• Product Creation

    Discover the hidden secret(s) in your business…

    I know, I know, you might be thinking, “Geez Shannon, what’s with this gimmicky email header about hidden secrets that sounds more like clickbait?” Yeah, I get it and to be totally honest, I did want you to open my email :-). Yet, it was more about me thinking…. That in my 17 years of running my business with hundreds of clients, almost all of them always had some fascinating piece of content that they had forgotten about, or worse, didn’t think it had any value. Heavy sigh. So I thought it was high time that I addressed this big elephant that’s hidden away in either a drawer, file cabinet (yes, I still…

  • Clients & Customers,  Marketing

    How picking the best strawberries could boost your business :-)

    Have you ever been shopping for fresh berries at the grocery store? The other day, while picking out some strawberries in the huge fruit section at Costco, I noticed the fascinating decision-making process of fellow berry enthusiasts. As I stood there, engrossed in the fruity frenzy, I couldn’t help but notice the thoughtful deliberation each person displayed. No one simply grabbed the first container they saw. It was like witnessing a secret ritual of strawberry selection. My Curiosity was piqued, and I began to think, “What criteria do these people use to determine which container is the perfect one that will go home with them?” After all, there’s more to it than just…

  • what-kind-of-soulful-entrepreneur-are-you
    Entrepreneurs,  Marketing

    What type of entrepreneur are you?

    Just got off a call with a person I met online at a Trends Newsletter networking event. (If you don’t know what Trends is – I’d highly recommend you check them out. Especially if you want to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs.) The funny thing is I’m not usually on these networking calls. And the only reason why I was on it was because I didn’t read the whole email. I thought it was their newsletter expert speaking – my total bad for quickly skimming that email. Please tell me I’m not the only person who’s jumped on a Zoom call thinking there was a speaker and I could be invisible — turned out…

  • Balance,  Blogging,  Clients & Customers,  Coaching,  Communication,  Entrepreneurs,  Goals,  Implementation,  Motivation,  New Year,  Procrastination,  Productivity,  Risk,  Taking risks,  To Do List,  Website

    5 Goals to Achieve This Year

    If you’re up for it — I am going to push the envelope a little today and actually give you five goals to try to achieve by the end of the year. Remember you are never going to know if you are capable of something if you don’t take that first step. 1. Go small This may be a big one to start with but here goes-Downsize.  Look at all aspects of your business whether that includes employees, vendors or service providers.  If you find that there is a way for ONE provider to handle multiple jobs than cut back.  This may sound strange but sometimes less is more when…

  • Attitude,  Balance,  Blogging,  Clients & Customers,  Communication,  Entrepreneurs,  Implementation,  Motivation,  New Year,  Procrastination,  Productivity,  To Do List

    The Right Attitude & Mindset is a Must ~Be like the Bee~

                           Aerodynamically, the bumblebee should not be able to fly, but the bumblebee does not know it so it goes on flying anyway. ~ Mary Kay Ash There is a saying that goes, “You are your own worst critic.”  This simple six-word sentence is especially true when it comes to negative thoughts.  In the last two weeks, I have encouraged you to take big risks about your life, business, and even your actions.  I can challenge you and motivate you to reach these amazing goals, but there is one thing I cannot do.  I cannot take away your own negative thoughts that probably consume you when something really positive is…

  • Balance,  Blogging,  Clients & Customers,  Communication,  Entrepreneurs,  Implementation,  Motivation,  Procrastination,  Productivity,  To Do List

    It’s a Balancing Act

    Continuing with the balance theme… there are so many areas of our lives these days requiring our attention and not just when we get to it but sometimes like it needed to be done yesterday. Work, relationships, personal time, school, emotional, physical, mental, etc are all aspects of life that require balance.  If balance is not established, you may find yourself feeling or saying something like this; “I am drained, exhausted and overwhelmed.” “I wake up in the morning and automatically feel tensed and stressed.” “My life is chaotic and out of control.” “I need to change my life but have no clue where to start.”                                                                                                             “I cannot focus…

  • Blogging,  Clients & Customers,  Coaching,  Communication,  Entrepreneurs,  Implementation,  Procrastination,  Productivity,  To Do List

    How to Really Get Things Done, Check Things Off Your List part 1

    Stress, Guilt, Anxiety…three things that occur when you look at your to-do list at the end of day and hardly anything is checked off.  Immediately you think “What happened?!” In the back of your mind though, the answer lies in a 15 letter word: PROCRASTINATION Just saying that 15 letter word, makes me cringe because we all experience a time where PROCRASTINATION slips into your life.  Are you at that point in your life?  Have you been stuck in a rut of procrastinating?  If so, continue reading because I have the solution to get you unstuck.  And, if by chance you are one of those super-human people who never procrastinate,…

  • Blogging,  Clients & Customers,  Coaching,  Communication,  Entrepreneurs,  Implementation,  Marketing

    Part 2 of : Am I the Type of Person People Want to be Around?

    Last week, I shared with you my thought process of examining myself with the question “Am I the type of person people want to be around?”  This week, I am going to finish with the last two parts.  As I explored these two subjects, I made a promise to be completely honest with myself.  So, I encourage you to do the same.  In order for you to truly evaluate yourself, remember complete honesty is key. 1. What kind of presence do I leave with people? Defining someone’s presence is a hard quality to explain.  Basically, it involves how you are in regards to socially, self-confidence, and body language.  Believe it…

  • Blogging,  Clients & Customers,  Coaching,  Communication,  Entrepreneurs,  Implementation,  Marketing

    Am I the Type of Person People Want to be Around?

    In my last blog, I encouraged you to pay attention and be aware of whom you’re hanging out with. As I wrote and posted that blog last week, the thought came to mind “Am I the type of person people want to be around?”  I am going to share my thought process as I evaluate if I truly am the type of person someone wants to be around. 1.      Do I personally encourage others?  Believe it or not, there is a real and fake way to encourage others.  Can you identify a real encouragement versus a fake encouragement? Encouragement One: (You and someone that works for you – you tell this…

  • Blogging,  Clients & Customers,  Coaching,  Communication,  Entrepreneurs,  Marketing

    You are Who You Hang Out With…

    Have you ever heard this before?  I didn’t start hearing this until after I hired my Executive Coach, 12 years ago. The concept of hanging out with people and becoming more like them was a total foreign idea to me. I had really paid no attention until my coach and I started talking about it.  And it’s funny, once I started paying attention to it I got it and knew I had to make some changes in my life… There were some very negative people in my life who were totally zapping my energy, (My coach called them “Negative Norberts.”) not too mention the ones who were more like time sucking…

  • Coaching,  Communication,  Entrepreneurs,  Implementation,  Marketing,  Survey Tips & Techniques

    The “Oprah Factor” and how you can create your own “ X Factor”

    In last week’s blog post I shared with you how Meredith and I were so very fortunate enough to attend a taping of one of Oprah Winfrey’s last shows. (Here’s the link: Are you giving your customers/clients and Oprah experience?) It was so exciting to be a part of that experience. I also talked last week about why Oprah is so phenomenally successful and popular.  It is because she focuses on giving her audience what they want.  She goes out of her way to create an experience that will get her audience excited and make them feel good. Oprah as an entrepreneur is worth billions and she continues to operate…

  • Coaching,  Communication,  Entrepreneurs,  Implementation

    Oprah’s Not the Only One Who Can Have Fun While Working…

    It’s true you know, Oprah’s not the only one who can have fun while working.  You can too!  Yes, I know, I know, it wouldn’t be called work if it was fun and all the other dreary sayings.  Listen, you have a choice when it comes to work.  The choice is in your attitude and how you view it.  Yes, for some work is simply the thing we dread that we must do in order to make money, pay the bills and live. Sounds dreary and boring yet as I said earlier, it can be fun, it’s your choice.  In my last blog, which I got a ton of great…

  • Coaching,  Communication,  Entrepreneurs,  Implementation,  Marketing

    How Firing a Client Will Set You Free…

    This blog may be a bit unorthodox and I might even get some negative comments about my headline… However this subject has come up in conversations, no lie, with at least 5 people in just the past 3 days!  What’s going on here?  I think what’s happening in this “new economy” business owners, coaches and consultants alike are just incredibly thankful to have work and have clients that they are just taking anyone who shows up.  Now I’m not saying this is a bad strategy, in fact I did this when I first started out. It actually helped me develop and shape my business into what it is today.  By just saying…

  • Coaching,  Entrepreneurs,  Marketing

    3 Proven Strategies to Implement and Get More Done Each Day

    My rear end was glued to the TV screen last night watching one by one as those miners in Chile were being pulled out from under all that rock and rubble… It was such an amazing feat of team work, brains, ingenuity and global communication. So I got to thinking: Well, if they can do this, what’s stopping me from accomplishing all I want to do? And I’m not even trapped in a mine. I looked back at my long “to do” list of a few things I had planned to do in March and that were supposed to be completed by now and aren’t… All I can say is…

  • Coaching,  Entrepreneurs,  Marketing

    How 2 Days of personal strategic planning will set the stage for 2009

    When was the last time you spent two whole days on your personal strategic plan for your life and your business?  Well I can tell you, I just came from doing that, in none other than Martha’s Vineyard.  Wow, what a workshop- I attended a Group Vision Day on MV and it was truly amazing. This time the drive going to Martha’s Vineyard, seemed to go quicker than the last.  I made it to Wood’s Hole in 4 hours, so early, I had 2 hours to kill before the ferry.  So I waited in the stand by line and got on the earlier ferry- the freighter ferry- now that was…