I’ve recently been posting on Facebook and Twitter that I have a huge announcement to share. And finally, today, I get to share with you my newest project that I am so excited about! Please watch the video below to learn all about it.

For more information, click here. If you like what you see, please Tweet this post and “Like” it above, and also share it on Facebook.

In a previous post entitled, “Social Media for Dance Studios – Why You Should Be Using Foursquare“, I shared a really useful Slideshare presentation published by Ogilvy PR Worldwide, on the best ways to use Foursquare for your business.

In today’s post, I will share with you, step-by-step, how you can add Foursquare to your Facebook fan page. Please view my Slideshare presentation below. If you find it helpful, please leave me a comment, and share this post on Facebook and Twitter.

Many of you may not know this but, I love dogs! I’m borderline obsessed with them. I mean, I stop almost every dog I see walking with its owner on the street, just to say hi. I read doggie books, and I even volunteer at a local animal shelter here in New York City. So by now, you’re probably wondering if I have a dog, and the answer is actually, no. No pets are allowed in my NYC apartment building. Woe is me. But, I digress…

It’s been almost 3 years now that I’ve been a dedicated volunteer for a local animal shelter, and I have truly enjoyed every minute of it!

Until recently.

The shelter recently hired a new Volunteer Coordinator, and she has kind of come in and really uprooted everything. Although the volunteer program was in need of some serious re-organizing and re-structuring since the previous Coordinator resigned a year and a half ago, she has really taken it to another level.

These drastic changes within the volunteer program started off with a mandatory, three-hour long meeting downtown, during which she had a Powerpoint presentation outlining all of the changes that she is implementing. Ultimately, she dropped the bomb that All of the volunteers would have to schedule an appointment to do an interview with her, and then participate in a couple of additional training sessions on top of that, if we’d like to continue volunteering at the shelter.

Now let me first say that, I want what’s best for the dogs, and the program, and I am typically very open to, and excited about change. But, I must admit, this kind of rubbed me the wrong way. Why, you ask?

Because I have an extremely busy schedule, and already struggle to make my weekly volunteer shift in the midst of my current responsibilities. Also because, I already went through training when I first became a volunteer there, and have lots of experience with dog walking, and training. My experience includes, a short stint as a dog walker/trainer, 3 years of hands-on experience at the shelter, and knowledge as a result of reading lots of books about dog behavior, health, and care. Ok, and I might as well throw in my obsession with Cesar Millan, “The Dog Whisperer”, and also Animal Planet. So, why would I, three years into this, need to take more time out of my busy schedule in order to appease this new Director?

The fact of the matter is, I’m feeling like, maybe there’s a part of me that hates change.

Do you ever find yourself in a situation like this? You preach and preach about how change is good, and you embrace change, and are so open to it. Then something happens, and you realize that maybe you don’t really love change all that much after all?

Well, here’s what I’ve realized. If I want to continue to volunteer there (which I do), I’m going to have to get over it, go through the interview (again), and do the training. Either that, or I can quit. But, I am not a quitter.

After all is said and done, this will probably end up being good for me, the volunteers (new and old), and for the doggies. Once I’ve completed the training, I’m sure I’ll say, “it wasn’t that painful”, and over time, this new regime, will become just as comfortable to me as the old one.

Are you currently fighting change tooth and nail, with the determination to not “give in”? Is there a new person in your life, workplace, or industry that is pushing you towards making some changes that you’re not ready to make?

If you are hesitating, like I did initially, maybe you should reconsider.

Maybe the change that you’re trying to avoid, is exactly what you need to move your life, relationship, business, or career to the next level. Maybe this new thing won’t be as bad as it seems. Maybe it’s the only way to bring significant improvements to something that isn’t working in the best way it possibly can.

Think about it.

If you have some thoughts to share, please leave them as a comment below, and feel free to Tweet this post, and share it on Facebook as well.

This year I made a very difficult decision. I decided that my company’s business model wasn’t working in a way that I felt committed to and excited about continuing over time. As a result, I made some significant changes, and made an announcement that, we would no longer be offering our dance teacher staffing service in the same way that we had been doing over the past three years.

No more of us sending out last-minute subs to dance studios when they’re in a bind, or setting up interviews with dance teachers and dance studio owners for long-term teaching jobs. No more taking responsibility for the actions of others that sometimes prove detrimental to the company, by no fault of our own. No more.

It’s a new day, and it was time for a change. We have now created an online community here on this blog, for dance studio owners, and dance teachers to connect directly to one another and build professional and personal relationships in a more convenient, and direct way. Learn more about it here.

How did I finally make this difficult decision?

Here are my top five ways to make a difficult decision:

1) Seek Peace. After a year of contemplation, I literally felt uneasy for about a week straight, and it intensified everyday, until I decided to stop what I was doing, and really sit quietly, and address the feelings that I was experiencing. When things aren’t quite right, you won’t have any peace. Do whatever it takes to get your peace back.

2) Do a Self-Assessment and Evaluation. I watched and took note of some of my personal habits, feelings, and patterns as it related to various aspects of running my business. What I noticed was, the areas that I would procrastinate in or not follow through with, were the very areas that I did not enjoy any longer, and had no passion for. I also wrote down my personal and business goals, straight from the heart, and realized that they weren’t the same as they were three years ago. So that just proved to me that it was time to make a change.

3) Seek Sound Advice. Once I came to my decision, I spoke to those around me that I respected, to get their feedback, and I was amazed. My husband’s response was, “I knew you were feeling that way, and tried to tell you to make this transition a long time ago.” Classic, huh? My other confidantes that I spoke with were so supportive, agreed with me 100 percent, and began sharing great ideas on how I can build things going forward, based on my brand new business model.

4) Take Action. Although my decision to restructure my company’s business model was the right decision, it was also a difficult one. I struggled with questions like, “what will people say?”, “what do we do next?”, “how do we build on this foundation that we’ve already established, in a smart and beneficial way?”. You’ve got to ask yourself the tough questions, and also answer them! And ultimately, take action.

5) Start Fresh. Since making this decision, I’ve allowed myself to have a brand new vision and open mind about what direction I want my company to go in. No limitations, no expectations, nothing but an open forum where new ideas can be cultivated, explored, and allowed to grow. This is one of the benefits of making a tough decision. Once you make it, you’re free to create something new and different, with no limitations.

So, what has happened since I made this difficult decision? Well…I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I have peace, I’m happier, and I feel free. I am more passionate than ever about our new business model, and expanding the company in ways that I’d never even imagined before. Amazing new business opportunities have begun to open up, and I know that more growth and success are on the way, simply because I will be focusing solely on the things that I am truly passionate about.

So really, the hardest part of making a difficult decision, is accepting the fact that you have to make it. Everything else after that, is gravy. What you’ll find is that, after you’ve made that tough decision, the fun really begins.

Are you struggling with making a hard decision today? Have you ever been in a situation like this? How did it turn out?

Please share your comment below, and feel free to Tweet this post, and share it on Facebook as well.

There is an illness that many dance studio owners (and dancers for that matter) suffer from, and it is a serious condition. This condition can lead to extreme burn-out, depression, discouragement, discontent, frustration, helplessness, and ultimately, failure.

What is this illness called?

This illness is called, “The Comparison Syndrome”.

Consistently comparing your dance studio or dance career to that of others (typically who are more successful than you in some way), is deadly to you, your health, your career, and your business.

Why do we compare ourselves to other people?

-  Because we sometimes like to use it as a way to motivate ourselves.

- Sometimes we like to use it as a way to gauge how good (or bad) we’re doing.

- Because it can sometimes justify our own feelings of inadequacy.

- Because it can become an excuse as to why we are not as successful as we wish we were. I mean, how can my dance studio flourish and reach its full potential, when the studio down the road is monopolizing all of the schools and kids in town? How can I get more dance gigs, when this one particular person keeps taking all of the jobs that I want?

Here’s the problem with comparing yourself or your business to that of other people.

You can never win.

Have you noticed that you rarely compare yourself to those who are not as successful as you are? You only compare yourself to people who appear to have something you want. But I’d like to tell you a little secret….

The people that you’re constantly comparing yourself to, are more than likely comparing themselves to someone else, who is more successful than they are….and the cycle continues.

But wait, we need to stop this cycle because it’s a lose-lose situation for everyone involved.

Let me first say that, looking up to someone, admiring someone, or having someone as a mentor is a wonderful thing, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

I’m talking about the unhealthy, extreme side of comparing yourself to others, i.e. comparing your dance studio’s enrollment numbers to your competitors’, comparing the amount of dance performances you do to that of one of your dancer friends, etc. The problem is, this “Comparison Syndrome” doesn’t help you to become more successful, grow, become a better dancer, or a better business owner. It just leads to misery and disappointment. So, what’s the point?

Here are some things for you to remember that will help you to get over this sickness, taken from the blog post, “Competition Is Nothing”.

1) No One is Perfect. Your competition makes mistakes, and runs into problems, issues, and obstacles, just like you do.

2) There’s Room Enough For All Of Us To Be Successful. Don’t believe for one minute that the success of someone else, somehow compromises your potential to be successful. This is simply not true.

3) What God Has For You, Is For You. No one can take it away from you. It’s all a part of a greater plan and purpose for your life. No one can steal it from you, and only you can fulfill your life’s purpose.

4) Stay focused on your core vision/mission/passion, and you will always stand out from your competition. Why? Because you’re busy being the best that you can be.

If you’re an entrepreneur, and wondering how you can stand out from your competitors, or simply be competitive with companies or individuals who may have more resources than you do, remember these tips:

- Offer High value

-Offer great customer service

-Solve an existing  problem

-Offer solutions and/or convenience to your customers in a unique way.

-Be accessible.

If you’re a dance studio owner, I would also add that you should be innovative, creative, take risks, and ask your dance students, parents, and teachers for ideas, feedback, and suggestions. You don’t always have to be the one coming up with new ideas. A successful person always surrounds themselves with people who are smarter than they are, or who are strong where they are weak. Sometimes the best way to give your customers what they want, is to simply ask them what they want.

The great thing is that the “Comparison Syndrome” has a remedy, and a simple one at that. You can begin getting over this illness the moment you decide that you don’t want to waste time comparing yourself to others anymore. Why not start today?

Do you ever find yourself comparing yourself to others? Has it been a motivator for you, or has it been detrimental? How did you overcome it?

Please leave your comment below. If you liked this article, please tweet it and share it on Facebook as well. Embrace your greatness today!

Nuevo School of Contemporary Dance Photo

Our 90-Day Social Media Success Challenge for Dance Studios has ended, but we still have one last video tribute to feature as part of our, “My Dance Studio’s Social Media Success Story Challenge”.

Today is the final installment of this series, and features a very special video that I created highlighting the wonderful, Nuevo School of Contemporary Dance in Chino, CA. Check out their video tribute and please share this and Tweet it below so that more people can enjoy their social media success story. Oh, and don’t forget to leave a comment too!

It’s time for a weekly recap of our latest blog posts. I’m bringing them all to you in one post, in case you missed one or two over the past week. These posts should challenge you, motivate you, and help you to be open to new resources and opportunities that exist for you and your dance business today.

It’s time to get motivated, get energized, try new things, be fearless, and spread the love, joy, and passion that we have for dance, and for our businesses. Make a difference today, move closer to your goals, and feel free to share the articles below and leave a comment if they inspire, challenge, or motivate you in any way.

The Most Controversial Issue Amongst Dance Studio Owners and Dance Teachers

The Ultimate Motivation for Dancers

Have You Had Your Yearly Dance Check-Up?

Social Media for Dance Studios – Why You Should Be Using Foursquare

The Top 10 Most Valuable Resources on Twitter

Footnotes Dance Studio Photo

Although our 90-Day Social Media Success Challenge for Dance Studios has technically ended, today we continue on with special feature videos that I’ve created, highlighting the wonderful dance studios featured in our, “My Dance Studio’s Social Media Success Story Challenge”.

Today’s post features, Footenotes Dance Studio in Ceres, California. Check out a special video highlighting their social media success story.

Rhonda's Footeworks Dance Studio Photo

Today is Day 90 in our 90-Day Social Media Success Challenge for Dance Studios! The last day of our challenge! I can’t believe it.  Today’s post is a great way to celebrate all that we’ve done during this challenge for dance studios. Today we’re featuring Rhonda’s Footeworks, one of the dance studios in our,  My Dance Studio’s Social Media Success Story series. This is a special video that I created highlighting their social media success story. Check it out! Please share it and Tweet it too below.

With the millions of people and businesses on Twitter, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with how to find and follow great, influential people in the dance world. During our 90-Day Social Media Success Challenge, I shared some of my favorite people to follow on Twitter in The Best of Twitter Series. However, I felt that it was necessary to create a top ten list to highlight some dance powerhouses that are an absolute must to follow if you’re on Twitter. Here’s my Top 10 List.

Answers4dancers – Grover Dale had one goal in mind when he launched his site in 1999. Get dancers employed and keep them working. How? Job opportunities and on-the-job know-how.

Dance Advantage - Dance writer/blogger, instructor, giving students, teachers & parents an edge in dance education.

Dance Channel TV – Dance Channel TV is the web’s central source for dance entertainment. Unlike TV, Dance Channel TV broadcasts directly to your computer.

Dance Pulp – DancePulp™ contains exclusive video content that offers an inside perspective on the world of dance.

Dances To Go – They are a collaboration of award winning choreographers and talented performers. Their artistic backgrounds include dance, music, drama, and visual arts.

4Dancers – A blog for dancers, dance teachers and others interested in dance.

4Dance Education – Promoting dance and dance education. Support the art of dance by spreading the word!

Elite Dance – Promoting ballet and dance related digital media with lots of random weirdness mixed in.

Rhee Gold – Publisher Dance Studio Life magazine | Producer DanceLifeTV.com.

Suzanne Gerety – Editor & Co-Founder DanceStudioOwner.com, VP of KBDS, writing, publishing, PR, marketing, business development.

Follow these great dance resources today to stay up-to-date with what’s happening in the dance world, and for some great examples of how to use Twitter effectively to promote your dance business.