Real You: 8 Tips to Turn your Passion into Profit

Writing is one of my passions. Since you’re already familiar with Real You Incorporated, I’m excited to get another book into your hands. Be the first to get my new eBook, Turn your Passion into Profit: How to Create the Business of Your Dreams! It’s a 40-page, step-by-step guide to creating the business and lifestyle you’ve always wanted. It’s the perfect complement to Real You Incorporated—and it’s only $9.95!  

Here are 8 tips from the eBook to get you in motion.

1. Know your Vision. Being able to envision your business service or product, and how it is differentiated in your chosen industry, is crucial to your long-term success.
2. Be Ready to Work—and Get Help. Are you willing to do a little bit of everything, yet ask for help when you need it? Don’t go it alone. You must have a strong enough personality to know where you excel and where you need help.
3. Define your Brand. Try to define yourself in one word. This is the basis of your personal brand. Need help? Ask your friends, relatives, book club members, co-workers—anyone who knows the real you.
4. Create a Brand Board Today. Creating your own brand board is a great YOU brainstorm session. Transform a poster board into a montage of pictures with things you love to do, places that make you happy, colors that brighten your day and aspirations—images that exemplify your personal brand.
5. Name your Company. Naming your company matters. It’s part of your real brand; it’s your essence. Start by writing your company’s story—even if you don’t have one yet.
6. Create an Online Presence. This is crucial. At the very least, you’ll want to create a website where people can find your contact information. Then take it to the next level by using social media, a blog and e-newsletter to stay in touch with your customers.
7. Build Trust & Recognition through Social Media. Social media sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, allow businesses to build great relationships with present and future customers. A little bit of human interaction can go a long way.
8. Stay Focused. As your business gets off the ground, it’s important to stay focused and keep working. Most businesses don’t take off overnight. Even if you don’t see immediate results, continue working to add value for your clients.

Are you ready to learn more great tips? Click here to purchase Turn your Passion into Profit: How to Create the Business of Your Dreams.

The eBook is ready for immediate download. You can start using these tips immediately!

Real You: Take the Leap

"If you're never scared or embarrassed or hurt, it means you never take any chances."-Julia Sorel (Rosalyn Drexler), See How She Runs, 1978

You know the feeling. For me, it's sweaty palms. For you it may be a racing heart, or butterflies in the stomach—all those tell-tale signs that you're uncomfortable. Your body is triggering the flight sensors, and you're going to go along with it.

But then you take a deep breath, maybe have a little cry or call a friend, and realize this leap out of your comfort zone is what will propel you forward, get you to the next big thing. You realize that without the uneasy feeling of the unknown, it's easy to be stuck in the familiar and known. To grow a business, and for that matter, to grow a life, you need to keep pushing. To keep growing and moving forward. To face your fears and take that leap is uncomfortable—whether it's cold calling a prospect, public speaking, driving in a big city, moving to a new neighborhood, starting a business or being president of your civic association.

Remember, though, the more long-term discomfort in life comes from the regrets you have of challenges not taken, of opportunities missed.

So what's holding you back? Why are you stuck in the comfort zone? What would happen in your life if you took that chance? And what, if anything, will happen if you don't? Ten years from now, will you be glad you stayed in the zone, or sad you didn't take the leap when you could?

Remember: "To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself." -Soren Kierkegaard

Entrepreneurship: The Road to Independence

What is independence? To me, it's entrepreneurship. It's the ability to do what I love, when I want, with whom I want. It's the new American dream. Women everywhere are making it happen, and you can, too! Here are my top five reasons you should take the leap.

1. Independence. I love this quote from an anonymous high school student: "Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won't, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can't." I couldn't have said it better.

2. Creative Reign. This is your chance to express your brand. To connect. To reach out. To give your customers just what they need, wrapped in a package that's uniquely you.

3. Passion. Create your own fireworks by doing what you love. Pursing your passions makes your heart happy. I promise!

4. Satisfaction. Wake up every day knowing you've built something special. Something that has you stamped all over it. Something you're proud of. Something you'll leave behind.

5. Mentoring/Giving back. Each day is an opportunity to learn and to mentor. You have the freedom to put your name behind your charitable passion and support your community. Give back to those who have helped you, and shepherd those who will be the future.

So how do you get started? Create that brand board I'm always talking about. Express your passions, your ambitions, the colors that draw you in and the words that catch your eye. Look at it everyday and ask yourself, “What will I do for my brand and future business today? Who has the knowledge and experience to help me get there?”

Start on your path to personal freedom by putting your passion into action!