Diane Estrada, The Business Ballerina

Why is it that we go through the highs and lows in life and in business? As an entrepreneur who has been involved in many start-up ventures, including a few of my own, I have learned that we often go into a situation with a lot of expectations. These expectations cause us unhappiness when they are not met, but they can also cause us to act  in ways that may actually cut off an even greater potential from materializing!

Take for example, presenting a proposal to a prospective client or investor. Spend all the time necessary to be as prepared as possible, then go into the meeting with an open mind as to the end result. Listen carefully and connect your mind to your heart. An open, peaceful space with no expectations sets up powerful dynamics to conspire in your behalf! And no matter what the outcome, you will be happier and less emotionally upset with an outcome.

I once read that the single most important thing an entrepreneur can do to keep a small and enthusiastic team happy and motivated is to minimize the daily high’s and low’s in emotions and enthusiasm by keeping a calm attitude to all events as they come to pass. Some may be perceived as extraordinarily positive one moment, but then if they do not pan out, may become a moment of devastation to the team.

Start today to approach all situations  enthusiastically with high participation, low attachment! I guarantee you’ll thank me in the morning

Keep dancing,

Diane

According to Wikipedia, the definition of “yin and yang” is:

Yin and yang are complementary opposites within a greater whole. Everything has both yin and yang aspects, which constantly interact, never existing in absolute stasis.

How does this relate to business you may ask?

The corporate business culture has primarily been more male-dominated. Imagine the power when the feminine attributes of collaboration, connection, and heart-centered leadership become more prevalent!

That time is fast approaching with the dawning of the age of “Conscious Capitalism”.  If you have read any of the megatrends books you know that this is the next phase we are moving into, bringing us to a world where transcendent values like trust and integrity translate into revenue, profits and prosperity.

Yes, we are seeing the signs of social, economic and spiritual trends transforming free enterprise. And I contend these are the signs of the feminine coming forth to balance and complement a malfunctioning corporate culture.

I chose the name Business Ballerina as a metaphor for this coming together of the masculine and feminine attributes in the business world. It does help that I was actually a ballerina as well as a successful corporate senior executive.

What I have felt for years is now emerging — an amazing time where social responsibility and profits are beginning to successfully co-mingle.

I’d say this is good news for the world.

To your success,

Diane Estrada

The Business Ballerina

diane@businessballerina.com

It is important during these economic times to stay positive and focus on your business goals while constantly evaluating your approach to the market based on the changing conditions. Here are 10 tips to help you:

1. Think outside the box to meet your customers’ needs, which may mean doing things differently.
2. Find current customers who are your advocates and ask them to help you by providing you referrals.
3. Look at ways to be collaborative and being active in your community.
4. Focus on what is going right in your business and those areas that are showing positive response.
5. Look at your cashflow statements weekly.
6. Talk to your banker regarding credit lines for emergencies.
7. Watch expenses.
8. Diversity your product or service. Seek new markets and customer segments.
9. Team up with other business owners and create package deals.
10. Repurpose your products and services; re-contextualize your marketing.

And network, network, network!

To your success,

Diane Estrada

The Business Ballerina

My Yogi tea bag gave me this message this morning:

By honoring your words, you are honored.

It caused me to reflect on how powerful our words are when we speak. We literally create our world with our words.

In the habit of self-talk? Stop yourself for a moment and listen to the tone of your words. Are they supportive or negative? Unfortunately, most of our self-talk is negative.

What exactly is negative self-talk, you ask? Good question. When  you inwardly say things like, “I’m not good enough, I’m not smart enough, I’m not strong enough, and I feel like people just don’t like me,” you’ve self-talked negatively.

Negative self-talk will severly affect your success in business. This is particularly true for women as we have a tendency to be hard on ourselves.

According to NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) 85% of women business owners lack the confidence in themselves to adequately run their business at one time or another.

When you run into that feeling, or notice negative self-talk, stop yourself. Call a friend for support. Listen to music. Go for a walk. Do something to distract your racing mind chatter.

And remember, there is no one in the world like you. Only you can bring your product or service into the world YOUR way, in your own words.

Choose them carefully.

To your success,

Diane

Attn: Women Entrepreneurs. Find yourself stuck or frustrated in growing your business? You might not know the “rules” to play big. 3rd in a 6 part video series.

Rule #3 The object of a business is to make money

In case you missed the earlier “rules” to know when playing with the big boys, they are:

Rule #1  The name of the game is to win!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ2uOzfe9VU&feature=related

Rule #2  If it isn’t working, try something else!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGaK1Ze3Wdo

It is my mission to help all women entrepreneurs live the life of their dreams through effectively growing a business that meets their lifestyle and legacy goals.

Secondly, my passion is to teach women entrepreneurs how to grow a formidable business without sacrificing who they are.

Be educated, be savvy, and be that wonderful, authentic female presence of power and poise.

To your success,

Diane Estrada

The Business Ballerina

Are you attracting clients who ask for discounts, complain and ultimately suck the life out of your and your business?

Relax, you can change this scenario simply by being specific about who you want to attract!

As counter intuitive as it seems, you must know what you don’t want before you can attract what you do want.

Here are some easy and fast steps to help you attract tons of clients who love to give you money and respect your distinctive approach!

1. Start by making a list of the attributes you do not want in a client. The more specific the better.
2. Next, make a list of what you do want in a client. Ask yourself how it feels to be working with them, why they need you, and how they treat your relationship.
3. Lastly, use headline Attraction Questions. Example:

Customer wants: “I just want to be happy, but I don’t know how to make changes.”

Headline attraction question: “Do You Just Want to be Happier, But Don’t Know How to Make Changes?

Headline attraction questions start with “So you want…Are you ready…Do you need…Are you frustrated by…?

I learned this technique from Lisa Cherney, President of Conscious Marketing, an organization she founded to inspire business owners to find their authentic marketing voice so they can attract their Ideal Clients. http://www.consciousmarketing.com.

If you like this information and would like to hear more from Lisa about how to add thousands of dollars to your bottom line by understanding the difference between a target and an Ideal Client, I am interviewing her next Thursday, March 26th at 4:00 pm PST.

If you are stuck in the “gloom and doom” thinking that the media is flooding the market with, and are afraid of what this economy will mean to your future, you will want to be on this call! Register here:

http://businessballerina.com/lisacherney

To your success,

Diane Estrada

The Business Ballerina, Business Coach

Poise, Power, Profits

Attn: women entrepreneurs who want to grow a 6 to 7 figure business.

Have you noticed that when you reach a certain point in your business in order to expand to the next level you find yourself playing on a bigger field – a field dominated by men? You may feel frustrated and overwhelmed, or you may not know the right questions to ask.

Here is the 2nd of a 6 part video series giving you the insider’s tips on how to play with the “big boys” to grow your business to the next level.

Rule#2 If it isn’t working, try something else

“>

As a refresher, here is Rule #1

Rule #1: The name of the game is to win