Debra Kasowski

3 Productivity Secrets I Learned from Darren Hardy

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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 . IMG_2300His 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!

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Marketing is the key for positioning your business in the marketplace.

Courtesy of ImageryMajestic/freedigitalphotos.net
Courtesy of ImageryMajestic/freedigitalphotos.net

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

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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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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!
  4. 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.
  5. 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

 

3 Easy Ways to Step It UP and Build Your Platform

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Social networkYou put up your shingle and started your business. You built the dream. Why isn’t anyone coming or hiring you? Why? You need to build your platform and spread the word about your business.

Maybe you have been in your business for awhile but hit a plateau and not sure what to do next or perhaps you would like to uplevel your game. Remember – you will continue to get the same results unless you change the game your playing. 

Life is very much like a game. One of strategy and vision. Determine your vision and what you want it to look like. Take the action steps it takes to get there. Imagine it – touch and feel it as if it were real.

Now let’s make it happen. It is your time!

Step it up and build your platform with 3 easy strategies:

  1. Dress for Success – You are your personal brand. When people see you what do you want them to say about you? Is your brand congruent with your message? When you go to a networking event, do you look like you just rolled out of bed? You want to have a professional polished look and it does not have to break the bank. It all starts with a great haircut, outfit, well-manicured hands, and your smile.
  2. Intentional Networking – Create a warm welcoming environment when you enter the room. You do not want people dodge each other to get away from you as you shuffle out your business cards. Netowrking is NOT a blackjack game!  Network with intention by trying to connect with 3-5 people that you can build and nurture relationships with. Don’t forget to follow-up! Not just 24-48 hours from meeting them, 3 months, 6 months, or even a year. Continue to develop the relationships you have as you expand your network.
  3. Be Seen Everywhere. In today’s day and age, you can be seen more often in the see of social media. Utilize the greats – Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Share articles in directories like ezinearticles.com. Give away your best compelling valuable information! People will come back for more and better yet they will share you with their network!

Your platform can be expanded by boosting your credibility, increasing your visibility, attracting your ideal clients. Join us and listen to 9 incredible experts February 4-8, 2013 as they share sought-after secrets to become unstoppable! SIGN UP here The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Platform Building Teleclass Series. Please share!!!