Creative Business Challenge #10 Create Time to Spend with Inspiring People.

I have just come back to the office this afternoon feeling so refreshed, excited and inspired after spending the afternoon with two great business women! It was a very last minute thing, and I very luckily was able to free up some time at the last minute to spend the afternoon painting some toy horses pink...

There was a very good reason for us to be painting horses, but that's not really what I would like to focus on just yet! What I want to focus on is how I felt whilst painting these horses and how I feel now writing this post. Inspired. Excited. Motivated!

You may be wondering why I find painting horses pink so inspiring or motivating and the truth is, I didn't. It was spending quality time chatting with two amazing and successful business women. I was able to have a peek inside an inspiring workspace, hear stories and news from these women, have a little glimpse into their world and briefly be a part of it. That is what I found inspiring! And that is why we need to spend time with these sorts of people. I have already written about finding your creative role model in a previous post, and this really adds to that.

I often talk about how important it is to spend time with people that inspire you and encourage you creatively, but one thing I hear many people (including myself!) say is that they just can't find the time! So clearly, what we need to do is create time. I mean, we're all creative right!?

If we are running a successful business, of course we are all going to be busy! But today my eyes were really opened to the possibilities of how we can create time to spend together. And it is simply by doing stuff together. Today, Naomi needed some help painting all these horses pink! And it was really great that we were able to help her and at the same time spend time together chatting about all things business, creative and interesting! And so much more productive than just meeting for a coffee ;)

So today Naomi needed help, perhaps next time I'll need some help! Let's all be more willing to help each other out and spend more time together inspiring and motivating each other, without having to take too much time out of our diary!

I would love to know what you think, or if you have a creative way to spend more time with creative people!

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Challenge #9 Stop Comparing Yourself to Others!

I cannot tell you how many times I get myself down or beat myself up after comparing myself to other people! Other business women, other photographers or just other women in general. For some reason we have this natural tendency as women (or just human beings) to be continually measuring ourselves against the other people in our lives or even our role models or mentors. But today I would just like to tell you (and me) to STOP! :)

And instead, I would like to start embracing our differences! We were not all created from the same mould, we were all born to be different and unique and we all have our own special reason for being on this earth :) So why spoil that by trying to be like someone else? 

Here are some fantastic reasons not to compare ourselves to others:

Most of the time, when we look at ourself we see worst version of ourselves, how we feel inside and all our faults and shortages. But when we look at other people, we only see the parts of them that they let us see! They are of course trying to project the best version of themselves whilst keeping all the real stuff inside. Which means it doesn't quite match up! Maybe if we all compared 'insides' it would be a more accurate comparison. But the main thing is, we just shouldn't be comparing ourselves.

We are all in different stages of this journey called life! Sometimes we forget that everyone is at different stages, walked a different road and are on a different journey! So it wouldn't make sense to compare where we start to where someone has already establishes themselves would it? There is also the point that we are all on different journeys! We have all had different experiences which will effect decisions and the way we handle some situations.

And finally there's this point! Do I need to say more? If we find the need to continually compare ourselves to others, it probably means that we are a bit insecure! Which is very understandable, but probably something that we all need to work on over coming. A challenge for me this year is to become secure in who I am. I believe this will significantly affect my business and allow me to be great at what I do and even be an innovator in the business world!

So, let's stop comparing ourselves to each other and just get on with whatever we have been put on this planet to do! I look forward to hearing your thoughts and how you have overcome the obstacle of comparison :)

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Challenge #8 Time Management - Make the most out of your time!

If we are anything alike, I would say time management could be one of our biggest issues! As a creative, I don't naturally want to stick to time limits, I just want to enjoy the process and be a bit of a perfectionist. But is that good for my business? Probably not!

Now please don't get me wrong, I am not asking you to change your personality or your natural creative flow. Because you need that, to be you! I don't want to disrupt your creative process, but I do want to fine tune it and in turn hopefully maximise your time!

I learn't a lot when starting up in my photography business. After a shoot I would spend days and days editing photos to perfection! I would experiment with up to 3 different edited versions of the same image to give myself options, to give the client options and to show off all that I can do with the wonders of Photoshop! But I soon came to realise that if I spent this long to edit  a shoot, I couldn't realistically do many shoots. So I made a plan to maximise my time so I can realistically fit more photo shoots into my diary! This meant dramatically cutting down my editing time, which was actually really helpful! It meant I really developed a distinct style in my photographs, I learn't more about how to get things right 'in camera' and relied less on the use of Photoshop after the shoot. I am certain this process has actually lead to my distinct Lorah Kelly style that is recognised in my photographs today! (Yay!)

Did I 'curb my creativity'? Absolutely not! In fact, I was able to learn to be not only creative but actually very skilled in what I did. Did I maximise my time? Definitely! By only allowing myself to edit for a certain amount of time, I was able to fit more into my week, more time to be more creative!

So what can you do in your business to maximise your time. Are there areas that you just spend far too much time on? How can you cut that down?

A great tool to find out how much time you are really spending on tasks is a time sheet! This can be in the form of a spreadsheet, a chart, a pin board - anything your creative mind can come up with! The idea is to track what you are spending time on during the day. Stop every hour and record what you have done. If you really want to get into details, stop every 15 mins! Record what you have done and then at the end of the week you can look at it and have a realistic view point of how you spend your time.



Could your time sheet look like this?

The next thing to do is make an action plan! What are you spending too much time on? How can you spend less time on this? What can you do to add more time to your day?

There is so much I can day, but perhaps I'll leave it for another blog post ;) So this week, record your time. I would be very interested to see how you all spend your time! If you would like an outsiders perspective, post your time sheet in one of our social media groups and see if we can all brainstorm ideas together :)

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Challenge #7 Work With Your Natural Rythms

Something I have been working on and trying to pay more attention to lately is my natural rhythms and my natural flow! Do you ever feel like you are wading through mud or struggling more than is reasonable to get a task done? Or finding yourself continually procrastinating? I am very often telling myself off for scrolling through a nearby magazine or flicking through Facebook or finding some random task to do that doesn't necessarily need doing. Usually this happens when I just can't face the actual task that needs to get done, and I am starting to think that it means something! 

So I've started to try do something a little differently :) I've started to take note of these times to try and see why I might be feeling that way! Maybe there is a pattern? Maybe I have more energy, creativity or brain power at certain times of day! So Maybe, I should be more mindful of what tasks I do, at what times of the day?

I have in no way figured this out completely for myself yet, but as I have started experimenting, I have already begun to see some results! One Monday afternoon, just after lunch, I sat down to create my marketing plan. But I noticed I spent about 10 mins just staring at my piece of paper, fiddling with bits and pieces on my desk, desperately grasping for some inspiration! But I couldn't find it, and I was really nor enjoying this experience.  The most dominant part of me immediately thought - "Just push through, this needs to be done and so you must do it now as planned!", but there was a much quieter part of me that said - "Perhaps now is not the time, maybe you'll be more inspired in the morning?". I'm surprised I heard that quite voice, as most of the time I feel obligated to listen to that driving voice! But that day I heard the quiet voice - and I listened to it! Instead of doing my marketing plan, I opened up my emails and got on with some admin until the day was over. The next morning, as soon I was up and about I rushed into the office to put together my marketing plan, and it was done within the hour! (It was a rough idea for my first draft of my marketing plan, not necessarily the finished perfected plan!)

Click for another great article on this subject!

So I'm starting to learn to follow my bodies natural rhythm's and flow, so I can really enjoy my work and be more productive! Maybe you should give it a try too! 

As always, do let me know how you get on! And remember, you probably won't perfect in within a week, but now is a great time to start thinking about it :)

x

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Challenge #6 Don't Neglect the Planning - Part 1: Your Big Vision

Who here enjoys planning? To be honest, I can find it all a little bit tedious and I have far more fun making at all up as I go along ;) Go with what ever inspiration comes and keep trying new ideas and hope it all works!

Don't get me wrong, sometimes this approach works! Some of my best ideas have been spontaneous ideas triggered by making it all up as I go along ;) But unfortunately it's not sustainable and is not the best thing for my business :)

At the beginning of this year I learn't a lot about focus and planning with the wonderful ladies at the Women's Business Club and I have been blown away by how my business has improved! Here are just a few ways I have been planning so far this year:

Business Plan

Marketing Plan

Vision/Year Plan

Week/Day Plan

I feel so much more focused and productive since putting together these plans, and I have also made sure that I use these plans in my own creative ways :) 

My most effective plan so far has been my Vision/Year Plan. I have been able to take my big vision for the year, and break it down into achievable monthly goals, then weekly goals and even daily goals! I was utterly amazed to see just how achievable by big vision was and feel confident that I will be able to achieve it this year :D 

Do you have a big vision for this year? (*Hint - you really should!*)

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Do you need some practical help with your planning this year?

Through the Women's Business Club I have some fantastic tools to help you with your planning this year! I have used these tools myself and I am very excited to be able to offer this help to you :)

1) Vision Mapping.. Map your path to success!

Take control of your own success NOW. Use the revolutionary Women's Business Club Vision Map to effectively map out a clear path for your business. This product is exclusive to the Women's Business Club to ensure your success. If you live too far away to join us you can buy the map form our shop and try to map it out yourself.


This is where you are able to plan to achieve your big vision - with monthly, weekly and even daily achievable goals! I will be running a practical workshop in Cheltenham this month for anyone who would like some help with their Vision Map. See the booking link for more details!

www.cheltenham-vision-map.eventbrite.co.uk

2) Success Mapping

In one-on-one ACHIEVE sessions we will work with you to create your very own Success Map that will take you from where you are now to where you want to be in 12 steps. We tailor ACHIEVE to suit each clients specific needs. We objectively challenge your thinking while encouraging your to achieve everything you dream of.

This would be your next step or a complimentary step to your Vision Map. I can give you much more detailed and in depth help with one-on-one sessions and your very own Success Map and Workbook. Get in contact with me for more details!

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I look forward to seeing you succeed and reach your big vision for the year! Please get in touch if you would like some more practical help!

xx

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Challenge #5 Enjoy a Hobby

I have always found this to be a difficult one - I don't have time for a hobby! But I have been reminded repeatedly over the years by many different business coaches, mentors and close friends that I do need to make time for myself and to enjoy a hobby that has nothing to do with my business!

As I was flicking through a magazine last week (business research by the way - not just for enjoyment! tut tut...) I came across this article that really jumped out at me! Mostly because I did actually enjoy all of these hobbies as a child and would still love to pursue these things if I had the time. 

So I think my point for today is just to make time for yourself to do the things you love and enjoy. It is important not to make your whole life about 'work' or you will most probably live with regret and you'll forget that life is to be enjoyed! And of course, as I have said before - your business will blossom as a result of you being you and enjoying this journey called life :)

I would love to hear more about your childhood hobbies and if you would still enjoy them today!

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Challenge #4 Find Your Creative Role Model

This may not be much of a challenge for most of us! I am sure we all know a lot of artsy creative people that we spend time with, but I was really challenged recently to strategically surround myself with the right kind of people. The kind of people who would inspire me, build me up and take me to a whole new level in business. It is important that these people are successful and authentic. They need to be in a place that I would aspire to be in, so I can see a real life example of what I am working towards!

The wonderful girls of Women's Business Club who shared my journey to where I am today!

For me, I aspire to be a successful business women. But I want to do things differently, in a more creative, unique and innovative way! So what I need to do, is go out and find someone who has done exactly this, and learn as much as I can from this person! 

I have some amazing women in my life, who inspire me and who have so much knowledge and experience. And for the last two years I have learnt so much from them! The only thing lacking has been that they don't think the same way I do and so the way they do things may not be the way I would or even should do things! 

So that is my challenge - who would you like to spend your time with?

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Challenge #3 Find Inspiration in your Creative Business

This week for me has been a busy one with lots of travelling and being away from my home and my office! My usual daily routine was non existent (hence the late blog post!) and there was a lot that I could not do this week. But despite all this, I have been continually thinking how I can make this work for me, and what I can use to challenge us all this week! And I think the answer has become clear.. If we are to find creativity in everything we do - this should be no different! It's obvious really, when you think about it ;) 

Challenge #2 Get Yourself Organised!

For some people (even creatives!) organisation is something that comes naturally. But unfortunately, we are not usually seen as being particularly organised! In my own opinion, organisation can look different from person to person. My office, for example baffles my neat, tidy and symmetrical husband! I have never been symmetrical - and I never will be! I like things to look like they've just been dropped there - I love texture, freedom and interesting shapes! So why not drop a pile of books on the floor and see how they land? That is now their place in my office, looking beautiful and dare I say - organised! 

Challenge #1 "Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given"

Before we do anything in our business we need to know who we are. This is not defined by what people say about us, what we do, where we work or even our hobbies! Who we are goes much deeper than that. Who we are goes much deeper than what we do in business, even deeper than being a business owner. Who you are will stay the same across the board no matter what you do, if you live in an authentic way.