When you spend too much time engrossed in activities that aren’t actually moving the needle for you and your business, it stands to reason that there’s less time to spend on the things that matter most. So what do you do?

As self-employed business owners we want freedom and flexibility, right? So why on earth would we restrict ourselves by creating a plan for the year, when we could just go with the flow? But if you’re starting to feel the pain of winging it and wondering if having a plan would help, here are nine reasons why a 12-month plan can help you succeed.

By the time they find me, most people have tried everything to be more productive. So it’s only natural they’d be wondering why working with me would be any different.

And for the longest time, I struggled to find the right words! I’ve always known my approach is unique but articulating that has been tricky. But now, I’ve nailed it!

“Right. It’s time to take this seriously. I’m going to write a new blog every week.”

Six months later …

“FFS. I’ve only managed to write four. Why can’t I just stick to the plan, and do what I said I was going to do?”

Always on the lookout for an opportunity to stick their oar in, your inner critic leaps up and joins in with the tirade, and the more you keep not doing the things you said you were going to do, the harder it is to brush those thoughts off.  

When you’ve fallen out of love with your business it’s scary, isn’t it?

You’ve spent so much time building what you already have, it’s terrifying to think about making a big change and starting again. And even more so when you know you want things to be different, but can’t figure out what that even looks like.

Clarity is a crucial part of any successful attempts to be productive. Without it progress is slow and laboured, but get the clarity you need and you'll be well on your way to getting the important things done.

What do you do when you have too much to do? Do you keep your head down, roll up your sleeves and crack on? Or do you take a step back first, and then dive in? In this blog I introduce you to Barbara and Margot. Let’s see who gets more done! 

What do you do when you're feeling stuck in your business? When, like me, you know what you need to be doing but for whatever reason it's just not happening? Or when you don't know what to focus on next and can't seem to move things forward?

May I suggest a new approach to tackling stuckness?

Take a look at your to-do list.

How many small things have been lurking on there for what feels like forever?

By ‘small things’, I mean tasks that would take less than fifteen minutes.

You know the small tasks I mean, right? The ones you just never seem to get around to but that you really can’t ditch.

If you’ve started your own business, and you’re a creative soul, chances are you have loads of ideas. But what do you do when all that inspiration leads to overwhelm, stopping you moving forward? Well, Liz Mosley and I discussed this on her podcast, Building Your Brand, and this blog summarises our conversation.

When I was getting ready to record an episode of the Brand Therapy Podcast with Phil and Lauren, I had no idea what was about to unfold.

There I was, ready to talk about my approach to compassionate, sustainable productivity …but what actually happened was WAY more powerful!

A client booked a call with me a while ago because she wanted some help getting out of the starting blocks with creating content for her new YouTube channel.

We explored different ways of approaching the project so she’d leave the call with clarity around exactly what she needed to do, and how she was going to do it.

But after a while, I began to suspect that something else was afoot…

I've been feeling a bit out of whack these last few weeks, but haven't been able to put my finger on why. And then yesterday I had an AHA! moment in the shower (as you do):

It's time to review and rethink my rhythm.

Cast your mind back to when you decided to start your own business. You’re an explorer, going on an adventure.

Excited and full of promise - with tingles in your tummy that sometimes feel like nervous energy, and other times feel like fear – you’re striding out into a world of freedom, flexibility and fulfilment. Until inevitably, your adventure takes you into a forest…

Over the years I’ve noticed that my approach to productivity attracts folks who have ADHD. For years I wasn’t sure why. But I recently read ‘How to ADHD’ by Jessica McCabe, and it was a revelation!

It turns out that as well as working for neurotypical folks, the planning process I designed for Make It Happen Club also ticks lots of boxes for those with ADHD brains.

Have you read all the books, tried all the apps and spent a small fortune on planners but still haven’t found a way to plan that works for more than a few days or weeks at a time?

You’re not alone!

It might seem like everyone else has it sussed, but believe me – they don’t.

What do you do when you have a brilliant strategy or idea that you’d love to bring to life?

Do you plan it all out, or jump right in?

It’s loud out there, isn’t it? There’s information firing at you from all directions. Everyone has an opinion about what you should or shouldn’t be doing. The best business model for coaches. The best way to stand out from the crowd. The best way to optimise your health, your money, your mornings.

All that noise – whether you’re consuming it consciously, or just seeing it in your periphery – makes it noisy in your noggin too, with not-always-helpful thoughts clamouring for attention.

What we do in Make It Happen Club isn’t rocket science: We meet once a quarter and once a month to create spacious, flexible, achievable plans that will help you stay focused and get stuff done. But it can be hard to wrap your head around if you haven’t experienced it first-hand. So today, I’m going to address what I know you might be thinking, but don’t want to ask! 😉

When you’re growing your business there are a million and one things you could be doing aren’t there? It’s no wonder so many solo business owners feel like they’re not doing enough, no matter how much time they spend at their desk. Sound familiar? Read on to find out how Make It Happen Club will make you more productive.