Setting the Sails for Failure or lack thereof

I was recently having dinner with some friends and the word failure popped up.  I have to admit, I have a hard time with that word and how it is used freely by people.  It is one of those words that I do not see in my vocabulary, much like the phrase "I can't".  While on the topic, I started to ponder what it is about the word failure that I had such a hard time with.  What does that word even mean and how can failure be avoided?

So to begin my quest on understanding failure I of course looked up the definition.  Failure: Lack of success.  OK, I am sure you are thinking, yeah I already knew that.  The opposite of success is failure right?  But let's think about that for a moment, shall we? 

The definition of success is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.  So by looking at the term success we can see the formula for avoiding failure.  Living with purpose, and more importantly in that definition is the understanding that you must set aim onto something.  In order not to fail you have to charter a course, to set sail and reach for a goal, using "purpose" as the wind in your sails.

So what is purpose?  Purpose is defined as the reason for which something is done or for which something exists.  Now I am not going to tell you how to find your purpose, but purpose can be found in relationships, your career, business endeavors, and even physical fitness goals.  A relationship with the purpose of creating a family and spending your last days together, a purpose of spending a few years at a company and moving on, or to reach your ideal weight.  Any goal that you set - has a purpose.

So how does that help me not to fail?  The secret is understanding that, much like a ship, you have to be prepared to change course and change your target.  In science the term failure is used quite frequently to describe the results of an experiment.  The test was either a success or a failure, but why is that?  With science the whole purpose of the experiment is not to change the testing mid way - with one target.  But what if you continually adjusted your target?  Looking at your progress and adjusting course by changing the experiment or your aim, essentially CHANGING to keep on course. 

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the different results.  If that is true, than how can you expect to succeed if you never change course? 

So this means if your purpose is the wind in your sails than your purpose will blow you to your goals - but you have to be open to rough waters and the possibility of charting another course around the globe to get to the same island of success. 

Failure does not have to be the result if you realize that the secret is in you and your ability to CHANGE.  The ability to change habits to reach your purpose.  You do not need the word failure in your personal dictionary if you are constantly defining your success and let your purpose guide you.

Thanks for reading. Set sail!


- Jessica Donnelly

Making Your Brand: When the Product is You

BRANDING - Ah, you hear that word all over the place.  With celeberties starting clothing lines, fragrances, and cosmetics - it is no wonder that word is everywhere. The difference between an artist and the rest of the population is that an artist has to work on their personal brand for their entire life. Their image, name, and brand is what they use to try to make a lucrative career out of what some would only consider a hobby. Personal branding however isn't only for artists and celebrities - you can have a personal brand too.

There are actually some benefits having a personal brand - after all you are more than a social security number. Having a good sense of who you are, what you like, and keeping track of your accomplishments are just one part of personal branding. The rest is believing in yourself and having the 4 things I list below.

The most important steps to having a personal brand are:

1. Examples of your work. If you do not have a portfolio - get one. No matter if you are showing a client, an employer or your friends - you need proof of what your capable of. Sure you might be a great flash designer and worked for a few large companies, but your style, aesthetic taste, flavor, is completely different from someone else - use it. What ever it is that you put into your work make sure it shows and trust your own judgement and options. No one is like you, thinks like you, or has the ability to be you - you are your brand.

2. A website. Almost everyone has a website, from hairdressers to energy consultants. No matter where you are in your career path or what company you are working for - don't be a robot! You are more than just an employee working for a large or small corporation, you are a brand. Even if it is just a website with your resume, interests, and a bio, it shows employers that you consider yourself a personal brand or an asset.

3. Create a Logo. OK, your wondering why a accountant needs a logo - it is simple: you are your own brand! Are you catching on yet? Even if the logo is just your name at the top of your website to look like a brand - how amazing is that! It shows you believe in yourself and what you can offer. Now I am not saying if you are in IT to go out and have business cards made with your logo on them, but you could use this logo for your blog or other activities you do to get involved in the community. Which brings be to the next item on the list.

4. Get involved. There are tons and tons of groups and affiliations that you can be a part of. This is so that although you think your amazing and have a great personal brand - your not completely narcissistic and you do care about other things besides yourself. This can be related to your career or not, more importantly it shows you make time for personal growth and others - and if nothing else you can function and work together in a group.

Creating your personal brand will set you apart from the 70% of the population that are just worker ants and don't want anything more than a 401k and a retirement plan. I guarantee that if nothing else, it will just make you feel good about yourself and your accomplishments. If you really take the time to look at what you want your brand to be - who knows you might finally change careers and do what you love!

Thanks for reading and I hope you start thinking of your personal brand!

- Jessica Donnelly

Success - Have you caught the disease?

Success is a funny thing. Ask any two people what what they want to do to be successful and it will be different. However for most, it all relates back to money. Success is so much more than your w-2, it is accomplishing your goals and dreams. No matter if being successful to you is being a great Mom or curing cancer- you have to work at it. It starts with creating goals and in the end achieving them. Ask the question.. how can I be successful at ________, what does that term mean to me?

For me, success is something I have dreamt of since I was a little girl. Flipping through the pages of a womans work wear catalog and looking at all the suits, I knew I wanted to have a career and no matter what it was I decided to do as a career - I wanted to be successful at it. This meant I needed to find out what the term meant to me. Over the years my definition has changed slightly and my goals and dreams have evolved with it. I started my first bucket list when I was 18, and happily have have crossed off a number of things on my list. Sure some of them seem silly to me now - but it is important to me that the girl who once dreamed of success is happy. As adults we too often sacrifice success for "excuses".

When some are faced with the task of creating personal goals, they simply can not do it. Why is that? Because the idea frightens them that they could potentially fail. There are more people in the world scared of failure than there are people willing to follow their dreams. If your one of those people - surround yourself with people who will push you and encourage you. Otherwise your fear will paralyze you and I am sad to say it but - chances are when your 60 you will make excuses why you were never successful. At the end of the day they are simply that "excuses".

The great part about success it that it can be achieved at any point in your life - success doesn't discourage. So, there is no excuse for not starting your on your plan today! Even if your plan takes years to finally accomplish, it should be what you wake up thinning about and what you think about before bed. After all, no one else is going to make you successful - so it is up to you to want it.

My Dad always told me growing up that unless you want something - you will never have it. It is as simple as that. Sure you think about what your life could be like - but do you WANT it. You have to want it - and when you want it bad enough - you will get it. So if you don't want success you will never make it happen. The trick is turning your want into a forward momentum to actually achieving something (this is where most people get stuck).

Below are some tips for taking your want to actually achieving SUCCESS!

1. Believe in yourself - your dream, your abilities, and your success. If you believe in it - it can happen.

2. Be passionate - if your passion is involved you are all in and there is no turning back.

3. Live on the edge - do not get comfortable. If you hit a wall think of a new plan to get around it - there is always another way to reach the same goal.

4. Focus - make it a priority everyday. Make time for it! Were all busy - successful people just make the time for it, even when they are too tired.

5. Trust your gut - don't listen to what everyone else thinks you should do, if you think their wrong - it is OK to follow your heart.

6. Make failure not an option - Never give up, if you want it see yourself with it and you will eventually have it. It is your WANT that will push you to go forward!

If success is what you want - then my friend - there is no reason why it can not be yours. There is a reason why they call it a disease because when you really want it - it will consume you. Have you caught the disease? If not you might want to catch it - before your immune.

Thanks for reading I hope you catch the success disease - soon!

- Jessica Donnelly

Take your Business Mobile

What is stopping you from taking your business mobile?  This is a great question that many businesses are not taking advantage of.  From mobile services like Botox injections, computer repair, laundry services, to public notaries, a mobile business can expand your market, depending on how far you are willing to travel, which have two major benefits.

The first major benefit of taking your company mobile is not only the ability to have flexible hours, but you can eliminate all of the overhead from having an office.  The second being you can change regions or your coverage area easily.

Setting up your service area and prices can be done a number of ways, like flat fee or sliding scale based on driving time or distance.  Consider the costs of your commute time, gas, insurance, and transportation ware and tare. The iPhone has an application that will count your mileage, such as Milebug, to make billing clients and tax time easier.

How can I collect payment if I am Mobile?
The answer is you cell phone. The iPhone along, with other mobile devices, now have applications like Merchant Warehouse that can run credit card transactions while you are at client sites.

Think you need an office for meetings with clients?
New mobile devices, such as the new iPhone 4, have video capabilities using Skype and even have applications for using WebEx for conference calls on-the-go.

Need access to your computer files?
Using Sugarsync allows you to sync to any of your computers at anytime and run back ups, for quick access to files on the go.

Need to print documents?
You can easily set up your iPhone to send documents to any printer at home or at a printing center.

So what is stopping you from taking your business mobile? You might find that you can cut that umbilical cord to your desk after all.

Google Maps = Free Internet Marketing

Who says nothing is for free?  As a small business owner, finding clever solutions and resources to cut costs and increase your customer base is absolutely necessary in a recovering economy. Google is making free Internet marketing possible, and it is easy too.  Small businesses can benefit in a number of ways by adding a listing to Google Maps. Below are a few reasons why you should.

Google will add your listing for searches for free.
- Yes, you will be added for free.  This means even if you do not have a website, your customers can find you easier than flipping through the phone book.

Creating a listing will give you the ability to add your company's general contact information, specify hours of operation, accepted forms of payment, and special offers or coupons.  You can also post photos and videos.
- Creating online coupons for special offers and discounts will also save you big bucks by eliminating solicitations by mail or with newspapers.

Customers can write reviews for your business.
- Customers want to hear the good and the bad, and a good review is worth its weight in gold.

Adding your listing will make you visible to your local customers who use Google to find local business and directions.
- With a few clicks customers using mobile devices can easily find you for on-the-go searches of local listings and driving directions.

Google has free tools to monitor how many people go to your website and the search words used to find your business.
- The tools let you track how many customers link to your website after they have found you.

To prevent multiple listings, make sure you do a search to check if your company is already listed.  If your company is already listed, you can edit the listing by claiming your business.

If you do not have a listing, your customers may be walking right through your competitors doors instead. Add your listing and take advantage of free internet marketing today!

Google's Local Business Center is available to business owners with locations in Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Japan, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, the UK, and the U. S.

Ideas for Stay-at-Home Moms and the I-Like-to-Work-From-Home Types

In this economy, it takes a clever mind and some calculated risks to try to earn some extra cash for your household. Weather you are a stay at home mom or looking to earn some extra money on the side, there are some clever ways to try to generate income with - little risk - so to speak.

Take a look at some ideas from ABC news.

Create Your Own Product Line
Ever dream of seeing your slogans and artwork on T-shirts, mugs or hats? You can turn that dream into reality -- and into cash -- without investing even a penny in expensive start-up costs like equipment and stock. Submit your original ideas and art online to Web sites like zazzle.com, cafepress.com and others, and you'll receive commission on all sales generated with your designs.

Transcribe Audio to Text
Speeches, lectures, television and radio programs and interviews must be converted to text that's delivered in a timely and accurate way. If you possess exceptional English language and grammar skills and you're an experienced typist with a speed of at least 75 words per minute, you could transcribe audio to text. Some businesses may require you to take a transcription test before offering you opportunities to work. Most assignments are handled on a freelance basis. Sites to explore include ProductionTranscripts.com, TigerFish.com and AliceDarling.com. Find others by searching online.

Driving for Dollars
I'm not talking about becoming a taxi driver or chauffeur -- you can make money by driving your normal route while allowing your car to feature advertisements. Epecially created decals are provided to drivers to affix to the back window. Depending on your location and the amount of driving you do -- usually a minimum of 1,000 miles a month is required -- you can earn $50 to $150 a month by "renting out" this space on your car. You can make even more money -- up to $500 a month -- by allowing your car to be fully wrapped with an advertiser's images and message. Search online using keywords "car wrap advertising" to locate opportunities nationwide. Don't be shy about calling around to compare rates and advertising opportunities to find the best fit for you. Never settle on the first company you find since there could be a more lucrative option available to you.

Get Paid to Write or Edit
A handful of Web sites pay for articles, but unless they're commissioning your original work, you won't make big bucks. Associatedcontent.com pays around $10 per approved/published piece. Helium.com is another option that rewards prolific writers, and both sites are a good way to build an online portfolio of published work while making some money at the same time. Myessays.com allows essay writers to sell their original work starting at $10 for a short paper, and up to more than $100 for comprehensive work. Writerfind.com lists a range of freelance opportunities for experienced writers to pursue on their own.

Another option is freelance writing for magazines, trade publications, newsletters or local newspapers. If you've developed a specialty or have a particular interest in a single topic -- film, fashion, food, travel -- many Web sites and small publications work only with freelancers and regularly look for writers to do reviews on products or new releases, ranging in topic from electronics to beauty. Contact the editors of the publications you'd like to work for. (Their names and contact information can typically be found on the masthead or Web site.) Ask for their writers guidelines and be ready to submit samples of your work. We hire freelance writers for our company's magazine, which is published three times a year. All of them have come to us unsolicited with their writing samples and story suggestions. Compensation varies based on your experience. Novices might have to accept free products or press passes for their work. Experienced writers can expect to make anywhere from fifty cents to $2 per word. For multiple articles, you might settle on a flat rate. Apply for freelance work on sites such as Cyberedit.com, which hires professional writers for a range of projects including resume writing and document proofing. Editfast.com also hires experienced editors, writers and proofreaders.

Notes from Jessica - Magazines are a great option to try for some freelance work. Magazines such as Tangozapa.com offer to pay writers and photographers for their submissions. This is a great opportunity to get your work published with little experiance working for a publishing company.

Take a risk on yourself - you may be worth it!