My clients are incredibly brave. Maybe it’s because they have a great trust in me and know I come from a place of love, acceptance and no judgment, AND because I can often relate to where they are.

When they are hesitating, procrastinating, making excuses, trying too long to design the perfect logo, it’s often because growth is happening, and growth can be scary, and can make you downright uncomfortable and stop you in your tracks.

What’s the best way to know that you need to work through something with your coach and that fear has you in its grip?

Listen to your body and emotions.

Feeling anxious, anger, or crabby is a sign. So is a jittery feeling in the pit of your stomach, adrenaline running right under the skin of your arms, shaky hands and just plain wanting to puke.

Fear comes in all sorts of forms: fear of success, failure, being seen, or feeling stupid.

Even the most successful of people have fears they must conquer.  Fear has often been called “false evidence appearing real.” Unless you work through it, it will hold you back.

A  great tool I share with my clients is a book that explains all the fears, and walks you step by step to rid them.

ACHIEVINGYOUR DREAMS WITHOUT FEAR:

HOW TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES AND JOIN THE CONFIDENCE CLUB

This book will move you from a state of fear and caution to one of confidence so you can move forward to achieve your dreams. It’s a tool you can use over and over when you are in that next stage of growth.

Normally priced at $24.95, I want to share it with you for 50% off. Just enter the code word “EASE” when you check out and until the end of April, this is yours for just $12.47! FIND IT HERE

In this book you will learn:

• How to identify if your fears are real
• Why you’re choosing to be fearful
• What causes your fear and how to change your belief in it
• Strategies to overcome specific fears including: fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of change, fear of lack of support, and fear of the worst case scenario.

This book also includes, as a bonus, powerful fear crushing exercises!

I’d love to hear your stories about busting through fear. What’s something you’ve done even though it was scary?

Ready to take a leap in your personal or business life? Jane works with executives, business owners, and people in transition who want to excel and skyrocket their business success.

As a Personal Branding Expert, she shows you how to “stand out for success.” Author of “Savvy Leadership Skills for Women Entrepreneurs” she is your advocate for marketing and mindset makeovers. Contact her at www.janemorrison.com

© All rights reserved, Jane Morrison, CEO, Morrison Business Solutions

April 3, 2012

Some businesses can handle normal daily activities but need outside help to take on new projects that don’t justify another employee. Other businesses are just struggling to manage day-to-day business. Still others are seeking ways to get more done or cut expenses in this challenging economy.

There are many valid reasons to consider outsourcing, but here are some of the most compelling.

• Focus on core business activities. For many businesses, the primary motivation to outsource is that it frees owners, managers and employees to spend their time on income generating activities.

• Improve opportunities for growth. Frequently opportunities for company growth and a desire to expand business operations exist, but resources to make it happen are lacking.

• Increase efficiency and effectiveness. In many cases, outsourcing allows access to expert talent. Outsource service firms can offer innovative approaches, the latest technology, and creative, cutting-edge solutions that otherwise aren’t available.

• Improve your bottom line by decreasing your expenses. A skilled contractor or firm can generally perform work less expensively than a full-time employee can, and the costs of hiring, training, and maintaining employees are eliminated, as are taxes and benefits.

Here’s what you can, and should, be outsourcing.

1. Administrative tasks. Scheduling, travel arrangements, data entry, typing and other administrative tasks can usually be handled by a virtual assistant or administrative service. While these tasks are crucial to the proper functioning of any business, they are not usually core business activities.

Where to find help: Assistant Match, AssistU and IVAA help match businesses with screened administrative service providers and offer directories of professionally trained virtual assistants.

2. Lead generation and customer service. Sales calls are often a matter of numbers; more calls equal more sales and leads. Once the initial outreach has been made, closing the sale can be handled by the internal sales force. A talented salesperson’s skills can be better utilized to close sales and handle clients, rather than make cold calls. It can also be a great deal more efficient to outsource customer support than it is to maintain a qualified support staff, especially for product-based companies.

Where to find help: Global Response and The Connection are recognized sales and customer service providers to many of the world’s top brands. Resource Nation allows companies to get quotes from pre-screened business solution sources.

3. Accounting and financial duties. Accounting firms or individuals can help with many financial services including bookkeeping, invoicing and accounts payable and receivable, as well as financial reporting, analysis and planning. Outsourcing payroll processing alone can save considerable hours, headaches and dollars. Many financial contractors will bundle these tasks for even greater savings.

Where to find help: BookkeepingHelp is a popular source of experienced financial professionals. This is one area to be very careful when outsourcing. It’s a good idea to check with certifying organizations, such as the American Institute of CPAs or American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers.

4. Marketing. Effective marketing determines how both brand and company reputation are perceived in the marketplace. A marketing firm or consultant can often provide an outside perspective that an internal marketing staff cannot. Professional freelance writers can develop higher-quality, polished content that will improve marketing efforts. Website design, brand development, press releases and online marketing duties such as social media, blogging and search engine optimization are good candidates for outsourcing as well.

Where to find help: Guru and Elance are two of the best-known sources of freelance contractors. They cover many areas of outsourcing, but excel in the areas of writing and design.

5. IT operations. It can be extremely expensive to handle IT operations in-house. The average business has limited ability and knowledge to manage all of its IT needs. Unless you’re an IT company, IT is a maintenance and repair function, not a core business activity. The potential advantages of outsourcing IT tasks are enormous.

Where to find help: CrossLoop and Tech Guru both offer access to full spectrum of IT remote services.

6. Human resources. Employee acquisition and human resource functions can easily be administered by an outside agency. Outside firms are more skilled at advertising, screening suitable applicants and checking references. Using an HR or employment service to manage employee benefits can also be wise, since they must stay up to date on the latest employment laws and standards.

Where to find help: Ceridian and Trinet are both well-known HR service providers offering a wide range of resources from recruitment to payroll to benefits administration.

Final word

Often, the best way to locate high-quality outsourcing prospects is through recommendations from your professional network. A referral from someone you know and trust is a much more reliable gauge of quality and is usually based on the level of skill and not simply the cheapest cost. Professional groups or associations and LinkedIn can also be great sources.

Royale Scuderi is a freelance writer and success coach. She is the founder of Productive Life Concepts and has been featured on top rated blogs such as Stepcase Lifehack and The Huffington Post. You can also find her musings on life and business at GuardWife.com and Twitter.com/RoyaleScuderi.

My new client Jen was in tears as she shared how overwhelmed and stressed out she was, getting bogged down in the nitty gritty of building and running a business.  She was in a panic and frustrated, with the hours of the day flying by as she lost perspective, and getting little done.

When I broke down her business into 5 main areas, she was able to look at how she  was spending her time and rest assured, let out a big sigh of relief and feel good about herself.  As long as she was working on one of these 5 key areas, no longer was she feeling like she wasn’t doing enough, and the focus paid off!

She quickly gained more clients, more consistent streams of income, and became a more satisfied business woman!

So let me share what I taught Jen and that I practice faithfully

1. Manage Myself – this is my first and most important job. If the CEO  (you!) is not in tip top shape, mentally, physically and spiritually, your  business will reflect that state.  Instead of feeling guilty for spending time relaxing or working out, I firmly believe that the time I spend meditating, working on a healthy lifestyle is keeping me re-energized, creative and actually more productive.
2. Remember how valuable and awesome I am. What gets me out of a funk, motivated and raring to go?   Knowing that my next client is out there waiting for me to give them hope, tools, focus and stop the overwhelm, stress and frustration they are currently experiencing. When I look at my business as championing as many people as I can to be the person they are destined to become, I remember that I am in my calling and my life purpose.  This brings me passion and energy. Instead of thinking ‘sales and marketing,” I think “making a difference and being of service.”
3. Define my services and programs. As I grow in own skills and enhance my education through advanced training, mastermind groups, and mentors, I find my programs and services morph.  I also add additional programs when my clients ask me for something. Having clearly defined products and services means I offer the most valuable transformational solutions that work for my growth and the growth of my clients. 
4. Market my services. As I mentioned before, I think “who or how can I make a difference to others?” instead of the term “marketing.”  This philosophy makes my work  so much more real and meaningful for me.  I use a combination of online and
   office marketing strategies that I incorporate into my monthly calendar.
5. Take really good  care of my clients: Actually, this step is my very favorite one. My clients come first in many ways. Their success is my success, and I am 110% committed to them. I go the extra mile to provide value to them, and seeing the transformational results that come about in their life and business….well, it’s just what I live for.

I have one more tip for you that I shared with Jen too. In order to fit these 5 Steps consistently in your business structure, you need to set good boundaries and delegate as much as you can to someone who can implement the technical and support pieces. I’ve learned the hard way that until you invest in both a Coach, and a Support Team, your business and income stay stagnant and below the energy you’re putting out.

Let me know what you think of my 5 Inspiring (but critical) Steps to a Successful Business,  and make it a great day!

Much love,

Jane

Ready to take a leap in your personal or business life? Jane works with executives, business owners, and people in transition who want to excel and skyrocket their business success. 

As a Personal Branding Expert, she shows you how to “stand out for success.” Author of “Savvy Leadership Skills for Women Entrepreneurs” she is your advocate for marketing and mindset makeovers.  Contact her at www.janemorrison.com 

© All rights reserved, Jane Morrison, CEO, Morrison Business Solutions

We’ve discovered there are millions of people out there that don’t know what they don’t know, and are showing up on LinkedIn all wrong!

Our mission is to teach you how easy it is to create a profile that gets you noticed, one you can be proud of.  Our training can help anyone create a more powerful profile, and will be teaching specifics especially for those in a job transition and searching for work.

Join us http://www.girpromotions.com/linkedinworkshop/ and learn the do’s and don’ts of creating a profile that gets you noticed, and Hired! 

Jane Morrison and JoAnne Funch 

Your LinkedIn guru team

We know your marketing budget is tight, so you absolutely must learn how LinkedIn can grow your business exponentially!

http://www.girpromotions.com/linkedinworkshop/

To your success!

Jane Morrison and JoAnne Funch

Your LinkedIn Guru Team

We see it all the time, profiles that are out of touch, out of date, and make you look less than desirable. 

There’s a way to use LinkedIn the right way, and don’t feel bad, because people aren’t being taught this.  People are just told “you gotta be on LinkedIn” and you do the best you can with little knowledge you have to do it effectively. 

Well don’t worry any longer about the impression you’re giving others based on your profile, because we’re here to set you straight, once and for all, so you can have confidence in your image and have others saying “WOW! Am I impressed” when they see yours. 

Join us, Jane and JoAnne, two colleagues who realize the importance of you having a strong LinkedIn profile. We’re bringing our popular training to you virtually so you can take advantage from anywhere in the world. 

http://www.girpromotions.com/linkedinworkshop/

Jane Morrison and JoAnne Funch

Your LinkedIn Guru Team 

P.S. Don’t miss out, training space is limited! 

You’ll get expert handholding and learn to make LinkedIn your secret weapon!

They’re putting lots of time, effort, and money into fancy mailings, beautiful brochures and a comprehensive website, without results. 

All those things don’t have the relationship factor, and people buy from those they know, like and trust.  

Are you missing out on one of the most critical no-cost marketing avenues available today?  Maybe…. 

But don’t bother with LinkedIn unless you know the 5 primary ways to position your profile that will get you in the top search engines. 

Don’t bother and waste your time even having a profile on LinkedIn, unless you know which groups to join and more than that, how to interact with them quick and easy, in a way that shows you as an expert. 

And definitely don’t bother with LinkedIn unless you know the secrets that will get you known FAST and have customers coming to you, wanting to do business with you! 

LinkedIn is a huge free marketing venue WHEN YOU USE IT RIGHT. 

And we’ll show you how to do just that, PLUS leave you with a comprehensive step by step guide so you can stand out and blow your competition away. 

JOIN US, JANE AND JOANNE, FOR THIS VIRTUAL TRAINING SESSION: 

http://www.girpromotions.com/linkedinworkshop/ 

This will never be priced this low again so take advantage of this and stop missing out on one of the most powerful and effective, did we say f*r*ee? marketing avenues there is! 

Your LinkedIn guru team,

Jane Morrison and JoAnne Funch 

P.S. Don’t keep this opportunity to yourself! Share it with your friends,family and colleagues.

I know all about having a vision and big dreams and not being able to get to the goal due to the challenges of technology and prospects saying “no.” 

Imagine what it would be like to have the easy answers at your fingertips.

Imagine what it would be like to get that project “off your plate” so you can earn the income.

Imagine having the support as an entrepreneur to finally turn your passion into profit!

Join me for my complimentary TELECLASS this coming Monday, August 1^st, to share some of the solutions that will allow you to stop struggling and feeling that you are going it alone.  

I’ll answer your questions about your business struggles on the call live.

I’ll share the top 5 reasons why you would want to join a mastermind group.

And most importantly, you’ll take away a cost effective solution to your business struggles.

I’ve made it easy! No sign up necessary! Mark your calendar!

Just DIAL INTO 1-218-632-9802

Access Code: 5757#

On Monday August 1^st at 10:00 PT, 12:00 CT, 1:00 ET.

Never before have I offered this free class, where in fact I am giving away free advice.

And, if you want a sneak peek on the Mastermind program, take a look here: http://www.janemorrison.com/marketing-and-mindset-mastermind-program/

There’s only room for 8 in the program and it’s half full already. 

Send the questions you want me to answer about your business struggles to jane@janemorrison.com before Monday!