks this transition time. For many business people, it can be a great time to take a few days off to refresh and re-energize.

If possible, take a long holiday weekend or even a full week for yourself if you can, especially if you haven’t taken much time off during the summer. It doesn’t matter whether you stay in town or get away.

Plan something fun or relaxing. Here are some ideas to consider:

-If the weather is still warm, choose something cool like a swim in a nearby lake.
-Go see that summer movie you have been meaning to see.
-Plan something relaxing for your body like a nap or a massage.
-Choose something energizing like a walk or your favorite routine at the gym.
-Play tourist in your own hometown for a day.
-Pack a picnic and go to a park you enjoy.
-Take a day trip to someplace within a one or two hour drive from your home.

I am definitely following my own coaching here! My husband and I have not been able to get away for a regular vacation this summer. So we took a three-day weekend last week and we are planning for a relaxing weekend this week too, even though we will be at home. Very refreshing! I wish the same for you!

The bottomline: taking some personal time off to relax and re-energize will often pay big dividends in energy for your business!

What is your favorite way to relax and refresh when you need to re-energize yourself for your business? I invite you to post a comment below!

Bonus Coaching Tip: Before you wrap up your week this week, plan where you will start again when you return. Make an extra call to set up an appointment or two. Or block out some time in your calendar for planning the fourth quarter. You will find it easier to get back into gear after some time away when you already have some plans made in advance.

An invitation for you:
Here is an appointment to start your week off right next week. Several people wanted to attend the free marketing teleclass I offered recently but they weren’t able to attend. So I will be offering it again next week in perfect time to help you plan your marketing for fall. Invite a friend or colleague to join the call with you!

Six Great Ways to Get More Clients!

Dial in and join the one-hour teleclass. Here are some of the great things you will learn:

- Six great ways to be visible to your prospective clients
- How to choose the methods that will work best best for you
- Four stages in the process of getting more clients
- Ideas and techniques for applying these concepts in your business

Next Tuesday afternoon September 5, at 3:00 p.m. Central time.

The number to call for the teleclass is:

1-641-297-7250 then enter pin code 346759#
(Your only cost is the cost of your long distance call.) Just find a quiet place to call from and get ready to learn some great ideas you can use right away!

This class is an introduction to the six week Get Clients Now! (TM) workshop and coaching program that begins on September 12.

Visit http://LeslieCardinal.com/teleclasses.html for more information about this great program!

That’s it for now! Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

~Leslie
210-496-3304

Helping you fill your pipeline, grow your business, and have a fulfilling life in the process!

1. Expand your knowledge. You can quickly learn new ideas and concepts in a short amount of time, rather than the more challenging path of learning only from the trial and error of daily experience.

2. Build skills. A class will often include information about actions you can take to apply the concepts you are learning. You can choose the actions that are the best fit for you and your business.

3. Ask questions of the instructor. There will usually be opportunities to ask questions during or after the class. This can help you tailor what you are learning to your specific business situation.

4. Receive a spark of energy and encouragement. A class or workshop can give you a fresh feeling of energy to keep taking action to build your business.

5. Make new friends or business contacts. You can often meet people in the class who could be helpful to your business. These may include potential clients, referral partners, or sources of information or services that your business needs.

Coaching Action Tip: Look for a class or workshop that you could take in the next week or two. It can be a local workshop or a class-by-telephone. Invite a friend or business colleague to join you and you will both benefit.

Here is a class for you:

You are invited to join me this Tuesday, August 22, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. Central time for a free class-by-telephone. I will be teaching one of my favorite classes:

Six Great Ways to Get More Clients!

Dial in and join the one hour class. Here are some of the great things you will learn:

• Six great ways to be visible to your prospective clients
• How to choose the methods that will work best for you
• Four stages in the process of getting more clients
• Ideas and techniques for applying these concepts in your business

The number to dial is

641-297-7250 then enter 346759# when prompted.

(Your only cost is the cost of making a long distance call to connect to the class.) Just find a quiet place to call from and get ready to learn some great ideas.

This class is an introduction to the 6 week Get Clients Now! (TM) workshop and coaching program that begins on September 12.

Visit http://www.LeslieCardinal.com/teleclasses.html for more information about this great program!

That’s it for now! Have a wonderful week and I hope to hear you on the call for the class on Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Central!

~Leslie