Actions Follow Emotions — Unless They Don’t

I was humming in the office one morning when a colleague came up to me and asked why I was so happy. Puzzled for a minute, I asked him what made him think I was happy. He chuckled a little and said, “You’re singing. You must be happy if you’re singing!” That made me stop and think a bit. Was I happy, and that’s what prompted my singing? At that…

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Practice Makes Perfect … Uh, No!

We’ve all heard, “Just keep doing what you’re doing. Practice makes perfect, you know!” Sounds good on the surface, but is it true? Well, yes and no. If you practice something over and over, you will, indeed, become perfect at executing it. But … Imagine a young pianist who wants to improve her playing skills. So, she dedicates time every day to practicing scales, finger exercises, and challenging musical pieces. Over…

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Choosing a Business partner is more than being friends. Learn to be smarter.

How to be Smarter When Choosing Your Business Partner

In the ‘80s, I was a CPA and exceedingly unhappy working in one of the “Big 8” accounting firms in Las Vegas. I needed a change. A woman I knew asked me to go to lunch with her. Over lunch, we talked business, of course. Eventually, she got to her reason for our lunch: Would I be interested in partnering with her in an accounting practice? Now, I was unprepared…

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You And Your Distractions

Eliminate Distractions: 4 of 4 We’ve talked about Step 1 in the process of eliminating distractions: What is distracting you, and what type of distraction is it. You have the What’s Bugging You? worksheet to help you with this step. We’ve been talking about Step 2 and creating strategies to eliminate distractions. So far, we’ve covered things, events, and other people’s behaviors. You have the D3 Worksheet to help you plan your strategies. Eliminate Self-Created Distractions Completing Step 2 is to…

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Establish Boundaries To Eliminate Distractions From Other People

Eliminate Distractions: 3 of 4 Creating strong boundaries is the strategy of choice for distractions involving other people. Whether we’re talking about others or ourselves, people can be the most challenging types of distractions to eliminate. People are complicated, and it shows in our relationships. (Read the first and second parts about distractions if you haven’t yet – then this will make more sense.)   Boundaries Other peoples’ behaviors are what push your buttons and…

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One Distraction At A Time: Strategies That Work

Eliminate Distractions: 2 of 4 A messy desk is a distraction. Clean and organize it for greater focus and energy. You have your list of the things you put up with: something that distracts you, diverts your attention, and robs you of time. (If you didn’t read the first post about distractions, you can read it here, and download the worksheet, What’s Bugging You, to use as you eliminate one distraction at…

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Distractions Rob You Of Time And Energy: Reclaim 10 Hours A Week

Eliminate Distractions: 1 of 4 You’ve learned to put up with a lot over the years: things that bug you, irritate and annoy you, and distract you from what you want to focus on. All of those things drain your energy a little (or a lot) and rob you of time. Every single day. How much time do you lose with distractions pulling your attention at work? At home? My…

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No is the Most Underused Word in a Business Woman's Life

“NO” Is the Answer To Reclaim Your Life And Time

“NO” is likely the most under-used word in a business woman’s life. Think about: How many women do you know who are overwhelmed, overloaded, and overworked? How many feel like there’s they just don’t have enough time to do everything that’s on their plate? Worse, how many feel guilty if they don’t get something done? (Does this describe you? Read on…) It’s such a damaging cycle. The stress of that…

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