When I encounter entrepreneurs who are trying to rush the development of their product or customer acceptance of their services, I tell them that 9 women can’t make a baby in one month. Some things just take time and it is impossible to rush them. Working on the set of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition this past weekend I did learn, however, that sometimes the seemingly impossible can be done.

Building a house in a week seemed impossible until I witnessed it. In beholding what seemed like perfectly choreographed chaos, I gleaned some lessons that business owners and really anyone in general can learn and apply to whatever it is their trying to achieve that might seem impossible at times.

First, you must appreciate the people who help you along the way. As a volunteer, and one of many, I can’t tell you how many times I heard from the staff - and some of the stars - “we really appreciate what you’re doing. We couldn’t do it without you.” Especially gracious was Didi. Even under the stress of trying to finish on the morning of the reveal, she was kind and patient and didn’t want to offend anyone. She seems like a class act and I went out of my way to try and help her.
Second, planning and organization were crucial. I can’t tell you the millions of details that had to be tended to and somewhere, somehow, there was someone who had it all together and making sure it was happening. I’m not even sure I could tell you who that was on the set. I can’t imagine what their pert chart looks like but I am certain there is one somewhere.
Thirdly - and I think this is the most important - was that flexibility was KEY. As with any project, things don’t always come together as envisioned. You have to remain flexible while keeping your vision on the bigger picture - what is really important? When one of the stars asked someone to do something for them and it didn’t come back exactly the way it had been envisioned (do you like my generalities here to protect a not-yet-aired show?), they had to go with it. Time was of the essence and they had to focus on the bigger picture and adjust their plans to make it work. This is what I call “Focused Flexibility” and if you want to be successful, think about what that means for you.

Lastly, a little chaos is to be expected at times. When you’re working with a hard-working group of dedicated people who are all focused on your end goal (the SAME end goal), then chaos will happen. Deal with it. Embrace it. Let things flow.

What “impossible” things have you accomplished? What was the key to your success?
The show I was working on is the season opener that will air sometime in September. In case you watch it, I’m the one in the blue shirt and hard hat!

I was talking with a friend and ACTiVATE Alum, Halima Aquino, this past weekend and marveling at her tales of having recently completed a sprint triathlon. Wow. I am in awe of all of you out there who have done that and I’m sure many have done more.

Since I can’t stand to run, much less swim in cold water, I had to ask her what compelled her to do this. I may have even had the “are you crazy?” look on my face when I did. The answer I received was unexpected but it makes sense. It is something many of us can relate to and possibly have done: she needed to cross the finish line.

You see, she’s working on starting up a new technology business (LilyPad Sensors) which tends to take longer and require more capital (i.e. MONEY) than many other businesses. She was frustrated because things were not happening as fast as she felt they should (they never do!), so she decided to take on another challenge: to participate in a sprint triathlon as only the second race in which she would ever compete in her adult 40-something life.

I starting thinking about it: there are so many similarities between starting a business and taking on a triathlon. There is a lot to do to get ready with intense training and preparation, execution takes a positive mind set, and it’s just not easy.

The one major difference and the key that compelled her to take on this new challenge is there’s a definite end. There is a set, knowable time in the future when she will be done. Unlike other goals that are not as neatly packaged (like starting a business!), she can gear up, prepare, execute, and then relish in her accomplishment within a finite, predictable period of time.

Taking on this physical endeavor and crossing the finish line actually gave her a boost in her business. She revitalized her energy and found new life in pushing ahead towards her goals.

Thinking about this made me realize that I took up juggling for the exact same reason without realizing it. OK, it is much less physically taxing than running for 5K, swimming 20K and biking for 750m (that’s 3.1 miles, 12.4 miles, and .5 miles respectively for us metric-less Americans) but the objective and the results were the same: taking on and accomplishing a finite goal, especially one that is a stretch for you, can help you regain new energy in reaching the finish line in whatever larger goals or tasks you have ahead of you.

When you find you’re getting frustrated in one area of your life, find something in another area of your life where you can be rejuvenated by that feeling of success. Whether it is learning a new skill (juggling!), running a marathon, or building a shed – success will re-ignite your passion and breed more success.

So what new projects have you taken on? If you’re feeling stale, what new endeavors are you going to take on??

Those of you who have been following know that I am learning how to juggle. Correction: I have LEARNED how to juggle! I’m not quite ready to pick up the knives yet, but my next goal is to be able to juggle during my one of my presentations. I figure it is good to illustrate physical juggling when you’re talking about how to juggle the many things in your life as they both have so much in common: they’re not easy, it take concentrated effort, and sometimes, no matter how hard you try - something gets dropped. I’m not there yet but will keep on practicing.

Having learned this new skill made me think about setting and celebrating goals. First off, learning how to juggle made me very uncomfortable at first. I felt like an idiot (and amused my kids at the same time). You see, I had gotten comfortable once again with what I was doing. I had been operating in my ‘zone.’ It was time to shake it up a bit and try something new. When is the last time you tried a new skill? Whether it is something physical or not, if you’re not growing, you’re…what? Shrinking? Maybe standing still? Neither are good options.
The other lesson I learned about goal setting is that it is so easy to reach a goal and quickly move on to the next without relishing the accomplishment. Before I start worrying about trying to juggle glass balls (my ultimate goal!) I need to celebrate the fact that I learned to juggle at all! Show it off! Enjoy it! Maybe put on a red nose and do a couple of children’s parties (OK…maybe not that…). My point is, take the time to celebrate when you reach your goal before you charge off onto the next one. This is the premise behind my Whispers and Roars journals that I am working to develop and bring to market (yes…STILL!). I’m having trouble finding just the right vendor but when I do, you’ll be the first to know!
What have learned about setting (and reaching) goals? Do you celebrate or charge ahead? Share your tips with others!

It happens in business and in life. Whatever project or idea we’re working on comes to a stopping point. Sometimes the abrupt halt comes from an external obstacle like a lack of money or people, but other times the stumble is internal. We run out of energy. Another project captures our attention. We just lose faith in what we’re doing and why. If you’re experiencing this, know that you are NOT ALONE and there are ways around it.

In my life, I’ve found that hitting the wall usually has meaning, but it isn’t always what we think it is. Yes, sometimes it is an indicator that we need to stop and other times it is just a sign that we need to take a different direction or back off for a bit. But how do you know? I’ve come up with three steps to take to see whether this wall is truly a barrier or just a minor detour or annoyance:

1. Take a break. That’s right, sometimes you just need to step back from a situation, let the emotion settle, and then look at it again. When we’re in the middle of something it is very hard to observe it objectively. With some separation and diversion of our attention, the solution can become clear.

2. Ask a friend or mentor for help. Sometimes we’re afraid to tell someone else what we’re thinking, especially if we’re thinking about quitting something, for fear that they’ll think we’re stupid or just weak. If you have the right friends and personal advisors (or even better, a Mastermind Group!), they’ll help you work through the issue and look at it from different perspectives.

3. Take action. Getting stuck in analysis paralysis adds to the frustration. Many times, just taking action – even if it’s small – can help kick-start the forward motion. Even if it is the wrong action, if it is small enough it can be righted and at least it got you moving!

The philosophy that works for me is to choose not to focus on the obstacles because I’ve found that increases your chances of hitting them. You have to acknowledge them, but then focus on the path around them, the Path Forward.

How do you deal when you hit the wall? Any tried and true ways to forge ahead??

Lessons about work and life turn up in the most unsuspecting places.

As some of you know, I am trying to learn how to juggle. It seems silly, really, but my goal is to be able to add it to my work/life balance presentations. What better visual of how hard it really is to juggle our lives than to try juggling some balls!

So I haven’t been practicing as much as I should but I have been asking around for a Juggling Coach. Yes, I put that intention out there and the universe answered in an unbelievable way. Last week, I started training a group of awesome women entrepreneurs from South Africa and took my juggling balls with me to see if any of them knew how to juggle and could teach me. No such luck. HOWEVER, as we were leaving a late-night reception around 8:00 pm, we came upon the UMBC Juggling Club, one of many juggling clubs in the area. Who knew!? I was actually ready to continue walking by when my fellow ACTiVATE instructor Renee Lewis (standing next to me in the photo below) pulled me over to them. “You’re not missing this opportunity.” Thank goodness for friends.

We spent the next 45 minutes with a couple of student members of the juggling club as they, well, taught us to juggle. In that brief training session I learned some important lessons not only about mastering the art of juggling but also about life and work:

1. Relax. Don’t try so hard. Just let it happen.

How many times do we take ourselves and whatever crisis we’re reacting to at the moment too seriously? There is a difference between working hard and struggling. I don’t think it is supposed to be a struggle if you’re in the right place pursuing the right things.

2. Slow down. Take the time to find the rhythm and work into it.

Not unlike #1, but distinct in important ways. So often we get going so fast because we think everything is a race. If we can learn to plan a little bit better, we don’t have to live in last-minute mode. I should learn to take my own advice on this one.

3. You will mess up. Accept it and get over it. Oh, and try not to hurt anyone.

Failure is a given when you’re trying something new or big. Be OK with that. I know I’ve said it a million times, if you’re not failing you’re not taking enough risks. Just make sure you learn from it and move on without taking anyone else out along the way.

4. Get bigger balls.

Really! The balls I was trying to learn with were too small. I’ve ordered a set of heavier ones and I’ll let you know how that goes. As for the life and business lessons, I’m going to be careful here because this could get ugly. My point here is that even though it seems like it would be harder to juggle larger objects it is actually easier when you’re training your muscles to remember the motion. You can’t be afraid of what you think might be harder because in reality, it might be just what you need to continue moving forward.

So the bottom line on this for me: be careful what you put out there in the universe – you might just meet a crazy band of jugglers and learn something unexpected! Oh, and the Juggling Club is in the UMBC Commons every Wednesday night from 8:00 - 10:00 pm. They claim that they can teach anyone to juggle if they really want to. Anyone want to join me??

Please help me welcome my special guest blogger, Tonya Taylor, with some great advice for any business owner or anyone who feels intimidated by technology….

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How many of us knew how to walk, talk or do anything when we were first born? NONE! As we grew from an infant to a toddler we learned you had to crawl before you walk. That same philosophy holds true as an entrepreneur, however when it comes to technology we let 4 of the most dangerous words in the English language stand in our way…

“I DON’T KNOW HOW!”

So many women are not investing in technology or training for their business or themselves. Having no (or poor) technology doom most who try, and prevent others from even trying. They are constantly working harder not smarter because they are afraid of technology.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying an accountant can try, then, instantly become a database programmer, nor can a real estate agent morph into a web designer. Even if you aren’t particularly savvy with technology, that doesn’t mean you should be afraid of it.

Some entrepreneurs fear of technology, lead them to utter those 4 words (not to be confused with four letter words, that’s another topic!) more often than they realize. As a result, it’s hard–overwhelming to get started.

When was the last time you updated your internet (web) browser software? “I DON’T KNOW HOW!” Regular software updates can provide better and quicker service and are crucial to keeping your home office computer or your home office network as secure as possible.

When was the last time you updated your Office templates? “I DON’T KNOW HOW!” Microsoft offers free templates for work, home, and play. Importing pre-designed templates into Microsoft can save you time and money.

When was the last time you attended technology training from your home or office just using your phone and computer? “I DON’T KNOW HOW!” WebEx offers free live and recorded webinars and webcasts from industry experts. Principal Financial Group offers free teleclasses for Women, from Leading Experts.

You get my point?

The challenge is for you to replace 4 of the most dangerous words in the English language with these “I WILL learn how” to use technology to propel my small business to the next level.

About the Author

Tonya R. Taylor, is an entrepreneur, consultant and publisher of 101 FREE Tools To Grow Your Business. Need to address tomorrow’s technology needs today?

“101 Free Tools to Grow Your Business” is a handy reference guide for small business owners who don’t want to waste MONEY. You’ll get the tools YOU need to power up your business fast! Visit www.101FREETools.com to get your copy of this special report.

Those of you who know me (or who have seen me in the summer) know that my hair is naturally very curly. God gave me curls and I spend most of my time trying to lose them. So as I was packing for my recent trip to Thailand, I made sure I had a power converter so my hair straightener (called a flat iron) would work. I learned the hard way that I needed one when we were in Italy last year. I guess those 220 volts shooting into my 110 volt appliance wasn’t good - I fried my Chi just by plugging it into the wall. So this time, I was prepared…or so I thought.

The first night I was there I had been out at the pool and walking around town and was badly in need of a shower. I was supposed to meet some folks for dinner so I had to make it quick. Yea, right. When I plugged in the flat iron I didn’t smell that awful odor of electronics burning so I thought I was safe. I wasn’t going to toast two of them, but this one wasn’t even getting hot. Nothing. I tried it in the little shaver outlet in the bathroom too, but didn’t get anything other than a strange hum that couldn’t have been good. Hungry, I decided to go au-natural and left with a wet head to go eat dinner. My hair looked fine at first but by the time I got back to my room after supper the frizz had settled in. I had to make a presentation the next morning to 150 people and this was just not how I had envisioned doing it. I had to make a plan.

One thing that I have always found helpful in difficult situations is to accept the worst and then work to improve it. Worst case: I have frizzy hair. Most of the people who were going to be in the audience didn’t know me, though they’ll think I did a bait-and-switch on the head shots in the conference program. They would think I meant to wear my hair in a frizz ball. Once I had accepted that, I then worked to improve upon it. I wanted to make sure that wasn’t what happened.

As it turned out, the hotel had a converter that I could use, which is the one in the picture. Yes, it looks a little scary and the hum made me a little nervous, but it worked. I may need to get myself checked out for radiation poisoning at some point, but thankfully I made my presentation with perfectly strait locks. Even if I hadn’t I was ready.

How often in our lives and our businesses do we get to the first part – imagining the worst – and then stop there? Dwelling on the negative does not help. Accept the worst case scenario and then move on, working like heck to make sure it doesn’t come to pass. Although this particular incident may be trivial, I’ve had plenty other opportunities to practice this philosophy when the stakes were higher – a lost customer, an illness, or bad economic forecast – and I know it works. Have you tried it? How do you deal with unexpected events that may not be so good?

Thanks to Mastercard Small Business services for interviewing me and posting this podcast on top hiring mistakes that many entrepreneurs make. So if you’re growing your business and thinking about hiring folks, listen to this podcast first!