Back in the Saddle

It has been a lovely fall and I was due for a lovely break. One of my dearest friends calls it taking the time to "simmer". I love it. To me, it meant slowing down and pressing the pause button. With the year closing to an end, I do feel a sense of rejuvenation, so I recommend that you take a moment to pause, notice what is around you and just simmer. Ahhhh....

After several months of being on simmer, I am ready to start boiling again! So I would like to announce my upcoming workshop: What the Heck is Twitter? happening on Monday December 14th from 11-1pm. Click on the link to register.

Are you one of the people out there that is baffled by Twitter?
Join me for this comprehensive guide to simple strategies and best practices for using Twitter.

Learn how to use Twitter to:

• Promote and grow your business
• Increase your client list
• Find a job
• Fix your washer, or anything else that you are interested in

This workshop will cover why Twitter is useful and show you how to leverage it wisely to generate the results you want without spending hours and hours on line.

Designed to ramp up your Twitter skills and optimize your use of Twitter, for beginners and seasoned Twitterers alike, this workshop will cover:

• What is Twitter all about?
• How is it useful to me?
• The Twitterverse: All things Twitter
• Get Set Up! Create a profile and a following
• Twitter Tools

Register now and join the Twitterverse!

Networking to follow the event, so please bring your marketing materials.

Lunch Included!

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"I just have to say how much I appreciated Pam Narvaez’s “What the heck is twittering” class on Monday. It was short, sweet, and to the point. And completely worth the fee – many times over." ~Jane, Austin TX

"Very well done. Easy to understand explanations by the presenter, and she stayed on task and on time." ~ Lisa, Austin TX

"In a very limited time frame, Pam did an excellent job of explaining Twitter. Great job Pam!" ~David, Austin TX

Survive and Thrive: Household

Getting Organized To Survive and

Thrive In Today’s Economy

Oh, the irony. We have lived in an age of more is better, but oh my, how times have changed. Now we are realizing the importance of relationships and that we can live without all the excess stuff. What many people may be realizing now is that all the excess that we have brought into our homes and lives in the past takes a lot of time and energy to manage. Time and time again after I have helped clients get organized and declutter their spaces I hear back from them telling me about some type of major positive event that happened in their life after we worked together. This has happened to several of my clients and I truly believe there is a connection between the clutter in our lives and what is allowed to come into our lives. When our lives or spaces are filled it is difficult to allow anything else in. When we remove the excess, the out of date and the items that bring about negative feelings we are able to make room for new opportunities and experiences.

There is no better time then now to put this theory to test. Here are my tips to not only survive an unpredictable economic situation but to thrive in the year to come.

Survive: Generating and Saving Money

1. Clutter to Cash.
1. There’s no time like the present to reduce your clutter and make a little extra money. Tried and true solutions include garage sales, E-bay, Craigslist, resale shops and consignment shops. Here are a few items that you may be able to resell: furniture, clothing, any items that are new with tags, children’s and baby clothing and toys.

Think out of the box. Selling gold and silver jewelry is another great way to make a little extra money. Be sure to get estimates from multiple shops before selling. Sell old cell phones on Cells for Cash http://www.cellforcash.com/. Exchange or sell unwanted gift cards at Swap A Gift http://www.swapagift.com/.

2. Find money, gift cards, checks.
1. When cleaning out piles of paper and money it is common to find checks, gift cards, and even money! Be sure to open every envelope, you just never know what you will find.
3. Save money by avoiding duplicate purchases.
1. Being organized and free from clutter will allow you to know exactly what you have and help you avoid making duplicate purchases. You may find that you have a three month or a year’s supply of some items. This will keep you from having to spend money now.

Thrive: Now and In Years To Come

1. Create a filing system that can handle all your paper. Getting your paper and filing under control can help you save time and money for years to come. Purge or shred old, outdated paper. Have a filing system to handle your incoming bills and paper.
2. Invest in creating systems to help your life run more smoothly. What can you do now that you can leverage again later? Can you create a system that is easy to replicate over and over again? Investing time now by creating a form, checklist, or establishing a new habit can benefit you in the long run when you get busier.
3. Create a space that supports you. Remove all unneeded clutter and anything that brings negative feelings. If you have old projects or items that bring on negative thoughts, emotions, or feelings then it is time to let them go. Not only are they taking up physical space, but they are taking up mental space each time you see the items.

Using your time now to reduce your clutter and establish new habits may be just what you need to have a breakthrough this year.

Angela Ploetz is a Certified Professional Organizer, CPO® and owner of POSH Space Professional Organizing Specialist serving the greater Austin area. Angela is an experienced speaker and addresses women’s groups and business groups. POSH space provides solutions for home and office organizing challenges. Specialize in residential paper and filing systems, home offices, small business organization, new home set-ups and move-ins, and student organization. Angela can be reached at www.theposhspace.com.

Social Media Time Management by Jennifer Fong

When you’re a mom entrepreneur with your own business, you have a lot to do. You have customers to service, leads to follow up on, billing and accounting…the list goes on. When you consider adding social media to the mix, it can feel overwhelming. After all, you’re already filling every hour of the day. How do you take advantage of all the benefits of social media marketing without allowing it to take over your life?

Here are some tips to make it easier for mom entrepreneurs to manage the time they spend on social media.

1. Start with a strategic plan. Before you begin blogging, tweeting on Twitter, or meeting people on Facebook, make a marketing plan for your business. What are your goals? Who are you trying to reach? Why? What problems can you solve? By being specific and strategic about what you hope to accomplish, you’ll make sure all your social media efforts will bring you the maximum return on your investment.
2. Do an honest assessment of the time resources you can invest. For every tool you consider using, figure out how long it will take you to set up the profile, find friends, and maintain relationships. Then weigh that against the total time you have to invest. That will help you make good decisions about which tools will BEST help you reach your goals. You don’t have to use everything, and if you use fewer tools and develop quality relationships with them, you’ll have a better chance of success.
3. Start slowly and build relationships. Don’t try to get a million friends and followers overnight. You’ll quickly become overwhelmed, and you won’t develop the quality relationships that lead to more business. Instead, start conversations with 3-5 new people each day, and really engage. Get to know people, ask and answer questions, and be a participant. Don’t begin pitching your business. Instead, become someone worth knowing.
4. Set a timer. Plan the time you’ll invest each day (you should be engaging with your social networking tools daily if you want the maximum benefits), schedule it in your planner, and then set a timer so you don’t get off track. You might want to schedule smaller chunks of time at multiple times per day, rather than investing all your time in one shot. By keeping yourself to a schedule, you’ll still be able to focus on the other core business activities that lead to success in direct sales.

By being strategic in your use of social media, you can use social media without becoming consumed. And that will help you leverage the power of social media marketing while taking advantage of all the benefits your core business activities will also bring.

How are you managing your social media time? Would love to read it in the comments below!

And if you’ve found this post valuable, why not subscribe to my newsletter? You’ll get great content like this and more! I’d love to have you become part of our family.

Cheers!

Jennifer

© 2009, Jennifer Fong If you wish to publish any of this content on your own blog (without editing), you may do so by providing the copyright notice above, along with a link to this blog: http://liajen.wordpress.com. To use this content in any other way, please contact me at jen (at) jenfongspeaks (dot) com.

Survive and Thrive: Wellness

Well I have had a nice summer break and it's time to get back into the groove and on with our expert series. One of the five elements of balanced success is focusing on your personal wellness, both mental and physical. The first installment in our expert series comes from Karen Shopoff Rooff a Cooper Institute Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Pre/postnatal Fitness Specialist. She is the founder and owner of Balance Personal Fitness Training, which was born out of her passion for teaching and with gratitude for the benefits she has reaped from leading a fit and active life. Karen shares with us her practical guide on how to survive and thrive these uncertain times by staying well.

Survive:

1.Relieve Stress
Fortunately, an immediate way to improve your well-being is both easy and free! To quickly and effectively relieve stress, stop what you are doing, close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths. To facilitate deep breathing, relax your facial muscles by pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth for 5-10 seconds, then release. Next, visualize yourself somewhere that makes you calm and happy—a beach, by a mountain stream, snuggled up in bed, or whatever works for you. Continue to breathe deeply until your mind feels more open.

Gentle stretching is another stress-buster, and when done in concert with the breath, it is a highly effective way of calming and resetting your nervous system. For example, to release tension from the shoulders—from a long day at the computer or driving in traffic--, inhale deeply as you scrunch your shoulders as close to your ears as possible. When your inhale is complete, let out a long, forceful exhale and fully drop the shoulders. Repeat this sequence 3-5 times and enjoy a clearer mind and more relaxed body.

• Gentle stretching, deep breathing, and visualization can help relax the body to relive stress.

2. Clean your palate
Wait! Don’t take another bite! Do you know where your food came from?

Eating well need not be difficult, expensive, or time-consuming. By choosing unprocessed foods, you maximize the nutritional content you consume; by choosing in-season, local, fresh foods make generally the most economical—and environmentally-friendly-- choice. Healthy foods like nuts, fruits, and vegetables require little preparation and are easily transportable.

To ensure that your body is best able to process the foods you eat and absorb the appropriate nutrients, keep yourself well hydrated. Drinking water throughout the day not only aids indigestion to keep your body fueled, but it allows muscles to function at their best. Furthermore, you can stave off hunger with a zero calorie glass of water.

• Eat fresh, local foods to maximize nutrition and minimize environmental and financial costs
• Staying well hydrated is key to physical wellness

Learn more clean eating tips and generate a nutritionally-sound eating plan for yourself using the USDA’s website www.mypyramid.gov.

Thrive:

1. Break the adrenaline habit
Our society promotes a culture of pressure by reinforcing the idea that we can (and should!) do multiple tasks at once, for as long a duration as possible. Multitasking requires the brain and body to work in overdrive, thereby increasing adrenaline production. In the short term, adrenaline is a useful hormone; however, studies indicate that high adrenaline production and stress are closely linked, and neither is positive for long-term wellness.

Be a rebel and eschew multitasking! Think about it: juggling is much harder than throwing and catching a single ball. By focusing on one task—or person—at a time, you can be focused, present, and genuine. As such, not only will the quality of your work likely rise, but you’ll be lowering your stress at the same time.

Attention to your physical well-being deserves the same kind of focused attention. Schedule workouts into your day—just as you would any other important meeting—and you’ll eliminate the pressure that comes with trying to squeeze everything in as the day progresses. Planning ahead is key to breaking adrenaline’s grip on your daily life.

• Focus on one task at a time to complete it effectively and efficiently, with as little stress as possible
• Incorporate planned workouts into your schedule

2. Consistent physical activity

If you struggle with exercising consistently, whether due to lack or interest or competing priorities, make a list of types of exercise that you enjoy. These can include walking, gardening, playing soccer with your children, going to the gym, or participating in a group exercise class or on a team. Do you prefer to exercise alone or with a group? Do you like one sport or activity so much you do it exclusively; or do you need the social outlet of a team sport; or is the accountability that a class or personal trainer offers motivating to you? It doesn’t matter what your answer is, but devising a fitness plan that takes your preferences into account will result in better adherence to your program.

Also, many people don’t exercise consistently because they think they need a single, large block of time to reap the benefits of exercise. Scientific studies support breaking exercise into short, manageable bursts throughout the day to achieve the same physiological benefits as one longer session. Furthermore, you receive the added benefit of reinvigorating yourself throughout the day.

• Identify what motivates you, and devise a fitness plan that compliments your interests and fulfills your needs
• Short bursts of activity are physiologically and psychologically beneficial

You can download six different ten-minute workouts from http://balancepft.com/docs/tenminuteworkouts.pdf

Karen Shopoff Rooff is a Cooper Institute Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Pre/postnatal Fitness Specialist. She is the founder and owner of Balance Personal Fitness Training, which was born out of her passion for teaching and with gratitude for the benefits she has reaped from leading a fit and active life. Karen is committed to helping others become models of wellness as we strive to make Austin the fittest city in America.

As the mother of two young sons, Karen understands the significant role exercise plays in achieving a sense of balance. Pre/postnatal fitness is a topic that inspires her; guiding other women along their fitness path during pregnancy and the postpartum period is an honor. Using fitness to cope with the realities of motherhood is paramount in her work, and she is adept at finding ways to integrate exercise and fitness into daily life. Encouraging consistent, life-long wellness is the goal of her work.

Karen has completed nine marathons (including four Boston Marathons), numerous other road races, and countless playground obstacle courses.

Balance Personal Fitness Training

www.balancepft.com

Survive and Thrive in a Recession!

We are all being bombarded by bad news. It's hard not to look at any type of media without getting a negative message, not to mention how easy it is to carry that sentiment through friendly conversations. And most of us probably know more than one person that has lost a job. So how do you overcome all this negativity? You have heard me say it before, it's time to change your mindset about the world you live in and begin with the smallest step: have an attitude of gratitude.

However, it's time to take it a step further and think about what ACTIONS you can take to change your situation and create the life you truly want. With that in mind I have created an expert blog series dedicated to helping you Survive and Thrive in Uncertain Times. Our series focuses on each element of your life, based on the Five Elements of Balanced Success model: Financial, Wellness, Career, Household & Personal Growth. Each week I will feature a different expert for each topic that will provide a practical guide with tips and resources designed to support you in achieving personal success.

Meet the Experts!
I am pleased to have so many wonderful resources available to my clients. Experts in their fields, these business owners are here to support you.

Financial: Melanie Johnson is an Independent Investment Advisor, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ , and founder of Athena Financial Group and Divorced Financial Solutions.

Wellness: Karen Shopoff Rooff is a Cooper Institute Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Pre/postnatal Fitness Specialist. She is the founder and owner of Balance Personal Fitness Training, which was born out of her passion for teaching and with gratitude for the benefits she has reaped from leading a fit and active life.

Career: Michele Rhoten is a Career Coach with Profit Consulting Co. She brings a combination of executive recruiting experience and executive coaching skills to support her clients through the ups and downs of their careers.

Household: Angela Ploetz is a Certified Professional Organizer, CPO® and owner of POSH Space Professional Organizing Specialist serving the greater Austin area.

Personal Growth: Renée Peterson Trudeau is the president of Renée Trudeau & Associates and the author of The Mother's Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life.

Be sure to tune in each week for a new expert series that is packed with practical tips, resources and advice on how to get you through the short term (survive) and propel you through to even greater success in the long term (thrive).

Social Media 101

I did not set out to be a social media coach, it just happened! First Fox News interviewed me on how to use social media to get a job, then I started getting requests for one-on-one coaching and workshops. One of my good friends even referred to me as the "information guru". So here we go, it's a social media month! Get set up and get going!

What is social media?
In today's world the internet is a living and breathing thing. In one click you can see into other people's lives, hear their views, and share your own. There are literally hundreds of different applications that people are using to connect with others and share information. The big favorites are Facebook, LinkedIn and now the new dynamo - Twitter.

What's the point?
Social media outlets are a powerful way to get across to a large audience and network 24/7. Whether you are looking for a job, running a business, or just staying connected with old friends, social media offers you a vast resource for connecting.

However, these tools are only effective if used properly. Here are some tips on how to best leverage social media networking strategies:

• Create each profile consistent with your “brand” – what you want people to know most about you.
  
• Understand how to leverage each platform – control images and content as necessary.
  
• Choose a mixture that is right for you and keep your content fresh – schedule one day per week, or one hour per day to update content and participate on-line.

How Can I Get Set Up?
I am glad you asked! I am now offering one on one social media coaching packages for $125 per hour. This is an interactive session designed to get you set up and ready to use social media to further your success! I also have workshops and a fabulous MeetUp group that are designed to get you moving in the right direction. Call or email to schedule your session 517-2518 pam@directeffectcoach.com

Upcoming Events:
Social Media 101: Get Set Up! $50 per person
The purpose of this workshop is to help you get set up on the top social media tools out there: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Blogging and simplify your tools so they are working for you and saving you time. Bring your laptop and you will set up your tools live during the session.

What the Heck is Twitter? $5 per person
Are you one of the people out there that is baffled by Twitter? Join me for a live call on the in's and out's of Twitter. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with the phone number and pin to access the call. Can't make the call in time? Register anyway and a copy of the call will be mailed to you after 4/20 for you to listen to at your convenience!

DEC Interview: PW Properties

One of my favorite groups here in town is the unique woman's entrepreneur group that I am a member of, Business + Balance headed by founder Renee Trudeau. Business + Balance is comprised solely of Mom-entrepreneurs "dedicated to assisting you in creating a business and life that supports you inside and out!" This group is literally comprised of some of my favorite women in town, and I have the privilege of working with them directly to offer my clients a robust network of resources to help you succeed.

This week I am featuring a fabulous resource and double business owner, Wendy Papasan. You won't find a more grounded, fun-loving and wise woman than Wendy. Her calm nature and insightful perspectives make her a powerhouse any field she enters. Wendy is a multi-talented woman, owning businesses in marketing and media, real estate investing and most recently Millionaire Meals. On top of all of this, Wendy is also a Real Estate Agent.

I am pleased to have Wendy as one of the valuable resources available to my clients.

What do you find most rewarding about your business?
Helping people find financial freedom and long-term wealth through the acquisition of real estate.

Tell us about your business and what inspired you to start it.
After I had my children, I really wanted a business that would work for me, instead of me working for someone else's business. When I was eight months pregnant, we moved into a larger home and kept our first home as a rental. Managing real estate seemed easy and even fun, so I kept buying properties. I now own and manage seven income-producing properties. Now that my son is heading towards kindergarten, I decided to help others build their wealth through the acquisition of real estate in Austin.

What are the qualities that make your business unique?
Since I am an investor and a real estate agent, I know the qualities to look for in a property. Are you looking for cashflow or equity appreciation? Is is a short-term flip and resell or are you a long-term buy and hold. I'll use my strategies for success to help you build your wealth too.

Be sure to put Wendy at the top of your list when considering Real Estate investing because you are guaranteed to work with someone that has valuable insight and high integrity.

And whatever you do, on't miss out on the next Millionaire Meal!

If you want to be successful,
then surround yourself with successful people.

Tired of the rat race? Do you want to become financially free, but don’t know how to get to the next level? Do your friends think you’re crazy when you tell them you want to retire at 50? Well we don’t! Millionaire Meals brings together like-minded individuals who are on the path toward financial freedom. Each month an intimate group gathers to share food, laughter, and strategies for building our wealth.
Each dinner, served in our home in Central Austin, features a fabulous three-course meal with paired wines. January’s meal: Pancetta wrapped asparagus, curry butternut squash soup, coq au vin, & peanut butter pie. Okay, so that’s four courses.

Our Next Millionaire Meal is Saturday, March 28th, 2009 8-10:30 p.m.

Cost $40/person

Seating is limited to 10.

RSVP to Wendy Papasan at wendy@puddle-wonderful.com or (512) 297-9431.