I replied, “Yes, I have and you always need to be prepared for a quick change in the weather when you are on the mountain.” As I prepared myself to leave for skiing that morning, I began to reflect on how being prepared for snow skiing is a lot like preparation for success as a woman entrepreneur.

When you desire a successful day of skiing, there needs to be some planning before you get on the chair lift. You need to stop and think about all of the things you will need in order to have a successful day (This is why ski clothing has so many pockets!). If you’re a woman who skis, you know that the weather can change at any given moment so you need to pack accordingly. If you choose to go skiing without thoughtful preparation, you may be in for a challenging day.

As I rode up the chair lift that morning, I thought of 5 solutions to help you have a great day of skiing and achieve success as a woman entrepreneur:

1. Be prepared for all sorts of weather – If you can imagine the top of the mountain representing your big idea or business goal, you know as you make your journey upward, there will be changes in the climate and the terrain. In your business, there will be times of quick and easy success and there will be challenges that need to be met along the way. Make sure you have packed the necessary items for success. For example, a detailed plan of action, ample support, focus, and consistency. Don’t forget to pack extra energy and unlimited passion!

2. Don’t stay “Green” for too long – Smart women know that you need to get uncomfortable in order to become a better skier. To facilitate improvement, you need to advance beyond the “Green” (easier trails) and move on to “Blue” (more difficult or intermediate). In reaching your business goals, if you are feeling comfortable, then most likely your goals are not big enough or you have lost some energy and passion for your vision. It’s important to stretch yourself. When I challenge myself on the mountain by taking a trail that’s a bit beyond my ability, it feels good when I reach the bottom and can look back and reflect on my accomplishment. Always strive to dream or have a vision that’s just a little bit larger than what you think you can accomplish. You will be surprised at what can happen!

3. “Follow The Leader” – I see a lot of people struggling on the mountain who are beginning skiers. The fastest way to reach your goals whether it’s skiing or realizing your entrepreneurial vision is to follow the leader. Follow someone who shows a clear mastery of where you want to go. Take a lesson or get some coaching. This one solution has helped me gain the most momentum in my own entrepreneurial journey. I like to move quickly when I’ve made a decision to take action on an idea. I always have coaches, mastermind groups, and mentors in the wings ready to help me achieve my business goals at a faster pace.

4. Rest and Re-energize – Smart Women need to take breaks often. Being an entrepreneur takes a lot of energy. When we get passionate about something, we tend to go non-stop until we make our dream happen. It’s essential that you stop along the way to reflect and re-energize. It’s during those times of rest and relaxation that we can ponder what might be next with real clarity and focus.

5. Celebrate – I always end a day of skiing by enjoying a steamy, hot chocolate with my family. It’s the perfect time to reflect on the day. It’s essential that you celebrate every goal or milestone you accomplish in your business along the way. When you honor progress, you set the intention to keep moving forward toward the next level of success.

It was a gorgeous day for skiing. The weather conditions were just about perfect. In the late afternoon, the sky became overcast and a chill was in the air. I was happy to have my face mask in my pocket. Jack was happy to have his too. I’ll see you on your way to the top…

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2012 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur. She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs. If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, 2 FREE Reports and FREE MP3 now at Creating The Spark.

The idea of “self-promotion” or “selling” leaves some women feeling like they are bragging, being pushy or not considerate of others. It can create anxiety and fear which in turn keeps you stuck and unable to reach your business goals. Women are nurturers by nature and the thought of putting their needs in front of someone else’s may feel unnatural.

I understand the feeling (I’ve experienced it too), however if you are determined to achieve your business goals, it’s essential you communicate your message about what you have to offer and how you help people. Do so often and to as many people as possible (otherwise, you will remain the best kept secret in town which in this case, won’t serve you). People are super busy and can’t read your mind so it’s up to you to take on the responsibility of creating interest in how you support people with your product or service.

When I have an opportunity to share how I support women entrepreneurs, I use the R&R approach (Relationship + Results). It feels both authentic and comfortable for me and I think it will for you, too.

1. Cultivate a Relationship – Whether I meet someone at a networking event, through social media or through a mutual friend, my first desire is to build a relationship and discover how I can be of service. I’m truly interested in people and enjoy learning about others. My goal is to find a common ground with people and if I can offer some advice or perspective on their current situation, I’ll share it with them right away. This is a good time to showcase your expertise and also show the other person you are genuinely listening to them.

2. Share Results – When it’s your turn to share more about who you are and what you do (if you’ve truly shown an interest in the other person, this happens organically) share the results you’ve had with your clients through telling stories. Storytelling is engaging. People will lean in and listen intently to what you have to say. Rather than talking about the name of your company and the services you offer, concentrate on someone you’ve worked with that had award-winning results. Talk about where this person was when they first began to work with you and the benefits or transformation they received after working with you.

This approach takes away the “heavy” feeling of self-promotion that women sometimes experience. It has a feminine feel to it. Women create relationships better than anyone I know and sharing the results others have had when they work with you eliminates anxiety.

I invite you to get out of the office today and try the R&R approach. It’s simple, easy and feels authentic to women entrepreneurs.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2012 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur. She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs. If you’re ready take your coaching business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report, FREE MP3 and be the first to hear about my exciting new program for coaches and consultants at Smart Women Smart Solutions Coaching .

At one point, women were expressing the challenges they face in getting everything accomplished each day including running a business, managing a family, and hopefully time to squeeze in a little self-care.

I shared with the group that when I’m in the office, I ask myself three questions to help me stay focused and directed on making money in my business:

1. Where is the potential for new business?
2. Are my private clients and groups experiencing award winning results?
3. Have I reached out to my referral sources this week?

Discovering new business opportunities, creating award winning client results and focusing on my relationships with referral sources are the very best ways to build a successful company for the long term.

I noticed one woman in the group had a rather strange look on her face and at the break, I went up to her and asked if everything was ok. Her response? “I’ve never heard a woman speak so freely about making money. It’s liberating for me. I love this idea!”

As I travel around the country and meet women from different parts of the globe, this idea that money should not be discussed is universal. I had one woman tell me that she was raised with a belief that “Money is evil.” Money is not evil. What you do with the money is what matters.

This opened the door to a freeing, thought-provoking, conversation about why women need to overcome their fear of making money or having money. If your business is not making the money you desire, could it be possible it’s due to the relationship you have with money? If your business is barely “surviving” instead of “thriving” I invite you to think about creative ways you can embrace what a positive cash flow could do not only for you but the world.

To ensure that your Big Idea comes to fruition and achieves growth year after year, it’s essential that you make money in your business. I’d like to share some ideas about why women and money go together and energize your thinking about why it’s key to stay focused on making money:

1. Contributing to the well-being of yourself and your family – It’s an empowering feeling to know that your business contributes to taking care of those you love and care about. It builds confidence, self-esteem and instills the idea in your family that you are an equal partner in every area.

2. Contributing to the economy – I’m thrilled to be able to have a small team of women support me in my business and I can help them achieve their goal of working from home. I’m adding value to the flexibility and freedom in their lives.

3. Giving back – I hear from so many women the reason they started their business is because they want to give back to the charities and organizations they feel so strongly about. This has been an emotional driver for me. My desire to give back has continued to grow over the last 3 years and my dream has finally come true. This year, Smart Women Smart Solutions® is now able to make a donation to several non-profits that support women and girls worldwide from coaching programs purchased by women entrepreneurs.

I’m going to invite you to start the process of creating a consistent, positive cash flow so you can use the money to take care of what’s important to you. Stop saying, “When I have the money, I will…” and start saying, “Now that my business is experiencing a positive cash flow, I will…”

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****

© 2012 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at Profits With Passion.

1. You save more time because you know exactly who you’re looking for.
2. You save more money because you spend your marketing budget wisely.
3. When you provide a great service, you’ll get highly qualified referrals from your satisfied clients to people they know who have the same problem.

Here’s a quick case study to illustrate how effective this is:

In our community, little league baseball is quite popular. From February through June, parents spend 6-10 hours a week taking their kids to and from practice as well as attending games. It’s a huge commitment and one many parents take seriously.

Enter Yoga Johnny.

Yoga Johnny is a pitching coach. He works with children who have a desire to be a pitcher in little league baseball. Yoga Johnny is a very smart guy. Baseball is played in every area of Los Angeles however, Johnny understands that our community is one where parents will do (and pay) just about anything to help their kids stand on the mound and pitch.

Johnny knows exactly who his ideal client is. It’s not children who want to be pitchers. It’s parents whose children want to be pitchers and are willing to pay for this level of coaching. He simply hangs out at the park where all the games and practices are located. When I think about Johnny’s marketing model, it’s really quite brilliant:

1. He’s saving time because he knows exactly where his ideal client hangs out.
2. He’s saving money because he only markets to his ideal client. He doesn’t need to spend time running all over Los Angeles looking for his ideal client. They are all nestled together right here in one community.
3. He continues to get a steady stream of new clients because everyone talks about the results their child gets when they work with Yoga Johnny.

Johnny also uses another effective marketing tool: Package pricing. You cannot hire Johnny one time. He requires that you commit your child to months of his training in order to see the desired results. He has a proven system that he uses and he doesn’t deviate from it. He knows what works for him and the clients he serves.

I invite you to take a few minutes and answer these 3 questions:

1. Have I identified who my ideal client is? Can I describe her/him to someone? What problem do I solve for this person?

3. Am I asking for rave reviews from my satisfied clients? Am I asking if they know others who might benefit from working with me?

Smart Women Entrepreneurs can learn a lot from a guy like Yoga Johnny.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2011 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at Profits With Passion.

One woman, in particular, shared that she’s ready to make the leap to do something different but she’s unsure how to move ahead or what the process would be to make a good decision. She feels the “tug of transition” but lacks clarity on how to navigate a potential new path. Fear and feelings of failure are on her mind as well. She’s certain that if she could take initial steps forward on how to explore and discover what’s next, fear and thoughts of failure could be overcome. Not having a plan or the equivalent of a roadmap that can be easily followed is what keeps her from moving ahead.

Have you ever felt this way? I know I have. Before I made the decision to begin my journey as an entrepreneur, I had sleepless nights and perplexing days wondering what could possibly be next for me.

If you are feeling that change is on the horizon, but you can’t clearly see the path ahead, here are some basic and easy steps you can take to feel more confident and clear about the possibilities:

1. Give Yourself Permission to Explore – The first step you need to take for all the others to work, is to give yourself permission that it’s ok for you to think about doing something new and different. Change can be both scary and exciting at the same time. Open your mind to what might be possible. Remember this is an exploration. You aren’t making a decision–yet.

2. Block Out Some Time – Pull out your calendar and block out time to do this exploration. At the party, the woman asked me, “What should I do with the time?” Online research, read books or publications on the subject, attend a class or workshop. For example, if you are interested in event planning, take some time to research online, read books or publications devoted to the industry. Before I made the decision to get my coaching certification, I researched the industry to learn more. If you don’t actually block the time and make an appointment with yourself, your “to-do” list will get in the way and before you know it, another 6 months will have gone by.

3. Reach Out – Make a point to connect with people who are doing what it is you’re considering. During my exploration, I connected with several coaches that I respect to learn more about their business, how they got started, what their business was like, etc.

4. Consider Hiring a Coach – Having a supportive person to walk with you through this exploratory phase can be extremely helpful. Having someone to ask the right questions to illuminate new possibilities or reframe your current situation is invaluable.

Summer is the perfect time to go exploring. I invite you to discover what might be next for you. The journey begins by taking the first step.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

 *****

© 2011 Joy Chudacoff 

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at Profits With Passion.

I’m referring to your current clients—-the people who have said “yes” to working with you and who believe in the service that you are providing. Your current clients typically have connections to people who may need your product or service. They have worked with you personally and can share their experience with others. The key is ensuring that the “experience” your current clients are having with you is a positive one so that they will feel comfortable sending you referrals.

My business is over 90% referral based. Most of the women who come to me are referred by women who have worked with me, either individually or in one of my Women’s Success Circles. These women feel comfortable sending me their friends and colleagues because they know first-hand what the experience is like.

I’m going to share some tips and solutions that I’ve used over the years to build my business into a referral based business. You may read each one and say to yourself, “I already knew that.” The question is “You may know it, but are you practicing it in your business with each and every client you come in contact with?” These are easy, simple steps you can take that will make a huge difference in the growth of your business.

Be on Time – This one simple step can garner you huge rewards in your client’s eyes. Being on time sends a clear message that you value your client. You are respectful of their time. My goal is to always arrive before the client does, get clear and focused so that I am ready to devote my time and energy to their needs. Have I ever been late? You bet (I live in LA where traffic is un-predictable!), however it’s rare.

Be prepared – Ask yourself a question before you meet with your client. For what purpose are they coming to see me? Do I have all of the documents, forms, contracts, and support materials that I need to make this time valuable and productive? With time being such a cherished commodity, it’s key that you come prepared with everything you need to support the client.

Underpromise and Overdeliver – Give your client more than they expect. In addition to everything you’ve agreed to do for the client, go the extra mile! Provide useful resources that can support their business or personal life in some way. If you have a referral or you can make a connection between your client and another person where they can both benefit, make it happen!

Thank YOU! – This is so important, however I find this being the most overlooked step. Make sure to “Thank” your clients for working with you. It’s true you provided a service that helped them but it’s key to thank them for choosing to work with you. After all, they do have options. Send birthday cards, call them occasionally to check-in and see how they are doing.

The Golden Rule – A simple habit to get into. Treat your clients the way you would like to be treated. It really makes a big difference in your working relationship.

If you choose to make these tips and solutions a part of your daily interaction with your clients, you’ll soon find referrals coming your way. When this happens, make sure you take that final step; Show your appreciation for receiving the referral! One of the ways that I appreciate referrals from clients, is by sending them a Thank you card with a gift of some sort attached-maybe a coffee card, etc. Last year, I hosted a “mani-pedi appreciation afternoon” where women came, had their toes and nails done, feet and shoulders massaged, along with champagne, wine, and cheese.

These are simple steps that you can put into practice right away. Take a moment now and choose the ones that you can begin implementing with your next client. You’ll find rave reviews and referrals coming your way!

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2011 Joy Chudacoff 
 
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at Profits With Passion.

When you make the leap into becoming a woman entrepreneur, one of your first thoughts may be, “I need to make money!” You’ve probably invested your own money in your Big Idea and now it’s time to get a return on that investment. There are 4 basic marketing solutions that you can use to help you grow your business. When you use all 4 effectively, the sky is the limit in your business. You create the visibility you need for an effective “buzz’ about you and the service or product you offer.

The 4 basic marketing solutions are:

1. Offline
2. Online
3. Joint Ventures or Collaboration
4. Public Relations and Media

When I first opened the doors to Smart Women Smart Solutions® 6 years ago, I used offline marketing as my primary source of marketing. The business grew but it was painfully slow. After the first 12 months, I realized that in order to reach my goals, I needed an online presence to take the business to the next level. Shortly after that, I began to seek out people who I could collaborate with. (By the way, you don’t need to do them step-by-step like I did.)

The goals you have for your business will determine how much and how often you use these 4 basic marketing solutions. For example: If you have a part-time business that you enjoy and are happy with making a part time income, having an offline and online presence along with a few collaborations could work well for you. If you are a woman with dreams to build an entrepreneurial empire, you’ll need a solid and systemized plan for all 4 of the basic marketing solutions. Just like nutrition, you’ll need to decide what your portion size is!

Here are some examples of the 4 basic marketing solutions:

1.Offline: networking events, public speaking, creating a letter campaign
2. Online: Effective website, electronic newsletter, blogging, social media, article writing for online sites such as www.EzineArticles.com.
3. Joint Venture or Collaboration: The most successful collaborations are when you and your collaborative partner appeal to the same target market. It creates a win-win for everyone. Some examples of collaboration would be hosting teleseminars together or live events.
4. Public Relations and Media: TV shows, radio shows, magazine articles. These are a great way to create a larger “buzz” about your business and gain visibility fast.

Just like a child who is growing to become a healthy adult, your business will have different stages of growth. These stages will require different marketing solutions.

In my son’s nutrition class, one of the best tips the teacher offered was, slow down when you eat. You will have the most success with your marketing if you slow down and take some time to decide which of the marketing solutions best fit your business goals at this time. This is where having a mentor, coach or trusted source can be beneficial.

Once you decide which solutions work best for you, go for it! The key is focus and consistency using a balanced portion from each selection you make.

Bon Appétit!

Anything is possible.  Everything is waiting for you.

*****

© 2011 Joy Chudacoff 

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at Profits With Passion.

With all of the information we receive each day, it’s critical that you keep your message simple and easy to understand.  Getting laser clear on who benefits from your product or service (i.e. your ideal client) is key to your success.  When your ideal client reads your marketing message, you want them to understand quickly how you can help them.

Here are three tips to help you hone your message to your ideal client and ensure that when they open your email, letter, postcard or video they understand what you have to offer is exactly what they need:

1.  Offer Specific Benefits – You can go to Google or other search engines and obtain almost any “general” information you want online.  The days of offering “general” information and getting paid well for it are over.  In your marketing message, you need to share specific benefits or outcomes that your ideal client will get when they work with you or use your product.  Remember “WIIFM.” (What’s In It For Me?)  Your client has a problem and they want it solved.  Period.  I found myself “lingering” on promotions that were clear how their program or service could help me.

2.  How does it work? – Be very clear about how your program or service works.  Is it by phone?  In-person?  Online?  Let them know when the program begins, how long it will last and what they can expect.  If they can visualize your process, it will make it easier for them to make a decision.

3.  Make it a “no-brainer” – When you have an offer, make it easy for them to buy or sign-up right now on the spot.  Give them clear instructions on how to contact you or your team for more information.  I found myself attracted to certain promotions when I had easy to follow instructions on how to take the next step.

That afternoon, lying on the sofa reading my emails was a helpful exercise.  It gave me time to pause and reflect on my own marketing message and discover how I can serve women entrepreneurs more effectively.  I invite you to schedule some time for this as well.  It will make a huge difference in your marketing message, which in turn means more of your ideal client and greater income.  

Anything is possible.  Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2010 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at http://www.SmartWomenSmartSolutionsCoaching.com.

“Wait for the one that’s right for you!”
“Don’t swing at every pitch!”
“Good Eye!”

This got me thinking about how smart women choose opportunities that are “right” for the mission and growth of their business. As your business begins to grow and you develop a following in your industry, opportunities will come your way. It’s important to identify which opportunities are right for you. It’s easy in the beginning to want to say “Yes!” to every opportunity that you are presented with to grow your business as quickly as possible. It’s a lot like learning to play baseball. When my children first started playing a few years ago, they swung at every pitch—why? They had a one track mind– hit the ball and get on base. When considering a joint venture or collaboration, there are several factors that you should consider:

1. You both serve the same target market – Make sure that the person you collaborate with serves your target market but in a different way. This assures that you are reaching your ideal client with a service that they need or want.

2. Aligns with your future vision – The collaboration should put you closer  to your future goals. This is why being crystal clear on your vision is essential. Having a mentor or coach to help you process or work through potential opportunities will help you save time and make solid decisions.

3. If it feels “right,” it probably is – When you get together with the person who you may be collaborating with, does it feel “right?” Does the conversation flow? Do you feel a sense of calm and trust with the other person? These are key indicators for me. I’ve been approached many times over the years to collaborate and I’ve declined offers because it didn’t feel quite right or we didn’t have the same mission or goals. Many of my readers know that I’m the Business and Life Coach for the National Association of Entrepreneur Moms and the Tenacity Jane Coach for Jane Out of the Box. These “pitches” felt “right” for me from the very beginning. Trust your intuition or as I like to call it, your “internal voice.”

You will say “Yes” sometimes and it won’t work out. (believe me, I have) That’s  a normal part of the “growing” process. I’ve watched both my kids strike out more than a few times because of their excitement to hit the ball. However, I will share with you that more often than not, they are developing that “good eye” — standing patiently at home plate, waiting for the pitch that’s “right” for them.

As you become more laser clear on what your future vision is and where you’re going in your business, you too, will develop a “good eye” for opportunities.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****

© 2010 Joy Chudacoff
 
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions(tm), a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at http://www.profitswithpassion.com.

– “I’m never able to get it all done.”
– “I can’t figure out which “to-do” should be done first.”
– “It only takes 10 minutes.”

One woman entrepreneur is multi-tasking all day long. She felt this was really effective in her quest to “beat the clock.” To quote my client, “it only takes 10 minutes to complete each task.” When we took a look at the “it only takes 10 minutes” tasks and added them up, she was losing over an hour a day on items that could be delegated to someone else. What would you do with an extra hour per day?

We wear many hats and play many roles in our lives. It’s very easy to get caught up in the “to-do” list and the requests of others. In my work with women, my goal is to help them have an 80/20 rule in their lives and businesses. 80% is their “ideal” life that they create and 20% is when “life happens.” You know those days when you get sick, the kids are sick, the car breaks down, etc. For many of you, it’s just the opposite. You’re getting 20% of your time to steer your life the way you’d like and 80% is spent serving others needs and requests. I invite you to think about changing this if you want to live with passion and purpose in your life and business.

I used to be in that 80/20 situation (with 80% being determined by others) until I made a conscious choice to give myself permission to design a life that resembled more of what I wanted on a daily basis. Here’s a few tips and solutions on how you can begin to take better control and win your race against time:

1. What do you want? – This really throws women off base when I ask this question. Why? You believe that your life is not your own. You serve and take care of so many people. How could you possibly have what You really want? Take a look at all the areas of your life – self, spouse/partner, family, work/business, friends and community. How much time would you ideally like to spend in each of these areas? Remember the 80/20 rule.

2. Design Your “Ideal” Day – The women I work with take a blank calendar and begin to play around with the “what-ifs.” They play with different scenarios and come up with what works best for them based on what’s most important.

3. Set up boundaries – It’s essential that you set boundaries around your life. I have a boundary around the 4pm hour during the week. I typically reserve from 4pm on through the evening to be with my family. I also have a boundary around my day between 8:30 and 4pm Monday through Friday. I spend this time serving women and practicing my own self-care.

4. Get some help – A very wise, successful woman once shared with me that “you can do it all but you can’t do it all by yourself.” Well said. This lesson has been one of the most valuable for me along the way. The act of delegation has been a key factor in helping me to have more of what I want in my life and less of what I don’t. Here’s a clue; Make a list of what you’re really good at, enjoy doing and also produces income for you. These are the things that you need to hold on to. Take everything else and delegate it as soon a possible. The first 2 things I delegated in my business were bookkeeping and technology. I don’t enjoy these and it’s not an area of strength for me.

If you are serious about winning your race against time and having more of what you want in your day, I invite you to use these 4 steps I’ve shared with you. I’m going to leave you today with a quote that feels just right at this moment. “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” ~Annie Dillard

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2010 Joy Chudacoff
 
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions(tm), a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at http://www.profitswithpassion.com/.