After being in a funk for a couple of weeks, with little creative energy, the last thing I expected from myself was to create something new.

I made the decision a few weeks ago to stop promoting a program that I’d planned because my energy and my intentions were not coming from a place of integrity, So after crawling into bed, re-reading Bob Burg’s The Go-Giver (and reminding myself that I’m in business to provide value) I switched gears and in a matter of two weeks set off on a whole new direction that felt right and much more “on purpose.” (You can listen to more of my story on a recent call with Lisa Cherney where we spoke about the Dark Side of Entrepreneurship).

What caused my shift?

Once I stopped focusing on myself and my own dramas, and really got clear on the value I wanted to provide to my community my creative juices started flowing.

Then I received great feedback from my survey that showed me that women entrepreneurs crave SPECIFIC training on specific projects – they just don’t have the time, energy, or even the money to wade through stuff they’ll never get around to using.

Reading the words of many of my “muses” allowed ideas to pour out of me. I knew what people needed and I knew I could provide it for them. My energy flowed because I REALLY listened – both to my ideal client and to my gut…

So, I got to work and just  launched a new program that will teach service-based professionals all the SPECIFICS on how to create their very own info-product in 3 EASY steps (so you can get money rolling in fast sharing what you ALREADY KNOW).

The program is called Think It, Create It, Sell It – please visit this page to watch my video intro and learn more of the details.

One example of the feedback I received was from Theresa Anderson, a Home Stager/Redesigner.

In her own words here’s what Theresa’s looking for…

“I would like info on vendors to use – website set up, creating joint ventures, list-building, prelaunch work, launch work, and post launch work, delivery mechanisms, technical help, how to incorporate video, audio, teleseminars, etc. And – how to find a topic that really interests my ideal audience. I want to do something unique – not be a ‘me too’ product.”

I had promised that one person who took some of their valuable time to help me with my survey would be rewarded a free spot in this new program. and I’ve given that gift to Theresa.

I promise I’ll be sharing all of what Theresa’s looking for and more. But I’m also going to make it very DOABLE because if you learn and don’t implement it becomes another wasted opportunity.

So thank you! Thank you for sharing with me what you’ve been looking for and how I can provide the most value. Please visit www.ThinkCreateSell.com to learn more about what I’ve put together  – I can’t wait to get started!

My business is going through lots of growing pains right now, which means that I’m going through lots of growing pains right now. Our businesses mirror our lives, and vice versa.

If your business isn’t where you want it to be, then you’ve got to take a hard look at who you’re being and how you’re showing up. The answer always lies within.

Last week, after some intense masterminding, I chose to give myself permission to do nothing. I needed to decompress and internally process all that I’d absorbed. That’s a real challenge for a Type A do-er like me. I don’t sit still well, meditating doesn’t come easily, and I don’t sleep enough. My brain and body are always on the go.

During my self-imposed down time, I re-read my favorite parable The Go-Giver, by Bob Burg and John David Mann. I turn to this book when I want to regain clarity and truly focus on why I’m really in business. Yes, I want to make an income to support my family. Yes, I want to share my gifts with the world. Yes, I want to make a difference.

But my core reason, and my life’s purpose, is I want to serve a lot of people, and provide them with a lot of value. For all entrepreneurs, that’s the key question we must continually answer: How can I serve?

Answering that question always gets me back on track again. (With that in mind please feel free to share with me how I can serve you better.)

Listen to my interview with Bob Burg where he goes more in depth into the 5 Laws that are critical to running your business.

An interactive website encourages your website visitor to stick around so they get to know you. Since  blogs are very interactive, they give you the opportunity to authentically communicate who you are and what you have to offer so you can attract the right customers.

Let me tell you a story about how my blog helped me interact…. Last week I was at sitting in the waiting room at one of those less-than-fun (but necessary) appointments and I decided to re-read The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea. It’s a beautiful parable by Bob Burg that I’ve enjoyed several times and each time I’m reminded of key lessons that serve as the foundation for my business.

Fast forward a couple days…I had an hour’s break while carpooling my kids one afternoon and took advantage of a few quiet moments waiting in the car with my laptop and wrote a blog post about The Go-Giver and the key lessons I’ve learned from it. When I got home I uploaded it to my blog and within a few hours Bob Burg (best-selling author) had added me as a friend on Facebook and a follower on Twitter and was promoting me to his list. This was amazing to me and certainly the kind of interaction I thrive on!

Blogs are also easy and inexpensive to set-up and manage. Don’t have a blog? At my upcoming Metromom Online Success Tele-Summit, #mtmm09,  Wendy Maynard will share steps to creating a blog for the first time quickly and without spending any money.

A blog is a fantastic way to start forming a bond with your visitor by letting your individual style and approach to business shine through. Blogs are also great for busy work-at-home moms because they’re very flexible-you can blog daily or weekly, you can post long or short blogs, you can be have informational posts or entertaining ones.

You can also make your blog interactive by inviting the reader to leave a comment or ask for their opinion on a hot-topic. This is a great way to start a dialogue with your customers, find out what they’re thinking and start establishing relationships. Ideally, you should provide your blog readers additional ways to connect with you. On your “side bar” you can provide links to your website, Facebook and Twitter pages or newsletter sign-up.

I’ve read and re-read The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea, a beautiful parable by Bob Burg, several times and each time I’m reminded of key lessons that serve as the foundation for my business.

1. You don’t often get what you want…you get what you expect

The world treats you as you expect to be treated. It’s more important to give more in value than you get in payment.

2. Your true worth is determined by how much you give in value.

Key questions to ask yourself are… how does this serve? And, does what I’m doing add value to others?

3.  Enlarge the number of people you serve.

Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them. In other words, your compensation is directly proportional to how many lives you touch. There are no limitations to what you can earn because you can always find more people to serve.

4.  Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people’s interests first.

When you watch out for what other people need (with a genuine heart), and have faith, you’ll get what you need. Being a giver makes you more attractive and magnetic.

5.  You can excel by adding value.

If you want or need money, then add value. YOU are the most valuable gift you have to offer. Be authentic.

6.  The secret to success is giving. The secret to giving is making yourself open to receive.

Every giving can happen only because there is a receiving. The cycle is not complete unless you open yourself to receive.

Listen to my interview with Bob Burg where he goes more in depth into the 5 Laws that are critical to running your business.