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Gratitude at the Minutia

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Happy Thanksgiving month!  If you are like most of us,  your thoughts of giving thanks extended beyond just last Thursday.  I found that people started gratitude challenges at the beginning of the month and was so inspired and pleased to see all the posts on FB and Twitter.

Think about all of those times when things just ran smoothly from start to finish.  Something like getting in line at a coffee shop and getting the exact coffee you ordered. Isn’t that something to be grateful for?  I believe it is.  I also know that 99% of the time my coffee order is correct but the 1% that I happen to take note of is that when something went not as planned.When I started my journey of gratitude, I mainly thought of the BIG things.  You know, “thank you for my family, my home, my health…etc”.  These are all the things that are obviously a blessing to me because I see that not everyone has them.  I also found that as I continued down the path of gratitude, there are smaller and smaller things to be grateful for.  Those things that get lost in the minutia of our daily living.  Things like a beautiful butterfly, a child laughing, a smile from a stranger, the printer working, and the things that make your day run smoothly.

As an entrepreneur, my day is filled with a variety of tasks and processes that my business is comprised of.  There are systems and processes in place that make my life and business run more smoothly.  Oh and by the way, there are also things that desperately need a process to create more efficiency and effectiveness and I’m working on those.  In both cases I am grateful when things run like a well oiled machine and when I know what it takes to get them that way.

As you go through your week, take note of the smallest of things that deserve gratitude. Things in your business, things in your personal life, and acts or examples of those which fill your life with ease and flow.

Coaching Question:  What is one thing lost in the minutia that you will be grateful for?

Joanne Johnson, Virtual Assistant

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If you have ever been overwhelmed with more to do than you can handle, I and many business owners can definitely relate!

With my clients, I stress the importance of working in your calling/genius as much as possible and delegate out the things that are outside of it.  You see, as solo-preneurs, we are required to wear many hats regardless of if they are within our skill set or not.  We are called to do the sales and marketing, the strategic planning, the financials, the product/service development and the list goes on, not to mention to work in our genius/calling.  It can be quite exhausting to be working outside of your skill set but even more exhausting to be working outside your natural tendencies.

When I coach others to delegate it is more than becoming more efficient or effective, it is about creating the business and life you desire so you can experience complete fulfillment.

In August 2012, I had the fortunate opportunity to meet a wonderful virtual assistant who happened to get rave reviews from other coaches so I hired her immediately. Her name is Joanne Johnson and she is now my assistant 🙂  And my business has grown and I have been more efficient and experienced more joy because I am working in my calling most of the time.

Joanne supports me with my newsletter, managing my contacts, promotion of programs, client care, and the long term planning of my business.  Each month I am delegating more tasks to Joanne and she is taking them on like a champ!  Her professionalism, timeliness and attention to detail has been remarkable.  Joanne has TRULY brought me to be able to experience more fulfillment in my business and life.

I value Joanne’s work so much, I refer her to my friends and colleagues- including my own mentor coach!

If your business is moving forward fast and you want to experience more fulfillment, it may be time to hire Joanne 🙂

Click here to learn more about Joanne Johnson, VA extraordinaire.  Joanne can be reached at (303) 908-6386.

 

A Gift From The Heart

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Well, the holidays are among us.  I say this because I was at Kohl’s the other day and they already had Christmas decorations adorning the store displays and had sales on all kinds of Thanksgiving and Christmas items.  Tis the season to be giving 🙂

If you’re thinking of gifts for  loyal clients and strategic partners, my friend and business colleague, Sloan Waters,  has a wonderful custom gift basket business that is unlike any other you have seen.  Sloan hand picks all items for the gift and uses her creative and artistic abilities to have extraordinary “baskets” that are beautiful, functional, and memorable.

If you’re looking to truly thank your clients and partners in a way that speaks to the individual relationship you have, you absolutely must talk with Sloan.

Check out samples of Sloan’s craftsmanship at http://www.agiftfromtheheart.info.

 

 

How to pick the tools for your tool kit

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It is 4th quarter of 2012 and I am excited to be in a very creative mode.  I am creating new programs and gathering new tools for myself and my clients.

There are so many things to engage in…books, blogs, courses, workshops, webinars and the list goes on and on.  It can be somewhat overwhelming to determine all the right things that move business forward.  And it seems like there is always something new and exciting that can grab my attention and time.

In working with my own coach, I have been able to laser in on those things that are my true genius as well as value add programs for my clients.  Understanding these key components allows me to select the professional development tools to add to my tool kit for added value for my clients.

Here is the process that I go through to select the tools to invest in:

  1. Identify /review my “genius”
  2. Review the tools that I currently possess
  3. Look for tools that will enhance the delivery of my “genius” to my clients
  4. Plan, for the year, the professional development activities that fit in my schedule AND allow me to maintain the life that I love

Remember that while personal and professional development can be exciting, motivating and inspiring, it can also be a distraction if you let it.

Coaching question: What new tools can you add so your clients receive the ultimate benefit?

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

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The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron was first published in 1992 and it’s purpose and methods are timeless.  It is a guide to allowing your natural born creativity to flow.  I am currently going through this study because as a business coach, I am consistently creating new programs to better serve my clients.  Additionally I am huge proponent of allowing all sides of yourself be expressed – creative, logical, extroversion and introversion.

Here is a look at a few of the topics that The Artist’s Way covers…

  • Sense of Identity
  • Sense of Power
  • Sense of Integrity
  • Sense of Possibility
  • Sense of Abundance
  • Sense of Compassion
  • Sense of Autonomy

The Artist’s Way is packed with tools, tasks and activities that support creativity, introspection and personal development.  It is proving to be a tool that I recommend to clients, friends and all those who recognize the value of creativity in their lives.

The book The Artist’s Way as well as a The Artist’s Way Starter Kit can be purchased at Amazon.com and other booksellers.