#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 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

 

#MompreneurMondays: It’s Ok If You Can’t Quit Your Job

So, this might be the antithesis to all business advice out there, but I’m telling you it’s ok if you can’t quit your job. There’s probably more pressure than ever telling you that you’re not successful if you’re not able to quit your job. But listen here, it’s ok if you can’t quit your job. 

1️⃣ You can’t live someone’s narrative.

Most authors and lovers of literature are familiar with the unreliable narrator; you should be too. It very well may be the voice trying to convince you that you need to quit your day job. Be wary of stories coming from people who walked away from six-figure jobs to pursue their passion or those stories of people who catapulted to overnight success. Don’t let their story convince you that you’re not doing enough or doing it incorrectly, especially if you didn’t get all the details or the back end of the story. It’s okay if you can’t quit your day job. 

2️⃣ Your bills have to be paid. 

Bottom line. Point blank. Period. Your bills must be paid (and having health insurance is a plus). If you have young lives depending on your decisions and you paycheck you are not a failure, a punk, nor is your faith weak if you’re not willing to take the leap. If you can’t afford it, don’t push yourself into an unnecessary struggle or take on an extra dose of mom guilt. When Satan told Jesus to cast himself from the top of the mount for angels to catch him Jesus reminded Satan that we should not tempt God. Meaning, don’t purposefully put yourself into tricky situations  just to see the word of God fulfilled in your life. You’re not doing anything wrong by starting a business and maintaining your full-time job until your business takes off. Really, it’s okay if you can’t quit your job. 
Now, if quitting your day job is what you want to do:

• Set a quit date. 
• Calculate how many units you need to sell per month to replace or exceed your monthly income.
•  Determine what you need to do monthly, weekly, and daily in order to start generating that type of income.  That includes what type of content you’ll use to promote your business on social media. 
• Get a jump start today with 10 Sexy Content Ideas to keep your audience coming back (FREE DOWNLOAD).     

Seriously, it’s okay if you can’t quit your job now as long as you’re working towards what is best for you and your family. 

P.S. Pursuing Your Passion in a Godly Fashion will be available for pre-order this week. I’m one happy mompreneur. 

Release Date: 10/28

#MompreneurMondays 4 Reasons to Get Your Kids Involved in Your Business

Every mogul mama knows managing motherhood and business is no easy feat. I’ve received tons of questions about how I do it all and truthfully if it wasn’t for the grace of God I would have lost one of these kids in Target by now (okay, I did once, but it was for like five minutes). There a few tricks I’ve learned either from research, doing it wrong, or inspiration given to me by God and I’m sharing them every Monday. 

 

This summer I had the privilege and opportunity to work from home. One third of the time it was sheer bliss, another third of the time I had a headache, and one third of the time I’m not even sure what was going on. The sheer bliss occurred every time I was able to get the kids involved in the work.

Here are 4 Reasons why you should  get your kids involved too: 

1. Getting your children involved in your business keeps them busy without damaging any brain cells. Boogie, 6 is my intern and Woogie, 10 is my assistant. They both have a task to execute while I’m working. It’s a great alternative to them watching YouTube or t.v. (don’t judge me we’ve all had to sacrifice a few of their brain cells for some peace and quiet). 
2. The kids are gaining work experience that can go on their resume or school applications.
3. The kids can gain real world lessons. While shopping for flowers the other day Boogie and Woogie got into an argument which consisted of several, “You’re the worst sister in the world.” and “You’re a jerkhead.” However, it ended with a conversation about Human Resources and what happens when you disrespect people in the work place. 
4. Free or low cost help for you. Speaking of low cost help click here for 7 Sexy Content Ideas when you’re short on time after chasing your little bambinos around. 

Don’t worry even if you’re kids are small you can have them throw away things for you, sort products for you if you have physical products, and of course ask them for their opinions. You can even use them as photographers. Check out my Instagram and see if you can figure out which photos my “oogies” took for me. 

Have you ever tried involving your kids in the business? How did it go and what tips can you offer other mompreneurs?