Work Life Balance Podcast: Business | Productivity | Results

[[:encoded, "As a business owner, there are things you must do in order to accomplish your goals, so you can have the kind of business and life you have dreamed of having. From managing a team to handling clients - and everything in between - it can be easy to lose complete control of your day. We all have the same 24 hours available each day; it’s how we chose to use those 24 hours that’s makes the difference.\n\nMeetings, client services, and a To-Do List a mile long are frequent daily tasks in the world of running a business. The key is to find an effective way to handle our daily routine to stay focused and on track to achieve your goals in the shortest amount of time and the least amount of effort.\n\nTip #1: Break Goals Down Into Daily Action Steps - and Track Them\nSomewhere between running a business and having a personal life, it’s not uncommon for our goals to fall by the wayside. Sure, we write out a Goal List, but it ends up at the bottom of a large stack of papers on our desk or filed away i

[[:encoded, "Should I turn left at the fork in the road or right? Should I agree to take on a non-ideal client that could be more work than waiting for an ideal client? Is this new job offer right for me or should I stay where I am? Should I have the fish or the beef? The choices we make impact our lives – sometimes in profound ways, others in subtle ways. \n\nSometimes, though, we feel overwhelmed at the variety of options ahead of us and we can’t, or won’t, make a decision. There is a song lyric that goes something like, “if you choose not to decide you still have made a choice.” I always find that profound especially at those times when I don’t make a decision, or can’t decide which decision is the “right” one. \n\nIf you’re faced with decisions regularly, and who isn’t, it can be overwhelming. We can then start to suffer from decision fatigue. This state can impact us in small, or large ways. For example, if you get out of bed in the morning and the first thing you’re faced with is a refrigerator or

[[:encoded, "Since today is Thanksgiving in the United States, I thought you might enjoy a short poem. Levity is always a good thing, I think.\n\nHere’s your Funny Ode to Thanksgiving\nMay your stuffing be tasty May your turkey plump, \nMay your potatoes and gravy Have nary a lump. \nMay your yams be delicious and your pies take the prize, \nAnd may your Thanksgiving dinner Stay off your thighs!\n\nHappy Thanksgiving to those of you in the United States! If you aren’t in the US, have a fantastic day and remember to aim for what you want each and every day! \n\nAnne Bachrach\nThe Accountability Coach™\nThe Results Accelerator™ \n\nFor more help with growing your business and accelerating your results, reach out to me today and schedule your complimentary 30-minute consultation.\n\nGo to https://www.accountabilitycoach.com to check out for yourself how I, as your Accountability Coach™, can help you get and stay focused on you highest payoff activities that put you in the highest probability position to a

[[:encoded, "Some days you’d rather be in bed watching Netflix, going surfing, or skiing, than picking up the phone to make client acquisition (revenue generation) calls to increase business revenue. It happens to the best of us, even those of us that love our business. When you feel uninspired to tackle that to-do list, try one or more of these 10 tips, I’m about to share with you, to ramp up your motivation level and be productive again. \n\n1.\tGet Digital. In today’s digital world, there’s an app, podcast, or video for everything, including motivation. According to American Express’s blog on motivation, commitment trackers such as Stridesapp or Beeminder can give you that extra push to keep up with your long-term and short-term goals. The article also suggested writing the goals down on pen and paper for extra focus, and I certainly agree with this, and all my clients have their specific long-range and short-range goals written down.\n\n2.\tSet Milestones. Working on a long-term goal can seem en

[[:encoded, "Do you surround yourself with dream squashers or are you surrounded by individuals who listen to your dreams for your business and urge you to pursue them? Do you think big for your business? Do you look at where your business stands today and think, “this is good enough” or “what if I try something new and it upsets the successes I’ve attained?” Do you give yourself enough credit to allow yourself to dream big? \n\nRemember, not every big dream has to come to fruition of a “mission accomplished.” But, every big dream may have a kernel of an action step that will help you think outside the proverbial box and could potentially spark a new idea to do something you’re currently doing better, faster, or at a higher level of income producing effect? \n\nHow Can Big Thinking Grow Your Business? \n\nTake a moment and ask yourself: What is your dream for your business? Do you want to be the next Amazon or Uber? Do you want to be the biggest XYZ firm in your city or part of the country? Are you looki

[[:encoded, "Finding and retaining quality staff whether you’re hiring employees or contractors, can be a difficult task for many entrepreneurs. There are a myriad of reasons this is true. It takes a focused, strategic approach to hiring and growing your team that will help propel you and your business forward. \n\nSometimes, though, no matter how well you have hired and how many strategies you have in place for a “good hire” it just doesn’t work out and you have to start over. Starting over with hiring and training a new employee or even getting a contractor up to speed on what you need done is a drain – physically and emotionally for the entrepreneur and financially for the business. \n\nHow can you find and retain quality staff? \n\nLet’s explore 7 steps you can take that can help you increase your success. \n1.\tBe very clear on what you want the individual to do. If you hire someone and they think they are doing A and you want them to do B and perhaps C, and you didn’t tell them up front, they may b

[[:encoded, "It is way too easy to let the day get away from you simply because you are unfocused. When this happens, it may not be detrimental to your business and its viability. But if you find that you’re wasting time daily and can’t stay focused, you will begin to lose motivation because you’re not seeing to-dos getting checked off. If your business is suffering you may not even place the blame on being unfocused, but it could very well be the case. \n\nDo you find yourself staring out the window or scrolling through social media and tell yourself, “I’m just going to look on social media for five minutes” then discover that it’s been a half an hour or an hour or longer? It’s easy to get distracted. It’s easy to lose focus and when this happens regularly you need to determine the underlying cause. If you were formerly focused and stuck to tasks and didn’t waste time, what is happening now that you’re not focused? \n\nFor many entrepreneurs the reason for losing focus and wasting time is procrastinati

[[:encoded, "Business owners typically “live” their principles. They may not stand up and shout, “Here are the principles by which I run my business and live my life” but their principles are embedded in their thoughts, words, and actions. \n\nIf you’re not certain what your business principles are, if you want to add more principles to your arsenal, or if you simply want to understand business principles, let’s explore a list of 11 for you to ponder. \n\nOne of the challenges many people struggle with is trying to have personal satisfaction while running a business without sacrificing one for the other. Your principles will help drive your business and help you get back to a more satisfying personal life. \n\n1.\tWhat are your strengths? When you focus on what you’re strong in, you can find ways to address business weaknesses. One way to best address a business weakness is to delegate those tasks at which you struggle. When you do this, you remove that struggle from your plate, and you can fully focus o

[[:encoded, "The North Star (or Polaris), located directly above the North Celestial Pole, holds a lot of meaning. While it’s not the brightest star, it’s easy to locate. As an actual, noteworthy, and reliable point in the night sky, it’s a significant symbol for guidance and achievement. \n\nConsider these examples. For centuries, ships relied on celestial navigation, guided by the North Star. In addition, the North Star offered hope and freedom for the enslaved during abolition. While you may not be crossing literal seas or lands, the idea of finding the North Star—your North Star—can highlight the value of goal setting. \n\nHaving a goal, no matter the size, is crucial for reaching success in any venture. Imagine attending a meeting or announcing a new policy without any idea of your end goal. Not only would that be confusing, but it would also slow down productivity—and possibly hurt the collective morale and trust of your team members. \n\nInstead, setting your sights on a goal, or North Star, offer

[[:encoded, "Daryl Woodhouse has appeared on 200+ stages, workshops and conferences, live and virtually across 60+ countries. From his experience, Daryl knows that a healthy life-work balance isn’t just good for your wellbeing, it has a profound impact on business success. Daryl equips leaders and entrepreneurs with all they need to achieve more, work less, and avoid burnout. This all sounds good to me, so I hope you also get value from insights Daryl shared with me.\n\nHere are some questions I asked Daryl that you will benefit from when you listen to his interview:\n•\tSince starting your first business in 2012, you achieved 7 figures in revenue within a few years, winning many awards from innovation excellence and client success studies. Please briefly explain what the major contributors were to you being able to accomplish such good success in a short period of time.\n\n•\tShare with us the 8 ways to boost workplace productivity & wellbeing, so we can get an idea on how to get started doing thi

[[:encoded, "Developing time management skills enables you to accomplish high-level goals that accelerate your business success. Time remains our most valuable resource. The most successful professionals master their time utilization, so their \"hours worked\" align with meaningful objectives. These time management skills guide seasoned professionals in their craft.\n\nSo, the five time management skills you want to master are:\n\n1. Schedule Calls Within Time Blocks\nBusiness professionals love to hear the phone ringing. A prospect, partner, or client resides on the other line, waiting for you to pick up the phone. However, fielding calls throughout the day can present a problem. If you spend too much time fielding all your calls, you will not have enough time for outreach and building your brand. Hiring someone on your team to field calls for you greatly alleviates this issue, if you don’t already have someone in place. The person answering the phone can schedule a time for you to call back t

[[:encoded, "If you’re a list-maker, you know there’s nothing like checking items off when complete. In fact, a rush of endorphins floods your brain! The neurotransmitter dopamine produces satisfaction and happiness, making you feel accomplished and propelling you to get more done.\n\nBut first, you have to actually create that to-do list, which, for some people, can feel like a massive undertaking. After all, making a list (which is really a form of setting goals) requires thinking through many elements, including the things like:\n•\tDeciding what needs to be done\n•\tDetermining how to prioritize\n•\tForcing ourselves to be specific\n•\tBreaking jobs down into smaller steps\n•\tScheduling times to check our progress\n•\tHolding ourselves accountable\n•\tKnowing when to say no\n\nIf you’re feeling overwhelmed after reading that, you’re not alone! In actuality, science tells us that only 8% of people meet their goals. That means 92% of people don’t. Those are some pretty dismal statistics, but I have ho

[[:encoded, "Ahhh, the good ol’ catchphrase: Believe in yourself. \n\nIf only it were that simple, right?\n\nI know. This expression may feel cliché. But it’s worth looking closer at your belief system to better understand how it impacts your goals and your goal achievement. After all, your beliefs, both positive and negative, will affect your confidence and overall job performance. This, in turn, affects your ability to achieve your goals. To begin, we must consider where our belief system originates.\n\nLimiting Beliefs \n\nThroughout our lives, we’ve acquired a belief system—whether we’re aware of it or not. In fact, science tells us that our beliefs are mostly formed by the time we’re 7 years old. They’re ingrained into our mind, and honestly, we usually don’t stop to question them. \n\nAnd that might be where the problem lies. Even though you’ve grown into a successful adult, your beliefs today may reflect your beliefs as a child. When you don’t recognize and overcome these types of limiting belief

[[:encoded, "Goal setting is directly tied into your future and affects your life. Setting goals not only prepares you for success, it guides you there, to that place that you envision as your ultimate destination. Setting goals helps you to know exactly what it is you want to achieve, and the steps needed in order for you to succeed professionally and personally. \n\nEffective goal setting sets you on a certain path that is free from distractions and time wasters that could slow your progress. Finally, goal setting is motivational, because the more goals you set and achieve, the more self-confidence you build and the happier you are. There are two main components to successful goal setting.\n\n1.\tSet Short Term Goals: You have probably heard of the effectiveness of goal setting before. Who uses this system to their advantage? Many world-renowned athletes, as well as successful businesspersons and celebrities, have adhered to this philosophy. They have to approach their dream from a logical and

[[:encoded, "Today we are talking about 6 Ideas for Creating New Opportunities by Getting Rid of Limiting Beliefs.\n\nAccording to the laws of physics and aerodynamics, a bumble bee can’t fly. So…try telling a bumble bee that!\n\nIsn’t it wonderful that bumble bees don’t possess human traits? Because if they did, in all likelihood, we would live in a world devoid of flowers and honeycomb and the simple delights of bumble bees productively going about their business in our garden.\n\nWhy? Because we human beings have a knack for getting caught up in limiting self beliefs, so it follows that the bulk of us would simply accept the word of the scientific community and not fly because we’ve been told we can’t! \n\nAnd like the imaginary void that would be created without the ingenuity of bumble bees, we create huge voids in our life by accepting self-limiting beliefs.\n\nOur beliefs about ourselves, those around us and the world at large affect who we are and how we behave. Beliefs are merely thoughts, that

[[:encoded, "Have you heard that saying, “Persistence Pays Off”? It is true, but there is a fine line between being persistent and being relentless, and you need to know when you’re crossing the line. \n\nPersistence is a personality trait and an attitude that indicates you’re working hard, and that you keep trying until you achieve success or until you realize the direction you’re going isn’t going to achieve the goal you set. \n\nPersistence is a personality trait you can develop and here are five reasons you may want to: \n\n1.\tYou will be motivated. If you’re persistent you are more likely to stay motivated and keep moving toward the goals you’ve set. Self-motivation is a critical trait of a successful entrepreneur. \n\n2.\tYou will gain expertise. If you’re persistent in pursuing a goal, you will work harder and learn more about the subject at hand. You will experiment, and repeat actions until you achieve the desired outcomes.\n\n3.\tYou learn the value of success. When you are persistent and if

[[:encoded, "Do you command a room when you begin speaking? Have you met individuals who, no matter if they’re talking about the weather or about intense business topics, have everyone on the edge of their seats? Have you ever wanted to be an even more effective communicator? If so, I have some good news for you! You can hone that skill. \n\nWhether you want to command a room at a speaking engagement, keep your team engaged, or even have better communication with friends and family, and clients and prospects, here are 9 ways you can enhance your communication skills. \n\nIf you’re ready to take the first steps toward a more effective communication style, there is no better time to start than today. This may not be a skill you hone overnight, but when you plan, prepare and practice, you will see marked improvement in your communication skills. So, let’s explore nine ideas to help you be an even more effective communicator. \n\n1.\tThink about the takeaway. If you’re getting up to speak, what do you want t

[[:encoded, "“Why do I have to deal with change?” The answer is, because change is inevitable. Whether it’s a new client, a new boss, a new piece of software, a discontinuation of your favorite coffee flavor… change is a part of life. Coping with, and adapting to, those changes are crucial for happiness and success in work and in life. \n\nWhether you are someone who embraces change or dreads it, the way in which you accept it will increase or decrease your stress levels. Change can trigger powerful emotions. For some, change makes them feel as though they are out of control, that they are being dragged toward a very steep rock face or cliff, toward which they have no control. \n\n“Going with the flow” is a mantra some people chant, but for many going with the flow is not easy to do and, in fact, causes them undue stress. Get rid of the “go with the flow” mindset and try these 3 mindset adjustments, I’m about to share with you, to help you better cope with change, as change is constant. \n\n1.\tChange is

[[:encoded, "When you’re focused you get more done – plain and simple. Focus also helps you to enjoy the moment you’re in. Being in the present is a gift that many people take for granted. Pay attention. Focus on what you’re doing. You will be happier for it. \n\nIt doesn’t matter whether you’re an entrepreneur or an individual just looking for a bit more peace in your life – focus is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. \n\nIf you’re not certain if you are focused enough or if you want to find ways to fine tune and enhance your focus, you’re in the right place. \n\nImplement these seven steps and you may be able to remain more laser focused, be more efficient in your focus, and enjoy living in, and working in, the moment. \n\n1.\tSet the alarm clock a bit earlier. I can hear you groaning, but if you get up earlier you may get more done. Also, getting up before everyone in the house wakes up will give you solitude and will make you feel less rushed. If you have always wanted to practice yoga

[[:encoded, "Distractions are everywhere. If you work from home, you have everything within your home. If you are at an office, you have colleagues, watercooler talk, and phone calls that distract you. Even if you’re not distracted by home or office, chances are you’re distracted by social media pings and email notifications… the list goes on and on! \n\nWhen you’re distracted it’s easy to blame distractions for the reason you’re not getting all the activities you know you need to do (especially high payoff ones) done. You are procrastinating and using your distraction as a crutch. \n\nWhy do you think distractions are pulling you away from the tasks at hand? On what are you blaming your procrastination? If it’s a distraction, let’s explore 5 potential reasons procrastination can derail your business or career. \n\n1.\tYou forget about your future because you’re living in the now – and with the current distraction. It is sometimes difficult to see the end of the road when you’re surrounded by distraction