I was riding on the back of an all-terrain vehicle through a forest of quaking aspen in central Utah a while back, enjoying life in the outdoors, kicking back and taking in the scenery. As we drove along through the quaking trees, I noticed how the knot holes in the aspen trees look like eyes. Suddenly, it felt as if a million eyes were watching me. It was kind of eerie.

It dawned on me that in business, as you put yourself out there and market yourself; a million eyes are watching you. You have much greater influence than you realize, especially with social media and web based presence. As your exposure grows, so does the amount of eyes watching you. Even if people are not in direct contact with you, as in signing up for your newsletter or becoming a client or customer, they are still watching. They may be spreading the word about you and your business as well in either a positive or negative manner.

Is that a spooky thought for you? Exciting? Here are a few tips to make sure that you stay on the exciting side of the equation and not the spooky side.

Social Media:

1. Do not air personal family, friend or business conflicts on twitter or Facebook. There are approximately 350 million users on Facebook and even if you have only 30 friends, your posts show up with those friends, they have the opportunity to share your post on their wall so your post may end up being viewed by thousands of people. Furthermore, anyone that you have unfriended can still see your posts and anyone who has sent you a friend request, even if you have not accepted it can see your posts. And what about twitter threads. Whew…that could add up to a lot of people.

2. Keep your complaining to a minimum if at all. It’s ok to write about a frustration but add the upside or silver lining at the end. What did you learn? What’s good about it? Inspire people rather than expire them. There’s enough negativity out there, do not feed that fire.

3. Make most of your posts value added or as a positive connection point. Social media is about connection. It gives us an opportunity to add value and support to others and to receive it in return. It gives us the opportunity to connect with people outside of our local community so keep it on the positive side.

Networking:

1. How you show up at a networking event has a great effect on how you are perceived. I was on a tele-class for professional speakers the other day and the teacher said that people make 11 assumptions about you in the first 11 seconds of seeing you. WOW! Eleven assumptions, probably before you even blurt out a word. Be sure to dress how you want to be viewed. If you are a plumber and you want your potential market to view you as a hard working individual, then nice jeans and a polo shirt with your company logo on it may be the right combo. If you are a Real Estate professional or accountant, probably office/casual would suffice. Watch the shoes, people notice worn out shoes. Sure, they may be comfortable but seriously, make sure they send the right message.

2. Grooming is important. Hair, nails, teeth, breath, body odor, they are all important. Many times we don’t think people will notice the small details. Wrong! Sometimes the small stuff stands out like a big sore thumb.

3. How you speak is important too. Speak with confidence and passion about your business. Focus more on the other person rather than throwing up all over them about your business. Have you ever experienced that? The person you are talking to is not really interested at all in creating business relationships, they are just interested in letting you know about their business and not interested in yours at all. It’s all about them and they just throw up all over you. Gross! Let that not be you.

Videos:

1. Be sure that your videos are relevant to your business. Don’t post your personal family videos to your business channel unless you are tying it into your business.

2. Make sure that your videos portray the image of you and your business that you want people to perceive. Remember the eleven assumptions in eleven minutes can happen on video too.

3. Don’t film in a disorganized environment such as a messy office. Clean it up or find a better spot to film, unless it is relevant to the message being shared.

These are just a few ways that we show up in front of people. If you have a website, eyes are watching you there too. Pictures that you are tagged in may just show up in Google images. When was the last time you Googled yourself? Just for fun, Google your name or go to Google images and type in your name and see what shows up. It may be eye opening.

As you market your business online and off, keep in mind the people who are watching you and the assumptions they may be creating about you. Set your intention to show up as positive and inspire others. To quote from the Spiderman movie “With great exposure comes great responsibility”…oops that’s my quote.

Heliotrope is our crystal energy for June. It forms the connective link between the quartz families of jasper and chalcedony.  The color is green with flecks of red and yellow spots.  The name Heliotrope is Greek and means ‘solstice’ which is thought to refer to its healing powers.  Heliotrope is associated with the first, third and fourth chakras.  Heliotrope is a stone of courage.  It lends us courage so that we can hear the direction that our heart is calling us to and assists us in taking the first steps on our path as a spiritual warrior; one who follows the calling of their heart.  Heliotrope is a stone of dreamers and stimulates dream activity.

June is such a powerful month this year and it is definitely up-leveling the energy for transformation personally and globally. On June first we had a total Solar Eclipse on the New Moon. New Moons hold powerful creative energy as it is the beginning of the waxing cycle bringing the moon back to full light. To have it coincide with a Solar Eclipse is powerful. I am not an astrologist so I am unsure exactly what it all means and I am sure there are plenty of places to find information on the internet.

June 15th brought the full moon of Gemini (strawberry moon) along with a total Lunar Eclipse. Lunar eclipses are associated with heightened emotion and awareness. I spent 5 days alone hiking the desert of Southern Utah between the new moon/solar eclipse and the full moon/lunar eclipse and it was a powerful transformative experience for me as I released the past and claimed what I want to create in the future.

June 19th, we celebrated Father’s Day and the masculine energy. I spent the day remembering my wonderful father and missing him too as he passed 8 years ago. What great energy the day brings when we honor our fathers.

Summer begins today, June 21st with the Summer Solstice at 1:16pm EDT.  At the time of Summer Solstice the sun will be directly overhead at noon at the Tropic of Cancer in the Celestial Hemisphere (Winter Solstice takes place in the Tropic of Capricorn).  During Summer Solstice, the sun appears to stand still meaning its noontime elevation does not seem to change.  Solstice is Latin, ‘sol’ meaning ‘sun’ and ‘sistere’ meaning ‘to cause to stand still’.  Summer Solstice is a time of light and fire. There are signs of solstice being celebrated and honored clear back to pre-historic Europe and there are many phenomena around the globe that have been built in honor of solstice such as Stonehenge.  It is the midway checkpoint of the year and the merry time between planting and harvesting.  It is the season of growing. 

July 1st we experience another eclipse, this time partial solar eclipse which brings powerful energy to end the first half of the calendar year and kick off the second half. It’s time to kick our dreams and results up a notch or two.

Another celebration that is at our doorsteps is Midsummer’s Eve (June 23rd) and Midsummer’s Day (June 24th).  Midsummer’s Day celebrates the feast of John the Baptist and represents the adaptation of another Christian celebration to the pagan festival of solstice.  It is celebrated in much of mainland Europe.  Midsummer’s Eve or Midsummer’s Night is a night of merry making; a time of joy and love.  There are many superstitions surrounding this celebration and the web is full of fun information about it.  Midsummer’s Day is a day for lovers and dreamers. 

Take some time this week to indulge in the bewitching magic of the summer celebrations.  Dream big!  No, dream huge!  Call on the energy of heliotrope for the courage to hear the direction that your heart is calling from.  Find some time this week sit still.   Grab a lawn chair or a blanket and sit outdoors, close your eyes and dream.  So often we limit ourselves in our dreams.  We tell ourselves that it is not possible for our dreams to come true, that they are not practical and therefore are impossible.  What is the biggest dream that you can dream?  Call on the creativity and imagination of your inner child.  Repeat this line as you start to dream “on the wings of my fancy I can fly anywhere and the world will open its arms to me”.  Don’t allow anything to stand in the way of your dreams, even if they don’t seem sensible or practical.  Slay the dragons, the beasts, the evil witches and sorcerers that stand in your way.  Dream in true fairy tale style.  Bring in the Fairy Godmothers and Genies to assist you in making your dreams come true.  Add song and music, really have fun with it and do not sensor yourself.  Daydream an afternoon away.  The great achievers; the movers and shakers of the world dream big and seemingly impossible dreams and then find a way to make them happen.

"The world is full of zanies and fools who don’t believe in sensible rules and won’t believe what sensible people say…and because these daft and dewy-eyed dopes keep building up impossible hopes…impossible?  Things are happening every day! " —Lyrics from Rodgers and Hammersteins’s musical, Cinderella

Spring has finally arrived in Utah after one of the wettest April on record and what seemed like forever winter. I generally begin my spring cleaning in March as the weather begins to warm and I can open the windows and haul stuff out to the lawn. Due to the weather I am getting a late start.
We associate spring cleaning with cleaning and clearing our physical space, yet there are other areas that we must consider as well.
Spring cleaning your body and lymphatic system is important to release stagnate energy and toxic build up in your body after the long winter. In winter we experience more darkness, we tend to eat heavier foods and we are less active.
 
Spring cleaning your mental body is critical in clearing the way for new growth and creation. Let go of beliefs, habits and behaviors that are no longer serving you.

How about an emotional cleaning? This is a big one for me this year. I have had a lot of emotional stuff on my plate. I am at the end and the beginning all at once as I complete my divorce after a 25 year relationship and I create new possibilities as a strong, single woman and mother. I have a teenager (there’s an emotional area as he tests me constantly) and a 20 year old who is finding his own wings and challenging me to let him fly. My mother has also had many health issues this year. Watching a parent age and go through health challenges also brings up some deep tribal emotions. What emotional situations need some clean up in your life?

Have you cleaned up your financial environment? In my last newsletter I wrote about how important it is to be clear and organized in the financial arena. Now that taxes are done, it is a perfect time to complete the organization.

As you do your spring cleaning, it is critical to know what you want to bring into your space as you clear old stuff out. If you are not clear and set a strong intention, you may just bring the same old stuff back in. It may be in a different package, but it will suck your energy just the same.
I have a challenge for you…a 28 day challenge. How would your life change in 28 days if you could get clear on what you want in your life and do a clean sweep to clear the way for it to show up? Are you up for the challenge? Are you ready to create something new and different in your life?
Join me for the 28 day challenge beginning Wednesday, June 15th, 2011.

Get excited for spring is in the air and it’s time for you to grow. Watch your email for info on this Clean Sweep Challenge.

How many of you would like to have more money flow into your life this year?

How many of you feel that you have created the space and are prepared to receive more money into your life; mentally, emotionally, spiritually and in your physical environment? 

We are all familiar with the Law of Attraction.  This law has really gone mainstream since the movie The Secret was released and its creator, Rhonda Byrnes appeared on Oprah.  I really like the movie The Secret and the principles that it emphasizes.  However, there is a principle or step that the movie doesn’t emphasize that I feel is critical in the process of creation and attraction and that is the principle of conscious action. 

While it is essential to change our mindset, thoughts and beliefs, it is equally important to take action based on that change and clear the way to receive what we desire and deserve.  It’s also important to realize that the way to manifest is fluid not stationary.  We’re involved in the process.

Today I would like to talk about creating a space in our physical environment to receive prosperity and I’d like to begin by asking you, what is the state of your current financial lifestyle? 

Do you have financial papers cluttering your desk or scattered around your filing system?  Do you have a filing system? Do you have stacks of unopened mail and paperwork that need attending to?  Do you shove your financial records in a box or the dreaded drawer and hope that organization will happen by osmosis?  Do you procrastinate when it comes to handling financial paperwork?

Money is simply not going to come into a chaotic environment!  The more chaotic your financial lifestyle, the less you will be able to attract money into your life.  As a rule of thumb if you have physical clutter, you have mental, emotional, and spiritual clutter as well.

Studies show that 90% of the population lives most of their lives where 85% is chaos and only 15% is orderly and organized.  This same 90% of the population is unhappy with the results that they are receiving.  They believe that there could be something more, but they don’t know how to achieve it. 

I teach a 3 step process to assist in bringing order to your financial lifestyle by organizing your Financial Filing System. It’s a system that I learned from Loral Langemeier, The Millionaire Maker, when I was coaching for her.  I have modified it for you and I’d liked to briefly share that with you today.

Let’s begin with step One in this process, which is Gathering: To initiate this process you’re going to gather together all of your documents that represent incoming and outgoing money in your life.  Documents like credit card statements, bank statements, personal payables, cash expenses and pay check stubs. Also, investment portfolio, wills, insurance policies, financial planning documents, and all related legal documents such as deeds, social security information, birth certificates and such.

Step Two in the process is Sort and File:  In this step you will separate these documents into like kind.  To do this you will probably need to spread out across the floor or table and if you own your own business, you will want to do this for your business as well.  In one pile you will have your CC statements, in another cash expenses, in other words, sort and match.  Once they are sorted you will create labels and file the documents.  Be sure to supply yourself with what you need to complete this important project.

The final step is Document: You want to create a master list of the files in your cabinet.  You will list the type of file such as American Express Card, the account number, 888-444-000, and where it is located in the cabinet such as front half in top drawer or third file from front in top drawer.  Be as detailed as you feel you need to be.  Once you have your master list complete, make copies and place one in the front of the file cabinet, one with a trusted friend or family member and one in a safe deposit box. 

When you have completed this step, you will have your financial life sorted for your loved ones.  This way should something happen to you; your loved ones won’t be swimming through your chaos to find important paperwork.  None of us are going to get out of this life alive so think of this project as a labor of love for your family.

It is important to know that good record keeping is an essential part of building a foundation for sound financial management.  It’s an attractor factor.  As Loral Langemeier puts it, “Do Paperwork or be Poor”.

Your organized financial filing cabinet will provide a firm foundation to build your wealth upon.  Remember that money is not going to come into an environment where it is not wanted.  Therefore, I invite you to take an honest look at your financial lifestyle this week and see if you can bring it to a higher state of order. Show the Universe that you are truly ready to receive.

I want to conclude with a quote by Napoleon Hill, author of the book Think and Grow Rich.

“If you are one of those people who think that hard work and honesty alone will bring riches, perish the though!  It is not true.  Riches, when they come in huge quantities, are never the result of hard work.  Riches come, if they come at all, in response to definite demands based upon the application of definite principles, and not by chance or luck.”

©2010 Annette Pieper, The Soul Power Coach is a Success Strategist, highly sought motivational speaker, author, coach, trainer, mentor and CEO of Vision 2 Reality Training a company offering private and group consultations, webinars, workshops, seminars and educational material to inform, inspire and motivate you to awaken your inner power for Soul Powered Success. Sign up to receive her free “Stop Procrastinating” audio download at http://www.annettepieper.com
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Annette Pieper
Building Success with Heart!

“Peace on Earth and goodwill toward men”.  Many times this statement doesn’t fit the holiday season as we hustle and bustle about, looking for the perfect gifts, dealing with the traffic and crowds and trying to make it to all of the holiday functions that we are invited to.  We can become concerned and stressed about money or about the calories that we are consuming. 

Many of us try to cram as much into the holiday season as we possibly can, leaving us sleep-deprived and irritable.  Sometimes the stress that we encounter is not our own, but someone else who is assaulting us with their stress and negativity.  These scenarios can be far from peaceful. 

As you go through the holiday season, take time to ground yourself and align with the higher purpose of the season with a meditation practice.  Taking just 5 minutes in the morning to be still and connect with your higher self can take the edge off of stressful situations and allow you to bring yourself back into the present moment when life feels out of kilter. 

Find a quiet space and sit with your spine aligned in an upright position, notice your breathing pattern and call on the energy of the Divine Spirit to bring you to a deep place within.  You can sit on a chair, lie on the floor, or sit on anything that will allow you to align your spine so your energy can freely flow through the chakras. 

Put yourself at the top of your to-do list and still yourself in the morning and again in the evening before bed.  A combination of meditation, affirmations and exercise each morning will allow you to present yourself to the world as the powerful gift that you are. An evening practice will allow you to let go of the day and prepare for slumber.  Also, remember that stress triggers emotional eating, especially sugar cravings and other fast acting carbohydrates, which are plentiful during the holidays.  This emotional eating combined with stress is a set-up for stomach upset, indigestion and heartburn, which in turn compounds the stress.  

Take time to build a meditation practice if you don’t have one already and let this season be the true blessing of peace, love and joy that it is meant to be.

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me, let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. –Jill Jackson Miller (Lyrics from “The Peace Song” or "Let There Be Peace On Earth")

Listen to the song

Have you ever had an insight or idea and suddenly something shows up in your awareness that lets you know that perhaps you are on the right track? That happened to me just this past weekend.

I was in Lake Oswego, Oregon with my Mastermind group and we were working on my branding for my business and my new success system. After doing some intuitive work around what would be an authentic representation of the essence of me, my business and my system, we mind stormed some ideas that really resonated with everyone. I was experiencing some resistance, not sure if I wanted to shift my branding again even though the new ideas were sounding pretty cool and a lot more like me. I set an intention to release my resistance and be open to the new theme.

On Sunday morning, I left to drive back to Salt Lake and the first song that I heard on the radio was “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield and the lyrics went right along with the new branding ideas that we had come up with, the idea of being authentic with your core essence and opening up the dirty window (my limited thinking) to let the light from the sun illuminate the blank page (me). I thought that was pretty cool and got spirit bumps (goose bumps) letting me know that spirit was speaking to me.

Later that day after a long drive, I arrived at the lodge I was staying at in Bend, Oregon. I decided to unwind at the end of the evening and watch a little TV.  I turned on the TV and the first movie I turned to was “Remember the Titans”.  The part that was playing was when they were in the gym and they were singing about Soul Power. Again this went right along with the branding theme we had generated the day before. Then it came to the part where they introduced Ronnie (Sunshine) Bass. Sunshine was also key to the theme and then more about Soul Power. I had spirit bumps through the entire movie letting me know that I was on the right track.

In order to receive that confirmation from the Universe I needed to be open to the messages. I had to be an empty vessel for spirit to drop those hints into my awareness. That’s the power of intention and letting go of resistance.
Where in your life do you need to drop your resistance, your judgments and your limitations and become an open vessel for spirit to speak to you? How would your life and your business change if you allowed yourself to be in that space?
I invite you to take a chance. Set an intention to drop the resistance to the intuitive guidance that you are receiving and be open to the messages the Universe and Spirit have to offer you. If you do not see any benefit, you can always go back to resisting. You have nothing to lose by giving it a shot.

Do you need more clarity? Sign up for the Possibility Café Tele-seminar series on Clarity as I launch my new success system.

Natasha Bedingfield: Unwritten

Remember the Titans movie clips:

Clip 1

Clip 2

Do you have an idea to grow your business or to start a business? Perhaps it’s an idea for a new product, a new system or a new approach to marketing. You know it’s a great idea, maybe even a million dollar idea and you’re stuck. You don’t know what to do next.

I see this time and time again and it has even happened to me. Years ago I had an idea for a book but I didn’t know what to do with it. Thoughts came to my mind such as how am I going to organize it, where would I find the time to write it, would anybody buy it, who would publish it, how would I sell it…basically my mind frick took over and stopped me cold in my tracks. It suddenly seemed overwhelming and that’s where I stopped until recently when I made the decision to take my idea into reality.

Here are some steps that I have learned over the years that I use to help my clients (and myself) move forward with an idea.

1. Get it written down in an idea book. Even if your idea is not feasible now you can develop it later or even sell it. It may even be a million dollar idea so get it down in your idea notebook so that
you do not lose the idea.

2. Chunk it down. If it seems too big or overwhelming, chunk or break it down into smaller steps. This is where our mind frick gets the best of us, when it seems overwhelming we have a tendency to put it aside.

3. Look at it sideways, backwards, up-side down…look at all the different sides and angles of your idea to see if it is feasible or what type of help you may need to get it off the ground.

4. Start talking about it, get support. Now you might be saying “but Annette, I don’t want to share, I don’t want anyone to steal my idea”. Yes it can be scary and there is always that potential. This is where a coach or advisor can really assist you. You can bounce you ideas off of them, get feedback and put together an action plan.

Your coach must be operating from the highest level of integrity. A great coach or advisor provides confidentiality and the highest level of integrity with their clients.

5. Get into action. Once you have created your action plan get moving. You can revise it as you need to and action is your best strategy.

Are you ready to get that idea growing now? It’s like planning a mountaineering expedition. It begins with an idea and before you know it you are on the top of the Mountain of Success, staking your claim on the summit and planting your victory flag.

I invite you to join me on the Possibility Café tele-seminar for an hour of value packed information to launch your own business expedition. I will be sharing ideas and strategies to climb the Mountain of Success so please join me. Register today!