“Success is waking up in the morning, whoever you are, wherever you are, young or old, and get out of bed because there is something you love to do, what you believe in, what you are good at, something that is more Bigger than you, and you can’t wait to do it again today. “ – Whit Hobbs
Are you ready to kick butt this year? Did you jump out of bed this morning ready to go? If you’re like most women, you crawl out of bed in the morning with a ‘ho hum’ attitude. And then you wonder why you are not as successful as you think you should be. Newsflash for you. If this sounds like you then you better ‘wake up Alice’ because this is not living and this is not success. It is sleepwalking through your life. It is resigning to your life. Yuck, who wants to live such a life?
Success is an inside job. If you’re not excited and ambitious about where you are and what you’re doing in your life, do something about it: change it.
Now for those of you who know me or have been reading my ezine for a while, know that I don’t literally jump out of bed in the morning. I relax in my day with my quiet time and my coffee. My head is always racing with ideas and things to do, so I write a bit (in a journal) and read a mediation to clear my mind and mentally prepare for my day. There is a method to my madness.
Bottom line! If what you’re doing right now isn’t getting you closer to your goal, then you need to stop doing it and start doing something else that works.
Here are 8 successful strategies I use to coach other women who want to create quantum leaps in their businesses and their lives.
Now, I know you’re probably saying to yourself right now, I’ve heard all of this before. If you know them, use them and you’re getting results, don’t read on. However, if you are not getting the results you want in your business, I think it would be good if you would review them and take action.
1. DEFINE what success means to you. You can’t go there if you don’t know where you’re going. Could it be more free time to enjoy your successes, more money, more productivity, more fun, more options? You say it. It is your career and your life. Write it down, make it happen. Read “Write It, Make It Happen” by Henriette Klauser.
two. Use your core values to make all of your decisions. How many of you know what your core values are? Core values are who we are. They are not who we think we are, who you want to be or who we think we should be. An example: How many of your current choices reflect your core values? How many are should and how many are options.
3. Start setting limits, say No. How many of you have a hard time saying No to everyone else except YOU? Example: How many of you think that having an open door policy in your office means that it should always be available? How many of you think you can’t say NO because you won’t like them?
Four. Ask what you want. How many of you have a hard time asking for what you want? Your success is tied to your ability to make effective requests, promises, and offers. Example: Request / Request components: Speaker, Listener, Action to take and Time frame to take action.
5. Say what you want to say and say what you say. How many of you dance around a song because you are afraid of the result it will produce?
6. Master the art of presenting ideas and handling difficult conversations. There are guidelines. Most people go blind and do not get what they want because they are not clear about what it is they want before having a conversation. Example: promotion, management idea, breakdown with employee.
7. Plan to be successful every day. How many of you start your day in a tie and before you get to the office you’re already fried only to find yourself with one meltdown after another? Planning for success ensures your success. Example: every morning I start my day with a declaration of intent.
8. Make time for “YOU” regularly. How many of you schedule your time? How many of you don’t even ask for some time for yourselves? If you want time, you will have to plan for it. If you don’t take time for yourself, you become resentful and resigned. If you have trouble asking for time off, start small. Example: Post a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the bathroom door and indulge in a long hot bath (at least 30 minutes). It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but if you never do, it really is a big deal.
Do yourself a favor this year. Get started on the right foot, with the right strategies and the right mindset so that you can make the most of your time and expertise.