The Solopreneur Coach HomepageThe Solopreneur Coach

Header Right

priorities

by

Define Your Power Priorities

It’s easy to work full, long days. If you’ve got a good work ethic, like I do, you like to “do” things, get a lot done. Preferably as efficiently as possible, but it’s the movement that gives you energy. You like to be always moving forward, growing. And there’s nothing more satisfying than ticking off a number of things on your list each day. Do you relate?

Many of us entrepreneurs already have the drive and motivation. Creating and doing are our strong points. We’re good at getting things done and creating something from nothing. This is what’s really rewarding about the entrepreneurial game and one of the main reasons why we’re in it. But I have to share with you an insight I had a few years ago that shifted this approach to my own work.

I noticed I was getting a lot done but the results did not reflect the hours I had been putting in.

I needed to stop treating all tasks equally. Don’t get me wrong, I knew all about prioritising. I thought I was already doing that and you may be thinking the same thing too. But what I realised was, that to create real results I needed to focus on what I now call Power Priorities.

It’s not about getting it all done, all the time. It’s actually about focusing on the most important things for most of the time. And the key words there are “most important things”. Notably, it isn’t “most enjoyable things”. We can all fall into the trap of doing what’s most enjoyable and what we’re good at, so defining your true business priorities is really important.

Your true business priorities are what I call Power Priorities.  You can discover your Power Priorities by simply asking yourself one question:

What are the top 3 tasks that only I can do, that will drive my business forward? 
Take time to consider the most important things you need to do that will make the difference to your business. Narrow it down to 3 priorities only, your Power Priorities.

Then, treat them accordingly. Power Priorities should go first, above all else on your task list. But even better practice is to create a chunk of time in your schedule that is only for these Power Priorities. How much time can you spend on them in a week? What if you doubled that or tripled it? What would the results be? Put it in your schedule and find out!

Focusing on your Power Priorities will generate a huge amount of momentum and also get you more results. Compounding over time, you will then spend more and more hours on the things that are truly creating results and building your business. 

by

Why have a morning routine?

meditate-1851165_1920If you’re a regular in self-development circles, then the term “morning routine” is not a new one for you. For those not as familiar with the idea, a morning routine is a set of actions that you routinely perform each morning that set you up for your day. It’s all about optimum performance and getting off on the right foot so you are at your best. It puts your mind and energy in the right space so you can operate effectively and efficiently.

There are things that we can do that will bring our mind and our energy levels up to that optimum level for productivity and focus within our work. As we are all different human beings, this is going to look very different for each of us. Also, depending on what work you are doing, your approach may even vary for that reason too. If you want to regularly create a “peak state” where you can work at your best, it comes down to regularly doing things that will bring you into that space, “setting you up” so-to speak.

Here’s how to get started in establishing your morning routine:

1. Have a think about what your “ideal” working day would be like. How would you start the day? List any activities/rituals/habits that you would ideally like to start your day with. Eg. this might include exercise, yoga/meditation, listening to music, eating certain foods, getting up at a certain time, writing in a journal, preparing your work in a certain way etc.

2. Now look at your list and choose your absolute top 3 ideas- the ones that you’d totally love to do to start your day.

3. Make a plan to incorporate the 3 morning rituals into your morning. Starting with just a few days a week, complete the 3 morning rituals.

4. Review the outcomes: At the end of each day for just 1 week, take 5 minutes to reflect on how your day went. Consider your level of productivity and how you felt on the days when you did the morning routine compared to those when you did not. Was the routine easy to incorporate or do you need to simplify it? Ultimately the question is: Did the morning routine improve your focus, energy and productivity?

5. Refine and repeat. Make small changes to improve the effectiveness of your morning routine. Don’t be afraid to change it completely to see what might work better for you. Once you are seeing and feeling the results, keep it going. The key to repeating it is to track it. So draw up a checklist and each day you complete your morning routine, check it off.

A good morning routine can really change your life and work productivity. You’re essentially tailoring an approach that optimizes your enjoyment and productivity of your work. You’ll no doubt find, like I did, that a morning routine, however small or simple, will also truly enrich your whole day. Before you know it, you’ll be convincing everyone to create one!

by

Top 5 reasons why solopreneurs hire a coach

office-336368_1920Thinking about getting some support in managing your business and your time? Here are the top 5 reasons why Solopreneurs hire a coach. See if you relate to some of the scenarios below:

1. You feel overwhelmed or stressed about your business
The main causes of overwhelm and stress relate to how you manage your mind and how you manage your time. Solopreneurs work with a coach to develop specific strategies to address this issue and learn ways to manage their mindset to reduce overwhelm and stress.

2. You don’t have a written vision, written goals and a plan for your business
Structure is important. You need the big picture for your business defined in a business vision as well as a written set of goals with a specific plan to achieve them. It’s common for Solopreneurs to work with a coach on this. The coach provides resources that assist them in this goal-setting process.

3. You’re so busy and don’t see how you can keep managing it all
Having no time is one of the most common reasons for seeking out a coach. A coach has an “outside” perspective which helps you to see your way through the busyness. Together you can implement a time management plan to get on top of things once again.

4. You feel like you’re doing it all alone and would prefer some support/feedback/someone to keep you on track
Solopreneurs hire a coach so they have someone that listens to and supports them, someone who will help keep them on track and be the sounding board they need. This is what a good coach can do for you.

5. You haven’t defined your values and the purpose of your business
If you don’t know why you’re doing what you’re doing, you can end up with motivational challenges the moment you hit a bump in the road. Additionally you need to understand your personal values and confidently know that they align with your business goals. This ensures that you’re creating the life you truly want, not just the business you want. Solopreneurs work with a coach to help them define their values, keep them focused on working on purpose.

by

The Power Of Priorities

Do you feel focused and purposeful in your business? Or is it more like a “buzzing” of busyness and not many outcomes at the end of your week? I have one simple strategy to recommend that will rid you of this “busyness” instantly. 
Why are we so busy? Because we think we need to do everything and that everything is important. This makes us over work and fractures our focus. At the end of the week there is not much to show for all of that out-pouring of energy. Is this really what your business and lifestyle was meant to look like? 
You can take back control right now: stop treating all tasks equally. This means you need to simply find and follow your true business priorities. What are the top 3 tasks that only you can do, that drive your business forward? Is it sales? Is it consulting? Is it networking? Creating content? Sit down and take time to consider the most important things you need to do that will make the difference to your business. Narrow it down to 3 priorities only. These are your Power Priorities. Power Priorities go first, above all else on your task list. Better still, create a chunk of time in your schedule that is only for these Power Priorities. How much time can you spend on them in a week? What if you doubled that or tripled it? What would the results be? Put it in your schedule and find out. Focusing on your Power Priorities will make you feel more purposeful but it will also get you results. At the end of your week and compounding over time, you will have more and more hours spent on the things that are truly building your business. You will create real results and a sense of focus and purpose you’ve never had before, I promise. Try it!