This document serves as a guide for individuals looking to build a profitable business and improve their lives, emphasizing the importance of overcoming procrastination and leveraging resources. It discusses strategies for defining goals, seeking mentorship, and maintaining commitment, while also illustrating the journey of transforming ideas into successful business ventures. Through exercises and reflections, the author encourages readers to capture their ideas and take actionable steps toward achieving their dreams.

1. An insider’s guide to building a profitable career, a satisfying
business, improving your life and winning like the big guys
even if you are a one person operation.
Preview
How to Create Chapters
PRO$PERITY
From What You
Already Do
ANGELA DiCARLO, MBA
Master of Being Alive

2. Welcome
Do you have a big idea that you want to build and make
money from but don’t know how?
This hands-on guide will help you map out key
elements to move forward now.
© Copyright 2012, Angela DiCarlo.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval systems, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopy, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from Angela DiCarlo, with the exception of short excerpts used with acknowledgement of the author.
Photos taken by author or purchased on various stock photography sites. Contact the author at success@ceossecretweapon.com or (858) 412-7738.
Order additional copies at www.CEOsSecretWeapon.com.
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3. Preface
“MAN HAS AN INHERENT POWER BY
WHICH HE MAY GROW IN WHATEVER
DIRECTION HE PLEASES. THERE DOES
NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY LIMIT TO THE
POSSIBILITIES OF HIS GROWTH.”
Wallace D. Wattles
The Science of Being Great

4. Every day, a new idea comes around that could change strength to stay focused, and the power within to survive the
the world, your world. Sometimes an idea is so big that it ups and downs that make or break a business so you can
drives that person to create a business, your business. But no fulfill your dreams?
matter how big or amazing the idea is; every business faces
It can be relatively easy to get started in business, but
the reality of ups and downs. There are market changes,
when an obstacle pops up or success does not come as
unexpected setbacks, product recalls, cash flow issues,
quickly as expected, many business owners hang up their
economic catastrophes and more. Despite these setbacks,
hats. They go back to their comfort zones of a job or retreat
there are still businesses making a profit and some are
into a hideaway until the next big idea is born.
pumping out hundreds, thousands and millions in profits
While retreating back into your comfort zone may
from their business today.
provide temporary relief, it will not make you successful or
If you know an entrepreneur who has succeeded, then
rich. So how is it that some entrepreneurs seem to flourish
you know they did not do it all alone. They had resources.
effortlessly? What is their “secret weapon?” More important,
Whether they were family, friends, books, seminars,
how can you use it to build a healthy, successful business
assistants, coaches, consultants, investors or mentors, they
balanced with a profitable, happy and healthy life?
had resources. The idea was born and it was important
This book is intended to work like a “Choose Your Own
enough that they worked hard despite whatever obstacles
Adventure” book. During my youth, I loved to get deep
were in front of them to make it a reality.
inside the many layers of Choose Your Own Adventure
Once you find the big idea that gets you excited enough
books. They were amazing and powerful because you created
to build a business, what do you need to do to keep it alive?
the story. You chose where you went next. Still today, I rarely
How do you find the resources you need to build it, the
read books straight from front to back. I often randomly
market to buy it, the branding to make it recognizable, the
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5. open the book or flip to the section from the table of floats around the air, and then, POP, the bubble is gone.
contents that had what I needed and I focused in on that. Imagine that an idea formed and floated around like a
You can read straight through or flip around to where you bubble. Oftentimes an idea makes itself visible and totally
need the most help now. clear for a brief moment. Then just as quickly as it appeared,
like a bubble, the idea can disappear.
There are exercises throughout this guide that you can
do as needed to strategize, strengthen and thrive. I How does that relate to business? Sometimes, we see
recommend creating a folder or notebook specifically for this the picture of what we want so clearly and then past
book where you can keep all your files on hand. There are experience distorts the image, memories of failures or fear of
also a few pages for notes throughout and at the end of this change burst the bubble. If we could re-capture that idea of
book. Feel free to use them anytime an idea pops up that will why we got into business in the first place, then we can turn
get you closer to your goals. an idea into a passion.
One visual image that works well for me is to imagine There is a principle that my good friend Mick Moore,
ideas like bubbles floating around in the air. A bubble starts the Internet Entrepreneur and author of Home Business
as a thin almost invisible layer like a concept or idea Success Kit, was telling me a story about called the 48-hour
beginning to form. Then energy is added to the bubble in the effect where he described how an idea must be captured
form of air being blown into the bubble. It grows bigger and within a certain point from when they appear or they may be
clearer until it breaks free from the bubble maker and floats lost forever…or at least until someone else seizes the idea and
into the air. It glimmers like a rainbow in the sunlight for a makes it their own.
brief period. Then just as quickly as it appears, pop, it
If you have your idea or you are already in business,
disappears. While the bubble is forming, you can see the
then you may want to know how to grow your business by
colors, the size, and the potential. Once released the idea
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6. unlocking the code to success (chapter 1), creating a clear
picture for yourself of what you want to happen (chapter 7),
effectively finding a hot market (chapter 5 bonus), and the
knowing the importance of keeping a bird’s eye view of your
business with an end goal in mind (chapter 3). Plus, you can
clearly provide that focused picture to the people who matter
the most (chapter 5). Of course you will want to share your
message clearly with your employees and buyers (chapter 4).
Whichever chapter you start with, you are on your way to
success (chapter 6).
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7. Chapter 1
UNLOCKING
THE CODE
“If one advances confidently in the direction of
their dreams, and endeavors to live the life they
imagined, they will meet with a success unexpected
in common hours...If you have built castles in the
air, your work need not be lost: that is where they
should be. Now put the foundations under them.”
Henry David Thoreau
Walden

8. How are some people successful in business and others can
BIG IDEAS PRINCIPLE
barely get off the starting line?
What has kept people from getting what Have you ever felt like you just cannot get to the next step?
they want?
Have you ever gone to a business event and seen the same people
1. Not having a game plan. over and over again? It seemed like some of them just are not
2. Trying to do everything alone and not having mentors. making any real progress. Have you ever wondered if they looked
at you and thought the same thing? Well, if you have been doing
3. Having a poor relationship with money.
the same things over and over again expecting different results,
4. Not acting or behaving as a top performer. then it may be a good time to take a lesson from the ones who are
5. Being surrounded by naysayers. successful today.
6. Harboring fear of success, fear of change or fear of Why are some people doing so well right now? And how can
failure. you be like them?
7. Thinking that it is too hard to reach the right decision Having coached hundreds of clients from brand new startups
makers.
to multi-million dollar Fortune companies, there are some striking
8. Treating their goals as if they were someday far off in similarities between those who succeed and those who get stuck in
the future. a rut. Would you like to learn what they are? I did too. So I took
9. Allowing busywork to stop them from doing productive the time to follow top producing sales people and business owners
things. around to see what separated them from the average
10. Not being fully committed to their passions and goals. businessperson to learn what they did to succeed.
After numerous interviews, I found the same thing over and
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9. over again. They work. It is that simple. As Rory Vaden someone else could do for them. They asked for referrals
mentions in his New York Times Best Selling book released and stayed in contact with their buying clients. They created
in 2012 Take The Stairs, “Top producers do the hard things jobs for others by employing people. They had a very
that average producers do not want to do.” targeted work schedule that helped them accomplish and
exceed their goals.
So do you just need to work harder? Well, not really.
First, they defined what it is they do best. Then, they created Most of these people were highly revered by others for
a game plan to accomplish those goals. Then, they enlisted how successful they were.
the help and expertise of those who knew more than they did
When I went to their offices to meet with them in
to flesh out their plan. Then, they started calling on their
person, their offices did not look much different than anyone
market to see if there were any buyers. As they proved their
elses. They still had their computer, their stack of work, their
business model was a valid one, they started working. And
phone, their calendar, and constant interruptions by others.
they worked a lot.
As an outsider, one would never know the difference
I found that Top Producers worked at least 40 hours a between this person who was building a successful empire
week on their business. They were not going to luncheons or and someone who was just pushing paper around.
networking events unless they had a specific goal they were
Not, at least, until you listened to them. On the phone,
looking to achieve or a specific person to connect with. They
there was minimal chatter and issues on the calls were
were on the phones or putting people on the phones to
resolved by setting up a next step or an appointment to
prospect and build their business. They were prospecting,
confirm a detail. Their email was piled as high as anyone
visiting leads and converting them into clients. They were
else, but it was based on putting out valid information and
hiring professionals to manage and build the parts of the
getting quick or accurate responses. Their voicemails
business that they did not know how to do or knew that
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10. instructed callers on how often they checked their messages
and what was the quickest way to get a response from them. BIG IDEAS PRINCIPLE
Some people instructed their callers to send emails, others
What has brought people to their goals?
instructed to send text messages.
1. Setting goals, making mini commitments and having
Let’s turn the focus to you now. Where in your life are accountability in place.
you letting unnecessary “work” slow down your progress? 2. Finding support through mentors and a community of
What actions suck up the majority of your working day? Are like-minded people.
these the things that will make you money or cost you 3. Developing a good relationship with money and
monitoring its use.
money? Do you find yourself busy pushing around
paperwork or responding to unimportant emails?
4. Looking and acting the part they want to be in the future
today.
What would happen if you gained back one “working 5. Being able to ask for help even on things that are
hour” and turned it into one “income-producing hour?” uncomfortable.
Think about how that one shift could change your income 6. Surrounding themselves with positive enforcement tools
over the next month, or perhaps over the next year. What like vision boards.
would that be worth to you? 7. Actively networking with targeted business connections.
8. Taking action immediately and making the most
important calls first and often.
9. Proactively scheduling activities into their day that get
them closer to their goals.
10. oving what they do with a passion for success and
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improvement.
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11. Chapter 2
THE POWER
HOUR
“Productivity is the deliberate, strategic investment of
your time, talent, intelligence, energy, resources and
opportunities in a manner calculated to move you
measurably closer to meaningful goals.”
Found on a client’s wall during a workshop.

12. What is one thing that stops you from truly succeeding Perhaps you can relate to this. I had become an expert
today? at avoiding the most important thing I needed to work on. It
did not matter if it was a phone call or a project for a client,
According to the thousands of business owners and sales
for myself, or just something that needed to get done. I had
professionals for whom I have led training workshops, there
become an expert at filling my day with everything but that
has been an all too prevalent theme that inhibits people from
one all-important task. So I made a vow to myself that I
bringing them the wealth and results they desire. It really
would give up procrastination for forty days.
comes down to a few common behaviors that can be really
boiled down to in one word: procrastination. Wow! The transformation was amazing. I started seeing
real results in my personal and business life. I started setting
I gave up procrastination for Lent in 2011. I had never
those important meetings with clients and getting projects
celebrated Lent before but the timing was right. I thought to
done faster. I wrote out my goal list for the year and starting
myself, what one thing would I be willing to give up for 40
crossing it off faster than I imagined. Everything started to
days? I am pretty healthy so I did not need to cut out any
come together in my life. No longer was I lingering on any
food or add exercise to my schedule. I did not really have any
one task when I could be getting it done and moving onto the
bad habits that I could think of. I thought long and hard
next thing.
about it. I could have thought about it for days. I could have
avoided it altogether as I had done with many other parts of Then I thought if I could blast through this
my life where I could have worked to get to my goals but procrastination thing and see such great success, what else
found other things to do. Finally, it hit me. I needed to give could I achieve? I made my ability to overcome
up the worst of all habits: Procrastination. procrastination into an action that could be repeated every
day no matter how badly I wanted to avoid that thing that I
had previously delayed on.
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13. If you have ever given up procrastination for a while, buckle yourself into your chair and do what needs to get
then you know that procrastination unfortunately, like done. You do not let distractions, unrelated calls, negative
addictive behavior, can be an easy habit to slip back into. self-talk, unnecessary breaks, refilling coffee, checking the
internet, unproductive time on social media, grabbing
Perhaps you can relate to this. Have you ever just
supplies from the cabinet in the other room, or anything not
wanted to stay in bed and avoid the world? It can be so easy
directly related to the task.
to lie in bed for just a few more minutes. It is not that difficult
to justify spending just a couple extra minutes checking social This sounds easy until you try to do it.
media sites, which quickly turns into an hour of avoiding that
You will be amazed at how many things pop into your
important task. It can be so easy to swing by the store to pick
mind during your power hour. One way to overcome this is
something up and lose an hour from the workday.
to get everything lined up before the power hour. Get your
In order to reinforce the power of life without beverage, go to the restroom, have your list of what needs to
procrastination, I scheduled a Power Hour into my day. It did be accomplished in front of you, and put your pets or
not matter when I did it. But I found I had the best results children to play or rest in another room where you will not
when it was done before noon. Just think about this for a be distracted. For some people, they have to do this before
minute. If you invested one hour in your day tackling that the kids get up or others arrive to the office. However it
project you had been avoiding before you take your lunch works for you, try it for one day or one week. Once you see
break, how great would that feel? From my own experience, I the results, you will want to do it every day.
have to admit that it feels pretty awesome.
In your work area, have a blank sheet of paper and pen
Now you are probably wondering what this Power Hour next to you for writing down all the other things that pop into
is. To put it to you straight, this is the one hour that you your head during your power hour. I suggest pen and paper
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14. because if you are on a computer project, it is easy to get hour day or a forty-to-sixty hour distracted workweek or a
distracted as you go into another program to jot down a note. 2,000 hour distracted work year.
If you are ten minutes into your power hour and you
Consider this for a minute. If you could add one power
suddenly realize you need to refill the stapler, then write on
hour to each day, how much new business would that
your note sheet to refill the stapler. If you remember fifteen
generate for you? How many more appointments or valuable
minutes later that you need to pick up dry cleaning, then
meetings would you set? How much additional revenue
write that down. If you need to pay a bill or call your client,
would you create? Your answers to all these questions should
write that down. If you get up and do the thing that pops
make you want to run to your office chair and start making
into your head, it will take away from your productivity and
some calls, but then, life happens and in turn, nothing
encourages the behavior of procrastination.
happens for your life or business. Why? Because we are so
Now what would happen if you could add one Power great at being busy being busy.
Hour to your day? One session added where things did not
If you could add one power hour to your day, when
distract you from your productivity. How much wealth would
could you most easily slip it into your schedule?
adding one power hour to your day create? Hundreds?
For some people, their quietest time is early in the
Thousands? Millions?
morning. That is why many managers and business owners
The Power Hour is easily translated into one dedicated
often show up to the office an hour or more before their staff
hour where you put 100% effort into one dedicated task or
arrives. If you are in sales and selling to business owners or
project. During this allotted Power Hour, it is possible to
managers, this could be prime time for calling them as many
make more progress than a previously “normal” workday.
managers do arrive early to the office. For others, they can
That one focused hour per day could generate more results
than would often be accomplished in a distracted eight-to-ten
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15. find a quiet hour after they drop their kids off and get back
EXERCISE
to their home or office.
Find an hour that works for you and do your first power Where in your life are you letting unnecessary “work”
slow down your progress?
hour. If you used to do similar power sessions and had super-
productive times during your day, then this will just be like
exercising a muscle that has gotten out of shape. You will
quickly see results. If this is your first Power Hour, it may
take a few sessions before you can last a whole hour with
What actions take up the majority of your working day?
concentration. Some people do power sessions of 25 minutes,
Are these the things that will make you money or contribute
then take a five minute break, then do another 25 minute to your goals?
session. Find what works best for you to get the best results.
It may sound funny reading it, but it can be really hard to
stay focused on the task at hand for one hour. Try it for
yourself. Would now be a good time?
How would turning one extra “working hour” per day
Answer the questions in the following exercise and use into one “income-producing hour” change your
income over the next month? Repeated consistently over
the Power Hour worksheet to track your results. Copy it or the next year, what would that be worth to you?
write on it and make it work for you.
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16. Worksheet: Maximizing THE POWER HOUR
Date: ___________________________ Start time: ___________________________
What I want to accomplish during my Power Hour:
Date: ___________________________ End time: ___________________________
What I did accomplish during my Power Hour:
How I felt after my Power Hour:
Schedule your next Power Hour session:
Next Power Hour Date:__________________ Start Time:_______________________
Goals for next Power Hour:
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17. ABOUT YOUR
AUTHOR
“The master in the art of living makes little distinction
between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure,
his mind and his body, his education and his recreation,
his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which.
“He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever
he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or
playing. To him he is always doing both.”
Source attributed commonly to texts from
Zen Buddhism

18. ABOUT YOUR
AUTHOR
As your author, I can take a step back and let the
biographer take over. Here you go...
Angela DiCarlo, MBA has taught hundreds of programs on
sales training, vision boards, business start up and individual
growth. She is the founder of CEO’s Secret Weapon and Prosperity
and Friends; both described as innovative personal development
A SNAPSHOT OF ANGELA DiCARLO programs. She is an author and keynote speaker with her
signature speech titled “Can you pass the Prosperity Test?”
“If you give me 20 pages to write out my work history,
I would ask for more paper.” Angela earned her Master’s degree in Business
Administration from Pepperdine University. She often refers to
Angela DiCarlo, MBA the MBA that follows her name as a Master’s in Being Alive.
Author of the book you are reading now :-) She was blessed to receive life's golden ticket -- a second chance
Master of Being Alive
-- after surviving a traumatic head injury that lead to a 3-day
Speaker | Marketer | Life Enhancer | Author | Romantic | Friend coma and changed the course of her life.
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19. She values getting the most of life since her own near Angela co-founded Life Enhancer Fitness for elementary
death experience as well as that of losing her best friend at school programs incorporating yoga, meditation and exercise
the young age of 27. Her life is dedicated to helping since 2004. She has authored a business start up book for and
individuals, teams and organizations find their focus, share consulted clients of the Small Business Development and
their voice, and make greater improvements in the world. International Trade Center for multiple years.
In the corporate world, she helped build hundred Angela worked in television production on Fox 6 News,
million dollar brands including Balance Bar Company San Diego 6 News, Del Mar TV and American Idol. She
(famous for its energy bars) now owned by Kraft Foods, as helped produce Static TV, a teen television program dealing
well as Phone People and eFax.com, now owned by j2 Global with issues teenagers face in school and life.
Communications. She has toured the country with
Her clients include entrepreneurs and executives from
Southwestern Consulting as a professional sales trainer and
around the world. Her advice and training has been sought
works with their Speakers Bureau with New York Times best
by Make-A-Wish Foundation, Goodwill, Salvation Army,
selling author of Take The Stairs, Rory Vaden.
realtors, commercial brokers, auto dealerships, and many
Angela's consulting and speaking firm, CEO's Secret other corporations.
Weapon, was formed to help success-focused businesses
Droid, iPhone, and iPad applications were developed
become more successful and help individuals live more
under her brand Prosperity and Friends for adults and children
empowered lives. For her motivational speeches and
with targeted games and exercises to develop role models,
programs, Angela was dubbed the "Queen of Focus” by
healthy habits, and environmental awareness.
award winning speaker John-Leslie Brown.
Angela served as an active member or contributor to
Burning Man, Healthy California, Right To Succeed
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20. Foundation, Childhood Health Obesity Initiative, Tribal
Truth and business organizations dedicating to improving the
world.
www.CEOsSecretWeapon.com
www.AngelaDiCarlo.com
Don’t be a stranger. Keep in touch. Tell us your story.
Find classes in your area. Email us at
success@ceossecretweapon.com.
PROSPERITY AND FRIENDS
Be sure to download Prosperity And Friends Guide
Book for teens and adults. You can find it online at
www.ProsperityAndFriends.com.
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21. WHAT’S NEXT?
“Inspiration without action is merely entertainment.”
Mary Manin Morrissey
The Dream Builder

22. Continuing education is something I strive for. Now that TAKE ACTION!
you have completed this book or at least parts of it, you are
Please contact us to book your free initial consultation at
probably wondering “What’s Next?”
(858) 412-7738 or success@ceossecretweapon.com.
Great question. At CEO’s Secret Weapon, we offer
multiple ongoing books, coaching and programs to help you
continue to grow.
WORKSHOPS
• Keynote Speeches
• Vision Board Workshops
PERSONAL GROWTH
• Life Coaching
• Personal Development Retreats
BUSINESS PROGRAMS
• C-Level & Business Coaching
• C.E.O. Business Intensives
• Marketing Consultations
• Executive & Speaker Development Programs
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