Don't Sit on the Sidelines of Your Own Business

Angel Quintana March 1, 2015

DON'T SIT ON THE SIDELINES OF YOUR OWN BUSINESS

Article by Ellie Isacs
Photo Credit: Mike Nguyen
Magazine: Issue #22

Recently I participate in Q&A Session. I dialed in just at the start and was the first caller on the line. The host greeted me warmly and asked me if I have any questions, as its ok to start, even while others join. My answer:” Well…no, not really. I was just going to listen in and hear what others ask and then maybe something will come up”. The next caller dialed in and the host asked if they had questions……………..Well what happened next blew my mind off. The second participant said: “No, not really. I also want to listen what others will ask or say”

Hearing my own words, made me shiver. Who was I? And what was I waiting for? A cover up, a quite spot in the audience, just to applause, those playing the game, at the end????

It pushed me strong, and it pushed me hard. My own darling answer made me realize the position I was taking. I thought, being on this call meant interest. Being on this call meant pro-activeness, so what was I waiting for? Why not ask, yes just ask? I had thoughts but I took the easy way of saying, oh…no, no questions

To experience change, one must be the change. To lead and empower, one must own the way, the approach and the personality leaders embody. One cannot HAVE freedom, and then BE free. One cannot HAVE a community, and then BE a leader. One cannot HAVE followers, and then BE influential.

No.

One must BE a leader and then will HAVE the community. One must BE free and taste and HAVE real freedom. One must BE the change and then HAVE everything change. One must truly and only BE-HAVE as what he searches for. When you are what you are looking for, you are limitless. What is your “, and then”?

Luxury Brand Building: Altering the Myths & Meaning

Angel Quintana February 26, 2015

LUXURY BRAND BUILDING: ALTERING THE MYTHS & MEANING

Luxury Brand Building

Article by Tamisha Ford
Photo Credit: Dasha & Mari
Magazine: Issue #22

Recently, when browsing Pinterest (one of my favorite things to do), I saw a pin that said something to the tune of "I'd rather have simplicity than luxury."

To be honest, it bothered me. Why can't we have both? I'm a paradox girl, so saying "either/or" to me is dangerous. I'll figure out a way to have both.

Ever since I saw that pin, I've wanted to put my two cents out there about the statement, because I do think it's a misconception that luxury and simplicity are mutually exclusive.

So what is the myth? The myth is that luxury = complicated. That luxury is somehow bad or that only difficult, high-maintenance people like luxury – that it’s only effective or influential if it’s overly diverse.

All myths.

To me, luxury is simplicity, so I don't understand the connotation. If we look at luxury brands, what do they and every one of their websites do best? They're clean, usually black and white, and have an extremely simple menu of options to navigate. What is more simple than two colors, 5-8 parent categories to navigate, and the most recent lookbooks or collections they have to offer?

Nada in my books. Luxurious branding is simple branding. Chandeliers are exquisite and intricate, yet hover gracefully in one spot.

So what does this myth mean for our businesses now that we know this? I put together a couple of things I've learned:

1 :: You can be extremely influential with a simple business model.

Anyone who knows Angel Quintana knows that she does things just a cut outside the mainstream. Signature System™ anyone? This was an attractive concept to me, because I had always been one of those entrepreneurs who bought into the 25-different-coaching-packages-and-services-model. Maybe you can relate. It's utterly overwhelming when you're starting out to try to follow that business model. It's like we set ourselves up to fail before we even start!

I'm not saying this method doesn't still work for a whole lot of people - I believe it does. I'm just saying that, if we believe luxury doesn't equal complication, then we can be okay with being unconventional and not having to do 25 coaching packages and maybe even enjoy our work that much more.

2 :: You can intensely influence the niche you’re creating by embracing the "both and" of paradox instead of the tyranny of "either/or".

To clarify, I'm merely suggesting that I believe entrepreneurs should start honoring themselves and the way they work as much as their clients - to start asking "how do I want to work with my clients and this business" instead of leaving yourself out of the equation. What's more luxurious and simple than building sustainably

The ONE Thing That's Keeping You From Making Millions!

Angel Quintana February 25, 2015

THE ONE THING THAT'S KEEPING YOU FROM MAKING MILLIONS!

Article by Lorena Morales
Photo Credit: Angel Quintana
Magazine: Issue #22

Money. What would you do with big—really big—money?

Many women say: “I’d set up my family and close friends. Then I’d feed an African village, save the whales….”

Secretly thinking: “Shoes. Spas. Sunshine.”

We want what money can buy—the stuff, the comfort, luxury and security. It’s natural, yet we feel guilty.

Guilt suffocates the soul—and it keeps you broke.

Many of us have unconscious money guilt. Having, or even wanting, all those delicious things means we’re selfish and superficial. We are programmed to believe that good people don’t want riches and excess. We have many unconscious money beliefs—money is evil; work hard makes money; money corrupts—but guilt tops them all.

Behaviorally, this unconscious guilt is a huge influence. Energetically, it’s even bigger. Because here’s the woo-woo. Guilt is a vibration. When you vibrate on the guilt level, everything around you is on that vibration, and you become a magnet for more guilt. And guess what? You will never make real money if you’re living in the guilt vibration.

It’s confusing and frustrating, because we know we do deserve it, but the unconscious tells us different. We say we want more money, and then we don’t understand why we are not making as much as we want—and in many cases, need.

So the clue is, if you’re not making the kind of money you want or need, look around for guilt. Recognizing its presence is the key to freedom.

In order to overcome guilt, know these truths:

1| We live in a rich, abundant Universe. There’s more than enough.

2| Guilt helps no one. Neither does suffering. A guilty, struggling you does not contribute to the flow of universal abundance.

3| Everyone is capable of wealth. The only thing between us and the income we so desire is the belief that it’s not possible. Being abundantly rich is not only your birthright, it’s your responsibility. (See #2)

You want to be in the vibration of fun, gratitude, and abundance to attract the money you do deserve.

Imagine yourself with the money to run your empire. All the people you’ve employed; the influence on them and their lives, working each day in an environment modeled on abundance. You being broke doesn’t serve the world; it doesn’t end hunger or save penguins. It only perpetuates the belief that we live in a poor Universe—which just isn’t true.

It’s your time to step up, honor all of your desires, and kick guilt to the curb. You are meant to lead by example—be the wealthy wonder that you deserve to be.

Think about it. How could you influence the world if you lived from abundance?

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Healing the Healer: 5 Reiki Applications to Combat Fatigue

Angel Quintana February 24, 2015

HEALING THE HEALER:
5 REIKI APPLICATIONS TO COMBAT FATIGUE

Article by John Scardina
Photo Credit: Rose Jane
Magazine: Issue #22

Many business owners in my direct and indirect circles are healers, a wonderful and amazing group of energy workers, coaches, educators, and visionaries all of which give their all to everyone at any given time. A constant flow or surge of energy that is personally directed to the individual who seeks or needs help to improve their life and or needs. Admittedly this is one of the best feelings in the universe, to have that ability to help others with improving any one of their needs in life. This gift of working so dearly for others can also have a downside that can fatigue the healer if they do not take care of themselves first. If you do not take care of yourself you cannot take care of others. It is of the upmost importance for the energy workers, coaches, educators, and visionaries to take the time out in between clients to heal themselves first.

I have been a Reiki practitioner since 2008 and now a Reiki Master/Teacher. Reiki, “Universal Life Force Energy” an energy that exists in everyone and everything is one amazing energy healing technique that is constant, never draining, and can never do harm. The best part is that this energy is already inside of us all. The only key missing is to be properly attuned to Reiki in order to enjoy and share its benefits. Once attuned to Reiki by a Reiki Master/Teacher you can immediately use Reiki to heal others, but most importantly to heal yourself. The method of self-healing through Reiki is something that can be practiced whenever called upon in order to calm, energize ground and center the healer in you.

Some methods of applying Reiki to the healer could be:

Detoxify yourself (cleanse yourself) free of all negative energy that might remain after working with a client for an extended period of time.

Rebalance the flow of your energy after a long lasting of any type of work with a client.

Shield, protection prior to any client work in order to maintain a constant level of energy during your work.

Remove blockage of stagnant energy if you are doing hands on energy work with a client.

Reenergize and ground yourself after any work with a client.

The applications for the use of Reiki are almost limitless on how they may be utilized for your inner healer, and it is always with you. We must always remember as healers to take care of ourselves first in order to provide the best for our clients.

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Pitch Your Next Big Idea in 30 Seconds or Less

Angel Quintana February 23, 2015

PITCH YOUR NEXT BIG IDEA IN 30 SECONDS OR LESS

Article by Marlo Wright
Photo Credit: Mike Nguyen
Magazine: Issue #22

A 30 second elevator pitch is a brief introduction about you and your business. It should make people want to know more about your services/products.

It's not about promotion… but it is! There's a way to promote what you're doing without appearing as such. People will forget the first thing you said if you say too much.

Struggling to stay within in 30seconds means you haven't put much thought on how to be concise in talking about your business. Business is short sound bites that attract attention.

Once you've considered all these things, and developed your pitch it's time to PRACTICE!!!!! Time yourself. Practice in the mirror, with expression, inflection in your voice, and gestures you make.

{ If there are multiple things you do, sometimes it can make you sound flighty -- not that there are many people doing multiple things i.e. Richard Branson, but it’s best to use terms like conglomerate, corporation, company etc to talk about the depth of what you do.}

It's for sure not the time to promote events you have going on.

Imagine if you bumped into a potential investor, and just before you got on the elevator they asked what you do… but are on their way to a meeting. What would you say?

Could you captivate them so when the doors open, they hand you a card and say, I want to hear more, call my assistant. Setup a meeting!

Confidence or lack there of, can make or break your business. I recommend a toastmasters group. A lot of people talk to be talking. I learned a lot about concise speaking when I was on the circuit for radio interviews for one of my books. There’s no time to belabor points.

{When I interviewed for the Michael Baisden radio show - a once nationally syndicated radio show, my interview was 2min 30seconds! Could you have done it???}

Are you able to articulate what you do? Or do you just use a bunch of filler words?? We use twice as many words as men. Think about speaking to a man, get to the point. The more you practice, the easier it will come.

Speaking intelligibly about your business is nothing more than knowing what you know. Getting to the point of what you know. And allowing others to hear about what you know. A mini showcase.

Next time the spot light is on you, will you look polished? Or uncertain about your own business? If you're uncertain about your business, then why would I want to do business with you?

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How to Be An Inspirational Mentor

Angel Quintana February 20, 2015

HOW TO BE AN INSPIRATIONAL MENTOR

Article by Darlene Dunn
Photo Credit: Angel Quintana
Magazine: Issue #22

As entrepreneurs we can all point to the one or two main people who we watch to see their business grow, listen to what they say, and gain inspiration. But how many of us actually stop to think that we are ‘those one or two main people’ to someone else?

It doesn’t matter where you are in your entrepreneurial journey, there will always be someone who looks at you and thinks, ‘wow, I would love to be able to do that’ or ‘she’s so successful’. This is why we should all consider having a mentor- someone who stretches us and inspires us to be ‘more’. And also to be a mentor to someone- to be the one who stretches someone else, who inspires someone else!

I am not just speaking about peer to peer but take a minute to think about the young people who follow you on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc. Many of them have aspirations and dreams and they gain inspiration from you. You have a unique opportunity to directly and indirectly influence the lives of young people - let them see:

Someone reaching for their dreams,
Someone standing with integrity
Someone who’s words match their actions
Someone who is a role model

Let them see YOU!

Youth today are so connected via social media that we have many opportunities to encourage and influence them to make a difference, to step out in faith and believe in themselves.

Overwhelmed? 3 Keys to Maintaining Your Focus

Angel Quintana February 19, 2015

OVERWHELMED? 3 KEYS TO MAINTAINING YOUR FOCUS

Article by Heather Jadus
Photo Credit: Mike Nguyen
Magazine: Issue #22

I've always had trouble with focus. I'm a scatterbrain, shiny object grabber, idea every minute and no time to complete it, Type A person. My brain NEVER stops thinking about my business.

Sound familiar?

If you too are an entrepreneur then you probably have this same problem from time to time or even all the time.

I recently learned that there are 3 things I can do every day to keep my focus intact so I can continue to grow my business. What are they? Unfortunately, I can't tell you. Sorry. Do you want to punch me now? I would! Hear me out first.

Here's why I can't tell you... my three things and your three things will probably never be the same. In fact, my three things are never the same daily.

This is what I do. I look at my "to do" lists (yes that's plural, I usually have a few going on at once) and I pick 3 things I must accomplish that day to help my business. I like to call them my "Daily MUST, BIG 3". I'm always realistic about my task choices and these 3 things have to be something that will help build my business. It doesn't mean that these are the only things I do that day, there are many tasks in between of course but those 3 things remain my FOCUS, my top dogs, my must do's. It just seems to break things down a bit when you are trying to accomplish 100 things... just pick 3....three to FOCUS on for that day.

This tactic has really helped me to hone in on what I really need to do instead of being totally overwhelmed by all the ideas that pop into my head and things to be done. It places urgency on certain things and leaves the rest behind... for now. If a NEW idea comes up, I write it down.... on one of my lists. I know I'll get to it eventually.

What do YOU do to focus?

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