This is Part 2 in my series “Do You Own Your Own Business Or Does Your Business Own YOU?”

I want to break down some scenarios that can distract you from your business.  In this Post, I will address the issue of spouse/partner.

Here’s a common scenario for you to consider.

Your spouse or partner is complaining you are spending too much time on your business.

One of the most common roadblocks to success in this business, I have found through many client consultations, is when my client’s spouse/partner doesn’t understand why the heck you are spending so much time on the computer.

Here are some tips that may work for you.

Get them involved. Now, I’m not saying bore them with the details of your business, because they will look at you like a deer caught in the headlights.

On the other hand, you can…

Show them an article and get their opinion.
Show them your business plan to let them know that you value their opinion.
Show them you would be happy to have them involved, even if it is in a very small way.  
Explain your passion and how important it is to you.

Then, switch the focus to them…

Take some time to support them in what is important to them.  The best way to earn respect from your spouse/partner is to acknowledge their needs.

Compromise

If your spouse/partner is complaining you are in front of the computer all the time, the underlying issue may be more pointed.  Maybe they complain that you are not making money fast enough.  They probably don’t understand the concept of “growing” a business.   They probably thought that the internet was a “fast cash machine”.  It’s not.  But they don’t understand that.

Instead of pulling and tugging, arguing and ranting… compromise.  Ask them “what do you need from me?”  Maybe it is a date night, an hour or two to watch a movie.  Whatever it is, be willing to set time to please your partner and, even more, to enjoy time together.

Goal Setting

It can be frustrating sometimes when your business gets hold of you and you are doing your Daily Method of Operation (DMO), but lose sight of your goal.

Make sure that you work toward your goal the first thing of the day!

Yes, you may have that goal in mind, but it takes many steps to get there.  It  is so easy to get distracted but remember your Goal is the most important task of your day.

And most importantly when it comes to your spouse/partner, when they see you doing your business daily, consistently and purposefully, they will come to see that you are running a business, not chasing some silly dream.  When they see you have goals and work hard every day to get there, they will be more excited for, and understanding of what you are doing.

Working your online business is a process that involves the overwhelming portion of your time and commitment.

It’s a worthy undertaking, but not at the expense of your marriage or partnership.

Nothing is more important than that.

If you’re very fortunate, like me, your spouse will be involved in the business too, and the two of you will become closer than ever by working toward a common goal.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

As long as you can respect your partner’s perspective on what you do, and earn their respect for yours, then mutual support can make your relationship better, and help you feel confident that your hard work and commitment to your business will not undermine your relationship.

I sue hope this helps you out if you are having this problem.  Stay tuned to Part 3 in this series, where I will pose another “answer to a problem” on how to have you own your business, rather than it owning you.

Blessings, Donna

So you started an online business.  You put endless hours into it, and you enjoy doing so.  You have submersed yourself in free and paid tutorials.  You work harder than anyone you know, even though you may not be making money.  It has become a true labor of love.

You understand that an internet business is not a “get rich quick scheme,” and you have been plugging away for… how long?

You may have terrific engagement on your blog and social media.  Everyone thinks you are a “rock star” and maybe an authority or expert in your field.

You are striving with everything you have to “make it” in your business.  Hey, you may even made a few sales yet?  Maybe you’ve already become a successful affiliate marketer and commissions are rolling in.  Maybe you are really crushing it with your product and services.

Whatever stage you might be in with your business, my question to you is this: Do you own your business or does your business own you?

Remember When You First Started  

I am sure one of the reasons you wanted to start your own business was for “financial freedom,” or to be able to stay home with the kids, or have the ability to work when you want and be in charge of your own life.   Whatever prompted you to invest your time, money and effort into owning your own online business…  that is what needs to sustain you in working your business over the longer term.

But again my friends, my question to you is: Do you own your own business or has it gotten to a place where your business owns you?

Overwhelmed Yet?

The reason I ask this question is that some people get distracted by so many things that they start drowning in a pool of “overwhelm”.  Some people are in business for a year or two only to decide that it just might be too much work for the little or no return they’re getting.  

Are you doing one or more of these things?

• dragging your feet about getting to the next level of your goals.  
• dreading to write that next blog post.
• always purchasing the newest shiny object.
• carrying around your iPhone answering every call, even when it is family or play time.
• keeping a constant eye on your Skype that you leave open all day to answer every call.
• suspended in fear that you won’t “make it.”
• emulating the richest guru in the business?  And if so, are you dissatisfied that you are not making as much money as they are?
• putting in so many hours that you have ignored your healthy diet and exercise.
• shutting out your friends and family.
• following someone that gives you an exact blueprint of what you have to do, but somehow it doesn’t work for you.
• giving up the things that you used to enjoy so much.

The fastest way to have your business crash and burn is to try doing too many things at once, and expecting them all to work overnight.

Whose Time Is It?

Owning your own business is a very time consuming effort.  If you enjoy it, you are happy to spend your time doing what you do.  But if you are not enjoying it, you could feel like you are being robbed of your time by your own business.

It’s quite a task to lay the foundation of your online business, to get followers, develop an email list…  How much time are you spending on your business?  How much time are you reserving for personal enjoyment and fulfillment?

When you own your own business, it can easily dominate just about all of your time.

Take A Quick Survey

Before you spend another day making money or trying to make money in your business, I’d like you to take a quick survey… a little self-examination.

• When was the last time you took a vacation?
• If you have kids, how much time are your spending with them?  More because you work from home or less?
• Are you feeling anxious because your “big break” didn’t come yet?
• Do you take time every day for yourSELF?
• Is your time is flexible enough to allow for some spontaneity in your day?
• If life throws you a curve ball like an unexpected illness, or a surprise visit from the in-laws… is your business thrown for a loop, or can you just rearrange your time a bit to accommodate these sudden events?   
• Are you keeping up with your favorite exercise program, or did you give it up?
• Is your spouse or family member asking you to pay more attention to them?
• Are your family and friends questioning you why you are locked up in your home office too much?

Your answers to these questions will hopefully give you cause to examine more carefully just how much your Business Owns YOU!

If you think, in fact, that you’ve lost your “ownership” (or at least some of it) of the very business that was supposed to set you “free”, how are you going to fix it?  Well, stay tuned to part 2 in my next article on this subject, and we’ll explore some solutions.

In the meanwhile, I appreciate your feedback in the comments below!

Many Blessings,
-Donna

I’m sure you have heard the term “Go-Giving” many times in the internet marketing world. 

It is usually referred to as taking the first step to engaging others.  But this is not about how to go-give in business, nor is it a lesson on marketing.  Rather, I would like to point out Go-Giving as a life style.

Here is a real life situation that happened to me just this week.

I live in what is referred to as a “small city”.  Ha Ha.  I’ll say it’s “small”…  to me it is a sleepy little town, but hey, I’m a NYC gal.  As long as I have a pretty neighborhood and sidewalks so I can wear my heels and be a few blocks from the nearest coffee shop, I can survive happily.

I live in a quiet neighborhood with tree lined streets and a mix of Victorian and mid-century homes. Everyone plants awesome flowers and shrubs and on a summer day, it is so enjoyable to take a walk and look at the gardens.   I love my own gardens that I have planted over the years, and enjoy sitting outside having my coffee as soon as Spring arrives.  

Meanwhile, I have a great neighbor with the most horrid fence facing my property.  

This fence is a total eye-sore!  It is made of woven redwood that must be 40 years old.  Over the past ten years I have tried to fix the slats, and have just generally struggled with trying to do anything I could to get eyeballs off this fence.   I like looking outside but the fence always catches my attention and no matter what I do, that five foot wonder just makes everything drab.

A few days ago, we had wind.  I mean wicked wind.  In the end, my friend mother nature knocked two six foot sections of this fence down.  Although I was happy, I hurriedly ran out to save my tulips struggling from beneath the upended wreck.  My neighbor came out and just shook his head.  So here I was doing a happy dance in my head that he will FINALLY get a new fence.   WRONG!

As we were fighting the wind and securing the fence with nylon cord, he took an old treadmill off his back porch to support it. Hmmm.

I know he is a frugal guy, so I just blurted out “Hey, why don’t we put up a new fence?  I’ll pay half the cost.  He jumped at that and agreed. FINALLY…the day has come, after ten years of that eye sore.  Yippie,  a brand new fence and more landscaping for me!

BUT THAT’S NOT THE STORY………

As I talked to my friends to share my joy, each one of them reacted by saying “Why are you paying for half his fence?”   

I was puzzled.  

Hey, why the heck not?  

It is something I wanted for a long time, and I knew my frugal friend would only patch things up.  So to me it was a win win situation.  Many friends I talked to told me that I give too much.  

Now, I don’t think this was giving too much at all.  My neighbor is happy to save some money, and I didn’t care what it cost.  It enhanced my property and my enjoyment of the yard.

As I thought about it, I concluded that this is only a part of Go-Giving!  When you become a go-giver, it effects every part of your life, not just your business.  You see the outcome of a good situation for everyone involved, and just GIVE to make it happen!  No thinking involved!  It is purely intuitive.  

So boys and girls, that is my lesson for today.  It’s a great feeling when Go-Giving becomes part of your lifestyle.  It’s a great business posture to take, but it’s even more important to assume it as part of your personality.  It will never fail you because in the end, making others happy will greatly improve your own life and well-being.

So now it is your turn.  Am I giving too much?  Or…  Does this all make sense to you?  I would really like to know!

Blessings,

Donna

Many clients of mine have the problem of a co-worker or family member that is argumentative and confrontational.

 ”What do I do?”
 ”Do I get a new job?”  
 ”Should I move away from this neighbor?”  
” Should I never talk to my sister again?”

These are some of the many questions I hear from clients when they are stuck in a situation that has them feeling:

• drained
• angry
• intimidated
• anxious
• stressful

On and on those terrible feelings go……..

One client was at her job for 19 years and felt like she was burning out.   

Her manager kept questioning her performance level when she knew she was doing two jobs at once!  Other gals in her office were not even socializing with her anymore.  She insists they were all whispering behind her back.  She is a conscientious woman who goes to work and gets her job done.  When she goes home, she leaves her job behind.  She is a single woman with a full and active life.  She vacations twice a year and is now investing in a summer home.

Wouldn’t you say she seems like a well adjusted individual?  I think so.  

But the constant stress of her job had worn her down so much that she wanted to quit and find another job.  That’s when she came to me for advice.

“Quit now? Heck no!” I told her.  “Stand your ground.  You do not have to allow people to knock you down when you deserve the position you have worked so hard to attain.”

She didn’t know how to deal with these constant confrontations.  I suggested she communicate in a different way.  Don’t hold all those feelings inside.  There is a better way to deal with confrontation.  I made this video to show you the power of simply, but firmly, using your “calm voice” amidst the storm of verbal assault.

Seems simple doesn’t it?  But practicing this method works quite well in many circumstances.  It is a technique you can apply when faced with any adversity.  Rather than feeding into the negative energy of your “attackers”, it quickly disarms them.

So claim you power, not through force, but by asserting your calm voice when confronted with rebuke, indignation and even rage.

What do you think?  Have you ever used this method?  If so, how did it work out for you? If not, how did you feel when you got sucked into a negative confrontation?  Did it solve anything by engaging in a yelling match?  I would really like to know.

Stress:  We all have it in one form or another, and it comes at us from virtually every imaginable direction.  At least some of it is getting internalized and making your life a living hell… at least some of the time.

Now, wouldn’t it be great to know how to reduce your stress levels?  But how?  Where would you begin?
Well boys and girls, here is your chance to join me in a little chill time, stress down, live it up virtual “vacation”.

So, where are we going?  Actually, it’s more like what we’ll be “doing”.

Join me in taking the HuffPost Healthy Living’s 14-Day Stress-Less Challenge!

This is a 14 day challenge that won’t take much of your time.  There are expert guests that will show you the power of mind/body techniques.

The leader of this challenge is HuffPost’s mental health editor Lloyd I. Sederer, M.D.  He seems to be a pretty cool guy.  So I’m expecting some great techniques to emerge here.

Each day there will be tips to having less stress in your life.  I think we can all use this.

Of course, there’s no perfect world, and stress is a part of our lives.  That’s why the emphasis here will be to create tools so you can better cope with your stressors.  Hey, didn’t I used to call these “coping mechanisms”? lol.

Anyway, I’m in and will make time each day to learn these techniques.  I know and have practiced many of these methods, but there is always a need to learn more.  It’s also a good idea to re-learn the old ones that you might have abandoned.  And most important, the point of a challenge is to make you put these things to use.  It’s really true: practice makes perfect.

So, come on and join me to better health and lifestyle.  There’s always room for more learning. And being that stress is a major cause of so many ailments, why the heck not try this out?

Take advantage of this opportunity and let me know, along the way, how it’s working out for you.  Excited? Anxious?  Don’t get stressed.  Just calmly leave your comments below to tell me what you think of this.

And most important... Jump into the HuffPost 14-Day Stress-Less Challenge right here.

Blessings,
Donna

“If you want to do something bad enough you can do ANYTHING in 30 days” – Matt Cutts

I am a strong believer in 30 day challenges.  It can be anything from riding a bike instead of driving a car; to changing your mindset by reprogramming your subconscious.

My first 30 challenge was to involve videos in my blogging.  By accepting the challenge, I agreed to do one video a day for 30 consecutive days.  Oh my gosh, I did not want to get in front of that camera for anything.  But I decided I needed to be upload some videos to YouTube in order to better relate to my readers.  

How can I, a middle aged woman who is neither a flashy movie star nor skinny fashion model, get in front of the camera and look presentable?  Oh, what a hang up that was for me (and I know I’m not alone, lol).  The first time I did a video I spent more time doing my make-up and deciding which color blouse to wear that my message was totally blurred out in my mind.  In fact, I was totally freaked out.

The second day of “the challenge“, I decided that bright lights were not my friend, so I had the room dimly lit.  Yuck!  Watching at that one you got the distinct feeling I was hiding.  

Each day that I did a video, I found that half way through, I started to find some “tricks”.  Just little things, like wearing a hat and transition glasses outdoors.  Oh yea, that works!  I learned that little tricks did indeed make a big difference.

By the third week, I was so over putting on globs of make-up and focusing on how I looked.  I was actually able to think about what I was saying.  Hey, get real now, I was doing this for business right?  Not too helpful if I sounded like I didn’t know what I was saying.

So my mind started turning more on the content I was delivering, than how I looked doing it. And guess what I noticed?  My videos were becoming informative and interesting.

But that was only one of the 30 day challenges I have done in my life.  

I’ve done so many since then, especially to challenge my mindset and program myself to achieve things I wanted to.  From affirmations written on my bathroom mirror (Yes, where else do you go the first thing in the morning?) to demolishing obstacles purely through intention and properly scripted attention. Reciting affirmations repeatedly for 30 days, visualizing things working out the way I directed them to, visualizing what I intended to have happen and then sit back and watch it play out.  

These are just some of the 30 day challenges that have been so effective for me.  In fact, they’ve kind of become a habit for me: a standard method of operation in my business.

Whether I encounter a stumbling block in my personal development, or am traveling through some rough or unknown terrain in my business, I immediately put myself through a “challenge” that is carefully designed to achieve success.  

Now, I’ve just been talking about me here, so I decided to share with you another person who travels this path.  In 3 minutes, he will rock your world.   Check out what Matt Cutts’ TED presentation, “Try Something New For 30 Days.”

I love Matt Cutts, and I so appreciate him sharing his 30 day experience.  

So tell me, did you ever try a 30 day challenge?  Did it work?  Or, if you never did, are you willing to do so?  I would love to hear your experiences and thoughts on the “30 Day Challenge”.

Blessings,
Donna

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Lesly Federici on her radio show on “U Smile Radio” recently.

I have known Lesly for a few years now.  We went from blogging buddies to Google+ Hangouts and so on.

Lesly has done such wonderful work with her business. 
Part of it is her radio show on U Smile Radio.  Here she interviews people and shares their lives and passions to inspire her audience.  She conducts guest promotions and offers resources for creative network marketing.  Pretty cool!

In this interview, I mention how I got started in the blogging world, starting at the beginning with the development of my psychic practice.  Then I give some tips on blogging and of course, social media.  So, grab a cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy the show.

It was a fun and uplifting conversation, and I’m happy to share it with you here.

We covered so much information in 30 minutes.  I invite you to return to hear it if you don’t have the time right now.

You’ll find out the WHY of what prompted me to start blogging, get some special nuggets of information about how an online newbie can get moving in the right direction, and other good stuff.

I’d love to hear what you think about my story, and about my interview with Lesly Federici.

Limiting beliefs can stop you in your tracks as you trudge along on your personal journey. 

Sometimes you may not even be aware of thoughts that run through your mind that will limit you in believing what you can accomplish.  It is amazing how many thoughts we have throughout the day that can actually limit our success.  If you think you don’t have them, check again!

Limiting beliefs come from many places: your home environment, school, any authoritative figures you may have had in your life and yes, maybe it is you.  The point here is not where they come from, but rather what they are so we can identify them.  Once you “identify” a thought you have that is limiting your potential, you become clearly aware of it.  When you are aware of those limiting thoughts, a red flag will pop up in your mind that will allow you to confront it and even turn it around.

Here is a list of limiting beliefs or thoughts that may run through your mind.  They may be part of your belief system, or just random thoughts you have.  

1.   I made mistakes in the past. It will only happen again.

2.   I can’t accomplish anything that I’ve had no prior experience with.

3.   I’m too dumb.  I can never be as good as the other guy.

4.   Some people are just lucky. I am not.

5.   I can never do a job like that.

6.   I can’t do a business myself.  What if I fail?  Everyone will think badly about me.

7.   You can’t trust anyone.

8.   Everyone is out to get you.

9.   No one is ever going to love me.

10. I should_________

11.  What if_________

Ever have either ONE of those thoughts?  I’m sure at one time or another you did.  Thoughts provoke emotions and emotions sometimes get in the way of your behavior.  This can stop you in your tracks and limit your belief system.  So if these thoughts come into your mind, here are some ways to confront them.  You can also use this as an affirmation list to reverse persistently limiting beliefs.

1.   I made mistakes in the past, but I learned from them and now I know how to do it better.

2.   I can do anything I want by learning new things every day.

3.   I feel like I am not as smart as the other guy, but I do have other things to offer people that he/she doesn’t.

4.   There is no such thing as luck!  

5.   I’m going to try something new.  It is a challenging job, but I like a positive challenge.

6.   I’m going to give my own business a shot.  If I enjoy what I’m doing, I’ll keep on learning.  If not, I always have my job.

7.   Trust is something earned.  I can trust people that display repeated behavior that is supportive and sincere.

8.   There are some people out there that are just negative.  I’ll steer clear of them and surround myself with positive people.

9.   I am a perfect being.  I deserve to be loved.

10. Never say “should”… it’s only a premise, not a reality.

11.  Never say “what if”… it’s only a possibility, and it’s a poor use of my time trying to imagine every possibility.

Do you have limiting beliefs?  If so, how do you deal with them.  Please add to the comments below.

Blessings,

Donna

If you want to be a coach or mentor in your field or niche, the first thing you need to do is set up boundaries. 

This will brand you immediately as a leader.  You may get all excited with your first coaching clients and spend extra time with them.  But what does that say to that person?  It says you have all the time in the world for them. It also says you will hold their hand.  No one learns from having their hand held.  It is like doing your kids homework for them.  

You need to set up boundaries because people will tend to lean on you. 

They will call you without an appointment, Facebook or email you to say that they have called you.  They “need” an answer right away and expect you to be at their beck and call.  This will cause you a great deal of anxiety as you become a slave to their “urgent” needs.  It is also giving them a “free pass” to nag you endlessly. 

If you accept this servitude, you’ll be doing their “homework” for them.  But worst… you’ll be destroying the very brand you’re trying to build… that of a leader.  You won’t be a leader, coach or mentor, but instead only their assistant, their guy or gal Friday.  They may even want you to make coffee, lol.

To be a true leader, you need to give information to your clients and challenge them get to the task of implementing what they’ve learned.  

So here are some tips for setting boundaries so you won’t get sucked into that void of being a slave to your clients.

1.  Make an outline of the services you provide.  

2.  Keep a firm price point!  This all depends on where you are in your business and what you want to do.  You can have a low to high price point.

3.  Let your clients know when you are available.  This means that you need to create a time frame that suits YOU to meet on Google+ or Skype, or wherever you choose.

4.  If your client list is growing to the point where you need to coral them… do a webinar!  You can take questions via email or Facebook in advance, and then answer those questions on the webinar. 

You will certainly get duplicate and overlapping ones.  That can help you set the theme of your webinar.  Make the webinar a certain time that suits YOU, record it and offer a replay to those who can’t attend live.

5.  You can also schedule a Q&A  webinar if you like, and answer various questions live.  You can do this as little as once a month.  Believe me, people really appreciate the live interaction!

6.  You need to understand the “needy” people.  This is where you have to be firm.  Keep a strong mindset here.  If they don’t like you because you won’t spend endless hours with them, you really don’t need their business.

7.  Remember… “No” is your best friend.  We tend to think if we say “no” to a person, something bad will happen.  Well actually, if we simply go along with them, it may turn into a disaster.  You’ll be letting them be the leader, and they have no idea what they’re doing.  Have your rules in place!

8.  If a client won’t play by your rules, politely direct them to go elsewhere.  This is your business. You are the leader.  You cannot lead unless you have control.  It is like being a teacher in a classroom.  You can’t have the kids running all over the place.  They must sit down and listen.

9.  Boundaries need to be set also on how much you want to share of your life.  This is a personal issue but one to consider before you set up a learning program for your clients.

10. When teaching a group via an interactive webinar or any other platform, don’t give the floor unconditionally to any one participant.  There are some people that enjoy “taking over the conversation.”  Limit their time and focus, and make that clear. 

Don’t allow people to change the subject, start lecturing or use the opportunity as a time to get the group to help them solve their own particular problems. There is nothing worse than getting on a webinar and having someone out of the blue talk, talk, talk!  I’ve seen it happen and it distracts from what the learning experience is all about.

Setting boundaries is not a bad thing, in fact it is an essential one.  Boundary setting is keeping things in control and will benefit you in the long run.  It is a sign of good leadership and people will actually appreciate it.

I’ve been a psychic consultant for many years.  Most of my clients are repeat clients that I’ve had for a long time.  They seek my counsel on an ongoing basis because they know I am a leader by virtue of the boundaries I have set for them. 

They know I will not tell them what to do, but challenge them to make their own decisions based on the intuitive visions and cues I share with them.  They know I don’t tell them “this will happen”, but rather, “this is a likely outcome if you choose to take action A, but I see you could have a totally different outcome by choosing action B”.  

Now I’ve had clients that wanted me to simply dictate what they should do, and I don’t do that.  Or some have wanted me to give them instruction for manipulating people or situations, and I don’t do that either.  Consequently, over the years, I’ve had to refuse to work with some people.  It’s rare, though it does happen.  But as a leader and a consultant, this is my perogative.    

As a leader, you must learn to exercise this sort of control, understanding that some people may not like the boundaries you have set, and choose not to work with you.  That’s okay, too.  Coaching, mentoring or consulting is a two way street.  The client-coach relationship must be mutually respectful given the boundaries you have clearly set.

Here is my question to you:  Do you have a problem about setting boundaries?  Do you feel like you are being too hard on folks, or do you feel like it is a more productive way to do things?  I would like to know if you’ve set boundaries in your coaching or consulting business, or which ones you think you’d like to set but have had difficulty doing.

Blessings,
Donna

Image credit: yasnaten / 123RF Stock Photo

If you wrote down each task you did in one day, you would be surprised how much you had done.  When running your own business, there are hundreds of things you are doing without even thinking about it during a course of a day.

But doing lots of things is not really what your online business is really about.  The key question to ask yourself is this: at the end of that day have you completed your most important goals?  Or have you left some of them undone because of too many interruptions?

Have you ever experienced a time when you had that well thought out plan in your head of what you were going to do, then got side tracked with a phone call, an email, a Facebook message?  Or maybe the kids were home from school, or the dog wanted to play.  These are but a few situations that come up during the day that can get you off track.

How does that make you feel?  Discouraged, anxious, upset, overwhelmed?  This is why it is imperative to plan your day.

You should be following a business plan and have specific long range goals to achieve.  But there are many steps to get there, and these are the steps you need to be taking each day.  You priority must be on activities that generate revenue.  Without an income, you don’t have a business.  So, you want to focus every day, first and foremost, on that part of your business that is making money or will lead to making money.  But for many people, those are the very things that just never seem to get done.

It is easy to get caught up in blogging and reciprocating with your comments and syndication.  Temptation is always there because something catches your eye that you want to learn and may spend time during your day on tackling a new learning curve.  Sure that’s important, but what happened to focusing on what you really needed to do first?  You sort of planned your day, but got bombarded with other things didn’t you?

The problem is, that what you should be doing first, you put for last, and frequently just never get around to it at all.

I know people who have been doing an online “business” literally for years, and still do not do any income generating activities at all.  They don’t have a business, despite what they say.  What they have is a hobby.  For many people, that’s just a more comfortable place to be.  But if you want to move your efforts into the profit zone, you must plan your day accordingly.

Here is how to plan your day to start generating an income online.

1. Use a white board or a piece of paper.  Put it near your computer or somewhere in your home office.  It is important to keep this in one place where you always see it.  There are many times that we jot down things we want to accomplish during the day, but misplace that piece of paper.  So keep this one visible at all times.

2.  Write down three tasks you must complete during the day no matter what. (hint: three income generating tasks)

3.  After each task is done, erase it or cross it out.

Now that sounds simple to do doesn’t it?  But the question is, are you really going to do it?  You need to make a commitment to yourself come hell or high water to complete this.  You must NOT do anything else until you do so.  Not anything!  Do not answer the phone, open email or walk around the block.  Make it clear to everyone that this is your time to work and you cannot be disturbed, even if it is to make a peanut butter sandwich!  OK…  you can go to the bathroom… he he.

Making this commitment to plan your day and STICK TO IT will help you produce results in your business.  Make your tasks realistic – you are not going to write the next novel in a day.  Maybe a chapter if that’s what you do!  By committing yourself to your Daily Plan no matter how long it takes, will free you to perform all the marginal tasks later in the day.

Why is this so important?

Because in business, you have a certain goal.  To reach that goal you have to chip away at it a little at a time every single day.  If you stray, that goal will never be reached.  You need specific goals, but even more you need to execute the tasks that will help you achieve them.  Yes, you may have to do’s swimming in your head, but you need to put them into a plan of action, and then do them.

Working backwards is the best way to achieve your goal.  When you see the whole picture, you realize how much work will go into a project you want to complete.  Start with the end of the project (the results) and then write down all the things you need to do to finish it (achieve those results).  Give yourself a time limit.  Two weeks, a month.  Whatever it is.  Write down everything you need to do for that project and stick to a production schedule.

Break it down into a month, a week, a day.  Each and every day… complete those tasks that will get you to the end results you desire.  When you break your project down into specific daily tasks and chunks of time and stick to it, you will succeed.  It just takes planning and execution!  Planning your day every morning will give you more time than you actually have already.  And you won’t be spending your day feeling guilty about the important things you’re avoiding.

Where the heck did I get this idea from?

I’ve been doing it and it’s working like magic!

I am sitting here late afternoon, still in my PJ’s writing this to you because it’s the last task of the day that I need to cross off my list.  My first two hours this morning were spent working on production.  My last task was to write this post.  It’s a great feeling when you get the big stuff done.  And you can only do it by planning your day!

Blessings,
Donna