Posts Tagged ‘Business’

Embrace Your Quirks

Monday, November 29th, 2010

The view we see of ourselves is often different from what others see when they look at us. Those little quirks and imperfections that drive us so crazy are rarely even noticed by others. In fact, it is often those quirks that others admire, traits that make us unique and stand out.

Your quirk is your gift. When you next look in the mirror, focus on your “quirky” and give it some love, because it is actually your blessing and a very important part of the authentic you. Look around – the world is becoming a very bland and homogenized place. Franchises and systemized business have created a vanilla business environment without character. Homes are built the same way, with your choices limited to one of five models. And women everywhere will be sporting cobalt blue skinny jeans as their fashion choice this season. This can go on as we take a look at what we eat, how we shop and where we choose to live.

Take an honest look at yourself and acknowledge your traits that do not match the norm. Maybe it’s your physical appearance, or the way you think, your name, hobby, passion or fashion sense. Sometimes these quirks are things we’ve chosen to adopt in our lives and other times they come to us through DNA. Either way I say own your quirk with pride. Your quirk makes you memorable, it makes you unique and it make you stand out in this increasingly homogenized world. If you love your quirks, others will too. And the ones who don’t… well, I say “so what?!” They are most likely jealous anyway!

Here Is To Success on Your Terms!

Love & Light,

Star**

Climbing a Mountain

Thursday, November 18th, 2010
View of Vacaville in Northern CA from the top of the mountain

View of Vacaville in Northern CA from the top of the mountain

Recently I had a chance to have a few of my team members together in Northern California for a day of brainstorming and planning. I was asked to be a speaker on a panel, something I love to do, with two other female entrepreneurs for the launch of Tribal Truth in the Bay Area and thought it would be a great opportunity for us to get together.

While I was there with my team we took the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery that was all around us. Several of us decided to go on a 5-mile nature hike. The trail to the top was long and uphill. It pushed me to my max. As we climbed  I noticed that at different points during the journey each of us took the lead based on what we were good at: sprint, steady, speedy, head down, moving forward. We naturally fell into a rhythm of recognizing our unique strengths and using the to help the rest of the team.

This experience of climbing a mountain is very similar to running and leading a business. As  the entrepreneur or visionary you may hold the space for the vision, but to reach growth potential each of us need to lead with our strengths. It takes a leader to understand individual strengths, and more importantly, weaknesses. Why? Because it takes self-knowledge to attract and bring aboard people who are better than we are at our weak spots. And one thing I know for sure is that it is important to realize and know that nobody builds a successful business or life alone.

It was wonderful to connect with nature, breathe in fresh air and get a clear perspective of how we are all connected. We all made it to the top of the mountain in our own time. As I sat at the summit, reveling in the satisfaction of reaching the top, I knew that I did it on my own terms and with people I am proud to share the experience and the success with.

Love & Light,

Star**

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

Office Camera 013There are weeks that pass that are devoted to implementing tactics and there are weeks where strategy and connecting with others rules. This past week was about both and in a BIG way. For those of you who are connected with me on Facebook I spent the entire week on a studio set filming a reality show where I was asked to be a judge sharing my expertise as a Brand & Business Strategist. I shared the panel with amazing, accomplished people. It was an incredible experience and I gained so much from it.

I am currently reading “Ask And It Is Given” by Abraham-Hicks and the title of his book couldn’t feel more true to me. A few months back when Oprah was asking people to present their ideas for a reality show it got me thinking. I suggested to my General Manager Brittany Copsey that I would like for us to be in a TV show. I felt it would be good for us to share and help many by reaching out on broadcast TV. Office Camera 433Well, within 60 days of that flippant comment I was asked by my good friend Jessica Sitomer to be a judge on her reality show she was filming in August. Without giving it a second thought I said “Yes! Of course I want to help my friend out.”

Three weeks later I found myself saying goodbye to my husband and kids with a kiss on the cheek. With makeup and hair done in our trailers we were on set shooting six episodes of a show meant to transform people’s lives in a positive and fascinating way – and it did. I met the most talented and Office Camera 104heart-centered people, contestants, staff and artists.

Words don’t express the positive energy that lead this project.  Even though the days were long and I was away from my family I found myself enjoying every moment. I am honored to have been a part of such goodness! It turns out it was Jessica who was doing me the favor. Thank you Jessica for such an amazing week and opportunity!

For those of you dying for more details, I am not allowed to tell you much more as I am sworn to secrecy, but I can tell you “Believe and You Will Receive.”

WOffice Camera 117ishing you all the success life has to offer!

Love & Light

Star**

Face Fear Head On

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Spencer and Lily 460My family took a trip up to the Pt. Mugu Navel base and went to the air show last week and it was spectacular.  We saw amazing things: The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flying in formation with barely a wing’s span between them, executing amazing aerial flips, turns and choreography timed to the millisecond. There was also a female wing walker – one of only 12 in the world. She braved climbing out of the plane, without a safety parachute, and ascended to the top wing to do handstands, flips and choreography while the plane soared through the air. She faced fear head on, Spencer and Lily 358with clarity and grace. She dared to do what most would not be willing.

TRUST: The analogy of brand was in my mind as the sun was shining brightly on that beautiful California summer day. Trust was number one. The trust between the team members flying had to be of the utmost to achieve success. Literally, they all trusted each other with their lives. Do your clients trust you and your brand?

Spencer and Lily 360EXPERT SKILL: Everyone who participated in that airshow had honed their skill with education, practice and enthusiasm for performing the activity that was most in alignment with themselves, their passion and what they most desire to do.

PRACTICE: These acts of bravery and skill take teams that have practiced and practiced in order to achieve this amazing level of success.

SERVICE: How can you serve your gift to the Spencer and Lily 419world? Not only did these gifted pilots accept and nurture their passion, but they take it and package it in a wonderful day of amazing service in sharing their gifts with the world, inspiring us all.

A trusted brand or team can achieve amazing results and never-done-before feats when the above elements are involved. Trust, skill, practice and service. I ask you to ask yourself does your Brand You do these things?

Love and Light,

Star**

Do you believe it’s possible to create your ideal profitable business on your own terms, or have you compromised along the way?

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

By Star Ladin

employee-overworkedWhen a tough decision comes along I think of what Abraham-Hicks said, “If it’s not a hell Yes, it’s a hell No!” I believe as business owners we often get lost in our head and we ignore the gut feeling, that instinct.  But how much time, money, and energy is lost trying to be someone you are not, or continuing to serve a client who doesn’t value you?

Have you ever felt like you were working so hard, for so long and so much, that you were unable to enjoy life or what you had worked so hard to build? In the beginning you worked harder to make more money but now that you have made the money you have no time and no freedom to enjoy it?

Or have you built a successful business based around something you were good at only to realize the passion is gone and now you are burnt out and feel stuck?

Or have you “accepted” that you have to compromise what you love to do in order to fulfill your financial obligation to support your family?

Aligning your business with you foundational core, what you are passionate about and what invigorates you is critical to having not just success but Success on Your Terms.  To me, success is not truly success unless it is achieved on your terms.  If you are constantly frustrated, work so much you see your family for dinner on the weekend, hate the clients  you work with, but make a seven figure income, have you a achieved success?

In my view, you design the life you desire, the business you desire, and are free to adjust the design whenever you choose.  BUT in order to design a life that allows you success on your terms you must align your values and passion with your brand and business.

So, I have a couple of questions for you:

  1. Do you believe it’s possible to create your ideal profitable business on your own terms?
  2. What are some specific scenarios where being in alignment would be helpful when growing your business?

Post your comments below and you WILL be rewarded. Here’s why…

Star with Beeny_lo resIn August I plan on holding a teleseminar for you.  After working with business owners in hundreds of different fields I am convinced that businesses succeed or fail depending on the alignment of their business with their foundational core.  I have helped hundreds of women reignite their business passion and find success on their terms.

This session will be free of charge, BUT I do need some input into what topics you would like to have covered during the call.  Could you help me by posting your comments?

Life gives us valuable lessons – if we pay attention

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
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Lily and I on our avacado farm in Santa Rosa February 2008

It’s funny how life always gives us the lessons that we need. Or reminders of what we need to learn if we pay attention. For example, parenting and raising well-balanced and self-sufficient children is much like building a well-balanced and self-sustaining business.

I was out with my 5-year-old daughter, Lily, the other evening. We were headed to Michaels craft store to get a gift for my niece’s birthday. As we walked in, there was a free craft table for children to create an art project. Lily was so excited – just like her mother, she loves to be creative and get her hands dirty.

She made me the sweetest decoupage of a farm and signed her name on it. She was so proud and so was I. These are the gifts that make for lifelong childhood memories. We carried out her gift, beaming.  We had a bonding moment and it was a wonderful mother-daughter  time. Next stop that day was to do a little shopping next door. So Lily got her own cart and put her art project in the cart and wanted to push it around the store herself to make sure it didn’t get banged or damaged as it was drying.

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While we were shopping and our backs were turned, someone unknowingly took Lily’s cart – with her art project in it. The cart was nowhere to be found. I look into Lily’s gray-green eyes, welling up with tears, and jumped into mommy action mode. “Lily, don’t you worry,” I comforted her. “We are not leaving the store until we have checked every last cart, or until the store is closed and we have exhausted every one of our options.”

I asked Lily, who is learning about impatience, if she was up for this challenge. “You will need to dig deep and put your patience hat on.” She answered me, very seriously, “Yes, Mommy, I will be patient.”

Now, it was already a late night, my kids are the type that are up early and in bed early and it was already 7 p.m. Lily and I went around the store looking in the bottom of many carts. We then enlisted the help of the store manager to do a store-wide announcement. Our last option was to wait at the checkout section and check every cart as they were emptied.

The whole time I was talking with Lily and telling her that we will do everything in our power to find her art project but we are not going to get attached to the outcome. Whatever the outcome is, it is, and we will do our best and let the rest go.

IMG00096-20100526-0952I tell you that nearly two hours later the store was closing, we had exhausted every option and solution and then…. I checked a cart and there it was!  Lily, the store staff, and I literally jumped for joy! We had done what we set out to do and the outcome was what we had hoped it would be.

Today that picture frame sits on my dresser and every time I look at it I am reminded about how precious life lessons come in unexpected packages. The important message of persistence’s power and how if you stick to your plan and stay focused on the positive was imparted to my daughter and I that day and, because we paid attention, is something we both benefited from in our lives.

Embracing the Virtual Office

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

With the world getting smaller by the moment, the virtual office is a paradigm of how our workplaces have evolved in order to survive and thrive. Think about the transition over the last 60 years of technology such as AM/FM radio and only three television networks, to the current multi-media convergence of internet, TV, radio and cell phone.

The virtual workplace has embraces the power of today’s multi-media technology and given power to the people. It has also allowed for a virtual world in which geography and time are no longer boundaries to be overcome.

A recent example occurred with my own business, as an employee of mine had traveled to New Zealand, halfway around the world from California, and yet was able to work with ease and grace. Even when an unforeseen problem popped up with a client, we were able to use Skype, a voice over internet service, to coordinate a virtual meeting, find a resolution and satisfy the client’s needs within 24 hours.  Technology is amazing when used to serve a solution.

Love & Light

Star**

How to Save $1,000,000

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

I lost $1 million by making the following mistake with my business, so listen closely as I share my failure with you, so that others won’t have to go through the pain of learning this lesson:

As enterprising people we have a tendency to preconceive how we should accomplish our goals and try to follow them exactly as the vision in our heads directs us. When we take this ambition to an extreme it does not honor the process of discovery and the journey that entrepreneurship naturally is.

When an outcome does not manifest itself the way you would like, you should realize the lessons you’ve learned, and heal your pain by sharing this with others and helping them to avoid the same mistakes.

For example I once hired someone because I was desperate. I had allowed my business and my work load to get out of hand. I had done a great job of attaining clients, but soon found myself frantically working 14 hours a day, drowning in the work.

Not only was I living in counterbalance to my values, putting money and control first  instead of my family, but I also did not listen to my intuition and my inner voice during the hiring process that said “this person is not a good match for my values.”

I was fooled by the green monster. Not jealously – greed! I had allowed my pain and my desire to keep the money flowing make the decision when I was hiring. I suppressed my intuition many times over the year that this woman worked for me.  My inner voice became louder and more intense as the months rolled on and I wasted valuable time by choosing the false sense of peace from a desire to please other people over the truth my intuition was telling me.

This happened some time ago, and I have come to peace with the experience and the lesson that was meant for me to learn. I believe that  everything happens because I am meant to learn from my experiences. I guess I had to lose an amazing amount of money to realize that intuition is the doorway to living your truth and there is no exception.

I can now say I am grateful for that situation because I will never again ignore my intuition. This experience allowed me to tap into my energy, take note and connect my head and my heart. I suggest you take inventory the next time you hear your little inner voice and listen.

Love & Light

Star**

Celebrating Women

Monday, March 29th, 2010

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Tuesday night was the first night of the rest of my life. Tuesday night was my first “CELEBRATING WOMEN” event, attended by more than 100 people. As I reflect on the amazing people who attended, the inspirational speakers and the sheer energy of the room, I feel joyous, proud and warm in my heart that I did it. I held the space to serve a community that needs a VOICE.  I heard them loud and clear. What I provided for them was what they want more of. I have stepped out in to a new world full of only possibility and collective collaboration among fellow woman business owners. It feels amazing to have a higher purpose or higher YES.

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Debbie Copsey, Star Ladin, Kathy Kaehler, Molly Bauer, Denise Heller

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Guest Speakers: Joanna Garzilli, Star Ladin, Kathy Kaehler

I have clarity. My mission is to show everyone – my children, my family, professional women – how to follow their dreams. To show female entrepreneurs FREEDOM by using their passions and their entrepreneurship as the tool.

The entrepreneurs at “Celebrating Women” are at all levels of their  journey. Some of them have been in business for decades  and some just getting started. What they all have in common is that they feel stuck or unfulfilled. Something has been missing but they haven’t been able to put their finger on it. Or they may have figured it out and want to share their experience with others. Either way both sides need each other.  The one needs to see how far they have come and the other needs to see that they can get where they want to go.

It was a night I shared with our Star Lee Magazine community for heart-centered entrepreneurs to connect, leverage, network, learn and lean on each other. I saw an open community come to life. A community that was once just a vision and now came to life. WOW!

Love & Light,

Star **

In Praise of Seth Godin

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

One of my trusted sources of information, inspiration and mentorship is Seth Godin. He speaks the truth in a candid and frank way that resonates with my conscience and my sensibilities. He has earned my personal trust over years of delivering commonsensical solutions, thoughts and ideas that represent the core. There is a standing joke in my office that “Seth speaks to us.”

What is uncanny is how so often his words seem to coincidentally parallel our work. The most recent example of this happened this week when I opened his blog post titled “We Can do It” and saw the image of Rosie The Riveter front and center.

Only two weeks ago I launched my first magazine, published for heart–centered female entrepreneurs who desire work life balance while remaining true to their values. The cover image for the first issue was an intentional character shot of me dressed up as Rosie the Riveter. My publisher’s letter to the magazine’s readers centered on the theme of courage and was all about “You can do it!”

This image embodies the idea that embracing our roles as entrepreneurs and leaders may not be comfortable and familiar, but is definitely possible. I was so amazed to open Seth’s blog post and see that image only a few days after publishing my magazine with such as similar cover. Once again – “Seth speaks to us,” using the Rosie images to encourage readers that if you take action you are already a step ahead.

I invite you to read my letter from the publisher at the Star Lee Magazine website (www.starleemagazine.com) and to take a look at Seth’s blog entry here.  Both  are well worth your time.

And remember, like Rosie, we did it before and you can do it again.

Love & Light,

Star**