I have just declared the long weekend of September 1-3 as a Business Planning & Retreat Weekend.
Do you want to join me?
While I'm not inviting you to share my time during those precious three days , I'll gladly share my plans so that you can create your own retreat!
I really want to make the most of this opportunity to spend a big chunk of time working ON my business instead of IN it (as per Michael Gerber and the E-Myth Revisited).
I looked at my Artist Retreat Day Guidebook, which gave me some great ideas for how to prepare between now and then:
- Create (and protect) the time. So while I'm gladly accepting new clients and projects, we won't be starting your new project until after September 4th.
- Create my workspace, by making sure clutter is at bay and my favourite business books are handy. Besides E-Myth Revisted, I'll also pull out my Andrea Lee Collection, Multiple Streams of Coaching Income and Money, Meaning and Beyond, as well as Peter Bowerman's The Well-Fed Writer and Back for Seconds). I'll also pull out some newsletters and e-books, as well my own many folders full of ideas and nearly-started projects.
- Create my mental and emotional space, and put a support team in place. I will do some journaling and reflection so that I can set my intention and begin with the right motive. I'm also going to be setting up some "check-in" times with some support people during the weekend, AND a purely social event so I can let loose a little 😉
I'm going to refer to Dina Lynch's recent blog post about Marketing Plans, because there are definitely some ideas there I want to put into practice.
And of course everything will be integrated into the wonderful Vision Map that Jan Wallen helped me create.
My plans are still unfolding – I'll keep you posted…..
NEW NOTE FROM LINDA (August 27) – keep your eye on the "Comments" section, I'll be updating about my plans for the weekend, and during the weekend itself.
While you experiencing and bathing in your Business Planning and Retreat Weekend, I’ll be bathing in the gorgeous and expansive beaches of South Carolina on my own li’l vacation retreat. It’s a fabulous place for clearing my mind, connecting to the vastness of my surroundings and endless possibilities…..can’t wait!
My plans are shaping up – I’ve separated my agenda items into three separate categories – big picture/strategy thinking, systems and implementation (writing, HTML, shopping cart changes, etc.).
Dina Lynch from http://www.adrpracticebuilder.com recommended the book The Art of Pricing and my copy arrived at the library for me in perfect time for my retreat weekend! I’ve already started reading and it’s definitely blowing my mind.
I was just speaking to Linda Puig of http://www.newslettersforcoaches.com and I committed to her that I would choose music and not t.v. for my breaks during the weekend, in the hopes that, as she said, it will “integrate and deepen my learning process.” (Thanks, Linda!)
I admit, I was getting concerned that I’d bitten off WAY more than I could chew on this 3-day Business Planning & Retreat Weekend.
Then, I called a friend and she asked, “Can’t you just schedule another retreat?”
A-hah!
Of course I can!
Whatever I don’t get done, I will save for the next retreat. It will probably be a 3-hour retreat, not a 3-day retreat, but the point to remember is that this weekend is NOT my only chance.
What a delightful change in perspective!
I’ve had a wonderful Business Retreat & Planning weekend (so far, still have the other half of Monday ahead of me).
Before the end of the day, I plan to create a list of everything that will move to my NEXT Retreat (likely the 3-hour variety versus the 3-day variety).
But since that will only take care of documenting what I DIDN’T get done, I will also create a list of everything I accomplished so I can revel in it and acknowledge my accomplishments (which doesn’t always come easy for me).
I’ll post some of the highlights here.
What am I most pleased to have accomplished this weekend?
By far, it was looking at my schedule and coming up with more efficient ways of using my time and dedicating time for specific tasks.
As well, I fixed up some small and not so small things on my websites that were bothering me because they were out of date or incorrect.
I also have started replacing all of my email addresses with “cloaked” versions, using a tool I found a link to on Cristina Favreau’s blog.
Visit http://www.projecthoneypot.org/how_to_avoid_spambots_2.php and scroll down to the fill-in box with the word “MUNG” next to it.
What else?
I came up with some new systems for collecting new client and project information.
I re-organized my MS Word and Outlook email folders so they match my personal vision for my business, which is to:
1. Provide excellent customer service,
2. Attract, invite and welcome new clients and new sources of income,
3. Cultivate mutually benefical networking relationships, and
4. Learn.
I’ve set out 10 specific goals for the next three months and each of them fits into one of those vision areas and that feels very, very good.