I heard a fantastic illustration at a Masterclass I attended virtually, hosted by Eleanor Beaton that fits this to a T. She explained broad focus versus narrow focus using basketball. The point guard has to have broad and narrow focus. When he or she brings the ball down the court, they have to see the broad picture. That broad picture helps him to see where everyone is and to decide whether to pass the ball or create a play himself. That requires a narrowing of the focus. He can't see the hand that's up from his team mate asking him to pass them the ball if his focus is broad. Are point guards born that way? No, it's a skill he or she develops. In the same way, a manager has to be able to move between broad and narrow focus aka inclusive yet focused. It takes effort to develop that skill. My personal experience has been that the people who you manage don't expect you to be "nice." They do expect you to be fair. What makes them feel comfortable in your management style is the leadership you show. Can they trust your instincts? Have you invested enough in getting to know them individually such that they feel they can trust you even if they don't agree with you? Do you leverage their strengths in a way that makes them feel that their contribution matters? In essence, I discovered that problems with the people I was leading was more about me than it was about them. Please feel free to contact me to discuss further. I've been managing people since I was 10 years old and even at a young age, older people respected me even then. You see, I was the choir director and musician of my first choir at that age and oftentimes these were people who were old enough to be my parents and grandparents. I learned skills then that I have served me well in leading others.

It sounds pretty clever. I'm not certain that it's a problem to be solved however unless someone is trying to access a professional and have not been successful in doing so for whatever reason. I would suggest figuring out what other web-based networking sites aren't providing that your website would. For instance, what gap would you fill that say LinkedIn isn't? And another important question is who your target professional is. This might be attractive to Millenials but not so much with Baby Boomers. I hope this is helpful.

I have been where you are. I've had a "pay the bills" job but felt more alive when I was doing my own thing. Initially, when I launched my coaching business, it fell flat. Disappointed and embarrassed and having exhausted my reserves, I went back into traditional employment. When life brought me back around to coaching, I was scared to death to try again. What I learned however was the key to my success was in my failure. So I dared to look. And I dared to ask myself the hard questions. In my case, it was not having established a pool to draw clients from. So I focused my efforts on building my reputation as a coach and getting in front of people whom my message resonated with. Before you throw in the towel, I encourage you to dig a little deeper. If you need some help with digging and an objective set of eyes, contact me. Regardless, lose that feeling! Your skills are completely transferable and can help you to gauge if the job is a good fit or not. Simply highlight the skills you've gained on your resume and your job interview that would make you an asset to that company. The right one will not hesitate to scoop you right up!

I love the answers so far. I'll add my two cents. I've been a life and relationship coach, author and businesswoman for over a decade. When I first got my certification, I created my website, got my business cards printed, wrote my first article to drive traffic to my site and waited. I was hopeful as I waited for what I just knew would happen. Someone would see how wonderful I was and would seek me out to provide them services. That didn't happen. Without knowing what your business is about, it is hard to give you the specialized answer that it may require, but I learned a thing or two from my initial experience. And since, I've learned a thing or two about getting clients. Here are a couple: When I wrote my first book, I had a launch. Product launches are great! They build excitement and create a great atmosphere that encourages buying. There are so many strategies that can turn that into a profitable event. When it came to coaching, I took another route. I actually coached my first client pro bono. Some folks might tell you to not do that; but if you have done your homework and have a strategy in place, it can be quite beneficial. With a strategy, I was able to turn my first pro bono coaching client into a paying client. Some of the others have hit the nail on the head. When a person is convinced that you are what they have been looking for and you give them an irresistible offer, there is nothing more than for them to buy. I'd love to assist you in coming up with a strategy that works for your business and explore other ways that I can be of assistance. Email me at contact@suzetterhinton.com and let's get you that first client!

Sounds like after the thrill of a new venture (building a new startup), life returns to the normal day-to-day. I totally get it. There is nothing like the rush that comes with forging new territory. It's exciting. Like a roller coaster ride, it has thrills and chills. There is a saying, "Where ever you are, there you will be." So no matter where you move, you will be taking yourself with you. In what ways are you not challenging yourself to grow beyond building new startups? Is there a way you can delegate some of the more routine tasks to someone on your team who enjoys predictability? I, like many, can be a creature of habit. I can work from my home-based business all day long and not go outside my front door; but at the end of the day, I've missed the beautiful fall weather, the sun on my face and the energy I draw from it. Find out what is your energy source and integrate it into the way you do your work. For me, it is getting dressed and going outside my normal place of work. For others, it's streaming in new music or setting up their laptop at Starbucks. Find your energizer and plug in! To keep you accountable to doing just that, contact me for a free consultation. I'd love to help you in moving forward.

Great question! I am a small business owner and a bookkeeper for many years. What I can tell you is there are CPA firms that offer both higher level accounting such as tax return prep and filing as well as bookkeeping services. In short, it is super duper expensive to have such a service do both. I also concur with those who point out having proper checks and balances. It is very important as bookkeeping and tax return preparation impact one another but are two different types of specialization to have them done separately. This has worked best for my clients. I would love to talk more with you about how we have assisted clients in keeping their books in pristine condition. Contact me for a free consultation.

Oh my goodness, you are speaking the sentiments of my heart just a month or so ago. You get a tip about something you are interested in but have to subscribe to get it and then a gush of emails follows. You've been given some great advice about not looking to the left or the right but maintain your own thing. That is easier said than done. Usually there is a reason why we feel compelled to log on to these various social media platforms. We want to know how we are doing compared to other folks. Especially if we are new business owners, there is a feeling of being thrown into the deep end of the pool and you can't feel anything solid underneath you. It's SCARY! This I can tell that part of you that wants to do it right, wants to be enough, wants to be ahead of the pack, same as I told myself, stay away from what does not inspire you. I found that constantly looking at what others were doing or saying I should do was so deafening that I could not hear the voice of my own inspiration for doing what I do. There is something Wise inside of you that recognizes when something is for you and when it's not. There is also something magical about being on your authentic path. Stuff comes to you that you're suppose to know. So the way I deal with information overload is I stay connected to what inspires me, what ignites my creativity, what makes me feel alive. If a subject doesn't do that, I ignore it. If it perks my curiosity, I check it out. When I do that, what others are doing is of no consequence, neither is it my business. That's why it is imperative that you get clear on why you are doing what you are doing and what is your truest reward for doing it. You are as unique as your DNA. There is no comparison. There is no competition. The key is to stay true to your pathway.

Hi I'm Suzette and I'm a triglomerate entrepreneur. In 2013, I started three businesses at the same time. This is not to in any way give kudos to overachiever-aholics...lol. The only reason that it worked was because finding the money in my hobbies was an authentic leap into the world of entrepreneurship. What allowed me to do such a thing without becoming swallowed up in the process? The guidance of a business coach. Had I not had someone experienced to help me to dig inside and find the money waiting to be discovered, I would not have survived. That is what I would put in my survival kit. You see, I had tried starting a coaching business back in 2006 but it fell flat because all I had was a dream. I got certified, hung my shingle but nobody came. Feeling like a failure, I went back into traditional employment. It was 6 years later that I found myself face-to-face with what I had left in defeat. But this time, I hired a business coach to help me. It was one of the BEST decisions I ever made. I am doing what is my definition of success. I am living my life on my terms, doing fulfilling work, waking up every morning excited about my day and generating the revenues needed to support all the above.

When I was 18 years old, I only knew that my parents said I was going to college. I had NO IDEA what I wanted to do and even when I declared my major Junior year, it was a toss up between Mathematics and Psychology. I chose Mathematics because I was told this was the quickest route to making money. In hindsight, I know that Psychology most resonated. I said all that to say, don't feel badly that you don't know what you want to do at age 18. I didn't either. You are already ahead of me though in that you are asking for advice. You are to be commended! Though you've said you have no clue about what you want to do, you seem to be drawn to entrepreneurship. I myself am an entrepreneur. Here's where I'd encourage you to get clear. By definition, an entrepreneur is someone who starts a business and assumes all the risk for it. That's it put simply. There are more elaborate definitions out there but this is most concise. For entrepreneurs, while money may not be the motivator, it does require money to run your business or to sell your product or service. What I would advise is to get around entrepreneurs and talk with them about what they do. Creativity sparks creativity. So if someone says something that perks your interest or makes something inside of you leap to attention, that is your like-minded person to follow. Learn all you can about the person and from the person. See if there are volunteer opportunities or internships where you can offer your services. For many, that has been their entryway into inspired work and the discovery of a fulfilling career. You said something significant. You never believed in any of your ideas. Perhaps it's because they came from your head and not your heart. When what you do is inspired, it comes from your heart and your mind serves it, not the other way around. I hope what I have said is helpful. I would love to talk with you more. Part of my work as a coach is to help you to discover your authentic path. Contact me for a free consultation.

April 1, 2013 was the day that I signed a contract with a small company for my virtual assistance/bookkeeping services. It was a proud day! The way that it happened was quite unconventional. The short of it: My relationship with this customer started out as my working part-time as an employee of a staffing agency. Yet inside I felt that if I provided great services, I would be able to make them my customer. At the end of my assignment, I signed them as my first customer and was able to become 100% self employed. You don't have to do it as I did, but I do believe that it is key to make a major connection that demonstrates the quality of your services. Especially when you're a newbie. You may be offered employment, as I was, but if the customer really wants your services, they will have you on your terms. Another key is to make sure to establish your startup as an LLC or corporation. I say this because IRS guidelines are more clear when it comes to differentiating between employees and subcontractors. And enforcement of those guidelines has become stricter. You have to make sure your i's are dotted and t's are crossed in this regard. Otherwise, it can be bad for you or any customer that utilizes your services. I would love to talk with you about other things you can do. Contact me and let's talk further.