My computer consultant was at my office last week optimizing my Macbook for my next business trip. Opening up my email, he said: “OMG, your inbox is clean!” Then he looked around my office.  ”Are you really this organized?”  I am.

Stuff is distracting.  If your office and inbox are overflowing and you don’t like it anymore, keep it clean with these five Jiu Jitsu moves:

1. Start with a clean slate every day (clean inbox, clean office, clean desk).  If you need help getting to ground zero, bring in an office organizer to help you catch up and put systems in place.

2. Set aside the last hour of your workday for planning.  Write down three high payoff actions you’ll complete tomorrow and pull out any documents you’ll need.  Then clear off your desk.  Don’t just stuff it in drawers, put it away so you can put your hands on exactly what you want when you want it.

3. Set only 3 phone appointments each day.  Leave the rest of your day for emails, return calls and working on your biz.  If possible, do the high payoff actions first thing in the day.  That way you’ll feel good about what you accomplished every day.

4. Download your email once in the morning, once at noon, once before planning hour.  If you’re waiting for something urgent, look for that email more often but leave the rest for later.  When you do focus on email, aim to reply to or delete everything.  Be ruthless.  Good intentions only last for so long.  If you have to keep an email for later, put it in a Pending folder in your email program and set a time to go back and clear the pending emails each week.

5. Have one day each week set aside for outside-the-office appointments.  Tuesdays are my day for the doctor, dentist, massage, etc.  Cluster appointments whenever possible.

You’re ready to go, chop, chop.

I wonder how many years the average person spends grinding out a living.  I feel very blessed.  I do work that’s meaningful, enjoyable and profitable.  But sometimes I forget all my privileges and get caught up in the grind.

Are you making a living or making a life?  Is your business fun for you?  Are you growing by leaps and bounds?  Do you talk about your business with a sparkle in your eye?

This is my current 90 day challenge.  Join me in starting and ending every day in the joy of life.  Joie de vivre!

Before I became a top coach, I wasted a lot of time.  I was always busy, but most of what I did brought me little results.  It came down to perfectionism and fear of putting myself out there in a big way.

One day I had a Feng Shui consultant come in to work on my home and office.  I hadn’t said a word about it, but she said to me: “What’s the deal with your business? It’s time to own your power, charge higher fees and stop wasting time!”  That woke me up!

So I stopped wasting time.  I became the CEO of my business.  Now there are three options for my time:
1) Development = growing my business.
2) Delivery = coaching, training or serving my members.
3) Discretionary time = whatever I want to do, including taking the day off!

I did raise my fees but I also learned to value my time highly.  And ultimately, that’s what made me a top coach.

Are you busy or are you the CEO of your business?

If your business has hit a growth plateau, it usually comes down to one of these things:
1. You don’t have time to work ON your business.  You’re stuck on the money for time treadmill and no growth is possible.  Raise your fees, reduce the number of clients you work with and give that extra time to growing your biz.

2. You’re burnt out.  Take a two week vacation (three weeks is better)!  And come back ready to change things up.  My favorite getaway is the Big Island, Hawaii.  The ocean revives me.  What will bring you back to life?

3. It’s time to raise the bar.  Grab some inspiration or fill the holes in your knowledge with a mentor.  Or learn a new skill and put that into practice.  I’m learning how to do my own videos!