Category: Women entrepreneurs

The Pathway To Success and Abundance

Your Pathway To Success Is All Around You

The pathway to a successful entrepreneurial journey Is the abundance in you

The Pathway To A Successful Entrepreneurial Journey

Good Day My Dear Sister Entrepreneurs,

For those of you who are consistently working your businesses everyday, but are not seeing the growth, success and wealth that you expected when you began your entrepreneurial journey I want to share a few things with you that may help you to step onto the path of greater abundance.

First, let me say that entrepreneurship is not easy. It is a journey that most of us embark upon because of  our passions and the amazing gifts that God has bestowed upon us. Planning our journeys begin with the one thing that we are passionate about. For me, that is writing and designing. The road has been a little rough for me and let me tell you why.

When I launched Beauty and the Face 7 years ago even though the seed had been planted in my heart years before that, I saw a vision that was so crystal clear that I knew success would be right at my front door entering into my home office in a matter of no time. Now I am not going to say that I was wrong in thinking and feeling this way, but because of my mental state success did not come as quickly as I had hoped.

We Can Never Give Up When We Know That God Is On Our Side

I had everything that I needed to be this amazing entrepreneur except for the right mindset. My mind was traveling into space and jumping all over the map. For some reason I could not focus on my business. Instead, I was focusing on about 15 things all at the same time. Being confused every second of the day is a terrible thing. To be honest with you it is awful and it is something I never want you to experience.

All of this confusion meant that I would not be able to make any sales because I had lost focus. Once you lose focus it is hard to stay on the path where you know you should be building your brand and business for optimal success.

Tired of living this way I set out to find the reasons for my failures. I knew that I had beautiful body butters that could help to heal dry skin, but I had to find out why I couldn’t focus. When you are not able to focus on business then the money simply cannot find its way to you.

Suffering from anxiety and fear my business also suffered. My business suffered because I was suffering. How could it not. I am my business. I am the one who does it all. I am the CEO and the CFO and everything that comes along with running a successful empire. Remember that the pathway to a successful entrepreneurial journey is all around you.

And so I asked God for His help. To be completely honest with you I was constantly asking God for His help. Here’s the thing though, God had spoken to my heart many times. I’d listen and then fall back into despair.

Having a Prosperous Mindset Is Important

Also tired of feeling down and out I finally made up my mind to run my skincare business like a 9-5 sincerely believing that I could really make this work. I told myself it’s time to get excited and focus on one thing and make my beauty business my number one priority. It’s time and it has been time for me turn things around.

Today is Friday, August 30, 2024 and the time is 8:34 a.m. and I am getting ready to speak my affirmations affirming that today is going to be an awesome day and I truly do believe that.

Wherever you are in business believe in God and then encourage yourself. It won’t always be easy, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. You see, when you change your mindset you can move forward able to reach your goals with confidence. Take one step, one minute and one day at a time. Just don’t waste any time.

Having a business you are proud to call your own can be exciting. It is always an exciting time when you realize you are so passionate about something that you can help people and change their lives from your very own heart. You just have to make up your mind that you are ready.

Stay Encouraged and Enjoy Your Journey

For me being ready means having the right mindset. One way that I have been able to help myself through this life-loving journey is to read God’s Word everyday. I enjoy spending quiet time with God and I mean just the two of us. I get to pour out my heart before Him and when He answers me, which He always does and I thank Him.

Are you ready to change your mindset and start anew? Well, if you are let’s sing a song of praise to God for He is truly a faithful Father Who is always ready to receive and answer our prayers.

I hope this post has encouraged you. It is my prayer for you to be happy, content and trusting in the Lord at all times. Give Him glory with thanksgiving and thank Him right at this very moment for blessing the works of your hands.

The pathway to a successful entrepreneurial journey is in you, enjoy the ride.

Have a blessed and beautiful day my beautiful women entrepreneurs.

Sincerely,

Cyndi

www.godsvirtuouswomenentrepreneurs.com

www.everywomanslifelovingjourney.com

The Prosperous Female Entrepreneur

Take Inspired Action and Enjoy the Entrepreneurial Lifestyle

Here’s how to prosper in business

Here's how to prosper in business

The entrepreneurial journey is one filled with abundant blessings.

It offers you hope, happiness and joy because you are doing something that you love.

Committed to using your God-given gifts for God’s glory your life changes when you become an entrepreneur. Your path becomes clearer and you abound in success. Prosperity, wealth and riches flow into your life without you ever feeling that you have or had to work hard to receive these gems.

So if you’re still on that mile high fence trying to decide whether or not you should take the first step into entrepreneurship, pray and ask God for guidance. He is there is instruct you with His infinite wisdom and wise counsel. God will provide you with the necessary tools and resources to help you to plan your business strategies from beginning, but never end.

Here’s how you prosper in business. Before you take your place in the business world, write God that very special thank you note. Thank Him for His Divine Presence in your life. Don’t ever forget that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. You must have faith to get started, faith to take inspired action and be of good courage because is with you at all times.

To God Be All The Glory,

Cyndi

www.godsvirtuouswomenentrepreneurs.com

You’re Already Prosperous

Prosperity is Your Business Female Entrepreneurs

Bountiful prosperity belongs to you female entrepreneurs.

Now that we are in the month of July, I must say that things have not transpired the way that I expected them to in reference to entrepreneurship. They have been greater than I could have ever imagined.

When I think about my empire’s prosperity I can’t help, but think of God’s word and in particular this Scripture  in Leviticus 25:21; Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year and it shall bring forth fruit for three years.

This verse of Scripture is and continues to be a constant in my life and I am grateful to God for His precious promises.

Here’s a special story that I love to share in regards to God’s word and my businesses. When my mother came to live with me in 2012, I welcomed her with a loving heart.

I opened my doors to her and was happy and thankful to God for giving me the strength to be her caregiver for five years which meant I had to put my all natural skin care business, Beauty and the Face, on the back burner with the eye turned off.

My dear mother passed away in September 2017 and in 2018 I relaunched my skincare business.

Not longer after my mother transitioned, a series of events happened that caused my body to go into deep stress, along with my mind. This was overwhelming and I fell ill with sciatic nerve pain.

I was stricken with severe and I do mean severe sciatic nerve pain. The pain was so excruciating that I could not walk. Walking to the powder room was a challenge that I was not prepared for.

Being My Own Advocate

However, with extensive research I found a variety of supplements that I hoped would ease the pain. In addition to placing heating pads on my lower back the pain began to heal. It was a slow process, but I was grateful.

After a few more months had passed I could walk so much better with minimal pain. Although I’m not 100% pain free I am deeply appreciative that I am no longer confined to the bed.

Right after this I developed lichen sclerosis which is an autoimmune disease and one that I hope you never get.

God’s Word is True and His Mercy Endures Forever

By God’s amazing grace I have been able to endure the constant itch. I was given an ointment called Clobetasol. It worked briefly.

This itch had me scratching morning, noon and night. It woke me up every night between the hours of 2-2:30 like clockwork. It was so intolerable that I would get up and bathe in order to calm down the itch.

This was rough. I knew that I had to become my own advocate if I was going to be healed.

I began researching how to heal myself so that I could get rid of this horrific condition. It was important to get to the root of this debilitating condition.

Today the itch is less severe because I cut out dairy. Yes. I cut out dairy because it was causing my body severe inflammation.

I can now stand without experiencing a ton of pain. Dairy was causing my body to react to a variety of things. It wasn’t hard for me to cut out dairy completely because I wanted this pain to go away.

Drinking healthy smoothies in the morning and right before bed has made in an enormous difference in how I feel and how well I now sleep.

Bountifully Prospered by the Hands of God

The itch has lessened and now I can sleep all night without the itch waking me up.

I am sharing this with you to tell you that our God is an awesome God. I can work my businesses everyday and run my empire the way that it deserves.

No longer confined to my bed I am able to do what I love because I love what I do. I do it all for God’s glory because I love Him wholeheartedly, sincerely and dearly.

If it weren’t for the Lord our God, I couldn’t and wouldn’t even have a business.

To God Be All The Glory

The lovely gifts He has bestowed upon me belong to me exclusively. He presented His gift to me in such a unique and special way that I use those gifts in a unique and special way and I am happy to do it.

The more I use God’s gifts the more I prosper. I prosper bountiful, abundantly and tremendously.

So many of us define prosperity with being financially free or wealthy.

Each and every female entrepreneur has an amazing gift which makes you prosperous.

Also, God has a plan for us all which makes us prosperous. As God blesses the works of your hands He will prosper your plans in more ways than one.

Seeing God work in my life and in all my businesses I know His promises are real and true. I see His love working at every turn in my life and I see His glory in every service I render and in every skincare product I sell.

Bountiful prosperity is stored in your heart lovingly gifted to you by God our Father. Be grateful and enjoy using them.

Again, to God be all the glory.

Cyndi

www.godsvirtuouswomenentrepreneurs.com

One Way To Stay Consistent As A Female Entrepreneur

Here’s How To Stay Consistent In Business Christian Women Entrepreneurs

 

Female Entrepreneurs Enjoy the Success You Deserve in Life and in Business

Dear Christian Women in Business,

If you’re having trying staying consistent as a business owner, one way to stay consistent as a female entrepreneur is to well, be consistent. You have to make up your mind to stay on the path of being consistent.

Having an online business is one thing and having a successful online business is a completely different story.

What does a successful online business look like to you?  Do you know what it really takes to have a lucrative business, be it online or offline?

One way to have a successful online business is to stay consistent with the system you have in place. That system should include great networking and marketing plans.

It is also important for you to be build relationships with other female entrepreneurs. There is nothing like supporting other women in business.

When I started out in business I was never consistent. I was all over the map, but as time went on the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, slow down!

I cannot make any excuses for having fallen off to the wayside in business.

You see, God had and still gives me everything that I need to have abundant success as a woman entrepreneur.

I was not always consistent or obedient when He was guiding and instructing me on the path He had laid exclusively for me.

Having the power to get wealth, God clothed me with wisdom and knowledge. However, the vast knowledge He bestowed upon me wasn’t always accompanied with understanding.

Slowly and surely understanding came to me as I began to work consistently. It was then that the pieces to the puzzles began to perfectly fall in place.

 One Way To Stay Consistent, Focused and Committed Is Stay in God’s Word

One Way To Stay Consistent As A Female Entrepreneur

One way I have learned to stay consistent as a female entrepreneur is to stay focused. You can do this by reading God’s Holy Word daily. There are verses of Scripture that can help you to do this.

Once you have made up your mind to be stay focused and be committed to your goals you will find that your business will soar.

As a Christian women business owner, it is vital that you balance your day-to-day schedule by being focused.

You should know that you don’t have to accomplish a million goals in one day. If you have too much on your plate, remove the least important goals and work on them at a later date.

Write down your goals. List them one by one completing your most significant goals first.

Second, study your list and give them all a description to be reminded how you will achieve them. Let them sink into your mind and allow them to be rooted in your heart. This is how your business will take root and really grow!

Implement your money goals to ensure that you are making the kind of money that you need and want.

In doing all of these things your focus will become crystal clear. Being consistent in business will make you more motivated than ever before.

Blessings to you,

Cynthia

www.everywomanslifelovingjourney.com

Abundance for Women Everywhere!

 

Faith – A Must Have for Women Entrepreneurs

Faith Is the Substance of Things Hoped For

Have faith in God

As a business owner I’ve learned the importance of diligence and what it truly means to be consistent.

When I worked in corporate America I was faithful in getting up and going to work every single day, five, sometimes six, days a week depending on the season. I had to get up every day at 6 o’clock to leave my home by 6:45 am to get to work by 7. I dreaded leaving my children each morning but I knew if I wanted to keep all four of them in private I had to go to work. I enjoyed the work but I didn’t like my hours.  I had a great boss. He and I had an excellent rapport.

For  twelve consecutive years I traveled to work working on a job that prevented me from taping into my great potential and discovering my gifts and talents. Oftentimes when we are forced into a situation we don’t want to be in we miss out on such much because it seems like our hands are tied, and our brain is not being fully utilized if that makes any sense at all.  Even though the place that employed me taught me some of the most amazing lessons in my life through the people I encountered, connected and interacted with on a daily basis I was still missing something in my life as well as in my career because I was super unhappy working for someone else and right before I walked away from that 9-5 as program coordinator I began to discover that I was this phenomenal creative being who wanted so much more for my family and myself.

My journey as an entrepreneur began when I was about 14 years old. I used to dream big dreams. I used to browse through the Philadelphia Magazine and tell myself that I was going to buy my parents a mini-mansion with a Mercedes Benz parked in the drive way.  I’m still dreaming that same dream today, but the difference today is that I now know what it means to believe, trust and have mountain moving faith in God.  I could have gone so much further in my life, achieved much more and I could have had much more in terms of material objects if only I knew what the word faith really meant.  Having faith in God is one of the most important principles that I had to learn in my life as well as in my business.
Learning to deepen my faith and applying it to every aspect of my life has truly changed my life. All the money in the world cannot compare to having faith in God. Trusting God with my whole heart has blessed me in ways in which I will always be grateful. My life is stress fear. I don’t worry about what people think about me or if they laugh at my newest business venture. I don’t have doubt or fear and my confidence has soared taking me to a whole new level in my life. I can honestly say I am bold, I am courageous and I am powerful. I’m not afraid to try new things. I’m no longer afraid to tell people how I really feel and I’m not afraid to say no if I don’t want to do something that I just don’t want to do.

Keep Your Faith in God

God’s word is truly phenomenal and awesome.

Each and every time I spend time alone in His word reading studying and meditating upon His word I find myself in awe of His principles which have helped me to build my business as well as building an unbreakable foundation for my business.

Growing up in a loving and nurturing home with my mother, father and four siblings, I attended Sunday School and church just about every Sunday.  I always enjoyed walking to Sunday School with my neighbors.  We had such a good time and I looked forward to going to the candy store before our feet ever entered into the church doors.

As a child, I had a ball jumping double-dutch and doing all the things I incorporated into my lifestyle as a child.  I had an awesome childhood and have countless memories of my days growing on in Philadelphia, PA.
As I grew older and still having a blast with my friends, what I didn’t realize is that I would become a business owner who lacked faith and without faith you cannot do anything.  I mean I knew absolutely nothing about the word faith and just how it could change my life in an instant if I had faith in God. What’s sad is that I didn’t know the importance of having faith and if I did understand it’s meaning, I could have done things and gone places I never could have imagined.  I never even heard the word faith until I was about 40 years old.

I began learning about faith through the reading of God’s word and from a friend who had written an extensive article on “Believe and Receive.”  Her article was just what I needed to help me to grow my typing and now, design business all because my faith in God has deepened.  I now know what it means to simply trust in God!

I Began my Journey with Faith in Tow and Soared to my Destination!

When I began my design business years ago, I envisioned what I wanted to do with my designs.  I wanted to color blank canvasses with light and purpose.  I worked, got down on myself and threw in the towel more times than I could count.  Until I let everything go.
I took all my worries, fears and stress straight to the throne and left them there and my faith sky-rocketed and I saw major changes in my business that have kept me soaring ever since.

My faith has:

  • Given me confidence I never knew I could have
  • It has taught me to be bold
  • It has taught me to be courageous
  • It has taught me to not be afraid to do things
  • It has taught me to be obedient to do God.
  • It has taught me to do whatever it is God tells me to do because I know He’s going to equip me with the tools I need.
  • It has taught me that I don’t have to do things I don’t want to do just because others expect me to.

My faith has blessed me and my business abundantly and now I live a prosperous life; not because I am financially wealthy, but because I am spiritually rich!

To God be the Glory,

Cyndi

God’s Virtuous Women Entrepreneurs

Abundance Is Your Business

Feel the Abundance Everyday and Prosper in Business

Abundance is your business

Good Day God’s Virtuous Women Entrepreneurs,

Did you know that abundance is your business and abundance is you! Success is you today.  It is the air you breath and the flowers and trees you see.

Everyday is filled with great abundance. When you look outside and you witness God’s glory and wondrous works and excellent acts, that is a form of abundance that God shares with you. Bask in it and give God thanks for it.

You even see abundance when you look into the mirror. Abundance is also the way you live when you are living your life according to the word of God.

Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to understand that no matter where you are in business at this very moment, you are abundant, prosperous, wealthy and rich.

You have to believe that you are this incredibly remarkable business owner who has the power to get wealth because the wealth that I am speaking of is inside you.

Inside you dwells the Spirit of God who gives you everything you need to continue on the path to greater riches and abundance than you have ever imagined.

When you are awakened each day ask God what He wants you to do for the glory of His name. Tell Him that you surrender and commit each day to Him for His glory. When God speaks to your heart write down what He tells you. And then make sure that you execute His plan(s) brilliantly for that day.

Open your heart and mind and be receptive to God’s voice. Expect miracles to flow into you life and accept them with a grateful and happy heart.

It is such an amazing feeling when we get to talk to God and then be still to listen to hear all of the great things that He is going to reveal to you.

Let The Holy Spirit Guide You

Today, Saturday April 4, 2020, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart. He told me a few days to make a vision board. That was one of the first things on my today list today.

I created and designed a vision board. It’s plain and simple as I already have everything I could ever need. I only want a few more things in life for myself and I already know that it is done.

And so I have designed my vision board to serve a reminder to buy the things that I need for the gift I am about to receive. This is super exciting and I am jumping for joy.

If your business is hold right now this would be a terrific time for you to find some constructive and positive to do. Maybe you, too, would like to design a vision board.

When I decided to do my vision board I looked all over the house for magazines and I could not find even one. You see, I have been purging my home and throwing out anything that does not serve me. Well after looking high and low for magazines for my vision board there were none to be found. Well, later that day, my neighbor texted me and said she had a stack of The Pioneer Woman Magazine and asked if I wanted them. I said, YES! Now do you see how the Holy Spirit works can you see faith right there?

I am in awe and now I have completed my vision board and with the help of hubby I will hang it up in my office where I can see if every day on a non-stop consistent basis. I am going to speak to that vision board and be thankful because it is done!

Well, I hope you enjoy April. Now would be a fantastic time to start a new project that is sitting on the table of your heart. Get it done and then celebrate with Yessssss because you don’t want to keep leaving money on the table.

Blessings,

Cynthia

www.everywomanslifelovingjourney.com

www.womeninbusinessprosperingthroughwisdom.com

www.godsvirtuouswomenentrepreneurs.com

Your Entrepreneurial Journey

Christian Women Business Owners

Your brilliance is the light that illumines the path of your entrepreneurial journey. You are magnificent, gifted, intelligent, and wise. You have an amazing skill set. You know how to use your awesome skills and great abilities to bring change into the world of business. You stand alone. There is no one like you. God has created a plan made exclusively for you. God’s plan for you is unique as are you. Your gifts are the presents that have helped you to birth your business. Your entrepreneurial journey is life changing.    

women-drinking-coffee

As a Christian woman entrepreneurial you have a lot on your shoulders, but every weight that you bare is life changing. It is the sugar in your tea and the cream in your coffee. It is the words that you write and the book that you plan to publish. It is the dream you envision and now it is the life you live.

Stay on the path of your journey and never veer from it for you virtuous woman entrepreneur are the force behind the success you breathe.    

Written by Cynthia G. Boyer

 

 

Christian Women in Business Give God Glory Praise and Honor

I Will Be Forever Thankful To God Our Father for His Provision

Giving Glory, Praise and Honor To God

Giving glory, praise and honor to God because I love Him so and He is worthy. His greatness is unsearchable.

Good Day God’s Virtuous Women Entrepreneurs,

Ladies, I have a story I’d like to share with you about God our Father.

He is the most awesome and amazing Father ever and I give Him glory, praise and honor. Talk about faithful, generous, merciful and gracious.

I could write a book about how thankful and appreciative I am to God. My thankfulness is forever flowing from my heart.

God’s wonderful, great and never ending provision is evident in the works of my hands and in the environment of my mind.

When God Places People In Your Path Give Him Praise

Giving Glory, Praise and Honor To God

Last night a friend of mine created a video just for me because she wants me to take up crafting. To be more specific, she wants me to take up designing key chains made with epoxy. She keeps telling me that I can put the key chains, mugs and coasters in my gift box creations. She is my destiny helper and I am grateful that she took time to share her valuable information with me. I give God all the glory.

As an entrepreneur, I am always looking for ways to create more wealth for myself. Here’s the thing though, for me it has to be about passion. If I’m not passionate about it I won’t do it. I remember hearing someone say, “If it doesn’t make me money I don’t do it.

For me creating wealth is all about designing a product that brings God glory and making life better and easier for my customers. It’s not always about money and it shouldn’t always be about money. I give God all the praise.

With all of my businesses I enter into my office praying that I will be able to bless at least one person every day. I am happy to say that I have been blessing and loving others for a long time.

Being obedient to God is important to me. So when God tells me to love one another I love. I demonstrate and display love from the depths of my soul.

The Entrepreneurial Journey of Giving God Glory and Honor

Giving Glory, Praise and Honor To God

Entrepreneurship is one of my loves and it has been an enormous blessing to me. I get to work for myself doing all the things that I love which is writing, designing and hand whipping body butter for my customers.

Making others happy is also a part of that and the reason for my great success. Obeying and serving God with all my heart and soul is another piece to my long lasting success. It brings me joy knowing that I can bring a certain level of contentment and joy to those who have come to know and trust me. I give God all the honor.

This way of living has given me a sense of peace and calm and it’s all because of God.

The other day I received a call from someone is who suffering from some kind of illness that the doctors cannot confirm. She wanted a moisturizer to ease some of her pain. She was super excited when she found my website and read the description under the image. She knew right then and there that she wanted a jar of gold.

Doing All The Things I Love for the Glory of God

Furthermore, she kept asking how soon will I get it. I told her that I would be hand crafting a fresh jar of Shea Butter Beauty as soon as she placed her order. After placing her order that night, the next morning I proceeded to hand whip her moisturizer from scratch which means from my heart.

I mailed her body butter that day. The clerk at USPS informed that she would get it the next day. It didn’t have to travel far. Her residence is in Philly. By now she should be lathering on my body butter gold by now. It is my prayer that it is performing some kind of miracle for her.

Thankfully using all of the wisdom and knowledge that God has bestowed upon me, I use it all for His glory because He is worthy to be praised.

And so I tell you all of this to say that God will bring people into your life to help you and you them. It is just that plain and simple and I love plain and simple. It’s helps to keep my businesses flowing smoothly.

Also, being consistent is a key component that I have learned from reading God’s word.

If you’re thinking about creating more wealth for you, God’s Kingdom and others, get moving. God is waiting for you.

Be blessed,

Cyndi

Email: cyndisdesignz@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

Are You a Business Owner or Homemaker?

8 Things That You Should Do Before You Begin Your Day

Are You a Business Owner or Homemaker?

Are you a business owner or homemaker?

Whether you are a business owner or a homemaker there is always something to do.

Listed below is a great way to start your day to ensure that you have a productive, prosperous and blessed day!

Here the are. I’d like to make a suggestion before you use the list.

Write a thank You note to God from your heart. Pour out your heart before Him.

Pray fervently and let God know what’s on your heart and mind. He listens with attentive ears and a merciful loving heart. Read Scriptures that pertain to your needs and meditate in complete silence with a clear focus on thanking God still

Write down a few affirmations that you have personalized for your life. They work if you believe they do. Speak those words out loud with feeling and love allowing them to radiate in your heart and throughout your home.

Head to the kitchen and make yourself a healthy breakfast. Oatmeal with cinnamon and honey is delicious. Why not feed your body the warmth it needs.

Believe in yourself, love and be true to yourself.

Business Owners and Homemakers Start Your Day Successful Everyday

Are you ready to begin each day like it’s a new beginning and season? Let’s go!

  • Give thanks
  • Pray
  • Read Scriptures
  • Meditate for 10-20 minutes
  • Write down your affirmations
  • Speak your affirmations out loud
  • Eat a healthy breakfast
  • Believe in and encourage yourself

May all of your days be blessed. Give God the glory!

Sincerely,

Cyndi

cyndisdesignz@gmail.com

 

Best Places to Find Inspiration

Some people love routine. They’re perfectly happy getting up at the same time, doing the same things, eating the same foods, and working the same job, day in, day out. I guess it’s comforting to them.

Not me. I thrive on variety. Newness. Challenges. Getting out and about and making things happen. Starting a project and feeling that awesome sense of accomplishment when I get it done … right.

And that’s exactly why I hate this time of year. It’s the weather.

This is the start of northern California’s rainy season, and I’m an outdoors kind of guy. Whenever I can work outside, I do it. Coop me up inside for too long, I start to lose it. And the first thing to go is my inspiration. No, I don’t need sunshine to think, but enough days without it and my brain starts to develop its own sort of gloomy cloud system.

You know the feeling. Everyone has those moments when you feel like you’re stuck in quicksand: the harder you fight, the more it pulls you in.

Related: Richard Branson on the Best Places to Find Inspiration

It’s a problem for anyone who has to think for a living. Managers, executives, entrepreneurs, business owners, marketers, engineers, software developers – all knowledge workers need inspiration to innovate, come up with insightful ideas, solve complex problems, make tough decisions and excel at their jobs.

Over the decades, come rain or shine, I’ve always managed to find things that inspire me, ways to get my creative juices flowing again. Will they work for you? Beats me, but one thing’s for sure: They’ll never work if you don’t try them out.

Talk it out. Sure, there are times when things just come to you. It happens to me all the time, usually when I’m half asleep or in the shower. But when your brain just refuses to function, a little brainstorming can provide just the spark it needs to get going again. The truth is, some of my best ideas came during impromptu, thought-provoking chats.

Do drugs. No, not those kinds of drugs. I’m talking about caffeine. It’s an amazing stimulant. Whenever I need to do some real thinking, I go for the cappuccino. And when I need a big idea but I’m too wound up, I find a glass of wine or two in the evening helps my mind to relax and the ideas to flow. Not for everyone, but it really works for me.

Disconnect. If you’re looking for inspiration, the last thing you want to do is check your Twitter feed, your email, or anything else online. That’s just a bottomless pit of distraction and instant gratification. The same goes for video games, shopping and stress eating. Because it’s addictive, it feels good, even though you’re really not accomplishing a thing.

Related: 10 Twitter Feeds for a Timely Dose of Inspiration

Take a walk. I’ve heard that doing something repetitive frees your mind. I don’t know if going for a walk or a hike qualifies, but for some reason, just getting out and about in the neighborhood or on a woodsy trail gets my synapses snapping like crazy. It even extends to walking meetings, believe it or not.

Start a long-term project. Start a project, something you’ve never done before that has nothing to do with work. I once spent an entire fall and winter season designing and building a large greenhouse in my spare time. And you know what? I’ve never been so productive at work.

Get your blood pumping. Once you get over the pain – or at least get used to it – going for a run, shooting hoops, anything really strenuous makes you feel like you’re on top of the world. It always helps me clarify my thoughts and put things in perspective. Little things that build up seem to evaporate when your pulse rate hits 120.

Commune with nature. Beautiful landscapes, mountains, flowers, majestic coastal redwood trees, rock formations, animals – anything born of nature – has a magical way of drawing you in and making you feel apart of something alive and wonderful. There’s a breathtaking view of evergreen mountains and a bougainvillea vine outside my office. The hummingbirds love it. Me too.

Related: Focus on Passion, Not Labels

Practice mindfulness. No, this isn’t some New Age mumbo jumbo. It’s science, and it’s real. Mindfulness meditation can help you learn to live in the moment, deal with stress and gain perspective. It’s a great way to unblock your mind. A leader in the field is Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, of the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Check out his bestselling audio book, Wherever You Go There You Are.

Play with your kids. If you’ve got them and they’re the right age, I can’t think of anything more inspiring than seeing the world through the eyes of little kids. If not, play with your dog or cat. They love the attention and, you know what? So do you.

Above all, get to know yourself and be good to yourself. If you do, you’ll never hold yourself back or be your own worst enemy. Then all you’ve got to do is figure out how to change the weather.

Steve Tobak is managing partner of Invisor Consulting — a Silicon Valley-based management and strategy consulting firm — and a former senior executive of the technology industry

Read more: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/230064#ixzz2rhnaacdQ