What is a habit? What do you think of when you hear the word habit? If you’re like most people, you hear the word habit and associate something negative with it. Smoking, overeating, and always being late are all negative habits.
However, habits can and do show up as positive, if you know how to train yourself toward this goal. A habit doesn’t have to have negative associations. Many people, in addition to thinking habits are bad, also think new habits are painful. This does not have to be true either, I fact they can be downright fun.
Once you see how habits are beneficial to you and how they will change your life for the better, you will live a fuller, more productive life.
Belief. Ah, that 6 letter word holds such power. If you look belief up in the dictionary, there are different definitions but most state, “Belief isan acceptance that something exists or is true, especially one without proof, trust, faith, or having confidence in (someone or something.” Often, people will view their beliefs as a fundamental truth and this is where it can get tricky.
We are all hard-wired to create beliefs, many of them we are not even aware of. We create beliefs about ourselves, the existence of a higher power, other people and how the world works. Our beliefs allow us to experience and “make sense” of our world almost from the moment we are born. As children, we believe in our parents and that their ability to protect and support us. As we grow, we continue to add layer our beliefs based on what we learn and what we experience.
It's very easy to get caught up in the negativity of people around you, but if you can implement these four simple steps, you'll find yourself having a good day that will rub off on those around you. This will make you a positive influence in the world.
There are many reasons solopreneurs and business owners procrastinate. It could be due to perfectionism, overwhelm, or problems prioritizing. The key to overcoming procrastination is learning what your procrastination style is and how to deal with it. Once you’re armed with this information, you’ll find it easier to defeat procrastination and get back on track. it makes sense that each of us is unique so there is not a one size fits all solution. See which one fits you…
We often think we are communicating effectively and of course, we want people to take action on what we say. So it can be frustrating when we talk and share a message and NOTHING happens. Crickets…. Most likely, you were doing only half of what needs to be done to effectively communicate- the talking part. Listening is the other half – perhaps the better half – of all communication. Unfortunately, most people rarely receive any formal training for how to do it properly. Improving your listening skills can enhance your professional and personal life. Follow these practical steps towards becoming a better listener, even in challenging situations where it's most important.
Everyone says that you should show your personal side, even if you're using social media for your business. Personalizing your content and interactions puts a human face on your business. This is how you build real, authentic relationships. But there are cases where you can be too personal, and you need to steer clear of these or the results could be disastrous.
No “Big Talk”
The type of personal content we share on social media falls under the category of small talk, not “big talk.” You might mention a place you ate today and how it was. You may show a picture of your dog and share a milestone in his or her life. But you would avoid topics like romantic encounters, touchy political issues, or things that annoy you about certain people, unless those topics are a central part of your branding. We have all seen how too much politics has made people cranky and frankly rude to one another- even leading to the “unfriending” behavior that is happening all too frequently.
Sharing (too many) Problems
Venting and complaining about your problems is more likely to annoy than engage. However, there is a right way to discuss problems that can actually boost engagement. The way to do it is to share a problem you faced that is also a common problem of your audience. Get them to discuss the problem with you. Even better, offer a solution to this common problem or ask your audience to share theirs.
In this rush, rush, busy, hurry up world of ours, it is easy to get into overwhelm. Sometimes it feels too hard to stop and spend some quiet time to relax, unwind and find your center. And yet, this is crucial. It is in creating that space that we allow ourselves to feel at peace.
I am often called the “Queen of Busy” because I am a mom to 3 active kids, a business owner, a wife and I also teach communication classes in an MBA program and yet, I rarely feel overwhelmed . So how does the “Queen of Busy” stay out of overwhelm? I start my day by creating a space for peace. I get up early and I start my day sitting in my hot tub. I start my day relaxed and spend time to create my thriving mindset by setting intentions. This allows me to decide how I am going to experience my day. We each get to CHOOSEevery moment of every day and how we respond to what is happening to us. I choose to respond in a positive way that allows me to stay connected and focused on how I was to feel and what I want to achieve.
It is a beautiful day and you are talking a walk in the park. You are following a path when all of sudden, there are large trees blocking your path. You can see the clearing just beyond this massive grove of trees. Then you notice the sign and it says, “Stay on the path and you will be successful in your journey.” You take a step back and notice that the trees are in groups; fruit trees, evergreens and hardwoods and that if you could navigate the different groups, you can stay on the path and reach the clearing on the other side.
Your business (and your life) can often feel like this park. You know where you want to go in your business/life and yet there are so many things to accomplish that you can get “lost in the woods.” However, if you take a step back and focus on what you need to accomplish, you will see that they can be grouped into different projects. By completing each of these projects, you will feel less overwhelmed and reach your desired outcome.
There are three components to a successful project:
1) Begin with the end in mind
2) Set milestones to measure your progress
3) Break it down into smaller pieces
Begin with the end in mind
Before jumping into your project, decide what you want as the outcome. This becomes your target (I like targets so much better than goals but more on that another time.) Then set a deadline. Deadlines can be used to your advantage and are proven to improve your success rate when trying to achieve your goals/targets.
A deadline is a time commitment by which your tasks must be achieved. They serve as a powerful reminder of not only what you are trying to achieve but that there is an end to the process. Project achievement is about setting a goal in a reasonable timeframe and building the plan to get you there. If you do not set a deadline and you leave it open, human nature will allow you to believe that you have unlimited time to achieve the results you desire and procrastination will take over.
It is proven that those who set deadlines (and meet those deadlines) were twice as effectiveat completing projects and meeting their goals as those who didn’t. Deadlines demonstrate commitment, accountability and urgency.
Set milestones to measure your progress
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when trying to achieve a project is to just plow ahead with a grand idea without drilling down the steps you need to take every day to get there. If you don’t set milestones along the way with strong deadlines, you will not accomplish what you set out to accomplish.
Milestones allow you to determine the beginning, middle and the end for your project. Once you set mini-deadlines, you can gauge if you are on track with your desired outcome or if you need to make adjustments along the way. Making adjustments, in a timely manner, allows you to meet your overall goal of completing a successful project.
Milestones also show where you are in relation to your final destination. They keep you motivated to continue along your path. Imagine you are driving on vacation to a place where you know you will have fun and relaxation; you just need to get there. You see the sign that says, “15 miles to your desired location.” You become excited and continue on knowing that you are almost to your destination. Reaching each milestone for your project will keep you excited and motivated until you reach the end. Plan to celebrate each milestone as this will keep you motivated to get to the next one.
Break it down into smaller pieces
So we have determined that the successful completion of a project begins with having the end in mind and setting a deadline. Then you created your signposts to let you know you are on the right track and to keep you motivated. Now, let’s get down to actually working through the project.
Creating a webinar is an example of a project you may want to accomplish. Some of the milestones may include determining an audience and a topic, setting the date, creating the content, creating a landing page for the webinar, creating the follow-up email campaign, presenting the webinar and creating a follow-up strategy to name a few.
Now take your milestone of determining a topic that appeals and is needed by your target audience. How do you know what they want and what topic will provide information that is needed and positions you as an expert? Some of the tasks involved in determining a topic may include:
~ reviewing your emails or blogs for questions from your audience
~ researching what your target audience needs
~ creating a survey to determine what your customers want
By breaking the project down into smaller tasks, you create momentum. When you complete a task you move closer to the completion of your project. Momentum is important when you are working toward a goal. It is important to have consistent “mini wins” to feel successful. Success breeds success and keeps you from becoming overwhelmed by your project.
So the next time you feel that your path is blocked, take a step back and see where you are. Look for the next step toward achieving what you want. After all, it is by taking that one little step that you can often seeing your way “out of the woods.” Keep moving forward and you will reach your destination faster and with greater ease.
Values are a key component of how we think, what we believe and how we show up in the world. When you create you life and business based on what you value, you experience greater connection and passion.
What is Important to you Changes on a Regular Basis
Interestingly, your values can also be a window into how you are feeling on a particular day and thus what is important to you right at this moment. So for fun, take a look and share what are the first 3 words you see. Are you surprised? OR did they reinforce what you already know is going on for you right now. Share what you see and your reaction to it. Consider how you might use this as you move through your day. ENJOY!
I invite you to change your thinking about work/life balance because I think it is an unattainable myth.
Yep, that is right. Work/Life balance is a Myth.
There I have said it. Yes, I know it is one of the most universal sought after ideals. It is not just in North America but it is listed as one of the most important issues around the world. Everyone is seeking work/life balance.
Ah, but does seeking something automatically mean it is attainable?
I say “No!” At least not the way most people are going about work/life balance; as a “to-do” item and another thing that needs to be accomplished. There must be some secret out there to achieving it and if I try a little harder, I will achieve it also. And the game begins trying to find the secret to work/life balance.
There are plenty of people trying to sell you the secret
Everywhere you look there is a magazine article or someone else telling you “The 7 Ways to Achieve Work/Life Balance.” Again another “to do” item and boy, does it feel stressful. Not balanced in the way I want you to feel. What if we looked at balance as a “to be” item and that balance meant feeling a sense of harmony? Now we are getting somewhere that feels a little bit better.
I am not against balance per se but I think there is something much better
I just don’t think that being in balance is good enough. Once you get the seesaw of life “in balance”, something comes along to push you back out of balance. This kind of balance is static. It is a tenuous place to exist and people often are in a place of striving when trying “to balance it all”. So, I invite you to say, “the heck with balance, let’s thrive!” Now thriving in work and life is exciting and allows you experience your work and life in a way that is dynamic.
What exactly does thriving mean?
Thriving is a term we hear a lot about these days. Thriving according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary means “To grow vigorously and/or to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances.” “Despite of” or “because of circumstances”; isn’t that another way of saying “life”. So thriving allows us to do our best work and experience our best life. For years I have talked about Thriving and I like to add that when you are thriving, you are able to take risks; you are able to make mistakes and have “do-overs” so you don’t need to be perfect.
Thriving allows you to think and grow from a place of abundance and possibility. Sometimes thriving means slowing down and nourishing yourself as a plant often does in winter. Thriving is a way of Being instead of a way of Doing and it allows room for peace and harmony to co-exist with mistakes and messiness. All the while supporting you in moving forward toward your goals. And by first “being” you can be more successful at taking action and “doing”.
How do I start to thrive?
If you are ready to thrive, I invite you to visit me here again as I write about tools, topic and tips to help you keep moving forward, because that will create success.
So, back to our myth that work/life balance is attainable. I hope you have decided that work/balance as another “to-do” item is no longer something you desire. I invite you to go beyond seeking balance to a creating harmony so your work and your life will both truly thrive.
