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

What is the one thing that holds you back from achieving your dreams?

Is it money? Time? Lack of resources? I don’t think so.

I’ll bet anything that it’s the fear of failure. But you’re in good company, because this is the single biggest hurdle to success that people have. Truth be told, you’re going to have some so called “failures” in life, sometimes one right after another. But if you want to be a successful entrepreneur or intrapreneur, you have to embrace risk instead of running from it.

Take a stab at opportunity whenever it presents itself. You won’t always measure up (I sure haven’t) but that doesn’t mean you have to walk away from the game. Remember–you’re playing to WIN, not to avoid losing. So how exactly do you bounce back from any failure without as much as a scratch? By learning to “fail forward”.

When things don’t go your way, just take a breath, regroup, and bounce back higher and harder. It’s okay to fall down seven times…just as long as you get back up at least eight times. And every time you get up, you’ll be stronger, wiser, and better suited to take on the next challenge.

Here’s an easy way to get started right away: write the words “Fail Forward” with a big Sharpie on a blank sheet of paper and tape it somewhere where you can see it. That way, when those inevitable failures happen (and they will), you’ll always be reminded that you’re not taking a step backwards…but a step forward, towards your goal.

Trust me–it’ll help tremendously to Make Your Venture Mighty!

Until next time, Christine

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

PS: Do not miss my FREE CD on building a 7 Figure Business, there are only a couple hundred left, and they’re VITAL to building your 7 Figure Success Story. http://www.bit.ly/iBmuI

#1. Networking = Sometimes, fewer leads of higher quality.  The most important thing you need to focus on here is “palm up networking.” Remembber, palm up networking is the spirit of giving first, getting later. It’s one of the best ways to form a connection with others. Find out what they care about, and help them get it. You’ll get yours in time. 

#2. Higher quality leads = Pre-qualified leads. If your sales leads are introduced to you from a current client, or from a sales prospect, you immediately have gained the lead’s trust (at least initially) due to your association with the person who introduced you (translated: referrals, referrals, referrals).

#3. Get your networking “tools” together: Plaxo.com, LinkedIn.com, Meetup.com, BNI.com, etc.

#4. Build emotional equity! Energy = Equity, Equity = Access, Access = Influence

If you want these things for yourself too, then I have a gift for you. This is a gift that is going to rock your world, it is a gesture solely with YOUR success in mind.

 ==> http://bit.ly/97KnyV

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. 

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

In order to rock your life and your business, it’s essential to assess where you ARE in your life; otherwise, one or both of the following will happen. First, you could wake up years later miles downstream from where you planned. Second, you won’t get the hang of letting go, which is essential in order to avoid burnout. Here’s how to do it: Twice a year, take yourself away from it all. If you can afford it, go away by yourself. If you can’t, lock the bathroom door. Then ask yourself these questions: 

Is my personal life working?

*  Am I progressing in my self-discovery/spirituality? 
*  Am I feeling close to God, or am I getting too swept up in stuff?
*  Am I my best friend; do I love myself? 
*  Am I being honest with myself and others – not fake or defensive? 
*  Am I stretching enough outside of my comfort zone?
*  What am I still afraid of? 
*  Where can I go and what can I do to get to the next level? 
*  Are my relationships deeply fulfilling?

Is my career working?

*   Am I learning, stretching, challenging myself? 
*   Am I building my network of fascinating people by 5 people per month?
*   Am I being honest with myself and others—authentic and not defensive?
*   What am I still afraid of? 
*   Where can I go and what can I do to get to the next level? 
*   Are my relationships deeply fulfilling?  
*   Am I becoming a more integrated human being, bringing my spirituality into the way I interact with others, being okay with who I am, taking care of myself? 

Am I copping to the fact that I’m the only problem I’ll ever have and the solution too?

Am I accepting people as they are, not expecting them to change? 

Am I being patient with the changes that take time? Am I appreciating all I have? Am I tolerant of those with different struggles?

Am I achieving my goals in all these seven areas: financial and wealth, career, free time/fun, health and appearance, relationships, personal development, community and charity?

Am I connected to all the important sides of my life (personal, family, intellectual, spiritual, recreational)?

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

PS: Get your seat at my 7 Figure Business Summit before they’re gone. (Early bird pricing only available for a few more weeks.)  http://bit.ly/5dHdCp  

Rejection, unlike failure, comes in only one flavor: the external kind. Quite simply, this is when others just don’t want to play with you. I’ve been rejected by potential hires (“I don’t want this stinkin’ job”), staff members who quit or weren’t right for their role, sales prospects (zillions of these) who wouldn’t buy what I was selling, men who didn’t want to date me, friends who decided I wasn’t cool enough, you name it. When they say “No,” I say “Next!” Remember the Rock Rejection Mantra:  Some will, some won’t, so what, SOMEONE’S WAITING.

Believe it or not, somebody out there always wants what you have. Keep looking, keep asking, keep the faith, and focus on finding this person. I repeated the Rock Rejection Mantra many times when my agent was pitching my first book—which was rejected unanimously by 22 publishers. So I reshaped it into a different book, what became the final version of Rules for Renegades. (You can get your own FREE copy of my book by clicking on the title – it’s my personal recession-buster for the entrepreneurial crowd.) After SEVENTEEN more rejections I  sold the book—with several editors interested. It sold once I decided, deep inside myself, that regardless of 39 rejections, this book was going to happen—even if I had to print it myself. I dropped the fear of rejection and focused on attracting a kick-ass editor, someone who really “got” what my book was about.

Like me, you’re going to experience adversity in life, and a lot of it if you take risks.  (And let’s face it, successful entrepreneurs take risks.) Here’s my Top 5 to stay on track (I’ll post 5 more tomorrow!):  1) Remember, it’s all an illusion. Failure has rewards; success has dangers. Learn from both, and move on. 2) Recall the vision that got you going. Spend a day working on your dream board. Don’t do anything else, just let that dream get back on its feet. 3) Practice the Law of Attraction: think about the things that will get you back on your feet, the people who will help you get up and running, the places you can go that will take you forward. Watch the movie “The Secret” again. 4) If people tell you, “You can’t” or “That’s a lousy idea,” congratulations; that usually means you’re on to something.  5) Sometimes you have to look the part, so do it and don’t complain about it. If necessary, change your look to get the respect you deserve, as I did to build a customer base of the Fortune 1000.

Christine Comaford, Business Accelerator
CEO of Mighty Ventures, Inc.
NY Times Best Selling Author

PS: If you’re ready to take your leadership and ROCK YOUR future AND YOUR PRESENT to the next level, I’m holding a special sale where you can participate in my entire Business Foundation Blueprint system.  http://www.mvlinks.net/june-special  *Although this offer really ended on June 30, I’ve put together a HUGE savings to give you a head start on your NEW, amazing, prosperous life.

Those of us that become financially free, as entrepreneurs and biz builders, almost always have two things that we put into action from day one:

1. A mentor to show us the ropes and help get the RESULTS we seek (and avoid the pitfalls that new entrepreneurs find unavoidable);

2. And a proven step-by-step plan for success.

So from the very beginning (and if you’re half-way through, consider today a NEW beginning), find a ROCKIN’ mentor to help you create the connections and the plan to keep you focused and MOVING.

And remember to ask them for the MOST important keys: The INFORMATION they have to teach + The tools for IMPLEMENTATION.  Those two things will bring you and your business the TRANSFORMATION you seek.

Here’s to LIVING your DREAMS!

Christine Comaford, Biz Accelerator
CEO of Mighty Ventures, Inc.
NY Times Best Selling Author

PS: Just a quick note to say WOO HOO to the 27 of you who signed up for my Summit after this morning’s blog.  The Summit is an AMAZING place to network, to build real relationships, and even to FIND that once-in-a-lifetime mentor you’re looking for. 

One of the most important things I have learned about life is that LIFE IS LEARNING.

Probably the next most important lesson to me, personally, has been that LIFE IS TEACHING.  You may wonder why I feel that way.  I mean, can’t we just learn, make our millions and sit back and enjoy life?  Well sure, you can do that.  But for me, I get my biggest thrills when I see other entrepreneurs building success.  And success is SO much more than a dollar amount.  Success is FREEDOM.  It is the freedom to live YOUR life YOUR way.I have built my entire Summit this June around
INFORMATION + IMPLEMENTATION = TRANSFORMATION. 
I will provide as much multimillionaire, biz building information as I can pack into June 5 and 6, and I will teach as many tools for implementation and strategies for success as you can imagine.  What happens next is amazing.  So hold onto your hats, start packing your bags, and be READY.  You and your business are going places, and my Summit is only the first stop on that journey.

If you need to learn more, watch my video at http://www.ResultsNowSummit.com/letter. 

If you’ve done all your research and you’re ready to make the commitment to your own future, freedom and transformation, save your seat http://tinyurl.com/puy6b7

Christine Comaford, Biz Accelerator
CEO of Mighty Ventures, Inc.
NY Times Best Selling Author 
http://tinyurl.com/puy6b7

I’ve decided to do a rockin’ Q&A section on my blog every Monday and Tuesday to get your week started off on a great path.  I get a TON of questions from work-at-home entrepreneurs, so I’m going to start with that today.

Q: Christine, I MUST have a way to have a business that allows me and gives me freedom to help others and work from home. There  are so many offers such as Nich Blueprint that promise success. I am an educator that desperately needs your help. I must provide for my family as well as helping others. We must make America great. Please let me know what I need to do.

A: Dear friend, If you are an educator, you can look into the many online tutoring sites such as http://www.wetutor.com, http://www.rogomo.com, and you could even hang out your own shingle as an expert and promote yourself in family venues like blogs and web sites. You need to shape a business first!  See the free resources section on http://mightyventures.com.

Finally, if you are absolutely ready to go forward and need immediate results and strategies for success, consider attending the Results Now Summit this June.  http://www.ResultsNowSummit.com. Stay in touch and let me know how it goes. – Christine

Today has been an amazing day.  A day to reflect on a great life with some amazing connections, a great business with some amazing connections, and a great future with some amazing connections!  (Are you getting my drift here?)

Seriously though, I’ve gotten so many amazing well wishes from close friends – and from friends I’ve never met in person (but know really well on Facebook and Twitter).  I think it’s vitally important to honor our benchmarks in life, and birthdays are an amazing opportunity to remember that time is passing!  This is an amazing life, and we need to grab * every * single * day * and live live live our dreams.  There is NO time to waste on fear, self-doubt, low-self-esteem, or whatever else stands in your way.

For today, I want to challenge all of you to stop and to come up with the three things that stand mightily in the way of your dreams.  And then I want you to ask yourself, “What would I do if that wasn’t in my way?”  And then I want you to create a plan to go over, around or through those three things and make IT happen anyway.

And one year from today, on my next birthday, I want you to send me a birthday card or an email and tell me how AMAZING this year was for you and highlight all of the dreams you achieved, simply because you wrote a new script for yourself.

ROCK ON RENEGADES!

Your friend, Christine Comaford