Jan
07

Inspofab: A New Years Plan vs. A New Years Resolution

We are one week in 2018.  How are your New Years Resolutions going?  Statistically half of all resolutions fail.  Read on to make sure you do not become a statistic!

Your resolution may be wrong for one of the following three reasons:

  • It’s a resolution created based on what someone else (or society) is telling you to change.
  • It’s too vague.
  • You don’t have a realistic plan for achieving your resolution.

Goal is another word for Resolution.  Your goals should have a PLAN and be SMART. That’s an acronym coined in the journal Management Review in 1981 for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. It may work for management, but it can also apply to your resolutions, too.

  • Specific. Your goal should be absolutely clear. “Making a concrete goal is really important rather than just vaguely saying ‘I want to lose weight.’ You want to have a goal: How much weight do you want to lose and at what time interval?” said Katherine L. Milkman, an associate professor of operations information and decisions at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
  • Measurable. This may seem obvious if your goal is a fitness or weight loss related one, but it’s also important if you’re trying to cut back on something, too. If, for example, you want to grow your hair.  Take pictures of your hair at the beginning and throughout the year so you can really SEE the progress. Tracking you progress into a journal or making notes on your phone or in an app designed to help you track behaviors can reinforce the progress, no matter what your resolution may be.
  • Achievable. Now this doesn’t mean that you can’t have big goals. However, trying to take too big a step too fast can leave you frustrated and likely lead to you failing.  So, for example, resolving to save enough money to retire in five years when you’re 40 years old is probably not realistic, but saving an extra $100 a month may be.
  • Relevant. Is this a goal that really matters to you, and are you making it for the right reasons? “If you do it out of the sense of self-hate or remorse or a strong passion in that moment, it doesn’t usually last long,” said Dr. Michael Bennett, a psychiatrist and co-author of two self-help books. Also if you are doing something because of family or societal pressures that also may not be the best thing for you.  For example, are you trying to get married because society says you should be married by 30 and so you are willing to just settle for the next guy to come along?  In the short term, you may meet your goal but on other hand spend a life time of misery with the wrong person.
  • Time-bound. Create a realistic timeline and plan toward reaching your goal. That means giving yourself enough time to do complete your goal and setting intermediate smaller goals along the way to give yourself the motivation to keep going.  “Focus on these small wins so you can make gradual progress,” Charles Duhigg, author of “The Power of Habit” and a former New York Times writer, said. “If you’re building a habit, you’re planning for the next decade, not the next couple of months.”

Comment below on your top resolution for this year and how you plan to reach it!  2018 is your year, I can feel it!:)

Nov
01

InspoFab: Hustle or Align?

We have all heard of the saying, “Work SMARTER not HARDER.”  Destroy the idea that you have to be constantly working or grinding in order to be successful.  Embrace the concept that rest, recovery, and reflection are essential parts of the progress towards a successful and ultimate happy life.

Here are 7 tips to help you ALIGN instead of HUSTLE!

                                                                                                                                                   

1.HIRE AN ASSISTANT OR INTERN.

Whether you a career women or entrepreneur having a team that consists of someone other than yourself is CRUCIAL.  Some of my girlfriends tell me they can’t afford to pay an assistant.  So my solution to that is hire an intern.  I have had 3 companies: a production company, consulting company and a law firm.  All of them had interns! I quickly learned you could go through the career office at your city’s colleges and universities and post internship opportunities in exchange for academic credit.  I even throw in a written professional reference at the end of my internships.  You get free labor and they get experience and academic credit to graduate! Its a win-win.

2. GET MAID SERVICE.

You’ve worked all day, you have to cook dinner, you may or may not have kids, and you still have to clean your house.  Trust me, it’s not happening.  Forget this “SUPERWOMAN” mentality where you have to be strong all the time and do it ALL.  It is recommended that you get maid service twice a month, especially to do the deep cleaning you can not get to because quite frankly you are mentally, emotionally and physically drained.

 

3. STOP TRYING TO BE A JACK OF ALL TRADES.

Yes, you are smart, savvy and a quick learner.  But why stress yourself out and try to teach yourself everything when you could hire someone to do it and save time in the process.  For example, I am a producer but also had some writing experience authoring a book and writing a show episode.  When the opportunity came to develop my film idea, I toyed with the idea of just writing the screenplay myself.  But this would be months of work and the final product could have turned out horrible because of my lack experience.  I realized it was better to just to hire someone where this was their craft.  At the end of the day use your time, energy and creativity to do the things you love and to focus on your strengths.

4. REMEMBER THE 80/20 RULE-AS YOUR GROW INCREASE YOUR PRICES!

The 80/20 theory was first introduced by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who in 1906 observed that 80% of Italy’s land was controlled by 20% of its population.

The 80/20 rule is a rule of thumb that states that 80% of outcomes can be attributed to 20% of all causes for a given event. In business, the 80/20 is often used to point out that 80% of a company’s revenue is generated by 20% of its total customers.  Therefore technically 20% of your work/clients can produce 80% of your income.  Unfortunately, many of us do 80% of the work, for 20% of the money.

For example, I read there was a women earning only a $1,000 month writing up to 14-17 articles a month for 7-9 clients for on average $50 an article.  She was killing herself for pennies.  Then one day she decided to up her prices and therefore could reduce the number of clients and increased her monthly earnings to $4,000 a month.

So its simple- instead of working with over 7 client’s night and day and making peanuts, find your 2-4 clients/projects that can pay you 80% of the revenue for 20% of the work.

Besides who would you want to hire- the $500 cosmetic surgeon or the $2500 cosmetic surgeon?  The $2500 one of course because the higher price indicates that you are actually paying for something of value and more importantly it will be done right.

5. TAKE TWO DAYS OFF.

As a career women, but especially as a entrepreneur we feel guilty when we are not working because that time off is looked at like it could be used to make more money.  However, money is not everything if you are not around to enjoy it once it comes!  Taking time off to reset your mind, body and soul is MANDATORY.

6. STOP REINVENTING THE WHEEL

Align or partner with a mentor or established business that has experience or already has a customer base your business can benefit from.

7.  STOP WORKING FOR FREE!

If there is nothing else you remember from this please understand that if you do not know your worth know one else will.  So when that family member, friend or associate is expecting you to work for absolutely free not only are they not respecting you or your time you are wasting your time on them when you could be making money doing something else!

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