If you're wondering what Twitter is all about

As I mentioned last week, I've been trying out some online networking recently. One that is still a bit of a mystery to me is Twitter, so I was really pleased to learn about a video tutorial that explains it. Remarkablogger has a whole series planned so, if you want to find out how to use Twitter, take a look.

Social networking is an acquired taste

Last week I spent a lot of time growing my list of friends on Facebook and learning about them as individuals. I've been quite selective, looking for like-minded business owners and/or coaches. The majority of people I've added to my list are in the US and I'm really enjoying seeing what they're all up to.

What's fascinating is that they are so busy taking action!! They're preparing new products, launching them, writing books, starting up groups. They are also very positive - they know they're going to succeed. I'm finding it really inspiring to be mixing, albeit virtually, with such positive people. Combined with the work I'm doing with my coach, I find that I'm really raising the bar on my own business.

I realised a while ago that networking with people who are negative about everything was dragging me down and stopped going to a lot of events. The Facebook world is a real revelation!

Today, (even though I still have reservations) I signed up to Twitter. I'm really not sure what I should be doing with it but I've started 'following' people I admire - just to see what happens.

So, if you feel like befriending me on Facebook -




or following me on Twitter (as LouiseBJ) -



we can make this journey of exploration together!

Being Productive AND Effective

I talk a lot in my workshops about the difference between busy work and effective work. I'm sure you know what I mean. Those days when you feel as if you haven't stopped - but you haven't got anything to show for it! On other days you get everything on your list done. I think we all experience both types of day.

When you have your own business, your most precious asset (apart from yourself!) is your time. You cannot afford to have unproductive or ineffective days.

If you're familiar with Stephen Covey's books, you'll know about the Four Quadrants and Urgent vs. Important work. There will always be the Urgent stuff that you have to deal with every day.

After that, you have a choice. Do you do some 'busy' work that eats up your time double quick? Or do you spend your precious time working 'on your business' and growing it?

Here's a useful question to ask yourself : "Is what I'm doing right now taking me closer to achieving my goals?" If the answer is no, stop it immediately!

Thought provoking and humbling

This video has been doing the rounds for a while. If you haven't seen it already, I do recommend you watch. It lasts about 20 minutes and starts slow, so stick with it. I guarantee you will be moved.

(If the video doesn't work for you then go here)

How do they do it?

Over the last few months I've been taking notice of the latest thinking for business building by doing a bit of social networking. Starting this blog, leaving comments on other peoples' blogs, writing articles, joining Ecademy, putting up a Facebook profile, joining some forums and posting questions and comments. I still can't see the point of Twitter (but please feel free to post a comment here if you do!)

It's all good fun and I'm 'meeting' some interesting new people while becoming reacquainted with others I'd lost contact with. So far so good.

I try not to spend too long on each website because time can easily run away while you're clicking around. What I've noticed is that some people must spend literally hours answering questions, posting comments and refining their profiles. Don't they have anything else to do? Or do they they stay up really late just to catch up? I'd really love to know how they do it.

The best piece of advice I've been given is to set a timer and stop when the alarm sounds!

How do you manage your social networking?

New Beginnings

Last week was both frustrating and rewarding. Frustrating because I had to spend a lot of it catching up after being unwell. Rewarding when my Selling Skills workshop on Friday was so well received.

This week is going to be very different.

I love developing new products, don’t you? It satisfies my creative leanings! But I do find that I need to have ‘cleared the decks’ first so that there are as few distractions and other tasks to do, as possible. This is one of those blissful weeks.

What have I got to show for my efforts so far? At the end of day 1 I have a rather messy looking Mindmap and am very pleased to have so much down on paper. What always surprises me is just how many ideas my subconscious has picked up over the last few weeks, since I decided to work on this project.

I’m going to leave the Mindmap overnight and return to it in the morning to see if I have anything to add, or if it needs changing.

Lessons for the business coach!

I'm afraid I've badly neglected this blog over the last couple of weeks. Unfortunately, a cycle of migraine headaches over a 10 day period completely wiped me out. But I'm pleased to say that's behind me now and I'm gradually catching up with things.

I have learned some salutory business lessons from this experience. The first is that it would be prudent to prepare in advance some articles and blog postings that can be used in such times. I have to confess that I usually write 'in the moment' and to meet deadlines. This works fine until I need to take time off!

Another lesson is the need to start delegating and outsourcing more - and in order to be able to do that effectively, to record my business systems and processes on paper.

An obvious lesson is to build in more time off - I certainly wouldn't expect an employee to produce their best work on the excess hours and paltry holidays I submit myself to!

Tomorrow I'm running a Selling Skills workshop and then planning next week to sort out the remainder of my backlog. Looking forward to getting straight again.