“I’ll do it when I have time”. This is one of the most common things I hear every day from busy, small business owners. It’s understandable, most of you are juggling many things on your plate.   As it should be, you’re busy keeping revenue flowing in and keeping your customers happy –  the business of business often falls by the wayside. It’s easy to go on like that hedging your bets that nothing “bad” is going to happen to you –  until – the unthinkable happens.

Recently, one of my clients lived the unthinkable. They lost critical data to a computer failure. Biting my tongue and resisting the urge to say “I told you so”, we made a recovery plan and after a few weeks of hair -pulling frustration, my client is back on track and has become the poster child for disaster proofing their business. Below is an article I want to offer you from a guest blogger intended to help you think about what you need to do to take care of your business.

A disaster can strike a business at any time and in many different ways. If the hard drive containing all of the important data needed to manufacture your new product is destroyed with no back-up, then that is a disaster that is very specific to that company. A building fire, on the other hand, is something that can affect any organization.

It’s important to plan for emergencies and run through drills that make sure that the company is ready to handle a crisis. Your company business plan should outline many of the crisis responses the company will have to many of the more common issues such as a natural disaster or fire. It should also contain an outline of the types of insurance the company needs and has. Business insurance can be an integral part of surviving a business disaster and is often required of companies of a certain size, so if you haven’t already researched a policy, you can find rate comparisons at resources like BusinessInsurance.org. There are as many types of insurance as there are disasters, so it’s important to find the policy that’s right for you.

While it can be difficult to plan for every disaster, it pays to spend time considering every possible scenario that could occur and how to handle them. The more time spent preparing for a disaster means less time spent trying to recover from one.
Data Loss

Think about what would happen if a power surge hit your building and wiped out all of the data on all of your company servers. Would you be able to stay in business? Would you be able to recover? Most business owners would agree that keeping the doors open if the company data is lost would be almost impossible.

The best contingency plan for potential data loss is off-site data storage. Many companies are utilizing technology known as the data storage cloud for their off-site storage needs. This is a secure storage service that the company pays for monthly like the phone bill. The data is archived and stored on third-party servers that are housed in an extremely secure structure.

If the local servers in the company location are damaged, then the company would simply access the back-up cloud and repopulate new servers. Some companies have eliminated servers and just use the cloud service for their networking.

Fire 

The worst part about a fire is that it destroys everything it touches. If your office is flooded, there is an outside chance that some of the important information and equipment can be saved. But when an office burns down, it’s much more likely that nothing is salvaged.

Contingency planning for a fire is something that the most proactive companies have already done. These kinds of contingency plans include having a temporary site to set up a new office already picked out, a plan in place with the phone company to route all calls to the new location and back-up computers stored in an off-site facility that can be put online immediately.

The cloud storage set-up discussed earlier would make the transition to a temporary facility even easier. In many cases, companies have pre-existing arrangements with local hotels to rent out conference rooms or suites in case of a fire.

Key Employee Leaves

As was mentioned, some business disasters can seem insignificant to outside observers, but they can be devastating to the company itself. For example, if your vice president of sales suddenly leaves the company, then that can send a shockwave through the entire client base.

Business contingency planning includes succession planning for all of the executives, managers and key personnel.. If the vice president of sales suddenly leaves, then the contingency plan may call for the top sales manager in the company to step in and keep things running smoothly.

Companies tend to rely a lot on key employees. But there always needs to be a plan in place to keep the company going if one of those key employees should suddenly leave.

The best way to avoid a disaster is to plan for it. The company that spends time developing disaster plans is the company that is best equipped to handle any challenge that is thrown its way.

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Statistics tell us that most small businesses fail in the first 5 years due to lack of capital. While this is true, in my experience the other reason businesses fail is from owner burnout!

Owning your own business can be an enormous source of satisfaction and freedom. Running a business however, is also one of the most stressful and at times overwhelming undertakings there is. As you well know, it takes an enormous amount of your time, energy and resources every day. Many business owners start out filled with energy and excitement and soon come to realize the enormous investment and commitment they’ve gotten themselves into.

Chances are you’ve heard this before, that’s good. As we know from the marketing field it takes at least 7-9 exposures to a targeted message for it to sink in. Whether this is the first time or the twentieth time you’ve heard this message this time I’d like to invite you to take one action for yourself – TODAY – that will begin to refill the well.

Make an investment. Not an investment in a training program, or a new software package – an investment in you – you who are your businesses greatest asset.

Here are 4 suggestions to get you started on the path to taking care of your number one asset – you.  Pick one area to work on at a time. Maybe work on one each week. How might feel by the end of the month if you practiced each of these suggestions? Take a moment to imagine that.

Practice the mantra, I am number one. This runs contrary to what you were taught. It’s the toughest part of your programming to overcome.  But, you have to learn to take care of yourself first. Remember the message you get from the airlines if oxygen is needed. You must put the mask on YOURSELF before assisting others.

I’m not suggesting becoming selfish; I’m suggesting you explore the difference between selfish and self care. Self care is product of psychological health. Do you eat well, do you exercise regularly, and do you take vacations? How well do you manage your time?  Do you know the critical distinctions all business owners should know? Working in your business versus working on your business and most importantly -you are NOT your business.

Regularly nurture your inspiration and your dreams. It’s SO easy to get lost in the day to day details of life and business. We march through the day with our head down, leaning into what has to be done. When was the last time you looked up, scanned the horizon and marveled at something beautiful? Answer the following questions: Why did you start your business? What lights you up about what you do? What dreams are as of yet unfulfilled?

How do you nurture the essence of your inspiration?  You might take a coffee break in a special café and journal. Maybe find a special place in nature to spend 15 minutes a day. Turn off the radio during your commute and just listen to the silence. Consider spending regular time doing this. This is the kind of activity that refills the well quickly and gives you energy to go on.

Where does your precious energy go? Energy drains are often the biggest cause of stress and overwhelm. They are the things you tolerate every day that if you eliminated would free up time. The good news is many of them can be quick and easy fixes. There are two levels of energy drains, nuisance drains and lifestyle drains.  Nuisance drains are things like: the squeaky door that bothers you or not having office equipment working well. Do you shutter every time you open your file drawer and can’t find what you’re looking for? Are your finances in order? These are things you can actually do something about to remedy. Call the accountant. Oil the door. Make a list of 10 nuisance drains and take care of them this week.

Lifestyle drains are harder to fix, they are things like toxic relationships and psychological hindrances that get in your way.  The first step however, is articulating them and making a plan to handle them.

By getting the things off your plate that don’t belong there you will make time for the things you do want there. Or maybe you’d simply like more time?

Improve your support system. Let’s face it we all need support and sometimes it’s hard to ask for help. Here it is straight – Often the difference between getting successful results and not, depends on how well supported you are. A circle of support can mean a lot of different things. It can be your partner, your best friend, a mentor or coach, or your family. Meaningful support can be any or all of these people, the more support you have the better.

Think about creating your own personal advisory team. Many business owners convene an advisory team on a regular basis to help solve business problems or brainstorm new ideas. You might have to include the promise of chocolate to inspire attendance, but in my experience, most people are honored by a genuine request for help.

Regardless of how and when you access support, make sure you distinguish between true support and energy draining support. If you find yourself surrounded with the latter, go back and reread the previous point. It’s critical that your supporters are there for YOUR agenda, not their own.

It’s YOUR life…imagine the possibilities!

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1. YOU Are Your Businesses Greatest Asset
2. 5 Strategies for Lasting Change
3. The Power of Personal Environments

Wouldn’t it be great if someone could teach you some real world, tangible strategies to help you renovate your relationship to time?

If so, catch my latest audio recordings from two of my recent teleclasses. Download them for free. The first one is about 45 minutes long the second 30 minutes.

Craving a Balanced Life – Forget Time Management

How to Double Your Effectiveness With Everything You Do

Why am I offering this? I hear the same thing day after day from smart, savvy small business owners – there’s not enough time and you’re often teetering on overwhelm. Enough. There are things you can do – I practice these strategies myself and I want to share them with you. Honestly, it’s not rocket science – but a few common sense things that if you implement into your life you WILL experience a profound change.

A wiser person then me once said the definition of insanity is repeating the same actions and expecting different results. IF you’d like different results, take different actions.  Invest some of your energy now – take the first step – even if you don’t think you have time.

Listen to the audios and please let me know what you think.

Warmly and supportively,
Helaine

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In addition, there are some common mistakes I bet you make every day without even knowing it that contributes to the problem. If you give me 30 minutes of your time and come to my free Teleclass I’ll teach you five easy to apply actions you can implement right away without it costing you a single cent. You can correct these mistakes and become more effective.

Imagine how different life would feel if you ended each day knowing you could let go of work and focus on the other parts of your life without feeling guilty or exhausted. What dreams, goals or promises are you not able to fulfill because you can’t get it all done?

Here’s what you’ll learn in only 30 minutes:

• How to dislodge the three biggest invisible obstacles to getting stuff done so you can bring in more satisfied customers.

• How to make what already works work even better and bring you even more revenue.

• How to upgrade your personal operating system and overcome the fear that stops you in your tracks

• A revolutionary, proven way to promote and sell your product to your most perfect customer – that will make you feel even better about what you sell.

• The secret savvy business owners use to end the pain of procrastination and improve effectiveness and profits.

This information packed Teleclass is a little taste of my new 12 month small business development program From Passion to Profit starting in October.

Even if you’re not interested in the program, I promise you’ll get 25 minutes of strategies and actions to apply to your own business. After the call I will stay on the line for Q & A.

I hope you can join me Wednesday July 28 at 4 pm eastern time, (3 pm central, 2 pm mountain and 1 pm pacific).

Please register even if you can’t attend the class – I will record the call and make it available to you 24 hours later.

Register here: http://www.pathofpurpose.com/free-30-minute-teleclass/

Looking forward to hearing you on the call!

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Remembering what it’s like to be employed by someone else offers a stark contrast that probably contributed to the decision to start your business or downright pushed you there. Your time and freedom is a highly valued asset.

You knew starting a business would take hard work, and you would put a lot of time in – BUT you were highly motivated and abundantly clear that ultimately, you would have freedom and you would experience your life on your own terms.

There’s nothing wrong with that mindset – freedom is a wonderful reason to be self-employed but guess what? The value of freedom you hold so dear is unbeknown to you creating an illusion that’s getting in your way.

Here’s how it plays out. You resist three dirty words, structure, discipline, and accountability because you think they’re the opposite of freedom! But, here’s a secret all successful business owners know – structure, discipline and accountability ARE the foundational building blocks freedom is built on. Until you stop resisting and make friends with structure, discipline and accountability you’ll never get what you want – freedom.

For some reason many people have an almost allergic reaction to the concepts of structure, discipline and accountability. They feel them to be authoritative, not spontaneous, and dare I say, militaristic. Consequently, resisting these qualities ultimately leads to lack and is one of the root causes of time management problems – which leads to – guess what? Your lack of freedom.

What do you do about this? You take a good look at your relationship with these words and change your thinking. You get help if you need it putting a plan in place so you can overcome the illusion. But, most importantly you remember to the core of why you want to be self-employed in the first place – FREEDOM – and decide to do what ever is necessary to get there.

It’s YOUR life… Imagine the possibilities!

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Everyone knows that marketing is really a fancy business term for “putting yourself out there”.  And, true to human nature most people have some degree of resistance to becoming as visible as necessary to achieve success.  Fact – if you want to make more money – you have to build tolerance and capacity for being “out there” publicly.

The other day I was coaching a client who needs to increase her revenue and wants to ramp up quickly.  For homework I asked her to put together a marketing strategy to carry her through the end of the year.  She emailed me back in no time with a well thought out plan that was quite impressive. As I made my way through the details something jumped out at me that was so obvious I couldn’t help but share it.

She based her entire plan on “passive” marketing opportunities and had completely left out any “active” engagement with her potential customers. Let me digress and define passive marketing – these are activities like, media promotion, brochures, email blasts, refining websites, starting a newsletter, offering coupons, etc. essentially all the easy things! Things that are effective and belong in any comprehensive plan but are passive and don’t ask you to engage with the world and “put yourself out there”.

It’s not a coincidence that her plan lacked any “active” activities. What I mean by “active” marketing is: calling prospects, asking for referrals, creating speaking opportunities or introductory classes, showing up at networking events. You know what I mean – all the things you push to the bottom of your “to do” list because you’re afraid to put yourself  “out there”.  She, like most small business owners wish that her product will find its way into the hands of her customers without her having to actually sell it.

Here are five reasons I think people are afraid to prioritize “active” marketing and get themselves “out there”:

Visibility – Most people have learned to be invisible. Think about it. Most of us are trained from an early age to be seen and not heard. Or, we pick up from our culture that it’s conceited to blow out own horn. You’ve got to reconcile these two conflicting intentions if you want to succeed.

Directness – Most people have an almost allergic reaction to being direct and making an offer. We worry about imposing or being viewed as bossy. If you have a solution to your prospects problem, how are they going to know it if you don’t tell them?

Self Confidence – Most people resist expressing themselves and their talents – again, another cultural misinterpretation. Being humble doesn’t mean you have to be silent. If you believe 100% in your product and feel passion for it – talk about it.

Structure – Most people greatly resist being managed in any way. If you went into business for yourself because you value “freedom” – don’t confuse freedom with not needing structure – everything needs some sort of structure to survive.

Money – Most people – believe it or not – have limited thinking when it comes to money. If you haven’t investigated the beliefs you hold about lack – or wealth for that matter – you can be stopped before you even get out of the gate.

So, here’s your homework assignment. Take a fresh look at your marketing plan and see if you have a balance of passive and active ways of promoting your business. Challenge yourself to up the ante on the active side and I would bet you’ll make more money by the end of the year. I’d love to hear what difference this makes – please share your thoughts or results with me!

It’s YOUR life…imagine the possibilities!

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With a good dose of fear that I’d lose everything I’d built, I stopped, shifted my focus and slowed everything way down. As many of you know, over the past few years, my husband and I built a house, dealt with a major health issue, lost a family member all the while  forging full steam ahead building both of our businesses. I wasn’t aware of it at the time but I was exhausted and empty.

Initially it felt great to pull back, spend time in the garden, read novels, give myself permission to watch Oprah in the afternoon. I tried on the concept of semi-retirement and, frankly I loved it. As the year wore on though,  I began to get restless and itchy. Although I knew there was still more recharging needed and I had little interest in re-engaging with work - I became aware of some darn feeling sneaking up on me that I couldn’t put my finger on. 

Knowing full well the distinction of being versus doing I convinced myself that I simply needed practice “being”. So I spent the winter – being - focused on appreciating my stillness. One cold, snowy afternoon I had a conversation with my coach. I was telling him about my stillness meditation and he asked me if I knew the difference between still and stale. Suddenly I knew what that feeling was I couldn’t put my finger on.

The light bulb went off and following my own coach medicine I knew I had to get myself moving again. But, I also knew that you can’t sustain action without  first being inspired and I was definitely NOT inspired. So I waited. Fortunately, having been on the planet for fifty some odd years, I was comforted knowing that inspiration eventually flows again. It’s like the tides, or the moon cycles – it comes around again.

Then, a few weeks ago winter broke, the air was warm and I noticed a few crocuses starting to poke their heads up toward the blue sky.  It hit me – creativity! I suddenly wanted to write and I did. That led to a flurry of activity which included revamping this website and reengaging with the world again. It’s great to be back, and it’s been wonderful hearing from those of you who have written, welcoming my return. 

It just goes to show you - even when you think inspiration’s gone forever  it never really is. It’s not possible for inspiration to cease to exist. Crocuses always return with the warmth of a new season.
 
It’s YOUR life…imagine the possibilities!

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“You have one year to live.”

For a good part of my life I have wondered, with a fair degree of anxiety, if someone, someday would utter these terrifying words to me. In my gloomy nightmare it’s been discovered that I have an incurable disease, and my life will soon be over.

Instant grief, fear of pain and suffering, incredible sadness all come rushing into my imagination as I create a scenario in my heart about my own death. Who will love my children the way I do? Will my husband find love again? How many dreams will I never see come true? What happens to me when I die?

When I blend these painful thoughts with our societal values to accomplish and succeed at life at any cost, it’s no wonder I experience stress and fear. I feel the cultural treadmill constantly pushing me forward toward something. How can I die without achieving the right career, the perfect relationship, money, and a mission in life that will define my purpose for being alive?

I’m not suggesting that we shouldn’t “do” things, have goals and live our dreams to the fullest. What I am wondering about is the other half of the formula; what we in the western world collectively condemn as frivolous and not productive. Being.

To me being-ness is about embracing the present, seeing others and myself in the context of who I am, not what I do. Holding the values of compassion and inclusion. Seeing as much value in dancing, painting or dangling my bare feet in a stream as I do in building a successful coaching practice. In essence, becoming attentive to the vibrancy and texture of every experience in which I find myself.

When I spend energy resisting the inevitable natural outcome of life I rob myself of living. I’m the one proclaiming the end. Every time I leave the present moment and project myself into some glorious or uncertain future or relive my past with regret, I miss the possibility of truly being in my life right here, right now.

When I awoke from my nightmare, I realized why I named my coaching practice “Path of Purpose” and what a path of purpose truly is. It’s the path itself. It’s the process of life unfolding perfectly in every moment.

Said another way, it’s not where the path leads that’s so important. Instead, it’s the path itself that brings us the most joy and fulfillment.

As I continue to clarify the balance of my being and doing, my thoughts and feelings about life take on a whole new quality. My appreciation for life is expanding, and I’m learning to live with greater awareness, gratitude and fullness.

If I were suddenly faced with a life threatening illness, certainly I would be afraid and would not want to depart this life prematurely. That being said, having emerged from my gloomy nightmare, I’ve awakened to the inherent gift of life along the path of purpose. The gift is the path itself.

As long as I remain on the path, I know I’ll arrive at the end of my life without wondering if I have truly lived.

It’s your life…imagine the possibilities!

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1. The Gift of a Hundred Dragonflies

Within seconds, I heard his wife Meg cheerfully greeting me on the other end of the phone. She began by explaining that she was in the middle of “cleaning gunk from the drain,” but she wanted to know what life coaching was all about. I took a deep breath, preparing to give her my quickest rap, and out of my mouth popped “life coaching is like cleaning the gunk out your drain.”

After the power of that image sunk in, and I wondered if she thought I was crazy, I realized life coaching is exactly like cleaning the gunk from our drains. Life coaching is about clearing the gunk from our lives!

Our lives can be full of debris and gunk that interrupt the effortless flow of a purposeful, passionate and fulfilling life. The gunk accumulates and gradually zaps our energy and creative passion, usually without us even noticing it. Many people learn to tolerate it, and some eventually experience a crisis, an illness, or simply find themselves wondering “is this all there is?” These are the reasons most of my clients come to me.

Here are the top 6 sources of gunk that could be blocking your flow. I invite you to take a minute and consider the following possibilities:

1. Limiting beliefs

Have you ever stopped and listened to what’s going on inside your head? We are so full of shoulds and woulds that we don’t even know what we truly think or feel. No wonder we have difficulty imagining the life we want. The first step in changing our lives is changing our thinking.

2. Draining relationships

Are you happy? Are you loved for exactly who you are and do you love without condition? Everyone deserves emotional fulfillment. Developing balanced partnerships add quality to life.

3. Career dissatisfaction

You open your eyes on a new day…. Are you excited to meet your world and express yourself? We spend a significant part of our time at “work”. Finding your true-life purpose ends the feeling like you are dragging yourself through your life.

4. Scarcity thinking

This is a big one. Do you feel like most of your energy goes into surviving and feeling like there’s never enough time, money, etc.? The universe is abundant and provides for you. There is an unlimited supply! You can shift your perspective and attract what you want in your life.

5. Not getting your basic needs met

Let’s get down to basics. How well do you take care of yourself? This is really important. On an airline flight you are instructed to put on your own oxygen mask before helping others. This makes good sense. How can you really serve others if your own needs aren’t met? Deal with your own unmet needs once and for all.

6. The things you’re putting up with

What are you tolerating that continues to drain your energy? Tolerating is different than being flexible. Take a good look at the areas in your life where you feel frustrated. Consider the possibility that what you “put up with” maybe draining the energy that you could be using to live a happier life!

Start clearing the gunk from your drain, and you’ll experience more energy, more passion and a life that flows. You’ll more easily be able to take action and create a satisfying and fulfilling life. If you need some help, consider a plumber (or maybe your own personal coach).

It’s your life . . . Imagine the possibilities!

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For most of my life I can remember asking myself the question, “Who am I and why am I here?” My answer to myself often left me feeling empty and wondering if I would ever know my true life’s purpose.

As a child and young woman, I didn’t have a grand dream or calling that I could remember. I was interested in a lot of different things and wasn’t afraid to explore. My parents, both successful individuals didn’t have glamorous careers or speak of lofty visions of achievement. Growing up with them, I knew I would get married, have a family and find something meaningful in the world that I would hope to find fulfillment in.

I found many gratifying things to do over the course of my life, I was a dancer, practiced as a midwife, owned a few businesses, and worked as a women’s health counselor. Although I appreciated these many opportunities and some of them were quite rewarding none of them ever hit the mark.

Left with a nagging feeling of dissatisfaction, there HAD to be something more to life. I kept looking for that one perfect opportunity, the reason for my being, and the fulfillment of my purpose!  Just like the predictability of the seasons I kept asking myself,  “Who am I and why am I here?” I was convinced that what I DID defined who I was and I discovered I wasn’t alone in this assumption.

If you ask a hundred people how they would define purpose they often respond by saying, purpose is what we are meant to “do” while we’re here on earth; it’s how we make a difference in the world utilizing our gifts and talents.  This conventional perspective relies on the ability to somehow know or stumble across that magic thing that is your destiny to fulfill. No wonder many people go through life wondering what their purpose is and not feeling satisfied.

I began to look at purpose from a new and exciting perspective. Instead of purpose being my “doing-ness” in life, my purpose is my “being-ness”.

Your life purpose is the context or vessel that HOLDS your life suggests Dr. W. Bradford Swift, founder of the Life On Purpose Institute and author of “Traveling the Purpose Path”. Imagine a beautiful jeweled goblet as your life purpose and the glorious wine within it your life. Can you see how your life purpose can shape your whole life as well as give it form and direction?

Your life purpose, that beautiful vessel is a combination of three things: who you are at the very core, your vision for yourself and what you see possible for the world and your values. When I began to answer my own question, “who am I and why am I here” from this perspective a whole new world of fresh possibility opened up for me.

Can you imagine everything you do in your life pouring from this purposeful vessel of your being- ness? Imagine everything you engage in from doing the dishes to leading a board meeting as a direct expression of your life purpose. How would you feel?

Here are some questions to consider helping you begin to clarify YOUR life purpose.

1.  Who are you deep down? What do you love and what makes  your heart sing?

2. When you are engaged in life and you are at your best, who are you being underneath what you are doing?

3.  What is your vision for yourself and what do you see possible?

4.  What are your values, the principals that guide your life?

In these simple yet powerful questions I discovered my being-ness. I now know who I am and why I’m here. I learned that deep sense of fulfillment, which we are all seeking, comes from just being me.

Soon after I clarified my life purpose I had a powerful experience. I was driving down the road on my way to pick up my daughter. I heard that old familiar thought pop up again, “who am I and why am I here?” I immediately became present to the truth and beauty of my life purpose:

“A life on purpose is a life of courage, creative expression, conscious awareness and abundant possibility through authentic being and clear compassionate service and love.”

My heart opened and tears came to my eyes…I realized I never had to ask myself that question again.

It’s your life…imagine the possibilities.

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