Do you Suffer from M.B.I.? (Multiple Business Identities)?

Have you heard of this ‘affliction’ called M.B.I., Multiple Business Identities?

Conflicting messages about having M.B.I. If you’ve been around for a while then you’ve been introduced to the idea of the benefits of having multiple streams of income. It’s encouraged by many and yet, it becomes a double-edged sword for some. If you thought you were doing the ‘right’ thing by having a few sources and then were criticized by others who felt you were too scattered and probably unsuccessful, then you may want to read on. You’re probably reading this because you either know someone who fits this title or you are in fact the person who does.

As a business coach and a fellow ‘victim’ of M.B.I., I know many people who have it. They either have a job and a business they are building on the side or they literally have several businesses that they run simultaneously.  Depending on who the observer is, this could cause the person with M.B.I. to feel shame or as if they are ‘doing something wrong’ because after all, most people focus on one business at a time. (I don’t know how they do it and I don’t want to) So, when I say are you ‘suffering’ from M.B.I. it’s because many who have it are suffering from what they think about it, hear about it or the way they manage it. Not because they have it.

I personally have several business identities of which I am proud of, think of as my ‘babies’ and am building at the same time. Part of the reason I have M.B.I. is that I research online businesses for my clients and I like to provide resources, educated advice and even opportunities when needed. The other reason I have M.B.I. is that I fall in love with great ideas, projects or concepts and I am not willing to let them go just because I already have 10 others.

Multiple Business Identities, while very common, are usually kept secretive due to the fact that most do not want to be distracted by outside influence – hey! we are way to busy to be distracted!

Before we go on, let’s find out if you truly suffer from M.B.I. Because while you may ‘think’ you are afflicted, it may just be a passing fancy. A person with TRUE Multiple Business Identity will recognize themselves in one or more of the symptoms.

Symptoms of M.B.I.

• If you have several business cards with your name on them and they are all current
• If your LinkedIn Profile looks more like a lifelong resume
• If you have several Facebook groups/pages and multiple twitter / social media accounts in order to profile all of your businesses.
• If you wake up in the morning and say ‘Which business should I work on today?’
• If you go to a Networking Group and you hesitate for a moment when someone asks what you do. (trying to figure out which of your business identities best suits the person you are speaking to)
• If your coach is telling you to choose ONE business and build only that one, but you don’t know which to choose and your heart tells you not to.
• If you are wildly passionate, talented or just plain interested in many things
• If your friends and family are worried about you and might even think you have a ‘serious problem’
• If you are REALLY taking the ‘you should have multiple streams of income’ statement very seriously.

Causes of M.B.I.

The causes of M.B.I. vary among those afflicted. It occurs mostly with having a particular mindset similar to those listed below.

• Inspired by others with M.B.I.
• Loves money and wants several platforms for earning
• Passionate about so much, not willing to choose
• Multitalented and doesn’t see why they have to choose only one
• Wants to be a disrupter in the world and doesn’t want to choose (are you seeing a pattern here?)
• Doesn’t think living 85 years is enough time to get it all done so they must overlap

So, obviously, the common thread in the cause of M.B.I is the fact that those who have it, want it all, and are not willing to choose.

Treatment for M.B.I.

While there may not be a cure for M.B.I. mostly because those afflicted don’t want to ‘recover’ from it. There is a way to live with it more comfortably.

• Stop listening to those who don’t GET YOU! – You won’t change their minds and let’s hope they don’t try to change you.
• Unless it’s bothering you, there is nothing wrong. Be proud of your M.B.I.
• Know that it’s possible to manage them all and make money
• If you are suffering from overwhelm, lack of support, structure or knowledge on how to manage your M.B.I., find a fellow M.B.I.’er who can share their experience, strengths and hopes with you and help make M.B.I. more doable, lucrative and fun.

Final words for those with M.B.I.

While it may not be fully supported in the mainstream, yet, M.B.I. is becoming more and more common among entrepreneurs. Maybe you have M.B.I. or maybe you just need to earn with one business while building another. It can range from having a Main business and a network marketing business to having several of each. I myself manage my consulting business, an e-commerce store, an affiliate marketing business and a few network marking businesses and I have a few more in the pipeline. Whatever your reason, I would like to say, it’s OK. For some, that’s all they need to hear. It’s OK and you are not crazy. (OK, I really don’t know if that’s true)

So my advice to you is to come out of the closet and seek out others with Multiple Business Identities There is nothing to be ashamed of, especially if you are muli-successful!

Fran Asaro is a Virtual Partner bringing humor and companionship to entrepreneurs  and multi-preneurs who don’t want to do it alone. Along with a lifelong entrepreneurial bank of resources, wisdom and secrets, having Fran as a Virtual Partner will help provide many levels of support to your personal and professional life

Contact Fran if you’d like to find out more about her and to see if having a Virtual Partner is right for you.

More about Fran and having a Virtual Partner

 

A message from a fellow M.B.I. – After reading this article, a friend/colleague of mine wrote the following comment. I asked her if she’d allow me to post it here and she agreed. I thought it was important enough to profile it and not lose it among any comments.

From Patricia Hartfield Thanks so much Fran Amendola Asaro I read this entire article it was very helpful as a few weeks ago my mom advised me that her friends supposedly see me on FB and won’t do business with me or buy from me cause I’m all over the place. I’m like Really-and it was hurtful in a way as I don’t advertise a lot about my businesses that I’m involved I mainly share Wellness info as a Self-Care Wellness Educator… I’m in doTerra and used to share that but now only use for Personal aspects of things not as a business. I’m in Nikken but I work and share it Part-time something I could not let go and now I’m in training and starting a Skincare and Facial Exercise business. One thing that I have noticed that no matter what businesses I have been plugged into they all have been consistent in ways of Wellness and Fitness is what it all comes down to. Now if I go from Wellness and Fitness to doing jewelry then I can see the complaint but at this point, I don’t. So your article of being an MBI person was well-needed today-one of my dosha’s in Ayurveda is Creativity-and that I can definitely agree with thank you. 

~ Patricia Hartfield – Nikken Site

Bringing Crazy Back – 7 Ways to Lighten up You and Your Business

This message is for anyone, any age who can use a refreshing new way to do business by bringing Crazy Back!

My father used to call me Elsa Maxwell. Apparently, she was huge party giver back in the day. He said I would throw a party at the drop of a hat. Work would come second to fun. ALWAYS. Having fun has never been an issue for me. Taking life seriously well, that’s another story. When my sister observes me during my workday she often comments ‘You’re not working, Fran, you’re playing’. My response is almost always the same. Thank You, that’s my goal and to help others do the same. Since this seems to be a gift, it’s my duty to help others tap into their fun selves. I’m not talking about being a goofball necessarily, but a genuine ball of light.

Somewhere it was taught to us to ‘behave’ in business. If you are naturally a serious person then this may be the way for you. But how many of you out there were crazy at one time or another and have ‘straightened up’ for the sake of being professional or worst yet, ‘appropriate’?

I know I will get some comments from those who do believe in being serious when it comes to business and I guess a Funeral Director should. But hey, didn’t you used to laugh more? Play more? Sing more? Why can’t you implement more play into your workday? Could that change the way you feel? Think? Perform?

When I was a Realtor, I perceived the Realtors in my area as straight-laced and serious. I was often intimidated by them and thought I would never succeed because I wasn’t like them. Then one day my broker turned the music up in her office, came back to our work area and began dancing with all of us. I was so relieved that she was being human and playful. I changed that very day and was no longer cautious or quiet. I began to play while I worked. It was a life-saver.

Don’t get me wrong, I know when it’s time to be serious. I know there are certain times to ‘behave’. But the other times, well, that’s MY time to let go.

I have to tell you, just writing about this topic has me feel more bouncy and authentic. I write blogs all the time, and some convey my sense of humor. Those seem to be the ones that get the most attention.

I think this world, especially during these times, could use more joy and laughter. Are you someone who can raise the bar in that area?

Some of you are already tapped into your ‘crazy’. Congratulations! It sets you apart and certainly lightens up the room. Others, well, not so much. So, I put together a few suggestions to help you when you think you are being too somber.

1. Decide – Yes, deciding that you want to bring crazy back is probably a good first step. Once you make that connection, you will begin to find ways to do this. Maybe you can create a mantra or declaration that would help – ‘Today is the day I bring my crazy back!’
2. Honor Your Own Level of Crazy – Yes, crazy may be a hard word to swallow, maybe you don’t really WANT to be crazy. Maybe I should have called this ‘tapping into your full self-expression’, but then I think you would have held back a little. I want you to BURST. With that said, on a scale from 1-10 where are you now and where would you like to be? That will give you a good idea of where to begin.
3. Dress or move differently – Do your best to shift completely into the new fun-loving you. That would include possibly dressing with a lighter touch or walking with a little more bounce in your step. Sometimes doing this first will allow for the ideas to flow and the changes happen more easily.
4. Create your list – It doesn’t have to be a real list, but, begin taking mental notes of what bringing crazy back into your life would look and feel like. Do you see someone who enjoys their day more than most? What do they do that you can do. Would you like to play more music, sing, dance, have contests, parties, create fun things for you and your clients? If you notice something that appeals to you and you feel a bit scared, take a look at it, that may very well be the thing that will take you over the bridge.
5. Start slow – Don’t scare those around you by making drastic changes – they may not recognize you. Don’t force yourself to do anything that feels too uncomfortable. A little discomfort is OK though. Start out with a few moments a day where you make yourself laugh a little. Then build upon that.
6. Tap into your past – We all have those memories where we were a bit wild, playful and daring. Often we say ‘those were the days’. You know, those don’t have to be the days, today can be the day – The day you create something better. Try this, bring some of your past craziness forward to meet the present you and design how you want them to blend. Marry the two and recreate your future.
7. Help others do the same – You must know other people who may be too business-like. Check in with them and see if they could use a little lightening up as well. It’s possible they’ve been hoping for a break in seriousness and you may have a partner in crime! You may even consider starting a group of contemporaries, where you can do fun, non-business events together.

The old cliché, life is too short comes into ‘play’ here. How do you want to spend your days or years in business? Don’t wait for retirement, until business is better or something else. Crack yourself open today and see what’s inside! Then call me. I’d love to meet the new you!

If this message resonated with you, I’m glad. If you feel stimulated by it, even better. If it motivates you to take action, then I applaud you for being daring.

 

Fran Asaro is a Virtual Partner supporting entrepreneurs who don’t want to do it all alone

IT’S WHO I AM, IT’S WHAT I DO!

‘It’s who I am – It’s what I do’! My sister has been telling people that I was born to be a coach. She facetiously  says that I have been coaching since I was 3, and that people have been coming to me for coaching my entire life. That part is true.

So why then is she so surprised when she shares a dilemma with me and I come up with a solution? I’m not saying that I am right or that I should be doing this… I agree that some people just want to vent… But you know what, as I tell my sister every time it occurs, ‘It’s who I am – It’s what I do’!

So now this has become quite a joke between us… no matter what we do, if one of us is trying to change the other, we use that phrase. Even when it’s just plain silly. So when I talk too much or sing loud and awful and she comments or asks me to stop – my staple comment ‘It’s who I am – It’s what I do’! Try it on your people and have fun!