True Balance

Lisa, a VA with three years in the business and a team of two, was stuck.   When she left her corporate management job to work from home, she was excited and energized by the prospect of creating her own business, lifestyle, and an income substantial enough to enjoy some financial freedom.

Now, a few years in, the momentum that gave her a great start, has waned.  Lisa, a bit of a micro-manager, finds herself too busy overseeing her team and handling the day-to-day running of the business to find the time she needs to effectively market and grow her business.  She is also feeling the isolation that often sets in after going solo, and misses having colleagues with whom she could brainstorm and receive feedback.  Unable to move forward alone, Lisa – like many thousands of other entrepreneurs, decided to seek help from a coach.

Does this sound like you?   Most of us, at some turning point in our business, will seek guidance from a professional to give us the boost, and the tools we need to reach or exceed our goals.   A coach will:

Identify goals and help you create a plan to get there. When you first started your business, you had goals, and a business plan.   Somewhere along the way, you may have veered off the path.  A coach will help you regroup, revise your goals and/or create new ones, and create a step-by-step plan to get you there.

Hold you accountable. Are you going to follow through with those steps?  Many people can get through the planning steps effectively, but drop the ball when it’s time to execute, or do not execute effectively.  Having a coach ensures that you have somebody else to report to on a regular basis — somebody who will push you so you are less inclined to procrastinate or let things go, and hold yourself to a higher standard.

Help remove roadblocks, so you can get out of your own way. The real reason we drop the ball or do not follow through effectively is because of fear – primarily fear of the unknown, which leads to doubt. This inner resistance to your positive momentum– the “what ifs” – can kill your dream instantly if not held in check.  A coach will help you work through the “what ifs,” by removing some of the unknown – again through detailed planning, visualization and interactive exercises to prepare you for that sales pitch, speech, teleconference, interview, or product launch.

Provide honest feedback. As a solo-preneur, how do you know if you are hitting the mark?  You may receive compliments or criticism from clients, but what about feedback from your team?  Do they feel comfortable or secure enough to speak up about something that doesn’t seem to be working?  A coach will give you an honest, productive opinion and suggestions for improvement in areas where you may never have thought you needed it.

Improve performance as a leader. Just because you own and run a business doesn’t mean you are born to lead.  Many entrepreneurs excel at their craft, but fall short when it comes time to make the “grown up decisions,” or manage a team.  A coach can help you step into the role of CEO, defeat the limiting beliefs and practices that have kept you on the front lines, and learn to delegate and give authority to those under you so you, and your team, can grow.

Defeat isolation. Although “going it alone” was an exhilarating and exciting prospect when you started out, you now realize that there are times when you miss having colleagues (or even that one great boss!) around to help you develop ideas, solve problems, offer a shoulder, or celebrate your successes with you.  Even though you might have a team in place, a solo-preneur working virtually, from home, needs to know there is someone who has “been there,” and fully understands the many challenges of being your own boss, standing in her corner.

If you are stuck, consider a coach.  It is an investment in yourself, and in your business, that will boost your confidence, efficacy, organization and creativity so you and your company can reach, and in many cases, exceed, your goals.

Donna Toothaker is CEO, founder and coach of Step It Up VA Coaching. These highly sought-after VA coaching programs have been created for established, successful VAs who wish to create the 6-figure business of their dreams. Visit http://www.stepitupva.com to receive the free report, Top 3 Mistakes to Avoid in Creating a 6-Figure VA Business.

Greetings! Please forgive my spotty posting this month. I am fully engaged in final edits, design and planning for Life on Your Terms (LOYT). I am also in the throes of creating a new LOYT blog and facebook community.

This week my prayers were answered when John P. Strelecky agreed to write the foreword for LOYT.

John is the epitome of an entrepreneur who lives his life as he wishes. He is a #1 Best Selling Author, international speaker, and is in the midst of raising money to create wells in Ethiopia! More than all of this,  he is a kind person and loving, mindful father.

You can learn more about John in his entrepreneur spotlight next month. I promise you John’s story will inspire you to continue on your path of personal development and balanced living.

You can find out more about John at  BigFiveForLife.com

More about the book…

Life on Your Terms: The Support Your Need to Follow Your Passion From Inspirational Entrepreneurs will be published this Summer!

Here is the back cover copy:

Energize your life with insights from this exceptional group of entrepreneurs. The more than 40 coaches, authors, executives, doctors, artists, and visionaries represented in this book have generously shared their personal secrets of liberation.

From chucking it all and backpacking around the world, to not being afraid to die, from never tasting the same meal in the same way, to conquering cycles of mental illness, climbing the corporate ladder and base jumping off the top rung into the realm of personal freedom.  You will read tales of individuals desiring to be their best, giving back to their communities, allowing for divine love, and even traveling to remote areas of the world to uncover stories of elephant whisperers.

Each interview turns over the stones of accepted wisdom we walk through every day to reveal the tremendous power of the entrepreneurial perspective. Now is the time to trade in struggle and obligation for liberation and passion.

Does this message sound intriguing enough to make you want to read the book? I would love your feedback!

You are welcome to come and visit the brand new Life on Your Terms blog, follow us on Twitter or join us on Facebook.

I went to a Salsa Dancing lesson this weekend. I was already primed from my Mojito night on Tuesday, Cinco de Mayo Wednesday, followed by Paella night on Thursday….it was a very Latin week for me, so Salsa just made sense, si?

Here’s what I noticed. All of the students were trying really hard. Extreme concentration was apparent on our faces as we counted steps to get the rhythm down. As beginners, nothing came easy. We weren’t into the flow of it, and felt a bit like fish out of water. No big deal, we told ourselves, we were beginners. No one expected us to know what we were doing, and we were having fun anyway. 

And that’s when it hit me….Salsa dancing is just like life. Your level of comfort and ability depends on who you choose to ‘dance’ with. If you associate with people who are unsure or confused, you will probably feel that way too, and while misery loves company, it’s not the best way to grow.  Choose your partners well…make sure their playing level brings you higher, and stretches you. If you find you are a bit stagnant…go find some new partners to play with and see how you feel about life; see how you feel about yourself; see just how much more into the rhythm of life you are.