Sherri Otcenasek

Successful women in business have well-defined daily success habits. These habits have unconsciously become part of their daily routine and seem to be a major factor in business success. Here are ten daily habits successful businesswomen seem to share in common:

1. Successful women in business set goals. They have long term, short term and daily goals. They know what they want to achieve, why they want to achieve it and how they’re going to make their goals reality.

2. Smart businesswomen have a carefully written plan of action. A goal is just a dream without a written plan. Successful women know what they want to accomplish each day, week, month, year and even five years from now. This plan of action is a well thought out blueprint for the future.

3. Goal achieving begins one small step at a time. Successful women have daily to-do lists. They know how to break their plan of action into bite-sized pieces. These workable bite-sized pieces turn into daily lists of activities that take them closer toward their goals.

4. A common trait among all profitable business owners is that they know how to keep the important things important. Success-oriented women are not easily distracted from achieving their goals. Their daily to-do lists are prioritized, making sure the important moneymaking activities are accomplished first.

5. Visualizing the future as if it were already reality is a powerful success tool. Successful women in business see their future as fulfilling and productive. Profitable entrepreneurs talk about the future with optimism and confidence.

6. Successful women manage time wisely. Women who own moneymaking businesses are in control of their time and don’t allow time to control them.

7. Happy entrepreneurs know when to rest, relax and rejuvenate. All work and no play leads to emotional and physical burnout. It’s important to take physical and mental health breaks during the workday.

8. You can’t enjoy success if you aren’t healthy in mind, body and spirit. Successful women know it is important to eat healthy. A bag of chips and a soda is not a power lunch! Meditating, visualizing and affirming all seem to be part of the successful woman’s daily routine.

9. Breathe! Smart businesswomen know what they can change and know how to make peace with what they cannot.

10. Finally, one of the most powerful success habits is to regularly make time to sit back and appreciate your accomplishments. Successful women in business celebrate their victories, both the small and the large ones. Here’s success tip: Enjoy your accomplishments because the more you appreciate, acknowledge and enjoy your day-to-day successes, the more successes you’ll have to enjoy!

The holidays are a crazy busy time. Between the baking and cooking, the holiday parties, the pageants, the traveling, the decorating, and the corresponding, you have to somehow find and wrap a heartfelt gift for your kids, spouse, parents, relatives and friends.

Even if you have made a commitment to spend less on gifts this year, you still want to give something meaningful. The worst part is, you want to enjoy the holidays, but you worry that it’s going to whiz by while you were feeling frazzled and desperate.

If this describes you, here are a few tips to help you take some of the stress out of your holiday shopping so you can once again enjoy this magical time of year.

1. Start early. Like now. When you shop for your holiday gifts early, you have more time to look at the options, plus the stores will have a larger selection of those hot toys. You’ll also be spreading out the expense over a longer period of time. And you’re likely to save some money because you’ll have time to check out the deals, both online and off – and to wait for a coupon code, if necessary. If you are shipping any of your presents, you’ll be able to relax if the buying is already finished by Thanksgiving time. Then, when everyone is frantically rushing to the mall and throwing elbows for the last cashmere sweater, you can sit back, sip a hot peppermint mocha and watch “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

2. Do whatever you need to do to make your shopping trips more fun. Take along a good friend or two, and you might have so much fun you’ll want to make a ritual of going holiday shopping together every year. To really cut the stress, take a day off in the middle of the week together and hit your favorite shopping centers then, where you won’t have to compete with so many crowds (especially if you skipped Tip 1, and it’s December already.)

3. Keep a list, throughout the year, of gift ideas for your friends and family. Jot down cute little things you see that relate to their interests. It’s so much easier if you don’t have to start from scratch in the mall, while you stare at the stack of George Foreman grills and waffle makers.

4. Change your scenery. If big malls bum you out with their over-emphasis on the commercialization of Christmas, plan a weekend getaway to a small town, where they celebrate the holidays in old-fashioned style. Is there a small village or ski town in your area where they have carolers strolling the street in the evenings? Where they light the outdoor trees and where they always wrap the gifts for you, while you chat leisurely with the shop owners? Find such a place and you’ll be whistling carols yourself as you weave your way in and out of boutiques, sipping cider or hot cocoa. Being part of an old-fashioned Christmas can really help you get in the holiday spirit. You might have so much fun that you’ll make it an annual tradition.

5. Think unique – not big ticket. Instead of trying to bowl someone over with the enormity of your gift, find something that is unique and just right for them. It is often these small and thoughtful gifts that are the most memorable. Of course, you’ll need to start early to have any chance of finding this just-right gift, but gift-giving will be so much more enjoyable when you make a game of finding just the right item for each recipient, rather than just another thing to cross off your crowded to-do list.

6. Shop online. The internet has an array of interesting gift stores and catalogs that feature items you’d be hard-pressed to find in stores. Arbonne has a wide selection of gifts which are perfect for that special someone.  Call or email me to take advantage of “Black Friday with Arbonne”.  When you order $125 retail, you get $125 in FREE products (shipping and tax on total retail value).  This offer is valid through November 28^th, 2011.  We have gifts for everyone and you, too…now is a good time to stock up on all your favorites!!!

This is a guest post provided by Debbie DeBie of The Space Arranger 

The thought of redecorating trigger the sound of “cha ching” in your ear?

Sometimes an alternative way is easier for a professional to see because we’re looking at your room from a completely different perspective.  Redesign, the art of rearranging your existing home furnishings, can be your budget friendly and “ultimate green” solution. 

 To a Redesigner your home furnishings are our “Leggos” to play with.

After a few suggestions on a possible furniture layout, and an easy move of the couch, 2 chairs, ottoman, and rug, Sherri O and her husband experienced the transformative nature of a room redesign.  “I truly see the value of your service.  I was so ready to start from scratch to create a family room that was inviting and comfortable, never realizing that a shift here or a move there would make all the difference…and I never bought a thing!  It was all right here in my home.  You not only created a fabulous space, but I have a happy husband, too!”

My personal psychology in Redesign (and Home Staging) is to live by my rule of “function first” whenever possible.  The natural beauty of the room will organically take shape once the function and flow is completed.  Your life style and personalities then blossom in the room.  You no longer have to conform to the space.  Instead the room is nurturing you!

Discover the difference a room Redesign can make in less than one day!

Debbie DeBie
(772) 359-8382
info@TheSpaceArranger.com

Blog:  www.DebbieDeBie.Wordpress.com

The Space Arranger:  www.TheSpaceArranger.com

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Gluten is a protein composite found in foods processed from wheat and related grain species. Gluten intolerance is the inability to break down gluten. If a person who is sensitive to gluten digests it, the lining of their small intestine becomes inflamed and damaged. People with celiac disease must follow a gluten-free diet. The skin disorder, dermatitis herpetiformis, is also linked to gluten allergies and causes bumps, blisters and itchy rashes. Following a gluten-free diet means eliminating food, such as bread and pasta. Gluten can also show up in foods like salad dressing, beer, licorice and cold cuts. Other products that can contain gluten include over-the counter or prescription medications, vitamins, chap sticks, lipstick and lip balm.

Many athletes claim their gluten-free diet gives them an energy boost. Athletes like the New Orleans Saints quarterback, Drew Brees, and a world’s top-ranked tennis player, Novak Djokovic, both follow a gluten-free diet because of their sensitivity to gluten projects. The Garmin-Transitions pro cycling team follows a gluten-free diet to help them boost their energy levels. Many people report upset stomachs, headaches and depression after ingesting the protein. U.S. Olympian, Yoder Begley, carries a reference book of restaurants that offer gluten-free menus when she travels. She eats carb-rich foods, such as sweet potatoes, rice pasta and bananas, that are not filled with fat and sugar. The U.S. Olympian uses these types of carbohydrates to turn glucose into fuel for energy and exercise.

Arbonne offers a “Simply Fit in 30 Days” program. By eliminating 5 of the most common food sensitivities: gluten, dairy, sugar, alcohol and caffeine our clients feel better, have more energy and lose weight. Our program replaces two meals with our delicious gluten and dairy free protein shakes and an easy, simple plan to follow. We offer monthly workshops in Viera, too. If you would like to try the products or find out more about our program, please call me. Even if you’re not gluten intolerant, you will love the taste of our protein shakes…and the way you feel after drinking them.

It is easy for women to lose sight of their goals. Women can face all types of external pressures from their friends, family, coworkers, or media. Sometimes dealing with external pressure is easy to fix. Other times it gets internalized and becomes negative criticism. Both types of pressure are hard to identify and eliminate in order to achieve your goals.

One way women can overcome this negative pressure is to have confidence. Confidence is easier if you identify your goals and work to achieve them through a focused effort. Be a visionary. Look forward and figure out what you want to accomplish in the future.

Once you have a set of either long or short term goals, write them down. Writing down your goals will help keep you on track. When you accomplish a task related to your goals write that down too. Keep a running list of goals that you can refer back to.

When you are facing negativity, take a look at the list to remind yourself that you are making progress. Staying focused is the key. A list that tells you where you are at, where you want to be, and what you are doing to get there is absolutely necessary. It will help lessen the negativity that comes from inside or outside.

With some focus women can do anything they put their minds to. Keeping track of your goals helps you to achieve them. There is no reason negativity needs to block your success.

Are we forgetting how to communicate in real life?  I’m not even surprised anymore when I see a family having dinner in a restaurant; the kid’s heads are bowed as if they’re praying, only to find out they have an iPhone sitting in their lap.  Their little fingers are dancing across the keypad at lightning speed.  By the way they’re not just teens, they learn early and they are proficient at a very young age.

What are we teaching our kids and what bad habits as adults are we adapting?  Kids today have been exposed to computers and technology like no other generation almost from birth.  Will they have the skills to interact or communicate with others?  I’m not so sure, I can only hope!

I admit I do text, but mostly to respond to my friends that have become “master texters”.  However, when the texting is more than a few lines; I put the phone down and call them.  Texting with my friends is actually one of my pet peeves.  I would rather hear their voice and chat for a few minutes, than peck a way at keys that are no bigger than an ant.   I remember as a teenager the family phone was always glued to my ear.  There was no such thing as a cell phone or even a computer back then. We talked all the time.  I wonder is texting popular because you can send one line updates of your daily activity 24/7 so there is no need for conversation or are we avoiding meaningful conversations with our friends?

Whatever, I think we spend too much time texting and communicating in front of a computer.  Next time you pick up your phone to text a message to a friend, try pushing CALL instead of SEND…I’m sure you’ll make someone’s day…and for all my friends…I just want to hear your voice!!!

I’m curious what are your thoughts about texting?   Please leave a comment or pick up the phone and call me!!!