Is Your Facebook Profile Open For Business?

Are you using Facebook for business? If you're an entrepreneur, you probably are. I mean you COULD just be using it to watch cat videos. But I'm guessing since you're a reader of my blog, you are a fellow business person. And I'm also guessing you would like to get more business from Facebook.

But wait? Doesn't Facebook dislike you doing business on your profile? Could they close your account for doing so? Yes...and yes! If you do it incorrectly! But did there are actually ways to market your business ON YOUR FACEBOOK PROFILE that are perfectly acceptable. 

The truth is your Facebook profile carries a treasure trove of real-estate primed for your marketing efforts. But most people don't realize it because Facebook doesn't share that fact. But just knowing these 5 tips could change your profile from dull into a profit-generating machine!

Okay...I know what you are thinking. This sounds like a sales pitch. What are you offering and how much does it cost.

I'm not going to lie. It IS a pitch...of sorts. But I'm not trying to sell you anything. I'm not going to ask you to give me your email address so I can add you to my mailing list and then bombard you with unending emails. 

I do have an offer. And it is totally, 100%, no hidden conditions or fine print....FREE!

That's right. Totally FREE!

I am offering to take 30 minutes of my time to sit down with you and do an audit of your Facebook profile to show you where you can make a few simple changes to better optimize it for business. And all I want from you is your promise that you will try at least a few of the things I suggest. And if they make a difference, let me know.

You see, when I started in business, I was fortunate to find mentors along the way who were willing to share with me all that they had learned. And the only cost was the promise that one day, when I was in a position to do so, I would pay it forward. And so, I honor that promise as I have done for the many years I have successfully been in business...by sharing what they have taught me and what I have learned on my own.

If you want to get an audit of your FB profile, here's how. Send me a message on FB and just ask for it. You can find me here. 

What Does It Look Like to Be Fierce and Fearless?

My friend Paula was a lawyer living in Philadelphia. Through a mentoring program, she met Sasha, a teenage girl who was growing up in the foster care system. She was routinely moved and often only spent a week or two with each new family.

After Sasha was kicked out and left on the streets, Paula took her in. Many of Paula’s friends and family didn’t support her decision. They pointed out that teenagers with traumatic backgrounds can be difficult or unruly. One of Paula’s friends turned it into a race issue, claiming Paula shouldn’t be willing to open her home to a young woman of a different race. Can you imagine?!

But through it all, Paula leaned into her own instincts. She navigated the legal system until she was given full custody. The years that followed were difficult at times but Paula’s never once regretted her decision.

Going for What You Want

Anna had dreamed about writing a book for years. But even though she knew I had finally published mine, she hesitated. She’d been diagnosed with a learning disorder in school and her teachers had made fun of her. Her self-esteem was low and she never pursued her dream.

Then a supportive friend told Anna about Frank McCourt. He was an author who wrote his memoir titled Angela’s Ashes, a book which went on to win many prestigious awards including the Pulitzer Prize. But what most people don’t know is Frank didn’t complete the book until he was sixty-six years old.

Anna listened to her friend and began writing her book. It was slow going and her husband often mocked her for spending her time working on what he called a “pipe dream”. But after several rounds of revisions, Anna’s book went on to sell to a major New York publishing house.

Creating More Joy in the World

Maddie was a home organizer. She loved getting to help her clients organize their lives so everything flowed effortlessly. She built a big stable of clients and she always had more thanks to the positive things her former clients said about her.

Eventually, Maddie was approached by a TV producer. He liked what Maddie was doing and her way of breaking through to clients. He wanted to gather some footage of Maddie going about her normal job and show it to a network company.

At first, Maddie said no. She worried that taking on this new project would take away from her existing clients. But Maddie’s mom encouraged her to look at the happiness she gave to her clients. “Now imagine being able to reach hundreds or thousands of people and share that joy with them.”

Maddie took her mom’s advice and agreed to the producer’s request. A few weeks after the initial footage was done, Maddie received a phone call. One of the TV network executives loved her work and wanted to talk with her.

To be fierce and fearless you don’t have to become a foster mom, write a book or launch your own TV show. These are just a few examples of what it could look like.

You might prefer to be fierce and fearless in a different way. Maybe you’ll travel the world, complete the Ironman Triathlon, learn a new language, or climb a mountain. Whatever you decide to do, choose an activity that sparks joy for you!

Hurry! $1 Challenge Starts Soon

Have you grabbed your spot in the "Go For Yes" 5-Day Facebook Challenge yet? If not, now is the time because Day #1 starts May 30th.

My friend Stacy is going to reveal the 4-step plan to authentically sell more product in a way that makes you (and your customers) feel amazing.

And here's what she'll cover over the remaining 5 days...

• Day 2 - Identify your audience's pain points so you can speak to their soul and influence them to take action.
• Day 3 - The source for never-ending content ideas and daily strategy for what to post and when to for max results.
• Day 4 - Choosing where to establish your social media presence to tap into hungry buyers for YOUR business.
• Day 5 - The secret sauce to track prospect growth and turn new social media friends into business partners.

This would cost you hundreds of dollars anywhere else. But right now you can get in for just a measly $1! But you gotta hurry to make sure you get a spot.

By the way, the amount of gold being given away inside the VIP group where the challenge is taking place will floor you! (As will the top-earners hanging out in there!) Oh yeah, and did I mention the $7,365 in tools and training you'll get as a bonus just for joining?

Join here now!

Why I Came Back

2020 got off to a great start. Life was good. Business was good. But the kids were grown up and had kids of their own. The grandkids were also growing up. The oldest one would graduate in June and then it was a steady stream after that. And I was getting older. 62 isn't really old. I don't FEEL "old." But in the words of Capt Jean Luc Picard (yes, I'm still a Trekkie) there were far fewer years ahead then there were behind. I didn't want to spend the rest of whatever time I had left working. I wanted to spend time with my family. I still had things I wanted to do. Places I wanted to visit. And while my online business provided me with more freedom than many people have, much of it still took time. I had to work to keep it growing. I had embraced attraction marketing wholeheartedly by this time. But so many members of my team, both upline and downline, still didn't seem to grasp the concept. My coaching clients, even though they saw my success, still struggled to stop using the old methods that just didn't work anymore. I knew that by choosing to target a more "mature" market, I was also targeting people who had a good many years of bad habits under their belt. It was a challenge to get them to embrace technology and to learn new skills. And I just wasn't sure I wanted to do that anymore. I mean, I could survive quite comfortably on the residual income I already had.

My husband and I had been preparing for retirement for years. We had all we needed to spend our retirement doing pretty much what what we wanted to do. How much money does one person really need anyway? That's why, after so many years, I made the decision that it was time to walk away.

Or so I thought. Despite my best intentions, life had other plans apparently. I remember quite well the exactly when and how it all changed. I was working online. Just because I was no longer actively building my business, I was still active on social media. I supported my team and my friends by sharing general information about the business model. I posted inspirational quotes. I had stopped taking new coaching clients but I still tried to teach others what I had learned. I still hoped to change the way the business model was perceived and to get people to change the way they built their business. I'm not sure why I still cared. Maybe in the back of my mind, I knew something was coming. Maybe I was still searching for those that thought like I did. But I did care and so there I was, late one February evening, posting online, when I saw some chatter on Twitter about a virus in China.

Many of you may not know, but prior to my years in the Navy, I had been attending college. And what was I studying? Clinical microbiology. My dream? To go on to become an epidemiologist. I had been intrigued by the field for years. Viruses are fascinating organisms! And while my career path changed, my love for the field has not. So I keep informed and up-to-date on all the latest developments.

The social media chatter caught my attention and so I began reading and researching. And the more I read, the more concerned I became. I remember telling my husband that this was going to be bad. I am not an expert in virology by any means. But I knew enough to understand that this was serious. And I also knew that the U.S. as a whole was woefully unprepared.


Now I wish I could tell you that I was wrong. But I wasn't. And I wish I could tell you that I had a solution for the millions of people who were about to have their lives turned upside down. I don't. This pandemic has impacted everyone on so many different levels, that one person couldn't possibly have all the answers. But I knew I could help some people. I could do what I have always done. Teach. I could show people who were about to lose their jobs how to create side hustles that would see them through until they went back to work. I could teach people how to improve their health and their immune systems so they stood a better chance of being able to fight off any illness. I could help people learn to care for themselves and their families and friends, their neighbors, their community, instead of waiting for government help that might come to late...if it came at all.

And so in March of 2020, I jumped back into the world of network marketing and online marketing with both feet and I have not regretted that decision for one minute. It isn't work anymore. It's a calling! This is what I had always wanted to do. Help others change their lives. And when your passion and your career come together, it's not work. It's JOY! My website is still under construction, but in the meantime, I am sharing what I know in every way possible.

So that's why I came back to work. It has been quite a ride! And it's not over yet. There is still a long hard road ahead. And I would be remiss in my mission to change as many lives as possible if I did not offer you the same chance. Ready to change your life? Ready to help others change their lives? Let's talk!

5 Things I Do To Keep Motivated

Feeling less than motivated? With all the chaos in the world right now, it can be hard to get up and get moving...especially if you're not accustomed to isolation and "social distancing." 

Don't feel bad. It's common for people to struggle with maintaining focus and momentum during stressful and uncertain times. And I think 2020 qualifies as stressful and uncertain! Fortunately, there are things you can do to help. Here are 5 that I've discovered to help me. Let me know if one of them works for you.

1. Strike a "Power Pose." I heard about this last summer while working at GiveCamp. I had been unconsciously doing it for years, but at GiveCamp I learned that it is actually a reasearched and recommended way to motivate yourself. What's a Power Pose? Any pose that opens the body so you take up more space. I have a habit of standing with my hands on my hips when I am stressed and trying to figure things out. I'm a pacer so it's not unusual to see me pacing back and forth in my office, with my hands on my hips, as I sort through the problem I am facing. Classic power pose! I have a friend who spreads her arms out wide whenever she takes the stage to speak. Another classic power pose. We always assumed we did it to appear more confident. But research has proven that holding a power pose for a few minutes actually DOES increase confidence and reduce stress. And when you're confident and powerful, it's easy to motivate yourself to do whatever needs to be done.

2. Make a promise to reward yourself. I hate getting on the phone. I don't know why. I just do. But in business, it's virtually impossible to avoid the phone altogether. So I make myself a promise. Once I've completed all the phone calls I have to make each day, I can take a break for a cup of tea and some reading or a little TV time. I can't stop until I've made each and every call. This has been a really good way to stop procrastinating and get those phone calls out of the way. 

3. Vary your routine. Doing the exact same thing day after day after day can be boring. It's hard to stay motivated when you're bored. So change things up a little. Do you normally head right to the office once you're up and about? Try going for an early morning walk instead. Is lunch time usually a quick bite at your desk while you catch up on emails? Try taking your lunch outside and reading a book or listening to a podcast while you eat. 

4. Have a treat. But not just any treat. Have a CHOCOLATE treat! And not just because it's my personal favorite. Chocolate triggers a release of dopamine in your body which will raise your heart rate and actually increase motivation. I prefer dark chocolate, but milk chocolate will work also.

5. Listen. Music is my go-to motivator. But you can also listen to motivational podcasts or personal development recordings. My daughter says she can always tell when I'm working because she can hear the music blasting in the background. 

You can motivate yourself when you're feeling down and stressed. These tips work for me. What tricks have you discovered to increase your motivation or give yourself a boost? I'd love to hear from you in the comments. 

Tools and Resources for New Coaches

Are you ready to start you online coaching business but you're overwhelmed by all the different tech tools? Don't know which ones are essential and which you can wait to purchase until after you have a few paying clients. Here’s a list of tools that every coach needs…

A Website

Unless you plan on coaching the Amish, you need a website. There’s no shortage of options available to new coaches. Two of the best tools for the job are WordPress and SoloBuildIt. WordPress is free open-source software you can use to get a website up and running. But you may have to pay for themes and plug-ins if you want maximum functionality. You will also need to pay for your domain name and hosting fees. Your domain name will cost around $15-25, depending on where you register. Your hosting fees should be between $10-20 per month. 

SoloBuildIt does come with a monthly charge, but includes almost everything you need, including domain registration, hosting, email, analytics, and more.

An Appointment Scheduler

Scheduling your own appointments seems like an easy task on the surface. A potential client finds a time that works for them and asks to meet you then. But you’ve already booked that slot or you’re in a different time zone and that’s 3:00 am your local time. Using a scheduler takes the hassle out of appointments.

You simply select which times and days you’re available for coaching. Then a potential client sees your scheduler and picks the time that best fits his or her schedule. It’s simple and convenient for both of you.

Two good appointment schedulers are Calendly and SimplyBook.me. But if you’re a health and wellness coach, you may need a HIPPA compliant scheduler like Schedule Once or Acuity Scheduling.

Your Virtual Office

If you plan to be a virtual coach, you’ll need a place to conduct your appointments. You can use free or paid meeting tools like Skype or Zoom. One of the advantages of using digital meeting tools is that you can share your screen with your client. This can be useful if you need to show your client how to do a technical task.

Financial Software

No matter what type of coach you decide to be or where you choose to specialize, you’ll need a way to track the money you’re earning. Two of the most popular options are FreshBooks and QuickBooks.

Both apps allow you to send invoices to clients. Even better, you can set up recurring invoices that are generated automatically every week or month. This saves you time and keeps you from having to manually message your clients to get your payments.

Don’t get overwhelmed with all the tools and options that are available. Start with the basics recommended above. Once you’re comfortable with them, you can expand and start adding more apps to your coaching toolbox!

Are You Ready To Dip Your Toe Into Coaching?

I am passionate about health and wellness. I wanted to start a coaching business where I help busy home entrepreneurs and seniors become healthier. But I was worried that I lack the experience to actually do this. My own weight loss hasn't been that dramatic. But I am pretty healthy for my age and despite my extra pounds. So I decided to go for it. 

One small problem...how to get clients when my most visible selling point, weight loss, was happening so slowly!

If you want to coach others, you may be facing a difficult problem. You want to coach but you don’t have any clients yet. How will you get clients if you’ve never actually coached? This dilemma can make you feel like coaching isn’t attainable for you.

But that’s not the case. Here’s what my coach advised me to do…

Coach for Free

Take a few clients on for free or low-cost. Explain that you’ll coach these potential clients for a month or two in exchange for honest feedback and a testimonial at the end.

Keep in mind that the clients you work with should fit your image of an ideal client. For example, if you want to coach busy moms to become healthy then taking on three empty nesters looking to change career paths is a bad move. You’ll struggle to coach them and you’ll feel frustrated when you can’t help them reach their goals.

Host Open Phone Sessions

Start by hosting weekly calls. Welcome your Facebook group to join in these events and share what problems they were facing that week. Then try to provide solutions to their problems.

Invite your community to call you with their concerns. Chat with them for 5-15 minutes. This works best if you have a list or community already built up. Follow up with callers who sound like they might be a good match for your coaching services.

Join Coaching Groups

Look for coaching groups on social media platforms. You might join a business coaching group. Then you see someone has posted a thread because they have a potential client who’s looking for a WordPress coach. You can offer your services as a potential solution.

The advantage of joining a coaching group is that you get to meet other coaches who can refer you and who you can refer. That means if you have a coaching client that needs help with her finances, you can ask your group for a recommendation and know your client is in good hands.

Take It Seriously

Even if you’re just coaching your friend, treat her like you would a real client. Show up to your meetings on time. Take the time to listen to what she’s saying. Ask follow up questions. Go beyond the easy answers to offer real solutions.

Don’t stop there though. Be sure to take notes about what results your client is getting. I started by documenting my own weight loss. I logged how many pounds and inches I lost. When I was ready to start my health and wellness business, I was able to turn my notes into a case study. I even got two clients because they downloaded my study and enjoyed it.

You don’t have to jump into the coaching niche and make a big splash. It’s OK to dip a toe or two into the water. This lets you discover which clients you could be a good fit for and helps you develop your unique coaching style.