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  • May 20, 2025

Before You Move Forward, Be Still

May 5, 2008 by Karen Swim

by Karen D. Swim
BLOOMING FLOWERS

© Krzysztof Korolonek | Dreamstime.com

There is a point where in the mystery of
existence contradictions meet;
where movement is not all movement
and stillness is not all stillness;
where the idea and the form,
the within and the without, are united;
where infinite becomes finite,
yet not losing its infinity.–Tagore

Standing outside with a cup of tea in hand I lifted my face to the sun enjoying the warmth of its rays. A soft breeze caressed my face and lifted my hair. The silence of the day was only broken by birds chirping overhead as they carried twigs and blades of dry grass to build a nest for their young. I lowered my face from the sun and allowed the stillness of the day to infuse me with its peace. I realized that this was the first time in a long while that I had not been in motion.

April was a month of movement. My mind, body, senses, being were in a constant state of motion as I responded to the events of the month. Even as I slept, my mind was active and often my body twitched in fractured sleep. Yet, all of the motion had not moved me forward. Confronted by barriers personal and professional, my kinetic energy had failed to move them. But now in absolute stillness, I was finally in forward motion.

As I look back on April I now realize that it was not an unfruitful month but a necessary stop in a year that has been filled with movement. Now, I am ready once again to move forward pursuing my purpose and passion with renewed energy. May will be a month of purposeful movement and one I intend to share with all of you.

This month I want to choose purposeful action that will help me to move forward in my pursuit of my goals. Measured steps that are thoughtful but powerful as they propel me in the direction I wish to go. How do we take those steps? How do we concentrate our actions to achieve our goals? Is it possible to eliminate unnecessary steps? These are all questions and topics I’d like to explore in the coming days.

If there are questions and topics that you’d like to explore please share them with me. And of course if you have an idea for a blog post, guest posts are always gratefully welcomed.

Consider this your personal invite to pull up a chair and pop in throughout the month. If you like what you’re reading, I’d love it if you’d pass it on.

Filed Under: Inspiration for Business

Promotion is Essential to Business

April 16, 2008 by Karen Swim

by Karen D. Swim

dreamstime_2901387

This week we’ve been stirring up a pot of business success. We’ve added a heaping serving of passion to keep the flames burning and a cup full of purpose to keep things under control. Today we’re working with that tricky ingredient, promotion.

Without customers you’re just twiddling your thumbs or spending all day on Twitter (but that’s a post for another day). To gain customers you have to promote your business. However, we are not talking about marketing brochures, ad words campaigns or direct mailers. All of those things generate leads but at some point you have to sell your business.

According to my friend and Business Coach, Paula Crutchley, most entrepreneurs struggle with the sales process. “I have discovered a common thread throughout my coaching business and that is many entrepreneurs dislike the art of selling – and it is an art.” Paula coaches business owners helping them to develop a natural style of selling so that they can sell their vision and ideas to customers,investors and future employees.

I was in Sales Management for a great part of my career. I loved developing business, making presentations and closing deals. I still love selling. If a customer agrees to meet with me by phone or in person, I’m confident that I can close the deal.

However, I am very uncomfortable when the promotion is a little more personal. I am very shy about asking people to read my blog or promoting myself to speak or host workshops for which I am perfectly qualified to do. Does this sound like you?

So how do you overcome a fear of self promotion? The first step is to realize that promotion is not pushy. We often equate self promotion with aggressive, self centered behavior. We’ve all encountered someone who mistook pushiness for promotion. It is time to change your perception.

Close your eyes and think of something that you want or need? Now, imagine that someone you encounter today (at the dry cleaners, office or even a friend) has what you want or need and they don’t say a word. Would you be upset to learn that they withheld the information? Now imagine your potential customers feeling the same way.

Promotion may feel a little uncomfortable at first but with practice you will become a top notch promoter. Of course if you need help or support, give me a call. I’ve got pom-poms and I’m not afraid to use them!

Did you ever struggle with promotion? How did you overcome it? Are you a master at promotion? If so, what tips and tricks can you pass along?

Photo Credit: © Brunoil | Dreamstime.com

Filed Under: Inspiration for Business, Marketing

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