Author: Scott Asai
Helping people develop their leadership skills to advance in their career
Internet Defamation Infographic
Do you know what your rights are if something is published online about you or your company that isn’t true?
The internet is an open forum where information can be posted by the second, so it’s important to know what your options are if someone intently tries to smear your name/brand.
Of course like any dispute, it’s recommended that you contact the other party first and try to figure out a compromise, but if that proves to be unsuccessful, you can go to the courts with your complaint.
The distinction between personal opinion and defamation of you or your company is hard-proof of money loss. If the ruling ends up being awarded to you in your favor, you can get compensated for damages and financial loss.
We do live in a society where people freely sue each other, but it’s good to know what’s legal and illegal especially when it comes to your personal reputation or company’s brand.
“This post is sponsored by Kelly Warner. I was invited to this opportunity by Quality Blue Community and I received compensation for my time. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.”
Source: www.lawyerentrepreneur.com
How to Be More Confident
Who wouldn’t like to be more confident?!
It’s the most desired, intangible trait you can have. Believe it or not, it’s not overly complicated to attain.
Want to know the secret? Drumroll…
Achieve more.
That’s it?! Simple enough, right?
Think about the last time you were confident. It probably involved you performing and getting recognized for it. A lot of the times we do what we get noticed for. Not always a bad thing, but our ego is involved.
People who are self-confident achieve more. It goes hand-in-hand.
Take for instance one of my coaching-client conversations:
Client: “I’ve been in the same job for 5 years and hate it. I want to leave, but am afraid if I do I won’t have anything else. Can you help me make the transition?”
Me: “So you know I can’t promise you employment right? That’s a guarantee no one can make (unless they’re going to hire you themselves).”
Client: “Oh yeah, I don’t expect that, but I need a game plan…something to help me figure out if it’s worth taking the risk of leaving my current job.”
Me: “So you want me to help you with an exit strategy and give you tips on how to get into a new industry right?”
Client: “Yes.”
Me: “So what you’re really looking for is to gain more confidence so you’re willing to chase after your dreams.”
Client: “Exactly.”
When you set and achieve goals it builds momentum. It’s like that snowball rolling down the hill in cartoons. It starts small then gets bigger as it picks up speed. Start with small goals, achieve those, then become more ambitious in your pursuit(s). The more you achieve, the greater your confidence.
At the heart of what I do as a coach is build people’s self-confidence. That’s what I tell people when they call me from Yelp!
Is Work-Life Balance Really Achievable?
A Holistic Interview w/ Lauren Faretta
When my wife and I were putting together Community Perks, fitness/wellness was a category we both wanted to see promoted in the community. Lauren responded to our request for a partnership even before her location fully opened! She’s been nothing short of gracious since we met her and besides getting a great workout (my wife LOVES it), Lauren’s personality is just icing on the cake. Cardio Barre is one of the best workouts around and we’re fortunate to have it in our own backyard!
1) What was your motivation behind opening your own location of Cardio Barre?
There was always a voice telling me to open my own business. From early on I loved giving people advice and helping them feel their best, specifically something that motivated others to believe in themselves. When Cardio Barre was introduced to me it automatically clicked that this was not only a system that worked for the physical aspect, but for people that desired an internal growth as well. Cardio Barre is something everyone can do. I am not going to lie, it isn’t easy but when it clicks, it clicks. People have more confidence in how they walk and talk to others. It was a life changer for me personally; my entrepreneurial spirit, desire for helping others and awareness of my own physical capabilities. We had to share this experience with everyone on the Westside!
2) What skills/experiences have you taken from modeling that has helped you in managing your new business?
Oh, modeling! It was a great 15 years of experience. How to keep a tough skin when you hear a lot of “No’s” or how you handle the pressures of keeping up with your appearance and essentially being your own business and brand. You have to be able to manage yourself in order to manage others. I met so many amazing people along the way and I certainly gained some valuable lessons in what is real and not so real in the industry.
3) What have been the biggest challenges of running a franchise?
Making sure every customer walks away with a smile. Customer service is the key component and since you cannot please everyone, you have to stand by the value of your product and make sure they are satisfied and give them the best experience possible. Another big challenge of running a franchise or any business for that matter, are the hidden costs. Be prepared for things to break, floods and vandalism!
4) What is your greatest asset as an entrepreneur?
My greatest asset is my ability to listen to each and every person that walks in, calls or emails. If they do not feel heard then they will not get the satisfaction they deserve. Most individuals just want to be listened to and taken care of. I am a nurturer at heart and enjoy being around people so it’s something I enjoy.
5) What’s one piece of advice you want to give fellow entrepreneurs?
Every day remind yourself of how you got to where you are. You DID IT. You made it here. Now appreciate your significance. And throughout the day-to-day issues that surface, keep focus on all of the amazing gifts you have in your life. There is always someone else out there in a far worse situation. Never lose sight of your accomplishments and always give back to the world.
Lauren was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts and knew early on that she wanted to achieve something meaningful. Before graduating from Franklin Pierce University Magna Cum Laude in Business Administration and Marketing, she took a year journey to London to study abroad and travel. She has traveled and continues to travel to Egypt, Indonesia, and Israel to all over the globe to see the realities of life.
When a job offer in Los Angeles brought her out to the West Coast she found her home of opportunity. From working in Advertising, managing a movie marketing company to becoming Talent Acquisitions for a hit show on MTV, she also found time to work side jobs doing Print and Commercials. It seemed nothing was too intimidating to experience even once. Lauren got her inspiration for the creative process and her love of capturing beautiful moments on and off film. But what led her to the next adventure was a simple suggestion by her friend to own a popular franchise called Cardio Barre.
Always a very ambitious woman, owning a business was something she wanted to accomplish next. Her strong desire since childhood was to always help others lead healthier lives. By 2013, after 2 years of a grueling city and financial process, the studio became a reality. She is now the Managing Partner together with, Tamara Hakim, the very friend that brought the idea to her.
“My experience with Cardio Barre is what drives me to continue to be even stronger, whether it be diving into deeper understandings of growth, connections, and witnessing clients light up when they walk in and walk out. We have all created a community that everyone looks forward to every day. My clients inspire me. We inspire each other. It isn’t about the clichéd body image, it is about how we feel about ourselves internally when we walk down the street and communicate with one another. People sense your confidence and that is more powerful than any defined arm muscle. There isn’t any competition here at Cardio Barre Santa Monica. We all go at our own pace to be the best version of ourselves. This is an endless and gratifying process, to stand beside the most compelled and committed women and men I know today.”
Stay Focused
Overcoming Doubt
Everyone has doubts.
No matter how successful you are, you’ve had periods where you’ve doubted yourself. You can’t avoid it, but you can counter it.
So how do you battle those doubts in your head?
I don’t consider myself an expert by any means, but here’s what’s worked for me personally, as well as a coach:
1) Push through it
2) Know the present/future is not predicted by your past
3) Help others
Doubt is more perceived than real. It’s a mental block that can stop you in your tracks (if you allow it). In the midst of fear, usually the only way to get over it is “push through it” to reach a different outcome. If you do that, you’ve created a new schema to build upon.
If your past is the only way to predict your future, then it’s game over. That would mean your life is predetermined and there’s nothing you can do to change it. If you really believe that, you’re sad. Don’t be a victim. Start doing things different now to achieve a better future. Start with small steps and build from there.
At the heart of doubt(s) is “me” focused. The next time you start feeling sorry yourself, go help someone in need. It may sound like a deterrent/distraction (and to some degree it is), but if you shift your focus towards helping someone, a lot of your negative feelings will dissipate. Sometimes the best thing we can do to cope is to reach out, even when our natural instinct is to stay isolated.
Like I mentioned before, I don’t claim to be the expert on this subject because I have my own doubts that linger from time to time. But the worst thing you can do is nothing. Vent to a friend. Journal about it. Try something new.
So now it’s your turn, what’s worked for you?
What are you waiting for?
Check Your Alignment
Alignment isn’t just about your car tires.
A lot of times our lives are out of whack because our goals and actions are out of alignment.
For example, if your goal is to purchase a house in the future, why are you spending without a budget in mind?
If you want to lose weight, how come you’re not changing your eating and exercise habits?
If you want to grow in your career, why aren’t you speaking up, networking and looking for new opportunities?
I wrote a post about goals and habits earlier where the majority of people focus on goals, but never discipline themselves to implement the habits that will get them there. Only when your habits are aligned will you achieve your goals.
We all have the same amount of time in a day. It just differs how you utilize it. Goals are easy to set. They’re much harder to accomplish. Mark Cuban said it best, “Don’t follow your passion, follow your effort.” Translated into practical terms it means: don’t just go after what you want, go after what you’re willing to do the work for.
So the next time you set a goal, make sure you have the steps (habits) in place to actually get you there and the accountability to make sure it gets done. That’s when you’ll know you’re aligned.
No accountability. No results. Who’s keeping you accountable?
Growing Forward 