People shared the challenges and dilemmas they face when it comes to self-care. They jumped in to support one another and in doing so, they proved how wise, knowing, willing and generous they are  . . . when it comes to others.

It’s not that we don’t know how to exercise self-care, we just don’t do it. Somewhere along the way, pushing our needs in the back burner, became a life forming habit!

It got me thinking about respect.

• What does it mean to have respect for someone or something?
• What about self-respect? How does that feel?
• Can you think of the last time you felt respect?
• Is your sense of respect based on the values you learned as children or did you develop your own brand of respect along the way?

Here’s what I came up with:

• Relax – open up to who you’re with, the situation, your surroundings
• Engage – be an active and willing participant
• Simplify – eliminate background noise and clutter-  see clearly
• Pay attention – stay present – observe – take it in
• Enjoy – give yourself permission to feel the joy that’s yours
• Care – for whatever and whoever needs your attention
• Trust – yourself in this very moment!

I began this morning by inviting people to keep it simple for today and choose their disruptions wisely.

A meeting I had in the morning, finished earlier than I expected, my to-do-list was moving along nicely and by early afternoon, I found myself with time in my hands. I should have known there was trouble around the corner.

I decided that I wanted to change some things on my website and took to task. The website designer I have worked with for almost ten years, is wonderful and very supportive. Over the years she has given me much more leeway that’s good for me. Keep reading and you’ll see why I say that!

All in all, it took me less than ten minutes to get into trouble. Whether the code I altered was small or not, the website looked like it got hit by a hurricane. No, wait, it did get hit by a hurricane . . .Me!

I called Terry and she took care of it within minutes. Never once did she seem annoyed -  and she had every right to be. When it was all said and done, I was left aware of the simple fact that not only I hadn’t chosen my disruptions wisely but I had created unnecessary drama for somebody else.

Here’s what I was reminded of today:

• Busy work is just that . . . busy work. It undermines our focus and peace of mind without contributing to the quality of our life or the accomplishment of our goals;
• Disruptions are like pebbles thrown on a calm pond. You throw one in and it creates ripples. The drama we create doesn’t just disrupt our life but the life of those close to us;
• Free time is a gift. It is to be honored and used wisely; and
• Some things are meant to be delegated to those who know better.

From the mouths of babes . . . although, please don’t let my daughters know I called them this way.

We went ahead to have a conversation about advertising and marketing and how misleading ads can be. Then, I sat down to write this.

How many number one movies can there be, how many “Best” cars or “Best ever?” whatever?

These days, I consider myself lucky, if the person I’m dealing with actually does what they said they were going to do. That is, without me having to call another two times and speak to another five people, in God knows what continent, before my problem is solved. Or, wasting my time, trying to outsmart a computer asking me questions, so I can speak to a living, breathing person who may or may not be able to help me.

It seems to me we’re so consumed with coming up with the jazziest way to say things, that we don’t bother to check whether, what we claim, is true. Why bother with the facts? As long as we sound smart, we’re OK.

Too many promises, too little results. Wouldn’t it be better if we spoke our truth and then invested our time and energy in fulfilling our promises and putting our efforts where our mouth is?

When do we know we’re playing hide-and-go-seek with success?

Can it be when we don’t take the time (because who has time for trivia anyway?) to spell it out for ourselves?

Do we know what a successful business . . . a successful life look like? Or, is it, other people’s beliefs of what success is, that define us?

What is success? How does it look, smell, feel? How is success measured in your work, in your life, or is it possible to keep the two separate?

“Good questions but guess what . . .  I got to go now.” “Got to surf the net, check on what other people are saying on Twitter, go see what’s in the fridge one more time.”

You know what I’m talking about. It’s when we know we should follow up with the two potential clients we met last night, or sit down and review our numbers and get a plan going . . .  but instead we choose to hide (Yes, Hide!) behind whatever distractions come our way in the course of the day. Is it self-sabotage, self-doubt,  being distracted or all of the above?

Distractions come wrapped in pretty little packages. You don’t know it’s gonna blow your focus out of the water, until you open the package.

Distractions are plentiful. They can derail our day, undermine our goals and affect the quality of our life. They can send a business spinning into oblivion.

What’s your poison?

• Internet browsing, texting, talking on the phone, or checking voicemail every half hour?
• Eating, drinking, shopping, or TV watching?
• Saying Yes when you should say No and mean it?
• Living in the future, living in the past or wishing you were elsewhere? OR
• Comparing yourself to someone else and always coming up short?

Face the facts and change your picture!

• What’s the cost of distraction?
• Fed up or not yet?
• Ready to get ahead of the curve, the competition, the voice in your head that holds you back?
• Pumped up and ready to let go of your distractions?
• Make your list and don’t waiver. Show the world what you’re made of.
• Think big, state your intention, write it down, paint it, draw it, post it where you can see it.
• Let your choices reflect your priorities and who you want to be. Every day!
• Celebrate your victories, be gentle with your setbacks and ruthless with your time boundaries.
• Remember, every day is a day when opportunity can come knocking at your door. Open it!

More often that not, small changes in our daily routine can result in increased energy and confidence.

Join me in this teleclass and get the opportunity to:

• Evaluate your current daily habits;
• Uncover the hidden costs of unproductive habits;
• Determine what fuels your energy;
• Discuss how saying “No” can be an act of self-care;
• Explore specific changes you can make to increase your energy and sense of well being.

Every day is a fresh start and a chance to do something different. Reserve your spot for this teleclass, today. This can be the beginning of a wonderful friendship – with yourself, that is!

When: Thursday, June 24

12pm-1pm EST

Register by June 21st.

Upon registration, you will receive an email with call-in details and class handouts.

Q.

What a great question! Those of us who face this dilemma, raise your hands! There are many ways to approach this and just by looking at how many books are written on the subject, we can easily say it’s a common struggle.

Let’s begin by accepting the simple fact that being ourselves is much easier than trying to be someone else. It’s important to know who we are and to recognize what comes natural and easy to us. That’s a good starting point when thinking about marketing. When we are comfortable in our own skin; when we have fun and we enjoy what we’re doing, we become attractive to those around us.

There is homework to be done and you have to be clear about:

1. The benefits and value of your product/service,
2. Who your ideal client/audience is, and
3. What needs of your ideal client your product/service addresses and how.

If you passionately believe in what you offer, then you are in a very good position to being successful with your marketing.

Let’s say you have all of the above in place and you still find it hard to talk about what you do and close the sale. This is a good time for a heart-to-heart chat with yourself. Is there an underlying belief system that undermines your efforts? Is there something lurking behind the scenes that sneaks out and introduces self-doubt into the equation? Is it fear, lack of confidence, doubt, old tapes playing? Is it time to discard the old and commit to something new?

Remember, passion and enthusiasm are contagious. Sometimes, I think we get too uptight and serious when it comes to marketing. Yes, it can be intimidating but the best antidote is to have fun with it. Don’t worry much about the outcome. Didn’t Woody Allen say that 85% of success is showing up? Go ahead, show up and show them who you are and what you have to offer. Be yourself and show the world your greatness.

Those who need what you have to offer will ask for more. They will show interest, they will ask questions, they’ll want to know more. That’s your cue. Go for it. Marketing is like dancing. When we dance, we don’t think about it. We let go and let our body follow the music and respond to our partner. Have fun, stay light and dance your way  to success!

I remember at the beginning of my corporate career, the constant state of frenzy and adrenaline rush.

On certain days of the month, I had to drive to Boston, three hours each way, to be at a meeting. I would sit in this two-hour meeting thinking of everything that had to be done and wondering why on earth I was there in the first place. I ended up working weekends or late nights, trying to catch up. Somethings we have control over and some we don’t.

Getting back to the three hour drive to Boston. I somehow had convinced myself that it would only take me two and a half hours to get there. We can analyze why that was or we can just accept the fact. I was convinced that it would take me two and a half hours, period! The meetings would be scheduled for eight or nine in the morning. That, of course, meant . . . morning traffic! Try getting into Boston at that time in the morning. It can be hell.

Best case scenario, I would arrive there right as the meeting was starting. No time for me to settle down, take a deep breath, relax after a long drive, or acclimate myself to my environment.

Worse case scenario, I was 10-15 minutes late. Major embarrassment. Did people know I had a three hour drive? Yes, they did. Did they understand I had to leave the house at five in the morning? Yes, they did. Did it matter? No!

It didn’t take me long to realize that I had to address this before it became a problem. I loved my job and I respected my colleagues. I couldn’t say no to the meetings. I had to change how I approached this. Living under the stress and going on adrenaline was affecting my health. Not an option.

I had learned by then, that even a small change can make a difference. I started by facing the fact that getting to Boston takes closer to three hours. Then, I began to schedule time for travel and transition. When I penciled in a meeting, I also included time for travel plus fifteen minutes. This practice allowed me room to breathe, settle down and deal with the unexpected when it happened – which often did!

Trying to squeeze as many things as possible in a tight time frame makes us inefficient and causes us stress and anxiety. How effective can we be then? Not much.

When you schedule a meeting, pencil in extra time for travel (before and after), preparation and for dealing with the unexpected. The amount of time for travel is up to you, as long as you don’t convince yourself that it takes you less than it takes. Schedule fifteen minutes to breathe and gather your thoughts. You’ll be a lot more productive when you take time to get into the mindset for that particular meeting, review your strategy and even touch base with the “players” before the actual meeting.

If you are one of those people who run from one thing to another with no time to catch your breath, you may want to rethink how you go about the little things. Just because things have always been a certain way, it doesn’t mean that’s the only way to go about it.

Living in balance is not about having a myriad balls in the air, at the same time. That’s not balance, that’s juggling. It’s like running uphill constantly, hoping your legs won’t give. At the end of a day’s juggling, one feels out of breath.

A person in balance is hardly ever out of breath because, at any given point, he knows that he is in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing.

To achieve balance, one has to be willing to drop some balls. It requires clarity and the willingness to put what’s really important ahead of the nonessentials that usually fill our days.

To be clear of what is essential, we need to get to know who we are and who we want to be, in every aspect of our lives. We need to evaluate and decide what activities support or undermine our well being.

It takes no time for things to creep into our daily life and our schedule. That’s why it’s important to review and revise constantly. By keeping a watchful eye, setting clear boundaries and eliminating the nonessentials, we ensure that, what we invest our time and energy in, reflects our priorities and goals.

No aspect of our life and work can ever flourish without our attention. When we work on a project where other people are involved, we make sure to meet and discuss the details, deadlines and progress. We make sure that, every action point and every step we take, brings us closer to the successful completion of the project. When it comes to working on the project of our “life” though, we forget all we know.

Let’s begin by taking a good look at our habits and determine what activities and daily habits qualify as “nonessential.”

Invest 5-10 minutes each day to review and revise. Eliminate the “nonessential” or at least move them to the bottom of your to-do-list…. Give priority to what really matters – at work and at home.

When someone asks you to make a commitment, think carefully before you say “yes.” Saying “no” is a lot easier than you think and pretty soon you’ll be very comfortable doing that.

There is a lot more you can do but for now . . . Stop juggling and be truly productive!

“He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.”

The more I work with people the more I see how caught up we are in an unforgiving pace of being. The art of pausing and taking in the landscape, sort-of-speak, is lost in our to-do lists.

We’ve all had the experience of going through a day and not having a moment to breathe. Even the language we use to describe a day like this, is quite revealing. We say: “I didn’t get the chance to breathe today” or “What a day! I’m out of breath.” How can that be? How can we go through a day without breathing? Let’s see.

How does it feel to go through a day at high speed? Some of the physical symptoms can include anxiety, a sense of not being able to take a deep breath, exhaustion, headache. Emotions can range from annoyance to agitation and resentment. Our ability to focus and be truly effective, is compromised. We may find it difficult to be patient, tolerant or understanding towards other people.

I don’t think our appreciation of life runs high when we’re spinning our wheels, waiting for landing. How can we appreciate the present moment, when we go through our day waiting for when we’ll be somewhere else, doing something completely different?

That’s when the practice of “pausing” can make all the difference.

Pausing, even for five minutes, can drastically change our perspective of the present moment and situation. It’s easier to pause before we react or speak than wishing we could go back in time (rather impossible) and do something differently.

Taking the time to pause and take in the landscape of a situation, a relationship, an exchange can strengthen our mental clarity and empower our decision making in ways we can’t even imagine. Giving ourselves the gift of a few deep breaths in the midst of chaos, can ground us, infuse us with energy, and remind us of everything we have to be grateful for.

Give yourself the gift of pausing throughout your day. Life is not meant to be lived on automatic. Time stretches for people who live every moment to its full capacity. Be one of them!

Now, I will not sit here and pretend to be a financial wizard. One thing that has always worked for me though, is knowing how much money comes in, where it goes and what my financial priorities are. I find that to be a good starting point.

I treat time the same way. There are twenty-four hours in a day and, nothing I ever do or wish, will ever change that. The next logical question then is: “What do I have control over and what is the best investment of my time?”

When I work with clients who find time management to be a major challenge, the first thing I ask them to do is an inventory of where their time goes daily. Knowledge is power, after all.

Documenting your daily activities in detail, allows you to see clearly how you invest or spend your time and the effect your time choices have on the quality of your life and your sense of well being. When you look at, how your days go and how easily things can get out of hand, it’s easy to see why you may be on the verge of burn out.

Effective time management is close to impossible if we lack the conviction of our values and true priorities. That’s why the next step includes an honest look on what your true priorities are and how they compare with your daily choices. Most people are surprised to see how little their daily activities reflect their life priorities.

By gaining clarity on what we truly value and want to have in life, we become able to make the choices that make every hour of our day time well spent.

What else can we do? People are losing their jobs, the well is running dry, and the forecast is bleak. How do we go about maintaining our stamina while juggling our lives and not losing ourselves in the process?

Numerous studies suggest that long working hours, the inability to do what one loves and enjoys, and not honoring our personal priorities can lead to burnout. What good is that?

No matter what, we can’t stretch time. There are only 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week. It becomes then a question of managing ourselves and our energy and not just focusing on managing our time.

It has been observed and documented that when people take care of themselves consistently and “recharge their battery” – sort-of-speak -  they perform better and avoid burnout.

Taking care of your body is a good place to start. Begin with the basics.

• How do you sleep? Do you feel rested when you wake up or not?
• What is your ritual before bedtime? Do you eat late? Do you drink? Do you smoke?
• Do you work up until bedtime?
• Do you tend to go to bed irritated and anxious?

Try all or some of the following and see if it makes a difference in how you feel the day after:

• Eat a healthy meal no later than 8 pm;
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine after 6 pm;
• Take a shower or a bath before bedtime;
• Avoid watching late night TV;
• Do something that helps you relax; Forget about work, it will be there tomorrow;
• Take 10-15 minutes before bedtime to meditate.

1. You don’t like the nature of the task and you consider it a waste of  time. The task maybe boring or time consuming. You just don’t want to do it and that’s that.

Figure out what it is you don’t like about the task or the project. Think of alternative ways of dealing with it. Delegate it, ask for help, or find a way to get it off your plate once and for all. If all else fails, break the task into smaller steps, schedule time to tackle each step at a time, and reward yourself for completing the cycle. Find a way to motivate yourself and make it interesting.

2. You’re afraid of the outcome.

Consider the possibility that you may be afraid of what it means to complete this project. Is there something that’s working behind the scenes that you are not clear about? Are your concerns realistic? Are you making things worse by procrastinating?

3. You may not feel equipped to do something well.

Think about the project or task and be honest with yourself. Are you concerned that you may not do a good job with this project? If the answer is yes, identify the area of concern and think of the resources that you have at your disposal. Are your fears realistic? Is there someone you can go to for additional guidance and support? Would it be worth passing the project to someone else?

4. You lack the resources.

Think it through. Make a list of what you need to complete the task or project. Identify what additional resources you need. Get everything you need in place and schedule time to complete the project. If you can delegate parts of the work, then delegate it!

5. You think that by avoiding something it will just go away.

By now, experience has taught you that you can’t bet on this one. It could go away but how can you be sure? Is it worth the risk? Read reasons 1-4 and see if there is anything there that’s of use to you.

6. You like the rush of going up against a deadline.

Take a mental journey into your past and determine whether leaving things for the last minute is a habit of yours. If it is, accept it and ask yourself whether you are willing to keep up with this pattern. Is it worth the rush? Are you ready to make different choices? It’s up to you.

7. There is something you get by not completing the task that you are not aware of.

It’s possible that procrastinating with a particular project or task is the clue to something bigger. Is this a project you should be doing? Does it serve your original intention or personal goals? Does this project hold a message for you? It’s worth finding out!

The key to dealing with unproductive habits is not beating yourself up or avoiding the truth altogether. Take some time, think it through, and get to the bottom of it.  You’ll be amazed.

1. Do you always feel you don’t have enough time?
2. Are you working on too many projects at once?
3. Do you procrastinate and then push to get something done at the last minute?
4. Have you been dropping the ball lately and forgetting things?
5. Are you on edge emotionally?

If you answered yes to at least four of the five questions, chances are you are running on adrenaline.

“Adrenaline is a hormone produced in high-stress or physically exhilarating situations by the adrenal gland in our body. The term “fight or flight” is often used to characterize the circumstances under which adrenaline is released into the body. It is an early evolutionary adaptation to allow better coping with dangerous and unexpected situations.”

Research shows that it’s important to “work off” the adrenaline that is being released into our system when we experience stressful situations. Failing to do so results in high amounts of adrenaline staying in the body which, in turn, results to “insomnia, anxiety, depression, and a suppressed immune system.”

Now that we got the scientific part over with, it’s safe to say that people can become addicted to this “adrenaline rush.” It becomes a habit and many use it to get through the day and accomplish all that is expected of them.

If you are one of these people, consider the following:

• Evaluate your commitments and let go of some. Consider that not every commitment is created equal.
• Review your schedule. See how you can shift things around to create time for uninterrupted work and planning.
• Evaluate your work habits. Are you good at delegating or do you pride yourself in getting the job done better and faster on your own?
• Minimize distractions. Don’t pick-up your phone every time it rings. Resist checking e-mail constantly and instead check email at regular intervals.
• Communicate your needs and expectations.
• Make sure you eat healthy. Keep nutritious snacks in the office.
• Make time for physical activity and exercise. Take a walk between meetings, before or after lunch, breathe some fresh air and clear your head.
• Give your mind a break; listen to relaxation tapes; read something other than work documents, look outside your window and notice what’s there.
• If all else fails, you can at least remember to take a few deep breaths before and after you engage in adrenaline producing behaviors.

Give it a try! Your body will thank you and the people around you will begin to exhale too.

The average person in an office is interrupted almost six times an hour, all day long. Six times an hour!

Most people I talk to feel helpless when it comes to handling interruptions. People often complain about how much longer it takes to complete a task because of getting interrupted all the time. So, what can you do to help yourself stay focused and complete your tasks?

To begin with, it’s important to know what or who interrupts you the most in the course of a day. Is your main source of interruption other people, your own working habits, or both?

If it’s other people who constantly come to you with questions, requests, or just to chat, consider how you can minimize interruptions without undermining your relationships and effectiveness at work.

•  Schedule regular, short, meetings with your staff during which your can review the work load, check on progress, and answer questions
• Suggest that people bunch their questions together instead of coming to you every time they have something to ask
• Utilize email more effectively. Suggest that people email you a list of questions and promise to reply by a certain time in the day
• Let your staff know when it’s not a good time to interrupt. Open-door policy promotes communication and it doesn’t mean that you have to be at the mercy of everyone who decides to walk through your door
• When people come to you and it’s not a good time, let them know and give them an alternative time when they can have your undivided attention
• Model the behavior you expect from others and don’t interrupt your staff constantly
• Allow time for interruptions throughout your day
• Allow time for social interaction.

If, on the other hand, your own habits, such as constantly checking email or always picking up the phone when it rings, are becoming a nuisance, try:

• Checking your email and voice mail at specific times of the day. For example, when you first go to the office, before and after lunch, and around 3 pm
• Schedule 5-15 minute time periods throughout your day to reply to messages. You will be amazed at how much you can accomplish in 5 minutes
• When you email or leave a voice mail for someone else, be very specific as to why you are calling, what you want, and when you want it by
• Discipline yourself to get back on task as soon as you are through with an interruption.

Are you facing the challenge of being constantly interrupted and how do you handle it?

It pays to have a vision for how your day will be, how a project needs to progress, or how a team meeting will develop.

I once worked with a group of people who had difficulty keeping on task during team meetings. People were becoming frustrated and felt that most meetings were a waste of time. We discussed the problem as a group and decided to approach meetings differently.

• We worked on setting a clear intention and agenda for each meeting.
• The agenda was circulated prior to each meeting, giving people the opportunity to make adjustments.
• We assigned the roles of meeting facilitator, note taker and time keeper. Team members took turns in fulfilling these roles. This way, they each came to appreciate the challenge of being responsible for the group’s performance as well as their own.
• We established a follow-up process for action points generated during each meeting.

As they adhered to the process, their meetings became productive, communication improved, and cooperation was strengthened.

Why not try this approach before you go into another meeting?

Being in business is not for the weak at heart. Especially in times of great uncertainty and constant change. Certain factors, like the economy, are beyond our control. These are the things we must accept. As in every aspect of life, we can only act upon the areas we have some control over.

We may not be getting as many new clients as we would like to or the demand for our product is waning. Revenues are slowing down and the news from the economy front are not quite cheery. Competition is intense and our morale is getting low. We continue to do what we have always done, but it’s just not working as well anymore.

What then?

Where does one find the strength, stamina, and inspiration to keep going? How does a small business survive in times of adversity? What do we have control over?

We do control what kind of business we create and who to create it for. Reevaluating our business and rethinking our strategy are necessary for sustained growth. In times of adversity and confusion, there is great value in staying focused and keeping the message simple and authentic.

A business that is built on solid ground can withstand strong winds. A clear vision is the backbone of a business and it serves as a source of inspiration and creativity. Having a clear vision for our work is as important as a beam of light. It can illuminate the way when we find ourselves in the dark tunnels of doubt and confusion.

When I work with business owners who struggle with these issues, we begin by revisiting their vision. We examine whether their vision still holds true and whether their business practices are aligned with their vision. How good of a job are they doing communicating their message? How well do they evaluate their clients’ growing and ever changing needs? How quickly do they respond to change?

Today’s business owners are faced with the challenge of having to keep their business approach “fresh” yet consistent. How does one innovate without appearing to change their identity at the drop of a hat?

One needs to have a strong identity to begin with. As a business owner and as the captain of your ship, you must set a very clear course from the beginning. Along the journey, you need to double check your course and make the appropriate adjustments. These are some of the questions that can serve as a compass as you chart your course:

• What kind of business am I in?
• Why am I in business?
• Who are my clients?
• What are their main concerns? What are their needs?
• How can I best serve my clients’ needs?
• What benefits do they receive from my services or products?
• What difference do my services or products make in their lives?
• Why would people choose my services or products versus the competition’s?
• Who is my competition? What do they do best?
• What do I do best?
• What do I need to change?
• What is the best way to reach my clients?
• What is the best way to deliver my products or services?
• What additional products or services do I need to offer?

In business, the ability to understand different trends as well as how our clients’ needs or moods have changed, is vital for longevity. Change is not easy. Businesses that don’t respond to change quickly enough don’t survive.

Working with the above questions can provide you with the guidance and inspiration you need when you feel challenged. You can revitalize your brand and breathe new life to your marketing. Going back to the drawing board maybe just what your business needs. Don’t wait too long!

© 2008 Yota Schneider, Open for Success. www.openforsuccess.com
May be distributed if full attribution is given and copyright notice is included.

In my work with entrepreneurs, I sometimes come across the person who is in business for all the wrong reasons. It happened just the other day. I was visiting an art gallery with a friend who knew the gallery owner. We started talking and during the conversation, the owner explained that business was not great. He felt that the gallery was not well received or supported by the community.

I have made a commitment to myself to coach only those who hire me to do so. Sometimes, I have to admit, I break my own rules. This was one of these times. I felt the frustration of the person across from me. I wanted to offer something. I asked a few questions and tried to make some suggestions only to realize what I have learned repeatedly. You can’t help those who don’t help themselves.

I sensed a resistance to being proactive and trying new things. Above all, I sensed that what the gallery owner had always wanted was to be an artist. For whatever the reason, he talked himself into being a gallery owner instead. I think that may have been the key. Knowing thyself is one of the golden rules in business, in my book. It’s extremely important to have the business that is the perfect fit with who you are. The business that gives expession to your values, your interests, and your priorities is the business you will be most successful in.

As an artist, one is responsible to his or her art. The main objective of the artist is to create. Some may even feel, that selling their art or trying to make others see the value in investing in their art, is distracting. Many artists I know would not be seen as public relations experts.

As a gallery owner, one has to be willing to get out there, meet and greet, and rub elbows with many people. As a business owner, marketing has to be in the forefront. Connecting with as many people as possible is a priority. Keeping an eye on the finances of the business is crucial. You have to be flexible in your dealings with the public and the artists themselves.

What I am trying to say is, that you have to like people to be in a people business. You also have to be willing to accept responsibility when the going gets tough. How else are you going to make the right choices?

© 2008 Yota Schneider, Open for Success. www.openforsuccess.com
May be distributed if full attribution is given and copyright notice is included.

Right at this point and depending on who you are, you may begin to doubt yourself, give up altogether, or ignore the naysayers and move full speed ahead. Depending on your temperament, your personality, and the nature of your business, you may or may not seek for technical advice on how to go about starting a business. Writing a business plan, setting long and short term financial goals, and planning a marketing strategy, are not exactly concepts that dreams are made of. Just thinking of all this, can make someone want to stay under the covers all day.

Yet, creating, growing, and maintaining a successful business depends a lot on all that stuff. The key is in getting past the first wave of resistance and accepting the idea that having a business is a lot like raising a child. It requires love, flexibility, vision, planning, discipline, trust, commitment, perseverance, and consistent behaviors. And yes, it does require being open and getting past our fears and our self-doubts.

If you feel strong about your dream, take the time to:

• Gain clarity about what you want to do and how to do it.
• Ask for help. Talk to a business coach, a financial planner, an accountant, and an attorney. Talk to other business owners who can give you a clear perspective of the journey.
• Read about business planning and marketing. God knows, there is plenty of books written on these topics.
• Research your community for available resources. Use the Internet, the Small Business Association, and your local Chamber of Commerce.
• Narrow your niche. Doing so will make your marketing efforts a lot easier and target specific.
• Plan for success from the beginning. There is no reason why your business couldn’t be profitable from the get go.
• Keep your financial facts straight. That includes income, expenses, overhead, taxes, and cash flow. Start small and let the profits finance expansion. Keep your eyes wide open when it comes to finances.
• Create your marketing strategy based on clear and measurable objectives.
• Put together your Board of Directors, a team of people you trust and who are not afraid to tell you the truth. Run your ideas and strategies by them.
• Plan for continuous growth and success. Continuous evaluation and rethinking of strategy are a must, if you want to see your brain child becoming a thriving adult.

By the way, for those of you who are already in business, know this. It’s never too late to apply the principles above. The ability to understand when it’s time to do something differently, is what sets successful entrepreneurs apart. Go ahead and invest some time and energy into evaluating and rethinking your direction and your future. Your business will thank you for it!

© 2007 Yota Schneider, Open for Success. www.openforsuccess.com
May be distributed if full attribution is given and copyright notice is included.