High-Achieving Women's Blogazine

As a Business Executive Coach, I am often asked: “What are your best success tips or advice you would offer business and career women?”  Listed below are the top 5 success tips I recommend to business and career women who are serious about leaping to the next level.

1. See the long-term vision. Whatever your current job title is, or the current position of your business in the marketplace, think of where you want to be in five years. A common problem for career women and women business owners is taking responsibility for projects or obtaining clients that suit where they are now – but do not line with future promotions, bigger career responsibilities or business growth. Whatever projects you involve yourself in or clients you accept; should be those that enhance your short but more importantly your long-term vision.

2. Play it close to the vest. Knowledge is power and there are times when keeping all or some of it to yourself is the best course of action. Bite your tongue when you’re tempted to share information – whether it’s gossip about your boss if your are in corporate or information about your newest client if you are a business owner. If you want to succeed at work and in business growth, you must make sure your business communication is carefully audited.

3. Don’t listen to the naysayers. Most of us have people in our lives that either have too much time on their hands and spend it interfering with our lives or don’t feel good about themselves and do everything possible to bring us down to their level.  I always tell my clients to ‘get rid of whatever makes them stop’ – in this case I suggest eliminating those relationships that do not support you, your vision or what you are achieving.  Always surround yourself with high-achieving business and career woman.

4. Learn to express your needs.  It is key that you express your wants and needs very clearly, objectively, and respectfully. Learn how to ask for what you want and need and when someone ask you for their wants and needs be sure to reciprocate.

5. Get comfortable with money and charging what you are worth. Women and money do not always have a comfortable relationship. Instead of being afraid to talk about money, learn the basics of profit and loss, investing and how to impact your bottom line. Think about taking a money management or accounting course to improve your financial knowledge and then get rid of your ‘money junk’.

If the thought of increasing your fees or prices to your clients, or negotiating a raise at your current company or a higher salary at a new job – makes you queasy, you’re not alone. As a business and career woman, you must assess your value on the job, in the marketplace and charge clients accordingly and work for a company who will pay you based on what you bring to the table (expertise).

I would also recommend that you opt in to receive a copy of Elevations™, the newsletter that is “Helping Women Soar to Be the Best and Beyond™”. Each issue provides strategic tips and tactics for career, business and life.

Successful women entrepreneurs know that their success starts with being focused everyday, committed to personal development and devoted to self improvement in the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of their life.

They have also learned that networking, having fun along the way while practicing patience is the 3 success secrets that have contributed to their overall success.

1. Network – Isolation is one of the most serious issues women entrepreneurs face in their business. By nature, women tend to be natural Networkers so consciously spending time building relationships regularly in business is not difficult as long as there is commitment. Developing a concrete networking plan and committing to following the plan on a consistent basis will eliminate isolation and over time will build long-term business and professional relationships than can impact the bottom line.

Remember, social media should never take the place of getting out there and meeting with business colleagues and industry professionals. You learn so much when you spend time with others. We all have experienced some form of isolation, but it is critical for isolation not to be long term.  The focus is to always build lasting relationships and make long-standing connections.

2. Make Business Fun – Learn to find joy in every day tasks. Even if you only have a few employees or a small team, you must create an environment where everyone enjoys coming to work daily and experiences fun. Take time to think of ways you can treat employees and yourself to something special in the office – make work fun!

It is no surprise that companies like Google, who offers employees a place to feel creative and enjoy themselves, not only wins the Best Place To Work contest annually but their ROI is quite impressive as well.

3. Practice Patience – Successful women entrepreneurs tend to be focused individuals who have a plan and will do everything in their power to see their plan actualized. If you are moving at 100 miles an hour because you know exactly where you are going – don’t expect others who don’t have the map to be moving or thinking at the same speed – learn to be patient, practice patience.

These 3 success secrets, Networking, Making Business Fun, and Practicing Patience, are the secrets that women entrepreneurs follow in order to grow their business.

As a Positioning and Business Growth Expert, I coach high-achieving woman entrepreneurs, executives and non-profit leaders on how to implement those strategies that will bring long-term business success which allow them to “leverage self-worth for high net-worth”™ in career, business and life.

© 2011 Dr. Laureen Wishom

To receive a copy of Elevations, the newsletter that is “Helping Women Soar to Be the Best and Beyond™” enter your contact information below:

Strategic professional networking is one of the most powerful methods of growing your business in today marketplace.  The massive rise of online social networking has created a paradigm shift in how we function, build relationships, communicate and do business both on- and off-line.  Social media has made networking more scalable.

In the world of networking via social media, the following 5 Networking Keys: From Old School toNewSchooltechniques are key:

1. Implement the human touch: The key is to get personal.  This applies to B2B and B2C.  Networking is always going to be a human business, even with all of our technology.  Don’t forget to leverage technology because it is a ‘multiplier’ and learn to do ‘one-on-one scaling’.

2. Be patient:  Remember that good things come to those who wait.  Building a relationship takes time.  Think about your current relationships that have been very successful in your career, business and life – they took time to cultivate and you spent the time necessary to nurture them to where they are today.  The same applies to social networking

3. Some things never change: People have been recommending, referring and sharing information about products and services since the beginning of time. Even though social media has added another means of networking, networking is still a mutually beneficial process whereby you share ideas, leads, information, resources, support and always laughter (remember it is good for the soul).

4. Get a presence and be a matchmaker:  The key is to be seen, get known and bring attention to you and your business.  Blogging, posting on others’ blogs, re-tweeting and making online introductions is a great way to network with presence.

5. Leverage technology:  There was a time when only big businesses were able to reach the masses.  Today, everyone can use technology to reach the masses. Learn to leverage technology (it as a multiplier).  It gives a small business a large presence.

Here are a few new school Do’s and Don’ts:

• Do RSVP and show up for face-to-face events in your community.
• Do keep your antenna up to learn what you can bring to the table that will help others.
• Do ask for help when you need it.  It will give those people whom you so generously helped a chance to return the support.
• Don’t assume that everyone or anyone is there to support your agenda.
• Don’t forget to appropriately acknowledge the gifts of time, advice, support, ideas and leads – always show your appreciation.
• Don’t just get in touch with people only when you need something from them. How would you feel if it was reversed?

Practicing these 5 Networking Keys:  From Old School to New School will improve your web presence and brand YOU.

As a Positioning and Business Growth Expert, I coach high-achieving woman entrepreneur, executives and non-profit leaders on how to “leverage self-worth for high net-worth”™.  One of the best ways to leverage your brand is through networking and social media.  Having a strategic plan for 2012 is also a MUST for business growth and defining your social media growth strategies.  To get started with your strategic plan for 2012 in 2011 click here.

© 2011 Dr. Laureen Wishom

To receive a copy of Elevations, the newsletter that is “Helping Women Soar to Be the Best and Beyond™” enter your contact information below:

I recently read a great article by Terri Levine, author of the book Coaching is for Everyone. In her article, she identified some ten habits that successful entrepreneur’s practice daily. Here are Terri’s top 10 Habits:

1. Don’t be judgmental – Remember to look for and recognize the good both in yourself and in others.  We all have our “good” and our “off” days.  We’re all unique in our appearance, our thoughts, our opinions and our like and dislikes.  The differences are not threatening or “negative”, just “different.”  Embrace the difference and be happy for the variety.  Likewise, forget the concepts of “right” and “wrong.”  People are not good or bad or right or wrong; they just are.   Being judgmental wastes time and cuts you off from opportunities and meaningful relationships.  Remember, you aren’t perfect either!
2. Respect – Don’t make the mistake of thinking your rights are the only ones that count.  Everyone deserves the same basic rights, and our fundamental right is to be respected.  Respect is acknowledging another human being’s dignity and treating them how your wish to be treated yourself.  We all came onto this earth equal and we’re all checking out as equals.  What happens in between is just a series of different life experiences.
3. Be a good listener – How often do you really listen to other people?  How often do you drift off when others are speaking, or plan what you’re going to say next instead of listening to them?  It takes practice to be a good listener, but in being one, you put yourself in a position to better comprehend the real message being given to you.
4. Be interested, not interesting – People love to talk about themselves and will delight in the opportunity to do so, so ensure you ask questions and take an interest in what they are telling you.  Don’t worry about them hogging the limelight – you can have your turn during the conversation.
5. Respond from your heart – We tend to respond to others using our head, not our heart.  We formulate stories about us, we defend our ego or we judge other people or what they have said.  If we respond from our heart, we can respond with understanding and a sense of connection.  Find something good to say about people and to people – the response you see will amaze you.
6. Be truthful – There is good reason for the saying “honesty is the best policy.”  Nothing good ever comes from lies, but there is a difference between telling an outright lies and being diplomatic.  If you’ve made a mistake, then welcome to the human race!  You don’t have to lie to cover it up, but you also don’t have to be blunt or “brutally” honest.  There are gently and tactful ways of delivering truths.  Think carefully before you speak.
7. Be helpful – When you need a helping hand don’t you just love the person who comes up and offers it to you?  Wouldn’t’ you love the opportunity to repay them?  If you can be that person that people look to with gratitude, you never know how or when they will repay you.
8. Maintain your integrity and dignity – People with their integrity intact are easier to deal with in both business and personal situations.  They know where they stand and you know where you stand with them.  You will feel better about yourself when you set your standards and stand by them, and you will attract those who respect your standards and who have standards of their own.
9. Go the extra mile – I mean this in a couple of ways.  First, whether you are being asked to do something or you are offering to do something, remember that if something is worth doing in the first place, then it is worth doing well.  And while you are at it, what little touches can you offer to improve it?  Whether you’re offering a business service or merely a friendly ear, going the extra mile helps you stand out as a person, which is the first step to creating relationships.

10. Say what you mean and mean what you say – This is one of the oldest business principles around.  Don’t beat around the bush or make promises you can’t keep.  If you say you are going to do something, do it!  Be known as a reliable person.  Honor your promises and agreements wherever possible – this is the basis of integrity.  When you are perceived as a person with integrity, your new opportunities as an entrepreneur and a person will constantly surprise you.

Terri’s Ten Habits of Successful Entrepreneurs is so on target for any business owner or entrepreneur who is planning on expanding their footprint in 2012. As a Positioning and Business Growth Expert, I coach high-achieving woman entrepreneur, executives and non-profit leaders on how to leverage their self-worth for high net-worth by doing those things that lead to success. 

One of the best ways to ensure that you are on the road to success is to have a strategic plan for 2012.  To get started with your strategic plan for 2012 in 2011 click here.

© 2011 Dr. Laureen Wishom

To receive a copy of Elevations, the newsletter that is “Helping Women Soar to Be the Best and Beyond™” enter your contact information below: