Lucra®

High Performance Coaching for Entrepreneurs and Traders

Entrepreneurship

Seeing Your Vision Through

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Last week I went to see Sound of Freedom. Not only do I recommend you go see it (it’s only available in theaters), but the story of getting the movie out is a great example of seeing your vision through.

First, Disney shelved the movie after they acquired Fox, the original distributor. Then Netflix and Amazon refused to release the film.

It reminds me of the journey of so many entrepreneurs who have a vision, but no one else is interested. So do you throw it out or do whatever it takes to make your dream a reality?

Producer Eduardo Verástegui said,

“I took the movie out of Disney and then I started knocking doors with Netflix, Amazon, and other studios. And they all rejected it. Some of them didn’t even answer my phone calls. I said, ‘I have a very important project. This is for you. We want the whole world to see it and you have the platform. You have the right platform for this movement, please help us. It’s not about the movie anymore. It’s not about me. It’s about the children.’”

Angel Studios eventually picked up the film and engineered an astonishing theatrical release. According to Newsweek, “Sound of Freedom is continuing to surprise industry analysts with its strong performance at the box office, having just crossed the $100 million mark in North America, some three weeks after its release.”

I (along with thousands of others) already paid it forward, so if you can’t afford a ticket, you can claim a free ticket. ????️

CLAIM A FREE TICKET

The movie isn’t easy to watch. As they say in the film, the topic is too ugly for polite conversation. But that doesn’t mean the conversation shouldn’t happen.

Best Business Software

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If you’ve been frustrated with the software you use to run your business, I have a special offer for you today…

When I started out as an entrepreneur, I didn’t know anything about websites, webinars, or writing copy. One of the biggest frustrations I had back then was software. I tried cobbling together a variety of tools, but every time something would go wrong.

I experimented with MANY different software options. And when I started running ops for my husband’s company, I tried even more. Just to name a few, we had Infusionsoft (Keap), AWeber, ClickFunnels, Kajabi, LeadPages, and more. If there is a name brand out there that’s been around for more than a minute, I probably invested in it at one point. After years of frustration, I finally came across the one that solved almost all of my issues.

There is no one perfect software solution to do everything you could possibly want it to do in the way that you want it to do it.

But this one came close. And it’s one many people haven’t heard of: Ontraport.

I liked Ontraport so much that I went and became a Certified Consultant. And while hanging out with them at their Santa Barbara headquarters, I experienced the best part of the company: their people. I have lifelong friends I met there—some of whom you’ve heard on my podcast.

Here is just some of what they offer:

  • Client database/CRM so that you can keep track of your people
  • Squeeze pages/landing pages so that you can showcase your stuff
  • Email automation so that you can plan your sequences
  • Sales pages so that you can get the money ????
  • Membership sites so that you can host courses and content
  • An AI Copywriter so that you can write better copy faster ✍????

I use Ontraport myself and often recommend it to clients. Many of my clients have ditched WordPress because Ontraport can host most of what they need.

So I wanted to let you know that right now, Ontraport is offering new customers:

  • 50% off your first month after your FREE TRIAL
  • Plus Ontraport’s “done with you” onboarding and training package completely free (normally $897)

The only place to get the deal is by CLICKING HERE. If you go through the Ontraport homepage, the package will be listed at full price.

I can’t promise you that it will be the right fit for your needs; I can only tell you what’s worked for me. But I highly encourage you to take them up on THIS OFFER to test drive the software, talk to their people, and then make the best choice for you and your business.

If you have questions, drop them in the comments below. Happy to share my experience. But hurry, this offer is only through the end of July. ????️

Too Much Freedom?

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One of the struggles that newly minted entrepreneurs face is how to manage their schedules. If you’re anything like me, the corporate setting where you came from was so rigid and limiting, that once you escaped its grasp, you wanted absolute freedom to do your own thing on your own time.

The only problem is that not everyone is self-motivated or self-disciplined enough to do the things that need to be done without someone holding them accountable. When it’s YOU that has to keep you accountable, what do you do?

I heard a client once say that they now had, “Too much freedom.”

Most entrepreneurs that make it through the statistics of small business failure eventually find their way back to some sort of structure. Even though we may have snubbed our noses at schedules and SOPs, in truth, they are the building blocks to a healthy, sustainable business. ????????

The key distinction here is to find the schedule and structure that works for you.

When do you do your best work? Schedule your productive time around that.

When do you need a break? Build in time for an afternoon siesta or an energy-boosting morning workout.

When I hear clients say, “I don’t have time,” I ask them who is in charge of their time. You get to play this game as you see fit.

Once you establish a system that works, keep doing that. I can’t tell you how many clients I’ve worked with who say something like:

“I was doing this and it was working great, but I stopped doing it.”

“Why did you stop doing it?”

“I don’t know.” ????

Steven Pressfield talks about this in his classic on overcoming resistance, The War of Art. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to find that balance of freedom and structure.

Let’s compare energy and structure to water and a vase. The purpose of the vase is to contain the water—otherwise, it would just run all over the place.

Your energy is similar. It needs structures to maintain it to fulfill its purpose—otherwise, it just leaks out all over the place without getting anything done.

Get the Money First

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I’ve heard horror stories of people spending thousands (or tens of thousands) of dollars to “set up” their programs and online products.

This makes no sense to me.  ????????‍♀️

My advice is to get the money first.

That way you know if it’s even a viable product/service before you spend your time, money, and energy creating it.

After all, you may think it’s the most brilliant idea ever….

And it very well may be, but if no one agrees with you, the effort you put into it may be for naught.

Here’s how it worked out for one of my students…

“I took the course and immediately started implementing. I sold my own course. I took Mindie’s advice. She said, ‘Sell your course before you even create it.’ I took her advice. And I sold my course before I’d even done one video.” ~ Bettina Gordon

I’ll be doing a live webinar talking about how all of this works tomorrow if you’d like to learn more.

REGISTER NOW

The Reinvention of One’s Self

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Mike KoenigsMike Koenigs podcast joins the show to discuss everything from “enoughness” to psychedelics to how he’s reinvented himself multiple times. 

For over two decades, Mike has been educating, entertaining, motivating, and inspiring business owners, entrepreneurs, VP and C-level executives, coaches, consultants, advisors, service and health professionals build their platforms, amplify their message and become thought-leaders, authorities and celebrity influencers.

His compelling life story includes his recent near-death brush with stage 3a cancer, growing up lower middle-class in a small town in Eagle Lake, Minnesota, with severe ADHD, and “meeting” Tony Robbins through an infomercial that changed his life forever – 10 years later, he had an opportunity to work with Tony and be featured in a product and speak on his stage multiple times.

After successfully building and exiting from two companies and selling them to publicly traded companies, Mike can share relevant, actionable strategies that anyone can use—even if they’re starting from scratch.

His unique style inspires, empowers, and entertains audiences while giving them the tools and strategies they need and want to get seen and heard to build and grow successful sustainable brands and businesses.

Enjoy the show!

 

How to Follow Your Bliss (When it Feels Like Shit)

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“It is a terrifying experience to have your consciousness transformed.”
~ Joseph Campbell

If you’re even remotely immersed in the world of personal growth, you’ve heard the axiom “Follow your bliss” made famous by mythologist Joseph Campbell.  What you may not be aware of is that later in life, he regretted how his message had been belittled to mean, “Only do what feels good.”  He mused that he should have said, “Follow your blisters.”  After all, he wasn’t advocating a life of hedonism; he was encouraging people to transform their consciousness, which he himself described as a “terrifying experience.”

So what happens when you’re going through life, following said bliss, and a foreclosure notice shows up on your door?  Sure, you haven’t been able to pay all the bills, but you’re living out your purpose, right?
Or you’re out there changing the world and then you end up in bankruptcy court.
Or you’re coaching people on following their bliss, while you’re living out of your office.
Sound like bliss to you?  Me neither.  Yet, each of those experiences has been a part of following my bliss.
In this course, I’ll describe how to follow your bliss (and blisters) through the ups and downs.

Top 10 Big Ideas

1.  Redefine Bliss

Let’s get clear on what JC was talking about when he described bliss.  He states:

Now, I came to this idea of bliss because in Sanskrit, which is the great spiritual language of the world, there are three terms that represent the brink, the jumping-off place to the ocean of transcendence: Sat-Chit-Ananda. The word “Sat” means being. “Chit” means consciousness. “Ananda” means bliss or rapture. I thought, “I don’t know whether my consciousness is proper consciousness or not; I don’t know whether what I know of my being is my proper being or not; but I do know where my rapture is. So let me hang on to rapture, and that will bring me both my consciousness and my being.” I think it worked.

2.  Know What You’re Here To Do

I’ll share my simple three-step process to answer the seemingly monstrous question, “What am I here to do?”  You need to know where you’re going in order to head in the right direction.

3.  Accept the Gift of Setbacks

Often, you can glean great wisdom from the obstacles and roadblocks that come your way.  Perhaps there was a more efficient way to create something or you simply are a more balanced person for having learned patience.

4.  Avoid Spiritual Bypasses

It’s very easy for those of us self-aware individuals to gloss over the hardest parts of life and say “everything happens for a reason.”  I believe that is true, but be careful not to suppress the feelings and emotions that arise when bad things happen.  A spiritual bypass is when you attempt to jump over the processing part and land right in the “I’m stronger and wiser for having gone through that” part.

5.  Call in Your Advocates

You are not alone.  When the going gets tough, it’s crucial to call in your support buddies.  Be it family, friends, colleagues, whomever.   Create a network around yourself so that there are people in your life to whom you can reach out when needed.

6.  Get Moving!

I have spoken with clients who tell me they are meditating on what they should do next or journaling about it.  Meanwhile, nothing is changing in their experience.
I’ve been drawn into that trap, too:  practicing the law of attraction, being certain that the next right step will fall into my lap.
In my experience, it doesn’t happen quite that easily.  It’s possible, of course, but not for the majority of my clients and definitely not for me.  You need to get moving and take actual steps toward your purpose and your bliss.

7.  Celebrate Each Little Victory

It’s easy to put off celebrating until you’ve “made it.”  The big client, the lucrative deal…  However, it’s equally important to highlight the steps you have already taken in following your bliss.

8.  Reach Out for Help

Inc. Magazine published an article about how entrepreneurs often suffer in silence as they build their businesses.  After all, it’s typically a solo job with a lot of blood, sweat and tears.  Instead of the “fake it till you make it” mentality, it’s become more acceptable to show your vulnerabilities and reach out for help.  And this is very good news.

9.  Tune Out the Naysayers

You have to be a little bit crazy to do this type of work.  That is, excavating the depths of your heart, your soul, your unconscious mind.  As Shakespeare said, “to thine own self be true.”  No one else can define your path, or your bliss, for you.  You must walk the path yourself.

10.  Keep Going

The bottom line, and most important piece to remember here, is to keep going.  If you are certain of the path your heart would have you follow, persevere through the valleys and the hills.  There is transformation in both.  There is bliss in the journey.