THE TIME BANK

In the last post, I mentioned that some people seem to just be able to squeeze more out of a 24 hour day than others. I do think people who are passionate about something are far better at making sure they make time for their passions.

There are strategies to take an already filled day and expand it to getting more time to work on your passions  so I thought I would share several and see if any work for you, if you are trying to find more time to do what you love.

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• Start With Five....If you want to "find" more time to do something you love, set your clock to get up five minutes earlier every day for two weeks. You'll have more than an extra hour at the end of two weeks to work on your passion and you will have gradually helped your body adjust to the change. (Of course if you are more of a night owl you can do this exercise in reverse, adding 5 minutes to your bedtime nightly.)

•  Map out a time budget for one month. Like a monetary one, it helps you look at where you are spending all your time. Maybe you need to cut out some "extras". If you have favorite TV shows, record them and watch them without commercials during a block of time you set to relax. Most hour shows are barely 40 minutes long watching this way. If you don't seem to be able to identify what you did with your time, then learn to "chunk" your activities for more productivity.

• Do all your shopping in one block of time, all your appointments within another if  possible. If you spend a significant amount of your time, driving, consider books  on tape to help you complete reading goals or Dragonfire software to help you       dictate while you drive. Also consider swapping out a day or two of driving for       public transportation where you can get some of this done without still focusing   on driving.

• "Exchange" time with a friend in a similar circumstance. When my children were younger finding time to just go shopping alone or even take in a class was difficult and paying sitters was sometimes prohibitive. I had a friend in a similar situation who really wanted some extra time to spend with a loved one who was quite ill. I "gave" her one afternoon weekly to be with her loved one and she returned the favor in another block of time for me to take some classes I wanted to get in. Make sure you have an understanding of just what will be required when you are exchanging that time and everyone is in agreement. 

• Another couple we knew got "date night" time away from their three children by exchanging it with a couple who wanted the same on another night. I also know friends who make extra dinner for each other one day weekly and then each couple has a meal without having to cook for one night (and more time to do other things.)

• Learn to say, "No" without feeling guilty. Your time is precious. You would not necessarily let everyone borrow money from you all the time if you knew you could not afford it. Do the same with your time. If you need time to work on a project or pursue a passion, don't feel guilty telling people you are committed to another task OR you simply "can't afford" the time to do it right now. They have their priorities and you should have yours.

• Let go of the notion that you can do it all and determine where TIME really is MONEY and MONEY really is time. If it takes you a great deal of time to do some tasks like housework, errands, taking care of animals, yardwork etc. sometimes it is well worth the money spent to "buy" those hours for other things you want to do. Gaining an afternoon to pursue a passion, while someone else is cleaning your house or taking care of your gardening could be well worth your money. Again, it's just a matter of what you want your money to buy.

• Stay focused on the end goal. Many people fell overwhelmed with the time and energy it takes to launch an idea and can't see the light beyond the obstacles. When you feel you can't put as much time into something as you need to or that it will take what seems like forever to launch your idea, decide the small step you can take daily to accomplish something in that direction. Sometimes this means just making one phone call, engaging in one interaction, talking with one professional about your needs, making one decision about a small aspect. It takes longer with baby steps but hey, if you don't take any steps you WON'T GET ANYWHERE!

• Multi-task with Rock Star sense. Sometimes we tend to multi-task so poorly that everything gets done halfway but "good" multi-tasking can be powerful. Think of something you need to complete that requires you to SIT DOWN or BE STILL. One woman I know uses her children's homework time to work on her business plan. She announces it's time for everyone to do homework and she gets to supervise her children while she is completing her goals. One of my best friends still refers to her nail appointments as her "enlightenment time". She let her technician know she was crunched to get things done and needed to listen to specific webinars, activities etc. when she came to the salon." She sits and listens and still gets a great manicure. (The tech is actually starting to do something similar when she goes to her child's orthodontist appointment).

 We all get 24 hours in a day. We can spend it, save it or waste it, but we cannot get it back. Think of your time in terms of "cash" and decide how much you want to have, give away or bank. Time is even more precious than money because:

         WE CAN ALWAYS MAKE MORE MONEY BUT WE CAN'T MAKE MORE TIME.

          All we can do is learn to use the time we have to get the most out of it.

          What strategies do you have to help people get the most out of their 24 hours?

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24

That's it...24. We all get the same number of hours in a day. Isn't it always amazing how some people seem to get so much more done with their "24" than others?

I realized what the difference was between those who really maximized their 24 hours and those that simply shelved their activities into another box of "tomorrows" and hoped for better luck the next day. 

You can say it is time management or personal responsibility or devotion or even work ethic, but I say it's PASSION. When a person is passionate about something, they do not let it sit in the background or wait around for a good time to address what interests them. Passionate people are led by their passions to "do something" and in that process they develop strategies for maximizing their "24".

There are many people passionate about a cause or a service or product who are still doing many of the countless things people must do daily just to survive. Many are working at a job, or two, they are not really excited about. Many have the responsibilities of raising a family and taking care of all their needs as well as trying to make room for their own. And many already have a fully loaded platter of  "To-Do" activities which barely makes squeezing in what they are passionate about easy and yet they do.

So why do I think passion is a driving force behind getting the most out of your "24"? Because passion makes you WANT to get up earlier to tackle some issues relating to your passion or keeps you up later because you cherish the quiet time when everyone else is asleep as your special time to address the passion you want to fulfill.

Passion helps you prioritize any free time you have. You make wiser choices from whether to spend an afternoon at the local pool or go shopping or head out golfing to choosing to devote that time to developing your product or service.

Passion dictates your needs. It is easier to pass up an item you want but don't really need when you know that the money you save can be put towards launching and growing your passion.

AND...Passion minimizes your complaining. You might have once thought rolling up your sleeves and working hard for someone else was wasting time or crimping your freedom, but do it for something YOU are passionate about and you hardly think of it as such.

In the next few posts, I will be looking at specific ways to carve out more time in your "24" to work on and grow your passion.

People with a real desire stop saying, "I don't have time" and start saying, "I don't want to miss the opportunity." They stop telling themselves, "Someday I am going to..." and start saying, "This might be the best time I ever get to...." and they let go of the belief that they are not in a position to make changes and embrace the knowledge that sometimes the best time is NOW.

Stick around and learn how to make your "24" seem like more.

What do you really WANT to do with your "24" and is it working for you?


Kathy Brunner is an Author, Speaker and Branding Specialist. If you would like to have her speak at one of your events, contact her HERE.Interested in a FREE 1/2 hr. consult to have Kathy help you uniquely brand a service or product? Contact Kathy HERE 

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It's Only Catchy If Someone Hangs On To It

Last weekend a woman ran up to me at a garden shop and said, "Hey, Aren't you the "Firestarter"?  "You gave that workshop in December (to a professional organization she belonged to). I bought your book.I really enjoyed it. You helped me really get started on some ideas, in fact..."

She continued to share how much she enjoyed the workshop, what she felt inspired to do, how having an accountability team helped her and then as she looked at me holding an entire flat of perennials in my hands she gushed, " I'm so sorry, I know you have a name, but I just remember you introduced yourself and then said, "I'm a firestarter and I'm here to help you get fired up and not burn out!"

She remembered it exactly...all but my name!

After we re-introduced ourselves and I began to drive home, I realized  how critical it is to leave an unforgettable impression on people. No, she did not remember my name, but she did remember my book and that I had described myself as a "Firestarter". She remembered the activities in the workshop and how they inspired her. She may not have remembered my name, but having her remember what I did, how I did it and how it affected her was by far, a more desirable outcome.

Whether personal or business branding, you must leave something behind that remains unforgettable. Most people recognize the symbols Nike, Google or  Apple or the slogans of some products; G.E. "Brings good things to light.", Clairol asked, "Does she or doesn't she.?" and Kentucky Fried Chicken reminds us it's "finger-lickin good."

Every day authors, entrepreneurs, business owners search for tag lines and phrases that remind their consumers of a particular aspect they want them to remember.

What's tag line of your book, the slogan for your business or the catch phrase for a service you offer? Make your brand YOURS, because when I googled my name, I discovered there were many Kathy Brunner's and there are probably others with your name as well. 

What will people remember about you? Will they remember your hairstyle, eye color or what you were wearing or are they more likely to remember the special slogan or logo associated with you, because next time they see you, your hair may be a different shade and you may be wearing a different outfit but wouldn't it be cool if they remembered. 

'Hey, aren't you the "_____________?"

What are some ways people recall what you offer or what you do?

When I was a little girl, there was a neighbor who had a beauty parlor in her home. On her lawn was a sign, "Here's where people curl up and dye."  I never forgot that!

What are some catchy slogans or phrases that have stuck with you?

Kathy Brunner is an Author, Speaker and Branding Specialist. If you would like to have her speak at one of your events, contact her HERE.

Interested in a FREE 1/2 hr. consult to have Kathy help you uniquely brand a service or product? Contact Kathy HERE

 Sign up for her FREE newsletter

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• Make Your Slogan Ring True

Post Oscar....Could You Be the Next Big Thing?

Best Actress Academy Awards (Photo credit: cliff1066™)

   The gowns were outstanding and the pomp and effects, dazzling. Last night the 85th Academy Awards gave the famous Oscars to the actors, directors, cinematographers, costume designers and all those                                 who made the wonderful entertainment we enjoy possible.

    Looking at the amazing men and women who were nominated and those who earned the honor of bringing home an Oscar seems like a fairytale coming true. We imagine how fabulous it must be to earn so much money for doing something these individuals love doing. They have the "good life" because that is what is shown yet the back story, the work behind the scenes, the countless rejections and the low paying jobs held to just survive while hoping to make it to the big time are not mentioned.

    Sure, there are the famous actors and actresses whose parents got their foot in the door, but for many, having their dream come true took incredibly hard work and a lot of personal sacrifice and often years and years of patience and persistence.

    Fifteen years ago, Tom Hanks was working in Cleveland, Ohio in the lead role of the Taming of the Shrew for a Shakespearean Festival. George Clooney, even with a famous aunt, cleaned theaters,cut tobacco and worked construction jobs to pay for acting lessons. Ellen Degeneres worked at a carwash.Vince Vaughn worked as a telemarketer. Amy Adams worked at Hooters and Brad Pitt stood on the corner of Sunset Boulevard in a chicken costume advertising a fast food restaurant. Sidney Poitier was told to stop wasting people's time and become a dishwasher at his first audition. Harrison Ford was told he didn't have what it took to be an actor and Oliver Stone dropped out of school, taught English in Vietnam and

Sidney Poitier (Photo credit: michellerlee)

 then enlisted in the service and earned two purple hearts before he ever got near a director's chair.

   So, maybe you ARE the next big thing. Maybe that idea or plan or vision is really going to change the world but eight now maybe nothing you are doing seems like you will ever be living your dream, achieving your goal or making your mark in the world. Keep one factor in mind...IF you GIVE UP, you are right. The only way to achieve a dream is to keep going despite the rejections, despite the roadblocks and despite the things you might currently have to do.

   If you don't believe in yourself you will find it difficult or perhaps even impossible to convince someone else to believe in your dream. Maybe you haven't won your Oscar yet, maybe your best performance is yet to come or maybe it would just be nice to be recognized in a field among your peers for whatever talent you own. Regardless of what your goal is, you can be sure it will take hard work, sacrifice, disappointment, mistakes and rejections to get it right. That's what makes one successful; the stuff behind the scenes that make us who we are.

    Maybe you are living the back story no one knows. Maybe you are overwhelmed by rejections and disappointments, stuck in a place you think could never get you to your dream. Keep seeing yourself holding your prize, getting your shot, being discovered, but don't just dream; start to work on whatever you want to accomplish, bit by bit, step by step and stay focused on that goal, regardless ,and you will be able to someday say thank you to all the people and circumstances that made you a winner. 

You will be able to figuratively hear, "...and the award goes to______" and know it all paid off.

What do you see yourself accomplishing on your vision board?
What has been the most difficult part of realizing your "next big thing?"

I'd love to help you or your group get your ideas off the ground. Check out my  speaking topics 
and let me know how I can help you ignite your idea and please sign up for my  newsletter  


Want to join others who are trying to launch their ideas?
Register for CALLED WOMAN 2013...I'll see you there and help you get started!!

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WHAT WOULD YOU REALLY DO?

(image courtesy of red cheeks factory)

So it's the New Year and most people have made at least some mental resolutions regarding things they want to see happen in the New Year. There are a few things people shy away from resolving; like being more awesome, creating a larger legacy, effecting major change because just telling someone that is your resolution sounds larger than life and often overwhelming.


 But let's face it. Everyone of us has a major dream or goal we would love to eventually see come to pass. Maybe it's to retire at an early age, become a household name or find our soul mate. Some dreams and goals aren't shared because the dreamer knows  telling someone what they really want to accomplish when their current situation seems anything but headed in that direction can be like taking a walk; naked... everyone has an opinion about something that is personal to you.          

But for just this moment, imagine all your ducks were in line, all your resources were in place. It was the right time and you were with the right people. There was no obvious risk and everything you needed to achieve your dream was within reach...

WHAT WOULD YOU REALLY DO?

I'd love you to share your answers here, but if you don't, I hope you at least write it down somewhere for your personal archives and regularly assess if you are headed in the direction to reach that dream.

If you believe you will never have the resources or circumstances to make your dream come true, you are probably right, but if you are a BIG DREAMER and if you see the BIG PICTURE and not just the little pixels that make up each step, you are well on your way to  going in the direction of your dream.

Steven Spielberg (Photo credit: rvthomas67)

Steven Spielberg was convinced he was a director, despite the fact that he had never attended any prestigious film school and actually was rejected from both UCLA and USC. He literally walked into the lot at Universal by looking like the other execs that came through. Dressed in a suit and carrying a briefcase, often filled with only candy bars or a sandwich, Spielberg found an empty office and set up shop and the rest was hi
story. Spielberg saw himself as a successful director. He believed despite his circumstances.

So how about you? How do you see yourself and what would you really do if all the stars aligned and you got your BIG SHOT?

Are You The Believer You Need To Be To Live Your Dream?

If you enjoyed this post, come join the Finding Your Fire Community.
Looking for some great direction and support for getting your ideas off and running. Register for the CALLED WOMAN conference before February 1 for the best deal on a conference that will help you launch your dreams farther than you can imagine.

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All I Want For Christmas

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We've had Black Friday, Cyber Monday and there will be a lot more days of wild saving and spending before we get to Christmas. People may have already begun asking you what you would like. This year, think smart. Think about what really might make a difference in getting your dreams off the ground.

Maybe you'd like a few subscriptions to some magazinees you know could help you better budget your money, reach your goals or keep you in the loop about business and career development.

If you are thinking about changing careers, maybe a few sessions with career coach would make a great gift.

Maybe you are almost ready to have a website and might like several domain names or even a few hours of web designer time purchased by someone who really wants to get you something you truly need.

Let's face it, sometimes the best sales are after Christmas and you can get the boots you must have or the sweater you will only wear one season then. Don't ask for the things you can easily get yourself, request something you have been telling yourself you really wish you could afford. I don't mean tickets to that concert you could see on video one hour after it ends, but maybe a chance to go to one or two of those great conferences you have always wanted to attend. Instead of a membership to the book of the month or a wine club, why not suggest your loved ones contribute towards membership dues in a professional  organization where you can network and meet the right people and learn the ropes to help you go after your dreams?

Maybe you need to think about requesting payment for a few classes that will sharpen your skills or give you a better idea of how to get your dream off the ground. Go for upgrading your resume instead of your wardrobe. You can't buy tomorrow's dreams with yesterday's know how.

From emergingleader.com

Most people really want to purchase a gift that is meaningful and will be well used. Think outside of the box this year when someone asks what you would like and while we are on the subject, here are two wonderful ideas for Christmas for yourself or to purchase for a friend who needs that little push to get started:

From now until December 24, for every paperback copy of FINDING YOUR FIRE sold, 20% will go to helping victims of domestic trafficking be rehabilitated and take a rightful place back into society. Purchase your copy of FINDING YOUR FIRE and help yourself or someone who needs to discover what their passion really is and help another at the same time. Promise yourself you will be one of the trailblazers sharing their story someday.

Buy your ticket now for the CALLED WOMAN CONFERENCE in March while there is still a substantial discount. Buy one for yourself and your friend, mom, sister, niece, cousin or daughter. This year's theme is Let's Do Launch and if you or anyone you know is ready to really get their passion off the ground, spend a day learning all the nuts and bolts you need to get an idea, business or product off the ground. Hear amazing people share how they did it and fire up your resolution not to waste another year wondering what might have been had you only got your idea started.

Don't be shy...Make this the Christmas you stopped getting items that really didn't get you anywhere and instead ask for what you truly need to help you get your passion from a dream to a reality.

What do you really need for Christmas to get you closer to making your passion, happen?