Just back in New York after three days at a vibrant Spark & Hustle program in Dallas. I wish you could have experienced everything with us, but not to worry, I made mental notes on a few takeaways to share here.

We started the program by telling everyone to expect to be bored. Not exactly a way to welcome the women who traveled from all over for this event, right? The truth is I am much less concerned with promises of excitement and hype, and much more interested in focusing on realistic, raw and revealing ways to make money now.

The tactics and strategies to find a job or grow a business are quite frankly unglamorous, decidedly unsexy and just plain boring. Whether it’s cold calling, writing compelling copy, planning events, finding contact names, asking for referrals or any number of tasks, none are particularly exciting. There is nothing flashy or thrilling about them, which is why we often get unmotivated or deflated and end up skipping over this critical stuff.

But the consistent implementation of these and other components that make up your deliberate plan will ultimately propel your career or small business to where you want it to go. That’s when the magic happens—that’s when you will experience success.

Do not get hung up on the bright shiny object syndrome, which is so common when aiming for a particular financial goal. For example, many women come to me for advice on hosting successful events. They are excited to select flowers, food and favors. They envision the color scheme and music. They love picking speakers and special surprises.

Buried at the bottom of the long “To Do” list is that pesky little thing: attracting attendees. They would rather focus the majority of their efforts on the fun stuff—those bright shiny objects—than the necessary stuff, which is marketing and sales to make money. The exciting stuff can definitely keep us busy and even energized and entertained, but when measured against our desired result (making money) prove futile.

This applies to every jobseeker or small business owner. What must you do to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty to drive results?

Another common question among small business owners: how can I “fit in” with my target market? The short answer: You don’t want to. To make money, you must stand out (not fit in) among your target. The same is true for jobseekers, especially as the unemployment rate crept up to 9.8% on Friday. Don’t fit in with the competition; stand out from the pool of applicants. This requires a shift in your focus and in your approach. Position yourself not as a peer, not as one of the gang, but as an expert resource in all you do.

Another huge challenge: Where can I find people with money to pay my rates? Wrong focus. Whether you sell jewelry, graphic design services or coaching programs, your job is to promote yourself to people who need or want what you offer—not “people with money.” When you and I find a product or service that offers us exactly what we need or want, we find the money to pay for it. It is not about money; it is about getting precisely what we want. You must market your capabilities and results, not your fees.

I could go on and on with little gems, but the point is this: there is no magic pill and no mysterious solution for success. Much of what it takes to get hired or build a thriving business is boring. Very boring. But when you put those oh–so–boring parts into action—when you hustle—I assure you sparks will fly.

Take a moment to see how energized for action our attendees are coming out of this weekend by watching just a few of the short videos on my Facebook page.

Then sign up for a Spark & Hustle event. It is a small investment in your BIG 2011 bottom-line success. (Use code HOLIDAY to save 10% now.) If you need immediate help, Los Angeles or Tulsa are the best options for you. Every event will be low on hype and high on real, raw and realistic results. While it sounds boring, I promise we will make it fun.

Make it a productive week and let me know how you’re going to drive results!

Tory