Coming in August


Vibrant Children


acing the tough economic times of today requires a certain tenacity and sense of hope. While we are experiencing layoffs, seeing closed storefronts and living the reality of cutting back on expenses, we are also in times of great economic opportunity. Many dreams are being called to the fore to fill the current void. This is a powerful time of creativity and innovation. Studies show entrepreneurs are seeing the opportunity and they are taking the leap. While the energy of creating a dream is powerful and exciting, it also masks the realities that are tough to face.


F


While an entrepreneur might have the skills to DO the work of his dream business - paint, build, heal, create – does he have the skills required to run the business aspect? The marketing, financial, relationship and operational skills of running a business are often elusive to a new business owner. Additionally, many new business owners underestimate the emotion of starting a business and these emotions often cloud good judgment. Making decisions about where to invest in a business are some of the


toughest a business owner will make. Weighing the options and making rational decisions as to where the right resources should be invested at any different stage of the business requires the business owner to be fully willing to look at themselves and their business honestly. Keeping focused on the reality of business as you keep your eye on the


Natural


Awakenings’ August issue is all about


ALTERNATIVES in education nutrition fitness and


sustainable living.


possibilities and the growth of the company requires honesty and the ability to look at things objectively. Reaching out to find perspectives from others is difficult for most business owners. Admitting they do not know it all tests their humility and forces them to be honest with themselves and their teams. Many cannot do this and businesses fail each day. Most recently suicides and attempts are up drastically. Like other times in history pressures are too much for us to handle alone. Suicide notes mention the pressures of the current financial environment, like they did in the Great Depression. We have huge part of our population believing in the “Dream” and yet


they do not have the humility to ask for help to create it. Wheels are put in motion to begin to the process yet the truth is most people DO need support in order to create, plan and execute any meaningful effort. As a business coach, I witness individuals and business owners swirl


in struggle rather than reach out for help. The stigma of asking for support has somehow becomes greater than the power of the dream. Frustrated by this phenomenon, I delved into understanding the cycle of help where I found shocking and inspiring information. Our American notion of independence has paralyzed our ability to reach out beyond ourselves and ask for simple guidance on things such as setting up a budget, dealing with day-to-day stress and managing critical relationships inside the home and business. We have set up a culture in which asking for help is for “those people”.


For more information about advertising and how you can participate, call


904-551-4796 36


You know, the ones we have all of these charitable organizations supporting; the people who have fallen of the edge. Yet if all the people who were “on the edge” would reach out for support, our communities and economy would not struggle as much.


While researching for my book, Who’s Helping Who?, which will be


released this summer, I interviewed over 150 people from all walks of life. The workbook explores the cycle of help and how giving and receiving must be approached in a balanced way. The research clearly revealed that our ability to receive is as critical an asset as it is to give and both are factors in personal


Who’s Helping Who? Explore Your Life and the Cycle of Help.


Reaching out to receive help allows other to use their gifts!


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