Tag Archives: focus
Be careful what you ask for.
I recently received another cosmic whap upside the head. I’d been struggling to set up a new freestanding microphone I bought. I was so creative in coming up with different ways to put this task on my To Do list: … Continue reading
And your point is?
When was the last time you emerged from a deep well of intense online research – you know, where you click one link, which leads to another, which leads to another, ad infinitum – only to wonder, “What the hell … Continue reading
Comment ça va?
Recently, I started exploring how having dusted off my degrees in French and biology led to some very interesting reminders about being smart in business. If you remember, I’m getting my “ear” back in shape by listening to a native … Continue reading
How to get more done on important projects in 6 hours than you usually do in 6 days
I have a client who frets about being “not as productive” as an entrepreneur as she was in her days as an employee. I think she’s often too hard on herself, since she forgets those common attributes of paycheck … Continue reading
Who are you kidding?
“Productivity: the quality, state, or fact of being able to generate, create, enhance, or bring forth goods and services.” You’d probably agree with Dictionary.com’s definition of productivity in general terms. But what does productivity look like when applied to … Continue reading
3 steps to ratcheting your way to success
Even though I’m one of the less handy people on the planet, I do love ratchets. They make that neat clicky noise when you use them, and life is so much easier when you’ve got one handy to tighten or … Continue reading
Focus, dammit!
Last week I explored the dangers of getting sucked into the myth of “productive multi-tasking.” Today it’s time for problem-solving so that you (or your clients, family, friends….) are able to resist the siren call of this seemingly plausible … Continue reading
Do you flex or do you just cave in?
Too much of anything is toxic. Sun, self-control, cats, cholesterol…anything, no matter how enjoyable, helpful, or even essential it may be in appropriate quantities, can turn and bite you on the behind if you get too much of it. … Continue reading
The seduction of possibilities
So when was the last time you were seduced? No, no, no – not by that stunning neighbor, but by those intriguing business possibilities that you come across? Let’s face it: There’s no shortage of business-building options out there. … Continue reading
Are distractions strangling your business?
I’m one of perhaps seven people in the United States who actually likes the ground cover known as Creeping Charlie. The rest of the country views it as a noxious invader that will strangle the grass they’re so proud … Continue reading
Do you have the guts to ask for what you want?
One of my Mastermind partners, Pat Schuler of Kick Butt Sales Training, sometimes asks her clients, “Do you really want to rely on hope as a business development strategy?” Ouch. She’s got a point. Too many entrepreneurs simply cross … Continue reading
Yes? No? You’d better know what choice is right for you.
Whether you use a clarity-through-contrast exercise or some other method to identify and acknowledge your strengths, presumably you now know just what you have to offer clients. But that’s not enough; you also need to clearly convey that message … Continue reading
You deserve the best. Are you getting it?
I doubt there’s an entrepreneur alive who hasn’t gone through the stage where she defines “my ideal client” as “anyone who’s able to pay me.” And who could blame her? Money is helpful in so many ways: buying groceries, … Continue reading
How to use confusion as a business-building tool
You probably view confusion pretty negatively. After all, what’s to like about “lack of understanding; uncertainty; the state of being bewildered or unclear in one’s mind about something”? The good news about confusion is that it’s both manageable and … Continue reading
You can’t have one without the other.
There are just 63 days left in 2014. How did such a thing happen?? Sixty-three days left to evaluate what worked great in 2014 and what went down in flames. Sixty-three days left to envision and lay the groundwork … Continue reading
Is your glass bigger than it needs to be?
George Carlin once made the following observation: “Some people see the glass half full. Others see it half empty. I see a glass that’s twice as big as it needs to be.” There are an infinite number ways to view … Continue reading
Are you in there?
A premature burial is a great way to sabotage your success. While an actual in-the-ground burial will certainly slow things down, there’s a more subtle but almost equally effective way to bring your forward motion to a grinding halt. You … Continue reading
5 steps to protect your business from YOU
Each year, people in the United States celebrate Independence Day on July 4th. But if you’re a solopreneur, you can choose any day to declare your independence from self-sabotaging habits. That’s what we’ll be exploring this month. ****************************************************** Of … Continue reading
Are you looking at the world through flies’ eyes?
It’s often challenging to be an entrepreneur, but it could always be worse. You could go through life as a fly. Not only are flies short-lived, annoying, disgusting disease carriers (let’s not even mention what they eat), but their view … Continue reading
Warning! Only you can prevent business fires.
Which would you rather manage—a crisis or an opportunity? Most entrepreneurs have more experience with the former. Whether due to procrastination, or trying to do too much, or not focusing on the important activities, or whatever, it’s all too common … Continue reading
One easy tip for driving yourself insane while blogging
Many successful entrepreneurs will tell you that one of their critical success factors is clearly demonstrating how their services benefit their clients. They share client success stories, they give out high-value content, and they make it a point to do … Continue reading
How simple counting can alert you to a fatal marketing flaw
I can’t even remember the first time I heard about “the radio station that everyone is tuned into: WII-FM.” The reason we all tune in, as you probably know, is that the “call letters” stand for “What’s In It For … Continue reading
The minimalist guide to creating an action plan that works
Yeah, yeah, yeah—we’ve heard it ad nauseam: If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail. But here’s the question: What if you’re having trouble planning? What if the very process of creating an action plan feels so overwhelming that … Continue reading
How being able to keep your balance while drying your toes is a predictor of business success
The mere fact that you’ve read this far is an indicator that you’re willing to learn and consider new possibilities. That already puts you ahead in the game. Woohoo for you! So why do I make this seemingly ridiculous claim … Continue reading
How to stay calm and focused (even if you’re now frantic and scattered).
You’ve been there. I’ve been there. We’ve all been there. You’ve got a zillion items on your Too Much To Do List, they’re all demanding your time and energy and attention, you’re trying to take care of as many as … Continue reading
Would you rather be comfortable or successful?
Jeff Olson, in his book The Slight Edge, observed that “Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do.” In other words, unsuccessful people value their short-term comfort more than their long-term results. This seems to be a … Continue reading
The self-fulfilling prophecy: road to success or failure?
It’s all in your head. Wishing won’t make it come true. What makes you such a big deal? There’s an almost endless litany of messages that pound away at us, and many of them, unfortunately, are horrendously counterproductive. Are your … Continue reading
Focus + creativity + powerful mindset = success.
The greater your focus on the important stuff, the greater the probability of you rising high in the ranks of successful entrepreneurs. Continue reading
Focus on the right activities leads to business success.
Have trouble focusing? Here are some tools to improve this crucial skill. Continue reading
How to use “not now” to propel your business forward.
You can’t be productive if you don’t stay focused. Continue reading
Is it time for a mental makeover?
How do you let go of harsh, unrealistic judgments of yourself? Start here. Continue reading
Here’s a scary thought: Are you your own worst enemy because of bad habits?
By doing a task (or thinking a thought) over and over again, it becomes ingrained in your very being. That’s both the joy and the curse of habits. Continue reading
Five crucial business lessons from the movie “Up”
If you thought the Pixar animated movie Up was strictly a children’s film, think again. In reality, it’s a cleverly disguised business-building primer. Here are five of its key lessons that every successful entrepreneurs should learn and apply. 1. Think … Continue reading
Are you doing things for the first time EVERY time?
Reinventing the wheel is a common mistake that robs entrepreneurs of time, energy, and opportunity. An uncomfortable sense of déjà vu is typically an excellent clue that you’ve fallen prey to this results killer. For example, you may notice that … Continue reading
Three MORE time-management mistakes you don’t realize you’re making.
Isn’t it special that there are so many ways to misuse your precious time? In case you didn’t find any of your personal favorite weak spots in the post earlier this week, see if any of the following sound familiar. … Continue reading
7 clues that you’re busy instead of productive
Are you simply doing stuff, or are you making progress? See if any of these traps are keeping you busy and unproductive. Continue reading
Forget about improving on your weaknesses. Build on your strengths.
You’ll get a much bigger payoff and feel a LOT more confident and satisfied if you do more of what you’re good at and less of what you’re lousy at! Continue reading
The way you dry your toes can predict your success in business.
I find it just fascinating how so many business lessons can be learned from seemingly mundane activities – if you’re willing to pay attention. Unfortunately, I don’t always pay attention if the Universe tries to subtly teach me something; a … Continue reading
The Evils of Stop-and-Go
The problem of stop-and-go business activity is that you never really acquire momentum and you waste huge amounts of time getting your head back in the game once you’ve walked away from an important task. Here are some strategies that will get you started and keep you moving forward. Continue reading
Focus is Our Friend.
Lack of focus bogs down movement toward your goals and increases your stress. What can you do to stay focused on the important activities facing you? Continue reading
