Positive Thinking: Use the Best Within You to Form Your Sense of Self

A top executive that still thinks he is 'not good at follow up' 10 years after the fact is a great example of how many of us focus on our flaws not our fabulous.



As an executive coach to successful women, I find that most of them have a tendency to focus on where they have room to improve rather than savoring their success. Thank you for sharing your brilliance yet again!

Eli Davidson
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

How to Stop Being So Hard on Yourself

Dearest Cara,

Say thank you first. Just like the concept of eating dessert first.

There is a tool for a happy life: thank you to yourself and others first.

Brilliant as always.

The active stillness of art, gardening or communion with nature, and meditation (which is very active to me) are also huge keys in being gentle with ourselves. I find the same experience with painting. It is an experience of finding that my 'mistakes' lead me to something far better than I had planned. What a great analogy for life!



I adore YOU,

Eli
About The Balanced Life
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Help For Lindsay Lohan To Get Out of Debt....It Will Work For You Too

After losing my marriage, business and health I had $88,000 of corporate credit card debt from my business (which seemed like $600,000 at the time.) Here are some tools that will help you and anyone out there get out of credit card debt. These tools worked for me, and millions like me. They can work for you.

1. Don't Go This Alone
Lindsay, you are not alone. Studies show that currently 58 million Americans are not paying their bills on time. Get caring support as you reinvent your habits. ( No, Dr. Pinsky wouldn't be on my list either.) Yes, you are going to need to change your habits. It isn't easy. My prayer for you is that you have someone that sees your great good that goes beyond your current behavior.

2. Use Paper Power
You aren't going to like this one...but it works.
Simply, switch from plastic to paper money. A study from NYU and the University of Maryland found that when consumers switch from credit cards to cash and they automatically 30 % spend less. These studies show there's a gut reaction that's absent when we pay with plastic. That's the reason you trade your money for poker chips (plastic!) in Las Vegas. Credit cards use this fact to their advantage.

3. Get A Grip
You aren't going to like this one either.
Make a budget. Put the cash for each budget category into envelopes. Food, gas, entertainment, clothes, shoes etc. I did this. It is very simple and it works. From my own personal experience once you get down to the copper money (they are called pennies in case you forgot) in an envelope you are highly motivated to get out there and make some money. Highly motivated.

4. Pick Up the Phone
Before a large expense, ask for a discount. Sure, you are Lindsay Lohan, but I know that this tip works for the rest of us. One LA consumer got her dentist visit cut for a crown from $850 to $550 by simply calling and explaining her circumstances and asking for a discount for being a long term customer. I've heard of lots of people asking for reductions on the rent they pay...and getting it. Give your landlord a call...and let me know.

5. Ask For Help
If you are in over your head in debt you can get help. Credit Counseling will help you with your budget and lower your interest rates. My bet is that Credit Counseling companies are call you right now. Lindsay, listen up...because this is a very hidden fact.

Most consumers aren't aware that these credit counseling "non-profits" are actually funded by the credit card companies. They are not working for you...they are working for the credit card companies. I used a debt settlement company that cut my credit card debt in half. Having my debt cut in half helped me to avoid bankruptcy and give me the dignity to pay off the debt my start up business had created. Get educated and see what is the best fit for you.I am here to help you. If this worked for me, it can work for you.

Are you struggling under credit card debt? I want to hear your story.

I also what to help you find the best solution for you.
The Today Show "Reinvention Expert" shares her system to get out of debt using her "Turnaround Techniques." system with other consumers to get out of debt- for good.

Are We Becoming a Nation of Intolerance?

What an important post. We live in the UNITED States of America. Our vast diversity that gives

our nation it's important foundation. At our core we are a nation of finding the good and great in each citizen. Perhaps we haven't lived up to these high ideals- but tolerance and seeing the possibility is what will power us into a more abundant future.



Eli Davidson
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

The Recession Creates a New Business Paradigm: Entrepreneurial Independence and Individualism

As a coach I am seeing the flesh and bones of this story. At least two current client were laid off and have started their own small businesses. In my opinion, this is by far one of the most exciting events that has occurred as a result of the current economic climate. Numerous statistics show that local small business owners create more jobs and give back to their communities in a far higher rate than corporations.



Bravo!

Eli Davidson
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Successful Small Owners...It's Never Too Late To Start

Successful Small Owners...It's Never Too Late To Start

I have had the incredible opportunity to share stories of Frank Maguire share stories from his days along side Colonel Sanders. He didn't even start his business until he was in his sixties. What an inspiration....

Colonel Sanders,of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame, was 66 when he began to promote his style of cooking and create an empire.

Stan Lee, creator of Spider-Man, was 43 when he began drawing his legendary superheroes and his partner Jack Kirby was 44 when he created The Fantastic Four.

Julia Child didn't even learn to cook until she was almost 40 and didn't launch her popular show until she was 50.

F. Murray Abraham got his first decent screen role as an actor when he was 45. The role was in the movie Amadeus and he won an Academy Award for his brilliant portrayal of Antonio Salieri. He had thought of giving up acting just two years before but thankfully didn't.

Andrea Bocelli didn't start singing opera seriously until the age of 34. Some 'experts' told him it was too late to begin.

Phyliss Diller became a comedian at the age of 37. She was told by many club owners that she was "too old" to become a success.

Elizabeth Jolley had her first novel published at the age of 56. In one year alone she received 39 rejection letters but finally had 15 novels and four short story collections published to great success. Mary Wesley was 71 when her first novel was published. Talk about not giving up!

Ricardo Montalban had his dream house built at the age of 68. That was when he was finally financially able to do so and he went full-speed ahead with it.

Laura Ingalls Wilder began writing as a columnist in her 40s. Contrary to a belief begun by the TV series about her family, the popular Little House books weren't written when she was a young girl at all. They were written and published when the 'girl' was in her 60's!

Quiz Answers

Could You Start Your Own Small Business Quiz

Questionnaire

Points are given like this:
1. a) 3 b) 1 c) 2
2. a) 1 b) 3 c) 2
3. a) 1 b) 2 c) 3
4. a) 3 b) 2 c) 1
5. a) 1 b) 3 c) 2
6. a) 3 b) 2 c) 1
7. a) 1 b) 3 c) 2
8. a) 2 b) 3 c) 1

Add up the scores from your answers.
How Did You Score?
21-24: You have a very good understanding of the basics of running your own business. Grab it with both hands and go for it!

16-20: You have some of the basic ideas about running a business, but need some more help. Keep reading “SmallBusinessEntrepreneurs” to improve your knowledge. Remember there’s more to running your own business than having a great idea – there’s a lot of hard graft and mundane work too.

15 or less: You need to work harder with your understanding of running your own business. A business takes a lot of hard work to get off the ground, to keep running, and to make it successful over the long term. Start reading “SmallBusinessEntrepreneurs” in depth to gain a better understanding.

How To Tell If Starting A Business Is Right For You (Quiz)

How can you reinvent your situation? Do you have the personality and skills to run your own small business. Starting, owning, running and growing a business is not for everyone.

Do you have “a big idea” that you’d love to turn into a business?


Is it right for you?

Here is an eight-point questionnaire. Answer these questions honestly to see if starting your own business would be a good next step for you.

Questionnaire
1. Are you happy to take responsibility for every decision you take?
a) Yes, perfectly happy.
b) I’ll employ someone else to make the decisions.
c) I will consult my father who’s an experienced business man.

2. What do you think USP means?
a) Under Selling Performance
b) Unique Selling Point
c) Unique Sales person

3. Why is social networking important to a business?
a) It gives people a chance to relax and chat to their friends.
b) It gives you a chance to get up to date with modern software.
c) It gives you an opportunity to sell your business to a wide range of contacts.

4. What drives you?
a) Passion.
b) The desire for lots of money.
c) My chauffeur will drive me when I’m rich and famous.

5. Are you happy to work with financial figures?
a) No, I’ll be running a business, not an accountants.
b) Yes, these are the lifeblood of the business and I’ll keep a close eye on them.
c) I’ll put the figures in the hands of my accountant.

6. Do you think you will have sufficient motivation?
a) I realise that I have to maintain 100 per cent focus on my business.
b) A few distractions are important to keep me interested in my real life.
c) Motivation is for those business “gurus”. I can’t see the need for worrying about it.

7. Do you want a job or a business?
a) I've been laid off so I need a job.
b) I am hoping to build a business that will carry on after I’ve retired and left it. It might still give me a pension, though!
c) It’s a job first, and a business second.

8. Do you want a business that is risk-free?
a) I’m not really a risk taker, but I suppose I will have to take some risks.
b) I will embrace and understand the risks I’m taking. Without risks you cannot hope to make it big.
c) Yes. I don’t want to get involved in anything risky!

The next post will give you the answers!