“Challengers invite us to take giant steps long before we might ever become giants…Challengers invite us to explore possibilities and hold us accountable in the manifestation of our dreams.”  ~Donna Dahl

Have you ever accepted a challenge? Has someone ever dared you to take an action that you knew would make you feel uncomfortable—and you agreed to accept?

Conversely, have you ever challenged someone? Perhaps you wanted to find out who could run to the end of the block the fastest. Perhaps you bet your buddy that you could sign up more new recruits by the end of the day than he could. Perhaps your friend bet you that you could not go without a cup of coffee for an entire day.

Challenges don’t have to be big, formal things that score time on the evening news. Challenges simply ask you to stretch yourself beyond your normal comfort zone. Some will find that the stretching is downright scary. Fear could rush in and doubt could blanket the whole affair. Things could get frozen or stuck. Some will find that the stretching that comes with a challenge yields an adrenalin rush. The appearance of that rush may set off an appetite for more adrenalin rushes. And thus the search for more challenges begins.

Challengers can arrive at your doorstep in the form of mentors, coaches, teachers, peers, proteges, students, parents, children, bosses, superiors, co-workers, friends and more. Yes, challengers can motivate you to stretch but it is up to you to accept or deny the challenge. Trust counts. I doubt you would accept a challenge from someone for whom you didn’t hold a strong measure of regard. I doubt you would accept a challenge unless you believed you could succeed or make a difference.

Challenges don’t have to be issued by others. You can issue a challenge to yourself. People do this all the time. Think back to early January of any year. People the world over make countless New Year’s resolutions—resolutions that are never kept. Please don’t challenge yourself to do something for which you have small intentions to complete. That’s just setting yourself up for failure.

Setting foot into a challenge should have a sufficient measure of commitment to keep you in the game, so to speak. Your commitment should draw you in with hope for gain. It should not feel like the weight of a heavy burden is dragging you down.

The quote at the beginning of this article comes from my book based on Aesop’s Fable about the tortoise and the hare. The story is a delightful illustration of how beliefs influence achievement and how challenging circumstances can open doors.

As one example, I recently posted a challenge to people who lead meetings. I challenged them to consider ending meetings early, not monopolize the airtime, and end meetings no later than the appointed hour. Meeting management strategies such as these build trust and show respect for other people’s time. I challenge you to set an example with respect to managing the time set aside for your meetings.

I am not one to talk the talk without walking the walk. I was recently challenged to bring new life to my Tortoise Book. I admit it took me some time to give it thought but after saying yes to the challenge, I was in it to make it work. You will find a new look at Tortoise on a podcast with Greg Voisen interviewing me.

When all is said and done, challenges offer opportunities to make discoveries about personal strengths.

May you invite more challenges into your life and may you be open to the discoveries waiting to be revealed. May you discover the joy that having the faith to face those challenges bestows upon you.

By Donna Dahl

Donna Dahl is an author, master empowerment coach and speaker. She is a popular podcast guest and she is considered a thought leader. Her book, Lessons I Learned from the Tortoise, has received numerous 5-star ratings and is an excellent guide for leadership. Read more about this topic in the chapter entitled “Afterword.” Invite her to be your challenger in a discovery call.

The subject of time management has been around for decades. Managers with a penchant for micro-managing people and projects were quick to adopt practices that required people to be accountable for their time on the job . . . every minute of it. Productivity could not be sacrificed because of a measurable lack of respect for the value of a single minute.

Historically Speaking

Time was when there were no clocks. Time was when people rose with the sun’s rising and retired with its setting. Time was when the original alarm clock was more organic than mechanical. The drinking of a large amount of water before retiring, for example, would encourage early rising due to the need to empty an overly full bladder.

Time was when North America entered its industrial revolution by manufacturing such items as automobiles. The large assembly plants required a workforce numbering in the hundreds and sometimes even the thousands. They punched in and out on a time-stamp clock to keep track of each employee's exact contribution of time. That timing apparatus was an invention that resulted from the need to monitor the precise time spent on shift for a large contingent of labourers without having a human do the record keeping. Work hours could then be calculated, and the workers paid accordingly.

Do We Manage Tasks and People, or Do We Manage Time?

To be clear . . . it is possible to manage people, and it is possible to manage tasks or the production of products, but it is simply not possible to manage time. Time continues with or without management. It does not stop. It cannot be slowed down or speeded up. It was not possible to set the time stamp clock back if someone was late for shift.

Time is time. It can be measured in terms of its passing as in the amount of time that has lapsed. We can describe what took place in that period of time, and we can report on whether or not we employed the time as planned. But time itself is not manageable.

What Can we Manage?

• We can set boundaries on the length of time we are willing to spend doing something.
• We can devote time to a hobby or to learning something new.
• We can estimate the amount of time that a task will take.
• We can choose the number of months or years to spend working before taking retirement or finding greener pastures. 
• We can make choices about how we spend the next hour.
• We can donate our time by volunteering or performing acts of kindness. We can give of our time in support of campaigning for a cause or caring for a loved one.
• We can share our time with family and friends.
• We can celebrate our wins when we accomplish what we set out to do. Those wins might have been attached to a timeline; thus, we may also celebrate the completion if accomplished within the targeted amount of time.

Does Time Have Monetary Value?

If time did not have value, there might not be any such thing as an hourly wage or an estimated return on investment over time.

Is your time for sale? If you are being paid for your time, are you more easily motivated? Perhaps your time may be purchased as in contracting for your services with a payment agreement.

We can record our use of time by keeping a log and determining our hourly worth.

Spending Time Investing in Ourselves

Is there something you have wanted to learn? Taking classes is one way to invest in yourself, whether you are enriching your mind or expanding your skill set. Hiring a coach, watching how-to videos, and reading books are other ways to invest in your abilities and grow your knowledge.

Is it okay to squeeze the life out of every working minute of every day? Perhaps. However, using a portion of your time for leisure and recreation, too, can prove to be a valuable investment in your physical and mental health.

Active or Passive? 

Our time may be spent passively or actively. We can be bystanders or participants. We can be engaged physically or mentally, or both. Our level of engagement can vary. We can be present as silent observers or as active listeners without contributing a single word. We can partake in the discussion by asking questions and sharing information. Regardless of your participation, time will not be put on hold.

But Time Management?

It’s not about managing our time. It’s about setting our priorities. Prioritize. Decide what’s important. What needs to get done today? Now?

We can rent out our time. We can save time when we package activities. And certain projects can be completed faster with the right equipment rather than doing them by hand. That can save time, too.

How About Managing Your Use of Time?

I am reminded of the question, “What is the best use of your time right now?” Is that making a phone call to a friend or taking a nap? You get to decide.

You are the manager—the decisionmaker—regarding how you use your time. Is it necessary to have something to show for every minute and even every second of your time? Maybe so if you are a gamer testing a new avatar for release by a deadline or engineering the launch of a rocket within a window of good weather. Maybe your income per minute matters if your return-on-investment increases with every additional product you can manufacture in an hour.  Seconds can matter in the saving of a life. Fortunately, not every decision about the use of time is a life-or-death situation or threatens failure.

Making Changes

What are your priorities for the use of your time in the coming year? Will you read more? Will you play more? Will you start a new project? Will you be more physically active?

Will you pare down your “Things To Do” list or make it longer? I am reminded of the book The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. What is the one thing that, if you get it done today, will make everything else you do today a bonus? You might even try making a Things-To-Do list in reverse by writing down all the things you did today rather than building the list before the fact.

Time is a Gift

Time is a gift. We have but to decide what we do with it. We can choose to set priorities for our time week by week, day by day, or hour by hour. We can even schedule our time by the minute. We can choose how we will spend it and then carry out our plan.

Yes, time is a gift. It is passing by now as you read this article. It cannot be replaced or substituted. May you take command of your choices, and may your choices bring you satisfaction and fulfillment.

Donna Dahl, M. Ed., is more than an empowerment coach. She is a leading executive strategist and catalyst for change, working with leaders, teams, employees, and entrepreneurs. Through her neuroscience-based approach, she is well-poised to disseminate skill development, empowerment, and engagement. Her award-winning track record speaks for itself. She is the author of Lessons I Learned from the Tortoise, a five-star rated book designed to gently challenge the reader to consider a change. She welcomes opportunities to discuss your challenges. Check out her profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnadahl/

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to be an author?

Do you have a story to tell? …a story to pass on to future generations?

Does the thought of writing a book feel a little scary?

What if you don’t tell your story?

Is there someone else who would tell your story for you? Or will it leave with you when you leave? Perhaps your story can shed light on an event that, if told from your perspective, could change how we view it. Maybe you have a story told to you by your mother as her mother passed it down. Is it your turn to pass the story along? If you don’t share the story, will the sharing of the story stop with you?

Where do stories come from? Think about stories that originate with Grandma’s recipe books, papa’s bedtime stories, your father’s memoirs, your journey in search of uncovering a hidden truth, or the novel you started to write in your teens, and it is still in that old shoe box.

Your audience can be any age group speaking in any language on any continent.

Think about all the books you have read throughout your lifetime. What if the authors had never written them?

Is there room in the world for your story?

Do you think that your story may not be important? How important is a story? A story can change lives.

Are there stories you read as a child that still stand out in your memory today? Whether you grew up with Dr. Seuss books or Superman comic books, the fact that someone took the time to create characters and share them with you in print offered entertainment that you could capture over and over again. All you had to do was open the book and enter their world. Taking a giant step forward in time, we meet Harry Potter, for one, and Shrek, for another. And there has been an assortment of memorable characters between then and now, not to mention the thousands of movies with stories to tell.

Whether you are young or younger, whether you feel good about your writing or not, whether your story is fiction or nonfiction and whether you can write a sentence or not, your story matters. There are so many ways today to address any shortcomings you may think you have when it comes to getting your story out there.

Is there room in the world for your story? Why wouldn’t there be room?

Does your book have to be a story?

Your book can be fiction or non-fiction. It can be as a story or as wisdom shared or as lessons learned. One of the books that I had fun writing was Lessons I Learned from the Tortoise. I am a huge fan of Aesop’s fable about the tortoise and the hare. It is so incredibly rich with metaphors. The lessons I culled from that original story will apply for centuries to come.

May I challenge you?

Do you feel called to write? I will not challenge you to a seven-day writing exercise or one of those 50,000 words in a month marathon, but I will challenge you to consider the potential importance of the influence of your words.

What helps? Feeling inspired to write. I want you to bring the full weight of your enthusiasm to the project.

There are many who thirst for new knowledge or for the next best-selling fictional thriller by a favourite author. Could that author-in-demand be you?

I often hear words from writers who want to be authors: "I have no idea where to start.” Working with a reputable manuscript coach eliminates the guesswork and gets you on track to write with purpose and by design.

If you have a business, you should have a book. It gives you credibility. It gives you authority. Taking the time to write the book speaks to the level of commitment you are prepared to make to see a project through.

Having your own book makes a difference. How do I know? I launched my business with the release of my first book.

How important is it for you to have your own book? What would having your own book do for you?

Donna Dahl, M. Ed., is more than an empowerment coach. She is a leading executive strategist and catalyst for change, working with leaders, teams, employees, and entrepreneurs. Through her neuroscience-based approach, she is well-poised to disseminate skill development, empowerment, and engagement. Her award-winning track record speaks for itself. She is the author of Lessons I Learned from the Tortoise, a five-star rated book designed to gently challenge the reader to consider a change. She welcomes opportunities to discuss your challenges. Check out her profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnadahl/

Should you have a coach? You are looking for answers, but the canvas before you is blank.

It would help to know if working with a coach would help you get to where you want to go with more speed and less angst . . . with more skill and less guesswork. You have never hired a coach before. Why not? Could having a coach make a difference?

Do you have a family doctor? A dentist? A favourite automotive repair shop? An alterations expert? A florist? You may even want a family jeweller equipped to appraise your valuables.

We build our personal community of relationships with individuals whom we count on to be dependably available and consistently reliable. These are people we have taken the time to get to know. Their track record of performance with us tells us we can trust them.

And if you are adding a coach to your list of human resources, here is a set of questions that you might want to ask when interviewing a coach to work with you:

1. What are your qualifications as a coach? While qualifications matter to some, track records may be more relevant. What you seek is a match that connects the coach’s expertise with the skills you need.
2. How long have you been coaching? Just as you may not want to be someone’s first date, you may not want to be someone’s first client. If you are looking for a client with a history of success, ask the question.
3. Who is your preferred client? This question will help you determine if you are a fit for this coach. It does not mean that what you are looking for is on the list of good fits, but it will give a picture related to professional alignment.
4. Tell me your favourite success story. Watch to see if the candidate’s face lights up or if they shuffle in apparent discomfort. Listen to the content. Is there a sense of excitement or a feeling of accomplishment present? Do you feel drawn into the story?
5. Describe the coaching system you use and why it works. You want to find out if you will be sent to watch a suite of videos complete with workbook pages to fill out or, secondly, if you will be taken through a guided step-by-step system over several months or, thirdly, if you will begin from where you are coming from in an attempt to solve the problems you want to solve now without the months of study.
6. How much time should I invest when working with you as my coach? You want to find out more about your length of commitment. Are you prepared to spend three months in weekly sessions or a year in monthly sessions? It would help if you did an analysis of your calendar scheduling practices to determine if you have, for instance, every Tuesday morning at 8 am to have a meeting with your coach. Are evenings better for you? What about weekends?
7. Is there someone with whom I could speak about their coaching experience with you? Speaking with a previous client might be more reassuring than reading the recommendations and testimonials on the internet.

You oversee your growth as an entrepreneur, a solopreneur, a leader, a member of the C-Suite, a manager, or an employee. When it comes to your personal and professional development, the choice is yours. You get to choose how, where and when you map your own journey and follow it through to its destination.

The important thing to remember with coaches is that one size does not fit all, and while some coaches will be able to tick a lot of boxes for you, no one knows everything. Choose a coach from an area where you want to focus. Ask the pointed questions. You should be coached in the realm of finance or grant writing in the first quarter of the year and then move to improve your elevator pitch and your self-promotion skills in the next quarter.

In this changing world, is it time to take your leadership . . . your work life . . .  your business enterprise . . . in a new direction? While the world may be changing rapidly and uncontrollably, consulting a coach, even periodically, may keep your enthusiasm for what you do alive and well.

Is it time to hire a coach?

There is Ground School for pilots in training, so could there be Ground School for geese? Is there even such a thing?

I enjoy being a student of the unexpected. I never know where the next gem of insight will show up. What I am about to share with you is something I learned on the fly . . .  pardon the pun.

I have learned that being open to the gifts that may arrive suddenly and by surprise provides space for opportunities to present themselves. On this particular occasion, I found myself drawn to watch the activity of a group of young geese.

I was having a game of golf and at the fifth hole was a pond of water longer than it was wide. I could not help but notice the considerable number of geese in the water.

“That’s rather odd,” I thought to myself. This did not look like one of those times when the parents of this year’s goslings were out for a swim with their brood. It appeared that all the geese, save for one, looked to be about the same size and likely about the same age.

After a little study, I noted that this was a flock of young geese appearing to be swimming in unison . . . well . . . more or less in unison . . . moving across the length of water. Some of the geese were fast, some were slow, and some needed extra time to get upright in the water after performing unintended head-over-heel style flips. Sound interesting? The synchrony of the geese swimming together . . . or trying to…caught our attention so much so that we joined the pairs of spectator geese that had now gathered around the pond, and we watched.

Without warning and without so much as a whisper, something interrupted the geese in the water. The geese began to gather at one end of the pond and then began to make their way across the pond to the other end. They appeared to be following an older lead goose and imitating what the lead goose was doing.

When moving in one direction, they seemed to be floating like hovercraft without moving their wings or creating a ripple in the water. When they arrived at the pond’s edge, some would simply turn around in preparation to go back the way they came. Some would attempt underwater somersaults . . . where . . . more often than not . . . they would tip over sideways, scrambling to keep their bodies upright with their feet in the water. It was funny to watch them trying to carve out a space for themselves . . . not unlike trying to make a space for yourself in a crowded tai chi class.

When the geese were in position in the water and comfortably separated back at the original end of the pond, the leader began flapping his wings and making noise until they were all following along. Then the class began to move across the water with feet propelling them as though they were getting ready to walk on water. When the lead goose reached the other end of the pond, the flapping stopped. The bodies of the goslings settled into the water as they simultaneously turned around and headed back to the other side of the pond in preparation to repeat the exercise. This carried on several times.

From where I was standing, it felt like I was on the observation deck during Goose Ground School training exercises. After all, a few minutes of distraction from playing golf couldn’t hurt.

It became apparent that there was only one explanation for what we saw. This had to be Goose Ground School. The geese born this year were being groomed for their long-haul flight. They were being trained in important goose migration skills like formation take-off, wind-direction assessment and wing muscle-mass development. When the instructor goose leading the pack thought the students had had enough practice for one day, flight class abruptly ended with all the young geese stepping out of the water to join their parents for grazing snacks.

I wish I had had my phone with me so I could have recorded the whole event. How many times have you said, “I wish I had . . .” or “I wish I would have . . .?”

It takes a particular mindset to be open to observing the gift or receiving the information that appears in only that one single moment. Being able to attend a lesson at Goose Ground School that day was an unexpected pleasure. No one minded that we took a few extra minutes at Hole Five to savor the sight.

What does Goose Ground School have to do with getting your business off the ground? For me, it all boils down to an attitude of being open to receiving unexpected gifts that may show up from time to time. Sometimes those gifts are in the form of opportunities happening right before our eyes. We have but to pay attention.

Opportunities to do business are everywhere. Sometimes you simply have to get in the water. Sometimes you have to take flight lessons to get your business off the ground . . . and sometimes you find ways to delegate certain tasks to others who are experts at what they do and who can lighten your load.

Sometimes in business and in life . . . that’s all it takes . . . a consultant, an expert, a teacher, a mentor, a coach—someone who will share their experience and enrich our abilities to take advantage of life’s unexpected gifts and achieve success.

By Donna Dahl

Donna Dahl, M. Ed., MNLP, is a leading executive strategist and catalyst for change. Through her neuroscience-based coaching, she is well-poised to disseminate skill development, empowerment, and engagement. Donna has an award-winning track record, and she is the author of Lessons I Learned from the Tortoise, a five-star rated book designed to challenge the reader to consider mindful change.  She welcomes discovery calls.

In Part 1, we looked at the types of distractions.  Part 2 examined three keys to removing distractions. Now let’s determine how to implement removing distractions using these 3 Keys: Organization, Structure, and Wellness

Using R.E.D. System

It comes down to a formula I like to call R.E.D, which is to Recreate, Eliminate or Delegate

The first step is to grade each distraction 1 - 5 or 1 - 10 based on the disruption it causes.  Then you can address each distraction individually. This is important.  If you grade the distractions, you will be able to address them in order of priority.

The second step is to follow the R.E.D Formula to see whether you can change it so it no longer becomes a distraction.  Remove it as unnecessary - then it no longer exists.  Have someone else take on the task, removing it from your day.

Recreate

If you're at a workplace, you have staff knocking on your door. If you're at home, then it may be your spouse or children.  However, at the end of the day, somebody interrupts to ask you a question.

To recreate this distraction, ensure that you have provided the ability for your team members to take on the task. That is ensuring you've empowered them with the authority to decide, the responsibility to do the work, and the accountability for the result. Think of it like a three-legged stool, with authority, accountability, and responsibility as the legs of the stool. If you remove one of the legs, the stool will fall unless it has something or someone to lean on. As a manager, a boss, or an owner, if you're not empowering your staff, they will lean on you.  You're going to end up having to do the work. By empowering the team, you change the habit of coming to you, and you have recreated the task removing it as a distraction.

Eliminate

What do you have in your day that you shouldn't do or should do less of?  Many people could cut online gaming, scrolling through social media, or watching television. How many streaming services do you have? Do you need them all, or are you spending too much time watching television?  Should you be working more in your business? Consider what you can eliminate from your day and put your time to better use with a task that requires your expertise.

Delegate

Business owners have a passion, something they're very good at and love.  Often, that is not social media. Social is an area that is vital for business today.  However, it does not require the business owner to do it themselves. This is a key task that can be delegated to a staff member or third-party consultant.  Another individual can handle posts and elements of finding content on behalf of the business. Although key content may need the owner, moving general elements of the activity away from the business owner's plate is critical.  Look at the tasks you do in a day, there are other tasks you can delegate.  Ask yourself, is this something that will cost us time or money if I don't do it?  Can I let go and have someone else take this on? The answer may surprise you.

Ready, Set, Go!

Implementing the R.E.D.  Formula (Recreate, Eliminate and Delegate) will help you be more effective by reducing distractions. The less you are distracted, the easier it will be to remove Squirrel Syndrome from your business. No more shiny objects. Your focus will be on key elements moving your life and business toward your dreams and goals. R.E.D. allows you to operate efficiently while adopting the three keys for your business - Organization, Structure and Wellness.

By Michelle Ricketts

Overall, health and fitness always played a part in Michelle’s life and continue to be part of her consulting approach today, differentiating her from others in the industry. Michelle guides business owners to develop a self-sustaining business, generate more revenue, and take back time to do things that excite them!

Raised by a strong, independent single mother, Michelle’s vision and values were instilled early. Michelle’s entrepreneurial journey started in the 90s in event planning and speaking. In addition to Michelle’s over 30-year Corporate career in Media, Logistics and Financial Services, her passions shaped Michelle’s experience, providing innumerable opportunities to give back as a volunteer.

Passionate about making a difference, Michelle is on a philanthropic foundation, “Board of Advisors,” building sustainable schools in developing countries and supporting Digital Samurai’s efforts, an entrepreneur focused on reducing youth unemployment in Africa through apprenticeships.

Michelle’s 35 years as an Account Executive spanned credit card processing and financial services, transportation, logistics, media, and consulting, with many projects including managing consultative alliances, live event management, and sales team leadership. In 2021 Michelle completed Wardell International Advisor training and had recently undertaken S.O.S. Sales Objection System group training with renowned trainer Joe Marcoux. Her career and entrepreneurial ambitions have taken Michelle outside Canada, providing extensive experience in multiple markets in North America and beyond.

You can find Michelle Ricketts on LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/in/michellericketts 

Ever heard of a cat or dog being distracted by something that catches their attention, like a squirrel, and they lose focus?  That happens to humans in business as well.

The problem is when we are doing work, multitasking and distractions come into play. We may not even realize or notice we're a victim of distraction. We commonly feel like we're getting work done and being productive when we are not.

Did you know that when we are distracted or multitasking, that takes our IQ down to that of an eight-year-old child and increases errors?

¹Source: https://www.talentsmarteq.com/articles/Multitasking-Damages-Your-Brain-and-Your-Career,-New-Studies-Suggest-2102500909-p-1.html/

We need to remove as many distractions as possible from our day. We're never going to get rid of them all, we're not robots, and there are things we can't control.

Here is an overview of where distraction may occur in business.

Staff - Staff coming into your office, calling, or messaging.

Training - You can be interrupted to provide training for a staff member that needs your help.

Meetings – Meetings can be distracting when trying to do other work and trying to do other work can also distract you from hearing what is being said.

Once distracted, we feel like we're back at 100 percent, yet the brain hasn't quite refocused yet. Did you know that it takes 23 minutes for the brain to refocus on a task when you're away from it?²

²Source: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_94.htm#:~:text=How%20Long%20Does%20It%20Take,10%20IQ%20points%20%5B2%5D.

Customers - People joke that life would be great if it weren’t for dealing with customers. Customers are our lifeblood, and it is paramount that we care for them as it keeps our business running.

We don't always know the challenges we are going to face, and they may leave us feeling like we're going in ten different directions, distracted.

As individuals, we have lots of distractions that may include:

Gadgets - Your phone, computer, apps, email, texts, and notifications. Some devices or apps are great and helpful but can still be distracting.

Environment/Noise - Neighbours or workers is something you come across occasionally in an office environment but working from home increases this distraction especially when in a zoom meeting.

Social Media- Have you experienced scrolling for a few minutes, then you’re still there an hour later?  I've done it myself. Social media is essential if you use it for business. However, we need to structure our time on social media and not go down a rabbit hole.

World Events - The Russian invasion of Ukraine, Covid 19, high gas prices, or climate change discussions are important world occurrences we have no control over. They touch us, some more so than others.

Mental Fog – Often, fog is caused by too much going on in your head. We realize we're not focused because of something happening at your child's school, someone not well in the family, or a big event. It makes mental noise when it distracts you from what you are doing.

Money - Most of the distractions around money are typically negative. It'd be wonderful to experience the distraction because of winning a million dollars. Unfortunately, much of the time, the distraction around money is the scarcity or resolving what to do with money.

Vacation - Surprised to see vacation on my list of distractions?  Vacation is something that we think of as unique or rejuvenating. It's beautiful, yes, and if you're like me, you're due for a vacation.

Think about what you do before and after your time away before we're racing and working on getting things done. We're, trying some of that multitasking that we shouldn't do. We can get distracted from the focus of what we need to do. When we come back, not only are we catching up, but our brains might still be on holiday. We work to get ourselves back into focus on what we need to accomplish.

These are some individual distractions that create challenges for us. Many of these distractions crossover into other areas as well.

The following are where we often see crossover distractions occur with Family, including:

Work/business - When we're at home, we might feel like we should be at work. We might feel like we should be at home at work. That distraction could also become mental fog if the situation is dire enough.

Commitments - Responsibilities we're not used to having on our plate, such as picking the kids up at school, taking the pet to the vet, or driving someone to an appointment, are distractions we must manage. If you have family commitments on your mind, they will prevent you from being able to focus.

Guilt/Overwhelm- You might suffer from guilt related to family tasks. It’s human nature. You might feel guilty being with a client when you think you should be home and distracted.

Overwhelm is something that ties into all kinds of elements in our lives. It can be business, friends, or family. It can create frustration from not handling things we should be able to address and distracts us once again.

Looking at our business, individual lives, and family, what we do about all these distractions is change some habits and adopt new approaches. We can't remove distractions entirely, but there are methods we can look at to address them.

We're going to explore keys to addressing distractions: Organization, Structure, and Wellness in “Discover 3 Keys to Stop Suffering from Squirrel Syndrome in Your Business | Part 2” next week

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Overall, health and fitness always played a part in Michelle’s life and continue to be part of her consulting approach today, differentiating her from others in the industry. Michelle guides business owners to develop a self-sustaining business, generate more revenue, and take back time to do things that excite them!

Raised by a strong, independent single mother, Michelle’s vision and values were instilled early. Michelle’s entrepreneurial journey started in the 90s in event planning and speaking. In addition to Michelle’s over 30-year Corporate career in Media, Logistics and Financial Services, her passions shaped Michelle’s experience, providing innumerable opportunities to give back as a volunteer.

Passionate about making a difference, Michelle is on a philanthropic foundation, “Board of Advisors,” building sustainable schools in developing countries and supporting Digital Samurai’s efforts, an entrepreneur focused on reducing youth unemployment in Africa through apprenticeships.

Michelle’s 35 years as an Account Executive spanned credit card processing and financial services, transportation, logistics, media, and consulting, with many projects including managing consultative alliances, live event management, and sales team leadership. In 2021 Michelle completed Wardell International Advisor training and had recently undertaken S.O.S. Sales Objection System group training with renowned trainer Joe Marcoux. Her career and entrepreneurial ambitions have taken Michelle outside Canada, providing extensive experience in multiple markets in North America and beyond.

You can find Michelle Ricketts on LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/in/michellericketts 

Do you have a coach? | Why have a coach? | Would a coach make a difference as you grow your business?

If you have a coach

• Is your coach someone you are developing a relationship with?
• Or is your coach more like your confidant. . .someone who is a professional listener. . .someone who is strong at asking those pointed questions that have you calling upon your experience with your blinders off and thinking?
• Is your coach good at helping you build confidence in your role?
• Is your coach someone you depend on for training in a particular skillset or mindset?

Coaching has significantly expanded over the past several decades to the point that it is now a multi-billion industry worldwide. From corporations to individuals, coaching has become a respected approach to facilitating change. No matter what you want help with, I can say with reasonable certainty that you should be able to find a coach to work with you.

Does Coaching Make a Difference?

Be you an individual, a solopreneur or an organization, coaching may mean the difference between success and failure. Coaching may make the difference between growth and stagnation.

What results might you expect? According to studies done on the impact of coaching in the business environment, three things are likely to improve: engagement, productivity, and results. Check out the article written by John Brubaker. He reports you are more likely to have strong business results when you work with a coach.

Who should have a coach?

Everyone should have a coach. That’s what Eric Schmidt said. Eric was the CEO at Google at the time. Eric thought so highly of his coach that he participated in writing a book about him.

What made Eric’s experience with his coach so positive? I can only guess but I believe that these four characteristics, as cited in an article by Stacey Alcorn, must have had a significant impact on his attitude and success. To her, good coaches are people with whom you build a relationship. Everything flows from there. She adds the following elements:

• In the first place, your coach should be interesting. If you are not looking forward to the time you spend together, something is terribly wrong. Are you enjoying the time you are spending with your coach?
• Secondly, do the ROI evaluation. What are you getting out of your coaching sessions? Are you fulfilling your purpose? That is, are you working toward accomplishing the objectives that you targeted for achievement?
• Thirdly, does your relationship with your coach go beyond coaching? Are you both experiencing other professional benefits such as referrals or introductions?
• And lastly, Alcorn asks if your coach is more than your coach. My clients tend to become lifelong friends. Do you regard your coach as your friend?

Should you DIY or Hire a Coach? 

Do you tend to be a DIYer? Are you the kind of person who likes to figure things out for yourself? Or are you the kind of person who seeks answers from reading books and articles? If you tend to be a DIYer who plays with your ideas by talking about them, would it be helpful to entertain your ideas out loud in a conversation with someone you know, like and trust? You can still be a DIYer with a coach. Your coach may be the mirror or the sounding board that keeps you from getting distracted.

As a leader in an organization of one or of many, no matter how many things you are being challenged to deal with at any given time . . . no matter how many areas you are focusing on, . . . a coach can be the bright light in your life to raise your spirits, challenge you to improve and increase engagement.

Your coach can be your cheerleader, your challenger and your champion. Your coach can challenge you to go beyond your pre-conceived limitations. Coaches can simultaneously be your accountability partner, your change agent, your strategy consultant and your professional listener. It’s the job of your coach to push and prod and poke and praise and help you achieve the outcomes you seek.

By Donna Dahl

Donna Dahl, M. Ed., is more than an empowerment coach. She is a leading executive strategist and catalyst for change, working with leaders, teams, employees and entrepreneurs.

Through her neuroscience-based approach, she is well-poised to disseminate skill development, empowerment and engagement. Her award-winning track record speaks for itself. She is the author of Lessons I Learned from the Tortoise, a five-star rated book designed to gently challenge the reader to consider change. She welcomes opportunities to discuss your challenges. https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnadahl/