I don’t know about you but I am getting tired all the news about the sagging economy.  I encourage you to a quick look at this amazing video called The Story of Stuff.  It helps explain how we ended up here.

I see this as a wake up call that we all need to be more conscious about what we buy, where it comes from and whether we really need it.

I am not going to quit buying things. I need food, clothing, business supplies and some  other things that just make me feel good; my favorite body lotion, a new pair of earrings every so often, candles for the table in  the winter, fresh flowers and a meal out to name a few things I enjoy. I also buy small gifts and then of course supplies to do my hobby, pottery.  I bet you all have your own list of things that are not survival needs but they are purchases that feel good and important in other ways.

None of us are going to stop spending money. We can spend less, we can be more aware and we can also choose to buy locally and support other small businesses in your own neighborhood.  I encourage you to go to the little shops down the street and give them some business. They are what makes your neighborhood alive and vibrant.  I did that yesterday. I walked into a gift shop and the owner smiled and chatted with me. I ended up buying a small gift to give to my son for a house warming. Just that small purchase made a big difference to that man’s day.

The small shops cannot drop their prices and offer huge bargains. They just can’t compete with the big corporate stores in this way. Even if the prices are a bit higher you can look at it as supporting your own community.  Just an idea. Buy less, have more awareness and support other small businesses in your neighborhood.

The world is full of optimism after the American election, and everywhere I go there seems to be a feeling of positive change regardless of how people voted.  I listened to NPR on the radio the week after the election and people from all walks of life and in all corners of the world were asked if they felt that just the election of Obama, was already making a big difference. Some people were a bit more pragmatic and said they would need to see what he will accomplish, but most people felt it didn’t matter. The change had happened on the inner recesses of people’s sense of  collective empowerment.

With this level of optimism floating around, it’s clearly an opportunity to jump on board with your business and use this positive feeling to energize your business for 2009. It’s always much easier to accomplish something when you are moving with the stream rather than against it. Right now the stream is all about belief and hope that things are getting better.

I notice that I am again reading the news part of the newspaper. For quite awhile I have skipped right to the comics and crossword puzzle. Now I  enjoy seeing a photo of Obama laying on his couch using his Blackberry.  I want to read all about everything he is doing which is amazing, because for the past four years I have avoided any news having anything to do with the president. Four years prior I was living in New Zealand where American news is not covered. The last time I felt this kind of energy was in 1968 when I was a young college student who believed I could change the world!  I was a Hillary supporter and it has still affected me this way.

The road from 1968 to 2008 has been a bit rocky and filled with some disillusionment, however I still solidly believe I  have control of my own life and I can make a big difference.

If you feel like I do, here are 5 easy things you can do to ride with the current and get your business energized for 2009. If you do all five, you will be totally plugged in and ready to go in January. Even if you do some of these, it will make a big difference.

1.  Make a list of everything you have accomplished in your business in 2008. Most business owners are so busy, that when one thing is  completed you are right onto the next one. Take your list and get little gold stars and put one next to each achievement. This might  seem silly, but it works. I love gold stars because it means, Yes, I did it!

2. Put together  a record of all the people you met in 2008 who were key relationships for you. These are people who have helped you, have provided expertise or have skills and connections you want to utilize later. Acknowledge all these people for what they have done for you or for what you appreciate about them.

3.Identify the one main thing in your business you want to change in 2009? How would this one change have a positive effect on your business? What is the main obstacle that needs to be overcome in order to make this change, and what do you need to do to make that happen.

4. Identify the areas of your business that need more energizing. Most people have at least one area they avoid or feel uncomfortable doing. This is your weak link. What do you need to do to bring more focus  into this area and what would support you to do that?

5. Totally clean your office and get rid of anything you don’t want to take into the next year. Even if you are a very organized person you will likely have “stuff” that is just collecting dust somewhere. Begin 2009 with your office clear and ready to move forward.

These five things will help you jump start your business into the new year and begin the year with a clearer and sharper focus.

It feels like overnight the energy changed! People woke up on November 5th and  it felt like a new world!   I received e-mails from people all over the world commenting on how wonderful to have a positive change in the White House.  There was a sense of hope and a positive attitude that I haven’t felt here is a long time.

As we move into 2009 we are looking for significant changes and the possibility of peace and prosperity. However, it all needs to begin right here,  in my own home and my own office. I feel there is a real opportunity to ride the tails of this positive energy and begin the new year with making uplifting changes in my own small business, putting some new supportive systems in place and dealing with problems I have been avoiding. I want to take my own business to a new plateau in 2009 and I am excited about the possibilities.

The end of the year is always a great time to take stock and evaluate what has gone well and to identify goals for the next year. I am looking at my vision board for 2008 that has been on my wall all year. Some things have come in to from and others are still in process but overal it has been a great year.

I want to plan on 2009 to even be more focused and more successful. Partly it’s about personal achievement but it’s also about how many people I can touch and what new amazing relationships I can nurture and grow.

One of my goals is to publish my Create a Map of Your Business program  in paper form. Right now it is available to download.  I feel so excited about this product and how it will help so many people in their own goals during the next year.

It has been a labor of love and helped me immensely. I look forward to it helping way more people to grow their own businesses.

That’s my big goal for the year. What is yours?

I woke up this morning feeling change in the air. Almost like the sweet aroma of the first spring breeze, I could sense it. A new day and filled with promise. I spoke to one of my dearest friends today. Our children grew up together and we have been there for each other through divorces, new relationships as well as the challenges of being an entrepreneur and starting our businesses while being a mom.

She shared her dismay about attitudes of those who feel that the election is “no big deal,” and that it doesn’t really matter anyway because nothing will change. That kind of defeatest attitude is so sad to me.  It can permeate throughout a person’s whole being  and affect every part of one’s life, not just the election.

I am not naive enough to think that a new president will suddenly be able to fix all the horrible problems that feel like a dark cloud over our country. But to have the most liberal senator become president, is a change on the deepest energy levels, and will begin positive ripples of hope immediately. The only thing better, from my point of view, is if it had been Hilary, and I could have seen a woman in that post of leadership.

Emotions are healthy!  It’s absolutely essential to be aware of how you feel. Your feelings help you to be a balanced human being. However, unchecked emotions can keep you from being able to focus productively on your business. Emotions can go hey-wire and turn into monsters.  When that happens you become scattered and foggy.

Anxiety, worry and stress are the common culprits. Often it’s around money but can also be a myriad of other issues that trigger these reactions.  They can side-track you from having a sharp and clear focus. When those feelings surface it’s very easy to get thrown off track and begin to make decisions from those places. Stress decisions will often be poor decisions and could cause more problems. Likewise, when you are anxious your anxiety will cause you to constrict and close off access to solutions.

I tend to be a worrier and it’s usually around money. Even when I have enough I can worry that I might not have enough next month. It is beyond logic but it will totally throw me of balance. For you. it might be something else, but remember being an entrepreneur does not mean you don’t have moments of  getting off track.

The important thing is to know what to do when this happens.  What you want it to keep your focus sharp and on task so you can take steps to fill in the puzzle pieces  easily and keep your business whole and complete.

Here are a three key things you can do when those emotions pop up.

1. Get out of your office and walk somewhere in nature. Breathing in fresh air and moving your body will allow you to come back into a place of calmness where your intuition and clarity will re-surface.

2. Find someone you trust to talk to. This needs to be someone who is positive and someone who believes in you. Someone whose presence will make you feel calm and empowered.

3. Look at your vision board, your mission statement or whatever you have that will remind you why you are doing your business. Remembering can bring you back to that place and put you back on track.

Part of being an entrepreneur is staying at the helm, being a leader and being able to calmly overcome obstacles when they arise. What are some other strategies that you use that have helped you when you really needed it?