work from home Archives - My Team Connects

8 Ways To Make Your Clients Love You

August 1, 2016 by Elizabeth Leave a Comment

.Wouldn’t you just swell up in pride when a client delights in you and says, “We appreciate You” or “Good to have you onboard!” These are not polite diplomacy remarks. These are real comments, given by some genuine clients, for being awesome.

Now look at these compliments – How would you feel if you get one of these – ?

Because you are a star!!! Thanks for your work on this. 🙂
Look forward to some more excellent work from you 🙂
You were a soldier in this.

These are just some of the compliments from my clients. Don’t assume it may take a long time for you to make your clients love you. For me, I have delighted clients from the first project on! I have been freelancing only about a year and in this (very) short span of time, I have managed to create a great rapport with all my clients.

Follow these simple tips if you want to get more and better freelance jobs.

Tip #1. Be Passionate

About your work.

Maybe you got into the freelance business out of necessity. I know I did. I wanted to be a full-time parent and it was only after I started writing, I discovered my passion for it.

Pro Tip: Work with all your heart and all your mind, and it will show in your work.

If you have any kind of mind block for your assignment, your client, or maybe you are simply bored — as a ripple effect, all of these aspects will trickle down to your work and that is never a good thing.

Your clients want to work with people who are like them. And if they are passionate about their business, and you are not – it simply would not work.

If you are compelled to freelance but are not “feeling” anything for it, try to be grateful for the many benefits freelancing offers – the flexibility and the freedom is great compared to the million others who have to work inside tiny cubicles, all day, all week.

Tip #2. Treasure Your Clients

So maybe you are passionate about your work and you have great clients to work with. It’s when you start taking them for granted, things start to fall apart. You start missing deadlines or you fail to update them about your impromptu mid-week break. These are simple things that can spell DOOM for your freelance writing career. Don’t do these things to lose your client.

When you treasure your clients, you care about their business. You care how much your work will affect their business. You wouldn’t be in it for the money. That will show your clients what a treasure you are to keep!

Pro Tip: Never Take your Clients For Granted

Tip #3. Be Accountable

When you accept to work on a certain project or assignment, make sure you are 100% committed. If, for any reason, you cannot deliver your best or deliver anything at all – you need to keep your clients in the loop about it. If you work on hourly basis, don’t cheat on your productivity. If you say yes to a client, then be sure to deliver and do it quick.

Pro Tip: Be honest about what you can and cannot do.

Tip #4. Be Quick to Deliver

For clients, time is money. The faster you deliver, the sooner it will help your clients. When your clients give you a deadline and you deliver before time, you earn a ton of brownie points! You get more work because the client appreciates your delivery timelines. When you work with this attitude, your productivity hits the fan and you get more and better freelance jobs.

Pro Tip: Deliver before the deadline.

Tip #5. Deliver the Best

Exercise caution when you want to be quick to deliver. Do it only when you really can. Of course, doing it regularly has its perks, but delivering half-baked assignments will probably get you fired. Quick or not, persuade your soul to deliver only the best work, each time, every time.

Tip #6. Be Dependable

When you only deliver the best each time, and within stipulated timelines, your clients learn to depend on you. Say Yes every time they come to you with an assignment. Even if it means for you to burn the midnight oil, burn it! …and deliver so they keep coming back for you.

Pro Tip: Work extra hours, only if you can.

Tip #7. Be Proactive

When you have completed a deliverable, be sure to be enthusiastic and ask your client if they have more work to give you. You don’t have to wait around for your client, you can take the first step. This will show your client that you are proactive and ready for more work.

Pro Tip: Ask for more work.

Tip #8. Build Relationship

Care to know their birthdays, their children’s birthdays, anniversaries. Be tuned to what your client is feeling. Share some of your personal stories. When there is a real and a genuine connection, your client will never forget you. You will be the first person they think of when things need to get done.

Pro Tip: Get on a video call at least once a month.

Do you have some sure fire ways to make clients love you? Share how you do it in the comments below.

Elizabeth Alex is a freelance content writer for hire. Follow her on her website, Honestliz.com, Facebook and Twitter.

Ten Ways To Simplify Summer When You Work From Home

April 29, 2016 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

Suddenly, summer’s right around the bend, in the Northern Hemisphere at least. Less than a week till May and the kids are already itching to doff schoolwork along with their shoes. We’re staying up, and staying outside later into the evening, and I’m comparing schedules with colleagues regarding weeks we’ll be out of the office.

Summer’s coming…

If you work from home, and you have school-aged children, summer means your schedule’s about to be turned inside out like a wet swimsuit. And if you’re like me (i.e. the kind of person who’s grateful for Mondays), then you’re going into a minor panic right about now.

OK, not outright panic, just some white knuckling when you think about keeping control of some semblance of a routine.

Managing summer fun when you work from home involves a mindset shift.

First, accept this true fact: A lot of people ease up on the throttle in summer. Even super driven people let things slide more than any other time of year (except maybe the winter holidays). They are more forgiving of half days. They take long weekends. They understand when you have to take a call from a pool deck or a cabin. This relaxed vibe extends goes both ways. You’re probably more understanding of others’ weird schedules, too, and wiggle things around to accommodate.

Summer brings graciousness and warmth.

Maybe it’s because there are more hours in the day to get your work done, or so it seems when you work from home. Or it could be that the heat takes the edge off our more aggressive instincts. Things just seem to stretch more easily. Conflicts are more malleable, more resolve-able. “Island Time” mentality is permissible now, if during no other season.

When I first started this work-at-home gig as a copywriter, I was writing sporadically for clients, taking jobs when I had extra time, not going after jobs when I wanted time off. I would go for days without hitting social media sites, marketing my services, or even writing a word.

I don’t choose that anymore, mainly because my kids are teenagers now, able to schedule activities on their own — a huge turning point in mom-child relations. Beyond that, they don’t want to hang out with me much anyway. As a result of their growing up, and my stronger commitment to Content Boomer and My Team Connects, I don’t accidentally lose days to summer fun anymore. Instead, I plan them.

Most work-at-home parents of and freelancers with young children juggle work and fun days, if for no other reason than to avoid all-day screen time and expensive summer camps. There’s also that small thing about enjoying the kids before they grow up. It would be a shame to miss out on summer fun with your children, especially since (I’m guessing) you chose a freelance lifestyle to be able to make choices about your time. (That was my reason.)

Over the years, I learned to set goals, get organized, and manage my time if there was any hope of staying on target. Now, I plan days off to stay balanced and have fun!

Yes, you can truly enjoy your summer, and still get stuff done.

This is still true, even though I take less time off during summer than I used to. First, I realize that if I’m taking an impromptu vacation day, so are my customers and prospects. I need to expect that. Now that I work with a small team, and honor their flexibility, I account for their days off, too. It’s a bigger management issue these days, but oh, so worth it!

It’s a smile, it’s a kiss, it’s a sip of wine … it’s summertime! ~ Kenny Chesney

Mostly, this means taking each day at a time, but being very clear about my daily priorities so that I can afford the time off — and keeping open communication channels between myself and others whose ideas, work, and input I rely on.

Here are a few ways to simplify summer when you work from home – and still enjoy the long, warm, easy days, too.

Share your summer calendar with your team, regular clients, and everyone who may need to reach you
On your email signature or automated out-of-office emails, note your upcoming days off, and when you plan to respond. If your emails are being forwarded, let people know to whom, if not you.
Offer alternative means of reaching you on the days when you’re “half on”, i.e. you’re working, but may be distracted by children’s activities, etc. Otherwise, drop out altogether, note your substitute or your return date, and let your contacts know when you’ll be back in the game and able to focus on business.
Each night, make a short list. Write down the top five calls or tasks that you absolutely must accomplish the next day — and then get up early and get started.
If necessary, make use of extra daylight for longer work days, especially when I know I’ll be taking a few hours off later in the week. Take advantage of your body’s natural Circadian rhythm and the extended daylight hours to get more done.
At the beginning of summer set one or two specific, long-term goals you can attain by September. Write them down and post them where you’ll see them. Frame your summer’s day-to-day work around getting them finished.
Use free time to concoct new mental treasures. Time spent relaxing or enjoying yourself is often the most conducive to creative thinking. Ideas for new projects or book chapters will flourish if you set the intention to ruminate on them as you play.
Break down large projects and goals into small actionable tasks. Track daily and weekly milestones.
Communicate with family members — especially your little ones — what you need to get done at your desk each day so that you both can enjoy recreation later. For example, when my child knows that we will go to the skate park as soon as I finish an article, he is more likely to give me the quiet time I need to finish quickly. If I simply say, “I’m busy,” or “I’m working today,” leaving it open-ended, I guarantee you the kids will be at my office door pestering me or fighting with each other all day long. By the way, this step is essential even with older family members and friends. If you’re planning a weekend at the lake with your family, for example, make sure everyone knows that you’ll be bringing your laptop and working for spells. That way, they’ll understand if you forego the afternoon antiquing, but join them later for dinner.
Two words: Hotpockets and Popcicles. Make it easy for kids to grab their own food. If you can get them to eat something healthier, you’re a better mom than I.

One final word about balancing work and fun this summer…

There are two ways to counterbalance summer’s casual vibe to ensure it doesn’t throw your goals into reverse. If you’re not necessarily at your most productive, at least you won’t completely lose a grip on things. Which one you choose will depend on your personality and/or energy level on any given day or week. It’s important that you decide on one or the other to accommodate weird summer schedules:

Stay hyper-focused and put 110% into the work hours you choose. When it’s time to play, play hard. Give recreation the same attention you gave your work. OR…
Mix work and play. For example, write your notes for an upcoming webinar while you’re waiting for a tee time to open up; agree to take a long weekend with your sister’s family as long as they agree to do the driving and you can work in the car on the way there. You get the picture.

Your personality and work style will guide you toward a schedule that makes sense — but you must have the intention to plan and follow through. Otherwise you’ll accept invitations to goof off more frequently than you can afford; or keep your nose to the grindstone and feel like you’re missing all the fun. Neither is any good.

Summer doesn’t have to mean that you won’t get any work done, close new business, or finish projects. It doesn’t have to mean you’ll drive yourself crazy juggling too much, either. Even though schedules are more relaxed and people don’t seem as driven as usual, remember that summer months are a time of rejuvenation and inspiration. Squeeze the best out of both work and play to simplify your summer, and you’ll be well rested for the fall.

Seven Surprises I’m Grateful For After Ten Years Of Freelancing

November 26, 2015 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

When I first realized I could have and grow a business from the family’s only computer, I spent all my “extra” time building a website for my arts and crafts business, and then writing a blog to write and showcase my work and writing I was doing for others at the time.

My website was essentially a “display case” for my work, which was fine for lead gen, but I still also had to do the work — making the art and writing the copy or articles for e-zines, magazines, local small businesses, and the people who hired me on elance.

On top of that, I was out there pitching the work in person — setting up a tent at holiday art shows, traveling to art retreats and drumming the pavement for local work. Not to mention personally bidding on lots of odd writing jobs and losing half of them to other wirters… Yes, it was a lot of hustling!

I was — and still am — a stay-at-home mom. If you’ve ever had tiny children you know any sort of regularity is impossible when kids are small. To everyone else, the stuff I was doing, making and building looked more like a hobby, especially since I wasn’t making much money doing it. If I had to describe my work-life “balance” back then it was like trying to staple jelly to a wall!

Ten years later, we’re still going through some challenging times with some “special needs” older teenagers, and life is good, given all its twists and turns.

But as a small business owner I’ve turned a corner, and that’s what I want to share with you.

I have the greatest respect for people with a business mindset and a big dream. People who are focused on building a business from home, even when it seems like not another living soul believes in them.

But I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t think gainful employment would be cool sometimes. Even though I know it doesn’t really work like this, I still fantasize about it: I’d clock in and perform some enjoyable, assigned task with supportive and appreciative coworkers for X number of hours, with the certainty that I was going to get paid X amount at the end of the week! (Oddly, I’m usually picturing stocking produce when I imagine a job other than writing… it looks like fun.)

It’s a mindset. A go-to job would never work for me because I made a choice, at least for now. I’m an entrepreneur-freelancer who chooses to work from home. I have a full, but unusual schedule. I can’t expect anyone else to live around it, either, especially when things get a little crazy around here.

But do I work hard? Of course. Do I place high demands on my work and productivity? You bet.

And that’s a typical entrepreneur-freelancer’s mindset for you. Helping folks create relevant content, and putting effort into marketing efforts is how I grow my business. It’s essential to filling any freelancer’s funnel.

For personal and financial reasons, a lot of folks are adopting a similar work habit. Freelancing and self-employment are not too far out of the norm.

Last year, self-employed workers made up 10% of the overall workforce. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, that’s 15 Million people!

We’re a growing population, that’s a given. In order to support my fellow freelancers, self-employed solopreneurs and entrepreneurs, I’ve been assessing the changes in the last decade, and wanted to share my experience.

After ten years freelancing and working for myself, what’s changed and what’s stayed the same?

1. The more experience you have, the better you’re able to vet projects before you take them. I still hustle for jobs, but now I’m better at predicting which jobs wouldn’t be a good fit so I don’t take them or even bid on them at all. I used to spend hours on the phone with “prospects” who would ask hundreds of questions about marketing strategy, in effect getting valuable consulting for free. Then I’d spend half a day putting together a proposal based on their specific business and goals. Many times I would never even get a response when I followed up. Not cool, but it happens to new freelancers all the time.

2. Business details no longer consume time and drain energy. I still spend a fair amount of time working IN my business, rather than ON my business (the cardinal sin of entrepreneurship), but I’m gradually getting to the point where my business doesn’t drag me down. I can get on top of it and see where I’m truly helpful, and where I need to get help from others. I get to spend more time doing what I’m good at because there’s a bit of infrastructure in place, finally.

3. The name My Team Connects is a name we gave the company when a former partner and I had in mind a SAS that helped sales teams collaborate via email. I like to think it’s still a name that works. Three reasons:

I’m building a team via a network marketing company I believe in, separate but complementary to my writing business.
As a writer and marketing consultant, I get to help other freelancers and businesses grow. When the energy is great, I feel like I’m part of a team, albeit a revolving team.
I feel a connection to my professional and personal team of people on whom I rely to get me through the days. If we didn’t have a good connection working together, it wouldn’t be much fun, so I’m grateful for that.

4. My confidence underwent an adjustment. I’m not exactly sure “confidence” is the right word, because it sounds prideful, when what I mean is that I’m more aware and willing to admit what I can’t do, instead of pretending that I’m something I’m not. The word Confidence has evolved to mean “Less bravado, more kindness.”

5. Success doesn’t mean building an empire. I used to think that if I didn’t have an Inc. Fortune 5000 Small Business Award hanging on my wall someday, nothing I did would count. Success these days is more about choices, freedom, and giving back.

6. Trust your talent and skill. Listen, I’m a big believer in coaches and teachers, but there’s a moment you realize that their way isn’t always the best way for you. For several years, I spent lots of money and time taking courses on how to be a better writer, and comparing my writing with others’ writing. I mistrusted the words I penned, even though I’ve been writing almost daily since I was 11 years old; and while I know there are better writers, I didn’t allow myself to trust my voice. I’m getting better about that.

7. I also bought into what seems to be the inspirational speakers’ mantra that invariably goes something like this: “I was living in my car; I was such a failure, my mother didn’t even claim me; but now I’m over all that stuff that was holding me back. So follow exactly what I do and you’ll be a raving success just like me.” I would wear myself out readjusting my thoughts to someone who seemed like they had it all together, and taking to heart the voices and opinions of others who knew nothing about me. Weird, I know, but tuning out all that “inspiration” is a sign of growth. For me, at least.

Today, not only do I detect a trace of desperation in some of those voices (which makes me sad), but the message also makes me uneasy because I look around and see leaders with quiet confidence whose kingdoms are every bit as great. You have to learn to trust yourself and your own story.

If I can share the dream of building a business from home while being happy at home, then I know I’ll be doing my best work here. The things that have helped me build a writing business helping people sell millions of dollars in products and services, are things I can share with you, too.

My blog is a course in itself, where you can get hundreds of posts I’ve written over the years about copywriting and email marketing . You also have access to some of the information products I’ve created to add value for my small business clients.

I’m adding to this content library weekly, and working on organizing it into categories so that it’s easier to find relevant topics. Meanwhile, please enjoy what’s here and let me know if there’s something you’d like me to cover from a work-from-home standpoint, a business-building standpoint, or a copywriting standpoint.

A good place to start is with the Lucky Deck of content creation tips. Most people have a natural voice when it comes to their expertise, but they just don’t know how to tell the story. These help with that.

Then, you need the copywriting part. When you learn to infuse your content with specific calls to action, then your social media and blog, etc. really start to bring in the people who will buy products and services from you. This is how you transform your communication into writing and speaking that closes sales.

You really can’t build a business without it, so if you have 21 minutes today, I invite you to get the pointers for writing and speaking these words that sell. They’re my best 21 tips in short 60-second videos and I think you’ll like them a lot!

By the way, did I mention that all this content is free! Just register for the content library membership here to get started.

The Clean Garage Blueprint For Busy Home Business Owners

July 9, 2015 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

I love a clean garage. I just don’t make the time to clean ours very often.

This is ironic, because I value good health, and I’ve found the healthiest way to clean your garage is to simply clean it more often. For those of you who, like me, spend most of my time at home yet only clean the garage about once per year, it’s quite the project. On top of that, it can make you sick and sore. More about that later.

Everyone thinks that people who have a home business or who frequently work at home have all sorts of extra time that other people don’t. While it’s true that we don’t have a schedule set by someone else, we still keep a schedule, however flexible. Like everyone else, free time is usually filled with things we actually like to do.

Cleaning the garage doesn’t fall too high up on my list. If I have extra wiggle room, I’m probably carting the kids to their various activities, reading, or cooking a nice dinner. So here are some tips for tackling a dirty garage with love and without too much trauma, especially if you work from home, and you’ve let it go for too long.

Just get started!

See, I didn’t really plan on doing it, but I had some extra hours on Sunday. Without even intending to, I found myself dragging a ton of stuff out to the driveway, dusting and scrubbing it down, sweeping the garage floors (even the corners), throwing things out, and putting everything back in its place.

Deep cleaning is a little gift I give myself (and the house) when I have unconstructed time — usually a holiday weekend. This weekend it was the Fourth of July. It fell on a Saturday, and Sunday was, well, either a recovery day (you know who you are) or a bonus day. Even though I had a little bit to drink; and stayed up too late watching my kid blow things up; and ate one or two ridiculously sweet blondies, I was up and ready for church by 8:00. When I got home, I realized I had a full day with NOTHING TO DO.

Sometimes, on these rare unconstructed days, I paint, or sew, or read, or write all day long. But this past Sunday I cleaned the garage.

Now, I don’t exactly hate cleaning the garage. I might even go so far as to say I enjoy it, for it’s an act that requires no forethought; you just need to start. It’s work that perfectly “FLOWs,” beginning with a small act, like putting away a screwdriver, or washing the dog crate pillow. Magically, without any motivation on my part, I wind up going whole hog, cleaning and organizing everything. It’s the “If You Give A Mouse a Cookie” syndrome, where you get caught up in the adventure of completing unforeseen tasks, one right after another.

On Sunday it started with cleaning up the fireworks debris in the street. I enlisted the boys’ help of course. Then, one thing led to another and, viola, a clean garage!

At the end of the day (if you’ve ever had a day like this, you know what I mean) you experience the results, good and bad. Let me explain.

Three Cool Things About Cleaning the Garage:

It doesn’t take a master plan.

Are you one of those people who writes “Clean the Garage” on your calendar? If you are, then you probably even gather supplies, extra organizational bins, cleaning tools, maybe even some new shelving, etc. But if you’re a reluctant garage cleaner (like me), then it’s always a happy surprise when the day is done and you’ve spent it getting the garage in ship shape. You find yourself working with what you’ve got and it’s good enough.

You get to organize all your stuff. There are two kinds of people in the world; Those who love to organize stuff, and those who’d just as soon toss everything in one pile and sort things out later. I’m of the former group.

I found stuff, forgotten little things left here and there in random spots by various family members.
I gathered a pile of deflated balls from soccer and volleyball seasons past.
I discovered a use for a strong peg holder that had been in an awkward spot on a wall for over a decade.
I made a pile of things to toss and things to take to the Goodwill. I even found some good stuff to sell in our local Facebook swap page.
I pulled several toxic products off the shelves to take to a recycling center.
I even surveyed the tool chest and decided that it wouldn’t bee too big a job to organize screws, Dremel bits, and screwdrivers into drawers. I even designated on drawer for my son’s skateboard hardware and tools. He’ll love that, although he may not actually put things away, since he’s 14.

Now that everything is clean and easy-to-locate, I can now find things. This Eureka moment may even set off a flurry of projects I’ve been meaning to fix around the house. Sooner better than later. Just remember; YOU can find things, but everyone else in the house may wonder where you put everything. Labeling the newly sorted drawers and boxes is a nice idea.

You get to clean all your stuff.

You bring it out to your driveway, fill buckets with cleaning solutions and put a shine on the sawhorses, and garden tools, and bicycles. This is one of the most satisfying parts of the job, removing cobwebs and dust from old paint jars, sports equipment and tool chests. Now you can actually touch your stuff without getting dirty. Lovely.

You have new spaces and new vision.

The garage is where many of us enter the house. If the garage is a shambles, it’s really hard to enjoy your indoor living space, even if it’s as clean and tidy as an army barracks, and as welcoming as any interior you’ve ever pinned. I told you about the new skateboard drawer. Now here’s my real pipedream: I can never clean the garage without envisioning a new garage floor and a new paintjob. I picture everything up off the floor, from bicycles to reloading supplies, to scrap lumber, which I have difficulty understanding why we keep until, as soon as I discard an 8-ft 2 x 4, I suddenly need one; so I bite the impulse to toss it, and put it back in the corner.

Someday, I want one of those speckled, stain resistant, washable epoxy jobs on the floor. I’d say goodbye to the permanent marks left by the tempura paints my kids spilled at an easel when they were much younger, and the worn rounded edge from my sons’ skateboarding tricks on the one cement ledge inside the garage. Ahh, I can dream.

The only new thing that came from this fastidious flurry of cleanliness was a new crate bed for my beloved Rosie. She totally deserves it, for being such a good and faithful guardian.

And now for some tips on how to feel great after your day of hard work…

The Healthy Way To Clean Your Garage

While I can’t get super excited about cleaning the garage, I do feel passionate about staying healthy while you’re doing it. Your body takes the wear and tear of a full day of some pretty heavy physical labor.

For example, while my garage looked terrific (well, better) at the end of the day, my shoes, socks and feet were soggy, my back ached, my lungs were filled with dust, I had cobwebs in my hair, and my finger was pinched from lifting identical metal grids and setting them down, back to back, in a not-so-identical way. Ouch!

Some of the following tips are things I did that worked. But some are words of caution brought on by my oversight.

Use nontoxic cleaning supplies:

Thieves™ in a bucket of water is better for your eyes, hands, lungs and skin than anything I’ve ever used. If you are a frequent cleaner of things around the house, I highly recommend this stuff. I didn’t believe until I tried this stuff.

Be safe and smart when lifting and climbing:

I got a pretty good scare as I lifted some heavy folding chairs above my head while standing on the third ladder rung. I didn’t fall, but after regaining my balance, I admitted I was no spring chicken anymore. It only takes one small slip to change your life forever. Even if you’re young and in perfectly good health, get a spotter for high-up jobs; and at least make sure someone else is home if you’re doing anything even remotely dangerous. Farmers can testify to this. They always say, “It was stupid… everyone knows you don’t [fill in the blank].” And yet they did – and lost fingers, legs, suffered brain injuries, or were killed. Don’t risk your life for your garage. Just sayin’.

Tend to those sore muscles:

I’m not sure why it is, but I can work out at the gym for hours every week, and still, when I do yard work or housecleaning, my muscles are so sore afterward. I massaged some Aroma Seize™ and Deep Relief™ on my shoulders and neck, and rested all evening.

A nice hot bath is also soothing after bending, lifting and reaching, etc.

Watch out for stinging insects:

The mud dauber nests were too high up to remove. They’re just part of the scenery for now. As annoying as the flying insects are, going in and out of the garage as if they owned the place; it’s the spiders and scorpions you have to watch out for. (In Texas, all the stinging, prickly stuff hugs the ground.) I managed to spot the scorpion curled under a bag of potting soil, but I never saw the spider that stung me behind my right knee. The itching and swelling began suddenly, so I went in search of some Lavender. It eased the itching immediately, and I’ve been re-applying it regularly for the past couple of days. I’m not sure spiders avoid bug sprays (either over the counter or one of the excellent home-made insect repellent essential oil blends), but the mosquitos and chiggers do.

Protect your lungs and membranes from dust and other contaminants:

I always forget how dust affects me until it’s too late. I’m still feeling that tightness in my throat when I swallow (two days later), and I know it’s from exposure to dust and cobwebs. Remember that any powdered substance will irritate your nasal membranes and your internal organs and tissues. Sweeping up sawdust, handling old ant poison powders (even with gloves), and general disturbance of dust and dirt; is the height of nasty to your lungs and eyes. The next time I’m at the store I’m picking up some dust masks to have on hand for projects like this.

If you make the same mistake of NOT wearing a dust mask, you can always flush your sinuses with some warm salt water infused with Lavender (there it is again) and/or Neroli essential oils, poured through a Neti pot for instant relief.

Enjoy your clean garage while it lasts.

Now that the garage is clean, I actually enjoy the trip from the door to the car. I’m sure there are plenty of other dirty jobs that are worth the sore muscles to accomplish, but I’m enjoying the moment this week.

Maybe I’ll tackle the attic next Labor Day weekend.

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.