Entrepreneurship; The Path Less Travelled

Lyn E. Ayre, Ph.D.
www.LynAyre.com

There are many things that a budding entrepreneur can do to ensure optimum success, Lyn E. Ayre, PhD, shares her knowledge and experience.

1. Developing a website
   Few people, in my circle of family and friends, refer to the yellow pages any more. I want to know with whom I am dealing instead of making a ‘prod in the dark’.  Review your site weekly to keep it fresh and alive. Back it up onto a CD every week, or more often, if you are updating a lot. Use PayPal or something similar to make it easier for people who want to pay with a credit card. Any links that exist on the site should be active and lead to where you want them. Check to make sure none of the info has stale-dated. Do a line edit if you’ve added content or, better yet, let a fresh eye read it over. Link to everyone who is in harmony with your website. List yourself on the many free directories and do reciprocal links with others of like-mind. Find someone you admire who is doing similar work and advertise in the same places. There can be no competition in our field of endeavour, as any healer worth their salt knows that it is all Spirit-guided. The clients and students that are yours will come to you. Also be aware that healing happens through us not by us, and ego should be sent on a well-deserved vacation.
2. Write a quarterly newsletter with topics you know would interest your readers.
   Share your personal experience with others. This helps people to identify their issues and gives them hope that they, too, can recover from whatever is bothering them.
3. Branding
   Creating an image through branding is very key. By having your website, brochure, flyers, business cards, registration forms, certificates, seals, and receipts with the same colour scheme and logo, visitors will soon recognize your particular look; it attests to continuity and professionalism.
4. Work with intention.
   Decide what it is, exactly, that you would like your end result to be. Then write an intention surrounding that ideal. ie: “I hold the intention that (my company) is financially stable and doing well on all levels. We attract and attain new students and clients daily. We are a resource for our community. And so it is.” Say this intention at least 21 times each day. If fear comes knocking or doubt creeps in, say it. Keeping our thoughts aligned to our intention is mandatory. Here is what I know for sure: Intention is Everything; Everything is Energy; Everything is Connected; Everything is Changing.
5. Keep up with your daily spiritual rituals.
   If you do Reiki, or any other kind of self-healing, meridian clearing techniques, meditation, yoga, exercise, walking, or some other form that feeds you spiritually, keep it up; do it daily. Don’t let yourself lapse as this will affect your energy  system,  which will affect your ability to attract abundance and prosperity.
6. If you work from home, as most of us do, begin and end your day at a certain time.
   Then close the office door. Take a half hour to an hour lunch break or dinner break and relax. Read a book that is not related to your work. Call a friend. Better yet, meet a friend or your Mom for lunch. You know, just have fun. We don’t get another shot at this and it really behooves us to take care of ourselves. When I last flew, our hostess told us that we need to put the air mask on ourselves first, and then on our loved ones. This really makes sense, doesn’t it? We are not going to help anyone if are not well ourselves.
7. Keep up with the courses required to do your job effectively.
   Expand your knowledge base and skill set. Go for the highest rung you can reach, then reach higher. Don’t allow yourself to rest on your laurels and become stuck in a rut. Be on top of what is happening in your ‘community of interest’; join professional bodies and get involved.
8. Go out and walk through your community and get to know who lives there.
   Talk to them about what you do. See the people who work at health food stores, metaphysical bookshops, and other wellness   centres. Leave business cards and brochures with them. Point out your website URL. Remember, this is akin to a job interview and you only get one chance to make a first impression. Be appropriately dressed, open, and pleasant.