Focused Business Action

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(This is a letter I write every December describing my vision for what I want to do and be during the upcoming year. I appreciate your reading this because it will help make this vision even more palpable and support me in creating a 2009 that fulfills my values of freedom, contribution, and connection. Those of you who would like to write your own Success Letter, see the instructions in this blog entry . And, feel free to leave a comment at the end.)

Here’s to a divine 2009!

Dear Scott,

I am wildly successful today because I created a clear vision for 2009 and dedicated myself to bringing that vision to life. It has been an exciting year full of adventures I never imagined! And, what exciting opportunities lie ahead! First and foremost, I so love the life I have created that deeply fulfills my values for freedom, connection and contribution. My life is balanced between fulfilling work and joyful play. "Frisky Rascal", symbolizing the playful, friendly teasing part of me, shows up in all I do.

It all started with the work I did at the end of 2008 to rebuild my business from the ground up. Working with a marketing coach really gave me the structure I needed to get the ball rolling. Plus, the personal and business trainings I have attended this year have given me valuable skills for growing personally and professionally and getting my head in the right place for success. I was bound and determined to stop the old patterns and make a difference in my life by building my business, which in turn makes a difference in other people’s lives. I get to contribute to lots of people while still having the freedom to experience life to its fullest.

My business continues to grow. With each growth spurt, I am able to utilize new resources and handle the load. I love helping small business owners who are struggling to grow their biz. They are so hungry to make progress and so grateful when it happens. I have the perfect amount of individual clients along with two group programs. I am working with clients on Tuesday-Thursday with Mondays as my marketing day. I started being asked to market through joint ventures with like-minded business owners and to speak to business organizations. Now it seems like I get a gig on average once a month, and that’s been a nice source of side income, not to mention that it feeds people into my programs.

The Focused Business Action circle started in February to help business owners get into action through personal assignments and strategies they learn on conference calls. And. the Focused Business Action coaching club started in April which additionally offers group coaching and masterminds. There’s been a lot of interest in both and I’m pleased to offer choices of programs in different price ranges (even a free one) so price is not an objection. It was a lot of work to set up during the first half of the year, but I loved the process and was amazed at how much of my existing material I was able to use.

I have a remarkable and effective marketing plan that is now part of my routine. As a result of the ease and flow in my business, I have found myself to be much more outgoing. I’m meeting new people both online and in my travels that are curious about what I offer. In addition, I am so pleased with my website. Not only does it draw prospective clients to me, it is a true resource for struggling business owners. Current clients regularly send referrals my way. I am becoming known as the business action coach. When someone knows what they want for their business, but can’t quite get there, I am their guy.

Speaking of clients, I am amazed at the changes my clients and program participants are making in their lives. My coaching calls and teleclasses are filled with warmth and compassion, along with a deep commitment to charge forward and build their business. I receive their gratitude with grace as they tell me how much they value working with me.

I am so grateful to have discovered social networking. It’s a wonderful blend of two loves, building my business and messing around on my computer. It has been a riot to get involved in Facebook and Twitter , which is feeding more and more people into my programs. Sharing my material on video has been a fun way to connect with struggling business owners and let my light shine.

Over the last year I have had a chance to get more in touch with my creative side. I am taking some time to play a musical instrument. Writing has become more and more of a passion for me and now I am even considering bringing my business wisdom all together in a book. Even my photography is getting into the act as I integrate my photography into my programs (I love my new digital SLR camera . I’m so pleased to be back into photographing with a high end camera.)

Not only is my head more clear with my business vision, so is my physical space. My piles are gone and the RV is the cleanest it’s ever been. My Inbox generally doesn’t have any emails that are more than 24 hours old. (Otherwise, they get stinky.)

With the growth of my business, I have a newfound freedom and a sense of ease. My income allows me to travel and to have experiences that only a year ago were just a dream. Susan and I are able to travel , fix up the RV, and go out to eat once a week. Back on the road again, we are having some amazing adventures. We loved our time in Tucson, and being on the road brings our adventure to a whole new level. We share many of our joyful adventures on our blog , and now have quite a following.

We left Tucson in the spring and traveled east stopping along the way to see friends and family and visit national parks. We had a great time at my brother’s wedding in Virginia. Then, headed north to visit some states we had not been to yet.

In addition to visiting with relatives, some highlights of the past year include:

• Asheville, Chapel Hill, and other places in the Carolinas
• New England and the Maine coast
• Eagle River, WI where I used to go on days off from camp
• Minnesota State Fair
• Disney World (which I’ve been chomping at the bit to go back to for so long)

Once again my father and mother, my brother and his wife, my sister and her family, and Susan and I went on a cruise, which we continue to do every other year.

My relationship with Susan has reached a new level of intimacy where we both are much more relaxed and accepting of each other. I feel comfortable enough to be honest and set clear boundaries without blame or judgment, and that has created such peace in our relationship. It has also allowed me to bring more passion into the relationship as I express myself more fully. My life’s work has me traveling on my own at times and that brings a nice balance of time on my own and time with Susan.

My health has never been better. I work out regularly hiking or walking 5 days a week and doing situps/pushups consistently. I am even considering doing the MS 150 bike ride and beginning to train for that.

For all this I am grateful for those who have supported me along the way. Susan, my coaches along the way, friends both face to face and over the phone, hiking buddies, coaching clients and program participants, and other countless random people who popped into my life and never knew of their impact.

So, as you can see things are going splendidly. Scott, acknowledge yourself for what you have become. You are a man of your word, a man of passion, a loving partner, a thoughtful and considerate friend, grounded in your values and tenacious in living them. Thank you for sticking in there with me through the challenging times. I know it wasn’t easy. And, it was all worth it.

Warmly,

Scott