We’ve all heard about the power of positive thinking, but this one was new to us. Did you know that positivity can increase productivity?

You can use optimism to battle overwhelm by breaking large, daunting projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. Those smaller tasks are easier to complete which can boost confidence in your ability to get the work done.

But don’t stop there. Celebrate your small successes as you work your way toward that larger goal. Acknowledging progress is a powerful motivator to get even more done.

Keep moving forward. You’ve got this. #MoveForwardMonday

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Online professional networking platforms like LinkedIn are great, we highly recommend them. But there’s something to be said for going “old school” once in a while.

Reach out to a few of your valued contacts this week by email, phone (or text if you know them well) for the sole reason of checking in to see how they’re doing, and to find out what’s new in their world.

Don’t be the person who only reaches out when you need something. Nurture your network by staying in touch when there is nothing at stake.

Your outreach will most likely be warmly welcomed and leave a positive impression on the person you’ve contacted.

Keep moving forward. You’ve got this. #MoveForwardMonday

The post Try This “Old School” Tip To Stay Connected To Your Network first appeared on Wobizzle.

The post Try This “Old School” Tip To Stay Connected To Your Network appeared first on Wobizzle.

An often overlooked feature on LinkedIn is the cover image on your profile. That’s the horizontal image behind your round profile photo. It’s valuable marketing real estate and we have found that not many people are taking advantage of it.

The cover image automatically defaults to an abstract generic one. But by inserting a custom image or graphic you can use this space to communicate a message or convey your brand.

Here’s a great example to spark some inspiration.

SIDENOTE: We are launching a FREE 10-week LinkedIn Challenge this month to help our followers unlock the business-building benefits of LinkedIn. Head to our website to learn more and sign up. But hurry! The deadline to sign up is March 15th!

Learn More

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The post Take Advantage Of This LinkedIn Feature To Add Curb Appeal To Your Profile appeared first on Wobizzle.

SIGN ME UP!

Have you heard? Wobizzle.com has a FREE LinkedIn Challenge to help you unlock the business-building benefits of LinkedIn. This 10-week challenge will help you achieve “All Star” status with your profile and get you well on your way to using this powerful platform to its fullest potential.

Once you’ve signed up, we’ll send you an email each week with action steps for the next week. Don’t worry, we won’t overwhelm you.  Each week’s action step will be easy to implement and we’ll be there to help you along the way. We’ll check in with you every Wednesday to see how you’re doing and direct you to bonus content over in our Women of Wobizzle LinkedIn Group. We’ve set up this private group so you can connect with other members of the challenge and feel comfortable asking questions.

Are you ready to get noticed on LinkedIn? Of course, you are! Click the link below to sign up. Let’s do this!

SIGN ME UP!

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Distractions and interruptions are the bane of productivity. Multiple studies have confirmed that it takes an average of 23 minutes for our brains to recover and refocus after a distraction – 23 minutes!

Now, not to distract you – but think about how many times you are interrupted or distracted throughout a typical work day and multiply that number by 23. That’s how many minutes of lost productivity you experience each day!

Though apps can’t help with warding off an interruption by a family member or co-worker, they can help with digital distractions.

Check out the show notes from our latest podcast episode – an interview with Beth Z, Your Nerdy Best Friend, for some tools that can help you tame online distractions, and if you have time, listen to the full episode.

Beth is a technology and app guru and a hoot to boot! In this episode, she gives us the lowdown on the best apps for time management and improved focus, the latest tech tools to help make video conferencing more fun, and a whole lot more.

Keep moving forward. You’ve got this. #MoveForwardMonday

The post Battling Distractions? Try these tools. first appeared on Wobizzle.

The post Battling Distractions? Try these tools. appeared first on Wobizzle.

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In this fun and informative episode, Melissa and Michelle interview Beth Z of YourNerdyBestFriend.

Beth is a technology and app guru and a whole lot of fun. Listen in as Michelle and Melissa tap Beth’s beautiful brain for the lowdown on the latest tech tools to help make video conferencing more fun, the best apps for time management and improved focus, and a whole lot more. Find Beth at www.yournerdybestfriend.com or text NERD to 66866.

Here are the tools Beth refers to in this episode.

Make virtual meetings more fun with:

Stream Deck

Ecamm 

OBS 

Mmhmm 

Manycam

Fend off online distractions with:

StayFocusd

Forest

Stop being terrible with passwords. Use one of these instead.

Last Pass

1Password

Dashlane

Transfer large files with:

Dropbox

Google Drive

Use these tools for recording and transcribing important conversations and interviews.

Otter 

Descript

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The post S02: E08 An Interview With Beth Z – Your Nerdy Best Friend appeared first on Wobizzle.

It’s a fact. Most of the New Year’s Resolutions that were made at the turn of the year have been abandoned by now. Fewer than half will make it to the six month mark.

If you’re struggling to keep the promise you made to yourself, here are a few steps you can take to get you back on track with your goals.

REALITY CHECK
Was the goal you set for yourself a little too lofty? Don’t abandon the thought completely. Instead, revise it to something more realistic and achievable.

BREAK IT DOWN
Big goals can be overwhelming and leave you wondering where to start. Break down your big goal into smaller steps and set short-term milestones to track your progress.

SHARE YOUR PLAN
Letting others know about your goal gives you a sense of accountability and another person to give you a nudge or words of encouragement when your motivation wanes.

Keep moving forward. You’ve got this. #MoveForwardMonday

The post Get Back On Track With Your Goals first appeared on Wobizzle.

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It can happen in an instant. Your day is off to a great start and then something comes up and throws a bucket of ice water on your good mood and motivation.

It could be a last-minute request from a client that didn’t plan ahead or a wackadoodle social media post from a relative that doesn’t share your world view.

We’ve all been there, and we’ll be there again. But you have the power to turn things back around.

THE 90-SECOND RULE
When life throws you a curveball, instead of getting caught in a downward spiral, use the 90-second rule to get back on track.

First, acknowledge what happened and what you are feeling as a result of what happened.
Second, take note of your thoughts and remind yourself that you cannot control what happened, but you can control your thinking.
Finally, shift your thinking and align your thoughts with the energy you started your day with, and the goals you had for the day.

In 90 seconds or less, that pesky emotional trigger will have faded away, and you will be back on track.

We got this golden nugget from our recent podcast with licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Dayle Lattie. Listen in for more great tips to help you build resilience and thrive in chaos.

Listen to S2 E07: The Wobizzle Podcast – The Psychology of Resilience: Tapping Into Your Ability To Thrive In Chaos.

Keep moving forward. You’ve got this. #MoveForwardMonday

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The post 90 Seconds Can Change Your Day appeared first on Wobizzle.

We’ve all been there – working with a client that, for whatever reason, just isn’t the right fit. They may be perpetually pushy, mean, or just plain difficult to work with.

You don’t need that in your life. If you’re working with a client that is making your life hard, it might be time to tell them goodbye.

The way you go about firing a client can have an impact on your reputation, so do it carefully.

Don’t rush the decision. Finish all the work you owe the client if you can, and try to end things positively. There are exceptions to every situation, but it is possible to fire a client and remain in good professional standing with them.

Want a deeper dive? Head to our blog for How To Fire A Client: 8 Steps To Freedom.

Keep moving forward. You’ve got this. #MoveForwardMonday

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Do you have a client who’s perpetually pushy, mean, or just plain difficult to work with? Or perhaps one that pays you very little for the amount of time you are investing? It might be time to tell them goodbye. Here’s how to fire a client who’s making life hard, to make room for one you love working with.

Firing a client isn’t fun, but it can be the best thing to happen to both of you. Quite often, the discontent is on both sides of the equation. Part of the reason your client may be difficult is that they don’t feel a connection with you. And that’s okay. When this happens, firing a client can take a load off your mind and free up your schedule to work with other clients. Yes, it’s awkward to tell a client you don’t want to work with them in the future – but it probably won’t be as bad as you think.

How To Fire A Client

1) Make every effort to salvage the working relationship.

Just because a client grates on your nerves or asks a lot from you doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to fire them. Sometimes it’s easier to take a deep breath, minimize your contact with the client as much as possible, and wait until their contract runs out to stop working with them. Firing a client in the middle of a contract should be an absolute last resort.

2) Raise your rates.

If a client is taking far more of your time than they are paying you for, you will understandably feel less generous toward them. Consider raising your rates to get compensated fairly. If they refuse the rate increase, then you have a tangible reason to cut them loose. If they approve it, you feel a heck of a lot better working with them.

3) Set new boundaries.

If they are compensating you fairly but stepping all over your regular work boundaries (texting, calling, and emailing at all hours, for example), you need to set new boundaries. Have a talk with them about how they communicate with you and perhaps how you need ample notice on new projects (No last-minute projects on Friday afternoon!), or not to expect responses over a weekend. The ball is in your court here. What would it take to make working with this client better? Make a list and present it to them. If it goes well, you retain your client. If they don’t understand, then you know it’s time to move on.

4) Check the fine print.

Make sure you’re legally allowed to fire the client. Review the contract that you both signed when you started working together. Make sure there’s nothing that prevents you from dropping the client before the contract is up. If there is, you’ll have to grit your teeth and wait things out or hope that they fire you first.

5) Fulfill your obligations.

Maintain your high standards. Finish all the client’s work that you’ve currently got in progress. Get to a natural stopping point, like the end of a project, before you break the news that you won’t be working with them anymore.

6) Choose the right moment.

If it’s a retainer client, the year-end might be a good time to break it off. This often comes with the announcement from you that you are raising your rates. Never break things off with a client when you’re angry at them or fed up. Wait until you’re feeling calm and level-headed to have the conversation. It’s never okay to be disrespectful to a client. Make it your mission never to burn a bridge. You never know when you may need to cross it again.

7) Break the news.

Call your client and let them know that you will be unable to continue working with them. Keep your message short and concise – the less you say, the less they’ll be able to argue with. Instead of blaming the client for the break-up, try to find a neutral-sounding reason for why you won’t be working with them anymore. If you need some ideas for what to say, try something like:

• “I’m glad to have had the opportunity to work with you, but I don’t think our businesses are a good fit for each other anymore.”
• “You have a strong vision for your business. Unfortunately, I no longer feel that the work I do is meeting your needs.”
• “My freelance business has changed considerably over the last few months. I’m sorry to say that as of [date], I will no longer be able to work with you.”

In general, it’s more professional and polite to have this conversation over the phone. However, if you usually communicate with your client by email, it’s okay to break the news to them that way.

8) Refer your client to someone else.

It’s unprofessional to leave a client hanging, so while you don’t have to refer them to someone else, it’s generally considered the right thing to do. Send your ex-client the contact information for a few other freelancers who might be willing to take them on. This makes you look good, and it reduces the odds that your client will be angry about getting dumped.

Key Takeaway On How To Fire A Client

The way you go about firing a client has a significant impact on your reputation, so do it carefully. Don’t rush the decision. Finish all the work you owe the client if you can, and try to end things positively. There are exceptions to every situation, but it is possible to fire a client and remain in good professional standing with them. Just remember to NEVER make it about what you need, but rather how this change will benefit them in the long-run — even if it will help you as well.

The post How To Fire A Client: 8 Steps To Freedom first appeared on Wobizzle.

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