Weekly-ish notes on navigating big change

Month: January 2019

243: What I’m reading: Winter 2019

I explore my enthusiasm by reading… a lot. Learn all about the books I’ve been enjoying over the last month at TaraSwiger.com/podcast243

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I follow my enthusiasm by reading…a lot. And once a month, I share (some of) the books I read last month and the books I intend to read this month. You can join the informal book club by sharing your own list with me on Facebook and find all the posts here.

(The usual disclaimer applies.)

What I'm reading:

If you're looking to add to your reading list, check out @TaraSwiger's monthly book check-in!

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How to listen

  • You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
  • You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
  • Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

242: Celebration is important: Why + How

Celebration is vital for any successful business! Learn more about why and how to celebrate your wins (no spending required!) so you can keep succeeding at TaraSwiger.com/podcast242

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Celebration is SO important for the health of your business. In today's episode I cover the big reasons WHY you need to stop and celebrate and also HOW to celebrate (no, it doesn't need to cost money.) If you look back at 2018 and can't remember what went well or how your business did, tune in to make 2019 a better year.

Why Celebration?

The answer is science: Our brains are wired to have a negativity bias. We notice the negative (bad sales day, unmet goals, cranky customers) MORE than the positive. We give negative feedback more mental weight than positive feedback. Which is why it's easy to look at your business and remember what went wrong, but harder to remember what went right.

Making a BIG DEAL and celebrating your successes gives some weight to the positive – it helps you make a memory of the good.

Because here's the thing – one day you are going to feel run-down or overwhelmed or just cranky about your business and when you look back and wonder “should I keep going?”…if you don't have any positive memories (of celebrating good things), you're going to think there's no reason to keep going. You may slow down your business or stop altogether. You'll feel more burnt out.

Celebrating protects against burn out, it protects against negativity bias, and it leads to your success… because success is built on not quitting. Keep going.

How to celebrate?

It helps if you decide when you set a goal how you're going to celebrate the goal.

A few ideas:

  • Tell people! The people who love you and care about you want to celebrate with you! Let them in!
  • Make yourself something you enjoy but don't have often – whether this is a special dinner, dessert, or just take a bubble bath, do something that brings you joy!
  • Invest in yourself or your business – take that class, buy that book, set aside time to plan.

Here's to a celebratory 2019! I'll be celebrating all along the way in my IG Stories, so be sure to join me there!

Here's to more celebrations! Celebrating protects against burn out, against negativity bias, and leads to success!

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How to listen

  • You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
  • You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
  • Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

241: Turn a bad day around: mental health checklist

We all have bad days. But a bad day doesn’t have to totally derail your biz. Learn more about the simple checklist I use at TaraSwiger.com/podcast241

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Having a hard day? Me too! When I’m having a not-optimal mental health day my best tool is simple- a checklist! Today I’m sharing my own checklist & helping you make yours.

ALL THE MENTAL HEALTH THINGS: Feeling hopeless? Get help! Now!
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
https://www.nami.org/Find-Support

Feeling awful? Before you give up, go through this checklist.
This list is meant to give you ideas, not replace professional help.

Anxiety and depression and my own story here:: https://youtu.be/WoVDD1bDyvI
HOW I DEALT WITH ANXIETY ONE YEAR LATER: https://youtu.be/40PxTeleO24

BASICS:
???? Wake up same time
☀️ Sunlight in your eyeballs
???? Vitamins! (I take Lifelong Vitality – here’s why: https://youtu.be/zLaoVKvAfGw)
???? Mindfulness Start with Headspace! https://hdsp.co/e/Mg2Lbx4BqS
???? Log your mood: http://moodnotes.thriveport.com/

HOW EMOTIONS ARE MADE: https://youtu.be/7EWgw7mI80c

PODCASTS FOR WHEN I CANT FOCUS:
The Hilarious World of Depression
Dear Hank and John
By The Book
Nerdette
Jen Gotch is OK…Sometimes

YOUTube:
VlogBrothers
Crash Course

Sometimes the simplest tools can be the most effective. Love this checklist from @TaraSwiger!

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How to listen

  • You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
  • You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
  • Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

240: How to be an introvert in business, with Stacey Trock

Just because you’re introverted, doesn’t mean you can’t succeed at business! Learn more about how to thrive as a business introvert at TaraSwiger.com/podcast240

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Are you an introvert? Not sure? Think being an introvert is the same thing as being shy? We have a lot to talk about!

Hi, I’m Stacey. I’m an introvert. I’m also tremendously talkative, self-confident and not the tiniest bit shy. Sound like a contradiction? Not really. In this episode, I’m going to talk about what an introvert really is, plus dispel some misconceptions. I’ll fill you in on the strengths of an introvert, as well as some strategies to cope with challenging situations.

What is an introvert?

An introvert is someone who needs alone time to truly thrive. Interacting with people is often draining. Although being 100% introverted is rare, we all fall along the introvert-extrovert continuum. People with more than 50% introverted tendencies are usually considered introverts.

Introverts often:

  • Think best on their own
  • Find ‘small talk’ draining
  • Notice subtle cues
  • Have a strong internal monologue
  • Are thorough
  • Are independent & work well on their own
  • Excel in 1-on-1 interactions and deep conversations

What are great strategies for an introvert?

Contrary to what you may have been told, being an introvert gives you AMAZING skills for running your own business! You work well on your own, driving your business forward. And for every situation that presents challenges, there are fairly simple solutions you can implement.

We’ll discuss:

  • How to turn ‘networking events’ into an opportunity for genuine conversation, where you excel
  • Managing ‘group work’ and translating it into great individual work
  • Strategies to scheduling your day to maximize your energy levels
  • The power of working in writing

By the end of this episode, you’ll be on board with celebrating the joys of being an introvert!

Book recommendations and links:

Find me!

Stacey Trock is a consultant in brand management and social media. She helps small businesses engage authentically with their customers by developing both long-term content plans and live social media event coverage. Stacey teaches and writes about business for Creative Live, Industry organizations and trade magazines.

Such an amazing #ExploreYourEnthusiasm ep about using the power of being an introvert in business!

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How to listen

  • You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
  • You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
  • Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

239: How to plan the best year ever

If you don’t plan your year, you can’t grow your business strategically. Find out my favorite (simple!) tips for planning to make this year your best year ever at TaraSwiger.com/podcast239

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How can you plan to have the best year? Not just get everything done, but have a year you actually enjoy?

It is both important to reach the goals you have set, and enjoy your time. What’s the point in building a business if you aren’t enjoying yourself?

You’re never going to feel like you’re done in business.

You’ll always be changing, growing, setting goals. THAT is what building a business is. So be sure that you enjoy the process of moving towards the goal, as much as you think you’ll enjoy actually reaching the goal.

A couple tips as you sit down to do your New Year Planning:

1. How do you want to feel?

How do you want to feel as you work on your goal? How do you want to feel when you reach your goal? (Check out the Desire Map for more on feelings + goals).
You can bring these feelings into your planning – how can you feel this feeling RIGHT NOW?
It can be hard to plan, if you feel scared or compressed. So before you plan, get in a great mood.

2. Make a list of the things that make you feel how you want to feel.

Don’t worry about how it integrates with your work, just make the list! You’ll start to generate ideas for how this will integrate with your work.

3. Review what worked last year.

You aren’t starting from scratch, you already KNOW stuff! Remember what you learned last year, what worked and what didn’t, and be sure to apply it to this year.

4. Narrow it down.

Everything is not equally important. Pick one thing that will help you feel the way you want to feel. Pick one thing that will make the biggest impact (first domino). And do that first.

Need help getting clear on where you want to go and then turning it into an actionable plan? Map Your Business guides you through all of the tips above, and you end up with a doable plan, followed by monthly review and quarterly goal-setting.

Past New Year’s episodes:

Can't wait to incorporate these tips into my New Years planning! They're a great reminder to stay focused!

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How to listen

  • You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
  • You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
  • Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.