Inspirational Business with Jaya Schillinger

They Have All the Power (or Do They?)

I was talking to someone today about a new group program I've been wanting to launch for a few months, but have been hesitating. "What is it?" she asked. "It's called 'Healing the Healers," I replied. "I've been feeling called for some time now to do some spiritual healing work for other healers. We all tend to get stuck in similar patterns of codependency, underearning, and so forth. For the last few years, I've been addressing those things through teaching and consulting. Now I'd like to reintroduce more energy work and guided visualization. I love doing it and I think it would be especially powerful at a group level."

She asked me, "That sounds like it could really help people. Why haven't you launched it yet?" I paused and explained, "I'm afraid people will think it's too new agey." Delving deeper, she asked, "Who will think it's too new agey?" Feeling a little exasperated, I blurted out, "THEM. THEY. I don't know!" We both burst out laughing at the mutual recognition of the imaginary "they" I was so worried about.

"Oh," she said wryly, "THEY are horrible, aren't they?! Just awful! They never like anything." "Yeah," I said emphatically, "They're SO judgmental!" "Terrible!" she cried out, "I hate them! All they do is try to make you feel bad." "I know," I lamented, "boy, do I know!"

The absurdity of us mocking the fictional "they" that we imagine mocks and judges us has been greatly amusing to me today. It's been making me think about how much power we give away to "them." How about you?

• Which of your good ideas have been vetoed by "them"?

• How much emotional joy have "they" censored from your life?

• What do "they" say to you that makes you want to quit trying?

• If  you were to give "them" a piece of your mind, what would you say?

I'd love to hear your answers to those questions, especially that last one! Let's make it US against THEM. I think we've got them outnumbered and can beat them if we try.

June 13: Join Us for an IECSC After-party in Vegas (IECSC 2009)

Please join us for an IECSC After-Party! Meet and greet other spa professionals on Saturday, June 13th from 7:30 to 9:30pm for a casual, drop-by evening of fun and relaxation after the show. 

 

We have reserved space at Isla Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar in the Treasure Island Hotel. There will be a cash bar and appetizers.

 

Look for your friends:

• Monte Zwang of Wellness Capital Management
• Felicia Brown of Spalutions!
• Jaya Schillinger of Inspiration, Inc.
• Douglas Preston of Preston, Inc.

The reservation is under Wellness Capital Management. Hope to see you there!

What Not to Do: I Accidently Put Sexy Pictures on Facebook

The other morning, I logged into Facebook to see what my friends were up to. I nearly spilled my coffee when I read enthusiastic comments from my guy friends on my wall:

"Nice choice!"

"I almost got down on one knee after seeing that first one."

"There's got to be an easier way to remove your thong than that!"

In disbelief, I looked closer and saw that they were commenting on 4 photos it looked like I uploaded to Flickr. The closely cropped photos were of a woman doing some contortionist tricks with her high heels and a skimpy thong. What?! I quickly clicked through and landed on the Flickr page for an exhibitionist female in Italy who has the same Flickr user name as me. The mistake was mine, as I'd tried linking up my Flickr photos to my Facebook page. The instructions weren't precise. I entered my account's "user name," like it said to, but it pulled photos from her "screen name." It's a loop hole the size of the grand canyon that two people can end up with the same names that way, but I'm chalking this one up to Mercury being retrograde. My computer has been playing tricks on me all week.

I cannot tell you how relieved I was that I'd previously made the decision to keep my business and personal friends separate on Facebook! It was embarrassing enough that my friends saw it. After the initial shock, I roared with laughter at the realization that the guys actually thought I posted those pictures. It was a close call. I would have been mortified if that had happened on a professional networking site.

So while that humiliation was self-inflicted, another big reason you should keep your Facebook page separate from business is that you can't control what your friends write on your pages. It's fun as a virtual cocktail party, where you can exchange jokes, rants, and those silly quiz results. But you just don't have the same level of privacy control as on other social networking sites. An inside-joke your best friend from high school makes on your wall might be misconstrued by someone who just met you. And do you really want to feel like you have to moderate comments on your own page? Too much work. Facebook is meant to be casual, not corporate.

The whole phenomena of social networking is built around the idea of living and working more transparently. People like to know who they're interacting with. I think it's a compensation for the fact that we spend less time in person now and more of our communications take place on the internet. I like that whole concept and lead a pretty transparent life. I'm comfortable sharing my personal blog and some of my Flickr photos with anyone who wants to get to know me better. Yet I think it's better to not mix all of one's social groups. LinkedIn and Naymz are much better designed for business use anyway.

Here is a must-read article on how to set your Facebook privacy controls: 10 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know

So how do you keep your Facebook personal friends separate from business without hurting anyone's feelings? It can feel a little awkward to tell someone you don't want to be their "friend." In real life, you probably are friends with your customers. I am. Yet you've got to put in a boundary somewhere and it actually feels easier if you have a standard policy, rather than pick and choose. That's especially true as your personal friends might also be friends with your work-related friends. Even if your other friends are mixing business and personal on Facebook, I suggest you make a decision about the true context of how you know someone. It's better to error on the side of more privacy than less.

Here is what I suggest to set a better personal vs. work boundary:

1. If you've already mixed up business and personal on Facebook, don't be shy about undoing it. If you "un-friend" someone in Facebook, they won't receive a notification. So if it's just a couple people that you don't interact with anyways, they won't even notice you're gone. If you're still worried about their feelings, then just send them a note explaining that you've made the decision to separate business and personal. Trust me, they'll understand.

2. Create a professional networking page instead. Then you can explain that you still want to link with them without dropping the connection altogether. I like LinkedIn best, but Naymz is is good, too.

3. When business friends ask to add you on Facebook, politely decline. Be bold. Don't just ignore their request, because people will notice your lack of response. Instead have a friendly reply at the ready, explaining your decision and suggest you connect on your professional networking site.

4. If you haven't already, set all your Facebook settings to "friends only." Follow along with this article that will walk you through it step by step. 

Have you had an embarassing Facebook or other social networking moment? Post your story in the comments box below. We could all use a good laugh and learn from your mistakes. I know what I learned: showing your thong is embarassingly wrong, whether it's your thong or someone else's!

Meditation: Microcosm

The world around me is vast. I am so very small. Where is my place amongst these towering trees? I instinctively search for shelter from mighty winds and scorching droughts. My search leads me inward to the expansive universe of my heart.

 

My size isn’t relative to my greatness. Bigger is not always better. When I open my heart fully, I become just the right size. My love is beyond measure.

[Meditations by Jaya Schillinger. Click here to see more.]

June 13-15: Meet Jaya at the International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conference in Las Vegas (IECSC 2009)

 

June 13-15, 2009.

 

Meet Jaya in Las Vegas! She’ll be presenting two classes at the International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conference (IECSC) at the Las Vegas Convention Center this June.

 

Get the most bang for your tradeshow buck

To survive and thrive in a challenging economy, you’ve got to bump up your motivation and knowledge. There is no better (or bigger) tradeshow than the IECSC show in Las Vegas. Celebrating their 18^th year, the IECSC show is gearing up to give you the most value back for your educational investment:

• 3 days of business education classes by world class spa industry experts.
• More than 650 skincare, wellness, & equipment vendors all at one show.
• Over 200 manufacturers classes on the latest products & techniques.
• CIDESCO, ASTECC, Medical Aesthetics, and special Advanced Workshops available to get the most out of your travel time (additional fees apply.)
• Discounts on hotel rooms & Cirque du Soleil tickets.

At the IECSC show, what happens in Vegas won’t stay in Vegas, because you’re going to hit the inspirational jackpot and take home all the tools you need to win big in business after you’re home. Please join us!

 

Click Here for More Information & Registration

 

 

Jaya Schillinger will be presenting the following two classes:

 

Saturday June 13^th (11:30am – 12:30pm)

Sole Practitioner/Small Business Track

Really Simple Rebooking Strategies
with Jaya Schillinger

One of the keys to building a smooth-running business is to fill your appointment book up in advance. So why is it that practitioners and front desk staff routinely avoid asking customers to rebook? The problem is usually a lurking shyness and lack of focus in customer service procedures. Left unaddressed, it can easily cost you 25-50% of your income. In a down economy, you especially can’t afford to let money walk out the door.

 

In Really Simple Rebooking Strategies, coach Jaya Schillinger will give you the teaching tools needed to help you and your staff see quick improvements:

·         Rebooking for better customer service

·         How to double your income

·         The essential steps for rebooking

·         Alternate procedures for when the client says no

 

Now is the time to shore up all the financial leaks in your business. Come get the tools you need to make fast and easy repairs in your rebooking system!

 

Sunday June 14^th (3:30pm – 4:30pm)

Wellness Track

Becoming a Holistic Coach
with Jaya Schillinger

Do people always tell you that you give great advice? Are you looking for a way to begin teaching and motivating your clients, more than just being a hands-on practitioner? Would you like to get out of the treatment room and travel the world? Developing a holistic coaching practice might be the perfect next step for you!

 

In Becoming a Holistic Coach, Jaya Schillinger PCC (Professional Certified Coach) will give you the inside scoop on adding coaching services into your business offerings:

·         What is the difference between a coach, consultant, and therapist?

·         The economics of coaching as a profession.

·         The #1 mistake that new coaches make in their business.

·         Designing the right business model for you.

·         How to plan big, but start small.

 

Bring your questions and more importantly, bring your dreams. This is a great opportunity to get mentored in-person by one of the best coaches in the holistic industry!

 

Jaya Schillinger of Inspiration, Inc. is a spa consultant and Professional Certified Coach who specializes in management coaching and training for holistic businesses. Audiences connect with her mentoring advice & spiritual wisdom, delivered with a street-smart “let’s get it done,” approach. Jaya is the co-creator of the Power Up! seminar and DVD series, a business blogger, trade magazine writer, and popular speaker at spa industry tradeshows. She’s dedicated to improving your business—and your life!

 

Click Here for More Information & Registration

 

Questions for Businesses in a Changing Economy

I was reading an interesting post by Deborah Chaddock Brown on the OPEN Forum by American Express called Economic Recovery Lies in the Hands of Entrepreneurs. Essentially, she's pointing out the advantages small business owners have of being able to be more nimble and responsive to changing conditions than large, bureaucratic corporations are. Yet what I really liked is her list of questions that entrepreneurs might ask:

[Excerpted from Economic Recovery Lies in the Hands of Entrepreneurs]

Surviving the next 18 months will require an honest review of how we do business, with whom we do business and even what our business looks like. I would suggest that we all take a good long look in the mirror and ask:

• What am I known for in the industry?

• Does that still have value in light of the current economic climate?
• Has my ideal customer changed?
• Has what my customer requires changed?
• Does my customer seek information in different venues than they did 12 months ago?
• Does my pricing structure meet the needs of my customer or do I need to offer ala cart options and alternative payment plans?
• How have I marketed my business?
• Is that still an effective vehicle?
• Have I embraced social media?
• How can social media help my business?
• Are there products and services that I offer that no longer make sense?
• Is there a different line of products or services that will more effectively meet my customer’s needs?
• What training do I need?
• Who can I partner with to provide more value to my customers?
• Is bartering an alternative solution that makes sense for my business?
• In what circumstance?
• If my goal is to not only be in business 12 months from now, but to be a thriving, growing business; what one thing do I need to change today to make that happen?

Click here to read the full article.

These are very empowering questions to ask yourself. If ever there was a time to ask, "What might I do differently?" THIS is that time. As stressful as it is, there's also a feedom that can be found by embracing new ways of doing things. These questions are a great way to fire up a brainstorm!

Body Mind Spirit Expo Promo: Free Hotel Reimbursement *Expires March 31*

Breaking News:

I just got a letter from the promoters of the Body Mind Spirit Conference (where I'll be presenting "Racing to the Finish Line" on April 18th) and they're adding an extra incentive to encourage you to attend!

IMPORTANT: This offer is a reimbursement deal from the Body Mind Spirit promoters, not the hotel.

2 FREE HOTEL NIGHTS** - When you purchase 5-Day Combo Registration - Please use the coupon code: HOTELCOMBO

1 FREE HOTEL NIGHT** - When you purchase 3-Day Registration - Please use the coupon code: HOTEL3DAY

**FREE NIGHTS PROMOTION:  Confirmation of your hotel stay is required to receive credit.  Hotel stay must be at the Santa Clara Hyatt Regency using our special room rate of $129 per night.  Receipt is required within 14 days following conference.  You will be provided with a form to fill out and submit your receipt information either at the conference registration desk or by fax or mail.  You will be issued a credit to the credit card that you used to pay your conference registration.  This offer is only valid for registrations between March 16 - 31, 2009. This discount cannot be combined with other offers.

Click here to get the special hotel deal and register for the conference.

I'd love to meet up with you at the conference. Let me know if you're going to be there!

What's on Your Career (or Job, or Life) Wish List?

I was adding some new items to my memento box today, when a handwritten document, obviously torn from a spiral-bound notebook caught my attention. The penmanship was mine. Written in blue ink, the pages began, "November 19, 1996. My over-the-top, everything wonderful, magical, exciting, and fun next job qualities include..."

A smile emerged from my heart as I'd forgotten that I wrote this so long ago, but I most certainly remember the job I was hired for afterward. It was pivotal to my career in many ways. 

Do any of you create vision lists or write essays about what you would like to manifest? I do it somewhat regularly, although I'm feeling nudged to do a new one now. My experience is that more often than not, wish lists DO come true--sometimes with astonishing results. To illustrate, I'll go ahead and tell you the rest of the story.

In 1996, I had graduated 1.5 years of training at the Berkeley Psychic Institute (BPI.) I was teaching & reading there on nights and weekends, and starting up my private practice as well. My institute work was volunteer, and my fledgling counseling business wasn't enough income to live on yet. I needed a job, but wanted one that felt like it enhanced my spiritual calling and didn't take away from it.

The items on my ideal job wish list are conveniently numbered and read:

1. Work with the public, so I can meet lots of people and fulfill my karma.
2. Some of that public will include really cute men to date. [LOL. I was single at the time.]
3. Full time. Weekdays. 9-5.
4. Medical and dental benefits.
5. Vacation & holiday pay.
6. 401k, profit sharing, and incentives.
7. Really fun, positive coworkers.
8. $40k per year to start.
9. Multiple locations.
10. I will work in a holistic, beautiful atmosphere.
11. I will be able to dress stylishly and comfortably.
12. Benefits include a gym membership.
13. Spirit to spirit communication is great there!
14. My commute will take 45-min or less, with no traffic.
15. I'll drive a company car or afford a new car.
16. I'll be able to plan & coordinate special events.
17. Potential for me to work as a company teacher/trainer.
18. A workplace that welcomes & validates me as a spirit in a female body.
19. Year end bonus checks.
20. People that I can learn from.
21. Abundance, havingness, & miracles.
22. It's where God wants me to work, and I can help people by giving them a spiritual "hello."
23. A place that I can learn to be in the spotlight, shine, grow.
24. I will be offered this job by January 1997.
25. I'll receive free products and/or services for working there.
26. My boss and I will be friends. We will appreciate one another.
27. My job will work on a smooth schedule with my psychic work.
28. My paychecks will be on time, often, and abundant.
29. The company I work for is fiscally sound and on its path toward success.
30. The company and place I work has a mission to heal its customers, maintain the health and happiness of its staff, and share abundance with all people involved.

*Laughs* Okay, so now I'm feeling a little exposed after sharing something so very personal, but I share it with purpose. It's okay to want and wish for whatever brings you happiness! Fill it with details big and small. Alright then. The story continues...

Out of my detailed 30-point list, 26 wishes came true! And what of the 4 that didn't, you ask? Unimportant ones, really:

1. I didn't get a free gym membership.
2. I didn't get a company car.
3. I didn't get a year end bonus check (or if I did, I don't remember it.)
4. My ideal job did not manifest in January, it took a few more months. (I'm still trying to get the universe to operate on my schedule, but alas, sometimes things take a little more or less time than I want them to.)

So what was this amazing job? How did I find it? Well, did you notice that I used the word "magical" in the first paragraph? Have a sip of tea, take a breath, and settle in. Now, I'll tell you what happened when my wishes were about to come true in the most delightful way.

While I was waiting for my dream job to appear, I somehow managed to squeak by financially. My faith was stronger than my anxiety, as I continued developing my intention. Nothing less than what I really wanted would do.

One early spring day, when the light was shining so beautifully, I was strolling through an outdoor mall asking myself, "If I could do anything, what would I do?" Then the floodgates of my imagination opened:

I would love to open up an aromatherapy store! Something small, yet upscale and chic. And instead of feeling like a health food store in a strip mall, it should go somewhere like this mall here, near Nordstrom's. We can bring natural healing to people that wouldn't otherwise know about it. What a great chain store concept. Yes!

Every fiber of my being was on fire. I tingled. My heart thumped. When the first stumbling block appeared, I was undaunted:

It doesn't matter that I don't have the seed money. Someone, somewhere wants to do this with me. I bet there's someone who could even become a great friend out of this. Not all investment people are old, stodgy, corporate types. Maybe a progressive alternative health-minded gay man out there...

I instantly decided that my next course of action should be to get a copy of the newspaper and write an ad seeking a business partner. However, after returning home with the voluminous Sunday edition, I changed course. Before I go about writing my ad, I might as well browse the help wanted section first. And there it was:

Managers needed for start up aromatherapy & wellness company. 7 locations in California & Washington. Please call...

Normally, I would not call on a job at 8pm on a Sunday night, but I knew this was my dream job. Still, I was completely floored when a young-sounding, most certainly gay, gentleman answered the phone. It was the business partner I'd been imagining come to life!

Yes, of course I got the job. And yes, one of our stores was in that very mall where I envisioned it. It was nearly all as I'd wished for and then some.

It is still a point of fascination for me to wonder how much of that ideal job manifestation was me creating it, vs. how much was me intuitively reading it. In the end, it doesn't really matter. I was their dream regional manager for their Northern California stores. In a couple years, that dream job later launched me into having my own aromatherapy company (after they got bought out and subsequently folded, my former bosses gave me resources, products, and their blessing.) My intuitive counseling and training business had time to grow and evolve into the coaching firm it is today.

Oh, the power of this little list! I'm tenderly putting it back into my memento box.

Wish list-making is not a complicated project!

• You don't need to be on monastic retreat or in the perfect "space" to create one.
• If long essays aren't your thing, a simple numbered list works just fine!
• You don't need special paper or an art degree. Making it look pretty can be fun, but not necessary for it to work.
• Don't limit (or judge) your wishes! You might not get everything on your list, but it's okay to ask.

I'm re-inspired to create some new life & business wish lists today. The last big life-changing one I did was when I was shopping for the perfect weekender home in the country. Almost all of that list came to manifest too. [Read about it here.]

How about you? What are you waiting for? Get out some paper and a pen, and get busy!

Remember your magical side. Share your stories. And most importantly: Here's to all your wishes come true!

Your Success Isn't in the Laundry Basket or That Stack of Papers

After traveling for two weeks, I was happily settling into my own bed again when I began thinking about all the many things on my to do list for the next day. My kitten was sick and maybe needed to see the vet. My suitcase needed unpacking. There was an imposing stack of mail on the kitchen counter. I paid bills before I left 2 weeks ago, but new ones could already be late. My email in-box and voice mail are flashing with important messages to return. And of course, after many flights, time zone changes, and contact with lots of people, I was coming down with a cold. My feelings of contentment turned to overwhelm.

I sorted through the list of anxiety-producing thoughts in an effort to prioritize them. If I could just clear the decks tomorrow, get things organized, I'll feel better. It's that suitcase and stack of mail. If only the house and my office were cleaner, I'll feel better. If only I had a day to get my email in-box to zero, I'll feel better. And most importantly: If I feel better about these things, then I'll be able to get back to business this week.

Do you ever get into this line of thinking?

I'm certain I'm not the only slightly neurotic perfectionist amongst you. One of the reasons I've always been good in the salon, spa, and retail industries is because I have a strong aesthetic. (Hello, aestheticians!) In fact, one of the reasons I was traveling was because someone hired me to help decorate and set up a new space. A book I read about the Enneagram (a personality typing system) explained how some people are more environmentally-oriented than others. If you're that type, then you immediately notice if a place feels harmonious or not. Moreover, you're probably the type to make it better, so that others feel good too. Is this resonating with you? We've got a gift for creating the perfect ambiance.

The downside however, as there is always a downside to our gifts it seems, is that we don't feel "right" unless our environment is under control.

As I was restlessly stewing over the conflict of, "If only I could get things clean and organized, I'll be able to be productive at work tomorrow," I burst out laughing. Suddenly I realized that I've had this same conversation in my head for years. If only, if only, if only...I make myself crazy sometimes. It's a mental lie to tell myself that I can't have serenity until I do something. That's an ego trap. I managed to calm my mind down and shift into a meditative space, noticing the real truth: My serenity is here now and always will be.

I firmly believe that getting your head on straight again through accessing your inner-calm is the best way to begin sorting out your personal and professional priorities.

Then another awareness came over me. I've been playing this, "If only I was more organized, I could be more productive," game for many years. Sometimes I conquer it, but it still begs the question: Is it truly a need, or some kind of perfectionistic procrastination?

As a coach, I've observed people wasting years and never getting their business off the ground because there is always a reason not to start or not do the most important money-generating activities. A few common things I notice:

• Ambitions might be bigger than available resources (not just money, but time as well.)
• It's an entrepreneurial trait to compulsively start more projects than one can finish.
• "Big picture" thinkers chronically underestimate how much time/effort it really takes to get something done.

However, a more insidious dynamic sometimes lurks underneath: Avoidance. And where there's avoidance, you'll often find its best friend, Fear.

Have you ever noticed how sometimes a good trait, such as being "organized" or "detailed" can mask a more negative issue, such as fear of failure? This is where perfectionistic procrastination gets you. By spending too much time getting prepared or working on unimportant details, you get to postpone facing the tasks that intimidate you. It's like appeasing the devil's appetite with angel food cake. You can be "good," and work very hard and put in long hours at "getting organized," but if you're secretly avoiding sales, management, or some other task that puts you in front of the public (instead of the back room) you might be setting yourself up for failure.

So which would you rather have: an organized business that generates little or no income, or one that is bringing in enough money that you can afford to hire help or take some time off later?

Don't hide behind that disorganized file cabinet or laundry basket!

The next morning, I stayed amused when I had to fish a few things out of my suitcase, but left the dirty clothes inside. I plucked out checks and urgent bills from the mail, but left the rest in a pile. Then I got on with business. I returned my calls, scheduled appointments, collected income, paid bills, completed my corporate tax returns, and nursed my kitten and myself back to health. I had a super-productive week! The feeling of completion on the urgent things is satisfying. Now, I'm smiling as I'm writing this to you on a Saturday afternoon. Doing my laundry and housekeeping seems so deliciously mindless. Since business is caught up, I feel truly relaxed--quite the opposite of my thinking when I first got home! 

Here are some coaching questions for you: 

1. What menial task(s) do you let get in the way of money-generating (or otherwise crucial) ones? 
2. Why are you wanting to do the least important thing first?
3. What is one important task you can get done fairly quickly and that will also give you a sense of real accomplishment? (Build momentum by doing it!)

Remember, the world won't stop just because you don't have clean underwear. Priorities before panties! Besides, you can always buy some more, or go "commando." Have a great weekend, everyone!

The Crisis of Credit Visualized

If you're reading via RSS or email, click here to watch the video: The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

Some of you may be weary of the media's constant analysis of our economic failure, but I think this 11-minute video is worth your time. It's a quick overview of how sub-prime mortgages and greedy profiteering by investment bankers created a non-sustainable system that was destined to explode. Yet what I find most inspiring is the delivery of the content itself. The creator, Jonathan Jarvis, wanted to use new media tools to explain this very complex topic in a way that is simple and easy to understand. Very nicely done!