One Insanely Predictable But Effective Move For Business Building Success

April 17, 2015 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

In early February I saw a Facebook post written by an acquaintance that read something like, “OMG, I am simply beside myself with a great idea, can’t sleep, so excited, etc.” While others were congratulating her, I felt pity.

I felt her pain because I know she is in the throes of business building. You know how it is when you’re molding your business. The ups and downs are part of the landscape. If you’re like most, your restless, creative mind brings disorder as well as inspiration.

The Curse of Creativity

Don’t you wish it would stop? There are times I’ve thought, “If one more great idea comes furiously flapping in my face like a bat looking for food on a moonless night, I just might go crazy. While I’m grateful for sparks of creativity, my left brain is thinking, “No thank you very much to new ideas. Can we all just get back to work?”

For the past few years, I’ve made it my New Year’s tradition to choose two words to frame the coming year. It’s April already, and they’re still firmly stuck to my steering wheel and framed on my desk, so I haven’t given up. But I tell you, these are hard words to live by when you’re prone to great ideas.

The theory behind the year’s word choice is this: I force myself to choose two exclusive words, one to internalize and one that inspires action (sometimes a very specific action). Just seeing the two words one on top of the other, reminds me of the brutal importance of editing.

Editing, cutting things out, saying “No” to stuff… is not easy.

If you want to accomplish anything in twelve months, you must say no to a lot of alluring prospects. If you’re honest, you probably have some excellent choices on your table. The trick is choosing whom to listen to, and what to build. Editing is more difficult than writing. Just ask any writer.

I was stymied the whole month of January, I admit. Hogtied and buzzing with new ideas after a professional, spiritual and personal shake-up mid month, I knew this was Officially Not Good. While the self-created upheaval provided an exhilarating start to the new year, I realized I had been hoping and expecting a different kind of year. You know, the kind where you’re just pedaling consistently hard; not having too much fun, not pinching yourself with disbelief, just plodding forward. It’s why I chose these strong words in the first place. Listen. Build. Ugh.

What happened, right at the get-go, was a bit of a boondoggle of my own making. “Uh oh,” I thought for a second, “Maybe I could change my words to ‘Play’ and ‘Pray.’” I quickly decided it’s no fair changing my Words of the Year. That would be a sign of drama, which I’ve sworn off for good. If I were to see these words bear any fruit, I would have to buckle down and quit changing channels.

And anyway, they were already on my steering wheel.

So I’m (still) committed. The lightning strikes of creativity are beginning to lose their power over me. This doesn’t mean I did not act on some of these ideas raining down. But I didn’t run in every direction trying to catch them all, either. Instead I continued doing my usual work, while allowing them to fall to the ground.

My commitment to listen meant that I had to personally “check in” when something made an impression, but not lift a finger or move in its direction until I had bounced it up against these 15 decision-making guidelines and talked it over with a friend or colleague.

All that patient listening will have an impact on the “building” part of it, which will be coming right along in Q2. I can feel it.

pouncing on a great idea — Red Fox hunting on Prince Edward Island, Canada

Creativity’s Evil Twin: Your “Next Best Move”

Entrepreneurs often kid themselves into thinking that every creative impulse could be defined as their Next Best Move.

This happens a lot when the work that got you to where you are now isn’t new anymore. The fun part was beginning it; now the finish line is nowhere in sight. In fact, you can’t even imagine being in the same place this time next year. It must be time to do something different, bold, daring!

Whenever I feel like things aren’t happening as fast and dramatically as I would like, I start falling prey to the “Next Best Moves” trap. Most creative types love to imagine and discuss NBMs with their team, their masterminds or their friends. We imagine this new project, product, addition of skillsets, etc. will fill in for whatever excitement (and potential new revenue) is missing in our business.

Have you ever felt that desire urging you away from your beaten path? Like a fox, you stop, prick up your ears, and dart toward it. NBMs are significant and “game-changing.” They are not what you’ve done in the past. They are moves about which you’ll look back and say (for surely someone will ask about the time the big transformation occurred), “Now, that was a good move.”

In your imagination, that NBM is a turning point, the year you finally hit a specific goal because you’ll have finally deviated from the common and fruitless path you were once on.

Except that’s where the whole house of cards comes crashing down.

The hard truth is that many times your next best move is indecipherable from that move you just made.

Most likely, your next best move is boring.

It looks a lot like last month’s move, and the move before that. Your next best move may actually be no more than a mere, small adjustment that folds easily into the direction you’re already moving:

Adding a tool that makes you more productive
Asking your prospect what they need to move forward
Asking a current customer for a referral, or a repeat order
Redesigning your home page of your website so that it’s clearer to your buyer personas

It could be something that’s not nearly as fun as developing something band new, but flows in the direction of the moves you’ve already set in place to get you this far.

Predictability means staying on track, and doing the work. But it also frequently defines your next best move. It may not be the most exciting NBM you could take today, but chances are it will allow your business to gain momentum that results in success. The day you realize you’re pretty predictable, and also productive, is a day to rejoice, because you’re doing the thing that defines a successful business.

The Power of Predictable Moves

In the business classic Good to Great, Jim Collins describes the flywheel, a large, heavy, horizontal disk you must turn to bring up to speed. One dogged revolution at a time; the wheel slowly makes one turn on its axis, then another, then another. Eventually, it takes on a life of its own, its weight and momentum creating a force that easily revolves by its own weight and momentum.

Can you identify which move contributed the most to this flywheel’s energy? No, all the pushes to get it up to speed were important, and they all were nearly identical. It was the succession of simple, repetitive, boring moves them that got the wheel moving so fast.

If the flywheel theory makes perfect sense to you, you may already own the title of Chief Buzzkill on your team. While everyone else is falling in love with the latest new idea, you’re shooting holes in it.

Stick with it.

This shiny new idea, as James Chartrand describes here, will own you if you let it. Like a faceted rubber ball ricocheting off its own energy, the dynamics and enthusiasm of your team for this shiny new thing can be difficult to rein in. Before you spend too much time on it, make sure this NBR is a genuine contribution to the overall goal, and not just a diversion from work that’s lost its luster. Failed sparks of genius take a huge toll on a business (in time, energy and motivation) if they don’t produce results.

If you’ve listened and qualified a particularly good idea, maybe you’ve decided that you really do have an idea worth exploring. The next step is deciding how to move in on it. Will you pounce or will you quietly sneak up on it? Maybe you’ll get some outside help to research or establish preliminary steps.

When you do decide to take action and build on it, make sure it contributes to your core competencies, your talents and skills. You don’t want to undo work that got you this far by chasing something new.

With the responsibility to edit your life and business to ensure progress, comes responsibility for your own happiness. If you try to fit thirteen hours of joy into eight hours, you’ll make yourself miserable.

If you chase after every creative jot and wiggle your brilliant mind can dream up you may satisfy that inner creator who always likes to feel busy, but you’ll also feel like you’re always missing something just out of reach. (I know this because I’m all to familiar with this tendency.) The only thing you’ll really be missing is the opportunity to grow and develop a sense of purpose that’s the hallmark of a well-lived life.

If the grass is always greener, go peek over that fence over there. It has bare patches and weeds, maybe even more than your own patch of sod. What a relief, then, to get back to your real business at hand and build it big. Build it steadily, one revolution at a time.

What’s your best, predictable move that got you where you are today?

Three Traps To Avoid When Building A Business Writing From Home

April 8, 2015 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

We’re the lucky ones, we writers.

We get to practice our craft and get paid for it. While most of us may never actually achieve perfection, the cumulative effect, hopefully, is a portfolio of decent writing.

Some writing is great, some is average, and over time you raise your own bar. As with all work, the longer you stay with it and the more consistent your habits, the higher the overall quality of your writing.

However, a few troubling trends are sneaking around. I’m afraid they’re pulling some excellent writers off course, and diluting their ability both to improve their skills and to earn a good income working from home.

I know, because they’ve taken their toll on me, too. That’s why I’m warning you now…

But first; the good news. A great foundation for building a business of any kind also applies to a freelance writing business. Follow this simple writing law, and you’ll be rewarded with the potential to become a great writer.

If you learn from other writers, and collect advice about writing habits and practices, then you’ve already been exposed to a version of this: Focus on serving your audience, that one person who really needs to hear what you alone know THE MOST about.

That’s it… Focus on service.

Maybe you’re thinking right now, “But I don’t write for charities. I don’t write for nonprofits, or even for service companies. That’s okay. Stay with me, and you’ll see how this applies to you, too.

There are basically two kinds of web writers. Those who sell their writing to others (copywriting, ghost blogging, and content writing) and bloggers who make money from their blog through affiliates, advertising, and product sales. Many writers do some combination of both.

If you’re just starting out, maybe you’ve got some writing chops and you’re ready to start creating your own content, or do some writing for others and make money. Great! There’s a huge need for good web writing and people will pay you well if you’re reliable and solid.

Want to write well, and build a lucrative business writing from home? Begin with this mantra. Focus. Service. Focus. Service. (Tweet this.)

Focus on service and you’ll quickly begin to attract an audience, and a list of clients who need your skills.

How can writing embody service?

Service can take the form of an advice column, a how-to article, an entertaining diatribe, a descriptive feast for the senses, or a listicle. Service even has countless tones; it can be humorous, sincere, informative or confrontational. Service is in the eye of the beholder, which is why it pays to know your reader.

The service of writing takes many forms. It is akin to cooking, and just as quickly consumed. You create something, just as a chef cooks; and your client tries it, or gives it to her followers to taste. All you have to do is find the angle that works best for you, whether by subject, or style; for your own audience or another’s. Then you see if it’s palatable by how much interaction it brings.

Sounds easy enough, right? A good work ethic, discipline, and a commitment to write every day are great qualities of a writer. Heck, just sitting your butt in a chair and pressing your fingers against keyboard buttons is what separates most lucrative professional writers from their frustrated counterparts! But even if you have all that, I guarantee you’ll still confront these pitfalls in the business of writing.

TRAPS that keep you from “The Law of Focused Service”

Along the way, especially as I was building my writing business, I fell into the trap of forgetting this simple law. It’s very easy to do, in fact, because the writer’s mindset and lifestyle are so conducive to this weakness. Here’s how to anticipate the most common writing traps and avoid the mistakes I’ve made.

Since the two key components to the advice “Focus on service” are 1) Focus and 2) Service; it’s probably pretty obvious where it’s easy to fail.

Three Things That Kill Focused Service:

First, the easiest way to falter in blogging, or in finding the right customers for your writing services, is to envision too many readers or customers. Solve this by maintaining a clear picture of your audience.

1. Fuzzy or nonexistent audience ID kills your writing. (Tweet this.)

You’ve heard that before, haven’t you? Know your audience. Write to that person.

The inherent problem in this statement, however, is the very word “audience.” We’re imagining dozens, maybe hundreds and thousands of readers. We want a lot of people to read our writing, right? If your blog only has one reader, it’s not going to be a very successful undertaking, so we envision multitudes. And then we commit the first fatal mistake.

We confuse the number of clicks and shares we desire with the number of people we should be writing to.

The problem results in a profound lack of focus. In trying to please everyone, you interest no one.

It’s terribly distracting to crave, imagine, or wish for a huge following – a “readership” — while you’re writing to one person, isn’t it? The beautiful irony is this. Instead, make (virtual) eye contact with one guy. Lock in, pretend your answering a question that he asked and smother your desire to make your answer fit a slew of different points of view. If there’s more than one answer, you can always break your topic into small parts and address each part separately, in individual blog posts or videos. But for now, conquer the task at hand and answer that one question or address that one topic from that one person. Focus.

It’s not easy, but it’s a skill worth practicing. Once you get it, your voice comes more naturally, and your articles and posts will have that lean quality and structure readers can easily follow.

2. The fabulous lifestyle that can sabotage your writing…

Don’t you love it when people rave about working from a home office? Your freelance writing “lifestyle” is rife with distracting elements. The very reason you may have chosen this home business path is so you could attend to children, hobbies, a chaotic schedule, or a desire to squeeze every ounce of joy, productivity, and freedom out of your life. And still make money writing.

Unfortunately, you absolutely cannot develop good writing skills unless you just sit there and write. From most outside perspectives, that looks pretty boring. For the writer without a laser-focused attitude of service, it’s like writing at a three-ring circus. Even in relative quiet.

There’s always that temptation to stop, look up, look around for inspiration. And as soon as you do, there’s the leaky faucet; or your dog giving you “that look;” the plant that looks like it could use some water, the box of chocolates, email…

On top of that, there are the flat-out interruptions: The phone call from school, the UPS delivery, or a flash of lightning/power blip that occurs more often here on the outskirts of Austin that you’d ever believe. So what do you do while your computer is rebooting, or “as long as you’re up?” Check your phone, get a snack, take a shower… see, I fight this monster daily. You know you’re losing the battle when you start writing about your distractions…

But I was talking about focused writing, wasn’t I? Well, you already know it’s not so easy to refocus after you’ve lost it.

Whenever I need encouragement and tips for blocking out distractions, I look to the master of web writing focus and productivity, Daphne Gray-Grant, or I slip into a cocoon of white noise with an app like My Noise.net. I like the brown noise. It really does help.

3. “Maybe I’ll just write another blog post about me today.”

Another significant pitfall I see among bloggers and other writers seeking work is confusion about content that actually serves a purpose. You see a lot of motivational hooey these days, mixed in with some really good motivational business blogs. Some business websites lean so heavily on inspirational content that you’d think that all it takes to be an entrepreneur these days is to find yourself, become self-aware, and live your bliss. You’re also taught that as long as you’re “passionate” about your topic, you’ll find a loyal audience hungry for your content.

While this may be true for a finely carve-out niche or a celeb with the cult of personality, don’t make the mistake of thinking that all your many splendored interests will translate into a great blog or a large, engaged target audience.

Your content must have value.

Writers are often good at extracting information from piles of interesting sources. (Interesting to the writer, at least.) In fact, that’s one of the reasons we are writers – we’re just so ridiculously captivated by all sorts of details, ideas and concepts that must be put on paper and shared! But an active mind and a relentless curiosity can be the tyrant that sucks your productivity, your effectiveness, and eventually, your business.

Even if you hustle like Gary Vaynerchuck, you still have to identify that one specific thing you serve up daily, tirelessly, and relentlessly to your followers. What this doesn’t mean is lumping all your interests online as if you were the web’s expert on them all – PIYO, raising chickens, juicing, and reading mysteries – and expect a groundswell of interest in your writing (or writing services). It doesn’t work exactly like that. (Oh, how I wish it were true.)

While your trip to the cactus nursery may be the notable high point of your weekend, and a privileged peek into the less dominant facets of your life besides your business writing; too much social sharing and blogging about your hobbies, social life, or your cat’s most recent accomplishment detracts from your most important task – that thing you’re known for – your writing or blogging.

Focused service requires editing, both on paper and in your content. Even if you DO have more time to play than your friends with regular jobs (shh), focus your play in areas that energize your writing and share that with your audience.

The best writing gig in the whole world

You know what’s really cool, though? It’s when you can write about what you like to do, whether that’s social media, raising thoroughbred bloodhounds, or parasailing; and get paid to write about those activities. That way, the ruthless editing is confined to your articles and not your lifestyle. You simply live full out, and describe your experience to your waiting fans.

It can be done, especially now that there’s a targeted niche just waiting to be created every living day. The secret to focused service is delivering value within a solid, entertaining and clear writing style, in a focused, consistent manner.

Heart in web photo by Neal Fowler on flickr

What are your greatest challenges working from home? I’d love to know. I’m checking in with my readers and favorite freelancers for some input on that. If you have a moment (actually about 2 minutes) to answer a few questions, please click here. I’d love to connect. Hey, thanks in advance!

Hand It Over: Why Letting Go Is Good For Your Business

February 13, 2015 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

Yesterday I was stressing about bookkeeping and taxes. I felt like a child who was going to get in trouble for not doing her homework. But after one hour with Jackie Sweeten at Sweeten CPA, I felt peace and control over my home office. What a relief! Jackie is the kind of professional I LOVE to work with. Like some kind of accounting horse whisperer, she took control and brought that wild animal into the coral and showed me how to handle it. With her calm assurance, she handed me control (over my part) and gave me the confidence to let her team handle the rest. I also know a ton more about my business and books than I ever did before! Talk about feeling in good hands!

Owning a business is extra difficult when you obsess about loosening your grip.

Sometimes that grip is over your money.
Sometimes, that grip is on your dream, or your precious idea.
Sometimes you have your grip so tightly around your worry itself, that you can’t even see a solution if it whacked you in the face!

Do you know what it’s like to have a wall around a certain area in your business? I had a mental and spiritual block about my books. Just to paint you a picture, I have a pile of papers that I still need to file from tax season 2013! So naturally I get really stressed about tax season and filing, and saving the right stuff, and keeping records about income.

One recent tax year, I got the wrong help from someone who was going to help me with my books, and I ended up reporting an obviously incorrect amount for one line of my business, all because my head was NOT in the game. My first mistake was letting someone who didn’t know Quickbooks help me with my books (duh), and my second was not looking over her report (DUH). [I know you business people who manage books are just shaking your heads and cringing right now, and you probably even think this is related to some kind of terrible character flaw that leaks over into all areas of my life. And you wouldn’t be too far wrong about that, except that I have enough other gifts to buoy me up, so no one even knew, except my closest friends. 🙂 It’s like the illiterate person who can fake not being able to read. I used to be like that, but with my accounting books.] Furthermore, my accountant didn’t even ask about what should have been a very odd line item. After cleaning it up, I knew in my heart that I brought those problems on myself, of course…

Although I’ve always thought of myself as a great “manifester,” (I always seem to have what I need exactly when I need it, whether that’s money, information, documents, etc.) I would always get a little panicky a few days before I really needed to write that check or produce that document. It’s just a thing with me, and once I figured out the pattern, I decided to stop it.

After literally “manifesting” myself into a puddle of stress about my books, I decided it was time to own it. That meant, putting on my big girl pants and handing it over. Oh, my Lord, how humbling is that?! But here’s what I’m discovering in this process…

Admitting you have a problem, and then handing over control is EMPOWERING!

I let it go, finally, and asked for help. Yes, I asked for help from God, and realized that He had already planted the seeds for me. I just had to go harvest the crop! See, I have sat in several accountant offices before, and there’s a part of my brain that I always just shut off. Have you ever done that? You sit there, with your mind half closed, and you take notes and you sort of smile, and pretend you’re getting it.

Well yesterday, I prayed that God would give me wisdom to open my mind, and ask the questions that needed answering, and to really accept the help from someone who was referred to me in this area. Jackie Sweeten is a true pro because she never once hemmed, hawed or hesitated. I could tell, she’s seen clients like me before, but here’s the difference: I made the commitment to be teachable.

This is what I told her: “I need you to know this about me. I am willing to change…

“I am going to try very hard to open my mind to your advice. I will ask a bunch of mundane questions until I understand, and then I will do what you tell me to do, and I will pay you for whatever services you think I need.”

She was kind, letting me know that she totally understood. She easily welcomed my worry in and gave it a seat. This is a testimonial for her awesome bookkeeping manners, surely, but it is also a testament the freedom in really handing something over!

Hand it over to a professional. If you’re not at ease with copywriting, or saying your message, then HAND IT OVER!
If you’re not sure about how to implement a good idea, or how to focus on something that would help you move forward in your business or life, ask for help and HAND IT OVER! Literally, float it out on the internet, ask your followers on Twitter, or call someone who looks like they have their act together in that area and in most cases, they will be happy to help or refer you to their source.
If you are tired of doing everything yourself, you can always pray! Trust god or however you envision Infinite Wisdom and goodness in the universe… and just ASK. Then be open to it, noting when you are being touched by someone who can really help. HAND IT OVER!

If you are one of those do-it-yourselfers by nature, I can totally relate to that. But here’s the big revelation — and you have to trust that this is true — there are other people in the world who can do most things better than you. LET THEM!!

You’re great, but you’re not good at everything.

It’s the true counterintuitive part about being an entrepreneur. When you jump into this sea, and really own your business of serving, building, profiting by your gifts and goods, you have to be willing to hand over the reins and do what YOU do best. Be teachable. Push yourself to understand what you need, and then follow through with your part. Sometimes it’s as minor as returning a phone call or filing a receipt!

You will be amazed at how much energy and calm you reap when you flex that muscle and hand over stuff you were never meant to do. Let that gap be filled by someone you trust, and open your heart to professional expertise. After yesterday, I feel like I just bought an extra few hours in my week (even though all I ever did with those hours was spend them worrying) and now I even feel empowered to file that 5-inch stack of receipts and papers. I don’t even need a bookkeeping house call, although I’ll bet I could get one if I really wanted one!

You will be lifted by letting go, and ironically, you will feel so empowered by the awesome natural gifts of others. We are stronger together.

Your turn. When did you ever turn something over and reap rich rewards for it?

15 Ways To Make A Decision When You Don’t Know Which Way To Go

February 9, 2015 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

Every year, every day, even every hour — we have a bounty of choices on our table. Today I am praying for wisdom to make choices that help me, my family, and my business thrive. It’s an ongoing rotation of decisions. If I say “yes” to this thing or this person, I say “no” to another. It’s an awesome realization when you think of all that you’re squeezing OUT of your life by saying “yes” all the time!

So here we are, a month into the new year. My commitments for the year are “Listen and Build.” I’m determined to get this right: “Listen to whom?” and “Build what?”

Confused about how to make a difference this year? Clarity is closer than you think.

A little background…Today I arrived at the gym late for my pump class and so I had to bust it out on free weights and machines on my own. As my old friend Serendipity would have it, I ran into a girlfriend/business owner I hadn’t seen in awhile. (Judging by her biceps, I should have been working out with her, but instead we just chatted about our home-based businesses. HA!)

Her business is growing, she told me – a great problem to have — and she’s unsure of her best next move. She compared her business to driving around with a dog in the car. “Now what?” she exclaimed. She has a booming home business, but she hit her own glass ceiling. Unless she hires someone, she’s maxed out.

Time to stop and deal with it, we both agreed.

As soon as I left the gym for home, my sister called, also at a point in her professional career where she’s ready for a transition. Now, you have to understand this woman is the smartest, most capable person you’ve ever met; she could fill just about any shoes she tries on. She described her situation and I had nothing to offer. Hers was a soul-searching transition point.

What I usually say is, “Go big!” because that’s what I help my clients do with their online marketing and launches. But today I tempered my enthusiasm because I realized that too often “Going BIG” means running in some general direction without a very good reason, and that’s a waste of energy.

I’m working on better decision making. Or instead of running in one direction, maybe strolling a bit… at least until I’m feeling it.

Too Many Choices!

We’re living in a time when we have almost unlimited choices to do, be, and have whatever we want. It’s a huge responsibility to choose wisely.

Today, I was very careful NOT to say, “Go big” to my friend and my sister. Instead, I want to say, “Go intentionally,” Because that’s what I’m hearing in my own head. Usually when God has something to say to me, He puts someone in front of me who needs to hear that same message. As the words come out of my mouth, I realize the real divinity and grace at work.

[Aside: I’m so tired of getting smacked hard because I did not listen to that little voice. While I know I can’t give unsolicited advice to everyone I meet (nor do I want to!) I’m sharing this because I’m right in the middle of learning it myself. If my intuition says, “Wait. Stop. Listen and then build – with intention,” then that’s what I’m going to explore right now. I’ve been knocked back too many times.]

If you’re at a crossroads in your life (even a tiny crossroads), the common advice is to waste no time and “Go big.” It’s what all the gurus and inspirational speakers tell you to do. Grow! Expand! Influence! You’re ready! Run!

But then there’s that tiny whisper… “Are you running in this direction just because the way looks clear? Is this “an offer you can’t refuse?” Better be careful. This is where it pays to stop for a minute and ask yourself some soul-searching questions before you make a decision that could end up wasting your time and resources, or bring more confusion than clarity.

But first, for your enjoyment, just so you know that I really have been there myself, here are the words that usually get stuck in my head as I’m embarking down the wrong path…

Decision Making Strategies That Never Work

“It’s only for a little while.” (Coming from where I’ve been, this is the scariest one. It smacks vaguely of the phrase, “I can quit any time,” which I never want to hear anyone say again.”

“It’s a good opportunity.”

“It gets me exposure.”

“I haven’t earned the right to do what I really want to do yet. I haven’t earned my place at the table.”

“It would …grow my business, pay some bills, be an account I’d like to say I’ve worked on (even if I don’t enjoy it)”

“My last ‘thing’ didn’t go so well, so this must be what I’m supposed to do.”

Can you relate? OK, then. There’s that rat trap.

Now, here’s what I’m s-l-o-w-l-y learning to do:

Last year’s words were “Breathe” and “Ask.” (Yes, it takes me a full year to absorb the simple stuff.)

This year it’s “Listen” and “Build.” They seem to be the appropriate next steps to last year’s focus because then I really needed to just get clear about my work and making sure I understood and had support for all the little tasks involved. Asking for clarity and asking for help, two things I put tremendous effort into – and it paid off.

Now, a few ideas keep banging around in my brain like gas molecules. This agitated state always precedes a radical turn. Sharing is like cooling them off, so that they fall like drops of ideas onto my page. (I’m always grateful for the clarity of writing.)

Tough Decisions Call For Tough Measures:

Here are my “Listen and Build” decision-making questions I’m asking, thoughts I’m paying attention to, and actions I’m employing now, in no particular order. Feel free to use as many as you wish:

Is this the “One Thing”? The book by that name has me asking what my one thing is from all the choices before me. You may not know what your one thing is, but if you can shove the stuff off the table that you know are NOT your One Thing, then you have a good start.

Are you listening with your heart? I’m very good at listening with my ears. As an auditory learner, sounds and stories attract me. But sometimes they stay at the top of my mind and get skimmed right off by the next good one. When you get your hooks in a thought or idea that piques your interest for real, jot it down or record it, so that you can meditate on it and move it further down into your body. Sit with it awhile and listen to your heart or gut. Just absorb it and listen.

Have you asked while on your knees? I am not kidding. Listening on your knees is different from listening standing up.

Do I discern with my head and heart, based on my OWN past experiences, or am I imagining the future based on someone else’s story or truth? What a friend of distant family member “wants” for me doesn’t count for much. Decide whether they get a say in it and then move accordingly.

Say NO to what you won’t tolerate, and don’t qualify your decision. I know because I’ve been there…you think you can compartmentalize that little part you don’t like into a room and feed it just a little, so it stays quiet, while the rest of it — the part you DO like – gets all your attention. I have news; you can’t split some things up. It’s like a dog at the pound that’s cute, friendly and trained, etc. The only annoying detail is that the fur ball barks incessantly. Well, guess what? Those adorable eyes will never make you happy as you’re lying in bed listening to ever-present yapping. Some decisions are easy, but we pretend they are difficult. Just say N.O.

Does this further my purpose? I’m not talking about paying your dues because you are new at something. A lot of people are walking around thinking they shouldn’t have to do some work that needs to be done just because they understand the first thing about how to do the next job up. Some things need to be done in order, and you’re wise to accept that. That may mean doing work you don’t love on the way to doing work you DO love. However, if there’s no purpose behind it, i.e., if the task is completely irrelevant to what you’re meant to be doing at some point five years from now, let it go. Someone else should be doing it to further their purpose, so leave it to them.

Is this fun? Does it feel easy and make you say “Whee!” like a kid? (I hope you don’t really say “Whee” out loud, but I hope you think it.)

Does it get you through the day-to-day? Does it sustain you, financially, and logistically? Is it realistic? Can you live with the income, the drive, the boss, the three-meetings-per-week, etc. really? Or will it quickly kill your spirit?

Would you proud to tell your mom or dad you’re doing this?

Does it push you? Do you feel bigger and better because you choose it?

Is it scary? Eleanor Roosevelt’s famous quote might apply here. “Do something every day that scares you.” OK, now I totally don’t think you should do something that doesn’t feel morally right, or that scares you shitless. I think she was talking about risk. Does it feel like, if you tried it, you might succeed, but then again, you might fall and look a little foolish… then, what the heck… go for it!

Does it bring you into community with the people you want to be like? Do you enjoy the people your decision would plant you next to? Seriously consider this answer. I almost hate to say it because it’s so overused, but do you want to become like those five people you spend all your time with? Because you will.

Does it challenge you to do or become something better than you are doing or being now? I’m a firm believer in PUSHING yourself. Every. Single. Day. I don’t care if you stay in bed all day. (Read a book that broadens your mind.) I don’t care if you need a day off from your regular grind. (Make, create, or invent something, even if it’s just a batch of cookies.) And if your aim is to relax, then relax like you’re the Queen – like you’ve never relaxed before. Always be leveling UP, however you define it.

Will your decision enable you to have the most impact in the world, or your corner of it? You want this decision to give you traction. This one is a comparison test against whatever you’ve done in the past. Hopefully you have noticed and learned that some things stick and some things seem to have no effect at all. I used to like action for action’s sake. The point was just to be moving. Now I measure results. Who am I helping the most, and how? Can I easily be replaced? Deciding on a course of action is one thing, but action is irrelevant unless you are also considering its effect. Even if it’s a small effect, strive for influence on your surroundings, the people you’re with, and your family, community and world. That’s what we’re here for, so make sure there’s some results associated with the time you invest. Don’t waste it.

Will you regret NOT doing it? Ahh, one of the biggest regrets of dying people…the things they never tried. OUCH. Avoid, avoid, avoid that with all your consciousness and power!

So that’s my list for making a big life decision like a career change, relocation, or a significant commitment involving another person. It certainly works inside your home business, too. Feel free to add on. I’d love to know what helps YOU make a decision that matters.

Practicing Kata In Your Freelance Business: The Success Reflex That Makes Every Task Easier

January 17, 2015 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

My gym instructor, Sharon, is a master at queuing dance and exercise moves.

If you’ve never taken a group fitness class, I’ll explain what that means. In a group class, like Les Mills’ classes at Golds, or Jazzercise, or most fitness videos you can purchase; the exercises are set to music. As you go through your work out, the sets match the beat of the music.

So generally you’ll find you’re doing sets of eight, following each music phrase, or doing a slow rep to a two or four count, etc. (Imagine how the music drags when you’re on your fourth rep of the fourth set of overhead lifts – and you’re counting to four s-l-o-w-l-y as you raise the bar overhead. Ugh.)

Most transitions happen pretty fast, though, especially in dance or martial arts classes. This is where Sharon shines. As long as you know the moves, a good queuer can keep your workout flowing as if you knew the entire hour’s routine by heart. (You don’t. She’s just walking you though it so you know what’s coming up next just before you need that bit of instruction.)

The other day, showing a low cross block in slow-motion, she explained the word Japanese word “Kata” as a series of movements that you practice so that your body knows how to do them without thinking. Practicing Kata liberates your mind because your body already knows what to do. In a workout set to music, you already know the moves, so you rely on the instructor to tell you them as you need them. In battle, you are able to effectively fight your opponent in many different circumstances, and without hesitation. In dance, you’re able to dance a dance you’ve never seen.

That got me thinking about muscle memory, and the automatic practices we can train our bodies to do so we don’t have to get our minds too involved.

What are the things that people do mindlessly?
Since mindless movement sometimes facilitates kick-butt results, what “moves” can business owners/entrepreneurs incorporate in their professional lives that allow us to strategize or create in real time, without much thoughtful energy expended on the action itself?

We’ll substitute “practices” for “moves” for our purposes. What rote practices, done regularly, will move you toward your desired outcome?

First you need to know your desired outcome.

break it down into small parts! — Break it down into small parts!

Therein lies the key to the kingdom because what you practice is what you get good at. A habit only takes three weeks to form (so says common wisdom) so the act of practicing one thing for days and months will ensure your success. In fact, you can’t NOT get good at something you’re practicing regularly!

Here’s the “trick.” The initial move is easy. In fact, every part of the move is easy. It’s only when you imagine the string of moves in one big picture that any task seems difficult.

If you want to write, then obviously you’re job is to practice writing. But the kata behind writing is really the simple act of walking to your journal, picking it up, sitting down at your usual writing spot, and opening the book. Or it may mean walking to your computer, shutting off email and social media alerts, and opening your document.

If your goal is to lose twenty pounds by summer, your kata may be turning on the teapot when you walk into the kitchen, or cleaning and cutting crudités when you get home from the grocery store. It might be simply opening and peering into the (stocked) crisper drawer full of fruits and veggies, instead of going to the pantry where the crackers are.

If you want to stay organized, your kata may be going to your file drawer as soon as you enter your office on a designated day and put something in it from that pile of papers on your desk…

See, the idea is that one thing leads to another and soon you have developed a habit that’s super easy to do. That overarching activity that seems like work will morph into a series of movements or “next steps.” As long as you have one simple motion you can practice, then you are on your way.

The other day, I heard my 13-year-old tell my 11-year-old,

“Homework is only hard when you’re not doing it.”

He understands “kata” at the core, although he’s probably never even heard the word.

What about you? Is there a kata you need to practice in 2015 to reach your goals? Will you discover your next goal by practicing one thing diligently, with the dedication of a martial arts master?

Just like your body memorizes movements, you can memorize simple practices in your day that move you forward. By the way, kids are great at this: That’s why they can play Row, Row, Row Your Boat a thousand times and learn how to play the piano. Most adults get bored! Check out this 6-year-old…be no one messes with her on the schoolyard!

Take one small thing, one simple movement or practice and do it. Then do it again so many times that your mind stops thinking about it, and it becomes a reflex. That is kata. Kata is a habit that becomes a graceful, automatic, effective technique. Mastery sneaks in quietly and without fanfare, in increments. Over time, you don’t even need to mentally queue yourself to do it. You just do it.

Before you know it, there’s Goliath flat on his back. There is the summit just ahead. Or that book you’ve always wanted to write, completed, in a neat folder on your desktop.

What small, regular practices keep you on track to hit your goals or just get stuff done? Do you have one go-to-Kata in your repertoire?

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