Sharon Michaels | Empowering Women

Fall Success Habits

09/23/2011 – 7:19 am

Temperatures are falling, (in some places even snow is falling) leaves are changing color and it is time to fine-tune our fall success habits. How about a year-end success habits checkup?

1. Revisit your 2011 goals.
Only a couple of months until 2012 – are you on track for achieving your 2011 goals? Make time to study them carefully and figure out what should be reworked and what should be eliminated. Goals are not etched in stone.

Figure out if what was important in January is still as important in November and December. Do you need to step up the pace to achieve your 2011 goals?

2. Plan ahead for the rest of 2011 and organize your time wisely.
It’s not too early to begin thinking ahead to the holidays. You’ll be less stressed and have more time to enjoy the spirit of the season when you’re not running around doing last minute things.

How about taking out your planning calendar and spacing out what you want to accomplish and by when – leave yourself plenty of time for relaxing and rejuvenating.

3. Analyze what’s been successful in 2011 and what you’d like to improve.
Wisdom is about knowing when to change what’s not working into something more productive. Motivational speaker Les Brown says, “If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.”

Are you totally satisfied with what you’ve produced so far in 2011? If the answer is “yes,” congratulations! If the answer is no, it’s time to figure what needs to be changed and then begin making the desired changes.

4. Begin your “wish-list” for 2012.
Now is the time to start dreaming BIG for 2012. What do you want to be, have and accomplish during the next year?

Start a 2012 wish-list of all the possibilities for the coming year. It’s your list so dream big and bold – focus on those things that will take you forward in positive self-satisfying ways in 2012.

Copyright © 2011 Sharon Michaels – All Rights Reserved

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By sharonmichaels | Posted in Achieving Goals, Business Skills, Financial Success, Leadership, Network Marketing, Success Skills, The Power of the Mind, Time Management, To Share | Tagged belief, Business building skills, goals, personal success, power of the mind, Sharon Michaels, success tips, successful women, women in business | Comments (0)

Being Yourself – Being Your Best

09/12/2011 – 7:46 am

Growing up, many of us were compared to our siblings or relatives or peers or even characters on television. It’s like we were always striving to be something better or different – something we weren’t because obviously, being ourselves just wasn’t good enough.

You can listen and read the text!
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(3 Minutes 48 Seconds)

Whether we realized it or not, every little comparison to someone else took a little chip out of our self-esteem and out of our self-confidence. We began to feel as it we weren’t good enough or smart enough or pretty enough or …

I know that happened in my life and I remember it vividly. I was told, “Why can’t you be more like Mary Margaret.” Of course, Mary Margaret got all A’s, helped around the house, never talked backed or, as far as I know, ever did anything wrong. In the eyes of my mother, Mary Margaret was perfection, the perfect daughter.

Realistically I know my mother did the best she could and thought she was giving me an example, role model or a goal to aim toward. Little did she know that every time she waxed poetic about how wonderful Mary Margaret was, I felt inadequate. My child-like reaction was to think that mom wished I’d been Mary Margaret instead of Sharon. As I think about it as an adult, it doesn’t make much sense. But we have to remember that those lasting impressions of being worthy and deserving began in childhood, when we are trying to figure out what makes us special, unique and lovable.

Many of us grew up comparing ourselves to others – using the traits and accomplishments of others as the standard or benchmark by which we judged ourselves. Today, as competent and powerful women, we are often still using the traits and accomplishment of others to judge ourselves. We are still unconsciously asking ourselves, am I smart enough, good enough, attractive enough, capable enough, lovable enough, worthy enough or deserving enough?

I’m here to say that you are at your best when you are yourself, just the way you are! Being yourself is being your best.

I have a challenge for you, stand in front of your mirror and look yourself right in the eyes and say, “I like and love myself just the way I am.” Now repeat that sentence to yourself until you’re smiling and holding your head up high with complete self-confidence – - – until you truly believe that being yourself is the best person to be.

Copyright © 2011 Sharon Michaels – All Rights Reserved

I’m Sharon Michaels.com and my business is dedicated to empowering and coaching women in business.

By sharonmichaels | Posted in Audio, Success Skills, The Power of the Mind, To Share | Tagged audio tips, Being yourself, belief, conscious thought, personal success, Sharon Michaels, success tips | Comments (0)

Remembering 9/11 – I’ll Never Forget

09/09/2011 – 2:23 pm

I don’t live in New York City and didn’t know anyone personally in NYC who lived through the tragedy of 9/11. But, it is a tragedy that had a personal impact on my life and on the lives of my family. September 11, 2001 is a date Americans will never forget.

Where do I begin to share how 9/11 impacted my life – I guess at the beginning. The summer of 2001 was a busy summer for my family. We had decided to sell our homes in the Midwest and head to sunny Arizona – three elderly relatives, my husband recovering from a very difficult hip surgery and me.

Mom and I flew to Arizona on September 7, 2001 to get dad’s new “home” at the Alzheimer’s facility ready with a bed, furniture, pictures of the family and other personal things that would hopefully bring him security and comfort.

On September 10 dad flew to Arizona on a major air carrier accompanied by a private nurse. Dad had never flown before and the medical personnel at his current Alzheimer’s facility thought it would be better for him to fly without the distraction of family. At the departure airport security would not allow his nurse to carry on his medication. Dad was flying for four plus hours without his Alzheimer’s medication – if anyone has dealt with Alzheimer’s you know that not having medication could have proven to be a major challenge.

Dad landed safely and we got him settled into his new “home.” Mom was emotionally exhausted – this was her husband of over fifty years and she was feeling helpless and lonesome. Dad was confused. I was drained but knew everyone was safe and sound. The next morning mom and I awoke to the sights and sounds of the World Trade Center collapsing. It was surreal and unbelievable. As our transportation system shut down I remember how eerily quiet it was when we stepped outside. No sounds of planes or trains and very little auto or truck traffic on the highways.

Then it hit me – oh my gosh! The day before my dad had been flying from the Midwest to Arizona without us and without his medication. Yes, he had a trained nurse and she was familiar to him but she wasn’t his family. What if he had been diverted to a different airport for a day or two or even longer? He wouldn’t have had his medication and we wouldn’t have known where he was or how he was doing. Even now as I’m writing this, I have chills of what might have been.

As I think back, I am so very grateful that things worked out well for my family. We were the fortunate ones and I am thankful for our blessings. My heart goes out to those who lost loved ones and friends on that horrific day – a day that has forever changed all of our lives.

Copyright © 2011 Sharon Michaels – All Rights Reserved

I’m Sharon Michaels.com and my business is dedicated to empowering and coaching women in business.

By sharonmichaels | Posted in To Share | Tagged 9/11, remembering 9/11 | Comments (0)

What Should I Do With A 3 Day Weekend?

09/06/2011 – 7:51 am

Sharon recording one of her videos

Friday I looked at the calendar and saw three whole days considered a “holiday” weekend. I was puzzled because I wasn’t sure what I should be doing with a three-day holiday weekend. As a home-based business owner, should I treat these three days differently from any other Saturday, Sunday or Monday?

If you’re also a home-based business owner, let me ask you this: Is how you decide to spend a three-day “holiday” weekend an indication of how seriously you’re taking your business?

If you have a “legitimate” and “guilt-free” opportunity to take some down time down, can you freely give yourself permission to use it or does some negative thought about wasting time creep into your mind – thoughts that go something like this:

If I waste three valuable days this weekend playing or sleeping, will I miss an opportunity to get caught up or even get ahead with what I want to achieve in my business?

If I work all weekend and don’t take any down time, will I have wasted a value opportunity to relax and rejuvenate?

If I figure out a compromise, will I be able to split my time effectively between getting some work done and having some “play” time for friends and family and not feeling guilty?

Here’s how I spent my three-day weekend – I feel like I found some balance and I didn’t feel any guilt at all!

Saturday:
· Worked with a coaching client early AM.
· Talked with a potential coaching client in the PM and we decided it was a fit so we set up regular coaching sessions.
· Worked on Twitter and Facebook for thirty minutes or so.
· Spent several fun and relaxing hours getting a haircut and socializing.
· Started reading (really listening to on CD) a new J.D. Robb book.

Sunday:
· Recorded 3 videos first thing in the morning while the natural light was just right.
· Listened to a lot more of the J.D. Robb audio book (it was 13 hours+ long).
· Spent quality time with my husband talking, eating and laughing.
· Did a little shopping for things I needed and have been meaning to get around to.
· Did my weekly radio show Women Enjoying Success.

Monday:
· Worked with 3 coaching clients (our regular coaching sessions).
· FINISHED!!! the J.D. Robb book – it was very, very good!
· Did some article writing and put a review of the J.D. Robb book on Amazon.com.
· Talked with my MasterMind partner (postponed from Saturday because of my haircut).
· Did some laundry and some ironing (the really fun stuff).
· Placed two new videos on YouTube – one for the Business Coach Site on BellaOnline.com and one for EntrepreneurialWomenTV.com

As I document all of this, I’m not quite sure what to think. Did I have a holiday? I know for sure I enjoyed myself. I did all the things I truly enjoy doing – well, maybe not the laundry or ironing.

I don’t believe I’m a “workaholic.” I do believe I am on a mission to grow my business so I can “holiday” in the future any time I choose. I also believe if I’m not hurting my personal relationships nor am I endangering my physical or mental health, then I should “holiday” the way that suits me best.

Really, when you work for yourself isn’t everyday a holiday?

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If you have a home-based business, I highly recommend my downloadable Special Report, Audio, Checklist and Worksheet set – How To Succeed Working From Home

Learn the basics of what it takes to work successfully from home!
Here’s a direct link: http://sharonmichaels.com/succeedfromhome/

Copyright © 2011 Sharon Michaels – All Rights Reserved

I’m Sharon Michaels.com and my business is dedicated to empowering and coaching women in business.

By sharonmichaels | Posted in Achieving Goals, Business Skills, Success Skills, Time Management, To Share | Tagged Business building skills, goals, Sharon Michaels, success tips, time management | Comments (1)

Taking Care of Your Self Development

09/03/2011 – 12:27 pm

My personal self-development philosophy: If I’m not going forward in positive ways I’m either going backward or stuck in a rut. Self-development is about making a life-long commitment to finding and using those self-empowering skills that foster and encourage personal and professional greatness.

Life is full of choices. You can stay where you are, go backward or move forward. Self-development is about going forward in positive ways. The wiser your choices, the more empowered your life. Self-development is being able to live the self-fulfilled life of your choice!

Developing your personal and professional potential doesn’t happen overnight. It takes commitment, time and effort.

* It’s about looking honestly at where you are and where you want to be in the future.
* It’s about analyzing what’s working in your life and what isn’t.
* It’s about learning new and empowering ways to look at and deal with everyday situations.
* It’s about learning from the past and deciding to go positively forward.

Self-development is about developing the best of your best and sharing it with the world.

Over twenty years ago I made a commitment to myself that I was going to live up to my full potential. I was going to find the best of my best.

I grew up believing that I had no control over my life. “Stuff” happens and you live with it. You didn’t question authority, you accepted things as they were and you settled for what you got. That’s just the way it was, period.

I knew in my heart of hearts that there was something better than that way of living life. I knew other people were achieving their dreams and I wanted to also. One Christmas my husband and I asked for the classic book Think and Grow Rich as our present. We read and absorbed this time-proven self-development treasure. It taught us about the power of the mind and that we actually did have the power to control our own thoughts. To me, that alone was an earth-shattering discovery. My life expanded to new heights and I’ve never looked back.

I believe self-development affords an opportunity to learn, grow and empower yourself toward greatness.

What if reading, listening and then applying what you’re learning to day-to-day life could make a difference for the positive, would you be interested?
What if you felt more in control of your time, efforts and thoughts, would you be interested?
What if you believed, without an ounce of doubt, that you are the best and brightest at whatever you choose to do with your life, would you be interested?

Self-development allows you to develop your true self. The only limitations are the ones you’re placing on yourself.

You have the power to exceed your expectations, if you’re willing to take consistent positive action. Part of that action is filling your mind with empowering and productive materials – learning the life lessons from those who have been there, done that and succeeded.

Self-development is a treasure you give yourself. It’s the treasure of living your best life ever!

I’d like to recommend my Downloadable Ebook and audio, Is Your Comfort Zone Too Comfortable – if you’re ready to expand your comfort zone and go for your dreams, this might be just the “hands-on” audio and workbook for you!
IsYourComfortZoneTooComfortable.com

Copyright © 2011 Sharon Michaels – All Rights Reserved

I’m Sharon Michaels.com and my business is dedicated to empowering and coaching women in business.

By sharonmichaels | Posted in Achieving Goals, Business Skills, Leadership, Network Marketing, Success Skills, The Power of the Mind, To Share | Tagged belief, goals, personal success, self development, Sharon Michaels, success tips | Comments (0)

Good Reading – The Greatest Salesman in the World

08/27/2011 – 8:04 pm

I’ve had this book on my shelf for years and hadn’t gotten around to reading it – I thought it was just for people in sales. I was wrong! The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino is for everyone who wants to succeed not only in business but also in life.

I’m a huge fan of Og Mandino and have read and reviewed several of books and yet, his most famous book stayed unopened on my bookshelf. Published in 1968 this small book has become a classic “must read” for success-oriented people around the globe. This quick read 128 page book is for everyone, not just people in sales.

The Greatest Salesman in the World tells the story of Hafid, a poor camel boy who is given a box containing ten scrolls. As he follows the messages on these scrolls, he becomes the greatest salesman in the world. The ten scrolls each contain a powerful principle of success. Each scroll must be read for 30 days, three times a day.

Basically, Og Mandino has given his readers ten powerful “affirmations” for success. Research has found that it takes approximately 30 days to change a habit. Repeating an affirmation to yourself once in the morning, once in the afternoon and out loud just before bed helps to reinforce the affirmation and plant the new habit firmly in the conscious and unconscious mind.

Here are some of my favorite quotations:

“Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.”

“What they will teach me is more to prevent failure than to gain success, for what is success other than a state of mind.”

“Good habits are the key to all success. Bad habits are the unlocked door to failure.”

“Weak is he who permits his thoughts to control his actions; strong is he who forces his actions to control his thoughts.”

“In setting my goals I will consider my best performance of the past and multiply it hundredfold.”

This will give you an idea of the basic success lessons taught in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Greatest Salesman in the World – it is reinforcement of the basic success lessons we should be applying to lives and our businesses. Our mindset of business success needs to be nurtured daily by our commitment to our own positive beliefs, thoughts and actions.

The only thing I would add about this book is that it has Christian undertones. It discusses the birth of Jesus, praying for guidance and referring to Paul as the greatest salesman in the world.

I highly recommend Og Mandino’s The Greatest Salesman in the World to everyone who is interested in enhancing their personal and professional development – not just people in sales careers.

Here is an offsite link to Amazon.com if you’d like to read more about this book or to purchase it: The Greatest Salesman in the World: Gift Edition

Disclosure: I purchased this book to read and review. All reviews are solely mine. As an affiliate of Amazon.com I will get paid on any purchase of this product from the links within this article.

(Article originally published in the Business Coach section of BellaOnline.com by Sharon Michaels)

Copyright © 2011 Sharon Michaels – All Rights Reserved

I’m Sharon Michaels.com and my business is dedicated to empowering and coaching women in business.

By sharonmichaels | Posted in Achieving Goals, Book Club, Business Skills, Success Skills, The Power of the Mind, To Share | Tagged Business building skills, financial success for women, money, personal success, sales, Sharon Michaels, women in business | Comments (0)

Sharon Michaels Super-Duper Coaching Offer

08/23/2011 – 11:15 pm

This Super-Duper Coaching Offer is valid only until Saturday, September 3, 2011

Weekly Coaching –

$150 per month payment
(minimum 3 month commitment paid via automatic “subscription” payments on PayPal/Credit Card)

Six months @ $150 per month = $900
Six months paid in full in advance discount = $750 (price of 5 months)
~~~~~~~
Twelve months = $1,800
Twelve months paid in full advance discount = $1,350 (price of 9 months)

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Every Other Week –

$97 per month payments
(minimum 3 month commitment paid via automatic “subscription” payments on PayPal/Credit Card)

Six months @ $97 per month = $582
Six months paid in full in advance discount = $485 (price of 5 months)
~~~~~~~
Twelve months = $1,164
Twelve months paid in full in advance discount = $970 (price of 10 months)

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This will be the very last time I am offering my coaching services at this low rate! This special offer is valid until September 3, 2011.

As of September 4, 2011 these rates are going up to:
Weekly coaching: $400 per month
Every other week: $250 per month

I will invoice you for coaching with PayPal or credit card.

I’m only accepting a few coaching clients for the coming months.

So please, as soon as you’ve made a decision let me know.

Use the contact form on this blog to get in touch with me if you have questions or would like to know more about coaching or would like to begin now!

Here’s to your unlimited successes,

By sharonmichaels | Posted in Achieving Goals, Business Skills, Financial Success, Leadership, Network Marketing, Success Skills, Time Management, To Share | Tagged coaching with Sharon Michaels, financial success for women, personal success, Sharon Michaels, successful women | Comments (0)

Self-Confidence Is A Key To Success

08/23/2011 – 5:44 pm

Self-confidence is a necessary and vital element to achieving and enjoying success. Because of past disappointments, many women lack the self-confidence to go for their goals.

Here’s a success truth: If you don’t have total confidence in yourself personally and professionally, you won’t allow yourself to reach your full success potential.

Here’s why:

1. Basically self-confidence means that you have developed an inner belief that you can and will successfully accomplish what you set out to accomplish. Without an unstoppable belief in our ability to succeed, we often talk ourselves out of trying new things, even if we know it will propel us toward greater success or happiness.

2. Lack of self-confidence can keep you “stuck” in what is familiar and safe.

3. Eventually, lack of personal and/or professional self-confidence can begin to chip away at your self-esteem. Pretty soon, you begin to feel negatively about yourself in many different aspects of your life.

4. Self-confidence leads to self-limiting habits and behaviors – habits and behaviors that will eventually discourage you from going positively toward your goals.

5. Lack of belief in yourself leads to self-sabotaging the personal and professional positive opportunities in your life.

My belief is that in business and life, success begins on the inside and works its way out.

The good news – you have within you the power to believe in your ability to succeed and thrive. Unwavering belief in your power to succeed leads to greater self-confidence and healthy self-esteem. Self-confidence is inside of you right now, you just have to give yourself permission to go for your goals and enjoy your successes.

Want to reprint this post “as is” on your blog or in your newsletter?

You may do so as long as this entire resource box is also included:

I’m Sharon Michaels.com and my business is dedicated to empowering and coaching women in business.

By sharonmichaels | Posted in Success Skills, The Power of the Mind, To Share | Tagged belief, personal success, self-confidence, Sharon Michaels, success tips, successful women | Comments (0)

Thoughts About Achieving Success

08/19/2011 – 2:03 pm

I’d like to share a couple of thoughts about achieving success . . .

1. There’s a strong and powerful positive emotional link between enjoying what you are doing and achieving success!

If you unconsciously believe you’re unworthy or undeserving of enjoying yourself and making money at the same time, you’ll sabotage your personal, professional and financial successes. Struggling at a job you despise makes it emotionally and physically difficult to prosper. Struggling day after day can literally make you sick. Isn’t it a steep price to pay in hours, days, months and years of your life for doing things you dislike to do?

Unlimited personal and professional successes begin with inner contentment, joy and happiness. Please remember, each day is valuable time and energy you’ll never be able to retrieve.

Make a commitment to finding and pursuing your life’s mission. Commit to capitalizing on your natural abilities and talents. If you’re not sure what they are, ask yourself these questions:

What were the talents I was most often praised for possessing and utilizing as a child?
As a hopeful child, what did I want to be when I grew up?
As an adult, what hobbies or interests do I pursue that I’m not using in my job/career?

Professional success and personal happiness are deeply rooted in how much you believe you DESERVE to be successful and happy. If you unconsciously don’t believe you deserve to enjoy success, you’ll unconsciously sabotage success.

2. Success means believing you deserve the physical and emotional rewards of achieving.

Let me ask you this: What is the internal picture you have of yourself succeeding?

This picture began in childhood and becomes clearer with age and experience. It’s etched deeply within your unconscious mind. Is this mental picture one that clearly sees you achieving guilt-free success, happiness and unlimited prosperity?

When you picture yourself succeeding, do you picture yourself smiling, happy and content? Or, is the picture one of struggling, conflict and unhappiness? Is success enjoyable or a struggle?

The great news is, you have the POWER to control this internal picture!

Success is about going forward more often then sliding backward and, you can do that. It takes a “doable” step-by-step plan of action, unstoppable belief in your ability to succeed and an ongoing commitment to your personal and professional self-empowerment.

Believe, without a doubt, that you have the POWER to create and enjoy many, many successes!

Want to reprint this post “as is” on your blog or in your newsletter?

You may do so as long as this entire resource box is also included:

I’m Sharon Michaels.com and my business is dedicated to empowering and coaching women in business.

By sharonmichaels | Posted in Success Skills, The Power of the Mind, To Share | Tagged belief, personal success, Sharon Michaels, success, success tips | Comments (0)

10 Common Business Stressors

08/15/2011 – 2:32 pm

Constant stress can become debilitating. Stress has the potential to not only ruin your health but it can also ruin the success of your business. Businesswomen who can’t get a handle on the stressors in their life are severely limiting their current and future professional successes.

MedicineNet.com describes stress this way - Stress: Forces from the outside world impinging on the individual. Stress is a normal part of life that can help us learn and grow. Conversely, stress can cause significant problems.

Stress releases powerful neurochemicals and hormones that prepare us for action (to fight or flee). If we don’t take action, the stress response can lead to chronic and serious health problems. Prolonged, uninterrupted, unexpected, and unmanageable stresses are the most damaging types of stress.

Not only from a health aspect but also from an emotional aspect, living with these common business stressors day in and day out can potentially lead to self-sabotaging behaviors and unproductive habits. You have choices, you can continue to live in stress or, you can choose to become more proactive and begin eliminating the stressors in your business and your life.

Here is a list of common day-to-day stressors that have the potential of making your business unproductive and stressful:

1. Lack of confidence

2. Poor time management skills

3. Perfectionism

4. Lack of direction

5. Poor planning

6. Disorganization

7. Lack of energy

8. Outside stressors and worries

9. Unstable economy – money issues

10. Lack of focus – too many irons in the fire

When you study this list, how many of these stressors could you personally control by changing habits or making wiser decisions?

Let me ask you this: How well are you managing your day-to-day business stressors?

Recognizing common day-to-day stressors is the first step to eliminating what could be potentially harming you and your business. Is it time to sit down and figure out your common business stressors and what you’ll choose to do about them?

Want to reprint this post “as is” on your blog or in your newsletter?

You may do so as long as this entire resource box is also included:

I’m Sharon Michaels.com and my business is dedicated to empowering and coaching women in business.

By sharonmichaels | Posted in Business Skills, Success Skills, To Share | Tagged Business building skills, Sharon Michaels, stress in business, success tips, successful women, wise choices | Comments (3)

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