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When I first started my business, I called myself a Business Strategist.
However, I learned quickly that strategic advice is not enough to effect real change.
I decided that I don’t want to be the consultant that gives my clients a one-hundred-point plan which leaves them even more overwhelmed than before. I want to stay a while and see actual results.
Are you looking to take email off your phone, but think that it’ll be impossible?
Today I’m going to share with you a helpful hack that I discovered that allows me to live peacefully without being glued to my Gmail account.
While I've been using my new-found time to learn how to bake bread, children everywhere have become obsessed with their bikes.
I've never seen so many kids riding around town. Schools, offices, and parks have been closed and their parking lots have been empty of cars. Children with bikes have completely taken them over.
The bread trend has finally hit me!
It feels like half the world has tried baking bread at some point during self-quarantine. Okay, I'm not yet at sourdough-level expertise. But I still felt the urge to join the fun and bake delicious home-made bread.
When you first start your business, every little aspect of it is exciting!
It’s not too hard to act upbeat and positive. After all, you’re not acting… the feelings are very real.
Some time passes and yes, you still love what you do. But you don’t anymore get automatic happy feelings every time your phone rings.
Real life kicks in and it’s not always fun.
Summer is upon us! It’s during this time of year that I am especially grateful to own my business. I can make homemade pancakes for a lazy morning breakfast, take an afternoon off to spend outdoors, and even block off full days on my calendar to completely unplug.
I actually don’t know how long it used to take me to write a blog post. It was divided into way too many steps. I would rely on inspiration to chance upon me before I would move forward. And when I did get started, I was a bit scattered and slow… afraid to put constraints on creativity.
Can you relate? Is there an activity in your business that you don’t have a grip on?
When I first started my business practically every day was a business development day. I would gobble up any information that I could find on business. Did I mention that I’m kinda addicted to learning?
Is there a knot in your business that seems impossible to untangle?
Are you facing an issue that you don’t know how to solve?
As business owners, when we are stuck in a dysfunctional cycle it’s all too easy to start feeling crazy ourselves!
Ignore the phone. Does that sound radical to you? It’s not advice that you would expect coming from a business coach. Shouldn’t you be always available with the highest level of customer service?
Yes. However, your first obligation is always the person right in front of you. Customer service dictates that you should give your full focus to the person that is here right now.
Who knew you can learn so much about business while searching for a makeup artist?
You may already know that my brother is engaged and my family is now planning a wedding!
The search for a makeup artist has been a long one, and so far there is no happy ending.
There are rules and there are times to break the rules. I used to blog every week religiously.
You could always expect a new post in your inbox early Sunday morning. Then, for many months I was super chilled about my blog. I stopped posting consistently. My life got so busy and my blog just wasn’t my priority.
Are you drowning in your to do list? Do the tasks that need to get done pile up endlessly?
You’re not alone. Look, if you’re killing it with To-Do-Lists, then you can stop reading right now. #YouDoYou. But if To-Do-Lists are killing you, then it’s time to kill the list!
It’s tough to run a business that revolves around client appointments. I know that some clients can be annoying, pushing the limits of our patience. None of my clients… they are all the sweetest. For real. But I have had my share of problematic prospective clients. The type that schedules an appointment and doesn’t show up. Yes, we’ve all had those...
“Can you do Thursday night?”
“I’m so sorry, Thursday won’t work. My next availability is Friday morning.”
“Oh. I really wanted Thursday. You can’t do Thursday???”
I believe that there are no bad ideas in business.
I know. That’s a bold statement to make. But I feel strongly about this.
You see, what you call a ‘good idea’ doesn’t grow in a vacuum.
With each blog post I publish, you know to expect a valuable nugget. Whether it’s a simple strategy or a cool new tool, it’s sure to be quick and easy to implement. And for a bonus, you can get some inspiration and motivation here too!
“Yes, no, maybe so, black, white, I don’t know.”
It was all a mumble jumble in her head and she was waiting for me to be her savior. Just tell me what to do!
Let’s call her Rachel. She came to me with a dilemma.
Last week I attended a full day seminar by the expert sales trainer, Adam Lieberman.
The event was titled “Learn to Sell Like a Rockstar” and I was really looking forward. I mean, I was looking forward to the actual event… not the morning before I left.
Typically the morning of a long event, I’m wasting way too much time thinking, “What do I take along?”
Trying to please all your clients can be an exhausting task.
You want to be flexible, but also professional. You want be kind, yet also set proper boundaries.
And more often than you care to admit, you end up feeling either guilty or resentful.
A package in the mail. What could it be? I didn’t order anything…
I quickly tore open the wrapping and found a beautiful blue box that stated “HIP HIP HOORAY. Welcome to the family.”
Inside the box I found a thoughtful welcome note along with a branded notebook and pen.
There are plenty of negative stories to go around. And I believe that every story has a lesson.
You can either learn from the story how to act or how not to act.
As a business coach, I’m always on the lookout for little anecdotes to learn from.
When email became my primary tool of communication, I knew that I had better get good at it.
Since starting my online coaching business, I have been constantly experimenting with all sorts of tools to make the time I spend in my inbox more efficient.
After I finished playing around with the settings and filters in Gmail, I took things to the next level by installing Boomerang.
Lorraine is a popular electrologist in my area, drawing clients from far and near. I was curious to hear her story and the secrets behind her busy and successful practice.
After our conversation, I truly understood why so many clients are attracted to her – Lorraine is extraordinarily empathetic and compassionate.
She shared how it felt to be a teenager with facial hair, and why she feels privileged to be able to help others in her situation.
Every business has an inside story. Every business owner has unique experiences.
It’s been a great privilege for me to interview top entrepreneurs and share their insights in my new series, Insider Insights.
Needless to say, this new endeavor takes a significant amount of time. From pitching and scheduling, preparing the questions, doing the interviews, to finally editing and posting online.
I met Chani at a local meetup and liked her right away. Chani is a kind, generous, and open woman. She has all the qualities you would want in a massage therapist. And all the qualities you would want in a friend.
I knew that she is someone who would be willing to go deeper with me and share the inside story of her business success. And luckily for you, I was right :)
More marketing. Right? That’s the answer to all business problems. Or is it?
Well, imagine the following: Tomorrow I am sending you 50 phone calls from super-enthusiastic potential clients who all are ready to sign up for you service.
Sounds exciting? Or frightening?
Me too. I love notebooks. I have a whole stack of them.
Specifically the unlined sketchbooks from Barnes and Noble.
But let’s admit it together - notebooks work well for a lot of things - but not everything.
There are some things that are best be digital. But, Microsoft Word can't always do the trick.
Should the teacher get a job as a lawn mower?
You guessed it!
My answer to every question is - it depends.
During the school year he could instead be making more money working as a teacher.
During the summer time, he would not be teaching anyway. Therefore any money he makes mowing would be extra.
Every choice you make in life and business has an OPPORTUNITY COST.
What if you didn’t need to search for new scripts with every new email you sent?
What if you didn’t have to triple check each message you composed?
There is a better way.
As a recovering perfectionist, the method I am about to share with you has saved me hours of time. And that’s not an exaggeration.