The Secrets of Selling From Stage
Official Newsletter with Dr Joanna Martin
IN THIS WEEK'S NEWSLETTER
-Message from Joanna: Back in London
- Behind the Scenes Tip: Outsourcing
- Article: Tips for working from home
- Joanna recommends: Home Biz Chicks
MESSAGE FROM JOANNA
Hi!
I’m so wrapped to be back in London. And guess what- the weather is lovely! I am not kidding. Right now it’s about 28 degrees and I’m in shorts and T-shirt sitting at my desk thoroughly enjoying having my feet on the ground for a moment.
I’m off to Kung Fu tonight- one of my favourite things about being home.
I was chatting to one of my fellow kung-fu-ers, or kung-fu-ies(?) last Thursday who bicycles 30 minutes into Central London rain hail or shine. She battles her way daily through the traffic, smog and rain (or in the rare case like today- heat) to get to a job that she doesn’t love at all.
And that my friends, is why I love my life! Think about it. I get to wake up more or less when I want to, work from my office at home- maybe do some writing, run teleseminars, take some coaching calls; and the rest of the time I’m at a hotel running events, and travelling the world. I really do have it made. Or I really have made it happen- depending on which way you look at it really.
It has been accidental at times, and other times quite deliberate- but the lifestyle I have created for myself is how I want it. I work hard- but when you enjoy what you’re doing like I do- it doesn’t feel like work (most of the time)!
So that’s why I’m exciting about an upcoming event that I’m speaking at- this time GLOBALLY! Anyone in the world can tune into this virtual event for “Home Business Chicks”. There’s more detail about it below- but I’m thrilled to share the opportunity with you as I’m going to be speaking on an ENTIRELY NEW TOPIC that I have not spoken on before and that is “How to Make a Lifestyle Shift and Choose a Business That Will Match You”. It’s an adventure beyond speaker training that I am thoroughly looking forward to, and I whole heartedly urge you to join me.
Click here to register, or check out below for more details!
Meanwhile, I’ll keep sipping on my Pimms, bathing in the gratitude for my fabulous life (or is it just the unseasonable weather)... and wishing you every success as you craft your Ultimate Lifestyle Business.
Check out this week’s video- along the theme of success from home....
And the article is on how to maintain your productivity while enjoying the perks of working from home.
Cheers,
BTS “Tip of the Week”
"Making the Most of Outsourcing"
If you work from home (or even if you don't) it is a good idea to start outsourcing your low value activities to make the most of your time.
Outsource things like your cleaning or your bookkeeping. Get someone to write articles for you, post your blogs or create content for you.
The important thing with outsourcing is you really need to learn to manage your outsourcing people effectively.
Here are my tips to managing your outsourcers:
1. Be really clear on your outcomes: what is it you want them to do and how do you know when the job is done? Give really clear instructions and put it in writing for them so they can see exactly what you want.
2. Set milestones along the way: Don't wait until the end of a task to assess whether they have done it correctly. Measure against set milestones as they move toward the end goal.
eg 1. If they are writing an ebook for you, get them to submit the first chapter so you can review it before they go ahead and write the whole book.
eg 2. If someone is cleaning your house, be there the first time they do it so you can give them feedback on whether or not it is going to be right.
If you train someone right the first time you usually get what you want.
3. Recognise and reward them: If you find someone who is not great then get rid of them as soon as possible. If you find someone great, reward them and give them bonuses. Look after them and they will continue to serve you well.
4. Outsource to an outsourcing company: If all else fails you can use someone who is good at managing outsourcers. We use someone in the UK who manages a team of outsourcers around the world. We only have to communicate with 1 person and she manages it because it's her expertise. Have a look on google for a suitable person if you are looking for that.
Feature Article
“Joanna Martin’s Tips for Working From Home”
Today I have had a few coaching calls to my Million Dollar Masterclass Diamond Members- and one of the things that came up a lot was how to keep the momentum going when working from home.
As a speaker, I am either on stage at a hotel or working from my home, and there is no doubt that while I love it, it comes with its own set of challenges.
The challenges of working from home:
- It’s really easy to get distracted by home chores.
- Your time can get chewed up by social phonecalls and visits.
- It’s easy to get lost in your work and not connect with your family when it is family time.
- You can become a hermit and never leave the house!
But there are huge advantages to a home office:
- There are no business rental overheads.
- You can claim some of your home expenses against your business.
- You don’t waste hours a day travelling.
- If you have a young family you are accessible when needed.
So you have to make working from home work for you!
Here’s my 5 tips for making it work…
- Set boundaries around your time: I find that unless I have specific work hours where I am “in the office”, because I love what I do, I can look up and it’s 9:30pm and I haven’t cooked dinner and I’m still editing a new video or writing a new class! I find that having a regular start time of 9am and a regular finish time of 6pm makes for time for efficient productivity and scheduled “off time” at night. During these hours, Greg and I usually slip out for our scheduled coffee break at our local café “Glow” and we have been known to languish- but hey- you have to enjoy the perks right?
- Set boundaries around your space: I find it particularly chaotic when I have work stuff in my living space. So we have a spare room for the office which has plenty of storage and filing space and everything can get packed away pretty neatly. I HATE CLUTTER! I find every bit of crap (excuse my language) that is out of place distracts my attention numerous times a day. And what this says about one’s mental state speaks for its self. So I like to keep everything as neat and tidy as possible with work things in the work place, and home things in the living space.
- Set boundaries around your communication: My partner Greg and I both work from home, both on our business- Shift Lifestyle and all it entails. It is easy for us to get in work mode and talk to each other in soundbytes and “need to know” phrases. We therefore have to make an effort in the evenings and weekends to relax and really connect with each other without being so results focused. But equally he doesn’t like it when I bring up personal matters during “work time”. So make sure you’re communicating the right way at the right time.
- Have transition time: I think it’s a great idea (for women especially but not exclusively) when you work from home to create what I call “Transition Rituals”. These are little habitual things you do that tell your mind, body and spirit that you are transitioning from work time to relax time or vice versa. For me in the morning I make my second cup of tea, sit down at my desk and plan my day in my Franklin Covey planner. I love Franklin Covey- my second love after Greg! Of an evening, it’s turning off the computer, fixing myself a refreshing drink (not always alcoholic ;-), and standing on the balcony for a few moments watching the planes before preparing the evening meal which is a lovely right brain thing for me to do. Wherever humanly possible I refuse to work after dinner.
- Outsource low value activities: It’s really tempting to get tied up with the cleaning, gardening, book-keeping and other low value activities when you work from home. Just hire someone and give yourself and your time the respect you deserve. When I hired my first cleaner- Stella- the joke in the “office” was I loved her more than Greg, and my Franklin Covey planner- and you know what? Maybe I did. Give yourself the gift of doing what you love and letting go of the rest.
- Get out of the house! One of the other traps I’ve seen so many of my clients fall into is becoming hermetic when they shift to working from home. So make sure you get out of the house EVERY DAY. You don’t want to wake up three days from now and realize you haven’t had any fresh air or human interaction. Join a club, network and socialize. You don’t win any points for being an obsessive recluse!
The key to success is how you manage your time, space and energy. You only have one life. Don’t waste a second of it!
Would you like to use this article on your website or in your ezine? You can, as long as the information below stays intact.
About the author:
Dr Joanna Martin
Dr Joanna Martin is an internationally acclaimed speaker and sought-after educator who has taught over 40,000 people on three continents.
Today, she trains entrepreneurs and professionals alike in key communication, leadership, and presentation skills. With her partner Greg, through their business, Shift Lifestyle they provide strategy and support for business owners who want a lifestyle, not just a living.
For more information go to: www.SecretsOfSellingFromStage.com
Joanna Recommends...
Home Biz Chicks Success Summit
One of the hardest things about running your own home business is accessing the training, information and expert advice you need to be successful – especially when you’re working solo plus running a household.
So, to get the support and resources you need, I’d like you to join me for the 2009 Home Biz Chicks Success Summit on August 4 or 5 (depending on your time zone).
This virtual mega summit brings together some of the world’s leading experts in starting and growing a home business – including me!
Organised by the founder of Home Biz Chicks, Sue Papadoulis, the Success Summit is designed to teach you all aspects of running a six figure (and beyond!) home business.
Registration is free
Click Here to join the Home Biz Chicks Success Summit
Join me and 10 other leading experts on home business as we give you step by step advice on:
- Marketing
- Public relations
- Joint ventures
- Making money online
- Unlocking your personal power
- And so much more...
You no longer have to do this alone! This group of experts will provide you with solid information you need to grow your business – strategies that you can implement right away.
Don't miss this opportunity to finally get the answers to your questions.
Register today and join me for this exciting and inspiring event.