It used to be called "mid-life crisis" - and haven't all of us joked about it - a turmoil and discomfort that literally turns life upside down.
Nowadays this syndrome is being recognized as "work place burnout" and it is becoming more widespread and is affecting men and women alike throughout the entire workforce. Work place burnout has been pinned as the main cause of reduced morale and absenteeism.
WHO IS AFFECTED?
You may be experiencing the symptoms of work place burnout even if you are as young as 30 years of age, though most people affected are in their early 40 's .
Some people experience a sudden grief and loss, while others perceive that something is changing but it may take several years to manifest.
Are you feeling a lack of personal achievement and satisfaction at work? This is one of the early warning signs. Is going to work a time-consuming drudgery and work itself a day-long bore? Do frustration levels increase exponentially as you grapple with life issues - which could show that you are not in control? If so, you're not alone. You're on the downhill slide to work place burnout.
Don't expect your spouse or boss to understand what you are going through, as workplace burnout is extremely personal in nature - you're having the crisis, not them! You may be led to blame your spouse or boss for the way you're feeling, as they seem to be the closest source of your pain and angst.
However if your condition is true work place burnout then you will need professional help to shift your perceptions into a more realistic balance.
There are emotional and physical symptoms associated with what you are going through.
EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS
The emotional symptoms usually show up as the first sign that you are burnt out. You may often feel an unrelenting stress, lack enthusiasm, have a sense of loss of control as well as experience an unexplainable grief.
You may want to blame those around you for the way you feel, but this rarely resolves the inner turmoil that you are experiencing.
In severe cases of work place burnout people experience thoughts of suicide, and even in mild cases the thought of total detachment through this means may seem to be a way out.
Many people who experience the emotional symptoms often show up at the doctor seeking help with a loss of spark in their personality. "Nothing I do is worth it anymore," they say.
This feeling often results in a loss of productivity and creativity. It also fuels negativity and cynicism, with a quickness to get angry and blame others. Over time you may find solace in detaching yourself from others, however this rarely resolves the issue.
PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS
Work place burnout also affects your body. The feeling of "never being able to do enough" may drive you to work extensively long hours in an effort to catch up.
You may be losing sleep over your sense of failure to achieve anything meaningful, which in turn leads to physical exhaustion.
Physical exhaustion may take the form of headaches, physical shaking from head to foot, inability to think clearly and being unable to relax.
Physical exhaustion also causes you to lose your natural communication ability, so communication between your spouse and children, your boss or co-workers may sometimes become explosive.
There is also the possibility of experiencing gastrointestinal problems as your body is unable to cope with extensively long hours of work.
IS THERE A SOLUTION?
People experiencing work place burnout need to take time out of their busy lives to confront the underlying issues that are causing them stress. There is no easy fix - and the solution that you arrive at is most likely going to place you on a different life course than the one you have been traveling.
One method of finding the root cause of your uneasiness is to use a notepad and start writing out your thoughts. The thoughts, impressions and images that are filling your mind can be captured and you will be able to identify a pattern, which in turn you may be able to address.
A further use of your notepad is to go into a deeper realm of writing to discover the thoughts and impressions that are flooding your spirit. In a quiet environment spend at least one hour with your eyes closed and write down the thoughts that come to you. As you perform this activity, your thoughts should change from first person to third person as your focus shifts from your head to your inner being. It 's as if you can hear someone else talking to you and giving you direction and counsel.
A visit to your local General Practitioner may also help you cope with the effects on your body due to workplace burnout. Prescription medication may be given to assist you to relax and get your body rested again, while you sort through the underlying issues. You may be prescribed relaxants or sleeping aides. You may also be referred to a gastroenterologist if the need exists.
Finally, the most efficient way of resolving work place burnout is to rely on the services of a professional counselor. A trained counselor can travel this journey with you. Their assistance can help make the hard decisions become easy as you work through the process of resolving the cause of your work place burnout, so that you can be on track for a happy and healthy life once again.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
How To Find A Virtual Assistant You Can Trust At A Price You Can Afford
You're ready to outsource. You're a busy person who values your time. You've placed a price on your time, made a budget, and you're ready to outsource some work to buy a some time for yourself. But now what? You can see the benefits; you've made the decision. How do you find someone you trust to work for you, at a price that you're willing to pay?
The easiest place to begin your search for your perfect virtual assistant is, of course, online. There are several websites, like Elance, that allow you to place your job advertisement online. The beauty of listing your project on an online service is that service providers will then bid against each other for the pleasure of working for you! Other places to try are Craiglist and going directly to a service provider you discover through a search engine or word of mouth.
You can find virtual assistants with fees to fit any budget. The most common price per hour, is between $4 and $25 US, depending their experience, geographic location, and the project you'll be tasking them with. You will find that although a good number of these individuals will be based in India, China, and other developing countries, the United States and Canada are also well represented.
Often a freelance website will allow you to search for a service provider based on a range of options. A good service provider will have their portfolio online, so you can review their work and see if they might be a good match. You can then invite a number of potential bidders that you think might suit you and your work.
You've posted your job on the web, and you've got a whole range of bidders to choose from. But how do you make the right selection? The person you choose will be representing you... you don't want just anyone handling your affairs! You need someone you can trust, someone who will be able to handle your requests, and someone who will do the job efficiently, on time, and preferably, with a smile and friendly word.
Do not select a bidder solely on their bidding price. Let me repeat that, do not select a bidder solely on their bidding price. There are many other things to consider--their English speaking and writing skills, their ability to deliver on what they promise, and the rapport you have with them. One of the easiest ways to assess a potential virtual assistant is to converse with them before you select their bid. Most freelance websites have a method of communication (a personal message board or the like) in which you can begin communicating even before the job bidding has ended. If possible try to set up a phone call, or set up a video conference over Skype or using one of the free online conference sites.
Another way to ensure you find the right match is post a small job as a test. Just chose one particular task, and post a job for that one task. You'll get the chance to establish a working relationship with a freelancer, without a lot of risk. Alternatively, you could ask for a sample of work from all the bidders--perhaps ask for a sample email they would send to your telephone company asking for a bill payment extension.
The most important thing to remember when choosing your winning bidder--can you trust them? This is your life, and you want it done right the first time!
The easiest place to begin your search for your perfect virtual assistant is, of course, online. There are several websites, like Elance, that allow you to place your job advertisement online. The beauty of listing your project on an online service is that service providers will then bid against each other for the pleasure of working for you! Other places to try are Craiglist and going directly to a service provider you discover through a search engine or word of mouth.
You can find virtual assistants with fees to fit any budget. The most common price per hour, is between $4 and $25 US, depending their experience, geographic location, and the project you'll be tasking them with. You will find that although a good number of these individuals will be based in India, China, and other developing countries, the United States and Canada are also well represented.
Often a freelance website will allow you to search for a service provider based on a range of options. A good service provider will have their portfolio online, so you can review their work and see if they might be a good match. You can then invite a number of potential bidders that you think might suit you and your work.
You've posted your job on the web, and you've got a whole range of bidders to choose from. But how do you make the right selection? The person you choose will be representing you... you don't want just anyone handling your affairs! You need someone you can trust, someone who will be able to handle your requests, and someone who will do the job efficiently, on time, and preferably, with a smile and friendly word.
Do not select a bidder solely on their bidding price. Let me repeat that, do not select a bidder solely on their bidding price. There are many other things to consider--their English speaking and writing skills, their ability to deliver on what they promise, and the rapport you have with them. One of the easiest ways to assess a potential virtual assistant is to converse with them before you select their bid. Most freelance websites have a method of communication (a personal message board or the like) in which you can begin communicating even before the job bidding has ended. If possible try to set up a phone call, or set up a video conference over Skype or using one of the free online conference sites.
Another way to ensure you find the right match is post a small job as a test. Just chose one particular task, and post a job for that one task. You'll get the chance to establish a working relationship with a freelancer, without a lot of risk. Alternatively, you could ask for a sample of work from all the bidders--perhaps ask for a sample email they would send to your telephone company asking for a bill payment extension.
The most important thing to remember when choosing your winning bidder--can you trust them? This is your life, and you want it done right the first time!
Think and Plan Your Way To Riches
You have to spend time thinking and planning. This requires learning how to think. It requires learning how to plan. The more you research, think and plan, the easier it will be for you to execute your plan.
This is quite important and another problem area I have noticed between those who succeed and those who don't. Successful people plan and think. They are always thinking. Unsuccessful marketers look for the easy street.
Successful marketers think of their plans while they eat, watch movies, take showers, while driving, while mowing the lawn, while listening to others, even while sleeping.
Those who do are unsuccessful; only think of their plans when they happen to be feeling enthusiastic. Remember, many internet marketers only do something when they are motivated, and even then, they are caught up in the "now" feelings.
Successful people are practically obsessed with their goals. They can not get enough. They can work for hours and hours. They can not stop themselves from thinking about their plans. It shapes everything for them.
In my opinion, I see that most have to work hard at not working. I know I do. I actually have to force myself to take breaks, to take days off and to rejuvenate myself.
I exhaust myself. I have had days where I worked over 24 hours straight, slept for just a few hours and worked another 16 to 20 hours. It is an obsession to succeed and grow.
Some may say that it is ridiculous to work that hard. Some may say that you need to live life, smell the roses, enjoy your family, etc. While those reasons are probably why you want to succeed at your business they should not distract you. You can do all of that and much more of it if you pay the price.
Think of your online success as going back to school full time. You have a job and you have to learn your business. You have many tasks and skills to learn how to do. More importantly you need to know how the "why" behind them.
I smell the roses much more now that I work from home. Do not let that mindset fool you. You can work hard and enjoy everything on this planet you want to enjoy. For many, just enjoying life and being happy is all they need. That is fine and in itself is considered success. However, most likely, you are reading this because you want to succeed and achieve your goals and dreams of working at home.
Most likely you are reading this article as an internet marketer who wants to make it big, work from home and enjoy the lifestyle of financial success.
Therefore, working hard is a prerequisite to achieving your goals and dreams. The harder you work, the faster you will get where you want to get.
The better you plan and the more you work on your plan, the faster you will achieve positive results as well. I would say the success formula works like this:
1. Work hard on thinking up ideas
2. Work hard on researching your ideas
3. Work hard on your plan of action
4. Work hard on taking action
5. Continue to work hard on steps one through four
Wash, rinse and repeating the above steps will give you the success you are seeking. The bottom line is that the more you work on your plan, the easier and more successful it is to execute that plan.
This is quite important and another problem area I have noticed between those who succeed and those who don't. Successful people plan and think. They are always thinking. Unsuccessful marketers look for the easy street.
Successful marketers think of their plans while they eat, watch movies, take showers, while driving, while mowing the lawn, while listening to others, even while sleeping.
Those who do are unsuccessful; only think of their plans when they happen to be feeling enthusiastic. Remember, many internet marketers only do something when they are motivated, and even then, they are caught up in the "now" feelings.
Successful people are practically obsessed with their goals. They can not get enough. They can work for hours and hours. They can not stop themselves from thinking about their plans. It shapes everything for them.
In my opinion, I see that most have to work hard at not working. I know I do. I actually have to force myself to take breaks, to take days off and to rejuvenate myself.
I exhaust myself. I have had days where I worked over 24 hours straight, slept for just a few hours and worked another 16 to 20 hours. It is an obsession to succeed and grow.
Some may say that it is ridiculous to work that hard. Some may say that you need to live life, smell the roses, enjoy your family, etc. While those reasons are probably why you want to succeed at your business they should not distract you. You can do all of that and much more of it if you pay the price.
Think of your online success as going back to school full time. You have a job and you have to learn your business. You have many tasks and skills to learn how to do. More importantly you need to know how the "why" behind them.
I smell the roses much more now that I work from home. Do not let that mindset fool you. You can work hard and enjoy everything on this planet you want to enjoy. For many, just enjoying life and being happy is all they need. That is fine and in itself is considered success. However, most likely, you are reading this because you want to succeed and achieve your goals and dreams of working at home.
Most likely you are reading this article as an internet marketer who wants to make it big, work from home and enjoy the lifestyle of financial success.
Therefore, working hard is a prerequisite to achieving your goals and dreams. The harder you work, the faster you will get where you want to get.
The better you plan and the more you work on your plan, the faster you will achieve positive results as well. I would say the success formula works like this:
1. Work hard on thinking up ideas
2. Work hard on researching your ideas
3. Work hard on your plan of action
4. Work hard on taking action
5. Continue to work hard on steps one through four
Wash, rinse and repeating the above steps will give you the success you are seeking. The bottom line is that the more you work on your plan, the easier and more successful it is to execute that plan.
Moving Supplies You Must Have
Moving supplies, a packing plan and supply list can help reduce stress and allow you to have more control over the situation. Even if you only have a month until the move, creating a plan and using it throughout the move will keep items from being damaged, items from becoming missing or lost, and will allow you to pack the moving truck easily for a safe move.
If you plan on packing yourself, it is a good idea to buy cardboard boxes, over sized trash bags, packing tape, zip ties, bubble wrap, newspaper, plastic cushions, markers, box cutters or scissors, protective gloves, a face mask, twine, and boxes for mirrors and heavy equipment.
Even if you don't end up using all of these items, having them on hand can make the move much easier. Packing materials and moving supplies can be purchased through home moving companies or you can find most items at home improvement stores, hardware stores, and grocery stores.
It is a good idea to build up a supply of boxes for moving in the months before the move. You will want to have a variety of boxes that are different sizes so items can be transported safely. Smaller boxes should be for books, knickknacks, glassware, and small appliances, while larger boxes are used for pictures, electronic equipment, and other items that are tall or wide.
Buying boxes from home moving companies can be very expensive, especially if you need more than ten or twenty. Other places to find boxes include your workplace, restaurants, department stores, warehouses, and friends and family. When asking for boxes at a store or restaurant, you should ask which days they have them on hand. Visiting during these times will increase your chances of finding a variety of box sizes.
Knowing how to pack boxes correctly is also important. While this may seem like an easy task, many people are not careful how they pack when moving. Mistakes when packing can cause damage to items and waste a lot of money in replacing them. If you have to construct a box, position the bottom face up and fold over the sides.
Use a long strip of packing tape across the open edge. Add two more pieces on either side in the opposite direction. This will create a sturdy bottom. Flip the box over to see if it is completely sealed on the bottom. The next step is to carefully wrap glass, metal, and other items that are fragile or have many pieces in bubble wrap, newspaper, or other covering. Place items into the box and use newspaper as a layer.
Build until the box is full or if it starts to become heavy. After the box is full, fold the sides of the top and seal with tape as you did on the bottom. Label which room the box belongs to with a marker and store in a designated place in your home.
Before using any moving supplies, make sure you read any instructions pertaining to the items and always practice safe cutting techniques. Store these items in a safe place so injuries do not occur. You may need to cut packing tape, move items covered in dust or mold, and lift heavy objects.
When moving items stored in attics, crawl spaces, basements, or closets, wearing a face mask to prevent inhaling dust, debris, and mold is important. If you suspect items have been damaged by mold, you should handle them with plastic gloves and place items into a trash bag. Seal the bag and throw the items away. Lifting boxes should be done carefully as well.
Always lift from the knees and do not attempt to lift something that is too heavy. Decrease the weight of the box or push it across the floor gently if necessary. Boxes for moving are just one of the many items you will need for your move but, in the end, you will be glad you took the time to find the appropriate moving supplies.
If you plan on packing yourself, it is a good idea to buy cardboard boxes, over sized trash bags, packing tape, zip ties, bubble wrap, newspaper, plastic cushions, markers, box cutters or scissors, protective gloves, a face mask, twine, and boxes for mirrors and heavy equipment.
Even if you don't end up using all of these items, having them on hand can make the move much easier. Packing materials and moving supplies can be purchased through home moving companies or you can find most items at home improvement stores, hardware stores, and grocery stores.
It is a good idea to build up a supply of boxes for moving in the months before the move. You will want to have a variety of boxes that are different sizes so items can be transported safely. Smaller boxes should be for books, knickknacks, glassware, and small appliances, while larger boxes are used for pictures, electronic equipment, and other items that are tall or wide.
Buying boxes from home moving companies can be very expensive, especially if you need more than ten or twenty. Other places to find boxes include your workplace, restaurants, department stores, warehouses, and friends and family. When asking for boxes at a store or restaurant, you should ask which days they have them on hand. Visiting during these times will increase your chances of finding a variety of box sizes.
Knowing how to pack boxes correctly is also important. While this may seem like an easy task, many people are not careful how they pack when moving. Mistakes when packing can cause damage to items and waste a lot of money in replacing them. If you have to construct a box, position the bottom face up and fold over the sides.
Use a long strip of packing tape across the open edge. Add two more pieces on either side in the opposite direction. This will create a sturdy bottom. Flip the box over to see if it is completely sealed on the bottom. The next step is to carefully wrap glass, metal, and other items that are fragile or have many pieces in bubble wrap, newspaper, or other covering. Place items into the box and use newspaper as a layer.
Build until the box is full or if it starts to become heavy. After the box is full, fold the sides of the top and seal with tape as you did on the bottom. Label which room the box belongs to with a marker and store in a designated place in your home.
Before using any moving supplies, make sure you read any instructions pertaining to the items and always practice safe cutting techniques. Store these items in a safe place so injuries do not occur. You may need to cut packing tape, move items covered in dust or mold, and lift heavy objects.
When moving items stored in attics, crawl spaces, basements, or closets, wearing a face mask to prevent inhaling dust, debris, and mold is important. If you suspect items have been damaged by mold, you should handle them with plastic gloves and place items into a trash bag. Seal the bag and throw the items away. Lifting boxes should be done carefully as well.
Always lift from the knees and do not attempt to lift something that is too heavy. Decrease the weight of the box or push it across the floor gently if necessary. Boxes for moving are just one of the many items you will need for your move but, in the end, you will be glad you took the time to find the appropriate moving supplies.
7 Tips For A Fully Engaged, Exuberant Day
We cannot do anything to increase the hours in a day.
Time management? Who can accomplish that? Time just keeps on keeping on throughout each day. We have control only of what we do during our 24/7 each week.
Being fully engaged is essential when we are working to make wise choices in using our mental, emotional and physical energy for optimal productivity. Making the most of our brainpower keeps us thinking clearly and creatively. That is what makes the difference in how productive we can really be.
"Companies with higher than average employee engagement scores enjoy 15 percent lower costs due to higher productivity" PeopleMetrics
.
Here are seven tips that can move you in the direction of being fully engaged.
1. Start your day with premium fuel and continue throughout the day.
Eating a healthy breakfast gets your metabolism going and sends needed fuel to the brain. And choosing some protein as part of your breakfast can give you a kickstart even better than caffeine. Protein boosts your dopamine level that stimulates brain function.
2. Create your intentions for the day.
Getting a clear picture in your mind of how you'd like to see the day transpire is a powerful tool. It 's more than just having a to-do list of items to be accomplished. It 's actually stating how you would like to see things happen during the day.
3. Observe your own and others' emotional states for greatest effectiveness.
With that awareness you are more likely to have a rational response rather than a reaction coming out of your own emotional reaction to what someone has said or done. Taking that moment for observation can save hours of effort trying to mend a working relationship.
4. Be fully focused on each task rather than multitasking.
Multitasking can negatively affect your emotional state and your immune system. Studies have shown that our brain actually shuts down one function to do something else. We are fooling ourselves to think that we can effectively perform two tasks at once.
5. Incorporate some physical activity throughout your day.
Studies have shown that people who exercise regularly keep their brain functioning at a higher level due to the increased blood flow to the brain. Take short breaks throughout the day just to stretch and move around. Also plan more extensive exercise a few times a week.
6. Debrief your day and really acknowledge your accomplishments.
How often have you been down on yourself at the end of a day, thinking about all that things that you did not accomplish instead of focusing on what did get completed? You can do this in your head or for an even more powerful effect, take a moment to list your acknowledgments to yourself. When we ramp up the attention to those positive things in our life, it keeps us going in that productive direction.
7. Prepare for sleep and make sure you get enough.
Our brains are not ready to fall asleep immediately after leaving the stimulation of the computer screen. And although we sometimes fall asleep in front of the television, watching television is not a good way to move into restful sleep. If you have problems falling asleep and staying asleep, you might try an exercise that works for some people. Name the states, working your way up and down the coastlines and across the United States. This is challenging enough to keep your mind from worries of the day, but boring enough to allow you to fall asleep.
Time management? Who can accomplish that? Time just keeps on keeping on throughout each day. We have control only of what we do during our 24/7 each week.
Being fully engaged is essential when we are working to make wise choices in using our mental, emotional and physical energy for optimal productivity. Making the most of our brainpower keeps us thinking clearly and creatively. That is what makes the difference in how productive we can really be.
"Companies with higher than average employee engagement scores enjoy 15 percent lower costs due to higher productivity" PeopleMetrics
.
Here are seven tips that can move you in the direction of being fully engaged.
1. Start your day with premium fuel and continue throughout the day.
Eating a healthy breakfast gets your metabolism going and sends needed fuel to the brain. And choosing some protein as part of your breakfast can give you a kickstart even better than caffeine. Protein boosts your dopamine level that stimulates brain function.
2. Create your intentions for the day.
Getting a clear picture in your mind of how you'd like to see the day transpire is a powerful tool. It 's more than just having a to-do list of items to be accomplished. It 's actually stating how you would like to see things happen during the day.
3. Observe your own and others' emotional states for greatest effectiveness.
With that awareness you are more likely to have a rational response rather than a reaction coming out of your own emotional reaction to what someone has said or done. Taking that moment for observation can save hours of effort trying to mend a working relationship.
4. Be fully focused on each task rather than multitasking.
Multitasking can negatively affect your emotional state and your immune system. Studies have shown that our brain actually shuts down one function to do something else. We are fooling ourselves to think that we can effectively perform two tasks at once.
5. Incorporate some physical activity throughout your day.
Studies have shown that people who exercise regularly keep their brain functioning at a higher level due to the increased blood flow to the brain. Take short breaks throughout the day just to stretch and move around. Also plan more extensive exercise a few times a week.
6. Debrief your day and really acknowledge your accomplishments.
How often have you been down on yourself at the end of a day, thinking about all that things that you did not accomplish instead of focusing on what did get completed? You can do this in your head or for an even more powerful effect, take a moment to list your acknowledgments to yourself. When we ramp up the attention to those positive things in our life, it keeps us going in that productive direction.
7. Prepare for sleep and make sure you get enough.
Our brains are not ready to fall asleep immediately after leaving the stimulation of the computer screen. And although we sometimes fall asleep in front of the television, watching television is not a good way to move into restful sleep. If you have problems falling asleep and staying asleep, you might try an exercise that works for some people. Name the states, working your way up and down the coastlines and across the United States. This is challenging enough to keep your mind from worries of the day, but boring enough to allow you to fall asleep.
Cash Wealth Building System
Sometimes it seems like the world is divided into two types of people, those who have money and those who work for them.
Have you ever wondered what the rich have that you don't? Are they smarter? Luckier? Do they work harder?
The answer is that they work less but their money works harder. In fact the truly wealthy have automatic wealth building systems in place.
But having a wealth building system isn't all that seperates them from the rest of us. What sets them apart and helps them attract wealth day in and day out is their wealth mindset.
They truly believe that they deserve to be wealthy and they are confident in their knowledge that there is an abundance of wealth just waiting to be tapped into at a moment 's notice.
The good news is that this way of thinking is a learned behavior. This means that you can learn it, as well.
You see, over the years we build up ideas about money, wealth, work and a variety of other factors in our lives. Some of these beliefs are acquired from our parents and others from our own experiences.
Why Lottery Winners Lose it All
You have heard it time and again. Lottery Winners losing it all and trust fund babies wasting their parents' hard earned cash. In fact, up to 80% of the lottery winners in this country file bankruptcy within five years. Most of us say," That would never happen to me. You would have to be really dumb to lose all that money." Yet the very reason that these individuals let their money run through their fingers is the very reason that most of us are still working pay check to paycheck.
It is a lacking mindset that is responsible for our financial difficulties. Those with money that work their way up from the bottom or build the wealth they have easily, have the one thing that most of us lack - a million dollar mind set. All wealth begins with it and all wealth is maintained by cultivating this feeling of prosperity.
I would bet that most of us could compile a list of hundreds of things that we want. That sense of wanting means that we feel that we do not have these things. When we replace this wanting feeling with the sense of already having wealth, amazing things start to occur within our brains. We begin to come up with ways of having wealth instead of merely wishing and wanting it.
How do we create this million dollar mindset?
1) Think about being wealthy and write down any thoughts that come up.
Write down the objections that already play in your mind. Write down the excuses like. Ex. It takes money to make money. And write down all the things that you wish you could have if only...
2) Release on those thoughts. Let them go and keep letting them go until the negative emotions go away with them.
3) Replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
4) Fill your mind with the images of what you want and picture yourself already having them.
5) See yourself as you will be. Feel what you will feel. Add audio and even the things that you will smell when you reach that state. ex. the type of perfume you might wear, the sound of bankers begging to give you loans, the feel of silk upon your skin, etc...
6) Keep releasing your negative emotions and thoughts until you have what you have been wanting all these years.
7) Act upon the incredible ideas that your subconscious shares with you fearlessly.
Once that limiting belief grabs hold, it affects every action you take and every action that you hesitate to take. So the second half of the answer is that you need to let these limiting wealth beliefs go and replace them with positive abundant beliefs.
You need to truly understand that money is meant to work for you and not the other way around.
Overcoming negative thought patterns is not as difficult as it may seem. The way to step away from paychecks and into the realm of the wealthy starts with examining your thinking so that you can understand why you have made the choices about money that you have made in the past and change those choices in the future.
Have you ever wondered what the rich have that you don't? Are they smarter? Luckier? Do they work harder?
The answer is that they work less but their money works harder. In fact the truly wealthy have automatic wealth building systems in place.
But having a wealth building system isn't all that seperates them from the rest of us. What sets them apart and helps them attract wealth day in and day out is their wealth mindset.
They truly believe that they deserve to be wealthy and they are confident in their knowledge that there is an abundance of wealth just waiting to be tapped into at a moment 's notice.
The good news is that this way of thinking is a learned behavior. This means that you can learn it, as well.
You see, over the years we build up ideas about money, wealth, work and a variety of other factors in our lives. Some of these beliefs are acquired from our parents and others from our own experiences.
Why Lottery Winners Lose it All
You have heard it time and again. Lottery Winners losing it all and trust fund babies wasting their parents' hard earned cash. In fact, up to 80% of the lottery winners in this country file bankruptcy within five years. Most of us say," That would never happen to me. You would have to be really dumb to lose all that money." Yet the very reason that these individuals let their money run through their fingers is the very reason that most of us are still working pay check to paycheck.
It is a lacking mindset that is responsible for our financial difficulties. Those with money that work their way up from the bottom or build the wealth they have easily, have the one thing that most of us lack - a million dollar mind set. All wealth begins with it and all wealth is maintained by cultivating this feeling of prosperity.
I would bet that most of us could compile a list of hundreds of things that we want. That sense of wanting means that we feel that we do not have these things. When we replace this wanting feeling with the sense of already having wealth, amazing things start to occur within our brains. We begin to come up with ways of having wealth instead of merely wishing and wanting it.
How do we create this million dollar mindset?
1) Think about being wealthy and write down any thoughts that come up.
Write down the objections that already play in your mind. Write down the excuses like. Ex. It takes money to make money. And write down all the things that you wish you could have if only...
2) Release on those thoughts. Let them go and keep letting them go until the negative emotions go away with them.
3) Replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
4) Fill your mind with the images of what you want and picture yourself already having them.
5) See yourself as you will be. Feel what you will feel. Add audio and even the things that you will smell when you reach that state. ex. the type of perfume you might wear, the sound of bankers begging to give you loans, the feel of silk upon your skin, etc...
6) Keep releasing your negative emotions and thoughts until you have what you have been wanting all these years.
7) Act upon the incredible ideas that your subconscious shares with you fearlessly.
Once that limiting belief grabs hold, it affects every action you take and every action that you hesitate to take. So the second half of the answer is that you need to let these limiting wealth beliefs go and replace them with positive abundant beliefs.
You need to truly understand that money is meant to work for you and not the other way around.
Overcoming negative thought patterns is not as difficult as it may seem. The way to step away from paychecks and into the realm of the wealthy starts with examining your thinking so that you can understand why you have made the choices about money that you have made in the past and change those choices in the future.
The "God 's Eye View" of Your Life
Are you familiar with the expression of a "bird 's eye view". It 's when you view things from a bird 's perspective; far different than that which you see standing on earth. A bird 's eye view allows you to grasp the entire landscape and see the interconnectedness of things that appear separate when you view them from land.
The reason I talk about a "bird 's eye view" is because this concept lead me to facilitate a process at my retreat, in which the participants were invited to write about their life from God 's perspective. This exercise proved to be one of the most powerful retreat experiences, which is why I'm sharing it with you. Grasping a sense of your life from God 's perspective is an invaluable tool for every conscious business owner to consider.
What do you think God would say about your life right now, and where you've been and where you're going? Stop for a moment and reread that sentence again. What do you think God would say about your life right now, and where you've been and where you're going? Interesting perspective to think about, isn't it?
I doubt the thoughts of lack, limitation and doubt wouldn't even enter his mind. Because the one Source (God) is the ultimate unlimited source of all abundance in the world, and that is exactly the perspective he would have on your life; that all things are conspiring for your highest and most divine self-expression in the world.
So, now I invite you into the 4-step process of taking a look at your life from a God 's Eye View. Let 's get started.
Step 1: Reflect on Your Past
Take a moment to reflect on your past. Identify some of the peaks and valleys of your prior experience. Connect with who you've become as a result of all these experiences... the good and the not so good. Look to see how your past experiences have brought you wisdom, strength, love, insight, commitment, passion, conviction, friendship, resourcefulness, resolve, etc. Allow yourself to see the Divine Order of each and every experience.
Step 2: Connect with This Moment
Next, allow yourself to connect deeply with this moment, and the life that you are currently living. Embrace all of your current success and dreams along with any challenges that may be showing up in your life right now. Allow yourself to fully appreciate the place that you're at today. And, again, allow yourself to see the Divine Order of each and every experience.
Step 3: Look to Your Future
Look forward on the path that lies ahead of you. Let your imagination flourish as you envision everything your heart desires becoming real for you. Envision your life as it unfolds perfectly, even exceeding your greatest dreams. As you envision your future, leave room for things you can't imagine right now... knowing that God 's plan for your life is so much bigger than that which you can see from your human perspective. And again, allow yourself to see the Divine Order of each and every future experience.
Step 4: Write your God 's Eye View
Now, in a space of quietude, perhaps outside in nature, or in front of a glowing candle, review the above three steps. And, begin to write freely about your past, present and future experiences... as if you were God writing about what he sees in (and for) your life. Let your imagination and creativity soar as you envision God 's Eye View. In case you are stuck getting started, here 's a line you can use to begin the process: "As God, in this elevated perspective, I can see every step of your journey as divinely guided by me. I see..."
Now that you've written the God 's Eye View of your life, you can reread it over and over again. Every time you feel stopped, or filled with fear, lack or doubt, you can take out this piece of paper and remind yourself of the perfection of the divine unfolding of your life.
The reason I talk about a "bird 's eye view" is because this concept lead me to facilitate a process at my retreat, in which the participants were invited to write about their life from God 's perspective. This exercise proved to be one of the most powerful retreat experiences, which is why I'm sharing it with you. Grasping a sense of your life from God 's perspective is an invaluable tool for every conscious business owner to consider.
What do you think God would say about your life right now, and where you've been and where you're going? Stop for a moment and reread that sentence again. What do you think God would say about your life right now, and where you've been and where you're going? Interesting perspective to think about, isn't it?
I doubt the thoughts of lack, limitation and doubt wouldn't even enter his mind. Because the one Source (God) is the ultimate unlimited source of all abundance in the world, and that is exactly the perspective he would have on your life; that all things are conspiring for your highest and most divine self-expression in the world.
So, now I invite you into the 4-step process of taking a look at your life from a God 's Eye View. Let 's get started.
Step 1: Reflect on Your Past
Take a moment to reflect on your past. Identify some of the peaks and valleys of your prior experience. Connect with who you've become as a result of all these experiences... the good and the not so good. Look to see how your past experiences have brought you wisdom, strength, love, insight, commitment, passion, conviction, friendship, resourcefulness, resolve, etc. Allow yourself to see the Divine Order of each and every experience.
Step 2: Connect with This Moment
Next, allow yourself to connect deeply with this moment, and the life that you are currently living. Embrace all of your current success and dreams along with any challenges that may be showing up in your life right now. Allow yourself to fully appreciate the place that you're at today. And, again, allow yourself to see the Divine Order of each and every experience.
Step 3: Look to Your Future
Look forward on the path that lies ahead of you. Let your imagination flourish as you envision everything your heart desires becoming real for you. Envision your life as it unfolds perfectly, even exceeding your greatest dreams. As you envision your future, leave room for things you can't imagine right now... knowing that God 's plan for your life is so much bigger than that which you can see from your human perspective. And again, allow yourself to see the Divine Order of each and every future experience.
Step 4: Write your God 's Eye View
Now, in a space of quietude, perhaps outside in nature, or in front of a glowing candle, review the above three steps. And, begin to write freely about your past, present and future experiences... as if you were God writing about what he sees in (and for) your life. Let your imagination and creativity soar as you envision God 's Eye View. In case you are stuck getting started, here 's a line you can use to begin the process: "As God, in this elevated perspective, I can see every step of your journey as divinely guided by me. I see..."
Now that you've written the God 's Eye View of your life, you can reread it over and over again. Every time you feel stopped, or filled with fear, lack or doubt, you can take out this piece of paper and remind yourself of the perfection of the divine unfolding of your life.
Is Your Work Causing Sleep Deprivation? - 7 Possible Ways
Do you feel drowsy during the day or evening?
Is tiredness affecting your daily activities on a regular basis?
Do you fall asleep often when you sit down to relax?
Are you irritable with others around you?
If you answer yes to a couple of these, most likely you are sleep deprived.
LONG WORK HOURS
Staying at work way beyond the normal eight hours is the biggest determinant of how much sleep Americans get in a typical day. Overtime is a common occurrence in many industries. In the culture of many organizations, to work just eight hours could actually be considered skipping out early. Mathias Basner, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine studied 47,731 Americans. He found that those who worked longer hours found time for other activities by shortening their sleep hours.
INSOMNIA CAUSED BY WORRY
When you have concerns on your mind about work, it can be difficult to sleep at night. In order to combat this sleeplessness, many people have an alcoholic drink or take sleeping medicines to fall asleep. The problem with these is that you have lighter sleep and don't have the REM phase of sleep that is so restorative to the brain.
SHIFT WORK
When you are working at times when you normally would be sleeping, you disrupt your circadian rhythm. This rhythm is the cycle your body repeats day after day. Shift work sleep disorder has effects very similar to jet lag. Shift work affects people in various industries: medicine, production lines, technology, telephone service reps, transportation. We also need light in our days to produce the melatonin needed for quality sleep. Having to sleep in the daytime when you are on a night shift deprives you of sunlight.
LONG COMMUTE
Travel time, including time sitting in traffic, can take up a large portion of your day. It could be considered one of the hidden costs to living out in the suburbs. To make up for the loss of those hours, it 's tempting to shorten sleep time. Fatigue caused by the lack of sleep can make the commute dangerous as well as stressful. Sleep-deprived drivers cause more than 100,000 automobile crashes a year (National Sleep Foundation).
LOGGING INTO YOUR OFFICE COMPUTER FROM HOME
What a wonderful technological advancement to be able to log into your work computer from home! Or is it? When does work stop and leisure begin? Working on your sofa with your laptop while trying to participate in family time is not effective for either activity. And how tempting it is to continue work in the quiet of the night to catch up on what you didn't feel complete from your day! To transition from working at the computer to falling asleep can be difficult also, resulting in an even later start to sleep.
UNHEALTHY EATING
Working long hours and not taking breaks during the day can lead to too much time between food intake and poor food choices. Late business dinners or dinners with clients can mean a very full stomach when heading to bed. This can have an adverse effect on the quality of your sleep.
LACKOF EXERCISE
Exercise is often forgotten with not enough time or energy left over after work demands are met. And exercising too late in the evening can also make it difficult to get to sleep. Getting up early enough in the morning to exercise can be a real challenge when you do not have enough sleep during the night.
If some of these factors are influencing your sleep, you may want to look for solutions that can help you move toward taking better care of yourself. Over a period of time, the effects on you from sleep deprivation build up and can cause a multitude of physical, mental, and emotional problems.
If you have employees, be aware that these challenges to their sleep and other self-care can be very detrimental to their productivity and attendance on the job.
Is tiredness affecting your daily activities on a regular basis?
Do you fall asleep often when you sit down to relax?
Are you irritable with others around you?
If you answer yes to a couple of these, most likely you are sleep deprived.
LONG WORK HOURS
Staying at work way beyond the normal eight hours is the biggest determinant of how much sleep Americans get in a typical day. Overtime is a common occurrence in many industries. In the culture of many organizations, to work just eight hours could actually be considered skipping out early. Mathias Basner, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine studied 47,731 Americans. He found that those who worked longer hours found time for other activities by shortening their sleep hours.
INSOMNIA CAUSED BY WORRY
When you have concerns on your mind about work, it can be difficult to sleep at night. In order to combat this sleeplessness, many people have an alcoholic drink or take sleeping medicines to fall asleep. The problem with these is that you have lighter sleep and don't have the REM phase of sleep that is so restorative to the brain.
SHIFT WORK
When you are working at times when you normally would be sleeping, you disrupt your circadian rhythm. This rhythm is the cycle your body repeats day after day. Shift work sleep disorder has effects very similar to jet lag. Shift work affects people in various industries: medicine, production lines, technology, telephone service reps, transportation. We also need light in our days to produce the melatonin needed for quality sleep. Having to sleep in the daytime when you are on a night shift deprives you of sunlight.
LONG COMMUTE
Travel time, including time sitting in traffic, can take up a large portion of your day. It could be considered one of the hidden costs to living out in the suburbs. To make up for the loss of those hours, it 's tempting to shorten sleep time. Fatigue caused by the lack of sleep can make the commute dangerous as well as stressful. Sleep-deprived drivers cause more than 100,000 automobile crashes a year (National Sleep Foundation).
LOGGING INTO YOUR OFFICE COMPUTER FROM HOME
What a wonderful technological advancement to be able to log into your work computer from home! Or is it? When does work stop and leisure begin? Working on your sofa with your laptop while trying to participate in family time is not effective for either activity. And how tempting it is to continue work in the quiet of the night to catch up on what you didn't feel complete from your day! To transition from working at the computer to falling asleep can be difficult also, resulting in an even later start to sleep.
UNHEALTHY EATING
Working long hours and not taking breaks during the day can lead to too much time between food intake and poor food choices. Late business dinners or dinners with clients can mean a very full stomach when heading to bed. This can have an adverse effect on the quality of your sleep.
LACKOF EXERCISE
Exercise is often forgotten with not enough time or energy left over after work demands are met. And exercising too late in the evening can also make it difficult to get to sleep. Getting up early enough in the morning to exercise can be a real challenge when you do not have enough sleep during the night.
If some of these factors are influencing your sleep, you may want to look for solutions that can help you move toward taking better care of yourself. Over a period of time, the effects on you from sleep deprivation build up and can cause a multitude of physical, mental, and emotional problems.
If you have employees, be aware that these challenges to their sleep and other self-care can be very detrimental to their productivity and attendance on the job.
Can Multitasking Ruin Your Work Life Balance?
When my daughter was very young, she would wander into my office and want to chatter, see what I was doing and generally get my undivided attention. In the early days I tried to multitask and distract her while I continued to write that very important letter, or finish the project I was working on. Then I would feel guilty that I was wasting our precious time together on work stuff when I could be enjoying my time with her. I swear I could hear the song 'Cat 's in The Cradle' coming from somewhere in the room!
So I learned how to 's wap hats' in an instant. From solopreneur to dad in 3 seconds flat. And I learned how to go back from dad to solopreneur in the same amount of time.
The issue is contamination of one context to another. That 's tech jargon. What it really means is you can't fully do two things at the same time. Yes, you can fool yourself that you can juggle talking to young children while writing emails, reports etc - but they know the truth. If you aren't fully present, you're not really listening to them with heart and mind. And that 's what they want, nay, demand. Try pretending and they will just hang around longer until they get their full measure of you. That 's if you're lucky. If you're unlucky they leave unsatisfied and feeling less worthy about themselves. That thought horrified me.
Here 's what I learned to do.
1. Decide what my priority was at that moment in time.
2. Turn up (be present) or negotiate
Let us say that my office activity wasn't time sensitive and I could take 5-10 minutes out to play and be with my daughter. I would make a mental bookmark of where I was at in the project and then mentally swap hats from project manager to dad. Part of the hat swapping process was the decision to be with my daughter for the next 5, 10 or 15 minutes. I found from experience this was about all the time she wanted before going onto other adventures.
Another crucial part of this equation was how 'present' I was during this 5 - 15 minutes. When I was fully there, 10 minutes was the average time she needed from me. If I was half present and my mind was sneaking back to my project, she would want at least 20 minutes of my time. Hmmm. So I learned another life lesson from my daughter. 'Be where you are.'
On occasion I did have time pressures that meant it was important to focus on the project I was involved in. In those cases I would negotiate with her. Even when as a youngster she could appreciate the concept of sharing and that you don't get everything that you want on demand.
If I made a promise that after finishing the report or project, I would take her to the park, beach, go for a walk; she would be happy and wander off to some other adventure until the promised time. Of course, I would honour that promise otherwise she would learn not to trust me.
Let 's get specific and break the process down into chucks.
To shut off from work, you need to incorporate a ritual that separates work life from home life. The ritual helps you to define one context from another. The trouble is when we contaminate one context with another. My ritual was values based i.e. on my values around being a good dad and a solopreneur. Both were important for me and were worth honouring. I also understand and I can't fully succeed at both at the same time. They had to be treated as separate activities. When I decided which was appropriate at any given time, I would put on the appropriate hat. This was a crucial part of the ritual. Even thought the hat was imaginary it still had real implications.
When I had my 'dad' hat on, I listened fully to my daughter and was present emotionally was well as physically. I left my work on the desk knowing it would still be there when I returned and that it would only take a moment to get my head back into the project. I didn't have guilt feelings no matter which hat I was wearing because I knew I would be getting back to the other in a predictable negotiated amount of time.
When I switched back to 's olopreneur' I felt happy that I was being a good dad and the song 'Cats in the Cradle' was no longer playing in my head. Now I could finish the project and be fully present whilst doing so.
So, go experiment, have fun...and notice the difference in your effectiveness and the connectedness in your family.
So I learned how to 's wap hats' in an instant. From solopreneur to dad in 3 seconds flat. And I learned how to go back from dad to solopreneur in the same amount of time.
The issue is contamination of one context to another. That 's tech jargon. What it really means is you can't fully do two things at the same time. Yes, you can fool yourself that you can juggle talking to young children while writing emails, reports etc - but they know the truth. If you aren't fully present, you're not really listening to them with heart and mind. And that 's what they want, nay, demand. Try pretending and they will just hang around longer until they get their full measure of you. That 's if you're lucky. If you're unlucky they leave unsatisfied and feeling less worthy about themselves. That thought horrified me.
Here 's what I learned to do.
1. Decide what my priority was at that moment in time.
2. Turn up (be present) or negotiate
Let us say that my office activity wasn't time sensitive and I could take 5-10 minutes out to play and be with my daughter. I would make a mental bookmark of where I was at in the project and then mentally swap hats from project manager to dad. Part of the hat swapping process was the decision to be with my daughter for the next 5, 10 or 15 minutes. I found from experience this was about all the time she wanted before going onto other adventures.
Another crucial part of this equation was how 'present' I was during this 5 - 15 minutes. When I was fully there, 10 minutes was the average time she needed from me. If I was half present and my mind was sneaking back to my project, she would want at least 20 minutes of my time. Hmmm. So I learned another life lesson from my daughter. 'Be where you are.'
On occasion I did have time pressures that meant it was important to focus on the project I was involved in. In those cases I would negotiate with her. Even when as a youngster she could appreciate the concept of sharing and that you don't get everything that you want on demand.
If I made a promise that after finishing the report or project, I would take her to the park, beach, go for a walk; she would be happy and wander off to some other adventure until the promised time. Of course, I would honour that promise otherwise she would learn not to trust me.
Let 's get specific and break the process down into chucks.
To shut off from work, you need to incorporate a ritual that separates work life from home life. The ritual helps you to define one context from another. The trouble is when we contaminate one context with another. My ritual was values based i.e. on my values around being a good dad and a solopreneur. Both were important for me and were worth honouring. I also understand and I can't fully succeed at both at the same time. They had to be treated as separate activities. When I decided which was appropriate at any given time, I would put on the appropriate hat. This was a crucial part of the ritual. Even thought the hat was imaginary it still had real implications.
When I had my 'dad' hat on, I listened fully to my daughter and was present emotionally was well as physically. I left my work on the desk knowing it would still be there when I returned and that it would only take a moment to get my head back into the project. I didn't have guilt feelings no matter which hat I was wearing because I knew I would be getting back to the other in a predictable negotiated amount of time.
When I switched back to 's olopreneur' I felt happy that I was being a good dad and the song 'Cats in the Cradle' was no longer playing in my head. Now I could finish the project and be fully present whilst doing so.
So, go experiment, have fun...and notice the difference in your effectiveness and the connectedness in your family.
How to Create Your Personal Work Life Balance Plan
You have probably heard the saying, 'Plan your work and work your plan'. With work life balance in mind, I would like to add, 'Plan your work and plan your play'.
Without planning your work-life balance program effectively, you run the risk of poor family relationships, deteriorating health, illness and disease. Moreover, you probably will not be as effective and productive at work. The ideal is to create a healthy family life and a fulfilling career. Both are possible. Here are some tips to get it right.
As an entrepreneur, executive or senior manager, you know the importance of a plan. It helps you to measure and chart actions and progress. Once you have a clear enough reason to take action, now is the time to consider your key stakeholders and allies in this project.
Get your key stakeholders on board
Who are the other people you need to take into account to get your life back into balance? It probably includes family members, colleagues and your boss. Sit down with them individually and gather the information you need so you can start to chart a healthier course.
Start with the needs of your family, spouse, children. Ask them what they expect of you and what they really value. Be wary of being caught up on the treadmill of working to create the income to provide for your family and yet are not spending any time with them! Honesty is vital in your communication here. Ambition is fine and drives our entrepreneurial economies; just balance it with what you and your family really wants from life.
Where can you improve your productivity?
Be willing to explore your professional productivity and actively look for areas of improvement. For example, many of my clients have opened up extra time for themselves just by learning how to delegate effectively. Get honest feedback about your strengths and weaknesses and take appropriate steps.
Don't let your ego kill you
Do your skills, talents and capabilities match the requirements of your position? Sometimes a reality check can save a great deal of heartache and stress. One of my coaching clients was holding onto a job position that frankly did not suit him. However with support and candid self reflection, he realised he would be better served to move on and find something closer to his heart, than clinging onto a role that fed his ego but was destroying his life. It was better for the business also.
What about you?
There may be many demands of you, your time and energy. However, remember you are the centre of this project. Without you, your family is not the same. Without you, your business or workplace is not the same. Take time to assess and consider what is really important to you.
Put your health at the top of your action list
Have regular health assessments and plan exercise into your weekly plan. Look at the quality and quantity of your food intake and the actual demands of your job. Get professional help and then the support and cooperation of your family to make the needed changes.
Take the big picture view
List out, or mind map, all your family dreams, aspirations and the demands of your career together on one page. Add in your personal needs and requirements. Now stand back and assess your priorities, taking in all the information you now have. Seek and find that balance between what you and your family want to experience together and the needs and demands and satisfaction your career can offer you.
Manage your time
Block out 'islands of time' for exercise, family time, hobbies and 'just me time' into your working week. These are the things that can nurture you. You need to recover and regenerate your own personal energy and spirit. Author Stephen Covey calls this 's harpening the saw'.
Back-to-back appointments are a no-no, so give yourself some time in between appointments. You will not operate effectively if you do not. Give your brain and body a chance to catch up.
In conclusion, you know your time is valuable and that if you do schedule something in your daily or weekly planner, then it stands a good chance of happening. There is no time like the present, so find yourself a large piece of paper, your coloured pens and get planning.
Without planning your work-life balance program effectively, you run the risk of poor family relationships, deteriorating health, illness and disease. Moreover, you probably will not be as effective and productive at work. The ideal is to create a healthy family life and a fulfilling career. Both are possible. Here are some tips to get it right.
As an entrepreneur, executive or senior manager, you know the importance of a plan. It helps you to measure and chart actions and progress. Once you have a clear enough reason to take action, now is the time to consider your key stakeholders and allies in this project.
Get your key stakeholders on board
Who are the other people you need to take into account to get your life back into balance? It probably includes family members, colleagues and your boss. Sit down with them individually and gather the information you need so you can start to chart a healthier course.
Start with the needs of your family, spouse, children. Ask them what they expect of you and what they really value. Be wary of being caught up on the treadmill of working to create the income to provide for your family and yet are not spending any time with them! Honesty is vital in your communication here. Ambition is fine and drives our entrepreneurial economies; just balance it with what you and your family really wants from life.
Where can you improve your productivity?
Be willing to explore your professional productivity and actively look for areas of improvement. For example, many of my clients have opened up extra time for themselves just by learning how to delegate effectively. Get honest feedback about your strengths and weaknesses and take appropriate steps.
Don't let your ego kill you
Do your skills, talents and capabilities match the requirements of your position? Sometimes a reality check can save a great deal of heartache and stress. One of my coaching clients was holding onto a job position that frankly did not suit him. However with support and candid self reflection, he realised he would be better served to move on and find something closer to his heart, than clinging onto a role that fed his ego but was destroying his life. It was better for the business also.
What about you?
There may be many demands of you, your time and energy. However, remember you are the centre of this project. Without you, your family is not the same. Without you, your business or workplace is not the same. Take time to assess and consider what is really important to you.
Put your health at the top of your action list
Have regular health assessments and plan exercise into your weekly plan. Look at the quality and quantity of your food intake and the actual demands of your job. Get professional help and then the support and cooperation of your family to make the needed changes.
Take the big picture view
List out, or mind map, all your family dreams, aspirations and the demands of your career together on one page. Add in your personal needs and requirements. Now stand back and assess your priorities, taking in all the information you now have. Seek and find that balance between what you and your family want to experience together and the needs and demands and satisfaction your career can offer you.
Manage your time
Block out 'islands of time' for exercise, family time, hobbies and 'just me time' into your working week. These are the things that can nurture you. You need to recover and regenerate your own personal energy and spirit. Author Stephen Covey calls this 's harpening the saw'.
Back-to-back appointments are a no-no, so give yourself some time in between appointments. You will not operate effectively if you do not. Give your brain and body a chance to catch up.
In conclusion, you know your time is valuable and that if you do schedule something in your daily or weekly planner, then it stands a good chance of happening. There is no time like the present, so find yourself a large piece of paper, your coloured pens and get planning.
Using Exercise As Business Motivation
Of course, we all know exercise is good for us, even if we don't do it. It can help us stay at a healthy weight, increase metabolism, boost our immune system function, and so on. One thing many of us might not know, though, is that it 's also good for business.
Why is this so? Because exercise keeps us healthier in general, we call in sick less often. It also boosts emotional health as well as physical health, so we are more motivated when we're at work.
How Does It Improve Motivation?
If you start a regular excise program, you have to be disciplined. Sometimes, it 's hard to get started in the beginning, but it 's generally easier to keep going once you've established a routine. You might even begin to look forward to it, since working out also boosts emotional health and increases "feel-good" hormones called endorphins. This means that once you get started, working out can be its own motivation. And ultimately, that motivation can carry over into the rest of your life as well.
Because exercise is an overall energy booster, it improves mental clarity as well. It makes us healthier overall, which lets us function better mentally. And it won't take long at all to see the effects. Within about two weeks, you should begin to see very positive results both physically and mentally.
If you're having trouble getting started, start small. A short walk can do amazing things without much effort at all. If you're frustrated or stuck on something, take a short break, take a brisk walk to clear your head, and then go back to the problem. Likely, you'll find that you've discovered the solution while you were out. It helps you refocus once you've taken a few minutes to relax and simply let your body move around a bit, as well as giving your mind or rest.
Finding the Time to Exercise
Of course, everyone 's busy, and exercise is often a last priority. However, working out can actually make you more efficient, which will give you time for other things. The hardest part about exercise is getting started.
If you can, try working out early in the morning. This can give you a great start to your day by increasing alertness and feelings of vitality. If you work out early in the morning, you also get the workout over before you even start the rest of your day, which means after work, you can simply go home and enjoy your free time.
Many people work out after their workday is over, and this is fine. However, take care that you don't do it too late. If you work out too late, you'll interfere with proper sleep, since you have "revved your engines," so to speak, making it hard to calm down and go to bed. If you exercise later in the day, make sure it 's at least two to three hours before you go to bed.
If exercising both before and after work is impossible, simply schedule "mini-workouts" during lunch or break times. You still get the benefits of exercise in smaller doses, and it will still increase your energy and make you more efficient. You might also find that the extra motivation in energy will let you get more work done in less time, so that you'll then find the time to begin working out before after work.
Exercising is a wonderful tool for mental clarity, positive attitude, and increased motivation. In addition to the other benefits it provides, this is a positive boost to your business. Give working out a try and see what it does for you.
Why is this so? Because exercise keeps us healthier in general, we call in sick less often. It also boosts emotional health as well as physical health, so we are more motivated when we're at work.
How Does It Improve Motivation?
If you start a regular excise program, you have to be disciplined. Sometimes, it 's hard to get started in the beginning, but it 's generally easier to keep going once you've established a routine. You might even begin to look forward to it, since working out also boosts emotional health and increases "feel-good" hormones called endorphins. This means that once you get started, working out can be its own motivation. And ultimately, that motivation can carry over into the rest of your life as well.
Because exercise is an overall energy booster, it improves mental clarity as well. It makes us healthier overall, which lets us function better mentally. And it won't take long at all to see the effects. Within about two weeks, you should begin to see very positive results both physically and mentally.
If you're having trouble getting started, start small. A short walk can do amazing things without much effort at all. If you're frustrated or stuck on something, take a short break, take a brisk walk to clear your head, and then go back to the problem. Likely, you'll find that you've discovered the solution while you were out. It helps you refocus once you've taken a few minutes to relax and simply let your body move around a bit, as well as giving your mind or rest.
Finding the Time to Exercise
Of course, everyone 's busy, and exercise is often a last priority. However, working out can actually make you more efficient, which will give you time for other things. The hardest part about exercise is getting started.
If you can, try working out early in the morning. This can give you a great start to your day by increasing alertness and feelings of vitality. If you work out early in the morning, you also get the workout over before you even start the rest of your day, which means after work, you can simply go home and enjoy your free time.
Many people work out after their workday is over, and this is fine. However, take care that you don't do it too late. If you work out too late, you'll interfere with proper sleep, since you have "revved your engines," so to speak, making it hard to calm down and go to bed. If you exercise later in the day, make sure it 's at least two to three hours before you go to bed.
If exercising both before and after work is impossible, simply schedule "mini-workouts" during lunch or break times. You still get the benefits of exercise in smaller doses, and it will still increase your energy and make you more efficient. You might also find that the extra motivation in energy will let you get more work done in less time, so that you'll then find the time to begin working out before after work.
Exercising is a wonderful tool for mental clarity, positive attitude, and increased motivation. In addition to the other benefits it provides, this is a positive boost to your business. Give working out a try and see what it does for you.
Is a Home Business Right for You?
Every morning as people wake up and make the commute to work, many dream of the day when they will finally work for themselves. Every time the boss lets someone know that they must give up their weekend plans for the good of the company, people contemplate the benefits of being the owner of their own business.
Are you one of these people?
If you are, it is important to ask yourself some very important questions before you make the uncertain leap into self-employment.
Many dream of the benefits of home business ownership, but few take into account the sacrifices that must be made to bring the dream to fruition. Please don't make this mistake yourself.
You must approach home business ownership with your eyes wide open. Ask yourself the important questions, and more importantly, answer your own questions openly and honestly.
AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION
Are you the type of person who relishes every chance to gather around the water cooler for social interaction?
If so, then home business ownership may not be the right decision for you.
Instead, if you feel that you can be quite content sitting alone at your desk; speaking only to clients and really minding your own home business, then you might have what it takes to succeed as a home business entrepreneur.
If you feel at ease with your own company and don't need a dozen coworkers milling around your desk, then you, too, could savor the freedoms that will allow you and your family, to live the lifestyle you know you want and deserve.
THE KEY TO HOME BUSINESS SUCCESS
Self-motivation is the key to success when you start a home-based business. You need to possess the ability to push yourself ahead. Your drive and determination will be reinforced with every new sale.
The level of success that you will achieve greatly depends on the time and effort you are willing to plow into your new home business. Your organization, planning and marketing skills, will all be put into practice when you embark on your liberating journey from employee, to being your own boss. In fact, you will be the wearer of many hats and gain a wealth of business experience along the way, when you finally make that commitment to work at home.
YOUR SUCCESS RESTS ENTIRELY UPON YOUR OWN SHOULDERS
You will now be the boss. Are you truly able to work independently? Do you have the drive; the tenacity, to persevere with your home based business? Will you be able to invest the necessary time to nurture it, to watch it grow and see it through, from germination to full, glorious bloom? When you're the boss, you are responsible for the success of your home business, from A to Z, from disappointments to victory.
When you work at home, it will empower you to achieve many things you were unable to do when you were stuck working for that tyrant boss. Remember him? He 's the guy that wouldn't let you take time off when your baby was sick...the same guy that called you in to work on Thanksgiving Day.
A home business means that you can take good care of your family and make money from home, simultaneously. You will have the best of both worlds! Just think--no more dirty laundry piling up--you can do it while you work. No more scurrying around at the last minute searching for a babysitter either. And no more worrying about getting fired; you'll be the boss!
IN CONCLUSION...
Stay positive and focused on your home based business, even if, when sales aren't up to par, you get occasional negative remarks or derogatory comments from people with stuffy, dead-end jobs. Ignore their cutting words and bear in mind that success is the best revenge! Keep your admirable, positive attitude at the forefront and show them what you're made of!
Are you one of these people?
If you are, it is important to ask yourself some very important questions before you make the uncertain leap into self-employment.
Many dream of the benefits of home business ownership, but few take into account the sacrifices that must be made to bring the dream to fruition. Please don't make this mistake yourself.
You must approach home business ownership with your eyes wide open. Ask yourself the important questions, and more importantly, answer your own questions openly and honestly.
AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION
Are you the type of person who relishes every chance to gather around the water cooler for social interaction?
If so, then home business ownership may not be the right decision for you.
Instead, if you feel that you can be quite content sitting alone at your desk; speaking only to clients and really minding your own home business, then you might have what it takes to succeed as a home business entrepreneur.
If you feel at ease with your own company and don't need a dozen coworkers milling around your desk, then you, too, could savor the freedoms that will allow you and your family, to live the lifestyle you know you want and deserve.
THE KEY TO HOME BUSINESS SUCCESS
Self-motivation is the key to success when you start a home-based business. You need to possess the ability to push yourself ahead. Your drive and determination will be reinforced with every new sale.
The level of success that you will achieve greatly depends on the time and effort you are willing to plow into your new home business. Your organization, planning and marketing skills, will all be put into practice when you embark on your liberating journey from employee, to being your own boss. In fact, you will be the wearer of many hats and gain a wealth of business experience along the way, when you finally make that commitment to work at home.
YOUR SUCCESS RESTS ENTIRELY UPON YOUR OWN SHOULDERS
You will now be the boss. Are you truly able to work independently? Do you have the drive; the tenacity, to persevere with your home based business? Will you be able to invest the necessary time to nurture it, to watch it grow and see it through, from germination to full, glorious bloom? When you're the boss, you are responsible for the success of your home business, from A to Z, from disappointments to victory.
When you work at home, it will empower you to achieve many things you were unable to do when you were stuck working for that tyrant boss. Remember him? He 's the guy that wouldn't let you take time off when your baby was sick...the same guy that called you in to work on Thanksgiving Day.
A home business means that you can take good care of your family and make money from home, simultaneously. You will have the best of both worlds! Just think--no more dirty laundry piling up--you can do it while you work. No more scurrying around at the last minute searching for a babysitter either. And no more worrying about getting fired; you'll be the boss!
IN CONCLUSION...
Stay positive and focused on your home based business, even if, when sales aren't up to par, you get occasional negative remarks or derogatory comments from people with stuffy, dead-end jobs. Ignore their cutting words and bear in mind that success is the best revenge! Keep your admirable, positive attitude at the forefront and show them what you're made of!
How to Stay Focused on Your Home Business Goals
When you are the owner of a home business, you will find hundreds of distractions that vie for your time, energy and focus.
Common distractions include: children, family, friends, neighbors, pets, phone calls, mail, household chores, video games, television, neighborhood children, visitors, and so many more.
As an owner of a home based business, you must always remember your purpose in bringing your profession home. What was your reason for wanting to own a home business? Was your goal to work from home so that you can share in the lives of your children? Was your goal to be out from under the rule of a tyrannical boss? Was your goal to have the freedom to work when it is convenient for you? Was your goal to make tons of money working for yourself?
Here 's a few good tips that will help you stay focused on your home business:
TIP #1:
Whatever your reason for going out on your own, you must keep your reason in the forefront of your mind. If you forget your reason for starting your own home business, you will not be working for yourself for long. It is far too easy to let circumstance drive your activities --- and when circumstance is in the driver 's seat, you are more likely to crash and burn.
TIP #2:
Remember --- your own business is a lot like a real job. Some people go to work to play, some go to socialize, and others --- most often those who are paid in a commission or tip environment --- go to work to work and to make money. When you work for yourself, your salary is directly proportional to your productivity. Therefore, wouldn't it make sense to stay focused on getting as much done in as short of a period as possible?
Go to work to work and to make money. Leave playtime and recreation for when your workday has ended.
TIP #3:
When you are dealing with family in the course of your workday, it is important to schedule your activities as much as possible. With small children, you must take time when you must, but you should also work hard to make sure you dedicate a specific number of hours to your workday.
With older children, it is much easier to tell them that you will be working between the hours of x and y. Your children and your friends must understand that certain hours of your day are devoted to the activities of your business.
TIP #4:
Don't permit your friends and extended family to run over you. Many people get the blind idea that if one works from home then they are not actually working.
Well-meaning people may try to fill your doorway to bring advice about getting a real job. Others may simply believe that if you are at home, then you are fair game for chitchat and socialization.
You must stand firm. You must make certain your friends and family understands that when you are working, then you ARE working! If they wish to socialize with you, then they need to do it during the hours that are not dedicated to your home business.
You are the only one who can stand up for you. Your friends and family will seldom be able to appreciate your dedication to your home business, unless you make the effort to make sure that they have the same respect for your business that you do.
TIP #5:
You should allot a certain portion of your day to email and to regular mail. For example, allot one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon to handling your written communications.
Unless you dedicate certain times to the handling of these communications, you will soon find yourself on the downward slope of decreased productivity.
TIP #6:
When you find yourself spending too much time doing non-productive activities, then you should seriously consider finding a third-party service provider who will assist you in those non-profitable business activities.
As an example, you might be in the mail-order business. You might believe that your time is best spent writing ad copy and setting up your advertising, but you find yourself spending far too much time taking care of your books to take care of your advertising in the manner that you should. In this event, it might make more sense to hire a bookkeeper to handle your financial records for you.
CONCLUSION:
In the end, the success of your home business is entirely and completely reliant upon you and the decisions that you make.
You had your reasons for deciding to start your own home based business. You must always keep your reasons in the forefront of your mind. You must always be able to rely upon your own self and your dedication to the success of your business.
Your friends and family might be annoyed that they cannot come visit upon their own whim, but when success comes to you and your business, they will better appreciate you for putting your foot down when necessary.
Success is within your reach, if only you can stay focused on your goals. You must decide to reach for your goals, and then, you must have the discipline necessary to reach them.
Common distractions include: children, family, friends, neighbors, pets, phone calls, mail, household chores, video games, television, neighborhood children, visitors, and so many more.
As an owner of a home based business, you must always remember your purpose in bringing your profession home. What was your reason for wanting to own a home business? Was your goal to work from home so that you can share in the lives of your children? Was your goal to be out from under the rule of a tyrannical boss? Was your goal to have the freedom to work when it is convenient for you? Was your goal to make tons of money working for yourself?
Here 's a few good tips that will help you stay focused on your home business:
TIP #1:
Whatever your reason for going out on your own, you must keep your reason in the forefront of your mind. If you forget your reason for starting your own home business, you will not be working for yourself for long. It is far too easy to let circumstance drive your activities --- and when circumstance is in the driver 's seat, you are more likely to crash and burn.
TIP #2:
Remember --- your own business is a lot like a real job. Some people go to work to play, some go to socialize, and others --- most often those who are paid in a commission or tip environment --- go to work to work and to make money. When you work for yourself, your salary is directly proportional to your productivity. Therefore, wouldn't it make sense to stay focused on getting as much done in as short of a period as possible?
Go to work to work and to make money. Leave playtime and recreation for when your workday has ended.
TIP #3:
When you are dealing with family in the course of your workday, it is important to schedule your activities as much as possible. With small children, you must take time when you must, but you should also work hard to make sure you dedicate a specific number of hours to your workday.
With older children, it is much easier to tell them that you will be working between the hours of x and y. Your children and your friends must understand that certain hours of your day are devoted to the activities of your business.
TIP #4:
Don't permit your friends and extended family to run over you. Many people get the blind idea that if one works from home then they are not actually working.
Well-meaning people may try to fill your doorway to bring advice about getting a real job. Others may simply believe that if you are at home, then you are fair game for chitchat and socialization.
You must stand firm. You must make certain your friends and family understands that when you are working, then you ARE working! If they wish to socialize with you, then they need to do it during the hours that are not dedicated to your home business.
You are the only one who can stand up for you. Your friends and family will seldom be able to appreciate your dedication to your home business, unless you make the effort to make sure that they have the same respect for your business that you do.
TIP #5:
You should allot a certain portion of your day to email and to regular mail. For example, allot one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon to handling your written communications.
Unless you dedicate certain times to the handling of these communications, you will soon find yourself on the downward slope of decreased productivity.
TIP #6:
When you find yourself spending too much time doing non-productive activities, then you should seriously consider finding a third-party service provider who will assist you in those non-profitable business activities.
As an example, you might be in the mail-order business. You might believe that your time is best spent writing ad copy and setting up your advertising, but you find yourself spending far too much time taking care of your books to take care of your advertising in the manner that you should. In this event, it might make more sense to hire a bookkeeper to handle your financial records for you.
CONCLUSION:
In the end, the success of your home business is entirely and completely reliant upon you and the decisions that you make.
You had your reasons for deciding to start your own home based business. You must always keep your reasons in the forefront of your mind. You must always be able to rely upon your own self and your dedication to the success of your business.
Your friends and family might be annoyed that they cannot come visit upon their own whim, but when success comes to you and your business, they will better appreciate you for putting your foot down when necessary.
Success is within your reach, if only you can stay focused on your goals. You must decide to reach for your goals, and then, you must have the discipline necessary to reach them.
Children in the Home Business Environment
Operating a home business is seldom easy and interruptions come in all shapes, sizes and forms.
Between the family, friends and neighbors who call or come by, and the telemarketers who insist on ringing your number off the hook, getting through the workday can be a real challenge.
When you introduce children into the home office environment, your productivity and patience can be seriously tested.
For example, right now my five-year old son is pulling on my shirt and begging me to read her a story. Clearly, I'm in the middle of something important here, but how can I say no to those eyes? Ill be right back...
Ok, that wasn't so bad was it? He 's happy, I'm happy (having bonded with my son) and now I'm back to continue my conversation with you :-) What 's the lesson here? Flexibility is a major key to balancing your home business priorities with your family 's needs.
I can tell you from first-hand experience that maintaining a deep level of concentration on work in a home business for long periods of time is next to impossible. Naptime does offer some reprieve, but any break from the kids is usually short lived.
Even with older children, summertime introduces new challenges with kids running in and out of the house all throughout the day.
I would like to share with you some of the tips I have discovered to help manage your home office with children in your midst. Since children of different ages pose different challenges, I will present my tips in terms of age groups.
OLDER CHILDREN AND TEENS
We will look at older children first since they pose the least challenge to our work productivity.
Children, who are old enough to understand the idea of schedules and chores, are old enough to understand the needs of your home business. Explain to your children that you do your work at home so that you can be near them when they need you. But also be sure they understand that you must do your work so that you will have the money necessary to keep your house, feed the family and to provide them with money for entertainment.
Once your children understand the necessity of your work, then outline a work schedule and explain it to them. Do make sure they understand that emergencies are definitely an acceptable reason to interrupt your work. Then make sure they understand that between hours x and y, you will be doing work --- and then hold them to respecting your schedule.
INFANTS
Infants will never understand your needs for work. But fortunately, babies do well under a schedule or routine. Instead of expecting your child to work around your schedule, schedule your work around the needs of your baby.
It is simple. Babies eat, sleep and poop. Sometimes they play. Fortunately, babies sleep more than they do anything else.
Naptime offers the best advantage for getting your work done. Get your baby into a routine of eat, sleep and play, and you will experience unexpected levels of productivity.
TODDLERS
If you have a toddler running around the house while you are operating your home business, then you may find that your hair turning gray or disappearing altogether. But, gray hair is a sign of character, right. ;-)
I am venturing to guess that the person who devised the door lock for the inside of the house did so because he had toddlers in his own home. Inside door locks should only be utilized when you are making that important phone call and your toddler is screaming for your attention. At all other times, your door should remain unlocked with your door open.
Develop a routine with your children for meal times, naptimes, and play times. Work these times into your work schedule and adhere to them. If you fail to keep appointments with your children, your children will have less respect for your work and do more to prevent you from the completion of your work.
Don't be afraid to let your children sit in your lap while you are working. It helps them to feel wanted and it helps them to be a part of your daily life. There are times when it is okay for them to be sitting in your lap while you work, and at other times you need them out of your lap. Don't be afraid to tell them to get down and go play or read a book so that you can resume your work.
Permit your children to have their toys in your office. Often they will sit contently and play while you work. Just knowing you are near is enough to keep them happy.
Be prepared to take an hourly break to deal with your toddler. Try to do potty breaks at your hourly break and to do drink refills. This can help your child grow into a routine that will work well with your home business. At each break, spend a few minutes with your child giving hugs and kisses and talking with your child about what he or she wants to talk about.
Toddlers don't always do well with the routine, so be prepared to take a few minutes when needed to give the attention that your child so desperately needs in the moment.
IN CONCLUSION
I hope these tips serve to help you in the challenge of operating a successful home business.
My home business permits me to fulfill my financial obligations *AND* see my children grow up. I would never contemplate trading my home business for another kind of business. Even with the added challenges of dealing with toddlers in my home office, the upsides far outweigh the downsides.
Growing my own home business with children around has definitely given me a new respect for all people who successfully run a home business with kids in the work environment. Kudos to you!
Between the family, friends and neighbors who call or come by, and the telemarketers who insist on ringing your number off the hook, getting through the workday can be a real challenge.
When you introduce children into the home office environment, your productivity and patience can be seriously tested.
For example, right now my five-year old son is pulling on my shirt and begging me to read her a story. Clearly, I'm in the middle of something important here, but how can I say no to those eyes? Ill be right back...
Ok, that wasn't so bad was it? He 's happy, I'm happy (having bonded with my son) and now I'm back to continue my conversation with you :-) What 's the lesson here? Flexibility is a major key to balancing your home business priorities with your family 's needs.
I can tell you from first-hand experience that maintaining a deep level of concentration on work in a home business for long periods of time is next to impossible. Naptime does offer some reprieve, but any break from the kids is usually short lived.
Even with older children, summertime introduces new challenges with kids running in and out of the house all throughout the day.
I would like to share with you some of the tips I have discovered to help manage your home office with children in your midst. Since children of different ages pose different challenges, I will present my tips in terms of age groups.
OLDER CHILDREN AND TEENS
We will look at older children first since they pose the least challenge to our work productivity.
Children, who are old enough to understand the idea of schedules and chores, are old enough to understand the needs of your home business. Explain to your children that you do your work at home so that you can be near them when they need you. But also be sure they understand that you must do your work so that you will have the money necessary to keep your house, feed the family and to provide them with money for entertainment.
Once your children understand the necessity of your work, then outline a work schedule and explain it to them. Do make sure they understand that emergencies are definitely an acceptable reason to interrupt your work. Then make sure they understand that between hours x and y, you will be doing work --- and then hold them to respecting your schedule.
INFANTS
Infants will never understand your needs for work. But fortunately, babies do well under a schedule or routine. Instead of expecting your child to work around your schedule, schedule your work around the needs of your baby.
It is simple. Babies eat, sleep and poop. Sometimes they play. Fortunately, babies sleep more than they do anything else.
Naptime offers the best advantage for getting your work done. Get your baby into a routine of eat, sleep and play, and you will experience unexpected levels of productivity.
TODDLERS
If you have a toddler running around the house while you are operating your home business, then you may find that your hair turning gray or disappearing altogether. But, gray hair is a sign of character, right. ;-)
I am venturing to guess that the person who devised the door lock for the inside of the house did so because he had toddlers in his own home. Inside door locks should only be utilized when you are making that important phone call and your toddler is screaming for your attention. At all other times, your door should remain unlocked with your door open.
Develop a routine with your children for meal times, naptimes, and play times. Work these times into your work schedule and adhere to them. If you fail to keep appointments with your children, your children will have less respect for your work and do more to prevent you from the completion of your work.
Don't be afraid to let your children sit in your lap while you are working. It helps them to feel wanted and it helps them to be a part of your daily life. There are times when it is okay for them to be sitting in your lap while you work, and at other times you need them out of your lap. Don't be afraid to tell them to get down and go play or read a book so that you can resume your work.
Permit your children to have their toys in your office. Often they will sit contently and play while you work. Just knowing you are near is enough to keep them happy.
Be prepared to take an hourly break to deal with your toddler. Try to do potty breaks at your hourly break and to do drink refills. This can help your child grow into a routine that will work well with your home business. At each break, spend a few minutes with your child giving hugs and kisses and talking with your child about what he or she wants to talk about.
Toddlers don't always do well with the routine, so be prepared to take a few minutes when needed to give the attention that your child so desperately needs in the moment.
IN CONCLUSION
I hope these tips serve to help you in the challenge of operating a successful home business.
My home business permits me to fulfill my financial obligations *AND* see my children grow up. I would never contemplate trading my home business for another kind of business. Even with the added challenges of dealing with toddlers in my home office, the upsides far outweigh the downsides.
Growing my own home business with children around has definitely given me a new respect for all people who successfully run a home business with kids in the work environment. Kudos to you!
Ideas For Job Related Gifts
Buying gifts for people is not always a simple task. It is one thing to buy a gift for someone you are close to, but what do you do when you are trying to find the perfect or proper gift for a colleague or manager? What do you buy? How much should you spend? What is the occasion? Is it better to buy a group gift?
One of the first things you need to do is to set the price. This will allow you to narrow down your search and prevent you from getting out of control as well. If you are buying something for your boss, you don't want to buy something too cheap but also not too expensive. You don't want your colleagues wondering if you are trying to be nice or if you are trying to get the next promotion. It has to be just right.
The trick is to figure out what to buy. This will to some degree depend a little bit on what they do and what their interests are. There are some gifts that will work no matter what. If your boss travels a lot, a new leather suit case that fits one or two laptops can always come in handy. If they are too expensive, talk to your colleagues and see what they are doing. Maybe you can go in together? After all, it is better to buy one gift your boss will appreciate instead of buying her a couple of gifts that will end up in the trash can the next day. If you really want to get your boss something she will appreciate and you don't mind spending time with her outside work, then go ahead and buy a round of golf for two at your favorite golf course.
The occasion it self will hopefully narrow down the wish list. Buying a gift for a wedding is usually pretty straight forward even if it is for your boss or colleague. They probably have a registry and you just need to pick something that is available on the list. If you are like me and you always get invited to weddings where the couple has listed salad bowls for $140 or a silver knife for $299, then you have to be more creative. Going in with your friends or colleagues probably can help here. It allows you to divide up the cost among a couple of people and still get your manager or colleagues what they want.
When is it appropriate to buy a group gift? This can be tricky and depends on the situation and a little bit on the gift as well. If you know your colleague always wanted a nice new driver but it is outside the comfortable price range, then going in on the gift with your colleagues will reduce the burden on your end and will also not make the person getting the gift feel guilty about it since he knows all of you divided up the cost. This really is the perfect way to go. If you are buying a pair of golf balls, then it is probably not worth dividing up the costs. There is a good chance that those balls will end up in the water if you were five people going in on that gift.
In conclusion, buying gifts for colleagues and managers is not always an easy task. There are several things we have to take into consideration. If you are going to do it though, you might as well do it right. Talk to your colleagues. Ask them what they are thinking about buying. Use a service to organize the perfect gift and divide up the cost. And most importantly, don't stress over it. Buying a gift should be a fun experience.
One of the first things you need to do is to set the price. This will allow you to narrow down your search and prevent you from getting out of control as well. If you are buying something for your boss, you don't want to buy something too cheap but also not too expensive. You don't want your colleagues wondering if you are trying to be nice or if you are trying to get the next promotion. It has to be just right.
The trick is to figure out what to buy. This will to some degree depend a little bit on what they do and what their interests are. There are some gifts that will work no matter what. If your boss travels a lot, a new leather suit case that fits one or two laptops can always come in handy. If they are too expensive, talk to your colleagues and see what they are doing. Maybe you can go in together? After all, it is better to buy one gift your boss will appreciate instead of buying her a couple of gifts that will end up in the trash can the next day. If you really want to get your boss something she will appreciate and you don't mind spending time with her outside work, then go ahead and buy a round of golf for two at your favorite golf course.
The occasion it self will hopefully narrow down the wish list. Buying a gift for a wedding is usually pretty straight forward even if it is for your boss or colleague. They probably have a registry and you just need to pick something that is available on the list. If you are like me and you always get invited to weddings where the couple has listed salad bowls for $140 or a silver knife for $299, then you have to be more creative. Going in with your friends or colleagues probably can help here. It allows you to divide up the cost among a couple of people and still get your manager or colleagues what they want.
When is it appropriate to buy a group gift? This can be tricky and depends on the situation and a little bit on the gift as well. If you know your colleague always wanted a nice new driver but it is outside the comfortable price range, then going in on the gift with your colleagues will reduce the burden on your end and will also not make the person getting the gift feel guilty about it since he knows all of you divided up the cost. This really is the perfect way to go. If you are buying a pair of golf balls, then it is probably not worth dividing up the costs. There is a good chance that those balls will end up in the water if you were five people going in on that gift.
In conclusion, buying gifts for colleagues and managers is not always an easy task. There are several things we have to take into consideration. If you are going to do it though, you might as well do it right. Talk to your colleagues. Ask them what they are thinking about buying. Use a service to organize the perfect gift and divide up the cost. And most importantly, don't stress over it. Buying a gift should be a fun experience.
Finding The Right Home-Based Business
When starting to think about a home-based business, many know exactly what they are going to target. However, most individuals like you and I have no idea what direction to take when starting to brainstorm for this new en devour.
It is not enough just knowing that we want to have our own home-based business. Struggling with the important decision of what type of home-based business we want to start is how many of us approach the brainstorming.
There are hundreds even thousands of profitable home-based business ideas to choose from, which will fit every type of personality and all levels of income. Some examples: from selling products, service or information on the Internet, to typing information, etc; there is a ton of money to be made, from a variety services.
Just like anything else, it is important to enjoy what you are doing in your new home-based business; this will effect your end results with a much higher success rate. So be sure to pick that home-based business that you'll enjoy running and that will keep you motivated day to day.
When brainstorming ideas use your specialty or a special interest . Focus on this specialty or interest; such as, if you enjoy math than accounting or maybe even an income tax service might be your ideal home-based business. Do you enjoy writing? Then maybe you'd like to start your own home-based advertising agency or become a ghost writer on the Internet. Are you a sales professional, maybe network marketing would be your specialty. As you can see there are many alternatives to starting a successful home-based business with great profitability from the comfort of your home.
Maybe none of these interest but you love crafts. Craft items are hot sellers at craft shows, country fairs, and even over the Internet. This is a great way to provide yourself with a substantial income. If this doesn't interest you, then why not start a laundry service or a shopping service for the elderly. Do you love animals; why not a dog sitting or walking business?
When brainstorming new ideas for your future home-based business, keep in mind to be successful you need to provide a product or service that others will actually purchase over and over again. Satisfied customers will return again and again however you need to start with a specific targeted market. If you target your market correctly they will keep you and your home-based business in business with a nice steady income.
A list of suggestions for home-based businesses has been provided below. These are just a few ideas to help you brainstorm so you can decide on an appropriate business that fits into the life style of you and your family.
Multi-level-marketing (mlm)
Day Care Service
Dog Walking Service
Vending Machine
Gift Basket Service
Income Tax Service
Accounting Service
Crafter
Typing Service
Delivery Service
Cleaning Service
The list can go on and on; just think about everyday things that others may need but may not be able to provide for themselves.
Any business you start from home has the possibility to develop and explode into a never ending cash flow for you and your family. Your home-based business will thrive as long as the demand it there either in your community or on the Internet. You will probably start off slow; as long as you dedicate your time to a regular work schedule and regularly pick up new clients you should have great success. Whats the worse that could happen; your business explodes and you have to enlist your family and friends to give you a hand to meet the high demands.
To your success!
It is not enough just knowing that we want to have our own home-based business. Struggling with the important decision of what type of home-based business we want to start is how many of us approach the brainstorming.
There are hundreds even thousands of profitable home-based business ideas to choose from, which will fit every type of personality and all levels of income. Some examples: from selling products, service or information on the Internet, to typing information, etc; there is a ton of money to be made, from a variety services.
Just like anything else, it is important to enjoy what you are doing in your new home-based business; this will effect your end results with a much higher success rate. So be sure to pick that home-based business that you'll enjoy running and that will keep you motivated day to day.
When brainstorming ideas use your specialty or a special interest . Focus on this specialty or interest; such as, if you enjoy math than accounting or maybe even an income tax service might be your ideal home-based business. Do you enjoy writing? Then maybe you'd like to start your own home-based advertising agency or become a ghost writer on the Internet. Are you a sales professional, maybe network marketing would be your specialty. As you can see there are many alternatives to starting a successful home-based business with great profitability from the comfort of your home.
Maybe none of these interest but you love crafts. Craft items are hot sellers at craft shows, country fairs, and even over the Internet. This is a great way to provide yourself with a substantial income. If this doesn't interest you, then why not start a laundry service or a shopping service for the elderly. Do you love animals; why not a dog sitting or walking business?
When brainstorming new ideas for your future home-based business, keep in mind to be successful you need to provide a product or service that others will actually purchase over and over again. Satisfied customers will return again and again however you need to start with a specific targeted market. If you target your market correctly they will keep you and your home-based business in business with a nice steady income.
A list of suggestions for home-based businesses has been provided below. These are just a few ideas to help you brainstorm so you can decide on an appropriate business that fits into the life style of you and your family.
Multi-level-marketing (mlm)
Day Care Service
Dog Walking Service
Vending Machine
Gift Basket Service
Income Tax Service
Accounting Service
Crafter
Typing Service
Delivery Service
Cleaning Service
The list can go on and on; just think about everyday things that others may need but may not be able to provide for themselves.
Any business you start from home has the possibility to develop and explode into a never ending cash flow for you and your family. Your home-based business will thrive as long as the demand it there either in your community or on the Internet. You will probably start off slow; as long as you dedicate your time to a regular work schedule and regularly pick up new clients you should have great success. Whats the worse that could happen; your business explodes and you have to enlist your family and friends to give you a hand to meet the high demands.
To your success!
Challenges of Running a Home-Based Business
Running a home-based business offers many challenges and being a work at home mom offers many more! The number one challenge and probably the most important is staying organized; so things not only in your business but also in your home life remain as stress FREE as possible. To avoid work consuming your time and having the housework getting behind I will outline a few important steps to staying organized which I have found very useful.
Staying Focused - Setting Work Hours:
The hardest part about being home and working your home-based business is staying focused. Many things can and will interrupt your day unless you set work hours; treat your home-based business like a j.o.b. First and foremost is to establish the minimum number of hours you wish to work each week. Once you have done that then it is important to block out the hours on your calender to avoid interruption. Make sure when determining these hours that you take into consideration the best hours with the least amount of distraction.
My main reason for starting my home-based business was so I could work around my family however once I started I realized my families schedule and demands change on a monthly basis. Now how do you keep a focus on your business and still remain there for your family? This is when I realized the easiest way to do this is to gather the school calender, home calender and my business calender at the end of each month. I start by blocking off the activities for the month ie: orthodontist, school plays, school holidays etc. Then I block off my work schedule making sure I have my minimum hours that I originally established when I set out to start my home-based business. Now that I have my families schedule and my work schedule all mapped out on the calender I can arrange whatever else comes up without taking away from my business. This helps me stay focused and not get distracted; I find that I get much more accomplished with my business this way and avoid the easy distractions. My family and friends have also learned to respect that I am still only available to them certain hours of the day since I am working even if I am home.
Recruiting Family Members to Help: It is very easy to try and take on all the work load yourself however this is not the wise thing to do since you will discover burnout very quickly. Not only will you burnout from exhaustion but you will get very frustrated and overwhelmed. Recruit the kids to help out with the easy tasks such as folding the laundry, the vacuuming and more importantly make them pick up after themselves. You can even recruit the kids to help out with the business; they can help by preparing mailings, making copies, stuffing envelopes, etc. Obviously if you have small children this may be a little more difficult that is when you will have to rely on your significant other to help out.
Learn to let go; maybe the house isn't as tidy as you would like it but remember you are home for the family. You have to have some trade offs in this deal.
Organize, Organize, Organize: It is very important to stay organized not only in your business but also in the household. I find lists and calenders are my savior without them I would never make an appointment. Get rid of the clutter starting with your desk or daily work space. Keep it simple! Once you have a system into place it is easy to remain organized. The hardest part is to get there; I find bins and trays work best for us. I use the stack trays for all the important things that come into the house via mail or school.
Once your work space is organized them move onto the next section of the house. Again keep it standard so the rest of the family will know the routine and were things go. Once you get the family involved with your new system things will start to fall into place; you will find everhting in the household and business running much more efficently.
Staying Focused - Setting Work Hours:
The hardest part about being home and working your home-based business is staying focused. Many things can and will interrupt your day unless you set work hours; treat your home-based business like a j.o.b. First and foremost is to establish the minimum number of hours you wish to work each week. Once you have done that then it is important to block out the hours on your calender to avoid interruption. Make sure when determining these hours that you take into consideration the best hours with the least amount of distraction.
My main reason for starting my home-based business was so I could work around my family however once I started I realized my families schedule and demands change on a monthly basis. Now how do you keep a focus on your business and still remain there for your family? This is when I realized the easiest way to do this is to gather the school calender, home calender and my business calender at the end of each month. I start by blocking off the activities for the month ie: orthodontist, school plays, school holidays etc. Then I block off my work schedule making sure I have my minimum hours that I originally established when I set out to start my home-based business. Now that I have my families schedule and my work schedule all mapped out on the calender I can arrange whatever else comes up without taking away from my business. This helps me stay focused and not get distracted; I find that I get much more accomplished with my business this way and avoid the easy distractions. My family and friends have also learned to respect that I am still only available to them certain hours of the day since I am working even if I am home.
Recruiting Family Members to Help: It is very easy to try and take on all the work load yourself however this is not the wise thing to do since you will discover burnout very quickly. Not only will you burnout from exhaustion but you will get very frustrated and overwhelmed. Recruit the kids to help out with the easy tasks such as folding the laundry, the vacuuming and more importantly make them pick up after themselves. You can even recruit the kids to help out with the business; they can help by preparing mailings, making copies, stuffing envelopes, etc. Obviously if you have small children this may be a little more difficult that is when you will have to rely on your significant other to help out.
Learn to let go; maybe the house isn't as tidy as you would like it but remember you are home for the family. You have to have some trade offs in this deal.
Organize, Organize, Organize: It is very important to stay organized not only in your business but also in the household. I find lists and calenders are my savior without them I would never make an appointment. Get rid of the clutter starting with your desk or daily work space. Keep it simple! Once you have a system into place it is easy to remain organized. The hardest part is to get there; I find bins and trays work best for us. I use the stack trays for all the important things that come into the house via mail or school.
Once your work space is organized them move onto the next section of the house. Again keep it standard so the rest of the family will know the routine and were things go. Once you get the family involved with your new system things will start to fall into place; you will find everhting in the household and business running much more efficently.
Losing The Plot With Office Furniture
The boss was losing his mind big style. His temperament was becoming erratic, his bad moods famous and his physical appearance was fast going downhill.
There was office gossip regarding his personal life. Apparently, his wife was having some kind of mid-life crisis and had taken off with a much younger toy boy. The other girls in the office thought it was more likely that she had seen the light and had enough of him.
A respected colleague took him to one side, pointing out some of these downfalls and the things people were saying and he did his best to pull it together. His first show of 'I'm on top, I have everything under control, I'm doing just fine' was his decision to re-fit the office.
Office furniture was turning up in delivery vans on a daily basis, still sitting unpacked in reception for some time. Flat pack desks piled against the wall and filing cabinets stuck in the corridors were a pain for the other staff until they took it into their own hands and organised the office furniture re-fit themselves, still with surplus.
Looking particularly dishevelled one morning, the boss arrived in a bad mood. Trying to brighten his day, he thought he would test out the new office furniture by sitting on the edge of his secretary 's desk and making unseemly advances.
Not wanting to leave her job, and trying to be more understanding than a lot of women would have been, she made a show of spilling her coffee on the desk and he took the hint, swiftly removing himself. Personally, I think he was lucky not to get a swift kick in the shins but he appeared to be going through some crisis that didn't need worsening.
Maybe she thought twice the next morning when she arrived to find the corner of her desk had been sawn off by the boss in protest. Just as well there was an abundance of office furniture to replace it.
Later that day, the boss stormed through the secretary 's office to find Jeremy from accounts perched on the edge of her desk, discussing this month 's budget. Needless to say, by the next morning, she had no corner to her desk again and this was the way it stayed.
For some bizarre reason, the boss decided the office furniture was to be controlled and he vented his unknown problems on this, often found whiling away the afternoon with a set of alan keys and a socket set dismantling chairs, filing cabinets and desks galore. He would then begin rebuilding with all the wrong parts and even spare bits that occasionally got thrown out of the office door.
After another narrow escape involving a spare piece of office furniture whistling past the secretary 's head, she'd really had enough and began to pack her belongings with the intention of quitting her job as soon as it was safe to do so.
When her boss left for a lunch break, she put her letter of resignation on his desk and slipped quietly away. This did not make him happy! In fact, it was the last straw that finally tipped him over the edge.
Emerging from his office, he pushed over the spare filing cabinet, setting off a domino effect with the spare office furniture that was stacked along the corridor.
When Jeremy from accounts saw the steam coming from his ears he approached cautiously in an attempt to calm him down. For his efforts he received a punch in the jaw before the boss jumped on a swivel shair and catapulted himself out of the nearest window.
There was office gossip regarding his personal life. Apparently, his wife was having some kind of mid-life crisis and had taken off with a much younger toy boy. The other girls in the office thought it was more likely that she had seen the light and had enough of him.
A respected colleague took him to one side, pointing out some of these downfalls and the things people were saying and he did his best to pull it together. His first show of 'I'm on top, I have everything under control, I'm doing just fine' was his decision to re-fit the office.
Office furniture was turning up in delivery vans on a daily basis, still sitting unpacked in reception for some time. Flat pack desks piled against the wall and filing cabinets stuck in the corridors were a pain for the other staff until they took it into their own hands and organised the office furniture re-fit themselves, still with surplus.
Looking particularly dishevelled one morning, the boss arrived in a bad mood. Trying to brighten his day, he thought he would test out the new office furniture by sitting on the edge of his secretary 's desk and making unseemly advances.
Not wanting to leave her job, and trying to be more understanding than a lot of women would have been, she made a show of spilling her coffee on the desk and he took the hint, swiftly removing himself. Personally, I think he was lucky not to get a swift kick in the shins but he appeared to be going through some crisis that didn't need worsening.
Maybe she thought twice the next morning when she arrived to find the corner of her desk had been sawn off by the boss in protest. Just as well there was an abundance of office furniture to replace it.
Later that day, the boss stormed through the secretary 's office to find Jeremy from accounts perched on the edge of her desk, discussing this month 's budget. Needless to say, by the next morning, she had no corner to her desk again and this was the way it stayed.
For some bizarre reason, the boss decided the office furniture was to be controlled and he vented his unknown problems on this, often found whiling away the afternoon with a set of alan keys and a socket set dismantling chairs, filing cabinets and desks galore. He would then begin rebuilding with all the wrong parts and even spare bits that occasionally got thrown out of the office door.
After another narrow escape involving a spare piece of office furniture whistling past the secretary 's head, she'd really had enough and began to pack her belongings with the intention of quitting her job as soon as it was safe to do so.
When her boss left for a lunch break, she put her letter of resignation on his desk and slipped quietly away. This did not make him happy! In fact, it was the last straw that finally tipped him over the edge.
Emerging from his office, he pushed over the spare filing cabinet, setting off a domino effect with the spare office furniture that was stacked along the corridor.
When Jeremy from accounts saw the steam coming from his ears he approached cautiously in an attempt to calm him down. For his efforts he received a punch in the jaw before the boss jumped on a swivel shair and catapulted himself out of the nearest window.
Costs and Benefits of Working at Home
Trying to find the right home business opportunity online these days is a fairly daunting procedure. However, if you know how to weed out the majority of bogus information that is out there and only choose from the home business opportunities that actually have value you greatly increase your chance of finding the right business.
Some of the work at home businesses that you can choose from include selling Info products, selling on auctions, physically shipping hard goods, marketing books, reports, network marketing, affiliate marketing, and much more!
However among all the legitimate opportunities there are a handful of bad apples that you must stay away from. First off anyone that tells you that making a living online is amazingly simple should be avoided. Common sense should tell you that it takes time and hard work to start a legitimate online business.
Those that tell you otherwise are pretty much just out to make a buck from your greed and unwillingness to work. Yet, before you get discouraged focus on all the benefits of a home business and you will quickly see that the hard work is definitely worth the rewards.
A successful home business allows you to: be your own boss, set your own hours, work from the comforts of your own home, spend more time with your family, focus on only things that matter to you, and overall free you from depending on others for your financial goals.
The list of benefits that I can think of about a home business goes on and on. Yet there is also a list of responsibilities that come with the territory. For instance, there are times when you will have to choose your business growth over family even though they are there in front of you.
You are the only person responsible for keeping yourself motivated and on track. This may seem irrelevant but when your bed is 30ft from your office and alarm clocks are optional it can develop into a huge problem. When you are first starting out your paycheck may take a drastic cut from what you are used to getting paid at a day job.
The bottom line is that when you venture out on your own you are taking a risk however; I believe the payoff is enormous. Once you learn to structure your home office so that there are boundaries between work and home life things will begin to flow very smoothly.
Here are a few tips for limiting distractions in a home office environment. When you are working on your computer close all screens and instant message programs and only have the screen that you are working on open.
Also have a discussion with your family and make sure they understand that when you are in your office it is literally as if you got in your car and drove across town to your job. Seeing you at home everyday may tempt them to take advantage of you, but until your business is automated you should not fall into these distractions.
On the flip side you can take advantage of your flexible schedule by scheduling events for afternoons or mornings. Still, your work should be the primary focus especially if you are the main breadwinner for your family.
Overall I believe that working from home is one of the greatest things you can ever do. Yet it is not for everyone as it poses a whole new set of challenges that not everyone is accustomed to.
Some of the work at home businesses that you can choose from include selling Info products, selling on auctions, physically shipping hard goods, marketing books, reports, network marketing, affiliate marketing, and much more!
However among all the legitimate opportunities there are a handful of bad apples that you must stay away from. First off anyone that tells you that making a living online is amazingly simple should be avoided. Common sense should tell you that it takes time and hard work to start a legitimate online business.
Those that tell you otherwise are pretty much just out to make a buck from your greed and unwillingness to work. Yet, before you get discouraged focus on all the benefits of a home business and you will quickly see that the hard work is definitely worth the rewards.
A successful home business allows you to: be your own boss, set your own hours, work from the comforts of your own home, spend more time with your family, focus on only things that matter to you, and overall free you from depending on others for your financial goals.
The list of benefits that I can think of about a home business goes on and on. Yet there is also a list of responsibilities that come with the territory. For instance, there are times when you will have to choose your business growth over family even though they are there in front of you.
You are the only person responsible for keeping yourself motivated and on track. This may seem irrelevant but when your bed is 30ft from your office and alarm clocks are optional it can develop into a huge problem. When you are first starting out your paycheck may take a drastic cut from what you are used to getting paid at a day job.
The bottom line is that when you venture out on your own you are taking a risk however; I believe the payoff is enormous. Once you learn to structure your home office so that there are boundaries between work and home life things will begin to flow very smoothly.
Here are a few tips for limiting distractions in a home office environment. When you are working on your computer close all screens and instant message programs and only have the screen that you are working on open.
Also have a discussion with your family and make sure they understand that when you are in your office it is literally as if you got in your car and drove across town to your job. Seeing you at home everyday may tempt them to take advantage of you, but until your business is automated you should not fall into these distractions.
On the flip side you can take advantage of your flexible schedule by scheduling events for afternoons or mornings. Still, your work should be the primary focus especially if you are the main breadwinner for your family.
Overall I believe that working from home is one of the greatest things you can ever do. Yet it is not for everyone as it poses a whole new set of challenges that not everyone is accustomed to.
Keep Going - Don't Give Up
These words are easy to say, but not always so easy to do. Nowhere is this truer than in your fight to invent something new or grow a prevailing business. As you strive to bring your vision to life, you will face countless obstacles and barriers to success. These obstacles can take on many different shapes and forms. Whether it is someone stealing your ideas, business partners flaking out, or even loved ones leaving you behind, the life of a creator is an ongoing test of wills. Can you learn to see the beauty in struggle and persist toward the life you desire?
The world of literature offers an inspiring example of what this attitude means in practice. In the groundbreaking novel "The Fountainhead", readers meet an architect named Howard Roark. A few years into his career, Roark is alone, struggling financially, and consigned to working in an obscure rock quarry while his corrupt colleague basks in fame and prestigious assignments. While these circumstances are enough to reduce anyone to hopelessness and despair, Roark heroically refuses to give up. His reason?
"Throughout the centuries, there were men who took first steps down new roads, armed with nothing with their own vision. The great creators - the thinkers, the artists, the scientists, the inventors, stood alone against the main of their time. Every new thought was opposed, every new invention was denounced. But the men of unborrowed vision went ahead. They fought, they suffered, and they paid - but they won."
By staying true to his vision, Roark persisted through his temporary hardships and ultimately triumphed in his chosen field. If you want to keep going, you need to become a man of unborrowed vision yourself. But how can you do what Roark did? It 's one thing for a fictional character to inspire us to great things. It is another for a real flesh-and-blood person to actually do so. Fortunately, history is filled with strong-willed men and women who have done just that. Their larger-than-life stories offer us both wisdom and encouragement to keep going when we know that we should.
One of the most inspiring stories of all belongs to Steve Jobs. Most of us know Jobs as the high-flying founder of Apple, the man who brought us the iPod, iMac, and every movie to come out of Pixar 's studios. But in 1986, Jobs was anything but. Exiled from the company he started, Jobs found himself alone and for the first time in his life, without a purpose. Jobs offers a rare personal glimpse into this dark period of his life in a commencement speech he gave at Stanford University in 2005.
"I was lucky; I found what I wanted to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents' garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years, Apple had gone from just the two of us in a garage, into a $2 billion company with over 4,000 employees. We had just released our finest creation, the Macintosh, a year earlier, and I had just turned 30."
If we stop the story there, many of us would envy Jobs. How many people can say that they found the work they love and achieved that type of success at such a young age? However, the story does not end there. Jobs continues:
"And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew, we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me. And for the first year or so, things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge, and eventually, we had a falling out. When we did, our board of directors sided with him. And so at 30 I was out - and very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating. I didn't really know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down, that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with the board and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure and I even thought about running away from the valley."
Here, we see Jobs at rock-bottom. The fruit of a life 's labor gone in the blink of an eye. A gaping void where a beaming pride and sense of direction once was. Against such crushing odds, a lesser person might have simply given up and resigned to failure. Not Jobs.
"But something slowly began to dawn on me: I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I'd been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over. I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could've ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life. During the next 5 years I started a company named NeXt, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXt, and I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXt is at the heart of Apple 's current renaissance. And Laureen and I have a wonderful family together.
Sometime 's life 's gonna hit you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith." Like Roark, Jobs was a man of unborrowed vision. Cast off from all of his material success and legacy, he retained what no outside force could take away: his intransigent love of what he did. There is a lesson here that every person should learn. It is not your social status, possessions, or professional ability that makes you who you are. They are important, but they are only effects, not causes. They are the just rewards of an attitude, of the refusal to let any hardship tame the fire of your passion and hold you down.
So, if you find yourself staring down impossible odds, keep going. Don't give up.
The world of literature offers an inspiring example of what this attitude means in practice. In the groundbreaking novel "The Fountainhead", readers meet an architect named Howard Roark. A few years into his career, Roark is alone, struggling financially, and consigned to working in an obscure rock quarry while his corrupt colleague basks in fame and prestigious assignments. While these circumstances are enough to reduce anyone to hopelessness and despair, Roark heroically refuses to give up. His reason?
"Throughout the centuries, there were men who took first steps down new roads, armed with nothing with their own vision. The great creators - the thinkers, the artists, the scientists, the inventors, stood alone against the main of their time. Every new thought was opposed, every new invention was denounced. But the men of unborrowed vision went ahead. They fought, they suffered, and they paid - but they won."
By staying true to his vision, Roark persisted through his temporary hardships and ultimately triumphed in his chosen field. If you want to keep going, you need to become a man of unborrowed vision yourself. But how can you do what Roark did? It 's one thing for a fictional character to inspire us to great things. It is another for a real flesh-and-blood person to actually do so. Fortunately, history is filled with strong-willed men and women who have done just that. Their larger-than-life stories offer us both wisdom and encouragement to keep going when we know that we should.
One of the most inspiring stories of all belongs to Steve Jobs. Most of us know Jobs as the high-flying founder of Apple, the man who brought us the iPod, iMac, and every movie to come out of Pixar 's studios. But in 1986, Jobs was anything but. Exiled from the company he started, Jobs found himself alone and for the first time in his life, without a purpose. Jobs offers a rare personal glimpse into this dark period of his life in a commencement speech he gave at Stanford University in 2005.
"I was lucky; I found what I wanted to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents' garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years, Apple had gone from just the two of us in a garage, into a $2 billion company with over 4,000 employees. We had just released our finest creation, the Macintosh, a year earlier, and I had just turned 30."
If we stop the story there, many of us would envy Jobs. How many people can say that they found the work they love and achieved that type of success at such a young age? However, the story does not end there. Jobs continues:
"And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew, we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me. And for the first year or so, things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge, and eventually, we had a falling out. When we did, our board of directors sided with him. And so at 30 I was out - and very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating. I didn't really know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down, that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with the board and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure and I even thought about running away from the valley."
Here, we see Jobs at rock-bottom. The fruit of a life 's labor gone in the blink of an eye. A gaping void where a beaming pride and sense of direction once was. Against such crushing odds, a lesser person might have simply given up and resigned to failure. Not Jobs.
"But something slowly began to dawn on me: I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I'd been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over. I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could've ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life. During the next 5 years I started a company named NeXt, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXt, and I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXt is at the heart of Apple 's current renaissance. And Laureen and I have a wonderful family together.
Sometime 's life 's gonna hit you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith." Like Roark, Jobs was a man of unborrowed vision. Cast off from all of his material success and legacy, he retained what no outside force could take away: his intransigent love of what he did. There is a lesson here that every person should learn. It is not your social status, possessions, or professional ability that makes you who you are. They are important, but they are only effects, not causes. They are the just rewards of an attitude, of the refusal to let any hardship tame the fire of your passion and hold you down.
So, if you find yourself staring down impossible odds, keep going. Don't give up.
The Hidden Power of a Circle
When you read the title of this article, what do you think about? What pictures come to mind? Did you imagine a bright red circle you'd use to teach a child about shapes? Perhaps you thought of a basketball hoop, or ball? Maybe you thought of a medicine wheel, or a full moon? Some of you probably thought about Conscious Business Circle(if you're a member).
If you've ever participated in an in-person Circle experience, then (like me) you probably thought about a circle of friends sitting around a glowing, peaceful candle; together for the sole purpose of supporting each other 's dreams, renewing your connection to Source, kindling the light in your hearts, and remembering to shine your light in the world.
Sounds like a tall order for a Circle; but it 's not. In fact, I did a bit of research about the symbolism of a circle and had to share it with you because it conveys the powerful meaning of this simple and ancient shape:
"The circle is perhaps the purest, most profound and the most common symbol in existence. With the probably infinite billions of stars, planets, moons and galaxies full of the same, the circle is well represented in the physical universe in the form of spheres. A circle, having no beginning or end, represents infinity, eternity, wholeness and femininity. Other meaningfully significant symbols or objects are circular: Stonehenge, Ouroboros, the Wheel of Life, a halo around the head of a saint, etc. In a very practical way, it can be said that circles rule the world." Source: guide-to-symbols on the web
I love that a circle represents infinity, eternity, wholeness and femininity. No wonder I named my coaching program the Conscious Business Circle. "Group" or any other name, just wouldn't have had the same meaning.
But, what I want to share with you is the hidden power of a Circle experience. In fact, I am so moved by the Women 's Circles I've participated in for the past 7 years that I actually wrote a guidebook on How to Start and Successfully Run a Circle.
Ongoing participation in a face-to-face Circle experience is truly a profound, life-changing gift to anyone who fully engages in the power of their Circle. Here, I want to share 3 of the most powerful benefits I've received from my Circles over the past 7 years... in hopes that you will create YOUR Circle of like-minded friends and receive these benefits, too.
Stay Connected to Your Self
One of the most costly things that can happen to your Self (and your business) is to lose your connection to who you really are. It 's easy to disconnect from the deepest parts of you when life is filled with lengthy to-do lists, deadlines, managing a home, taking care of children and family and getting all the bills paid on time. Quiet, sacred time for yourself often gets pushed aside. A Circle experience always brings you instantly back to your Self... the moment you sit down and take a few deep, conscious breaths. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Strengthen Your Connection to God
One of my life-long values is to develop a deeper, more conscious connection to God. Participating in a Circle is a vehicle that deepens this connection ongoingly. Gathering in Circle and taking a few minutes to simply gaze upon the light of a candle while listening to beautiful peaceful music can bring you instant connection to that Source energy/god. The peacefulness, serenity, love and light that flows when you practice this with others is more powerful than doing the same thing alone.
Deepen Your Connection with Like-Minded Friends
Lasting, meaningful relationships with like-minded friends are one of the most valuable assets you can have. They are the ones who will be there to support you during the "lows", celebrate your "highs" and believe in you every step of the way. Typical social gatherings rarely offer an environment to deepen relationships at a deep, soulful level. Whereas, this is a huge benefit of participating in a Circle. You experience a connection with others that is rare, powerful and profound.
For a moment, right now, please take a deep relaxing breath and imagine yourself sitting in a circle of friends, in a room lit by the glow of candles, with peaceful music in the background. Now let all of your worries float away and enjoy a moment to simply BE. This is the power of a circle.
If you've ever participated in an in-person Circle experience, then (like me) you probably thought about a circle of friends sitting around a glowing, peaceful candle; together for the sole purpose of supporting each other 's dreams, renewing your connection to Source, kindling the light in your hearts, and remembering to shine your light in the world.
Sounds like a tall order for a Circle; but it 's not. In fact, I did a bit of research about the symbolism of a circle and had to share it with you because it conveys the powerful meaning of this simple and ancient shape:
"The circle is perhaps the purest, most profound and the most common symbol in existence. With the probably infinite billions of stars, planets, moons and galaxies full of the same, the circle is well represented in the physical universe in the form of spheres. A circle, having no beginning or end, represents infinity, eternity, wholeness and femininity. Other meaningfully significant symbols or objects are circular: Stonehenge, Ouroboros, the Wheel of Life, a halo around the head of a saint, etc. In a very practical way, it can be said that circles rule the world." Source: guide-to-symbols on the web
I love that a circle represents infinity, eternity, wholeness and femininity. No wonder I named my coaching program the Conscious Business Circle. "Group" or any other name, just wouldn't have had the same meaning.
But, what I want to share with you is the hidden power of a Circle experience. In fact, I am so moved by the Women 's Circles I've participated in for the past 7 years that I actually wrote a guidebook on How to Start and Successfully Run a Circle.
Ongoing participation in a face-to-face Circle experience is truly a profound, life-changing gift to anyone who fully engages in the power of their Circle. Here, I want to share 3 of the most powerful benefits I've received from my Circles over the past 7 years... in hopes that you will create YOUR Circle of like-minded friends and receive these benefits, too.
Stay Connected to Your Self
One of the most costly things that can happen to your Self (and your business) is to lose your connection to who you really are. It 's easy to disconnect from the deepest parts of you when life is filled with lengthy to-do lists, deadlines, managing a home, taking care of children and family and getting all the bills paid on time. Quiet, sacred time for yourself often gets pushed aside. A Circle experience always brings you instantly back to your Self... the moment you sit down and take a few deep, conscious breaths. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Strengthen Your Connection to God
One of my life-long values is to develop a deeper, more conscious connection to God. Participating in a Circle is a vehicle that deepens this connection ongoingly. Gathering in Circle and taking a few minutes to simply gaze upon the light of a candle while listening to beautiful peaceful music can bring you instant connection to that Source energy/god. The peacefulness, serenity, love and light that flows when you practice this with others is more powerful than doing the same thing alone.
Deepen Your Connection with Like-Minded Friends
Lasting, meaningful relationships with like-minded friends are one of the most valuable assets you can have. They are the ones who will be there to support you during the "lows", celebrate your "highs" and believe in you every step of the way. Typical social gatherings rarely offer an environment to deepen relationships at a deep, soulful level. Whereas, this is a huge benefit of participating in a Circle. You experience a connection with others that is rare, powerful and profound.
For a moment, right now, please take a deep relaxing breath and imagine yourself sitting in a circle of friends, in a room lit by the glow of candles, with peaceful music in the background. Now let all of your worries float away and enjoy a moment to simply BE. This is the power of a circle.
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