Last week, you learned how to reveal yourself.  Here’s the next step in your Executive Evolution:

Stand for yourself.

You have all the answers within yourself.

How great is that? Now you just have to do the work to find the answers. They don’t come easy, but once you crack the code, you’re golden. You’ll likely need the help of others to find these answers.

For example, I am not you.  It is quite likely that you exist within a framework that does not allow you to have what you want. I do not. Inside my framework, what you want is totally possible. So, it’s unlikely for you to hang out with me without change – without getting what you want – because I don’t “buy in” to your limiting framework, I won’t believe (or co-sign) your B.S… and soon you won’t either. Hear me on this one:  Find someone who cares enough to call you on your “stuff.” Your Limiting Lies.

This is why searching for the latest/greatest strategy, technique, tool, trend will fail you every time… grabbing desperately for any lifeline or distraction won’t work either. At best, these will provide only temporary relief. Because you are focusing out instead of in. When you focus out, you aren’t standing for yourself. You’re asking for the answers outside, and you will NOT find them there.

This is where a coach comes in. They guide you to do the work to find out who you are and what you want. Just make sure the coach you choose has the chops and the successful exec’s and businesses behind them to prove it.

Standing for yourself requires the decoding of the relationship you have to create success in your area of challenge – PLUS figuring out what you’re truly more committed to – succeeding or not succeeding. You’re going to get infinitely curious about the stories you tell yourself and if they benefit you. Along the way, of course, you’ll make sure your business strategies and tactics are sound and workable – we ARE business people, after all.

At this point we’re talking about aligning all the parts of you that are in conflict with what you want for yourself and your company and your life. But I’ll cover more on that 3^rd step (align) next time. For right now, I want you to focus on Step 2 – Stand for Yourself. And begin to surround yourself with a coach and a team that facilitates this and inspires you.

It’s profound. Be SURE you’re ready.  If you ARE ready, then having a coach who can help you figure out what you stand for – and what you don’t – is key.  I will MAKE room in my BAI program for you this July, IF you are serious.  (And I’ve added new dates all over the country if the West Coast isn’t your thing!)  Teaching my Mighty Formula for Executive Evolution is MY “stand” for Christine.

Christine Comaford, Executive Coach
CEO of Mighty Ventures, Inc.
NY Times Best Selling Author http://businessaccelerationintensive.com

PS: Business Acceleration and an experienced Coach are always the key. http://businessaccelerationintensive.com

The Big Reveal

Yesterday, I offered you guys a radical change to how you lead your teams and your business.  Today, I want to share more on how to IMPLEMENT my Mighty Formula for Executive Evolution. I’ll keep it super simple.  Three steps.

Step 1. Reveal yourself. (Steps 2 and 3 coming soon! So stay tuned.)

First, take some time and determine your Press Release. We all have a “press release” that we energetically and behaviorally “distribute” – whether we realize it or not. Here’s one of mine (yes, I am still working on it): I AM REALLY BUSY. DON’T BUG ME. I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR YOU. This is a masterful way to keep people at a distance, to stay separate from others, to not reveal myself.

A common Press Release I often hear is “Everything is great! Couldn’t be better! I have my act totally together!” When in reality, the executive’s revenue is tanking, their passion for their business or life is gone, their marriage is failing, or they can’t sit still because they can’t stop their constant frantic thoughts (and can’t tolerate silence). Their stimulation level must be kept on HIGH at all times.

So what’s your Press Release? What message does it tell others about you? How does it prevent you from revealing yourself and your humanity to others? How sustainable is it? Next, determine the Limiting Lie you tell yourself. This may be embedded in your Press Release. Here’s a personal example. At 7 years old I was told that I was not enough and never would be. That is, of course, a lie, and I hoped this was the case, even then. But it didn’t prevent me from 40 years of overachieving, just to make sure positive 100% that I was, indeed, enough.

Take some time and find your Limiting Lie. (Don’t roll your eyes, this is NOT some personal development rah rah speech – this is the REAL stuff of REAL leaders.)  Once you know your Limiting Lie, and how you’re likely reinforcing it with your Press Release, you can diffuse it – and even joke about it. I use a simple mantra to release mine: I am enough. I do enough. I have enough.

Every activity, word, thought, and interaction is an opportunity to reveal yourself. It’s either bringing you closer to who you are or farther away… if you can’t find your REAL Press Release and your REAL limiting lies, you just may be stuck with them (and imprisoned by them) forever.  This is OFTEN where a real coach comes in.  They can spot our roadblocks and help us to reveal what and why they are there.

If you’re in the business of BIG success – and taking the risks to get there, then finding a coach who can spot those roadblocks and knows the ropes is vital. I still have room in my BAI program for a few more participants this July.  (And I’ve added new dates all over the country.)

Christine Comaford, Executive Coach
CEO of Mighty Ventures, Inc.
NY Times Best Selling Author http://businessaccelerationintensive.com

CEO of Mighty Ventures and Executive Mentor, Christine Comaford, discusses how PAIN and SOLUTION create big success in the world of business acceleration.

Christine Comaford, Executive Mentor
CEO of Mighty Ventures, Inc.
NY Times Best Selling Author http://mightyventures.com/bai/

PS: Business Acceleration and a rockin’ mentor are key. http://mightyventures.com/bai/

Today is the second part of my blog on what makes your team members feel a sense of ownership.  Remember, there’s a lot more to be said about team BUILDING and ownership, and I go into tons more detail about this at my 7 Figure Business Summit on 4/30-5/2.  The event is only TWO weeks away now, and there are less than 30 spots left.  You can still come for the early-bird price of $997 AND bring a friend for half price. (That’s MY PERSONAL business acceleration recession buster — 7 Figure Business Summit.)

Reminder: Your comments and feedback on this blog are always welcome.

If you want more accountability, more initiative, more caring and concern for your business, you’ll want to crank up the aspects of ownership that a team member feels.

5. Authority.  This is the degree of autonomy the person has to make decisions without you.  Remember, a group of partners has limits on individual authority, so saying “owner” or not does not answer this question, it’s independent, but more authority does make someone feel like they have more power over their environment and life and thus feel more like an owner. Your team members need to “own” their areas completely without your micro-managing them, and likewise, major corporate decisions are yours, the CEO’s, and these must be respected too. It’s fine and even good to be questioned. If the emperor has no clothes, speak up for goodness sake. We all have reality distortion fields. The question is, is someone’s about to damage the company? If so, speak up, if not, let them thrive and control their area of responsibility.

6. Consultation.  People like (and want and need) to have their advice solicited, to be listened to, to be consulted on major decisions. This does not imply you have to do what they say, but does commit you to ask their opinion and listen. And heck, if you don’t want to consult your team members, then you have the wrong team. Remember how I say it’s crucial to hire people who are smarter than you? This is one of the many reasons why. You’ll want to tap into their smarts. Appreciation and acknowledgement are conveyed when you ask someone’s advice, when you respectfully listen to it and consider it.

7. “Marriage.”  This is the psychological aspect of feeling a sense of mutual commitment.  It is in some ways the aggregate of the other rights, but in my experience is more about the manner in which you deal with the person, the way you introduce them to the world externally and internally, and whether you act like the senior partner or the boss. For instance, I have an agreement with my team members that we’re in this together, and neither one of us will bail on the other without voicing our concerns and trying to remedy the situation. Sounds like a marriage doesn’t it? It sort of is, and when you have this degree of mutual commitment, it makes the hard days easier, the burdens lighter, the trust level higher, the road smoother. Because you’re not alone, as so many entrepreneurs feel they are.

8. Time.  All of these rights can increase or decrease over time (vesting).  No one but a founder (and often not a founder) gets everything irrevocably all at once.  Trust is earned. It’s a cycle of testing, and trusting, then testing some more, then trusting some more.

A sense of ownership is a beautiful thing. What are you doing to foster this within your team?

To your amazing and IMMEDIATE 7 Figure Success,

Christine Comaford, 7 Figure Business Builder
CEO of Mighty Ventures, Inc.
NY Times Best Selling Author of Rules for Renegades

PS: IF you cannot attend my Summit for any reason, then by all means, grab my Results Now Webinar and get started – but I think you should ALL be at that Summit and give me a chance to see you and hear the extraordinary life that YOU want to build.

Okay gang, this is the last tip of my 4 secrets to attract a rockin’ team!  It’s NOT the end of my mentorship on this issue though.  You can search “team building” on my blog to get more great tips, and definitely come to my 7 Figure Business Building Summit. The early bird special price ends in less than a week – and don’t forget, you can still bring a friend for half price! That’s TWO of you for $1,497 – unbelievable.) http://www.7FigureBusinessSummit.com.

Here’s Tip #4:  Form an advisory board of up to 10 people, including an industry heavyweight, model customer, credibility booster, and several savvy business people with great connections. Oh, and make sure everyone gets stock options or some sort of emotional compensation.

Bottom line? Hire slowly, fire quickly. Be picky about who you hire and you’ll build a ROCKIN’ team!

To your success and your winning relationships!

Christine Comaford, The 7 Figure Business Builder
Motivational Keynote Speaker
CEO of Mighty Ventures, Inc.
NY Times Best Selling Author

PS:  This is the ONE event you must be at this year: http://www.7FigureBusinessSummit.com

I remember when I got a gig writing a column for PC Week. A wonderful mentor of mine introduced me to the top brass there, and I offered to help de-mystify new technologies for their corporate audience. I wrote up 5 sample columns for free to show them how I might be of service to their readers. I brought benefits, not demands, to the table – and I got the job!

Because of my articles, I started getting hundreds of letters each month. I’d read every word and respond to them as a show of thanks to the editor for hiring me to write those columns. So what’s my point?

While it’s easy to get carried away by the heady feeling of a magazine profile, a favorable mention of your company, or a microphone stuck under your nose, remember that the media isn’t there to serve you. You’re there to serve them.

Think of the media as an extension of your network. In fact, they will be one of your best resources if you treat the relationship wisely. Find ways to serve them and they may become some of your best friends. So this week, ask yourself these questions:

–How can I be a connector?
–Can I put journalists in touch with helpful sources?
–Can I put business people in touch with one another?
–Is there an information gap that I can plug?

And remember–the key here is not to have a Rolodex you can “work”. After all, do you really want to be one of those insincere types who pull up their Outlook contact notes to ask how somebody’s spouse (fill-in-the-name) is doing when you don’t really care? That’s not what you want. You want REAL relationships formed over GREAT experiences.

(Now my plug! If you’re building a 7 Figure Business, the BEST place to find those like-minded people is my 7 Figure Business Building Summit. The early bird special price ends in less than two weeks, so click through now – and don’t forget, you can still bring a friend for half price! That’s TWO of you for $1,497 – unbelievable.) http://www.7FigureBusinessSummit.com  

To your success and your winning relationships!

Christine Comaford, The 7 Figure Business Builder
CEO of Mighty Ventures, Inc.
NY Times Best Selling Author

PS: This is the ONE event you must be at this year (if you’re REALLY ready to rock your business and rock your life:
http://www.7FigureBusinessSummit.com

Part 1 of 8 – Christine Comaford presents at the Entrepreneur & Small Business Academy on February 3rd, 2010. Her topic was “The 3 BIGGEST Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make that Block them from Building 7-Figure Businesses” and she did a great job!

If ur seriously on the road to your 7 Figure Success and ready to learn from The 7 Figure Business Builder, Christine Comaford, in person, be sure to get your seat at 7 Figure Business Summit is in April. Seats are going fast http://www.bit.ly/5dHdCp and the Early-Bird pricing ends in 20 days!

The Number One Rule of Sales:  The Inner Game of Sales = Perseverance

Step Six:  Last but not least, HANG WITH THE WINNERS, people.  You will be MUCH more likely to find mentors, inspiring friends and yes, even clients when you’re with the BEST of the best.  If you’re seriously on the road to your 7 Figure Success and ready to FIND those winners (and learn from ME, in person), then you MUST be at my 7 Figure Business Summit is in April.  Seats are going fast http://www.bit.ly/5dHdCp and the early bird pricing ends in just a few DAYS.  AND, if you hurry, you can still bring a friend for half price.  (Yes, that’s two of you for $1,499.)

PS:  Here’s the link again to the 7 Figure Business Summit:  http://www.bit.ly/5dHdCp

Way too often, we’ll go rushing in to sell our product or service BEFORE we’ve done our three-step check.  BEFORE You Ask for the Deal:#1 Be SURE you have identified your prospect’s needs. If you’re NOT sure, ASK them. Sometimes the simple approach is the best approach.

#2 Be SURE you have presented a solution to your potential client’s needs.

#3 Feel confident!  You have earned the right to ask them to buy your recommended solution or service … So ASK for the deal! This is where a lot of companies and service providers blow it.  They wait for the prospect to ask THEM. People, we’re not in a bar waiting for an invite to dinner. You’re the one who does the asking here.

A PERFECT example of this three-step check is my 7 Figure Business System CD.

Number one, I identified the PAIN (um, can we say agony) that business builders go through (often, it’s systemization and almost ALWAYS it’s no mentor – or worse, the WRONG mentor).

Number two, I gathered up the 45 “must have” business documents, procedures, templates tutorials and worksheets that I insist my OWN mentees use AND I put them into a free CD for you guys (you pay only the shipping).  THEN, I put together a killer video mentoring project – and with the free CD, you get 2 weeks for FREE to try this mentoring program. Finally I made the program REALLY affordable – no kidding – solving the mentoring CRISIS that many of you go through. (After your two-week trial, unless you notify us, you will be automatically enrolled |in this $97 a month Exclusive Training Program.)

Number three, I put the offer out there!  (You can grab your copy now and ROCK the two-week trial. Supplies are limited and I have no plans to create more. http://bit.ly/97KnyV)  Be sure to get YOUR offers out there in a way that your clients see them.  Whether it be one-on-one in a killer sales meeting, or over the web to your friends, fans and followers.

ROCK your business people!  It’s TIME. 

Christine Comaford, The 7 Figure Business Builder
CEO of Mighty Ventures, Inc.
NY Times Best Selling Author

PS: Grab your copy now and ROCK the two-week trial. Supplies are limited and I have no plans to create more. http://bit.ly/97KnyV

What’s the MOST important part of what your company does? If you answered accountability or responsiveness or even quality control, you’re wrong.  The MOST important thing, every day is: Close the Deal. After all, EVERYTHING stops if you can’t do this.

Remember these four vital ingredients:

#1.  Closing is about confidence. You have to KNOW that you kick butt and know that the rest of your formula (i.e., accountability, responsiveness, QC, etc.) is solidly in place.

#2. Also, if your prospect feels you have confidence in your solution, THEY will have confidence in your solution.

#3. Remember, confidence comes from preparation + a quality product you believe in + using the Confident Stance (if nervous, focus on something you are great at: parenting, a hobby, being a terrific friend, etc. Feel that energy in your body and posture – then have at it). You are holding a solution they NEED, they are in PAIN.  It’s a great match – so no reason to be nervous at all.

#4. If you are nervous – or even if you’re not – role play your final presentation in advance and prepare answers to objections.  There’s NO reason not to be prepared.  This is how you HELP your prospect to work through their process and see your solutions.

For only the cost of shipping and handling ($4.95) I’d love to give you my 7 Figure Business Systems (which includes over 45 “must have” business documents, procedures, templates tutorials and worksheets). AND you’ll get 2 weeks FREE trial to my 7 Figure Business Formula Video Mentoring Program. After your FREE trial, unless you notify us, you will be automatically enrolled in this $97 a month Exclusive Training Program.  Business acceleration is no joke, gang, and finding a rockin’ mentor is a huge part of it.  I’m here and I’ve done this over 100 times. 

trial. Supplies are limited and I have no plans to create more. http://bit.ly/97KnyV