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Have you ever had a MAJOR "uh-oh" moment... that led to an even bigger "a-ha?" That's what happened to David Neagle, my guest on episode 08 of Awaken Your Inner Superstar and the best-selling author of The Millions Within . He is known as one of the original architects of the coaching and personal growth industry, having worked alongside powerhouse mentors like Bob Proctor, Marianne Morrissey and Tony Robbins. Tune in as we discuss David's near-death experience and the dramatic changes he created in his life as a result -- and how he helps others create similarly life-changing outcomes (minus the near-death experience). You'll also learn about the best way to realize your full potential (hint: it isn't by following the road traveled by most others). This interview is absolutely inspiring and I've listened to it TWICE since recording it, because it's THAT good. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. You can Subscribe & Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And Please Consider Leaving a Rating & Review! “If you are going to do something, NOW is the time to do it, because we don’t know how much time we really have.” - David Neagle Show Notes: David’s story -- his crazy brush with death -- and how it was the best thing that ever happened to him The simple way David figured out to shift his entire career and income -- without quitting or getting fired How to identify how YOU are holding yourself back in your life The #1 secret to tapping into your FULLEST potential How feelings of shame and guilt -- that you might not even recognize -- limit your expansion, and how to let them go The astounding impact that a SINGLE person can make The power of BELIEF -- and how to cultivate it “Opportunity generally shows up as misfortune or temporary defeat, and yet is the one thing that will take you where you want to go.” - David Neagle Links Mentioned: The Millions Within by David Neagle Connect with David Neagle: Facebook  | Twitter | David Neagle “Potential speaks through the language of desire.” - David Neagle

There are lots of ways to deliver coaching programs, and in this week’s video and article, I'm going to lay out 5 effective and lucrative coaching business models that you can use to grow your coaching business. The first, most obvious, one is one-on-one coaching, the model people are the most familiar with. One-on-one is the easiest to start because it requires the least amount of technology or production to make happen. You just hop on a call (or meet live, in some cases) with clients and serve them in your area of expertise. Easy breezy.  The problem with that model is that it can get old quick, especially if you're somebody who doesn't love being on the phone (or in meetings) with people all day long. Also, your revenues are limited by your time – you have to sell more time to make more money. Pretty soon you don’t have time for much else… Now, there are people who love that kind of business model; I am NOT one of them. Pretty quickly after creating my one-on-one model, I started to get overwhelmed, and even to resent my clients.  That's why I switched and moved into the second model, a live in person group coaching, or events-based, model. In this kind of model, you serve multiple people at the same time through live gatherings like workshops, seminars, retreats or masterminds.  A third model is like the above, but virtual. You can deliver your expertise either through an automated system like an online course, or live. So, a virtual live program might look like your whole group gathering on zoom.  A fourth coaching model is any hybrid of the preceding 2 or 3. For example, you can have a program where you have a little bit of one-on-one coaching, an automated course, and a gathering each quarter. A fifth model is a more advanced model, for once you’ve really honed your process and your content; it’s a train-the-trainer or certification model. This model involves developing your own unique methodology that you can train or certify others to deliver for you. You can either charge them to learn how to deliver the model so that they can go out and monetize it, or you can pay them to deliver it for you. Either way you're multiplying yourself and that’s a great way to scale big.  ***  If you’re an expert, consultant or coach and want to build or grow your business using group or live/virtual event models, let’s connect!  Visit www.SuperstarActivator.com/go to book a time to chat and let me help you quickly identify a significant revenue growth / joy / lifestyle opportunity in your business model.

If you’re currently delivering coaching, consulting, or professional services one-on-one, and you want to grow – without selling more time for money – then this week’s article and video are for you. Creating a group program is one excellent way to grow and scale – without sacrificing the quality of what you deliver.  When I migrated from a 1:1 model to a group model, it not only allowed me to leverage my time and generate more revenue (stable, monthly recurring revenue), but it also enabled me to deliver even MORE value to my clients.  And this was my primary reason for resisting and avoiding group models for so long – I had a mistaken belief that it would be LESS value for my clients.  The fact is that group models offer an opportunity to tap into a greater source of magic, beyond you: the collective wisdom and energy of a group.  Groups create and expand accountability, excitement, support, best practices, great ideas, and more. Not to mention, they can help you open up more time for your self care, adventure, and hobbies.  When I switched to this new model, I essentially got a new LIFE to go along with it.  Maybe my story will resonate with you… I had operated for years in a one-on-one model, and truth be told, I didn't enjoy it that much. It felt repetitive, like I was doing the same work again and again with different clients.  The one-on-one model wasn’t a perfect fit for my personality either – I'm an extrovert. I like being around groups of people, I like parties, I like gatherings. Creating a group program was like hosting gatherings, both online and in person, which was exciting and fun.  If any of this sounds fun and compelling, then I encourage you to go deeper, and also to be prepared for some of the “growing pains” of switching to a group model.  For starters, some of those growing pains include filling it, marketing it and enrolling people in it. When you shift to a group model, you need more clients.  Another growing pain is managing the kind of drama and problems that arise in groups. There are all sorts of things that come up that you don't have to deal with when you're doing one on one model.  Another common problem with group models is retention, which is the number 1 thing that troubles group coaching programs, and was one of my biggest challenges in the first couple of years. Watch the video for in-depth advice on each of these challenges.  Overall, the big solution for a group coaching program to really be sustainable over time is to NOT think of it as building a group coaching program, but rather to think of it as building a community , or better yet, building a culture.  What you're doing is creating a community or culture where people are so strongly bonded, so connected, get so much value from that action, from that relationship that they want to stay for a long time.  If all you do is create a group coaching program and you think of it as delivering content and transformation, that's great. But what's going to happen is once they're done with the program, it's like, “Thanks, see you!” And what we want to do instead, from a business strategy perspective, is to create something sustainable long term.   This model lends itself to playing a LONG GAME.  We want to retain clients not just for 1 year, but for several years. In this moment, I'm in my 6th year with my very first group coaching client; that’s what “the long game” looks like.  How would you like to set yourself up for 6+++ years of recurring revenue?  Here are some key considerations.  #1. The first step to creating a sustainable long-term group community culture model, is to choose an audience you LOVE (and who love you BACK!) That's a foundational element of this long term strategy.  Think about the clients that you've had the BEST results with, clients who VALUE and APPRECIATE you already. And now think of ONE client who exemplifies ALL of that. Your biggest fan, who you also love working with the most.  That’s your ideal “AVATAR” (watch the video to go more in depth here). #2. Once you’re clear about WHO you want to bring together, next think about what is the client journey you want to take them on , and how are you going to lay that out over the course of the length of the program. Note: I highly encourage a one-year program length for your biggest big back end type of program. #3. Another thing to carefully consider is the PRICE of your program. Most people tend to undercharge for group programs, thinking they are somehow LESS valuable than 1:1. However, in my book, a group model is MORE valuable than a 1:1 because you’re tapping into the “magic” of a group.  If you’ve given good though to the journey and outcome, base your price on THAT. Instead of focusing on how many calls and sessions or events, focus on what’s the value of being a part of the JOURNEY and the COMMUNITY.  Watch the video for an example of this from my own business.  #4. YOU’RE evolving too. Since you’re not just selling a bunch of things and techniques and modalities and events and calls, you’re leading a culture, and so part of the beauty of this type of work is that you will transform in the delivery of it, in the leading of it.  Over time, you will receive information about things you like or don't like. I highly encourage you to stay really present and available for those feelings. Like the feeling of maybe frustration or resentment or “I don't want to be on this call” or “I don't want to do this event.” Noticing so you can adjust and course correct.  #5. Finally, pay attention to the clients and what they're telling you, their feedback so you can course correct for them too. You can have discussions, send surveys, have check points along the way where you’re getting information from clients. Business needs to evolve – now more than ever! So don’t buy into the fallacy that you need to have it all figured out to get started. Just get started!!  “Imperfect action” is the name of the game.  *** If you are interested in developing your own group program, and want my guidance, let’s have a chat!!  Book a call at www.SuperstarDiscoveryCall.com to get some ideas, perspectives and insights around your business.

Leading retreats and small “immersion” style events is one of the most fulfilling things I do in my business – and what provides the foundation for its long-term profitability and stability. If leading (and monetizing) retreats is something that interests you, then there’s one KEY variable that makes everything work better: a premium PRICE POINT. Pricing a retreat – or any offering, really – can be challenging; there’s often a temptation to price low to make sales easier. In this week’s video and article, I discuss some ways to increase the perceived value of your offer, instead, so it's still easy to sell, and also energy rich and profitable for you to deliver.  So, first I just want to clarify what I mean by “retreat” or “small event.” What I'm referring to is an intimate experience with about 5 to 15 people. An event that size naturally lends itself to premium pricing, which is when a product is perceived as more valuable due to how it's positioned, who’s buying it, some premium value it offers, or because of how/where/when people are going to consume it.  If you've ever paid for movie theater popcorn then you’ve experienced premium pricing. Supermarket popcorn in the supermarket costs very little, maybe $2 or $3 for a bag, and popcorn you can make by yourself at home is even cheaper. But in the movie theater, it's closer to $10, why? Because you’re not buying popcorn, you’re buying a movie experience — a movie experience that is far enhanced by popcorn.  So, when we buy products with a high perceived value, we're willing to pay more. How can you increase the value of your retreat so you can charge a premium price?  #1: Get really connected to the audience for your retreat, and make sure they are financially solvent enough to pay a premium price. If not, consider a new audience. (More on this in the video).  #2: Discover the MAIN pain point or problem that your retreat will solve with/for them, as well as any additional pain points or problems (especially any problems they don’t even KNOW they have!) Watch the video for more detail and examples of these.  #3: Define the promise of your retreat, AKA: your “highly desirable outcome.” What are you guaranteeing that people are going to get from this retreat? One way is to focus on an outcome — a highly desirable outcome — that you can help your retreat attendees get.  #4: Create a retreat PACKAGE, and bundle it together with other high value offerings (so that you’re not selling a “Retreat” you’re selling a “Solution.”) Watch the video for a specific example of this piece.  #5: Once you’ve done all of the above, NOW you’re ready to look at the final piece: Price.  When we pull together all of these elements, we can often see that what we’re offering truly has a premium value proposition, and deserves a premium price point.  I recommend pricing in the range of at least $1,500 and up to $5,000, with a “sweet spot” at around $2,500 (that’s where I started my retreat pricing).  Now, if that price point seems high, then I invite and encourage you to take a closer look at your target audience, value proposition and package. If your audience has a significant problem that they are actively trying to solve, and you can deliver a comprehensive solution in a compressed time frame, then it should be worth at least that amount.  ***  If you’re interested in diving deeper and learning how to design, fill, monetize, and transform lives through retreats, let’s connect! Book a call with me at  www.SuperstarActivator.com/go Michelle

There's nothing like feeling a sense of true purpose and passion, the feeling that what you're doing has meaning and is significant. Conversely, there is much suffering – often unconscious suffering – when we don’t have a clear purpose or passion. Many years ago, I found myself several years into a career in which I had money, prestige, a fancy title, 2 degrees, a nice car, a closet full of designer clothes and shoes, and most everything I’d always (thought I) wanted – but I was miserable. I struggled to get out of bed in the mornings, and was running on caffeine, alcohol, and lots of adrenaline. I felt lost and tired; ”is this all there is?” was a constant question in my heart. Finally I decided something had to give; that decision marked the beginning of a journey to find meaning and fulfillment.  Now, 15 years later, I can honestly say I feel happy and fulfilled, heart and soul. But getting here wasn't a straight or easy path. In fact, it was a windy and challenging journey, a journey that started with identifying my purpose and passion.  In this video, I share 3 exercises to identify your purpose and . But before we get to those 3 things, I just want to share with you a powerful reframe around finding your purpose and your passion.  You haven't lost anything; you don't need to “find” anything. The idea of finding something implies that it's outside of you waiting to be discovered and that maybe you'll trip over it someday – or maybe you won't. That’s a pretty disempowering way of looking at your passion and your purpose.  Instead, think of it as choosing instead of finding. The thing about choosing is that you can choose at any moment, you can choose whatever you want at any time. So today on this video, with these exercises, you can choose your purpose and passion – and tomorrow, or a year from now, or 5 years from now, you can choose a different one. You can choose again, and again, and again. When you think about it as choosing , all of a sudden the world is full of possibilities and you can choose anything you want.  Exercise 1: Fast forward to the end of your life, to what you think it could be like – and don't cop out on this exercise. Close your eyes, put your hand on your heart and imagine yourself on your deathbed. What would you say about your life?  What would you want to say about your life?  What would you want others to say about your life?  What is it that if you never did it, you would feel your life was wasted?  These are powerful questions, and sometimes even painful questions because they force us to think about something that we generally ignore. But these questions and considerations are what bring meaning to life. Life wouldn't mean as much if it went on forever and ever; every moment is meaningful because eventually, there are no more moments. Exercise 2: A second way to get to your purpose/passion is what some people call the “5 WHYs.” Start with the question: “Why am I on this planet?” or “What am I here to do or create?” That’s your why, part one. Now, look at that answer and go one layer deeper, ask yourself “Why?” Then again, and again, and one last time until you get through 5 Whys.  By the time you get to your fifth or thereabouts you should be feeling something pretty profound. Watch the video to see this exercise in action – I surprised the person behind the camera and used her to illustrate it.  Exercise 3: Now, one final way to find your purpose and your passion is to examine what bothers you. Where do you find yourself frustrated and annoyed and angry even? This is one of those examples where anger as an emotion can be very useful because what makes you angry could be something that you can change or heal in the world. Very often our bigger purpose is informed by or inspired by some wound that we’ve personally experienced, and supporting the healing of that wound in others can be very fulfilling.  I hope this was valuable for you, and encourage you to watch the video for extra details and color.  *** If you're ready to build a business that aligns with your purpose and passion in life, then check out my free Monetize Your Magic Playbook at MonetizeYourMagicPlaybook.com .  And if you’re ready to take a BIGGER step towards alignment and joy, set up a Business Breakthrough Call with me, for free, here: www.SuperstarActivator.com/go .  Enjoy!

How do you become a thought leader? Better yet, how do you become a thought leader – and monetize it? In this week’s article and video, I'm going to show you how. The 2 problems I most often see when thought leaders try to launch, grow, our pivot in a new direction, is that they have a strategy that either 1) isn’t fully aligned with their own desires and needs – so it’s draining and unsustainable for the long haul, or 2) what they create isn’t fully meeting the marketplace’s desires and needs, so it falls flat and doesn’t sell well.   The solution is to follow a 7-step approach that I call the “Superstar Business Framework.” It’s an overall brand and business alignment and growth strategy that helps you not only establish yourself as a thought leader, but also to monetize it – and enjoy the process while you do it!  The first step is “Alignment,” which is at the very foundation of building a thought leadership strategy. Alignment is about stepping into your authentic identity as a leader, as a leader who is truly leading rather than simply reflecting the prevailing culture.  When we explore Alignment, we’re asking: Who are you really ? What do you love to do? What do you believe in? What is your purpose? These are just a few of the foundational questions for Alignment. Watch the video for a more in depth review of this most important piece – and to hear my own personal story of what happens when you’re OUT of alignment (spoiler alert: it isn’t pretty).  The second part of building a thought leadership strategy is Lifestyle. How do you want your life to be and feel? The danger of NOT doing this second piece is burnout , which is a very common issue for thought leaders. Most thought leaders travel a lot, spend time on stage in front of hundreds, if not thousands, of people, and spend a lot of time “on.” If that's not a lifestyle that appeals to you, you need to figure out, what is the lifestyle you DO want? The questions associated with the second step are: Do you want to be traveling? Do you want to be home? What are some of your requirements for health, emotional and physical well-being? How much money do you need/want to make? How do you wish to spend your days? What is the life your work needs to work around ? Answering these questions up front helps ensure that what you build supports your lifestyle, instead of impeding it.  The third thing to consider is your Business Model; your Business Model is the mechanism by which you turn your magic into money . How will you take these gifts of yours, this message, this purpose, these values of yours and turn them into a business that generates revenues? How do you monetize your magic? There are many possible, lucrative, effective business models out there, but you want to choose (or create!) one that’s aligned with parts 1 and 2 — your identity and your lifestyle.  For example, a professional services model, in which you're selling time for money is likely incompatible with a lifestyle where you want a lot of free time, because when you sell time for money, you have to sell more time to make more money . That was the trap that I fell into early in my business, but about 6 years ago, I shifted my business model to doing group programs, and could serve multiple people at the same time, which was a game-changer for me.  Watch the video for more details about business model alignment.  The fourth piece of creating a thought leadership strategy is something I know especially well because I built my entire career on it for many years: Branding. Your branding is your positioning in the marketplace. This is where we ask: Who is my ideal audience? Who do I LOVE working with? Who derives the most value from working with me? What does that market need? What are the market opportunities? Gaps?  This is also where you establish the representation of your brand in the world – your messaging, your pricing, your tagline, your brand colors, and also, what one of my friends and mentors, Mark Levy calls: “Your Big Sexy Idea.”  The fifth puzzle piece of your thought leadership strategy is Marketing, which is the consistent and continuous – and aligned, of course – expression of your brand in the world. The marketing is what you are putting out into the world that shares your big sexy idea. I have a whole playlist on Thought Leader marketing so I won’t belabor it here, but you can check it out here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBsRdrz8MD-DzeYaMPv52Vmc-Des-fhWa   Now, the sixth layer of this framework is where you actually turn all that brand goodwill and all that marketing into money . Step 6 is Monetization, aka: Sales. In my opinion (and after having done it all wrong for years – watch the video to hear about that!) it is essential to have a simple, replicable sales process.  Now, once you have these 6 pieces in place — Identity Alignment, Lifestyle, Business Model, Brand, Marketing, Monetization, and Sales then you've got a look at it and ask: “How do I optimize and scale this thing?”  The seventh and final step is where we address Operations, specifically, the systemization of operations, to reduce wasted time, energy, resources and opportunity, and where we eliminate “friction ” from the system. When you tighten up your operations, you can become more profitable, and lay the foundation to do the whole thing all over again with some new launch or initiative.  ***  If you found this valuable, and would like to go deeper, the next step is to objectively examine your own business, and identify the biggest gaps and opportunities.  To that end, I’ve created the Business Alignment Assessment, which I developed to use with my private coaching clients, but you can do it for yourself, for free!  Go to www.SuperstarBusinessAssessment.com to do it. It takes under 30 minutes, and I promise will provide at LEAST one major “aha” or breakthrough that will help you grow your business faster and with more joy and fulfillment. Enjoy!!

Starting your speech is in my opinion the hardest part about speaking. In today’s article and video, I'm going to share 3 amazing ways to start any speech – and have the audience leaning in and wanting more. If you don’t start off strong, you risk losing people and never being able to get them back. That’s why the beginning of any speech is the most important part.   The first type of opening is the Dramatic Open. This opening begins with silence . You come out on stage, plant your feet and wait. Make eye contact and wait for the perfect moment to say something dramatic, interesting, scary or surprising.  The second kind of opening is the Imagine Open. Like the Dramatic Open, you start with a dramatic pause, but instead of doing a surprising or scary statistic, you ask a question that's designed to get the people in the audience to get into the creative part of their brain, which gets them more open and intrigued for what you're going to say next. The third kind of opening is the Story Open, which is pretty self-explanatory. Start off with a story right off the bat, and maybe even consider starting your story right in the MIDDLE. That’s a great way to grab attention.  The last type of opening is a “bonus” opener because while it can stand alone, you can also add it onto any of the previous openings. It’s the Promise Open. In this opening, you make a powerful promise that gets the audience excited and in a state of anticipation about the rest of your speech. So, what that might look like is, “My promise to you is by the time you leave here you'll __________ (have this outcome).” You can use this as a standalone, or as a transition after any of the other openings into your content.  *** If you’re a speaker, coach, consultant or thought leader, and want to grow your business, If my article or video resonated with you, let’s connect!  Learn more here: www.SuperstarActivator.com/go .  Looking forward to connecting!!

Creating a business mastermind group – whether in person or virtual – is a way to support your business growth. Gathering smart, successful people and sharing best practices can help you discover great new ideas for your business, and also learn from the mistakes others have made and successfully navigated. I love mastermind groups. I love creating them, participating in them, facilitating them, and monetizing them. Masterminds are magical. They can help you navigate a crisis, strategize a pivot, launch a new product or program, grow faster, hold you accountable, and more. But starting your own can be tricky; they can be challenging to fill, manage, and successfully maintain.  The problem is most mastermind groups don't stand the test of time; they fold or fail within the first year or two. Some common pitfalls people often run into include: having the wrong people, or people who don’t participate fully. Sometimes people are flaky – they join and don't show up. People may give really awful advice, or even annoy and frustrate each other with their perspectives. Sometimes groups just don’t “gel.”  Here are some best practices to mitigate these problems and help you create something lasting and sustainable.  #1: The most important and fundamental thing to remember is that you're not just creating an event or a mastermind session, what you’re really creating is a culture . You're bringing together a group of people with shared values who communicate using shared language and agreements.  Part of creating a culture means having shared certain values and agreements. I’ve had my paid mastermind group now for over 6 years. When I started the group, we had challenges. People came in and quit, there were arguments (not the constructive kind), and once we even had a member show up wasted drunk! I've seen it all.  That was then.  We don’t have those issues anymore, and the reason is that even though we have a very diverse group of people, everyone shares certain values, and agrees to operate based on some basic guidelines of communication.  In my group, we are all here – ”here” on this planet and here in our businesses – to contribute. We are all purpose-driven, contribution-oriented, heart-centered, soul-powered entrepreneurs. So as part of our shared communications guidelines, we agree to stick with positive language and not to criticize each other – even when giving critical feedback. (For greater detail on this, watch the video). So, for example, we don't use words like should, shouldn't, or can't. We don’t give “prescriptive” feedback – so you won’t hear someone say: “You need to do this this way” or “You should try this.” Instead people say things like, “Here’s my experience with that, “ or “I invite you to consider this idea” or “Have you ever thought about trying this?”  On the flip side, the way people receive feedback in our group is special too. Instead of saying “that'll never work for me” or “That's a terrible idea,” you’ll hear: “I’ll consider that, thank you.” Because when we reject people's ideas out of hand, people are less likely to share awesome ideas.  Of course, culture and guidelines are not all that goes into creating a successful mastermind group. Another important consideration is who's going to be in your group? In my experience, it’s beneficial to have a diverse group of people, with unique experiences and perspectives, and who share common values. But you may wish to focus in on a specific industry, demographic, or mission. I explore this in more depth in the video up above.  Another question to ask is will this be a paid mastermind or a free one? Obviously, it's easier to put together something that’s free – just call up a few people you know and enroll them in the vision. However, “when people pay, they pay attention” as the saying goes. People are generally more serious, more engaged and more committed when they invest in something.  To get one final BIG strategy about testing out your mastermind concept using a “beta” program, watch the video above! I've also created several videos and playlists on YouTube about how to build and enroll people in paid mastermind groups and other group coaching programs. Click here to see my other videos (and please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel!)   *** If creating a mastermind group appeals to you, and especially if you want to launch a paid one, then maybe I can help. Book a discovery call with me or someone on my team at www.superstardiscoverycall.com to explore if and how I can help you monetize your magic with a mastermind.

If you're looking to accelerate your personal growth and become a better version of yourself – FAST, mentoring and coaching could be the answer. Having mentors and coaches has been an absolute game-changer for me in my business and in my personal life, and could be for you too.   Having guidance and support can:  Help you avoid pitfalls and see blind spots you probably aren’t aware of.  Bring more accountability to your life, to your work, to your business.  Stretch you to think bigger and expand into areas you may never have thought of. Model what you want to be, do and have – and help you get there.  Give you the confidence to take action – when someone believes in you,  big things can happen.  Ultimately, once I realized the power of mentorship, I got myself a coach in every single area of my life where I wanted to see growth and expansion.  If you have watched some of my other videos or have followed me and my work, you know that I had some struggles with my business and personal life in 2014. Mentoring is what helped me move through that challenge – by introducing me to new strategies AND the new mindset I needed to completely redesign my life on MY terms. That's when things started to unfold and change very quickly…in the right direction! Now, all these years later, I can attest to the undeniable impact my mentors have had in helping me get to where I am now. For more details on how a mentor can help you, including examples, watch the video above.  Here’s a quick rundown:  One area that a mentor can really help you with is avoiding pitfalls that you just don't see coming . Because others can see us from the “outside looking in,” they can see our patterns and behaviors, and when we're “cruising for bruising”. And their job as a mentor, is to be honest and to share what they're seeing  – something MOST people won’t do, like our friends and our family won't and don't.  Avoiding mistakes can save you time, money and a whole lot of future headaches (and heartache) too. (For an example of how this played out in my own business, watch the video!)  Another way coaching can be powerful is in holding you accountable. I don't know about you but I struggle with staying consistent and accountable with practices that I know that are good for me and my business. So I have a mentor who I meet with every single week to go through my KPIs.  KPIs are “Key Performance Indicators.” They're metrics that I track weekly because they create positive outcomes in the business. For example, one KPI is sending this email and blog every single week. Another KPI is booking at least one speaking engagement every week. Every week with my coach, I go through a slew of KPI’s to see what I accomplished that week, which helps me track performance over time.   Another way a mentor can help you is with expanding yourself – stretching you into new realms that you might never have considered on your own.  I have a a spiritual mentor who helps me with this, and who has helped me adopt new practices that I never would have NEVER tried on my own, and which I actually resisted. But she pushed and pressed and ultimately prevailed. Thank goodness.  So, one of the great things about a coach can be that they show you new things that you never would have exposed to on your own and that end up becoming part of your life's journey.   Another way a mentor or coach can be beneficial is by providing someone that you can model yourself after.  One of my mentors back in 2014 was someone who had had much success with a retreat and group coaching/mastermind model. I had a HUGE breakthrough in his retreat and I left thinking, “I want to do this too.”  So, I ended up enrolling in a program where I was able to work with him for the year, with the caveat that he would show me how to do what he'd done. Within 14 months, I had almost quadrupled my business. And not only that but I had a lot more freedom . I was able to even pack up my car and leave for a road trip around the whole country.  Learning that business model liberated me from the “time for money” hamster wheel that I'd been on for over 7 years. And  you can't put a price tag on that type of result.  So, having a coach that you can model yourself after can be incredibly beneficial and motivating. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, a mentor is someone who believes in us, and sometimes we really need that. I know I did.  Sometimes when we are questioning ourselves and don’t have the confidence or faith we need to try something new, or take bold action, a mentor can lend us THEIR faith. A mentor can reflect back to us the BEST that we are, can be, and what we're capable of. Whether you ARE a mentor, or are CONSIDERING hiring one, I hope that this rundown of the power of mentoring helped you.  ***  Looking for support in building a sustainable, scalable, retreat-driven mentoring business model? Let’s talk!  Go ahead and book a call on my calendar at superstaractivator.com/go   and let's connect.  Michelle

Do you want to turn your passion into a business? Building a business that aligns with what you love and deeply care about is one of the most rewarding endeavors you can undertake. And also one of the most challenging. Here are 4 strategies I discovered (the hard way) on my own journey that I hope will support you.  One: Create a Compelling Brand . When I talk about a brand, I'm talking about the tangible aspects of a brand like the logo, the color schemes, the website, and the messaging, as well as the deeper layers like positioning, target audience, value proposition, price points and of course the BIGGER WHY that underpins everything else.  Two: Build A Better Business Model .  Now, I know this isn’t the sexiest topic, and in fact – like most people – I skipped right over it when I started my business. Back then, I just asked myself, “What would people pay me for?” and then offered myself AS my service. I ended up spending 7 years exchanging time for money because I never asked the better question: “What is the most effortless and joyful way for me to turn my MAGIC into MONEY?”   If you have a big vision, you need a scalable model to go with it. And (IMHO) the best models have MONTHLY RECURRING REVENUES, which I consider “the holy grail” of business. Three: Mind Your Mindset   Your brand and business model are external constructs; your mindset, AKA your core beliefs and behaviors, are all YOU. And they have everything to do with your success. If you have a belief that work is hard, or that having a business is difficult, or that you have terrible luck, this is what you'll create for yourself. Similarly, if you believe work is play and that making money is easy breezy, you’ll likely have that experience instead.  Do you have a belief, for example, that your target audience doesn't have or won’t spend any money? If you believe that, chances are that's what you'll keep coming up against. As entrepreneurs it’s essential that we examine our own beliefs and cultivate empowering beliefs rather than disempowering ones.  Four: Recruit Mentorship   The last thing you absolutely must have, in my opinion, is guidance. A mentor who has done what you want to do can show you the way and help you avoid the pitfalls, challenges, and obstacles that you'll inevitably run into.  Now, it might sound self-serving since I am a coach. But I truly believe in coaching, that’s why I have mentors in every area of my own life in which I seek growth and expansion.   So, even if it's not me, consider finding someone you trust and respect who can help you as you embark on this journey of greater alignment, joy and PASSION.  *** If this is something that resonates with you and you would like to find out if and how I might support you, visit superstaractivator.com/go and book a call with me to connect and explore.  Big hug, Michelle

Let's face it, this past year has been challenging and unpredictable for all of us. If you’re at all like me, then you’ve had to reinvent, refocus and regroup to weather the storm. In these ever-changing times, knowing how to adjust can make or break your business.  In my world, that meant figuring out how to take a tried and tested LIVE retreat, and turn it into a virtual one – and have it be just as impactful and successful for the participants – and for me.  In today’s video and blog post, I share how to run a retreat business virtually , so you can still deliver impact and generate revenue under any circumstances.  First, I want to share a little bit about my own experience this past March, when the pandemic was announced. Right away, I was really concerned for my clients and for my business. I had a live, in-person retreat scheduled for mid-March in Miami. This was an event that I’d been running for 6 years. With social distancing in full effect and live events at a standstill, I knew that I had to do something – and fast.  I needed to make some big changes but I just didn't believe that my live retreats could translate into virtual. But I didn’t have much of a choice. I had people registered and waiting for me to make the call. So I did.  It took me 2 weeks to overhaul my live event and reimagine it for virtual. And now, in hindsight, I can say I’m SO glad I did it. Adding this new virtual component to my business – something I thought would be just a temporary fix – has now become a permanent offering!  I actually – surprisingly – LOVE the virtual format as much as, though in different ways from, a live retreat.  Here are some of the structures and systems I put into place to turn my live retreat into a (successful!) virtual one.  One of the keys that makes a live, in-person retreat so effective, so productive, and so transformational is that people actually retreat . Hence the term.  This means they pull themselves out of their normal life, get away, and focus all their attention on this one area. That creates the kind of focus and distraction-free environment that supports a big breakthrough.  But when a retreat goes virtual, participants are not getting away from their environment. Instead they’re video conferencing from their home and their home life is going on around them. Maybe their children, their animals, their spouse, or something else is clamoring for attention and it’s really easy to lose focus, or “walk away for a sec” and then they may miss something really important.  So, one of the key factors I learned was to make sure our participants agree to FULLY retreat and to help them – in advance – to create a “distraction free zone,” so they can be fully be immersed in the retreat experience, even virtually. We do this in a retreat prep call, where we gain their commitment for this concept first, and then give them ideas for how to create what they need.  I recommend incorporating this into the guidelines of your virtual retreat beforehand to ensure that everyone is fully present, engaged, and understands the importance of their full participation.   Another idea to consider is that maybe you don't have to go completely virtual.  Perhaps you don't have to make ALL of your events/retreats virtual but just the front-facing events for new people. Once you've anchored that initial retreat experience virtually, you are in a position to possibly sell a “back-end” program that’s much smaller and may still include an in-person experience.   In my business, we have an up front retreat with about 30 people, and then we have the “back-end” retreats for our year-long clients that are usually much smaller, and we have been able to continue gathering in person for those.  If you're in a hot spot or a place that's completely locked down, of course, you will need to stick to only virtual events. But often smaller groups are still able to meet even when bigger ones aren't, as long as they are doing so with the required precautions in place. Structuring the content of your virtual retreat effectively is critical in making your virtual experience a successful one.   Consider creating a virtual structure that gives you the opportunity to sell into something on the back end (as mentioned above).  What I mean by that is at a virtual retreat, the focus should be on delivering a very compelling outcome, a breakthrough that people really want and need, in a compressed time frame. The beauty of the virtual environment is that is that you don’t have to invest energy focusing on venue, food or other in-person logistics. This frees up both energy and budget to focus on truly delivering on your retreat outcomes.  Watch the video to see an case study of a client of mine who does this really well.  If you can design a retreat that achieves an OUTCOME, and that's more focused on some sort of value proposition that people really want and need, then it’s even more valuable – and easier, in my opinion – than creating a live retreat for people to gather and connect and bond in person.  For those types of experiences, perhaps you can move them into a back end program once people have already connected and experienced your foundational retreat virtually. They might be even more excited to meet in person later, as that bond has already been initially established in the virtual environment. ***  If you want to lead virtual retreats and are looking for guidance and support, let’s connect and explore if and how my team and I can help you to design your program for both alignment and expansion.  Book a Business Model Breakthrough Call on my calendar at superstaractivator.com/go Let's explore and see how you can generate both income and impact with virtual retreats!    Michelle