Strategy

That’s a Little Better…

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One of my favorite books is The Slight Edge by Jeff Olsen. It is a fabulous book about how small actions taken consistently over time lead to big results. I’ve seen the results in my own life of how true this is! And I recently came up with a simple way to add consistent improvement, as well as consistent action, to each day.

I was about to head out to the store, and thought, “I’ll take my vitamins later.” Which really means, “I won’t take my vitamins today.”

Then the gentle thought popped into my head, “Can I do this a little better?” The answer, of course, was simple: take the vitamins now.

Revolutionary, right? Well, no, maybe not. But it hit me that this is a great phrase to help keep me on the path of continuous improvement, without getting overwhelmed by it all. If it’s that simple, why don’t we do this more?

Well, in the moment, “a little better” seems insignificant. What is walking an extra 5 minutes going to do? What is adding vegetables going to get me? How is calling one more client going to change my income? Why should I be kind to the grocery clerk?

We want instant gratification, but that’s not what this is about. The results of continuous improvement come over time. Walking a little more allows you move more freely, and keep up with grandkids. Eating veggies can keep you healthier later in life. Calling your clients can build a support team of raving fans who make your business operate like a well-oiled machine because they consistently refer to you. Being kind lifts up everyone around you.

When you look to do just a little better in every situation, your actions are not dramatic, but in the end, the results ARE revolutionary.

So keep the phrase in mind – “Can I do this a little better?” Walk for 5 more minutes. Eat extra veggies. Call one more client. Offer a kind word when none is required.

Can you see how this could be revolutionary in your life?

New Year’s Resolution

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I’m reading a book I recommend highly, The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz. This book poses the idea that you must manage your energy – not time – in four key areas (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual). Less than 50 pages in, I read a story that made me stop short.

The story described a man, William, who was at his peak mental energy in the mornings. To take advantage of this high-performance time of the day, he would work with high intensity non-stop until midday. He estimated he got 70% of his work done before his midday break. But by early afternoon, his energy was spent and he had little ability to focus. By the end of the day, he dragged home and had no energy for his family in the evenings. His fatigue was so pronounced that he went to see a doctor to see if there was a medical issue, but all tests came back negative.

I read that example and identified – big time! And that draggy feeling in the afternoon? It’s a self- perpetuating cycle. My peak time is in the morning, so I cram everything in, which leaves me depleted for the afternoon, which tells me I better cram everything into the morning… and on the cycle goes.

The authors reflected that William was experiencing the most common performance barrier they encounter in their consulting business. Here was their solution:

“In the aftermath of his work with us, William made one relatively simple change in the way he worked. He began taking a break every 90 to 120 minutes, during which he ate something, drank some water and took at least a brief walk. Based on this change alone, within two weeks William estimated a 30 percent increase in his energy in the afternoons.*”

I love simple solutions, and this one was perfect for me. And because I’m shifting gears in my business so dramatically next year, I realized that I absolutely must master this new rhythm ASAP. In 2012, there are going to be so many unknowns, that all I could think is that I had better get a jump start on this resolution thing while I have the time to really incorporate it into my life.

Not to be an overachiever or anything, but I’m starting this New Year’s resolution now. As a matter of fact, I started last week and am already feeling better about my work rhythms and focus.

The moral of the story? Don’t put off until the New Year what can benefit you today! (and get a copy of The Power of Full Engagement!)

* Excerpt taken from ThePower of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, copyright 2003.

Guest Blog: Are You Ever Stressed?

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Thank you to Cindy Caldwell who contributed today’s excellent blog!

Did you think “Duh!” when reading the title of this article?

Of course, we all encounter stress. And in the business world, for many it has become more pronounced than ever before. Today I want to provide you with an alternative and a new perspective.

A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience. With a raised glass of water, everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, ‘half empty or half full?’ She fooled them all.

“How heavy is this glass of water?” she inquired with a smile.

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you’ll have to call an ambulance. In each case it’s the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”*

Most of us know that holding onto stress isn’t good. Being sure to get a good night’s rest is very helpful to managing it. Yet in the fast paced world of business, even after a good night’s sleep, often the stressful moments can get the best of us.

Go here to read another approach to managing stress moment by moment – when the boss drops a bomb on you – or any time the moment changes from normal to stressed.

Have comments? Go to the Elegant Inner Guidance Facebook Fan Page and share your comments and insight.

*Excerpt from an email shared by my friend Jean M.

Cindy Caldwell is  an Authentic Happiness Coach/Consultant helping the heart-centered business woman who loves her job but not the corporate world to create a career that resonates with her soul.

Get a FREE 15 min. consulting session at www.ElegantInnerGuidance.com.

Determine, Engage, Ignore

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So last week, I talked about that feeling of having One Foot On the Gas, and One On the Brake, and I promised this week to include some ideas on how to survive that gear-grinding feeling.

It boils down to this: focus on the things you have control over. And the things you have control over are your ACTIVITIES, not your results.

You have no control over the state of the country’s economy, or someone saying no to you, or whether or not people return your phone calls. What you DO have control over are things like MAKING phone calls, WRITING articles, SENDING emails, ASKING for business, ATTENDING networking functions. All of these things are 100% within your control.

I’m going to give you a simple 1-2-3 to make your business activities more effective, easy and profitable.

1.  Determine which activities (the ones you have 100% control over) lead to the results you want.

Look over your newest 10 clients, and determine which activities led them to your door. Do you see a trend between making phone calls and receiving referrals? Sending an e-newsletter and making sales?

2.  Engage in these activities consistently.

Decide how many times you’ll engage in these activities, and do them consistently. For instance, when I was in real estate, my activities were: 1 mailing to my database a month, 1 client lunch per week, 5 phones calls per day, and 3 note cards per day. This consistent activity led me to triple my business in one year.

3.  Ignore the stuff that is beyond your control.

It’s almost like you have to put blinders on to block out the loud, insistent negativity and fear that comes with all of the things that are beyond your control. But do it you must if you don’t want to go crazy!

And guess what happens when you decide, engage, and ignore?

  • You feel more relaxed, knowing you’re investing in the highest return on investment activities
  • You have more time in your day
  • New clients seems to come out of nowhere

Sounds too easy, right? Well, it tripled my real estate income one year, so easy or not – it works!

If the above concepts seem like good ideas, but you just can’t wrap your head around how to get them integrated into your business on a consistent basis, please contact me, and we can talk about how I might be able to help. I offer short-term (often just one session) business training that lets my clients establish simple action plans that yield consistent results.

What’s the big deal about little wins?

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This week I was chatting with a friend, and I asked him how his business was faring. He said that he’s very excited, because he’s going to hit his goal of making six figures this year. I, of course, enthusiastically congratulated him.

He then mentioned that when he shared the same news with our business coach, she suggested that he now add a zero to that income. She’s always encouraging us to stretch our vision beyond our comfort zone!

But my first thought was, “Good grief, shouldn’t he celebrate the win? Six figures is nothing to sneeze at!”

And then I had to laugh at myself, because I RARELY celebrate my own wins. I’m more like my coach – show me the next challenge! But there is a very good reason why we MUST identify and acknowledge our accomplishments.

In her book, “Wander Woman,” Marcia Reynolds, an organizational psychologist, encourages the concept of Appreciative Dialogue. In the book she goes into delicious detail about how the brain physically works, and how to make lasting shifts. But in a nutshell, Appreciative Dialogue is consistently identifying and acknowledging what you’re doing right (as opposed to dwelling on falling short). When you do this, your brain adapts to integrate the lessons you’ve learned, changes occur more quickly, and are longer lasting. (great book, by the way!)

I incorporated this habit a few weeks back. I’m not perfect at it, but it has made each day a little more fun, and I’ve been more motivated. It’s like getting a gold star at the end of the day – a gold star for my mind!

I encourage you to incorporate acknowledging your wins on a daily basis. Maybe you picked up the phone and fired a client. Maybe you finally completed a book, or started a newsletter, or hired an assistant.

My win? Rain or shine, in sickness or on vacation, I’ve sent out my eZine once a week, every week of 2011.

Acknowledge your own wins here on my blog, and we’ll be sure to give you lots of appreciation and encouragement!

Banging Your Head Against the Wall

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We all know the analogy of banging your head against the wall, and how good it feels when you stop, right? In that same vein, over the past several years, I noticed that right before I experience a great big a-ha moment, I had days, weeks, or even months of head-banging frustration. Wanting to get things to move and change right now right now right now!

Not that I’m impatient or anything.

Oh, and did I forget to mention that I would never remember this pattern in the midst of the frustration? Only in hindsight. Which is ever so helpful. NOT.

The other day I was in the place where most of my insights come up (the shower), and I started feeling that familiar tension… I was stressed, with no real reason to be, and just wanted everything to be sorted and solved right now right now right now. My mind started to do laps around the things I was worried about, and then something new and different happened.

I said to myself, “Wait! I remember this feeling. I don’t have to freak out, this just means change is coming. And if I recall correctly, things always work out in perfect time. I can relax.” Weird, right? But it gets weirder.

I took a deep breath, and WHOOSH! A great solution to my problems flooded into my mind. I was so stunned that I actually had to put out a hand and steady myself against the tile.

Side note – one day earlier, I was in a yoga class and at the end, we were supposed to breathe out something we’d like to release. What came to mind for me was “worry”.

Can’t say I fully understand what happened, but it looks like the universe is conspiring to help me every step of the way yet again!