Of course, it’s only a bad habit if it interferes with your health, safety, sanity or well-being – or that of others. It could also be that you have a habit you’re not even aware of. In that case, you’ll need to ask people you trust if there’s anything about you that might be worth looking into more or changing. If they care about you, they’ll be honest, as long as they feel you’re asking with an open and willing heart. If you get mad at them for giving you an answer you might not want to hear, you’ll alienate the person or people who might be your biggest champions.

Breaking bad habits isn’t impossible, but there are some defined steps that you’ll want to follow in order to let a bad habit go.

So the first step is…

1. Deciding you really want to rid yourself of a bad habit. If the answer isn’t a heartfelt, resounding, “Yes!” you may not be ready to let a bad habit go yet. We’ll assume that you are for this article.
2. You do – you really do! Yeah for you! Now you need to understand the “why” behind your desire to let a bad habit go. It helps to stick with positive statements. For example, say you wish to quit smoking. Your list could start with:
   • So I live long enough to see my daughter get married.
   • So my clothes and hair don’t stink.
   • So I don’t develop those little lines around my mouth that tell the world I’m a smoker.
   • Etc.
3. You have a choice. You can choose to follow through with your desire to quit your bad habit. Every day you can choose whether to continue your fight to quit or give in and give up. It’s all up to you.
4. Get in action! While quitting offending habits cold turkey works for some people, it doesn’t work for all. You much evaluate your style of accomplishment and decide on a framework that will support, not derail, your efforts to lose a bad habit.
5. Solicit help. When you’re working toward a big goal, such as ending a bad habit, it helps to not keep it to yourself. Tell someone who can be your champion and cheer on your efforts. Don’t, however, tell anyone who will be a naysayer or detractor. If they can’t believe you can do it, how can you?
6. Don’t beat yourself up if you backslide. Nobody’s perfect and I’m betting you aren’t either. This means you might slip up once in a while. Oh good. You’re human. The trick is not to let yourself get down about it or beat yourself up. Acknowledge that you had a moment of weakness, assess how it happened (what was going on, what might have triggered it) and learn from the experience. The next time you feel tempted, you can use this initial event as a reminder of what not to do.
7. Create milestones for your successes. If you’re not going cold turkey, but setting up a stair step approach to reducing and then eliminating a bad habit, set up rewards along the way to keep your motivation up. Without rewards, you may become frustrated because the end result is still out of reach. Acknowledging that you are making progress could be the key to you being ultimately successful. Besides, it’s fun to have a reason to celebrate.

Stay positive, acknowledge you’re human and keep plugging away at that bad habit. Sooner than later you’ll look back on your efforts and feel that total sense of satisfaction that only comes from a job well done.

1. Avoid the Shiny Object Syndrome. All too often, solopreneurs and entrepreneurs will see new, exciting and different information that catches their eye and piques their curiosity. You may have had this happen to you. A new way of managing your business pops up in your inbox; a new success formula guaranteed to help you make money shows up in an ezine you’ve subscribed to; a friend recommends a guru who will help you take your business to the next level . . . all these and more can happen. There’s nothing wrong with any of these things. The problem comes in when you stop focusing on your business and begin trying every new thing you see. Jumping from program-to-program isn’t a formula for success – it’s a recipe for business disaster. That’s why #1 above is so important. Create a plan and stick to it. Sure, you can try out new things, just be certain they are in line with your goals and will help you move toward them, not simply distract you.
2. Be confident in your knowledge. It’s easy to look at the success of others and compare yours to theirs. If you aren’t at the level of someone else, don’t despair or beat yourself up. Everyone has a learning curve and you’ll have to work through yours just as the more successful person has. Remember that you bring your own unique perspective and presence to your business. People will want to work with you because of who you are and, eventually, the reputation of your company. Delight in the learning process and show up with confidence!
3. Celebrate your successes. Taking the time to celebrate the wins and victories in your business is just as important following your plan. Pausing to acknowledge a great job, big sale, new client, getting your taxes done – whatever – gives you the opportunity to “up” the positive energy quotient in yourself and your business. Those feelings of success are important to remember (and celebrating helps cement them into your memory), especially when things aren’t going as well as you’d like. You can go back to those hopeful, celebratory and happy memories to bolster your confidence and keep you moving forward.
4. Take time to play. All work and no play will make you cranky, crabby and no fun to be around. Play re-energizes and gives your brain a chance to think about something else other than your business. It’s also a great way to stay connected with friends and family.

Which of these resonates most with you? Can you see where you can improve in your business and where you might need some help?

• Three years from now…
• My primary business income stream will consist of…
• My cash flow will have changed from where it is today to…
• I will be working (add #) of hours per week in my business…
• My team will consist of…
• My life will be…

Once you’ve contemplated these, check to see how your answers fit in with your current goals. Chances are you may want more for your business than your current goals allow. That’s the point of this exercise – to see where the gaps are and determine how you can modify your thinking and direction to plug them.

It’s fun to dream, plan and organize for the impending future. After all, your future will become your present sooner than you think. Preparing will mean that your future will be productive for you – and not simply take you by surprise.

Here are six things you can either do now or prepare for to help your business grow into what you want it to be.

1. Have a vision and a plan. Flying by the seat of your pants might be OK in the very early life of your business, but it doesn’t bode well for long-term structured growth. Spend one day away from the office and map out a plan. Bring along a trusted advisor or mentor to assist in the process. It’s easy to get stuck in our own heads and think smaller than we should. So be sure the person you bring will challenge your thinking and help you see the bigger picture of what’s possible.
2. Don’t think of your business as having to be only you. Building a team, even if it’s a team of other professionals you can refer others to, helps build up your business. Consider subcontracting work that you could do but isn’t as lucrative for you. Think of it as helping out a fellow professional who might need the extra income you can provide. In the Glitterbug business, building a team is the optimum way to boost your income in a passive way since you earn a percentage of everything your team brings in. Finally, outsourcing tasks that don’t generate income (house cleaning and bookkeeping come to mind) will free you up to focus on income-producing opportunities.

Check back on Thursday for the continuation of this article!

Eek.

If you’re in a relationship, the pressure is definitely on to give some sort of gift to your sweetheart. Big or small, expensive or not, a token of your affection is appreciated on this designated day of love.

But many families, couples and singles are stressed about money. While there might be an economic recovery happening, most haven’t experienced it yet.

If this sounds like you, then I urge you to read on for some low cost ideas on how to spend the upcoming February 14 holiday.

However, I’d be remiss to not say that these ideas are good any time of the year. Why limit yourself to just one day?

1. Leave a love note on your sweetie’s pillow after they leave for work. You can add a couple of mints or a rose to sweeten the message.
2. Start a new tradition by buying two champagne glasses that are designated only for use on Valentine’s Day. Then be sure to place them somewhere prominent, so you have the reminder of your annual love toast visible always.
3. Pick an activity that you’ve both wanted to try, but haven’t yet. Nothing is more fun that doing something new together.
4. Cook a special dinner together. Plan out the meal in advance, shop for the ingredients together and then share in the delight of creating something sumptuous.
5. Do you have a favorite spot in nature that you’ve never shared with your loved one? Take them there and let them experience the magic of your special place.
6. Window shop (if the weather permits) and stop in a favorite establishment for a drink and a bite to eat.
7. Linger in bed – wake up early if you have to – and tell each other why he or she is important to you.
8. Play a “strip” version of a favorite board game.
9. Create an indoor picnic event. You’ll have all the fun…without the ants.
10. Use soap or lipstick to leave a love note on the bathroom mirror.

Loving your significant other isn’t just for Valentine’s Day. It’s for every day.

Remembering to honor and love them, as the wonderful, unique individuals that they are will keep those Valentine ’s Day fires burning all year long.

What things have you done in the past or are planning on doing this year that could be added to the list?

Wishing you and yours a happy and love-filled Valentine’s Day!

Instead of panicking in early April, when you realize that you only have a couple weeks left and haven’t even started to prepare your return, we thought we’d give you some tips to get you moving in that direction sooner than later. Here are our top 9 tips to help you file your taxes. Do you have any that you’d like to add?

Keep Your Records All In One Place

Keeping everything in one place will help a lot when tax time comes. Now is a good time to start pulling records together (you have to do it anyway). By records we mean: receipts, canceled checks or any other document that supports your claim of an income or deduction.

Watch Your Mail

You should already have all the W-2s and 1099s you need because legally companies must have these out the door by the end of January. However, if they don’t get them together that quickly, you’re liable to have something show up after you’ve done your taxes. So, wait another week before pulling things all together. Also – some of these documents might not come in envelopes that scream “I’m for your taxes!” So be careful that you don’t throw away something you’ll need.

Make Your Life Easier By E-Filing

When you file electronically, the software will handle the math calculations for you. If you use direct deposit (if you’re lucky enough to get a refund), you’ll get your money much faster than when you file a paper return. Filing electronically is now the way the majority of returns are filed. In fact, last year, 2 out of 3 taxpayers used e-file. Some of the software is even free depending on your income (for non-business filers only).

You Might Be Eligible For Free File

If your income is $57,000 or less, you may be eligible for free tax preparation software and free electronic filing. The IRS has partnered with several software companies to create this free service. Free File is for the taxpayer who wants reliable question-and-answer software to help them prepare a return, without all the fees usually associated with more in-depth software. (In other words, your taxes must be simple. Again, business filers aren’t offered this service.)

Consider Other Tax Prep Options

There are many different options for filing your tax return. You can do it yourself or go to a bookkeeper or certified public accountant (CPA). The IRS actually offers free face-to-face help at some of their offices, usually with a volunteer accountant. Take the time to become familiar with your options and figure out what suits your needs as well as those of your business.

Visit The IRS Website

The official IRS Web site is a great place to find everything you’ll need to file your tax return: forms, tips, answers to frequently asked questions, and updates on tax law changes.

Check Out Publication 17

Publication 17 – Your Federal Income Tax is a comprehensive collection of information for taxpayers highlighting everything you’ll need to know when filing your return.

Double Check Your Numbers

Don’t rush. It’s easy to make mistakes when you rush (which is why we’re encouraging you to start the tax process now!). Mistakes can not only cost you money, they can also delay the processing of your return. Be sure to double-check all the Social Security Numbers and math calculations on your return as these are the most common errors when filing by yourself. If you are not good with math, find a suitable software program that works well for you or find someone who will check your math for you. Even if you use a software package, be sure that you entered your numbers in correctly; it’s easy to transpose numbers.

Know There Are People Who Want To Help

If you run into a problem, there are always people willing to help. From your friends and family to the IRS, there is someone you can ask to get your questions answered.

Is the glass half empty or half full?

Being optimistic might seem like a huge task, but there are simple things you can do to improve your outlook. If you practice each day, you’ll be doing yourself a favor, since your mindset is the very foundation for achieving success and fulfillment.

Here are some easy techniques you can use to boost your optimism:

1. Avoid getting hung up on one thing. Sometimes you may feel like there’s one situation that’s holding you back. Maybe there’s just one thing that has seemingly ruined your day. Resolve to let it go so it doesn’t bother you anymore. After all, there’s a whole world out there for you to experience!
2. Remember that there’s always a silver lining. If you’re having a bad week, it’s not a reason to let negativity cloud your thinking. Seek the silver lining in every challenging situation. Remember that setbacks often occur right before you reach success.
3. Get over the past. Remember that the past is the past; it doesn’t need to keep repeating itself. In fact, if you keep recalling the past, you are the one taking it with you into your future. Learn how to let it go no matter how painful it might have been. The future can be filled with great things, but a great future can only start when you’ve come to terms with your past.
4. Be thankful. Make a list of all the things you’re thankful for in your life. Include even the smallest things, like the lucky penny you found on the street or the loving hug your partner gave you today. You’ll most likely end up with a long list that you can look to whenever you feel like you’re slipping into negativity.
5. Use positive affirmations. Nothing brings out optimism like the use of affirmations. These positive statements bring optimistic energy into your present. They are a way of communicating with your subconscious mind so you can maintain control over how you feel. Use them every day and every time you need a boost of positivity.
6. Surround yourself with positive people. Humans are social beings that can feel the energy of others. Have fun with positive and supportive friends and family members. Just being around positive people can lift you up when you’re feeling down.
7. Watch your language. Do you speak positively to yourself and others, or are you judgmental and negative? Try to shift over to only positive speech. Practice using upbeat words while you focus on the positive in every situation.
8. Remember that even a positive life has ups and downs. Life won’t always be perfect, but there are many ways you can still make the best of it. Accept the fact that bad things will happen from time to time, but avoid dwelling on these things. You’ll bounce back if you remain open to optimism.

In the end, you’ll find that simple things can boost your optimism. You don’t need to wait for some grand opportunity; just open your eyes to the beauty of the world around you and you’ll see wonderful things!

In today’s competitive home seller’s market, every advantage you can create for your home will put you closer to your goal of selling it. Because we live in our homes, we tend to accumulate the stuff of life:  toys, papers, mismatched furniture, family photos and other items that say “lived in.” The problem is, when homebuyers are looking at properties, the last thing they want to see is a home that appears that way. To give your home an advantage, consider enlisting the help of a REALTOR^® familiar with the techniques of restaging or hire a professional restager.

Restaging can be done whether the home is still occupied or vacant. It’s easy to bring furniture into an empty house to give it that “model home” look, but how do restagers work with homeowners who have to continue living in their house while it’s on the market? Restagers have the unenviable job of assisting homeowners as they sort through their belongings, with the goal of identifying things that could slow down the home sale process. Restagers are not professional organizers, however. Their sole purpose is to create a neutral, yet tasteful environment that shows the home in its best light. Their whole focus is getting prospective homebuyers to see the home at its best and give them the opportunity to envision themselves actually living there.

If a home sale is in your near future, you might want to do your own walk-through and ask yourself these questions for each room before you contact a real estate agent.

• When was the last time this room was painted? (Hint:  If you can’t recall, it’s definitely time for a new paint job.)
• Is the wallpaper in style and in good shape? (Even wallpaper in top condition must be removed if it reflects a by-gone style that has fallen out of design favor.)
• Does the room feel crowded or small because there is too much furniture or clutter? (This might be a great time to get rid of old, unused or well-used furniture, exercise equipment, knick-knacks, etc.)
• Does the carpet still look new? This means no beaten down paths through rooms, no stains and still stretched tightly. (Of course, as with wallpaper, if it’s a color or style that is no longer in fashion, you may want to consider recarpeting or putting in wood flooring.)
• Is your home a shrine to your family’s history? (If you have photographs on every available surface, it becomes much harder for prospective buyers to see themselves in your space. Some pictures are fine, just keep them to a strict minimum.)
• What’s behind this door? (If opening a closet door means risking injury, then it’s a great idea to clear closet clutter so buyers can actually see how much clutter they can accumulate.)

While restaging can be hard because you may be removing cherished items, a quick home sale usually overrides the initial dismay. Restaging simply means getting top dollar, as quickly as possible, for the home you no longer want.

Sometimes all it takes is a subtle reminder to stay on top of your organizational issues. So, here’s an affirmation you can use.

The more organized I become, the more responsible I feel for my actions.

As I become more organized, I naturally begin to feel more responsible for my own actions. Organization leads to success, and success lead to increased confidence and responsibilities.

Once I have an image of my own potential, I’m not likely to go back to allowing life to happen randomly to me.

Here’s what I mean:  If I go to a discount store and buy whatever chair happens to be on the floor, I probably won’t get too upset if I spill coffee on it. But if I have saved, researched and shopped for a specific brand and style of chair, I’m going to be way more careful with its care.

My life is the same way. When I put time and energy into organizing my life, I’m investing in my success. Whatever I invest in, I actively value. Think about this for a moment. When you get something free, do you value it as much as when you have to pay something for it? Most people don’t. There isn’t an intrinsic investment in what you’ve received because you’ve not had to give anything up to get it. Investing in yourself by getting organized is the perfect way to give back – to you!

By organizing my life, I create a guide for my days. I have a purpose and direction for my life. I am no longer a victim of circumstance but an active player in my own life.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Do I believe that my destiny is out of my control?
2. Am I investing in my own success?
3. Have I taken the time to plan how I will achieve my goals and dreams?

As health-conscious Americans begin to weed out those pantry items that are less than healthy, they often opt for a more “natural” alternative to white sugar. One product that’s getting a lot of hype these days is agave nectar. In fact, agave is quickly becoming the sweetener of choice among those wishing to use “natural” products. However, as with many once natural products that enter the U.S. marketplace, most agave nectar products bear little resemblance to products made from the starchy root used in its pure form in Mexico, Central and South America.

In these areas, agave nectar has been used for centuries as a healing agent because of its medicinal properties. It can also be fermented to make an alcoholic beverage, that, when boiled, turns into a reduction called “miel de agave,” a thick sweetener. In this form, agave is slowly absorbed into the body, making it a healthier alternative to white sugar, honey, molasses, high-fructose corn syrup and other processed sweeteners.

However, it’s unlikely you’ll find that unrefined product on most store shelves. The process used in this country refines the nectar using a process that involves the use of harsh chemicals and enzymes, which convert the agave starch into fructose, making it eerily similar to high-fructose corn syrup and Karo syrup. While it does offer some nutritional value, it’s so slight as to be nearly meaningless.

While it is true that agave is sweeter than refined sugar, which means you can use less of it, that still doesn’t mean it’s better for you. Agave also scores lower on the glycemic index, but it’s still a simple sugar, which absorbs more quickly into the bloodstream. Given its simple state, diabetics who may have hoped for this “green” alternative will have to look elsewhere. In fact, the American Diabetes Association lists agave along with other sweeteners, such as white sugar, brown sugar, honey, molasses, fructose, maple syrup and confectioner’s sugar. If they don’t think it’s good for diabetics, it probably isn’t.

A 2009 study conducted by the University of California at Davis investigated how glucose and fructose are metabolized in the body. Overweight participants gained weight regardless of what they were given, however, the fructose group gained weight around their belly, versus the glucose group whose weight gain was more generally distributed under the skin. Additionally it was discovered that if just 25 percent of calories came from fructose-sweetened beverages, the levels of insulin resistance and other risk factors for heart disease and diabetes increased measurably.

The final word? Sweeten naturally with whole fruits. You get the benefit of the fiber and none of the post-processing chemicals. Plus, fruit tests lower on the glycemic index than agave.

Anyone want a kiwi?

Try these tips to help you get into action and achieve the resolutions you made at the start of 2012:

Tell Everyone. Tell people close to you about your New Year’s resolutions. They’ll be happy to hold you accountable for your success or lack thereof. By doing so, you’ll feel a bigger commitment to actually complete the goal than if you were to keep your resolutions all to yourself. (You might also spur those people into getting into action on their resolutions!

• Join in with a Friend. Find a friend with a similar goal and work toward reaching your goals together while offering each other moral support. Weight loss is a great example of a goal do with the help and support of a buddy. Others could include home improvement projects, monetary goals and family goals.
• Choose a friend that will truly hold you accountable for reaching your goals. If your friend tends to be unmotivated and will simply say “It’s okay, try again next year” probably isn’t the right person for the job.

Break it down. Break your goals down into bite-sized chunks to make them more achievable and less gargantuan. For example, if your goal is to land 20 new clients by the end of the year, break down this worthy goal into monthly increments. Any goal seems more attainable when broken down into manageable milestones. Landing 20 new clients in 11 months equates to nearly two clients per month (1.81 clients).

• Even if you fall a bit short of your goal at the end of the year, you’ll still have increased your number of clients. You’ve succeeded because you’re in a better position than you were last year. (But that doesn’t mean don’t try your hardest to make your resolution come true.)

Make a plan. Without a plan, you’ll get somewhere, but maybe not where you’d like to be. Setting a New Year’s resolution without creating a plan for reaching it is a recipe for disaster. To achieve success, create a detailed plan outlining the exact actions you must take in order to achieve your resolution.

• Know exactly what you want to do. Saying, “I want to lose weight” isn’t going to cut it. It leaves a lot of wiggle room. But saying “I want to lose 20 pounds by December 1st” gives you a concrete goal and a timeline in which to achieve it.
• Creating a detailed plan that describes exactly how you’ll get to your goal, will help you edge toward reaching your resolution. Small daily actions will move you toward your goal at a steady pace. In fact, it may seem so effortless that you’ll wonder why you didn’t do this sooner!

Is your New Year’s resolution important to you? Are you committed to it? If you take your New Year’s resolution seriously, create reasonable goals and follow the above advice, you can achieve it! It will require a consistent effort on your behalf and some hard work, but it’ll all be worth it when you accomplish your resolution.

If your goal begins to feel out of reach, regain your motivation by envisioning what your life will be like after you reach your resolution. Your life will be better, you’ll be happier, and you’ll have a sense of pride knowing that you’ve worked hard to accomplish your New Year’s resolutions.

For some thoughts on motivation, see the Will Smith post.