Resources for Work at Home Moms

My friend and colleague Sandy Fowler, of ReclaimU, knows what it’s like to be wife, mom and business owner who works from home. She says, it can be fun and it can be challenging. So to make it all a bit easier, she put together a collection of tools specifically for Work at Home Moms to help them:

• Get some fabulous information
• Discover some great experts to rely on
• Save some time and some dough
• Learn something amazing

She asked me to contribute, so among the incredible tools you’ll find there, is a special report called, “Building Rock-Solid Relationships With Your Clients That Yield More Business & Increase Your Income.”

It’s all completely FREE. To get your goodies, just go to http://www.thegreatwahmgiveaway.com/

Authenticity

I was recently introduced to Chris Guillebeau’s blog, The Art of Nonconformity, when he posted an article on authenticity. The ideas and thoughts he put forward there are so good, I want to share them with you. And since he’s already written it, and done such a good job, it doesn’t make sense for me to reinvent the wheel. Go read it on his site.

Here’s the link:
http://chrisguillebeau.com/3×5/authenticity-you-has-it/

Can This Improve Productivity?

There’s something extra delicious and relaxing about taking a vacation day. Slipping off (like playing hooky) to the beach or the lake or the mountains one day when all the rest of the world is working. It’s like you get extra relaxation and rejuvenation that somehow isn’t possible on a weekend, even if you were to do the exact same thing.

I think there’s power or energy in the idea that you’re “supposed to be working” but you’re not. I don’t know about you, but it’s nearly impossible for me to ever turn off the cell phone – which is also my business line – and not turn on the computer for a whole 24 hours. God forbid the world could need something from me.

Yesterday I conducted an experiment and did just that. I found a fairly uninhabited section of beach, parked myself under my umbrella wearing factor 50 sun screen, and basically did nothing for several hours. More than once I had to stop myself from turning the phone on, just to see who may have called. And yes, I should have left the phone at home, but I brought it with, you know,  just in case of an emergency.

I’ve just finished reading Esther and Jerry Hicks’ book “Ask and It Is Given.” In it, they contend that if you’re not getting all that you desire in life, it’s because you are vibrationally not matching what it is you are asking for. And the only way to increase your vibration is to bring more joy and happiness into your experience. To not try so hard to make things happen. So I decided to see what happens when I stop pushing so hard. (note, this is not to say stop taking action; it is about being more relaxed, less stressed about it.)

I did feel a lot better and had more energy at the end of the day. I’m thinking of making this a monthly exercise. Let me know if you’d like to join me.

PS: I still got burned, so bring extra sun screen.

Who’s Got Your Back

Just spent 3 days in a cave. Okay, not really a cave, but in my Sacred Circle Mastermind. Fourteen business owners meet with our coach and mentor Fabienne Fredrickson three times a year. When we’re all together, there’s not a lot of contact with the outside world. The easy explanation for what we do there is that it’s three days working on strategic aspects of our businesses. It’s actually much more. We are a group of entrepreneurs that is playing really big, taking action and stepping up our game.

It’s called the Sacred Circle because what happens in this space, among these people is magical. We’ve created deep and trusting relationships with each other in a way that isn’t at all that common in the “real world.” Inside our circle, we can be vulnerable and open. We talk about where we’re stuck, or what’s scaring the crap out of us. We see in each other the huge potential that we don’t see in ourselves. We call each other out on the stuff that’s holding us back and getting in the way of our success. What’s shared in these meetings stays within the Circle.

One thing I can share with you from this meeting is that Keith Ferrazzi’s new book, “Who’s Got Your Back” came up in discussion because it’s about relationships just like what we’ve created in our Sacred Circle. Keith says “the real path to success in your career and in your personal life is through creating an inner circle of “lifeline relationships” – deep, close relationships with a few key trusted individuals who will offer the encouragement, feedback, and generous mutual support that every one of us needs to reach our full potential.”

So I leave Stamford, Connecticut this weekend tired and energized at the same time; grateful that I have this trusted family; knowing that just like anyone else who’s ever achieved greatness, I’ve got an amazing team on this journey with me.

Can’t believe I’m writing this

I had a strategy call with my coach and mentor this morning. Fabienne always speaks her truth, what she’s seeing or feeling, and sometimes it’s hard to hear. She always asks permission before sharing, and really, who wouldn’t want to hear what could be a great revelation? Still, even when you know it’s for your own good, it can sting. So what she called me out for is not living in gratitude.

Deep breath here.

My business is all about gratitude, saying thank you, showing appreciation in your business and personal life. The Gratitude Cookie™. Hello?!

But I’m not personally living in gratitude. I have my moments for sure. And then there’s the rest of the time. The time I spend wondering where the money is. Where are more clients? Why do I not have a multi-million dollar business yet?

Rachael Ray featured Zen Crunch as Snack of the Day on her talk show last month. Everyone who knows about that thinks it’s an incredible achievement! My gratitude for that lasted about five minutes before I was looking for the next opportunity.

Nothing has been enough and I always need more.

So I haven’t been living authentically. That’s why everything has been so hard. Are you laughing at me, or does this resonate with you too?

Fabienne and I talked about how I can change that – continuing my meditations and working out at the gym, and journaling more consistently. There are some other changes I’m making too, that I’ll share in time.

Right now, I’m committing to live in gratitude for everything, even when it feels foreign. Care to join me in the adventure?

Love and Gratitude

Here’s a great idea that was presented to me this morning via World Gratitude Gathering, a project of Go Gratitude.

Write ‘Love and Gratitude’, with a permanent marker on your favorite cup, mug, or glass. Each time you fill it, feel your energy flowing through, re-arranging the waters to serve your highest good. You may also choose to do this with your hot water heater, coffee pots, water jugs, your car battery(!) … any container!

Don’t Quit

Just back from a weekend with the in-laws in Baltimore. Catching up from 4 days of being “out of touch.” In my email was this great passage. It was sure timely for me to see; I post it here because maybe it’s perfect for you today too.

Don’t Quit
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won if he’d stuck it out.
Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are -
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit -
It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.

Author Unknown

Feminine & Masculine Energies

I was involved in a conversation on Friday about feminine and masculine energy. We were specifically discussing how relationships are affected when women have or portray “too much” masculine energy. I’ve been thinking about this all weekend.

Quick note, everyone, whether man or woman, has feminine (receptive, intuitive, inward, sensitive, delicate, emotional, nurturing) – also known as yin – and masculine (outward, hard, firm, logical, strong, rational, rough, loud) – also known as yang – energies.

My conversational partner was making the argument that when women have dominant masculine energy, they tend to have problems in their relationships with men because their masculine energy forces their partners to portray more feminine energy and the natural balance is disrupted. If women are wearing the “man pants,” their men can’t also fit into the same pants and that’s when relationship troubles arise. The man is made to feel “not a man.”

My friend said that women’s feminine energy is just as, if not more, powerful as the masculine energy. But a lot of women think that they have to use their masculine energy to be successful.

This theory is not at all something I would have ever before considered relevant, valid, with any merit. However, like I said, I’ve been thinking about it all weekend. And guess what. I’m starting to think there actually might be something to it. (where is the REAL Lori and when is she coming back?!)

I was thinking about all the people I know who are in what appear to be strong, loving partnerships. All of those relationships fit the model of females with strong feminine energy and males with strong masculine energy.

Now think about this comparison, which my friend brought up in our discussion. First, though, I have to ask you to put aside your political biases. This is NOT a political discussion, just an unscientific study in contrasts. (And for the record, I’m not a huge fan of either woman here.)

Look at Hillary Clinton. She primarily exudes masculine energy. This has nothing to do with her looks. It has to do with energy. Lots of women in Washington D.C. are like Hillary. I know, I lived there for a long time. Then look at Sarah Palin – more feminine energy. You have to ask if the contrast in energies affects how people initially react to them. (Again, take a few moments to think about this and don’t let their knowledge, experience or political affiliation cloud your evaluation.)

SO, I’m still undecided about powerful, successful women using their feminine energy to become what they are in the world of business and politics. Who comes to mind as a good example of this? Princess Diana maybe? Post your comments and share with me please!

Jack Canfield’s Thoughts on Appreciation

Okay, okay! I’m back from my long summer vacation of posting! Yikes!

Yesterday I read the latest issue “Success Strategies” from Jack Canfield (America’s #1 Success Coach, founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success). He started the issue with a quote from Mother Teresa, which I also had just found a few weeks before. “There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.”  Wow, how powerful and true.

The main article is entitled Practice Uncommon Appreciation. It is so appropriate to what Zen Rabbit and The Gratitude Cookie are doing, I have to share some of it with you. 

“An important reason for being in a state of appreciation as often as possible is that when you are in such a state, you are in one of the highest emotional states possible.

When you are in a state of appreciation and gratitude, you are in a state of abundance. You are appreciating what you do instead of focusing on, and complaining about, what you don’t have. Your focus is on what you have received… and you always get more of what you focus on. And because the law of attraction states that like attracts like, the more you are in a state of gratitude, the more you will attract to be grateful for. It becomes an upward-spiraling process of ever-increasing abundance that just keeps getting better and better.

Think about it. The more grateful people are for the gifts we give them, the more inclined we are to give them more gifts. Their gratitude and appreciation reinforces our giving. The same principle holds true on a universal and spiritual level as it does on an interpersonal level.”

In appreciation of his writing, I sent him an email and shared some info about The Gratitude Cookie with him. Surprisingly, he wrote back and asked me to provide him with more details. Stay tuned for where this might go.

PS: If you’re ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com. I was required to put this in order to use the excerpt from his ezine.

People To Meet

Recently I sent out an email to a group of people who had written articles for Jeffrey Gitomer’s ezine “Sales Caffeine” to introduce them to the Zen Rabbit Gratitude Program. I took a guess that since we had all contributed to this publication and were presumably Jeffrey fans, we probably had similar philosophies about client appreciation. And lists of clients or other contacts who might feel the same too. As I pressed “send,” I set the expectation that this email would reach and inspire the “right” people to respond. In other words, I knew not everyone would resonate with that email. But the ones who did would be the ones I was supposed to connect with.

As it turns out, I was right. I have since had some amazing phone conversations and made some fantastic contacts! Today I did a podcast interview with Tara Robinson, owner and CEO of Zugunruhe Coaching on the Gratitude Cookie and the importance of gratitude in general. Check back here for the link to that podcast, which is set to air in early April. During our first conversation last week, Tara commented that she and I are from the same tribe. I totally agree and it’s so cool to find someone with whom you have that connection. Check out Tara’s amazing blog here: http://zugunruhecoaching.typepad.com

Jason Seiden is another person I “met” through this email. Jason runs Seiden & Associates in Chicago – a consulting group that helps “professionals translate improved self-awareness into revenue- and productivity-enhancing behaviors.” He’s also an author and is getting ready for the release of his book “How to Self-Destruct.” He sent me an advanced copy and I’m about one third of the way through it. Again, check back here for the complete review once I’m finished. In the meantime, you can get a preview at http://jasonseiden.com/how-to-self-destruct.

And thirdly, I have to tell you about Wes Moss. Wes’ purpose in life, through his books, radio show, and professional career, is to help people make better financial decisions. He’s the author of the books “Make More, Worry Less” and “Starting from Scratch.” I’ve just come back from the library with “Starting from Scratch.” Guess I’m going to be quite busy reading this week! Visit his website at http://www.wesmoss.com.

When you open yourself to letting the universe bring you the people and experiences you are “supposed” to find, you get what I can only describe as awesomeness. Today I’m grateful for my new friends.