Archive for the ‘Breakthrough your time barriers’ Category

It feels like there is never enough time.  Creating time abundance is a habit.  Free Your Mind of Time Scarcity.

• What are some thoughts/ clichés of time scarcity?
• There’s not enough time in the day.
• So much to do, so little time.
• There’s not enough time to get everything done.
• Behind the 8 ball.
• Time flies.
• I just don’t have enough time. I can’t get it all done.

What we think about we create. If we think about our business and growing it, the chances are it will grow. Of course we put our energy into growing it too. What we focus on is what we notice.

The first thing you need to understand is why it’s so hard to change old habits.  There have been studies done by countless experts and institutions, including NASA.  You may even have heard that it takes 3-6 weeks, or 66 days, or 21 days, for a new habit to “stick”… and, according to NASA, if you break that habit even once, you have to start all over again.

However, NASA’s study applied to highly-motivated, Alpha-personality astronauts; and what they were trying to change related to a specific, bizarre physical phenomenon related to gravity and eyesight.

More recently, the McGovern Institute at M. I. T. did a simple study using that simple old standby model, rats in a maze.  What they were attempting to measure, however, was nothing less than how neurons act in changing firing patterns in the basal ganglia, after patterns (habits) are broken.  This area of the brain is key to establishing habits, because the basal ganglia is where pleasure-creating dopamine is release, and the neocortex reinforces the input.

M.I.T. had the rats traverse the maze for a chocolate “treat” at its end. All during the time the rats fumbled their way through the maze, their neurons were constantly firing as they assimilated new data.  When they removed the chocolate treats, the rats lost interest, and old firing patterns returned.  However, when the chocolates were reinstated, the “new” neuron-firing pattern quickly kick-started again, and the “habit” returned even more strongly.

In other words, if you’ve tried, given up and said: “Well, that’s it for me. I guess I’m just not meant to manage my time that way…”, you can take hope: Because one thing studies like these show is, it sometimes takes several tries to change a habit… and each time, it becomes a little easier – the firing patterns are established.  (What usually messes people up is negative self-talk, a peculiarly human phenomenon – to which rats are, of course, not prone.)
I guess what I’m trying to say is… don’t accept that you’re “doomed” to give up, if you try something once and slip out of the habit.  You see, changing a habit isn’t a one-step thing. It takes:

• Self-analysis – you need to actually make time to think about what you’re doing, if it’s working, and what you’re getting out of the habit
• Substitution – substituting a new behavior for the old – and figuring out what new substitution will work best
• Trial and Error – seeing where your new behavior doesn’t work (and where you fall out of it, every time)

You see, changing any habit – even Time Abundance ones – is a process, not a single, one-time occurrence. And the sooner you allow yourself to trust that process (and your ability to adapt), the easier it gets!

Become a client attraction magnet by delegating to multiply your efforts and increase your income. Most small business owners don’t start with a team because they think they have to do it all, there is not enough money to hire anyone. But the reality is you’re losing money if you don’t hire someone to help. What you see very quickly is that you can only do so much.

You may be able to do it all but you will limit the time you’ll be able to spend on the income producing activities of your business. Think about it, if you pay someone $15.00 an hour to help with keeping up your home that could easily be offset by $150.00 per hour or even much more you could be earning by coaching or doing a teleseminar, or networking with a master networker who can give you a ton of leads.

Now be smart and savvy about your help. You may be thinking I can do these things myself. But you need to focus on the things you love (spending quality time with your family and friends)and the things that are going to make you money: (1) client work, product sales or services and (2) marketing to bring in more clients.

So how do you find help? Here’s a few tips:

What Types of Tasks Do They Do?: Again, a willing Virtual Assistant (VA) can be trained to perform tasks in the way you specify, but do look for virtual assistants with experience working with online business owners and who has some understanding of their needs. What Are Their Rates?: Rates vary with virtual assistants. Some may charge per project, while others may charge per project. If you plan on working with a VA on an ongoing basis (as you should), an hourly agreement simplifies the process. Ask if there are any discounts available if you keep your VA on retainer.

Test Them Out Before Agreeing to a Retainer: Ideally, you do want to work with a VA on an ongoing basis, but be sure you are a good fit before doing so. Give him/her a few projects and make sure he/she responds in a timely manner, takes direction well, clarifies any details that need clarifying and complete projects on time.

Be beware of is virtual assistants who do VA work on the side while trying to build another type of business of their own. That is where you run into trouble with consistency, meeting deadlines, etc. You want to find a VA that is committed to providing support to your business, not someone who is trying to pay the bills in the meantime.

Check References: Because your virtual assistant will have access to so much personal and business information, it’s important to check on any references provided. You should also search on Google for any reviews of their service.

Client Attraction Tip:  Take the edge off the decision by offering a guarantee

I would love to hear your best tip for finding a VA.  What do you delegate religiously?