High-Achieving Women's Blogazine

We all experience that ultimate limiting factor called ‘time’.  Unfortunately it does not matter who we are, all we have is 24 hours in a day which equates to 168 hours a week. Most people become distracted with many time wasters during their 168 hours per week.

It is extremely important for small business owners to develop effective time management skills because they often find themselves performing many different jobs and wearing many hats during the course of a week.

To help you control the distractions, here is my list of things that I recommend to business owner.  This list will help business owners better utilize their time and impact their bottom line.

1. Start to view time in the same way as you view money and invest it wisely.
2. Plan how you are going to utilize your team and yourself each day.
3. Do what you do best and delegate everything else.
4. Get clear on your priorities and then focus on them.
5. Track how you spend your time to spot the time stealers.
6. Revise your marketing plan and enhance your methods of gaining new clients.
7. Re-purpose and re-package your products and services.
8. Implement a cost-cutting program and follow-up.
9. Look for opportunities to boost sales or to diversify products and services.
10. Form partnerships, collaborations and strategic alliances.

One of the best ways to leverage your business is to form partnerships, collaborations or strategic alliances.  Look for those opportunities that will enhance your business and create long-term relationships.

If you would like to know more about how to avoid time wasters and how to form collaborations, partnerships and strategic alliances which will impact your bottom line, become a member of the Global Association of High-Achieving Women.  Membership does have its privileges and it will definitely impact your bottom line.

Love, Success and Greatness

© 2010 Dr. Laureen

The previous blog post entitled: 12.5 Tips: Just Getting Things Done – Part 4 was supposed to be the last post for the Getting It Done series. However, I couldn’t resist this topic of the 3 biggest reasons why things don’t get done.  So this is the last post for this series – I hope!

There are a variety of reasons why people don’t get things done and the three biggest reasons are procrastination, not allocating enough time (time management), and not preparing properly.  Below are some simple things you can do to eliminate procrastination, manage your time more effectively and be better prepared.

Procrastination

If you are putting off today what you can do tomorrow; do yourself (and everyone around you) a favor and start giving your procrastination habit the boot today by:
1. Developing a plan of action
2. Writing down ALL the things that you need to do
3. Assigning priority to the most difficult task first

Time Management

As you become more engrossed with your business, you will definitely realize that time becomes a precious “commodity”. No matter how organized we are, there are always only 24 hours in a day. Unfortunately, time doesn’t change. All we can actually manage is ourselves and what we do with the time that we have; so here are three tips that will make a difference in managing your time:

1.    Determine where you’re wasting time
2.    Create time management goals and follow them
3.    Implement a time management plan and follow it

Preparation

People waste time by failing to get organized before getting started.  Often times, people view getting organized as a waste of time.  Oh by the way, if you are always trying to put things together without reading the directions, you may be one of these individuals.  Here are some tips to help with preparation:

1.    Hire people based on where you want to be, not where you are
2.    Listen to the experts and do what they do to get prepared
3.    Get focused, stay focused and remain focused

I hope that you have enjoyed this blog series on Getting Things Done. If you enjoyed this post, take a moment to sign up for the Free Audio: 10.5 Secrets For Achieving Success and Greatness. Everyone deserves a competitive edge.

Love, Success and Greatness

© 2010 Dr. Laureen

IF YOU WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEBSITE? You can, as long as you include this complete statement: As a Career Success and Business Growth Expert, Dr. Laureen teaches high-achieving women around the world how to move up the corporate ladder, change careers, start a business, create multiple streams of income and vision their way to success. Get her FREE articles and advice at www.gahaw.com

This is the last post of the Getting It Done series. Here are 12.5 important tips  that will help you to just get things done.

 1. Use lists to keep track of all of the things you need to get done.
2. Maintain a calendar and get in the habit of referring to your calendar often.
3. Develop systems for repetitive tasks and delegate them to others.
4. Set short- and long-term goals and record them.
5. Build strong working relationships with others. Don’t wait until you need help; build it as you go along.
6. Find the things you dread doing the most and do them first.
7. Eliminate time-wasters.
8. Take control of your time.  Don’t let the amount of time you have control what you get done.  
9. Organize your home and office.  Disorganization is one of the biggest time-wasters.
10. Use the right equipment.  Let technology work for us not against you.
11. Say “no”.  Before saying “yes” consider how the request fits into your overall priorities.
12. Delegate.  There is no rule that says that you must do it all.
12.5. Just do it!

In order to accomplish the things you want in life, it is important to set goals, determine how they fit with your other priorities and develop a sound plan of action to accomplish them.  If you don’t do this, you will find that you are getting things done, but not necessarily the things that truly need to be accomplished to achieve your goals.

If you enjoyed this post, take a moment to sign up for the Free Audio: Are You Making a Cardboard Connection versus a Brand Connection?.  It takes just a minute to sign-up, and you will benefit from my secrets to making an exceptional card connection.

Love, Success and Greatness

Take breaks from being “always on”. No internet, no TV, no cell phone, no video games. It does wonders for helping you reconnect with your life.

© 2010 Dr. Laureen

IF YOU WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEBSITE? You can, as long as you include this complete statement: As a Career Success and Business Growth Expert, Dr. Laureen teaches high-achieving women around the world how to move up the corporate ladder, change careers, start a business, create multiple streams of income and vision their way to success. Get her FREE articles and advice at www.gahaw.com 

If you have not read the previous post entitled: 5.5 Tips: Getting it Done When You’re Under the Gun – Part 2, you may want to read it first so you’ll know why this post is key to getting started.

First, organize the project by drawing a circle on a piece of paper.  Put the name of the project in the circle.  Now start thinking of the things you need to do.  Draw lines from the main circle, draw a small circle at the end of each line and label each circle with each item that needs to be done.  If the project is a speech, sales presentation, report or something similar, use the spokes of the wheel to represent ideas or points you want to make.  The objective is to get as many ideas or components down on paper as possible.  When you finish this exercise, organize all the ideas or components into an outline.

If you are serving as the team leader or project leader of this project, perform the following tasks.

1. Summarize your responsibilities.
2. Outline the specific responsibilities and deadlines of other individuals involved.
3. Break these responsibilities up in to manageable, workable pieces.
4. Establish checkpoints when various aspects of the project are due so progress can be monitored.
5. When you have organized all that needs to be done, then call a meeting to make assignments, answer questions and explain checkpoints and deadlines.
6. Communicate responsibilities/deadlines orally and in writing. 

If you are the sole person responsible for the task then:

1. Set aside a minimum of two hours and begin working.
2. Find a place you can work without interruption.
3. Identify and make arrangements for any additional resources/support you need.
4. Break the task or project up into manageable, workable pieces.
5. Establish checkpoints when various aspects of the project are due.
6. If you are experiencing mental confusion, take the one aspect of the task or project that you are the most comfortable with – and work on it even if it’s not the first step.
7. Don’t allow yourself to get distracted by getting coffee, answering the phone or reading emails.

Take steps to avoid making the same mistake in the future.

If you enjoyed this post, take a moment to sign up for the Free Audio: 10.5 Secrets For Achieving Success and Greatness.  Everyone deserves a competitive edge.

Love, Success and Greatness

© 2010 Dr. Laureen

IF YOU WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEBSITE? You can, as long as you include this complete statement: As a Career Success and Business Growth Expert, Dr. Laureen teaches high-achieving women around the world how to move up the corporate ladder, change careers, start a business, create multiple streams of income and vision their way to success. Get her FREE articles and advice at www.gahaw.com

We all do it… wait until the lasts minute to start on a project and then panic because we don’t have enough time to finish it. So when you find yourself under the gun, here are some tips to help you get through your immediate crisis.

1. Get focused: Spend a few minutes to clear your mind of distractions, worries, anxieties (about the deadline) and other mental clutter.
2. Get through the clutter: Consider everything on your desk that does not relate to your project as a distraction. Clear off your desk as you clear your mind.  Nothing should go on your desk but the task at hand.
3. Understand your priorities: Remember you have a limited period of time to complete the project, so it is your top priority.  If you have two conflicting priorities, you need to decide right now how you are going to divide your time or delegate the work to get them both completed.
4. Avoid interruptions:  That means no phone calls unless project related, no opening of emails unless project related, no appointments unless project related.
5. Do It: Budget at least one or two hours of uninterrupted time to organize what you need to do and another two hours to start working.

5.5.      To Don’t List: A list of things not to do — this is useful for keeping track of habits that lead  you to be unproductive, like playing online flash games when you are under the gun.

Well there is just one more major step that you must do and that is GET STARTED.  I have developed a few strategies that will help you get started but they will be in the next blog post entitled: Getting Started to Get it Done When You’re Under the Gun – Part 3. See you then.

 If you enjoyed this post, take a moment to sign up for the Free Audio: Are You Making a Cardboard Connection versus a Brand Connection? It will give you a competitive edge.

 Love, Success and Greatness

“If you believe in what you are doing, then let nothing hold you up in your work. Much of the best work of the world has been done inspire seemingly odds.  

© 2010 Dr. Laureen

IF YOU WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEBSITE? You can, as long as you include this complete statement: As a Career Success and Business Growth Expert, Dr. Laureen teaches high-achieving women around the world how to move up the corporate ladder, change careers, start a business, create multiple streams of income and vision their way to success. Get her FREE articles and advice at www.gahaw.com 

If you worked in a vacuum, it might be possible to have total control of your time.  When you are part of a team, in order to get things done, you are often dependent upon others.  Whatever the project, someone must be in charge.  If you are that person, here are some tips to help you work with your team to get things done.

1. Explain what needs to be done.  Be specific using simple but direct terms. 

2. Tell each team member where h/she fits into the overall picture. It is much easier to get the team on board when they understand the big picture and where they fit.

3. Provide a completion date and a guesstimate of the number of hours needed. It is important for each team member to know how much time to allocate and how to prioritize their time.   

4. Be considerate.  When you have a project pending, don’t sit on it until the last minute.  Give as much advance notice as possible.

5. Remember the “golden rule”. Treat others the way you want to be treated.  You will get a lot further saying, ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ than by simply ordering someone to help you.

6. Tell each team member what’s in it for them. If there is some special incentive involved, be sure to let your team members know.

7. Foster a spirit of cooperation. If there are several people working together on the project, stress team spirit.  Comments like: “There’s no way I could get this project completed without everyone’s help” will go a long way to build team spirit.

7.5.   Remember: Top achievers are great at time management even if they have to pay someone else to manage their time.

Keep an eye out for my next post, “5.5 Tips: Getting it Done When You’re Under the Gun – Part 2

If you enjoyed this post, take a moment to sign up for the Free Audio: 10.5 Secrets For Achieving Success and Greatness.  Everyone deserves a competitive edge.

Love, Success and Greatness

Successful people aren’t born that way. They become successful by establishing the habit of doing things unsuccessful people don’t like to do. Successful people don’t always like these things themselves; they just do them.

© 2010 Dr. Laureen

IF YOU WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEBSITE? You can, as long as you include this complete statement: As a Career Success and Business Growth Expert, Dr. Laureen teaches high-achieving women around the world how to move up the corporate ladder, change careers, start a business, create multiple streams of income and vision their way to success. Get her FREE articles and advice at www.gahaw.com 

As an award-winning career success and business growth coachsultant, I work primarily with high-achieving female career professionals and women business owners. One of the major problems that these women face is moving from “reactive” to “proactive”. In a study on time management, every one minute spent in planning resulted in reducing the time required to complete an activity or project by three to four minutes. Spending ten minutes in planning can reduce project completion time by 30-40 minutes, while one hour of planning can reduce completion time by three to four hours.   Properly utilized, fifteen minutes of planning can effectively control your time for an entire day.

If you have not been successful with time management in the past, here are a few of my helpful tips:

• Know your prime time and energy level.
• Respect, protect and direct your prime time.
• Have clearly defined goals and objectives.
• Implement an action plan for all projects.
• Develop systems and processes.
• Prioritize your projects.

What in your life needs some attention? Make a list of the areas you are out of integrity with: work, family or self. What actions need to be taken to clear these up? What life skills need to be developed and strengthened?   What are you avoiding instead of facing?

Setting proper priorities is the key to success. Here’s how to get started:

• Plan time for preparation and creative thinking for long-term projects. The short-term urgent tasks will always consume your time unless you plan to spend it otherwise.
• When you have a multitude of things to do, go through them quickly and make a list of what you need to do, by when and by whom. After completing the list, handle each piece of paper only once. Do not start a task, do a portion of it, then put it back on the pile. You’ll end up working harder, not smarter.
• Don’t start lots of tasks at the same time – even if you can handle multiple tasks at the same time. This is not always the most effective or efficient way of handing multiple tasks.

Did you know that there are two words that describe an individual’s approach to life, career and business? The two words are “reactive” or “proactive”. Reactive people wait for things to happen and then they respond. Proactive people respond by taking charge of their lives through planning, sound decision-making and successful project execution.

Studies indicate that more than 80% of all people fall into the “reactive” category leaving 20% or less in the “proactive” category. If your plan includes success it is important to have systems and processes in place that allow more time to make more money.

I have found that if your career and business plan includes success, you must step up and play a bigger game. If you need someone to assist you in up-leveling your career or you’re your business, visit: www.masterpiecesolutions.biz.

,Career Success and Business Growth Expert

In order to tell you what habits help me to be successful, I’ll have to share with you my idea of success. Success means living a purposeful life, where I experience radiant health, abundant prosperity and meaningful relationships.  Here are a few habits that I’m cultivating as I move from success to significance.

1. Meditation
2. Exercise
3. Journaling
4. Waking up between 5 am and 6 am
5. Keeping the important list to 3 items
6. Having a “fantastic” day
7. Reading daily
8. Less television time

8.5        Personal development at all times

It’s this simple – when your energy is high you can bring your best to every task you take on. When your energy is low, you can’t.  You must focus on raising and maintaining your own energy, keeping yourself strong and well, so that you can be focused and effective and brilliant while taking on the next steps for success.

What daily habits do you have that help you to be successful? Why not share them in the comment section of this Blog.

You can take action now and attend the upcoming Visioning Great to Successing Great™ Virtual Retreat of March 20, 2010. It’s your time to sparkle. ™ http://highachievingwomen.biz/?page_id=185

A vision without a plan is just a dream.
A plan without a vision is just drudgery.
But a vision with a plan can change the world. 

Greatness is about one’s day-in and day-out habits, character and core values. In other words, no matter what your past was like, you have the ability to achieve greatness—starting now. You just need to hone in on the small things you do every day—those tasks and chores that may seem trivial and unimportant—and start doing them based on your best, all the time. Here are some guidelines for greatness to help get you started:

1. Walk your talk.
2. If you make a promise, keep it.
3. Do sweat the small stuff. (Or at least pay attention to it.)
4. Align yourself with the other “greats” in your life.
5.  Always act as if someone is watching you.
6. Surround yourself with people who don’t think like you.
7. Be known for your integrity.
8. Know when to ask for help.
9. Read at least ten books a year.
10. Shape your life around your passions.
11. Talk to strangers. 

11.5    Expect Greatness to come.

Success doesn’t just happen by accident.  It also doesn’t happen just from working really, really hard.  It takes a great plan, a great strategy that you can work from.  And that takes the discipline to step back from the daily grind, to talk with other trusted and committed people and to create a plan and strategy that will take you where you want to go.

I would love to help you develop and expand your portfolio of success through discovering your purpose, unleashing your passion, helping you achieve next-level results and enjoying the realization of your result-oriented dreams.  You can take action now and attend the upcoming Visioning Great to Successing Great™ Virtual Retreat of March 20, 2010. It’s your time to sparkle. ™ http://bit.ly/9AA92z

The only way to fail is to quit” – Chris Widener.  Why not take this partial list of habits that drive business success and start to put each one into practice. By learning and instilling new habits in your daily business life, it will have a dramatic effect on your level of success.

1. Cultivate Inner Networks: Take the time to identify and build relationships with key peers, mentors, and advisors.
2. Practice Centerness: Focus away from business and profits toward what you can do to improve the life of your customers.
3. Be Humble and Honesty: Be open and honest about yourself and your business creates growth as an individual and as a company.
4. Embrace Adaptability: Be flexible allows us to respond to changes without being paralyzed with fear and uncertainty.
5. Be Opportunity Focused: Look at both sides of the coin. Every problem has an opportunity.
6. Find A Better Way: Productivity is the cornerstone of business success. Start by embracing technology, automation, outsourcing, and improving business systems and processes.
7. Maintained a Balanced Lifestyle: Business success requires the habit of balancing all aspects of your life; free time is a habit that will make your business and life more enjoyable.

     7.5. Love What You Do and Who You Are: Everything else follows.

Here my suggestion, review each of the 7 habits and choose one habit to focus on for a month or until you achieve mastery; then gradually incorporate each of the 7 habits of business success into your life and watch yourself attain your business dreams. Adopting these 7 habits will help you create a business or career that will give you not only success but also joy and fulfillment in your life. 

I would love to help you develop and expand your portfolio of success through discovering your purpose, unleashing your passion, helping you achieve next-level results and enjoying the realization of your result-oriented dreams.  You can take action now and attend the upcoming Visioning Great to Successing Great™ Virtual Retreat of March 20, 2010. It’s your time to sparkle. ™ http://bit.ly/9AA92z