Accountability Partners… Helping Each Other

Accountability partnerships are a great way to challenge yourself and let go of excuses. With an accountability partner in your life, it’s harder to ignore your goals because you “just don’t feel like getting anything done”. When you have someone you have to report to weekly, you work harder than usual because you don’t want to let your partner down.

 

But keeping track of each other’s goals and celebrating successes isn’t the only thing that you and your accountability partner can do together. There are many ways that solopreneurs and small business owners can help each other besides accountability. 

 

An Accountability Partner Can Help with Brainstorming

 

Have you ever had an idea for a great project but you just couldn’t find a name that captured it perfectly? With an accountability partner, you can try brainstorming to come up with a title that you love. Of course, your accountability partner can help you brainstorm many things besides a project name. Together, you can brainstorm domain ideas, marketing strategies, podcast episodes, and webinar content. 

 

An Accountability Partner Can Test Your Products

 

Nothing’s quite as scary as launching a new product and no one understands that fear like another solopreneur or small business owner. One of the ways that accountability partners can help each other is by testing products before they’re officially released. For example, if you have a website and you set up a shopping cart, you’ll want someone to test it for you. 

 

Your accountability partner can help by testing your cart and sharing their honest feedback. Your partner might tell you that your cart is broken or point out an area where you’re missing out on additional sales. By testing products for each other, you and your partner are making your products even better for your customers. 

 

An Accountability Partner Can Help You Create a Joint Venture

 

If you have an accountability partner that you’ve clicked with, then it might be time to take the next step together—creating a joint venture. This approach works well when you have two partners that are bringing different skillsets to the table. For example, if you offer copywriting services and your accountability partner offers web design services, then you could team up to create a DIY website course. 

 

An Accountability Partner Can Promote Your Products

 

Accountability partners can promote each other’s products as affiliates. This allows you to introduce your customers to your partner’s products or services. Be sure to let your subscribers know that since you’ve already been accountability partners, you can vouch for their ethics and excellent customer service.

 

If you’ve been accountability partners with another solopreneur or small business owner and you’ve found you enjoy working together, consider other ways you could support each other. Start by having an honest chat with your partner and telling her how you’d like to further your working relationship.

 

7 Secrets to Reclaiming Confidence that Successful People Know

Winston Churchill once said, “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” 

 

The problem is, enthusiasm can be hard to come by, especially when yours has taken a beating. Setbacks and disappointments have a way of knocking it down. We start doubting ourselves and lose sight of who we really are. Without confidence, it becomes impossible to try, guaranteeing failure. 

 

Thankfully, we know one thing for certain: confidence can be reclaimed, as every successful person knows. Read on to discover 7 things successful people know about reclaiming confidence.

 

They Remind Themselves They Can Do It

 

Successful people recognize failure is normal. Getting there won’t be without bumps. The important thing when trying to regain confidence is to realize success is still a possibility…or even a probability. This is where you remind yourself of your goal and visualize success all over again.

 

They Walk Away

 

There comes a time where a break is the best thing you can give yourself. Confidence wavers when you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Doing a hobby you love, or even just taking a walk, or spending time with friends, does a lot toward regaining a positive mindset when you’re feeling frustrated.

 

They Revisit the Past

 

Where have you succeeded before? Where have you failed? Everything that’s come before is a teaching moment. What do you know about yourself already from these events? Understanding the “you of yesterday” is where your insights today come from. Confidence comes from using this knowledge well. 

 

They Forgive

 

Hating yourself for some mistake you made isn’t going to get you anywhere and only destroys your confidence. Being able to let go and forgive the past is crucial to future success.

 

They Keep a Handle on What They’re Saying

 

Self-talk can be particularly destructive to confidence. How do you talk to yourself? Are you patient and understanding, or do you tend toward negativity? Grabbing hold of those mental put-downs will preserve self-confidence. Using more positive statements will build it up.

 

They Start Over

 

The only sure way to fail is to do the same thing, in exactly the same way, when you’ve already failed the first time. Rather than force failure onto yourself and eradicate confidence, revamp the strategy. Ask yourself how you can do things differently this time.

 

They Keep Trying

 

Persistence pays off. If you fail and stop, you’ll always think of yourself as a failure. It’s the person who gets up and tries again who builds confidence as they go. 

 

In the end, the only way to reclaim your confidence is to put intentional work into recovering it. By using these tips, you’ll get there. Recognize the process can sometimes be slow, but success truly does still lie within your grasp, even after a setback.

 

7 Small Ideas to Reclaim Confidence in Big Ways

Children are absolutely fearless. If you ever doubt this fact, then spend some time on a playground, and you’ll see exactly what’s meant by this statement. They jump into play, enlisting the help of perfect strangers for companionship and to meet their goals. They climb and run and jump, frequently with unbridled enthusiasm that adults come to envy. 

 

We’re actually born with confidence. Sadly, this becomes lost through experience. All it takes is a nasty trip and fall to teach a child to approach life with more care. As we grow older, the process continues. We lose confidence with every failure and start taking to heart every harsh criticism. Soon we become so immobilized we see no way out. 

 

The good news? Confidence can be fixed just by making several small changes in your life. Read on to find out how.

 

Honor Small Achievements

 

If you’re feeling like you never do anything right, making a list of the things you do well, and the accomplishments you’ve made is a great place to start. Enlist the help of someone who knows you well, as they’re apt to think of the things you might be too close to see. Once you have your list, keep it handy and re-read it when you feel confidence flagging.

 

Pull Yourself Together

 

A lack of confidence can make you want to hide in your own clothes. Rather than losing yourself in baggy, unattractive clothing, pull out the outfits you know you look good in. You’ll find yourself feeling more confident every time you look in the mirror.

 

Clean Up Your Act

 

Like dressing well, just taking better care of yourself does wonders for confidence. Eat right, exercise, and be sure to get enough sleep. You’ll feel worlds better, meaning your outlook likewise improves.

 

Check the Self Talk

 

Speaking of outlook, what have you been telling yourself? If you’re hyper-critical, it’s no wonder your confidence is flagging. Instead, turn your inner dialogue positive, focusing on the things you like best about yourself.

 

Challenge Yourself in Small Ways

 

A little success goes a long way toward improving confidence. Give yourself a task to do you know you can complete then set about doing it. Just the feeling you get when you finish is enough to give you a positive boost.

 

Finish Something

 

We all have unfinished projects around the house or at work. Digging in and finishing up something you’ve needed to for a while will serve a twofold purpose: you’ll feel good about getting something done, and you’ll even reduce some of the stress hanging over you. Both things increase confidence in giant ways.

 

Be Nice

 

Doing a kindness always boosts your own mood. This leads to increased confidence as you realize you really can make a difference in someone else’s life.

 

Because confidence comes from acting, use this list as a jumping-off point. Soon you’ll be discovering a multitude of ways to increase confidence. How exciting is that? 

 

5 Things to Ask When Looking for a Fresh Start

That's it. You've had it. Life is just not going as well as you'd like. It's time for a change, a Fresh Start if you will. But how do you know where to even begin? Especially if you're still neck-deep in a life you want to escape.

 

It’s simple. You start by asking yourself these five questions:

 

What Are You Looking For?

 

Too often, what we're thinking is a change in our life is nothing more than a dressed-up version of the old. To avoid falling into this trap, start looking for real and actual change. Start by asking the hard questions: What do you want out of life? How are you not getting this? What would you need to do to attain this? What's one positive change which would place you closer to this dream?

 

How Many Risks Are You Willing to Take?

 

Fresh starts will demand a certain commitment from you, which manifests in how much of yourself you’re willing to put into the project. If you’re not willing to risk a new way of life, or much in the way of change, you’re not going to have much success. 

 

What is Different About the Life You’re Proposing

 

If you're looking for a new beginning, there has to be something 'new,' or you're not starting over at all. You are merely continuing what you've been doing all along. What is the thing you haven't done before?

 

What Are You Giving Up?

 

A new beginning means something else is ending. What are you leaving behind? Keep in mind this question doesn't necessarily imply you need to abandon every aspect of your past. Sometimes we're leaving behind only a small part of our life.

 

Are You Truly Ready to Let Go of the Past?

 

This last question can be hard because you might not know this answer until you've begun. Every fresh start is doomed to failure if you're weighed down with a lot of baggage from the past. At the very least, though, it helps to have a positive attitude about letting go and are willing to do the work to make this happen.

 

In the end, these questions will give you some idea of what to expect as you embark on this journey of letting go. After all, being prepared truly is half the battle. 

3 Ways to Live More Strategically

When you live strategically, you make it easier for yourself to accomplish a goal and make decisions along the way. The problem is, it can be hard to know what you need to do to live a more strategic life. If you struggle with the idea, read below for three ways you can learn to live more strategically. 

 

Have a Strategic Plan for Your Life

 

It isn't enough to decide you want to live a more strategic life. You have to create a strategy to follow. It can be difficult to follow your thoughts and dreams when they are just in your head, so it's better to write this strategic plan down. This will help you to have a narrower focus and to plan out better how to deal with certain decisions when they arrive. 

 

For example, if you wish to hold a higher position at your job, write that down, then write what you can do to help you get there. 

 

Plan Ahead for Change

 

If you are following a strategic plan, it can be harrowing when something in your life changes and the plan doesn’t fit anymore. But this is okay. The only way to adequately deal with change is by embracing it so you can deal with it more quickly and get back on the path you were on before. 

 

It’s best if you prepare for possible changes in advance. While you can’t prepare for everything, this is a strategy that will help keep you on top of your goals even when the unexpected happens. 

 

Be More Confident In Yourself

When it comes to living a more strategic life, you will find that it is vitally important to be confident in yourself. It will take confidence and belief in yourself to stick to your strategy when people may disagree with you or you experience times of hardship. 

 

If self-confidence is something you struggle with, you should employ different tactics to help boost it. Some good ways to help your self-confidence are positive self-talk, practicing gratitude, and changing your posture when you sit and walk. 

 

If you have decided that you want to embrace a more strategic life, it's time to create a plan to prepare for change. It would be best if you also worked on your self-confidence, so you can stick to your strategic plan even when unforeseen circumstances come your way. 

5 Ways To Stay Fit Without Entering A Gym

Let’s face it, the gym environment (despite the diversity of options for gyms that are present in most places) is not for everyone, either due to personal preference of atmosphere, lack of self-confidence, or possibly simply logistical issues such as time or transportation, but fortunately there are a number of ways that you can stay in shape and get some exercise without ever stepping foot into a gym.

 

Consider the following 5 suggestions that provide a workout in an alternative setting.

 

Hiking/Walking

 

Whether you go to the park closest to you and walk around for 20 minutes, or you take a day trip to whatever state park with hiking trails is most feasible for you, or even if you just take an hour to explore your town or city.

 

Consider it taking yourself on a tour of your town which likely would result in you either re-discovering the town that you call home or learning things about your city of which you were previously unaware.

 

Walking and hiking are excellent ways to get some exercise without going to a gym. Anything from a brief stroll to a vigorous hike will most certainly be worth the time and the effort, and you will be happy that you did.

 

Donate Your Time/Labor

 

Volunteering in a community garden, or with a charitable organization such as Habitat for Humanity, or any other activity of the like will not only get you moving and active without stepping on a treadmill, but the sense of accomplishment and reward that your philanthropic activities will yield will make you feel better both inside and out.

 

Your local Chamber of Commerce or YMCA would likely be able to point you in the right direction when it comes to choosing the volunteer activity that is right for you.

 

Turn Cleaning Into A Workout

 

Basically, most weekly or daily household chores (vacuuming, mopping, general maintenance and cleaning) involve a certain amount of physical activity anyway, so why not turn these tasks that need to be done anyway into a work out of sorts? Accomplishing this efficient use of your energy is as simple as putting on your work-out clothes and shoes, turning on your favorite work-out music, and just putting a little more energy into your movements as you get your house chores done.

 

Take Up A Sport That Suits You

 

Most every town and certainly every city has adult league teams that play a variety of sports such as softball, soccer, basketball, etc. Even if you’ve never played a team sport before, there is a good chance that you will find a sport and team that is appropriate for your skill level and physical ability.

 

And you might be surprised at how much you enjoy your new found activity and the comradery of your team mates, as well as you may discover a talent to which you were previously unaware you possessed which, like volunteering, will not only give you exercise and help you to stay fit but will also improve your mental and emotional health. If you find the right sport and the right team to join, it will most certainly be a win-win situation for you

 

Participate In An Obstacle Course

 

A fast-growing trend in outdoor fitness activities are organized obstacle courses, and there are options for every level of athlete, many of which are also themed which makes them more fun and interesting.

 

Obstacle courses such as Tough Mudder, Zombie Mud Run, Spartan Race, etc. are just 3 of the multiple options of fun obstacle course races that will certainly give you a work out but won’t make you spend time at the gym.

 

SOURCES:

 

http://www.health.com/fitness/10-fun-ways-to-get-fit-without-a-gym#sign-up-for-an-obstacle-course-race

 

http://www.health.com/fitness/10-fun-ways-to-get-fit-without-a-gym#join-a-team

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=obstacle+course+races&rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS790US790&oq=obstacle+course+races&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.4464j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

3 Mental Shifts to Enrich Your Self-Belief in an Afternoon

Why are we so hard on ourselves? We hold ourselves back, stuck in a comfort zone that isn’t really very comfortable after all. 

 

If you’re tired of negative self-talk and feeling like you can’t accomplish anything, then it’s time for a change. It doesn’t even need to take long to do. In fact, by allowing yourself three mental shifts, you’ll not only enrich your self-belief, but you’ll be able to do so in a single afternoon. Read on to find out how.

 

Shift the Past

 

It’s time to let it go! Look at all the times where you felt less than stellar. For every time you messed up, you’re going to need to forgive yourself. It’s just that simple. This might take some time to do well, so prepare to dig in, and face some things you’ve maybe been avoiding. You start by examining each memory separately and responding to those memories with a heartfelt “I forgive you.” Once forgiven, you have to move on. That’s it. While this might not sound fun, it is absolutely crucial toward success. 

 

Shift the Messages You’re Listening To

 

Not every voice in your head says something worth absorbing. What are the messages you give yourself constantly? If you’re being negative, you absolutely must change over to a more positive dialogue. Reword problems to create exciting challenges and brainstorm solutions. Change out negative words to a more positive-sounding counterpart. Your inner dialogue must switch out to the positive if you intend to succeed. Self-awareness of your internal dialogue is where you start. Notice each time a negative self-belief comes up, recognize it for what it is (an old negative belief that you can change), and switch to a positive statement until you deeply believe the new version of you.

 

Shift the Game Plan

 

Now it’s time to act. Take your goals and discover the steps needed to fulfill them. Set yourself in motion to accomplish those smaller goals. Accomplish things. It’s these accomplishments that will shift your self-belief. What you’re doing is creating empirical evidence that you’re a person capable of success with each micro-goal you accomplish. What’s more, those micro-goals will eventually add up into those grand sweeping goals that you set initially, proving you’re capable of change, and of doing great things. 

 

Shifting your thinking isn’t as complicated as it’s made it out to be. The key is to be aware of your thinking and holding steady to the course you’ve laid with these three rules. You’re going to be amazed at how differently you feel, and how quickly life begins to get better.

 

Fears That Hold You Back From Finishing What You Start

Do you constantly find yourself starting a project you have every intention of finishing, and then you simply don't finish it? 

 

This failure to finish could simply be you harboring several fears that are holding you back from finishing what you start.

 

Fear Of Failure

 

The fear of failure is one of the most common fears people deal with. Almost everyone will experience it at some point in their life. This fear with undoubtedly hold you back from finishing what you start. 

 

This fear will hold you back from doing what needs to be done to conquer things that may be difficult or out of your comfort zone. The fear of failure often leads to procrastination. So, to conquer your procrastination habit, it's time first to learn to face your fear of failure. 

 

Fear Of Losing Something

 

Although this fear isn't as common as a fear of failure, one of the reasons you may be putting something off is because of your fear of losing something. Whenever you complete a project, you will be putting yourself through changes. 

 

This change can be scary and may cause you to fear losing something you currently have in your life. It would be best if you overcome this fear. Change is good and realizing this is important. Even if you do lose some things along the way, you are working towards something bigger and better. 

 

Fear That Others Will Judge You

 

Another common fear is that your peers will judge you. And this one, unfortunately, could be true. If you have goals, dreams, and aspirations that might seem odd to other people, you may put them off or give up on them forever. 

 

You might have a nice starter train set in your closet but never act on your plan to set it up because you are worried it isn't "cool" enough. Is that any way to live your life? 

 

Part of life is accepting that you are okay if people judge you and your actions. You know who you are and what you are doing, so don't let others' perceptions of you change your behavior. 

 

Overall, if you are struggling to finish something you've already started, it's probably because of one of these internal fears. The best way to work towards finishing what you start is by learning to conquer these three fears so that you can go on to be successful in all of your endeavors. 

Why Do We Need to Leave Our Comfort Zone?

Your comfort zone is so, well, comfy. Why would you ever need to leave it? Not to mention that being uncomfortable is so …uncomfortable. However, there are several reasons you need to leave your comfort zone. Read on to find out more. 

 

Your Comfort Zone Won’t Grow

 

Do you wish you were more comfortable with certain things? You will never become comfortable with new things unless you step out of your comfort zone. This is the number one reason that you should. Your comfort zone is a huge part of who you are, and if you want to grow as a person, your comfort zone needs to grow too. If you never step outside of it, well, you may be stuck in the same place for a while. Staying in the same place isn't very fun. It can be quite boring and frustrating. 

 

Your Comfort Zone Might Shrink

 

Not only will your comfort zone not grow if you don't step outside of it, but it might get smaller or shrink. Your comfort zone is like a muscle, and it needs to be worked out frequently to stay strong and grow larger. If you stay in your comfort zone, certain things that might be slightly comfortable may soon seem scarier than they did before. Instead of getting comfier with them, they will start getting more uncomfortable. Before you know it, you could find yourself taking steps backward instead of forward. 

 

Not Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone is Settling

 

You might think that you don't care if your comfort zone shrinks. Maybe you are too comfortable with some things already. But the reality is, if you decide not to step out of your comfort zone, this means you are settling for the way things are right now. 

 

Are you completely happy with your life, or is there even one thing you wish you could change? Change only comes when you step outside of your comfort zone. If you are still thinking about settling, give yourself a pep talk because you are too good to settle for your current comfort zone, no matter who you are. 

 

Regardless of what your comfort zone might look like, it would help if you stepped out of it. If you never step out of your comfort zone, it will never grow, and it may even shrink. As a result, you won't grow as a person. Don't settle by refusing to step out of your comfort zone. Take steps to conquer your fears and expand your comfort zone today.