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Even in groups within society, members of the group have their own personality and their own uniqueness to offer the group as a whole. Your design gets tweaked along the way in response to your personal experiences in life, allowing you to grow and become more and more fulfilled as you become better equipped to be of the utmost service through your soul purpose. You might be a lawyer in a firm of lawyers, but the way you deliver your message will be different from the delivery of the others, even when it’s the same message that’s being delivered. You might be a dancer in a troupe of dancers, but the way you respond and move to the music is going to be different from how the others do, even when dancing to the same music. Two singers can sing the same song, but each rendition is uniquely different. Your fingerprint is always uniquely yours in whatever it is you do, and no one is going to be better at being you than you.

This is an excerpt from my new book, Sole to Soul: How To Identify Your Soul Purpose and Monetize It, which is available now!  To download a free chapter and order, please click here.

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Most likely, you have heard of many larger companies that employ both vision and mission statements. You have even seen these statements as framed prints, posted proudly on a company wall. However, as a small business owner, have you made the decision to create and follow the statements for your company?

If not, you have most likely thought that a small business does not need either a vision or a mission statement. This is not true though. These types of statements do more than just express words. They are ways to convey the purpose and the future of your business to employees as well as customers.

A vision and mission statement allows customers to have an idea behind your company, and it gives your employees something to work toward. You can actually combine the process into one vision and mission statement that is an all-encompassing phrasing. If you have never created such a statement, then you may not know how to approach the process. Here is some information to help you create your company's own vision and mission statement.

The first thing you need to do is think of general things involving your business. This may even mean involving your longtime employees by allowing them to throw out their own thoughts. You can keep a running list of these ideas, avoiding anything that has to do with making money. Once you have several general statements, you will be able to get a better idea of what your company is actually about.

Next, take all of the general ideas to come up with a more specific thought on what your business is and what you hope for it to be in the future. This process may shed light on how you think of your business as a whole while it helps you create your vision and mission statement.

Finally, compile all of the thoughts and create a short paragraph. You may want to write two or three drafts of the paragraph and then allow trusted employees to give their thoughts on the best one. You may want to allow a lawyer, a trusted business peer, or even a couple of customers to read the statement and make sure it is clear, concise, and understandable.

This process can help you learn quite a bit about your company. In the end, you will have the now and the future of your business in one paragraph that anyone will be able to read and understand.

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Strategic planning has a big part of any business, whether you call it that specific term or not. In order to make the most of strategic planning, you will need to understand just what it is. Strategic planning encompasses many things, including the scope of your business, your business goals, and the mission of your business, your business procedures, and plans for various situations.

As you can see, there is a great deal to strategic planning. However, have you put the time and thought into this planning as it deserves? Most likely, you have not. However, here you will find four tips to making the most of strategic planning no matter how small or large your business may be.

1. Choose people to include on a small team. If you have a very small business, you may have an extremely small team. However, it is important to include others in the strategic planning process. You will need to choose people who are positive and professional. You will also need to choose people who understand your business and can think of new ideas and actions.

2. Include all of your employees in the process. By involving all of your employees, you will be able to get a better idea of your business as a whole as well as the needs of your workers. Have them write down their ideas on how to improve their particular job. Also, ask them for their thoughts and suggestions on your business as a whole.

3. Do not just jump in headfirst. Of course, you are going to need to have meetings or strategy meetings per say. If you walk into these meetings unprepared, you will most likely get very little done. Make sure you spend some time in advance deciding what areas of the business you want to work on and what types of plans you wish to put into place.

4. Know that it will be a work in progress. No strategic planning ends with just a few meetings. The whole planning process will be something that is ongoing throughout the whole life of the business. No matter what is happening now, something new will happen in the future. Understanding that planning is ongoing will help you better handle it today.

Strategic planning can be invaluable. Chances are, you have done a little of this planning in the past. However, in order to make the most of it, you need to organize the process and get others involved.

Want to know more or need help?  We have two opportunities for you: Register for a one-on-one Strategy Session with Melissa. Your investment is only $247 (value $1000) AND you can apply the cost of your session to any Broshe Group product or service you purchase within one year of your strategy session. Sign Up Here.

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Your uniqueness is what makes you, you. Your unique gifts have been given to you to allow you to live your soul purpose and be of the utmost service to the universe. For example, a group of gifted musicians may form a band. They are all living their soul purpose by being a part of that band, but they all have their own unique offering to give. One band member fulfills his purpose on drums, another on guitar, and another as lead vocalist. We all have souls, but we also all have our own unique soul purpose. The stage is large enough for everyone. There’s room for everyone to shine.

This is an excerpt from my new book, Sole to Soul: How To Identify Your Soul Purpose and Monetize It, which is available now!  To download a free chapter and order, please click here.

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Susan Ward said, “A vision statement is sometimes called a vision of your company in the future but it’s so much more than that. Your vision statement is your inspiration…it articulates your hopes and dreams...It reminds you of what you are trying to build. Let your imagination go and dare to dream…it’s important that a vision statement captures your passion.”

A vision statement can encompass all areas of your life. A vision statement of where you want to go in your professional life may include embarking on a certain career path or achieving specific targets in your own business. A vision statement of where you want to go in your personal life may include spending more time at home with your family, taking regular family vacations, or devoting more time to leisure activities and hobbies. Here are 10 guiding principles for living your vision statement and achieving success in your career:

•      Achieve your own success. Whatever opportunity you choose to take, pick three things you want to accomplish within your organization. Pick things you know will make a difference within the organization, shoot high and then stay focused on those things.
 •      Always be a professional. Being a professional is not about knowing everything, it’s about being credible. If you don’t know, make a point of finding out and then follow up the query. Always dress appropriately and look your best. When you’re part of a team, allow others to take credit where credit is due, you don’t have to act like you did everything.
•      Keep texture in your life. Don’t set your sights on being a one-dimensional figure and don’t be too serious about your work. It may be your vision to be the best accountant in the world, but remember that people may prefer to be around an accountant who also enjoys cooking or music.
•      Surround yourself with positive and forward thinking people. No one survives alone. Find yourself a mentor and also be a mentor. Whether you are the mentor or the mentee, you will grow through the experience.
•      Encourage don’t criticize. Always look for ways to encourage others in their work. An individual may not be right for one particular position or department within the company but their skills may allow them to shine in another.
•      Don’t be over-technical. Even when you work in a technical environment, always talk to people using appropriate language and avoid being over-technical. Tell your clients what they need to know, not what you know. It’s not about the technology, it’s about how the technology can improve their lives.
 •      Be an effective communicator. Communication is key. Recognize that communication can be non-verbal as well as verbal and develop your abilities to communicate effectively on all levels.
•      Keep moving. Realize there’s no such thing as a set back. If it doesn’t work out, move on to the next thing. Stay on the high frequency, not the low frequency and understand that timing is everything. 
•      Live by principles. The world is constantly changing. It’s not always about the money or the promotions. In difficult economic times, a sideways step within a company can still represent progress as you develop new skills or gain the opportunity to help others to develop theirs. Consider volunteering in different positions to add to your skill set.
 •      Always be true to yourself. Never sacrifice more than you can afford to lose. Always go with the things that keep you close to your purpose and to who you really are. Your work should always be a win-win. 

 There is no limit to what you can accomplish, it’s simply a matter of how you formulate your vision. When you understand your soul purpose, you understand your destiny in terms of why you are here and who it is you are here to serve by using your gifts.

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When you recognize your soul purpose, be authoritative and show your passion by not being timid. Know that no one else can offer exactly what you offer, and no one else can do what you do. There may be many others with similar titles, but there’s only one you. Your gifts are unique to you, and no one can do what you do better than you. Be unapologetic about your uniqueness.

When you finally have it, when you really know what you’re on this earth to do and who you’re supposed to serve, you know exactly what gift it is that you have to offer. You are destined to provide a service to people, or to your tribe, even though you’re going to face opposition. Your tribe is the group of people you are here to serve. You can call it a community or your clients, but the point of a tribe is that you’re here to serve them with your gifts. Your tribe is determined by the fact that you have gifts they need, and by making yourself available to them, they can find you.

This is an excerpt from my new book, Sole to Soul: How To Identify Your Soul Purpose and Monetize It, which is available now!  To download a free chapter and order, please click here.

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As a small business owner, you most likely spend quite a large amount of time trying to discern new ways to gain customers. Marketing can be a fun or stressful business. The key is to understand the types of marketing.

Instead of sending your marketing budget in many different directions, you can choose a specific type and be consistent with it. You will quickly see that your marketing budget pays off much more quickly.

Here, you will find information on four of the main types of marketing. This way, you will be able to choose the marketing actions that will work best for your business. You will then be able to point your marketing budget in the right direction.

1. Blanket marketing is a type that is often used by larger business. Blanket marketing means that you spend money advertising to everyone. Many people choose to do blanket marketing by advertising in magazines or newspapers. You will not really have control of who sees your advertising, but you will have the potential to reach many people.

The downside to blanket marketing is that it can be quite expensive, and you could be wasting money marketing to people who may never become your customers at all. Blanket marketing is best for those who have plenty of funds available and who feel that they will be able to gain many customers from the plan.

2. Targeted marketing is a method in which you choose a certain demographic and only market to them. This could mean that you advertise to everyone in a certain area. Alternatively, you could advertise to everyone in a certain age range.

The great thing about targeted marketing is that you will have a much better chance getting customers since you will be advertising to the types of people who would most likely become customers. The downside is that it will take a little legwork to determine who your target is and then find the right way to advertise to them.

3. Social media marketing could be called the new kid in town since it is a relatively young concept. With this marketing, you use any one of the many popular social media sites to advertise your company. You can also use a daily blog to garner business. 

The downside to this type of marketing is that you will be sending your information out to many people who may not be interested at all. With blogs, you will have to take the time to keep the blog up to date. Otherwise, people may stop reading it.

4. The last type of marketing is not marketing at all. There are no upsides to this. It may seem like a way to save money, but when your business fails, you will actually lose a great deal of money. It is extremely important to find marketing funds within your budget.

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An economical recession can be a very difficult time for a small business. Obviously, consumers are spending less, so finding and keeping loyal customers becomes all the more important. However, there are ways to maintain customer loyalty. The key is to understand what the customer wants, or look at your business through the customer's eyes.

Here, you will find three tips on keeping your customers no matter how difficult the economy may become.

1. Reward loyalty. One thing that will keep customers coming back to the same business is when they feel that their business is appreciated. It does not have to be a large reward or even something that important. If you offer any token of appreciation, customers will feel more loyal to you.

Examples of loyalty gifts or rewards could include percentages off their next purchase or a small free gift. You could even offer a rewards program, where customers receive something free after a certain number of purchases.

2. Offer an exceptional experience. One of the reasons that a customer will become loyal to a business is if they are offered an experience they will not find anywhere else. Maybe you cannot offer products that others do not, and maybe your prices are not terribly lower than other locations. However, you can provide an experience that others do not.

You can provide the best experience by making sure your employees are well trained in customer service and well educated on all products and services you offer. In addition, make sure your business locale is professional, neat, clean, and kept-up.

3. Offer regular sales and specials. If customers feel confident that they will be able to purchase products or services at a discount price, they will continue shopping with your business. Even if the prices are not drastically lower than the competition, just the idea of a sale can draw in customers.

The key to this is offering the sales and specials on a regular basis. While you may not like the idea of continually discounting your items, your customers will enjoy the dependability. You will be able to enjoy keeping your customers.

Maintaining customer loyalty during recessions is extremely vital since your business will be suffering anyway. Make sure to take extra steps to keep your loyal customers. Do not neglect the loyal ones while you try to draw in new customers. You will need to find a balance between marketing to potential clients and keeping your loyal customers satisfied.

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If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to reconnect with your soul purpose. Refer to the answers you gave to the questions at the end of Chapter One and be inspired. Reconnect with your purpose by reconnecting with your source of inspiration. Spend time in an environment that inspires you, and spend time with people who energize and inspire you. Reconnect with the real you and with your soul purpose; then, take a moment to realize that your soul purpose is bigger than you. Whatever your purpose, you don’t have to do it all. By living your purpose, you are fulfilling your part, and it’s important to realize that beyond that point you have no control, and that’s okay.

This is an excerpt from my new book, Sole to Soul: How To Identify Your Soul Purpose and Monetize It, which is available now!  To download a free chapter and order, please click here.

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The very idea of outsourcing may scare you since it involves handing away the responsibilities of a part of your business to someone else who is not even on location. If you have invested a great deal of yourself in your business, this concept may be something that you have avoided for fear of what might come of it. While you do not want to outsource the very core of your company, there are ways that outsourcing certain parts can be of great benefit.

Below, you will find four different ways that outsourcing certain areas of your business can be quite helpful and can even lead to your company growing and prospering.

1. You will be able to centralize the important operations. Often, in a small business, each employee is asked to do several different jobs. The problem with this is that your employees will be constantly switching between duties. They can become distracted and they could more easily make mistakes.

If you outsource certain areas of your company, your employees will be able to better focus better on their specific jobs instead of being pulled into too many different directions.

2. Your finances will be best taken care of when handed to a professional. Instead of trying to do your own books, you can hire a quality accountant and trust that your books are being done right. Unless you are an accounting professional yourself, there may be parts of the financial areas of the small business that you may not be able to handle.

In addition, you have so many different responsibilities that you could be distracted when handling your accounting. Instead, you can outsource it to a qualified accounting firm.

3. You can save money when you outsource certain areas of your business. Since you will be freeing up employee time to handle the integral parts of your business, you could save a great deal of funds.

Saving money is highly important during times of recession. By allowing other companies to handle certain areas of your company, you will be able to raise your revenue.

4. You can leave the professional jobs to the professionals. Chances are, there are certain aspects of your company that are being handled by people who do not specialize in that area. This could lead to subpar work simply because the employee is not properly trained.

You can outsource those areas to professionals who will do the best job possible. This way, all areas of your job will be the best it possibly can.

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