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1.  RETURN ALL CLIENT TELEPHONE CALLS AND CONTACTS - Even leaving an interesting voice mail message is better than ignoring clients.  Rather than merely stating “I am returning your call”, say something that will same time or be helpful for the client.  For example, “I received your request for an appointment and have openings on Tuesday at 2 pm and Thursday at 9 am.  I will tentatively mark you in for both and look forward to you leaving me a message today with your choice”. 

2.  MAKE A BANK DEPOSIT – No matter how much you enjoy your work, the bottom line is to have profit and develop a good credit history.  Making a deposit each day keeps shows ongoing financial health and can save you interest charged on your business line of credit.  Remember, this is YOUR money and YOUR reputation.

3.  COMPLETE YOUR FILE NOTES - It is far easier to remember what you and your client did before the day ends.  Documenting not only helps you feel a sense of organization but also prevents you from facing embarrassment if you are called into Court or your cases are reviewed.

4.  TIDY YOUR WORK AREA – Quickly cleaning off your desk, putting files away and ensuring that things are neat will give you and your clients a “fresh start” the following day.  It is very difficult to walk into a room that looks like a bomb went off.  Also, your work area is a reflection of you and your values.

5.  DO ONE THING TO EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS – Marketing can easily get lost in busy days.  Whether it is calling a referral source, researching a networking group or even tweeting a 140 character message, you will need to reach out to new possibilities.  Files will close over time and if you do not have new clients, your business will die.  Be creative and consistent in your promotion activities.

It is true that the little things make a difference.  You will likely never get everything done but developing some order and good habits will help you to focus on the most important things and develop a sense of confidence that comes with established routine.

And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to a complimentary list of 10 Steps to Making Your Life an Adventure when you visit lindahancockspeaks.com

1.  Never threaten divorce - The boy who cried wolf ended up not being believed when the wolf did show up.  When you say that you will get a divorce, your children are frightened and problems remain unsolved.  Never threaten you spouse to try to get attention or hoping that things will improve.  This method doesn’t work.

2.  Don’t leave a relationship unless you plan to stay out of it – Too many individuals try to scare the other person by leaving and then return when things calm down.  This “revolving door” of moving in and out confuses children and prevents you from dealing with the issues.  Also, it won’t take long until you lose credibility from supports.

3.  Access resources – It is important that you seek help from organizations and professionals who can inform and help you to make good choices.  A therapist, lawyer, or family agency will help you to understand options for you to consider. Perhaps you and your partner would benefit from marriage counselling, financial training or learning better communication skills.

4. Be realistic -  You will need money to establish a new home.  Your spouse will be involved in the lives of the children.  Separation will evoke feelings of loss, anger, loneliness, ambivalence, fear and fatigue.  Also, divorce is not the “end”, especially if you have children.  You will be involved with the other parent for years to come.  Even the divorce process will likely take many months or even years to complete – especially if there is an element of immaturity on the part of you or your partner.

You cannot change another person but you can make positive changes in your own life.  Make sure that no matter what happens, you act in a manner that sets a good example for those around you and choose solutions that will improve the situation and not make it worse.  Choose dignity!

1.  Save Money – You don’t need to purchase a ticket or fill your gas tank to drive to an event.  Cooking at home can also cost a great deal less than eating in a restaurant and doing so allows you to create new recipes or old favourites.

2.  Enjoy the uniqueness offered by your home – Perhaps you live near a park or have a beautiful yard.  Maybe you have a fireplace, reading room or big screen television.  What is the point in having a comfortable bed if you are never in it?  Or a comfortable livingroom that never gets “lived in”.  You chose your home for a number of reasons and decorated it  to suit the lifestyle of you and your family.  Now is the time to reap the benefits.

3.  Communicate with those you love – Whether it is helping children with homework, sharing a meal with neighbours or phoning a good friend, your home provides a setting that can enhance relationships.

4.  Complete projects – Do you have stacks of photos that are waiting to be put into albums?  How many things are you said “i wish I had time for…”?  Are there renovations that need to be completed?  Do you have a correspondence course to finish?  What about that closet that you have been promising yourself to clean?

5.  Feed your soul with the things that you enjoy – What hobbies have you neglected for a long time?  Many people long for activities that they enjoyed in the past which have disappeared by the busyness of their life.  Do you have books to read, paintings to paint, instruments to play or an antique car to restore?  A deck of cards can bring laughter while a well-written letter can bring pleasure to you and the recipient.

I find it amazing that people invest so much time and money to create a home and then seldom stay home to enjoy it.  Why not make a commitment that this next weekend you will soak up all the benefits that come with staying home?  I think you’ll be glad you did!

Think about places that might be eating up valuable hours:

1.  Television – We are now in the world of 24 hour broadcasting and ongoing news news services.  The media has a goal of capturing your attention and is therefore good at it.  You can feel mesmerized and lose track of time as you watch one program after another after another.  Before you turn the television on, make a decision as to how long you will be watching.  It might help to actually set an alarm clock to remind you that there are other things to do.

2.  Internet and computer games – You will never be able to research every information site on the internet and there will always be a high score to beat!  The idea of “just one more game” is dangerous as it erodes your time.  You and your family members need to be mature about and plan the time you will invest on computers.  In fact, parents who offer half hour blocks of computer time to their children as rewards are far more respected than those who give the children unlimited access and then try to take equipment away as punishments.

3.  Driving – Whether you are required to drive long distances to work or are the designated driver for sporting events, you will find that this time can be used wisely.  Your stereo can turn your car into a university on wheels.  Perhaps you have been wanted to learn another language, about a specific topic or merely enjoy learning about other people.  Try ordering courses on CD or audio books for your car stereo.  I find that often I don’t want to leave the car when I am in the middle of an interesting CD.

4.  Procrastination – Avoiding what you don’t feel like doing doesn’t solve the problem.  When you develop a list and set a time limit for accomplishment, you will find that the tasks are completed in the time that you might otherwise avoid them.

There are many other things that might steal the time that you could use towards fulfilling dreams.  Begin with an assessment where you actually write down exactly what you do each day.  At the end of the week, review the journal and think about the ways that you might recapture hours and reassign them.  It won’t be long until you start smiling about the positive changes you have made.

1.  Get enough sleep – When you are tired, you lost perspective and can make errors in judgement.  Having a regular bedtime that you honour (even on weekends) should provide at least eight hours for sleep.

2.  Eat three nutritious meals a day – Skipping breakfast is the same as trying to drive your car when the tank is empty.  Food is the fuel that gives energy not only to move but also to think. 

3.  Have something positive to look forward to – Some say that anticipation is better than realization.  Plan an activity or event that you can anticipate.  Whether it is a trip, tickets for a show or sharing a meal with a friend, a date on the calendar can be a positive thing.

4.  Spend less than you earn – If you cannot make a payment this month, it is unlikely that you will be able to make two next month.  Being able to discipline yourself, despite readily available credit in society, will allow you financial freedom rather than bondage.

5.  Work hard when you are at work – You are paid to produce value for your employer and owe that to the organization.  When you focus on the tasks assigned to you, everyone wins – employer, customers and you!

6.  Develop healthy boundaries – Know where you end and other people begin.  Make sure you have healthy interaction with others and take responsibility for what is your responsibility, allowing the other person to be responsible for their responsibilities.

7.  Be careful with what you drink – Limit caffeine, alcohol and power drinks which either get you wound up or depress you.  Many beverages are loaded with artificial substances, sugar or ingredients that negatively affect your health.  Water is your best choice!

8.  Do something every day that will make your soul sing – Listen to music, enjoy a walk, read a good book, play with your pet, phone a friend.  Life is a compilation of days.  Make them meaningful.

9.  Give something to the world – Volunteer for a project, donate to a cause, teach someone to read, share your blessings with someone who will be pleased and grateful.

10. Monitor your thoughts – Your ideas are self-fulfilling.  Someone who thinks that s/he is a failure will likely experience failure whereas those who nurture positive, healthy thoughts tend to reach their goals.

It’s not always the “big” things that cause problems in our lives.  Often it is a wearing down that results from not taking care of the “little” things.  You can start right this minute to get back on track.  Start with #10 and believe that things are going to be better because you have the ability to make them so.

The author was born in Hong Kong as the second of two children.  Despite her young age, she recounts memories of the family escaping from Japanese rule as immigrants to Canada.  Their two-month journey is described in great detail and the reader cannot help but understand how difficult it would be to experience the hardships.  But the trip was only a start of several hurts and difficulties that Ms.Clarkson describes in great detail.  She was not spared from relationship problems associated with mental illness of her mother, divorce and estrangement with her children.

Interlaced with the problems, though are details of the achievements and honours that the author obtained.  As an accomplished broadcaster she became known and respected.  At the same time, she met many prominent figures and develop particular interest in specific groups including aboriginals and the military.

Ms. Clarkson had no idea that the home of the Governor General which was on the same street as the humble home of her childhood, would one day be hers.

“Heart Matters” is not only told with Ms. Clarkson’s emotions found within her heart but also associates the physical heart problems which she experienced with the beat that has accompanied her life. 

This book is a good read as it recounts the story of someone who might appear on the outside to have a charmed life as someone who lived with problems similar to those each of us has in the our families.  She rose above them in her high-profile careers and now invites us to share them from her personal perspective.

And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to a complimentary list of 10 Steps to Making Your Life an Adventure when you visit lindahancockspeaks.com

The reason that I chose to do this “not like Linda” activity is because I had arranged to meet with a fellow-columnist Trevor Moore. He is a golf pro and magician who, like me, has a wide range of interests outside of his normal career.

Over the years I have found that it is so important to have a group of friends, supports and other professionals who are of differing ages and backgrounds. This allows me to widen my experiences and broaden my perspectives on life.

Sometimes you want your family to be your family and your friends to be your friends but the boundaries get watery and the next thing you know, you start repeating yourself and becoming boring. I NEVER want that to happen.

Arriving at the golf course was an interesting experience as I have never been at one in the city – or probably anywhere (other than for fine dining experiences). I wasn’t sure where to park, what door to use to enter the clubhouse or where I could and couldn’t wear my shoes. The pro shop offered a number of pieces of equipment that I had never used and the clothing was a different type than I would find in the stores that I usually frequent.

But….when Trevor appeared, all that disappeared. He was kind, welcoming and offered me my favourite beverage to start (a diet coke). Then we sat on the deck and talked as though we had been friends for years.

It’s good to expand your horizons and develop relationships with people! You learn about things you had never even thought about before! At the same time, you share the things that you have in common.

What a lovely experience! Who knows, maybe I might even take up golf some day!

And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to a complimentary list of 10 Steps to Making Your Life an Adventure when you visit http://www.lindahancockspeaks.com

The book which was published in 2007 and subtitled “Make it Happen in Business and Life” consists of ten chapters and appendix.  Stories describing positive and stressful experiences are written by both men in an open and honest tone which not only teaches but also inspires.  The authors are open about the mistakes that they made and how the consequences affected their lives.

Topic covered include self-assessment, passion, instincts, luck, fear and revenge.  Specific advice was also given regarding pre-nuptial agreements, attitudes and behaviours and the importance of focussing to get results.

Mr. Zanker and Mr. Trump both describe their beginnings and how other individuals influenced them on their journeys to the present day.  But the road was not straight or easy for either of them as they took risks to develop projects for which they felt passion.  There were rises and falls, wins and loses, celebrations and disappointments in both business and personal encounters that are described.  They also talk about the importance of developing momentum.

These authors don’t just tell their stories.  They use the lessons they learned as teaching points which are told in an interesting narrative.

I loved this book as it was captivating and thought-provoking.

And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to a complimentary list of 10 Steps to Making Your Life an Adventure when you visit lindahancockspeaks.com

You are likely the only person in your business who has a full-time salary with benefits.  I have always paid myself as though I was an employee so that I would have a regular income, accurate records and the ability to contribute to government pension programs.  Besides it feels good to get a regular cheque!  The business classes my salary as an expense. The only thing that I do not pay is Unemployment Insurance contributions because I would not be entitled to file a claim at any time due to the fact that I actually own the business.

By setting up the Payroll Program to issue a cheque for me every second Friday, I receive 26 cheques per year.  In the early years or in times when I have extra expenses, I might print my cheque but not cash it for a couple of days.  That way, the business has a little leeway but the paperwork is accurate.

Remittances for Income Tax and government pension must be paid either monthly or quarterly (as defined by the government).  Penalties can be levied for late payment.

You can work with your accountant to determine if adjustments should be made to your source deductions.  You can increase them to avoid having to pay additional taxes at year end or decrease them to allow for RRSP contributions or additional deductions.

Having salaried employees is a very expensive proposition and I discourage it.  A full-time staff member gets paid even if you are away from the office.  You are also required to pay employer contributions for them which usually adds at least 17% to your expenses.  Holidays and sick leave are paid even though you do not have productivity during those hours.

I prefer to hire contracted employees who do not receive any benefits.  They submit time cards only for the hours worked which are defined by you and can therefore be controlled. 

One of the benefits of owning your own business is that you can hire family members for tasks.  The double benefit is that they have some income and you have a write-off for income tax.  Win/Win!

Government policies and procedures usually change each year as due Income Tax laws.  It is therefore important that you have a good accountant and software program that will update you and help to make the necessary adjustments as they occur.

And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to a complimentary list of 10 Steps to Making Your Life an Adventure when you visit lindahancockspeaks.com