Boston Business Coach, Michael Snedeker: Stop procrastinate. The time is now.

Boston Business Coach, Michael Snedeker: Stop procrastinate. The time is now.: Let me guess. You should be doing something else rather than reading this article. But due to some unknown force of nature, you decided to ...

Stop procrastinate. The time is now.

Let me guess.You should be doing something else rather than reading this article. But due to some unknown force of nature, you decided to procrastinate by reading an article about how to hack procrastination. You deserve a pat on the back.Fortunately, procrastination is not a disease. It’s just a mindset that can be changed, however, here are some reminders you need to consider for these hacks to really work.First, you need to acknowledge that procrastinating is an unhealthy habit. Not only you’re prioritizing unimportant things, basically, nothing gets done.

Second, your commitment to change is very important. You should be physically, emotionally, and mentally determined to change this habit. If not, then you’ll just succumb to the tempting lure of doing other things rather than your tasks or chores.Here are some tips to improve productivity and keep yourself from procrastinating at work:When we are productive, we efficiently finish various tasks and achieve better results. However, there are many bad habits that are killing our productivity, yet we don’t recognize them at all. In order to improve your productivity, you have to give up these bad habits.

After a busy working day, everyone tends to sit in front of the TV, then move to the bedroom and continue watching TV. Many people think it relaxes them. However, it just makes them more tired. Sometimes, you don’t even realize how much time has passed when watching TV shows, and you end up falling asleep very late at night instead of falling asleep immediately. Get the TV out of your bedroom and soon you’ll notice that you sleep better and longer, and you feel fresh when you wake up. Moreover, being positive and fresh in the morning will certainly boost your productivity at work. Instead of watching TV shows, use the time before you fall asleep to evaluate your day and have intimate conversation with your partner. You can also focus on self-improvement by signing up to an online college where you can improve yourself and learn how to become more productive and efficient in your field of work. Turn off TV, bring education and intimacy in your home.

Social networks are great for staying in touch with family and friends. However, when chatting, posting, sharing, and looking at various funny photos, we lose the sense of time and waste hours just scrolling through pages. Usually, before we fall asleep, we decide to check if there is something new in the news feed and end up falling asleep very late at night. You then feel tired in the morning and incapable of doing anything that demands focus and hard work.Also, while working, we get interrupted all the time by the notifications that someone posted something or commented on our status update. You look at the notification and, instead of working, you get lost in the world of social networks. You become less focused on work and less productive. When at work, turn off the notifications and don’t log in. Instead of spending your free time on social networks, if you have something to share and want to do something productive you can learn how you can create a blog and escape your daily routine, while providing entertainment and information to others at the same time.People neglect physical activity because of their busy schedules, but let’s face it – we all have 20 minutes per day to spend working out. Before you go to work or when you get back, you can go hiking or jogging for 20 minutes. It is not much, but your body and mind will definitely benefit from it. If there is no place for jogging around your home, you can do simple exercises in your living room. If you have more time, you can take some yoga classes, which will help you not only to be physically active and fit, but also to become more productive and focused. When working out, you won’t feel any back pain caused by stress and sitting all day. You will definitely feel better and healthier, which will contribute to being more productive during the whole day

We are all proud when we say that we are multitasking, and some even consider it a necessary skill of successful people. However, it is not a virtue and is slowly killing your productivity. When you multitask, you may be concentrated and focused, but that doesn’t mean that you are focused on every task equally. Moreover, not every task will be finished on time, and the results won’t be so good.Getting fully focused on one task at a time will certainly bring you better results, because you will be able to perform them without distractions. If you are used to multitasking, try organizing yourself and doing one task at a time, and then compare the results. You might be surprised.

A person who is dedicated to their work always strives for perfection. However, some people are never satisfied with their work, which leaves them with unfinished work and a lot of stress. When striving for perfection, you may start over-analyzing things and focusing on tiny details. Being detail-oriented is a virtue, but if you are paying attention to every little detail, you are losing a lot of time on unimportant little tasks. In this way, your productivity decreases and you become exhausted. Put effort into the task and be detail-oriented, but don’t waste time, talent, and effort on the things that don’t affect the outcome of the task.

Spontaneity should be present in our lives and not everything should be predictable. But when it comes to work management, we should organize our time well. When you are going with the flow, the work just keeps piling up. A chaotic schedule can lead only to decreased productivity, which usually results in failure.Learn how to organize your time and make a good working plan in order to improve productivity and the chances of success. Moreover, the key to success and being productive is to determine both short-term and long-term goals.It is impossible to be productive and focused all day. The times when someone will be productive depend on the individual. Some people are productive in the morning, some in the afternoon and some are night owls.  Find out when you are most productive and organize your schedule accordingly

.Many people think that they can save a lot of money by doing everything themselves, but they are wrong. They are losing money and time: instead of working on demanding tasks, they get lost in doing unimportant things that only waste their time. Smaller tasks should be outsourced, since there is no need for you to put effort into completing them. Outsourcing will pay off, and you will be able to finish important tasks successfully and on time.

Since we all want to complete some tasks successfully, we tend to postpone finishing them, because we need some time to think about how to get the best results. This always leads to procrastination, which leads to decreased productivity. If you want to be productive, you should trust your instincts, talent, and knowledge, and don’t question your success. Don’t let your virtue, to achieve the best possible results, destroy you.

Learn how to deal with stressful situations, because they are negatively affecting your health, mood, and productivity. Negative feelings evoke the unwillingness to perform certain tasks, and you end up doing them unsuccessfully. The recipe is simple – just be happy. Avoid stressful situations and learn how to cope with them. Find a way to get rid of negative emotions and stress and gain some positive energy. When you are happy, you can do everything with little effort. You will notice that 

x

Michael Snedeker | Where is your business heading

Why do successful athletes and business folks need a coach?

To get that extra split second faster or just that little bit of a business edge in a highly competitive market. You need to work with someone who can make you better and stop you from hurting yourself. Someone that can give you practical advice on doing things that will get you the results you desire.

So what does getting a Business Coach mean?

It means YOU are committed to YOUR business and personal success! It means your personal pride or ego is not getting in the way of your business needs. It means you are ready for an experienced professional to take a fresh look at your business. It means taking YOUR business to the next level.

Do you know the two main warning signs that tell you when you should be working with a Business Coach?

1.     Nothing is happening in your business, or even worse, you are going backwards.

2.    Everything is happening at once. Big growth, if you are not prepared or experienced with how to handle it, can be a huge challenge)

So, lets talk about item number one. Nothing is happening in your business. You are stuck in neutral and don’t know whether to shift into reverse, first or overdrive. Or, you feel your service is good, you have good systems in place, you are marketing well, but you are not seeing growth. There is no increase in profits, or worse yet you start losing money, and your sales are stagnant.

What are you to do?

First, don’t give up. Find an experienced Business Coach who is familiar with your business and can give you some help. Don’t beat yourself up as you will just get more frustrated. The answer may simply be a shift in perspective, realigning your goals with the reality of your marketplace. Business is fluid. Customers change. Competitors change. We change. Often these changes are very difficult to identify on your own. An outside perspective to challenge your thinking can be a huge help.

We have all heard the expression “you are too close to the forest to see the trees”. Often others can help you see areas for growth that you can’t. Sometimes you are just too close, and that is when you know you need some business coaching!

Now lets talk about item number two.

Everything is happening at once, big growth in revenue and profits, big growth in equipment and employees. Everything is firing on all cylinders. So why do you feel so out of control? The fact that you have read this far tells me you are not so full of pride that you don’t realize you have problems. That is a huge first step in addressing real issues to make your business more fun and enjoyable.

So let’s start with a few questions. 

·          Is your business growing the way you want?  Or do you feel out of control?

·          Do you have the infrastructure to support the growth you have recently experienced?

·          Is the growth long term or just because of a regional catastrophic loss in your town?

·          How can you best capitalize on this growth?

·          Which areas of your business should you expand?

·          Which areas of your business should you contract?

Please, do me and yourself a huge favor! Don’t get so lost in the busyness of running your business that you ignore the vital questions above.  Too many restoration and remediation businesses fail because they are not properly set up to grow. I know it sounds crazy but it is true.

So let me warn you, if you start to feel successful and invincible, get a Business Coach on your team to help you navigate and help you set the proper course for your business.

Working with a Business Coach at start up time

This can be the best time to start working with a business coach. Soon after you have started your Disaster Restoration or Environmental Remediation business there is a lot of work to be done, such as:

·         Setting up systems and procedures for growth

·         Planning and implementing marketing initiatives

·         Setting guidelines for training and staff development

·         Systematically delivering outstanding customer service

Establishing a great working relationship with Your Restoration Coach from the get-go will help you tremendously to build a business on a solid foundation. Let your Business Coach help you avoid common mistakes.

Isn’t it much better for you to have good systems in place from the start to prepare you for growth and give you and your business the best possible chance for success?

Your business is strong and you are ready to take it to the next level

Once you have successfully gotten out of the starting gates there is still a lot of work to be done in your disaster restoration or environmental remediation business.

Finding and working with a business coach who has “been there – done that”, in the insurance property damage restoration, repair and remediation business can be a huge help.  How? By helping you avoid common mistakes, preparing you for sustainable growth, giving you and your business the best possible chance for long term success, all the while ensuring you are building on a firm foundation.

Having a Business Coach will help you remember the original inspiration for your business. It will help you see new areas for growth. A good business coach may help you get a new perspective on your business or the realities of your current marketplace so that you see new opportunities.

Its all about growth and development at this stage.  Working with an experienced Business Coach will help you not only expand your vision but increase your sales and profits. A good Business Coach should not be looked as an expense but rather as an investment in your business. In fact a healthy ROI should be achieved on a yearly basis.

“Hey Coach Michael, its lonely here at the top!”

Absolutely. Winners can scare off or overpower a lot of people.

Having a Business Coach is perfect for the highly successful business owner.  You have achieved amazing results. You know your business inside out. Others come to you for advice and guidance.

So, where do you turn to be challenged and inspired?

The more successful you are, the more likely you are to drive and challenge yourself to grow and learn. Working with a Business Coach can extend your personal skills and the overall scope of your business by showing you creative ways and paths to success you had not thought of.

.

So let me ask you, where are YOU right now?

Are you just starting out? Feeling stuck? Overwhelmed with activity and making every decision in your business? Are you strong but stuck in the same spot? Or are you ready to fly and go to the next level?

All of these are the right time to call Your Restoration Coach.

Contact Coach Michael Snedeker at coachsned@gmail.com and chat about how his powerful business coaching can get you out of a rut, over a hurtle, and soaring ahead with sales, profits, staff development, and real growth.

Boston Business Coach, Michael Snedeker: Michael Snedeker | Closing The Sale

Boston Business Coach, Michael Snedeker: Michael Snedeker | Closing The Sale: Once the meetings are done and all the questions have been answered, the only thing left to do is to close the deal. Business Coach, Business, Sales, Marketing, Michael Snedeker, Entrepreneur

Michael Snedeker | Over come procrastination

 Over come procrastination 

                              

Do you have a problem with procrastination?

It’s so easy to do it later…or tomorrow…or next week.

It’s so much easier to stay in my comfort zone than to create that new project and create that new test.

In fact, even though I’ve accomplished quite a bit online, I still find myself facing the procrastination monster from time to time.

Here are 7 quick tips to help you overcome procrastination.

1. Make Action Notes

Create action notes when you’re studying any type of information product, listening to a teleconference, or attending a seminar.

It’s easy to simply make notes on all the great information you hear, but that won’t do your business any good. The only part of the information that does you good is the part you USE to build your business.

So create a list of action points. I do this when reading an ebook or any other form of information. If I write down just one action point, the product has been worthwhile. If I have an empty page when finished, it wasn’t worth my time or money.

What you have to be careful about is to make sure you don’t write dozens and dozens of “action points.” Those are notes. You’re going to be hard pressed to really pull out more than 3 action points at any time.

2. Get Rid of Fear

Part of the reason we procrastinate is because we’re afraid of what’s going to happen when we step out.

Some of us are afraid of failure…while others are actually afraid of success (their mind is blocking them).

For me, I’ve simply changed my attitude about “failure.” If a project doesn’t work, it isn’t a failure. It’s a test. Well I tested that and it didn’t work. Now I’ll test something else.

That way you’re not personalizing the “failure” to yourself. All marketing is simply a test that we keep learning and growing from.

Growing experiences aren’t always fun, but they happen.

3. Turn Off Distractions

You know you have to write that article, produce that video, or create that website. It’s so much easier though to live in a state of distraction where you’re constantly checking your email, answering the phone, or visiting your favorite forum.

Turn off all those distractions. Focus on the task at hand. When it’s time to write, sit down and write. Don’t edit. That comes later. Simply start typing whether it’s good or crap. It doesn’t matter. It’s taking the action.

4. Daily Plan

At the end of each day I spend about 3 to 5 minutes writing a quick schedule for tomorrow. When I slack on this, I end up wasting at least an hour trying to figure out what to do.

Don’t ask me why that is. I don’t know. Five minutes to write a schedule for tomorrow…an hour of wasted time if I try it in the morning.

What’s the primary goal tomorrow? How will I grow my business tomorrow? What’s a rough schedule for each hour tomorrow?

Real simple…and written on normal paper in a desktop calendar. I don’t even use any software for this basic planning.

5. Do the Most Profitable Activities First

What is the most profitable activity in your business? Do it first. It might be creating that new product, writing sales copy, or contacting potential partners for your upcoming project.

One activity that should come in every day is a marketing activity designed to generate new business (even when you’re busy). It could be as small as adding five new keyword phrases to your Adwords account, running one ezine ad, or submitting your post to social sites.

Which activity you take isn’t what I’m focusing on here. All I’m looking at is making sure you’re doing something to generate new business and/or buying visitors everyday.

6. Reward Yourself

Set milestones and reward yourself. Maybe your goal today is to write 10 articles. Your reward could be that you’re done for the day even if it only takes you 2 and a half hours.

Maybe it’s that item you wanted to buy if you finish the project by Wednesday. Maybe you get a 4 day weekend if you get done on Thursday.

Reward yourself with something when you reach your daily and weekly goals…even if it’s just a small item.

7. Accountability

Make yourself accountable to someone for what you want to accomplish. This could be a coach you work with or it could simply be a business friend. They tell you their weekly goals and you tell them yours.

Now you know you’re going to asked about how you did.

Have you ever tried working out alone compared to a workout partner? You’ll find yourself exercising even when you might have slipped because you can’t let your buddy down. Having someone who is relying on you in business can produce the same results.

For example, if you want to really make sure your project is done on time, make a commitment to others. Let those affiliates know when the new product is releasing. Tell your customers what is coming.
In other words, assign your own public accountability.

Michael Snedeker is a Certified Business Coach. With almost two decades of experience in high level positions in the banking and investment industry, and nearly a decade of experience as a small business owner himself, Michael has thorough experience building teams with businesses and entrepreneurs that are focused on advancement. A prolific public speaker, he has a passion for helping businesses grow and become profitable so that business owners and executives can enjoy the lifestyle they desire. Michael works with his clients to set clear, achievable goals by proposing specific management tools that can be implemented immediately into any business plan or model. Depending on a client’s needs and situation, he offers a number of one-on-one and group coaching programs to help them grow their businesses, engage their teams, and excel in their various fields. A member of a multitude of local and national professional associations, Michael enjoys following college and professional football, motorcycle riding, and fishing in his free time.

Michael Snedeker | Closing The Sale

Once the meetings are done and all the questions have been answered, the only thing left to do is to close the deal. As an entrepreneur, you are usually bidding against a competitor, and while you might be able to bring the deal to the table, the deal is not done until all the I's are dotted and T's are crossed.

Lets face it: getting a client from the request-for-proposal stage to actually signing on the dotted line can be a stressful and daunting task. But with a few tips, any business person can be a better closer.

 Business Coach, Michael Snedeker has a few useful ways for any entrepreneur to successfully close a deal:

1. Sweeten the deal.

Closing a deal is sometimes a matter of giving a client an extra incentive to do business with you instead of your competitors. One way to do this is by sweetening the deal -- either at the beginning of the sales process or right near the close when the customer is weighing a purchase or seems to be wavering on finalizing the transaction. 

You can sweeten the deal by throwing in freebies that have high perceived value. Other ways of sweetening a deal include adding support services, ancillary products or one-on-one help that the customer may desire. 

Smart entrepreneurs know what their clients value most -- whether it's cost, quality, performance, convenience or other benefits. Savvy entrepreneurs add sweeteners to help satisfy their customers' wants and needs.

2. Let customers pay how they want.

Many entrepreneurs lose out on snagging paying customers because the business owner is too rigid in the payment process, or they're woefully out of touch with how customers want to pay. 

Depending on your target customers, some clients want to pay using more traditional methods, such as credit cards, checks or cash. But with advancements in digital technology, other clients may prefer to use online or mobile payment methods, such as PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Wallet.

Those who are open and willing to accept a broader range of payments will diversify their client base, establish or maintain a broader income stream, and close more deals.

                                            3. Negotiate from a position of strength (not need or greed).

Knowing how hard to negotiate is always tricky for entrepreneurs hungry to close more deals. But just because you're seeking additional revenue doesn't mean you should cave in and drastically slash your prices at the first sign of a price objection. 

It's just as counterproductive to succumb to desperation as it is to fall victim to greediness. As hard as it can be, need and greed shouldn't rule your decision-making during business negotiations. Instead, you should negotiate from a position of strength, based on your unique features, benefits, capabilities or offerings.

When you have a really strong sense of what you and your products or services are worth in the marketplace, don't be afraid to ask for pricing that reflects your value. You'll close deals with the right customers -- and sidestep those who aren't in your sweet spot. 

Too many entrepreneurs sell themselves short in the hunt for new business. That's a big mistake. It's harder to raiser prices later, especially on existing customers. So it's better to set your pricing accurately and accordingly from the get-go, and update prices gradually as necessary or as market conditions change.

4. Offer a (nearly) free trial.

A final way to close a deal is to offer a free (or nearly free) trial offer of the product or service you're selling. Some examples are 30 days of complimentary service, a "no money down" purchase for a piece of equipment or a month-long subscription/trial offer for free or deeply discounted software.

A free or almost free trial can be an easy, low-risk way for a new client to give your offerings a try. So by tempting a customer with an offer that's cost-free, or virtually so, you greatly increase the chance of turning that prospect into a paying client.

Michael Snedeker, Business Coach: Michael Snedeker | Can help relieve the stress

Michael Snedeker, Business Coach: Michael Snedeker | Can help relieve the stress:   What is stress and how to relieve stress: "People carry massive responsibilities and are blown about in so many directions as...

Michael Snedeker | Can help relieve the stress

 

What is stress and how to relieve stress:

"People carry massive responsibilities and are blown about in so many directions as they follow an endless to-do list. Are they happier? Satisfied? When tasks don't get crossed off the to-do list, people experience stress, resulting in sleepless nights and days filled with feelings of negativity and inadequacy. Since these people can accomplish on so many levels, they tend to believe that if they don't do it all, then they simply don't measure up. Then chronic stress sets in, unleashing damaging stress hormones, which trigger inflammatory responses responsible for diseases affecting the cardiovascular and digestive systems as well as causing fatigue and depression. People do things with a "loose mind" and feel guilty about relaxing and having fun. In fact, people who find free time, usually don't know what to do with it."

How does someone become addicted to stress?

"Stress is everywhere and we tend to get accustomed to living on a high - that surge of adrenaline. The problem is that with every high, we crash both body and mind, and then need a bigger fix. Mostly this stress is internally driven - we need to prove to everyone how important and indispensable we are. We have lost our identity, what makes a person unique. Basically, this incredible busyness helps us to run away from the self - the deficits in personality and our fundamental unhappiness."

Are there certain types of people that are most vulnerable to stress?

"A little stress (acute stress) can be good because it jump-starts people to perform better and keep the immune system vigilant. For example, some people do well on deadline. However, when stress becomes chronic, it becomes unhealthy and saps our vitality. The people who are most vulnerable to stress addiction are victims of 'identity theft;' they have lost their personal power along the way to becoming a colleague, spouse, parent, etc.

Another predisposing factor is emotional programming by parents, teachers and religious leaders to be good, self-sacrificing and giving - people pleasers. People pleasers have plenty of parasites lined up for them. Suppressed and silenced, these people wonder why everyone is happy, except for them."

The Impact of Stress

How does stress affect relationships and other areas of a person's life?

"Stress robs people of joy and natural self-expression. People become irritable, abrupt and inattentive listeners - many unnecessary conflicts follow. Everyone is affected by this negativity. It's like people have a big chip on the shoulder. Quite often people will keep giving and doing for others, then feel resentful. This is a recipe for road rage in the living room because if you live with someone, that person becomes a mirror in which unhappiness projects on. This causes the person to tiptoe around you."

Steps for Lifestyle Modification for Stress Relief. What are some lifestyle changes someone can make to combat stress?

                                                                             Time for Yourself

The first step is awareness. Instead of helicoptering over others and taking care of their needs, helicopter over yourself. See the pattern. Create some special time for yourself by shedding one thing from your to-do list. How does this make you feel? The next day, let go of another chore. Instead of that to-do list, create a "look what I did today list." Find an activity which makes your heart sing and revive the inner child who had hopes and dreams. Do you dare to dream anymore?"

Eating and Exercise

"Food and mood correlate. Even the order in which you eat your food is important. The key word is balance. In the book, I give you the food science. Also, exercise is vital because exercise releases damaging stress hormones, increases feelings of empowerment and improves focus. Exercise breaks you out of a negative mindset because 'you mind your muscle'.

"Tip: When you are highly stressed, walk it off wearing headphones. Music and exercise create a great synergy to release stress. Walk with headphones outdoors in the light and you can reset your natural rhythm, the more intense the stress, the longer the walk. "

How can someone bring his or her stress level down when going through a challenging time?

"Stress is fueled by perception". 'Life is a series of recoveries.' Each time you manage a stressor, you raise your stress threshold to cope with the next stressor - creating experience and empowerment. Stress management means preparing to reinterpret those negatives into optimistic resiliency with constant practice beginning with the little things.

"Everything is a story, the story we create out of the facts. Re-frame your story. Shift your perception after you've calmed down and come to your senses instead of numbing them."