coaching | | Canadian Small Business Women

Oct 01 2016

Dr. Helen Ofosu: Small Business Woman of the month of September 2016

Dr. Helen Ofosu Career Coach Outplacement Specialist Hiring Consultant

Dr. Helen Ofosu has over 15 years of experience in HR and Career Coaching in the public and private sectors. Part of what sets her apart is her foundation in Industrial / Organizational (I/O) psychology which is also known as work or business psychology. She brings her knowledge, sensitivity, and special brand of humour to her career consultations, outplacement, business clients, and speaking engagements. She helps her clients make the most of their skills, experience, values, and interests to build a satisfying and resilient career. She’s also skilled at developing hiring processes that allow employers to understand what job candidates can actually do rather than relying only on what candidates say during interviews. This approach is based on competencies and behaviourally-based assessments.

Our Q & A with Helen:

*What inspires you?

Technology has leveled the playing field in many respects, but access to timely and
strategic HR advice on an as-needed basis saves companiesa lot of money and prevents many problems.

I am inspired to provide enterprise quality consulting services to small and medium sized businesses who would not have access to this level of service otherwise.

I understand that there are many coaching options available. In my experience, when the stakes are high, it’s essential to work with a coach who understands complex circumstances and can find an effective way forward. My MA and PhD training have given me the tools that are helpful when there’s no obvious solution to the problems at hand. I’m motivated to offer more than career coaching, it’s career psychology

*As a small business owner, what achievements make you most proud?

I love watching talented clients thrive when their success and professional fulfillment had been elusive in the past. This is true of businesses who had been held back personnel-related matters and it’s true of professionals and aspiring professionals who had been under-employed and unsatisfied in the past.

*What advice would you give to other aspiring small business owners?

Always honour your obligations; do what you said you’d do to the best of your ability on the timeline and budget that you agreed to. When you consistently demonstrate that you’re reliable and can deliver the expected results, you’re bound to succeed.

*What new things can we look forward to from your business in the upcoming year?

(1) This year, watch for me to work with more franchise (business) owners to help them expand with fewer setbacks.

(2) A very pro-active service called “Right-Placement” as a better alternative to Outplacement

(3) Details on both will be available in my quarterly HR and Career Coaching Newsletter

Contact Helen:

Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Website

Jan 29 2016

Simple Steps to Help You Achieve Your Goals This Year!

yvonne

Foremost on our minds at the start of a new year is making one type of change or other in order to help us achieve our goals; get better at something, be healthier, life or career goals, and more.

I’d like to introduce you the ADKAR by Prosci. ADKAR is most commonly used in organisations as a Change Management tool to manage change in business processes, technology etc. However, it can also be a fantastic tool to apply in personal change situations.

Here is one way we can apply ADKAR to Personal Change

Awareness – Start with recognising and being aware that your current situation needs to change i.e. your job or role, need to get healthier or lose weight, or improve your relationships.

Desire – Have a strong desire to want and see your goals become reality. By having a strong ‘why’ on your need to change, this becomes the motivation and driving force to create and maintain the momentum you need i.e. having a strong desire to increase your income so as to care for your family or pay-off your debts, or a need for strong inner or spiritual fulfillment, or job satisfaction

Knowledge – This requires equipping yourself with the knowledge and information needed to help you change and be successful with your desires and goals. i.e. attending career or health seminars, reading books or online blogs, networking event and communities

Ability – Building the skills and behaviours that will help you be successful with the desired change. i.e. attending training, receiving coaching, on-hands learning and practice

Reinforce – Create the right environment and support system to help you make the change stick and sustainable. i.e. join support groups, get an accountability partner, get a mentor, join professional associations

What are your strategies for personal change? Have you used the ADKAR approach or any other formal methodologies to implement personal change? Please share your personal experience and tips.

Yvonne is an Author, Speaker, Change Consultant & John Maxwell Leadership Coach who is passionate about working with Individuals, Entrepreneurs and Organisations to help them implement the change they want and achieve their goals.

To learn about Yvonne’s latest book on how to get the results you want, visit www.oliveblue.com/changeyourmindset

She can be reached at: www.oliveblue.com . www.facebook.com/oliveblueinc . www.twitter.com/oliveblueinc . www.youtube.com/user/ChangeYouWantTV

Nov 29 2015

3 Tips To Get The Most Out of The Holidays!

yvonne

It’s that time of the year where there is a lot going on that could so easily compete for our attention, or stress us out. Here are three tips to help you get the most out of the holidays and enjoy it as well.

Set the Intention

Decide on what you would like to get out of the holidays; is it to spend more time with family and friends, is it to be stress free, is it to ensure you don’t overspend going into the New Year, or is it to reflect and plan for the year ahead. Whatever it may be, visualise what it is you want and create a clear mental picture of it. In “My Book on Mindset”, I talk about ‘Picture’ and the Power of Visualisation; the more we are able to clearly picture what we want, the more it becomes reality as our actions and thought process begin to align to the image we are holding.

Stay Focused

Once you’ve set the intention on what you want out of the holiday, it’s time to plan and focus. With a lot of what I’m going to call holiday fanfare, one can very easily get distracted – family and friends wanting your time, giving of gifts, Christmas events, and retailers working double hard to lure you – hence the need to stay focused and have a plan.

Create a list of the top three items you want to accomplish, and constantly refer to it to keep you focused.

If your goal is to not overspend this season, set a financial budget and avoid the temptation to buy unplanned or expensive gifts, sales events, or splurge on outings.

If your plan is for a stress-free holiday, define what that means to you, identify those things that would usually stress you, and plan on how to avoid them.

Plan to Enjoy the Season

I believe this is a season of love, joy, and good tidings. Make a decision to fill your mind and heart with gratitude, and choose to enjoy the season. Choose an attitude that in spite of what may be going on, and all of the hustle and bustle, you will be thankful and grateful for what you have. The more gratitude we have, the more we open ourselves for more – the simple Law of Attraction – what we are, we attract. Allow yourself to take in the Christmas music, the movies, and the good cheer.

The decision is yours to make on what you get out of the season. Set your mind on what you want, focus on what you set your mind to do, and open yourself to enjoy the season. Your mindset determines your attitude, your attitude determines your choices, and your choices determine what you get out of the holidays.

To learn about Yvonne’s latest book on Changing your Mindset for greater results, visit http://www.oliveblue.com/changeyourmindset/

Yvonne is an Author, Speaker, Change Consultant & John Maxwell Leadership Coach who is passionate about working with Individuals, Entrepreneurs and Organisations to help implement change they want and achieve their goals.

She can be reached at: http://www.oliveblue.com/ . https://www.facebook.com/oliveblueinc . https://twitter.com/oliveblueinc. https://www.youtube.com/user/ChangeYouWantTV

Nov 18 2015

3 Reasons Why Passion is Vital to Business Success

There are so many factors that contribute to our success in business or in any part of our lives really. The Internet is full of articles about the success factors for entrepreneurs, so why not add one more to the list? I believe that we have to love what we do. While there are always things we don’t like to do in our day-to-day tasks, there has to be a burning passion that drives us. Here are three reasons why I think that being passionate about your business is vital to its success:

It fuels you through challenges. We hear so much about “knowing your why” and there’s a reason. You have to be aware of what drives you, what you’re working towards and why it’s important to you. When you don’t have clarity on these things, challenges and obstacles can really become a major distraction and take you off course. When you’re really passionate about what you do, quitting isn’t an option. The saying that “where there’s a will, there’s a way” is the truth. When you’re committed to your goals, the universe conspires with you to make them a reality.

It takes selling out the sales process. Cold-calling does not excite me. I’m sure that there are lots of people who have no problem picking up the phone and making those calls, I’m not one of them. The exception to this is when I’m working on a project that I’m excited about where making calls to complete strangers is the only way it’s going to succeed. When we’re passionate about what we do, the people on the other end of the phone can hear it and they’ll want to be a part of it (some of them anyway). If you’re selling something that you don’t believe in, you’re going to have a difficult time.
Life is good when you’re doing what you love! When you’re living on purpose and doing what you love, things start to flow much easier. Things that once seemed like the end of the world are no longer a big deal. Challenges and obstacles are seen as tests to our commitment rather than cruel punishment from universe. You know why you do what you do and it makes your hear sing. There are so many people out there that are living unfulfilled lives. They have dreams that they think can never be a reality. The fact that you have the opportunity to do what you love is a blessing, and you know it.

Passion is what keeps us going as entrepreneurs. It’s the fuel that drives us and our business. If you’re not passionate about what you do, you need to ask yourself why you’re doing it. If passion was what started it, then it’s just a matter of reconnecting with it. If you were never passionate about what you do, it’s time to figure out how to add passion to what you do or do something that you are really fired up about. If we want meaningful success in life, passion is a must-have.

Connect:

www.embraceyourdestiny.ca

www.facebook.com/embraceyourdestiny

www.facebook.com/embraceyourdestinythebook

www.twitter.com/sandradawes

Aug 29 2015

Taking the leap into the world of Business?

Are you thinking of starting your business? If so, join the millions of people who at one point or the other in their lives have considered whether or not to start a business. The thought of having a successful business, being your boss or doing something you are really passionate about sounds very appealing, right? And these, amongst other reasons are why people leave their jobs and decide to start their own thing. The familiar question is; do I take the leap? And if so, when and how do I take the leap?

One of the greatest challenges for some people in starting a business is the challenge of leaving the security of a paid job. For some it is the issue of choosing the right idea to turn into a successful business. Well, these two challenges can be easily overcome.

First and foremost before venturing into you own business, undertake some research on how viable the business idea(s) is. Are there potential customers? And what is the potential ROI (return on investment)? I’m sure you’d agree with me that it is not very wise to invest your time and money into a business that doesn’t seem viable on paper, or give up your job to start a business based on a whim. However, many people do.

Secondly, an approach to starting a business without giving up your Job is to actually undertake a pilot while still working. And believe me, doing this will require the skill of being able to multitask. To undertake a pilot means doing some test marketing in order to test the market or gauge how responsive people are to your product /service. This will enable you make better decisions on the idea and what to do next. I’ve got to warn you though that this could prove to be hard work juggling a business with your fulltime job, most especially if you have a family to take care of. It requires time management, focus, perseverance and more. These are only some of the requirements you will need both in the short and long run if you want to have your own business. So, as opposed to immediately taking a leap, consider taking long steady strides.

Having looked at your business idea and undertaken some research, you may decide the business idea is viable and you’d like to take that leap into the business world. There are a few basic things that you’d need to do in order to take off. I very much believe in building solid foundations that will allow one to build much taller and weatherproof buildings. And to build a solid foundation you need to get either some business advice or coaching and write a plan.

The word ‘Business Plan’ seems to be such a dreaded word, many people think of it as long-winded and unnecessary. However, I promise you that it is one thing that will need doing either now or later for a more successful business, better now than later I say. Planning and building the concept in your head is not enough, pen it down on paper. The saying goes, “Write the vision and make it plain, that those who is it may run with it” and that includes you, your potential business partner or financiers. Writing the plan takes you through the process of developing and refining your idea, it is also very much needed if you plan on raising capital externally. Please note that it is not enough to just write a business plan for the intention of raising capital, you should also use it as a blueprint for successfully managing your business.

Another challenge often faced in starting a business is Capital. Sometimes, the bigger the idea, the bigger the capital required. Don’t let this hinder you if raising capital seems to be your own challenge. Instead, think out-of-the box in identifying ways to raise the capital required. Look for avenues to cut back on the initial capital required, some ways of cutting back on capital includes; offering trade by batter or buying second-hand instead of new.

The following options are available to you and all except for personal savings will require a sound Business Plan; Personal savings, Friends & Family, Bank loan, Government Initiatives, Private Investors and Venture Capitalists.

Having researched the idea, written a ‘Plan’ and raised the required finance, you are all set to take off. Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained. Take the leap if you feel very strongly about it, but plan and prepare for it.

To learn about Yvonne’s latest book on Changing your Mindset for greater results, visit http://www.oliveblue.com/changeyourmindset/

She can be reached at: www.oliveblue.com . www.facebook.com/oliveblueinc . www.twitter.com/oliveblueinc.www.youtube.com/ChangeYouWantTV

Jul 25 2015

Why your mental game is infinitely more important for your business success than you think.

There’s no denying it, business success is 80-90% about your mental game. This is something I see every day because I’ve worked with people and coached them through the mechanics of building a successful business. They know what to do, however, they’re either not doing it, or they’re not getting the results they really want.

Take an example of someone who wants to expand her reach and start blogging for her business. However, 6 months later she’s stuck on having the ‘right’ thing to post. This is not about lack of topic ideas or even about knowing how or why to blog, but really about committing to the process and pushing past the fear of judgment and criticism from family, friends and colleagues.

Another example is someone who just launched a great product or service, but is afraid to reach out to others and share it. They are so consumed with fear of appearing pushy, ‘salesy’ or intrusive. As a result, they sit on their great offering and do very little with it.

This is why I believe 100% in working on the mental game with my clients, because without that, no matter how much I teach them about marketing, business financials etc., they will not get the results they’re looking for. Maximum results occur when they’re able to break through blocks and resistance that holds them back!

Another side of the coin is seeing business owners pushing really hard to make things happen. Sometimes, yes, this is needed, but there’s also another side of ‘allowing’ for guidance. We often don’t speak about this in business, but this has been the foundation for all the success I’ve personally experienced.

It’s very common for me to send my clients links to EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique aka Tapping) videos and ask them to tap when I know they’re overcome with fear, anxiety and overwhelm. Sometimes, when I see they’re stuck financially, even though they’re doing the work, I send them forgiveness exercises to do, because I know there’s a huge correlation between resentment, grievances and anger to financial struggles. This is something we don’t discuss in most business training and education, but it’s vital for the success of your business.

I like to think of it like striking a right balance of taking action, and also turning inward, and getting connected. You need to identify how your subconscious mind is keeping you from your dreams. When you’re able to do this, your work will flow better and easier and you’ll begin to see opportunities and resources to help you achieve your goals.

You also need to be conscious on how you feel about your business. Are you in a constant state of doubt, worry, and fear? These feelings will repel the success and financial abundance you want. Focus on feeling positive, confident, and expect positive results. This feeling is more powerful and important than any activity you’ll ever do for your business!

So, I challenge you to focus and add in mental activities to your business strategy. Start cultivating a success mindset that will give you the results you truly want for your business!

Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, Creator of the 4-Week Business Success Bootcamp and Mind Money Miracles. Uchechi helps passionate entrepreneurs (+aspiring entrepreneurs) master their mindsets to increase their wealth, confidence, and sweet, sweet freedom! Visit Uchechi at www.myempoweredliving.com and sign up for her FREE video training series The 4 Keys to your Business Success! This free 4-day business training reveals her 4 key strategies needed to build a profitable and successful business, and how to put them to work for you!

Jul 15 2015

5 reasons you should join a mastermind group

When I first heard the term mastermind, I was intrigued. I like the idea of a group of people working together to support one another with their respective goals. I have participated in masterminds as a facilitator and as a participant. I have seen and experienced the benefits from both perspectives and I strongly recommend finding one that suits your needs. Here are 5 reasons why I believe every entrepreneur should be a part of a mastermind group.

We can’t do it alone
When we try to do it all on our own, we inevitably make painful and often very costly mistakes. Being a part of a mastermind allows us to learn from the mistakes and successes of others. It also offers us the opportunity to realize that we are not alone in our struggles and challenges. It’s nice to know that there is life after failure. It’s even better when you know that you have a group of people that are committed to helping you achieve your goals as you are to them in the pursuit of theirs.

Different minds, different perspectives
Ideally, you want to be a part of a mastermind group that has varied skill sets, experiences and ways of processing information. You need you left and right brain thinkers at the table. We can benefit from the creative viewpoint as much as we can the analytical. Having these different thinkers in the group gives you access to a variety of viewpoints that you may never have considered. I love the saying that we don’t know what we don’t know because it’s true. Being part of a mastermind gives you access to the wealth of knowledge held by each participant.
Accountability
Meetings give each participant a change to update the group on who their week or month has been, depending on the frequency of the meetings. This is where each member celebrates their successes, talks about what’s working and what isn’t and what they commit to accomplishing for the next meeting. Sharing your commitments holds you accountable to the rest of the group and allows the group the opportunity to offer any help they can in the achievement of your goal. The magic happens because all of this help and support I s never one-sided. Reciprocity is the magic ingredient that makes masterminds thrive.
Expand your network in a meaningful way
Sure Linkedin will show you how wide your network is because of your connections, but what does that really mean? When you’re a part of a mastermind group, you hear A LOT of “I know someone who can help you out with that!” I don’t know about you, but those words are music to my ears, especially when that connection can help me with something I’ve been wrestling with for a while! The more time you spend with your group, the better they understand your business and what you need. Whether it’s someone to help you coordinate your next event or a client referral, your group members are there to support you, just as you are there for them. Social media is great, but there’s still something to be said for that personal, intimate connection that can only be developed with time.
Awesome camaraderie, support and encouragement

Here’s the thing –when you join a mastermind group, whether it’s a six-month or year-long commitment, you can’t help but develop a strong bond with the other members. You’re baring your soul, sharing your struggles and celebrating your accomplishments with these people on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. When you are committed to the group, the process and each other’s success, the magic really starts to happen. There are groups that have been going for years, if not decades because they know firsthand that masterminds really do work!

Napoleon Hill, in his book Think and Grow Rich, describes a mastermind group as “a friendly alliance with one or more persons who will encourage one to follow through with plan and purpose.” He dedicates an entire chapter to the concept in the book for a reason. Being part of an effective mastermind group can be just what you need to help you take your business exactly where you want it to be, or even further than you ever imagined!

If you’re considering joining a mastermind, then you should definitely think about becoming a Canadian Small Business Women member! I’m pleased to be partnering with CSBW and offering preferred rates on participating in my 6-month mastermind program. For more information on the different membership options, visit the following link. I look forward to achieving massive success with you!

Connect:

www.embraceyourdestiny.ca

www.facebook.com/embraceyourdestiny

www.facebook.com/embraceyourdestinythebook

www.twitter.com/sandradawes

Jun 29 2015

Multiple Streams of Income … getting yours!

We seem to live in a world of wanting and needing more, and most times, meeting these needs requires money! For more than half the population or what we have come to know as the one percent, making more money is the key to unlocking all our desires. Even the scriptures aptly state that money answereth all things.

If you have ever asked, ‘how can I make money doing the things I like?’ and are unwilling to give up you primary source of income, then you are faced with a challenge many face in today’s economy.

A good way of taking of this feat is to identify what suits you best, take it seriously by committing to it, and create a plan that makes you stand out from the rest. Here are a few strategies to help get you started

Explore a skill you have. Something you enjoy doing, which you can easily be offered in your spare time in return for a charge. Have you got a flair for decorating, interior design, fixing furniture, baking or making clothes? Whatever it is, you can use this skill! Many people have created successful businesses from making use of their skills on a part-time basis.

Provide a service using the web. The world has become a global marketplace, and taking advantage of this easily accessible platform brings you closer to the centre of creating an income. Services that you can provide on the web may include proofreading; writing articles and reviews; designing graphics and websites; or anything else that does not require a face-to-face interaction. Web services are good money makers, given that you provide services based on your skills.

Online Stores. Can you sell something that people from around the world would buy? Having an online shop does not require you to be constantly present. As long as you have a valid email, a proper payment tracking software, and desirable goods and services you can make more money. Items you could think of selling include unwanted furniture, traditional and vintage pieces, handmade crafts, accessories and clothing, etc.

Selling your knowledge. Are you good at giving advice and helping people find solutions to problems? Do you have the training and techniques that can mentor a person through a difficult time? Then you can turn your knowledge and wisdom into income. It is from such intellectual knowledge that consulting agencies, counselors and therapist make money.

Be aware that these ideas are not new, the only difference is the unique and special thing which you will add to make you stand-out, as well as planning and structuring your services professionally.

There is a quote that goes “A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.” The answer might very well be in your hands, but it is up to you to apply wisdom to you gifts, talents and skills, to make room for more money.

To learn about Yvonne’s latest book on Changing your Mindset for greater results, visit http://www.oliveblue.com/changeyourmindset/

She can be reached at: www.oliveblue.com . www.facebook.com/oliveblueinc . www.twitter.com/oliveblueinc.www.youtube.com/ChangeYouWantTV

Apr 23 2015

Working With A Business Coach Is Like Psychotherapy

I was squirming in my seat, sympathising with the challenging questions a fellow entrepreneur was struggling to answer. She had volunteered to go on stage in a so-called “hot seat”, whereby my business coach and today’s event host was grilling her about her business and what might be holding her back from greater success.

It was in no way meant to be mean, though it was challenging, as this small business owner was nudged to not only think hard but admit to herself where and how she may in fact be sabotaging her own success.

This made me think that working with a business coach has many similarities to getting psychotherapy. (Don’t ask how I know that…)

I have been working with business coach Odette Laurie as part of her group coaching program for the past 14 months, as well as a few months with Jason Reid for one-on-one coaching.

I too have squirmed, questioned, resisted, and faltered. I have also had many “a-ha!” moments, made changes and improvements in my patterns, received excellent feedback from colleagues, prospects, and new clients, and experienced personal growth and business successes.

Business coaches of course share their wealth of knowledge and experience as successful business owners themselves, and yet working with one ends up being about so much more than your sales and marketing strategy, your client conversations, and business goals.

You are asked to ‘dig deep’ about your motivation for being in business, have to identify and work through inner demons and past baggage that may be holding you back from success, and implement strategies and new ways of working that will help you succeed. Our past baggage can be anything from low self-esteem, fear of failure (or fear of success!), not feeling worthy, downplaying our successes and skills, fear of public speaking, and a ‘scarcity syndrome’, which can be the cause of under-charging for your products or services.

Pretty cool actually; not only have I received incredibly valuable business tips and guidance from my business coaches, I’ve also had indirect counselling!

When we grow as a business owner, we also grow as a person. I highly recommend working with a business coach, even for a short while.

References:

Odette Laurie, Business Women On Top, www.businesswomenontop.com

Jason Reid, The Rechargeable Entrepreneur, www.rechargemymojo.com

Martina Rowley is the Chief VA of Beach Business Hub Virtual Assistance Services. She can handle many of your recurring or one-off administrative tasks, client and project management, organisational challenges and more. Let this VA give you a hand! Contact her at:http://www.beachbusinesshub.ca, on Facebook and on Twitter

Mar 15 2015

Is it still a man’s world?

I watched Get on Up, the movie based on James Brown’s a few months ago. As I watched him sing This is a Man’s World it made me wonder if this is still the truth, especially after recently celebrating International Women’s Day. Of course, the song continues that the world would be nothing without a woman or a girl, but it still begs the question, are men still the one’s in control?

I think we are seeing a shift that may change the way James Brown would see the world today if he were still alive. While we still aren’t seeing enough women in the boardrooms of the corporate world, I see a lot more of us deciding to leave the corporate culture altogether and do their own thing. I’m not going to quote statistics here, but I’m pretty sure that the numbers of women starting their own businesses are on the rise.

When I go to networking events, I see more and more women out there promoting businesses that they are passionate about. Whether they are doing direct sales or starting a business from the ground up, more and more women are realizing that the usual 9-5 isn’t going to give them the lifestyle that they want. We all want more freedom, more time to do the things that are important to us, while earning an income that allows us to do it comfortably.

While many still consider becoming an entrepreneur to be a risky endeavor, it is also one of the most gratifying. What is so great about the abundance of women entering the world of entrepreneurship is that you don’t have to look very hard to find support and encouragement along the way. There are a lot of women out there who are trying to change the way we do business. No one is denying the importance of being mindful of your bottom line at all times, but there is more to business than making a profit. It’s about fostering long-term relationships and coming from a place of service rather than focusing solely on the sale.

I’m curious to see where the next 10 years will take us. Will the number of female entrepreneurs continue to increase, or will we see a plateau? Personally, I believe that as more women become entrepreneurs and achieve success, they will inspire more of us to do the same. I think it’s up to us as existing business owners to support and encourage those who are considering entering the world of entrepreneurship.

I believe the most important thing is to be honest about the journey. Don’t sugar coat it and paint this idealistic view of what it means to leave your full-time job and do your own thing. This isn’t to scare anyone off, but to give them a realistic view of what’s in store. The saying that it takes 10 years to become an overnight success isn’t an overused cliché, but the truth!

It might still be a man’s world today, but I don’t think that it will stay that way for long. Women are taking control of their lives and their futures. We no longer want to be bound by the limitations of a typical corporate job. We want more, and we want to do it on our own terms. Scary? Definitely! Worth taking the risk? Absolutely!

Sandra Dawes is a certified life coach specializing in helping women who feel unfulfilled with their 9-5 follow their dreams and pursue their passions. She holds an Honours BA, an MBA as well as a certificate in Dispute Resolution.She has completed her first book,Embrace Your Destiny: 12 Steps to Living the Life You Deserve!
Connect:
www.embraceyourdestiny.ca
www.facebook.com/embraceyourdestiny
www.facebook.com/embraceyourdestinythebook
www.twitter.com/sandradawes

Jan 25 2015

4 Questions to ask yourself each month, to achieve your goals this year!

So, we’re headed towards the last week of the first month of 2015! If you’re like most people, you’ve already given up on your goals and resolutions. This is why it’s important to do a regular review of your progress. Take inventory of all your successes and areas of opportunity in reaching your goals.

This is something I plan to do every month, because as we all know, time flies. We often think we have so much time to accomplish our goals and do things that truly matter. However, we will turn around and one day realize that half the year has already gone by.

This year, I have lots I plan to achieve. The major one being to finally finish writing and publish my book, in addition to launching a new online program based on my book. This has been something that I’ve wanted to do for some time now (years even), but have always put it off. I finally made a commitment to myself and took the steps necessary to complete it.

I know in order to achieve my goals along with family commitments to my husband, 4-year old son, and 8-month-old daughter, I need to plan and be disciplined. The disciplined part doesn’t always come easily for me. I’m a personal development junkie and with so many amazing programs out there, I find myself sucked into the vortex of researching more and more things. I also love looking into things in order to share them with my readers, not to mention getting caught up in social media (mainly Facebook for me).

This is why I felt the need to do a monthly round up, to ensure that I am not only making progress towards my goals, but I am also taking the time to schedule in important things that matter the most to me.

So, as we head into the last week of the month, it’s important to take some time this week and review the following questions.

1) What went well this month?

2) What areas do you feel you could have improved upon?

For me I found it a challenge to be consistent with the writing for my book. This will be an area of focus for me as I plan on implementing a writing schedule with weekly goals to reach.

3) How well did you do at keeping up with your goals?

Like many people, fitness is an area where I wanted to improve. I’m happy to report that I’ve kept up with my personal fitness and committed to becoming stronger so I can keep up with my little ones!

4) What can you commit to this month to help you move towards your goals?

My commitment is to make sure I show up and do my part in the co-creation process and ensure that I align my thoughts, beliefs and actions to be consistent to that which I want. I will also commit to continuing my meditation practice and working on my mindset!

Now it’s your turn. How is January going for you? What are you going to continue or do differently for February? Please share in the comments below.

Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, Speaker and Writer, but most importantly, a proud Mother and Wife. Uchechi is Founder of My Empowered Living (http://www.myempoweredliving.com) a website aimed at helping women shift their mindset and live their passion! Whether it’s starting and building their dream business, or helping them create a lifestyle they crave, Uchechi is the modern woman’s secret to success! Visit Uchechi at www.myempoweredliving.com to get her FREE online video training series The 4 Keys to your Business Success! This free 4-day business training reveals her 4 key strategies needed to build a profitable and successful business, and how to put them to work in your business!

Jan 15 2015

5 Ways to Make 2015 Your Best Year Yet!

It’s the start of a New Year. Time for goal setting, setting intentions and putting a plan into action! I love the New Year because I always feel like it’s a fresh start, a clean slate to do things differently, better, than the year before. I would love to hear your tips to make this year better than the last. Here are my 5 suggestions to make 2015 your best year yet.

Celebrate your accomplishments from the previous year

This is something that I started to do several years ago. On New Year’s Eve, before any festivities begin, I grab my journal and list all of the things that I accomplished during the current year. They don’t all have to be monumental goals, but you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised by all that you’ve done, even if you think you didn’t have such a stellar year.

Review what worked and what didn’t

We’ve all heard it said that the definition of insanity is doing the same things and expecting different results. If we don’t take the time to look at the systems and strategies that worked and evaluate the ones that didn’t we might end up making the same mistakes again next year. Don’t beat yourself up about the failures, but do learn from them. What can you do differently next time?

Identify at least 3 things you intend to accomplish this year

What would an article about the New Year be without talking about setting goals? They don’t all have to be about your business. Throw some personal goals in the mix too. When we’re at our best, we do our best. Achieving personal goals can help you be more effective in your business as well so don’t forget to take care of yourself when setting your intentions for 2015.

Choose at least one skill to upgrade or learn

If we’re not learning, we’re not growing. I’m a firm believer and strong supporter of continuing education. We can never possibly know all there is to know, even in areas that we’ve mastered. Whether it has to do with your business or not, learning a new skill or learning how to do something you already know in a different way, expands our minds and opens us up to new opportunities that we might not have known existed otherwise. My 9 year-old lab/border collie mix is a constant reminder that you’re never too old to learn and you actually can teach an old dog new tricks! 😉

Create a 90-day action plan

If you work out regularly, I’m sure you’ve witnessed the popularity of your local work out spot in January and the decline in attendance as we head into February. It’s why I no longer believe in New Year’s Resolutions. We can’t just say we’re going to start doing, or stop doing something; we have to figure out how we’re going to do it. In addition to that, we have to make sure we’re committed to our goals and make sure that it’s a goal that is important to us, and not something someone else wants us to do. The action plan doesn’t have to be perfect, but it definitely helps to have one. If you want to increase the effectiveness of the plan, share it with someone you know will hold you accountable.

Reflecting on the previous year can be a bittersweet time for many of us. It’s easy to focus on the things that didn’t go the way we hoped or expected rather than on the things that worked out, sometimes even better than we had planned. Whether last year was phenomenal or lack-lustre, celebrate the fact that you survived another year and know that this year can always be better, it’s all up to you!

Dec 15 2014

The year in review…

Several years ago I started the New Year’s Eve ritual of celebrating my accomplishments. I find it’s a great way to end the year off on a positive note and carry over that positivity into the New Year. Last year, in addition to celebrating my accomplishments and setting my intentions for the upcoming year, I also took stock of the habits that contributed to my success, and those that kept me from making the year an even more productive and successful one.

We’ve all heard it said that the definition of insanity is doing the same things and expecting different results. It was with this in mind that I started to take a look at the habits that served me and those that didn’t. It was especially important for me to review these things at the end of last year, since the second half of the year was the start of my journey as a full-time entrepreneur.

Along with reviewing our habits, the end of the year is also a great time to consider what worked and what didn’t, both personally and in your business. We want to continue to do the things that worked, yet we shouldn’t hesitate to question whether or not we could do those things even better, more effectively. We also need to review the things that didn’t work and figure out why. Not to beat ourselves up about our failures, but to learn from them, and figure out what we need to do next time so that we don’t end up with the same results.

Obviously we don’t have to wait until the end of the year to do these things, but the New Year is a great time for new beginnings. For many of us it’s also the start of a new fiscal year, so making changes and improvements in January will allow you to measure your growth year over year as you continue to build and grow your business.

Whether 2014 was an awesome year or just so-so, there is always room for improvement. Taking stock of the current year provides you with the opportunity to celebrate the progress you’ve made and tweak the plan to make the upcoming year an even better one. It’s about a constant evolution. If you had a great year, the next one can be even better. If you didn’t achieve as much as you wanted to do this year, know that there’s always room for improvement, it’s just a matter of retooling the strategy and your mental game.

Make a commitment to learn a new skill, release the habits (and anything else) that doesn’t serve you and develop the habits that are helping you get closer to your goals! If we want to achieve the best we can in our respective businesses, we have to be at our best. Take the time to evaluate the game plan and make the changes necessary to knock it out the park in the New Year!

May the New year be one of great health, peace and abundance!

Nov 30 2014

6 Tools to Help You Prioritise More Effectively

If you are looking to effectively manage your workload or personal goals; or a manager with many priorities to juggle; or a business owner with decisions to make on what product, service or market; it can seem slightly overwhelming at times trying to make the right decision with limited time and resources.

The following are six tools from simple to technical that can help you make better decisions, manage your time, and prioritise more effectively.

Clearly stated vision and goals

Knowing what to prioritise starts with having a clear vision or picture of what you want, where you want to go, and why it is important to you, and also ensuring your goals are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic & Time-framed). This will help keep you focused what is important in line with your goals and making the right decisions. Get more information Business Goals Setting or Free eBook on Setting SMART Goals

Pareto Principle and Analysis

This principle – also known as the 80:20 Rule – suggests that by focusing on your topmost (20%) important items, you are able to gain the most benefits or results (80%). A simple approach to applying this principle is: List of all items that need to be done, prioritise in order of what is most critical and important, and focus your effort on the top 20% or more of your list. For more info on Business Application or for Personal/Business Application

Action Priority Matrix

This one has always stuck in my mind – not everything that is urgent is important, and not everything that is important is urgent. And that is why prioritisation is important. Both individuals and organisations are able to use this tool to can quickly spot critical items, quick wins or low priority items to help best plan and allocate their time. For more information on Business Application or for Personal/Business Application

Decision Matrix Analysis

This can be used in a variety of ways to make decisions on what tasks to focus on or decision to make. With this tool, you can prioritise a list of tasks that need to be completed while at the same time taking a variety of factors i.e. cost and time into consideration. Get More Information

Ansoff Matrix and the Boston Matrices

This is mainly a marketing and management tool to help prioritise the right business service, product or market to focus on. And can also be used to make career type of decisions. Both are extremely similar in nature and lead to similar types of result. It can help you:

Evaluate and prioritise opportunities based on level of risk
Prioritise opportunities based on the attractiveness of any particular market and how likely you’ll be able to take advantage of it

For more information: Business Application or Personal/Business Application

Your Trusted Calendar and Task List

This can either be a physical paper calendar/task list or smartphone function that provides a physical reminder of what you need to focus on a daily basis. Smartphones come with a task list app such as ‘Reminders’ that can help you manage and schedule your activities. Some of the popular apps today are Evernote (free and premium plans available), Any.Do (free), and Remember the Milk (free).

To learn about Yvonne’s latest book on Changing your Mindset for greater results, visit http://www.oliveblue.com/changeyourmindset/

Yvonne is an Author, Speaker, Change Consultant & John Maxwell Leadership Coach who is passionate about working with Individuals, Entrepreneurs and Organisations to provide the tools and help implement change, drive results and achieve their goals. She can be reached at: www.oliveblue.com . www.facebook.com/oliveblueinc . www.twitter.com/oliveblueinc.www.youtube.com/ChangeYouWantTV

Oct 29 2014

Your Mindset: Why It Matters

Do you want to take your outcomes from Good to Great? Perhaps you are struggling to achieve your goals or execute your plans, and you feel this is because of procrastination, lack of finances or resources, etc. In this very short video, I talk about mindset, why it’s usually the reason we are not able to achieve our goals, and why it matters.

To learn about Yvonne’s latest book, visit http://www.oliveblue.com/changeyourmindset/

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