Work Smart. Live Smarter.

When you come to a fork in the road and you have no map to know which way is best, what do you do?

Uncertainty is something that just about every country is facing on an economic level, but we are also dealing with uncertainty in our daily lives.  It is a fact of life that no one really talks about… until now.

In this interview with the incredibly accessible thought leader, Jonathan Fields, we explore how the Uncertainty Book came about, what has changed in Jonathan’s life as a result of this powerful book and how he believes that this book will help you.

Mindfulness matters.

As someone who has read the Uncertainty Book, I can say that I loved the interviews with power house business leaders and I loved the thought provoking ideas and exercises, but what struck me most was the fact that uncertainty doesn’t have to be a bad thing…

Uncertainty can be an indicator of opportunity and Jonathan proves in his book that the people who step into their greatness by embracing uncertainty are the ones who make the biggest impact on the world.

I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did.  Jonathan is a wealth of knowledge and he generously shares some major secrets of success that you can use to step ever further into your greatness.

Social media truly has changed the way that small business and big business is done.  In this snippet of our panel discussion, we tackle mutiple perspectives on exactly how things have changed.  From the corporate perspective to the small business owner’s point of view, social media is making is easier to connect with your audience so you can build your platform and grow your audience.

In today’s business world, big and small business play together in the same sandbox.

In this video, listen as the fabulous Liz Dennery Sanders guides the panel discussion between Gail Becker of Edelman, Susan Fleishman of Warner Brothers, Lorrie Thomas of Web Marketing Therapy and me.  We had a lot of fun sharing our experiences and thoughts while giving some actionable social media and business growth take-aways to the members of Smarty People and Step Up Women’s Network at UCLA Anderson School of Management.

What are your thoughts about how business has changed with social media?  Are there advantages or disadvantages?  Please share your thoughts in the comments.  Thanks!

In business and in life, there will come times when we make mistakes.  Sometimes it will be evident and other times, we may not know what we did until it’s too late.  Recently, I have witnessed a few situations where people meant well, but feelings got hurt and unfortunately, in the end things didn’t get wrapped up into a nice neat little package of love.

Mistakes are not pretty, so we must embrace them as part of our growth process and learn from them.  These mistakes may happen with our loved ones, our neighbors, our co-workers or on social media.  Wherever they occur, it is important to acknowlege and correct them as soon as possible.  However, sometimes we let the how get in the way.

When I read this guest post by Ricky Cohen, I immediately wanted to share this message with you.  I hope that the simplicity and depth of this post stay with you and empower you to say you are sorry when it is time.  If you have thoughts, comments or stories on the subject, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  Thanks so much.  And now, a message for you from Ricky…

To the extent that a person has self-love and self-confidence he will be able to engage his will, harvest his creativity, and remain in the game for as long as it takes to achieve greatly.

So what about saying “I’m sorry”?

Clearing the air with another, and removing the hurt, goes far to keep people together and allow important – and even casual relationships – to continue and flourish. Confronting how I’ve hurt another enables me to grow and become more sensitive, aware and fine. It forces me to confront who I am and what I must become.

But even more important than any of the above, the action of apologizing promptly, and with a full heart, removes the loose ends of pain that will otherwise weaken my will, hamper my creativity, and undermine my perseverance.

Harboring the pain of another somewhere inside of me, will position a dark cloud over me, limiting what life can offer. Each day that cloud persists, the opportunities for great achievement become less and less attainable for me.

So when you’re advised to: “Say you’re sorry”, or when you haven’t been told anything but you feel the need inside do so, or when you must instruct others to extend themselves and apologize, know that it’s not about the other guy, it’s all about you.

Love and care about yourself enough to say those words quickly, sincerely and often. Your will, creativity, and ability to persevere and succeed – thank you.

Author Bio:

Ricky Cohen, who is the author of the life-changing book, Attracting Your Extraordinary Love, is a family man who is devoted to causes that promote family welfare, character building and good citizenship. Using real life experiences, Ricky motivates his readers by delivering a powerful message that is always surprising, always inspiring, and always has a practical action that the reader can take away. He is an inspiring author, vibrant leader, and motivating public speaker with an amazing record of accomplishment, both professionally and personally. His creative and philosophical insights about the complexities of life and challenging issues help his audiences understand complex issues.

Uncertainty.

I am so excited to share this book with you because the message is SO cool and so often NOT talked about.  Now, we have an entire book that exposes this fear of the unknown that so many people have and that holds you back from exploring life, taking risks and getting you ultimately where you want to go.

We all have uncertainty about what we are doing, but the trailblazers don’t let that fear stop them.  Instead, they use it as a tool or an asset to ask questions and seek answers that are not preconceived.  Learning to be okay with not having all of the answers can be a struggle for many of us, but once you decide to get comfortable with uncertainty and trust your intuition, you will feel an incredible sense of power.

In this video, I share with you what I believe to be tools that will help with getting comfortable with uncertainty.  Of course this book is a great starting point, but there’s more.  I believe that when you know who you are, what you want out of life and the value that you bring to the world, it is much easier to sit with uncertainty because you are grounded in knowing (for certain) who you are. 

As you evolve, who you are will change, so this process of getting to know yourself is a lifelong practice.

What are your thoughts on uncertainty?  Are you the type of person who feels like you have to know all of the answers to every possible scenario before you begin a venture?  How is that working (or not working) for you?  Have you discovered any tools to help you get through the fear of the unknown?  Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Please join Jonathan Fields, author of Uncertainty on the next episode of the Work Smart Lifestyle Show where we will delve deeper into this topic and give you even more tools and insights.  And if you haven’ already grabbed your copy of Uncertainty, do so now!  It’s a great read and super inspiring!

Thank you, Work Smart Lifestyle and nearly 150 other bloggers from around the world for allowing me to share a story with you today, during Social Media Week.

A hungry child in East Africa can’t wait. Her hunger consumes her while we decide if we’ll respond and save her life. In Somalia, children are stumbling along for days, even weeks, on dangerous roads and with empty stomachs in search of food and water. Their crops failed for the third year in a row. All their animals died. They lost everything. Thousands are dying along the road before they find help in refugee camps.

At my house, when my three children are hungry, they wait minutes for food, maybe an hour if dinner is approaching. Children affected by the food crisis in in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia aren’t so lucky. Did you know that the worst drought in 60 years is ravaging whole countries right now, as you read this? Famine, a term not used lightly, has been declared in Somalia. This is the world’s first famine in 20 years.12.4 million people are in need of emergency assistance and over 29,000 children have died in the last three months alone. A child is dying every 5 minutes. It it estimated that 750,000 people could die before this famine is over. Take a moment and let that settle in.

The media plays a major role in disasters. They have the power to draw the attention of society to respond–or not. Unfortunately, this horrific disaster has become merely a footnote in most national media outlets. News of the U.S. national debt squabble and the latest celebrity’s baby bump dominate headlines. That is why I am thrilled that nearly 150 bloggers from all over the world are joining together today to use the power of social media to make their own headlines; to share the urgent need of the almost forgotten with their blog readers. Humans have the capacity to care deeply for those who are suffering, but in a situation like this when the numbers are too huge to grasp and the people so far away, we often feel like the little we can do will be a drop in the ocean, and don’t do anything at all.

When news of the famine first hit the news in late July, I selfishly avoided it. I didn’t want to read about it or hear about it because I knew I would feel overwhelmed and uncomfortable. I wanted to protect myself. I knew I would need to do something if I knew what was really happening. You see, this food crisis is personal. I have a 4-year-old son and a 1 yr-old daughter who were adopted from Ethiopia and born in regions now affected by the drought. If my children still lived in their home villages, they would be two of the 12.4 million. My children: extremely hungry and malnourished? Gulp. I think any one of us would do anything we could for our hungry child. But would you do something for another mother’s hungry child?

My friend and World Vision staffer, Jon Warren, was recently in Dadaab Refugee Camp in Kenya–the largest refugee camp in the world with over 400,000 people. He told me the story of Isnino Siyat, 22, a mother who walked for 10 days and nights with her husband, 1 yr-old-baby, Suleiman, and 4 yr.-old son Adan Hussein, fleeing the drought in Somalia. When she arrived at Dadaab, she built the family a shelter with borrowed materials while carrying her baby on her back. Even her dress is borrowed. As she sat in the shelter on her second night in camp she told Jon, “I left because of hunger. It is a very horrible drought which finished both our livestock and our farm.” The family lost their 5 cows and 10 goats one by one over 3 months, as grazing lands dried up. “We don’t have enough food now…our food is finished. I am really worried about the future of my children and myself if the situation continues.”

Will you help a child like Baby Suleiman? Ask5for5 is a dream built upon the belief that you will.

That something I knew I would need to do became a campaign called #Ask5for5 to raise awareness and funds for famine and drought victims. The concept is simple, give $5 and ask five of your friends to give $5, and then they each ask five of their friends to give $5 and so on–in nine generations of 5x5x5…we could raise $2.4 Million! In one month, over 750 people have donated over $25,000! I set up a fundraiser at See Your Impact and 100% of the funds will go to World Vision, an organization that has been fighting hunger in the Horn of Africa for decades and will continue long after this famine has ended. Donations can multiply up to 5 times in impact by government grants to
help provide emergency food, clean water, agricultural support,
healthcare, and other vital assistance to children and families suffering in the Horn.

I need you to help me save lives. It’s so so simple; here’s what you need to do:

1. Donate $5 or more on this page (http://seeyourimpact.org/members/ask5for5)
2. Send an email to your friends and ask them to join us.
3. Share #Ask5for5 on Facebook and Twitter!

I’m looking for another 100 bloggers to share this post on their blogs throughout Social Media Week. Email me at ask5for5@gmail.com if you’re interested in participating this week.

A hungry child doesn’t wait. She doesn’t wait for us to finish the other things on our to-do list, or get to it next month when we might have a little more money to give. She doesn’t wait for us to decide if she’s important enough to deserve a response. She will only wait as long as her weakened little body will hold on…please respond now and help save her life. Ask 5 for 5.

Thank you on behalf of all of those who will be helped–you are saving lives and changing history.
p.s. Please don’t move on to the next website before you donate and email your friends right now. It only takes 5 minutes and just $5, and if you’re life is busy like mine, you probably won’t get back to it later. Let’s not be a generation that ignores hundreds of thousands of starving people, instead let’s leave a legacy of compassion. You have the opportunity to save a life today!

in·spi·ra·tionNoun/ˌinspəˈrāSHən/

2. The quality of having been so stimulated, esp. when evident in something: “a moment of inspiration in an otherwise dull display”.

When I think about what inspires me on a daily basis and what has inspired me to take decisive action at any point in my life, whether it related to my life or my business, 2 things come to mind…

First of all, I am inspired by the love of my friends and family and the connection that comes with being in relationship with others.  This drives me to do many things, but most of all to love.  Secondly, when I think about the businesses that I have been involved in, the ones that have made the biggest impact on the world have been built out of a passion or an inspirational idea.

Many businesses are born out of inspiration, but if entrepreneurs are not mindful to build a routine out of that inspiration, growing the business can lose it’s sense of passion and become a job.  It is critical to every entrepreneur’s success to build inspiration into your daily schedule so that creativity and passion are fostered. When entrepreneurs are inspired, they are more enthusiastic about their offerings, which means they are more likely to attract happy clients and build a profitable business.

Here are 5 simple steps to build an inspiration practice into your business and life:

1. Make a list of the top 25 things that inspire you.  If you want to build an environment of creativity in your business and/or family, do this exercise with your team and support each other in the next 4 steps.
2. Choose 5 of your top inspirations and write down how you can connect with them in the next week.
3. Block out time (15-30 minutes) in your calendar to actually engage with your top 5 inspirations over the next 5 days.
4. Keep a journal about how connecting with these inspirations feels and how it can help you in your life and business.
5. Commit to this practice for the next 21 days, until it becomes a daily practice that allows you to interact with the things that make your life more enjoyable and more meaningful.

When you take time to regularly seek inspiration, your mind shifts to focus on the success that you are already experiencing so that you can open the potential for more success to come your way.

In this very honest and real episode of the Work Smart Lifestyle Show, Gabby Bernstein shares the story of her evolutionary, entrepreneurial journey that has taken her from the clubs of Manhattan into bookstores across the country and maybe soon to be the television in your living room.

You may have seen her videos about miracles or meditation.

You may have heard her speak at a networking event or on a teleseminar.

She is a thought leader, a motivational speaker, a fashion lover and a believer in miracles.

She is also a former Sex In the City lifestyle girl who has transformed into a Spirit Junkie.

Gabby Bernstein is soon to be a household name as she spreads her message of love, hope and happiness throughout the world.

In her new book, Spirit Junkie (bound to be a New York Times bestseller), Gabby Bernstein tells the story of how she got from the drug couch to the meditation pillow and how you can too.  Her new book goes on sale on September 13, 2011, but you can get a sneak peak of her brilliance in this recording.  Enjoy!

Social Media is…

A hot topic.

A place to connect with people all over the world from anywhere in the world.

The largest networking event on the planet.

A place to shine and inspire others.

A great tool for businesses to market your services and build relationships with your audience.

A medium where you can be inspired all day by thought leaders and motivational quotes.

A place to make friends and connect with people who share similar interests.

Sounds pretty amazing.  Right? 

However, I want to leave you with this quote and a thought…

“The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.”
— Maya Angelou

Some people believe that you are the sum of your 5 closest friends.

Are your 5 closest friends or influencers on social media aligned with your values and the message that you want to share with the world?  

How do you think it affects your brand when your closest social media friends are not aligned with your values?  Please discuss in the comments.

Entrepreneurs tend to work themselves to the bone in pursuit of their passions and driving revenue, but what happens when you forget to take a break?

BURNOUT.

It happens to the best of us.

We work, work, work, work and then we hit a wall.  We can’t take another minute of the grind and we may even reach a point of resenting the business that we once loved. This phenomenon can even happen to lifestyle entrepreneurs who are creating a business that allows you to spend more time with your family, pursue hobbies and travel.

Scheduling monthly breaks where you completely unplug, log off and tune into real life will actually make you more productive, more inspired and more in touch with what is working in your business and life.

This is why better business owners need to take regular breaks.

It’s all about recharging your energy, reconnecting with your inner self and taking a step back for long enough so that you can be a person again.  Often times it is during these breaks that we tap into a fountain of creativity, a newfound appreciation for our relationships and a greater understanding about where we are headed.

These breaks are a gift we give to ourselves and to our loved ones who need us to be relaxed and in touch.

Take some time this holiday weekend to unplug for a few days.

Think about who you are and what inspires you to make the world a better place.

And stop work, work, working so you can start enjoy, enjoy, enjoying every moment in the now.

How many times have you been talking with a friend about an idea that sounded like a GREAT business and thought, “Let’s do it!”?  On paper, everything looked like a winner…

And if you then actually took steps toward creating this business and bringing the idea to fruition, did you run into problems with your business partner?  Were there problems knowing who should do what and why?  Did you step on each other’s toes?  Did you disagree about branding or marketing?

You are not alone.

Just like marriage, business partnerships have their challenges.  Again, just like marriage, there are some key ingredients to creating a winning business partner relationship (like having a therapist or mediator).

Tip #1: Write down your agreed upon end goal or vision.

Tip #2: Clearly outline duties or role of each partner.

Tip #3: Set regular check in meetings so everyone is on the same page.

Make sure to watch the video for details on these tips and for Tips #4 and #5.

Now that I have shared 5 tips with you about how to create a successful business partnership, do you have any stories, additions or comments?  I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section!