Remember that time when the strategic annual plan you made in January went perfectly and was executed exactly how you had planned?

 

Yeah, me neither.  

 

I love strategic planning.  But I also know that there’s no way in hell that the beautiful strategic plans I create will be executed perfectly. (as a side note, I really dislike that word, perfect).

 

Life happens.

 

The baby gets sick during a big launch week.

 

Some tech malfunction happens during a big webinar.

 

You just learned about something new that you now need to infuse into your big plans.

 

And so on and so on…

 

The point is that you’re not in the flow.

 

You’re irritated.  

 

Frustrated.

 

Overwhelmed.

 

And worse…feeling quite negative towards yourself that you’ve been knocked off course.  

 

It’s in these moments that it becomes VITAL to cultivate a practice that helps you get back into focused action that propels your business forward.

 

I call this practice FAST FOCUS.

 

Here are the 3 steps I take every time I want to get out of overwhelm and into purposeful action!

 

STEP 1: Deal with the Emotions

 

Pick up a journal and start writing.  Or pick up your phone and start talking to someone.  Or reach out to your coach and start venting.  Talking out your frustrations and itemizing all those things going on in your head is a necessary process to extract the toxicity!  You cannot take purposeful action from a space of emotional stress!  The simple act of venting out your frustrations or what you’re feeling is so powerful to releasing the pressure!

 

STEP 2: Write down all the things in your head

 

I use a simple diagram to help me visualize this (seen below).  In the space in the outer circle, I write down all those thoughts, ideas, judgements, future plannings that are swirling around in my head.  This is not necessarily your to-do list, this is just a place to house those thoughts.  

STEP 3: Write down your top 3 areas of focus for your business

 

In the center of that circle, write down the THREE TOP PRIORITIES for your business.  These are not tasks, these are the general activities that are important for this season of your business.  

 

As you can see in the pic below, my priorities are…

 

1. Sales (how am I making sure people know how to work with me?)
2. Visibility (how am I making sure my message is getting out to more women entrepreneurs who don’t currently know me?)
3. Community (how am I showing up purposefully to those awesome lady CEOs who are already a part of my community?)

These priorities are in line with my larger business goals right now and may not be appropriate for you.  So, write down yours.  

 

Then, on a sticky note, write down those top 3 priorities and post it on your computer or around your work area.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, tired and out of focus, LOOK AT THIS LIST and it will remind you where your energies need to go!

 

Here’s an example of what goes on in my head…

 

(moment of confusion and overwhelm)…

 

Okay, Katie…what do I really need to be working on right now.  (I look at my sticky note).  SALES.  Okay, are there people I need to follow up with who have expressed interest in my private coaching?  Do I need to create a call to action for my private coaching that I can add to the end of my podcast?  Can I post a client testimonial in my group so others can see the value of working with me?

 

What else can I be working on right now?  COMMUNITY.  Okay, can I make a post in my Biz Women Rock Academy that will highlight one of the members?  Or do a special Facebook Live just for them that will give them a little something special?  

 

It doesn’t mean that you need to do everything that comes to mind when you go through this priority list.  It just means that it’ll force you out of overwhelm and into FOCUS so you can decide what ONE THING you can spend your time on in order to move your business forward and keep momentum!  

 

You can check out the Facebook Live I did in our private Facebook Group today that walks you through all of this!  And feel free to add your own comment to the thread of the video while you’re watching!

Moments of frustration and overwhelm are going to happen, girl.  My job is to help you get through them as quickly as productively as possible!!

 

Love,

 

Katie

 

PS: If you’re feeling frustrated that your “Big 2018 Plan” isn’t really moving the way you had planned, then let’s talk!  The private coaching and strategizing I offer is perfect for high performing women entrepreneurs just like you who are ready to grow “slow and steady” and start growing purposefully, productively and PROFITABLY!  Just email me at katie@bizwomenrock.com and we can set up a time to talk to make sure we’re a great match! (or click HERE to read more)

 

“My time working with Katie has been transformative in moving my business forward. Being a solo business owner with a very big vision and a multi-faceted business model can be a challenge. Katie has been instrumental in helping me validate my instincts and intentions, holding me accountable to my vision. She comes to the table with new ideas that give me “ah ha” moments that you knew were there, but not yet articulated. Working with her has been the best investment I have made in myself and my business. I call her my business therapist. The private one on one coaching with her has been life and business changing.” – Lisa Hetrick, IndigoJade Art