Monthly Archives: June 2016


Finish It Up Friday:

When you set up your own coaching business and become “your own boss” there’s lots of ways you can organise your time and business. In today’s guest post coach Jaynine Howard shares one aspect of how she organises one day a week …

Finish It Up Friday:

Why I Don’t Require My Team to Work on Friday

By Jaynine Howard

Finish It Up Friday By Jaynine Howard

Friday – oh how that word can invoke a series of fleeting emotions ranging from dread to delight.

I have coined the phrase Finish It Up Friday as a way to make a mindset shift from dread to delight. It is the day to sleep in an extra hour. It is the day to enjoy that first cup of morning coffee knowing there are no real deadlines for the day. There is no better way to start a Friday than listening to the birds chirping, reading morning inspiration, and enjoying that first cup of coffee.

I and my team work long arduous hours Monday through Thursday. We do not prescribe to a normal 8 hour day. My day is typically starting by 5 or 6 am and ends around 10 or 11pm. My team works diligently providing fabulous services and meeting deadlines so that I meet my deadlines so my clients meet theirs. Much of what my team does for me is often not seen by others. They are busy researching and gathering statistics for my clients or for whatever program I am currently working on. They are busy writing media releases, preparing marketing materials, proofreading and taking care of the invoicing.

Just as many of us observe Sunday as a day of rest I and my team observe Friday as a day of rest. Adopting a casual Friday allows me and my team to recharge our batteries. When we have a fresh brain we are more creative. Also, since they know that I do not expect them to be available on Friday they know they can schedule personal appointments and plan their time off accordingly without fear that there will be work that needs to be completed.

Not much quality work gets completed when you or your employees are mentally exhausted. Using Friday to follow up with clients, finish up a few tasks or projects, and plan for the following week is a great way to unwind and prepare to enjoy the weekend. I am usually only at my desk a few hours on Friday morning taking care of loose ends. Making time to review my week and self-reflect on what went surprisingly well and what was a bit off provides me growth opportunities. I learn from the lessons of the week.

Designing a plan for the upcoming week has shown to increase productivity and increase income. Taking time to plan the tasks I will delegate, prepare for client sessions, and set aside time for writing also reduces the stress that would normally be felt if I had not planned to enjoy a successful week. I have learned when planning what I will delegate I must set up my emails to my team so they do not post until Monday morning because they are so very dedicated they will work on the tasks over the weekend regardless of the due dates.

Finish It Up Friday is a great way to self-reflect on your week, finish up projects or tasks that didn’t get completed, and prepare for the new upcoming week. Know your energy level and planning for self-care is key to success. I encourage you adopt a Finish It Up Friday and allow your employees extra time off. They will reward you with continued hard work, an increase in productivity and creativity as well as loyalty.

About Jaynine Howard

Coach Jaynine is the owner of Dream Catcher Business and Career Coaching. Jaynine uses the knowledge and skills she acquired during her 20 year career in the United States Marine Corps, working as a Psychologist in a locked mental health hospital, and being an entrepreneur to help medical and mental health professionals, small business owners, and medical spa owners grow their businesses by teaching them her five step process for attracting their ideal clients and turning them into paying clients. You can learn more about her signature program and download her free ecourse My Five Steps to Networking Success by visiting http://coachjaynine.com/

Article Source: Finish It Up Friday: Why I Don’t Require My Team to Work on Friday

EzineArticles Expert Page: Jaynine Howard


Who’s in Charge?

In today’s guest post Vanessa Ugatti, The True Worth Expert, shares some of her expertise and knowledge as she asks an important question about your coaching business:

Who’s in Charge?

By Vanessa Ugatti

"Who's in Charge?" by Vanessa Ugatti
Are you in charge of your business or is your business in charge of you? It’s an important question for you to answer as the impact of not being in charge may be catastrophic financially, physically and emotionally.

Typically, my clients are very good at what they do, highly conscientious, perfectionist, people pleasers, who more often than not put others first even to the detriment of themselves and their businesses. They also do not realise the full extent of what they’re doing, since their behaviour is based on their unconscious programmes, rather than rational conscious decision-making.

All humans have been programmed and are therefore hostage to a greater or lesser degree to their conditioning; some of which is beneficial and some is not. The negative or limiting conditioning creates fear-based thinking leading to behaviour which is detrimental and the person appears powerless to change this.

Of course, it’s important to provide a high level of service to your clients but certainly not at the expense of the business as this creates an imbalance which leads to many problems as alluded to in the first paragraph.

Perhaps you’re under-charging or maybe you’re discounting your fees for no apparent reason or possibly you’re doing too much work for free. You may even be doing all three, which means that you’re throwing money away hand over fist.

The more often you do these, the more money you’re losing. It also means that you’re probably spending far too much time working to make up for the shortfall and you’re possibly feeling overworked, stressed, tired and resentful.

In extreme cases, this can lead to health issues, strained relationships, lack of fun/family time/me time and ultimately overwhelm.

This certainly is the case with a new client who has also been working with clients who she doesn’t enjoy working with, even though she has a full diary!

It’s amazing how radical some behaviours can be. However, I’m pleased to report that significant changes are already occurring which are starting to bring her back into balance. When balance is returned, the war within is over.

I’d like to share a simple technique for being able to get out of your patterns and take back control by stepping out of the emotion.

1) Consciously recognise that you are experiencing some form of negative emotion.

2) Stand up (if you are sitting) and take an exaggerated step backwards so that you are literally stepping out of the emotion. Simultaneously say out loud, I am stepping out of this emotion. I am not this emotion. This emotion is not me. I am completely separate from it. Say it with emphasis. (By doing this, you are dissociating from the emotion and recognising that you are not it.) This will automatically change your state and bring you into clarity.

From this position, you can make rational decisions about what you want to do.

3) Then say out loud three times: “I choose to let this feeling go. It does not serve me. I now choose to be happy, confident or whatever other positive emotion you desire.” (In this way, you are consciously choosing a new way of thinking, feeling and acting which will serve you better.).

4) Acknowledge yourself for having consciously dealt with the emotion rather than staying in it and being its unconscious victim. Make sure that you include this step as it reinforces the new behaviour and will make you feel good.

5) As always, when wanting to create new habits and behaviours, the key is in repetition, so practise, practise, practise.

NB. If you’re in a business meeting, when you will not be able to do this, just do step 2 in your head. This means that you will be in a much better position to think rationally and therefore respond to the person in front of you in a more confident and professional manner.

The time is now for you to take back control of your business.

So if you recognise yourself in any of this, I urge you to subscribe to my website http://www.thetrueworthexpert.com where you can gain access to a free report on How to Charge What You’re Worth and Get It which has been described by one client as enlightening!

About Vanessa Ugatti

Vanessa Ugatti, The True Worth Expert and Author of International Amazon Best-seller, True Worth, How to Charge What You’re Worth and Get It, dramatically shifts the thinking for people in professional services taking them from their own perceptions of not feeling they can really charge what they’re worth, to doing just that – and more!

This unique ability, to bring out the best in people, has evolved for her over many years of facing similar challenges both professionally and personally, even questioning her own value in business.

With the development of her proprietary UV + CV + CD = CW formula, she works with professional services organisations and sole traders, instilling greater confidence and inspiring them to take the necessary action, resulting in incredibly fast changes that directly impact revenues and the bottom line.

She has always felt naturally drawn to understanding what it takes and how to make people shift. Vanessa has consistently challenged herself to experience the effects of her approach and methods and understand how a client feels. This helped her conquer many of her own fears and concerns, from dropping solo to work in a French-speaking part of Africa, launching a successful business later in life or overcoming a fear of heights by jumping out of a plane from 10,000 feet up!

The core value that drives Vanessa is authenticity; being true to herself. She finds this is the key approach to helping her clients be empowered to find their true selves and in turn their true value. This has led her to combine her more unique and some might say unorthodox way of being and be effective in industries that many would view as more conservative. She is by no means conservative. It works; some have even described her as Wonder Woman, with purple glasses, but the effect and results are still dramatic.

 

Article Source: Who’s in Charge?

EzineArticles Expert page: Vanessa Ugatti


Work & Life Balance

Setting up or running your coaching business and juggling family and home commitments? In today’s guest post Lorna McCarty focuses upon an aspect that many find themselves examining at some point:

Work & Life Balance

– How to Juggle It Effectively

By Lorna McCarty

"Work & Life Balance - How to Juggle It Effectively" By Lorna McCarty

Every day we live with the possibility of facing something that has the potential of messing with the balance of our very existence.

We all juggle that precious balance with work, family and our health.

Ignoring any one of these areas for too long will affect the quality of our lives and those who are important to us.

But, as entrepreneurs or small business owners, sometimes our schedules get crazier than ever! We have a lot on our plates and even more tasks pile up during the course of our work week.

The trick in keeping work and life balanced is to try to keep things running smoothly by tackling each situation with care.

Be sure to keep in mind how important it is to enjoy what is good about your day and do your best to master all the facets of it and still come away with a day complete with fulfillment.

  • When things pile up remember this is only temporary.
  • Try to remain flexible as tasks start to bury you.
  • Remember you are only human and despite your determination there is only so much that can be done in 24 hours.
  • Sometimes, if you allow it, the fast pace of life can be enjoyable if you attempt to feel the fun.

Communicating the need for support is not a sin. Delegating to others can lighten the load you carry.

With this in mind, it is possible to find the time, however minimal for family and maintaining health.

You will have to learn to multi task and be willing to bring some of your activities to a temporary halt.

Avoid wasting time and energy and keep your hands full. It is a great way to keep boredom at a distance.

Stay away from being stuck in a situation that robs you of the benefits you could otherwise be enjoying. When you get stuck, take a break and explore something else you can devote your time to.

The act of balancing life is all about your willingness to be flexible.

Depending on the circumstance you are dealing with, you may need to go back and forth between your endeavors to complete the task at hand, taking steps that require patience for a positive outcome.

The most difficult piece of maintaining balance with work, family and health, is realizing the importance of watching out for ourselves as we begin to lose that delicate balance.

Be prepared when your life balance starts to tip.

  • Don’t take more tasks on than you can actually handle.
  • Be careful with your responsibilities and be dependable with family, friends and your clients.
  • Always be trustworthy and never go back on your word. Your reputation is extremely important in the business world.
  • Do it right the first time… Don’t take short cuts.

Attaining success with anything we do has everything to do with self- discipline. Keep this reminder in the forefront of your mind, especially as you make daily decisions that will affect the delicate balance we call life.

About Lorna McCarty

I am Lorna McCarty, Founder and Professional Relationship Success Strategist with Phoenix Rising Relationship Coaching.

Visit my website at http://www.PhoenixRisingRelationships.com and discover how to live your best, most happy life.

 

Article Source: Work & Life Balance – How to Juggle It Effectively

Ezinearticles Expert page: Lorna McCarty