Understand your strengths and focus energy towards them.

Early in life we discover we are great at some things, OK at other things, and not so great at many things. But our tendency is to try to become great at the things we are weak at. We work hard, and tough it out, all in an effort to get better.

Of course, it’s always good to try to improve ourselves and become more proficient. But for those things we’ve always been weak at, we may be wasting our efforts.

That’s because there are only a few things we do on this planet that excite us, engage us and provide us with enough energy to keep doing them for hours on end. Conversely, there are many things in life that drag us down and can frustrate us in mere minutes.

The trick is to focus on our strengths and delegate tasks we are weak at. This way, we can make the best use of our time and energy and ensure our businesses operate as efficiently as possible.

The challenges of delegating

Delegating may seem difficult at first. Many people feel guilty about it. Or we are worried that no one can complete the delegated tasks as well as ourselves. You may feel you do not have the time to train a team member on a process.  It can be hard to let go and trust people you delegate to. But it’s not good for your health to try to do everything.

A more optimum situation is to recognize that there are likely many people on Earth who are just amazing at tasks that you or I have no natural ability towards.

Thus, the ultimate, most effective team is comprised of people with complementary strengths and weaknesses who can work well together.

Take the Kolbe test

A great tool to understand your natural strengths is the Kolbe A index <Link to: www.kolbe.com>

Try taking the Kolbe A index for insight into how you naturally initiate when solving problems.   Ask your team members to take the test as well. Or even your spouse.

The results will amaze you. It was such a breakthrough when I received my results.  It really gave great context to many of my reactions to past experiences in life. The test results can also help you best leverage working with your team so that everyone is focusing on their strengths and not spinning their wheels trying to get better at their weaknesses.

The optimum team

You might then have to make some adjustments. For instance, a five-person team of big-idea people with no aptitude for the small details may not be very effective. If you want to come up with ideas and have other people execute them, you need to surround yourself with people who can best compliment the areas that you are not as natural towards.

According to Dan Sullivan, founder of The Strategic Coach, everyone has one Unique Ability that no one else has. He defines it as “a superior ability that other people notice and value; second, we love doing it and want to do it as much as possible; third, it is energizing both for us and others around us; and, fourth, we keep getting better, never running out of possibilities for further improvement.”

You may want to block off some time to sit down and make a list of the things you are really good at, and which you are better at than anyone you know. From that introspection, you can gradually understand what you should be focusing on, and what you need to delegate to people around you.

As Dan Sullivan says, it’s all about guarding your time and prioritizing: “You need to protect your time and attention, reserving it just for those decisions, relationships, and opportunities that need your particular skills and wisdom. If you don’t do this, your business (or life) will be limited to what you, personally, can do on any given day. But …. develop a team whose abilities complement your own, and you’ll suddenly find yourself with more time….”

In the event you need additional assistance in simplifying your life, we have developed a free report that identifies implementable tips that you can act on immediately to begin simplifying your life.  Visit www.simpleplanreport.com to download today!

Have a fantastic day and always remember to keep things simple!

Mark Landers is the creator of The Simple Plan Program and has been helping entrepreneurs simplify their lives for over 10 years.  He can be reached at Mark R. Landers, CFP CHS, The Northridge Financial Group Ltd. at 416.705.6640 or mark@nrfg.ca. 

Invest Time in Relationships

What makes you feel more excited: anticipating dinner with your best friend, or finally getting that new smartphone app you’ve heard so much about?

Technology is a powerful tool, and you can either use it to keep your distance from other people or facilitate stronger connections with them. It should never be subservient to the relationships you foster with friends, family, your team members, and clients—even though we’re all constantly bombarded with new ways to electronically communicate: email, text message, Facebook, instant message, Facetime, Skype, and probably many more in the near future.

These easy means of communication are often utilized in place of personal, one-on-one contact. So we are increasingly forging more fleeting electronic relationships and fewer genuine personal relationships—which can lead to a sense of social isolation.

E-confusion

Have you ever used electronic communication to avoid an in-person confrontation?  It seems like a good idea in theory, as we can spend time rewriting and editing our point of view before we send the message.

But many times these written messages just lead to confusion, as the written words are unable to convey emotions and thoughts as accurately as talking in person, face to face. It’s so easy to press “send” or “post,” but the ensuing confusion is often more difficult to deal with than looking someone in the eye and discussing things carefully. It takes more sophisticated interpersonal skills to deal with an issue in person, but these skills are definitely worth learning and building on. Of course, many companies, sectors and industries have relocated to other parts of the world, which means you have to work harder at communicating effectively with colleagues on different continents. 

The best plan is to take advantage of the efficiency and speed of electronic communication, while always choosing the best way to craft the content of your message.

Outmoded systems

Many people feel that to thrive in today’s business world, they need to become expert at the next great piece of technology—such as a new purchase order system or a new accounting system. Then by the time they’ve mastered it, a new system has come along, or the system is updated and they’re back to the drawing board learning something new. Sometimes these new systems become so robust they end up replacing entire businesses or industries. Therefore, if we can position our businesses in areas that are mainly focused on interacting with people, creating value, and creative thinking, we will have a lot more longevity than if we specialize in a specific product or system.

Relationships always in style

No matter what direction technology takes, people and businesses will always have challenges and problems to solve. As Dan Sullivan says, “Microtechnology, no matter how fast and powerful, will never replace two uniquely human capabilities: the ability to create infinite number of new things, and the ability to relate to other human beings in an infinite number of new ways.”

To be well positioned for growth, align your business with this approach. Take the best of technology and use it to your advantage for its greatest features. Just remember that your most valuable investment is in relationships. They never seem to fall out of style!

In the event you need additional assistance in simplifying your life, we have developed a free report that identifies implementable tips that you can act on immediately to begin simplifying your life.  Visit www.simpleplanreport.com to download today!

Have a fantastic day and always remember to keep things simple!

Mark Landers is the creator of The Simple Plan Program and has been helping entrepreneurs simplify their lives for over 10 years.  He can be reached at Mark R. Landers, CFP CHS, The Northridge Financial Group Ltd. at 416.705.6640 or mark@nrfg.ca. 

The power of time, compound interest, and tax-free investing

Does investing seem difficult and challenging to you? If your goal is to save enough money to sell your business and retire comfortably without ever running out of money, you likely have spent some time focused on how to get the best rate of return on your investments. You may meet with a number of advisors at various financial institutions, attend seminars, and read articles in magazines and on the Internet. You may even obsessively research a “hot tip” a friend shared with you after a few cocktails at a dinner party.

The result may be an unstructured approach, duplication of effort, overwhelming complexity, high stress, and uncertainty about being able to exit your business and meet your basic financial needs in retirement. This lack of confidence may hold you back from pursuing some of the things you really want in life!

But building an investment plan based exclusively on high rates of return is only one piece of the puzzle. There are three other pieces, including:

·         The amount of time money is invested

·         The effects of compound interest

·         The rate of taxes paid on various investments

A simple example with a toonie

Let’s say you decided to invest just a toonie (a CA$2 coin, for those of you south of the border). Let’s also suggest you could find a fantastic investment that would enable you to double this $2 every year for 20 years. So, after one year you’d have $4; after two years, $8; after three years, $16. This growth on top of growth is the compound interest.

Now, let’s also include a rate of tax. In Canada the top tax rate is about 46%, so that’s what we will use for our example. Can you guess how much this investment would be worth after 20 years? The answer is $10,673. Not bad for 2 bucks, eh?

How going tax-free makes a big difference

Here is a super-interesting spin on this example. Let’s say we find an investment vehicle that enables the money to grow on a tax-free basis. In Canada, we have an awesome opportunity called the Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA), created by the Canadian government in 2009. You can invest money, allow it to grow tax-free, and eventually withdraw it tax-free! Similar opportunities also exist within RRSPs, as well as cash-value life insurance.  And if your business is incorporated, cash-value life insurance can really maximize returns if paid for corporately.

Adding the tax-free spin to our example, $2, doubling every year for 20 years without any tax, would be worth a whopping $2,097,152. The difference is truly amazing!

I will be the first to admit this is a magnified example. There are very few opportunities to invest long term and double your money every year. But this example truly does highlight the impact that taxes can have on investing.

When planning for a comfortable retirement, it is imperative to evaluate investment options beyond just the sticker. The sticker in this case is the rate of return.  The impact of this investment on your overall financial plan is really what counts. It goes much deeper than which product to buy. Rather, you need to layer all the right pieces of your plan to ensure a lifetime of financial security.

And remember: The value of developing a proper retirement income plan with ongoing input from an experienced financial planner will go a long way to reduce stress about your retirement.  When was the last time you reviewed the funding of your retirement plan?  If you are like most, it’s been a while!  Take a step today to reduce stress and simplify your finances.  You’ll be very happy that you did!

In the event you need additional assistance in simplifying your life, we have developed a free report that identifies implementable tips that you can act on immediately to begin simplifying your life.  Visit www.simpleplanreport.com to download today!

Have a fantastic day and always remember to keep things simple!

Mark Landers is the creator of The Simple Plan Program and has been helping entrepreneurs simplify their lives for over 10 years.  He can be reached at Mark R. Landers, CFP CHS, The Northridge Financial Group Ltd. at 416.705.6640 or mark@nrfg.ca. 

Five Principles To Live By To Be A Happy Business Owner

It’s been said there’s nothing better than being your own boss. However sometimes the weight of “wearing all the hats” can be emotionally and spiritually draining. So next time things seem a little overwhelming, refer to these five principles every happy business owner lives by.

1. Don’t focus solely on the money. Sure money is important. And assuming you’re providing a product or service people want, it will naturally come if you invest energy into cultivating relationships, treating people well, and enjoying what you do. Making every decision based on ROI or keeping costs to a minimum will only hurt your business in the long run.
2. Get a life. One reason you’re in business for yourself is so you don’t have to answer to anyone. So take advantage of it. Don’t be afraid to take the occasional three day weekend, long lunch, or a real vacation. It will keep you refreshed and focused
3. Hang with your own kind. Join an industry association, chamber of commerce, or any group where like minded people gather to share ideas and knowledge. You will find that the more you share the more you will learn.
4. Don’t say yes to everyone. Some clients will cause you heartache. Some suppliers will give you a heart attack. It’s okay to turn them away. Surround yourself with those that support your ideas, value your skills, and want to share in your success.
5. Know that $#!& happens. Even as a business owner, you can’t control everything. Sometimes unforeseen and uncontrollable things will change the course of your business or your life. Do not dwell on what could have been. Instead, focusing on what can be.

Marc Gordon is a recognized marketing expert, speaker and strategist. His articles appear in over 200 publications worldwide. Visit marcgordon.ca or his online show at marctv.net for more business tips.

Five Business Tools to Help you Get More Done in Less Time

If you’re like most business owners, you’re probably wearing far too many “hats” – taking on responsibilities like sales, marketing, purchasing, et al. While you already know you need to delegate more, let’s face it, it likely won’t happen any time soon. So let me share with you five tools that will save you time while still allowing you to manage every detail, no matter how small.

1. Accounting software. Today’s accounting packages let you keep track of expenses, receivables, payables, and contacts. And you don’t even need to know accounting. Online versions allow you to check your books, pay bills, and send invoices from anywhere, even from your smartphone. While these won’t replace an accountant, they can make you more aware and efficient.
2. A VOIP phone line. A voice over internet line (VOIP) usually costs less than a conventional phone line while providing an abundance of useful features such as line roaming, multiple voicemail boxes, call transferring, conversation recording, unlimited long distance, and the ability to provide you with an area code of your choice.
3. CRM tool. A customer relationship management (CRM) tool lets you manage and document all your interactions with customers, suppliers or anyone. Set reminders when to follow up, create tasks, generate reports and sync emails all from a single tool. Many CRM programs such as Insightly and Bitrix24 are available free to single users.
4. Email marketing service. Using programs such as Gmail or Outlook are great for sending and receiving individual emails. However, using them for mass emails could potentially get you flagged as a spammer. You also have no way of knowing who opened your email and there’s no way for people to opt out, which is required by law under CANSPEP and CASL. Email marketing services such as Constant Contact and Mail Chimp allow you to safely and efficiently manage and create email campaigns. Best of all, you can customize your emails with your logo, images and different layouts for that branded look.
5. Alternate ways of talking face to face. While personal meetings are great, web based tools can make communicating just as effective and more efficient for everyone. Skype, Google Hangouts, and TeamViewer are all free services that allow for video conferencing and sharing files through your PC or mobile device. Meetings can be one to one or with groups of people from anywhere in the world.

Marc Gordon is a professional speaker and marketing consultant. Get more marketing tips on his website, marcgordon.ca and on his online show, marctv.net or visit Marc online at http://marcgordon.ca/. 

How to Program the Brain for Sustainable Success

I love my daily dose of exercise.  Most high-performers do because they look at it like a performance-enhancing habit. Being a competitive athlete for most of my life, I trained my brain to expect daily movement and loads of sweat.  There is no habit better in my books than one that automatically drives you to engage in a routine that supports your health mentally, emotionally and physically.

It is no different than any other performance-enhancing strategy you are trying to build; short-term pain equals long-term gain.  We’ve all heard that saying before.  We all know that real results require real hard work and whether you’re in the weight room or the boardroom that means many repetitions of the same patterns of behavior. 

Why is it then that so many of us have such difficulty trying to establish habits that support our long-term goals?  It quite simply comes down to this-our brain’s lack the motivation to change.

I call it leverage.  We don’t get out of bed in the morning unless we have a pretty compelling reason to do so.  That’s the trick.  Our brain will always migrate away from pain and towards pleasure.  That is how our brains condition these bad habits in the first place-we associated too much pain to not doing the current autopilot behavior and too much pleasure to engaging in it.

Our brains are meant to keep us safe and alive-that’s why we have a brain. It guides our decision-making, most of which is completely autopilot (95-97% each day).  We condition the autopilot choices through constant and continuous conscious effort and reinforcement.  And since the brain is meant to keep us safe and alive, it doesn’t like to have to undo all of its hard work and effort by having to change the automatic decision-making process-thus, its resistance to changing habitual patterns of behavior.

So how do we motivate the brain to want to exert the mental energy and effort required to break a bad habit and create a more self-supportive one in its place?

We must create new leverage.

Leverage is motivation and you need motivation to stay high in order to achieve any long-term goals (making more money, getting to the next level in your career, creating higher quality relationships).  To keep motivation high enough to sustain the effort required to create lasting change in your autopilot decision-making (an absolute must when wanting different results in any area of your life), you must tip the motivational scales in your favor.  You must associate more pain to staying the same and more pleasure to creating the change.

Motivation is like the caffeine switch in the brain. When it is activated it engages your nervous system in a way that propels and supports you towards your goals.  If conditioning new habits is the goal, try the following top-notch performance-enhancing strategy to do so:

·         First identify the long-term goal clearly using as much specific and descriptive information as you possibly can (clearly define the new result you crave).

·         What new habits must you establish to support you achieving that new result (in other words, state clearly the new habit you are trying to condition)?

·         Ask yourself what the pain of staying the same is (no change in current results)? 

·         Next, connect with as many benefits as possible to achieving the long-term change you crave.

·         When in the moment of choice between old habit and new habit, practice connecting with your new leverage.

·         Practice associating your brain with the pain of engaging in the old habit and the pleasure of engaging in the new habit every time you are faced with the decision to act in congruence with your long-term outcome.  Science says it will take 30-50 repetitions of this exercise to successfully reprogram that pattern into a habit.

Sure it is tough to break bad habits and establish new ones but trust me, it is well worth it.  Remember the statistic that states 95-97% of your daily choices are made on autopilot-your habits are a huge factor contributing to your current level of personal and professional success.  If it’s good enough for athletes like Sydney Crosby and Tiger Woods, it is good enough for you.  Just keep reminding yourself like the professional athletes do-short-term pain for long-term gain.

Remember to make every performance count!

-Coach Susan

Want to learn how to program your brain for personal and professional success?  Former professional athlete and Princeton graduate, Coach Susan Hobson is the Principal Performance Coach at Elite: High Performance Coaching, a science-based coaching process designed to drive your health, wealth, self and business performance to the next level. She works with high-performers like professional athletes and busy professionals like all of you.

To qualify for a FREE consultation, you can visit www.elitehighperformance.com and enter your email. As a special bonus, will also receive her weekly motivation coaching videos delivered straight to your inbox.

Alternatively, you can email her at: Susan@elitehighperformance.com or call her at: 416-801-9779.

6 Wellness Tips for Entrepreneurs

As Entrepreneurs, we know that it can be a challenge to keep stress levels in check, while eating healthy and getting enough sleep. Being mindful of your nutrition, sleep and exercise will increase your energy to give you the edge to succeed in your business. Here are a few simple wellness tips to get you rocking your biz.

1. Get Rest. This first tip is imperative for good health, yet difficult for many entrepreneurs and that is to get plenty of rest! When we sleep, our bodies can repair themselves from an often stressful, busy day, while our brains have a chance to process all the information taken in. If you use the evening as a time to unwind, you will have a much better chance at getting a good nights rest. Try going to bed no later than 10:30 and waking around 5:30-6am. You are more likely to be productive early in the morning with a fresh start which will invite relaxation later in the evening when you feel accomplished. It may take time, but eventually your body will get used to this schedule.

Here are some simple tips to help you sleep well to increase your energy and productivity.

• Avoid evening exercise
• Drink warm tea before bed - we love Serene Tea from The Honest Leaf. The combination of herbs is so calming and the taste is so soothing
• Turn the screen light down on your smartphone
• Limit all electronic use for 1 hour before bed - try some quiet reading that is unrelated to business or try meditation or a walk
• Sleep in a dark room with a cooler temperature
• Try magnesium - magnesium relaxes the muscles and is often deficient in people who feel over worked and stressed. We love Orange Naturals Magnesium Glycerinate or Natural Calm if you prefer a powder form that is drinkable, similar to a tea

2. But first, a workout! Moving your body in the morning wakes up the muscles and increase blood flow. We love to do 45- 60 minutes of functional training like TRX, resistance bands, squats and weights in the mornings as it helps maintain and promote muscle tone often lost from sitting all day! You don’t need to join a gym, just purchase some basic equipment or workout DVD’s that you can quickly do at home. Even 20 minutes of yoga and stretching does the body good, whatever you can fit in that day.

3. Eat balanced meals - What we eat directly affects how our brain and bodies function. As an entrepreneur, we know you need all the energy and brain power you can get! I also know that eating regularly prepared meals is not at the top of your list.

Here are some helpful tips for ensuring adequate fuel without the stress:

• Dedicate 1 day, morning or afternoon/ week to grocery shop and prepare your food. Cook in batches, freeze and portion out into containers for the week.
• If you aren’t into cooking, there are many healthy food delivery companies. We like Fit Organix.
• Eat whole foods with a focus on lean protein, fresh green vegetables, raw nuts and seeds and some whole grains, while avoiding processed food and take out
• Set yourself reminders to eat every few hours. Ideally 3 small meals and 2-3 snacks in between
• Have healthy snacks on hand - we love Simply Protein Bars because they are delicious, low in sugar and keep me feeling full
• Start your day with an easy energizing smoothie to maximize nutrition (recipe below)

4. Take breaks. Give yourself a lunch break mid-day for at least half an hour. Enjoy a healthy lunch of lean protein, fresh veggies and some healthy fats like avocados, seeds or olive oil to prevent you from becoming tired in the afternoon. Go for a walk, watch some funny Youtube videos or call a friend - do something to actively remove from your work. Try walking the stairs at work, or go for a walk.

5. Drink more. Water of course! Try to limit your intake of sugary soda, juice, alcohol and dehydrating coffee as they interfere with your energy levels. Get yourself a reusable water bottle that you can pack with you on the go or keep in front of you at your desk. Make it your goal to take a few sips every half hour. We love S’well Insulated water bottles because they keep your beverages cold for 24 hours. They also come in bright and fun colours so you’ll always be reminded to keep sipping! Also, try swapping your coffee for tea. If plain water is too boring for you, add some lemon or fruit for flavour.

6. Supplements. The quality of our food and our high levels of stress increase our requirements for additional nutrients. By adding a high quality multivitamin, vitamin C and absorbable magnesium can extremely helpful for our energy levels and keeping our minds sharp. It is recommended to take your supplements throughout the day. Remember, most supplements and vitamins from your local drug store are not the quality that you are looking for.

Energizing Smoothie Recipe:

• 1 scoop of protein powder - We love the creamy texture of Dream Vanilla Whey Protein
• 1/2 a banana
• 1 cup of frozen blueberries
• 1 cup of fresh spinach or kale
• 1 tbsp. of hemp hearts (Manitoba harvest)
• 1 cup of Coconut water (Jax) (or water)
• Combine in a high speed blender until smooth and enjoy!

These tips work for us, but feel free to adapt any of these to fit your schedule best. Remember to always listen to your body and it’s cues. If you feel like your head is spinning give yourself permission to shut off until you’re ready to step back in the ring and tackle your next plan.

For more information or a free 15 minute consultation, please contact us at hello@juleswellness.ca. One of our Holistic Nutritionists and Holistic Lifestyle Coaches would be more than happy to help you.

- Emily Sawyer, CNP & Julie Tadeson, Founder of Jule’s Wellness