It is Time For You To Make Your Success Happen

You are 100% in charge of what you get out of your life and your business.

That’s right. No one but you. It’s both liberating and scary isn’t it?

I’m doing a social media challenge with my mentor, Denise Wakeman. She has us try different online marketing activities. Sometimes we get them in one shot. Other times, we have to do it and learn from it. I get to be in charge of how I experience the challenge and let me tell you, it’s all a great experience.

One of the things that I experienced early on in my business was I wanted everything to be perfect. It’s something that may ring true for you too. It’s not a bad thing. It means you care about your work and how you show up in the world. Something I think is valuable especially in business.

Though, it was something that kept me from taking action and moving forward. Once I realized that I was the one responsible for my results and what I was getting, I saw how being a perfectionist held me back.

Let yourself be in charge.

When I began working for myself I had a lot to figure out. I had always been an employee and did things mostly the way the place I worked at wanted it done. I didn’t have much say. And when I began working for myself, I was afraid to make mistakes.

A key learning for me was that I was in charge of what I did or didn’t do and how I did it (aka getting things perfect). And by making mistakes I was learning and by learning I was growing. I was learning how to be in charge.

After I realized that I was standing in the way of my own success, it was easy to change how I did things. And it was easy to be able to be in charge of my results. My results then lead to my success.

Where in your business are you not letting yourself be in charge?

Where can you step into being 100% in charge of what you get out of your life and your business?

Are you stuck? Not sure where to begin? Feeling like you can’t stop being a perfectionist? Set up a free 30 minute session with me and we’ll work together to put yourself 100% in charge! Click here to be on your way.

How to end a lifetime of procrastination

Let’s not re-invent the wheel, let’s change it completely.

When it comes to procrastination what is the first thing that comes to your mind?

Did you think about all the things that you still need to do? And then did you think to yourself “argh, I’m such a loser because I can’t seem to get anything done?” Or did you look off to the side with a sigh feeling defeated?

I’ve got such great news for you. There is no such thing as procrastination. It’s just a word! One that isn’t totally positive nor productive. It’s like a label on a jar that tells you your have Skippy peanut butter rather than Jif. That is ALL it is.

Now, how does that concept grab ya? My invitation to you today is for you to 1) stop using the word procrastination and 2) give it another meaning. As in let’s change it completely from here on out. What do you say, are you game?

Changing the way we look at procrastination.

Dr. Wayne Dyer is known to have said:  “When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change.”

A lot of my clients first arrive in my world because they want to change something that isn’t working or that they want to improve on. Many think that they are procrastinators and can’t seem to do what they need to do to get to where they want to get.

I’m going to introduce you to a word that I know you have heard before (probably many times) yet maybe haven’t thought about how it could be playing a major role in your life and in your business.

It’s AVOID. You know as in you are avoiding looking at your bills each month when they come in (and next thing you know you owe a late fee). Or you are in avoidance of taking an action that you said you wanted to do such as go to the gym, get more sleep or even go to a networking event.

When you can look at your procrastinating as really avoiding it makes it easier to actually move from sitting on your bed, looking at your phone, reading and having coffee (see I chose today’s photo for a purpose =). And it gets you into action. That action that you know deep down will get you to where you want to go!

Making the change, getting yourself to take action.

Well then, you are changing how you look at what you have been looking at. You are now going to look at all the things that are left undone and get them done. Now let’s move on to the meat of the matter so you can figure out why you may be avoiding getting things done.

First of all, you may not truly need to get those things done. You may really want to just let them go. You can do that you know.

Second, you may not even want to get them done and in that case, you can let those go too.

Are you ready…

Here are a few ways for you to begin to change how you look at where you have been so you can get to where you are going:

  • Make a list of all the undone tasks. List out everything you have left undone. A few examples may be:
    • washing your interior car windshield
    • updating your monthly finances
    • paying your bills
    • calling a prospect
    • empty the shredder
    • give the dog a bath
    • make a dentist appointment
  • Put a star next to those that you deem important. Then go back over those and ask yourself, 1) do I need to do this and 2) do I want to do this? If you say no – you can delete or delegate it. If you say yes (and for the record your reason why you feel it is important has no bearing here) your next step is to do it, but first…
  • Ask yourself why you think you are avoiding this task. This is where the beauty comes up. You will (more than likely) find that you immediately know the answer. Let’s take the example of washing the interior car windshield because it’s my challenge. I am avoiding this because it’s awkward to do, the windshield is pretty big and I can’t seem to get the bottom nor the sides well and end up seeing lots of streaks which I do not like.  Hence, I will drive around with a windshield that I can barely see out of (especially at night) because of my thoughts around it. Are you laughing yet? I can almost bet you that windshield will be clean by end of that day. Why?…
  • Once you know why you are avoiding a task, it’s no longer an obstacle. It’s the knowing why that can get us moving, in a small or big way. I won’t go into breaking steps down here yet it’s key to do that for you to be successful in moving forward. My first step would be to get the supplies to clean the windshield and then I can begin that action.

Don’t forget to give yourself a high five.

T. Harv Eker is a great proponent of giving yourself a high five. You’ll feel great completing what you had been putting off. And by celebrating you create a “get it done muscle” making it easier to keep going.

So what do you think? Are you ready to move out of procrastination, by look at what you are avoiding so that you get to what you want to do so you can get to where you want to be?

Sometimes the easiest thing is to have someone help you. I’d love to be that someone. You already know I’ve been there and I work with people just like you who have been there too so I know I can help you get out of being and feeling stuck.  Set up a free 30 minute session and you’ll be able to create the time for what’s important in your life! Click here to be on your way.

 

Creating Time For What’s Important In Your Life

Time is equal. What you give your attention to is not.

Think about that for a moment. In the last 24 hours what did you give your attention to?

I keep hearing from my clients and the people in my life that they are “so busy” and “stressed out”. In fact one person is having health issues due to stress. She feels pulled in many directions. Her work, her family, herself (you see who is last on this list, don’t you?).

When I ask the question “what are you busy doing” I get silence or a blank stare. If you are so busy, why can you not recite what you are busy doing? Because you are busy doing things that are not important.

On the other hand, one of my clients is busy creating a new program for her business. Though if you asked her if she was busy she would tell you that she is productively working on her next program. And she’s not stressed out over it. In fact, it is energizing her.

What ARE you giving your attention to?

You have probably heard it before, if everything is important then nothing is important. Everything cannot be important. It may be urgent, but is it important? See, a lot of my clients when they first start working with me tell me that everything is important. But the reason they want to work with me is that they can’t seem to reach their goals, build their business and have a great life. Their attention is given to everything. They, maybe like you, put their energy, effort and attention into everything and wonder why they aren’t where they want to be.

So right now, get out a piece of paper and write at the top:  Things I am giving my attention to right now. Draw a line down the center of the page and on one side write my business and the other write my life. Then list out everything that you have given your attention to in the last 24 hours. And if you want this exercise to be really impactful, write down everything in the last week.

Once you do it, take a short break. Next, look at your list through fresh eyes. What is on there that is truly important to you? Can you find it right away? Is it at the top? Now, don’t be surprised if it isn’t 1) on there or 2) near the end. Or perhaps you haven’t truly figured out what is important to you and that’s causing the problem.

How to give your attention to what truly matters.

Take a deep breath. No matter what you discovered from the exercise above, it is all good. You now have awareness. And awareness in my book is THE #1 key element to being able to create the changes you desire.

Here are several steps for you to find out what truly matters for you:

  • Rate your list. On a scale of 1-10 rate how satisfied you are with how you spent your time. 1 being very dissatisfied and 10 being completely satisfied.
  • Write down your 8 or higher items. Maybe it’s time with your family or onboarding new clients. Ask why those are important and write it down.
  • Review the less than 8 items. Ask why you feel you needed to do (or need to do) those activities/tasks. Begin thinking, who else can do these or do I even need to do them in the first place (think, alphabetizing your spices or re-arranging your office supplies).
  • Pick ONE area in each of your category of business and life to focus on. Choose the one that you know will give you the most satisfaction, that if you were to spend your time and energy here you’d receive the biggest results.
  • Create your step-by-step plan to spend time in those important areas. Enter the time in your schedule/calendar and hold yourself accountable to focusing on it regularly.

It’s important that you 1) know what is important to you and why, 2) to have your roadmap in front of you and 3) hold yourself accountable in order to experience less stress, more results and lots of satisfaction!

What if you took just one step toward your dream? Here is an article I wrote about recently about rowing your boat toward your dream. Let’s look at it this way. Just put one oar into the water. Once you do that, you can put the second one in. Then you can begin to row, gently. After that, you’ll be on your way. How great would that feel?

Oh, I know this isn’t as easy! I’ve been there and I work with people just like you who have been there too. I’m happy to help you get to what is important. Set up a free 30 minute session and you’ll be able to create the time for what’s important in your life! Click here to be on your way.

 

Dream Big Because Life Is About A Dream

Your life is meant to be so much more.

Life is but a dream! Did you read that and think “Yes! It is!” I hope so. That is my intent anyway. I’ve been so fortunate to work with some amazing business women over my coaching career. So many women who are doing great things in the world and in their lives. And it always amazes me how they struggle. Struggle with guilt, feeling bad and many other negative thoughts and feelings.

We are so much more than we believe we are. Just look at some women you admire. You know those you think are just awesome. Guess what? YOU are too! Your life IS meant to be so much more than you are allowing yourself to have.

It is time for you to acknowledge your greatness.

Usually I write about ways for you to be your best. I’ve been taking a sort of under the radar approach. And today I’d like to take an in your face approach. Recently, I’ve had several conversations with clients and some friends and the theme that surfaced was that they are all afraid to acknowledge that they are great.

Not great at what they do (though they are), just great at who they are.

Is that true of you? Do you have a hard time saying “I’m great”? If you do, I would love for you to remember that you are great. Just as you are. You do not need to make more money, be more successful, lose more weight, be more positive or whatever. You as you are right here, right now are great.

Life is bout a dream.

Oh but it is! I can hear you saying “NO IT IS NOT”. Let’s go back in time and remember the song, Row, Row, Row Your Boat. Here is a video in case you forgot how it went.

They lyrics are:

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream

Why then do you push and shove in your life and in your business and struggle to get to where you want to go? What if you were to remember these lyrics? Personally, I like the merrily merrily, merrily, merrily part as there have been times in my life and in my business that I wasn’t all that merrily! And looking back, if I were things may have been quite different.

Stepping into merrily rowing your boat down the stream.

Where in your life have you maybe forgotten about a dream? Given up on a dream? Were afraid to dream? What if you were to dream right now? What would your dream be? Is there something that you would love to do that you think “naw, I can’t do that”? Have you been contemplating making a change (even a small one) and saying to yourself that it would be too hard?

What if you took just one step toward your dream? Let’s look at it this way. Just put one oar into the water. Once you do that, you can put the second one in. Then you can begin to row, gently. After that, you’ll be on your way. How great would that feel?

So it isn’t always as easy as I’m making it out to be (but it is). And if it feels hard to you, I’m happy to help. Set up a free 30 minute session and we’ll get you in your boat and dipping your oar into the water and on your way to realizing your dream. Click here to be on your way.

 

What will make you awesome in your business?

AZI spent last week in Tuscon, AZ where it was warm. I love the heat and being from New England where it is quite cold this time of year it was a welcome break. I was there to attend a training workshop. It was fun to get out of my office and to be with other like-minded business owners.

I always come home feeling refreshed and ready to get started. When I travel for business I always set an intention for what I want to get out of the trip and what one thing I want to change when I return.

One of my intentions for this trip was to spend time with the high earners because I want to up-level my business and in order to do that I need to up-level myself. Business is about making money and in order to do that I need to continuously make changes to myself and how I do things.

Being with other successful business owner gives me the space to think bigger and think differently as well as to renew what I desire in my business.  I learn by being there and I come back to my office energized and ready to take my business to the next level. It is always exciting to come back and get started on the next phase of my business.

What about you? What will make you awesome in your business?

Please share or feel free to email me personally at kim@kimravida.com. I am excited to hear what you have to say.