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4 Ways To Be Productive as A Mom Working from Home

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Working from home is NOT glamours like you see in the movies…

Most think that working from home is a luxury. You get to wake up when you want, work in your PJ’s, no commute, no traffic, no money spent on gas, lunch money saved, and you get naptime as if you were in preschool. Those things I have learned easily become your curse instead of your blessing.

I am a mother of 2 and I work my business from home. My 6-month-old son stays home with me full time so I have to work and be a mom to him at the same damn time. I get so many messages on how I balance my two lives and make it look easy.   I came up with four simple tips that help me stay productive since I am working from home.

 1. Get dressed  as if  you have a 9-5

Working in your PJ’s the first week you work from home is life but after that high is over, you develop a pattern of always working in your PJ’s. You become unproductive and lazy because you have not fully prepared yourself. It is so true that when you look good, you feel good which makes you perform better. Stop working in your PJ’s and get dressed all up like you have a job to go too because you do. It just so happens to be your own business that you work from home.

I comb my hair, I beat this face, I wear cute clothes, and I get all dolled up to go to work. You don’t work from home, you work from the office that just so happens to be in your home. Change your mindset.

I wake up 30 minutes earlier than my children so I can get myself ready. At 8:30 am when I drop my 5-year-old off at kindergarten, I am cute in my office with my laptop and coffee ready to start my job at 9:00 am.

2. Create a top 3 to-do list

Life happens but life really happens when you work from home with children. I can’t control if my 6-month-old wants to be a whiny brat all day and all he wants to do is be held and cuddle. So, I come up with my top 3 things that I MUST get done that day.   I have my day planned by the hour but my main priority is completing my top 3 task so just in case my 6 months old decides that he wants to be king of the day, I am covered. When my 5-year-old and/or husband comes home or when my son goes to sleep I can start to work on the other things on my list that I didn’t get to tackle earlier.

I also wake up in the middle of the night and many times I can’t go back to sleep so I will work on my top 3 things to get ahead in my day.  So make your list before you go to bed.

3. Work in an uncomfortable setting

Don’t work from your bed, the coach, in front of the TV, or any other place in your house where you can get comfy because you will get tired and see a good place to take a nap in your house and sleep will be your business for that day.  Don’t set yourself up for failure because it will work and you will be mad when you wake up. Work from your desk or at your kitchen table. If you were at a job, you would be working at a desk not your bed to act as if you are at a job

4. Buy cute stuff

Cute notebooks and pens motivate me to be productive. Get you some cute stuff that you like for your workspace to make it your own. If you were at a job, you would decorate your cubicle with pictures of your family. You also use your pink pens/pencils, glitter notebooks, and inspirational quotes so do the same thing for your home workspace. You need that décor to keep you motivated.

 

I had an office space in downtown Chicago on the 21st floor. So, working from my office and working from home was a major adjustment. Having a new baby though and wanted to stay home with him and take my daughter to and from school. The fact that I am saving the $1,200 a month bill that I was spending on rent. I save money that I won’t have to spend on daycare for my son and afterschool care for my daughter is a definite win. Working for the home requires discipline if you plan to produce as if you weren’t at home. I run my home-based business as the cooperation that I am. Working from home has major perks but you don’t want to turn perks into an everyday ritual. If you need a 15-minute power nap, take one but don’t turn that into a 3-hour sleeping session.

                                              

19 Secrets To My Success

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I had several conversations about two weeks ago where people either touched upon or directly asked me ‘how I do it’?. When I asked them what they meant they wanted to know how I’m able to sustain Womeneur successfully and consistently after nearly three years (Womeneur launched April 2015). And for the ones that know me pre-Womeneur, they’ve continuously seen me succeed at all my entrepreneur ventures. Below pretty much sums up why I am able to stay on top of my game.

SUCCESS SECRETS 

  1. I talk the talk and walk the walk – You know that saying ‘if it walks and talks like a duck, then it’s a duck’? Well, the same applies to me. I don’t just talk to talk. I can back it up and I do. This is how I gain people’s trust, because I follow through.
  2. I’m not a social media star, I have social proof – I am by no means knocking the digital space. The magnitude of awareness and connections it has driven. But…. if social media shut down, I will still be successful and don’t solely rely on social media for attention or clients. I have a track record – social proof – before the explosion of social media. In other words… you can google me and find info about me as far back as 2008.
  3. I’m consistent – this is one the biggest factors to play a part of whether or not you will succeed. I show up every time and I don’t overwhelm or bite off more than I can chew. Also, I am realistic with my time frame and do what I can realistically do in the time frame available (after taking care of my personal needs, socializing, etc)
  4. I work my entire ass off – My work ethic is unmatched. I sacrifice and prioritize now for future benefits. Also, I do what it takes to get sh*t done.
  5. I remain humble – I come from humble beginnings and I NEVER forget where I came from. I’ll never be that individual who will be inaccessible or think I’m too good for the same people I used to once be. I’m not better than anyone… definitely may have more knowledge and experience than others, but I’m that person who treats the janitor and CEO the same.
  6. I don’t kiss ass – nope, never have and never will. I shouldn’t either. There were many days I wanted a contract or client or sale, but I always kept my standards. No one is that great that I should have to beg or sell my soul.
  7. I create my own – to piggy-back off #6 – I am a firm believer of creating my own events, workshops, memberships, etc. this allows me to grow and then create additional partnerships and collaborations. Additionally, it allows me to kinda control my destiny – as well as additional streams of income
  8. I’m authentic and walk in my truth & power – took me a while to get this space. Yes, I’ve dealt with low self-esteem, lack of confidence and I allowed the behavior and thoughts of random, irrelevant people to write my narrative. I eventually reached a space where I decided I’m going to live for me. This has attracted the right people in my corner, amazing opportunities and it builds trust and loyalty
  9. I leverage my contacts – I’ve been in business since 2006 and it has afforded me the opportunity to meet 100s of people. I foster a ‘you scratch my back I’ll scratch your back’ type of exchange. One where we’re both not connecting with each other just to ask for favors. I met a woman years ago when I launched my first business in 2006. We both saw each other grow and prosper and she opened a winery. My point? She ‘came through’ for me to serve her wines at both my Womeneur launch in 2015 and last April at WomeneurCon 2017. This is without barely speaking for years (but in between the years, we consistently ‘put each other on’), but we both know the value we bring each other… not to mention the respect is there. Please take your time to foster and develop relationships with people you share synergy with.
  10. I don’t shit on anyone – As I mentioned earlier, I treat the janitor the same as the CEO. Everyone gets treated with respect, even if something doesn’t work out in my favor. I keep it professional and move on
  11. I uplift, inspire and empower people to win – I’m an avid supporter of women’s empowerment and I’m not afraid to put people in a winning position. Giving and sharing has come back to me ten-fold in ways many people can only imagine.
  12. I positively affirm my mind daily – Another large factor to success is to block out the bullsh*t, the naysayers, staying positive and persevering even when all the odds are stacked against you. And, I keep have an affirmation manifesto as my laptop and cell phone screensaver, not to mention I read daily and it always includes self-development books
  13. I make money with my strengths – You know I’ve learned how to best package my knowledge to solve peoples’ problems and move them further to their goals
  14. I delegate my weaknesses – As a startup entrepreneur, you will be forced to wear many hats. But the goal when you’re financially able is to delegate the areas of your work you don’t prosper in. Consistently trying to do everything may be the downfall of your business
  15. I work on my business vs working in it – to piggyback off #14. I read Michael Gerber’s book – The E-Myth Revisited. This book has pretty much enlightened me about the mistakes of consistently working ‘in’ your business (day-to-day grind) versus ‘on’ your business (growing, scaling, partnering, etc). At some point, you have to step out from the trenches of your business
  16. I say what I mean and mean what I say – When you first start your business – and even while you’re growing it – until anyone knows who you are, you need to establish trust and credibility. Until people do consistently see you in action, they will only have your word to rely on. I have become known to be credible and trust-worthy because I don’t just flap my lips. I’m intentional with what I say.
  17. I have a winning mindset – I’ve taken time to develop my confidence and truly believe I can do whatever I set out to. Moreover, I envision it and believe it and do whatever it takes days to move me closer to winning.
  18. I read daily – I’m a fairly avid reader – maybe not as much now as I’d like, but to overcome that I made it part of my daily, morning routine. It’s essential to educate your mind – especially about topics in your industry. Reading affords you the opportunity to ‘keep the conversation going’ and to also apply what I know to continue increasing my strengths and turn that into profit
  19. I don’t compare myself to others – I used to this a lot, but no more. I finally realized that everyone’s chapter and story is different. It’s self-deprecating behavior and serves you no purpose.

What are secrets to your success?

One Word Is All You Need to Prosper

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One word. That’s all it takes to change your life. One word can open doors that had been closed. Just one word can tear down years of trust. One word can also turn someone’s dreams into reality. One word, just one simple word, is all you need to turn your 2018 into the year in which you achieve all the goals you desire to crush. How can one word be so powerful? Words are far more than what we use to speak and to write. Words are not just the way we communicate with each other, words are how our souls communicate with our destiny.

A new year is an automatic reset. The energy of a new year gives us the motivation to get it right, reset wrongs and set new goals that are intended to make our lives more abundant. Hopefully, you have already prayed and decided what goals you want to achieve for the year. If not, I encourage you to take some time and set them. It took me a while to devise my list. My original list is about 25 items long. Yes, I am a bit of an overachiever. After final review, I finally narrowed the list down into 5 major categories.

Let me share my list with you.

  1. Be a brand ambassador for Colgate in conjunction with my book tour for my new children’s book Have You Seen My Little Tooth
  2. Practice intentional diversity by building stronger personal relationships
  3. Be more respectful of my body and mind
  4. Sell 10,000
  5. Seek and execute more opportunities to connect with community

My list above is my overarching goals list. I have several items underneath each one that you might want to call a strategy. For instance, number 5 has a bullet point underneath for me to join the greeter’s ministry at church. I want to use my gift of encouragement to greet people as they walk in the door. Now that I’ve gotten my goals in place, I need to bring them to life by choosing one word that will help me stay laser-focused on those goals. This word will serve as the theme my year.

My word is MANIFESTATION.

Before I chose manifestation, I toyed with a few others. Prosperity, blessing, open and intentional all topped the list. Yet nothing seemed to fit quite as much as manifestation. I have been working so hard for the last couple of years to prepare and get ready for the times in which I must walk into an opportunity. This year, I will see that hard work manifest into an overflow of prosperity

What is your word? Maybe this is your year of discovery. Or maybe it will be epic. Regardless of what word you choose, make sure it is a word that when it is spoken you will automatically be reminded of your goals list and stay focused. Remember the power of life and death lies within your tongue. Speak life into your word. Watch it live!

No More New Year’s Resolutions

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The new year is coming!  It’s time for new beginnings.  Starting the New Year is when we get a chance to forget about the past, especially a past that may have been full of regrets, failures, and delays. New Year is also a time for celebration.  It’s when we get another chance to get it right.
In the western world, we also have a tradition of writing down New Year’s resolutions. Something quite frankly I’ve chosen not to do for the past couple of years. I tell you more about that later.  This tradition involves making a list of items we want to change.  Unfortunately, while we make these list with great intentions of improvement, only about 8 percent of people actually keep it.  Let that soak in.  That mean 92% of us fail at keeping a commitment to ourselves.
Now that’s when we write the commitment in the form of a resolution. Now conversely, people who have a written goal are about 50% more likely to succeed.   So.. Why do we keep it this tradition if studies show that we will break them by January 15th? We don’t even keep them long enough to make a habit. A habit usually sets in on day 21.  Again, why do we keep making resolutions year after year?

Why choose goal over New Year resolutions?

I think we need to make choose goals instead of resolutions.  Here are my reasons.
  1. We all want to improve. We all want to better ourselves. A goal helps us be better. It’s that simple.
  2. Goals are measurable.  We can track how we are doing which will us stay on track.
  3. It’s a tradition.  Well duh.  I am not trying to stop the tradition just remix it a little.
  4. Understanding the power of words. A goal is a result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.   A resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something.  In essence, a resolution is an act in which we solve the problem but the goal is the end result of the achievement.
  5. The numbers don’t lie.  If we start using the term New Year’s Goals.  We have at least a 50% chance of making it happen

I rest my case.  From now on, I will only set goals that I plan on achieving.  I’ll even go a step further by sharing them with my friend circle. What is the accountability I hear?  Let’s get started ladies. Go ahead and write down those New Years goals.  It’s going to be a great year. I can feel it in my bones!

Just Do It, Girl!

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As I sat at my laptop contemplating the first topic I should write about as a Womeneur contributor, the first thing that came to mind was: Just Do It!

When I think about sharing entrepreneurial advice, my initial thoughts revolve around how I conceived and executed the launch of IMME COLLECTION. I think about the fact that I’ve wanted to be a fashion designer since I was a pre-teen but while taking the traditional route from college to corporate America, I lost sight of my passion. And, how I let the allure of a stable, six-figure job keep me in my comfort zone for way too long until I finally decided to accept the risks that came with investing my time, money, and emotions into the pursuit of my true passion. It is my true inspiration for starting a new business.

I think of all those years in “leadership” positions thinking I was the boss when I was really just a glorified worker. And all these thoughts lead me to the conclusion that the best piece of advice I can give to anyone who is afraid to take the entrepreneurial leap is to JUST DO IT!

I’m not saying you should quit your day job on a whim. What I’m saying is that you shouldn’t waste years, months, or even weeks asking yourself if it’s worth it or if you can do it. These are two questions that you should already know the answer to. If you’re passionate about it, then it’s worth it. If you’re willing to put in the work, then you can do it. So the only real question is HOW are you going to do it. If you’re already working a full-time job then you’ll just have to optimize your time when you’re not at work. Yes, that means you’ll have a lot of late nights and early mornings!

Overcoming The Challenge of Developing a Business Plan

Developing your business plan won’t be an easy or a quick task. But, sometimes you just have to take that first step to get your entrepreneurial juices flowing. Go ahead, and get your business license, register your website domain, open your business bank account, and order your business cards. These tasks sound mundane, but I promise you that each step you take towards making your business official will give you an exciting sense of accomplishment. With the completion of these simple but essential steps, you’ll feel more and more motivated to finish what you started and put in the work to launch your business. Take the time to write down your ideas, make a to-do-list, and create a timeline for your goals. The time is now. Find your inspiration for starting a new business, and just do it, Girl!

Are You Really Finishing The Year Strong?

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You’ve done it.  You’ve made it to the last month of 2017 and you’re still pushing forward with your goals.  Your days haven’t slowed down.  You dare not have holiday brain.  You’re an entrepreneur and you don’t have the luxury of disconnecting and checking out just because the Christmas lights are sparkling and the eggnog is flowing. You’ve got goals to meet and hustling to do.  You’re so proud of yourself. You are handling your business.

At the end of the year, business professionals and entrepreneurs hear the same mantra: FINISH STRONG. You even tell yourself, “I’m going to finish strong and get it done”. As a matter of fact, I heard myself say these very words the other day. “Shennice, you’ve got to finish strong”. I tell my Granddaughter all the time; the words you speak have power. I contemplated my words. What does it mean to finish strong? I tell myself the same thing every year and end up with the same result; tired, frustrated and needing a vacation. Yes, all the items are checked off of my list but my peace of mind is shot! I looked in the mirror and said, “OK, Finishing strong the way you’ve been doing it. How is that working out for you?” You know repeating a process and expecting a different result is insanity.  Well I don’t want to go insane another year. This year I’m going to use the last days of 2017 imitating Whitley Gilbert in A Different World: Relax, Relate, and Release.

Relax- I am not going to totally go on vacation but I will be more social this holiday season. As a The Ultimate Mompreneur, during the holidays I’m working every weekend and stressed.  I don’t take the time to enjoy the reason for the season because I am so focused on business and finishing strong.  While family and friends are being festive, I’m standing on my feet for 14 hours catering a dinner party. It’s not that I don’t need or want the money but I have to ask myself “will this one job make or break me”? or “Is this job worth me not sharing my son’s first time ice-skating”? This year I’m gong to be more strategic with my clients.  Instead of taking every job that can fit on the calendar, I’m first filling my calendar with important family dates then working in my business.  Family comes first.

Relate: What is the relationship between my efforts and obtaining my goal? Am I excreting too much energy? Am I doing to little? I’ve got to reflect on my actions based on the return.  I’m asking myself the hard questions.  Was it worth it? What did I sacrifice? What can I do better? Did it go along with my mission and purpose?  How do these actions relate to my purpose? Now I can’t ask the questions without implementing solution. Well cover that later.

Release- I am going to release failure – negatively. I set my own bar. I am only in competition with myself. I am releasing FOMO (the fear of missing out!) I am where I am supposed to be at my appointed time. I will release all those behaviors that are keeping me from being purposeful and living abundantly. Likewise, I release positive energy and authenticity so I can attract the same.  It’s time to let go of things I cannot control. I freely give my business and life fully into God’s hands.

Finishing strong isn’t only about closing the million-dollar deal. It’s also about taking some time to celebrate your successes and learn from your failures. Finishing strong means you have grown into your spiritual and business maturity. And to know if you are finishing strong you must do some self-reflection. I’ve accomplished a lot in my business and in my personal life in 2017. I’ve also had a quite a few failures. With it all, I’ve learned that if you live abundantly and fully, then you a will be better equipped to truly appreciate your authentic self.  And that is FINISHING STRONG!

 

 

5 Morning Routines to Help Create a Productive Day

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Starting the day right is key for being productive, but it can also help you be energetic, put you in the right mood and keep you focused ’til the evening. The best way to do that is to create a morning ritual that will help you be healthy, happy and successful in the long run.

A morning routine is a set of habits done right after you wake up. It may take anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours. But planning your morning, coupled with filling the very first part of your day with productive, creative and healthy activities is what makes this practice so beneficial.

Let’s see how to create the ideal morning:

1. Prepare the night before

It all begins in the evening. That’s when you make the decision to rise early the next morning, thus forming a desire that helps you to actually do it. Together with that, you take some actions to make the most of your morning when you get up. This can include writing your to-do list, getting your clothes ready, preparing your meals, and more.

These steps guarantee you a great morning because you save yourself some time and worries in advance, and prepare mentally at the same time. Anything you do in the evening that’s part of the morning ritual also plays a big role in your personal organization, and makes you more productive in general.

2. Wake up determined

The best combination for a powerful mindset is to go to bed after you let go of anything that has happened during the day, and to wake up with a smile ready to kick start your day. Intention is important also. If you don’t know what you’ll do once you’re awake, you won’t really be motivated to do it. An even worse scenario is to leave bed only to go to work, when you actually don’t like what you do for a living. Whatever the case, you can fix that by planning your morning the night before and having a reason to wake up.

Once you hear the first alarm, you’re more likely to get up. That makes you want to start the day, and over time, that makes you live more passionately and make the most out of each day. When you’re out of bed, feel good about it. You’re given 24 hours and can do anything you want with them. Appreciate this, smile about the opportunities you’ll be given later today. It can turn your whole life around.

3. Write

If you are looking to adopt a practice all successful people share, go for this quick and simple practice. Place a notebook and pen beside your bed in the evening and jot down anything that comes to mind when you open your eyes. Or you can open the laptop and type a few pages of what you plan to get done for the day. Both ways work. But to take morning pages to the next level, here’s what you can write about:

  • List a few things you’re grateful for. The act of writing them down makes you internalize each and you feel truly thankful;
  • Write down your 3 most important tasks for the day. Use your to-do list as a starting point (or create it now if you haven’t done it already), and see which 3 things from all items are key. Look for the ones that will actually get you closer to your goals once completed. Now put these on top. That’s how you prioritize. Then, break them down into smaller actions, so that you can know what the next steps to take are. That’s what you should work on once you’re done with the morning routine;
  • Journal your thoughts. Let out anything you’ve been keeping in your mind. Writing is therapeutic, it helps you remove mental blocks and leads to being more creative and productive. That will pay off later in the day;
  • Describe your ideal lifestyle. Write about your goals and dreams. Imagine you’ve already achieved them. Draw the picture in details in your mind and put pen to paper. This type of visualization makes you focused and you can do your work with more concentration and motivation during the day, knowing you’re getting closer to the lifestyle you deserve.

4. Get active

Many people complain that they don’t have any time to work out. But by getting up earlier, you can easily squeeze in a quick workout or even a jog.  It will not only keep you in shape, but is a fantastic way to jump start your day to feel fresh and energized.

5. Meditate

Let’s dedicate some time to your spiritual health too. The morning is the only time of the day when you probably have some me time, so doing it right means you’ll be at ease for the whole day and even react with calm when unexpected things come up.

Meditation is a quick and easy solution. Just find an isolated place and sit down. Start breathing deeply and focus on your breath until all random thoughts in your mind are gone. That’s when you find peace and are mindful. You can also think of a positive affirmation and repeat it to yourself while meditating to make the effect stronger and boost your motivation for the whole day.

All that is enough to help even the busiest person be more organized and productive, and can lead to personal and business growth too.

What other ways to kickstart a morning do you know of?

Strive for Progress, Not Perfection

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As we stepped into into 2017, I’m sure you’ve already made a list of the things you want to accomplish but have yet to. I’m sure you’re looked back on 2016 wondering “where did the year go?” “How much progress did I make?” And I’m sure you may be also thinking, “2017 is going to be my year!”

Am I right?

This is the thing: every year can be your year if you play your cards right. We all get the same amount of time in a day but what we choose to do with that time is what sets us apart from the rest of the bunch.

It is okay to want  all of your ducks to be in a row before you start something new or re-visit a lost dream, but let’s be realistic, life happens! We can’t wait on the perfect conditions to come to our aid. Why? Because perfection is not the goal, progress is.

Yes, I said it. YOUR GOAL IS NOT PERFECTION, ITS PROGRESS!

Progress is defined as “forward movement towards a destination, in space or in time.” Forward movement is critical. The key to setting and reaching goals is to plan in increments. Take steps to reach a goal so that it doesn’t not become overwhelming and eventually obsolete.

Creating a list of daily tasks and completing each one is good. Meeting and exceeding your quarterly and yearly goals is even better! And listen, sometimes working through life’s mishaps when you don’t feel like your work matters, is progress. I bet you can remember a time where your feelings took over your desire to do anything that included getting out of bed. But you got up anyway! No matter how big or small, progress is good.

You don’t need perfection to make progress and operate in excellence. Doing what you do and doing it well, is excellence. Dominating in your niche and in your lane is excellence. Serving mankind with a heart of gratitude is excellence. Now is not the time to settle on your success just because you don’t think you or what you are doing is good enough. Take these last few days of 2016 to set yourself up to make massive moves in 2017. How are massive moves made? By taking forward steps daily until you get to where you desire to be.

Remember, the goal is not perfection, but to continue making progress.

Overcoming Fears of Failing

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We are conditioned to fear failure!

And the fear of failing is the primary reason why so many of us do not actively pursue our dreams. When I first began my journey of starting my own PR agency, I missed a lot of opportunities because I was fearful. I didn’t allow myself to take some significant risks that I needed to take and I remained stagnant for 6 months before I realized I needed to face my fears and take the leap of faith that would catapult my business to success.

Jerome Knyszewski, LinkedIn expert and marketing strategist says ” We ALL fear something”

  • FEAR of not succeeding if we try something new
  • FEAR of not “making it” doing what we are passionate about
  • FEAR that keeps us from following our heart
  • FEAR of JUST starting
  • FEAR of not keeping up with the digital marketing
  • FEAR of economic uncertainty
  • FEAR of losing the passion and drive
  • FEAR of not TRULY believing in yourself
  • FEAR of not being ready
  • FEAR of not being good enough.
  • FEAR of business consuming your life
  • FEAR of hiring employees
  • FEAR of making sales
  • FEAR of scaling
  • FEAR of prospecting, marketing, cold calling
  • FEAR of being too successful to fast
  • FEAR of taxes
  • FEAR of legal and administrative structures
  • FEAR of the digital age and customs

All that he listed resonated with me because I feared most if not all of these things as an emerging entrepreneur.

So how do you overcome it?  How do you stand up to fear? Below are 5 actions I continue to use to overcome fears of failure.

1.  ACCEPT FAILURE & EMBRACE MISTAKES

Failure is inevitable. It will happen! And it is best to embrace it and embrace your mistakes. You have to understand that, it is in fact temporary. Starting FreeLyfe, I’ve made some major mistakes. Accepting my failure and going back to the drawing board, I was able to start again, much stronger and confident. The difference between the successful and not-yet successful is the realization that failure is simply a stepping stone, not a permanent event.

2. SAY TO YES TO FEAR.

When I first entered the PR industry as a freelance publicist, I was given the opportunity to represent well-known client. I was so afraid. Would I do a good job? Would I represent their brand well? I remember my professor in college telling me “Everything you want is on the other side of fear”. I knew I was qualified, I was just psyching myself out, so I took a deep breathe said YES. It ended up being a great opportunity, provided great connections, and really helped build my confidence.

Oddly, we often fear what we desire most. If we can just realize that on the other side of our fear is success, we’ll be more willing to do what we’re afraid of.

3. SET GOALS AND HAVE A PLAN B

Successful people don’t see failure as catastrophic, they see it as a good data point to guide their next attempts. I like to set small goals for myself and make a plan B, C, and even D. Knowing I have a back up for my mistakes, makes the idea of failing less intimidating.

4.LISTEN TO OTHER PEOPLE STORIES

Some of the most successful people will admit to having gone through multiple failures before getting to where they are now. You can study facts all day but nothing compares to learning that comes from personal experience.  

“Looking up to successful individuals, and see their dealing with fear of failing, their handling of their failures and mistakes, can be SO up-building and inspiring.”- Jerome Knyszewski.

5. ASK FOR HELP

Sometimes as professionals we are afraid to ask for help for fear of looking less than knowledgeable, but that’s just crazy. You are not expected to know everything. Try to seek out experienced entrepreneurs that can offer viable advice.

“Entrepreneurship can be a struggle, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Knowing who to turn to when you need advice will help make the lows more bearable”-Tyler Arnold

How to Overcome Fears of Objection

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I have a friend that is a natural born sales person. She can sell a glass of water to a drowning man – her game is that tight. She has meta-human selling abilities. I, on the other hand, am an earthling with a natural fear of sales like most entrepreneurs or small business owners.

However, if we want to be successful in growing our businesses we have to lose the fear of asking for the sale – real quick. Unfortunately, the selling process is anything but easy. When I started my virtual franchise skincare business, I’ll be honest; I lacked confidence in myself, knowledge of my product, a fear of failure, and fear of asking for the sale. I know I am not alone.

Fear is a liar.

Good news: Fears can be overcome with a change in mindset, training, and practice. I’m not an expert; I struggle with these issues just like you do. These tactics I’m sharing will help you get over some of the most common objections we hear running our businesses, and hopefully will help you to become a more confident business owner.

You got this.

Objection #1: You will be rejected

How to overcome it: Are you worried about not being liked? Understand where your fear is coming from and face it. Anyone saying “no” to your product or service, is not saying “no” to you. I know hearing “no” is frustrating but it’s not about you. Buried in the “no” is a learning opportunity. By analyzing the outcome of events, it can prevent you from making the same mistakes down the line.

Objection #2: Your product won’t deliver

How to overcome it: I was unsure if my customers would find value in the premium skincare products I offer. I began questioning if the prices were too high. So, I started gathering feedback from my customers, in any medium they’d like to share – text, email, or hand written notes. I loved reading what they had to say, and I made sure I shared the testimonials on my various social media platforms. This positive feedback reassured me of the quality and value my products were delivering to all of my customers.

Constantly look for ways to improve your services so you are sure you’re providing optimal value, that way, you will always be confident in your product and your abilities.

Objection #3: You won’t close the sale

How to overcome: I’m in my nerd bag today, but Master Yoda says, “Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.” Very often, we get really attached to “making the sale” or having a situation turn out a certain way. Instead, let’s re-focus on our efforts to, “I will give an enthusiastic and passionate presentation” rather than outcome of, “They will buy xx number of an item.”

Stay focused on your effort of doing a great job, the outcome will turn out better than you ever imagined.

Objection #4: You aren’t sure you are doing “it” right

How to overcome: Like any other skill, selling gets easier the more you do it. Verbal rehearsal and practice is one of the most effective ways to get over your fear of selling.

In today’s highly competitive world you need to be proactive in asking for the sale. Otherwise, someone else who is way more assertive will capture the business you deserve. I believe that it was Wayne Gretzky who said, “You will always miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.”

So get out there, start small, and keep taking those shots.