LadyPens » Success

Smart Women Give Their Business a Marketing Makeover

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:09:48 +0000

When you begin your journey as a woman entrepreneur, your most important action step is to get clients and create a “buzz” about your product or service so you can keep the business alive and get on a path to profitability. With effective marketing, your business will grow and over time, word will spread about the results people are getting when they work with you. If becoming a leader in your industry is a goal for you, now will be the time to consider an updated look in your business – a new brand image – both personally and professionally. Full Article

Smart Women And The 4 Entrepreneurial Phases

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:45:32 +0000

When you start a new business or take action on a big idea that you’ve had brewing for a while, it can be a very exciting time. You begin to get a taste of what entrepreneurship can feel like; you’re in control of your own schedule, maybe you worked for someone else and you’ve escaped the rigid 9-5 routine and you’ve become your own boss – life feels good. Full Article

Smart Women Have Their Own “Hermageddon”

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 22:57:33 +0000

Did you hear about “Carmageddon?” Several weeks ago, the 405 freeway (noted to be one of the busiest freeways in the nation) that runs through Los Angeles closed for a weekend period of 53 hours for repairs. This created a frenzy here in Los Angeles called “Carmageddon” which forced residents to think creatively about their weekend travel plans. Many people (including yours truly) decided to stay home and avoid any hassles. I made a firm decision that if I couldn’t get to my destination on foot or by bicycle, I’d just stay home. This got me thinking about how Smart Women create their own “Hermageddon” to relax, recharge, renew and repair their own lives. Full Article

Smart Women Make a Difference

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:51:22 +0000

I struggled a bit this week on what I wanted to share with you. I place a high value on making sure I give you timely information that you can use right away to take your life and your business to the next level of fulfillment, happiness and success. On the one hand, I wanted to write about June being the halfway mark in your business and now is the perfect time to take a mid-year inventory of what’s working and what’s not working so you can make the shifts necessary to meet your goals by the end of the year. Full Article

Smart Women Make a Great First Impression

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:47:39 +0000

A few days ago, our family made a trip to the local bank here in our community so that our children could open their first savings account. The piggy banks were overflowing with money due to various visits from the tooth fairy, as well as rewards for all of their good deeds around the house. What happened when we entered the bank made a big impression on me and got me thinking about how Smart Women entrepreneurs always make a good first impression. Full Article

Smart Women Dream Big

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:18:48 +0000

A few days ago, I was visiting my daughter’s second grade class and the teacher started a discussion about Martin Luther King and the importance of having dreams. The children’s ideas about dreams were interesting, “Being able to make your own decisions,” “Peace in the world, no war,” “Stop cutting down trees to save the environment.” Then the teacher went a step further and gave them a piece of paper to help them create their own “Dream Story Organizer.” I thought I’d share that with you today. Full Article

Smart Women and The Way Things Are

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 00:49:54 +0000

Recently, I traveled to the East coast to see my Dad who’s experiencing some health challenges. I spent a considerable amount of time in medical facilities and meetings with physicians. One morning when I was feeling tired and in need of some self-care, I decided to visit the local salon for a wash and blow dry. When I arrived, there was no wait and I was immediately taken back to the area where they wash your hair. As I took my seat in the chair, I asked my signature question. It’s the same question I ask everyone I come in contact with when I’m out and about: “How is everything going?” This one question typically has three answers: Full Article

Smart Women Know Success Leaves Clues

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 19:51:06 +0000

Have you ever wondered what the real secret to success is? Do you ever read articles about women entrepreneurs who’ve accomplished their dreams and think, “Now how did she do that?” I know I have. I’m always in search of better, more effective ways to achieve my goals both personally and professionally and I look to women who’ve walked the path of entrepreneurship before me. The good news is success leaves clues and if you’re open to hearing what other successful women entrepreneurs share about their journey, you can save yourself a lot of time (& money). Full Article

4 Ways to Raise Your Bottom Line by Being Adventurous in Your Business

Ruth Hegarty — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:54:05 +0000

I received a card this week from a friend that contained this quotation from Helen Keller: “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” It got me thinking about the ways that I am adventurous in my business and noticing that when I’m adventurous, that is when I am the most successful. Full Article

Smart Women Make It Happen

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:25:59 +0000

A few days ago, I happened to get caught in the typical bumper to bumper LA traffic near the location of my last “job” before I began my journey as a woman entrepreneur. I had some time to reflect on where I was back then and where I am today. As the images of my life passed through my mind much like the scenes in a movie, I asked myself, “How did I go from where I was back then to where I am today?” The answer popped into my mind almost immediately: I took action. Smart Women make their Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals happen. Full Article

Smart Women Have an “Online” Presence

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 21:15:32 +0000

I just listened to a teleclass with social media expert, Amber Mac where she shared a few tips to help your business become more visible online. In order to achieve ultimate success, you need both an online and offline presence. In my article last week, I offered some tips and solutions on the value of an offline presence. Today, I’m sharing some key online presence tips. Full Article

Smart Women Understand “Life is an Occasion”

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:05:50 +0000

A few nights ago, we watched “Mr. Magorium’s Magical Emporium” with Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman. It’s a fun and light family movie with a wonderful message. I won’t give away the plot or ending, however at one point in the movie, Dustin Hoffman (Mr. Magorium) smiled and said to Natalie (who at the time was going through a big life transition) “Your life is an occasion; rise to it.” This got me thinking about how Smart Women know this well. Full Article

Is Your Attitude Helping or Hurting Your Success?

Ruth Hegarty — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:22:31 +0000

I’ve found myself talking often this past week about attitude and how your attitude is both completely under your control and the #1 predictor of your success. Because, as William James so eloquently stated, “The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude.” Since I have noticed a rash of negativity swirling around the universe this week and I wish to nip it in the bud as they say, I’m sharing some of my absolute most inspiring quotations on the power of attitude as my article this week. Pick your top few favorites that really resonate with who you are and use them as mantras this week. Post them around your office where you’ll see them often or take a minute to read them out loud in the morning and evening. Consistency with this will help you rewrite any negative attitudes you may be harboring and allow you to experience the levels of joy and success you want and deserve. Oh, and DON’T judge yourself around any of this. Focus on how you want to feel and how you want to experience the world moving forward no matter what you have felt or thought in the past. Nothing matters in this moment other than your right to be happy and fulfilled. Full Article

Smart Women Have a Winning Offense

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 21 May 2010 22:57:37 +0000

Recently my children’s little league baseball team was defeated—badly. At one point, I looked at another mom and said, “Please let the bloodshed end!” After the game, the coach brought the team into the dugout to review what worked and what didn’t work. He began with a review of the other team’s performance. One boy piped in, “They sure hit well when they were at bat.” Another boy said, “And they were good at stealing bases!” This got me thinking about how Smart Women need a good offense to win this game we call entrepreneurship. Full Article

Smart Women Know Who to Ask

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 07 May 2010 22:11:31 +0000

Have you ever had a Big Idea that you were over the moon about only to have your hopes dashed because you shared it with someone who you trusted and they told you (typically in a very flat tone) “that will never work.” I’ve had this unfortunate experience happen to me on more than one occasion over the last two decades as an entrepreneur. It’s painful isn’t it? You get all excited about the possibility of living your passionate life and someone pops the air in your dream balloon! Full Article

Smart Women Entrepreneurs Can Learn a Lot from the Olympics

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:16:03 +0000

Over the past few weeks, I’ve enjoyed watching the Winter Olympics with my family. I find the Winter Olympic Sports exciting and I’m in awe of the skill and determination of the athletes. As I watched the closing ceremonies and listened to interviews with those athletes who were taking home the “gold,” I was reminded how Smart Women entrepreneurs could learn a lot from Olympic athletes. Full Article

Get The Right Answers When You Ask The Right Questions

Ruth Hegarty — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:23:06 +0000

As a huge fan of self-reflection in general and having seen the evidence of it’s impact on success many times in working with clients (and myself) the only real question becomes: what questions do you ask yourself that have the power to elicit the answers that are vital for you to manifest your dreams. Today, I’m sharing 15 of my favorites with you. An important part of your coach’s job is to ask the right questions. We train for years to know which ones are the right ones as from the thousands of questions your coach can ask you, there is always one perfect one for each client conversation. Knowing that question is both an art and a science. Since this article is something of a one-sided conversation, the following questions are by necessity somewhat general, still, one will be the right question for you in the moments that you are reading it. Full Article

De-Clutter Your Life

Ruth Hegarty — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:31:51 +0000

One of the things I’ve been doing this month to kick-start my productivity this year is de-cluttering my life both physically and emotionally. I’m having a wonderful time with this process and reaping amazing results to boot. This article explains the process and I recommend you do some de-cluttering too. It’s a process I’ve used with clients for years and they ALWAYS report having more time, fun and money as a result. That’s a terrific return on the energy to expend de-cluttering. Full Article

How Increasing Your Self-Esteem Increases Your Bottom Line

Ruth Hegarty — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:47:21 +0000

We hear from everywhere that if we just learn that one right strategy, create the perfect look for our business or take one more class that our business will grow, we’ll get rich and all will be well. Now, I’m not saying these aren’t important. You do need to think about your brand image, hone your skills and have a great plan. However, in order for any of that to work for you, you first need to feel great about being you. Full Article

Marketing 101: Let People Know What You Have to Offer

Ruth Hegarty — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:05:00 +0000

Marketing is THE key ingredient to your business success. No matter how good you are at what you do, if nobody knows you are out there doing it, they can’t hire you. So marketing is the number one activity you can engage in to benefit your business regardless of what business you’re actually in. Think of it like this: you’re not a graphic designer; you’re a marketer of graphic design services. In a very real way, marketing is your business. There is no higher leverage activity in which you can engage. Why is marketing so important? It’s simple. It doesn’t matter how good you are at what you do if nobody can hire you because they don’t know you exist. That means you don’t make money, you don’t get to engage in the work you are passionate about and you don’t get to help people through that work unless you market your business. Full Article

What To Do At Your Next Networking Event

Ruth Hegarty — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:41:29 +0000

As you gear up to reach your 2010 goals, take advantage of all the wonderful networking opportunities that exist at this time of year. Fear of not knowing the “right” things to do when networking is one of the top reasons people simply don’t participate in this extremely effective business strategy. Here is a brief guide to help you make your next networking event your best networking event. Full Article

Self-Contemplation and Success

Ruth Hegarty — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:39:35 +0000

As promised in my note above, my “article” today consists of a series of questions that will help you contemplate who you are, who you want to become and continue to be moving forward. Take some time this week (and continue to do this process on an ongoing basis) to just sit and allow these questions to bubble around in your mind. Write down whatever comes up for you. This kind of contemplation leads to deeper self-understanding and success, in both life and work, and directly relates to how you see yourself on the inside which leads to how you live on the outside. Full Article

Smart Women Can Learn a Lot About Business from a 3rd Grader

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:28:23 +0000

Recently my son Jack, who’s in 3rd grade, had to do a book report and I spent some time guiding him through the process. His teacher had asked the report to consist of 6 elements: Title, Setting, Main Characters, Plot, Problem, and Solution. This got me thinking about how Smart Women could use this exercise to create a clear and focused plan for their business and entrepreneurial dreams. Full Article

How Do You Feel?

Ruth Hegarty — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:35:32 +0000

As someone who runs my business (and life) based on Law of Attraction principles, I get to spend a lot of time checking in with how I feel. There are many benefits to this practice which is why I am recommending it to you today. The more you check in with how you feel throughout your day, the more in tune you are with your inner landscape and outer progress. You have the opportunity in an instant to shift your energy if at any point in your day you find yourself not feeling as good as you want to. You also get direct feedback from your emotions on where you are in relation to your actions. What I mean by this is that if you decide to do something and you don’t feel great about it then it isn’t an inspired action and won’t result in the outcomes you are hoping for. If you experience this, simply focus your energy on thoughts of the outcomes you desire and the “right” actions will reveal themselves to you. You save time, energy and money by using your emotions to increase the likelihood of getting what you want. Full Article

Smart Women, Halloween and Attracting Your Ideal Client

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:29:53 +0000

Last weekend, we took our kids trick or treating in our neighborhood and it was exciting. I enjoyed watching Jack and Jenna’s faces light up when they saw a friend from school or someone dressed as their favorite character. One observation from the evening that intrigued me was watching which houses the children gravitated to most often. The houses that were adorned with lights, decorations and an irresistible “come visit me” feeling were the ones the children ran to first. They would actually skip over homes that had little or no “invitation.” They would stand in long lines at homes that had that welcome feeling, waiting for one piece of candy rather than use that time to visit two or three homes that had less of a welcome presence. This got me thinking about how Smart Women entrepreneurs could learn a lot from Halloween when it comes to attracting their ideal client. Full Article

Smart Women Find Their Flow

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:08:45 +0000

Yesterday, when I picked my daughter Jenna up from tennis camp, she rushed over and handed me her uneaten snack and her nearly full water bottle, with a big smile on her face. I was surprised she hadn’t eaten her snack (after all, Goldfish is her favorite) and I couldn’t imagine her not drinking a gallon of water on this hot summer day! When I asked her about it, she exclaimed, “Mommy, I was having so much fun playing tennis I forgot to eat or drink!” Jenna was doing something that energized her. She found an activity that caused her to forget about everything. She was in her “flow.” This got me thinking about how Smart Women find their “flow” and live energetic, passionate lives. Full Article

Express Your Independence

Ruth Hegarty — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:20:14 +0000

One of the best and easiest ways to express your independence is by learning to love and accept yourself more and to “get” that you have the power to manifest any kind of life you want. That is such a powerful concept. Full Article

Living Your Wealth in the Here and Now

Ruth Hegarty — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:13:32 +0000

As this week’s quotation from the book Daily OM says, “sages of all faiths agree that the current moment is the only thing that really exists.” This is a concept I share with all my clients because it is from our focus on the present moment that we are able to live abundantly and prosperously – no mater what our current circumstances. This is an important point in the Law of Attraction as well as a key aspect of creating effortless success. Why? Let’s start with what happens when we focus on the past. When we focus on the past we can only think, create and act from what we have known. Unless what we have known is abundance and prosperity, then we will only be able to create more of what we have known in the past. What is that for you? If you are excited about the thought of living your wealth in the here and now, then my guess is you have not yet experienced amazing prosperity and abundance. As Albert Einstein said, “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” If your focus is on what you have had in the past, you will only be capable of creating more of the same. Full Article

Smart Women Live A Proactive Life

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:11:40 +0000

Yesterday, as I was on my way to pick up my kids from school, it occurred to me that I was feeling exhausted—I mean really tired. As I made a mental scan of my day, I realized that I had been in a “reactive” mode most of the day rather than a “proactive” mode. We do need to react to situations that occur in our lives as best we can at that moment, however, Smart Women know that living a “proactive” life where you plan, prepare, and practice conscious living is clearly more rewarding. Full Article

Smart Women Have “Personal” Power

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:42:47 +0000

Do you have “personal” power? I’m not referring to the power that comes from material wealth or the ability to control people and situations. I’m referring to the kind of power that comes from within—the power that is authentic only to you. Women with “personal” power are secure in their own self-confidence and self-esteem. They are at peace with who they are at their core and they encourage others to be more of who they are. Women with “personal” power encourage others to show up in the world exactly as they are. Full Article

Taking the Path of Least Resistance

Ruth Hegarty — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:33:13 +0000

One of the things I work with my clients on is creating and implementing systems that automate and simplify getting things done. This creates consistency in your message as well as frees up your time for the BIG thoughts and fun times. The biggest obstacles I encounter when introducing this concept to people is their own resistance to letting go of control. Letting go is an act of faith. Have the confidence in your support team, your technology and yourself to allow others to have a hand in making your life a BIG EASY success. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Full Article

Smart Women, Subways and Asking

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:05:38 +0000

Recently, our family took a trip to the “Big Apple” where we met up with my parents for a special vacation. It was lots of fun and we created a memorable experience. When traveling to a new city, it’s exciting to think about all of the sights and adventures that you will experience. Knowing what you want to do is never a problem. The challenge is getting to where you want to go without getting lost. On our trip, we found ourselves making sure that we left the hotel with not one but two maps–one for the subway and one for the city. I laughed one afternoon as I looked around our hotel room. We had several maps lying around. It’s clear that we were afraid of getting lost! One of the great benefits of the trip was the people of NY. The locals were happy to help us when we lost our way. This got me thinking about how Smart Women know the value of getting good direction in their lives. Full Article

Oh! What Possibilities!

Ruth Hegarty — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:46:02 +0000

Well, since I am on a self-care break this week, I thought, rather than recommend tasks in my article today, I’d gently suggest that you consider all the wild and amazing things you can do in your life. I truly believe that you are glorious and amazingly talented so keep that in mind as you contemplate what is possible for you. Here are a couple of questions to get your possibility juices flowing… Full Article

Self-Care

Ruth Hegarty — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:24:07 +0000

When you are creating effortless success, it’s important that you learn to take extremely good care of yourself – physically, mentally and spiritually – and to always put your best interests first. There is a good reason why airlines instruct passengers who travel with small children to put their own oxygen mask on in an emergency and only then put a mask on the child. It may seem counter-instinctual since we are all conditioned by evolution and culture to risk our own life to save the life of a small child. This is a good and natural instinct as it helps to ensure the continuation of our species. That is the bigger picture. In the smaller, more immediate picture, it is in both your best interest and that of the child for you to put your own oxygen mask on first. Why? Imagine that you followed your natural instinct and put the oxygen mask on your two-year old son first before attempting to fasten your own. Before you can attend to your mask, the lack of oxygen overcomes you and you pass out. Now, you have no mask and your child has no one to comfort and continue to look after him. Imagine instead, that you first put on your mask, and then put an oxygen mask on your son. If he has passed out the oxygen will revive him and now you are both conscious and your child has you to continue to comfort and protect him during the emergency. Full Article

The Zen of Ease

Ruth Hegarty — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:18:03 +0000

One day someone in one of my mastermind groups told me she thought of me as the “Queen of Ease” which I absolutely loved (and may continue to use as my alter ego) since my mission in life is to help the woman entrepreneur have more time and energy for herself AND more money and success in her business – AND do this all in a way that feels effortless! Full Article

Planning & Goal Setting

Ruth Hegarty — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:49:05 +0000

How can you achieve your goals without a plan? Most people know what they want but have no plan to achieve it except by sheer hard work. Your yearly plan should be reviewed daily and reset as your achievements are met. Successful people make lists constantly. It enables them to stay on top of priorities and remain flexible to changing priorities. This should be done for both personal and business goals. Full Article

Smart Women “Live into and Find the Flow”

Joy Chudacoff — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 02:38:13 +0000

A few days ago, I was sitting with my good friend and Smart Woman, Suzanne, in her backyard and I was complementing her on how well the yard was laid out from the play area, pool area, and lounge area. Everything flows so well in accessing the home and the backyard. Suzanne shared with me that the backyard was not designed this way when they first moved into the home. When they bought the house initially, the backyard looked a lot different. She shared that after they had lived in the house for awhile and found their flow as a family, she and her husband created a vision on how the backyard might better serve their needs. This got me thinking about how Smart Women need to “live into their Big ideas, dreams and goals finding their flow along the way”. Full Article

Smart Women Take the Right Action

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:13:48 +0000

A few days ago, in one of my Women’s Success Circles, a great question came up: “What’s the one action step that I should take to grow my business faster?” Wow! That’s a great question. The challenge is–there’s not just one simple answer. I wish there was a “magic bullet” that would take your business to the next level, however to grow your business effectively and for the long run, you need to use several different marketing methods. Full Article

Smart Women Know, Commit and Practice Their Values

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:24:30 +0000

My son Jack recently joined Cub Scouts here in our community. His “den” leader is an older man, sort of a grandfather type who is very wise and shares some interesting information with the boys (did you know that if you’re in need of the police, you should dial 311 and not 411?). When a boy becomes a Cub Scout, he receives a book about what it means to take on this role. An early part of the book is about following a “set of values.” They encourage the boys to know, commit, and practice these values. This got me thinking about how Smart Women know, commit, and practice their own values. Full Article

Smart Women and “Cravings”

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:46:03 +0000

A few days ago, my husband Greg and I had dinner with my good friend and smart woman, Diane Elander and her family.( http://www.dianeelander.com ) Diane is a “food stylist.” She is an artist who creates that appetizing, desirous emotion that you feel when you see her creations in cookbooks, magazines, and product packaging. When she pulled up her web site and we took a “tour” of her food creations, each photo made your mouth water and “crave” each dish. This got me thinking about how Smart Women create products and services that people are “craving.” Full Article

Commitment: Your First Step in ANY Successful Endeavor

Ruth Hegarty — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:54:52 +0000

Whenever you embark on a project, relationship, action, etc.., first ask yourself, on a scale of 1 to 10, what is my level of commitment to the success of this project, relationship, action, etc.? If the answer is less than level 10 commitment, you simply aren’t committed enough to success to make getting started worthwhile. That doesn’t mean that your plan isn’t viable and isn’t a great idea, it simply means you aren’t ready YET to get started. What do you do? Say, for example, that you’ve assessed your current level of commitment as a 7. Ask yourself, what do you need to do/have/believe in order to raise that 7 to a 10 (or you can go from 7 to 8, from 8 to 9 and then from 9 to 10). Keep doing what you need to do to get your commitment level up to 10 even if it’s simply to sit with the idea for a while without taking any interim action. If you can’t get to 10, ask yourself why you thought you wanted this project, relationship, etc. Perhaps you only think you “should” do this to succeed but it isn’t the right thing for you or now is not the right time. Full Article

Smart Women Understand “WIIFM?”

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:57:33 +0000

Do you know what WIIFM stands for? Sure you do! You ask yourself this question every time you think about making an investment or purchase—“What’s In It For Me?” Am I right? We purchase everything based on the “benefits” that we will receive when we use the service or product. Full Article

Smart Women Know the Difference between a Job and a “Calling”

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:36:56 +0000

I am fortunate to spend time with a lot of Smart Women. A topic that comes up on a regular basis is this idea of a job vs. a “calling.” What’s the difference? How do you know what a “calling” is? Jobs are something that we do in our lives to keep ourselves and our families together. A “calling” is when our true purpose, our life’s work, is discovered. Full Article

Smart Women Have An Attitude

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:29:47 +0000

Last week, the Women’s Club in my community celebrated men and women over the age of 90 by hosting a dinner and entertainment event in their honor. I read about this event in the local paper and was struck by one interview with a woman who was born in 1912 (she’s 96!). Her photo depicted a woman who was attractive, energetic, and happy. When asked what the secret is to living a life of good health, longevity, and happiness, she replied with one simple word: Attitude. Full Article

Smart Women Get Off The Fence

Joy Chudacoff — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:34:39 +0000

While driving along Sunset Blvd. a few days ago, I thought about a conversation I had earlier that morning with a friend about how difficult it is for some people to make a decision. This process can be a challenge and create a lot of anxiety. I’m not sure if people are aware that “sitting on the fence” when it comes to making decisions takes a serious toll on their energy levels and their lives. Full Article

Smart Women Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway

Joy Chudacoff — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:30:09 +0000

Recently, I took my son Jack shopping for a new baseball glove. The old glove was too small for his hand and his coach felt that a new glove might be just the thing that he needed. We both enjoyed looking through all of the gloves. He tried on quite a few (The smell of all that leather was so wonderful!). He finally found a glove that was a perfect fit and away we went. He just happened to have baseball practice next so I was excited for him to try out his new purchase. As we approached the field, I noticed that Jack was beginning to feel both anxious and excited at the same time. He wanted to use his new glove but that feeling of being “comfortable” with the old glove took over. The new glove was an unknown to Jack, so his performance with the new glove at this point was uncertain in his mind. He knew what he could do with the old glove. This got me thinking about how Smart Women feel the fear and do it anyway. Full Article

How To Take Inspired Action

Ruth Hegarty — Fri, 29 May 2009 18:51:14 +0000

I often write about the role of focus and vision in manifesting your dreams of effortless success. I know that folks are so often anxious to take action – and I’m all for taking action, even MASSIVE action – BUT (and I know all my clients know I usually forbid the use of the word “but”) BUT, action ONLY works when it comes from a place of focus and vision. Full Article

Smart Women “Experiment”

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 23 May 2009 19:50:33 +0000

Recently, both my children participated in a science fair at their elementary school. My son, Jack, did an experiment that involved an electromagnet. My daughter, Jenna, was curious about how batteries work so she chose to make a “homemade battery.” Needless to say, my husband and I were challenged on both projects! This process got me thinking about how Smart Women could benefit from using “the scientific method” in their own lives both personally and professionally. Full Article

3 Powerful Processes for Creating Your Dreams Today

Ruth Hegarty — Thu, 21 May 2009 21:31:44 +0000

In order to manifest your dreams, you need to focus on your dreams. It’s that simple – although not always easy to do in the midst of a busy life. These three simple AND easy to do processes will help you manifest your dreams in a powerful, joyful and effortless manner. It doesn’t matter what your dreams may be, these processes work no matter what you desire. Remember, when you apply the Law of Attraction deliberately in your life it’s as easy to create a castle as it is to create a button. Full Article

Sharpening Success

Danielle Miller — Mon, 18 May 2009 02:29:33 +0000

One of the hardest questions I ask people who come to me for coaching is for them to give me their definition of success. Most give me what society has deemed as successful: money, recognition, material possessions, freedom, etc., because that is what we have been conditioned to believe quantifies success. Full Article

Smart Women Are “Plugged In”

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:18:27 +0000

A few days ago, I did something that I’ve never done before. I went hiking in the desert mountains with my good friend and Smart Woman, Debra. I’ve hiked many times in the mountains but I’d never been out in the desert mountains. This was quite a different experience for me. I highly recommend it as a way to get some exercise and see new forms of nature. Full Article

Your Prosperity Bill of Rights

Ruth Hegarty — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:24:35 +0000

Sometimes I get frustrated with all of the negativity around the economy that is out there these days. I look around and I see so many people doing extremely well despite what is said. The most important thing you can do to insulate yourself from the negative impact of doom-mongers is to avoid their messages all together. This isn’t to say that there aren’t people struggling in these times, however, if you aren’t one of them, even if you’ve had to tighten your belt a bit, you really don’t have it as bad as the media and other naysayers would have you believe. Full Article

Smart Women Never Miss an Opportunity

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:45:38 +0000

Recently our family took a trip to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. It was a great trip that was both fun and educational for the entire family. Did you know that the Falcon and the Cheetah are the two fastest animals in the air and on the ground? I also found it interesting just how effective the Park was at marketing. Everywhere you went in the Park, whether it was to watch the “African Birds Take Flight” show, the “Journey into Africa tour” or the local café, they never missed an opportunity to educate you on the benefits of membership. This got me thinking about how Smart Women never miss an opportunity to get the word out about their Big Idea or entrepreneurial dreams. Full Article

Smart Women Give it Away!

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 03:29:31 +0000

Recently, my 8 year old son Jack, came running into the house with the Sunday paper exclaiming, “Look, they gave us cereal!” And sure enough, there was not one but three mini boxes of cereal included with the newspaper—all sugar cereals they had never tried. My children were jumping up and down begging to try these cute little conveniently packaged products. This got me thinking about how Smart Women understand the power of sampling. Full Article

What’s Your Prosperity Quotient?

Ruth Hegarty — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:26:27 +0000

In keeping with my Prosperity theme this month, I want to talk about your prosperity quotient. What is that? It’s how ready and will you are to live prosperously. Now, you might ask “why wouldn’t I want to live prosperously?” and, perhaps consciously, you do want to be prosperous. However, if you have unconscious blocks to attracting prosperity, you are in essence telling the universe that you don’t want to be prosperous. Full Article

Smart Women Think and Speak in Abundance

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:53:17 +0000

A few days ago, I was enjoying a lovely, delicious lunch with my Mom at a small, cozy and quaint restaurant here in Los Angeles. The tables in this restaurant are very close together and you can get “friendly” with people at the next table. As my Mom and I were sitting and enjoying our meal, the person at the next table exclaimed, “Gosh, look how empty the place is due to the economy.” Wow, where did that come from? You may be reading this right now and thinking, “Joy, get your head out of the sand, the economy is bad!” I’m fully aware of what’s going on in this economy and the media makes sure of that. However, being negative or speaking in conversation that leads to what I call “the downward spiral” won’t really help, will it? This got me thinking about how Smart Women think and speak in abundance. Full Article

Smart Women Get an “Entrepreneurial” Checkup

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:39:13 +0000

When we get sick, have the flu or some other ailment that we can’t seem to cure on our own, we go to the doctor for a checkup. The same is true in our businesses. If you feel like your business is not growing the way you had envisioned, maybe it’s time for an “entrepreneurial” checkup. This week, I’m going to share some simple, easy solutions that you can use to give your business a “checkup” to ensure healthy success. Full Article

Smart Women Get a â€œPersonalâ€ Check-Up

Joy Chudacoff — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 03:02:32 +0000

Recently, my husband Greg was in the hospital for a health issue. He started in the emergency room and was eventually admitted to the hospital. This experience created a lot of thought and reflection for me on many levels. One that I think might be helpful to you is how Smart Women occasionally need a personal or business check-up if they are to truly realize their Big Idea, Dreams, and Goals. Iâ€™m going to offer you some solutions for your own â€œpersonalâ€ checkup. Full Article

Smart Women Ignite Their Fire

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:32:35 +0000

As I was getting ready for a day of skiing on a recent family ski trip, I had one goal in mind: Stay warm! I knew it was going to be cold and windy that day, and I wanted to make sure that I kept my body heat inside. This got me thinking about how Smart Women who are living a life filled with passion and purpose do just the opposite: They give themselves permission to release their “fire” of desire and passion out into the world. Full Article

Smart Women Face Their Fear

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:42:07 +0000

A few days ago, I was cleaning out a backpack that my daughter used last summer when we were in Park City, Utah on vacation. This backpack was one that she wore every day to her skateboarding class. At the bottom of the backpack, I found a piece of crumpled paper and pulled it out. It was an evaluation form from her skateboarding instructor, Drew, with these comments: â€œLearn to relax and face fear. Trust in Yourself.â€ This got me thinking about how Smart Women learn to face their own fears. Full Article

Smart Women Are “Lucky”

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:37:42 +0000

The other day, while standing in a very long line at a coffee shop, I struck up a conversation with the woman behind me. We began chatting about everyday topics–the weather, the holiday rush, and then we stumbled on to that dreaded topic of the moment–the economy. I asked her a question: “What do you think would be the most important thing you could have in your life right now to support where you are, given the economy?” She was a little surprised by this question, but her reply was very telling. She said, “Having an abundant source of constant cash flow.” My next question was, “And what steps have you taken to secure that?” After a long pause, the reply? “Not much.” Full Article

Smart Women Know What They Want

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:01:21 +0000

Last week, after my husband Greg read my article â€œSmart Women Are a Lot Like Rocket Ships,â€ he had an interesting question:Â He said, â€œEvery week you write about the same thingâ€”making your Big Idea happen, Reaching your Goals and Dreams, getting the right support, blah, blah, blahâ€¦ when are you going to write about something else?â€ Full Article

Smart Women Are Like Rocket Ships

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:24:48 +0000

Last week, I was having lunch with my mom and my children at an outdoor cafÃ© and all at once we were shaken by this rather large â€œKABOOM!â€ After a few minutes of shock and silence, everyone in the cafÃ© started to speculate on what caused such a sound. Later that day, we found out that it was the Space Shuttle Endeavour touching down at Edwards Air Force Base, which is about 100 miles away. This got me thinking about how Smart Women have Big Ideas, dreams, and goals that are a lot like rocket ships. Full Article

Smart Women Believe

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:53:13 +0000

Last night, our family went to The Grove here in Los Angeles. The Grove is a large retail shopping center that really goes above and beyond decorating for the holidays. They have a beautifully decorated tree larger than the one at Rockefeller Center in New York. They “create” falling snow every evening. For children who live in So. California, this is a delight! Full Article

Smart Women Take the Leap

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 23:17:39 +0000

The other day, I was listening to one of Madonnaâ€™s great dance tunes, â€œJump.â€ Itâ€™s a fun song that makes me want to jump up and dance around the room. It also motivates me into thoughts about the â€œjumpâ€ in my own lifeâ€“to take the leap to the next level. This got me thinking about how Smart Women take the leap into realizing their Big Ideas, Dreams, and Goals. Full Article

Smart Women Understand the BLT Factor

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 23:13:30 +0000

Recently, my family attended a western-themed fundraiser to benefit our childrenâ€™s elementary school. It was a fun-filled afternoon with various booths for the children and adults to participate in. Each booth had a different activity where you could try your skills. Walking around the event, I noticed that some booths had more activity than others. After awhile, I realized that the people running the booths with the highest energy and excitement levels drew the most people. This got me thinking about how Smart Women know that itâ€™s not the service or the product that will make you successful in life. Full Article

Smart Women Create the Right Web

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:57:46 +0000

Earlier this week, I was taking an early morning walk with a good friend and smart woman and we ran into a few spider webs (literally!). Itâ€™s the time of year when spiders are spinning and carefully crafting their webs together in a way that will serve and protect them. This got me thinking about how Smart Women always create a strong and sturdy web in their lives both at work and at home. Full Article

Smart Women Are In Control of Their Ride

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:50:27 +0000

This summer, our family went to an amusement park in Park City, Utah, for a day of fun. When you take the chairlift up to the top of the mountain, one of the rides offered is the Alpine Slider. The Alpine Slider is a bobsled track that runs for about 3000 feet down the mountain. As we approached the starting gate, there was a very large sign that read: WARNING! YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF YOUR RIDE. I laughed out loud! My immediate thought? â€œWell, I should hope so!â€ And away I went down the mountain with my daughter sitting in my lap. This got me thinking about how Smart Women are in control of their ride—Iâ€™m referring to this ride called a life full of energy, passion, and purpose. Full Article

Smart Women Get It Off The Ground

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:45:06 +0000

During our recent vacation to Park City, Utah, one morning I was enjoying my coffee while overlooking a peaceful pond, and was surprised by several hot air balloons making their way high up into the sky. The colors of each balloon were bright, vivid, and unique. Some were like rainbows; others were bright red or yellow. They rose to varying heights in the sky, each one navigating their own unique path around the valley. This got me thinking about how Smart Womenâ€™s Big Ideas, dreams and goals are a lot like hot air balloons. Full Article

Smart Women are 40, 50, 60 and Beyond!

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:40:46 +0000

Recently, as I was leaving my bank in Los Angeles, I saw a stack of magazines near the door, entitled â€œLife After 50.â€ And if you have followed the media trail this past week, itâ€™s all about Madonna turning 50. This is a big deal in our society where youth typically rules. Hereâ€™s a woman who has been a media icon for youth, beauty, talent, and sex appeal for decades. Whatâ€™s the message? We as women have much to look forward to as we move into our 40â€™s, 50â€™s, 60â€™s and beyond. As Smart Women, we already knew this, didnâ€™t we? Full Article

Smart Women Get Uncomfortable

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:34:16 +0000

Iâ€™m 48 years old and I have never been on ice skates. That is, until yesterday. My 5Â½-year-old daughter, Jenna, has taken an interest in ice skating and I typically take her to the ice arena here in Park City where we are on vacation. I watch her skate while listening to the most incredible music they are playing on the sound system (CC Revival and the soundtrack from The Big Chill). Every time we go, Jenna always asks me, â€œMom, when are you going to ice skate with me?â€ And my answer has been, â€œOh, maybe next time.â€ Yesterday, Jenna asked her usual question and as I prepared myself to give her the typical answer, she quickly spoke up and said, â€œMom, please, please, skate today!â€ I finally admitted to Jenna that I had never been on ice skates before. Jennaâ€™s answer: â€œMom, itâ€™s easyâ€”Iâ€™ll teach you!â€ And so there was nothing left to do but rent the skates and prepare myself for what I thought would be a dreadful outcome. Full Article

Smart Women Have No Boundaries

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:30:29 +0000

Our family is vacationing in Park City, Utah this month. I enjoy sitting on the deck which overlooks a large pond that is frequented by ducks and geese. Itâ€™s a peaceful, quiet place to sit and ponder a meaningful life filled with passion and purpose. The other day, I noticed the gardener mowing the enormous piece of land around the pond. What I found most interesting was how he created a boundary between the land and the pond. He left the grass and weeds a bit high between the pond and the ground around our deck. It created a â€œboundaryâ€ for people walking by. As a matter of fact, Iâ€™ve noticed that my children will not cross that area. Greg and I have not said anything to them about the pond and yet, this â€œboundaryâ€ created the idea, â€œdo not trespass.â€ This got me thinking about the â€œboundariesâ€ that live within us as we walk through life. Full Article

Smart Women Are Like Harry Potter

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:26:44 +0000

Recently, my son Jack and I went to the local bookstore in search of the book Harry Potter 4. We have an agreement that we will read each Harry Potter book in the series together and then watch the movie. This has two wonderful benefits: One, I get to spend quality time reading a great series with my son and, two, Iâ€™m hoping it will increase his love of reading as much as Greg and I enjoy reading. Full Article

Smart Women Move Forward Faster

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:19:27 +0000

I woke up this morning with two questions on my mind: (and no, one was not, â€œDo I have time to run to the local coffee shop before my family wakes up?â€) â€œIs what Iâ€™m doing in alignment with where I want to go in my life both personally and professionally?â€ and â€œWhat are the things I can do now to move my Big ideas, dreams, and goals forward at a faster pace?â€ These are two essential questions that all smart women should be asking themselves on a regular basis. Full Article

Smart Women Create the Right Internal Environment

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:11:56 +0000

Last week, I was having a conversation with another smart woman and we found ourselves on a familiar topic to many people with children: schools and education. This woman has children in middle school and high school and she was sharing with me that the schools have two tracks in which to receive an education. As you might imagine, one is perceived as better than the other. As I reflect on this conversation, I had to smile. It seems our children are really no different than we are. We, too, must stay on the â€œrightâ€ track with the â€œrightâ€ environment and the â€œrightâ€ teachers around us if we are to realize our dreams, goals, and ideas. Full Article

Smart Women Create the Right Environment

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:07:43 +0000

Recently, I took a road trip with my family from Los Angeles to Napa Valley, California. During my visit I learned that it takes a different environment (soil, temperature, irrigation) to grow different types of grapes to make wine. For example, you cannot create a great tasting chardonnay when you are in an environment that creates great Pinot Noir. This got me thinking about how important our environment is when we are creating something new in our lives. Full Article

Smart Women Think Like 10 Year Olds!

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:01:22 +0000

Do you remember what you were like at age 10? Itâ€™s right before our hormones kick in and societal expectations begin to manipulate our thinking. I remember when I was 10. I was outgoing, outspoken, with empathy and support for those in need. This got me thinking about becoming who we are authentically at a young age. We begin the process of â€œbecomingâ€ and then something happens along the way. Why? Full Article

Smart Women Know â€œAll About Meâ€

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:21:42 +0000

This is a big week for my son Jack who is in first grade. Itâ€™s his â€œAll About Meâ€ presentation. We spent some time this weekend gathering all of the items that he believes are a representation of who he is right now. This morning, I was walking behind him and watching him carry his box full of items, head held high, proud of what he had chosen and really sure of who he is, right now, at age 7. It got me thinking about this exercise, â€œAll about Me.â€ If I were to put my life on display today, what would be in my box? What would be proudly displayed on the table? Full Article

Smart Women are Possibility Thinkers

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:16:26 +0000

One morning not long ago, I was driving to the Inn at Playa del Rey for one of my Womenâ€™s Success Circles. It was a beautiful day in Pacific Palisades—blue skies, sun shiningâ€”glorious. What a great day this was going to be! My mind turned to possibilities for the day. As I made my way down to the beach and through Santa Monica, the weather began to change. It became quite foggy. I could barely see the car in front of me. I had to turn my headlights on. I noticed that my thinking had shifted a bit. Some of the possibility thinking had diminished. The â€œpossibilities for the dayâ€ began to fade. Why? What had changed? Full Article

Smart Women Give Themselves Permission

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:12:44 +0000

Recently, I was having a conversation with a woman when she asked me a crucial question: â€œWhat are the steps I need to take in order to live a life filled with passion and purpose?â€ Itâ€™s really a 3 part process. When a woman is ready to create her own extraordinary life, she needs to first decide what she wants. Then she needs to decide how she wants to design her life. Finally, she needs to give herself permission to have the life she has chosen. Itâ€™s essential that she believes that she deserves to have the life she chooses. If you decide what you want your life to look like but do not believe that you should really have it, then your â€œdreamsâ€ will never become a reality. Full Article