My New Year Planning Recipe :-)


The new year is a great time to reflect on your past successes and lessons and to set yourself up for success going forward. Moving into 2020 marks a new year and a new decade. Here are a few strategies I use to help transition and prepare for the coming year.
1 - Out with the old! Clear out files, projects, receipts, digital files that reflect past work you are no longer doing. Archive if needed and delete to give yourself a fresh start. (handling files now makes tax time much easier!)
2 - Spend a morning listing all of your accomplishments over the last year. Once you have a good list, make a note of 'how' you did it. It's easy to forget what we have accomplished when we are moving forward but we can learn from our successes and our challenges equally.
3 - Review your calendar. What can you let go of to make room for the coming year's activities? Add the 'big stuff' onto your calendar for the new year to give yourself a framework moving forward.
4 - Vision - Wave a magic wand. Write yourself a letter one year from now explaining all that you have accomplished in the coming year. This clarifying exercise can help you see what will be important in the coming months.
5 - Break down your plan - on 4 separate sheets of paper (a digital file works, too if you print it or save as your phone wallpaper) - list what must be accomplished in each quarter of the year to create your 2020 Vision. Work from the end (Dec 31, 2020) back to the beginning.

I used to ask my coaching & organizing clients, “If you could wave a magic wand in your business/life, what would you create.”  Some people had never imagined a different outcome than what they saw right in from of them.  But many, especially my entrepreneurs, have imagined big for a LONG time.  

There is a brilliance in this exercise in that as soon as you start to imagine a new possibility, your mind, loving a puzzle, begins to work out how to make it true. 

Just THINKING about a magic wand actually creates the magic.  Super cool, right?

But what if you infused your magic wand with another element… Time Travel. 

Instead of just waving a magic wand and talking about what you would create, you close your eyes and imagine that what you most desire has already come true and you are living in the future results.   This magic infuses your spell with emotion and belief that what you see is actually possible. 

And your brain does not know the difference between your current reality and the imagined future.  It believes both are real!  The power of suggestion is well documented as a way to bring things from imagination into reality.  

One aspect of people with ADHD is that there are only two time frames, Now and Not Now.  Whatever is ‘Not Now’ is of little relevance.  They live in the NOW.  What if, you could make the ‘Not Now’ feel real, so real that it becomes the brain’s believed, “Now”.  What would happen?

This is the magic that you possess and every person possesses but that is even more powerful within the hands of naturally creative entrepreneurs.  

As an entrepnreuer, you imagine your future and pretend that it is your current reality, happening now, feeling it as if it were real.  When you open your eyes, it becomes abundantly clear what is not in alignment with your future reality and you can begin to take steps to address these ‘out of alignment’ situations to move yourself forward. 

This kind of visualization is the first step to remove any perceived blocks, shake you loose from procrastination, make clear your path forward, reveal connections and afore unseen collaborations and more.  There is so much more to this ‘magic’ that you possess.  But starting here will set the ball in motion.  Everything else we do allows the momentum to continue. 

If this speaks to you, and you would like to know more about how to use your own magic to create the business you desire, let’s talk.  It’s easy, just a 15 minute conversation to see where you are, where you would like to go and what’s getting in the way. 

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I was recently on a trip with my youngest daughter and her Girl Scout Troop.  I felt like I was hit in the face with all of the lessons and information that I could directly relate to business.  So I have decided to bring a series to you on these ‘ah-ha’s that I experienced.  Look for the title and hashtag, Business Lessons from Life Adventures, to follow this series. 

Then, let me know your lessons that you have learned outside of the office. 

I was 17 years old when I graduated high school.  At the time, in my community, it was customary to take a crazy week to Ocean City, Maryland, get drunk and try not to get arrested. My parents said, ‘no’ to this trip.  So, as an alternative, my friends and I coordinated a camping and white water rafting trip.  I had camped all my life so that was the easy part. I had also canoed all my life, being on and in the water was also very comfortable for me.  The new twist was rafting in white water.   Being the 17 year old know-it-alls that we were, we opted not to get a guide as we rented our equipment and rafts from the local outfitter.  

We must have had a lesson or someone in our group had rafted before so off we went. To make a longer story short, the relevant piece of information here is that our trip went south.  We hit the white water, our raft tipped and people fell out, including me.  Others were pulled back in but I was not. In the chaos, it took a moment for others to realize that I was back peddling for my life in front of a patch of water that would have pulled me down and likely never released me.  When my friends did pull me in I was within seconds of being pulled under.  As I treaded the water vigorously, I knew that death was a possible outcome and I fought against the river and that outcome. 

That was it.  

We made it down the remainder of the river and back to camp.  I never got into a raft again.  I had flashbacks and panic attacks at various points in my life about that moment. White water was not for me.

Until, my 9 year old daughter’s girl scout trip planned a white water trip and my daughter, asked if I would go with her. It was time to confront my fear.  This time however, we would be on a man made course, with all the right gear, and a guide.  At any point, I would only ever a moment away from being pulled ashore if I got into trouble.  How could I show her bravery if I didn’t face this challenge myself?  I decided to go along. 

Each step, listening to the safety talk, getting in the raft, being pulled down stream in the raft, heading towards the rocks and going over turbulent water, was facing that moment decades before all over again and I breathed through it. Lots of deep breaths.  Paddling forward and trusting the safety from which I was operating.  We made our way to a stopping point where we could practice jumping into the moving river.  My daughter raised her hand to jump in. She looked to me.  I would have to jump in, too.  How could I teach her courage if I didn’t jump?

Breathing deeply and reassuring myself, “I am safe here.” I jumped in and let the water carry me then swam to shore. I survived the test.   We made our way through another lap around the white water.  There was another opportunity to stop and this time be allowed to walk into the white water, be pulled through it (and briefly under water), then out into the river and swim again to shore.  Her hand to participate went up.  I knew I had to go, too.  I was afraid and yet even in that fear knew that I had to step into the rushing water and face the churning river ahead.  

I stepped in, the current pulling me towards the rolling white wave, rocks on either side of me.  Feet up! Once my feet left the concrete floor of the river I was whisked rapidly in and then pulled down under.  I held my breath and popped up 3 seconds later, passed the danger and then swam against the current to the shore. 

I did it. 

This time, I got back into the raft and was ready for the next rapid. I even contemplated, although the opportunity never came, to jump out of the raft into the last rapid. 

Decades of reliving a terrifying moment were re-written moment by moment. 

There is a lot to unpack from this experience so I will do it in pieces over the course of several blogs.  Today, I challenge you to consider, what fear are you holding on to from an experience that went badly?  How does that fear shape your decision making today? 

Blog Series: How I Reinvented My Business

Do you know what really stinks?  
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Being an organizer who has trouble with organizing her time.

I never wanted to be the like the cobbler (the shoe maker) whose children have no shoes. I even wrote a blog about it!  It was my desire to be able to practice the time management techniques that I taught my clients.

But in the midst of my business growth and transition, I found myself moving quickly from one task to another, grasping at straws, trying to use what had worked in the past and apply it in my new business model. I was scrambling and ...

It didn’t work.

There were a few things that I needed to correct in order to create an environment of success.

1. Even teachers have teachers. The most accomplished people on the planet, those that we look up to for guidance, have teachers, mentors, guides, and coaches to continue to support them at the highest level. Oprah Winfrey, Russell Brunson, Tony Robbins, and others all have someone that is one step above where they are that helps them on their path.
   
   I needed a coach who was one step above where I was to help guide me.
   
   
2. Block time for consistent forward action. I needed to utilize deep work (I talk about this on the podcast this week here, you can listen here: Are you going deep in your business?) You cannot make progress when you are only working here and there on the projects that are going to move you forward. Take out your calendar and block 20 minutes this week. Then look forward and put a two-hour non-negotiable block of time every week for focusing on projects that will move your business forward. (*Ninja trick: I also block 1 week a month that I work solely on business growth activities)
   
   
3. Cut the non-essentials. If you are growing or transitioning a business, you do not have time for extras. Be ruthless and focus your efforts on only the essential activities that will help you reach your goal. As you move forward, you will need to refocus again and again. Opportunities will arise and you will weigh them against putting dedicated, consistent energy and effort to just one focus to move you forward. (If you would like help with this, we teach exactly how in the One Focus 30 Day Program)
   
   

I am going to guess you are ready to stop messing around with your time and get real results. Going it alone is no longer an option. It’s time to reach the growth you know is possible.

It’s time to take that idea that is just swirling around in your mind and make it a reality so that you can make the changes to the world that you feel called to make.  

Frank was where you are. In fact, he believed that, having worked with a coach before, he already had everything that he needed. Hear what he shares about the Momentum Accountability Program:

“Nettie’s program helps you think about and restructure the things you think you have a handle on, but actually, don’t. I made the best decision in my entrepreneurial life by partnering up with Nettie and receiving the accountability I needed. She really grounds you and puts you into a state of focus that you will never know existed in your world. And... her program isn’t just about accountability, it’s about action and truly driving home the key elements of your business that need to be put into action. Working with her on this has been a true blessing for me and I can’t thank her enough for helping me along my journey of true entrepreneurial success.”

If you are ready for success, let’s talk. Just comment below and we will find a time. 

You can also join the Momentum Millionaire Network right now and gain instant access to colleagues who are also growing and transforming the world.  

I can’t wait to see you as a Momentum Millionaire.  
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Here’s to your success!

February 2004... I was 24 years old.  I had been married for 2.5 years and my husband I had just moved from California to Maryland. I stayed on consulting for the company I left in California while Jason started in his position as a government employee.  I was looking for work but didn't want a 'career' because I knew we would start a family soon. So... I started my own business.

Show of hands for those in the room that thought opening your own business would allow you to earn money in your pj's, while watching your favorite tv shows, and having lunch with your friends when they called.

Yep, that was me. 

When I started my company, it wasn't a big bang.  It was a slow build, one customer at a time.  I was providing services as a residential organizer and learning along the way how to do it well and how to grow my business. 

But, within a year I had enough business to bring on a contractor to help and I had set my sights on creating a business that eventually could run without me. 

My business was a Model T.  It was top of the line revolutionary for me, at the time. Organizing as a business was still fairly new and novel.  Not a lot of people had an organizer and it was easy to offer my services when people would call. I offered 1 thing, they needed 1 thing. Life was good.

 Fast forward fourteen years... I had become one of the top organizers in my area serving chronically disorganized people.  I had trained dozens of other organizers, created my own organizing system, written two books, appeared on tv, won awards in my industry and my Model T, which had worked so well to get me to this place was no longer working.  

I felt called to move into a new direction.  I was 'leveling up' to a Tesla.  More energy efficient and a new energy source, sleek, streamlined, more cutting edge. 

But now, more people in general, owned cars.  There were more varieties, more options, more choices.

My business and my life were still built on the Model T format.

How would I turn my Model T into a Telsa?  Could I reuse some of the same parts?  Can you make plastic from metal, I wondered?  It looks so sleek on the outside but it's complicated under that shiny hood.  At least with the Model T I could see everything I had and how it all worked together.   Now, I was yet again in uncharted territory only this time it was so much more complicated. I had to keep the Model T operational while at the same time turning it into a Tesla.  How in the heck was I going to pull this off?!?

After being in business for as long as you have, maybe you are also experienced a Model T to Tesla Conversion?  

Or you are in one right now.

Here are a few lessons I have learned:
1 - Spend time acknowledging what made your original business great and why.  It can be easy to get frustrated with your old model but you built a successful business on it so don't walk away without taking the parts that did work well for you.
2 - Recognize what you have that can be transformed.  It may be the case that you can't use the Model T body as it exists now but maybe you can melt it down and use the metal to form the framework of your Tesla.  Your client on boarding process, networking, etc are made of the same essence but may need to be transformed for your new model.
3 - Let go of the parts that just won't work any more.  This is the point where you recognize that Model T tires will not fit on a Telsa.  Period.  Sometimes you need to just let go.  That is ok.  Say thank you and move forward.

I would love to hear, what lessons have you learned?

Are you burned out, overwhelmed, and chasing too many ‘good ideas'? 

You've built the business, make it work for you, free your time, & create more impact.  

1. Join the Momentum Millionaire Network
2. Download the Roadmap to Freedom by texting FREEDOM to 411321
3. Schedule a 15 min CEO Connection Call to discover where you are and where you would like to go.

If we are being honest, there are times that I get stuck on 'putting out fires' mode. I bet you are familiar with the 'fire drill'. This is the time when you know you could work on the tasks that could bring in the highest return (time, money, impact) but instead you rush around like there is a fire to put out, dousing the flames with endless checklists, completing other people's tasks, and quick action.
I have absolutely been the fire fighter, even recently! It's a tough roll to shake off. The fires often seem so big and important!

• Clients to call back
• Issues with your building, store, space.
• Bills that are due (yesterday).
• Tasks that you assigned that were not completed properly.
• Other people's deadlines.
• [Insert your favorite 'fire' here]

Fires will always crop up and they will appear even MORE often if your work is 'flammable'.
What do I mean by 'flammable'?
Flammable businesses are ones where the Vision, Mission, Core Values, Time Management, Organization, Systems, Strengths, Connections and Focus are not in place. Every time you fortify one of these areas you make your business more fire proof.
I think the MOST critical piece though is having a clear vision. When you do, you immediately temper the flames because you can apply the vision to the emergency and determine if focusing your attention here will get you where you most desire to go.
It looks like turning away from the stuff that will give you immediate satisfaction (putting out flames) for the stuff that will prevent fires in the first place (business planning and development).

My fire suit
I am most susceptible to fires when I have not taken time to place and evaluate the tasks on my list to the vision I have created. The opposite is also true. If I want to move through my business 'fire proof' I take time every day to recenter around my vision and select the tasks that will get me there. It means saying 'no' to the tasks that may appear to be burning, when in fact they are just an optical illusion.
One of the best ways to do this is to select just one clear focus and take this to completion. Easier said than done (unless you check out the One Focus Program). 

I challenge you today to take 5 minutes to write your vision and then select the one task that will allow you to create a part of it, today.

Are you burned out, overwhelmed, and chasing too many ‘good ideas'? 

You've built the business, make it work for you, free your time, & create more impact.  

Get the Roadmap to Freedom Text FREEDOM to 411321

In the United States, we remembered those who had passed serving our country.  For my family this weekend served a 2nd purpose as my family celebrated the lives of my aunt and uncle who had passed way this year. While preparing for the family visits, the trip to Ohio from Maryland and the Memorial Services, one thing I wasn't worried about was the time crunch that would ensue because of a shortened work week this week.

It took just a little bit of time and planning spread out over only the week prior (truth be told, it took about two hours) to account for the normal Monday activities that I engage in with the various programs I deliver.  This week, I will pick right back up on Tuesday's regular schedule and it will not feel stressful or overwhelming.  

There is a growing list of companies that focus on shorter hours, shorter work weeks and longer rest time for their employees to help INCREASE productivity.  Your activities take as long as you allow for.  So often, we allow little time sucks in our day because of two reasons:

1. We think we have time.  This argument sounds like, "This will only take a moment.  I'll just take care of it." When what really needs to happen is to delegate, systematize or delete it entirely.

2. We don't value our time.  Not all tasks have the same weight.  Always, you should be focusing on the activities you were uniquely designed to do.  A $100,000 salary can be billed at $48/hour, $1,000,000 salary can be billed at $480/hour.   As a business owner, one of my biggest jobs is to create Money Generating Activities, as Fabienne Fredrickson says.  What would change if you VALUED your time like a Millionaire?  What if you had to pay you $480/hour to do the task you are working on?  How would that change your perspective?

I challenge you to shorten your work week to 4 days a week every week and use the 5th day to move your biggest projects forward, you know, the ones you can never seem to find time to do!

If this sounds too difficult right now, it's ok.  Let's find a time to chat and sort it out.  Let's Talk.

Do people know what you do?

You may think it is obvious but the conversations I have had this week tell me otherwise. Even the people closest to us may not understand what we actually do!

How can you effectively communicate the length and breadth of what you do? As you share your business with people, the key is to get referred to people who connect with what you offer. This idea comes straight from Tim Templeton's book, "The Referral of a Lifetime."

What if you started viewing the people around you as your unpaid sales force? If they fully understand your business, they can become your biggest advocates!

I challenge you to have a conversation with three people this week. Ask them these three questions: 

What do you do? 
Who do you help?
What do you need in your business?

I also encourage you to read "Friend of a Friend" by David Burkus or schedule a time to talk with me!

I recently had the pleasure of being a special guest on A Bridge To Wholeness podcast! A Bridge To Wholeness is committed to bringing awareness to wellbeing beyond what we think health and wellness is all about.

In this interview, I demonstrate for you my process of helping others remove obstacles and create a path to their life's work. Host Jennifer Crisp acts as the “client” and I lead her through on an incredible journey of self discovery.  We discuss how your environment affects your well-being and productivity, why organization makes a difference in your productivity, and how to focus on what you really want to achieve.

This is a health and wellness episode for all business owners!

The episode is titled #21: "How To Stay Motivated: Start With One Task."

You can listen to it on iTunes, Stitcher, or online by clicking the button below. I hope you enjoy it!