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

I just read a promo for an interview from someone who claims they are making a “7-figure income”, and they share their tips on how we can all do the same, too.

But, here’s the kicker: I personally know that this person does NOT make seven figures, who just let one of their main employees go, and things are NOT going all that well for them! YIKES!

Why do I share this? Here’s why:

How often have YOU read something with a similar claim? How often have you joined in on a teleconference led by someone who claims that THEY are today making 6-7 figures and want you to sign up for their program so you can do the same thing, too? And, have you signed up or purchased what they have to offer, based on their promises?

What is real? Is there any REAL way to know if what the person says is real? Well, sure; in some cases there is. But how often do you do a thorough check into someone who makes such claims?

Now let’s talk about what’s real:

What’s real is what works for you. You take bits and pieces of information from various people/businesses/articles, etc, and you determine how it applies to you.  I have a real issue with people saying “This is what worked for me, and I can show you how to make it work for YOU, too!”

It’s just like me telling you that my headaches are gone since I stopped eating certain foods I tested reactive to, and that if YOU stop eating those same foods, YOU won’t get headaches, either. Give me a break! How does that REALLY help you? It doesn’t, but it sure helps ME… and my bottom line dollar! So, you’ll still have headaches, but your pocketbook will be lighter…

If you’ve been reading my blogs at all, you might hear a prevailing theme, which has more to do with integrity than with how to make a quick buck. There really is no “one size fits all” approach to building a successful business. Sure, there are consistent strategies that work. And I will admit that I have a process that I’ve created that works for MOST of my clients. The process works, but the output is extremely individual. Not every single person who completes one project in my process to move them forward is going to come up with the same results.

And, it is also true that, to ensure a greater chance at business success, one MUST do the planning. Yes, this is universal, and you might say ‘one size fits all’ (there are sections consistent in every business and marketing plan), but that’s not totally true. A business plan determines goals and objectives and milestones, and a marketing plan outlines HOW to accomplish your goals and objectives. But the details of each are going to be very different in each person’s plans.

But, I am NOT going to promise that if people start their business the way *I* did, or follow what *I* do, today, that they are guaranteed the financial success I enjoy, today. I am NOT going to tell anyone that if they do what I do, they will be able to make a full-time income on a part-time schedule, as I do, today.

My path will NEVER be what works for others, and I would never feel in integrity by growing my business by telling someone I’m making a 7-figure income… when I’m not, just to get more clients. What I AM going to continue to do, though, is tell people that I can help YOU dig into your own soul and determine the introspective aspects of starting a business, and then walk you through the planning stage, speaking the language YOU understand, in order to help your vision and dreams jump out of your head and into reality. I’m fine saying that, because I know it works. Not because I’m making false promises or avoiding reality.

I know people are always chasing that ‘perfect solution’. I hear it even from some of those in my own membership program. They are not only doing MY program, but three others, as well! What are they learning? MY hope is they are learning a bit here and a bit there, which they then can apply to their own situation. But, my fear is they are overwhelmed by too much ‘learning’ and not enough doing, and not enough planning, in order to turn those goals and objectives into reality. They are spending less time INSIDE themselves, and too much time chasing a dream. And missing reality.

What is reality? What is YOUR reality? Are you living it, or still striving for it?

Margie

Marjorie Geiser, MBA, RD, NSCA-CPT

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

As I was writing my book “Just Jump“, I spent a great deal of time working on the PERFECT title. I came up with great ideas, *I* thought (my favorite was, ‘you have to jump to see if you can fly’), but then I sent out various options to my R&D team. And, thanks to such a great strategy, came up with THE title. “Just Jump: The No-Fear Start-Up Guide for Health and Fitness Professionals“.

As time goes on, I realize just how perfect that title is, because SO many of my clients are afraid to JUST JUMP!

Now, don’t get me wrong, you DO have to plan, but since I work primarily with health professionals, business planning is not their strong area. So, we tend to start with more introspective work, EASING them into the planning stage of a business plan and a marketing plan.

But the problem I STILL see is people hesitating to JUST JUMP! Oh yea, they’ll start embracing the planning process. In fact, suddenly they are HOOKED on planning. Grin; but that’s just because it’s a great way to avoid the jumping.

How can you take that first jump, yourself? Start with a little hop – maybe something as simple as just handing out your business cards! Or, if you’re waiting until you have a website built (“Oh, it’s not quite ready!”), then set up a blog and just start blogging! People are never going to know who you are unless you TELL them you’re out there!

Jump over here and tell me what your step is… and I do challenge you to JUST JUMP!

Margie

To purchase “Just Jump“, go to www.californiabasedpublishing.com, or visit Amazon.

I’ve noticed an interesting theme through the years. Women clients who are around/over 50 will often tell me that they really don’t have time to strive for that BIG dream, because of their age. I’m really lucky, though, because MOST of them are younger than me, today. This means I can really hit their excuses hard, popping holes in their theory that life is all but over.

When does a person start to believe that the best is behind them? Is it 40? 50? 60? 70?

When I decided to return to school for my business degree, one of my personal training clients, who was 63 at the time, asked me how old I was. At that time, I was 50. She claimed what a wonderful age that was to return to school. She had started HER business when she was 50! And she had no regrets as she was at that time embarking on a new job opportunity.

I turn 56 this summer, and I can guarantee you that I do NOT plan to consider my dreams too late to strive for! MY best is yet to come, for sure. Right now I’m LIVING my dream! Business is going so well that my husband can enjoy tinkering in the yard and accompanying me on several hikes per week.  My goals are written out and the plans to accomplish them are on track.  And I’m having FUN with both work and play.

Living the life you imagine no matter what your age

I don’t plan to slow down or ignore dreams because of my age. And I challenge YOU, if you have fallen into that ‘excuse’ that you’re too old to start a dream, to ask yourself how you’ll feel when you’re REALLY old, looking back at your life. Don’t live with unresolved dreams and goals. Don’t live your life in a way that will provide  you with regrets. Go for all you can, no matter what age you are!

Margie

http://www.meg-enterprises.com