Debra Kasowski

How to Stay Focused in a World of Bright Shiny Objects – There Goes One NOW!

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Written by Debra Kasowski & Charmaine Hammond

Have you noticed all the bright shiny objects out there?

New opportunities are constantly being presented to us. I know you must have seen them. A flicker here. A flicker there. Some days I may think you have had whiplash due to turning your head and checking out all the new things you can try or learn. The world has some pretty exciting things going on and some people seem to be cruising to the top yet you might be wondering why you are not moving at the speed others people are. Perhaps you are focused on the wrong things.

You want to focus on what you want to happen versus what you do not want to happen. When you create a plan you plan with your best intentions but if you come from a place of scarcity and lack you lose focus on what your end goal may be. You may want to grab onto every opportunity that comes your way instead of looking at what is aligned with your values and plans. Create a daily plan that is focused on the tasks you need to complete to get closer to your end result. Imagine if you did 5 action steps Monday to Friday, 5 days a week, you would have completed 25 steps to getting closer to your goal. Without focus maybe you would complete 1-2 things in a week, your dedication and commitment may also waver as you wait for the “next big” thing to come along. The next big thing may be the one project you need to complete. Take some time to complete your incomplete projects or messes so you can focus on your brilliance! That’s where you shine!

Charmaine Hammond and Debra Kasowski are the authors of GPS Your Best Life- Charting Your Destination and Getting There in Style.  Jack Canfield, co-author of The Success Principles and Chicken Soup for the Soul says that “Charmaine and Debra show you how to navigate through life’s inevitable roadblocks and obstacles with ease and grace, so you can reach your desired destination”. To find out how to GPS Your Best Life, visit www.gpsyourbestlife.com

 

The Greatest Shift Starts in Your Mind

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Have you ever noticed that once you have developed a keen sense of what you want and then made a decision that everything starts to fall into place? The greatest challenge or struggle occurs in the mind and whether or not you believe it is possible for you to succeed. Once you realize that the only person holding yourself back is you – the world is your oyster and the pearl is what you create!

I have found that “all or nothing” thinking is one of the mindset shifts that must occur. Some people think you need to sit down at a desk Monday to Friday for six months to write a book or you will not be able to write one. Well, if I waited for that to happen like many of you I would not have a book or two coming out into the world.

There have been many times I have literally written a couple paragraphs a day before I went to bed and other times when I have written 2-3 pages. The key is being consistent and not giving up. As you can imagine, over 30 days 2-3 paragraphs could lead to pages and pages of a book. Do not think that because you do not have a certain a lot of time or because you have a job and running a business on the side that you will never transition to it full time. You can have the best of both worlds and work with what you have where you are.

The same is true with exercise. You could sit on the couch in front of the television or you can get to the gym and put in ten to 20 minutes several days a week. Maybe you do not have a hour to spare but activity/exercise burst consistently still add up over time. Even when I have had good intentions of getting to the gym while running errands, I have sometimes gotten there with enough time to take a shower. Why beat myself up? I made it in the building. The next day I strive for more time and it worked. Imagine if I stood in front of the mirror just beating myself up. What is the point? Is it very encouraging? No. Every day you or I can improve.

Make a list of all the things what your ideal life would look like. Read them aloud. Ask yourself,  “Is there any way I could be doing some of these things right now?” There is no reason you can not be infusing your life’s passion into your life right now!

The way you view your world is where it all takes place – in the mind. You must believe it is possible in order to achieve it – otherwise you would not have come up with the idea in the first place. You can achieve your dreams.

Full Swing: Connections, Conversations, and Follow Through!

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Sports offer great analogies for business strategies. Every summer I fit in a game of golf or two. I love being in the sunshine and on the green grass. Sometimes I am searching for my ball ball in the trees but nonetheless I have learned in order to have a great shot or hit the sweet spot and get your ball to where you want it to go you must have good follow through on your swing. You cannot just put in half your efforts and expect to get the results you want. The same in business.

To get the results you want – you need to ensure that you:

Get to know new people at networking events and discover new ways you can help them get what they want.

Follow-Up with Them within 24-48 hours of meeting them with a phone call or email.

Follow Through – the conversation does not end there! Can you introduce them to others in your network or support them with a new article or magazine you read.

Follow through is the execution of the plan. Get to know people for who they are. They may never do business with you and that’s okay but they may know others who need your products and services. Be consistent and build relationships. Discover your sweet spot the view is beautiful at the top!

3 Secrets to Taking the Shark Bite Out of Building Rapport

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Getting to know people is an essential part being heart-centred entrepreneur. People first philosophy then discover possibilities. Sad to say that there are many sharks out their in the blue waters of being an entrepreneur that need to learn this lesson. I think this is where some of the car sales people get a bad rap. Instead of finding out what you want and what your needs are, they have eyes like a slot machines and suddenly the Cheshire grin appears and they are ready to yell “JACKPOT”.

Building rapport is crucial in business and the first impression happens in the snap of a finger. Have you been at an event where people naturally gravitate to a certain individual? Some people have the natural gift of the gab and others have a charisma that has magnetic powers. I bet you wonder what it is that they have that you don’t. But you do have it – it is already inside of you.

There are 3 secrets you must know:

Personalize. Use the person’s name you are speaking to throughout the conversation as appropriate. People love the sound of their name. Remember a person’s name especially if you have met before makes a person feel important and that your last interaction mattered and you were listening.

No selling! Building rapport is about building relationships; it is not about closing a sale. It is about building the know, like, and trust factor. How do you do that? Get to know the person you are speaking to as a person behind the business not business first. Discover a common interest: family, line of work, education, extra curricular activities, travel, or pets.

Give without tracking who has done what. You know the saying, “If I scratch your back, you will scratch mine.” It doesn’t work that way in business. If you are always tracking what you do for someone, they will not feel that you are doing it to help them, instead they will think you have a hidden agenda. Be transparent. Learn what some of their challenges are, perhaps you can make a referral to someone in your network or send them an article of interest. The transaction should be, “What is in it for them?”

The people you interact with may not be your customers but they do have a network of their own in which someone may be a right fit. As they get to know you and know that you are not just after a sale, they will refer you to others.

Wouldn’t you rather be known for the knowledge and skills you possess versus being a shark on the kill?

 

 

  1. No selling!

The #1 Deadly Mistake that Nurses and Entrepreneurs Can Make at a Huge Cost

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Before I share the deadly mistake, I want to share with you what nurses and entrepreneurs have in common that motivates them in their role. Nurses and entrepreneurs care about others, whether it be nursing them back to health and wellness or being the solution to a customer’s problems – they care!

Business is about opening up a dialogue and creating deeper connections from conversation and making a difference. There are many reasons businesses are formed but I truly believe that they are formed so that they can serve others in a big way.

The fashion and beauty industry helps women feel more confident, enhancing their natural beauty. The car industry helps people become more mobile and safe and creates an experience for the person behind the wheel. The nutrition and fitness industry helps people shed unwanted pounds and promotes health and wellness.

I have learned to become a person who is very focused on the attention to detail and I credit this to my nursing career. I have learned that when nurses or others in healthcare make a mistake or do not pay attention to the details – there is a cost involved. It could impact someone’s life – someone could die or even be harmed.

When I have received poor service, encountered a bad attitude, or lack of information to make decisions, I think to myself – “If I did my job, the way some people to theirs people could die or be harmed?” I know it seems a bit harsh but it reminds me that I must pay attention to the details, for it is the small things that we do that can make the biggest difference.

In business, you must pay attention to the details and truly hear what your customer is saying so that you can satisfy their needs. If you do not, your business may indeed die or fail. As an entrepreneur, it is so important to know your numbers, know your customers needs, and know how to support your team. When you pay attention to the details, you can build a healthy growth into your business. What is working in your business? What is not working in your business and what do you need to stop doing or start delegating to others?

What details do you need to pay attention to so your business could flourish?