Goal Setting & Achievement Podcast: Business|Productivity

We all have those days when we just don’t feel like doing the work associated with achieving our goals, so the question is: How do you get motivated when you’re feeling uninspired? It’s as simple as finding the motivating factor - the thing that will inspire you to take the next step. But what if the thing that normally motivates you isn’t working today – right now when you need it? How do you get motivated and inspired to do what you need to do? Find a new motivator. First, identify your usual motivating factor by clarifying what normally leads you to action: The pleasure of achieving the desired end result or the pain of avoiding an unwanted result. In other words, every decision you make is based on the positive attraction to the pleasure of the benefits (pleasure) or in the negative avoidance of the pain of the penalties (pain). When you find the dominant motivator (pleasure or pain) all you have to do is leverage it to inspire you to take action. For instance, some days you may be motivated by pleasure, other days it might be by pain. Pay attention to the days you feel especially inspired to get motivated. Are those days when you feel most inspired driven predominantly by pleasure of the doing or pain of not doing? (This is your usual motivating factor.) Tip: Log your personal motivators in a journal or notebook to identify your personal motivators and patterns to help you better manage your actions and goal achievement. When you discover your personal motivator factor, you know what to switch up on the days when you feel uninspired. If you’re feeling uninspired, start by asking yourself these questions: What are the Results If I Do The Work? This is the pleasure motivator…when you’re motivated to do the work because of the benefits it brings. If you’re feeling uninspired, this is the first question to ask yourself. You may not feel like going to the gym, but the benefits of doing the work inspires you to take the action you need in order to achieve the end results. Ask yourself: What are the end results when I do the work? Keep going: Are the end results, regardless of the work that has to be done at this moment, enough to motivate me? Is my desire for the end results deep enough to get me to do what I need to do now to achieve a future goal? If you’re inspired to do the work, you’ve found your motivating factor. Take action NOW, before your inspiration wavers! What are the Results If I Don’t Do The Work? If the pleasure of doing the work isn’t enough to get you motivated, perhaps the pain of not doing the work will be enough to get you going? Using the same example of going to the gym, let’s approach it from a different angle: Perhaps, up until this point, you haven’t been able to motivate yourself to do what you need to do by thinking about the benefits of doing the work. In this case, the pleasure motivator isn’t working, so you’ve got to approach it from another angle: the pain motivator. Ask yourself: What are my end results if I don’t do the work? Keep going: Are these the end results I truly desire? Am I willing to sacrifice or undo my previous efforts? Am I willing to delay achieving a goal I deeply desire? If you’re inspired to do the work, you’ve found your motivating factor. Take action NOW, before your inspiration wavers! Still feeling uninspired? Ask yourself this additional question. Am I Willing To Pay The Price? Good, bad, short-term, long-term - there are consequences to every decision you make. (Even a non-decision cannot escape the consequences…) If you’re still not motivated to take action, there are only a few questions left to ask: Am I willing to pay the price for action or non-action? Am I willing to accept the consequences of my decision? Am I making this choice so that I won’t regret my decision, or will I regret it later? Either way, you will come to a decision to take action or not to take action - and either is okay. Whatever you decide - own it. Own the decis

Have you ever thought to yourself: “If only I had more time?” You can do anything you set your mind to—even the things that that you think you don’t have time for! How is this possible? By scheduling time for what’s important as well as what is fun. Of course, along with this schedule, you have to take certain steps to eliminate time wasters. What are time wasters? Time wasters can be anything, from an inanimate object to a full living and breathing person. It is important that you first learn how to identify a time waster and then learn how to stop this person, place, or thing from distracting you. Let’s start by listing some of the most common time wasters. 1. There’s no question that computers and a high-speed Internet connection can provide many valuable services to you. However, these tools are among the worst time wasters in existence. Some companies have actually banned Internet usage during working hours. If banning the Internet is not an option for you, then at least make it a rule that you will not open any computer programs that are not directly related to your work. If you catch your hand slowly approaching your mouse with the intent to surf, catch yourself and get back to work. This fasting from interactive entertainment also includes avoiding blogs, email, and instant messaging services. What can you do about important emails? If you have a problem with time-consuming emails then you might consider creating a separate email account for all your professional contacts. That way, you won’t be distracted by any forwarded messages or alerts from friends. Even better, ask your friends to not include you in the personal emails they like to send to other friends. You may even choose to only check email one or two times during the day, and for a specific period of time – one time not being the first thing in the morning when you arrive at work. 2. Interruptions from phones, team members, or pop-in visitors can be very distracting. Human beings have a natural inclination to sit around and chat. There’s certainly nothing wrong with this pastime, and there is no need to be rude with your peers, associates, friends, and neighbors. However, you do need to set some rules down and inform everyone who adores your company that during certain working hours you are unavailable. This applies to team members also. You create set meeting times when others can meet with you. 3. Unless you work on the phone, you may choose to turn off this device since telephone conversations can easily take up a lot of time. Once again, explain to family and friends that during working hours the phone is not an option. You also might want to tell them that it’s only appropriate to call during a life and death situation, since an “emergency” can be liberally interpreted. 4. The next time waster is to consider is not actually a tangible object, but a lack of time management. When there is no time management or scheduling taking place, then a person tends to be unfocused in his or her approach. A person may not prioritize their tasks, or in the opposite case, try to take on too much responsibility. Along with the threat of procrastination, a lack of time management makes for a potentially devastating time waster. The use of a calendar for time management will lead to more efficient and effective behaviors that produce even better results and increases your overall success. 5. One of the most often reported problems with office employees is the lack of education that newcomers are given. This takes up more time having to explain procedures and demonstrate how to work various systems. You could apply this lesson as well, whether you own your own company or work independently of others. Try to learn new systems or new information on your own time, so that by the time you start working you are not wasting any time reading over instructions or surfing for help resources online. Creating procedures manuals for all p

Have you ever thought to yourself: “If only I had more time?” You can do anything you set your mind to—even the things that that you think you don’t have time for! How is this possible? By scheduling time for what’s important as well as what is fun. Of course, along with this schedule, you have to take certain steps to eliminate time wasters. What are time wasters? Time wasters can be anything, from an inanimate object to a full living and breathing person. It is important that you first learn how to identify a time waster and then learn how to stop this person, place, or thing from distracting you. Let’s start by listing some of the most common time wasters. 1. There’s no question that computers and a high-speed Internet connection can provide many valuable services to you. However, these tools are among the worst time wasters in existence. Some companies have actually banned Internet usage during working hours. If banning the Internet is not an option for you, then at least make it a rule that you will not open any computer programs that are not directly related to your work. If you catch your hand slowly approaching your mouse with the intent to surf, catch yourself and get back to work. This fasting from interactive entertainment also includes avoiding blogs, email, and instant messaging services. What can you do about important emails? If you have a problem with time-consuming emails then you might consider creating a separate email account for all your professional contacts. That way, you won’t be distracted by any forwarded messages or alerts from friends. Even better, ask your friends to not include you in the personal emails they like to send to other friends. You may even choose to only check email one or two times during the day, and for a specific period of time – one time not being the first thing in the morning when you arrive at work. 2. Interruptions from phones, team members, or pop-in visitors can be very distracting. Human beings have a natural inclination to sit around and chat. There’s certainly nothing wrong with this pastime, and there is no need to be rude with your peers, associates, friends, and neighbors. However, you do need to set some rules down and inform everyone who adores your company that during certain working hours you are unavailable. This applies to team members also. You create set meeting times when others can meet with you. 3. Unless you work on the phone, you may choose to turn off this device since telephone conversations can easily take up a lot of time. Once again, explain to family and friends that during working hours the phone is not an option. You also might want to tell them that it’s only appropriate to call during a life and death situation, since an “emergency” can be liberally interpreted. 4. The next time waster is to consider is not actually a tangible object, but a lack of time management. When there is no time management or scheduling taking place, then a person tends to be unfocused in his or her approach. A person may not prioritize their tasks, or in the opposite case, try to take on too much responsibility. Along with the threat of procrastination, a lack of time management makes for a potentially devastating time waster. The use of a calendar for time management will lead to more efficient and effective behaviors that produce even better results and increases your overall success. 5. One of the most often reported problems with office employees is the lack of education that newcomers are given. This takes up more time having to explain procedures and demonstrate how to work various systems. You could apply this lesson as well, whether you own your own company or work independently of others. Try to learn new systems or new information on your own time, so that by the time you start working you are not wasting any time reading over instructions or surfing for help resources online. Creating procedures manuals for all p

It’s so easy to set goals in life. How many people actually take the time to set specific life goals? Not many of us, is my guess. You want to make more money. You want to enjoy more productive relationships with friends and acquaintances. You want to make a difference in the lives of others. You want more responsibility in your career. Unfortunately, while all these goals are admirable, they are also very broad. Most people fantasize about being rich, famous, and well liked. However, these are not necessarily goals. These are common images of success that the media wants us to believe in. Human beings are programmed by books, television, movies and Internet to believe in someone else’s values. After all, did you ever want to be Bill Gates before you knew he was filthy rich? Better yet, did you ever want to be filthy rich before you knew that money could buy you luxurious accommodations, fun new gadgets, and exclusive world travel? Step 1: Know the Difference between Dreaming and Doing When a person claims that making a lot of money is his or her “goal”, they are not truly seeing the future. A person who is “destined” for success, programs their own mind to achieve something remarkable but feasible. A person that is motivated to achieve a goal does not think in terms of failure and winning. (As in, I failed at becoming a millionaire. So, it’s not meant to be.) Rather, this person follows a set path towards their final destination. To the successful person, succeeding in life is a daily responsibility, one full of setbacks and solutions. The successful person doesn’t merely think in terms of “becoming rich” overnight. They study the path towards financial freedom, as handed down by others, and create a feasible and specific plan to increase their profit through the years. They learn about their chosen industry. They learn about office relationships and business strategies. They learn about investing and wealth building over time. Making money is not just a fleeting thought or a wild idea that must be tried at least once—it is their continuing journey for success. Similarly, a determined person who wants to become an actor or actress will take steps towards this ultimate goal. They will study the craft and attend auditions on a regular basis. Furthermore, they will study the history of show business and model their own career after the careers of successful actors and actresses. They see the entertainment industry as their career and works according to a plan. Do you see how this mindset is different from another person who simply wishes it would be nice to be paid $20 million dollars for three months of camera posing? Step 2: Set ‘Stretch’ Goals Achieving one’s vision of success depends upon the setting and completion of ‘stretch’ goals. A stretch goal is a realistic goal with a little more added to it for it to be a stretch. I think stretch goals are a little more motivating and inspiring than goals that are ‘realistic.’ Stretch goals do not follow someone else’s idea of success, but only your own. After you study the profession that appeals to you, you begin to understand the steps involved and approach your profession from a results-oriented perspective. Set your goals on a long-term and short-term basis and work your way down to weekly goals. It is easier to take smaller steps than trying to focus on one big goal or many big goals. As you reach milestones along the way, your self-confidence increases, and the ultimate objective becomes clear. You are no longer confused about what action you should take. You don’t start projects and stop them; rather you channel your enthusiasm and passion in one specific area, moving closer to the desired result. Along the way, you learn to prioritize your time, as setting specific goals helps you to avoid unproductive actions. When you apply your energy and resources to your goals, you are able to accomplish more in a few short years than most

It’s so easy to set goals in life. How many people actually take the time to set specific life goals? Not many of us, is my guess. You want to make more money. You want to enjoy more productive relationships with friends and acquaintances. You want to make a difference in the lives of others. You want more responsibility in your career. Unfortunately, while all these goals are admirable, they are also very broad. Most people fantasize about being rich, famous, and well liked. However, these are not necessarily goals. These are common images of success that the media wants us to believe in. Human beings are programmed by books, television, movies and Internet to believe in someone else’s values. After all, did you ever want to be Bill Gates before you knew he was filthy rich? Better yet, did you ever want to be filthy rich before you knew that money could buy you luxurious accommodations, fun new gadgets, and exclusive world travel? Step 1: Know the Difference between Dreaming and Doing When a person claims that making a lot of money is his or her “goal”, they are not truly seeing the future. A person who is “destined” for success, programs their own mind to achieve something remarkable but feasible. A person that is motivated to achieve a goal does not think in terms of failure and winning. (As in, I failed at becoming a millionaire. So, it’s not meant to be.) Rather, this person follows a set path towards their final destination. To the successful person, succeeding in life is a daily responsibility, one full of setbacks and solutions. The successful person doesn’t merely think in terms of “becoming rich” overnight. They study the path towards financial freedom, as handed down by others, and create a feasible and specific plan to increase their profit through the years. They learn about their chosen industry. They learn about office relationships and business strategies. They learn about investing and wealth building over time. Making money is not just a fleeting thought or a wild idea that must be tried at least once—it is their continuing journey for success. Similarly, a determined person who wants to become an actor or actress will take steps towards this ultimate goal. They will study the craft and attend auditions on a regular basis. Furthermore, they will study the history of show business and model their own career after the careers of successful actors and actresses. They see the entertainment industry as their career and works according to a plan. Do you see how this mindset is different from another person who simply wishes it would be nice to be paid $20 million dollars for three months of camera posing? Step 2: Set ‘Stretch’ Goals Achieving one’s vision of success depends upon the setting and completion of ‘stretch’ goals. A stretch goal is a realistic goal with a little more added to it for it to be a stretch. I think stretch goals are a little more motivating and inspiring than goals that are ‘realistic.’ Stretch goals do not follow someone else’s idea of success, but only your own. After you study the profession that appeals to you, you begin to understand the steps involved and approach your profession from a results-oriented perspective. Set your goals on a long-term and short-term basis and work your way down to weekly goals. It is easier to take smaller steps than trying to focus on one big goal or many big goals. As you reach milestones along the way, your self-confidence increases, and the ultimate objective becomes clear. You are no longer confused about what action you should take. You don’t start projects and stop them; rather you channel your enthusiasm and passion in one specific area, moving closer to the desired result. Along the way, you learn to prioritize your time, as setting specific goals helps you to avoid unproductive actions. When you apply your energy and resources to your goals, you are able to accomplish more in a few short years than most

Even the most motivated of achievers can sometimes feel unmotivated. So, what do you do in those crucial moments of inner negotiation - do I commit to two steps forward or relent to two steps backwards - and how do you justify your decision? What if not being motivated to achieve your goals is a sign of a deeper, unresolved issue? Here are five questions to uncover the possible reasons you’re not motivated to achieve your goals: 1. Do I Really Want This? Before you start discounting yourself as being weak or a failure, ask yourself if you really want this. Do you really want the end result? Do you want it bad enough to do whatever it takes to achieve it? If the answer is no to either question, it’s pretty obvious why you may not be motivated to doing the work the goal requires to actually achieve it. Achieving your goals doesn’t necessarily have to be hard, but it can be challenging for any number of reasons. If you don’t have enough fire, passion, and desire to achieve a goal, the process is likely going to be a lot harder than it has to be. Tip: Stick to goals that you want bad enough that the decision to do what you need to do, in order to achieve it, is easy. 2. If I Don’t Want This, What Do I Want? If you’ve asked yourself, do I really want this? and “no” was the answer - there’s only one remaining question to ask: If I don’t want this, what do I really want? The answer may require some soul searching or big dreaming; just be sure it’s something that has enough desire to pull you through the “work” of achieving the goal. Tip: Committing to goals you don’t really want serves little purpose. Instead, craft goals you desire with your heart, guts, and soul - those goals that inspire you to do the work required. These types of goals will get you excited and motivate you to achieving them. 3. What’s My Big Why? In the middle of doing the “work” of goal achievement, it’s easy to lose sight of why you’re doing it. When you find you’re not motivated to keep going, focus on the emotional reason behind why you made the initial commitment. So ask yourself: • Who/what inspired me to make the initial commitment to this goal? • Is my reasoning behind the commitment (my big why) still a high priority - a high enough priority to continue my commitment to doing whatever it takes – and nothing less? If the answer is yes, connect to your big why. It’s as easy as reminding yourself of the emotion that prompted your initial commitment - the why behind your decision. Connecting to the why allows you to feel emotions and renew your commitment to the goal. If the answer is no, they your why isn’t a big enough why - or it may be time to revise your goals so you can find a big why. 4. What are the Consequences of Not Doing the Work? The goal of this question is to get you thinking about the consequences of not doing the work. There is only ever one reason behind every choice you make: it’s that you believe your choice will bring about greater comfort or happiness and/or reduction of pain or discomfort. Let’s take weight loss as an example. On one hand, you commit to losing 25 lbs because you want to live a long, healthy life, well into your elderly years (goal driven by increasing pleasure and overall good feeling). On the other hand, you commit to losing 25 lbs. because you don’t like the way you look in a bathing suit (goal driven by reducing pain). So, the question is: • Are the consequences of not doing the work undesirable enough to motivate you to do the work needed - right here, right now? If the pleasure of achieving a future goal is not enough to motivate you, then turn the tables. Instead of trying to motivate yourself by pleasure, think about the pain. Is the pain enough to motivate you to do the work? Tip: Pleasure is a more sustainable motivator and is initially the best way to inspire you, but sometimes the realization of pain can provide just the kick-in-the-pants you need to get moving. 5. Do I Want To Stay

Even the most motivated of achievers can sometimes feel unmotivated. So, what do you do in those crucial moments of inner negotiation - do I commit to two steps forward or relent to two steps backwards - and how do you justify your decision? What if not being motivated to achieve your goals is a sign of a deeper, unresolved issue? Here are five questions to uncover the possible reasons you’re not motivated to achieve your goals: 1. Do I Really Want This? Before you start discounting yourself as being weak or a failure, ask yourself if you really want this. Do you really want the end result? Do you want it bad enough to do whatever it takes to achieve it? If the answer is no to either question, it’s pretty obvious why you may not be motivated to doing the work the goal requires to actually achieve it. Achieving your goals doesn’t necessarily have to be hard, but it can be challenging for any number of reasons. If you don’t have enough fire, passion, and desire to achieve a goal, the process is likely going to be a lot harder than it has to be. Tip: Stick to goals that you want bad enough that the decision to do what you need to do, in order to achieve it, is easy. 2. If I Don’t Want This, What Do I Want? If you’ve asked yourself, do I really want this? and “no” was the answer - there’s only one remaining question to ask: If I don’t want this, what do I really want? The answer may require some soul searching or big dreaming; just be sure it’s something that has enough desire to pull you through the “work” of achieving the goal. Tip: Committing to goals you don’t really want serves little purpose. Instead, craft goals you desire with your heart, guts, and soul - those goals that inspire you to do the work required. These types of goals will get you excited and motivate you to achieving them. 3. What’s My Big Why? In the middle of doing the “work” of goal achievement, it’s easy to lose sight of why you’re doing it. When you find you’re not motivated to keep going, focus on the emotional reason behind why you made the initial commitment. So ask yourself: • Who/what inspired me to make the initial commitment to this goal? • Is my reasoning behind the commitment (my big why) still a high priority - a high enough priority to continue my commitment to doing whatever it takes – and nothing less? If the answer is yes, connect to your big why. It’s as easy as reminding yourself of the emotion that prompted your initial commitment - the why behind your decision. Connecting to the why allows you to feel emotions and renew your commitment to the goal. If the answer is no, they your why isn’t a big enough why - or it may be time to revise your goals so you can find a big why. 4. What are the Consequences of Not Doing the Work? The goal of this question is to get you thinking about the consequences of not doing the work. There is only ever one reason behind every choice you make: it’s that you believe your choice will bring about greater comfort or happiness and/or reduction of pain or discomfort. Let’s take weight loss as an example. On one hand, you commit to losing 25 lbs because you want to live a long, healthy life, well into your elderly years (goal driven by increasing pleasure and overall good feeling). On the other hand, you commit to losing 25 lbs. because you don’t like the way you look in a bathing suit (goal driven by reducing pain). So, the question is: • Are the consequences of not doing the work undesirable enough to motivate you to do the work needed - right here, right now? If the pleasure of achieving a future goal is not enough to motivate you, then turn the tables. Instead of trying to motivate yourself by pleasure, think about the pain. Is the pain enough to motivate you to do the work? Tip: Pleasure is a more sustainable motivator and is initially the best way to inspire you, but sometimes the realization of pain can provide just the kick-in-the-pants you need to get moving. 5. Do I Want To Stay

Multi-tasking can sometimes have a bad rap. It has been said that multi-tasking in any form is something you should never do, but as an entrepreneur, it’s almost a daily necessity. There are simply not enough hours in the day for you to afford “playing it by ear.” Your life and profession are under constant reprioritization, that’s the nature of being an entrepreneur. Don’t be intimidated by the rumors; multi-tasking can be an effective way to handle your workload. We are going to talk about several tips for effective multi-tasking. Traits of Effective Multi-tasking • Group like tasks together • Create a to-do list • Defined goals with the end result • Budgeted time/schedule • Remove distractions • Undivided attention and focus Effective multi-tasking for entrepreneurs is all about having a system in place to handle tasks with the greatest efficiency. First, you need to create a To-Do List or Master Task List; this will help you to see the big picture of the day’s duties and help keep you on track throughout the day. The goal is for the To-Do List to help you prioritize the “must do” tasks and complete them before the deadline. That brings me to my next point, multi-tasking for professional and personal tasks should be handled in the same manner for entrepreneurs, because time is always of the essence. It is about being the most efficient and productive, 24/7, because your profit, or lack thereof, is always directly affected by your personal time. One of the best tips for effective multi-tasking is to set a deadline for when these tasks need to get done. Being reminded of the goal that you are working toward will help motivate you to work with the greatest efficiency and within your deadline. Whether the motivation comes from money, the excitement of achieving a goal or the benefits of the end results, it makes no difference, as long as it motivates you to work with the greatest focus. Ineffective Multi-tasking behaviors and traits include: • Combining irrelevant tasks together • Undefined goals • Setting an indefinite deadline • Working with distractions • Continually switching gears without accomplishing anything • Lack of focus There’s a huge difference between effective multi-tasking and cramming unrelated tasks together. You’ve already learned what it takes for effective multi-tasking, now let’s take a look at what ineffective multi-tasking looks like. One of the most common mistakes is to combine unrelated tasks together. You may think that it will save time, but more often than not, it ends up taking more time. Other common mistakes when handling multi-tasking is not establishing a deadline. Every goal, regardless of its nature, should have a clear, defined deadline. The reason is because without a deadline, there is no urgency for efficiency or focus. Have you ever been in a rush to get something done and only had 15 minutes to complete it? I’ll bet you were surprised when you had it done in time. How did you do it? You had a clear deadline and focused for the greatest efficiency. The key is to think about the nature of the tasks and organize them appropriately. Don’t help your child with Algebra while performing market research; don’t feed your baby while writing an article, and don’t play with your puppy while talking to a client on the phone. Only group like tasks together; for example: start the laundry then go for your 30-minute run. Put the wash in the dryer, then take a shower. If you work from an office, coordinate with partners or assistants to coordinate like-actions. Schedule meetings for first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid breaking your rhythm. Do the tasks that require you to be at your best, when you feel your best. Some entrepreneurs are on fire in the morning, while other crank out results in the afternoon. The goal is to combine tasks that do not distract your focus away from what you’re currently doing. I’m sure you can see how

Multi-tasking can sometimes have a bad rap. It has been said that multi-tasking in any form is something you should never do, but as an entrepreneur, it’s almost a daily necessity. There are simply not enough hours in the day for you to afford “playing it by ear.” Your life and profession are under constant reprioritization, that’s the nature of being an entrepreneur. Don’t be intimidated by the rumors; multi-tasking can be an effective way to handle your workload. We are going to talk about several tips for effective multi-tasking. Traits of Effective Multi-tasking • Group like tasks together • Create a to-do list • Defined goals with the end result • Budgeted time/schedule • Remove distractions • Undivided attention and focus Effective multi-tasking for entrepreneurs is all about having a system in place to handle tasks with the greatest efficiency. First, you need to create a To-Do List or Master Task List; this will help you to see the big picture of the day’s duties and help keep you on track throughout the day. The goal is for the To-Do List to help you prioritize the “must do” tasks and complete them before the deadline. That brings me to my next point, multi-tasking for professional and personal tasks should be handled in the same manner for entrepreneurs, because time is always of the essence. It is about being the most efficient and productive, 24/7, because your profit, or lack thereof, is always directly affected by your personal time. One of the best tips for effective multi-tasking is to set a deadline for when these tasks need to get done. Being reminded of the goal that you are working toward will help motivate you to work with the greatest efficiency and within your deadline. Whether the motivation comes from money, the excitement of achieving a goal or the benefits of the end results, it makes no difference, as long as it motivates you to work with the greatest focus. Ineffective Multi-tasking behaviors and traits include: • Combining irrelevant tasks together • Undefined goals • Setting an indefinite deadline • Working with distractions • Continually switching gears without accomplishing anything • Lack of focus There’s a huge difference between effective multi-tasking and cramming unrelated tasks together. You’ve already learned what it takes for effective multi-tasking, now let’s take a look at what ineffective multi-tasking looks like. One of the most common mistakes is to combine unrelated tasks together. You may think that it will save time, but more often than not, it ends up taking more time. Other common mistakes when handling multi-tasking is not establishing a deadline. Every goal, regardless of its nature, should have a clear, defined deadline. The reason is because without a deadline, there is no urgency for efficiency or focus. Have you ever been in a rush to get something done and only had 15 minutes to complete it? I’ll bet you were surprised when you had it done in time. How did you do it? You had a clear deadline and focused for the greatest efficiency. The key is to think about the nature of the tasks and organize them appropriately. Don’t help your child with Algebra while performing market research; don’t feed your baby while writing an article, and don’t play with your puppy while talking to a client on the phone. Only group like tasks together; for example: start the laundry then go for your 30-minute run. Put the wash in the dryer, then take a shower. If you work from an office, coordinate with partners or assistants to coordinate like-actions. Schedule meetings for first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid breaking your rhythm. Do the tasks that require you to be at your best, when you feel your best. Some entrepreneurs are on fire in the morning, while other crank out results in the afternoon. The goal is to combine tasks that do not distract your focus away from what you’re currently doing. I’m sure you can see how

7 Tips to Help You Find Meaning in Your Work Feel like something is missing in your career? You’re not alone. It’s not uncommon for professionals to feel like something is missing in their work, even when things appear to be really good. Is it possible to find success and meaning? Use these 7 tips to help you find meaning in your work / career. 1. Choose a New Career Path or Expand Your Firm Maybe it’s time to try something new? You may be an adventure-type and find boredom in routine and monotony. Try a new career path that engages your interests to reignite your passions. It may not require a complete life change; perhaps you could choose a new track or specialty within your current industry or expand the products and services of your firm. 2. Turn Your Passions into Profits If finding meaning in your work is high on your priority list, then turning your passions into profits is a sure way to find it. Now more than ever overwhelmed entrepreneurs are scrapping profit for passion and making a business out of doing what they love. If you’ve got a passion, there’s typically a way to monetize it. 3. Explore New Hobbies It’s not uncommon to have to wade through a bit of fog and uncertainty before you find a passion strong enough to build a career or business upon. If this is you, explore new hobbies in your personal time, before committing to them long-term. Try the things that peak your curiosity – even try things that you may not have previously considered – until you find something that keeps your interests and passions peaked. 4. Necessity vs. Meaning We’ve all been there….we feel trapped in a career or business because it provides necessity, in some form or another. Whether it’s the paycheck or retirement fund – security is part of what we’re after. The problem comes when insecurity prevents us from finding meaning or fulfillment. Even worse, it could be stopping us from reaching our greatest potential. Don’t let the fear and discomfort of change stop you from going for it! 5. What’s Really Important? If there is some aspect of your work that is causing disharmony or struggle, it’s worth examining what’s really important. At the heart of disharmony is the fact that some aspect of your life or career is not in alignment with who you really are and what you really want (your core values). Ask yourself this question: What are you being forced to give up in order to gain something else (and is it really giving up something that is serving you anyway – probably not)? How important is what you’re giving up to you? Is it worth it? It’s possible that minor tweaks or small changes to your personal and professional life could make it possible for you to find the real meaning and passion in your work again. 6. Begin with The End in Mind At the end of the day, all that matters is whether or not your daily actions are bringing you closer to achieving your goals in a timeframe you desire. There’s just no reason to continue doing anything that detracts you from your ultimate goals. Are you sacrificing your happiness only to be moving further away from your goals? Or is a temporary sacrifice leading you closer to the goal? To find true meaning in your work, it should on some level, and at all times, be supporting the achievement of future goals. The ultimate outcome and result should drive you to doing the activity necessary to achieve your goals and dreams. 7. Discover Your Life Purpose Struggling over a lack of meaning in your life or work is a sure-sign that what you are doing is not one of your core values. Fulfilling your life purpose isn’t as important to everyone as it is to others or they would do the work required to be on the path to what is truly important to them in life. Discovering life purpose is not a sure-fire solution to finding happiness; but if fulfilling your life purpose is one of your core values, it’s vital that you find a way to integrate the things that help you fulfill life purpose into your daily life.

7 Tips to Help You Find Meaning in Your Work Feel like something is missing in your career? You’re not alone. It’s not uncommon for professionals to feel like something is missing in their work, even when things appear to be really good. Is it possible to find success and meaning? Use these 7 tips to help you find meaning in your work / career. 1. Choose a New Career Path or Expand Your Firm Maybe it’s time to try something new? You may be an adventure-type and find boredom in routine and monotony. Try a new career path that engages your interests to reignite your passions. It may not require a complete life change; perhaps you could choose a new track or specialty within your current industry or expand the products and services of your firm. 2. Turn Your Passions into Profits If finding meaning in your work is high on your priority list, then turning your passions into profits is a sure way to find it. Now more than ever overwhelmed entrepreneurs are scrapping profit for passion and making a business out of doing what they love. If you’ve got a passion, there’s typically a way to monetize it. 3. Explore New Hobbies It’s not uncommon to have to wade through a bit of fog and uncertainty before you find a passion strong enough to build a career or business upon. If this is you, explore new hobbies in your personal time, before committing to them long-term. Try the things that peak your curiosity – even try things that you may not have previously considered – until you find something that keeps your interests and passions peaked. 4. Necessity vs. Meaning We’ve all been there….we feel trapped in a career or business because it provides necessity, in some form or another. Whether it’s the paycheck or retirement fund – security is part of what we’re after. The problem comes when insecurity prevents us from finding meaning or fulfillment. Even worse, it could be stopping us from reaching our greatest potential. Don’t let the fear and discomfort of change stop you from going for it! 5. What’s Really Important? If there is some aspect of your work that is causing disharmony or struggle, it’s worth examining what’s really important. At the heart of disharmony is the fact that some aspect of your life or career is not in alignment with who you really are and what you really want (your core values). Ask yourself this question: What are you being forced to give up in order to gain something else (and is it really giving up something that is serving you anyway – probably not)? How important is what you’re giving up to you? Is it worth it? It’s possible that minor tweaks or small changes to your personal and professional life could make it possible for you to find the real meaning and passion in your work again. 6. Begin with The End in Mind At the end of the day, all that matters is whether or not your daily actions are bringing you closer to achieving your goals in a timeframe you desire. There’s just no reason to continue doing anything that detracts you from your ultimate goals. Are you sacrificing your happiness only to be moving further away from your goals? Or is a temporary sacrifice leading you closer to the goal? To find true meaning in your work, it should on some level, and at all times, be supporting the achievement of future goals. The ultimate outcome and result should drive you to doing the activity necessary to achieve your goals and dreams. 7. Discover Your Life Purpose Struggling over a lack of meaning in your life or work is a sure-sign that what you are doing is not one of your core values. Fulfilling your life purpose isn’t as important to everyone as it is to others or they would do the work required to be on the path to what is truly important to them in life. Discovering life purpose is not a sure-fire solution to finding happiness; but if fulfilling your life purpose is one of your core values, it’s vital that you find a way to integrate the things that help you fulfill life purpose into your daily life.

Today we are going to talk about What’s Really Behind the Overwhelm? 3 Steps to Discovering Why You May Be Sabotaging Your Success. Business owners are especially prone to overwhelm because it’s not uncommon for them to juggle multiple aspects of their business at any one time. But how much of what you think you need to handle do you actually need to handle? What if overwhelm is actually part of your self-sabotaging behavior being played out? Overwhelm is not a necessary evil of being an entrepreneur - it’s a symptom of an underlying issue. In three easy steps, you can find out if self-sabotaging behavior is creating unnecessary overwhelm in your business and life. Step #1: Consider the Why When you understand why you do anything, you discover why you do everything. From understanding the “why,” it’s possible to see the patterns of self-sabotaging behavior being played out in your everyday life. (Yes, creating overwhelm is one of those self-sabotaging behaviors.) If you frequently or consistently struggle with overwhelm, there may be a self-sabotaging behavior behind it. The trick is to identify the “why” behind the self-sabotage. Common reasons for overwhelm may include: - Behavior based in limiting beliefs - Fear of failure/success - Lack of focus/discipline - Avoidance/procrastination - Lack of interest/inspiration/motivation - Refusal to give up total control/delegate There is a “why” behind everything you do - or don’t do. The question is are you engaging in behavior being driven by limiting beliefs that lead to self-sabotage or empowering beliefs that lead to success? It’s pretty simple: if you’re not producing results you want, you can bet there are self-sabotaging behaviors being played out in your personal or professional life. First, let’s establish that everyone has self-sabotaging behaviors - even peak performers like professional athletes and Olympic competitors (which is why they hire professional coaches!). These specialized coaches help them identify (and shift) the behaviors that keep them from achieving optimal performance. When you know the self-sabotaging behaviors that are keeping you from achieving the best results, you know which behaviors must change in order to create even better results. It’s fairly easy to know what you should be doing…it’s not always so easy to discipline yourself to do those things. However, if you can identify self-sabotaging behaviors and discipline yourself to change them, success will come easier and faster. Step #2. There Is Another Way Overwhelm is not a necessary evil of being an entrepreneur, it’s a symptom of an underlying issue. Most people are stuck in self-sabotaging behaviors because they can’t see that there is another way. It’s the definition of insanity: doing the same thing and expecting different results. The distance between where you are and where you want to be can be a short and straight path when you know the right actions to take - at the right time, and on a consistent basis. It’s when you’re not taking the right steps that the path to success feels like a constant zig-zag path of push-and-pull, struggle and frustration. This is when taking different actions (or non-actions) next time around and observing how your results change is invaluable. Are the results better or worse? Log your progress in a simple tracking sheet to determine what’s working and what isn’t working. Keep doing what works well, while continuing to tweak what doesn’t. Eventually, you’ll learn the right things you need to do at the right time to produce the shortest, straightest path between where you are and where you want to be. Step #3. Focus on the NEXT Step Another common reason for overwhelm is focusing on everything. In other words, you may be focused on the massive undertaking of the big picture - and everything that must be accomplished to reach your goal. Of course you’re going to feel overwhelm when you think about the responsibility, work, risk, and commitme

Today we are going to talk about What’s Really Behind the Overwhelm? 3 Steps to Discovering Why You May Be Sabotaging Your Success. Business owners are especially prone to overwhelm because it’s not uncommon for them to juggle multiple aspects of their business at any one time. But how much of what you think you need to handle do you actually need to handle? What if overwhelm is actually part of your self-sabotaging behavior being played out? Overwhelm is not a necessary evil of being an entrepreneur - it’s a symptom of an underlying issue. In three easy steps, you can find out if self-sabotaging behavior is creating unnecessary overwhelm in your business and life. Step #1: Consider the Why When you understand why you do anything, you discover why you do everything. From understanding the “why,” it’s possible to see the patterns of self-sabotaging behavior being played out in your everyday life. (Yes, creating overwhelm is one of those self-sabotaging behaviors.) If you frequently or consistently struggle with overwhelm, there may be a self-sabotaging behavior behind it. The trick is to identify the “why” behind the self-sabotage. Common reasons for overwhelm may include: - Behavior based in limiting beliefs - Fear of failure/success - Lack of focus/discipline - Avoidance/procrastination - Lack of interest/inspiration/motivation - Refusal to give up total control/delegate There is a “why” behind everything you do - or don’t do. The question is are you engaging in behavior being driven by limiting beliefs that lead to self-sabotage or empowering beliefs that lead to success? It’s pretty simple: if you’re not producing results you want, you can bet there are self-sabotaging behaviors being played out in your personal or professional life. First, let’s establish that everyone has self-sabotaging behaviors - even peak performers like professional athletes and Olympic competitors (which is why they hire professional coaches!). These specialized coaches help them identify (and shift) the behaviors that keep them from achieving optimal performance. When you know the self-sabotaging behaviors that are keeping you from achieving the best results, you know which behaviors must change in order to create even better results. It’s fairly easy to know what you should be doing…it’s not always so easy to discipline yourself to do those things. However, if you can identify self-sabotaging behaviors and discipline yourself to change them, success will come easier and faster. Step #2. There Is Another Way Overwhelm is not a necessary evil of being an entrepreneur, it’s a symptom of an underlying issue. Most people are stuck in self-sabotaging behaviors because they can’t see that there is another way. It’s the definition of insanity: doing the same thing and expecting different results. The distance between where you are and where you want to be can be a short and straight path when you know the right actions to take - at the right time, and on a consistent basis. It’s when you’re not taking the right steps that the path to success feels like a constant zig-zag path of push-and-pull, struggle and frustration. This is when taking different actions (or non-actions) next time around and observing how your results change is invaluable. Are the results better or worse? Log your progress in a simple tracking sheet to determine what’s working and what isn’t working. Keep doing what works well, while continuing to tweak what doesn’t. Eventually, you’ll learn the right things you need to do at the right time to produce the shortest, straightest path between where you are and where you want to be. Step #3. Focus on the NEXT Step Another common reason for overwhelm is focusing on everything. In other words, you may be focused on the massive undertaking of the big picture - and everything that must be accomplished to reach your goal. Of course you’re going to feel overwhelm when you think about the responsibility, work, risk, and commitme

Today we are going to talk about What’s Really Behind the Overwhelm? 3 Steps to Discovering Why You May Be Sabotaging Your Success. Business owners are especially prone to overwhelm because it’s not uncommon for them to juggle multiple aspects of their business at any one time. But how much of what you think you need to handle do you actually need to handle? What if overwhelm is actually part of your self-sabotaging behavior being played out? Overwhelm is not a necessary evil of being an entrepreneur - it’s a symptom of an underlying issue. In three easy steps, you can find out if self-sabotaging behavior is creating unnecessary overwhelm in your business and life. Step #1: Consider the Why When you understand why you do anything, you discover why you do everything. From understanding the “why,” it’s possible to see the patterns of self-sabotaging behavior being played out in your everyday life. (Yes, creating overwhelm is one of those self-sabotaging behaviors.) If you frequently or consistently struggle with overwhelm, there may be a self-sabotaging behavior behind it. The trick is to identify the “why” behind the self-sabotage. Common reasons for overwhelm may include: - Behavior based in limiting beliefs - Fear of failure/success - Lack of focus/discipline - Avoidance/procrastination - Lack of interest/inspiration/motivation - Refusal to give up total control/delegate There is a “why” behind everything you do - or don’t do. The question is are you engaging in behavior being driven by limiting beliefs that lead to self-sabotage or empowering beliefs that lead to success? It’s pretty simple: if you’re not producing results you want, you can bet there are self-sabotaging behaviors being played out in your personal or professional life. First, let’s establish that everyone has self-sabotaging behaviors - even peak performers like professional athletes and Olympic competitors (which is why they hire professional coaches!). These specialized coaches help them identify (and shift) the behaviors that keep them from achieving optimal performance. When you know the self-sabotaging behaviors that are keeping you from achieving the best results, you know which behaviors must change in order to create even better results. It’s fairly easy to know what you should be doing…it’s not always so easy to discipline yourself to do those things. However, if you can identify self-sabotaging behaviors and discipline yourself to change them, success will come easier and faster. Step #2. There Is Another Way Overwhelm is not a necessary evil of being an entrepreneur, it’s a symptom of an underlying issue. Most people are stuck in self-sabotaging behaviors because they can’t see that there is another way. It’s the definition of insanity: doing the same thing and expecting different results. The distance between where you are and where you want to be can be a short and straight path when you know the right actions to take - at the right time, and on a consistent basis. It’s when you’re not taking the right steps that the path to success feels like a constant zig-zag path of push-and-pull, struggle and frustration. This is when taking different actions (or non-actions) next time around and observing how your results change is invaluable. Are the results better or worse? Log your progress in a simple tracking sheet to determine what’s working and what isn’t working. Keep doing what works well, while continuing to tweak what doesn’t. Eventually, you’ll learn the right things you need to do at the right time to produce the shortest, straightest path between where you are and where you want to be. Step #3. Focus on the NEXT Step Another common reason for overwhelm is focusing on everything. In other words, you may be focused on the massive undertaking of the big picture - and everything that must be accomplished to reach your goal. Of course you’re going to feel overwhelm when you think about the responsibility, work, risk, and commitme

Today we are going to talk about What’s Really Behind the Overwhelm? 3 Steps to Discovering Why You May Be Sabotaging Your Success. Business owners are especially prone to overwhelm because it’s not uncommon for them to juggle multiple aspects of their business at any one time. But how much of what you think you need to handle do you actually need to handle? What if overwhelm is actually part of your self-sabotaging behavior being played out? Overwhelm is not a necessary evil of being an entrepreneur - it’s a symptom of an underlying issue. In three easy steps, you can find out if self-sabotaging behavior is creating unnecessary overwhelm in your business and life. Step #1: Consider the Why When you understand why you do anything, you discover why you do everything. From understanding the “why,” it’s possible to see the patterns of self-sabotaging behavior being played out in your everyday life. (Yes, creating overwhelm is one of those self-sabotaging behaviors.) If you frequently or consistently struggle with overwhelm, there may be a self-sabotaging behavior behind it. The trick is to identify the “why” behind the self-sabotage. Common reasons for overwhelm may include: - Behavior based in limiting beliefs - Fear of failure/success - Lack of focus/discipline - Avoidance/procrastination - Lack of interest/inspiration/motivation - Refusal to give up total control/delegate There is a “why” behind everything you do - or don’t do. The question is are you engaging in behavior being driven by limiting beliefs that lead to self-sabotage or empowering beliefs that lead to success? It’s pretty simple: if you’re not producing results you want, you can bet there are self-sabotaging behaviors being played out in your personal or professional life. First, let’s establish that everyone has self-sabotaging behaviors - even peak performers like professional athletes and Olympic competitors (which is why they hire professional coaches!). These specialized coaches help them identify (and shift) the behaviors that keep them from achieving optimal performance. When you know the self-sabotaging behaviors that are keeping you from achieving the best results, you know which behaviors must change in order to create even better results. It’s fairly easy to know what you should be doing…it’s not always so easy to discipline yourself to do those things. However, if you can identify self-sabotaging behaviors and discipline yourself to change them, success will come easier and faster. Step #2. There Is Another Way Overwhelm is not a necessary evil of being an entrepreneur, it’s a symptom of an underlying issue. Most people are stuck in self-sabotaging behaviors because they can’t see that there is another way. It’s the definition of insanity: doing the same thing and expecting different results. The distance between where you are and where you want to be can be a short and straight path when you know the right actions to take - at the right time, and on a consistent basis. It’s when you’re not taking the right steps that the path to success feels like a constant zig-zag path of push-and-pull, struggle and frustration. This is when taking different actions (or non-actions) next time around and observing how your results change is invaluable. Are the results better or worse? Log your progress in a simple tracking sheet to determine what’s working and what isn’t working. Keep doing what works well, while continuing to tweak what doesn’t. Eventually, you’ll learn the right things you need to do at the right time to produce the shortest, straightest path between where you are and where you want to be. Step #3. Focus on the NEXT Step Another common reason for overwhelm is focusing on everything. In other words, you may be focused on the massive undertaking of the big picture - and everything that must be accomplished to reach your goal. Of course you’re going to feel overwhelm when you think about the responsibility, work, risk, and commitme