FocusFive Consulting

02/17/2020

Apprehension and Fear
I often talk about Dump Lists. My clients make a list of everything they need to do. I help them to organize and prioritize everything on their list. Then we create an action plan and put some of the actions in their calendar. YES! In their calendar at a specific time. No more To Do lists where things hang around for years and years.

Last week, due to personal issues, one of my clients hadn't looked at their Dump List for a couple of months. When we met, they were so afraid to look at the list that they created a new one! We worked on the new list and it was time to incorporate it into the orignal Dump List. My client nervously looked at the list and....... guess what......?? So many things had been accomplished!!!

This provided an opportunity to talk about apprehension and fear and how it can build and build until it is completely out of proportion. Once they pushed through their fear and looked at the list all of their concern vanished.

Do you let things build until you're afraid to take action? Do you have things that need to be done, yet you're unable to move forward? Let's set up a 20 minute consultation. We'll look that fear right in the eyes and you'll see how little you have to be afraid of!!!

07/26/2019

I don't think I've ever written about having FUN with my clients. Along with the work we do, there's often laughter and joking. I have a new client who is just beginning to let people know about her business. One of the priorities on her Dump List is writing a newsletter. Last week and this week we sat down to create the outline and draft the contents.

Yesterday we finalized the contents and she learned how to create links to pertinent articles. My client was SO excited!! We really were having fun. Last night she sent out the newsletter and posted it on different social media platforms. I sent her an 'atta girl' email and she responded: "Thank you, Linda! I’m having so much fun working with you!" If you'd like to have some fun while you look at how to grow your business, let me know. I love having fun with my clients!

07/17/2019

Something I focus on with all of my clients is using their calendars. If you have something to do, put it in your calendar. Are you driving somewhere? Leave time in your calendar to get from one place to another. You can't teleport yourself, yet!

Every person I work with has benefited from entering email time, reading time, shopping time and exercise time in addition to work-related meetings and planning. If you'd like to organize your time and gain some freedom, give me a call! 678.524.2380

02/04/2019

What's hard for one person can be so simple for another. My newest client has a new position, two kids, a husband and is overwhelmed. She 'dumped' everything she has to do into a google doc and we get together once a week and move through her dump list.

First, we categorized it, then we prioritized everything on the list. Each week she tells me she hasn't done very much and then she's surprised at how much she's accomplished.

We spend a lot of time talking about what she needs to do and how she will do it. We problem-solve and brainstorm. At the end of each session she moves items into specific dates and times on her calendar. No To-Do lists. Everything in real time in her calendar.

It's very satisfying for her and for me to see the progress she's making - and to feel the stress moving one item at a time.

08/09/2018

As I continue working with my new client, I see how easily different personalities and styles of behavior can clash. I know that my client is a cautious, analytical, methodical person. His boss is a fast-moving, multitasking, bottom-line, hard-hitting person.

I'm working with my client, giving him specific information on how a cautious person can deal most effectively with a fast-moving person.

08/02/2018

I'm excited to be working with a new client. He's just received a promotion and is dealing with multi-tasking and prioritizing in a job where 'everything is a priority.' We'll be looking at how he manages his day, what his tasks are and how he can adjust from being a person who dots every "I" to someone who can move more easily from one task to another.

07/12/2017

I just found a video of me talking about my Brainstorming Roundtables and the volunteer work I've done with ProWIN in Atlanta. Take a look......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRp7XGhRfxc

To learn more about ProWIN visit http://www.prowin.com ProWin's Brainstorming Roundtable offers women business owners the opportunity to participate in their...

06/05/2017

We talk a lot about de-cluttering our homes. Would you like to de-clutter your brain??

One of my favorite things to do with my clients is what I call a Brain Dump! We're both at our computers and we can each see my computer screen. My client starts talking about everything that needs to be done, all of the thoughts swirling in their head, and I start typing. I capture all of the to-do's and get them organized.

Next we organize and prioritize everything. There's lots of conversation with me asking questions and my client adding things as they think of them. Just talking about all of the to-do's and getting them on 'paper' is a relief. Now my client has a road map and their mind isn't as cluttered.

The action plan and goals come next and we're ready to go!

If you'd like to have some relief and get your mind de-cluttered, give me a call. 678.524.2380

05/03/2017

In my Brainstorming Roundtables and working with clients one of the biggest issues small business owners have is hiring the right person. Even if you're hiring someone to work 20-hours/wk to help with admin or bookkeeping, the wrong person will add to your stress not eliminate it.

From my experience, people tend to hire others like themselves. A team becomes stronger when team members approach things differently. Something like a DISC assessment is really helpful in filling out a team and including people who compliment your strengths. If you're a visionary, you need someone who will help you to stay focused on immediate goals and not get lost in the big picture. If you're methodical, you want someone who thinks out of the box.

If your team is growing and you want to create a culture that reflects your values and the values you want for your company, let's talk.

04/02/2017

I enjoyed this short video on dealing with people who always need to be right - one of the areas I focus on in my coaching. I'll add that when you repeat what the person has said, it gives them an opportunity to hear themselves. This can be a moment of insight for them. Enjoy! https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins/videos/1109889255773624/

02/04/2017

Curiosity. We know what is right and we want everyone else to know it. Yet there are so many people who look at the same issues we're looking at who feel very differently - and they feel they're right! This applies in our business and personal life.

We may be right, yet being right separates us from others and can make others feel wrong. Then communication either shuts down or becomes combative.

When we talk to others at work about things we don't agree on we can ask questions with the goal of being CURIOUS about their answers. Listen. Really listen without interrupting, judging, or defending our position. Simply listen. Is it possible the person we disagree with has a point? Can we see their point? We don't have to agree, we can just see their point.

Being curious means that we're open to hearing something. That openness can lead to a coming-together, an understanding. Through our curiosity we can begin to understand someone else's viewpoint.

Do you have examples of times you stayed open during a conversation and realized that you had more in common with someone than you realized? Has a conversation with someone you disagree with led to a closer relationship? Try being curious. Ask for more information. Keep asking with the goal of discovering. When you let go of knowing and make room for learning, a team, an office, a partnership can change.

For coaching on listening with curiosity or any other communication issues, call me or PM me.

01/11/2017

I did some goal-creating today with a group. Over the years, I've found the hardest thing for people to include in their goals is a time by when the goal will be completed. It's the part of goal writing that becomes foggy and hard to pin down, or is simply missing. I like to use a template that was given to me by a Director I worked with: By __________ I will ____________ so that ______________. Example: By February 15th I will reconcile my bank accounts and credit cards so that they are ready to be given to my accountant.

This template is concise and it creates a SMART Goal. A SMART Goal is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results-Oriented and Time-Bound. As I said, even when using this template many of the people I work with simply don't include the date by when the goal will be completed. I think it has to do with being accountable. Many of us avoid declaring or stating the date when they will complete a goal so that no one can hold them to that date. It sort of defeats the purpose of creating the goal.

Having someone to whom you are accountable brings you closer to achieving it. If you're interested in creating a solid goal with a realistic action plan for yourself or your team, give me a call at 678.524.2380. You'll be happy you did!