Tomorrow Is Not a Guarantee, So What Are You Waiting On?

November 11, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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Tomorrow Is Not a Guarantee, So What Are You Waiting On?

by Frederika Angus

As a coach and advisor to many people in business, I tend to hear many excuses. Some of my “favorites” include, “I’ll get to it soon,” or “I do not have enough hours in the day to get it done.” Or maybe you’ve used this one, “I’ll do it tomorrow.”

I believe that when they are said, people have the best intentions. They really do believe that they will do it soon, or next week. But then this funny thing called life happens. What you intended to complete in January is still left undone nearly a year later. Besides the holidays are almost here again, why take down the Christmas tree now?

There are others, though, who have made putting off what they can do today until tomorrow a life and time management strategy. Many have become quite skilled in the fine art of procrastination. Are you one of them?

Have you been telling yourself that you will look up the process for obtaining a business license, tomorrow?

Maybe you said once you had more time you would be ready to start that new business?

Perhaps you just focus your time on activities(Facebook anyone?) that don’t move you any further into you living the life you have dreamed of living.

Sometimes we are more willing to give ourselves a way out of doing what we need to do than we are to hold ourselves accountable to the dreams inside of us. Before you know it, the big idea, the great opportunity, that makes are hearts leap everytime we think of it, begins to get smaller and smaller and smaller the more we put it off. Now comes the voice that tells you that it wasn’t that big of a deal and it is better off that you didn’t do it anyway.

I learned that one of my dear friends suddenly passed away in her sleep. She leaves behind three young children who will now have to navigate this world without the love and care that mothers provide.

While my heart is heavy with this loss, I have an obligation to tell you, tomorrow is not promised to any of us. The things that you have been procrastinating about doing may never be achieved because of your delay. You can not expect to successfully start or grow your business living with a mindset believing that it is ok to wait.

It is time to make a decision about your life and your business and immediately take action!

The great part about being alive is in the living. You still have time TODAY to start right where you are.

If your biggest pain point to entrepreneurship and being a business owner is “how do I find the time to do all the is required,” I am creating your solution.

On Monday, November 21st at 7:00 pm ET and 4:00 PST I am hosting a no-cost, no obligation Tele-class for an hour. I will be sharing the 5 keys on time management fundamentals for business owners. I am serious about your goals and your life. This may be the catalyst you need to push you into the greatest success of your life.

REGISTER NOW. It’s absolutely free!

It’s time to take your vision to the next level!

Talk to you soon.

 

 

Filed Under: Entrepreneurship, Time Management Tagged With: , ,

Choosing a Domain Name For Your Website

October 27, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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Choosing a Domain Name For Your Website

by Frederika Angus

I have been on the internet for the past 16 years. My parents were forward thinking enough to send me to computer camps at College campuses since I was 14 years old. They allowed me to grow and discover the most cutting edge technologies at their expense throughout high school. Their support led me into obtaining a degree in Computer Science in college.

Once there, I had opportunities to create and design school organization websites and eventually company sites as a Freshman in college. The internet has truly changed since then. Do you rememeber when the web search engine of choice was Yahoo!? Now we don’t even tell each other to look on a search engine for information. It is more common to say “Go google it.”

The constant, however, is the importance of your website domain name or URL. Just like the mail carrier needs a house number and street name to bring you the mail intended for you, your ideal customers need the address to find your place online. Your online branding begins with your web address.

This is one of the more common questions that come up with my clients that are just getting started. Especially those that are bringing an offline business online.

I recommend you KISS.

No. I am not being fresh! It is important that you Keep It SHORT and SIMPLE.

Easy to say. Easy to type. Easy to spell.

If the person looking for you can’t spell your URL, they may try a couple variations and then give up. I’ve done that more times than I can count! While you know what you have to offer is valuable, your ideal client has found someone else.

Sometimes your web address will be different from your company name. When it came time to fill in the name on my incorporation paper for this company, it took me weeks to land on something I liked. Since I don’t have a brick and mortar setup, not using Angus Choice Corporation as a primary URL wasn’t a huge deal for me. My company name means a great deal to myself and my family. It’s appropriate for our offline divisions. I realize that anyone else hearing Angus Choice will probably think I coach on strategies for beef processing and cattle herding. I named this site with the goal I have for each of my clients. I desire that every entrepreneur would not just dream but move to the next level in the big vision that they have.

Do not get stuck on a name before you search to see if it is available! Go to a domain registrar like a GoDaddy or Domain.com and search for your intended domain name. Often times if your exact name is taken they will offer you alternatives. Use the suggestions to keep your creativity flowing until you find the right one for you.

Be cautious of words that are commonly misspelled. Or words that sound the same but have a few different spellings. For instance, rain and reign. Intentionally misspelling words or making up words *could* work and pay off big (think flickr vs flicker), or it could backfire.

Be brief. Domain names can be as long as 67 characters. Don’t make it a personal challenge to have to be thatguy with a URL that looks like some hashtags on Twitter. Using www.thiswasagoodideabeforeirealizeditwontfitonabusinesscard.com will just leave more room for spelling errors.

Speaking of .com, it is the standard and is a best practice. Having a .net isn’t bad nor is using a suffix specific to your country. If you have a non-profit organization, having a .org site is appropriate. Otherwise, I’d encourage you to leave the other options for someone else regardless of the rock bottom price of $1.99/ year.

This should get those juices flowing to finding the perfect domain name!

Share a comment below with your thoughts. If you are looking for more support in building the business of your dreams and living the life you envisioned, be sure to join me on Facebook now and follow me on Twitter.

Talk to you soon!

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Start Planning Your 2012 Business Goals Now

October 19, 2011 by 1 Comment
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Start Planning Your 2012 Business Goals Now

by Frederika Angus

Doesn’t it seem like time is flying? The end of 2011 is quickly approaching. In less than 3 months, it will be 2012! Will you be ready?

Just last week I was casually chatting to a colleague about the direction we were taking our respective businesses. The more we talked about the bigger vision we had for the companies and ourselves, we both discovered that we were already focused on planning for 2012.

It use to be that you could start thinking about your New Year’s Resolutions as you were on your way to be with friends and loved ones for the stroke of 12 midnight on the last day of the year. Do you still have the resolutions that you made for 2011? Are you three-quarters of the way complete with your list? Did you even bother?

If you’re like most, the answer is I’m not even close to acheiving those goals. Or I didn’t know how to start! While you might think it is ok to push that weight loss goal off until 2012 (you know you have one!), when it comes to your business, you should be getting started now. Your success in 2012 has to start with the planning you do now.

No procrastination on this one guys. Here are some things to think about and take action on that will make it quick and easy to plan your goals so that they will guide you next year.

Take a look back. One of the best ways to know where to go is to look to see where you’ve been. What did your 2011 look like? Where did your business excel, and where did you struggle? What experiences did you have that you enjoyed, and which do you want to make sure you never repeat? Knowing what went poorly can guide you to make goals that can prevent that from happening. Seeing where you were wildly successful can alert you to make sure you continue to incorporate those activities in the future. Remember this is not the time to cry over spilled milk or overly celebrate your successes. Look back to learn and let’s move forward.

Write them down. Part of the problem with planning for the future is failing to brainstorm on paper. (Or writing them on some random piece of paper and then losing it.) Pull out a notebook or journal and start thinking of anything you want to accomplish. WRITE IT DOWN. Remember to dream big. Thinking too small is like trying to squeeze into your jeans that must have shrunken in the dryer *wink*. They don’t fit you and they really aren’t comfortable.  Have a vision large enough for you to grow into. I don’t advise you do the same with those jeans.

Make SMART goals.  Your goals should be specific, easy to understand and clear. Saying you want to grow your business can mean different things at different stages. A more specific goal would be to add new customers to the business.

What you can measure, you can manage. Having measurable goals allows you to see if you’re actually on track to accomplish it. Adding 5 new customers to your business is a more measurable goal.

Your goals should stretch you beyond where you currently are. At the same time, they must also be attainable. Goals that are too far are from your reach are less likely to be accomplished. Create a goal that isn’t too easy that you’re aren’t challenged but not so difficult that you never start on it. Adding 5 customers to your business is much more attainable than adding 100 new customers when you’re first starting out.

Why do you want to accomplish this goal? Your goal needs to be relevant to your bigger vision. When a goal connects with your purpose it causes more excitement and increases the likelihood of your success.

Put a time limit around each of your goals. Goals that are time-bound create a sense of urgency to get started now. Remove the procrastination barrier and put a time frame on that goal. Adding 5 new customers to your business in 6 months will cause you to plan how to bring in each of those customers to reach your goal.

I suggest as you begin your planning for 2012, set no more than 10 goals with a good mix of short and long term goals. You must have long-range goals to keep you from being frustrated by short-range failures. Once you complete a goal, add a new one to the list. The point in creating the goals is to continute to pull yourself into the next level.

Having clear business goals is the way to consistently move your business toward the vision you have for it.

Share a comment below with your thoughts. If you are looking for more support in building the business of your dreams and living the life you envisioned, be sure to join me on Facebook now and follow me on Twitter.

Talk to you soon!

   Frederika

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Easy Steps to Build the Business of your Dreams

October 14, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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Easy Steps to Build the Business of your Dreams

by Frederika Angus

Many years ago, my husband and I had the privilege to build our first home. We had gone through every real estate book of available properties in our area and exhausted every web search for a pre-existing house. Nothing seemed to be exactly what we wanted, in the area we wanted, at the price we were willing to pay. Deciding to custom build a home from nothing to something took a huge leap of faith and much more patience. It was an amazing learning experience. What I learned from the year it took build our home, are the same lessons I have used to build my business.

Building starts with a vision.

Before a location is picked, before you can hang curtains, or decide on carpet or hardwood flooring, you have to see what the end result will be. You have to visualize the two-story home. Or maybe it’s ranch style. Imagine the big picture and the little details. Is it near a lake in the country or close to the action of the city? How big is the lawn?

Building a business is done in the same way. There must be a vision of what you desire to achieve. When you close your eyes and see yourself running a small business, what does your life look like? Are you working from your home or are you in an store front or office space? Do you want your company to remain small with you working alone or are you growing larger with multiple employees? Will your business allow you the flexibility to work less hours and make more money?

All of the answers to these questions will help you see bigger than the what’s currently surrounding you. Take some time to focus on where you want to go and don’t be afraid to dream big.

Once we “saw” the type of home we were looking for, we wrote down all that we saw. It became our guiding requirements when we met with different builders and viewed blueprints and floor plans. It saved us so much time in the beginning because we could easily weed out what designs, locations, and floor plans didn’t fit what we desired in our first home.

Now that you see you, your life and your business clearly, Write the Vision Down! I developed a practice about 10 years ago of writing every idea and inspiration, each desire and dream down. In some quiet moments, I could easily write 3-5 pages. If I read something in a book that resonates with me, I immediately jot it down. With the popularity of smart devices, I even record a voice memo if I’m driving or type out a quick note while waiting in a line that I can transcribe into a notebook later.

Amazingly, when I go back through and review my journals, I have accomplished so much of what I have written down. The majority of what I haven’t written down did not get done, and most of it forgotten. Let’s not leave your future success up to chance. Grab a journal or notebook, it doesn’t need to be fancy, and get that vision from your head to paper. Write as many details as you can.

You have the picture but now what?

 

The biggest choice we made in the design of our home was answering the question, “do we want to the master bedroom upstairs or downstairs?” So many builders were building master suites on the main level and I really wasn’t comfortable having my young children upstairs and being downstairs in the event of an emergency. Ok, I also was pregnant during this process and the thought of walking up and down the stairs to check on the baby in the middle of the night was not appealing either.

Blueprint to business

We had to go through several blueprints, or plans for our house to get the layout that fit us. It was the plan that made what we saw in our heads real. Your business has to have a plan. Don’t get caught up in all the technicalities of a business plan that is used to attract investors. There will be time for that later if you need to do it. At a basic level, just write what your business is, who is your product or service for, how you will reach them and make money. Include some notes around who your competitors are and do some projections for money for startup and how long it will take to recoup the initial investment.

Once we had a plan for our home we could begin actually building. As handy and knowledgeable as my husband is with construction, we understood that it was probably a good idea to not try to do the building alone. I can’t even imagine how long it would have taken to go at it alone. Thank goodness for great contractors and construction supervisors to help guide and manage the project along the way.

Who do you need to help build your business? Having support while moving your vision out of a dream state into reality is SO important. As wonderful and as great as you are, finding experts that have paved the way in areas where you aren’t as strong, will help you build faster.

The funny thing about building is that no matter what you are building or where you build it, the land isn’t cleared without FIRST having to make a financial assessment and then an investment. You have to be willing to Invest in Your Business and Vision. I’m not sure who said the best things in life are free. Most of the free things I’ve gotten have not been of a great quality. (With exception of this great giveaway I’m doing with the launch of the site. Enter to win the FREE Kindle Touch HERE ) You are not just starting a business. You are building a legacy of success and significance that will last for generations.

Take a real account of your personal finances and how you manage money now. How you handle your personal funds usually flows over into your business funds. Recognize any areas for improvement here because the risks are greater when it is a legal business entity.

Whether you are writing a check for website design, purchasing pens at an office supply store or taking training, change your mindset on the activity from spending money to making an investment. As a business owner, it is your job to make the best investments possible that will give you a return on your money.

Following these easy steps will get you started with building the business of your dreams.

Share a comment below with your thoughts. If you are looking for more support in building the business of your dreams and living the life you envisioned, be sure to join me on Facebook now and follow me on Twitter.

Talk to you soon!

 

 

 

Frederika

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Thanks For Allowing Me to Serve you at Next Level Vision

October 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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Thanks For Allowing Me to Serve you at Next Level Vision

by Frederika Angus

I am so honored that you have come to the site. I am Frederika Angus, your Get It Done With Fun coach and founder of NextLevelVision.com.

If you're here you're probably

– A business owner with radical profits looking to do even bigger things in business.

– An entrepreneur at heart but no idea where to start or how to wear all the hats of being a business owner with ease so you've avoided taking the next step.

– A CEO of a small business complete with business cards and a website wanting to expand your business and income.

– An employed-preneur that can't find enough hours in the day to work full-time and keep up with the demands of running a business.

– A mom-preneur that loves her business and her family and wants to be number one at both.

– A work at home business professional that needs a little motivation and a lot of accountability to put the right structure around your time.

If any of these describe you, well, you're in luck! I am just like you and was each of these at some point during my journey through the maize that is entrepreneurship.

I remember being at my wits end, frantically searching the web and bookstores for information that could help take the great idea I had for my business and make it my reality. After reading many books (some worthless), and finding massive amounts of information (some bogus), I found myself weighed down with knowledge and information but unable to move forward with any of it. What good is knowing something must be done and have a semi-good idea of where to start if the sheer magnitude of it all keeps you from doing anything?!

Frustrated yet persistent, I finally set out on my on path determined to not only make entrepreneurship work but for it to fit MY lifestyle. I just was no longer willing to let my business run my life and wear myself down while doing it. It was time for me to RUN my business. Besides entrepreneurs don't start businesses to have LESS time. We do it to have more time to do what we absolutely love with the people we love!

Now that's not to say I didn't bump my head and trip over my own feet multiple times because I have the scars to prove it. But as my mother always told me, "time heals all wounds." And after time of being battle-tested in business and finding no nonsense tools and tips that work (not gimicks and over-priced shiny gadgets), I am here to help you avoid my mistakes and bandage the wounds you may have already incurred.

Learning from your own experiences has value, however it's also time consuming and let's be honest, it just doesn't feel all that good when you fail. And when it's your vision, your purpose, your life on the line, time is of the essence. I found that what I really needed to grow my business successfully was a mentor, someone who could coach me into turning my dream into a living reality.

Take for instance the professional athlete. Professional atheletes have a powerful support team around them of coaches – to provide a playbook and in game instruction, physical trainers – to monitor their exercise and fitness, nutritionists and chefs – to prepare a plan for optimal health from the inside out, athletic trainers – to recognize, treat and prevent injuries in addition to the agents, publicists, accountants and lawyers to care for business aspects.

YOU ARE NO DIFFERENT from the professional athlete! You also need a support team around you so that you can do what you do best AND make money doing it!

I've created Next Level Vision to provide a place for you to learn and grow while together we build businesses, attract the right clients and increase profits WITH INTENTIONAL ACTION! I am here to be apart of your powerful support team.

 

On a fun note, we'll be launching the site in full on October 10, 2011 with a CONTEST and GIVEAWAY! Yes, money and prizes! While I am very serious about serving you as you build the business AND life you desire, we have to keep it lively while Getting It Done! 

As a matter of fact, let's not wait until the launch. You should connect with me on Facebook HERE and introduce yourself!

Stay tuned to the site and Facebook for the big announcement!

Talk to you soon!

Frederika

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October Community Service Outreach

October 3, 2011 by 1 Comment
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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Here at NextLevelVision.com each month will be dedicated to providing support to those who need it the most. There are so many important causes and initiatives that are underfunded. Instead of waiting for someone else to help, I’m committed to putting my money where my mouth is.

I was recently touched from hearing about a group of children that were deeply affected by watching their mother being physically abused by their father. And while I am blessed my own children have never experienced or witness domestic violence in our home, I am compelled to not sit idly by while other children are not protected.

Reading the statistics surrounding Domestic Violence is astounding.

 

  • One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime.
  • An estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year.
  • 85% of domestic violence victims are women.
  • Historically, females have been most often victimized by someone they knew.
  • Females who are 20-24 years of age are at the greatest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence.
  • Most cases of domestic violence are never reported to the police.
  • Witnessing violence between one’s parents or caretakers is the strongest risk factor of transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next.
  • Boys who witness domestic violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when they become adults.
  • 30% to 60% of perpetrators of intimate partner violence also abuse children in the household.
  • There are 16,800 homicides and $2.2 million (medically treated) injuries due to intimate partner violence annually, which costs $37 billion.

 

You can read more statistical information here http://www.ncadv.org/files/DomesticViolenceFactSheet(National).pdf

It make me furious and sad at the same time to know that there are men, women and children victimized and affected for a lifetime by domestic violence.

I have decided that for every new follower on twitter that I receive in the month of October, I will donate $0.10 in support of domestic violence awareness and prevention. So if I get 2000 new followers this month, I will personally donate $200. To take it a step further, Angus Choice Corp, the parent company of NextLevelVision.com, will match my donation.

All of the funds will be given to a local not-for-profit organization, United Family Services (UFS). UFS is in the process of building a new shelter on a 5 acre site in the West Charlotte that will allow them to serve more victims of violence. Each year they are able to serve over 500 women and children at their current shelter. Unfortunately, more than 1000 are turned away.

So I need your help, if you’re not already following me on Twitter, click here http://www.twitter.com/FrederikaAngus and do so now. Once you’ve already done that, share this initiative with all your friends on Facebook and Twitter. I’ve made it easy with the links below. You can make a difference in the lives of others, right where you are. Let’s help!

I’d be remiss to not address someone who may be reading this and find themselves as a victim. I don’t have all the answers but b

For those of you that are local to Charlotte, NC and need help, here are resources that can help. Call today. Don’t wait.

24-hour Mecklenburg County DV Crisis Line:  704.332.2513

24-hour Mecklenburg Rape Crisis Line:  704.375.9900

24-hour Union Rape Crisis Line: 704.283.7770

24-hour Cabarrus Rape Crisis Line: 704.721.0110

Outside of this area please reach out to the following, please call:

NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE  HOTLINE at 1-800-799-7233

THE NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT HOTLINE AT 1-800-656-4673

THE NATIONAL TEEN DATING ABUSE HOTLINE AT 1-866-331-9474

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Is Your Business an Outlier?

September 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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I have always been a voracious reader. There were summers where my mother and I were in the library three to four times a week filling up bags with books to keep me entertained. And I could not tell you the number of batteries I went through from staying up late, hiding under my covers with a flashlight and a book I just could not put down until it was finished!

As a business owner, reading has become a vital necessity in being able to learn new techniques, build better businesses for myself and my clients, and improve my own skillsets. I truly believe that readers are leaders. As I read, I look forward to sharing books that will add value to you as a business leader.

I just recently read Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell, a book that truly challenged what I really believed about why some people are successful and seem to have all the good luck and why other’s don’t seem to make a dent in reaching their potential. Before I go too much further, let’s define exactly what an outlier is.

“Outlier” is a scientific term to describe things or phenomena that lie outside normal experience. According to the SBA, over 50% of small businesses fail withing 5 years. As business owner, knowing the importance of being an outlier when it comes to the success of your business is a game changer. It also requires that you shift your mindset to learn what will aid in your success. Having a great idea, providing an outstanding service, or working harder than everyone else, while all great and important qualities, they don’t guarantee that you’ll be victorious in overcoming those odds.

Gladwell, gives example after example as to why most of the success stories, such as your Bill Gates, or Steve Jobs, are not simply because they are self-made. In these cases, the year they were born, where they lived, their culture and opportunities presented and taken advantage of all play an integral part in moving them from not only just successful, but also significant. He also shares how having the highest IQ or being from affluent families aren’t necessarily the catalysts that determine who falls short or soars high.

That’s great news for you and your small business! You can become an outlier regardless of IQ or your family, or even your age! This book will help you erase all the excuses on why you can’t be everything you dream of.

The antedotes in this book are entertaining and will likely cause you to say “huh, that’s interesting” several times as you read of those who have achieved amazing things with their lives. Mr. Gladwell states,

“Success is function of persistence doggedness and the willingness to work hard for twenty-two minutes to make sense of something that most people would give up on after thirty seconds.”

So, how persistent and willing are you? How do you plan on separating yourself from the other business owners to become an outlier? Have you developed a strategy for your business success?

Everyday each of us has a choice whether we’ll wait for opportunities to knock on our doors or if we’ll prepare ourselves with a solid plan and the fortitude to knock down doors if we must to succeed. Which will you choose?

Share a comment below with your thoughts. If you are looking for more support in building the business of your dreams and living the life you envisioned, be sure to join me on Facebook now and follow me on Twitter.

Talk to you soon!

   Frederika

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Important vs Urgent: Time Management Tips To Keep You Effective and Efficient

September 26, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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Important vs Urgent: Time Management Tips To Keep You Effective and Efficient

by Frederika Angus

 

Raise your hand if 1440 minutes doesn't seem to be enough time in a day to get all your tasks accomplished. Do you have friends, spouses or colleagues that seem to be more productive and produce bigger results? After years of business management consulting and project management, I've been able to develop surefire methods that consistently allow me to work effectively and efficiently. I'll let you in on the secret. Lean in close….

Effective people utilize the bulk of their time focused on the important over the urgent.

We have all had days were we have been busy with presentations, going to the gym, meetings, phone calls, errands, doctors appointments, social events and chores. Feeling exhausted from all the activity of the day, we fall into bed and marvel at how much work is still left to been done and how little has actually been crossed off the to-do list. Our bodies are weary and we look over at the alarm clock, wishing for more time in the day to get it all done, knowing 5:30 am will be soon approaching for us to start the grueling process again.

Tip #1 – By learning the difference between which tasks are important over what is urgent, you can be more effective and efficient while alleviating stress and anxiety over the things you have yet to accomplish.

  •  Important  activities produce an outcome that leads you and your business to the achievement of goals.
  • Urgent activities are usually reactive over being proactive and demand immediate attention.

In other words, important things are valuable; urgent things simply have a looming deadline. Urgent things are not necessarily important, nor do important tasks have to be urgent.

Tip #2 – Maintain a master to-do list and prioritize each task based on it's level of importance and urgency. Having a written list is a business strategy people have used for years. Adding a column to mark priority will keep the most critical items to be accomplished from becoming lost.

Tip #3 – Review your task list each evening and select 3 important activities for the following day. We often set ourselves up to fail by producing daily agenda's that are jam packed. By primarily focusing on the 3 must-dos, we leave room for any urgent needs that may arise and space for flexibility.

Tip #4 – Deal with important things before they become urgent. This can reduce the number of urgent items added to your to-do list. This strategy will reduce unnecessary, last minute stressors.

Tip #5 – Check and respond to email in between the transition of completing one task and starting another. Constant immediate response to emails as they arrive slows progress. Instant access to emails via our smartphones has become a gift and a curse. Don't allow instant communication to steal your productivity.

Tip #6 – Learn to say NO to demands on your time that don't benefit you or your goals or align with your core mission statement. Too often we find ourselves saying 'Yes' to help out other people when in reality we don't have the capacity to take on more. If the activity is not important to your development, kindly decline.

If you'd like more strategies on how you can be effective at prioritizing your activities, be sure to follow me now on Facebook and Twitter.

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Having A Life and Being Successful in Business – How to Have Your Cake and Eat It Too

September 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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Having A Life and Being Successful in Business – How to Have Your Cake and Eat It Too

by FREDERIKA ANGUS

There is a common school of thought that believes that you can’t have the best of both worlds. I’m not sure where it came from or how we all started believing this proverb was true, especially when it comes to entrepreneurship and leading a company to success. What I am sure of is that you have a choice in deciding what is true for you. Rather than affirming this saying by never attempting to be balanced in both your professional and personal life, I am encouraging you TODAY to change your mindset and prove this idiom wrong.

You can maintain work – life balance while successfully running your own business.

Don’t look at me with that tone of voice! While I understand that is a rather bold and somewhat radical statement, I make it my personal mantra. As a wife to the most amazing man, mother of four incredible children, daughter, friend, entrepreneur, business consultant, etc, I comprehend your reservations. How in the world can anyone accomplish all that needs to be done to lead a business, service clients, research new products, balance the books, support community fundraisers, network AND enjoy social outings with friends, attend their child’s sporting events, have dinner with the family and most importantly, rest your mind, body and spirit.

Well don’t just take my word for it. Here’s a quote from one of the most successful and significant businessmen of our time.

Having kids has been a fantastic thing for me. It’s meant that I’m a little more balanced. In my twenties I worked massively, hardly took vacation at all. Now, I, with the help of my wife, I’m always making sure I’ve got a good balance of how I spend my time.
~ Bill Gates

When a man who has voluntarily released his claim to the richest man in the world title by giving billions of dollars to his charitable foundation shares wisdom of the need to be balanced in life and business, I listen. I hope you do too.

Practical application to create a work – life balance

I would be remiss to not help you understand HOW to create this balance in your business. I’ve compiled 4 strategies to help you obtain harmony between your personal and professional time.

Define your personal mission statement and core values. Knowing what you believe in and what your purpose is in doing it is sometimes overlooked. When you don’t know where you are going, time is wasted getting there. Having a clear plan of action and vision of your goals will allow you to better filter what is important and what you can say no to.

Organize your time! If you have multiple hats that you wear daily, you comprehend that time is always of the essence. Having a system of time management will enable you to have smooth transitions from business to pleasure. It’s far less important about the tool you use to manage your time and more important that you are consistent in actually utilizing whatever strategy works for you.

Outsource tasks that take you longer than an hour. Most entrepreneurs are do-it-yourselfers. Often as a means to save money, business owners will take on multiple tasks in running the company. To achieve a more balanced lifestyle, be willing to invest money in surrounding yourself with the tools, processes and/or people that can alleviate your load. The time you save will give you more time to go build and grow your business and enjoy your life.

Give yourself grace. NO ONE IS PERFECT! Now that you’re freed from the perfectionism bondage most businesspeople have, forgive yourself if you can’t make that great networking event or a little-league game. It is impossible to be everywhere at one time and be everything to everyone. As long as you are striving to maintain a nice balance between your work and your life, there should be no guilt.

Share a comment below with your thoughts. If you are looking for more support in building the business of your dreams and living the life you envisioned, be sure to join me on Facebook now and follow me on Twitter.

Talk to you soon!

Frederika

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