Change 1 Movement And You Can Change It All!

Why pull weeds? Because it’s a change from sitting frozen in front of your computer screen, and more fun than the gym – really!

How many hours a week are you seated? At a desk or conference table? At a meal table? Behind the wheel of your car?

And how many minutes are you exercising at home or the gym?

If you’re not moving your body, your brain is stalling out from lack of oxygen.So, ask yourself:

“What is ONE thing I can do to get my body in motion?”

For one of my clients it’s holding walking meetings. Any meeting that’s a pure discussion and doesn’t need overheads or computer work has become a stroll through the building or even around it.

Another client, in a home office, deliberately leaves 2 errands to do each day, rather than on the weekends. She then drives to the destination and parks at the furthest spot in the lot so that she gets several minutes of exercise without getting on a treadmill.

Me? I do the squats pulling weeds, trim roses and even shovel plants at times.

So whether you’re dressed in wool, or out of your client’s line of site in gym clothes, get your body moving and your mind refreshed.

September 30, 2008 | Filed Under Catalyst Action Tip | Leave a Comment 

Are YOU Fit And Limber For Business?

© 2008 Linda Feinholz.

To an outsider, watching my day might be completely confusing, as I do plenty of tasks that don’t appear to have anything to do with my work. I know, though, exactly why I’m using my private 80-20 formula: 80 percent of my time is on ‘business’ and 20 percent is on ‘being fit and limber for business.’

As I drove to the office supplies store today I found myself reflecting on the irony – my income has quadrupled and my responsibilities have spread, down, down, down. From strategist to file clerk. Maybe you’re experiencing the same discovery?

Fourteen years ago I did strategic planning and operations analysis and leadership training and management skills coaching… as an inside consultant at one of the Disney business units. My time was spent with the top tier of business leaders in that multi-national corporation. My day was neatly organized and so was my office.

I had one file cabinet, one bookcase, one white board and pictures up on the wall. Back then, I straightened my project folders on the corner of my desk, turned out the light and walked out the door with ease.

My time at work consisted of 80-percent meetings, and 20-percent working on material to discuss in the meetings. And that filled a very full week. My hours outside of work had me limber and fresh and ready to head back each day.

Like many of you, I chose the ‘more’ entrepreneurial route and its unexpected complexities. I thought it would all be simpler and more straightforward. Sell work. Deliver work. Instead, I’ve gone from Read more

September 28, 2008 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

A Quick Catch Up Note

From strategy to moving files… one of the most unexamined side effects of leaving ‘corporate’ life is that entrepreneurs get caught with both macro and micro activities squarely on their To Do lists.

I know that first hand… I spent the weekend at a Summit with my mentor Eben Pagan working on business strategy. I’ve got a nicely organized list of changes to my information products, delivery system and the sequence of activities I’ll be using to launch the radio program The Spark Effect.

And two days later my day consisted of scripting the Senior Management Team Development meeting I’ll be running for a client next week, and three hours driving, buying and setting up the files and sorters I’ll be using in my newly organized office.

Across all of this, I’ve been running back and forth to the hospital where my step-dad Stan is in the cardiac care unit. I intended to write you an article that would be snappy and action-oriented and give you the 5 Tips on Prioritizing… Ah well, another time ;-)

September 26, 2008 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

Change 1 SHOULD And You Can Change It All!

Your ‘must’s and ‘should’s may be acting like breaks on your getting things done!

If you find yourself constantly thinking about things you’re not getting done, it’s time to clear out the mental chatter and recover all that distracted attention.

Grab a blank piece of paper and something to write with. Right now.

Make a list of everything that’s calling you for your time and attention. It will take you only a moment to write them all down.

Now that you have that list, ask yourself:

“What is ONE thing I can let go of?”

You will hear it clearly.

Even if you find yourself squirming over the answer, you know in your heart that this one thing can come off the list, be released from self-judgment, and gone from your attention.

Let it go.

Let it go and step up to the high payoff activities that truly need your attention right here and right now.

September 22, 2008 | Filed Under Catalyst Action Tip | Leave a Comment 

Loosen Your Grip And Boost Your Productivity!

© 2007 Linda Feinholz.

Every week I’m asked the question. Every week it feels like the first time I’ve heard it. And every week I have a fresh “Ah ha!” reaction to it and a feeling of relief sweeps through me as I notice a new answer to the question.

It’s the question posed by my mentor Kendall SummerHawk: “What is one thing you can let go of?”

The funny thing about the question is that in the moment when it’s posed, whether in person, by phone or in an email, I always hit my mental ‘pause’ button. I become mentally calm and still, and have a distinct answer. Always.

And I’ve asked it of the members of the Sole Practitioners MasterMind group that I lead. I see each of the folks there have the same ‘Oh! Yes…” reaction and realizations.

The question has been so powerful I’ve incorporated it in my conversations with my clients, friends, and family over the past two years. In some ways, asking it of others is a really productive way of bringing it up fresh for myself as well.

Take this past week for instance. I started Monday with a clear idea for my newsletter article. Then, as I prioritized my week, I knew… Read more

September 20, 2008 | Filed Under Ideas | Leave a Comment 

Acknowledging and Letting Go

Synchronicity. Coincidence. Or maybe plain old Life.

I broke out laughing this morning as I was putting the finishing touches on this week’s newsletter. Here I am wincingly acknowledging that I didn’t get the newsletter out to you last week and writing an article about when to Let Go.

And ‘ding’ goes my email box and inbound is a newsletter from my mentor Kendall writing about … when to Let Go.

I LOVE it when there’s a theme that’s showing up from so many sources that my mind just has to pause, and really notice it don’t you?

Meanwhile, here I am in my growing information marketing business developing new programs AND designing the details of the new business radio show I’ve been asked to launch by ModaVox – a huge compliment coming from the world’s #1 internet radio producers!

As I took care of so many things last week that I just couldn’t get the article out to you I’ve been thinking about how I’ll be reorganizing my time and activities. And I’ve used the opportunity to acknowledge: Wow! 86 straight newsletters have been designed and delivered since January 4th, 2007!

I’m heading off for 3 days with my coach Eben Pagan to tune up my business this weekend.  What are you going to be doing?

September 18, 2008 | Filed Under Ideas | Leave a Comment 

Success Quote

“We all have great inner power. The power is self-faith.
There’s really an attitude to winning.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger

September 17, 2008 | Filed Under Quotes | Leave a Comment 

Success Quote

“In this age, which believes that there is a short cut to everything, the greatest lesson to be learned is that the most difficult way is, in the long run, the easiest.”
Henry Valentine Miller

September 10, 2008 | Filed Under Quotes | Leave a Comment 

Change 1 BELIEF And You Can Change It All!

Your beliefs may be costing you time, energy and money!

If you spot yourself, or those around you dawdling, it just may be due to a belief that you ‘don’t know how to proceed.’

We don’t always have a buddy to turn to get unstuck, so I’d like to offer you a process to use on your own when you notice you’re stuck.

Ask yourself:

“What result or activity am I ‘certain’ will be impossible to sort out?”

Now that you’ve said it, it’s on to step 2. Envision someone you admire highly and create an imaginary list of the steps they would take to get into action and solve the matter. If you cannot think of anyone to use, call a buddy and have them brainstorm ideas out loud with you.

Don’t edit and don’t think, just write it all down.

Done? Take a look at the list. You’ll be amazed at how easily you spot realistic opportunities for action when you reread the list. Who knew those were hiding right there, waiting for you to spot them.

Now pick the easiest AND the most difficult and unfamiliar items from your list and get into action with them in the next 24 hours.

September 9, 2008 | Filed Under Catalyst Action Tip, Ideas | Leave a Comment 

Unveil Those Limiting Business Beliefs!

© 2008 Linda Feinholz

Mark was certain it would be six months before he’d be able to break into a new market. He ‘knew’ the people he wanted to get to would view it a priority to make time for him.

Donald was absolutely positive that his direct reports were getting paid too much to warrant being told what he expected them to do.

And Sarah was convinced that her new hire should know exactly the correct, sophisticated language he should use with her key clients, even though he came in from a different industry.

Just like the rest of us, their beliefs were absolute. And those beliefs weren’t getting them any closer to the business result they dream of: a vibrant, successful business achieved by a smooth-running team.

The funny thing about beliefs is that they can be utterly transparent. You’ve heard that metaphor: It’s like fish in water. They’re oblivious to the fact that they’re in it!

Beliefs operate the same way. We’re blind to their presence because they tell us “This is what IS.” And we’re blind to the belief, to its presence and to the impact of Unawareness. We completely miss seeing solutions and opportunities and even quick easy steps to take to accomplish our goals.

That’s where Mark, Donald and Sarah were stuck. Stalled making progress because they couldn’t see their beliefs blinding them to simple ideas and actions that would solve their situations. Read more

September 8, 2008 | Filed Under Ideas | Leave a Comment 

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