It is liberating. But also frightening. The question arises: Can I become this big? Will I let myself do that?

In other words…

I think I’m ready to let go of these old limitations. I think it’s time to quit worrying about the opinions of others. I know I can really stop playing small. Am I up for it?!

It can take your breath away when you reach this moment of discovery. And it has no choice but to change the entire game.

So, I invite you to welcome this kind of bigness into your life!

It’s two months into this new year. Take some time to re-ignite, re-inspire, and re-invigorate your visions and dreams. Here are five steps to help you stop playing small and start living BIG.

1 – Mind your Mind

Your thoughts are things. They can be powerful tools, or devastating weapons.

It’s not always easy or quick to clean up years of negativity. AND the truth is you are the only one who can begin to do just that. If you’re constantly berating yourself, doubting yourself, obsessing about the opinions of others, then set your intention to turn that around.

Listen to upbeat audiobooks in your car. Post affirmations in spots where you’ll see them throughout the day. Start a gratitude journal.

Remind yourself: “Energy flows where attention goes,” and place your attention on gratitude, love, and joy. Be relentless! You can’t afford the luxury of a negative thought!

2 – Take Action

Long ago, when I was trying to get confident enough to do my first open-mic night, I chickened out three different times, walking out of the venues without performing. I was waiting for self-esteem to appear.

It never appeared. But finally, with a shaky voice, I did my first open-mic night anyway. What I discovered was this:

Self-esteem shows up BECAUSE you take action. Not before!

Here’s a mantra for you: “Create! Don’t wait!”

What one action-step can you take toward your dream today?

3 – Radiate Success

Do you whine and complain to anyone who will listen? Do you tell your sad story to get people to feel sorry for you and give you a break? Do you see yourself as a victim who can’t CREATE outcomes, so you try to manipulate outcomes?

Living big means that you radiate success.

Stop posting to Facebook or Twitter about how miserable you are. Don’t share how bad things are at the office with your clients. Refrain from whining to the gallery visitor about how the economy is terrible for artists! (Save that stuff for your coach if you need to get it out of your system.)

Remember this: Like attracts like. When you radiate success, then success is drawn to you.

4 – Regularly Exit your Comfort Zone

“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got!”

This is one of my favorite expressions. Cuz it’s true!

I’ve worked with hundreds of people as a mentor, a coach, a leader of retreats. The ones who write me emails about how their lives have changed are always the ones who are willing to exit their comfort zones. They try new things. They let themselves get scared. They say yes to new opportunities. They take time to go within and ask themselves what they want next and how they can create it. (Rather than staying on auto-pilot.)

People who live big have one thing in common: They learn to get comfortable being uncomfortable!

5 – Surround Yourself with Support

I hired my first coach ten years ago. I paid him more per month than my mortgage at the time! I’ve since been a part of many coaching groups and masterminds – continuing to invest in this model of massive support. I swear by it!

That’s because we need to surround ourselves with encouraging believers who see through our limiting beliefs to the huge powerful souls that we are. Many people work and socialize in toxic environments. If this is you, then you might need to step out of your comfort zone and actively seek out positive people who want to create and attract their dreams. Find those who want to live big like you!

Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her ‘LiveCreative’ weekly ezine with more than 11,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FRE*E subscription to LiveCreative at www.christinekane.com.em>

Since starting my business over a year ago, I have attended  many local networking meetings.  Typically, I will attend a meeting twice before making the decision and investment to join.  Local networking was one of the most difficult things that I had to get used, and although I still get butterflies, they are not as bad as what they used to be.  A huge part of this was having the confidence!  Now, I have it!

Some tips that I use when I attend these networking events include:

• Have enough business cards on hand

Fellow networkers really need to be able to connect with you, as well as how to connect you with others who may be interested in your products and services.   Isn’t the entire point of networking?

• Don’t even expect to sell or close any business.  If you do, fantastic!

People like to get to know fellow business owners before signing a contract.  Whether they go home to do a Google search or schedule some additional one on one time with you, it’s not in most people’s nature to just do business with someone they know absolutely nothing about.

• If you decide to join, attend as regularly as possible

Make sure that the day and time of the meetings work with your schedule.  As with number two, people want to build relationships with those that they do business with and want to know that they are reliable.

• Have one-on-one meetings

In a one or two hour networking meeting, it’s impssible to know what every one in the group does and needs for business referrals.  Schedule quality one on one’s in between the normal networking meetings to discuss services and products in detail.

• Be Respectful

Now this is probably my biggest pet peeve, and it’s something that I personally learned as a child.  When you are doing your 30-second or one minute commercial, you want to have everyone’s undivided attention, right?  So why not return the favor by giving everyone else your full attention when they are speaking.

Currently, I am an Assistant Organizer of a local networking group, North Dallas Women in Business, and I have met some of the most professional, success-minded women there.  I am also a member of a local American Business Women Association’s Express Network group.  I can now say that I look forward to networking and meeting other professionals – face to face – despite the occasional butterflies!

You can read Paula’s blog, Integrity Virtual here. Paula’s blog educates her readers and potential clients of the virtual assistant industry. Nice job Paula!

Statistics show that it’s cheaper to retain a client than to obtain a new one. So my question for business owners is, why are you NOT showing your clients some appreciation? It’s almost like some marriages, you wine and dine while dating, but when the honeymoon’s over, it’s like you don’t care as much anymore. Sending a personalized thank you card to anyone, if anything, should make you feel good because you’ve done something special and unexpected for someone else. A verbal thank you or an e-mail to clients is a necessity as well, but there is nothing remotely close to the meaning of a tangible card. Once you begin sending personalized thank you cards, go on to send an even more “unexpected” card, for example, a “Thank You for Being My Partner” for Valentine’s Day or a “Just Because” or “Just Checking In” card at any given time. This will let clients and customers know that you really appreciate their business, and don’t feel entitled. These customers and clients will also be more willing to refer other business owners and colleagues to you because you have done something that was special and almost unheard of today.

So you don’t think you have time to send a card? It’s vital that you make time. Consider partnering with a Virtual Assistant to help with sending cards. This is important to any successful business. If your business is already successful, showing appreciation can take it to the next level. The web-based tool that I use has over 12,000 cards. The card that is selected can be personalized with my very own handwriting, personal message and a picture or even my business card. All of this can be done from the computer, and the web-based company prints, stamps and mails the card. A gift can be included as well, for example, a gift card, brownies or cookies, just to name a few. It’s an awesome, user-friendly and efficient tool essential to every business. It will probably take, at the most, 3 minutes to send a card.

Some other ways to show appreciation is to send a “Thank You for Doing Business” card to new clients, and send a card to them either monthly or every other month. Remember, the honeymoon is not over. Also, send a card to prospective clients to thank them for taking the time to talk with you. For one of my clients, a card is sent when someone places an order on her web site with a picture of the product that the customer ordered. Her online sales have increased 250% in the last two months because of return customers and referrals. Not only is this because of the unique, quality product that she offers, but because we are following up and letting the customer know that their business is appreciated.

E-mails, phone calls and newsletters are other ways that to keep in touch with clients and customers on a more regular basis. You may never get the “Wow” response from a phone call that you can get when you send a tangible card. It’s especially awesome when the client or customer says that they were having a bad day, and then they received the card in the mail that absolutely made their day. Now, that’s customer service! It makes you as the business owner feel great to know that you made a difference during a difficult time. So, remember to show some appreciation. “Recognition and appreciation BEATS promotion every time” by Kody Bateman!