Is It Work, or a Lifestyle?

There are two things that my friends find surprising, OK maybe 3: 

1. I travel more now than I ever have
2. It's Friday night at 7:30pm and I'm working
3. I'm looking forward to some "office time" tomorrow

The misconception here is whether I'm actually working (when travelling so much) and why I give up Friday nights and Saturday mornings to spend time catching up.

The answer, truthfully, is that this isn't "work" for me, it is my lifestyle.

And comparing their work (stuck in an office on a beautiful day, set vacation weeks), I'll take my lifestyle. I've worked hard for it, and I love it.

Let's take my surprising facts from the beginning. 

1. I travel more now than I ever have - How much fun is that! Yes, sometimes I travel for a true "shut off the email" vacation, but other times I'm just going along for the ride. I just returned from another adventure and worked more than 50% of the time. I successfully put in a full work day while on the plane; I am the master of working offline. During my 5 day trip I only actually took one day off.


2. It's Friday night and I'm working - now I'll admit I'm sitting outside on the patio, not tucked into my office, but I am working. Why? I happen to be creative on Friday nights, and I wanted to share this time with you. I've had a busy week, and its Friday night quiet time when my mind roams, and I start pondering business, the challenges of the week, and many times this forms the basis of the blogs. But tonight, I'm sitting outside with my laptop, just so thankful for the lifestyle I have, and that includes this time with you. Not thankful, however, for the massive spider making its way over here... this is why I don't often work outside!


3. And tomorrow, yes, I will work tomorrow morning. I have a cute little project that I've just started working on, and I've set aside "date time" with it. I have my morning planned, a good cup (OK, pot) of coffee and back outside I go to let my mind explore what's possible. I'm actually very excited about it, and have been planning it over the last few days.

What some consider work, is my lifestyle. The creative process is important to me, giving myself the space to explore the projects in front of me while my mind is relaxed and at ease is an indulgence I take seriously. I appreciate the concerns of my clients, and don't mind checking in over the weekend, if that's what helps them. We're partners, and we're on this journey together. Checking in, isn't work. It's a privilege to be on this journey with my clients.

My hope is for more of my colleagues (and friends) to break free of the concept of work, and explore their entrepreneurialism as a lifestyle, as bliss, and as an expression of their passion. Work should be what's in your heart, what your soul is telling you, and where your dreams lead you.

And if it isn't... how can you get there?

Share with us your lifestyle goals - and let's dream a way for you to get there, together.

We help business owners find more time.

Discover how entrepreneurs just like you have freed themselves from the overwhelm of tech. Download our FREE report at https://pmawebservices.com/

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Peg_Murrah/1101384

Why You Shouldn't Rely On Motivation As An Entrepreneur

Do you know the one thing you should never rely on as an entrepreneur?

Motivation.

Why?

Because your motivation changes faster than David Beckham's haircut.

Think about it.

Let's say you watch a "motivational" video...

You're all pumped up...

You're gonna be the next Bill Gates...

You're invincible...

No one's gonna stop you.

And then...

Two hours later...

You're on the sofa with a large bowl of ice cream watching Jeremy Kyle.

(Okay, you might not sink that low.)

But you get the point.

Motivation is short term... VERY short term.

And as an entrepreneur, I'm afraid to say you have to play the long game.

So what can you do instead?

Well, have a long term goal... Decide what you want to achieve in ten years time. And I mean, really decide what you want to achieve.

When goal-setting, people tend to set goals they think they want, but it's not what they actually want. So if you don't really care about driving the latest Ferrari, don't set it as a goal.

Be specific with your goals, too. If goal setting is to work, this is important.

Write everything down in detail.

Paint a word picture of your ideal home...

Your ideal holiday...

You ideal life.

Anyway, when it comes to goal-setting you should also have a medium goal...

As well as a weekly (or even daily) short term goal.

Then make a plan so you smash every goal you set.

That's it.

No, it's nothing "ninja".

But, is it effective?

Absolutely.

Because you're not relying on motivation to get you through the day.

Instead, you're relying on your goal.

Anyway, no matter what your goals are when it comes to being successful as an entrepreneur, email marketing can help you achieve them.

For literally hundreds of FREE tips, go to [http://www.TomAndrewsMarketing.com]

Oh... and there's also a free gift awaiting you...

Tom Andrews

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Tom_Andrews/2298168

Don't Stop When You Are Tired - Stop When You Are Finished!

Work ethic has lost some of its importance in the 21st century. If you ask must employees when they work they will respond with very specific parameters. A typical response might be that the work on weekdays only, Monday through Friday, weekends, or some combination and that they work for a specific time, such as nine to five, second shift, or a swing shift.

The benefit of being an employee is that you know exactly when, where, and how long to work. Once the limit is met you can stop working and let the business fend for itself.

This is the opposite work ethic required by the Entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur there will come a time when you get tired of working. Over a period of time the entrepreneur may even experience some burn-out. This will be especially true when the business is not going as successfully as planned.

The reality is that if you are going to be an entrepreneur it does not matter how exhausted you feel. It does not matter how many hours you worked today, or what time the clock says. If there is important work to be finished the entrepreneur must go beyond traditional quitting standards and get the work done.

One of the best strategies to improving work ethic is to do the hardest and most difficult tasks early in your work day. Most entrepreneurs are at the peak when first getting back to work. Entrepreneurs just can't wait for the night to get over so that they can get back to doing something they truly enjoy.

Once the difficult and pressing tasks are completed then work on the items that have to be accomplished to keep the business open. Develop a checklist of things that have to be completed each day. Prioritize the list and then mark items off as they have been completed. Draw a line between all of the items that have to be finished today and those that could be finished if possible.

To be successful the entrepreneur must be dedicated to developing their work ethic. Sometimes this may mean "grunting" through dreaded or tedious tasks. It could mean always being the first in and last out of the office. A strong work ethic means never stopping until the important things are completed.

The moment you lose your work ethic is the moment your business fails. As long as you are able to keep plugging along, you will accomplish your goals.

American Grant Writers Association http://www.agwa.us

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/John_Porter/2296801

Is Starting a Business the Right Move For You?

Dream Big

Dream big, work hard, and stay humble are the best words of advice anyone can give you, and self-belief goes a long way. It's okay for young entrepreneurs to have big dreams; don't underestimate what you are capable of. Steve Jobs was only 21 when he co-founded Apple. Don't let the opinions of others impact your future. Don't just think you can do it... KNOW you can do it. Believe in yourself and your dreams. Include others and get help from people you trust, people who have achieved what you want to achieve, to fulfill your dreams.

I'm proud to say that many have helped me along my path, and I've helped many. Without the help of people more experienced than myself, my latest achievement wouldn't have been possible. Many others were a part of my newest project, an e-book about photography, and it's one of my greatest joys to help other dreamers succeed as well. From the business owners and clients I serve, to the talented team I've hired and trained, to other entrepreneurs and friends who are business owners.

Work Hard

Working hard is a relative concept; the hours we work, how hard we work, and the magnitude of what we're trying to achieve are as different as each of us. But "hard work" has a common denominator no matter which way you slice it: how you handle yourself when things go wrong. Because they will. The next best piece of advice anyone can give you is this: be resilient when things get hard. You'll get rejected, over and over again, but don't lose faith in your goals. You may fail in the beginning more than you'll walk the path of success, but if you dream big, work hard, and fight failure, you'll change history by making it better.

Stay Humble

Another one of my favorite nuggets of wisdom: don't be a jerk. This world needs fewer loud mouths. Just stay humble. Most successful people don't take credit for the work they do. Instead, they build up their team or others around them. Ordinary people do change the world; it doesn't matter where you come from, what school you went to, or how you grew up. Don't let anyone ever tell you no as you keep moving your dreams forward, but at the same time, keep a humble attitude on your way to the top and remember that you can always learn, grow, improve, and benefit from the knowledge of others.

Passion

While all of this lofty advice sounds great, your passion for what you love to do is a must. Without it, none of this other stuff matters. Writers, athletes and even scientists, famous or not, love what they do because it's their passion. You have to find yours. Define what you love to do and why you love to do it. Be specific: what do you love about the field you're pursuing? Is it helping people? Is it being creative? Is it the feeling you get when someone responds a certain way to your work? Is it being part of something larger than yourself?

Being a business owner is not about calculating figures, networking, balancing your finances and profit margins. Many successful business owners associate their business with passion and love, even when they face challenges, work long hours, and experience financial difficulty. Things can get scary and tough: your passion is the only thing that will carry you through the turbulence. It's important to not just like what you do; you have to LOVE what you do.

Reevaluate Where You Are

If you are stressed at your job 8 hours a day, you may want to rethink what you are doing professionally. When you are stressed doing what you love, it feels more like 15 minutes of your day versus 8 hours. Being fully invested in something that is your passion and not just filling a role makes time feel different, changes your energy, and makes everything about what you do and how you produce better. Find your niche, whether it's people, a product, or a field. And once you find it, while you'll most likely love the majority of what you do, there may be aspects of the business you don't like.

When we turn a passion into a business, especially when we own that business, we have to wear many hats... some of which are less enjoyable than others. For example, finances and accounting aren't my forte or my passion, but I make sure the stuff I don't like takes up only 20% of my time so that the stuff I love takes up 80%. If these figures are ever flipped, you're doing it wrong.

Ambition or Passion?

Don't mistake ambition for passion. Wanting to advance and striving to get ahead are ambitious qualities. Taking on projects and filling your plate are ambitious. Stepping into unknown territory and taking risks are ambitious. But if ambition isn't fueled by passion, it will be easy to burn out. Your motivation has to be right if you plan to stay the course. Many business owners seem overly ambitious, but honestly they just love what they do. That passion will make you believe in yourself even more, helping you to pursue things you might otherwise be afraid of or not care to. Of course, you have to be smart about it (sometimes an excess of passion can make people reckless), but If you love what you do, you tend to do a lot. That's why you'll be perceived as ambitious.

Finding the One

Finding your passion is a journey in itself. The discovery process is an amazing, transformative experience that you'll look back on with awe. You may not know right now what your passion is, but keep pushing forward and you'll find it. Sometimes passion may find you as well, so let yourself be inspired. Tune in to the things that make you tick, make you think, make you feel.

Most people find their passion by just getting out there and trying different things. Eventually something is going to stick and you'll come up with an idea that you know will work, and you'll love turning it into a new reality for yourself. Finding your passion is like finding your true love. You'll go on many dates and, ten dates later, you'll find "the one."

Redefining Your Goals

What is your life goal? If it's "to get rich," you have the wrong mindset. What do millionaires and billionaires say? When they started out, they loved doing what they did, and the money just happened. You may have to walk away from a secure job and start anew with a lower-paying position or bringing in very little money when you first strike out on your own. But your passion will translate to the faith that carries you through. As long as you maintain a mindset of an inverse ratio of passion to money, you'll be in good shape.

Personally, my passion for and love of photography has made my business more successful than I ever dreamed. I started at the bottom just like everyone else, but I was lucky to have had the same mindset as other successful business owners. Passion is what drives me to always work hard, focus on my business, push forward, improve, serve, and persevere, because I love what I do. If you have a full-time job and it wouldn't be wise to quit and start all over right now, then follow your passion on the side until you can get out. You'll eventually be able to make the jump, and when you do, you'll appreciate the experience that much more.

Hi, I'm Andrew Ludewig, owner of MTI Photography http://www.mtiphotography.com/ and author of Photography: Basics, Business, and Best Practices. I love hearing from other business owners, photographers, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Have you recently started a business or are you thinking about starting one? Need advice on taking the plunge? Join the conversation by commenting or visit my website to contact me anytime. I'd be glad to start a dialogue with you. Until then, do what you love and love what you do. Until next time!

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Andrew_Ludewig/2279111

Digital Era Vs Industrial Era

The perfect dream of working in a secure job these days is slowly and increasingly getting popular according to the number of people who are looking for other ways of making an income outside of their jobs. A lot of people have become aware of the ever increasing job demands which are overwhelming when compared to what the pay is and it does seem that it is becoming an exhausting experience from putting more time and effort than ever before and not get any time for family life and just live a moderate lifestyle.

Are you one of those people who end up falling into one of those contemplating moments?

Especially when you are stressed out at work, wishing that you had more time for your family and yourself?

Wish you could just run to the beach and relax under the sun, picturing yourself with your loved one and taking a sip of an exotic drink, enjoying each other's company with smiles filled with happiness and joy... and with a blink of an eyelid you get back to reality again and stare at your computer screen filled with numbers, spending hours calculating those boring financial statements for some executive in that little cubicle of yours and you got another 5 hours to sit in there and work on more numbers!!!

There are millions of so called 'office slaves' who are married to their 9 to 5 jobs wishing they had something better, but don't think they have any other option than to suck it up and stay in those jobs for the fear of becoming jobless and not having money in the bank and becoming broke and also the thought of going through ALL the education, spending ALL that money and time to finally get that JOB and still not be happy with it.

In a nutshell, no matter what degree you hold or years of experience you have, everybody is in the same cycle of working 9 to 5 or 9 to 7 shifts or even longer for some folks and just have two short days called the WEEKEND which feels like it just passes too quickly. Our minds take one day to recover from the hard working week and then as soon as Sunday hits, the dreaded thought of another exhausting week begins to creep up in your mind which leaves you with an unhappy feeling all over again!!

We all like saying TGIF! with a smiley face at the end you see on social networks and people tweeting it by the end of every week and I'm sure most would agree that Sundays are the worst and it should be called ONIS! (OH NO It's Sunday!... with a frown face attached to it!) and we continue living in this cycle over and over again but inside of us wanting to be free and just wishing that it would change one day, but don't get me wrong, the money is good if you are earning a six figure income, but you just can't enjoy it the way you want to because of the lack of time and that leaves a lot of frustrated folks wanting better in life.

It doesn't really have to be that way if you know what I mean. The rat race of the Industrial Era is slowly dwindling to a new growing trend which we now call the 'Digital Era' or the Information Age. The internet boom and the online industry has taken a new route in the world of business and has been generating trillions of dollars in revenue over the past 20 years or so. According to eMarketer, a market research firm, projects consumers worldwide will spend $1.672 trillion online this year and the global market is growing in an alarming rate and not to mention, hundreds of thousands of Dot com earners who are reaping the benefits from this new and emerging industry.

So why are we still stuck in the dark ages of working the traditional 9 to 5 jobs when others are earning six figure incomes from home working on the internet and spending nearly half the time working and getting all the time to travel and enjoy family life at the same time?

The concept of using internet marketing strategies to generate profitable income streams is a lucrative business and not everybody understands how it actually works and requires in depth research and knowledge to implement it effectively. The owners of websites like Huffington Post, Techcrunch, Mashable and Life Hacker to name some, generate millions of dollars in revenue. The age of Digital Marketing seems to be the new future for some and it is growing as more people are getting access to the internet through a multitude of devices that are available in the market and more businesses have their products sold online than ever before.

As for those folks who want to take a dive into the world of Internet and Online marketing or Digital marketing, then it is the time to take advantage of this new wave and it is here to stay for the long haul, so why not take a shot at it and end up having the kind of income, family time and vacation that you always dreamed of?... What do you think?... is this worth it?

Ask yourselves and figure out what you really want in your life!

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Fahad_Taher/2303298

5 Attitudes You Should Have When Starting Your Own Business!

Not every entrepreneur is the same. Some are born rich, some have university degrees, while others have none of these. Having a lot of money and a degree is not a requirement to be a successful business owner though. There are those who are not so wealthy and do not very impressive educational backgrounds that have succeeded as well. It's just a matter of having these five characteristics. Make sure you develop these when starting your online business.

1. Thinks Clearly

You need a clear mind so you can absorb information about many different home business ideas. Learning as much as you can is a very important aspect of starting your own business. More so, you should avoid having a worry-filled mindset. If you always think about what can go wrong, then you can't sleep well at night, and you can't think clearly. Worrying too much will greatly affect your efficiency in managing your business.

2. Communicates Effectively

As a business owner, you should have good communication skills. You should be able to share your ideas to your clients and employees in ways that they will easily understand. Otherwise, how can you convince people to buy your products or to support your small business? If you can't communicate well, you will miss a lot of opportunities to turn your online business ideas into reality. Business owners need to talk to people often. It's part of their job to get clients, business partners, and many other activities that will help to grow the business. Thus, you really have to be a good communicator to succeed.

3. Pushes Himself / Herself

You can't just rely on others to push you forward. Most of the time, you have to motivate yourself to keep going on the path towards success. Your friends and family are not always there, and more often than not, they'll be less dependable when you're facing challenges with your business. There could even be a few times where you're all alone. Not everyone shares your vision and wants to realise your dream as much as you do. With that in mind, you should be able to keep pushing yourself forward without needing help from others.

4. Performs Consistently

Making your business take the "number 1" spot is hard, and keeping it on top is even harder. For this reason, consistency is your friend. If you are unwavering in carrying out your plans to grow your business, then you'll most likely stay on that top spot for long. It doesn't mean that because you're now number one that you should slack off and give up. That's not how business works. Anytime, someone else can dethrone you from the top rank. You should be committed to continue working hard for your business.

5. Really Wants to Succeed

Undeniably, the best way to succeed is still through passion. Having that burning desire to succeed in your home based business is a powerful thing that will drive you towards your goal of success. It doesn't matter how many times you fail; you can always get up and move on. Keep your eyes on the prize and keep pressing on. Don't be afraid about what others will tell you, and don't mind them if they ridicule you. Just focus on your business, your vision for it, and what you want to achieve out of it!

If you have these five characteristics, then you are well on your way to be a smashing success! Your efforts will surely pay off soon. Keep the dream alive, and keep on going with your online business!

To learn more tips on starting an online business from home, head over to http://mybiztips.co.uk and sign up for your free newsletter! Also, you may want a copy of a proven online business idea. Just go to http://icopyit.co.uk

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Peter_Bright/2270259

7 Things You Can Do EVERYDAY To Become A BETTER Entrepreneur!

Becoming a successful entrepreneur is not something that happens over night. It's a daily battle to be your best version of yourself all the time. It takes constant work and self-education.

If you want to run a successful business you have to plan for the future. You should have weekly, monthly and yearly goals. Most importantly it takes action to be successful with those goals. Here are seven things you can do every day to become a better entrepreneur and accomplish all of your goals.

1. Always work on one project at a time.

We are most effective when we are working on one project at a time. Make sure to stick to your plan for the day until moving on to another project. This is crucial in order for each project to be excellent. Remember, were not striving for perfection, were striving for excellence.

2. Don't give your time away to others.

One of the best ways to ruin a productive day is to give into distractions. We all know that distractions come from just about anywhere and they can be very tempting to give into. When we are distracted we lose focus and then lose all control over what were doing. I know that it can be difficult to be the one saying "no" all the time to your friends parties and random beach days but this is a very important part of being a successful entrepreneur.

3. Plan each day the night before.

When we fail to plan we are planning to fail. Without a plan for the day it's very easy to end up at the end of the day wondering why you haven't gotten anything done. Being a successful entrepreneur requires self discipline and a daily plan. Try getting the most difficult task of the day done first thing so that the rest of your day will feel a lot easier and you won't wast a lot of your energy thinking about that "difficult" task all day.

4. Wake up earlier.

Deciding what time to wake up is a personal choice and a lot of people want to be entrepreneurs so that they can wake up when they choose. It is important to feel well rested to get the most out of your day but make sure your not sleeping more than you need to. After all remember that the early bird gets the worm. When you wake up before everyone else you can use the quiet time to meditate on what your plans are for the day and also get some exercise in to clear your mind. This is an important formula for many very successful entrepreneurs.

5. Start your day with a positive attitude.

Right when you wake up begin to think of things that you are grateful for. If this is something that you have trouble with you can read affirmations to yourself to assure that you are feeding your mind what it needs. It can be very difficult to have a positive outlook when the first thing you do is checking your Facebook or emails. There's so much negativity on the internet that it's very important for us to feed our mind with what it needs the most first thing in the morning.

6. Respect your work-life boundaries.

As entrepreneurs, it can be very easy to go weeks without leaving your home. After all there is nobody telling us to stop working or when to start working. We'll maybe the wife/husband but we all know how that goes. We're all about getting the most out of our days and pushing it to the limit. Don't forget to spend time with people that are important to you and on hobbies that you enjoy. This is all part of living a good life.

7. Stay organized.

Staying organized is essential to getting the most out of your days. You want to have a DMO (daily method of operation. Set up a schedule of exactly how many hours and when your going to work on certain tasks. This will save you lots of time and you can get right what you need to do. Yes there will be things that come up everyday that can take you away from your schedule but it will be easy to make these adjustments as they come up.

There are more than seven things to put on this list, of course, but these are a good start to get you on your way.

Overall, the main goal of entrepreneurship is to create freedom in your life and make an impact in the lives of those whom your business serves. To do that, you need a plan, focus and constant growth both personally and in your business. Set yourself up for success each day, and strive to get better.

Were these helpful? There are others out there that could use this advice, feel free to share around and drop me a comment if you found this helpful!

Did This Help You? If so, I would greatly appreciate it if you commented below and shared on Facebook

Own The Life's Lifestyle Blog
Skype: ownthelife
Email: adam@ownthelife.org

Considering a Lifestyle Change? Check out my Work with Me tab and Survey where we Help People Everyday at http://www.ownthelife.org

If you enjoyed this post on 7 Things You Can Do EVERY DAY To Become a Better Entrepreneur, retweet and comment please

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Adam_Thibert/2299074

Overcome the Fear of Becoming an Entrepreneur

"Less than 1% of people have the courage to face their fears, take risks, create their own businesses, change their lifestyles and become an entrepreneur."

Everyone experiences fear in their lives, even the most successful entrepreneurs out there. The people who became entrepreneurs have had to face and overcome their fears before they became entrepreneurs. But most people can't overcome this fear, so they carry on living ordinary lives working for the boss.

Fear can take many forms such as being afraid to change, being afraid of the outcome of failure, being afraid of what others think you are doing etc. Fear also disguises itself as excuses, for instance 'I'm not ready to start my own business because I don't have time'. Underneath this excuse is fear.

I am here to share with you 3 Key Concepts that will gradually diminish the fear of becoming an entrepreneur.

THE VISION CONCEPT

Having a Vision of how you want to live your life as an entrepreneur is a powerful concept. Creating a vision first starts with realising what you really want your life to be like in the future. You will start to focus on the thing that is driving you, and this will be a big part of your Courage and Motivation to take the leap into entrepreneurship.

Creating a vision will not only drive you to achieve what you want, but your fear of achieving it will start to naturally fade away because there is no stopping you if you have a powerful vision backing you up.

THE BELIEF CONCEPT

Having a strong Belief goes hand in hand with your vision. You can have a great vision, but if you don't Really believe in it, you can't be an entrepreneur.

To really believe in something means that you will continue to pursue your belief no matter what struggles you will face to get there, and even more importantly no matter who tells you that it can't be done or it's not possible.

A strong belief will not get rid of your fear completely, but it will allow you to face it, and overtime your fear of becoming an entrepreneur will start to fade away.

THE ACTION CONCEPT

The last piece of the puzzle is taking Action.

If you haven't developed a vision and belief system, then at some point in time you will give up because your mind-set is not in the right place. When your mind-set is built up and ready to go, then it's time to apply yourself as an entrepreneur.

Once you start taking consistent action in your life and business, overtime you will start to see results, your motivation will improve and most importantly your fear will get to a point where it seems like it doesn't even exist anymore.

Remember the 3 Key Concepts

1. Create a Vision of what you want
2. Have the Belief that you can achieve it
3. Take Action to get there

My Website - [http://lotusnation.com/]

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ediz_Emin/2298150

5 Ways to Enjoy Your Work

"When you enjoy what you do, work becomes play."

Your work can represent eight hours of your day, which is a third of your life. It's important to enjoy it as much as you can to live a happier life. How you feel about your work will also affect other aspects of your life including your sleep, health, relationships, interests and hobbies. Let's get into the 5 ways to enjoy your work.

PASSION

The first thing that is very important is to find work that you are Passionate about. Your work plays an important role in your life, as it will improve other aspects of your life.

So how can you find something that you are passionate about?

Look for other things in your life that you like doing. For example if you play guitar, you could open up your own guitar shop and even teach guitar lessons.

WORK FOR YOURSELF

The second factor that plays an important role in your enjoyment of work is to Work for Yourself or become your own boss.

If I would have to give you the number one reason to work for yourself, it would be that you would have more freedom and flexibility in your life, as you could create your own working hours and have more time to enjoy other things outside of work.

DIFFERENCE

The third factor of enjoying your work is to truly make a Difference to people's lives with your work. How many businesses out there truly make a positive difference to people?

Maybe McDonald's is one of them? (Just Kidding)

Whether or not you work for yourself for someone else, try to find something that you can actually see that you are making a positive difference to people's lives.

For example helping people grow their businesses, become happier, live healthier lives and so on.

BALANCE

The fourth factor to enjoy your work is to find Balance between your work and your free time. Learn to find your optimal working times and conditions.

If you're working too hard and for long hours, you're probably too stressed to enjoy your work, but not only that, it's affecting the time outside of your work too.

In this scenario try to cut down your working time (provided you work for yourself) while maintaining the quality of your work and accomplishing what needs to be done within allocated time periods.

LIFESTYLE

The fifth and final factor to enjoy your work is to actually focus on putting your Lifestyle needs before your work needs. This includes your own needs, family and friends.

After all, what is life without yourself, your family and friends?

You should start to spend time with the things that matter more than your work. You will start to enjoy your personal life much more, making your work also more enjoyable.

Remember, focus on enjoying your work alongside your lifestyle so that you can wake everyday bursting with energy!

My Website - [http://lotusnation.com/]

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ediz_Emin/2298150

How to Win New Clients for Your Business at Zero Cost

One of the most important things you necessarily need to do to grow your business as a coach, speaker and consultant - or if you are into the business of helping people, is to engage what I call "Marketing Partners".

One of the mistakes I made when I newly started in business as a speaker, coach and consultant, was that I tried doing everything by myself.

And the consequence was that I was worn out, I was stressed and could not get the results I truly desired. Not until I heard about "marketing partners" also known as Joint Venture Partners.

Marketing Partners are those individuals, professionals or organization/businesses who already have relationships with the people you want to attract to your business.

You want to look for those businesses that already have a database of the kind of people you want to attract to your business. Then you build relationship with them, and after a period of time, you approach them and they then introduce what you do to their database, promoting you to their contacts/networks often for FREE.

This is an easy low to no-cost marketing strategy you can use to build a steady stream of new clients with minimal effort and no stress!

So what you want to do, when you go to networking meetings or you live in an area where you can connect with other businesses or experts, who already have relationships with your desired target audience or clients.

You want to identify at least five of them - and go out to get and write down their names and contact details (especially email address and phone numbers).

Next you want to figure out what it is you can do that will benefit them? How can you create value for them?

This is important because you first of all want to go out to them and be of tangible, useful value of them in a manner that makes them appreciate and acknowledge you.

Look for what you can do to serve them first.

Once you've gotten a clear idea of how to do that, make your move to connect with them and present your (hopefully irresistibly packaged) offer.

For instance you could recommend people to them, or share ideas with them or just anything that will help them do what they do better.

You would do this so well that they would begin to feel a drive or hunger to find ways to do something on their part that will benefit you in return.

So, let me end by challenging you to go out and commit to looking for Strategic Alliance Partners or Marketing Partners that you can plan and execute Joint Venture marketing campaigns with, to help you build your business.

If you need help making use of the ideas I've shared here, send me a message using the contact form on at http://www.efeohwofasa.com.

Good luck!

PS: This article was written based on a short experience sharing video I did while taking my regular Monday morning walk in the neighbourhood park, where I live here in the United Kingdom. This early morning walk actually helps me feel alive, energized and centred. I recommend you try it - you may find it does you good as well.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Efe_Ohwofasa/2244729

Getting a Mindset to Work

How many times have you heard motivational speakers, personal development gurus and life coaches talk about creating a "positive mindset"? You may have heard it so many times before that if you don't know, you question what does that actually mean. Still, in your lifetime you may've never heard that adage before! So, for many, the first step is understanding what does having a mindset mean?

We all have a mind. A place where our thoughts, ideas, feelings, perceptions and concepts are formed and the mind is in a place, the greatest computer ever known to man - the brain - and according to Wikipedia: "In a human, the cerebral cortex contains approximately 15-33 billion neurons, each connected by synapses to several thousand other neurons. These neurons communicate with one another by means of long protoplasmic fibres called axons, which carry trains of signal pulses called action potentials to distant parts of the brain or body targeting specific recipient cells."

How magnificent is that?

So, based on what we are facing or feeling, the neurons in our brain enables our 'mind' to perceive the situation that's in front of us. And when the events around us are negative and stressful, the resulting perception of a negative-leaning mindset can be misleading as once influenced in this way, it may manifest in ill-health, misinformation, internalising the negative energy and displaying or demonstrating impolite and uncivil behaviour. Thus the trick is to create a positive mindset by feeding the mind with positive thoughts and images and there are a number of ways of how to do this:

• Listen to motivational speakers and self-development gurus;
• Create a quiet space or place where the mind can sift through the rubbish it is fed on a daily basis from the mediums around it;
• Listen to uplifting music;
• Read positive quotes, affirmations and books;
• Move around positive people, dispelling anyone with any negativity;

Once our mind has been trained to focus on positivity, it becomes easier to discern when it is in a negative space (since we're only human and imperfect!) and what needs to change in order to be in that place.

As an individual, entrepreneur, marketer, CEOs or even an employee, having a positive mindset is crucial and critical in how we achieve our goals since, as with everything in life, there are challenges. The question is, how do we overcome those challenges when the going seems tough or the trial looks never ending? Like being on a boat or ship in a raging storm, on a rough and undulating sea, buffeted by wave upon wave, higher than the boat or ship itself; the captain must reassure his crew and passengers that everything will be fine. It's his duty to provide stability and a secure outlook, and he can only do so with a positive mindset, backed by his confidence and competency. Otherwise, if he fails to have one, he'd have more trouble on his hands than just with the weather.

I've had my share of challenging moments and continually do but I never ever give up or throw in the white towel. Contrary, I savour the test since this will take me out of my comfort zone and dare me to face the challenge. It can be scary. It can be unnerving but I never ever stop believing in myself and my abilities. I never stop to think I'm not capable or unworthy. At the end of the day, having a positive mindset helps to overcome the smallest of problems and I say to you, if you haven't got it already, cultivate one.

Help with focus and achieving a writing goal of publishing your own book? FREE 30-min consultation available.

Contact: http://www.kwamemcpherson.com

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Kwame_MA_McPherson/2298651

Why Every Entrepreneur Needs to Take Entrepreneur Mentorship Programs

As a young entrepreneur, it is easy to fall into the trap of "I'm on the top of the world" or "I know everything about business" after getting first few tastes of success. However, you may feel stuck at times and may feel the need to reach out and connect with people for help.

Perhaps you need a "Mentor". But where do you find a mentor and how do you reach the right one who will help you take best business decisions. The answer is "Entrepreneur mentorship programs". Let's try to know more about these programs.

What Is Entrepreneur Mentoring Program?

The Entrepreneur Mentoring Programs are specifically designed for commercial and social entrepreneurs. The program provides you with trained mentors and facilitates the building of a long-term mutually beneficial trust-based relationships.

Besides offering one-to-one mentoring, the program also helps startups by providing a process to evaluate a business opportunity within the context of a Business model canvas. Entrepreneurship is a lonely journey and entrepreneurs often feel alone and look for support that can give guidance and provide an answer to the questions. The biggest benefit of such program is you get a mentor who provides you critical business insights.

Why Are Mentors Important?

For an entrepreneur, a mentor is like a compass, lighthouse, and drinking water while you are at sea. While there is no doubt about the importance of the technical know-how and the guidance the mentor provides; the most important role a mentor plays is to keep you charged especially when things are not happening as you have planned or expected.

A mentor not only guides you towards the right path but also acts as a source of inspiration and motivation. Here are some reasons why every entrepreneur needs a mentor.

Gain from Experience That Is Not Available in Books

There is a proverb "Experience is the best teacher" and it is a crucial element of success in business. You can gain so much from the experience of your mentor who has been there, seen it and done it all.

The knowledge you gain from mentor might not be available in books. It is an unstated truth that most authors are not comfortable sharing/revealing in their books. Some personal experiences of business leaders can be helpful while dealing with ups and down in business.

Mentorship allows you to connect with the person at a more intimate level where you can also gain knowledge from your mentor's personal experiences.

More Networking Opportunities

A successful mentor will have a wider network which you can also access. Since your mentor wants you to be successful, it only makes sense for the mentor to allow you to tap his/her network when the need arises. You will not have this opportunity without a mentor.

Provide Much Needed Encouragement

Failure can impact your productivity and morale. With mentor by your side, you will be in better position to deal with failures. The mentor has already experienced highs and lows in business and would provide you the much-needed encouragement to look beyond failures.

The importance of guidance and support of a mentor cannot be ignored. Entrepreneur mentoring programs offers you easy access to set of accomplished entrepreneurs as mentors who will take you towards the winning path.

Do you know other benefits of having a mentor? Let us know your comments below.

Vamaks offers a world class platform that enables people to convert bright ideas to business opportunities by providing the right environment for new and existing entrepreneurs to open a successful business with the help of entrepreneur mentorship programs and the right investors or business partners for funding the startup. To learn more, visit Vamaks/Blog.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/James_Marshall/2343370

Is It Work, or a Lifestyle?

There are two things that my friends find surprising, OK maybe 3: 

1. I travel more now than I ever have
2. It's Friday night at 7:30pm and I'm working
3. I'm looking forward to some "office time" tomorrow

The misconception here is whether I'm actually working (when travelling so much) and why I give up Friday nights and Saturday mornings to spend time catching up.

The answer, truthfully, is that this isn't "work" for me, it is my lifestyle.

And comparing their work (stuck in an office on a beautiful day, set vacation weeks), I'll take my lifestyle. I've worked hard for it, and I love it.

Let's take my surprising facts from the beginning. 

1. I travel more now than I ever have - How much fun is that! Yes, sometimes I travel for a true "shut off the email" vacation, but other times I'm just going along for the ride. I just returned from another adventure and worked more than 50% of the time. I successfully put in a full work day while on the plane; I am the master of working offline. During my 5 day trip I only actually took one day off.


2. It's Friday night and I'm working - now I'll admit I'm sitting outside on the patio, not tucked into my office, but I am working. Why? I happen to be creative on Friday nights, and I wanted to share this time with you. I've had a busy week, and its Friday night quiet time when my mind roams, and I start pondering business, the challenges of the week, and many times this forms the basis of the blogs. But tonight, I'm sitting outside with my laptop, just so thankful for the lifestyle I have, and that includes this time with you. Not thankful, however, for the massive spider making its way over here... this is why I don't often work outside!


3. And tomorrow, yes, I will work tomorrow morning. I have a cute little project that I've just started working on, and I've set aside "date time" with it. I have my morning planned, a good cup (OK, pot) of coffee and back outside I go to let my mind explore what's possible. I'm actually very excited about it, and have been planning it over the last few days.

What some consider work, is my lifestyle. The creative process is important to me, giving myself the space to explore the projects in front of me while my mind is relaxed and at ease is an indulgence I take seriously. I appreciate the concerns of my clients, and don't mind checking in over the weekend, if that's what helps them. We're partners, and we're on this journey together. Checking in, isn't work. It's a privilege to be on this journey with my clients.

My hope is for more of my colleagues (and friends) to break free of the concept of work, and explore their entrepreneurialism as a lifestyle, as bliss, and as an expression of their passion. Work should be what's in your heart, what your soul is telling you, and where your dreams lead you.

And if it isn't... how can you get there?

Share with us your lifestyle goals - and let's dream a way for you to get there, together.

We help business owners find more time.

Discover how entrepreneurs just like you have freed themselves from the overwhelm of tech. Download our FREE report at https://pmawebservices.com/

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Peg_Murrah/1101384