​What do diversity, equity, inclusion, and belongingness have to do with business?

Part of it is everything that’s going on in our country right now. 2020 has run us through the wringer so many times over and in so many ways, but it’s also made visible all of these things that we’ve been sweeping under the rug for 450 years, but really the last few decades as well.

This is important for businesses because as we look at population trends in America, we are going to a state where the majority of the future workforce, the future consumers, and customers – all of them don’t identify as white. So, with that being said, if you are not including their perspectives, and if you’re not giving them access to services, products, and experiences in an equitable way – in which they feel like they belong – you’re really losing out on a lot of profit from the consumer perspective.

You’re also losing out if you don’t think about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belongingness. And, I add all four of those because right now, we’re still focused on diversity numbers. We have to get past that. The workforce that you are going to have as a business owner, the talent that you would leave on the table by not creating equity, inclusion, and intentional inclusion and belonging, is really going to hurt your business. This is the only way your business is going to sustain itself into the future and actually have a chance of being profitable.

“A sense of belonging is the number one reason why somebody will stay or leave their place of employment. And so many times, as business owners, we imagine that if we pay them more, if we give them more training, or provide recognition – which is important – we think that will be enough to make them stay. But really, people need to feel like they belong at their jobs.”

What does belongingness mean as a business owner?

That is such a great question, and it goes back to a fundamental human need. This need to belong is the origin of social psychology as a whole field. We know that this need to belong is universal, and what that really means is that somebody you know, a particular person, an individual – they feel like they belong if they are able to include themselves and be included in conversations, in decisions, in the informal, unspoken norms and etiquettes and accompany all of those because of their uniqueness, not despite it.

That’s where the belongingness aspect comes in.

Now what we know now is that 61% of the US workforce actually covers or hides essential aspects of themselves because they feel like they’re going to be thought about negatively, they’re going to be judged, or they’re going to be criticized, and that’s especially salient in moments of feedback and conflict resolution. They just shut down. So, they are not able to bring their whole selves to the situation and thrive and be able to participate, be able to be seen, heard, valued and appreciated, and recognized because of their unique journey.

That’s what belongingness is about. It is that I recognize that you are different. I recognize your differences, and I embrace them. I respect them, and I value you because you bring in a unique perspective.

“If people showed up as their whole self, what’s possible? If you know intimately about the things that your employer is talking about in the market that they want to reach, and you know about that because of your personal experience, and you can share – how much more valuable would someone be to an employer? And how valuable would it be as an employer to have a workforce of people who feel like they can contribute with their whole selves?”

Why is it harmful for businesses to participate in performative allyship as opposed to authentic allyship, and how can we as businesses make sure that we’re being intentionally inclusive?

The big harm with performative allyship is that it actually erodes trust. If all you’re doing is just talking the talk, and you’re taking advantage of the moments where you can sort of slip a few words in and then sit back and relax, people notice that – especially in this day and age of social media and with information being so rapidly disseminated.

People notice when you don’t have real deliverables and when you don’t have real actions. I think our mutual friend, Ruthie Bowles, actually did a great post about that with the Stitch Fix statement. So, something like that, where you don’t have things that you hold yourself accountable for or other people can hold you accountable for, immediately erodes trust.

And consumers are becoming more and more socially and societally conscientious. As this movement is happening, it’s very easy to recognize performative allyship because you’ll see one or two posts on them, and then there’s nothing.

“If the companies that you’re working with or if your company only made the big blanket statement that every single company provided a month ago, and you’ve done nothing else, then it may be time to look in the mirror and ask yourself some deeper questions.”

3 Action Steps

1. Think about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belongingness because without doing so, you risk leaving talent on the table and hurting your business.
2. Recognize, embrace, value, and respect the unique perspectives that people can bring to you and your business.
3. Participate in authentic allyship so that you don’t erode trust.

Be sure to connect with Dr. Aparajita Jeedigunta on LinkedIn.

Please comment below. I would love to hear from you.

​I may be dating myself a little here, but who remembers encyclopedias being the be-all-end-all of reference books? As a child, I found them to be filled with tons of interesting facts and places I had not visited – and just a wealth of information. And of course, when I did ask my parents a question or two, it was not unheard of for them to say, “Go look it up!”

Nowadays, we’ve got the Internet – and it’s definitely filled with information – but it can sometimes be a struggle to find GOOD information. You can spend hours searching for content that’s pertinent to you and your business – and you never know who the source is.

That’s why “What Businesses Need to Know Right Now” has been such a passion project of mine. Bringing you experts who are at the top of their field – and can provide you with answers to your questions – has always been my goal.

And now, you can get your hands on the “encyclopedia” version of these first 47 interviews!

A few people have received advanced copies and shared their reviews. Suzanne Moore (Suzanne T. Moore Coaching) said, “What Businesses Need to Know Right Now is packed with great info from a variety of experts. It is an easy read, and I love that each section ends with the three top takeaways.”

So, yes…I’m excited that it’s here – and really proud of all the work that went into it – so I hope you’ll reserve your copy today!

Please comment below. I would love to hear from you.

​Can I tell you something – and yes, it may come off as a bit of a brag – but I’ve always thought that Momentum Live was pretty darn good!

No…I thought it was REALLY good.

Since its inception, I’ve always put my heart and soul into it. I’ve always wanted it to truly deliver what you want and what you need.

And I’m so happy to say that, based on the feedback you’ve given in the past, it’s always exceeded your expectations.

“Dana Moore, Spiritual Leadership and Development Coach, said, “I had a breakthrough I was not expecting. Being in company with business leaders who were seeing and hearing me, I created a program that brought my gifts into full alignment. Even though the pandemic, my business has grown.”

But, remember when I told you that I’m an overachiever in my “When Failure Is Not an Option” blog…well, nothing’s changed. I still am.

So, the overachiever in me got to thinking, “What can I do to make Momentum Live” better?

Because good is good, but who doesn’t want better?

I sure do – and I’m sure you do, too!

And that brings me to Momentum Live Virtual 2021 – because it’s truly BETTER!

I’ve spent hours upon hours making this year’s virtual event better than you can even imagine.

Here are just a few of the things I’m loving:

• Speed Networking
• Standup Comedy at the kick-off event (Yes, there is fun built into this event!)
• Amazing guest speakers with Victoria Whitfield and Brian Rassi
• Time built in to connect with your vision and reflect on obstacles, goals, and strategy
• IMPLEMENTATION time – you’re not just going to leave with a head full of great ideas, but you’ve got actual time to implement – and collaborate with those around you
• 80% off the ticket price! One of our generous sponsors has gifted everyone on this list a coupon for 80% off (don’t worry, if you already registered I’ve got you covered!) Just use the code ALLIN to register for only $199 today!
• Plus…a few surprises!

If you had yourself as a maybe, there’s still time to get registered! Pick a day (April 28th, 29th, or 30th) and come join us! I guarantee you’re going to get what you want and what you need…because this isn’t just good – in fact, it’s not even better – but it’s the BESTMomentum Live yet!
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Please comment below. I would love to hear from you.

​I know it’s been a few weeks since I shared Videos #1 and #2 of the Productive Profits System – but I know that many of you have already taken the time to watch them. (And yes, I do appreciate you dropping me a message and sharing those “aha” moments with me!)

If you haven’t yet watched them – go and do it now! They’re only five minutes each – so you can quickly catch up!

Today it’s time to talk about the third video in the series, which is all about “How to Make the Productive Profits System Work for You.” And, while I know that some of you have already watched it – and have started implementing what you’ve learned – let me share what Video #3 is all about.

Remember we talked about working smarter, not harder – and in this video, I discuss two different scenarios that can bring you potential prospects and then convert them to bring in an additional $100,000 to your business. BUT…you’ll quickly see why one is MUCH more beneficial than the other.

Of course, if you haven’t started to put your very own Productive Profits System into place – then make sure you get The Productive Profits System Ultimate Guide! It will walk you through ALL of the steps from finding your ideal prospect to developing the deliverables to a social media framework – and so much more!
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Please comment below. I would love to hear from you.

​How can businesses save money in today’s insurance marketplace?

These last several months, we’ve worked with a lot of our carriers and a lot of our customers to reduce the costs and reduce their exposures. And as you know, because not everybody has the same sales and payroll and they’re pretty big drivers of insurance costs – so, we reduce those costs, and reduce those exposures with the insurance companies and help them reduce their overall exposure and financial outlay for cash. Everybody wants cash. That’s very critical at this time of year.

“If you have fewer employees now because of shifts in your business, then it’s going to change your insurance coverage. Make sure you are looking at these things when changes occur.”

Several of our carriers gave rebates and money back mid-policy. They knew the utilization of their vehicle and other things were down. So, they were able to give credits before the end of the policy period.

The marketplace is pretty soft. You definitely should rely on your agent to get out there and shop your insurance costs, especially if you’re a business with between five and 25 employees. There are a lot of carriers that are looking for business, they’re dying for business, and they’re going the extra mile to reduce your costs and give you a better product.

Everybody’s insurance comes up once a year, from a personal line standpoint to a commercial line standpoint. So, you should always test the water and see what’s out there. There are a lot of new carriers popping up in our marketplace. It’s good to get a number and keep everybody honest.

“Take the time every year to look around at what’s available and look at what your policy covers.”

What services are you providing your clients?

After yesterday’s hurricane, right now, I’m in claims mode. I have a couple of people with some claims due to the hurricane that went off the east coast rather quickly. I’m in the process of helping a client that had a roof on their condo unit that blew off. And I’m in the process of helping out from a coverage standpoint. You definitely want to look at a personal umbrella or business umbrella to give you that extra layer of liability protection. It’s a very litigious society that we’re in. Having somebody defend you and help you out is pretty critical. So, that’s what you’re getting when you buy extra coverage in those areas.

One of the toughest parts of my job was telling my clients that there was no coverage for Coronavirus. Because it is a pandemic, because it is related to a virus and an illness, there wasn’t a lot of coverage. This broke my heart for business owners that didn’t have business income that would cover these losses, the downtime, and the closures of their facilities. That was one of the toughest things during this pandemic has been affecting me has been telling my clients: No. A lot of my job is telling clients and providers, “Hey, we could do this, or we can do that…” and making them whole on the bottom line when something bad does happen. But, unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of coverage out there for this yet. But I think it’s going to be something you can buy in the future – and that’s exciting.

“Change is happening in all businesses – including insurance. While there is currently no coverage that helps businesses cover costs and expenses due to a pandemic, the insurance industry will adapt and change to meet the needs of customers in the future.”

What can you do for businesses, and do you specialize in certain industries?

I’ve spent a lot of time really focused on relationships.

In the old days, I did a lot of cold calling, but now, being in the business for over 25 years, you develop relationships. You develop centers of influence that help guide you to the right people.

I like to try to simplify insurance for my customers and be that person. So, my relationships are what lead me into a lot of these accounts, and then I become an expert by listening to them talk about their business. I do the research about their business and the correct insurance is needed.

And then, I look at what they have, and sometimes it’s not right for them. I invest a lot of time with my business owners, learning as much about their businesses as possible to make sure that the insurance that they have, and that they’ve been buying it for years, actually fits their business. And a lot of times, it doesn’t, and I fix those problems.

I’m working with a client right now in Frederick, and they’ve been with their agent for a long time. I came in and noticed that they didn’t have pollution coverage. And, with their business and what they’re doing, and the exposures that they have, pollution is a big concern to their neighbors. If somebody gets sick, and the neighborhood or the water gets contaminated, that’s a huge exposure. It would probably put them out of business. But for $15,000 a year, a little over $1,000 a month, they can solve that problem and have somebody defend them and fight the claims and represent them in a court of law. So, it’s well worth that premium.

We’re trusted advisors. You’re not just playing a commodity. You’re buying claims rep. You’re a risk manager. You’re buying a company that will stand with you or next to you when you’re facing a claim. You have somebody who’s going to defend you, and that’s what I am. I’m a trusted advisor.

“Your insurance agent is a trusted part of your team. Like others in your expert network, rely on them to bring you their knowledge and skills.”

3 Action Steps

1. Have your insurance policy assessed at least once per year to make sure it fits all of the needs of your business.
2. Inform your insurance agent of changes occur in your business so adjustments can be made to your policy.
3. Make your insurance agent a trusted advisor and part of your expert network.

Be sure to connect with Kieffer Rittenhouse on LinkedIn.

Please comment below. I would love to hear from you.

​Can I ask you something? When’s the last time you thought about your vision for your business? You know the dreams, goals, and aspirations you have for what you want your business to be?

In all honesty, the last time you really thought about it may have been when you first started your business. That was the time when you were putting together all of your big plans and spent time thinking about how to build a business that matched your needs and those of your clients.

And, while you most likely spend some time regularly setting and assessing goals and doing some strategic planning – what about your vision?

I know…you’ve been working day in and day out to make your business a success – and sometimes, there are just not enough hours in the day to take a moment and think about your vision.

I get it.

But it may be time to reconnect to your vision.

You may be wondering, “Why?” – especially if business is going well.

• Reconnecting with your vision can provide you with motivation.
• Reconnecting with your vision can help you clear out the noise and distractions.
• Reconnecting with your vision can show you if you’re on the right path or if you’ve strayed.

You’re probably nodding along and thinking, “Yes, those are all good things, Nettie…but it still doesn’t help me when I’m really busy with the day-to-day of my business. When am I going really going to take a moment and reconnect with my vision?”

Okay…hear me out because it truly doesn’t have to be a long, drawn-out process.

You just need a few dedicated moments.

A lot of people recommend doing some meditation when it comes to reconnecting with your vision.

Meditation is great because it’s a time when you put your body on autopilot – and you can use a few minutes of that time reconnecting with the vision you have for your business.

Now, I know that some of you are not “meditation people” – and that’s okay. Are there some other times in your day when you spend a few minutes on autopilot and can use that time to reconnect with your vision?

Maybe when you’re:

• Going for a run?
• Showering?
• Walking the dog?
• Fixing dinner?
• Waiting to pick your child up from soccer practice?

As I said, it doesn’t need to be a huge amount of time – just a few dedicated moments.

So, this week I challenge you to take a carve out a couple of minutes and reconnect with your vision – and then let me know what you learned or what thoughts came to you! Simply reply to this email and share them with me! I can’t wait to hear all about it!

Please comment below. I would love to hear from you.

​I’m going to keep this email really brief because I’m busy putting the final touches on Momentum Live Virtual 2021 that’s coming up on April 28, 29, and 30th (and I’m SUPER EXCITED).

But I want to make sure that everyone who wants to attend has registered! (Trust me, I know how easy it is to save that email with the intention of registering – and then have it get buried below 101 other emails – and then you miss the registration deadline – and then you have FOMO when you hear everyone raving about how great it was! I don’t want that for you! I want you there!)

So, if you can’t find the previous emails where I shared the info – let me help you out!

If you:

Want to know more! CLICK HERE! (Make sure you keep scrolling to get all of the pertinent details.)

Don’t want to miss this! Thanks for the reminder! REGISTER HERE!

Have a couple of questions! CLICK HERE!

If you still have questions, just hit reply to this email! I’ll be happy to answer them!

Can’t wait to see everyone at the end of the month! It’s going to be fantastic!
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Please comment below. I would love to hear from you.

​What do businesses need to know right now about Money Blocks?

Sensei Victoria Whitfield has toured the world, showing heart-centered and growth-minded leaders how to get connected to their natural intuition and truly be visionary so they can work less and increase their impact, which as visionary healers, is so important. The big question is, how does this apply to me? What do I need strategic meditation for in the corporate world?

What is the number one thing holding businesses back from the growth that they desire?“

The one thing that we need the most right now as leaders, to really take our vision and business to the next level is: energy awareness. We can get stagnant and begin to plateau at levels of growth and development, forward momentum plateaus and slows the movement of the business. You can be doing all the right things: doing what the consultants do, following the protocols that you’ve set up before, working as best you could, but the plateau keeps coming. There’s a certain point where it becomes more of an energetic issue, rather than just a systems issue.”

“What do I mean by energy? Answering this question is especially important – defining the word “energy” for leaders who may not be familiar with “woo-woo” talk.”

What is the definition of ‘woo-woo,’ and how does it apply in the corporate world?

This is softer skills management. It has to do with emotional intelligence: not just IQ, but we’re talking about EQ as well – measuring the level of relatability in leadership, morale in organizations as well as employee wellness. When you’re looking at improving your corporation’s wellness and human resources programs, the types of programs that can take things to the right next level are often a little bit out of the box. They could come from different and divergent cultures, such as Eastern medicine and philosophies. But these programs are better suited to help maintain your team’s health and well being outside of just a medical context. It is not just about keeping you and your employees off the operating table, but instead it’s about how you can live life feeling well, working well, and getting better and better over time. To a Western mindset, it can be classified as ‘woo-woo’, other cultural practices for health and wellbeing. But I just want to take that ‘woo-woo’ word and smash it on the floor, like the brittle glass box that it is, and let it go.

This stuff is extremely relevant to the business environment. The research you’ve done and the work you’ve done with your clients has enabled you to help them break free from a lot of the fears, the “blockages” that have held them back through the strategic meditation and other methodologies that you use.

What methodology allows a business to tap into their energy and natural intuition?

Strategic meditation is meditation done with purpose, within a professional context. The reason why we do that is to manage the force behind action, the force behind focus, and that force is: energy. Yes, you may know exactly what needs to get done. But if you’re feeling drained and exhausted, not just on a physical level of exhaustion, but also emotionally exhausted, unable to move past this obstacle here or there, then that can end up being an energetic issue. Being able to bring meditation in during strategic points in the growth and momentum of a given organization can help open up what may be a roadblock and turn it into a springboard for new growth.

Many businesses are looking at the way they’ve done things in the past and what’s happening now and thinking: I’m worried about the world, I’m worried about my business, I’m worried about my clients, I’m worried about my employees. Energetically, if we’re speaking that way, there’s this disconnect. What should a business do?

A business can absolutely manifest a momentum or money block for sure through this type of thinking. “I’m worried. I’m worried. I’m worried” places your focus – and your force behind your action – on to generating more worry, rather than generating solutions.

This is okay. It’s normal, natural; we’re not trying to completely discount “worry” itself. However, it can drain your creative and productive energy. It’s at this very point that you can bring in meditation, strategically. In the work that I do, we set up structures to make sure that you’re bringing in meditation at the times that we’ve seen tend to create the most energetic blockage in organizations. You can tell that the energy of that organization is either low or stagnant because the sales are stagnating. The opt-ins or the conversions are stagnating. In turn, if you meditate in a certain way, you can restore or even reset your energy, and then go to the issue having your thumb on the pulse of your people – feeling that connection to: Yes, we’re clicked in. We understand each other. We’re flowing, we’re progressing.

But if there’s a disconnect, in a way that you can’t exactly explain – such as, when the numbers should be working, given all of what is being done – then it could be more of an energetic block, and the money will reflect that. This in fact is why I’m so grateful to work with entrepreneurs and business owners: because we can look at the money and see how it is responding to their energetic work.

Using strategic meditation to tap into your natural intuition, tap into deeper knowing and understanding, and then using that to do the strategic planning is a magic formula.

3 Action Steps

1. Become energy aware. Notice what you are putting out into the world and what you are attracting back to you.
2. Be open to new ways of solving the problems in your business.
3. Learn strategic meditation to apply it to your business.

Be sure to connect with Victoria Whitfield on LinkedIn or contact her for a 1-1 conversation to discern the problem in your organization or in your business’s growth and how to integrate strategic meditation to ensure the problem is converted into your springboard.

Please comment below. I would love to hear from you.

Okay…I know I’ve said it before, but systems and processes are things that REALLY excite me!

I LOVE them!

They make me happy!

And if you’re sitting there rolling your eyes and thinking, “Here goes Nettie again…talking about systems and processes. It’s time for me to grab another cup of coffee…”

STOP!

This is a system that you’re going to want to hear about – because we’re talking about your Profit System!

Often, when I talk with my clients, the first “system” they want to delve into is the sales process. I get that. It’s the most exciting one – because when you dial in your sales process, you receive a steady stream of prospects, clients, and sales – all with ease and abundance.

Who doesn’t want that?

On the flip side, one of the most neglected processes is accounts payable and receivable.

Why?

Because when things are going well, you trust that money to be in the bank.

And when it’s not, it can be really scary to go online and look at your bank balance. (**Cue the scary music**)

To top it off, you may not be paying yourself enough, consistently – or even at all.

And that’s stressful.

But I’ve learned some concepts that have helped me to create systems so that I’m getting paid.

And even better than just getting paid, I’m paying myself WITH EASE.

Want to know how?

First off, I’m going to give a BIG SHOUTOUT to three of my favorite people who have taught me some invaluable things – Mike Michalowicz, the founder of Profit First Professionals, Amber Dugger with Budget Alchemy, and Brian Rassi with Enstigate. If you want to learn from the best – these people are at the top of the list! And yes, we’ll be talking about these concepts more in-depth at Momentum Live Virtual 2021 (coming up April 28th, 29th, and 30th) – but I wanted to share a few ideas today to get your brain thinking about how you can apply these ideas to your business – and join us at Momentum Live Virtual 2021 with the wheels already turning.

1. Let’s start with Profit First Professionals and what Mike Michalowicz has to say. Mike says that you need to pay yourself first – even if at the start of using this strategy, you are only taking out 1% of your income to set aside for profit. His recommendation is to set up a system so that whenever money comes in, you allocate to: Profit, Your Pay, Taxes, and finally – Expenses.

Doing this helps you see realistically how much money you have to work with and what to cut/add to your budget. It’s a complete reverse of what we usually do – paying expenses first and hoping you have enough left to pay yourself, your business, and the government.

2. Amber Dugger (Budget Alchemy) shares how you turn your cash flow into gold by helping you understand how to determine the right numbers for your business. It can be easy to say that you want to earn 100K or a million dollars. But to start working towards those goals without clearly looking at what you need could leave you spinning your wheels and making little to no progress.

You need to know your business expenses – and what your personal financial needs are – to come up with an accurate number. You then add in the taxes and profit amounts and blend this all with an amazing tool like YNAB. You can then work magic to create a system for receiving and tracking your income – all while applying the concepts of Profit First.

3. Finally, Brian Rassi of Enstigate focuses on cash flow and the vehicles in your business to ensure that you have a little “jingle in your pocket” and can make decisions from a place of abundance – rather than scarcity.

You met Brian in the Tuesday and Thursday emails from this week (and he’ll be at Momentum Live Virtual 2021) – so make sure you check them out for more info or text the word POSSIBLE to 411321 to connect with him.

Here’s the bottom line: When you start ensuring you have what you need financially in your business, it’s the same as putting your oxygen mask on first in the event of an emergency on an airplane. The more you cultivate financial awareness and abundance, the better position you will find yourself in – allowing you to serve your clients better. That’s a win for everyone.

Please comment below. I would love to hear from you.

​Did you get a chance to read Tuesday’s “What Businesses Need to Know Right Now” interview with Brian Rassi or watch the video? The interview took place right before the Christmas holiday, but the information Brian shared about accessing capital and being ready with your documents is vital – and not just as a new year begins.

In fact, I loved what Brian had to share so much that I invited him to present at Momentum Live Virtual 2021. Brian will be presenting “It’s Possible: You’re on the Precipice of Your Next Level” – and YES – YOU ARE!!

Getting to that next level is what so many of you are working for – yet you might feel cash-strapped and that you’re bootstrapping your business – and that’s frustrating. After all, you’ve got the vision – and you know you can do it – but you need the capital.

Brian brings his expertise to help you access “the right money, at the right time, in the right way to finally fulfill your vision and mission for the business!” And this could be one of the needed pieces to complete that puzzle to get you and your business where you want it to be.

So, what are you waiting for? Join us for Momentum Live Virtual 2021 (happening April 28th, 29th, or 30th – you just need to choose one day to attend). I promise it will be what you and your business need!
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Please comment below. I would love to hear from you.