It is time to actually live the life you have always dreamed of. Make 2018 the year you are going to achieve incredible things. Over the next year, you are going on an epic journey. You will be growing your business and will accomplish something incredible by creating a life you love.
All of this will not happen overnight, it won’t be by accident, and it will not be handed to you on a silver platter. It will happen because you will make it happen, with intention.
All you need to do is show up, work hard, and never give up.
About a that “hard work” part I mentioned, I am here to help, we will do this together! So, let’s get started!
First, be clear about what you want to achieve in 2018 – and stand by it! Everything you want to accomplish is going to need a plan, which is why you are going to make a plan to make it happen. It isn’t easy achieving your goals but with focus, you can set yourself up and get on the path to success.
Download the 2018 Goal-Setting & Planning workbook at start your year off with intention. No sign up required, it is totally free to download! As I said above, the only thing that will get you to where you want to be you. So it is time to make a plan for how you are going to be the best version of yourself for 2018.
Be sure to leave a comment and share your business goals for 2018!
[Tweet “Success is not an accident and I know that you are going to achieve the incredible in 2018.”]
The holiday season can be tough on children and adults alike. Toy manufacturers and retail outlets start their advertising campaigns early, and kids are increasingly bombarded with dozens of advertisements for the latest and greatest toys or gadgets they “absolutely must have”. Kids then begin their own campaigns with their parents. “Everyone will have this…” or “I’ll die if I don’t have that….” or the tried and tested, “Please, please, please, please.”
While most of us will assess their children’s requests and buy wisely and appropriately, we too can fall prey to the pressures of the season. Did you know, each Canadian spends on average almost $1,200 every holiday season? That’s not a problem if we’ve budgeted for our purchases, but most of us don’t. In fact, 20 percent of Canadians say they are not sure how they will pay for the season.
So, with a little planning, we don’t have to start the New Year in debt. Here are a few tips on how to stay on budget this year.
Make a list.
Write down a list of each person, family member you want to buy gifts for. Beside each name, write the maximum amount you are willing to spend. If your kids are old enough, have them create a similar list of their friends and siblings.
If your list is too long, get in touch with your family and friends and suggest secret Santa or drawing names to give one gift per person. Another way to bring the list down is to suggest to friends and adult family members that each of you just buy for each other’s children or buying a single family gift, rather than individual, gifts.
Set a holiday budget.
Look at how much you can spend this year without having to rely on credit. Include expenses such as gift wrapping, entertaining and charitable donations.
Set expectations for your kids.
Older kids often have unrealistic expectations, communicate with them about your budget. Let them know how much you intend to spend this year and what they can expect. I usually tell my boys, I am spending $XX per person – so, create a list that fits within that budget. I like to tell them the dollar amount less than my actual spending amount, this way there will still be a few surprises.
Give homemade gifts.
This is the time of year that you can channel your inner Martha Stewart and make gifts for teachers, friends, co-workers and neighbours. Bake cookies, knit sweaters, or make them gift baskets. Your children will enjoy helping while learning that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to show your love and appreciation. Pinterest will be your best friend when it comes to DIY gifts.
Use cash whenever possible.
No, not as the gift itself but for your holiday purchases. Only use a credit card if you know you can pay it off right away.
Do not wait until the last minute!
Allow time for comparison shopping. Shop around to get the best price. Take your kids with you and make it a fun learning experience by having them keep notes on what store charges for each item.
Take the “I” out of the holiday season.
Cheesy, I know but think about it! A great way to teach your kids about social responsibility (and the true meaning of the holidays) and allow older kids to explore different causes, is to make a family donation to a charity. Ask the kids what charity they would like the family to “adopt” and why. Then have everybody give a certain amount to the cause.
Plan ahead for next year.
Reduce financial stress next year by planning now! Put a small amount into a savings account every week – even $5 a week will result in a tidy sum of about $250 come next December. Put in $25 a week away and you’ll have $1,300 by the time the holidays roll around again!
Finally, It is a good idea to shop for gifts throughout the year. This way you take advantage of great sales and avoid the holiday rush! These are just a few ways to make the holiday season less stressful and more enjoyable!
“Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” ~ Will Smith
Just kidding – That quote should be credited to the brilliant Jack Canfield.
Will Smith is credited for this quote all over the internet because of this amazing motivational video. He actually said, “On the other side of maximum fear are all of the best things in life.” Which is a pretty good quote in itself! The video is fun, witty and inspiring. Be sure to take a couple minutes to watch!
The internet is full of misquotes, what is your favourite?
Have you ever wondered “Should I start my own business?” I am thinking that is a solid yes, or you would not be reading this. I hummed and hawed about it for years, the only regret I, eventually, had was that I did not start sooner. Starting Your Own Business
There are a lot of things you need to consider before you start your own business but that is not what this article is about. Today, I am only going to talk about the reasons why you should.
I am going to fill you full of “the grass is greener” syndrome. Don’t get me wrong, there are just as many perks to being an employee as there are being your own boss. The same goes for the downsides, there are plenty to go around on both sides of the fence. However; not everyone was born to be an employee. Some of us were meant to be leaders, creators, and entrepreneurs.
So here is my happy little list of why I say, Yes, it is a good idea to start your own business.
Freedom
The biggest reason, I feel, one should start their own business is freedom. When you are your own boss you have a lot more freedom. Yes, there will be customers, regulators and possibly investors telling you what and how to do things – but – you have the freedom to make your own decisions. You can even make the decision to not listen to those listed and do your own thing. The choice is yours, just remember so are the results.
You will have the freedom to determine your own work hours. Of course, within reason. You may not get away with sleeping until noon every day and only be available to customers only between the hours of midnight and 3 am – but – you will be able to plan your days according to your own personal schedule. You can schedule your days so you can pick up your kids from school, schedule any appointments whenever you want, or even go grocery shopping in the middle of an afternoon on a Tuesday. (It’s the little things in life, right?)
Being your own boss also gives you the freedom to be your creative self! Every person should strive for this, and when you are calling the shots you are able to do this by building on your own ideas as opposed to implementing them into someone else’s business success.
Challenges
As a business owner, every day will be full of new challenges. You will constantly be learning, creating, problem-solving and more. You will never say that your work is the “same old boring routine, day in and day out” again. I promise you that.
Job Security
Sounds a little wonky, I know but believe it, there is job security in owning your own business. How is this possible? You ask – well, as long as you have a business, you will have a job…
Financial Opportunity
Not trying to blow any smoke where it doesn’t belong but when you own your own business the financial opportunities are endless. Whereas an employee, your salary will most likely be capped at some point in your career.
There you have it! A few key reasons why I believe starting your business is a good idea. I am not saying it is the easy path to take but for some of us – it truly is the right path.
If you have no idea where to start, check out The Virtual Studio’s Idea to Income Group Coaching Program! In this 90-Day Program, I walk you through big-picture dreaming and planning by helping you create a business plan, define your purpose, set goals and build a strategy.
Accountability Calls – 30 minute “working” room sessions. You can pick and choose which ones you want to join, just a few or all! (total value of $120/month) (These are NOT social or coaching sessions – we hop on, we focus on our business, we work together-quietly.)
Ask Me Anything Sessions – Monthly 1-hour AMA group session, inside a Library Room, that you can ask Joelene anything you want. During AMA sessions, I will do my best to answer all questions, but research may be needed and patience is appreciated! (Group coaching value $150/ month)
A goal-setting session on the last Friday of each month to review successes and declare intentions for the next month. There is also an accountability goal-setting thread. (Group coaching value $150/ month)
Access to the Studio Library Resources
This group is capped to allow for intimacy, networking and to ensure member success.
Did you hear? Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are engaged! (Of course, you did. Unless you live under a rock or have successfully managed to avoid any and ALL forms of media, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TV, radio, newspapers, or haven’t talked to another human in the last week.)
Before it was announced that she would be the worlds newest member of the Royal family, Meghan Markle was already an inspiration to women everywhere.
With America soon being able to lay claim to its very own member of the British royal family, it’s only natural that people are trying to absorb in as much information about Miss Markle’s life as possible. She is bound to be one of the most Googled women in the past year, however; I want to focus on one particular moment from her past that is making the rounds on social media. Her speech at U.N. Women’s 2015 conference.
This simple 9-10 minute speech and her story of how her actions made such an impact are truly inspirational.
I encourage you to watch this over and over again, I have, and use her words as inspiration for you to make an impact. For you to follow your gut, and be the change you wish to see in the world.
Oh, and I have to add, OMG she is marrying a real-life Prince! Who says you can’t be a feminist and still have your very own Prince Charming?
Accountability Calls – 30 minute “working” room sessions. You can pick and choose which ones you want to join, just a few or all! (total value of $120/month) (These are NOT social or coaching sessions – we hop on, we focus on our business, we work together-quietly.)
Ask Me Anything Sessions – Monthly 1-hour AMA group session, inside a Library Room, that you can ask Joelene anything you want. During AMA sessions, I will do my best to answer all questions, but research may be needed and patience is appreciated! (Group coaching value $150/ month)
A goal-setting session on the last Friday of each month to review successes and declare intentions for the next month. There is also an accountability goal-setting thread. (Group coaching value $150/ month)
Access to the Studio Library Resources
This group is capped to allow for intimacy, networking and to ensure member success.
The power of social media is that it is easy communication, a collaborative community builder and it has a high entertainment factor. In short, it’s simple, relatively easy, and fun. Because of this people gravitate towards it. When in business, whether large or small, social networking is your online connection to your customers and potential customers. Plan to have a social media presence, make it an enjoyable experience for you and your audience.
“If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one.” Russian proverb
With all the social media options out there, it is very important you chose the right path, or paths, in order to be successful with your business. Is Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Snapchat, Instagram, or YouTube the best place to invest your time and money? All of these are amazing platforms to promote your business but are they the right platform? In order to determine the best path; you are going to have to take a hard look at your business.
I am an advocate of knowing who your ideal customer is for everything business-related. With choosing your social media platform I am going to reiterate the importance of this. If you do not have a complete profile of who you want to work with for potential clients and customers, create one. This will help you locate them. If you know where they are, then you will know where your business needs to be. You don’t need to be where the world is, only where your clients and customers are.
I am an advocate of knowing who your ideal customer is for everything business-related. With choosing your social media platform I am going to reiterate the importance of this. If you do not have a complete profile of who you want to work with for potential clients and customers, create one. This will help you locate them. If you know where they are, then you will know where your business needs to be. You don’t need to be where the world is, only where your clients and customers are.
You want to ensure your social media efforts have a big impact on your business. To do this; your social media goals need to be aligned with your business goals. Your mission is clear, it needs to be apparent when you are engaging with others online. When you are setting your social media goals, keep in mind to look at the big picture. What are the top goals for your business and how will social media help you accomplish them?
There is a lot of value in social media so it is worth the time and effort into setting them up properly. Or, if you already have accounts set up, go and optimize them.
Ensure your bio or description is up to date and has your contact information and website clearly stated.
When you are filling out your bio or business description be sure to use keywords that relate to your business and industry. Using words or phrases that your potential clients and customers may use in a search to find your type of business.
Strive to have images that fall in line with your brand and represent your business accordingly. Also, with any platform, be sure that photos are sized to the correct dimensions for that social network.
Having an amazing content plan and an editorial calendar is essential to succeeding at social media. Your content plan should have what type of content you intend to post on what platform, how often you will post, who will create the content and how you will promote the content. While your editorial calendar lists the dates, topics, and platforms you intend to publish the content.
Having this all planned out ahead of time, instead of updating constantly, will give you the opportunity to work hard on other aspects of your business.
An engaged audience is an audience who know, like and trust you and your business. When it comes down to it, you are going to need to be social with your audience. Being engaged will help you build a community of people who know and love your business and what you have to offer.
Social media an opportunity to turn your fans, followers, readers, and subscribers into voices for your brand and ultimately, your sales force. Be sure to use it with purpose. Align your social strategy with your business goals and branding, be prepared and be engaged!
It is time to go out and get visible! Decide which social media network is right for your business and create or optimize your profiles.
If you are unsure what platform is the best fit for you and your business, set up a free 30-minute Support Session with me and we can figure it out together!
It really is a free personal support session, so there’s no pitch or pressure to commit.
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