I don’t often hear conversations about Branding and Information Management practices in the same conversation, but nonetheless, I’d like to go there.  It seems a bit odd – like talking about wood canoes and bike brakes, doesn’t it?  They’re both big subjects, and lumping them together seems counter-intuitive.  For me, they’re linked together with one thing that will allow you to do more than anyone else with less resources.  By being Proactive.

I’ve worked for organizations with reactive cultures.  They’ve caused me much stress and angst.  Sometimes, I wish I was more proactive.  I’ve found that it’s possible to continue being proactive, even when other people are not built the same way.  If you’re like me, and trying to get better at many things, being proactive may allow you to reach more of those quickly.  Along the way, I’ve found a few tips on being proactive, and I’d like to share a couple of them with you here.

Let’s start with an Information Management Plan.  What is it?  It’s figuring out what your plan is going to be by creating Categories (a taxonomy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxonomy ) of what you’re going to sell, then connecting that with a plan of how you’re going to manage your information resources.  It’s coming up with which products you’ll sell, which one you’ll sell first, what you’ll sell them for, and a way to organize those products digitally.  You may have another information management plan for your website, including what links are where, so that when a linked page breaks, you’ll have a quick way to go update those pages without reading through every page on your website.  Information Management Plans can be comprehensive, and well worth reading more about.  Don’t let that stop you from putting together a simple one.

It’s the same way with Branding.  Today, I spent much of the day putting together my branding look.  I’ve been in business over a year without putting any thoughts towards my ‘look’.  I’ve been mostly concerned about my product; making sure my writing had the right message for the client.  My resolution for 2012 is to step further into my own power, and for me, this includes Branding.  It’s powerful to be ready with my ‘look’ so that I don’t have to panic if I need something.  I’ve had time to prepare it, to make sure that I’m comfortable with what I’m sending out.

So if you’re considering being proactive, take a look at Microsoft Office Templates (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/).  They have several template styles that you can adapt to fit your Branding.  Again, start simple.  But ship.

There’s so many amazing resources available to us now.  What are you doing proactively to move into your power?

Today’s Exercise:  Figure out what’s running your day – and how to work on that proactively.  Initially, it may mean more work to get ahead of the 8-ball.  Don’t let that stop you.  Take baby steps if needed.  Proactive people get more done, with less.  Haven’t you found that to be true?

My suggestion:  Write a list of what you want to get accomplished in your business in the next 12 months.  Now, put together a proactive plan breaking down that goal into small weekly steps.  And always give yourself 20-30% more time than you think you’ll need.  And don’t forget to include your two weeks of vacation in your estimate.  It’s okay to be proactive with your fun as well.  That’s something I’m working on too.

Dalla

I love my hosting company.  2 years ago, I bought one of those 3.99/month packages that last 3 years, thinking I was going to be really disappointed.  I so haven’t been.  I’m not usually highly effusive, but I’ve considered penning a flowing letter of joy to www.ipage.com for so long, I’m doing it here.  By the way, they don’t know that I’m posting this about them.  I believe that exceptional customer service needs to be shouted from the rooftops when it happens, and I’ve enjoyed almost every phone call with reps at iPage.  My truth-in-lending statement requires me to notify you that I have had two disappointing experiences with an iPage rep over the last two years.

Before I went with iPage, a friend had done her comprehensive research and decided on another hosting company.  When she has a hosting problem, she gets customer service by email only.  I knew enough about my learning style to know that I’m sometimes impatient, and that I need to have nuances explained to me verbally, sometimes multiple times.  I’m an interactive learner that requires auditory input.  When I did my research, I found that iPage offered 24 hour customer service, by agents speaking English in the United States, and going by their real names.  Later, I found out that they’re also really helpful, and usually experienced.  For instance, When I called in to get guidance about starting my blog, the rep told me he had over 50 blogs he’d created.  Wow.  At my full-time job, I’d be paying a pretty penny for guidance from someone with that much knowledge.  The rep proved it by directing me to online resources, and giving me bonus information on different themes.  And forum groups.  Free.

As I mentioned in my last post, I tend to work late and early on my business.  I need a hosting company that can answer my questions at those times – not during work hours, and not by email.  I believe that when good resources are found, they should be shared.

What’s helping you be successful?  Or who?

Today’s Exercise:  Make a list of your must-have requirements for an area of your life or business.  Include your weaknesses that have contributed to projects failing in the past.  Research resources that meet your success criteria.

My suggestion?  If you’re considering web hosting, look at www.ipage.com.  Truly, I have been very impressed. Again, this post comes entirely from my own experiences.  I don’t guarantee any one else’s experiences.  As in all things, ask the right questions, of the right people, at the right time.

Wishing you amazing resources for success,

Dalla

I’m not talking about what you think I’m talking about.  I think.  I’m a girl that likes a good double entendre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_entendre) once in a while.  Overused, they’re about as attractive as a bad toupe comb over.

There’s a book called ‘Taming the Paper Tiger’ (http://www.amazon.com/Taming-Paper-Tiger-at-Work/dp/0938721984/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327123582&sr=1-3) that talks about people who are too organized, yet appear to be completely disorganized.  I’ve felt that way before.  Haven’t you?  I confronted this issue when I started collecting articles for my website this year.

I’ve been writing for over 20 years.  Yes, that means I started early.  I have articles scattered to the winds, and when I decided to put together a portfolio of my work, I Googled myself and learned a lot.  First, dalla means something completely different in Italian.  I still haven’t figured out what exactly.  Next, there’s a few other people named Dalla around the country, including a gardener.  Hmmm…. maybe that’s where my green thumb went?  Most importantly, I found many of my missing articles.  Success!

One of the most important ways you’ll determine your success will depend how you show up in the world.  Bad Toupe, not good.  Great articles, very good.  This can show up as a bad way of dressing, dirty teeth, or a shiny new BMW.

So how are you showing up to support your success?

Today’s Exercise:  Evaluate how you’re showing up for yourself.  What are all the ways you sabotage yourself? 1) Write them all down.  2)  Pick one trait from the list, and write all the reasons why you do that one thing.  Do you have old stories about that?  Include them on the list.  3)  Find another person that has that exact trait.  Decide why you’re trying to emulate that person.  4) Find a person that has a different/opposite trait.  5)  Make a fully informed decision about which trait you’re choosing to keep.

For Example:  1)  Sometimes I push myself to keep working when I want to rest.  2)  My overwork causes me to misspell words and miss editing errors.  Why do I do this?  I start my list.  What are my stories about this?  3)  Well, one of my stories includes my decision that I would always work hard.  We didn’t have any money when I was growing up and that really embarassed me.  I decided I’d always work hard to get what I wanted.  3)  Who’s a person who has this trait?  Steve Jobs, Oprah, Donald Trump are a few famous workaholics.  Seems like society programming is really impressing me on this point. 4)  Who’s a person who has an opposite trait?  My son has a great way of seeing play before work, not work before play.  5)  My decision?  Work on being more balanced in my work/life ratios.

My Suggestion?  Google yourself.

Dalla

One of my biggest growth areas is perfectionism.  If you know many perfectionists, you know we’re often procrastinators.  We keep waiting for knowledge, new talents, miraculous events, extra time or new possibilities to show up so that we can shine.  We’re not ready, we keep telling ourselves.  Sound familiar?

I love Seth Godin.  I love his authenticity, his willingness to explore his own weaknesses in a transparent way.   I think he’s one of the foremost thinkers of our time today.  Most of all, I love his message about always shipping.  What does shipping mean for me?  It means starting before I’m ready,  confronting that voice that warms of failure, that fear of embarassment, that possibility of success.  It means pushing myself when I’d rather be playing, when I’d rather be stalling.  It means letting another person read my writing before I’m ready,  which some authors can never do.  It sometimes feels like letting my babies play in the middle of an interstate full of uncaring drivers.  I quake.  I shake.  But I still ship.

What’s holding you back from shipping?

Today’s Exercise:  Take a piece of paper, and divide into 2 columns.  On one side, write down everything that’s keeping you from starting or continuing your project.  On the other side, write the opposite.  You’ve just written down your roadblocks and your solutions.

For Example:  If it’s time, rearrange.  If it’s money, barter.  If it’s resources, research.

Listen to Seth Godin at www.sethgodin.com and ship.  No matter what, ship something.  Send it out imperfect, full of warts and holes.  And then celebrate.

Bonus:  Give your subconscious a loving name; use a name that someone you’ve loved called you previously.  If you didn’t have a loving experience, design your own.  Make up a loving name you wish someone you’d loved had called you previously.  Acknowleging and connecting with your subconscious increases your brain power by 92%.  Start partnering with your subconscious, and say Thank You when something goes right.  Yes, thank your subconscious.  That’s your most powerful self in there trying to help you ship.  Thanks, Seth, for leading the way – and inceasing shipping around the world.

Dalla

Today is my first blog, and I’m blogging for an audience of one.  Myself.  I trust that in the future, as you read this, you’ll appreciate the process I’m going through as I rebuild my site.  Hopefully, you’re in a different space, refraining from questioning yourself through every step.  If you are doubting yourself, know that I too have enjoyed that suspenseful swamp of self-doubt.  Keep on going.

Just to give you some background about me:  I work full-time, often way past 40 hours a week.  My part-time business has been up and running for the last year, with 14 clients that I’ve fit in on weekends, late nights, and early mornings.  It’s been a business that has really driven itself, as I’ve struggled to keep up with tasks I’ve taken on.  I’m a single mom, watching my son’s wings continue to get stronger so that he can escape our loving home, becaue he’s ready to run free.  We’re both learning to moderate our communication styles – he from the helpless to the helpful, me from mother to less-involved friend.  We haven’t gotten to this stage without battle scars, working on being supportive of each other without sliding into old patterns.

My copywriting business started last year with a friend’s request to go to a CD Launch party I didn’t want to attend.  At the party, I was talking to another guest, and she asked what I did.  I asked – what I do now, or what I want to do?  Oh, she said, how about both?  I explained about my day job, and how I really wanted to be a copywriter.  Hmmm, she pondered, and said, “I really need a copywriter.”  I hurried on to tell her that I was about two years away from starting my business, that I could connect her with other copywriters, and she simply smiled and asked me to join her for lunch to discuss the possibility.  I did.  In fact, I came to the lunch with a fully detailed email autoresponder series planned and written for her business.  In short, I was ready.

So why did I wait another year to start a blog?  Good question.  Short answer:  I wasn’t ready.  I didn’t take my business seriously last year.  I didn’t work on growing my business; it grew in spite of me.  I rescheduled my clients for my ‘real’ job.  I stayed running, trying to stay on deadline, focused on my need for perfection, always overcommited, trying to do everything well and still stay sane.  I’ll move into this year with many lessons under my belt.

For every blog I write, I’ll give you a resource, hoping to help you with your learning curve, and clear your path a little.  I hope you’ll use these resources to conquer any fears delaying your success.  My biggest fear (so far) is not fear of failure; it’s fear of success.  I believe we all have everything we need to succeed beyond our wildest imagination, which honestly doesn’t make me feel better.  That’s scary!  I’ll continue walking through my fears, and hope you’ll do the same.

My first exercise for you:  Why aren’t you successful?  Create a list of every story, reason, person, personality trait, contributing factor, or anything else that keeps you from success.  Write for as long as you can.  Know that this list, when completed, is a list of fears and beliefs keeping you from all that you deserve.  Use this list to investigate further, searching through those strories and reasons for ways to release them.

Here’s an example:  When I was 4 years old, I clearly remember my mother telling me that everything that happened wrong was my fault.  Several years ago, I did the exercise above.  I decided to tell every small girl I saw around that age (in my head, of course!) that everything wrong was their fault.  I could never finish the process because it just wasn’t true.  I realized I could release this old belief that had caused many disfunctional jobs, stresses, and relationships.  Realizing my internal story, and letting it go, allowed me to act in a different way to achieve different results.

Good luck to you on your path, and thank you for reading my first blog!  I hope you continue to read on, and use these resources to step into your most powerful self.  I’m planning to!

Dalla