Aspire to Inspire

Motivation-Shmotivation

I went dancing again today!

Whew those kids wear me out. Not really, I love it and I barely break a sweat!

I cannot believe how far along they are coming - I am working on posting pictures and video!

I had an idea today that I cannot believe took me this long to think of and I am so excited. I am going to collect small, token gifts to use as motivational incentives for these fabulous dancers (and the not so fabulous).

This program is all about mentoring and, unfortunately, the kids are not always so receptive. You gotta be a little sneaky when you are mentoring and teaching at the same time! They tend to think ballroom dancing is a little dorky - but thank goodness for "Dancing With the Stars"! The act like they think that, but I know they don't really! ;)

So, I plan on offering these token gifts as incentives to stay focused and keep learning! I'll bet we will be surprised at what an ice cream sandwich will be worth to them.

And, I need some categories. I can figure out things like, most improved, most attentive, least stumbling, always on the right foot.....

But what else? Can you think of some ways to recognize even the students who have two left feet? If so, leave a comment and let me know!

All this reward talk got me to thinking. Everyone needs a little motivation!

What do you do to motivate yourself? Do you reward yourself when you reach even the small goals? Do you do a happy dance when you cross the last to-do off your list. Do you offer yourself a popsicle when you call the last customer on your list?

Our to-do list needs to have something happy to close it out! If you are not rewarding yourself when you reach a small goal, why would you want to reach it???

We cannot wait for just the big stuff. We will be far more motivated if there is a donut (or less fattening object) at the end of the short stick!

Now, be Inspired and Motivated. And do a Happy Dance for me!

Blog Action Day 2008

When I think about the subject of poverty - I am struck by how small I feel.

I feel inconsequential. Small in my ability to give, in my ability to help or even in my ability to understand fully the problems.

But that does not make me useless.

Today is Blog Action Day. Over 8000 blogs are participating by writing about the subject of poverty.

To raise awareness. To raise money. To raise consciousness.

Last spring, a collegue and I saw an opportunity to provide a mentoring program in our city. We started small in one school with the desire to grow into three schools this year. And we have done that! We are very thrilled with the response from our community, the schools and the kids.

Now, by worldly standards these children are not in severe poverty. By U.S. standards, many are, but many are not.

But what strikes me most is the Poverty Mentality of so many.

So many do not see success in their future. So many are beaten by circumstances. So many don't see hard work being worthwhile. So many seem to have accepted defeat at 11 years old.

I could go on and on about how sad this is. It is, but I will not. Because truth be told, this mentality is a problem within all socio-economic rungs!

I want to talk about the fun of seeing it change in one child! Last year I had the privilege of having one child introduce me to her father. And her father told me that because he had seen his daughter do this, he knew anything was possible. And she got to hear him say that.

Now, those kind of words can change a life!

I can't wait to see what will happen this year. Check out www.stepUPballroom.com to follow us!

Are You A Procrastinator

Do you know what it is like to miss one more deadline?

Or are you one of those people that works right up to the deadline because you work best under pressure?

Have you told yourself that that is just the way you are and you cannot change it?

As a certifiable procrastinator who has found the secret to changing her ways, I am offering my most sincere help to you. You CAN change your procrastinating ways.

Receive a FREE copy of my article about how to Give Procrastination The Boot when you sign up to receive my newsletter - Simple Inspirations.

This is a newsletter designed to give you the inspiration (or kick in the pants -whichever you might need) to get going. Whether you are already in business for yourself, or you are thinking about starting a home based business, this newsletter will provide Simple, Quick, Easy to Read and Inspiring Ideas to get you started making money working from home.

Each week you will receive a complimentary copy of a newsletter that inspires with ideas to get you started or get you moving. Ideas about what to do and not do to attract customers. Places to go for great training. And success stories to inspire you with what works!

We all get a lot of e-mail and I hope you are getting some really good content in the ones you are already subscribed to.

Let me promise to make mine brief and useful. If I don't, please let me know how I can fix it.

Now, Have an Inspired Day.

Why I Work From Home

Last week was a perfect example of why I work from home. As I have said before, this is a misnomer, because I am rarely at home, but work from wherever I happen to be parked at the time. (Sometimes, literally, as I work in my car under a shade tree when I need to!).

But, in addition to running a business, being a super-wife/mother I am trained to be a substitute bible teacher for a fabulous organization. I am on call to drop everything and prepare a 40 minute lesson for 200 ladies even up to the last minute if something happens that keeps the primary teacher from being there. For most, not an enviable position to be in. And, to be honest, I am thankful, it has not happened (at least last minute) until now. I have other jobs when she is there, but this job always "looms" large in the back of my mind.

After last week, I have a different take on things. I was called, not totally at the last minute, but close enough. And I was forced to take stock of the resources I have - I am trained and I have God.

I am given insight, materials and tools for just such an occasion - I am trained in how to use them. And then when I must use them, I have to trust that God put me in just such a place, for just such a time. And that He will make it all come together.

And He did! Fun to live it out.

I felt unproductive at work, but totally productive for Him. But this is why I work at such a job - I choose my hours, I choose my focus and I have tools in place that keep my business going while I put my focus on something else to which I am called!

And it occurred to me that this is the way I should live all of my life. Hmmmm, imagine that? Get trained, have materials, tools and resources, do what I need to do and then trust God with the outcome.

So, let God be your Inspiration this week!

Pssst, Wanna Know a Secret?

I finally did it. I have a published article. I am so embarrassed that I did not write this before now -yeesh! That is what happens when I forget to do Secret Number 6. I knew I was going to be so excited that I would not forget. Right! Well, I did.

Click here to view it!

But, don't read it if you are already great at time management. Skip the article and send me your tips - I apparently need more.

I would love to hear what you think, and how these 7 Secrets to Effectively Juggling Time helped you!

Step 2 - What Will You Do In Your Jammies?

You are revving to go. Passionate to make an income while working from home. Ready to start a new life and be self employed!

But, what are you going to do?

This is an area that can be the most difficult - the information out there is overwhelming!

Start with taking an inventory of your likes and dislikes, your skills, interests and character traits. Download a copy of my Goal Inventory Worksheets at the right. There is a page that covers these topics. This will help you discover what you will actually enjoy doing!

Make 2 Goals to be reached in one month. Don't overwhelm yourself with too many goals! This is a good example of 2 goals for your first month:
1. You will make a decision by __(date)__. Do not give yourself more than 2 weeks.
2. You will be operational by __(date)__. Do not give yourself more than 2 more weeks.

In order to reach those goals, you will have to take some specific steps. You need manageable chunks where you see exactly how to get from one place to the next. When you download the Worksheets there is one in there called Step Analysis that will help you determine your step by step plan to reaching these 2 goals.

Now, you have some research to do. There are many vehicles that you can use to create an income from home. You have to choose the one that you will use.

Here is a fabulous article that talks about 10 ways to make money online - 10 Ways Article

And a follow-up article to it - Another 10 Ways

I love these two articles because she paints the picture so accurately!

Whatever you choose to do, be prepared to work.

Now, what are your goals - let me know! I would love to hear from you. How can I inspire you to reach those goals?

Have You Decided? Take The First Step

I talked about knowing what the steps of your particular business were and then mastering them.

Well, part of my purpose is to inspire people to take the leap to start their own business, so some of you may not even have a home based business yet.

Perhaps you are still in the process of research and you are just not sure what you want to do!

So, let's start with a few basics of choosing.

Step #1 - Ask Yourself WHY?- Why do you want to work from home?

Take a few minutes and ask yourself "If I could do anything, and time and money were no object, what would I do?" Jot down the things that come to your mind.

What gets your heart racing, makes you giddy with anticipation? What makes your blood boil that you wish you could fix? What draws your eyes, your mind, your heart? What do you read, listen to or search out?

Everyone wants more money, but that is not the true motivator! The true question then is, what do you want to DO with the money?

Everyone wants more time, but that is not a motivator either! The question here is, what would you DO with the extra time?

These are the things that matter to you. These are the things that make you tick. And these are probably the things you are passionate about.

These actions that you wrote down (what you would DO with the money and time) are your reasons for taking a chance, learning new skills, creating new opportunities and connecting with your dreams.

So, what are you passionate about? Write this down in a 2-5 sentence paragraph, in current tense.
This is your reason WHY.

BUT what if you couldn't think of much and you find you don't have a particular passion? You might be asking, "Isn't it enough to just want to be in control of my schedule and make a lot of money?"

The answer is NO. If that was enough, more people would find a way to do it.

Do you want to go to Hawaii? What if I told you the cost was $6000 and you could have a fun-filled week with your family? Would you find time in your schedule, talk to everyone you know and come up with that money by next Friday the deadline? You might, BUT, more importantly, you might not.

Now, what if your son was extremely ill and I told you the cost of the treatment is $6000 and we needed to begin the treatment next Friday? Would you find the time in your schedule, talk to everyone you know and come up with that money? You bet you would - no matter the personal cost!

See, THAT is a reason WHY that stirs your PASSION!

Start here, with Step 1. Figure this out and you will find a way.

Here's to Inspired Passion!

Your Words are Building Blocks

"You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do" so sayeth Henry Ford

I do understand what he is saying, but I have to respectfully disagree.

You CAN build a reputation around saying "I am going to ...........", and then dropping that goal in favor of another and then dropping that goal in favor of another.

You CAN build a reputation that says "I am someone that never gets around to it!"

But is that the reputation you want?

Don't we all know people like that? People who always come up with great ideas and who, if they would follow through, would be fabulously successful. People who promise to get things done and never come through. People who lead with excuses about why they cannot do what they want to do.

Am I that person? This quote has made me analyze what I say I am going to do. What kind of reputation do I want to have? One that is built only on what I say I am going to do - and then do not accomplish? Or one that is built on what I have actually done?

I mean no disrespect to Mr. Ford, but what I think he meant was "You cannot build a (good) reputation on what you are going to do." But you sure can build a bad one!

To Take Action, You Must Get Off the Floor

I am the co-director of a fabulous program called Step UP Ballroom (www.stepUPballroom.com).  It is a program that brings mentoring in the form of ballroom dancing to 5th grade students in our local schools.

We have begun our fall program and I am having the best time interacting with these wonderful kids while they (and I) learn some moves.

As I was at one of our schools yesterday, I spent my time with the boys and we learned the basic elements to ballroom dancing and began learning the waltz.  I love kidding around with the boys and asking them to show me how to do what they have learned and generally getting to know them.  They are a hoot - give them some attention and they want to talk your ear off!  Not to mention show off!!

Well, the beginning of the program is very basic.  We walk forward, we walk backward.  We step to the left and bring our feet together, we step to the right and bring our feet together. 

And the boys soon begin to complain that this is boring - nevermind that they cannot walk without tripping over themselves and their version of step-together, step-together looks more like Frankenstein than Fred Astaire.

Welcome to life, boys.

You gotta learn the basics before you get to the good stuff.

It occured to me that it is the same with our businesses.  We must learn the basics. They must be mastered or we will trip over our own two feet.  And then we will become frustrated - and mislabel it as boredom.  Then we are off to find something else to fulfill our dreams.

Know what the basics of your particular business are and then work to become good at them.

NO, better yet, MASTER them.  Become so good, in fact, that someone could drag you out of bed at 3 a.m. and in your comatose stupor you could perform at top level.

Now, Have an Inspired Day!