WomenCreateMorePower.com

Change - whether good or bad - is a fact of life which must be dealt with. In short, it’s a constant.

“Mentally we can absorb that teaching with little difficulty”, says Caroline Myss, Ph.D. and best-selling author of “Anatomy of the Spirit”. “Yet when change occurs in our lives”, she says, “when we notice we are aging, when people we love die, or when relationships shift from being intimate and loving to distant - this truth terrorizes us.”

While you may pray, or are hopeful, change will pass you by it’s likely you know from experience it’s always just around the corner. Yet when it arrives, like the rest of us, you’re still shocked.

Each has of us has their own ways of dealing with change. Some good some bad. While it’s generally not easy, some wisely take it as a challenge, rising to it. That said, here’s 4 good strategies for dealing with - and living through - change:

1. Consciously make a friend of change. Make it work for you instead of against you. Taking action, to deal with it, will allow you to move through and beyond it, say psychologists.

2. While change may take from you a person or way of life you loved, don’t let it stop you from remembering good memories. In the limo, on the way to the cemetery where my father would be buried, instead of crying we told funny stories, about him, and laughed. In his 30 years experience, the limo driver said this was a first. And hoped his children would do the same, remembering him so fondly at such a difficult time.

3. Remember that change - which often brings closure with it - always brings new beginnings. This gives you the opportunity to replace, alter or modify your life in ways you may only have thought about. In short, it can give you a new lease on life.

4. Don’t let it overwhelm you. Concentrate your energy on accepting, and positively dealing, with the situation. Instead of dissipating it with anger. Take the time to redefine yourself, recreate your life or business, head in a new direction, work on your inner self or spirituality, for example.

“Opportunity often comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat”, said Napoleon Hill. Bottom line - this means change. Sometimes, serious change. Don’t let it throw you into a tailspin. Or drive you into a depression it can take years to dig yourself out of. Instead, use it wisely to make positive changes. __________________________________________________

Jean L. Serio Has 35 years experience in business, working for 4 top retail corporations. Helping launch and manage 7 multi-million dollar operations. During the past 15, personally, and through the Network, has helped thousands of women start up a biz of their own. Not sure it’s for you?

Take a free assessment and discover whether starting up a business is for you.

Womens Marketing and Business Network has been nominated for a Divine Caroline “love this site” award. To vote click the “vote link” in the box below; Register; Then cast your vote:

It’s unfortunate. But though we’d like to believe everything people say, to us, is meant well. It’s usually not. Especially when they insult you or your business. Without provocation.

For example:

You’re at a function and someone you’ve just met insults your business. While they don’t know you, or anything about your biz, you may start to believe what they say. To take it personally. Think about it. Unless they’re a coach, with expertise in your area, a biz consultant, accountant or attorney - what makes you think they actually know what they’re talking about. And beyond that, have the right to insult you.

In his best selling book “The Four Agreements”, Don Miguel Ruiz says, “You take it personally because you agree with whatever was said”. And as soon as you agree - even if what was said was wrong - you’re trapped. And it’s hard to move beyond what was said, or in a positive direction. Unfortunately, wrong or not, you’ve agreed with the statement, and it brings on other similar statements. And the next time you meet that individual they’ll likely bring them up for rehashing.

I once had a competitor who could try the patience of a saint.

I’d organized and was running some local advertising. She saw it and rushed in to discuss it. But insult me was more like it. In her opinion it was a lousy plan, wouldn’t bring in any customers, was too expensive, for example. Though my business was successful, and I’d developed several different marketing plans that previously worked - when she left twenty minutes later, I was questioning every decision I’d ever made. And while she tried this, on several occasions, I didn’t fall for it. And simply waved off her unsolicited opinions.

Don’t get me wrong. If she’d been running some highly successful advertising or marketing plans I’d have listened. But she had little experience. Having only advertised during short holiday seasons.

What’s worse - is hearing hurtful words from people we know well.

 Whether those words are said spitefully, or not, it’s always hard not to take them personally. We often think because they know us they also know the answers. And most of the time this is far from the truth. Especially if you’ve been running your business for years. Or even if you’ve just done the research, or attended workshops or a local junior college. Bottom line, you’ll know a lot more. Plus, you know from experience what works for your business. Which is why - though you love’em - you can’t take every suggestion customers make and use it. Ruiz says, “When you take things personally, then you feel offended, and your reaction is to defend your beliefs and create conflicts.”

Power is many things. Dictionaries stating it includes everything from - ability, capability and potential to genius and talent. But ask a dozen people what power is, and it’s likely you’ll receive a dozen different answers. Many of which will be negative.

According to ancient Greeks, the gods were considered to have the power of vision into the future. Largely  because they perceived it in an emotionless way. Men did not have this vision. Since they possessed emotions which often got in the way. And kept them trapped in the moment. Worried about problems which could arise, if they headed down a road they hadn’t previously traveled. Thus, they were prevented from seeing the uniqueness of, or moving into, the future.

Part of success is creating your own base of personal and financial power. Though it may start small and slowly, if you keep at it, it will eventually grow and prosper. You grow that personal power by building upon each success you create. But to create that success can often mean you’ll be required to take chances, or risks. To look beyond the immediate pain and problems taking them may present. Plus accepting any insecurity it brings.

Unfortunately, most people get caught up in the moment. A wave of negativity sweeps over them, dragging them under. Overwhelmed, they panic. And once you allow emotions to take over, it’s easy to give up on your goals.  On the other hand, powerful people don’t panic when their new biz idea or latest marketing plan goes bust, for example. Hard as it may sound, they stand back, unemotionally, and think “What can I do to change this? To revamp, recreate or remodel it. So that it works. 

A young New Yorker developed a line of infant clothing. Which a Nordstrom buyer saw and loved. The buyer gave her a large order. Which the young women knew she would not be able to fulfill. Though she did not tell the buyer this. Instead, she had her credit line raised. And used it and every penny she could borrow from family and friends.

While she fulfilled the order on time, she went bankrupt. But instead of getting angry and throwing in the towel, she looked forward. Thinking about what she could learn from the experience to help her next venture. Two years later, she’d reorganized the company; developing it into a profitable multi-million dollar operation. Telling a journalist when interviewed, the experience taught her how to develop her own personal power.

To begin developing your own personal power, stop wasting energy on emotional reactions, like anger, when things you hadn’t planned happen. Instead, stop and step back. And begin reconsidering unemotionally what happened. Thinking how the situation can be re-organized to better meet your needs. And lead you to the successful achievement of your goals.

Remember, it’s, often, during these times of upheaval you can turn things around. And create even greater success. Not to mention begin to slowly build your own personal power.

For info on “Women Create More Power” experts, their background, and the the upcoming Teleseminar Series Click to continue. ___________________________________________________________ Jean L. Serio has 35 years experience in management, sales, training and development; working with 4 top retail corporations; helping launch and manage 7 multi-million dollar operations. She founded and developed Womens Marketing and Business Network; has developed 8 business of her own.  Personally, and through the network, has helped thousands of women start up successful business of their own. For info,click this link

One of our “Women Create More Power Teleseminar” experts, Therese Skelly says -

“Running a business is in inside job. Having a super-successful business is truly an inner game. If the focus is on the business alone, the results are much less powerful”.

And this is true not only of business - but life. A good life is built upon how well you work at developing your own positive inner game.  Your own pwerful, personal self.

Yet the other day, when I mentioned the word power to my manicurist, she pulled back and cooly said - “To me, power is manipulation”.  And while in some cases it may be. Here we aren’t talking about power used in negative ways. But the power of  personal strengh.

Powerful personal strength allows each of us, for example,  to develop such things as vibrant relationships, businesses, skills and creativity. To raise our children well and provide for them.   And this power also affords us the ability to live life to it’s fullest. To achieve the goals we set; to make our dreams a reality.

How do you go about creating more personal power?

One of the keys to creating a more powerful self is to “take control of the process, to stop allowing others that ability to limit and mold” you, says Robert Greene in his best-selling book - “The 48 Laws of Power”.  And anyone, with a little time and effort, can remake their lives. To develop greater personal power.

In 1831 a woman named Aurore Dupin Dudevant left her husband and family to create a new life for herself as a writer, in Paris. Upon arriving, she quickly realized she was ill-prepared for Parisian society and life. To have any freedom, at all, she understood she must have money.  At that time no woman had made any money writing. Instead, it was considered a hobby.

Dudevant came up with a great plan.  She reinvented herself. Dressing as a male dandy,  and choosing to be known as ”George Sand”, she acted flamboyantly. And became not only a huge personal success, but her unique personality helped  her  develop tons of followers, eager to read whatever she’d written.  Yet close friends and confidants knew her differently; as having no desire to actually be a man. She told them privately, “What I wanted was the power to determine my  own character”.

Generally each of us is assigned a role in life. Some of us since birth. And we achieve only the amount of power allowed by the role we play.  For example, you’re the oldest in a family who hasn’t had the opportunity to attend college.  Your parents set up a college fund at your birth.  They decide, then, you’ll be the first in the family to attend Harvard to become a lawyer.  

Yet your youngest sibling comes along and your parents are older; no longer having the ability to send them to an Ivy League College.  The sibling ends up with a mid-level, mid-five-figure salary with the city, and settles for that. You become a partner in a popular law firm, with a high six figure salary. 

On the other hand,  it isn’t always parents or family who pigeonhole us. It could also be friends, lovers, a significant other. Even a co-worker or business competitor. It could also be a role you were offered and accepted. Or one you personally choose.

Bottom line - once you choose or accept a role which limits your success and personal power, you generally end up stuck in the scenario. Taking whatever spoils come to you, in a situation with your limited power.  Instead, start developing your own power - from the inside out.  And you’ll soon be breaking out of the mold. To begin making your own rules. And creating your own success. And to enjoy the personal and financial power it brings.

For info on “Women Create More Power” experts, their background, and the the upcoming Teleseminar Series Click to continue.

___________________________________________________________

Jean L. Serio has 35 years experience in management, sales, training and development; working with 4 top retail corporations; helping launch and manage 7 multi-million dollar operations. She founded and developed Womens Marketing and Business Network; has developed 8 business of her own.  Personally, and through the network, has helped thousands of women start up successful business of their own.

For info, click this link: www.womensmarketingandbusinessnetwork.com