Ask For What You Want
Travel has always been a big part of my life. It honors my values of adventure, challenge, connection with different cultures and fun. It began in my 20’s with a backpacking adventure, and even now with a family, we rent out our place and go somewhere for several months at a time.
In a matter of weeks, I can find a tenant, enroll clients and associates into my new schedule and have our support network of friends and family look after things such as pets, plants and paintings. We leave with nothing planned except the first few days’ accommodations, and technology has allowed my work to continue from Europe, Asia and even the most remote places in Africa.
I let everyone know what I am doing, what I want and need and somehow
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Dealing With My Shiny Object Syndrome
As an entrepreneur, I have been struggling with the “Shiny Object Syndrome” for years.
Whenever an exciting opportunity surfaces, I feel “oooh, this is it. I want it. I’m going to go and get it.” Each “shiny object” takes a lot of my time, energy and effort to pursue, and ultimately causes a lot of trouble and chaos in my life overall.
My symptoms include: Read more
Do You Trust Your Intuition?
Have you ever found yourself in a situation that you knew was not right for you? Perhaps you took on a new client. Although everything on paper pointed to a great opportunity, there was something about it that didn’t feel good and eventually you parted ways with them.
Or maybe you’ve had the experience of wanting to get in touch with a friend or family member – without being quite sure why – and then later found out the timing was important for some reason. Some people have great hunches about investments. Others instinctively know which way to turn at the fork on the road.
How did they know? How did you know? Read more
Procrastination Can Be Costly
I was in a panic this morning as I realized I had been putting off registering my son for summer camps. Luckily there were spots still available. (Not getting in would have cost this working mom her sanity.)
Later on, I was talking to one of my mastermind buddies when it suddenly hit me. I’ve been talking and talking the last two weeks about all these programs I’m creating, and want to create…that I actually haven’t done anything at all.
I’ve been procrastinating on getting anything started.
Procrastination is a common human behavior, but it can be also be very costly. Read more
Your Money or Your Life
We all know what to do when a robber asks us “your money or your life,” right? But if you look at how you spend your life on a daily basis, what are you really choosing?
Especially in tough times like the recession we’ve had over the last couple of years, money is a hot topic. This article won’t tell you how to save money, or how to invest your money. Rather, I want to tackle some of the internal issues we all hold about money.
Over the years, I’ve worked with clients that have had money issues in one way or another. Some examples include:
- Turning down money because it felt wrong – a client struggling to pay her bills already had a profitable business, but didn’t feel entitled to pay herself a small salary until the business “really takes off.”
It’s Hard Being Perfect
I’m a perfectionist. I have to have things “just so”. Everything has its place, there is only one way to do things – my way – and my standards of excellence are extremely high.
It’s been a strength that has served me well in business, as I push relentlessly for both quantity and quality with my clients. However, perfectionism can also be a weakness that can easily throw off work-life balance if left unchecked.
I have wasted so much time agonizing over perfecting a sentence in a proposal or tidying around the house that I have missed out on having fun with family and friends, which if I examine my values, are more important to me than new business or a clean house. Read more
10 Ways You Can Say No (without the guilt)
I find it extremely difficult to say “No”. First of all I’m a Libra and like to keep things in harmony (often at the expense of my own well-being). In business, I tend to have the shiny-object syndrome – you know, where everything looks cool and so I get worried that I may miss an opportunity if I say no. This ends up taking a lot of my time and scatters my focus.
Tell me if this sounds familiar – you’re asked to do something you don’t really want to do or have time for, but you would feel guilty if you said No. Whether it’s a church fundraiser, a committee at your child’s school or participating in a project, it’s important to learn to say No if you don’t want to get overwhelmed, stressed or resentful. It’s about self-protection – people who are able to say No have more free time, energy and feel more in control of their lives.
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Get Off The Island of Someday
There is a crowded little island that everyone in the world has been to several times, including you and me – and it’s called “Someday”.
It’s so appealing that many people who go there never return.
“Someday I’ll have the family, house, luxury car and 2 dogs and then I’ll be happy. Someday this current misery will end, the venture capitalists will understand my genius and I’ll figure out what I really want, and then I’ll be happy. Someday I’ll retire financially independent – just wait and see – I’ll be really happy then.”
The problem with living on this island is Read more
Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish
Last week, Steve Jobs and Apple launched the new and eagerly anticipated iPad. Over the years I have admired Apple for their branding, product launches and product innovation.
This post is a more personal glimpse at a much-respected and innovative thinker. I thought I’d share with you a speech by Steve Jobs where he shares three very powerful stories. It never fails to inspire me.
The 3 Mindsets for Successful D-I-Y PR
When I first started my career in PR 18 years ago, I had graduated at the top of my class, was recruited by the largest PR firm in San Francisco and had my senior thesis published in an industry magazine.
But when the day came that I had to start contacting the media for the agency’s clients, I was shaking-in-my boots terrified.
Palms sweaty, heart beating so loud I couldn’t think, and memorizing scripts, facts and figures over and over again so I wouldn’t make a mistake.
I was representing really large clients and didn’t want to ruin their reputation, and I was going to talk to hardened, cynical reporters who get pitched hundreds of times a day by more seasoned pros than a recent graduate like me.
“They’re going to think I’m ignorant, stupid and wasting their time.”
“They’re going to eat me alive,” I thought.
If you’re an entrepreneur, mom or small business owner doing your own PR, that may be how you’re feeling. If you’re fearing doing your own PR because you might face a grumpy reporter or be rejected by a blogger, chances are, you are stuck and not trying to get any publicity at all.
And a lot more press