Day 12: Birds-Eye View vs the Rat Race

Now this is probably the 100th time you're hearing this from me but here it is again. My #1 tip for that completes these 12 days of tips!

You have GOT to GET OUT OF THE RAT RACE and WORK ON THE BUSINESS, NOT JUST IN IT!

What I'm talking about is the Birds-Eye View we need to take on a regular basis to measure our progress, create and re-evaluate goals, question our vision and purpose, and develop new systems that will make us and our businesses more successful.

I find it VERY difficult to do if I'm in my normal surrounding so this week and in mid-January I'll be removing myself from the "Rat Race" of day-to-day business and TAKING A VACATION :)




If you don't have the funds and time to take a full-blown vacation try borrowing a friend's place for a day or renting a hotel room somewhere and LEAVE your phone at home (and stay away from an internet connection). Distractions must be minimized and you should have an agenda going into your vaca/retreat.

With that, I'm going to practice what I preach and say my ados for a while. I'll be OUT OF THE COUNTRY this week, floating around the Caribbean, with little to NO access to email, phone, or internet. Stay tuned for pics and reviews of the adventure on my photo blog... :)

Day 11: Read More!

Someone once told me that the only difference between who you are today and who you are a year from now depends on what you read and who you meet.

I can honestly say that I've saved hours, days, weeks, months, YEARS of headache and trouble from the advice and lessons learned through others. One of the best ways to gleam this from people we do not have the honor of knowing personally would be to READ!

Right now I'm reading an amazing book I wish I'd have read years ago. It's the Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews and it's the story of how a man who's down on luck and life goes on a divine adventure back in time to learn 7 secrets of success from people from the past. I'm about 1/2 way through so I'll have to do a review upon completion.




Also, for some more great books that good for business and life check out my BOOK LIST. ***CLICK HERE TO SEE MY BOOK LIST***



What are some of the books you're reading now or plan to this year???

Day 10: Outsource MORE!!!

This time last year, I scratched out ALL the usual goals, and stuck to just one: let go of more / let others help me more.

In retrospect, I don't think I'd be in business still if I didn't hand over so much to others this past year. Either that, or I'd be in the looney-bin!

A few of the things I've outsourced, "insourced", & generally let others help me with:

1. Housecleaning!! They even make cute roses with the toilet paper and kleenex!!
2. Lawn Care :) I tried once with the lawnmower but prefer only doing the dance, thank you.
3. BLOG Design/Programing. Thanks Mike for a great job on all of mine!!
4. ALBUM design and work. My in-house design team does it all pretty much... a HUGE help as I'm not as design-inclined :) Sara is taking her services public this year so shoot her an email if you want in on this gem of a service!!


What are some of the things YOU have outsourced that have made a huge difference in your life!???

What are you going to let go of in 2008?

Day 9: Becoming a Movie Buff = Good Business

Friday night, a small group of us went for Mexican food and followed it up with game- and movie- night. I am absolutely HORRIBLE at trivia, but somehow did pretty good at the "Scene It" game where it's all about movie trivia.

This past week, I've been to the movie theater THREE times and watched numerous movies on DVD too.

Man... what a BUM I am... right??

Oh no, my creative-business-owner friends. It's ALL in the name of good business sense. Where do you think all our creativity and eye for a moment comes from? LOTS of places, but if you're like me you probably delight in observing all the different techniques, angles, applications, scenes, setups, backdrops, costumes, casting, and movement in movies.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is we NEED to get out and get INSPIRED on a regular basis to keep those creative-juices flowing!! Movies are a big source for me... people watching, dance, magazines, novels, art, friends, stories, theater, and music are some others.

What are some things you've been inspired by lately??

Day 8: Big and Hairy

Yep. I said it. BIG and HAIRY. Oh, AUDACIOUS too! That's what we should all be doing right now... making Big, Hairy, Audacious GOALS for 2008!!

We've had a day to re-coup from the New Years festivities, we're finally taking down the decorations, and forced to think about the work and year ahead of us.



It's the time of year where, as small business owners, we owe it to ourselves and our clients to take a step out of the rat-race and STOP to think about our future, and the future of our business.

So what will your BHAGs be for 2008??

Day 7: Shakespeare and Business

"Above all else, to thine own self be true"

Leave it to Shakespeare to weave advice into poetry!



One thing I love to do during our BBC classes is to take some time out to think about what we love to do the most. It's generally a good rule of thumb that the things we're best at are also things we love to do.

So a few questions for you in this new year:

What makes you the happiest?
Of these things, what haven't you done in a long time, or what do you not do enough of?
How can you integrate these things into your business and life more in 2008?