Angela Johnson

Category: Mindset

  • I didn’t speak up, now I have laryngitis.

    I knew I was getting ready for something BIG because I could feel a breakdown coming on.

    In the past couple of weeks I have created experiences that gave me opportunities to either speak up or stay silent.

    I stayed silent.

    And it brought up the times in my life when I didn’t speak up.

    The result?

    A couple of days ago I lost my voice almost completely. I was able to get out a whisper yesterday. Today it’s a little better.

    I am currently experiencing laryngitis. (see the meaning of this below – holy moly)

    Not only is this annoying because I’m a woman of MANY words, but at my mastermind retreat we are recording videos for our marketing funnels. Everyone in my group is doing this except for me. I’m writing my scripts and sequences and will be recording my videos when I get my voice back.

    Yesterday I was really pissed. I was angry. I was frustrated. I felt like my body let me down.

    How is it that being a woman whose purpose is to empower women to find their voice and express their soul purpose created this experience?

    Staying silent started when I was a kid. I was almost deaf when I was young. I read lips as a way to “hear” people. I was embarrassed that I couldn’t hear so I didn’t speak up. I didn’t ask questions. I looked for any visual clues as to tell me what to do.

    I didn’t say anything. I just went with it.

    Then when I was eight years old I was officially brought into a religion that I didn’t totally understand. There was a moment in the process of joining this religion that the men in the church surrounded me and blessed me with God’s blessing as a way to connect me to the Holy Spirit.

    I remember sitting there wondering why this process would instill something in me that I had been connected to my whole life. I could feel the unconditional love from these men but I was still confused.

    I didn’t say anything. I just went with it.

    It wasn’t until I was 19 when I left that religion and spoke up for what I really believed in. I then went on to study Buddhism for three years. And that is what started me on my path of self development and spirituality that really spoke to my soul.

    Fast forward to the past week.

    I had an opportunity to go to an event in California in November and share a room with a colleague. I made the decision last year then when I go to events I don’t share rooms with people other than my sister, a very close girlfriend, or my husband. I like having my own space. I like walking in my underwear in my room. I like having pure silence in the morning and evening. Yet I heard myself agreeing to share a room in the sake of saving money, which triggered old scarcity issues.

    The next opportunity was when I bought a car last week and was told that I would get certain things in the purchase. When I sat down with the finance person to go over the details she revealed that the ways I was going to get “taken care of” were not there. It was going to cost me over $2,500 to get the things I was promised. The person telling me how good they were taking care of me wasn’t honest with me.

    Then I was quoted the wrong amount for the actual price of the car. The actual amount was over $3,000 more than what I was told.

    I asked about the price of the car and didn’t ask for a negotiated rate. I just went with it.

    I didn’t want to appear like I was cheap or trying to get something for nothing, which is one of my own pet peeves.

    For the bonuses I thought I would get, I didn’t say a damn thing. Nothing. Nada. I told myself that since I was already approved for the full amount of the financing I needed to just go with it and not be “difficult.”

    I just went with it. I didn’t say anything.

    What the hell was this powerful woman who has freakin’ coached people on how to have powerful conversations doing staying silent?

    And there I was….silent….super angry at myself…super angry at how I was treated and the lack of integrity if the car dealership. But mostly angry at how I just went with it.

    I said nothing.

    So I created a physical response in my body to be silent.

    I believe that everything we create physically first starts energetically. And that is a tough pill to swallow when our body experiences pain and dis-ease.

    I love Loiuse Hay and her book “You Can Heal Your Life.”

    Here is what she says about laryngitis.

    Ironic? I think not.

    Perfect? Yep.

    I went to sleep last night and prayed to release the anger and to forgive myself. I made a new commitment with myself to speak up.

    This morning I woke up feeling like a new woman. I had more of my voice back – it’s still really quiet and raspy but it’s more than a whisper now.

    This was holding me back in my business because even though I’m honest and bold, there are still moments I was choosing to stay silent.

    Here is what I learned (and still in the process of learning):

    • I tend to hide behind my words so I can try to soften my bold direct energy or make myself sound smart, especially when I feel insecure.
    • My power comes from my energy and my commitment to live my purpose, which doesn’t require speaking.
    • I am my message by simply BEing my essence. Words are often a distraction.
    • The longer I am angry at myself, the longer the stuck energy trapping my voice will stick around.
    • Self forgiveness is key to success.
    • Speaking up, especially when it’s uncomfortable, is essential to being the impact I want to be in the world.

    If I’m not speaking up at the car dealership, then where am I not speaking up in my business? I realized that there is yet ANOTHER layer to my brand and my core message that I have been attempting to hide.

    That truth is that at my core I am a healer and a spiritual teacher. The vehicle in which I share that truth is through my business as a spiritual business coach and intuitive strategist.

    My core values are spirituality, connection to Source and intuition. Business is second.

    Whoa.

    There it is. It’s who I am.

    The world needs to HEAR the real YOU ~Contact.FirstName~. Not the rehearsed you that is trying to please others. Or the pretend you that is following all the rules of success.

    But the REAL, messy, crazy, imperfect YOU.

    As I continue to heal this laryngitis and moment to moment forgiving myself for all of the times I didn’t speak up, I learn that my real voice, the one deep inside that is bigger than any word can fill, is here to stay and I’m up to big things.

    I’ll be making an announcement this weekend about how you can be part of this movement

    I’ve created a movement of  REAL women who are sharing their messages in bigger ways in the world.

    It’s not for the faint of heart. It’s not for people who want to pretend they are normal as an attempt to fit in and be invisible.

    It’s for you if you are ready to jump in even while feeling the fear. It’s for you if you know that your message and place in the world needs to expand so you can fulfill your purpose AND fill your bank account with consistent money that has more meaning. If you know this is you, let me know.

    Stay tuned.

    Speak up. Be heard.

    Love,

    Angella

  • My confession + 6 profit tips after you uplevel

    Two weeks ago I held my last ever THRIVE event. It has been an awesome three years and I’m being inspired to host more intimate invite-only retreat-type transformational retreats for women entrepreneurs. Contact me if you want to be on the invite list.

    THRIVE 2013 was amazing. I learned a lot. And since then I’ve been getting new clients ready for a year of powerful transformation for their business. I’ve also been super focused on family.

    Maybe you’ve noticed I’ve been a little quiet in the past two weeks.

    After every uplevel, I am presented with the opportunity to reprioritize. What is really important to me? What am I learning? What am I resisting?

    I’ve been focusing on my top priorities: me and my SOUL time, my family and serving my clients.

    My assistant and I have been creating new systems in my business getting ready for more quantum growth this year and for 2014.

    My sister and 15-month niece Adelyn (the cutie in all of the pics to the right) are here in Utah staying with me for a few weeks while my sister’s  husband is serving his fourth tour of duty as a Marine in Afghanistan.

    I love waking up to the sound of my niece laughing. I love when she stands at the bottom of the stairs and hollers “Anga.” It’s likely just baby gibberish but I tell myself she is saying my name.

    It’s those simple moments that feel like miracles in my life.

    This past weekend my husband and I hosted a sleepover with my brother and his two boys, my nephews Zachy-Zach (who is now 4!) and his little brother 19-month-old Jackson. While my house was pure chaos, it was pure joy.

    Life is really good. I’m basking in the joy of a successful event and new ideal clients who are so ready to take all of their gifts, including their soul purpose and intuition, and make money with it while they help a lot of people in the world. If you know it’s your time to step up your game and build your soul-inspired business, contact me for a strategy session.

    In the past two weeks my sis and I rewired a dryer (proof in the picture above), moved out old furniture to make room for new furniture…my point? Never underestimate the power of two determined woman. My husband was out of commission with a sprained back so the chics took over all of the heavy lifting.

    We celebrated our hard work by going to see our boyfriend (haha) Josh Groban in concert. More about that in next week’s article.

    Surreal Moment:

    I saw someone I used to work with in corporate several years ago at a local shoe store. She barely recognized me. She was grateful to keep her job a few years ago when the company we worked for was bought out. When she asked where I worked I told her that I own my own business and I’m a speaker and coach for women entrepreneurs. She looked at me with a puzzled look. I said “I know, who would have thought? It’s so amazing to be doing what I love.” It made me realize how far I’ve come in just a few short years.

    I was the girl who was climbing the corporate ladder with my hobbies on the side. I was the girl who barely graduated high school.

    Yet something inside of me knew I was meant for me. This takes me to my feature article this week about a secrete confession I have.

    I have a confession.

    I love watching X Factor. And American Idol. I cry when I watch it.

    This “reality show” is a series of people auditioning to be discovered as America’s next music star. The judges grant a certain number of people to the next round where they audition again. The contestants get narrowed down and America votes to see who the final winner is.

    Here is the moment I cry:

    When someone who is auditioning doesn’t see their talent. They wait in anticipation for the judges to grant them permission to move forward in the competition. When the judges pass them to the next round, they are in complete shock.

    I cry because it’s the moment that I see with so many women who attend my events and coach with me – it’s what I see in the real world…

    People who are brilliant and they just don’t see it. They rely on someone else’s approval to be seen and heard.

    It breaks my heart. AND I know what it’s like. I was in that spot of not seeing my own brilliance and relying on others’ approval. It was miserable.

    My favorite thing is when people overcome challenges and keep trying because a part of them knows that they have talent and the SHOW UP to share their voice.

    Like Carlos who has Tourettes Syndrome. When he said “I don’t want to be a sob story, I just want to be an inspiration,” I was on my couch crying like a baby.

    I cheer for the underdogs.

    I cry when the people auditioning share their authentic story.

    There is a lot to learn from simply showing up.

    Here are six tips to Show up with Profitable Power in Your Business:

    1. Be open to feedback. But only to a point. You have to believe yourself more than you believe what ANYONE else says about you. AND you have got to be coachable.

    2. Be yourself. Don’t imitate someone else. Be authentically you.

    3. Show up even when you are scared. One of my favorite guys on X Factor was shaking so badly he could barely hold the microphone. His talent is off the charts. And he still got scared. Your fear level does NOT determine your talent.

    4. You are always better with a mentor. Period.

    5. Will you really do anything? Doing what ever it takes outweighs natural talent. You’ve got to have the goods but the power that makes you stand out is how hard you are willing to show up every time you fall down.

    6. Be honest. Be honest with yourself and be honest with others. I am always annoyed when I see a couple of the judges who consistently WHIMP out and they sugar-coat really bad performances. They care more about being liked by the audience than really serving the contestant who deserves 100% honesty. The judges don’t serve anyone by telling someone what they want to hear verses what they need to hear to be better.

    One of my favorite things I hear on the show is when a judge says “Where have you been hiding?”

    That is my question to you.

    have you been hiding?

    Show up. Be bold. Take risks. Believe in YOU.

    You’ve got what it takes. Otherwise, you wouldn’t even have the vision you have.

    XO,

    Angella

  • Is there a split in the coaching industry? My prediction inside.

    I’ve been having some intimate conversations with a few colleagues lately and there is something going on the coaching industry.

    This may make you upset. Or it may make you relieved because you’ve had this thought too.

    Either way it’s important to know which side you are on so you know how to make your business thrive in the next year.

    Here is my prediction: The coaching industry is in a similar split that happened in 2008 with the housing market.

    Folks who are in the coaching industry for authentic reasons will be positioned to reap the rewards.

    Folks who are in it because it looks like an avenue to make a quick buck off of “desperate” people will piss a bunch of people off and then go away to the next fad.

    Greed never wins in the long run.

    authenticity is the new business currencyConsumers now are seeking authenticity more than ever.

    WE want real. We want something tangible. And we can smell hype a mile away.

    YOU are a part of this movement of authentic transformation and wealth.

    Last year when I started seeing this I had a meltdown that sounded something like this:

    <tears> <snot> <more tears> “Oh my God, is this coaching industry really changing lives or is it something that we all just sell stuff to each other but we don’t really make a difference?”

    (GASP) – How could I even say such a thing right?

    I really questioned the industry. I questioned my value as a service provider. I questioned the support I was paying for. I questioned the “industry standards” as to what “success” really was. I questioned it all.

    I saw the ugly side of the industry and because I know that everything I experience I attract on some level, it was the linchpin to build a business even more authentically. It showed me who I’m NOT so I could determine the right path.

    This was all necessary for me to have a deeper conviction of what I can contribute to personally and what WE can do as the authentic side of the industry.

    This was also necessary for me to bring forth my best work yet with my clients. It stretched me into following my intuition and my bliss.

    I get that you are on the right side of this industry split.

    Here are my top tips to align your business authentically so you make more money, experience more joy and fulfill your purpose.

    1. Only ask people to do what you are willing to do yourself. If you are going to charge a certain amount for your programs, you need to have paid that price. This will help you feel authentic about the value of your services and that authenticity carries through energetically in all of your marketing and sales conversations.

    2. You’ve gotta let go of the self-created drama around numbers and sales. To truly serve people, make the decision to let go of any drama around the sales conversation. Notice I said it’s a decision, it’s not a big process or years of mastering the skill. Sales is mindset and skill set and it starts with a decision.

    3. You can’t build your business only with positive thinking. You’ve got to “move your feet” and take action in addition to working with your mindset.

    4. It’s not you, it’s how you attempt to save people from themselves. If you are concerned about what you charge or the results your clients can get, you are likely stuck in taking over-responsibility for your clients and it’s not that you don’t have something of value to offer.

    You aren’t responsible for the results your clients create. You give them what you promised and they need to do the work for their results. (Thanks to Elizabeth Pervis for that reminder.)

    5. Investing in your business doesn’t start with money, it starts with a decision. Investing in mentoring, attending events and hiring a team starts with a decision and then the resources follow. If your mindset is “When I have the money then I’ll hire a mentor,” then  nothing will change.

    6. Comparison is the root of all pain. If you want to have a unique business model, it’s important to stop comparing yourself to others in your market. Be willing to stand out and be unique in your offerings and your message.

    To Your Success,

    Angella

  • This won’t make you popular but it’s gotta happen

    My whole life I’ve felt a little bit like an outsider.

    I have memories of sitting in school as a kid and all the way through college wondering why I was getting taught stuff like math and algebra and science and social studies when I had bigger work to do in the world.

    It was a conscious question. Almost like looking at people move in slow motion wondering “why are these people doing all of this?”

    I remember looking around at the other students who seemed more engaged than I was and I wondered what was wrong it with me because I wasn’t focused like they were.

    If it wasn’t for my art and writing classes growing up, I likely would have dropped out of school entirely. That was the only time I felt like I could express myself. So I got the label as the quite artsy girl.

    I was never the popular kid. I was never the life of the party.

    I was the quiet girl in the corner observing people and being utterly confused and intrigued at human behavior.

    I’ve always been the observer. I was the person who would walk into any room and immediately know what was going on. I knew when my teachers were stressed at home. I knew the kids who went home to abusive environments.

    No one said anything, it was just the feeling I got.

    You see, I thought everyone picked up on this stuff. I thought everyone had conversations with their mom about intuition and God and loving people in the world.

    Nope. When I got older I realized that this was not the normal conversation people were having.

    How could people live in this world and not talk about this stuff?

    Then as I got older I realized that a lot of people are asleep. Numb. Following the  system of “being noticed” so they could feel popular, but not following their own heart.

    Here is what puzzles me today:

    How has building a business been turned into a popularity contest? And why are so many people buying into it? Why did I buy into it?

    When I look on Facebook, I skim past the stuff that is just there for show. The stuff that has the energy of “proving how successful I am.” I’ve done it too.

    There is a difference in energy when you talk about what you are creating because it’s your divine brilliance vs proving your value to people to be popular.

    The truth is, you don’t need to be popular to be successful in business. You don’t need to show your latest trips to show your success IF you are doing those things to PROVE to others why they should like you.

    Building your business the way you want to will make you unpopular. Some people won’t like you.

    Look at how much money you want to make.

    If you were to charge premium pricing for your services because you know your value and you trust people to create their own results with what you provide to them, how many clients do you really need every year to make that happen?

    I used to think I wanted a multi-million dollar business. I could see my name in lights. And glitter would explode from the ceiling as took my place on stage and inspired thousands of people.

    Something changed.

    I didn’t care about seeing my name in lights. I cared about living my purpose. I cared about feeling joyful every day. I cared about how I treated others because I’m a kind person not because of what will happen to me after I die or because of what I want people to think.

    I stepped into making choices that I knew would make me unpopular but living someone else’e vision for my life was suffocating.

    I embrace being the one to “dreams too big” and the one who gets “too emotional” about business because I actually give a shit. About you. About me. About the world.

    And it gets to be a lot some days. Caring that much. Feeling that much. Knowing there is a bigger purpose that we are all a part of. It’s rich and gorgeous and sensual and amazing. Some days it’s hard.

    Your business…the one that you really want to build doesn’t need to make you fit it. It won’t make you popular.

    Isn’t it funny that we all want to “stand out and be unique” yet when we start on that path we shrink back because not enough people like us.

    What your authentic business will do is serve the people you are meant to serve. It will make you the man or woman who is someone you’ve always hoped you would become. It will stretch you and pull you and make you feel like a crazy person chasing crazy dreams and when you breathe that in, you know you are living your purpose. Ahhhhh and that feeling is so intoxicating you wonder why you didn’t do this earlier.

    So you put THAT photo of you experiencing your success that you worked your ass off for on Facebook and the energy is one of sharing your brilliance because it’s your authentic voice.

    That is the kind of business that is available for you.

    Forget about the popularity contest. Focus on the handful of people you can really serve each day. Be true to yourself.

    Be okay with being a misfit. The crazy one. The dreamer. Because you know what? You are a Doer. Someone who makes things happen.

    Here is to you standing out!

    Angella

  • It’s just as important as your marketing

    I spent three days this week in beautiful Sundance Utah at an exquisite cabin for a client retreat.

    We ate healthy food, we had a full moon ceremony where we created a list of things that were holding us back and burned it in a fire. We then created a clear vision of what we wanted to manifest.

    We rode the ski lift up the mountain as the full moon made it’s debut appearance for the night.

    My clients left with the exact steps of how to make their big vision a reality.

    It was magical. I chose to immerse this group in an environment of abundance, nurturing and beautiful nature. If you always have the same environment with the same people and the same conversations, NOTHING will change.

    It’s why I’m taking a handful of women to Italy in October for the ultimate manifestation retreat in a private villa in a vineyard. Imagine what could change in your life when your environment is one of abundance, magic, and possibility.

    This week’s article is about how your environment is the thing that is diluting your marketing to fall flat.

    There are six things that contribute to your ability to create the business you want:

    1. Intention
    2. Thoughts
    3. Beliefs
    4. Feelings
    5. Environment
    6. Actions

    These six things must be in sync with what you say you want, or it doesn’t happen.

    Your environment can dilute your intentions and practically convince yourself that you aren’t worth the big vision you have.

    Think about a business goal you have right now.

    Let’s say you have the goal of creating $100,000 in the next twelve months.

    Does your environment support that goal? Your environment includes the people you hang around, the conversations you are having, your physical environment, the car you drive and the chaos/clutter you are tolerating in your life. You environment also includes your relationships.

    When I work on this process with my clients, we create the list of tolerations. These tolerations are energy leaks in your life.

    Any energy leak in your life is a profit leak in your business.

    A common topic that comes up with my clients is their relationship with their partner or spouse. If you are in a relationship with a significant other, does that relationship fuel your business goal or drain it?

    Are you constantly having to defend your goals and vision to your partner? Are they negative?

    Chances are, if they aren’t working toward their big dreams, seeing you work toward your big dream will trigger them in ways that come across as being unhappy, negative or outright not supporting you.

    Their lack of belief in themselves is projected in a lack of belief in you. Don’t accept their fear as your truth.

    This is not only with a spouse, but it can be with a child, a friend, or a colleague.

    You have to have enough belief in yourself that their lack of belief in themselves doesn’t affect your confidence and the actions you take.

    Do you have friends who you can talk to about what is REALLY going on in your life and business? Or are they top surface friendships that prefer to focus on conversations about the latest movies, restaurants and the stress at their jobs? What conversations do you really want to be in?

    Your environment matters. It’s a constant reflection to you of what is possible.

    You have to change your environment if it’s not supporting your big goals and you as the magnificent person you are.

    Yep, this may mean you have to get new friends. Leave a love relationship (or get counseling), get a new car, CLEAN, repaint your office, get a new desk or computer, etc.

    Here is the catch: Activities to clean up or change your environment cannot take the place of your marketing. They are done together. Be cautious if you focus on cleaning and organizing instead of making sales calls. Don’t let yourself off the hook from doing the income generating tasks in your business.

    It is also essential to get out of your comfort zone often. If you work from home, go to a coffee shop or the library to work one day a week.

    Go to a spa. Eat at a nice restaurant. Give yourself the experience of luxury.

    If your environment is a reflection of what you don’t want, then change it. Be willing to be bold in changing it.

    To Your Success,

    Angella

  • I’m A Fraud (Can I Really Say That?)

    I’m a fraud. 

    Have you ever felt like that?

     

    I’m scared.

    Have you felt like that today?

     

    I don’t want to do this. I can’t do this.

    Is that something you have told yourself this week?

     

    Here is the truth: (I told you, I’m going to be raw, real and totally transparent.)

    There are some days I wake up and I don’t want to get on the computer. I don’t want to write my newsletter. I don’t want to get on the phone. I don’t want to make sales calls. Then I argue with myself because I know that unless I’m making sales, I’m not in business. And having a hobby isn’t what I signed up for.

    Some days I feel like a wanna-be-preneur instead of an actual entrepreneur. I figure things out as I go, teaching what I can as I go to others who are teachable.

    I get afraid of what people will think. I get bored with my message. I question if I’m doing all I can for my clients. I wonder how I can “compete” with other people in my market. I wonder what really makes me different or if it’s all in my head.

    Will my friends will be by my side through the whole thing? Will my husband? Will I stay be my side?

    Will I follow my intuition? Or let my perception of what I think people want dictate what I do?

    Will I get stuck? If so, for how long.

    I feel the pressure of being a certain way and if I have a bad day, can I share it? What kind of example would that be if I do?

    Most of what I do doesn’t work. The 20% that does work, works well. Most of the time, except when it doesn’t. Then I actually get pissed that the 80/20 rule is working like that in my business. Can I flip that around? Then I see that it’s pretty normal when other entrepreneurs honestly share what’s going on for them.

    If I act a certain way, will people work with me? I sabotage my success. I have fear storms.

    I feel like a fraud. Can I really say that? Will I lose all credibility?

    I wonder if “this” will really work? It won’t work exactly the way I want it to. It will require adjustments, tweaks, support and maybe even some tears.

    Why isn’t my list growing faster? Where are places to speak? How do I reach my goal of $500k this year? Is that even possible? Is it possible for me?

    People who said “yes” will quit. People who said “No” before will come to the surface when their time is right.

    WHOA! 

    Breathe.

     

    Breathe again.

     

    Why am I sharing this? I’m honest in my journey.

    And quite frankly, I’m tired of businesses that “fake it until they make it” because there is no such thing. Only until we share the truth, can we be free; free in our money, business, health and relationships.

    Because with all of this, I also know the truth.

    The truth is I have what it takes. I’m doing it. Every day I keep going. I created a 6-figure business in 15 months. So can you.

    Fear is just an illusion and there are moments, days, and weeks that it feels paralyzing.

    I know what it’s like to work you butt off and something doesn’t work out. Or you get hurt. Or you take something personally.

    This is why I can relate to you. I know what it’s like. I know how to turn the fear storms into solid ground to stand on as your platform to share your message with the world.

    I know what it feels like to wonder if your message makes a difference. I have been shaking with nerves before walking on stage, knowing I didn’t lose that 30 pounds I wanted to before the event, and wonder will people “get” me? Then to be walking down the hall after the presentation wondering if I did the best job you could and someone literally runs up to me, throws their arms around you and thanks me for speaking up and speaking out. Now they have the courage to do the same thing.

    Ya, the shaking was worth it. Now I can look at someone in the eye before they walk on stage and know what it feels like when they are shaking and questioning their power.

    I know what it’s like to launch a program and wonder if people will join. Sometimes it flops. Sometimes it’s a smashing success.

    I know what it’s like to make the first sale after you have raised your prices and you are overjoyed that you have a client who matches your new vibration. Ironically, just minutes before you were in a fear storm because “no one will ever pay that” when the real fear was “Am I worth that much?”

     

    If you have ever felt this then click on this link” Same Boat – Different Paddle” and schedule a free session with me.

    You see, we are all in the same boat, but you have been feeling for a while that it’s time to move with a different paddle. I can show you how to use a different paddle. Chances are, the paddle you have been using is moving you in circles. You’ve been there before. You are ready to see a new part of the ocean. Let’s go.

    Same Boat – Different Paddle

    Remember, the next time you “feel like a fraud,” the truth is on the other side of that. Go through it.

    When you get support, you get to your destination quicker and you take a journey that is easier and more effective. I’m here for you.

    Same Boat – Different Paddle

    With Love, 
    Angela

  • How I Ignited My Success (in the face of fear)

    At IGNITE last week, I shared my story of my “unlikely” success. I barely graduated high school and miraculously graduated college. After being fired in 2008, I struggled for almost two years then I created a 6-figure business in a year when I finally got serious and made the decision that I wanted success.

    During a breakout session I presented at IGNITE, I took everyone through the following process. So get a post in note out or a piece of paper and follow along:

    1. Write down your financial goal you have for 2012.
    2. Now write down the reasons why you haven’t achieved that goal yet. Don’t edit yourself, but get really honest with yourself.

    Now here is the part that either pisses people off, or they don’t see it or sometimes, it creates true freedom in an instant.

    The only reason why you haven’t achieved your money goal (or any goal for that matter) is because you have wanted to. You haven’t made the decision to.

    Trust me, I’m applying this to my own goals as we speak. This requires 100% accountability to receive such information.

    So often, we “wait and see” for things to work out. Or we lean on the “law of attraction” as a crutch while we tell ourselves “If it’s supposed to happen then it will.” I hear people say things like “I guess I’m not meant to be ______ otherwise I would be.”

    Sigh….I’ve told myself that in the past too. What results did you think I had in my life with those kinds of excuses running my beliefs and actions?

    Making a decision means that you do what ever it takes. There is still flow, freedom and inspiration that comes in, but YOU take the action and the universe meets you half way.

    Now comes the question about how you move forward, even in the face of fear.

    I don’t know of a single person who doesn’t get scared when they make a change, or say yes to an opportunity. Even when the opportunity is perfect, there may be an afterthought that has the residue of fear.

    Ask yourself what the fear is really about. If it’s about how you think your goal won’t happen and you will be a failure, consider this. The ONLY way to fail is to QUIT. And if you stay stuck and don’t move forward, that is a way of quitting.

    This is how you move forward in the face of fear:

    1. Make the decision of what you want.

    2. What is ONE action item you can make to move forward? Rather than getting overwhelmed with the MANY things that get to happen to reach your goal, what is ONE thing you can do in the next 24 hours.

    Example: If you want to create an extra $5,000 this month and you have a service or product you can offer, then ONE thing you can do is know EXACTLY what you are offering and when you can offer it (put it in your schedule). Then you create a list of people you are going to call. This doesn’t have to be official, put it on a post-it note. Then schedule time and make the calls.

    3. Assess your results. Tweak your process and take more actions.

    4. Get support through the process to assist with any “fear storms” that come up. Where people get stuck is they think they have to do this alone. Get a coach or a mastermind.

    DO IT NOW! Write down ONE thing you can do TODAY to get you closer to your goals. You will be amazed at how much easier it is to take the action than it is just thinking about the action.

     

    Success happens one action item at a time. There is no such thing as an overnight success. It’s REAL people like you and me who are changing the world. In order to do that, we must change OUR own personal world.

    Create an amazing week because you DESERVE all of the success in the world!

  • How You Handle THIS Determines Success or Sabotage

    What do do when challenges come up in your business.

    “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
    ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    =====================================================================

    Is it a common thing.

    You take a step in what you think is the right direction and BAM! All hell breaks loose. Or you get into an argument with your spouse. Or something happens that makes it challenging to keep going.

    This especially happens when you “uplevel.” You know what this is. Right when you say YES to going to an event or training, or right after you’ve signed up with a coach, or right when you make the decision to go to the gym four days a week. You say YES and things feel really stinking hard.

    This is the pitfall that a lot of amazing people make. They mistakenly think that the resistance they are experiencing is a “sign” that they aren’t actually supposed to do what they set out to do. THIS is what determines our success or a way to sabotage our success.

    But here is the truth: when the resistance come up, it’s the “sign” that you are EXACTLY where you are meant to be, doing what you are meant to do. It’s the sign that your intuition was (and still is) right on. It’s the sign that you are on your perfect path of living your legacy. David Neagle calls it “The Law of Opposition.” And boy is he right!

    I get it, it’s frustrating to be moving forward, taking action, feeling excited then WHAM, you feel like everything starts crumbling. This is when the car breaks down so the money that was going to pay for a program or training, now gets to go to the car. Or when a child gets sick or the babysitter doesn’t show up, which prevents you from being on time to that important meeting or event.

    Then the lovely self doubt creeps in. (That is the best right?)

    Here is the good news.

    Belief breakthrough masters, Tiffany Rose and Suzi Bleak of The Real Woman Revolution, reminded me of this just yesterday. “Every challenge that feels like a wall, which looks impossible to get around, is really a doorway to the very next step to your success.”

    Think about that for just a second.

    When the crap comes up, unexpected things are challenging you and circumstances pop up that literally make it difficult to get to your goal, it’s the DOORWAY to your next step. This is where it gets tricky though.

    Will you open the door? It’s YOUR choice.

    When you choose to open the door AND step through it, you will be met with success AND the next set of challenges. Remember Jenn, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. Who we become in this process is the true success. And when you keep walking through those doorways, you also put money in the bank, you are making a difference and you are happy! The challenges are just something to notice. It doesn’t mean anything unless we make it mean something.

    The most successful entrepreneurs have ONE thing in common and that is tenacity.

    Keep opening the doorway when circumstances feel challenging. Building a business doesn’t have to include struggle. Struggle is always optional.

    Keep following your heart. Keep opening those doorways. The world thanks you for it.

  • The Labor Pains Have Started

    Are you going to trust the process or try to stop the inevitable?

    It happens in three month increments. Every “trimester” the growing pains make you wonder if you can make it. Will you really do this?

    Is “it” really working? “It” can be your coach, your marketing plan, your clients, your financial goals, your time management…etc.

    This is what I notice in me and in EVERY single client and colleague I know on some level. About every three months I question if things are really working. I re-evaluate my path, I question my progress. Is everything on track?

    When this happens and you step fully into accountability, then this is GREAT. If you are avoiding accountability then this will result in blame, complaining, drama, unhappiness, defeat or fear paralysis.

    This time of questioning also happens EVERY SINLGE TIME I uplevel. Along with every up-level, comes a new level of accountability. There is a new level of the unknown and let’s face it, the unknown is scary at times.

    If you are in a fear storm then know that you can get through it. It just requires taking baby steps, even when you don’t feel like it. A fear storm can look like being paralyzed by fear so you don’t take any action or you keep yourself busy rather than being productive.

    A fear storm shows up like this:

    • Instead of sending out the important emails, following up with someone, or making a sales call (gasp) you organize your desk, you go to the office supply store for “supplies (my personal favorite) or you make excuses that you need to organize your office because you “just can’t work in there.”
    • It may also show up by using your kids as an excuse… “I can’t spend more time away from my kids.”
    • Making yourself physically sick as a way to force you to slow down.
    • Shutting down and withdrawing.
    • Blaming your coach or colleagues for “not doing something for you.”
    • Getting angry or annoyed at circumstances for getting in your way and using it as an excuse to not move forward.
    • Ignoring your results and pretending that everything will be fine if you just “wait and see.”

    You get the point?

    Take full accountability for your results. And please hear this , taking accountability does not mean beating yourself up for the past. It’s just noticing where you are and seeing how you contributed to your current results. It’s a freeing experience to see what you see and make a new commitment.

    It’s up to you to make your business work. It’s not up to the economy, your coach, your mastermind members, the internet, online strategies, marketing strategies, or your clients. It’s up to you. Isn’t that freeing? Knowing that you don’t have to wait for anyone else or get anyone’s approval means you can move at your pace is the truth that will truly set you free.

    Here are some tips to get through the labor pains:

    • Ask for what you want.
    • Ask for support and assistance.
    • Take baby steps. Taking action is one of the best ways to alleviate fear.
    • Continue to uplevel. Invest in yourself, your business and your education regularly.
    • Most of all, know that you will experience these cycles in your life and business. And it’s normal.

    Every three months (or so) you have the opportunity to look at your growing pains and notice what you notice. The labor of birthing your business is worth it. The world is hungry for what you have so trust the process. You know what to do. Now go out there and kick some butt!

  • How To Hire Help When You Can’t Afford It

    We’re approaching three full weeks into 2012. Is anything different so far? Remember it’s often the small changes that bring the biggest rewards. This brings me to the point of this week’s article…are you still doing everything yourself yet you want a different outcome this year?

    I see it all of the time…brilliant people getting burned out and things fall through the cracks because you can’t keep up with it all. You know you need to hire someone, usually it’s a coach and/or a virtual assistant but you have ONE BIG PROBLEM.

    You don’t know how you will afford it.

    I have felt like that before. I feel it every time I uplevel or add a support team. And guess what? It’s not about your budget. It’s about a DECISION.

    “But Angela, I literally don’t have money to pay someone right now. What do I do?” I hear this a lot and this is what you do.

    Until you have made a decision, there is nothing to worry about. Nothing. Don’t spend a second thinking about how you will pay for something until you have first made the decision that you are going to do it.

    Now assuming you have made the decision then we can have a conversation about what you can do TODAY to make this happen.

    Making a decision means you cut off all other possibilities – you don’t have a backup plan or plan B, C, D…. You are focused on one outcome and you are committed, not just interested, to make it happen.

    Make the decision and the HOW will ALWAYS show up. The problem is then when you are in a stretch like this, most people want it to be super easy to prove that they are doing the right thing. Sigh….I wish that was the case.

    You can be in the FLOW of your perfect path and there will still be turbulence. It’s called being an entrepreneur.

    It’s just two steps, this is how you do it:

    1. Make the decision.

    2. Fund the decision. And how you pay for it is:

    • Sell your stuff, plasma (no, I’m not kidding because I’ve done it), CDs, an extra car you have, jewelry, computer, etc. Do you want the transformation that help can bring you or do you want the stuff more? Decide.
    • Sell your service (aka Get a client)
    • Get a loan. This can be from a traditional bank or a credit card.
    • Get a job loan. This may mean you get a job temporarily to fund something.

    This is where folks get stuck: (do any of these apply to you?)

    • You can get so desperate for a sale that they scare people away. Have high intentions and low attachments. Don’t be attached to whether or not people will buy your stuff. Make the invitation, be confident in your value and someone will say yes.
    • You don’t want to sell. Do you have issues with selling? If so, you likely actually have issues with your own value and offering it to people. Let go of your money stories. Sales isn’t slimy unless you make it that way.
    • You are more comfortable where you are. If it’s not painful enough for you to change your support team, then it will eventually cause your business to implode. Get help when you start to feel those pains, not after you have lost customers because you don’t have enough help to follow through.
    • You worry yourself into a panic. Stop making up stories about why you can’t do something. You will be amazed at the resources that come together with a clear decision.
    • Are you a control freak? Micromanaging people sucks. Being micromanaged sucks. So don’t do either.

    If you are struggling to ask for help in your business, then ask yourself:

    • When was the first time you told yourself you had to do this on your own in order to really be successful?
    • If hiring help in the past hasn’t worked out, what about your expectations, communication and systems must change in order to get the job done AND make you happy?
    • If you are wondering if you do really need the help, then ask yourself “Can I do it THIS WAY for the next 20 years and be where I want to be financially, spiritually, emotionally and physically? If the answer is NO, then it’s time to hire someone.