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It's Time 
To Get Off The Hamster Wheel!
 
hamster on wheel by haundreis

Just being in motion will never get you to your Big. To do that, you need to be sure you're doing the right things, in the right order, for the right reasons.

Enter the Take Action Now System (tm). 

This seven-step system clarifies the activities that are mission-critical to your success. It then walks you through a process for creating step-by-step action plans to implement those key activities.


The result? You get off the hamster wheel of motion-without-progress and get on a more direct route to more clients and more money.

Forget about being busy; start getting focused by downloading your no-charge PDF version of the Take Action Now System (tm) today.
 
Ready to Profit?  

cover of Net Profit


Too many books, too little  time?  Net Profit: Business Networking Without the Nerves is a quick read packed with easy-to-apply tools that will help you become a power networker.
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Greetings!

   

Notice anything different?  Huh, do ya?

 

Yes, you're right - I have new colors and a logo now.  Woohoo!

 

When I started this ezine nearly two years ago, I didn't have any graphics I wanted to share.  As a result, I forgot that I even could include a logo.  Recently, when I started to create a new template, I saw those magic words: Add Company Logo Block.  Time to step it up!

 

I added the logo, then played with the ezine's background and border colors to ensure that all new elements would play nice together. That's when I got cold feet:  Are there too many changes all at once?  Is it too much?  Will people's brains explode?

 

After giving it serious thought, checking in with various Mastermind buddies, and swilling down some amazing hot chocolate, I came to several very reasonable conclusions: 

  • The quality and quantity of the information hasn't changed, so there's no real reason why some new design features would throw you.
  • Rather than give your eyeball and your brain multiple itsy changes to get used over a period of time, I'm allowing both of us to get all the changes over with all at once.  It's easier that way for everyone.
  • As much as you enjoy these Steps, they're probably not the most important thing in your life, so the risk of brain explosion is minimal.
I realized this little exercise was an example of how often we try to talk ourselves out of doing something that feels outside our comfort zone.  As a result, I plan to re-commit myself doing stuff that's not comfortable, but very useful in the long run.  See how the following ideas make it easier for you to step up to your bigger playing field.
Tip of the Week
  
Think enough, but not too much, then follow up promtly with purposeful action.
 
Be aware of your tendency to over-think things to the point where you're stricken by Analysis Paralysis.  The challenge is to look before you leap AND be willing to take the well-considered step forward anyway.
A Really Good Resource

light bulb
Do you struggle to confidently express yourself in public?  Do you totally get why public speaking has been considered the number-one fear for many people?  Are you so done with walking away from opportunities to speak up as a subject matter expert?  Then you really want to connect with the folks at SagePresence.

Dean Hyers and Pete Machalek are award-winning filmmakers who help professionals master their roles and present themselves with winning presence.  A big plus: They're real people and are willing to help you learn from their own stumbles on the road of mastery.
How's This for Success?   

one of the yummies at West Side Perk

 

There's a big difference between leaping blindly into the unknown, and courageously yet prudently stepping into unexplored territory.

 

Deb Irvin, owner of West Side Perk, is very clear on the difference.  Before she opened her dream coffee shop, she spent nearly two years on the due diligence process.  She visited other independent shops, polled people in her target market, researched online...and then she got the ball rolling.

 

While it was still scary to start a new brick-and-mortar business, Deb knew she had done everything possible to stack the deck in her favor. It seems to be paying off:  Her shop recently won her local paper's Reader's Choice Award for "Best Cup of Coffee".  Way to go, Deb!

 

(By the way, if it seems like Deb was just featured here a short time ago, she was.  Can either of us help it if she's just that good?  It has nothing to do with my hoping to get lifetime free chai lattes at the Perk, I swear.)

Thanks to my friend Flickr.

 

Here are this week's heroes who graciously allowed me to use their images, posted in the Creative Commons area of Flickr, in this issue of Networking Nuggets
hamster on her wheel by Heindraus
light bulb by aloshbennett
 
Jonatan Mårtensson once said, "Success will never be a big step in the future; success is a small step taken just now."

Wishing you the courage to take the many small steps that will inevitably lead to your success...

Kathleen 
Stepping Into Big
612-716-8239

Life is good.

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