Time Off from “Duty”

If you are a VA, do you actually take time off for a vacation? Do you schedule off time into your week? Month?

A goal of mine this year is to do exactly that! I have not had a real vacation in several years. Oh yeah, we go camping or somewhere over the weekend, but not a real vacation. This year I am scheduling time off! Quick, bring me the paper bag, I am hyperventilating!

I plan on taking Fridays off, as a starter. This way we can go camping or I just do me things. Tomorrow I leave for Kansas City for an IAAP conference. I told my client weeks ago (and for those who know me realize that is a huge step).

However, I will take my laptop so I can check emails on downtime and Skype with the DH. Next month I go to Denver for 3 days for IAAP. So, in a way I am working on taking some time. This summer I plan on taking at least a week extra besides the IAAP conference in New Orleans. Hmmmm, now I just need to not do so much with IAAP.

Leadership – How do you choose great leaders?

How do you view leaders? Do you judge them on their oratory expertise? Their skills? Their ability to deal with difficult situations? Their ability to help others solve problems? Their ability to actually put forth a solution? Their charisma?

This is an election year. Sigh. What I like to see from leaders is not what a former leader or opponent has not done or done wrong, etc., is what they actually propose.

I want to hear a leader say, “This is want I want to do and how I want to achieve it.” Now that is not always possible, but it is important for people to stop the blame game and just step up to the plate and offer some solutions. Concrete solutions.

IAAP is having some issues with the International Board and some of their decisions. A lot of the long-time members are dissatisfied, unhappy, discontent and downright angry. Angry enough to leave the organization. As the Colorado-Wyoming-Montana Division President, my goal is to remain on the fence. Hmmm, I think the members are professionals who, if they remove the emotions, can make up their own minds. I simply provide the information from both sides.

One of the great books is  How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, by Dale Carnegie. He has has time-tested methods on problem solving. Here are his steps:

1) What is the problem?

2) What is the cause of the problem?

3) What are all the possible solutions to the problem? (With this one – don’t debate if someone is right or wrong! Just list solutions)

4) What solution do you suggest?

These are simple, easy to follow guidelines that can help anyone from age 4 and up to learn to solve problems.

Speed Cleaning!

Not exactly Spring Cleaning, but close! One of my reads this year is the book, One Year to an Organized Life. Now, I have not been faithful to it, but attempts are just as good in my book.

This week I am speed cleaning! I will set the timer for 20 minutes today and tear through my office – some of my goals:

Toss old catalogs

File paperwork

Get my paperwork ready for taxes

Toss expired coupons and put the coupons in my coupon book

Phew!

The end result should be a tidier work space, which frees the mind, clears the chi, and aligns with the feng shui of a prosperous environment.

What are your goals for personal development?

I think personal development is a hobby of mine – and a good hobby!

My friends and I used to joke that you could tell what stage of personal growth we were in by the titles of the self-help books in our yard sales!

I love learning new ways of thinking, new hobbies, new ideas and then trying to assimilate them into my old way of life. My latest personal development journey is the Oprah Winfrey and Eckhart Tolle’s New Earth – Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose. I am watching every Monday that I can and if I can’t, then I watch the download.

This is a creative way to participate in a world-wide event and listen to views that may be different than yours. A way to stretch your mind, grow, and let go of some old ways of thinking.

Then comes the tough part – actually practicing and making it part of your life.

How about you? Any plans or goals for personal development?

Skills – The Less Obvious

Skills are important to a maintaining an excellent and successful business. We can usually tell a client, friend or potential client what our obvious skills are when we talk with them.

However, what are your less obvious skills? I know for me this took some time and a lot of thinking. What makes you unique in a less obvious way?

Some of my less obvious skills that someone would not necessarily know about me unless I told someone – I ride dirt bikes, I have played the catcher position for softball, I love to target shoot and am an excellent shot, I can train dogs and have shown them in AKC shows for obedience.

What are your less obvious skills? How do they help you in life or business?

Your Past – What’s So Great?

Here is the next question to get you thinking about things!

What is so great about your past?

For me, it is the fact that without my past I would not be where I am at. Without going through a divorce, I would not have met my soul mate.

Without meeting my soul mate, I doubt I would be riding motorcycles, have my own business and live in a great area of Colorado.

Without my past, I would not appreciate family and the support they provide when help is needed or just to be there for you. I have grown as a person to be firm in what I believe is right, tolerate less evil, and to be a strong friend.

What’s so great about your past?

Attitude – How does it affect your business?

This week I want to focus on a series of questions. Some may be business while others may relate to personal goals and life. As you ponder these questions, take a breath, remove distractions and be completely honest with yourself. If the answer is “I don’t know or I can’t’ – keep focused on the question until those thoughts go away and you can find an answer. Stay with the question until you can answer it – it may just pop up when you least expect it.

The final step? Take any action necessary when you do get the answer.

The first one is about attitude.

How can/does your attitude affect your business?

I know for me – attitude is everything. Is it because I am a Capricorn? A mom? Self-absorbed?

If I am having a frustrating day – the attitude can really affect how I perform my tasks. I tend to procrastinate – a lot! Thus, nothing gets done, I get further behind, and the attitude gets worse.

If I am having a totally awesome day – the complete opposite! I focus, pay attention to detail, am proactive, and more! How do we create more of these days?

I think the trick is to change the focus of my attitude, if I find it negative. Focus on what you are not – “I am not lazy.” “I am not incompetent.” “I am not reactive.” Then focus on what you want – “I want to finish my calls.” “I want to get the teleclasses posted.” I want to solve a client’s problem with a unique solution.”

I think the mind switches to a more proactive and energetic force.

Other ideas – talk a break, take the goofy dog for a walk, call a friend for a quick boost, read a book for a while, or do anything that switches your brain and attitude.

How does attitude affect your abilities and business?

R = Reduction

Part of my goal this year is to get more organized, productive, and leave the *office* earlier and maybe actually take a vacation or two. I am reading some really good books and doing my best to implement the tips, techniques, and ideas.

One of the books, Leave the Office Earlier, by Laura Stack, MBA, CSP is a great one to help you focus on different areas of your life to reduce stress and have more of me time. One of her topics has to do with reduction and a target area is “Avoid spending time in irrelevant, unnecessary meetings.” Working from a home office does eliminate some of the in-person get-nothing-done meetings. However, there are the unnecessary gab-on-the-phone meetings you might experience and need to eliminate or reduce. We will talk about those tomorrow.

I have chosen to eliminate an irrelevant, unnecessary networking meeting. I have belonged to this women’s business group for more than 6 years and was even a board member. But lately I find these monthly meetings turning more toward social events – eat lunch, gab, and go home. A nice get-of-the-office for a couple of hours – but is it worth my time and effort?

After submitting an inquiry to one of the current board members last week and getting in reply simply a snipped response, not even a greeting or thanks or acknowledgment, I seriously starting to wonder why I went and what the benefit was to me. Then, at the meeting, I was ignored by the board member who was at the registration table. Gee, why go?

So this has to do with customer service as well as reducing my time in a meeting. When responding to an email, an inquiry, or a complaint, I encourage you to remember there is a person on the other end of your response. Be polite. Put a greeting on that email. Be professional. You may gain or keep an organizational member, a client, or a friend.

Oprah & Friends on Radio

I want satellite radio! However, until I can get it I have found a great daily fix!

While getting the download for Oprah’s 10-week class on The New Earth, Awakening Your Life’s Purpose, I came across the recordings for the Oprah & Friends Radio shows. These are not necessarily the full show, but a terrific way to listen to some highly respected leaders in various areas.

I just finished listening to Michael Losier: Law of Attraction while scanning my email. There are others that might pique your interest! Go visit and explore the recordings!