In the last ezine, we discussed goal setting (click here to read). Today we are going to discuss how you implement your goals. The form below is something I use with my clients. Once we’ve determined the goal(s), I have my clients complete the form you see below. Let’s cover each of the sections and how they work:

Click here to download a printable version of the Action Plan

The first thing you will need to do on the form is fill in the center circle. This circle is the goal. You will want to be as specific as possible in this section. I usually tell my clients to pull this circle out, put it on a clean sheet of paper, and write down all the specifics pertaining to the particular goal. This way you can see in detail what you want to accomplish.

Once this step has been completed, the next step is to complete each of the squares that surround the circle. These squares are the implementers. They are the means by which you make your goal real. Let’s take a look at each one.

• The right box is where you will list the resources you have available to help you attain your goal. These resources can be people, places, and/or things (i.e., books, music, Internet, coffee, tea, candles, etc.).
• The bottom box is where you will list the reasons and benefits for achieving your goal. This is your motivation. It is important to understand what motivates you and what the pay-off will be when you reach your goal.
• The left box is where you will list the successes and strengths of previous goals/things you’ve achieved. This is to remind you that you DO have what it takes to make it happen.
• The top box is where you will list the steps necessary to achieve your goal. This box is important because you can’t eat an elephant in one bite. You must make the steps bite size or you risk frustration and self-doubt.

OK, take some time and do this exercise for a goal you have. See how you feel when you have all of this written out in front of you. Are you excited? Do you see the possibilities? Hopefully, you do.

One of the biggest benefits of doing this exercise and going through the process is the act of writing it down! This is where most people fail. They fail not because they can’t do what’s necessary to achieve the goal. They fail because they don’t take the time to think through the process and write it down.

Have some fun…implement a goal today!

©2010 Cindy Hillsey

As many of you may know, my Facebook account was hacked two weeks ago. It was frustrating to say the least. Not only did I have to spend hours and hours getting it straightened out, but I was without my account for 5 days. Yikes! I had Facebook withdrawal. LOL I’m happy to say that everything now has been straightened out and I am back among the Facebook living.

Everybody talks about establishing a “voice” and being authentic when you write — whether you write an article or post on Social Media sites. I, personally, have not given a lot of thought to my “voice.” I know I have one, and I know each of you has one.

Do you need a “voice”? Is it important? Yes! Having a “voice” is very important. Why? As I mentioned above, when my account was hacked I received numerous phone calls, emails, and voicemails from people telling me my Facebook account had been hacked. How did they know it was hacked? How did they know for sure it wasn’t me? They knew because the instant messages coming up on their computers did *not* sound like me. The hacker did not have my voice. They did not use the language I use. The other tip-off (besides all the mis-spellings) for a lot of the people was there were no emoticons in the chat window. Those of you who know me and have followed me for a while know I am a big fan of emoticons. Yep, just like this one!

Here’s what I want you all to take away from my experience with hacking: Be true to your voice. Make sure you cultivate your voice. Don’t try to sound like someone else. Be confident in who you are and what you have to say. Let people get to know you. Don’t be afraid to show everyone who you are, as it just may save a friend of yours some money!

Want to comment on this article? Have a thought to share? If so, you can post it below.

Managing our time as solopreneurs is probably one of the biggest challenges we face. We all have the same 24 hours, but why does it seem some people get so much work done in that available time and others can’t seem to get even one thing done? Which one of these lists resonates the most with you?

• Poor or no planning
• Worry
• Don’t think you can do it (whatever ‘it’ is)
• Procrastination
• Doing urgent tasks rather than important tasks to move your business forward
• Always putting out fires
• Multi-tasking

OR

• Creating daily/weekly/monthly or yearly goals
• Working your plan
• Working on your business rather than in your business
• Working on one task at a time
• Making decisions quickly and decisively
• Saying no when the request doesn’t fit into your plan

If the first list had you nodding your head and saying to yourself, “Yes, that’s me!” then it’s time to put a few things in place so that the second list is the one you nod your head to. *smile*

Here are some suggestions:

1. Make a list of all the things you do in a typical week and the number of hours it takes you to do these things. Remember, we all have the same 24 hours/day or 168 hours/week. Don’t forget to allow time to sleep in the list of things you’re creating.
2. Once you have your list, look at it with a very critical eye and ask yourself if YOU really need to do all of the things on the list. I’ll bet there are a few things you don’t have to do. Would you agree? If so, delegate those items.
3. The list you now have in front of you should be scrutinized in further detail to see if you really want to do those things. If you do, great! If you don’t, graciously remove yourself from the situation (and don’t say yes again unless you really have the time!).
4. Now, get moving! Usually, this is the hardest one after number 3. We usually spend so much time avoiding something or thinking of every possible scenario we exhaust ourselves before we even begin. As Nike says, “Just Do It.” Perfection is not what we are after. Movement is what we are after.
5. Create a routine, but don’t be so rigid you can’t allow for some change. Spontaneity is good!
6. If a task looks to be too big to tackle, break it up into smaller pieces. Remember, you can’t eat an elephant in one bite (and if you can you need to call me right away!).
7. Schedule a time to start and a time to stop. Frequent breaks help keep you energized.
8. Keep the big picture in mind (or put it on a vision board), but don’t let the details overwhelm you. When the details get overwhelming, go back to step 4.
9. Get a coach or join a group of like-minded individuals where you can support each other.
10. Most important ~ Have Fun!!

I would love to hear how you are putting these suggestions into place. Feel free to drop me an email at cindy@virtualpartnering.com.

You may remember when you signed up for my ezine being asked a question. I’ve been gathering your responses over the past 6 months (there is a method to my madness!), and I’ve found three large over-arching themes. Over the next three posts, I’m going to be discussing these themes. Today we’ll start with Fear.

Believe it or not, the word “fear” appears in over 40% of the answers I’ve received! Fear of failure, fear of success, and fear of staying in the same place. That’s an awful lot of fear. All of us are aware of what fear does to us. Fear blocks us from doing what we know we can do, and many times what we want to do. It inhibits us. Makes us timid. Clouds our judgment. That’s not a very pleasant list to look at, is it?

So how do we move beyond this thing called fear? The first step is to look at the fear from a distance (dispassionately). By doing this, the fear begins to shrink to its appropriate size. The second step is to express that fear either out loud to yourself, your cat, or another person. That, too, shrinks the fear. Many times just hearing the fear allows us to more effectively deal with it. The third step is to confront the fear, thereby dissolving it.

The most common fear is the fear of failure. If we take this common fear and put it through the above three steps what would it look like? I’ll use myself as an example, ok? (I heard you all breathe a sigh of relief that I didn’t pick you! <wink>)

When I was setting up ChatsOnDemand.com (COD), I thought to myself what if this doesn’t work (fear of failure)? I took a step back from the situation and took another look at what I wanted to do with COD, and instead of looking through fear-based eyes, I looked at it through confident eyes. At that point, I realized my fear had a large ego-component attached to it (it was, after all, MY idea). The other thing I realized was that my fear was irrational – there was no basis for being afraid. So what if I did fail? I would learn something in the process that would help me when I tried again.

The second step was to go to Michael (husband) and Miko (cat) to voice my fear about COD. Would it work? Would anyone use it? Why would they use it? Will it be successful? By asking these questions out loud, I felt the fear diminish a little more, and the questions began to sound more like “how can I make this work” rather than “will this work?” (I want you to know Miko agreed with me on all counts. LOL).

The third step, which was easier after the first two steps, was to look directly at the fear and realize that my fear was nothing more than a normal concern and a “gut-check” to review my objectives and methods. I realized at this point it was the irrational component that was the real block. In realizing this, I found it very easy to now be able to move forward.

The fear of success is as prevalent as the fear of failure. It, too, deserves the three-step treatment. Unfortunately, this is one of the more overlooked fears, as most people think this is counter-intuitive.

The fear of staying in the same place is the other side of the fear of being passed by. In both cases, putting them through the three-step process has the additional benefit of often suggesting the methods and ways to prevent being stuck, i.e., staying in the same place.

In the next ezine, I’ll talk about the theme of being “overwhelmed.”

Want to comment on this article? Have a thought to share? Please post it below.

Are you ready to hire a coach? Want to explore the possibilities? If you would like to schedule a 20-minute pre-qualifying call, please email me at cindy@virtualpartnering.com,

or

If you just need that quick 30-minute laser coaching session, head over to www.chatsondemand.com and get signed up! “Chat” with you soon.