ARTICLES

RECLAIM YOUR BUSINESS - AND GET A LIFE!

It’s that time of the year and for some of us the summer holidays come around with that dreaded Christmas rush - it’s fairly overwhelming for many of us. We rush like mad to ‘sort out’ our business so we can have some kind of break over Christmas. We send out client gifts hoping we got them right and then spend the holidays worrying that we haven’t set things up well enough for the New Year. We’ve planned our New Year resolutions – telling ourselves; “Next year is going to be different!”

So how can we make sure we’re set up for a great break and an even better 2005?

Every December millions of Australians look back on the year that’s been, re-evaluate their lives and make New Year resolutions… “Next year I’m going to do… to be… to succeed. I’m stopping smoking/ drinking/ eating chocolate/ wasting money in the business”.

Crazy thing is we just as predictably break those resolutions, often on New Year’s Day! We persist with this weary tradition, that’s generally a complete waste of time…

And I have no idea why, because these ‘resolutions’ only undermine your Champion mindset! If you know you need to change something, why not do it now? Why do you need a reason to make things better in your life, your business, your career? What are you waiting for?

New Year’s resolutions never achieve anything except for fostering a nation of failures. They allow you to set yourself up for failure; so few people keep them, so you have the perfect excuse when you fail to do so too.

Failing to follow through with New Year resolutions only succeeds in making you feel miserable and will subconsciously set the pattern for 2005. You’ve given yourself ‘rules’ you easily break and there you are – stuck! Are you ready for another year of unaccomplished ambitions?

You may think ‘that’s a bit harsh’, but who makes the rules for how you succeed in your life in the first place? Whose choice is it for your business to win or lose? Stuff happens that may be difficult to get through, but we do so through dogged determination – all of it is our choice. If you want something bad enough you’ll do whatever it takes to create it!

Instead of making meaningless goals you need to:

1. Choose to take responsibility for your life
2. Choose to create change in your business and
3. Choose to act NOW!

Change doesn’t come through New Year’s resolutions, but through embracing the concept of real change and addressing the root cause of your problems – “pull the weeds out at the roots and they won’t grow back!”

As I always say - to achieve extraordinary results we must change our approach to life and change it NOW. Remember this new way of thinking will increase your quality of life and take the ‘chance’ out of becoming a success!

So how’s your business going? Loving your work? Thrilled with customer relationships? Winning the challenge to maintain balance in your lifestyle in working from home?

If the answers don’t put a smile on your face and working for yourself is leaving you flat, it’s time to revitalize your winning attitude and rediscover your passion - it’s time to reinvent your business and
your life NOW!

In working as a success coach with many business owners and managers, many clients ask; “I need a boost. Business seems stagnant. I’m stagnant in fact I’m worn out. How I reclaim my business.” Better one still: “Can I get a life?”

We know it takes passion, commitment and hard work to follow your dreams, to take the chance out of being a success to improve your life. When business gets stale or you get stale, now is the time to remember why you do what you do.

The first thing to understand is that success begins with you. Only you can inject a breath of fresh air into you and your business and career. If you want something bad enough you’ll do whatever it takes to create it, so know you are in control of everything that happens in and to your business and your life.

You know what you really want, your business plan and career goals, why you wanted to work for you. For me, it was freedom, leverage financially and physically – knowing I’m in charge of being the Champion in my world and in my business. How I live my life is reflected in my business - if life’s great, business and relationships within it will follow along. I have the power to boost my business and create whatever I need to succeed.

I hear what your next question is, “How do I know where I am at right now is the right thing and I am in the right business?’’ Your passion for what you do will tell you so – if it’s not there, neither is the rewards of you doing business! Remember, it’s not what someone else wants for you, what “you would be great at”, or what you’ve always told yourself you should be doing, it’s what you really want.

What we are addressing here is the core of who you are, your values. You keep your business and career booming because it is important to you, but why? Sit down now and really think about those reasons. Write them down:

• What do I really want in life?
• What is really important to me in my business and career?
• Why is it important to me in the context of my career, my relationships, my family, my health?

Having this motivation drives you to do something when everyone else quits because it is too hard, too expensive, too late, too blah blah blah… you’ve heard all the reasons.

It is unrealistic to think that everything is going to go your own way. Embrace obstacles along the way, use them as ‘character building’ or learning experiences, even when you do not want to recognise them. They are the signposts along the way to you achieving everything in your life, both professionally and personally. They are telling you you’re on the right path and heading in the right direction to achieve success. Keep focused on what you want.

It's your constant effort to focus that will help you succeed. Do your best in everything you do. Exceed expectations and you will see that success flows into your business and career too.

Next, it is important for you to believe in yourself, even when you don’t! When we are insecure where we are, we tend to get stuck in our thinking and are not open to change. But things will stay the same unless you make a change in your thinking, in the way you address how you’re running and balancing your business and life. Embrace changes, accept them as opportunities not risks.

As you focus on creating your successful life, your business will follow because you know why you are living and working as you do. It takes a lot of energy to suppress what you really want in life. So reclaim your business and get into YOUR life!

About the Author
Shelley Taylor-Smith (B. Sci Ed, Master & Trainer NLP) is seven-time World Champion Marathon Swimmer, respected Motivational Keynote Speaker, International Best Selling Author, Champion Mindset™ Business Trainer and Success Coach. Shelley has proven that any ordinary Australian can achieve extraordinary results. Shelley’s unique Champion Mindset™ training programs provide Taylor-Made Solutions for you and your business. Champion Mindset™ Seminars run across Australia - see www.championmindset.com.au for further information or call 02 9939 0078.

© COPYRIGHT
All articles are copyright. These articles may be used for publication in magazines and newsletters with prior permission from the author and Samperi Consulting Group Pty Ltd. Please contact Samperi Consulting Group Pty Ltd for further information at karina@samperi.com.au.

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