Abundance and Prosperity

Lisa Dee, Financial Alchemy Coach

Where to start?

I look back over the years and can tell you all the many things I have done wrong, and interestingly enough those are the occurrences that have helped me to grow, educated me and taken my business to the next level.

So I guess I can start there.

It is ok to make mistakes. As a matter of fact, it is a given that you will. Just make it a practice to learn from them and do not repeat them.

Let me say that again so you really get it because it is important. When a ‘mistake’ happens-look at it for the reason it is there-For it came with a gift. See it as soon as possible and then leave it behind and move forward from it. Do NOT repeat it.

There is a saying. Something like ‘hit me once-shame on you, hit me twice, shame on me’. I stop at the” hit me once” thing. This took me a look time to learn when I finally got tired of being hit. You can learn it right off the bat, or if you like being hit ( and some people do ), take all the time you want.

Set your standards and values and STICK to them like super glue. This falls into the business practice that you have heard-hire slow, fire fast. Actually I did not hear that one until recently and boy is that the truth. If you do not know how to fire someone, get trained. It is the best defense for those emotions that will rise up I you to ‘be nice’ and compassionate which these days can get you in hot water. Here is a specific example:

I hired a person who was shockingly insubordinate. We have this in our handbook that this is one reason that you can be let go at will. We use words like insubordinate to be very, very clear about what we are talking about here. This is not just being slightly disrespectful. This is full blown insubordination. And believe you me, if you have ever had anyone ever been insubordinate to you-you will have no problem firing them.

Once you stepped into the role and responsibilities of being a CEO, lines have to become crystal clear. Anyway, here’s what happened. Spurred on by the entire company requesting I remove unnamed person, I did so. Although we have an at will policy which means I could simply say-you’re out, I considered the high road would be to send this person off with a bit of a severance so they could gather themselves.

Well, that bit me in the hiney.

The next thing I know I got a message from an attorney saying that the severance was some sort of admission on our part that perhaps he was not fired at will. And they wanted more!

And if you really are not ready to learn what it takes to fire someone gracefully and respectfully ( that’s correct-it does not have to be ugly ), then get a pro who can do it for you. And there are pros who handle this type of thing. So check your comfort level and do what is best for you. In this it will then be the best for the other person.

I have LOTS of stories. This information I am sharing was learned the hard way. I am asking you to consider instituting these practices before the lessons become hard. Again, the choice is yours.

So

Where to really start with all this? Really. How do you really build your business into a thriving fun profit center?

Here it is.

Ready?

The most important step of all is:

You start by building yourself.

You are the creator of your own life. Your business is part of that. It does not matter if you want to be self employed, a small business or a major multi million dollar conglomerate. At the end of the day, what you manifest comes straight out of you.

Now I have spoken at the Columbia School for Entrepreneurs a few times and the last time, after I gave them the –here are the top ten points for how to make your business successful ( yes I will share those later ), I came to point 11. And I told them that if they only did one of the eleven points-to do this one

Develop self.

Understand, learn and master self. And in that and through that, you will achieve all the success in any area of your life you want. My belief in this is so strong and I have experienced it personally to such a level, that I created my third company just to help others achieve this.

A specific example of why developing self is so important?

Of course.

Before I knew myself, I did not know that I ran my life from a very definite, strong baseline of fear. Therefore, everything I built on top of this foundation of fear naturally was infused with it. Have you ever worked for a fear based boss, or company? It sucks right/? Pervades your very core. There are HUGELY financially successful companies who base their core on fear. And don’t get me wrong. Fear can be a great motivator. As a matter of fact fear is what motivated me to start my first company. I was afraid that my young marriage would not survive going from two incomes to one when I stepped off the career path to have a child, so I started a company to raise more capital before I started my family. (How many of you are cringing right now?) What I didn’t know as I executed what I thought was a brilliant cure-all to my fears of scarcity was that most companies FAIL right out of the shoot! Thank goodness I did not do my due diligence or I might have discovered that 98% of new companies or some staggering stat like that, do not survive their first two years.

Here’s the brilliance of ignorance (yes there is a gift in everything ): Not knowing what was not possible, I did not take no for an answer. The companies I started are still alive and kicking well after thirteen years. Of course, the irony is that the marriage did not survive. But that’s a whole different story.

This is also an example of how where you are RIGHT NOW , is perfect for where you are going. What you know RIGHT NOW, is exactly what you need to know for right now.

Got that? So you can take all the pressure off yourselves about not knowing, or not being ready or some such nonsense. You will be amazed at what you have actually learned so far and what is useful to building your business. Mine your own internal resources first. Really look and see what you know and have learned before you go outside of yourself.

This will help you be very clear when you do reach outside for exactly what you do need. Do not pander to the –help me stance. Develop the-I know a lot but want some expertise in this particular area stance. Build your CEO muscles that way.

So back to the example at hand. Once I started developing self, my life, and my businesses all changed from ‘survival’ mode to ‘thrive mode’ in front of my eyes.

For real?

Yep For real.

How many people do you know who live In Colorado while their companies run in Manhatten NY?

This is why I am absolutely adamant about this point.

If you want your creations to live and grow and thrive-develop yourself.

Understand every nook and cranny of your being. The good , the bad and the really frikkin’ ugly. Because it is in all of that, that you will find your wisdom. Of course coaches and mentors are great for helping keep us on course. But this deep self exploration work-where you really learn about your inner landscape –is yours to do.

Get a guide.

It helps.

Yes, of course I can help if you want. But rest assured I only work with people who are ready and seriously dedicated to their self development.

The absolute magic and fun of this is that your creations will reflect back to you exactly where you are on your inner journey.

So, are you ready for that kind of truth?

END OF PART 1
Read ten more tips on how to be a Thriving Business Owner in the next installment

Read Lisa’s bio at www.abundanceandprosperity.com/lisa-dee

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