One of the best ways to create lasting memories is to adopt family Christmas traditions. Holiday traditions are special and strengthen the bond of family.

When family Christmas traditions are adopted and implemented, you can alleviate stress. Instead of being like Mary, become more like Martha and enjoy the time with family. Holiday traditions make shopping easier and create memory-making opportunities for generations to come.

“We reveal to ourselves and others what is important to us by the way we celebrate.” ― Noël Piper, Treasuring God in Our Traditions

Holiday traditions are lovely, timeless treasures. 

Scripture provides many examples of Biblical and familial traditions. Many are in the Old Testament, and our friends in the Jewish community still celebrate them today, for example, Passover. 

Our Christian traditions honor Christ: waving palm branches on Palm Sunday, fasting during Lent, lighting the Advent wreath, displaying a nativity, and many more. 

Several years ago, I read Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noël Piper. It was a beautiful reminder of incorporating traditions into our daily lives while raising our children. Treasuring God in Our Traditions inspired me to implant traditions more deeply in my children's hearts.

We have always had family traditions. It was a priority for me to establish them as our children grew. I wanted specific expressions of love foundational for our children and, someday, their children. I dreamt of hearing them request certain traditions or share their memories with new additions to the family. Some of our traditions have become non-negotiable; they are must-haves, especially during the holiday season, special days, and birthdays. 

Our family traditions include meals, special foods, gifts, and attending church services. There is no greater tradition than honoring, praising, and worshiping the Lord with family and friends. What if, especially at, but not limited to, the holiday season, we create new traditions that honor the Lord and set aside time to show our gratitude for him and the blessings He has generously bestowed upon us throughout the year?

Not all traditions, however,  must be rooted in faith, but when we are faithful, our traditions will reflect love and our relationship with Christ. 

The goal of family Christmas traditions or holiday traditions, in general, is not to create more anxiety and stress.

In Luke 10:38-42, we learn the story of Martha, who, alongside her sister Mary, welcomed Jesus into her home. Mary immediately sat at Jesus' feet and listened to him teach. Martha, stricken with anxiety over her to-do list, quickly became upset that Mary was not helping her. When she asked Jesus if he cared that Mary had left her to do all the work, Jesus said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

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Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noël Piper

Many entrepreneurs find sales daunting, but understanding the right strategies can help them master this critical aspect of business building.

These essential strategies to master sales include shifting your mindset and integrating effective branding, marketing, and sales systems.

Embrace the CEO Mindset

Moving from an entrepreneur mindset to a CEO mindset involves letting go of the do-it-all mentality and focusing on being the master of vision and strategy. Focus on doing the things only you can do, and hire a team to accomplish other tasks over time. This allows you to concentrate on high-level strategic initiatives. When you stop overthinking and let go of the need to handle everything, you are less exhausted and have more energy to continue building your purpose-driven business.

Understanding Branding, Marketing, and How to Master Sales

Branding, marketing, and sales form the foundation of business success.

Branding

Your personal brand defines who you are and what you stand for. It should be centered around your values. Your unique personal brand is what your clients see and feel; ultimately, it's their perception of you. To maintain a strong brand identity, your personal branding should be consistent across all platforms.

Marketing

Marketing is an attraction conversation; it is about attracting and getting people to look at your offerings. 

Sales

Sales is a conversion conversation. It is not enough to have people look at you. Your marketing messaging must be clear and direct people where to buy.

About Dena Patton

Dena is dedicated to helping people own their worth, unleash their greatness, and create lasting impact in their businesses, families, and communities. As a global keynote speaker and bestselling author of The Greatness Game, Dena has inspired audiences worldwide. Dana shares her expertise on leadership, a great mindset, and purpose-driven living. Her work has been seen on CNN, Entrepreneur Magazine, The Business Journal, and various other media outlets.

Website for Dena Patton

Additional Resources

Are you ready to eliminate the guesswork of building a sustainable business? Schedule a free discovery call today!

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Organizational efficiency through systems and processes is transformational for Nonprofits

The foundation for success in businesses and nonprofits lies within organizational efficiency. Learn more about how the impact method can bring clarity to your nonprofit. 

Building a Solid Foundation

Starting a business can be a gamble, with 23 % of businesses failing in the first year and 50% failing in the first five years. One huge reason for this is a lack of a solid foundation. Setting up systems and processes and having organizational efficiency are key components of a solid business foundation. 

Introducing the Impact Method for Organizational Efficiency

The Impact Method helps organizations identify any bottlenecks in their current workflows and move toward organizational efficiency. It's an acronym for Investigate, Map, Prioritize, Act, Codify, and Train.

• Investigate: This first step involves understanding where things are not working well. It requires an honest look at existing workflows and an openness to change for organizational efficiency.

• Map: The next step is mapping out solutions. It's crucial to look at other systems and, as technology advances, to look at the features of your systems so that you are making the most of the systems you have.

• Prioritize: Not all problems can be solved at once. Your budget and timeframe can help determine which tasks to tackle first.

• Act: This is a crucial step to see change. Once you have mapped out your plans, you need to put your plan in motion.

• Codify: You must document your processes. Strong SOPs allow your organization to retain valuable knowledge when team members leave, or new ones join.

• Train: Ensuring everyone is aware of and trained in the new processes is vital for maintaining organizational efficiency.

The Importance of Client Retention

Efficiency in processes doesn't just benefit internal operations; having strong SOPs impacts donor and client retention. These SOPs enhance customer service, ensuring that clients and donors feel valued, which is crucial for long-term success. 

About Stephanie Sloan

Stephanie’s niche is helping nonprofits master organizational efficiency. Her passion is helping them thrive through strategic tech solutions and simplified and documented workflows. Organizations work with Stephanie to unlock their organization’s potential, one process at a time.

Website for Stephanie Sloan

Stephanie's EBook 6 Myths about SOPs...and why your organization can't afford to ignore them!

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Marketing with purpose is a key part of building your business.

This can often feel intimidating. The key to successful marketing is to align it with your purpose and values.

Three Components for Marketing With Purpose

Focus on these three components to achieve successful marketing with purpose: authenticity, intention, and generosity.

Embracing Authenticity

With so much focus on social media, fake authenticity may feel rampant. Genuine authenticity comes from being transparent and truly understanding your purpose. It involves knowing why you started your business and having the courage to share your mission consistently with your audience. Being transparent and honest with your audience builds trust, which is foundational in relationship marketing.

The Power of Intention

With so many tools and marketing platforms available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start, and frequently, businesses are doing too much. Less is more when marketing with purpose. You want to be intentional about where you spend your time and who you surround yourself with. Think about your soulmate client and look for 2-3 of the biggest blocks that they are facing and provide thoughtful and impactful solutions for these potential clients. Rather than spreading your efforts thinly across multiple marketing channels, focus on 1-2 areas, do them well, and stick with them. Marketing with purpose means being very intentional about where you focus your efforts and keeps you aligned with your broader goals.

Generosity as a Superpower

Generosity is not commonly seen as a marketing strategy but is a crucial component of marketing with purpose. Giving without expecting anything in return helps build relationships. When you ask someone to meet with you, you ask them for their time. Instead, try offering something that you believe will be helpful for them; giving something without asking for anything in return helps form strong connections and trust.

You can provide a lot of information without giving it all away. Consider what you can offer that provides a sound idea of the bigger picture of your services - what you offer and how you help your clients—the solution you provide for them.

Bringing It All Together

Marketing with purpose is not just about selling products or services; it's about building relationships grounded in authenticity, intention, and generosity. Entrepreneurs can build trust and cultivate lasting connections with their audience by focusing on these core elements. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or starting your business, these principles (authenticity, generosity, and your superpower) can guide you to more meaningful and effective marketing strategies.

 

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Empowering Nonprofits with Strategies for Fundraising and Emotional Connections

When entering the nonprofit world, fundraising can seem very difficult. This is especially true if you do not have fundraising strategies. Solid fundraising strategies can revitalize your energy toward your mission by helping you stay focused and more efficient.

Identifying Your Ideal Donor

To effectively engage with donors, nonprofits should develop an 'Ideal Donor Avatar,' similar to identifying your soulmate client. This process involves analyzing existent donor databases to identify who you want to attract. By building a detailed profile that considers socioeconomic status, existing philanthropic interests, and historical engagement, you can tailor your nonprofit's messaging to speak to your ideal avatar.

Strategies for Fundraising: Events, Grants, and Individual Giving

Your fundraising strategies should include more than just the traditional methods. While events can be beneficial, here are three core areas that should be included in your fundraising strategies:

1. Individual Giving: Focus on existing donors first before seeking new ones. Start with your donor list and create personalized communication strategies for donors who can give more. It is essential to have a detailed donor database and understand your donor demographics to converse with those donors to deepen relationships and increase contributions.
2. Grant Strategies: Your organization needs a solid narrative that shares your statistics while weaving in storytelling to make a case for your organization. Building solid relationships with grantmakers and understanding their interests is also crucial. 
3. The Importance of Internal Clarity: Clear internal communication translates to external donor confidence. Ensuring every board member and volunteer communicates the same values and mission strengthens the organization's brand and helps garner more significant support.

Emotional Connection Leadership: Building Bonds Within Your Team

The concept of emotional connection leadership, based on the teachings of Dr. Lola Gershfeld, highlights the importance of emotional bonds within your team, which are achieved through shared goals and mutual support. Creating these bonds involves proper onboarding, clarification of roles and expectations, and regular emotional check-ins. By fostering an environment where team members feel valued and connected, nonprofits can move towards their goals more effectively.

 

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The Power of Faith and Resilience in Transforming Your Business Journey

Building a successful business while maintaining a strong sense of personal grounding can be challenging. However, the power of faith and resilience in shaping one's dream life and business is truly astounding. Prioritizing time to pray helps guide your days to accomplish your goals and stay strong in faith in Christ. 

The Power of Faith in Staying Grounded

Prioritizing faith as the center of life and business helps keep you grounded, particularly in overwhelming moments. Starting each day focused on His word through Bible study and time to pray, clarifies the day ahead and reminds you of what is most important. When we begin our day with the peace of God, that is something we can hold onto and look to as the chaos of what the day might bring tries to take over.

Redefining Success Through God

When we begin our day in prayer and with God, we look at our business and how we define success through a different lens. We all have God-given gifts, and if you have been called to help serve others through coaching, you must remember why. Remembering your calling and measuring success by your impact rather than the number of dollar signs you make brings immense peace to your day and helps keep you focused on serving your clients.

Is there a Right Way to Pray?

Prayer is a conversation with God. It is an opportunity to share with Him as a father and a brother, a place to find comfort. As long as you are conversing, there is no right or wrong way to pray. When you get more specific about what you seek guidance with and fully share what is going on in your life, God will answer that prayer. The power of faith is in knowing God will answer in his time and finding gratitude in his answers.

Navigating Social Media and Business Growth

Entrepreneurs are under enormous pressure to maintain a social media presence. This pressure leads to comparing yourself to others and imposter syndrome, which is the idea that if you are not doing precisely what someone else is doing, you may not be an expert who can help others.

Rather than putting your efforts solely into social media, building a solid foundation for your business is essential. This can be done through search engine optimization to help your soulmate clients find you. Building a website that speaks to who you are, sharing information through meaningful blog posts and podcast interviews, and building relationships through networking and collaborations are all ways to connect with your soulmate clients without falling into the social comparisons so often associated with social media.

 

 

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To grow your business without social media, you must master podcast pitching.

Podcast pitching is integral to your online visibility strategy, especially if you want to create success without social media.

The Advantages of Being a Podcast Guest

Being a guest on reputable podcasts helps improve your online visibility, grows your credibility and authority in your niche, and enables you to stand out as a go-to expert. In addition, it builds trust. When a host invites you on their podcast, they trust you to provide value for their listeners. Since they trust you, their listeners are more likely to trust you. The listeners become warm leads faster than people who have never heard you speak or experienced the value you provide.

When interviewed on a podcast, the host will ask where listeners can connect with you. This is your opportunity to drive traffic to your website, which shows Google and other search engines that you provide value, and they should send more people to your site. In addition, you will likely be offered the opportunity to give a call to action (CTA). This is your opportunity to drive traffic to your email list. Share the link to a valuable lead magnet and grow your community for the opportunity to convert the leads to paying clients through a nurture sequence.

Another benefit of being a podcast guest is reaching a larger audience. When interviewing, you are in front of an audience you may not have been able to reach without the interview opportunity.

Additional advantages of being a podcast guest include building relationships with hosts and listeners and increasing collaboration and referral opportunities.

Summary of benefits of being a podcast guest:

• Increases online visibility
• Builds credibility and authority
• Drives traffic to your website
• Builds trust
• CTAs help grow your community and email list
• Builds relationships with hosts and listeners
• Opens the door for collaboration and referral opportunities

Podcast Pitching Strategies

Employing strategies to pitch to be a podcast guest will improve your success rate and credibility.

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A gift to help you with podcast pitching

We have created a sample pitch and one-sheet template that you can use to start or improve your podcast pitching strategy. Sign up for the gift today.

Additional resources related to podcast pitching and podcast guesting:

 

What you need to know before you pitch to be a podcast guest

How to get guest spots on podcasts

The Power and Complexity of Thought Work: Navigating Emotions, Intuition, and Change

"Thought work" has become a popular buzzword, especially in the coaching and self-development industries. Understanding and applying thought work strategies effectively involves exploring thoughts and the interconnectedness of our emotions, intuition, and behaviors.

Going Deeper 

We hear a lot about thought work, but there is more to it to change our outcomes. Thought work is not merely about focusing on cognitive processes; it dives deeper into the intricate connection between thoughts, emotions, and actions. Often, thought work can be detrimental.

The Essence of Thought Work Strategies

Thought work involves more than just thinking positive thoughts. It includes mindset and belief work, diving into how our thoughts influence our feelings and actions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a widely recognized model, highlights that our thoughts create emotions, which determine our actions. So, in this model, understanding and intentionally guiding our thoughts is crucial for personal growth and transformation.

Despite the benefits of thought work strategies, it's essential to recognize their limitations. Not all feelings stem directly from thoughts. Emotions can arise independently, whether driven by past experiences, relationships, or from unprocessed trauma. Ignoring these emotions and focusing only on thought work can be detrimental.

Intuition and Emotional Awareness

It is important to remember that thoughts create feelings, but not all feelings are created from thoughts. We have underlying emotions and past experiences that create our feelings. Our bodies possess innate wisdom, often providing physical reactions to different situations. These visceral responses can guide our decision-making. Acknowledging these reactions allows us to tap into our intuition and align our actions with our true selves. 

About Molly Claire

Molly Claire is a 7-figure business builder, founder of The Masterful Coach Collective, author of the best-selling book The Happy Mom Mindset, and proud mom of 3. She hosts the Masterful Coach Podcast and has been featured on podcasts and stages across the U.S. for interviews and speaking engagements. Molly is best known for her engagement with audiences and ability to empower everyone in the room to feel seen, loved, and capable of achieving anything they want. She loves speaking to coaches, entrepreneurs, moms, and women united to improve the world.

Listen to Molly's other episode on The Robyn Graham Show.

Molly's Website

Link to Molly’s Webinar

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In a saturated marketplace, it is crucial to niche down.

With so many online entrepreneurs, it's more important than ever that your message is clear and people readily recognize that you hold the key to the solution they need. How can you accomplish this? By niching down. When you niche down, your message becomes uber clear, and you have more opportunity to stand out amidst the sea of online noise.

What does it mean to niche down?

If you think you can help everyone, you will ultimately help no one. That's a zinger. But it is a harsh reality.

When you talk to everyone, the people you can best help may not recognize that you are speaking to them. Your message should be so clear that it both attracts your ideal client and repels those who are not a good fit.

Niching down means narrowing your scope, but that doesn't mean you are limiting your business. There is no need to fear a decrease in revenue or experience a scarcity mindset.

It means you will become so clear on what you do and who you serve that there is no doubt by anyone who comes across your content or website. When that happens, your best-fit clients will know you are the one to follow and ultimately hire.

How do you approach narrowing your scope and identifying your niche?

The best way to approach niching down and identifying your niche is to think about an hourglass. The top of the hourglass is full, just like your brain is full of ideas and ways you can help many people. But here is where your message is unclear until you have narrowed it down with specificity.

 

Start small and expand. This philosophy is beneficial if you are multipassionate.

 

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Free resources

Download the free eBook 10 Strategies to Grow Your Business Without Social Media to learn more ways to market your business. 

How to write website copy - Episode 328

What does a business need to succeed - Episode 321

Client retention strategies to increase profitability - Episode 353

The content you need to prove that you are the one to hire - Episode 260

Increase your business profitability through Enhanced Client Retention Strategies.

Many entrepreneurs wonder why their revenue is not increasing. They often blame sales and marketing. Why? Because they are not making meaningful connections when investing in marketing and sales strategies. There is a hidden key to increasing profitability: client retention strategies. Enhancing your customer's experiences lays the foundation for improving profitability.

Understanding Client Experience vs. Customer Service

Client experience refers to a customer's comprehensive journey while interacting with a business. It includes every touchpoint, from initial awareness to post-purchase follow-up. Within this broad framework, customer service represents the actions taken to support and nurture clients directly. Excellent service is crucial for client retention, ensuring clients feel valued and connected rather than just a data point in a system.

The Five Pillars of Client Experience

1. Culture: An organization's client-centric culture is foundational. Leaders must prioritize placing the client's needs at the forefront of business strategies.
2. Service: Exceptional service involves consistent support and genuine interactions that foster trust and satisfaction.
3. Offers: Businesses should ensure their offerings are aligned with client needs, providing meaningful solutions that contribute to a seamless experience.
4. Operations: Streamlining operations focusing on client convenience can improve service delivery. Procedures should be evaluated not only for efficiency but also for their impact on the client journey.
5. Journey: A holistic approach to client experience keeps clients engaged with the brand beyond immediate transactions. A positive journey encourages longevity and advocacy.

The Role of Personal Branding

Personal branding is integral to the client experience, impacting lead generation and retention. Aligning brand values with client expectations builds trust, fostering deeper relationships. This connection endures beyond the buying process, encouraging referrals and organic growth.

 

Katrina Scarlett's Website

 

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Download the free eBook, 5 Crucial Strategies to Start and Grow a Sustainable Business