“Hey, are you listening?

I’m hurting.

My shoulders are killing.

My eyes are dry and sore.

And my legs feel like jelly.

Aren’t you going to do anything about it?”

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Sigh…

I heard this all afternoon.

And I thought ” Stop whining and get on with it!”.

I even forced him to carry on.

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But then no matter how focused and determined you are…

Once you’ve worked out how to get organized – and stop procrastinating – to build momentum in your business, you still have to give yourself time to recharge the batteries.

Remember to schedule short time slots for rest, relaxation, and fun.

To reinvigorate the mind and body, and occasionally reward yourself too.

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And today, after spending hours working at the computer, came a point where my brain and body complained loud enough to remind me I hadn’t used my timer – and completely ignored this obvious need.

Hence this short and simple post.

Lesson (re-)learned.

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Talk tomorrow,

Yann

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Welcome!

Let’s quickly recap our progress in our goal to make more money – ideally in less time – while enjoying life more.

Getting inspiration from T Harv Eker’s Millionaire Mind, we had to accept the fundamental first step is to form the right habits NOW – because the time will never be “right”.

So here’s the key: 

Start managing your money now – even you only have a few dollars to start with.

The habit is more important than the amount.

And to naturally maintain your good habits… You must be honest with yourself about your true reasons for wanting more money – or to achieve financial freedom.

What aspect of your life will really matter when you’re minutes away from leaving this planet?

When you’re clear on your purpose – the deep personal reasons behind your goals – you’ll naturally have the energy to keep going.

And the motivation to take action to move forward – every day. (See the post Why do you want money? Why? in Jim Rohn’s words: “The bigger the Why the easier the How”.)

On a day-to-day basis, practice observing yourself taking your small daily decisions.

Become aware of your own habitual decision process. And ask yourself whether each action you take is helping you grow…

Or if it’s based on giving in to some discomfort or fear at some level. The question is: Money Growth or Fear of Money?

Now, with this clarity and motivation, you would think focusing on the task at hand would be natural.

But often interruptions and last-minute requests get in the way.

When you clearly know where your money comes from – and where it goes, you’ll find it much easier to prioritize these unplanned activities.

The key question here is: who are these special people who bring you financial stability? Want more profits? Help these people.

If you’re honest, you may also find you have the habit of doing so many things at once you waste your focus on unproductive activities.

If this sounds like you, one of the most effective success habits you can immediately model is to stop procrastinating by “framing your day” every morning.

In this post, I confessed the terrible thing I did as I woke up the other day – and how it affected the rest of my day.

The fact is, what you do as you arise sets the tone for the rest of your day. So, be sure to create a personal morning routine that sets positive expectations of yourself first thing.

You can also decide how to get organized and avoid spending too much time and energy on any activity through a simple return on investment analysis – nothing fancy – just common sense, but it’s often ignored.

And to get things done – lots of them – quickly…

Try for yourself one of my most useful time management tips. It takes advantage of your brain’s natural rhythm – and need for novelty – with a very particular type of “multitasking”.

Once you’ve put it all into practice, let me know how well it works for you.

To your super-focused day,

Yann

Coming up soon (maybe):

Why your friends secretly hate you and how you can benefit from it.

I mean the dash.

She used it much more than other authors – to help you move along – but mostly to appeal to your natural “rhythm”.

You see, our attention span is somewhat naturally short.

We tend to naturally “drift off” every 4 minutes – for a period of about 4 minutes.

And our brain experiences a micro-mental lapse every 3 seconds on average.

So, if you’re someone who finds it difficult to focus on one thing at a time, it’s not completely your fault.

But the fact is, your success and profits are proportional to your ability to get things done – one at a time.

So what can you do?

Well, how about using your natural tendency for a short attention span to your advantage?

One of the keys – to get a lot done – is to actually have several projects on the go at once.

This is not about multitasking randomly though.

Here’s the deal: Find the usual period of time during which you can focus on something – without completely losing concentration. Let’s call it your personal “optimum focus period”.

Then divide your day’s schedule into time slots of that duration.

There are different schools on this. Some suggest 90 minutes, others 50, others less then 30.

You know, I imagine brain researchers, educators, and other experts would tell you otherwise… Just find what works for you now. You can always stretch that time slot later.

Now, say you have 10 business ideas, things to do, products to create, etc… Projects A, B, C, D, etc…

Break each project down into small steps you can each  reasonably complete in your optimum time slot.

Then start.

Focus on making progress toward completing project A – for the duration of your optimum focus period.

Take a short break.

Then do the same for project B.

Take a short break.

Then either go back to project A, or work on project C – for the same period.

Take a break .

The key is to shift your focus from one thing to another consciously – by choice. Rather than going from one action to another each time a random thought comes to mind.

The other key point is to regularly give your body and brain a rest – even if only for a few minutes.

If you find that you can’t complete each step in that time period, you simply need to break your projects down into smaller chunks.

The idea is to complete a step – before moving to the next one. But to make progress with several projects simultaneously.

It usually helps to limit yourself to working on 3 or 4 major projects a day. Rather than trying to squeeze them all in one day’s work.

But by the end of a week, you’ll have made significant progress on all 10 of your projects.

And since good old Pareto would tell you that only 1 or 2 of them will really be successful and profitable…

You’ll find the winning ones much quicker than if you forced yourself to finish one project before starting another.

Give it a try. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Have a wonderful day!
Yann

I’ve just looked at the time.

This is terrible!

I broke the rule.

Thinking of yesterday’s post commending focus as the key to success and profits, I really need to clarify a specific point.

You see, before starting any activity, it’s a wise move to consider a simple question:

How much is the result of this action worth to you – compared to what you have to “give up” to get it?

Essentially, every time you think “This isn’t worth the hassle”, you’ve done an ROI analysis (aren’t you smart!).

You know ROI as in Return On Investment.

But not as an accountant would teach it.

ROI where the main personal investments are YOUR Time, YOUR Energy, and yes… your money.

And where your returns can be specific desirable emotions, memories, experiences, etc… and yes… money.

Chances are you do this intuitively for most of your actions.

Or, you choose by default.

But, when you think you really, really want something… Or if the activity is part of a daily routine you practice without thinking… You’ll often have to take a step back to be truly honest answering the question.

And today, I broke my personal ROI rule. Here I am at 9:00 pm. Having spent most of the afternoon highly focused on getting a script to work for one of my websites.

Persistence is good, but considering the results I can reasonably expect from having this script up and running, I really shouldn’t have spent more than an hour on this.

Yes, being focused on one thing at a time is key to making progress.

But to be worthwhile, your focus must translate into real creation of value.

Tangible or intangible value. Either for you. Or for those you care for, your business, your clients. Good feelings, more customers, cash, etc…

Hence the term “productive focus” I used yesterday.

In other words, it’s critical to set a limit to the amount of Time, Energy, and Money you invest in getting something done.

Depending on the result you can objectively expect from doing it.

And more often than we care to admit, we must make the effort to consciously work out this point of no return.

I personally use a timer to force myself to stop when I’m about to spend too much time on something. Today I didn’t. (Not clever but hey, I learn every day!)

You can be highly focused on all sorts of activities. The movie on TV. Playing with the kids. Trying to fix your computer. Whatever…

Some of what you get out of these is invaluable.

But others… Well… Are they really worth so much of your time or energy (or money)?

Wishing you a wonderful, focused AND productive day!
Yann

Even if you’ve never been to the UK, you’ve seen them on TV. Or maybe on postcards you received from friends.

You can’t miss them.

They’re BIIIIIIIG!

Well, a lot of people in London don’t even see them.

That’s right. They don’t even see those BIG 30ft-long double-decker bright red monsters.  

They’re too “busy”.

With one hand occupied by their skinny-soya-latte-columbian-mix-frappucino. The other making sure their cell phone doesn’t fall off their ear. Somehow also precariously balancing their handbag or free morning paper under their arm. Some even managing to use a couple of fingers to hold a cigarette.

All walking at their own pace.

In their own little world.

Most walking straight ahead, yet looking anywhere but in front of them.

Only noticing the BIG red bus that’s about to crush them once they’re halfway through crossing the road.

Good thing their instinct of survival kicks in at the last second!

Those with their trendy white headphones in their cell-phone-free-ear remain completely oblivious to the fact they’ve even just crossed a main junction.

Without going to such extremes, are you guilty of doing too many things at once every morning?

Or on a regular basis?

What is that doing for your ability to focus?

Your success and profits are directly related to your ability to focus and get things done.

And completed.

Of course, you can blame “the economy” for everything nowadays. Including your financial results and the strains on your time.

But if you choose to be busy with “a hundred and one things” at once every day…

You’re simply practising an unproductive habit.

Training yourself for the opposite of focus.

And THAT has probably got a lot more to do with your results than “the economy”, “greedy bankers”, “the evil rich”, your spouse, kids, neighbors, or whoever else you can think of blaming.

Hey, no worry. Many people struggle with focus. I’m one of them. That’s why we’ll look into how to develop the habit of productive focus in the next few posts.

Have a wonderful, focused day!

Yann

…
Today, my schedule was ripped apart by someone really special.

Let’s move sideways from the previous posts on how your beliefs and habits impact your profits, and look at a very special type of relationship that can make a huge difference to your small business’ bottom line.

…

While you should be very protective of your time to remain productive, creating value rather than fighting fires, and to keep a position of relative authority, there’s a special type of person you may want to be a little flexible with.

It does help to show them that this flexibility requires a lot of reorganisation. And to say “not now” on occasions so your flexibility isn’t devalued.

You see, when you know your figures in detail, you may find you have one or two clients like the special one I dealt with today.

…

They’re not my best client. Are a pain to deal with. Leave things to the last minute. Change their mind often….

But looking at their past history of making business with me, I know what giving them what they want when they want it means to my bottom line:

2 days’ business from them cover my fixed costs for the month.

So I now have the rest of the month to focus on profits.

…

Oh, and they pay fast!

So when they call with one of their last-minute requests, I usually find a way to re-arrange my team’s priorities for the day (while I keep on working on more long-term activiites as much as possible).

Sure, not everyone is fortunate enough to have associates to do this.But the key lesson isn’t about “dropping everything” for your clients.

It’s about knowing your figures – particularly where your bottom line profits really come from.

It’ll help you make those last-minute decisions.

Until tomorrow,
Yann

…

PS: If you’re just starting out, keep track of where your cash comes from and where it goes to very thoroughly. Boring at the beginning – but priceless very quickly!

I hardly ever do this as it’s an old habit I managed to get rid of several years ago.

But after a few too many 4-hour nights in a row, my brain just gave in.

The fact is, the way you start your day sets the tone for the rest of it.

It sets your expectations of yourself – high or low.

And whether you consciously choose how you spend those first few minutes, or not, you’ll be reinforcing good or bad habits.

Action or hesitation.

Enthusiasm or negativity.

…

Can you see how this can hugely impact the results you’ll get?

Financially. Emotionally. Physically.

I like to call this “Framing Your Day”.

This isn’t about exercising. Though exercising may be a key component of what gets you to optimum levels in the morning. There is more to it.

I don’t believe there is a one-size-fits-all morning routine. You are unique, and have unique ambitions about what you’ll get out of your day. So I suggest you experiment and find what works for you.

My personal rule of thumb is to include short activities that do 3 things:

• raise my energy levels
• get me to experience a small success (strecthing my comfort zone a little)
• get me focused.

…

Let’s be honest. At the beginning, you need to force yourself to make it happen every morning as soon as you wake up. But sooner or later it becomes natural.

Of course, you can also start the day groggy, whining about the alarm clock, spilling your coffee trying to do 12 things at once, knocking into the furniture helplessly rushing to get ready, grumbling “Grrr, it’s gonna be one of those days again!…”

It’s up to you to choose.

…

Don’t think that applies to you?

Next time you’ve had a bad day, when you feel you got nothing done, take the time to review how you started it.

If you consider how rewarding and productive your day has been, you may find it related to the actions you took in the first few minutes after you arose.

It’s your choice.

Only yours!

Talk soon,

Yann

…

PS:  About this “terrible thing” I did this morning…

Okay, I’ll confess… I hit the snooze button.

Seriously, what kind of habits does that create?!!

Well, you won’t catch me again tomorrow. I’m off to bed early. And I’ll be jumping out of bed, going through my success morning routine – no matter what.

I hope you try it for yourself and feel the benefits.

Well, it’s a pretty cool name, isn’t it?

And broad enough to include many subjects that can help you run your business more effectively and grow your profits.

This is NOT about how to trick people or how to beat the system (like too many internet marketers try to sell you). That just doesn’t work for very long. Plus it’s not good for your karma! :-(

I don’t have all the answers by any means.

But since I’ve seen the backstage day-to-day activities of 80+ profitable businesses, large and small, in over 30 industries (and a few that didn’t make it) in the past 5 years… Managed teams of 25/50 staff of more cultures, nationalities, and IQ levels than you can imagine, in a previous life… Experienced - several times! – the excessive fun of losing a fair bit of (my) money in a few small ventures of my own… And regularly devour way too many marketing and success resources as a self-confessed insatiable info-addict… There might be one or two ideas between my 2 ears that you’ll find valuable.

Who knows? Maybe even three.

Coming up over the next 3 days:

Live from the ExCel Centre in London – if it’s still standing after the G20 Summit…

The Top “Aha!” Insights from T. Harv Ecker’s “Millionaire Mind Intensive” Seminar.

Then we’ll probably move on to topics like time management, procrastination, customer service, etc…

Or any subject you think I can help you with (just leave your ideas in your comment below).

Till tomorrow,

Make it a glorious day,

Yann