Personal Archives - Kathleen Deggelman | Network Marketing Leader

10 Game Changers – Managing Money for Network Marketers

May 10, 2018/0 Comments/in Business, Personal, Success /by Kathleen Deggelman

Want to make a huge difference in your life? Learning to live your life like a business and taking good care of the money you work so hard to earn will do just that! We all worry so much about how much money is coming in and that is important but taking care of the money coming in is just as important. Taking care of the money you make is the difference between living comfortably or living with a monkey on your back, and the latter is not a comfortable way to exist. The stress alone can create so much mental, emotional and physical damage. You could be making six figures and still be broke. If the monkey of bad habits and negative psychology continues, more money is not the best answer. I think this is the definition of the rat race!

A change in perspective and positive action IS the answer!

Think about this: What is your relationship with money? Do you view it as a friend or an enemy? Is it the good guy or the bad guy?

Raising your awareness about the negative thoughts you have concerning money is half the battle…the rest of the battle is in deciding to make positive changes and TAKING ACTION. You have read this far, so you are likely considering making those changes. Let me share with you my best tips on how.

Below are my top 10 Money Game Changers that you can implement RIGHT NOW.

1) Understand Your Mindset – What Are You Carrying Around With You?

Growing up, how did your well-intentioned family set you up in terms of your money wiring? What was the money language?

Was there always a conversation about how tight money was? Or were there periods of free-spending, followed by bouts of deprivation?

What you are carrying with you from the past may be the reason that you are making challenging money choices… like going deep into debt, not paying your bills on time, or dipping into your retirement savings. The good news is that you can change all of that negative wiring. You really can! But first you need to understand where you currently sit with your mindset.

2) Make the Decision to Change Your Financial Blueprint!

You can live free of financial stress. Yes, it takes work, but you can do it and it is so worth it!

You see, how you feel about money will dictate whether you attract wealth or repel it. Do you feel that money is not good, or that you are not deserving of it? This thought pattern will prevent you from getting more of it. Some people believe money to be the root of all evil, but remember that money is neither good nor bad, it is just a tool, a tool that creates choice, and for most of us money is used for good things. I prefer Mark Twain’s perspective that “the lack of money is the root of all evil.”

3) Alter Your Intentions For Your Business.

A good intention for your business involves more than the desire to earn more money – it’s about saving it, investing, and putting it to work for you. Your network marketing business is about creating wealth, but you want to get smart about how you use the money that you make. Ask yourself what you want the money that your network marketing business provides to do for you.

Is it more stuff that you desire? Or do you want to change the lives of future generations? The goals you set will determine the outcome!

4) Expand Your Knowledge About Finances.

You have heard the saying that knowledge is power. When it comes to finances, that is most definitely the case. My life has changed because of the books I have read and of course, the people I have met along the way.

Are you afraid that it’ll be to complicated? Or do you hope that by ignoring the problem, it will all just go away? You no doubt already realize it doesn’t go away. Most financial solutions are not all that complex, and really provide you with loads of freedom when you are empowered and fully understand the issues..

Reading books by financially savvy people has been vitally important for me in increasing my financial I.Q.

Here are a few of my favorite go-to books:

Money master the game, by Tony Robbins; God wants you to be rich, by Paul Zane Pilzer; Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill.

Pick one up this month and make it a goal to finish it. The knowledge within these pages will empower your future financial decision making.

5) Making The Money Is Only ONE Piece Of The Puzzle.

Can you increase your network marketing income if you really set your mind to it?

Are you able to devote an additional 4-5 hours per week to network marketing? If you are, then big things can happen FAST.

Review your cash in and cash out, and this will give you the insight, and knowledge that you can use to take control. You need to identify where your money is going, and where you can make small changes. Remember it’s the small, daily decisions that will empower you!

6) Create a Debt Snowball!

This is a fun way to think about your debt-freeing project. Imagine a snowball, that’s rolling down a hill and gathering momentum with each small amount paid off. Before you know it you’re at the bottom of the hill and you’ve CRUSHED your debt. I did this with an investment property mortgage recently. It is so fun to see the number go down!

Pay off the small ones first, and then strategically work your way through all of the larger debts. Imagine how free you will feel when you have NO MORE payments. It’s possible, and sooner than you think.

7) Hire an Accountant!

A good accountant will educate you about all the advantages of a home based business, and they will help you live your life like a business – strategically.

Ask your local financial institution for recommendations, and keep in mind that an investment made in an accountant is an investment made in the growth of your bottom line. In my experience, it pays off BIG TIME. Chances are good that you are not a financial expert or tax expert. Make sure you get good advice from a professional.

8) Create a Net Worth Statement.

Write down everything you own. Your assets go on one side of the page and everything you owe ( your debts) go on the other side. Then you subtract the difference. This will give you your current net worth.

Why do this exercise? It may well surprise you to see those numbers, but remember, what we track and measure can change because we are aware of it. And it’s fun to watch this change over time! I do a net worth statement twice a year and have been doing so for the past 15 years.

9) Play The Prosperity Game.

I learned this game from The Law of Attraction book I read a number of years ago. I started with $10,000.00 and each time I played, I added $10,000.00 and I would write down exactly what I would do with the money. Exactly – line by line.

Fast forward to 2 years later and I realized that I was playing with the exact amount of money in my prosperity game journal that the average top earner in network marketing was earning annually. It was one of those aha moments where I realized how powerful our mindsets are!

The way this works is that this game puts you in an abundance mindset. You will start to take action to create what your mind is imagining.You can play this game too.

Start with a journal and write down $10,000.00. Record how you will spend that money, and continue weekly or daily. You will be surprised to see how that will change your mindset and your reality.

10) Teach Your Kids the Game of Making Money.

Most of us have wiring about money that isn’t fun. How do you want your children to think and feel about money?

See if you can stop saying we can’t afford that, and instead start asking how could we afford that. This is a creative approach and will move your family forward. You can change your kids paradigm about money by changing your own first! After all, you are grooming the next generation in your family.

Let’s think long term! Let’s make a difference in our financial lives for good.

The only thing holding you back is you! Follow these 10 steps to increase your financial literacy, and start living your life to the fullest. Money is just a tool and you can do a lot of good and have a lot of fun with it. There is plenty of time left this year to step up to the financial plate and knock your debt out of the park!

Let me know in the comments which of these 10 game changers is your favorite, I’d love to discuss your progress.

P.S. I hope you found my article helpful on 10 Game Changers – Managing Money for Network Marketers, If you liked this blog post, I think you will love my blog post on New Year / New Goals / New You.

NEW YEAR / NEW GOALS / NEW YOU

January 12, 2018/0 Comments/in Business, Personal, Success /by Kathleen Deggelman

Well, 2017 is two week’s behind us now! I hear over and over again how fast time is flying by and I feel the same way! There are reminders everywhere to slow down and enjoy the moments. Definitely a 2018 new year’s resolution for me is to slow down and play hooky more! Last year was a great year for us. We launched our business in India, we spent almost 3 weeks in Tahiti with family and my company and we purchased what is becoming our dream home! Those are probably what I would call the “biggest wins”.

A learning moment would come from saying goodbye to a dear friend of many years. My friend Carol passed away a couple weeks ago and I will very much miss her. I want to learn from her and remember how much joy she found in small things and how much she laughed. I think I will miss her laugh the most!

My best personal memory for the year would have to be when Mark and I walked into the home we now own for the first time. We have been looking at homes for a couple of years and about 10 minutes after we were walking through this one for the first time, we turned to each other and said “This is it. We are going to write an offer.” Also a lesson in moving fast when you know you have to/want to do something. If we had waited one more day, I don’t think we would have gotten the house and land that is perfect for us!

With all that said, I think it would be helpful to explore ways to make OUR 2018 powerful, meaningful, and full of personal and business success. My wish for each and every one of you is that you have a great 2018! Here are 7 Ways to ring in the new-year with bells on!

Set 5 Big Audacious Goals for Your New Year.

5 big goals may seem overwhelming, but there are usually at least 5 major areas of importance in our lives, things we want and need to give our attention to. For instance, yours could include Business / Financials / Spirituality / Family / Health & Nutrition / Creativity & Travel.

Setting goals for some, or all of these areas makes it possible to maintain some sense of balance in an ever-changing world. When you know your priorities, it makes it so much easier to accomplish your goals on a micro level – day by day.

Bonus points if you share these goals with your community, a close friend, or your partner. Accountability breeds legitimacy! I share my yearly goals, dreams and resolutions with a close group of girlfriends. In fact, we have been meeting twice a month on calls for 10 years! Today as I write this, it is our 10 year anniversary!

Pick a Guiding Word for Your Year.

This is one of my FAVORITE activities. It’s such a gorgeous practice to sit down with a dictionary and a hot cup of tea to pick a word that rings true. This word is powerful. It is THE word that you want to describe your year. In one word. So you have to be laser focused and really think about what is the MOST important feeling for you to have this year! The word you pick will bring a central focus to your life, and can be applied to all of your goals.

My word for 2017 was Joy and for 2016 my word was Healthy. I will be figuring out 2018’s word this week but I know it is going to have to do with play, creativity, fun and health. It will be a trick to find the one word that best describes that!

Spend An Hour Reflecting on the Best Moments of 2017.

Self reflection is crucial to personal growth. But reflecting on the happiest days of your life from the previous year is crucial for your own inner sense of wellbeing. Beautiful things happen all the time. We often overlook them though, instead focusing on the painful events in life.

What was the best family moment of 2017?

What was an awesome business achievement of 2017?

What made you laugh the hardest in 2017?

Who made you smile the most in 2017?

My answers in that order: Christmas Day with my Mom and 35 family members. Opening India with my business. My girlfriends. My Husband.

I say, allow the joyful moments to shape you just as much as the painful ones. Our health, vibrancy, and ability to get back up after a fall, will all be greatly increased when we do!

Call 5 Friends Who Mean the World to You and Thank Them.

Who are the people that make your life worth living? Who do you consider a part of your inner circle? When was the last time you let them know how important they are to you?

Take out a piece of paper and write down 5 names. Whether they live close or far away, make it a priority to call them or write to them (yes, write an actual letter!) before the new year.

After all, these are YOUR people, the people who make life so much better. They are your tribe and will be there for you no matter what. Don’t they deserve a little love in return? I LOVE getting an old-fashioned letter and can’t wait to write my 5 letters this week!

Complete 1 Random Act of Kindness.

This is such a fun one, and there are a million ways to make it happen.

Maybe anonymously donate to a charity that you love, but don’t often support. Maybe next time you’re in line at the coffee shop, pay for the person behind you. Maybe bake some cookies, and gift them to an elderly neighbour. The world is a mirror and these random acts of kindness one act at a time makes our world and our lives a better place to be! The other day when I left the bank, there was a homeless mom outside and I slipped her a $20 – the gift for me was seeing her smile.

Look for opportunities in your day to day routine. There is always a way to give back, no matter how small!

Celebrate Anything That Slipped Through the Cracks.

Life gets busy. Kids and work and groceries and family obligations and, and, and…

There’s a good chance that something awesome happened this year that you really didn’t take the time to savour. Was it a successful business project that you never properly celebrated? Was it a family member’s achievement that went unnoticed? Was it a teammate’s success, that maybe got brushed under the rug during a busy time of year?

Look back in your calendar for missed opportunities to celebrate, and then have a little joy fest. Make sure you tell people how proud you are of them. We took our oldest daughter to the airport the other day to start her last semester of college and as I kissed her goodbye, I told her how proud I was of her. I remember when my Dad used to say that to me how much it meant to me!

Buy a few cupcakes to share and celebrate, take a long walk with your friend, or write a celebratory card to your colleague.

Let Go of Your Losses , and Allow Gratitude to Shape Your Life Moving Forward.

If there was a lot of rough patches for you in 2017, take the time you need to let go of that pain/anxiety/disappointment. But do let go of what you can. Make a list of your losses, and then make a new list of reasons to be grateful for them – or reasons to feel grateful for what they taught you. I love what Tony Robbins teaches that if you are going to “blame” someone or something for all the bad things then you have to remember to “credit” them or it for the good things too. Another way of looking at it!

This one isn’t easy but I am going to do this too: Set the intention to feel grateful every single day 2018. Frame your life with gratitude as your guiding principal, and 2018 will shape up just fine. At the end of the day, that cliche saying about how gratitude affects everything is TRUE! I hope this list is helpful to you. You don’t have to do them all, but even picking just one of these things and actually doing it this January, is sure to have a major impact on your overall happiness. A

All the best to a great New Year in 2018!!

P.S. I hope you found my article helpful on New Year / New Goals / New You, If you liked this blog post, I think you will love my blog post on How To Use Doubt As Rocket Fuel For Your Next Success.

How to Use Doubts as ROCKET FUEL for Your Next Business Success

November 30, 2017/0 Comments/in Business, Entrepreneurship, Personal, Success /by Kathleen Deggelman

It is a fact of life – there are many people who will doubt you. I hate to say it, but it is true. This isn’t necessarily unfortunate though! I actually believe that people expressing doubt in your abilities could be a gift. Let me explain.

I came across this Taraji P. Henson quote the other day in an article I was reading: “If you…allow people to project their fears onto you, you won’t live.” Pretty strong statement. Pretty serious consequences.

There are countless entrepreneurial examples of people who have used the words of doubters as fuel to expand, grow, and accomplish bigger things. I think we can all learn from this, no matter the stage we are at in our businesses. When I first started my business 11 years ago, I had my share of doubters and some of them were immediate family and very close friends. I couldn’t let it stop me so instead I used that as pure motivation to succeed.

But who are YOUR doubters, and how can you deal with them successfully?

Friends and Family:

Sometimes your doubters come in the form of loving friends and family.

Who here has heard the following:

“You want to start your own business? Selling what?”

“That’s going to be a ton of work, Can you really afford to spend time on it, and still be a good mom to the kids?”

“Nobody makes any money in those things.”

“Shouldn’t you get a real job?”

“You’ll never really be able to make a full time living from this.”

“Working for yourself is so hard. What about dental?”

These questions often come from a well-meaning, but fearful place. Fear is not a place that we, as entrepreneurs, can afford to run our lives from. So, take these questions for what they are – loving, and yes misdirected statements from people who are used to playing it safe— or at best just don’t understand what you are about.

Instead of letting these doubts stop us in our tracks, how about we use them as evidence that we’re doing something really exciting and innovative with our time? We are choosing to take a risk, but we’re smart, driven, and itching to try something new in life.

One reply that I like to use is: “Yes, it’s scary, but I’m so much happier living up to my full potential than I ever could be playing it safe.”

Current Colleagues:

The people we work with and those who have spent their entire careers working for someone else, really are not the people we want to bring our entrepreneurial business plans to.

There is nothing wrong with working for someone else, but people without the entrepreneurial bug, are just that —people without the entrepreneurial bug. It will be hard for them to understand why you would want to take on the extra load of self-employment.

To combat these negative influences, write down your own very solid reasons for choosing to build your own business. Answer this question: Why is this path worth it for me? It was so clear to me why this was worth it – I wanted to create time freedom and financial freedom. I wanted to say when I worked, where I worked and with whom I worked. And believe me, it has been worth every step of the way!

Your answers might even inspire some of your colleagues to think outside the box and bring a little something new to their current positions!

Internet Noise:

There are so many wonderful resources online, but the internet can also be a fairly negative place. If you spend too much time reading online, or listen to the opinions of people who go online just to complain, then you are going to have a hard time finding the motivation to continue.

My advice is to find industry-specific experts and follow them. Don’t clutter your feed with too many differing opinions. Choose people who are really good at what they do, and who offer positive, constructive advice.

Also, remember that your path is unique, all the doubters in the world don’t have your combination of talents, abilities, and drive.

Pessimistic Business Owners:

Sometimes we go to entrepreneurial meetups or local small business groups, and find that the attitude is less than stellar. This is unfortunate, but don’t feel like you have to listen to a negative-nelly just because they’ve been in business for a long time.

People get stuck in unproductive patterns, and it’s not a trap you have to follow. A positive mind, set on success is something you can cultivate and keep. These “seasoned business owners” who have a negative spin on everything are people who have forgotten their own power over the years. Don’t ever let anyone take away your power or your dreams!

Instead, surround yourself with business owners who are real about their struggles, but always looking for a solution. Those are the people you can learn from.

Doubt and Fear go hand-in-hand. But the antidotes are clear and simple:

Positivity
Good company
Solution-oriented thinking
Solid personal reasons for your chosen path

I love this passage by Marianne Williamson:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

You are doing something great by moving ahead despite the fear, despite the doubters. It is worth it! It may be time to armor up. Next time a doubter comes knocking, flip it around as a powerful reason to continue building the business of your dreams. I am cheering for you!

P.S. I hope you found my article helpful on Using Doubt As Rocket Fuel For Your Next Success. If you liked this blog post, I think you will love my blog post on How To Cultivate a Millionaire Mindset.

Are You Cultivating Your Millionaire Mindset?

October 26, 2017/0 Comments/in Business, Entrepreneurship, Health & Nutrition, Personal /by Kathleen Deggelman

I watched a video from Eric Worre the other day, and there was one thing he said that really hit me… “Mowing the lawn myself means losing $100 or even $500.00 an hour.”

What does that mean?

Well, while he’s outside mowing the lawn, he is trading his time for a $15.00/hour task… time that could be spent nurturing high-value offerings, growing his business, and contributing to his long-term financial, personal, and professional success.

The lesson? To uplevel and truly cultivate a millionaire mindset, we must weed out non-essential tasks, and make sure we’re spending the majority of our time where it counts. For many of us, this means we can hire someone to do the things we don’t like to do anyway! I just treated us to our first housekeeper at our BC home. It felt great!

Let me be clear about one thing – the millionaire mindset applies to financial goals, of course, but it encompasses far more than that. It means defining what wealth is in all areas of our lives – personal, professional, and spiritual. How do I want to spend my days now and in the future? I love to cook so I will never hire someone to do that for me, but lots of people don’t love to cook and there are services that deliver almost prepared meals to your door now. My niece loves that!

You should KNOW what your time is worth, and be focused on high-level activities that truly move your life and business forward. Don’t be worried about life becoming all work and no play – when you’re tapped into your true power there is a certain sweetness and enjoyment to life that is worth the sacrifice! When we are lucky, work doesn’t actually feel like work. That is the goal for me!

What kinds of activities help us to cultivate a millionaire mindset?

Here are 4 categories you should be aware of…

What You Read:

Reading should be #1 on your list if you plan to develop a millionaire mindset. When we read, we expand what is possible – literally allowing ourselves to picture futures we didn’t even know were available. That’s a gift we don’t want to waste. I keep a basket of books in my living room that inspire me and any given day, I can pick one of them up and even spending 10 minutes reading makes a difference. I feel calmer, balanced and inspired all at the same time.

So, when was the last time you picked up a book and finished it? If you feel strapped for time, commit to reading 1 book a month. This can be accomplished in just 10 minutes a day!

Here are some of my personal favorites to get you started:

Money – Master The Game – By Tony Robbins

Start With Why – Simon Sinek

The Four Hour Workweek – Tim Ferris

Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert

Go Pro – Seven Steps To Becoming a Network Marketing Professional – Eric Worre

The War of Art – Steven Pressfield

Who We Spend Time With:

We are the sum total of the 5 people we spend our time with – who are your 5?

I encourage you to actually write this down. Consciously acknowledge who you allow to have the most influence over your life. Sometimes we need to think more about who we are spending all our time with. Are they inspiring and going somewhere in their life? If not, it doesn’t mean you don’t still love them but maybe you need to add someone that is. Our friends are the family we choose.

We need positive, growth-oriented, loving, and constantly-evolving relationships in our lives, and we need people who will challenge us to be our best. That doesn’t mean you cut good friends and family out, it just may mean it’s time to widen your circle of influence.

Choose Daily Affirmations:

Our thoughts can be our biggest influencer. Using daily affirmations will help to align your heart and mind with your most important goals. It will give you laser-sharp focus. I say mine out loud in the shower. (multi-tasker that I am…)

What affirmations would you like to use on a daily basis? Write them down now.
If you can’t think of any, just spend a few minutes searching “affirmations” on Pinterest or Google. You’ll find plenty of gold. You can also purchase affirmation decks, and simply consider a positive thought every morning during breakfast.

Click here for a page of my favorite affirmations.

Invest In Ongoing Education:

Growth is challenging, and we all need good teachers. I recommend making educational goals for your year, just like you do for your financial goals. Set aside time and money to invest into yourself. Plan to attend conferences, speaking events, author events… anything that is high-value and aligned with your ultimate financial, spiritual and life goal.

The more you learn, the more effective you will be at capturing dreams in the real world.

For instance, there is still time to get a ticket to the Go Pro event next month. If you want the chance to learn from the likes of Tony Robbins and Eric Worre, and many, many more, there’s still time. Click here for more info.

Remember, your mindset is like a muscle – if you develop it, it expands. If you don’t, it weakens. Affirmations, reading and listening, learning, who we spend time with – all these things help us develop an authentic millionaire mindset.

When our mindset is aligned with our goals, and our goals are aligned with high-impact activities, then MASSIVE achievement is RIGHT around the corner. That’s a promise ;). I know from first-hand experience. Never EVER underestimate the power of your mind.

P.S. I hope you found my article helpful on Cultivating Your Millionaire Mindset. If you liked this blog post, I think you will love my blog post on Avoiding 4th Quarter Overwhelm.

How To Avoid 4th Quarter Overwhelm And Finish Your Year Strong

September 27, 2017/0 Comments/in Business, Entrepreneurship, Health & Nutrition, Personal /by Kathleen Deggelman

The calendar year is coming to a close in less than 4 short months (September is almost done!), and with that, so is the final quarter of 2017 for our businesses. I don’t know about you, but with the launch of Jeunesse in India, my final quarter for 2017 is adventurous and packed FULL of travel. In other words, crazy busy. Despite that, I really believe that a last-minute wrapping job on an otherwise fantastic gift of year can ruin your outlook on your achievements and leave you scrambling to get it all done before the holidays.

That’s not how I want to feel, and that’s not how I want anyone else to feel either!

I’ve found that 4 simple, yet powerful steps help me walk through my last quarter in a positive state of mind, full of gratitude for what’s happened, and excitement for what’s next. Forget empty new year’s resolutions – let’s get a concrete hold on our future successes.

Create An Accomplishments List. This is something that spills over from the professional realm and into the personal. You probably already know that I love the physical act of writing down my wins from the year in all areas of life.

This is something that you can include the entire family in too! Everyone can add to the “Wins List”. Keep it on the refrigerator for the remainder of the year, and add to it as you think of additional awesome things you and your loved ones were able to conquer together.

It keeps spirits so HIGH throughout the year-end bustle.

Organize Your Physical Environment. This doesn’t have to be a chore. This can be a joy. Especially when I consider all the hours that I spend in my workspace. A clean, inspiring, and functional home office is a gift that just keeps on giving. When I’m able to work un-interrupted with water and snacks nearby, it changes everything! Maybe organizing your space includes a fresh coat of paint on the walls? Investing in that standing desk? The possibilities are endless.

Set Up New Systems & Replace Outdated Organizational Tactics. There are lots of things in our lives that sit around, neglected and under-utilized. But it really doesn’t take much to clear the deck, and create systems that work for you, not against you.

Is your bookkeeping software still working for you?

Do you have an inbox that makes you slightly nauseous?

How long has it been since you had a look at your finances?

Do you still have a filing cabinet (physically or virtually) full of who-knows-what?

These tasks probably fall under the “swallowing a frog” category, but if you block off time to accomplish them before beginning the new year, the mental and emotional burden is lifted, and your self-confidence will be too.

Define Your Forward Momentum. Defining your unique vision is the key to all accomplishment, in my opinion. And by define – I don’t mean loosely color in – I want you to set SMART goals for 2018, and spend the time to chunk those goals down and divvy them up over the next 4 quarters of the year. Doing this early, (and then reviewing quarterly) is the absolute best way I know of to keep my productivity soaring, and to avoid busy-work.

This is also where you can ask and answer some FUN and CRUCIAL questions. Things like…Is it time to uplevel? Can I afford to hire some help come the new year? Am I at the point in my business where a virtual assistant makes sense? What new money goal do I want to set for myself? If you’re clear that these things are apart of your vision for 2018, you can wrap up your last quarter proactively.

This grab bag of practical end-of-year tips ensures that I have the help/systems/headspace needed to lead myself, my team, and my family into the new year happily, and highly motivated. I hope it does the same for you!

P.S. I hope you found my article helpful on Avoiding 4th Quarter Overwhelm. If you liked this blog post, I think you will love my blog post on Getting Back Into a Routine After Vacation.

How To Get Back Into A Routine After A Vacation

August 23, 2017/0 Comments/in Business, Entrepreneurship, Health & Nutrition, Personal /by Kathleen Deggelman

Given how long it has taken me post our vacation to get this blog article out, I know first hand it isn’t easy to get back to work after an amazing vacation. The summer months are the most popular time for vacations – especially with our kids out of school. A trip out of town, or even a “staycation” is well-deserved for everyone and it’s truly essential for us to maintain, not only our sanity, but also our productive time! I think we all know that not taking any time off can be just as bad for our health as it can be for our careers. Research shows that by being able to take a vacation or time off makes all of us a better worker. So don’t feel guilty about taking that vacation. It’s for your own good. 🙂 Our Tahiti trip early this summer certainly was great for us. I was just talking about some of the life long memories with our oldest daughter.

Getting back to work after that incredible trip can be rough for anyone whether you’ve taken a trip to Disneyland or spent time on your couch enjoying a Netflix binge. If you’re like me, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to spring right back into action on that first day back to the grind. Mentally, you’re likely still in vacation mode and forcing it may only make things harder on yourself. Take these gradual steps toward becoming a productive member of your office again:

Take an Extra Day: Getting back into the thick of it can seem like quite the task so it’s best to give yourself some time, perhaps a day or two, to get you mentally back into work mode. Some of us just may not be quite ready to get back to work, especially if we’ve been out of town. Take that extra day off when you’re back home to reset your clock. When you do get back to work, start to ease into your tasks. If possible, cross off some of the easy things during that first day or two so you don’t get burnt out or feel overwhelmed with work when you’ve just returned. If you’re anxious and excited to get right back to it after a few days out, all the better but you will benefit by easing back into it the first day or two.

Resist the Urge to Multitask: Multitasking is a necessary evil. It’s something we all have to do. But multitasking can put additional stress on the brain, and this can quickly unwind all the relaxing you just did on vacation. When you’re back in the office after vacation, you will have hundreds of unread e-mails to reply to, piles of paper to sort, and tasks and phone calls to return. Your instincts may kick in and you may start to attack everything at once. However, this will set you back and make you wishing and thinking about your next vacation. Check off one item at a time to help you regain focus and set priorities. That first week back, looks at your tasks and set up a weekly schedule to spread your work throughout the week. Having one massive to-do list can seem like an uphill battle; however, a day-by-day schedule of achievable tasks seems less daunting and can provide a more cheery outlook. One thing I have discovered is that the pile of emails isn’t that bad. A lot of it has gotten worked out by the time you get back and some of it just wasn’t that important anyway. Prioritize your most important tasks and get those done first.

Get Back to Your Routine: Vacation mode is a real thing and after a week or two away from work, all the things you knew off the top of your head will be pushed under the newly created memories of your time away. But don’t fret, all of your login passwords and client’s names will come back. Prior to taking vacation, you had your existing routine. It was that specific way that you did things to make your day easier. Maybe you went for a run in the morning and on Friday went out with your team. Whatever it was that you regularly did, whether it was at work, at home, or just around town, find that comfort again and it will go a long ways towards helping you feel more receptive to being back.

Appreciate the Time Away: Keep in mind that just because you’re back to being productive and taking orders doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to appreciate the experiences you had on vacation. It’s important to take the time to be appreciative to take time off. If you took pictures, feel free to share them with your teammates. Tell stories about the experiences you had or any interesting people you may have met in your travels. Do some more reading about the places you traveled. There are a number of ways that enable you to extend your vacation mentally. There are always things that I do on vacation that I think I am going to bring some of this back with me. Even if it is just sitting outside for 10 minutes with that chai latte, it all helps. The point of life is to create a life that we don’t need to run away from. I am building a life that I love every day. Just these little reminders of being able to travel or take time off can truly make you more appreciative of your business, which, in the end, makes it all possible.

P.S. I hope you found my article helpful on Returning To Your Routine After A Vacation. If you liked this blog post, I think you will love my blog post on Taking Better Care Of Yourself.

How To Achieve A Summer Time Work-Life Balance

July 7, 2017/0 Comments/in Business, Entrepreneurship, Health & Nutrition, Personal, Success, Training /by Kathleen Deggelman

For many of us, the summer months can be the busiest (and most fun) time of the year. It is certainly my favorite season! As the demand for work and personal time increases, you may be finding yourself struggling to maintain a good balance between managing your business and having time to enjoy those summer nights. (It doesn’t get dark till 10 pm where I spend most of my summer….) While being busy with work can possibly mean committing upwards of 40+ hours a week, the dedication you show to your business still warrants a few July and August weekends for yourself.

As summer has arrived with it’s long days, it’s important for all of us to find ways to manage our workload so that our work days don’t fill up all that extra sunshine. Here are a few ways that have helped me to achieve a healthier work-life balance during the summer months:

Manage Your Time

Easy to say right! Although organization is essential to time management, and I’ll touch on that later, being able to delegate responsibilities is also key to managing a healthy work-life balance. Administrative tasks, such as answering calls and emails, can typically carve out a large portion of your day. It’s important to set aside time for those administrative duties so you can focus on other aspects of your business. Set aside a 60 minute slot per day and dedicate it solely to messages and emails instead of trying to stay on top of them throughout the day. If you do it all day, guess what you have gotten done at the end of the day – email and messages and probably not the big rocks or the really important projects. If you devote 60 minutes only each day you work to email and messages, you will find yourself saving time that could be better used doing other tasks, be more productive and get to the actually more important parts of running your business. I worked at IBM years ago and I can remember management talking about how email was going to save us time. Not so much…If you still find that you need assistance in managing communications, consider hiring a seasonal employee to help you get through the summer season and give yourself a much needed break. A family friend or neighbor could be ideal. Maybe they aren’t helping you with emails, but they are helping you get to some of the other projects on your place. Sometimes we just have to get those things (like cleaning out the garage, my husband’s personal favorite) off our plate and off our list!

Plan & Prep

Being able to prepare ahead of time for the expected ebbs and flows of summer will help you settle into a better work-life balance. Review your business’s past performances so you can plan ahead and set strategies for a smoother transition and one that will free up some time for you! The ability to forecast expected performance can help your business transition from off-seasons to peak seasons. Taking into account possible contingencies like a slow season or surge in business can help you achieve that healthy work-life balance. My company is launching India right now so you can imagine how fun and exciting that is. We are taking advantage of this during the summer AND finding time to enjoy family and sun and beach too.

Organize

One of the easiest methods to free up your time and enjoy summer is by being organized. While this may seem to be the most obvious, many of us find it a struggle to manage the workload as peak seasons demand increases. To maintain a seamless operation and, even better, maximize your valuable time, be sure to update your calendar, schedule every meeting, and keep all of your paperwork in order. You may not be able to plan everything and there will be unexpected meetings or issues that will surface and demand your immediate attention; however, creating a detailed day-to-day schedule can help you remain on track and get you out of the office and out by the pool! Focus on the 3 to 5 most important things every day. I love lists but I am learning to use lists less and focus more on the big stuff. Life is too short to be tied to a list of 100 things to do everyday. Many of those things don’t really need to be done and sometimes we use those lists to get the simple stuff done and not the most important. I use a priority list: What are the 5 most important things to get done this week? And then I schedule them out during the week.

Me Time

Taking time for yourself, both physically and mentally, is important to enjoying the summer and it helps you to be happier, and more focused at work when you do work. It’s quite possible that you’re faced with new responsibilities daily. Managing your business may guarantee a certain level of stress, and it’s always important to take steps to help ease workplace stress so that you remain focused on your business. Being able to create a space away from your business is also important because reclaiming those weekends or at least part of the day, lets you recharge, reconnect with loved ones and friends, and remember your “why” for working as hard as you do. If you feel the need to check emails on a Saturday or Sunday, limit it to one or two times a day. We aren’t meant to be attached to technology and our to do’s 24/7. That isn’t how I want to live my life. Your passion for work shouldn’t come at the expense of having a personal life. Work should be used as a way to bring new vibrancy to your life and to help you grow as an individual AND allow you to create the life and lifestyle you wish with the family and friends that you adore.

Operating your own business does, however, mean that there will be some personal sacrifices. If summer is your favorite time of year, make sure you are enjoying the sunshine too. I am going kayaking later today…Growing any kind of business needs time and dedication but it’s also important to find those ways that can help you manage a healthier work-life balance. It will never be perfect and it will always be something to work on – but it is definitely worth it!

P.S. I hope you found my article helpful on How To Achieve A Work-Life Balance. If you liked this blog post, I think you will love my blog post on 5 Ways To Stay Focused During The Summer.

Taking Better Care of Yourself

February 22, 2017/2 Comments/in Business, Health & Nutrition, Personal, Success, Training /by Kathleen Deggelman

We have all been there before. That feeling of guilt when you take a day off or just take some time to disconnect from the world. After our annual convention in Las Vegas last week I was definitely tired! Don’t worry. Most people feel that way when they feel the need to make time for themselves. There’s no need to feel guilty. Guilty is rarely a useful emotion. It’s important to know how to take care of others but just as important for you to take care of yourself. If you don’t hesitate to help friends and family, you shouldn’t feel guilty when it comes to helping yourself. The idea of self-caring can sometimes have a bad stigma attached to it and it shouldn’t. There’s no need to view yourself as weak if you find yourself needing a “mental vacation” or a real vacation. Here are a few items to keep in mind if your stress levels are on the rise.

Learn to recognize the signs of distress in your mood and your behavior: It’s okay to admit that everyone has signs that tell them they’re either close to, or at, their breaking point. It could be fatigue or anxiousness. Maybe your behavior is off and you could be having mood swings or just irritable. If you feel you’re at this point, stop and take some time to regroup and look into what may be causing you to act out of character. Sometimes it is too much work and not enough fun, or a lack of exercise, or not enough sleep or even not enough of healthy food. There is a reason for that new term called “hangry”.

Try to maintain your sense of humor: Humor can often be overlooked to help ease your stress levels. It’s important for our well-being that we laugh and laugh often. I have even set it as a goal for me this year to laugh more, to be silly more. It can also have a way to help put things into perspective. Laughing at your favorite movie or TV show or even personal situations can help improve your mood and release some stress. My Mother has a very funny sense of humor and I am sure that it helped her every day with the raising of 9 children! My Dad always enjoyed my Mom’s sense of humor too. We still do. If you can lighten a mood with a smile, a giggle, a tickle, a silly moment – everyone will be better for it.

Balance your personal needs and work: It won’t do you any good if you recognize your stress but fail to do anything to remedy it. Be sure to limit your work life so it doesn’t take over with your home life. Doing so will allow you to go back to work with a clearer mind and invigorated attitude with just that small extra mental break. The key is to take this time prior to reaching your breaking point, take time to reset yourself by going for a walk or just sitting down and taking a much deserved moment with yourself. We are all addicted to too busy. I know I certainly am!

Find a workplace that encourages self-care: This may not be feasible in all cases but if your workplace environment is causing much of your stress it may be time to find one that won’t. There are some workplaces that encourage stress-free cultures. If you are an employee, try to find a place where they help employees celebrate successes, insist on a work-life balance and provide them with positive feedback. If you are building a home based business full-time, make sure that your office in your home is inviting and easier said than done, set office hours. Treat your home office like you would if you were getting paid by an employer. In our network marketing business, we are both the boss and the employee. When we like our office surroundings, we all work better and more happily!

Spend plenty of time with friends & family: Spending time away from work can be an effective way to help restore you and reestablish a sense of being yourself. Try to surround yourself with people that fill you up, that complement you, that get you and love you and that you can laugh with. The saying we are the sum total of the 5 people we spend all our time with is so true. Think about the 5 people you spend all your time with – is it moving you towards the life you dream about? Do the people you associate with help you meet the needs of others? Just being in the presence of those that you love and admire and that feel the same way about you can help take the stress off as they provide a sense of familiarity which helps most people feel more content in our lives.

Remember if you fail to take care of yourself, this may cause you to make some decisions that could put yourself and others at risk. It could be as small as an email sent to the wrong person or being distracted when your attention was needed or losing some of what makes you vital and healthy. It is actually unselfish to take the time to care for yourself. When we are at our best is when we can give our best to others too. Enjoy your well-being!

P.S. I hope you found my article insightful on Taking Better Care of Yourself. If you liked this blog post, I think you will love my blog post on Managing Overwhelm and Creating Success in your Business.

Lessons We Learn The Hard Way

January 18, 2017/0 Comments/in Business, Personal, Training /by Kathleen Deggelman

Happy January 2017! I hope 2017 has gotten off to a great start for you! Today, I am sharing a blog post that really hit me with some great nuggets when I read it. All about lessons learned the hard way. Some of us like to learn the hard way and some of us (please let me be one of them…) like to learn from others. I think you will enjoy this short article by Susie Moore containing some great words of wisdom from Arianna Huffington, James Altucher, and Gabrielle Bernstein.

http://greatist.com/live/life-lessons-i-learned-the-hard-way

It will help you put things in perspective for the new year and help you focus on the things that truly matter to you. Indeed, our resumes are not our eulogies and money is never the point and Queens rule with authentic power. Check out their great words of wisdom. I am glad I did. If you need to learn about not overworking yourself, or letting money not be your main motivation and to stop letting outside influences control your life, read on.

I hope you enjoy the article and be sure to leave comments on how the article changes your perspectives. I am working on getting more sleep in the New Year! Have a great day.

P.S. I hope you found my article useful on welcoming 2017. If you liked this blog post, I think you will love my blog post on Having Fun with your Network Marketing Business.

Goodbye 2016, Hello 2017

January 8, 2017/0 Comments/in Business, Entrepreneurship, Personal, Success /by Kathleen Deggelman

Have you noticed there are lots of recaps of 2016 going around? We can’t help but be reminded of all the major events that occurred over the past 12 months. I always enjoy these recaps but I can’t help but think about two things:

I didn’t play a factor in these events
I can’t change anything about them now

What I can do with these recaps is to learn what others went through; what they experienced and the events that occurred and to think about how those lessons could apply in my own life.

On a more personal note though, I have found that a great use of my time is to recap and review the highlights that happened in MY own life in the past year. I actually love this exercise every year. In early January I spend an hour and go through my calendar to remember all the great things that happened. I encourage you to do the same. It is a great opportunity to relive the moments of your life and remember all the great things you did and all the great things you enjoyed.

Start with Successes: Out of all the good things that occurred in your life, did you take the time to fully appreciate them? Were there any significant accomplishments that you achieved and that you were proud of? High achievers tend to miss the pleasures that come when you reflect on success. Spend a few minutes while you are remembering and celebrate the successes, the wins, and the moments.

Look at Setbacks: Look at the setbacks that may have occurred. Did you learn any lessons from them? Did you make any changes in your behavior that will lessen or reduce any future setbacks? Do you feel that there is anything you could do now that may affect the difficulties that may have occurred?

Life Relationships: Consider all of the important relationships that are in your life. Keep your focus on the truly important relationships. Recap all of the good memories you had with them.

Now that you have remembered the great things from 2016 now look into 2017 to shape your ideas, set goals and solidify plans for how you really want your life to be. Use those lessons from the past to help create your successes in the future.

Another exercise I do every January is I choose a word for the new year. One, two or three words that capture the essence of what I want the brand new squeaky clean year to be about. Last year the words for the year 2016 were Faith. Play. Laugh. I am not sure yet what the word for 2017 will be. I am thinking on it as I write this.

I’d like you to think of a word that you feel best captures what it is that you desire for 2017. Write that word down. This word will be the basis of setting yourself up with 5 big audacious goals for the new YEAR! Come from a place of being inspired. Don’t limit yourself. Think about what it is you really want and then write those down. I refer to my goals and dreams at least every month. Who do you want to become? What do you want your life to really look like? How do you want this year to be different? What do you want more in your life? What do you want less of in your life? We really do create our lives. Life happens and we certainly don’t have control over much, but we can control our thoughts and our actions.

I wish you all the best a New Year has to offer.

P.S. I hope you found my article useful on welcoming 2017. If you liked this blog post, I think you will love my blog post on a Mindset for Business.