Dawna Stone

You Can Have A Better Life

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Dawna Stone's Blog

Live Everyday Like It’s Your Last

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Life moves quickly, and if we don’t make a conscious effort to build the life we want and deserve, it will simply pass us by. Then we’ll never experience the wonderful life we are meant to live—one full of happiness, security, passion, significance and purpose.

Start living the life you want right now! The life you desire is within reach; you just have to grab it and truly want it. And I mean really want it. Wake up ready to seize the day. Say aloud or in your head, “Today is going to be a great day!”, “I’m excited to see where today takes me,” or even a simple, “Let’s do this!”

BONUS: 7 Secrets to Your Best Life!
Click Here.

And remember, it’s never too late to get the life you desire. Age doesn’t matter when it comes to finding a life of purpose and joy. In fact, so many people don’t find their true calling until much later in life.

Martha Stewart didn’t write her first book Entertaining until she was 41! That book launched her career as a domestic diva, and her highly successful Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia company followed.

Tim and Nina Zagat didn’t launch their restaurant review guide until both were 51. Vera Wang was 40 when she decided to become a fashion designer, and Julia Child made her television debut at age 51.

Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote the first Little House book at age 65, which later evolved into the popular TV show Little House on the Prairie. Duncan Hines was 73 when he licensed his name to a company that developed cake mixes; we all know how that turned out. Success can happen at any age.

You have the power to live the life you desire. Don’t wait! Begin to make the small shifts that can forever change your life for the better. A life full of significance, joy and meaning awaits.

Excerpt from You Can Have a Better Life

P.S. My new book You Can Have A Better Life: 21 Secrets to Getting the Life You Desire—Full of Significance, Joy and Purpose is now available! See it HERE.

How To Capture Your Own Success

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If you’ve ever thought, “There must be more to life than this,” you’re not alone but simply desiring something more or better isn’t enough. Positive change only comes with action. Things begin to happen when you make them happen. It sounds simple, because it is simple. If you push ahead, the effort you put forth will begin the forward motion needed to capture success. You’ll notice I said “capture.” Success isn’t going to find you just because you want it. It’s not going to seek you out just because you’re a good person. It’s going to happen when you desire it, believe you deserve it and, most importantly, act upon it.

You have the power to succeed because you possess the power of choice and the power of action. It’s up to you which direction you want to move; it’s up to you to make it happen. You can alter your life by simply moving forward, and I’m not necessarily talking about making a huge shift. Even small, simple actions can make a major difference in your life, finances, relationships, happiness and overall success.

BONUS: 7 Secrets to Your Best Life!
Click Here.

How do you make it happen? We all have the ability of turning something mediocre into something great; we must do only two things—develop a plan and follow it. Creating a plan is the easy part; acting upon it is where most people get stuck.

Early on in my career, I felt so stuck that I not only experienced emotions of despair, but also those of immense hopelessness. I worked at a job that I very much disliked, and I spent four years being miserable. I wanted to do something else and dreamed of finding a job I loved, yet I didn’t do anything about it. Every day I would wake up and drag myself to my job. Why? Why would I spend four years of my life doing something I didn’t want to do? I look back now and wonder why I wasted all that time, when all I needed was to implement a plan and act on it. Like most people, I was waiting for positive change to find me rather than creating a proactive strategy to go after it.

When I finally decided I’d had enough, I devised a plan for getting a new job that involved updating my resume, researching industries and companies that interested me, writing a cover letter, putting together a list of contacts, etc. The amazing thing was just how simple it was to make that plan. It took less than a week for me to gather all the pieces so that I could start making calls and arranging interviews. The simple act of moving forward in the right direction landed me my dream job in a completely different industry—in the city where I wanted to live.

Because the plan of looking for a new job and the act of actually reaching out and making meetings proved so easy, I often wonder why I didn’t begin sooner. Stop waiting for change to find you. Go out, and make change happen.

Where do you feel stuck in your life? Where would you like to see change take place? Do you want to improve your relationship with you boyfriend or girlfriend, your spouse or your kids? Do you want to build stronger friendships? Do you want a new job, or do you want to start your own company? Do you want to make more money and have more freedom to do the things you love? No matter what you’re looking for and regardless of how stuck you may feel right now, make a plan. Sit down right now and write out a list of three to five things you could do that would move you in the right direction. Then under each item, write what necessary action can make that happen.

Don’t wait for success to find you, go get it!

P.S. My new book You Can Have A Better Life: 21 Secrets to Getting the Life You Desire—Full of Significance, Joy and Purpose is now available! See it HERE.

Finding A Virtual Mentor

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For the past several years, I’ve carried out numerous speaking engagements. No matter the size of the company or organization or the demographic of the audience, I inevitably field the question, “How do I get a mentor?” But a mentor isn’t always something you officially “get;” it’s often something that slowly develops over time.

BONUS: 7 Secrets to Your Best Life!
Click Here.

In fact, most successful people you might approach about being your mentor are so busy that they would likely decline the invitation. However, if you make your interaction less formal, the relationship often evolves, and one day you may just find yourself saying, “Thank you for being such a great mentor,” to someone who never formally committed to filling that role in the first place. The best mentor-mentee relationships are those that have naturally evolved and were never forced or structured.

Having trouble “getting” a virtual mentor? In today’s information world, there are many unconventional opportunities that weren’t previously available for finding a mentor.

Years ago, people didn’t have the luxury of learning from other successful people unless they had written a book you could read or you had a way of connecting with them one-on-one. Today, it’s much easier to learn from successful role models, as so many share their experiences though social media posts, podcasts, blogs, radio or TV interviews. Take advantage of the valuable effects these “virtual mentors” can have on your life.

Many successful businessmen and women now also share their expertise through online training programs. It may not be as great as having one-on-one coaching from them but it’s a close second and can truly help you advance your knowledge and career.

If you do have the opportunity to learn firsthand from people you respect, take advantage. But remember, you can also learned from expert that you never meet in person. These virtual mentors provided just as much invaluable advice as a face-to-face mentor would have.

If an in-person meet-up isn’t a possibility, find the best way to learn from that individual (or individuals). Does she or he have a podcast or blog? Do they hold live webinars? Have they written a book or do they write articles for popular magazines or websites?

Knowledge from experts today is amazingly easy to access and extremely valuable, too. Take advantage of these virtual mentors.

P.S. My new book You Can Have A Better Life: 21 Secrets to Getting the Life You Desire—Full of Significance, Joy and Purpose is now available! See it HERE.

Let Go Of Fear And Doubt

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Don’t let fear and doubt hold you back. Fear can so easily derail your opportunities for success. Overcoming our fears and learning to take risks can open doors to unlimited possibilities and help you realize your ultimate potential.

BONUS: 7 Secrets to Your Best Life!
Click Here.

The first step involves being aware of your fears, acknowledging them and drilling down into the worst-case scenario possible. Often our fear and the potential outcome causing that fear don’t match up. That is, our level of fear far outweighs what we’re scared of. What’s the worst thing that can happen?

Now if you’re talking about climbing Mount Everest during a bad storm, your fears are likely warranted. But if your fear is keeping you from speaking at an industry conference, your fear factor probably outweighs any potential negative outcome. What’s the worst that can happen? Even if you don’t do a stellar job, you’ll most likely learn from the experience and know how to do a better job next time.

You need to connect your fear to the potential negative outcome and then put your fear into perspective.

Every single time I’ve been scared to do something but did it anyway, I either learned something amazing or moved my career forward.

In 2006, I was given another amazing opportunity. I was offered an hour-long radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio. The show, “Health and Fitness Talk with Dawna Stone,” was a live talk show that included guest interviews and answering listeners’ questions. I was so excited about the opportunity; I mean, how often do you get offered your own radio show, right? But then fear set in once again, and the negative self-talk began. “I don’t know how to do a live radio show!” “How am I going to have enough to talk about?” “What if I can’t get any expert guests to come on the show?” And so on and so on.

Thankfully, I conjured up the inner strength to really take a hard look at my options. I could turn down this amazing opportunity and play it safe, or I could just commit and do my best. I thought about the worst-case scenario. If I froze on-air or, even worse, wasn’t any good at the role, I would be no worse off. But if I gave it a shot, enjoyed it and actually thrived, I’d have an amazing experience.

When I arrived at Sirius for my first show, I felt sick to my stomach. I actually thought I might throw up in the hall waiting to go on-air. But just as I was getting ready to enter the studio, Howard Stern came walking down the hall toward me. He stopped, introduced himself and said, “You don’t look so well.” I told him it was my first show and I was nervous and extremely nauseous. Howard then shared that, during his very first show, he was so nervous that he threw up in the studio.

Now, I’m not sure if he was telling the truth or simply trying to make me feel better; either way, it worked. A few minutes later I was in the studio, the red “on-air” light went on, and I had the time of my life. The nerves vanished and everything just flowed. My guests were fabulous, the listeners were engaged and calling in with great questions, and my producer made the entire hour run smoothly.

BONUS: 7 Secrets to Your Best Life!
Click Here.

I look back now and think about how fear could have easily kept me from experiencing something amazing. Although I’m sure Howard wouldn’t even recognize me if we met again, I still believe that his little anecdote, true or not, helped me put things into perspective. What’s the worst thing that could happen? I could throw up like Howard did—so what!

Don’t let unfounded fears hold you back from opportunities that can impact your life in a positive way. Don’t let your fears rob you of an incredible experience that could catapult your career or simply bring joy to your life.

P.S. My new book You Can Have A Better Life: 21 Secrets to Getting the Life You Desire—Full of Significance, Joy and Purpose is now available! See it HERE.

How Writing A Book Changed My Life

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It took me nearly 20 years to write my first book. I would start writing and maintain the momentum for a few days, only to get distracted and eventually push the project aside. It wasn’t that I wasn’t motivated or passionate about getting my book done; I just never seemed to find the time to make my writing a priority. There always seemed to be something else taking center stage, so the book writing got shoved to the sidelines. It wasn’t until I made my book writing a priority and set a mandatory writing schedule for myself that I finally became an author.

Publishing my first book changed my life for the better. It catapulted my income, opened countless doors, landed me five-figure speaking engagements and a six-figure traditional book deal, in addition to getting me regular gigs on TV and radio shows as an expert guest—ultimately providing me with even more credibility.

Bonus: The Writer's Blueprint: 5 Secrets to Building Productive Writing Habits
Download Here!

I believe that anyone who wants to write a book, feels passionate about a specific topic or has expertise worth sharing should publish, but few ever get past the initial planning phase. My advice: Don’t let another day go by while simply thinking about writing a book.

We are all so busy that finding time to write a book may seem like a herculean task but in reality, it just takes some prioritizing. To date, I’ve written seven books all while simultaneously running two companies and taking care of two young children. If I can do it, you can too!

If you’re reading this, no matter your current level of busyness you must be already contemplating writing a book. But let’s start with the basics: Is writing a book truly the best move for you?

I believe that, if you are: an entrepreneur who wants to grow your business; an employee who wants to take his or her career and salary to the next level; a stay-at-home mom who wants to enjoy passive income; or a leader in the community who wants to boost his or her credibility (both locally and nationally) or simply promote a cause, then becoming a published author is right for you.

For the entrepreneur…

Writing a book can be the necessary catalyst to grow your business, boost your revenues and give you the freedom of which you’ve only dreamt. Authoring a book—no matter how busy you may be—is something every entrepreneur should do (but very few do). Those authors who do follow through land in a league of their own, gaining even more influence and building more credibility.

A book can be the perfect sales and marketing tool for your business by gaining you more credibility, garnering more trust and catapulting your business to the top. The authority and prestige that accompany authoring a book can mark the difference between simply making ends meet and being profitable beyond your wildest dreams. A book is also the best possible brand builder. It can strengthen your company’s brand, your personal brand or both.

Authoring a book can help build trust in the eyes of potential customers. Once you write a book on a particular subject, you immediately receive a level of trustworthiness that would otherwise be difficult to forge.

A book can also answer questions that your potential clients might have and help you close a deal before even speaking to someone—saving time and effort for everyone involved. Better yet, a book can allow you to sell your services for a premium. While more and more companies compete on price, a published book gives you the ability to hold firm on your rate. People are more willing to pay a premium to work with the expert, as it’s naturally expected to pay more to work with the best.

Bonus: The Writer's Blueprint: 5 Secrets to Building Productive Writing Habits
Download Here!

For the executive…

If you work for someone or are an executive in a large company, becoming a published author can propel your career and salary, while making you an invaluable asset.

The Book Accelerator program will teach you how to write and publish a book in as short a period as 16 weeks, positively changing your life and finances in the process. You can become a sought-after speaker or someone frequently chosen to present at conferences and other industry events. All of this also makes you a valuable and more marketable asset at your current company, should you be strategizing toward a vertical move.

For the stay-at-home mom…

A book, if done correctly, can provide passive income for years. If you’re a stay-at-home mom with an area of expertise or a passion you want to share, writing a book can bring in additional family income.

Depending on the topic of your book, being a published author can also help you get back into the working world, should this be a future goal. I know many extremely intelligent and hard-working women who find it difficult to re-enter the job market after taking several years off to raise their children. Being a respected, published author can open doors that otherwise might be inaccessible.

For the community leader…

If you’re a leader in the community, sit on a nonprofit board of directors or have an important environmental or political message to share, a book can give you the clout to get things done and to get your cause noticed. A book that’s been properly written and promoted can build awareness or make fundraising easier.

Whether you’re a business owner wanting to double your revenues and profits, a seasoned executive who wants to catapult a career to the next level, a stay-at-home mom who wants to bring in passive income or a leader in the community who wants to bring awareness to a cause, publishing a book can make it happen.

A book can be the difference between simply doing well and becoming ultra successful!

Ready to write your book? Get the FREE Bonus: The Writer's Blueprint: 5 Secrets to Building Productive Writing Habits. Download Now!

How My Self-Published Book Earned Me a Book Deal!

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I spent years dreaming about writing a health and wellness book and I had my heart set on getting a publishing deal with one of the large New York publishing houses. But no matter how hard I tried or how many book proposals I sent out, I couldn’t get a deal. The feedback was always the same. The publishers all commented that the concept wasn’t unique and didn’t have a “hook.” You see, my book was simply a step-by-step guide for eating healthier and losing weight. There was no gimmick, as it wasn’t a quick-fix plan. But without this selling point, it seemed my book wasn’t interesting enough for the large publishers.

I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that I found the multiple rejections to be extremely discouraging. But I wasn’t ready to quit. So rather than giving up on the dream of publishing my book Healthy You, I took a slightly different path.

Instead of shelving the idea, I decided to try my hand at self-publishing. I felt passionate about the book and believed there was an audience for it, so I moved forward on my own. Guess what? My self-published book did so well that the same publishers who initially rejected my idea later expressed major interest in the book. That self-published book landed me a six-figure book deal!

If you want to write a book but can’t find an agent to represent you or a publisher who wants to publish you, why not try your hand at self-publishing?

I could have very easily given up on my dream of getting the book published by a large publishing house; instead, I simply found another road that led me to my end goal. Could self-publishing be your road map to success?

Don’t waste another day “thinking” about writing a book. I believe anyone who wants to write a book, feels passionate about a topic or has knowledge worth sharing should do so.