In the third of a series of blogs around why we don’t get done what we want to get done, many people get really hung up because they don’t know HOW to do what they want to do.

You may be clear on the vision for your project, but because you’ve not done it before, you think you can’t do it. You know WHAT you want… but then you get stuck because you don’t know HOW. Maybe you don’t even know where to start!

Reason #3 Why you don’t get things done: “You don’t know HOW to do it”

We have been conditioned to think that we need experience and education in order to get things done. However, many successful and famous women entrepreneurs rarely have all the experience or the perfect education when they get started.

Here’s the thing, just because you haven’t done it before, has nothing to do with the fact of whether you can or can’t do it. It just means that you need to reach out to others who have that experience. It’s okay to be the one with the questions and not the answers because there are other people around us from whom can get those answers.

I wholeheartedly believe that if you know WHAT needs to get done, you can always get help on HOW to get it done. I’ve seen it time and time again and it’s because of that that I’m such a believer in being a connector. This is where connecting and reaching out to other people can be so invaluable.

When I begin to tackle a new project, I rarely know HOW it’s going to happen and how to do it but I trust that I am resourceful and can connect with others who do have the expertise I may be lacking to get the job done. This skill has served me well as an entrepreneur. Because there’s nothing that truly prepares you or gives you all the experience you need to be an entrepreneur – you just have to go for it!

We are all six degrees of separation from connecting to someone who can help us with “the how”. The benefit of using social networks, business connections, family and friends is to just ask, and to begin following the breadcrumbs.

Stay tuned, next week I’ll be sharing the launch of a new program I created to support you if you’re looking for “how” to get your ideas out there.

When you’re working from home and you have kids at home, you’re constantly conflicted. On one hand, you feel like you’re never able to get onto the computer to work. On the other hand, you feel like you’re on the computer all the time.

There are many days when I feel completely unbalanced and stressed. Either I’m on the computer way too much, not paying enough attention to my kids, or when I am with them enjoying our time, I’m feeling bad that I’m not attending to my business.

As women, I think we ALL face these feelings at some time or another. So how do you get it done without stressing out?

Here’s one simple tool I use, and truth is that each time use it, I’m amazed by its brilliance and wonder why I don’t use it more often.
In a world of high tech gadgets this tool is the wonderfully simple (and inexpensive) kitchen timer.

Right now, while my husband is making dinner, I’ve given myself 15 minutes to write as much as I can during that time. When the timer goes off, I’ll hopefully be done with this blog and will join my family for dinner.

The timer has some pretty great benefits:

• It provides a sense of urgency. Often I have multiple applications open on my computer and if I’m not careful I can flit from project to project, application to application. Sometimes I have that kind of day where I work on a little bit of a lot, but never really feel like I’ve accomplished much. Then there are those amazing “kitchen timer days” when I’m in the groove. I use the timer to keep me focused and moving a long.  When I know the timer is counting down, and I really want to complete my task, I work quickly without distraction.
• It keeps me accountable. I can’t wander off from writing this blog. If I did and the timer went off, I’d know I didn’t keep my end of the bargain. I have to stay on track because I’ve allotted this time for this blog and I don’t want it to take the whole day.  I find the longer I give myself to complete a project, the longer it takes.
• It’s tangible. How many times have I said to my kids “just give me 5 more minutes” or “let me check just one email” and then I emerge from my office an hour later? My kids know with the timer that they can watch the time ticking down, and that I’m all theirs when it gets to zero.
• It teaches them time management. My kids are learning time management, too. You can set the timer for them to clean their room or focus on a homework assignment or enjoy play time before beginning their homework.

If you don’t have a timer – or misplaced yours, here’s an online version that I use.

When I think of getting things done, the truth is it’s just a lot of small (baby) steps that are on the way to making something happen. So many of us as women entrepreneurs are stuck in the brilliance of our big ideas because we’re overwhelmed.

I want to share part of a phone call I received from a woman who was interested in signing up for my new coaching program for women entrepreneurs. She wanted to know how I could help her since she had so much on her plate and was very overwhelmed. There are three powerful steps that I shared with her that will also help you meet your goals and get “it” done.

To learn more about getting it done, please join me on this free call.

 

 Three Powerful Steps to Help Women Entrepreneurs "Get It Done" [Metromom Podcast] [6:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download