I Just Can't Do it Anymore!

Seriously.  I've had it.  It finally happened.

As an entrepreneur, we have this tendency to handle everything ourselves.  We start with our Big Idea, the one that sparks a flame inside that turns into an inferno.  We HAVE to share it with the world.  It's our passion, our mission.  We fan the flames for a little while to determine if there's a way to turn our passion into a viable business.

If you are an entrepreneur in ANY phase of the game, then you know exactly what I'm talking about.  You've been there, done that, have the T-shirt.  Er, should I say, the website?!

Moving from Commitment to Action

What do you need to commit to?  As 2010 approaches, what things in your life do you "wish"  for, "hope" for, or "really" want?

Because if you REALLY want it, it's up to YOU to make it happen.

No one is out there waiting to magically manifest your heart's desire on your behalf.  And if your actions are not in line with your desires, you WILL suffer. You WILL experience discontent. I know, I've lived it.

We hear about Positive Affirmations all the time.  All too often, we stop there.  We determine that we'll create our vision, cut out pictures from magazines and put them on a Dream Board, write our desires on a white board above our desk, carry 3x5 note cards along with us, whatever.  Then we sit back, stare at our Vision Boards, and wait for the magic to happen.  Meanwhile we sit in front of the TV, play video games, or chat on the phone with our best friends trying to figure out why we're not going anywhere.

Deadlines are a Girl's Best Friend

I have to admit, one of the things I thought was fabulous when I first became self-employed was a lack of deadlines. No one needing this, that, or the other from me. I finished things on MY terms!

Of course, contact with clients, setting appointments, following up, etc...those were all a given, because they were fun AND they were the money-making activities. And of course, once hired for a marketing project, I was all over the deadlines! But everything else? I became like a Jamaican..."No Worries, Mon!"

Then I noticed a trend: all the fabulous ideas and projects that would take my business to the next level were never getting done. I chalked it up to the "not enough time in the day" theory, and was content to consider myself too busy. "Things will slow down, and THEN I'll get these important yet non-urgent items taken care of."

Last week, I had someone close to me encourage me to set a deadline for something I wanted to do, needed to do if I were to take my business to the next level. They even offered to hold me accountable for that deadline, which is exactly what I needed!

I'm proud to say that I met that deadline, and I felt great! So I started setting deadlines for other non-urgent yet important tasks. I'm suddenly finding that there actually IS enough time in the day. It just needed a deadline to reveal itself....and a third party accountability partner to hold me accountable!

If you're self-employed, an entrepreneur, an independent contractor, or a freelance professional...find someone that will hold you accountable to your deadlines, and watch your business take a leap forward!

Talk is Cheap: Gas Prices, Today's Economy, and Elections, Oh my!!

Have you noticed the shift in attitude lately? Does it seem to you that every time you meet with someone, talk inevitably goes to the following topics:

• Gas Prices: Comments such as, "What with gas prices being what they are..." or "Can you believe it? Over $4.00 a gallon?" or maybe a more creative and sarcastic comment like "Ahhh. (said in wistful tone) Remember the good ol' days when filling up your gas tank still cost LESS than the car payment itself?"


• Today's Economy: Often not a topic of conversation in and of itself, this one likes to simply infiltrate EVERY topic. No matter what you are discussing with someone, the obligatory sentence starter "Well, you know, in today's economy..." is bound to surface. If you are in sales of ANY kind, you hear this more often than most.


• The 2008 Presidential Election: "Can you believe what (insert Obama or McCain here) said the other day? Why, they'll never make a good president saying things like that." Or maybe you're privy to just bashing in general. And fear is always a big factor..."If so and so is elected, I'm scared to live in the US anymore! Canada, here I come."

Personally, if I hear this hype anymore, I'm afraid my head will explode. Let's face it folks, no matter what the Media's Doomsday Darling Topic of the Day is, we all still need to go about our lives. I still need to buy the gas, so instead of complaining, I'll just choose to thank God for Visa. I still need to purchase products in "today's economy" and so I will just adjust my budget. I still actually LOVE living in America, the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave, so I will vote and let the chips fall where they may.

Because in the end of the day, gas will level out. The economy will adjust. The country will march on no matter who is elected as our Commander in Chief. And as for all of us who are out there, trying to make a living as a self-employed entrepreneur, well, we still need to grow our businesses. And I, for one, am tired of the constant negativity that is bombarding us through the media, and then making its way into our everyday lives.

So hang in there, and keep on selling. These are the days that take an extra measure of creativity to make your business thrive. But if you hang on to your PASSION for your business venture, then people will still buy from you, no matter how cheap talk is, or how negative the news that bombards us every day has become.

So Until Next Time, STAY POSITIVE!

Jacki

Self-Employment ROCKS!

If you are an entrepreneur, then I'm sure that you and I have this in common: we do what we do (self-employment) because we are intelligent enough to make alot of money in our respective businesses. But it's more than just money...it's about quality of life. We don't all care if we end up the richest people in the world (although it would be nice!) but we DO care that we have enough abundance to be able to enjoy our lives in the manner in which we choose.

Two weeks ago, my daughters were on spring break. So on Friday, I got up and did some computer work and made a few calls. Then we headed off to the movies to see Horton Hears a Who. (Which we are STILL quoting!) Then we had lunch together, just the three of us, before I dropped them off at my parents house and headed off to a coffee meeting and then two phone meetings. What a great day! And back in my Corporate America days, I would have never DREAMED of doing something like that! But now, the only person to tell me where I can and cannot be is me. I LOVE self-employment.

I've done gift account walk throughs (A SendOutCards system introduction) in my pajamas. I've set client appointments sitting on my back patio, still in my work-out clothes, sipping on a cup of coffee. I've made follow up calls in my car on the way to lunch with a friend. I've gone and previewed properties on my way to my dance class. I LOVE my life!

It's one of the many common threads that every entrepreneur shares. But in my opinion, it's by far the most important. After all, no matter how you earn the money, what good is it if you can't ENJOY it?

So drop me a comment or an email. I'd love to hear about some of your "perfect moments" in the world of self-employment.

Until Next Time,

Jacki