4 KEYS TO ENDING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL ALONENESS BLUES

By Linda Feinholz, “Your Success Catalyst”

How do you fight off the blues?The blues I’m speaking of are the entrepreneurial ‘aloneness’ blues.

I’ve found myself guiding several of my clients this past week as they sort this out. Their aloneness stems from immersing themselves whole heartedly in their passion as they create their business. They have a clear Vision for what they want to achieve, and they’re stellar at keeping their attention on the goal.

My new client Mark commented that he realized he’d built a business model that had him playing nearly every single position on a football team. It didn’t matter how fabulous the touchdowns were, when he turned around in the end zone, no one was watching. And he keeps work and home life separate so even evenings and weekends when he goes home there’s no one to report to for a congratulations pat as he leaves the field.

And that’s not all!

Not only did he not have teammates to help get it done, there was no cheering from the stands, and no coach on the side lines to run ideas by.

Mark is not the only one living that “I’ll get it done alone” life.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners and professionals alike become so focused and driven that they are missing all the critical elements, the balancing aspects of team and relationship. As you read this you probably have images flashing in your mind about what they’re missing, and about what you’re missing.

And I mean ‘missing’ in more than one way. In fact here are just four:

I mean it first from the perspective of a coach. It pains me watching my folks do it the hard way when they don’t need to. When they’ve finally had enough of proving they can do it all on their own, we design their work so they can start handing portions of it off to others to ease and accelerate getting it done.

Then there’s the perspective of a business owner. If Mark keeps doing it all himself, then he is his business. That’s it. There’s no way around the fact that Mark is creating his key role as ‘single point of failure’ in nearly every aspect of the business! So we’re working to shift Mark from being the primary ‘doer’ through becoming a Manager of his business with others doing the lion’s share of the actual work, under his supervision. Over time, Mark will be come the cheering section for his team as they take the field to deliver customer delight.

And let’s not forget the perspective of a fellow problem solver. In my own work I encounter issues that need problem solving. When I rely only on my own ideas and experience I may miss even better solutions that others might come up with. The same holds for my clients. I’ve created three different mastermind groups for myself where I have colleagues that I run ideas by to get input. My clients learn to create the sounding board that enriches their decision-making. Nothing beats having others with experienced eyes standing close to the sideline with real time feedback and practical suggestions that support my efforts. Just as I’ve created that support system for myself, I’m working with Mark to identify peers he can build relationships with to exchange ideas with.

There is even the perspective of a customer. If Mark is the one and only person a client can turn to with a question, a need, a problem that needs solving, then the customer is at risk. Not only is Mark’s business at risk if a customer leaves, but the customer is at risk if Mark decides to take a vacation! Expanding the team means Mark will be able to assure his customers of the continuity of support they depend on for their own business safety.

Each of those perspectives leads to simple and straightforward solutions. Mark’s success will be strengthened when he fills in the missing pieces of people to delegate to, peer advisers to boost his own productivity and an organization structure that secures his and his clients businesses. All of these steps lead to High Payoff results.

So if you find yourself doing it all on your own, put a team in place and you’ll break free of the doing-it-all-yourself blues! 

August 30, 2007 | Filed Under Inspiration, Processes, Vision | Leave a Comment 

Change 1 Distraction And You Can Change It All!

Have you spent more time thinking about a task that needs doing than actually putting the work into getting it done? Burst through what’s got you distracted by focusing on one, just one task.

Ask yourself and your team

“What single activity on the list would create the Highest Payoff?”

Once you have your answer, break the task down into manageable steps and decide on the order you’ll get them done. Assign them to others if you want to accelerate your results.

August 26, 2007 | Filed Under Processes, Time Management | Leave a Comment 

5 STEPS TO MASTERING YOUR DISTRACTIONS

By Linda Feinholz, “Your Success Catalyst”

Have you ever had one of those perfect solo-preneur days…

Your To Do list is crystal clear, prioritized and focused on all the High Payoff activities that will get you the results you dream of.

The phone is nice and quiet and no emails are peppering your computer.

You have few appointments that need you away from your office.

Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it?

Have you ever had one of those days and still not gotten the things you need to done?

I’ve been faced with one of those days, well actually weeks, right now! For seven straight days I’ve been cycling in and out of the flu, with 100% laryngitis, alert enough to send people emails saying “Sorry! Let’s touch base next week!”

All my coaching clients agreed to reschedule our work together and three prospective clients were very sympathetic and moved our calls as well. I love the people I attract to my work!

Meanwhile, here I am rattling around my international corporate headquarters, also known as my home, awake enough between bouts of medicine to feel I “oughta” get stuff done! I’ve been moping and muttering to myself avout everything I’m not getting done.

Like most entrepreneurs and small business owners, I can be my own harshest judge about what I am and am not getting accomplished. I feel like I’m breaking my commitments to my vision and to the deadlines I set with my mastermind buddies. I’ve even had a few moments of self-criticism about whether I’m modeling what I should be for my coaching clients.

This time, as I floated up and out of my drug-induced haze I laughed about it. I know enough not to slip into a pity party – I’ve been hospitalized several times in my life and this is nowhere near that kind of external diversion! So when I was done laughing, I hauled my attention back under control, got focused and got practical about how to still get stuff accomplished.

Whether your distraction is internal or external the following tips will help you grab the reins and take control again before too much time slips past.

Pick one task, just one.
I have six things I said I’d get accomplished this past week. My current score? 10% on three of them, 20% on two of them and zero on the third. But I’ve been having a grand time beating myself up about not getting things done! So, I’m picking just one to get accomplished and taking my attention back from the rest of the list. And I’m picking the one that will get my the highest payoff for my effort.

Break it down into bite-sized pieces.
I settled on getting my newsletter out this week. I’ve been very committed to publishing it timely on Thursdays, getting it up on the blog and to the articles distributors as well. Each of the steps is actually only 5 to 15 minutes of work and attention. While I love working through them all in a stream, I recognize that this time I’m doing one step, pausing to see if I have the attention for the next or not. If I need the break I take it. If not, on to the next step!

Do each step to completion.
Is this how your mind works, too? As I do one task, ideas about three other ones leap into focus as the ‘perfect’ solutions that I just have to act on now! I don’t let them pull my attention away. I just make a note of the idea on the To Do list and come straight back to the task at hand. As I count the steps associated with getting my newsletter done there are 20. I’ve done 3, and actually writing this article is number 4 so I’m making headway here and it feels great as each one is checked off.

Appreciate what you are getting accomplished.
A year ago the newsletter was an idea I was passionate about. Eight months ago it launched. I’ve published an issue every week since then and received rave reviews from colleagues, clients and the public that have appreciated the stories, ideas and practical tips.

Set aside what will not get accomplished.
For the past 32 weeks, I’ve recorded an audio version of the article and added it to the newsletter. I’ve only missed doing it twice due to travel. Laryngitis. I’d say it’s going to win! If there’s no audio link on this newsletter you’ll know I did indeed allow myself the grace to regretfully not include it. And I moved on to the next step needing my attention.

So I invite you to join me in breaking through what has your attention distracted today. I’m going to go finish this great business building activity and then take the next item on my To Do list and repeat the process. Join in!

August 23, 2007 | Filed Under Processes, Time Management | Leave a Comment 

Change 1 Habit And You Can Change It All!

Are you using the same business systems and processes you’ve used for years… or new ones?

If it’s been more than three years in your successful business, then it’s time to look for High Payoff changes you can make to boost your productivity.

You don’t have to take on everything at the same time. Pull your team together and ask them:

“What’s one change you’d love to see to boost our productivity?”

You’ll find a flood of great ideas to sort through, prioritize and pick one to get everyone engaged in getting further, faster and easier.

August 19, 2007 | Filed Under Organization, Processes, Productivity Tools | Leave a Comment 

High Payoff Lessons From Luggage - Time to ‘Let Go’

By Linda Feinholz, “Your Success Catalyst”

Personal productivity is a topic that we all explore, sooner or later. Pick up any magazine or newspaper, tune in to your local radio, and you’ll receive a flood of material on work productivity. Get on an airline and the articles will be slanted to luggage productivity of the rich and famous. It all can weigh you down instead of lightening your load.

In my 20-plus years of consulting and coaching business owners and entrepreneurs, I’ve found that how we handle our physical luggage is practically the same as how we handle our travel luggage. And there’s a better way to handle our suitcases and our mental baggage.

If you’re anything like me, preparing for a vacation or business trip is a real test of how to pack. You know – you find yourself with your luggage out and more things to put in it than you really can use on your trip. The six extra tops, four extra pants, and fifth pair of shoes ‘just in case’ you go out to a nice restaurant.

The same thing holds for tools you use in growing your business. Nothing is more tiring than carrying obsolete, unusable and hindering stuff with you on your journey.

Your goal is to be efficient and nimble and so it’s worth your time to figure out what will serve you, and to limit yourself to the tools you actually need.

Just like those extra unnecessary items you’ll fold and leave behind, there’s an art to letting go of the ideas, assumptions and old decisions that are slowing you down.

Today I’m going to share with you four important tips to help you lighten your load and carry the High Payoff productivity tools you can really use.

Decide what you need next
Just like carrying a winter jacket to Europe in the Summer, old work processes in your company may be slowing you down. My promotional products client suspected that his division’s workflow wasn’t as efficient as it could be. We designed an intensive work session with all of his team to map out their Vision for what they should be accomplishing. I had them pinpoint each place where an old way of doing things was actually slower than one they could imagine, right there. We got those changes turned into projects and the 80% of the improved work processes were in place 60 days later.

Make sure what you’re using now fits
Can’t get the extra sweater or pair of gym shoes jammed into the bag? Once the work flow was posted on the wall, the entire team could see that it had worked when they were a start-up, but it was getting in the way now that they were doing millions of dollars of business. It wasn’t interpersonal issues that were holding things up, it was legacy systems that no one had taken a fresh look at. It was clearly time to test new ways of doing things!

Sort out what isn’t serving you any longer
I left that third pair of shoes at home. Well, actually the fourth pair. That same client was able to identify nine different times where more than eight people had to sign off on decisions. That sure got in the way of decision-making and action by the people doing the work. You can bet that, once everyone saw it, a new decision-making process was agreed to by all hands in under fifteen minutes!

Plan where you’ll store what you’re not taking with you
Sometimes I’m tempted to store what needs to be tossed, and toss what needs to be stored. Just because I’m traveling off-season doesn’t mean that parka won’t be worth taking along on another journey. And the same goes for you and your business as it grows. My client decided that their innovative way of conducting meetings when the company was young, did not work for middle management’s project status meetings. But it’s perfect for their creative team that has to solve a unique problems on an ongoing basis.

My luggage stays light when I’m traveling and my clients baggage gets sorted out so that they can stay nimble as they face their business challenges.

Use these lessons from the road to lighten your load and ensure there’s a high payoff to carrying your experience, know how and skills into how you’re running your business.

August 16, 2007 | Filed Under Organization, Processes, Productivity Tools, Time Management | Leave a Comment 

Change 1 Habit And You Can Change It All!

We often head into meetings with our minds clogged up with past conversations, old ideas about the people around the table, set opinions about what decision ‘should’ be reached.

Treat those habits just like unnecessary luggage. Leave them behind rather than taking them with you. Before you walk through the door to your next meeting, free up space for new information and ideas to show up in your conversation.

You can do that by saying to yourself

“Right Here. Right Now. All New.”

Write it on the corner of the pad of paper you’ll be using in the meeting as a reminder.

August 12, 2007 | Filed Under Ideas, Productivity Tools | Leave a Comment 

High Payoff Lessons From Luggage - Part 3

By Linda Feinholz, “Your Success Catalyst”

Just like planning for a voyage, business owners and professionals need to evaluate if what they are currently doing is going to carry them forward to their next destination. If not, they must find the tools and resources they need. That process of assessing and refreshing is vital if a business is going to make it through the stages of growth that success triggers.

I was reminded of that as I prepared for a six-week trip, with visits planned in more than 18 cities. I had to figure out what information I wanted to know ahead of time and what I could pick up along the way. The same went for clothing, supplies, and contact information.

I knew I’d be carrying my luggage through airports, train stations, ports, and metros. I hoped to not waste my time in each city looking for the tour books I’d want to refer to along the way. And there were clothes I’d need for the climate I was visiting that I don’t normally wear at home. Even so, I needed to keep expenses down and the exchange rates would make it more costly to buy what I needed overseas.

So I bought new books and clothes at home. Then I worked to get the weight down. I went through the books and stripped out what I didn’t want to carry on this particular trip. The pages I didn’t need I put in my trip files. And as I traveled I kept tossing the ones I had with me, saving only unique pages like the addresses of the gourmet dessert shops in Barcelona so I could give it to others who’d be interested.

Along the way I shipped home a box with nearly 12 pounds of paper – postcards, museum books, maps from the first half of my trip. I wanted them, but I wouldn’t be using them and so I sure didn’t need to be carrying them the following 3 weeks!

So it is with business tools. When you consider what you need for your business, the process is the same:

1 - Decide what you need next

What skills, tools, resources or ‘know how’ are needed to guide your business through its next stage? I don’t just mean technical knowledge. As you take your organization on its steps of growth, there may be management systems you need to take on to boost your own productivity and to ensure that everyone in your organization is focusing on high payoff activities.

2 - Evaluate what you have already, and what you need to add

Most often what’s required is more information, a new way of handling it and of making decisions. You need to identify what you need to add so that you figure out the timing and budgets for adding them, and so that you commit to getting the tools you need.

3 – Decide what you’ll leave behind

Much of our behavior in business and in our travels is based on habits. One of the most important decisions you need to make is what you’ll stop using, what behaviors and systems you’ll ‘retire’ to make room for the new ones that will help you create the new results you are intending to create.

4 – List what you want to buy along the way

There may be courses to take, staff to hire, or systems to install. Needing them doesn’t mean you’ll install them all immediately. However, putting them on your action plan will ensure that you keep them in your attention and follow through in picking them up.

5 – Give it a test

As you prepare for the next step in your business journey, pack your bags with the knowledge, experience, and expertise you’ve got on hand and the new ones too. Take it all for a test drive! Take it on a trip! Apply it to a new project and TEST it.

I wish I could have tested my luggage before leaving town. The true test came on the road. I carried three different skirts that each were worn only once in six weeks. I could have sent them home in week two and relieved my mind and muscles from taking care of them… and had room to buy a new jacket to use on the journey and bring home to keep wearing.

Most entrepreneurs start with a passion and a vision and a fierce commitment to their idea. From that starting point, their results are built upon their gathering the resources they need as they proceed. That includes not only money and technical resources, but also relationships and ‘know how’ as well. They need to constantly assess what really is needed, right here and right now, in order to move their business forward.

Give your self and your team the challenge of evaluating the luggage you’re using today and testing your new ideas, skills and systems for the best fit to carry you forward.

August 9, 2007 | Filed Under Productivity Tools, Time Management | Leave a Comment 

Change 1 Tool And You Can Change It All!

Where are you headed?

Is it familiar territory? The same business issues or new ones? Will it require a change of communication style? A change of decision-making criteria? Do you have the tools you need to keep your products or services delivered as your customers want and need?

Ask yourself:

“What’s missing that would make my life easier on the next stretch of the road?”

It may be time to update your staff mix to the right one to get the work done effectively. Or to get new processes in that streamline the work. Or to hold a conversation that’s long overdue so that you reach a decision and can move forward.

Let me know the results you create!

August 6, 2007 | Filed Under Ideas | Leave a Comment 

High Payoff Lessons From Luggage - Part 2

By Linda Feinholz, “Your Success Catalyst”

I just finished unpacking my bags after six weeks of travel. As I put things away I found myself reviewing whether it had been worth carrying each item with me for the duration of the trip. I kept thinking back to my vision for them all those weeks back.

Luggage, and how we use it, is a great reflection of how we live our business lives.

Why do I say that? Because the way we carry and use our luggage in travel is much like the way we carry the ‘luggage’ of our Know How and skills and use our resources through our business lives.

My coaching clients have shown me that most of the time they’re unaware of what result they get from their old ideas, old decision-making habits and old communication style. They carry that luggage with them each day as they go to meetings, solve the challenges that arise, and strategize the growth of their business. And their shoulders ache.

I hauled a load of luggage for six weeks – 37 pounds of clothes and books, 16 pounds of computer, back up drive, cell phone and cables and work papers, and the ever present 6 pound over-sized purse to use each day.

I regret about half of the clothes. But I wouldn’t have left them out despite the weight of hauling them from plane to metro to hotel to ship, etc. in 8 locations. My shoulders were aching from the weight, yet I knew why I was carrying each item and how I intended to use it.

Have you noticed, your shoulders are arching, probably with old luggage rather than what you actually need on your trip.

I used the following 3 steps last week to help one of my client’s look at where she’s headed, what’s needed to get there. She took a fresh look at the baggage of old skills and habits she was hauling along and why her shoulders were aching.

These steps will ensure you’re getting the best value out of what you’re taking with you.

Step 1 - Evaluate where you’re headed

Identify what you ‘really’ need to take with you. I knew I was going to be in weather that ranged from 21C/70F to 40C/100+F on a regular basis, with a wonderful alpine side trip to a glacier where the temperature would be as low as freezing with gusting wind. I knew I’d be taking clothes that could be layered so I wouldn’t have to take multiple wardrobes. And I knew that meant I’d be seeing clothes I’d not be wearing every time I opened my suitcase.

Where are you and your team heading? Do you know the conditions you’ll encounter on the journey?

Step 2 – Review what you’re carrying with you

Many of the items I had in my suitcase were purchased specifically for this trip. I When I did some research knew that what I already owned wouldn’t serve me on this particular trip. The world has changed since I last traveled and there were several items that became apparent as missing from my travel took kit: locks, laundry cord, cotton skirts, 3 oz bottles for the fluids I’d be taking with me.

You and your team have years of experience and Know How. Do you know what you have on hand in skills and talents and resources?

Once you can name what you need it leads naturally to

Step 3 – Locate where you can get what you need now for your trip

Some of the resources I needed were easily found – the corner drug store and every other shop in the city is selling the new locks.

Cotton skirts that were precisely what I was looking for took 10 shopping trips and that’s devotion – I hate to shop!

Worst of all – those little innocent “3-ounce bottles”. I knew I needed to carry right up to the limit and when I saw the industry standard of 2 ounce and 4 ounce sizes it made me nuts! Round bottles waste a great deal of space in the required plastic pouch and no one had 3-ouncers. That meant lots of wasted space! After weeks of searching, I found newly released 3-ounce flat containers in a beauty supply store.

Why did I spend all that time on these 3 steps? I knew it would be High Payoff if I could find those resources. And in fact the trip was smooth sailing once I had those resources as I didn’t have to give them any further attention for six whole weeks of travel.

The result for my client? She realized that she needs to delegate 30% of the work she now does so that she’ll have the time and attention to grow her company. She now knows she doesn’t need someone full-time, nor in her same city, nor even time zone. She needs a person she can reliably hand work off to and know it will be done properly. Period. Her perfect next resource is a Virtual Assistant.

So, what’s the tool you need for the next project or business challenge you’re facing? Are the resources you’re planning to use really a fit? Are they High Payoff or will they actually slow you down and demand ongoing time and attention?

Now’s the time to evaluate the luggage you’re carrying with you and see if it’s still a fit for your journey.

© 2007 Linda Feinholz. All rights reserved.

August 2, 2007 | Filed Under Ideas | Leave a Comment