I heard a great saying the other day - and it hit me like a brick:
"You can't have what you aren't willing to become." Wow. Think about that for a minute. Think about it in terms of your life - AND business.

In today's episode, I share how you can create boundaries & parameters for what you are and aren't willing to do - because it matters big-time.

Let me repeat the saying again: “You can’t have what you aren’t willing to become.” Let it sink in….

It made me reflect on my process of seriously considering opening a facial spa in my town. After working through everything with the consultant…I soon realized what I WAS NOT willing to sacrifice to have that business.

1. I was not willing to risk all the money in a town that had many awesome businesses go out of business.

2. I was not willing to work 6 days a week until 7pm since 2 of my 3 kids are still home.

3. I was not willing to do ALL of that considering I am not the breadwinner of the...

Are you using timers every day? You may not even realize you do - for cooking, for an alarm clock, etc. But have you considered using them for getting stuff done in life & and business?

Seriously, they are probably the most underutilized feature on my phone and clocks. The other day my family was in the kitchen - and we all looked around to notice it was a complete disaster. (Too many people home during this whole Covid-19 stuff!) My son then suggests we set a timer for 10 minutes and get every member of the family to clean at the same time. My daughters then come downstairs and we Ready-Set-Go!  

I can not believe what got done in 10 minutes! My daughter got busy sprucing up the living room and the rest of us ran around like crazy people. My son was emptying the dishwasher, I was picking stuff up off the counter, my husband was moving all our work junk out everywhere and my oldest daughter was cleaning everything she could.  To our astonishment, the whole...

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Have you ever had an ah-ha moment or revelation come to you at the oddest time? Meaning have you ever been in the shower or just when you woke up in the morning and all of the sudden come up with a great idea? You are not alone - there is actually SCIENCE behind it!

Personally I have experienced ah-ha moments right when I woke up in the morning. I can think of 3 major times in my life when I had big decisions I was pondering and trying to figure out solutions for…and WHAM: when I woke up in the morning I had the answer! And those answers came to me just as I was waking up, still in bed, still groggy.

So, I started researching why this could be. And I found out some interesting things! First of all, many people know for themselves whether they are night owls, or morning people or somewhere in between. And with that, most then think they would be most productive when at the time of day that corresponds with that. And they are...

Are you struggling personally, or in your business? Feeling anxious during this whole shift that is taken place in our world with the quarantine?

Realize that your struggle today is actually the process that you NEED to be going through to become the person you are truly meant to be!

I heard a story the other day that my pastor shared and I just had to share it here:

"The emperor moth is the most majestic species among all the moths. It has wide wings spanning out majestically when it flies. Before it can become a full-grown moth, it has to be a pupa in a cocoon. Now, the interesting fact about the moth’s cocoon is that the neck of the cocoon is very narrow.

In order that it becomes a moth, the pupa of the moth must squeeze its way out of the narrow neck. One day a man found a cocoon of an emperor moth. He took it home so that he could watch the moth come out of the cocoon. He sat and watched the moth struggling to force the body through that little hole. Then it seemed...

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In last week's episode (23), I shared how why and how to start crafting your personal VISION statement. This week I share now how to take the next step and create your personal MISSION statement. Yes, they are 2 different things - and you need them both!

Whereas your vision statement is about your future self, your MISSION statement is about the actions you can take today to move towards your vision. Whereas your vision statement is your NORTH STAR, your mission statement is your COMPASS. So your mission statement is your over-arching action plan - not the specifics but the big-picture idea.

Here are the questions you want to answer in your mission statement:

1. What do I do?

2. Whom do I serve?

3. How will I serve them

Here is an example of a statement: To use my [skills or expertise] to inspire/lead [group of people] so that [ultimate goal].

As a bonus gift to yourself, go ahead and write out your top 5 values. This is part of who...

We all know businesses create vision statements, but what about you - have you created your own PERSONAL vision statement?

It’s time to create yours today if you have never taken the time. It can be your over-arching guide, GPS, north start, compass for everything you do. This will help ensure that you stay guided and on the path you have set out to take for your life.

Well, here are the reasons why you need to do it:

1. It forces you to know yourself better.

2. It clarifies the direction for your life.

3. It actually inspires you and gives you more joy in all that you are doing.

4. It motivates you on unproductive days.

It only has to be 1-2 sentences and can be something you memorize and keep top of mind every day! Get the 2-page Personal Vision Statement Guide below and get started on yours today!

Everyone's perspectives are different - from the way we see things in life and in our businesses. 

With this Corona Virus, we all have a perspective on why it is happening, where it started, etc. And the sad part is, it's hurting many small businesses. And it completely breaks my heart. I know the blood, sweat, and tears that goes into building a business, and I pray this whole debacle ends soon.

But what perspective are you taking during this time? Doom & Gloom ...or do you see it as an opportunity to grow? Read more about how you can gut check your perspective on all this!

So, yes, I just have to ask: Do you fear the chaos when you time block? In addition, are you able to say no to the things that won't help you get to your goals, and say YES to the things that will?

****MAKE SURE YOU LISTEN TO EPISODE 20 about TIME BLOCKING FIRST before this one!

Today I talk about how to get creative with what is going to happen when you time block. Your house may become a mess. You may need help babysitting. You might need help with groceries and meal prep. So now it’s time to enlist help from others or you may have to pay for it. Do not let menial and unimportant things get in the way of you accomplishing your business goals - and sucking up your time!

I’m so happy you are being serious about your time and taking steps to make sure you have focussed hours to better yourself and your business!

Links I mentioned:

Instacart - I use this, love it for grocery delivery - CHECK IT OUT HERE!

HELLO FRESH  - Yes, I use this weekly...

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Oh yes, working from home can be hard. All the distractions, phone dings, action going on outside, TV, other people around on the phone or talking, etc. 

And I know it all too well. Until the end of last year, I was working with all of those distractions. I got work done, but things weren't happening at the speed I needed them to.

I used to exercise whenever in the morning - maybe 8:30 or 9:30 or 10:30 or 12 - then would work at the kitchen table as permitted. I could work at a desk but no, I wanted the TV on with the news, and let my dogs in and out and eat snacks as needed.

I soon realized that was not working. I needed to concentrate. I didn’t need anymore of these distractions.

Then I discovered the one method that changed everything: TIME BLOCKING. Yes, I started to block my time. And it has been absolutely a God-send!

The first thing you have to do with this method is block your time off. So last December I booked...

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Do you run your own business or dream of starting one? CHECK OUT MY FREE BUSINESS TOOLS!

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On this episode, I have gift boutique owner Jennifer Huff sharing her business journey that started 15 years ago! She started as a home-based embroider, then started reselling products with embroidery & monogramming then took her business online. Then, three years ago, she moved into a retail space! Crazy huh? Considering how tough the retail gift environment can be with Amazon and online shopping so easy & convenient, she has found a way to make it profitable and still something she loves to do!

Think about your business…has it had to evolve? I would be surprised if you said “no.” The online and retail marketplace is changing as such a fast rate these days that you NEED to. Does it mean you are shifting your...