But, in order to be open to receiving, first you need to ask for the gifts you want to receive.  For some entrepreneurs the simple act of asking makes all of the difference in the world.  However, when it comes to asking, many people feel like it’s not OK to ask for what they need or want.  This fear can be rooted in your experience growing up, a recent experience in which asking for something lead to pain, or from a gazillion other things. 

But, for each one of you who are ready to stretch and grow within yourself and in your business, asking is essential.  Just think of all the places asking comes into play in your business; asking for the money, asking for help, asking for someone’s endorsement/testimonial, asking for a referral, asking someone for an interview, etc.  Some people run up against a rather loud “monkey mind” when it comes time to ask someone for something… almost like it’s an imposition.  When, the truth is most people are waiting to be asked to help out.

Where I recommend you begin asking, is in the privacy and silence of your heart and soul.  Allow yourself to begin asking the Universe/God/Creator for that which you desire: perhaps you’ll ask for clarity; or for a tangible sign to point you in a certain direction; or to be directed to the right person, information or resource you need; or for the next door to open for you; etc. 

I find it best to do this in writing in my journal.  I write a simple “Memo to God” and ask for what I need guidance on.  Simply letting yourself exercise your asking muscle with God, allows you to strengthen that muscle so you can comfortably ask people for what you need.  Little by little, asking will become a very natural and comfortable experience for you.

What you’ll discover by asking is that people want to help you.  Just the other day I was on the phone with a colleague when an opening occurred for me to ask for her support in a campaign I have coming up in August.  She thought for a moment and reminded me that she rarely promotes other people’s businesses, but because of the work I do, she’d be happy to support me.  If I didn’t ask her, I never would have known she’d be open to helping me.  This is how the Universe works!

OK, getting back to your memo to God and asking for what you desire from the Universe… when you ask, ask from the place of believing that your request is already being answered.  Then, once you are done journaling your request, take a few minutes to close your eyes and breathe as you create a space within you that is fully open and ready to receive the gifts.  Release any attachment to how you want the gift to show up and trust the Universe/God/Creator knows what is best for you.

Once you’ve asked and opened to receive, begin to look for signs in your life that indicate your requests are being answered.  This may come in a random email that crosses your inbox, someone you meet at an event, a moment of profound clarity, a deep connection with a friend or colleague, a book someone gives you, etc.  Signs and gifts show up in numerous ways, but you will miss them completely if you are not open to receiving them, or have attachments to how you want them to show up.

© 2009 Christine Kloser

Would you like to use this article?  You may as long as you include the following information along with the article:  Christine Kloser, author of The Freedom Formula, helps entrepreneurs put soul in their business and money in the bank.  If you want to thrive in your purpose-driven, profitable business (while enjoying a soul-satisfying life), send for my special report, How to Avoid the 3 Massive Mistakes Made by Most Conscious Entrepreneurs and my audio, 7 Strategies Entrepreneurial Authors Need to Know… Before Writing a Word, both of which you get (at no charge) when you request my Conscious Business Success Kit at www.LoveYourLife.com. 

Last Chance… The Freedom Formula Experience on DVD!

We’re down to wire for availability of my limited-edition copies of The 2009 Freedom Formula Experience on CD and DVD.  And, I really want to make sure you get your copy.  Not because it makes any difference to me, but because it will make a HUGE difference to you.. and that DOES matter to me.  Let’s face it, in today’s changing business climate, you’ve got to be on the leading edge of your business or you’re not going to have what it takes to keep going, and experience all of the success you desire AND deserve. 

You’ve got to keep going, and The 2009 Freedom Formula “At Home” Experience will help you do just that.  This program reveals all of my time-tested strategies for raising myself out from the verge of bankruptcy to more success that I could have ever imaged.  And, the success continues to unfold… because of what I teach you here.   Please be sure to get your copy today, before they’re gone forever… and remember, I’ve got a special $1000 bonus package waiting for you.

www.FreedomFormula2009.com

From the Seed of an Idea to the First Bloom of a Business
by Nina AksellA year ago I was a girl with a dream.  I wanted to build a business that would feed my soul and put money in my bank account. I had the beginnings of an idea, a creative, supportive community of parents, teachers and grandparents who write and illustrate stories and songs for their children.  However, I didn’t know where to start. I had very little business experience and my impression of the business world was of a masculine, cold place with little space for the spirit.  Then I met Christine. Through Christine’s ezine ‘Conscious Business Connection’ and book ‘The Freedom Formula’ I found the mentor I was looking for.  Christine gave me the tools, inspiration and courage to take my idea and with it create the foundations of a real, conscious business that is truly an expression of myself.  Today I am proud to be launching the very beginnings of ‘Piggy Publishing Adventures’ and I can’t thank Christine enough. 

Christine not only has a refreshing, authentic, heartfelt approach to business and life but she gives valuable practical, easy to follow advice.  Her book ‘The Freedom Formula’ has been my constant friend and companion while planning my business and I know I’ll keep it by my side while I watch my business grow.

Nina Aksell, Piggy Publishing Adventures http://piggypublishingadventures.ning.com/

I’m sitting poolside as I write this greeting feeling such gratitude for the official beginning of Summer.  As you can see here, my daughter is happy for summer, too… I think she could spend all day on the water slide if we let her!

Anyway, the ushering in of Summer was especially meaningful for me this past weekend.  Contrary to my body’s need for at least 8 hours of sleep, I found myself setting my alarm on Sunday morning for 3:45 AM to join friends in a Native American Summer solstice sunrise ritual.  It was so meaningful and inspiring to stand atop a beautiful hill, overlooking the majestic Susquehanna River, in a circle of 70+ like-minded, spiritual beings as we honored the rising of the first Summer sun.

It was extra meaningful for me because lately I have been asking the Universe to provide me with opportunities to deepen my connection with nature, my Self and my Source.  As you’ve read in some of my writing about re-evaluation and letting go, I am enjoying a beautiful space of slowing down, going deeper within my self, and experiencing my life (and my business) from a more relaxed, and more feminine state of being.  I believe it is in the asking of these gifts that they have shown up in my life.  So, when my friend Evelyn invited me to join her for this ritual (here we are at the gathering), the only possible answer was “yes”! 

I got off the phone yesterday with a colleague who reminded me of myself.  (Well, he reminded me of my past self.)  He had experienced a good level of success, was respected by his colleagues, had a wonderful family and all the clients he could ask for.

But, there was something very wrong.  He was exhausted, overworked, stressed out, and feeling like his life was his business… missing out on the other things that meant a lot to him.

I call this the “spinning your wheels” syndrome.  It happens when you find yourself constantly running on the hamster wheel of your business (and your life).  Only to realize that when you “get” to where you think you want to go, it’s not what you had envisioned.  The “success” experience falls flat in comparison to what you thought it would be.   Where is the bliss?  Where is the freedom?  Where is the joy from doing the work you love so much?  Ahhhh… these are all very good questions.

And, here are three steps you can take immediately that’ll help you get off the never-ending “merry go round” of your business and enjoy more ease in your life. These were the very steps I took to shift things in my business to a place where I truly love my business and my life.

Step 1:  Create Your Personal Definition of Success
When it comes to experiencing entrepreneurial success, so often we see that definition being (according to the external world) about financial success.  However, if the sole focus of a business is on financial reward, your life will be compromised in that pursuit.  

It’s important as you look at redefining success for yourself, that you look at the entire picture of success.  Here are some things to consider as you contemplate this… that go beyond your financial goals.  What is the work that truly calls to your soul?  How do you want to spend your time in your business?  What types of clients do you want to work with?  How many hours a week do you want to be working on your business?  Do you want to offer more products or services, or cut back on your offerings?  What kind of team do you need in place to help you experience your definition of success?  How involved are you with your team?  Do you want to travel for your business, or stay closer to home?  What support do you have on your journey?

These are all questions to consider as you define what real success means to you.  You’ll see that success is about much more than money… it’s about fulfillment, peace of mind and joy in your life.

Step 2:   Reevaluate Your Business
Once you’ve gotten clarity on your personal definition of success, it’s time to take a closer look at your current business.  It’s important to give yourself a half day (or preferably a day) to step back from the operations of your business, and focus on the big picture.  Too often, I see entrepreneurs who are working to create a business based on someone else’s model of success.  But, in this step, the only model you need to allow to emerge is the one that works for you.

As you reevaluate your business, identify if there is anything you’re doing that you don’t want to do?  On the other hand, are there things you want to do, but aren’t getting to?  Are there aspects of your business that you think you “should” do, but they just aren’t working for you?  Once you evaluate your current business, turn your focus on creating a vision for the business you really want.  If you could create anything for yourself in your business, what would that be?   This type of reevaluation is a necessary step in getting your “wheels to stop spinning” and fully enjoying your business.

Step 3:  Be Proactive
Being proactive is a key step to take your insight and clarity from the previous two steps and create positive change for yourself.  When you do this type of work (to create your personal definition of success and reevaluate your business), chances are you’ll see some things that require a change to be made.

But, it’s up to you to take your new understanding and shift something in your business as a result.  Nothing is more painful than knowing it’s time to make a change, yet not being proactive to it.  This has been the step that’s allowed me to release entire businesses, projects, strategies, or programs that didn’t fit with what I saw for myself, my life and business.  As a result, more aligned opportunities keep showing up for me, and I’m feeling more fulfilled in my business (and my life) than ever before.

These three simple steps aren’t necessarily easy, but they are indeed simple.  If you feel like you’re spinning your wheels in your business and want to enjoy your life more fully, you owe it to yourself to give yourself the gift of time to follow these three steps and move forward toward the business and life you truly want.

© 2009 Christine Kloser

Would you like to use this article?  You may as long as you include the following information along with the article:  Christine Kloser, author of The Freedom Formula, helps entrepreneurs put soul in their business and money in the bank.  If you want to thrive in your purpose-driven, profitable business (while enjoying a soul-satisfying life), send for my special report, How to Avoid the 3 Massive Mistakes Made by Most Conscious Entrepreneurs and my audio, 7 Strategies Entrepreneurial Authors Need to Know… Before Writing a Word, both of which you get (at no charge) when you request my Conscious Business Success Kit at www.LoveYourLife.com.  

Did You Get Your Copy… The Freedom Formula Experience on DVD!

I’m so excited for those of you who already purchased your limited-edition copy of my ground-breaking Freedom Formula Experience CD and DVD program!  (And, you’re very welcome… to those of you who thanked me for the generous $1000 worth of bonuses… it’s my pleasure.)

If you haven’t ordered your CD and DVD set yet… now’s the time.  There are a limited number of copies left, never to be offered again.  Seeing that this was THE paradigm-shifting event of the century (at least that’s what participants have told me)  it’s sure to be a program you listen to (or watch) over and over again. 

So, don’t miss out on experiencing it yourself (or the $1000 of bonuses)… go now to: 

www.FreedomFormula2009.com

Making Music Prosperous
by Nora Williams

I am a violinist / violist who knew my internal calling to the world of music from the age of ten. Frequently, I have experienced an energy of lack and scarcity  in the money mindset of my musical community. We musicians are surrounded by an art form of vast passion and depth, we spend tens (or hundreds) of thousands of dollars on our schooling and instruments and then somehow exempt ourselves from receiving abundant financial remuneration for this devotion to our art. The intangible gifts of being in service to music are richly rewarding, yet why isn’t money more frequently part of the package?

In the midst of prosperity work that I dove into over the last year, I became introduced to Christine Kloser, and attended the Freedom Formula Experience. I joined her Freedom Circle Mastermind and an idea for a musical prosperity coaching program came bubbling up.  In just a few months, I developed my “Creating the 21^st Century Musician” program and have signed up my first client! It has been one of the freshest, most exciting developments in my musical life, and with the $9,000 price tag… I am feeling very prosperous!  Thanks Christine for creating a mastermind that allows ideas like this to come to fruition! 

A community of like-minded conscious entrepreneurs is an indispensable resource for weaving together the intangible (spiritual) and tangible (practical) opportunities that exist for every conscious entrepreneur. 

Nora Williams, Ossia Musical Forum www.artsentertainment.com/norahour.html 

Thank you to all of you who had kind words to say about my radio interviews.  I love doing radio and will have the interviews posted on my site for you to listen to shortly.  I appreciate your excitement and enthusiasm.

I also heard from some of you who wanted to know how to get more (or any) media exposure for yourself and your business.  It seems with the increasing number of entrepreneurs, media is needed now more than ever to help yourself stand out from the crowd and showcase your expertise.  Well, you’re in luck!

My book publishing company is hosting a F-R-E-E teleclass on June 24 called “PR in Your Pajamas for Authors”.  Granted, this class is designed for current or future authors… but honestly the information we’re going to cover on this call is relevant for every entrepreneur who wants to gain exposure in the media! 

==>Get the full scoop and register for the F-R-E-E teleclass at www.loveyourlifepublishing.com/prinpajamas.

On another note, I wanted to share a quick experience I had yesterday.  I woke up much later than usual and was on the brink of being angry with myself for not getting a quicker start on the day.  But, then I realized I didn’t have a single call scheduled and didn’t “have” to be anywhere.  So, I took a beautiful walk, enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with my family, hung out with them and got into my office around noon (a VERY late day for me).  Then, by 3:00 we were off to spend the afternoon and evening at our pool club.  And, I didn’t feel guilty at all!  (I took advantage of WiFi at the pool and got a little bit of totally enjoyable work done for my biz, while hanging out with my family.)

At one point, I turned to my husband and simply stated that I wasn’t going to worry about my “to do” list.  I was going to allow myself to enjoy the time with my family, move at a relaxed leisurely pace and not feel like I should be doing anything other than what I WAS doing.  It was a truly blissful afternoon.  And, here’s the kicker!  I got home to discover several thousand dollars of totally unexpected income in my mailbox and my inbox.  Now, if that wasn’t a sign from God that business is meant to be easy, fun and relaxed… I don’t know what is.  Here’s to a totally relaxed approach to business for conscious entrepreneurs everywhere!

re-spon-si-ble

Definition:  answerable or accountable, as for something within one’s power, control, or management

What do you think of when you contemplate the word responsible?  I want you to be honest with yourself here.  Do you secretly wish you weren’t responsible for as much as you are?  Are you trying to get out of responsibilities because they’re just “too much”?  Have you been unrealistic about how much you can commit to and still uphold your responsibilities?  Do you find yourself blaming others for things that don’t go your way? 

I believe for entrepreneurs, responsibility can be a very loaded term.  Let’s face it, we all want to feel responsible for our successes when they occur, but it’s no fun taking responsibility for your failures, too.  But, alas, this is part of the conscious entrepreneur’s journey; being awake and aware to both sides of the coin when it comes to responsibility.

The truth is responsibility isn’t a very “hot” or “sexy” topic.  Responsibility brings you face to face with the more challenging aspects of being an entrepreneur.  I learned this the hard way by having gone through a few failures in my past, both with my Los Angeles based yoga studio and my Network for Empowering Women Entrepreneurs.  Both of these businesses had a certain level of success, but not enough to be sustainable over the long run and I had to shut them down.  It was painful to look at the truth that I was responsible for what happened with those businesses. 

Granted, if I had them both to do over again today, I would change many things and I see exactly how I’d set those businesses up for long-term success.  But, I have no intention of starting these business over again at this point, but I do feel I can share some thoughts that may help you feel fantastic about being responsible for your own success. 

Here are three key considerations for loving your responsibilities… and owning them fully:

Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

This is one of the most pressing issues I see with entrepreneurs.  It’s so easy for us to get excited about many, many things.  Often entrepreneurs will bite off  more than they can chew.  The reason many business owners do this is because they don’t realize how much effort will go into a particular project.  They make their timelines too short, their goals too aggressive and then get overwhelmed and discouraged when a project takes a long time and doesn’t reach it’s goals.

If you read my article last week, you noticed that I’m taking my own advice into consideration and releasing a few projects that I just don’t have the time, or energy to do right now.  I had bitten off more than I could chew.  The important thing here is to try not do to this in the first place, but if you do you’ve got to take steps to recognize you’ve committed to too much, and make some adjustments so you feel you don’t have too much on your plate.

Hear What People Are Saying To You

Another mistake entrepreneurs make is a totally unconscious response of not hearing what people are telling you.  This is easy to do when you’re excited about something and you want to live in the “honeymoon” of your idea.  This is an intoxicating state of bliss, and it’s challenging to get grounded into some of the input you’re getting on your project.

This happened to me with my women’s networking group.  I kept hearing from the women at the meetings that it was something very special, and I better prepare myself for rapid growth.  I didn’t listen.  I didn’t want to complicate things.  I didn’t want the responsibility of running yet another business when the one I already had was struggling.  So, I embarked on a “stop gap” approach to that business, rather than hearing what everyone told me in the beginning.  Had I only “heard” what they said, I’m sure that business would be thriving today.  So, if you notice you’re doing this in your business… letting important input go in one ear and out the other like you never even heard it… listen up!  This is the Universe speaking to you through the people you’ve placed in your life.  It’s worth paying full attention to what they’re saying, because their input may be guiding you toward taking on your responsibility with a lot more ease, grace and fun!

Notice if You’re Placing Blame on Others

This one is a big tell-tale sign that you don’t want to take responsibility for your own success.  This one isn’t particularly fun to look at, but it is extraordinarily valuable to do this self-evaluation.  Simply notice… is there something in your business or your life that isn’t working right now.  Identify what that is, and see if you are placing blame on someone else for the situation you are in. 

Believe me, I understand that sometimes things happen to you, but even then, how you respond (versus react) is your responsibility.  How you learn from a situation and use it to discover more about yourself and your relationship to responsibility can make a huge impact on your success.  Everything that occurs in your business is a learning oppor^tunity… remember every single thing that happens is happening for one purpose and one purpose only; because the Universe is conspiring for your highest and best at all times.  Even those situations where you want to blame; chances are those are the places you have the greatest gifts waiting for you.

When you take these three concepts into consideration in your business, you’ll find it much easier be fully engaged and happy in your commitments.  You’ll also feel confident that you can be (and WANT to be) responsible for your own success.  This is one of the most exciting aspects of being a conscious entrepreneur; there’s nobody that can create your success, but you.  Yes, of course, you have coaches, consultants and mentors to help you along the way, but ultimately your success is up to you.

© 2009 Christine Kloser

Would you like to use this article?  You may as long as you include the following information along with the article:  Christine Kloser, author of The Freedom Formula, helps entrepreneurs put soul in their business and money in the bank.  If you want to thrive in your purpose-driven, profitable business (while enjoying a soul-satisfying life), send for my special report, How to Avoid the 3 Massive Mistakes Made by Most Conscious Entrepreneurs and my audio, 7 Strategies Entrepreneurial Authors Need to Know… Before Writing a Word, both of which you get (at no charge) when you request my Conscious Business Success Kit at www.LoveYourLife.com.