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Biz Secrets, coaching, Follow & Feel Your Heart, learning methods, List, online biz, Small Biz Support, Soul-Work, Uncategorized

3 Of The Business Rules I Break & What I Do Instead

July 15, 2012

Manage Energy instead of Time By Allison Crow+

On my 9 year path as an entrepreneur, I have followed the rules– and struggled.  There are a lot of tried and true systems and ‘success’ rules for running a business. (I first typed FUNNING a business- a typo? I think NOT).

Here are just three of the rules I was taught; rules I practiced in my life for many years:

  • If it isn’t in your schedule it doesn’t exist- Manage your time wisely and schedule everything that is important to you.
  • Eat That Frog- From a business book by Brian Tracy based on the old saying “If the first thing you do in the morning is eat a frog, then nothing worse can happen the rest of the day.”
  • Goals must be S.MA.R.T: Specific, Measurable, Actionable/Achievable, Realistic, Time-Based.

In school, in work, and maybe some in my personal life, these structures provided some support for years, and they DID actually work. . .BUT  I felt like I was striving, on the hamster wheel, and somehow not being true to myself.  I was usually miserable on the inside even if everything was working and looking good on the outside.

Each month, week, and day I time-blocked, I could feel my soul fall slightly more out of alignment. I never did find a taste for frogs or any other miserable business task first thing in the morning, and I have a stack of SMART goals that were driven by the need to achieve and be liked.

I NOW BREAK THESE RULES

They said by the time I was 40 I would truly know who I am -and they were right.  At this point, I know more of what I do and don’t like, and I am more certain of what works for me and what does not.  And for the areas I still have a blind spot– I still work with a coach.

In this 3 part post I’ll cover how I break these rules and what I do instead that is leading me sweetly to my own personal and professional success.  I won’t advise that you do or don’t do what I do – any more than I would advise you do follow all the rules out there.  I will advise that you keep an open mind,  check in with your self from the inside-out, and figure out what truly works best for YOU.

I manage energy instead of time.  The clock, and the hours on it, are a human construct and don’t always align with my creative-entrepreneurial energy or my psychical and emotional energy. I’ve learned I’m more like the waves in the ocean than the routine, precision, and exact timing of a production line.Manage Energy instead of Time By Allison Crow+

As a coach, facilitator, and speaker – I do have scheduled appointments to keep.   I use TimeTrade to allow clients to schedule coaching calls during the hours I’m generally emotionally and intuitively full (this means no early mornings -those are for ME time; no late evening – that is time with my hubby and friends, or wine and tv).

This keeps me from squeezing a client in to a “blank” space in my calendar out of obligation (my least favorite and most unhelpful energy). I also limit these slots to the same 3-4 days each week. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and sometimes Monday.

Of course I fill in my calendar with any other commitments like classes I’m taking, chiropractic or hair cut appointments,  or social plans with friends.

For the rest of my schedule, I pay attention to my mental and physical energy. With a few deep breaths, I tap in to my Inner Whisper and ask what is on the agenda for the day based on what would cause me to feel best.

When my energy FEELS good,  taking care of business is like playing in the park. I accomplish more better, create more better, help more better (more is not always better, BETTER is better).

Deepak Chopra calls it the Law of Least Effort. Managing energy helps me attract choice clients and relationships every day in fun and delightful ways.

To practice managing energy instead of time, I pay attention to:

  • how my body feels (do I need to move, walk, stretch — or will I be ok behind the computer for a while)
  • making sure I’ve eaten well, had a burst of green juice right after my morning coffee, and that I’m taking care of my physical body
  • if I’m clear (tends to lead to ACTIONS)
  • if I’m fuzzy (tells me I need to create  some space for doodling, visioning, breathing, and making lists on post it notes
  • am I in the flow (CREATE CONTENT BABY!!!)
  • am I in the ebb (naps, breathing and allowing- sometimes getting out of my work and reading blogs, reading one of my stand by books (right now, The Fire Starter Sessions: A Soulful + Practical Guide to Creating Success on Your Own Terms by Danielle Laporte
    or Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
  • who am I being drawn to connect with
  • what message of encouragement needs to be put into the world today (often in drawings or posts put on facebook)

Essentially, this bit of awareness helps me get in to ALIGNMENT– as Abraham Hicks says,

“Get in to alignment and then….”

This has become my motto and life practice.

Learning and trusting my energies before my schedule has helped me tremendously.  I can’t remember the last time I had complete burnout and I always meet my appointments and deadlines.  I’ve also accomplished more by doing less in the last year of practicing my biz energy this way.

This is some of what it looks like in every day life:

  • I sometimes work on the weekends
  • Sometimes I play on the weekdays
  • My muse decides when and where she is inspired to create (so I always have a camera, a pen, and a journal with me)
  • I take tons and tons of naps
  • I write content for classes on planes, under trees, from my hammock, and on stickies in my car
  • I’m often in bed by 10:30 pm and up at 6:00 am
  • I offer some of my best energy to the masses on Monday mornings, because that is when I am IN MY ZONE and I freakishly LOVE Monday mornings
  • I filter when my clients have access to me (to respect and consider family and private time

Are you aware of your energies? Physical, mental, emotional, and creative?  When are you great at creating? When are you great at connecting? What do you do or need for fueling your body? Do you trust your energy and intuition to help you unfold even your scheduled appointments?

Or do you follow a strict schedule and clock?

Let me know what works for you– I’m curious.

In part two, I’ll talk about how I’ve decided to never really “eat a frog” again and what I do to keep business enjoyable at almost ALL times.

In part three, I’ll share the secret of how I make all my dreams come true and why I chucked the SMART goals into the trash can.

 

 

 

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Comments

  1. Amethyst Mahoney says: July 15, 2012 at 9:17 pm

    Love this post, Allison! I have been doing the same thing lately, although I didn’t really have a name for it. What I have been noticing is that I just get more accomplished by working a few days a week at my peak energy time, so I have been able to schedule more time off. I’m still working on my “optimal” schedule. I definitely think I need to look in to that “nap” thing, though. 🙂

    • Allison Crow says: July 15, 2012 at 9:20 pm

       When my mind gets fuzzy…a nap always gets me back in to alignment.  So sometimes it is super productive for me to take a nap.  Other times, it is decadently indulgent!
       Give it a go!

  2. Christine Mann says: July 15, 2012 at 9:18 pm

    Love breaking those rules! It leads to sooooo much that’s unexpected and happy – thanks for emphasizing it.

    • Allison Crow says: July 16, 2012 at 12:49 pm

       Unexpected and Happy! PERFECT!

  3. Britt says: July 15, 2012 at 10:18 pm

    Beautiful!!  Thank you for posting this! 

    • Allison Crow says: July 16, 2012 at 12:49 pm

       Smooch Love!

  4. Katie Swanberg says: July 16, 2012 at 3:33 am

    I’m getting much better at recognizing burnout (or resentment of doing too much) sooner than ever before. I rescheduled an appointment the other day because I needed time to just BE. Great decision!

    I heard a guru say recently that “If it’s not scheduled, it’s not real.” and I disagreed as well. I blogged on a schedule for a while and it didn’t work out for me at all! I lost my voice and hated blogging. No bueno. I also manage my energy on a daily basis and some days that means 12+ hours in the zone (yesterday!) and some days that means naps, walks, garden tending, and reading. I work better not sitting in a chair 8-5, M-F and work when I’m most productive.

    Manage energy not time – brilliant.

    • Allison Crow says: July 16, 2012 at 12:49 pm

       Katie, I feel ya.  I took a few days off the blog challenge…because I just wasn’t feeling it, and I want to LIKE what I write — not write out of obligation!  I painted instead! 

  5. Familybugs says: July 18, 2012 at 5:16 pm

    This is such a unique perspective!  I’m definitely going to have to pay more attention to when I have the energy instead of when I have the time.  Although it usually works out that my energy and time coincides with each other (when the kids are napping).  Looking forward to reading the rest in this series!

  6. Nanette Levin says: July 19, 2012 at 1:44 am

    What a great find (thanks Jan Kearney for pointing me here). Too funny, I noted Brian Tracy in a post I crafted today (thanks for this mention – you were right without the ‘e’ and my double check will keep egg off my face as it’s not published yet). I’ve always found his ‘eat the frog’ advice to be a powerful tool in feeling accomplished and free early in the day. I’ll be interested to read in your next post how you’ve managed to scoff at this idea for a better approach.

    • Allison Crow says: July 19, 2012 at 1:57 am

      Brian Tracy is one of my favorite authors and his book Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life was an early influence in me choosing a personal growth career. As I said, these rules did serve me…and they aren’t bad… I just found ways that work better for me.
      thanks for your comment. 🙂 the eat that frog post is now up!

  7. MaryAnne says: August 7, 2012 at 4:45 am

    Thank you for writing this post. It’s liberating! I truly believe what you’re saying and have lived this way in the past but never found it worked with making money or helping many people.It may be time to shake it out again. Thanks for the inspiration

  8. Jennifer Lynne Flint says: August 5, 2013 at 6:21 pm

    This is great advice, and I’ve been heading in that direction myself for a while now. I think energy management is about the most important life skill anyone can ever learn, because if we don’t have optimum energy, we simply can’t share it with anyone else.

    And now I think I need a nap. 🙂

    • Allison Crow says: August 5, 2013 at 7:12 pm

      Hooray for naps! They re-set our energy every time!

      • Jennifer Lynne Flint says: August 5, 2013 at 7:14 pm

        Yep! Meditation works for that too. And snacks. 🙂

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My word of the year this year chose me, I didn’t My word of the year this year chose me, I didn’t choose it.

The word?

JOY.

It feels so fitting this week, as I played with what I was going to share with you on the podcast, the word “joyful” just kept coming up with “ambition” and I loved the way “joyful ambition” sounded.

It made me think about what’s required to have joyful ambition, what ambition really is, and how we can let it be fully part of us.

I’m sharing my reflections around these questions and YOUR amazing responses to my question of “what is ambition” (SO COOL to hear from you all, thank you for sharing your thoughts!) on the show today.

It’s my hope that this episode will help respark the ambition inside you if needed and will encourage you to allow yourself to be the ambitious person that you are.

Listen at the link in my bio, or wherever you usually enjoy the show, and if you want to add your definition of ambition to my collection, share with me below!
Hey.... be sure and #rest. Profound engagement req Hey.... be sure and #rest. Profound engagement requires profound DISengagement and downtime. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been requiring much more rest these last few weeks.

My tired lil brain likes to try and use that weariness to “should” on me... tell me I’m falling behind. Does your brain start to spin when you are tired? Yep. That’s not a sign to push through.... that’s a sign to slow down. 

You are NOT behind, you are not gonna miss out on anything. It’s important To sustain your body and soul.

This morning it was nice to put the phone and computer away for a while and play 18 holes of nature frisbee golf.... just to be outside. This afternoon is naps and chill time. Work can wait till Monday .... especially if your soul needs a bit of rest.

If you’re on fire and it feels good, go fast. You do YOU. No comparison or competition.

Xoxox,
Oh and do drink some water! Hydration helps.
Do you know how to feel good? Even better, do you Do you know how to feel good? Even better, do you know how to feel difficult emotions?  Grab you a copy of my Feel Good Guide!  The link is in my bio! 
.
#feelgoodguide #breatheyall #howtofeelbetter #manageemotions #selfleadership #mindset #lifecoachingforwomen #overwhelmedbylife #slowdowntospeedup #betterlifebetterwork #authenticandmbtious #transparentleadership
Don't forget... We "breathe y'all" so we can get Don't forget...

We "breathe y'all" so we can get back to center, to get back to ambition, to get back to BEing.

So breathe y'all, we're here and we're doing our very best.

Authentic & Ambitious,

Allison
I remember the first time I shared something from I remember the first time I shared something from behind the curtain of my life on a public stage. 

2008. It was in Austin, at the convention center Hilton. I was on stage, on a panel of successful Productivity coaches. 

I shared something about my mental health.... struggling for a lifetime with depression and anxiety....AND managing to run a successful coaching practice. 

After that session - I had a line 50 yards long of other coaches from around the country lined up to meet me.  All they wanted to say was, “thank you.... me too... you give me hope.”

A few days later I was talking with my mentor and the CEO of our coaching org.  I mentioned the impact my unusual (at the time authenticity was not cool) share... and she looked at me with steel, disapproving eyes, “I would have NEVER...” she barked at me. 

Well I did. And my heart 𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑤, other people needed to know that there were humans behind the leadership curtain.  Real live people, with messy, real lives, figuring out a way to thrive and prosper, not financially and emotionally. 

It only took two more years of wrist slapping and disapproval (I made them too much money for them to kick me out) at that company to get the guts to go out on my own. 

Unemcumbered, free to be me. 

It hasn’t always been pretty, or professional, and I’m SURE it has cost me business. But it has never cost me my soul. It has never cost me the gift of being fully me. 

And even that took practice and exploration. 

Be with people, clients, jobs, family, and friends, that you can be your full self with. 

Be outrageously authentic and your ambitions will be fulfilled. 

💛,
Your favorite life and business coach. 
Allison.
Doors closing! Y'all know how much I love my Soul Doors closing!

Y'all know how much I love my Soul-Full Success program.

It's truly a place where my Soulies and I grow, learn and SUPPORT each other.

It's where we can ask questions like: What do you want to create? What do you want to be known for? Who are you becoming in 2021? Where specifically do you want to stretch and grow?

I'm so damn proud of this community and all the work, both for Life and Biz, that Soulies put in.

And in order to create the sacred space that is Soul-Full Success, I can't continuously let people join.

So I'll be closing the doors to join us tonight, so I can focus on supporting those who are in the community.

I don't say this to scare or taunt you, I say this to be honest and transparent and hopefully motivate you if this is something you have been thinking about.

I want the RIGHT people in Soul-Full Success. Those that are ready to do the inner and outer work. Those that are looking for more authenticity and ambition in their life. Those that are ready to show up for themselves, their business, and their gifts.

If this is you, apply to join us at the link in my bio. If this isn't you, thanks for following along anyways, happy to share this space with you!
Here’s some truth: I’ve been told: * Your re Here’s some truth:

I’ve been told:

* Your relationship with your husband is awful. I can’t have you as a coach.  Oh. And why would anyone pay 188/month for your coaching. That’s insane. 

* I think you are codependent and need me to suffer. It’s all about you. 

* This podcast is awful. Why is all that noise in the background? Is she writing. I can hear markers squeak, squeak, squeak.  Horrible. 

* You are too authentic. 

* It’s your fault my marriage is a mess. 

* I wouldn’t wish friendship with you on my worst enemy.

* You are a liberal Satanist snowflake

* You are an asshole. 
♒︎♒︎♒︎♒︎♒︎♒︎♒︎♒︎♒︎♒︎♒︎♒︎♒︎♒︎♒︎♒︎♒︎♒︎♒︎♒︎♒︎

.... to these people.... all these things are true and I’m ok with it. 

Stop stopping because of those who won’t align with you.  Keep sharing your heart and showing your work for the ones that need what you are sharing. 

Ps:
I AM a liberal snowflake. 
I believe in Aliens 👽 and Ghosts 👻 and NDE.
I watch way too much tv and I love it. 
I “hear” things audibly many people don’t. 
I see colors on people when I look. 
I believe in science and in the climate crisis. 
Human behavior fascinates me. 
I have a hot temper. Way less worse than it used to be. 
I believe in alternative and western medicine. 
I voted for Hillary. 
I am a better coach than I am friend. 
I am an asshole. Totally. 
I really hate Amazon but clearly I value convenience and comfort more than justice. 
My coaching is 333$/month or 18k+ a year. 
And....
I put pineapple on my pizza. 

I love me. 
💛
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