For a while now, I have only worked with my “ideal clients”. I politely refer out people who don’t fit my ideal client profile. What a difference this has made! I love my work more and I find I get more done in sessions in an easier manner. Ideal clients are also happier with our … Continue reading Only Work with Ideal Clients →

What does it take to be a truly successful woman? At the top of the list is the ability to take risks. But if you risk, it may not always work out. So to be truly successful, women must have the ability to not only tolerate, but learn from their mistakes. I’ve made mistakes and … Continue reading Being proud of failure →

In a recent business support group I ran, we did a “failure circle”. We all went around and shared a business failure/mistake we made, and what we learned from it. Someone volunteered that she had heard of the “goddess of mistakes”—that you HAVE to feed this goddess or she gets very hungry. So as we … Continue reading Feeding the Goddess of Mistakes →

Here is one method that is respectful of your clients and feels may feel more comfortable to you. Decide how much you are raising your rates and when the new rates will go into effect. Let’s suppose that it is September, you currently charge $100 per hour, and you want to increase your rate to … Continue reading How to Tell Your Clients You are Raising Your Rates →

Want to know one secret to feeling more deserving of money? Go to lunch with a woman who makes great money! (I’ve written before about spending time with the “upper third”.) Two things to keep in mind: It must be a woman. It doesn’t really help to spend time around men who make good money. … Continue reading One Secret to Feeling Like You Deserve More Money →

There has been a lot of talk lately about women and negotiation in the workplace. But I want to point out that the most important negotiation women need to do is actually on the home front. The greatest inequality between men and women is in the home, not in the work place. Full time working … Continue reading Earn More Money? Combat the Dreaded Second Shift! →

I did an all day seminar on How to Set and Raise Your Rates, and have been thinking about the feedback. (The next seminar is November 9th in Seattle.) People loved learning the formulas and the true cost of discounting etc. (This stuff is just not taught!) But I love this comment: One of the … Continue reading Rate-setting Tip: Set Your Rates Based on Results →

I’ve got five brilliant ideas, all of which could make money, and my head is spinning. But I seem to be going in too many directions and not making progress anywhere. Then I read Karyn Greenstreet’s latest (August 07) Self-Employed Success Newsletter. (Karyn is a fabulous business coach. Her website is http://www.passionforbusiness.com.) She identified my … Continue reading Are You Getting Distracted? Bright Shiny Object Syndrome costs us money! →

Speaking of Practicing the Pause, I just got this email from Wyatt Bardouille, who interviewed me for their show WhitneyandWyatt.com. I asked her if I could share it. Hi Mikelann– I just wanted to tell you that I put to use one of the tenets that you taught us on our show – Practicing the … Continue reading One Woman Practices “The Pause”! →

During a recent Web TV interview for www.WhitneyandWyatt.com (I’ll post it as soon as I get it) they asked me, “What is one thing that women can do to stop underselling themselves?” Only one thing??!! But then I had it—“Practice the Pause”. The next time someone asks you to volunteer your time, discount your services … Continue reading A Simple Technique to Earn Your Worth: Practice “The Pause” →