Guest post by licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitator Michelle Rumney

I don’t know about you, but things have been very busy lately. Lots to do, as always. Juggling, balancing, focusing. Life, family, work. Juggling, balancing, focusing… on and on. Hmm, I say to myself – STOP! Time to Do The Review!!

Yes, the Annual Review! Not some dry and somewhat ominous corporate document. No, I need a review that’s going to inspire me, give me courage and help me take my business into 2013 full of confidence and clarity so that I can allow it to flourish and grow.

So, how do you start the Do The Review process?

Step 1 – Commit to Do The Review
A half-hearted attempt at reviewing what’s really working for your business will only keep you more busy, busy, busy and ultimately waste your precious time. Say it out loud, sing it, write it down on a sticky note and post it where you can see it. “I’m Doing The Review!”

Step 2 – Give Yourself Time
Schedule in time for this – ideally a couple of whole mornings or afternoons at least. What’s it worth to you, knowing the answers for ‘how’s your business’? Chris Guillebeau (The Art of Non-Conformity) gives himself a whole month every year! Set yourself a completion date for the process – an Annual Review is simply a snapshot in time, a benchmark (not another distraction).

Step 3 – Take The Snapshot
Collect the information you need to get the picture of your business right now. Some questions to get you started…

Business Vision
• If my business had a theme tune right now, what would it be?
• How on track am I towards my core Business Vision?
• Which aspects have given me the most satisfaction or reward?

Getting the Word Out
• If my business was in a magazine right now, which one would it be in?
• How many people know about what I offer?
• How did they find me?
• Are they the customers I want?
• What’s the feedback from them?

Moola
• On the scale from Expensive Hobby to Thriving Business, where is it?
• How much have I made? In total? After costs?
• How close is that to my cash-flow forecast?
• Which products or services are selling best?

Action Plan
• What goals have I set? Did I achieve them?
• What’s not working for the business? What’s working?

Step 4 – Make it More Fun!
We’re right-brainers, no? So claim this process all for yourself… your way – do whatever you need to do to help you actually DO it! Take photos, instagram the answers, sing songs, phone a friend, ask your dog or cat to help (remember to smile, laugh and bark/mieow occasionally!).

And finally Step 5 – Look at Your Picture
• Is it what you want to see?
• How would you like it to look this time next year?
• What can you do differently, more of, less of or ditch altogether?
• What WILL you actually do? When? How?

Yes, more questions, but remember that this valuable snapshot will help you make your business stronger so you can keep keeping on…

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Michelle Rumney, helps people get inspired and then get on with it. A fine artist and creative coach, her fun and playful approach helps take the ‘serious’ stuff and make it doable, step by step. Listen to her ‘Journeys’ podcasts, including an interview with Jenn, on RoomOnTheEdge.com. Michelle is one of our licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitators.

Guest post by licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitator Laura Burns

You know those people who are so self-motivated and always seem to finish projects on time? They’re the ones who, in school, would set to work on an assignment as soon as it was given. They set a daily schedule for themselves and stick to it, eating lunch, writing, and client prospecting exactly when they said they would. These people are great at getting work done early and relaxing before a big deadline.

I am not one of those people.

I am one of the last minute pressure-driven people out there. I used to think it was just me, but now I know there are lots of us! My best creative juices start flowing at around t-minus 24 hours. I don’t know why I’m like this, but it’s always been this way and I’ve learned to embrace it.

However, embracing this aspect of my character doesn’t mean completely giving myself over to the Procrastination Gods. Instead it means learning to work with my natural inclinations in order to create ways to ensure that all my projects are completed on time and without sacrificing any of my awesomeness!

Enter the Accountability Buddy.

Depending on who you are and the work you do, your Accountability Buddy choice may be different than mine. However, at their core an Accountability Buddy is the same across all types of work and personalities. Your Accountability Buddy is someone who you respect and enjoy spending time with who is interested in supporting you as you work to reach your goals.

They are someone who is interested in and capable of knowing your work goals, and they are able to check in with you to make sure you are on track and making progress.

For example: My friend Yvonne and I are both working on book projects. We meet every Friday to sit in the same room and work on our individual projects. At the beginning of each session we briefly describe where we are with our projects, what we’re currently working on, and any pain points that have come up for us.

Then we work.

It’s that simple. That weekly check-in is enough to keep me pretty focused for the week. I have to admit that knowing someone else is aware of what I should be doing and how much progress I should be making is highly motivating. That accountability has been the key to my focus and concentration as I work through this project.

If having an Accountability Buddy sounds like something you want to try, here are my top 3 tips to start strong.

Top Three Accountability Buddy Best Practices

1. Be Consistent – The key to success with an Accountability Buddy is to be consistent. Set a recurring time each week and plan your other appointments around it. Respect the process and commit to making these meetings. Even if you have to call in by phone you’ll still get great support and motivation.

2. Share Equally – Ideally these Accountability Buddy sessions are helpful to both people involved. Be sure to give equal time to each person to discuss their progress, goals, and challenges. Your relationship with your Accountability Buddy is like any other relationship- you have to both give and receive to build a strong partnership.

3. Respect Confidentiality – Both of you should agree to respect the confidentiality of each other. There may be times when you share personal information with your Accountability Buddy, and knowing that it’s a safe space will allow you to really let it out and ask for feedback.

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I help heart-forward businesses create thoughtfully crafted plans for growth and sustainability. Starting your own business? Working on the one you already have? I love to inspire people to think critically, dream big, and clear out the cobwebs to let in the light and the joy! Laura Burns is one of our licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitators.

I can’t wait to get my hands on Dan Pink’s new book To Sell is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others.

It comes out later this month and Dan’s offering some fabulous freebies to those who pre-order (more about that in a bit)!

I’ll actually be getting a sneak peek at the book very soon as I’m one of 96 lucky volunteer peeps who are part of Dan’s To Sell is Human book launch team (someone pinch me!).

If you haven’t guessed, I’m a huge fan of Dan’s work, especially A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future which totally blew my mind when I read it several years ago. It helped me really value my right-brain gifts and was certainly one of the inspirations for the Right-Brain Business Plan and the work I do serving creative entrepreneurs.

I heard Dan talking about some of the concepts from To Sell is Human during an interview he did with Michelle James at the Creativity in Business Telesummit and I gotta say, my curiosity was piqued.

Then I checked out this 6-page excerpt of the intro and the trailer below and now I’m even more excited about the book!

One of the things I hear most often from my tribe of right-brain entrepreneurs is how much folks disdain having to “sell” themselves. It can feel sleazy or inauthentic. I’m looking forward to hearing Dan’s take on the matter and perhaps embracing some new more empowering perspectives around sales, cuz hey, whether you’re in “sales” or not it’s still an important skill to be able to influence and persuade others.

So here’s the scoop on Dan’s 5 freebies for first movers:

Anyone who orders To Sell is Human — hardcover or e-book, from any bookseller — before December 30, 2012, will receive the following:

• A free 20-page PDF workbook, based on To Sell is Human, giving you a two-week plan to get better at selling and a head start on those who won’t have the book until January.
• A free New Year’s Day webinar – with an exclusive look at the ideas, people, and publications Dan will be watching in 2013 along with a chance to ask him questions.
• A free customized Field Notes memo book – Dan’s favorite notebook of all time, printed in a (very) limited edition batch commemorating publication of the book.
• A free To Sell is Human bookplate, signed and numbered, to put inside your book.
• A free audio download of a one-hour special edition of Office Hours (not available anywhere else) featuring exclusive interviews with Robert Cialdini, author of the classic book, Influence and Adam Grant, the Wharton professor whose not-yet-published study is one of the biggest pieces of news in To Sell is Human.

Here’s what you need to do:

Once you pre-order the book, or if you’ve done so already, just forward your receipt in any form to danpinkpreorder@gmail.com. His team will verify it and then send you instructions on how to access your goodies when they’re ready. Pretty easy peasy, right?

And I’ll be sure to report back after I read the book!!

photo by Stefanie Renee
Guest post by licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitator Cass Mullane

It’s that time of year… The Holidays!

Pretty soon we’ll be in the major rush that normally seems to accompany year end activities. Spending a few minutes now on planning how you’re going to invest both your time and your money can set you up for a lot less stress in the coming weeks.

1. Take a look at the big picture. Now is the time to set your priorities and to be realistic about what you’re going to take on. Figure out what your desired outcomes are and build your plan around them. Are you hosting visitors? Will you be entertaining for business or for pleasure? Will you be traveling? Who are you buying gifts for?

Think big, then simplify. This is a great time to get out the sticky notes and markers to help you get organized! Remember to factor in both your time and your money. If something does not support your desired outcome, then let it go!

2. Build your plan and let your big picture priorities guide you. Remember that this is your plan for your money and your time. Be selective about how you invest it. Take a look at your desired outcomes, break them down into smaller actions to be taken and put a timeframe around each action so you know when you need to have it done. Be sure to note if there is any money required to complete the action.

Make a point of getting others involved so the full responsibility for taking care of everything is not falling squarely on your shoulders. Enlist family and friends to provide helping hands and get early agreement from them to support the plan. Also identify any other support you may require to manage the physical, emotional and financial needs of the holidays.

The number one question you should be asking yourself during this process is “Does This Make Sense?” When you ask this question a couple good things happen: it makes you step back and look at the situation with less emotion, it engages the gray matter inside your head and it allows you to make better decisions.

3. Stay accountable and take the actions you said you would. Surround yourself with support and stick to your plan as much as you can. Check your progress against what you’d planned using a calendar and your bank balance. Make sure your timing is on track as well as your finances.

When you deviate from your plan, (and you will have deviations!) do your best to get back on track quickly. Ask your family, your friends and your accountability partners to help you. If it is not possible, then revise your plan to accommodate the change. Remember that the plan is flexible and is meant to help you.

On my website, www.ProsperCreatively.com, you’ll find a free download: “Top Holiday De-Stress Tips” to help you start planning ahead to make the holidays even more enjoyable!

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Cass Mullane’s calm, comfortable approach consistently yields positive results for clients. Her business and personal coaching practice, www.ProsperCreatively.com, specializes in delivering solid left brain business skills to right brainers and creatives in a fun, visual way. Cass is is one of our licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitators.”

photo by Stefanie Renee
Guest post by licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitator Lorene Purcy

You want to start making money real fast in your business. You’re going after customers like a race car driver is going after the checkered flag and you want to hurry up and recoup the money that you spent establishing your business.

The problem is that most small business owners don’t take the time to set up financial plans and budgets for their business. When the cash flow comes, most owners misappropriate the money and then find themselves in a financial crisis. Business and personal items aren’t separated and many owners get caught in a financial quagmire that they struggle to straighten out.

You should have projected budgets for your business. Some small business owners have the attitude that they don’t need planning as far as their finances because they keep all financial transactions in their checkbook. They have the thought that they are just a “home business” and that they don’t need QuickBooks or Peachtree Accounting Software to keep track of their finances.

Business Accounting is different from writing totals in your checkbook. In setting up your financial modules, you must look at trends, profit and loss statements, account receivables reports and any other report that provides a picture of where your business is financially. This should be done on a monthly basis and the accounts should be set up to automatically reflect the type of business that you are running.

As a small business owner, you should take advantage of the classes that are held through your city’s business and economic development offices. Most cities provide basic training in financial management and small business accounting. Most often, they will bring a banker or financial consultant to a meeting to talk to a group about the importance of business accounting and financial management.

You need to keep good financial records for tax purposes and for obtaining future financing. Many business vendors will request your corporate profit and loss statement before extending credit to your business.

As a small business owner, it’s imperative that you set financial goals and objectives so that you won’t be seeing red!

Known for a contagious passion for excellence,a talent for practical business solutions, and a competence for being a motivational leader, Lorene Collier Purcy, is an author, speaker, business consultant & life coach. Whether it’s life balance or financial management, Lorene has been helping individuals realize their true potential and acts as their accountability partner, assisting them on how to effectively implement strategies to live the life they truly deserve. You can contact Lorene at lcpurcy@savvychicksrule.com or visit her online at www.savvychicksrule.com. Lorene is one of our licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitators.

Did you know that the first Right-Brain Business Plan was born during Art Every Day Month in November 2007? Yep, right there on my kitchen table! I had no idea this seed of an idea would turn into the what it has today. So you can bet I believe in the power of this creative challenge!

I’ve been participating in my pal Leah Piken Kolidas’ annual challenge since 2007 and highly recommend it for anyone wanting some structure and community around flexing your creativity muscles. It’s a great way to experiment, try new things, see what tickles your fancy. I love the reminder that it’s okay to mess things up and not be perfect. All fabulous things for right-brain entrepreneurs to pratice!

Leah has an Art Every Day Month Survival Guide for anyone needing a little encouragement and extra support throughout November.

Hope you’ll join in the fun! I’ll be Instragramming my itty bitty sketches every day.