By Karen Post, on April 23, 2012

Confidence is a condition you manifest when you do things with competence. Self-esteem is a belief level you buy into about yourself, when you’re not doing anything at all. To enjoy a great life and a rich business or career, they are both needed to be mastered.

I consider myself an emotionally healthy person. I also know that I can always improve myself. I’m interested in learning things that can make me more effective with my business, my personal relationships and things that provide me with a more fulfilled life.

Back in January Alan Weiss, a coach and mentor of mine for the past decade, offered a one-day workshop on self-esteem. Alan is known as the million dollar consultant. He’s authored over 40 books, works all over the world and has guided me on many business projects. His Self-Esteem Workshop was $2,500 and limited to 6 people in every workshop, it was sold out until April.

There’s no debate here, lower than peak self-esteem is bad for business. If you are a start-up, it can make the difference in you raising needed funds. If you are a growing business it can cost you new clients. If you are employed it can stump your advancement. In all cases, low self-esteem enables price, valuation, compensation discounting and costly over-giving of goods and services too.

I attended Alan’s workshop this past week in Warwick, RI to help take my business to a higher level. It was an excellent investment in time and money.

Consistent with Alan’s tough-love style of coaching, the workshop wasn’t hoo-rah-rah at all. There was no flood of compliments or achievement praised. There were a lot of open and candid discussions about where human doubt and questionable self-worth comes from and how to dump the debris that brings down anyone’s esteem level.

Before the workshop, I knew the root of many of my green monster issues, but after spending the day with Alan and a great group of other highly-accomplished consultants, I better understood how to re-frame the past, dump the garage and power forward with a stronger direction and intent. I also learned a lot about how to sustain high self-worth in the most challenging of situations.

The three biggest take-a-ways for me were:
1) The perfect self-esteem cocktail is 1-part listen to others (that you request, unsolicited feedback is useless) and 3-parts listen to yourself.
This means accept feedback from qualified givers, not others who have some axe to grind or bigger issues than yourself.

2) Having an accurate feedback grading system is key.
Many of the most damaging and negative beliefs that imprint adult self-doubt comes from our parents because as children, they were our primary authoritative figures. This dominating influence can apply to professional settings too. This does not make either of them right. Use realistic measures to evaluate criticism.

3) Positive reinforcing environments and relationships are critical, not optional.
Birds of a feather flock together. A scrappy nest is not where you want to be. Hang with other highly-esteemed people and make sure your work space is empowering and inspirational. If it’s not, change it.

Alan Weiss is not for everyone. He’s not inexpensive, his content is not sappy and sugar-coated. If you are serious about taking your business to the next level, I’d look at some of his offerings. If nothing else, sign up for his weekly newsletter, it’s free and one of the best things I read and enjoy every week.

In closing, here’s another good article on the subject on of self-worth. It’s written by one of my favorite tweeters @yourpocketguru, follow him and me @brandingdiva on Twitter for some short gems of insight on a all kinds of topics.

By Karen Post, on March 29, 2011

I hate to break this news to you, but I’m breaking a promise. A few months back I told you I would blog every day in at least one of my three blogs, marketing/branding, entrepreneur or free biz finds. I’ve given it my best and believe I’ve pumped out some good and useful content since then. It’s not easy to write every day, but then again when you follow the tips I’ve learned to make blogging easier, it can be done with joy and without much pain.

Then came being an entrepreneur, running a small business and life, and my noble commitment became a big challenge for me. One that was causing a high degree of stress and maybe this over demand place I signed up for was even jeopardizing my health.

This past month has been monumental. I traveled to Saudi and made history, spent a week in New York City, got inspired, did my thing for the local economy, was featured in the New York Times and then went to Nigeria where I was a guest lecturer to an audience of 500 marketing and leadership professionals. All while blogging daily, servicing my consulting clients, managing my team of support personnel, writing a new book for McGraw-Hill called Brand Turnaround and playing 15 matches of tennis.

Then, just as I got unpacked, I signed up for a week-long comedy school that included a five minute bit, complete with memorized new and hopefully funny material. The class was in Tampa, produced by Jeff Lawrence of the Laughing Buddha Comedy School, who preforms around the country and is based in NYC.

I attended the first class on Tues., it was fun, saw many of buddies Frank Robertson, (a broadcast and media consultant) and Scott Farrell, (a proud stay at home dad) and met some great new friends too, Susan Guidi, another entrepreneur who runs Advanced Ultrasound Services in Tampa.  All in all, it was everything I wanted it to be. I’ve done comedy school before, so I knew the basics going in. And I knew there would be homework.

That night, I couldn’t sleep, I tossed and turned about all my commitments and now this one with a short deadline. Then I experienced a major anxiety attack, where you feel like you are going to have a heart attack and really die!!! YIKES!@#%!!!!

After about an hour of this agony, I got up, rubbed my big, happy, crystal Buddha’s belly on my dresser and had an important epiphany.

This is freakin, self-inflicted stress and pain and you, Karen Post, can stop it. I pulled out my writing pad and made a list of my: “had to do, must do” responsibilities. Comedy class was not on the list.

What was on my list: finish my book, take care of my clients that I am under contract with, and take care of me. The rest will have to wait and I know it will take care of itself.

My brain has a certain amount of brand-width, there are so many hours in day and I do not want to do anything that is not my best work. PERIOD.

The moral to this story and the 3 entrepreneurial essentials.
Know your band-width and respect it.
1) Don’t kill yourself, know your limits, and say no to things that are not in the top priority zone, especially if they can impact your true goals and dreams.

Exercise your rights as an entrepreneur.
2) As an entrepreneur, you get to control a lot, so don’t fail to use this privilege and power.

Change your mind  and alter your plan, if you need to. And don’t beat yourself up for it.
3) It’s OK to opt-out and change your mind and that’s what I’m doing. This is different than dropping someone in the grease with no back up options. This was not my case, no one was going to be disappointed if I didn’t take the comedy class at that time. I called my comedy instructor and told him my situation, my plate is over-floweth, I have to deliver my best stuff, my book, my clients, my team and right now just can’t do the class. He understood.

My game plan forward.
I’m taking an official break from daily blogging. For the next 4 weeks, my head is immersed in client service and completing my book and taking care of me (tennis, massages and a trip to Aruba to write and recharge).

You may see some random blog posts during my hiatus, but not making any commitments, as I’m islanding it in Aruba island for a week, I’m speaking at the Southeast Entrepreneurial Conference in Tampa on April 1 and I’m addressing Pizza Hut’s Annual Franchise Convention in San Antonio.

In my absence, my fabulous assistant, Lauren, will be spot writing on Internet marketing. Lauren has been with me for almost 7 months now and I believe she is the 8th wonder of the world. She’s an Internet and social media whiz and teaches me a lot everyday. I know she will bring some great articles and tips to the blog. Jocelyn one of the co-founders of Oddpodz may kick in a post too. She’s in Savannah, building her consulting, research and branding practice and helping other entrepreneurs succeed too.

So until next time . . .

By Karen Post, on March 22, 2011

I understand running a business is about managing productivity and being efficient, but there needs to be a balance somewhere so that in the process of being productive and profitable, you are not totally annoying the heck out of your callers.

Most phone trees should be burnt down. Having to listen to 40 department options that don’t even come close to solving your problem, or screaming your reply to a question four times and then some idiot computer says: “I’m sorry I did not understand your answer” and then you get discounted and get to start all over again, is really aggravating! This turns me and most others into a extremely emotionally disturbed consumers.

If I’m going to be subjected to this craziness, at least let me sound off to a real person. If you share this frustration, try these services.

Dialahuman.com or gethuman.com- they list companies and how to avoid the robot operators. Or another free service is Lucyphone.com, here you enter the company’s name or number, hit start. Lucyphone.com connects you to a company line where you pick an option to get a live rep. You then hang up and get a quick call back.

These services are not perfect, after all they are run by humans, but may be worth the call. Also, check your own phone system, is it easy and joyful or is it just as bad these I’ve described?

Don’t forget to check out: Have an AT&T iPhone? Don’t expect service in NYC. You’ll be disappointed.

By Karen Post, on March 12, 2011

State is a place you choose to be. This past week my state was questionable. I let a few goofy thoughts enter my brain and they had a direct impact on my output.

I chatted with my Tony Robins coach, Jayne, about this situation and she reminded me of the time I walked on fire and I didn’t burn one toe. I pulled that off because I was in a very intense state of mind – like a soldier on the front lines, an Olympic athlete in the game of their life. That night I was 500% focused on my mission. I could see the end of hot coals before I took one step forward. I was rock solid with confidence and felt there was nothing I could not do. I chanted. I talked to myself more than normal.

I can’t officially tell you this next part, because by doing so, it cracks the state I am in now until I finish my book. So I will only elude to this historic thing.  Ah, better idea, I will speak about a person I once knew.

There was a great writer who was awarded a plum assignment, because she knew her stuff inside and out. Instead of cranking out the goods, she surrendered her mental state to thoughts of question and doubt. She pondered way too long trying to write the perfect sentence, instead of pouring out what she knew, like her name. She wasted precious time and invited stress and all its kids to move in. Summary – big freaking waste of everything. Life, time and brain cells.

Today, a new writer showed up.
She was militant. She broke down big scary goals into small pieces of cupcake bites. She felt like Iron woman, Super diva and Queen of everything. She got back into exactly how she felt walking on that fire that night in Chicago and felt a powerful new strength. Within 60 minutes, she was in the flow zone and writing like a machine.

Every human has the ability to get into this state, if you want it bad enough. It is a mental drill. It is a dominating, dictator mindset, a take no prisoners attitude. Wussies not apply.

If distractions show up in your head, shrink them all down to small little crumbs, so you can’t even see them.
If voices start babbling, turn the volume button completely off, so you can’t hear them at all.
If you see something that looks bold, bright and scary, make it black and white, so it fades into nothing.

Getting into full State works with anything you want to accomplish, sales, writing, performing and sports.

Look out Saturday morning tennis opponent,  I am Venus William’s alter ego and I am here to win!

Also, be sure to check out: Trading your time for money is a mind-set you can no longer afford.

By Karen Post, on February 12, 2011

It sure can. Research shows that people who are happy are healthier and wealthier. Think about how much more energy you have when you feel great, you got a big new client, you are in love, you accomplished something difficult, it’s better than two shots of B12. And happy people experience less stress and attract other happy people which create a domino effect of momentum.

Identity small things that make you happy and do them  often. You will see a difference in your business, your support team and your life.

Here are a few things that make me happy.

• Going to an awesome movie.
• Hearing one of my favorite songs.
• Feeling the sun.
• Endorphins from exercise.
• Winning a tennis match.
• Smelling garlic cooking.
• Completing a tough project.
• Getting a massage.

The cool thing is, I can make all of these happen.

What are some small things that make you happy?
Now go make them happen.

Also, be sure to check out: Celebrate love being an entrepreneur everyday.

By Karen Post, on February 5, 2011

As entrepreneurs we have no shortage of challenges, setbacks and bumps in the road to our dream. That’s why it’s so important to celebrate your achievements even when they are small.

I had an amazing day.
It started with waking up, breathing and walking. I am so grateful. My brain and body parts all work.

I did a 30 minute show for FOX TV on the Super Bowl commercials. It was rocked. I have great chemistry with the anchor, did my homework, was smooth and had a blast. To learn about Super Bowl marketing, see my previous post.

My literary agent accepted the offer from McGraw-Hill, an international publisher to publish my next book, which will be called Brand Turnaround: How brands go bad and return to glory. It will be printed in hard back and potentially read by business people from around the globe. Look for it some time this next year.

I invited my men-tee, Jess English CEO of Simply-sitters from UT to shadow me at the TV station, it was cool for both of us.

I received a certified package from South Africa from the US Post Office. It was a copy of Entrepreneur Magazine, the South African edition with a big feature on me that ran in the US last year.

I closed three really cool speaking assignments with Pizza Hut, Saudi Airlines and Duchossois. That #1 Google listing is really paying off.

And I won my tennis match against a girl that usually beats me!!!

All my days are not this sweet. But, I always celebrate them like they were national holidays.

5 Ways to turn your achievements into a national holiday.
1) Treat yourself with something. I get massages. A nice bottle of wine, some chocolate or even a nice meal out can work too.
2) Extend your celebration to Saturday. The banks are closed, it could be for your national holiday.
3) Remind yourself how you did what you did, you’ll be impressed.
4) Blog about it, tell some friends, add it to your bio or the about section of your website.
5) Take the day off, give your self a cash bonus and enjoy the joy of being an entrepreneur!

For more on holidays, be sure to check out: 3 gifts that should be on everyone’s holiday wish list.

By Karen Post, on January 30, 2011

Running shoe is by Newton.

I’m still in Houston and today is the Chevron Marathon. Thousands of ambitious runners are headed for the finish line as they run, walk or crawl 26 long miles. Achieving this goal after months of training and preparation is huge.

The day will be painful, challenging, rewarding, joyous and emotional for most. Sounds like a day at the office when you are entrepreneur. I’ve recapped 26 steps that these runners have taken and you can apply to reach your goals.

1.) Start. Set your goals.

2.) Create a simple, doable plan – how will you get to your goal?

3.) Develop a working schedule that covers: research, training, execution and anything else that needs to be done.

4.) List out all your smaller milestones that are needed to meet your big goal. Make sure you set accountable measures and deadlines.

5.) Design a wellness plan that includes diet, exercise, supplements and stretching rituals.

6.) Re-think your sleeping zone, your bed, the noise and the lighting so you can sleep for 7-8 hours every night.

7.) Relearn the importance and practice of breathing often and in a full cycles.

8.) Research and buy the best equipment you need to achieve the ultimate performance.

9.) Decide who your positive support network will be including business associates, friends and vendors.

10.) Kindly lose any negative, non-achieving friends, business associates and vendors from your world.

11.) Exercise your mind by using both sides daily. From crossword puzzles to something creative like doodling.

12.) Hydrate daily with water, not wine. Wine can be consumed in moderation, but water needs to be drank at least 6 times a day.

13.) Establish daily learning rituals from reading the WJS, to listening to podcasts and watching webinars and practice what you’ve learned.

14.) Work on improving mental toughness every hour. Shake off mistakes and disappointments. Believe in the power of your mind.

15.) Push yourself beyond what you think you can do.

16.) Identify a handful of people that inspire you, follow them and learn from them. Whether you know them or not.

17.) Carefully assess your competition, their strengths, and weaknesses.

18.) Seek out legal advantages that will accelerate your journey to the finish line.

19.) Keep your eyes and ears wide open for potholes and flying objects.

20.) Practice, train and be disciplined everyday.

21.) Recover, refresh and revitalize often.

22.) Show gratitude and appreciation to people you know and people you don’t know.

23.) Visit, read and recite your goals every day.

24.) Affirm in writing what you believe and can achieve. This is your story that you own, read it out loud everyday.

25.)  Stay laser focused on your goals and dreams.

26.) Don’t waste emotions on feeling guilt, worrying, dwelling on the past or things you can’t control.

Bonus step

27.) Be proud everyday of every little step you’ve taken.

For more on entrepreneur list-styles, view:
Celebrate loving being an entrepreneur everyday.
Can being happier change your entrepreneur results?

By Karen Post, on January 18, 2011

There are no coincidences or any layer luck with people who achieve a lot.

They take chances. They make choices. They are intentional.
These moves create the path to scoring what they want, their goals.

Practice these everyday and you will see a major shift in your results.

Goal-getters
Go get it! and make wise choices.

1) They have an absolute, clear plan filled with accountable goals.
It’s not vague pipe dreams, like I want to be rich and famous, but a very specific set of items they can see. For example, I will earn $300,000 in 12 months, write a best selling book published by a big house publisher and work 4 days a week. What exactly do you want?

2) They don’t surround themselves with people who have lower standards than they do.
Their buddies are hitting home runs too. Sure they help a few less fortunate folks with mentoring etc., but they do not waste time with time suckers, whiners and ‘I’m a victim’, don’t take responsibility, loser-types. You are the company you keep. Yes, this can be uncomfortable.

3) They focus on roaring, powerful rivers and not almost-empty puddles.
They are highly productive. They think about what they say yes to and what to pass on, because they know what will get them closer to their goals and what will be a costly detour. Are you spending time tooling on three blogs that no one reads, and hanging with people who can’t really influence massive pools of others or help you connect to someone extremely connected. Or could you be getting over your fear and pitching a major TV station on doing a story on your company that reaches millions.

4) Guilt is not an emotion they know.
Guilt is a useless, momentum busting waste. Most of us picked up this awful state of mind as a child. But successful people have learned to change the story. You are not responsible for saving the world. You do not need to help every living soul and you are worthy of happiness and success.

For more on reaching your goals, check out: 26 steps to reach any goal in your entrepreneurial marathon.

By Karen Post, on December 6, 2010

Tiger Woods knows what this feels like. Sunday he was so close to turning the tide and winning again. He and fellow golfer Graeme McDowell were tied, in the hunt and Tiger failed again. He came up short. It’ been 378 days since Tiger experienced a major golf victory. That’s a long, frustrating dry spell.

The Carolina Panthers football team haven’t seen but one W since the 2010 season started and they have a whole team to help avoid the dreaded defeat zone. The list of athletes and entrepreneurs who experience being a loser every Monday is nothing new. Statistics indicate for every winner there are multiples of many losers. Being a Monday morning loser does not mean you are lazy, lacking talent, or don’t deserve to win, it does mean that you have work to do.

Whether you are an athlete or an entrepreneur, here are seven steps to changing the loosing story.

1) Shake it off, yesterday is history.
2) Review game film, the events, the processes in the activity and talk to others who witnessed it.
3) Re visit the equipment used, the uniform worm, and all the components that were part of the failing short.
4) Make adjustments, this could mean with the team, the routine behind the preparation, adding something, lessening something. Changing something.
5) Believe that you are a winner. Affirm there is no reason why you can’t be the victor.
6) Focus, focus. focus.
7) Don’t get discouraged. And don’t give up. If you do, you are are just guaranteeing your spot as a loser.

Tiger will taste victory again and so will the Carolina Panthers. And if you’ve felt defeat recently you will too.  Athletes are in business, entrepreneurs are athletes.

Stay competitive. Preparation is vital. See and feel the result, it’s up to you.

Don’t forget to check out: Forgive me, I’m using an excuse card tonight.

By Karen Post, on November 22, 2010

2010 is soon to be done, it’s time to plan 2011. Develop your strategies wisely being honest to yourself and to your customers, partners and projects. You have a full month left to develop this before a new year starts all over! Our team of bloggers have been focusing on this for the past few days. Get inspired!

1 – In Bahamas, beach cats and branding, Karen Post tells us what it’s like to be the Branding Diva and getting to go talk to great people, in great locations, about great subjects. Karen was in the Bahamas to speak about branding to destination companies and event planners. She shares her PowerPoint deck from the program, her content highlights and an original song parody she wrote to a Bob Marley tune which she renamed: Get up! Brand-Up! Listen to it, you’ll want to dance all day! Read Karen’s great insights here.

2 – About two weeks ago, Jocelyn Ring gave us takeaways on a must-read book: Cruch it! by Gary Vaynerchuck. It’s an amazing read from zero to $60 million in sales!

3 – In Outdoor advertising – effective tool? Dangerous Distraction, Joe Melle answers a question you might have asked yourself: would a billboard advertising campaign be good for your business? From the history of billboard advertising, to its future with the digital form, Joe does not forget anything about this kind of media. Will it be an objective for your 2011 marketing strategies? See Joe’s answer here.

4 – In If I would have known this sooner, things might be very different, Karen Post sums up 4 guidelines to follow to make your life rock. Inspiring, as always. Get tuned up with these wise words from Karen, read them here.

5 – In Got flaws? How flaunting them can help your credibility, Karen tells us about one of her experiences where she actually talked about her imperfections. In this world in which everybody tries to sell themselves as a perfect person, being able to recognize that things are not always that good makes you score honesty points! Learn how to use it well reading Karen’s post here.

6 – In Sales person or a trusted advisor. Who are you?, Clint Babcock, our professional sales manager trainer, gives a powerful piece of advice: act like you are a trusted friend of your prospect who does not need the sale. Results are warranted! Check out Clint’s words here.

7 – Do you have two time-consuming projects that you love but still can’t figure out which one to dedicate more time to? In Torn between two lovers, no different than business priorities, Karen explains to us how to make priorities showing us the way she allocates her time to both her consulting business and Oddpodz. Learn how Karen does it here, then do it yourself.

8 – In Stale website just as bad as stale bread- YUCK, Karen mentions a very important rule to keep your visitors entertained: stay active and bring fresh content. Also, she gives us two great sources: Tim Ash’s Marketing Profs and Clay Collins Pre-launch Formula mentor program. For having personally checked out the second one, it is really worth the visit! See Karen’s thoughts concerning these two programs here.

9 – In 12 Questions to ask yourself while planning your 2011 marketing strategies, Jocelyn Ring overlooks the points that you need to focus on to prepare your 2011 (yes, already!) marketing strategies. Among all of the thoughts she develops, there’s one that I strongly believe nobody in business should ever forget: Respect your customers! Without them you would not be here. You might like another point better, so be sure to make the best out of Jocelyn’s tips here.

10 – Twitter in the am, twitter in the pm. I know, we can’t live without it anymore! Yet, like every thing we deal with on a daily basis, we think we know it well but it’s not for certain! In 5 Free twitter tips to follow, to gain followers, Lauren Angrick lists up a handful of advice which will give to your twitter experience a shot of B12. Check Lauren’s tips here.

11 – Do you know what the 106 impossible things before breakfast are? Karen Post does after reading the book by Dr. Robert Quine and John Nolan. It’s about ways to discover a lot of difficult tasks, if you start early enough. Karen Post shares tips and solutions on how to solve what you think may be impossible. Check out Karen’s post here.

12 -In Can vision kill your game?, Karen Post discusses her struggle on the tennis court and how you can relate it to business challenge and competitors. This very inspiring read will make you think twice about giving up the task at hand. You can read this post here.

That being said, what are your plans for 2011? Make it the best year ever!