RKA Note: Today’s tip comes to you from awesomepreneur Megan Monique, thanks to the Hungry Entrepreneurs guest post swap. Annie + Jennie couldn’t have partnered me with anyone more perfect than Megan Monique, the virtual goddess of Intuitive Marketing & Design. Megan and I share a passion for heart-centered entrepreneurship and I am very proud to join Megan as contributors to the Amazon bestseller eBooks Suck! (But They Don’t Have To). 

I’ve been offering online courses and making a living by working as an online entrepreneur for over 5 years now. There’s one thing I seem to learn & teach over and over again….

Always choose what feels good for YOU.

When I started out working for myself under the name “If I Were a Rainbow” on a not-so-great website (that’s actually still live,) I was hungry for advice and experience.

I’d been a virtual assistant before. So I knew my way around, but I only had an idea of how an eCourse was put to together; no real experience.

It’s so easy to google search “how to build an eCourse” and go step by step with someone elses advice. Not to say other peoples experiences aren’t valuable, (I’ll get to that later,) but what’s most important in creating your work is that what you are doing amazing to YOU.

I’m not a big online researcher, but one thing I do a lot of is ask around for advice. There’s no greater feedback to receive than that of someone you love, respect and even admire on a topic that you’re passionate about.

So, when I created my first eCourse, ROOTED an online experience that explored the Root Chakra, I asked around to everyone I knew.

How do you create your courses?

What programs did you use?

Do you have any pointers for something you wish you knew in the beginning?

How many people were in your first course?

What did you charge per person?

How long was it?

Over time, I lead more eCourses. Some of them were total flops. And the ones that did flop, did so because I went by someone elses playbook instead of my own.

My point is this. Ask for everyones advice. Google search the shit out of some ideas and strategies for your project or idea. But at the end of the day, when you start to take action, only use those ideas if they feel GREAT for you to do. If they feel in alignment with what you’re trying to create and if they amplify the message you want to send out into the world.

If they don’t feel good, toss em.

Modify them.

And above all else, trust yourself. This is where your true heartwork lies.

Tip #43 for working with heart – find where your true heartwork lies.

Fierce self awareness + acceptance

Ignite the body

Refuel mind + soul

Elevate your life

Thatz hot. And so is Amanda’s tip, which I couldn’t love more if I tried. For more hot tips, posts, and videos, say hello to Amanda at GradMeetsWorld.org.

Amanda’s Awesome Tip
For Working With Heart:

Give more than you get.

Ah, the sweet sounds of heartwork in the morning. I can hear the fire a’cracklin’. (And I also hear this. Any other millenial Garth Brooks fans in the house…? Anyone? Hello…?) Thank you, Amanda!

Tip #42 for working with heart – give more than you get.

Don’t forget to check back tomorrow to get your vote on and support your favorite guest awesomepreneur!

p.s. you can totally pin this. (we did! we think it’s purty.)

For more on why we’re head over heels for Sarah’s heartwork, check out her tip. Then, check out her stationery. Yeah. In that order.

Sarah’s Awesome Tip For Working With Heart:

After spending a year doing design work in a retail setting, I decided that when I set off on my own, I won’t make it all about the money. I have resources that allow me to trim down costs so that a client can get what they want at a price they can afford, and it allows me to feel good about the fact that I’m not extorting money from people who have other worries on their minds. It’s about making people feel good.

Tip #41 for working with heart – it’s not all about the $$$.

]]> http://www.rkaink.com/2013/02/09/tip-41-its-not-all-about-the/feed/ 0 http://www.rkaink.com/2013/02/08/tip-40-dont-let-comparisons-steal-your-joy/ http://www.rkaink.com/2013/02/08/tip-40-dont-let-comparisons-steal-your-joy/#comments Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:01:08 +0000 Rachael Kay Albers http://www.rkaink.com/?p=1938 Today’s tip comes from (not) just another hardworking chick: Bridget Kuglin of Sweet B Designs. (See her adorable logo to complete the pun.)

Sweet B Designs is the perfect example of heartwork-in-action: Bridget blends art + strategy + communication to do what she loves (make mad pretty things) so her clients can keep doing what they love (make a mad good living). The results are graphic design, branding, and marketing services sweetly tailored to small businesses. See for yourself.

Bridget’s Awesome Tip For Working With Heart:

Life is a project! Your BUSINESS is a project! Don’t get down on yourself for making mistakes because THOSE mistakes are what will make you better. If you can learn from them and improve yourself, then that’s all you need.

It can be intimidating to see someone you admire and think, “How am I ever going to be that good/successful/talented?” Remember that they were once EXACTLY where you are. They weren’t born successful, they had to work for it.  In other words, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Do what you can and be happy with what you do. Don’t compare, just put your nose down and drive yourself forward. Always be driving yourself forward. Which goes back to my mantra that “Life is a project.”

Recognize that what seems like a downfall is really a lesson to be learned and a chance to improve in your life and your business.

Tip #40 for working with heart – don’t let comparisons steal your joy.

Photo credit: Bridges and Balloons

Prefacing his tip, I’d like to tell you that Javier is a man of few words. But that’s simply not true. Javier’s a man of so many words he doesn’t know what to do with them all. (Multiply those words by four–the number of languages he speaks–and you have a friend and a wind-up party trick. Just add coffee. He goes for hours.)

But Javier opted to make his tip a reflection of his true self: short and sweet. Hey. Sometimes people surprise you.

Javier’s Awesome Tip For Working With Heart:

Give your best and hope for the rest.

I repeat…

Tip #39 for working with heart – give your best and hope for the rest.

For more Javier wisdom, check out his Facebook page Del Subjuntivo y Otros Demonios. Because the subjunctive will haunt your dreams.

When she’s not making the world a brand-er place, Larissa rocks the hottest blog in town. Get your drool on. Then, get your tip on:

Larissa’s Awesome Tip For Working With Heart:

My tip for working with heart is to be your own #1 fan. Sometimes work can be a grind and you can feel unappreciated or like you’ll never get another client; just ask yourself what you’d say to your best friend if they were going through the same thing and that’s what you should tell yourself! Work is like relationships, you have to love yourself before someone else can love you <3

Tip #38 for working with heart – be your own #1 fan.

Watch Drew pull a rabbit out of his hat with Tip #37:

Drew’s Awesome Tip For Working With Heart:

In your life, which statement rings true?
1) “I don’t have time for [?]“, or
2) “I choose not to make time for [?]”

In order to be awesome, in all of the wonderful and exciting ways we can be, we need to understand that often the answer is #2.  By moving away from #1 (excuse) to #2 (personal accountability) we can start ensuring we make time (or more time) for our Heartwork.  Here are a few ideas to plan for success and help you find some precious time (that you didn’t have):

• Set specific goals. Whether you set goals for time spent or tasks accomplished, make sure you set them.  SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Reasonable, Timely) are the most effective.  Pay extra attention to “Reasonable” when first starting out, as life tends to get in the way of unrealistic goals.  For larger projects or complex tasks look to break them down into smaller pieces and set SMART goals for the smaller pieces.  Use reminders that work for you (post-its, smart phone apps, alarms, task trackers, etc.) and experiment with the mix that keeps you on track but isn’t cumbersome to manage.

• Plan for success.  Be realistic about how long it will really take, and also include time to prep and clean-up.  Some advanced planning and preparation can mean the difference between “project completed” and “yet another partially completed project.”

• Be accountable.  You are the captain of your ship, and the master of your fate.  If you make promises to yourself, then do everything you can to keep them.  Sometimes being accountable to someone else helps with motivation, so tell a friend your intent on completing the task or project and plan to let them know when you are done.

Empower yourself through SMART goals, a little planning, and always delivering on your promises to create a powerful new statement:

3) “I make time for [my Heartwork], and it makes all the difference!”

Tip #37 for working with heart – set specific goals, plan for success, be accountable.

If you love Drew’s tip as much as I do, be sure to vote for him next Monday and make him a lucky awesomepreneur!

Today’s tip comes from Naraya Urban-Winterfeldt, founder of YOUth Shift Africa, the organization we’re partnering with this summer for Awesome Girls Shift Africa 2013. We’re accepting applications for women Awakeneers through March 1, 2013 so be sure to check out the details and share with the awesome women in your life.

Take it away, Naraya!

Naraya’s Awesome Tip For Working With Heart:

Find that within which truly makes your Heart sing with joy and aliveness and follow it to the exclusion of all else. The circumstances have to follow, it is The Law!

Case closed.

Tip #36 for working with heart – be a follower.

More details on what you could win here.

So, why exactly do you need a Facebook Business Page? I’m glad you asked.

The Top 10 Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Facebook Page:

1. Reach a wider audience – Facebook allows you to connect with visitors from across the globe, expanding your reach and putting you in touch with a whole new body of potential customers.

2. Learn more about your customers – Unlike personal Facebook profiles, Facebook Business Pages provide you with key insights and analytics that allow you to quickly and efficiently measure what your customers really want.

3. Solidify your brand identity – Facebook gives you countless ways to increase brand awareness, from your cover photo and tab windows, to full-width multimedia posts, highlights, and pins.

4. Promote your products and services – Customized tabs, sponsored posts, and Facebook ads allow you to plug your products and services with eye-catching promotions that invite interaction. Plus, you can pinch your ad pennies by targeting promotions to your ideal clients, putting your best stuff directly in front of the people who are looking for you.

5. Rank higher on Google – Facebook Pages (as opposed to personal profiles) are indexed by Google, giving you a big ol’ SEO boost and making it easier for your clients to find you in search engine results.

6. Create an engaged community – Your Facebook Page is the perfect place for your clients, fans, and supporters to come together and rally around your business, building brand loyalty and creating a sense of belonging that will help you keep your customers for life!

7. Instantly connect with your customers – By regularly posting news, updates, and promotions on your Facebook page, you keep your clients “in the know” about what’s happening with your business while nudging buyers on the borderline towards making a purchase.

8. Stay on top of your competitors – If your competitors aren’t using Facebook yet, it’s only a matter of time before they will be! Show your fans you’re one step ahead of the curve by maximizing your available social media tools and making it easy for your Facebook-loving clients to connect with you.

9. Drive traffic to your website or blog – Last year, Sephora launched a 15-Day Facebook campaign to drive traffic to their newly redesigned website: they succeeded, growing their fan base six times and recording more Facebook-driven website sales than ever before. If your website is the jewel in your crown, a Facebook page will only increase its sparkle!

10. Save money – Facebook Pages are free to open and you can begin advertising to your target audience for as little as $10. What are you waiting for?

I love Facebook Pages so much I’ve got THREE of ‘em. Hopefully you’re already a fan of facebook.com/Awesomepreneurship. Keep up with all things RKA ink on facebook.com/RKAink, where you best get your contest on! Ends today at midnight! And for updates on my art + activism in Latin America, check out facebook.com/RKAinLA.

Happy Facebooking!

Tip #35 for working with heart – get your biz a Facebook Page.