From the monthly archives:

March 2010

Results or Excuses?

March 31, 2010

“Each day you can produce one of two things – either excuses or you have results. Which one do you have today?”
This is a tweet that I recently posted because it really struck a chord with me. Why? Because this is the subject of many conversations I have with clients and colleagues.
So let’s take a look and work out which is true for you:
I want you to think of just *one thing* that is frustrating you in your business right now.
Once you have that ‘one thing’ in mind, what was the next thought that popped into your head?
What came up?

Perhaps one of the following:
- So-and-so hasn’t got back to me yet.
- So-and-so hasn’t got back to me yet
- It’s going to take too much time, money or resources.
- I’m not sure what to do next.
- I don’t think this is right for me.
- I’m feeling lost, confused, unsupported.
All of these thoughts and feelings are quite valid. And, they are all excuses.  You may prefer another word from ‘excuses’, but either way, if you are not progressing forward, making change and getting results, then I would like to suggest that the issue here is not truly any of the above.
In case you were unaware, I asked you to consider  – ‘what’s one thing’ – deliberately, because how we do one ting is most likely how we do everything.
That is what I want to emphasize here – to make you aware of the fact that for all the time that you spend focusing on the external factors as to why something is not working for you, will continue to feel frustrated and stuck.
Here’s an example that my sound familiar to you:
A client of yours may be stalling and waiting for all the ‘ducks to line up’ before they commit to the next stage in their business.  Perhaps they may even be frustrated by what appears to be a lack of support from you or another coach.  Rather than get defensive with this, when this frustration is shared, drill down to the real issue by asking a series of simple questions.

dice-doit
In many cases, your clients don’t take any action, including asking their coach (you) for the support they need. Once they become aware that they have everything they need to move forward, including the very help they came to you for in the beginning, they can often move forward very quickly. They will then start to ask for direction and how they can implement the information they already have, and very quickly they will be moving forward to their goals.
This ‘excuse’ mode probably does not stop here for this client of your.  They most likely find that they are doing the same thing in their personal life with family and friends.  Frustrated by their lack of support, yet, as soon as it is asked for, avenues for assistance and help become very evident.
So let me repeat:
How you do anything is how you do everything.
Think about that.
I’d love to know how this resonates with you. Please leave your thoughts below – and thanks!

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Do you love the idea of working from home but you’re constantly distracted by things such as housework, kids, hubby and friends, and wondering how to handle it?
Working from home certainly allows you many benefits. Think about it: no traffic, commuting or annoying coworkers. But without the right mix of people contact and structure you can easily fritter away your time without the things you need to show for it, such as new clients and lucrative opportunities.
My very first business was run from home as is my current one and I am certain now that I would never trade in my home office for a “real” office, no matter how big my business gets.
Here are my favorite secrets for turning your home into what I call, a “success sanctuary.”

Tip #1 Know When To Close The Door
Putting in place your own boundaries is essential when you work at home, otherwise running a business can consume every waking hour of your life. These boundaries should include decisions about your work and how much you work. I get the most done when I follow a daily ritual. That means I don’t answer phone calls, turn on the computer or answer email until I’ve completed my personal, morning routine.
Likewise, at night I have an end of day ritual that includes shutting down the computer, neatening my desk and updating my to-do list for the next day. Rituals like these give you a feeling of order, which will help you relax during your off hours so you can start up again the next day feeling refreshed and recharged.

Tip #2 Keep Your Home Your Sanctuary
No matter how big your home is, I recommend setting up a separate work area for your business. A private room or area set aside for the sole purpose of  running your business is ideal but if you must share space then set up a screen or some other type of divider to separate your business from the rest of your life. Creating this kind of privacy will help you focus and feel professional.

Tip #3 Take Daily “Energy” Breaks
I tend to set a timer for a one hour block of solid focused time, then when the time is up I will get up and go outdoors for some recharge time. Some business owners crave company. Whichever your preference is, make sure you build that into your day. You’re the “boss” so don’t wait until you feel stir-crazy to take action. I recommend taking a daily social or get-back-to-nature break daily to keep you focused and inspired about building your business.
Tip #4 Let Your Family Know Your Intentions
Women entrepreneurs are easily side-tracked with household demands such as making lunches, laundry, playing referee when your kids aren’t playing nice, etc.
Listen, running a business takes focus, concentration and creativity, which you won’t have if you’re constantly interrupted with the demands of others, even if they’re your family.
It is important to let your family know up front that when you’re working you’re not available to handle their disputes or to “play mum.”  Share with them the importance of growing your business, then ask for their help and support. Let them know EXACTLY what the rules are, such as no interruptions unless the house is on fire or someone is bleeding (think I’m kidding? I’m not!).
Be sure to acknowledge their help in allowing you to grow your business. Above all, do NOT cave in and give up your priorities for the day. Successful businesses are built on creating strong boundaries so now is a great time to practice strengthening yours. Besides, when your family sees that “mum really means business” they’ll respect you and what you’re doing even more, in turn you will be an awesome role model for the people you care most about. Time you spend with them can then be quality time.
Home is Where The Heart Is…
It doesn’t matter whether you’re office is the dining room table or you have a private home office all to yourself, the more these simple tips are practiced  the more focused and professional you’ll feel. Remember that building a successful home based business is a dream that many aspire to and YOU can achieve!

I would love to know how you manage your work at home situation, or the challenges you meet.  I would love you to leave me a comment.

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March 6, 2010

This morning I set out for an exercise session as usual. Because I am away from home for a few day I took the opportunity to head out around a lovely lake here in Perth, Western Australia for a nice run. Last night I had made sure that my ipod was uploaded with my latest [...]

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March 3, 2010

I know, I know.  I can hear many of you saying that you think this social media stuff is all just a lot of hype and just for the kids to send silly messages to one another.  Well, when many of the social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter etc first started, you were probably [...]

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