Tomorrow, I’m excited to spend the day with members of Ali Brown’s Elevate Premier group here in LA. We’ll spend an entire day behind closed doors strategizing on their business and brainstorm all the possibilities for future growth! I love watching the reaction on their beautiful faces when their vision grows and we map out a strategy to make it happen!

Next week, I’m grabbing my cowgirl hat and heading to Dallas, Texas where I’ll be speaking at Cathy Alessandra’s Success Summit and Expo. I’ll be sharing “The 5 Secrets Every Smart Woman Needs to Know To Double Her Business.” I hope to see all of the Smart Women from Texas while I’m there. http://SuccessSummitAndExpo.com

I want to wish all my readers a Happy Mother’s Day! If you’re a Mom, take this opportunity to allow others to nurture and care for You!

Be Well,

Joy Chudacoff, ICF PCC
Professional Certified Coach
Smart Women Smart Solutions®
310-454-2005
http://www.smartwomensolutions.com

http://www.creatingyourspark.com

Join me:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JoyChudacoff
Facebook: http://profile.to/JoyChudacoff
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/joychudacoff

“Helping women create an extraordinary life.”

Join Joy’s 1,000 plus subscribers and sign up for her weekly ezine, Reflections, so you can receive Free tips and solutions to enrich women’s lives.

Go to www.SmartWomenSolutions.com/ezine, to sign up

After parking my car, I approached the line of at least 75 people and asked one man, “Is this the line for appointments?” The man replied, “Oh no, that’s inside.” I took a deep sigh of relief and continued on through the front door. I immediately saw the “Appointment Line” which had only 2 people ahead of me. This got me thinking about how Smart Women understand the value of making an appointment rather than “winging it” in every area of their lives.

People don’t plan to fail; they fail to plan. Many people do not value their time. If you ever sat down and figured out what your time is worth and more importantly, how fleeting it is, you’d live your life differently.

Recently, a friend asked me a question about something and my initial answer was, “I don’t have time.” After a moment of reflection, I quickly corrected myself. I said, “Wait a minute, what I just told you isn’t true. I have enough time. I have not placed a high value on this and so I haven’t made the time.” You see, you have enough time for what you want to accomplish. You manifest what you think about. I bet at least once today, you’ve thought or told someone you don’t have enough time—right? If you are really honest with yourself (like I had to be that day) it’s not that you don’t have enough time. It’s that you don’t value the action item or activity enough to include it in the time you have.

The reality is if you want:

• a loving relationship with your spouse/partner
• a loving and bonded relationship with your child/children
• a loving relationship with friends and family
• a successful business that meets the goals and expectations you’ve set
• a healthy mind and body

…I invite you to make the decision to schedule an appointment to spend quality time on what you want in your life and stop “winging it.”

When any area of my life is out of sorts, (if I’m really honest with myself) it’s because I haven’t made an appointment to spend the time that’s required to have meaningful moments in those areas. When I turn my attention to any of these areas, I find almost immediate benefit.

My time at the DMV was short and sweet. My appointment was for 11:55 and I walked out the door with my renewal at 12:20. As I made my exit through the glass door, I caught the eye of a man who had been waiting when I arrived. Unfortunately, he hadn’t made much progress toward the front of the line. I gave him a hopeful smile and continued on to my car.

Your life will unfold based on the choices you make. To quote Annie Dillard, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2012 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur. She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs. If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, 2 FREE Reports and FREE MP3 now at Creating The Spark.

Will I see you in Dallas? I’ll be in Dallas on May 18 for Cathy Alessandra’s Success Summit 2012 and I’d love to see you there! And…on Saturday, May 19, I, along with Jennifer Bourn and Cathy Alessandra will be offering live Marketing Makeovers during a free, no-cost Bonus Day for 5 lucky women. But…you have to attend the Success Summit to be considered for the marketing makeover. Grab your seat and and I’ll see you there! http://SuccessSummitAndExpo.com

I’d like to extend a very warm welcome to all of our new Reflections readers. We’re so happy to have you with us.

Be Well,

Joy Chudacoff, ICF PCC
Professional Certified Coach
Smart Women Smart Solutions®
310-454-2005
http://www.smartwomensolutions.com

http://www.creatingyourspark.com

Join me:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JoyChudacoff
Facebook: http://profile.to/JoyChudacoff
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/joychudacoff

“Helping women create an extraordinary life.”

Join Joy’s 1,000 plus subscribers and sign up for her weekly ezine, Reflections, so you can receive Free tips and solutions to enrich women’s lives.

Go to www.SmartWomenSolutions.com/ezine, to sign up

Recently, I attended a women’s conference where I had the opportunity to hear from a powerful group of women who’ve achieved an enormous amount of success in business. Each woman represented a different industry from clothing, NY Times best-selling author to food service. What I found interesting was they all shared similar “gold nuggets” in their business advice and insight. All three women have been a guest on the Oprah Show and their businesses have become an international success. They know business.

What I learned may surprise you. You may think that what’s preventing you from achieving your Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals is something outside of your control. It’s certainly easy to blame others or circumstances for lack of success in life and business. I, too, have had times in my life when placing blame on outside circumstances was convenient but certainly not very helpful. Once again, I was reminded by these super successful women that success is an “inside” game.

If you’ve been wondering how to take an ordinary idea and turn it into an extraordinary business, read on. These 9 clues to success are guaranteed to give you the edge when it comes to making your Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals a reality:

1. Decide – The women were very clear about their decision to become an entrepreneur. There was no turning back. They were focused on making their business dreams and goals happen. Period.
2. Live in Optimism – Each one of them spoke about the power of optimism and this one style of behavior helped them in times of challenge and struggle in their business (especially early on in the start-up phase).
3. Maintain Unshakeable Belief – I had a mentor once who used to say, “people are looking for the chink in your armor.” It’s not what you say about your business that will attract people; it’s how you feel about what you say. These women had unshakeable belief about their business goals from the very start.
4. Take Inspired Action – There is a difference between action and inspired action. Do you get up every day with energy and passion for your business or do you hit the snooze button most days? Do you feel inspired when you get into your office or does it feel like a “ball and chain?” These women love what they do and it shows.
5. Follow Your “Gut” – Whether you are in the start-up phase or ready to take your business to the next level of success, trust your instincts.
6. ASK – This was BIG. These women were not afraid to share their ideas with anyone. They developed a marketing message about their mission and shared it everywhere they went with anyone who would listen. Challenge yourself to ask more often for what you want in business and life.
7. Get Uncomfortable – It’s essential that you get comfortable with being uncomfortable. When we’re comfortable, that’s a big clue that we’re not growing. The only way to experience real personal and business growth is to challenge yourself on a regular basis.
8. COI – Sit down and make a list of your “centers of influence.” These people are admired and respected in your community and area of business. Make a commitment to contact them and share your Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals. I will share from my own personal experience that this one tip has taken my business from “surviving” to “thriving.”
9. Pay Attention – To your clients and customers. Once you begin to gain momentum in your business, pay attention to what your clients and customers have to say. They will tell you what they want and how they want it delivered. Survey your clients at least once a year to find out what they love about your business and how you can better serve them.

These 9 success clues were basic threads that ran through each speaker’s presentation. Here’s what I love about them; They are low-cost to no-cost and as expected, come from within you. All you need to do is decide. Make a decision about achieving your own level of success (whatever that means to you) and follow these easy-to-implement clues to take your Big Idea, Dreams and Goals from “surviving” to “thriving.”

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2012 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, 2 FREE Reports and FREE MP3 now at Creating The Spark.

Spring is a perfect time to get out of the office and attend events to build relationships, gain new learning and uncover new sources of business. As I reflect on the big leaps I’ve made in my business, they’ve all come from relationships I’ve made from getting out and meeting people.

Tomorrow, I’ll be heading over to The South Bay Conference for Women – http://www.mbwib.com. This annual conference attracts over 300 businesswomen and it’s one of my must attend events.

On Tuesday, April 17, I have the honor to serve as a panelist for a hands-on workshop for the Broad’s Circle event here in LA titled, “Marketing Me: Strategies for Success.” To learn more about this workshop and grab your seat, register here.

Be Well,
Joy Chudacoff, ICF PCC
Professional Certified Coach
Smart Women Smart Solutions®
310-454-2005
http://www.smartwomensolutions.com

http://www.creatingyourspark.com

Join me:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JoyChudacoff
Facebook: http://profile.to/JoyChudacoff
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/joychudacoff

“Helping women create an extraordinary life.”

Join Joy’s 1,000 plus subscribers and sign up for her weekly ezine, Reflections, so you can receive Free tips and solutions to enrich women’s lives.

Go to www.SmartWomenSolutions.com/ezine, to sign up

I replied, “Yes, I have and you always need to be prepared for a quick change in the weather when you are on the mountain.” As I prepared myself to leave for skiing that morning, I began to reflect on how being prepared for snow skiing is a lot like preparation for success as a woman entrepreneur.

When you desire a successful day of skiing, there needs to be some planning before you get on the chair lift. You need to stop and think about all of the things you will need in order to have a successful day (This is why ski clothing has so many pockets!). If you’re a woman who skis, you know that the weather can change at any given moment so you need to pack accordingly. If you choose to go skiing without thoughtful preparation, you may be in for a challenging day.

As I rode up the chair lift that morning, I thought of 5 solutions to help you have a great day of skiing and achieve success as a woman entrepreneur:

1. Be prepared for all sorts of weather – If you can imagine the top of the mountain representing your big idea or business goal, you know as you make your journey upward, there will be changes in the climate and the terrain. In your business, there will be times of quick and easy success and there will be challenges that need to be met along the way. Make sure you have packed the necessary items for success. For example, a detailed plan of action, ample support, focus, and consistency. Don’t forget to pack extra energy and unlimited passion!

2. Don’t stay “Green” for too long – Smart women know that you need to get uncomfortable in order to become a better skier. To facilitate improvement, you need to advance beyond the “Green” (easier trails) and move on to “Blue” (more difficult or intermediate). In reaching your business goals, if you are feeling comfortable, then most likely your goals are not big enough or you have lost some energy and passion for your vision. It’s important to stretch yourself. When I challenge myself on the mountain by taking a trail that’s a bit beyond my ability, it feels good when I reach the bottom and can look back and reflect on my accomplishment. Always strive to dream or have a vision that’s just a little bit larger than what you think you can accomplish. You will be surprised at what can happen!

3. “Follow The Leader” – I see a lot of people struggling on the mountain who are beginning skiers. The fastest way to reach your goals whether it’s skiing or realizing your entrepreneurial vision is to follow the leader. Follow someone who shows a clear mastery of where you want to go. Take a lesson or get some coaching. This one solution has helped me gain the most momentum in my own entrepreneurial journey. I like to move quickly when I’ve made a decision to take action on an idea. I always have coaches, mastermind groups, and mentors in the wings ready to help me achieve my business goals at a faster pace.

4. Rest and Re-energize – Smart Women need to take breaks often. Being an entrepreneur takes a lot of energy. When we get passionate about something, we tend to go non-stop until we make our dream happen. It’s essential that you stop along the way to reflect and re-energize. It’s during those times of rest and relaxation that we can ponder what might be next with real clarity and focus.

5. Celebrate – I always end a day of skiing by enjoying a steamy, hot chocolate with my family. It’s the perfect time to reflect on the day. It’s essential that you celebrate every goal or milestone you accomplish in your business along the way. When you honor progress, you set the intention to keep moving forward toward the next level of success.

It was a gorgeous day for skiing. The weather conditions were just about perfect. In the late afternoon, the sky became overcast and a chill was in the air. I was happy to have my face mask in my pocket. Jack was happy to have his too. I’ll see you on your way to the top…

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2012 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur. She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs. If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, 2 FREE Reports and FREE MP3 now at Creating The Spark.

The idea of “self-promotion” or “selling” leaves some women feeling like they are bragging, being pushy or not considerate of others. It can create anxiety and fear which in turn keeps you stuck and unable to reach your business goals. Women are nurturers by nature and the thought of putting their needs in front of someone else’s may feel unnatural.

I understand the feeling (I’ve experienced it too), however if you are determined to achieve your business goals, it’s essential you communicate your message about what you have to offer and how you help people. Do so often and to as many people as possible (otherwise, you will remain the best kept secret in town which in this case, won’t serve you). People are super busy and can’t read your mind so it’s up to you to take on the responsibility of creating interest in how you support people with your product or service.

When I have an opportunity to share how I support women entrepreneurs, I use the R&R approach (Relationship + Results). It feels both authentic and comfortable for me and I think it will for you, too.

1. Cultivate a Relationship – Whether I meet someone at a networking event, through social media or through a mutual friend, my first desire is to build a relationship and discover how I can be of service. I’m truly interested in people and enjoy learning about others. My goal is to find a common ground with people and if I can offer some advice or perspective on their current situation, I’ll share it with them right away. This is a good time to showcase your expertise and also show the other person you are genuinely listening to them.

2. Share Results – When it’s your turn to share more about who you are and what you do (if you’ve truly shown an interest in the other person, this happens organically) share the results you’ve had with your clients through telling stories. Storytelling is engaging. People will lean in and listen intently to what you have to say. Rather than talking about the name of your company and the services you offer, concentrate on someone you’ve worked with that had award-winning results. Talk about where this person was when they first began to work with you and the benefits or transformation they received after working with you.

This approach takes away the “heavy” feeling of self-promotion that women sometimes experience. It has a feminine feel to it. Women create relationships better than anyone I know and sharing the results others have had when they work with you eliminates anxiety.

I invite you to get out of the office today and try the R&R approach. It’s simple, easy and feels authentic to women entrepreneurs.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2012 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur. She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs. If you’re ready take your coaching business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report, FREE MP3 and be the first to hear about my exciting new program for coaches and consultants at Smart Women Smart Solutions Coaching .

Last week, I had the opportunity to speak to the Jewish Vocational Women’s Mentoring Group here in Los Angeles. I shared my keynote, “Creating the Spark®-Igniting the Passion and Energy for a Life You Will Love.” I truly enjoyed speaking with many of the women and learning more about their lives and dreams. Here I am with Jamie Thompson, Womentoring Program Manager.

Winter is in the rear view mirror with spring clearly in front of us. As I look at my calendar for April and May, it’s chock full of live events and opportunities where I can connect with more women entrepreneurs. Spring is an excellent time to get out, connect and plant seeds for new relationships. I invite you to make plans to get out of the office and forge some new business building bonds.

I want to wish everyone a Happy Easter and Passover. Enjoy these next few weeks and I’ll see you back here with more smart solutions for smart women on April 12.

Be Well,

Joy Chudacoff, ICF PCC
Professional Certified Coach
Smart Women Smart Solutions®
310-454-2005
http://www.smartwomensolutions.com

http://www.creatingyourspark.com

Join me:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JoyChudacoff
Facebook: http://profile.to/JoyChudacoff
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/joychudacoff

“Helping women create an extraordinary life.”

Join Joy’s 1,000 plus subscribers and sign up for her weekly ezine, Reflections, so you can receive Free tips and solutions to enrich women’s lives.

Go to www.SmartWomenSolutions.com/ezine, to sign up

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to spend an entire day with Kris Wilkerson who’s in my Smart Woman’s 180 Day Business Acceleration™ program. We mapped out her entire business plan and created a marketing strategy that serves her lifestyle and income goals.

Don’t forget to save your free spot for entrepreneur mentor, and ABC’s “Secret Millionaire” Ali Brown’s FREE call happening TONIGHT at 8pm ET. I’m so excited that for the first time EVER, Ali’s offering special advice just for those of you in your FIRST 3 YEARS of business. It’s called “Solid Steps to Success” and it takes place in JUST A FEW HOURS. Reserve your spot here now: http://bit.ly/yRuv57. I want you to know this is my affiliate link and I’m recommending Ali as she always gives great content and offers quality programs.

Next Tuesday, March 20 is officially the first day of spring. What seeds are you planting for your life and business? It’s the perfect time to look within and embrace new opportunities. : -)

Be Well,
Joy Chudacoff, ICF PCC
Professional Certified Coach
Smart Women Smart Solutions®
310-454-2005
http://www.smartwomensolutions.com

http://www.creatingyourspark.com

Join me:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JoyChudacoff
Facebook: http://profile.to/JoyChudacoff
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/joychudacoff

“Helping women create an extraordinary life.”

Join Joy’s 1,000 plus subscribers and sign up for her weekly ezine, Reflections, so you can receive Free tips and solutions to enrich women’s lives.

Go to www.SmartWomenSolutions.com/ezine, to sign up

Next week, I’m thrilled to begin supporting a small, intimate group of like-minded women in my Smart Women SOAR™ Mastermind program. These women are ready to make the leap this year in their business. They will enjoy monthly group calls, 2 retreat getaways and personal, private time with me to focus and hone their business vision. There is 1 spot left so if you’re ready to join a fabulous supportive group of women and work with me privately, visit www.SmartWomenSoar.com.

March is National Women’s History Month. The theme this year is Women’s Education – Women’s Empowerment. I’m so grateful for all of the women who walked this path before me. Want to test your knowledge on famous women who paved the way? http://www.nwhp.org/whm/test.php

Be Well,

Joy Chudacoff, ICF PCC
Professional Certified Coach
Smart Women Smart Solutions®
310-454-2005
http://www.smartwomensolutions.com

http://www.creatingyourspark.com

Join me:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JoyChudacoff
Facebook: http://profile.to/JoyChudacoff
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/joychudacoff

“Helping women create an extraordinary life.”

Join Joy’s 1,000 plus subscribers and sign up for her weekly ezine, Reflections, so you can receive Free tips and solutions to enrich women’s lives.

Go to www.SmartWomenSolutions.com/ezine, to sign up