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EPISODE 137 – Build Your People to Build Your Business

October 24, 2017 by Debra Kasowski Leave a Comment

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“Whatever good things we build end up building us.” – Jim Rohn

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF81ZRxPavg[/embedyt]

Chances are you started your business to provide a solution to the marketplace and make money. As your business grows, you learn quickly that you cannot be all things to all people. You may hire or contract people to provide a service for you. No matter how much you strategize you need to know that to build your business you must focus on building your people. As your people grow so will your company.

One of the greatest challenges and opportunities is people building. What I love the most is being able to witness to the transformation and growth of people – doing things they never thought possible for them.

Identify Areas of Strengths and Potential

Do not assume that your employees know their strengths. They may be aware of some of their strengths and not aware of others. You have heard the phrase, “can’t see the forest through the trees.” It is a phrase that explains that if you look too closely at the details you can miss the big picture. Those strengths are the ones that occur so naturally that they do not even see them as strengths; it is a part of who they are. When you can speak to what they are capable of doing, you start to plan seeds of encouragement. Who they have yet to become should have some focus NOT just what they do for you. By speaking to their potential and offering support, you increase their self-confidence, motivation, and loyalty. You may be one of the few people who has ever believed in them or took the time to be interested in their goals and what they want.

Provide Meaningful Feedback

Research shows that most people leave positions because they do not feel valued or appreciated for the skills and abilities they bring to the workplace. It does not mean you douse them with praise because doing so will come off as insincere. They may begin to wonder if you want something from them instead of being interested in them for who they are as a person.

There is a way to deliver feedback with impact. No one wants unsolicited advice so ask for permission to share your observations or input. People are less defensive if you ask first as now the conversation is two-way which feedback can be shared both ways. Feedback needs to be thoughtfully delivered to ensure the person you are giving feedback to remains in tact as a person. They need to be able to trust that you have their best interests at heart.

According to Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen’s book, Thanks for the Feedback, there are 3 forms of feedback: Appreciation, Coaching, and Evaluation. You need to ensure that the person you are providing feedback to understands which feedback you are delivering. You need to provide more praise than criticism for people to have a rapport with you. When correcting or providing feedback, avoid the use of “Why did you…” or “How come you…”. These statements come across as accusatory and put people on the defensive. They become more upset with you that the feedback you are delivering. You are better to ask open-ended questions to learn more about their perspective on the situation and challenge your own assumptions. If they provide feedback to you, all you have to say is, “Thank you I will consider it” and nothing more. There are times when providing feedback can feel uncomfortable. Before reacting, give yourself time to thinking about it so you may respond appropriately. Take time to reflect on the feedback and see if it something you find useful or not. If you found it helpful, great – integrate it into your practice. If not, don’t take it personally and move on.

Focus on the Positive

When one of your employees or customers starts to complain or vent, hear them out. Thank them for them for expressing themselves – reframe the conversation. Ask for them to explain what the ideal situation would be. Use this as a learning opportunity. There may even be some quick action steps that you could take from the recommendations and they will feel as if someone heard them and valued their insight. They will feel more empowered to take actions toward the common goals.

Offer Learning Opportunities

There are many ways for your employees to learn new things. You can hire a coach, gift a book, or send them to a course or let them attend a workshop or conference. Investing in your people is important. They can build their network and share some of the golden nuggets that they have learned.

Provide Opportunity to Stretch and Advance their Skills

As new opportunities come up, see if you can involve or delegate some tasks to your employees so that they can grow and learn new skill sets. When people are learning and growing, they look forward to their roles and start thinking about how to integrate what they already know to the role.

Building people is one of the most valuable investments you can make. As you work with them to grow and change, you help change the world – even if it is your world and your bottom line. The ripple effect will extend to all who interact with them.

How do you build your people?

Special Announcement – New Book and Podcast Schedule.

We would love to have you subscribe to the Success Secrets newsletter on my website at www.debrakasowski.com where you’re going to get my just release FREE e-book about the 21 Habits High Achievers Kick to Achieve Success. I would love to hear about this podcast has impacted your life. E-mail me at Debra@DebraKasowski.com. Thank you for listening to The Millionaire Woman Show where we talk about leadership, business, and human potential to help you live rich from the inside out. Subscribe to The Millionaire Woman Show. Share it with Your Friends. Give us a 5-star rating!

DEBRA KASOWSKI, BScN CEC is an award-winning best-selling author, transformational speaker, blogger, and Certified Executive Coach. She has a heart of a teacher and is certified in Appreciative Inquiry and Emotional Intelligence. Her writing has been published in a variety of print and online magazines. Debra Kasowski International helps executives, entrepreneurs, and organizations boost their productivity, performance, and profits. It all starts with people and passion. Sign up the Success Secrets Newsletter and get your free e-book download today! www.debrakasowski.com

EPISODE 136 – Stop! No Excuses Allowed

October 17, 2017 by Debra Kasowski Leave a Comment

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“Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.” George Washington Carver

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01VG9oPn56w[/embedyt]

One habit you are going to want to break free from is the habit of making excuses. Excuses are the long litany of reasons or rationale as to why you did not take action or do what you said you were going to do. Excuses defend your behaviours. When you fall on excuses, you are avoiding taking ownership of your life and responsibility for the outcomes and results that you want to get. It always seems to be someone else’s fault why they are not getting the success that they want. They play the victim. They often claim that their situation is different and no one understands what they are going through. Excuses are a way of avoiding reality and looking in the mirror.

Does this sound like you? If you catch yourself making excuses, STOP right there.

Do you want different results?

Yes!

You need to take 100% responsibility for your results. No excuses allowed.

You will find a way to figure it out. If you need to ask for help, you will ASK!

The excuses you are making tend to be due to FEAR!

Yes, that’s right. FEAR and there is a pay off for not taking action.

Some of the most common fears are:

Fear of Success
Fear of Failure
Fear of Rejection
Fear of Uncertainty
Fear of Responsibility
Fear of Change

Your fears hold you back from what you really want. If you allow your fears to hold you hostage, you cannot experience success. Your passion for what you want needs to be greater than you fear to step into your potential. When your fear is greater than your passion, you will make bad judgments, lack the self confidence to take responsibility to take charge of your life and may even live with regrets.

Start by taking a look at the excuses you have been making. What are they?

Not sure, listen to these excuse starters…

“I don’t have enough time…”

“I do not have enough education OR I am not smart enough.”

“It’s not the right time.”

“I don’t feel like it…OR I am not inspired to do it.”

”I do not know how to get started… OR how to do it”

“I am too old or too young.”

“I do not have the money.”

Challenge your excuses! Are you making excuses or do you have a REAL reason for something not turning out as you wished?

We all have the same amount of time in a day; it all depends on how you allocate the time you have available.

You can learn new information by researching and reading, watching YouTube Videos, taking a course, and asking others who already know how to do what you want to do.

Where do you prioritize your money? There is a tendency to focus your money where you feel is most important. Can you find a way to change the priorities assigned to your money?

When you feel its not the right time, you will note that there is a lack of resources, information, or confidence in your abilities.

When age is the excuse, it is due to a lack of confidence.

Whether you feel like it or not, you need to do it, Otherwise, you will always have a reason for not getting the results you want.

Focus on the here and now! What is in your control? You cannot change the past.

Stop comparing your situation to others. Don’t worry about what others are doing. Everyone is on their own journey and has different passions. Avoid comparing your situation or circumstance with others.

Focus on the solutions and opportunities in front of you and coming your way.

Look at your situation from different perspectives before making a decision.

Tap into your strengths. You are more talented and capable than you give yourself credit for.

You will find a way! No excuses allowed!

Excuses do not allow you to move ahead or grow in the process.

“If you have passion, there is no need for excuses because your enthusiasm will trump any negative reasoning you might come up with. Enthusiasm makes excuses a nonissue.” Wayne Dyer

Special Announcement – New Book and Podcast Schedule.

EPISODE 135 – Learning to Let Go and Move On

October 9, 2017 by Debra Kasowski Leave a Comment

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[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFGYxESVJBM[/embedyt]

“The truth is, unless you let go, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize that the situation is over, you cannot move forward.”
― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience

Letting go of past situations where you experienced hurt, betrayal, or injustice can be challenging. What tends to happen is that people replay situations or moments in time where they made mistakes, said something they should not have, stressed over things that never happened, or they took actions that they knew that they should never have done.

Replaying these situations does not serve you. It only causes pain, grief, loss, shame, and guilt. Worrying about them is useless. People often think worrying about something gives you power to alter the course. Worrying does not involve action; without action things do not change. Letting go of these situations can be challenging especially when the situation defined who you were. This vision of what was and what was to be. Life circumstances change. You may have been shaped by an experience but you are not the experience itself.

Forgive others and then yourself. Realize that everyone is on their own journey with their own lessons to be learned. We are all human and can make mistakes. Trouble starts when you put people up on pedestals or romanticize our view of who they are and what they do for you. When they fail to meet expectations or make mistakes, you can get frustrated or angry. They suddenly have fallen off the pedestal that you perched them up on. Forgive them – they are learning their way in the world and hopefully learning from their mistakes like you are. Practice forgiving those who have hurt you in relationships, friendship, or family members through childhood. For there is a phrase, “forgive them for they know not what they do.” Most people do not make a point of wanting to hurt someone intentional. They do not always know if they have hurt or offended someone. Seek to understand and forgive them. When you are forgiving to others, they will be more forgiving to you.

Focus on the present to step into your future. Stop being a victim of your past and focus on the here and now. Pay attention to what you can control and realize that there may be some things you will not be able to control but you may have influence. Shift from thinking things happen to you versus for you. Everything in life happens for a reason. Some people are here to teach us lesson and others you are the teacher. You have probably heard the phrase, “When the student is ready the teacher will appear.”

Shift your attention and focus away from yourself to others. Ask yourself, “In 5 years, 10 years, or 20 years, will the stress I am experiencing right now matter? Often, it does not. Learn to see what happens for you as a blessing in disguise protecting you from future heartache and pain. Change your perception of a situation by asking questions and challenging your assumptions and beliefs, Learn something new. Instead of focusing in on your personal situation and the pain you may be experiencing, focus outward. Volunteer or find a way to serve others.

Change your actions if you do not like your current situation. You have a choice to keep things as they are, remove yourself from a situation, or accept it. Sometimes people stay in situations because they know nothing else so the accept the situation as is and live with it.

Express yourself in a creative way. You may choose to blog, write, draw, or paint to express yourself. Keeping your emotions bottled up does not solve anything. Write a letter to someone expressing how you feel even if you do not send it. It allows you to tell that person how you feel and you can release some emotions you may have been keep inside.

Letting go does not mean you will forget about your experiences. It means you realize that all things in life are temporary and that nothing is as permanent as it seems. Life can be fast and fleeting at times and at other times seem like it will last forever. By not having an attachment to outcomes, you will not struggle with letting go.

Special Announcement – New Book and Podcast Schedule.

EPISODE 134 – Scheduling Your Priorities

October 2, 2017 by Debra Kasowski Leave a Comment

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“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” – Stephen Covey

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v-QMtiwljw[/embedyt]

Your priorities are determined by what’s most important to you. People often have a long list of things to do but they do not always stop and prioritize what they need to get done. Why are you doing what you are doing? Is what you are doing getting yourself closer to achieving your goals? If not, you will want to start thinking about why you are doing what you are doing and looking at the list and determining what your priorities are. Many people are reacting to life as it comes. Sometimes dodging hazards and getting overwhelmed by all there is to do. Is that you?

Start by taking a BIG breath. Let’s disrupt any negative thinking and get you back on course. When people get caught up in negative thinking it is hard for them to think beyond tomorrow let alone the next 7 days.

Stop reacting and organizing chaos. Envision what you want the end result to look like. See it. Describe it. Make a list of all the things you need to get done. Get it out of your head and onto paper. Group the list based on what NEEDS to get DONE within the next 24-48 hours, 7 days, 2 weeks, 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days. Is there anything on the list you can delegate? You become responsive when you begin with managing yourself and what you need.

Focus on intentional planning. Now focus on the planning for the next 24-48 hours and block time in your calendar to tend to that. You can then look at the next 7 days. Again, you will block things into your calendar! And so on. When you start being intentional with what you need to get done, you will become more productive and your performance will soar.

Success comes from when preparation and planning meet opportunity. Preparation is key in executing the plan. What do you need to prepare for your plans to come together? Is there anyone you need to contact? What resources will you need? How much time do you need to allocate to prepare, plan, implement, and re-evaluate or course correct?

Hold yourself accountable. At the end of each day, review what got done and what did not get done. Don’t beat yourself up. Were you specific about what needed to get done? Were you realistic with the time frame and resources? Do you need to ask for help or carry something over to tomorrow?

Remind yourself what will happen if you don’t get it done. In most cases, no one will not die or go to jail. There may be a delay in getting the results you want. What is your worst-case scenario? What are the consequences of not achieving what you want to get done? Imagine that you did not take out the trash. Things would get piled up and start stinking! What would your pile of things you need to accomplish look like? Would it cause a sour picture?

You are in charge of your results!!! Why are your results important to you? What are you going to do about them? Set your priorities and stick to them. You will have far fewer things to dodge in the process because you are planning with intention.

“Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.”― Stephen R. Covey

Special Announcement – New Book and Podcast Schedule.

EPISODE 133 – Pay Attention to Achieve a New Level of Thinking

September 25, 2017 by Debra Kasowski Leave a Comment

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[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy1385zSC_k[/embedyt]

“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” ― Albert Einstein

What we think about influences how we feel and the actions we take. When you think positive thoughts, you feel great and are more likely to take the actions necessary to get the results you want. When you get caught up in negative thinking, you feel frustrated, disappointed, and even let your imagination run wild with all the possibilities of what you think can be occurring. Most of the time, unless when you confirm those thoughts, you will find out you were totally off base. You need to be careful so you are no sabotaging yourself from achieving your own success. If you want to achieve a new level of thinking, you need to start paying attention. Positive change starts with focusing on yourself not looking to change others. What can you do?

Pay Attention to Your Language

Are you using empowering or disempowering language? Are you coming up with excuses or reasons you believe you are not achieving your success? Are you blaming or complaining seeing others as the cause of your situation?

Stop and listen to yourself. What do you hear yourself saying?

Do you look at the “To-Do” list and say, “I have to do this.”, begrudgingly? It sounds like a chore. Do you ever look at that “To-Do” list and say, “I get to!” I get to mow the lawn. It means I own a home where I have my own green space. I get to buy groceries. It means I have food accessible to me. I get to chose food that will fuel my body. Notice when you shift your thinking and statements, you empower yourself with a choice.

Here’s another one:

When you are asked to do something even it could be a benefit to your career or business, do you say “I can’t do it. – I have no time, I am busy.” We all have the same 24 hours in a day. What you are really saying is that you chose NOT to. It is not about capability- it is about capacity. What are you willing to do? If something is important to you, you will make time. When I say make time, I mean, a block of a certain amount of time to dedicate it to your task. You need to start moving things off the “To-Do” list and start moving them into your calendar. You CAN do what you CHOOSE to do.

Are you shutting down opportunities because all you see is one barrier after the next? This focus is called resistance. Why are you resisting? There is more that one way to achieve your goals. Look for all the possible options. When you are solution-focused, you will find solutions. When you look for barriers, you will find all the obstacles in your way. What is one opportunity you have in front of you right now that you may have been resisting? Do you need to stop doing something or start doing something? All change can feel uncomfortable but the results are priceless. Start small – test a solution and adjust the course as you go.

There are many more disempowering words, all you have to do is pay attention to how you feel when you say them. Do you feel uplifted and empowered or do you feel like you are dragged down?

Pay Attention to What is Influencing YOU

There are many factors that influence the way you think, feel, and act on any given day. Some contributing factors are internal influences such as your beliefs, thoughts, and feelings. There are some external influences that influence you such as the people you surround yourself with, the books you read, the music you listen to, and the television you watch.

Everything begins with a choice. You can reframe negative thoughts to positive ones. You can challenge self-limiting beliefs and form new beliefs. You can surround yourself with people who encourage and support you or distance yourself from others who do not. You can read books in business or industry that will get you thinking in new ways and lead to stimulating discussions. You can listen to audiobooks in your vehicle as you drive. Feed your mind empowering content and you will start thinking at a new level. You will start taking actions that get you closer to your goals instead of farther away.

Make choices based on your values, not how you feel “at the moment.” When people are in a high emotional state, they do not think clearly. A part of the brain called the amygdala is hijacked from rational thought so you may say or do things that you will later regret. When your emotions are high, it is best to slow down your thoughts and give yourself some time to calm down before taking any actions. Are you focused on your core values and how you want to be known?

Pay Attention to Where You are Putting YOUR ENERGY & FOCUS

Roy Bennett said, “If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past, do not worry about the future, focus on living fully in the present.” If you are focused on your past, you cannot fully live in the present or plan for the future. You have the same story playing over and over in your head of what is possible and what is not possible. Change your story. You are the author of your life write how you want it to go. Do not focus on your current situation as all you will see is what is. Focus on what you want to achieve and how to get there. Energy flows to what you focus on. Focus on how you need to BE and what you need to DO to HAVE what you want.

To start achieving a new level of thinking, you must start with YOU! Pay attention to your language, your influences, and where you are putting your energy and focus as they are all influencing the actions you take and the results you are getting.

What are you going to pay attention to?

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