Baby Boomers Building Businesses
“I’m getting bored with six figures!”
That’s a quote from speaker on stage of an Elevate event. She was referring to her six figure monthly income level that’s she’s creating since joining that particular coaching program (which FYI is at an almost 6 figure cost.)
Yes, I’ll be honest – what she said caught my attention. It got me thinking.
Just how important is it to know what income level we want?
Are our goals just a specific income level? or are they our dreams and visions?
There is no income level listed or mentioned in my goals or my vision statement. Partly because I can’t imagine a monthly six figure income – that refers to an income over 100,000 but under a million. I can’t even conceive that as an annual income.
I’m at the point of my business that I’ve never has a five figure income or a 4 figure income. Yes, I’ve admitted it – I’ve never earned $1,000 a month from any online or networking source. That’s why I still have my offline “normal” income sources so I can pay the rent.
However, as I refocus various divisions of my online strategies, I need to go back to my business plan – my very basic not very detailed, needing attention business plan – and add a section about what income level I want to be at by this time next year.
Consider adjusting the income level you define in your business plan for this year so that it will truly motivate you to move your business forward.
Yes, I’m realizing that “not talking about money” is not good for business. This really is something that needs to be addressed in every business plan. I’m sure you’ve heard that
“You Miss 100% of the Shots You Never Take.”
Wayne Gretsky said that and since he was the star of my home town team and my son’s absolute favorite hero growing up, I heard a lot about Gretzky.
BUT there really is some truth in that statement. If my plan doesn’t state a specific target income level, does that mean I’m shooting at nothing?
I don’t want that. Do you?
Leave me a comment and tell me what you think. Does your plan specify an income level for your business? I’d love to know.
The summer of 2012 is over. There are only a few months left in this year and I am far from the 3/4 mark of achieving the goals I created in January. Time to reevaluate and refocus.
How do I do that? Well, I personally like to take some to read and be challenged so I look for books that are written to address the core of my issue – that of having a plan and sticking to it.
In early August I was able to attend a prophetic conference where I was inspired by some amazing speakers to recognize the changes happening in the world around us. So much of what they said was as if they knew my heart and were sharing it with the world. Yes, I was in alignment with them – we had a common spirit. When things like that happen, I know I am in the right place at the right time. I know that I was created “for such a time as this”.
I went home with a suitcase full of books and so I spent the rest of August in reading (my absolute favorite past time so this was no chore at all). I have come to grips with the reason of why I am here at this time! I have finally, after over two years of questioning my purpose in life, realized exactly what my purpose is at this time of my life. It’s not just an aimless game of existence. I know clearly that I am here for a purpose.
So, now that I knew the why, it was time to focus on the how. I looked at all the things I have tried over the past two years when I really was just floundering – which is what happens when we don’t have a clear “WHY”.
I realized it was also time to refocus on the “How” part of my Baby Boomer Journey. I looked at a variety of options and considered several mentors. I prayed about it. I also knew that budget would be a serious part of my decision. Why do I say that? Well, in determining my Why, one of the key elements of achieving my why will be based on the foundation of being debt free. So I knew I couldn’t choose a mentor-ship or coaching program that I could not pay cash for. I could not incur any debt at this phase.
IMAGE /DavidWalker30day.gif
The answer to my prayers came when I crossed paths with David Walker. It is no accident that I was invited to the 30 Day Marketer Coaching Program. Personally, I’ve come to believe there are no accidents or coincidences in my life for each day is a gift from God and He controls the path I take. Meeting David Walker on the Warrior Forum was an immediate answer to my prayers. If you want to see what intrigued me about David check out his WSO listing here.
The first week of September I became part of the group coaching that David Walker is doing with over 500 students. Group coaching is great as that keeps the price affordable. Group coaching also helps us build a community of folks just like me, working together to build a future as proteges/protegees of David Walker.
It’s called the 30 Day Marketer because it’s an intensive program with 2 live webinars each week and homework assignments. By the end of the 30 days, we will have a clear blueprint of how to build a business online. Eventually our coach, David Walker, will turn this into a product that he can sell – but being in the live sessions is the best as it’s our questions he is answering directly.
I’m not sure if you can still get into the live sessions, but check it out at http://www.davidwalker.im/coaching/. If the first two sessions were an indication of things to come, I know the product that goes on sale in October 2012, will have a lot of value for those interested. If you are reading this at that time, you can probably can find information about it on his website at http://www.davidwalker.im/
I am really looking forward to the rest of the course, and I promise that I’ll keep you all posted. I know it’s going to be just what I need to get truly find my focus and that by the end of our sessions, I will have business plan to follow to create an online business.
How do I know that? Well, let’s just say that David Walker has already managed to do for me what so many other coaches and teachers haven’t. I’m actually doing the homework assignments! He has managed to get me to take ACTION! This post is proof of that!
And that’s what makes him a terrific coach or teacher! David Walker Helps us Stay Focused!!! Lead on! I am coming up right behind you!
And suddenly we’re into the last half of 2011.
That sounds so “final” … wish there were more halves to go before 2011 is in the history books … but then I guess they wouldn’t be halves, would they?
I’ll be honest – I’m not thrilled with my progress. If I’m going to get near the goals I set for this year, I’m going to have to really stay focused the next 5 and a half months.
I Need Some FocusLooking back though, I think the best thing I’ve achieved is that I do have more focus.
So let me do a quick review of what I’ve accomplished in the past six months.
We are half way through 2011, so it’s time to step back and evaluate my progress.
First, let’s consider my social medias effort. As of July 1 these are my statistics.
I haven’t spent any time in the three months to find new followers, but I have tweeted on each account. I even created a new account which I originally planned to have more of an MLM focus.
I may not have been using Twellow to find new followers, but the lists are growing. I do have my Twitter links on most of my sites and in my autoresponder emails. In the past two months, I’ve added 2,257 Twitterers to my lists, and I’ve done that without a major Twitter push like I had in January and February of this year.
It’s Friday. That usually means the end of another week.
Today, however, was the beginning of some new things. That’s right. I have signed up for two, – yes two – new challenges, both designed to help me build my new business.
Today was the intro session for the new 2011 Cash Now Challenge. This will be a 90 day challenge to teach us many new things about online marketing.
In case you don’t know, it was my association with the first 90 day challenge and my meeting Art, Maria and Tina that have brought me to this point. That’s what this site is all about … my journey through the maze of online marketing.
Last time I joined the challenge about half way through and I always felt like I wasn’t totally getting it all. This time, I registered within minutes of getting the invite.
Today they admitted that maybe they tried to give us too much information in too short of time (I agree with that LOL). In the first challenge they had four modules that they taught us – and although the information was great, there was just no way that I, as a newbie to this, could implement it all in the time frame given. Maybe I’m just too analytical.
So I started journaling about it here – I was just so frustrated with information overload and trying to figure out what was most important and what to do first. I soon realized that I couldn’t do it all, at least for now, so then my question became – what will I specialize or focus on?
It took me a while as I did some research – but I finally figured it out. My niche would be – List Building!
So I started developing my main website. That took a while before I was comfortable enough to release it as I wanted the graphics to do what I wanted them to do and I definitely wanted lots of good content on the site.
Want to learn how to build a business online? Come join me on this 90 Day Challenge. Here is the link to the Cash Now challenge …
Let’s have some fun together while we help each other learn this stuff.
I also realized that List Building has changed in 2011. It’s no longer just about building a list for an email campaign as it was in 1999. Now list building encompasses Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. So since these areas are a bit new to me, I’m researching them and trying some techniques that a long time friend (she taught me what MySpace was all about years ago) suggested.
Today I’m registered for her new 30 day challenged to get 5000 Twitter followers in 30 days. Yikes … a week ago I didn’t really get Twitter, but after “playing” with it this week, it’s starting to make a bit more sense. I’ve noticed that I’m getting traffic to this site as a result of my Twitter posts.
Today, Angela announced that she’s starting a 30 Day Challenge group so I signed up. I have learned to doing things with a live mastermind group is much better than doing it on your own.
Want to learn how to use Twitter? Come join me on this 30 Day Challenge. Here is the link to Angela’s challenge …
Let’s Tweet together!
Come join me in these challenges. Let’s grow our businesses together!
If you haven’t seen it yet, check out my new website that I launched just yesterday – it will be my new brand and theme for my List Building Business is located at:
Be sure to leave your comments below. I love hearing from you.
Sometimes the best made plans still go awry.
Whether it’s in business or in our personal lives. Lists or no lists, ideas or no ideas. Sometimes life just happens.
For example, my Christmas. All the fun of planning and prepping – and yes, for me, some of the most fun is the planning and prepping. I really enjoy preparing feasts made of love for my family and friends! I have great enjoyment in watching them enjoy a fine meal and laugh at each other’s jokes. Well, back to my story of my Christmas.
Christmas Eve was one of those most special nights. Almost magical! The food was great, but I’ll admit that because I’ve never stuffed a pork roast before so I was a bit worried about how it would work – needlessly worried, I should add, as it tasted great. The kids were so funny. I love having adult children. The discussions they can get into keep me sitting on the edge of my chair. And the blessing we shared on each other were countless. I know everyone loved the gifts they received but more importantly, they enjoyed giving the gifts that they gave. We ended the evening wishing everyone safe travels to their destinations for Christmas Day and I told mom I’d be there early afternoon to help make the final preparations for Christmas Brunch for Sunday.
Those were our plans. Good thing we understand that plans are changeable.
Christmas Day the weather was nice and roads were clear in my part of the world. And then the phone rang. I was just getting ready to head out. It seems my mom, my dad, and my brother were not feeling well, so she was wondering if I should still come over. We decided I shouldn’t come at that point, so I opted for a nap.
It wasn’t until later in the afternoon that we actually made the decision to cancel family Christmas for the next day. They were all very sick – couldn’t keep anything down and getting weaker by the hour. After doing some checking, we knew it wasn’t food poisoning from Christmas Eve supper (whew, I was worried for a bit that I had done something wrong with the pork roast).
We all compared notes and did conclude they had some form of food poisoning from what they had eaten for lunch on the 24th. The three of them had had the same thing and it was only the three of them that were sick… did I say they were very sick.
So we cancelled Christmas. I spent the 25th and 26 relaxing, reading, watching the Christmas movie on TV and sleeping. … and checking up on my family. I was concerned my 80 year old parents were getting too weak for my liking and that they were getting dehydrated as well. I kept after them to drink water at least … even if some of it came back up.
Yesterday I helped clean up and clear up. We had to deal with a fridge full of food that needed to be used before it spoiled, yet the folks were still too sick to have company and my kids already had other plans so we couldn’t cook it for ourselves. Mom and I gave a lot of the perishables away and made a pot of homemade soup for all of us.
We’re not sure if we’ll be able to reschedule this family Christmas. Everyone seems to have such a busy schedule and even my folks are expecting company from Europe shortly after the first. So the Christmas of 2010 might go down in history of being the shortest family Christmas in our family history. Such is life. We change plans, make new ones, and rejoice in the memories of the wonderful Christmas Eve we shared together.
All this extra free time did mean that I had a change to work on some more site ideas regarding building a list. Check them out:
If you are into networking, this site is geared just for you
And this site is designed for any business owner – whether it’s on online business you are building or you have a brick and mortar office or store you go to each day -
Not sure what I’ll all get done yet before the week is over as I know I have to spend some time with my parents and brother and make sure they have what they need, but I might get a few more things in place yet before the end of the year. Sure wish my logo was done … I’m excited to start working on the Priceless Potential site now that the other ones are up.
