planning – Page 8 – One Insight Closer

What’s The Question?

April 24, 2014April 24, 2014 by EvieBurke, posted in intention, Overwhelm, planning

I’ve been thinking about questions a lot recently. About how important asking the right question can be and how frustrating it can be trying to figure out what that is.

And at the same time, if you’re not asking a question, finding the answer is a bit like searching for a puzzle piece and you’re not sure what it looks like, but you’re sure you’ll recognize it when you see it.

How much faster does the search for that puzzle piece go when you know what color you’re looking for? or if it’s an edge piece or when you have some guideline that helps you know which pieces aren’t the one you’re looking for?

Finding answers is a bit like that. You can find yourself spending lots of time trying out lots of different things because you haven’t taken the time to figure out what the question is you’re trying to answer. Instead, you’re picking up a lot of other people’s answers and seeing if they fit for you.

And while you might be learning a lot in that process, I bet you also feel like you’re spending a lot of time spinning your wheels or running in circles – none of it really seems to fit where you are or what you’re looking for.

So, spend some time today determining what your questions are. You might be surprised by how much time and energy you save looking for answers when you know your questions.

Share your question or questions in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Master isolated images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What Do You Need Right Now?

April 3, 2014April 2, 2014 by EvieBurke, posted in Overwhelm, planning

What areas of your life are the most important right now (keeping in mind that these change on occasion)? List the top two or three. Is it family, your business, church, friends, an organization you belong to or something else?

Now, for each of those areas what things are the highest priority – the way that you most want to spend your time with them or will move you toward your goals?

So, for family it might be spending one night a week together, a weekly (or monthly) date night with your husband and a phone call with your mom.

For your business it might be that one big project you’ve been thinking about, making some of the phone calls you know will generate money or any number of things.

What do all of these things require? Attention, energy and time.

Everything changed the day she figured out there was exactly enough time for the important things in her life. – Brian Andreas

I heard that quote last week and think it is beautiful, wonderfully simple and so true.

And while it’s so simple, it’s also not.

Why is it we have so much trouble identifying what is really important AND spending time on it?

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been thinking this during my phone calls with potential clients. I’ve heard over and over again that there’s so much to do that it feels absolutely impossible to pick one thing to focus on.

I even saw it show up in a Facebook update of an acquaintance.

One thing that you can do is stop taking advantage of all the free or limited time only offers.

For me, this used to show up as signing up for any free teleclass that crossed my path that might have any information in it that I was going to need at some point in my business. I was spending HOURS listening to teleclasses trying to learn what I might need later.

I see it now in some of the groups I belong to. They’re filled with great people and great products and smart marketing. And almost everyone wants to take advantage of the specials that everyone else has – and they’re stretching themselves thin, because they might need that information someday.

I get it, the offer might not be as good later, or even apply! And that’s the point of the offer – to give you a reason to act now if it’s the right fit.

Here’s the thing with those free teleclasses and great specials – it might not be what you need right now.

There are lots of opportunities for you to further your business, lots of wonderful people who can show you how to do it in the way that they’re teaching – but if it’s not what you need right now then it’s okay to say no thank you.

Like many things, this takes some practice and discipline. It means knowing where you are in your business and what your main focus is right now. Once you know that then you can work with people that specialize in that.

And I can almost hear you saying, that’s great Evie, but I’m feeling so lost and frustrated right now that I have NO idea what that focus is. So, I want you to do something that might feel really uncomfortable. I want you to STOP doing all the running around your doing and take a step back to look at your business.

What are your business goals? And what is it that you need the most right now to reach those goals? Then pick one thing that you’re going to focus on to reach that goal.

And when another great opportunity comes along, recognize if it’s not where you are right now and let someone else who is there have that opportunity. It might not be that you’re not there yet or it could be that you’re past it and just haven’t realized it yet.

I’d love to know what your highest priority goal is and what you’re going to focus on to reach that goal. Share below in the comments.

Image courtesy of 2nix / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Reviewing 2013 and Defining 2014

January 2, 2014 by EvieBurke, posted in intention, planning

Last week’s topic was about what worked and didn’t work last year and the habits that you want to create this year.

This week, I encourage you to review 2013 a little bit more and make 2014 even more successful.

What did you accomplish in 2013 that you are most proud of?
What did you do in 2013 that prior to 2013 was too far outside of your comfort zone to even be a possibility (what did you do that was a bit scary but really worth it)?
What is one fear, limiting belief or other obstacle that you overcame in 2013?
What, or who, supported you the most in 2013?
If you accomplish nothing else in 2014, what one thing do you want to accomplish that will make you the most proud?
What’s one thing that is a bit outside your comfort zone that you will accomplish this year?
One is one fear, limiting belief or other obstacle that is hindering your success that you will overcome this year?
What is one thing that you will do that will support you (and your success) in 2014?

Share your biggest ah-ha moment in the comments below.

Where Will You Be Next Year?

December 5, 2013December 4, 2013 by EvieBurke, posted in Goals, planning

It’s the beginning of December, where do you want to be next year at this time? In your business and in your life?

What do you want your days and nights to look like?

What successes will you have over the next year to get you there?

Which of the “lies” from last month will you need to confront and break through?

Spend some time to think about where you want to be and who you want to be at this time next year.

Now, go get a piece of paper or open a blank document and start writing.

Write about where you are, in business and life, and who you are on Thursday December 4, 2014.

Write about what you’ve accomplished in the past year that lead you there.

What did you do?

What frustrations or fears did you overcome?

Did you get help or extra support from someone?

Why is where you are so exciting for you?

Give yourself time to complete this exercise and don’t worry about editing it – trust that it will develop exactly as it should.

When you’re finished put it somewhere that is easy for you to pull out and read when you need a pick me up or motivation or are setting goals.

What do you want to do right now that will start to make that vision of 2014 a reality? Who are the people or businesses that you want to be connected with? Whether it’s to work with them, partner with them or hire them.

Now, there’s a couple of things you can do:

Share who the people or businesses are that you want to connect with and I’ll share with you who I know that might be a good fit. Leave it in the comments below (someone else might read the comment and have a great connection for you) or email me.
Would you like to receive a copy of your 2014 vision next December? I’d love to make that happen. If this is something you’re interested in you can either:
1. Email me a copy and include your address (so I can mail it to you next year).
2. Mail me a copy (email me for my address)

Lots To Do! And Enough Time?

October 17, 2013 by EvieBurke, posted in Overwhelm, planning, Task List

Last week I wrote about focusing on one task. The three steps to put your focus on the one thing you’re working on right now.

Well, I set up one day last week with no appointments so I could have the day to only get stuff done. Many of the items on my list that day where 30 minute tasks or less. So, I had about 15 items on my list.

Normally, I would tell a client (and myself) that 15 tasks are too many things! However, they were small tasks and I was pretty sure that there was enough time to do everything.

When I sat down at the beginning of the day, even though I knew they were smaller tasks, I wondered how I was possibly going to get everything done. It was a bit overwhelming to look at that list!

I reread my post for the week and decided to pull out my sticky notes. On those, I wrote the tasks that I wanted to complete in the next two hours. I wrote down four things, stuck it on top of my list of 15 and went to work. Somehow just looking at that smaller list was a lot more reassuring.

I didn’t have to have everything done now. I was able to focus on the current task and then move on to the next one quickly.

At the end of the day I didn’t have everything done. However, I learned a bit about what not to do in my day (don’t schedule reading a book, even a business book, after lunch because I won’t put it down after my allotted reading time is complete). And left enough wiggle room in that day’s and the next day’s schedule that it didn’t completely throw me for a loop the rest of the week.

And, when I reviewed what I accomplished, I felt extremely satisfied! I was able to get a lot done and address my overwhelm in a constructive way.

Because I like bullet points, this is the take away from my experience:

If your list looks too long and overwhelming, break it into smaller pieces. What will you finish in the next 2 hours?
Leave some buffer time in your day. Tasks can take longer than you anticipate or unexpected tasks or other things pop up. When you leave yourself some buffer time you’re able to absorb the unknown without it throwing you for a loop.
Review your day and make a note of what did and didn’t work that day. Use that knowledge of how you work best (or don’t work best) in future planning.
Review your day for your successes (or wins). We often forget this part. Pat yourself on the back for the things you accomplished, whether they are the tasks you completed, the way a situation was handled or the way you handled or managed yourself.

Basically, a successful day can be broken up into three parts: preparing, doing and reviewing (with today’s focus being on the preparing and reviewing).

Where do you get hung up with getting things done? Let me know in the comments below!

Category: planning