Being Out On The Skinny Branches
My girlfriend LeAnn, who’s also a fellow coach, and I have had numerous conversations over the years about taking risks and stepping into our greatness. She calls taking risks “being out on the skinny branches.” That’s such a vivid image to me, not knowing if the branch will break any minute under our feet but trusting we are supported.
Risk taking is any time we are really pushing our own personal limits; trying something new, and listening to that intuition of “yes I can do it — but I’m so darn afraid” and doing it anyways.
No matter what you’re up to in your life, trying to lose weight, going back to school after raising a family, starting a new career, or striving to make that six-figure mark in your business, you will need to stretch yourself and break out of your comfort zone.
The beauty of “hanging out in the skinny branches” is that once you are there, a new foundation somehow grows under your feet and the branch extends and extends supporting you to continue to grow and thrive.
Mastering Your Motivation – Thought of the day:
Realize that life is about trials and errors and it is those trials that result in your business growth, your personal development, and increases your confidence.
I say “Life is only as rich as the risks you are willing to take.”
What are you willing to try? Let me know, by leaving a comment below or on my Facebook or Twitter pages.
To Your Success!
P.S. Be sure to watch for our special offer on Friday that will teach you how to achieve your dreams without fear!
Looking Ahead to the Future
The New Year is a wonderful time to look in our rear view mirrors, take a few minutes to examine where we’ve been and adjust our course as needed.
It’s easy to get in the habit of doing the same behaviors and thinking the same thoughts and of course we get the same results. If those are positive…then keep them up! If you don’t get the results you want, it may be time to either change some stinkin’ thinkin’, or change some behaviors.
If you’re chasing 2 rabbits, how many are you going to catch? That’s right, focus is our friend, and distraction is our enemy.
Comparing yourself with others - love and accept yourself as you are! None of us are perfect!
Perfectionism….Remember, getting something done is better than perfect!
Being hard on yourself - Forgive yourself for your humanness and stop beating yourself up
Holding yourself back….you have a light to shine and gifts to share, this is your time!
Holding grudges….they are toxic. Get all negative people out of your life as much as possible and learn to let go.
Being overcommitted…Simply stated, you MUST take care of yourself and learn to say no without the guilt…practice, practice, practice (it’s not selfish)
Here’s to a wonderful New Year, and New You! What are you ready to change in the New Year?
The Truth About Isolation for Small Business Owners
Being a work-at-home entrepreneur can be a very lonely experience, especially if you’re an outgoing kind of gal. We all need people, acknowledgement and support.
Whether it’s through an online community, a networking group, a mastermind program, we all need at least one “safe spot” where we feel welcome, can let it all hang out and not worry about being judged, criticized, or taken advantage of. Just by their very existence, supportive groups and friends like these help us deal with the stress in our lives.
If you’re not lucky enough to have that kind of relationship right now, don’t worry. There are places that offer support for you from people who know your struggles and want to relish in your successes. Here are six suggestions of where you might go to find what you need to prop you up when you need it:
Online forums or blogs
Find an online discussion forum or message board for work-at-home entrepreneurs. There are literally hundreds to choose from! While these groups often refer business to each other, their biggest benefit, in my opinion, is the support they provide. Working from home can be a lonely business, and networking with others who are in similar situations makes it less lonely. It’s impossible to feel left on your own when there are so many people on these forums to cheer you on.
A coach or mentor
Finding a coach or mentor who is several steps ahead of you on the journey to business success can be one of the best moves you ever make. Though their main goal is to provide business guidance, the good ones are also a great source of support and motivation. They know the ups and downs of the work-at-home entrepreneur, and can tell you if what you’re experiencing are just normal growing pains, or something else. Best of all, they can help you devise a plan to deal with the stress you’re feeling.
Family
Don’t overlook your family as a source of support. They may have no idea what you do all day – particularly if it involves internet marketing – but they love you and want the best for you. If you tell your spouse or loved one you just need a non-judgmental ear to hear you work through some issues out loud, you’ll likely find that he is more than willing to listen. Give your family a chance to learn as you learn. You didn’t know what to expect when you started down this venture, and neither did they. Include them in your learning curve. Then you’ll have a family that feels a part of your process and will be more than willing to support you.
Real face-to-face friends
When you work from home, you can get locked to your desk and find that most of your closest friends live inside your computer! That’s just fine, as these relationships are fulfilling, supportive, and “real” all on their own. But there’s also something to be said for meeting a friend for a cup of coffee and some real live conversation. We need interpersonal interaction of the face-to-face kind, with the give-and-take conversation patterns that we humans are familiar with; the start-and-stop, ebb-and-flow, of our thoughts and opinions in a real live conversation. Don’t limit your contact with the world to Facebook, Twitter, and email. Connect with your “real-world” friends regularly.
A therapist or counselor
Trained mental health professionals are wonderful resources for objective, sound advice in dealing with stress. While they probably won’t be able to help you figure out the product launch strategy for your latest interactive course, they can help you find ways to deal with relationships, stress, and other negative mental emotions. Often, when voiced out loud to a trained professional as an outside party, a thought that’s been stressing you will all of a sudden make sense. Get a good recommendation from a friend, colleague, or your doctor and schedule an appointment if you feel that a professional therapist can help you deal with negative mental emotions.
A Mastermind Group
Mastermind Group is a small group of people who come together for a common purpose to share challenges and solutions. Generally, each person in the group gets their own designated time to talk about their current status and challenges, while the other group members give feedback, suggestions and solutions. This group can be over the telephone or in person.
For more information about Mastermind Groups, contact Jane at jane@janemorrison.com
WHAT ARE YOUR TIPS TO KEEP ISOLATION AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AT BAY????
3 Easy Ways to Manage Your Workload
Do you find you often handle the simple things during the day, but leave the more daunting, yet vital, projects on the back burner?
I know it can be overwhelming to tackle a big project like write a newsletter, create a blog or website, or make an e-book or produce a teleclass. It’s human nature to handle the easy tasks first. But having a system to work on important projects, the ones that make you income and forward your business, will ensure that you’re consistently developing your business.
Here’s how I do it:
- PLAN: I schedule time for the project just like any other important appointment. I make sure that each project gets its own “project time” on my calendar. I treat that appointment as important as a client meeting. No cancelling, no putting it off. That designated time is when I work on that project.
- FOCUS: I clear my desk of distractions, even just making a pile of what’s there and putting it to the side, or if I find I really need a change of scenery, I leave my office and go to a place free of distractions. I find that when I’m at a specific place to work on a specific project, I am focused and inspired knowing I will not be leaving until I have been productive.
- REPEAT: Until the project is complete, I continue to plan, focus and repeat. Knowing your “why” – why are you creating an e-course, what will you do with the blog post once written, knowing why you are teaching a teleclass makes you more aware of your time and lets you assess if you are spending your time wisely.
Make sure you’re not wasting your time on projects that have no purpose. Be strategic choosing your projects, just don’t jump on the bandwagon and spend time creating a video because you read an article that says it’s the cool thing to do. Know your why, plan, focus and repeat, and by following this system you’ll be productive with your time and be spending your time on what really matters.
I’ d love your comments. How do you manage your workload and make sure you’re spending your time wisely?
A powerful thought for a way of life
The past few weeks we’ve had the pleasure of my 92 year old father-in-law staying with us. He wanted to be here for his son’s B-day, (my husband) which was yesterday. We surprised my husband Joe with a skydiving experience- yikes!
Having a guest for 2 weeks straight, especially an elderly one, is not something we are used to, and pushes routine out the window. This experience made me thoughtfully prioritize my days and take into account how to spend my time, as we wanted to be able to spend many quality moments with him, yet we both have a business to manage.
I learned a lot from Bob’s visit; how to sit and be still, the power of quiet conversations, and to appreciate every moment life offers us. Read on for a powerful thought on a way of life:
“This is the beginning of a new day.
You have been given this day to use as you will.
You can waste it or use it for good.
What you do today is important, because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, in its place is something that you have left behind….let it be something good.”
Is Self Employment for You? Take This Simple Test to Find Out
I’m working with a group of small business owners and new entrepreneurs going into business for themselves. As they develop their business plan with me, I can sense their excitement as well as fear.
Because I have years of experience, I am able to quickly pinpoint what their strengths are. I can also spot areas where they will struggle.
I ran across a self assessment test for small business owners titled “Is Self Employment for You?” by Paul Casey. It’s a quick test to see how many skills you have that generally point toward being a successful entrepreneur. I scored 94; this is the “good to very good” scale. It also pointed out the areas where I need improvement.
Personally, I need to work on making decisions more quickly and easily, including executing tasks and organization. One message I consistently give to my clients is to focus on their strengths, outsource what they don’t do well, and improve on the core business competences they are missing. I’ll take my own advice and work on the areas where I need to improve.
Take the test yourself here (it takes just a few minutes) and let me know how you did. I would love to hear your comments and feedback on what you discover.
Jane Morrison, Certified Coach & Trainer, teaches success programs to women entrepreneurs. She empowers women to live their passion and effectively promote themselves. With their improved sales and marketing skills, they become the success they deserve. Let her help you make your dreams come true with confidence, courage and clarity of vision.
Look for her signature program “The Ultimate Step by Step Business Building Success Guide for Women Entrepreneurs” on her website, www.janemorrison.com
Do you have trouble being real?
No matter what you are trying to accomplish, such as getting a job promotion, selling a product, convincing your mate to see your side, being “real” will more likely help you get the job done better.
Being “real” means a few different things.
1) It means being honest and open with your emotions and communication. It means using the old familiar “I” statements. For example, “I think I really deserve this raise. I’ve taken the extra training to advance my skills, I’ve taken on extra assignments, and I’ve gotten rave reviews on my reports.” It’s not always easy to speak up for yourself, but you need to be a strong advocate for yourself.
2) Being “real” also means having the courage to sing your own praises. For example, telling a client prospect about the success your clients have working with you, or mentioning the length of time they stay a customer does not make you a braggart. Instead, it demonstrates the confidence and success you have. It shows that your clients see the high return of investment that your services brings to them, and will impress your prospect also.
3) Being “real” also means being able to share the good and “not so good” moments with others. Being “real” also means that you can make mistakes. One of my most embarrassing moments was when a new client showed up at my home, early in the morning, for her coaching session. I was waiting for her phone call in my office. I had to answer the door in my robe and face her square on, taking responsibility for the mix up about the location of our meeting.
Not exactly the way I wanted to present myself to her!
Being “real” will have you kicking yourself at times, but people like when they know you are authentic. That means they can relate to you, allowing them to trust you more.
So don’t be afraid to show your true colors. You will attract those who relate to you and that’s your perfect customer!
Jane Morrison, Certified Coach & Trainer, teaches success programs to women entrepreneurs. She empowers women to live their passion and effectively promote themselves. With their improved sales and marketing skills, they become the success they deserve. Let her help you make your dreams come true with confidence, courage and clarity of vision.
Look for her signature program “The Ultimate Step by Step Business Building Success Guide for Women Entrepreneurs” on her website, www.janemorrison.com
Are you comfortable at social or networking events?
I also meet many who look uncomfortable and hang in the background.
2) I try to be prepared. I make sure to bring business cards for the networking events, remember B-day cards for my gal pals at the social event, and at least get there in plenty of time for the other functions.
Jane Morrison, Certified Coach & Trainer, teaches success programs to women entrepreneurs. She empowers women to live their passion and effectively promote themselves. With their improved sales and marketing skills, they become the success they deserve. Let her help you make your dreams come true with confidence, courage and clarity of vision.
Look for her signature program “The Ultimate Step by Step Business Building Success Guide for Women Entrepreneurs” on her website, www.janemorrison.com
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