NAWBO-IE: The Organization of Choice

What’s Keeping You From Your Next Level of Success?
By Doreen Van Leeuwen

Last year I decided that I was tired of doing the same thing over and over with no new results. Small surprise my business wasn’t growing, huh?

I had to let go of the belief that “this is just how it is always going to be” and develop a more powerful, positive and prayerful perspective. It dawned on me – if I  believe in a power greater than myself, why am I deciding the outcome? Such a negative one, at that! This little earthquake jolted me, and helped move me into action…NEW action.

First, I hired a coach who worked specifically with people in my trade.  She understood the mindset of the marriage and family therapist, which is not typically like the one of an entrepreneur. Therapists are trained to be good listeners, and to let their patients do the talking.

I’ll tell you straight up, I did NOT like the medicine she prescribed for my business. Can you guess what it is? Start Speaking in Public.  Then, in a small voice and with my stomach in my throat, I asked, “But what am I going to say? And to whom will I say it?”

What she told me began to bring things down into a size I could manage.

“Talk about what you love to do. Tell specific success stories about where you are the solution to somebody’s dilemma.”  (Sound familiar? We learned this from Ursula Mentjes at our last meeting!)

Next, I followed her advice to research and list 20 groups, clubs, forums, or events where the people who are my target audience attend, or those who serve my target audience are present. My goal was to contact those persons in charge of program- planning, and get on the calendar.

Finally, I needed to prepare something fun to say, something so engaging and unique that it would leave my audience hungering for more. I focused  on interacting in ways that my audience would like themselves better, and at the same time would raise the “know-like-trust” factor.

And I will let you in on a little secret. While I planned, prepared and delivered, with my coach
cheering me on,  I discussed things with my Other Coach. “What if I make a fool of myself? What if I don’t think I have anything worthwhile to say? Or most terrifying of all, “What if I’m standing in front of the audience and I forget what I have to say?”

Reassurances began to surface in my mind: “Focus on those you are with and you will forget yourself.”  “Prepare well ahead of time; trust yourself in the moment.”  “If you stumble, breathe, and then go on.”  “You are a manifestation of love. Go and share the love I’ve packaged into you.”

Business is very good. I have a steady stream of referrals. Patients stick around for more sessions than ever before.  Are the challenges of constant change ever daunting for this business owner? You bet!  But I am doing what I love, where I love doing it. And that is really the point of it all, isn’t it?



Doreen began her current business, A Better Way Center for Wellness in January 2000 (A Better Way Counseling at the time). Located conveniently near the 91 and 15 fwys, her office is a welcome, secure haven for anyone that needs some emotional T.L.C. As a licensed marriage and family therapist for 30 years, Doreen knows how to apply the healing salve of T.herapeutic L.istening, and also offers C.hange-producing recommendations that move you rapidly to better health and happiness.

Doreen can be reached at 951-847-7742      www.abetterwaycounseling.com