Prepare for success in 2009

“Success is waking up in the morning, whoever you are, wherever you are, young or old, and getting out of bed because there’s something you love to do, what you believe in, what you’re good at, something that’s more bigger than you, and you can’t wait to do it again today. -Whit Hobbs

Are you ready to kick some butt this year? Did you jump out of bed this morning ready to go? If you’re like most women, you get out of bed in the morning with a ‘ho hum’ attitude. And then you wonder why you’re not as successful as you think you should be. Breaking news for you. If this sounds like you, then you better say ‘Wake up, Alice’ because this is not living and this is not success. It’s sleepwalking through your life. It is resigning to your life. Yuck, who wants to live life like this?

Success is an inside job. If you are not excited and ambitious about where you are and what you are doing in your life, then do something about it: change it.

Now granted, for those of you who know me or have been reading my ezine for a while you know that I literally don’t jump out of bed in the morning. I start my day with peace and my coffee. My head is always full of ideas and things to do, so I do some writing (journaling) and reading a meditation to clear my head and mentally prepare for my day. There is a method to my madness.

Bottom line! If what you’re doing right now isn’t getting you closer to your goal, then you need to stop doing it and start doing something else that works.

Here are 8 success strategies I use to coach other women who want to create quantum leaps in their businesses and lives.

Now, I know you’re probably saying to yourself right now, I’ve heard all of this before. If you know about them, use them, and are getting results, read no further. However, if you’re not getting the results you want in your business, I think you’d do well to review them and take action.

1. DEFINE what success means to you. You can’t go there if you don’t know where you’re going. Could it be more free time to enjoy your successes, more money, more productivity, more fun, more options? You say it. It is your career and your life. Write it down, make it real. Read “Write It Make It Happen” by Henriette Klauser.

two. Use your Core Values ​​to make all your decisions. How many of you know what your core values ​​are? Core values ​​are who we are. They are not who we think we are, who we want to be, or who we think we should be. An example: How many of your current choices reflect your core values? How many are must and how many are options.

3. Start setting limits, say no. How many of you have a hard time saying no to everyone else except YOU? Example: How many of you think that just because you have an open door policy in your office means that you have to always be available? How many of you think you can’t say NO because you won’t like them?

Four. Ask what you want. How many of you find it hard to ask for what you want? Your success is tied to your ability to make effective requests, promises, and offers. Example: Request/ Request components: speaker, listener, action to perform, and time frame to perform the action.

5. Say what you mean and mean what you say. How many of you dance around a theme because you are afraid of the result it would produce?

6. Master the art of presenting ideas and managing difficult conversations. There are guidelines. Most people are caught off guard and don’t get what they want because they aren’t clear on what they want before they have conversations. Example: Promotion, Management Idea, Breakdown with Employee.

7. Plan to be successful every day. How many of you start your day in a tie and before you get to the office you’re already toast only to be met with meltdown after meltdown? Planning to succeed ensures your success. Example: Every morning I start my day with a Declaration of Intent.

8. Take time for “YOU” on a regular basis. How many of you schedule your time? How many of you don’t even ask for some time for yourself? If you want time, you will have to plan for it to happen. If you don’t take time for yourself, you become resentful and resigned. If you have trouble asking for time off, start small. Example: Put a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the bathroom door and pamper yourself with a long hot bath (at least 30 minutes). It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but if you never do it, it’s a big deal.

Do yourself a favor this year. Start off on the right foot, with the right strategies and the right mindset so you can make the most of your time and expertise.