Lorin Beller Blake

Gratitude: Making Intentions Work

March 16, 2010

Filed under: #BigFishIntention, Being vs. Doing, Power of Intention, success — Tags: Big Fish Nation, Gratitude, Intent, Intention, Intentions, Power of Intention, Wayne Dyer, ways of being — Starla J King @ 7:23 am

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[text and photos by Starla J. King, Big Fish 2009-10]

It’s week three of the Big Fish Twitter Party, an online 24×7 positive energy party about setting intentions. (Note: everyone is welcome, this is not exclusive to Big Fish Nation members!)

What do intentions have to do with gratitude? Gratitude and intention are the energy circle of success.

Here, I’ll show you what I mean:

Name 3 things you are grateful for. Yep, right now. I’ll wait right here while you write your 3 things down.

… …

So, what did you write… what are you grateful for today, right now?

10 minutes of quiet time in a crazy-busy day?
a soul-cleansing rain?
checking something off your To Do list?

No matter what your 3 “gratitudes” are, I suspect you just experienced a lift in your spirits and a smile sneaking in. Yes??

You have just experienced the power of gratitude – the power to create positive energy. And it is that energy that is so important to bringing our intentions to fruition.

Focus for a moment on that feeling of gratitude (re-read your 3 things if you need to re-invite that feeling). It’s hopeful, right? A little bit excited, motivated, even inspired. Right?

Consider then if you add that feeling to setting your intentions. You’re already feeling the results of having carried through your intention… before you’ve even done the work! You are pre-creating results that you will be grateful for ! You are beginning to manifest your intention as soon as you set it!

Take for example my intention a few days ago (tweeted as @starlajking with the Big Fish Twitter Party hashtag #BigFishIntention): to effortlessly create 2 gorgeous garden designs for 2 clients.

Setting the intention with gratitude, I automatically imagined the satisfaction of having completed the 2 designs. And while working on the designs, that positive “ooh, how cool is that!” (gratitude) feeling hung around. Alas, at the end of the day, I had only completed 1 design…AUGH!

There’s a choice here: flog myself for what I did NOT achieve, or be grateful for what I DID achieve. You can feel the different energy just by reading each choice, can’t you? That is what I’m talking about.

So as you start or continue to set your daily intention, step into your own circle of success by wrapping each intention in real, honest gratitude. Then please do share your intention (and experience!) with all of us either in a comment here, or at the Big Fish Twitter Party (details here)!

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What Is Your Intention?

March 9, 2010

Filed under: #BigFishIntention, Power of Intention — Tags: Big Fish Nation, Intent, Intention, Intentions, Power of Intention, Twitter, Wayne Dyer — Lorin Beller Blake @ 8:29 am

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It’s week two of the Big Fish Twitter Party – have you joined in yet? Everyone is welcome, this is not exclusive to Big Fish Nation members!

It is simple: You just tweet your intention for the day, and at the end of your intention, be sure to add the hashtag: #BigFishIntention. (See last week’s blog for more information). For example, my Big Fish Nation intention for today is intention is “connection with Women Biz Owners that are joining the party! Welcome!” and I’m writing this blog, connecting with you all.

Still not clear on what an intention is? Merriam-Webster defines intention as “a determination to act in a certain way,” and dictionary.com defines it as “purpose or attitude toward the effect of one’s actions or conduct.” In other words, intention is the tone we set and keep as we carry out everything we do, no matter whether it’s business, personal, or something inbetween. It can also be as simple as what we want (or intend) to accomplish or complete.

Here are some examples directly from the Twitter Party:

Today’s intention: Calm & Steady – to deliberately & unhurriedly clean up unfinished stuff on the to do list (thank you @FamilyTimeInc)
I intend to finalize hiring my bizdev director and to ink a new client contract (thank you @ETArmstrong)
My intention today is to be present for each and every moment (thank you (thank you @Julia101)
(See more intentions by logging into Twitter and searching on “#BigFishIntention”)

Setting and sticking with our intentions is an important leadership skill, key to our business success. It is about not letting the world knock us off our intention for that day or even that moment, so that we keep moving our business forward efficiently and effectively.

It is very important to get clear and conscious about the intention we choose for each day by writing it down, and the Twitter Party is a great place to do that. Consider it a virtual ‘intention journal’ – a way to set intentions and inspire the world with them, and to allow yourself to be inspired by others’ tweeted intentions. Sharing our intentions with others makes them even more powerful!

The Big Fish Intention Twitter Party is going strong – we hope you will join us there and bring your friends! Just log into Twitter and post your intention, and don’t forget to include “#BigFishIntention!

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Thanks again to www.bluesuitemom.com and Rachael Bender owner of http://www.benderconsulting.com/ for helping us launch this exciting Twitter Party! Connect to her and other women entrepreneurs online through:

www.twitter.com/bigfishnation
www.twitter.com/lorinb
www.twitter.com/rachaelbender
www.facebook.com/bigfishnation

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Welcome to the Big Fish Twitter Party !

March 2, 2010

Filed under: #BigFishIntention, Power of Intention — Tags: Big Fish Nation, Intent, Intention, Intentions, Power of Intention, Wayne Dyer — Lorin Beller Blake @ 10:42 am

What is it all about?
First, let us tell you what a Big Fish is: A Big Fish is a wildly successful women entrepreneur that knows she has full responsibility to create her life both in business and personally. A Big Fish is a woman that also knows every aspect of her life is critical to her success. These women know that they have the ability to make a big impact in the world. She knows how important it is to ‘pass it on’ too. She consistently works on creating that balance allowing her to be present in and enjoy every aspect of her life. She also knows that her intentions are critical. So, that is where the Big Fish Twitter party comes in. Every day just before you start your day, anyone is welcome to join us on Twitter for our Twitter party where we set intentions for the day.

So, now for the twitter party, it is simple. Here is how it works: You just tweet your intention for the day. For example, ‘My intention today is to be joyful in all my work projects.’ Or, ‘My intention is to gain one new customer today.’ Or, ‘My intention is to go for a 3 mile walk at lunch time.’ Or ‘My intention is to be complete with work at 2:00 and go home to enjoy my children.’ At the end of your intention be sure to add the hashtag: #BigFishIntention

Consider this a virtual ‘intention journal’ – it is a way to set intentions and inspire the world with them. Perhaps in the process you may even receive help if the right person sees it on twitter, you never know! Surely though it is a great way to hold yourself more accountable with a community of women that know the power of setting an intention.

At the end of the day, whenever that is, if you are so moved, you can tweet about the success (or lack thereof) of setting the intention. You could tweet about what you learned from setting the intention and meeting it or not. You can tweet on your gratitude you feel at the end of the day from working to meet that intention….Or the frustration for that matter! ….Or tweet, thanking the person that might have assisted you in making that intention happen. Just tie it back to the intention from the morning with the #BigFishIntention

The party is FREE! The more intentions set each day, the more positive energy out there.

We are launching this party with www.bluesuitemom.com and Rachael Bender owner of www.benderconsulting.com

Will we see YOU at the party?
Want more here more about Big Fish Nation and Lorin Beller Blake?

Check out the links listed below.
www.twitter.com/bigfishnation
www.twitter.com/lorinb
www.twitter.com/rachaelbender
www.facebook.com/bigfishnation

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a Big Fish eStory: Michelle Bonn

February 23, 2010

Filed under: Big Fish eStory — Tags: Big Fish, Big Fish Nation, Business Coaching, Expedient Trade, From Entrepreneur to Big Fish, Leadership, Michelle Bonn, Women Entrepreneurship Coaching — admin @ 11:39 am

Michelle Bonn, an International Big Fish.
Owner & president, Expedient Trade.

Michelle Bonn

Michelle has been running Expedient Trade for about 4 years. The main focus of her business is global sourcing and manufacturing. Expedient Trade specifically works with domestic manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors to purchase and manufacture custom products, materials or parts across Asia and Europe.
Big Fish: how did you start your company?
Michelle: Back in 2000, I was working with a consulting company that specialized in Quality Control training for global manufacturers. While I was visiting the factories in Asia, I realized that more USA based companies needed access to such high-tech, well run factories. After some good mentoring, direct exposure to foreign companies, and almost 2 years of market research (Asian & European markets) I realized international doors needed to be opened for small & medium sized companies. I believed in starting a business that allowed smaller companies to take advantage of the international price and tax breaks, much like the “big guys” in the market enjoy today.
Big Fish: What made you turn to Big Fish as a business resource?
Michelle: When my company was incorporated in late 2005, much of the first 2 years were spent setting up foreign infrastructure, building the right team of people globally, and finding my niche in the USA market. What I didn’t’ realize was I was actually holding myself back from real business growth because I was feeling stuck. I knew I had to grow but I wasn’t sure how.
Then, in 2008, I met Lorin at a National NAWBO event. This was the first and “everlasting” exposure I had to the Big Fish Nation. Until that point, I didn’t even know what a business coach was all about, let alone feel the need to hire one. Well, I was hooked after reading her book “From Entrepreneur to Big Fish, the 7 Principles to Wild Success “. It was at that moment, I knew Lorin was somehow going to help me see the world, myself and my business in an entirely different way.
Big Fish: How have you and your company changed by being a part of the Big Fish Nation?
Michelle: Taking part in the year long program did 2 very specific things for me and Expedient Trade.
First, Lorin’s program helped me to gain a deep sense of inner strength, confidence and desire to lead. This “take-charge” attitude toward life has allowed me to lead people in a very different way. I now see the importance of leading people with very “loose reins”. Teach the detail, back away and always leave the “door” open. You will find that people are more willing to work with you (even make a few mistakes) while giving you the absolute best of who they are.
Secondly, my newly developed motto of “live fearless” has allowed me to make more strategic and well focused business decisions. I’m better equipped to lead my growing company; which has proudly increased revenues of over 120% in the past year.
Big Fish: Where do you see your company in the next 3 years?
Michelle: I have BIG passion for “making things”. Manufacturing and international sourcing is an ever changing function that I love to tackle. I plan to see an expansion of my Chinese office operations while continuing to service large scale manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers. Expedient Trade will continue to offer its clients the best of who we are while providing the best possible access to good quality products and manufacturing services across the globe.

Expedient Trade

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A Different Kind of Gold Medal

February 16, 2010

Filed under: success — Tags: Big Fish Nation, developing countries, elite business women, Olympics, Starfish Program, successful women entrepreneurs, third-world entrepreneur — Lorin Beller Blake @ 8:00 am

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With the start of the 2010 Winter Olympics this past weekend, this is a great time to highlight the “elite performers” of Big Fish Nation – the Starfish Program participants.

Much like the Olympic athletes, these Starfish are high achievers, and are already “stars” in their areas of expertise. They are already successful woman business owners who have “arrived” in many ways, yet feel there are other goals to be achieved, other mountains to be climbed.

However, instead of careening down a luge track at 90 MPH or nailing a backside 180 trick on the snowboarding half-pipe run, they’re mastering their careers and their lives.

Without exception, these Starfish women have dreams of shining even brighter, not to just gain more material success, but to make a difference in the lives of others, and to impact the world in very real ways.

Each Starfish is “partnering” with another woman business owner in a developing country, directly sharing their time, energy and expertise with other women entrepreneurs who are hoping to have their chance to also change their world. I am so excited about these incredible opportunities for shared learning and powerful collaboration across country lines!

You may have heard this story, but it’s worth repeating: A girl standing on the beach was throwing starfish after starfish back into the sea after being washed ashore. When someone asked why, as there were so many starfish on the beach, what difference could it make? the girl replied, as she threw yet another starfish back into the sea, “It made a difference to that one…”

What difference are YOU making today… and tomorrow… and the rest of this year…?

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Click here for more information on the Starfish Program .

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Where Are Your Money-making Energies?

February 9, 2010

Filed under: success, vision — Tags: Big Fish Nation, Big Fish principles, making money, successful entrepreneurs, vision story, women and business — Starla J King @ 8:09 am

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[text and photos by Starla J. King, Big Fish 2009-10]

My brother uses this wonderful term called “awfulizing” – where you take a scenario and visualize something bad turning into something very bad which turns into something terribly bad which of course ends (in your mind) in utter catastrophe.

Then there’s the other end of the spectrum – where you think about an exciting possibility, start getting wonderful ideas, then everything seems possible and suddenly amazing opportunities present themselves.

Either scenario is what happens when we give energy to that which we want to grow – a concept important enough to be the foundational principle of the 7 Big Fish Principles to Wild Success.

We women entrepreneurs tend to have high energy, energy that makes things happen. And it’s up to us to decide how to use that energy to move our lives and our businesses forward in positive ways. That’s where our visions come in.

Our vision is the perfect guide for channeling our energy toward that which we want to grow. (make sure you read Lorin’s recent blog for more information on creating your own written vision story).

Quick example:

I was talking with my (Big Fish) friend Rebecca yesterday, and it went something like this , “You know, this week I’ve gotten a web design/development company for our new business (yes, new biz #2!), I’ve updated and sent out about 20 repeat-client contracts for our gardening business and I’ve published three blog entries, but I haven’t brought in much money…what the h*** have I been doing all week?!??”

We both immediately started laughing… realizing how mis-directed my energy was! All those significant forward-moving milestones, yet the bulk of my energy has been focused on not making money. (You know what I’m talking about, don’t you?)

So I turned to my vision story. To re-feel that inspired, hopeful, forward-moving, everything-is-possible energy. To remind myself that I’m an entrepreneur so I can choose where to put my energies.

Shortly thereafter I got an email from Rebecca, connecting me with people who will be key in the vision of my new business.

And after that I got an email from my brother (yes, the one who awfulizes) speaking to the heart and soul of my new business (one he’s not even aware of). And this morning he used the words “Let this interchange be our mutual vision statement for some of our mutual journeying ahead.”

Talk about “that which we want to grow”!!

Take some time to think about it – where are your energies?

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Clear Vision

February 2, 2010

Filed under: success, vision — Tags: Big Fish Nation, roadmap to success, successful entrepreneur, vision, vision story, women and business, women entrepreneurs — Lorin Beller Blake @ 7:53 am

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“We [my family] all listen to ourselves as we do each other. We have adventurous human experiences and our moments are filled with many spiritual experiences each day. Life is decadent yet simple…”

These words are part of my vision story, the description of my life 10 years from now.

As you can see, this vision story is not just about what I will have accomplished in my business by then (although it does include that), it’s also about what my relationships and my life will be like.

*Having a clear vision is the key ingredient to a successful business.*

You see, (pun intended) a vision gives you something to look toward… and look forward to. It helps you “see” the path you need to take to meet your goals and get the results you pictured.

Coming up with your vision is a creative process, unique to YOU because we all have different definitions of success. You get to decide where you want your life to be in 10 years!

Don’t worry right now about how you’ll get there (that comes later), just focus on what the “there” will be and how the “there” will feel. Step into your WILDLY SUCCESSFUL life and describe it in your vision story.

It’s important to remember that rarely is success JUST about money. Writing your vision story is your chance to discover other areas of your life to include in your definition of success. For example, consider what you want from/for:

Your health
Your relationships: with yourself, your significant other, friends and family
Your recreation/play time
Your community / environment
etc.

Write it all down, give yourself that roadmap to success then start making that vision a reality TODAY! I’d love to hear how it goes!

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From Entrepreneur to Big Fish

RoadMap to Success

Need to get your “vision energy” jump-started? Try these books, From Entrepreneur to Big Fish, and Roadmap to Success, both available online (click here)!

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Humility Matters

January 26, 2010

Filed under: Being vs. Doing, Thought Leader, success — Tags: Big Fish Nation, humility, self-confidence, self-image, successful entrepreneur, women entrepreneurs, women small business — Lorin Beller Blake @ 7:13 am

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It’s month one of a new year, and I’m guessing many of us have new or ongoing goals around exercise.

I wonder, though, how many of us are paying attention to our humility muscle? That’s the one connected to the self-confidence muscle which we business owners exercise regularly.

Our muscle groups work in pairs, with one shortening while another one lengthens, and if we ignore one of those muscles, we weaken the effectiveness of the entire pair.

It works the same way with the humility/self-confidence muscle pair. When we balance our self-confidence with our humility, we become stronger, more effective leaders.

John Baldoni writes in his Harvard Business Review blog that a strong self-image is practically a requirement for success, yet confidence can easily become an overbearing ego. To keep that ego in check , we need to have honest friends (to tell us the truth!), and to be aware of our shortcomings.

Notice, though (women, are you listening?), that he does not say to dwell on our shortcomings, since that becomes counter-productive and self-defeating.

Starfish ready for BIG BOLD ACTIONS!

While we do need to keep our ego in check, humility is not about down-playing our own strengths and successes or hiding our shining skills. It’s about playing up the strengths and successes of those around us, and bringing others to those same levels with us (or BEYOND us!).

Humility is equal parts confidence + goodwill + compassion, components that all lead to BIG BOLD ACTIONS – the fuel for ongoing business success.

If you haven’t used your humility muscle for a while, make sure to prevent injuries by taking the time to warm it up with some gentle stretching before going all out. It takes some time to get used to a new way of being.

Next time you go to the gym, or work, or any part of life, remember to exercise your humility muscle as much as your self-confidence muscle and get ready to experience wild success!

(Keep in mind, if you need “business exercise buddies” the Big Fish Program is here for you!)

Big Fish!

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Clipping in to 2010

January 19, 2010

Filed under: goals, success — Tags: Big Fish Nation, cycling, entrepreneur blog, Lorin Beller Blake, road bike, setting goals, women development, women successful — Starla J King @ 3:09 pm

[text and photos by Starla J. King, Big Fish 2009-10]

I just got clip pedals installed on my road bike. Uh oh.

It makes me a wee bit (ok, a lot) nervous that most people respond to that announcement with wide eyes and phrases including wipe-out and falling over.

Really, what was I thinking?? Now my shoes (unfortunately, with my feet in them) will be clipped in – metal thingies on my cycling shoes snapped into metal brackets on the pedals.

The only way to “get out” is a quick twist of the foot. Apparently a non-instinctual move that requires some training. And falling. And road burns.

So — WHY???

Because “clipping in” makes my pedaling more efficient as I become one with the bike and our energies blend seamlessly.
Because (once I get the hang of those little monsters) a secure hold on the pedals keeps me safer. My feet won’t slip off the pedals, so I avoid a potentially disastrous move when standing up on the pedals for extra oomph up the hills
Because they make me feel tough… strong… like something I never thought I’d be come – a biker! I’m playin’ in the big leagues now… I have CLIP PEDALS!

Turns out that’s exactly what my annual goals do for me.

Before I went through the Big Fish Nation program last year, I thought about setting goals, but actually doing them? Never got around to it.

This year, I started my 2010 goal-setting during the annual Big Fish Goal-setting Call, and now I’ve got those puppies written down and am already making progress on them!

Like those clip pedals, the structure of goals makes me nervous. I’m an artistic, act-on-inspiration, go-as-the-spirit-leads sort of chick.

So why clip into annual goals??

Because I’m more efficient in my work and my whole life when I’m more streamlined, letting my own natural energies seamlessly combine with the focus of the goals.
Because goals keep my feet from slipping off the path of what I want to accomplish and who I want to be. I still get to use inspiration and intuition in reaching my goals – I just don’t wander around aimlessly so much now!
Because simply having goals makes me feel tough … strong…downright invincible at times. And then reaching a goal? Oh, that feels amazing! I’m in the big leagues now – I SET GOALS and REACH THEM!

Go on, try it… I dare you. <grin> Clip into 2010!

My Big Fish goals wheel – get yours plus help writing your 2010 goals by listening to the replay of the Annual Goals Setting Class, available for $59.

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Resolution Revolution

January 12, 2010

Filed under: goals, success — Tags: 2010 goals, beginning of year goals, Big Fish Nation, new years resolution — Lorin Beller Blake @ 7:59 am

It’s the second week of January, 2010 – how are your New Years Resolutions coming along? Be honest…

You might be surprised to know that I personally try not to set New Year’s resolutions. They tend to carry with them the expectation of failure, with success being measured not by whether you achieved what you wanted, but just by how long you stuck to your new plan. Think about it, when someone tells you they are still following their New Year’s resolution a whole month later, aren’t you actually surprised?

However, just because I don’t set New Year’s resolutions, that doesn’t mean I dive wildly into a new year without challenging myself and setting a clear plan. I set GOALS. They are written down, they are clear, and they are exciting! AND I set the expectation of meeting them.

I’m not talking about blah “things I should do but really dislike doing” kind of goals, I’m talking about setting challenges that light a fire under you every day and keep you motivated and reaching for the stars.

So… have you set your goals and written them down? If not, don’t worry, there’s still time! Set aside ½ an hour and take some time to think about what you really want to accomplish this year.

Need some motivation? Read this short article about an amazing woman, Tererai Trent, and the incredible goals she set – and reached!

If you are struggling with this process, we highly recommend purchasing our goal setting teleclass that we recorded live in December (click here). It will make the process highly inspiring and easy!

We at Big Fish Nation love to think about those exciting things that make us just a bit (or a lot!) nervous because those are the goals that make us stretch. Go ahead, write those things down for yourself!

So, your goals are written, now what? You should not do them alone! You will be exponentially more effective (and motivated!) if you have a community to support you in reaching your goals. Big Fish Nation is here to support you in reaching your goals, big and small. We’d love to have you swim with us – come on in, the water’s warm!

You see, as you reach your goals, it keeps all of us moving toward our vision.

When one women business owner accomplishes something, it not only lifts her, but all women entrepreneurs that are working to have greater impact.

Your success matters.

Our success matters.

Make 2010 matter like no other year you’ve experienced yet ! It all starts with your goals…

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Need more help setting your goals?? This year we are offering a Replay of our Annual Goal Setting Class so you can listen to the 90 minute teleclass on your time and in your space. We are also including our infamous one page goal wheel as a bonus. Click here to purchase online now for $59!

The Big Fish Journal is perfect for writing down your goals! Click here to get yours!

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