Leadership Coach, Life Coach, Project Management Coach & Consultant, Business Intuitive, Joanne Victoria, Gabrielle M. Kunz

Do You Feel Frustrated With The Strategies You’ve Been Using?

Joanne Victoria — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:28:24 +0000

“Do You Feel Frustrated With The Strategies You’ve Been Using?”

Welcome to

“Joanne Victoria Says…for January 2012

If you want more focus, increased productivity and strategic clarity, then let Gemma & Bixley help you simplify your business success.

In This Issue…

1. Quote of the Month

2. Feature Article

3. Free Gift

4. Life & Business Coaching w/Joanne Victoria
~~~~~~~~~~

1. Quote of the month:

“Always live in expectation of a miracle.”

2. Feature Article:

Simple Business Strategies to Start the New Year

“Another New Year for small office, solo-preneurs and other professional individuals, so start it off right. What you need to determine is how you will spend your time: earning, learning, yearning or a combination of all three. Follow the three strategies presented below to create a New Year of abundance, balance, focus, and fun.” (Click link to read more)
http://www.gemmabixley.com/articles/simple-business-strategies-to-start-the-new-year-2/

3. Get your free gift here:

Joanne Says: Whether you are a one-person business, entrepreneur or manage a large company, this booklet is extremely beneficial.

“The 7 Greatest Principles of Leadership – How To Create a High Performing Organization”

“The greatest principles of leadership are similar to the greatest qualities of any human being – respect for others, compassion for the state of their lives, and appreciation for their knowledge and existence.

We can do no better than honor another‘s soul, humanness and heart.

The 7 Greatest Principles of Leadership is a story about a family who, although they have individual pursuits, agree as one in their relationships with others.” Read more here:

Get this complementary booklet here: http://www.gemmabixley.com/

4. Life & Business Coaching with Joanne Victoria

How does coaching work?

First, together, we will evaluate your current position to see if you are ready for coaching.

Second, we define a direction and determine the results you want.

Third, we establish an action plan and a time for completion.

Fourth, as your coach, Joanne Victoria will continue to evaluate your progress, provide feedback and enhance your action plan, as needed, for the utmost effectiveness.

Simple Business Strategies to Start the New Year

Joanne Victoria — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:12:19 +0000

Another New Year for small office, solo-preneurs and other professional individuals, so start it off right. What you need to determine is how you will spend your time: earning, learning, yearning or a combination of all three. Follow the three strategies presented below to create a New Year of abundance, balance, focus, and fun.

The first strategy is: Time for yourself.

You’ve go to do what’s good for you or you’re no good for anybody. Take your calendar and, at least for the first quarter of the year, select one weekday and designate it for yourself. This is in addition to any weekends that you have designated for other work or family activities.

Use this time for yourself; go to the movies, a museum, volunteer or take up tap dancing. Remember, you come first. If you are not fulfilled, satisfied and content, the business won’t come to you anyway. Clients are attracted to enjoyment, not worry. Worry takes you out of your mind and into stagnation. Start each day with: “I am satisfied and successful.” Create the time for peace, joy and the pleasure of just taking care of you.

Second: Determine your Bigger Financial Picture.

Decide the amount of income you want your business to receive in this New Year. For example, consider $240,000 in annual receipts. Could be more or less; this is just an example using round figures; this breaks down to $20,000 per month. This amount, $240,000 annually may sound high to some. Remember, As a business owner, you only get to keep half this amount. The other half goes to overhead, profit and marketing, so keep this in mind. You will generate $20,000 per month; however, only $10,000 of this goes to the owner.

You may need to have a higher figure, depending on your business or practice, $1,000,000 even. Go for it! Now determine how many days you want to market your business and how many days you want to “do the work.” The marketing can be in the form of networking meetings, free or fee talks, mailings and Internet marketing.

The work would be the actual consulting, writing, product design and development, coaching or training performed in your area of expertise. Write it down. Write the amount on an annual, monthly and daily basis. Each day, make a statement similar to, “Everything I do today supports my financial goals.” Only perform tasks of High Value that will support your monthly number of $20,000 per month. Choose three HVAs and write them down each and every day. At the end of your day, note what you accomplished in pursuit of your monthly number. You may be surprised to discover that you did not complete the morning three items. Once you are committed to a process, you are bound to attract other influences that support your goal. Whatever you do, do not feel compelled to carryover yesterday’s HVAs to today’s activities. Make new ones each and every day. These HVAs are to be written each and every day, even the so-called work free weekends. On the weekends, you may decide that an HVA is to take a hike or go on a trip. If this activity supports your well being, then it is part of your plan.

Remember, you do not need to work every day to generate the income you want. If you determine you want to work only six months per year, say it. It may take a little time for your subconscious to hear your truth, but there is no rule that you have to work a particular number of days per week or per year. This is your life, your business and your rules.

Third, Be Emotionally, Physically and Spiritually Healthy.

Your body and your mind take you through the work and the play and need to be in the best shape possible. This means to eat healthy, sleep healthy, play healthy and work healthy. Get rid of anything or anyone that does not support who you are or want to be.

Eliminate inappropriate and unnecessary food, relationships,clothes, business associates, clients, subscriptions, debts and so on. No need to carry any burden that you don’t want.Make a list of everything that needs to go. Keep this list, note the dates things change and applaud. Every day, say “I am healthy.” It works.

You are now on your way to new ideas, new learning and expanded income and health for any New Year.

For more tips, tools and strategies, check out this link:

http://www.gemmabixley.com/products/vision-with-a-capital-v/

Are You Tired of Being Stuck?

Joanne Victoria — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:00:31 +0000

All you want is a little more.

More money, more love, more fun, more friends.

So what happens when we don’t get what we want, when the flow slows down or even stops?

You get mad, sad and unhappy.

You blame the president, the country, the war, your mother, father, husband, wife, child, co-worker, anyone we can think of, even the driver of that car who passed you on the freeway.

You find yourself stuck.

Stuck in the anger, stuck in the resentment, stuck in the fear of what will happen now. You are stuck because there is no flow. As soon as you get angry or resentful or critical, the flow shuts down.

So you attract more stuckness. Then you start defending your stuckness. Stop.

Stop defending your stuckness. The reason you defend your stuckness position is because you want to be right about who you are and what you do. Being right then becomes resistance. Being in resistance puts you in that rut of stuckness. A vicious circle.

The only way out of the rut, the only way to increase the flow of anything is to forgive.

Forgiveness is the process that opens the flow.

Forgiveness lets your guard down from defending your position. To let your guard down is the best place to be if you want more of anything in your life.

If you are stuck, there is no flow, and you are someplace you do not want to be, there is something you can do.

If you want to be in another place or feel another feeling or act another action, I have a secret.

The secret is forgiveness – really.

Forgiveness gets you off your position of being right.

Because your stuckness is really about being right.

When you are right about something, you think you are in total absolute control. When others defy your position by criticizing you or not giving you that contract you worked so hard to get and think you deserve, you become stuck.

This stuckness, this resistance, stops the flow of anything, good or bad, from coming to you.

You are so stuck that you cannot think of a way out or a new direction.

Forgiveness stops you for a minute. This stop allows the flow of activity, of something other than righteous resistance.

Here is a simple, effective, clear way to get unstuck.

Start by making a list of all the people you have any issues with, or a feeling about, or a criticism of.

•Maybe they did cut you off on the freeway.

•Maybe they didn’t keep their word to you.

•Maybe they lied.

•Maybe they didn’t hire you for that job.

Check out the following example.

Trudy was supposed to meet you for lunch. She often canceled on previous occasions. You hoped this time would be different. It wasn’t. She not only didn’t show up, she called at the very last minute to say she was still an hour away. No real regret, just sorry. So, what did you do? Let us say you became resentful and argued with her and told her off.

What did this accomplish? You really didn’t feel better. All this argument did was remind you of all the other times she stood you up. This reminder created more memories of when others kept you waiting. You now go back in time to recall numerous similar situations.

Again, you are stuck, you get angry and upset with almost every little perceived slight. If you are stuck, the goodness that you want, the more of what you want will no longer flow.

Forgive Trudy. Really.

Get out your journal and write the following:

• I forgive Trudy for all the times she stood me up.

• I forgive Trudy for making me feel angry.

• I forgive Trudy for making me feel stuck.

You can start to feel your body changing. You have just created an opening, an opportunity for the flow to begin.

• I appreciate Trudy for all of who she is.

• I appreciate myself for accepting Trudy as she is.

Okay, maybe you are not totally accepting of Trudy, yet, but just the saying of it will open your valves.

The more often you forgive everyone who you think has lied to you, ignored you, stood you up or did not keep their word to you, the flow will begin. Keep that journal out and continue to forgive everyone on that list. Take the time for this exercise each and every day until the flow begins.

Let forgiveness keep you on your path of unstuckness.

Let the flow of more money, more love, more fun, and more friends begin.

Be in the Moment Now

Joanne Victoria — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:00:52 +0000

If you really let life take you, if you release control and stop clinging to sameness,you cannot imagine the places you will end up.

Change – What’s it Really About?

Joanne Victoria — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:14:07 +0000

As you sit in your office wondering what other successful business owners are doing differently than you, have you ever asked yourself if you should change your methods?

Change is to shift or move which means you are possibly doing some changing as you read this article. So it’s not just about change, it’s about doing things differently than you’ve done them before. It’s about the distinction between change, shift and leap.

What would cause you to leap forward in your business? What ideas could you come up with that you would say a resounding “Yes!” to?

Yes- I can do that!

What dreams about yourself and your business are not yet realized? Independent professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners don’t like to be told what to do or how to do it. We accept information only from others who have proven themselves in their own profession. We don’t rely on a weekly paycheck and most of us never have.

We move to the beat of a different drum.

Then why are we checking others out and looking at how they are doing, professionally and financially? Women may

be polite, listening quietly to someone else’s achievement and success. Men may go yes, I know, when I did that, this is how it worked out. Each may walk away questioning their own judgment and motivation; or maybe even critiquing the other’s method.

The truth is, you have all your own ideas in your own mind.There is a saying: The teacher shows up when you need one, or, build it and they will come. You are your own best teacher and you can build anything.

If you come from a personal and professional value based life, you will be able to trust your own ideas.

What you are looking for is flow. The flow of your life, your ideas, your mind. Flow is as much about change as anything.

How can you create flow?

You have to learn to listen. In order to listen, you have to be quiet. You need to take time each and every day and be quiet. You can write and be quiet. You can listen to music and be quiet. You can sit in silence and be quiet. It’s vital to be calm and tranquil so your own mind can provide you with ideas unique to you. Not somebody else’s way, but your own. This is doing something differently than you’ve done it before.

Take the time, ten per cent of a twenty-four hour day, and be quiet. It takes practice, but the ideas will flow and you’ll find that change is not just change, but transformation.

All you have to do is listen. Just listen.

Is Your Business For Real?

Joanne Victoria — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 22:09:44 +0000

Small business owners come in several shapes and sizes. Some are solo-preneurs; others have a professional practice with five employees. Yet, others have fifty employees, sell a single product and make millions. What many of these business owners have in common is that once upon a time they had a dream. For some of them, their dream was never realized, at least not in the way they wanted.

Why wasn’t it realized, you wonder?

It might be that their business is not real. A bold statement but one you must ask if you want to be successful.

Here is an opportunity to ask the question, “Is my business for real?” If your business is not as satisfying as you want it to be, take a moment, sit down and think before you respond to any of the questions.

The “Is Your Business for Real?” Quiz

Answer Yes or No to the questions below.

1. _____ Do you own a real business or are you just working for a paycheck?

2. _____ Does your business provide you with financial freedom?

3. _____ Are you in charge of your business?

4. _____ Do you have all the clients you want?

5. _____ Are they the right clients for you?

6. _____ Are you excited each and every day?

7. _____ Is your cash flow what you want?

8. _____ Does your business bring you joy?

9. _____ Are you contributing at the highest level?

10. _____ Are you totally satisfied?

11. _____ Do you have a vision for your business?

12. _____ Did you answer these questions truthfully?

Now what? If you answered Yes! to more questions than you answered No, then having a Vision with a Capital V(TM) may be an added value to your business success. If you answered No! to any of the above questions, get out your note pad and start taking action.

My message about having a really big Vision is different in that if you have a Vision With a Capital V, you will:

* Focus on the inner you and your business that helps to prevent overwhelm, loneliness and insecurity.

* Clearly define who you really are, the service that you truly provide, as well as the people you want in your life.

* Help yourself eliminate anything standing in the way of attracting the design for your perfect life and business.

* Be guided to determine the qualities, values and principles required for your Vision.

* Be directed you to create your Vision with a Capital V(TM) that inspires and motivates you.

* Assist you with supportive methods for defining and attracting what you want.

* Provide you with insights, tools and strategies to keep your vision alive.

If you want clarity of intention as well as the ability to refocus your business and your life, it is time to act. Review your life purpose, your business purpose to see if they are in alignment. If not, reevaluate how you want your business to be. Maybe you just need a bigger and better vision to align your life with. Do it now.

The Freedom to Focus

Joanne Victoria — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:23:57 +0000

Focus on your own greatness, radiance and joy and you will then be able to acknowledge and recognize it in others. You will then attract brilliant, wonderful, happy people and situations to you. Focus is an easy way to attract success.

The Secret to Getting Along With Your Co-Workers (When You Just Want to Push Them Into the Bushes!)

Gabrielle — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 20:36:39 +0000

Have you ever worked with someone who just drives you crazy? Do they do so many annoying things that you are overcome with irrational behavior and feelings? Does just seeing them walk by make you want to push them into the bushes? Then read on to learn the secret to overcoming these obstacles and creating more peace and joy in the workplace.

Say, for instance, the person who whines a lot. Or maybe you just get a bad vibe and don’t like them in general. (About 10% of the people you meet won’t like YOU, so someone may want to push you in the bushes too.) But, guess what, you’re at work and you can’t push them in the bushes because A. You’ll get fired. B. You’ll go to jail. or C. You’ll get your butt kicked.

The good news is that there are other options!

A. You can try to ignore them. (Something that is nearly impossible in a day-to-day working relationship.) or B. Take the high road and figure out what it is about them that makes you irrational and change it up. This will require some work, but it is your best and most highest-serving option. Oh, and it’s good karma. So, read on to learn how to take that high road and get along.

Have you ever heard of that exercise where you learn what it is that you don’t like about someone because it’s mirrored in yourself? Ugh. We don’t like that, but it’s pretty true.

Let’s say someone is being boastful. You know exactly what they know, but they seem to like to tell everyone about it. You find that so annoying! But why do you have the irrational feeling of hating someone who’s boastful? You’re quiet and modest and that is so much better, isn’t it?

But, guess what? People can find these to be annoying traits too. Okay, so no one’s perfect. Let’s get on with turning it around. What one word needs to come into your head when you think about pushing this person in the bushes? COMPASSION.

A person who is boastful may be so fearful of being wrong or inadequate that they have to go out of their way to let others know how “good” and “important” they are. And ultimately, since you’re identifying with this trait, you probably need to be a little bit more boastful yourself. Also, a small step of boastfulness may be a little bit better than using the traits of being quiet and manipulative to get people to hear you.

So, suck it up, take a deep breath, deal with your own frustration and look at this person through a different filter. COMPASSION.

Here’s another workplace scenario. Let’s say you work with someone who always interrupts you with trivial questions that you’ve already answered or asks you silly questions about what you’re wearing or eating at your desk. It drives you so crazy because you have deadlines and just want to get done and go home. So, yes, this person would become annoying to you.

Let’s try to turn it around. You’re going to look at them through a different filter, your compassion filter, and see what’s really going on. It’s not that they want to be annoying or bothersome, it might be that they’re lonely and sad at home and just want to make some friends at work, you just have no idea. So, again, suck it up, take a deep breath and try something new. It doesn’t take much time or effort.

Make sure you set some boundaries with your co-workers. Then try starting with a small step and maybe take a minute or two every day to acknowledge them, like saying “good morning” when you see them in the kitchen. Or take an even bigger step, and be like the cool kid in the cafeteria at lunch time and ask them to sit with you. It’s okay, others may look at you with their high school filter, but you will feel better later on.

And maybe you’re not even the cool kid and you’re just like this annoying person, the kid that’s looking for some more friends too and the person that’s judging you thinks they’re the cool kid! (High school and the workplace. That’s another article.)

The best part of stopping and using your filter is that you’re learning how to get along better with others and not feeling so stressed, anxious and irrational.

COMPASSION. Because things could get really ugly at work and you might not have any bushes.

Are Business Goals Enough?

Joanne Victoria — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:03:51 +0000

You’ve heard of goals, mission statements and vision statements. There are plenty of books and seminars about goal setting. Did you know there were distinct differences in goals, mission statements and business vision?

The differences are unique: this information will help you separate what a goal is from a mission statement or a vision.

Goals are specific, measurable, realistic outcomes or results,usually completed by a specific date. Tasks or assignments support the completion of the goals, either by individuals or groups of individuals. Goals support your mission and vision statements, and goals, mission statements and vision is usually aligned with your values.

Goal Example: ABC Company will release two new computer programs in the United States by end of year 2012. These products will influence long-term relationships in the international business community.

A Business Mission is what you want your business to be; how it is perceived in the world. A mission statement is about what your business does or what products or services your business provides. A mission can include the outcomes of what you do and who you do it for.

Mission Example: ABC Company designs influential software programs that enable people to find information on the Internet in less than two seconds.

A Business Vision is about the impact your business will have on the world. The Vision is what pulls you forward. With a clear business vision, each day is effortless, with more satisfaction and prosperity in your life.

Vision Example: U.S.-based ABC Company is the only software provider of global nations. Ownership of ABC Company is held as an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). This plan allows each employee to have a secure financial future.

Will I Get Better Clients or Customers with a Business Vision?

The best reason in the world to have a great vision rather than rely on short-term goals is the ability to attract better clients.

Clarity about who you are and what you do on a daily basis is supported by your vision. The more you focus on what your clients or customers want and need, the easier it will be for them to see your contributions. One client became so clear on his vision that he eliminated the bottom twenty percent of his clients, redefined his definition of his ideal customer, and raised his fees.

Always remember that your business vision is the primary requisite in the search for a successful business and life. Goals come after the vision. Vision is bigger than anything.Make sure you have your Vision with a Capital V.

Thoughts Become Things

Joanne Victoria — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:43:30 +0000

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny