“Choose A Live Event” Checklist | Are you looking to make the right decision about attending a live event?

Whoa!  You’re not imagining things – there are a lot of events to choose from these days!  Gee whiz, which one is right for you?

Of all the choices I have, how can I make the right decision about which live event I should attend?

Obviously, most people make this decision emotionally.  It’s lonely being a small business owner after all.  And after all those long weeks, don’t you deserve to reward yourself?

There’s nothing at all wrong with that, but it pays to be rational about it as well, especially with SO MANY events to choose from, and only so much time and money that you can really spend trolloping along to events.

Putting aside the fun factor for a moment…

The upshot is simple:

What is the total cost of attending an event? (Money, time, lost opportunities, physical wear and tear, all of that.)

What is the total benefit of attending an event? (Increased income, potential for increased income, leveraged contacts, and much more – there are a LOT of benefits, tangible and intangible.)

Put those two answers together and what do you get? A pretty good cost-benefit analysis for attending.

But that said, like tens of thousands of entrepreneurs like you, you have a budget for personal and professional development.  So you plan, let’s say, to attend at least one, or perhaps more, live events each year.

In that case, I’ve developed an easy-breezy ‘Choosing a Live Event’ Checklist for you below, to further help. It includes a few lines for you to fill in, because each one of us has our own criteria. This makes the rational part of the decision making process much more evident.

I hope you find this useful.  If you do, please forward it to someone you think could benefit as well…would you?

“How to Choose a Live Event” Checklist

Did you know that there are over 80 seminars, workshops and events happening every year, and growing, each of them specifically designed to help you, the small business owner, succeed?

Amazing, isn’t it?  And, it’s great news.

Because it means that you have many more options than I did when I first started my business 13 years ago.

Thank goodness for options, because there are many different kinds of entrepreneur, and now you can choose the live event that will suit you, your values and your success path most. I invite you to carefully consider the field of options, because your choice of live event can have a real impact on your success as a small business owner, year after year.

Here’s a link to the PDF version for easy printing.

And here are just the questions.  To really benefit from this checklist, be sure to use the PDF worksheet at the above link.

Now review your answers and rank or choose the event you most want to attend, then register to begin reaping the rewards of your clarity.

1.	Is the event in a geographically positive (convenient, environmental, energetically fitting) location?
2.	Is the training a good value-for-dollar? Does it permit me to make payments, if that’s better for me?
3.	Will there be frequent high-pressure scenarios to invest further than my comfort zone?
4.	Is there a support system to taking action and following through post-event?
5.	Is the agenda leading-edge and future-oriented, addressing topics I can’t get addressed elsewhere?
6.	Can I speak with previous attendees to candidly hear their comments without filters?
7.	Will I be learning business models in addition to technical how-to?
8.	Will I also be learning how to grow and sustain myself as an entrepreneur and human being?
9.	Will I be able to access the hosts and presenters easily in a group that’s the size I’m comfortable networking in?
10.	Will I be intellectually stimulated and challenged to develop in surprising ways?
11.	Does the event represent an entrepreneurial community I’d be proud to associate with?
12.	Will the community serve my long-term needs if I return yearly, and as I become a more experienced business owner?
13.	Is the event community open, welcoming and helpful to newcomers?
14.	How current/fresh is the content that I will be learning?
15.	How practical is the content that I will be learning and will there be new case studies?
16.	Will what I learn increase my fees or income?
17.	Will attending bring me more business/clients? Estimating how much?
18.	Will what I learn support me in my definition of balance and success? Work hours, lifestyle, leverage?
19.	Will I be exposed to key concepts that clients will pay a premium for?
20.	Will what I learn set me apart from others in my market?
21.	Will the training be complete and actionable without additional investment?
22.	Will I leave clearer or more overwhelmed?
23.	Will I leave tired and if so, how much recuperation or down-time should I plan for?
24.	Will what I learn stay with me long term, and equip me to make better decisions later?
25.	Is there another reason to travel to this event – client for-fee work locally, other business generation, etc.?
26.	Is the event hosted by an organization that walks its talk and whose values I respect?
27.	Does the event look enjoyable and like I can comfortably be my real self without pretense?
28.	Can I get a 100% refund if I am not completely satisfied?
29.	_________________________________________________ (insert your additional criteria here)
30.	_________________________________________________ (insert your additional criteria here)

The Wealthy Thought Leader 3-Day Live Event Is Coming To San Francisco [September 30 to October 2, 2010]

To score this event according to the above criteria, including those of your own that you add:

Read details here.

Watch video highlights here.

To familiarize yourself with previous attendees: Visit www.Twitter.com and search under #wtlead.

To ask previous attendees any question: Simply tweet a general tweet, but include #wtlead within it.  Prior attendees participating in that thread have agreed to reply to any of your questions there and are waiting to say hello.

Watch participant comments post-event, here.

And, of course, we welcome you to ask any direct questions for us, simply by hitting reply to this email.

Current status of registrations: Early registration f’ee is in effect: US $695. Or, the option to pay 5 instalments of US $150 – is available until, and expires on Wednesday June 30, when a 4-payment option will become available.

If you’re reading this after June 30, 2010, check the information page for the event for updated status and if there are early-bird or payment-plan options still available.

Will The Entrepreneurial Woman Save The World? | Sheri McConnell Says YES…

With a wide-ranging foresight unavailable to most of us, let’s take a look at what the Dalai Lama mused recently, shall we?

“The world will be saved by a western woman.”

But Sheri McConnell, Author of Smart Women Know Their Why, takes that and pushes the envelope, riffing:

“The world will be saved by an ENTREPRENEURIAL  woman.”

It’s a fascinating manifesto, and one that may resonate with you. In which case, it’s a lovely day to get to know Sheri and her work through her new book

‘Smart Women Know Their Why – A Guide for Discovering Your Life Purpose While Owning a Business So You Can Create Positive Change in the World’

pictured above, and purchasable here for under $15, books still being one of the best returns-on-investment you can get…

http://www.smartwomenwhy.com

I’m delighted to partner with Sheri to support her bold vision and, after previewing her book a short while ago, happily recommend it to you with no hesitation. If you check it out June 30, the book’s birthday, there will be added gifts and festivities, though even Sheri, with all her insight, has yet to sort out virtual ice cream!

Open House Call | Revealing a Reliable & Real Client-Getting System Via Live Interview With Bill Baren

Attracting clients steadily is most certainly the Holy Grail of service business owners such as coaches, graphic designers, virtual assistants and more, perhaps you.

I’m smiling broadly at this moment, when I get to introduce you to Bill Baren, who’s walked through the steps from struggling coach to owner of a coaching business with so many clients that he had to bring on FOUR more coaches to handle all of the business (and he has a 3 month waitlist).

And, though I hold a very high standard of expectation for EVERYONE I introduce to you, Bill is someone I know and respect, and have since oh, probably close to 10 years. I trust him, and am glad he’s ‘on the case’ and bringing this teaching – strategies and action steps – to the community.

Your time really is precious – I hope you know how much! So if introducing you to this decades-old friendship strikes a chord, click on over to read more details about this not-your-usual-suspects call.

(Hint: I’ll be doing the interviewing so you can bet I’ll be on the case, too.)

Date/Time: Tuesday, July 6 @ 5 pm Pacific/8 pm Eastern

http://tinyurl.com/2az9f4z

BTW, how many people do you personally know, from 10 years back, who have proof of success? Look closely, you may want to pay special attention to them. That kind of lastingness is pretty special!

Multiple Streams of Coaching Income for 2010 | What’s Changed and How Does That Affect You?

Briefly on the topic of Foresight, Insight and Action, I’m leading a call soon about the changes that have come to Multiple Streams of Coaching Income in the next few weeks. Dates/details to come, please hit reply if you’d like to hear about this asap.

And if you’re keen for *individual coaching help from yours truly* an affordable small group coaching offering is now available for the summer, at the below link. (Note: timely price breaks do apply.)

http://www.wealthythoughtleader.com/msoci2010/

Enjoy

2 Gift Copies of ‘Predictable Success’ by Les McKeown – First-come, First-served

For right-brainers especially, this book is proving a balm to tired business muscles – very useful indeed. If you don’t have a copy yet, do consider it your business read of the summer, crazy value for 13 whole dollars! But wait…

Being in possession of 4 copies, I have two to give away. (One’s spoken for, and mine is already well-loved, taking pride of place near the tub.)

Want yer own copy, my gift to you, I’ll even spring for shipping? Post a note below with something you think will make me smile, and I will be in touch for addresses for the first two comers.

P.S. I REALLY dislike going to the post office, so if I seem cranky AND happy about this giveaway, you know why.

Open House (no-fee) Call | ‘Write an Offer – Transform Your Business’ with Karri Flatla

It’s fitting that marketing and copywriting strategist Karri Flatla believes you can transform your business through writing.

That the copywriting process itself can ‘fail you forward’ into action…taking your IDEA for an offer and making it a real-deal, value promise to your right people.

Join Karri’s no-fee call to discover how putting words to the page – and action to your ideas – can help you “risk into” your highest potential as an entrepreneur.

This call will also cover:

• What’s converting “traffic” into hot-blooded, interested prospects right now.
• The homework your competition isn’t doing (and what they’re doing that you can STOP).
• How the elusive “next level” in your business is just a love letter away.

Click here for call details and to register. Not all no-fee calls are alike, but Karri promises me this will be a transformational, business-building call. You’ll get off the phone ready to take action on your next, high end offer. Thanks, Karri. Enjoy!

A Small Rant | Ahem! The Wealthy Thought Leader 3-Day Live Event Is Coming To San Francisco [September 30 to October 2, 2010]

Well, I can’t say it’s the official release really because the word has leaked out, to be honest. [Yikes.] But it IS the first official announcement to you, dear reader of Creating What Matters, and in addition to a ‘Choosing a Live Event’ Checklist, coming soon, there are just a few things I’d like to make sure you know about our fall foray:

As a savvy business owner in 2010, I know you have a large number of live events to choose from. The only reason to come to Wealthy Thought Leader (#wtlead) is if… you want something quite different.

Obviously you can read for yourself, and I hope you do, but here are the key points:

We are a thought leadership organization. We coach, consult, train, cajole, even bully, when requested! But at heart we take a stand for the power of an idea, well implemented, to create all things good, including wealth, financial, personal & planetary.

As such, our job at the Wealthy Thought Leader event is to SHOW you what we’re talking about. This is the tactile, delicious joy the team and I are engaged in – how to demonstrate thought leadership at our event. For starters, I believe…

The extra mile is worth going, because that’s where no-one else is.

Go big or go home. Now, sometimes ‘big’ may mean small, I agree! But I don’t want to digress too much here. Anything worth doing is worth really doing. As your host at the event, I’m going to be pretty relentless about you seeing how to get to the front of your pack, regardless of who your pack is and how far you already are.

As our previous attendees will attest, I also emphasize that:

Learning is what happens when we don’t know what to do.

1. #WTLEAD will push the edges of what you know, and will require you to fire new neurons, learning things in your blind spots. This puts you in a good position to continue to lead YOUR clients, thank goodness!
2. #WTLEAD is creative, right-brained, designed to surprise and delight. And proudly, the event has lasting effects, tangible and intangible. Visit the web page or ask on Twitter.com ‘How was #wtlead? Any lasting effects?’ and see un-canned responses. (No bribes have been given, or received.)
3. #WTLEAD is experiential and practical. For the first time in San Francisco, there will be officially sponsored face-to-face opportunities to hire virtual teams of the most experienced, most qualified kind. Another way to keep you at the head of the pack. And other go-forward steps.

The theme, speakers and topics for this now annual event will be different each time, save for a few classics. [Hey, I’ll be there and I’ll mostly be the same.] But no two ‘Wealthy Thought Leader’ events will be the same experience.  Specifically for Fall in San Francisco, our theme will be…

Income and Innovation on the

Extra Mile

In short, this is an affordable, accessible ‘safe zone’ for entrepreneurs, like you, who’re seeking to slay your challenges in first-class company.

Finally, I’m an advocate of a calm buying decision. And I believe in your ability to make the right one at the right time for you. That part is non-negotiable. So take this next part as the simple, black and white information that it is, okay?

Until Wednesday, June 30, we have a payment-plan option that may make registering now attractive. It’s 5 payments of US $150 for a total of $750, or, $695 in one payment.

More info here, including quick navigation links at the top! Enjoy. And perhaps I’ll see you there…

“Andrea, you delivered 1000% and more…”

Kind words from an attendee of March #WTLEAD – click to view attendee video.

Your Team & You: Who is Taking Care of Who? The Stop Settling Manifesto by Tina Forsyth is now officially on the loose!

Sad but true, too many business owners feel they’re taking care of their team, instead of the other way around.  When working well, yours should be the team that keeps on TAKING tasks from you, rather than loading you up with more.

As leader of the Online Business Management movement, my former business partner Tina Forsyth has thrown down the gauntlet about this, and I invite you to deny the truth of it!

Click here to download the Stop Settling Manifesto and also receive Tina’s Hiring Checklist (the one she uses when I ask her to help me hire.)

Way to light the way and BOP us on the head, no holds barred, Tina!

BTW – representatives from two recently certified crops of Online Business Managers will be present in-person at the San Francisco Wealthy Thought Leader Live Event, the easier for you to meet, interview and possibly hire – without settling, oh no. More event details at the link above.

Hungering for a vision

To the coaches and entrepreneurs who read this, this is why I do what I do. I’m built with a rabid desire to help businesses like yours bloom, whatever it takes. My passion is for your success.

Why? It comes from caring, deep in the bone, about where courage and the right help can get you…even when you start with rolling quarters.

Like a plant, when a child grows for too long in its original “container,” it becomes root-bound. With no room for additional growth, roots become tangled, matted, and grow in circles.

Root-bound plants and people placed in a larger environment without having their roots untangled often fail to overcome their choked condition. Growth and potential are stunted.

On the other hand, repotting a plant—or a person—after untangling its roots gives it breathing room for new growth, for new fruit, and for the formation of entire new plants.

That’s what this book is about.

Multiple Streams of Coaching Income is a loving repotting of our concept of coaching—from a tight little container into the unbounded earth that provides unlimited opportunity.

And it’s just in time.

Multiple Streams was born out of the pain thousands of coaches have expressed about the viability of the coaching profession. “Is the dream dead?” they asked.

From there, it has been driven by a new vision, a huge vision for what the coaching profession can be and do.

Multiple Streams presents a crystal clear vision to coaches that makes the possibilities we’ve witnessed in the past seem tiny—as though we’d been looking at a single leaf and exclaiming that we beheld a forest.

However, no matter how profound the one-on-one coaching relationship can be, it is not a path to wealth for every coach.

For coaching to survive, we must re-visit and re-think of ways coaching can be delivered to more clients, and can create financial success for more coaches.

So—to continue the analogy—as magnificent as the one leaf we knew about has been, the forest is what I hope you’ll glimpse in the pages of this book.

As you take in the new view that means the most to you, determine to engage your heart and mind in thinking it through. Embrace it.

It’s not an overstatement to say that coaching and the coaching approach are more crucial now than ever to human evolution.

For that very reason, we must master financial success as coaches or risk our critical work becoming marginalized, discredited, and just plain ignored.

By drastically opening up our vision of coaching, we 100% unbox the possibilities for our profession in the same way we champion our individual clients.

All of us have lived our entire lives to this point in preparation for the challenges ahead. Will you accept my invitation to become a wealthy, successful, impactful coach?

To lead the way as coaches, we must first be willing to heal ourselves.

To be generous, we must first be wealthy. To give, we must have something TO give. To move, for once and for all, beyond worry about money is to open up our ability to live up to our potential— to do our greatest work.

With you for company, I am excited about the future we will create…starting with our wealth.

Let’s stop ignoring the truth and talk about multiple ways for coaches to earn money.

This is about our lives and our livelihoods. Ready, set, engage!

One of Our Favorite Leaders-In-Thought, Thomas Leonard, Gives Us “The ZEN of Perfect.”

Thomas’ writing on the topic of perfect were among his most controversial. And it seems that it’s still the case.  At the Wealthy Thought Leader event in San Francisco, we’re going to have an extra moment of remembrance for Thomas, since it was one of his favourite cities.  For now though, this pithy grouping is good grist for the ‘thought friction’ mill.  If you take the ten points as ten pieces of grit, will one of them turn into a pearl over time?

For now though, this pithy grouping is good grist for the ‘thought friction’ mill.  If you take the ten points as ten pieces of grit, will one of them turn into a pearl over time?

1.   What is, is perfect.

And, you can perfect it.

2.  What isn’t perfect, is perfect.

Because there is something to learn.

3.  You are perfect.

Even when you are not.

4. Others are perfect.

Especially when they are not.

5.  Life is perfect.

But only when you see that it is.

6.  Weaknesses are…

Click here to read the rest of the ZEN of Perfect…

No-fee call “From Adrenaline, Stress and Anxiety to Peaceful Productivity: To Have It All, You Must Know How Much Is Enough” | The Body Mind and Business Breakthrough Telesummit

There’s still time to enjoy the call of this topic, led by me and the leaders of this virtual gathering, Therese Skelly and Melissa McCreery.  I talk more about the ‘Golden Goose’ topic, give some personal tips to peaceful productivity, and also do an on-the-spot visualization for those adrenalized times. (This really is what I personally use.)

Melissa and Therese have done a great job of producing a practical, useable series without the fluff. Thank goodness, since ‘boundaries’ is a big theme of the event!

A no-fee option for the call and other experts is available by clicking here:

Lisa Sasevich Adds Innovative Use of Video-on-Demand | Speak to Sell BootCamp Backstage Pass

By now you’ve likely heard that Lisa Sasevich of www.theinvisibleclose.com is holding a very large live training this week.  Over 400 people in the room and sold out in advance, it shouldn’t be a surprise that she recently considered adopting a Live-Via-Video component at her event.

Turns out, she chose instead to innovate that form, and has NOT opened up at-home seating for the event…if you didn’t secure a ticket to attend, there just aren’t any more seats to be had. That said, she’s asked me to host a series of video clips from the event in a ‘Roving Reporter’ format…and made these clips available for free. As you read this, I’m on the road to do just that, and a pleasure it will certainly be.

Whether you’re interested in Lisa’s very compelling teaching theme – Crafting a Signature Talk that Allows You to Give, Give, Give, and STILL sell…

Or you’re following the ‘video’ format as it innovates and splices its way in our community, and perhaps finds its way onto your business plan? There’s once again no obligation, just goodies, and yours truly reporting live from San Diego.  Opt-in is available here:

http://www.speaktosellbackstagepass.com

For those of you who’ll be there from #wtlead and more, I look forward to seeing you there!

Are You Prolonging the Growing Pains in Your Biz? | New Book ‘Predictable Success’ Helps

Running rapids and white water can be fun, but not if you’re a business owner struggling for some stability.  Have a look at this cool graph would you? It illustrates the 7 stages of growth for organizations (big and small.)

Notice how ‘whitewater’ is the last stage before something called... Predictable Success?

Often, rough, hot, freaky patches in the business journey are a very good sign that calm is just ahead.  Of course, the alternative is that you slip back down the graph into ‘fun’ and ‘early struggle.’

With thanks to @lizmarshall of www.authorteleseminars.com I participated in a wonderful panel discussion with author Les McKeown of Predictable Success, a book I’ll predict now will be talked about for years, if not decades, to come.  I’m not all that prone to hyperbole, so you know I mean this.  The graph above is the central thesis of Les’ book, and the second half of the book talks about HOW to move from Whitewater to Predictable success etc.

Go here to learn more about the book launch with attendant extras: http://predictablesuccess.com/bonus (TIMELY)

Or go here to receive the MP3 recording of the panel discussion: http://predictablesuccess.com/bonus

Chapter 12 No great thing is accomplished alone

“In the language of business, this is often called a joint venture. So first and foremost, what is a joint venture?

Simply put, a joint venture is when two or more business owners collaborate in a way that benefits all the businesses involved, as well as their clients.

For example, if a graphic design business were to pursue a joint venture with a printing business, we can readily see both businesses increasing their income as a result.

How about when a weight loss business joint ventures with a health club owner? Could we envision a better result for the clients of both businesses?

The examples are everywhere, when you start to look. Especially in the online world, as you embrace Pink Spoon MarketingTM and the multiple streams funnel, you’ll discover that it can be lucrative and enjoyable to joint venture more often.

Wisdom nugget:

We live in a world of give and take; a world of checks and balances. When something is out of balance, nature adapts and adjusts so it can return to a state of equilibrium. The same thing applies in business. By leading with an offer to give, you are naturally paving the way for something to be given in return.

Give it some thought and note that you may find your thought process shifting as you do.

Here are a few key points to bear in mind when exploring collaborative opportunities:

• Select your partners with care. The main criteria is that the partner should be someone who is already in touch with, or doing business with, people you want to do business with too. And they should also be someone you would actually want to share or cross-promote to your own list.

Don’t ask them to help you if you aren’t ready to say yes when they ask you back.

• Get to know these potential partners before jump- ing into a big collaborative project. In preparation for approaching them with an invitation, sign up for their publications, visit their websites, read everything about them and their history where possible. Try to under- stand their values and motivation as best you can from what they make public.

• Start asking your self,“What value could I provide this partner? What do I have that they don’t? What could they be doing that they aren’t? What challenge or goals are they pursuing and how can I help them get there?”

Important: If you’re having difficulty finding something you could help your potential partner with, keep looking. They aren’t the best match for you right now.

Once you’ve narrowed down your list to one or two potential partners, it’s time to finesse the approach. Remember finding joint venture partners is not an automated, mass campaign. Truly great collaborations can lead to lifelong partnerships and will take root only with a customized, heart-centered approach, and do take time to build.

What you may not realize yet is that most people in business – especially those who do some work online – will usually be open to discussing a new business-building possibility for at least five minutes. Just make sure you heed the golden rule of joint ventures and use that five minutes wisely.

Give first and you shall receive.

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