By Monyka Berrocosa, Founder/CEO MyCity4Her.com
Embracing change and all that comes with it.
No matter how successful one is or isn’t – we all can fall prey to the natural human tendency to stay “cemented in contentment”. Mediocrity as a state in and of itself is not something we tend to seek – especially not if we consider ourselves achievers but if you think about it, how often do we nod towards progress and stay right where we stand – whatever the reasons?
About 70 days ago – I started to work with Susan Katz, the Growth Coach – I’ll be honest, mostly as an experiment. She had become a partner/major supporter of MyCity4Her.com and it just seemed the right thing to do – to give a chance to her approach and system. I’ve worked with a variety of coaches – mostly for personal and Executive development. The Growth Coach being a franchise, I was torn at how much value could something like that really bring – however, I’d heard great things, and so I wanted to try it.
The premise of the program is based on developing “Strategic Mindset” as a BUSINESS OWNER. It is based on the premise you should want to work ON your business, not necessarily in it. Sounds easy enough – but you know what kids – it isn’t. As a going on 13 year business owner veteran…I had a BAD case of the “glorified job” and was only kidding myself that I ran my own business. It was running me rather and I, it. I credit Susan’s coaching and the program with opening my eyes to that and helping me find concrete ways to productively DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT…” nuf said.
Taking a FULL day to work on your business seems to some, so irresponsible and luxurious – but the more I think about it – the more I wonder why more people don’t do it, and why they don’t take more than a day? If you ponder that to plan anything with success, it takes some time to think about it – that’s just well, for lack of a better way to put it – physics or the laws of success if you will; why does taking so much time out to plan your business not seem like a necessary “got to do it”?
I don’t know but I can tell you that my first full day retreat/workshop/whatever you want to call it ‘working ON me and my business” proved rather catalytic. It led to me finally, after the death of a thousand cuts for well over a year, leaving a personal relationship that was draining the very life out of me (despite that partner’s best of intentions), dramatically changing the Operations processes in my business (including bringing on TWO new staff members to take care of the “stuff that needed to be done” – but floundered, or didn’t get attended to when I tried to do it – what’s the result? I’m happier than I’ve ever been – and my business is up well over 40%!
Nope – I’m not on drugs, but I have drunk the Kool-Aid so to speak kids. Yup, that’s the power of a program that works and the applied intention to develop a habit of strategic mindset. If you aren’t happy with where you’re at (frankly I don’t know too many people who are) I highly encourage you to take a look at this. It might just be the kick start you need to not just be “thinking you’re living your dream” but actually get busy living it.
Check out the Growth Coach here.
What got me started on the whole change thing was an article SmallBizTrends.com that turned me onto, written by Susan Fronk on a blog called America’s Best Business Practices.
“Have you ever tried to get someone to make changes? How successful were you? How successful has anyone been in getting you to make changes? In today’s uncertain world, there is only one thing that’s certain; change. Have you noticed that even when the status quo is less than satisfactory, many people are reluctant to make changes? Maybe its because the the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t. Making change work in a small business can be especially difficult.”
To read the rest of the article click here.
Speaking of change – 100 people’s lives were changed forever on the night of Tuesday June 22, 2010 when WEB (Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore) welcomed their new class of graduates. Web, led by dynamo and powerhouse Joanne Salzberg, has a proven successful program that helps women take the idea of business ownership and make it reality in a sustainable, attainable way – and what a program it is!
Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore, Inc., a 501(c) 3 non-profit, empowers its clients, predominately lower income women and the unemployed, to achieve financial stability through entrepreneurship. Through WEB’s intensive business training and support programs, our graduates have increased their average household incomes by $22,000, created more than 1800 new businesses, and helped revitalize local communities.
Congratulations to all the graduates! You did it – now keep at it. For more information about WEB’s programs – click here.
Lastly, have you been attending the WBENC conference at all? What a great initiative right here in our own city…how exciting.
It’s been really exciting and inspiring to read our audience’s impressions about this fantastic, women in business event. I plan on spending a good portion of the day there myself. It’s the treat I’m allowing myself for working really hard on the business this week – and I’m looking forward to it.
To learn more about the WBENC as an organization or register for the conference that goes on until tomorrow am Friday – click here.