As a woman entrepreneur, it's vital for us to take the time to create a brand; a solid and consistent story and feeling to who we are and what we stand for. People remember us and *we* feel self-expressed and more confident, as a result. Creating a brand also helps us build our beloved business to the profit and passion center we know it to be.

However, none of this means being perfect or portaying perfection. [Perfection is still a myth]. It does, however, mean being true to yourself and, well, to put it simple ~ being honest. It sounds simple. However, it's more difficult to do…

The bottom line is that authenticity is the new black and transparency is the bridge to connection. And, your ideal clients in 2013 and those awesome, ideal clients coming in 2014 bought/buy you long before they buy your products and services.

Your ideal clients buy you before they buy your products and services…

Be real and you will stay close.

Be real and you will connect.

Be real and you will "close the deal."

Be real and you will grow, not only a business, but yourself as a woman…

I know though your mind and plans have turned more to holiday than to work, know the truth(s) shared here are as much for our lives and for the holidays as much as they may be for business growth come 2014.

That said, here's a quick video I took on Friday before hosting a VIP day for a new client in Beverly Hills:

http://youtu.be/QSgqMO1_qzM

Do you agree…how does it feel to hear this? Leave a comment below. Or, a holiday wish! I'm accepting both 🙂

And for those of you who celebrate Christmas, have a very Merry Christmas!

…for all that make up the MGI community, I'll be back with a New Year gift for you on the 27th so, be on the lookout!

Happy holiday and, as always, enjoy your business, enjoy your life!

I’m now a Healthy Living and GPS for the Soul blogger for the Huffington Post! And you already know what I love to do to celebrate…

Dance! (When mama's happy, everyone's happy)

Now, I didn't get this opportunity just come because I have nationally-published short stories and articles or happen to know everyone at Huff Po (in fact, I knew no one).

It happened because of a few things I would love to share, in short form here. Tips included are an "extra credit" holiday gift:

• Tenacity – If one door closes, another will open, if you keep at it. I can't tell you how many times I've kept at something and finally received it. Of course it must be in true alignment with who you are and you must think relationship and "how can I help YOU" first before asking to "get". So…when your (cold) contact leaves HuffPo to write for another publication, don’t give up. Instead…

Tip #1: Go to Linked In and see where she moved to. Send her a super short message there or a sweet tweet (or three) and ask her where you can send your email writing samples, since she’s moved on and ask her how you may be of service or support to her at her new position. She may not respond right away…but, she will.

• Trust. Have faith in the process and in yourself that it’ll happen and that you are talented and skilled enough in this area to get it (because you are).

Tip #2: Even when it looks as if it’s not going to work, see it, feel it and believe it! Make it your mantra/Momtra: See it, feel it, believe it! See it, feel it, believe it! If this "fails" today, then get out for a hike to get of your head and keep acting as if. The negative loop in that gorgeous mind of yours is not helping bring that opportunity to you. Once your hike/run/swim/yoga is complete, repeat…see it, feel it, believe it! Keep this going until you get the "you're in!" email!

• I know I know, we hear it everywhere but let’s talk about Truth – what do you REALLY love? What’s your truth? What are you in full alignment with, as I stated above?

Tip #3: In your business as in life, follow the LOVE not the SHOULD. You will not only enjoy it three times as much but whatever reward or goal you may have in mind will be that much sweeter (and that much bigger).

I'm not writing for the Huffington Post because I think I should be or because I think it’ll help me grow my business or my platform. The top reason is because it’s I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to write and this publication is on-brand for me and I'm able to write the types of articles I really want to write. I love and know branding very well (I started in this business when I was 22!) but writing strict "branding" articles doesn't light me up. Writing articles like the one above does.

What is the vision you have for your life? Get clear here. Very clear. The vision I have for mine as a woman and professional is to continue to write and speak as much as I can. I have seen it time and time again…following these passions will help me be the best at all of my other titles. Because the truth is my creativity, or in other words, my writing and speaking are my joy as much as my husband and son are. The joy I receive after each article and each word placed in a special way (what the word “vinyasa” means, by the way), stretches my life happiness ten-fold.

So keep going with your flow and your fire! It will come if you see it, feel it and believe it! (and can find them on LinkedIn 🙂

Did this help you? How so? Please leave a comment below! I would be happy to share more on this topic, if I know this was helpful to you!

To read my first Huff Po article that will not only help massage the way your holidays turn out but how big this next year's business success will be, click below, “You are what you eat? You are what you repeat:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michelle-ghilotti/mindfulness-practice_b_4373840.html

Oh yes and don't forget to subscribe to my feed on Huff Po so you'll be alerted to my new articles.

As always, ladies, enjoy your business, enjoy your life! I hope you're enjoying the holidays!

p.s. If you are interested in growing your platform and brand as well as write for nationally-recognized pubs, inquire within…I am helping private clients with this very thing, alongside building their brands and businesses from the inside-out.

Please note that MGI rates will also be going up come January 1^st. Seeing as our office closes this Friday, please send any questions you may have about working together to myself or Peggy at admin@michelleghilotti.com today. Much love, ladies!

Watch the silly and shimmy-filled video below!

Happy Holidays from the Ghilotti / Mandel family!

If you've been a part of my community for any length of time, you know that I firmly believe in the following statement:

The personal is professional and the professional is personal….the holidays remind me of the blessing each year is because I get to weave my business into my life and my life into my business everyday…

And the truth is, if it wasn't for the men in my life and the support and joy they so generously give, I couldn't do half of what I do to then support women to live and communicate themselves from their authentic center with as much joy as I do it with.

In short, they make growing a business SO MUCH FUN and they show me everyday that growing a business means growing for them and for all three of us a more vibrant, fun and experience-rich life.

With that said, Welcome to the holiday dance card from the Ghilotti / Mandel family! Our first of many!

We each have personal messages inside for you so be sure to watch! And may you, beautiful ladies, enjoy your holidays with *your* loves.

I am grateful to be in community and growing with you!

To watch us, click here now: www.michelleghilotti.com/dance-card

Happy, happy holidays, ladies. Enjoy your business, enjoy your life!

p.s. MGI's four and eight-hour VIP days are still available at 2013 rates until this Friday at 2:30pm. For more information, feel free to check out the Work with Michelle page for more detail or email us at admin@michelleghilotti.com. xo

The short, the brief or, in other words, the simple(st) is best…but it’s not always the easiest to get. We see that in the taglines we try to come up with, the blogs we write and in the way we deliver our elevator pitches. All are ‘supposed’ to be as brief (and powerful) as possible, yet, it’s so difficult to make it happen.

So simplify the life, love and business you have, during the holiday season and beyond, with these tips. Make it happen:

• For your life…make the list, review the list, see what’s naughty, see what’s nice.

A Time/CNN poll found that 65% of people spend their leisure time doing things they’d prefer not to do. Sixty-five percent! If you feel you’re leading a “full life” but it’s not full with what you really want in it, it may just help to get out some loose sheets of paper and a pen and jot down everything you're  doing in a week. Everything.

Don’t judge it nor try to organize it. I just want you to see what’s on your agenda. Then, after jotting it all down, scan for the potential 65% (ish) of  leisure items that are potentially not at all how you want to be spending your time. Go through and highlight the things you LOVE doing (with whole heart). Anything that's not highlighted needs to be looked at again and taken off your daily list, in the best way you see fit…simple as that.

How could the rest of the month and the new year be in even more alignment with what you wish to bring in for yourself?

Strip out the naughty, just keep the nice. That's the gift!

• For love (or for your *loves*)…simplify by SIMPLY adding more love (compassion, understanding) to those VIPs around you so that, in turn, you can give it to yourself too. [Truth = Whatever we give, we get back, in spades].

Remind yourself that noone was born knowing how to communicate. Before judging or pointing the finger (sadly customary in families, friendships and in the society we live in), ask yourself instead “How did I contribute to this situation?” Also ask, “How can I be more understanding of my partner knowing that I need and want so badly to be understood as well?” A greater love for yourself and your partner is there for you. Always and every day, hoo-ray.

• For your business…simplify by asking yourself these three questions to create a connected business AND a brand personality. For every one thing you're putting out into the world (basically anything you do, say or show) ask yourself three questions: 1) is this authentic to me, 2) is this unique to my industry 3) and is this shareable or something wildly relevant to my audience? If each is a YES, then you have the green light to share that blog post, launch that program or enter into that partnership. In order to grow your business, the mindful approach is the most fruitful. And, many times, as evidenced by these questions, the simplest path too.

So, will you? Simplify? And, as the yogi in me likes to say, will you live, love and work simply to stretch that happiness?

The gorgeous, powerful, conscious and creative brand of WOMAN you are is the very LIGHT this world needs now during the holidays and always. Simply…don't forget it.

Enjoy your business, enjoy your life!