Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at 12noon Hawaii (3pm Pacific / 6pm Eastern)
Teleclass (teleconference call)

Feeling overwhelmed with your new business?
Trying to figure out how and where to start?
Wondering how to market successfully and get clients?

Get out of that new business quagmire.
Start building a business where you are doing what you love.
In this hour long introductory session, you will discover what a first year in business looks like. Also you will learn how to shape and prepare your business with strategies that work for you.

This is a introductory course to a Business Development Series by Susan Kim Coaching that addresses new business challenges and helps you develop a business that suits you.

SIGN UP AT:
www.susankimcoaching.com/IJWTCSignUp_062607.html

In order to stay inspired, to take action and to move toward what you REALLY want in life, oftentimes it entails learning - learning something new, different or just discovering something within ourselves. The best way to learn something is to teach it. If you want a deeper understanding of a topic or your want to move forward and gain more success, teach that which you want to learn.

Why does this work?
The short answer is that in order to teach, you have to have a clear understanding of the topic at hand. The path to that understanding means that you naturally learn, but teaching it takes it one level deeper - you express the material in your own words and thoughts - you make it your own.

Because learning is an organic, interactive process, the nature of having students asking “why” strengthens your knowledge and opens up for a creative dialogue. A great teacher empowers others to discover the same ownership and clear understanding (this is also the mark of a great leader as well).

The next time youʼre struggling to explain something, trying to wrap your head around a concept, write a proposal, give a presentation, put together your 60-second elevator speech or just learn something new; try this:

1. Ask yourself, “What questions did I start with?” and “How would I explain this to someone else?”
2. Formulate how you can clearly and succinctly communicate the material.
3. Teach it to someone else.

Not only do YOU learn better, you also share knowledge and growth with others.

Technorati Tags: Education and Learning, Communication, Goals, Strategy, Focus, Personal Development, Business Development, Results, Action

Speaking is still a very common fear. The fear of speaking is not limited to public speaking. It also includes much more common occasions, such as talking to someone at a party, speaking to a supervisor, or just providing feedback during a meeting.

How many great ideas have not been expressed because of this fear?

Ironically, this fear is not based on a tangible or life-threatening source; it comes from our own beliefs and perceptions; it comes from what is in our minds.

How many great ideas have YOU not expressed because of this fear?

Since this fear is based on beliefs, it can be eradicated by beliefs.
If you believe in yourself and your message, you will discover the passion and confidence to speak your mind.

THREE STEPS TO SPEAK WITH CONFIDENCE

1. Get Over The Fear - Think of a time in your life where it is more important to speak up than to remain silent (e.g. for a promotion, to honor someone, when you see an injustice, to express love and gratitude, to land a client, to remember a loved one with a eulogy). Write this on an index card and look at it to remind you that this is more important than your fear - your message is more powerful than this fear.

2. Know Yourself Better - Being clear and really understanding your own thoughts will enable you to manifest better in words and speech. Get clear.

3. Be Yourself - Leo Buscaglia said, “The easiest thing in the world is to be you. The most difficult thing is to be what other people want you to be.” You donʼt have to “perform” to be heard. Sincerity has a loud voice and is always appreciated.

Technorati Tags: Being in the Present, Communication, Confidence, Challenge, Goals, Personal Development, Results

Is it difficult to make a decision and stick by it?

Do you labor over the smallest decisions?

Making decisions is definitely a responsibility and takes ownership and accountability. Merriam Webster dictionary defines a decision as “a determination arrived at after consideration: CONCLUSION.” To decide means to “to make a final choice or judgment about; to select a course of action.” Is it the definitive nature and conclusion from making a decision that is difficult?

Usually the decisions that are made based on what others think and want are going to be the hardest decisions to make. If you are trying to make choices based on what others think or what you think they want, it will only be a good guess at best. When making a “final choice or judgment,” how comfortable are you with a “guess?”

Easy decisions come from knowing yourself and knowing what you want. Decisions based on your own integrity and standards come easier. The ownership and confidence in the decision follows naturally because it is NOT a guess.

Three Steps To Easier Decision Making:

1. Think about your own integrity - what are your values, what is important to you
2. Develop a set of standards for yourself based on your definition of integrity
3. Live by these standards - make decisions using these guidelines

At first it may be difficult to stick to your own guidelines, but remember, at the end of the day, you are the only one that lives with your decisions and your conscience. Knowing this may help you make the decision thatʼs right for you every time.

Live without regret. Live easier.

Technorati Tags: Decision Making, Standards, Personal Development, Priorities, Goals, Strategy, Focus

Is life passing you by? Do you feel unfulfilled? Need more time?

In the past I have written about the three things I believe are essential towards gaining success: commitment, clarity and action. Commitment is the first requirement, because that is the agreement that you make to yourself to attain what you are striving for - to follow through. You will often see quotes from highly successful people about commitment. NBA coach, Pat Riley said:

“There are only two options with commitment, youʼre either in or youʼre out. There is no such thing as life in between.”

He wasnʼt just talking about basketball. Heʼs talking about LIFE. In life you have to commit and ride the wave.

In surfing, to catch a wave, you have to commit. If you donʼt, either the wave will pass you by or (much worse), you fall victim to the wave itself and it crashes right on top of you, tumbling you to the bottom of the ocean. However, when you commit to catching the wave, you watch, paddle, follow through and actually RIDE the wave. You make an agreement with yourself, “Iʼm going to get this one!” and you do.

If you donʼt commit to what you want in life, it will either pass you by or tumble you in every which direction. Ask yourself:

What are you committed to and are you fulfilling that commitment?

Maybe itʼs time to RE-commit. Perhaps itʼs time to move on and make a NEW commitment. Make that promise to yourself that you WILL ride the wave and do it!

Technorati Tags: Commitment, Decision Making, Priorities, Goals, Strategy, Focus, Results, Action

The workbook “25 Ways to Make More Time,” takes you step by step through the process of changing your current time habits to better, more efficient ones that work for you. Before taking on new tools and implementing more strategies in your life for better time management, it is important to first determine what has NOT been working and WHY. Time is not something that is managed, per se, we manage ourselves within the time that we have - 24 hours in every day.

The first step is to log your time and see what you are currently doing with your time. You canʼt fix what you donʼt know is broken!

For at least three days (up to a week), log your time throughout the whole day, do not wait til the end of the day. Be specific. In three columns, write:

(1) The time;
(2) The activity;
(3) How long it takes to do the activity.

Log everything, from a 1-minute phone call to a 2 hour lunch.

After three days, you will get a sense of how your time is being utilized throughout the day and where changes may need to take place. Ask yourself:

What are you doing in your day that is NOT working? What IS working?
Next to each activity, write out how you could have done things better.

Contact Susan at info@susankimcoaching.com to find out more about “25 Ways to Make More Time”

Technorati Tags: Time Management, Organization Priorities, Goals, Strategy, Focus, Personal Development, Business Development, Resources, Action

Ready or not, here comes life!

Time seems to be elusive because we never know for certain what will happen in our day. Life happens. One of the reasons to be ready when “life happens” is so you can live the life you truly want by focusing on what is important. One of the keys to being ready for life is good organization.

Being organized may start with a clean desk or properly scheduling your day (see March Issue, Business Hot Tips), but it really means being able to handle ANYTHING that comes your way with little or no stress. Organization is most beneficial when things go awry. When something unexpected happens or life takes a “detour,” it is very easy to spot DIS-organization. It looks like stress, chaos and is just messy. Space is cluttered, feelings are overwhelmed and the mind races in circles trying to get its bearings.

Being organized enables you to look at the unexpected situation, take a side step (or even a step back), decide on what needs to be done, do it and keep moving forward. Organization helps you focus on what is important.

Get Organized - Get Focused - Get Ready for Life

Technorati Tags: Time Management, Organization, Priorities, Goals, Strategy, Focus, Decision Making

There is a direct relationship with your commitment (what you put in) and benefit (what you get out). The more you commit to something, the more you will reap the benefits of your energy and efforts. This principle is true for almost everything: relationships, sports, work, community service, business, personal development, etc.

In order to create time for yourself, you have to commit, invest the time and apply the strategies that work for you (see Business Hot Tips). Oftentimes the difference between struggling and succeeding in time management is simply investing the time to implement the tools you already know.

“The challenge is not to manage time, but to manage ourselves.”
Stephen Covey

“Do or do not. There is no try.”
Yoda

BUSINESS HOT TIP: 5 Easy Ways To Create More Time1. Get the big picture. Spend 1 hour at the beginning of each week to organize your schedule. Prioritize the activities.

2. Daily Check. Give yourself time each day, for at least 5 minutes to review and revise your schedule. Keeps the most important things in the forefront.

3. Clean Desk. Always leave your office with a clean desk. Compare how you feel in the morning coming to a clean desk versus piles of “to-doʼs”

4. Keep Focus. Have only one project on your desk at any given time - the highest priority task. It is a simple step to maintain focus.

5. Work by the Hour. Use blocks of 60-90 minutes. It takes time to settle down and start working productively. Work with no (or limited) distractions.

Technorati Tags: Time Management, Organization, Priorities, Goals, Strategy, Focus, Decision Making

Where does all the time go? Does it hide in the cracks on the floor? Does it seep out the window when no one is looking?

The idea of time “hiding” or “running away” may seem silly. However, as intangible as time may be, it is often defined through very tangible and measureable ways - through our goals. Throughout the day if we accomplish a lot, it is described as “good use of time.” On the other hand, if our wheels have been spinning all day and nothing was completed, we call it “a waste of time.”

Time is given value by what is accomplished, so letʼs think of time in relation to our goals or our vision. Distractions throughout the day are a big time drain. These diversions are simply a detachment away from our goals. If you want to lessen distractions and make “better use of your time,” reduce or take out actions that do not move you toward your goal.

Discovery Tip: Always move toward your goals

1. First, write down your goals and that you would like to accomplish.

2. Prioritize them so that you can readily identify the most important goals for yourself.

3. Write down WHY that goal is important to you right now.

4. Describe HOW you are going to achieve that goal.

5. When distracted, ask yourself, does this move you toward or away from your goals?

6. Also ask yourself, by taking this action what is the impact on my goals or vision?

Utilize these five steps and you will slowly plug up the time drain and find that you are pulling more time out of the cracks!

Technorati Tags: Time Management, Organization, Priorities, Goals, Strategy, Decision Making

No doubt there will be new goals and revised planning at the start of this new year. You will create a vision for your personal health, financial wellbeing, business, lifestyle, etc. Starting a new plan is a natural benefit of each new year.

However, this time, instead of just planning out goals and accomplishments for the coming year, also schedule in some time to look at the “year in review” at regular (2 or 3 month) intervals.

Oftentimes goals are like “blinders.” We focus in and target on that goal regardless of what is happening with the big picture.

Discovery Tip: Painting Your Mural

Pretend you have been asked to paint a large mural and it will take you a whole year to complete this project. You know what the mural will look like as a whole, but itʼs too large to complete all at once. You schedule segments and work in intervals. Each phase is a particular focus, however every once in a while you step back to take a look at the big picture to
see how your mural is coming along. Perhaps at each segment you have to tweak a color or a shape or change direction. However, by making revisions throughout the process the mural is completed easier and faster.

Itʼs hard to paint a mural without stepping back everyonce a while. Itʼs also hard to reach your goals without “stepping back” and looking at the overall view of your goals.

What is the big picture?

Throughout the year spend some time “stepping back” to assess where you are; not only with your goals, but also how youʼre feeling about your “mural.” If the mural isnʼt right, whatʼs the point of continuing along in the same fashion.

Oftentimes taking stock and making the extra effort to change direction bears great rewards. So instead of sticking with something that doesnʼt work any more, shift gears to succeed.

Ask yourself:
Does this feel right?
Am I going in the right direction?
What can I revise to improve on what I am currently doing?

Technorati Tags: Vision, Strategy, Goals, Results, Action