Category: Ways to Refocus Your Business

The Power of Positive Affirmations

I know what you are thinking. “Mumbo Jumbo…Fluff Stuff” is not going to bring me an extra paycheck, less chaos or better luck. But I would ask you to consider that while there is no magic bullet to success, there is power in keeping you, your team and your family laser focused on the tasks and goals ahead. 

One could say “focus, dedication and a belief in one’s abilities” are at the core of any great leader.  I can share that certainly when I start my day with “I can, I will..or I am  success” there is no question my head is on straight and I have focus. 

This seems to be the never ending ending topic and one that will continue to fund books, seminars and  speakers. “What makes successful people successful?”

I can gurantee you that successful people are not walking around saying things like:

• This will never work

• I won’t be able to pull that off

• I am not smart enough 

There is no room  for the “I can’t or I won’t ” in their vocabulary. 

There is another differential in successful people. They are not afraid to take a risk or dream big. It is that simple. 

  • Positive thinking provokes creativity.
  • Positive affirmations enhance energy and drive.
  • Positive thinking drives persistance.

Being happy and thinking happy must become a habbit…not just a celebratory sentence or quote. This is easier said than done, but if you walk away from this blog with one piece of the ” secret sauce,” that would be it. State your positive affirmations and intend to live them every day as a habit.

You Have Brains in Your Head. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. ” – Dr.Seuss

18684Words to live by from one of my favorite and timeless authors. Dr. Seuss may not have realized how often we all need to be reminded of our endless possibilities. We forget that we steer our ship. We are responsible for the direction we take  because we  are the people who make the choices. Now the choices in front of us may not always be fantastic but we always have a choice.

As someone who has been in business for myself for well over 8 years I know how complex and scary some of the choices are that are put before us as entrepreneurs.

1. Should I bring on a partner or stay solo?

2. Who can I trust? Who should I not trust?

3. Do I need a line of credit or do I get investors?

4. How will I support my family if I lose a client ? To be my own boss or work for someone else?

6. Who’s pitch do I listen to? There are so many.

7. Should I just go back to my corporate life or do I stick it out ?

Choices are boundless.  But that is a great thing. That means no matter what we do we have an opportunity to learn from the last choice and then take another step with our feet in our shoes and choose again!

The key is to embrace the fear of the unknown and know you can steer your ship.  The key us to be open to opportunities so your choices expand. The key is to use the brains in your head combined with imagination and faith and the know future possibilities are endless.

Take a look at some if the most successful people in history. They steered their ship.

Look up President Abraham Lincoln and you will see how many times he failed before being elected president.

Walt Disney was fired from the Kansas City Star in 1919 because his editor said he “lacked imagination.”

Vera Wang failed to make the 1968 U.S. Olympic figure skating team. Then she became the editor at Vogue, but was passed over for the editor in chief position. She began designing wedding gowns at age 40 and has a business worth over 1 billion.

I look forward to watching you steer your ship or joining you in that adventure! Keep me posted! I will do the same!

“I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.” – unknown

20180111_210137You can live your life watching opportunities pass you by, blaming everyone else and every situation you experience as the reason you have not achieved your dreams. Or, you can learn from experience and accept all that happens as one step closer to achieving your dreams.  I choose the latter.  I control my destiny. That doesn’t mean times have not been tough on this road to being the CEO of me. Of course it has. I would be lying if I told you the last 9 years have been smooth sailing. But what I can tell you is that I have learned to be open to new adventures. I have embraced networking. I assume “no” is a given and I move forward. It will take you sometimes 100 No’s to get one Yes, but when it happens, the feeling of success is so sweet! So if you have dreams of working for yourself then make them a reality. Be prepared to put in the effort because contrary to popular belief success does not happen over night but it does come to those who work every night putting in the effort.

When you are ready to start a new path, I am here to help! Looking forward to partnering in business with you! Cheers!

Christine Lapointe, Co- Founder Aesthetics360,LLC

Independant Consultant Rodan+Fields

Entrepre

Running On Empty

“Looking out on the road rushing under my wheels, Looking back at the years gone by like so many summer fields, In sixty-five I was seventeen and running up 101, I don’t know where I’m running now, I ‘m just running on.”

-Jackson Browne, Running on Empty

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It can be daunting, trying to get ahead, running your own company and accomplishing your normal every day tasks.  I would be lying to you if I told you I never feel like I am ‘running on empty.’ Sure I feel like that sometimes because it is normal.  I just returned from three weeks of non stop travel for Aesthetics 360 and always having to be “on.” I love it!  But, this momentum it can take its toll on anyone.

The key is to sit back when you feel this way and readjust. Refocus and look at your current state. Are you still in motion to achieve your desired state or did you get side tracked and derailed? All business plans require adjusting and fine tuning from time to time. This is what you need to do when you see yourself spiraling a bit out of control.  Stop, look at what you are doing and own it. Then work on your plan.

Don’t forget to take care of yourself and remember why you have started the path of working for yourself. My reason for working for myself was to have more control over  how I live my  life and how I can help other people. I am the boss of me.

Quick tips:

  • Do not take on extra projects  just because you see dollar signs
  • Know what you can do and do what you know
  • Ask for help. It’s not failure to reach out to your colleagues and friends-it is smart.
  • Be prepared to spend money to make money. That means sometimes outsourcing  for some projects that would normally be all yours and paying out more for labor and less for your take. Because growing your business means taking on projects and showing you can deliver!
  • Know you cannot be the expert on everything. Find your talent and don’t oversell. This way you will always over deliver.
  • Hire people who may be more talented than you! Create your dream team. Meet mine!