“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” ~ Paulo Coelho

The beginning of each year is when we have the most energy, hope, and determination to create a successful year. Although the choices can be overwhelming, it’s the perfect time to be thinking, crafting, and clarifying what you want to put into action in the New Year.

Some people set New Year’s Resolutions, others set goals, and some do nothing different. The bottom line is you have to do something. Resolutions and goals are a starting point but they only require words. The real progress stems from the ACTIONS you take on a consistent basis.

Yesterday, I shared 4 Strategies For Success and today I’m going to share another 3 STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS. They build on the foundation of 3 questions:

1. What’s important to you?
2. Why is it important?
3. What are you committed to making a priority in your life?

The 3 STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS below focus on the process of Living in Your Top 1% and the leadership you will need to get there:

1. LEVERAGE YOUR WINS FOR 2011:
Whether you are the CEO of a big company or just out of college, you have WINS. A win is an accomplishment that you feel proud about — it can be big or small. Two of my wins include writing my first book, Living in Your Top 1%, and working with three not-for-profits this past year. Other wins could include, leaving a toxic relationship, putting yourself through college, and successfully changing jobs in a difficult economy. The process of acknowledging your wins helps to build confidence, believe in yourself, and think expansively about what’s possible.

The exercise takes less than ten minutes and is one of the most powerful things you can do. At first, you may think you don’t have any wins but once you start writing, the wins will flow. I promise!

2. DEFINE WHAT SUCCESS MEANS TO YOU IN 2012:
Success is a commonly used word but one that people don’t take the time to define. It will be difficult to know what you want to achieve in 2012 if you are not clear on your definition of success. Is it about building loving relationships, making a certain amount of money, buying a house, volunteering, or spending quality time with your children?

Your definition will be dynamic (meaning it changes over time) and specific to your values and what’s important to you. Take a few minutes and clarify what a successful 2012 looks like and then set goals to make that happen.

3. COMMIT TO BEING THE CEO OF YOU INC:
Regardless of whether you actually run a company or not, you have to accept the role of CEO of yourself. YOU are your most important asset which means you need to fuel yourself and show up with your best self for your friends, your family, your co-workers, and your life.

Being the CEO of YOU INC. means you make yourself a priority, take responsibility for your actions, and make choices that align with your goals. It’s time to take a leadership role in YOUR life. No one can do this part for you. You need to get in the game and step up to the plate.

Top 1% Bottom Line: Living in Your Top 1% is a continuous journey rather than a race with a start and finish. You celebrate wins along the way and always seek out ways to improve, expand your thinking, and take on new challenges. The exciting part is that your Top 1% level is dynamic and constantly evolving. The quest starts by asking, “Am I living up to my greatest potential?” Now show yourself what you can do! Feel free to share your best strategies for success in the comments section.

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About Alissa
Alissa is a Professional Life Coach, motivational speaker, and author of “Living in Your Top 1%: Nine Essential Rituals to Achieve Your Ultimate Life Goals” available on Amazon.com. She is doing a live workshop in Santa Monica Sat Jan 21st to help people prepare for an amazing 2012! She works with individuals and organizations to help them think bigger, redefine what’s possible, and get results. Alissa has an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. To learn more about coaching with Alissa and to take the Living in Your Top 1% quiz, please visit www.AlissaFinerman.com or www.facebook.com/alissafinermantop1.

Editor’s note: Six Strategies for Success can also be found on Positively Positive.

“What is not started today is never finished tomorrow.” ~ Goethe

The beginning of each year is when we have the most energy, hope, and desire to create a successful new year. Although it can be overwhelming, this is exactly the time you want to be thinking, crafting, and gaining clarity so you can put your ideas into high gear in the New Year.

I believe that everyone wants to improve and live his or her best life. The questions are what do you want and how do you get it??

I encourage my clients to spend less time on New Year’s resolutions that they probably won’t keep and more time on the truly important stuff. Here’s what I want to know:

* What’s important to you?
* Why is it important?
* What are you committed to making a priority in your life?

Yes, simple yet complicated.

As you think about the above questions, consider these 4 strategies to help you have your best year yet. I will share more strategies this week.

1. DROP THE SHOULDS: I don’t care about what you should do, or rather what society and other people think you should do. I want to know what YOU want to do. That’s what you need to go after.

2. START WITH THE IDEAL VISION: Train your mind to start with the ideal outcome and vision for what you want. Even if something seems like a long shot, there’s no need to compromise before you even start. Remember, all the great masters started as beginners. So whether you want to change careers, start a new business, or start a family — you CAN do it!

3. GET A GOAL: Happy people set goals! Plain and simple. We all need something to look forward to and work toward. And do me a favor, set a goal that truly excites you and adds meaning to your life rather than setting the same goal you’ve had for the past ten years (but not completed such as lose 10 pounds)…learn something new and move outside your comfort zone. There’s no substitute for that feeling of, “I did it.” Yes, your goals need to be specific, measurable, actionable, and have a time target but the real movement starts when you go after something that is both important to you and a priority in your life. To read more about goals, check out my blogs on GOALS.

4. BUILD A TOP 1% TEAM & SURROUND YOURSELF WITH WINNERS: Surround yourself with people who believe in you and want to see you do well. And, it’s important to spend time with people who YOU think are winners too! Your Top 1% Team needs to energize and fuel you rather than drain your energy. Your team can include people, ideas, books, quotes, classes, conferences and more. Basically, anything that inspires you and helps you improve!

Top 1% Bottom Line: Ideas + action is a compelling combo that will make you feel good. Now is the time to put into practice your most powerful and meaningful rituals for a fantastic new year. I believe in you. Now show yourself what you can do! Feel free to share your best strategies for success in the comments section.

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About Alissa
Alissa is a Professional Life Coach, motivational speaker, and author of “Living in Your Top 1%: Nine Essential Rituals to Achieve Your Ultimate Life Goals” available on Amazon.com. She is doing a live workshop in Santa Monica Sat Jan 21st to help people prepare for an amazing 2012! She works with individuals and organizations to help them think bigger, redefine what’s possible, and get results. Alissa has an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. To learn more about coaching with Alissa and to take the Living in Your Top 1% quiz, please visit www.AlissaFinerman.com or www.facebook.com/alissafinermantop1.

Last night I went to see Marianne Williamson speak in LA. On the ride over my friend simply declared…

“I AM AWESOME!”

She wasn’t bragging or having a big ego, she was simply stating her truth. I smiled because you don’t usually hear people making this declaration but then I realized it’s the truth so WHY NOT say it? It’s empowering and energizing to share positive statements.

Many of us are trained to make declarations that are negative such as, “I’m not good at marketing,” “I can’t get a job,” or “I’m so unlucky.” Please stop this!

My friend followed up her “awesome-ness” declaration to share that she had just received a job offer in Real Estate after only three weeks on her job hunt! Clearly evidence that she is in fact AWESOME.

What do YOU want to declare?

I’m declaring that I’m “inspiring!” And that I have a thriving business that I love and a beautiful and loving relationship. Why not?

What about you? Are you a compassionate listener, brilliant business partner, wonderful mom, creative writer, talented teacher, or innovative CEO?

Declare it and own it! Now’s the time…I believe in you! And thank you Alicia for the inspiration and being awesome!

Truly awesome,
Alissa

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About Alissa
Alissa is a Professional Life Coach, motivational speaker, and author of “Living in Your Top 1%: Nine Essential Rituals to Achieve Your Ultimate Life Goals” available on Amazon.com. She works with individuals and organizations to help them think bigger, redefine what’s possible, and get results. Alissa has an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. To learn more about coaching with Alissa and to take the Living in Your Top 1% quiz, please visit www.AlissaFinerman.com or www.facebook.com/alissafinermantop1.

The goal of the “Living in Your Top 1%” interview series is to break down the qualities of people who excel and to show that you can be successful and achieve personal greatness from any starting point in your life. The interview series looks at people from all different careers and industries. Some names will be familiar and others may not. The purpose is to understand and borrow from the “best practices” of winners to develop a roadmap to YOUR TOP 1%. We will share a new story each month.

This week’s guest is Heather Howell, the C’Tea’O (Chief Tea Officer) of Rooibee Red Tea. Her focus is on building the company and brand and raising money to fund additional growth. Heather has 15 years experience as a strategic partner for Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies. She is moving outside her comfort zone and excelling in her new role. She says when talking about her plans and goals for the emerging new beverage, “Failure is not an option.” Rooibee Red Tea is brewed and bottled in Louisville using Rooibos, a plant found only in South Africa. It’s an organic product that is high in antioxidants and naturally caffeine-free, which the health conscious consumers are loving.

I had the pleasure of spending time with Heather at the National Association of Women MBA’s (NAWMBA) Conference in Dallas, TX earlier this year. She serves on the National Board of Director’s of NAWMBA and was the ‘Chair’ of the Conference. She is innovative, smart, engaging, and high-energy. Heather does an amazing job of juggling her current high-powered role as C’Tea’O plus being a mom and wife.

Alissa Finerman: What’s the most important strength you possess that allows you to be successful in your role?
Heather Howell: Prior to becoming C’Tea’O of Rooibee Red Tea, my background was in people. I have over 15 years in Human Resources. I learned through working with top level executives and Fortune companies around the country, the key to success is hiring the best people for the job. For me, I have a good sense of self. I understand my weaknesses and lack ego. Therefore, I surround myself with talent that has strengths where I am weak. I also look for individuals who have crazy passion around their work and our brand.

AF: What does success mean to you?
HH: Success is inspiring others, in particular, other women. Success is small victories and seeing women break through barriers. I mentioned in an article once, that I want to create a world where, together, women break through the glass ceiling and dance on top of it. Success is making the world better for my children.

AF: What inspired you to leave a career you were doing well in to take a leadership role to build Rooibee Red Tea?
HH: It was a pivotal moment. I was making six figures, I had just been added to the Management Incentive Plan, I was also carrying the full family benefit coverage, I had access to an executive cafeteria that I still dream about, and all the resources one can imagine. However, my thinking and my actions were different. My ideas were creative and I was sprinting on a corporate treadmill that was engineered to move at a certain ‘turtle’ speed. At the time, I was watching men get promoted and during my time in Human Resources I had access to diversity numbers – when I saw that there were only .04% of women in Director level roles, I left and have never looked back.

AF: What motivates you on a daily basis to keep going?
HH: I am a mother to two children (boy and girl).
I am a wife.
I am a businesswoman.
I am board member.
I am a mentor.
I am a role model.
I am a community leader.
I am better at all of the above when I am working.
I feel that I am making a difference.
I am changing the statistics.
That’s what keeps me motivated.

AF: How do you “balance” running a company, being a mom, wife, and making time for yourself?
HH: I get a lot of sh*t for this comment and so I am going to add context around it…
“BALANCE IS FOR BALLERINA’s!”
I heard this quote from another working/mom – Amy Franko.
My life as a C’Tea’O of Rooibee Red Tea and C’Mommy’O of my household does not provide a daily balanced regime. My schedule shifts depending on the work, and many times it is not planned. The truth of the matter is, it’s not easy to be a working mother. You still have to do the laundry, buy the birthday gifts, do the Christmas shopping, plan the birthday parties, buy groceries, cook, entertain, and provide the love and support of friends and extended family. When my children are sick, or there is a snow day, the balance shifts and I have to create virtual solutions, or lean on my business colleagues for support. When, I have to travel or be gone for extended periods, it’s tough. My husband and I do not outsource our child care. One of us is home by 5:30pm every day. I don’t want to neglect the fact that my spouse has an equally intense career, as he is an M.D. in a very specialized field, he is a pediatric ophthalmologist.

Thus, I have stopped apologizing and have embraced the fact that balance is not in my repertoire. I get balance by being the best mom and the most ethical businesswoman I can be based on what is thrown at me on any given day.

AF: What role do goals play in your life? Tell us a few words about your goal setting process.
HH: My first week at Rooibee Red Tea – we set five pivotal goals. They hang on a white board in my office and I view them daily.

The first and most feared goal on my list of five is to raise capital. Because we are a consumer product company, success means we need more cash, until break even. The goal was to raise the first million of preferred stock. This goal was big. Who would invest in a women owned C’Tea’O? Would others see the same R.O.I. that I see? Would I be able to raise the money in my home town of Louisville, Kentucky? Every day I watched and learned. I am happy to report that we just completed the Series A preferred stock issue, giving the company $1 million in funding for expansion (the tea will now be available in Whole Foods Markets).

AF: What challenges have you overcome either in your new role or previously?
HH: I don’t really bog myself down in challenges. I am a solution driven thinker, so this question is difficult for me to answer. I guess the biggest challenge is moving into and leading Rooibee Red Tea in an industry that is considered both ‘Manufacturing & Non-Alcoholic Beverages.’ I had absolutely NO experience, with the exception of being a consumer of organic, healthy products. However, I am proud to say, I have over 80 years of experience in beverages and manufacturing if you combine my board members and my internal team. Rooibee Red Tea is filing for WEBNC Certification and just gained nationwide distribution, and this year we aligned ourselves with one of the best food brokerage firms in the nation. So, I guess not knowing, means — You are fearless.

AF: What are some of your most meaningful accomplishments?
HH: By far…Forty under Forty
* Winning Garden & Gun’s Best of the South Food Category — Garden & Gun is one of the coolest magazines that celebrates the South. I admired their magazine for years and my husband sent the link to this contest for BEST OF –Awards. So, one night, I got up the courage and $100.00 and entered Rooibee Red Tea into the contest. WE WON! It was a great day and over 550,000 subscribers still call or order our products from being named BEST OF THE SOUTH – FOOD.
* Being featured on the Weekend Today Show – Over Labor Day Weekend
* Most important – having a daughter and son who are both very good children, they say “please & thank you – and I don’t care for it…” My Grandmother (God love her!) would be so proud!

AF:What do the top performers do differently to excel?
HH: THEY HAVE PASSION!

Please visit Rooibee Red Tea to learn more about Heather and her fabulous company.
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About Alissa
The “Living in Your Top 1%” interview series is presented by Alissa Finerman, a Professional Life Coach, motivational speaker, and author of the book, “Living in Your Top 1%: Nine Essential Rituals to Achieve Your Ultimate Life Goals” which is available on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. She has an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. To learn more please visit, AlissaFinerman.com and Facebook.com/AlissaFinermantop1.com.