Have you been thinking about building a website on your own without the help of a webmaster? Don’t have any idea where to start? My friend and colleague, Christina Hills, teaches non-techie people how to build their own WordPress site. Watch her short 5 min video now and let her show you how easy it is.

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

In my work, I’ve discovered that women find asking for help risky as they see it as a sign of weakness. They create a belief that they are the only ones having a struggle and this could not be further from the truth. Everyone is questioning some aspect of their business. Whether it’s to attract more clients, increase their income or expand their programs and services – women entrepreneurs have many of the same challenges.

If you want to remain queen of your domain, it’s essential that you surround yourself with supportive people who can guide you and brainstorm with you about new possibilities that will pave a path to success in your business. Here are some fast and easy ways to reach out for support:

1. Make a PB&A – Put together your own “Personal Board of Advisors.” Reach out and connect to people you know who are positive and looking to achieve success. Gather at least once a month by phone or in-person to exchange ideas and be accountable. I have a consistent group of people I speak with regularly to bounce ideas and support their growth as well.

2. Pack your bags – Yes, you read that right. Commit to a live event or retreat that takes you away from your domain for a few days. This is one of the most rejuvenating activities you can commit to for your business. It provides a new, fresh look – a new perspective. In my work with women, I sometimes refer to this as “reframing.” If you sit on your throne day after day looking at the same landscape, it dulls your creative process and keeps you stuck.

3. Commit to a “Thinking Partner” – It may be time to hire a coach. Working privately with a coach who has expertise in the areas where you feel stuck can be a good investment for your business. It can collapse your time frame and get you focused on where the momentum is to accelerate your success.

Being “queen of my castle” is a wonderful feeling –one that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. I’ve set my domain up to have plenty of support around me at all times so that it feels empowering, safe and secure. It allows me the freedom to think big and make grand plans for my domain. You can have this too.

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 .

January is off to a great start

Did you know that 2012 is a leap year? They come around once every 4 years so if you’re feeling like 2012 is the year for you to make the leap in your business, there’s 1 spot left in my Smart Woman’s Business Acceleration Program and I’m still honoring my birthday special pricing! 12 private, personal calls with me and a full day retreat at a peaceful relaxing B&B is included. Learn more here.

Next week, I’m honoring the women I serve locally here in LA with an appreciation lunch and viewing of the “Women Hold Up Half the Sky” exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center (skirball.org). I read the book two years ago and it has forever changed my views on women in the world. I’ve embraced my own process of “giving back” by donating a portion of all coaching program proceeds to this cause.

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

Let me give you an example: Last week, I purchased a new bicycle because I want to start taking long bike rides with my family. There was one benefit I was looking for with the purchase of this new bike: comfort. It had to be comfortable. When I finally found the bike that met my comfort requirement I was delighted, however right next to it was a bike that was a beautiful shade of purple which made my heart skip a beat. I sampled both bikes and in the end bought the bike that was a shade of silver because it was clearly the most comfortable ride. The color was a “feature” not a “benefit” for me. Remember the greatest “benefit” for me was comfort.

When you are passionate and energetic about an idea, you can come up with all kinds of names and catchy phrases for your products and services. The ideas seem to flow naturally once you put yourself in that creative space. The excitement about all of the possibilities in your future can sometimes overshadow the most important part of your business: The client or customer. We become so wrapped up in the idea of being a successful woman in business, we neglect to create a clear message about what we have to offer. Your ideal client becomes confused or uncertain on how you can help them (remember—WIIFM?) The most important thing that you can do is to put yourself in your ideal clients position and think about the benefits or outcome your client will receive when she works with you or purchases your product.

I’m working with some women right now who are on fire with ideas for their business. Recently, I shared some ideas to help them improve their “WIIFM” factor when marketing their products and services:

1. Mrs. Fields Knows Best – Debbie Fields understands the power of sampling. Her success came from this simple marketing strategy. Anytime you pass by one of her stores, someone walks out with a tray full of warm, steamy cookies and says, “Try one.” When you offer your service or product for free, it’s an easy way for your ideal client to quickly understand “WIIFM.” Over the last 7 years, I have offered your first “Creating the Spark™ Success Circle” for free, as women can clearly see the benefits and outcomes they will enjoy when they become a member.

2. Become Your Own Customer – Find some time to walk yourself through your own process. Does the system that you set up actually bring about the benefits you claim to offer? Does your business card, web site and other marketing materials clearly communicate what you offer and how it will benefit your ideal client? In today’s world, your message needs to be clear and people need to easily understand what you do.

I love the Stephen Covey quote, “Begin with the end in mind.” Smart Women have a clear vision of why they are in business and where they want their business to take them. They make sure their marketing communicates the “benefits” clearly and effectively. The next time you personally think about making a purchase, stop and listen to the questions in your own mind. I will bet that one of them is “WIIFM?”

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.

Cathy is an expert at creating events for women entrepreneurs. She understands exactly what it takes to put an event together that blends timely, relevant information for women entrepreneurs with just enough time for great networking and relationships to happen. When she asked me to speak again this year at both events, I was thrilled.

This year she’s offering her Success Summit in 2 Locations!

Dallas, Texas – May 18th & 19th
Los Angeles, California – October 5th and 6th

There are some exciting Early Bird specials but you have to act fast. Plus, I’ll be leading a Bonus Day in Dallas and Los Angeles along with Jennifer Bourn of Bourn Creative to help you take what you learned at the Success Summit and implement on the spot. If 2012 is the year you are planning to take the leap in your business, read on…

From the desk of Cathy Alessandra, Today’s Innovative Woman

Announcing…

SUCCESS Summit 2012

SUCCESS Summit is planned around the topics most important to YOU and your business growth! Our day is packed full of amazing content but we’ve also planned plenty of hands-on networking time to allow you to connect and create ideas with other business owners. And there will be none of that “hard sell” from the stage!

PLUS, this year we’ve added a second day – the Accelerate SUCCESS Workshop! This workshop has been carefully designed to help you create an action plan using the proven strategies learned the previous day. During this highly interactive, content-rich day, you will be led through creating your own action steps for accelerating your business to a new level of success. You will walk away with your own carefully crafted entrepreneurial Blueprint for SUCCESS designed to keep you focused on an action plan you can implement immediately to help you reach your business goals.

Here is what one attendee had to say about last year’s event…

“I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of such an amazing community of powerful women at the Success Summit. I came home with a notebook of information learned from the speakers that I can apply to growing my business RIGHT NOW, and with new connections made with other attendees that I feel will compliment my business and enrich my life. Thanks Cathy, I’ll definitely be back next year!” Dawn Mena, www.getcaptivatingcopy.com

You can read more about what people are saying by clicking here – or watch the video below!

I am on a mission to bring top notch experts and amazing, influential women business owners together to create endless possibilities!

And right now, we are offering our very special EARLY BIRD PRICING for those who commit to take action now!

The price of Friday’s SUCCESS Summit is only $147 – and you get to BRING A FRIEND FOR FREE, plus get a complimentary advertisement in Today’s Innovative Woman magazine AND…. the first 10 people to register get VIP tickets which include front row seats and more!

BUT WAIT – there’s more! Spend Saturday with us at the Accelerate SUCCESS Workshop where you will create your plan of action, your Blueprint for SUCCESS, and you’ll get your Friday ticket free! Yes – that’s right! Join us for this full day intimate workshop (very limited seating) for only $497 and create your very own action steps so you can go home on Monday and begin to implement what you learned immediately – accelerating your success! And get your Friday SUCCESS Summit ticket free! With all the bonuses! (You still get to bring a friend at no cost on Friday, you still get a complimentary ad in the magazine – and if you are one of the 1st 10, you get the VIP ticket!!)

DON’T WAIT! Take ACTION! This EARLY BIRD pricing and bonuses won’t last long! $497 gets you 2 days of connecting, learning, growing and leaving you with a personal action plan to accelerate the SUCCESS of your business! Or join us for just Friday at only $147 – where you will learn top business strategies, meet amazing women and leave inspired and ready for anything!!

Click here for ALL the details!!

To your success,
Joy

Happy 2012! I hope you had a magical holiday and spent some time celebrating all the abundance in your life as you close the door on 2011 and step into 2012. I enjoyed some quiet time with family and ended the year with a special birthday celebration! Here I am on New Year’s Eve. Doesn’t the cake look like it’s on fire? : -)

Have you been thinking about taking your business to a new level of success and desire a real-life mentor to walk with you step by step, supporting you and guiding you along the way? If so, you’ll want to check out my “Smart Woman’s 180 Day Business Acceleration Program.” It’s part of my Birthday Special celebration and the spots are going Fast! Learn more here.

I’m delighted to share with you that Smart Women Smart Solutions® is preparing to give back in 2012 in a way that reflects our core mission to help women have everything they want and deserve. I’m excited to announce that every woman who makes a decision to join one of my coaching programs in 2012 will have a donation made in her name to either www.KIVA.org or www.WomenForWomen.org, compliments of Smart Women Smart Solutions®. You’ll have the opportunity to change another woman’s life.

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

Goal setting, New Year’s resolutions, dreams, and big ideas-these are heavy on people’s minds right now as we cross the threshold into 2012. Everyone wants to make up for lost time and start off the year on a course to reach their biggest goals and why not? It’s a leap year which makes it even more exciting to think about soaring to new heights. I’m right there with you. I, too, have big ideas, dreams and goals.

Einstein’s quote helped me to realize there are two distinct parts to reaching your big ideas, dreams and goals. First you must have a Vision and second, you must have a Plan to accomplish the vision. One does not happen without the other. They are like partners working in tandem. Visionaries can be challenged by creating a plan and Planners sometimes lack the necessary vision to keep the dream alive.

Vision is the dream of your desired future. It’s a picture of something you hope for, something you can see clearly in your imaginative mind. A vision is a dream that inspires and motivates you.

Planning is logical, factual and realistic. A plan is a set of specific objectives and tasks broken down into achievable bite-size goals that you can reach in a targeted amount of time.

Without a passionate dream, a plan becomes idle busyness. Without a realistic plan, your vision becomes more like daydreaming.

Below are some tips and solutions that will help you during both the visioning and planning phases for your Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals for 2012:

VISION

1. Steal Some Solitude – Having some quiet alone time to focus on your vision is vital to the outcome. Block out a few hours, a day or even a weekend to get clear on what your dream looks like and what it feels like when it becomes a reality.

2. Clarity is Key – Becoming crystal clear is a must. Visioning about the who, what, where of your dream will help you later in the planning phase.

3. Use Tools to Make it BIG – Buy some large white post-it paper at your local supply store and colorful, vibrant markers to write or draw. I always say to women I work with: “How big can a dream become on an 8×11 piece of paper?”

4. Create a Vision Board – Once you are clear about what your dream is, a vision board is a productive way to keep the dream alive every day. I use this in my “Creating The Spark” Success Circles and women share that this one tool has helped them stay on course and reach their goals. Have it laminated and place it somewhere you’ll be reminded often or make it your wallpaper on your electronic devices.

PLANNING

1. Set Specific Goals – Here’s an example of a general goal: “I want to have more clients and make more money.” Here’s a specific goal: “I want to increase my income by 25% and work with 10 additional people who are my preferred ideal client by April 1.” Notice the difference? The first goal is general while the second holds a specific outcome and date. You are more likely to reach your goal if you are specific. It helps you to measure your progress along the way and reward yourself when you cross a milestone.

2. Make a commitment – Create time in your calendar to work on your goals. In the example above, it will be necessary for you to decide what marketing strategies will shorten your time frame to accomplish the goals and then schedule those into your calendar daily, weekly, monthly.

3. Know your areas of weakness – Everyone has areas of strength and weakness. Operate in your strengths and get support in the areas where you are weak. For example, I do not enjoy the technical aspect in my business or bookkeeping (two essential pieces to any successful business) so I have people on my team who are experts in this area and love doing these tasks. This is where having a coach could be helpful in helping you to identify your strengths and find creative support in the areas where you need help.

4. Evaluate and Course-Correct – Along the way, you may need to course-correct your original plan because of new learning or changes that occur along the way. Being an entrepreneur means you are open to new possibilities and ready for change when necessary.

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, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at Profits With Passion.

First, it’s my birthday and I’m enjoying a special day with my family. Second, it’s New Year’s Eve! (A time to reflect on the year and prepare to step into 2012 with confidence and clarity)

As I reflect on the year, one area where I experienced a great deal of “joy” and satisfaction is my personal, private work with Smart Women. I love being part of the breakthroughs, brainstorming and brilliance that’s inside of YOU. As I look at 2012, my calendar is nearly filled with work I’m delighted to be a part of: A new opportunity to work with Ali Brown as an Elevate™ Premier Coach, my own Mastermind programs and retreats, Success Circles, and other commitments that are also of high importance.

So, I’ve made a decision (by the way, this is the first secret to getting what you truly want in life). Today, I’m offering a *Special* Gift to you and it’s also going to be a birthday gift for me! If you are truly ready for transformation—one that takes you on a journey to accomplishing all your goals and having the business and life you dream about, then please read on. Introducing:

www.SmartWomenSolutions.com/180

For a limited time, you’ll have the opportunity to work with me privately and personally. Women report that this is the one action step that has changed their business dramatically. They’ve…

• Exceeded their income goals
• Attracted more of their ideal client
• Become highly productive by doing the “right” things
• Enjoyed working with someone who really cares about helping them achieve their Big Idea, Dreams and Goals
• Created a life that includes both business and personal satisfaction

This unique opportunity is available for a very limited time and a limited number of women (due to the time commitment and level of service) who are ready to take their business and their life to another level of transformation.

www.SmartWomenSolutions.com/180

I hope you’ll consider joining me. Without a doubt, it’s going to be a 180 day transformation like you’ve never seen before.

www.SmartWomenSolutions.com/180

To your success,

Joy Chudacoff

PS. Remember…this special gift is only available for a limited time and a limited number of women due to the time commitment and level of service. So if you’re ready to take the leap into 2012 with ease, confidence and clarity, join me and together, we will begin a journey to accelerate your business to the next level of success.

www.SmartWomenSolutions.com/180

In just about 72 hours, you and I will step into 2012 – a New Year that’s fresh with possibility and opportunity. 2012 also happens to be a “leap” year. I invite you to take some time these next few days to celebrate your accomplishments in 2011 and reflect on any change you’d like to embrace in 2012. Is there something you’d like to take the “leap” on next year?

How you set yourself up at the beginning of the New Year is an excellent indicator for measuring your success throughout 2012. I’d like to support you in making 2012 the year you make the BIG Leap in your life and business! Join a small, intimate group of women and myself for a 2-day private retreat at a peaceful, relaxing spa location here in Southern California. Together, we will map out your entire year both personally and professionally so you step into 2012 with ease and confidence. But you have to hurry if you want to take advantage of the Free One Hour Massage that you’ll enjoy during the retreat! It ends tomorrow, December 30! And the retreat is already 50% Sold Out! www.SmartWomenSolutions.com/retreat

December 31 is a very special day for me. Yes, it’s New Year’s Eve and it’s also my birthday! Watch your in-box that day because I’ve created a very special gift for you to help me celebrate my special day. : -)

I’m feeling grateful for all the Smart Women in my life today and I’m looking forward to another year of serving you. You play such an important role in the fabric of my life.

Happy New Year!

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

In my work with women, one of the essential exercises we do together is peel back the layers of their lives both personally and professionally to explore and discover their “gift” or what I sometimes refer to as their “genius.” You may be reading this and thinking, “I don’t know what my gift is” or “I don’t have a gift.” You do have a gift. You have genius inside You.

Once you uncover your “gift”, life and business become far more enjoyable. When you have a business that allows you to work in your area of genius, you will have the opportunity to earn more money because you will be doing what comes naturally to you. When you live in your genius, you feel happier and healthier.

I know you want to be happier, healthier and make more money in 2012—right?

In his book, “The Big Leap” Gay Hendricks talks about 3 zones that we live in: The Zone of Competence, The Zone of Excellence and The Zone of Genius. Most people live in the Zone of Competence or the Zone of Excellence. Why? It’s comfortable and it’s safe. Making a decision to live in your Zone of Genius means getting a little uncomfortable initially. You’ll have to admit to yourself and eventually the world that you actually have a gift and you’ll begin to say “No” more often to opportunities that are outside your Zone of Genius. Women are nurturers by nature so “No” can be a challenge, however once you give yourself permission to do so, you’ll be delighted you did.

Here’s a quick exercise to begin the process of uncovering your “gift” – your “genius,” so 2012 will become easy and effortless:

1. Grab a pen and paper.

2. Steal some quiet time and make a list of everything you do in your business and I mean everything (sharpening pencils, filing, etc).

* Some women carry this list around with them for a few days to get crystal clear about all of those “hidden” tasks you are doing. If you have a smart phone, you can also voice record as you do each task and write it down later.

3. After you complete the list, I invite you to draw a circle around the tasks that:

* Seem effortless when you perform them
* Other people compliment you on how well you perform a task
* Brings immediate cash flow into your business
* Give you a surge of energy and happiness

You should have no more than 4 items circled. When I do this exercise with women, they typically have a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 40 tasks on their list. There are only 2-4 tasks that answer all 4 of the questions above.

Yes, laundry has to be done, dishes washed and bills paid. If you give yourself permission to stay in your “genius” and live in your “gift,” you may find that your income will suddenly allow you to have more support in getting those other tasks accomplished.

This was a big shift for me several years ago. It is one of the changes that supported my big “leap” into living a life of service and support.

Go ahead. Give yourself permission to take ownership of your gift, your genius. Embrace and enjoy the abundance that 2012 holds for you.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2011 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, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at Profits With Passion.