The Success Magnets with Cara Lumen

Are You Muscling The Outcome?

How much of your day is spent pushing and pulling, planning and choosing as
you try to muscle a certain outcome into place? A lot more than is
necessary. And wouldn’t it be a relief if you could just let go and trust
in whatever shows up.

The Universe is fluid. It is ever changing. The all-encompassing energy is
like a shape-shifter, in one form one minute, in another form the next.
There is a rhythm, there is an ebb and flow, and there is a natural
evolution. But how do we get to “vote” on the outcome of our life? 

We make changes in our life through our consciousness.

Wise Friend is better at that than I am. She totally knows and experiences
the shifts in her life in relation to her thoughts, her consciousness. She
is content to let the Law of Attraction work and bring to her the perfect
clients and the perfect opportunities she needs. I, on the other hand,
continue to paddle even when I’m flowing in the right direction. 

“The way is not difficult; only there must be no wanting or not wanting.”—
Chao-Chou 

I’m not certain I can manage no wanting and not wanting. Yet I can see the
serenity it would bring me. What if I simply savored every moment rather
than planning the next? What if I looked at each moment as a gift, all
wrapped up in whatever I am to experience next? What if I spent more time
in meditation, more time in contemplation, more time being? 

A Chinese Proverb says, “When the root is deep, there is no reason to fear
the wind.” How deep is the root of my spirituality? How firmly do I believe
in my wholeness, the perfection of what shows up in my life, the blessings
of a challenging opportunity, and the lessons of a loss or seeming defeat?
Do I embrace the belief that my thoughts create my reality and that change
comes without when I change within?

It’s so simple really.   Thich Nhat Hanh tells us how”

Be yourself. Life is precious as it is. All the elements for your happiness
are already here. 
There is no need to run, strive, search, or struggle. Just Be.

2006 Cara Lumen www.caralumen.com

What Do You Do With Negative Feedback?

It's natural to want to be liked. Everyone wants to think they are a pleasing, pleasant person to be around. However, we can't and won't please everyone all the time and we shouldn't try to. What then, do we do with negative feedback?

I recently had the opportunity to take a 360Reach assessment, which is designed to help me identify my branding position based on how others see me. There were questions to establish both my perceived strengths and weaknesses. So what did I do? Among all the really good things said, I focused on the very small percentage of the not-so-good. Of course, don't we always? I allowed them for a moment to take away from the positive reinforcement I had experienced. Does this sound familiar?

The "negative" appears for a reason—to offer you an opportunity to make a choice for change. You can take it or not. When I looked up the word "negative," it shows up as "off-putting, unconstructive, unhelpful, depressing." Actually, feedback or responses that "rock your boat" are actually good things. Truly.

The positive way for me to use this seemingly critical input is to see how true it feels to me. Then I look at what difference making or not making a change to accommodate it would make in my values. After that I examine what ensuing result a change would create. Then I make a decision. To do or not to do. To change or not to change. To ignore or to examine.

Negative feedback can be a reflection of how you feel about yourself. Examine it to see if it uncovers areas where you are being critical or judgmental of yourself. Put it in perspective with the overall scheme of your life. See how it fits into your goals and intentions. Make an informed choice to change or not change. Be certain the choice carries you forward and is true to who you are and what you choose to express.

Look at negativity as seasoning in your own personal serving of cosmic soup. Too much will ruin the flavor. Just the right amount will help you adjust in a manner that adds to the flavor of the total dish.

We get what we focus on, so use what seems to be "negative" feedback as an opportunity for adjustment—or not. But do look it over. Weigh it against the highest good for all. Then make your choice.

Negative feedback is an opportunity for growth—a true gift! It's yours for the taking.

© Cara Lumen 2006
www.caralumen.com

What Creates Trust?

I had subscribed to her e-magazine for several months. I found her blog and
subscribed to her RSS feed. Every other day or so I got a notice of
something she had written. Some I stopped to read, some I copied to save,
and some I skipped over knowing I wasn’t ready or wasn’t interested in the
information. 

One day I said to myself, “This has value to me. I want to become an
affiliate of her work and tell others about her.”  And I did. 

What brought to me that decision? What shift occurred to make me decide her
work had value to me? How had I arrived at that point? What, I wondered,
creates trust? 

Trust Is Built Over Time

My process in reaching this decision, had taken time. I was drawn to her
energy by all the magical ways we are drawn or led to each other. I
accepted her invitation to opt in to her newsletter. It apparently came at
times that worked for me, (as in not too often) and most of all, I liked
what I read. I learned something, it triggered new ideas, it made a
difference in my awareness and spawned new insights.

Trust Involves Similar Values

Trust often involves identifying with the person’s values and respecting or
being stimulated by what they say and do. Sometimes trust involves feeling
safe and comfortable with someone. We trust someone’s success, when we see
them accomplish what we’d like to do. We trust someone’s integrity when we
seem the choices they make in adverse situations.

How do I build trust in myself?

If I want to build trust with you, what do I do? I begin by expressing my
true self—not some version of what I think you might want to hear. I place
myself deeply in service. Then I give and give and give some more. I fill
my contributions to our relationship with value. I fully participate in our
exchange with joy and love and respect. 

Trust Is Vital To Success

Trust is something we must build in our business and our lives. Our clients
and customers must trust us to deliver what we promise. They must trust us
to keep our word and act with integrity. Trust is something we must have in
a nourishing relationship. We can’t push trust, we can only nurture it and
let it find its own footing. 
Exchange Is The Reward

The reward of trust in relationships is exchange. Whether it is a service
or a product or friendship, we must continually place ourselves in the
service of others. Over time, they will come to trust us, our product, our
services, and our friendship. 

Keep In Touch—Give Your Best

Trust comes from continued contact. Whether it is phone calls, letters,
e-mails, or e-magazines, communication is the key to building trust. Who do
you need to contact today? Where would you like to deepen your trust? In
your work environment, in your business, in your life, bring to it the best
you have within you and trust will follow. 

Trust Builds Confidence

When you have built a trusting relationship, people will have confidence in
you, they will believe in you and your ability. They will have faith that
you will provide value at every turn. They will ask for your service, your
product, or your advice. 

Trust Is The Basic Factor Needed For Cooperation

When we trust, when we open our eyes to another’s humanness, it makes room
for a natural flow of openness and affection. It clarifies our
understanding of each other. Trust allows us to be honest with each other,
to be affectionate, to take risks and love. 

Build Trust

Increase the value of your service. Give more that is expected in your
home, in your work, in your life. Work to build long lasting relationships
that are mutually nurturing, that provide for and sustain you. As Mother
Teresa said, “Go out into the world today and love the people you meet. Let
your presence light new light in the hearts of people.”

c2006 Cara Lumen www.caralumen.com

Is Your Business For Strugglers or Achievers?

p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">If you create a business for strugglers, you will create a struggling business. If you create a business for achievers, you will soar.

You want to attract and align yourself with achievers, whatever field you are in. You want to work with people who carry their share, who take the initiative, who are open to change and are willing to think big. These are the hallmarks of an achiever.

Feel the difference when I describe a person who procrastinates, who complains, who doesn't do their share, who only follows and has to be told what to do. These people are fearful of change and very content within their own small world. Their life is a constant struggle.

It is possible that you have a desire to help this struggling person and that certainly is a place to serve, but at least look at the difference between the two and see where your heart leads.

And, you notice, the amount of money they have is not a hallmark. The difference between an achiever and a struggler is attitude.

I certainly take deep pleasure in coaching someone to believe in themselves and their own ability. I help them translate their soul's calling into a life of empowerment and choice. That is a joyous place to be in service. Moreover, when they get a better sense of their own value, they step up to the plate and make big things happen.

Those are the kind of clients that grow me.

You realize, of course, that each person you draw to you has a gift just for you. In order to attract a certain type of client you have to align your consciousness with an intended desire. You have to put out the vibration of what you seek. You must become your own ideal client or customer.

Make a list of the qualities in your perfect client. This might include:

· People in service to others

· A willingness to learn

· A willingness to explore

· A willingness to expand their expectations

· An open heart

· An eagerness to make the project happen

· A strong sense of their innate calling

· A person who follows through

· A person who takes initiative

You may get more specific than that. Do take a moment and describe your ideal client or customer.

You might even give your ideal client a name. Mine is "Sage." She is a wise woman in service to others. Make this ideal client your best friend. Create your products to please her. Create your copy to attract her. Design your services to help her.

Build the image in your mind and your ideal client will come.

Look around at the clients and customers you are attracting. Are you struggling with strugglers? Or are you achieving with achievers?

It's your choice.

© Cara Lumen 2006

www.caralumen.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-MAGAZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this bio with it:

Cara Lumen is a metaphysical philosopher, author and coach who helps translate your Soul's Calling into a life of empowerment and choice. Through the Winds of Change Collection, she helps seekers deepen their spiritual experience and in High Intention Coaching she provide innovative and profitable internet marketing strategies to entrepreneurs. To learn more about these compelling offerings, to browse in her library of insightful articles and to sign up for her three FREE e-magazines visit www.caralumen.com

Do You Know Your Innermost Goals?

We sure know about goals. We've been taught about goal setting at every turn. But have you ever thought that there might be a difference between an inner goal and an outer goal? Consider this.

In my first marketing class we spent a lot of time trying to distill what we were doing into one benefit laden "elevator speech," the seven to nine words you could say to someone on a short elevator ride that would capture the essence of what you do—or are. My first one was "I help seekers deepen their spiritual experience."

However, I recently went hunting for my most intimate inner goal. Why was I here? What was my mission? How am I being called to serve? I went very deep. I went past the e-books and teleclasses and coaching. I went past the specifics of the skills I have been gifted with. I went to my heart looking for my life purpose, my calling, my divine place of service.

I thought about what I love most in life, what I love to do, who I want to touch, how I want to touch them, what brings me joy and happiness and satisfaction. And I found it.

"I help you translate your Soul's Calling into a journey of empowerment and choice."

I can't get more fundamental than that. At least not that I am aware of at this point in my life.

As I hold this inner goal in my heart and test every other goal up against it, I begin a journey of alignment. When an idea for a new e-book shows up I test it—will this help someone translate their Soul's Calling into a journey of empowerment and choice? When I set an outer goal to create a new teleclass, I hold it up to see if it is aligned with my inner goal. Before each coaching call, I focus myself and tune into the person I am to work with to hear and feel and understand their Soul's Calling to be certain our work is on purpose. I use my inner goal to help me define my outer goals.

Find your inner goal, your inner purpose, your inner calling. Define it for yourself and test it against your actions and choices. Adjust it as your awareness increases. Keep it in your heart and your consciousness. Let it be the driving force in your thoughts and awareness. Let your inner goal radiate out so everyone can feel it. Let your inner goal be a part of every outer goal. Align yourself with your heart's calling.

What is your inner goal?

© Cara Lumen 2006

www.caralumen.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-MAGAZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this bio with it:

Cara Lumen is a metaphysical philosopher, author and coach who helps you translate your Soul's Calling into a life of empowerment and choice. Through the Winds of Change Collection, she helps seekers deepen their spiritual experience and in High Intention Coaching she provides innovative and profitable internet marketing strategies to entrepreneurs. To learn more about these compelling offerings, to browse in her library of insightful articles and to sign up for her three FREE e-magazines visit www.caralumen.com

How We Bring Ideas Into Form

It’s really rather a miracle. Out of the invisible nothingness, an idea appeared in my mind. It was just a one-stop idea that I noticed and then went on my merry way.

Then another version of the idea appeared, and I absentmindedly paired them into a larger idea.

That idea niggled and jiggled in the back of my mind until I took a small action to explore the idea further and found there was a need for it.

In an afternoon, the idea had taken shape. The form was clear, the content was clear, the way it was to be delivered was clear. It was written down. It had been born.

It was a miracle.

It’s as if a small spark lights the kindling of our mind and when we blow on it even a little, it bursts into flame. Amazing!

How does this happen? What takes place that allows the idea to appear in the first place?

Each of us has a specific purpose in this world. We have been given the skills and talents and yes, the desire, to put our passion to work. I see the ideas as coming from the Master Builder. And each of us is considered a necessary part of the whole construction, the Grand Plan.

The Master Builder gives us nudges in the form of ideas. Sometimes we need two nudges. Sometimes more. Sometimes we take the Master Builder up on the idea and run with it. That’s part of the Grand Plan. Sometimes we fumble the idea; we let it slid by us, and someone else picks it up and runs with it. That too is part of the Grand Plan.

But when it is our idea, ours to birth, ours to bring into view, how beautiful and miraculous is the process.

I keep a list of ideas on my computer desktop. Every idea I get I put down on that list. Some ideas have been there a long time and have not yet risen to the top. Others barely make the list before they take shape and form. But always, I write them down, for they are gifts. They come from that part of me that is creative, deeply in service, enthusiastic, and passionate. They are my Soul’s gift to my life experience.

I think of an idea as a pinpoint of light that gathers strength until it floods the stage. It is a spark that flies out to hearts all over the world. It is a gift that is mine to birth, to give life to, and to share with others.

Ideas are the whispering of Spirit in my ear. I love the way it speaks.

Go ahead, I’m listening.

© Cara Lumen 2006
Winds of Change Collection
www.caralumen.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-MAGAZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this information with it:

Cara Lumen is a metaphysical philosopher, author, teacher and coach who helps you translate your Soul's Calling into a Journey of Empowerment and Choice in her Great Expectations Learning Environment. To learn more about this compelling series, to browse in her library of insightful articles and to sign up for her three FREE e-magazines visit www.caralumen.com

A Measuring Stick for New Projects

One of the reason we are entrepreneurs is because we have tons and tons of ideas. And fortunately or unfortunately, we are enthusiastic about every one of them. So how do we focus ourselves? How do we pick the projects we would undertake next? What kind of a measuring stick can we build to help us make a decision?

Everyone's measuring stick will be different. You are the only one that can pick the qualities that define value for you. After you choose your list of qualities you will need to assign a value to each of them in order to create your own personal Payback Measuring Stick. Here are some ideas:

What is the payback I get for this project in terms of:

- My time (How long will it take to implement? Can I do it or do I need to hire some/all of it done?)

- Money invested. (How does this project fit into my over all business budget?)

- How it feeds my passion (Is this on target with my innermost goal?)

- Creativity

- Pleasure/enjoyment in creating/doing it

- Potential joint venture possibilities

- Leveraging capabilities

- Is it scalable in that it can get bigger?

- Is it scalable in that it can be built so I do not have to work all the time?

- Will it hold more customers/clients?

- Will I run out of customers for it? Is there a burning need for it?

- What is its current worth? (If it's a project in place now that you are considering expanding)

- What am I personally up for right now in my life—a big undertaking, or a small but valuable tweaking?

What weight you give the aspects of this Pay Back Measuring stick depends on your goals.

Are you trying to create passive income that will keep rolling in for the future? Then you are going to care about the leveraging and joint venture aspects of the project. Leveraging is a key component to growth. Can this one idea become many other things? Can this e-book become a teleclass and an audio book and a packaged information product? Can you create a retreat based on its content? Is it the basis for a radio show or a podcast? Who else can you join with to strengthen the idea and make a profit for you both? What other lives can this project idea have?

Scarcity may be a deciding factor. Do you have the time and/or money at your disposal to do it yourself or can you be a team leader and get someone else to do it for you?

Is being creative a core value for you? Then you are going to give more weight to creativity and your pleasure and enjoyment in doing the project.

What size do you want your business to be? Are you limited by 1:1 delivery methods or is this new project a way to leverage your knowledge base into a group target market? Is there a genuine need for this idea or should it be modified and adjusted?

If you are in a hurry to create a product to accompany your next speaking engagement, or if you want something up on line and for sale in a week, the time it's going to take to create it will carry more weight.

Every decision must be weighed heavily against your core passion. I see lots of moneymaking ideas floating past me, but many of them do not represent my values, or the needs of my client base, or my basic purpose for being in service. Some I can adjust to my business, some I cannot. Choose a project because it honors your heart's calling.

Once you determine the value of each possible project, you have your own unique Pay Back Measuring Stick to help guide your choices.

c 2006 Cara Lumen

Is Your Ideal Client Big Enough For Your Vision?

You know what an ideal client is—the made-up description of the perfect person who would be drawn to your services and products. We write this description down with such thoroughness that we know where she lives, what her income is, what her level of education is, and what her problems are. We understand her needs and address them with our services, our products, and our approach. We write every word of copy to her. We create every product for her.

However, what if the ideal client you are focusing on is not big enough for your vision?

Part of what I am doing now is letting people know about a whole mangosteen beverage that is making a huge difference in health and wellness. It is recommended that you drink three ounces a day, which turns out to be one bottle a week. We recommend people buy two cases a month so they don’t run out.

Now I recognize this as an investment in my health and my quality of life. For me it’s a personal health insurance. Someone recently pointed out that a lifetime on this product would not cost as much as a day in intensive care. I’d much rather drink fruit juice than go to intensive care.

But if you’re thinking small, if your vision of your ideal client is not big enough you might find yourself focusing on the person who you think might not be able to afford it. Your approach might be “why don’t you buy one bottle and try it” when in reality, the best thing for them is to buy two cases and stay on it for at least eight to twelve months. You’ll be looking for a person who cannot or will not be willing to purchase your product or service. You have the wrong ideal client—at least the wrong ideal client for success.

But if you’re thinking big, your ideal client will be someone who immediately recognizes the value of your product or service, has the money available, and is willing to invest in the benefits you offer.

My ideal client in this venue is a 50 year old woman who is health conscious, prefers natural products, may be feeling some of the aging process in her body, wants to change that and sees her health as such a priority she immediately goes on the two-case program and plans on staying with it all her life! And as a bonus, my ideal client is a healer at heart, loves her freedom, and wants to become financially independent. She is smart, business savvy, loves people, and is excited about both the product and the business opportunity.

See how detailed I got? Have I left anything out? Notice that she has the money. Notice that she is drawn easily to what I offer. Notice that she has the skills and ability to take advantage of the business opportunity. This is my target audience, these are the people I look for and write to and recognize when I come across them.

Then all I have to do is sort. I go looking for this person. If a person doesn’t fit these criteria, they are not a good match. I don’t pursue them. I move on. I keep looking for the people who match what I have defined as those who can receive the most benefit from what I have to offer. When I do, I’ll find the attraction is mutual and the partnership instantaneous!

This is about defining your niche market. You have choice with your ideal client. Because the product I’m working with is about health and well-being I could target people who are sick. I’m not going to rule those out because the testimonials of great physical results are amazing. However, I’m a metaphysician and I want to focus on wholeness, so rather than adding “has health issues” to my ideal client, I am focusing on improved over-all quality of life. That will influence the words I use in conversation and copy and will also set up the Law of Attraction to attract health conscious people.

Make your ideal client description big enough to fit your vision. Give him/her money to buy what you offer, the ability to immediately see the value of what you offer, and the easy decision to purchase.

Think Big! Think big for your ideal client! Focus on finding them and you will soon be surrounded by the perfect clientele!

c 2006 Cara Lumen www.caralumen.com

The Sales vs Education Marketing Approach

As you begin to formulate and execute your individualized marketing plan, it becomes important to acknowledge and identify the two styles of marketing—Sales and Education.

I found that personally I was very turned off by what felt to me like hard sell, yellow-boxed, bonus laded, you-can’t-live-without-it sales pages while other people responded well to them. I also know they make money. However, I knew that was not my personal style and I wasn’t certain if that were the only way, that I could do it. I was attracted to a more gentle approach. Fortunately, a friend pointed out that there were two distinct approaches to marketing. Once was sales the other was education. Both are valued, both are successful. It helps to know which one you are.

In any team-building or coaching environment where people are learning to market their own business, we have to honor both approaches. Training for success must allow for both types of presentation. As I gather my MLM team, my job is to help each person be successful. I offer a 1:1 coaching session to every new business builder to identify their marketing style so we can tailor their marketing approach to match their values and intention.

Many of my Internet Marketing Coaching clients are coaches in service to others. My job becomes to help them incorporate the known sales technique of using benefit-laden copy that appeals to the emotion, with their core purpose, which is education and attraction.

Knowing that I am an educator takes the “selling” out of my contact with others. I still go through discover steps. I still look for their need. I still share my solution and I still close with a request for action, but I’m more comfortable feeling that I am simply sharing enough information for them to make an informed choice. I am less attached to the outcome. It has made a huge difference in my ability to approach people verbally and it reflects in the copy I use on my sales pages.

Give some thought to the style that appeals to you. Are you a sales person? Are you an educator? Look for sales copy that you like and add it to your Swipe File. Include some you don’t like so you can understand why it doesn’t appeal to you.

Be true to your values. You will attract clients and customers to you through the vibration of your being-ness. Don’t go against that grain. Don’t try to be something you are not. Reach out from your heart and let people know what you can do for them and show them how much you love doing it.

Whether you choose the sales approach or the education approach, it will reflect who you are and draw the perfect people to you.

Warmly,
Cara

www.caralumen.com

The Cosmic Hug

I don’t know the head count for people living alone, but we all have the same problem—we have no one to hug us, to touch us, to give us an encouraging and comforting pat on the back.

Babies die from lack of touch. What about grown-ups? What do we need? How do we feel love when we seem to be alone?

We learn to give ourselves a Cosmic Hug!

Here’s how it works. Simply wrap your arms around yourself and allow yourself to feel held, comforted, loved, cared for, supported, and cherished.

Experiment with which arm should be on top. See what feels better, you hands on your shoulders or you hand on your upper arms. But most of all, feel from the inside, accept the embrace, allow it to nourish you. Let it soak in and replenish you.

Another thing I like to do is hold my own hand. It may be a woman thing, I’ve been doing my strong woman number a long time, but for me when I take the outer part of my left hand in the grasp of the right hand I can imagine someone encouraging and loving me.

You have to put yourself in the mindset of the recipient, not the giver.

The left hand is the receiving hand. The left shoulder is the quelling shoulder. If you feel upset, hold your left shoulder. It calms you down. This works on other people too.

A long time ago, in a group of fellow Reiki Master Teachers, I learned to really hug. We embraced another, then stood silently in that embrace until we could both feel our energy merge and there was only one of us. Next time you hug someone, take your time and feel the mingling of your energies.

Are you a hugger? Do you offer to hug friends when you see them? Even a friendly arm around the shoulder feels good to both give and receive. Or take their hand in both of yours and spend a moment sending and receiving love.

You can consciously improve your hugability by being a hugger yourself.

We are never alone. We are an integrated aspect of a universal, all-encompassing infinite energy. It’s only when we forget that, that we feel alone, lonely, depressed, forgotten, or any number of untrue emotions.

Next time you start to falter, hold your own hand, or give yourself a big Cosmic Hug. And allow yourself to feel the serenity that infuses you. You are never alone.

c 2006 Cara Lumen, www.caralumen.com