“Start as you mean to go on.” 

Joelle told us that this is what is recommended for parents.  For example, if you intend to have your daughter sleep in her own bed, then you start out with her sleeping in her own bed.  If you intend to have your son try a little bite of everything on the plate, then you start by having him take a tiny taste of each item. 

However, for us as adults…whenever we’re starting anything new, which is constantly (at least as far as my experience goes), we need to be thinking about this same notion:  Start as we mean to go on. 

1. Get your goals in mind.
2. Get your structures set up to support that.
3. Let others know if it is going to have an impact on them.
4. and so on…

This is a brilliant idea and I wanted to share it with everyone, because it applies to parents, teachers, entrepreneurs, speakers, business owners, government officials, and so on.

1. Significant other. Do you have a significant other and if so, is he/she a part of your team? If you don’t have a significant other, you don’t necessarily need to go get one (ha!), however, if you DO have one, then you want to enlist his/her support. You might just need to ask or you might need some serious conversations around this topic.       

2. Accountant. Maybe you only need this person for a few hours a year, but it’s worth knowing you have one on your team. Be sure to find out whether the accountant is knowledgeable in the area of small business; just because someone can do your personal taxes does not mean that he/she is able to advise you on your entrepreneurial efforts.       

3. Legal advisor. If you had to call an attorney, do you have one on your team or would you be frantically hunting through the yellow pages? Ask friend and colleagues for recommendations, if you don’t already have someone lined up.       

4. Coach. Hire a life coach. This person is always in your corner and will push and challenge you in ways that you can’t push and challenge yourself.       

5. MasterMind group or accountability partners. Do you have one or two trusted people with whom you can think great thoughts, plan big dreams, explore fabulous ideas?       

6. Friend(s). You don’t need thousands, but you need at least one real friend on your team.       

7. Assistant or virtual assistant. For even a few hours each week or month, is there an assistant you can call on to come to your aid (either in person or “virtually”)? There are a multitude of resources on the internet related to virtual assistants (including http://ivaa.org - The International Virtual Assistants Association) where you can learn more.       

8. Someone you can call on quickly for work-related items. In a crunch, you have someone you can depend on for answers, help, listening, or whatever else you might need.       

9. Someone you can call on quickly for family-related issues. Whatever family issues you are part of (parent, child, caregiver, pet owner, or all of these), do you have a person who can lend a hand, an ear, or a shoulder when you need it? In some cases you should pay for this assistance. Your helper will be more likely to say “yes” in the future if s/he was paid last time you needed help.       

10. Computer guru. In today’s world, if your computer hardware or software isn’t working, you are in big, BIG trouble. You need to have someone (a professional) on your team. It’s worth what you pay to have someone who is ready, willing, and able to help in a crisis (be it a crisis or a CRISIS). In the last year, I’ve been using a virtual service to assist with my hardware repair and it’s been fabulous! Even though they are located right in town where I live, they just ‘remote’ in to my computer and we’re set!

Just consider adding one of these that you currently don’t have, and see the difference it makes.

Become more entrepreneurial regardless of the type of work you’re in. Being an entrepreneur means you are looking for control, challenge, and opportunity–and that can happen in ANY position.

If you want to have support in your entrepreneurial endeavors, you can join Meggin’s Life of E’s program (http://www.LifeofEs.com) You may also want to join others (worldwide) who receive Meggin’s weekly emails (and see what is available for download at no cost at the following website):

**Top Ten Productivity Tips (http://TopTenProductivityTips.com)

(c) 2008 by Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D., “The Ph.D. of Productivity”(tm). Through her company, Emphasis on Excellence, Inc., Meggin McIntosh changes what people know, feel, dream, and do. Sound interesting? It is!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Meggin_McIntosh

Pros of being in a mastermind group:

• You have people you can bounce ideas off of.
• You have folks who will hold you accountable for doing what you say you’re going to do (and accomplish).
• You have others’ networks you can tap into.
• You help the members of your mastermind grow in ways they wouldn’t grow without you (and that feels great!)
• You have people who have no vested interest in whether you do well or not, who have your best interests at heart, and so will tell you the truth.
• Your growth is accelerated by being part of the group.
• Your mistakes are either lessened (or at least the pain is lessened) because you learn from others’ mistakes–and then help them in the same way when you have made mistakes and can share your wisdom.
• You share a trust and camaraderie that is related to your business and that may or may not be related to any other part of your life.

Cons of being in a mastermind group–and I think I’ll call them “cautions” rather than “cons,” because if you don’t attend to these cautions, then none of the “pros” from above apply:

• Consider “where” people are, i.e., in terms of their business direction, intention, overall maturity, knowledge, determination, etc.
• You want to be in a mastermind group with people who are in the same range as you are. If you are with people who are “below” where you are regarding the above-mentioned considerations, then you will be their mentor. If you are with others who are far above where you are, then you are less likely to be able to help them and it becomes an uneven situation. You will constantly be beholden to them and they will feel cheated because they’re not with someone who is on their same level.
• Be circumspect about who is in the group to begin with–and who you let in (if you admit others) as you go along. If you have a group that works well, then adding someone can change the dynamics of the group in a way that might not work. The mastermind group I’m in is 3 people and we have decided that three is our number and we won’t be expanding – ever.
• Set up guidelines for how you will run your group. How often will you meet? How long will you meet? What time frame will be involved each time? It helps to have structure rather than just “getting together.”
• If you are part of a group that doesn’t work, or that no longer works, then take yourself out of the group and find another one (or start another one).

Consider this general advice:

• Form a mastermind with one other person and grow (slowly if at all) from there.
• Consider any mastermind group a trial at first.
• Interview each other.
• Agree to certain non-negotiables.
• Find out if you’re “on the same page” philosophically, ethically, etc.
• Get together, get started, and then watch your growth.
• If you are pushed by your mastermind group–that’s good.
• If you are pushing the others in your group–that’s good.
• If you are all growing and learning and changing–that’s when you know it’s working!

To learn additional information about mastermind groups (and other topics), I recommend checking out Passion for Business, Karyn Greenstreet’s site.   Karyn offers teleseminars, special reports, and other helpful products (many for free) and is a self employment expert and small business coach.

And, to make sure you are productive in your personal and professional life, you’ll want to access the resources at

http://www.TopTenProductivityTips.com

(c) 2009 by Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D., “The Ph.D. of Productivity”(tm)

Through her company, Emphasis on Excellence, Inc., Meggin McIntosh changes what people know, feel, dream, and do via seminars, workshops, writing, coaching, & consulting.Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Meggin_McIntosh

*Obstacle Illusions–Are You Delusional? 
Strategically Plan (and Play) Your Professional and Personal Life (for 2009)*

To learn more about this special teleseminar event, just go to

http://www.meggin.com/ObstacleIllusions2008.php

Here’s the gist:

The title is based on the great quote

“Life is full of obstacle illusions.” (Grant Frazier)

These “obstacle illusions” block your view of the possibilities.  As you near the close of 2008, you want to be ready to peer into 2009.  Together, let’s clear your view so you can see further and know how to get there, too.

This special teleseminar, led by Meggin McIntosh, is for those unique individuals who know they are meant for something more– and want support, guidance, and clarity on what that is and how to get there.

To read all about the teleseminar and to register

http://www.meggin.com/ObstacleIllusions2008.php

Here is how to know if this if for you:

If you want 2009 to be…

• an improvement upon,
• different from, &/or
• more than

…2008 was (either for yourself, your work, your family, and/or your life), then you need to mindfully and deliberately make plans for that to happen.

Join me and other great folks who will be part of the “Obstacle Illusions” teleseminar on

Monday, December 29, 2008 from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Pacific/noon – 1:30 p.m. Eastern

Get moving. Get clear. Go to

http://www.meggin.com/ObstacleIllusions2008.php

where you can learn more and get registered.

Thanks!!

Meggin

P.S. Here’s another great quote:

“Life’s problems wouldn’t be called “hurdles” if there wasn’t a way to get over them.”
~Author Unknown

Make a list of all the people you have who are supporting you.  Next to each person’s name, write down one thing that you could ask that person for.  You don’t have to ask, but see what you come up with and BE BOLD.  People want to help you.  You need to ask them.