“I feel like I have ping pong balls bouncing around inside my head” said my coaching client the other day.  “I just don’t know what to do first or where to start, so I just keep bouncing from one thing to another, and never feel caught up”.

Her experience of overwhelm is very typical of people these days with so much going on. It’s a stressful and uncomfortable place to be.

Lack of focus is very distracting, and is a huge time robber. With lack of focus comes chaos, clutter, disorganization and negative and frustration feelings about oneself or obligations.

Here’s a little exercise I do with my clients to help them regain focus, prioritize and feel more at ease, less stressed and excited once again about their projects.

1)    Do a “brain dump”. On a blank sheet of paper, write a list of everything that “needs to get done”.  You’ll find that some of it is work related (change my website copy) and some is personal related (take the dog to the vet for his shots).  No worries,  just get is all down on paper. With it on paper, you can begin to let go of the sense of urgency and overwhelm that storing all these “to-do’s” in your head has caused.  You’ll feel more in control and can breathe easier.

2)    Now that you can see what’s on your plate, take a look at the list.  I like to separate personal from business, and then begin to prioritize.

3)    What tasks are “URGENT” and need to get done right away – by urgent I mean that there are huge negative consequences to them, (financially, legally, etc).  Mark those with an asterisk. 

4)    Note what’s left on your list. You’ll notice that there aren’t as many URGENT tasks as you thought.  Now you can see the reality of your list, and put the other items in order of importance, from “important” to “nice to do’s but not so important”.

Your list might tell you that you’re a creative thinker, and you’ve placed more on your plate than you really have time to tackle.  It’s OK to let some things go, in fact, I advise it.

Your list will also show you how you may be involved in too many activates, and you need to learn to say “no” or set better boundaries.

My last piece of advice to you is to remember that YOU are the foundation of your success, and if you stop taking care of yourself, body, mind, and spirit, you’ll feel overwhelmed more easily.  So even though you “might not feel like you have time”, be sure to put YOUR NEEDS on that list of things to get done.

Sometimes I find myself running from task to task, trying to get a lot done, trying to make the most of my time. It’s easy to forget to enjoy every moment of life, and to live in the now.

I had the opportunity to attend a gala fundraising event Friday night. Dressed up more than usual, I enjoyed this black tie affair aimed at celebrating life for cancer survivors, celebrating life for those who have passed from cancer, and fundraising to build a holistic center for women undergoing cancer treatments.

I’m so impressed with the courage and strength of women (and their loved ones) who have been touched by this disease.

This motivational message I received last week from the Universe reminds me to enjoy every moment of everyday and live in gratitude. Life is a gift not to take for granted.

"I’m often asked, "Being the Universe and all, "What’s the purpose of life?" But truthfully, no matter who or what you are that’s a pretty daunting question. So daunting, I’m invariably compelled to reply with a few questions of my own:

"Do you mean besides having fun? Besides learning that the world has always spun in the palm of your hand? Besides bicycles, long walks, and hot chocolate? Besides holding hands, giving hugs, and drying tears? Besides having a dream and making it come true? Besides February, Fridays, and Polar Bears? Besides witnessing miracles that only you are privy to? Besides sunrises, sunsets, and every rare and fleeting moment in between?"

Daunting is an understatement.
The Universe

Thoughts become things… choose the good ones!
(c) www.tut.com (r)

I finally got wise to my own advice about asking for help and decided to hire another team person.

In retrospect, I asked myself what the struggle was all about.  My stumbling block was believing the myth that I could – and should – do it all.  I began to make progress when I became willing to admit I cannot – and should not. 

You see, I don’t mind working hard in the winter, but now the Minnesota sun is beginning to shine, melting snow and ice into puddles of water. Although we may have a few more weeks of hard winter, the birds are beginning to sing a bit more and I can feel in my blood that spring is right around the corner.

With spring, the fun begins. Pruning bushes, throwing down new grass seed, cleaning out garages, hanging birdfeeders, trips to the nursery to pick out plants to fill the empty planters, getting out the bicycles and motorcycles… after a very long and very cold winter, we are all ready to let the fun begin. 

My goal is to be as efficient as I can so when that beautiful time of the year comes, the time we long for all winter, I will have a team that supports me.  Getting myself organized so I am able to delegate work is extremely important.  Being a great Life Coach means delicately balancing businesswoman and Jane. 

Are you feeling spring in your blood too?  What do you need to do to get more free time on your plate?  Are you ready to let go of something?  What can you let go that will allow you to pursue your passions more directly and efficiently? 

Hi, 

It’s very early morning here in Big Lake Minnesota. I’ve let the new puppy Tucker out to do his business and fed the cats. My daily affirmations are said, I’ve taken my supplements with a big glass of water.

I’ve spent some moments in prayer and gratitude for all my blessings, I’ve revved up my positive energy, visualizing what I want and I’ve snuck a cup from the new pot of coffee barely finished brewing. 

All the things I’ve done so far this morning have been conscious decisions. And that’s how to accomplish your dreams.

No matter what you want to do with your life, whether it’s to make a lot of money, find a career you love, start your own business, take your business to the next level or be in the best shape ever, you have choices and decisions to make that will lead you up to The Accomplishment (or not) of those goals.

1) Tiny baby everyday conscious decisions that add up over time.   It’s the tiny baby decisions like “do I return that phone call right now?” or “what should I wear to the meeting?” or “should I eat that 2nd helping?” that prove to you how dedicated and mindful you are to your goal.

2) Then there’s the big scary decisions that make you stretch. "Do I apply for that job?" of "Do I join that health club? or "Do I raise my rates?" or "Do I leave the job I hate and start my own business?" The decisions that bring up feelings of inadequacy that makes you feel uncomfortable” or “I’m not good enough" or “what if I fail???”

It all has to do with your mindset. Mastering your mindset takes discipline. It takes awareness of what’s holding you back, of how you are getting in your own way. It takes courage, and it takes "feeling the fear and doing it anyway."

I have a passion to help people achieve their dreams. Here are seven simple tips.

Remember to:  

1) Keep your eye (and mind) on the prize.

2) Say yes to yourself….You are worth it.

3) You are good enough. You can make it happen.

4) Take baby steps to just get started, this will give you momentum.

5) Tell someone out loud this is what you’ve decided to do.

6) Decide to spend time on it…what you focus on expands. 

7) Get a buddy, a coach, a group to share with and keep you inspired.

Write to me to share your dream. Putting it out in the universe allows magical things to happen. What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

Warmly,

Jane Morrison, Coach, Author and Consultant

CEO, Morrison Business Solutions

Motivating & Teaching Women Smart Savvy Success, Because it’s your Turn to Shine.  

I like what Jack has to say below so I wanted to share it with you.

Jane

 Anything Is Possible If You Dare To Ask

Good things come to those who ask! Asking for what you need is probably the most underutilized tool for people. And yet, amazing requests have been granted to people simply because they’ve asked for it!

Whether its money, information, support, assistance, or time, most people are afraid to ask for what they need in order to make their dreams come true.

They might be afraid of looking needy, ignorant, helpless, or even greedy. More than likely though, it is the fear of rejection that is holding them back. Even though they are afraid to hear the word no, they’re already saying it to themselves by not asking!

Do you ask for what you want or are you afraid of rejection?

Consider this: Rejection is just a concept. There is really no such thing as rejection! You’re not any worse off by hearing no than you were before you asked. You didn’t have what you asked for before you asked and you still don’t, so what did you lose?

Being rejected doesn’t hold you back from anything. Only YOU hold yourself back. When you realize that there’s no merit to rejection, you’ll feel more comfortable asking for things. You may just need a bit of help learning how to ask for what you want.

How to Ask for What You Want
There’s a specific science to asking for and getting what you want or need in life. And while I recommend you learn more by studying The Aladdin Factor, here are some quick tips to get you started:

1. Ask as if you expect to get it. Ask with a positive expectation. Ask from the place that you have already been given it. It is a done deal. Ask as if you expect to get a “yes.”

2. Assume you can. Don’t start with the assumption that you can’t get it. If you are going to assume, assume you can get an upgrade. Assume you can get a table by the window. Assume that you can return it without a sales slip. Assume that you can get a scholarship, that you can get a raise, that you can get tickets at this late date. Don’t ever assume against yourself.

3. Ask someone who can give it to you. Qualify the person. Who would I have to speak to to get…Who is authorized to make a decision about…What would have to happen for me to get…

4. Be clear and specific. In my seminars, I often ask, “Who wants more money in their life?” I’ll pick someone who raised their hand and give them a quarter, asking, “Is that enough for you?” “No? Well, how would I know how much you want. How would anybody know?”

You need to ask for a specific number. Too many people are walking around wanting more of something, but not being specific enough to obtain it.

5. Ask repeatedly. One of the most important Success Principles is the commitment to not give up.

Whenever we’re asking others to participate in the fulfillment of our goals, some people are going to say “no.” They may have other priorities, commitments and reasons not to participate. It’s no reflection on you.

Just get used to the idea that there’s going to be a lot of rejection along the way to the brass ring. The key is to not give up. When someone says “No”– you say “NEXT!” Why?
Because when you keep on asking, even the same person again and again…they might say “yes”…

•    on a different day
•    when they are in a better mood
•    when you have new data to present
•    after you’ve proven your commitment to them
•    when circumstances have changed
•    when you’ve learned how to close better
•    when you’ve established better rapport
•    when they trust you more
•    when you have paid your dues
•    when the economy is better
•    and so on.

Kids know this Success Principle better than anyone. They will ask the same person over and over again without any hesitation (can you relate!).

Getting a good perspective on rejection and learning how to ask will make a world of difference for you as you work toward your goals. Practice asking and you’ll get very good at it! You’ll even speed your progress by getting what you need, or improving yourself in order to get it later.

Make a list of what you need to ask for in all areas of your life, and start asking.

Remember, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE… if you dare to ask!

About the author:
Jack Canfield, America’s #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you’re ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: http://FreeSuccessStrategies.com
 

Many people are delighted and joyful this time of year, but many feel especially lonely. 

During a call with a coaching client, she expressed feeling very left out. She had been out at a holiday concert at her local school, and afterwards, noticed people greeting one another. She was not involved in that friendliness, and felt like an outsider. After talking about how sad she felt, we came up with some solutions. Loneliness can happen anytime, but  I think that feeling is more common this time of year than we know. 

Maybe  you have experienced it, I know I can certainly relate.  The media portrays these gay holiday family events and happy holiday festivities, yet holidays can be a time of feeling isolated, lonely and depressed. Some can’t wait for them be over and done with,  to be done with the expectations of wonder and joy,

Some suggestions to deal with loneliness this time of the year:

1) Don’t isolate yourself. Maybe the big parties are not your agenda, but do make an effort to call a friend for a cup of coffee or suggest seeing a movie together.

2) Be aware of others and try to reach out to those who may be feeling the same loneliness. It’s easy to get locked into our individual pain, but if you look outward, you’ll see you are not alone. 

3) Do what my client decided to do: One random act of kindness each day. She vowed to call her husband at work to say "I’m thinking about you", greet the store clerk by her name and give her a compliment, or share a friendly remark with someone else during the day. Wherever you are this holiday season, I wish you joy, health, peace, and happiness, and know you are not alone.  

Making Twitter Easy

One of my goals for my personal business development is to increase
my use and get savvier with social networking, especially Twitter.

I’ve admittedly been a “lurker” on the twitter scene especially,
because the feeling I got is that these “tweets” are a bunch of
hyped up vendors trying to sell me something.

But after taking several classes to really learn more about
social networking, and by seeing how the people I admire
“tweet”, I’m convinced that it has incredible power, when
used in the manner that makes it most effective – and that is
“being a resource and giving to others.”

It took a bit of practice to shift my mindset, but
once I started to think about how I could be helpful to someone,
or connect people with each other, it felt really good to be able to
solve a problem or provide resources that helped them out.

I’ve practiced this “giving, connecting and helping” philosophy from the in-person network groups I’ve belonged to. The more I tried to connect people, be helpful and give them business leads, the more satisfied I was with the networking experience. And I saw the
success others received by also being a resource. The ones who only had their own self interest in mind most often annoyed others.

Remember, in order to build your business, you must practice
the “KNOW, LIKE and TRUST” factor. Online social networking
is an effective strategy to do just that.

A quote from Mitch Albom says “The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”  We can all do that!

Have you ever wanted to get something done but kept putting it off?

Do you get frustrated by your own need to make things just right?

 Do you start out and easily get distracted and never finish what you intended to do? 

I’ve suffered from all these procrastination descriptions, and I guess I’m not alone, because according to the Procrastination Research Group at Carleton University, up to 70 percent of North Americans struggle with procrastination.  

But I’m finally in a groove where I accomplish what I intend to do. 

So how do we accomplish what we really want to do? 

I’ll share my secrets and solutions with you, so you too can move forward with your dreams and goals. 

Join me in this hands on seminar where you will finally figure out:

1)  What’s REALLY important for you to get done

2)   What is your “prominent procrastination” profile

3)  The strategies and solutions you can use to overcome your suffering and guilt

4)  Easy steps to cure your  particular procrastination habits

5)  What’s really getting in the way of your procrastination

This “Class in Action” that will provide powerful worksheets that we’ll use during the class to get to the heart of your procrastination. You’ll also receive personal coaching from Jane to be able to get the breakthrough you need to move ahead. .

If you are FINALLY ready to break free of your procrastination bad habits…..then join us to discover solutions that really work! 

This class will be conducted by telesminar. That means you get to join us in the comfort of your home or office. All you need is a quiet place free of distraction, a telephone, and be ready to make some changes in your life.

Here’s an easy sign up link:  http://janemorrison.com/events

Just call at the designated time (1:00 PM Eastern; Noon Central; 11:00 AM Mountain; and 10:00 AM Pacific) and enter your pin number. It helps to have a headset. Please call from a landline since cell phones can cause distractions.

If you’d like to join us, but cannot make the date, be sure to register and we’ll send you the recording and worksheets that you can do on your own.

 DON’T DELAY, DON’T PUT THIS OFF

ANY LONGER…SIGN UP NOW!

P.S. This class is F*R*E*E to my “Boost your Business Mastermind Group”. Check it out at http://www.smartsavvysuccess.com/boost

 I got to thinking the other day about people who lose themselves, lose their sense of self, rarely take chances, stay stuck in a rut, play it safe.   If it’s ever happened to you, you know what I’m talking about.

I think this happens to both men and women as we travel into adulthood and take on more responsibilities. Responsibilities that take us away from ourselves like making a living, raising children, getting the kids off to school, taking care of bills and appointments. Somewhere we stop being “me” and end up being an extension of all sorts of people and responsibilities. We discover that we’ve lost sight of our dreams, and in the process, lost confidence in ourselves.  It’s no longer clear to us that we CAN be that high school cheerleader or football player, and we begin to doubt ourselves.

On a recent  Oprah show, she sought out women who had lost their sense of self, and had them participate in 3 activities they knew nothing about ahead of time. For the first activity, they put on roller skates, became a bad-ass team, and played against a professional roller derby team, getting knocked down, bruised and walloped in the process. But the women were exhilarated afterwards because they did it! They had a huge sense of accomplishment.  

Next, they were taken up in an airplane to sky –dive, fear of heights and all. They were shaking, scared, crying, and lightheaded but they jumped and landed safely on the ground, once again thrilled they had faced their fears.

For the last lesson, they shed all their clothes, and ran into the cold ocean, sharing the thrill of letting down   pretenses, self judgment and  being naked in front of others, accepting themselves in the process.

All these women claimed they were greatly impacted by these activities, changed profoundly by these experiences,  and claimed they had regained their confidence!

What will it take for you to reclaim your confidence? Each year, I make myself go waterskiing when at my parent’s cabin; for I know that once I say “no” to that activity I’ve always loved since I was young,  it will be the beginning of saying “no” to things I and they become things I am afraid of.

When I turned 50, I got my motorcycle license, challenging myself to do something I’d dreamt of but had feared. I  went to class that included all young men (and me) tipped my motorcycle over in front of them, dusted myself off and got right back on it.  I DID learn how to ride a motorcycle. I felt accomplished and proud, and yes, it I DID boost my confidence.

The fear of falling does conflict with the thrill of soaring, but the accomplishment is so worth the effort.      

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

 Jane Morrison, CLC, is a small business marketing expert who works with women owned companies, teaching them how to effectively promote themselves and their business. With an improved knowledge about sales and marketing, her customers stop stressing about getting clients, finally earn the money they deserve and feel confident to achieve their dreams. With this newfound energy, they take time for themselves and what’s important to them.

Her signature program, “10 Essential Steps to Wise Women Marketing” is a powerful 3 part comprehensive program that takes you from where you are, to where you want to go!

Check out her group coaching mastermind program launching in December  at  http://www.smartsavvysuccess.com/boost

Jane Morrison

Welcome to the Smart Savvy Success Blog. This is the place where I post my thoughts on all things to do with your Business Development, which of course includes your personal Development! There are two ways you can use this blog, either by visiting this page as often as you can to find out what’s new, or by clicking on the subscribe button below. This will allow you to subscribe to the blog via your  choice of RSS feed readers, which means you will automatically get to read about all my future postings.