Goals
Tuesday, May 27, 2008, by Leigh Anne
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Fourteen years ago we built the house that we currently live in. We moved from our small, one bathroom bungalow in the city to our 5 bedroom home in the suburbs. With the birth of our fourth child - we had definitely outgrown that house!
Not only did we buy a lot more house - we bought a lot more yard. We went from a small city lot to a 17,000 square foot yard - or rather 17,000 square feet of clay dirt. That’s all there was - dirt - there was not one tree, flower, bush or stick!
As I mentioned yesterday, the extent of my gardening experience was 3 pots of geraniums on my front porch. So what were we going to do with 17,000 square feet of dirt?? I decided that I wanted a garden, I wanted a garden like the ones you see in magazines. The only problem was I knew nothing about gardening or where to even start.
I was in the same situation 17 years ago when I started my homebased business - I knew nothing about running a business or sales. I had never sold anything before. Let’s face it I had a degree in Clothing and Textiles - I had spent four years in college learning how to construct a blazer - not selling anything!
But I had a desire - I had a desire to have a beautiful garden and I also had a desire to have a successful, income producing business. That is the first step in achieving anything - desire.
Step One: Start with a Desire
Step Two: Develop a Plan! Start small and start now. Don’t allow your fears, lack of knowledge or information keep you from moving forward. My first step in creating the beautiful garden I wanted was to take a class on landscape design from the local community education program. There I learned that I needed a plan. I knew I couldn’t tackle all 17,000 square feet at once. I learned that the first thing I needed to do was amend my soil - we brought in truck loads of good dirt. I then decided to focus on one area of the yard a time.
Have a plan for your goal or desire. Start small and start now! Don’t allow fear to hold you back, be willing to take the first steps.
The beginning of our plan - good dirt and an irrigation system.
Step Three: Get resources, books, tapes, advice from the experts - I consider these things to be “Shortcuts to Success”. Get on the Internet and ‘google’ your area of focus. Go to Amazon.com or the public library and check out books. I spent a lot of time reading gardening magazines and books I had checked out from the library in addition to the information I learned at the class I was taking. I would also go for walks and look at yards, look for plants/flowers I liked. I would even go up to people’s doors to ask them names of ones I didn’t know. I spent a lot of time wandering around nurseries, asking questions and making lists of flowers and plants I liked and taking pictures of plants.
Step Four: Find a Mentor. One day when I was at a nursery purchasing some plants, the cashier mentioned that I was buying plants similar to ones a garden designer, who had just been in, was also purchasing. I asked what their name was and the cashier gave me the garden designer’s card. I went home and immediately called her. She invited me to come visit her garden - and could I come right now? I was expecting dinner guests within an hour but didn’t want to miss out on this opportunity so I quickly explained to my husband what he needed to do to finish up dinner and I headed out to tour her garden. I was in love! Her garden was amazing (it’s been featured in many national gardening magazines, Fred Meyer commercials etc.) and I wanted a garden just like hers!! I took Jim back a few days later and he was in love too.
We hired Margaret to help us with our plan. She helped us define our space and pick plants that were appropriate to the areas. She taught us as we went along and we learned so much from her.
Jim and Margaret looking over the plan
Find a mentor, an expert in the field, someone who has done what you want to do and is willing to teach you. I have used this step many times. When I’ve wanted to get more organized I’ve asked a friend who is incredibly organized to come over and help me. Find someone who models the trait you want to possess.
Step Five: Set aside time for growth daily. Gardens take time. We couldn’t turn our large piece of dirt into a beautiful garden over night. It is an ongoing process and still is today. Building a successful business takes time. It takes consistent effort and focus. Using time techniques such as Fifteen Minute Focus and Power Hour have helped me in my garden and in my business. I use the Fifteen Minute Focus to keep the garden weeded!
So here are some pictures of what my garden looks like today - the next picture was taken from the same window that the first picture above was …quite a change!
Our woodland path.
Next week I’ll share with you a few more gardening lessons I learned along the way that also apply to achieving our goals and dreams.
Happy Gardening!
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Categories: Goals, Home Based Business, Inspire
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Tuesday, May 6, 2008, by Leigh Anne
Last week I shared with you my Health Goal for my 40 Days of Fanatical Focus - in addition to increasing my exercise I wanted to drink more water each day.
I am happy to report that I have been doing much better and most days I drink my whole water jug full! I must admit this has been a bit of a struggle for me. I confess - I am a diet soda drinker. I know it’s not great for me and my high school senior daughter loves to tell me how it causes cancer - but just about everything causes cancer these days, doesn’t it? I was proofreading a paper for my sweet college boy a few weeks ago and he cited a study that made the claim that ice cream causes cancer - yes, ICE CREAM! I refuse to buy into that one! But I have limited myself to a diet soda every other day.
Since drinking water is a bit of a challenge for me I have had to come up with some ways to make it easier and increase my intake. So today, here are my Top Tips for Drinking More Water:
1. Set a goal of how much water you want to drink each day and have someone hold you accountable. I place my big water jug on the counter each day so the rest of my family can see how much I have drunk. I don’t like drinking out of the big jug so I fill and refill a smaller water bottle until the big one is empty.
2. I place a smaller water bottle next to my bed and when I wake up I try and drink the bottle of water within 20 minutes of waking.
3. I carry a water bottle with me everywhere, I keep one on my desk and always take one in the car with me.
4. Before I drink a diet soda I make myself drink twice the amount of soda in water.
5. Each time I crave something sweet I drink some water first.
6. Before each meal I also drink another 8 ounces of water - it’s amazing how it decreases my appetite.
7. After each trip to the bathroom (and these are more frequent with all the water I’m drinking) I drink another 8 oz. of water or so.
8. I get real tired of drinking just plain old, flavorless water so I have found some different things to add to my water bottle to make it easier.
…I love adding those cute little individual packets of Crystal Light to my water. They come in all kinds of fun flavors - the Classic Orange is my current favorite. They are so easy to just throw in your purse too!
…If you’d like something a little less sweet my Aunt Dawn recently told me about True Lemon and True Lime. It is also a powder but it tastes like you just squeezed some fresh lemon or lime juice into your water. I found it at Safeway. It is light and refreshing.
…I also purchased a box of Greens to Go at Costco. Honestly - despite the advertising on the box that says “Guaranteed Great Tasting” I think it tastes like you are drinking grass but it really does make me feel better after I drink it. (I drink it really fast). In the late afternoon when I hit a little energy lull I mix some up and I really feel better afterwards and I am sure it is better for me than a diet soda!
9. I drink a bottle of water after I get back from my morning walk to rehydrate.
10. Finally, make it a contest. Find a partner - your husband, friend or neighbor and see who can drink the most water each day. Make sure there is some kind of reward or prize for the winner!
Do you have any tips or tricks for drinking more water? I’d love to hear what they are. Please share by leaving a comment below or if you are reading this in an email update or rss feeder please remember to click through to the blog post to leave your comment.
Happy Drinking (water drinking that is!)
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Categories: Goals, Inspire
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Monday, May 5, 2008, by Leigh Anne
“The things that make you feel, think, laugh”
Having been involved in direct sales for 17 years I have enjoyed reading about other woman who have been successful in the industry. Of course, one of the icons of the direct sales industry is Mary Kay Ash of Mary Kay Cosmetics. She is an amazing woman and I have enjoyed reading about and learning from her over the years.
Years ago, at the beginning of my direct sales career I first read about Mary Kay’s Five O’clock Club in her book “Mary Kay - You Can Have it All”.
Whenever people would ask Mary Kay how she managed to get so much done she would tell them about her Five O’clock Club and invite them to join her.
Yes, Mary Kay Ash would get up every morning at 5:00 a.m. That extra hour or two each day, before the rest of the world and her family got up, helped her to accomplish all that she needed to do - and she accomplished a lot. I have since read of many successful people who are members of the club too - everyone from Ted Turner to Gandhi.
When I was a young mom, home with 4 small children and trying to balance family with running a direct sales business and everything else in my life, there just weren’t enough hours in my day. After reading about Mary Kay’s club I decided to join. Yes - I decided to get up at 5:00 a.m. each morning. The thing I was struggling with at the time was getting my exercise in each day so I went to the gym each morning at 5:00 a.m.
Now - I’m not going to lie - it was painful, very painful! But I was determined to make exercise a part of my life and if 5:00 a.m. was the only time I could make it happen - I was going to do it. I will tell you that it did get easier - not a lot easier - but easier to get up at that time each morning.
I continued the practice of the 5 O’clock Club for a lot of years - sometimes using it to get my exercise in or other times using it to get up and work on projects I needed to accomplish.
As my children got older though and were gone all day to school I stopped being a member of the 5 O’clock Club. Maybe it was because I had more time to myself during the day to get things done or maybe I just got lazy! I have found that the busyness of life has it’s ebbs and flows - some seasons are crazy busy and others are just busy.
We are entering one of those crazy busy seasons for the next few months with sweet high school daughter getting to graduate and wanting to be involved in as many things as she possibly can and I want to be right there to enjoy it all too. I have a list a mile long of all the things I want to accomplish before graduation (including her scrapbooks!)
Several weeks ago I shared with you one of my goals for my Forty Days of Fanatical Focus - completing her scrapbooks (family goal) and increasing my exercise program. (health goal)
This week it was time to add in Focus Goal #3 - my spiritual goal. In order to accomplish this goal I am once again joining the 5 O’clock Club - with one slight modification - it is now the 6 O’clock Club!
For the last week I have been getting up at 6:00 a.m. each morning (this is a half hour earlier than normal) to spend quiet time reading my scriptures, pondering and working on a new assignment I have been given at church. I have been asked to be a Destiny Leader for our church girl’s camp this summer. Destiny is the “spiritual” part of camp - each day the girls go to Destiny to be spiritually feed and uplifted. In order to prepare myself for this responsibility I knew I needed to take time each day between now and then to prepare what I would say and share with the girls.
Being 17 years older than I was when I first joined the 5 O’clock Club I didn’t want to shock the old system too much so I decided to start getting up at 6 a.m. for a week and then this week it will be 5:45 a.m. and then I’ll push it to 5:30 a.m. the next week (So I guess it will be the 5:30 club eventually!)
I have loved this extra pocket of time each morning. It sets a wonderful tone for the rest of my day and is helping me to find the time I need to prepare for my new assignment.
Is there some project you have been putting off? Are you finding the time in your day for all the things that are important to you? If not - you might want to give the Five O’clock Club - or maybe the Six O’clock Club - the more members the better!
Let me know if you join and what you are using the time to focus on and accomplish.
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Categories: Goals, Inspire
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Tuesday, April 29, 2008, by Leigh Anne
“The things that make you feel, think, laugh”
Sorry there was no new post yesterday but it was “re-entry” day at our house. You know - the day after you return from a trip. There’s the mail, the email, the voicemail, the unpacking, the laundry, the empty refrigerator and the kids that need some attention! Now if my body can just re-adjust to Pacific time everything will be great. Jim and I had a fabulous time in Florida and loved the break and the sun! I tried to soak in as much Vitamin D as I could.
Our trip to Florida was a gift from my company to the top level leaders. They spoiled us with 4 nights/5 days in the beautiful luxury Marriott resort on Marco Island. We enjoyed wonderful food, spa time, fun shopping, exciting excursions, pool and beach time and did I mention SUN!
One of my favorite excursions was the Shelling/Dolphin boat trip. If you have never been to Marco Island (it is the southwest tip of Florida on the Gulf of Mexico) the beach there is covered with millions of shells. I really don’t even think there is sand - it is just crushed shell. If you are from Oregon you know that it is an exciting day when you find an intact shell on the Oregon Coast - well in Florida they are everywhere!
Our boat took us out to a private island that was only used for shelling. The beach there was covered with shells. As everyone departed the boat they began walking along the shore line collecting the shells that lined the beach.
I noticed a woman walking by who had a bucket full of shells. But they were not the shells that were so abundant along the beach - they were not the common shells you can find everywhere on Marco Island - these shells were different. They were beautiful.
I wanted shells like hers.
As I watched her, she did not walk along the shore line like everyone else. She actually got into the water. So I decided if I was going to find shells like hers I too was going to have to get into the water - to get wet. So I lifted up my cover-up and got into the water.
These particular shells were not as abundant as the others - I had to search for them and sometimes I had to wade out a bit farther than I really wanted to and get a bit wetter than I really wanted to. I had to step on some pretty bumpy terrain a few times and almost lost my balance a time or two. But I found them - the beautiful shells I wanted.
My shells are now home with me, in a glass bowl on my kitchen counter - I love them. They will be a reminder of our wonderful time in Florida but they also remind me of something else.
They remind me of those goals that we set - whether it is one of the goals we have set for our 40 Days of Fanatical Focus or a more long term goal.
When we set a goal:
1. We are setting ourselves apart. We are not looking for the common, everyday. Just like I didn’t want those shells that were so abundant on the beaches, I wanted the unique shells - we want to accomplish something unique, something different.
2. We need to look for a guide. Someone who has done it before us, someone who has forged the path for us and has provided a map that we can follow, just like the woman I saw with the bucket of beautiful shells. By watching her and what she did I knew where to find those shells - in the water!
3. We need to differentiate ourselves from the crowd. We need to be willing to not follow the easy path - walking along the shoreline where all the common shells are. We need to veer off the path and get into the water - we need to get wet!
4. We need to realize that we may need to get wetter than we want and maneuver over some rough terrain but that it will be worth it. By getting wet and enduring a little pain I found what I was looking for - I found seashell success.
5. After we have found success we need to share it with others. When I got back on the boat to sail back to the hotel, Jody Summers, another top leader in my company was also on the excursion. She had not found any of the beautiful shells that I had so I shared a few with her.
Greater joy can be found in our success when we are willing share it with others.
Here’s wishing you Seashell Success!
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Categories: Goals, Inspire
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Monday, April 21, 2008, by Leigh Anne
Last week I shared with you one of my goals for my 40 Days of Fanatical Focus - to work on my high school senior daughter’s scrapbook using a Fifteen Minute Focus 5 days a week and 2 Power Hours a week.
Before I report in on my progress I want to thank those of you who are joining me and who shared your goals - thank you! It’s not too late - leave a comment today and let me know what you are going to focus on for the next 40 days!
Well - now for my report -I wasn’t totally focused! Those 15 minutes a day just didn’t happen but I am happy to report that the 2 Power Hours did happen this weekend, so progress was made. Even though I wasn’t totally focused I moved forward and accomplished more than I would have otherwise!
I hope to do better this week even though I will be out of town for four days. (I won’t count those 4 days in the 40!)
I decided not to start out with four goals (Health, Spiritual, Family, Business) all at the same time - instead I will add in a new one each week and so my 40 days will actually last 70 Days.
This week’s new goal falls into the “Health” category. I want to focus in on my exercise routine - or lack of!
My goal is to walk 5 days a week - lately I’m lucky if it is 3. I have a friend who walks with me 2-3 days a week and that works great - it’s the other two days when I am left on my own to do it that I have a problem.
So -for the next 40 days I will focus on walking 5 days a week. I just purchased a new WalkVest to wear when I walk to add some resistance to the workout - not exactly the height of fashion but it does give me a better workout.
I am also going to wear a pedometer each day with the goal of walking 10,000 steps a day!
The last part of the goal is my water consumption. I have pulled my big water jug out from the back of the cupboard and my goal is to drink that amount of water or more everyday. So a lot of those 10,000 steps will probably be in and out of the bathroom!
So how are you doing with your 40 Days of Fanatical Focus? If you haven’t set a focus goal yet - do it today and share it with me below in the comment section. Let’s cheer each other on! Even if we aren’t perfect (as you see I’m not!) we can make progress.
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Monday, April 14, 2008, by Leigh Anne
“The things that make you feel, think, laugh.”
Focus - we’ve been talking a lot about it lately - how to get it and how to keep it! It can certainly be a challenge, especially at my age!!
Carrie over at Barefoot Executive has a “40 Days of Fanatical Focus” Challenge going on. Her challenge is to pick a goal in 4 different parts of your life (Health, Spiritual, Family or Business) that you would like to focus on and hopefully accomplish in the next forty days.
Carrie said….
“ I’ve written down where I want to be in 40 days in these areas (measurable goals) and where I am starting today. I’ve chosen a couple of key things to focus on every day and for FORTY DAYS I am NOT going to be distracted.”
She asks visitors to her site who are accepting her challenge to share what their goals are for their 40 days of Fanatical Focus. There were lots of great goals including:
Exercise every day and lose 10 lbs.
Early morning prayer and quiet time before beginning the day
Read certain books
Get 10 home events on the calendar for their business
Work 1 hour a day in the yard
Finish up certain projects
Make 3 contacts for their business every day for the next 40 days
L A Idea - Well, I love the idea! In fact, in a little over 40 days my sweet daughter will graduate from high school. When my other two boys graduated I presented them with a set of completed scrapbooks of their wonderful life so far.
I have done a great job of keeping my family scrapbooks up to date but I have fallen behind the last couple of years on sweet daughter’s and there are a few gaps here and there in her earlier years. I want to have her scrapbooks ready for her when she graduates June 2nd.
I also want to complete a digital “Sisters” album for her to take to college with her complete with pictures of her and her younger sister over the years.
So that is my “Family” goal for Carrie’s 40 days of Fanatical Focus.
How am I going to accomplish this amongst all the other million things going on? I am going to use a couple of the Focus techniques I have shared with you in previous posts. During each of the next 40 days I am going to have a Fifteen Minute Focus - it is amazing what you can accomplish in 15 minutes a day! I will set my alarm for 15 minutes earlier than usual and use that time to get a page or two done.
Twice a week I am going to set aside time for a Power Hour - to get some real concentrated work done on the albums.
What could you accomplish in the next 40 days of FANATICAL FOCUS. I’d love for you to accept Carrie’s challenge along with me.
Just click on the comment section below and let me know what your goal is for your 40 Days of Fanatical Focus.
Over the next week or so I will share with you what my goals are in the other 3 areas.
Join me!! Let me know what your Focus areas are!
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Monday, March 31, 2008, by Leigh Anne
“The things that make you feel, think, laugh”
I have spent alot of time this weekend scrapbooking - trying to get my sweet high school senior daughter’s albums up to date (yes - I am behind!!) I was enjoying the pictures of all the things we have done as a family, the many things she has accomplished, amazed by how much she has grown. I was scrapbooking events that had already happened.
I realized that there is another way to scrapbook - what about scrapbooking forward by creating a vision of what you want your life to be - what you want to create with your life!?
A dream board or vision board is a perfect way to create that picture. In my office hang 3 magnet boards. On these boards I keep pictures, photographs, quotes, cards etc. of things I want to have in my life.
One one board are pictures of places around the world that I will visit one day - the Coliseum in Rome, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, etc.
On another board are pictures of things I will have one day - the red convertible Mercedes I have dreamed of since I could first drive, the house on the lake, my ideal weight. There is even a picture of red shoes because I love red shoes. I already own four pairs of red shoes but just looking at the picture inspires me!
The third board has various motivational thoughts and quotes that I read on a daily basis that help keep me stay focused on where I am going and what I want to accomplish.
Some of of my favorites ones are….
“When you pray, move your feet.”
“Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid”
“Remember you don’t have to get it perfect….just get it going!”
Create your own dream board by combining visual images and words that represent what you want more of in your life.
Get out your magazines or search the Internet for pictures of things that motivate you, inspire you, represent things you want to accomplish in your life.
Do you have a goal to travel to a certain destination, earn a certain amount of money, or own a certain kind of car like I do? Find a picture of it and put it on your dream board.
Your dream board can be made from a piece of poster-board, a bulletin board or a magnet board. Be creative - you can even just pin or tape things right on your wall or closet door!
The important thing is that you keep it fresh and visible. Put it where you will see it every day. As your dreams and vision for your life change - change the pictures!
So get out your magazines, scissors, glue and tape and get going!
Do you already have a dream board - I’d love to hear what some of the things are on your board.
If you don’t have one - create your future life by creating a dream board. Let me know how it goes or better yet - email me a picture of it, I’d love to see what you create!
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”
Albert Einstein
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Categories: Goals, Inspire, Motivation
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Sunday, March 9, 2008, by Leigh Anne
“The things that make you feel, think, laugh”
Last week I introduced you to my new blog post category - “Nest” with a fun idea of planting your own Easter grass.
Today I introduce my second new category - “Inspire”. On Monday’s I will be sharing ideas and tips that have inspired me and that hopefully will inspire you. The majority of them will have something to do with balancing a job/business or just life with a family but you never know what may inspire me during the week!
Before I share this week’s idea I want to explain why I chose the above picture to represent my “Inspire” posts.
One of my favorite things to do is to sit in my kitchen or my office and watch the hummingbirds out in my garden. They are amazing little birds.
Did you know that not only can they fly vertical and horizontal but they are also the only bird who can fly backwards. They are able to hover midair as their wings flap 15-80 times a second! They amaze me.
So I chose a picture of a hummingbird in the garden - it inspires me and I hope that my “Inspire” posts will inspire you!
You may remember that last week I shared with you a disorder I suffer from - A.A.A.A.D.D. -
Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.
Today I will share a strategy I use when I am really having a hard time focusing.
A Catch Up Day is a great idea when you are really feeling overwhelmed with all those unfinished projects and having a hard time staying focused long enough to complete any of them. But sometimes a Catch Up Day is just not in the picture, so here is another strategy you can use to help you focus on a project that needs to get done!
The 15 Minute Focus
When you don’t have a whole day to devote to those unfinished projects use the 15 Minute Focus. I found that I can accomplish just about anything in 15 minute increments.
I have cleaned and organized my garage, weeded the garden, gotten caught up on my scrapbooks, sewn a quilt and organized every room in my house by using this technique!
I have learned that you can suffer through anything for 15 minutes (and longer if a new baby is the result of your efforts!)
So what job have you been putting off and dreading? Is it cleaning the garage, getting those photos into an album or something else?
The trick that really makes this technique work though is that you only do it for 15 minutes. I use a kitchen timer to make sure I don’t work for more than 15 minutes. It is important that you don’t think “Hey I’m on a roll, I’ll just keep going.”
The problem with that is that next time you need a 15 minute focus you will say to yourself, “I can’t do this because I don’t have 30 -45 minutes.” Only work for 15 minutes at a time - NO MORE!
You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish in 15 minutes of FOCUSED time. Allow no distractions, no phone calls, etc. Set a timer!
Tell your family that they are not allowed to talk to you - lock yourself in the room if you have too. I tell my kids “Unless there is blood or you are not breathing - LEAVE ME ALONE!
(Those of you with younger children will want to make sure another responsible adult is supervising the children!)
So give it a try and let me know how it goes. Let me know what you are able to accomplish during your 15 Minute Focus.
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Categories: Goals, Home Based Business, Inspire, Motivation, Organizational Tips, Time Management
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Monday, February 18, 2008, by Leigh Anne
This past week I was doing a little “cleaning out” of my files and came across a handout dated 1998. It was from a presentation done by a fellow “side line” in my direct sales company, Linda Hill. The presentation was entitled “Help! I’m in a Rut? How do I Get Out?”
Usually about this time of year, the newness and enthusiasm for the “fresh start” of a new year has worn off. We may even find ourself “Stuck in a Rut”. Using Linda’s “ruts” I want to share some of my ideas and tips with you for getting out of those “ruts”.
First - what is a rut? The dictionary defines it as a 1) worn track or 2) a fixed routine. On the “road of life” there are ruts everywhere. It is easy, especially if we’re not paying attention, to find ourselves in a DEEP rut. Sometimes it is easier just staying there, following it where it may lead us but we may find that it leads us somewhere we don’t want to go! So we need to learn to recognize those ruts, how to avoid them and most importantly, how to GET OUT of them!
Some Types of Ruts….
Style Rut
Do you find yourself wearing the same clothes day after day (jeans and a t-shirt), holding onto clothes you haven’t worn in years and will probably never wear again or is everything in your closet black?
Last year I decided to hire a stylist to come in and help me “update” my look. As we went through my closet (yes, a scary thing!) she pointed out that I had FORTY black tops hanging in my closet. I was in a “black rut.” We managed to remove 10 garbage bags of clothes from my closet - leaving me those things that I really like, look good in, that fit me and that I wear! It was a very “freeing” experience.
If hiring a stylist isn’t in your budget, ask a friend whose style you admire to come in and help you. Take them shopping with you - break out of your style rut whether it is a “jeans and t-shirt” rut or like me, a “black rut”.
Personal/Spiritual Rut
As women, our natural tendency is to always put others first. If you we don’t take time to “fill our own cup” we can find that cup dry, You need to decide how you can keep your cup “full”. It may mean 30 minutes of “alone time” or meditation each day. Working out at the gym on a regular basis, taking time to read a good book, or enjoying a cup of tea with a friend.
The first of this year I joined a women’s scripture study group at my church which meets every Wednesday morning. I marked off every Wednesday morning for the rest of the year on my calendar. Wednesday mornings have become “sacred” time for me.
Family Rut
When your children are small it may seem that they are always underfoot and family time is “all the time”. But as your children get older and involved in the millions of different activities, finding quality time together can be harder and harder. When my children were smaller we always had “family night” each week. One night dedicated to being together, learning together, playing together and enjoying a special treat together. Now that the boys are gone and the two girls are involved in so many activities and an unending supply of homework it has become harder and more irregular. We need to get back into the “rut” of regular family time.
In fact last night we had a family “meeting” and recommitted to having more regular family time. It may only be 30 minutes one night a week but it gives us an opportunity to connect and be together.
Clutter Rut
Clutter is a procrastinated decision. I have already shared with you that my “revised” clutter goal for this year is to declutter one area of my house a month. Take it in bite size pieces - don’t try to tackle all your clutter at one time. As I am going through the different areas of my house I do it with the mindset of “If I were moving tomorrow, what would I want to take with me?”. That has really helped me as I make decisions on what to keep and what to toss.
Perfectionism Rut
On my office wall I have a saying that reads “Remember you don’t have to be perfect, just get it going!” Getting stuck in a perfectionism rut, thinking we can’t do something unless we can do it perfectly, will bring you to a complete standstill. One thing I have learned is there is never the “perfect” time. You just have to jump in and do it! Take risks and realize you aren’t perfect and no one expects you to be perfect! Perfectionism is an excuse to stop before you start whether you are waiting for the perfect time to have a baby or work your business. Done is better than perfect!
Attitude Rut
My children have learned that if they have time to complain they have too much time on their hands. They learned at an early age that if they told me “I’m bored” there was a job to do. I have even been known to assign chores to neighbor children who dared to say “I’m bored” in my presence!
My youngest daughter has the habit of always telling me what she doesn’t want. I have to constantly remind her - “Don’t tell me what you don’t want - tell me what you do want.” It’s a matter of changing your way of thinking - don’t focus on the negative, focus on the positive.
My friend and former upline always says “Make it a Great Day” - not “Have a Great Day” because it really is up to us. We can choose to make each day a great day - it is not by chance or happenstance. We make our days great!
Business Rut
No matter how long we have been in business we all find ourselves in a rut. It may be in part due to that “Perfectionism Rut” - we’re waiting for the perfect time to work our business - when the children are older, when you’re more familiar with the companies products, when the grass turns purple (just kidding). Believe me I have heard all kinds of excuses over the last 17 years for not working the business - and some of them have even come from my own mouth!
If you find yourself with no events on the books, stuck in a rut -”get a life“. Join an exercise class (wear a t-shirt with your companies logo on it to class), a mom’s club, or volunteer somewhere. Put yourself in places where you will meet new people on a regular basis. Use the marketing tools your company has provided. Make a goal to handout at least one business card a day (don’t forget to “exchange” information) Intentionally LOOK for opportunities and ASK for classes!
Get on the phone and call your existing customer base - when is the last time you did that? If they are not interested in hosting an event, ask them for a referral - just keep ASKING!
Common Underlying Theme….
Maybe you have noticed that the common theme to each “rut” solution is ACTION on your part. There are people and resources to help but you have to decide you want to change and ASK for solutions and then put them into ACTION. An ancient Chinese proverb says..
“When you hear something, you will forget it.
When you see something, you will remember it.
But not until you DO something, will you understand it.”
A quick review
1. Identify what “ruts” you may be experiencing
2. Resolve to do something about it
3. Record where you are and where you want to be (set a goal)
4. Find a “mentor” (like my stylist or a friend) that has strengths you want to emulate and ask for help.
5. Once you get the information and advice you need, USE it and take an active part of making the necessary changes.
Have you found yourself in a rut? I’d love for you to share it with us by leaving a comment below - maybe I or one of your fellow blog readers will have a suggestion for you!
Let the changes begin!
Popularity: 59% [?]
Categories: Goals, Home Based Business, Motivation, Personal Growth
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Monday, January 28, 2008, by Leigh Anne
I am a proud Mama! You see, my sweet, high school daughter has been ACCEPTED TO COLLEGE! Now believe me I am in no rush for her to leave home, in fact for the last year I have been tearing up at the thought of it. As you know, I already have two sweet college boys (yes - we will have 3 in college at the same time next fall - yikes!$!$!) so we have been through this before. But this sweet daughter’s journey to this point in her life has been a little different than my boys.
You see Cali was born with speech and learning disabilities. Through her educational journey she has always had what is called an IEP (Individual Education Program) this has allowed her special services (resource room, speech therapy. etc.) . Learning has never come easy for her, she has had to work twice as hard at it as most people do. But Cali’s spirit, spunk and determination have brought her to today - where she has received her first college acceptance and she will be graduating with an Honor’s Diploma (which means she has taken Advanced Placement courses and completed an involved service project as well as other things)
What an amazing experience it is to see your children struggle with challenges, overcome those challenges and achieve their dreams! I have learned a lot from being Cali’s mother. I marvel at her strength, her determination not to give up and her ability to stay the course. I know that because of these traits Cali will be successful at whatever she undertakes in her life, that she will be able to overcome whatever challenge is placed in her path.
Each of us has our own set of challenges whether in business or in life. One thing Cali has taught me is that if you want something bad enough and the desire is strong in your heart you can overcome!
Being the Proud Mama that I am I wanted to share with you Cali’s college essay - it describes Cali’s journey and personality so well and I know that Cali’s spirit and determination will take her far!
“I don’t do time and money,” stated a spunky little girl-me-to her resource room teacher. But this spunk and determination helped me to overcome my learning disabilities and challenge myself in all aspects of life.
From day one, it was a challenge to speak. This brought on numerous ear surgeries and years of speech and language therapy. My late start and struggle in school with reading, talking, and understanding brought an adventure.
During elementary school, I went to the resource room. Some kids cruelly called it “the retarded kid’s” room, but I found it a safe place. In this protected space, I felt comfortable learning without being intimidated by other student’s speed of learning.
In middle school I wanted to prove that having a learning disability doesn’t equate with the label, “stupid.” I spent hours doing homework and studying. Even though I wasn’t getting straight A’s I was achieving excellence by performing at a quicker pace.
I now have the goal to graduate with an honors diploma. Even though it’s a struggle, I enjoy the challenge. With four AP classes I have learned that I am capable of new and bigger things.
My determination has helped me overcome obstacles in more then just academics. I aspired to land a leading role in a high school musical. After numerous rejections, I achieved this goal after hours of preparation and positive thinking.
Another one of my goals has been to attend BYU. I know this won’t be easy, but by overcoming my disabilities I am prepared to take on the challenge of being a BYU student. There is no greater feeling then achieving your dream after you have worked for excellence.
I love you Cali!
Popularity: 42% [?]
Categories: Family, Goals, Motivation
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