Monthly Archives: December 2019

 

#GrowYourLife  #BuildYourBusiness

Life Area: Professional  
Topic: Productivity

---

3 Productivity Hacks That Take Less Than 3 Minutes

 

Productivity is top of mind for every entrepreneur. For my mompreneur clients, productivity is even more crucial as you juggle kids and home, along with work. Whether you have kids, pets, community obligations, or anything else that can divide your time, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed, but here are three things, with the help of writer Stephanie Burns, you can do in under three minutes that will help you be instantly more productive.

 

1. Visualize A Finished List

When you get in the mindset of feeling accomplished — not overwhelmed — tasks become infinitely easier. That’s why you should start your day off by briefly meditating on your “Finished List” which is a list of three things you absolutely must get done that day. Once you make your list, put a checkmark next to each of the tasks, close your eyes for 10 seconds and imagine it done. Feel the excitement of getting that proposal written or the joy around wrapping up that grueling presentation at work.

 

This exercise will spark the physiological response of excitement in your body and decrease the feeling of overwhelm or discomfort. Once you open your eyes, it will seem so much easier for you to do even the most grueling tasks because you are past the anxiety and fear of how and when it will get done. You’re firmly seated in the delight of it being completed.

 

---

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

– Wayne Dyer

---

 

2. Take A Gratitude Walk

A jolt of caffeine may increase your energy, but it usually comes with a crash later. Instead try a three-minute gratitude walk.

 

Research shows that going for a stroll can increase your creativity far beyond sitting in a chair at your desk. Plus, you’ll turbo-charge your productivity when you think about all the things you’re grateful for while you put one foot in front of the other. When you feel thankful to have this level of a “work problem” today, you interrupt your limiting beliefs that cause you to see problems instead of opportunities. As Wayne Dyer loved to say: “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

 

Just remember not to list boring general things you’re “grateful” for, but actually don’t really care about, like “I’m grateful I have clothes” or “I’m alive” (unless you really are in-your-bones thrilled about either one). Mention something that is actually meaningful in a specific way for you. For example, maybe you’re a parent who is usually sleep deprived but last night you got a solid night’s sleep. Say to yourself, “I’m so grateful for how rested I feel.” Or if you’ve ever been unemployed, you may even say something like: “This client may be a headache sometimes, but I am so grateful to have the work.”

 

Continue reading →

 

#GrowYourLife  #BuildYourBusiness

Life Area: Professional  
Topic: Consulting Contracts

---

7 Key Contract Clauses for the Independent Consultant

 

I have been an independent contractor and service consultant at various times throughout my career and have come to learn, sometimes the hard way, the key provisions consultants must have in their agreements if you are to survive on your own. These clauses are commonplace among the “big boys” contracts, so be sure to have them in yours to assure you limit your liability and, most importantly, get paid:

 

Getting paid is not the only issue

Consultants who are well-established with a large clientele do enjoy certain advantages. Most have formed their own limited liability companies and have set contracts that they have devised and refined over the years, providing protections and solid payment clauses. And they will quickly drop clients who renege on any terms of that contract.

 

But for the newbie consultant who is not well established, it is often the client who presents the contract, and the hungry consultant is at that client’s mercy if they want the work. But there are some “red flags” in contracts that consultants need to look for – clauses that can result in trouble down the road. Here are some of them:

 

1. Ownership of the work product Who owns the work product? Clients will want that ownership transferred to them. This is normal. But, it should be clearly stated in any contract that ownership will not be transferred to a client until you have received payment in full for that work product.

 

2. Indemnification This is a legal term that relates to who is liable should there be any lawsuits based upon the work product or the use of that work product. Once you transfer work product to a client, that client should assume all liability for how that work product is used. Your liability should end as soon as that transfer occurs. If a client insists that you retain any liability, walk away.

 

---

It should be clearly stated in the contract that ownership of the work product will not transfer to the client until you have received payment in full.

---

 

3. Getting paid Never sign a contract in which the terms of payment are vague. While you may have agreed upon a price, there should be a schedule of payments. I always insist on an up-front retainer that gets applied to the last invoice. If the project is lengthy and complicated, there should be scheduled payments along the way. Thus, you can stop your work if a scheduled payment is not made. You may even want to insist that the client provide credit card authorization, so that you can bill through his/her bank.

 

Continue reading →