I realize I am a little off topic this morning, but I absolutely had to ask: Have you ever been mugged by your Day Planner?

Several conference calls I have been on recently have discussed the value of a Day Planner.  I am a big believer in keeping mine up to date every day with all the things that I need to do.  For several years I was the secretary to the Training & Development Manager at Auburn University and time management was one of the big things we trained people in. So, of course, I really learned a lot from these seminars that prove beneficial in the years to come. One was the value of planning your day and working your plan.  Since then I have also heard many motivational speakers talk about the great value of this one item as well.

For many years, I couldn’t afford to buy the planner I wanted so I would use a spiral notebook and put the date at the top of each page. I seem to need a lot of room and I say it is because I write like I talk, A LOT!.  This year, Amy bought me the planner of my dreams for Christmas, and I must admit I do love it.

However, I have noticed the last week or two that the list on my planner seems to be growing larger by the day.  Yesterday, it seemed to loom at me with huge teeth threatening to take me down.  In fact, it was so bad I found myself not wanting to look at it 

So I have been giving it a lot of thought and realized that I was letting this list get under my skin and I had to figure a way to stop.  One of the recommendations by time management and motivational speakers alike is that you should list your six most important items to do that day.  If you will start with the most important and finish it before you continue to the next item, at the end of the day you WILL have done the most important things that needed to be done.  

It is easy to adjust your to-do list, and sometimes things happen that require you to do so.  But be careful of picking and choosing what you do because we tend to do the things we want to and the things we need to do get put on the back burner.  

Whether you choose to use the ABC method of prioritizing your items or another method that works better for you,  remember that in order for it to work, you must actually use it every day and not let it mug you as I did. I guess the bottom line I am trying to make is use your planner wisely and it will become your most vital business partner.

Happy Wednesday,

Micki

If you read my blog post yesterday, you will have noticed that I started the day in not the best of moods.  However, I got myself out and went to work like I should.  It was Thursday which is the day of the weekly conference call with some of my awesome upline!  Since a lot of my reps come on this call, it is a must for me as well.  But let me point out, that even if I were the only one in the Unit who took this call, I would still be there.

Normally, Bill Coleman is the moderator for this call and he is Great!  He gets everyone involved and has a great sense of humor.  We all like him a great deal.  But yesterday he was traveling and we got a “Special Treat”!    Vondell McKenzie, the 1st Avon Leadership Representative and the most incredible woman in this business was kind enough to take Bill’s place.

I cannot begin to tell you what it meant to be able to listen to Vondell talk about the business and give the pearls of wisdom that she is able to contribute.  And to have her ask me questions (and actually know my name) almost me speechless.  And that, for everyone that knows me, is a rare occurence.

We were also treated to suggestions from a top Senior Executive Unit Leader who obviously knows her business well.  At the end of the call, Vondell introduced Dan Mundy who was celebrated at the Huge Gala in Hawaii with his wife Jackie as the #2 Representative in the Company.

In all, it was an hour I won’t soon forget!  I must admit that I have never been a big fan of meetings and conference calls, etc.  But listening to the wonderful people on these calls over the last couple of months has changed my attitude a lot.  These people are a true inspiration for me.

So I guess my parting words for you on this Friday morning would be: Take advantage of every opportunity you can get to learn from the people who are where you want to be.  It is never too late to learn and the wisdom you pick up can definitely help you climb the ladder to the top.

Micki

Good Morning,

I know you are probably wondering about the unusual title of my blog this morning.  I must admit it doesn’t sound very much like me.  But, this morning it was the way I was feeling.  Everyone has days when things just aren’t going right!  The world seems to be falling apart around your ears and you are wondering why you even bother to think positive.

Today was one of THOSE mornings for me.  I actually did not intend to write this morning because I was so down in the dumps.  I told my daughter that my plan for the day had changed and I was going to sit at home, drink beer and eat chocolate chip cookies.    I was not serious, of course, but I must admit the idea was tempting.

The long list of things I had planned on doing seemed insurmountable and rather pointless.  But the more I contemplated a day of sitting in the house feeling sorry for myself, the less attractive it became.  So, instead, I will be hitting the road earlier than I had planned, because I know that work will get me out of the dumps and keep me out.  Working with my customers and my downline I have to keep a positive upbeat attitude (even when I’m faking it).  But an old saying “fake it till you make it” is more true that you realize.

I don’t know what kind of day you are having today, or yesterday, or tomorrow.  But I do know that activity and a smile will help when you having one of THOSE days.  Respond to negative thoughts with positive action and in the long run you will reap the benefits.

I am going to leave you now so that I can go out and meet people and get my mood back to where I like it.  The chocolate chip cookies and beer will just have to wait for another time.

Have a Wonderful Day, I intend to.

Micki

Good Morning,

At a raffle recently, my daughter Amy won a free class on Mentorship/Leadership with John Maxwell certified coaches and they are so gracious they are allowing me to take it with her.  If you are interested in this type of course, check out this website.

http://www.empowermentmentoring.com/riastory/

The first lesson that we will be doing is “Comfort Zone” and I have been giving that a great deal of thought over the last few days.  Listening to motivational leaders over the years I have heard a great deal about getting out of your comfort zone and I have tried to do that constantly. One thing I have begun to realize is that this is not a one thing!

To me, getting out of your comfort zone is a daily baby step process.  Occasionaly,I have gotten so far out of my comfort zone that I look for the nearest life raft and consider swimming for shore.  But, it is all too easy to make that one step and never move again.  Your comfort zone changes and then it is time to step out again.

In my opinion if you want to have the best and fullest life and you want your business to truly succeed you must constantly be watching to see if you are stagnating in your comfort zone.  Be honest with yourself and see if the excuses you are making are truly legitimate or is fear keeping you from moving forward.

Even if you just make a baby step every day,  move out of your comfort zone and see what the world holds.  I think you will be surprised at the personal growth and satisfaction you will get! 

Have a wonderful Tuesday and I am sure I will gain new insights into this subject in our lesson tonight and hopefully I can share some of it with you.

Micki

Happy Monday,

I hope you had a wonderful weekend!  I know I did.  I got a ton of stuff accomplished and felt wonderful for doing it.  I had a list for each day and tried to complete it (knowing that it would never happen).

As I was working I was constantly having to rearrange the order I was going to do things.  For example, I thoroughly cleaned my front door, sanded it down and then, of course, it rained.  So much for painting this weekend.

While I worked on home projects, I realized that many of us are guilty of not being flexible in our business plans.  Although the temptation was great to hit the couch when painting the door was out of the question, I simply looked at my list and found something else that need doing.  But do we do this in our business?  Or, when things don’t go the way we expected, do we shut down and take the day off?

One of the many things I am doing to help my Avon business, is to start back with the daily goal list.  It is constantly changing during the day to suit whatever obstacles are thrown in its path.  That way, when something isn’t going to happen for whatever reason, I have plenty of things to fall back on.  It sounds easy but, unfortunately, I know plenty of people that unless they have a boss who is telling them what to do next they take any set back in the day as an excuse to stop.

So do you take the easy road when an obstacle occurs or do find other things you can do to accomplish your goals?  Keep your lists handy and make this a week of accomplishment.  I’m planning on it!

Micki 

I realize as I start this blog that I seem to always be talking about my business associates in my Avon business.  However, please be assured that when I do, it is always because they give me so much insight into myself.  

After a weekly conference call yesterday, I was talking to one of the reps that had attended.  I noted that many of the ideas that had been presented were things this Representative had contemplated doing but hadn’t yet.  After thinking about this all evening, I wondered if fear of failure could be part of why these things never happen?

I know that this is a problem that I deal with every day.  A very wise man once said, that “Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly, UNTIL you can do it well”.  I had wondered about that statement because I couldn’t imagine myself doing something “poorly”.  I admit, I am a perfectionist and I can’t stand the idea that I might do something that isn’t perfect.

This blog has taught me the value of that man’s statement.  I knew when I first posted that it wasn’t “perfect”.  And oh, the personal humiliation was almost overwhelming.  But, I persevered because I was determined to make it work.  I won’t claim that it is perfect now, but I hope it is getting better.

So, with my new found confidence, I have attempted many things in my Avon business that I shyed away from.  There have been e-cards, e-mails, contests, etc. that I had always thought about, but fear of imperfection kept me from it.  I will be the first to admit that I do ask my closest associates “What did you think?”  I still need the assurance that I did a good job.

So my question for you today is: Are you not doing the things you need to do in your business or your personal life out of fear that they won’t be perfect?  Or the fear of failure?  If so, jump off that ledge and do it poorly if you must “until you can do it better”. 

Have a Great Week-End! 

Micki

For those of you who do not already know, I actually started my first regular conference call yesterday 

I must admit it was a huge leap of faith for me.  I had a horror that No One would dial in and if anyone did they would find it totally a waste of their time.  I was pleasantly surprised that I actually did have people and they seemed to enjoy the short call.  More important, they seemed to have gotten a little motivation from it.

The call was actually a suggestion from someone who I have reason to believe knows what he is talking about, so for better or worse I have commited to doing this EVERY day.

One of the reasons I got into Avon many years ago was because I was so shy that I virtually could not talk to anyone outside of my family.  I am pleased to say, that has definitely changed thanks to my business.  Some of my associates might say I have gone too far in the other direction, and it is difficult for me to stop talking once I get started.

I guess the idea I am trying to get across today, is that you do have to step out of your comfort zone in order to achieve what you want to achieve.  We all have comfort zones, some are just bigger than others.  One of the first things you have to do is recognize where that line is.

So take “A Leap of Faith” and jump out of your comfort zone.  I think you will be amazed at what you can accomplish and the pride you will take in yourself.  In addition, the people you can help in their reaching for their goals, will help to make your life even better.

Micki