Grab your FREE complimentary mp3 download of the 7 Resolutionary Breakthroughs to Profit and Prosper and stay in touch with our biweekly Success Secrets. Debra Kasowski discusses how indecisiveness can kill your business by missing opportunities, losing time, money, and resources. Move forward through inspired decisive action!
To Agree or Disagree with Sheryl Sandberg – Facebook COO?
There are many women in our lives who have influenced and shaped who we have become. For many of us, these people were our mothers, grandmothers, and women leaders. Leaders come in all shapes and forms. Some we know directly and others informally through books, magazines, and interviews.
The other night I watched Oprah’s Life Class interview with Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO, and author of Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. I received the book at a birthday present but I have not yet cracked it open. The interview was very revealing of character and position. Sandberg was recently featured in Time Magazine with a title, “Don’t Hate Her Because She is Successful“.
Do you “hate” women because they are successful? Do you aspire to be like them or shy away in envy?
I believe women should be admired for their skills and talents. I do not think Sandberg’s positioning is about burning bras and creating a movement against men. Her position and my position as a business coach are about building women leaders and the right to achieve our own successes.
As women, we compromise ourselves by not allowing our voices to be heard. Your opinion and perspective can shift a culture and create a movement. In the interview, Sandberg talked about women “not sitting at the table” and getting involved in the discussion or planning. The women who grow their businesses or climb the corporate ladder are not the women who hide behind the computer no pun intended to Facebook. The women who are leaders support others through asking the right questions and challenging ideas and thoughts that do not align with a vision.
Secondly, it is okay to be yourself and know your priorities. Sandberg shared that she left the office at 5:30 p.m. so show could be home with her family and in bed by 9:30 p.m. because her children would be getting up in the morning. We can have it all but not always at the same time. I totally agree with this philosophy but many people use to tell me I could not have it all – at any time. I think that view has fuelled me in writing my books and juggling the kids activities. I do recognize when people state, “I do not know how you get so much done.”
I will share part of the secret – I choose to.
In my home, we talk about expectations, goal-setting, and shared household responsibilities. I do not need to seek martyrdom but do strive to maintain sanity.
We must “LEAN IN“. What would you do if you were not afraid? So many times we may hold ourselves back from achieving what we want due to our “mommy guilt” but who ever said that you were not doing well by your children for being an example of strong work ethic, voice of equality, and achievement. Who said that women were not allowed to be leaders or achieve their dreams?
I am more involved with my children than previous generations because I choose to. I am grateful for the opportunities that come my way because of the efforts of the previous generations and my own. I believe women can climb the corporate ladder, grow businesses, and raise the next generation of leaders in our community. We are leaders by example. We have a vision for our future and collaborate with others to get things done.
Yes, there are trade-offs and sacrifices for a greater and bigger life. There is nothing sweeter than creating a life you love – your way!
Congratulations Sheryl Sandberg on reaching out and creating a platform for women leaders!
Who is a woman leader you admire or who has influenced who you are? Please share and comment on this post!
3 Productivity Secrets I Learned from Darren Hardy
I had the honour of listening to and meeting Darren Hardy, publisher of SUCCESS Magazine (Highly recommend a subscription) at his Productivity Secrets of Super Achievers . 
His talk was insightful and profound. Many of us think that if we are doing many things we are achieving more and producing more. It can be further from the truth. You may be a overachiever – getting many things done but there are significant distinctions that create the SUPERACHIEVER!
1. Learn to Say “No” to More Things that Take You Away from What is Most Important to You. As women, we have a difficult time saying no to people without feeling guilty. Who are we being a martyr for? I have learned that in order to have the success you desire you must guard your time, energy, and focus. Your time is one of the most valuable commodities. Once it is gone you cannot replace it.
Focus on “doing” what gives you the greatest return on your investment.
What do you need to NOT do? Yes is easy! The anxiety comes from saying NO! Super achievers say NO more often!
Overscheduling can be stealing away your opportunity to achieve big results in less time.
2. Focus on your VITAL functions. Be world class at a few things. Why be mediocre at many things? People do not want mediocre – they want the best! Do fewer things but do them well.
Master the basics of what makes you great!
3. Focus on Your Strategic Priorities. You may have many goals but focus on your top 3! Spend each day planning your daily actions before you even get started with checking email or responding to voicemail. Get a clear picture of what you need to focus on. Look at your calendar – is there anything you need to say NO to or STOP doing?
What is the one thing that matters most that only you do?
Quit doing things that are taking you away from focusing on your strategic priorities. Darren Hardy mentioned that in the beginning you often need to do it all but as your time, finances, and resources become more available quit doing them. Delegate so you can concentrate on what you do best.
In order to more productive, focus on what one thing you need to do very well to get your greatest return on yoru investment. Your time matters!
What are some of your productivity secrets? What are the three things that matter the most to you to make more money to achieve your success?
Marketing Isn’t Everything…It’s Everything!
Marketing is the key for positioning your business in the marketplace.
Many small business owners are leaving money on the table for not effectively positioning themselves and getting the word out about their businesses.
Here are three places you should be marketing your message consistently:
- Your Business Card – Use both sides! One side for your name, what you do, and contact information. You may even want to put a picture in there. The back side should ask the most common pressing questions you clients ask? What solution you provide? Or an offer to redirect them to your website and capture their name and email address so you can start providing value.
- Email Signature – Your name – of course but do you have a call to action? Do you offer a free report, ebook, or audio download on your website? Perhaps they can find some free resources on your website.
- Voicemail – Do you have the traditional? “You have reached…” Change it up…let people know what you do and how might you be the solution to what they are searching for. Promote an upcoming event. Always have a call to action! Invite them to contact you and set up a complimentary strategy session or go to your website to find out more about your products and services.
When is the right time to market your business in a down economy? The right time is always NOW! You must share with others what you do and how you can help them reach some of their goals.
You do not wait for a market to pick up because those who have been marketing all along are way ahead of the pack. They have been consistent in the efforts and the word has gotten out! Let people be talking about the value your bring to the market!
Share what your greatest marketing message method!
5 Reasons You Should Create Your Vision Board
Vision boards are an incredible tool for gain clarity and having a visual queue for what you want in life right in front of you. In my co-authored bestselling book, GPS Your Best Life (TM): Charting Your Destination and Getting There in Style with Charmaine Hammond, we provide steps for you to get clear on what you really want in your life and help you map out steps to achieve what is on the board. Charmaine and I refer to this as putting the wheels on your vision board and shifting into drive.
“A vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes time.
Vision with action can change the world.” – Joel A. Barker
There are several reasons a person should make a vision board:
- Clarity As you flip through images, pictures, and magazines, you identify what you like and dislike. You may resonate with pictures or be drawn to powerful words and phrases.
- Organize Your Thoughts Suppose you create a vision board for a couple areas of your life. You can organized your thoughts and really focus in on areas you want to improve.
- Visual Reminder When you have a visual reminder in front of you, you can look at it throughout the day to maintain focus on what it is you wish to be, do, or have. The vivid images will drawn you in and as you explain why you chose the images you did you will also discover your story. What you really want from your life!
- Emotional Connection When you select images than you have an emotional connection to, you are more likely to be motivated in your pursuit of achieving the goals you have set for yourself.
- Create a plan in mind. By creating your vision of what you want for your life, you are making a plan. Starting to put the wheels in motion for ideas and the ways you will achieve them – the dreaded “how”. I will tell you this, when you know your why and what you want to accomplish, the how will show up!
Once you have created your vision, you can breakdown the steps to get to where you want to go. Now imagine doing 5 steps each day to get to where you want to go – 1825 action steps toward achievement and success! You cannot help but naturally be drawn to your success. Consistency and action are the keys! You must take action but also share your vision with others. You never know who is ready to give you that hand up!
You can find out more about our GPS Your Best Life Vision Board Workshops at www.debrakasowski.com