The Perils of Thinking BIG: Progress and Satisfaction is about Embracing Small Steps

Much is said about the importance of the big picture, the end game, the BIG goal. Experts and gurus alike encourage their clients to spend time focusing on envisioning the future they want. At first imagining where you’d like to be in several years time can be daunting, but most of us really get into it. The more we think about what we want in the future, the more excited we get! We picture ourselves in improved circumstances, happy and fulfilled. Finally, we’ve reached our destination! And, the hard work is behind us. Just before we give ourselves a congratulatory pat on the back though, our minds slip back to the present day reality and the wind quickly goes out of our sails. We are suddenly confronted by just how far we have to go. Excitement gives way to overwhelm. Our focus shifts from “this is where I want to go” to “how will I ever get there?”

This is especially true for entrepreneurs, who are constantly defining and redefining their goals and desired business direction. No sooner do we achieve a goal, when another emerges to take its place. So we are quite used to flipping back and forth between feeling excited and overwhelmed. The trouble arises when the goal is so huge and the anxiety about how to get there is so great that paralysis occurs. Unsure of how to chip away at all the work that needs to be done, we do one of two things – stick our heads in the sand making no change at all or completely exhaust ourselves trying to achieve transformation over night. Thinking big doesn’t mean much if you can’t move forward.

So what’s a gal to do? Stop dreaming big? Stop setting goals? No, of course not. The solution is to commit to embracing the small steps and spend more time focused on the present. Most satisfied entrepreneurs will tell you that their success is a result of consistent, everyday action and an incessant focus on what can be done NOW. Many successful people I know spend at least 5 times as much effort moving things forward then getting lost in the big picture. It makes sense, but still sometimes it can be hard to fend off that ‘I need to do it all’ anxiety.

In my experience when I’m feeling anxious or overwhelmed I’ve found it helpful to remember the following six things:

·         Entrepreneurship is always a work in progress. If you learn to embrace the journey instead of always wistfully thinking about the destination, you’ll enjoy it a lot more.

·         As an entrepreneur, you’re gearing up for a marathon not a sprint. Small steps will help you pace yourself and ensure that you have the stamina to make it to your finish line.

·         It is my responsibility to establish routines and habits that make my every day experience enjoyable and rewarding. This goes a long way in enjoying the daily reality of my job.

·         If something feels too big to be actionable then it isn’t broken down enough. Break apart projects as much as you can before you put them on the to-do list.

·         Working backwards is an easier way to create a time bound project plan. Think, if I want to be here in 2 months, what do I need to achieve in 1 month? How about in two weeks? How about next week? How about tomorrow?

·         Some action is better than no action. You can’t always wait for the circumstances to be perfect. Instead, just get started.

How you handle the same challenge? What helps you make progress in the face of a big, daunting goal?

Strategic Entrepreneurship Expert – Adelaide Lancaster of In Good Company from Philadelphia, PA

Adelaide Lancaster, co-founder, is a successful entrepreneur who excels at making business ideas a reality and helping businesses grow to their potential.  Adelaide is both a strategic thinker and a master implementer.  She has spent her professional career dedicated to helping women find work that is meaningful and rewarding. Adelaide was recently featured in the book Upstarts!, as one of 60 Gen-Y entrepreneurs who are rocking the world of business.  Adelaide was co-founder and Principal Partner of Berkman Fives a consulting firm that helped women professionals with career development and advancement and women entrepreneurs with business growth and efficiency. Adelaide also is a contributor to The Huffington Post and Daily Muse.

Adelaide also co-authored the book “The Big Enough Company”.

The Secrets of Happy Success: What Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know

It’s one thing to start a business. It’s quite another to create meaningful and rewarding employment for yourself (and possibly others). The truth is that it’s astonishingly easy to create a business that is unsatisfying. It always surprises me how many unhappy entrepreneurs there are…after all, you’re the boss! Yet, despite clear goals and the best of intentions lots of entrepreneurs make big compromises in order to do what they think it best for the business. They end up feeling overworked, underpaid, stressed out, and alone.

The beauty is they (and they alone) have the power to change their circumstances and to prioritize their own satisfaction. It’s up to them to take advantage of the amazing opportunity that entrepreneurship affords them – the ability to craft a business that delivers the satisfaction they want and deserve.

After working with thousands of entrepreneurs I can tell you that no two go about achieving this goal in the same way. However, I can also tell you that the happiest entrepreneurs do have several things in common.

They all honor these 5 rules to live by:

1.       Don’t go it alone

Entrepreneurship can be a lonely experience. Not only is this emotionally challenging, but it also creates a huge opportunity cost. Your community is your best secret weapon and the most direct route to more support, inspiration, ideas, feedback, and sales! The better connected you are the stronger your business will be.

2.       Do what you do best.

Your job as an entrepreneur is not simply “the doer of things that need to be done.” With a to-do list that never stops multiplying it’s tempting to just dive in and get going. This is a loss for both you and your business. Don’t squander the chance to do work you love every day. Instead, consider where you’re strong, and consider where you’re not. Restructure your schedule to do what you enjoy at least the majority of the time. And, have a good reason for doing tasks you don’t like.

3.       Honor your original goals.

Do you remember why you became an entrepreneur in the first place? Do you still derive that reward from your business? Once they have a few years of experience under their belts many entrepreneurs find little if any trace of their original motivations. Given how hard you work, it matters that you are able to get the benefits you want. So ask yourself, what’s in it for me? What makes all the work worthwhile? Then figure out how your business can deliver.

4.       Build your stamina.

Running a business is a marathon, not a sprint, and it can take a while before you see the financial fruits of your labor. That’s why it’s imperative to maintain your stamina. Bolstering your endurance requires you to adopt a “work smart” mentality and commit to valuing yourself as much as the business. It’s important to also leverage common best practices, such as learning to set boundaries, delegate work, keep a clear focus on goals, and employ small steps towards progress.

5.       Don’t believe the hype, bigger isn’t always better

Our culture tends to glorify size and fixate on numbers. This is even true in the small business world. Entrepreneurs often pursue particular metrics at the expense of their own satisfaction. Measuring success depends on the goals you have for your business. Generate your own definition of success. It may include numbers and metrics but shouldn’t praise growth for growth’s sake. It’s remarkable how differently entrepreneurs grow their companies when they aim for their own benchmarks instead of others’.

Strategic Entrepreneurship Expert – Adelaide Lancaster of In Good Company from Philadelphia, PA

Adelaide Lancaster, co-founder, is a successful entrepreneur who excels at making business ideas a reality and helping businesses grow to their potential.  Adelaide is both a strategic thinker and a master implementer.  She has spent her professional career dedicated to helping women find work that is meaningful and rewarding. Adelaide was recently featured in the book Upstarts!, as one of 60 Gen-Y entrepreneurs who are rocking the world of business.  Adelaide was co-founder and Principal Partner of Berkman Fives a consulting firm that helped women professionals with career development and advancement and women entrepreneurs with business growth and efficiency. Adelaide also is a contributor to The Huffington Post and Daily Muse.

Adelaide also co-authored the book “The Big Enough Company”.

Do You Have A Hard Time Saying No? READ THIS!

6 Surprising Ways to Make Business Travel Easier – Mentally AND Physically

By Sarah Burningham

The modern world is mind-blowing, isn’t it? You can start your day in New York, email people in Los Angeles, and be in London in time for a dinner meeting. How did people do any sort of global business 50 years ago? Sure, they could fly to Hong Kong, but they couldn’t forward their phone calls and communicate with clients in real time while doing it. And yet, for all of these modern technologies, business travel is still exhausting. Probably more so. The fact that you can, and are expected to, continue working, even when you’re 10,000 miles above sea-level, can wear-out even the most energetic of entrepreneurs.

Since launching my business, Little Bird Publicity, 18 months ago, I’ve found myself traveling more than ever (I’m writing this while on a flight to London) and these trips have taught me a few important lessons for staying energized and productive while on the road. And since I wish someone would’ve told me these things long before I packed my first bag, I thought I would share them with you.

1. Check in online. You probably do this already but if you don’t, you must begin on your next trip. Printing your boarding pass at home and knowing that you’re ready to head for security the second you pull up at the airport, starts your trip off right and can give you an extra 20-30 minutes taking care of important stuff at home or the office (stuff like watering your plants and brushing your teeth) before you leave for the airport.

2. Take a cozy sweatshirt. Yes, it takes up precious room in your carry-on, but how many times have you ended up freezing from the uncontrollable temperature in the airplane cabin or just wanting to curl up in your hotel room after a really long day of meetings? Even if you end up using it to cushion your back on a really long flight, you won’t regret it.

3. Give yourself permission to NOT use the in-flight wireless. Here’s the thing about work travel: you end up working 24/7 and yet none your day-to-day work is actually getting done. Which means, at night in the hotel room or when you get back, you have a lot of catching up to do. I know you’re thinking, “Doesn’t that mean I should use the in-flight time to get some of that work done?” No! Don’t underestimate how exhausting the physical process of traveling can be. Give yourself a break and tune out for just a few hours. Read a book. Flip through Vogue. If you must do something “productive,” read a business magazine like Fast Company or write a blog post (like this one). But use the time as your own. No kids. No colleagues. No email. Just you, a bunch of strangers you will never see again, and a flight attendant delivering you water and coffee. Try to enjoy it.

4. Do one thing you will remember. This is harder than it sounds because after all, you’re traveling to get work done, right? But what if you pick one thing–one tourist attraction, one local boutique, 30 minutes in a local art gallery–and try to do that one thing while you’re in town? I was in Kansas City recently, a lovely city I’d never visited before, working with one of my favorite clients, but we got so absorbed in our work that I never got to see the charming downtown area. I just wanted to drive down the main street and yet, I didn’t make the time to do it. And when I got back home I was disappointed in myself for missing the opportunity to see a new place. Next time I’m there, I’m going to plan a dinner meeting in the historic district. That way, I’ll get to actually see some of the city while being productive at the same time. You’ll be surprised how invigorating it is to do something new while you’re traveling for work, and oftentimes you can involve your client and give them a chance to show you something in their hometown. It ends up being a good experience for everyone.

5. Never travel without Q-tips. They are mini, multipurpose miracle workers. Once, while putting on my makeup in a tiny hotel bathroom (it was actually more of a closet than a bathroom), I dropped my eyeshadow brush in the toilet. Bummer, but luckily, I had some Q-tips to do the job until I got home and could replace it. Another time, i got stuck in the last available room right outside the elevator and I could hear the elevator bell dinging the entire night. I pulled the cotton off a few Q-tips, smushed it together, and fashioned some makeshift ear plugs. I’ve even used cotton from Q-tips to cushion a blister on my heel (because you only have so many shoe options when you’re traveling). They are a travel essential.

6. Always have the front desk give you a wake-up call. Yes, your cell phone is great. But what if it dies? What if you accidentally leave it in airplane mode and the time zone doesn’t automatically change? You’re already going to lose sleep just based the fact that you’re in an unfamiliar room, in an unfamiliar bed. Take some of the pressure off so you aren’t waking up every hour to make sure you didn’t sleep through your alarm.

There are countless other tips I could share:

• Take your own headphones–the free ones on the plane suck.
• Bring an apple even it’s just an hour long flight. These days you never know how long you might be stuck on the tarmac.
• If you’re worried about being away and missing important calls, forward your office line to your cell phone while you’re gone. This is actually free with most phone services and super easy.

I’m sure you have some amazing travel tips as well since I can always use advice to make traveling easier (who can’t?), I hope you’ll share them. Is there one thing you always pack? A service you can’t imagine not using? A toiletry item that has changed your life? Please share. And in the meantime, happy travels! (I’m off to indulge in a few rounds of solitaire. Rule #3, remember?)

Sarah Burningham, founder of Little Bird Publicity offers 10 years of publicity, marketing and branding experience to her clients. Before founding Little Bird in 2009, Sarah worked in publicity and marketing at a number of national publishers, including HarperCollins imprints REGAN, HarperStudio, and William Morrow. Sarah is the author of How to Raise Your Parents: A Teen Girl’s Survival Guide and Boyology: A Teen Girl’s Crash Course in All Things Boy. She’s been featured on many national shows along with local TV and radio programs around the country. She writes an advice column with ABC Family and is working on a third book, also for tween and teen girls. Twitter @SarahBurningham

How to Hire Employees When You Can’t Afford to Hire Employees

By Kim Flynn

Before we talk about how to hire employees when you can’t afford them, let’s build a little foundation. Think back to when you started your business.

In an ideal world, we would all announce our business was open and immediately customers would come running and line up outside of our establishment. I am the founder of five businesses and so far, this has never happened to me. Nope, I have had to pour money into the business before it is profitable. I have had to spend money on marketing before I made my first dollar. This is a known and accepted fact for most business owners–we know we have to spend $5 on marketing to make $15 in profits. We have to step into the dark, spend some money on marketing and hope that it comes back to us with a nice return. We accept this risk along with millions of other men and women who take this risk every day as they head into the world of entrepreneurship.

Fast forward a couple of years. That same risk-taking business owner that took that initial step into the dark now has a business up and running. She is working really hard and making some money but because she spends so much time running the business she is getting nowhere fast. Sound familiar? Most entrepreneurs find themselves in this position, in what I call the “swamp” of business. They have seen some success, but feel stuck and don’t know how to take their business to the next level.

Do you want to know the secret to taking your business to the next level? Here is the big secret: you need to hire employees to do the work for you. That’s it. That’s all. For you to grow your business, you must move beyond the world of solo-preneur and into the world of leadership. If you don’t hire employees, your business is nothing more than a glorified job, and statistically you will work more hours and get paid less than if you just worked a regular job. Disheartening, isn’t it?

So why are business owners so hesitant to move to the next level of business ownership? Why do so many women in particular get stuck in this swamp stage? I have coached hundreds of women on this topic and this is the response I usually get: I don’t have the money to hire employees.

That excuse doesn’t fly with me ladies! You didn’t have money to put into marketing before you made your first dollar, and yet you did it. You aren’t going to make money as a solo-preneur either until you are ready to step into the dark and make that leap of faith.

Do you remember that Indiana Jones movie when Indiana is standing in front of a giant cliff, and he sprinkles dirt in front of him and a glass bridge appears? Then he does what all successful business owners have learned to do: he steps off the cliff and onto that bridge, having faith that it would be under his feet. And it is!

That has been my experience in hiring. If I wait until my company is rolling in the dough before I hire an employee, I will be waiting an eternity. If I spend all of my time doing the mundane day-to-day workings of my business, I won’t have enough time to spend on the things that really matter. And the things that really matter are always things that will bring in more customers (marketing) and take your business in a new, upward direction (leadership). It is impossible to move into the creative, big-picture mentality that a leader needs if you are answering customer phone calls and putting out daily fires.

So here is your challenge: make a list of all of the things in your business that you hate to do, things I call energy-suckers, and hire it out! Yes, you will have to pay some grateful college student $10/hour to do it, but assuming your college student will work 20 hours a week, you will have 80 more hours a month to focus on marketing and leadership. Imagine how much value you can create in your business with 80 more hours a month.

Put that ad up on Craig’s list, and take that step into the dark sister!

Kim Flynn is a devoted wife and mother of four, as well as a business coach, a speaker, and the passionate founder of five businesses. If you have an established business and are struggling to take it to the next level, she can help you design an organized business that aligns with your life. Visit her website at www.KimFlynn.com

It’s Never Too Late For a Game Changing Resolution

By Cindy W. Morrison

It’s never too late for a game changing resolution…even in the middle of March. If you haven’t noticed we seem to make the same resolutions over and over again: Lose weight. Quit smoking. No more cussing. Maybe we opt for the same things every year because it’s easy and comfortable. Maybe we target a vice because TV commercials and society tell us we “should”. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with dropping a bad habit, but what if this year, you resolve not to lose but instead gain?

That’s why I decided to up the ante and tackle something for my 2011 resolution that would really change my life: make more money in 2011. And I’m not talking about a 5-10% increase, like those obligatory 5-10 pounds we discuss year after year. I’m talking about adding a zero on the end of my annual income. Want to join me because with the right plan, it IS attainable in 2011.

Step One: Getting the RIGHT Coach

Sorry to burst your bubble, but there is NO magic pill. No matter what your resolution, there is no easy way to make it instantly happen. But getting the RIGHT person to help you come up with a game plan is vital. As for me? I don’t mess around. I got two of the best coaches in the country to help my 2011 resolution come true:Tory Johnson from Good Morning America and small business coach Michelle Pippin. Tory and I met through twitter a year ago and I got to know Michelle when I attended their firstSpark and Hustle conference in Atlanta last summer. The conference is all about helping women entrepreneurs and small business owners make sure their profits equal their passion. I loved what I learned so much that I made the investment to do their income intensive.

They helped me realize I’d built a wildly popular brand in record time with zero budget and I sold more copies of my book“Girlfriends 2.0″ in the first month of release than the vast majority of first time authors EVER sell. But if I want to truly add a zero on to what I’d already done, I needed to develop programs to coach others how to do what I’ve done. We put the wheels in motion for my new consulting business called SOCIALVENTION: coaching folks how to reinvent or up their game by strategically using social media and networking.

(Remember.. your coach is an INVESTMENT! Don’t agree to get training wheels from the chick down the street who thinks she might be a great life coach. And you’re never too old, good or wealthy to have a coach. The best coaches I know have a coach themselves to stay on the cutting edge, be accountable and stay on their game.)

Step Two: Put Your Hustle In The RIGHT Place

I learned from my coaches that you need to put your hustle in the RIGHT place, not just any place. In 2010 I hustled for everything everywhere because I was starting my own business from scratch after a 20 year career as an Emmy winning TV news anchor and investigative reporter. In 2010, I felt like I was one dog and pony show away from being a country singer. I pledged no more exhaustion, but instead strategy.

So, what hustle will add a zero? With 22,000+ followers, strategically utilizing social media continues to open doors, create a loyal following and build my new consulting business. On the other hand, client lunches are time suckers. Where would it best pay off to put YOUR hustle? Where are you spinning your wheels? Chart out your week and I think you’ll be surprised by the time suckers and the big payoffs.

Step Three: Take “Should” Out of Your Vocabulary

Sometimes do you feel like you’re being “should” all over? How often do you do something for your business because you’re told you should.  Strike the word! It will cost you time, effort and money. For example, you’ve spent years with a networking group because you’re told you “should”. Have you ever gotten a client or earned a dollar because of those events? Maybe YOU need to decide what’s right for your business or which networking group (if any) is right for you.

These are just a few of the things that can help you GAIN in 2011 instead of LOSE. The right coach, the right hustle and doing what works for you can and will make a difference in this new year. But remember don’t just plan to do those things but instead actually DO them. It’s not an easy resolution for 2011 but it’s a good way to make this your best year ever! Good luck! And I’d love to hear from you what’s working and the gains you make: Cindy@CindyWMorrison.com.

Cindy Morrison is the Emmy award winning TV Broadcaster who has successfully reinvented herself after the economy lead to corporate downsizing. Leaving a 20 year news career behind, Cindy wrote a book called, “Girlfriends 2.0”  and hit the speaking circuit and created her own consulting business. She now coaches entrepreneurs to corporate executives to reboot, upgrade and reinvent by using powerful tools like social media, branding and video presence. Tory Johnson, the founder of Spark and Hustle and the workplace contributor on Good Morning America calls Cindy her favorite social media strategist and Stiletto Magazine named her one of the Top 25 Most Amazing Women in America. Cindy’s story has been featured everywhere from FOX News to CBS’s “The Talk” and The Wall Street Journal to the Times Square Gossip page. Twitter @CindyWMorrison

Why You Need to Drop the Guilt

By, Cindy W. Morrison

As I sat at my daughter’s rehearsal, I should have been all smiles and full of pride. But I wasn’t it. I wasn’t watching her steps and enjoying her smile. No… instead I was tense, preoccupied and frantically answering emails on my iPhone. Why? Well, I really didn’t have a clue that anything was the matter until the lights came up and all the other mother’s were applauding. (What?! Did I really just miss EVERYTHING! Oops…). As my eyes began to adjust to the bright auditorium, only one thing came to mind: Guilt. Yep, I felt guilty for working when I should have been playing. But hey, maybe I was working BECAUSE I felt guilty for playing when I should have been working. Did I lose you? Welcome to the world of GUILT.

This feeling is nothing new to me. I mean, I grew up in the South, where there is plenty of guilt to spread around! Let’s see… where should I start? Leave the house without lipstick? Guilt! (If you doubt that? Ask my Mom! Speaking of my Mom…) If I don’t call my parents in Texas enough. Guilt! Since I’m a People Pleaser, I can’t say no and I generally end up over-scheduling my schedule. Guilt! After all the stress of reinventing myself, I’m too tired for a little something-something with my husband. Guilt! But I thought my guilt of being a working mom would go away when I could “work the schedule around my kids” after my lay-off. Ha!

For 20 years, I worked morning until night as a TV news anchor and investigative reporter. At a moment’s notice I was ready to leave because of breaking news and always had a bag packed. I’d spent nights at the station when major storms rolled in. And I thought I always had to be reachable 24/7. Uffda. (That’s a hat tip to my great Minnesota friends…) Being ready to leave meant a babysitter on-call. Spending nights at the station meant a fab husband. And being reachable 24/7? That meant I wasn’t always there for my kids. Was I a journalist or a Mother? Oh dear… more GUILT!!

That’s why I thought things would change when the economy took a turn and I got laid off. As an entrepreneur, I could structure my work around my kids, right? Seriously… How hard could it be? I’d be working from home, for goodness sake! Lol! I soon learned, beginning my “work” after they went to school and then stopping by the time they got home didn’t leave much time to write a book, create a business and market the whole dang thing by myself. Even my hubby (God bless him) wondered why I hadn’t cleaned house since I was working from home. Seriously?! DOUBLE GUILT!!!

What I finally realized today? We CAN’T do it all! Superwoman is a GREAT idea but that’s why she’s a cartoon character! The fact is, we are REAL women who are trying to do all the right things while going in a thousand different directions. So, let’s STOP the guilt, take a deep breath and try to do one good thing at a time. Hmmmm… maybe we could even enjoy that one thing while we do it! What a concept!

I vote we take an oath right now:
WE ARE *NOT* GOING TO FEEL GUILTY JUST TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING!!!!
Let’s say that all together…
WE ARE *NOT* GOING TO FEEL GUILTY JUST TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING!!!!

Yes, feel guilty when you do something you shouldn’t. Feel guilty if you screwed up. But DON’T feel guilty for trying to do it all, Girlfriend! Sometimes our personal lives and work collide. But as much as you can, give yourself permission to ENJOY life! For me? How awesome that my new “situation” means I can set my own hours! That’s right, I can enjoy spending time at my daughter’s rehearsal, even if it means staying up later to get work done. I don’t have to feel guilty because I’m not working during traditional work hours. Sure… I might get less sleep.. but it doesn’t mean I have to feel guilty! Create the life that works best for YOU!!

So, shed the guilt and live your life the way you want to live it! It doesn’t mean you have to do it the way your neighbor does it or the way your mother did it. Chart a new course and ditch the guilt! As long as you’re living life fully and trying to do what’s right for you, the word guilt shouldn’t even be a part of your vocabulary. I can promise you… the next rehearsal I won’t be checking my iPhone for work emails. Instead I’ll be using that cool gadget to take pictures because work will always be there. I now know there should be no guilt for doing what I need to do but also I’ll have no guilt for living in the moment.

Cindy W. Morrison is the Emmy award winning TV Broadcaster who has successfully reinvented herself after the economy lead to corporate downsizing. Leaving a 20 year news career behind, Cindy wrote a book called, “Girlfriends 2.0”  hit the speaking circuit and created her own consulting business. She now teaches people how to reboot, upgrade and reinvent through networking, social media and branding so they can make more money and live a better life. As a consultant, Cindy’s clients range from TV stations to major universities to heavy hitting corporations. Twitter @CindyWMorrison

Infusing Personal Style To Professional Attire in 2011

By Sarah Ward

When you think of professional attire, is a traditional navy blue pantsuit with a predictable white collared dress shirt the first thing that comes to mind? It very well may be! As an image consultant, I’m happy to tell you that dressing professionally doesn’t need to be boring or predictable. For 2011, let’s infuse personal style into your business attire.

There are several things you can do to bring personal style into your professional attire. In the photo sequence below, we’ve shown you five different ways to style a versatile black blazer, infusing personal style into each. From left to right:

1. A traditional black suit gets an infusion of personality with a red top and matching obi belt, providing drama and pizzazz with the color contrast and unique styling.
2. A black skirt suit can be easily paired with a vibrant teal turtleneck. When you take the jacket off, you have an attractive hourglass silhouette.
3. A satin empire waist blouse with abstract shapes blends beautifully with the black blazer and the brown pulls out the color of her eyes. As an unmatched suit with white pants, the look is professional, yet accessible. (My black kitten, in the bottom left corner of the image, matches perfectly!)
4. Rolling up the sleeves on the black blazer gives this traditional staple a trendy, relaxed look. Combine that with dangly earrings and a billowy silk blouse in a floral floral print and the look becomes more informal.
5. With the rolled up sleeves, the jacket is right on trend with on the boyfriend blazer look and is a fun combination with the vintage tunic and dark wash skinny jeans. The look is youthful and decidedly creative.

As you can see, it’s not just what you wear, it’s how you wear it.

Here are some ways that you can add personal style into your professional attire in 2011:

• If you’re required to wear a suit jacket but you feel overwhelmed wearing the traditional style jacket, look for one with a curved collar instead of the standard angular lapel. The rounder shapes will soften the look for you.
• To spice up your suit jacket, try accessorizing. A brooch, matching belt, or colorful scarf will go a long way in adding some flair.
• To soften the professional look, trade in your collared shirts for blouses in colors that complement your personal coloring. For example, if you have brown hair, blues will look great on you.

• Wear a vest. The vest has made a major comeback recently. Buttoned up, a vest can emphasize a great waistline, or be left unbuttoned for a more relaxed look. Vests even look terrific over Tees.
• Try a cardigan. The softer version of the suit jacket, a cardigan will provide you an extra layer to help you look more capable, but can also give you added warmth and coverage to hide any figure variations like a full bust or leftover baby weight.

Do you still feel clueless about personal style? If you’re dying to discover your personal style, I have an easy exercise for you.

One thing I recommend for my clients to do is go through fashion magazines, pulling out pictures of clothes, accessories, and looks they love, then start a Personal Style file. This simply exercise is a great way to help you recognize what your unique personal style embodies. Starting a Personal Style file will allow you to identify your personal style preferences and give you ideas for items you can add into your wardrobe this year.

Nobody said business attire has to be boring. Add some personal style to your work wardrobe and create a look that’s that uniquely yours!

Images & Text Copyright 2011 Sarah Ward & Cable Car Couture

Sarah Ward is the owner of Cable Car Couture Image Consulting and is passionate about making you magnificent! She enjoys working with business owners, brides, entrepreneurs, work-at-home moms, and teenagers alike.

Sarah received her formal image consulting training from the Conselle Institute of Image Management, the nation’s premiere image institute, and is an active member of AICI, the Association of Image Consultants International. She has been featured on Good Things Utah, Bride Access TV, and Job Talk Radio.

At Cable Car Couture, we help you flatter your figure, express your one-of-a-kind personal style and be your best self. We’ve got you covered. Email: sarah@cablecarcouture.com

Owning Your Role as CEO

By Kim Flynn

I want you to consider the three most powerful letters in business: CEO. And next to those three powerful letters, I want you to consider the most powerful word in your experience: your name. So many women struggle with owning those three powerful letters next to their name. Let’s talk about owning our role as CEO.

I learned this lesson the hard way. I started my first business when I was 24 years old, and have started a new company about every 2 years since. I currently have four active businesses and one in development, I have been in business for 11 years, I employ about 30 people, and I still have had to learn many, many times that I need to step up and own my role as CEO.

Why do you need to own your role as CEO, you ask? Let me tell you what will happen if you don’t. Many of you are married or in a close relationship (whether that is with a boyfriend, or even with your mom). If you are in a relationship, there WILL come a time in your business life when you need to step into the dark and do something new.

So let’s say you need to learn how to set up an autoresponder drip email sequence in aweber, and you are freaking out. Even the name sounds intimidating. And your dear sweet hubby sees you struggling, and you are happy to have the help, so you bring him on to help you with your autoresponder drip sequence. That isn’t the problem. Having hubby help you is a wonderful thing, and you are not giving away your power by getting help.

The problem is when you have one way you want to do it, and your dear hubby has another way that he thinks would be better. You might say to yourself, “Well, I really like my way, but my husband is a smart man and makes a good income for our family, so I am going to trust his judgment above my own and follow his direction.” In that moment, you just gave away your power. You are no longer CEO of your company.

Now this is totally different from him having a great idea and you liking that idea and changing your mind to go with his. That is just called using other people’s great ideas. I have no problem with that and do that all of the time! What I do have a problem with is when you choose his idea over your own great idea because you trust him over yourself.

The problem with you giving away your power is your company now has two heads. You have one idea of where the company should head, and he has another idea of where the company should head, and it ends up getting pulled in two different directions. It results in you feeling frustrated that you don’t have ownership, and him feeling unvalued because you aren’t listening to his advice.

If you haven’t hit your head on this problem yet, it is time to hit your head on it. It is time to draw a line in the sand (and you may have to redraw this line every month for the next six years) and say, “Darlin’, I love you, but this is my company. I would like to make my own mistakes.” And then give yourself permission to jump in, standing on your own two feet, not needing permission from anyone, and start making some GREAT mistakes.

Kim Flynn is a devoted wife and mother of four, as well as a business coach, a speaker, and the passionate founder of five businesses. If you have an established business and are struggling to take it to the next level, she can help you design an organized business that aligns with your life. Visit her website at www.KimFlynn.com

The Evening Routine

Heather Ledeboer

As a wife, mom and business owner, my day can get filled up and stressful pretty fast.  In order to prevent it from swallowing me up, I have found that I need to be proactive about keeping things organized.  Surpassingly, what I do before I go to bed has some of the largest impact on how smoothly my day progresses.  Just as you have often heard that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” I believe that the morning hours are the most critical in setting the stage for how the rest of the day will unfold.  As such, the better I can plan for a smooth morning, the more productive and stress free it can be.

In the past it never occurred to me to write about the things I do at night before I go to bed because they have become natural to me and I often assume they are in turn natural to others as well. However, this routine has developed over time and as such perhaps some of you might enjoy a peek into what I do and in turn, have parts of your routine that you would be willing to share with me! Together we can become more organized and productive with our day. Sound good? (Envision us in a small football huddle with our arms out stretched toward the middle ready to cheer) ”Goooooo Team Mom!”

For the purpose of comparative info, Hunter is seven and Ashlyn just turned five. Hopefully this will help you gauge your own kids and how you might be able to adapt this to your own family. Ready?

Evening Routine:

I will start of by saying that putting the kids to bed is potentially the most stressful part of my day. I am not sure why. No one is standing over my shoulder asking if my kids will be in bed by ______? And I don’t have an appointment I need to get to once they are asleep. Perhaps it is the knowledge that once they are in bed “my time” begins and I feel selfish with this part of my day since it is so fleeting. On many nights I am blessed that my husband is an active part of putting the kids to bed which really helps to make it less stressful. I blogged about our typical bedtime about a year ago. A few things that I have found to help us with putting the kids to bed:

-I have recently moved up dinner time from 6:00 to between 5:00 and 5:30. We aim for a 7:00 bedtime with the kids and I found that in starting dinner at six, I was simply asking to feel “behind” before we even got started. The earlier dinnertime has really helped me feel more relaxed and less rushed in moving toward bedtime.

-After dinner I start the dishwasher (if needed) and unload (later, before I go to bed) so that in the morning it is “open for business” which prevents the sink from filling up with dirty dishes.

-When it is time to get ready for bed, I set a timer for Hunter as I found that he responds well to the forced focus of being held accountable to the clock. I give him 3-4 minutes to put on his PJ’s and 2 minutes to brush his teeth.

-Ashlyn does not do well with a timer, in fact it produces the opposite effect for her and she freezes up and can’t seem to do anything as she gets so upset and stressed out by it. For her, I find that giving her one task at a time and having her verbally repeat back to me what she is going to do works well.

“Ashlyn, go put your PJ’s on. Now say, ‘Mommy I am going to put my PJ’s on now.’”

Asking her to repeat back to me what she is going to do seems to help cement in her mind her next action which is helpful as she tends to be a bit “flighty” in her thinking otherwise and is easily distracted. Therefore I think it is best to feel out what works well for your child’s personality here.

-We take a few minutes each night for the kids to go check their room and make sure it is cleaned up. Making a point to straighten their rooms each evening for a few minutes helps prevent disasters from occurring.

-Hunter’s uniform (including socks and underwear) are set out at night so that in the morning he can quickly and easily get dressed without hunting for a missing shirt or sock or. . .

After the kids are in bed (yeah!):

Our bedtime goal for the kids is 7:00PM and I shoot for a personal bedtime of 10:00PM. So on an ideal night I would have three hours after the kids go to bed to accomplish the following and still have some remaining “down time.”

-I pack Hunter’s lunch and put it in the fridge. I include a short handwritten note. He seems to like these . From time to time I will also include a picture that Ashlyn has drawn for him. When he brings his lunch bag home after school and I unpack it, I store the notes in a little box in the cabinet. I think he might enjoy browsing through them some day in the future.

-I clean the kitchen and wipe down the counters and sink. After I clean the sink, I use the same wash rag to quickly wipe down the sink and counter top in the kid’s bathroom before putting it in the laundry. Then I do a general straightening of the house. If I wake up to a clean house, it sets the mood in a much more positive, productive tone and I don’t feel that I am already starting the day “behind”.

-I decide what I will do for breakfast in the morning.  Some popular choices include:

cereal–when I don’t feel like doing anything “fancy” or time consuming.
crepes–these take some time to prepare but are great for making ahead at night and are super yummy!
pancakes or waffles–they can be made ahead and frozen and then simply put in the toaster in the morning. I like to mix up a large batch of my own pancake “bisquick” mix (see recipe at the bottom of this post) in order to use whole wheat.  Although I like my current recipe, I am going to try this soaked version next time and compare.
oatmeal–I chose to soak the oatmeal overnight.  Not only is it better for you (read the link) but it makes it QUICK and easy in the morning.  Below is my oatmeal soaking for tomorrow’s breakfast (I cover it overnight and then simply warm it up in the morning).

-I get the kitchen ready for morning by setting out their dishes, vitamins and a list of tasks that they need to complete before we leave the house for school.

-Ashlyn cannot read much yet but she still gets a list.  It is sort and mostly the same each morning (get dressed, make bed, eat breakfast and put away dishes and brush teeth).  I feel that the repetition of seeing this list helps her learn the words and feel “old enough” to be responsible for her one routine like her older brother.  Hunter’s list is set up to require him to be fully ready for school by the time he is finished and includes things like putting his lunch (from the fridge) into his backpack.

-As a side note: The “do homework” part of Hunters list that he does in the morning includes a daily timed reading list of words (it takes him 1-2 minutes) and writing out his spelling words once (this takes about 2-3 minutes).  Although he could do these things after school, I find that doing them before makes the after school time easier.

-If I have any clean laundry in the dryer (I try to start a load to wash in the morning giving me all day to get it finished and put away) I will fold it and put the piles of clean clothes in the kid’s rooms to be put away the next day (I have them put away their own laundry).

-I set out what I am going to wear in the morning and take a shower if needed.

-RELAX knowing my morning is ready  !

“Pancake (or waffle) Master Mix”
8 cups whole wheat pastry flour (this is soft white wheat for any of you who might grind your wheat)
2 cups unbleached white flour
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/3 cup baking powder (try to find a kind that doesn’t have aluminum in it)
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 Tablespoon salt
2 cups shortening that does not require refrigeration (you can use Crisco, but I have switched to using coconut oil because I believe it is much healthier. In the summer months however, I may have to keep my mix in the fridge or freezer though or else my oil will be liquid as coconut oil is a solid for me this time of year but melts at 76 degrees).

In a large bowl, combine flours, wheat germ, baking powder, brown sugar and salt.  Cut in shorting (or coconut oil) until the mixture resembles course crumbs (when using solid coconut oil I mix this all in my food processor and it does a great job).  Store in a large container for up to 6 weeks.  Makes 12 to 14 cups.

To use for pancakes or waffles:
-2 cups “master mix”
-2 eggs
-1 cup milk (or buttermilk)

Beat the eggs, add milk to desired consistency with this master mix, stirring until blended but still slightly lumpy.  Pour about 1/4 cup batter onto hot griddle or pan. Cook till golden, turning to cook other side.  Makes 8 pancakes.

I love using my coconut oil for frying too by the way.  Here is where I buy my coconut oil and so far this is the best price I have found for the quality (including the shipping cost which is fairly reasonable). I get the 7 pound bottle of extra virgin coconut oil which is $3.90 per pound).  7 pounds may seem like a lot, but because it is so versatile (you can use it in place of any kind of fat in recipes and it is even great as a skin moisturizer or make up remover) that after only 6 weeks I am ready to order another bottle!  In fact, I just realized that my good friend Selina just put up a new post about coconut oil so I will simply encourage you go click on over to her blog and read more if you are not yet using this stuff but are intrigued about why I think you should consider it!

Ideally, something about my routine sparked something in you that will help your evenings (and therefore your mornings) go more smoothly.  If you have any tips of your own, please share!  And if you have any questions, feel free to ask away!

Heather Ledeboer, Mom4Life, Heather Ledeboer is passionate about helping other moms succeed in business. Her passion is directed at finding fantastically fresh mom invented products and offering them on her website, http://www.mom4life.com with free shipping to all US locations. She also enjoys writing on the topic of business and has a particular pet peeve about providing excellent customer service. Twitter @mom4lifecom

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