Inspirational Business

Blessings for a Beautiful New Year in 2011

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Bright blessings to you and your family for a happy and prosperous 2011!

Famous Failures [Video]

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I thought you might enjoy this short inspirational video that reminds us how life brings each of us our share of failures and that our successes come only when we keep trying (and sometimes that means trying something new.)

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.

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!

An Inspirational Talk During Tough Economic Times

I've been taking some time to reflect deeply on the economic shifts that are affecting all of us. There are better financial analysts than me explaining what is happening to the global economy and why, but as a coach, my job is to look forward and ask, “What opportunities are there? How should we best proceed?”

 

More intimately, I am asking myself, “What is my purpose here? How can I best serve?”

 

Many holistic-oriented businesses that we know have been reporting losses in gross sales of 10-40% over last year. A large downward trend was noticeable to a lot of you in September, with some improvement over the holidays, followed by a sharp drop this month.

 

Some of you are very scared right now and my heart goes out to you. Many of you are single women households. A good deal of you have children. Your business is your sole source of income. The pressures are great.

 

Almost none of you have pursued trainings & certifications and invested in your own business primarily for financial gain. Your motivations include earning a comfortable living, but knowing you as well as I do, I understand that your primary calling is to be of service to something greater. Count me among you.

 

The seeds of your success are still germinating within you, even in these most difficult circumstances.

 

Although confusion surrounds us, feel deep into yourself and find the calm. If ever there was a time when all of your personal & spiritual development tools need to be used—that time is now. Overwhelm is when you have more thoughts & feelings going on simultaneously than you can process. Focus. Meditate. Pray. Be attentive and listen for your answers.

 

One of the beautiful things I see happening in this economic crisis is that there is an awakening. The system that kept so many on the treadmill of success has broken, and having lost everything (or about to) people are open to new things. Some will be forced into radical personal & professional changes. When clinging on to the old is no longer an option, many are finding a sense of relief—at last, they have permission to try that new career they’ve been thinking about. That may even be you.

 

What if being a holistic provider IS your true calling? Then there is certainly a world that needs you now, more than ever before.

 

It is essential then that you make your life’s work survive and thrive. I can promise that you will give your gifts, no matter the venue. But in what arena can you have the greatest impact? Perhaps we should consider reconfiguring your business to a solo practice again. (I’ve been doing this with clients very successfully!) Maybe we just need to get you refocused and motivated on your core offerings. Certainly, we need to cut out anything that is distracting, overwhelming, or unlikely to generate income. It's all about bootstrapping basics right now, but driven by your life’s purpose and goals, not just your survival fears. 

 

My life’s work is primarily that of a spiritual healer and mentor. It also happens that my history includes decades of experience in management and operations for health, beauty, & wellness businesses. People tell me all the time, “You’re the only coach who’s both intuitive and understands my business.” There are no accidents. I was born to do what I do.

 

What were you born to do? Now more than ever is the time to get in touch with your inner calling. The energy that you will activate by just contemplating the question will strengthen you. While it may be scary to look at what you don't have (or fear you might lose) direct your attention towards what you want to give. How do you want to be of service? Don't give up because of hard times. You might need to adapt, but adapt in ways that are still aligned with your inner being. Stay true.

 

 

Gratitude List With a Twist

By Laurie Mazzarella

I think that making a gratitude list is one of the best ways to see how blessed my life is when I don’t feel that way. It has this healing effect that can take me out of doubt. A gratitude list basically shifts my attention from what I consider a challenge to what is working and wonderful in my life. I like that!

Recently, I created a twist to my gratitude list. I started to include myself. Now, my gratitude list has also become a great way to acknowledge myself and be thankful for being me. At times, it seems like I am looking outward for confirmation that I am doing things right or that I am being okay the way I am. But, alas! When I feel like I need acknowledgement or confirmation, I found I don’t have to go that far. I just need to start looking at the things that I really appreciate about being me.

Even though, this can be a bit awkward to start, it works wonderfully after getting the hang of it. I decided that there are so many things about me that I overlook or simply don't think much about. Sound familiar? I can sometimes leave myself out of my own life equation! Working with others in a service capacity often keeps my focus outside. I am very interested in assisting my clients, yet have to make a conscious decision to assist myself. This is what is so great about the gratitude list that includes self acknowledgment. I am included in my own equation and don’t need to rely on outside validation or confirmation.

I have found that there is so much that I am thankful for by just being me simply by taking a few minutes each day to acknowledge myself. My gratitude list has always been a reminder to give thanks for all the great people, places and things around me. And, now there is the added twist of being me! Who is on your gratitude list?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Laurie Mazzarella is a Strategic Coach for Holistic Businesses with Inspiration, Inc. Her goal is to assist you in being well and successful personally and professionally. She can be reached at (800) 507-1620 X4 or click here to schedule a free consultation.

Yoga for Your Business

By Laurie Mazzarella

At the end of each year, I set up my marketing systems for the upcoming year. Last year, I noticed I was really apprehensive about starting some of the tasks. Yuk and dread were written on the walls of my resistance to doing these tasks. One morning, in the midst of my struggle to begin my tedious tasks, I decided to do some yoga and meditation to see if I could get through my wall. My meditation led me to look up the word yoga.

The Sanskrit word, yoga, means “union”. It is the connection between the self and higher self or inner and outer self. To me, yoga means integration between my inner values and how I express them outwardly. I decided this needs to include my boring business tasks!

In this past year, I learned when I run into a wall of resistance to doing tedious tasks, I need to pinpoint where my inner values are not being meant in my outer world. I, then, have the option of determining how I can reconnect my tedious tasks into diligent delights!

As an example, one of my core values is feeling alive. If faced with a tedious task, I don’t feel very alive. I can, however, choose to find a way to bring this task to life. Let’s say I am recording information on a spreadsheet (which is usually very boring to me), I might give myself a break after so many chunks of information entered. I structure these breaks with something that is alive for me. I might listen to some music that I really like and dance to it! This makes me feel alive. Why not liven up my boring task and make it a delight?

When faced with tedious tasks, start connecting them to things that have personal meaning to you. Unite them with your inner values. This has helped me to attune to something “different” while I do something I don’t necessarily like. It requires a conscious choice on my part, but why not choose to live and do business with inner and outer harmony? Delight or dread? Not really a hard choice for me. What do you do to make your tedious tasks more enjoyable? Let’s share, and maybe we can make boring business tasks more delightful.

Laurie Mazzarella is a Strategic Coach for Holistic Businesses with Inspiration, Inc. Her goal is to assist you in being well and successful personally and professionally. She can be reached at (800) 507-1620 X4 or click here to schedule a complimentary consultation

The Happiness Factor

by Laurie Mazzarella

I have been thinking a lot about happiness lately. I have been wondering if we bring happiness to our lives or do our lives bring us happiness. I always hear things like “happiness comes from within” and we “pursue happiness”. However, I have never really thought about the concept of happiness and whether I am happy because of how my life is going (or not) or whether I am happy and my life is enhanced by my happiness. At least, not in the depth that I have lately.

If I am happy regardless of my life experience, I have wondered why I would want my experiences to be a certain way. Do I think that certain circumstances can make me happy if I am not already happy? In my pursuit of the meaning of happiness, I decided to look up the definition of happiness. I typed in a search of the word “happy” on Dictionary. com. What came up were words like contentment, satisfaction, willing, pleased, delighted, joyful and others.

In light of this, I decided that happiness is something that we have inside of us as an attitude (or not). If we do not have this basic satisfaction within ourselves, I don’t think anything is going to satisfy us from the outside. However, I am inclined to believe that our lives become more satisfying to us no matter what we are doing if we have a happy, contented attitude. It seems when I am content, my life enhances me. And, vice versa. Happiness seems to be a choice I have to make daily. I need to choose happiness as an inner attitude regardless of how I am experiencing my circumstances.

As a coach, I teach people how to live their dreams, take risks and match the inner essence of their soul to their work and lives. However, I have noticed that with some clients, it is vital to work on an attitude of happiness before they can proceed to live their dreams with any satisfaction. Because we are constantly surrounded by television and radio advertisements telling us how we can attain happiness in one way or another, I think that this is a topic we all need to evaluate in our lives. What is true happiness for each one of us? I would love to hear your thoughts. What is your happiness factor? How do you measure your happiness? Let’s share.

Laurie Mazzarella is a Strategic Coach for Holistic Businesses with Inspiration, Inc. Her goal is to assist you in being well and successful personally and professionally. She can be reached at (800) 507-1620 X4 or click here to schedule a free consultation.

Copping an Attitude of Professionalism

by Laurie Mazzarella

Professionalism is more than being punctual, consistent and reliable. When I was growing up, I was told that professionalism was the way you dress and what you said. I proceeded to try and dress in a certain “professional” way and speak that way as well. I never really felt like I was myself, though. I felt scripted and made up. I was trying to be professional from the outside in.

These days, being professional is not being mechanically made up and trying to impress others through what I am wearing or saying. Even though what I wear and the way I speak are factors in how I project myself, they are only props if there isn’t any more to them. What I have found to be true is that being professional is an attitude. It is something that comes from knowing who I am and being that. It is not trying to be an image. It is being who I am, for real, that is projected to the public. It is the confidence and self assuredness that shines through and actually illuminates the clothes I am wearing and the words that I am speaking. Professionalism that is real, is the “thing” that conveys to others that they are in competent hands. I have found that my confidence in who I am and what I do is what attracts clients to me. Professionalism is the combination of who I am and having faith in what I do. It keeps me accountable.

Do you have faith in yourself and your product or service? This is the professionalism that your customers and clients will sense and feel comfortable with. This is what will attract clients and keep them coming back. Professionalism is truly being punctual, consistent and reliable as well as dressing appropriately and speaking well to your clients. It is having knowledge of your product and service, and it is the desire to share this with others. And, it is so much more. It is deeper. It is the attitude that sells you and your product and service to others. It is the attitude of professionalism that is most likely to be your most powerful sales tool!

Laurie Mazzarella is a Strategic Coach for Holistic Businesses with Inspiration, Inc. Her goal is to assist you in being well and successful personally and professionally. She can be reached at (800) 507-1620 X4 or click here to schedule a free consultation.

Have You Experienced Your Own Services?

by Jennifer Sanchez

I'm going to put each of you to the test. How often do you experience your own services? As consultants we preach the gospel that clients are most interested in the experience not so much the treatment. That's absolutely true.

So again, I ask each of you. How often do you walk in through the front of your spa? How often do "secret" shop your spa? How often do you have your service providers perform their signature treatments on you?

I bet you're thinking, "not often enough." I encourage each of you whether you are an owner, service provider, both, or front desk. Experience your services...as often as you can. How can you recommend and sell what you don't experience?

As a spa owner turned consultant, I had the opportunity to visit my spa last week and catch up on my laser hair removal. I had been thinking about getting Botox, but because I am so deathly afraid of needles I hadn't gotten that done. Oh, I've sold many many units of Botox, but never had it done myself. Vanity beat my fear in the end. When one of my estheticians held up the dreaded magnifying mirror and pointed out that I did indeed have forehead creases and a VERY angry brow, I told her she had to let me squeeze her hand hard while I got my Botox.

It didn't hurt at all, okay, not much. Waxing hurts more. And I ABSOLUTELY love my results. I'm a new Botox convert and am ready to tell each and every one of my clients that they need to experience the miracle that Botox is.

My point? Experience what you sell. You are your best referral source and your best testimonial. And by experiencing what your client sees, feels, touches, smells, and hears, is the best investment of your time you can make.

Let me know what your "spa experiences" have been in the spa you work in or own.

Jennifer Sanchez is a Strategic Coach for Medical Spas & Clinics with Inspiration, Inc. She can be reached at (800) 507-1620 X3 or click here to book a complimentary consultation.