4 easy tips to try this month

Here are a few easy tips to try this month to improve your business and life!

Send a hand-written note to a client.

How much do you love getting a card in the mail? I know I do! Send a note to a client this month, just letting them know how much you appreciate them. Thank them and take advantage of the opportunity to let them in on whatever exciting things you have upcoming in your biz!

Write a guest blog post.

Writing a guest blog post is a great way to get your name out there and share what you do. Reach out to folks who have businesses that are in alignment with yours, and who you think you can contribute valuable info their audience. Now's your chance to show off your mad skills.

Say "No" more.

This is hard. It’s hard to say no but it’s really important. You have your values, sacred time and family time. You don’t always have to say yes, you can say, "Let me look at my calendar and get back to you," when someone asks for your time. It’s good to think about events and see how they will work on your calendar so you don’t get overwhelmed.

Have an attitude of gratitude.

Spend a few minutes either first thing in the morning or last thing at night reflecting on your day and feel grateful for all you have in your life. I have found that gratitude brings even more abundance into my life.

It's your turn, share in the comments any easy tips you're trying this month!  

Are you a procrastinator? It's time to get to work and reach those goals!

Maybe you have been there...you have a deadline looming. However, instead of doing your work, you are busy checking email, social media, watching videos, reading blogs. You know you should be working, but you just don’t feel like doing anything.

If you’re a chronic procrastinator, you know the pains and stress that come with putting things off. Although you may have the desire to accomplish something, getting the motivation to do it is a different matter. Fortunately, overcoming your procrastination is easy to do when you put your mind to it!

Let's get started! Here are five ways to end procrastination.

1. Break your tasks into little steps

Part of the reason why we procrastinate is because, subconsciously, we find the task at hand too overwhelming for us. So break it down into little parts, then focus on one part at the time. If you still procrastinate on the task after breaking it down, then break it down even further. Soon, your task will be so simple that you will be thinking, “Gee, this is so simple that I might as well just do it now!”

2. Finish the hard stuff first

Mark Twain once said that if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that is probably the worst things that is going to happen to you all day long. Your “frog” is your biggest, most important task, the one you are most likely to procrastinate on if you don’t do something about it. That is the one that makes most of the difference. And once you’ve done your most important task, you’ll find that the whole day will flow much better.

3. Create rewards

Maybe the reason you procrastinate is because you work best under pressure. So what do you do if your projects don’t have any deadlines? Make your own. Set a time that you must complete your project by, and reward yourself at the end of that time!

4. Work in focused batches of time

If you find yourself being pulled off into the depths of daydreams, set a period of time to do nothing but work. Take ten minutes and remove all distractions – your phone, magazines, all social media, your mail – and go into a working frenzy. Work in a focused, perhaps even frantic manner for that short stretch, and watch what happens. Chances are, you’ll get into a groove and keep working at a high pace even when your frenzy time is out. Working to a timer is generally regarded by most experts as being one of the best ways to develop self-discipline and stop procrastination.

5. Just do it, already!

At the end, it all comes down to taking action. You can do all the strategizing and planning, but if you don’t take action, nothing’s going to happen. Reality check: no one has procrastinated their way to success before and that is not going to change in the near future. Whatever it is you are procrastinating on, if you want to get it done, you need to get a grip and do it.

Your turn...What are some of your favorite ways to combat procrastination? Share in the comments below.

PS Still feeling stuck? It could be because you're business needs a good spring cleaning! Check out my 6 Easy Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Biz to get your business systems all refreshed and renewed.

Do you have a business manifesto?

Do you feel you are going in circles with your business sometimes? You get a new idea, start to work on it, change your mind, get another idea...lather, rinse, repeat. Usually, ideas don't work out if they don't align with your business. What you need is some way to test all of your ideas to see if they fit. What you need is a business manifesto.

What is a manifesto?

A manifesto is a formal declaration of what you you believe in, your values, your purpose, and your goals. It is pretty much a mission statement on steroids. This formal declaration will give you a rule in which to make all your business decisions. If it doesn't fit, it doesn't happen.

Step 1: Identify

Your manifesto is made up of your guiding principles. So, in order to write them out, you need to identify what they are. To get your idea muscle pumping, I've got an exercise for you. Using the questions below write down whatever comes to mind for each topic. Brainstorm it out - fast and furious. Don't be worried about what is right and wrong at this point. You'll have time to edit later -- but first, idea generation!  Try to write down five to ten responses for each topic.

• Who are you?
• What do you do?
• What do you believe in?
• What do you want to accomplish?

From your list above, circle the key phrases that excite you and make you all tingly.

Step 2: Organize

Next, start organizing your manifesto in an outline using the key phrases you circled. The way you organize your principles is how you tell your story, so be thoughtful with the order.

Try cutting out your ideas or writing them on a sticky note or note card. It makes it easy to experiment and reorder your ideas quickly.

Step 3: Make it powerful

Now that you've identified and organized your principles, write out your manifesto in sentences using powerful language. A few power words include: amazing, blissful, bold, breathtaking, courageous, daring, excited, magical, spectacular, triumphant, wondrous. You get the idea.

Viola! Now you not only have a badass business manifesto, you have a guide to go by for all your business decisions.

I'd love to hear your manifesto, share it below in the comments!

You Deserve a Break!

Entrepreneurs have a reputation for burning the midnight oil, and with good reason--it takes a lot of time, energy and other resources to make sure your awesome ideas get off the ground and grow into something amazing. But, if you're thinking of skipping your vacation, think again. A break can actually mean a whole lot of improvement in your business and life. I know what you're thinking, I don't have time! I can't leave everything for a week! What about my clients?? Don't worry, we've rounded up a few tips to help you keep your vacay stress-free.

Make a Plan

The more you plan your vacation, the more likely you are to take it. Schedule your time off weeks, or even months, in advance and be sure to tell everyone about it. This works two-fold; people can plan for your absence, and, if you panic and back out at the last minute, you'll be stuck answering everyone's questions of "Aren't you supposed to be away right now?" Who wants to deal with that?

Delegate or Postpone

For each task, including your ordinary day-to-day responsibilities as well as emergency situations that might pop up periodically while you’re gone, decide whether to delegate or postpone your action. To delegate, designate one of your team members  to take on the task in your absence. This is a great opportunity to utilize your Virtual Assistant. Haven't hired one yet? Now is the time! To postpone, deem the task “unimportant,” and know that you’ll handle it only once you get back. Once you've determined how tasks will be handled, you should be worry-free for your getaway.

Disconnect

Disconnecting may seem like simple step, but in reality, it's probably the most difficult. Who else is glued to their smartphone? *raises hand*  When you’re on vacation, it's your chance to disconnect from the world. Turn off your phone, disconnect your Internet and try not to turn on any of your gadgets. Doing so could serve as a gateway back into worrying about work -- it’s almost unavoidable, and who wants that while you're sipping margaritas under a beach umbrella?

Practice

Ok, if the thought of leaving your business for a week sends you into a full blown panic attack, start with baby steps. Schedule an afternoon off to start; turn off your phone and go to a movie or a museum. Once you’ve become comfortable, try taking a single whole day off every once in a while. From there, you can scale to two-day, three-day or even weeklong vacations and more. Like anything else, you’ll get better with practice and experience.

Being an entrepreneur requires significant dedication, but that doesn't mean you're not entitled to a break. In fact, taking some time off is one of the best things you can do for yourself,  your friends and family and, of course, your business. Whether it's a short weekend getaway or a few weeks of deep retreat, going on vacation needs to be on your calendar. The only question now is, where to? 

Tips for Staying Productive, Even When Things Seem Really Hard

Ok, I'm going to be totally honest here, this past week and the election has got me reeling. I'm feeling shocked, overwhelmed, saddened...you name it, I've probably felt it. And I know I'm not alone. My first instinct was to hide and avoid any work, but I knew that wasn't the answer. So, I thought about some ways that would help me, and hopefully others, stay productive even through really hard times.

Ask for help

I know this can be scary, but I promise that asking for help doesn’t make you weak and it can yield wonderful results. If you’re worried about stigma around mental illness (because I can’t pretend it doesn’t exist), you can be vague in your explanation of why you need help. “I’m going through a rough time right now,” might be sufficient. I will say though, I've opened up to a lot of friends and colleagues, and all of them were incredibly understanding and willing to help me out, even if that meant just lending an understanding ear.  Plus, if reach out you may also find working with someone else on a task can make it easier for you to keep going past the point you’d give up if you were alone.

Work in batches

The idea is to do work for twenty minutes, then take a ten minute break. Breaking up work this way can make it feel more manageable. It’s daunting to say, “I’ll work for two hours,” it’s a little easier to view it as six sets of twenty minutes, taken one at a time, with breaks in between. Setting a timer can help keep you accountable during the twenty minutes, and help you focus on the tangible endpoint when you get to rest. If you’re really having a hard time getting started, flip the equation and start with 10/20s, working for ten minutes and resting for twenty. You’ve just got to get started and chip away at your to-do list in increments.

Prioritize

Often when we’re feeling overwhelmed and going through a hard time, we dwell on every single thing we have to do, mentally piling minute task onto minute task until we’ve built an insurmountable mountain of a to-do list. The reality is often less daunting than we make it out to be. Before you go to bed or when you wake up, write down the three things that are most important to accomplish that day. Then focus on those three things. Obviously, you may have more than three things that have to get done some days, but even then, you can prioritize.

Get out of the house

If you can, I really recommend trying to get out of the house most days. Take with you only what you need and go somewhere where you can breathe and focus. It doesn’t have to be a library. It can be a coffee shop, a park, a friend’s home, anywhere where it’s a little easier for you to work. This can also help remind you there’s a world out there and you are capable of being a part of it. Sometimes the momentum of getting out of the house can give you the boost you need to get stuff done.

Most importantly, take care of yourself

Going to your therapy appointments, taking your medication, resting, that’s how you stay productive. By taking care of yourself. By making sure you’re getting all the help you need and using every tool available to stay afloat. Because if you’re drowning in your sadness and rejecting every life vest available, you won’t be able to get anything done. More than that, you deserve to care for yourself. Be gentle with yourself. 

Those are my reminders to staying productive during tough times, what are some of yours?

Stop Living for the Week-end! 9 Ways to Make Everyday a Little Awesome

Yep, we love Fridays (Friyays?!). We love the heck out of them. We rock the weekends but Monday is always looming...it's only two days for crying out loud! But here's the thing, you don't have to live like that. Wouldn't it be better if instead of living for the weekends we were living full-time?

Of course. So here’s a list of nine ways to make every day a bit more awesome, so you can stop living for the weekends and have something to look forward too besides Friyay.

Get Enough Sleep

I'm going to share a secret here, I'm not the best sleeper; I've struggled with insomnia since college.  A few years ago I discovered sleep hygiene (yes, that's a thing), and it's changed my life. Try it. Change your sheets, take a hot shower, drink some tea and celebrate going to sleep.

Go Out Mid-Week

Yes, I know it’s a school night. But hey, now that you’re getting more sleep (see above) you’ve got no excuses to stay out a little late.

Make big plans for a Wednesday: go to a gig, meet up with friends and stay up too late drinking vino, or catch a show. (Just make sure you have coffee ready for the next morning and you’re good to go!)

Use Your Good Stuff Everyday

Pop open the champers you got as a housewarming gift three years ago. Drink it out of a fancy glass (not a coffee mug as I occasionally get caught doing.)

Wear your diamonds, spritz your favorite perfume, burn your candles; stop saving your good stuff for a special day and make today a special day.

Do the hard jobs first

I know I’m not the first person to tell you this, but it’s important because it’s true. Do your hard jobs, the things you’re dreading most on your to list, first.

I find that when I finally do something I’ve been avoiding, I get a little buzz – a mix of relief and a sense of accomplishment, that helps carry me through the day. Plus, once you’re done your tough jobs, the rest of the day will seem easy.

Practice gratitude

If I’m feeling a little meh and throwing myself a little pity party (oh whhyyyyy must I get out of bed at this ungodly hour…), I try and pull myself together by finding gratitude.

A common idea is to write or name 3 things that you’re grateful for every day; then when I’m feeling cranky or can see a bad mood coming, I open the list and get reminded of how much awesomeness is in my life.

Take breaks

Confession – I am really, really bad at this; 90% of the time I eat lunch at my desk. But, when I do take a ‘real’ break … oh my goodness. The day is so much better. So I’m going to try harder to take my advice and you should too.

If you really struggle to get away for a proper break, at least get up from your desk more often. Make a coffee, stretch,  extra bonus points if you can go outside for a few minutes. While you’re there look at the clouds and see how much better you feel about your Tuesday.

Make your home an awesome place to be

Even if you are just sitting on the couch, make it feel special. Burn incense or your favorite candles, get fresh flowers. Turn the TV off, put on some music, and chill out. I recently bought a record player and I'm loving spending time listening to records I "borrowed" from my parent's collection. When's the last time you listened to an album? Give it a try.

Stop doing so much housework

And I don’t mean ‘stop doing so much during the week and leave it for the weekend instead’ – I mean find ways to really do less.

How? Here are 3 ideas:

1. Hire someone to help. If you don’t think you can afford it, check your priorities and ask if there is something else you could give up instead.

2. Own less crap. Seriously, this has been a huge one for me the past few years. If you own less crap, you have less to clean.

3. Lower your standards. Ask yourself what can be done less often? (No one will judge you.)

Stop counting down to the weekend

Lastly, stop counting down to the weekend. When you’re counting down, you’re telling your brain today and everyday till Friday is crap and not worth living. Be present and enjoy today.

Building Up Your Resiliency

Rejection and failure are tough, anyway you look them. We've all been in that really vulnerable place where we feel like a loser, but it's how we bounce back from that and re-start that makes all the difference. Think of the people you most admire — many of them didn’t get where they are just by sailing through life without any negative experiences or failures. Most of them distinguished themselves by their ability to get right back up every time they fall. But resilient people aren't born that way or have magical skills that the rest of us normal folks weren't blessed with; they developed it and work at it every day! Here are a few ideas to get you going on the right path, so the next time you're knocked down, it's not quite as hard to dust yourself off.

Be Realistically Optimistic and Keep Things in Perspective

Building resilience isn't about blind optimism. Rather than looking only on the bright side and pushing away negative emotions, resilient people let themselves experience what they’re feeling in any given situation, whether it’s good or bad. They don't try to push the negative feelings away, rather they accept that it's part of life. Try to consider stressful situations in the bigger picture. Keep a long term perspective and avoid blowing things out of proportion.

Build Up Your Support System

When you get knocked down hard, it’s important to have the resources to help you get back up again, which includes having people to lean on. Build up your relationships with those close to you that you know you can trust, and will be there for you when you call them in a complete funk and/or panic. My oldest brother is my biggest cheerleader, but will also kick me in the butt when I need it; we all need a person like that in our life.

Notice and Appreciate the Little, Positive Things

Notice and appreciate the little joys and victories — which will keep you from feeling like “everything” is going wrong. Remember, there's always a little positive in every day, even if it's teeny tiny and hard to see. Heck, sometimes my morning coffee is the best part of my day, but I accept that and know that tomorrow will bring new positive things.

Keep Growing and Learning

Seek out growth experiences that boost self-reliance and individual decision-making skills, this will give you confidence in your ability to bounce back from failure. Those who have mastered the art of resilience know that setbacks and challenges can be our most powerful learning opportunities. Some of the world’s most successful people have been fired from their jobs, and used the experience to learn something about themselves.

Always be Grateful

Gratitude boosts well-being--those who are thankful may enjoy better physical health and mood than those who focus on hassles and complaints. Every day spend a few minutes writing down everything you are grateful for. While doing this, allow your body to open up and notice what it feels like. Try to do this daily for 30 days and see if you notice a difference in seeing the positive in things, even when things go wrong.

My Top 3 Favorite Inspiring Podcasts

I have a confession, I was slow to get on board to the podcast trend, but, now I freaking love them! Why did I wait so long?? I mean, I love reading blogs but nothing beats being able to go on a long walk while listening to your favorite podcast.

I chose these three because I wanted to share my favorites for when I'm feeling a little un-motivated. We've all been there, right? These podcasts provide inspiration and make you WANT to get moving on your goals. They're filled with brilliant, amazing people.

Just a few of the many reasons why podcasts rock:

• They allow you to multi-task while learning.
• They help you learn ten times as much stuff in half the time it would usually take you to read a blog post, magazine or eBook.
• When you work from home it can be a little lonely. You don't have the office chatter, the workplace friendships or the general buzz of your peers like a typical corporate job. When you listen to a podcast and hear the voices of entrepreneurs you admire, you don't feel so alone.

Ok, on to my favorites of the moment.

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Happier is a podcast where author Gretchen Rubin and her sister Elizabeth Craft discuss how to build habits that promote happiness, and draw on their own experiences while doing so. Gretchen Rubin has this amazing ability to discuss happiness (including ideas on how to create more of it in your own life) without being hokey. A big plus in my book.

Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert

The podcast Magic Lessons is a continuation of the ideas she talks about in her book of the same title; how to live a creative life despite your fears and doubts. It’s all about living your best life, and creating the life you want to lead. It’s filled with really powerful conversations about creativity and how to be the best you. Plus, she has some amazing people on (think: Cheryl Strayed and Brene Brown).

Girlboss Radio with Sophia Amoruso

I have another confession (apparently I feel like sharing today), I have a total girl-crush on Sophia Amoruso. (Watch for an upcoming blog post about her book #Girlboss, because, I just can't get enough). This podcast is all about amazing women. Each week Sophia interviews great girlbosses who have made a difference in the world, sharing lessons they've learnt along the way.

Be on the lookout for an upcoming blog on educational and information podcasts for entrepreneurs, but I wanted to start with sharing those that get me motivated and moving in the right direction. I'd love to hear what some of your favorites are!

Don't Stress--Handle Difficult Conversations Like a Pro

Life would be so much easier if we just didn’t have to have “the talk.”

Some of us have made dodging difficult conversations an art form while others dive into them like a bull in a china shop. There is no easy way of having a conversation with someone that may very well hurt their feelings, put them on the defensive, or make you feel uncomfortable. However, depending on your approach, hard conversations with others can actually lead to personal breakthroughs, mutual understandings, and can even strengthen relationships rather than destroy them. Having a difficult conversation with a client is bound to happen at some point, so brush up on this skill now.

Remember: People aren't mind readers

In both personal and professional relationships, the other party does not know what you’re thinking unless you tell them. No matter how obvious you think your being about the problem, until you hold a conversation, not all of the information will be out in the open. In all seriousness, the offending party probably doesn’t know that they are doing something that upsets you, so holding a conversation is the first step to finding a solution.

Do note: confrontational conversations aren’t arguments. They are used to bring issues to the table in a calm and coherent way to produce some kind of desirable result.

Take a Breather

When you feel upset or otherwise emotionally charged about a situation that involves the other person, it can make having a difficult conversation feel that much more difficult. Emotions can take over leading to a total breakdown of the conversation and leaving the situation completely unresolved. You may say things you don’t mean, feel like you weren’t being heard, or cause the other person to get defensive.

Angry about something and want to call the person out right when they upset you? Think again. Wait 24 hours if possible, and an hour at the very least. The goal of confrontation isn’t to yell at someone, but to find a solution that works for both of you.

Always Have Them Face to Face

In our technology-driven world, it’s easier to send a text or email to say what we can’t say in person. The problem with this approach is that online communications can be taken out of context and be completely misinterpreted. Without human components like tone of voice, body language, and personal presence it’s hard to get the complete story.

If you find an online or text conversation is leading into an uncomfortable space, stop and redirect. You could say something like: “I sense this conversation is going in a direction that might be better spoken about in person. It’s important to me that we continue this. Can we find some time to talk more in person?” If an in-person conversation is not possible, speaking by phone is your next best option.

Plan Out Your Points and Have a Solution Planned

Be able to succinctly address the issue that’s bothering you. Try to make this less about emotion (unless the issue truly is about emotion) to make the conversation most constructive. Don’t just state the issue, but also state the requested solution.

Consider the Other Person's Point of View

Sometimes we may come into conversations with our own one-sided point of view. This can be limiting and doesn’t take the other person into consideration. There are always two sides to a story but if we don’t put ourselves in the other person’s shoes, we will never get the full picture.

Look at the big picture. Maybe the communication breakdown was because you didn’t give clear directions. When you are willing to see the other person’s perspective, you learn what you can do to improve and move the relationship forward. If possible, get an outsiders take on the situation; a fresh set of eyes might help you see things more clearly.

Similar to other soft skills, it takes time to be comfortable with confrontational conversations. Follow these few steps to continue maintaining relationships and hopefully working towards what works best for everyone. What conversation have you been avoiding that you can now have with a little more ease?

Getting Past Social Media Burnout

Ok, I can't be the only one who sometimes feels completely overwhelmed by all the different social media platforms out there, and the pressure to be a rock star on all of them. Who can keep up with this?? I know I struggle and I have a feeling there are others out there who feel the same (I can see you nodding your heads), so let's chat about a few ways to avoid that feeling and get back on track.

Limit Your Social Networks

Let's be honest, you don't need to have an account on every platform out there; you DO NOT need to be everywhere. Pick a few that really resonate with you and focus your efforts. When you're using social media for business, determine which channels include your target audience and focus on creating an active, engaging presence on those.

Think Quality Over Quantity

This ties in with limiting your accounts. On your business accounts, your audience would rather see a few thoughtful posts a week than countless photos of what you're eating and your vacation pics (you're really just making us jealous, so please stop). Also, don't be afraid to curate content, if someone else's blog or article speaks to you and you think your audience would appreciate it too, then share it! Plus, it's a great way to connect with your colleagues, and they will be likely to turn around and share your awesome content in return.

Work in Batches

Plan and prepare! You MUST have a strategy for your posts or you will definitely lose steam. Make lists of what you are going to post. KNOW what you are going to share a week from now. Will things change? Yes! But you sure won’t miss a day if you know what’s coming. To be efficient with your time, create graphics and edit photos in batches, write out your post descriptions, gather links and be ready to go. There are a number of really great, user friendly, scheduling programs out there. Pick one, learn the ins and outs and you'll be on your way to batching heaven.

Focus on Your Existing Followers

Yes, we all know that social media mavens who have thousands of followers and we think, what the heck? Why am I not attracting that many people? Don't sweat it, it's better to build a relationship with your existing followers, and really understand what they're looking for. From there, you can create and deliver thoughtful, relevant posts. Always try to think from the perspective of your client. What do they need to know? What inspires them? Motivates them? Amuses them? Post that stuff!

Set a Schedule and Boundaries

Here's where things get tricky; yes, I know how addicting Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., is. But here's the thing, you NEED to set a boundary for yourself on this. Promise yourself that will stop checking your phone at a certain time and eliminate the mindless scroll.  Focus instead on relaxing, spending time with your significant other if you have one, etc. One of the boundaries that I have set for myself is not checking social media on my phone when I am with friends (or family.) I want to be fully present when I am with them, not mindlessly scrolling through feeds. Also, it's ok to unfriend, unfollow or block folks who are negative or are stressing you out. Life is too short for that drama.

Schedule Time to Connect with People in Real Life

Finally, and probably most importantly, don't let your real, in-person connections with those around you fall to the wayside. Sure it's great (and easy) to connect with people over social media, but it will never be the same as hearing some one's voice and seeing their face. In person. Schedule a weekly coffee date with a friend and plan a get together with those close to you. Put these things in your calendar. Call your friend. Call your sibling. Send some one a card via snail mail just because.

What do you think? Can you try a few of these tips to get you out of your social media funk? Let us know how it goes. Plus, always remember that we're here to help you out, so let's chat!