Thinking of Starting Your Own Business? Consider this....

You’ve joined the “I am going to be my own boss; hear me roar” movement.  

You’re ready to take a leap into the world of entrepreneurship.

Memes from the Internet that read “Design your own life, or someone else will,” or “Be the boss babe you were meant to be,” have become your daily mantra.

You’ve got those entrepreneurial juices flowing, you’re excited, and now it’s time to get prepared.  Some things to consider before taking the leap:

1. Financial Resources:    

The Dream: You watched a free online webinar that gave you all the top tips on how to earn a gajillion dollars by following a few easy steps.  That’s a cute idea.  

The Reality: Fatten up your bank account before you leaving your job or invest in a rental space for your new Puppy Fluffing Business. Once you leave that squishy, safe place in which you are employed by a well-funded entity, you will have “where is the money going to come from-induced stress.”  Be prepared by having your financial safety net secure and ready.  Talk with a financial planner and/or an accountant who can help you strategize the best ways to move forward safely with the resources you currently have.  

2. Time:

The Dream: You went ahead and bought that brand new hovercraft golf cart you’ve wanted, because you started a new blog, which you’ll be working on from 8:00 – 10:00 PM after the kids have gone to sleep and the wife is busy watching The Crown.  Obviously, you’ll be rolling in the dough when Amazon starts begging to put their adverts on your page.

The Reality: Mad props for the time blocking structure, but newbies who want results realize that they must eat, breathe, and sleep their new project.  There are ways to do this without losing your mind. (Shameless plug, click here for a free consultation). If you want to be the next Arianna Huffington or Blake Mycoskie, plan to restructure your day in a way that will promote productivity, while still leaving you time to watch The Crown with your lady.  

3. Continuing Education

The Dream: You read a book by the hottest motivational author of the day.  Now, you are ready to chase your dream because said author encouraged you to pursue something that excites you.  You are passionate about computers, so this makes you a computer repair expert.  

The Reality: But…are you an expert on marketing? How about networking, sales, bookkeeping, scheduling, client management, real estate law, copyrights, organizational structure, or employee development?  Just to name a few.  Seek mentors, surround yourself with experts and create a team of people who will encourage, sharpen and guide you.  Classes, seminars, books, podcasts and more books and podcasts are a must for you to become the successful businessperson you want to be.  Get ready…school’s in session.

Turn those dreams into realities by approaching this new season with wisdom and preparation.  The great news is this: it can be done! It is full of mind-blowing lessons and life-giving partnerships.  While there will be muddy waters, there will also be moments that energize your determination, resilience and capability.  

Apply these practical steps to make the path a more predictable one.

Need some help developing plan?

How to Manage Brain Overload

The onset of fall us upon us (unless you’re in South Florida like me, then fall comes in January).

But…the fall season is in full swing with schools starting, pumpkin and cinnamon everything in stores and people already making holiday travel plans. It feels like life goes from 0 to 60 overnight once this time of year comes around.

I have the privilege of coaching educators. In case there’s any question about it, I’m here to confirm that teachers are in fact superheroes. They work from sun up to sun down to ensure that our children’s brain, hearts and bodies are nurtured with the greatest of care. With school starting these last few weeks, I have worked with a variety of these superheroes and have come across a consistent dose of brain overload.

This brain overload though, isn’t restricted to just teachers. It affects all of us; just in different seasons.

What’s the best way to handle life and work when we feel like there’s just too much to do and not enough time?

1. Block off some time.

Time? Who has that? I’ve said it so many times and I’ll continue to scream it from the rooftops: in order to make time, we must take time. The only way we will get things done is if we take a small amount of time each week, or each day to organize our priorities. This will look different for everyone, so try a few different strategies until you find one that works for you. You might benefit from a Monday morning weekly planning. Or, each night before bed, write a list of what you’d like to accomplish the follow day. There are many different ways to accomplish brain organization, and it doesn’t require a lot of time.

2. Schedule Wisely

With a lot to do, and lots of information coming our way, we have to realize that our brain power is a limited resource. Though it is complex and magnificent, it only has enough mojo to handle a certain amount of concepts at a time. As Neuroscientist David Rock says, we should “schedule blocks of time for different modes of thinking.” Different parts of the brain are activated based on our activity, and each part requires different types of energy. That being the case, you should schedule your hardest tasks first, and do your best to avoid distractions. In order to process all the information coming your way, allow yourself blocks of time to indulge in distractions: catching up with a colleague, social media, a trip to the vending machine.

3. Take Breaks

A trip to the vending machine does a lot more for you than you think. It helps reset your ability to focus and create. Allowing parts of your mind to turn off gives them time to recharge. You’ll then be primed and ready to kick butt when you revisit your task. As you work your way down the to-do list, in the middle of an intense discussion, or when you start to become fuzzy due to a lack of nutrition, don’t hesitate to stop what you’re doing and allow yourself a few minutes to breath (or eat M&Ms). When we give ourselves this opportunity, we will have both the physical and mental stamina to get more done and do it well.

If you don't feel overwhelm now, great! Chances are you, you will at some point. Get ahead of that by implementing these ideas now...while things are easier. Then, if life and work become crazy, you'll have already mastered the tools needed to accomplish tasks without losing your mind.

Don’t let the overwhelm of life and work control you. You have the ability to take charge and structure your day and tasks in a way that will keep you calm, focused and productive.

Need Help Getting Your Brain Overload Under Control?

Redefine Your Career Climb

I was recently a part of a conversation between two lovely gentlemen, we will call them Larry and Ben.  Larry, an older man, very well established in the business community was giving young Ben some well-intended advice. Larry’s parting words to Ben were, “keep working your way up that ladder, son.”  Ben puffed up his shoulders, slapped a convincing grin on his face and answered with a hearty, “yes, I plan to, sir!” 

Larry walked away. Ben turned to me, rolled his eyes, let out a huge sigh and said “What a joke; I’m not climbing up anyone’s ladder.”

I’ve been thinking about that moment a lot.  We are all on a ladder, working our way towards some end.  The idea of “the ladder,” is a good one, but is need of a modern interpretation. 

Historically, the idea of climbing the ladder has been used to describe advancing in the hierarchy of a large business.  In recent years, climbing the ladder implies that a person is “moving up,” by growing in whatever their work may be.  It used to mean a move from a lower position, to a higher paying one.  Now, it means a vertical or linear advancement that gets one closer to his or her goal.  

Let’s look at three ways to approach whatever ladder we are on:

1. Direction:  Where is your ladder taking you? It would surprise you how many people are stumped by this question. When climbing the ladder, whether it is our own, or someone else’s, we should be clear about what is at the top for us. What is it you want to accomplish by doing the work you’re doing? Maybe it’s becoming a partner at your firm, or maybe it’s to learn new skills before heading in a different direction. Either way, in order to work well and work with intention, you must have a clear idea of what the end of the ladder you’re on looks like.

2.Integrity: Have you ever climbed up a tall ladder? What are two things you need to prevent a fall? A stable structure to lean on and stability at the base.  Once you have decided on your ladder, look at who built it, who is maintaining it and what they are leaning it on.   How is your ladder used to benefit others? You should feel confident about your climb if the makeup of the ladder is reliable and respectable. There are many ladders out there and the ones that are worth your efforts should be stable.

3. Size: You’ve decided on a ladder, and confirmed that it’s a safe situation.  This is the one area everyone needs to consider at different times of his or her climb: is the ladder so big that you won’t have the energy to get to the end? We must identify what we want at the end, and then divide the rungs into small sections, each taking us to smaller, achievable goals. This will help us have sustainable momentum and a smoother climb.  When we experience the fruit of our hard work, we are more inclined to keep going.

Everyone wants to feel that they are in control of what they do.  Keep in mind that any work you are doing is good for growth and learning.  Taking inventory of what ladder you’re on, how it’s built and how to approach it will keep you clear-minded and confident. Happy climbing!

Want help working through these ideas? I would love to talk.

5 Must Reads for Entrepreneurial Newbies

In your newfound business adventure you will find there is a growing need for knowledge.  The growth of your business is dependent upon the growth of the one(s) driving it. While time is a limited asset among new entrepreneurs, it is crucial that intentional hours are set aside for personal and professional development. The wisdom you can gather from the experiences of others is one of the most beneficial ways to fire up your growth potential.  Here are five books I recommend most to my business and career clients.  They are written by expert entrepreneurs and chock full of proven methods to get you started.

1. Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average, and Do Work That Matters

by Jon Acuff

For a swift kick to the bum to get you moving along, Start is the perfect resource.  It caters to individuals who want to do more with their lives, get the most out of their work and build the confidence to dream big and act boldly. If you are looking for a motivational powerhouse of a book, you will find it in Start. Wall Street Journal best-selling author Jon Acuff, lays out 5 stages illustrating the road to success.   The book will engage you and stir in you the courage you need to stop thinking and start doing.  To hear more from Jon about how work can be awesome, click here.

“People are mistaken when they think chasing your dream is a selfish thing to do. As if perhaps being average is an act of humility. As if perhaps wasting the talents you were given is proof that you're a considerate individual,"  Jon Acuff

2. How to Win Friends and Influence People

 by Dale Carnegie

If there was ever a guide on how to interact with others, this is it.  Carnegie, a life-long student in human behavior, speaks to the masses on using creative and proven ways to cultivate relationships, win people to your ways of thinking, increase your influence and arouse enthusiasm in others. As an entrepreneur, understanding the human condition and how to appeal to it will boost your networking and marketing capabilities.  Carnegie has gifted the world with this work of relatable anecdotes and golden nuggets of knowledge. Along with his helpful books, Carnegie offers a variety of phenomenal courses and seminars.  Check them out here.

“If some people are so hungry for a feeling of importance that they actually go insane to get it, imagine what miracle you and I can achieve by giving people honest appreciation this side of insanity,” Dale Carnegie

3. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You

by John C. Maxwell

While leadership might not have been the role in which you saw yourself, leadership becomes part of the DNA of any entrepreneur.  Who better to learn leadership from than a true leadership expert, public speaker, pastor and coach? John Maxwell mixes decades of personal leadership experience with historical studies to present 21 principals that are sure to provide personal growth as you prepare to lead others. John offers numerous other books, and a great blog which you can check out here.

“People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care,” John C. Maxwell

4. Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook, How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World

by Gary Vaynerchuk

This book, and good ol’ Gary V. make my heart wings flutter. Do yourself a massive favor and follow him on Twitter: click here to connect with Gary V. With Jab Jab, Gary provides an excellent resource on the different ways each social media platform functions.  With digital marketing becoming a primary promotion tool, entrepreneurs have struck gold with this book.  Gary, a branding pioneer and multi media expert, gives his readers the tools they need to balance authentic relationship building and marketing.  With this easy to read guide, entrepreneurs will find a clear and comprehensive road map to the social media world. 

"Great marketing is all about telling your story in such a way that it compels people to buy what you are selling," Gary Vaynerchuk

5. Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us

by Seth Godin

The inception of the Internet has opened up a world of connection not possible a few short years ago.  Your target market, those you have brainstormed about, studied, and created plans for are a few clicks away.  Seth Godin (another Twitter feed you must follow: click here for that), a successful entrepreneur, author and business blogger gives his readers 3 steps to creating a tribe: the desire to change things, the ability to connect a tribe, and the willingness to lead.  Godin makes the impossible seems possible.  He illustrates the need we all have to follow someone, or something and spurs you on to become that someone worth following. 

“In unstable times, growth comes from leaders who create change and engage their organizations, instead of from managers who push their employees to do more for less,” 
Seth Godin

Want to learn more about personal and professional development?