#GrowNOW The Podcast

There are many examples of businesses where, because of the nature of the service provided, a sort of more sustainable and real connection can be experienced between the person providing the service and the client, a feeling of friendship even in some cases.

In personal coaching for example, we are taught in school not to work with friends and family, because in order for that to happen, both parties need to be able to detach. And usually, the person receiving the advice, will not be able to do so, because the friendship or familiarity will take over their feelings.

Toady’s episode explores the fine line between treating clients like friends and how that can backfire… eventually!

Every so often, we should audit ourselves and our business, by asking 2 very important questions:

1. What do I truly want ( expect ) from my business?

2. Why is that relevant for me?

And depending on your answers, the 3rd question will follow/:

3. How do I reach those things that are relevant for me?

The experience of working with entrepreneurs from all over the world, has showed us that usually the answers to the first question can be categorised into 3 directions :

* joy

** stability

*** money

Which one does stand our for you?

In business, as in life, not paying attention in resolving issues in they moment that arise, can result in those problems accumulating and growing over time. And sooner or later, they will catch up with us. Unfortunately, what was once a problem can become a real reason for concern, with costly repercussions.

What would make someone ignore issues to the point of no return?

Today’s episode hopes to bring some clarity on the subject and present some steps on how to prevent such situations.

Aside from the financial aspect, how do you measure the success of a business? Would the personal branding be an important factor? If the way you see yourself and your success has improved, would you consider that an achievement?

Personal branding may be perceived as arrogance but it is just a way of respecting one’s work and time. After all, people make business with people, that is the driving force behind any company.

“Personal branding is not about you. It’s about putting your stamp on the value you deliver to others”

Today’s episode takes a look at 5 important questions that should put you on the path of seriously considering your important role in the image of your business, and remembering that if you are not a brand, you are a commodity. We didn’t say it, Robert Kiyosaki said it.

Those business coaches that have been in the business for a while, are seeing a very definite pattern when it comes to the connection between the private life of the business owner and the business in itself. You would be surprised how much the clients talk about their spouses during a business coaching session. On one side it makes sense because is the most relevant, the most important relationship that one has. On the other hand , no matter how conscious one should be to separate their private life from business, one person cannot divide itself in 2 so eventually the both sides will overlaps. Sometimes in a positive way, sometimes not.

This episode focuses on a few key points on how to improve and find the right balance between the 2.

We have the tendency to turn into control freaks when we want things to turn out exactly how we want it. Most of us won’t even notice that about ourselves until someone points it out.

So what are the obvious signs of a “control freak”,of someone who wants to be in charge of every little detail of a situation?

1. They value safety more than anything else

2. They want to be right ; not only because they know better, but for the benefit of other involved

3. They are low risk takers

4. They try to make sure they win no matter what

5. They are always looking for the guarantees, to make sure that nothing can take them by surprise

How are these beneficial or not for your business, find out in today’s episode.

Any business owner knows that sometimes, the life outside of our business, can fall in a secondary position on our interest scale. That’s why is important to keep track of your priorities in all aspects of your life. When you like what you do, you could spend hours or days on it and not even realize what are important things in your life you are missing on.

As presented in our previous episode, a self- appointed happiness wellness-check in the form of a conscious challenge can help us with the life-work balance that so many of us miss these day. This episode wants to serve as a guidance on how to put together your own happiness challenge, that is relevant specifically for you.

It’s quite common in the business world that women usually hold back on opportunities because they doubt their skills, they are afraid they don’t have the perfect knowledge about that certain subject or they expect from themselves to have all the information about how to manage it. Men, on the other hand, say yes and figure it out as they go along.

This episode focuses on those few essential changes that women can implement in their mindset, when it comes to taking chances.

As we come near the end of March, we wanted to dedicate this episode to the women entrepreneurs out there, that are exhibiting great powers of understanding and resilience, facial all kind-d of obstacles.

On 8th of March, the International women’s Day, we launched a small challenge for our women business owners: to find a photo of themselves as young girls and write down what is still present in heir life and character, from that little girl’s dreams, drive, expectations, personality traits, and so on.

Imagine our joy to receive so overwhelming responses and people actually participating wholeheartedly, offering some great insight into the makings ( so to speak ) of a business woman in a man’s world. We extended right now the same invitation, to anyone listening, to find at least 3 things that remain from your younger self, and see how they effect your behaviour and decisions, even decades after.

Today’s episode focuses on what the French call “la recherche du sens”, the search of purpose or meaning. As it comes a time in all entrepreneurs journeys, when questioning “why”, “why not”, “how”, “for what” and so on, on a path of better understanding if keeping a business is still worth it, does it create a drive, a desire for better. These questions help restore some balance between overdoing and not doing enough for your business.

Continuing on last week’s episode about the benefits of awareness. In business, today we explore the consequences of the lack of awareness and the negative impact it can have on us. Simply put, when we are not aware we miss the importance our feelings have, our energy level, our beliefs and so on. 

For example by practicing our state of awareness, we can easily recognise the difference between the reality of what is happening in any given moment, versus what I think is happening. 

So what do you think the consequences of lack of mindfulness in business are?  

When we talk about awareness, in general terms, we talk about our capability of being present, in the present, noticing both our circumstances, the person we are having a conversation with for example, but also noticing what is happening with us, our feelings and emotions. Being in the state of awareness, helps us be more engaged with whatever we are doing at that moment. 

In this episode, we go into detail about the importance and benefits of awareness in business, in recognising the right opportunities and being anchored in the present moment. 

It takes time for any business to get to the level of recognition, accomplishments and profit generating level that any business owner dreams of. The 3-5 years when starting a business are not a myth, is how long it takes to be successful. Most entrepreneurs don’t have the patience and vision to hold on.

So that’s why is so important to celebrate the little accomplishments along the way also.It’s what creates the basis for future success 

Today's episode focuses on how to confront and ameliorate a situation that might seem initially not exactly what you were hoping for, with the help of 5 technical questions. 

The reality of business is that people pay us with their time first! In order for people to resonate with you, ideally they would have found some information about you that peaked their interest: an article you wrote, somebody recommended you, they saw your website maybe, etc. From that point on, it’s much more easy for you as a business to transform that person into your client.

Your service or product will actually be the one that transform the into customers, ideal clients or fans.

This topic was the one of last week’s episode "S3 Episode 124: Create fans, not only satisfied customers", and in order to have a better understanding of the difference, you can listen to that episode first 

How does your ideal client look like? Is it the one that is satisfied with your product in the moment or the one that calls you after to say “thank you” despite the fact that they payed the bill already? The one that shares on social media how happy he is with your product is the client that defines our own brand, our own image, our own sales people. 

The truth is that satisfied clients will not stay with us for a long time, not when times are rough in any case. We are looking for those customers that keep coming back for the experience they have with us, the complete package so to speak. 

This episode gives you the 3 steps you need to take in order to not only have satisfied costumers, but to transform them in fans of your business. 

Self doubt can be disguised in many, many forms. One usual one is preparing for a “no” in advance of anything happening, a negotiation, a business proposal, a new client deal, etc. That is our emotional system preparing us for the possibility of a rejection.

When we prepare ourselves for a failure, we diminish ourselves, our self worth. But even like this, we can use our own feedback to guide us on he next steps. As soon as we validate them, we start hearing the message they are trying to teach us.

Even when the business is going well, bills are payed for, clients are satisfied with the service… even in those time we stil have emotions, we still have feelings and they are a pretty good indicator of how to manage our life and our business.

The question in today’s episode is once we listen to our feelings and emotions, and use them as a guide in our life and business, how to make it as practical and pragmatical as possible? For example a business owner that uses 100% logic rather than intuition.

There is a vicious circle when it comes to mental and physical exhaustion. The more tired we feel, the more we want to push through and the worse our performance and results are getting. Somehow, being an entrepreneur, puts us in the situation that we stop listening to our common sense, to rest when we need to, to pay attention to the warning signs. At the end of the day, we forget that making some mistakes when we are sick and feel down, can cost us more than a day off.

When we have a trigger and an emotion is manifesting, the best thing for us would be to listen and start making adjustments accordingly.

Talking about emotions and feelings in the business environment usually gets some suspicious looks and reasonings like “We don’t mix business with feelings” or “ We normally don’t even connect with our emotions as it gets in the way”. Totally understandable!

In season 2 we referred to the business world while overwhelmed with emotions, which is not what we will be addressing today.

This episode has some real and great examples of how our emotional side as entrepreneurs can blend with our business and actually helping us achieve a better understanding of our own decisions making process.

Out with the old and in with the new! Beliefs, thinking patterns, goals… is there anything you would like to change in this New Year?

Now is the perfect moment to give yourself the opportunity of time and visualise your future by looking within for those meaningful components :

- fearlessness

- enthusiasm

- joy

- peace

- confidence

How would that look like in your life and in your business? Can you feel the subtle change from “what is probable” to “what is possible”?

This episode is a great starter for your yearly journey , as it includes some tips and suggestions on how to move forward into 2023 with an extraordinary mindset.

One of the most exhilarating and intriguing qualities of being an entrepreneurs, in opposition with being an employee, is that when we want and need more, we simply create more. Every day we give ourselves the opportunity to reach for more, push our boundaries and why not, heading in the direction of an extraordinary life.

Since this is the last episode of 2022, lets indulge in crossing that barrier between ordinary and extraordinary and put ourselves in the magic of creating that life. This episode presents us with 3 steps that can serve as a guide on that path.

On behalf of the IMN Business Club community, we wish a wonderful end of the year and an extraordinary 2023

The last “working week” of 2022 is going to be experienced different by entrepreneurs; either a shy approach mixed with an almost fear to look at the real figures, or with a full on pumped up energy to make the best of the last remaining working days of this year.

What is your approach as an entrepreneur?

At IMN Paris Business Club, we start most of our online masterminds with a gratitude exercise and to be honest, we see an immediate shift in the energy of the participants. So what we would like to suggest is to apply this to your end of the year ritual: What are you most thankful for now, that the end of 2022 is here ? Today’s episode offer a few steps on how to approach your business figures and results with a bit more joy and cheer.

All of us have a good understanding about what we want to get out of our business, depending on goals and ambitions. This can mean that we could focus primarily on monetary gains, fulfilling personal satisfactions or searching for validation. Every aim is of course personal, and each of us have our own set of standards for measuring the results. Yet some measurements are universal, that we can understand if we are on the right track with the numbers and level of satisfaction.

But today we are going over those moments when the results are not there and we tend to get discouraged by it.

The relationships we have in our business context are essential for the survival, development and overall increasing success. Just as in life, finding the right fit with people for collaboration, partnerships or clients, doesn’t come easy. In last week’s episode we talk about expecting the end result of some interactions to be likability but today we focus on the other end of the scale: not focusing on getting a positive result necessarily, but rather tangible, measurable results. Make every encounter a sale, that type of mindset.

A very interesting look from the client’s point of you also!

When you talk to successful entrepreneurs, their stories have a common denominator: their main goal was not money when they started their business. That is not to say they didn’t need it, but it was not their driving force. Nevertheless, not seing monetary results after all the hard work you put in growing a business, can result in disappointment. So what is the secret after all?

When the only thing we want to get out of our business is financial, there are usual easier and less complex ways to get it, rather than running your own business.

In today’s episode we take a look at what it takes to not let the money be the only measure of success in your business.

Looking at the small majority of entrepreneurs that have dedicated themselves to their business and are checking all the boxes as being successful, on paper, we can still identify feelings of lack, being unfulfilled or not motivated. And by now, we know that feeling happy in life or in business doesn’t come from power or belongings, but from inside us, that level when no matter what is happening or could happen, we know we’ll come out on top.

It does not take extraordinary people to do extraordinary things… yet, this people have mastered some important keys about life and the stories in today’s podcast illustrate that perfectly.

In last weeks’s episode of this mini-series, we were going through some beliefs and characteristics that are common to people who are serious about making it in the business world. So it’s only normal that this week we focus on those attributes of people who, at the end of the day, will give up half way up to reaching the top. And these beliefs stand up among many:

1. The road to success does not look so easy so the will no make it may not be as big as the effort needed or BELIEVED to be needed.

2. Giving up already in your heart and mind while still focusing to make it .

Some people are born with the “it” for developing businesses, having a great vision and confidence. Most of us, we get into it the old-fashioned way, by learning and applying, trial and error. But still, there are some beliefs and characteristics in the people that will make it in the business world:

1. Not seeing themselves always as a victim, as the world is against them.

2. Appreciating every little bit of help they can get and look to multiply it in return

3. Correcting their behaviour and reactions in the negative moments, so it doesn’t become a repeating pattern

This episode is a part of a mini-series so make sure you tune in next week also.

If you truly enjoy what you do for work, do you sometimes think that it shouldn’t t be this easy? Who says that when you love what you do, you are not giving it your all?

Since the beginning, the purpose of this podcast was to help entrepreneurs get inspired by positive mental changes, that can have a truly positive impact on their business. When you have your own business, you end up identifying with it, in such a way that it all becomes a blur of good and bad moments.

Maybe the key is not only to do what you love, but also to love what you every single day.

Building on the topic of our last episode “The trouble with your business dreams”, in today’s episode we are focusing on playing on one’s strengths, in order to understand and take the necessary steps towards their true calling, business calling to be exact.

There is a topic that is very popular on social media, that of realising your calling from a very young age, or realising in just one instant what you were meant to do for the rest of you life. And that may be true for some people, but it’s not the standard for everyone. So for the rest of us out here that didn’t dream since we were 6 years old of owning our own business, we are left with putting the pieces together and rely on all the experience and preferences we have accumulated.

Today we focus on strengths, as a way to determine what actually we love doing for our business and if we are putting ourselves on the path of the best possible conditions to enjoy this calling.

Any entrepreneur will testify that at some point on their business journey, they have doubted themselves, their purpose, ambitions and expectations. They may ask themselves: what are my dreams for this business? At the end of the day, we all want to aim high and reach for the stars. Our dreams give us power, hope, joy and something to look forward to.

In today’s episode we will take a look at the obstacles we create in our mind that make us feel like the dreams we have are too big; the impatience and permeant comparison to others, to start with.

When creating a second business or taking the step from employee to entrepreneur is always scary in the beginning, a lot of doubts and insecurities but with dreams and success visions on the side.

Have you noticed how energised you feel when thinking about a new business, a new project? It’s easy to keep doing the same things over and over again because it just feels comfortable and we are so used to it, but starting something new it’s just too thrilling.

Today’s episode focuses on what it feels to transition between business and why that is necessary to escape the daily routine.

Like everything, the faster we identify a problem, the easier is to find the solution. If someone tells you, that they have a magic wand and they can solve your business problems, how long it would take you to identify those areas where you know you could use help? Our guess is that your answer will come pretty fast.

Take away the possibility of the magic wand, the issues are still there so why we could not think to ask for help with those?

Clarity, Intention, no guilt or powerlessness, some of the keys that will guide anyone to correctly identify what kind of help or support they are looking for.

In the moment when we take the time to reflect on our business, responsibilities and challenges, we might get to a few questions that can improve our point of view. Being the person that always takes care of everything, we might not know, when in turn, we need a helping hand.

Today’s episode focuses on how to identify when you need support as an entrepreneur, what are the areas where help is needed and who is actually supporting you?

How does it feel leaving the comfort of Zoom business meetings? Are you happy to get back in the game of face to face meetings with potential clients or business partners?

But let’s step it up a bit! Providing you have your 29 seconds elevator pitch ready, you’ve met the right people that are interested in your service, now you have an important high-level meeting secured. How do you make sure it’s gonna be a successful one?

This episode focuses on what not to do and how not to act in order to face this challenges.

How do you introduce yourself and your business when you meet a potential new client and don’t have much time? Or better said, how good is your networking game? In situations where we don’t have the time to engage in meaningful discussions, how do we present ourselves in such a way that we convey the necessary information about our business?

Here at IMN Paris business club, we use the 29 seconds pitch, the perfect way to optimise our introduction and make sure we will be remembered.

In case you’ve blinked and you missed it, we are just stepping in the last quarter of 2022. We’ll be returning to the full active days and the most important months of the year, financially speaking. Everyone’s in a rush to close their business year at the level they expected when it started.

In addition, September can be a heavy month because we are “forced” so to speak, to find again the fast pace we had before the summer break. And this being 2 years after the COVID-19 outbreak, everyone is particularly tired and still recovering, if any health wise, then financial for sure.

For those looking for some guiding tips and ideas on how to get back to “moving mountains” type of energy, keep listening.

Have you checked for a sparkle in your eyes lately? Because that is one of the signs you are doing what you love, what motivates you, what energises you and your business.Who says that entrepreneurship is all grey and no flavour? Business can be fun also. If you believe so too, you are on the right podcast.:)

But the truth is, no matter how fulfilling and much fun your business is sometimes, it can be challenging. If you are not familiar with the term “lucky failures” , keep listening.

To celebrate our 100th episode of this season, we are looking at a topic that every entrepreneur finds himself wondering from time to time: how to know if the business they are in is the right one.

Usually after a break period as we just had now the summer holidays, it’s normal to make a quick scan of your business and sometimes if the numbers are not up to what we expect, we might start to wonder if we are on the right track, even in the right business. Sometimes is enough to analyse the way we feel in the moment the summer is over and we need to get back to “reality”. What are the feelings that come up? Excitement or depression? Feeling like you wanna take over the world or you wanna crawl under a blanket and hide?

This episode has a few ideas and hints on how to asses if what you do actually satisfies you and some steps on how to proceed with getting to the results you want from your business in these remaining months.

The old way of thinking, “if I stop working, my business will go down the drain” has been proven to be inefficient and mentally draining for most entrepreneurs . And our last 3 episodes have been exactly about this topic: how to enjoy taking breaks guilt free and how taking care of ourselves first is actually taking our business to the next level.

In business, old beliefs that no longer serve us, can trigger a sense and fear of scarcity. It is understandable that when we depend only on one source of revenue, our business, we can easily panic if that business fails.

What are some of those myths that we will be looking at today?

1. Success comes with hard work

2. It’s normal to struggle when you are an entrepreneur

3. Knowing what you want in life and be ready to pay the price

4. The family needs money and I’m doing the for them

The success of a small business is in direct correlation to the personal success of its owner, the person behind the brand. And we don’t mean money here, but more in terms of mental health, personal accomplishments and overall happiness level.

The entrepreneurial journey can be a struggle and more often than none, entrepreneurs will sacrifice their own well being in order to accomplish their goals. Some sacrifice is necessary, yes but not 100% struggle that can have consequences, leading up to feeling disconnected from themselves or their family.

So letting go of the business once in a while is more than welcome, especially in the summer when having time off is so normal for most people. This episode offers a few tips on how to enjoy your summer guilt free

As the saying goes: be clear about what you want and be ready to receive it. It works in coaching and life in general. Yet many of us go immediately in self doubt mode as soon as we receive the very thing we hope for.

As a marketing strategy, getting featured in a well established newspaper or magazine, can open many doors and create credibility around your business. This episode focuses on the tips and action that can help you land a successful print campaign.

It’s absolutely normal that we, as entrepreneurs, find ourselves sometimes bored and uninspired by our current business and so losing the enthusiasm and motivation that we started with. In moments like this, starting a new business seams like a great opportunity to gain back some motivation and find our mojo. But is this always the case? That a new adventure can equal success?

How do we search for THE IDEA, the next best thing that can inspire us again and eventually lead us to success? Today’s episode shares some great techniques to head into the right direction when thinking your next business move.

Wanting to be in business can come natural for some of us, but most of time young people get inspired from hearing success stories, inspirational life stories that can light a fire inside them and put them on the path of entrepreneurship.

Today’s episode gathers a fey keys and tips for the younger generation, but that are relevant for anyone that is thinking of becoming a business owner.

Before being business people, we are human, our personal lives can affect us more than we would like it to. More so, when an impactful negative event like the death of a loved one or a breakup falls on us out of the blue. If we would be normal employees, we know that somebody else would step in and take over our responsibilities. But what happens when we are solo entrepreneurs and our business and income depends on just us?

This episode will go over 5 ideas that can prove to be truly beneficial when dealing with dramatic events in our personal life and how to use them in real life situations.

Investing time and sometimes money in a big business can result in starting to feel like the good results will never come and impatience settles in. When that happens, we tend to focus on the things that are lacking, that are missing in that moment. When will things start moving, when will we sign the contract, etc? As a result, inefficiency is also a by-product here because we can’t seem to just focus on something else.

Today’s episode adresses a few steps how we can control our impatience and let things flow.

Clients who choose a successful businesses over and over again, when they receive excellent service and a quality product. But the businesses that thrive through excellence are the one that offer more than the client payed for, and most of the time, provide additional services that the client doesn’t even know he needs.

The secret is about understanding your client, sometimes even better than he does. And more so, is about the experience that have, the emotion that is left behind.

So, for a few tips on how to build a business based on excellence, today’s episode is for you.

We can all agree that signing up clients for your business is just the beginning of the adventure. The real secret is to always offer more than they expect…. Much more! By constantly listening to them, we will manage to transform their life with our products and services. Now the true secret is to follow up with them, in a clear, easy formal way.

This episode will show you how we can do that, for everyone’s benefit.

When an entrepreneur has a successful business and his clients are happy with his products, the temptation is to just lay back and enjoy the success, which is an absolutely normal and understandable behaviour. The secret is to do it consciously though. Not to expect that things will just magically be like this always. Because we all know that to grow a business it takes dedication and not resting on our glory.

In a logical context, a business cannot grow unless there are clients willing to purchase their products. The idea is that along the way, we as entrepreneurs, want to help our clients improve their life or their own business with the help of our product or service. So the question should always be, when a client is happy with us, how can we help them grow their life or business even further than the results we are getting now? There is always room for improvement, isn’t it?

One of the secrets is to really know THAT CLIENT, that specific client!

This episode details some insights into how we can get to know our clients better and the steps to take, if we want to serve them better, that in the end they end up buying more from us.

One would tend to believe that someone who had already a successful business, when opening a new one, knows what to do and how to go about it in the best way. But that is not always the case. As it so often happens, new beginners in the entrepreneurship world, are much more daring and innovative. In the business world, what you don’t know can become your greatest assets, because not knowing the answers upfront, pushes you to look in more than one direction and not feel so intimidated.

This episode of the mini-series focuses on finding those first clients for a truly new business, for those entrepreneurs that have the confidence and only need some guidance.

In this episode of the miniseries on “New Clients”, we talk about established businesses or entrepreneurs, what are the ways to upgrade of their business and get new clients.

Referrals and promoting via a partner are just 2 ways to go about expanding your client list. Curios to find the third way? Listen to this week’s episode.

Having loyal clients and customers, can result in very beneficial relationships over time but it also has 2 main issues: it creates a sort of dependence and it can keep you in a circle where you keep doing the same thing, not challenging you to maybe create new products and packages or explore other markets.

And as we well know, entrepreneurs love a good challenge or upgrade of their business.

So getting in the habit of always trying to get new clients it can prove to be redefining and renewing for any business. This episode will go over a few sustainable benefits of getting new clients.

Do you even consider the possibility that your full involvement in some projects may not be either value or needed? That time when put in balance with money, is more valuable?

Life experience has taught us that the answer to these type of questions is never straight forward, all is relative. And comparing money with time is in a way pointless because time is the only resource we can never make more of. We can always make more money, but never more time.

Today’s episode will reveal 5 tips on how you can improve and upgrade your beliefs about time and your own worth.

Sooner or later, when we are entrepreneurs, our business will grow and we have to consider adding a few people to the team. The that happens we will have to approach the very important subject of how much will they get payed.

First thing is first, a few questions have to be answered:

* How do we know that we pay them enough?

** What is the risk when we pay them too much?

*** How important is to have close interactions with the people we hire? Should we influenced by feeling or vibes?

This episode will address exactly these questions that we would be right in considering before hiring someone to join our team.

Knowing your worth in terms of your knowledge and expertise, can help you determine the answer to 2 important questions in your life:

1. How much can you charge for your time (work) ?

2. How and where do you invest your time?

Even if they are not such easy questions to face, it can on the other hand bring a lot clarity to your level of confidence also.

In this episode you will find 3 steps on how to reach a balance between not feeling frustrated because you are charging too little, and not feeling as an impostor because you are charging too much .

It seems logic that once you open your own company, work on it, invest a lot of time in developing and making it successful, when the moment comes and it starts generating money, the amount made is by default yours, right? Well, yes and no. There are some risky behaviours when mixing personal finances with those of your company and thinking that there is nothing wrong if you consider that now , you as an individual, have just created another pocket where you can store YOUR money.

In today’s episode we will give you a few important keys on how to set boundaries for your financial entities and create a line between what is yours and what you manage as a company.

In the previous episode, we were pointing out that one way of dealing with curious potential clients, is to direct them to your free content, which will give them already a feel of your work or your product, without you having to invest time and jump directly into phone calls with them. But how to make sure people are interested in your content in the first place?

Social media is just like any other market out there: people either have a NEED or a DESIRE for a service, product, etc and they go looking for information of the different social media platforms. But what does actually sell on social media?

This week’s episode we take a look at what type of free content and information we can provide for those potential clients that are just browsing.

Investing time until you manage to strike a deal with a curious client, is absolutely normal until you start feeling that no progress is being made. Understanding from the beginning the reasons why these clients are looking for you and why they need you, is key.

Do you think that a client is continuing the conversation because he is interested in your coaching service for example, or because you are offering some advice and insight for free?

Today’s episode will help with any doubts you might have about potential clients.

How much should we get involved with curious clients? Those that call up, ask for a ton of information ( sometimes even a contract ) and then never answer your follow up call or email.

Especially in the service business, we tend to spend a lot of time looking ourselves for clients, until we reach the stage that they will come looking for us. Is absolutely normal to invest time with any potential client, but now the question is “how much time”?

Do you think that a client is continuing the conversation because he is interested in your coaching service for example, or because you are offering some advice and insight for free?

In this episode we offer 5 steps on how to distinguish a curious client from a serious client and also how to deal with them.

As entrepreneurs, we like TO DO : to solve, to make a better life for those around us, to find new ways of fulfilling demands. As a result, constantly moving, we tend to overdue, just out of a “fear” that our lack of any kind of action will have negative results.

Today’s topic comes on the heels of last week’s episode, when we addressed the 3 essential choices that entrepreneurs can always fall back on: choose the focus, the environment or the actions. And today we are talking about those priority actions, high level, relevant behaviours that are strategic for these times.

Assuming the position of an entrepreneur means that we are leaders, in the same time as we become a sort of role-model for our community, our teams and our families. There for, in moments of crisis or stress, feeling powerless or feeling guilty for what someone else is going through, doesn’t really benefit us because that puts us away from the “action mode” that will actually help us move forward. Having a constant view on events keeps us connected to the problem 24/7 . So how do we keep an emotional hygiene during these times?

In this episode we talk about the 3 essential choices for entrepreneurs that can serve as a guideline

1. Choose the focus

2. Choose the environment

3. Choose the actions

As the world is still under the shock of a raising war ( in this day and age) we are again confronted with the same fears and doubts as 2 years ago: when an unexpected crisis arrives, how well are we prepared for it? Looking objectively to the developing situation in Ukraine, we can’t help but understand that in no time, the conflict that started between 2 countries, it has the potential to turn into an European war.

In today’s episode we will gloss over a few key aspects of what we, as entrepreneurs, can do in a situation like this. First is to asses clearly your own situation and understand how a global conflict may affect you locally.

At the beginning of every business venture, in order for us to actually start working, we may say yes to almost everyone, since any paying client is a good client, isn’t it? As we well remember, we were talking that there is this rule of 3-3-3 : first 3 clients for free, next 3 clients at cost, and the 3 after that on a minimal profit margin.

And along the way, as we grow and keep developing products and expanding, we come to realise what truly motivates us is that is that our clients grow in the same time with us. Equally as important, is to start attracting the type of clients you want in this moment, that correspond to your level of growth, the high-level ones.

Today’s episode is for those entrepreneurs who are convinced that they are ready for high-level clients but yet have not figured out how to go for them.

PS: A little tip from us. As an entrepreneurs, you will never be completely 100% ready, so say YES first and figure out how to do it quick along the way. Just dare going for those clients that can help you achieve your goals.

As business owners, we get motivated by the idea of thriving, stepping up our game, daring to bring new products or new clients. And yet, it takes courage to get over the discomfort and the doubts that come with the package of growth. Moving out of our comfort zone it takes effort but isn’t the reward worth it?

In this episode we will talk about how to make the task more important than the difficulties and self motivate along the way.

It can happen sometimes that in business, we may acknowledge intuitively and logically what our next best move should be, and yet hesitations and sometimes confusions can cloud our judgement. One of the most common reasons is the fact that at some point, we identify so much with a certain aspect of our business that changing can seem somehow counterproductive.

Today’s episode focuses on the work environment that we create for ourselves as entrepreneurs and how that can become a bit of a trap sometimes for ourselves.

The definition of an entrepreneur should definitely include the fact that we don’t want other people dictating our life. Is one of the main reasons why the decision to be self-employed is one of the hardest but most rewarding. And because we have to own up to the fact that it’s all up to us now.

When we don’t get to sign a contract after putting so much time and effort, after losing clients for “unfair” reasons, or when life hands us an unexpected bad deals, not getting what we had our eyes on, it can turn into a devastating situation, primarily mentally.

But you know what? In business, is very unusual that someone does something just to prove you a point, or that a client’s behaviour has something to do with you personally.

In today’s episode we are giving our attention to the important topic of separating personal feelings from business and keeping an objective, undisturbed view of situations.

What to do when a blue Monday suddenly transforms in a blue month? You know, those days when we feel low on energy, almost to the point of depression. Studies do show that it is a phenomenon specific more to the Northern emisphere.

As far as January is concerned, the 3rd Monday of the month is the one that gives us this failed feeling, just after the Holidays and by now, realising that the New Year’s resolutions are not exactly working. In other words, short days, long nights and some big credit card bills after all the presents.

What to do?

In this episode we want to present you a few proven ways to get by easier and dare we say, with a clearer view over the first month of the year.

The main reason why New Year’s resolutions don’t work is because you might know WHAT you want, but most of the time not have it very clear WHY you want it. We trick ourselves in thinking that we need to wait for the 1st of January or first Monday of the month to go after something we really want.

Instead, what we want to present in these 2 Bonus episodes, is an alternative to the resolutions, a proven method that can be applied in business but also in your personal life.

In today’s bonus episode we want to have an imagination exercise about the year that just ended. Wanna join the game?

The thrill of wishing and receiving presents for Christmas does certainly diminish with age, because we know there is no magical old man in a red suit, we know where presents come from. But thinking back to the childhood, one can understand the magic behind having a goal, a toy above all toys, that one thing that we thought we wanted more than anything in the world. How thrilling was the idea of receiving the very thing, the anticipation, the expectation and certainty that we will get it?

Whatever happened to that almost blind faith we had? Why are we not able now to instinctively just believe in ourselves that we are our own Santa?

In today’s episode we would like to take you on a journey of imagination and desire and let’s write to our Inner Santa and have the confidence to wish for anything we want .

Working with so many entrepreneurs, sometimes it comes easy to find the right topics to share in the podcast.

As the word goes, every story is a good story if we can learn something from it. And as we have the custom here, we approach those ideas that can resonate with the business community, from a more personal and sometimes vulnerable angle. This end of the year has its challenges like any other but one common theme we keep hearing is how difficult it is for business owners to inspire and motivate their teams during these last few months of 2021.

This episode offers some tips and ideas on how to keep being an inspiration for those around you, in personal or business life.

What is the reason why we push harder at the end of this year 2021, compared to other years? Talking with our community of international entrepreneurs or discussing with coaching clients, we come to the realisation that the answers are not so straight forward as they may seem. But one recurring theme shows up in all the discussions: the approaching deadline of December 31st is an extraordinary wake-up call.

Rushing through tasks, taking on responsibilities that we don’t enjoy, not delegating and the list can god on; these are recipes for extra pressure, procrastination and feelings of not moving forward with the business.

In this episode we approach some ways of removing unnecessary entrepreneurial pressure at the end of 2021.

There is no secret that chasing your dream, your life plan, is at times extremely challenging and exhausting. Entrepreneurs feel this pressure all year long almost and yet it amplifies at the end of each year. Finding the life/work balance is truly important but is not a standard set of techniques that work for everyone, right?

In this episode, we are putting on the table 5 questions that every entrepreneur should take the time to answer for themselves and for the sake of their business, so that they don’t lose the enthusiasm and high energy that fuel them normally. Approach the end of the year pressure in a logical way!

What made this 2021 so stressful and difficult? No doubt, one one hand the Coronavirus implications and its global impact. But once we remove this from the picture, what else has the entrepreneurs on edge about the way this year will end?

There is an intensity just about every aspect in our lives now and as usual, entrepreneurs seem to have an added layer of responsibility and stress in the sense that for many of us, the business has become our very own purpose of existence because of the commitment and fulfilment that it brings us.

Sometimes we forget that IT IS ONLY A BUSINESS.

In this week’s entrepreneurs stories, we are looking at 2 examples of situations when solo-entrepreneurs had to take a step back and decide how much the stress, overworking and pressure was serving them or their business. In there words, just because we over-stress ourselves, that doesn’t mean that what we are afraid of will not happen.

In our previous episode 63 “Why entrepreneurs don’t hire people” we were looking at the reasons why sole-entrepreneurs are so reluctant to hire and we provided a checklist that can be used as a guideline to understand when SHOULD be the moment to start hiring, in any business for that matter.

As the world has evolved and communication has become more digitalised, so has evolved the world of “getting help” and needing additional ‘hands on deck’ for your entrepreneurship journey. The burdens and obligations of an employee contract are made easy by the use of commercial contracts and subcontracting people.

Solo-entrepreneurs need to understand that hiring somebody means they are delegating, they are getting help accomplishing some tasks, they are not looking for a replacement of themselves. This episode is here to shed some light on When and Why hiring is a productive move for the business.

It’s very difficult to delegate the core of your vision, but it wouldn’t be the worse if someone else can cut your invoices while you are working on that vision, right? :)

The human resource is the most valuable in any type of business format. But more so, in entrepreneurship, the founder of the business, the one who had the courage and the drive to invest and implement his idea, is the core of his business. So as the business is growing, so are the demands and the workload. But hiring somebody will change the format and the dynamic of the business. And that may be why sole-entrepreneurs are so reluctant to hire.

In this episode we go over a few reasons why in entrepreneurship we don’t see so many people getting hired.

You can use this checklist for your own business, to understand if you are using some of these limits beliefs to call them, and hinder without knowing the growth of your business.

In this last episode of this mini-series on Negotiations, we will not be focusing on the techniques of negotiation ( as those are readily available already ) but rather on the mindset, on knowing how exactly we want to feel about ourselves and the deals we are getting.

Can compromising be a winning strategy? Should we want to win at all costs? Here we give you the 5 golden rules.

When we enter any kind of exchange from a win-win perspective, we may end up winning much more than we expect at the beginning. Especially when having to deal with negotiations that have an emotional power over us, when we are attached to the outcome.

A first step is seeing the situation form an objective way, not better, not worse. And the second important step that follows, is to see this negotiation from the other perspective, analyse their outcome and intentions. Remember that we are going for win-win, right?

A clear assessment of what the other party is trying to accomplish will only bring you closer to reaching your goal in this case and understanding what compromises you can bring to the table.

For more on the topic of negotiations, please listen to the previous 2 parts of episode 60 “Negotiation skills for entrepreneurs”

In coaching we talk about different energy levels and this is valid also when we are on the topic of negotiations.

Entering a negotiation deal of any kind, bearing the energy of a “victim” has totally different results than when, for example, we have an angry energy and we bring that to the table with us.

In both cases, are we still focused on the end result or did we just get lost in proving the other party what we can and cannot do?

There is of course the 3rd way, the rational mindset, the calculated, logical energy. The empathic way to go about the negotiations is also a valid and often used approach. Do you recognise yourself already yet in any of these “recipes”? Or maybe you are the type that goes in win the “win-win” attitude.

That’s why we have dedicated the 2nd part of this topic to the actual techniques used when negotiating.

When you want to run your business on your own terms, having strong negotiation skills truly helps, to balance the constant “give and take” that we encounter in our life daily. Nevertheless, 2 important questions arise before you can consider any type of negotiation:

1. Do you truly know what YOU want?

2. Do you know what the opposite side is wanting from this?

In this 2 parts episode on the art of negotiations we will go over how to detach emotionally from the outcome, meaning to observe, to stay factual, to add data, to use the techniques and skills available to us to change the actual circumstances when needed.

So entrepreneurs, do you know how to separate using your emotions from being emotional about something? What is your mindset about negotiations?

On the heels of what happened a week ago with the 7 hours fall of the online Facebook network access, we are looking today into the ways we can continue to function, as businesses, when the proverbial “rug” is pulled from our feet.

For example, the lesson we learn when we end up loosing all our work because we didn’t save the file we were working on and our computer unexpectedly crashed, should make us wise enough to now learn our lesson this time around also and start cutting some small cords with what we refer as Social Media.

Us, entrepreneurs, pride ourselves on being independent and self-standing so the opportunity looks promising right about now.

In this episode we share the ways to go further with your business and, as solo-entrepreneurs, why you should not put all your communication and marketing power into one organisation alone.

In the previous episode “S3 Ep 57: Why most entrepreneurs don’t make money” we have mentioned 5 crucial reasons why entrepreneurs get so easily discouraged :

1. Discipline

2. Endurance

3. Support

4. Focus

5. Stepping back

This episode is focusing on the power of stepping back and taking a aerial view of your efforts and progress, as a form of sustainability and accountability.

We may think that we don’t have much to give, not having enough time, that we are not successful enough to believe that we have something to give back, or that we don’t have someone that is looking to receive our support. But there is a way to be generous every day!

In this episode we go over the big and the small daily actions towards cultivating a generosity mindset for yourself and how to be present for people that are not even aware they are receiving anything from you.

It can be that subtle :-)

Being considered generous is treated as a high virtue in our society and it doesn’t matter if it’s about our social life or the business aspect, we all have something to offer. We may possibly doubt ourselves that we don’t know how we can serve others or the fear of rejection can take over. But the truth is that all of us have a gift that another person can benefit from.

Giving back is not selling anything.

Giving back is about sharing.

Giving back is remembering who was there for us when we started as entrepreneurs and how we can do the same for someone else, in their time of need.

This episode focuses on practical ways we can consider giving back from becoming mentors, brainstorming or becoming involved on the board of another entrepreneur. There are many fulfilling ways to be someone’s guiding light during a storm.

As entrepreneurs, we are aware that we will have to face the burden of loneliness. Considering what has happened in the business world because of the sanitary and economic crisis, now more than ever, those working for themselves and by themselves are more exposed to the immediate consequences.

So is it so difficult to ask for help as an entrepreneur? Why is that we are so sure of the fact that nobody else can have some answers regarding our business? Is it ego or attachement, sprinkled with a bit of pride?

Find out in this episode what differentiates the women entrepreneurs from male business owners and how and where we can ask for help in order to continue succeeding in business.

A business that is looked after and is receiving daily interest and effort, can only grow or die. There is no such thing as a stillness , like “nothing is happening”. Something is always changing, we just need to be aware and catch it early so we can be prepared.

Working over the years with all kind of businesses and entrepreneurs, we could observe that people are rather inclined to notice when the business is going bad and make all sorts of adjustments. But when things are going well and the numbers are rising, some changes have to happen also in order to accommodate the growth. Yet, more so, we can see that the same mistakes that keep showing up and almost dragging businesses under.

In this episode we address the 5 most common oversights that entrepreneurs tend to make along the way.

As individuals, what keeps us going is the hope, the dream of tomorrow. Now, with everything going on in the world, being optimistic may seem like a stretch for most people. It’s enough to be connected online for 10 minutes and you will be hit with news about Coronavirus, natural disasters, humanitarian crisis or the ongoing economic crisis. And yet, as entrepreneurs we need to have the skill of optimism functioning right in order to see our business thrive. It’s ok to be a realistic person and is recommended at some point, but in business you also need a degree of “I will make it happen even if I don’t know how yet”. After all, the worse is never certain.

Find out in this episode a few tips on how to maintain your optimism in order to see beyond any crisis and focus on the results ahead.

In an ever changing environment like entrepreneurship, what doesn’t grow slowly dies. We still have 5 full months to put our small business into high gear, so here the next few episodes will be dedicated to business ideas that you can still implement until the end of the year in order to make a difference in your business.

We are calling this a PARKING LIST of concepts, intentions, objectives or solutions; all of them meant to help you breath an air of growth into your business. Mix these with consistency in implementation and follow-up, and you have yourself a winning strategy.

Today we will tackle 4 ideas to improve your biz, as an entrepreneur. From analysing 5 flaws and 5 strong points of your competitors, looking for a new partner within your existing circle of clients or acquittances to better using your Social Media channels.

In an ever changing environment like entrepreneurship, what doesn’t grow slowly dies. We still have 5 full months to put our small business into high gear, so here the next few episodes will be dedicated to business ideas that you can still implement until the end of the year in order to make a difference in your business.

We are calling this a PARKING LIST of concepts, intentions, objectives or solutions; all of them meant to help you breath an air of growth into your business. Mix these with consistency in implementation and follow-up, and you have yourself a winning strategy.

Today we will tackle 4 ideas to improve your biz, as an entrepreneur. From revisiting 12 marketing ads that are striking you as successful and innovative, to reviewing your client list and cutting out your most difficult ones, see if you can find in today’s episode a new direction for your business.

In an ever changing environment like entrepreneurship, what doesn’t grow slowly dies. We still have 5 full months to put our small business into high gear, so here the next few episodes will be dedicated to business ideas that you can still implement until the end of the year in order to make a difference in your business.

We are calling this a PARKING LIST of concepts, intentions, objectives or solutions; all of them meant to help you breath an air of growth into your business. Mix these with consistency in implementation and follow-up, and you have yourself a winning strategy.

Today we will tackle the first 4 ideas to improve your biz, as an entrepreneur. From freeing a part of your expenses to reaching out to “almost” customers to ask for feedback, in today’s episode we go over some suggestions that you can apply in the next 5 months. 

During our monthly online meetings for Imn Paris ( more info on www.imnparis.com ) we always start with a gratitude exercise. And why would that be important during a mastermind on entrepreneurial subjects? Because it gives us the time to reflect on the things that we have accomplished so far and it puts into perspective our future goals.

Seeing that we are already 7 months into 2021 already, our first recommendation ( step ) towards reaching your desired outcome, is to pause and forecast your next remaining 5 months. This, in terms, gives you an upgraded reality of what has been achieved and you can adapt accordingly. Are you creating your ideal scenarios for your business? Well, you should as this is a great way to measure the excitement that you still have for your goals.

Join us in this episode as we are exploring the 3 important steps of success for any entrepreneur in 2021.

A highly efficient technique in the coaching industry is the A.I.M SMART approach. For reference, please listen to the previous episode 46, to get familiarised with the SMART method and how to apply it as an entrepreneur.

S - Specific, strategic

M - Measurable

A - Attainable, achievable

R - Relevant

T - Time-bound

Now we go a step further today and make it even more detail oriented. What does the following phrase sound ?: “I AIM for goals, I am very SMART in achieving them and I let people know what I am going g to do” . Would it be something worth looking into?

Listen to this week’s episode as we go over defining goals, ways to achieve them and ACCOUNTABILITY, usually an overlooked step.

At this point in the current business climate, there is no benefit in falling into the trap of doing nothing or doing too much. Entrepreneurs usually are caught in between these 2 extremes. That’s why the S.M.A.R.T way is the perfect method to reach your goals and getting the FOCUSED results your business needs.

S - Specific, strategic

M - Measurable

A - Attainable, achievable

R - Relevant

T - Time-bound

Join us as we go over, in the episode, on how to apply this great method for your business or personal life, why not? :)

Football is THE SPORT, the one that everyone has an opinion about, we all know the name of at least a few players, the sport that ignites the passion of some many of us all over the world.

The energy, pride and happiness can be derived from a simple match is so amazing that it has us thinking: “what else can give such a huge energy, such an important vibration on which everybody can connect to?” We as business owners, as entrepreneurs should be interested in achieving a level of connection and inclusion when dealing with our customers, right?

So what can football teach us about this? Find out in today’s episode.

What are our true connections in today’s reality? How many people actually pick up the phone when you call? In today’s episode we are discussing the importance of a strong network of quality relationships and the exponentially of your networking.

If you are an entrepreneur or a small business owner ( meaning you would dedicate yourself to fulfilling multiples roles in your business ), you know how caught up you can get in the daily tasks and operations as sales, marketing, logistics, etc. And in the same time having the tendency to neglect the importance of capital relationship, the personal and professional connections.

Find out in today’s episode how to grow and effectively use our networking partnerships and connections.

As a rule of thumb, when starting a new business venture of any kind, we should be prepared for the inevitable “working for free for a while in the beginning” : the time to create a name for ourselves, to improve and perfect our product or service, to start earning a reputation within the market, etc. For example, in coaching, the model of 3-3-3 is a relevant one:

But where exactly is the line when we are supposed to stop offering our services for free, especially when it is in our nature to help people? How do we judge our value when competing in a market where no one wants to feel like they are consistently ‘sold to’? When we have the tendency to put people first, is pro bono helping “us” (the provider) or helping them ’the customer’?

Listen to the arguments from an entrepreneur’s working with entrepreneurs point of view.

When entrepreneurs start their business journey, is usually because they have a solution to a problem, not necessarily because they are transforming their hobby into a business. And we can all agree that this is the healthy way to bring something valuable to the market. So now the real question these days is : How much can you bring to the market when your own resources are limited? The reality of the economic crisis is hitting hard small business around the world right now and sustainability cannot exist without profit.

Join us for this episode as we go over the importance of thinking ahead on creating sustainable yet profitable businesses, that also take into consideration the communities around.

We can all agree that Zoom conferences or any online meetings are tricky when you are not prepared and when you treat them as a cup of coffee with friends. Especially those one to one, when trying to sign a new client or start a new partnership.

Being authentic still means that the common sense rules apply, if you wish to be the one in control and get the results you are hoping for each time. In the first part of this topic, last week we talked about group conferences and now we will address the more private communications, where the goal is to sign a new client or start a new partnership.

Zoom meetings give a business owner the precious advantage of TIME, time won by not having to travel to a specific location. And truth be told, we think a lot of people have found out that not all the business meetings have to be held in person but we were all in a silent agreement that if you wanted to sell, you had to be the one making the effort.

Nevertheless, online meetings or calls present a challenge of their own: how to keep the attention of our participants and have them engaged with whatever our subject is. The main difference between in-person and online meetings is the presence of distractions: phone notifications, the temptation to go browsing online, and so on.

So in order to keep your participants engaged, some skills are required, that we may not have considered before. In this episode we will go over 5 important tips on how to make your Zoom meetings efficient and interesting.

Willingly or not, we have adapted to the idea that our business needs an online presence but also we as entrepreneurs need to be active and figure out how to communicate from a distance with new or existing clients, possible business partners and so on. And that means being able to close a deal or to acquire new clients over Zoom or Skype. Easier said than done!

These online interactions are in a way, removing the socialising part of the exchange which for most entrepreneurs is vital, since it lets the person in front of you see how involved and passionate you are about your product or service. Small business owners are usually doing a double sales job, selling the product on one hand and their own drive that goes into believing in that product, on the other hand.

A lot of partnerships or idea for new products have originated during social interactions and unfortunately, nowadays, on Zoom we start the call with the topic already half-way open and so ignoring those precious moments of fraternising. So what can we do to ease into a more real communication on the currently prefered digital platforms like Zoom or Skype?

From building trust to taking risks, in this episode we are addressing the topic of keeping your connections while being online savvy.

Selling any type of product or service is basically building a relationship between 2 parties, understanding and anticipating the other’s needs and desires and finding ways to provide for those needs.

A trust bond is vital for any type of sell. Since the development of online businesses and the recent surge in the virtual business world, it is safe to say that people are quite reluctant to give their trust away. And for good reason, seing the amount of frauds and deceits happening. Nevertheless, when we present ourselves in an authentic matter and engage truly with our clients, we stand a better chance of making a sale.

This episode is focused on 2 main keys of increasing your sales. Find out the second tip by listening to the full episode.

In last week’s episode “What’s the secret of buying?”, we were talking about the predictability and impulses of the human behaviour when it comes to buying goods and services. Since we are heading (one foot in already) into an economic crisis, the keys to still sell in 2021 don’t need to be changed, so much as they may need to be personalised.

The “what”, “why”; “when” and “how much” our clients needs and desires have to be met, and getting the right information is crucial. Having conversations geared towards understanding them and asking open-ended questions so they have a chance to further explain would be a first important step.

We have structured this episode in 5 steps or keys that will help any entrepreneur better grasps the evergreen reasoning behind buying and selling.

Doesn’t it seem that we are focused on selling “better” and sales techniques but often forget to go back to the basics of the need or impulse to BUY?

Are our needs real or someone creates them? What’s the exact moment when we realise we have a need that has to be fulfilled by a product or service from the outside ?

Human behaviour is predictable but marketing is still a key factor when it comes to impulse buying. Nevertheless, is also about trust, creating relationships and adding value to the act of serving ur clients as entrepreneurs.

In this episode we go over the subtleties of buying and selling, especially in times of crisis.

As we were mentioning in the previous episode about why is important to be creative and innovative as an entrepreneur, creativity doesn’t come on demand. Nevertheless, it can be cultivated and practiced regularly in order to wake up that enthusiasm that is taking a break right now.

Our 5 easy steps to awaken your innovative side, are accessible and clear and can be used in your business and your personal life also.

We really like the last step, “The Parking list”! Find out how to utilise this simple tool to become more creative.

In entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation are pretty much connected and interlaced with eachother, as they help any business get ahead in a market which would be otherwise dominated by the same old patterns.

As we all are all aware, creativity doesn’t come on demand but in the same time, being stuck only in the operational aspect of the business doesn’t also have benefits in the long run.

Creativity can be a source of enthusiasm and a way to reduce stress and uncertainty, especially in times of a crisis. In this episode we are going over some meaningful reasons why being creative can help you and your business have new energy moving forward in 2021

It would be fair to say that being self employed can be tricky sometimes. Besides the time invested to get to the point of being well known and gaining a reputation in your field, deciding your workload and schedule comes with freedom but also some insecurity in the long run.

So what is the appeal of being self employed?

We are taking the time in this episode to go over the many layers of being an entrepreneur and the different opportunities that this rather flexible business profile has to offer.

We can all agree that the most valuable resource we have is TIME. Money, we can always make more of even when we have lost it all but unfortunately, the luxury of time can’t be won back. That’s why is so important, whenever possible, to put in balance the freedom of being a business owner against the security of being an employee. And if we move from being an employee to self employed we still trade time for money, meaning we can’t earn more money if we don’t work more hours. This is the case of doctors, lawyers or any type of coach for exemple.

What about the advantages of creating a business, creating a system that would allow you to be a business owner?

Join us for this week’s episode as we take a look at these different business profiles and business models: being an employee, self employed and business owner.

When you are an entrepreneur, you need to know how to deal with the months of good revenues and the months of bad revenues. Sometimes the waves of the business are better than expected or you may go through unexpected low points but one thing you can trust, the cycles are there to be recognised and dealt with.

The reality is that business cycles affect not only the business but the business owner as well. So we are focusing this week’s episode on the 5 helpful teachings that we as a business club with experience in business coaching, have gained over time by working with international business owners.

Business owners can delegate a lot of aspects of their business but knowing their key performance figures is not one of them. Together with knowing the current and outstanding balances, optimising the “when” and the “how” are vital responsibilities for any entrepreneur and not to be taken lightly.

If we don’t mesure what’s happening in our business, how can we optimise the results?

As we were talking in the previous episode “Key Performance Indicators for entrepreneurs”: what gets measured, gets focus. What gets focus, gets results. That’s why this episode will focus on the 5 important steps, a checklist if you will, on how to track and optimise your most important reports in order to get clarity and quality figures for your small or medium business.

To join our free monthly Masterminds, please follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @IMNPARIS and stay tuned for upcoming dates for international networking events.

www.imnparis.com

It may not be a fun topic, but is definitely vital for any entrepreneur. How much time do you spend on measuring your business performance?

Most business owners like to be more operational or “hands in the clay” because they like the rush of the process. Yet, when it comes to understanding what really happened during an entire month, business owners shy away from this task. Having a broader aerial view of the business allows us to think of long term plans, strategise and improve on the current game plan.

And how do we do that?

- Observing the way the Corporate world keeps track of their KPI can prove significant for entrepreneurs that are left on their own to figure things out.

- Finding a balance of what kind of KPI to follow so that you don’t get buried in all the figures is also fundamental for the process.

Listen to this episode to discover the process of business performance.

We don’t really like to use the excuse of this crisis anymore to explain all the drastic measures that we as entrepreneurs had to take in order to “hang on” but we are just still in the beginning of the economic mess that is going to change the face of business forever. And with this comes the good old issue of how to reduce, cut or eliminate costs for your business.

Essentially, when the cashflow stops coming in, how do we deal with our own bills and responsibilities? For one, stopping any cash movement that is set by “default” should be a priority. Challenging the need of any immediate purchase or the importance of keeping a certain product that may not perform so well…are these some of the steps you are taking already?

If not, this episode is for you as we are discussing essential methods of managing your costs as a small business owner in 2021.

Reevaluating and reconsidering the relationship we have with money can result in an overall gain over our expenses and eventually spending habits. The changes that we have suffered in the last 12 months are forcing us to do just that: reevaluate and question our usual methods of buying goods and services. But nevertheless, expenses don’t have only one source.

In this episode we are looking at 5 crucial tips on diminishing expenses as an entrepreneur or small business owner.

We truly believe in tip number 3 as it takes into consideration the fact that buying is not the only “by default” option.

Some entrepreneurs tend to overspend when they open a business, either investing in building a website or renting an office space and everything else that comes with the details of making it a “real” business.

Luckily, the Social Media presence truly represents an advantage for any entrepreneur, that it can reduce costs in terms of marketing and honestly replacing a whole website for most of the time. From getting a business address without an office to creating your own website, small business owners are in control of what cash comes out also.

In this episode, we are starting the discussion about what it means to manage your expenses figures, underspending vs overspending.

For many, Amazon remains the most accessible bookstore, especially when we are dealing with the consequences of the Coronavirus spread worldwide. It remains to be debated how much this online platform had to do with the decline of bookstores, but we can be sure of one thing: people will always buy according to their needs.

What Amazon created was the opportunity to get visibility for anyone writing, launching and promoting their own books. That doesn’t mean that everyone will buy it, but some will.And in contrast with the struggle to get your book published on paper, is definitely a win.

The online world is always interactive and evolving and that is the beauty of it also.

We are starting this short Amazon-series by going over the basic questions of how to get your ebook published and eventually make it a bestseller on their platform. Spoiler alert: no scams involved!

Any company’s values and virtues come first and foremost from people: owners, employees and even clients, isn’t it? People like to do business with people. Otherwise, let’s say, why would a respected Hollywood actor open his new restaurant and people would be queuing outside the door to get in? It’s clear he has something other restaurants don’t: his own personal brand, his fame and recognition. He starts to build the Company’s brand from his own.

The problem with great people is they always think they are not good enough, that they don’t deserve more . When the reality is that there is enough fame to go around for everyone. And as entrepreneurs, our own personal image is the best business card we can have for our company.

Today’s episode sheds some light on the advantages of believing in your own personal brand.

One of the important characteristics of LinkedIn is that the content shared and consumed daily is not sales-driven but instead is content-based. And combined with the fact that almost everyone has an account there and managing it themselves, for most part, it means you can easily reach the CEO of any company as easy as you would reach any entrepreneur.

But we do believe that the biggest advantage that this professional platform has over other social networking sites is the unrestricted use of article writing. We all have skills, the knowledge, the expertise or the experience that somebody else can benefit from and writing LinkedIn articles is the easiest way to start positioning yourself as an expert in your field.

In this episode we are going over 5 important strategies that can be used to open new conversations, build and strengthen your personal or professional profile and gaining new connections and clients along the way.

When looking back on the year 2020, what is the best way to say good-bye to it? Will you hold it In appreciation or in rejection? After all, this was a year of your life, the ONLY life we have!

We can feel whatever in retrospect, but the reality is that we have learned, we have grown and almost everyone has at least 1 thing to be grateful for. And please don’t say that you didn’t achieved or learned nothing. The concept of “nothing” and “everything” are not real, they do not exist. There is always “something”.

And for 2021, this something is that in this New World, we get to be “new” also. Entrepreneurs have always been good at reinventing themselves and their business so this year, the canvas is white. Go for it, the cards are on the table, the game is on!

Now more than ever, entrepreneurs need to step up and be of service to people, instead of manipulating and faking it all, and so offering them the much needed support through our businesses.

People resonate with real life examples, giving us the possibility to better engage and serve on Social Media.

Anyone with a Social Media account has certain powers online and in this episode we will be discussing the 5 types of influences that business owners can utilise for a better connection with their audience.

From content creating, to consistency, to not choosing the right platform for our needs; we are all guilty of trying too much or trying too little while on Social Media, especially entrepreneurs. The truth is that consistency is what works online. We can argue about the right platform, the perfect content or the optimal posting time, etc but at the end of the day “Done is better than perfect” and engagement is what generates engagement.

As we were mentioning in the previous 2 episodes, if there is something more precious for entrepreneurs than time, we don’t know about it. Efficiency is what we want to focus on while creating and promoting our business online.

Find out the tips and best practices to suit your business needs and invest time in the mediums that you feel most at ease with.

If there is something more precious for entrepreneurs than TIME, we don’t know about it. So it makes sense that our presence on Social Media shouldn’t be time consuming, but rather efficient and purposeful. And so a very important question arrises: Are you a consumer or a creator on Social Media?

Since being present online has such a big impact on our lives and consequently our business, in the last years we have seen a differentiation between the different types of web users and 4 profiles have emerged as a consequence: the follower, the expert, the influencer and the business influencer.

Explore in this episode the characteristics of each Social Media Profile and identify, adjust and improve your online impact in order to maximise your reach.

Quick question before we get into this episode: does your Social Media activity consumes only your time or does it make you money? Let’s be honest, as an entrepreneur you should grow your business first and then share it on all platforms, as your presence here is just a tool to grow, not the main reason why is growing.

Social Media is about visibility, marketing, putting yourself and your business in front of people, communicating, creating a dialog, identifying your customer’s needs and eventually SELLING. It’s like having your own TV or radio station, your own newspaper, editing house, you name it.

But there is much more than Facebook or LinkedIn that can help entrepreneurs reach their clients: publishing an e-book, starting a YouTube channel or a podcast, etc. Find out in this episode how Social Media can make your selling process faster and easier while increasing your credibility as well.

Passion drives us and gives us energy to the point that we don’t know how to stop doing it. Being passionate about your life, your business or your hobbies has extended and ever-growing benefits, elevating energy levels to new highs.

We are, after all, talking in this season about the untold stories of entrepreneurs so sharing my experience with windsurfing fits right like a glove. And just as you can’t surf without wind, you can’t deny that the clients are the driving force of any business. The clients are the wind for any business owner.

Resilience and patience, are they synonym with windsurfing and business? Find out in this episode.

We consider the 3 main components of ME to be: my life, my business and my family. That is why we so often forget about another important one: me as a person!

We can easily get off balance because of fear, habit, even passion and ambition. But should we really pay the price of dealing with the resulted shortcomings?

Most entrepreneurs consider their business as more than their work, it becomes part of who they are. And that is one of the first steps to messing up their balance.

In this episode we are going over 5 steps that will help you prioritise more conscious and develop great control over your focus.

Honest truth about being an entrepreneur: if we don’t work, we don’t eat. And the government is not gonna provide any type of pay if we get sick. It is all on us!

We do like to believe we are invincible sometimes and that we will be able to always work. This idea of working harder than anyone else in order to succeed, can eventually cost us more that it’s worth, in terms of physical and mental health.

A successful entrepreneur is someone who creates for himself a supportive environment so that “failure” doesn’t happen in another area of his life like marriage or parenthood, for example. 

And part of this climate is where self-care plays a decisive role. In this episode, we will be focusing on 5 essential daily disciplines that any of us can apply in order to make well-being part of our entrepreneurship journey.

Our goal this season is to present the realities, the intentions and the true stories of being an entrepreneur. And that means taking a look at some sensitive subjects as what it means to experience loneliness when you are working for yourself, by yourself.

It’s absolutely normal for most entrepreneurs to identify themselves with their businesses. And this raises the normal question of how deeply this impacts their life. Although, the more important discussion is on the topic of “ should we allow it to happen?”

We’ll be going over a few important reminders and easy steps to deal with the feeling of overwhelming and loneliness, when you are your own boss.

Not everyone is at ease with meeting new people and even worse, when it’s people that we don’t necessarily like. And yet, even the most boring of meetings has and should have a meaning.

It may sound like a cliché but making the most out of every encounter will pay dividends in the long run.

In this episode, we’ll go over 5 simple steps on how to create impactful connections, no matter if it’s in your personal life or in business. Step nr 4 it’s a great example of how a simple phrase can open so many real conversations :” I prefer to see you when I am able to give the best of myself”.

Can you think of a few times when using this phrase would have had a bigger impact for both parties involved?

Part of being an entrepreneur is having the ability to use our set of quality skills that we develop, not only for our business but also practicing those skills for a better life experience. And right on top of the list should be learning how and when to say NO.

It can happen that sometimes “NO” is not so much the best answer but also the ONLY answer. So how do we go about identifying those times? We are taking a look in this episode, at the clear signs that we should pay attention to, before committing to anything.

How often have you invested time and energy in deals that were a clear NO from the beginning? If you had only listened to your instinct, one of those quality skills we were mentioning…

Why is “saying NO” such a debilitating decision? Is it driven by fear or maybe lack of self-confidence? This is indeed a complex subject with sometimes specific reasons but nevertheless there is a common thread of truth tying together the examples we talk about in this episode of the untold stories of entrepreneurs.

Depending on our beliefs and past experiences, we don’t relate to risk in the same way. What can seem as adrenaline and a challenge for some of us, others think of risks as major red flags, that immediately trigger panic and fear.

Does staying in a “safe” situation seem like a long term solution for anyone? More likely no, and more so, is a safe bet for stagnation and progress killing. Developing the ability to take risks, especially calculated ones, is almost a requirement for entrepreneurs and off course, is a skill that can be learned and polished over time.

In today’s episode, we will be going over the 5 steps formula to start looking at deliberate risks with a more welcoming and accepting eye. 

Step Nr 4, even if a bit uncomfortable at first, can be applied on all areas of life, not only in business.

What would you reply to the phrase: “To sell you, is to help you”? Would you consider it a manipulation? Would you take it as an insult maybe?

Being a salesperson in not well received, especially in Europe. The image of somebody quite pushy, that makes endless conversation and has a tendency to twist the truth, is that an accurate representation?

The ability to sell is accompanied also by a feeling of trust, authenticity and deep caring that the person standing in front of you is very receptive to. In today’s episode, we are going over 5 tips on how to “sell” your sales technique and have people perceive you as a genuine person.

Once you become an entrepreneur, you are here for the long run, always working on developing your business and never disconnecting from the market. Because once you stop doing these and just settle on your “I made it” throne, you can be sure that the newcomers are paying the same attention to the market just as you did in the beginning and finding exactly the angle that you thought is not worth pursuing.

The success of every business is in giving their clients EXACTLY what they are looking for, and not because there is no other choice on the market. So how to disrupt your own business from within and be ahead of your “shadow” competitors? Tip nr 1- understand your client’s complaints.

One example of a company that didn’t believe in disrupting the market and didn’t listen to what the clients were asking? NOKIA

In today's episode, we are presenting the 5 most important tips on how to practice a disruptive approach of your business from inside out.

What is the main difference between entrepreneurs succeeding, even in times of crisis, and those who don’t? While the whole world was on physical and mental lockdown, the business owners that refused to dig their heads in the sand and call it quits, were the ones that did at least 1 of the following:

- showed up as a leader

- didn’t get stuck on what is no longer possible

- observed and understood human behaviour

We know it takes a lot of energy to stay in the constructive mindset of moving forward and look for the systems that allow us to cope and be creative. But Rome wasn’t build in a day, right?

We discuss in this episode what determined entrepreneurs actually do to be successful, no matter the type of crisis they encounter.

Entrepreneurs and small businesses alike, have the disadvantage that they are less protected in these kind of crisis situations. Nevertheless, business owners are facing bigger or smaller crisis on regular basis, especially in the first years of existence and somehow, the most persistent and determined of us still manage to push through. Why would this be any different?

Any crisis is defined by the immediate need of a decision and isn’t this a great opportunity in itself? No more “one day I will”, the time to act is NOW: implementing with creativity, increasing the value-added that we bring to the table and so on. In this episode, we have put together a series of tips for all the entrepreneurs out there that are looking to shift their focus and put this crisis in a different perspective.

Is being an entrepreneur just a trend or is it indeed the most wanted job in the world?

You may find that when starting your own entrepreneurship journey, your experience is completely different from that of a relative or a friend that started in similar conditions. That’s because whatever blocks you, blocks your business. And in the same time, your business can be as successful as you are. YOU are the key to your own success or failure.

In this episode, we adress 3 real and important tips to assure you are getting the best results from the time invested. Because truth be told, being an entrepreneur means 100% focus and you need to know from the beginning your “absolute must” priorities.

What drives people to become entrepreneurs and how do you know if this is for you? The good news is that is never too late to start the entrepreneurship journey but for most, still, working for somebody else is seen as a first option, due to the financial security. A 2018 study states that 5% of the world’s workforce are actually entrepreneurs working for themselves. The numbers have been shown to be increasing but how many are actually successful, considering the risks involved?

Are you someone that is:

If you have answered yes to at least 1, you are an intuitive entrepreneur and many of the characteristics presented in this episode apply to you. Let us know if we have overlooked any important features.

This "shock" moment in history started well over 6 months ago and we are now left to deal with, among other things, the extreme stress of emotional and mental fatigue.  It's important to acknowledge here and now, that it's ok for us and others around, to feel tired, anxious or fearful. We are all human and our emotions are the best indicators of what kind of situations we are facing.  The real question is: How do we move out of it?

In any given moment, we have 5 conscious choices that we can make:

When we are stressed, we are less prepared to deal with the situation that is stressing us. We know that it looks like a vicious circle, but there is actually a starting point, when we can begin the change, the shift that will shed some light on the current circumstances. 

This episode focuses on 5 immediate steps we can take, on our own, to position ourselves in a better-feeling place, of understanding our mental fatigue and moving forward towards easing our emotional burden. 

We don’t know, so we assume. An assumption becomes the Truth in the absence of proof. That’s what makes it such a powerful internal blocker.

How many times don’t we find ourselves trapped in memories of fear just because in that moment in time, we presumed that the anxiety or suspicion we felt was justified by our own reasoning, not by reality?

So we are left with the question: Is it better to face the unknown or to throw in our assumptions to compensate for the missing information?

Although working with a professional coach is better when it comes to internal blockers, there are still some significant steps we can take on our own to change the story we keep telling ourselves. And here are the 5 important ones.

What are the benefits of being famous? Does that make you the best in the business? Or maybe you think it means egocentric? Do you believe you can be famous as an #entrepreneur?

These days Social Media has the power to make anyone famous, even if for the wrong reasons. On the other hand, it all comes down to our own #interpretations and beliefs around the subject of being famous. What if we replaced it with “well known” or “recognized”?

Let yourself be challenged on this subject of #fame with these 5 steps and see if the benefits are greater than the blockage.

Feeling stuck mentally can be a way that our system is telling us that there is some work to be done and this is the way our body has found to trigger us, in order to deal with and handle this undertaking. Our internal #blockers can be real or purely created just by our own mind. But they have this power to cripple us because we chose to see them as an absolute truth.

Limiting #beliefs are just the tip of the iceberg. A negative belief puts the focus on our inability to achieve what we want and the more we believe we can’t achieve it, the more real it gets. Challenging the unfavourable deep-routed beliefs that have almost become part of our personality, is no easy task. But it can be done!

Find out in today’s episode the 5 steps to recognise and replace the beliefs that don’t serve you, by introducing #empowering expectations in your environment.

How well are your beliefs working in your life?

Patience is not the easiest of the virtues, at least not in today’s #society where we have the control at our fingertips and any second beyond our short limit feels almost undeserved. Patience is about meaning, emotions and focus and when we lack patience we are moving much further from the #results we were hoping to have in the first place.

So if we know that being impatient doesn’t work, why do we still do it? One of the great benefits of #coaching people is that you help them see the answers by changing the questions and so opening the way for improved answers to surface.

In this episode of #YourCoachingJourney we are focusing on 5 practical tips that you can apply to reevaluate and #improve your perception of what self-control is.

Being in touch with our core values creates an #alignment that resonates far beyond a momentary uplift. Deep down, we all want to be happy, and being in alignment with oneself is an important, ever fulfilling permanent skill.

In #coaching, when referring to “holographic thinking”, it means creating a 3D image of any situation, experience or feelings, and then observing it as a whole, giving attention to its 3 sides all at once. A truly complete method of looking at ourselves, through practiced attention and intention, being able to listen to all the information we are receiving. In today’s episode of #YourCoachingJourney, we will be talking about the Triangle of logic, intuition and feelings and how we can reach internal alignment.

And what if physical distancing does not necessarily mean #social distancing? During the last 2 months since the virus has set up camp in Europe, more and more people reached out and are doing “world - tours” on Social Media, communicating and connecting to each other on a deeper level than ever. But doesn’t it seem that more and more people are using these Social platforms to get their news and form their opinions on politics, recent events and current affairs? Everyone wants answers but nobody is really willing to do their research anymore.

Find out in this episode the 4 types of Social Media profiles and what are the abilities that each one holds. You get to make your own decision, where do you fit in the grand scheme of things and in this reality that is not virtual anymore, but is ever present in each moment of our lives.

In these exceptional conditions of lockdown, the efforts that we make can seem even harder to accomplish because of the difficulty of the environment, mental and physical. And since not everyone measures effort the same way, the 2 types of efforts that we may normally encounter can have totally different outcomes now. How do you judge the efforts and results that you did for yourself and others during the quarantine?

We got to experience these last 2 months, the real meaning of community and relationships. People driven by desires of true support, togetherness and improvement. And more than even, we recognised the 2 main keys in the pursuit of growing together: trust and determination.

Find out in this episode what are the steps to take in order to align your efforts with your determination and in the same time, reevaluate your results and your trust.

Doesn’t it seem that this is the perfect time to reconnect with your purpose? We have been given the gift of time so how are you spending yours? Our mind is such a powerful tool that it can travel anywhere and right now this #lockdown it only represents a geographical setback but we can still wonder the world with our thoughts.

Let’s take a moment in this episode and do an #awareness check.

Once we are aware, we can be awakened and then we can allow ourselves to be amazed.

There is a way you can become more aware of your actions and results during these confinement days: is the OPAFIT scale. Listen to this episode and find out the 5 tips on how to improve your #focus on what is really important for you.

Amongst all the fear and uncertainty, these days offer some unbelievable moments that would not have been even considered a few months ago: the best of the industries are offering free online #trainings and instant access to them, free Opera and ballet shows online, people connecting, strangers looking to help each other and so on. 

Have you considered implementing new #habits and routines that will help you cope with the “new reality” that we will have to face? 

We have this amazing chance to change, reconsider, #focus and reflect on some powerful questions that we would not really consider so often : who am I? What makes me happy? Find out in this Bonus episode how to ask yourself the right questions about yourself.  

Any type of relationship that is love conditioned creates an expectation that things will go in a specific way. This kind of judgement that we assign can result in negative #feelings once we expect a distinct behaviour from the people involved.

We invest ourselves emotionally in #friendships as these are our constants in term of loyalty, support , reciprocity, sincerity, understanding and so on. Of course everyones’s definition is different but the essence is always the same.

Reevaluating the meaning of your close relationships can result in real “aha” moments, once you ask yourself the right questions:

- do I feel like I can truly be myself around my friends?

- am I offering and receiving “quality” time when we are together?

Take an honest look at your friendships with the help of the tips and suggestions presented in this episode.

How do we know if are judging someone ( or ourselves) ? Because we form an opinion about how a person IS, instead of what he/she has DONE. Think of convicted criminals for example. Isn’t it true that we assume that we know who they are, based on what they’ve done in the past, hence likely to do in the future?

This episode will explore what are the differences between #judgements and opinions, based on facts. And in case you are wondering now, yes, being quick to judge might indeed prevent us from being more #conscious about our lives and relationships.

Find out the 5 steps on how to reduce and eventually eliminate judgement and the most dangerous of all, negative self-judgement. The results will be blissful. 

There is beauty in the action of #giving and being generous. Being generous is embedded in our DNA but once we attach an emotion, waiting for a positive return in exchange for our actions , the purity of #generosity loses its meaning.

We may think that we don’t have much to offer and we often ask ourselves if we actually have someone to offer it to. The reality is that giving and sharing from a place of genuine care and totally detached from the result and outcome of our actions, that's what is missing in our current #lifestyle. 

“Women’s Day” gives us another reason to celebrate #women from all over the world but the beautiful reality is that we should always start with appreciating ourselves as women, our life and our blessings.

That way, we can also observe and recognise the worth and #value of every woman that is in our life or the ones that we simply meet by chance. We can have #admiration and appraisal for everyone and anyone if we would grasp how important it is to find appreciation in the small joys of every day life .

Take a moment and truly experience the emotions of a #connection this Woman’s Day and make it unforgettable.

How many of us act daily from a place of being #genuine, true, real? To fit in society's norms, a lot of the time, we are expected to be and behave a certain way that does not contradict the establishment we find ourselves in. A good example is how showing #emotions in the work place is frowned upon as it may make other people feel uncomfortable. 

However, this is taking away from our individual authenticity. Being vulnerable can expose us to judgement, is true, but allowing our self-confidence to shine through even in the face of rejection, is so #rewarding and liberating. 

Our lives seem to have us on a treadmill, a never-ending cycle of doing, running, consuming, wanting more but in the same time forgetting the simple ( and usually free) experiences that give us joy and peace. We all know that #happiness is subjective and what we should always remember, is that is totally up to us to decide what this joyful life should look like. 

In this episode of your #coaching journey, find out the 5 step process of bringing to life the #design of your ideal life-experience. The rule of the 5 D's is a clear recipe for your best manifestations. 

Most people aim for financial #security. But what is the price you have to pay in order to have your #finances provide for the ever growing demand of your #lifestyle? I guess we are right in saying the more you have, the more you want. The world around us is full of these kind of examples .

Sacrificing time and energy, adding fear and stress to our daily life... these are the collateral damage of financial security . And at the end of it all, it may seem that the illusion of financial security is managing your life . 

In this episode of your #coaching journey, we are looking at 5 steps to get out of this illusion and get back control over your life 

Deciding if we're gonna have a good day or a bad day is entirely up to us. But better yet, what if we took advantage of the fact that it's a NEW day and we are the creators of the #emotions tat manifest throughout the day? 

Do you ever stop to wonder what makes a good day a good day and a great life a great life? It all starts with control... over yourself and your daily #routines. 

Contrary to popular #beliefs, the quality of life is not entirely or necessarily  related to income, success or welfare. find out in this episode the 5 forgotten tips on how to see immediate #improvement in your daily life. 

Everything in life is a choice and the beauty of living is that we can decide to #change at any moment .

When we settle into a mundane routine, it robs us of #diversity and exploration of self. Time seems to be flying and the feeling of loosing control starts to weight us down.

Luckily is also up to us to implement the changes. A new road to the same #destination if you will.

Breaking a routine or a habit that no lover serves you, starts sometimes with changing one small thing a week. But consistency is the key. 

What we want should be fairly easy to express in words, right? Somehow in many cases, when we are asked this question, we give vague and unclear #answers. 

In this episode of Your #coaching Journey, we look at the "Why" and the "How" of the inability to express ourselves clear and determined when it comes to the million- dollars question : " What do YOU want in life"? 

* why are we not sure and explicit when it comes to our #goals?

* how to approach the subject of dreams and desires - 5 easy steps to get clarity 

Wouldn't it be great if we could connect to that Higher Power part of our brain? To the intuition, to the overwhelming feelings of #happiness, just like when we were children? 

Of course we can and we do it more often than we think. DREAMING is what can help us step out of our daily #routine. Daydreams and night dreams are our way of tapping into the amazing power of our #minds and the freedom of #creativity.

Find out in this episode of Your #coaching Journey, the 5 easy tips on how to prepare our brain, in order to receive the impulses and glimmers sent by our subconscious.

Without planning, what are the chances of your #goals becoming a reality?

In order for the New You to make a New Plan for 2020, we will be discussing in this Bonus episode, the 7 Steps Formula on how to consciously choose and create a clear path towards your dreams, now that we are stepping into a new decade. 

These steps will create a solid base where you can build a trustworthy and valid action plan, starting with finding a blissful, grateful and light-hearted way to say good-bye to old #beliefs and habits , and welcome the New You. 

As it happens every New Year, the perspective of something new always brings hope and freshness into our lives. But let's take a moment to consider the concept of " New Year, New You". Do you really want to leave everything behind that happened this year? You still have a few hours left, give yourself the gift of spending some time with yourself and your thoughts. 

What was this year really about?

How relevant will be in 5 years the bad moments that you had to deal with ? Don't discount the whole #experience just because the result was not the one you were hoping for. Once you regain the #awareness, you can create an improved year starting right where you are .

Happy New You in 2020!

Oh, L-O-V-E! Our deepest source of happiness and at times, the source of our deepest suffering . The expression of love varies from culture to culture and it may not come as easy to everyone because of beliefs, traditions, customs and the list can go on. But luckily in todays's society, one subject has become more meaningful and relevant : self-love, at times the hardest one to accept.

The way we talk to ourselves, the beliefs we hold true about our own personality, how we take care of our body and mind; these are all forms of self-love. A few simple and helpful tips are included with today's episode on how to start change and conciously choose to improve the relationships we have with ourselves.  

Have you ever looked at the world from the #perspective of people being "givers" and "takers" ? Giving provides a sense of #fulfilment by doing what is right,  adding and creating #value for other people. This is what comes natural for a giver. But what is the price he has to pay in the long-run?

Do you know what are their biggest frustrations ? Or what happens when the giver stops giving?

In this episode we are offering 5 useful tips to achieve #balance : become an effective giver while keeping your energy resources and attention on yourself also.

As #entrepreneurs or in our personal lives, we all need to understand that giving to ourselves makes us even better givers for others.  

A #challenge or a setback are the perfect opportunities when we want to change something about ourselves or about our #business. As an #entrepreneur, you can achieve any #goal, anything you set your mind to... as long as it is relative and important to your existence. 

In this session of your #coaching journey, find out the practical ways to start embracing challenges and set your limits on fire. 

Behind every business, there is an #entrepreneur, a human being with feelings, fears and internal blocks. Choosing to deal with your emotions, rather than pretending they doesn't exist , is a much more liberating and uplifting process. It may be difficult on your own, but as a part of this #coaching journey, in this episode we take an honest look at how to better understand the message our feelings are conveying. 

Your level of comfort dictates the state of your #emotions and since there is no such thing as a "bad" emotion, feeling are here to guide you, on your way to a richer life experience. 

Raluca spoke on stage at the Mega Success Event 2017, in California. Here she has shared with over 2500 #entrepreneurs, her secrets of #networking and how to build a global network of quality, powerful people, 

This is what this first season was also about. In #Connect&MakeaDifference we have detailed the ingredients of a successful  network:

N - net value

E - Energy

T - Transformation

W - World

O - Outcome free 

R - Recognition

K - Knowledge 

Each of these concepts are described one by one in the episodes of the podcast