The Next Level Challenge – Day 2

Hi!

 I’m so happy that you are joining me for Day 2 of the Next Level Challenge!  Today, we’re talking about something called oxygen based thinking.

I was first introduced to this concept by John Assaraf in his book Having It All.  Oxygen based thinking is all about setting your mind in a way that leads you to do only those things that are absolutely necessary and required to the task or mission ahead. This type of thinking, Assaraf asserts, will provide you with the best possible results in the least amount of time.

Do you remember the story of the Apollo 13 mission?  If you’ve read about it or have seen the movie, you know that in the end, as the astronauts were trying to make it back to Earth, they had one goal in mind – getting  home safely.  They were running out of oxygen and had no time to waste.  They were focused and their minds were set only on those thoughts that would allow them to reach their intended destination.

No time for whining or complaining.  No time for excuses or thinking about what could have or should have been. No time for pointing fingers or placing blame. They didn’t even have time to think of all the things that they didn’t have at their disposal.  To think about any of those things would have depleted the energy they needed to accomplish their mission.  Their “oxygen based thinking” saved their lives.

The same focused thinking the Apollo 13 astronauts used to successfully accomplish their mission is the same type of thinking you’ll need if you want to take your business to the next level.

How to you apply oxygen based thinking to your business?  Philippians 4:8 provides a wonderful guide:

 “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (New Living Translation)

 This verse shows us exactly the way we should think to take our businesses and lives to the next level.

  1. Make time each day to fix your thoughts. Laser focus does not come by accident.  You must be intentional about keeping your mind on track.
  2.  Fill your mind with good thoughts. When you load your mind with thoughts of things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, there is no room for thoughts of “I can’t”, “What if”, or “I should have.”
  3. Focus on things that are excellent and worthy of praise.You get more of what you think about most.  Instead of dwelling on all those things that you don’t have, concentrate on all the good things you do have.  When you do, you’ll begin to attract even better things into your life.

Think About This….

How have you allowed distracting thoughts to hinder your business progress?

 How can you apply oxygen based thinking to your business?

 

A Call To Acton

Start a gratitude ritual.  Take a few moments each day to connect with the good things that are happening in your life.

Well, that’s it for today.  Remember the Laser Coaching Moment is all about helping you to flourish-not only in your business but in every aspect of your life

Until the next time we meet, I’m wishing you lots of passion, purpose, and profits!

Benecia

BeneciaPonderTVBenecia Ponder
Business Success Coach and creator of The Next Level Master Class
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/beneciaponderfanpage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/beneciaponder
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BeneciaPonderTV

Christian Women Entrepreneurs Going To The Next Level – Day 1

Hi, Everyone!

Welcome to today’s edition of the Laser Coaching Moment with Benecia Ponder.  As a business success coach for Christian women, I’ve noticed something very disheartening—Women, and Christian women in particular—are playing it too small when it comes to their businesses and personal lives.   Despite the fact that we’ve shattered the corporate glass ceiling, we are still in a box when it comes to entrepreneurial ventures.

Christian Women Entrepreneurs Business Success That’s why I’ve devoted the month of March to helping Christian women entrepreneurs grow bigger and better businesses—the right way.  For the entire month, the theme of the Laser Coaching Moment is – Christian Women Entrepreneurs Going To the Next Level.

Each weekday in March, I’ll come to you with a spiritually-centered tip that will help you to catapult your business and life success.

Today’s tip comes from Proverbs 3:5-6.—“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.”

There are two very important lessons in this verse:

  1. Trust in God. Your road to greater business success starts when you put your business in His hands.  If you’ve found yourself running around in circles trying to grow your business, it could be vecasue you are not allowing Him to direct your path.
  2. Lean not to your own understanding.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help. One of the biggest downfalls for entrepreneurs is the “know it all” syndrome.  When we think we know everything there is to know about our business, we limit our ability to succeed.  Create your own circle of trusted advisors, mentors, and coaches.

Think About This….

What area of your business do you not trust God to handle?

 What new things do you need to learn to take your business to the next level?

 A Call To Acton

During your prayer time today, ask God to help you trust Him with your business and show you the things you need to learn. 

BeneciaPonderTVBenecia Ponder
Business Success Coach and creator of The Next Level Master Class
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/beneciaponderfanpage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/beneciaponder
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BeneciaPonderTV

 

52 Books Every Prosperous Entrepreneur Should Read

Intelligence is a key characteristic of a prosperous entrepreneur. This intelligence goes far beyond becoming an expert in your chosen industry. To truly thrive as a business owner, you must have keen business acumen as well as emotional and social intelligence.

In an effort to help you strengthen your intelligence as a prosperous Christian woman entrepreneur, I’ve compiled a list of books that should be in your library. This is by no means a comprehensive list of every book you should read, but it’s a great start.

To grow as an entrepreneur,, I read an average of one new book per week – that’s about 52 books per year. This may sound like a huge time investment, but I guarantee you it will pay off.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
practical guides for business success

 The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki
 The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber
 Growing a Business by Paul Hawken
 Small Business Cash Flow: Strategies for Making Your Business a Financial Success by Denise O’Berry
 Jump Start Your Business Brain by Doug Hall

STRATEGY
developing your business’ success blueprint

 In Search of Excellence by Thomas J. Peters and Robert H. Waterman, Jr.
 Good to Great by Jim Collins
 The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen
 The Little Big Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence by Tom Peters
 Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance? by Louis V. Gerstner, Jr.
 Discovering the Soul of Service by Leonard Berry
 Execution by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan
 Competing for the Future by Gary Hamel and C. K. Prahalad

MARKETING
attracting your ideal clients

 Influence by Robert B. Cialdini, PhD
 Positioning by Al Ries and Jack Trout
 Zag by Marty Neumeier
 How to be Your Own Publicist by Jessica Hatchigan
 Permission Marketing : Turning Strangers Into Friends And Friends Into Customers by Seth Godin
 You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself by Harry BeckwithCrossing the Chasm by Geoffrey A. Moore
 Secrets of Closing the Sale by Zig Ziglar
 How to Become a Rainmaker by Jeffrey J. Fox
 Why We Buy by Paco Underhill
 The Referral Engine by John JantschThe Experience Economy by B. Joseph Pine II and James H. Gilmore
 Purple Cow by Seth Godin
 The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
 How to Sell When Nobody is Buying by Dave Lakhani

LEADERSHIP
inspiring & motivating those around you

 Control Your Destiny or Someone Else Will by Tichy and Sherman
 Leading Change by John P. Kotter
 The 360 Degree Leader by John Maxwell
 Leadership from the Inside Out: Becoming a Leader for Life by Kevin Cashman
 The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You by John C. Maxwell
 EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
bringing out the best in YOU

 The Bible
 Be Excellent at Anything: The Four Keys To Transforming the Way We Work and Live by Tony Schwartz, Jean Gomes , and Catherine McCarthy
 How Did I Get So Busy ? by Valorie Burton
 The Power of Full Engagement by byJim Loehr,Tony Schwartz
 The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
 Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman
 Change Your Brain, Change Your Life by Daniel Amen, MD
 The Art of Extreme Self-Care: Transform Your Life One Month at a Time by Cheryl Richardson
 Flow by Mihaly Csikzentmihalyi
 Getting Things Done by David Allen
 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
 Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss/Theodore Geisel
 Chasing Daylight by Eugene O’Kelly
 The Richest Man In Babylon by George S. Clason

BUSINESS ROLE MODELS
learning from the best

 Titan by Ron Chernow
 My Years with General Motors by Alfred P. Sloan, Jr.
 The HP Way by David Packard
 Personal History by Katharine Graham
 Moments of Truth by Jan Carlzon
 Sam Walton: Made in America by Sam Walton with John Huey
Develop A Business That Brings Out The Best In You!

As a former attorney and business development strategist, Benecia L. Ponder has more than six years experience helping entrepreneurs build successful business enterprises. Trained by the Coaching and Positive Psychology Institute, Benecia utilizes the cutting-edge techniques and tools provided by the research and evidence-based field of positive psychology to translate her wisdom and insight into dynamic and innovative coaching products. For more information about Benecia, visit www.beneciaponder.com.

 

Self-Care Fridays – Savor Your Life

Hi! Welcome to today’s edition of the Flourishing Entrepreneur Laser Coaching Moment. Today is Friday and we’re taking the time out to savor your life.

On your journey to greater levels of success, it is important that you take time to actually enjoy where you are right now. As Jim Rohn once said – “Learn to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want.”

Enjoy!

Until the next time we meet, I’m wishing you lots of passion, purpose, and profits!

BeneciaPonderTVBenecia Ponder
Entrepreneur Success Coach and Founder of The Flourishing Entrepreneur
http://theflourishingentrepreneur.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/beneciaponderfanpage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/beneciaponder
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BeneciaPonderTV

Put the Law of Attraction Into Action

Hi! Welcome to this edition of The Flourishing Entrepreneur Laser Coaching Moment. In this edition, I challenge you to get into action.

The riddle I share makes you think about what it really means to get into action. Don’t just envision a better business and better life, take the necessary action to make it happen!

Enjoy!

Benecia Ponder
founder of The Flourishing Entrepreneur Master Class
http://theflourishingentrepreneur.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/beneciaponderfanpage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/beneciaponder