Where Does The Time Go?

If you're not sure where your time is going, tracking what you spend time on is the BEST way to get to any core issues.  Yeah, I know- it's a pain.  But, SOOOO worth it!  You will be amazed - likely you'll be both pleasantly surprised and completely disgusted after reviewing your results.  Importantly, you'll gain insight and motivation to make some changes to you can get more priority stuff done in less time.   Following are tips for tracking so you can make changes and reap the benefits of better time use!

4 Tips for FUN, Successful Business Planning

Yep, I am aware that Business Planning is most people's "not my favorite" topic, but it is nonetheless a critical component to success in business.  Of course, I like to make it as fun and exciting as possible with my clients- Hey, it CAN be a good time!  I am pleased to share the following specifics you can do during your next planning session to make it your best year yet!

Spontaneity: Week 9

"Be More Spontaneous." This is something I had been telling myself for years...
Read about Ben Franklin and the 13 traits.

I admit that I used to be kind of controlling and too "A-type" to enjoy ever really being spontaneous. I would try new things pretty easily and I actually like change, but when it comes to leaping right in on the spur-of-the-moment, I didn't used to be capable. I improved over the past few years, but it's still something I would like to get better at.

It may be surprising that a business coach would want to be more spontaneous. But here's the thing: I am so goal-oriented and always thinking of achieving more, that my tendency is never to do anything without analyzing it first. No doubt this has its place, and may even be considered a strength in some context, but we can't really live without some balance. I acknowledged this and allowed my inner wild-child to lead me into things I wouldn't have considered before.

I realized that spontaneity is still purposeful decision-making, but now it goes a lot faster and I've learned to rely on my gut. So maybe on some level, this is really about strengthening my intuition and embracing what comes as a result. Oh, and that includes releasing anxiety about the decision that was made, or worrying about whatever else I could be doing.

It was perfect timing for me this week because I was traveling. My cousin got married and several of us stayed with family instead of at a hotel. True to my old form, I was a little worried this might mean we were completely at their mercy (yes, I wanted to reconnect with family and spend good times with them, but hey, you know), so I rented a car for some flexibility. However, contrary to my usual approach of scheduling everything down to the hour with some contingency planning for good measure, I did NOT check out all the options before going on the trip.

I checked the weather forecast online, installed a GPS/navigation app on my phone, and decided to be fully spontaneous and roll with whatever happened. It was great! We had fun as a family and everything worked out well. We had some good adventures, as well as some nice time for catching up and relaxation. I couldn't have planned it any better. I learned to go with the flow and have a great time, and I am a richer person for the experience.

Relationships: Week 7

This week's focus is on strengthening & developing relationships.

Read about other focus areas.


My intention in developing this trait is pretty straight-forward, so frankly it's just a matter of determining which relationships to focus on and doing it!


First for me is my husband; like many other happy marriages, ours is also rife with busy schedules and less time together than we'd like. I committed to doing some nice things for him and for us, spending time as much as possible this week.


Other key relationships include family, friends, and clients. My to-do list could have just hatched out about a million more things to develop each of these relationships---but I resisted this and determined to be more mindful of the value of relationships this week, and to be more fully present when spending time with people I care about.


I succeeded this week- especially in terms of a general improvement in intention, awareness, and actions. The next time I visit this trait, I would like to add sending personal notes and cards to 5 people each day for that week, using SendOutCards.

Work Better...Live More Life!

For my fellow working professionals-

Do you...
*Feel stressed or overwhelmed?
*Procrastinate?
*Have more To-Do items than hours in the day?
*Notice life slides by…days turn into weeks, months, and then years?
*Say “When I have more time I’m going to ___.” ?
*Think “SHOULD” and “SOMEDAY” a lot?
*Experience Guilt?

You can live a balanced, happy, prosperous life by applying some simple, proven concepts.

WORK BETTER (get more done in less time) & LIVE MORE LIFE (do what you really want)!

But how, you may ask? When working with my coaching clients, I walk them through several steps in two phases: First we tackle desired outcomes so there is something to work for! :-)

I. WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT?

Spend some time really thinking and planning to create your future.
Why do you want more money or time? What will you do with more?
What dreams have you put aside, waiting for "someday?"
What would you like to contribute to? What ideas do you have for making happen?
When are you happiest and/or most relaxed?

II. Then, we look for ways to WORK BETTER ("work smarter, not harder") such as:

1. Set goals - daily List of 6
2. Manage activities - no one manages time, we manage our activities
3. Learn to focus - we do not all have attention-deficit disorder, it is a learned habit
4. Make an impact- choose the right things and do them in the right order


How will you Work Better & Live More Life?

Share your idea, tips, tactics for staying balanced and actively creating your future, and please also share your successes on this blog!