Imagine Your Reality

The latest episode of Social Media coach focuses on Social Media Policies. Next week’s show will focus on desktops and laptops vs mobile for social media.

Also this coming Wednesday I’ll be interviewing Jerry Fletcher, the Networking Ninja, for the Imagine Your Reality Radio show.

Finally Bret Berthoft, has recently started his own podcast called The Face of Media. Check it out and give it a listen!

My Latest radio show is on the importance of streamlining your business. What does that mean? Listen to the show and find out!

Why events and classes can really help you grow your business

The other day there was a class on e-newsletters taught by Bob and Judy Dunn from Catseye Marketing. I went to the class and found it insightful for helping me work on one of my latest projects: my own newsletter. After I left the class, I thought about how it was likely that the presenters would get some business from the class. It might not be direct clients from the participants of the class…it could be referrals from the attendees, but regardless these presenters would likely get some business from simply presenting a class.

I went to the class because I didn’t know a lot about e-newsletters. I’ve just created one and I wanted to know what else I could do with it, beyond the obvious. And I did get a lot of information from that class, which I’m starting to implement in my newsletter. All of that information showed me why newsletters were beneficial to my business and how they could be used to grow my business.

There are two ways events and classes can grow your business and I’ve already hinted at them above, but I’ll speak directly to them now.

First, being a speaker/presenter can be an excellent way to grow your business. Not only does it allow you to demonstrate your credibility and authority, but it can also lead to direct business, especially if you pass out an evaluation form, which allows people to provide feedback and indicate if they want particular services or other information. Remember to follow-up with people promptly, so that they know you are as interested in them as they are in you.

Second, attending classes can be an excellent way to learn new ideas and techniques for improving your business. No matter how much you might think you know, there’s always more to learn. And what you learn can sometimes bring you some business because it helps you change something in your business formula, which is otherwise holding you back. I have definitely found attending classes useful because it gives me opportunities to learn not only from the presenter, but also my fellow attendees.

It’s not hard to become a presenter and it’s definitely not hard to attend a class. Both approaches can help you generate business, and also let you learn more about yourself and your business.

Upcoming Events

Play To your Strengths and Delegate your Weaknesses! Teleclass

Do you feel like you’re always trying to fix your weaknesses in your business, instead of focusing on your strengths? Do you find yourself doing a task which leaves you feeling drained and unhappy? Are you feeling business Burnout, where you just don’t want to work on your business anymore?

If your answer is yes, come to this discussion which emphasizes playing to your strengths, while delegating what you are weak in to people or technology which can do the job for you, so you can focus on doing what you love.

For more information about this event, please visit the Events page.

How to know when your Book is ready to be published! Teleclass

If you find yourself keeping your writing in a desk and only bringing it out when it’s time to go to your writing group, this class is for you. There’s a time to write, edit, and revise, and there’s a time to let your writing go. In this class, we focus on recognizing when it’s time to let your writing go, and get it published.

For more information about this event, please visit the Events page.

Why do I need Social Networking for my Business? Yes, you can do it less than one hour a week.

Social networking is a hot topic in businesses today. Many of us are not sure how it helps grow our business or acquire new clients or where we will have the time to add one more thing to our hectic lives. However, one thing is for sure, if we don’t come and find out, we will never have answers to these questions.

In this program, Taylor Ellwood will explain what social networking is, why it’s important to be on these sites, and how it can benefit you and your business. Hew will explain how to automate your social networking presence so you only need to spend one hour a week and still have time to run your business and live your life.

For more information about this event, please visit the Events page.

The Eleven Elements of Business: How to use your Strengths to grow your business Teleclass

Do you know what your business strengths and weaknesses are? Are you leveraging your strengths to grow your business? In this twelve week class, we will focus on how you can effectively grow your business by focusing on your strengths and delegating your weaknesses. You will also learn my secret for making a business successful, by learning how to use your discomfort to grow your skills and business awareness.

For more information about this event, please visit the Events page.

How to Build a Marketing Platform to publish and sell your Book Teleclass

You can write the most elegant and wonderful book in the world, but unless you have an excellent marketing platform to promote that book, publishers won’t touch it. Drawing on my experienced as a published author and a Managing Non-Fiction Editor for a small press, I will explain how you can create a successful marketing platform that will wow your publisher and agent, while also entertaining and informing the intended audience, your readers.

For more information about this event, please visit the Events page.

This week’s radio show is on How to be of service to others in a down economy. Next week’s show will be on how to automate your business life so you have more time for your family and friends.

The need to Evolve Your Business

Just as life is never static, neither is your business. A friend of mine recently changed directions in her business. She’d been offering bookkeeping services, but recently realized she had a lot more to offer to businesses, in terms of not only money management, but how they manage there overall processes (I’ll be interviewing her in two weeks about her new business direction in the radio show). Seeing her start through this process of evolution has been really inspiring for me. And, of course, it also speaks to something essential to any business: Which is how do I adapt and/or evolve my business to meet the current circumstances of the economy? How can I be of the best possible service to my clients?

I’ve been pondering this question a lot, over the past year. It’s now the one year anniversary of Imagine Your Reality and to say that this business has evolved is to put it lightly. I originally started with a vague idea that I would coach people on creativity and wealth, and gradually as I refined my business strategy and tactics, my business became more and more focused. Now I’m a business and writing coach. However, even this is continuing to be refined, as I have begun to specialize in helping people master and understand social media sites and technology.

But there’s also another form of evolution at work, which is the need to use the right tools and technology for the right task. I’ve recently signed up for constant contact, and will soon be starting up an email newsletter. I still intend to write in this blog and post my radio shows and occasional video clips here, but I realized recently that adding an email marketing component to my toolbox could really be used to enhance awareness of the classes I offer, as well as other special deals. That and continuing to learn more about social media tools in general, as well as a continued desire to automate my business and teach others how to automate their businesses shows me that my business is continuing to evolve into a specific niche, with a specific focus on what I offer people. And…this is really good, because people are clear on what I’m offering and on how it can benefit them, and if they need it.

Businesses evolve because times change and our clients change. We need to evolve with the times and the clients in order to be viable to them.

This week Kare Anderson of Say It Better Center was interviewed by me about the elements of communication and public speaking. We also had a guest caller, the very first! Next week I will be doing half-hour show on books I have found enjoyable and useful in my journey to grow my business and change my thinking on prosperity. These books include Think Two Products Ahead by Ben Mack, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, The Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker.

The Business of Writing

I’ve focused a lot on small business and different aspects of small business that business owners need to consider as they work to grow and/or maintain their businesses. I am also a writing coach, and so for the next few posts I’m going to focus more on the business of writing. However business owners who read this newsletter shouldn’t tune out, because what I’m writing about is applicable to running a small business, and also because writing is a method for teaching people about your business.

When a lot of writers think about writing, they usually imagine themselves in a study or library writing away without a care in the world. The reality of writing, is that while actually doing writing is very important, there are other aspects involving writing which are equally important. Writing to publish a book means that you’ve chosen writing as a career choice. Now you might stop me and say, “But I work a full-time job. I don’t have time for another career!” Instead of telling you not to write that book, I’ll just say that writing can be a part-time career, but once you decide you really want to publish a book writing does become a career.

The reason writing becomes a career is because at that point you are committing yourself to developing a marketing platform or position which highlights your skills as an expert on the subject and also shows publishers that you are willing to do a variety of activities to promote your book, so that it will sell. It’s no longer just about the writing. And while writing is still an essential component of what you do, it’s not the only component or activity. For many authors, this is a hard reality to face, because many of them come into writing unprepared to market themselves, with a rosy vision that the publisher will not only arrange book signings and publicity events, but also cover all the travel costs of the author. While this can occur for an author, it’s rare for it to happen, and the author is someone who is usually well-established and well-known.

By approaching writing as a career you can plan on how to market your writing and promote yourself as an authority. Additionally you can get involved in public speaking and make money offering speeches on your area of expertise, while also selling your book. Writing as a career involves learning many skills that can help you communicate better in your writing, and result in writing sequels to what you’ve already published. In subsequent editions of this newletter we will focus on particular aspects of the business of writing, so tune in to learn more about what makes a writer successful.

On Thursday, Imagine Your Reality Radio will be interviewing Abigail Dougherty at 9PM Pacific Standard Time. Tune in to check the show out and call-in.

******

The last couple of newsletters have focused on attitude and how important it is for running a business. Today I’m writing about fear, and how much fear can either motivate us to fail or motivate us to succeed.

When fear is usually written about, it’s written about as a negative experience that causes people to fail. The image we get of fear is someone who lets that fear control him or her. The person shakes in fear, and stops whatever tasks and gives up. It’s certainly true that fear can motivate us to fail and give up. Who hasn’t felt a moment of fear and wondered, “Can I really do this?” When we encounter fear in this way it can certainly be daunting to experience and may cause us to question our ability or sense of self.

However fear can motivate us to succeed. When a person feels fear because s/he doesn’t have a job, that person can be motivated to go out and apply for jobs. When a person feels fear because his/her business isn’t doing as well as s/he wants, that can also motivate the person to get creative about to promote the business.

Fear only becomes an obstacle when let it become an obstacle. We have control over fear, precisely because we do feel it and it is a reaction. When you feel fear, stop yourself from immediately reacting and ask yourself, “How can I use this fear, this emotional energy to my benefit?” Undoubtedly you will think of something that you can put that emotion toward that is healthy and beneficial.

In fact, this principle is true with emotions in general. Every emotion a person feels is a two-edged sword. Even happiness can sometimes result in a negative experience. There is no definite standard for when an emotion is positive or negative. If there is any standard, it is the actions we take, the choices we make, which determine the good or ill an emotion can cause us. So the next time you feel fear, don’t let it stop you in your tracks. Use it to motivate you to success!

Taylor Ellwood
Imagine Your Reality Coaching
503-869-0163
“I help Writers get published and small businesses attract great clients!”

The latest Radio show

Next week’s show will feature Laura Sherman the Chess Coach. We’ll be focusing on what Chess coaching is, how it’s used to imagine reality and the discipline it brings people.

I am Thankful for:

The beautiful weather and my opportunities to enjoy it.

My clients

My radio show

My friends and loved ones

I consciously commit to:

continuing to serve my clients to the best of my ability

honoring the belief others have in me

enjoying each day of my life for the miracle each day is.

I am Thankful for:

Doing my very first radio show yesterday! You can listen to it here. See below for details about the next radio show.

Being interviewed by Al Anderson for the Ascending Way show. You can listen to the interview here.

Having a beautiful day out and a good opportunity to get a healthy walk in.

My local library

I Consciously commit to:

Continuing to do my radio show

Continuing to serve my clients to the best of my ability

Continuing to believe in my mission

Continuing to appreciate what I’ve been given and earned.

What are you thankful for today? What can you consciously commit to?

Upcoming Radio Show

My next show will occur on Tuesday September 9th at 8Pm Pacific standard time.

Subject : Change your Re-Action to Action!

Summary: Sometimes, whether we intend to nor not, we sabotage ourselves with our reactions. A reaction is a pattern of belief or emotion that causes us to act in a particular way. In this show, I will show how you can change your limiting beliefs and reactions into actions that help you manifest your imagination into reality.

Listeners can call into the show at: (646) 652-2830

Upcoming Workshops

Complementary Teleclass
When: Tuesday September 16 6 pm to 7 pm (PST)
How to get your book published, and then market and promote it.

You’ve got some great ideas and you have friends who tell you that you should write a book. But is that all there is to the writing industry? In this teleclass, published author and life coach Taylor Ellwood offers his own experiences working as both a writer and a managing non-fiction editor for a small press. I’ll tell you of the importance of promotion, marketing, and of course writing. If you want to get a book published, come to this workshop. To join this class, register online at http://www.imagineyourreality.com/schedule.html

Complementary Teleclass
When: Thursday September 18 6pm to 7pm
Finances 101

What is your attitude about money? Do you work for money -or do you make it
work for you? In this simple workshop, we explore how your family history
shapes your relationship to your finances today and learn to win control of your
finances back from your circumstances.

Hello,

It’s September, and the leaves have slowly been changing color the last couple weeks in Portland. I’ve been going through some changes myself, and I’m sure all of you are going through changes as well. One of my changes is a realization that I need to be really authentic about where I’m coming from in order to be a great coach for my clients. Since I started this business in April, it’s gone through some changes as I’ve been trying to figure out what my niche is and how I should represent myself. This last week, the universe seemed to engineer a couple of different occurrences that showed me that I needed to by more authentic about what I’m doing, by drawing on the experiences I have. So what does that mean?

The fact is I’m a published author and magician. I don’t feel those need to be divorced from my life coaching business in order for it to be a success, but in the past few months I’ve hesitated to draw on some of those resources because of a concern that if I did so it would alienate potential clients. However, as the last few months have progressed and especially given what has occurred over this last week, I realize that denying part of who I am and what I can serves no one at all and ends up (as the saying goes), “cutting off my nose to spite my face” I want to be able to give my clients my all, instead of providing some convenient image that fits in with mainstream culture, but doesn’t let any of you really see who you are working with. So while this newsletter, blog, or whatever you wish to call it will still continue focusing on life coaching especially in regards to creativity and marketing, I am going to mix in a bit more of my personal practices as it pertains to writing and my life to help you and myself achieve success and be more authentic.

sincerely,

Taylor Ellwood

503-869-0163

http://www.imagineyourreality.com

My Own Radio Show

I recently decided to start up my own radio show, through the medium of Blogtalk Radio and it’s Called Imagine Your Reality radio (after my life coaching business). Below are details for the show

Imagine Your Reality Radio Show

When: Wednesday September 3, 2008 at 3pm-4pm Pacific Time

Topic: What is the connection between Imagination and Reality?

Summary: In this show we’ll explore the connection between imagination and reality as well as show you how consciousness awareness and intention can be used to direct your imagination and shape it into reality. The focus of this first show and subsequent shows will show how you can apply spiritual and psychological techniques to improve your life and business. Listeners are encouraged to call in to the show. It will be broadcasting on blogtalkradio which can be found at http://www.blogtalkradio.com. Here is my blogtalk radio profile page

Call in Number (646) 652-2830

I’ll be being interviewed on Thursday on the Ascending Way show via blogtalkradio. Details below

Taylor Ellwood; Nationally Renown Author, Magician and Life Coach

joins Host Al Anderson on ´the Ascending Way

September 4, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern

Highly respected writer, painter, collage artist, life coach and magickian will discuss

his extensive writings, on-going projects and upcoming activities

Ridgewood, N.Y. — September 1, 2008 — Nationally renown and respected Author, Visual Artist, Magician, and Life Coach Taylor Ellwood, will appear on BlogTalkRadio’s show ´Ascending Way http://blogtalkradio.com/Ascending-Way with host Al Anderson on Thursday September 4, 2008, at 2:00pm Eastern.  The Exclusive Interview will examine Taylor’s outstanding contribution to the Metaphysical/Occult community and the world-wide pursuit of Ascension.

Callers are welcome to join the conversation during the show by calling (347) 426-3835.  The live, Internet talk-radio show will stream from the Ascending Way program?s host page: http://blogtalkradio.com/Ascending-Way .

Taylor Ellwood, describes himself as a writer, painter, collage artist, and magician. Most people who interact with him describe him as prolific, insightful, wise, generous, and powerful.  He and his wife Lupa, are an integral part of the Portland Spiritual & Magickal community.

As an author he has written the following books; ´Pop Culture Magick, ´Space/Time Magic, ´Inner Alchemy, and ´Multi-Media Magic.  He has also co-written; ´Creating Magical Entities (with David Michael Cunningham and Amanda Wagener) and ´Kink Magic (with Lupa). He has served as Editor of; ´Magick on the Edge: An Anthology of Experimental Magic, ´Manifesting Prosperity: A Wealth Magic Anthology, and various other books by solo authors.

Taylor has written numerous articles for magazines, websites, blogs and ezines, which have appeared in, Rending The Veil, Witchvox, Key 23, Key 64, Disinfo, Spiral Nature, newWitch, Konton Magazine, If…Journal, and many others.

As prolific as Taylor is, he still finds time to pursue the vocation of Counselor and Life Coach; certified in Whole Person Design Life Coaching. He provides services as a creativity and marketing coach, accessible through his website: http://www.imagineyourreality.com

An archive will be available at the same link immediately following the show or listeners can subscribe to the archives via the RSS feed located on the host page.  Read more about the host on the ´the Wizard Phaeron tab at http:AscensionHouse.org.

About ´Ascending Way¡

´Ascending Way is an interactive, live Internet talk-radio show which focuses on Practitioners and Organizations of all descriptions who are committed to the Healing of the World and Humanity’s Great Adventure of Ascension.  Host Al Anderson explores the Mission, Vision, History, Vocation, and future Plans of each guest and/or the organization which they represent.    The Stream and Archives are available at http://blogtalkradio.com/Ascending-Way.

*******************

Book Review: Nature and the Human Soul by Bill Plotkins

My wife Lupa really liked this book and I was curious myself to see what it was about. Nature and the Human soul examines nature and how it informs and otherwise nourishes the human soul. The author breaks up the human life into eight stages and relates a concept of nature to each stage of human development. The author’s argument is that we need to cultivate an ecocentric relationship with nature and each other as opposed to a selfish egocentric relationship.

After reading this book, I will say that I have a renewed appreciation of nature and why it’s important to have activities in one’s life that involves doing something to foster a relationship with nature. I’m not talking about a walk in the park or even a hike in a forest either…I’m talking more along the lines of actively being a steward of nature. In this book, the author argues that we need to bring nature back into our cultural practices so that we can build spiritual and community practices that focus on the well-being of all, as opposed to the material well-being of humans. The author uses different stages of human development to show what can be done during each stage of development to build such practices.

One thing which works against the efficacy of this book is the lack of exercises. While the author makes an excellent argument for integrating into a person’s spiritual and community practices, he doesn’t offer much in the way of practical exercises to show how this can be done. The theory is in place, but the practice also needs to be instituted to really make the concepts in this book workable.

Four out of Five stars.

What is Networking and How to Make it Work for You.

Yesterday I went to a networking event and upon stepping in the door had one networker try to sell me his products. I moved past him, but also watched him for the rest of the evening. His focus throughout the evening was primarily on selling people his product, and I watched as people would quickly free themselves of him so that they could go back to networking. It quickly became apparent to me that he didn’t know how to network or what the purpose of networking was. For him, it was an event all about him, and his product. But that isn’t what networking is.

So what is networking? What is the goal of networking? What it is supposed to accomplish?

Networking lets you meet other people who you can do business with. It connects you to people who may be willing to help you by referring business your way, provided you are willing to do the same for them. It’s also a useful way to meet people and learn a bit about what they do and what they are looking for.

When going to a networking event it’s important to keep the following in mind:

1. Don’t go there to sell something. While you might occasionally get a client at a networking event, most of the people you meet at such an event aren’t likely going to be your clients. They may however know somebody who could become your client. If you go to a network event to sell people on your product or service you will likely turn them off. It’s important to tell them a bit about your business and what you do, but it’s also important to know how to talk about other stuff and also be able to listen to what other people have to say about what they do and/or want. In fact listening sometimes will get you much further than talking, because it shows the person that you care and are genuinely interested in what they have to say.

2. Don’t judge people by their appearance. If you meet a person who doesn’t fit the conventional image you associate with people you would do business with, don’t judge that person too quickly. The reason you don’t want to do that is because that person could bring a lot of business your way or be really well connected to other peopel who could help you. I once had a potential business partner tell me that my pony tail and hat bothered him. While I appreciated the honesty, I also found I really couldn’t do business with that person because I knew my appearance would be an issue for him. At a networking event you will meet people of all trades and businesses. Don’t assume anything until you get to know the person, because basing business decisions on appearance will end up losing you business in the end.

3. Plan on investing your time and energy in your networking groups. If you go to a networking group only once or twice you won’t get a lot out of that group. Networking requires committment and the results aren’t always available immediately or even in the short term. You’ve got to let people get a chance to get to know you and what you provide. And of course you need to get to know them. This can take a lot of work. It’s important that you invest your time and effort in a networking group because the payoff for it will occur down the line again and again.

4. Networking involves making connections. The connections you make in networking are how you get a head. They are also useful for helping you help other people out. When you can refer someone to a service you help the person who needs the service and the person who offers it and both of them will remember that and also think about how they can help you. The connections you make are strengthened by what you do to help other people thrive. Networking is a collaborative effort.

5. Follow up. After you’ve done your networking follow up with the people you met with an email or phone call to remind them of who you were and also to let them know you are thinking about them. Stay in touch with the occasional email and phone call and also make sure you keep going to networking events. And if you can help them out, help them out so you can stay fresh in their minds.

Thankful Thursday And Consciousness Comittment

I am thankful for the following:

Having enough money in my emergency savings to be able to know I can quit a job I don’t want to be at.

My clients and their belief in me.

Opportunities to grow as an individual

I consciously commit to:

Doing my first radio show on Wednesday Sept 3rd.

Helping my clients accomplish their goals

Becoming financially independent

Doing work I love.

What are you thankful for? What are you willing to commit to?

Imagine Your Reality Radio Show

When: Wednesday September 3, 2008 at 3pm-4pm Pacific Time

Topic: What is the connection between Imagination and Reality?

Summary: In this show we’ll explore the connection between imagination and reality as well as show you how consciousness awareness and intention can be used to direct your imagination and shape it into reality. Listeners are encouraged to call in to the show. It will be broadcasting on blogtalkradio which can be found at http://www.blogtalkradio.com.

Edit: Here is my blogtalk radio profile page

Call in Number (646) 652-2830

Taylor Ellwood

503-869-0163

http://www.imagineyourreality.com

This weekend, I finished my final training with the Baraka Institute. Ironically I eneded my training with what originally would have been my first weekend. Ideally students start out with Personal Mastery, but I missed that weekend and made it up this last weekend.

Because it’s the starter weekend, I was already familiar with a lot of the material. I did learn some new processes and it was good to have a refresher course in some of the concepts.

I felt a bit sad as the weekend wrapped up. I’m happy to be certified…I’m starting on a new journey, but I’m also ending a journey. I’ve learned so much about myself in the last six months because of life coaching. And now I’m ready to take that learning out into the world and share with other people so that they can be empowered as well.

I’m a certified Whole Person Design Life Coach. My website is Imagine Your Reality

I’m ready to coach.