In my last blog post, I mentioned I would be sending a survey out to my e-zine subscribers so I could get to know you better. I’ve had so many new visitors to my site and new subscribers to my e-zine in the last couple of months that I haven’t had a chance to “meet” as many of you as I’d like. And with the recession in full swing, it’s more important now than ever that I know you and understand your most pressing needs. It is my goal to help you in whatever ways that I can during the economic challenges we’re currently facing.

To thank you for participating in the survey, you’ll receive a copy of my newest Special Report, “Top 5 Tricks to Creating Your Success Mindset.” This report has never been released and contains brand-new exercises to create powerful shifts in your thinking that allow you to experience success on an entirely new level. Once you finish the survey, you’ll immediately receive the Special Report so you can start creating your own success mindset!

To participate in the survey, first sign up for my weekly e-zine using the form at the top of this page. I’m sending out just two more invitations for the survey, so make sure you’re signed up, because I don’t want you to miss this! The e-zine is fantastic and each week you’ll get great tips and ideas on the Business in Blue Jeans lifestyle and business model, marketing, online and offline social networking, increasing your passive income potential, and more.

Sign up today and participate in this survey — help me help you!!!

I’m almost always thinking about business, so it’s no surprise that when I’m working out at the gym, business is on my mind. Recently, I had a revelation at the gym. I often work out with headphones. I listen to power music and that helps me stay focused and I can endure more than if I don’t have them on. But with those headphones on, I never, ever meet people.

My gym is a social place. And although each gym probably has its own dynamic and subculture, I suspect most gyms are just as friendly. But so many of us are wearing our headphones, it’s hard to find out how friendly things actually are.

Since I had my revelation, I’m committed to spending at least a half hour of my time at the gym without my headphones on, just getting to know the people around me. I’ve met some really great people. And a few of them have become clients.

Now, here’s the thing I’ve figured out about networking and why it isn’t working. People are spending a lot of time “qualifying” their leads and not nearly enough time getting to know people. These aren’t leads, they’re people. Your clients are people. And even if the guy you’re talking to doesn’t need your services right now, not only might he know someone who does, but if you expand your network of friends and acquaintances instead of “qualifying leads,” you’ll be first on that same guy’s mind when he does need your help.

So I’m not going around my gym, actually talking to people about my business, but I am getting to know people as I work out. It’s simple things- helping someone with their weights, asking someone to spot you, striking up a conversation on the track so you don’t have to walk or run alone. And as you get to know people, you learn what they do and they learn what you do, and that’s how it eventually leads to business.

It takes a little patience. Talk to people. Get to know them. Let them get to know you. If you make it about getting to know people and expanding your personal network, you’ll succeed far more and far faster than if you make it “networking” and all about your business and what you can “get.”

Walt Disney frequently used to say, “I hope we never lose sight of one thing. It all began with a mouse.”  This has always been my favorite quote from a man who said many brilliant and inspiring things.  In fact, it matters so much to me that I keep a picture of the statue of Walt and Mickey in my office to remind myself of this very statement.  But why? What can we learn from this quote?  What could you, a small business owner, possibly have in common with a massive global conglomerate like Disney?

Take a moment and think about Disney, the entity. There are giant parks in Florida, California, Paris and Tokyo. There are movies and television shows. They own a TV network, radio stations, music labels, book publishing, magazines and newspapers, retails stores (at least 500), theaters, sports franchises, and a cruise line.  And there’s probably a lot more that I’m not thinking of off the top of my head.  This is a serious, giant company with serious, giant interests.

But it all began with a mouse. Hey, your company began with a mouse, right? Think about it- what is Mickey Mouse but a single idea that took hold and grew into more ideas, more plans, bigger profits?  Everything, all of the Disney parks and the Hannah Montanas and the movies and the merchandising…it all began with a mouse.

This week, think about your mouse.  What’s your little idea that can take hold and grow? What are you thinking about in a small way that could get bigger?  And what could your idea become, someday?

What’s your mouse?

My second LifeHack.org article came out today. The title is “Change the Way You View Work, Change Your Life.” The direct link is http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/change-the-way-you-see-work-and-change-your-life.html

Enjoy!

I’ve said it so many times. I’ve beaten this one to the ground. But honestly? I don’t think it can be overstated. I don’t think I can say it enough times. I’ve linked to articles form Forbes and Entrepreneur that say now is a fantastic time to start a business. And today, CNN has joined the fray, with an entire segment of their web site devoted to going solo.

Let’s recap- why is now a perfect time to go out on your own?

1. Corporate work isn’t as “safe” as it used to be. You don’t even have the illusion of safety anymore, do you? If you’ve seen the news, you’ve seen how many of our largest companies, even the ones that have always seemed so stable, are laying off scores of workers.  I’m really not trying to scare you here, but, let’s face it…you could be next. And that’s something you should be thinking about.
2. We’re all pulling together these days. Lately, if I have a chance to throw work to a reliable, high quality freelancer, versus a larger company, I’ll do it. Why? Because I’d rather my dollars go more directly to the person doing the work than through the financial filter of bureaucracy and paperwork. That is, if I pay a large company to have one of its employees design a web site or logo for one of my clients, I’m essentially paying for that company’s overhead- the office building they’re in, the person who processes my payment, the boss of the person designing the web site or logo, the guy who empties their trash cans, etc. etc. etc. But if I’m paying the freelancer directly, my money goes directly into that person’s pocket. Sure, there’s be some overhead expenses there, but in the end, the person who’s doing the work gets more of the money and that matters to me in this economy. And I’m not the only one.
   So what does this mean to you? It means if you’re thinking about going solo and you’re good at what you do, you’ll have people like me out there who would rather hire you than a big company.
3. Services are more affordable than ever. Everybody’s trying to get more clients these days. So a lot of people are cutting their rates to be more competitive (someday I’ll write another article on why that’s not necessarily the best strategy, but that’s a conversation for another day). And there are more freelancers working on their own now, and their pricing doesn’t always include the massive overhead of a big company. That means you can get all kinds of services much cheaper than any other time.
4. We don’t know where the economy is going. Honestly? We don’t know right now if things are going to get better or worse. And it’s possible things might get harder. So doesn’t it make sense to at least create a business that generates some pocket money or enough to cover the electric bill? Start a micro-business now in your spare time, and it’ll provide you with that little extra to help out, and then down the road, should you lose your job or decide you’re ready to transition out of the corporate world, you’ll be able to build that business without much effort (yes, really).
5. What, exactly, are you waiting for? If you’re waiting for the “right time” let me tell you: the right time is now. If you keep waiting, the “right time” will never come and one day you’ll look back at a lifetime spent working like a slave for someone else. Even if you don’t know what kind of business you want to start (or can start), that’s still no reason not to get something going now. In fact, that’s a perfect reason to hire an expert- someone who can show you your options and help you design your business to suit your lifestyle goals.

I can’t tell you how many times people have said to me, “I wish I could work from home like you,” or, “I wish I could do what you do.” Now, it’s not for everybody, but believe me when I say that virtually anybody can do something like what I do- not exactly what I do, but you can work from home (or anywhere in the world- and I have!). You can build a business based on what you know, that brings in a stable income, one that’s large enough so you don’t have to work every day or even all day. Even in this economy.

“You can do anything you put your mind to.” That’s what my mom said to me when I was growing up. When I developed carpal tunnel syndrome in both arms and had to make the choice between surgery and career change and I was afraid of the latter, my mom said, “Susan, you can do anything you put your mind to.”

Years later, I look back on that wisdom of my mom and I realize that it’s useful on so many levels. I’m not sure she was aware of how profound her comments were, any more that I think she considered the inherent logic in her favorite statement whenever I lost something, “It must be somewhere.”

But “you can do anything you put your mind to,” now that’s something. It suggests that it’s not just hard work that counts at the end of the day- it’s also what I call “smart work,” plus dedication, persistence, and focus.

When my mom used to say it to me, she meant, “Think about it, figure out how to do it, and then go do it.” When I combine that with my sister’s wisdom of “figure out where you want to go first, then once you’ve decided, worry about how to get there,” I find that I’m virtually unstoppable.

How can you apply this to your life? Are you “putting your mind to it” or are you just stumbling through? How can you put your mind to your goals and really make them happen?