Are You Ready for Success? (Loren Fogelman)
May 9, 2012 by Jory · 5 Comments
Why do some people struggle where others succeed? Loren Fogelman, founder of Expert Sports Performance, will reveal breakthrough strategies shared by highly successful individuals. Talented people hold themselves back from reaching their full potential and don’t understand why. With small changes it can all be turned around. The plan is to work smarter, not harder, to achieve your goals.
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.
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The Quest to Serendipity (Nancy Oakley)
February 9, 2012 by Jory · 2 Comments
Nancy will share her rags to riches story of her life as a little girl running from the mob in Thailand to life as a highly successful entrepreneur in San Antonio, TX. Listeners will come away with business tips, encouragement, and inspiration to help them achieve their dreams.
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.
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Who Needs You Most?
October 17, 2011 by Jory · Leave a Comment
Last week I led a group of coaches in a discussion of “How to Build a Profitable, Purpose-Guided Business.” Not surprisingly, we focused on the topic, “Choosing Your Target Market.”
I know many service-based business owners who agonize over this decision. I did too, at first. “Just choose three to five groups of people you like to work with,” I was advised. Hence, my first mega-website was divided into three major categories — Coaching for Women, Coaching for Lawyers, and Coaching for Clergy. (My husband joked that I included everybody but male engineers.)
NOT a good idea! When you’re “targeting” more than one group, you’re spreading your resources too thin. Your time, your energy, your hard-earned dollars, your focus. You’ll confuse and maybe even scare away the people who are meant to work with you! My current business mentors have ingrained in me the mantra, “A confused mind always says no.”
Fo’ sho.
[
Take the pressure off. If you make a decision, try it on for size; and if your target market is not a good fit, guess what . . . you can change! Just don’t invest a fortune in marketing materials or websites until you’ll pretty darn sure you’re going to stick with that particular group for a while. And guess what else. Declaring a target market doesn’t mean you can’t work with somebody who doesn't fit that particular profile--as long as you resonate with each other and it’s a good fit for both of you. Feelin' the freedom?]
So, besides liking the people you intend to serve, what are some other factors to consider when identifying your target market? Try these:
- Do they have specific problems you can help them solve?
- Are they likely to pay someone to help solve their problems?
- Are they motivated and passionate?
- Do they gather in places where you can easily find them?
- Can you relate to them . . . really well?
If several groups come to mind when using those criteria, ask yourself the killer question: Who Needs You Most? There’s only so much “you” to go around!
We True Purpose™ Coaches are highly skilled in helping people get crystal clear on whom they’re meant to serve and how they’re meant to serve them. Reach out to us if you think you need some help.
To your success!
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IF
August 9, 2011 by Jory · 2 Comments
“Faith and purpose constitute the motive power of life. There is nothing that a strong faith and an unflinching purpose may not accomplish. By the daily exercise of silent faith, the thought-forces are gathered together, and by the daily strengthening of silent purpose, those forces are directed toward the object of accomplishment.” ~James Allen (From Poverty to Power)
“It is my duty, and a privilege to say I believe, and not without reason, that nothing is impossible to the person who backs DESIRE with enduring FAITH. … Have Faith in yourself; Faith in the Infinite.” ~Napoleon Hill (Think and Grow Rich)
That’s it! The vital ingredients to the aforementioned Recipe for Success! Just sprinkle in equal measures of faith, purpose, and burning desire; bake at 350˚ for a year or two; and EUREKA! Out pop Thriving Entrepreneurs!
No????
Let’s be honest. How many of us are committed to the DAILY EXERCISE of faith and purpose? How many of us have a BURNING DESIRE to succeed?
More likely than not, at least from time to time, we’re leaning upon what Napoleon Hill refers to as “alibis.” Do any of these sound familiar?
-
IF only I had money…
- IF only I had time…
- IF only I were younger…
- IF only I had more talent…
- IF only I had somebody to help me…
- IF only I could get out of debt…
- IF only I hadn’t failed…
- IF only I didn’t have to work so hard…
- IF only my family understood me…
- IF only ___________________ …
“Building alibis with which to explain away failure,” asserts Mr. Hill, “is a national pastime. The habit is as old as the human race, and it is fatal to success!”
What we need to succeed…
is NOT occasional sprinkles, but ample measures of Faith, Purpose, and Burning Desire which we tap into each and every day
What we need to succeed…
is NOT a plethora of excuses, but a decision to stop crafting alibis
What we need to succeed…
is Somebody and someone to hold us accountable…
IF
we’re going to accomplish what we’re here on earth to achieve.
Recipe for Success
June 14, 2011 by Jory · 5 Comments
I was chatting with a friend of mine about recipes—not an activity I engage in frequently as my family will assure you.
This conversation intrigued me. If you were to create a recipe for success, what ingredients would you include?
According to Dictionary.com and Wikipedia.org, “success” may be defined as:
- The favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors.
- The attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.
- The achievement of an objective/goal.
Thinking….thinking….what ingredients would I pour into my mixing bowl to create personal and professional success?
- Clarity. If I’m not clear about who I am and where I’m headed, I can’t navigate my way through the storms. Shoot, if I’m not clear about who I am and where I’m headed, I’m likely to wander off course on a sunny day!! I need clear vision. Clear purpose. I need an internal GPS.
- Courage. A key ingredient for sure. I need to take risks. I need to face my fears and embrace the unknown. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Will do, Mr. Emerson, provided I can muster up enough courage to sustain me on my journey!
- Commitment. How many of us begin something only to pack it in when the going gets tough? Sometimes, sometimes, quitting is the right thing to do. (Read Seth Godin’s The Dip and you’ll know what I mean.) If we’re on our most purposeful path, however, we need to remain committed to our cause. “The Greats” can teach us a thing or two about commitment—about perseverance through times of grief, hardship, and despair. Think of Moses. Queen Esther. Mahatma Gandhi. Mother Teresa. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Apostle Paul. Nelson Mandela. William Wilberforce. Susan B. Anthony. Yet so can “the lesser knowns.” Joni Eareckson Tada. Jennifer Rothschild. Perhaps your neighbor next door. We all need models of commitment to encourage us to keep going when the inevitable storms arise. Who are yours?
- Competence. We must attain the requisite training, knowledge, skill, and experience. Without competence, our success soufflé will undoubtedly fall. But remember the aforementioned ingredients. And remember the “failures” of Thomas Edison and Abraham Lincoln. Competence includes clarity, courage, and commitment to success…even when light bulbs don’t light and elections are lost.
- Calling. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understand. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Thank you for loving us, Father God, and having a plan for our future…a plan we can choose to follow…or not.
OK, I’ve got it. My ingredients for personal and professional success must include clarity, courage, commitment, competence, and a decision to find, follow, and fulfill my God-given calling. If any of them is lacking, my soufflé sooner or later will fall. … And when it does, I’ll know which ingredients to add to the bowl the next time!
To your success,
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Pathway to Purpose: Discerning God’s Call on Your Life (Jory Fisher)
Whom are you called to serve? How are you equipped to serve others? What’s your “Big Why” for doing what you do in the world? For this episode of Heart & Soul, Jory Fisher is interviewed by Julie Fleming—also a lawyer/mentor/consultant/coach who works with small business owners to help them build profitable, enjoyable businesses. Jory and Julie will inspire you to find, follow, and fulfill your own divine calling and enjoy an abundant and prosperous life.
Jory Fisher, host of Heart & Soul for Women of Faith, specializes in helping Christian women entrepreneurs integrate calling, confidence, and clarity into their business so they can serve the people they’re meant to serve and glorify God through success. Before opening her coaching and consulting firm in 2008, Jory had worked 15 years as an attorney focusing on family, juvenile, and criminal law; four years as an assistant professor and associate dean of Liberty University School of Law; and three years as the Executive Director of the Child Abuse Prevention Center in Central Virginia. She holds professional certifications from the International Coach Federation, the Institute for Life Coach Training, the Career Coach Academy, the Christian Coaches Network, and the True Purpose™ Institute. She and her husband Dave live in Lynchburg, VA and are the proud parents of seven purposeful and successful children. For more information, please visit www.womenfindpurpose.com.
Jory’s Success Tips:
- “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God…” (Luke 12:31)
- “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances…” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
- Find, follow, and fulfill your divine calling.
- Persevere in reaching your goals.
- Love others. Love yourself.
- Forgive others. Forgive yourself.
- Freely give.
- Freely receive.
- Have fun!!!!!
Jory’s Favorite Quote:
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3: 5-6
Listen to the interview with Jory by clicking the audio arrow or link below:
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On Eagle’s Wings
May 24, 2011 by Jory · 2 Comments
Why? Why do you do what you do?
Why do you pour your time, treasure, and talents into building a business?
Last night I saw for perhaps the fifth time the award-winning classic Chariots of Fire. Though I don’t agree with Eric Liddell’s view of God as a “divine dictator” who demands that Christians keep Sunday as a day of rest, I deeply admire Eric’s conviction—his willingness to give up the opportunity of a lifetime to stand by his beliefs. Makes me wonder… would I be willing to do that?
Success comes with sacrifice. Eric voluntarily gave up the chance to run for England in the 100-meter race at the 1924 Olympics because the qualifying heat was on a Sunday. Perhaps you gave up a “secure” position in Corporate America to follow God’s call to become an entrepreneur. Maybe you gave up a paycheck. Maybe health insurance. Retirement. Whatever your sacrifice, you must remain strong in your convictions or you will be oh-so-tempted to swerve when the going gets tough…as it will.
Want to know what else I love about Eric Liddell? He knew God gave him the heart of a missionary, and he knew God made him fast. Really fast. This “Flying Scotsman” used his marvelous ability as a runner to spread and strengthen his mission as an evangelist. He knew his “Big Why” and drew upon that “why” as he ran the race of life. “I believe God made me for a purpose,” he told his concerned sister. “But he also made me fast.”
Eric ran with perseverance the race marked out before him. He steadfastly fixed his eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of his faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
My heart aches for Harold Abrahams each time I see the movie. A scorned son of a Jewish immigrant, Harold hungers for acceptance and honor among the British establishment. His why is big, yes, but it’s a why that torments him. We’re left wondering if he ever finds peace and joy even though his determination to succeed brings him victory in France.
Our whys as Christian Women Entrepreneurs must inspire us to clear the hurdles before us with joy and perseverance, not fear and angst.
Know your why.
Know what it needs to do for you.
And hold it close to your heart. Forever.
Even Believers Get the Blues
May 17, 2011 by Jory · 4 Comments
You believe you’re called to make a meaningful difference.
You believe in something bigger than yourself.
You believe you’re on the right path.
You believe in prayer.
You believe in faith.
You believe in God.
You even believe God loves you and has a plan for your life! “…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) SO WHY DO YOU GET THE BLUES???
I could go into all sorts of possible reasons….from spiritual to psychological to emotional to physiological; but, for this blog post, I’d rather talk about what to do when “the blues” come out of nowhere.
If you’re a business owner who strives to help others through continual use of your gifts and talents, you don’t have time to waste on self-indulgence. I remember when my kids were little, and the inevitable tears would flow, I’d tell them (after sympathetic discussion of course) that they were welcome to cry for _x_ minutes, depending on their age. After that, it was time to move on and, as DeDe Murcer Moffett would say, Snap Out of It! Seemed to work pretty darn well for them. How ’bout for grown ups?? Should we limit how long we cry?
In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul advises the believers, “Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1Thess. 5: 16-18). By renewing our minds and transforming our thoughts, we make room for God’s Spirit to flow through us in service to others. The longer we stay stuck in a place of fear and sadness and limiting beliefs, the longer we restrict our ability to be a conduit of God’s love…to ourselves as well as those around us.
We all struggle. (“Give thanks!”) Thus develops our soul. Think of the Monarch butterfly. Without the struggle to escape its chrysalis, its wings don’t have the strength to fly. Struggles are part of life…part of growth…part of business. It’s how we handle our thoughts and emotions and actions during those inevitable times of struggle that determines the quality of growth that will occur. Let’s try to be grateful for our struggles and emerge from our chrysalis as quickly as we can.
One more thing…
Until this week, I’d never thought of the 23rd Psalm as a guide for entrepreneurs. I mostly associated it with funerals. We would do well to ponder these words in our hearts and remember to give thanks in all circumstances. Even when we get the blues.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil;
My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Amen.
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Purpose, Prosperity, and Commitment
May 10, 2011 by Jory · 2 Comments
What comes to mind when you hear the word “prosperity”? Probably money and lots of it, but what about good health, rich relationships, and work you enjoy? What if you included them in your definition—and led a deliciously prosperous life?
Close your eyes and imagine.
Lovely vision, isn’t it?
Author and speaker Edwene Gaines designates finding and following your divine purpose as the fourth Spiritual Law of Prosperity. Using the expanded definition of the word, she says we must find our purpose and follow it with commitment if we want to live truly prosperous lives.
Our dreams, our visions, and discernment of our divine purpose help us become who we’re meant to be and achieve what we’re meant to do.
“The greatest achievement was at first, and for a time, a mere dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn, the bird waits in the egg; and in the highest vision of the soul, a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities.” ~James Allen
“Where there is no vision (divine guidance), the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18
“Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put into every heart.” ~Rumi
As a business owner, do you know whom you’re meant to serve and how you’re meant to serve them? If you’re not clear on your divine purpose, it will be difficult—if not impossible—for you to make the biggest, most meaningful difference you’re meant to make.
Find your purpose. Follow through with commitment.
And enjoy abundance, prosperity, and peace.
To your success,
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The Releasing Power of Forgiveness
May 4, 2011 by Jory · 6 Comments
We crave to be forgiven. We struggle to forgive. But surely those are personal matters. Does forgiveness (or “unforgiveness”) affect our professional success?
I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been very good about segregating my personal life from my professional life. I am who I am in whatever I do. If I’m holding on to some grudge, it stays with me whether I’m bathing the dog or composing a blog post. If I’ve offended somebody (colleague or total stranger), I’m “tore up inside” until it’s resolved…not much good for anything else.
As Edwene Gaines states in her book The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity, “All sorts of studies indicate that negative thoughts, feelings, words, and behaviors affect our mental and physical health, our success, and our self-worth. An unwillingness to forgive is like stabbing ourselves with a knife and expecting the person who did us wrong to feel the pain.” Forgiveness is Edwene’s Third Spiritual Law of Prosperity. If we refuse to forgive, she says, we cannot feel truly worthy of having the best God can give us; we cannot—and will not—accept God’s gifts. Extrapolating a bit, I say we cannot—and will not—achieve success if we don’t make forgiveness a daily practice. Note: I’m talkin’ about forgiveness of others and oneself!
The themes of love and forgiveness run throughout the Bible. A sampling:
Luke 6:37: “Forgive and you will be forgiven.”
Colossians 3: 13: “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
If I refuse to love and forgive myself…if I refuse to love and forgive you…, then I’m at risk of closing myself off to receive the peace, joy, and prosperity that God longs to bestow upon me. Seems like a no-brainer. Why risk it????
Allow the releasing power of forgiveness to change your heart.
And success will surely follow.
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