One of the highlights of my 2013 was to attend a LIVE business seminar for Marisa Murgatroyd’s Message to Money course in San Diego.

I did something I thought I would never do! I put myself in the ‘hot seat’ and walked up to the stage area and had my website reviewed by the Master Brander herself in front of 70 or so of my peers.

I admit I was scared and excited at the same time!

It felt just like walking barefoot over hot coals.

I knew that there would be pain but I also knew that once I got through the ordeal and reached the ‘other side’, I would feel a sense of accomplishment.

There was something better for me on the flip side of the agony yet to come.

I just had to walk fast and keep my eye on the prize.

You see, I put my name in the ‘hot seat’ list early in the weekend event.

I had two days to pull my name OFF that list!

Many times when I walked back into the event room from a break, I would stride briskly to the reception desk with one purpose....

And I tried; after incessantly practicing in my hotel room just HOW I would ask to remove my name from the ‘hot seat’ list.

But I just couldn’t do it.

I’d make a U-turn back to my seat from the reception area.

In fact, I U-turned about 5 times that weekend.

I knew my website was a mess and I hadn’t updated it in over a year. I knew my branding was old and ‘too cutesy’. And I knew that my company needed a complete makeover.

You see, I got lazy. I had so many referral customers that my website didn’t seem important anymore. I hadn’t blogged in a few months. I just didn’t care about my web presence.

I was ashamed.

And that, was the first lesson Marisa taught me that day I sat down next to her in the ‘hot seat’.

The Branding Master herself gave me solid advice and profoundly changed my business model and client niche which was more than I expected. The woman does deliver! But in that instance she also gave me the opportunity to face my demons head on.

Interestingly, within the first 2 minutes, I was relaxed and engaged in the questioning. No longer did the fear of being in the ‘hot seat’ bother me anymore. There was no turning back. I was there to stay.

For over 30 minutes, Marisa asked me intense questions that prompted me to dig deep into the ‘why’ of what I had been doing for my business for so long.

Eventually, (and now maybe even reluctantly) I returned to the safety of my event seat rejuvenated and feeling that sense of accomplishment I knew I would achieve by confronting my fear of rejection and opinion.

The ordeal was very much the same as riding a roller coaster. Once you take the ride, you can’t wait to get back in the seat again!

What a thrill!

If you are interested in joining Marisa Murgatroyd for her ‘3 Seconds to Success’ free webinar today and tomorrow (February 13th), click her to sign up. Find out why your visitors will decide within 3 seconds of landing on your website if they want to do business with you. http://lymurl.com/go/1jtra

Win one of two "Magnetic Brand" site audits valued $100 ea. Marisa will personally audit your website. http://lymurl.com/go/1jtra

Ariana and Marisa