As a business owner, your income is essential for keeping your household running smoothly. It’s what allows you to pay yourself consistently each month, offering the security of a regular paycheck and the freedom of being your own boss. But what happens when things slow down? When a client project wraps up and isn’t immediately replaced, or life throws an unexpected Continue reading...
Systems
How to Hire the Right Person for Your Business: A Step-by-Step Guide
Most business owners don't start their businesses thinking about hiring (and firing), managing people, or growing teams. It’s a new skill most need to learn as their business grows, and I love helping clients do this and do this well. The good news is, it is a skill, and you can learn it. Sure, it can feel like daunting—whether you’re hiring your first part-time Continue reading...
How to Hit Your Goals and Also Honor How You Feel
I hear you: You want success on your terms … but you’re not clear on how to achieve it. For example, you want to hit your business goals and also honor how you feel on a daily (or even hourly) basis. But from where you are today, you don’t know how to make it happen. The question is, how do you do this? How do you go after something when you aren’t sure how to Continue reading...
Steal This! New Client Intake System and Email Scripts
Is your new client process a bit chaotic? Could it have a bit more of a professional feel? Let's streamline your system for booking new clients and automating as much of the process as possible (without over-complicating it). Use the checklist below to create and implement a system that works for you. 7 Steps to Your New Client Intake System Here are seven Continue reading...
7 Secrets to Working Less Without Making Less
Back in 2012, I taught a totally free class called The Secrets to Working Less Without Making Less. Although some of the specific wording I use today to talk about these ideas has shifted, the core concepts are still applicable to anyone wanting to build a thriving business without working to the bone. Heck, it even works great if you're an employee who wants to work Continue reading...
Looking to Grow Your Business Next Year? Be Sure to Nail Your Niche First
Quick question: What’s your top priority for growing your business over the next year? If you’re like most of the business owners I work with, you want to find your perfect prospects and convert them into paying clients, so you can quit your job and earn a full-time income from your business, while still having time to do what you love. To make that happen, you know Continue reading...
What All Perfectionists Need to Know About Overcoming Fear and Overwhelm
How do you approach building your business? Do you wait until everything is 100% perfect before you talk about it? Over-analyze every opportunity before you make a decision? Do you start things and never finish them? Think of hundreds of ideas but never act on any of them? Do you feel a pang of jealousy when you see other people doing things you wish you could Continue reading...
Steal This! My Seven-step Plan for Growing a Successful Online Business
Most of my clients start their businesses because they want more freedom. They no longer want to work 40 or 50 or 60 hours a week. They want more control over their future, their schedule… and their paycheck. And they want to do work they’re incredibly passionate about. But making the transition to entrepreneurship can come with a pretty steep learning curve. Many Continue reading...
4 Daily Habits You Need to Bring in a Steady Flow of Clients
What would change for you and your business if you could wave a magic wand and have a steady flow of perfect clients? Soooo much, like… ...You’d finally be able to make consistent, reliable money doing the work you love so you could quit your day job. ...You’d have the freedom to work on a schedule that fits your life, allowing you time to pick up your kids from Continue reading...
3 About Page Mistakes That Repel Perfect Prospects
About pages. Whether you love them or hate them, you know your website needs one. Not only is it the second-most clicked page on your website (after the home page), it’s also where potential prospects decide if they can relate to—and trust—you. This means your about page gives you the perfect opportunity to authentically connect with your target audience, build Continue reading...
How Stephanie Gets a YES to 90% of Her Consultation Follow-ups
It’s a common problem for most business owners: Not knowing what to do when your prospect utters these dreaded words: “I need to think about it.” Even worse, knowing that you should follow up but have no idea how to do it without coming across too pushy, needy, or desperate. The indecision and uncertainty leaves you feeling frustrated, powerless, and utterly Continue reading...
What You Need to Know About General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and What to Do to Ensure Compliance
Have you heard the buzz about GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)? Whether you have or haven’t, know this: It’s a big deal for your business. Today I’m happy to offer some support and guidance as you navigate these new guidelines. If you’ve joined Get Your First 1000 Subscribers, you’ll find these specifics in Module 1. Just one more thing I’m doing to help Continue reading...
You Tell Me: What Classes, Programs, and Products Do You Want Me to Create for You This Year?
Wow! It’s been a wild few months, hasn’t it? Between Make It Work Online Prep School in November and December and the Make It Work Online Workshop in January, you’ve been doing an intense amount of learning, clarifying, and action-taking. Go you! Thank you for being part of this community of smart, generous, kind, supportive, thoughtful, open-minded action-takers who Continue reading...
The Ultimate Overwhelm-Busting Guide: How to Stay Focused, Work Smarter, and Systematize Your Online Business
There’s one thing that every business owner, from the newest rookie to the most famous billionaire, must deal with... OVERWHELM. No matter how big or small your team is, no matter how much money you make, no matter what you’re selling, you can’t escape it. Unfortunately, I’ve seen far too many business owners let overwhelm stop them dead in their tracks. This Continue reading...
What’s Holding Your Business Back? The Ultimate Troubleshooting Guide for Struggling Business Owners
In case you haven’t noticed, your business isn’t Forrest Gump. It doesn’t start running and “just keep right on going for no particular reason.” Don’t get me wrong. It would be amazing if your business threw on jogging pants and a baseball cap and ran all the way to the ocean and back again. But the reality is a teensy bit less impressive than that. In the real Continue reading...
3 Simple Steps for Building Trust So You Can Easily and Authentically Convert Prospects into Paying Clients
Have you seen the endless, overly complicated advice out there from so-called experts about converting prospects into paying clients? You’ve been told you should… create epic content… develop a sales funnel… segment your list… send surveys… re-engage people who aren’t opening your emails… split test everything… and on and on. If you’re like most of my clients, many Continue reading...
Steal This! My Go-To Script for Gracefully De-friending Facebook “Friends” Without Offending Anyone
When my hard-working clients ask me for help, I come running. So when Caryn, one of my Make It Work Online Accelerator clients, told me that her personal Facebook page was a mess, I jumped to her aid. Caryn’s personal Facebook page had lost its personal touch, and most of her “friends” were colleagues and prospective clients. She missed seeing her real friend Continue reading...
Downtime, Rest Time, and Sleeping In: How I Incorporate Breaks into My Work Day, Even When It Feels Impossible
For the longest time, I thought that the most successful business owners were those who had Energizer Bunny energy. They woke up at 5 a.m., worked out like they were the lead instructor on a kickboxing DVD, meditated for an hour, ate a power breakfast, and dressed to the nines…. all before 9 a.m. With this in mind, I figured I was doomed for failure. Although I’m Continue reading...
Too Busy to Grow Your Business? How to Stop Spinning and Find More Time in Your Day to Reach the Next Level
After reading about the six-figure strategy I shared a few weeks ago, Amy wrote in with a question: “What you said makes a lot of sense, but I’m so swamped with running my business (keeping my blog and social media up-to-date, serving clients, etc.). How can I find the time to implement the strategy to grow my business?” Great question! And if you’re consistently Continue reading...
The Biggest Lessons from My Biggest Launch: What Went Right, What Went Wrong, and What I Learned Along the Way
Last week I shared part one of my launch debrief. Today, as promised, you’re going to get the inside scoop on what worked, what didn’t, and what I learned from my biggest launch ever. If you like spying behind the scenes in other people’s businesses (I do!), don’t miss this one. Let’s dive right in, starting with what went right. Massive Upleveling I’ll start the Continue reading...
Failures, Wins, Struggles, and Mega-Effort: How Launching Changes Across the Growth Curve in Your Business
We’ve all been there… You open Facebook and pop into your favorite business group and see comments like these: I had my first 5 figure launch! I sold 200 spots for my program! I hit a million dollars! Your stomach drops. Your palms sweat. And your head fills with some of the crappiest thinking you’ve ever thought. And while your stomach sinks to the floor, Continue reading...
6 Overlooked & Embarassing Mistakes That Make You Look Like a Novice and How to Fix Them So You Look Like a Pro
You’ve probably heard me say that you can be successful online by being YOU. That means you don’t have to be prettier, perkier, or more controversial than you naturally are to build a thriving online business. And while I never want you to contort yourself to be successful, I do want you to know how you’re being perceived as a business owner. Because how you’re Continue reading...
The Power of Deliberate Choices: What to Do When You Wish You Could Say NO But Feel Like You Have to Say Yes
A friend recently confided in me (and she said I could share this story with you). “I’ll be talking to a client,” she said, “and they’ll ask if I can do such-and-such for them. And in my mind I’m saying ‘No, no, no, no,’ yet I blurt out, ‘Sure, no problem!’” We both laughed. After all, who hasn’t been there?! The way she sees it, she doesn’t have a choice. She Continue reading...
Do This, Not That: What I Did Right and Wrong During My Latest Make It Work Online Program Launch
I love peeking behind the curtain of other people’s businesses, uncovering what works, what doesn’t, and what lessons they have to pass along. You’ve told me you like those things, too, so today I’m going to share the mistakes and smart moves from my latest Make It Work Online launch. But it’s more than just giving you the behind-the-scenes look. It’s also about Continue reading...
My Top 6 Tips for Staying Focused & Getting More Done in Less Time
I’m wondering if any of these sound familiar: You’re stretched impossibly thin and weighed down by a never-ending to-do list. You feel like you have to psych yourself to get through yet another work day. When you finally sit down at your computer, you’re pulled in a million directions, unsure if or how you’ll actually accomplish anything. Even when you’re not Continue reading...
Information Overload: How Too Much Research Is Hurting Your Business and What You Can Do About It
I’m curious: How many business-related newsletters and blogs are you subscribed to? How many webinars have you attended in the last month? Podcasts listened to this week? Blog posts saved to Evernote? There’s certainly not a shortage of business-building information out there. Run a quick Google search, and you’ll find millions of suggestions on how to create great Continue reading...
Working Hard But Still Not Getting the Clients or Money You Want? Here’s Why You’re Stuck and What to Do About It
Do you ever fall into bed, your brain still buzzing from the day, and realize that even though you worked your butt off, you didn’t really get anywhere? You’re doing all the right things, but your client list isn’t growing at all, and you don’t know why. You spend time away from your family and friends because you’re “swamped,” but when they ask how business is Continue reading...
9 Surprising Things I Had to Give up to Grow a Successful Business (And Why You Might Need to Give Them up Too)
You’ve heard me talk about my deep-rooted belief in success without sacrifice. That your business should support the life you want, not strain it, and you shouldn’t have to give up what matters most to you in life to have a successful business. But recently I realized something: I actually did give up a lot to get where I am today, but not necessarily in the way you Continue reading...
Peek Behind the Curtain: Are Launches Worth It? What I Really Think About Launches, Products, & Group Programs
You probably noticed some big things happening around here over the past month. And because you’re like me, looking at people ahead of you in business to see what your next steps are, I knew you’d want to know the nitty-gritty details PLUS some of the big lessons I learned and mistakes I’ve made in launching. There aren’t enough coaches telling you “how the sausage is Continue reading...
My Super-Simple Strategy to Stop Overwhelm and Start Focusing on the Exact Right Things to Grow Your Business
Is there anything more daunting, more puzzling, and more exhausting than building an online business … from scratch … on your own? You have 3,487 things to do, are constantly thinking over (and maybe over-thinking!) every single aspect of running your business, and are terrified you’ll ultimately fail. Not knowing what to focus on next or seeing how you’ll get Continue reading...
You Have Questions, I Have Answers: Readers Share Their Small Business Challenges and Get My Proven Strategies
Last week you shared the biggest challenges that you’re currently facing as you run and grow your online businesses. You said you’re currently grappling with situations ranging from the ridiculous amount of time it takes to get things done and working long hours... to knowing how to actually build your business, connect with potential clients, and get paid for your Continue reading...
Want to Increase Your Productivity? The Experts You MUST Follow Online (And Those You Should Drop Immediately)
Which business-building experts, trendsetters, and websites do you follow online? Are you sure you’re subscribed to all the right people? How do you know? Today I’m getting into the nitty-gritty of who to follow, who to not bother with, and how to know when you’re getting all the right updates from all the right people. Plus, I’m sharing a step-by-step plan for Continue reading...
Overwhelmed by Too Many Tasks, Ideas, and Conflicting Expert Advice? My Strategy for Getting Past It (Part 2)
This is the second of two posts that explore the issue of overwhelm. If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, you should definitely go back and start there since it explains what overwhelm is really all about (spoiler alert: it’s all in your head!) and how it can affect entrepreneurs who are just starting out. As business owners, we all have the tendency to get overwhelmed from Continue reading...
3 More Common Mistakes I Made Early on in My Business and My Hard-Won Strategies for How You Can Avoid Them
A few weeks ago, when I was writing about my four business mistakes for my fourth anniversary, I ended up identifying a several more mistakes I frequently see new business owners make. The blog post had the potential to reach novel-length, so I decided to focus on my personal mistakes for that post. At the same time, I couldn’t not share some of the other all-too-common Continue reading...
Get It All Done: How to Balance Your Day-to-Day Tasks with Long-Term Projects to Keep Your Business Growing
Ever feel like there’s too much to do to both maintain and grow your business? I hear you! Keeping the ship running, as I say, can be challenging, especially when you want to work on projects that will grow your business. This is a challenge that all business owners face, and I’ve found a secret strategy that lets me do both. Today, that’s I’m sharing it with Continue reading...
See Your Business Soar: Get My Three Easy Steps for Making This Your Most Productive and Profitable Year Ever
This time of year everyone is putting their Big Ideas into motion, from lofty 6-figure business goals, to simple commitments like eating better or hitting the gym. January sparkles with possibility and determination, but as the months and year wane on, we quickly find ourselves and our goals derailed. Factors like bad time management, lack of motivation, and a general Continue reading...
Steal This! My Personal Business Building Action Plan For a Successful New Year [2nd Edition with Free Download]
As we near the end of another year, you’re probably doing what most smart business owners do: planning for next year. You’re looking at your goals, your action steps, your marketing plan, and your financial aspirations. And like the business owners who hire me, you’re a little uncertain about your plan. You think you know what you want to do, but the ideas also come Continue reading...
Setting a New Income Goal? Avoid This Common, Dollar-Draining Mistake (An Honest Conversation About Money)
When a new year approaches, most business owners do something smart: They set an income or revenue goal. Then they make a terrible mistake (one that usually ends up costing them money). I don’t want you to fall into this money-sucking trap, so if you’re planning your income goals for next year, listen up. It’s time to get really honest about money, so that you can Continue reading...
Raise The Bar: In a Money Mess? The Critical Strategy You Need to Keep Your Small-Business Finances in Order
Last week I began a new series called RAISE THE BAR, encouraging you to up-level your business and show up as the professional you are. I talked about the all-too-common new business stressor: the cost of taking credit cards and how to deal with it. This week I want to encourage you to raise the bar again. If you’re in business for the long haul and are serious about Continue reading...
Raise the Bar: Understand the Cost of Doing Business (Including Those Pesky Credit-Card Processing Fees)
Today I’m starting a new series called RAISE THE BAR, where I’m sharing simple things you can do to raise the bar in your own business. After working in the online world for five years, I hear a lot of the same worries, fears, and complaints over and over. Many of them, with experience and hindsight in my favor, are really non-issues. But they can be difficult or Continue reading...
The Big Blunder I Made When Scheduling My Client Coaching Calls (And the Wildly Simple Way You Can Avoid It)
I teach my clients and you, my viewers and readers, to block out times for things like client sessions, blogging, social media, and anything else you regularly do in your business. This ensures you get everything done that needs to get done each week without stress, hassle, or worry. In case you missed it, be sure to read the post on being a calendar master. Although Continue reading...
A Must-Have Tool for Every Business Owner That Saves Time, Hassle, and Headaches When Scheduling Consultations
There's a simple tool I consider to be a must-have for all business owners. It saves time, hassles, and headaches, and I make sure all of my clients use it. Whether you’re a coach, nutritionist, private yoga teacher, massage therapist, copywriter, or anyone else who sets meeting times, you must implement this in your business. In today’s Build Your Business Continue reading...
Have You Caught Comparisonitis? It Halts Your Creativity & Business Growth, So I’m Sharing My Simple, Go-To Cure
When I was first starting out, I caught a common illness that strikes many entrepreneurs: comparisonitis. This disease halts creativity and leaves you immobilized. Have no fear, I have the cure for you today! In today’s Build Your Business Challenge, Actionable Advice in 60 Seconds or Less, I’m going to share with you how I caught this awful illness and the simple Continue reading...
The Must-Have System If You Work with One-on-One Clients (Without It, Clients Are Slipping Through Your Hands)
If you work with one-on-one clients, you need this system. Period. Without it, you’re letting business slip out of your hands. In today’s Build Your Business Challenge, Actionable Advice in 60 Seconds or Less, I’m going to tell you exactly what this system is and how to implement it. Best of all, if you have this system in place, you could sign up more clients than Continue reading...
6 Emails That Bring in More Clients: How to Create an Autoresponder Sequence That Turns Subscribers into Fans
Did you know that there are six simple emails that can easily bring in more clients to your business? There are, and they’re easy to write. I’m going to give you the details today in a new video series I’m calling Build Your Business Challenge: Actionable Advice in 60 Seconds or Less That’s right. 60 seconds or less. You can spare 60 seconds to grow your business Continue reading...
Are You Ignoring This Like I Did? How to “Go Pro” and Embrace the Unsexy Parts of Running Your Own Business
When it comes to our work, who doesn’t l-o-v-e diving into the sexier side of things? Writers adore writing. Coaches are obsessed with coaching. Designers dig their art. Our work is the sexy stuff in business. Doing the things that are aligned with our specific slice of genius feels fantastic and puts us in an awesome frame of mind about what we do. While it’s Continue reading...
Experimenting Your Way to Success: My Simple 5-Step Process to Test, Analyze, and Refine Your Business Ideas
Have you ever had a grand idea? One you you were really excited to put out into the world? (Of course you have.) Did you ever have an idea you loved so much that you were equally excited and afraid to put it out there? What if someone didn’t buy it, this idea you loved so much? It’s a funny relationship we have with our favorite ideas. We love them and want to share Continue reading...
Afraid of Failure? The New Approach You Desperately Need to Reset Your Mindframe and Experiment Without Fear
Have you ever put a new idea out there -- a new class, blog post, product, or coaching package -- and not gotten the instant, positive response you expected? (No need to be embarrassed. It’s happened to everyone.) I’m curious: what happened next? Did you burst into tears, have a little freak out, and declare that you’re quitting your business for good? (Don’t Continue reading...
Does Business Feel Difficult? The Simple, Powerful Concept That Tripled My Income and Doubled My Fun in a Year
Has business felt harder than you think it should? Most people wish business could be easier. Myself included! You've most likely cried over your laptop, sweated over whether your clients would pay on time, and pulled one too many twelve-hour days just trying to make it work. I’ve done all of these things. But thankfully, about a year ago, something shifted. Continue reading...
What Should You Do with Your Money? 5 Basic Money Management Tips for More Financial Freedom in Your Business
Freedom. It’s the entrepreneur’s dream. When you’re free, everything is incredibly clear. You know how you spend your time, what income you’re making, and where you’re headed in life and in business. Unfortunately, too many business owners feel far from free. Working long hours, not sure if they’re making enough money, and wondering if and exactly how much they can Continue reading...
The Psychology of Pricing: How to Help Clients Get Past Sticker Shock and See the Value in Your Premium Packages
Have you ever avoided buying something amazing because it was “too expensive,” and then regretted not just doing it later? If so, you know it’s a rotten, sinking-in-regret, why-was-I-so-chicken feeling. You don’t ever want a prospective client to feel that way. Especially if you’re the type of entrepreneur who pours her heart and soul into what you do, it feels Continue reading...
Overwhelmed by Your Business? Steal This! My Rock-Solid System for Getting It All Done (and Having a Life!)
To keep giving you relevant and timely content, we update our most popular posts. This article was last updated in September 2020. I don’t work very much compared to many entrepreneurs. Now, I’m not saying I spend hours playing fetch with my dog on the beach or lounging with the new baby at the park instead of taking care of clients! Au contraire. Everything gets Continue reading...
Ready to Leave Your Job and Run Your Business Full Time? 11 Things You Must Consider When Working for Yourself
Nothing is more exciting than a client who's ready to jump from her full-time job into her booming business. She's done everything to set herself up for success. She's built a solid reputation, created a steady stream of new clients, and nearly matched her business income to her job's paycheck. She's ready to leave the job behind and work for herself full-time. Continue reading...
Steal This! A Step-by-Step Guide to Make Your Big Ideas Actually Happen so You Can Grow Your Business Faster
I’m going to guess you’re something of an idea machine. Am I right? Fabulous! Now tell me: What happens after you’ve been inspired to do something great? If you’re like most business owners, you have a notebook full of ideas you haven’t had the time or energy to implement. Maybe your excitement fizzles out before you have the chance bring your idea to life. Or you Continue reading...
Too Much to Do? My 5 Simple Rules for Getting More Done by Working Less, So You Can Avoid Stress and Burnout
What entrepreneur doesn’t have too much to do? It’s okay. You’re among friends here with your long hours and frazzled look. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Let me cut right to it. There’s one thing about the way I run my business that always surprises people: Some days I hardly work. Other days I don’t work at all. Even on weekdays. (Gasp!) Honestly, the Continue reading...
My Business’s Essential Tools: The Programs, Apps, and Software I Use to Run My Business
This post was first published in 2013. It was last updated in 2016. Tools change frequently and fast. Back in 2013, I wrote about my can’t-live-without programs, apps, tools, and software—and the behind-the-scenes post quickly became a reader favorite. A lot has changed since 2013, but one thing hasn’t: You’re still curious about what to use to start, grow, and Continue reading...
Email Management Secrets: 3 Ways I Use Boomerang to Manage My Clients, Daily Tasks and Outside Commitments
You’re spending an evening powering through some catch-up work, when you get a new email - a question from a colleague. You scan it quickly. It’s not life or death. “I’ll come back to this later,” you decide, and get back to what you were doing. Then you wrap up, and wake up the next morning with every intention of responding... but your inbox is bursting with new Continue reading...
Steal This! My Step-by-Step Guide to Telling Your Clients You’re Raising Your Rates (Without Scaring Them Away)
Once a client is ready to raise their rates, there's a panicky moment I brace for, the one where they're freaking out, saying things like: How do I tell my clients?! They'll all leave me! Maybe I'll wait a few more months to do it! So if after the last few articles on pricing (here and here) you realize it's time to increase you prices, I've got you covered in the next Continue reading...
Is Life Getting in the Way of Your Business? How to Find the Balance You Crave While Still Meeting Your Goals
All my internal STOP signals were flashing. The message was clear: Don’t take another step! Wait! Not now! Stop, Jenny, stop I just didn’t want to hear it. Why? Well, for one thing, I’m stubborn. I also just didn’t think stepping back was an option for me. Whatever was going on that my body wanted to STOP, I thought it had to take a backseat. I’d sort it Continue reading...
Finally! An Editorial Calendar That Works for Me: How One Piece of Paper Saved Me from 3 Months of Stress
As you likely know by now, I’m all about organization, systems, and planning ahead. But strangely enough, there was one piece of the efficiency puzzle that I kept dodging. Like, hands-over-my-ears-shouting-NO level avoidance. The offending party? Editorial calendars. In case you’re not sure what an editorial calendar is, I’ll tell you! It’s a plan of what you’ll publish Continue reading...
Too Long Since Your Last Vacation? 4 Surprising Benefits of Ignoring Your Business That Will Inspire a Getaway
I'm back in the groove of business, slowly putting my post-vacation inspiration into action. First up is today's surprising post, which found itself in my head one day while I was sitting on the beach. I grabbed a rock and etched it into a coconut so I wouldn't forget what I wanted to tell you. Here goes... Taking a vacation is great for several reasons. Obviously, Continue reading...
Steal This! My Work-Free, Stress-Free Vacation Checklist That Will Keep Your Online Business Running Without You
When was the last time you felt comfortable enough to take a vacation? A real one, that is. By “real,” I mean work-free. Not being stuck on your laptop in a hotel room. Not checking emails on your phone between Thanksgiving dinner and dessert. Not worrying about the ever-mounting workload that’s awaiting you when you return. Most business owners are anxious about Continue reading...
5 Common Business Myths That Are Wasting Your Time, Blocking Your Productivity, and Creating Unnecessary Stress
There are no two ways about it: business gets hectic. Whether yours is brand new or you’ve been chugging along for years, overwhelm, crammed to-do lists, and stress still find their way in. When you’re at the helm, it can be hard to manage everything at once. A simple google search reveals thousands of resources regarding the best ways to do business and streamline Continue reading...
Steal This! My Simple, 4-Step System for Using Twitter to Build Your Email List (While Avoiding the Time-Suck)
As you may know by now, I’m not a fan of making business any more work than it has to be. In fact, I’ll forgo major business details if they seem to require more effort than reward. As a result, I avoided Twitter for a really long time. But one day I got an inner nudge to give Twitter a try. I setup my account and started goofing around. Within a few months, I was in Continue reading...
Create Your Year of Stunning Success (Part 3): Focus – My 5 Simple Tips for Achieving Superhuman Productivity
This is the third and final round of the Your Year of Stunning Success series. Up to now, we’ve discussed creating systems and getting yourself on a better schedule, two crucial foundational skills that will supercharge all your goals for the new year! Now, onto the third and final shift that will help you knock all your aims for this year out of the park. Without Continue reading...
Create Your Year of Stunning Success (Part 2): Scheduling – 5 Steps for Planning Daily Tasks and Long-term Goals
How is your yearly plan coming along? Are you excited about what you’ve mapped out or overwhelmed by all that you’ve committed to? I often see entrepreneurs cram three years worth of work into 12 months, leaving themselves exhausted and burned out by June or frozen from the get-go. I don’t want that to happen to you, so we’re going to nip those scenarios before they Continue reading...
Create Your Year of Stunning Success (Part 1): Systems – 5 Steps to Crafting Effective Routines in Your Business
This time of year everyone is putting their Big Ideas into motion; from lofty 6-figure business goals, to simple commitments like eating better or hitting the gym. January sparkles with possibility and determination, but as the months and year wane on... it’s easy to get derailed. Factors like bad time management, lack of motivation, and a general sense of overwhelm Continue reading...
The Top 10 Most Popular Blog Posts of 2012 (Covering Everything from Fear to Systems to Getting More Clients)
If you're like me, this week is filled with fun, family, and friends, and you're taking a break from work. Good for you, superhero! I decided to take a look back at 2012 and see what topics most resonated with YOU! Below are 10 of the most popular posts of the past year. I'm sure you missed a few, as all busy entrepreneurs are bound to do, so take a look and see Continue reading...
Steal This! My 4-Step Strategy for Always Knowing Exactly What to Work On, Even When You Have Too Much To Do
As a business owner, you have an endless list of things that need to get done. Blog posts need to be written. Newsletters need to be created. Social media needs to be updated. Clients need to be served. List-building needs to happen. And your next big thing needs to be created. No matter how hard you try, you can't ever seem to catch up. Even if you had four more Continue reading...
6 No-Fail Strategies for Having Endless Blogging Ideas (Even If You’ve Been Struggling to Consistently Write)
Have you been hesitant to commit to a blogging schedule because you're worried you’ll run out of content? Or have you committed to a schedule but find yourself scrambling at the last minute to write something decent? I can totally relate! We all have days where we've lost our juice for writing, believe it's impossible to find a fresh topic, or have fallen out of a Continue reading...
How to Get More Done Than You Ever Thought Possible
Tell the truth: Are you working too much? Does your family need to rip you away from the computer in order to spend time with you? Are you looking a little pale from being inside all day? I know many business owners who work far more than they need to. It's not that they want to work hard; it's usually that they don't know how not to. Today I want to tell you why Continue reading...
Steal This! My Simple System for Getting Stellar Testimonials [Plus a Free Download with Done-for-You Script]
Do you have a hard time getting your clients and customers to write a testimonial for you, even when they have raved about your work? When I first started working as a life coach, I had a hard time getting testimonials, even though my clients said they loved working with me! Way back in 2011, I implemented a new approach that allows me to easily get amazing testimonials Continue reading...
Spreading Yourself Too Thin? Use This One Simple Shortcut to Save Hours Each Week So You Can Get Back on Track
Has entrepreneurship stretched you a bit thin? Are you feeling like there's too much to do and never enough time to do it? Most entrepreneurs I know are working hard to get everything done and still feel like they're falling behind. I want to help you catch up and manage your mental and emotional well-being. Today I have a simple but crucial, time-saving short-cut Continue reading...
Steal This! My Behind-the-Scenes Business System Secrets for Booking New Clients (and Saving Hours Every Week)
Have you ever wished you could peek behind the curtain to see how someone else runs their business, then steal their golden ideas? (Come on. Of course you have!) Today I'm granting your wish and giving you a secret look behind the scenes of my business. I'm going to share with you my exact process for booking new clients, so you can use it, too! When you streamline Continue reading...
Using PayPal? Don’t Let an Uptick in Sales Kill Your Account During Your Next Big Launch, Rate Increase, or Sale
Stacy was reveling in her recent success. She just closed the cart on a huge new program launch for which she had massive signups. She had upped her game in a major way and achieved the results she hoped for. Needless to say, she was celebrating. Until the next morning… when she found her PayPal account locked, with all her hard-earned cash trapped in the PayPal Continue reading...
Need an Assistant? How to Know When It’s Time to Hire One So You Can Grow Your Business and Get More Time Back
After I told you how to get your assistant to run your business for you and how to give your assistant feedback without sounding like a you-know-what, several of you said, "I don't have an assistant yet. How do I know if I'm ready?" In today's video, I'll tell you how to know if it's time to hire an assistant for your business. It's pretty straightforward and easier Continue reading...
“My Assistant Made a Mistake!” How to Give Feedback to Your Assistant Without Sounding Like a You-Know-What
To keep giving you relevant and timely content, we update our most popular posts. This article was last updated on October 13, 2020. Excitement abounded when I shared my tips for getting your assistant to run your business for you. I was thrilled at your enthusiasm, superhero. After that post went live, I received several emails from you saying that you’re ready to Continue reading...
Finally Get Past the Blogging Blahs: 6 Shortcuts for Staying Inspired and Creating Fresh Content for Your Blog
Do you ever have a day where you can't come up with a blog post topic? You sit and think and think and think and nothing happens. Do you put off blogging, hoping that at some point you'll get some inspiration, but realize three months have gone by and you've written nothing? If you ever feel blah about your blog, you're in good company. Many bloggers and online Continue reading...
How to Get Your Assistant to Run Your Business for You (Yes, It’s Totally Possible and Easier Than You Think)
Have you ever wondered if you can get your assistant to run your business for you? You can, and it's easier than you think. A few weeks ago I was having breakfast with a whip-smart entrepreneur named Sarah. She was asking me how she could get her assistant to run her business for her. I was excited to tell her how to do it, because it's totally possible and not too Continue reading...
How to use Gmail Labels, Filters, and Multiple Inbox Features to Organize Your Emails and Obtain Inbox Bliss
Do you ever find yourself swimming in email, wondering if you'll ever navigate to that place of inbox bliss? Or does the thought of looking at your inbox want to make you run and hide? Fear no more, superhero. It is possible to organize your inbox and obtain inbox bliss. If you haven't done so already, first clean out the unnecessary emails from your inbox. I tell Continue reading...
Happy 1-Year Anniversary to Me! I’m Celebrating with the Top 10 Lessons I Learned in My First Year in Business
March 1st marked the one year anniversary of jennyshih.com. It almost passed without me even realizing what a big occasion it was! A lot has happened over the last twelve months. I'm blown away when I look back at all that has transpired. To honor this anniversary, I'm sharing the top 10 things I learned about business in the last year, Late Show Top 10 Continue reading...
Tips from an Attorney: You Could Be at Risk If Your Website Is Missing These Three, Often-Overlooked Policies
It’s so easy to create a website and start a business that many people overlook some of the logistical and legal details required to actually be in business. Overlooking these details, however, can be a risky (read: illegal) move. There’s no need to hide behind your cape, superhero. I have just the person to walk you through exactly what you need to know. Legalese made Continue reading...
The Simplest Trick for Staying Focused and Getting More Done When You’re Overwhelmed with Too Many Ideas
It's Wednesday already and you haven't accomplished nearly as much as you've hoped to. It's another one of those weeks. You've have a long to-do list, a million ideas, and big plans for saving the world, yet all that seems to be happening is, well, not much. It doesn't have to be this way, superhero. You can get through your to-do list, execute your million ideas, Continue reading...
The Easy, 5-Minute Technique You Can Do Right Now to Clean Out Your Inbox and Reduce Email Overwhelm for Good
Even if you're busy with the holidays, emails keep arriving in your inbox, adding to the stress of the seasonal hustle. To provide you with some relief, I'm going to give you the quickest and easiest email stress reduction technique I know. It will take less than 5 minutes and save you hours of headaches in 2012. You're going to do it right now. (Yes, that's me putting Continue reading...
5 Easy Ways to Find Sites for Guest Posting So You Can Get Your Name & Your Business in Front of More People
Guest posting is great way to get your name and your business in front of more people. It can also help you grab newsletter subscribers, customers, and clients. The most common question I get from my clients when it comes to guest posting is "How do I find a good place to guest post?" Today I'm sharing with you exactly what I tell them. Here are my top 5 easy ways to Continue reading...
Overwhelmed with Emails & Scheduling? The Top 5 Tech Tools That Keep Me Organized So My Business Runs Smoothly
I get a lot of questions about how I stay organized and on top of everything that needs to happen in my business. Today I'm sharing with you the top 5 tech tools I use to stay organized and keep my business running smoothly. 1. Gmail and Google Apps I use Google Apps to manage my @jennyshih.com email addresses. Instead of dealing with my hosting company’s interface, I Continue reading...
The Hardest Part about Being the Boss: How to Give Regular, Honest Feedback to Your Employees and Contractors
My stomach was tied in knots. I had been fretting about it for a week. I wasn't sleeping well, and I was eating too much junk food. It wasn't going to be an easy conversation. When the clock hit 3:00 that afternoon, I knew it was time. No more preparing. No more trying to get around it. It was going to happen. He came over to my desk. I suggested we get a room. We Continue reading...
How to Train an Assistant in 5 Minutes: Delegate Recurring Tasks with Ease So You Can Focus on Your Genius Work
Hiring and training an assistant can seem like a Catch-22. You would hire and train someone to lighten your work load if you only had time to do it. However, by not taking time to hire and train an assistant, entrepreneurs end up spending more time doing recurring tasks and less time doing their genius work. Why have a business if you're not able to spend time doing your Continue reading...
Is Your Inbox Overflowing? Tame Your Email Inbox and Get Rid of Overwhelm Once and for All in 9 Painless Steps
Does email stress you out? Is your Inbox overflowing? Does it make you cringe just to look at the volume of email that’s there? I’ve known people who can have over 500 unread messages at any given time, and they felt like it was a hopeless endeavor to get through it. I learned to tame the email demon years ago and found Inbox bliss. You can tame your Inbox and Continue reading...
Inspiration Can Strike Anywhere: How Not to Lose Track of Your Best Ideas When You’re Travelling Out and About
Almost a month ago I wrote about capturing ideas in the shower. If you missed that one, you must check it out, especially if you ever get a good idea in the shower and lose it after you step out. Today I'm going to share my tip for keeping track of your ideas and inspirations when you're out and about. My favorite out and about tool for capturing ideas is a mini Continue reading...
How to Make Your Ideas Actually Happen: An 8-Part Blog Series for Creative, Online Business Owners (Part 7)
This is part of a series of posts about how to make your ideas actually happen. Introduction Figure out the Steps Bring Order to Chaos Ask for Help Conquer Your Fear Get It Done Get It Done Wow, you’ve come far. Everything is set so you can make your idea actually happen. I love this part! Reap the benefits of your hard work The work you’ve done to get to this Continue reading...
How to Make Your Ideas Actually Happen: An 8-Part Blog Series for Creative, Online Business Owners (Part 5)
This is part of a series of posts about how to make your ideas actually happen. Introduction Figure out the Steps Bring Order to Chaos Ask for Help Conquer Your Fear Get It Done Ask for Help As I told you last time, help is not a four-letter word. I don’t know where it came from, but so many of us think that asking for help is a bad thing and that we should do Continue reading...
How to Make Your Ideas Actually Happen: An 8-Part Blog Series for Creative, Online Business Owners (Part 4)
This is part of a series of posts about how to make your ideas actually happen. Take a deep breath before you start reading this one, it’s long. Introduction Figure out the Steps Bring Order to Chaos Ask for Help Conquer Your Fear Get It Done Bring Order to Chaos The last thing you did was create a large stack of index cards that represented a list of tasks that Continue reading...
How to Make Your Ideas Actually Happen: An 8-Part Blog Series for Creative, Online Business Owners (Part 3)
This is part of a series of posts about how to make your ideas actually happen. Introduction Figure out the Steps Bring Order to Chaos Ask for Help Conquer Your Fear Get It Done Figure out the Steps Once you’re clear on your idea, it’s time to figure out the dozens (or millions) of tiny tasks required to make your idea actually happen. Start with a brain dump. Continue reading...
Spring Cleaning for Your Business: 3 Ways to Spruce up Your Physical Space, Client Relationships, and Mindset
Spring has arrived, April is here, birds are chirping, and the sun gloriously illuminates the dust all over my office. (Good thing I work with clients over email and the phone.) Spring cleaning isn't just for our houses anymore. Your office and your business could use a little lift, too. By "spring cleaning" I don't just mean the dust in your office. It's so much Continue reading...