Decisions Affect Your Journey

Check out this video to find out how much power you really have to change your life.
Your decisions affect your destination. Choose where you want to go and make the right decisions to get you there.




Ruth M. Haines
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Make A Plan | EW S3 E1

First Think Big, Then Form Big Habits

Whenever you want to do anything amazing, you must first go through a process. Usually, this process starts in your mind. Since no one can make you think the right thoughts, you may feel the need to skip this step.

If I had a personal conversation with you one-on-one, (as I do with my coaching clients), I would know. It wouldn't take me long to figure out that you don't participate in the secret society of developing your mind. Your mind is a deadly weapon to be used for good or evil. It seems its automated to spit out negative thoughts. One way to change this dynamic is to think big.

1. Think Big

First, you put a goal into your head that you want to achieve. My motto when it comes to dreaming is "If you are going to do it you might as well go big."  Most of the time, we quit things halfway. Dreaming big will allow you to get half of your big dream instead of a fraction of a little dream by the time we quit. To tell the truth, we still quit halfway (or less) when the goal is smaller. So dreaming big will allow you to have a higher level of results just because of the adjustments made in your mind.

If you can trick your mind into having more, what is stopping you?

It isn't enough to dream big. You also have to learn how to act big.

You may not do enough activity to give you mind-blowing results in a short window of time. However, you can do enough activity to see some results. Sometimes you need to start small. But there will come a point where you are over your fear and complacency smacks you dead in the face.

At that point you need to:

2. Form Big Habits

Big habits have the power to transform your life. You have moved from thinking about it to doing it. From there, you have moved to just doing it to doing it in a big way. Nothing is impossible when you start putting a plan into action. Design your life to get you out of your current situation. Big habits help you work yourself out of your current hole.

Ask yourself: What can I do daily to make sure the right results show up in my life?

If you are in sales, how many new people should I talk to on a daily basis?

If you are a writer, how many words will I hold myself accountable each day?

If you are a musician or other creative, how many hours will I work on my craft?

Big habits make big dreams come true.

The last step is to KEEP IT UP.

3. Keep It Up

You can not afford to stop if you are going to make your goal. Being consistent is the the secret weapon of success. Some days will go well, and others won't. But when you are consistent you have stability over your results. If you are tracking your progress, then you will be able to make adjustments that get you to your goal a lot faster.

No matter what, don't stop. That guarantees you to get to your destination. You will succeed, if you don't quit. Your actions will determine how fast you get there.

Get a chance to get coached one-on-one (complementary) for a limited time.

Ruth M. Haines
Your Business Coach

Business Partnerships: How To Work With Other People

As a business owner, you might think that it is ludacris to work with someone else. After all, you left your job to answer to someone else?

As tough as it is to try and work out personality differences, there are some great reasons to get into partnerships when the right opportunity comes along.

1. Reduce the learning curve
It's nice to start a business. However, since you have never done one before, it's safe to say that you have a lot to learn. Even if you know your craft in and out the business aspect as a second skill that must be mastered in order to achieve success.

2. Get more done
Divide and conquer. You can get more done and do the things that matter the most. Also, you can solidify better ideas through the meeting of the minds. You can also operate more in your strengths. Whoever is better at the job should get it. There will be some thing one person will volunteer to do.

3. Come up with better ideas
One of you might come up with a suggestion based on past experience or research. But then the other person has something else to add to it. The combined brain power yields better, more creative ideas.

4. Make more money
Why fight hard to keep a small pie? A big pie (even half of it) is enough to put the the small pie to shame. In other words, more money can result from the team effort than each individual's efforts.

5. Decrease risk
As a business owner, you will risk and risk ... and risk money trying to make it all work. If you are splitting the costs and liabilities, it will be a little easier to solve the cash-flow problem small businesses run to.

6. Motivate each other through tough times
It's going to get hard before it gets easier. It easier to fight as a group through tough situations.

There are definitely drawbacks but much more benefits to business partnerships.

What did I miss? How do you feel about business partnerships? Comment below.


Ruth M. Haines
Your Online Marketing & Business Coach

Click here to sign up for a free 20 min business strategy

The Differences Between Men and Women Business Owners

I feel like there are two worlds when it comes to business ownership. There is the way men do things and the way women do things. I am not saying ALL women do this or that. Nor am I saying ALL men do this or that. What I want you to see is no matter what side you are on we can all benefit from learning from each other.

Strengths

Women

• great at customer service
• great at building relationships
• take care of the details
• can multitask most of the time
• can stretch out resources
• flexible 

Men

• straight to the point
• not afraid of challenges
• not afraid to take control
• usually confident (even if they have no clue) 
• can see the big picture
• focused

Now, these are just the strengths that I observed. There are a lot more I have left out. It's really a personality thing and not a gender thing. So women, if you feel like you are more like the men that's okay, because I am more like that myself--- but I go back and forth. Vice versa, a man might be a great people person and can identify more with what I stated about women. All that is fine. 

What I would say about the strengths is have them all. What kind of business owner would you be if you were friendly, fun, on top of the details, in control and got right down to business. The problem is you tend to stay one side when you really should be in the middle. Sometimes you may adjust according to the clients involved.

Weaknesses

As for as weaknesses go. Women tend to involve their emotions a lot more. When our feelings get hurt, we can sometimes take it personally. I can't speak for all women but our ways tend to catch up with us. If that were not true, then why does the workplace sometimes feel like high school? If we learn to let things go and work together on what matters (which is making money together) then we will see our business explode. 

Women, we also sometimes don't play at the same level as the guys. It's not always our fault, because we are pulled in so many directions. We have more distractions. We have to pick up the kids, make dinner, clean the house, and still dominate in our business. Sometimes it feels like life has double teamed us. Nevertheless, if we could support one another and not criticize, then support, something we lack, will be something we will have in abundance.

When I say play at the same level, I mean time. Spending more time working on our businesses is the only way to win in business. Working ON your business not just IN your business. Society makes us feel like bad mothers if we work too hard. But the only way to achieve success IS by working too hard. 

Men, don't think I forgot about you. You guys are like robots sometimes. You don't care about people's feelings. You kill whatever is in the way and take your advantages where you can. Be careful not to burn your bridges. 

You have care more about people in business. You drive customers away. You can drive your subordinates crazy when you don't care enough. It could actually be bad for morale because the workplace turns into a war zone. When you are in a position of power, it's not about telling people what to do. It's about getting them to want to do what you tell them so you don't have to stand over them.

Men, stop missing the details. In the effort to get it done, you also have to make your offer look attractive. That is why Donald Trump is so successful. He has an eye for detail. Nothing he does is basic. Women got that in the bag. We like to make everything look pretty. Men can learn a thing or two about the style/presentation factor. Or do you think that all your money only come from other men? Even if men are your target market, they still are attracted to nice things and cool-looking designs.

I could go on and on, but I have a feeling that you know about this yourself. What are the differences that you see between men and women and business? How can we learn from each other?

Until tomorrow,

Ruth M. Haines

Your Online Marketing & Business Strategy Coach

Get your free 20 min strategy session today

How To Stop Taking Things Personally in Business

Every so often you meet that person that tells you the truth as they see it. You may be that person to so many other people. You say what needs to be said, even when its uncomfortable.

 WELL... If that's you, one day your turn comes. Real people that have your back call you on your stuff. I've been called out y'all....I realize that I have got to stop taking things personally in my business.

Don't think you have this problem too?

Let me ask you this...

Have you ever taken it personal when:

• a prospect hangs up on you?
• friends & family constantly ask you how many new clients you have gotten?
• an appointment canceled?
• a client rejected a proposal?
• they never called you back?
• coworkers overlook your potential?
• you get passed up for a promotion?
• colleague gossips about you behind your back?
• a potential recruit pass on your opportunity?

All of these things happen every day. Just because they happen to you, that doesn't mean it only happens to you. It happens to us all. It's just a part of the game.

If you take things to the heart, know that this is your opportunity for growth.

If you still remember it, you may be a little bitter.

Just because people don't respect you, look up and admire you right now doesn't mean it's the end of the world. Them not knowing your value---that's their problem.

Dealing with Customers

Know that your worth doesn't lie in your customer's hand. Because there are plenty more where they came from. 7 billion other people are waiting. 

When I get a nasty phone call, I celebrate! Why, because history shows that I tend to have a great session on the phones that day. So I embrace it as part of the process. I chose that perspective as my mindset. You must determine how to look at everything. Life will always test how serious you are. Start passing the test.

I have had customers walk by me in real life knowing that they owe me money. Sometimes you have to let it go. You know what it's like to owe money to someone and not have it. I believe a little grace is required.

It used to be that every late payment and every missed payment was a direct attempt of my customers trying to shut me down. After all, they knew I had bills to pay. 

That was in the past. Now I look at it like it's not on my customers to make my business work it's on me. I need to have more than enough customers to allow for human behavior. That's when you get stability. Taking responsibility is a skill that has to be learned through practice.

Dealing with Coworkers or Colleagues

A lot of people color in the lines. Then get mad at you when you created your own additional lines to the paper. Mostly, they are just mad that they didn't think of it first. Don't take this personal. 

Everyone will not always show you love. Their issue is really with themselves. If you are not bothering them, then they shouldn't be bothered by you. But greatness ruffles feathers.

People who work with you would like to think of themselves at the same level or higher than you. The truth is they are not higher than you. They begin to see your advancement and growth and either criticize or diminish your accomplishments.

Don't let them determine how high you fly. Taking it personal is like adding baggage to an eagle. 

Let it go.

----

I have learned my lesson. Let people be who they are. And do you. They way you want to.  Don't worry about who's talking about you. Let your haters hold your press conference. Because they spread the word about you whether you know it or not. Keep your feelings out of it and everything will work out.

What do you take personal?

Ruth M. Haines 

Business Is The New Basketball

Business is just like playing basketball.

 You may not know, this but I played a little basketball back in the day (got the scar to prove it). Well,  I remember it being so hard getting through all of the practices and doing all of that running. But, if you didn't, you knew that you would be embarrassed in the game. The reason being is because you were not in shape.

Business is the same way. The only way to stay in business is to get more business. You have to understand that it will take a lot of pushing yourself to the limit and beyond in order to get the breakthrough that you are looking for. If you make calls or post on social media or go out and get business, it MUST be done everyday. If not, you won't be able to perform and catch up to the other team on the scoreboard.

So here is a few lessons that I learned in basketball and want to carry over into business:

1. It's a team sport.

Michael Jordan never won a championship by himself. He had to have others on his team to rebound the ball, pass him the ball, and pass the ball to when he got double teamed. A team helps you focus more on your strengths. Every one has a position. If everyone tried to do Jordan's job the team would fail. It would be a mess.

How does that relate to business Ruth?

You can't win at everything. There are some areas in business where you are amazing and some...not so much. So, what you need to do is find somebody who will handle paperwork while you meet with clients. Get someone else to do the website while you lead generate--outsource.

However, there are some things that you have to be good at when it comes to business. That is lead generation and dealing with people. Jordan had to be the master of his offensive strategy. He can control things better because he was good at shooting the ball. He controlled the scoreboard on his end. So you need to handle whatever it is that makes you the money in your business and then delegate everything else.

2. You have to practice.

There is no way around it. You need to get to work and get to work right now. Call who you must. But practice what you are going to say. You should have a script if you have a business. It doesn't need to sound like a script, but you must know what you will say when you get that potential client or investor to hear you out. Here is where many people drop the ball.

3. You get out what you put in.

In high school, there were 9th graders that did the minimum and made it to the 9th grade team. Then there were 9th graders who plotted and planned and practiced years prior and made it to the varsity team in the ninth grade -- as starters. They also ran in the morning and did extra workouts. They just went the extra mile and got amazing results.

You only get out of life what you put in. You have heard that a million times. If you want better results, then give it a better effort. If you feel yourself getting stuck, then know that it's time to tame that mind. Mindset is 90% of success. So when I don't feel like doing the work, I pop in some upbeat music or my favorite motivational videos.

 Do the work and the work will pay off. Do the work UNTIL it pays off.

4. You only win when you take enough good shots.

To make a shot, you have to be confident enough to attempt it. You will miss and that's part of the game. But eventually, after a few misses you will get in the zone. The place where you feel like you can't do any wrong. You catch on fire. That's how games are won. You have to get in the rhythm.

You have to take risks in business. You have to take constant risks in business. It may not work out the first time or the second time. But you should continue to adjust from the mistakes you have made. Then you will see that the business will start pouring in. Don't stop what you did to get it. Keep it going and you will win.

There is a movie called Love & Basketball. I should have a movie called "Business & Basketball". (Should I copyright that?) lol.

Are you watching or you playing the game?

Ruth M. Haines
Your Online Marketing & Business Strategy Coach