Are you getting distracted too?

Before I was in business on my own, I didn’t pay attention to distraction. Yes, I must have gotten distracted but it didn’t have a big impact on me or my work.

Then I started my own business and realized how big of an impact distraction can have on your business. For one, you don’t get the things done that you want.

You might be planning a new program or service, or you have this huge project you want to work on but it’s just not getting anywhere. You feel like you work on it all day long, day in and day out, but the parts are not moving further along. You wonder why? Because you are distracted.

Maybe you are afraid of the consequences – good or bad – that the end of the project will have on your business. Or you’re afraid that the launch is not making you the money you expected. But if we never finish the project, we’ll never find out how successful we can actually be, right?

The best way I get focused again is taking a break. I get up, walk around, get a coffee or some fresh air. Then I sit down with a notepad and write down everything that is going on in my mind…projects I haven’t finished, personal things I need to get done and things that worry me right at this moment.

Then I make a list of the 3 things that I need to get done in the next hour or two. I also set aside a bit of time to go through my other to-do list and make sure that I have other important things crossed off my list by the end of the day. Usually it helps me to get the little things that are constantly on my mind done first, then I have more space in my mind to focus on the big project.

Find a way that works for you. Don’t hesitate to stop in your tracks and take a minute to re-focus. Usually, when you have too many things going on at the same time, is when your brain starts to get blurry. Take a step back – REFOCUS, then keep going.

Create Space for New Ideas in 2010

What is Biz-Life Balance? We've all heard of Work-Life Balance - but in my opinion it's even more important to keep a healthy balance when you have your own business. How many times have you told yourself that you have to change something in the way you work in and on your business so that you are not exhausted all the time, and have time for family and friends or your hobbies, travels and other things?

So for the next few months I am going to write about biz-life balance and show you ways that I have used to create more space for fun things. I will also touch on things that you might have to change in your mindset to be able to live a life you really want to life - every day.

In order to start changing the way you go about your business and life, I'd like to invite you to do the first step with me: De-cluttering from 200: Create Space for New Ideas!

De-clutter Your Business
Think about it for a minute. What would have to happen in your business so that you can take more time out of your day to do what you love to do, beside working? Do you have regular time off that you dedicate to yourself and is it easy for you to commit to that time?

You see, for a long time, I ignored those “blocked off” times in my calendar. If it said, “Monday, 2pm: Work on my business”, 2pm came and went and I didn’t stop doing what I was doing to dedicate that time to work on my business. Does this sound familiar to you?

What are things that you wanted to implement in your business that you never did?

GET INTO ACTION
I invite you to de-clutter your business from 2009 and start fresh.
Decide on 3 things you want to clean up or out in your business. (You can de-clutter as many things as you like, but start with three to get the ball rolling).

Can’t think of any right now? Let me help you with some ideas:

Office / Desk
This is the most common one: De-clutter your desk and make room for new ideas; store 2009 files away, throw notes that you haven’t looked at in 6 mts away or schedule a time to look at it and do something with it. If your financial Year End is Dec. 31, make a list of what you need to compile, then pile it all up and send the files to the bookkeeper/ accountant: MOVE IT OUT OF YOUR WAY.

Habits
Do you spend a lot of time on email? Do you catch yourself checking every 5-10 min if an email arrived in your inbox that you "have to" respond to right away? Or are you looking at old ones thinking of what to do with it, you open it, you start reading and then get distracted? In order to be efficient, keep checking emails to a few times a day! I know it's not easy, and it takes discipline to do it but you'll feel so much more productive if you implement this step. How about surfing the internet, or spending time in social networking? Use time wisely online, or you could be "wasting" useful hours every day.

Marketing
Is there something in your marketing that doesn't get you results? And / or an activity that you hate doing and doesn't make a big difference in your business? Get rid of it. Don't spend endless time on things that you think you should be doing but you neither enjoy or bring you benefits.

What are your three things you decide to “de-clutter” from your business today and create space for in 2010? Send me your list!

Here is mine:
1. De-clutter desk and files from 2009 and store them away (or throw them out)! DONE
2. De-clutter my calendar and add more "me-time" to each day! DONE
3. Cut down on receiving email newsletters and delete the ones that I never read, and there were a ton of them! HALF WAY DONE

Once you've done the first 3, you can apply it to more things. Think about things you do or have in your home or business that you no longer need, or are not getting you results or bring down your energy. Move them out of your way and see how you feel. Need help with this? Let me know, contact me here

What are you working on this last week of the year?

What are you working on this week? I plan to use this week to plan for 2010 and work on my new mentoring program that I am launching with Monique Gallagher, the Highest Potential C.oach. I love starting the New Year with clear ideas on what I wish to accomplish. I love the feeling of being ready and starting prepared into the New Year. How about you?

What I am most excited about in 2010 is the launch of this new “Taking the Brakes Off” mentoring program as it is something I dreamed about doing for a long time but didn’t have a partner to complement me. When I realized that I wanted to partner with a mindset c.oach and that together we can support people in a much better way, I attracted Monique. We started talking about our visions and the more we brainstormed the more it became clear that we are a really good fit. We are so ready to bring to soloprenuers what we have come to know are the keys to not only creating a business founded on passion and purpose but also strategies to ensure it is as productive and profitable as possible.

How it all got started….. mid December, Monique and I had a call on Resolution Rescue and we discussed ways how to plan effectively for 2010. When planning for my own “planning days” I wanted to gift you some tools to do the same, and so I decided to make this call available to you. We gave our listeners a bonu.s action item on how to apply and implement a focused plan for 2010. Get access to the call here: www.reginaminger.com/resolutionrescuecall

To begin your planning for 2010 and to help you “not to repeat” past mistakes, we have included an action tip that will help your plan out the next year to ensure you accomplish your aims in the most important areas of your life.

Take some time out of your busy schedule – block off at least one hour – to do the exercise to get clear what you really wish to accomplish.

You can do this exercise for as many things/projects/ideas as possible, using the same process. In order to do this properly, we recommend you listen to the recording first to get the best results for you. You can get access here: www.reginaminger.com/resolutionrescuecall

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Action Tip “Planning for 2010”

1. Listen to the audio before doing this exercise, so that you are in touch with your True Self who has to have a say in what you are going to work on. It will make your heart sing with joy.

2. Think of one thing you absolutely want to do next year (i.e. a project or a new venture in your business, or something personal)

3. List all the reasons you think it might not be possible to do it…all the reasons (and excuses) that come up that say it is not possible. (While doing this, highlight all the blockers as it would be good to work on them first. Some people can get past them just by seeing what they are and some people need support around them.)

4. What is one action you can do TODAY that will get you on the path towards that one thing? Write it down, then do it.

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I am committed to your success in 2010 and as such want to remind you to join our VIP list for the coming “Taking The Brakes Off” Mentoring Program, and all other news and resources that go along with building a profitable business with passion and purpose. Please sign up here to receive the news first: www.reginaminger.com/brakesoff

As being part of this list, you will receive an invite to our f.ree teleseminar series where we will reveal “The 3 Things that Make or Break the Growth of Your Business that NO ONE is Speaking Of”. Most business training is often not cutting it anymore. 2010 is the time to get into action.

Do you want to know HOW to really grow your business?

In my last email I shared some ideas about thinking like a CEO, and having the mindset of the leader of your company, regardless of how big your company is going to be. In fact, even if you just want a business that can sustain your lifestyle or add to your household income, it is important to have certain systems implemented so you are not working so hard every day. Last April I attended a one-time event called The CEO Factor Retreat.

It was one of the best investments of the year, although my t.rip to Los Angeles was everything else but smooth. First, I missed my early morning f.light and risked catching the connector f.light in Las Vegas. They then put me on a flight to Phoenix and I arrived at the LAX with only 1 hour delay. However, my friend was waiting there not knowing when I would arrive (she didn't have a cell phone). Anyway, it was worth every sweat and every penny.

It's been proven The CEO Factor is the missing puzzle piece to sustaining high six and seven figure success. It is literally a business foundation blueprint to help eliminate the confusion and overcome the stuck spots.

Do you want to get these same revolutionary results? Well you can because The CEO Factor System has finally been released as a product. With this system you will feel like you've been transported to the Live Event and will learn everything you need to make 2010 the year your finally reach your goals.

Check it out here

Some of the things you will learn are:

Eight "empire-worthy" business models that are capable of generating seven to eight figures (or just help you sustain a nice high six figure income.)
Bottlenecks that are most likely to stunt growth and deplete you of your magic...leaving well meaning entrepreneurs frustrated and overwhelmed (and stuck!)
The eight core CEO types and who they MUST HAVE on their team to grow to the next level.
What your REAL role is as the leader of your small business and what specific daily, weekly and monthly actions you must focus on to leap into your next phase of growth.
Are you ready to get started? Go here now.

I'm looking forward to making 2010 my best year and not only growth wise. What I learned at the event went well beyond that.
Are you ready to take the leap?

Sincerely,
Regina Minger Meier
www.reginaminger.com

PS - Have you been experiencing consistent growth in your business but have hit a wall and are now stuck at your current level of success? Well I have and this system has transformed my business since the event. And if you answered YES too, then you should definitely check out this system! Go to here now to get this step-by-step roadmap to your 6+ figure business!

PSS: Don't want to build an empire? Well, most of those principles I learned at the event also apply to a smaller business model. However, it's important to know what kind of business you want to build for the future. And most important in my opinion is that you build your business around your lifestyle, vision and priorities and not the other way round. I will be sharing more about all that in the coming months. So stay tuned and let me know what questions you have around that.

Are you Guilty of Multi-tasking, too?

Last week I listened to an interview from Melanie Benson Strick (www.successconnections.com) with Dave Crenshaw who wrote a book called “The Myth of Multitasking: How ‘Doing it All’ Gets Nothing Done” www.davecrenshaw.com and the facts he pointed out were quite shocking. I don’t know about you but even though I heard about being focused gets you more done, I wasn’t aware how true this is – and how much time you waste by multi-tasking.

Here are 3 facts that got me thinking:

• Task switching: when you switch from one task to another and then have to go back to your original one, for example, you are writing your ezine article and get interrupted by a phone call. You attend to the phone call, then check your emails before you return to your writing. To get back to the focus of writing your article takes you a lot of time. Add that up to a day, week or month.
• Focus: when you attend an online workshop, or listening to an interview over the phone or radio and check your emails and maybe think of your shopping list at the same time, you won’t be able to fully embrace the content of your audio – your attention span is so low that you can’t remember 95% or more of what you would have learned if you had given it full attention.
• Focus: In the interview, Crenshaw mentioned that an average person can only focus for 11 min on a task of project before she or he gets distracted. Pretty shocking eh? Think about it: do you bombard your VA with msn messages, emails or text messages to send over your tasks? And if you do, what are your expectations for the quality of her work? If you do this, then your VA is likely distracted 80% of her time and won’t be able to use her time effectively let alone deliver in a high quality manner.

I was quite astounded at all the facts he shared with us on the call and I decided to rethink my strategy of multi-tasking.

If you are working in a fast paced working environment you can’t just work on one project or task a day – but what you can do it work at one project or task at one time – without being interrupted. So what I’d recommend you do is clean your desk and focus on one task or project until it is completed or you cannot do anything else without somebody else’s input. Then you set the project or task aside and move to the next one (like piles on your desk ) – maybe you take a break in the middle of moving to another task or check your messages.

Here are the 3 things I have implemented into my business day that I’d like to share with you:

• I plan my day the evening before. Because not only multitasking can waste a lot of time, but also a lack of planning. I want to know what I am working on the next day, when I have my meetings and what I need to prepare for them. Crenshaw said that when you don’t plan out your day before you start your day, you are 10% less efficient during the day.
• Get things done before start the official workday. I usually start working on my clients projects after 9.30am. This gives me 1.5hrs in the morning (I usually start work at 8am) to be productive, to finish a project or task and cross it off my list right away. It feels great to be able to say to yourself that you have been productive in the morning, because….should you fall back into the multi-tasking habit or checking emails and surfing the internet in the afternoon (this could also be a nice break from high level brain work), you don’t feel so bad because you got stuff done in the morning.
• And as mentioned above, work on one project at a time, then take a break or at least clean my desk to make room for the new project – this is great as you really do get more done in the same amount of time AND the feeling of having completed something is very rewarding

Do it for just one day and see how it works. Do you notice a difference?

Are you guilty of multi-tasking too? What is your biggest challenge with getting things done while multi-tasking?

If you struggle with this I highly encourage you to check out Dave’s website www.davecrenshaw.com to find ways to minimize that. If you’d like to learn more about how you specifically can save some time and be more organized during the day, contact me for a strategy session to find ways to save you more time in the day.

Who do You talk To?

For many solopreneurs and entrepreneurs it can be very lonely in business - especially when you are working from home and are not going out meeting with people very often. I also find it hard sometimes to focus on the high payoff activities or the things that would help my business the most. In those times I often call one of my mastermind buddies so we can exchange thoughts and ideas and end the call on a positive, energetic note.

There are several different ways you can get support from someone. Find a person that knows and understands the situation you are in. Talking to someone that doesn't support your views the same way as you do or maybe not supporting you at all won't be of big help. Quite the opposite actually, it will drag you down even more and might get you discouraged to continue if you can't get into the positive energy after the conversation.

Here are a few ways you can connect with someone:

• Hire a Business or Life Coach that shares your values and can support you where you need it the most.
• Hire a Consultant who can help you with your strategies, your many ideas or the implementation of it.
• Talk to your team members to establish a closer relationship. If they are the right people on your team where you feel a connection, then they might appreciate the idea to talk to you on a regular basis and collaborate.
• Contact a good friend who is in a similar situation as you are or has been in the past.
• Build or join a mastermind group led by a coach
• Approach a colleague you work with or you network with and ask if she or he would like to get together on a regular basis
• Seek out and join support groups on the internet (like forums, associations - there are also a few on Facebook)

No matter where you get the support, it can provide you with one of more of the following:

• The person or group can support you through your everyday challenges
• Help you stay focused and in a positive frame of mind or help you get there
• Validate your thoughts and concerns
• Help you determine the next steps, activities or decisions
• Support you in finding the right solution for your business or life situation
• A sounding board where you get the feedback you need
• A comfortable and safe place where you can go to and re-charge your batteries

Over the last few months I have had the pleasure of talking to a lot of women about their every day challenges, be it as a mom, a mompreneur, or a career women wanting to start her own business. And I realized how much I enjoyed talking to these women and help them through their challenge. It's a great feeling to see or hear how you can help someone through a difficult time with understanding their situation and offering your feedback and ideas.

That got me thinking that this is something I wanted to do for a long time but never really knew consciously. I always enjoyed talking to people about their personal or business challenges and finding a solution that fits their personality. I noticed this again the other day with one of my clients that we were talking about everyday business challenges and suddenly I had this idea and I mentioned it to her. And WOW, she loved it and is exploring it further. So maybe I could give her that extra nudge, or another idea, to think about a new way of offering this in her own business that she hadn't thought about it before.

Do you feel you want to talk to someone about what is going on in your life or business? Do you have a person or a group that you feel comfortable with to talk to and share your feelings/emotions/challenges?

If you'd like to talk to someone, contact me at www.reginaminger.com and tell me more about your challenge and how you'd like to receive support. I would love to support you in any way I can and at the same time explore my newly found passion further.

Sharing Your Burdens Is Good for Your Business

Do you ever get the feeling that one thing missing from your business is someone to talk to, discuss your frustrations with, analyze problems and stumbling blocks, and – above all – help you find solutions to your problems?

One of the many challenges of being a solopreneur (as opposed to someone who has a big team and/or employees) is not having that much-needed sounding board when the going gets tough.

All entrepreneurs hit a snag once in a while. Maybe you are developing a new program and need an expert input. Or perhaps you want to launch a marketing campaign but have no clue where to start. There are undoubtedly many situations that call for a skill, experience or judgment that you don’t have (after all, we can’t all be good at everything).

When that happens, what do you do? Do you know where to seek the kind of advice that will move your company forward?

We all have our limitations – just as we all have our individual strengths. There is nothing shameful or embarrassing about that. When you realize that you can’t do everything yourself because you lack specific expertise, or you simply need someone to offer you constructive suggestions on a project, creative brainstorming around an idea or some insight in tackling a team issue, ask for help.

There are people out there – experts in their fields – who will look at your problem from a different vantage point, bring in their experience, and help you see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Would it surprise you to know that the most successful businessmen and women, the ones whose companies generate hefty revenues, don’t do it alone? More often than not (or almost every time), they have a team or experts on board, experienced professionals who help them make the right business decisions while keeping potential problems at bay.

So go ahead – share your burdens. You will be happy you did.