#MompreneurMonday Produce 3 Ways to Get Over Being Busy and Start Being Productive

Has this ever happened to you–24 hours have past and you’ve spent it doing this and that, but you feel like you’ve done nothing? You’ve definitely been busy. You’re perspiring and a good chunk of your to-do list has been checked off, but the time has not been productive. Most likely if you’ve had this experience or a similar one I know what else you’re experiencing or rather not experiencing.

You’re not experiencing any type of prosperity or growth in your business. Things are happening here and there, but nothing that you could anchor yourself on.

Are you over it?

I’m over it.

Yes, this has happened to me. The first step for getting over it was one having a reality check. This tip is a bonus tip. A friend of mine sat me down and said, “Nigeria, we need to figure this out. We need to figure out what’s blocking you.” After that conversation I discovered two things that were blocking me and one of them was I was too busy to be productive.

Mompreneur, it’s time to break from being busy and not being productive and move into prosperity and growth.  Here are the three things you need to:

1. Meditate. Psalms 1 recommends you mediate on the word of God both day and night and whatsoever you do shall prosper. Set some time up for meditating on the word of God. If you’re not used to this start with one minute a day. When you get it down pact include the family too.
2. Automate. Automate. Automate. You can’t automate when you’re kids are going to need you to take them to the hospital and you can’t automate playing with them in the park, but you can automate your email sequences, you can automate/schedule your social media updates and respond to notifications at a later time.
3. Organize. Instead of having things posted on a ton of different calendars and good ideas in different books and your to-do list somewhere else put it all together in one place, so you don’t have to waste time scratching your head trying to figure out what’s going on.

If you want access to a solid planner that combines everything a millennial mompreneur and faith based owner need to get organized and get PAID click here to order the Passion and Purpose Planner.

 

Can I tell you why the Passion and Purpose Planner was conceived??? Many people only share their strong side on social media, but let me keep it real with you I am organizationally challenged and easily distracted. That makes motherhood and managing a business hard. In order for a business to succeed you need organization, focus, and discipline and for a faith based brand to make bank Christ has to remain at the center. So, I created a planner that combined every aspect of running a 21st Century Faith Based Biz. 👉🏾👉🏾Click here: www.inheritancebooks.co/PassionandPurposePlanner to order your Passion and Purpose Planner Quarterly Planner. Take a look inside the Passion and Purpose Planner. 

#MompreneurMonday Growing Pains

Your growth will seem outrageous to some and contagious to others. This new terrain will be difficult to navigate, but those are just growing pains. 

The same way when you experienced a growth spurt as an adolescent and certain clothes no longer fit your body type or matched your persona you’ll experience that in business and personally as well. And you know what? 

It’s okay. Seriously it’s okay. 

Roll with the changes. If that means rebranding do it. I started adding more colors to my scheme because that where I am in my walk and my talk has to match my walk. This is my business and my brand. I have to be as comfortable in it as I can and the same holds true for you. 

Give yourself space and time to align what’s going on in your mind with what you are trying to execute. That may mean saying goodbye to old systems that aren’t generating results even if they’re conviennt. 

I just trashed my entire mailing list. You know why, because I wasn’t in that space anymore and I’ve learned new things. 

As the Bible tell us you can’t pour new wine into old bottles. This may also mean removing the people in your life who don’t encourage your growth. Everyone on your team should inspire you to do greater things. I don’t mean that in a competitive way, but I mean that in terms of self-realization. The people you socialize with should be encouraging and prompting you to use your gifts more. 

If they don’t that’s not the crew for you. 

It may hurt to get rid of systems and people that you are used to, but if the people around you or your environment don’t match the growth taking place in your mind you will never move from this place and space. 

In our lives everyone around us is entitled to grow–the kids, our spouse, even the dog. 

Guess what? 

So are you. 

What are you going to do enjoy the  shift happening and embrace the growth? 

#MompreneurMonday Transparency: 3 Questions to Ask Before Baring it All

Transparency is a hot ticket word for entrepreneurs and personal brands using social media. As a mompreneur I’m sure you want to build a banging, transformative brand, but you don’t want to look like a messy reality star in the process. 

So, how do you determine which personal battle should be shared and which one remain in the record books? 

Ask yourself these 3 questions to determine how transparent you should need to be:

1️⃣ Can your audience’s life or business be improved by it? 

If they can’t bank off it–build new programs around it, write about it, improve their mindset or work ethic from what you’re about to share then this story probably should remain personal.  Don’t share for shock value or just because you see everyone doing it. 

2️⃣ Have you healed or recovered from the experience yet? 

If it’s too raw sometimes sharing might be therapeutic for you, but in the long run it won’t build up your audience or your bottom line. Instead you’ll wind up looking messy and unprofessional while sharing if you’re still caught up in the heat of things. 

3️⃣ Is suppressing this experience a direct contradiction or in opposition of what you teach? 

If you’re teaching women about finances and your families money is in shambles, girl bye! You better spill the beans ’cause when we find out the truth we are going to demand a refund even if your products work for us. 

How do you determine how transparent you should be with your audience??? 

#MompreneurMonday: What’s it Going to Cost You?

I’m sure you’ve seen tons of digital entrepreneurs boasting that they can teach you how to start a business with little to no money at all. However, as a good friend once said to me, “Everything comes with a cost.” There’s a price that must be paid for every single thing that you invest in especially starting a business. 

This weekend after a discussion about balance with my husband I realized that I had to deal with the unwritten costs that many don’t discuss neither do they offer tips about how to get around them. The time, the egos, and emotions of those in your family are a very real yet intangible things that cost you a lot when you’re trying to start up. 

Mompreneurs, before you reach the point where you realize you can’t afford your business and the intangibles here are a couple of tips: 

1. Take regularly scheduled days off. Your 9 to 5 gave you two days off. During those two days your family could count on seeing your smiling face and doing fun things. Don’t deprive them of that. 

2. For the kids–allow them to work with you when and where feasible. You’ll still be spending time together and hitting your bottom line. If you’re not sure if that would work for you check out 4 Reasons to Get Your Kids Involved with Your Biz.

3. Talk to your husband about your products, projects, progress, and goals more often. Try to help him understand what you are doing. If he has any skills that are related to what you do, then get him involved so that you’re working and spending time together. 

4. Accept that you can’t please everyone all of the time. You can’t be everywhere all of the time.

Building a business and establishing a brand is time consuming hard work. Yet when it all flows it’s worth the cost. 

So, don’t give up the legacy and freedom you’re creating. Take these tips and keep making it happen. 

If you have any tips for balancing the biz and family life drop them in the comments and if you know a mompreneur share this blog with her. 

#MompreneurMonday Top 2 Reasons Your Business is Struggling

It’s the first quarter and you may already be feeling overwhelmed by your bustling business or drowning in it. There are really two reasons why you’re struggling. 

No, it’s not because you don’t have enough engagement and nor is it because you don’t have enough exposure. They would both make it better, but here are the real reasons. 

You’ve either failed to plan for increased exposure and engagement or you’ve created a plan that you are not fully executing. 

So, here’s the deal, planning may seem daunting and it may seem like you don’t have the time to plan, but you are wasting your time by not sitting down and creating a cohesive plan. Trust me, I’ve lived in that space and that is such a waste of energy and effort. You’ll be doing 5,001 things and not seeing any real results. 

Have you been there??? Are you still living in this non-planning or haphazard planning space??? Download the 1st quarter of the Passion and Purpose Planner to see how easy it is to plan for your passion and purpose.

Click on the photo for access to the Passion and Purpose Planner

You waste your time even further by not actually executing the plan. Stop abandoning the plans you sit down and create or allowing the craziness that sometimes goes on when motherhood and business collide. 

Don’t worry, the Passion and Purpose Planner combines your planning for spiritual growth and cyberspace domination for your business. 

Speaking of worrying, what’s your biggest worry or fear when it comes to planning or the biggest problem you have when it comes to planning? Let’s talk about it so we can solve it. 

#MompreneurMonday The Must Have Accessory

Happy New Year!!! The 31st was my birthday and I bought something that every mompreneur must have! This accessory has already begun saving my life. 

If you’re like me then a lot of your business is done online or you vend at events and use your phone to collect payments. Then there are the regular days where you’re on the move. With two kids 11 and 6 I’m on the go a lot. 

I write books on my cell phone, send invoices from my cell phone and I need my battery functioning at all times. 

That’s not always feasible, there’s isn’t always an outlet available and to be honest I am a forgetful woman, so I don’t even carry my charger all the time. Then I discovered this swanky little wristlet with a charger. 

$20 at Old Navy

I can charge my phone on the go. It’s easy to stow in a large bag, slap on my wrist for a quick errand, or when I’m trying to look cute. This is a must have accessory for a #mompreneur expanding her social media territory. Whether  you blog on the go or run an online boutique from the palm of your hand you need this wristlet. 

Speaking of must haves for 2017 come back next week when I drop dime about all the apps I use to save time and build my biz on road. 

If you grab one let me know how it works out for you and tag me in a pic or two. 

#MompreneurMonday 3 Self-care Tips to Increase Productivity

The nature of motherhood and the  conversation our culture has about motherhood is that self-care should be last on the list and your family first. The mom that wants to be a mogul at some point and time completely abandons self-care. But, ff you want make magic happen then you have to take care of the wand and that would be you. 

Here are 3 tips to incorporate self-care into your work routine and become more productive. 

Tip #1 Get Dressed Up

Polish your nails, paint your face, or get dressed up–even while you’re in the house. Yes, working from how has it’s perks like wearing pjs while taking a client call or uploading content to your blog, but when you look good you feel good. When you feel good you are more motivated to get stuff done. So, at least once a week dedicate some time to spicing up your look before dropping the kids off at school or tackle your to-do list in stellar pair of pumps and watch how quickly and smoothly you get things done. 

Tackling that To-Do List Like

Tip #2 Put the Donuts, Bacon, and Bread Down

No, not forever, but again at least once a week you need to cut out the salt, sugar, and the bad carbs. What are bad carbs? You know, the ones that make you feel so full you can’t get anything done after eating them.Swap out fresh fruits and veggies. If you’re like me short on time or just not the magic bullet kind of girl, run into your local grocer and grab a bottle of Bolthouse Smoothies. You won’t be disappointed and your energy levels will be through the roof. More energy equals more productivity. 

Tip #3 Go to Bed Early and Sleep Late

Sleep deprivation is not conducive to running a business especially if you are the business. You may have some super creative hours–like at one am your best idea may come to you, but if you’re not sleeping well you’re abusing your body and brain, both of which you need to function. If sleeping at regular intervals isn’t possible take a nap and then attack the to-do list. It will change the way you do business trust me. In my new book,  Pursuing Your Passion in a Godly Fashion, I discuss the devastating effects sleep deprivation and stretching myself too thin had on me. I wound up in the ER (you don’t want that). Rest that mind then capitalize on the new ideas that freely flowing. 

Now, those are just three ways I use self-care to increase my productivity, but I’m open to suggestions.

How do you use make time to care for yourself as a mompreneur? 

#MompreneurMonday Get Respect While Working From Home

R-E-S-P-E-C-T isn’t that what all small business owners want? Of course, but sometimes it can be really difficult for a mompreneur to get some respect while working from home.

Raise your hand if you know what I mean. You’ve got the kids running around, the husband making requests, and those pesky Facebook notifications can be downright disrespectful.

The only way to get respect is to demand it.

 

Not quite like this, even though that’s how you may feel.

What you have to do be firm and about your business. Just like you would at your 9 to 5 create an environment that demands every member of your household respects your mompreneur hustle. It might be a fight and difficult for them to see it and grasp it, but go for it.

Here are 3 tips to create an environment of respect for your home based business:

1. Set office hours. Sometimes your day will just run together, but realistically if you want people to respect what you do have to set the tone. Some of my early Periscope videos and live classes have traces of my children’s voices in the background. Then I finally sat them down and explained the seriousness of what I’m doing and now I have almost no background voices in my training. Put your foot down and explain it in a language that they understand. Just like your kids or husband can’t just pop up in the middle of a meeting at your office they can’t just pop up while you’re working at home.
2. Keep your working space a working space. I don’t care if you have a table top tray or full-fledged office (I’m IN between the two. I have a cubicle) keep all non-business related items out of your working space. Evict all the sippy cups, crayons, etc. Make your working space working space. As your family sees you respect your working space they will.
3. Quantify your contributions or  your potential contributions. Just like you would go before your boss for an annual review, sit down with the hubs or your partner and show them what your are earning and how those earnings have enhanced the household. If you’re just starting out–show your mate what the earning potential is and how much time you need to put to reach that point. Most men will be all for a few extra dollars coming in without you have to go out to get them.

Will it be easy? Absolutely not. You might have to struggle a little while to get into a routine that works for the family and has you feeling like the boss you are. Fight for it though. Your contribution is valuable and your dreams are worthy of respect.

Which one of these tips will you implement today? What tips to have for your fellow mompreneurs who are looking for some respect.

#MompreneurMonday 4 Ways to Keep the Fire Burning

Let’s face it–everyday you’re not going to love your business, especially in its early stages, but here are four ways to keep the fire burning. 

1. Celebrate and memorialize your accomplishments. Hang up photos of you with your products, of you at events doing your thing, and photos of you with your clients. When you’re feeling down about your progress or lack thereof just look up. 

2. Form a mastermind group with other mompreneurs. When you have people who are just as passionate as you are rooting for you and willing to help you come up with solutions for your family and business that makes it much easier to remain in the game. 

3. Take a break. Step away from the business, get back to being a mom and reconnect with your source, God. 

For some help reconnecting to your source make sure you get your copy of Pursuing Your Passion in a Godly Fashion: Prayers for Creative Christian and Entrepreneur (use code: passion to save $2 on your pre-order). 

4. Change your work hours. Are you putting in work during the hours when you’re the least productive? Sometimes as a mom and an entrepreneur your work hours become the midnight hours, but that might not be the actual time your brain functions best. You have to create a schedule that will allow you to work when you’re most productive. 

Don’t look for ways out when it gets rough. Continue for looking for ways in. Don’t give up Pursuing Your Passion in a Godly Fashion because you’re tired right now. 

I want to hear from you. What do you do to keep the fire burning when being a mompreneur is driving you insane??? 

#MomprenuerMonday The Secret to Managing Motherhood and Your Biz

That’s right today I’m spilling the beans and sharing secrets.  This is the only way to make motherhood and entrepreneurship work for without asking God to grant you a miracle on a daily basis. Of course prayer should be apart of your business strategy, which is why I wrote my latest book, Pursuing Your Passion in a Godly Fashion, but there’s something really pratical that you can do to keep yourself from going crazy. 

Are you ready for me to reveal the secret? 

Get real close: Ask for help. 

That’s right. Asking for help is an actual strategy that will save your business and preserve your mental health. There is this misleading image of moms and entrepreneurs floating around that makes you think unless you’re doing it all on your own you’re not really doing anything. 

Not true. 
Ask your family for support with kids–whether you need a day to run errands, take calls, or a day off you better open your mouth and ask for help. Remember, if you’ve made the right kinds of friends then they’re family too. You can ask them for help and if you can’t you need new friends. 

Ask other entrepreneurs for their support and advice. Instead of staying up until 3am reading random articles after searching how to monetize your Instagram, just ask someone (by the way click here to download 5 free tips to promote your book and build your brand using Instagram)

Ask your husband, partner, or baby daddy to take over some things that might typically have been a task or chore that you do regularly. 

It’s that simple. The same way that you pray and ask God for help you have to actively utilize the people He’s placed in your life to help you. 

Now, help me out share some your secrets in the comments. How are you managing motherhood and business without going crazy? 

And don’t forget to pre-order your copy of Pursuing Your Passion in a Godly Fashion.

Release Date: 10/28/16