Have You Made a Breakthrough in Your Life After Divorce?

A Dose of  Savvy…

Are You Taking Advantage of the Recession?

A Dose of Professional Savvy…

Did you know that, according to The Center for Women’s Business Research, women are opening businesses at twice the rate of men? From the beginning of time, women have shown their entrepreneurial spirit by starting businesses either in or out of the home.

Believe it or not, a recession is a perfect time to start your own business! Most successful businesses have been started during a recession, and many even during the Great Depression. Trader Joe’s, Apple, and Revlon were all started during recessions and many businesses continue to thrive despite the recessions. Just look at Pay Pal!

During tough economic times people seem to become more creative and resourceful., which is something we, as divorced women, have learned well. Hungry to succeed on our own, we are open to all our options. So, why not you? Why not take advantage of the recession to follow your passion and start your own business?

First, though, you must determine if you have the personality to be an entrepreneur. Are you a risk taker? Are you willing to invest in yourself and your business? Are you ready and able to work long hours for little or no pay initially? Many of us are, and do just that, in order to follow our dreams.  Sometimes doing what you love just doesn’t seem like work; but the reality is, you still have to pay the rent or mortgage and feed your family. Make sure you are ready with a good business and financial plan, and are committed to doing whatever it takes to make your business successful.

Many communities have a small business center that caters to women looking to start their own business. They will assist you in launching your business, taking it from business concept to business plan with workshops, seminars, and coaching. Many of these resources are free or low-cost so be sure to take advantage of this support. Many local business women volunteer in these organizations to mentor aspiring entrepreneurs. Call your local Chamber of Commerce or do a search on your local area for “Women’s Business Center”.  You might be shocked at who you will find to assist you!

If you have always dreamed of starting your own business, make sure you have a plan, get your finances in order, and move forward. Do not allow a recession to stop you because it may just be the very best time to get your business started successfully. Join the many other divorced women who are finding economic independence through entrepreneurship!

For additional support in starting or growing your business, I encourage you to take advantage of the information shared by the 12 Top Experts  who participated in my Savvy Divorced Chicks Online Biz Bootcamp. Click here for all the details! 

Are You Truly Committed To Your Goals?

Thursday’s Dose of Professional Savvy…

Why do some women seem to succeed in all they do, especially when it comes to their career or business, but others just flounder? It is primarily because these women have set goals and have taken the steps to successfully achieve them. Though it may seem that they always easily achieve their goals, it takes focus and commitment, and sometimes sacrifice.

Here are some strategies successful women use in their personal and professional lives:
1. Successful women start with a long-term goal. They write it down and focus on why it’s important and when they want to achieve the goal.

Try this yourself and be as visual as possible. When you are writing your goal be clear with yourself about how achieving this goal will change your life for the better. Once this long-term goal has been documented, break the goal into tangible steps that need to be taken to achieve the goal. By breaking the steps down you will be able to see this as a manageable process, and not be overwhelmed.

2. Successful women  make certain that they really want the goal and that it is consistent with how they want to live their lives.

Ask yourself, “Do I really want this goal? Will this goal give me a better life?” Answering these questions will give you more drive and determination to achieve your goal.

3. Successful women speak up!  

Don’t  keep your goals to yourself. Sharing your goals will help you get the support you need from friends, family, or business associates. You may be concerned with telling others about your goals because you are worried you may not achieve it.  However, by sharing your goals and plans you are more likely to achieve your them either with their support or in-spite of them.

4. Successful women keep a list of all their goals, both long and short term, and review them often. 

After writing your goals down and why you want to achieve them, be sure to review them regularly. Keep them in a place (or places) that is visible , such as your bedroom mirror, your refrigerator or by your computer in your office, to keep you motivated. You can’t just write them and tuck them away somewhere ‘safe’ You have to discipline yourself to keep your goals top of mind and stick to what you have committed to.

5. Successful women stay focused and do not give up.

Consistently reviewing your goals helps to keep you  focused and taking the steps you need toward achieving them. While working toward your goals, you may face challenges that might change the way you see yourself. You may find yourself stepping out of your comfort zone and that’s great…it means you are stretching and growing and getting closer to where you want to be! Never be discouraged. Obstacles are  just a test for how committed you are to achieving the goals you’ve set for yourself. Prepare yourself to face anything and do whatever it takes  to attain the goal. Only you can make it happen. Nothing can stop you if you  set your mind to it and commit to taking massive action!

I’d love to know your personal and professional goals…please share them!

Five Savvy Steps To A New Life After Divorce- Step 4

Whether you’ve been working full-time for years or re-entering the working world after many years home with children,  now is a perfect time for self-discovery and re-evaluation of your professional aspirations. Living your life’s purpose is the only way to find true joy in your professional life. When you are doing something you are passionate about your whole world looks better and you live a happier life!

The current economic environment has made the job market challenging, but with patience and persistence there are opportunities. Many women are taking this opportunity to reinvent their careers outside the corporate box by launching their own small businesses. The internet, as well as direct sales, have created opportunities to start a business with very little start-up capital, access to training & support, and provides an opportunity for excellent income with work-life balance.

I have found there are “Five Savvy Dteps To A Better Life After Divorce.” I am sharing these Savvy Steps with the Savvy Divorced Chicks community this week. I hopeyou enjoy the video of Step 4…

If you currently have an online business or are thinking about starting one, here is a great resource! Late last year, hundreds of new and aspiring small business owners invited me & 12 Top Experts in Internet Marketing into their homes to discover “Low and No-Cost Marketing Strategies” to Grow Their Online Businesses!

You can still have access to all the incredible Bootcamp information! Order as a 6-CD set or as a digital download…you will receive start-to-finish coverage of 12 Guest Experts that you can enjoy again & again PLUS all of the pdf transcripts that you can view or print out for permanent reference. An amazing amount of content! Click here  for all the details & to purchase the Savvy Divorced Chicks Online Biz Bootcamp audios and transcripts!

Professional Crossroads…

Thursday’s Dose of Professional Savvy…

I had always worked during my married life. When I got married I had a career in corporate marketing as a Brand Manager. I loved my career! I had worked in New York City for a few years for a cosmetic company before relocating after our wedding to Michigan where my then-husband had been transferred. Luckily I was able to find a similar job in a different niche after just a few months. I missed the fast-paced energy of New York and I had traded in promotions and photo shoots featuring top fashion models for sponsoring apres-ski parties in Colorado, which were the fun perks of my job and not a bad trade. 
 
Two years later, we were transferred back to New York and I was at a new crossroad. I found out I was expecting our first child, literally at the B&B as we drove east! It was so exciting, but I was torn about going back to work in New York, which would mean two hours of daily commuting by train from Connecticut, and juggling a young family.
 
We ultimately decided that I would start a business and work from home…after all I had the education (including an MBA) and the experience of creating, marketing, and selling consumer products.  So twenty years ago, before I even knew that life and career coaching existed, I did my own self-assessment to figure out what I really enjoyed and what I was good at. I had really enjoyed decorating our first house in Michigan and friends complimented me on what I had done, so after considering a few options I decided to go back to school (again!) and study interior design and hang my shingle.
 
Fast forward 15 years…I have just gone through my divorce and I have a thriving residential interior decorating business, but I am really just not feeling the excitement or the fulfillment or the passion that I once had for my business. So again, I am at a crossroad…do I take my business to the next level (especially since now all my kids are in school all day) or do I recreate my professional life and go down a new path?
 
This was a huge decision! I was now a single mom of four and alimony wasn’t going to last forever. I needed to make a business decision that would sustain me financially, but also fulfill me in a way my current business wasn’t.
 
One of the best decisions I made was to work with a career coach! When I met Nancy Collamer of www.jobsandmoms.com (and now also www.mylifestylecareer.com) at a networking meeting, it just seemed like the perfect fit…I was a full-time mom and businesswoman and needed to figure out my situation. It was great to partner with someone who understood what I was going through because most of my friends were at-home moms who weren’t working.
 
The process Nancy took me through helped me realize the things I had done in my life that I enjoyed (as well as those things I didn’t), what I was good at, and who I wanted to work with…smart, motivated women! Ultimately I decided to pursue coaching, and trained with CTI, The Coaches Training Institute (www.thecoaches.com).
 
While Nancy and I first talked about coaching divorced women, it took me a little while to get here. Given my corporate and entrepreneurial background, I started out coaching aspiring and new women entrepreneurs. What was interesting and probably predictable, though, was that as I grew my practice I attracted more and more women going through the transition of divorce. What was holding them up in their lives, was holding them up in their businesses and I realized my gift for helping other divorced women through the transition to become “better, not bitter”(TM) in all areas of their lives (not just business) and I created Savvy Divorced Chicks!
 
When I look back, I realize that each transition in my life has taken me down a road that has lead to the next. Each transition has created an opportunity for me to grow personally and professionally. Lessons I have learned in developing my “Professional Savvy”…keep your eyes open for the signs or the opportunities (they may not be anything you ever dreamed of!); don’t be afraid to take a risk (maybe take a different turn or learn a new skill); and get the support you need to create and achieve your dream job or business.

So…Who Is The Savvy Divorced Chick?

No matter where you may be in your life after divorce, you can be a “Savvy Divorced Chick!” You just have to start by making the decision that you want to be better, not bitter! Being savvy in your life after divorce is all about your mindset…your lifestyle… your journey.

Savvy Divorced Chicks are smart, motivated, real women who recognize that divorce has given them the opportunity to redesign a life on their terms that is empowering and fulfilling. Though her future may seem uncertain at times, she has a positive outlook and is willing to look outside of the box…even when it terrifies her! The Savvy Divorced Chick is inspired by other women’s stories, and is also an inspiration herself. She is social and enjoys being part of a positive, supportive community.

A Savvy Divorced Chick values personal development, and realizes it is the first step to making positive, lasting changes in all areas of her life. She is committed to creating a fun, adventurous, passionate life that is physically & emotionally healthy, financially secure, and professionally fulfilling. She is also committed to transforming & developing healthy, vibrant relationships in all areas of her life.

Life after divorce is truly a journey…and there are definitely challenges along the way. The Savvy Divorced Chick learns along the way how to grow from the pain, though, and realizes that only she has the power to actually create the family, the career, the relationships…the LIFE she wants!

Overcoming Procrastination in Your Life After Divorce

As divorced women, we’re juggling it all…family, household, finances, a profession, volunteering, even a social life. Life can get overwhelming, but at one time or another, we’ve all been hit by the procrastination bug…and intentionally put off things we really needed to do.

Procrastination can manifest itself in many forms, even as simple disguises such as TV and email. It can also show up for many reasons. Our internal barriers such as fear, anxiety, perfectionism, and indecision may surface and take over. In the end, though, procrastination never pays; in fact, it usually comes with a cost… affecting our achievements, bank accounts, reputation, self-esteem, even our credit score. Ultimately procrastination leads to stress and interferes with our happiness.

Procrastination doesn’t have to be a way of life, though. When it starts to affect your productivity, your relationships and even starts to cost you, it’s time to put a stop to it immediately! Overcoming procrastination means committing to moving forward and taking action even when you don’t feel like it. Though it will be a gradual effort and take practice, there are some simple steps we can all take to turn procrastination into productivity and perseverance…

Discover How & Why

The first place to start with resolving your procrastination issues is to get a clear picture of how you use your time and why you delay certain types of projects. Buy yourself a beautiful journal to encourage your positive, can-do attitude and keep a daily log of all your activities, including how long you spend on each. You will soon discover all the distractions and time-wasters that keep you from achieving your goals. In addition, list any activities you deliberately avoid accomplishing and journal about why. The sooner you become aware of your actions and the reasons behind them, the sooner you will be taking charge of your life.

Monetize Your Habit

We’ve all heard that time is money, but how much is your procrastination actually costing you? This can be an actual dollar amount or the cost of a lost opportunity. When you list those activities that you purposely put off in your journal, be sure to include what it costs you. Late bills cost you interest, affect your credit score and ultimately your ability to secure less expensive credit in the future. Insurance companies, mortgage companies, even future employers use your credit score to make their decisions. Prolonging projects at work, updating your resume, dealing with medical issues, car & home maintenance (just to name a few) will all “cost” you more in the long run.

Get Organized & Prioritize Your Goals

When you have systems in place at home and at work, it’s easier to keep yourself on track. Keep your list of projects or goals in one place, not scribbled on different sheets of paper. Create a daily planning system, either electronically or manually, and keep a detailed schedule of all your appointments. Then block off additional time daily to tackle the personal and professional projects you need and want to accomplish. Be sure to set realistic goals by priority, and give yourself a certain time limit to accomplish each. Share your goals with a friend or a coach and you will keep yourself accountable.

Just Get Started

Avoiding procrastination is more effective when we start with little steps. Break down each task or goal into smaller goals that can be systematically accomplished one at a time. Setting small, quickly achievable goals helps you avoid being overwhelmed, lets you quickly see success, and keeps you motivated until you have completed the whole project. It is amazing where many small steps taken together can lead!

Focus

Procrastination means losing precious time, wasting valuable resources, and missing life’s golden opportunities. All of this can be avoided by focusing on what your goals are and actually doing what it will take to accomplish them. It will require consistent  decisions and a continued commitment to avoid distractions and be in control of your own time. Before you get started on a project, make sure you have everything you need to avoid unnecessary interruptions.

Reward Yourself

This is the best part of being productive! Make sure you reward yourself once you have accomplished one of your projects…you deserve it!! Maybe even take part of the money you saved by not procrastinating and give yourself something special. Most importantly, though, be sure to spend some time each day doing the things you love to do so you can keep your momentum going, accomplish all you dream of, and live the life you truly deserve.

Living a life without procrastination doesn’t require a radical change; it just requires a decision. By overcoming procrastination you will experience a personal freedom and self-satisfaction you have probably not felt for a long time. Just imagine a life filled with strength, purpose and peace of mind…it is just a few actions away!

Imagine Your Life After Divorce If You Just Took Action

In life after divorce, there are many decisions to make and things we would like to change to have the life of our dreams. Taking action, though, can often be intimidating and overwhelming, but it can also be empowering!  Taking action can provide the fuel you need to keep moving forward toward a more fulfilling life.  Regardless of the time of year, there is no time more perfect than now to design the life you want…and deserve.

As you redesign your life, it is critical that you first understand that your life is exactly as you have designed it. Your life is the way it is right now because of your hesitation in taking action to change it!

In thinking about your life, which situations do you want to change first? Does your career, health, relationships, financial situation, or anything else make you feel powerless and stuck? Choose one simple action you can take immediately to inspire some positive movement in any of the areas you desire change. It does not have to be a huge action, just SOMETHING to start building momentum in your life.

Make a commitment to take your action step by writing it down and telling someone close to you so that you are accountable. You need to push yourself to take the action no matter what!  This may seem incredibly difficult or even scary, but remember that most often the things you fear never materialize. In fact, you may not even have a clear reason for feeling scared…you’re just afraid of the “unknown”.  Give yourself a pep talk or a little bribe in order to move forward at least a little bit.

Once you take that first step, let go of any expectations of the things that may happen because of it. Allow yourself to feel great simply because you did something about it. Once you have taken a step forward, keep pushing yourself to take others. Even small steps are a positive effort that result in change and cannot help but bring about better circumstances in your life.

Taking action quickly builds momentum.  Just as chronic non-action creates a cycle of negativity and stagnation over time, being proactive can create a positive cycle that continues to grow! The more you do it, the easier it gets which eventually makes it seem almost effortless. You will continue to empower and strengthen yourself with every new action you take, and soon your life will look and feel totally different.

Not Bitter, Just Better!

When it comes to your quality of life, especially in your life after divorce, attitude is everything!  In fact, it has even be said that whatever you focus on the most, you tend to bring into your life, whether by choice or by circumstance. 

Have you ever known someone who had a terrible attitude? They may have been extremely negative and pessimistic, and were not much fun to be around; or they complained non-stop about how terrible their life was. Did you find it draining to be in their presence? A negative attitude will not only make you miserable, but everyone around you too!  

A positive attitude, on the other hand, turns you into a woman that everyone wants to be with; a woman that constantly experiences great things, and a woman who loves life!  Is that the kind of woman you want to be?  If so, here are some tips to help you develop and maintain a positive attitude and ultimately a better life.

Do what you love! 

This applies to hobbies and fun activities, but it also pertains to one of the biggest parts of your life ~ your work!  Do you enjoy your career?  Are you spending most of your time on something that you are passionate about that makes you feel fulfilled? If not, consider exploring other career options and moving toward a job you will love. When you regularly do things that make you happy, you can not only help but feel better about yourself and your life, which fosters a positive attitude.

Always expect the best! 

Life after divorce can often seem overwhelming and it can be easy to get into the habit of seeing the doom and gloom in every situation if you let it. However, doing so keeps you forever focused on the negative. Instead, make a conscious decision to expect the best, even if your first impulse is to think negatively. Fill your life with positive affirmations as often as you can. Even writing down a simple thought such as, “This is going to work out great!” or  “Wonderful things are going to happen today!” can make a significant difference. The more you make these positive affirmations, the more you train your subconscious and the more you begin to believe it, the more you will begin to experience just that.

Build yourself up! 

Think and speak positively to and about yourself every day. After going through a difficult time such as divorce, it is easy to get in the habit of being hard on yourself and talking down to yourself, especially if you were often criticized in your marriage. This can leave you feeling hopeless, frustrated and pessimistic.  Get into the habit of building yourself up with positive self-talk and thoughts.  Affirm your good qualities and downplay your negative ones. Also make it a practice to focus on everything you have in your life to be grateful for.

Build others up! 

As often as you can, make an effort to encourage, support and compliment the people you encounter each day. That goes for those in your life who are important to you, as well as strangers you meet in your daily travels. It is amazing how a simple gesture can bring a smile to someone else’s face. The more you focus on recognizing the positive in others, the more others will be attracted to you, and the better you’re going to feel about yourself too.

Think strength! 

The more you choose to focus on and worry about your failures and weaknesses, the more pessimistic and negative you are going to feel. Instead, consistently affirm your strengths, talents and capabilities. This will enable you to feel empowered and in control of your circumstances, which cannot help but improve your attitude and ultimately, your life.

Life after divorce is challenging, but with the right attitude you can have a better life than before. Most of all, though, affirm that you are a work in progress; not perfect, but great nonetheless!

Discovering Your Professional Savvy in Your Life After Divorce

Life after divorce forces us not only to focus on our personal development, but also on our professional development in order to live our best life. Whether you’ve been in the workforce for a while, or at home raising your children, you may have found yourself with new responsibilities and the need to advance yourself professionally. This could mean working toward a promotion, changing jobs for a more flexible schedule, or re-entering the workforce.

If you have been out of the workforce for many years, you may need to return to school or take classes to develop your skills. Going back to school may be a valuable experience that helps give your life new meaning and new direction Your local community college or university is a good place to start. Stay-at-home moms also have many skills that can be applied to a profession, especially if you have volunteered or had a leadership position with a civic or community group, the PTA or a religious organization. Moms are specialists at time management, event planning, negotiating, listening, communicating and multi-tasking – all skills that are easily transferred to a résumé.

Regardless of your status, take a closer look at your current situation. Whether you are working on part time or a full time basis, decide whether or not it will continue to support your new, post-divorce lifestyle. Supporting your lifestyle is more than just providing the financial resources you need to survive. You also need  to evaluate what your skills and talents are and what you are passionate about. Do you feel personally fulfilled in your career? Are you in a career that you are passionate about, or has it just become part of your routine because you never took the time to look at other options? Make sure you write all these thoughts down.

Specifying your career goals and creating a plan is an important step in moving forward professionally. You gain self confidence by seeing your strengths on paper and may discover a career you love. Be sure to share your plans with other people so they can help you achieve your professional goals. Networking and referrals are great ways to get your professional ball rolling. You don’t have to keep a job simply because you’ve worked there for several years You have been given an opportunity to recreate your life so take advantage of that. There is no better feeling than being fulfilled by work you are passionate about!