One phrase was on loop through my head throughout the day: "Big girl shoes, you can do this!" "We need more hot water and coffee in the VIP breakfast room, as soon as possible, please." It wasn't the first time I'd tracked down the hotel catering staff with the request that had gotten lost in the busy hustle. Out of coffee? Not cool! If anyone in the room was half the coffee lover I am... ...
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Uh-oh… Your Under-Brand is Showing!
You know how there are some childhood moments just seared into your mind? I have this vivid memory of sitting in the backseat of my parents truck as we were leaving home and headed to Church one summer night. I was wearing jeans and a short sleeved shirt. My mother looked at me aghast and said in a stern voice, "Michelle, cover up! Your epidermis is showing!" I looked around at myself e ...
Uncover These 3 Truly Unique Aspects of You & Your Business to Stand Out in a Crowded World #sponsored
Does it feel like lots of other people or businesses do exactly what you do? And, you know you've got to stand out and set yourself apart somehow, but you can't quite put your finger on how? There are three things you've got that no one else has: your story, your client stories, and your unique solution. Your Story No one else has your story. You've just got to dig in and figure out ...
12 Ways to Intentionally Grow as a Person
Who do you need to be to succeed with your business and take it where you want it to go a year from now? Who do you need to be to write boldly, openly, and transparently on your blog? To put yourself out there in a bigger way so you can be of service and reach more people? A couple of weeks ago I attended InfusionSoft's Elite Forum as part of the team from The Marketing Mentors (I'm their ...
How Turkeys, Trees and Taffy Can Boost Your Reputation #sponsored
This post is sponsored by Visa Business. Thoughts shared are my own. Have winter holiday promotions hit your favorite shopping spots yet? Somehow fake pumpkins filled with candy, turkeys silently laughing as if they know what happens when I try to cook Thanksgiving dinner, and brightly decorated Christmas trees seem to have become friends for the month of October instead of staying in the ...
4 Ways to Build the Relationships that Make a Difference
You started your business to make a difference. “Make a difference” doesn’t have to be epic, change the world stuff. Perhaps it’s about being home for your kids. Or maybe you’re simply motivated by a desire to transform your own life (this isn’t simple - it’s epic and commendable). But when you’re occupied with building a business, it can seem impossible to find the bandwidth to make a positive d ...
Don’t Call Me an Entrepreneur – Unless This is What You Mean… #sponsored
This post is sponsored by Visa Business. Thoughts shared are my own. I have this issue with labels. I really don't like them. I avoid them. For myself and for others. Often, labels trap us in roles and boxes and cause us to question our potential. So I'll admit to avoiding calling myself an entrepreneur for a very long time. Partially because I resist labels but partially because I ...
Swipe This From the “Big Guys” to Amp Up Your Motivation and Results #sponsored
This post is sponsored by Visa Business. Thoughts shared are my own. As entrepreneurs we’ve got a lot of advantages over the “big guys” – for example, we can quickly respond and adapt our businesses to the needs of our clients and shift our marketing strategies to capitalize on trends. But it’s often easy to overlook what we can learn from some of the big companies who are doing things right ...
How to Get the Support You Need in Life and Business
Most of us, swimming against the tides of trouble the world knows nothing about, need only a bit of praise or encouragement - and we will make the goal. ~Jerome Fleishman Have you ever had a moment where you got frustrated, wondering why those around you weren't being supportive of your dreams? Maybe it felt like they didn't understand. Maybe it even seemed like they were actively fighting a ...
How to Get Your Momentum Back When It Disappears
Have you ever lost momentum? Gone from a rocket ship to... well... a rock? Maybe you were doing great with blogging consistently, then a few days or a few weeks slipped by... Maybe you had a fantastic plan to stay in touch with your subscribers, but something happened and you got off track, and now it's been a couple of months... Or you were really rockin' with your business, rolling out ...