A great acronym is FOCUS.

As a word focus can mean:

• A center of interest of activity
• Close or narrow attention; concentration

As an acronym FOCUS becomes

• Fulfillment and Fun
• Organizing and Optimizing
• Commitment, Courage, Connections, Confidence
• Understanding Drains and Drivers
• Strengths, Spunk, Spirit

To use FOCUS as a structure to support your success begin by answering these questions:

1. What is fulfilling for me? What am I trying to achieve?
2. What am I doing that is not fun? Why am I still engaged in this? What is fun for me and how will I get more of it?
3. How will I organize my schedule and my life to accomplish the activities that will create what I want?
4. To optimize my time, what am I going to say “no” to?
5. How committed am I to achieving my goals and being my best?
6. What one courageous thing do I do every day?
7. What will I do to reach out and make meaningful connections?
8. Where am I confident and where do I want more of it?
9. What habits, thoughts, attitudes or people are draining me?
10. How will I adopt habits, thoughts and attitudes that will drive me and support success?
11. What are my top three strengths and how will I harness them daily?
12.  How will I create ways to be spunkier!
13. What is my true spirit; my inner guide? Connect with this daily.

Your answers to these questions will create your FOCUS blue print that will lead you to fulfillment, achievement, and everything else that success means to you.

Carve out time to have a private retreat to explore the questions. Write down your answers, keep them close and review your progress daily.

When feeling stuck or in a slump, saying the word FOCUS quietly to yourself will ground you to your goals and become a good reminder of the wonderful journey you have chosen.

To your success,

Jeanette

• Do you attend networking events only to find that they have not been fruitful for you?
• Are you feeling frustrated because you are not getting any new leads, new clients, career opportunities or new friends?
• Does that feeling of dread hit you when you think of attending another event? ugh!

Perhaps you need to punch up your style and practice Vitality Networking! 

Join me on Thursday, February 23 at 7 PM EST when I discuss Vitality Networking during my monthly Connecting with Success Call!

During this 45 minute free teleconference, I will review the top mistakes that people make when they attend a networking event – and how to avoid them.

Even if you are unable to attend the live Connecting with Success Call at 7 pm, register for the call to receive the audio and the handout.

Regardless of your purpose for networking – new clients, connections, new job, making friends – you will walk away with some great ideas for adding success and Vitality to your networking style!

CLICK HERE to register for this free call, Thursday, February 23, 7 PM EST and/or to receive the audio and the handout.

To your success!

I am pleased to announce that for the first time ever – I am offering a download of my chapter from the book The Spirit of Women Entrepreneurs titled Be The FROG You Were Meant to Be: Four Strategies to Help You Leap Towards Success as an Entrepreneur.

This colorful version includes exercises to help you leap into:

• The life you really want
• Relationships that work
• Strategies for organization
• Gracefulness

This special download is being offered for only $5.00

CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE YOUR CHAPTER

Kick aside your dull planning tools – get a copy of this chapter and have some fun!

To your big success! Ribbit…

Jeanette

Regardless of cause of the distraction it keeps you from being productive and efficient, leaving you with feelings of discouragement, frustration and overwhelm. In addition, by making the choice to allow the distraction to steal your time you are making the choice to neglect your business or career goals. What is your priority?

You can dump the distractions by using some or all of the following strategies:

Make up Your Mind

Decide that your goal of completing your project or the other work at hand is more important than the distraction. Set an intention that you are creative and focusing on your work.

Be Assertive

When someone interrupts you by walking into your office to start a conversation, tell them that you are busy with a phrase like “Hi Pat, I’m glad you stopped by, but I am on deadline and really need some quiet time right now. Please email me or stop by after 3 pm and we can chat. Thanks.”

Tell the World

Before you close the door and get to work, tell everyone in the vicinity – co-workers, family and/or friends – that you plan on getting some work accomplished and do not want any interruptions for the next hour. (or however long you need!)

Schedule Your Work

Schedule yourself to quietly complete some work just as you would schedule yourself for an appointment with someone. This action stresses to you the importance of completing your project.

Post a Sign

Place a colorful “Working, Do Not Disturb” sign on your door to signal a no-interruptions mindset. I used to post a photo of a tiger growling when I needed quiet time.

No Peeking

Checking email and going down the rabbit hole of social media is very distracting. Turn off your computer tones or shut down your computer and silence your phone. Schedule yourself to check email routinely but not every time one comes in.

Stand Tall

If someone does make it into your office and begins a conversation, stand up. The act of standing up will convey you are not engaging in a cozy sit-down conversation. Make your responses short and then revert to your assertive statement as written above.

Hold the Phone

Avoid answering the phone. Screen your calls through the answering machine or voice mail. You can always immediately return the call if it is an emergency.

Create Your Office

Distractions can be disguised as piles of paper, misplaced pens and stuffy air. Create an office environment that promotes creativity and focus: Organize the clutter, have your supplies ready, play some inspiring background music and/or open a window.

Take charge of your projects and how you complete them with focus, enthusiasm and confidence. Dump the distraction – it is your choice.

You could be one of these women if you are:

• Ready to think BIG about your business vision and goals
• Want to get very clear about your ideal client and how to attract them
• Thirsty for some accountability and challenges
• Excited about receiving support and ideas from 3 other dynamic women and a fabulous coach
• Thrilled to utilize new resources and information on creating the business you are passionate about
• Poised to leap into your true leadership
• Ready for some fun!

My new Be Fabulous! Mastermind Group will include:

• 1 monthly 90 minute in-person group coaching & education session facilitated by me
• Gives you accountability, sharing, new information, clarity on your goals, and great support!
• 1 monthly 75 minute phone group coaching session facilitated by me
• Lets you check in on your progress, ask questions and provide support to you team members
• 1 monthly 30 minute private phone coaching session with me
• Allows you private time with me as your personal coach to help you overcome barriers and thing big!

And the investment to you is:

All this provided for a first-time never-to-be-repeated price of $145/month
* If you have been one of my special clients within the last 12 months, you receive a 10% discount – $130.50

The length of the program:

The Be Fabulous! Mastermind Group will begin the end of February and run through the end of June. Just the perfect time to get you focused and moving on your aligned actions to reach your goals.

How do you get involved?

I’d love to have you be one of these four dynamic women…or maybe I’ll have enough interest to start two Be Fabulous! Mastermind Groups.

Contact me immediately at Jeanette@FocusedVitality.com and I can answer your questions!

The Be Fabulous Mastermind Group is a great way to invest in yourself and build your business. Plus, with this new-program special price, you are not investing a huge amount of money. I’m incorporating the best of my material and my resources into Be Fabulous! and I want your participation and your feedback!

Remember, this is a premiere price and will not be this low again. Contact me today for questions and to get registered. Jeanette@FocusedVitality.com

To your BIG success!!!
        Jeanette

During this 45 minute call, I’ll be reviewing a top tip from my FOCUS formula:

*What is really fulfilling for you?
*How will you organize your life to achieve this?
*Make friends with both courage and fear!
*Understand what is really driving you!
*Lead with your unique strengths and lead with spirit!

Each tip will inspire you to get FOCUSed on what you want for 2012!

This call is fr*ee, but I want to hold a place for you by having you register.  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Once registered you will receive the call-in information.

This call is being held two different times on January 26: 2 PM EST and 7 PM EST

Looking forward to having  you on the call!

Jeanette

We’re still in January of the new year and most of you are still visualizing and planning about how you will have a successful 2012. You’re probably writing out your goals, making your to-do lists and imagining life as productive, creative and happy. But you may also be wondering about how you are going to fit everything into your already full schedule. You find yourself wishing you just had more time to get it all done. You’re not alone in this dilemma, most people long for more time.

Ask yourself these four questions to help you create more time:

#1 – Am I aware that I only have twenty-four hours in a day?

We all have twenty four hours in our day. The most influential and prosperous people in the world also have only twenty-four hours. The key to productivity and satisfaction is analyzing how you are spending this precious time.

Imagine your twenty-four hour day represented by a circle; I call this the Time Circle.

Your day is divided into three eight-hour segments for sleep, work and leisure. Most people need a good eight hours of sleep to feel energetic and creative. This part of your Time Circle should be non-negotiable. If you find yourself devoting more time than eight hours to work, the additional hours come out of your leisure time – include getting ready for and traveling to work, which could result in over eight hours. The remaining hours are used for leisure and family time.

#2 – Do I know how I am spending my time?

Using the Time Circle, where the ideal day divides everything into eight hour segments, take an inventory on how you are using your time. Make your own Time Circle on a sheet of paper – this is a great visual. For two days pay attention on the activities that are filling your day. Where are you wasting time? How can you possibly fit anything else into an already filled Time Circle? What can you get rid of?

#3 – Am I very clear about what is important to me for 2012?

Not being clear about what you want and the benefits that it brings to your life can result in feelings of overwhelm, being stuck, and frustration. Take the time to think about the most important changes and accomplishments you want for 2012. Write out the specifics of your vision and the outcomes. Make a commitment to make this happen.

#4 – Am I willing to say no?

Your Time Circle can be bursting at the seams with activities, events and other obligations that are not supporting your goals. Yes, they may be fun and important, but filling up your time with these things will rob you of the time you need to accomplish your mission – to make fabulous things happen in 2012!

Frequently you won’t say no to requests for fear of rejection, of missing out on something or concern of what others will say. Become familiar with your reasons for not saying no. Make your desire for achieving your goals stronger that your fear of saying no and build your confidence to say this two-letter word. Your challenge is to review your Time Circle inventory and assess where you can apply this.

You may also need to say no to yourself; “No, I won’t watch TV tonight” or “No, I won’t spend time doing this myself” in order to free up space on your Time Circle.

#5 – Am I committed enough to my goal to schedule time to work on my goals?

An effective time-management tool is to schedule time in your calendar to complete activities like: work on a project, exercise, relax call potential clients, family time or read a leadership development book. This helps you get focused, productive and avoid overwhelm. Begin today to schedule the most important things or activities that you really want to achieve.

You really can create more “time” in your day if you are truly inspired to surge ahead this year and make your vision come true. Nurture your Time Circle and design it to make time your friend.

To your success

Jeanette

]]> http://focusedvitality.com/how-to-create-more-time/feed 0 http://focusedvitality.com/set-your-emotions-for-success http://focusedvitality.com/set-your-emotions-for-success#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:58:24 +0000 jeleff http://focusedvitality.com/?p=371 You want the best as a leader in your career and business. You invest in your education and personal growth, you attend the best networking events, and you insure that you are dressing for success. But are you checking your emotions and making sure that you are setting yourself up for success through them?

Everything you want to create in your life from a happy personal life to a thriving career is based on how you set up and manage your emotions. Imagine a ladder: the top rung of the ladder is labeled “love, joy, happiness”, the middle rung is “overwhelm” and the lowest rung is “despair, powerlessness, depression”. Each rung in between is labeled with an emotion. The draining and lower energy emotions such as worry, blame, revenge, jealousy and insecurity are on the lower half. Climbing up the ladder reveals different emotional energies like doubt, frustration, hopefulness and positive expectations. Most people hang around the area of the ladder named contentment or boredom – and not much creating can happen here.

The best emotions for creating happiness and fulfillment as a leader are found at the top of the ladder. Your goal is to identify what rung your emotion is stuck on and shift your energy enough to take that step to the next emotional level. Visualize moving up the ladder of success – it does get easier with each step.

How do you climb that ladder and switch your emotions when you are stuck in feelings like discouragement, doubt and worry? Here are some of my favorite techniques for shifting your energy into an emotion that will bring you more creativity.

Change your thoughts

You cannot have a bad thought at the same time you are having a good thought. Plus positive emotions will follow good thoughts and actions to make your goals come true will become easier to achieve. When you realize you are having thoughts of being a failure (discouragement), take a deep breath and tell yourself “I am creative and resourceful and accept all help to achieve success.” Breathe in this new thought and say it often. You may even want to write it out as an affirmation. Your emotions will change from discouragement to hopefulness. Up the ladder you go.

Breathe and move

When faced with feelings of overwhelm and of being stuck, you can shift your energy by simply breathing and then moving. The act of deep breathing gets your blood flowing and energizes your body and senses. When you stand up to change your position and your location, it also energizes your body and creates a different perspective for you. These two activities will actually push the de-energizing emotion away, allowing higher energies to move in. Overwhelm turns into positive expectations and action. This technique works well with anger also. When you’re angry, finding something to “do” such as consciously breathing and moving will help shift the anger into a more productive feeling.

Read something inspiring

If you experience insomnia caused by thoughts of worry and doubt, get up and read something inspiring and uplifting. Personal growth and spiritual books are great as are energizing novels. These readings help you regain your focus on something positive and meaningful. Enhance the effect with soothing music and your worry will transform into joy and happy contentment.

Be grateful

When you realize you feel like a victim, blaming others for your situation, stop and put your focus on your life and what you are grateful for – no matter how small. Replace thoughts like “Everything is his fault; if he appreciated me I could be more productive and happier” with “I love my life, I am so grateful to have work where I can express my creativity.” Focusing on something to be grateful for creates more things in your life to be grateful for. Putting your attention on the good things in your life is empowering and shifts your emotions to ones with more creativity.

Being a great leader is being responsible….

When you realize that you are responsible to yourself and that you can manage your emotional energies, then you can create that fabulous success you are craving! You are responsible for assessing where your emotions and feelings are stuck and for taking the consistent action to shift them.

To your big success!

Are You Ready to Have a Great 2012?

I’m writing to you because you have registered to receive my inspiring articles on how to energize your career, your business and your life. Some of you have participated in one of my programs.

I’m curious…why are you receiving my newsletter?

• Because you want to get very clear about your definition of success
• You want to feel good about your career and the contributions you make
• You want to stay focused on the goals that will make your business soar
• You are a leader and want to do more great things for  your community

But maybe you have some blocks that are getting in your way…

• Overwhelmed with all of the ideas that you have
• Feeling stuck in a dead-end career that is not bringing you happiness
• Fearful to really think big about your life
• Not clear about what you really want

Imagine what would be possible in your business or career

and your life if you couldget unstuck, beat the overwhelm,

harness your courage and step into your big-self filled

with creativity, aliveness, happiness and even fun!

What would truly be possible for you?

I’m offering a special four-session coaching package to help you get your success started for 2012!

• Schedule these sessions when desirable for you
• In-person or over-the-phone
• No huge investment of money

This package will help you create enough power and confidence to move you forward into that place of success and happiness.

This package is usually priced at $875,

but because I am interested in your success,

I am offering this coaching package at a

special year-end price of $500.

BUY NOW IN ONE EASY PAYMENT!  

Three payment option can be found at the bottom of this page!

Your sessions are very individualized for you and I incorporate my Vitality Principles in every package:

• Help you get very clear about what you want –      you get to define your success!
• Create systems that keep you organized so      you can optimize your life – walk away with aligned actions, your roadmap      to reach your goals!
• Harness your courage to think and act      big!
• Get very clear about the barriers that have been      getting in your way – and do something about them!
• Define your strengths and use them to      live the spirited and energizing life that you want!

Doesn’t this sound empowering?

Let me repeat this -

Your investment in jump-starting your success for 2012

will only be $500. And, I’ve made this easy –

you can pay this in three 30-day payments of $167.

BUY NOW!!!  3 Installments of $167 

This offer expires January 6, so register today and commit to your energizing life for the New Year!

Are you ready for success in 2012?  I would love to help you,

Jeanette

Receive your free gift of Vitality Lessons by registering at www.FocusedVitality.com

Specific

Get very specific about what you want for your business, career and life. Write a story or make bullet points about what you want, why you want it, who is involved and what are you surrounded by?  Instead of writing a goal such as “I want a business that brings in lots of money” write “My business will bring in $110,000 this year by providing individual coaching services to women, teambuilding workshops to small businesses and speaking engagements to service organizations.” From this statement you should become even more specific and target your ideal client and specific actions to reach this goal.

Measurable

Set a measurable target so you know if you have been successful in reaching your goal. “My business will make $111,000; my happiness scale will be a 10 and I am a 5 right now; or I will have 10 new clients a month.” Stretch yourself here, most of you are great at saying what you want but you don’t include how you are going to measure your achievements.

Attainable

Don’t set yourself up for failure by writing goals that you are never going to reach. It’s too easy to throw a big-revenue goal or a huge life-changing goal out there, only to realize mid-year that the goal was unobtainable. Make sure you have the resources, the target market, the right services, a strong team, the necessary support and the time and commitment to reach your goal. Write a realistic but strong goal.

Relevant

Make sure your goal is worthy and related to your big vision for your business or career. Is this something that will really make a difference? Is it worth your time? Will it add to your personal definition of success?

Timely

In this final step you want to become committed to when you are going to accomplish each goal. You “put your stake in the ground” as I like to say. This gives you a sense of urgency, helps you stay organized and focused, and helps you avoid getting trapped in day-to-day distractions. Get out your year-long calendar, colored pens and sticky notes and set your timeline to make things happen.

Have a prosperous and SMART 2012.

Jeanette

Get your free Vitality Lessons by registering for Jeanette’s articles at www.FocusedVitality.com