I am not waiting in the usual way. Metaphorically, I am not reading a magazine in the waiting room till my turn is called. I am right outside the door in the hall, where I will not disturb anyone, with my laptop, my cell phone and my planner whipping up a fury or other possibilities while moving projects forward and making deadlines, not waiting—never waiting.

How about you? Do you ever hear yourself say things will be better when? Or, I can’t do that—until I finish with this? Or are you waiting for summer to be over, or the fog to roll in, or a course to conclude before you really get going? If you do you may just be a waiter, like one in the restaurant, hanging out in the kitchen waiting for his dish to come up before it can be served.

Do not be a waiter. Be a chef—always seeking to discover a new way of preparation or a new ingredient that will allure the masses to taste a fresh and exciting gastronomic delight.

By the way, lately, I have been putting cinnamon on everything and just loving it. It is like I have discovered the spice for the first time. With a little innovation what is ordinary can be extraordinary again.

I live in San Francisco, a very foodie town. San Francisco has more restaurants per capita then anyplace else in the U.S. Here all the chefs go to the restaurants of other chefs to eat after they have completed their shifts. They watch each other work, share ideas, taste test and inspire their own creativity.

The great thing about experimenting with food is that you can spit something out if you do not like it. Business is different. Still, if something does not work, most of the time you are not stuck with it. Like when you burn a piece of toast—just throw it out and start again.

I have had to nudge many clients who were waiters, who were waiting till everything was all figured out or just right. You have heard it said: How you do one thing is how you do everything. Do you think that is true for you? If so, are you a waiter or a chef?  Waiters wait, chefs create. I love being a chef! How about you? Reflect on this as you go through your day.

Listen now for some inspiration as well as great ideas.

CLICK TO LISTEN: Make it Thrive! Strategies for Breakthrough Living

Upon reflection I thought how much this is an issue for so many of us full plate types.

My good friend Pat Haddock is a communication expert and trainer, I asked her to share some of her wisdom here on this topic. Please give a warm welcome to our first guest blogger.

Setting Boundaries by Patricia Haddock

“No” is a small word with great power. Saying no more often can be hard, but it is one of the best tools you have for putting more time in your life.

Start by keeping your goals in mind. Say no to anything that takes you away from your goals or does not increase your productivity. This doesn’t mean that you avoid unpleasant or difficult tasks. The key is to keep your goals and priorities in focus.

Saying “yes” when you mean “no” can lead to feelings of resentment and anger. This can be more damaging to your relationships in the long run than saying “no” when you mean “no.”

Sometimes, saying “no” isn’t easy. Many people were raised to please others, not themselves and feel that if they say “no,” they will lose friends and associates. So, how do you say “no” without alienating others?

• Speak courteously and politely.

• Make “no” the first word you say and keep your statements simple and direct. “No, I can’t do that.” “No, I won’t be able to do that.”

• Give a reason if appropriate, but keep it short and straightforward.

• Show that you understand the situation. Remind people of your roles and responsibilities.

• State the consequences of saying “yes.”

If you’re not sure whether you want to say “no” or “yes,” ask for time to think it over. Be specific about when you will have an answer.

You can find out more about Pat at http://developingasaprofessional.blogspot.com  http://abcbusinesswriting.blogspot.com/

Even if you have a totally supportive spouse you will encounter this challenge with your clients,  your staff, or people on your implementation team. Here are four big tips to create an environment of support from your spouse:

1. Share your mission statement and compelling vision with your spouse. Tell them why your business is important to you and why your success is good for the both of you. For more on compelling vision read this article: http://www.attractclientswithease.com/articles/seeingavision.htm 

2. Tell your spouse you really need their support to be successful and make a request for it.

3. Tell them specifically what support looks like. For example: pick up the kids three days a week, make dinner certain nights, have it be okay that I have to work late sometimes. 

4. Increase your acknowledgment of your spouse. This is another important topic I will write more on in the near future. For now check out this awesome article to learn this skill:
http://www.attractclientswithease.com/articles/acknowledgment.htm

You deserve support from your spouse/partner for your business. Take these actions to create it.

I was speaking today with the head of a communications firm who has been growing her business every year for the past several years and now her revenue has plummeted. Here is why: all her clients were in the real estate development industry: that industry that has also plummeted. The question is clear- I ask it of you: Are you serving only one industry?  Is that industry suffering? Is it time to diversify your client portfolio?

I do agree with the idea of going deep in a niche, or becoming a big expert in a small pond. However, perhaps it is time to rethink the basic premise of creating a niche and instead ask if it is time to start a second niche or a second specialty. For example, if your firm provides high- end catering perhaps it is time to build a box lunch business, if your firm specializes in professional organizing for people working from home, perhaps it is time to add professional organizing for small offices.

Here is one of my big secrets- I have 3 business cards- the business is the same, business coaching, consulting and speaking, however the niches are different. It may be time for you to get a second or third card. Is it more work? Yes. Does it cost more to market to two niches? Yes.  Is it more profitable? Absolutely, and more importantly, it makes your business less vulnerable. Our world is changing ever faster, business is changing ever faster. One of the ways to ensure your business remains stable is to diversify. Let me know your thoughts.

If you already have a regular website, look at adding a blog.  However, if you are just starting to have a web presence, you can take a look at using the blog format instead of a standard website format. They can both be value-based.

One last thing about using a blog format for your website—I have heard that search engines really like blogs, since you are always adding new content and it is easy for those robots to find.

Check out my Thriving Business Group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=58925660247 

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