So today's post - how you do something is how you do everything - is more mindsetty and less marketingy, we will be back to our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow!
So what does that mean? To me, it means that if I have integrity in my business and my home, then I will have it across the board and not have to worry that I am falling out of being in alignment with what I feel inside, what I talk about when I speak and how I coach my coaching clients. Soooo...here are the ways that I do everything (would love if you think about how you do things to try and make sure your business is in alignment - it could also be a great exercise for creating a mission statement for your business).
Everyone Matters
Just the other day a dear friend told me that someone said her business was not a valid model and that she should not dream of charging anyone for her services. OHHHH that made me mad! Especially because they had not paid her for work performed.
I figured out a long time ago that it is important to listen to people and what their thoughts, goals and likes are. When I do a one hour marketing call, I spend the majority of time listening to what they like to do, what they have done in the past that works and figuring out based on those criteria what they should do going forward. As a young buck marketing "expert" I didn't do that. I would come in like a bull in a china shop and tell them what they should do based on what my world view was...not good!
First off, I DO think her business model is valid and secondly, be careful about what you say about someone else's dreams. My respect for the person who said that decreased greatly and I will not be recommending them or working with them in the future.
Everything Matters
Brian Tracy talks about this A LOT. I have a recording of his that I listen to frequently that speaks to this over and over, everything matters, everything matters. This is another way of saying, how you do anything is how you do everything.
This one speaks to the way that you conduct your business and your life. If you have a high work ethic and get a lot done, you probably have a high work ethic with your home and your family too (if you don't, then look at your priorities and make sure you are consistent with everyone, especially the people who matter!). If you have trouble getting things done or finished, then that is probably systemic and something you should work on with a coach or trainer to make it a habit in your business.
As adults, no one is really watching your every move and it is easy to let things slip or to tell little white lies (oh I didn't get that email or yep that got done on time). If you decide to do everything with integrity, it does make everything easier (I really didn't see that email or I saw it but it slipped my mind, SORRY). Saying your sorry for making a mistake is SO much easier than trying to justify your wrong actions. Always try to do your best and that is all anyone can ask of you (including yourself)!
Stay Organized
This is one I struggle with! I have tons of worksheets and charts to keep me in line. While I sometimes bristle with having these limitations, I try to look at them more as helpful boundaries that keep me on track. I also calendar my work life to the nth degree. Everything goes on there and I stick to it. Here is a great post about how to set goals and manage them effectively.
That having been said, I slip in this area as much as anyone else. I HATE when I see myself procrastinating about something and TRY to "just do it" to get it out of the way. The one way I have found works well is to organize your environment to make things easier. For instance, I HATE when I get a bunch of receipts in my purse and can't find my money. One way to avoid this is to bring receipts up to my "receipt box" every time I come home from an event. Takes 3 seconds, I have to climb the stairs so I get a little exercise and it makes my days better (the fact that I have a "receipt box" is a post for another day!)
When you notice that you don't want to do something, try and figure out if you can make a path of least resistance to getting there for yourself. Put your checkbook in the drawer right below your desk so that you can pay bills or deposit checks easily, set up a "one touch" system for emails, to dos or bills. Seriously, I am not the gal to tell you how to do this, if you have these issues, get an organizer in who works with people like you (I am SO visual) to help.
Have Grace
One of the main things I have as a lifelong, ongoing goal is to have grace (I even have a stamp that I use to remind myself). To me, having grace means respecting other people and their opinions. Listening and really paying attention instead of running people over. Doing what is required with a smile instead of crying about what I "have" to do.
Because I am clear on the front end what my goals are (to be a great marketing company owner, speaker and coach), I have something I can hold each of my icky things up to an say, "do I need to do this to further my business" or "can someone else do this better than I can". There are many things that only I can do which I would not do given the choice BUT because I want specific things, those numbers are limited and manageable!
So I hope you can get a little bit out of this, I basically wrote it to remind me that I am a work in progress BUT that I am trying and succeeding in many different areas! If you do decide to set some of these up for yourself, BURN THE BOATS! Start today and don't look back worrying about what WAS, go forward and change what IS!
