Have you noticed how many people place great importance on the ability to multi task?

It seems to me that it is viewed almost as a badge of honour to strive for and achieve. It seems to be viewed as the answer to the overload of tasks so many people seem to be trying to juggle.

But here’s the thing:

Multi tasking isn’t the most effective way to manage many tasks and can actually be counter productive

3 Myths of Multi tasking

Myth 1 – You get more done if you multi task. Not true. Your productivity actually reduces the more you multi task. You are also likely to make more mistakes. Tasks actually take longer when you are trying to complete them at the same time as other tasks.

Myth 2 – You will feel more in control of all your tasks and responsibilities. Not true. It actually increases stress levels. The more you are trying to do at any one time, the more your stress levels go up. Not good for your health. Also, it isn’t attractive to others if you are constantly a little cloud of stress hanging round them!

Myth 3 – You can get stuff done while being with your family. Not true. It detrimentally impacts family life. One of the most important things our kids need from us is our time and undivided attention when we are with them. It sends a very negative message to our kids if when we are spending time with them we are also juggling lots of other stuff, especially work.

The Alternative to Multi Tasking

So, here’s the good news. It is OK to stop multi tasking. There are far more effective ways to get things done. Here are a few suggestions to play with:

• Organise your tasks for the day into priority order and give them time slots.
• Focus on each task totally, giving you full attention until it is done.
• Remove distractions and temptations before you start each task.

The alternatives to multi tasking are much more enjoyable, effective and healthy. It will enhance your productivity levels and the quality of what you are going. All areas of your business will benefit. And most important of all, your kids will love you for it because they will feel more important to you than your work because you are protecting and enhancing family life.

Now that we have busted some myths surrounding multi tasking, is it time for you to evaluate how you manage your business tasks and family life?

3 Myths of Multi Tasking is a post from: Ali Davies Small Business Success & Lifestyle Freedom

Do you ever have those days when despite how much you have to do you feel you just don’t want to do anything? I had one of those days yesterday. This isn’t something that happens often for me so I felt really uncomfortable with it.

Here’s what happened:

I got up early to get some work done. I love that time of day. I can get quite a bit done before my son gets up for school. So there I was, sat in my office ready to do some work when this huge wave of resistance to doing anything washed over me.

At first I was quite irritated with myself. After all, I pride myself on being a kick ass action gal and now it had deserted me. I was all ready to give myself a severe kick up the ass but I suddenly stopped.

“Hold on there girl” I told myself. I continued “Before any ass kicking goes on, what is really going on here?” I pondered on this a while. Then I realised what it was. My husband is going into hospital in three days time to have a fairly big operation. It’s been a big weight on my mind for some time and now that the time is here, it is a real brain time consumer.

You see the person sat at my desk yesterday morning wasn’t Ali the Business Owner. It was Ali the wife. The woman that loves her husband and family more than anything in the world.

The point is this:

We all have many roles in life. It is inevitable that there will be times that one role steps into the space of another role. When this happens it is easy to slip into beating yourself up and being hard on yourself for not being some sort of superhero able to have perfect demarcation between all our roles. But that is totally unrealistic.

What to do when roles collide.

Stop. It is counter intuitive, as the natural urge is to push on regardless but just stop. Allow yourself time to step back from the situation. Assess what is really going on.

Ask what is most important right now? Look for what you can put in place to be in the role that is most important at that time. Re-arrange things to protect what is most important.

Drop some balls. Forget the pressure to juggle everything. It’s a flawed concept. Sometimes it is OK to drop balls. The trick is to chose which balls to drop rather than waiting for one to drop randomly.

Treat yourself with compassion. Beating yourself up serves no purpose whatsoever. Stop it.

So, take a look at what you do when your roles collide. Is it time to make some changes?

Are You Trying to be a Superhero? is a post from: Ali Davies Small Business Success & Lifestyle Freedom

It doesn’t sit well with me when people tell me I am lucky.

The sort of things it would seem people think class me as lucky are that I only work the hours I choose, my business operates around my family life, we live in a stunningly beautiful part of the world (we moved from the UK to Ireland to live in 2006) and so on.

I am not trying to paint some image of picture postcard perfection here, because it isn’t. We experience challenges that threaten our ideal lifestyle, ups and downs and all the rest of it. But they are things to be dealt with as part of life and part of protecting what is most important to us.

I must admit that in the past being called lucky used to hack me off because the life I have now has got nothing to do with luck. It is a result of tough decisions and choices, financial planning, persevering when you just feel like lying down and giving up and a fair amount of blood, sweat and tears.

These days it doesn’t bother me at all if I get called lucky. I take it with a pinch of salt and move on. The reason being is, personally, I don’t believe in luck.

But let’s come back to the title of this post – does luck really exist?

I believe we create our own outcomes through our mindset, behaviour and choices.

So it really concerns me when people think luck is something that randomly happens to some people and not others. It is almost like they have dissolved personal responsibility for grabbing their life by the scruff of the neck and making it into what they really want it to be.

Life isn’t a dress rehearsal. This is the real thing.

So, for me, the answer to the question “does luck really exist?” is – no, not as something that happens randomly by chance.

What about you? Do you believe in luck? What do you attribute things you’ve achieved to?

Does Luck Really Exist? is a post from: Ali Davies Small Business Success & Lifestyle Freedom

Mindset is a huge factor in Success in all areas of life.

It is important to surround yourself with people, books and resources that support you in creating and maintaining the mindset that will help you achieve the success that you want for yourself – whether that be in business, relationships, lifestyle or your family life.

The other day my husband was reading Daily Teachings by Rhonda Byrne when he came across The Optimist’s Creed by Christian Larson which was written nearly a hundred years ago.

It falls into the category of being a useful resource for supporting, creating and maintaining a Success Mindset. Here it is:

The Optimist’s Creed

I promise myself:

To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person I meet.

To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful expression at all times & give a smile to every living creature I meet.

To give so much time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and & too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great deeds.

To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me.

-- Christian D. Larson

What do you think of it?

Success Mindset: The Optimist’s Creed is a post from: Ali Davies Small Business Success & Lifestyle Freedom

Most of us understand the benefit of reading high quality business books to learn and apply new skills to upgrade the way our business works. But are we as willing to embrace books that deal with how we are operate as a person and our mindset?

Many business people aren’t because they have a preconceived idea that personal development might be a bit “woo woo” and result in the need to hug trees. However, upgrading your mindset and developing yourself is the foundation to real success in all areas of business and life. So it’s a no brainer really.

The seven books listed below (all of which I have read more than once) really challenge the mindset. They are all very powerful in different ways.

A couple of tips

• Be open minded. Even if the books aren’t your bag look for what you can learn. Look for the habits you need to change in your own mindset that will influence your levels of success in all areas of your life
• Reading books doesn’t create change. It is what you do with the information once you read it that is the key. Ask yourself “what actions do I need to take to apply the lessons from this book”

7 Books to Challenge Your Mindset

1. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. Provides a framework for a powerful code of conduct that is equally applicable to business, being a parent, relationships and living life.

2. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. This isn’t just about financial riches. It will give you valuable insights into the habits, characteristics and mindset of success.

3. The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles. Not just about financial riches. This was written about 1911 so the style of writing might seem strange.

4. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. Great practical tips for creating success.

5. The Anatomy of Peace by the Arbinger Institute. Deals with conflict around relationships, both professional and personal. I LOVE this powerful book. It’s lessons have served me well in my business, my marriage, as a parent and so many other levels.

6. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. This book highlights the mindset that gets in the way of true financial independence.

7. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. A less conventional take on creating success. Be open minded!

If you have read any of these books, please share your review in the comments below. Are there any books that you would add on to this list?

7 Books to Challenge your Mindset is a post from: Ali Davies Small Business Success & Lifestyle Freedom

There are many factors that contribute to whether Home-Based and Small Business Owners will achieve the results that they want in their business and lifestyle. Things such as clear and specific goals, an effective business strategy, a successful business owners mindset, to name but a few.

However, sometimes it is the quite small and simple things, that are often overlooked, that can have a huge impact. They can create change and results really effectively. One of the things that falls into this category is asking questions. Let me explain:

Statements change nothing!

One of the habits I see a lot in Home Based and Small Business Owners is that they will make statements and then talk about them at great length. Here are a few examples:

• I’m not making enough money
• I’m working too many hours
• I don’t have enough clients
• I don’t have enough quality time with my family

Questions are the Answer!

All these statements might be very true but it is habit that doesn’t lead to actions and change. Statements used in this way, hold back progress. A very simple and highly effective habit to create that turns this on it’s head is to ask questions. For example:

• What do I need to do to make more money?
• What needs to happen so that I can work less hours?
• What do I need to do to attract more than enough clients?
• What can I put in place to protect quality time with my family?

See the difference?

Questions are infinitely more powerful than statements. They lead to a different mindset about a situation. A different mindset leads to different behaviour. Different behaviour leads to different results.

The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing – Albert Einstein

So if you want to create real change and different results stop making statements about situations and get into the habit of asking questions of yourself.

Why Questions Are the Answer! is a post from: Ali Davies Small Business Success & Lifestyle Freedom

There is only one obstacle to success. Yes, only one – YOU! Let me explain:

The confusion over business obstacles

People often confuse circumstances and situations as obstacles and setbacks. They aren’t. They are just things to be dealt with. They only become obstacles and setbacks when we apply that label to them. I am talking about things like losing clients, products/services not selling and so on. Stop seeing circumstances and situations as obstacles and setbacks. They aren’t, you have just been conditioned to think that they are. They are just messages that YOU need to do something different.

Stop getting in your own way

The only thing stopping us achieving the success we want is ourselves. This is great news. The reason it is great news is because changing ourselves to get out of our own way is totally within our control. So, are you willing and ready to get out of your own way and stop being the obstacle to your Business Success and Lifestyle Freedom? If you are, here are two key areas to focus on:

1. Mindset. Your mindset is creating the results you are currently experiencing. I have said it before but it is worth saying again, the reason upgrading your mindet is so vital is this:

Mindset creates thought patterns – thought patterns create feelings – feelings create behaviour/actions – actions create results.

The same mindset that created your current situation won’t get you out of it. It is time to upgrade your mindset

Tip: start researching and learning about how to create a real kick ass success mindset. Seek out good quality resources and people to learn from.

2. BEING a Business Owner. You can’t expect to get the results of a successful business owner unless you are behaving, making decisions and running your business as successful business owners do.

Tip: as with mindset, get out there and research and learn what successful business owners do that unsuccessful ones don’t. Also, you become what you surround yourself with so be careful who you let into your business circle. Avoid the BMW’s (bitch, moaners and whiners) like the plague.

This is the last day in the 5 days to Change for Success series. For me, today’s is the most important. You can do all the other tasks and activities we have talked about but if you don’t step up to this one you will always be capping the level of success you can achieve.

Related posts:

1.Is your Business a Vampire?

2.5 days to Change for Success – Day 1: Clear the decks!

3.5 days to Change for Success – Day 2: Building Strong Foundations

4.5 Days to Change for Success – Day 3: Getting into Action

5.5 Days to Change for Success – Day 4: How to Avoid Failure

5 Days to Change for Success – Day 5: The ONE obstacle to real success is a post from: Ali Davies Small Business Success & Lifestyle Freedom

Want to up your level of success this year?

If so, a good starting point is to assess how you currently measure up against some of the common factors that are present in consistently successful business owners. Here are 3 of the most important ones:

1. Mindset
This is for me the most important contributing factor to success in business, family and life.

Here’s why:

Mindset creates thought patterns – thought patterns create feelings – feelings create behaviour/actions – actions create results.

Whatever results you are getting right now started with your mindset.
I have spent the last few years studying mindset – what creates it, how to change it and the impact it has on success in business, family and life. I can tell you from personal experience, changing this one area alone can totally transform success in every area of your life.

2. Build strong foundations
When I am talking about building strong business foundations I am talking about the engine that drives your business forward. We are talking about factors such as vision, strategy, business plans, goals, action plans, to name but a few.
The problem is, this part of the business is often neglected in favour of flavour of the minute fads, gimics and products that happen to catch the attention.
Think of a car. You can put in a fancy music system, give it a trendy colour and add on as many gadgets as you like. However, if the engine isn’t working properly there is no way it is going to get you to where you want to go. Business foundations are the engine of your business. Neglect them at your peril!

3. Wearing different hats
Operating with one hat on in your business (i.e. doing the task you do for a living) limits your business potential. Why? Because being a successful business owner is very different to doing the work. The key is in the word “being”. Thinking, acting and behaving as a business owner is a totally different role to doing the work. If you are serious about business success, learn how to “be” a business owner working on your business as well as doing the day to day work. Don’t wear the same hat for every area of your business.

The first step to any change is always awareness. So if you are serious about success this year take a good long hard look at these three essential factors for success.

What do you need to do in each area to up your game, your results and your success?

3 Essentials for Success is a post from: Ali Davies Small Business Success & Lifestyle Freedom