Multitasking is overrated

If you’re like most people you spend the majority of your day multitasking. You’re probably so used to multitasking that you don’t even realize when you’re doing it. After all, it’s a skill many employers look for in their employees and single mothers excel at! 

So why is it suddenly overrated? Many people will argue that multitasking saves them time. But honestly there are many reasons why multitasking is bad. The less you focus on a task, the more can go wrong. It’s better to focus 100% on one task at a time and not try to juggle your way through the day. 

Focusing also lets you concentrate on one task or thought at a time, helping you create a better result for each task.  More concentration equals less mistakes or "redo's" and is a more efficient use of your time.

Many people like to multitask because they become bored working on one task at a time or they are so overwhelmed they think it is the only way to catch up. Also people multitask because they cannot concentrate long enough to finish one task completely, for some they multitask because they feel compelled to always be in a stressful, high energy, mode.

But why is multitasking bad?
You have to switch from task to task. This takes time for your mind to change into the right mindset for the new task. You have to take the time to remember where you left off and the next step. 

• Multitasking leads to attention and memory loss and by default more errors and wasted time.
• According to a study by Harvard Professor Clifford Nass, in findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, people who use online social media and other forms of electronic communications have trouble focusing their attention and have lower scores on memory tests.
• Multitasking is stressful. You may feel overwhelmed adding more and more tasks into a small time frame.
• Multitasking causes cognitive performance issues. A recent study by Zheng Wang, a professor at Ohio State University, showed that multitasking caused students to feel more productive, but showed they were actually reducing their cognitive skills abilities such as studying.
• It’s rude. When in the company of others it is very rude to answer texts and phone calls while talking to other people. Continue this behavior and you will lose their respect. 
• When you live a life of multitasking it very hard to slow down or relax. This can lead to stress and burnout.
  
• Multitaskers lose productivity. Switching between tasks is counter-productive. You lose time and concentration every time you switch to a different task.
• Multitaskers are less likely to finish one quality project. They may finish all their tasks for the day, but they will most likely submit sub-par work, especially compared to if they had focused solely on one project.
• Multitasking makes it difficult to focus entirely on each task you are doing. You are thinking about emails you have to respond to when writing a report and the phone calls you need to return even while you are thinking about the next task on your to-do list. This type of working environment doesn’t do anything but cause you more stress. 

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Instead of multitasking among several tasks, you should prioritize your tasks and break them up into workable time chunks. It is much better to finish quality work rather than turn in subpar work that will have to be redone later.  

If you need support with concentration and learning focus there are many tools from simple breathing techniques to meditations I would be happy to share with you. Feel free to email me for more information.

Speak soon!
Sarah

Why do you need to become a member?
When you join the Bliss Nutritional/Health Library you get clear, easy to understand information to make your life simpler. You get facts you need to know to improve your health and quality of life. You access this trusted information 24 hours a day, plus be the first to get all the new information, its like having a personal health coach on call, but without the high price tag!

It's simple really... 
"Insurance companies are set up to pay for medication, not lifestyle change; and physicians are taught pharmacology, not nutrition."- 

(From a recent study showcasing the answer to Alzheimers isn't magic pills, they are lifestyle changes.)

Do you know what lifestyle changes you need to make?  If you are serious about your health, and the health of your family, its time to  start investing in knowledge you can use. 

The Members Only Library contains videos, mp3's, EBooks, articles, recipes, reviews, meditations, exercises and so much more! Join one month at a time and cancel whenever you want. It's a simple, 'no hassle'  way to get all the nutritional information and wellness advice you are searching for at a low monthly price.

 For a limited time you can join for only $27 a Month! So what do you have to lose? 

​Read more here And feel free to email if you have any questions. We add to the library every month. 

Speak soon, 
​Sarah

Promoting Your Events/Giveaways

We are all busy people, but entrepreneurs are EXTRA busy people. They’ve got staff to manage, ads to monitor, products to create, and family to take care of. 

So while your giveaway extravaganza is important to you and your partners (after all, it will build their lists, too) it’s probably not a top priority when it comes to promotion. 

So what do you do? As the event/giveaway organizer, it’s your job to make everyone else’s job easy, and you can do that by creating a swipe file and graphics they can use for promotion. These cut-and-paste documents will allow your staff and others to quickly get the word out. 
At a minimum, you’ll want to include:

• Social media graphics. Professionally designed graphics in appropriate sizes are the holy grail of promoting.
• Email copy. Create at least two or three versions so everyone has plenty of copy available.
• Social media updates. Tweets and Facebook updates are easy to schedule ahead of time. Be sure to include the link right in the updates. 
• Promotional calendar. Make sure all your participants know the event dates and when they’re expected to mail or post on social media. 
• Send reminder emails. If you expect your people to promote on a specific day, be sure to remind them one week in advance, and again one day in advance. Include the swipe file right in the body of your reminder email.

Helping Your Clients Stay Informed
The other end of this is helping your customers/clients stay informed and up to date on your event.

Ideally, you’ll want to put all your materials together in a single welcome packet and send it off as soon as your guests confirm they’ll be participating. But don’t stop there. You’ll also want to:

• Follow up. Emails get lost and we get busy. Remember to follow up with your guests to be sure they’ve received your welcome packet and to ask if they have any questions. This is a great job for your VA to handle!
• Allow your customers to promote the event. Make it easy for your guest to promote your event. Include links your guest can tweet or post on social media. 

When you make it easy for your guests to promote you, you’ll have a much more successful (and far less stressful) event. Your mailing list will grow, your partners will appreciate the work you’ve put into the event and everyone will benefit. 

Tune in next Tuesday for more business topic or join the Bliss newsletter to get even more tools for success!

Speak soon,

Sarah

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Today Let’s Talk Webinar Magic 
Been on a webinar lately? I bet you have. 

The fact is, webinars are one of today’s hottest marketing trends. Each and every week, you’ll find small business owners hosting webinars about book publishing, blogging, and even how to sell crafts online. No matter what your niche or industry, webinars are a great option for growing your market. 

List Building
Perhaps the number one reason to host a webinar—especially if you partner with another business owner in a complementary niche—is to grow your list. Here’s why it works so well. 

As a business owner with resources and information to share, you’re in demand, and there are plenty of others out there looking to partner with you. Find a colleague in a related niche to host your event. Ask her to mail her list with an offer to join you both on the call. Collect emails in your mailing list system. Any sales you make from the event will pay your partner an affiliate commission. That way you both win: You build your mailing list, and she earns cash for her time. #winwin

Show Off Your Expertise
You’ve no doubt heard plenty of people talking about the “know, like and trust factor.” It’s a simple reminder that very few people will buy from you the first time they encounter your website or get an email from you. They need more info. 

A webinar is a fantastic way to build up their trust. Because they can hear your voice, and maybe even see your face, there’s an instant connection. Not only that, but you get to impress them with your knowledge of the topic. Your audience will walk away not only knowing you better, but also with the impression that you are the go-to person in your niche. 

Sell to a Captive Audience
Here’s a fact you may not have considered: Webinar attendees are primed to buy. Make them an irresistible offer, and you’ll be amazed at how effective “selling from the stage” can be. 
Try these proven tactics:

• Fast acting bonuses just for those who buy while on the call or shortly after it ends. 
• Deep discounts available only for a limited time—typically if they buy before midnight of the day of the event. 

Both plans have worked for thousands of webinar presenters, and will work for you, too. 

Whether you’ve never hosted a webinar before, or you’re already an old hand, there’s little doubt that this is a tool that really performs. The amount of time you spend preparing and promoting is minor compared to the potential returns, so get out there and start planning your next webinar event!

If you need support with webinars or finding your business footing you know I’m only an email away.

Speak soon,
Sarah

Do you ever think the grass is greener on your neighbor's lawn? Is there is always something else you need or want? If only you could get a new car or new, bigger home? But once you do get the bigger house or new auto you still feel something is lacking?

These feelings of wanting can leave you feeling less than satisfied with your own unique  position in life and feeling less than satisfied. But it doesn’t have to be like this. You can change how satisfied you are with your life.  

Have A Close Friend
Did you know having a close friend can change your outlook on life? Time magazine recently reported that people with a close friend are up to 20% more satisfied with their lives than those who do not have someone close to them. ​

Having a close friend also shows that you have people that you trust and people find you trustworthy. These are both elements that evoke feelings of satisfaction in yourself. Having someone to share your day to day successes with also help people feel more satisfied.

Take A Self Development Class
Why not join us in November for the 30 Day Living With A Purpose Challenge? It’s an online Challenge with daily emails to inspire you and help you find purpose in daily life. We all know finding purpose is key to living a more satisfied life. Click the link to reserve your spot today.

Get Serious About Your Health
Nothing is worse than being sick all the time. This is why staying healthy through proper diet and exercise is one of the easiest ways to improve your overall life satisfaction. Fox News reported that people living a healthy lifestyle had a greatly improved mental well-being.

Being physically able to care for yourself provides comfort and confidence as you age. The benefits of being physically healthy effect not only your life satisfaction by changing how you feel, but will affect your job satisfaction, your relationship satisfaction, and other facets of your life. You know there really is no downside to eating well and staying healthy.

Become More Positive
Positive Psychology Program highlights how  you think about yourself and your environment is directly related to your life satisfaction. Establishing positive thought habits can help increase your life satisfaction. When you catch yourself viewing things in negative terms or through a negative experience, you should work to replace these thoughts with positive, life affirming thoughts.

Because life satisfaction differs from happiness, it can be changed by adjusting your point of view. It can be as simple as  choosing to be satisfied with what you have. You can also choose to be satisfied by changing your goals and dreams. 

Remember, life satisfaction is more about how you view what you have, rather than constantly seeking happiness.
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If you'd like to know more about your life satisfaction, or to claim your spot in the 30 Day Challenge, I'm here to chat.


Speak soon!
Sarah

Money Matters: It’s Time To Take Control of Everything from Invoicing To Tax Preparation

Here’s an all-too-common scenario: A seemingly successful service provider or business owner is hard at work growing their business. They are working lots of hours, bringing in new clients and they're hourly rate is respectable. But their cash flow is dismal. 

Why? 

Because they are working so hard that finding the time to actually take control of their money is impossible. 

Invoices don’t get sent on time. Past due balances are ignored. Taxes aren’t done. And maybe worst of all, they have got dozens of recurring payments that go out automatically each and every month, and they have no idea what they are or if they are even using the programs they're paying for. 

Sound familiar? I’m guilt of this too, but I took control of my finances and you can too. First don’t think you are alone, because sadly, that’s exactly what a lot of “successful” businesses look like. When you work at home, and you’re accountable to no one but yourself, it’s far too easy to let these little things slide until, like an avalanche, they have a devastating effect on your business. 

The good news is, cleaning it up is easy, when you take the time to put some trusted systems in place. 

Start with you're billing. What if you worked for a large corporation? Would they allow billing to fall behind or be willy-nilly? No, of course not and neither should you. Put your billing day on your calendar as an unbreakable appointment. 

Log into a timekeeping app, generate your invoices, and click send. You’ll be done in a jiffy. Not only that, but most billing systems automatically send follow-up messages for unpaid invoices, so you don’t have to worry about tracking down those slow pays. 

If your not ready yet for a timekeeping app or it doesn’t fit your business, start with PayPal invoicing. Then set a date monthly to batch invoices and also send all “past due” notices out. PayPal tracks invoices and is simple to use.

For your expenses, use a single system. That might be PayPal or a dedicated credit card or even your business checking account. Whatever it is, be sure it has a reporting feature that will allow you to send monthly statements to your accountant. At the end of every month, bundle that up with your sales report and your receipts, and send it off. When tax time rolls around, you’ll be sitting back with your feet up while everyone else scrambles to find documents and update they're accounting system. 

If you do your own taxes (Bless to you!) then look for tools that will talk to each other easily. For example, you can download a Quickbooks file right from PayPal for super-fast reconciliation at the end of every month. That alone will save you hours of “doing the books” and get you back to doing what you love.

Just putting these  simple systems in place can easily save you 10+ hours per month, but the even larger benefit is that the money work will get done. And honestly what that will do for your cash flow is priceless.

Tune in every Tuesday for more Business Tips!

Speak soon!

​Sraah