The Accountability Minute:Business Acceleration|Productivity

Today we are talking about strategy number 4 to help you overcome difficult issues, which is to Try a Positivity Sandwich.   This technique has been utilized by teachers and coaches for decades; it is incredibly simple, and requires little to no practice or preparation to master. You start by identifying the issue, problem, or behavior that needs to be discussed or brought to someone’s attention....

Today we are talking about strategy number 3 to help you overcome difficult issues, which is to Bite the Bullet.   While it can be tempting to sweep conflict under the rug – especially if you personally dislike conflict – it is important that as the leader of your company you set an example for those looking up to you. Instead of pretending like issues are not there, just confront them. The longer...

Today we are talking about strategy number 2 to help you overcome difficult issues, which is to Grow in Gratitude.   If you can cultivate an office culture of thankfulness, you may be surprised at how much the attitudes of everyone in your workspace elevate. Recognizing your employees successes and telling them often that you appreciate their hard work will help them feel valued, and will often bu...

Today we are talking about strategy number 1 to help you overcome difficult issues, which is to Practice Patience.   A good rule of thumb when faced with a difficult situation like a disgruntled employee or a grumpy client is to take a deep breath and just listen. Many times, if you can help the person you are interacting with feel heard, the situation will de-escalate on its own. We all long to b...

Whether navigating tricky conversations or counseling employees through conflict, there are always going to be difficult workplace issues that crop up. How you handle these obstacles will go a long way toward determining the atmosphere of your office.  Will the office be a space where you and your team can speak and work freely, or will it be a place that stifles creativity and operates out of fea...

80% of success is mindset and 20% is strategy!   The success of a business depends hugely upon your mindset. Ignoring it will be to the detriment of the business.    95% of our thoughts are the same each day, and on average, 80% of our thoughts are negative!   When you talk with any successful entrepreneur, they will reveal that the mindset plays a huge role in ensuring the success of the business...

Today we are talking about Tip #10 of the 10 tips for helping you to beat procrastination, which is to, Refuse to Settle for Less.   While some people may be more prone to procrastinate than others, putting things off does NOT have to define you! Regardless of what it takes, find a way to beat your procrastination problems, so that you can get on with your life and live with the confidence that co...

Today we are talking about Tip #9 for helping you to beat procrastination, which is to, Try Not to Let Being a Perfectionist Derail You.   One of the bad things about human beings is the fact that nothing is perfect 100% of the time. At least this is what I believe. If this is a thought that upsets you or causes you to get discouraged, then you should really try to remember that doing your best to...

Today we are talking about Tip #8 for helping you to beat procrastination, which is to, Listen to Music that Puts You in a Productive Mood.   Are there certain types of music that just put you in a mood to get things done? If so, then jamming out to a playlist of productive tunes can be a great way to get your mind focused on the job at hand. For me, listening to dance beats is a great way to get...

Today we are talking about Tip #7 for helping you to beat procrastination, which is to, Avoid Social Networks.   This might seem like a bit of a no brainer, but you would be amazed at the number of people who get derailed each morning by checking Facebook, Twitter, or some other social media platform before getting started. This can completely switch your brain from a ‘productive’ mode to a ‘fun’...

Today we are talking about Tip #6 for helping you to beat procrastination, which is to, Avoid Checking Email First Thing in the Morning.   As a successful business owner, this might be a difficult thing to do… but it can actually do you a LOT of good in helping you to get focused on the high payoff work first thing in the morning. Checking email puts your brain into a sort of ‘non action’ mode. In...

Today we are talking about Tip #5 for helping you to beat procrastination, which is to, Schedule Specific Blocks of Time in Which to Get Things Done.   Setting up a daily schedule can be a great way to stop procrastination before it starts. Having a plan in place will not only give you a sense of direction, but will make your day seem more achievable as well. Do the activities that bring you the b...

Today we are talking about Tip #4 for helping you to beat procrastination, which is to, Get Away from the Television (TV).   Did you know that television (TV) is one of the biggest causes for procrastination among entrepreneurs who often work from home? Having a lot of channels and a list of favorite shows is nice, but not if it distracts you from getting everything done that you need to do! Recor...

Today we are talking about Tip #3 for helping you to beat procrastination, which is to, Clean and Organize as You Go.   Sometimes we get so surrounded by clutter and chaos that we end up getting defeated before we begin. Looking around you and seeing a mess is usually never conducive to productivity, which is why it can really pay to keep things clean and tidy as your day progresses. Five or ten m...

Today we are talking about Tip #2 for helping you to beat procrastination, which is to, Wake Up Earlier.   Waking up earlier in the day can often improve your odds of getting things accomplished. More productive people are generally out and about during the early morning hours, and you will likely find the atmosphere a lot more conducive to productivity than the atmosphere of the early afternoon o...

Today we are talking about Tip #1 for helping you to beat procrastination, which is to, Get Up and Get Going.   If you feel the urge to procrastinate coming upon you, then sometimes the best thing to do is to get up and get moving – don’t let yourself put off what you need to do.  The minute you start to deviate from what you know you need to be doing is exactly when you need to take a deep breath...

Procrastination is no joke. Putting things off until later can spell ruin for even the most successful businessperson… which is EXACTLY why it is a problem that you should make an effort to continually deal with when you notice it negatively affecting your results. If you suffer from procrastination, then you undoubtedly know that it can be extremely troublesome. You no doubt want to work hard and...

Can you believe how many people dive into meetings without a clear agenda? And then they wonder why meetings drag on and on. Your time is incredibly valuable, and you need to use it wisely. That’s why I’ve created a powerful tool to help you run your meetings with laser-focused efficiency.   Let me introduce you to the Agenda & Action Item Worksheet – your key to crystal-clear meetings that dr...

It is okay to Say “No”, when you really want to. You don’t have to take every opportunity that comes along, especially if it doesn’t serve you in achieving your goals.  Which would you prefer - an acceptable job or a great job?  How about an acceptable relationship or a dream-come-true relationship?  How about an acceptable offer to join a board of a company that you believe in but can’t get super...

Poor follow through – consciously deciding to do something, but then not doing it for whatever reason – is a fact of life for many of us. Most people find that the gap between their intentions and their actions is too vast, and fall short of doing what is required to achieve their goals.    Think about the promises you’ve made to yourself in the past. Of all the promises and commitments you have m...

I’m excited to share a great tool with you today. It is called The Quality of Life Enhancer Exercise. Almost everyone has lamented, at one time or another, about not having enough time in the day.  Have you ever said or thought, “I wish I had more time?”, “If I had more time, I would _____.”, “If there were a few more hours in this day, I could _____.”  Most of us, at some time or another, have pr...

As we all know, the Pareto Principle states that 80% of your return should be based on 20% effort. In other words, when correctly applied, 20% of your efforts can produce 80% of the results. Correctly applying this rule saves you time and energy while producing optimal results. What you want to avoid (and this is what most people are trapped in) is apply 80% effort for only a 20% return. This mean...

You know what Time Wasters are… they are things like: ·         Doing all those activities that can be delegated to someone else. ·         Getting caught up in reading all the personal jokes and entertaining things people send to your email or text. ·         Playing telephone tag when you really should work, as much as possible, by appointment only. ·         Checking on Facebook, Instagram, or...

Ever found yourself stuck, needing to make a decision but unsure which way to go? We've all been there. When you're faced with these moments of uncertainty, it's time to go back to basics with a tried-and-true method: the Pros and Cons list. This simple exercise is a powerful tool to help you navigate those pivotal decisions that impact both your personal and professional life. Trus...

Today, we are talking about Tip #6 of the 6 tips for becoming even more confident, which is to Dress the Part.   It might seem elementary, but dressing for success can actually improve your confidence level. Part of being confident is being comfortable, and if you are comfortable with how you look, then you will be more likely to feel that way around other people. Being well dressed to the occasio...