I recently attended my friend and colleague’s Monica Shah’s Money 2.0 event, and this was one of the main themes. It is a topic I often coach my clients around, and I thought it was important to create a video about because I see a lot of confusion going on around it!

What are revenue-generating activities? These are activities directly related to you getting a client or bringing in income. Makes sense, right? The problem is, many entrepreneurs are sabotaging their income because they are spending their time on the WRONG things.

Revenue-generating activities do NOT include perfecting your tagline, tweaking your website colors endlessly, frittering hours away on Facebook, or handling all the day-to-day admin in your business.

To find out 9 examples of what revenue-generating activities really are, check out the video above. Then, your “to-do” is to ask yourself what 3 revenue-generating activities you will do tomorrow. Write them down and commit to doing them FIRST thing. Going forward–every day–ask yourself if you are focusing on activities that are directly related to bringing in revenue for you.

The best part? Doing this consistently will move your business and income forward faster than almost anything else.

There are many ways to handle managing your time and some of them will even automate the process for you. You can use Google calendar to manage your client meetings, but that’s not automated, and when you run a business you need to automate as much as possible. When things are automated, you’ll have more time to work the parts of your business that require you to work them.

When you’re considering scheduling tools that are automated and will help you manage your business, you need to consider vCita. This scheduling tool gives you the coding you need to quickly and easily add it to your site so you have the ability to immediately begin adding client appointments to your calendar. It’s automated, so you don’t have to do any scheduling yourself.

Another scheduling tool to consider is TimeTrade. This option has great customer support to help you get started; you have the ability to use the cell phone app to manage your time even better and have the ability to see appointments at any time. It works for small or large businesses and everything in between.

One last scheduling tool option to consider is Genbook. This option gives you the ability to maximize your schedule by scheduling your appointments online. You’ll also have the ability to collect customer reviews of your business and easily publish them on your site. You will also have the ability to increase your income and grow your business when others trust your scheduling tool. That’s what you’ll get from Genbook.

Scheduling appointments to grow your business is a must, and when you feel confident with the scheduling tool you use, you know it’ll work the way it needs to work every time. When you don’t have to worry about the appointment getting scheduled and in a place you know will give you the ability to see and remember it, your business will go to the next level. Automated scheduling is perfect for any type of business owner and these three options will give you a place to start when you’re looking for the right one to use.

I have found that most business owners put their family, friends, health and everything else that matters on the back burner and latter they end up regretting some of their choices.

When you have a well-documented Strategic Success Plan (chapter 4 of my book) you will be able to eliminate some of those regrets and mistakes just by spending a little time planning.

Which one do you think most people regret the most: the things they’ve done or the things they never did?

Always, and I do mean always aim higher than your expectations and you’ll seldom be disappointed.  The only way to aim higher is to have a written starting point – you cannot get to your destination until you know where you are now.

As a reminder, be sure to prepare written income goals. If you had to guess how many entrepreneurs actually take the time to write their income goals – well if you guessed 10% you would be wrong – believe it or not it is only 2%.

Start by writing a check to yourself with the amount representing the income you want to achieve this year. There’s a big difference between making things happen and waiting or letting things happen.

Here’s what you need to do: take a blank check and make a copy of it. On the copy make the check payable to yourself.  Enter a date one year from today, enter the amount you want to receive and then of course sign it. Now, take this check to a quick copy center and get four copies laminated. Put one copy on the sun visor in your car, one copy of your bathroom mirror, one copy in your briefcase (purse or wallet), and one copy on your home office desk. Can you imagine the impact of looking at this check every time you are driving, washing your face, brushing your teeth, every time you open your briefcase, purse or wallet and every time you sit down at your desk?

I want you to call me in one year and let me know the results.

You should also commit in writing how much time and money you’re planning to invest in personal development every year. I read about 20 books a year not to mention the magazines, articles, etc.  I believe there’s a huge correlation between the size of a person’s business library and the degree of success he/she has achieved. What conferences will you attend, what certifications will you go after and when will you hire a coach and get a resource partner?

Don’t put your brain on a diet – It should be fed. The business owners who feed their brain with good books will always out-perform those business owners who don’t feed their mind with any information at all.

So What Things Equate to More Money? Very simple…

1. A written Strategic Success Plan for making money and business growth (chapter 4 of my book)
2. A list of the things (prioritized) you’re going to do to start making more money (chapter 6 of my book)
3. A list of your personal development endeavors (chapter 7 of my book)
4. A commitment to achieve and succeed in business and life (chapter 16 of my book)
5. A ‘Not to Do’ List – that’s right a ‘Not to Do List’ (chapter 18 of my book)

Now that you know What Things Equate to More Money – are you willing to do the 5 things on this list to obtain more money?

Are you willing to do The Things that Equate to More Money?

But there are times in life and business, when we need to take a step back, slow down and think it through more carefully than usual, especially during those rare times of national, even global crisis. For us as a company, that has happened twice in late 2012 with two tragedies that hit very close to home here in Connecticut, where Client Attraction.com is headquartered.

Six new guidelines to doing business with dignity, integrity and respect during times of tragedy.

Both times—first during Hurricane Sandy (one of the most severe storms to ever hit the East Coast) then again during the Newtown school shootings, our nation experienced deep heartbreak as we watched our neighbors endure severe loss. And both times over that short span of two months, we as a small company with clients to serve, employees to support and year-end goals to meet, were in the middle of a major business launch.

Did we do everything right as a company in response to the tragedies? No. But we’re learning and applying what we’ve learned to our Best Practices so that as a company we can continue to get better at what we do, continue to improve our service to our customers and clients, and to always, always put people first.

Watch this week’s important video for my six new guidelines to doing business with dignity, integrity and respect during times of tragedy.

Your Client Attraction Assignment

Take some time to evaluate how you do business during times of crisis—what worked and what didn’t in the past? Use my six guidelines to help you prepare your own checklist. My advice is to do this in advance…before you ever need it.  My team and I would like to extend our sympathies to the city of Boston and to all those who were affected by this recent tragedy. I hope these strategies will help you do business with more authenticity, integrity and love.

Tailor your cleaning environment to your preferences, and use these 5 following strategies to set your pace.

5 Time Proven Spring Cleaning Strategies

1. Create a template.

Templates can be simple and quite straightforward. List what you’d like to accomplish in spring cleaning according to their priority. Note what supplies you’ll need. Then group what you need to purchase according to store to streamline your shopping. Record good ideas as you go along, and file the template where you can pull it up easily for next time.

2. Warm up with your easiest cleaning tasks.

Notice how you fall into a rhythm when you actually enjoy the activity. Maybe you easily clear a counter or retrieve favorite gardening supplies to start out with.

As you progress with simpler projects, you build momentum and skill. Give yourself a success early on. Your satisfaction sustains you as you embark on your next task. As you go, you grow. By the time you get to the job you dreaded, you have developed more muscle and confidence.

3. Split big tasks into simple slivers.

By divvying up hefty projects, you experience a series of mini-successes along the way. Give yourself every incentive to not get bogged down. Practice prioritizing and build small breaks into your work session. Remember to keep expectations reasonable.

4. Team up with friends or family members.

Who do you enjoy working with side by side? Consider helping each other out. You see results twice as quickly and enjoy each other’s company in the process. Schedule well in advance, and plan time to kick back and enjoy at the end of a work session.

5. Stop and look long when you like what you see.

Resist the temptation to charge from one completed job to the next. Instead, survey what you’ve accomplished and thank yourself. Appreciate the sparkle and savor the space you clear. If you have developed or sharpened skills in the process, validate that, too! These breathers actually recharge your energy as you make your way down your list.

Bonus Tip: Clear Your Thinking First

As you know, embracing a project helps you complete it quickly and well. Before you begin, envision yourself sweeping out sluggish attitudes while preparing a sparkling environment in which you will shine. You will stay on task more efficiently, and have more access to your creative thinking, too.

What gets your blood stirring? Which music makes cleaning and sorting more enjoyable? Set the scene in advance to maximize your chances for success.

After all, fully entering into the work clears out more than the space. When you engage with positive energy you renew yourself as well.

You have something to celebrate!

Spring cleaning offers deep rewards when you use the occasion to appreciate all you have. Perhaps you find objects you’ve outgrown that someone else might treasure. You dedicate strength and intelligence to accomplish your goals, and these are worth feeling good about, too. You have reached another season; savor the bittersweet of what has gone and what awaits you.

You create meaning for each day and each season. Seasonal rituals become part of your yearly dance. So seize this opportunity to use your time well. You will have more to enjoy as each day goes by.

You may be incredibly talented and a sheer genius, but many business owners are coming across as clunkers (as opposed to the Hot Rods they should be!) in their  marketing.

Let’s start with social media profiles.

Your profile page – whether on Linked In, Facebook, YouTube, etc- is the gateway  to new opportunities, clients, and valuable connections. It might seem like a casual  place to hang out, but it’s one of your most important marketing tools that can be seen by the exact people who’ll hire you and pay you top dollar for your work!

Here are some tips for you to create a winning profile page that makes your friends  and followers take notice and want to do business with you!

1. Speak Your Expertise with Confidence

A winning profile leads with your expertise and clearly states who you are, what you  do, who you work with, and the results you help create.

2. Soften It Up With a Personal Touch

After you lead with your professional expertise, you want to round it out with some  interesting personal information. Include what you feel most comfortable with, such  as hobbies, marital status, family info, or fun quirky things you think others might find interesting.

3. Connect with a Great Photo

Keep your photo updated and attractive. That group shot of you standing in the back row at a 500 person event? Not a good choice. Find something that gives a great impression on people and highlights your assets.

4. Make it Easy for People to Learn More About You

Put a link to ONE website where people can learn more about you. It’s tempting to list every site you own, but keep it simple. People will be too confused if faced with too many options.

5. Give yourself the 6 Second Test

You have no more than 6 seconds to make an impression on visitors who find you on social media. Make sure it’s easy to get who you are, what you do, and how you help others.

Use social media to showcase your Talent And Genius (TAG) so you attract opportunities, clients, referrals, and more.

There are so many untapped opportunities out there and using social media wisely is one of the smartest ways to get them.

I stayed in bed an extra half-hour to meditate, in hopes of finally getting up on the RIGHT side of the bed. It helped, but I still found myself on-edge and irritable this morning.

Then I decided to do something about it. I realized that I was giving in to the overwhelm. I was letting myself become a victim to my circumstances. I *know* that I have more power than that. In fact, I have a super power. It’s called Choice.

Know what? You have the same super power. In every moment, we have a choice. We may not always have all the choices we want. But we do always have a choice. And that’s the first step to get out of overwhelm:

1. CHOOSE to get out of overwhelm.

Decide not to give in. Decide to do something about it. Decide to be calm and collected, grounded and connected.
Here are the other three steps:

2. Breathe

It’s amazing what a few slow, deep, mindful breaths will do for you. Breathing creates space and clarity almost immediately. It creates peace and calm. It enables you to start to see straight, which is impossible to do when you’ve feeling overwhelmed.

3. Write it down

Part of feeling overwhelmed comes from thinking about too many different things at once. You can see how easy it was for me to fall into overwhelm when I was thinking about conducting an interview this afternoon, prepping for a coaching call today, needing to get groceries, having to put gas in the car, checking out the new fish my son and husband bought while I was away (at least it wasn’t a new cat!), figuring out how to do a difficult carpool situation, marking after-school arrangements for my son, trying to get a walk in there somewhere (as well as a soak in the tub), needing to follow up with people from the weekend, replying to an email and a phone from an insurance agent who said THIS JUST CAN’T WAIT (yes, it can wait), and on and on and on.

Aaaarrrrrgggghhhh!

So back to choosing, breathing and writing it down.

After I chose to get out of overwhelm and took a few slow, deep breaths, I wrote down every single thing that was on my mind. Everything. Just getting it out of my head and onto paper felt incredibly relieving. Why? Because now I could stop thinking about it! Much of why we keeping thinking about shit is because we’re worried we’ll forget it otherwise. So write it down. Let your brain know that you won’t forget because you’ve got it on paper. Now your brain can settle down and focus on something else, like taking action.

4. Take action

Now that you’ve got everything out of your head and on paper where you can see it, pick out the items that are truly urgent. (My insurance agent says that “this just can’t wait,” but she also said the deadline is the 28th. So, yes, it actually can wait a day.

Other people’s deadlines do not have to be YOUR deadlines. Be judicious about which ones you CHOOSE to take on as your own.

So look at your list and act on the items that really and truly must be acted on today. When you’ve done those, move on to the ones that will prevent future overwhelm. Then act on the ones that will just make you feel good. You need a little pleasure to counterbalance the stress you were just feeling from being overwhelmed. So be sure to fit in that walk or that soak in the tub—or both!

Here’s a bonus step: Clear your space

I didn’t make this one an essential step because the thought of having to declutter your space can itself trigger overwhelm. But once you’ve gotten out of overwhelm, I recommend doing whatever decluttering you need to do. Having a clear space (or at least an organized space) can facilitate a clear head.

They continue the conversation by describing their business venture and stating that they want to ‘pick my brain’ followed by an offer to take me to lunch. My time is very valuable, but I’m always willing to help new or growing business owners whenever I can.

So here’s how I respond: “I ask the caller if he/she has all of his/her business goals in writing. Usually 100% of these business owners respond with an uh ‘No’.  Then I ask each caller to write down their business goals and to also write down how much money they want to earn during the next 12-24 months.

I also ask each caller to prepare a written list of the action steps they will commit to dong in order to achieve their written goals.  Then I tell each one: as soon as you have all of these things in writing, please call me so we can have lunch.”

Now I want you to take a guess as to how many of these business owners prepared their written goals and action steps and then called me. Zero!

Here’s the bottom line. If you don’t know “What” you want to accomplish and you don’t know “How” you’re planning to do it — your probability for failure is greater than 80%.  If you don’t have a written plan – you don’t have a plan at all.

It’s really important that you know what you want to achieve and how you’re planning to do it.

If any of those business owners would have called back with their written list, I would have told them (at lunch) to be sure you know who your current clients are and who will probably be your future clients.  Identify your target market, and your niche within that market. I would have given them several ways of how to meet key influencers, establish collaborations, build relationships and position their business more strategically on- and off-line.

I would have reminded them that as they move forward and grow – their attitude is the key to business growth and to always expect the best everyday.

Just remember that it’s almost impossible to have a bad attitude when you’re smiling, so make sure you’re always smiling. You can always tell whether or not you’re smiling by paying attention to the person you’re talking with. If they’re not smiling it’s a safe bet that you’re not smiling either.

Your glass is not half full or half empty. Your glass is overflowing with opportunities – just take advantage of them when they present themselves.

The problem with this approach is it put me in a reactive position as their coach (meaning, I followed their lead, responding to what they decided to coach on), rather than a proactive position, where I could stretch them in bigger ways, helping them to accelerate their progress.

Plus, the problem with this old style approach is that it opened the door to hearing, “I’m not sure what I want to coach on today” which resulted in higher client drop out rates.

And, to top it off, I felt I was hiding out, not speaking my truth and holding back from giving my clients more of what they needed to thrive and excel.

Finally, one day, I had enough and began being more directive with my clients. I introduced new content, skillfully wove in training and began putting them on a path that I KNEW would work for them.

And you know what? My clients LOVED it!

If you’re a coach trained in the “old school” method, or you’re new to coaching and you haven’t quite found your footing yet, this new paradigm of blending information with coaching can feel uncomfortable at first.

Which is why you need to know how much content to include in your coaching sessions, and even more importantly, WHAT content your clients are most likely to pay you to deliver. Here are 3 easy steps you want to take to help get you started.

Step #1 Bring Marketable Content To Every Call

While the philosophy that the client leads the agenda may have worked years ago, in today’s economic climate, clients expect YOU as their coach to give them the answers. And they expect you to share knowledge that will help them quickly accelerate their results.

My advice? Plan on delivering a small portion of content in each of your coaching calls. This is your opportunity to pull out your checklists, templates or scripts — anything that will save your clients time and make it easier for them to get into action.

Step #2 Don’t Be Afraid Of Being “Bossy”

When I was a little girl, my grade school teachers had a tough time keeping me in my seat. I always wanted to help others with their spelling, math or reading. Little did I know that what got me into trouble back then would serve me beautifully in creating a multimillion dollar coaching company!
Your clients want you to be a leader. So don’t hold back from sharing your concerns, revealing what your intuition is telling you and from being clearly directive. I promise you that your clients will love you MORE when you show them what to do.

Step #3 Don’t Waste Time Reinventing What Is At Your Fingertips

If you don’t have your content pulled together into a marketable package then consider getting trained in someone else’s system. And even if you already have a Signature System, this is still a great way of introducing fresh, new content into your coaching programs. Just be sure that what you’re getting trained in is a complete system that includes templates, forms and marketing support because you’ll need this to be successful.

Remember that people don’t hire coaches, they invest in getting a specific problem solved.

Instead of trying to sell coaching, focus on offering marketable content and you’ll benefit from a steady increase in coaching clients AND income.