Have you ever taken a planning retreat, in a beautiful place, with time to think about your professional and personal goals, with great coaching support throughout the process?  And, with plenty of time to relax, eat great food, and even get some spa-type pampering, too?

I returned late last night from a delightful business planning retreat just like this.  The location for the retreat was the beautiful Casa Luna Bed and Breakfast in Tucson, Arizona.  Check out these pictures:

The retreat was with my coach and with the four other women in my Platinum Coaching Group.  Each of us received lots of personalized coaching, and time to plan our next professional steps.  We also had some great mastermind time together to share ideas and encouragement for each other.

Our schedule was great!  We met each day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 or 6:00 p.m., to do our planning, dreaming, and coaching.  This gave us plenty of time to relax, enjoy gourmet breakfasts, and eat dinner at some delicious restaurants nearby.

My travel schedule included almost a full day before and after the retreat.  I used this time for a pampering bodywork session, lunch with a local friend, exploring the historic downtown Presidio area, visits to an art museum and gallery, and watching lots of exciting aircraft taking off from the local Air Force base.

I came home from this planning retreat feeling very refreshed, and at the same time very excited about my vision and my next steps for professional growth!

Coaching tip:  Schedule some time for yourself to have a planning retreat.  Even a half-day mini-retreat in your own town is beneficial.  You could devote two hours to dreaming, planning, and action steps, with an hour left over for a bit of relaxing spa-style pampering too.

(Just a quick note…I offer planning retreats for women leaders here in beautiful San Antonio, Texas.  When you are ready to have a retreat like this for yourself, just let me know.  We will create a retreat that is perfect for you, so you can relax, refresh, and return home with renewed zest and a great action plan to achieve your goals!)

Your relaxed and yet excited coach,

~Leslie

I am excited to start blog posts again, to talk with you, and to share ideas and resources.

Are you like many of my clients… a successful leader of leaders, who is ready to make some changes?   I would love to hear about the changes and challenges and opportunities that you are seeing now!

Several of my clients are mid-level leaders who are making big professional changes now.  Some are staying in their organizations and…

•     starting a new job
•     leading a new project or a new team
•     managing after a merger or acquisition
•     developing new skills
•     developing new revenue streams

Several other clients are planning their exit strategies, so that they can eventually leave their jobs with style and grace.  Their plans include…

•     moving to a new company
•     making a career change
•     starting a their own business
•     planning for retirement
•     leaving a job that no longer fits them
•     shifting to part-time, home-based work

Changes like these are very exciting!  What changes, challenges and opportunities are you seeing now in your own life?

Coaching Question:  What changes are you making now (or want to make)?  What info or resources would help you most in making these changes successfully?  Please post here on the blog and let me know, okay? I will keep my eyes and ears open for things I can share with you in future blog posts to help you make those changes.

Some exciting changes are happening for me, too. My business is evolving in some great new directions. I am eager to fill you in.

So, I invite you to stay tuned…I will be sharing this with you in future blog posts and Cardinal Success Tips.

Have a great week!

~Leslie

Which of these goals are YOU ready to achieve?

• Get and keep more customers
• Make more money
• Accelerate your business growth
• Clarify your key success factors
• Develop great referral partners
• Stay focused on your top priorities
• Have more free time for family and fun

Join The Mastermind Coaching Group to help you achieve your goals Faster and Easier!

It starts next week on Wednesday, May 2 at 9:30 a.m.!!

To register, just call 210-496-3304.

Here’s how the Mastermind Coaching Group works:

• Starts Wednesday May 2, 2007
• Meets twice each month by telephone conference
• Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Central time
• Mastermind with other growing business owners like you
• Get professional group coaching with me at a very affordable price
• Extra one-on-one coaching available at a discount to members

I love to see your business grow and the Mastermind Coaching Group can help you achieve this more quickly and easily.

Call now–so you can get the Special Introductory Rate
Only $97 per month! (regularly $147, save 33% right now)

Wishing you great success, 

Leslie Cardinal

210-496-3304
The San Antonio Business Coach

www.LeslieCardinal.com

TEN GREAT WAYS TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS, EVEN DURING THE BUSY HOLIDAY SEASON

Even during this busy holiday time of year, there are many ways to grow your business. Here are ten of my favorites. Some will generate more business now. Some of the ideas will position your business for growth in the new year. Which of these ideas will you choose to help your business grow?

1. Plan ahead to take some time to enjoy the season. Take some time off from work, if possible, whether just an afternoon or a week or more. By deciding this now, you can more easily focus your attention on work until your time off. Even on days when you are working, you can notice and appreciate aspects of the season that you especially enjoy such as the weather, the music, and favorite holiday foods.

2. Identify three things that would help you feel that you have truly celebrated this holiday season. Choose only three thinkgs and be sure that they are within your control. This is especially important if you must work during most of the holiday season. Don’t fall into the trap of having unrealistically big expectations of the holidays.

3. Identify three key things in your business that you would like to complete before the end of the year. Consider something in the area of marketing, something in the area of your business systems, and something in one of your key strategic projects. Resist the temptation to try to squeeze too much into a time of year that is often very busy already.

4. Identify what needs to be cleaned up, cleared out, given away, thrown away, completed, or declared complete. This could be files, clutter, equipment, furniture, tools, products, or projects. Even a small amount of time on these actions will free up energy for your new year. Make space in your business environment for new clients, projects, goals, and opportunities in the new year.

5. Make a list of ten highlights of this year, both personal and professional. Are any of these things that you will want to continue into the new year, too? Reflecting on the positive aspects of your year helps you to complete the year mentally and emotionally and to start the new year on an upbeat note.

6. Have a seasonal or year-end sale or a special promotion. Any of your products or services that could be given as a gift are candidates for a special promotion to stimulate extra sales now. Anything that you want to clear out or discontinue or replace with a new version are also good candidates for sales. You can also offer a special multi-month or annual price for customers willing to purchase a larger quantity at one time. People love to get a special discount and may be willing to make a purchase now that they might otherwise defer until the new year.

7. Schedule a half day and do some planning for the future. Let yourself dream about where you would like your business to be in one year, three years, and beyond. Then translate your vision into a several specific goals for the new year. You may also want to choose a theme or a broad intention for the year. What are two or three action you can take early in January to make progress toward your vision? Schedule a strategy session with your coach in December or early January to accelerate your achievement of your vision and goals.

8. Thank your customers for their business this year. You can send cards, give gifts, make phone calls, send letters, buy coffee or a meal, or perhaps a combination of several of these strategies. Express your appreciation to your employees, subcontractors, vendors, suppliers, referral sources, and colleagues too.

9. Meet with your accountant for a year-end planning session. Ask for his or her advice about year-end actions that you can take now. Discuss your goals and dreams for your business. If they recommend it, consider making any year-end purchases or investments that may offer tax benefits to you, such as equipment, supplies, software, or other business expenses.

10. Celebrate the end of the year in some way. Have a dinner out, order lunch in for the team, or just make a toast with your closest friends or family members. Attending business and social events during the holidays can be enjoyable ways to celebrate. They can also be a part of your overall marketing plan because they help you make contacts and maintain relationships.

Leslie Cardinal is a business and executive coach who specializes in working with business owners, leaders, and independent professionals. She can be reached at www.LeslieCardinal.com and at 210-496-3304.

If you would like to reprint this article, you are welcome to do so. Just use it in its entirety including the author and contact information.

I have an invitation for you. You may know that I have been learning how to teach teleseminars in my business as a way to add a new revenue stream. Leading teleseminars could be a possible revenue stream for your business too!

My absolute favorite mentor in this area is Alex Mandossian. And he is teaching an intro teleseminar this Thursday, December 7, about how to create and lead teleseminars and make money doing it.

I would love for you to be on this call along with me, or to listen to the recording if you cannot be on the call directly. The information Alex will teach could open the doors to a revenue stream for you.

The teleclass is at 8:00 p.m. Central, but if that is too late for you, the recording should be available the next day for you to listen to it…at no extra cost.

Because I am affiliate/co-sponsor of the call, I can share a discount with you for this teleseminar. Alex always teaches a huge amount of valuable info!

I would love for you to click on my affiliate link and get the discount: Invitation from Leslie to register for the call. Then just enter the discount code AM3964 to register for the call for $20, instead of the regular $99 tuition!

You will then receive the information about how to dial into the teleseminar, as well as access to the recording for the class afterward.

I am forwarding an email (below) from Alex that has more info about the call. And when you click on the link there is more info on the page there too.

Here is the link again: Invitation from Leslie Or you can cut and paste this into your browser: http://www.TeleseminarSecrets.com/cmd.php?af=524858

I hope you will join me and Alex on this exciting call!

Wishing you the best of success,

Leslie
===========================================================
Here is the email that Alex sent with more info about the call…
===========================================================
Dear Leslie,

I’m so excited, I hope this email reaches you in time…

I made a special arrangement to get you $20 access to an historic
teleseminar on how to make a very strong income from teleseminars.

And because I’m co-sponsoring this teleseminar, you can
attend as my special “VIP” guest for $20, not the $99 for
the normal tuition.

(Please see how to get private phone access below)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Your VIP Discount Code is: AM3964

To claim your $79 discount and register
at the lowest fee, click this link now:

Teleseminar Invitation
http://www.TeleseminarSecrets.com/cmd.php?af=524858
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

—>> What You’ll Learn On From This Tele-Training < <—

During this tele-training, my mentor Alex Mandossian
will reveal his teleseminar secrets that converted his
annual income in 2001 into a hourly income in 2006!

I’m learning and I would love to have you learn along with me!

In just 90 minutes, you’ll discover:

->> 8 advantages whenever you conduct teleseminars so
you too can win more sales at the speed of sound

->> 7 embarrassing mistakes most telemarketers make
DURING their teleseminars and how you can avoid them

->> 9 common mistakes most telemarketers make BEFORE
teleseminars and how to easily side-step them forever

->> Alex’s 7-Step Plan to quickly triple your passive
income as an “Tele-Interviewer” of industry leaders

->> 4 closely-guarded teleseminar Case Studies that
generated 6-figure profits with little human effort

->> 5 core attributes to find low-cost reliable vendors
for sales copy, winning website designs and much more!

->> 11 sneaky low-cost secrets so you will repeatedly
and automatically build your own highly responsive
online list(s) from scratch!

And much, much, much more!!

(Please see how to get private phone access below)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Your VIP Discount Code is: AM3964

To claim your $79 discount and register
at the lowest fee, click this link now:

Teleseminar invitation

http://www.TeleseminarSecrets.com/cmd.php?af=524858
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

—>> Turns Your Phone Into An ATM Machine < <—

According to Alex, it really doesn’t matter what
business you’re in, he claims that teleseminars are
the fastest, easiest, most economical way to boost
sales and profits without spending a single penny
more on advertising or promotional costs.

Case Closed.

In fact, Alex will show you how it’s possible to make
a 6-figure income doing just 1 teleseminar per week.

That’s why it makes sense to attend this training
and claim an unfair advantage in your industry as
as a world-class teleseminar marketer or consultant.

And because I’m co-sponsoring this teleseminar, you
now can attend as my special “VIP” guest for $20, not
the $99 for the normal tuition everybody else pays!

(Please see how to get private phone access below)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Your VIP Discount Code is: AM3964

To claim your $79 discount and register
at the lowest fee, click this link now:

Teleseminar invitation

http://www.TeleseminarSecrets.com/cmd.php?af=524858
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

If you’re ready to get private access to this
tele-training and listen to Alex’s time-tested
teleseminar secrets, I also encourage you to
pick-up his fr^ee Study Guide he has prepared
for you.

This Study Guide will motivate and inspire you to
learn his battle-tested strategies and makes it
really, really easy for you to follow along!

You’ll get access to this Alex’s Study Guide
and an additional Special Bonus Gift ($97 Value)
after you register with your VIP Discount Code!!

To Your Success,

Leslie

Teleseminar invitation

http://www.TeleseminarSecrets.com/cmd.php?af=524858

Leslie Ann Cardinal, LLC

P.O. Box 701908

San Antonio, TX 78270

210-496-3304

If you prefer not to receive email from us,

please send an email with “Unsubscribe” in the

subject line and we will honor your preference.

In the U.S., the Labor Day weekend marks this transition time. For many business people, it can be a great time to take a few days off to refresh and re-energize.

If possible, take a long holiday weekend or even a full week for yourself if you can, especially if you haven’t taken much time off during the summer. It doesn’t matter whether you stay in town or get away.

Plan something fun or relaxing. Here are some ideas to consider:

-If the weather is still warm, choose something cool like a swim in a nearby lake.
-Go see that summer movie you have been meaning to see.
-Plan something relaxing for your body like a nap or a massage.
-Choose something energizing like a walk or your favorite routine at the gym.
-Play tourist in your own hometown for a day.
-Pack a picnic and go to a park you enjoy.
-Take a day trip to someplace within a one or two hour drive from your home.

I am definitely following my own coaching here! My husband and I have not been able to get away for a regular vacation this summer. So we took a three-day weekend last week and we are planning for a relaxing weekend this week too, even though we will be at home. Very refreshing! I wish the same for you!

The bottomline: taking some personal time off to relax and re-energize will often pay big dividends in energy for your business!

What is your favorite way to relax and refresh when you need to re-energize yourself for your business? I invite you to post a comment below!

Bonus Coaching Tip: Before you wrap up your week this week, plan where you will start again when you return. Make an extra call to set up an appointment or two. Or block out some time in your calendar for planning the fourth quarter. You will find it easier to get back into gear after some time away when you already have some plans made in advance.

An invitation for you:
Here is an appointment to start your week off right next week. Several people wanted to attend the free marketing teleclass I offered recently but they weren’t able to attend. So I will be offering it again next week in perfect time to help you plan your marketing for fall. Invite a friend or colleague to join the call with you!

Six Great Ways to Get More Clients!

Dial in and join the one-hour teleclass. Here are some of the great things you will learn:

- Six great ways to be visible to your prospective clients
- How to choose the methods that will work best best for you
- Four stages in the process of getting more clients
- Ideas and techniques for applying these concepts in your business

Next Tuesday afternoon September 5, at 3:00 p.m. Central time.

The number to call for the teleclass is:

1-641-297-7250 then enter pin code 346759#
(Your only cost is the cost of your long distance call.) Just find a quiet place to call from and get ready to learn some great ideas you can use right away!

This class is an introduction to the six week Get Clients Now! (TM) workshop and coaching program that begins on September 12.

Visit http://LeslieCardinal.com/teleclasses.html for more information about this great program!

That’s it for now! Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

~Leslie
210-496-3304

Helping you fill your pipeline, grow your business, and have a fulfilling life in the process!

1. Expand your knowledge. You can quickly learn new ideas and concepts in a short amount of time, rather than the more challenging path of learning only from the trial and error of daily experience.

2. Build skills. A class will often include information about actions you can take to apply the concepts you are learning. You can choose the actions that are the best fit for you and your business.

3. Ask questions of the instructor. There will usually be opportunities to ask questions during or after the class. This can help you tailor what you are learning to your specific business situation.

4. Receive a spark of energy and encouragement. A class or workshop can give you a fresh feeling of energy to keep taking action to build your business.

5. Make new friends or business contacts. You can often meet people in the class who could be helpful to your business. These may include potential clients, referral partners, or sources of information or services that your business needs.

Coaching Action Tip: Look for a class or workshop that you could take in the next week or two. It can be a local workshop or a class-by-telephone. Invite a friend or business colleague to join you and you will both benefit.

Here is a class for you:

You are invited to join me this Tuesday, August 22, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. Central time for a free class-by-telephone. I will be teaching one of my favorite classes:

Six Great Ways to Get More Clients!

Dial in and join the one hour class. Here are some of the great things you will learn:

• Six great ways to be visible to your prospective clients
• How to choose the methods that will work best for you
• Four stages in the process of getting more clients
• Ideas and techniques for applying these concepts in your business

The number to dial is

641-297-7250 then enter 346759# when prompted.

(Your only cost is the cost of making a long distance call to connect to the class.) Just find a quiet place to call from and get ready to learn some great ideas.

This class is an introduction to the 6 week Get Clients Now! (TM) workshop and coaching program that begins on September 12.

Visit http://www.LeslieCardinal.com/teleclasses.html for more information about this great program!

That’s it for now! Have a wonderful week and I hope to hear you on the call for the class on Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Central!

~Leslie

My mastermind partners are an important part of my business, especially as a solopreneur.  I feel blessed to be part of two formal mastermind groups right now and they have been very helpful to me. 

I have started several mastermind groups and have belonged to others during the past twenty years.  You may want to find or create a mastermind group for yourself.  Here are some ideas to get you started.

For your mastermind group, choose a group of like-minded people.  Choose people who are optimistic, resourceful, generous, caring, smart, experienced, and dependable.  Plan to meet regularly to encourage and support each other toward the achievement of each person’s goals. 

Your mastermind group can be as small as two people, or it can be somewhat larger.  The groups I have been a part of have ranged from two to nine members.

The members can be all in one profession, or from a mix of professions.  The group can meet in person or virtually, by telephone, using a conference bridge line.  There may be a formal leader or facilitator, or the members may alternate in this role.

Make the general purpose of your mastermind group to encourage and support the success of each of the members, in a spirit of cooperation rather than competition.  Aim for a feeling of synergy, of tapping into something greater, when you meet.

When you meet, allow time for members to ask for and receive help from the group.  You may want to plan time for each member each time you meet.  Or, you may plan for only one or two or three people to be the recipients of the group’s focus each time, rotating through all of the members over the course of several meetings.  Either way, establish an agreement to keep discussions confidential within the group.

The types of support your mastermind partners can provide can include ideas, a listening ear, suggestions for action, encouragement, resources, and introductions to other people, friendly accountability, celebration of successes, and more.  Ultimately, each person must make their own decisions for their business, but it is wondersul to have access to the best thinking of people who know you and who care about your success.

Knowing that you have regular access to your mastermind partners can be a tremendous source of encouragement and confidence as you grow your business.  As an extra bonus, some of your mastemind partnerships can develop into deep friendships too.

Coaching Action Tip:   Think about one or two people who could become your mastermind partners.  Talk with them about the idea see if they are interested.  Ask if they know of another peson or two who might like to be part of the group.  Then plan a time to meet and begin!  And, as always, I love to hear about your experiences and your successes!

Wishing you all the best of success, 

~Leslie

We included a couple rounds of networking in the workshop and it was fun to see the energy as people met and talked with the other people at the event.

That got me to thinking about meeting new people at networking events…

I get tired of the old standard “What do you do?” question.  You too?  I have been experimenting with some alternatives, and thought I would share them with you:

What excites you about your work?

What is your favorite aspect of your business? 

What do you love about what you do?

These questions seem to help the conversation move away from plain descriptive comments and into more energy and passion…always more fun to talk about and a nice change of pace.

I would love to hear from you…what questions do you like to use when you meet someone for the first time at a business networking event?  Please use the Comment link to share your favorite! 

I have written a new set of tips about ways to make the most of networking events…would you like me to share them through this blog?

~Leslie

You will discover:

• six great marketing methods that really work
• an easy four step process that you can use over and over 
• tips to tailor the methods to fit your business and your style
• action steps that will help you get more prospects and clients 

If you will be in the San Antonio area this Thursday evening, I hope you will join us for this exciting free workshop!  

The event with be this Thursday, July 20 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Borders Bookstore at the Huebner Oaks Shopping Center, on IH 10 between Huebner and DeZavala Road.

Bring LOTS of business cards because there will be opportunities to network with other small business owners!

The event is being sponsored by the San Antonio Professional Coaches Association (SAPCA), and Borders Bookstore.  For more information you can see the official flyer for the event or you can visit the SAPCA website http://www.sapca.org/ .

The information in the workshop is based on the excellent book, “Get Clients Now! (TM)” by C. J. Hayden.  You will be able to purchase your own copy of this practical book at the event, and Borders has agreed to give everyone who attends a coupon for 20% off all of your purchases in the store that evening.

You can also find more information about Get Clients Now! (TM) at www.LeslieCardinal.com/teleclasses.html .

I hope to see you at Borders on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.!

Wishing you great prosperity and abundance in your business, and in life,

~Leslie

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Copyright © 2008 Leslie Cardinal Coaching

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