We must be the spark and romantic lover of our own life.

As I sit on a plane headed to celebrate a friend's birthday for the night, writing notes for a new course for moms I'm creating around making a living and having a life, I'm reminded of one thing.

Not that life is sweeter when there are surprises and spontaneity sprinkled throughout the weekly routine (though true).

Nor that it feels amazing and is important to show those you love that you care, in all the ways that are available to you (though true). [The fb post from May 12th about the 30 days of love notes I sent my brother before he passed might be the kick in the pants you need/want to start your own 30-day love note fest: http://on.fb.me/1HguzGI]

Or that business ownership/entrepreneurship affords you a freedom and portability that helps you feel free (though true).

The thing I was reminded of was this: the person who holds the key to your greatest peace and joy is you. It's no one else's job (or fault). That story will simply keep you feeling stuck, anxious and unhappy, exactly where you are. You have to make joy — literally.

…you must be the spark and romantic lover of your own life.

Over the years, I've had many conversations with women, some moms, some not moms, who consciously or unconsciously are waiting for someone to make them happy (to change so they can be happy) or to give them permission to do the thing, whatever that thing is…to be more fully themselves, to finally express their creativity by starting that business, writing the book or taking that class, someone who will give them the time they keep saying they don't have, and it goes on.

It's true that some seasons are easier than others to get after the big stuff, the stuff that will matter most to you when this life is over, but even when (and especially when) it hurts or you have to stay up late or get on a plane early, or whatever it is, being the mother of your own reinvention is what it's all about. It's how you meet the happiness that sticks around way longer than that yoga class.

It's up to you in the best and most beautiful way. You're the only guru and the driver.

As my book Walking Momtra says, focus on your happiness so you can RAISE happiness. Focus more on you, create space or a new story for building and fitting in happiness so you can raise it in the very people you might have be waiting on to do it for you.

When you do, when you get after your joy in this way, when you are the spark, the romance in your own days, you quantum leap into someone else's life, quite possibly, even, the life you've always wanted.

Sending you so much love*.

Life is good,

p.s. *Mom entrepreneurs, watch this space for a new, MGI-original {FREE} Master Training coming up (title to be revealed at the end of this week). I know it will be supportive to you in building an authentic business and family filled with happiness. Here's to romancing a life and business that bears fruit (success) in the most incredible way.

In the online entrepreneur community, we read or hear a lot about “secrets”.

The secrets to making six-figures, the secrets to your launching your first online product, the secrets to creating a sales page that converts and I could go on. And, as ex-corporate advertising/marketing gal myself, though I know it’s simply language that marketers use to inspire us to read their valuable work and insight, it leaves many with the idea that these “secrets” are only there for a lucky few, that they’re only available to a certain subset of the population, and if not eventually shared with us, will keep us from being able to continue forward in the direction of our dreams and audacious goals.

But are they really secrets (“underground or confidential”) or simply truths that if worked with consistently and with important devotion are available and accessible to all?

I say yes.

I trust you know what it takes to be successful already. Likely you’ve worked with a coach, read hundreds of newsletters and seen countless people on stage telling you what to do to reach success.

So — could it be that you simply haven't stepped into doing the things that authentically work (or have worked) for you (and many other entrepreneurs) consistently?

Listen below as I share around my own business success over the last 14 years (and say hello to three “non-secrets’” to business success).

Before you hit PLAY, be reminded again that you have everything anyone else does to dance into the next evolution of you.

Enjoy this 15-minute audio recording on the three non-secrets to creating an authentic leadership, happiness and success.

(Please note that our recording didn’t pick up the following in the first two minutes. Here is the sound bite in written form so the rest of the sharing is clear: “There are many things that are happening in the online space that are created as such to move us into action, to open an email or click REGISTER NOW. In the spirit and language of catchy subject lines, many marketers use the word “secret” to inspire and move us to read their work, however, we know that most of these things or “keys” are simply truths. Truths, that if worked on or practiced consistently and with intentional focus and devotion, would land us in the very place where that person stands. The definition of a secret is…(recording continues)").

Here’s to making happiness your business by creating your authentic brand. And remember, we all have access. That’s the real secret.

Listen to the audio recording HERE.

Enjoy your business and enjoy your life!

Life is good,

Ode to you, Creative Heroine…

As a creative woman, I know you want the yes you give in life and business to be an oaky, full-bodied YES. In fact, you live for the oaky, full-bodied YES. (me too)

As my book How to Be a Walking Momtra says, "Focus on your happiness so you can RAISE happiness". Life ticks in a beautiful way if we give the full-bodied YES to Self first.

Throughout the last 14 years in business for myself as well as the last 9.5 years as a mother, giving from this "overflow" is where my greatest happiness and success have come from (sure, there are other contributing factors to happiness and success, however, in keeping myself full or "filled up", I've primed my internal environment to be able to give to the degree I lo-hove to give to others).

It's this generosity of spirit that has grown my brand and contributed greatly to the equilibrium in my family life.

In short, we are able to contribute to the joy and success of others in a greater way by making sure our cups runneth over…

Personally, I can be a better mom, Branding and Success Coach (to name just a couple of my titles) by being more in tune with what my body, mind and spirit need to be able to give and give greatly.

When we give to Self first, things feel different, work better and the quality of how we perceive EVERYTHING softens and is enriched.

Everything falls into place.

When we give from the overflowing cup vs. the cup desperate and thirsty for a few drops of tea or water, we are able to affect our brands, businesses, children and other important relationships in a way that truly stretches everyone's happiness. Everyone wins when you win.

It's worth a more consistent try, well, let's call it a more consistent DO.

How to Give the Oaky, Full-Bodied YES to Self First

1. Make it a must. Make YOU a must.

2. Make this your mantra: I focus on my happiness so I can RAISE happiness (in my family, community and world). Repeat this at least 3x every morning or when you most need it.

3. Clear your weekly calendar of the people or projects that are depleting you. Find that space, that clearing for what you truly need and love.

4. Start doing the things each week and specifically each morning that truly fill you (you and only you). How we start our day and our week is likely how we end it, so start by diving deeper into you first thing: take the hike, hit that early morning yoga class or do that 10 minutes of meditation. And, if the early morning hours prove to be too difficult, no problem, no need to go into overwhelm. Create time for you each day during the block that serves your life (the important thing is that it happens). How will you savor life (and give to Self) each and every day? What will those ten minutes or hour be filled with?

To your week of the oaky, full-bodied YES. Cheers.

Life is good,