How often do you find yourself saying yes to other people and not leaving any time for yourself? Are you burnt out and still running around for others? I challenge you to say NO and put yourself first.  Stop by and leave your results

Tags: actions, boundaries, communication, conflict resolution, fears, lonely preneur journey, relationships, Tricia Dycka, words

Ever been really excited about your accomplishment and have zero recognition from others around you? Do you support yourself and surround yourself by others who will cheer you on? 

Tags: create your own environment, lonely preneur journey, Lonely-preneur, recognition, relationships, Tricia Dycka

Does the little monster in your head tell you that you can’t do something or you are not good enough? Ever think about where you have heard that from? Is it from a parent, growing up, society? Can you challenge that? Another tip from the lonely preneur journey.

Tags: beliefs, challenge, circumstances, communication, entrepreneur, express yourself, Lonely-preneur, monster, not good enough, self help, Tricia Dycka, udgement

Stop worrying about how others are judging you. Are you judging yourself and if so ask yourself why? What is the purpose of beating yourself up? There is none. My lesson when I realized I had an automatic behavior and judged Lady Gaga on her dress vs her as a person.

Tags: automatic behavior, choices, Judgement, Lady Gaga, Lonely-preneur, social environment, Tricia Dycka, women business owners

Do you really know what you want to be when you grow up? Sometimes you do what you feel is expected of you without considering your feelings.  Do you love what you do? Have you been influenced by others and in some way they have decided your fate?

Post your comments and results below

Tags: best interest, choices, communication, create your own environment, Lonely-preneur, social environment, Tricia Dycka

WHAT someone thinks you will FAIL

When you started your business you were on top of the world and the thought of anyone close to you thinking you would fail was just obscene.  Listen to a 2 minute audio when people close to you think you will fail and what to do about it. Would love to hear your thoughts leave your two cents.

Tags: BS, communication, create your own environment, express yourself, fail, life style coaching, own business, relationship tips, Tricia Dycka, women business owners

You may be at a point in your entrepreneurship where you’re wondering “What was I thinking? This starting a business thing is harder than I thought!” Well, sista you’re asking the choir (I’m there in the alto section).

We all have our reasons for starting a business – and they’re all very good, don’t let anyone tell you differently! But there are and will be days you need to remind yourself just why you took on your particular challenge. I will be honest with you – I still do once in a while. Some of you reading my story will think, that’s not so bad. Or you did that and you’re still working ON your business? First thing as my business coach, the wonderful Ali Rodriguez told me – you are always working ON your business so you can work in your business.

So, what inspired me to get going? What were the set of circumstances that said “Liz you need to start up your own business”? OK, up until recently I have been reluctant to discuss the full, real reason. I have “unspecified seizures disorder” – most commonly known as epilepsy. In many cases people can lead normal lives depending on the degree of seizures – there are people who are in worse situations than me. Without going into full details, because of side-effects of my medications I can’t work in a corporate office situation. My medications make me sleepy – to the point of I need to sleep NOW and at times for up to 90 minutes. No employer in the world is going to let an employee take a nap at work! Doesn’t matter that after the nap I’m sharp and ready to go.

So, I was “let go” because of my seizures from by last employment as an administrative assistant. There I was sitting at home – frustrated. I could work! I needed to work! I had all the software I needed to do the work of an admin but no one to do the work for. A former boss struck out on his own and would have me work with him on his projects (I continue to amaze him and he impresses his clients), but that wasn’t enough. I found another person to work for – starting off doing little things and that expanded. Because of these two I was encouraged to start my business.

Now I have more clients and always looking to work with more. One of the many fantastic things about owning my own business – I can set the parameters. I enjoy the “it makes my heart SING” times because I work with my clients. I have a blast when I teach a couple of classes for the local adult community education group. This is my joy, my bliss, my reason for “singing” in the alto section of that choir I mentioned at the beginning. Yes, there are times when the tune is a bit off key, but it manages to find its way back.

Please don’t ever give up. Find your tune. The thing – what ever it may be to keep that fire lit to keep you going and not surrender! Remember, the rest of the choir you’re preaching to is here to help – even if it’s to just listen and let you vent.

Bio Liz LaClair: I have TWO best parts of my life. I’m thrilled to have found my business calling! I truly enjoy working with my clients – the work I do is fun! Check out how I got past my challenges – learn how I’m taking a not so good and making it great. The other best part of my life – I’m married to the love of my life. He’s very supportive of what I’m doing. Who could ask for more?

Tags: administrative assistant, ali rodriguez, boss, business coach, epilepsy, medications, nap, office situation, own business, real reason, seizures disorder, set of circumstances, sleep

Dealing with Someone whose Moods Change like the Wind

Two minute audio on Dealing with Someone whose Moods change like the wind.  Do you deal with someone who makes your stomach clench when you think about seeing them because they are so un predicable with their moods?

If you are like me, and most other online entrepreneurs, you’ve sought the counsel and advice of people who’ve been successful online. There’s no shortage of “experts” who want to sell you the “secret to their success.” And, for the most part, it’s good to find out what’s worked for others. We get in trouble, however, when we blindly apply someone else’s “formula” to our own endeavors. See, just because something works for one person does not mean it will work for you. In fact, the very things that worked for someone else may be disastrous for you.

I took a year-long class with an online “super star.”  She had great advice, and the 70 or so people in her program worked to apply it. It worked for some; it failed miserably for others. When we fail at implementing the advice of someone who is more successful than us, we tend to blame ourselves. The “teacher” is successful. Some of her followers are successful. The problem must lie with us and our execution. We must have forgotten some crucial step. And, we beat ourselves up, or look for internal flaws, to such an extent that we want to just give up.

I have a unique perspective on this, as I am an astrologer. When I first started studying astrology, I was STUNNED by the fact that one person was wired to be successful being organized, while another was wired to be successful by letting disorder reign. Seriously. Organization and order do not work for some. It can actually make things worse! Some people need to take more charge of their lives. Others need to learn to go with the flow.

As I got more into astrology, I studied the chart of this “online superstar” with whom I studied. (She didn’t want an astrological reading for herself but she graciously provided the details needed for me to cast her chart.)  Sure enough, she was doing, what I call, “working her chart.” Although she’d never had a reading before, through her own spiritual exploration, she had discovered what worked best for her. Furthermore, she was “set up” to be someone who excelled in business, as an entrepreneur. Not only was she going about success in the right way, her definition of “success” fit her personality as well.

Which brings me to another point – what is “successful” to one person may not be successful for you. If you really, truly want to be an entrepreneur, then, yes, you are probably “wired” to be one. But, if you really want to be a children’s book author who doesn’t worry about the money side of things, or to work in an office with lots of other people, or work at home, with your children – then that’s “success” for you.

We are all unique individuals. I know we are TOLD that over and over again but the examples provided for us do not back this up. We all get herded into one or two definitions of what it means to be successful and provided one or two formulas of how to reach this success. Individuality be damned.

I’m here to say that the only way you are going to be truly successful, and truly at peace, is to pursue your own definition of success, in your own way. How do you do that? That varies from person to person as well. I have many clients who find that their astrological charts provide a long sought-after “user’s manual” for their lives. Other people find this through meditation, or trial and error, or connecting with just the right mentor. The important thing, underneath all of this, is to know and trust yourself.  If you’re applying the advice of an entrepreneurial superstar and it’s not working –check in to see if it feels right to you. If you know that every time you try to “go with the flow”, you fail miserably, stop doing it. Try planning and organizing instead. If you work best with several different projects but you’re being told to pick one and focus – don’t. If someone tells you to have many different irons in the fire but that stresses you out – then do what brings you peace and focus. Try something, make small adjustments, evolve.

Learn from others but be true to yourself. You’re the only expert you’ll ever need.

Jennifer L Shelton is the founder and administrator of FemCentral, the Virtual Institute for Women, where she also works as an astrologer, intuitive coach and instructor. She teaches undergraduate, online classes in global cultures for Franklin University and works as an education, outreach and training consultant. She’s a writer. She’s a mom. She’s gloriously busy doing the things she loves.

Tags: astrologer, astrological reading, astrology, endeavors, execution, extent, followers, internal flaws, perspective, spiritual exploration, superstar

When I started my first business I was searching for a niche.  Since I was in the financial industry at the time, my coach thought that the most logical place for me to start was as a financial coach.   Not really having much of a voice in my life at that time, I just decided to go with her idea.

My coach taught me how to do joint ventures and with that knowledge, I set out to fill up my new group-coaching program.  I was pretty successful and was able to sign people into two separate coaching programs.  You would think I would be happy to have clients.

Well, I wasn’t happy, I was miserable.  I loved my clients, but every time I had to teach a class, I would get really nervous.  I had all these mixed feelings that I really couldn’t sort out.  Then one morning I woke up and thought, I have to figure out why I’m not happy in my own business.  I had always wanted to have a successful business, but was this how it feels?  It couldn’t be.

I finally broke down one day with a colleague and just laid it all out.  She listened to me, than said, you really don’t want to be a wealth coach do you?  And I said no I don’t.

I decided to really take a look at what made me happy and after much inner work, I came to the conclusion that my true passion was my inner geek-ness!  I loved technology.  I spent most of my career in the computer software industry.  I worked for several different companies as a technical support representative, then moved up the ladder to technical lead, then technical support manager.  I have the ability to learn quickly when it came to computer technology.  So on-line marketing and social media  just seemed to make sense to me and I loved that world.

I knew exactly what I needed to do.  I taught myself everything about social media and Internet marketing, then moved on to learn how to customize WordPress sites.  I was in heaven.  I found my bliss!

I’m now in the middle of another transition into branding and helping others build a unique business around their passion and bliss. I have realized that being an entrepreneur is every changing and upleveling of who you are and Im okay with that.  Change is good!

There have been ups and downs in my business, but what a ride it’s been.  I promised myself that no matter what, I will keep moving forward.

About the Author: Janet Majoulet-Foust is social media marketing specialist and website brand designer who helps businesses create their unique on-line brand.  Janet also coaches business owners how to use WordPress, Internet marketing and social media to market and monetize their business by creating a brand that stands out from the crowd.

Tags: bliss, colleague, computers technology, favorite thing, financial coach, foust, heaven, helping others, inner geek, joint ventures, logical place, media marketing, mixed feelings, niche, own business, passion, successful business, transition, ups, ups and downs