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Day 21 – more than 1/2 way there…are you?

I’d love to see some measurable results posted. Are you being consistent? Are you taking steps and making progress?

POST HERE and let us know!

We had a phenomenal Saturday in Greensboro NC at the LivingtheDream Expo – those gals ar tremendous!

Here is what Tita Wofford with www.xango.com had to say (I’m still learning about editing :)


 

Go here TO MEET ME and see some fun technology we’ve just implemented at http://www.barefoot-executive.com/public/department13.cfm

YES – one of my main focuses this 40 days has been product development and TECHNOLOGY! WHEW – I’m learning, learning, learning!

What about you?

Carrie Wilkerson, The Barefoot Executive

www.theBossMovie.com

 

Day 19! Whew – THANKFUL for focus

Things are flying so fast and opportunities coming so quickly that if I were NOT focused, there’d be TROUBLE!

I’m so encouraged and excited by the posts you’re putting up, the forum interaction AND the emails you’re sending to our offices. THANK YOU!

In response to what you’re asking – YES YES YES – we’re going to have a structured step-by-step coaching program to go with the 40 days…stay tuned. More details MONDAY in Barefootin’ – the ezine!

We will ONLY accept 40 members/students into the program because it will be quite intensive! And site members will have first dibs on those spots – stay tuned!

I’m in NC about to speak at the Living the Dream Expo this weekend and meeting some of YOU in person!

Carrie Wilkerson, The Barefoot Executive

 

Day 17 – Hocus Pocus, the Magic is in the Focus!

I do hope you are having a STELLAR DAY!

A friend that I really admire in business sent me this link today – I’d like for you to read it and post your thoughts:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2008-04-22-women-founders-success_N.htm?POE=click-refer

While it looks bleak for the gender overall… my take on it is this –> women make different CHOICES than men (earth-shattering, I know). We choose smaller businesses because of our lifestyle choices. Yes, I could focus on building a mega-empire. But, honestly…that doesn’t sound fun to me :)

My legacy is going to be in 4 beautiful, well-rounded, well-traveled citizens aka the Barefoot kids. My legacy is going to be that I funded adoptions through giving. That I was active in my church and community. My legacy is going to be a strong and meaningful and FULFILLING marriage and business partnership with this man that I’m blessed to call my own. My legacy will be these things – not a billion dollar company.

Family at Resort

So – do I think the future is bleak for women business owners? WELL – if I did – would I be The Barefoot Executive, teaching women to own businesses??

I think the future is BRIGHTER than EVER for women in business.

If you want to build a billion $ business – MORE POWER TO YOU…I believe you CAN!

I choose to focus on building in another area right now…and I believe those efforts will be blessed!

We are so excited about those of you still joining us from other blogs and communities!

The gals at www.razorr.com are joining our challenge!

The www.PromotionDiva.com is on board and we’ve also gotten mentions on http://whoheals.blogspot.com/, http://vadirectory.net/blog/ and http://www.yourhomebasedmom.com/

http://shadesofpink.wordpress.com/ are really great to keep up with us and we even have some GUY bloggers that mention us (or at least stalk us, haha)

http://geraldromine.com/ is a guy I mastermind with that is an aggressive real estate investor (he also has an amazing book of positive quotes and thoughts we’ll share with you soon. And you’ve heard on the Summit from Terry at www.TerryWygal.com/blog

Ok – if I need to send a shout out to anyone else that’s following what we’re doing and encouraging others to do the same – LET ME KNOW!

FOCUS and have a FABULOUS DAY! (i’m off to get another bottle of water ; )

Carrie

Day 16 – What great things are coming?

I’ve been so focused on a set handful of things…that there are other things ‘happening’ as a result of my intense efforts! (Let me explain)

The Summit has been a 13 week process…and we’ve been focused on bringing GREAT content and a variety of experts to YOU so you can see all of your options. I’ve been focused on developing some other ways to communicate through technology too.

WHILE I’VE BEEN focused on this — it’s put The Barefoot Executive mission and purpose on ‘the radar’ for some other folks…and ALL OF THE SUDDEN, opportunities to travel and speak are coming faster than I can even accept them!

Now…this is no surprise to God…and honestly, I felt like this would happen at SOME Point, but I thought that it would be after I focused on MAKING that happen!

(does that make sense?) I’ve been focused on efforts for a different task and the results are coming from ALL directions! WOW — don’t think small…think possibilities but focus on the efforts you can control and the results (which you cannot control) WILL COME!

Lifestyle note: This morning I’m working with my laptop on the porch (which goes from one end of the house to the other) in a double rocking chair. Baby Barefoot is playing in her walker…chasing the cat and belly-laughing. We have SUPER LARGE equipment in the backyard where I’m watching them dig our new pool. (Guess where I’ll be working from this summer??)

I’m prepping for a conference call with a website developer who is helping with a new project we’re launching May 1st (part of my intense focus) — so I’m enjoying life, watching the baby play and watching as the RESULTS (the pool) of my intense focus come to life before my eyes.

Do you think that motivates me to WORK with focus?

ABSOLUTELY!

What about you???

 

Day 15 – Are your clients saying ‘buy’ or ‘bye?’

I recently attending a major marketing event and had the opportunity to hear some big, big business folks speak about the keys to their successful operations.

One thing we heard over and over was ‘customer satisfaction’ – and ‘a culture of client service.’ Hmmmmm.

One of those examples was Zappos – a major online retailer of SHOES. Shoes? ONLINE? Yes ma’am. They pay shipping both ways and even encourage you to order multiple sizes and ship back the one that does not fit. WOW. Click here to check them out (they have SO much more than shoes – uh oh!)

Their customer loyalty factor is HUGE and honestly…I’m a customer now too because of my schedule and some hard-to-fit feet in my household! Yes, as much as we dislike shoes, we have to wear them sometimes!

   HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO YOU?  Well – do you have a PLAN for keeping your customers OVER THE TOP Happy? According to customer service specialist, Skylr Monoghan, a Happy Customer Action Plan makes Customers 5 times more Profitable over time.  Here is what he has to say about that!

   “By developing Happy Customers, you are establishing customer loyalty and locking in customer profitability. By taking the time to build relationships with your customers and being sure to make all of your customer’s experiences happy and positive, you are developing lifelong customers. Happy customers that feel a sense of loyalty because of the relationship you develop with them are far more likely to spend money with you with cost not being a major issue.

   In fact, you will profit from increased purchases and higher purchase amounts. You will profit from them buying premium services and or products from you. You will profit from having reduced operating costs since it is much cheaper to service and sell to existing customers than it is to acquire new customers. Also, you will profit from the referrals from that happy customer. That customer will become 5 times as profitable over the next five to seven years provided they are a happy customer.”

Day 15 – 25 left to change your direction!

Ok — I’m going to be brutally honest…some of you aren’t posting because you’ve gotten distracted. Right? TELL US HERE and we can help! Accountability is powerful!

I have NOT been walking as much as I planned. That changes TODAY.

However, business-wise — my focus has been CRYSTAL CLEAR!

One of my goals was to develop a myspace page — I really am needing to embrace the social media more and so here it is —-  http://www.myspace.com/6figuremom— feel free to tag me as a friend and post a great Barefoot Executive-related comment! Link your site there too so we know where to find you!

(next: facebook, linkedin, twitter, etc) — WHEW — HOW WILL I MANAGE IT ALL?? Well, guess what? I know a really great teenager that LOVES myspace, etc – and she is going to keep on top of those FOR ME! To maximize your team…find an expert in the field — and who better than a teenager!?!

SOME THOUGHTS FOR TODAY:

Persistence 
There is no substitute for persistence! It cannot be supplanted by any other quality! Remember this in the beginning and it will hearten you when the going may seem difficult and slow.

Those who have cultivated the habit of persistence seem to enjoy insurance against failure. No matter how many times they are defeated, they finally arrive up near the top of the ladder. Sometimes it appears there is a hidden guide whose duty is to test people through all sorts of discouraging experiences. Those who pick themselves up after defeat and keep on trying arrive; and the world cries, “Bravo! I knew you could do it!” The hidden guide lets no one enjoy great achievement without passing the persistence test. Those who can’t take it simply do not make the grade..

Those who can “take it” are bountifully rewarded for their persistence. They receive, as their compensation, whatever goal they are pursuing.

Napoleon Hill — author of the classic, Think and Grow Rich

Day 13 – 1/3 of the way there!

Are you 1/3 of the way to your goals??

Are you making progress?

If not? REFOCUS, ADJUST, TACKLE!

You don’t have to throw in the towel just for a few blurry days!  Start RIGHT NOW – focus for 30 minutes on some productive activity that will move you towards your goal.

Now. Really, you can do it now.

Make some phone calls. Write a card. Lace up your tennis shoes to walk. Drink a bottle of water. Get out your calendar and plan those appointments. Organize one folder of photos for your scrapbook. Declutter ONE closet.

what was the goal for focus? 30 minutes will make a huge difference.

Honestly…we ALL have 30 minutes.

I’m AHEAD of the 1/3 mark on a few of my focus goals and behind on one specifically. I’m adjusting effort TODAY and WILL hit the mark!  I am holding myself accountable to YOU!

What will you focus on for JUST 30 minutes???

Carrie

“Allow me to be a blessing to you and allow yourself to be a blessing to others.” John Coonley, Cancer Survivor

Day 12 – What will you be doing in 7 Years?

Check out this girl – she is 17 – a millionaire – and started her business with $8.00

http://potw.news.yahoo.com/s/potw/52250/teen-millionaire

While I’m NOT excited (as a mom) about her dropping out of school – the reason she did so was to FOCUS on managing her business. She is the CEO of her company and focused on her ‘why’ and the results.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 What Will You Be Doing 7 Years From Now?

 from www.PositiveNews.net

I graduated from Brazosport High School in Freeport, Texas in May 1972. Not dressed in white (honors), but I graduated.

That summer like the previous summer, I worked as a longshoreman loading corn, flour and corn sacks weighing 50 to 140 lbs. and 900 lbs. caustic soda drums on freight ships bound to other countries at nearby Brazos Harbor and Dow Chemical A2 Dock.

This was one of the better paying jobs in the area. It was grueling, hard, heavy work, but I loved it at the time. My father had been doing this job most of his life since it paid well.

Fall came around and I had already decided that I did not want to make my living as a longshoreman. Work was inconsistent and when it was there it only went to the ones with the most seniority, unless there was too much. There was very little opportunity for a better job when you got older.

I had always heard that a college education would get you a better job and decided to find out. So I went to nearby Brazosport College and set up an appointment with a counselor.

I got to his office at the appointed time and he asked me what work or profession interested me the most. I had taken Auto Mechanics I & II during my junior and senior years in high school and asked him if Brazosport College had an auto mechanics program.

He said “no.” I asked him if they had anything similar to it. He said that the Machine Tools Technology program was very similar and described the program to me.

I was very interested and asked him how long it would take if I went full time. He said “4 years.” I said I couldn’t go full time since I am working (whenever work was available).

I asked how long would it take if I go part time? He said “7 years.” I was shocked. I said, “Man, I’ll be old then, I’ll be 25 years old. I don’t thing so.”

He asked me, “what did you say you did for a living right now?”

I told him again that I worked as a longshoreman throwing bags and manhandling drums. Then he bent over his desk and looked me square in the eye and asked me the most significant words I will never forget in my life:

“IF YOU DON’T TAKE ANY CLASSES. WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING 7 YEARS FROM NOW?”

These words hit me like a ton of bricks! I sheepishly told him that I would be doing the same thing. I signed up for the classes right then and there.

These prophetic words have inspired many of my relatives and friends. The sun will rise and fall 365 days a year. What you choose to do in between will determine many things in your life.

 Time will go on regardless and it waits on nobody.

Years later, I told a co-worker this story. He got inspired enough that he went on and got 3 different degrees in computers in less than 7 years! He said afterwards, “7 years ago I would’ve been saying to myself, ‘If only I had the opportunity.’”

by Augie Mendoza

 

Listen to this – Made me Smile!

Barefootin with Jimmy Buffet and Alan Jackson

http://www.imeem.com/antarcticoncp/music/VTkHVFdF/alan_jackson_alan_jackson_jimmy_buffett_barefootin/

 

 

Day 11 – Distractions everywhere

Between the 4 kids, the 4 businesses, the funeral of a dear-dear friend today, the contracting of some major work around the house, teaching a class at church, getting ready for our summer Vacation Bible School (I lead music rally, WAHOO) and other tasks – you can IMAGINE the distractions around here!

BUT – having my firm focus for a short period of time has actually been a ‘relief’ — it’s been a comfort to know that for NOW I can pour myself into these short term goals. That for NOW I can say ‘no’ to some extra things. That for NOW, I can give myself permission to take care of THESE things and be a bit selfish.

(and amazingly…this focus – these laser-beam concentrated efforts have opened up some incredible opportunities and exciting things that I will be implementing during my NEXT 40 day focus)

“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to lead a life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours.”  Henry David Thoreau