Live Full Work Fun Podcast

The topic of masterminds is huge and seems to be a big buzz word nowadays. Everyone should be a part of a mastermind.

The concept isn't new. Napoleon Hill is credited for coining the term "mastermind" in his book 1930's book Think and Grow Rich.

He defines it as "The coordination of knowledge and effort of two or more people, who work toward a definite purpose, in the spirit of harmony."

He goes on to say, "No two minds ever come together without thereby creating a third, invisible intangible force, which may be likened to a third mind [the master mind]."

In the strictest sense, a true mastermind is a group that offers a combination of education, brainstorming, and peer support and accountability. Usually it's a small group where members sharpen their business or personal skills and challenge each other to achieve lofty goals. There's a facilitator, but they shouldn't be dominating the conversation. Everyone participates equally. Everyone in the group benefits. There's confidentiality so members may share with total honesty and openness. It stimulates creative thinking and guides your decision-making process.

Belonging to a mastermind takes a commitment and challenges you to get out of your comfort zone, allowing you to grow. It's worth it because you are lead and nudged forward in a way in which you can't achieve on your own.

Although belonging to a formal and structured mastermind group is important, I believe the masterminds effect can come in different forms. Most say that a mastermind group isn't coaching, a class, or networking. But I believe there are elements of coaching, classes, and networking where you can achieve a sense of that "third mind" Mr. Hill speaks about.

The invisible intangible force comes from relationships with individuals that help propel us forward. On one level, what starts out as a simple exchange of business cards in a networking meeting, could lead to added conversations and connections which allow you and your business to grow beyond what you could do on your own.

This third mind concept comes from sharing ideas, coming up with solutions, and having a sense of accountability allowing you to go beyond what you can accomplish on your own.

I do hope you enjoy today's podcast episode where I share where I've found the mastermind concept in my life.

Have you read Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill? If not, I encourage you to grab a copy. What does "mastermind" mean to you?

Additional Resources:

• Think and Grow Rich | Napoleon Hill
• Accomplish More Academy

There's a lot of frustration and heartache when it comes to the subject of the reach Facebook awards Business Pages. Facebook always seems to be changing its algorithms and the only way to get exposure is to pay for ads. It leads people to wonder if they should even have a Facebook Page.

All the social media platforms are designed to enhance the end user experience, not to cater to businesses. If the end users complain about too many ads or ads that don't relate to them, then of course the algorithms will change. As business owners, we shouldn't be discouraged with the changing algorithms, but instead, we should be thinking of ways to connect and form relationships with our clients/customers in more meaningful ways.

In today's podcast, I discuss the three main reasons why your business should have (or continue to use) a Facebook Business Page. Quickly, the reasons are:

• 2 Billion Users…big pool…big opportunity
• Facebook Pages may be viewed by non-Facebook users
• It's FREE to set up.

I dig a little deeper into each reason and give some examples for you to think about.

Resources Mentioned:

• Most popular social networks worldwide as of April 2018, ranked by number of active users (in millions)
• How to Schedule a Facebook Post
• Facebook Business Page Basics Workshop
• Accomplish More Academy

Last week, I attended the Less Annoying CRM user conference in St. Louis. Cute name, isn't it? Well, I think so. I have to say, it has been my experience that it is actually less annoying than other systems I've worked with.

A CRM system is a powerful tool where you not only store your contacts, but it enhances your workflow. If you are only storing your contacts in your phone, as a Google contact, or even in an Excel spreadsheet, you are missing out on a huge efficiency opportunity by not using a CRM database.

As virtual assistants, my team and I are flexible. We work with the systems our clients choose and use. Sometimes, our clients will solicit my advice as to what systems to implement or what systems I have experience with.

If they are asking about a CRM, most of the time I recommend Less Annoying CRM. Some people are in industries where I may recommend an industry-specific CRM because of the features they offer that would be directly related to their industry.

However, for the most part, Less Annoying CRM is great for the small business owner because:

• it has the essential features a small business need
• it has some customization
• it fills the need of most small business owners
• it's affordable
• and best of all, it's simple and less annoying to use

My intent in today's podcast isn't to win you over in selecting a CRM for your business. My true intent is to go over the five reasons why going to live events boosts the growth of your business.

1. You get out of your bubble
2. You make new connections (i.e. friends)
3. New perspective
4. You learn stuff
5. Renewed energy

Mainly, I talked about the importance of going to a live event outside of your geographical area. I did touch on belonging to a local networking group. Both, I believe, are valuable.

Another very important investment, I believe, is online education and online communities. Becoming a part of an online community helps you learn skills whereas you may not feel like you have the time to go to a traditional class. You can participate in forums or discussion groups and create conversations. You learn, not only from the instruction classes or coaching, but you learn from other participants and like a live event you gain perspective and renewed energy.

Live events, local networking, and online community membership all serve the purpose of investing in yourself with education, perspective, and most of all making connections. I believe in working into your schedule a blend of all three.

I'm glad I went to the Less Annoying CRM user conference. I can't tell you how pleased I am with the whole experience. We are taking our conversation online, which I'm excited about. I look forward to seeing how people are doing.

If you are looking for renewed energy, have some accountability in moving forward in your business, and especially if you fear techy stuff, I encourage you to invest in yourself. I invite you to go to accomplishmoreacademy.com to learn more. You can always drop me a note at [email protected] if you have any specific questions to see if Accomplish More Academy would be right for you.

Resources Mentioned:

• Less Annoying CRM*
• Accomplish More Academy

*Referral Link

Today's episode is all about tools. Not like those tools my husband uses to work on our vehicles or house. No, let's talk about the tools we need as entrepreneurs.

Tools are created to scratch an itch, so to speak. You start with a problem and someone creates a tool to help solve that problem. But here's the thing. There are a ton of tools out there to solve the same problem. How do you choose?

The abundance of tools available that seem to do the exact same thing can lead us down rabbit trails of research and indecision. It doesn't have to be hard or complicated.

When choosing tools to help you run your business, of course, you'll make your selection based on budget and ease of use. Sometimes you choose one tool simply to get you started. Then when you grow and expand, another system may fill your needs better.

Ultimately, you don't want to have to do everything yourself forever. You want to scale your business and want things to be easier. Tools help get you there.

The reason why there are so many tools available that do the same job is that all of our brains work differently. To one person, one system is easy peasy, and yet to another person, it's cumbersome.

As virtual assistants, my team and I work with a lot of tools. We must be open minded and flexible. It's up to our client to choose what tools and systems they like using. It's up to us to achieve the outcomes they desire.

Being exposed to so many tools gives me a big advantage when I put on my consulting hat. When I consult with clients as they navigate in organizing their processes, we discuss what they want to accomplish. I get to know them and make suggestions of tools based on what fits them best. Many times, my clients have chosen tools, but don't know where to start in using them effectively. They are at a loss.

Today's episode dives right into the five categories of tools, you as an entrepreneur, need to fill. I illustrate examples of tools in each category.

Sometimes the tool selection process slows people down because they are apprehensive in getting started with it. They may feel they aren't "techy" enough to figure it out. More often than not it's because you are too blasted busy to slow down and figure out what to use and how to use it.

Not everyone is like me. I love learning new systems and seeing the similarities, differences, advantages and disadvantages. There is great value to have someone streamline your learning curve for you. There's value to getting personalized training that will cut to the chase and show you what you need to know and teach you the parts of how it works so you don't have to figure it out for yourself.

If you believe that you aren't "techy" and feel at a loss as to being current with the stuff you need to know to increase your productivity and incorporate processes to scale your business, then I invite you to join me in the Accomplish More Academy.

It's a community of small business owners just like you where you'll learn about some of the tools I've talked about this episode. The Accomplish More Academy is a place where we get down to the nitty gritty and learn where to get started with the practical subjects like social media, email marketing, CRMs, etc. and learn to use them and integrate them into your business so you can work more efficiently. More importantly, you'll gain the confidence about working with the most popular tools and be able to manage your time and create a winning team to grow your business. Hop over to accomplishmoreacademy.com to learn more and to see if it's right for you.

Have confidence in your decision. Seek the help you need to arrive at your decision and implement. Make the decisions of what you want to use for your business based on your budget, your business size, and even your personal preference. Remember, there's no one system that does everything beautifully. But there are systems that do work well together.

Don't get caught in the maze of rabbit holes when it comes to selecting the right tool for your business. If you do go down one of those rabbit holes, don't stay in there long and fall into the trap of indecision. It does take patience and persistence in learning a new system. And no tool works unless you use it.

Resources Mentioned:

• Accomplish More Academy
• Less Annoying CRM*
• Clinic Sense
• Quickbooks
• Google Calendar
• Google Voice
• Google Docs
• Google Drive
• eVoice
• Asana
• MailChimp
• Constant Contact
• InfusionSoft
• WordPress
• SquareSpace
• Microsoft Office
• Buffer
• Hootsuite

*Referral Link

Something happens. You can't be fully engaged in running your business. You must drop practically everything and shift your focus. What will happen to your business? Can it run without you?

Running a small business certainly has its advantages. However, for some, running their business makes them feel trapped because they feel they can't get away or they don't feel like they have help. They continue to do everything themselves, become burnt out, even miserable in their own business.

It doesn't have to be that way. A few weeks ago, I had to drop everything and shift my focus to family and healing. My world came to a stop, but my business didn't have to. I could dramatically scale back what I needed to do and not have to close my business completely. How?

Listen to this week's podcast as I share a little bit of what happened in my personal life that gave me better appreciation and perspective in how developing a team and processes will allow you to keep your business running even if you have to disengage for a short time-period.

Thank you for tuning in…

I appreciate you tuning into the Accomplish More Podcast today. There are many podcast choices out there and I'm honored that you chose mine. If you enjoyed today's episode, please share.

If you have any comments or questions, feel free to email [email protected].

Early in my career, I was taught to dress for the job I wanted, not the job I had. I didn't quite understand it then, but over the years I learned how important personal branding really is.

Whether you call it your signature style or your go-to professional look, how much thought are you putting into marketing yourself effectively using the subtle clues of your wardrobe and communication?

Personal branding isn't a new idea by any means but seems to have been lost over the years. It's not just about dressing professional, it's also about speaking confidently and conveying your thoughts and ideas effectively.

I'm excited to welcome back Kandice Alexander and Michele Rickman as we dive right into this subject. Kandace and Michele share how personal branding isn't stripping away your personality but rather builds a professional look with your own individuality.

Don't miss Kandice and Michele's upcoming Show Them What You Know event on May 5th. To learn more about this event and their other personal branding events, email Michele at [email protected].

There's a lot to think about when branding your business. I go over what I think is a very important piece of branding your business. It's a piece that I see many small business owners or new business owners overlook.

It's a minor and affordable detail, that if implemented and used correctly, complements your brand.

By doing this simple little detail, you are on your way of accomplishing more, because you'll make things more clear for your customers and you are setting up processes to be able to delegate in the future.

I do hope you enjoy today's episode as I reveal the top five reasons you should be thinking about and implementing this branding detail. Are you overlooking this small yet important piece of branding your business?

Listen and let me know.

I appreciate you tuning into the Accomplish More Podcast today. There are many podcast choices out there and I'm honored that you chose mine. If you enjoyed today's episode, please share.

If you have any comments or questions, feel free to email [email protected].

How you connect both verbally and visually with the people you want to do business with is important. You only have just moments to make a good first impression.

In this episode, I share my recent interview with style coach Michele Rickman. Michele is the owner of 4D Style and Presentation Coaching. As a style coach, she helps business owners and professionals update their look and help with their presentation skills to help gain confidence and express themselves to reach your ideal client.

We are told at an early age that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover…but we all do!

Authors spend a lot of time and money on the design of their book covers to make their books more marketable. It's similar with how we present ourselves as business owners…especially for those who are a personal brand.

Michele helps business owners with their presentation skills. Her coaching isn't just for those who want to be professional speakers. Any business owner, especially those new to entrepreneurship would benefit in brushing up and learning presentation skills. How you express yourself verbally in networking situations or even an unlikely casual situation can help you get your next client.

You'll get a lot out this episode as you meet Michele and learn how you can unleash your fourth dimension.

Resources Mentioned:

Accomplish More Academy

Michele Rickman | 4D Style and Presentation Coaching

Park Lane Jewelry | Sparkle with Michele

Connect with Michele by:

• Email
• Facebook

Thank you for tuning in…

I appreciate you tuning into the Accomplish More Podcast today. There are many podcast choices out there and I'm honored that you chose mine. If you enjoyed today's episode, please share.

If you have any comments or questions, feel free to email [email protected].

In the past, I've talked about the importance of planning and systems. Even back in Episode 15 [https://www.scrivenersolutions.com/15/], business coach, David Sims and I discussed how people don't seem to do enough planning in order to achieve their goals. He mentioned that many people spend more time planning their next vacation than they do planning the growth of their business.

Consistency with systems will help you become efficient and more effective in your time management. Consistent systems are a very important foundation, but with routine sometimes comes complacency. You may become blinded to seeing new opportunities for growth.

Sometimes you should shake things up and pop out of your normal routine to renew motivation, be inspired, and get some much needed rest.

That's why going to a retreat or seminar is great. You have the opportunity to network and to learn from others. Even taking an online class and devoting a part of your day to retreat from your normal routine can give you renewed energy and reframe your thoughts. Most importantly, taking a vacation and getting completely away from work is definitely important.

Lately, I've been thinking about David's lessons about planning and goal setting. I realized that I've blended the planning of my vacation and my business growth all together, calling it my workcation.

My husband, Robert, and I started our business because it was important for us to earn our living which wasn't geographically dependent. We wanted a business where we could be anywhere in the world and not feel like we were starting over. We serve our clients and lead our team no matter where our front door happens to be.

We have created a work-from-anywhere lifestyle. Planning and systems become very important with each adventure. With each adventure also comes shaking up our normal routine to make way for growth.

In today's episode, I thought it would be fun to give you a peek behind the scenes of how Robert and I are preparing for our next work-from-anywhere 6-week adventure. We use these trips to challenge ourselves by getting better at our planning and shake up our routine to improve our processes and systems in our business.

Enjoy!

Resources Mentioned:

• CVT | Cascadia Roof Top Vehicle Tents
• Gaia GPS
• Been There Doing That | Our Work From Anywhere Lifestyle
• Accomplish More Academy | Sign up for Updates

Thank you for tuning in…

I appreciate you tuning into the Accomplish More Podcast today. There are many podcast choices out there and I'm honored that you chose mine. If you enjoyed today's episode, please share.

If you have any comments or questions, feel free to email [email protected].

In today's podcast, I am pleased to feature Kandice Alexander. Kandice is the owner of 5 Elements Esthetics and Makeup Studio and Alexander Personal Image Styling. She is a tremendous resource when it comes to growing and marketing a personal service business.

Learn from Kandice as she shares tips about how she organizes her busy schedule as an entrepreneur, wife, and new mom. She shares how she uses her liberal arts degree every day even though she's not in the industry any longer. Her degree and experience working as a director of many shows has helped her shape and grow her business in ways she never even realized possible.

She provides chemical free skin care therapies and has learned that the best way to grow her personal service business is through the connections she makes. Building relationships are important in the service industry. Putting your looks and your health in the hands of someone is intimate and requires a lot of trust. To bridge that trust gap means making a connection first.

Kandice reveals how self-care appointments help you to accomplish more. You will find that when you actually take the time to take care of yourself, the days after your self-care appointment you are more productive.

I think you'll enjoy our discussion as we talk about how she fits everything into her schedule, her perspective on competition, and what she does to build a good foundation of quality clients.

How to Connect with Kandice:

• Kandice on LinkedIn
• Website
  • 5 Elements Esthetics and Makeup Studio
  • Alexander Personal Image Styling
• Facebook
  • 5 Elements Esthetics and Makeup Studio
  • Alexander Personal Image Styling
• Instagram
  • 5 Elements Esthetics and Makeup Studio
  • Alexander Personal Image Styling

Thank you for tuning in…

I appreciate you tuning into the Accomplish More Podcast today. There are many podcast choices out there and I'm honored that you chose mine. If you enjoyed today's episode, please share.

If you have any comments or questions, feel free to email [email protected].