• 09Jun

  Unexercise works!

  Business and Health, Inspiration for Life 2 Comments

  

  We’re bombarded with so much more in life these days. Business is no different. It’s a far cry from the simpler life my parents experienced more than 40 years ago. Fewer people. Less technology. No information superhighway. Today we marvel at the convenience of plug and play, cell phones and other touch-able devices that make our lives and businesses easier.

  For the past seven years, I’ve coached many clients through overwhelm to create stronger systems and processes to support their business. That’s the easy part! Each time, I found a highly beneficial starting place - unexercise.

  Unexercise is the act of doing absolutely nothing. I don’t recall where I first heard the term but when I did, it really stuck with me. It’s a fairly simple practice yet most entrepreneurs have a diffult time with unexercise. Why? I think it’s because you’re so accustomed to constant activity. Sounds of a ringing phone, ringing. Email notifications chiming. Tweets chirping. Flashing banners on your computer monitor. Write a blog post. Get on a call. Check your calendar. Get on another call. Whew, it’s no wonder!

  Schedule an hour on your calendar for unexercise. For that one hour, do absolutely nothing. No telephone, no tv, no talking, no tweeting, no writing, no reading. Just sit. Let your mind flow freely. Daydream. Let your ideas pour out of you. Unclog your worries.

  This will help to rid your brain of the garbage. Eliminate the muddled trivial details. Silence the noise keeping you from being your best self.

  If you fall asleep during this time, your body is telling you to rest.

  If your mind wanders to new ideas, let it. You’re moving to a highly productive space. How kewl is that?!

  My clients love it! Start your unexercise in 5 or 10 minute chunks and grow to the hour.  Engage in unexercise once a week and watch your business grow to greater heights. You may also find a way to quiet the activity in your life and gain a stronger sense of focus and purpose for business.

  Ready to benefit from unexercise? I’d love to know your comments.

  Tags: overwhelm, relaxation, unexercise

• 07Jun

  When creativity deficiency syndrome strikes

  Business Marketing, Business and Health 1 Comment

  How has Creativity Deficiency Syndrome effected your business?
  
  Creativity Deficiency Syndrome (CDS) is a common problem small business owners and solopreneurs face when their marketing efforts grow stale. Typically it’s because of isolation and the inability to be look at your business with fresh eyes to see the endless sea of possibilities. Isn’t it great to know the possibilities hold the cure the CDS? You’re able to rid yourself of CDS once and for all.

  Checkout the possibilities…

  Embrace the ridiculous.
  Is the fear that others may think of you as ridiculous holding you back in your marketing? It’s ok to appear ridiculous. Try something outrageous and untried. Think about what feels totally fun in your marketing and test it out. You may find your idea is actually visionary, cutting edge and wildly innovative.

  Nurture fresh perspectives.
  Remember when you were a child and you discovered something new? Recapture your childlike innocence around your business. Reminisce and evoke the memory of why you fell in love with your business in the first place. Stir up those memories and get into a space of gratitude everyday about your business. This will allow you to be more creative about your marketing.

  Break the rules.
  There are no rules when it comes to being creative. These days, the unconventional absolutely works! Wondering who you are to do it differently? You’re a different person with a different business, ready to avail yourself of all the creativity in the universe. Break the rules and watch your creativity in marketing blossom.

  Maybe we all have a little Creativity Deficiency Syndrome (CDS) at times. You don’t have to allow it to cripple your business. Cure yourself today with a healthy dose of newness and fun.

  What do you do to rid your business of CDS? I know you have many more ideas and I’d love to see your comments.

  Tags: creativity, creativity deficiency syndrom, innovation, marketing

• 04Jun

  When social media relationships go bad and what to do about it

  Business and Health, Twitter 3 Comments

  
  

  I’m certain you’ve met people through Facebook, your blog or even Twitter. You connect with a few select friends and followers who are genuine professionals with solid reputations in the world of social media. Even though you’ve never actually met the people in person - you connect, tweet and in some cases, collaborate and partner.

  What happens when these relationships go bad? What do you do about it?
  
  When these relationships go bad, remember that people show up in everything they do just as they are. You can see it if you take time to observe, listen and feel what’s real and true. This is a time when patience as a virtue pays big. When people are less than gracious in their interactions, it doesn’t really change over time. Pay attention!

  Keep in mind that social media creates a false sense of professionalism. The informality of 140 characters often masks less than favorable character flaws. True professionalism is present no matter what happens in the relationship. Make sure you always maintain an attitude of professionalism even when the other person has a  foul or unprofessional attitude. You have a duty to yourself to be the bigger person at all times. It’s those challenging times that truly bring out the best in each of us.

  Own your own stuff by acknowledging your contributions to the problem. Yes, you played a role, too!  Personal responsibility is huge and the sooner you face it, the better off you can be. Remember, not everyone sees the world through the same lens that you do. Reflect on how you can learn and grow from the experience. Apply these "learnings"
  in the future to ensure social media relationship success.

  My mother always taught me to choose my friends carefully. Being somewhat of a rebel, I’ve always trusted until something came up that gave me a reason to question the trust. It’s the know-like-trust factor! In that very order, you must invest the time getting to know your Facebook friends and Twitter followers. Take your time getting to know your select friends’ character and strengths. Follow your heart to determine if you truly like the person and your values are aligned. Then - and only then, are you able to trust and continue building the relationship. Then, you’re able to connect, collaborate, partner and definitely entrust your friendships in social media.

  What are your thoughts? How do you handle social media relationships gone bad? I’d love to know your comments.
   

  Tags: facebook, know-like-trust factor, social media relationships, Twitter

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