Here are some resources that can help you to create the action steps that will work for you to help you to achieve your business objectives:

Six Daily Marketing Practices

By Robert Middleton

I’m subscribed to the feed for actionplan.com, which is Robert Middleton’s blog where he writes about, “marketing ideas for attracting more clients.”  Today’s post is, “Six Daily Marketing Practices,” and it caught my attention because it’s concise, to the point, and it totally lays out a system that you can use and get results from. This is the kind of content that establishes you as an expert because it shows that you are willing to freely share your expertise.

My favorite of Middleton’s six steps is: “#4. Track your progress every single day.” This is an area where I will admit I fall down. I often, ‘fly by the seat of my pants,’ because I have way too many things going on. I keep a white board in my work area, so I plan to write out the six steps and work them for 30 days (hmmm. I feel a 30 day challenge coming on. . .) and see what happens. Source: http://bit.ly/zxxDlc

 5 Essential Marketing Action Steps

By Marty Marsh

When I read this article I focused in on step #2, “Know your ideal/perfect client.” Marsh writes, “Because when you decide who your ideal client is — who will bring you the most joy to work with and who will happily pay you what you are worth — exactly those kinds of clients begin to show up. It’s the best example of the Law of Attraction at work that I know of.” Also be sure to pay attention to step five, which asks, “What is your client education process?” This is crucial because how you educate your prospects will have a direct impact on your conversion rate. Source: http://bit.ly/zQecd5

Create an Action Plan Now

By Ray Silverstein

This article on entrepreneur.com lays the ground work for helping you to develop your own action plan. Once you have come up with a plan, Silverstein advises readers, “Don’t tuck it in a drawer–keep it close by for constant reference. Make regular appointments with yourself to review your plan and ensure you stay on track. It is a work-in-progress, and you can expect to make changes as you proceed. That’s okay, just don’t stop working on it.” Source: http://bit.ly/xU4KOn

The goal with all of this is to create new daily habits that support you in attaining the goals you have set. It also helps to have an accountability partner such as a coach or trusted business adviser that you can report to, get support, advice and tough love from.

What are the action steps that you do at least weekly that you attribute to your successful habits? Please share your story in the comments.

Related articles

• How to Change Your Bad Marketing Habits for Good (smartsimplemarketing.com)
• How to Market Your Business Consistently to Grow Your Income (smartsimplemarketing.com)
• How to Be Present for Your Business (ducttapemarketing.com)

Writers and other creative types often have days when they feel stuck, blocked or otherwise unmotivated to write. Stories of how writers can raise procrastination to a high art are legendary. It’s amazing how appealing that stack of dirty dishes looks when you’re not feeling your writing mojo, but there is a way that you can take that resistance you are feeling and turn it around to motivate you to continue writing your book.

As a writer I’ve been there more times than I care to remember, so I wanted to share some inspiration that might spur you back to your purpose. I also want to encourage you to think back to why you are working on the writing project you are working on. Is it something that you love or is it something that you are doing to pay the bills? Do you have a deep passion for what you are writing or does it feel like drudgery to crank out the words each day? Take a moment and get a fresh piece of paper and do a bit of free writing. Write a single sentence that captures the essence of what you are working on. Write about why you are writing this, what you hope to gain by writing it, and what you intend for the reader to gain when they read it.

Just going through the motion of writing down the answers to these questions might stir up your motivation to put more of yourself and your passion into what you are writing. It might cause you to take your work in another direction, or abandon the project altogether so that you can free up your time to pursue something more worthy of your time and attention. But taking the time to answer those and any other questions that come to mind while you are doing that exercise creates momentum. You are taking action and that in itself is getting you unstuck.

Keep in mind that resistance is real. In his book, The War of Art, author Stephen Pressfield writes, “Resistance has no strength of its own. Every ounce of juice it possess comes from us. We feed it with power by our fear of it. Master that fear and we conquer Resistance.” Pressfield also writes about the fact that the greater importance the project holds for ourselves or for the world the more resistance you will feel about getting it done. Don’t get mired down by fear and resistance. The only way out is through as the saying goes, so keep your butt in that chair and your fingers flying. After all, is there anything more satisfying than looking back at the pages you just wrote after having battled your way through feeling blocked?

I thought I’d share these posts that have other points of view and inspiration for you to keep on writing:

Feeling Stuck? Read This. . .

By Tim Ferriss

Big successes often seem like foregone conclusions.

In reality, most entrepreneurs (read: creators) who appear to have unique genius suffer through the same frustration as the masses of unknowns. They simply test and persist a few steps further. Read More. . .

Stuck? Uncertain? Meet Your Muse.

By Lisa Tener

“For years now, I’ve been taking my clients and students in my book writing classes on a journey to meet their muse. I think of your muse as a creative aspect of yourself.

It may seem like it comes from deep within you or it may seem to come from a place outside of you–everyone has their own experience–all valid. Your muse may show up in all kinds of ways. My book writing students and clients are often surprised by the trappings of their muse.” Read More. . .

Writers Block? Are You Stuck? Draft, Then Craft. Get It Written, Then Get It Right

By Sam Horn

“Inspiration often emerges from our work; it doesn’t precede our work.” – Madeleine L’Engle (author of A Wrinkle in Time)

“A client emailed me to say she was having a hard time making progress on her book.

I sent her the following message – and thought it might have value for you if you’d like to get in that delightful stream-of-conscious state where the words are flowing out of your head so fast your fingers can hardly keep up.

(Name of client) . .. please keep giving yourself props for writing, writing, writing.

E.L. Doctorow was asked what it was like writing a book.

He said, “It’s kind of like driving a car at night: you can only see to the end of your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”

Keep driving to the end of your headlights.” Read More. . .

Writers: What To Do When You Get Stuck

By Writers Relief Staff

“Most writers have a secret stash of half-finished short stories, manuscripts, or poems—discarded when the author came to a screeching halt somewhere in the middle of things. If you’ve ever gotten stuck in the middle of a story or can’t find the last line of a poem, Writer’s Relief offers a few steps to help you get moving again.” Read More. . .

Do you have any words of wisdom or advice to share from your experience for writers who are feeling stuck? What is your favorite thing to do to get that mojo going again? Please leave a comment.

Here we are on the last day of the year once again. Whether 2011 has been a banner year for you, or one you’re glad to see go by, New Year’s Day always seems like the perfect day to begin everything anew. We seem to have adopted this custom of making resolutions about what we will do differently, or better in the new year. As writers, we make grand statements about finishing that novel that we shoved into a desk drawer, or submitting more proposals, or even writing a certain number of words every day. But along with setting these gigantic, earth-shattering resolutions, comes the dismal reality a few weeks into the new year, when all of our old habits have crept back in and we are right back where we started from. Becoming filled with self-loathing from not having done what we promised to do is not exactly conducive to writing more.

A few years ago I ended my annual ritual of writing elaborate new years resolutions. Instead I set a few goals that if I achieved them would make a positive and lasting impact on my life and the lives of those around me. I know that many people still make New Year’s resolutions. I did a little round-up of seven different blog posts on the topic so that you can get a taste of how other writer’s face the issue of whether or not to set New Year’s resolutions.

New Year’s Resolutions for Writers from the How to Write Shop http://bit.ly/rQdRE9

New Year’s Resolutions for Writers Who Want to Be Read http://bit.ly/ruFqmZ

Joe Konrath’s Resolutions for Writers | The Passive Voice http://bit.ly/vSDUse

10 Bad New Year’s Resolutions for Writers from Bill and Dave’s Cocktail Hour http://bit.ly/sdNisH

5 New Year’s Resolutions For Writers from theblueinkwell.com http://bit.ly/susoC8

New Year’s Resolutions for Writers http://bit.ly/u8Hfn7

I’ll end with a quote by Joey Adams which says, “May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s resolutions!” Regardless of whether you love New Year’s resolutions, or if you leave them alone and just plunge head-first into the new year determined to simply do your best and write as much as possible, I wish you a happy, safe, and prolific New Year!

Book Review: Conscious Language: The Logos of Now –The Discovery, Code, and Upgrade to Our New Conscious Human Operating System

By Robert Tennyson Stevens

Mastery Systems, LLC, 2007

Each of us uses words to communicate with each other to describe how we think and how we feel. We use words to make sense of our world and our place in it. In Conscious Language, Robert Tennyson Stevens explores how becoming aware of how our language—the words we choose and use in every interaction and those we speak to ourselves—shapes our thoughts, which in turn shapes our life situations. By bringing awareness to the ineffective ways that we have been using language, and learning subtle “upgrades,” we can transform our lives from living the mundane status quo to living up to our dreams, goals and desires.

Using the metaphor of a computer operating system, (our Human Operating System) Stevens teaches readers how upgrading to utilizing a more conscious language can eliminate those limiting belief systems that we have concocted with our thinking.

While the subject matter of Conscious Language is nothing less than mind blowing, it is written in a clear, easily understood style. At times I found myself laughing out loud and other times my world was rocked by the profound nature of what Stevens shares in this book.

Based on 37 years of research, study, teaching workshops and coaching groups and individuals, Conscious Language is a guide for those who understand the power of language to transform experience.

On page 71, Stevens writes:

“Language is the medium of thought. Thought is the medium of our reality. Changing our language medium “can” change our thought which, “potentially” changes our reality.”

I enjoy how Stevens bases his work on the language code of Biblical scripture without preaching or making his work unappealing to non-religious readers. While he was writing this book he was guided to this particular scripture in the book of Job 22:28,

“Thou shalt decree a thing and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.”

Conscious Language is one of several books and home study courses on conscious language that is offered by Stevens’ company called, Mastery Systems, including Sacred Body Language Translations.

I recommend this book for those on a spiritual path who are looking for clarity in the what they communicate with themselves and with others. This book will expand your awareness of how, “. . . our language will expand with our consciousness and how our consciousness will expand with our language.”

No, I have not switched this to a fitness blog. What I mean by stretching yourself is reaching beyond your comfort zone just a bit to step up to your next level of greatness. We are entering a new month and nearing the end of the third quarter of the year. It’s time once again to consult your goals and see where you can take your achievement to a higher level.

On my personal blog, evelynbourne.com, I wrote a post today about doing 30 day challenges as a way to kick your goal achievement into a higher gear. I want to invite you to read that post and then visit my Facebook page and leave a comment if you are ready to take on your own personal 30 day challenge, or if you just want to put in a supportive word for those of us who are doing our own personal challenges.

Stretching yourself is about letting go of your old routines and trying something new. If fear is rearing its head and keeping you in your place, remember that everything you want is on the other side of what you fear. One of the pre-eminent philosophers of the 19th century, Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Do the thing and you will have the power.” You can’t sit back and wait until you feel more confident. It’s in the doing of what makes you quiver a bit that gives you the confidence you need.

You want me to go first? OK. This summer I slayed a personal demon by walking over a bridge. No big deal, you might say, but I have had a phobia about even driving over bridges. But this summer I was forced to just get over it, and with the help of two supportive friends I eliminated that fear from my life.

Tonight I am preparing to give my fifth speech at my Toastmasters club. I have set the goal to achieve my Competent Communicator designation this year, and this presentation marks the halfway point to that goal. Public speaking is one of those things that some people fear more than death. I am determined to hone my skills so that I can eventually add public speaking to my list of skills. I hope to speak at events and lead workshops. Each time I do a speech I can feel my confidence growing and my skills improving.

So, as this year whizzes by us all, I invite you to stretch yourself. Try something small at first to build your confidence and then start going for your big goals.  The time will pass regardless. Do you want to get to the end of another year full of regrets, or feeling flush with excitement about how much progress you have been able to make because you simply refused to quite moving forward?

Please feel free to share how you have been stretching yourself lately in the comments.

Here’s a copy of the review I posted about this book on Amazon.com:

Creating Sales Velocity: Awaken Your Power to Attract Sales Effortlessly

by Matthew Ferry, Spirit Publishing, LLC

First, I will say that I don’t remember ever ordering this book, so when it arrived in the mail I was a bit puzzled. I was intrigued by the subtitle: A Pocket Guide to Becoming a Conscious Salesperson. I don’t really consider myself to be a salesperson, but as a business woman, sales is definitely part of what I do, so I decided to read it and see what it had to offer, and boy was I in for a surprise.

Don’t be misled by the title because this little book is really about how to become a better conscious creator in all aspects of life not just in the arena of sales. Written by Matthew Ferry, who calls himself a, “Happiness Expert,” Creating Sales Velocity contains several simple processes which Ferry calls games that help the reader develop their ability to manifest what they want.  When you become a more conscious creator and you are manifesting your desires through service to others, happiness is a natural by-product.

If you are a sales person looking to step up your game, I imagine that reading this book and putting the processes into action will transform your career and your life. Ferry writes about making a contribution rather than making sales. He shares concepts such as, ‘The shift from self-absorption to awareness of others, taking responsibility for everything, and the fact that action does not get results just might rock your world a little bit.

Ferry manages to cram an abundance of practical wisdom into this little guide book.  As I read this powerful book I could feel the love and devotion that Ferry has for his readers.  Here’s an example:

“Ultimately your time spent selling each day is a journey towards uplifting the planet.  You are, now more than ever, experiencing your job as an opportunity for conscious growth  and development. You have discovered that peace in every situation brings incredible productivity. You’ve found that acceptance is the most persuasive tool in the toolbox, and clearly the most important person for you to accept is you.”

Let me include a word of warning here: If you are not ready to move to a higher level, to let go of your lame excuses for why you are not where you want to be and take full responsibility for your results then don’t bother picking up this book. But if you want to become a more conscious creator of your own experience, contribute to the world and create a tidal wave of abundance then you are ready for this powerful little book that will transform your thinking and help you to embrace the perfection in everything.

It’s been said that we teach that which we most need to learn, and I have found that to be a profoundly true statement. I have been doing freelance writing and blogging for many years, but there are times when I hit slumps where I feel blocked and I just don’t feel inspired to write. I sometimes wonder with all of the blogs out there why I even bother. Does what I write really resonate with people? Are my words making a difference?

If you have been blogging for any length of time some of these thoughts might have fluttered through your mind a time or two. If any of this sounds familiar this post is meant to be an encouragement to you to keep on writing.

A writer writes out of a desire to share that which is within them with the world. Writer’s have a love for the written word, and we enjoy the satisfaction that comes when we have polished up a piece of writing and it gets published so that others can read it. But did you ever stop to think about where your desire to write comes from? Do you ever wonder about the origins of those lofty ideas that are floating around in your heart and mind? Your inspiration to write flows to you and through you from God, the Universe, All That Is, because you are a chosen instrument of the Divine.

The Universe communicates with us through each other. It wants to get its message out in a way that will be understood and acted upon, so you are given those creative impulses, those flashes of insight, that burning desire to write because the world needs to know exactly what it is that you have to share.

Think for a moment about those writers whose work has greatly inspired or influenced you. What if those writers had listened to that critical voice inside of their heads telling them that they suck, that no one cares what they have to say, and causing them to doubt their talent or worth as a writer? Pick a favorite author and try to imagine your life without the inspiration you gained from having read their work.

As a writer you have been chosen to tell the story that will transform, uplift, or maybe simply enchant your readers. You have a sacred duty to keep listening for the whispers of inspiration that the Universe will send your way. It is your duty to remain a yielded vessel. Stop looking to ‘someday’ as the only someday that matters has arrived in this moment. Write as if your words were a life saving elixir, or as if they contained the key that would release someone from the bondage of ignorance. Stop resisting living and working into the fullness of the gifts and talent that you have been blessed with.

The world is waiting to receive the message you came here to deliver. The audience you seek is seeking your message. Stop making them wait until you sort out your issues and take your place. It’s not about you, your fears, your excuses, your self-imposed limitations. It’s about the message.

Watch and be inspired:

On this blog I write a lot about personal development as it relates to business development because as you grow and develop and hone your skills so will your business continue to grow and move forward. Today I want to take a look at some of the tangible ways that you can work towards developing yourself that will also have a positive impact on your business.

Regular readers know that I am a fan of Napoleon Hill, author of several personal development titles such as, Think and Grow Rich, and The Law of Success. Hill was a great proponent of the concept of the Mastermind, another topic that I am fascinated by and love to write about. In a nutshell, the Mastermind Group is a group of like-minded people who agree to come together
and meet on a regular basis to work together for either a common goal, or to support each member as they pursue their individual goals. The idea is that when the group comes together combining their energy and ideas, there comes into existence a force called the Mastermind that is greater than the sum of all of the members of the group. Thier combined energy, focus,
attention and intention somehow gets magnified and each one is able to accomplish more than they would have been able to on their own.

I have been a member of several Mastermind groups in the past. Some met on the phone, some included email or social network groups, and some were in person. One thing that all of these groups had in common is that they did not last very long. There is a certain process that groups need to move through before they become solidified. If the members of the group are not 100%
committed to the success of the group, they will fall away and the group will dissolve.

Almost a year ago I was invited to participate in a local Mastermind group among spiritually-minded, small business people. I was excited about the idea until I discovered that they were going to meet in Columbia, MD, which is about a 35-40 minute drive from where I live in D.C. I went to the first meeting to test the waters and see if these people seemed serious. I got a good feeling from the group right away and we’ve been meeting every other week since.

This Mastermind group has helped support me in more ways than I can describe. I have a spiritual focus to my life and my business, but I didn’t really have anyone else in my life that shared these beliefs. I didn’t have anyone to bounce my ideas off of, or get advice from when facing a sticky situation. My business has grown as have the businesses of the other members
of the group since we first began meeting. We hit snags along the way, but our core commitment to the success of the group has helped keep us together.

Another excellent way to really grow yourself is to work with a mentor or a coach. Working with someone who has achieved the goals that you have set for yourself is a great way to leap-from over some of the challenges in life and get to your goals more quickly.  I have several mentors, but one that I rely on when it comes to the online aspect of my business is LaShanda Henry. She is a successful mompreneur who is running her business at a level that I aspire to, so I work with her and listen to her advice and guidance. If you want to see some of the resources that she has to offer, I recommend that you visit her social network that has over 10,000 members, http://mybbwo.com, and then check out her fabulous membership program at http://www.sistasense.tv.

So between the horizontal relationships within a Mastermind group to the more vertical relationship between you and your coach or mentor you will have the opportunity to learn and grow and get feedback that will help you develop as a person, which will in turn foster the growth of your business.

Do y0u have any experiences working with a successful Mastermind group, or with a coach or mentor that you’d like to share? Please feel free to leave a comment.

I became aware of author, model  and writing coach, Carol S. Batey while in the process of writing my first book. I was feeling a bit blocked, and while I felt inspired to write my book, I was experiencing some resistance to actually sitting down and writing the book.

When I opened Dr. Batey’s book and read the line, “A handbook created and designed with you in mind,” it felt like she was speaking directly to me and my needs.  I knew that this message is what I needed to help me push forward in writing my book.  Why Aren’t You Writing? Is a workbook designed to facilitate a self-coaching process for writers who have a book that is unwritten in their souls. In each chapter Dr. Batey shares a bit about her own life and experiences having written and published five books. At the end of each chapter there is space to write your thoughts and prayers.

What sets this book apart from the others within the genre of, ‘how to write your first book,’ books is that Dr. Batey talks about using the writing process to facilitate personal and spiritual transformation. In chapter two she shares her plan of action, which includes prayer, setting intentions, visualizing your intended audience and remaining focused on the work. She talks about practical ways to set aside time for writing, the importance of being committed to your writing and most importantly how we must look to God for inspiration for writing.

We all have limiting beliefs of one kind or another that keep us from realizing our dreams. Dr. Batey talks about overcoming our self-imposed limitations by providing the example of St. Teresa of Avila, who was a 16^th century Catholic nun, Christian mystic and the author of, The Inner Castle, and The Book of My Life, among others who overcame significant obstacles both internal and external in order to complete their books.

If you’re an atheist or not interested in finding a way to incorporate spiritual guidance into your writing practice, then this book may not be for you.

But if you feel like you have been called to write a book, but you are feeling intimidated by the idea, or if you just want some inspiration and practical advice for your journey, then Why Aren’t You Writing? Is a great book to have by your side. You will learn how to let go of your personal limitations and write the book that God has placed within you because it is not just for you. He placed it within you so that you could share it with a world waiting to hear it and be transformed by it.

I am so inspired by this book. My blog readers know how much I love books, but I love this book because it is all about encouraging people to empower themselves to think bigger and change the world. Port is speaking to those who have been playing small in their lives and trying to just get through the day. He wants people to wake up to the possibilities and the potential that each of us holds to do big, amazing things.

Along with the book Port has started a social networking site, thinkbigrevolution.com, where other fans of the book can congregate and share energy, ideas, inspiration and encouragement.

We live in a world that is so full of disappointment, tragedy and pain, but each of us has the power that God gave us to rise above our present circumstances and aspire to something greater. One of my favorite quotes from the book is this one: “Inspiring others to think big is perhaps the single most important act of any one individual thinking big.” So, if you decide to think big, just by your actions you will influence and inspire those around you to think a little bigger themselves.

It’s like my favorite Margaret Mead quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever does”

So, if you’re someone with a vision to change the world and impact the lives of others in a positive way, I recommend that you pick up this book, read it, and start a revolution of your own.

I welcome you to subscribe to my RSS feed, or get blog updates by email. Keep on writing.