ASK CHERI S HILL

I am currently taking a class developed by a friend of mine, Linda McLean, which in my opinion is the missing piece after The Secret.  I did watch it again last week and was reminded about the importance of knowing what you want and how you have the power in your own mind to manifest it.  Which leads me to the vision board.  I have spent the last four weeks defining all of my goals for 2009.  Financial, Personal, Health, Community, Recreation, Spiritual, Social, and Business.  I realized in some areas I am doing great and don’t really have any specific goals.  I just need to keep doing what I’m doing.  Certainly there were a couple of areas that will require more of my attention.  By focusing on those, I was able to boil it down into six specific goals I want to accomplish in 2009.  I found the process a lot of fun and it forced me to think about my life - where I am - where I want to be.

By creating a vision board it allows me to visually see the results that I desire.  It has been fun cutting out pictures, creative words, pretty much anything that resonates with my goals was attached to my board.  I now have a picture that I can look at everyday that will keep me emotionally attached to my goals.  This will also serve as a reminder to direct all of my attention, resources, time and energy to accomplishing those six and those six only until complete.  Not 40, not 100, SIX!

I encourage all of you to take the following steps:

1. Imagine.

2. Write it all down.

3. Hone it down to six goals next year.

4. Visualize it (create the board).

5. Stay focused and take the right actions.

6. Sit back and enjoy your accomplishments. 

If you want to learn more about Linda’s progam, Next Level Living, email me at cheri@sageintl.com

While October is my favorite month - Halloween is definately my favorite day.  While I often struggle to remember things from yesterday, so many of my fondest memories are of Halloween.  I can remember every costume and certainly all the laughter!  I dig the costumes, the candy, the colors…everything fun and goulish!  No, I do not do cute Halloween.  My philosphy is you can be anything you want for Halloween as long as your dead! 

I decorate my house inside and out, sometimes even more than Christmas.  In fact, I have an entire village of haunted houses, shipwrecks and graveyards.  The house is lit up in purples and oranges, blacklights and spiderwebs and many candles burn with the scent of fall.  Haunted sounds play outside while a fog machine swirls its mist in the spooky courtyard.  Giant ghosts, crime scene tape and bodies drawn on the driveway greet you as you approach the house and then a tree with hanging heads is what you must walk through to get to the front door.   Scary…YES!

It all goes up the week of Halloween and comes down the very next day.  A lot of work…a lot of fun…oh and the capper is one outrageous Halloween Party that totally rocks the house.  Each year about 75 friends all dressed in fantastic costumes show up with plenty of food and festive libations.  

Lot’s of Tricks…Lot’s of Treats!

Happy Halloween

I have to admit I love the Sparks Chamber of Commerce because they have allowed me to introduce Power Networking to the entire chamber membership.  Good networking will enhance both your personal and professional life by increasing your power, position and influence, and quality of life.  It’s a lifestyle, not a workstyle. Top networkers don’t even know they are networking because for them its a way of life. They network because they love helping people and playing matchmaker. It starts with the understanding that networking is a reciprocal process based on the exchange of ideas, advice, information, referrals, leads, and contacts where resources are shared and acknowledged.  In fact, Zig Ziglar said it best: “You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” 

• Networking is much more than meeting someone and getting a business card to add to your collection.
• Much more than “working a room” and handing out a stack of your own cards.
• A vitally important skill that most people don’t take seriously enough. (In fact, most people are bad at it.)

Networking is about building relationships.  It’s about being visible and earning people’s trust so that at some time in the future they, or someone they know, may want to do business with you.  Once you gain that trust the next step is credibility.  Following through on your promises and doing what you say you are going to do. 

If you want to learn more about Power Networking, join me on November 6 for the Sparks Chamber BizFlash.  This is a very hands-on, interactive program that every time I do it, gets tremendous positive feedback!  Fun, fun, fun!

I mentioned in an earlier blog that I was going to introduce Michael Gerber (author of the E-Myth) at the Sparks Chamber Business Forum.  Well, I did.  I was facilitating a round of Super Networking (which I introduced to the Chamber 2 or 3 years ago) and here comes Mr. Gerber.  White suit, bright pink tie and a white fedora.  When I wear heels I stand about 5′ 11″ and when facing Mr. Gerber he came all the way up to my boobs.  He was very nice as he shook my hand and even asked me what Sage International did.   I explained that we work with business owners from all over the country to get them properly structured and how for many years, I have been a huge proponent of his work.  He appreciated that.  He started his speech, which if you’ve never heard Michael Gerber speak, may at times shock or even offend because he is very direct, swears a lot and pretty much tells it like it is.  I guess that why I like him! No BS. 

He was about 30 minutes into his presentation and had the audience hanging on every word, when the fire alarms went off completely dousing his momentum.  People were leaving the room, but not me.  I waited it out (having been through many fire drills at the casinos which never pan out) as did many others.  When the all clear was given, he picked up right where he left off and continued to dazzle us with his brilliance.  For those of you unfamiliar with Michael Gerber, I highly recommend you check into his information/books.   Imagination was the main concept I took away.  To reinvent your business you have to have unstoppable imagination! So I challenge you to “Dream” each and every day.

How Did They Do It? Building Big Business on a Small Budget!

I was invited to be a guest on a panel of fabulous women who like myself, have all grown their businesses through collaboration, cooperation and thinking outside of the box.  

Check out the following link for more information:   https://events.ewomennetwork.com/event/details.php?eid=9223

Our eWomenNetwork chapter is celebrating its 3rd Anniversary and having been there from the start as one of the founding members, it’s an honor and a privilege to give back and share what I’ve learned on this 15 year journey called Sage International, Inc.  One thing I have learned for sure: It takes 20 years to become an overnight success!  And like I’ve always said, “if you’re a business owner you must have been born with two guts.”   

Patience, perseverance and the absolute faith that I’m on the right track, doing what I’m supposed to be doing which is helping others understand what it means to start and maintain a viable business,  that’s what keeps me going and that’s what keeps me strong.

Guess who I get to introduce (because I am speaking right before him) at the Sparks Chamber of Commerce Business Forum?  Michael Gerber!  I have been a devout student of Michael Gerber (he wrote the E-Myth) for many years and was very excited that our business forum committee, on which I serve, was able to secure him as our Keynote Speaker for this event.  I can honestly say that every entrepreneur I have ever talked to I always end up recommending they tap into Michael Gerber’s books and information because he is without question: THE SMALL BUSINESS GURU!  

His newest book, Awakening the Entrepreneur Within is sure to be a bestseller as well.  You can bet I’ll be standing in line to get my own autographed copy.  If your a local, I hope you will be joining us at this event!

Well, I just got back from Scottsdale, AZ and guess what?  I’m flying out to Las Vegas.  This event, the MBA - Las Vegas Bootcamp was a last minute opportunity that was presented to me.  I found out that some of the speakers I most admire (brilliant mentors) are also going to be there presenting too.  So not only do I get to learn from them, I get to personally meet them as well.  I’ll tell you more about that on the backside, when I return.  However, this is a bootcamp that is catering mainly to real estate investors around the nation.  My topic: The Foundation for Freedom.  I believe your success and financial future depends on your knowledge, skills and immediate access to critical information affecting your business.  If you don’t get this information, you may be making dozens of mistakes without even knowing it, costing you, your business, your livelihood…and perhaps even your future income.  That is exactly why Sage International, Inc. helps thousands of business owners develop a road map to success that literally puts more money in your pocket and security in your future!

Oh, and I have a new title:  “Wealth Protection Diva”

I have to tell you, I love BBQ!  Especially Ribs!  Those of us in Northern Nevada are so lucky because we have this awesome event every year over Labor Day weekend.  It’s the Best in the West Rib Cook-off where at least 20 different competitors come to see who can throw down the best ribs.  You know you’ve had a great day if you’re sticky (face and hands) and have a least one stain on your shirt (sometimes even your shoes) from all the yummy sauces dripping off the meat you get to enjoy.  It’s hot, the beer is flowing, there’s lot’s of music playing plus roasted corn, fried veggies, hot cornbread and all kinds of other delicious sides slopping around your plate. 

And then, I had one of those amazing moments when I was standing right up in front of the stage listening to Mumbo Gumbo (great band with an awesome sax player!): It was dusk, smoke from the grills was swirling up far into the atmosphere, the scent of BBQ - sweet and hot drifted through the air. Everyone was rocking to the music when I glanced out across the back of the stage and saw four American flags blowing taughtly in the wind.  It was beautiful and poignant and I felt absolutely blessed right then and there to be an American.  My first thought was gratitude for the men and women fighting for our freedom throughout the world.  Here I was free to eat and drink until my stomach hurt, singing and dancing in the streets to live music all day simply because someone somewhere was standing up right now to protect me. 

It is my hope that everyone in the world will someday know what it means to live free - to celebrate life - to experience moments like that - to feel proud of your country - and most especially, to enjoy everything there is to enjoy about BBQ!

I hope all of the fabulous women in my life join this amazing network.  As a founding member of the Reno chapter it is with great pleasure that I get to share the fact that our Managing Director, Kymberlee Simantel was recently awarded, “Managing Director of the Year” (over 113 chapters in North America), which is well deserved and a wonderful honor.  I am so proud of her and everything she has accomplished over the last 3 years.  From recognizing the need to start a chapter in Reno, NV to building a strong and viable community of fabulous and successful women.  Every age, every walk of life. 

To be honest, I am very particular about how I want to spend my time.  I do not belong to a bunch of networking organizations, not because I don’t think they serve a terrific purpose (most do), simply because I know exactly what I want/expect in return for my time.  For me, it’s all about building long-term relationships that support and nurture each other and in my opinion, some groups get it and some don’t.

I can honestly say, this one does.  I have made a lot of terrific connections both personally and professionally.  And even more important you need to know the heart of eWomenNetwork is the eWomenNetwork Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and in-kind services, through grants and awards, in support of women and children.

I have introduced eWomenNetwork to a lot of women (even those I have just met) and believe me once they attend I get big bear hugs for doing so!

There are so many benefits so please check them out.  To learn more please visit:

http://www.ewomennetwork.com/index.html to find out if there is a chapter located in your area. 

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I bet you didn’t know that I am an AYSO Soccer Referee.  Yes, the one in the yellow shirt blowing a whistle.  My daughter who plays soccer thinks I look funny.  Anyway, the reason I am a referee is because the entire AYSO organization depends on volunteers and I know for a fact that very few parents would ever consider becoming a referee.  All through my 20’s I was a softball umpire so this was not a big stretch for me, same concept different uniform. 

I hope that any of you that are parents with kids in sports, that you get up out of your seat and do something to help the team, the organization and the sport.  It is important to set good examples by participating (coaching, serving as team mother, being the snack organizer, carpooling to get everyone to practice on time) whatever, so that your child learns it takes a lot of people to support a team.  And being on a team is a fabulous life lesson every kid should experience.  It will serve them for the rest of their life. 

Simply sitting on the sidelines serves no purpose. Volunteer your time and efforts.  It feels wonderful to be a part of something (and that something is up to you to figure out) that benefits not only your child but the community at large, not to mention the satisfaction you’ll receive because you know you’re doing your part. 

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