Creating Positive Buzz: The 350 project arrives in Philly.
What is the 350 project?
It’s not just a number.
350 parts per million is what experts say is the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere. And in December of this year delegates, businesses, and organizations from nations all over the world will come together in Denmark to develop a new global climate change agreement.
On Saturday, October 24th 350philly leaders and supporters will gather at Independence Mall at 1pm to make their 350 message heard. For more information, check out www.350philly.org.
Be a Balanced Entrepreneur: Slow Down and Chill Out
(Reprinted with permission from Andrea Kalli, Certified Internet/Social Marketing Assistant and Coach)
The world is in a permanent hurry. We all rush around as if our lives depended on it. While some people can cope quite happily, even thrive, on living life in the fast lane, many others find they ‘burn out’ easily, which leaves them anxious, tired, and depressed. They feel as if there are never enough hours in the day to meet all the targets they set themselves, without thinking that perhaps they are aiming too high. Feelings of inadequacy rise to the surface because they end each day feeling that they haven’t achieved very much, which leaves them feeling even more anxious.
We live in a 24/7 society that never seems to stop or even slow down. In days gone by, we would go to bed when the sun went down, and wake in the morning as it rose. Without electric light, most everyday chores were impossible, so life was organized around the natural movement of the sun. It ensured that however hard we worked during the day, we had adequate time in which to sleep. We lived life at a slower pace, following the rhythm of nature, because fewer demands and time limits were placed on us. Nowadays, it’s sometimes hard to tell when day turns into night, because we can carry on working at any hour. Some of us work and work, never knowing when to stop, as if we’re afraid that something will go wrong if we do.
When the pace of your life reaches this point, it’s time to do something. Actually, it’s time to do nothing at all. Here are some ways to ensure that you can build some ‘me’ time into your busy life.
First of all, no matter how hard you work, try not to bring your work home with you. When work finishes for the day, leave it at the office or in the factory – as they say, you work to live, not live to work. Similarly, if you work from home, try to make sure your workstation is positioned away from the areas of the home in which you and your family like to relax.
Make sure that, as far as you are able, you can find some time to relax at the end of a working day and, more importantly, at the weekend. If necessary, leave the answer machine switched on over the weekend, turn off the TV, the computer, and your mobile phone, gather up your family, and ask them what they would like to do. Chances are it will be something that you can all do together that will get you working as a team and spending good quality time with each other. You could arrange a picnic at a favorite spot or, if the weather is bad, get out some long-forgotten board games, or get the children involved in crafts and hobbies.
Stand still sometimes. You don’t have to be continually thinking or planning. Don’t feel you have to fill every minute of every day with something ‘constructive’. Just looking at the flowers and trees in your garden, or standing at the edge of the sea, will help to calm your thoughts. At the same time, slow down your breathing – too many of us do not breathe deeply enough. We rush through our breathing in the same way that we rush through the chores of the day.
If it really is difficult to find some ‘me’ time, look at the things you think you must do next week, and see if you can re-prioritize or re-schedule some of them. You may discover a spare hour or two that you can call your own.
We all want to live perfect lives but, in reality, this really isn’t achievable without having to compromise in some way. Instead, remind yourself that life is for living; give yourself time out to relax. You’ll find it much easier to tackle the more difficult aspects of your life.
Andrea Kalli offers a variety of business services, to include: Internet and Social Marketing Strategist/Coach/Assistant, editing for Podcasts/Audio/Video/Teleconferences/Audio Books, and productivity training and support for Microsoft Outlook and Windows SharePoint Services. Her primary area of focus is to work with businesses to achieve greater online presence in building their business and brand.
Infuse fitness into your business: test your comfort level
As entrepreneurs and virtual professionals, all of us have one thing in common…we have an entrepreneurial spirit or at least the strong desire to own our time. In that desire to own more of our time, make our own schedules, we might have imagined that we’d spend more time reading, exercising, taking care of ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually more than we might have working in a traditional brick and mortar employment situation.
Finding other virtual professionals that have clearly grasped the need for set boundaries and “ME” time is inspiring and motivational. Whether you know of them or have had the privilege to meet them in person, Caroline Wright of Wright Solution and Carla Wilson of Wilson Virtual Assistants have successfully infused fitness into their businesses. They have clearly set boundaries, are open and honest with clients from the get-go and have implemented systems and support that help their businesses operate smoothly even when they’re off walking 190 miles Coast to Coast in England raising money for cancer research.
Carla and Caroline were gracious enough to answer some questions for us about their 190 mile walk, the effect, if any it had on their businesses, and what it meant to them to have the time away from the business.
What was the reason for planning this trip?
Caroline: I had always had the personal goal of completing a long distance walk, but wasn’t sure where or how. About 18 months ago I had made the decision that the time was right; and this was always a deep personal goal, not about my business or my family…just about me achieving something I’d always wanted to. Because Carla has a positive “can do” attitude and I knew how physically fit she is, I thought she was a great person to experience this journey with.
Carla: I was thrilled to have the opportunity to share this dream of Caroline’s with her.
How did you prepare for this trip?
Caroline: With regard to the physical training, I am typically at the gym three times a week, so I added daily walking around my neighborhood in addition to my normal exercise routine. Then I gradually increased my walks from five miles to 8, 10 then 15 and more.
Business-wise, the preparation was much easier because I am out of the country for the month of August each year. I communicate this to clients well in advance and remind them on a regular basis throughout the year so we tie up any lose ends prior to August. I don’t disappear throughout this month, but clients do know I will not be keeping normal business hours. This year, I just told them (with a grin) that I’ll be off the grid for two weeks on vacation; something I’m sure they’ve heard of before. Having this time away with family and friends is my way of staying connected; it’s a huge part of who I am.
Carla: I typically exercise three to six times a week, so to train for this it consisted of adding in several mile walks each day. It was an interesting challenge to fit it in and keep up with all of the other commitments we have each day. We had 18 weeks to train and Caroline had found a good training program to follow. We reported our progress to one another, keeping each other accountable.
With respect to preparing my business for this it was my first extended time away from it, so I made sure I had adequate coverage by communicating with the VA project manager on my team. Any client work, emails or phone calls were handled by her. Having her up to speed with my business and client work helped me avoid worry about clients calling or needing anything.
What was the greatest challenge in keeping up with your business while on the road?
Both Caroline and Carla knew that having reliable Internet access would probably be the most challenging piece of staying connected. But they also had systems in place that gave them peace-of-mind that things were being handled while they were away. Both mentioned that the magnitude of the walk itself kept them from focusing on business or anything else other than staying on track and getting to where they needed to go.
Did this trip energize you and give you time to reflect on your business goals/dreams?
Carla: A month or two before leaving for our trip I thought we’d have time to talk business, organize and implement whatever I dreamt up on this trip. But once we started our Coast to Coast walk, I quickly realized that we had to concentrate on not getting lost and keep track of our task at hand. For me there was no epiphany on the trip, but when I returned to the states I had a clear head; figured out questions I had about my business. I did realize through this trip that I am much stronger mentally and physically than I thought I was. I’ve also come up with a new mantra, “It is what it is.”
Caroline: For me, business and self are not separate entities; my business is me and I am my business. My level of confidence definitely increased throughout this trip. I learned to be afraid of the unknown or the challenge but to do it anyway. We need to be able to face fears in order to succeed in any aspect of life.
What changes if any did this trip motivate you to make business wise and on a personal level?
Caroline: This trip gave me the opportunity to step outside of my business. It was a hugely intense experience; it took me outside of everything else. On a personal level I know I will do something like this each year, challenging myself physically even if it is a small challenge.
Carla: My confidence level definitely increased throughout this trip. It’s given me the insight to stop over thinking things and I’m going to refine who I am marketing my business to. I also decided to let go of a not so ideal client the Monday I returned to the office. Lastly, this proved that I am definitely up for more physical challenges; Caroline mentioned the Himalayas but I’m not so sure about that one; may be too snowy for me!
What advice do you have for others that may want to commit to taking time to “infuse fitness into their business”?
Carla: Do it! It will expand your comfort zone and you grow when you are outside your comfort zone. Besides the physical benefits by challenging yourself you’ll become much more confident.
Caroline: Start out slow if you want. Walking is a good, easy activity to sneak into your daily life. In 45 minutes you could walk three miles. Plan to close your office at a specific time each day and choose cathartic activities like walking that can be a good stress reliever and allow you time to work through problems in your head. Just getting up out of your chair and getting some fresh air can help you think about things differently.
Caroline and Carla are two amazing business owners that took time out and time away from the business to challenge themselves and came away with greater confidence levels and renewed energy. Their trip was not only a way for them to challenge themselves but also to raise money for cancer research. To find out more, please visit http://wrightsolution.wordpress.com/.
Just as corporate employers sometimes take their employees out for ropes courses or white water rafting, we need to devote time to feeding our minds, bodies and spirits. It will not only benefit our bodies and minds but our businesses.
Copyright 2009 Teresa H. Berger, MBA & Innovate Services PR|Editorial
Innovate Services & Client Media Mentions…
http://www.business-opportunities.biz http://blog.cristinafavreau.com http://www.ivaa.org/pdfs/latestcast.pdf http://www.toiletpaperentrepreneur.com/blog
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