My friend and sister entrepreneur wrote a great article about her experience  hiring and working with a professional coach. If you have ever considered working with a transition coach this post will help you make an informed decision.

• I’m stuck. My business has been moving along for the past few years, but I feel like I’m in a rut, doing the same old things the same old way. Or, I’m new at this business, and can’t figure out my next step, but don’t want to (or can’t) take too much time and energy away from my work.’

Why reinvent the wheel? Whether you’re a new business owner or a seasoned entrepreneur who just needs a new perspective, you can benefit from a coach who has direct experience in building a business. A good coach can help you choose your direction and give you action steps to reach your goal.

• I want more; Clients, income, time. These are three things I never seem to have enough of. It’s time to move to the next level!

Who better to help see you toward your goals than someone who has been successful him/herself? Growing your business involves calculated risks and a leap of faith. A good coach can help you assess your readiness for growth allowing you to carefully look before you leap!

• I’m out of ideas. I want to create a new product or program, but I’m not sure where to begin. What are my options?

Not knowing what’s out there, what the market trends are, and what works / doesn’t work is often a hurdle to starting a new product or offering a new service. Why not brainstorm with someone who has their ear to the ground in the online market? A seasoned coach can help you develop your ideas, become more market-savvy and avoid pitfalls.

• I know what to do, but I need a push. I have all the tools and knowledge I need to reach my goal/create and roll out my new product or service. The only obstacle in my way is ME.

You need somebody to answer to besides yourself. A reliable coach can help you set goals and will hold you accountable, so you’ll stop procrastinating and start succeeding.

• I’m burned out! Truthfully, I’m not enjoying myself, and I’m not sure I want to be in this business anymore.

Before you give up all you have worked for, consult someone who has been there. A coach can help you identify what aspects of your business are causing you distress, and do something about it. Whether you need to let go of a few things, or make a radical shift in your business model, it helps to have someone at your side who can help you sort things out,be your biggest cheerleader, and offer workable solutions so you can do what you love, and love what you do.

Hiring a coach was one of the best things I have done to help me navigate my business through growth, change, and some tough economic times.  If you are at a crossroads in your business, it may be time to consider working with a coach. It is an investment that can save you time, money, and sanity as you build your business!

Want to know about Life Coaching and Business Coaching ?  You are welcome to visit the True Balance Website for access to an interesting global study, 101 Things to Work on With A Professional Coach, and a complimentary life on your terms coaching session.

Donna Toothaker is CEO and founder of 1st VA the highly sought-after online marketing and consulting company. 1st VA specializes in providing online marketing support and services to entrepreneurs and solopreneurs who wish to effectively build or improve their online presence. To discover how 1st VA can help your business – visit http://www.1stva.com.

Book Review – Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office by Lois P Frankel, PhD

By: Amy Franko

As women entrepreneurs, mompreneurs, business owners, and professionals, there are certain behaviors we have been socialized to engage in that can sabotage our success.

Women have typically been socialized to:

• Avoid conflict
• Be polite and soft-spoken
• Be relationship oriented
• Avoid assertive behavior
• Put the needs of others before our own
• Behave like girls!

Lois Frankel, author of Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office, outlines 101 of the biggest mistakes women unconsciously make that hurt their credibility, career advancement, and businesses. I’m a huge fan of this book, and wish I had it when I started my first job! Today, as an entrepreneur, these concepts are still valuable in my relationships with clients, colleagues, and business partners.

To make the most of the book’s format and tips, the opening self-assessment pinpoints your top areas to address. From there, the book is organized into eight chapters that serve as a coaching guide. It’s easy to move around within the book, work on those mistakes that are affecting you most, and refer back to it later.

Three of my favorite areas that Dr. Frankel addresses:

How you sound. How you sound accounts for almost 40% of your credibility. People quickly make decisions about you and whether or not they want to continue listening to your message. The word choices you make, how you organize and express our thoughts, and the tone of voice you use all contribute to that decision-making process. The book points out key mistakes and their fixes, such as apologizing unnecessarily, over-explaining, using fillers and non-words, and not using the language of business.

How you brand and market yourself. Regardless of whether you are a business owner or corporate professional, you are your brand. It’s your responsibility to distinguish yourself from the field, promoting who you are in a way that’s positive and reflects your integrity. Dr. Frankel points out the mistakes that put your success in jeopardy, such as failing to define your unique value, passing up high-profile assignments, or waiting to be noticed.

How you respond. This section refers to negative messages and behaviors women have been socialized to accept. Often we internalize messages from childhood that later impact our self-esteem and how we see the world. We sometimes believe we aren’t good enough or that others know more than we do. The book offers specific ways to identify and overcome these sabotaging behaviors.

I encourage you to add this book to your library – it’s a practical, well-organized, and relevant resource you’ll use often on your journey to success! For additional information and tips from the author, visit Dr. Frankel’s website.

About the Author:

Amy Franko is the owner and principal learning designer of Amy Franko Consulting. Amy is a certified Book Yourself Solid ™ business coach. The group she’s most passionate about serving is women who are solo service professionals. She uses a simple system of protocols specifically designed to help them get out into the world and bring more ideal clients into their business, even if marketing and selling isn’t something they like to do!

You can learn more about her by visiting her LinkedIn profile or following her on Twitter.

As “The Career Makeover Coach”, Tai Goodwin is on a mission to help ambitious individuals reinvent their professional lives by centering on their passion and purpose. Holding as a core belief that we are all called to divine purpose and gifted with a unique passion, Tai uses a results driven, spiritually grounded approach to help clients create career paths to support the lifestyle they desire. Whether it’s helping people go from embittered to empowered professionals or making the transition from employee to entrepreneur, Tai is committed to helping clients tap into their own potential for brilliance. Tai has been empowering others through teaching and coaching for over 14 years. A gifted and insightful communicator, Tai holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Drexel University and a Master of Science in Education from Capella University. She has completed ASTD’s (American Society for Training and Development) Coaching Certificate program and is pursuing professional coaching certification through the International Coach Academy. Originally from Philadelphia, Tai currently lives in Delaware with her daughter. She is currently working on her first book: Reclaiming Your Brilliance: Seven Ways to Take Your Life from Bright to Brilliant.

Web site: http://www.careermakeovercoach.com

This week’s browseworthy links…

1. While browsing through posts from my Linked In groups I came across DivaToolbox.com. In addition to career related information the toolbox hosts articles on family, money, and business. Great find: Be Fierce at Work and Five Things Every Newly Self-Employed Woman Should Know.

2. Who’s To Blame for the Digital Ceiling, posted on Fast Company’s blog,makes a great point about the lack of women highlighted as or sought out as experts in technology. The article offers five tips for how women can better promote themselves. My favorite tip:

Be optimistic and toughen up. While it’s easy to get depressed if you feel overlooked, channel that anger to stand up for yourself and your fellow techie women, speak out, and take action.

3. Looking for answers from the perspective of a manager. Check out Ask a Manager. Blog categories to drill down into: salary, good management, and work habits. Recommended read: Helping a boss manage his  time better…my time management rant. My favorite steal from her blog roll: Evil HR Lady.

4. You’ve have heard of guerilla strategies for marketing – how about guerilla strategies for landing a job HR. This post from Success in HR shares 4 quick and targeted interviews. Best bet: Strategy #2 Getr brutally clear on the job you are going after.

5. Are you planning your entrance into the entrepreneurial world? Or maybe you are halfway there – with one foot firmly in yoru full-time gig and another impatiently tapping in your part-time passion pursuit. Browse Entrepreneur.com’s Summer Reading List for books and podcasts. Ready and waiting on my Kindle: Reality Check by Guy Kawasaki. Looking forward to downloading: podcasts from the SBA.

As “The Career Makeover Coach”, Tai Goodwin is on a mission to help ambitious individuals reinvent their professional lives by centering on their passion and purpose. Holding as a core belief that we are all called to divine purpose and gifted with a unique passion, Tai uses a results driven, spiritually grounded approach to help clients create career paths to support the lifestyle they desire. Whether it’s helping people go from embittered to empowered professionals or making the transition from employee to entrepreneur, Tai is committed to helping clients tap into their own potential for brilliance. Tai has been empowering others through teaching and coaching for over 14 years. A gifted and insightful communicator, Tai holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Drexel University and a Master of Science in Education from Capella University. She has completed ASTD’s (American Society for Training and Development) Coaching Certificate program and is pursuing professional coaching certification through the International Coach Academy. Originally from Philadelphia, Tai currently lives in Delaware with her daughter. She is currently working on her first book: Reclaiming Your Brilliance: Seven Ways to Take Your Life from Bright to Brilliant.

Web site: http://www.careermakeovercoach.com

Here are the three most commonly asked questions about Twitter:

1. What the heck is Twitter?
Twitter is a free social-messaging tool for staying connected in real-time. It is sometimes called a “micro-blogging service” that enables its users to send and read other users’ short (140-character) updates, known as tweets.

2. Why should I use it?
The jury is out on this, but proponents say it’s a great way to begin and maintain a direct dialogue with your customers. This value really depends on your customer base, though and whether they are on Twitter and following you. At the very least, when done correctly, Twitter can increase your search engine visibility, but again, this only matters if your customers are the type of people who are searching for you online.

3. How can I get started?
The best thing to do is to sign up for a Twitter account (it’s free) and start following some other people on Twitter. Start with any friends or colleagues you know who are already on Twitter (I’m @virginiagins), then check out Twellow - the Twitter directory for people in your field or industry to follow. Once you have a feel for how/what people tweet, dive in and give it a try!

Virginia Ginsburg is an entrepreneur and business & marketing consultant who delivers strategic, affordable marketing services through her company accordionmarketing. She also writes a blog called Body > Mind > Business, which discuses the connection between business health and personal health, and the struggles she faces in pursuit of work-life balance. Virginia has an MBA from the University of Southern California and is currently (slowly) pursuing a Ph.D. in Psychology at UCLA. She has more than 12 years of experience as a senior marketing consultant, and has served as a trusted partner, coach and consultant to more than 100 sole proprietors, partnerships and corporations. 
Virginia lives in Santa Monica, CA with her husband and daughter. As part of her passion for working with entrepreneurs, Virginia is actively involved in small business development projects in the U.S. and in developing countries.

by Tai Goodwin on July 7, 2009

I have a feeling this is going to be a long day…

First, I overslept by 45 minutes. I couldn’t sleep during the night because my mind was racing with a new business concept. I was up at 2:00am answering emails and creating an outline of ideas for the new business. Finally after two hours of clearing my head, I was able to go back to sleep.

Because I overslept, the kids overslept – since I did not wake them up on time. So you can see the domino effect that is occurring.

While running around the house trying to get the kids ready for school, I did not notice my puppy whining to go outside. So she decides to leave me a surprise on the dining room floor…a very large pile of poop. How can something that small produce something so big?

I clean up the poop, finish feeding the kids (no time for me to eat), get kids to brush their teeth and rush out the door.

Cat runs out the door, puppy runs after the cat, oldest son runs after the puppy who is chasing the cat around the yard. As son runs out, he locks the door behind him. I find emergency key, get the puppy in the house/crate, get the kids in the car and head off to school.

Run a bunch of errands. Good thing I had a yellow sticky note to remind me of what errands I had to do. Errands go smoothly.

Arrive back home, let puppy out to run…she finds a dead mouse that cat she chased left for her. She starts eating it, I extract dead mouse from mouth and throw in woods……

And this all took place by 9:30am. Calgon take me away!

Traci Bisson has been a mom since February 2000 and an entrepreneur since August 2000. Eight weeks after she returned from maternity leave, the company where she had been employed for five years went out of business. She decided to try doing her own thing and failed miserably. After another year of working for two different companies (the first laid off the department she worked in and the other was showing signs of going under), she decided to try entrepreneurship again. Raising her two children and growing her company, Bisson Barcelona, has been both challenging and rewarding. Her story has been told in dozens of publications, including the Associated Press, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB.com), Plan Ahead Get Ahead (cover story), Union Leader, The Portsmouth Herald, Our Times and Seacoast Ventures.

I am not an economist, but I have noted that there is a cautious buzz suggesting that we might be at the bottom of this economic slowdown.

As a business owner and a consumer, I’m thrilled! Of course, there are many long, tough months ahead as we hopefully dig ourselves back out of this hole, but at least there is some hope.

Now is the time to focus on how you can take advantage of the slow economy for both yourself and your business. Even if you only have a tiny financial cushion left after the last 12 tight months, now is the time to use it! Here are some options to consider:

1. Services are cheaper – although it’s not universal, most service providers are more flexible with their rates – and may have even dropped their rates. Just like all businesses, service providers are anxious to do some great work for you to help boost their bottom line, and you can probably get lower rates and shorter terms

2. Labor is available and cheaper – the labor market is hungry for work, and many stellar employees have been laid off. Now is a great time to fill critical positions in your own company in preparation for increased business.

3. Rents are totally negotiable – if you have ever thought about expanding your physical space, now is a great time to do it. Many retail, office and warehouse locations have been vacant for 10+ months. Assume that the rate and terms offered are much higher than you should actually pay, and bring in a seasoned negotiator to help you if necessary.

4. Your competitors are still scared – the single greatest opportunity for you right now is to take advantage of your competitors’ lowered spending. They have likely pulled back on everything from advertising to customer service, and their customers know it! Now is the time to swoop in and impress everyone with your strength and moxie: show them that your business is still around and doing great!

If you are an entrepreneur or small business owner, you are the one who’s in control regarding your financial future.  There is no one else to rely on when it comes to saving and planning for the future, so you must take on this matter yourself.  The thing is many traditional savings and retirement plans are unavailable to you due to income limitations.  Here are a few savings options for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Solo 401(k)

A solo 401(k) plan is a great alternative to the traditional 401(k), and was created for self-employed individuals, entrepreneurs, and small business owners with no full time employees.  The only exception to this is if the small business owner’s spouse is an employee.  Solo 401(k) plans have simplified administrative rules, unlike their traditional counterparts.

The advantage of a solo 401(k) is that it is simple to use and maintain.  You may contribute up to $13,000 of tax-deferred income, in addition to up to 25% of profit from your business.  As long as you contribute no more than $41,000 annually, you fall within the limits of the solo 401(k).  The amount you contribute to a solo 401(k) is completely discretionary and can be decreased or suspended at any time.  Additionally, loans against your plan, as well as hardship withdrawals may be allowed.  Rollovers from previous 401(k) plans are allowed as well.  

There are a couple of drawbacks to the solo 401(k).  Naturally, there is a cost to establish and administer a solo 401(k), which may or may not be desirable for the individual investor.  Solo 401(k) plans may not ultimately end up meeting your needs for you and your business.  If your business grows, you may end up needing to hire on additional full-time employees.  When this happens, you are no longer eligible for a solo 401(k), and must revert to a traditional 401(k), which is far less simple to administer.

SEP IRA

An SEP IRA, or Simplified Employee Pension Individual Retirement Account, is a savings and retirement tool that can be used by both small business owners and self-employed people as well.  SEPs are considered part of a profit sharing program, and the employer may contribute up to 25% of a qualifying employee’s income to the fund.

SEPs are affordable and simple to administer, and is an excellent benefit to provide to employees.  If an individual is self employed, they are still able to put aside a little over 18% of their net profit, which is a powerful savings tool indeed.  Contributions to the plan are tax deductible, and standard income tax applies to the money once it is withdrawn for retirement use after the investor reaches age 59½.  Additionally, its high contribution limits make it very attractive ($46,000 in 2008).

One of the drawbacks of this type of retirement plan is that it is seen strictly as a profit-sharing plan, so employees must have another savings vehicle if they wish to put more money away on their own.  There is no catch-up payment clause for those who started saving later in life, as there is with the solo 401(k).

SIMPLE IRA

Savings Incentive Match Plans for Employees (SIMPLE) IRAs are fairly simple to administer, no-hassle IRA plans that offer a great benefit for employees in your small business.  Recommended for businesses with 10 or fewer employees, it s a great savings tool to offer for employees, and benefits both parties in the process.

SIMPLE IRAs allow employees to contribute up to $10,500 of their annual income to the plan.  Employers match this amount as part of the process.  Employees are then vested and are eligible to receive this money upon reaching retirement age.  Contributions are tax deductible.

For business owners, the drawback of this type of account is that the employees doesn’t have to earn his or her vesting, but is vested once the account is opened.  That means matching someone dollar for dollar who may not be around to help you grow your company may not be a sound investment.  SIMPLE IRAs are also very strictly administered and cannot be rolled over, nor can a traditional IRA or 401(k) be rolled into a SIMPLE IRA.

SOLO DB Plan

This plan is a slimmed-down version of a standard defined benefit plan.  If you are looking to save a whole lot of money over a short period of time and have the resources to do so, this is the plan for you.

Like other retirement plans, contributions are tax-deferred and the money is available to you once you reach retirement age.  These plans are very popular with people in business for themselves who are over 50 years of age, due to the ability to save vast amounts of money in a short period of time in order to meet future income requirements for retirement.

The drawback for this type of retirement account is that investors must be willing and able to contribute ongoing mandatory contributions of at least $45,000 for five consecutive years to keep this plan going.  For many, this amount of money is simply not possible.  For the well-compensated small business owner or entrepreneur, however, this account could be just perfect.

One of the definitions of overwhelm is to feel overpowered by your thoughts, emotions, or senses.

Feel familiar?

My particular brand of overwhelm is more like … suffocating skin crawling madness. I once was the mistress of overwhelm. The discomfort was intense and yet there was a rush involved with pulling off what felt impossible. It took years to get acquainted with the damage ripple caused by all of the needless stress.

The good news is you can learn to minimize this paralyzing feeling by facing what’s going on and taking action; like a gymnast on a balance beam, taking one step sure step after the other.

Sure steps with a Go … Be … Flow … attitude.

Most of the creative women and entrepreneurs I play with are passionate, talented and risk averse people who are really good at what I like to call, connecting the dots. Their ability to coordinate ideas, people, places, projects and synergistic energy is astounding. Their keen sense of knowing combined with pure unbridled feeling manifests great opportunities.

These fine characteristics and what seem like unlimited opportunities can be distracting.

Why?

Because people of this caliber can do ANYTHING.

Connecting the dots is a blessing if the entrepreneur is conscious enough to apply her connectivity talent to her own “in the weeds” life situation.

A HA!

Learning to go with the flow is a tremendous kick in the pants.

Practice moving through life with grace and clobber overwhelm by incorporating some these ideas:

Take deliberate action a by choosing and revisiting your priorities every week. A list of targeted activities will help you remain on your quest.

• Carry out extreme self-care. This may mean taking time out to get a haircut, massage or a soak in the bath tub. Take some alone time to read a good book, take a walk and get out of your head.

• Visualize your ideal accomplishment, and then make a list of tasks that can be addressed to bridge and traverse where you want to be in the natural flow of things.

• Determine what projects you can delegate. Asking for help is freeing.

• Eliminate any unnecessary tasks and activities. Do what you absolutely must, and junk what isn’t an absolute necessity.

• Allow yourself to say NO.

• Give yourself credit for all the things you DO complete.

• Talk to a trusted friend, life coach or mentor. Get clarity by being with people who you admire, who are good at managing stress.

The next time you are feeling overcome with a sense of impending doom,
take a deep breath, gather your thoughts and let the clobbering begin.

Like this post?  Sign up for the True Balance Monthly newsletter and claim a copy of Clobbering Overwhelm – A special report.

Shann Vander Leek is the Founder of True Balance Life Coaching and Co-founder of Seize True Success. She is a Coach Training Alliance certified professional coach, and certified yoga instructor. Shann is a prolific blogger, published writer and co-author of the Best Selling Book – Wake Up Women BE Happy Healthy & Wealthy. Shann’s personal style and direct approach have guided and inspired many in overcoming personal and professional challenges. Her background in sales, marketing and client development, along with leading a talented sales force for many years prepared her for the business of professional coaching. Shann inspires women in transition to create balance in their lives through personal coaching, yoga and creative expression. Telephone and email consultations make her accessible to clients all over the world. To find out about her Coaching Programs for Women, call Shann at 231.668.111 or visit www.truebalancelifecoaching.com