Before you make another complaint to a boss, coworker, spouse or friend I encourage you to pick up a copy of Jon Gordon’s “The No Complaining Rule”. It’s been awhile since I’ve completed a book that has left me so challenged to evaluate the negativity that can float around in my own thoughts and then fly right out of my mouth without being conscious of it. Is it safe to say that we’ve all been guilty of that a time or two? Complaining can sometimes seem like such an effective solution at times, but Gordon states that people complain “(1) because they were fearful and helpless and (2) because it had become a habit” (39)

Complaining can sneak up on us whether at home, at work or even at church. Gordon encourages specifically in his introduction, “one of the most important things we can do in business and life is to stay positive with strategies that turn negative energy into positive solutions” (xvii) and he shows us just how to by composing these truths into a story creating a very identifiable setting for the readers.

The story begins with Hope, a recently divorced mother of two, who is Vice President of Human Resources at EZ-Tech. Hope, already worn down with the complaining she faces day after day from fellow employees walks in early one morning to discover that her company is in severe jeopardy. The computer batteries that EZ-Tech produces have been catching on fire and the media has picked up on blogs created by EZ-Tech employees complaining of management. The company is now in a fight for it’s life to regain the credibility that is slipping away. As Hope not only struggles with the fear of an arising health issue she must also put together a plan to save the company at the request of the CEO. At a doctor’s appointment Hope is then introduced to her nurse who in turn inspires Hope with a radiant plan to save the company and renew Hope’s look on life, The No Complaining Rule.

Even before addressing ways in which we can go about fixing the negativity in our lives, Gordon reminds us of the damage that it can cause such as,

1. “Ninety percent of doctor visits are stress related, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” (28).

2. “Negativity affects the morale, performance, and productivity of our teams” (29).

3. “Negative emotions are associated with the following:

* Decreased life span and longevity
* Increased risk of heart attack
* Increased risk of stroke
* Greater stress
* Less energy
* More pain
* Fewer friends
* Less success” (29)

It’s obvious from these stunning facts that to survive a change is in order. What I think can be most be learned from this book is that there is hope and with some determination “you can get off the negative road and hop on the positive road right now” (44). Gordon provides some excellent ideas to jumpstart your positive thinking including a guideline to a No Complaining week that refocuses your attention with activities such as creating gratitude lists and beginning your day with a little exercise focused on the things you are most grateful for in life. In the book Gordon provides the “Three No Complaining Tools” (49) which you can also find and print out on his website at www.nocomplainingrule.com. This is a wonderful resource that even I have printed out to encourage my family during the day.

Gordon’s tips are endless and the best part is that they are not just compatible to the workplace or to adults only. These guidelines can do some wonderful things within the home environment and are unbelievably good habits to instill in young children.

Megan York is a small business owner and writer residing Texas. You can read more at her blog, A Boy, A Girl and A Pug.

Be the first two to comment below for your free copy of “The Complaining Rule” by Jon Gordon!

Kathrien Ahn, Community Manager at docstoc first reached out to us to see if we’d feature their innovative software that “provide bloggers with the ability to embed any document (word, pdf).

Then, they announced some really exciting news.

So, I thought it’d be great if we ran a quick interview with Kathrien so she can to share their news herself.

So, Kathrien, besides developing an innovative program, what’s your Great New News?

Sure, I’d be glad to share.

On April 29^th, we secured our Series B round of financing for $3.25 million which was led by Rustic Canyon Ventures. It was a crazy day for the entire team and we were all over the blogosphere from Techcrunch, Mashable, GigaOm, and many more

But, now the REAL hard work begins as we’re working to continually innovate docstoc, something that we believe, can touch the lives of all people via their documents.

We’ve also launched our Content Partnership Program (CPP) that allows organizations and professionals with either a vast quantity of content or a set of premium content, to share their documents on docstoc and include advertising and promotion built into each of the document pages free of charge. This will allow you to monetize your content and use your docs as valuable marketing and self- promotion, whether you’re a service-based professional, small business, or large organization.

Since you’re a *very* young and new company can you share any empowering words to our readers (entrepreneurs and small business owners) who’d LOVE to be able to express the same incredible news one day?

Yes!

First of all, anyone can be an entrepreneur.

It doesn’t matter if you’re the quiet, bookish type or someone who can “work” a room. All that matters is that you have a great idea, the passion to pursue it, and the work ethic to have it come to fruition. Oh, and having the ability to raise capital is definitely a plus. (tongue in cheek) But seriously, what it comes down to is doing the work, implementing your idea. Action. Late-nights. Luckily, when you have a great team, It’s definitely easier. [I'm all about Quality Team work!]

What’s so unique about docstoc and why do you think it’s crucial for us busy entrepreneurs and small business owners?

Docstoc is the “youtube” for professional documents where you can find and share any document for free, with categories ranging from legal, business, financial, educational and creative. Granted, we’re not saying that having a document will take the place of a lawyer, but it does allow the consumer to have access to legal and business documents that would enable him/her to be better informed about their business/legal needs.

Also, in the state of the current Economy, free advertising is widely sought after, as we’re pinching pennies in the midst of rising food and gas costs. docstoc proves useful for free advertising because when you upload your professional documents, you are essentially allowing them to be highly indexed in search engines because docstoc is looked upon as a reliable source. This is why it’s important to have specific tags and titles when you upload your documents. Also here are ways that docstoc has helped users:

Entrepreneur Gets Multi-Million Dollar Term Sheet from Using docstoc

Local LA Entrepreneur finds business plan templates and spreadsheets on docstoc for his business, customizes it for his potential Financiers, and receives Multi-million dollar Term Sheet

Stay-At Home Mom Starts a Successful Business At Home using Business docs from docstoc

One user took various documents from docstoc and started a jewelry design business. Then she uploaded documents promoting her business, her bio, and several local press clippings. And traffic to her business website increased by 25%.

docstsoc Levels the Playing Field for Small Firm Attorneys

Many Small firm attorneys, who do not have access to Westlaw or Lexis Nexis, have been visiting docstoc on a regular basis to find documents such as operating agreements, real estate deal docs, and sample contracts.

Administrative Assistant Finds Legal Templates on docstoc for free.

An admin at a fast-paced law firm was frustrated because she couldn’t find the right legal template for her boss. She went to several other sites but was discouraged by the fees for paying for documents. Luckily, she came across docstoc and was able to download several versions of legal templates for free.

Graphic Designers Get Opinions from Strangers on their Work

Fashion designers, shoe designers, graphic designers, or fashion bloggers can upload their articles, press clippings, portfolios, and work to their docstoc profile, and hear what people REALLY have to say.

Authors Sharing their Books Across the Web

A number of authors are using docstoc to promote their books. They upload a couple chapters of their published work. Then 1) It gets indexed at the top of search engines on docstoc, 2) we promote some of their work in our featured section and 3) They use the embed feature on their blogs to have their content virally spread all around the internet.

Professionals Getting Business Leads by Sharing Documents.

We have numerous examples of attorneys, accountants, and consultants who have posted documents with all of their contact information. Those documents get thousands of views, and in turn they have had people who visit their document on docstoc, contact them through our site and turn into paying clients.

docstoc is Where Students Find/Share Notes

docstoc has become a popular source for MBA students, Graduate, and Law School students to share their outlines, class presentations, case write-ups, and financial spreadsheets.

Dude! Those are impressive testimonials—and some great publicity tips too !

BTW, I literally *hate* attaching docs to email, or zipping files, or making sure I updated my latest file into my flash-drive. Will docstoc save me from all these hassles of daily livin’?

Yes!

Attaching docs to e-mail and zipping files are definitely annoying which is why the docstoc embed feature is so useful. You can embed everything from powerpoint presentations to PDF’s on to your webpage, allowing your readers to stay on your page instead of going to an outbound link. Or if you just need to e-mail a doc to someone, just use the URL of the document on docstoc, so that it eliminates the need for you to “attach” documents.

How would you categorize docstoc? Like a social-media-user-generated-document-sharing community? With an optional revenue-sharing-model built in? Talk about Web 2.0 biz-application.

Our goal is to be the largest repository for professional documents on the web including legal forms, business presentations, financial templates and technical white papers. We’re also the premier online community for professional content, facilitating the sharing and promotion of docs as well as being the platform for processing, storing, and indexing documents that can be viewed anywhere as embedded objects.

And going back to our Content Partnership Program, you will be able to easily embed your documents across the Web, get referral traffic, more customers, subscription and sales, get indexed in search engines, and sell premium content. (in select cases) Here is more info. once again.

Well, this has been great Kathrien. Anything else you’d like to share? Closing remarks? Empowering tips? Instructions? Contact info?

Yes, well, first of all, thanks for taking the time to interview me and giving docstoc a shout-out on “Empower Women Now.” I think your blog is a tremendous resource to women entrepreneurs and just anyone who is looking for inspirational tips as well as important business related information. [Aww...you're too kind, Kat]

And I’d just like to say that we have an really hard-working team, Jason Nazar, our CEO, Alon Shwartz, our CTO, and our amazing developers, Ilya Tchak and Andrew Belous [Don't see you're name there chickie…you’re too modest ]

…but now that we’ve gotten the Series B, we’re looking to hire several Front End .Net developers and Flex developers, so if you’re interested or know anyone, feel free to submit a resume at www.docstoc.com/jobs

[What a wonderful opportunity for anyone qualified to jump in.]

As for empowering tips, I’d just say that the thing about tech is that people are open about sharing helpful information and advice to the newbies. They’re not afraid to admit their mistakes because it’s kind of a rite of passage here because when you screw up, you learn from it and you move forward. So I’d say that if you’re an entrepreneur or small-business owner who is looking for advice on how to start or grow your business, read A LOT, from blogs to top magazines, get advice from anyone you can, get a business plan (you can get a template from docstoc…I needed to get another plug in. Sorry! [No apologies necessary ], and then the most important things: Take Action. Stay Pro-Active. Be positive. [Here, here!]

And if you have any questions, feel free to message me on docstoc, as I usually respond to all user mail. Here is my profile.

And thanks again, Ponn! Your story, in general, is an inspiration to female entrepreneurs everywhere.

Thanks so much Kat, the honor is all mine!

I really look forward to reading our community’s experiences and thoughts below.

[At the time of this interview, this cute and funny blogpost shares the kind of entrepreneurial atmosphere surrounds docstoc! hee hee. ]

yourself and your business featured on a new reality TV show for and about mom entrepreneurs.

Simply fill out an application and send us a video introduction of you and your business and you might be on your way! Please note: the objective of this show is NOT to embarrass anyone or make you look bad. We want to show mom business owners as the real, hard-working people that we are!

If you have any specific business challenges or big goals you might need help with, make sure you mention them in your application or video.

Click here for a link to the application (which has directions on submission).

reality@pathforwardintl.com

If you would prefer to ship your submission you can do so at the following address:

Pure Media, Inc.
Attn: Angela Rivet
13636 Ventura Blvd.
Suite 400
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 906-3544 (for shipping use only)

Here are some exciting excerpts for the above link:

SuperMoms is an exciting new show about the realities of being a mom and a businesswoman. We are looking for fun, outgoing women who own their own businesses and have children.

We are open to any and all lifestyles, income levels and backgrounds, and we want to hear from you!

If you are cast in the show, you’ll be opening your home and business to us, and working with a team of successful female entrepreneurs, prominent businesspeople and childcare experts to meet your challenges and take your business to the next level.

Curious to see if there are any requirements for the Mompreneurs, like years in biz, $-amount in revenue, # of children, Julie’s reply was

“Nope! They’re just looking for interesting problems to solve and good stories!”

Now, Julie also insists I should apply…

But, I’m not a “full-time” running home biz these days with my health, lack-of “biz-hours” for regular contact…and well, Reality-TV…dunno’ if its really “my style”…as if I have one

Whadda u think?

Let us know if you’re applying, considering, or if you want us to cheer you on…comment below!

My prayers and kind wishes for your success and empowerment always!

Thank you for all your loving concern, comments, prayers, kind wishes, and MANY personal and professional phone calls. The vast number of calls alone prohibits me from returning any Many of them…

I’m sorry that I can not be more personal in my explanations, or personal replies to phone calls, emails AND comments!

I started going down hill at this post, so any commentators since that date please KNOW that I did NOT intentionally ignore any of you!

Just to show how crazy bad things have been the past couple of months:

I haven’t even had time, energy or strength to talk to my year-long, Virtual Assistant, and Dear, Dear Friend Jennifer over the phone to take care of biz. Life with a disability and moving to a new state (new MDs, life, etc.) took an obvious priority.

Oh, and I did NOT even know about this post by Amanda until just last week after talking to Jennifer…and it took that long just to get this post up. I talked to Amanda since, but we never even discussed that post…[talk about being away from the PC!]

With the dear blessings of our beloved All-Mighty God, my husband is doing everything in his power to take all pressure away from me to “feel” the need to work (even for fun, leisure, or my “mental”-get-away).

I’m chugging through my days “accepting” that nearly once a week now my hands freeze–actually paralyzes…as opposed to my partial paralysis of periodically losing sensation and feeling.

Unfortunately my ability to handle this physical disability has been everything BUT empowering

After all, I’ve been writing in a journal since I was 9, I became a work-at-home professional writer who secured a syndicated column, and best-selling book…

So, take my Great blessings of life + Harsh physical/mental/neurological limitations means I’m Simply Just-Okay.

At my worse, I was at least able to talk on the phone and type from my bed…but sadly I wasn’t able to do either the past few months. So, here’s my plea for help:

Can YOU Please help me, Jennifer and EmpowerWomenNow.com?

a. Jennifer will be overseeing nearly everything:

- Guest Bloggers: We have at least 4 unused guest posts that will be future post. Thanks for your patience!

- Book Reviewers: We have only 1 of nearly 8 book reviewers who all received their complimentary books. We have ~ dozen more books to give away! We want to future post at least 1 per week–so get your reviews in & please anyone else want to share an entrepreneurial book review on this site…be Our Guest!

- WordPressReWorked.com blogger/designers: Please consider guest blogging here! Links and All

- You: Please offer a guest post, interview, book or product review. Want to offer something new? Give it a shot!

Very basic criteria: 500+ words. In return you’ll get a bylines of 2-5 lines with up to 2 link backs!

Help Jennifer by offering 1-2 image files (such as, your personal picture, a book cover, your avatar, an image that captures the essence of what you’re writing about), link-outs, etc.

If our pay-back is not enough for our “huge” demands, please just write us and let your voice be heard.

Topics: Based on our Categories–of course!

For example: Internet Branding, Business Empowerment, Work at Home Entrepreneurialism.

- YOU: PLEASE tell US what you liked best about this site? What areas/categories helped you the most? How we can improve?

Jennifer will be working diligently to see how we can make this site more free-standing, non-dependent on my presence and personal health limitations…we’ve come such a LONG way to let my our time, efforts and love be wasted!

To our shocking glee–while some stats went down, our readership, RSS feeds, ezinelists, etc. have ALL increased and we’re ranking #1 in MANY of our top keywords & phrases. Google LOVES us–Thank you! {Not with PageRank…but we’ll take traffic & subscribers ANY day over a mere “score”}.

Jennifer will be monitoring all business emailboxes, and will be replying to as many emails as she can find; please be patient my dear.

As for me?

This is NOT a Good-Bye by any means!

While my hands may not be writing or typing much…One can NOT keep my mouth shut!

My mind and mouth hasn’t stopped yet! Believe me, I still always have TONS to say

God willing, I will return to some capacity, some time…but not regularly any time soon.

The sun always rises. God Bless

Register for the Women’s Media Summit – The Small Business Public Relations & Media Marketing Event Today!

A four-day event is jammed-pack with TONS of great Public Relations (PR) and Media Marketing Experts to help give your small business media attention both offline & online.

Check out this powerful schedule!

And, here are only some of the bios of some high-profile media chicks and a Dude…yes, listed last but not the very least…is yours truly!

I’ll be speaking on Friday, October 19th, 2007 at 9:00 am – “How to create web-optimized media releases – Write for the spiders and the media will take notice!”

Dear colleagues/friends/joint venture partners are sharing the “virtual floor” with me…and I’m psyched to share the juicy details of my free new eBook “How to Create a Search Engine Optimized (SEO) Press Release – Effective Use of PRWeb”
while learning a bunch at the same time! So, yes–I’ll be attending as much of these sessions as possible too!

Thanks to Nancy Juetten for her great idea of giving away her 5 free passes we get as speakers to her blog subscribers! So, I’m doing the same thing

The first 5 people who comment/trackback below sharing what you want to learn most about creating a search engine optimized press release will get a free pass!

Also, Heidi Richards founder/owner and other speakers have been sharing critical media/public relations tips, tools & resources at the Media Summit Blog since Septemeber–and we’ll continue upto the Summit and possibly more!

So, check out these great Media Tips now!

Missed out in getting your free ticket? Don’t worry it’s $0-$27-57 (depending upon if you’re a WECAI member or not) for this incredible four-day event!

Christine offers this magnificent article just to kick our busy short-week into gear!  Write a thoughtful blogpost on your blog, or write a detailed comment agreeing or disagreeing with these rules & tips; and I’ll pick 3 Renegades for a free NY Times,Wall Street Journal, amazon.com, USA Today Best-Seller book!  [Thanks Christine for sharing your unique words of wisdom & awesome books for our readers You Rock!]

Several people have asked me why a renegade would actually need rules, and why I named my book implying this (Rules for Renegades: How to Make More Money, Rock Your Career, and Revel in Your Individuality, McGraw-Hill 2007).

First, let’s define what I consider a renegade.

A Renegade is a person with a degree of passion and commitment that exceeds the norm. A renegade achieves great things without sacrificing their personal life on the altar of success. A renegade is not a rebel; renegades don’t trash “the system”, rather they acknowledge that it exists and they resolve to optimize their navigation of it!

That said, do renegades need rules?

I think so. Because we need a little bolstering some days, we need a lot of insider info every day, and we need to remember to not sacrifice ourselves to the cause, which, my women friends, many of us do.

Here are the rules as I see them. I’d love to hear what you think! [Me too!]

Rule 1: Everything’s an Illusion, So Pick One That’s Empowering

We often get stuck in our self-definitions, which are the most limiting thing we do to ourselves. But often we’ll need to intentionally redefine ourselves in order to achieve new goals, take new risks, stretch outside of our comfort zone. We’re not being fake here, we’re intending our new self and taking the steps to manifest it.

3 Tips:

o Design your new illusion: Click here & scroll down for the New Illusion form

o ACT it until you ARE it—believe it!

o Set SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, results-oriented, time-bound)

Rule 2: An MBA is Optional, A GSD is Essential

A GSD (Gets Stuff Done) is THE most important credential you’ll ever need. Your personal brand must be synonymous with RESULTS. Advanced degrees are great, but not necessary. Nothing will build your credibility better than being the person that others rely on to deliver the goods.

3 Tips:
• Practice the Fab Four (“Please”, “Thank you”, “I’m sorry”, “I don’t know”)
• Continuously course-correct—always be optimizing
• Make your brand = RESULTS

Rule 3: Problems + Pain = Profit

Often entrepreneurs try to solve the wrong problems—problems that aren’t painful. Only painful problems get people to open up their wallets. When someone is in business pain they are far more likely to take a risk on a small business, an unknown commodity, a person who is unlike their usual sales rep.

3 Tips:
• Pay attention: seek out painful problems and solve them
• Pain = increased risk tolerance…
• Make your pitch follow the THREE C’s: concise, compelling, complete

Rule 4: Build Power Instead of Borrowing It

Many of us misunderstand power. We don’t know how to get it, we don’t know how to use it. Maybe we’re fearful of it, or in awe of it. Getting power from association is common, but too transitory. The association withers, the power is gone. Why get power from a job title, a company, a neighborhood? Get your own power that no one can ever take away.

3 Tips:
• Adopt supreme self-confidence: Yes! It is a choice!
• Use the Power Boosters (scroll down)

• Inventory your internal assets: you have more than you think!

Rule 5: Rock Rejection and Finesse Failure

We all mess up now and then. We need to know how to fail forward, how to rock rejection and not let it trip us up. We need whole new view of rejection and failure so we no longer fear it, we simply use it to our advantage.

3 Tips:
• Host a Rejection Party: getting rejected a lot in quick succession will desensitize you
• Fail forward—and faster!
• Take 100% responsibility for your life and work

Rule 6: Learn to Love Networking

Most people don’t know how to network. They go about it the wrong way and it’s not useful or fun. I LOVE people—but I didn’t always. I had to learn to love networking, which helped me see how great people are, which helped me to fall in love with them. The first way is to hear their stories, then to help them get what they want. The best part? The deep connections you develop.

3 Tips:
• Join a networking group
• Practice “Palm Up” networking: give before you take
• Do the “Drive By Schmooze”: spend a specific amount of time to build a short list of connections

Rule 7: Only You Can Lead Your Life

There are new laws to leadership that most people don’t know, such as true leaders are always elevating others. You can be a kind, compassionate, and super effective leader. Put energy into people. You’ll get emotional equity as a result, which is far more valuable than financial equity.

3 Tips:
• Energy = Equity
• Elevate others, collaborate, say it and do it
• Practice the New Laws of Leadership: see www.RulesForRenegades.com

Rule 8: Work Your Money Mojo

Money helps you navigate business, society and the world at large. When you know how to work your money mojo you know how to get money from the right sources on the right terms, at the right time. If you want people to lend you money, give your non-profit cause money, fund our business dream, you need to know how to work your money mojo!

3 Tips:
• Have a capital acquisition strategy: how much you need, from whom, with what trade-offs
• Use the 3 C’s of Internal Funding: consulting, customers, cost control
• Always be selling

Rule 9: Resign as General Manager of the Universe

Many of us struggle with not knowing when to tighten or loosen the reins, whether at work or at home. We’re acting like the General Manager of the Universe and then wondering why we’re so exhausted, over-committed, and miserable. Learn how and when to lighten up on the micro-managing.

3 Tips:
• Do a semi-annual assessment
• Remember the Fish Rots at the Head: if something is messed up, look up!
• Have connections, not contacts: with connections you have trust, and thus can delegate, and thus don’t have to do everything!

Rule 10: Don’t Just Do Something, Stand There

We all seek meaning in our lives, and sometimes we forget where to find it. Life is a cycle of remembering and forgetting, and we sometimes need help to remember what really matters in life.

3 Tips:
• Resolve to make a difference
• Commit to “one a week” (giving one hour of your time per week)
• Remember Giving = Receiving

What do you think? Do these make sense? Here’s what people have told me they’ve gained from following the Rules for Renegades:

1) increased optimism, motivation, and accountability at work, resulting in more ideas, more innovation, increased sales
2) reduced fear of failure—they are now “failing forward” as I teach in my book, and they’re taking smarter risks
3) reduced stress—they’re seeing their own tendency towards control-freakism and don’t want to make all the mistakes I did, so they’re learning to delegate and manage others more effectively
4) increased meaning—as a result of reading my book they’ve upped the amount of service in their lives, even involving co-workers or family members in volunteer work. The result has been closer and more fulfilling relationships.

So my take is, YES, renegades need rules. We need them to help rock our lives, our careers, find more meaning in both, and of course—to make more money!

Rock on, renegades! [Here! Here!]

Check out Christine & her many free resources, fun video and more at Rules for Renegades! 

If this post doesn’t empower you to action! Girl–I need to know why…please tell me below!

First of all, let me thank Ponn for offering this contest!

[My pleasure!]

It’s been such a pleasure reading the entries and talking one-on-one with each of the women who entered. You are all up to great things, and it has truly been a privilege to hear about your dreams and goals and what you have taken on creating for yourselves. It’s been hard to choose a winner, because I would really love to work with all of you. However, it was a contest and I did have to choose, and the winner is…Kim Dushinski!

[Wooo Hooo! Congrats Kim! Yeeee Hahhhh!!!!]
Congratulations, Kim, and I am really looking forward to working with you for the next three months! Kim’s business, MobileMarketingProfits.com, is on the cutting edge of a new wave in marketing – I had never even heard of mobile marketing – have you? Go check it out on her site!
So why did I choose Kim? Well, it was very clear to me that she has a great idea, great skills and a great foundation laid for her business – I’m confident she’ll do it with or without me!

At the same time, we all have self-imposed limitations and less-than-empowering beliefs or views that cause us to get in our own way, and in Kim’s case I could tell that she was really ready to take herself to the next step and break through those places. A coach and writer I admire, Mike Litman, says, “Every level of income demands a new you.”

I love that quote, it just expresses so succinctly the whole inner game that is the source of all outer success. In talking with Kim, it seems to me she is clear that it’s time to bring forth that “new you” and when someone is in that place, coaching is really exciting and really, really fun!
I honestly do wish I could be coaching all of you that entered — and those of you who meant to but didn’t, too! I am a huge believer in the power of coaching, and I want to make it available to as many people, especially women entrepreneurs, as possible. I’ve also been having much discussion with Ponn over her “Passion doesn’t Equal Profitability” posts, and getting even more clear than ever about why it is soooooo important for women starting out in business to have a PLAN – yes, that’s right, a real, honest-to-goodness business plan.

I know business coaching can make a big difference, but I also know that it can be hard to come up with the funds for coaching when you are first getting started. So I have come up with a new way to make business coaching available to more women, at a much reduced price, and specifically targeted at women who are in the start-up phase and need to develop a real plan.

So I am now offering Start-up Business Coaching Groups for Women Entrepreneurs. The groups will be small (6 maximum in each), the price is right (only $150 per month per person), and it will get you in action, with a great and detailed plan, making things happen, moving toward your goals and clear about where you are going and what it’s going to take to get you there. Put the power of a group – and a coach – to work for you and your business!

Interested in more details? Read more about it here and contact me (or comment below) with your questions or to sign up!

There are 5 spots left in the first group, which I want to start in mid-October, so don’t wait!

[Ann will be starting new 3-month cycles each month.]

For those of you who entered the contest, it was a great pleasure giving you your free business consultation and I hope it was valuable. I would love your feedback about what results you see and how it has affected you. Let’s keep talking! [Actually, I want your detailed experiences; good, bad and indifferent, shared below!]

I’m enjoying being an active member of this empowered and empowering community Ponn has created, and look forward to connecting with more and more of you, whether through coaching, joint ventures, comments or anything else!

I only found EmpowerWomenNow for the first time back in July, and coaching Ponn and doing this contest have been a fabulous way to get started!

During this same time period, and with Ponn’s input on Internet Branding, I saw my website move up to the number one spot on Google for “women entrepreneurs’ business coach” and other similar keywords. Coincidence? I don’t think so! Can’t wait to see what’s next…

[No coincidence at all! I called Ann "The Women Entrepreneurs' Coach", told her to start actively blogging...she read Yaro's Blueprint based on my review...and she's been doing her keyword search homework! So, yes...I look forward to JVing (Joint Venturing) with Ann much more in the near future! So, if you haven't cashed in on your FREE 45-minute business consultation yet! Hop over there now! Give her a ring...better yet, comment below and say you want in!]

I have multiple deadlines this busy Monday, October 1st…but, hey in my 1st week we laid out 4 tasks that HAD to be completed for the month of September! I finished all of them in my 1st week. (Yes, everyone knows I’m an over-achiever!) I delegated and brought on more staff here at EmpowerWomenNow.com AND I’m fully-staffed at WordPressReworked.com…AND, well the great news will be unveiling one day at a time here at EmpowerWomenNow.com

Ann was more critical in helping me accept my disabling limitations, “working” around my home-hunting, and figuring everything out so I get all unfinished work completed from my absence so I can start Oct. 1st. While, I’m an ultra-Type-A, obsessive-compulsive, very determined, fundamentally organized and systematized biz chick…Ann’s guidance was still empowering! We laughed that she didn’t need to help with with my biz plan, goals, outline, deadline dates, etc…but handling my personal limitations around that was crucial. Thanks Ann

Was it worth $350/month of September! Dang straight it was!

Now, with group-session at $150/month…wowser! Remember, its not “can I afford it?” It’s “how can I NOT invest in myself and my business NOW!?” This is the difference between a successful & profitable woman entrepreneur who takes passion to survive rather than letting passion just lead you blindly!

Thursday, September 27, 2007
7:00 am – 8:00 am Pacific DT/10:00 EST PRWeb New User Orientation

That’s it! No more chances after today & Thursday!

$200 PRWeb Premium Press Release.

Rules:

1. Subscribe to our free Empower Me Now Tips ezine, here.

2. Register for a free account to PRWeb.com here,* and register for a “Free Webinar” (New User Orientation Webinar) once you are in your account. [On the left-hand side of “My Account” you’ll see Mario Bonilla, Platform Trainer, smiling at ya!]

* If you already have an account, hit “SIGN UP NOW”, and click on the upper-left-hand-tab to ‘login’ your ‘username’.

3. Once you receive your confirmation Webinar email, forward us a copy to prwebempowerwomennowcom

4. ATTEND the Webinar (Today 9/24/07 or Thursday 9/27/07).

5. After the Webinar, email Mario at marioemediawirecom and kindly ask for your coupon-code. You will have 30-days upon receipt to publish your PRWeb press release.

6. Need help Creating your Search Engine Optimized (SEO) Press Release for PRWeb? Download my free eBook here!

7. Rushed for time? Too busy to learn/create a SEO Press Release for PRWeb? Hire Me today!

Haven’t listened to our exclusive PRWeb podcast here!

Rarely do I get to leisurely go through my multiple emailboxes on a Sunday, and I’m SO glad I did!

Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund offers one woman entrepreneur per week $5,000 USD!

To be considered for weekly awards announced between October 9th and January 2nd, 2008, an quick online application with only 3 questions basically about goals, vision/statistics (your potential or current reach to “empower women”), plus how you would use $5,000 in less than 100 or 150-words depending upon which question you’re answering!

Due today by 11:59pm EST. Basically, I was easily able to copy & paste my About, Advertise & my media + sponsorship “pitch” emails to finish my application in less than 1/2 hours.

Categories to apply include (from the page):

1. Business Development
Business Development awards must be used to create or expand a for-profit business that helps to empower women through its mission, product or service, or the means by which business in conducted.

2. Community Service
Community Service awards must be used to create a new not-for-profit community service project or expand an existing project. Projects of almost any nature will be considered as long as the criteria are met to help women in the community realize their full potential or overcome obstacles.

3. Awareness & Outreach
Awareness & Outreach awards must be used to educate others about an issue that affects women, and/or to share personal experiences with the issue in order to inspire and empower other women and have a positive impact on the issue of interest.

2. FREE Trade Magazine — The Only Print Trade Magazine Specifically for Website Owners. Click on the banner above!

Join over 120,000 other website owners, operators, and marketers!

It only takes 2 minutes to complete the online subscription form.
It’s absolutely FREE and easy to fill-out!

3. Are You A Mompreneur? Wanna be on Rachael Ray’s Show?

Click here for a very quick & easy “Tell Us Your Story” pitch!

Thanks Stacey K for the tip!

4. WordPressReworked.com – WordPress Theme customizing & much more!

We got a total overhaul

WordPress Rework to go along with the debut post of our first and newest blogger/designer Zabs (pronounced Z-obs, like ‘jobs’ with a “Z”).

Our Goal at WordPress Reworked is to become a multi-blogger/WordPress-Reworker resource center that offers the latest and most affordable tips, tools and services to help you rework your WordPress blog, and/or hire us to help you along the way!

To carry on Eve’s wonderful tradition, we will host at least one free WordPress Reworked design each month.

Zabs really cleaned house, by making our Services & Pricing page and Portfolio page more professional & easy-to-navigate. Those are cool “designer” WordPress plugins she added…booyay! I’ll definitely tell her to post about them in her next post, because I can’t wait to get my Hire Us page cleaned up the way that site looks!

Yay! I just secured our next Full-Time blogger/designer, and got one part-time back-up to boot

But my posting still lasts a couple more weeks at Problogger…and I’d ideally like 2 more Full-Time blogger/designers on-board, so if you got the “know-how-to” customize WordPress themes, and LOVE to blog about it, please apply here.

I’m humbled by the opportunities that come our way–as if my advertisers and JV Partners (Joint Venture) compete to give away as much as possible–with Real USD (U.S.Dollar) valued gifts and offers!

Please welcome Ann Hession also known as “The Women’s Entrepreneur Coach”!

Yes, you see that new Text Link Ad noted as FREE Biz Coaching Consult. So, while her link has been up for a little bit…we both noted traffic generated her way–but, no one actually taking advantage of her FREE 45-minute Business Coach Session!

And, well–maybe, just maybe–you’re waiting to read my 2-cents on this deal, aren’t cha?

Okay, here’s the deal: One desperate Highly-Capable, SuperStar reader, listener, colleague, Friend will get 3 Full Months of Business Coaching, which includes: Three 45-minute phone consultations each month–and catch this: Unlimited Email & Phone Call Support throughout the duration of Your Business Coaching Experience!

DUE DATE: Friday, September 28, 2007. Winner Announced: Monday, October 2, 2007.

Yes, I know…I told you she was Insane! Insane in Love with Her Biz, and more importantly–Yours!

When we first discussed her sponsored review, she initially agreed to offer One-Free-Month of being Your Business Coach (value $350).

Then, today; shortly after my coaching session–she emailed me these lines:

As for my offer for the contest, I had originally said that I would offer a free month of business coaching. I want to tell you that I have thought about it and I want to offer a full three months of coaching for the winner.

“Shocked” was not the word! I immediately called her and said “Are You Insane!?”

And, her reply was a ton of laughter!

I really want people to be excited about this! I also want to have a lot of great people to choose from for the contest, and be able to work with a real star for a full three months – it just feels like the right way to do it, so that’s what I want to offer.

Like–whatever! I want “in”!

No, really, Ann…come on…fess up!

Here’s the deal: Every time I thought about offering one month, I found myself thinking, no, I should offer three. I mean, every single time! I think it’s selfish as much as anything — I love to coach, and I especially love to coach women entrepreneurs. I admit, I hate the idea of choosing an awesome winner for this contest and only working with her for a month!

I am such a huge fan of each and every one of my clients, and I’m always wanting to reach out and connect with more women and help them create the life and business they really want. I want to give someone the opportunity to turbo-charge their business with a solid three months of coaching, and I want to be able to choose from a great group of women who are passionate and committed about what they do.

There’s someone out there who this opportunity is just perfect for, who’s really ready to go for it, and I want a whole three months with her! If you think it’s you, I want you to know that it doesn’t matter if you have an existing profitable business or if you just have a great idea and are ready to get in action, what matters is, are you passionate about it? What are you going to create with it? What difference will it make? Why do you want to succeed at this? And, are you willing to do whatever it takes? That’s what I’m interested in!

So we shared who we want to apply WIN A Free Business Coach:

Here are the criteria:

• If you feel you are someone Really Special write away!
• You must be willing to take some tough lovin’
• You must be willing, able & ready to work wisely and be accountable to Your Bottom-Line & Ann’s [Meaning You must fully appreciate Ann's generous time, offer, expertise & most of all--her investment in You!]
• You must be ready to say “I know me and my business is worth it! We deserve this break! If I had $1050 myself–I’d invest it in me & my business, and hence I know I will make all that money back and much more!”
• You can be at any stage of your business: Start-Up, Success, Expansion, Sell!
• You must take you and your business seriously, because we want YOU to be The Star You know You Are!
• Geez…what else?
• You must be responsible, and respectful of all your assignments by being productive & accountable to your success!
• You must be willing to accept your limitations and listen to Ann’s guidance so you can compensate for them.
• You must be committed to three full months of having your own Business Coach who is trained and capable of helping you turbo charge your business!

I’m sure I missed a few–but you get the idea, right!?

Basically, The Women’s Entrepreneur Coach wants to take you from This: to This:

If you are a Woman Entrepreneur Ready for “Business”, Apply Today!

How?

1. You have the choice of answering 1 of the 3 following questions:

• If you could have any result for yourself or your business over the next 3-6 months, what would it be, and why is that most important to you?
• If you knew you could not fail, what would you take on accomplishing in your life and/or business right now?
• What excites and inspires you most about growing your business, and why?

2. Yes, of course, you need to trackback/link-back to this post so we can find your entry!

DUE DATE: Friday, September 28, 2007. Winner Announced: Monday, October 2, 2007.

And, yes–you answer your questioning mind?

A. I did partake in The Women Entrepreneur’s FREE Business Coaching Consultation.

My results?

We started out with an awesome self-discovery questionnaire (business & personal). I was so surprised how much could be fit into one-single session! After all, we didn’t know each other…and, honestly, I think it’s better.

I left with assignments, that quite frankly–yes–they were Empowering!

We went from the Future to the Present.

By envisioning Year 5 Now! Then, Year 1…getting to my monthly, weekly & even daily duties seem effortless!

A GREAT exercise that I keep by my side, is my 80-20 list…

This theory Yaro shares in the opening Mind-Set Entrepreneur Audios at Blog Mastermind–and having a weekly coach to assure that I’m adhering to my 80-20 rule, is WAY cool!

You’ve noticed that I’ve been delegating and outsourcing tons (even paying staff to follow-alongside me!)–and that’s #1 because of my disability, but more importantly #2–because frankly anything that can be done for less than my hourly $175-price tag is an investment in my business to get it off my hands! Figuratively & literally.

B. Yes, I am taking advantage of the one-month coaching option ($350/month). If she can get me through this month–the one weaning me back from really being “offline” for 2 months. Help me accomplish my 4-Huge Tasks in September…so I can start October 1, 2007 with a Bang! Then, she’s worth $350+++

Because we have a launch this month–and even huger–bigger news to unveil in October!

She’s keeping me *VERY* accountable/realistic, because the 2 major obstacles for me to complete my tasks are:

A. I’m Disabled…searching for new MDs, new practices, new insurance, new pains, new emotions…

B. I’m still moving–new state, new licenses, new home, new everything! [Most people would *not* take any new tasks during this time--but, well--it keeps me Empowered ]

Did I mention, that every single entry will get a FREE business coaching consultation!?

Please don’t keep this contest all for yourself! Please share it with all your friends & colleagues!

As always–any questions, concerns, issues, comments, kind-thoughts to share–please post below & The Women Entrepreneurs Coach and/or I will be happy to assist you!

P.S. Here’s a bit more about The Women’s Entrepreneur Coach: her email signature states “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
–Howard Thurman