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Dec 30 2017

Intellectual Property Asset Audit – Make this Part your Business Planning for 2018?

I hope many of you had the opportunity to listen in on Sandra Dawes’ great sessions on planning for 2018 and are spending the time to set out and act on the plan you are developing using her fabulous workbook.  I know I am and in the process of doing so checked out the resources that the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) provides for businesses to get a handle on the intellectual property (IP) they have and what they can do to formalize and leverage their IP rights.

So, to help you with your planning, you can add an IP audit of your business assets into the mix. Starting with the easy to read and use resources in the CIPO’s IP Toolbox (https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr04320.html) you can get a good initial grounding in IP and how to factor it into your business plans.

Take for example, the “IP Inventory Checklist” which lists a variety of types of business assets that you could have operating at the core of and for the benefit of your business (e.g. branding elements, customer lists, software applications) and the kind of IP rights to consider in relation to those assets. You can also refer to https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr04055.html for additional insights on the types of business assets that are commonly part of many enterprises and which can give rise to IP rights.

Once you have what you feel is a reasonably complete inventory, you can then check out the “Intellectual property in Canada” fact sheet which provides an indication of the nature of the IP rights that may apply to the business assets you identified in your inventory. To fully leverage the IP rights you have you can refer to the guide entitled, “Intellectual Property – It’s yours. Own it.” to learn more about how the process of creating business assets leads to IP creation and the steps you can take to identify and formalize your IP (e.g. register copyrights and trademarks). There are also individual, more detailed fact sheets to explain what the different forms of IP are and how they can be leveraged, namely for copyrights, industrial designs, patents, trade secrets and trademarks.

Finally, moving from the IP Basics tab on the CIPO’s IP Toolbox page you can access other tabs with information relating to IP when you export goods and services and other information resources.

If you are thinking, how you can identify all of the business assets to include in your inventory beyond what is exemplified in the IP Inventory Checklist, start by simply listing any products and/or services you have developed and sell, and the tools you use to help you sell and market what you sell. Copyrights, industrial design rights, trademarks and patent rights will be relevant to what you give the public access too (e.g. your products and services), while trade secret rights will apply to those assets (e.g. confidential information) that the public does not have access to, but that you leverage internally to support your business and gain a competitive advantage (e.g. to make your business more efficient, or develop new business lines and opportunities).

While conducting your audit consider setting up a spreadsheet to create your inventory and add in information to document details about what you have and the steps you take to formalize your IP and leverage it in B2B and B2C contexts. For example, include in your inventory when the business asset was created, by whom, under what written contract (if any) and whether you have a written assignment (transfer of ownership) from the creators of the assets and related IP rights to your business. Then include a column with information about steps you have taken or would like to take to formalize the IP rights in your assets.

If some of the business assets you have were licensed in, or obtained from third parties (e.g. stock images, products you sell), include the contracts in your inventory which give your enterprise the permissions to use, apply, distribute, lease, or sell those assets and identify the provisions in those agreements which specifically refer to the permissions you have to leverage third party IP rights and what you have to do in exchange to maintain those permissions. These contracts also represent a form of IP rights, which together with what you have invested in to create form the foundation of your business.

Obviously, the intention behind doing an IP audit and creating your inventory of assets is to use it, update it from time to time and determine how you want to invest in IP for your business. Once created, it is itself a business asset that should be maintained as a trade secret. You can use your inventory to make decisions by correlating the performance of your business to the assets and associated IP rights. If you choose to consult with an IP professional on the many ways you can make use your inventory, consider: i) consulting on what other information to include in your inventory, ii)  how to map out budgets to formalize key IP, iii) identify DIY steps you can take to protect and leverage your IP, and iv) milestones to be aware of so that you can be confident that you always have a full picture of all of the IP options and value available to support your business.

————————

Ariadni Athanassiadis

Kyma Professional Corporation

T: 613-327-7245

E: ariadni@kymalaw.com

W: www.kymalaw.com

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Ariadni Athanassiadis · Tagged: audit, Inventory Checklist, IP, Sandra Dawes

Jul 15 2017

Time Get Real

Okay, we’re halfway through 2017. It’s time to get real because there are goals that you set for yourself at the start of the year and now’s a good time to check on the progress you’ve made. I know that there were probably some rough patches and things you wish you had done better. The question is, what are you going to do differently in the second half to get the results you want?

It’s time to be as honest with yourself as possible. What habits are working for you and which ones are working against you? Most of us don’t have to think too hard to figure out the answers. Knowing what we need to change is one thing. Doing something about it is a completely different matter.

We face a similar challenge when it comes to the way we do things in our business. We need to take time out to analyze what’s working and what isn’t working. If you’re spending a lot of time on things in your business and not getting the results you want, then it is time to rethink the strategy. Either you need to hire out for the things that aren’t in your wheelhouse, or you need to take a course to gain the skills and knowledge to do those things in an effective and efficient way!

I know that tracking our progress is something that many of us avoid. We’d rather not face the reality that we’re not on track to reach our goals. If you’re fearful to take a look at your progress, you already have an idea that you’re not where you want to be. The opposite could be true as well though; you could be closer to realizing your goals than you think. You’ll never know for sure until you take the time to see where you really are.

Even if you realize that you’re not as close as you wanted to be to achieving your goals, the good news is that there’s still time! You have 5 months and a couple of weeks to make significant things happen. All you need is clarity on the vision, focus on the things you need to do to get you there and a willingness to take daily action to get you there.

What you have or haven’t accomplished in the last six months doesn’t have to determine your success in the second half of 2017. You can do anything you put your mind to! What are you choosing to focus on accomplishing in the next 5 months? I look forward to celebrating your successes in December, as we head into a new year get ready to see what else is possible!

 

 

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

 

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sandra Dawes · Tagged: challenge, clock is ticking, Embrace Your Destiny, GET REAL, Sandra Dawes

Jun 15 2017

You deserve a break!

The first five months of 2017 flew by. I was waist (or was it neck?) deep in an event I was planning. If you’ve ever been totally immersed in a project, you know that sleep, rest and relaxation are rare luxuries if not very distant memories.

The thing that we sometimes forget is that we can only do this for so long. The body is going to let you know in some way that it requires rest, even if you don’t think you do. If we take the time to be good to ourselves, we realize that we’re more focused and productive.

When we push ourselves too far, mistakes start to happen and deadlines get missed. The project or goal that was once an exciting, rewarding endeavor has now become a burden. The scary thing about this is that if you forget why you started working on this project in the first place, it can be very tempting to quit.

Taking the time to recharge is the best thing that you can do for yourself, your family and your goals. When we’re well rested our brain functions better and we have more energy. If you add physical activity and a healthy diet, you are really good to go. Throw in a positive daily routine to keep you focused and grounded and you’re unstoppable!

If you want to give your all to the things that matter to you, be that in your personal life, or in your business, you have to make time to give that to yourself as well. Schedule that time for yourself in a way that works for you and your needs. Some will do something daily; others weekly and some with treat themselves every month.

What you do to recharge and how often you do it isn’t as important as actually doing it! Remember that you cannot give from an empty cup. When I first heard that phrase, I thought it was a nice cliché, and now I get it. If you don’t take the time for self-care you will run out of fuel. When that happens, you won’t be any good to anyone including yourself. Do yourself and everyone you care about a favour and schedule a break today!

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

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sandra Dawes · Tagged: planning, productive, Sandra Dawes

Apr 15 2017

The Best Laid Plans

The best laid plans…

How many times have you scheduled your day and had nothing go according to plan? It’s something I have experienced more times than I’d like to admit. We hear so much about the importance of having a plan, but what do we do when the plan falls apart?

In the past, there have been times where I simply gave up on the plan when things didn’t work out. I used to be one of those people who viewed the first sign of trouble as a red flag letting me know that the goal I was working towards wasn’t meant to be. Instead of being faced with more defeat, I would just quit.

What I realize now is that those goals that I have given up on in the past were simply things I was never truly committed to achieving. When I have been determined to make something happen, I find a way. The plan may be reworked and revised a million times along the way, but when I want something bad enough, quitting isn’t an option.

This realization has been a major “a-ha” moment for me. Even when it comes to daily my daily plan, I’ve realized that I stay committed to the plan when I’m clear on my priorities. Yes, the unexpected happens. There are always going to be things that you can’t plan for. There are going to be times, however, where you’re presented with an opportunity that takes you off track. When you’re clear on your priorities and are committed to your goals, sticking with the plan is much easier.

Instead of giving up on the plan when it doesn’t work, take time to review it and see why it didn’t work. I’m a firm believer that the challenges and obstacles we experience along the way to realizing our goals is simply a test of how bad we want it. Think about the times that you have experienced difficulties when working towards a goal. Remember how impossible things felt at times. You survived though, didn’t you? Even if the goal didn’t manifest the way that you expected to, I’m willing to bet you learned a lot from the experience. If you did achieve the goal you were working towards, then you know that it was all worth it!

Plans are simply guidelines. They aren’t the only way to achieve your goal. Successful plans are organic. They evolve constantly because we are always learning new things and connecting with new people that show us things we never even knew existed! Don’t give up on your plan just because things aren’t working out. Stay committed to goal, be flexible with the plan.

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

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sandra Dawes · Tagged: aha moment, best laid plans, difficulties, Embrace Your Destiny, goal, Sandra Dawes

Mar 15 2017

What are you focusing on?

Do you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed with your business? There’s so much information out there. Facebook Live, webinars, blogging, newsletters, networking – where do you start? This can be particularly challenging if you’re just starting out or if you’re on your own.

I think the best place to start is doing things that bring you joy. You started your business for a reason, you have a product or service that you want to share. If you start by doing things that feel awkward to you, it will be easy to give up. Not only will it be easy to quit, but your potential clients will sense it too!

Here’s the thing to remember: you don’t have to do it all! You have to do what works for you, what allows you to be at your best. The other stuff will come. You can get training, hire a coach, read books; but the best way to start is with your strengths. Don’t get caught up in the comparison game. It will drive you crazy and take you off track from doing the things necessary to grow your business and have fun along the way.

Paying too much attention to what everyone else is doing can be maddening. If it works to inspire and motivate you, go for it! If you find yourself feeling less-than because of what others are doing, stop it. At the end of the day, unless you know them personally, we don’t know what their struggles are. Most of us aren’t sharing the defeats and let downs on social media, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t happening.

It’s important to focus on you and what you want to accomplish. You don’t need to try and implement every tool out there at the same time. You don’t need to be on every social media platform. Do what feels right to you and be where your people are. Reflect on your growth and the progress you’ve made in your business and don’t worry about how everyone else is doing. As long as you are making headway in your business, that’s all that matters.

Being an entrepreneur can be a stressful endeavor. When we focus on our own growth, focus on our strengths and work on improving our weaknesses we begin to see the fruits of our labour. You don’t have to be like anyone else or do what everyone else is doing. It’s all about being the best version of yourself so you can do your best and create the business of your dreams!

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

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sandra Dawes · Tagged: accomplishment, blog, business, Embrace Your Destiny, Facebook, focus, newsletter, Sandra Dawes, webinars

Feb 15 2017

Hardship leads to progress

We’ve all had that moment where we wonder if our hard work will ever pay off. You know what I’m talking about; those moments when you wonder what else you can do and how much longer you’ll have to wait before you start to feel like you’re reaping the fruits of your labour. You wonder if it really has to be this hard.

Denzel Washington did his acceptance speech at the NAACP Awards and he said a line that has stuck with me since I heard it for the first time. Near the end of his speech he said: “ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship.” I think that this is an important reminder for anyone working towards a goal.

While it would be nice if our goals were easy to realize, it’s simply not the reality. If it was easy to make our hopes and dreams a reality, everyone would be doing it, and they aren’t. Life’s challenges force us to make a decision – maintain the status quo or do things differently.

Doing things differently means stepping outside your comfort zone. If you want to get different results, you have to do things in ways you never have before. The result is progress. It might be slow, but it will be worth it.

There’s a reason why Napoleon Hill dedicates an entire chapter to persistence in his timeless classic, Think and Grow Rich. The ability to persist even when it would be easier to quit, is one of the traits that successful people have. They refuse to give up because they believe that what they’re working towards is possible, regardless of what the present situation is.

I know that it may seem impossible at times, but you have to believe that the goal you’re working towards possible. It’s not about having a “Plan B”. It’s about putting your all into making your “Plan A” a reality.

Don’t let hardships discourage you. Like Denzel said, ease is the greater threat. Challenges provide the opportunity for progress. Stay focused on the end goal. Have faith that it is possible and believe that you are capable of enduring the rough patches. If you’re able to persist, there’ll be a time when you’ll look back at the struggles and laugh at how impossible it all once seemed!

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

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sandra Dawes · Tagged: challenges, Denzel Washington, Embrace Your Destiny, handships, hard work, NAACP, Napoleon Hill, Plan A, Plan B, progress, Sandra Dawes

Jan 15 2017

Got Discipline?

I’ve decided that my word for 2017 is Discipline. It’s funny that once I chose the word, I kept hearing people talking about what an important role discipline plays in successfully achieving our goals in videos and blog posts. I decided to view this as a reinforcement of the need to be more disciplined in 2017.

A couple of months ago I read the book The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod and it reminded me of the importance of starting our day off on the right foot. The book reminds us of one of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People:  Start with the end in mind. If we want to have a successful day, we need to start with focus, intention setting and a clear mind!

I know that as entrepreneurs, we often think we don’t have the time for morning rituals beyond getting up, taking care of hygiene and starting our day. I’ve heard it said the less time you think you have for meditation, the more of it you need. I think it’s the same for all of the routines mentioned in The Miracle Morning.

Having a morning routine doesn’t require 3 hours of your time. You get to choose how much or how little time you give to each part of the routine. When it comes to establishing new habits, it’s about consistency more than anything else. It’s not about whether you do 3 minutes of meditation or 30 minutes, the key is to start doing it! It’s the same for journaling, exercise, visualization and the other habits you know will help you start your day off on the right foot.

Most of us know what we need to do more of and less of in order to truly focus on our goals and make them happen. Unfortunately a lot of us are also equipped with a long list of excuses for why we haven’t started to do the things we need to do and stop doing the things that are holding us back. If this is part of your struggle, then you need to remind yourself of why achieving your goals is important to you. Is what your life will be like when you accomplish your goals worth enough to you to make the changes necessary?

Try not to think of discipline as restrictive or a chore. Think of it as one of the magical elements that helps us reach our goals with less drama and more ease! Where in your life or business will you be exercising more discipline?

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

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sandra Dawes · Tagged: achieve, business entrepreneurs, consistency, discipline, Embrace Your Destiny, Entrepreneurs, goals, habits, Hal Elrod, Sandra Dawes, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The Miracle Morning

Dec 15 2016

Planning for success in 2017

sandra

We’re just a couple weeks shy of the end of 2016. Even if the year wasn’t everything you imagined it would be; the New Year brings with it the opportunity for a fresh start. The question is: what are you going to do with yours?

If you didn’t accomplish everything you wanted to this year, it may be about more than just poor planning. Just like a house built on an unstable foundation won’t stay standing, we need to make sure that we have a solid mindset before pursuing our goals. If you pursue 2017 goals with 2016’s mindset, don’t be surprised when you get similar results!

Consider the beliefs or thoughts that held you back from doing things you knew were going to help your business. What would you need to do to shift them so that you can take those leaps of faith in the upcoming year? Whether it’s hiring a coach, attending a workshop or reading a book, there are many ways to work on your limiting beliefs.

Sometimes we’re not conscious of the beliefs that are holding us back because we’ve believed them for a very long time. Many of the limiting beliefs that we have were passed on to us by well-meaning family and friends. They too are unconscious of the fact that what they’ve shared with us causes limitations. It’s only when we start to question whether or not our beliefs truly serve us that we can identify the ones that need shifting.

If we don’t work on our mindset, we will struggle with the plan. If you are limited in your belief about what’s possible, it will undoubtedly affect the plans you put in place. Maybe you’re playing small when it comes to your goals because you don’t think you’re capable of achieving the amazing things you really want for your life. Whatever’s holding you back, know that it doesn’t have to be your reality. I truly believe that where there’s a will, there is always a way!

What are you going to do differently in 2017? What beliefs do you need to shift in order to make those changes happen? Who or where can you go to for the help you need so that you don’t sabotage your success and you can really make the New Year your best year yet? Whatever it is you need to do, write it down, give yourself a deadline and take action to make it happen!

If you’d like help with identifying your limiting beliefs so that you can pursue your 2017 goals with a mindset for success, book a complimentary, no-obligation 30 minute Clarity Session with me today!

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

Want to plan your 2017? Enhance your planning with a Leonie Dawson Workbook

2017-workbook

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sandra Dawes, Uncategorized · Tagged: 2017, clarity, Embrace Your Destiny, limiting beliefs, new year, planning, Sandra Dawes, success

Nov 15 2016

5 Ways to Prepare for 2017

sandra

It’s hard to believe that there’s only about six weeks left in 2016! While many use this time heading into the holidays to wind things down in their business, I find it one of the busiest times of the year. For me, it’s the time to start working on the plan for the New Year as well as work with clients developing their own plans. Here are 5 ways to prepare for 2017:

  1. Celebrate your accomplishments

Taking the time to review the current year’s accomplishments is a great way to start the New Year. We often focus on the things that didn’t go according to plan or the mistakes made along the way. If we direct our energy on the negative we set ourselves up for more of the same. No matter how much went wrong this year, there are always things that went right. Find time to reflect on what those things are.

  1. Review what’s working and what isn’t

You know the saying that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. The interesting thing is that many of us keep doing things the way we’ve always done them expecting that if we do more of it that the results will be different. When we don’t get the expected results, we find ourselves frustrated and disillusioned. Of course there are things that we’re doing that do work for us. We need to identify them and see how we can leverage them moving into the New Year.

  1. Identify required resources

We all need help of some sort to make our goals a reality. If things didn’t go according to plan, then it’s time to think about who or what you need in your business to get you where you want to be. What help our resources would have made life easier for you in 2016? Make a list of what you need and make a plan to obtain it.

  1. Set 1 or 2 primary goals

We often don’t achieve the things we wanted to in a year because we overestimate what can be done. We end up feeling overwhelmed with all the things we want to do and the result is that we do even less than we planned. Instead of having 10 goals that you want to achieve in 2017, pick one or two major goals that you want to focus on. Consider what goals if met, will make it easier to achieve other smaller goals. It’s all about finding that goose who lays the golden eggs!

  1. Schedule time off

All work and no play doesn’t just make us dull, it sets up fertile ground for burnout! Make sure that you schedule time away from your business or work so that you can relax and recharge. Achieving work/life balance doesn’t have to be mission impossible. Remember, you didn’t start your business to spend all your time working; you did it because you wanted freedom. Hard work does pay off, but we all need to take a step back so we can come back with fresh eyes and rested brains!

It’s never too late or too early to start planning your year. It’s important to give yourself the time to reflect on the year that has passed and consider what you want to achieve in the one coming. It’s about preparing a foundation to plant seeds that have no choice but to flourish. What are your plans for 2017?

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

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sandra Dawes · Tagged: celebrate, Embrace Your Destiny, goals, new year, prepare for 2017, resources, review, Sandra Dawes, vacation

Oct 15 2016

Planning for success

sandra

We’re already at the half-way mark of the month of October! The last quarter of the year always seems to go much faster than the first three for some reason. Sometimes I wonder if it’s just me because I always feel the need to end the year with a bang 😉

One of the things on my current to-do list is to complete my plan for 2017. In the last 5 years or so, I have dedicated time in the fall to reflecting on the present year as well as putting together the plan for the upcoming year. I’m sure we’ve all heard it said that a goal without a plan is just a dream. I know that I personally haven’t been able to accomplish anything of real significance without a plan to make it happen.

Whether everything went according to that plan is a completely different story! If there’s anything I’ve learned in planning my goals and helping clients with their own, it’s that things rarely go exactly as planned. The reason for this is that we make the plan with a limited understanding of what’s possible, no matter how open minded we are. As we take action on our goals, receive guidance from others and test the waters, we learn new things that often alter the course, but never the final destination.

An important part of the plan for me is taking the time to celebrate our accomplishments to-date. We can sometimes downplay the progress we’ve made because we’ve set such high expectations of ourselves. I know from personal experience that it’s when we take the time to acknowledge the small wins that we can focus our energy on attracting even bigger ones.

Planning before the start of the year helps us set the tone for 2017. With an established plan now, we know exactly what to do when the New Year starts! It also gives us the opportunity to share our plan with people we know will support you and hold you accountable. It’s about really setting ourselves up for success, not only with the creation of the plan, but making sure that we have everything and everyone we need in place to support us in achieving our goals.

Take the time to start planning your New Year. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did! This doesn’t have to be a chore; you can have fun with it. Plan a girls’ night in and make vision boards. Do a family exercise where everyone shares one thing they want to achieve for the year and everyone brainstorms (in a positive supportive way) different options to make those goals a reality! Planning for 2017 is about creating your future, what can be more exciting than that?

If you want some support in creating your plan for the New Year, join me the weekend of November 11-13 for the Jump Start Your Year Retreat in Blue Mountain! Visit http://bit.ly/jumpstartyouryear for more information.

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

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sandra Dawes · Tagged: brainstorm, Embrace Your Destiny, October, plan for 2017, planning for success, Sandra Dawes, to do list

Aug 15 2016

3 Reasons We Have to Learn to Say No

sandra

I’ll admit that there was a time when saying no was a problem for me. As a chronic people pleaser, I was always saying yes to things I should have been saying no to. It led to overwhelm, frustration and often times, resentment. This is why I feel pretty confident in sharing these three reasons why we have to learn to say no.

  1. You risk becoming a bitter b-tch

When we don’t have boundaries, there are always going to be people who take advantage of the situation. If you don’t want to feel like you’re constantly being treated like a doormat, you’re going to have to put on your big girl panties and start saying no. Sure it will feel uncomfortable at first, but if you don’t learn how to say no soon, you’re going to end up bitter and resentful. When it gets to this point you run the risk of saying no to things you should actually be saying yes to.

  1. There’s always someone else who will say yes

Many times we choose to say yes because we worry that if we don’t the person asking will be left stranded. Whether we want to admit it or not, we’re playing the martyr in a situation like this. We feel like we have to sacrifice our time and do what’s asked of us because if we don’t the world will come to a complete standstill. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but as wonderfully special as you are, you cannot possibly be the only go-to person for every favour request. Believe me when I say that even if you say no, it will get done – eventually 🙂

  1. You’ve got your own empire to build!

I’m sure you have your own list of things to accomplish, goals you want to achieve, dreams you want to make a reality. If you spend all your time taking care of everyone else’s needs, when do you find the time to get the things that are important to you done? You’ve got to find a way to balance it all. If you haven’t reviewed your priorities lately, then there’s no time like the present! If we don’t identify what’s important to us, then we don’t know where we should be focusing our time and energy. When we lack focus, it’s so much easier to get pulled in many different directions, none of them serving our needs in any way.

It’s okay to say no sometimes. Know that NO can actually be a full and complete sentence. You don’t have to give an explanation or justify it. If you feel you need to, go ahead. I’ll give you this warning though – no matter what the explanation is; there will be those that don’t want to hear it. Especially those who are used to you saying yes all the time. Some will even consider this change in behaviour a bit selfish. The good news is that most will respect you for it in the long run and your relationships will benefit as well. Like TD Jakes says, “greatness is contagious”. You might as well focus on your greatness so that you can lift those around you to the same level. If you don’t have the time to focus on you, how will you ever become the rising tide that lifts all boats?

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

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sandra Dawes · Tagged: boundaries, build your empire, Business Woman, Canadian Small Business Women, Dreams, entrepreneur, no, people pleaser, Sandra Dawes, Say No, say yes, TD Jakes

Jul 15 2016

3 Ways Establishing Priorities Makes Life Easier

sandra

We all have moments when everything seems like it needs to be done right away. ASAP seems to be the deadline for everything these days. In order to avoid overwhelm and frustration, it’s important to establish priorities in all areas of our lives, and here’s why:

  1. Priorities help us create boundaries

When you have identified what’s important to you, it makes it easier to say yes to the right opportunities and no to others. When we aren’t sure what a priority is for us, it can be easy to get caught up in other people’s priorities. We find ourselves unable to say no to things that we don’t want to do because we aren’t clear on where we want to be focusing our time and energy. If you don’t want to feel like you’re constantly being pulled in every direction, you need to establish your priorities and share them with the people in your life!

  1. It helps us to manage our time

When we know what our priorities are, we know where to focus our time. We aren’t easily distracted by shiny objects, and we don’t wake up in the morning wondering what we should tackle today. Priorities help us focus on our goals, on what’s important to us. Too many of us are busy giving big time to small tasks. When we are clear on our priorities we give our time to things that matter. Consider the goose that laid the golden eggs. What completed tasks will bring you closer to achieving other things on your to-do list? Figuring this out can help you establish priorities that will help get you closer to accomplishing your goals.

  1. Priorities help us maintain momentum

When we know what’s important to us, we give it constant attention. You know what I’m talking about. You’re working on a project and when you look at the time you wonder where the last 5 hours went. When we’re passionate about something we eat, sleep and drink it. Establishing priorities fuels our purpose. It gives us permission to focus on the things that matter to us. You can’t make something a priority without committing to it. Commitment means doing it even when we don’t feel like it. It gives us power to push through even the most difficult challenges.

Without priorities we can feel like we’re spinning our wheel s in mud. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and frustrated by everything there is to do when you have no idea where to start. Taking the time to sit with your tasks and prioritize them will save you a lifetime of future hassle and aggravation. Have you set your priorities for the next 30 days?

If you need help identifying your priorities, check out these free tools designed to help you prioritize your life.

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

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sandra Dawes · Tagged: ASAP, boundaries, commitment, Embrace Your Destiny, focus, momentum, Priorities, Sandra Dawes, Time Management

May 15 2016

5 signs success is on the way

sandra

Clients often come to me struggling to stay focused on their goals. They don’t feel like their making real progress on their goals and often feel like they’re spinning their wheels in mud. It’s easy to beat ourselves up about things – we can be our own worst critic at times. You might not be exactly where you want to be. That doesn’t mean that you aren’t making progress, or that the goal isn’t possible. Here are 5 signs you are making progress towards your goals:

  1. You’re taking daily action towards specific targets

This is really the only way you’re going to make any progress on your goals. If you have goals, but you’re not actually doing anything to make them happen, what are you waiting for? You can visualize and affirm all you want, but you actually have to get out there and do things if your goal is going to become a reality.

  1. You’re meeting the right people and connecting with the right resources

When you make the commitment to your goals, the universe conspires with you to make them a reality. I know this to be a fact. When you stop talking about what you want to do and actually start doing it, the right resources and connections will be made to take you to the next phase. The key with this is to keep an open mind and stay focused on the end goal rather than worrying about how it will all come together.

  1. You’ve encountered obstacles, and overcome them

When you can remain committed to your goal regardless of the challenges, you’re well on your way! Persistence pays off. When you want something bad enough, nothing can discourage you or make you believe that it isn’t possible. You’ve got the mental tenacity to make it to the finish line. This is one of the most important ingredients to anyone’s success!

  1. You’re constantly adjusting the plan

This one ties in with #2 and #3. When you have an open mind and the right people and resources are finding their way to you, you have more information that allows you to fine tune the plan. When you encounter obstacles in your plan, instead of giving up, you look for alternate paths to make your goal happen. When you’re monitoring your progress on a regular basis, adjustments happen naturally.

  1. You’re even more excited about the goal than when you started

As the light at the end of the tunnel begins to shine brighter, you’re bound to get even more excited about your goal. It’s moving from a simple idea to an actual reality! I don’t know about you, but it really doesn’t get any better than that! You know that the blood, sweat and tears were all worth it, and you’re not afraid if you have to give a little bit more to make it all happen. Ride that momentum to the finish line!

Any goal worth achieving takes time to unfold into reality. Little steps, daily action and a focused mindset are just a few of the tools that are going to bring you that much closer to realizing your dreams. Celebrate your accomplishments, keep an open mind, stay focused on the goal and watch the magic happen!

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

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sandra Dawes · Tagged: 5 signs, Canadian Small Business Women, connect, Embrace Your Destiny, goals, inspire, obstacles, plan, Sandra Dawes, success, targets

Apr 15 2016

Taking care of you is good for business

sandra

As entrepreneurs it can be easy to get so caught up in what we’re doing that we forget to take care of ourselves.  When you’re passionate about what you do, it’s easy to lose track of time as you get lost in a project.  Of course, none of us can survive on passion alone for long.  We need to make sure that we have fuel in the tank because running out of gas is detrimental to our health as well as our businesses.

We need to keep our tanks full in all areas of our personal life; mind, body and soul in order to give our best to our businesses.  Not only do we need to keep our bodies nourished, hydrated and in good physical shape, we also need to keep our minds sharp and focused.  We also need the emotional strength to deal with the inevitable setbacks that will present themselves at some point or another. Easier said than done, right?

The ability to function at optimum levels in all these areas takes discipline. Daily routines that make sure your constantly replenishing your internal resources are a must!  When we don’t make the time to take care of ourselves in order to do more for the business, we do ourselves a disservice.  Unless you’re one of the few who can sustain full power on no sleep, food or mental rest, there is no way you’re giving your all when you’re not at optimal health.

You want your business to run smoothly.  You want foolproof systems in place.  If you have a team, you want them to be responsive to client needs.  You expect everything to function at its highest capacity so that you can offer the best service to your customers.  You know that if the systems aren’t maintained, they won’t run efficiently.  You know that if you don’t maintain good communications with your team, the vision and mission will be lost.  It’s the exact same thing with you!

If you don’t listen to your body when it tells you it needs rest, you’re going to get sick.  If you don’t get enough sleep, you’ll eventually lose focus and stamina.  If you don’t quiet the mind, how will it ever be able to be open to new and exciting opportunities?  We also have to remember not to ignore our relationships either.  It’s important to have clarity on what your priorities are at all times.  Yes, there are going to be times when balancing your personal and business life will be a challenge, but we have to make sure we aren’t neglecting the things that are important to us.  If you’re not clear on what those priorities are, you’ll be pulled in way too many directions and overwhelm is inevitable.

We all want to be successful in our entrepreneurial endeavors.  Our passion for what we do can consume us if we allow it to.  It’s important to find a way to coexist with passions, so that we can serve them, and feel fulfilled in doing so.  This means making sure that we take care of ourselves in order to give our best in all that we do.  Are you ready to make yourself a priority?

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

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sandra Dawes · Tagged: body, business, communication, Embrace Your Destiny, entrepreneur, Mind, overwhelm, personal life, Sandra Dawes, soul, taking care

Feb 16 2016

5 Books Every Entrepreneur Should Read

sandra

It’s been said that successful entrepreneurs are readers. It makes sense, of course. There isn’t enough time to make all the mistakes possible and learn from them. Reading provides us with an opportunity to learn from the experiences of others and tap into their wisdom as well. There are so many awesome books out there, I’m sure I could do a whole series on great books! Here’s my top 5, feel free to share yours in the comments!

  1. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Even though this book was originally published in 1937, the information contained in it is timeless. This is a book that you can read several times and get something different out of it each and every time! If you struggle with negative thinking and staying committed to your goals, this book will definitely help! Running a mastermind group based on this book in 2013 provided me with the tools to take the leap into full-time entrepreneurship.

 

  1. Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill

Another book by Napoleon Hill, this one talks about to work through the fears that hold us back from living the life we want. Written in 1938, it wasn’t published until 2012 due to its controversial nature. It’s a cleverly written book, with Mr. Hill actually interviewing the Devil. The insights shared about institutionalized fear provide great food for thought.

 

  1. The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwarz

If you need some prompting to achieve those big goals, this is the book for you! Another timeless classic, this book is all about what happens when you stop letting your fears control you and you take massive decisive action towards your goals. This book is easy to read with a lot of great insights and advice.

 

  1. The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne Dyer

Wayne Dyer’s books aren’t targeted towards entrepreneurs, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a worthy read! This book talks about the importance of focusing on the things that are going to get you closer to where you want to be. To be successful in anything you do, you have to get your mind right, and this book provides you with some great tools to do just that.

 

  1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

I couldn’t leave this classic off the list! This book is another good one that helps you to get to a level of operating at maximum efficiency. The habits are logical; it’s just a matter of putting them into practice in our own lives. The great thing is that the book provides techniques to incorporate the habits into our routine. This is another book that deserves a revisit every once and awhile.

There are so many books that provide great business wisdom! Special mention goes to Arlene Dickinson’s book Persuasion and Michael Hyatt’s Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World. While it can be easy to think that there’s no time for reading, even 15 minutes a day can provide great insight. Thanks to technology, you don’t even have to read the book; you can take them on the road with you with audio books! If we’re not growing, we’re stagnant. Books are a great way to continue our personal evolution and help in the growth of our businesses as well!

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

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sandra Dawes · Tagged: 5 books, big goals, business coach, Canadian Small Business Women, David Schwarz, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Embrace Your Destiny, entrepreneur, Napoleon Hill, Outwitting the Devil, read, Sandra Dawes, Stephen Covey, successful entrepreneurs, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The Magic of Thinking Big, The Power of Intention, Think and Grow Rich

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