Browse published articles attributed to Kim Kirmmse Toth, with full-archive search.
You go to school, you get your education, you get your experience and your working world should be in pretty good shape right? While that may be true for many of you I’ll bet my bottom dollar it’s not true for each of you. Would you like this to be true for you? Heck Yes! Why wouldn’t you? What would you need to change to make this career of yours sing for you?
When you look back at your life are you proud of who you are and what you have become? Are you the person you thought you would be? As a woman in your fifties or beyond you have had more than several decades as an adult. I am sure you had hopes and dreams, goals and plans. At least I hope you had hopes and dreams for yourself! And even if you didn’t you can always start them now can’t you? You can always step forward to create a different life for yourself if you put your mind to it.
What does planning for your summer vacation and planning for your retirement have to do with each other? I can just hear some of you saying “they have nothing to do with each other” and others saying “they have a LOT to do with each other.” What do you think? I have been working and learning in this area of ‘retirement’ for many years now and I have learned a lot from all of you. When baby boomers plan for a vacation they consider many things such as: • How much time do we have • How much money can we spend • Where would be a exciting/happy/relaxing place to gornr
Do you know what that 1 mistake might be? Can you guess? Let me just say that it’s not as difficult as you might think. This mistake can be avoided if you just pay attention. Now I know that doesn’t sound as though that should be very difficult but you would be surprised! As a woman born in the times we were, Woodstock and all that…….it seems like paying attention would be easier than it really is. Here are my thoughts on something I fear that we don’t pay attention to and I would love to hear your thoughts.
Family vacations may have been wonderful when your kiddos were still little and you were in charge. You were definitely the parent, roles were defined and everyone knew their place. Then, lo and behold, those youngsters grew up! This changes many things in your life but it's the natural order of things. They grow up; you become less of a parent and more of a friend, a comrade.
As with any remodeling or moving you are in a position to make decisions for what to keep and what to purge. I have purged A LOT and ARC and Goodwill are very happy with me. That said, I have also saved some things. Closets were filled with prom dresses, ski jackets, other kinds of jackets and coats. All belonging to my adult daughters. Back packs, purses you name it. I would line them up on the couch and take pictures and text them to my girls. Do you want these? No. No. No. No. Oh, maybe save the prom dresses for Halloween.
Isn’t it grand being a grandparent? You probably don’t want to be called Grandma or Grandpa because that would make you seem older than you believe you are. You’ve probably come up with some clever name for yourself, which is great. But do you want to know how to be the cleverest grandparent of all? The key is to keep the grandkids happy as well as the parents. Here are some tips to help you along the way: * Start a tradition with your grandchildren. Think about what your common interests are and what activities that are related to them.
Has your work ever interfered with your ‘other life?’ That ‘real’ life that does not include work, even if it’s work you love? What I mean is true leisure. Not thinking about, planning about or doing anything even close to work. I am talking especially for those of you entrepreneurial types.
Isn't it grand being a woman? In all my decades of years I don't think I have ever wanted to be man. (Well, except when I am hiking or skiing) I think we are really special beings. I also believe we don't give ourselves enough credit when credit is due. And what do we say when someone says 'Thank you for all your hard work' we say, 'Oh, it was nothing'. What do we say when someone says to us "I just love your outfit" we say "I got such a good deal on this, with a coupon and it was a great sale!"
You have heard people say “It’s in my genes” or “It’s in my DNA” which basically means that it’s just the way it is so I can’t change it. “My parents, grandparents, great grandparents were all diabetic, or overweight or died of cancer. There is nothing I can do about it.” Sorry to take that excuse away from you but from what I have been hearing and reading there actually are things we can do to basically change our DNA. Your genes are not your destiny. You actually can do things to change them.
Remember when your kids were little and you thought they would never grow up? You felt like you were going to be tying sneakers forever, going to parent/teacher conferences and endless soccer tournaments till you were old and gray. Well, you are older…maybe gray…maybe not. But, they really DID grow up! They no longer need you in the ways they did before. That certainly doesn’t mean they don’t need you, just differently. You did the best you could do as a parent. You gave them to best you had to offer.
Do you believe you are financially comfortable? Possibly more than comfortable? You were able to work less or not work at all while you raised families or cared for an aging parent. That was then, this is now. This is the New Environment. You may not realize it but 78% of the job lay offs have been men. So, what does that mean for you? It means you are returning to the work force in droves.
Always the feisty ones, you boomers aren’t going to let the economy slow you down! If you have retired already or have been laid off you may have a desire to get back into the employment seen. Well, hate to tell you this, but that may be easier said than done. So what? You’re resilient and flexible. What’s your Plan B? Maybe it’s time to look at something new. Companies are doing more laying off than hiring. Often times when you change jobs or re-career you receive less pay and fewer benefits.
You're new to building your business. You have been in business for some time now but you don't have as many clients as you wish. Either way one of the tricks is to figure what the missing piece is. Where is the disconnect? Is it the marketing? Is your niche not tight enough? Does your website need work? All of those, and more, are possibilities but today let's talk about 'credibility'. This is the piece where people believe you are the real deal and they want to have a business relationship with you.
I wonder how many of you even know. I'll bet a lot of you don't know. Or you kind of know but not really. It's vitally important for you to know. For some of you, if you have a more 'elaborate' retirement planned (lots of travel etc) you will need more than someone who has very simple wants and desires. There certainly is no right way but you need to know your truth. One of the lucky things about being a woman is you generally live longer than men. Wonderful!! But you will need more money.
I had some real plans for how to spend my less busy time during the holidays. From December 19th to January 1st I only had 1 client each week. Wow. Certainly different than my usual week! Here are some of the things I accomplished and feel really good about. If any of these actions look like something that you need to do to start the year out fresh then keep reading.
The answer is probably a resounding “No.” Or maybe you’re not even sure what that Crucial Conversation is. This conversation is about how you are going to live the rest of your lives together as a couple. On one hand, this may sound pretty simple but when you really dig in and start talking, you may be in for some big surprises. Or you may think it’s just not all that important. But you are wrong. It is very important.
If so, you are certainly not alone. Also, women are more apt to extend this date then men. Women earning $75,000.00 or more have a six out of ten chance of delaying retirement. Those are high numbers and now there is even a term for this. If you are one of the six, you are part of the Threshold Generation, a term coined by the Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project. Are you one of the women on the ‘threshold’ of retirement?
Yes, this is possible but you have to take the right steps and do them in order. Now, you could probably do those out of order and do okay, but why settle for okay? Do you know who your Ideal Client is? When you are asked that scary question of “What do you do?” do you have a good, solid response?
Ethical Wills have been around for many generations but seem to be regaining their strength. That may be simply because many of you are getting to the stage in life where you begin thinking about what you are passing along to your children or other loved ones. Another term for Ethical Wills might be a “Values and Vision Statement.” In a nutshell, it is a tool for passing your memories, values and traditions to your loved ones and future generations. Keep in mind that an Ethical Will is not a legal document.
Sadly, most women will answer 'yes'. That said, you have more control over your financial situation than you probably think. And if you don't think you have any control then it's time to be proactive and take some action. This is your life. This is your future.
It's summer. It's hot. People are on vacation it seems all the time. No one is signing up for your teleclasses or any other of the wonderful things you are offering. How are you supposed to grow your business at this rate? Well, maybe there are other things you can do instead of feeling badly or twiddling your thumbs. Let's take a look and see! 1. How does your office look?r
Do you even know what an Active Vacation is? Let’s just say it’s the opposite of sitting on the beach with a book in one hand and an umbrella drink in the other. Not that this isn’t desirable at times, but more and more boomers want more action than that. Assuming you are a health-minded women, this type of vacation might be right up your alley! Have you ever thought of a Yoga Retreat or a bike ride through France (or Iowa)? What about hiking the Grand Canyon? Not only does your body get a good workout but so do your mind and even your soul.
Networking is a requirement if you have your own business. I mean, it's not a law in the legal sense, but it almost should be. Here is Secret #1: Be consistent. Your networking needs to be consistent. That means you have several groups that you attend on a regular basis. It may be tempting to only go network when you have a new product or service you want to promote but that will backfire on you. Others may notice that you only show up when you are selling something.
I have this phenomenon that has been going around in my head and heart for the last few months. I want my business to be simpler. As may be true for you, I have been through stages in my business where I have been too stressed, too overwhelmed and too exhausted. I was working too hard and often felt I was just spinning my wheels and not really moving forward in spite of all my hard work. As my business has grown I have realized I needed to make things work more smoothly and easily.
It hardly seems possible that it's almost mid-September. I don't think I really was paying much attention until all the stores are selling school supplies, and then I took notice. School? Already? Yup, our street will be really quiet with all the kiddos back in class. That also means everyone starts thinking about fall. And when you think about fall you think it's time to really get cracking and get back to work on your business.
I read a lot about the lives of women after 50. Being one myself and even though I am a business coach, clearly there are other things going on for us. One of them is our retirement. It's frightening out there and most women do not feel confident. How are you going to support yourself in your older years? One very sad statistic is that 50% of women fear becoming a 'bag ladies'. That's half of all women!! And yet, another statistic says women control a larger share of personal wealth in the U.S. than ever before by 66%.
Have you ever noticed how uncomfortable some people get when the subject of money is brought up? Probably one of the most awkward questions you could ask someone is "How much money do you make?" At least that was how I was raised. You just didn't talk about it. It was rude. It was a secret that you kept to yourself. Is that how is it was in your house? Now, truth be told, I don't go around asking people how much they make. But there are a lot of people who are very open about this topic.
Poor titles will keep you poor. Now, that's a pretty powerful statement isn't it? It really doesn't matter how good you are, the first thing that people read or hear is your title. It will immediately get them to click to get more information or they will simply delete. You might have the greatest program or product around; you might be so passionate to help people and have the best signature system, but if they don't get past the title it hardly matters.
My motto is Simple & Elegant and I try to run my business that way, as well as my life. It can be very frightening starting an on-line coaching business, or any business for that matter. But please don't let that get in your way. Sure, there are steps you need to take but if you do them one at a time, sure enough you will have a business. Some basic suggestions:
A Virtual Retreat is a vehicle for helping your business reach new financial gains. I have done many and just love the ease and the transformations that can occur in a short period of time, as well as generating income. These VIP Days are wonderful when people don't want to travel due to expense, family responsibilities or simply because traveling can be so frustrating these days. There are 2 different designs that I use for my Virtual Retreat Days: Design #1: 1-1 VIP Virtual Retreat Dayrnr
How would you describe your home office? Neat, tidy and organized? Chaos? I can honestly say my home office is often less than stellar. It's a project I am working on as I write this to you. I don't care how long this takes me; I am going to create my home office to be a place I really want to be in for however many hours a day. How much time do you waste just looking for something? You know you have it on your desk somewhere, right? Here are some tips to help you:
When I was growing up as a child and adolescent I was pretty competitive. I was a gymnast, a swimmer and snow skier and water skier. We were in teams of course, but individually we were competitive. As a team we collaborated. My own daughters grew up the same way with soccer, tennis, swim team and a variety of other team sports. None of us is cut throat of course, but we like to win. I still like to win! This is where how we live our lives and how we run our businesses take a different path.
If this is you, you are certainly not alone. I am an extrovert and I don't relish the thought of networking events either! I love being around lots of people, but networking is like a party with a purpose. The purpose is to meet new people or connect with those you already know. You might go there looking for a new client or looking for someone you might want to joint venture with. Let's go back to the title of this article and the word 'should'. You know you 'should' go to networking events but why? • It gets you out of your home officernr
You have probably heard the statistics and they aren't pretty. If you read the numbers that the U.S. Government Small Business Administration's website states it says that 50% of small businesses fail within the first five years. You might have come out of another employment situation and are ready to venture out on your own, or you may have been out of the working arena and are thinking about getting back in. Whatever your situation, do your due diligence. Even if you have had your business for awhile, be sure to read this carefully and make changes if need be.
How are you at setting goals for yourself? You all know how important goal setting is. At least I assume you do! But there is one part in that you set goals for yourself, personal and professional. And then there is that other piece which is the tough part and that is following through and actually doing what you 'said' you would do! The one thing that I learned many years ago is the importance of breaking the goal down into small chunks. So often we set lofty goals for ourselves then get overwhelmed because they seem HUGE.
What is your tradition for family meals during the holidays? Do you have one? I bring this up because, as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for 23 years in private practice, I've heard it all: from great times to grim times. When you think of gathering everyone together, do you cringe? I am happy to say I actually love it. I love having as many people as possible. I start planning at least a month in advance, gathering recipes, decorating the house and just getting excited to get everyone together.
I know you can't be a woman 'of a certain age' which is who I generally write for, and have never been stuck. This can be a time when you were stuck in your life or stuck in your business. Even the word 'stuck' has that 'uck' factor. Yuck. Muck. It happens to everyone. I don't know a person in the world that hasn't been to that place.
Why? -Because you need to. -Because the statistics are very grim, very scary. -You live 5 years on average, longer than men. -You make less money than men, overall. -You are much more likely to be poor. -Most of the residents in nursing homes are women. I know you have heard these stats. I talk about them all the time and so do many others. So, what are you going to do about it? You certainly can't leave it in the hands of someone else. At least, that is my personal opinion.
You all know that networking is an extremely important part of owning your own business. That said, it doesn't mean you relish the thought of doing so. It means getting dressed and looking nice so you make a good impression on people. You have maybe 10 seconds to make an impression and if it's a bad one?? It's hard to do a Do Over. I was at a conference a few years ago and a very successful 7 figure coach was there. In her pictures she looked great. But in person? Oh Dear.
Does that sound pie in the sky to you? Does that make me sound like I don't live in the real world of business? Trust me I do, after 25 years of working for myself, this has become more and more clear to me. Even as a therapist in private practice, it was a competitive world. In the world of coaching competition takes on a whole new outlook. If I really think about it most of my 'competiveness' comes from competing with myself. Can I do better at this than I did before? How can I make this program better than the last? How can I make more money than I did last year?
I know that sounds a bit dramatic but I know sometimes its daunting to look into next year. Or maybe it seems daunting every year! You always hear people say how important the planning is for the upcoming year but then it looks so huge in front of you sometimes. How can I plan out 12 months? Or even more? Some people plan out the next 16 or 24 months! You can do this. Did you plan for last year? Yes? Did you follow your plan? Or no, you didn't even have a plan or if you did you didn't follow it.
None of us goes through life without any grief or loss. And it can stop us in our tracks when it does happen. And death is a part of the Circle of Life, so why is it so hard? For me, even though my husband had been so very sick for so many years, it still comes almost as a shock. While he was on his own journey, I was on my own journey as well. Here are some things that I have learned. Many of which I am still learning. No matter how long someone has been ill, when things start going bad, you still think they are going to 'beat' this like they always have before.
The good news is you are around long enough to be aging! (As 'they' say, it beats the alternative.) As I age I notice older people around me and how they live their lives, and it's fascinating! Some of you live your life to its fullest, some of you act older than you need to and sadly, some of you have health issues that may interfere with what you really would like to do. I have had the lovely experience lately of being around people my age and a decade or two older and I have been so impressed.
Is there ever a bad time? I don't think so. And I also believe that if you ramp up your business your life will change and if you ramp up your life, your business with change. I really don't believe you can separate the two but for now I want to focus on your business.
Courage, guts, nerve, bravery, common sense, good sense, horse sense. That is what I get when I put my mouse over the word 'gumption' and right click. Do you have gumption? How did you get it? I have no doubt that you have gumption. You would have to have it if you own your own business. Women entrepreneurs, (and you men also) take a risk; take a leap of faith, to do what you do. It's much easier to just get a pay check every other week with insurance benefits than to do what you do. You are brave. I know this may sound like a crazy question, but where did that come from for you?r
It seems like I have been in this situation too much lately. I know it's a seasonal thing often times. At the same time, it has felt like for the last few months or so I have been spinning, spinning and spinning some more. This is not to be whining. After all, it's what I have set up for myself. But maybe it's time to take a look at what I am doing? I mean, when you are self-employed and work for yourself you have no one else to blame right? No one but little ole me.
Can you really build your business around your life? I believe you can. Do you believe that? You hear that all the time but is it really a reality? It depends, of course, on many things. Do you work for someone else? If you do, and most of all do at some point, usually in the beginning of our working life, then your flexibility may be less than desirable. You probably start out getting two weeks' vacation and the longer you are there, they may add on more time. They may also have restrictions on 'when' you are allowed to take off, so it may not be in your control.
I hear many times from entrepreneurs that they feel like their clients are running their business that they feel like they are at their beck and call. This certainly can happen when you are new in business but it also happens to seasoned business women. I believe this affects us women more than it does men. We are the pleasers, we want everyone to be happy and will bend over backwards to make that happen. The problem with this is that you will burn out sooner, feel frustrated too often and I'll tell you, these clients probably won't be happy or satisfied anyway.
If you haven't added teleseminars to your business yet, I think it's time that you do! They are easy to add to your existing business or if you are already doing them you can take them in a different direction, create products from them and much more. One of the best parts about Teleseminars is that they are so easy to run. All you and your clients need is a phone! You provide them with a Bridge Line where everyone can call in and that's it. It's that simple.