Guard Your Time

Every minute you have is an asset. It is a gift. If you were handed a one- hundred dollar bill for every hour in your day, you wouldn’t hesitate to put it in the right spot and guard it. 
That’s how you should treat your time. It is at least that valuable.
Get a system in place to guard your time.
 
Each day and each week I follow a basic routine:
I always start by reviewing standing priorities. I need to know when to show up and where to show up!
Here is a peek into my life - examples of my standing priority list. These are things I work around, things that are already scheduled: Church, family dinner together, family time in general, Bible Study, homeschool classes, sports and workout, speech and debate competitions, date night with hubby, Team Meetings, Mom's Night Out.

Then I . . .

• Review my goals (daily, weekly, and monthly).
• Review other commitments.
• Create priorities 
• Determine the time needed for each task not already calendared in. 
• Determine what tasks I can fit in where. 
~~> I try to be realistic yet creative about where I can multi-task.
~~> I decide what I can delegate or do ahead.
~~> I take a look at what needs to be culled or changed.

I have learned these time management skills through the years, but I have to credit my company and their ongoing educational opportunities with honing them. So, what to do after creating that list of things that need to be accomplished? 

• Dive in with a smile!

I know that my attitude makes all the difference. Anyone can tackle the busiest day successfully if they decide to do so. One of the best things to remember is that failures, pitfalls, challenges make us better at what we do if we simply resolve to learn from those things.

It is all about the right attitude. If the attitude takes a nose dive, so does the whole day. As a Mom, it is crystal clear to me that a positive attitude becomes a family habit. So guard your time and dive in with a smile. 
As a working parent, the ramifications are even greater than your paycheck.

Curious about my company?  That's great because we are looking for like-minded people to work with us. I have been working from home with my company for 18 years. The ongoing support and is invaluable. The paychecks are consistent and generous.  
It allows me to re-arrange my calendar as needed, put family first, while supporting my family financially. 

Working with this strategy allows a fresh start at any time. You didn't like how you handled something? No problem, do it again and learn from the last time. You don't know the answer to a question? No problem. We will help you find the answer. You missed a deadline? No one is going to fire you. Use it as motivation to do better next time.

Maybe this is what you have been looking for. If you want to chat or text, feel free to leave a comment. 

Verso l'alto!

Peggy Cortez 

Balloons in a Room

I have had a few requests for the story I told on a recent business conference call. 
Here it is. Let's live it. Pass it on.
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A group of 500 alumni were attending a seminar during their 15 year reunion weekend. The speaker stopped for a group activity. He  gave each person a balloon and then asked them to write their name on their balloon with a marker pen. All the balloons were collected and put in another room.

The people were then led into that room and asked to find their balloon within 5 minutes. Everyone frantically searched for their name, collided with each other, and pushed past one another. There was utter chaos.

At the end of 5 minutes, no one had found their own balloon.

Then, the speaker asked each person to randomly collect a balloon and give it to the person whose name was written on it. Within minutes everyone had their own balloon.

The speaker then began, "This is happening in our lives. Everyone is looking for success, often not knowing how to find it. Our success lies in the success of other people. Help them reach their goals and you will achieve your own."

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A quote from our business convention:
"Pretty much the only way to be successful is to turn around and change someone else's life. . . . . to help others.  In return, we are blessed 10X over.
What an amazing business we have!"

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Enhancing the lives of those we touch by helping people to reach their goals. 

Car Magnet & Business Cards

I have had quite a few people ask me about my car magnet and business cards. (Note 1-2016) Since our re-branding update, I will be adding an additional magnet to cover the new brand. I will add a pic of that one soon!

I like this one because the black matches my convertible top and the blue lettering matches the car color. Here is the pic of my current car magnet:

I usually use vistaprint.com
 
VistaPrint VERY frequently runs great FREE Premium Business Card promotions. So be on the lookout for these special deals that allow you to get 250 business cards and only pay for the cost of shipping for as little as $4.95.

How Home Run Execs Helps Everyday People Become Their Own Boss

At Home Run Execs we are a team of independent contractors providing basic advertising, marketing and account setup services. Whether you are familiar with the 9 to 5 grind of working for someone else OR already enjoying the freedoms of contracting or owning your own business, Home Run Execs can be a great complement to your career and financial future.

We have a simple, yet empowering approach to work from home that features these benefits:

Simple Training - 
Our four step Getting Started Training can be completed in just two hours or less and we have both online and conference call Continuing Education modules to help you map out a clear, realistic business plan for achieving your goals with the team.

Flexible Scheduling - Days? Nights? Weekends?
As an independent contractor with Home Run Execs, you get to decide when you work, where you work, how quickly you work and so on. We offer time leveraging tools all throughout the work week to help save you time and stay on track.

Personalized Mentoring - 
We don't expect you to know everything when you get started.
We walk you through your training, guide you in creating realistic and attainable goals, and provide hands-on support where you get to learn by doing basic tasks together (as opposed to just reading or listening to how-to's).

Team Support - 
You get to utilize the existing experience and expertise of a vibrant team of real, live people are already earning supplemental OR career-level incomes from home. That experience really helps you to jump start your own business and receive helpful guidance all along your career path with the team. These benefits make it possible for that dream of being your own boss to finally become a tangible reality.

Author: Mary Lee        Executive Director
Editor: Peggy Cortez    Training Director & Continuing Education Mentor

Toxic Brew and What I Do w/ video link

I found this clip and was so excited that it is now easily accessible! Toxic Brew is the basis, the impetus for what I do in my business. This very video clip struck a chord with me and ignited my passion for my career change!

I help people get rid of the hidden toxins described in the video clip.
This is a video that is no way connected to me or my company -- no bias -- just facts.
I passionately believe everyone has a right to this information.
What they decide to do with it is their choice but they deserve to know.

Typically, there are three reactions to this information:

1) Some people will take the ostrich approach and bury their heads in the sand.

"Too much information," they will cry. "I can't fix it all so why bother to do anything?"
"We are all going to die so it might as well be this that kills us."

To those people I have nothing to say.

2) Others are problem solvers who are solution oriented and focused on course correction . . . They understand these facts and like a protective Lioness they will take action to make positive changes for their families.

Sometimes they see the facts as many pieces to a puzzle. Sometimes people feel a wave of panic because they do not know where to start. 
This is where I can help  -- I have been doing it for 10 years and I am good at it!

3) Still others remind me of the wise owl and will begin to research every single thing and every possible avenue of action. These overly cautious (to a fault) folks often do not make any changes until they feel like they understand every chemical and every source of toxicity --- sometimes these folks morph into ostriches (warning!)

I can help here, also. I know what can be done quickly, efficiently and frugally so that while they are researching there are already safer measures in place.

Yep, it's what I do and I LOVE IT!

My best advise is to avoid reacting like an ostrich.

My son says that this post should be called, An Alert to The Toxic Atmosphere in Homes Today. He says to remind you that if there are too many puzzle pieces to sort through quickly -that is OK. You start with one at a time and "my Mom can help because she is great at her job!"
*Blush* I loved his vote of confidence and his insistence that I include his quote in this post but I have to admit something!  I am good at this because others have helped me. Our business is a team effort. We help each other stay up to date on all the latest research, findings and laws.


Let us help you!

TED's Take on Leadership

8 Minutes