Category Archives: Leadership Skills

Life and Business Planning

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Zen Garden

If you don’t design your life or business someone else will. This past week I made a renewed effort to engage in business planning. It is amazing me every time I set aside time to engage in life and business planning, distractions come flying at me.

These are the strategies I employ that you might want to add in your planning process:

1. Thinking place. Where do you go to think, plan and dream? I have a few spots. The key in picking a spot is that you turn away from and turn off distractions. Perhaps some classical music would help calm you as it has been identified to increase brain activity. This helps me when I need to really focus.
2. Put it on your calendar. Years ago I took a management consulting course and the instructor stressed the practice of scheduling time to plan each month. In that planning time working on your life and business plan makes sense as it gives you time to reflect on your goals, purpose and values.
3. Just start writing. If you haven’t created a business plan in the past and feel a bit intimidated the secret is to just start writing. That is the whole purpose. You can change edit, add, and subtract from your document it is your plan. You are designing your life and business.
4. Break it up. By chunking the process you will feel motivated to tackle one thing and the momentum will breed tackling the next step. Before you know it your plan will be drafted.
5. Remember this is a living document. Once you have it completed and even while drafting keep in mind that it is not set in stone. Circumstances change, markets expand and contract. This plan is a guide and the navigational tool for success.

Your goals, objectives and dreams are possible when you put some focus and energy into planning. The next step: working the plan.

Listening – a dying art?

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listening

Recently I have been speaking to several groups on how to listen more effectively. As I have researched how this skill can be enhanced I have been amazed at the things I have learned. Some researchers have noted that listening is becoming a dying art.

First off, if we want to improve confidence then becoming a better listener is critical. If we are too busy listening to what is going on inside our own heads we will miss the opportunities of progress and fulfillment going on in the world around us.

Here are some tips to enhance your ability to listen:

1. Observe non-verbals
2. Focus on the speaker
3. Give listening cues
4. Don’t interrupt
5. Clarify points
6. Paraphrase
7. Wait for feedback

Listening – just as with anything in life can be learned. We can increase our abilities on whatever we focus on. It takes awareness and practice.

Linda’s Tip: De-clutter Your Mind – Time Management

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Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed? Do you wish there were more hours in the day? If this describes you then watch this video for tips on how to de-clutter your mind so that you can conquer the skill of time management. By freeing up mind space you will find that you sleep better at night. Freeing up space in our mind allows us to be more productive and operate at all times “in the zone.” Thanks for watching Linda’s tips. Sign up today for our FREE Newsletter. www.lhyatesconsulting.com

The benefits of being Positive

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smiley face

This past week I read an article from my church’s monthly magazine about a woman that was struggling with a life trial. As I read this article the benefits of being positive when everything around you seems negative came to my mind. Being positive is a state of mind. Turning a frown upside down into a smile may seem difficult but it is possible.

Today I thought I would list out the benefits of being positive. Perhaps this list will help you when you feel discouraged or down.

1. Troubles seem lighter
2. Attract more positive happenings
3. Attract more positive individuals into your life
4. Less stress
5. More money
6. Healthier relationships
7. Fulfillment
8. Better health
9. Clarity of mind
10. Possibility mindset

These benefits are immediate once you choose to embrace positivity. The power is within each one of us. We have the ability to be positive. The benefits of being positive impact us in every facet, stage and season of life. Positivity equates to abundance. Isn’t abundance and happiness what we all are seeking?

Celebrating Accomplishments

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Celebrating Accomplishments

This past week I spoke to an incredible group of professionals that have been hit hard by economic times. It was a great experience and went really well. Sometimes I have a tendency to pick apart my performance and miss the opportunity of celebrating my accomplishments. Celebrating accomplishments is our way of honoring the positive and encouraging more opportunities along our journey.

We can be our own worst critic and quite frankly the goal is to NOT listen to internal trash talk. We have to guard the internal messages and truly celebrate all the good we are and the accomplishments we achieve.

Realizing that we are in control only of ourselves and no one else, this control is best realized by controlling our thoughts and what we let penetrate. Don’t take anything personally! This is a great mantra and will help keep us clear and balanced.

What do you need to celebrate that you have put off?

Linda’s Tip: Why Mission Statements are Important

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What’s your mission? Have you identified it? If not, get a piece of paper and draft out what your purpose is in business, family and your individual life. Why are mission statements important? If you don’t design your life, someone else will. www.lhyatesconsulting.com

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Linda’s Tip of the Week: Importance of Values

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Have you ever considered what values you utilize in your day whether it be in your business or personal life? Want a winning edge? List out today what you value. By identifying your values you will be able to determine whether or not you are achieving all you desire. Realizing the importance of values and how they impact your ability to be successful is yet another tool to build the life, team and business you desire.

3,000 Different Theories

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3,000 Different Theories

Thomas Edison constructed 3,000 different theories in connection with the electric light. If he had given up at failure 100 what would have happened? Failure can be a gift along with the perspective gained when something needs to be changed or tweaked.

“If at first you don’t succeed try, try, try again.” This quote from William E. Hickson has been around a long time, since 1857 in fact. Many times we let the fear of failure hold us back, and we forget that persistence pays off. As we take a look at some of the most famous individuals such as Thomas Edison or Abraham Lincoln, these gentlemen had several failures before they were ever able to have a win or success.

As I learn about the different setbacks and disappointments that Abraham Lincoln encountered it provides me hope and humility. It doesn’t matter if we fail, it only matters if we pick ourselves back up and keep trying.

Sometimes the fear of failure is our greatest stumbling block. We have to look at the word fear and change its meaning to an acronym: False Evidence Appearing Real (FEAR). Faith and fear cannot reside together at the same time. So having faith and a strong belief that whatever the outcome, the journey and process of trying are where the opportunities lie.

As I look back over my life and think about the “failures” I have had I realize that they were actually gifts. Those times that I fell down and had to pick myself up again were the times I came to understand what I was made of discovered my strengths. In strength building we need opposition in order to grow and expand so to can we apply this to life. Instead of being afraid of failure turn it around and use it to move you forward.

In our economic climate, many individuals and companies are having a rough time. Each individual has a choice. The choice is to let the stumble flatten them or the choice to explore new methods. Even if you have historically been a person that when knocked down struggles to get up, whether physically, emotionally or financially, you can change right now and BREAK the pattern. Don’t let the setback stop you! Here are some suggested ways to keep moving:

1. Write out possible scenarios of how you can conquer your trial.
2. Then go to work on your plan. Work is a gift. You don’t need a job to go to work.
3. Avoid any negativity. Do what you have to do to keep yourself in a positive place.
4. Write out all that is positive in your life. Staying in the mind set of plenty will help give you momentum.
5. Do something consistently everyday to work on your plan.
6. Don’t give up – keep trying. If something is not working then make adjustments.
7. Record your progress. Keeping a journal will help you measure and analyze what you may be missing.
8. Reach out to others – serve. By focusing on others’ needs it gives us a fuller perspective and doing good will comes back to us tenfold.

When you feel overwhelmed, find stories or experiences of individuals who have overcome their obstacles. I love this quote and in fact it is a mantra in my life: “Failure is not an option.” This was the tag line for the movie about APOLLO 13. They went to the moon and so can you with whatever that moon symbolizes to you.

What is success?

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What is success?

What is success?

Some would say success is profitability or being financially well-off. Others would term success as notoriety and fame. What is success? When reviewing this topic I found myself really going deep into my mental framework and discovering how I define success and what makes me successful. In the next few minutes let me open up the vault of what makes up my psyche to you.

My definition of success is a combination of financial wealth, notoriety and connectedness in all of my relationships, to name a few. The goals to “have it all” in every facet of my life are the driving force for me personally. I’m a Libra and while I don’t follow astrology, the sign for Libra is that of the scale which symbolizes balance. I strive for balance in all that I undertake. Sometimes finding balance that is hard to do, other times it is easier and a rhythm or getting in “the zone” occurs.

First, defining what is important to me and what I value helps me create my goals in the different areas of my life. For instance one of my strongest values is my health. When I am jeopardizing my health by not getting the proper nutrition, exercise and sleep that impacts all other facets in my life and I am knocked out of balance and begin to fall. When planning individual goals the scripture “not requisite that man (woman) should run faster than he (she) has strength” (Mosiah 4:27) becomes my guiding mantra.

When I focus on only one area of my life I have found that the other areas suffer. Success to me is the whole and not the sum of the individual parts. For several years I experienced a bit of “fame” in one part of my life. Through that experience I found the other values that I have such as family, friends and connectedness to those who support me became second to that “fame.” When I really stopped and questioned deep inside if I was truly happy I found that I wasn’t and there was a large hole. The secret to success for me is always recalibrating my goals and striving for balance in all areas of my life.

Some of the ingredients of success that I would like to explore with you are the following: discipline, sacrifice, commitment and heart.

I have discovered that discipline is fundamental in all aspects of life. Even being disciplined in what is fun. When I was younger I looked at discipline as harsh and unbending. What I now know is that it is a gift. The more discipline I show in all parts of my life the happier I am and the more I can achieve, thus discipline is my friend. One of the great examples to me of discipline has been my 20 year-old son. He is extremely disciplined in every aspect of his life. I am so grateful for his example!

Sacrifice is something that I continually strive to improve. I find that when I become more selfish and sacrifice less, pure joy escapes me. Many times the sacrificing of my ego is often the way for me to solve challenges that arise. However, knowing what my core values are helps me determine when sacrifice is imperative. Defining those values are the driving force for all aspects of life. Whether or not you realize what your core values are you have them and make thousands of different decisions everyday because of them.

Next on the list is commitment. I have in my office a picture of a runner before sunrise running through the forest getting her workout. Whenever I get tired and feel like giving up I think about this picture and reflect on what it is I am striving to achieve. Honoring commitments bring peace. When other distractions raise their head remembering the commitments that I have made help me to stay focused.

Lastly, we must remember the heart. You may be wondering why I list this trait. I love people. I love meeting and connecting with them. I guess you may also call this passion. But the secret to my success has been the heart and passion I have put into my work, family, relationships and life. When my heart is broken I go through a grieving process but as I am going through that process I ask myself what can I learn from this situation and how can I be better and apply my heart next time.

Success becomes a private definition for each one of us. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is successful in ways uniquely to them. The secret is to discovering what it is for you and what makes you successful. As I opened the vault of my psyche to you are you ready to explore your own vault? Here’s to a happy opening.

Universal Gravity

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universal gravity

Universal gravity is a physical law. How do you expect to grow, profit or succeed if you don’t ask for what you want? Many years ago I was pregnant with my second child and towards the end of my pregnancy I had to be confined to bed rest. That was hard! I love to go, go, go like the energizer bunny and all of the sudden I had to stop, put on the brakes, and take care of my baby. I learned an important lesson through that experience. The only way I was going to be able to continue working and running a home was to ask for help.

The same holds true in business. How do we expect our businesses to take-off if we don’t put it out in the universe that our business even exists; and ask for what we need for it to be successful? Sometimes all it comes down to is asking for what we want and the principles of universal gravity take effect. The universe is neutral.

There is a strategy to determining who and when is the right combination. By taking time to clearly define what we want, then identifying those individuals that can help us we will be well on our way to achieving success.

I have found that when I start the momentum, the energy of that momentum builds and it takes a life of its own. It will often take time, but the secret is too START.

By following these steps, the treasure will be yours to enjoy and build upon for the future. Remember: you reap what you sow.

1. Clearly lay out your vision and define what it is your are seeking
2. Identify those groups of individuals that can use the service or business you are providing
3. Contact them often. Use the power of the internet, the phone and face to face interaction to remain top of mind.
4. Vary your messages but remain in contact
5. Always ask what they need.

Remember that often you have to give before you can get. Looking for ways to help others achieve their goals and objectives will come back to you in the most amazing and inspiring ways. The universe is neutral – all you have to do is ask.