Street Smarts Marketing & Promotions

70% of high achievers have had The Imposter Syndrome

In the early 90’s I worked for a very large corporation with offices around the globe. I really enjoyed my job in the marketing department. I was able to interact with co-workers and clients, vendors and potential vendors. All was good in my world. That is until I decided to let someone else define my ideal for success.

My current boss went to great pains to convince me I needed to learn programming if I wanted to succeed. Although I didn’t feel a calling for this my boss encouraged me to register for night classes. Against my better judgment I did.

It didn’t take but a few minutes into the first class for me to know this was not for me. Despite the nagging feeling in my gut I talked myself into staying.

I struggled through the course cringing at the thought of doing this for the rest of my life.

After a few more months of rolling up my sleeves, buckling down and being miserable I decided to admit the truth. This was not what my definition of success was.

Not that programming is a bad thing. There are plenty of people who love it and are great at what they do. I wasn’t one of them.

Needless to say my boss was disappointed. I’m convinced this put a wedge between us.
If I would have had the courage to say no from the beginning things would likely have turned out different.

How often do we find ourselves doing something because someone else thinks we should or afraid to hurt their feelings at the expense of chipping away at our truth?

Staying in our truth is a major aspect of success. Yet, something very strange happens to many people as they achieve various levels of success. Countless numbers of people experience what is called The Imposter Syndrome.

First identified in 1978 by Georgia State University psychology professor Pauline Rose Clance and psychologist Suzanne Imes, impostors are high achievers who don’t believe in their accomplishments, are convinced they’re scamming everyone about their skills and will eventually be uncovered

“The impostor syndrome is surprisingly common,” Dr. Young, a Massachusetts-based educator and speaker on the subject, says. “Early studies suggest that up to 70 per cent of all people have experienced these feelings at one time or another, especially when starting a new job or pioneering in a field.”

The greatest we can offer is to walk in our truth and be our authentic self in all we do.

(from Module 5 of Spirit in Your Business)

Join us at 3PM Eastern on Tuesday, September 22nd, for a FREE live teleseminar to kick off the Spirit in Your Business course, where the six entrepreneurs will share secrets to getting the maximum benefit from the course. The five modules of the course will become available to you immediately after the live call.

This unique course is absolutely FREE. Registration is require. http://www.spiritinyourbusiness.com/

How would you answer these 5 questions to bring Spirit in Your Business?

Over the last few weeks I have had a very unique opportunity to literally be still enough to evaluate various areas of my life. As you may recall, I had a minor accident that left me with a broken ankle.

Little did I realize the amount of adjusting it would take to do even the littlest things like prepare a simplest meal.

Additionally, I have not been able to work from my home based office, but rather from my living room couch and on a few occasions from bed. Doctors orders have been to be extremely still until the pain subsided.

This has forced me to shift my focus regardless of whether I wanted to or not. It’s amazing how many distractions there are in our day. When we are literally forced to “sit still” we see things from a completely different perspective. In many ways we have no choice but to take stock of various areas of our life.

One area I have been looking deeply at is my business. The following five questions came up:

• Am I congruent with my deepest convictions?
• Am I doing what I love?
• Does my business have deep meaning to me?
• Am I serving my customers to support their highest good?
• Am I set up for ongoing prof

itability while maintaining a high level of integrity?

All paths lead to success ... if we want them to!

I had a most amazing weekend. Between my marathon training, meeting with friends to catch up and share good times, planning a trip to Africa sometime over the next 6 months to a year, attending a wonderful Sunday service at the spiriatual center I attend, meeting with two women who run the horse rescue our little Dustin’s mother was rescued by (well, at 2 months little Dustin is not so little anymore) and enjoying time in my garden it was as close to a perfect weekend as I could have asked.

It started with a great training on Saturday. At 6 a.m. I met Jackie (my mentor) at Spencer’s Butte for our 15 mile speed/power walk. Wow! What an exhilarating feeling it was to complete the 15 miles.

Not only did we accomplish a great energy balancer, we had a wonderful conversation about the fundraising aspect of the marathon. I have raised nearly 80% of my targeted goal. I can’t thank those who contributed enough. Without you, I could not have done this. In order top continue to raise funds I have a great opportunity for you to access the MP3 and transcripts from a call I did with Amy Scott Grant called The Shortest Path to Abundance.

To access your copy of both go to http://www.streetsmartsmarketing.com/AmyKathleenTNT.htm

Back to Saturday. Later that day I went to an event at a local park. I connected with many friends I haven’t talked to in some time. When I shared what I had done earlier in the day, many asked if I was exhausted. “Not really,” was my response. Why? I learned a long time ago if I am going to do something, do it right.

From the very beginning of my training back in May, I was taught specific things I can do to minimize pain, injury and over training.

When I do a long session my coach recommends I take a very cold bath (as cold as I can stand it). I was also told eat something really healthy within 45 minutes of the training. This is in addition to the fueling I am doing while training. Every 45 – 60 minutes I consume glucose and carbs. This prevents me from “hitting the wall” and having my energy shut down.

The most amazing part is by doing what I am trained to do I have not had any injuries, my energy replenishes quickly and I feel great.

The more I train the more I relate the experience to business. Lots of people go into business and flounder. Why? Because they try to figure it all out by themselves or they get advice from the wrong people.

I would no more take marathon advice from someone who is a couch potatoe than I would take business advice from someone who has not “earned the right.” Over the years I have had some amazing business mentors. Mentors who had “been there, done that.”

Participating in a marathon is like growing a business

The last 2 ½ months have been incredible. In May of this year I committed to participate in the Portland Marathon as a power walker. I also committed to raising funds for the Lymphoma & Leukemia Society through a group call Team in Training (TNT). TNT is a program that trains people on the proper way to prepare for a marathon including nutrition, injury prevention, clothing and physical conditioning.

Both my training and fundraising are going amazingly well. Regarding the fundraising, I committed to raise $1,800 and am over 75% of the way there with 2 months to go before the big race. It sure feels great to have all the amazing support from friends, colleagues, clients and family in my fund raising efforts.

A special thanks to my two special friends and colleagues, Lorraine Cohen and Denise Wakeman who helped me raise several hundred dollars with one teleseminar. You can still enjoy the teleseminar on Transformation Goals that we hosted by visiting http://www.streetsmartsmarketing.com/Fundraiser.htm

Without the continued support from everyone I couldn’t do this. I am still welcoming donations for my efforts. The money goes to research and patient services for people with blood cancers.

The other part of the process has been most amazing. This morning I went to my doctor for my yearly exam. Admittedly, for a few years I wasn’t real excited to visit my doc because I knew what she would tell me.

Lots of great activities for your business enjoyment

What a wonderful holiday weekend it was. Lots of great activity, time with family and appreciation for freedoms.

On Saturday I was in the Eugene Butte to Butte 10k marathon. Had a great time and felt a personal victory for having committed and completed the marathon.

Read more about the big marathon I am going to be participating in October 4, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. http://pages.teamintraining.org/or/portland09/kgagem

Gold Medal Teleseminar Marketing Program begins this Wednesday.

Only 4 spots left!

Learn how to develop, marketing and generate great revenues from teleseminars. Reach a global market. Get your message out to the right market fast, easy and cost effectively.

http://www.kathleengage.com/goldteleseminar.htm

Here’s what one Street Smarts graduate had to say…

“I’ve attended dozens of teleseminars and webinars on all aspects of Internet marketing and I can say without reservation that Kathleen Gage’s session on creating teleseminars was the most engaging and the most valuable of any of them.

With other teleseminars, I’ve learned to glean little nuggets of helpful information from thinly disguised attempts to sell high-priced product. By contrast, Kathleen offers a wealth of information that is practical and that I can recognize as offering immediate value to my business.

Kathleen has a low-key, clear and engaging style. She presents her information in an organized fashion that is easy to follow.”
Kathleen Barnes
http://www.kathleenbarnes.com

Awards are great marketing strategies

Some of the most obvious forms of marketing online are with ads, articles, through social marketing and your blog. An extremely overlooked strategy is to announce to your market when you receive an award or recognition. Not only are you getting your name out to market, you are also enhancing your credibility and expert status.

The more you are perceived as an expert who has a high level of credibility the more you stand out from the competition.

So, let's assume you just received a highly coveted award. Don't just let you immediate family and circle of friends know about it. Do all you can to get the word out.

Here are a few of the steps you can take.

Define your goals

The following is an excerpt from Winning In Life by Michelle Prince.

Most people don’t have purpose, direction or even motivation to move toward what they want, because they haven’t defined what “that” is. They don’t have goals.

How many times have you heard someone say, “I don’t know,” when asked, “What do you want to do in life?” or, “Where do you see yourself five years from now?”

Ask that same question to preschoolers and they’ll rattle off a whole list of things they want to be or do when they grow up. They know exactly what they want. No one has shattered their dreams or stomped on their hopes.

“Wise adults” will shake their heads and smile knowingly. “Wait until you grow up and meet the real world,” they’re thinking. It’s sad but true that many adults give up on their dreams because they let them get crushed by the realities of bills, mortgages, raising a family, and all the other pressures of being an adult.

Do Our Dreams Ever Really Go Away?

If you reach into your deepest memory pockets, I bet you’ll still find those same dreams tucked away, just waiting for you to pluck them out and dust them off.

Start dreaming again!

Winning In Life Now is a great resource for anyone looking for more in their life. Order you own copy of Winning In Life Now within the next 24 hours and receive over $5500 in bonus gifts from experts around the globe. Go to http://www.winninginlifenow.com/bookpromotion

One of the greatest downsides of working from home

I've been working from home for 15 years and I love it.

However, something I noticed, not only for me, but for lots of people who find it very "convenient" to pop their head in the fridge whenever they want is the unwanted weight gain that comes with the luxury of working from home.

Truth be told, unwanted weight can creep up little by little until one day we say, "Enough is enough."

Or maybe we find that by having access to outside distractions such as television (for some), working in the yard, playing with the kids, grandchildren or pets, or whatever, we let precious time in our day slip by.

Frustrated that we are off track with the life we choose to create, we are ready for massive change. Or so we say.

The solution seems so simple. We set goals to get back on track. The trouble is, many of us soon get off track and promise ourselves we will make the much needed changes someday.

Keep your eye on the horizon

"Keep your eye on the horizon!" Words my marathon coach shared with me today. At the beginning of a 9 mile power walk, Nina said that  keeping our eyes on the horizon will keep us focused and energized.

How true this is. Not just for a marathon, but for virtually any goal we have. Years ago a good friend of mine, Audrey Joseph, went through race car training when she got a Corvette. Her trainer told her, "Keep your eyes on where you want to go. Otherwise you will end up somewhere you likely don't want to be."

Whether driving a high performance car, running a race or running a business, what you focus on is what you get. Simple as that. It is essential to know what you want and the direction you need to move in to achieve an outcome that is consistent with what you want.

One man's words encouraged me to fulfill a dream

Last night I did something I have wanted to do for quite some time. I committed to a 26 mile marathon. Not just any marathon though. This one is to raise money for the Leukemia Foundation.

Now mind you, I’m not a runner nor have I ever participated in a marathon. I just turned 55 years old (heck…years young) and I figure now is as good a time as any.

This marathon made perfect sense to me for a number of reasons.

1.    I’m tired of saying, “Someday I am going to take action on this goal.”
2.    I like the idea of doing something really healthy and helpful.
3.    I will be trained by pros who know how to motivate those who are committed to crossing the finish line.
4.    I have the opportunity to meet equally committed folks during the practices, clinics and in Portland in October during the marathon.
5.    I will be raising money for the Leukemia Foundation.
6.    And it’s a part of my “Every day is Saturday” lifestyle.

You might be wondering what the Everyday is Saturday lifestyle is. I first heard about this a few months ago at Willie Crawford’s Birthday Bash. I had the opportunity to meet the Everyday is Saturday guy, Sam Crowley.

I was blown away by what Sam shared. I was so inspired by what Sam said that I immediately started reading everything about Sam I could get my hands on. I also got his CD set where he outlines exactly what Everyday is Saturday is. 

Hearing Sam, reading his information and listening to his CDs gave me a kick in the backside I needed (and deep inside) wanted.
I got so excited about his message that I called him up and said, “Sam, I have lots of people who would love to hear what you have to say. Would you join me for a teleseminar to share your ideas?”

Without hesitation he agreed. You see, sharing his message with folks around the world is part of Sam’s Everyday is Saturday. So is being a great dad, a loving husband and a man who walks his talk.

Today at 3 p.m. PST you can join in on our conversation about Six Days to Saturday. There is no cost and the benefit you will gain will be huge. I guarantee it!

To register go to http://www.streetsmartsmarketing.com/Sam.htm

If you have dreams you have been procrastinating on, this call is sure to put the fire under your backside.