Well I have been a little delayed in posting and I apologize. Being the CEO of you is not always easy, and can take up more time than expected, but it is still worth the ride. And what a ride it has been! Managing my destiny and my days the way I want them to be…who can ask for more?

So let me back up a bit to explain the title of this blog-Do The Hard Stuff. Every day I try and walk four to five miles. Part of the reason I walk is to clear my mind. I simply love it. The additional health benefits are not bad either. So the last two months I have kicked up the walk from 4 to 5 miles and I have added two hills. I start uphill and I end uphill! It is great for my quads, calves and cardiovascular health. I have Asthma so it is a challenge.

As I walk I am able to think about how I can be better at my business and how I can help my customers. Great ideas emerge from those walks.

Well, those two hills gave me  my title today and ideas on how to be better in business.  DO THE HARD STUFF. Walk up the hill and make it to the top. Is it easier to take the shorter and flatter route? Sure…but will the short cut benefit me in the long run? Nope! So what is the hard stuff?

For me and my business it is:

* Having the difficult conversations with consultants and customers about money or quality of work.

*Deciding when to walk away…when the project is no longer fun.

* Attending every social event possible even though I may not want to go because opportunity is everywhere.

* Saying no to a project, when the money is good, but it may not be a good fit.

*Reaching out to past prospects and circling back. Or making cold calls.

For my customers:

*Spending money on hiring qualified staff.  You would think that would be easy but it’s probably one of our biggest challenges.

*Getting my docs to invest in uniforms, cardigans, blazers for the staff.

* Determining who should stay on their team…trying to decide on keeping or hiring the people who have the skills and motivation to take it to the next level and taking action and letting go of the people who are simply not part of the “A” team. Can you imagine how many practices have that one person who is ‘not nice ‘ to the patients but ‘is always on time for work?” Seriously….

*making time for proper education for their staff. It always seems to be trial by fire.

* Spending money on updating their practice- often  my clients believe reputation is everything….sadly it is not…what matters is how people feel about you when they walk in the door.

So this week I challenge everyone to do something hard…one thing you have been post poning or procrastinsting to do in your personal or business life.  Add a work out, start that diet, write a new job description, do your cold calls, have the ‘performance and quality of work talk,’ or simply  step out of your comfort zone for five minutes and do something out of character. And watch the opportunities unfold once it is done!

It’s Friday! For most people that means the end of the work week and plans for something amazing to do Friday night and the weekend.  Some of you spend the entire week planning the weekend right? Did you ever get to the end of the week and just say…”All I want to do is lounge around in my jams?” All of the above right?!

For me, it is not about the weekend any more? It is not about “What is the plan for Saturday?” For me it is “What is the plan every day?” It  is kind of fun! It’s not a stressful plan. Just knowing that I have a lot of control over how and when I spend my work time and play time is a breath of fresh air.  This is the dream that I have come to realize. You can too!

I am not a 9 to 5 kind of girl. For one thing, I simply worked too hard for other people and made them more money while  I always went in early and never left on time and was told increases were on hold! We have all heard that..right?

When I figured out my plan was “How am I going to get through another week of that stress,” I realized it was time for a change.  And change I did! God bless my husband for never panicking in front of me when I quit my job(s)…maybe inside he was, but he never showed it. He told me he knew I would be a success at anything I did. So I am here to tell you…sometimes there was NO plan…I just knew I needed a change. And guess what…the first time I veered off on my own consulting gig I went back to the corporate world about two years later…I got enticed by a consistent high end salary and travel…it seemed like that was success. I learned a lot about life, people, who I could count on…I had some major letdowns in people…felt betrayal…but I also met some amazing people along the way. Most importantly I learned that the job was not what made me a success….

Well like I said, there was no plan and I kept floating along…promotions and different jobs…and then ….DOWNSIZING…Someone pushed me into a plan! And then I realized…take control of your life and dream big. Don’t compare yourself to others and don’t dwell in your failures.  THE PLAN IS…live each day as an opportunity to be better. You will make mistakes…you will have wins…and you may want to lounge in your PJs. The only thing you need to do is forge ahead and work on what makes you happy.  If you want to be your own boss, the CEO of you, it is possible.  It does not mean there will not be hard work.  It may be the hardest thing you have ever done…but the Plan B is “Be happy with you and your path.”

My motto ” Do what you need to do without intentionally hurting people. Be kind, be an example but be you.” Message me to chat about your plan or learn more about mine!