Uncategorized « Lorin Beller Blake

If you really want to get something accomplished, Read This Post!

August 31, 2010

Filed under: Order, Uncategorized — Tags: Big Fish Nation, bold action, clutter, mary pankiewicz, successful women, women entrepreneurs — Lorin Beller Blake @ 9:29 pm

I am a big believer in organization giving me an energy boost to accomplish big clean bold work just as Mary Pankiewicz, Owner of Clutter Free & Organized says in her blog!

And on the opposite end, I also believe that a mess sucks up our energy. Just as unfinished tasks that we set out to do and do not get accomplished and are hanging over our head suck up our energy.

Yet when we accomplish a big bold task, we get jazzed and do more! So what cycle are you on today?

My desk this morning

I just invested in a new MAC Book Pro, 15inch! I am a PC user and switching over, and spent a chunk of time since getting my MAC on organizing my ‘Big Mother To Do list!’ (no trademark needed! ) I feel so empowered. The stuff is getting done, and checked off and prioritized better than ever! I feel in charge, details are being held better.

I always have a process that is what are my top 3 things I am tackling today list…. And that list is pulled from the ‘Big Mother To Do list’ that is always running.

Just this past week a Big Fish (someone that is a part of our various programs for Women Business Owners www.bigfishnation.com) said to me, ‘just once I would like to feel like the list is complete.’ My response to her was, ‘that is on your deathbed! My hope is we all feel that sense of completion then and at the end of every day. Because at the end of every day, we can only accomplish so much so we have a choice to feel either behind of complete for the day.’

If you are feeling overwhelmed and as though you are not getting enough accomplished I highly recommend that you do the Big Fish 3 Step!

Identify 3 things tonight that you WILL get accomplished tomorrow. In other words, before you leave work today, identify the 3 things that you are committing to complete tomorrow. Be realistic!
At the beginning of the day focus on JUST THOSE 3 things! Get them complete before you open mail, check your voice mail, facebook, twitter, etc.
REPEAT for today and again tomorrow!

You see, when you set out to do something that does not get accomplished you feel deflated, defeated and lower your confidence. So it is time to change that cycle. GO BOLD AND BE BOLD!

My desk after a much needed clean up today, which is more empowering?

Mary P. aren’t you proud? Mary is a Big Fish in one of the Big Fish programs. She is a very successful professional organizer taking her business to new heights! See more about her business at http://www.clutterfree.biz/.

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Finding Less “Solo” in “Solopreneur”

August 10, 2010

Filed under: Power of Intention, Uncategorized, interdependence, success — Tags: Big Fish Nation, powerful women, solopreneur, successful women entrepreneurs, women supporting women — Starla J King @ 8:49 am

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(post by guest-blogger Starla J. King, Big Fish 2009-10)

I usually love being a solopreneur.

Except for those times when the solo feels more like alone and less like independent, strong, on my own, and free.

I’m in one of those times right now.   After longing for more alone time to focus on the work of my heart/soul, I finally have it… and I feel… well… alone.

Quick background: I co-created, co-own, and co-manage a small-scale landscaping business with my business/life partner. This year, she and I also worked side by side (literally!) for 5 months, fulltime. Now that it’s summer season, a slow time for landscaping, I have switched my focus to my solopreneur work and business, and my partner is back to consulting in the corporate world.

This is what I wanted… really really wanted… so why am I not bursting-at-the-seams energized??

Part of it is that I physically spend most of my day alone. (The cats, in this case, don’t count. Their respect for my entrepreneurial vision is lacking, to say the least. )   As a writer (and borderline introvert), I often need to have alone time, but at some point the solitude becomes a risk of diminishing returns.

Part of it is that the vision for my new business, OutWrite Living, is still being formed so it’s mostly my vision – not a shared vision yet.

Part of it is that I get lost in To Do list tasks, hoping to find satisfaction and validation in checking off “accomplishments” while my collaborative thirst stays unquenched.

So… what to do?

If I had a session with my Big Fish business coach (Nancy Duncan) scheduled for this week, I’d talk this through with her. Coaches are wonderful for things like this! But since we aren’t scheduled until next week, I’ve done some self-coaching instead. The results? It’s time for me to:

Write this blog post so I have to address the issue head on (thanks for the space, Lorin!).

Change my DBR (Daily Business Ritual) to meet my new “connection” needs. This week instead of having my second cup of coffee at home each day while mentally/emotionally preparing for the day, I will go to a nearby Starbucks (or Panera or Caribou Coffee, etc.). Just being around other people (even if not interacting) usually helps jump-start my energy, so it’s time to be intentional about that. Now if I can just avoid the baked goods…

Expand my networking to include potential intellectual and visionary collaborators – not just potential clients or “do”ers.   I have always gotten energy from somewhat cerebral conversations, so I need to bring that back into my work life. For example, I’ve recently been enthralled by Arnold Mindell’s writings around process-oriented psychology… and possible inclusion of some of those ideas in my new business vision /services. It’s time to get connected to the “process work” world for possible collaborative insights and “brain work” with like-minded individuals.   And who knows, I might find a member of my Dream Team through this. (See Lorin’s recent blog post for more about creating your Dream Team).

Re-commit to monthly face-to-face and weekly phone meetings with a colleague / friend / co-conspirator. (Rebecca, are you reading this??).

This week, make my daily intention the same for the entire week : Connected. Surrounding myself with the expectation of being connected in everything I do will keep me open to attracting and seeing those opportunities. It’s like one of my favorite Big Fish principles: “Give energy to that which we want to grow.” So as of this moment, I shift my attention away from Alone and toward Connection. (See Lorin’s blog post about setting daily intentions.)

You see, this whole solopreneur thing (or any entrepreneur venture) isn’t about how much any one of us can do alone. It’s about starting something on our own then sustaining and building it with a myriad of help, support, connection, collaboration.

True, solos can be beautiful, AND so can duets, trios, quartets, and an entire choir. Who will your business “sing” with?

(post by guest-blogger Starla J. King, Big Fish 2009-10)

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Related blog posts by Lorin Beller Blake:

Are You Dependent or Inter-Dependent?

Building an Advisory Team

Making Intention-setting a Daily Habit

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Best Practices for Building & Leading Tribes

June 22, 2010

Filed under: Thought Leader, Uncategorized, Women Leadership, success, vision — Tags: Big Fish Nation, Leadership, powerful women, Seth Godin, successful women entrepreneurs, tribe building, tribes, women in leadership, women supporting women — Lorin Beller Blake @ 7:48 am

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In a recent blog post, I shared some important ideas about tribes based on Seth Godin’s must-read book, “Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us.”

This week, I will add some practical tactics so you can get started right away with building and leading your own tribes. I will use one of my tribes, Big Fish Nation, as an example.

Last week, I had a wonderful teleconference with one of the Big Fish “sub-tribes,” the Mastery group, as we discussed our favorite parts of Godin’s book (hard to narrow down!), then shared our own tribe-building best practices. This is what I love about spending time with my tribe members… I always learn and get motivated just by being in the same space with them (virtually or face-to-face)!

It is important that we share information and inspiration across tribes, so here are some of my (our!) tribe’s learnings from last week’s teleconference:

BEST PRACTICES* for Leading & Building Tribes:

Create and Communicate a Clear Vision: If you don’t know where you’re going, your tribe won’t either. Create your vision of, as Godin says, “something that could happen but hasn’t (yet),” and communicate it regularly to your tribe. Then have faith in the vision.   Believe it. Plan for it. Lead to it!

Set the Beat: Lead by example… be organized, meet your deadlines, speak and act with integrity, be accountable, turn work around quickly and professionally, show your enjoyment, etc. Show your tribe how to reach the vision!

Lean In: Commit to the vision and “lean into it” with passion, confidence and fearlessness. We don’t always need to plunge forward (although sometimes that’s how we get started!), and a steady forward-leaning attitude keeps us moving ahead and thinking ahead.

Lean Back: Each tribe also needs followers. Sometimes the most effective thing a tribe leader can do is to lean back and allow someone else to lead. Each tribe member has different strengths and all are needed to make the vision a reality. Just remember to follow eagerly and continue “leaning in”!

Just Do It: Godin says, “The largest enemy of change and leadership isn’t a ‘no.’ It’s a ‘not yet.’” If you sense that NOW could be the time for you and/or your tribe to act, then JUST DO IT.   Don’t miss your opportunity.

These are just a few of the ways we can build and lead our own tribes.

What are some of your Best Practices?

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*A special thank you to Big Fish tribe members Gail Benmosche, Peg Calvario, Amy Cotter, Amy Hart, Starla King, Sonya Mittleman, Andrea Russo, and PJ Sparks for these Best Practices!

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Got Gifts?

December 16, 2009

Filed under: Uncategorized — admin @ 4:54 pm

[text and photos by Starla J. King, Big Fish 2009]

I admit — I love getting gifts.

Yep, I said it out loud… during the season of giving, nonetheless!

<wait for collective *gasp* >

I know, I know … it’s better to give than receive. It’s not about the getting, it’s about the giving.

Or is it?

Can a gift actually be a gift without a recipient? (If a tree falls in the woods and nobody is there to hear it….). Well, no. Can a giver actually be a giver without having a givee? Well, no.

So maybe perhaps just possibly receiving is equally as important as giving.

As Ellen Rogin, (author of “Great with Money“), pointed out during a Lorin and Friends teleclass last week, we tend to not be so great at receiving. Yet giving depends on our ability to receive, so shouldn’t we work to hone our receiving skills??

Ok I should clarify — I’m not talking about receiving in the Cookie Monster “rake in hoardes of cookies and devour them gluttonously” sort of way. No no no… I’m talking instead about gracious receiving.

The gentle opening of the hand to generously accept what’s given.

Then the gentle closing of the hand to fully accept the gift.

See, here’s the thing: the better we get at getting,
the better we become at receiving.

Receiving inspiration, joy, possibility, hope.

Receiving everything our senses can take in.

Receiving everything we need in order to give.

You know, you have the perfect excuse to start your receiving practice now. Today. Hanukkah has begun, Christmas is just around the corner.

And every day — EVERY DAY — the Universe (some call it God) prepares a different personalized gift for you, eagerly awaiting to see if maybe today you’ll receive it.

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The impact of taking responsibility or not.

October 19, 2009

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: alternative health, business, dog, responsibility, success — admin @ 2:54 pm

I realize that there is no area of my life that I cannot take full responsibility for; my dogs’ health being my current area that I need to ‘wake up’ and take full responsibility for. My sweet dogs name is, Niki. She is a Shiba Inu.

She is 6.5 years old. At about 6 months old she developed terrible allergies. After many vet appointments and thousands of dollars later, I found out she was highly allergic to: dust, molds, and cats. She would itch to the point of making the skin around her eyes bleed. It was awful to watch… we tried allergy shots, changing her diet, supplements, etc. Finally a vet put her on prednisone; a strong steroid based drug. And since it worked so well, we (I) have kept her on it for 6 years! This summer she was diagnosed with glaucoma. I asked her vet if this was caused by the prednisone. They all assured me that the two are not related.

Recently, I am the new owner of an iPhone, anyone that knows me knows that I have been having a blast with it. And found many amazing applications that blow me away. I found one called Natural Cures. Since I am in to that, I was researching all my ailments and aliments of everyone I know. To my surprise, there is a paragraph on Glaucoma that says that it can be caused by extended use of prednisone. I knew when I was giving it to her that it was not good long term, but did not do my homework, did not take my responsibility for her health. We cannot take just one persons word on anything. We have to use our gut, research, knowingly and fully make choices. I was definitely feeling like I was not being responsible for doing my part in finding a better way to deal with my dog’s allergies. I went the easy route and did not try to find alternative answers fully.
Recently I too have developed allergies! And have found HUGE relief in a homeopathic supplement. Thanks to a friend. So why not try the same on my dog? We are, I have since done lots of research, of which the vet is waiting as I am for our results! Results coming soon.

What does all this have to do with business? EVERYTHING! If some aspect of your business is not where you’d like it to be, do not rest on your laurels or someone else’s, do something! Take FULL responsibility for your results. Guaranteed to get you in the driver’s seat in your business your bottom-line will love you for it!

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Work Life Balance, is there such a thing?

September 28, 2009

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: Expert, marketing, PR, sales, vision, women entrepreneurs, Work life balance — admin @ 10:57 am

Actually, I think there is but not the way you are thinking….. you see there is no such thing as work life balance if your basic life is not in order. You cannot compartmentalize each area of life and be sure it is all balance. Family can be a 24 x 7 ‘job’, work can be a 24 x 7 ‘job’, play could be a 24 x 7 ‘job’ — but if your basic life is in order you will naturally WANT to do a little be often, naturally having you feel grounded and balance. Let me explain further.
1. You MUST have a vision for your LIFE. It must be written down. By having a vision you more naturally say ‘yes’ to what you want and ‘no’ to the things that are not aligned with the vision. This happens naturally when you have an inspiring and compelling vision.
2. You MUST break the rules. As a women, it is not possible to do it in the normal 9-5 work hours…. Family pulls happen during that time and that is ok. That is why being a female entrepreneur in this day and age is so powerful. There are so many rules to break! I am just suggesting one. But there are others: Like needing to keep work at work and life in life, I do a lot of ‘business’ while I do life! Or Like you have to work 90 hours per week to make lots of money. These are all rules to break!
3. Do what you love and charge for it! We think that we need to fund our fun…. but I guarantee that there is a way to do what you love and charge for it, make a business out of it. You will be so much more excited about your work that way and do so much more business in a short amount of time and work won’t feel so much like work. You’ll b e having fun all the time.
4. Take full responsibility for your life. If you are not completely happy about various aspects of your life, ask yourself: What is your part? And make the changes you are able to make, design it to make you happy! Wayne Dyer says is best, ‘Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.’
5. Sales and Marketing: We must do a better job here. So many women do not see themselves as great at sales and marketing. If you have a vision for your life, sales and marketing is part of it. If you have trouble here I highly recommend our ‘Toes in the Water’ new program that is starting in early October. www.bigfishnation.com
6. Begin to see yourself as the expert in your niche….. After all if you aren’t who is??? If you are interested in how to do this…. Check out our newest program coming soon, our Starfish program! But ladies you are the expert in your field and if you do not see yourself as such, the world will not.
7. Support each other better than ever. I think there is room for much improvement here. We are very ‘shy’ about giving great leads to each other. We tell someone about this really great program, product or service, but we do not make a strong, solid introduction to people so that there is good follow up. Always, always, if you share information with someone, introduce both parties in email. Giving both parties and opportunity to follow up. After all, by raising someone else, you raise yourself up too.
Happy balance Monday! Enjoy it all, because it is ALL a part of your vision… and if it is not, redesign!

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Planning for Success

September 14, 2009

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: marketing, sales, success, writting it down — admin @ 10:58 am

Last week spoke of the ‘re-entry’ stage we are in…. and what I know is that planning is a key aspect of this time of year. We need to plan for success – not just hope it happens. We need a plan. A written plan! Written plans are so much more impactful than a plan you hold in your head. Why? For many reasons:
1. You spend more time planning when you write it down. So it is well thought out.
2. The written word has more energy than just the thought alone (although the thought is very powerful!)
3. The written word is more easily delegated! If we do not write it down, we cannot pass it on to our team to do for us (a key place women need to work! We tend to think only we can do it!)
4. The written word holds us more accountable – it is firm, in place, solid.
So, I hope I have inspired you to write your plan for the rest of the year….

Now, it is time to look at what we are writing and planning for. I like to look specifically at my marketing. I look at what I am going to do and when (what month) and which ‘audience’ it is going to impact. For example, how do I want to impact my online twitter followers or my facebook followers, or my audience when I speak or the folks on my mailing list. You need to think about all of them even new ones (with new advertizing or marketing). Look at all the groups and decide a plan for communicating and marketing to them. If this sounds complicated, sign up for our newsletter, because very soon, we will be announcing our first ever, Big Fish nation: Toes in the Water Program. It is a short 6 week program that includes 2 teleclasses (one on sales and one marketing), as well as 3 private one-on-one coaching calls with one of our Big Fish Coaches. Plan for success!

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Re-entry

September 10, 2009

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: energy, goals, sales — admin @ 5:28 pm

Back to School, Back to work!
RE-ENTRY!
It is that time of year when, as women business owner, the energy shifts yet again. Whether you have children or not, there is a fresh energy in the air that says ‘time to get to work’ and if you are a women that does have children, your life is back that old powerful routine again.
So I am curious, are you having fun with that new energy or dreading it?
This is an important awareness. How you ‘feel’ about this time of year will either inspire you to complete those 2009 goals or shrink with them. It is your choice. I wish you huge inspiration to create, dive in, do, and become the success I know you can this year.
Use the new routine to get the actions in place, the ‘hard’ work done – the new habits formed. This can be one of the most productive times of year. Naturally, it is the time when we ‘harvest’ so remember all the seeds that you have planted along the way this year, plant more, follow up, get rigorous! Here are 7 things to do to make this ‘harvest season’ most effective:
1. Know your goals
2. Get your marketing plan in order for September, October, November, December
3. Inform your team of the 4 month plan
4. SCHEDULE the plan! Get your calendar adjusted to be able to do what you want to accomplish, don’t just think it will happen.
5. Form a new habit! We call this creating a ‘Daily Business Ritual’ (or DBR)… this is critical and at every stage of business it is time to shake up that ritual, get rigorous!
6. Be sure that the 2 or 3 things that MUST be done each day (DRB) are done early. This insures my success. When I complete them, I find I am naturally in a productivity phase and even more gets accomplished!
7. Go Bold! Call that person that you think would say no, call the person that does not know you but want to know, do what you love and charge for it!! 
Happy re-entry. Enjoy the energy of harvesting.

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Are you stressed?

August 3, 2009

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: stress — admin @ 10:45 pm

One of my jobs years ago was as a Stress Management expert, training thousands of people. It seems that so many people are under stress these days. Stress from balancing so much, stress from the economy, stress from money being tight, stress from relationships, stress from our own expectations, stress from others expectations, stress from health issues, stress from not eating well, stress from lack of exercise, stress from so many things.
Wayne Dyer says it best, ‘Change the way we look at things and the things we look at change.’ What does this mean when it comes to managing stress?
I am going to offer 7 stress management tips starting with the above mentioned quote:
1. When we change our perspective (how we look at things), the things we look at change. Perspective is so important when it comes to our own stress. So often our perspective causes the stress and if we can find a fresh perspective there is always another one that can put us in a more grateful mood.
2. Stay in the present moment. This is the most powerful moment there is and when we stay present in the current moment, there is much less to be stress about. Normally our stress comes from anticipating things that actually never happen or worrying about things that have already past!
3. Move! Exercise. Taking care of ourselves is the greatest way to feel in charge again.
4. Eat healthy! Many times when we are stressed we over indulge in unhealthy habits such as sugar, alcohol, carbs of any kind. Eat well and it will do two things: have us feel in charge and have us feel good about taking care of ourselves.
5. As a business owner one of the greatest ways to feel less stress is to do something productive! Something bold that will advance your company quickly.
6. Always stay in your power. The minute you step into feeling a victim of your situation, you have lost your power and you are giving it up to the situation. Be your BEST self!
7. Gratitude. Find three things to be grateful for.

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Women in Biz…. Your Story Matters!

July 23, 2009

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: inspire, media — Lorin Beller Blake @ 10:38 pm

When men need to supplement their income they take a second job – women start a business. We have the ingenuity, get up & go, passion and creativity to develop successful business endeavors but do we have the confidence and the belief systems to take them to a level of giant success?

It is time to take what we have accomplished seriously! With the economy of today men are catching on to what women have known for years….becoming an entrepreneur is the answer to having a lifestyle of your choosing, creating financial freedom all while you do the work you enjoy the most to help your community or country.

So why don’t we get the attention of the press? Is it that it is a man’s world or is it that we don’t have the confidence to tell the world what we are doing? Or do we not think our story is worth telling?

It is time ladies to speak out….share your story for a few reasons: 1. Your story is valid and it inspires others. 2. By telling your story gets you get new business. Our businesses are set to survive the economy of today as a matter of fact they are set to flourish. Why? Because we are women, we plan for the ups and downs, we don’t spend what we don’t have, we understand budgets and constraints. We choose to play the game safe, create the audit trails needed to; pay the taxes, cover payroll and pay our vendors invoices. We are constantly networking to create the sales needed to sustain the commitments we have made. We are survivors. But it is time to be more than that… to be wildly successful. Media is a great tool and important partner when it comes to success. Share your story!

You see women work differently and it is time to get that message out. Women who are moms and entrepreneurs don’t always work 9-5, 5 days per week. We find creative partners. We take bold actions that actually get big things done rather quickly. Women are unique in how we accomplish big things. So how do we get this message out?

Formulate your unique story. You have one.

Take the time to reach out to your local press, TV anchor or government official. Tell them what you are up to, educate them about your business, become a voice for your industry and be sure you are seeing as the expert in your industry. If we collectively reach out our voices will unite and resound louder. Let’s create a volume that can’t be ignored!

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