Let Today be THE Day!

Does it seem like you’re always waiting?  Maybe you’re waiting for:

-Things to get better with the economy.

-Your spouse to apologize.

-To win the lottery.

-For your boss to notice you.

-For it to stop being so cold.

You can continue to sit and wait if you want.  But, wouldn’t it be better to affect your world rather than waiting for it to affect you?  Wouldn’t it be better to be proactive rather than reactive?  Why wait when you can DO?

Try these steps to overcome the reasons for waiting listed above:

-Creatively look for NEW ways to increase your business in a bad economy.  Most of your competetors are sitting on the sidelines waiting.  This is your opportunity to jump ahead.

-Look your spouse in the eye and say, “I love and cherish you.”   I feel pretty certain your spouse wants to hear those words from you.

-Chances are, as you know, you’re not going to win the lottery.  What can you do with the money you’ve been spending on cards and tickets that will actually create income?

-The one thing that will make your boss notice you more than any other is to go beyond what is expected of you.  Most of your co-workers will do less.  Do more and you will be noticed.

-I used to hate cold weather.  It’s still not my favorite kind of weather, but I don’t let it stop me from enjoying the outdoors anymore.   Amazingly, layers of clothes actually will keep you warm.  I’ve enjoyed more beautiful frosty early morning  jogs this winter than ever before.  I realized I was missing out on some of nature’s greatest moments while on the treadmill.

Let today be THE day that you’re going to stop waiting for the world around you to change and begin changing your world instead.

Get started!

What’s first on your list?

How to Have a Great Week.

If 85% of our happiness is based on relationships, shouldn’t we care for them more than we do? Shouldn’t we WORK on having great relationships instead of just hoping they’ll happen?

With that in mind, here’s how to have a great week (and make someone else’s week in the process).

Step 1 – Make a list of the five most important people to you.

Step 2 – Beside their names, write one thing you can do to let them know how much you care. Maybe it’s just a phone call, a letter or an invitation to lunch. It could be an extra hug or a surprise gourmet breakfast – it’s up to you.

Step 3 – Do what’s on the list this week.

Step 4 – Enjoy the extra connection with someone you love.

I just had someone I know take this to heart. He decided to send flowers to his mother on HIS birthday. She did all the work that day (and for the nine months prior), after all! He told me his mom was so happy she cried. One little gesture made a big impact. Good stuff, huh?

So, who’s going to be on your list?

The Key to Work/Life Balance…

One thing that many people with families struggle with is work/life balance. When work pulls you away from your family, you can feel guilty. You may fear being seen as disloyal by your superiors if you spend too much time away from the office. Trying to balance both unsuccessfully can lead to a tremendous amount frustration. So, how do you do it?

It certainly does not come naturally for most people. Society doesn’t make it easy because most people around you are likely imbalanced. Sitcoms certainly don’t promote it. Music videos don’t focus on it. Reality shows don’t talk about it. It has to come from you.

So, what’s the best way to start the process of really balancing your life? Here’s what you must do in a nutshell: compartmentalize.

When you’re at work, work. When you’re at home, focus on you and your family. Too many times, we try to blend the two and it goes awry. Compartmentalizing is a learned skill but it can be mastered with practice. You can learn that at 5 o’clock, work stops and family time starts. You can learn to limit after-hours meetings. You can even learn to leave your computer and cell phone in the car when you get home. If you can’t conceive of doing this, it will take some strategy. You’ll likely need some help getting started. You’ll need to learn the art of delegation and you’ll have to begin letting some things go. Time management is a big part of it. Planning your day before it starts is also important. The only thing that all of us have in common is 24 hours. Those who do well balancing their lives manage their 24 hours well. You can, too.

This week, think about how you can better plan your day to accomplish your tasks in less time.   Here are a few points to consider:

1.  Make note of how many times a day you are distracted from your work and for how long (this can   be  eye-opening because most of us waste a lot of time each day talking, snacking, procrastinating).
2.  What tasks can you delegate to someone else?
3.  What things need to be done now and what can wait?
4.  What needs to be changed in your schedule so that you actually CAN leave at 5 p.m.?

These are just a few questions to answer to begin your journey toward success with work/life balance. The more answers you have, the closer you’ll be.

So, how can you start leaving at 5?