What do you want? This is a question we don’t ask ourselves often enough. It’s a question for which we often don’t have answers. But it’s a lovely question because it motivates us to think of the possibilities. It encourages us to imagine and to dream.

What do you want in your life that you don’t have now? What would you like to add to your life in the next 3, 6 or 12 months?

What changes do you want to see in your personal and business life? What new experiences will you allow yourself? What people will you invite into your personal and professional spaces? What do you want to learn?

As we move toward 2010, remember that you can have as much of, and as big as, you can see. What will you choose?

For instance, where will you live? What geographical area? What city? What setting — urban, suburban or rural? House, condo or apartment?

What about your work? Where will you work? Will you prepare for a job change? Will you aim for a major promotion on your current job?

If you’re a business owner, will you commit to growing your business by 20% in 2010? How about a 30% increase in revenue? How will you do it?

Will you outsource more of the non-income producing tasks that currently take up your time? Will you hire a virtual assistant? Will you become involved in more joint ventures? Will you attend more industry conferences and meetings to meet other people in similar work?

As you contemplate what you want, I hope you will remember to play. Look for new opportunities to have fun, to love, and to enjoy your life.

Let’s welcome 2010 with a full, yet light heart.

Peace and prosperity to you,
Judith

What’s your plan for 2010? Do you have a plan for growing your business? What about a plan to grow your life?

When I worked in corporate America, we started the annual planning process for the new year in September or October. Planning involved every layer of the corporation. We forecasted sales by product line, and included evaluating all aspects of the business — staff size, operating expenses and projected profits. Planning forces you to think specifically about your business’ future.

What’s your plan?

As we end 2009, take the next few weeks to think through your strategy for 2010. Start by thinking about what you want.

If you want to increase your 2010 income by 15% over 2009, what do you need to do to achieve it? Will you sell more of your products/services at the same prices? Will you raise your prices? Will you Introduce new products at higher price points, or decrease your overhead by reducing the number of employees on your payroll? Will you outsource more administrative tasks?

Here’s the benefit: The planning process strengthens you and your business. It provide you with a mental agility that only comes from thinking through your options.

Would you like to learn more about developing your 2010 business/life plan? Join me at my free Money Attraction Secrets! Discover How to Use Spiritual & Business Tools to Attract & Manage Your Money teleseminar on Tuesday, December 8, 2009. Register today at http://themoneyladyteleseminars.com

Inviting more money into your life isn’t woo woo. Money attraction is about incorporating proven spiritual principles and sound business practices into your planning process.

To Your Financial Success!

Judith

Money! There, I said it. I’m on a mission to get you talking about money. Talking and learning more about it. Learning about having more of it, saving and investing it. Money is a lever you can use to influence outcomes that are important to you.

Join Me on Tuesday

On Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 4pm Pacific I’m hosting a free teleseminar about money. I invite you to join me for Money Attraction Secrets! Discover How to Use Spiritual & Business Tools to Attract & Manage Your  Money.

As you plan and prepare for 2010, it’s important to know that you can choose beliefs and actions that will move you to where you want to go. I’ll talk about planning achievable Income Goals for 2010 during the teleseminar.

How you think about money greatly determines how much money you have. And how you feel about money influences how well you manage it. Is money your friend or foe? Your money beliefs determine how much money you have. Are you ready to earn more, build a bigger business, and become part of an Financial Fitness network?

I’ll share spiritual tools and critical mindset shifts you can use to attract more money into your life now. I’ll discuss two habits you can quickly adopt that will propel you to higher earnings. As you attract more, there are three steps you can take to strengthen your money management skills.

Join me on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 4pm Pacific time for this informative teleseminar. This Event is for You if You’re Ready to Create a Foundation for Financial Fitness.

Love and prosperity,

Judith Stephens, MBA
The Money Lady

P.S. Invite your friends, fans and associates to join you on this call.

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Judith Stephens, MBA, The Money Lady, is a Money Management Strategist and Business Mentor. A former corporate and small business executive, current independent business owner, investor, and fundraiser, Judith combines spiritual, analytical and management tools with a great sense of humor to help people learn to attract, invest and manage their money.
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Do you think being a long-term customer is a good thing? Do you think you’re rewarded for that loyalty? But… are you?

How have you been rewarded for staying with your cell phone carrier for 8 years? Or the phone company you’ve had an account with since before the AT&T breakup? Do they value your business? Have they shown you that they do?

Or have you been penalized for staying with your phone, banking or insurance company? Are you paying the same rates you paid when you signed up? Where are the technology gains and other benefits that should show up in the price you now pay?

Many companies penalize long-term customers by keeping them at the same rate as when they initially signed up. When that’s the case, you never receive the lower price that new customers get. You do not realize the gains that have occurred since you purchased the service. Perks and savings go to new customers unless you, the longer-term customer, ask for comparable treatment. So ask!

Negotiate Your Phone Costs Annually

You can negotiate everything. All it takes to get a price reduction is a willingness to ask for it. Don’t passively renew your expensive cell phone contract. Before it expires, call the Customer Retention department and ask for a better price and/or terms. You want more service for the same or less cost. For example, you want text messages included in the monthly rate without an extra per message charge. You want to add a family member to your account at no additional charge. Are they giving free or discounted phones with new service. Your goal is to get more features for less expense.

Your phone number belongs to you. You can keep the same number regardless of the carrier you use. This frees you to shop for a better deal — one similar to the advertised new account specials. New customers are offered better rates than existing customers. They benefit from the technological and other efficiencies that are passed on to them. If you don’t ask for a rate decrease, you won’t get these benefits.

Frugal is the New Cool

I negotiate my cell phone contract every renewal cycle. I ask more frequently if there is an advertising campaign that motivates me to call now.

My friend, Katherine called her cable company and asked for a better package. She mentioned she’s been a loyal customer for 9 years. Her cable company responded with a pricing package that saved her $50/month! That’s $600 in annual savings simply because she asked. Definitely worth the time it took to make the call.

Evaluate Your long-term Customer Relationships

How long have you been a customer of your current phone, cable and insurance companies? Isn’t it time you asked for a better deal? Look at your customer relationships and see which ones you should contact for price decreases.

Start your research by calling your existing company. Ask what new phone service would cost monthly? Ask if they have any special programs for which you quality. Ask what other perks they offer. Ask what more might you receive for becoming a customer. When you consider how much you’re going to pay the company over the life of your contract, it’s fine to push. Say you’re shopping around for the best rates. Ask to be sold.

The new price quotes become the basis for comparison of your existing costs. Use the new quotes to then negotiate a price decrease of your existing service. If your company won’t give you a significant price decrease … you now know it’s time to make a change. Then do it.

Let me know how this works for you. Thanks!

Warmly,

Judith, The Money Lady

How you treat your money influences how much money you’ll have. That treatment determines how easily and frequently money will come to you. And how long it stays with you. If you respect money, you’ll maintain a flow of receiving money. If you disrespect your money, it will be harder to attract it consistently. Money won’t want to come to you or stay with you if you disrespect it. Would you want to spend time with someone who disrespects you? Unless you’re a major masochist, the answer is NO.

Do You Treat Money Like an Enemy?

How do you treat your money? Do you kick money to the curb by giving it away the first chance you get? Do you think “spend” first when you receive a payment or your salary? Do you usually have great reasons for why you don’t have enough money to save? Do you justify such disrespect of your money by thinking “you deserve” whatever you gave your money away to get?

How to Friend Your Money

Treat your money like a good friend or close associate. Welcome your money into your life, invite it to sit and have a cup of tea; ask it to stay with you and talk a while. Express gratitude for the checks you receive. Express gratitude for every payment received through PayPal. I celebrate — give positive energy to “You’ve Got Money” emails. Love them!

Money Blocking Behavior

There are things you may unknowingly do that stops the flow of money. For instance, do you procrastinate when it’s time to prepare and send invoices, getting them out later each month? If you don’t bill your customers on time, they will begin to think getting paid is a lesser priority of yours, and accordingly begin to pay slower. It’s difficult to explain how you really need your receivables paid on time when the bills go out late.

Do you receive checks but often forget to deposit them? Do you minimize the importance of small receivables or payments, thereby adding to money blocks in your life? Think about it.

I’d love to know your thoughts about this topic. Can you think of other behaviors (that you’ve seen or done) that impede the flow of money? As you think about it, share your insights here.

Warmly,

Judith Stephens, The Money Lady