Tell me, who is your favorite corporate leader of our times? Tim Cook? Sheryl Sandberg? Reed Hastings? Mary Barra? Sara Blakely? Richard Branson? Who is someone in business leadership you admire and learn from?

Imagine this influential person's day-to-day activities. In your visual, do you see them preparing payroll, shipping packages, and troubleshooting minor problems within the company? It's probably not an image you can conjure up—because that's not what they do. If they wasted time working so far below their skill level, they wouldn't be where they are today.

So, why are you still doing tasks that don't require your skill level? Solid and successful leaders delegate. If delegation creates a dilemma for you, working through your state of mind is a good idea.

Entrepreneurs are often known for their vision, drive, and hands-on approach. However, this same passion can lead to a reluctance to delegate. Do you buy into the common misconception that no one can handle select parts of your business as well as you can? A protective nature toward your business is a natural instinct but can also be limiting.

Why is delegation so critical to success?

I've worked with entrepreneurs eager to race to the ever-elusive finish line. Yet, aside from a lack of capital, one of the top reasons small businesses fail is pre-mature growth. Investing your resources into business expansion too soon can take your company down in months, but the danger of failure multiplies if you're unwilling to relinquish control over certain aspects of your day-to-day operations.

Delegation exponentially expands your capacity. When you entrust tasks to competent team members, you're no longer bound by the limitations of your own time and expertise. You can channel your energy toward strategic initiatives and high-level decision-making by releasing the grip on routine tasks. This is where true business transformation happens.

Can delegation backfire or fail?

Your delegation efforts can (and probably will) fail at times. If you hire the right people, equip them with clear and documented instructions, and provide the right resources, it is less likely that your employees will fail at their assignments. I often hear complaints that there isn't time to document procedures and policies and onboard and train an employee or two. This claim is the worst excuse I've ever heard! An overwhelmed and stressed-out business owner does not work efficiently, so it only feels like time is short. Bite the bullet and make time; otherwise, you'll look back five years from now, wondering why you’re in the same position, not having achieved your goals and struggling financially.

Enough false excuses. Let's look at the reality behind delegation struggles and some other insights.

The fear of letting go.

Fear is the main contributor behind the reluctance to delegate lies: the fear of losing control, others making mistakes, upsetting a client, or damaging the business in another way. Business owners often fear that others won't take them and their business seriously if they do not appear to be busy and overwhelmed. Stress does not earn anyone a badge of honor; it’s debilitating.

It's essential to recognize that delegation isn't about relinquishing all your control; it's about leveraging the strengths and talents of others to achieve collective success.

When my clients follow the plan to set their team up for success, they often find that projects turn out even better than when doing those projects and tasks themselves. Just because someone has different ideas or a unique approach doesn't mean their methods are not as good as yours. Anticipate success with new and more efficient ways of doing things.

Sometimes, entrepreneurs react emotionally to letting go of some of their duties, as though letting go means they are no longer an integral part of the company's success. Another concern is that they will be seen as someone other than the person in charge by their clients, therefore losing their importance or authority. This concern may be a subconscious fear, which is most damaging. I work with my clients to uncover the buried beliefs that keep them stuck. Then, and only then, does the company grow.

If you resist delegation to an extreme, find a coach or therapist who can help you uncover the truth behind your reluctance.

The boomerang effect.

Entrepreneurs, particularly in the early stages, find themselves wearing multiple hats. It's a commendable feat but can lead to burnout and a lack of focus on strategic growth. Delegation allows you to free up your time for high-impact activities only you can do. But here's the problem: If you boomerang back to control the details in operations, you can't focus on strategic growth and partnerships and will only be able to afford your employees for a short time. Hands-off delegation is critical to your culture and your future.

Building a culture of trust.

Once an employee is trained to perform their assigned tasks, it's imperative that you allow them to work independently. Independence does not mean you throw them into the deep end and hope they can swim; you're still available as a mentor/teacher. You will confuse and discourage your team if you don't allow them to make mistakes, demonstrate their abilities, and collaborate. Your team will thrive in a culture of trust, not one of backlash and shame.

Delegating fosters a culture of trust within your team. It empowers your employees, showing them that you value their skills and judgment. This trust forms the foundation of a high-performing and engaged team.

If you play the role of a helicopter parent, your employees will grow to doubt themselves and feel frustrated, even angry, with you. If you have a manager, allow them to manage. If you have a client service rep, let them build relationships and handle customer issues. Remember, at this point, you are a mentor, not a doer. If you want to grow your business and increase revenue, resist the urge to step in and do it yourself.

Building a growth mindset through delegation.

A reluctance to delegate indicates a fixed mindset, which limits the capacity for growth and positivity. Entrepreneurs with a fixed mindset stay stuck in a familiar pain or challenge to avoid the fears they associate with growth.

The preference of living in a state of stress and being overwhelmed, rather than fully utilizing an employee or a team, is an example of the pain and consequences of a fixed mindset. Entrepreneurs who won't delegate are stuck, inundated, and limited in their financial and personal growth capacity.

There is transformative growth and power in delegation for you and your team.

Balancing delegation with quality control.

It's important to note that effective delegation requires clear communication, defined expectations, and a system of checks and balances. Striking this balance ensures that tasks are executed to meet your standards. Don't set your employees up to fail; set them up for success, and they will thrive and stick around far longer than a stifled employee would.

Embracing change and growth.

Remember, growth often requires stepping out of your comfort zone. Embracing delegation is one massive leap toward your dream of a successful and profitable business. Start small, build mutual trust, and enjoy the freedom to grow personally and professionally.

The post Here’s Why You Struggle with Delegation, and Why You Need to Do It Anyway appeared first on Marla Tabaka.

Allow me to tell you a story.

One entrepreneur’s business took off during her second year of coaching with me. In addition, her husband started a company of his own, which grew quickly and substantially. Their 2022 combined household income was three times what it had ever been. This year, both businesses continue to flourish.

I always remind my fast-growing business clients to meet quarterly with their accountants to double-check numbers, plan spending, and ensure their earnings are appropriately taxed. However, working with a business coach is a new experience for most clients, and they don’t always realize the importance of a quarterly financial checkup, so many small business owners neglect to heed this advice. They are well-meaning, but things get busy, and important meetings get placed on the back burner. As a result, my client just got hit with a state tax debt of $10,000 for 2022. That was manageable, even though it was disappointing. But it wasn’t as upsetting as the $100,000 IRS tax debt notification she received two days later!

Why did this enormous tax debt happen? Because the client’s accountant had adjusted quarterly taxes at the end of 1st Quarter but not since. Scheduled meetings would have prevented these shocking tax debts seven months into the following year. Sure, these taxes need to be paid one way or the other, but you can imagine the infuriating surprise of an unexpected bill of this size. It’s better to pay taxes on a schedule than to receive a shock like this one.

Business Coach Advice: Don’t let that happen to you!

Now is the time to delve into operations, bookkeeping, goal assessment, and future planning for your business. I often advise my clients to schedule two or three days away so their time is free of interruptions and distractions. Book yourself into a lovely hotel just far enough away from home and work to keep distractions at bay. Tell everyone, including employees, friends, and family, that you will check in once at the end of the day and are otherwise unavailable. Use this time to follow the checklist below and complete what you can.

Important tip: Also, schedule an end-of-day massage and at least one decadent meal somewhere nearby!

Here is your 4th quarter checklist.

Begin now to clean up your 2023 plan and go into 2024 feeling good about yourself and your small business. The 1st piece of business coach advice on this list should be obvious by now!

Schedule a 4th quarter meeting with your business accountant.

Your accountant will know what to talk about, but here are a few suggestions:

• Ensure there are no tax code changes that will affect your business.
• Double-check your tax withholdings.
• Ask if you should increase your taxable spending.
• Review payroll to see if year-end bonuses or pay increases are possible.

Check on your inventory history and plan for future sales.

• If you carry inventory, be sure that holiday stock is on order. Allow time for delayed shipping and out-of-stock inventory.
• Do a review of the current year. Where did you fall short on supply? Plan for those months during the upcoming calendar year.
• Will you add new items for holiday gifting? What new product line ideas do you have for next year?

Revisit your other 2023 goals.

Are there remaining goals on your list that hold the possibility for completion yet this year? If so, forgive yourself, schedule time to work on them, or, better yet, think of someone to delegate them to, even if it’s a 1099 contractor. Be realistic about your goals; otherwise, you will let yourself down repeatedly. Of course, if lack of completion is an issue for you, hire a business coach to help you manage and eliminate this issue.

Review operations and documentation.

Have operations run smoothly in 2023? If so, congratulations! If not, any number of things could be to blame.

Plan for documentation of your primary processes and procedures in 2024. The lack of training materials is usually a significant problem for owners who see a lot of operations issues. Again, the main complaint about the documentation process is time consumption. I always tell my clients to imagine how much more time they’d have if they didn’t have to deal with a plethora of mistakes and oversights. Documentation isn’t only for training purposes; it serves as a guide in each job role. These materials give you a tool for effective employee reviews and dismissals, and it keeps your organization running smoothly.

What else is essential to know about clear and thorough documentation? It adds value to your company. This collateral is considered proprietary information, and should you ever sell or seek to be acquired, there must be processes in place before anyone takes you seriously.

Also, review staffing needs. Will you require an additional headcount or freelancers in 2024? If additional payroll is something you need to consider, add this to your accounting discussion. Schedule time on your calendar to define the job role and get your onboarding plans in place. This is another area where a business coach could be essential to the process.

Consider automation for 2024 or 25.

Customer Relationship Management tools are about more than just managing client relationships. These money-saving tools are a powerful means for running your business efficiently. A customized CRM will reduce errors and oversights. Your notifications to prospects and clients will go out on a timely basis. Your CRM will keep all correspondence branded and consistent, and it will track your job progress, flag issues, and be your project manager. Some will even integrate and track your inventory.

Some contractors specialize in customizing just about every CRM on the market, and you’ll likely find a list of preferred vendors on the CRM builder’s website. A contractor’s fee is well worth a reasonable investment. Do your best to work this into next year’s budget, but shop around for your contractor!

Create or revisit your 4th Quarter marketing plan.

Preparing a marketing calendar in advance with the big-picture strategy broken down into monthly, weekly, and daily bite-sized action steps is always a great idea. If you haven’t done this before, work with your marketing person or business coach to create your marketing calendar for next year. This task is a great 4th Quarter activity.

For now, consider your sales goals for 2023. Have you fallen short or exceeded your projections? Either way, it’s time to revisit or create marketing initiatives to achieve the current plan or continue to surpass your initial goals. Try something new or build upon what’s been working. If you set your sights on improving operations, realistic goals, and a solid marketing plan, you can and will increase profits in 2024. Who knows? You may be able to add revenue to 2023; it's not too late!

Book your hotel or getaway location today! If you’re so inclined, email me a few pictures, and I’ll include them in a follow-up blog later in the year!

The post Business Coach Advice: Boost Sales With This 4th Quarter Checklist appeared first on Marla Tabaka.

When your time belongs to something else—work, parenting, caregiving, your business—it can seem you’re trapped inside someone else’s agenda. Entrepreneurs easily fall into this cycle, sacrificing themselves and their time to long-term goals and the needs of others. If you’re not careful, the daily stress of giving yourself away diminishes any sense of self and well-being.

I recall my twenty-plus years of working in corporate: a fifteen-minute drive to the train, a forty-minute train ride into the city, then a brisk twenty-minute walk from Chicago’s Union Station to work. The commute was filled with paperwork and scheduling so I could lessen the load before a hectic 8 to 10 hours in the local news world. At last, I followed the routine of my reverse commute home to my kids for the few short hours we had together.

I loved my job, and being a mom, but what I didn’t love was the feeling of being lost inside the mechanics of every task-filled day. I rarely stilled my mind to capture the most important moments in life or to create a space that felt like mine because I belonged to everyone else. I never stopped to realize that I was lost, that there was something inside of me that felt unsatisfied—until one early morning when I missed my train, which left me with a rare twenty minutes to do nothing.

I felt nearly giddy with the anticipation of a precious few silent moments to myself. I randomly strolled across to a little coffee house where patrons cheerfully bantered with the fun-loving proprietors while waiting for their lattes and mochas. “Oh my! A cinnamon scone,” I thought. “Dare I? Oh sure, it was a special day.”

A special day? Why? It hit me then that treating myself to a few laughs with strangers, a fresh cup of coffee, and a cinnamon scone filled me with giddy anticipation of the next moment and the next. I took my warm coffee and scone to a park bench and savored them, along with the joy that filled my heart as I noticed, for the first time, the beautiful fall colors that had begun to tinge the leaves of the old oaks. “I feel like I’m on vacation,” I thought blissfully. I went to work that day with more emotional and physical energy than I’d had in a while, with a bit more spirit in my step.

That evening I journaled about my mini-vacation experience, and I found it so meaningful that it was decided, then and there, that I would “put a little vacation in every day.”

Put a little vacation in every day.

So, what does that really mean? Missing your train or a meeting, so you can sit idly in a park warming your hands on a cup of joe? What if it wasn’t that random? What if, without sacrifice, you could escape the everyday demands to capture time for yourself? To connect with yourself and your surroundings in a way that eludes you on a typical day? To stop and smell the roses, as they say.

It sounds like too little to mean a lot.

Too good to be true? You may ask, how can five or ten minutes make a difference in how I feel? What might this do for your well-being, health, and spirit?

1. Let’s look at the more practical side of this concept first. Research tells us that taking purposeful breaks (anywhere from 5–60 minutes) to refresh your brain and body increases your energy, productivity, and ability to focus. This is especially true during periods of intense concentration, like study and work projects. Short breaks will give you more time to do other things, making you more efficient and accurate.

Ok, now that that’s out of the way, let’s look at the more meaningful side of taking your little vacation breaks.

2. Purposeful mini-breaks can change the way you think. This is what I call, Bullshift™.

When we don’t have time to ourselves to just “be,” much of life’s more meaningful content gets swept under the rug. We neglect to find gratitude and appreciation for the good stuff and tend to focus on the more stressful aspects of our day-to-day life. Your mind is like your body, it becomes what you feed it. We must nourish our brains with positive thoughts, intent, and beliefs to live a happy, healthy, and fulfilled life.

When you take yourself away from the hustle for a few minutes spend that time finding the good: breathe deeply, look for something beautiful in your surroundings, notice the feel and scent of the air, savor the taste of something delicious, or observe an exchange between happy individuals. These simple actions will reinforce new neural pathways in your brain that eventually become automatic. Translation: You are teaching your brain to default to a positive attitude!

A little vacation in every day has become second nature to me, and I hope it does for you as well. Negativity is exhausting! Life is more fulfilling and hopeful when we can teach our brains to find the positive, even during difficult times. Rather than allowing daily demands to deplete you, capture something special in your day to make it yours because you deserve it!

The post How About 365 Vacations This Year? Here’s How–and Why appeared first on Marla Tabaka.

Creating a company culture from the ground up is one thing; repairing a broken culture requires in-depth exploration, a significant shift in perspective, and commitment. To see things from a broader perspective, you must release your stress and judgment and step back to view things from a mindset of curiosity–a quality that's innate to entrepreneurs but often underutilized. 

The exploration begins within you, the leader. 

Your values, integrity, commitment, level of confidence, and the effects of your overall mindset will trickle down into your organization. An evaluation of the current condition of your company culture is not about placing blame; it's about personal growth. Observe your thoughts and behavior. How have you contributed to a damaged or even toxic culture? 

Explore your values; what is most important to you? 

If you are living in integrity with your values (especially your top three), they should dictate just about everything you do. When there's an imbalance in your life, reviewing your personal values will typically reveal that you're not living in a way that represents them well. 

Which values will you introduce to your company culture?

If your ideal customer got an inside peek at your daily operations, what would they say to others about it? How do they respond when someone asks one of your employees what it's like to work for you? When people talk about your product or service, would you feel proud or embarrassed by their assessment? 

Thinking from your customer's point of view, write your ideal product testimonial or review. What values, actions, structure, and philosophies are required to live up to such a review? 

Your attitude runs through your culture. 

The stress of running a business that is not functioning well (because if your culture is imbalanced, it won't) is overwhelming. Add personal issues to the mix, and it can become more than you can bear. You have to be super-human to leave the stress behind when you come to work, but that's what a great leader does. Otherwise, you become a part of the problem, and your team follows suit. Much like a parent/child relationship, if you aren't safe and secure, neither are your employees. 

Don't shoulder the burden alone. Take steps to build an inclusive culture and work with your team to brainstorm and implement changes. Ask others for help: mentors and coaches are a great place to start. 

Culture is attention-grabbing. 

I have a client who is building a franchise operation in the restaurant industry. When we began working together, there was no intentional, healthy company culture in place. Employees were uncooperative, job candidates ghosted them, and customers were unimpressed with the service. 

As my client incorporated onboarding processes, employee reward systems, team meetings, and more, customers took notice. The average ticket price went up, and word spread in the community. 

What do your employees want?

Not everyone is motivated by money alone. A Gallup study showed that employees who receive praise and recognition are more engaged, committed, and productive. Some employees work best autonomously, others need frequent guidance. What benefits are most important to your team? For some, medical benefits are not important but a semi-flexible schedule will reward you with a loyal, hard-working attitude. Ask your team what is most important to them.

Your employees need things that you don't understand.

Entrepreneurs and employees have very different personality types. Business owners often tell me they don't understand why they need to hand-hold (at least that's how they view it) their employees. They wonder:

• Why do employees need praise? After all, they get a paycheck. 
• How come they can't follow instructions and do it my way? 
• Why do they have to ask so many questions? 
• Why aren't they more reliable?

The answers to these questions go deep, but to touch the surface, remember that if everyone were like you your company would not grow. Have you heard the saying about too many cooks in the kitchen? You are the chef and your employees perform all the jobs you are not good at or would waste your talents. If you listen to your employees and construct a culture that feeds and challenges them while appreciating their contribution, your company will thrive. 

Begin here to improve or repair your culture.

Once you've explored these insights, begin working on your culture by learning more about your team members. Countless assessments are available to identify their strengths, learning and communication styles, and personality types. Ensure that each employee holds a job that leverages their strengths and keeps them engaged. Don't set an employee up to fail by putting them on the wrong bus, keep them moving in the right direction by leaning into their skills. Lastly, encourage teamwork and camaraderie and offer incentives that mean something to them. 

Final thought: When you invest your valuable time, patience, and money you will be rewarded by reduced payroll expenses and employee turnover. It will improve your product and customer service. It can increase customer retention rates and improve your public image. And you'll love this: you will have fewer headaches and much less stress. 

The post How (and Why) to Transform Your Broken Company Culture appeared first on Marla Tabaka.

Why do your team meetings fall flat?

• Is your content stimulating? Meetings with boring content are longer than necessary and won't get engagement.
• Participant engagement is essential; boring topics and a single person doing all the talking does not invite others to engage.
• Most people admit to multitasking in meetings, but it sends a message of disinterest, which spreads like a loud yawn. Ask everyone to put their devices on the do not disturb mode and keep them face down, Use them only for content related to your topics.
• Going off-topic is taboo. Don’t let anyone hijack the meeting and bore other attendees. Or worse, leave people feeling left out.
• You'll lose your audience if someone monopolizes the conversation and drives their point home repeatedly.

How to nail your next team meeting.

• Ask yourself if a team meeting is necessary and invite only those who need to be there.
• Send an agenda ahead of time, along with questions for discussion.
• Appoint someone to begin the meeting and start right on time. If you chronically run late, assign a team member to get things going.
• Start your meeting with an icebreaker. This may seem counterproductive in keeping your discussion on point and on time, but it increases engagement. I have a client who brings a lightweight ball to her meetings and asks each team member to announce a win. This could be something they've accomplished, are grateful for, or looking forward to. Then the person randomly tosses the ball to someone else in the group, and it becomes their turn to talk. Keep it short: 30 to 60 seconds for each person.
• Avoid small talk. There's no need to talk about the weather, your child's little league team, or what you had for breakfast. Let it be known that employees can arrive a few minutes early or stick around a bit longer to connect on an informal note if they wish.
• If you have remote attendees, or your meeting is entirely virtual, use video technology. Surveys show that the use of video decreases multitasking and increases engagement.
• Assign others to lead some of the discussion. We tend to tune out after one person speaks for a long time. A new voice reboots our interest.
• Use visuals, like a whiteboard, where appropriate. Most of the population has a visual learning style, so using a visual helps attendees absorb information better. (Avoid long, unnecessary slide presentations.)
• Talk about culture development and other topics that help your team understand your vision. Invite open discussion on these topics.
• Some personality types will rarely speak up in meetings. Rather than put them on the spot, send challenges and questions in advance. This process allows them to think about their suggestions and be prepared to talk about them. Or they can post or send their comments in writing ahead of time.
• End your meeting on an inspirational, motivational, or humorous note. Send your people out the door feeling energized and with a smile on their faces.
• To add more fun and unpredictability, surprise your team with a new location or a fun activity at your meetings. Walk to a nearby park, take them out for a meal, or hire an event planner to add an unexpected twist to the occasional meeting. Your time and effort will pay off through increased productivity and engagement. Happy employees keep any company humming along.

The post Imagine if Everyone Looked Forward to Team Meetings. Here’s How to Make it Happen appeared first on Marla Tabaka.

I don’t want to brag or anything…

I mean, sure, I’m happy about what I did, but it doesn’t feel right to brag.

Well, I didn’t tell you because it felt like bragging, and it’s not a big deal anyway.

With 18 years of experience as a business coach, I can confidently say that entrepreneurs would benefit from celebrating their wins more often. When one of my clients glosses over or minimizes an achievement by moving right past it, I will interrupt them with a, “wait a minute, back up the bus!” statement. It’s not until I point out the significance of their actions that we pause to appreciate it. One reason for the lack of self-recognition is the mindset that society and parents unknowingly instill in us at a young age:

Don’t brag; it’s unattractive!

Don’t get too big for your britches!

No one wants to listen to a braggart!

People don’t like showoffs.

We don’t brag in this family; stop being so boastful.

Yes, I do agree that excessive bragging is unattractive, but there’s a massive difference between bragging and recognizing and celebrating your wins. The latter is critical to your success and happiness. Here’s what can happen when you ignore your achievements, no matter how small.

• You will always feel as though your to-do list doesn’t budge.
• You will feel deflated about your performance.
• The big picture feels far away and unachievable.
• You will discount your progress, which can lead to a feeling of despair.
• You may feel like a fraud because you’re (supposedly) getting nowhere, so you aren’t a real entrepreneur.

I could add ten things to this list, but I think you get the idea.

Why is it important to recognize achievements of all sizes?

As my business coaching clients begin to talk about their achievements, big and small, without embarrassment, I see their confidence grow. Focusing on what you DID get done leads to greater productivity and increased motivation. Self-recognition reduces stress, which then allows for clarity. For leaders, self-recognition brings increased awareness and appreciation for the team’s achievements as well. This has a significant and positive impact on the company culture, which impacts productivity, employee happiness, retention, and much more. In the end, this all adds up to greater profits and a happier, healthier you.

So, what’s the difference between bragging and self-recognition?

The Merriam Webster dictionary describes bragging as:

1. a pompous or boastful statement
2. arrogant talk or manner

I doubt you intend to be pompous or arrogant when you talk about your wins, but still, the fear of being seen as such may often be present. A true braggart doesn’t care how they are perceived; they don’t consider that they may be overdoing it. The mere fact that you are concerned about being seen as boastful is a sure sign that you are not bragging. It’s doubtful that you can even overdo it, so it’s time to release your worry.

How can entrepreneurs recognize and celebrate achievements of all sizes?

The first step is recognizing that every small step takes you closer to your vision. Entrepreneurs tend to complete tasks and quickly move on to the next fire or set of tasks. Instead, cross your completed goals off your list and pause to pat yourself on the back. Smile, as this changes your physiology, which boosts mental and physical energy. Take a five-minute break and think about what you have accomplished rather than all you have left to do.

Sometimes, clients neglect to mention a significant achievement until the end of our business coaching call, if at all. When speaking with your mentor or business coach, begin with the happy news whenever possible. Open your heart to receive praise and open your mind to accept it. Try not to diminish incoming admiration. Verbally express how you feel when you become more aware of your successes.

Determine in advance how you will celebrate the significant achievements more grandly. Flag the things on your list (are you getting how important your lists are?) that feel significant to you. Taking a giant step toward funding, experiencing a meaningful connection with an influencer in your industry, and launching a new website are only a few examples. Go through your wish list of milestones and jot down a few ideas for self-recognition. I once told a few close friends that I would take them out for dinner at a ridiculously expensive restaurant to celebrate as soon as I hit a certain financial milestone. That felt amazing! You may prefer a long, relaxing hike in the woods or a weekend getaway; whatever feeds your soul is a good idea.

Simple moments that include laughter and celebration do wonders for the psyche. Move aside the coffee table and dance! Shout out a few “Woo-Hoo’s” and get silly. Break loose of your stress!

Again, this list could be much longer, but hopefully, you get the idea. Entrepreneurs are very special people, any occasion to celebrate you is meaningful. Let me know how you recognize your success and what it does for you!

The post Is It Bragging or Self-Recognition? appeared first on Marla Tabaka.

Me: Hey Martin, tell me how things are going.

Client: Ok, I guess. I’m frustrated because I didn’t get much done since we spoke last week.

Me: Ok, tell me about that.

Client: We had some issues with x,y,z, and I had to spend time straightening that out.

Me: So, your week was spent in trouble-shooting mode?

Client: Well, not the whole week. I mean I did some presentations for a couple of new prospects. And I interviewed 5 candidates for the new position. Oh, and guess what? I hired someone who’s perfect for the job! I also got those 3 proposals out the door and we actually finished that large job that’s been giving us so many issues.

Me: Oh, is that all?

The interesting part is that, even while reciting a laundry list of accomplishments, the significance of their level of productivity doesn’t register in the head of an entrepreneur—not until we focus on The Pause.

So, what do I mean by celebrating success, and recognizing achievements?

Think about 3 things you’ve done in the last week. You may tend to move quickly going from one item to the next, glossing over any significance of the achievement. By doing so, a stress-inducing emphasis remains on all that needs to be done.

Well, guess what? As a business owner, your weekly to-do list will inevitably be longer than your weekly done list.

A failure to pause and appreciate your weekly accomplishments deprives you of any satisfaction and self-recognition for all that you do as an entrepreneur. You must pause to consider the impact of each and every step you take.  Otherwise, you will feel stuck, overwhelmed, and unhappy.

How do I recognize my successes?

One thing I love to recommend to my clients is called The Pause. Whether or not you work with an entrepreneur coach, schedule about 30-minutes each week to review what you’ve achieved. Don’t dismiss any action as being too small to mention or too insignificant to be a win worth celebrating.

And now, The Pause.

Now, go through your list, one thing at a time, pausing between each item. Stop to explore the upside of accomplishing this goal and offer yourself a bit of praise. Sit up straight and smile. Changing your physiology in this way will boost your positivity and sense of well-being.

When you do this, you may find yourself saying something like, yeah, but (fill in the blank). You might want to diminish the significance of these tasks, focusing instead on all that remains undone or all that you “should have” gotten done. Stop. Take a deep breath and focus on The Pause where you can live in gratitude and appreciation for a few moments. Find the good in all that you’ve done.

Why should entrepreneurs celebrate success by pausing?

When I do this exercise with clients, their entire demeanor changes. The sense of overwhelm takes a backseat to contentment and appreciation.

They breathe a little easier, and the clutter in their heads settles down, demanding less of their attention.

Focusing on The Pause will help you to gain clarity and greater levels of productivity. Mostly though, you’ll learn to believe in yourself and feel less stress and more joy.

Who doesn’t want that?

The post Celebrate Success: Increase Productivity When You Pause to Do This appeared first on Marla Tabaka.

“But Marla,” you might say, “Isn't it a bit self-centered and a waste of time to celebrate the small stuff? Anyone can do these things.”

Nope, none of that is true.

If you work hard, never pausing to acknowledge the completion of your goals and other small wins, you are missing out on an opportunity to increase your productivity, mood, and energy levels. Let me make my point:

Which of these two entrepreneurs is more likely to succeed?

1. The entrepreneur who takes time out of the day to reflect, appreciate, and share his or her achievements.
2. The entrepreneur who dismisses small wins because, after all, the little stuff completes only a portion piece of the big picture–there's so much more to do.

You guessed it: number one, the latter will burnout. Entrepreneurs who don't celebrate themselves and their achievements tend to get depressed and negativity becomes omnipresent. Productive actions are overridden by meaningless time-suckers as they lose focus. Acknowledgment of your achievements helps to keep the focus and momentum. And, it will help you to feel good about yourself.

High-performance entrepreneurs don’t wait for milestone achievements to celebrate.

Think about the parent whose young child takes his first steps. Does the parent hold off on joyfully acknowledging him until he has walked his first mile? No, because one small step is a milestone. The family claps, laughs, encourages him, and tells everyone the exciting news. This reinforces the child's commitment to walking and lets him know that he's achieved something notable. It inspires and motivates him to do it again, even though it's likely that he's going to fall down quite a bit.

The acknowledgment of small accomplishments motivates and inspires us, and it also relieves stress. As big breakthroughs happen, they merit a celebration that is commensurate to their significance, but how often do these breakthroughs come along? It takes many small wins to add up to a milestone. If you neglect to acknowledge your productivity at all levels it may have a negative impact on your energy, attitude, and productivity, therefore your business.

Celebration and acknowledgment change your physiology.

Try this experiment:

Spend ten seconds thinking about all of the hard work you have to do. Feel the pressure mounting. Now notice your posture, is it strong and upright or slumped? Take note of how your body feels. Do you feel stressed out? How productive can you possibly be under these conditions?

Now, spend ten seconds mentally reviewing the things that you achieved over the past week, or month. Mindfully highlight the tasks that are off your plate and acknowledge how good it feels now that they're done. Give yourself a pat on the back. Now how do you feel? You're more likely to charge into your next steps with a good attitude and higher energy.

When we focus on the good stuff it sparks the reward circuitry of our brains. This causes a chain reaction as the brain releases chemicals that stimulate feelings of pride, excitement, and happiness. It makes us want to dig deeper into our next achievement.

Celebrations come in all shapes and sizes.

You complete a small project and it feels nice to finally have it done, but there's another project that needs your attention. Who has time to celebrate?

A celebration of achievement doesn't necessarily mean a party or treating yourself to a day off. Here are a few ways to acknowledge and appreciate your amazingness.

How to celebrate your small wins and productivity.

• At the end of your day spend five to ten minutes reviewing everything you've completed from your list. Most likely, many of the things you've done weren't even on your list so add them and flag them as complete. A visual of your accomplishments is very rewarding and will lend to a greater appreciation of your achievements.
• Tell someone who understands the significance of small steps. Positive auditory feedback, along with a few verbal pats on the back, gives us a mini rush that helps buoy our motivation, therefore increasing productivity.
• Let your mind wander to future images of your success. Painting this uplifting image will help your subconscious mind communicate your desires to the brain. This is important since a well-informed brain opens your eyes to opportunities and ideas that help get you what you want.
• Acknowledge your wins by doing something a little different. I have a theory that we all need to put a little vacation in each and every day. This stimulates the brain's reward center, helps us to celebrate our freedom as an entrepreneur, and energizes us.
• Express gratitude for your achievements. Gratitude has a strong impact on your mind and body.
• Thank those who contributed to your wins and spend a bit of time to think about the skills, commitment, and endurance it takes to achieve your goals.

You really do rock, ya know? Now, close your eyes, put a smile on your face, and count your blessings!

The post Productivity Increases When Entrepreneurs Celebrate Small Wins appeared first on Marla Tabaka.

Entrepreneurs tend to get down on themselves for putting things off, so when a business owner develops a habit of procrastination, it will eventually damage the business–and the psyche. It's worthwhile to get to the root of this problem, rather than steep in blame and shame.

You may believe you have a time management issue, but you'd be wrong–sort of. Procrastination does lead to time management issues, but that's only a symptom of the bigger picture.

And, nope, it's not laziness; some of my most ambitious, successful clients used to procrastinate (oh, and I've done my share of it too), so it's not that.

What is procrastination? It's usually a stress response, not a time management issue or a blasé faire attitude. We all know that being an entrepreneur can be stressful, and it gets even worse if you're unclear and/or unhappy about your vision and goals.

Procrastination can get out of control.

Have you noticed that the longer you put something off, the more difficult it is to get it done? More things pile on, and you're too deep to climb out before you know it. This results in something called the procrastination accumulation effect. The resulting stress may include feelings of inadequacy, guilt about what is left undone, and fear of failure.

Ok, Marla, I'm stressed out, and I procrastinate. Now what? I have one word for you: Clarity!

Do you know what your vision is? Are you confident about its viability? Do you have a step-by-step plan to achieve your goals? If you don't know where you're going, you can't possibly get there. Of course, you will get lost in some form of procrastination. You may engage in busy work and not use your time efficiently. Odds are, if you haven't gotten really clear on your vision, model, strategy, values, and passion by now, you probably won't. Not until you get qualified help (raising my hand!) to create clarity and a plan.

Procrastination may be a sign that you hate what you do.

One of the leading causes of stress in entrepreneurs is a lack of money, which means they believe they can't afford hiring or outsourcing. You've taken on so much of the work required to keep the business going that you don't have the time to grow your business. It's frustrating that you procrastinate on this tedious work because it's not what you were born to do. It would help if you had clarity here too.

In reality, the savings that you associate with doing the work yourself is an illusion. If you had an extra 20-hours a week to work on growth, could you increase your revenue? Sure, you could. Spend your time focusing on the work that drives profits, and you'll be able to bankroll a part-time person before long.

Self-doubt and fear lead to procrastinative habits.

Fear is at the root of stress-related behavior, including procrastination. If you didn't have anxiety (or perhaps subconscious worries), you would have already achieved your vision or gotten close to it by now, right?

Imposter Syndrome feeds procrastination.

Many entrepreneurs suffer from Imposter Syndrome. Therefore, they procrastinate because it wards off any risk of being exposed to the negative consequences that they perceive as inevitable. Again, this is common and normal–there is nothing wrong with you.

Fortunately, the stigma associated with therapy and coaching has finally shifted. Entrepreneurs understand that they should not be on their journey alone. Whether you work with a coach and/or a therapist, your odds of success will exponentially increase once you believe in yourself and your vision. Let's get to work!

The post Procrastination Making You Miserable? This is Just What You Need appeared first on Marla Tabaka.

Entrepreneurs understand the value and necessity of setting goals, but I wonder how many set intentions?

What's the difference?

Goal setting helps you form ideas for the future, understand what you want, create a plan, and stay on track to get it done. It sounds terrific, but for some, there is a downside to goal setting. It takes us out of the moment and emphasizes what we don't have. For those who set goals and sometimes fail to achieve them, the act of goal setting can lead to a sense of not only failing but of being a failure.

Setting and living your intentions allows you to focus on who you are in the moment, to recognize and live your values, and to raise your emotional energy, which in turn boosts your physical energy.

Many entrepreneurs are excellent at identifying their values and know that living within their interpretation of them is a powerful way to achieve success and, more importantly, happiness. Daily intentions can help you do that. They also provide a roadmap and reminder for how to live out each day. Intentions give you purpose, as well as the inspiration and motivation to achieve your purpose. The practice of setting daily intentions can change your life.

I give intention to just about everything I do throughout each day, from being receptive to limitless possibilities to getting behind the wheel of my car and arriving at my destination safely and without incident. There are no rules around setting intentions, but here are the benefits, guidelines, and reminders that work best for me. I intend to share them here so that anyone meant to receive and benefit from this information will find their way to it.

Intentions have no limits.

By now, we all recognize and accept that human consciousness affects everything from the molecular structure of water to the well-being of humankind. Think about this: Your body is 90 percent water. Dr. Masaru Emoto proved that water can be influenced by intention and thought. Other studies that lend credence to Dr. Emoto's theory indicated that crystals from the intention-treated water were given higher scores for aesthetic appeal by one hundred judges than those from the control water. Remarkable! Imagine the changes that can take place within your body as you begin to give intention to positive choices consciously. And positive change doesn't stop with you since your energy has an impact on those around you.

Intentions are expansive.

Intentions aren't to be confused with goals: They are about who you want to be, what you wish to contribute to the world, and how you choose to touch the lives of others.

Example: I intend to show acts of kindness today, opening myself to any possibility to bring joy into the life of another.

Setting intentions can make you more effective.

While you can set an intention to be productive, you'll find more power in stating an intention to open your mind and heart to a way of thinking that results in higher productivity and other desirable states. Why? So often, we believe we're productive, but the work we complete isn't the work that matters the most. Or, we become distracted by any number of things making it difficult to regain a productive mindset. Setting a higher intention for clarity and receptivity to new ideas is more likely to keep you engaged and open to inspired thought.

Example: I intend to open my mind and be receptive to clarity, inspiration, information, and action that will guide me toward my goals.

Setting intentions will help you get out of the BS in your head.

Voicing intentions will take your mind off your problems and perceived limitations. Instead, it will place your focus on something that has a positive impact on your life. Clearly stating how you intend to feel today instead of wishing that you felt better puts the power of change in your own hands.

Example: I intend to live in gratitude for all that I have and all that I am, allowing joy and love to fill my heart and healthy energy to fill my body.

Setting intentions opens your eyes to things you may have otherwise missed.

Do you become so absorbed in unproductive thoughts that you don't notice much of what's going on around you? Observing the little wonders of the world provides many benefits and can shift your perspective in an instant. For instance, when I am outside cleaning up my garden, I set the intention of maintaining an awareness of my beautiful surroundings instead of getting mentally caught up in the drudgery of pulling weeds. As a result, the physical labor is not the focus; the beauty and results of my labor are the primary focus. I make a point of not getting so lost in thought that I neglect to observe and appreciate the very thing I'm outside to enjoy. Every hummingbird, butterfly and new bloom boosts my energy, enthusiasm, and creativity.

Example: I intend to expand my focus so that I may enjoy, appreciate, and contribute to the beauty of nature.

Intentions can include global contributions.

Remember the butterfly effect: A small change can result in significant differences. Setting an intention to make a difference globally or in your community can open your mind to ideas and opportunities to do so. Such an intention may shift your perspective on the impact of even the smallest contribution to your cause. Appreciating every little step is part of what keeps us moving toward a fulfilling purpose. Just saying out loud that you intend to be a part of the change is empowering. Words are powerful!

Example: I intend to attract opportunities to make a meaningful contribution to (name your concern). I am grateful for any part that I play in facilitating change.

Take a few minutes and recite your intentions for the day. Share them with me!

The post Setting Goals May Get You Nowhere. Set Daily Intentions to Change Your Life appeared first on Marla Tabaka.