Secrets to Success

Do you know what today is?  YUP, it is HUMP Day. Halfway to the weekend.

Since the beginning of the year, I have been working on personal development in an effort to grow my business.  I know it probably sounds crazy to some BUT I am finding when I grow personally, I am blessed in both my personal life and my business.  I set up a morning routine which includes checking off those things I felt were absolutely necessary to be consistent (plus they are usually the things I let slip by or forget to do).

Here are some tips I have implemented based on the suggestions of other successful people:

1) They wake up early.

The early bird catches the worm, right?  I committed to waking up early.  Since the onset of health issues, early for me is 6 or 6:30AM so I can take the LONG commute (down the stairs) to be in the office by 7AM.  Why?  Because it allows me to get things done. By getting in the office by 7AM, I am able to put in at least 2 hours (or more) of uninterrupted work which makes all the difference in the world as I attack the rest of the day.  When I worked in the non-profit world, this was my key to success.  Arriving before staff came in to ensure I could clear my head before the craziness of the day.  I believe it was this routine which helped me to move up the ladder from volunteer to a Chief Operating Officer.  So, why would I not do it in my own business, right?   I challenge you to start waking up early everyday!

2) Say “No” often.

I am still working on this one since I have alway been the proverbial “people pleaser”. I am learning how to evaluate every request when it comes to my time and my business.  With every request you have to ask yourself is this going to help me get to my end goal. If the answer is “no” it’s likely you need to answer “no”. Of course there are always exceptions.  When you know your goal, it is easier to do this.

3) Plan ahead of time.

Every successful person plans ahead. Guaranteed. They have a clear path to get to their end goal.  They only veer from the path if the plan needs adjusting because their results aren’t going as planned. They know how to stick to their plans and pivot when needed.  I will admit this one is tough for me but I am working on it.

4) Be consistent.

This is a challenge for me all areas of my life.   When I plan, consistency becomes much easier.  I find it is easier to be consistent in my business which tends to then roll over into my personal life.

5) Set goals and see them through.

Goal seeing it not one of my strong points.  I think it has more to do with fear of not succeeding then anything else.  I also tend to play the comparison game and worry about how I measure up to others.  Having an accountability partner and setting small goals every day is helping.   The key is to set your goals, write them down and follow a plan to achieve them.  Everyone’s goals are different and so is the route they take to achieve them! Set them anyway, make a plan and be consistent.

6) Ignore what others are doing.

Do you always check to see what others are doing? Do you spend countless hours on Facebook reading posts, trying to figure out how to get ahead? I was amazed to find out successful people don’t do this – they just don’t care what others are doing.  They have their blinders on and their heads down focused on their goal. They have a plan and are consistently working it.

Those who are successful aren’t following the crowd, they are continuing to learn new things.  Once they learn something new, they figure out how it can be used to help them reach their individual goals.  Whatever your goal, are you willing to invest some time into learning how to make it happen?  Whether it is reaching your goal weight, having a successful business, or reaching the top in your field – it all is achieved when we are willing to invest in ourselves.

What is your best tip for success?  Please share it with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Make A Difference Day

Make a Difference day was started in 1990.  It is a national day devoted to helping others by doing volunteer work in the community. The activity can be almost anything. Today, millions of Americans will participate in community improvement projects. It can take the form of cleanup, fixup, painting, and repair in poorer neighborhoods or in parks and municipal facilities. It doesn’t matter what project you take on. It doesn’t matter whether you help a non-profit organization, the community, your town, nursing home, a church, a food kitchen, or any other group in need.  What matters is that you participate.

This is a great way to get the kids involved in giving back to their community.  Make it a family outing.  The joy on the faces of others as you make a difference in their lives will make a difference in your own life too.  My motto everyday is:

Giving myself away so others smile.

My vision is for a world where women are not judged on their circumstances but empowered to learn from them so that they can have harmony in their life and make a difference in the lives of those around them.

I want to make a difference in the lives of others whether it is with a smile, a card sent in the mail, or holding the door. I want to help them raise funds to pay a bill or for their kids activities or for that special Christmas present.  I want to help them to share their SPARKLE with friends and family.  

Today is the kickoff of my “USA HERO” Campaign.  Now through November 11th (Veteran’s Day), I will be collecting sponsors ($20) for zipper pouches that I will fill and deliver to the local VA Outpatient Hospital.  This is my way of “making a difference” in the lives of those who have sacrificed so much so that we can live in freedom.

Don’t make it just one day a year to “make a difference”.  Consider helping others on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.  I know, the holidays are coming and you say there is no extra money.  Volunteering your time is another way to make a difference.  That random act of kindness can make a difference too.  Small gestures can make big changes.

What will your commitment be to help others today? Make a difference on Make a Difference Day!

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Are You Bored with Life?

When was the last time you had a lazy Sunday afternoon?  You know the kind where everything is done and you are not quite sure what to do with yourself.  If you are a mom, you are thinking, “REALLY? This never happens”.  Okay, so maybe you are feeling like the ONLY things you do anymore are the things you have to do…. run the kids, cook meals, grocery shop, go to work and the list goes on, right?  Maybe you are just bored with your life, going through the motions.  I can attest to the fact that I have been there!

But what about your happiness, your need for inspiration, your absolute requirement for fun and excitement?

Did you put all of those things on the back burner?  Wouldn’t it be GREAT to have just ONE fun thing every month that is just for YOU.  I would say more often but that might scare you away. You can include the rest of the family too but this would be something that brings you pure happiness.

Here 5 ideas that could be a lot of fun and leave you feeling ready to conquer the next hurdle.

1. Host a Potluck Party: No, this should not cause you more stress.  Friends are not coming to see your how clean your house is, they are coming to enjoy your company.  Invite only people you love who make you laugh and you know will leave you with a warm glow at the end of the night.

2. Take a drive with no set destination: Pick a timeframe, pack appropriately, take a friend if you’d like, and do it the old-fashioned way – see where the road takes you. Make plenty of stops along the way, talk to people, and just be spontaneous! This brings back so many memories of Sunday drives with my parents.  Just heading out for the day, no plan just a picnic packed and maybe a general direction.  I am sure they picked a general area, got us there and then we wondered the roads stopping at little shops & enjoyed the sights.  We like to do this when we are in North Carolina ’cause Jersey is just too crowded anymore.

3. Pick up your old hobby.  What was it? Do you even remember? Painting, drawing, music, playing chess, or underwater basket-weaving, it doesn’t matter. Just do something you used to love. I would have gone back to playing the piano but alas no piano.  So, I went back to crafting angels.

4. Help Out. There’s truly nothing like the feeling of helping someone in need. Whether you choose to volunteer, give some change to a homeless person, or donate your used items to charity, it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that what you do gives you that glow inside.  This is a great way to get the whole family to #shareyourgifts.

5. Watch Mother Nature ‘Cause she’s awesome. Start paying attention to everything – the clouds in the sky, the change of seasons, the flower, the moon and the ocean waves.  I have really started to appreciate the beauty of the sky while I am driving.  It is also a great stress reliever when you are sitting at a red light.

If you’re bored with life, it’s a sign that you need to do something different. Start today!  Share with us what you are going to do today!

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

The Business Lesson from Sandy

One year ago today, we were waking up to the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy.  For some their lives had been changed forever losing their home and all of their possessions.  For others, it was a week of inconveniences – no electric, gas lines, etc.  We were blessed in our home to ONLY be without electric for 7 days.  We still had gas so I could cook on the stove.  We had cars full of gas so I was able to charge my phone in the car and drive to the store.  Hubby is a planner so we were ready.   I may never complain again about the piles of batteries or the battery operated radio that take up space on our shelves.  As a hospital employee, Rob spent endless hours working and I took advantage of our close proximity to charge my phone, use their WiFi and network.  Yes, I said network!  Sitting at the hospital coffee shop with my laptop all inside my Thirty One bags allowed me to share how easy it was for us to “get out” if we needed to leave our home.  I was amazed at how many people were truly grateful for their water resistant Thirty One bags.

As I look back, it was a time when we returned to the simple things in life.  For many there was no cell phone connection, or internet so we actually had to talk to family and friends.  Families played games, read books and found ways to connect without technology.  A year later, some are still not back in their homes and are still dealing with the heartache of their loss.  For many of us, life went back to normal.  We are back to depending on cellphones and internet along with television and video games for entertainment.  We have moved on wondering how we survived for a week without technology.

As an entrepreneur/business owner, that was a particularly difficult time as well as the many months following the devastation to our area.  I mean how do you talk to people about booking parties, buying solution sets and thinking about the holidays when some don’t have a home.  This was a great opportunity to build relationships.  Wear your company tee-shirt and help out.  Volunteer and donate items to those in need or to organizations helping those in need.  Fundraising was HUGE and this was a great way to give back to the community while at the same time connecting with potential customers and recruits.  Please do not send me “nasty mail” for this was not the reason that I did what I did in the days following Sandy. Hindsight lets you see how things happen and your business begins to grow from those connections.

The lessons that we learned during that week about kindness and compassion should be carried through in our business everyday.  Find a cause that you are passionate about, volunteer your time without expectations or make a donation to help their fundraising efforts.  When we give, we are also blessed and will see the gifts (not necessarily material) that come back to you.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

#hope