Tough times do not mean tough business. Constant complaints about failing business have created an atmosphere of fear. Fear is now driving our economic woes. But, this does not have to be the way things are. A strong and committed mindset, coupled with the principles of the Law of Attraction, create a new freedom that is not bound by the dictates of fear. Want to know how to do this? Read the information about Christine Kloser's new book and discover how you, too, can shed the "slings and arrows" of the climate of fear! Perhaps this is the time to create a new business paradigm.
Article Interview Questionnaire
by Ann B. Sloan
Women’s Networking Editor
The National Networker
http://www.thenationalnetworker.com
with
Christine Kloser
How would you briefly describe what you do? (e.g., your “elevator speech”)
I help conscious entrepreneurs integrate their spiritual wisdom with tangible business strategies so they experience a business (and life) filled with purpose, passion and profit.
What makes you / your company unique? ─ your so-called Unique Selling Proposition (USP)?
Tagline: Put Soul in Your Business.... And Money in Your Bank
What is the primary goal / mission of what you do: i.e.
• your work / profession
• My mission is to transform the lives of conscious entrepreneurs. In helping them transform their own lives and businesses, they can use their success as a vehicle for positive change in the world.
AND/OR
• your artistic/humanitarian/philanthropic activities
(as applicable)
• I ongoingly support several causes including Trees for the Future, Free the Slaves and Donors Choose. (Ann – you can www.thefreedomformula.com and click on “about us” to find out more about why I’ve chosen these organizations.)
Please describe briefly how you got started in all this, and how you arrived where you are currently.
My entrepreneurial journey began in 1991 when I literally fell into a career in the fitness industry as a personal fitness trainer. Out of that I also became certified as a Yoga instructor and ended up opening my own yoga studio in Los Angeles. Opening that studio in 1998 was the beginning of the most challenging time of my life. I had gone from working only 20 hours a week, enjoying lots of time off and making great money doing something I loved.... To working 60-70 hours per week, teaching up to 40 yoga classes a week and not able to pay my bills. This challenge lead me to invite some women friends to dinner who could give me the moral support and encouragement I desperately needed. This small group of friends that began in 2000, grew into a large networking organization for women in Los Angeles that was the first networking group to integrate spiritual principles into a business networking environment. During the time this group was growing, I had moved to a larger yoga studio. Unfortunately, this second yoga studio forced me to the edge of bankruptcy and sent me to into several years of financial struggle. Thankfully the Network for Empowering Women Entrepreneurs gave me the inspiration and motivation I needed to keep pursing my dream of entrepreneurial freedom. I experienced a lot of personal fulfillment and success through NEW, as did it’s hundreds of members, but sadly the organization was not something I planned on (I just thought I’d meet with a few friends for dinner once a month, not host meeting for early 100 women in a hotel ballroom), so it wasn’t intentionally built on a profitable financial model. Again, I was faced with having to shut down this business because it just didn’t make financial sense anymore. Around the time I was coming to this realization, I was also on a deep personal quest to figure out what it really took to make a business success in making a difference and making money. This is what set me on the path of identifying what it meant to be a conscious entrepreneurs, what the elements for success were for this new and growing business model, and how I could experience this in my own life. After several years on this quest of personal, spiritual and professional development, I was inspired to put my understandings down on paper and wrote the best-selling book, The Freedom Formula: How to Put Soul in Your Business and Money in Your Bank. The process of writing this book, pursuing my purpose and clarifying my message has opened so many doors of opportunity for me, it has been a miracle to experience. Now, The Freedom Formula has been turned into a 4-day live event, The Freedom Formula Experience (January 2009) featuring such visionaries as Neale Donald Walsch, author of Conversations with God, James Twyman director/producer of The Moses Code and Marianne Williamson, author of A Return to Love. The doors keep opening as I continue to create products, services and events that help entrepreneurs put soul in their business and money in their bank.
Which of your projects are you currently most excited / passionate about?
The Freedom Formula Experience! www.FreedomFormulaExperience.com. This event is going to set the stage for a whole new movement for conscious entrepreneurs... my intention is that this event has a tangible, positive impact on our world.
How much of your work is focused specifically toward women? Please explain.
While I don’t exclusively market to women, 90% of my clients are women. I think, in general, the type of work I do that incorporates business and spirit naturally attracts women. I find that women are often more conscious of their spiritual connection and are seeking more meaning and purpose in their business.
What are some of the ways / places in which you promote your enterprise?
I published a bi-weekly award-winning ezine, Conscious Business Connection.
I distribute media releases at least twice per month.
I do a lot of joint venture marketing with like-minded entrepreneurs in which they’ll host a teleclass for their database with me as the guest speakers.
I place advertisements on the internet through Google Adwords.
I submit articles online to several article distribution services.
I network and speak at live events.
Social networking primarily on Facebook and Ning.
Whom / what does your network currently include? How far does your network extend? (AND / OR: What is the size of your list / your outreach?)
My ezine reaches more than 6,000 entrepreneurs world-wide with the majority of readership in the United States. My network is the most valuable asset I have in my business.
What has been the best about building a network: Positive experiences?
Benefits, expected and unexpected?
The best thing about building my network is the tremendous amount of resources I have at my fingertips every single day. Resources in terms of trusted colleagues and collaborators, vendors for any need I may have and... and an abundance of financial resources.
What challenges (if any) have you found in your networking experiences? Unexpected events? Any benefits emerging from challenges in the long run?
My greatest challenge has been following up with people I meet in person. It’s so easy to meet wonderful people everywhere I go, but it’s not easy to always follow through with all of those contacts to the degree that I’d like to. The emerging benefit has been creating some great free resources for my target audience. Now, when I meet people I want to stay connected with, I ask for their permission to send them my free Conscious Business Success Kit which includes a subscription to my award-winning ezine. This allows me to ethically opt them into my database and be able to maintain communication with them.
Bottom line – What do you feel is really working well for you / your company at this time?
Hands down, what’s working for me is my network! Most recently, as soon as my network found out about The Freedom Formula Experience coming up in January, they are coming out of the woodwork to ask me how they can help me promote the event. The other thing that’s really working well is having my book The Freedom Formula done. Readers are having great results from reading the book and sharing it with their friends. The buzz is spreading because of the pass-along value of the book. This is working really well right now and I am so grateful for everyone who is connecting with my book.
What’s the achievement / accomplishment you’re most proud of at this time?
Not quitting on my dream. I’ve faced some very challenging times... and keep hearing from others that I should just give up and get a job. And, I never did. I knew I had something to contribute through my own business, and I kept pursuing that purpose no matter what.
What are your plans and goals for the future (organizational / personal), especially regarding networking activities?
My goal for the future is to continue publishing books and developing new products and services that help entrepreneurs grow their business based on spiritual principles. As far as my networking activities go, right now they seem to be taking o a whole new level. I think the future of my networking activities will be more focused on networking with centers of influence in related fields and leveraging those connections to impact more people.
Anything else you would like to add for our readers? Perhaps words of encouragement and / or inspiration?
If you have the desire in your heart to succeed as a woman entrepreneur, you can. Don’t ever give up on yourself or your dream. Keep yourself surrounded by supportive people who believe in you. Ask for help and know that everything that happens to you in your life and your business is happening for a reason... to serve your highest good, and the highest good of the people you’re meant to serve.
How to Shift into Abundance
In times like these, when the external world is absorbed in "lack, lack, lack", it's more important than ever for you to shift into abundance... and stay there. Yet, when I analyzed the responses to my recent survey (on the challenges you face in your business), the majority said they were having trouble getting out of fear and living in abundance.
So, in this article I'll be sharing one of the most powerful tools I use to shift into abundance... no matter what's happening around me. This is a process I use practically every single day to keep myself in the energy of abundance. Not only is this process simple, energizing and fun; it works!
Energize Your Vision
Step 1: Find a vision partner. In order for your vision to have the biggest impact on your life, it's best to energetically speak your vision out loud to a vision partner. Your partner needs to be someone who "gets" you and who believes in an abundant world. Create a partnership with someone who support you in your dreams, doesn't call you "crazy" for thinking BIG, and understands the power of a held intention.
Step 2: Set up a time to talk with your partner. Once you've found a visioning partner, make an appointment to talk on the phone for at least fifteen minutes every week. The first time you have your call, you may want to schedule a bit longer so you can talk about the process after you're done and check-in with each other to see if you have any suggestions or feedback for future sessions.
Step 3: Create a sacred space. When it's time for your vision call, you'll want to do a brief centering exercise that aligns you with each other and establishes the sacred space in which you'll share together. Just taking a few deep breaths together can easily get you centered. (That's the yoga instructor in me speaking.)
Step 4: Speak your vision. After you've taken a few deep breaths and created a scared space together, the first person to go simply begins to speak their vision to their partner... as if you were experiencing it right now! Allows yourself to transcend any current situation in your life right now and truly shift into the energy of your vision ALREADY being realized. When you do this, you connect at the highest level of the Infinite Abundant Supply, to God, the Universe (or whatever you call that Source of all that is). And, your resonance with this "field" is what causes things to shift in your life.
Step 5: Listen to your partner. As important as it is for the person speaking their vision to step into the energy of having ALREADY realized their dreams, the partner (listener) also has an important responsibility. The listener must hear his/her partner's vision as if it IS already done. They must hold the vision, and see it as vividly as their partner does. Then, once the partner is complete, the listener says, "I see that vision for you." The listener can also contribute any additional words of support or any insights they received that would benefit their partner in realizing their vision.
The experience of having another person listen to you with the intention of your vision being realized is deeply powerful. It's been one of the best tools I've ever used in manifesting all that has come to me in recent years from the birth of my daughter and the purchase of a brand-new custom home, to the release of one business and the rapid expansion of another. I urge you to find a partner and get started with this today because remember.... it's not only fun, it works!
NOTE: If you cannot find a vision partner for this process, then you can simply do it on your own. Be sure to SPEAK your vision out loud, even if only to yourself. The spoken word, (and the energy) it carries is a key piece for this to work.
Believe in Your Power to Transform the World
What would it take for you to BELIEVE you can truly transform the world?
No matter what business you're in, no matter where you live, no matter what challenge you may be facing right now... you absolutely stand in a place of power to positively transform the world. And, if you're saying to yourself, "Yeah, that's easy for you to say, Christine, but you don't know what I'm going through." I assure you, I understand because I've been there. I know what it's like to believe in your ability to transform yourself (and others) when it appears that nothing is going your way.
Remind yourself of the fact that being alive right now, as the unique being that you are, is a miracle in and of itself! The moment you were conceived you were a miracle, and you continue to be... no matter what may be going on in the world around you.
The reality you live in depends heavily on the conversations that occur in your mind. Your level of belief in yourself (and the power you possess to make a real difference in the world) exists in your mind as well. So, here are some ways you can increase your belief in your ability to transform the world. Keep in mind, when you think of "the world" remember you don't have to transform every single person on the planet, but you do need to impact those in YOUR world.
1) Remember Your Accomplishments
One of the best things you can do to establish deeper belief in yourself, and your abilities, is to remember your past accomplishments. Take out a piece of paper, grab a pen and begin to list your accomplishments right now. What success have you experienced in your business, your relationships, your education, your friendships, your family, with your clients, your mindset, your personal goals, your partnerships, your masterminds, etc. Everything counts! So, start your list now and keep adding to it. This exercise will help you stay in a higher vibration so you can continue to do what you're here to do... and continue to impact lives.
2) Remember The Difference You've Already Made
This is another terrific "list" exercise that connects you with the difference you've already made in the lives of others. Whenever you doubt the power you have to create positive change, recall those moments in which you KNEW, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that you made a difference.
Right now, think about those experiences you've had with a client where you knew you made a difference. Perhaps you saw it in their eyes, heard it in their voice, or read it in their words. Then, keep this list handy and read it often. For me, when I need a reminder, I read my Amazon.com book reviews for The Freedom Formula. It's an instant connection right back to the impact my book is having on readers worldwide. For you, it may be going to your "brag file," or reading a note from a client or testimonials on your own website. Whatever it is for you, anytime you feel your doubt waiver... remember the difference you've already made and it will help you make a bigger difference in the days, months and years to come.
3) Remember Your Higher Purpose
This strategy invites you to elevate your perspective of why you're here, living on the planet at this critical point in time. You are here to wake up and help others wake up to the new world that is emerging right now. You chose to be here at this important time because you have a unique purpose to fulfill in helping others to heal, grow, transform, evolve, and become all that they were meant to be. Your purpose may be showing up as a gentle whisper or a booming voice... but it is clear that you are here to be a force for positive change in the world. So, remember your purpose (even if it's not crystal clear yet) and let that carry you into deeper and deeper belief in the role you have to play in transforming the world.
These three strategies are essential for staying on track with your dreams and being a CAUSE for positive change in the world. Doubt and fear will likely surface as you take bigger and bolder steps in your business to create more transformation for others. But, not to worry... when you come back to these strategies, you'll realize that nothing can keep you from doing what you're here to do. And so it is...
Copyright (c) 2008 Christine Kloser
Christine Kloser, author of The Freedom Formula, helps small businesses put soul in their business and money in the bank. If you want to enjoy a purpose-driven business and a soulful life, send for my free Conscious Business Success Kit, which includes my report, How to Avoid the 3 Massive Mistakes Made by Conscious Entrepreneurs and audio, 7 Strategies Entrepreneurial Authors Need to Know Before Writing a Word, at www.loveyourlife.com. Be sure to check out Christine's upcoming event The Freedom Formula Experience at www.freedomformulaexperience.com
