Archive for September, 2011

Solopreneurship can be lonely……and is one of the reasons that a lot of us like to network. But how open and honest are we when asked ‘how’s business’? It will probably depend on how well you know and trust the person who’s asking the question and whether they could be a potential client.

We love the flexibility running our own business can give us, but we all face challenges, some that inspire us and some that can daunt. That feeling of overwhelm can creep in, caused by being busy or when we’re looking to keep the pipe line flowing.

The key is to maintain control and to have the right people to turn to. Follow these 3 tips regularly to help minimise the overwhelm.

Make time to plan achievable tasks
Allocate time in your diary to plan the following week’s activities – make sure everything you are doing is relevant and working towards achieving your business goals. Chunk them down so they are achievable and can be ticked off rather than over-run to the next week.

Do what you do best
You know what you enjoy as time flies and you get the best results. Focus on your strengths and play to the strengths of others to get more done. The cost of outsourcing what you don’t enjoy will be worth it as it will take a weight off your shoulders and give you more space and time to maximise your potential.

Choose who you hang out with
Negative nellies will bring you down so ditch them for success, action oriented individuals who will make time to listen, offer inspiration and encourage your success. Create your own board of directors to whom you can turn for expertise, advice and non judgemental support.

Why not hang out with me and other action orientated people on Wednesday 28 September and learn more about my 3 stage model to stimulate business growth. I will also tell you more about my group coaching programme and coaching gym that will help you make time to focus ON your business and work through issues that may be preventing you from Stepping it Up!

Please RSVP here on my LinkedIn free event on:

Wednesday 28 September
The Royal Wells
6-8pm

Well, my daughter is just starting her second year at uni, and one thing that never fails to excite her is buying stationery and getting her desk primed to see action! At least, that’s why I hope she is getting it organised and not just to look pretty! Although, it’s important to remember that just seeing a tidy organised desk does put you in the right frame of mind to get cracking.

Back to basics!

There is nothing worse than not being able to find the one thing you need to get started. Some of you will be saying – but I love to work in organised chaos. That’s fine if it works for you, but make sure you are not losing valuable time looking for what you need to get going.

Disorganisation can also be the source of that feeling of overwhelm – it makes things look and feel worse than they actually are. So take some time to revamp your ‘desk admin’ to ensure your workstation is a good place to work.

Here are some back to basic tips to help make your work space inviting (all the better for dodging procrastination and avoidance!)

• Take a look at everything on your desk – does it need to be there?
• What should you have to hand that will save time?
• Do you need an in-tray or file so others are confident you will see what they place on your desk? (Think about renaming it Action Tray!)
• Be clear on what is it you are “actioning” today so the pile doesn’t look daunting
• Check your screen is at the right height and distance to avoid an aching neck and eye strain
• Make sure your lighting is right
• Avoid trailing wires that are unsightly and can be a hazard
• Have a number of pens – that work!
• Finally, have a picture of someone or something that is your source of motivation to achieve

I did say it was back to basics but it really does make a difference! Once your work space is right for you, it is easier to make time to plan the action needed to move your business forward.

Denise Molloy is a business and personal performance coach who works with small business owners to be more productive and profitable. Find out more about how she can support you and your business here. Even better, meet Denise at her Step Up Forum Launch at the Royal Wells Hotel on 28 September 6-8pm.

DO MORE OF WHAT YOU DO BEST AND SURROUND YOURSELF WITH COMPLEMENTARY STRENGTHS TO ACHIEVE TOP PERFORMANCE

It was great fun appearing on Kent’s Business Bunker radio last week where I was given the opportunity to talk about my passion – discovering and working to your strengths (my segment starts about half way through the show!).

Do you know your leading strengths and do you use them?

The show stimulated a lot interest and curiosity. So I wanted to take the opportunity in this post to feed the interest by recommending the Strengthsfinder 2.0 book by Tom Rath. Rath explains the Gallup research that underpins the profiling, after which you are given a pin number to take the profile online. It will generate a report that details your top 5 leading strengths and recommends actions you can take to best utilise your unique strengths. The book also tells you about the other strengths measured in the profile that you may also recognise in yourself and others.

It was my experience working within the Gallup Organization that inspired me to become a coach and to focus my energies or moving people away from fixating and worrying about what they can’t do and towards focusing on what they do best and managing their limitations.

Discover the power of combining your strengths with that of others

I always include strengths and personality profiling in my coaching programmes  as a solid building block from which you and your business can grow, and to help you identify what you are looking for in others to complement your strengths and move you towards your business vision and goals . In particular my group coaching programme kicks off with a 1-2-1 to discover your strengths and how you can best focus your energies to your business vision and planning.

If you want to find out more, please get in touch or even better, come and meet me at the Launch and Briefing evening for the Step Up! Forums in Tunbridge Wells on Wednesday 28 September 6-8pm. Please RSVP on my linkedIn Event.

Well if you’re just back from holiday – welcome home. I hope you had a fabulous break and are raring to go. I have recently returned from a trip of a lifetime in the wilderness of Alaska where whales were in abundance, the scenery breathtaking and the glaciers awesome. I could go on – but don’t worry I won’t!

Whilst I was away I sent you a continuation of the blog series to help you crystallise your business vision and to encourage you to focus on your strengths to maintain your inspiration and maximise your potential and productivity.

Thanks to those from whom I have received encouraging feedback by email and on my networking travels, letting me know how the blogs have got you thinking about what you need to do.

My last blog gave you some tips for making more time so you can act on what you need to do. I know it can be challenging to come out of the business to work on it; to make regular time to brainstorm and plan what you want to do and take the action to make your business vision a reality.

You are not alone – help is at hand!

I network face to face quite a lot as it allows me to meet new people, and build relationships with those I already know. It also gives me feedback about what business owners need.

What I am hearing is that many owner managers need support from others where you can share business issues and ideas in a confidential environment to help you grow. Networking alone does not meet this need and when you’re with potential clients they want to know what you can do to help them and their clients – not what is preventing you from doing it!

MONTHLY STEP UP! FORUM
Whether you want to move forward in small steps or leaps and bounds, dma’s monthly Step Up! Forum can help provide the support to help you achieve your goals.

The forum offers you a positive environment of up to 10 business owners who are facing, or have experienced similar challenges to you.

Face to face monthly meetings
I will lead the group and the focus will be to overcome any obstacles that may be hindering your growth and planning specific actions to achieve your business goals.

A kick start 1-2-1 session with your coach
To identify your strengths and challenges and give you focus.

Action plans with support between sessions to make them happen

At the end of each meeting, every member will identify and record actions they want to take before the next meeting and will receive support between the monthly forums to make them happen.

Read more about it here and if you think this forum could work for you, register your interest and I will be in touch.

You will also be given details of the launch evening at

The Royal Wells, Tunbridge Well on 28 September 6-8pm.

Denise Molloy is creator of the Step Up Your Business Programme supporting owner managers to crystallise their business vision, play to their strengths and surround themselves with the right team to achieve personable and business growth.