Best Practices for Pinterest

I love Pinterest! After Twitter, it is my biggest generator of leads and traffic.

Pinterest is a great way to drive traffic back to your website or blog. The shelf life of a pin is typically three months and one popular pin alone can continue to result in traffic for years to come…

Like everything else in 2020, the way we market on Pinterest has changed. If you follow me there, you will witness my profile undergoing an evolution to keep current with best practices. Techniques we were taught earlier are no longer valid.

So what is currently working on Pinterest? Here are my best tips:

If you haven't yet, create your business account and claim your website. This is the very first thing you should do. Having a business account allows you to use Rich Pins, run ads, and get analytics.

Use a face for your profile picture. Just like all your other social media platforms, Pinterest shows your pins to people who may not follow you or know who you are. People look at profile images as the first step to getting to know, like, and trust someone. If you put your face in your Pinterest profile image, it builds trust with your audience and is proved to increase your click-through rate.

Create the right boards. It used to be considered smart to create lots of boards covering a wide range of topics. This was supposed to help you connect with a broader range of people. The problem is that people who are interested in my "Fairy Gardens" board may be great people who share one common interest with me. But the odds are they are not interested in my business. Now, it's best to have fewer boards that focus on your BRAND and your CONTENT.


Post only to relevant boards. When you post content to boards that aren’t relevant, Pinterest considers this spam. The company may remove your post and even delete your account.

Pin to relevant group boards. Group boards are back! I know they went away for a while, but they are trendy once again, and well worth the effort to belong to them. I don't recommend you start a group board of your own unless you want to spend all your time managing it. But I do recommend you find good ones to join.

Publish pins before the holiday rush. If you post seasonal content, you’ll need to post 20-40 days before the actual event. This will give you the most traffic and the best engagement.

Add ‘Pin It’ button. Make it easy for your visitors to share your content by adding a ‘Pin It’ button to your blog or website. Be sure to publish visual content that’s already optimized for Pinterest!

Add board covers that look professional and create attractive branded images. When your Pinterest boards are unified with beautiful covers, new users are more likely to follow you. And attractive images get more favor in the Pinterest feed. Attractive pins catch the eye of pinners and slow their scroll. So keep in mind that on Pinterest, the IMAGE is more important than the pin URL.

Publish your pins in the evenings. Pinterest is a social network that users tend to get lost in and they know it. That’s why most people save their browsing until the evening after they’ve had a busy day. 

Publish 2 - 6 pins per day.  As in Facebook, too much content and you end up competing with yourself.

Use Video Pins. There aren't very many people using video on Pinterest yet. So if you really want to stand out, start creating 6 -15 second videos. In the wall of images on the Pinterest feed, videos will definitely catch the eye! These play without sound automatically, so do not rely on audio to get your point across.

You should be using Pinterest for business in 2021. It's one of the most valuable platforms for ecommerce. Think of it as a huge shopping mall with with hundreds of thousands of "window-shoppers." And each of your windows is a clickable link! It really is to your advantage to get yourself situated on it now. 

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Twitter Tips

I love Twitter. It is my social media platform of choice! Yes, you there is a character limit of 280 characters per post. You will learn to be concise! Yes, there are trolls and haters there. Just like everywhere else. But the benefits of Twitter far outweigh any negatives. 

Twitter is one of the busiest social networks but it’s also excellent for driving traffic back to your website. To get the most out of your tweets, follow these simple suggestions…

Keep your Twitter handle simple. Avoid adding numbers or supplementary characters to make it unique. 

Use longer messages. Twitter now allows users to post tweets that are up to 280 characters in length. 

Include video as part of your Twitter marketing strategy. Videos must be shorter than 2 minutes and 20 seconds. If you upload a longer video, you’ll be given the chance to edit it down to the required length. 

Make a tweetstorm. If you want to go in-depth about a topic, use a tweetstorm tool so your followers can easily follow your thread. 

Create videos that show behind-the-scenes of your business. This makes it more likely that your followers will like your brand and make a purchase. Maximum video length is 2 minutes and 20 seconds.

Avoid posting the same tweets repeatedly. Twitter now views this practice as spamming and may delete your account if you do this. 

Use a social media tool to find popular hashtags. Hashtags make it easy for users to discover your content. You can discover which ones are the most popular by using TagDef. or Hashtagify.

Pin your best tweet. Twitter allows users to ‘pin’ one tweet to the top of their profile. This is a simple way to drive more traffic to your website. 

Engage in trending topics carefully. Make sure you understand the hashtag and how it’s being used before you tweet. Otherwise you risk saying something that your followers might find offensive. 

Include more images. While text tweets can be easier to post they don’t drive as much engagement. Tweets with images are 90% more likely to get likes and replies. 

Add polls to your tweets. Polls can be a great way to gain valuable insights about the types of content that your followers prefer.

Curate content. Don’t just publish your own content. Gather content from other sources sources, and share it with your audience to diversify your Twitter posts. Retweet helpful articles, positive customer feedback, and user-generated content, among other posts, to maintain a solid Twitter presence and to better connect with your audience.

Use the right call to action (CTA). Include relevant and compelling CTAs in your tweets to generate more clicks. Go beyond asking your audience to share your content. Encourage them to visit your website, download content from your landing page, or use a discount coupon.

Schedule your posts. Schedule your tweets at the perfect time to ensure your audience sees them. Stay on top of your social media content calendar, and automate your Twitter posting schedule. There are reliable social media management tools, such as SocialJukeBox, that can help with this.

Two Top Marketers Spill Their Guts LIVE!

Yes, I know! It’s another post with another offer! But this is too exciting not to share!

2 top internet marketers are getting on the Wednesday webinar to spill their guts!

Why are they spilling their guts?

Because they are getting on to offer a FREE MASTERCLASS to help you discover amazing ‘Done For You’ customizable funnels & lead magnets that brand YOU, Grow YOUR E-mail list, and promote YOUR opportunity!

And to do that they’re going to reveal their most current and effective what’s-working-now tactics…

The tactics that are pulling in leads and customers for their business right now!

No yesterday’s news here!

Wonder twins Brian and James Fanale are going to be laying it all out for you tomorrow at 8pm EST.

Grab your spot now while you still can!

Here’s some of what you can expect…

• Why having a high-value funnel in place is CRITICAL if you want to get leverage in your business
• How to take ‘done for you’ solutions, WOW your prospects, and turn them into customers today!
• Simple little-known Canva tricks to customize everything so YOU are fully branded & look like a pro
• How to get thousands of video views, 200+ subscribers per month, and high-quality backlinks to grow your business FAST.
• And so much more… this LIVE show helps you take your business to the next level!

That’s all happening on ONE single training tomorrow at 8 pm EST…Get on it and get this inside info that won’t be revealed anywhere else!

Click here to get registered now!

See you tomorrow night!

How Would You Like 36+ FREE Leads Per Day With Facebook? Look What I Found...

I’ve got some good news and bad news for you…

You know how much I LOVE Facebook marketing. But it appears that some of what I was teaching you could have been better!

I just watched this amazing webinar and while I am pretty excited I’m also a bit irritated that that I didn’t know about this stuff sooner. I really need to get through all these webinars a bit faster…

Oh well…

Anyway...so here’s the bad news I discovered about Facebook…

I have totally left you in the dark about some of the easiest
methods in the world to getting tons of leads for our home businesses…

But there’s very GOOD NEWS!!...

You’re not going to be in the dark any longer! This webinar I
just watched IS the light at the end of the tunnel.

CLICK HERE for instant access:

It’s a FREE, jam-packed 86-minute recording of one of the
most powerful webinars I’ve EVER seen on Facebook marketing...

It shows EXACTLY…step-by-step… how a master Facebook
marketer named Michelle has made over $10,000 in one week
on Facebook. Yes, that’s right.  ONE WEEK!

Now that’s not every week of course, but it was certainly
enough to make my ears perk up...

And here’s the amazing part about Michelle’s tactics…These are simple methods that have been staring us all
right in the face!!

Basically there’s nothing that YOU can’t do yourself...

Michelle shows exactly WHAT to do, and HOW to do it.
She’s taking the wool from our eyes that so many of the
gurus have been blinding us with...

You’ve got to go CLICK HERE and check it out...

In the Webinar Michelle reveals...

** What she does to pull in 25+ new raving fans per
day on FACEBOOK...

**The tactics she uses for 36+ solid...can’t-wait-to-work-
with-you LEADS every day...

** The secrets to creating Facebook PPC ads that only
cost .07 cents per click and get a whopping 49% click thru rate...

** And tons more!!...

CLICK HERE and check it out:

This is seriously everything that you need to

know to start killing it on FaceBook every single day.
Business and life changing information...for FREE right now...
and only one click away.

One More Chance

I am officially hibernating after this. Okay probably not. But I am going to be focusing on finishing my next book, so I don't have time for a long and drawn out post.

Besides, with the holidays and all, I am thinking you really don't want one either. So this is ONLY for those of you who have been looking at the marketing system I told you about in a recent post.

I am working with a bunch of people on this and I am getting ready to start my 10 Day Success Group again. The truth is that there is a window of opportunity right now that is just really cool. So if you were looking at MLSP and didn't go for it and you regret that decision...

I have something special for those who take advantage of the 10-day trial.

Stop reading and disregard if you are not into it. But if you are, go order HERE.

Once I see you’ve joined, I’ll contact you so I can help you out and add you to our group.

If you are not into this or it's out of your budget, no worries.

I have so much good stuff coming you are absolutely going to flip.

I know this isn't my typical blog post. I just wanted to make sure you get this just in case.

But if you feel the need for a longer read, did you see this blog post?

Meet Jennifer Lamb!

I do these Success Story profiles from time-to-time. Whenever I meet someone really cool. And Jen is REALLY cool!

Could you be my next profile? 

5 Actions That Can Make Your Life Better

Sometimes it can seem like improving your life is an uphill battle, or like digging your way out of a hole in the sand. Things seem to be working more against you than in your favor. The problem, however, could be something very easily fixed. You may be thinking too big.

There are actually a number of fairly small things that you can do to change your outlook, improve your health and make your life better. This post lists only five. Granted some of them take some commitment, but try out a few of these and see if that uphill battle doesn’t get a little easier.

1.         Joining A Social Group

This could be a club, a sports team, a Facebook group, a group centered around a common interest, or just a group of friends that goes out for drinks once a month. The important thing is having friends.

Having friends improves our self-confidence. It gives us a network to help us deal with things like stress, or grief, and it even improves the immune system. All of these things also have secondary benefits. For example, people with strong and healthy social networks have been shown to be more likely to maintain a healthy bodyweight and to live longer than those that don’t have that social support system.

2.         Practicing Your Faith

For quite a while now, many experts have understood that following a religious faith genuinely helps people in a number of ways. It gives us a sense of purpose. It makes us feel like we’re part of something larger than just ourselves. It encourages us to be understanding, forgiving, and generous. It makes our lives better and it makes us better people.

Research consistently shows that finding meaning in life greatly increases our mental and physical health. Many of us benefit from the fellowship we find in our church community.

3.         Learn A New Language

Learning a language like English, Spanish, French, German, or Chinese, can be practical in a business setting, or just while you’re walking around town. Learning any additional language, however, comes with a number of benefits, including helping you to learn and remember other things, and helping you to see things from new perspectives.

Some universities may let you audit classes on foreign languages. Community centers may have classes in foreign language that are open to the public. You may be able to find books on learning new languages at book stores or thrift stores near you, or you could download any number of free or cheap apps to learn another language on your mobile phone, tablet, or computer.

4.         Change Jobs

If you hate your job and your company, you can read this as “quit your job and start over,” but you don’t have to. If you worked hard to get where you are and you like the work that you do, consider a lateral job change in your own company.

See if you can work in a new department for a bit, even if it’s just filling a position while someone is on vacation or while management is looking for someone to fill a spot permanently. Changing jobs provides a nice change of pace, it helps you to understand your own abilities and versatility, and it helps you to understand what the world looks like from someone else’s office.

5.         Go To College

Even if you’ve already been there, or even if you can’t or don’t want to stay for a four-year degree. College is a unique experience where you get to meet new people in an institution specifically dedicated to learning and looking at new ideas.

Even if you’ve already been to college, many find that the experience is quite different when they return later in life, even if it’s just to audit a class.

Some of the things listed in this post are a pretty big commitment. Other things on the list, however, are things that you could do pretty quickly and with little or no financial burden. Give one or all of them a try, and you'll soon find you are on your way to designing your perfect life.

My Secret Marketing System

Okay...I confess...

I hate doing one-on-one sales and prospecting. I detest closing. It's just not my thing. It just feels unnatural, forced, and phony.

Now put me on a Zoom or a Facebook Live and I can chatter FOREVER...as some of you know.

Put me on stage in front of people, and I'll be on FIRE! I love the energy of interacting with a live audience. I feed off it. 

But trying to talk to just one person cold? Trying to convince a stranger to join my team or try my products? Not so much. It's not that I can't carry on a conversation. I definitely can. But somehow I just don't like talking about business in that setting. I have to have a relationship with you before I feel comfortable getting down to business. 

Maybe that's why it's different when I'm on a Zoom or onstage. I know that everyone is expecting it to be business. The audience already knows what I'm going to talk about. It's not a surprise. And I probably know many of the people in the audience or at least the person who set up the event.

It's kind of weird, if you think about it. But unfortunately, it's totally true.

You might think that would greatly hamper any chance I had of building a successful business. And it did...at first. When I started in business, I was so afraid to talk to people, I just didn't do it. I placed ads and handed out business cards and DVDs and simply waited for someone to reach out to me saying they wanted to work with me. 

Want to know how many people that was? ZERO!  

So then I tried buying leads. At least that way I'd be talking to people who wanted to talk about business, right? Well, we all know how that went. I wrote an entire blog post on the topic! 

Obviously, something happened. Something changed. Because here I am...7 years from the date of that blog post. Making money. So did I suddenly get over my aversion to talking about my business to strangers? Did I hire someone to do it for me? Do I just never talk business to anyone?

Of course not! I just found a way to work around it! I still never talk to strangers. I just make sure that by the time I'm actually having a one-on-one conversation with them, we've already started building that very important (to me anyway) relationship.

You can work around pretty much every obstacle if you want. You can overcome any weakness. I did it. You can do it too. Just give yourself time. Don't panic. And stop trying to do things that just don't feel natural to you. I will never be Ray Higdon or Eric Worre or Rick Billings. And that's just fine. I can do things my own way and still be successful.

If you're reading this, then I'm going to assume that you also want to talk business. And maybe, like me, you are too shy, too nervous, too frightened, too unsure, too WHATEVER, to do it. You might be thinking of giving up. Maybe all those people who told you it wouldn't work were right. 

Well I'm here to tell you they were WRONG!

You just have to find the work-around that's right for you.

There is a simple way to do that. Surround yourself with a community of people who have done it already. Yes, Ray Higdon is part of that community. But if you can't do the cold contact like he does, that's okay. Because Mark Harbert is also part of that community. And Diane Hochman. And Erin Birch. And many MANY others who do things THEIR way. 

Find a place to learn different skills to help you build an audience so you have a group of friends to talk to so you never have to talk to another stranger...ever!

Get access to tools that will help you reach out to your audience wherever they may hang out...Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, your blog, your newsletter, anywhere at all.

Where is this magical place? It sounds almost too good to be true, doesn't it?

Everybody knows I use a marketing system. Y'all should know by now that we offer free weekly training from the best minds in the business. And yes...there are TOOLS! Lots and lots of tools. Everything to help you build your audience.

If you haven't heard me talk about it by now, then you obviously aren't really following me anywhere. (Which is why we've never talked business. We don't have a relationship!)

You can learn all about my secret marketing system...and the community around it...here.

One of the saddest things I see in this business today is the people who are willing to spend a ton of money on opportunities they will never promote, tools they will never use, and coaches that can't help them.

I see people all the time running themselves BROKE trying to find that magic button or the silver bullet that will finally bring them success. 

This is definitely NOT that. Because, frankly, there is no button or bullet or secret program or system that will bring you long lasting success. There might be things that cash in on the latest hot trend that will bring you a momentary flash. But then the market changes, or something new comes along and suddenly you're left struggling and wondering what happened.

I have worked with this system for the last 5 years and credit it with much of my success.

If you're finally ready to build YOUR business on YOUR terms, check it out here.

Simplify Your Business For Maximum Impact

Lately I've felt this need to simplify my life as much as possible. Even in the year of COVID-19, I still felt like I was always on a dead run and yet I could never catch up. And so I've put some real effort into simplifying my cleaning routine, my meal planning and preparation, my daily schedule, and my business. As a grandmother, mom, wife, business owner...I wear so many hats that sometimes it feels a bit overwhelming. I knew I needed to implement some productivity tools to help me balance everything I had going on.

I've discovered some productivity tools that have really helped me streamline my business and my life in general. I was amazed at how many unnecessary activities I was able to just cut out of my day! It's allowed me to free up a lot more time for things I truly enjoy. And I learned a lot of great tips from the Productivity Secrets videos I've shared. These are an incredible resource if you want to get more done with your day!

Some of the benefits of a streamlined business include:

• Having the time to spend on the activities that actually generate income
• The ability to move closer to achieving your ultimate goals
• Using your time more efficiently and being more productive
• Feeling more at ease and in control of your business

I know  it can be hard to simplify things as a busy entrepreneur. But it's critical to your health and well-being the health and well-being of your business. Here are my top productivity habits for entrepreneurs to streamline your business and help you get on the path to feeling empowered!

Organize Your Workspace

Physical clutter almost always turns into mental clutter. If you’re serious about streamlining your business, this is the best place to start. Once you get the clutter under control, it will be a lot easier to simplify the other areas of your business as well.

For more in-depth tips on how to go about simplifying your possessions and decluttering, feel free to read these other posts I’ve written on this topic: 

6 Steps to a Stress-Free Organized Office

De-Stress Your Home Office With Four Feng Shui Elements

De-Stressing Begins With De-Cluttering

Make A To-Do List

I can NOT function without a list! Seriously, I have a list at all times. Having a list of what you need to accomplish each day helps keep you on track. Prioritize your list so the most important tasks are at the top to ensure the most critical (i.e. moneymaking!) activities are done first. Check each item off your list as you complete it. There is something very satisfying about seeing a completed list at the end of the day. 

Set Up Routines

I am all about routines and habits. Just ask my husband! In fact, I am currently doing a Morning Makeover Challenge in my Facebook group and today's lesson was all about habits and routines!

Routines don’t sound very exciting, but they really can do wonders for your productivity level. There are morning routines, workout routines, office routines, etc. I think the best approach is to pick one type of routine to help you simplify your schedule and some tasks that you need to accomplish. After that one routine is established, then maybe move on to incorporating another into your life. If you'd like to start with the Morning Makeover Challenge, you'll find it in my Facebook group!

Automate

This is a great way to save some time and energy. Automate as many tasks as possible. If you are a blogger, figure out how you can automate your social media platforms! Use an autoresponder to follow-up with leads. 

Delegate and Outsource

I had a number of years where I would run around like a mad woman, trying to do it all. But the need to be "Superwoman" isn't healthy for you...physically or mentally. If you are an entrepreneur and a wife and mom, this is especially true for you. You can quickly become completely overwhelmed, exhausted, and burned out. 

There is no rule that says you have to do it all. Part of what I teach is my Morning Makeover Challenge is to let other family members help out. If your children are old enough to  make their own breakfast or dress themselves, let them! If your husband knows how to turn the coffee pot on in the morning or take the dog out, let him. Use the extra time to do something for your or your business.

The other way to save time, if you are at the point in your business where it makes sense, is to outsource. This is true especially if there are tasks that you are not good at or that you absolutely dislike doing. 

I love coming up with ideas for designs for my t-shirt stores. But that's where it ends. I don't have one shred of artistic talent. So I outsource the actual design work to a graphic artist. She takes my concept and turns it into something that will actually go on a shirt and sell! It's worth what I pay her to do this because here designs are professional looking, which means I make more sales.

Finances and managing the money is an important part of any business. It's also something I hate dealing with. I've passed this task off to my husband. He's very good at it, doesn't mind doing it, and it's his way of supporting me in my business. 

Look for ways you can outsource parts of your business. Hire a VA for a few hours each week. Barter with another entrepreneur. If there is something you are particularly good at like web design or social media, offer to help with that in exchange for her doing some tasks that you dislike. 

Learn To Say “No”

If something doesn’t align with your priorities in your business, don’t feel guilty about saying “no” to it. You aren’t obligated to do everything that is asked of you. You are the keeper of your time, so it is up to you to not let others dictate how you are spending it. When we allow ourselves to become caught up in activities and perceived obligations that we don’t enjoy, it doesn’t leave much time to spend on what we actually want to do.

Use these tips to help you simplify your business. 

I'm having a "fire sale" on some older products so now is a great time to take advantage of the Productivity Secrets video series. For the next 48 hours, you can get them less than 1/2 price!

Just click here!

My Grandma Knew a Thing or Two

When the going gets tough, I always remember what my grandma told me....

What I Have Invested In To Grow My Business

I hear a lot of excuses from people about why they weren't successful in their business. But the one I hear most often does have some merit. Money.

A frequent reason for failure seems to be that it takes money to make money and they just didn't have any extra to invest in their business.

I agree. It can take an investment to move your business to the next level. But I disagree that the extra money can't be found. It doesn't take that much! We are not talking thousands of dollars. It doesn't even take hundreds of dollars. In fact, you can start your very own affiliate marketing business for less than $100 dollars a month.

I know because I've done it. And I used the exact same tools to build my network marketing business, my coaching business, sell my training products, and drive traffic to my e-commerce sites and even market my book.

Here's exactly what I invested in to build my business:

1. You need a website. Even if you are in network marketing where they give you a canned replicated website, you want one of your own. Something you can brand to you! 

I chose SoloBuildIt for my website. For one low price you get domain name registration, hosting, email, newsletter manager, and much more. Plus you get a guide and training to help you build a website that actually draws traffic. I wrote a blog post about all the benefits of using SoloBuildIt many years ago when it was still known as SiteBuildIt. Seven years later I am still using it because it works. And it's affordable. You can take advantage of their monthly payment plan of $34.99/month. This is their way of trying to help as many people as possible regain control of their lives.

You can get more information about SoloBuildIt here. 

Step 1: $34.99 month.  Let's use the monthly payment plan since most of us don't have $329 to start our business.

2. You will need an autoresponder. You may disagree with me on this. But I feel that you just can't really build a 6-figure business without building your email list. And to manage your list properly, you will need an autoresponder. I did say that SoloBuildIt has email and a newsletter manager. But I'll admit it...setting up an automatic email series can be cumbersome. An autoresponder just makes life easier and will more than pay for itself.

The autoresponder I use and recommend is AWeber. They are reliable. They are affordable. They are innovative. And they provide support and training to help you get the most out of your efforts. You can get started with AWeber for free. I pay $19.00/month for all the bells and whistles.

Check them out here. 

Step 1: 34.99/month

Step 2: $00.00/month because I assume you want to start with the free account until you actually need all the stuff with the $19.00/month account

Total: $34.99/month

3. You need to learn how to market properly, generate leads, and have the tools and training necessary as you expand and grow. You can purchase funnel builders and lead page builders separately. You can waste time trying to create lead magnets. You can spend money on a place to host your products. You can hire all the coaches and "gurus" to teach you what you need to know. 

Or you can get it all in one place.

I use MLSP to provide all of this for me and more. They provide me with all the marketing training, coaching, and tools I need to do this right. Plus I am now a member of one of the most supportive marketing communities out there. I love this resource so much that I happily pay over $200/month to get full access to everything! But you don't need to pay that at all to benefit from what they have to offer. You can get everything you need for $49.97/month. 

Take the $10 trial here. If you don't like it, we'll even give you your $10 back.

Step 1: 34.99/month

Step 2: $00.00/month

Step 3: $49.97/month 

Total:   $84.96/month!!

Yes, I have invested thousands of dollars in education and coaching. But not when I was just getting started! When I was a newbie, I started out just like this. All you need is $84.96/month.

Now would you like to know a little secret? I don't pay that much for any of these things. And you don't have to either. I am an affiliate for each of these tools. That means whenever someone signs up using my link, I get paid. I get paid enough to offset what it would normally cost me. You can do the same. It's called affiliate marketing and it's how I first started making money online. So when you sign up for these tools (and thanks for helping me keep the lights on!) make sure you sign up to become an affiliate. 

Turning Points

I had just arrived at my destination for the weekend. A weekend with some wonderful volunteers, many of whom I hadn't seen in a while. I was looking forward to spending some time with these amazing women, teaching them some new skills, getting to know them better, and basically just relaxing and having a good time. As Girl Scouts, we already had a special bond, and this weekend was meant to strengthen that bond by connecting life-long Scouts and volunteers with our newer members. I was eager to get started. But first I just needed to call and check on my dad. 

 My dad had recently moved in with me and my family after the death of my mother. He suffered from Alzheimer's and just needed a little extra support. Normally, he would have stayed at home with my husband. But it just happened that he was also out of town for work. And so I had checked my dad into an assisted living facility for a trial visit. If he liked it, we had discussed moving him there so he would have company during the day. I worried about him alone all day out on the dirt road while my husband and I were at work. When I dropped him off I promised I would call him as soon as I got to GS Camp, just to see how he was doing. The facility had been recommended by several people I knew who also had aging parents, so I was confident that he would find his stay enjoyable. 

The phone rang several times before someone answered it. When I identified myself and asked to speak to my dad, there was silence on the other end of the line. Then suddenly the night manager was on the line. It seemed they did not know where my dad was. The facility was not that large, so I questioned how hard it would be to have someone go look for him. And that's when they dropped the bomb. He was not in the facility. Somehow he had been able to walk out the front door and was now somewhere in downtown Rogers...presumably. They had staff out looking for him and she assured me they would find him. I told her I was on my way back and hung up the phone. 

I informed the other staff and the volunteers of the situation and ran to my car to begin the drive home. It was only 2 hours but it was the longest 2 hours of my life. As I raced towards home, I silently berated myself. How could I have left him in such a place? Why didn't I reschedule the training weekend? How was I supposed to DO this...take care of him and not completely disrupt my own life? 

I reached the facility in record time, totally stressed and sick with worry. What if they hadn't found him? What if he was lost or injured? I was sure he was frightened by not knowing where he was. I ran inside and thankfully, there he was. Sitting on a sofa in the common area. Drinking a cup of coffee. That's where he had gone. He thought he had seen a coffee shop next door when I dropped him off (it wasn't) and he wanted a cup of coffee. He was looking for one when a police officer found him. Then he looked at me with fear in his eyes and asked, "Why did you leave me here? Did you forget me?" I'm not sure how he was able to actually walk out the front door of the facility without someone stopping him. And I worried that he might one day decide to go for a cup of coffee while he was alone at my house. Only this time there wouldn't be anyone to go look for him quickly. Life on the dirt road is a bit secluded! 

It was in that moment that I knew I had to make a change. I had to find a way to care for my dad and still make a living. As I drove back to camp with him in tow (yes, I registered him. At 72, my dad became the oldest first time Girl Scout!), I started thinking. I realized that I had simply been playing "sort of." I "sort of" had a business at home, but not really. I "sort of" knew what I needed to do to actually make money...but not really. I "sort of" put in the effort to learn and grow...unless I was busy with something - ANYTHING! - else. And I knew that the reason for my failure was my own doubt and uncertainty. It was distorting my perceptions and allowing me to be overpowered by fear. 

As I drove through the darkness back towards camp, I started telling him where we were going and why. I told him about all of the new volunteers who were taking on the daunting task of helping to mold our girls into capable, courageous young women, even though many of them were hesitant and uncertain. But they had stepped up in faith that those of us who had gone before would teach them and support them. Because without them, there would be no troop for their daughters. There would be no programs to teach them and help them grow. And so they stepped forward, because they had no choice. Their daughters needed them. They would find a way to figure it out. And that thought taught me a powerful lesson - a truth that became the turning point in my business. 

I was like these women. Hesitant and uncertain. But I had no choice. My dad needed me. I needed to step up in faith that I would find a way to figure it out. I knew people. Successful people. It was time I stopped faking it and started actually making it! I looked at my dad, smiling and content to be going with me on an adventure as he called it, and made the decision that NOTHING would stop me from doing what I needed to do to care for him. 

How about you? Are you "sort of" building a business? Are you letting fear and uncertainty hold you back? Are you letting the naysayers convince you that you cannot succeed? Are you ready to step out in faith that you can do this? Do you believe there are many people out there that will help you? That weekend was the turning point in my business where I realized how much was at stake. And as we take this journey together, I want today to be a turning point for you. 

So here are some things to think about. 

• What is your "WHY"? Why are you building a business? And no, it's not so you can have more     money or more time. It's the reason you want more money, more time. My why was caring for my dad. Now it's spending time with my husband and family. I'm a Boomer. I'm not getting any younger. I want to experience all I can with them while I'm still able. It's important to know your "WHY". When your "WHY" is big enough, you will find the "HOW". I promise!  
• As you make the commitment to finally do this thing, you have to tune out the naysayers and "Negative Nellies." There will always be people who doubt you. Don't listen to them! Surround yourself with people who will build you up and support you. There are lots of us out here! You may have to leave some of your old friends and acquaintances behind as yo you start your new life. And that may be hard. But if you want to succeed, you must cut the negativity from your environment. Trust me. You will face enough challenges without someone standing behind you telling you this is never going to work. 
• Find the tools and training you need to succeed. Yes, this will probably require an investment. But you don't have to invest a fortune to get started. You can invest thousands of dollars if you really want to. But until you are truly on your way and actually making some money, why bother? There are plenty of tools and training and coaching available for a very small investment. I invite you to join the Ninja Marketers. Here you will find a community of entrepreneurs who support and help each other succeed. Best of all...it's free!

When we reach that point in our life where we know it's time to focus... That it's time to turn away from fear and uncertainty... When we accept the fact that we can be successful if we put our heart into it... We create the turning point in our businesses and we begin to truly become entrepreneurs. In doing so, we can actually change our lives, and the lives of our families. We can fulfill that "WHY". 

So, are you ready to start turning? 

My life changed that weekend. No I was not able to reach the point where I could stay home and care for my dad. But I was able to leave the job that required me to travel and take a part time job closer to home. And he was able to live with me until the end. He spent his last years in our home, surrounded by kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. It doesn't get much better than that.

Tools for Overcoming Fear and Becoming Fierce

Fear often shows up when you decide to be fierce. It’s that nagging voice in the back of your mind that makes you doubt yourself, worry you’ve made the wrong choice, and wonder if you shouldn’t turn back. This fear is holding you back from living your best life. Fortunately, you don’t have to live with it. There are tools that can help you overcome it. Here are just a few…

Build a Strong Support Network

Surround yourself with other fierce women. That’s what I did when I retired from the military. I became friends with many of the women involved in local issues and politics. Talk about some FIERCE women! Every week, I would have lunch or coffee with the women I now call my “dream team”.  And even though it's been 20+ years...and even though COVID-19 has put a TEMPORARY halt to the lunches and coffees...I still connect with many of them regularly. We support each other through the ups and downs of marriages, children, careers, health concerns, and more.

The more you're surrounded by brave action, the more likely you will be able to step past the fear. Knowing that you have a network of women who will always have your back can motivate you to try new and exciting things.

Get to the Root

What’s really making you feel funky? Are you worried about starting your own business? Or are you simply worried that your spouse won’t be supportive? Are you fretting over publishing your memoir? Or are you nervous over what your mom will think about it?

Sometimes we fear other people’s reactions more than we actually fear doing something. The activity is easy. Dealing with the fallout can feel much harder.

Ask: “So What?”

When Jenny wanted to start a business flipping houses, her stepfather fretted that she would lose everything she owned and end up homeless. He kept bringing up the issue and eventually, Jenny got into tizzy.

A kind friend asked, “So what?” She pointed out to Jenny that she’d already been homeless once before and survived. “Even if you fail,” Her friend said, “It’s not the end of the world. It’s just one more step in your journey.”

When you’re worried about what could go wrong on your next adventure, take a moment to think through the consequences. Are they really that bad? Or do they merely seem that way at first glance?

Embrace Prayer

I find that leaning into prayer can help me deal with my fears. Turns out I'm not alone. Research has shown that many people turn to prayer when confronted with a fearful situation. You can do this by repeating a beloved Bible verse, asking God for peace, or listening to worship music.

One reason that prayer can be effective is because it reminds us that we’re not in control. When you view yourself as part of a bigger picture, then things like failing an assignment or getting rejected on a dating app don’t overwhelm you in the same way.

Try Meditation

Betty is a public speaker. When she worries about sharing her message in front of a new crowd, she meditates. She imagines the event and focuses on all the ways it can go right. This positivity helps her disconnect from her fear.

There are plenty of guided meditations on YouTube. Some meditations encourage listeners to think of walking through a forest, a winter snowstorm, or relaxing on the beach. These recordings can be relaxing and help you release any anxiety or fear you’re carrying.

Overcoming fear isn’t a one-time task. Fear will always rise to bring challenge in you, no matter what you’re doing. The goal isn’t to get rid of fear. It’s to embrace fear, thank it for what it’s teaching you, and live your life.

Do It Afraid

Stop letting fear hold you back!

When you’re focused on becoming fierce, it won’t be long until you bump up against some fears. Maybe you worry about what other people will think. Perhaps you doubt you can accomplish your goals. Maybe you’re trying something no one else has done before. Whatever your reasons, fear is a natural part of the process. It’s your inner voice trying to keep you safe.

The problem is that you can’t grow if you’re always living in your safety zone. If you truly want to grow and become fierce, you have to leave the comfort of the known. Here are a few tips to make that journey easier…

Take a Tiny Step

I almost drowned as a child and I used to be afraid to go near bodies of water after that. So when I had to learn to swim in college, I was panic-stricken. But swimming was part of the PE class that was required and so I had no choice.

I took a tiny step by going to my local store and purchasing a swim suit. A few days later, I went to observe my friend during her swimming class and observed a kind nun teaching her students how to float. (All-girl Catholic college, y'all).

The next time I went to the pool, I went into the water ankle high. I kept focusing on the tiny steps one at a time so my big goal didn’t feel quite so overwhelming or impossible. With the support of Sister Cornelius, I was able to swim 6 different strokes by the end of the semester! (Too bad I couldn't use them when my kayak flipped! But those lessons did keep me from panicking!)

Ask for Accountability

Sometimes, overcoming a fear is easier if you know other people are watching you. For example, when I wanted to finish my first book. I'd been talking about it for years but had never actually completed it. So I announced publicly that I would be writing my book that year.

I joined an online writing group and posted daily about my progress. Knowing that my fellow writers were following my journey gave me the courage to keep going. Even on the days when I didn’t feel like writing, I still showed up because I didn’t want to let myself down. And I didn't want the other group members to see me quit.

Create a Point of No Return

Barb had struggled with video marketing for years. She wanted to do it but she was terrified of messing up in front of the camera. So she would record a few takes, get discouraged that her videos weren’t perfect then give up.

But Barb’s husband encouraged her to create a point of no return so that she had to post daily videos that were livestreaming. Barb liked the idea because it would force her to let go of her perfectionist tendency. So she announced that she was doing daily Facebook Live videos on her fan page.

At first, no one paid attention to Barb and that made it easier for her to keep going. As time went on, her reach grew and she started to build a supportive community around her videos.

Bring a Friend

You can go a step further than I did and bring a friend along with you on your next adventure. My friend Chris loves to try new things. But she is older and a bit shy and so she worries she’ll feel out of place. So she invites me to go with her so she doesn’t have to face a bunch of strangers on her own.

I have discovered many new things and have had some interesting experiences while tagging along with Chris. And Chris has discovered some exiting new hobbies that she loves and has made a whole new circle of friends. It all started because we were willing to be fierce together.

If you’re struggling to become fierce, don’t keep it inside. Find an accountability partner or a supportive friend and do it afraid. Then watch as your life is transformed by new fierce choices

How To Be Fierce...Right Now!

Some of you may know that my first marriage was not good. I was in an emotionally abusive relationship for years. When we finally divorced, I had to start the process of rebuilding my entire life. Most days, I felt fragile as glass and feared I’d been permanently broken.

Fortunately, I had two things going for me. I was still on active duty where I didn't have the option of not getting up and moving every day. And I had supportive friends who encouraged me to see myself differently. I am not damaged or broken. I am fierce and fearless. It takes a warrior to live through what I did and survive. I am stronger than I sometimes give myself credit for.

It doesn’t matter whether it was a bad day, a horrific marriage, or the loss of a loved one, we all survive circumstances that leave us feeling anything but strong. It’s easy to feel weak, like you have to hide who you are.

But with time and patience, you can reclaim your fierceness and own every part of your story….

Lean into Your Values

The first step to becoming fierce is to define your values. Whether you realize it or not, your values drive every decision you make.

If you look back at the moments in your life that you most regret, chances are you’ll see that you stepped on your values in some way. Maybe you said “yes” to a relationship, job, or commitment that wasn’t a good fit.

But defining your values can feel tricky. There are hundreds of different values and you want the ones you choose to be true to you. That’s where a course like My Values Workshop can be helpful.

Focus on What You Want

What you focus on often expands. This is great when you’re focused on values that matter to you and inspire you to be your best self.

But it’s easy to get into the habit of focusing on the negative. The more you say things like, “I don’t have enough time” or “I can never afford anything nice” or “I’m not fierce”, the more these things become your truth. You live them out even if you don’t want to.

Have an Opinion

When someone else asks you where you want to go to eat or what to do with an empty Friday night, you don’t pipe up. You say something like, “I don’t care. Whatever you want to do is fine by me.”

Maybe you think this makes you easygoing or laid back. But often, the root behind a lack of opinion has more to do with not valuing yourself. You matter, too. Your thoughts and feelings matter and your opinions count.

Own Who You Are

Be proud of who you are and what you stand for. If you’re an artist that sees the possibility in everything, honor that. If you’re the writer who spins stories to entertain yourself or others, honor that. If you’re the photographer that feels compelled to capture all of the special moments of your day, honor that.

Don’t shrink back, afraid to shine for fear someone else will be dimmed by your shadow. There’s more than enough light to go around!

Remember becoming fierce is about being willing to throw yourself into whatever you care about with intensity and passion. It’s about being your authentic self and owning your awesomeness.

Three Fierce and Fearless Women

There’s no shortage of fierce and fearless women in the world today. But sometimes, it can feel like you’re alone in your desire to be a strong woman. Here are three real life role models to inspire you on your journey and remind you that you’re not alone…

Whitney Way Thore

Whitney became a sensation when her YouTube videos, A Fat Girl Dancing, went viral. The resulting media attention sparked Whitney to begin a movement called No Body Shame and even landed her a TV show titled My Big Fat Fabulous Life.

In a world where plus-sized women are often body shamed, Whitney is a fierce and fearless example of self-love and body positivity. Though she’s dealt with a fair amount of trolls, Whitney continues to bravely share her journey with the world, encouraging others to own who they are and become comfortable in their skin.

She also wrote a book about her experiences titled I Do It with the Lights On. In the book, she shares 10 life-lessons that enable her to live a shame-free life.

Malala Yousafzai

Malala was a young girl living in Pakistan. Her father was a teacher in charge of the village’s school. But everything changed in 2008 when the Taliban came into power. Along with other strict rules, girls were no longer allowed to attend school.

Although she was young, Malala felt the need to stand up for herself and other girls that were being deprived of an education. But her outspokenness came at a cost—she was shot in the head leaving school one day.

Miraculously, Malala recovered from her injuries and she refused to let the violence stop her. She went on to begin the Malala Fund with her father. The organization fights for the rights of girls everywhere to get an education.

To learn more about Malala and her story, you can read her riveting book, I Am Malala.

Michelle Obama

As a former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama is so much more than a political figure. She is known around the world as a woman who champions women’s rights and stands up for the oppressed.

But she’s also humble and in touch with those she served. During her time in the White House, she often referred to herself as “Mom-in-Chief”.

Her notable accomplishments during her husband’s presidential career included launching the “Let’s Move!” campaign to solve the childhood obesity epidemic. Besides overhauling school lunches with healthy alternatives, the program also gives free or deeply discounted meals to school children living in poverty.

Michelle was influential in starting the “Joining Forces” initiative to support U.S. troops and their families. This initiative sought to provide education for loved ones of soldiers as well as new employment opportunities for veterans.

In 2018, she published her memoir, Becoming, which went on to become a best-seller. In the book, Michelle chronicles the journey of her life, from her childhood and her career as a lawyer before diving into her time in the White House.

You don’t have to be politician or a viral sensation to become a fierce and fearless woman. There are many paths to being fearless and fierce and it doesn’t matter which one you take. What’s important is that you enjoy the journey and learn about yourself as you go.