Since October, I’ve had numerous perfect working weeks. As I’ve just enjoyed another one, I thought I’d share with you my three top tips.
I appreciate that your idea of a great week might be very different, but this is mine. I’ll set the scene so you know a bit about me and what I’m about. I’m a wife and mum. My boys are six and seven and I love working from home and having a balanced life so that I get to spend quality time with them and my husband. I run a small business which is my passion. I coach midlife professionals to find more meaning and purpose at work, help stressed professionals be less stressed, and inspire small business owners, to enjoy a more successful business.
With that in mind, my perfect working week is a balance of a number of fundamental elements. These include the work I do with my clients, either face to face or over the phone or Skype, plus conversations I have with potential new clients. For it to be perfect, all my appointment times are filled. It includes time spent making new connections and building relationships with people who may be able to help me in my business, or who I may be able to help. Networking is a crucial part of my week, and for it to be ‘perfect’, it needs to be sincere and relational, and most definitely not about collecting as many business cards as possible.
Of course, a chunk of my work includes marketing and using social media forms part of this for me. Whilst its intentions are serious, I have to admit to having quite a bit of fun in the process (yes, really marketing CAN be fun!). Establishing a reputation as a professional is absolutely key, and I’ve no wish to compromise who I am in the process, so adding humour and love into my conversations makes marketing meaningful for me.
As a solopreneur, its important to me to have support and part of my week is dedicated to my personal development in the form of a business coaching / mastermind group. This is sacred time for me, where I get to make space for ideas, inspiration and deep connection with others in the group, and do all the good work on myself that leads me to have the perfect week. Making space for self care, in the form of exercise and time for reflection is also part of my perfect week.
Working for myself means I get to choose my hours, and so I love that I can arrange my working schedule to fit around my family’s needs as well as mine. I’m around to collect the boys from school every day, and I’m there for them at bedtime.
My perfect week is usually topped off by the little things that make life delightful.
For instance, last week I enjoyed several email exchanges and conversations with friends and associates, all describing decisions they’d made, or things they’d done as a result of previous conversations with me. Its so good to know that you can be an inspiration, even when you didn’t realise it at the time! When you’re doing work you love its so much easier to shine a light, I promise. I know, I spent many years following others’ lights because I was finding my way out of the dark.
To top it all off, on the Friday I received a gift from a client. A left handed mouse! Okay, not the most exciting gift you may think, but during the course of our conversations I’d revealed my tendency to suffer from RSI (repetitive strain injury) as he did too. He’d been using a special mouse for a while and it had eased his symptoms. When I thanked him, I realised he’d had to go to some considerable lengths to find a left-handed version. Wow!
My Top 3 Tips:
1) Get out of Your own Way
So, what do I mean? My friends know that I often use this phrase when I’m describing a breakthrough I’ve had in relation to a specific area of my life or business. I literally ‘get out of my own way’, because its usually me and my beliefs that are in my way. Sound familiar?
A little while ago I worked on my relationship with earning a good income. I realised I had ‘limiting beliefs’ about it. They had come as a result of my background and the kind of conversations that went on when I was growing up. These conversations had sunk into my psyche and formed themselves into beliefs. When I found the courage to unravel them, I realised they weren’t my beliefs at all, but someone else’s. Once I’d worked them through, I was free to change my belief to a more positive one. The month after I worked on this belief, I earned the most I’d ever earned in a month. Powerful!
2) Notice When Things are Better
Its very easy to take it for granted when you have a better day. Today, for instance, as I write this, I’ve been aware of EVERYTHING that’s been good about it so far. Starting with my son’s face lighting up at his birthday gifts this morning before school. Enjoying some light-hearted banter on Facebook. Reflecting on a deep connection made yesterday with friends. Revelling in an email where one of those friends explained her change of direction. Noticing the stomach ache I had all day yesterday has gone, and enjoying feeling really well again. Not being grumpy when a client is late, and embracing the extra time its given me to write this blog. Appreciation holds a very powerful energy. The simple laws of the universe state that like attracts like, so if you feel appreciative, you’ll attract more things to appreciate. Simple!
3) Get Clear
Okay, so I’ve had some of the best working weeks I’ve ever had in my small business over the last four months. How come? I had to do some work before I got out of my own way, and started noticing when things got better. I got clear about what my perfect week would look like. How will you ever achieve a great week if you don’t know what it will include? Start by writing down your ideal week, then follow steps one and two above. Easy!
If you’re interested in learning how to achieve more of what YOU want, powerfully, simply and easily, contact me. I’d be delighted to help. Alternatively, if you’re a small business owner, why not consider attending my February workshop? Consciously Create Your Business.
Its designed to help you get clarity about what you really want for you and your business.