Sometimes the “good ole days” seem so much better –

• When direct deposits magically appeared in my bank account
• When witty, creative colleagues worked and laughed with me in person
• When I carried a briefcase and wore high heels

I reminisce from time to time because, for the most part, I really enjoyed my various careers!

I wasn’t a victim of downsizing.  I wasn’t “let go.” I left my last position so I could be more available to my 16-year-old twin daughters and because I felt called to begin a new life chapter as a home-based, faith-based, service-providing entrepreneur.

But I didn’t know what that meant exactly.

I didn’t realize I’d have to

• Dig down deep to discover my true passion and purpose
• Dig down even deeper to discern a profitable niche
• Become my own CEO, IT geek, and QuickBooks® expert
• Do most of my own PR
• Master my mindset

I remember, even as a mother of toddler twins, wondering what people were talking about when they’d say, “Motherhood. The hardest job you’ll ever love.” I never understood that comment as I’ve been blessed with children who’ve been a breeze to raise. Motherhood for me has been a natural extension of who I am at my core.

Not so entrepreneurship.

In many ways, being a work-from-home entrepreneur goes against all of my inborn tendencies. Now that my daughters and stepchildren are grown, the bulk of my day-to-day, face-to-face interaction is with my three faithful canines, God bless ‘em.

No more team meetings. No more brainstorming over coffee. No more birthday cakes or breakfast bagels or retirement celebrations. No more grabbing a quick lunch with colleagues.

If you have introverted tendencies, you might be thinking, “Sounds good to me.” If you’re an extrovert, however, you know exactly what I’m talkin’ about.

Being a home-based entrepreneur can be lonely!

So how do we manage? Better question. How do we excel?

This is what I’ve learned over the past four years. Whether introverts or extroverts, we must:

•  Get crystal clear on our calling/mission/purpose including whom we want to serve and how we want to serve them.

• Decide that we will persevere and succeed.

• Find mentors who will help guide us through the jungle—people we trust who are ahead of us on their own entrepreneurial journey.

• Surround ourselves with a community of upbeat people—a team—who will support and offer us critical feedback.

• Get out from behind our computers and connect socially with others in person.

• Choose or create a system to deliver our goods and services.

• Make sure we fill our minds and hearts with inspiration by reading and listening to our favorite authors, speakers, teachers, and music on a daily basis.

• Get together often with creative, like-minded business owners for support, encouragement, and brainstorming.

• Attend a few “live events” a year to reinforce our learning and ignite or reignite our passion.

• Affirm each and every day that, by being faithful to our calling, we’re blessing the people we’re meant to bless with our unique gifts, strengths, message, and talents.

If I could offer only one key point for each year I’ve been in business, I’d tell emerging entrepreneurs:

1)   Know your purpose (for life and business).

2)   Work with a coach/mentor whom you trust.

3)   Become part of a team.

4)   Stay connected to divine guidance for strength and inspiration.

Home-Based Entrepreneurship. The hardest job you’ll ever LOVE!

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About Loren Fogelman

Loren Fogelman is author of The Winning Point and founder of Expert Sports Performance, a company devoted to teaching elite athletes how to consistently achieve high performance, maintain focus during competitions and create the confidence to reach their BIG goals.

Having been a psychotherapist since 1985, she knows how to identify core issues — the challenges that are getting in the way of your game – and how to tackle them with a laser-focused approach.

During courses and coaching programs, Loren teaches her clients proven strategies for reaching their goals by working smarter, not harder. Psychology, physiology and productivity strategies when combined create a comprehensive training program, boosting performance.

Loren’s Success Tip

It is always possible to turn a negative into a positive. Any achievement begins with a belief of what is possible and a decision to take action.

Loren’s Favorite Quote

How you do anything is how you do everything.

Listen to the interview with Loren by clicking the audio arrow or link below.

Loren Fogelman Interview

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Perhaps. But not always.

If we place money and displays of wealth above our relationships with God and our fellow man, then whether our incomes are high or not-so-high, we’re out of sync with the person we’re designed to be. Worse –

We’re in violation of divine law.  We. Have. Sinned.

So must we sell all of our possessions and earn just enough to get by? For centuries vows of poverty have been taken as a means of growing closer to God. But intentional poverty is not the path for everyone who seeks a closer connection with their Creator. For many of us, our relationships with God and others are strengthened as we earn income commensurate with our labor and capabilities.

The founder of Methodism, John Wesley, permeated his sermons with the message, “Earn all you can, give all you can, save all you can.”

What if we don’t? What if we let our “money story,” whatever that might be, limit our income? Is that a sin?

What if our “money story,” chock full of limiting beliefs, is preventing us from blessing the people we’re meant to bless? What if it’s keeping us from delighting in the Lord and being grateful for each and every day? What if it’s causing us to blame God for what we don’t have but others do?

I’ve interviewed over one hundred guests on my radio show; I’ve coached and mentored even more clients. The topic of abundance and prosperity invariably comes up in our conversations. Money. Is it a blessing or a curse?

It seems that many women – women of faith in particular – have a hard time converting from employee to entrepreneur. Why? In large part because going out on our own as business owners means going from receiving a paycheck or direct deposit to actively seeking/attracting clients and customers. It means determining and asking for what our services and/or products are worth. It means deciding beyond a shadow of a doubt that it’s “OK” to make money!

Let’s stop thinking that earning money or becoming rich is some sort of a sin—some evil to be avoided. Instead, let’s proclaim that earning money—“all we can”—gives us the freedom to enjoy God’s creation to the fullest.

Let’s proclaim that having a healthy, happy relationship with money can strengthen our relationship with God and others as we experience the joy of receiving and sharing God’s blessings.

Let’s put away our old “money story” and embrace a new, empowering one.

Let’s ask ourselves with gut-level candor . . .

Is it a sin to be poor?

About Star Bobatoon

Star Bobatoon is an accomplished attorney, dynamic trainer, and award-winning speaker whose high energy and engaging style make a lasting impact on her audiences and clients.

With over a decade of performance on stage, television, and the big screen, Star colors her timely and relevant messages with drama and humor.

Using her legal background, Star goes beyond inspiration to convey concrete ideas and practical tools that allow audiences to make real changes in their lives.  She  encourages her audiences and clients to embrace their inner light and become the STARs they were born to be.

Star is especially committed to organizations that support parents with special kids. She is a volunteer, speaker, and workshop leader for informal support groups and national organizations including Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Her greatest accomplishment is being the proud parent of “two of the most beautiful children in the history of children.” Her youngest is her daughter Xanthia, and her eldest is her son Hurricane. Hurricane has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and is the inspiration for her book, I Hate Muscular Dystrophy: Loving a Child with a Life-Altering Disease.

Star’s Success Tips

STAR Steps – Strategies To Achieve Results:

When you hit a wall, when you get discouraged, when life brings unexpected challenges here are 4 steps to help you achieve results.

Sit still.  With all that you have going on in your life, it becomes hard to ignore the distractions and focus on yourself but this is an important step.  Carve out some time, find a quite place and just sit still.  Try to calm your breathing and your thoughts.

Take inventory.  What is it that you are good at, what brings you joy?  We often have skills and talents that we take for granted. It is also easier to pretend that we are just mediocre people with nothing special to give. The truth of the matter is that we all have something special to give.  Take an inventory and you will be surprised at how much you have to offer.

Accept the challenge.  Embracing your inner light and taking action to bring that light out into the open is a challenge.  It takes time, effort and commitment.  Accept the challenge and to take action to make it happen.

Reinvent yourself.  Remember when we were kids and we dreamed about what our lives would be like, what we would be doing and who we would be?  Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, it is not too late to become the person you always wanted to be.

Use these STAR Steps whenever you find yourself up against a wall or moving in that direction and you will achieve remarkable results.

Star’s Favorite Quote

“Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but about learning to dance in the rain.” – Anonymous

Listen to the interview with Star by clicking the audio arrow or link below.

 Star Bobatoon Interview

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About Marilyn Angelena

Marilyn Angelena is a Transformational Business Coach and Mentor known as Magic Makeover Genie.
She works with Women Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners who want to monetize their passion and market their business effectively. “What separates my service from other business coaches, consultants, and mentors is that I only work with women entrepreneurs and small business owners, and I specialize in transforming you and your businesses using outrageous marketing strategies, both offline and online. Your business can literally be transformed in 26 weeks or less!” For more information on Marilyn and how she can help you attract more clients in record time, visit www.MagicMakeoverGenie.com today.

Marilyn’s Success Tips

Live on purpose; be true to yourself, be authentic and transparent in everything you do, be bold, live out loud and outrageous, play every ace, fall forward fast, create and clean up afterwards.

Marilyn’s Favorite Quote

The best way to show my gratitude to God is to accept everything, even my problems with joy. ~Mother Teresa

Listen to the interview with Marilyn by clicking the audio arrow or link below.

 Marilyn Angelena Interview

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I’ve interviewed scores of women on my internet radio show Heart & Soul for Women of Faith who’ve shared that “losing it” is one of their biggest fears and most daunting obstacles.

Why does not being able to control our circumstances, surroundings, or responses of others  cause us to fall apart at the seams and resort to all manner of unhealthy activities?

Eating not two but three pints of Cherry Garcia comes to mind as does the pervasive, soul-sapping “un-activity,” procrastination. Sometimes we choose to stick our head in the sand and hope the situation will blow over.

And sometimes lack of control over one or two circumstances will lead to a feeling of lack of control over everything. In a flash our whole world, in our mind’s eye anyway, turns upside down into one big ole chaotic mess.

I asked a friend and colleague of mine, Life Coach Joann Lim, why she thought lack of control is such a bugaboo for many women and why it can lead to an overall feeling of utter chaos. Joann said CHAOS = CHANGE. We often feel like our lives are out of control and chaotic when our status quo is disrupted, that is, when change of any kind takes place.

A few short weeks ago a team of movers swarmed into our house to box up our belongings and transport them from Lovely Lynchburg, Virginia, to Beautiful Bel Air, Maryland. Sure enough, change was occurring right in front of me. I felt control-less in the midst of chaos despite the team’s orderly manner and noteworthy professionalism. Breathe, Jory, breathe!

But check this out. Joann showed me that the letters for C A N are in the word CHANGE whereas the letters for C A N N O T are not!

Hmmm. True that. So how ’bout if we focus on what we CAN do when life seems to overwhelm us?

Let’s start with the four chief categories that comprise life as we know it – Physical, Psychological, Emotional, and Spiritual. And let’s put several options under each category that will help us stay grounded in the midst of chaos/change.

[I polled my colleagues, clients, Facebook friends, and captive audience at a recent Women's Expo in Baltimore, Maryland to come up with the following list.]

Proven Suggestions for Staying Grounded in the Midst of Chaos

Physical

• Take a nature walk and truly appreciate your surroundings
• Eat well
  • If you’ve downed too much ice cream, go eat something healthy to get back on track
• Drink plenty of water
• Choose to smile despite what’s going on around you
• Take a bubble bath
• Drink warm tea
• Arrange fresh flowers
• Take a yoga class (or Zumba or Nia or belly dancing … whatever you enjoy)
• Reach out to your spouse for intimacy
• Breathe!!

Psychological

• Meditate or contemplate on all that’s good in your life
• Think of three small things you can do that will make you feel as if you’re back in control and/or making progress.
  • Prioritize your “to do” list
  • Focus on one task at a time
• Remember why you’re doing what you’re doing to help cut down on overwhelm
  • If the task at hand doesn’t fit into the big picture, don’t do it
• If necessary, give yourself a set amount of time to fret and stew
  • Set a timer – when your time is up, move on
• Be at peace with asking for help
  • Ask for help
• Take care of yourself
  • Remember the oxygen mask rule – you need to put yours onfirst
• Establish routines and stick to them
• Ask yourself: “In five years, will this really matter?”
• Celebrate your victories!!!! (a.k.a. “Do the Happy Dance!” wherever and whenever you can)

Emotional

• Talk your concerns over with friends and family
  • Don’t complain as this will merely reinforce your feelings of chaos and overwhelm
• Seek counsel from trusted advisors and mentors
  • Maintain a positive, grateful attitude (in all things, give thanks)
• Enjoy your pets and/or whatever else brings you a sense of joy
• Ask yourself, “What will bring my heart peace right now?”
  • Follow your intuition

Spiritual

• Pray about everything
• Be of service to others
• Visualize C A L M – what does that look like for you?
• Visualize and affirm a positive result
• Read soul–nurturing books, articles, and magazines
• Refresh your soul with music or anything else that feeds your spirit
• Ask yourself, “How can I handle this situation in a way that has eternal significance?”

What I find particularly useful for me is to weigh everything against my God-given purpose, which is akin to asking the eternal significance question above.

As put forth by author and theologian Gordon T. Smith in his book Courage & Calling, we can think of purpose or calling as having three dimensions. (1) What is our general purpose or calling as children of God? (2) What is our specific purpose or calling that allows us to use our unique gifting to touch the lives of others? (3) And what are our primary tasks and responsibilities put before us right now?

As I’ve helped women discern their life purpose, I’ve discovered that many think they have to wait till a certain stage of their life is over before they can “find, follow, and fulfill” their divine calling. “When I graduate from college . . . when I finish grad school . . . when my babies go off to college . . . when I finish paying for grad school . . . when my parents don’t need me anymore.” We tend to think we can’t live out our purpose until [fill in the blank].

We’d be waiting forever if the planets had to align just right for us to live with purpose, passion . . . and joy.

If you’re home with young children, if you’re taking care of elderly parents, if you’re nurturing a husband back to health, if you’re faithfully fulfilling your God-given tasks and responsibilities, then know you are in the heart of your purpose. Add meditating on that comforting thought to the suggestions above. It will serve as your soul-soothing plumb line in the midst of what appears to be pure chaos.

Even if we’re in a fairly calm stage of life right now, change is waiting for us right around the corner. Let’s equip ourselves with a plan and strategy now so we can be prepared for whatever may come our way.

Learn how to identify the distortional thinking that could be triggering anxiety and stress — and crippling your success. Break through negative self-talk, chatter, and blocked emotions. Learn to harness transforming power that will guide you toward making choices consistent with purpose-filled living.

It’s time to embrace possibility while living a life of purpose that radically impacts and changes the lives of others!

About Kerri Herndon

Kerri Herndon, affectionately known as Coach Kerri, is a Life Transformation Coach and Christian Counselor. Through her weekly podcast, books, and seminars, Kerri gracefully shares spiritual insights to assist others with discovering the spirit-soul-body connection to live emotionally balanced lives.  Her witty tips and simple truths provide transforming power that will guide readers and listeners toward making consistent, purposeful choices.

Kerri’s Success Tips

I do know that all of us have a force of power inside that is tremendously great, yet many people are not living the life that was promised to them to fulfill. This could be a direct result from allowing your soul to become toxic thus clouding your ability to fully recognize your birth gifts. For others, it could be a lack of balance and not taking the time seek and develop your gifts. Remember, there is always danger in comparing your gifts with others and under estimating the value of your personal gifts. Both of which result in never attaining the fullness of the power within. Begin by applying three simple truths that will revolutionize the way you think, you act, and what you will do next in your life. Read more at www.coachkerri.com

Kerri’s Favorite Quote

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. ~ Maya Angelou

Listen to the interview with Kerri by clicking the audio arrow or link below.

 Kerri Herndon Interview

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In this encouraging interview, Theresa will share solutions to the Trinity of Challenges of the mompreneur. You’ll discover practical tips for setting boundaries, scheduling your time, and investing in yourself. Plus, you’ll learn the one thing most entrepreneurs forget to do — and why we need each other to do it!

About Theresa Ceniccola

Theresa Ceniccola is known as The Christian Mompreneur—a Mentor to Moms Who are Running a Business that Supports Faith and Family. As the president and founder of the International Christian Mompreneur Network, she empowers entrepreneurial moms to build profitable businesses with wisdom and grace.

Theresa has successfully run a home-based business for the past 18 years. She considers herself blessed to make a living doing what she loves and empowering other moms to create businesses that support their values of faith and family.

Theresa lives in Virginia Beach, Va, where she enjoys running, biking, reading, and spending time with her husband Chris and their three children. She is a regular contributor to Christian blogs and magazines including Catholic Mom, Proverbs 31 Woman, and Crosswalk. Theresa volunteers with the Girl Scouts, St. John the Apostle Church, and Girls on the Run.

Looking for more information on how you can create a business that supports faith and family? Join the International Christian Mompreneur Network (it’s free!) and grab a copy of the Ten Commandments of a Mompreneur to encourage and inspire you on your journey. Visit www.ICMNetwork.com to join.

Theresa’s Success Tips

There is no single magic solution – living with purpose and passion requires consistency and resolve…there are a lot of little things that contribute to a more peaceful and prosperous life – not just one big thing.

Theresa’s Favorite Quote

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”  ~ Mother Teresa

Listen to the interview with Theresa by clicking the audio arrow or link below.

 Theresa Ceniccola Interview

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• You’re a perfectionist, a person who always wants to be in control, an overachiever, and/or you think whatever you do is never enough.

• You find you seek or desire acceptance or approval from people and/or you have a hard time saying “No.”

• You suffer from bouts of depression, hopelessness, stress, overwhelm, or lack of motivation.

• You’re constantly on a diet, not happy with your weight, or letting the number on the scale dictate your mood or self-worth for the day.

Take the Weight Off! Lisa can help you change for good, starting today.

About Lisa Lieberman-Wang

Lisa Lieberman-Wang, Founder of FINE to FAB, Take the Weight Off!, has permanently recovered from compulsive overeating and binge eating for close to 20 years now. After more than 35 years of trying every weight loss diet and therapeutic remedy and working with some of the world’s leading experts, she decided, “It’s Really Not About The Food!”

Lisa’s passion for empowering women to make conscious health choices not only for their food, but also for their lives has led her to consult with individuals, health care professionals, corporations, universities, and the media. She was the guest host on the television show, For The Health of It, with Dr. Barrett.

A professional speaker, Lisa has trained over 50,000 entrepreneurs in the last 20 years on health & wellness, leadership, and sales & marketing strategies to help them grow themselves and their businesses.

You can find out more about Lisa and her program at www.FINEtoFAB.com.

Lisa’s Success Tips

Top 10 Strategies To Help Take the Weight OFF:

1. Know that You are already ENOUGH!! You are pretty enough, smart enough, nice enough, so be nice to yourself!
You are FABULOUS, AWESOME & BEAUTIFUL!

2. Hate only hurts the one carrying it! Forgive and Forget. Eliminate or change the stories that no longer serve you so you can live an authentic life.

3. God doesn’t make junk so take care of his treasure in you. “It is not who you are that hold you back; it’s who you think you’re not.”

4. Take care of your mothers’ daughter.

5. Eat to Live, Not Live to Eat. Love will never be found in a Twinkie, but it can be found in you. Saying “NO” to the comfort food is saying “YES” to you!

6. Your actions aren’t who you are, they are what you do! You may not like what you did, but you can love who you are!

7. Learn to blame effectively! If you are going to blame someone for what was wrong, you have to also blame them for what was right!

8. Ask Yourself Better Quality Questions Every Day:

• How can I appreciate even more the gifts that God has already given to me?
• What am I grateful for today?
• What’s good about this?

9.  Take the focus off ME and put it on WE! For there’s no ME in WE!  Help others; you will see your burdens lifted.

10. “Everything Happens for a Reason.” You may not know what it is now but there you will find out in God’s time, just as I did.

Lisa’s Favorite Quote

“Everything happens for a reason.”

Listen to the interview with Lisa by clicking the audio arrow or link below.

Lisa Lieberman-Wang Interview

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About Nancy Oakley

A native of Thailand, Nancy Oakley Suku came to the United States during the Vietnam War. After working in civil service for over 20 years, she embarked upon her dream of entrepreneurship. Nancy delved into the world of real estate and has controlled millions in assets. In 2008, she began her career as a retail business owner along the beautiful San Antonio Riverwalk. An accomplished author, she owns and operates a bookstore as well as a prestigious jewelry store and gift shop. “Whoever thought that the poor raped and abused girl who sold water from the temple in Thailand and went to school barefoot would become a successful entrepreneur in America?” Nancy is devoted to helping abused women and will soon start a non-profit organization and shelter for victims of emotional and physical violence. Learn more about Nancy’s life and efforts by listening to this inspiring interview!

Nancy’s Success Tip

Hang in there and keep doing what you love!

Nancy’s Favorite Quote

It takes time for your hard work to build momentum … never give up on your dreams.

Listen to the interview with Nancy by clicking the audio arrow or link below.

Nancy Oakley Interview

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