5 Savvy Secrets of Success

Posted on January 16, 2019 by Maureen O'Crean

5 Savvy Secrets of Success

Success. We worry about, long for it and chase it. When it comes to success in business and life, there are 5 Savvy Secrets I love. In fact, these are also 5 secrets for a happy life. Any person that you think is successful started in the exact place you might find yourself today. It all starts with a dream. Then add in some work, some focus and most of all, the love of what you do. If you can hold onto to these things, you too can reach success, however, you define it.

How Do You Define Success?

What, is that a catch? A sneaky way to disavow the world’s definition of success? Absolutely not. Success is not in the eye of the beholder, although that happens, a lot. Success lies in your own heart, mind, and consciousness. Do you believe?

William Shakespeare gives us a hint at how to define success: “To thine own self be true, and it must follow as the night to the day. Though canst not then be false to any man (or person).” The secret of life and success is to know thy self and then create a strategy that works for you.

Truth is Truth

I’m not going to share anything you haven’t read or heard before, for truth is truth. And once you are a seeker of truth you can find it anywhere. In the Bible or the Quran, in the Torah or the Gospel. You’ll find it in the news, on YouTube, when you say good morning to the sun and good-night to your loved ones.

“To thine own self be true, and it must follow as the night to the day. Though canst not then be false to any man (or person).” William Shakespeare

But first, you must be a seeker of truth in order to recognize it. And when you know YOUR truth, you will see it everywhere.

So how do you discover your truth? Not the truth your parents taught you, or your teachers, or your religious upbringing. The truth that speaks to your heart. It all begins with discernment.

Make two lists. On the first one, write down what you love to do in your work. Where do you excel, feel excited and satisfied? Where are the clues to the true passion in your life? Now on the second list, put down all the things that you dislike doing. What do you dread to do, put off to the very last minute, avoid at all costs? You see, each of us is good at something and not so good at something else. Can you tell the difference in your own private space?

Now I ask you to pause for a minute to listen from a different place. Let’s put on a new filter for today’s information. Write down, I Am the Gift. I ask you to read today from that place. Try not to define it, or argue with it, or stress about. Just for a minute take on that you are the gift. If you listen from the place that you are the gift, you will find it.

Whatever weird dream you hold in your heart, it is your gift to the world. You don’t have to know how to do it or worry about if it is reasonable or not. You just have to be with it and take one step forward each day. When you do, the magic of universal timing can do its work. Every time you touch someone’s life, you change it. For better or worse, the power is yours in your words, thoughts, and actions.

So here are the 5 Savvy Secrets I promised. Play with them, take them on and see what happens.

Get Strategic: The #1 mistake made by businesses is the failure to plan. Without a sound strategy that clearly directs your efforts, life becomes a struggle. Create a solid plan for your future, from your truth as you define it.
Take Action: “It’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” Eleanor Roosevelt. Engage strategies to eliminate procrastination (check the list of what you don’t like to do.) Take one positive step each day towards your dream.
Create Value: You are sitting on a gold mine and that it is your experience and knowledge. Building value in all your relationships will come back to you 10 fold.
Expand Visibility: Being known is the Key to your success. All great wealth comes from distribution. Powerful distribution comes from visibility. Create a path that leads to your door.
Be a Yes: When you are asked, invited or have an impulse, do it. For when you are a YES to life, you become irresistible.

Well, that’s it for now. You now have 5 of my Savvy Secrets for success. There are plenty more which I will share. Most importantly, when you remember that you are the gift, you’ll find many ways to serve and that is the biggest secret of them all.

If you’d like more, please sign up for my mailing list. If you have a question, give me a call at 424-262-5658

Don’t worry, I hate spam as much as you do.

Posted in Business Growth and Development | Tagged Maureen O'Crean, maureenocrean.com, Savvy Secrets, success | Leave a comment

Tips on Picking Your Business Name

Before you get attached to the brilliant business name you’ve just created, there are some important places to check so you won’t be disappointed. Even worse, so you don’t run into some legal hassles down the road. It’s important to be clear in your product branding and marketing. A confused customer doesn’t buy.

Here are 3 essential places to search for your Business Name before you sign on the dotted line:

Domain Names. Make sure you check to see if your chosen name has been registered by someone else. It isn’t the end of the world if someone has your .com, but you want to make sure your market won’t be confused by the .com website. Owning a domain name doesn’t give you any legal rights, so don’t be confused. A great resource is www.godaddy.com
Trademark Search. You’ll want to do a trademark search on your desired name. It’s easy to do, but not necessarily quick, depending on the name. You can do the search at U S Trademark Office Click on the Trademark link on the left side of the page and then the search button. Use the new user search and put in all the words of your name. For your first search, use “and” in the search term box (3rd box down) to see if someone has a trademark on your desired name. Then do a search for “or”. You’ll see a lot more responses. Take the time to go through all the responses to see if there is a conflict with the name you’ve chosen. A trademark is the only way to protect the intellectual property of your name, so if it will extend your company’s visibility or brand, you may want to consider securing the trademark.
Corporate or Business Name in Your State. Contact the Secretary of State’s office and see if anyone is using the name in business. Many states have a website where you can do a search on corporations and LLC’s or PC’s.

If you are creating the title for a book or product, the copyright law does not protect you. Titles are not covered by copyright law, so you’ll want to make sure your title stands out from the crowd. For more information about what is and is not covered by copyright law, visit the US Copyright office at http://www.copyright.gov .

The reason we check these 3 areas is so that you don’t run into trouble down the road. It would be a shame to produce a product or great service and then send your potential clients to another business. Please note that this information is intended for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. If you have legal questions, please consult your lawyer.

ABOUT MAUREEN

Maureen O’Crean is a Harvard grad and an International Business strategist who supports others to have their dreams come true. An unconventional MBA, she works with authors, speakers, licensed professionals and entrepreneurs in the area of business growth and development. Maureen often uses publicity to put her clients in the public eye for visibility. She is a published author and creator of an online community of over 12,000 women. Maureen was featured in Entrepreneur Magazine as the coach who led a client to success from an idea to a household product.

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Maureen O'Crean | Leave a comment

Opiate Use Exposed in Titanic Disaster Marconigrams: Auction to be held on June 15, 2016 at 10:00 am EST

Posted on June 10, 2016 by Maureen O'Crean

The use of Opiates can be traced back to the Titanic Disaster of April 14, 1912 in three Marconigrams being auctioned at Philip Weiss Auctions on June 15, 2016 at 10 am EST. They paint a dark picture of the corporate leadership on board of the Titanic, J. Bruce Ismay: “Mr. Bruce Ismay is Under an Opiate.”

An Original Marconigram from the Titanic disaster provides documented proof of the use of opiates at that time by the son of the Titanic’s owner and one the decision maker at the scene of the rescue.They paint a dark picture of the corporate leadership on board of the Titanic, J. Bruce Ismay: “Mr. Bruce Ismay is Under an Opiate.” Originally purchased by a private collector through Christie’s in 1998, these gems of history documenting the decisions being made are in three Marconigrams being auctioned by Philip Weiss Auctions on June 15, 2016 at 10 am EST.

These historical records reveal the opiate story as Ismay, the Managing Director of White Star Lines, the parent company of the Titanic snuck onto a lifeboat to escape the sinking ship. These original Titanic Marconigrams, serve as a cautionary tale of the downward spiral of opiate addiction, as Ismay orders the rescue ship Olympic to stay out of view of the Titanic survivors.

The set of three Marconigrams will be auctioned by a private collector through Phillip Weiss Auctions, Lynbrook, N.Y. in Lot 1457 on June 15, 2016 at 10 am EST. In addition, Lot 1456 contains a rare color lithograph promoting the fated journey. Online bids are being handled by Proxibid at

LOT: 1457
A group of three Marconi messages (Lot 1457) from the R.M.S. Olympic radio log book, 3 pp, oblong 8vo (140 x 200mm) April 15, 1912, being communications between the Commander of the R.M.S. Carpathia and the Commander of the R.M.S. Olympic, discussing whether or not the R.M.S. Olympic (the Titanic’s sister ship) should pass in view of and aid the R.M.S. Carpathia in the rescue.

Each Marconi message is identically framed. These three documents record the moment when the authorities decide whether or not to let the Olympic participate in the transport of the survivors. The earliest message reports on the condition of J. Bruce Ismay, the White Star Line’s managing director who survived the Titanic hiding in a life boat.

MESSAGE 1: “To: COMMANDER OLYMPIC. RECEIVED 3: 18.18 pm N.Y.T.
MR. BRUCE ISMAY IS UNDER AN OPIATE./ ROSTRON.”

MESSAGE 2: The next message, sent by Rostron just two minutes later, reads: “To: COMMANDER OLYMPIC. RECEIVED 3.20 pm NYT
DO YOU THINK IT ADVISABLE TITANIC’S PASSENGERS SEE OLYMPIC/PERSONALLY I SAY NOT./ROSTRON.”

MESSAGE 3: Two minutes later, Rostron added: “To: COMMANDER OLYMPIC RECEIVED 3.22 PM NYT/
MR. ISMAY ORDERS OLYMPIC NOT TO BE SEEN BY CARPATHIA./NO TRANSFERS TO TAKE PLACE. ROSTRON.”

Lot 1456

A rare Color Lithograph Promotional Poster based on a painting by the English artist Montague Birrell Black commissioned by the White Star Line showing both its sisters ships the Olympic and Titanic before the Titanic disaster for display in White Star Line offices (prior to April 15, 1912) in its original oak frame with the attached metal label: White Star Line Olympic; Titanic, New Triple Screw Steamers Largest and Finest in the World.

After the Titanic sinking with the loss of 1,520 people, these posters were removed from the White Star Lines office and were believed to have been ordered to be destroyed. It was the only promotional poster to feature both the Olympic and the Titanic with the Olympic in the foreground and the Titanic sailing off into the sunset. Lithograph size is approximately 39” and 29” with the overall frame size approximately 44.5” x 34.5”

To place your online bid, please visit:

Media: For more information and copies of the images, please contact Maureen O’Crean in -Los Angeles at 310-379-9620 Email: maureen(at)maureenocrean.com

For Auction information contact Philip Weiss, Philip Weiss Auctions, Long Island, NY
Phone: 516.594.0731 Email: info(at)weissauctions.com

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged opiate use, opiates, original marconigrams, Titanic, titanic disater, Titanic Marconigrams, Titanic telegrams | Leave a comment

Thinking Like A CEO: 5 Steps to Ensure Your Success

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Maureen O'Crean

Managing the multiple priorities of different clients doesn’t have to be draining. Approaching your business and thinking like a CEO helps you manage your energy, organize your time and make a profit. Here are five tips to get you started:

1. Think like a CEO: A CEO manages multiple priorities, Sales, Marketing, Fulfillment, Customer Service and Budgeting. It is important to schedule time and activities each week to each of the ‘departments’ you manage to grow your successful business.

2. Manage Expectations: Verbal conversations disappear over time, so it is important you follow the number 1 rule of business, Get It In Writing. How are you and your client going to manage their success? Ask your client and potential clients to provide their top three priorities in writing, in an email. It will give you a solid foundation to know if the client’s goal are realistic and achievable. If they are not it is time to renegotiate. If you can’t renegotiate, respectfully decline because when someone doesn’t know or understand what they want, you can’t make them happy.

3. Measure Everything: Developing a business requires time creating relationships. Relationships take time to develop. In any business, yours or your clients, getting sales is really the only goal. So how do you measure your contribution to your clients’ bottom line? Set baselines when you begin working (or even once you have started, it’s never to late). Ask your client to give you the number of visitors to their website and their website sales amount prior to your time on the job. Google analytics is an amazing tool and 1ShoppingCart.com1shoppingcart.com has a feature known as adtracker. Adtracker tells you how many people clicked on a link, took an action and made a purchase. Come to an agreement on what is your job and what is your client’s responsibility. How will you measure your success with your client?

For example, increasing visits to a website maybe your responsibility, but sales would be the client’s. As they say, you can bring a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink. You cannot make people buy.

4. Have a Backup Plan: Every CEO knows that even with the best laid plans, life happens. You need to have a backup plan because everything in life takes longer than we expect. A Project Manager on a construction job breaks down the big job of building a building into tasks. Some are mission critical to getting the building completed on time and within budget. When you and your client meet to set goals, make sure you understand what is mission critical to your client. If your client’s goal is increasing the number of fans on social media, do everything you can, and ask for a small ad budget in advance of needing it. Put it in an escrow account so you have control over it. If your client is an author have a few books on hand to create a give-away. Think 10 steps ahead of your goal and you’ll never have to play catch-up.

5. Exceed expectations and go the extra mile: A CEO’s primary responsibility is to keep the company running. That means always creating income opportunities. If you spend all your time on serving your customers and no time on cultivating new customers, you may end up with a cash flow crunch. I am a firm believer in Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich. Hill gives us 6 steps to turn desires into gold and the number one goal is create a definite goal and number 2 is what are you going to give in return? From day one (or today) create a plan to exceed your client’s expectations. If your client is an expert, spend some time searching for possible partners for joint ventures. When you help your client reach his or her goals, you will reach yours. Remember above all, keep a positive attitude towards those you work with. What you think and speak about a client, even to yourself, effects everything you do, so always sing their praises and you will be pleasantly surprised at the outcome.

Good luck on all your adventures. If you have a question about your business that would help others, post a comment and I’ll post a reply. If your question is more private, send me an email at maureen(at)maureenocrean.com and we can set up a time to talk.

Posted in Business Growth and Development | Leave a comment

Maureen O'Crean, MBA