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3 Ways to Empower Your Entrepreneurial Mind

An empowered woman walks through the world with confidence and grace. She pursues excellence in all aspects of life and does not settle. She has a clear vision of her dreams and is fearless in making them a reality.

We are all capable of being empowered women, women who build amazing businesses and achieve our own vision of success. The thing is, for most of us, this doesn’t come naturally and we need to make conscious decisions to be in an empowered and entrepreneurial mindset at all times, which, is not always easy.

Our mindset plays a big role in determining our success, in both business and in life. So, if we want to be empowered, achieve success, we have to do it on purpose.

To help you along your journey, below are three things you can do to help you get into the entrepreneurial mindset.

Be a risk-taker.

Entrepreneurship is all about risk-taking. To truly be empowered and reach higher levels of success, you absolutely need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. There is no direct path to success and you know as well as I do, that there is no certainty of it.

Creating your dream life and starting your own business means betting on yourself and not looking back. Taking risks that both scare and excite you is usually a sign that you are on the right path. Learning to love this discomfort will take you much further than any safe feeling ever will.

Take risks if you win, you will be happy. If you lose, you will be wise. Empower Your Entrepreneurial Mind

Redefine your definition of success.

The definition of success is ‘the accomplishment of an aim or purpose’. I know many people in the entrepreneur space that define success as a monetary amount, yes this financial success is important, being driven by money will not help you succeed. This way of measurement will burn you out faster than you could imagine. Define your success by the people you help and the progress you make in your business, not by comparing yourself to the success of others or how much money is in your account.

When you define your success this way, it will ensure your accomplishments are much more satisfying and reinforce your mindset that you are heading in the right direction. Not to mention, what may seem like failures will be viewed more as learning opportunities that help you to be more empowered in your business and a successful entrepreneur in the long run. Empower Your Entrepreneurial Mind

Celebrate Every Little Win.

When you take time to celebrate every success, big or small, it will build your confidence and will help you take it to the next level to reach those large-scale goals. Not to mention, a celebration will give you closure on the goals you’ve been working hard toward. So, when you hit that publish button, empty your inbox, call a client, any accomplishment, stand up and do a little dance! Give yourself the credit you deserve for the time, effort and energy you are putting into your business. Keep the momentum going and make every success a celebration.

the virtual studio says to celebrate how far you've come today.


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52 Blog Ideas for your business!

“A Sunday well-spent brings a week of content.”

Download FREE: 52 Blog Ideas

This is one of my favourite quotes, I don’t know who initially said it but I still love it.52 blog ideas for your business

How do you decide on what you are going to blog every week? Me, every Sunday I would spend the entire afternoon and late evening planning out a week’s worth of content. Sundays were always dedicated to blogging, because of this, I had that week of contentment.  It was my Sunday ritual.

Well, not anymore!

I now spend my Sundays with my family doing what families should do on Sundays, just being together. I have to admit, it is kind of great!

Use the checklist to fill your content calendar with 52 awesome blog posts ideas for small business and take back your Sundays. This will give you one blog per week, pre-planned and ready to be written.

All about you.
  • Your start-up story.
  • Share how you give back.
  • Celebrate your biggest successes.
  • Share your “why”.
  • Share lessons you have learned.
  • List people who inspire you.
  • Share how you “take care of you”.
  • Explain what sets you apart.
  • Make a personal announcement.
  • Tell an inspirational story.
  • Share your opinion.
  • Analyze your favourite quote.
  • Celebrate your team.
All about your industry.
  • Debunk and industry myth.
  • Share your favourite tips.
  • Share up-coming industry events.
  • Compare products or services.
  • Share your favourite products.
  • Write a buyers guide.
  • List industry leaders to follow.
  • Answer some FAQs.
  • Tell your industry start-up story.
  • Explain an industry trend.
  • Create a check-list.
  • Share your expertise in the industry.
  • Write a “Did you know?”.
All about your business.
  • List benefits of your products.
  • Thank your customers.
  • Declare business goals.
  • Ask a question for readers to answer.
  • Cultivate community support.
  • Share your favourite trends.
  • Share a testimonial.
  • Create a “How-to”.
  • Review a product you offer.
  • “Must see links” list for your website.
  • Create an infographic.
  • Share your mission statement.
  • Interview a loyal customer.
All about your expertise.
  • Write a “step-by-step”.
  • Recap an industry event.
  • Share a webinar you are hosting.
  • Showcase a single product.
  • Post a Vlog.
  • Answer FAQs about your business.
  • List your most popular blog posts.
  • Share a tutorial.
  • Compare 2 or more products.
  • List top uses for a product.
  • Share why you’re an expert.
  • Discuss your product guide.
  • Show a “best value” product.

 

Unsure what you need exactly? Let’s chat to figure it out.

If you’re serious about your business and curious about the idea of working with a mentor, try a free 30-minute call with Joelene to get an idea of what working with her is all about.

Joelene will answer any and as many questions, you have about your business, and share every idea and resource she’s curated and created as a coach to help solve your problem.

It really is a free personal support session, so there’s no pitch or pressure to commit.

Book a FREE 30-minute Personal Support Session


52 Blog Ideas For Your Business

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Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations

I belive that one of the most valuable gifts you can give yourself is time. Taking time to be more fully present. ~ Oprah Winfrey

Just under a year ago, the crazy successful TV series from Oprah Winfrey, Super Soul Sundays, was converted a podcast. Oprah talks with a fascinating selection of writers, philosophers, spiritual leaders, and celebrities about discovery, growth, life, experiences and so much more. It is designed to motivate you, guide you through life’s biggest struggles and help bring you one step closer to your best self.

I don’t have cable tv, haven’t for many many years, so I didn’t even know that Supersoul Sunday even existed until I came across the podcast! And I am so glad I did, listening to each episode has been very inspirational and motivating. The conversations are always along the theme of conscious living, self-discovery and how to live a fulfilling life.

Subscribe, listen, breath it all in and begin your journey!

Do you listen to podcasts? Share your favourites below or in the Facebook group, I’d love to find more to listen too!

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How to stop screwing yourself over | Mel Robbins | TEDxSF

“You Are One Decision Away from a Completely Different Life”
― Mel Robbins

I love Mel’s straight to the point, no-nonsense style.  Decide on what you want and go get it. This TedTalk is 21 minutes of straightforward advice on changing your life!


[Tweet “”You have life-changing ideas for a reason!” Mel Robbins”]

Now, I want to hear from you!
Tell us, in the comments below or in the Facebook group, what is it you want and how do you plan on going out and getting it?

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5 Hostess Tips for your next party. | Direct Sales

If you have a direct sales or network marketing business, chances are parties are the lifeblood of your business. One of the most important aspects of to having a successful party is to successfully work with your Hostess.

It all starts with a plan, who knew “party planner’ was part of the job description of Entrepreneur Goddess?

5 hostess tips for your next direct sales party

Basically, when it comes to having a successful party, it will come down to a strong strategic plan, communication and truly partnering with your host or Hostess.  You will be able to increase your party sales, and bookings, by working with them on several different levels. Here are a few things to remember when working with your host or Hostess.

Remember, if they have a successful party – you will have a successful party!

1. Appreciate your Hostess! 

Send your Hostess a handwritten thank you and let her know she’s appreciated. Build a solid foundation of trust and confidence by sharing that you’ll be there to guide her along the way. Include a “save the date” graphic ( easy to create in Canva) that she can easily send to her guests.

Mail a Hostess packet with a cover letter, catalogue and order forms.  Be sure to place post-it tabs in the catalogue on the Hostess program page and special products. Also, put a few extra post-it tabs in the package, so the Hostess can tab her favourite pages and products.

2. Be A Good Listener:

Call your Hostess and set up a “Wish List, time it so you call soon after her packet arrives. Write down everything on her list and create an action plan to help her get it all. The plan should include pre-party orders and a pre-arranged booking.

Discuss any concerns that your Hostess might have. Brainstorm ideas on how to get outside orders, create e-vite reminders for friends and family, not on Facebook, and possibly teaming up with a friend to

Discuss any concerns that your Hostess might have. Brainstorm ideas on how to get outside orders, create e-vite reminders for friends and family, not on Facebook, and possibly teaming up with a friend to double-host.

3. Set High Expectations:

We’ve all heard, “Aim for the moon and you’ll fall among the stars.” So, aim high.  Add a Hostess tip and tricks checklist in your hostess packet.

Don’t settle. Challenge your Hostess to beat your highest or last party. Be sure to recognize her efforts on the event page, using fun graphics, emojis and stickers to build her confidence.

4. Create a strategy: 

Advise your Hostess to only invite FB friends that she knows well enough that she’d invite them to a home party. That will help keep both you and her in a spam-free zone. Encourage rules of engagement: Personal phone calls or send hand-written invitations to the party. Encourage social media engagement by having your Hostess comment on all posts on the event page put up by you and to post some herself. She could tag friends who shop and share her own pics of her fave products.

Encourage rules of engagement: Personal phone calls or send hand-written invitations to the party. Encourage social media engagement by having your Hostess comment on all posts on the event page put up by you and to post some herself. She could tag friends who shop and share her own pics of her fave products.

Make sure your Hostess builds excitement for her own party: review your “day of party” game plan prior to the event, which should include personal reminders to everyone who is attending, a “party crashers welcome” post on her personal page and an “I’m so excited” post on the event page a few hours before party time.

5. Risk Taking:

Remember that your phone was created to be used as a… phone. Personal phone calls with your Hostess could be the most innovative risk you take and encourage her to do the same with her guests.

5 hostess tips for your next direct sales party

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Success is no accident! Free 2018 goal setting workbook!

It is time to actually live the life you have always dreamed of. Make 2018 the year you are going to achieve incredible things. Over the next year,  you are going on an epic journey. You will be growing your business and will accomplish something incredible by creating a life you love.

All of this will not happen overnight, it won’t be by accident, and it will not be handed to you on a silver platter. It will happen because you will make it happen, with intention.

All you need to do is show up, work hard, and never give up.

Success is no accident, goal planning free download

About a that “hard work” part I mentioned, I am here to help, we will do this together! So, let’s get started!

First, be clear about what you want to achieve in 2018 – and stand by it! Everything you want to accomplish is going to need a plan, which is why you are going to make a plan to make it happen. It isn’t easy achieving your goals but with focus, you can set yourself up and get on the path to success.

Download the 2018 Goal-Setting & Planning workbook at start your year off with intention. No sign up required, it is totally free to download! As I said above, the only thing that will get you to where you want to be you. So it is time to make a plan for how you are going to be the best version of yourself for 2018.

Be sure to leave a comment and share your business goals for 2018!

[Tweet “Success is not an accident and I know that you are going to achieve the incredible in 2018.”]

2018 Goal Planner

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Is starting your own business a good idea?

Have you ever wondered “Should I start my own business?” I am thinking that is a solid yes, or you would not be reading this. I hummed and hawed about it for years, the only regret I, eventually, had was that I did not start sooner. Starting Your Own Business

There are a lot of things you need to consider before you start your own business but that is not what this article is about. Today, I am only going to talk about the reasons why you should.

I am going to fill you full of “the grass is greener” syndrome. Don’t get me wrong, there are just as many perks to being an employee as there are being your own boss. The same goes for the downsides, there are plenty to go around on both sides of the fence. However; not everyone was born to be an employee. Some of us were meant to be leaders, creators, and entrepreneurs.

So here is my happy little list of why I say, Yes, it is a good idea to start your own business.

Freedom 

The biggest reason, I feel, one should start their own business is freedom. When you are your own boss you have a lot more freedom. Yes, there will be customers, regulators and possibly investors telling you what and how to do things – but – you have the freedom to make your own decisions. You can even make the decision to not listen to those listed and do your own thing. The choice is yours, just remember so are the results.

You will have the freedom to determine your own work hours. Of course, within reason. You may not get away with sleeping until noon every day and only be available to customers only between the hours of midnight and 3 am – but – you will be able to plan your days according to your own personal schedule. You can schedule your days so you can pick up your kids from school, schedule any appointments whenever you want, or even go grocery shopping in the middle of an afternoon on a Tuesday. (It’s the little things in life, right?)

Being your own boss also gives you the freedom to be your creative self! Every person should strive for this, and when you are calling the shots you are able to do this by building on your own ideas as opposed to implementing them into someone else’s business success.

Challenges

As a business owner, every day will be full of new challenges. You will constantly be learning, creating, problem-solving and more. You will never say that your work is the “same old boring routine, day in and day out” again. I promise you that.

the way to get started is to quit talking and start doing, Why starting your own business is a good idea.

Job Security

Sounds a little wonky, I know but believe it, there is job security in owning your own business. How is this possible? You ask – well, as long as you have a business, you will have a job…

Financial Opportunity

Not trying to blow any smoke where it doesn’t belong but when you own your own business the financial opportunities are endless. Whereas an employee, your salary will most likely be capped at some point in your career.

There you have it! A few key reasons why I believe starting your business is a good idea. I am not saying it is the easy path to take but for some of us – it truly is the right path.

If you have no idea where to start, check out The Virtual Studio’s Idea to Income Group Coaching Program! In this 90-Day Program, I walk you through big-picture dreaming and planning by helping you create a business plan, define your purpose, set goals and build a strategy.


Do you need more? Accountability. Community. Support.
Why not join us inside the Study Hall?

Become a member for only $7/month!

Benefits of the Study Hall Facebook Group:

  • Accountability Calls – 30 minute “working” room sessions. You can pick and choose which ones you want to join, just a few or all! (total value of $120/month) (These are NOT social or coaching sessions – we hop on, we focus on our business, we work together-quietly.)
  • Ask Me Anything Sessions – Monthly 1-hour AMA group session, inside a Library Room, that you can ask Joelene anything you want. During AMA sessions, I will do my best to answer all questions, but research may be needed and patience is appreciated! (Group coaching value $150/ month)
  • A goal-setting session on the last Friday of each month to review successes and declare intentions for the next month. There is also an accountability goal-setting thread. (Group coaching value $150/ month)
  • Access to the Studio Library Resources

This group is capped to allow for intimacy, networking and to ensure member success.

Starting Your Own BusinessWhy starting your own business is a good idea.

Starting Your Own Business

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Create Your Social Strategy

Create Your Social Strategy

The power of social media is that it is easy communication, a collaborative community builder and it has a high entertainment factor. In short, it’s simple, relatively easy, and fun. Because of this people gravitate towards it. When in business, whether large or small, social networking is your online connection to your customers and potential customers. Plan to have a social media presence, make it an enjoyable experience for you and your audience.

“If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one.”
Russian proverb

With all the social media options out there, it is very important you chose the right path, or paths, in order to be successful with your business. Is Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Snapchat, Instagram, or YouTube the best place to invest your time and money? All of these are amazing platforms to promote your business but are they the right platform? In order to determine the best path; you are going to have to take a hard look at your business.

Create Your Social Strategy

Where is your audience?

I am an advocate of knowing who your ideal customer is for everything business-related. With choosing your social media platform I am going to reiterate the importance of this. If you do not have a complete profile of who you want to work with for potential clients and customers, create one. This will help you locate them. If you know where they are, then you will know where your business needs to be. You don’t need to be where the world is, only where your clients and customers are.

Don't go chasing too many rabbits.

I am an advocate of knowing who your ideal customer is for everything business-related. With choosing your social media platform I am going to reiterate the importance of this. If you do not have a complete profile of who you want to work with for potential clients and customers, create one. This will help you locate them. If you know where they are, then you will know where your business needs to be. You don’t need to be where the world is, only where your clients and customers are.

Align your social media goals with your business goals.

You want to ensure your social media efforts have a big impact on your business. To do this; your social media goals need to be aligned with your business goals. Your mission is clear, it needs to be apparent when you are engaging with others online. When you are setting your social media goals, keep in mind to look at the big picture. What are the top goals for your business and how will social media help you accomplish them?

Optimize your social media accounts.

There is a lot of value in social media so it is worth the time and effort into setting them up properly. Or, if you already have accounts set up, go and optimize them.

  • Ensure your bio or description is up to date and has your contact information and website clearly stated.
  • When you are filling out your bio or business description be sure to use keywords that relate to your business and industry. Using words or phrases that your potential clients and customers may use in a search to find your type of business.
  • Strive to have images that fall in line with your brand and represent your business accordingly. Also, with any platform, be sure that photos are sized to the correct dimensions for that social network.
Create a content plan and editorial calendar.

Having an amazing content plan and an editorial calendar is essential to succeeding at social media. Your content plan should have what type of content you intend to post on what platform, how often you will post, who will create the content and how you will promote the content. While your editorial calendar lists the dates, topics, and platforms you intend to publish the content.

Having this all planned out ahead of time, instead of updating constantly, will give you the opportunity to work hard on other aspects of your business.

It's called Social Media, so be social.

An engaged audience is an audience who know, like and trust you and your business. When it comes down to it, you are going to need to be social with your audience. Being engaged will help you build a community of people who know and love your business and what you have to offer.

Social media an opportunity to turn your fans, followers, readers, and subscribers into voices for your brand and ultimately, your sales force. Be sure to use it with purpose. Align your social strategy with your business goals and branding, be prepared and be engaged!

It is time to go out and get visible! Decide which social media network is right for your business and create or optimize your profiles.

If you are unsure what platform is the best fit for you and your business, set up a free 30-minute Support Session with me and we can figure it out together!

It really is a free personal support session, so there’s no pitch or pressure to commit.

Book a FREE 30-minute Personal Support Session


This is a Premium Article, more like this are available only inside the Entrepreneur Essential library! If you are not a member, don’t fret! You still can be AND it is totally FREE!

Sign up below, if that isn’t your thing, I still want to help you the best way I can! So be sure to check out other available resources I have that will help you grow your business!

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6 Stress Management Tips for the Small Business Owner.

6 Stress Management Tips for the Small Business Owner.
Being a small business owner doesn’t come with an instruction manual, and more often than not it includes unforeseen stresses and challenges that are out of your control.  This leads to physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion, which will interfere with your ability to run a successful business.

As a result, more and more small business owners are giving up and going back to the 9-5 instead of finding ways to cope with the stress of being a small business owner.

[Tweet “Dear Stress, Let’s break-up. Sincerely, Me.”]

6 Stress Management Tips for the Small Business Owner.

Don’t overlook the small causes of stress in your daily routine. They may seem little, but it all adds up.  Keeping a positive attitude and just powering through is great but will not help you overcome all the stress you encounter.

Stress will always be a part of owning a business, not to mention a part of life. It is how you manage it that will help with your business growth and overall success.

Did you want a copy of my ebook, Cause & Effect, to help you minimize the stress of being a small business owner? Sign up for instant access to the Entrepreneur Essentials Library! It and a whole lot more are ready and waiting for you to level up your business!.


Should we sit down and assess your stress? Let’s chat, so we can minimize your overwhelm!

If you’re stressed about your business and curious about the idea of working with a mentor, try a free 30-minute call with Joelene to get an idea of what working with her is all about.

Joelene will answer any and as many questions, you have about your business, and share every idea and resource she’s curated and created as a coach to help solve your problem.

It really is a free personal support session, so there’s no pitch or pressure to commit.

Book a FREE 30-minute Personal Support Session

Stress Management Tips

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Create an Effective Business Plan

Success doesn’t come easy; it is a lot of hard work and determination. That being said it can be easier with a great strategy. A solid and effective business plan will assist you in reaching your goals, creating your mission and vision statements, and provide you with a clear vision of where your business is heading. Effective Business Plan

All businesses, big or small, should have a business plan. Sounds daunting, I know, and it kind of is, but a business plan is basically a written description of your business’s future. If you create a business plan, whether you are just starting out or have been in business a while and looking to grow, it will help you on your path to success.

Your Effective Business Plan template from The virtual studio

You have an amazing dream to make your business succeed with a clear goal in mind; however after some time, due to so many things you are required to do to run a small business, that goal may be put on the back burner in order to complete other tasks needed. Having a business plan will give you an all in one document that tells you what you plan to do and how you plan to do it.

So, let’s get started!


Business Introduction

When you start to create a business plan, it is important to start at the beginning and have a greater understanding of your business. And we will do that by taking a step back and reintroducing yourself to your business.

I know when I started my first business I was so caught up in finding clients, getting and fulfilling orders, keeping customers happy, so on and so forth that I completely lost track of what my business was really about.

I don’t want this to happen to you, so please do not skip this step, it is easy to jump forward but this reintroduction is a great way to get the wheels turning on your reason for working so hard on your own business.

  • What is your business’ name?
  • Website?
  • Location? (online/brick and mortar)
  • Social Media:
  • Describe, with 1 – 2 sentences, what your business does:
People Plan

The human element is the most forgotten part of a business. Most entrepreneurs get overwhelmed with marketing, bookkeeping, social media, product, tech, etc. But when you think about it, every part of your business boils down to people. By understanding the human element, you will be more profitable, create brand loyalty, close more deals, and ultimately be more successful.

You are your greatest asset!
The first and most important person, on your people list, is you. You cannot start building a dream business and build relationships until you are working at maximum capacity. If you aren’t at your best, your entire business could eventually collapse. In the workbook fill out the page about you, be honest about what you do best and where you are not 100%. Knowing these will help you move the business forward, giving you the opportunity to realize where you will need to outsource, educate yourself, or seek help from your network. Having this in your business plan will assist you in reaching all of your goals!
S.W.O.T Analysis
Now, the S.W.O.T Analysis… SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats and is a structured planning method that helps you evaluate these things for your business.

When you are filling out the S.W.O.T Analysis, keep both your strengths and your business’s strengths in mind. For example, a strength you have may be to be able to locate any item your client is searching for; you are the caretaker and just take care of all their needs. Pretty great strength, if you ask me. A business weakness could be shipping those items may take longer time than your clients are willing to except. Having it all written down will help you to strengthen those weaknesses and grow your business along the way. You will learn more strengths and weaknesses along the way, which is great! It is all a part of growing with your business.

  • Your Strengths:
  • Your Weaknesses:
  • Your Opportunities:
  • Your Threats:

Your ideal client.
To determine who your ideal client is you need to merge both who you want to help and who you are really excited to work with and don’t forget who can actually buy your products or services. Fill out your ideal client demographics in the workbook and get a good understanding of exactly who they are. Just remember, in the beginning, you may want to help everyone with your products or services and be less focused on your ideal client.  Over time it may become clearer exactly who your target audience is and where to find them. So, be sure to revisit this every few months.

  • Ideal client demographics: (age, career, income, etc.)
  • Ideal client’s fears and frustrations.
  • Ideal clients hopes and desires.
  • How will you ease the fears and provide the desires?

Know your competitors.
Whether you want to admit it or not, they are out there and they are hungry for your customers. Just as hungry as you are hungry for theirs! While it might seem unfair given everything else you need to keep on top of while building your business, you need to consider dedicating some time and energy into keeping tabs on or at least checking out your competition. When you do this, on a regular basis, you get to know their behaviour and start to anticipate what they may be likely to do next. This will help you gain what is called competitive intelligence. The idea is to plan your own strategies so that you keep your customers and maybe win (not steal) new customers. So, keeping tabs on your competition is an important strategy for growing your business and gaining success.

  • Company:
  • Offerings:
  • Social Media:
  • What are they doing well?
  • What could they improve on?

Just as a side note, and this is not part of building your business plan, but important. Please remember the importance of taking care of you.  When I first started out I did not always put myself first and it bit me in the butt – believe me.  I was constantly racing the clock to meet deadlines and let things go crazy.  To be honest, I had at least one complete meltdown per year – it was not pretty. I didn’t take care of myself and eventually just wore me down. I don’t want you to go through the same thing as you are building your business. Remember, you are your most important asset, treat yourself with kindness, love and care.

Define Your Purpose

Discovering the purpose of your business is an important step on the path to creating a business plan for your company. Why did you start a business? I want you to seriously reflect here, “to make money” or “to be my own boss” is not the true answer. Yes, these may be a part of your reason for starting, but they are not your “why”. Why did you start this business? If it was just to make money – you could be a life model and pose for sculpting students at the local art college. If it was just to be your own boss – I need to ask you why, when you were a kid, would you yell “You are not the boss of me!” but not as an adult? Are you not the boss of you already?

Jonathan Fields once said:

“We do not exist for the sole purpose of paying our bills, grooming our kids to be able to do the same, and, maybe, someday, retiring to finally enjoy life, should we ever reach that point. We are here to let our lights shine as brightly as possible, to drink in the joy of friendship and family, to serve and better the greater community and to tap into and inspire passion in everything we do. We are here to come alive.”

So, reflect, come alive and take a moment to determine your true purpose. Why did you pick this business and why you want to do this?

With that in mind, it is time to think about your core values. These are best explained as the guiding principles that dictate behaviour and action. Essentially, core values are the fundamental beliefs of you and your business. No business is too small to have a strong set of values.  What are yours? Honesty, discovery, investment, kindness, leadership?

Here at the virtual studio, they are Encouragement. Motivation. Empowerment. Success. Authenticity. And Growth.

Once you have your purpose and your core values it is time to summarize them with your goals and objectives and create your mission and vision statements. With all of the hard work you have put into your business plan already, this will be a piece of cake! Each of these serves a different purpose but is often confused with each other.

A mission statement describes what your company wants to do now. What is wrong with the world and how you intend to fix it?  (What is the problem you are going to solve and how you are going to solve it?)

While a vision statement defines the business’ vision for the future. (What the world will look like AFTER you have finished fixing it.)

My mission statement for The Virtual Studio is: To assist women in connecting with their inner power to start, succeed, and grow with their dream business.

The vision statement is: To continually provide the tools and confidence to thousands of women entrepreneurs. Women who can, and will, achieve business success and accomplish the incredible.

Now, keep in mind, your mission and vision statements are not set in stone. It may take some time to nail down exactly what you want them to say. These statements are short representations of your business and they should be revisited at least once a year.

  • Take a moment to reflect, come alive and determine your purpose. Why did you choose this specific business?
  • No business is too small to have a strong set of values. What do you believe in? What guides you, what will guide your business?
  • What is your Mission Statement?
  • What is your Vision Statement?
Your Product Plan

Now, let’s talk about your product or services. It should be very clear on what you are going to provide and how you are going to provide it, especially now that you have vision and mission statements. When filling out this portion of the workbook, think about your customers. Selling your product or services is not about what you need, like, or want. It is about your client’s likes, wants, and needs and how are you going to fulfil these for them. Remember the first portion of the workbook you filled out? What problem are you going to solve and how are you going to solve it with these products or services?

  • Products or services you offer are:
  • You will deliver this by:
The Promotion Plan

When you are pushing your business, people can tell. It just does not work. Gone are the days of just shameless promotion, because it is transparent and people tend to feel they are being conned. So, today you really have to love your work and what you offer. Being 100% authentic when sharing your message will allow your purpose to shine through and be able to sell a product or service without being sales-y. (Is that even a word?)

When I first started in the photography business, I was working with my mentor and was able to sell him like he was going out of style. I believed in him, his work, and his values. I knew his clients were getting the best of the best in both product and service.  When it came time for me to leave the nest and go out on my own – the struggle was real. I didn’t believe in my capabilities as much as I did his. My lack of confidence shone through, my inexperience was obvious and my sales were horrible! It wasn’t until I really started to love my own work, have confidence in my own strengths and started to build my weaknesses into assets that my business started to skyrocket. My point is, the more you love and know what you are offering is going to help your clients and the more real and honest you are, with yourself and your customers, the more people will trust you and want to work with you.

So, complete your business model and your marketing message with confidence, authenticity and honesty because that is exactly what your customers are looking for.

  • Will you offer a free product or service?
  • How will you promote it?
  • The offer you want customers to buy is:
  • The price of the offer:
  • Will you have an “upsell”? If so, what is it?
The Profit Plan

This may sound like the fun part, but really it is the part everyone doesn’t like because it starts with budgeting. This section should contain any and all financial information that is relevant to your business.

You will be using your business plan as a written description of your business’s future, so we need to look at how you will be investing in your business, expenses as well as profits.

You should track any ongoing business expenses you anticipate such as supplies, professional fees, marketing, insurance, and any others that may be required. What is the budget for this item and, of course, how much did you actually spend? This will help determine if you are under-budgeting certain aspects of your business, as well as help you see if there is any critical overspending.

Your budget should detail the money that’s going out, but you also cannot neglect to keep on top of money coming in. How much and where is it coming from? Are you able to diversify your products or services? What are your sales goals for each month?

Finally, I suggest you outline your plans for investing back into your business. Will you be looking at more advertising, taking courses, hiring a Virtual Assistant? What are the future goals going to cost and is there a budget for it?

I do not doubt, this section will involve some frustrating number crunching. But, whip out that calculator and tackle it head-on!

  • Monthly revenue targets:
  • Monthly expenses:
  • Yearly revenue targets:
  • Yearly expenses:

Your Effective Business Plan is complete!

You are spectacular for making it through this process. Doesn’t it feel amazing knowing that now you have a solid plan for your business? This is one of the hardest parts of starting your own business, and you did it! I am so excited for you and extremely proud! Now go and celebrate this accomplishment!

Don’t forget to download the PDF template to go with this guide!


This is a Premium Article, more like this are available only inside the Entrepreneur Essential library! If you are not a member, don’t fret! You still can be AND it is totally FREE!

Sign up below, if that isn’t your thing, I still want to help you the best way I can! So be sure to check out other available resources I have that will help you grow your business!

Effective Business Plan Template, free download

Create an effective Business Plan

Create an effective Business Plan

 

 

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