Deb Ingino

This Is Ridiculous!

I am guilty of occasionally worrying about what others might think if I take my strengths and 'let em rip.'

What would they say?

What would I do?

How would I feel?

We're all fragile in one way or another but isn't it ridiculous when we hide the talents and gifts we've been given to ward off looking like a fool 5% of the time?  

What about the 95% of the time when they can make a difference in someone's life...and it's usually our own.

Find the one thing you are amazing at and share it with the world!

 

 

 

 

Newsletter February 18, 2011

 

Wired Productivity 

 

I am often asked, "Deb, how in the world do you do all that you do?"   Well, in this newsletter, I'll open up that little fortune cookie and share a few secrets with you.

 

The first secret is...prepare for this now...THERE IS NO SECRET.  As a high "D" wired person, productivity comes naturally for me.  There are things I do, though, that may prove helpful if you are seeking to reach a goal.  Here are some tools and methods I use.

 

1.  Have clearly defined goals.  Being busy is not the same as being productive.  It's all about focus.  Have clearly defined goals.  Then break those goals into focused steps.  Working that way, you can get a lot more accomplished, but without the frazzle factor.

2.  Don't do it all yourself.  I know the value of teams.  I can do spreadsheets and details, but I don't really enjoy doing them, so it takes me longer than it would take someone else.  A "C" wired person can pull off a spreadsheet in half the time I could.  And, as an added bonus, it would actually be accurate!  The value of a team is that people are working in their strengths and accomplishing each task in less time.  That's a huge timesaver.

3.  If it can be done in a few seconds, do it immediately.

4.  If it takes longer, then concentrate things in "batches".  For example, every Sunday evening is my Free Agent Academy online class time.  I will be answering questions on the discussion board, doing live chat, and even using Skype occasionally to communicate with my students there.  My live classes are always on Thursday evenings, with rare exception. My private coaching clients are Wednesdays and some Saturdays, group coaching sessions that I lead are on Tuesday nights.  These are examples of specific routines, which help keep me on track.  Note to "I" wired friends:  "Routines" is not a bad word.  Routines actually free you to do all those fun things you want to do...but without the guilt of not getting your work done.

 

5.  Use "time stacking".  If I'm going to be on the phone for half an hour, I may also be addressing email, chat, and fielding other questions.  So, in essence, I'm stacking more like an hour's worth of work into that half-hour timeframe.  While on a recent call, I was ordering a pizza for delivery (my version of cooking dinner) and getting my house painted (my version of home decorating).  Now that's an interesting combo.

6.  Launch over lunch.  Did you know you can start a business over your lunch hour?  I know many who have done that, just ask me and I'm happy to share.

7.  Use "template" ideas.  I will build a program and then adjust it for different audiences or purposes.  As you do things, ask yourself if there are ways you can apply those to other areas.

8. Use drive time for productivity time.  Be careful with this one, but you can listen to audio while driving.  Dan Miller calls this automobile university.  Chances are you spend an hour or more in your car every day.  

9.  Make good use of tech tools.  I use my iPhone, laptop, conference calls, audio recordings, etc. An example of this is where I need to give detailed instructions on something.  Doing that via email can take some time.  So I often, instead, do a quick video or record a computer screen demo and email that.  

10.  Don't worry so much about perfection.  Good enough is good enough.  Sometimes, it's more important to just DO something than to keep trying until it is perfect because the land of 'perfect' is a myth.

11.  Don't easily accept limitations.  If it's 3:00 a.m. and I'm in Amsterdam, I've been known to conduct a pre-scheduled conference call at 9:00 p.m. Eastern US Time.  Eliminate excuses. To do great things it may require us to extend past our comfort zone at times.  

12.  Every night, write down three things you MUST accomplish the next day in order to get a little closer to your goals.  Not 12, just 3.  For me, I put these on a sticky note on my computer, and I simply DO them.  Just three things.  It doesn't sound like much, but over time, you will accomplish more than you imagined...just by taking small steps to get there.

 

The biggest secret here is that I have learned all of this from others and you can too!

So here's the fortune in your fortune cookie:

Taking focused steps 

toward a clearly defined goal 

will fast-forward you

to SUCCESS! 

 

 

 

Discover How You Are Wired With Our Online Report

 

Click on the picture below to view a sample report.

 

 

Purchase yours here.

 

 

http://www.MyWiredStyle.com

'Discover And Use Your Wired Strengths'

Watch Everything Change

Life is not perfect.

Our business is not perfect.

Our health is not perfect.

Neither is our attitude.

We have had some winter this year and I love to watch the waterfall going into our pond because as long as it keeps moving, it doesn't freeze, it serves its' purpose, it brings a little bit of joy to a dreary, cold, winter.

But there is one thing you and I can do to to hold off failure....keep moving.  Often times we hit a stumbling block and instead of stumbling we stop completely.  I love this line from Think and Grow Rich 'On the hills of procrastination lie the bones of countless millions who upon the threshold of success sat down to wait...and in waiting they died.'

Don't put off using those strengths our Creator has endowed you with.  

Use them and watch how everything changes.

 http://www.MyWiredStyle.com

'Unleash your wired strengths'

More

I just returned from a business trip to Europe and while I love helping people to operate in their strengths it always feels good when you can enjoy something familiar and comforting.  

So, one early evening before dinner I sat myself down at a cafe and ordered coffee.  I must confess a latte is an indulgence I enjoy over and over and over again.  It never gets old.

After sitting down in this charming cafe overlooking a canal in the heart of Amsterdam, I ordered my latte.  The server eagerly took my order and returned back ten minutes later with my latte and a little something extra.  A 3 compartment white dish with sugar cubes, expresso beans and 2 cookies.  He also had placed in front of me a glass of ice water. Wow! A latte with...something more!

I had ordered a latte and this small cafe gave me an experience.  I so appreciated the something more they gave!  It was unexpected, unwarranted, unnecessary but oh so appreciated.

I mean what coffee drinker doesn't need a glass of water afterwards and the 'sweets' were a welcomed extra for sure! 

When I returned back to my hotel at the end of my meeting I thought about the day and what I had learned.  My latte came to mind.  You see that small gesture reminded me of the power of 'more.'  Now, I look to see what 'more' I can bring to my clients, those I serve.  

We all appreciate more...we love being treated well, treated special and appreciated just for being a client.  So what about the people you serve?  What more can you give them to help them feel special and appreciated by you today?

I'm looking each day to see the ways I can give more, and in the theme of more...I'd like to give you a copy of The Strengths Edge E Book, just go to this link and download your copy.

Thanks for being you.

Enjoy your latte and something more!