Category Archives for "business"

Bad Year Guarantee

Not to be a negative Nelly...just an honest observation.

No goals = no to low success. Guaranteed.

If you want your business to grow exponentially, get crystal clear on what you want to achieve, then write down your goals (this is the key....get your ideas on paper) and have an action plan in place to carry them out.

This is a living document now...don't put it on a shelf...put it in your hands every day.

Act now. Reap the rewards for years to come.

In Gratitude,
Johanna

Johanna McClain

Are you keeping your promise?

As business owners, we make promises to ourselves, our clients, our employees, our vendors, our community....

Can you turn to yourself, your clients, your employees, your vendors and your community and say, without a doubt, "this is my promise to you and this is how I will keep my promise?"

Saying yes to those two questions is the foundation for building a trusted business brand.

If you would like to learn more, I have created a short guide that points you toward what it means to create a trusted brand and deliver on your brand promise.

You can get it for free here.

With Gratitude,
Johanna

Johanna McClain

It’s comfy and cozy in here.

As the weather changes and a bit of a chill is in the air, I begin to bring out my comfy cozy slippers, robe, sweaters and favorite recipes all designed to help me feel good and safe and content.

That works...except in business!

In business, everything you want is outside of comfy and cozy...

What are you willing to do today that feels scary, risky maybe even exciting that would make a difference in your business a month from now, a year from now?

Take off those cozy slippers and feel your feet on the ground...now jump!

In Gratitude,

Johanna McClain

Are you Interested or Committed?

Are you interested or committed.

?

I was listening to John Assaraf’s Brainathon yesterday and he ask a powerful question around how we look at our goals.

The question was…”Are you interested or are you committed?”

Is it worth taking a serious look at our goals, especially the ones that are not complete, and go through the process of assigning an I or a C to each one and laser focus on the C’s?

That’s my plan this week. How about you?

With Love and Gratitude,

Johanna McClain

How do you eat an elephant?

Take one bite at a time.

I am not advocating eating an elephant. They are endangered and such noble creatures. Besides, I’m a vegetarian…

The point is to chunk it down. Mark Twain put it this way “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small, manageable tasks, and then starting the first one”.

Do you have something BIG that you’re up to and don’t know where to start?

Here’s an idea: Divide your big idea into 7 steps… (hint: begin with the end in mind so you know what your end result will be). Then assign 5 action items to each step with timelines and who will help you accomplish the action or hold you accountable for the action.

Let me know how it goes.

With Love and Gratitude,

Johanna McClain

The Power of Many!

I was recently at a full day mastermind with over 40 other business owners and entrepreneurs.

The theme…collaboration not competition.

Many times we feel like we have to do everything on our own. What I have learned about that business strategy is that it’s lonely. We’re not always our best advisor or mentor and it’s way more fun to to brainstorm with other like minded people.

Are you in collaboration, (super conductor style), with your business community? If not, what can you do to get there?

Need ideas? Please feel free to reach out to me.

In Gratitude,

Johanna

Johanna McClain

Marketing and Multi-Vitamins

When you decide you need to boost your energy and supplement your diet by beginning a multi-vitamin regimen…what’s the first step?  Research.  Do your homework to find the product(s) that will best suite your health goals.  Once you have made a decision, a purchase and you take your first daily dose…do you expect instant results?  Do you take your supplement one day and based on those results decide if it works or not. If your answer is YES you have set yourself up for failure.  The correct answer is NO!  It takes time and it takes paying attention to the subtle and not so subtle effects.  Then it takes adjusting your regimen not abandoning your regimen for optimal results.

When you decide you need to boost your sales and supplement your business awareness in the marketplace…what’s the first step?  Research.  Do your homework to find the marketing products and services that will best speak to your clients and potential clients that will turn them into buyers…thus reaching your sales goals and growth potential.  Once you have made a decision, a purchase and you launch your marketing campaign…do you expect instant results?  If your answer is YES you have set yourself up for failure.  The correct answer is NO!  It takes time and it takes paying attention and it takes listening (a future blog) for the subtle and not so subtle effects.  Then it takes adjusting your campaign not abandoning your campaign for optimal results.

Be Smart.      Be Willing.      Be Committed.      Be Consistent.

The Yoga of Non-Stealing in Business

In Sanskrit the word for Non-Stealing is Asteya. The obvious is not taking what does not belong to us and we often think of our possessions but I would like to broaden that as we think of how we conduct ourselves in our business relationships.  One of the areas that we need to be mindful of, because we cannot get or give it back, is time.  A precious valuable asset.  Examine and practice Asteya, the Non-Stealing, of Time and set this powerful Principle in motion.

We are building a solid foundation for our business…

Ahimsa, non-harming.    Satya, truthfulness.    Asteya, non-stealing.

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Yoga Off the Mat: Applying Ancient Principles to Modern Business

Wow! That’s a mouthful…but such a sweet mouthful, for me anyway. As many of you know I am a business coach AND a yoga teacher. I am passionate about both of these lines of work. However, the two have given me a sense of frustration and anxiety as well…for so many years they seemed so separate. One minute I was barefoot on a yoga mat and the next I was in heels in a boardroom.

For the past two years I have been highly invested in a mastermind where I have spent time exploring the possiblity of merging the two. It has led me to stand in both places, on and off the mat, simultaneously.

I was taught three important principles in my Anusara yoga training: Attitude. Alignment. Action. My big Aha came when I realized I was coaching clients on: Attitude. Alignment. Action. Plus I have added a few bonus’s.

Attitude: are you clear that you and only you is responsible for how your day will unfold
Authnticity: are you who you say you are
Alignment: having your purpose and vision for your business in alignment with your mission, core values and commitments
Action: your plan, your business in motion
Attraction: get the first four A’s down and attract the support and clients you were meant to serve

If you think this might be of help for you in your business please feel free to apply for a free strategy session with me at www.johannamcclain.com.

Have a great Attitude. Be Authentic. Get into Alignment. Get into Action. Attract the business and clients you desire.