There Should Be a Rule About That…

Good intentions are great, but to get where you want to go, you have to have a plan and a policy.

This year, my intention is to (fill in the blank). We’ve all made our goals and are embarking on 2010 with great intentions. Maybe you want to reduce your debt and invest more for retirement. Maybe you want to develop a deeper spiritual life or a better relationship with your spouse and children. It’s likely that since you’ve penned your 2010 goals (you did write them down, right?), something has already come up to throw you off track. Read more

How to stay up when life isn’t going as planned.

It’s cliché to say life doesn’t always go as planned. Sometimes, it’s the relatively insignificant things that slow us down, like when childcare arrangements fall through at the last minute or when the dog eats the birthday cake you so carefully selected. But what about when your career seems to be in an extended stall pattern, or when the business you thought you wanted to run turns out to be more challenging than expected. More than an inconvenience, uncertainty surrounding our livelihood can put us in a funk. It’s during times like these—while we’re wondering whether to quit or stick it out—that we experience stress and burnout. Read more

Creating Job Security by Becoming the Boss

I recently received an e-mail from a business owner and new author whose book release has been delayed by the publisher. She says the book explains how to turn a product idea into a profitable business, but the publisher and booksellers are telling her people simply aren’t taking “risks” right now.

Undoubtedly, it’s more important than ever to be cautious with our income and assets. But starting a business can be a very wise investment of your time and money — if you do it right. And with the uncertainty of the economy and fewer “secure” jobs available, becoming an entrepreneur or independent professional is an option many women are examining more closely. In our recent poll, more than half of you said you were either starting a business or taking on freelance or contract work in an effort to create financial security in your life. Read more

How are Your New Year’s Resolutions Holding Up?

It’s the beginning of February: How are you doing on your resolutions?

Are you still exercising, avoiding cigarettes, eating dinner with your family, saving money, packing a lunch instead of eating out, making those extra sales calls, volunteering regularly and (fill in the blank)?

You’re not alone if your commitment to your goals has faltered; it’s easy to slip back into old habits. One of the keys to staying on track is to write down your goals and put them where you’re reminded of them daily. If your weight-loss goal is posted on the fridge, you’ll see it when you’re in the mood for a late-night snack, and you’ll be forced to make a conscious decision about whether you really want that second (or third) brownie.

Another key to keeping your resolutions is creating new thought patterns. One of the best ways to do this is to read idea-inspiring books. Whether it’s the biography of a person whose success you admire or a book on how to achieve your goals, feeding your mind with positive, thought-provoking messages can change your life.

Here’s a recommended reading list for February:

48 Days to the Work You Love by Dan Miller. Check it out at www.48days.com.

See a Need. Do a Good Deed.

To those who think you can’t have it all, woman entrepreneur Kim Lim says, “Watch me.”

As a single mother, owner of two businesses and recipient of three academic degrees, Lim has had her hands full during the past few years. But following painful divorce, and with the creation of two new and starkly different career paths, Lim forges ahead. She says today, she’s doing everything she’s wanted in life, all at the same time. Read more

The Secret to Success—Anytime, Anywhere

When you think of success, what comes to mind? Do you think of living in a huge mansion on a hill, with more money than you could ever spend? Or do you think of days filled with happiness and a career that you find personally satisfying? Whatever your idea of success is, you can rest easy knowing it’s only a few small steps away.

Surprised? Most people are. It’s far too easy to become buried in the avalanche of responsibility that comes with adulthood, leaving us feeling like it would be easier to climb Mt. Everest in a snowstorm wearing a mini-skirt and stiletto heels than to achieve our dreams. Read more

Still Balancing a Checkbook?

As you pursue your business objectives, it’s important to set and maintain personal financial goals—to make your money work for you as hard as you work for it! The reason most people don’t save enough or invest enough is that they have no idea what’s coming in—and how it’s flowing out. Cash slips through their fingers. Multiple credit card statements make it tough to track spending. And somehow the money is gone! Read more