One huge theme I hear these days is how overwhelmed people are. They don’t say, “Oh, I’m so overwhelmed!” They say they don’t have time, they wonder why they’re bothering with their business, they have no life, and they are exhausted.

Sound like you?

Well, how do you overcome this overwhelm? Here are three simple steps. Yea, really, as simple as this:

Step 1 – Removed from your daily planner, print up a generic schedule that gives you a grid of every hour in a full week. Print it up and do this manually. Computers still don’t work for EVERYTHING. Shade out all of your personal time, such as sleeping, eating, caring for kids/family, etc. Shade out self-care time, such as exercise or relaxing (yea, it should be on there). Then shade out any work/client time – this is the time you actually work on bringing revenue in. This can also include time spent charting, etc.  The time you have left over is the time you have to work ON your business. Perhaps NOW you can see why you’re so stressed! You’ve been trying to work on the business with time you don’t have! Just by being aware of the time you have available can put it all into perspective and help relieve some of your stress.

Step 2 – Learn to say no. It’s a simple suggestion I give ALL of my clients. When an opportunity comes your way, always, always, always ask yourself this question: Does this help me achieve my goals right now? If the answer is no, then kindly refuse, BUT keep the door open by saying, “I’m sorry, I can’t do this right now, but please contact me at another time.” You’ll be surprised how that keeps the door open.

Step 3 – Write down your goals for the week, and then break it down into your goals for the day. Keep it simple, keeping in mind the time you’ve learned you actually have (as opposed to the time you IMAGINED you “Should” have). Then prioritize your goals for the day. And then stick to it. If you get distracted easily (email, Facebook, Twitter, the phone) turn these things off. Imagine you’re in school, in class. Distractions are NOT an option. Try this just once and see how productive you are!

These really are three simple steps to move you out of feeling overwhelmed and into feeling in control of your time. Give it a try and let me know how it works!

Ok, my distraction is over. Time to get back to work!

Margie

Marjorie Geiser, MBA, RD, NSCA-CPT

Chair, Nutrition Entrepreneurs Dietetic Practice Group, ADA

MEG Enterprises

Just Jump

What does it really mean to say, “I am doing my best”, or “she is doing her best”? Honestly, to ME, it’s saying, “well, I’m SORT OF doing my best, although I deep-down know I could do even more/better.”

Do you hear the top names in your industry saying “I’m just doing my best”? No, because they’re too busy DOING than talking about it!

I’ve had others say that to me, but it’s always felt like they were trying to give me an excuse for NOT doing what I KNEW was my best. Compare that with someone who has asked me, “Do you feel you have done your best?”

This week, how can you do MORE than your ‘best’? How can you excel at what you strive for? Take just one project and put your all into it and see what develops. And then let me know if you did ‘your best’, or if you totally went for it! OR, as I tend to say in my book, you decided to JUST JUMP!

Margie

Marjorie Geiser, MBA, RD, NSCA-CPT

MEG Enterprises

If I don’t literally hear it from my clients, I sense it. I tell them they HAVE to complete their business plan, and I hear “YUCK!!!” It’s even worse once I start discussing the cash flow projection worksheet.

But, I have to say, TO A PERSON, every single client who completes the entire process – business plan (including SWOT analysis and cash flow projections), marketing plan and marketing calendar – come out the other end THRILLED with the clarity and focus for success!

I work with health professionals who are extremely knowledgeable in areas of health and fitness. But business is NOT their thing. And, they don’t HAVE to become extremely knowledgeable in it. But they DO need to be clear what they want to create, what milestones they’d like to see to help them track their progress, identify exactly what products and services they want to offer, and where they would like to be in, say, ten years from now. Then they have a template from which to create the plan to market these services! And this is the plan for success.

Sometimes we have to sweat in order to achieve our goals. For some, this sweating is sitting down, putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and hashing out the plans for success. It works every time!

So, if YOU find yourself avoiding the planning process, don’t fall into the trap that too many other companies fall into (which leads to failure); do the planning for success so you avoid failure!

Margie

http://www.meg-enterprises.com

If you want to get your business up and running NOW, and need intensive help getting going, check out the MEG Enterprises Intensive 8-Hour Strategy Session program.

We lost a shining star last last week, and I lost a client and a very special person. A personal training client I had worked with since 1999 lost her battle with congestive heart disease, caused by radiation for cancer many years ago.

But she left an incredible legacy and stands as a shining example of what a difference we all can make in the lives of others.  After she retired from her own business, she consulted for an international company, traveling the world, even as her health deteriorated to where she could not travel alone, or without oxygen.  She even became the president of her national professional organization, and was recently awarded Alumni of the Year from her medical school she attended so many years earlier. Yet she felt it was improper to feel pride. And she was always striving to do more and have a purpose, even as her activity decreased. Her purpose was to serve and make a difference for those coming behind her. Yea, she left a legacy that she’ll never really realize.

What will YOUR legacy be? What are you creating right now? Is it by chance, or are you clear what footprint you wish to leave on this earth?

There comes a time in all of our lives where we wonder what is next for us. Some people stress a great deal over it, in fact. I know, because I work with many people who are making huge changes in their lives/futures. Sure, it’s scary and represents great uncertainty, but it can also be viewed as an AMAZING time! What other creatures can change the focus and direction of their lives?

If you can’t answer my initial question, here are some questions to help walk you through coming closer to the answer:

1.What do you value most in life? It might be independence, it might be power, it might be service.

2. Where does your greatest passion lie? Stop and consider what conversations light you up. There is a consistency to it, even if you’re not aware of what that is.  When I ask clients this question the first time, often they don’t know. But in conversation I am able to point this out, usually quite easily. I’m sure others notice it, too.

3. Imagine the end of your life and you are sitting on the porch, talking about what you have accomplished. Draft that conversation and focus on just one thing you would like to highlight.

There you go! My client was extremely accomplished, but she was so because she felt it important to serve her profession and help others succeed. None of her accomplishments were for her own satisfaction; it was just who she was and knew this was her destiny. I’m thrilled that she received many acknowledgements for her accomplishments before the end of her life.

We all should be so lucky as to listen to our heart and live our destiny. But I don’t think it’s by chance. We must forge our path and be fearless in following it.

What is YOUR legacy?

Margie

Again I am prompted to comment on the information spread by people who have no education or background in nutrition science. Apparently an actress just shared on her new TV show that grapes are fattening and that if you scoop out the inside from a bagel that you get rid of the ‘bad’ calories.

Interesting. I’d LOVE to hear your comments about this!

Then here are my questions:
1. Do you believe either of these statements?

2. What would lead you to believe (or not believe) either of these statements?

We’ll go from there after I get feedback. Just curious.

Margie