“The realization of what it takes to create value might break your heart, because it means you have to specialize, take risks, create art, leave a positive impact and adopt generosity in all you do.”
Seth Godin
4 Tools For Replenishing Our Soul
Sometimes our stop-doing list needs to be bigger than our to-do list. -Patti Digh
Here is the audio version of this post. Thank you so much for listening.
We all have those days or weeks, or maybe even months. Our to-do list is totally out of control. Literally. We have somehow become sucked into the vortex, the habitrail of life, and find ourselves feeling like “I can’t even”! And then the victim mentality begins to sink in, the why me dialogue begins in our head. #ugh
Have you been there? I have. And it’s one of my least favorite places to be. It feels like failure. It feels like I have let myself down. I know better.
So, what do we do when this happens? Here are some of the tools I use, and a list that I must revisit more often than not, with the help of my therapist most times. Love her. Thank GOD for her.
1. The Stop Doing List
Now this can be in your head, or written down, whatever your style is. Truth is, there are a few things you are doing right now that do not add value to your life or your business, but it’s many times hard to be objective, until you are desperately burnt out.
Instead of waiting til burnout sets in, set a day each month, to focus on your stop doing list.
2. Just Say No
Ugh. I know. We live in a “Yes I Can” society. And most times, that is awesome, until it depletes your soul. Than it’s not so awesome. When we slow down enough, we can be more mindful of what to say yes to and what to say no to.
3. Step Away From The Car
Metaphorically speaking, of course. But truly, we must from time to time remove ourselves from life. Whether that means taking a long weekend, a day at the beach, a personal development workshop that is not related to our work, turning the phone off for an hour, whatever it is that will allow you to disengage to gain clarity.
4. The Gratitude List
Of course you knew this would be on the list. Why? Gratitude helps our minds gain perspective. We so often lose perspective when we get so hyper focused on our own “problems”.
When we shift our mind into gratitude, things change. They can change our thoughts, our mood and our actions. And even more awesome, studies show a grateful brain can positively affect insomnia, anxiety and even depression. Sign me up!!
So, go ahead and cry. Throw yourself on the couch. Do whatever you need to. But then, pull yourself together by practicing some of the tools above, and get back to creating awesome in your business and your life.
A big shout out of love & gratitude goes to my therapist Nancy who inspired this post. And yes Nancy, I feel better already. Thank you.
Love + Awesomeness-
Nina
The Business Down The Street
“Comparison is the thief of joy.”
Theodore Roosevelt
(image via @jacksonk10 on Instagram)
Here is the audio version of this post. Thank you so much for listening.
As Theodore Roosevelt famously said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” It can be a thief in business too.
On Saturday, I posted the above image to Instagram with the following message…
“Often when working with small businesses I hear something like this… Well the business down the street is charging this or promoting this or… should I do that? Awesome businesses are created when you define your own purpose, promise, target market, set clear objectives, create a bad ass strategy and execute like a mother … Focus on creating your own kind of awesome.”
It was one of my more liked posts. But this topic requires more time and explanation than an Instagram post. So here goes…
Yes, studying success and awesomeness is important. Learning from the greats, the ones who have consistently shown growth and profitability, the ability to create a strong culture, etc. Having an in-depth knowledge of those who have successfully gone before you, yes, all of that is awesome and important.
However, when we are comparing our business to the one “down the street”, this is where I have issues…
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Do you know their business model?
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Do you know their strategy & target market?
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Do you know their plan?
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Do you know their sales?
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Do you know their profitability?
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Do you know their cost of sales?
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Do you know how they are funded?
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Do you know how long they will be in business?
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Do you know if their clients are happy?
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Do you know if their team is happy?
My guess is NO. You do not know. Therefore, how can we even begin to compare our business to theirs? What if we decided to follow a pricing strategy of a competitor that was headed down a road of putting them out of business? Or a promotional program that depleted all cash flow and pissed off clients and team members? OMG, can you imagine?
Before you look around one more time to see what others are doing, take that time to look within. Your own objectives, your plan, your strategy, your P & L, your business model. Start there.
Focus on creating your own kind of awesome. And connect with and learn from people who not only own businesses but grow businesses, for reals.
Love + Awesomeness-
Nina
Sticks + Stones
“Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know more.”
Confucius
(image via Google)
Here is the audio version of this post. Thank you so much for listening.
Have you ever heard the nursery rhyme “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me”? OMG. That was actually something we put into children’s minds.
I like to think we have evolved more intellectually and emotionally to know how incredibly damaging that message is. But sadly, that is not always the case.
Words matter… in business and in life.
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They create an awesome experience. Or create a not so awesome one.
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They help build confidence. And they can destroy it.
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They build relationships. And break them.
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They build trust. Or create doubt.
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They can excite me. Or they can bore me.
How much time do you spend choosing the words you are using in your business communications, both online and off?
How much care do you use when choosing the words you use when coaching a team member or speaking to a colleague?
How conscious are you of the words you choose when talking to yourself? (and please don’t even tell me you don’t talk to yourself. We all do. Whether we are conscious of it or not.)
Some wander through the social web, through business, and life, using words that have the potential to cause damage. But some choose to use words that empower, enrich the conversation and create awesome experiences.
Your choice. Choose wisely.
(shared with LOVE from Nina)
Mad Love For @larisadoll
“Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days.”
Zig Ziglar
Here is the audio version of this post. Thank you so much for listening.
Social listening and healthy stalking does have its privileges. And that is exactly how I discovered and met one of the most passionate and inspirational hairdressers I have ever known, Larisa Love aka @larisadoll on Instagram.
If you read my blog or listened to my Masters Series interview with Winn Claybaugh, then you have heard me speak of this awesomeness creator. I have been watching and listening to her for almost a year now.
One of the most awesome things I get to do at Passion Squared is connect with the best of the best, study them, learn from them, and many times actually meet them offline, then carry that message to my clients and community.
I’m not gonna lie, I am a big fan, and when Larisa and I set our date to meet, I got butterflies in my tummy. Why? Respect. Plain and simple. I knew this girl was special, but I also knew I only knew her online persona. And awesomely enough, she also works in the most beautiful bungalow at Butterfly Loft Salon in Encino. So butterflies were for sure an appropriate emotion.
