I have tried to focus on one thing at a time in the past, and it just doesn’t work for me. I thrive on juggling a few different projects at a time, and I think that’s perfectly okay as long as you’re finishing what you’re starting.

That’s where my basket system comes in handy.

My basket system is how I plan my week, and bring a bit of balance to the multiple projects I work on at any given time.

In today’s episode of She Takes on the World TV I’m walking you through this basket system so it can help you better plan your week too.

Watch the episode below (or click here):

Now I want to hear from you!

In a comment below, I want to hear from you! What’s your strategy for planning your week and how do you juggle multiple projects at once?

How To Plan Your Week When You Have Tons To Do is a post from: She Takes on the World

When you start a new business or a new project, you’re usually super excited to achieve your goals and milestones around that project.

As time goes on though, you might feel you’re getting a little behind, or it might not be quite as successful as you though it would be.

It happens to all of us.

Have you heard the business saying, everything takes twice as long and costs twice as much? That has certainly been the case with me on some of my ventures, and I can be a pretty impatient person so when I feel behind on a goal it can be overwhelmingly frustrating.

I knew that was something I had to work on, so that’s why I’m addressing impatience head-on in today’s episode of She Takes on the World TV. Watch the episode below (or click here):

Did you like this episode? Share one of these tweetables, and leave a comment below:

“Those who are certain of the outcome can afford to wait, and wait without anxiety.” ~@marwilliamson via @nataliemacneil http://bit.ly/10gqslF [Click to tweet]

“Patience means you look inward for wisdom and answers.” ~@nataliemacneil from Getting Impatient Waiting for Success? http://bit.ly/10gqslF [Click to tweet]

P.S. If you haven’t watched my free online business video training series for WE Mastermind + downloaded our launch blueprint PDF, it will only be available for another few days so check it out.

Are You Getting Impatient Waiting For Success? is a post from: She Takes on the World

Did you know that the vast majority of self-employed millionaire businesswoman (98%) are home owners? Not only that, but about one in three (34 percent) has a ZERO mortgage balance! One in five has a balance under $100,000, and only 4 percent has a balance of $500,000 or more. (SOURCE: Stanley, Thomas J., Millionaire Women Next Door, p 9).

While some may argue that it’s more “tax-savvy” to maintain a mortgage on your primary residence, I perceive the benefits of a zero mortgage balance to outweigh the cons:

1. One of the biggest benefits of paying off your mortgage is having financial security over the long-term. Paying off your home can give you a strong sense of financial stability and  protection against an unstable housing market.

2. Once you pay off your mortgage you will have extra breathing room in your monthly budget. With the added flexibility, you can dedicate those funds to help build a solid nest egg for retirement.

3. An additional advantage to paying off your home early is having the financial freedom to pursue other ventures that require financial backing. Imagine being able to support a long-term missionary, loan funds to a female entrepreneur, or simply give a gift of a sizeable amount to a worthy endeavor.

So how do you do it? I have a few suggestions, as I’m wading through Step #7 as we speak.

The first–and easiest–step you can take is to “round up” and pay extra on your monthly mortgage. If your payment is $1120 a month, for example, go ahead and round up that payment to an even $1200. To determine how long an extra payment of X amount will take you, use any one of the free online mortage calculators below:

- http://www.mortgagecalculator.org/

- http://www.zillow.com/mortgage-calculator/

- http://www.daveramsey.com/article/mortgage-calculator/lifeandmoney_realestate/#/entry_form

Another alternative is the “biweekly mortgage payment.” You make half of your mortgage payment every two weeks. That results in 26 half-payments, which equals 13 full monthly payments each year. That one extra payment can knock eight years off a 30-year mortgage, depending on the loan’s interest rate! The only caveat here is that not all lenders accept biweekly mortgage payments. Be sure to first check with your lender to see if they will process two payments at no extra charge.

A third way to pay off your home early is to do some quick back-of-the-napkin math to guarantee an extra payment. Dave Ramsey offers the following: “If you divide your monthly payment by 12 and add that amount to each month’s payment, you’ll end up making one extra payment a year. You’ll increase your $1,500 payment to $1,625, for example, but you won’t have to jump through a bunch of hoops with your lender to make it happen.”

A fourth option deals with “PMI,” or private mortgage insurance. If you’re paying PMI each month, check the equity in your home. If it’s at 20% or greater, you can request that the mortgage lender remove the PMI while you continue to make the same payment each month. Before you know it, you’ll amass an additional payment without any additional effort!

Today’s Bite-Size To-Do:

Contact your mortgage lender and inquire about biweekly mortgage payments. Whatever you do, do not pay a fee to initiate a biweekly mortgage plan.

Investigate your options for a refinance. (I recently completed a 15-year refi and cut my interest in half!) BONUS: If your home loan is with your local credit union, they may make an exception and allow you to lower your interest rate without having to undergo a typical refinance. Most only charge about $100 for a filing fee . . . well worth it!

Take advantage of the online mortgage calculators mentioned above. Play around with the numbers, and be encouraged that you can pay off your home sooner than you think!

Don’t forget to review the first six posts in the series…

Step 1: How I paid off $93,000 in less than 3 years

Step 2: Budgeting

Step 3: Save $1000

Step 4: Debt Snowball

Step 5: Your Emergency Fund

Step 6: Invest

My Journey Out of Debt Step #7: Pay Off Your Mortgage Early is a post from: She Takes on the World

“Consistently underpricing your product or service will eventually undercut the overall value and success of your business,” says She Takes on the World Founder Natalie MacNeil.

That’s the question I asked a group of women entrepreneurs recently, and it amazes me how many women have limiting beliefs around wealth. Among the group, only a few would say the words “I want to be rich.”

I had a discussion about this with The Conquer Club LA hosts, who got a similar response from the group of women they work with.

When did “rich” become this dirty word, and why do so many women entrepreneurs shy away from wanting to make more money and be rich as a result of their hard work?

I want to be rich. I want to use that money to create positive change in the world. Money in the right hands can be a beautiful thing.

I want you to be rich too, so let’s get started.

1) Raise Your Rates

I believe most women entrepreneurs need to charge more. They often believe in order to stay competitive they have to keep their rates low and their profit margins small. There is a fear that if they raise rates, clients will run for the hills. However, this kind of thinking is not only inaccurate, but can be detrimental in the long run.

Consistently underpricing your product or service will eventually undercut the overall value and success of your business.

To really stay ahead of the game and make more money, you should look at yourself as separate from the competition. What you have to offer is unique and special on its own, and that’s something you need to embrace at your core to fully appreciate the potential and possibilities for your business.

In recognizing your market value and raising rates accordingly, you put yourself in a better position to increase employee compensation, manage expenses, and expand services or focus on product development.

Yes, raising rates can seem like a tricky proposition but with careful planning and implementation, your clients will not only stay, they will perceive you in a new light. This is truly your chance to shine in your clients’ eyes.
Highlight the value of your services. Explain in detail the reasons for the increase, what you’ve done to save them time and money, how you make their life better, and what strategies you have in place to go forward.

Along with a ton of sweat equity, you put your heart and soul into your business. So why not ask for what you’re worth? Change your mindset and you can change your life.

2) Keep Your Mind On Your Money

I heard Danielle LaPorte say in an interview that she looks at how much money is in her bank account every day so she sees it there, and asks for more to keep coming. I do something similar but on a weekly basis, not daily. I also kiss many of my checks and say a silent thank you for the opportunity to get paid to do work I love.

So often we sabotage our relationship with money because we subconsciously associate it with negative thoughts or connotations—greed and graft. We keep it at bay with our beliefs. Money is the root of all evil, they say? Well, heck, I beg to differ.

In the wise words of Henry Ward Beecher, “Riches are not and end of life, but an instrument of life.”

Money may not buy happiness, but it allows one to share and experience the best that life has to offer. In a spirit of gratitude, I embrace the blessings that money brings to my life.

Like the cyclical rise and fall of tides, money has its own energetic ebb and flow. You can either resist its flux or ride the wave. Keep your mind on your money, and you become catalyst for change to forge your own path and help others along the way.

3) Tap Into Divine Compensation

Marianne Williamson’s book, The Law of Divine Compensation, is one of my favorites when it comes to money.

This is how she defines divine compensation:

To whatever extent your mind is aligned with love, you will receive divine compensation for any lack in your material existence. From spiritual substance will come material manifestation.

I really believe in the power of your intentions, and when you intend to do great work in this world I know you are provided with what you need to carry out that intention.

Intention is the conduit for creativity, the impetus behind inspiration.

As co-creators, our intentions spark those ‘aha’ moments when we know we’re on to something special. It is also a major motivator that propels us to action so we can manifest all we need to survive and thrive. When you dream from our heart and intend for the greatest good, it’s like giving a high-five to the universe. Expect miracles.

4) Spend More

That’s right. Sometimes to have more money you have to spend more money. You have to invest in the systems that will help you grow, and the people who will support that growth. I incur tens of thousands in expenses every year on systems and people, and I would not be where I am today without them. I keep pristine records so that I get to claim every penny I can during tax season, and I also rack up a lot of free flights and hotels by putting expenses on my Visa Business Travel Rewards card.

As you grow your business, you really need to get clear on your business basics, that is identify the most essential things you need to run the show. You should invest money on things that will optimize your productivity and ultimately yield a greater return. You may need money for equipment, money for your website, money for marketing, money for taxes, and money for insurance, for starters.

Plan ahead and write out what you think your estimated expenses will be for the next 24 months along with projected monthly income. As you get a handle on your expenses, you will have peace of mind knowing you’re financing your way to freedom.

5) Get In The Flow

As a small business owner, accurate bookkeeping is fundamental to managing cash flow. Short of hiring an accountant, you should have user-friendly systems in place so you know exactly what money is coming in and what money is going out. One way to do this is to use a tool like Wave Accounting. This is a free accounting program that features balance sheets, general ledgers, income statements, sales tax information and more.

All documents that represent revenues or expenses should be kept, including receipts, deposit slips, and cancelled checks. If you want to go paperless, Shoeboxed.com can digitally archive your receipts for you. Think of it as an online filing cabinet, and kiss your clutter goodbye.

I recommend that a small business owner spend at least an hour each week updating financials. By keeping everything up to date, you are better able to make key decisions about where and how to spend your money. Also, having your information in order during tax season will hopefully save you a good chuck of change.

6) Make Money Your Priority

I talk to so many entrepreneurs who do their own accounting, packaging, order fulfillment, marketing, and the list goes on and on. You can’t do that as an entrepreneur.

Let me repeat that: YOU CAN’T DO THE BUSY WORK.

As an entrepreneur, revenue needs to be your priority. Busy work needs to be handed off to someone else.
Even if you can only afford to hire someone for two hours per week to start, hire that virtual contractor and for those two hours each week, spend your time hustling and generating more revenue. With that increased revenue, free up more of your time to generate revenue and hand off more and more busy work.

This is the only way your business will grow. If you stay stuck doing the busy work, you will have a very stagnant business.

7) Finance To Grow

What’s a quick cure for a cash flow headache? Financing. But before you seek to raise funding for your business, you need to determine whether borrowing money or selling ownership interest to equity investors is right for you.

In either case, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons of each and have a solid business plan right from the start.

The main advantage of going with a commercial lender is that, while you will pay interest on a loan, the lender will not be involved in the every-day management of your business or entitled to your profits. An investor, on the other hand, is a co-owner who has a say and direct interest in your profitability.

That being said, raising money through equity investors gives you the financial flexibility to cover expenses in lieu of loan payments. And if your business hits a rough patch, you may not be obligated to pay your investors their initial investment.

I have taken on a bank loan and I’ve also raised money from investors when my dream for She Takes on the World Inc. became bigger than my bank account. Bootstrapping and self-funding are definitely ideal for most entrepreneurs, but sometimes big dreams require external financing.

Consult a tax advisor who can assess your tax situation and the terms of any potential contractual agreement. The good news is money is out there. You just have to ask.

8) Remember Time is Currency

“Time is money” is a phrase coined by Benjamin Franklin. It’s one of those age-old euphemisms we can all relate to as we strive to make every minute count in our busy lives.

Nevertheless, I often meet fledgling entrepreneurs who have no clear business plan. To get results, you need to understand the value of your time and proper planning. How people manage their time is usually a pretty good indicator of how they manage a business.

Another way we unwittingly drain our resources is submitting to procrastination. Being effective means taking action today—not tomorrow or next week—now. It’s about sticking to a routine and moving forward a little bit each day to get the job done, i.e., scheduling payments, invoicing for products and services, and initiating client contact.
When you’re starting out and don’t have much revenue, time is your greatest commodity. Getting really clear about time management, as well as the how and why of what you want, lights a fire beneath you to act on your dreams.

9) Never Stop Learning

Formal education will take you to the boardroom, but self-education is a path to prosperity. People who know how to make money have a knack for learning about money. They fiercely focus on personal development as a tool for manifesting greatness.

They read books on budgeting, investing, insurance, and business development. (Side note: Everyone should read Think and Grow Rich, one of my faves). They attend financial building seminars, watch videos, listen to podcasts, and network to build their brand. The wealthy know developing the mind will lead to better business decisions each step of the way.

They don’t shy away from issues. They view problems as critical opportunities and dive right in. The rich self-educate to become stellar students of success.

Disclaimer: I am blogging on behalf of Visa Business and received compensation for my time from Visa for sharing my views in this post, but the views expressed here are solely mine, not Visa’s. Visit http://facebook.com/visasmallbiz to take a look at the reinvented Facebook Page: Well Sourced by Visa Business. The Page serves as a space where small business owners can access educational resources, read success stories from other business owners, engage with peers, and find tips to help businesses run more efficiently. Every month, the Page will introduce a new theme that will focus on a topic important to a small business owner’s success. For additional tips and advice, and information about Visa’s small business solutions, follow @VisaSmallBiz and visit http://visa.com/business.

Nine Ways To Live Richer Right Now is a post from: She Takes on the World

My solution: To Do Lists and Done Lists.

The value of a To Do list is obvious:  Write things down so you remember them. It is essential for keeping activities and action items straight, so they don’t fall through the cracks. Lists are especially important for entrepreneurs and those who are starting a business. Done lists are more about tracking your progress and staying motivated. They are extremely important for everyone, no matter what business you are building.

To Do Lists

We use To Do lists in our personal lives all the time: for the grocery store, due dates for bills, scheduling, appointments, kids’ activities, just about everything. We obviously use these in our professional lives, as well – to keep track of meetings, projects, and deadlines. First there were date books, then pdas, and now everything is kept on a smartphone. The digital age certainly helps with prioritizing and time management.

For To Do lists I use a combination of my Google calendar – for things that need to get done on the deadline dates … or in some cases a few days before  – and Evernote for the actual lists, so I can access them anytime, anywhere.  Urgent tasks also earn a place on my computer sticky notes. However, there really is no substitute for the satisfaction of writing something down on paper in ink and then drawing a line through it when it’s completed.

Done Lists

Done Lists are perfect for the entrepreneur. Since many people, who are in the start-up phase of a business, work full-time elsewhere, they rely on found time to move their passion projects forward. Even though you are not scheduling specific project-time, you still can – and should – track your time spent. For those days when you feel like you aren’t getting anywhere, you check your Done list and see how far you have gone.

Recommendations

• Keep a running list of To Dos for your new business or project. Write everything in the same notebook or computer file.
• Each Sunday, take a look at you main list and pick the top items you want to try to accomplish that week.
• At the end of each day, write down your accomplishments. You can also track the time you spent on your project that day.
• At the end of the week, look at all your accomplishments and commend yourself for all that you have achieved.

Remember, you don’t build a business overnight. Keep track of what you need to do and what you have done. That will keep you motivated and well-positioned for success!

To Do Lists and Done Lists is a post from: She Takes on the World

Your Mind is “The Must-Have Business  Accessory”

Are you a modern day Dorothy, or do you prefer to do exactly what others tell you to do? Entrepreneurs have an intense desire for adventure — a path that doesn’t typically include safety and predictability. They have the courage to direct the course of their lives, listening to their inner voice, and don’t actively seek approval from others. Regardless of what you may have been conditioned to think, you are your best advisor when it comes to making decisions about your path.  Sounding boards are great and mentors are valuable assets in business, but their role is to bounce your ideas around, not impose theirs on you.

Finding your own path

How often to you sincerely ask yourself what you want out of life and then take the time to listen? Do you know what your ideal life looks like? If you are new to this trailblazing idea, and are ready to take the scenic route in life, here are some steps to guide you on your way:

• If you haven’t identified your ideal life, now is the time to start. Create a picture in your head, including as many details as you can. Where do you live; how are you living out your purpose through your work; where do you travel for pleasure and how often?  Once your ideal life picture begins to come into focus, you can determine how far you are from living it and the steps to making it a reality.

• Figure out what has been holding you back from blazing trails of your own. Is it fear, doubt, or simply being stuck in comfort zone complacency? Take an accounting of your internal dialog about your self-worth, your current circumstances and your dreams. The first obstacle to living your dreams is never allowing yourself to dream.  Align your thoughts with your dreams and the outcomes you desire to begin driving your action down the path of your choosing.

• Be prudent when accepting the advice of others. Most people have good intentions, but their dreams are not your dreams. Take the time to evaluate whether or not their suggestions resonate with your deepest desires or might steer you off course.  That small voice that speaks from your core can be your greatest guide if you are able and willing to listen. Unfortunately, it can easily get blocked out by the noise of the world around us and all the conflicting messages that come our way.

What is it worth to you to make the necessary shifts in mindset and muster the courage to move toward your ideal?  Anything is possible if you have a belief and burning desire to achieve something specific that is in line with your deepest purpose. Be a trailblazer in your own life and discover the adventures awaiting you off the yellow brick road.

“Do not go where the path may lead.

Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

You Don’t Need Ruby Slippers to Be a Business Trailblazer is a post from: She Takes on the World

I talk to other entrepreneurs who deal with this all the time, particularly a couple of my photographer friends whose families and friends always ask for free services.

As an author I was able to purchase bulk orders of my book at a discounted rate but I didn’t get books for free. The only free copies of the book that were given by the publisher were for media contacts and reviewers.

That experience made me realize I needed to put some boundaries between free and fee, and that’s my topic for today’s episode of She Takes on the World TV.

Watch the video below (or click here) then scroll down to join the conversation:

Now I want to hear from you: Do you have friends and family who expect your services for free? How do you set boundaries between free and fee?

Do You Give Your Products Or Services Away For Free? is a post from: She Takes on the World

Once you realize you’ve got a bad client on your hands, it’s important to identify how the relationship is interfering with your life so that it becomes clear what you need to do next:

Break up with your client.

Just like your friends would tell you that you should never stay in a bad relationship, you should never keep working with a client that drains your energy, and makes you miserable. By clearing your schedule of working with a bad client, you free up space and time for working with your ideal customers.

In today’s episode of She Takes on the World TV I share my tips on breaking up with a client, and give you the script I’ve used in the past when I’ve had to end a client relationship. Watch the episode below (or click here):

Now I want to hear from you!

Tell us about your bad client stories below. I’m sure you’ve got one to share! Let us know how you got out of the relationship too. I think there’s a lot we can learn from each other on this topic.

Do You Need To Break Up With A Bad Client? is a post from: She Takes on the World

I’m going to share one of my pet peeves. Selling yourself (or your business) by filming yourself giving a video presentation has become increasingly popular, and many “online marketing experts” are jumping on the bandwagon – great! Here’s the thing – they follow each other’s recommendations like sheep, and suggest that when fronting your own videos you should, “Be authentic. Just be yourself”. Wrong!

Yes, you need to be authentic, but you must learn how to master your emotions, connect with the camera, create a positive viewer experience choose your best camera angles and framing to list a few.

I’m sure they mean well, but I shake my head in disbelief when I read filming advice from people who obviously have never set foot on a film set, let alone worked or trained in the industry nor have they been a paid professional spokesperson, presenter, actor or model hired to front big-budget TV advertising campaigns. Yikes folks!

You are a Continuous Transmitter

Your face (and body language) are like a continuous transmitter. You reveal your feelings to your viewers as they change from moment to moment at the rate of several thousand signals per second. Your audience picks up on your feelings, and Harvard research suggests that “how” you deliver your message is actually more important than the message itself.

Mirror neurons (special brain cells that were only discovered in the nineties) make us automatically empathize with the people we observe. For example, when someone smiles at you on the street, you can’t help yourself – your mirror neurons make you automatically smile back. When you see fear on someone’s face, you feel that fear yourself. When you see someone who looks angry, you instantly become more aggressive. You “mirror” what you see.

If You Feel Something – Your Audience Feels it Too!

Humans evolved this special ability over countless generations to help us determine friend from foe, and display the correct emotion to match the social situation. We don’t watch a person’s face and think about their intentions – our subconscious brains automatically tune into their feelings! Isn’t that amazing? People with autism have dysfunctional mirror neurons and lack this ability to understand how other people are feeling (remember Dustin Hoffman in the movie Rain Man?).

Can you see where I am going with this when it comes to your video presentations? Whatever emotion you are feeling – thanks to mirror neurons, your audience will automatically be feeling it too! If you feel nervous and tense about appearing on camera, or your eye-contact with the lens is slightly off your audience will be nervous and tense watching you. If you concentrate so intensely that you stare at the camera with bulging bug eyes (and I see this often), it’ll make you appear emotionally disengaged onscreen. Plus it’s creepy, we don’t do this in real life!

Also, you cannot control how the viewer is going to watch your video. They can rewind, pause, zoom-in, go full-screen, or even study your face closely on a large screen if they want. The emotions that you project on screen will determine the extent to which people will trust you.

Manage 1st Impressions – A Study by Harvard Health & Sciences

Influence and persuasion expert Olivia Cabane, states that: “You only get one chance to create a good first impression. Within a few seconds, with just a glance, people have judged your social and economic level, your level of education, and even your level of success. Within minutes, they’ve also decided your level of intelligence, trustworthiness, competence, friendliness, and confidence.”

And that’s based on meeting you in the flesh. Imagine how that translates to your online videos, where viewers can replay and pause your presentation!

It’s not about “being yourself” – it’s about being your “best self”

Be Your “Best Self”

To give compelling online video presentations, here are a couple of tips:

• Demonstrate empathy. Get emotionally involved in your subject matter. “Feel” your message so your facial expressions match your content
• People can detect real vs. fake smiles. Be genuinely happy about what you are presenting. If you are not enthusiastic, your audience certainly won’t be!
• Choose the right camera angle to influence the way your viewers perceive you
• Know your best photogenic angle
• Dress the part make sure your wardrobe and styling is aligned with your personal/business brand
• Make sure your make-up look is current and personal grooming is tip-top (HD camera will show up e-v-e-r-y-thing)
• Check your background setting
• Avoid these body language mistakes in front of the camera
• Learn how to create a positive viewer experience and avoid the dinosaur effect

If you are doing your own business videos, sales presentations, video blogging, video interviews, or sharing your thought leadership or talent online, remember – the audience comes first. It’s not about “being yourself” – it’s about being your “best self”.

Sweat the Small Stuff!

Do sweat the small stuff if you are fronting your own online videos – its your face out there representing your personal/business brand. Which is why making a great first impression is crucial (when it comes to a google search). Put in the effort – with the aim to take your audience on a fun, emotional ride!

Helping you look good online with Video!

Bianca

Do you have questions about presenting on video or creating your video presentations? Post them in the comments below. I’d love to help you where I can.

It’s a Mistake to “Be Yourself” in Your Online Videos is a post from: She Takes on the World

Jealousy sets in, you start to feel like a failure, and you wonder what she has that you don’t.

Can you relate?

I used to compare myself to others all the time. I would even look at entrepreneurs with 20 years more experience and say, “Why am I not there?”

Here’s the thing: When you allow the success of others to make you feel you’re not good enough, you’re turning your back on your own brilliance and unique gifts. [Click to tweet]

In today’s episode of She Takes on the World TV, I dive into how to stop comparing yourself to others. Check it out:

I’d love to hear from you in a comment below: Is this something you have struggled with? How do you shift your mindset when a comparison complex creeps in?

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others is a post from: She Takes on the World