Confidence-  defined as; “the state of being that comes when you rise above situations while achieving your goal”.

Here are 4 physical ways to build up your self confidence

1. Step it up- yes, walking faster actually helps. It’s what confident people do.

2.Work out- this raises your physical energy, and helps you think more clearly.

3. Practice good posture- lose the slumped shoulders- sit tall and breathe deeply.

4. Sit in the front row- don’t hide in the back- get up front where you can hear, be seen and feel like you are part of the action

Think of the most confident person you know. Picture them, and see that they practice all four physical elements. You can too, and see how it makes you feel.

TIP for the week- practice saying these 3 phrases to yourself in front of a mirror, “I choose to be confident in myself. I have confidence.I am confident” say them out loud at least a couple of times a day for a week.

“Who has confidence in himself will have the confidence of others”

Leib Lazarow

how many ways can you make a person feel special?  Being authentic, and going that extra mile to recognize another’s value.

When was the last time you sat down and wrote a card to the support person that just helped you on the customer help line?

I was really impressed with Josh, the other day, that I made a point to take a minute out of my day to write him a thank you card.  All I had to do was look up his name on a staff directory, and let him know how he made my day. Well, today, guess who I received a card back from ??!! yes- Josh.

I can picture this fellow on the phone for 8 hours speaking  to people who pretty much are all calling with a problem. Yikes, that’s a lot to hear all day long. I get that.

I want to help people feel valued. I value Josh – a lot.

A card can do the trick. Need a speedy way to get the job done?

Use what I use-  check out my other website for  information all about this on line system. Cards can be used for many reasons, and one of the most  powerful reasons is to let someone know you appreciate them.

Take advanatage of the free trial card avialable to you when you set up your own mini gift account. Now think of someone you appriciate, and send them a card. You’ll feel good and so will they.

remind  yourself that you get to give, not give to get

Why that’s simple: ( only after I had someone explain it to me!)

URL – Uniform Resource Locator

The full unique address of a file, such as an individual webpage, on the internet. An example of that would be my page for this blog- it reads as;

http://www.coachingwithcathy.com/wordpress/

Similarly the word Domain Name is the unique name used to identify and locate computers on a network- the internet or email.

Or, as I call it in plain English, your website’s name.  here’s mine:

www.CoachingWithCathy.com

In my business, I speak with many new business owners, who are not sure of the jargon that lies in the world of the web. It can seem overwhelming. And, to be fair, at time, many people in the technical side of things, forget we don’t all speak ‘web’.

That’s ok. Here’s a place you may want to bookmark;

Jargon Buster is a dictionary that has everything covered really well. Get to know what’s going  in the development of your website, as you work with your designer, so terms won’t  stump you.  It’s like my grade 3 teacher would say “just look it up in the dictionary, Cathy”

As in life, business  life is full of stories. Your business, no matter what it is- is the best vehicle for your own personal growth. Along the way, I’d like you to think of a  story you would like to share with us.

Whenever we learn something we can teach it to others. So what has been a big breakthrough for you, or a huge ‘aha’ moment in your business? Something compelling you want others to know and benefit from. Maybe it’s a lesson learned, and by sharing it, someone else won’t have to learn it the hard way. Here’s a few ideas to mull over…

Maybe it’s a piece around how to deal with not so nice customers.

How has getting a simple system in place been a life saver for you?

What is this amazing system?

What’s the most important part of networking for you?

Do you give to get- or get to give? What advise can you offer around sending cards to your customers?

What’s your why and how did you get into business?

Whatever your story is- please consider sharing it with others. Email me your story at

Cathy@coachingwithcathy.com and allow me to get your story out there!

If you are a service provider, you may have a hard time knowing just what your time is worth per hour. Occasionally I come across folks who after 7 years in business, still insist on doing  their own books. Yikes! Hire that task out! It is a task, and yes, I know you can do it- but why?

You really must be clear on what your time is worth per hour. You may be surprised to learn you are the highest paid bookkeeper, or file clerk  in town!

What a waste of billable hours. This is critical time when you should  be out marketing.

To find out what you are worth, here is an Hourly Rate Calculator, found on the Freelance Switch Rates site. It’s one of the best calculators out there that I have seen.

… should read- “I can’t afford not to spend money on marketing”

here’s the thing- if you are not a bricks and mortar style business or even if you are, you must take on a serious plan of marketing your business.

If you don’t keep your own pipe full, you’ll be out of business by next Tuesday! Keeping your pipe full simply equates to marketing yourself.

Here are 28 ways that we can market our business:

E-newsletters, articles, speaking engagements, networking, client contact via , phone calls, client appreciation events, find a joint venture partner, cost share ads, unaddressed ad mail,  (get great print material designed and written if you are not good at that), addressed lumpy snail mail, good old fashioned cards, prospecting to a warm market, give aways, contests, ads in your industries trade magazine, other magazines your target market reads, ads in the newspapers you believe your target market reads, send in your own press release, graphics on your vehicle, get interviewed on the radio, run spotlight ads on the radio, be seen on TV, have a fantastic professionally designed website that gives away something of value. Also, get yourself seen (heard) on social media, YouTube, be a guest speaker. Get known as an expert. Gather great success stories of your customers, and post them on your website.

I may have missed something – but I don’t think so—

If after reading that list, and you still say it all sounds expensive and  “I just can’t afford to market my business”  then maybe what you are doing is, well,  an expensive hobby!

Look closely at the suggestions I have made to see what ones you can begin to do that don’t cost a lot. In fact, tell yourself  “you are investing not only money, but time into your business.”  To be inspired about new ways to market, perhaps you could subscribe to several online marketing newsletters, and keep reading Coach’s Corner for easy to do marketing ideas that matters. Have you singed up yet?

www.CoachingWithCathy.com you’ll find the box to subscribe on the home page of my professionally designed website, where I also give away something of value!