I thought I would start a series of “how to” articles to get you in the right mindset for 2010. Even though we are at the end of January, you still have plenty of time to continue to jump start this awesome new year!

To begin this “HOW TO” series , I’d like you think about if you truly  know you are in the right business and are doing what you love. Do you know for certain, what you are currently doing is what is right for YOU?

 This article I wrote is  one to reflect on what you do and what it is you want to do! Figuring this out can be a tough go, but once you have answered some critical quesions, it will all come together! You might also discover that what you are currently doing is COMPLETELY WRONG for you!!  The beautiful thing is that you can ALWAYS change direction. Take another path, try something knew..as long as you are truly happy and satisfied!

The 7 steps to begin to figure this out are:

 Step 1- WHAT DO YOU ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO DO?? – Ask yourself what it is you truly love to do if money were not an issue. What do you love to do in your spare time? On the weekends? Do you love to paint? Sing opera in the shower? Teach children how to read? Help others? If so, who, with what? Do you love to race cars? Mountain bike in the mountains? Do you love exotic wine? Love to swing dance or love to cook? Take a good chunk of time right now and let your thoughts flow. Write down everything you love  to do and don’t stop until everything is on the paper!

Step2- WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GOOD AT?- What are you skilled to do? What can you do well? Are you really good at writing? Teaching? Budgets? Forcasting? Fitness training? Selling? Connecting? Speaking? Singing? Building businesses?

 Step 3- COMPARE YOUR LISTS- Take a look at what you love to do and the  what you are really good at list. Do you see any commonalties? Take a pen or colored marker and circle the common items that stand out. You might LOVE to teach children to read and happen to be really good at teaching…you might really love to cook and are really good at throwing together super tasty healthy meals.. do you get what I am getting at?

 Step 4-  WHAT CAN YOU CREATE? – Using the information you just complied, how can you put this together into a service? A  product? How can you improve what might already be out there? If you love to paint, and are really good at faux finishing, ask yourself what product or service can I create around this passion I hold? Could you start a faux finishing business? A step by step guide to faux finishing product? What special twist can you put on this product or service that nobody else has? How can you make your product or service really unique and stand out?

 Step 5-PUT YOURSELF IN THE SHOES OF THE CUSTOMER/CLIENT- Building upon your product or service. Let’s delve deeper into improving it. Put yourself in the shoes of your ideal client or customer. What would you like to see done? How would you as the client or customer like to see happen? What would make you want to buy this product or service ?

 Step 6- PUT YOURSELF IN THE SHOES OF THE MANUFACTURER- The next step is to once again, put on another hat. Pretend you are the manufacturer of your product or service, or someone who is about to invest a huge amount of money in what it is you do for others.What other improvements would you make on the design?Functionality? Ease of use? Practicality? Uniqueness?

 Step 7- PUT IT ALL TOGETHER- What keeps jumping  out at you? What do you seem drawn to? What lights a fire in your belly? Where are your ideas flowing to? What comes easy, effortless to you? What rings that bell? Tells you…THIS IS IT????????? If you have more than one item, write them down and let them sit with you for a few days. Let these ideas resonate with you and focus your thought on only that one or those few ideas you have and ‘try them on’ for at least 72 hours. Once you do this, you are truly on your way to getting over that first hurdle and finally are able to decide if what you are doing or what you plan on doing is truly best for YOU.

I just read an article from Inc. magazine that was pretty powerful. It was all about how to manage yourself as a solo-preneur. The advice that was given was great. According to many successful entrepreneurs, this is some of what they recommended.

1. Become A Time Management Expert- Managing your time is critical. Creating blocks of time and staying focused is key.

2.Forget the Cool Factor- Focus on selling your services and what you have to offer rather than how super cool your innovative you feel your product or service is. Sell what you can DO for the customer or client, not how awesome you think it is.

3.Love Your Current Clients- As you grow your business, it can be difficult to balance it all as you are prospecting and marketing and selling..it is easy to forget your current clients! Make sure you have a system in place that ensures they are taken care of.

4. Use More Webinars- Take the travel out of the equation and use more of webinars and video conferencing.

5. Delegate- Hire a virtual assiatant, a student, someone who is out of work and have them help you with the ‘stuff’ you hate to do and aren’t great at!

6. Have A Mentor-As a coach myself, I feel strongly about this. Having someone on your side, to hold you accountable, to bounce ideas off of, and to keep you focused will bring you overwhelming success.

Think about these tips can help YOU in your business today!

As a new or aspiring entrepreneur, taking that first step isn’t always easy. The path along the way isn’t that easy either. It takes work, a lot of it, and most importantly FAITH.

Many entrepreneurs don’t take the time to prepare themselves for the road ahead. They have a an idea and want to take action right away (which is great!) however, preparing yourself mentally is also critical.

Even if you are working part-time while growing your business, being able to turn off your ’9-5′ mindset and to jump into ‘entrepreneur’ mindset is needed.

As you make the leap, get ready to feel uncomfortable. The great thing is, that when you are feeling uncomfortable, that is a sign of great things to come!

What needs to be done to create that mindset and motivation for yourself if to always know where you are going, never ever give up..even you do encounter some bumps in the road, and always learn from your mistakes!

Once you are able to do this, you will feel so free!!

Get involved with other entrepreneurs and work in a program that will continue to support what you are doing are just a few ways to keep that mindset and motivation going!