Archive for the ‘E Notes’ Category

E Note-Direct Sales Time Management Tips

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

I hope you enjoy these Simple Tips For Time Management In Direct Sales guest post!

With the busy lifestyles everyone has today, time management becomes a concern for all direct sales professionals. Juggling family, activities and business while keeping your priorities in order can be a challenge. Many party plan or direct selling professionals joined their home business company for the purpose of creating income without taking away from family time. Now they may find themselves in a dilemma on how to do both effectively.

  • Manage your personal commitments.
  • Manage Your Email
  • Use proven systems

Personal Time Management

We all have a tendency to over-schedule our personal time and then have difficulty squeezing in our business activities. One thing is certain and that is that you cannot manage time. You can only manage your commitments. Most direct sellers and their families would benefit from fewer personal commitments. Studies have proven that children are feeling stress due to over-committed families. One sport or two activities is good, but several are too many for the average child. When there are several children in the household, the running from commitment to commitment produces stress for Moms, Dads and kids alike. The whole family will have a better quality of life and improved productivity when everyone learns to say no to over- committing to personal activities.

Email Time Management Help

You can free up some of your time by learning how to manage your email inbox. For starters the time spent on checking emails will go more quickly when you check it every day. Systematically checking your email reduces the enormity of it and generates income for your business. If you are in business to make money, then check your email daily.

Delete-Delete-Delete
Delete all irrelevant messages before beginning the review process. When you first open your email, start at the top, and highlight the first message in the list that is to be deleted. Holding the control button down, go down the column and highlight each one to be deleted. When you hold the control button down, you can just go down the column and touch everyone that you want to delete. You should be able to tell by the subject bar which ones those are. Do not mess with forwarded email, spam, social games or any rubbish. This is a really quick process, just hold the control button down and touch each one to be highlighted. You will have a column of blue highlighted emails, then just push delete. And wham! They are all gone!

Deal With It And Move It
Deal with each email as you have the time. After it is taken care of, responded to, printed out, etc. you can either file it or delete it. If it is an email that you want to save, move it to a folder that you have already set up on the side. You can have as many folders as you want under your inbox. Some examples: publicity, direct sales consultants, tech advisor, potential hosts, opportunity leads, etc. If you do not have time to take care of something, since it will take more time than you have at the moment, then just leave it in the inbox. Your inbox is only for incoming mail and mail not dealt with yet. What is in your inbox should all fit in one view pane at all times.

Did I say check your email every day?!

Proven Time Management Systems

There are hundreds of simple time management systems that will make good use of your time so that you can have balance between business and family.

Some systems may include:
• An accounting system for your finances (QuickBooks is good.)
• Data or contact management system
• Scheduling your hours
• Creating a business plan

Your direct selling company may include software for both financial management and data management with your submission process. Use it! The learning curve in the long run is worth it because they are designed to create efficiency.

Simple systems that make businesses efficient are what direct sales time management is all about. Frequently the home business owner needs only look to the corporate world to see what all successful businesses do and copy the same systems at home.

Deb Bixler retired from the corporate world in 2000 to enjoy life as a work from home business owner. In the first 9 months as a direct seller she built a sales team and show schedule which provided her with an income capable of replacing her corporate business salary of $80,000 per year. After 7 years of using direct sales as her total household income, Deb now teaches and trains direct sales professionals all across the US and Canada.

http://www.CreateACashFlowShow.com

Direct Sales Time Management

Elizabeth Grace Saunders is a time coachprofessional speaker who empowers individuals to build businesses and achieve work/life brilliance™ through Schedule Makeovers™. Her empowerment coaching frees individuals from guilt, overwhelm, and frustration!

Discover how you can start enjoying your life TODAY! Look forward to talking with you!

Elizabeth has been featured in Inc magazine, The Chicago Tribune, and on NBC, and is happy to be interviewed for your broadcast or publication.

E Note-Time Management for Students

Monday, November 9th, 2009

Here’s my take on the Schedule Makeover mentality for students in a teleseminar with co-hosts Jill Esplin and Alton Jamison:

Gen Next: Do You Need a Schedule Makeover?

Enjoy!

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Grace Saunders is a time coach & trainer who empowers individuals to build businesses and achieve work/life brilliance through Schedule Makeovers. Her empowerment coaching frees individuals from guilt, overwhelm, and frustration!

Discover how you can start enjoying your life TODAY! Look forward to talking with you!

Elizabeth has been featured in Inc magazine, The Chicago Tribune, and on NBC, and is happy to be interviewed for your broadcast or publication.

E Note-I Chose To Say, “No.”

Friday, October 30th, 2009

I make the tough choices that I ask you to make.

I make the tough choices that I ask you to make.

I’m a time coach who aims to authentically live out my advice. That means I have to face the same challenges you do. Like this one…

Next month, I’m traveling to California, North Carolina, and the UP in Michigan for speaking events and taking some personal trips too. That means I need to carefully guard my time so I can prepare for and keep up when I’m on the road. I’ve been blocking out my weekly schedule, leaving room for big projects and setting limits on my work hours so I can take care of my personal responsibilities.
Well a couple of situations arose that gave me pause. One was with a fantastic young professional where we’ve been trying to meet face-to-face for months. She couldn’t meet during the time slot I had available and suggested some alternative times next week.

I waited a day to respond.

You see, I needed to face the internal struggle between wanting to spend time with this fantastic individual and wanting to complete my preparation for the coming month. (I average about two networking meetings or phone calls a week so I do make this important activity a priority.)
Finally I decided that I needed to stick with my original plans. I sent her an e-mail affirming that I wanted to meet with her but that it would need to be a phone call because my time was booked out for the month.
She kindly understood and we’re arranging for the appropriate follow up. I felt relieved because I had kept my schedule aligned with my values and wasn’t compromising the short term gain of making someone happy for the long term advantage of being balanced and feeling good about both what I accomplished personally and professionally.
How about you?
Are you aware of what’s on your schedule and making the tough choices with courage and confidence? Especially if you’re a small business owner, the success of your business and the maintenance of your sanity depends on consistently making tough choices aligned with your values.
If you need support in knowing how and when to make these tough choices, contact me about one-on-one phone or e-mail Schedule Makeover coaching or sign up for Schedule Makeover: To Build a Business course beginning on November 2.
It is possible to take back control of your time and your life and achieve work/life brilliance!

Elizabeth
Elizabeth was able to assist me in accomplishing one of the most important transitions in my life, starting a business. She helped me identify the obstacles and gave me helpful tips in overcoming them. Elizabeth is a wonderful person, and a breath of fresh air for every entrepreneur out there needing assistance with time management…

She, without a doubt, DELIVERS!!!
-Kameaka M Graves, Graves Consulting LLC, Virtual Personal/Administrative Assistance (thegravescompany@gmail.com)

Brilliant Resources

  • Receive a FREE $20 Starbucks gift card: When you tell a friend about Real Life E® and they choose to enjoy a Schedule Makeover™. You can ask them to let me know you introduced them to Real Life E® or send me their names to ensure you receive your ticket to free coffee.
  • Yes! I’m available for speaking and training events. If you’re scheduling a conference or event, be in touch to reserve a date.

About Real Life E®

Elizabeth Grace Saunders is a time coach & trainer who empowers individuals to build businesses and achieve work/life brilliance through Schedule Makeovers. Her empowerment coaching frees individuals from guilt, overwhelm, and frustration!

Discover how you can start enjoying your life TODAY! Look forward to talking with you!

Elizabeth has been featured in Inc magazine, The Chicago Tribune, and on NBC, and is happy to be interviewed for your broadcast or publication.

E Note-Time Block to Stay Focused and Motivated

Monday, October 5th, 2009

I stay focused so I can visit my cousins in Ohio, attend an Opportunity International conference on eliminating poverty, and visit my parents (pictured here). Why do you need to stay focused?

I stayed focused over the past month so I could visit my cousins in Ohio, attend an Opportunity International conference on eliminating poverty, and spend time with my parents. Why do you need to stay focused?

I wrote this guest post for Chic Entrepreneur — a great resource (by another great Elizabeth ;o) for women looking to start a business.

Although having a flexible schedule can seem like a dream, it can soon turn into a nightmare! That’s why as a time coach and trainer, I help people take back control of their time and then channel it toward their personal and professional goals.


Here’s how to time block your schedule to stay focused and motivated:

  • Decide on Start and Stop Times: Not only will setting your hours keep you from feeling guilty, but also it will keep you focused when you are working because you have established a time when you are free to stop.
  • Set Your Top Goals: Each week, Review your top priorities and write them at the top of your weekly calendar or put them in a visible place on your digital calendar. This will keep you thinking about what’s most important.
  • Time Block Your Projects: To keep moving forward on your goals each week, “soft schedule” blocks of time when you will complete projects or devote time to certain activities. For instance you could block out two hours on Wednesday to write up a proposal or set aside one hour each morning to answer e-mail.
  • Plan Your Day: Each morning, make a quick list of your meetings and your top tasks. Number your activities in order of importance and write down how long you think it will take you to do each one. Then start moving through your day, moving from one project to the next in number order. If a project is taking longer than you expected, reevaluate whether you should continue with it or move on to the next task on your list.

Time blocking is so effective because it:

  • Gives you a clear outline of what needs to get done and when you can complete it so that you feel less overwhelmed.
  • Keeps you moving forward on key priorities on “autopilot” instead of procrastinating and stressing out about big projects at the last minute.
  • Turns your days into quick sprints of work instead of never-ending marathons.
  • Allows you to feel good about what you accomplished
  • Helps you realize when you’ve overcommitted and need to scale back.
  • Gets you back on track quickly when unexpected activities arise.

Elizabeth Grace Saunders does Schedule Makeover coaching with clients throughout the country. If you’re struggling to stay focused and motivated, contact Elizabeth at esaunders@RealLifeE.com to get help today!

Inc magazine, NBC, and The Chicago Tribune are just a few of the places where Elizabeth has appeared, and she’s happy to offer you tips on savvy scheduling and time management for work/life balance. You can sign up for more info at http://www.RealLifeE.com/coaching or http://www.ScheduleMakeover.com

E Note-Moving Tips Video & Go Penske!

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

Here are my time saving moving tips in video format. If you’d like to read the related blog post, check out Move Stress Free & $500 From Penske.

This post was inspired by the fact that I won $500 in a Penske Share Your Move sweepstakes with a story and photo of my journey from Des Moines, Iowa, to Ann Arbor, Michigan. To check out my story, and find out how Penske can help you save time and money, go to: Share Your Move

Have a brilliant day! Thank you Penske!

Elizabeth

P.S.–Also, you can find other fun photos of my moving adventure in this Facebook album: Click Here

Elizabeth Grace Saunders is a key note speaker, trainer, and does phone and e-mail coaching on time management for work/life brilliance™ through her exclusive Schedule Makeover™ process. Inc magazine, NBC, and The Chicago Tribune are just a few of the places where Elizabeth has appeared, and she’s happy to offer you tips on savvy scheduling and time management for work/life balance. You can find out more at http://www.RealLifeE.com/coaching or http://www.ScheduleMakeover.com

E Note-Move Stress Free & $500 From Penske

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
Find out how I won $500 by clicking on this photo

Find out how I won $500 by clicking on this photo

Over the last nine years, I’ve averaged 1.4 moves/year (i.e. almost as much time packing, moving, and unpacking as simply settling into a place). No matter how many times you move, it’s not easy.

Fortunately, I’ve discovered a few time coaching strategies to reduce moving stress:

Start a List

As soon as you decide you’re moving, a million little to-dos from talk to your banker to pack grandma’s vase in bubble wrap will start to float around in your head. This can lead to two not-so-helpful responses:

  • Manic running around in an attempt to do way more than you can do in a night or weekend.
  • Paralyzing despair that you can never get everything done so you might as well flip through channels or flit through Facebook for hours.

May I suggest this much more helpful alternative: Create a list in a word processing document, your phone, or PDA where you write down everything that comes to mind.

As you add to this list, categorize to-dos by date and/or by milestone. For instance, if you know you need to have your apartment cleaned out by September 20, you can put that task under that specific date on the list. But if you know you need to talk to your insurance agent after you’ve decided where you will live, you can categorize that action under the heading “Once I know where I am living.” To keep yourself on track, set aside specific times each week when you will review the list and move forward on what you can accomplish right now. Everything that you can’t do until a future designated time or milestone stays out of your mind and on the list.

Block Off Your Schedule

No matter how well organized you are, unexpected delays and activities will happen. To stay on the safe side, block off one to two weeks before and after your move to focus solely on packing and moving activities in your time outside of work. I know it sounds extreme, but it’s critical that you limit lunch dates, sporting games, TV time, networking events, and almost everything else that’s even somewhat optional from your schedule. Try to avoid planning personal and professional meetings during that time frame, and if necessary, put up out of office messages that tell people your response will be delayed.

It’s so much better to give yourself extra time and space before and after your move than to freak out on your friends when you’re no where near done and the moving van is pulling up or to spend months getting settled because you didn’t unpack using the initial post-moving momentum. (Trust me-this works!)

Recruit Help

You can move alone, but I don’t advise it. If you’re not having professional movers pack you up, ask friends & family to come over and help you pack or at the very least assist with lugging boxes. If you choose the former, make it into a movie and pizza night that happens to include boxes and packing tape in place of a tub of popcorn in their hands.

If you need help the day of the move, I recommend contacting a large number of people about a month in advance and then sending out reminders, two weeks, one week, and a day before. Offer free food and drink and express your undying devotion and appreciation for their service to you. (Believe me–you’ll be so happy you did!)

Also, if you’re planning on renting a truck, check out Penske! When I did my research, I found that they had much less expensive truck rentals than other companies (especially if you sign up to be a AAA member). Plus the staff helped me with all of the timing of picking up and dropping off my truck and car trailer in the most efficient manner.

I had such an amazing experience with Penske that I entered their sweepstakes with a story and photo of my journey from Des Moines, Iowa, to Ann Arbor, Michigan. And I won $500! To check out my story, and find out how Penske can help you have a stress-free move, go to: Share Your Move

Have a brilliant day! Thank you Penske!

Elizabeth

P.S.–Also, you can find other fun photos of my moving adventure in this Facebook album: Click Here

Elizabeth Grace Saunders is a key note speaker, trainer, and does phone and e-mail coaching on time management for work/life brilliance™ through her exclusive Schedule Makeover™ process. Inc magazine, NBC, and The Chicago Tribune are just a few of the places where Elizabeth has appeared, and she’s happy to offer you tips on savvy scheduling and time management for work/life balance. You can find out more at http://www.RealLifeE.com/coaching or http://www.ScheduleMakeover.com

E Note-Yes! I Was Nervous.

Thursday, August 27th, 2009
Elizabeth Grace Saunders Time Coach

Elizabeth Grace Saunders Time Coach

I focus on time management coaching but my clients naturally end up asking me about other topics related to their business and life. One question that recently came my way from a client who decided to pursue full-time entrepreneurship was: “How did you feel making the first steps into self employment? Were you nervous?”

I loved this question because it reminded me of the importance of authenticity in sharing about our experiences and supporting one another. Here was my response:

“So glad you shared your heart and I’m so happy to share mine back with you—

The answer is, Yes! I felt incredibly nervous when I quit my job without a clear idea of what was ahead. I remember feeling like there were two enormously strong forces inside of me: One was my heart telling me that I needed to do what God had called me to do. That following God and obeying what He was calling me to do was no risk at all because He is a good and perfect father. But on the other hand, my head was screaming at me that this was impractical and that I didn’t know what was to come and that I should just wait–that it wasn’t worth it.

But I followed through and left my job and was actually truly amazed at how supportive my personal and professional contacts were about the whole situation. Right after I started my business, I experienced fear again. Not because I didn’t have work at the moment but because I felt like the future was a black hole of uncertainty. But thankfully, the Lord has taught me to find my security in Him and to daily do His will.

I encourage you to stand firm, pray hard, and as you said, be careful with who you share your dream. You not only need practical advice but also lots of support and encouragement as you step out in faith and take flight.

Take care! I’m confident God has beautiful things in store for you!”

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Grace Saunders is a key note speaker, trainer, and does phone and e-mail coaching on time management for work/life brilliance™ through her exclusive Schedule Makeover™ process. Inc magazine, NBC, and The Chicago Tribune are just a few of the places where Elizabeth has appeared, and she’s happy to offer you tips on savvy scheduling and time management for work/life balance and sales success. You can find out more at http://www.RealLifeE.com/coaching or http://www.ScheduleMakeover.com

E Note-Sales/Life Brilliance

Friday, August 21st, 2009
Balance leaves time for summer pleasures like sailing

Balance leaves time for summer pleasures like sailing

Always in the car, on the phone, or in a meeting, sales people compete with entrepreneurs on who has the highest level of work/life imbalance.

Because they typically have flexible schedules, infinite to-do lists, and performance-based incentives, their work can easily consume their lives physically, mentally, and emotionally. (Ever wake up dreaming about your CRM tool?!)

If you’re in sales, you may wonder, “Is it possible to be in sales and still have a life?” Fortunately, the answer is, “Yes!” As a full-time entrepreneur for almost four years and a time coach to both entrepreneurs and employees, I’ve found these strategies can help you overcome overwhelm and achieve work/life brilliance™:

  • Set Your Hours: Clearly defining your ideal schedule, including when you start, stop, and take breaks, increases your productivity and focus during work hours and your freedom to relax when you’re “off.” You could start at 5 a.m. or 9 a.m., take a three-hour lunch or no lunch. When I help clients set up their ideal schedules during a Schedule Makeover consultation I emphasize that you need to develop a custom routine that works with your lifestyle and work preferences.
  • Plan Your Time: Laying out your day, week, and month helps you stay proactive and avoid last-minute stress. It also allows you to use your time efficiently so you can group out of office meetings in a similar location or make calls all at once.
  • Process Your Inputs: One of the easiest ways to get overwhelmed is to not set aside time each day to go through your inboxes and to-do lists and to not block out time for follow up on sales calls and meetings. If you know that it will take you two hours to complete a proposal but you book your day solid with meetings, you’ll inevitably end up working late.
  • Know Yourself: If you have a really hard time with setting limits, make commitments with friends or family in the evening that will force you to take a break or sign up for an exercise class that you have to pay to attend. If necessary, leave your laptop, Blackberry, or iPhone in the car or at the office. Accountability and boundaries are the best way to help you break the habit of working 24/7

Sales will always demand a high level of energy. But with the right time management for work/life balance strategies, you can accomplish more and have time to enjoy life. (Plus if you work with me on time coaching, I can help you overcome some of the limiting beliefs that could be holding you back from taking time to rest.)

To sales/life brilliance™!

Elizabeth

P.S.–If you’re in sales, check out Valerie Dennis’ blog where this article appeared as a guest post. Valerie is all about Sales Savvy!

Elizabeth Grace Saunders is a key note speaker, trainer, and does phone and e-mail coaching on time management for work/life brilliance™ through her exclusive Schedule Makeover™ process. Inc magazine, NBC, and The Chicago Tribune are just a few of the places where Elizabeth has appeared, and she’s happy to offer you tips on savvy scheduling and time management for work/life balance and sales success. You can find out more at http://www.RealLifeE.com or http://www.ScheduleMakeover.com

E Note-Don’t Give Up, Adapt

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

I'm always looking for ways to stay a step ahead!

I'm always looking for ways to stay a step ahead!

My first nine months in business, I could barely keep up with the work. I had an extensive network in the journalism industry, and in 2005, there was still more than enough magazine freelance work to go around. But in 2006, everything changed. I went from saying, “No” to work that wouldn’t fit into my packed schedule to hearing, “No” when I asked editors if they had any assignments for me.

Ouch. If I wanted to stay afloat, I needed to adapt.

I took a careful examination of my magazine journalism skills and decided that writing offered the most potential. As a writer, I could offer my services to marketing firms, lead a location-independent lifestyle, and charge a substantial hourly rate. So in 2006 and 2007, I started to build my marketing professionals network, and by the summer of 2007, I was so busy that I barely had time to chew and swallow my food.

Although I had financial success, I felt bankrupt emotionally and really wanted to do work that let me leave my computer and interact with people. I explored new business possibilities with a coach and decided to pursue public speaking to share a message of hope and encouragement. (And leave my keyboard!) In December 2007, Real Life E was born and has developed into a time coaching and training company to empower women in business to achieve work/life brilliance™ through Schedule Makeovers

Here are lessons I’ve learned from rebranding my business to meet my personal and professional goals:

· Dip or Dead End: Before you rebrand, ask yourself if you’re in a dip or a dead end. If you’re in a dip, pushing through the hard times will lead to exponential success (See Seth Godin’s The Dip). If you’re in a dead end (like I was with magazine journalism), exerting extra effort will lead to little benefit.

· Fix Problems: Instead of looking for “opportunities,” look for problems. I saw that many of my friends felt overwhelmed with work or struggled to build a business without burning out. Schedule Makeovers are a solution to their struggles.

· Set Your Hours: When you first start this process, it will be really difficult to spend time doing sales and marketing for your new brand. I recommend setting aside specific blocks of time for this task. (I started with five hours a week.) Then as your new company becomes larger, it will naturally take more of your time and you can phase out your older products and services.

To thrive in these uncertain times, you must consistently adapt your products and services and brand to meet market demand and achieve more and more of your ideal lifestyle.

If you’re struggling to rebrand your business, check out www.ScheduleMakeover.com or contact me at esaunders@RealLifeE.com. I can help you develop a system for moving forward on your goals in a focused manner so you don’t feel overwhelmed.

Elizabeth Grace Saunders does key note speaking and phone and e-mail coaching to empower women in business to build businesses and achieve work/life brilliance™ through her exclusive Schedule Makeover™ process. Inc magazine, NBC, and The Chicago Tribune are just a few of the places where Elizabeth has appeared, and she’s happy to offer you tips on savvy scheduling and time management for work/life balance and business development.

This post was inspired by a suggestion from Natalia Oberti Noguera, Director of the NY Chapter of Young Women Social Entrepreneurs.

E Note-My Own Schedule Makeover Part II

Monday, July 27th, 2009

Sticking to my schedule allows me to enjoy a relaxed weekend with the awesome Simmons family!

Sticking to my schedule allowed me to enjoy a relaxed weekend with the awesome Simmons family on the East Coast!

Making a schedule is the first step to a life of peace and success, and keeping it is the second step. (To get a sneak peek at how I organize my time, check out Part I in this series.)

Once I’ve done my morning processing, I use these strategies to stick to my ideal schedule and complete the most critical tasks:

In the afternoon, I take a quick assessment of how many hours I have left and what needs to be done to hit my ending goal. This could mean moving on to a new project, pushing to complete an assignment, or revising my expectations for the day.

To really ensure I stick to my end time, I try to schedule activities right after work. It could be something as simple as a scheduled phone call, a walk with a friend, or going to a networking event. Knowing that I will cause inconvenience to someone else by working late really helps me stop myself. (My clients who have trouble starting work in the morning use this trick at the beginning of their day.)

As a final level of reinforcement, I time block out my evening. Like Tim Ferriss says in The 4-Hour Workweek, you have to clearly define what you will do to fill the void created by working fewer hours. For me that means inviting friends over for dinner or planning a specific projects like entering receipts in my budget or doing laundry. By giving myself a clear objective, I remind myself that working beyond my set schedule comes at a cost. If I procrastinate or over commit, I’m acutely aware that I’m keeping myself from doing other activities. This motivates me to plan my time and my responsibilities so I can stick to 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and then stop—guilt free!

You can move forward on important projects and keep up on mundane task by setting a schedule that works for you and then strengthening these new habits (kind of like training muscles with consistent lifting). If you need help with this process, contact me about a Schedule Makeover.

You don’t need to feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or guilty any more!

Elizabeth

If you’re struggling to set a schedule, check out www.ScheduleMakeover.com or contact me at esaunders@RealLifeE.com. I can help you develop a system for moving forward on your goals.

Elizabeth Grace Saunders is a time coach and keynote speaker who empowers women in business to build businesses and achieve work/life brilliance™ through her exclusive Schedule Makeover™ process. Inc magazine, NBC, and The Chicago Tribune are just a few of the places where Elizabeth has appeared, and she’s happy to offer you tips on savvy scheduling and time management for work/life balance and business development.