5 Steps To Success In This Economy

If you're an entrepreneur, executive, business owner, service provider or in sales the economy right now may be affecting your business but whether or not your business succeeds or fails is up to you, not the economy.  That's good news.In every economy there are businesses within the same industry that fail and businesses that come out ahead. The difference is often you.  Are you feeling stuck and paralyzed by outside influences, like the economy, or have you decide that you will do what it takes and be successful, no matter what.There are two responses to what's going on right now, either fear or opportunity.  Either you feel overwhelmed and shrink or you see what you're made of, what you can do and strengthen yourself to meet those outside influences (Yahoo!).  It's all perspective and choice.  In every economy there are people that come out ahead, that make money and do great.  Why not have it be you that succeeds! Your Attitude.  It starts with your attitude.  It's not just about pushing harder, it's about coming up with good ideas, following through on them, and doing so in a way that works.  With a negative attitude, with a belief that things are bad and won't work, none of that is possible.  So, to create a successful business and be a winner start from within and follow up with action.Empower yourself by what you think and say and do... these tips may seem too simple but give them a try and see if they make a difference in your life and your business.  These are tools I use with my clients (and myself) to go from being stuck to excitement and success.  When I started using these with my clients I was astounded at the raves from those clients and results they were getting.  If you practice (not perfection, practice) these, and keep progressing forward using them, your life and your business will change.Step #1 - Start Your Day by Reading Something Positive.  Before you start looking at your To Do List, take fifteen minutes or an hour to read something positive, a book on success, prosperity, spirituality, wealth, positive thinking, a book that teaches about your industry - something to get you in a positive frame of mind first thing in the morning.  Some of my current recommendations are:

• Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill
• The Magic of Thinking Big - David Schwartz
• Secrets of Six Figure Woman - Barbara Stanny
• You Can Heal Your Life - Louise Hay
• The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity - Catherine Ponder

Read something that inspires and empowers you, that makes you feel good, like you could conquer the world, or at least your world.  Start your day on a positive note.Step #2 - Decide What You'll Accomplish Each Day.  I've noticed with my clients that when things get challenging and they get stressed they start doing busy work instead of going for it, they start feeling overwhelmed and freeze.  So, after raising your attitude and outlook by your positive reading, decide where you want to go next with your business, what you need to do to be successful and what you'll do today to get there.  Set goals and make a plan for your day.  Decide what you want to do, where you want to go, and how successful you want to be.Okay, your attitude is better, the next step is the doing.Step #3 - Take Action - Do What It Takes To Succeed.  Do what you need to do today.  You'll feel better.  Do something that will give you a sense of accomplishment and that will make a difference in your life and for your business.  Make some sales calls, go to a networking event and network, do that thing that you've been putting off... Do Something.  Show yourself that you mean business, that you're going for it, and that you are going to get it.  Be a success today!Having a positive attitude is very important and it needs to be followed by directed action to create your good (success, prosperity, wealth, happiness).  It's taking your power back instead of feeling controlled by outside influences.  Create what you want, not what you think is possible based on the economy or any other outside influence.  Decide what you want to create and take the action to do it.Step #4 - Take That Action That You've Been Putting Off!  If you're not at the very top of your game, leading in your industry, there are things that you could be doing that you're not and you know it.  Pick one that inspires you, that will expect more of you than you are giving now and do it.  Choose something that you know would benefit your business.  We can feel insecure, we get scared, we don't think we're good enough to do that next thing, to reach to that next level, but now is the time, the economy is giving us the opportunity to be more than we thought we could.  Stretch yourself.  Go for it.Now that you've created a great day for yourself, appreciate yourself and all your hard work, and take stock of all the good that is.Step #5a - Write a Nightly Gratitude List - One of the best things to get you into a better mental space, knowing that good is possible, is to focus on the good that already is.  Think about all you have - your skills, your friends, your opportunities, all the good in your life and business... your customers/clients past, present and future.  List what you do have.  To have a quick shift write a list of "100 Things I'm Grateful For."Then every night before you fall asleep write a list of *10 Things I'm Grateful For* so your subconscious mind thinks of all your good while you sleep.  You'll sleep better and wake in the morning feeling better.  (Won't that help your business... and all of your life?)Step #5b - Acknowledge Your Successes - Along with what your grateful for, write what you did today to build your business and make your life better?  Before you go to sleep appreciate and value yourself, write a list of *5 of My Successes Today* so you are focusing on what you have done versus the things that you didn't do.  There will always be things we didn't do but focusing on them breaks us down.  Focusing on what we did empowers us to do more and do it better.  And again, you'll sleep better and you'll start focusing on what you are doing.  You'll see the power you have to change your world and your business, you'll feel better and want to do more because you're appreciating and valuing you.In every situation we have the opportunity to build ourselves up to meet the situation or to be beaten by it.  This is a great time to build new tools and create new habits for yourself.  Try these for a week and pay attention to any differences in your business and life.  If they work and support you now, imagine how great they'll work when the economy swings back around.You can turn this challenging time into your adventure... don't you want to know what you're made of?  Don't you want to live to your potential?  What could you do now, that you haven't done before?  We all want to fulfill our potential, to see what we're made of and what we're capable of.  The economy is giving you your chance, what you do with it is up to you...