A question most of my clients have is: 

How do I get everything done?

Where do I find the time and the energy to grow to the next level of my business?

One way to address this issue is to take a look at where you lose time and energy in the first place.

There are 3 common energy leaks that a lot of entrepreneurs have.

See if you recognize one or more of them:

Energy leak #1: not having clear and strong boundaries 

Possible symptoms: 

• You work too hard and don’t take enough downtime;

• You over deliver and/or undercharge;

• You’re afraid to say ‘no’ to people, and as a result you spend a lot of time doing things you don’t want to do (and a lot of time regretting that you didn’t just say no).

The solution:

The best thing to do is to get really clear on what your ideal business and lifestyle look like, and which steps you need to take to create them.

But this takes much more than I can share with you in just one article (which is why it is an entire step in my 7 step F.R.E.E.D.O.M. process to turn your purpose into a profitable business you LOVE).

For now, you can just ask yourself:

What do I tolerate that deep down I know I have to change?

Energy leak #2: your computer

Possible symptoms:

• Checking your email every hour;

• Spending hours on twitter, facebook etc. (and before you know it you’ve been reading and surfing the net for an hour and you haven’t really done anything – time just flew by);

Examples of solutions:

• Set a timer every time you start surfing the net or start twittering;

• Check your email twice a day;

• Get an assistant to answer your emails.

Energy leak #3: not being aligned with your purpose 

Possible symptoms:

• You work hard but never feel fulfilled;

• You often wonder if this is all there is and if what you’re doing now is what you’re really meant to do;

• You often experience a feeling of emptiness, you feel a bit lost – without knowing where the feeling comes from or how to fix it.

The solution:

Get clear on what your purpose is, and built your business around it.

Again, this takes much more than I can share in just this one article.

(My entire program Big Mission, Big Impact addresses the elements you need to have in place to turn your purpose into a profitable business.)

For now, this is what you can do:

First take a look at the activities that energize you and make you feel alive.

Once you figure this out, you can answer these questions:

How can I spend more time on these activities?

And how can I turn them into products and services?

This week’s Transformational Action

For the next couple of days, examine how you spend your time:

1: Write down everything you do and how much time you spend on it,

and

2: Write down how much you enjoyed this activity:

On a scale from 0 – 10, how much energy did this activity give you?

When you do this for a couple of days, it’s easy to see which activities energize you, and which activities drain your energy.

You now have a clear picture of your biggest energy leak. 

Now you can answer this final question:

What one thing can you do or change in your business right now that will instantly give you more energy?

© 2012 Brigitte van Tuijl

*************

Let me know what you think! You can post your comments below. Thanks!

*************
P.S.: Do you long to fulfill your mission in a business you love? A business that fulfills and energizes you?

But you’re not sure what your mission is or how you can make money with it?

If you do, my program Big Mission, Big Impact may be just what you need.

In it, you discover and connect to the highest vision for your business, and easily get rid of the obstacles that immediately surface once you start thinking bigger…

If this speaks to you, read more about this program and apply for your spot now!

After I’ve received your application form, we’ll schedule an interview by phone to see if this program is a perfect fit for you.

There are still a few spots available in June.

P.P.S.: Are you not sure if you want to participate in a group program or might benefit more from personal VIP – coaching? 

Fill out the application form for Big Mission, Big Impact, and we’ll explore what your best option is in our phone interview.

3 common energy leaks that might hurt your business is a post from: Brigitte van Tuijl

A huge mistake I see many entrepreneurs make (and I’ve made it plenty of times myself) is this:

You SAY you want something….

but when push comes to shove, you back out.

This is a very common mistake that is a guaranteed recipe for playing too small and staying exactly where you are.

You may also have heard this phenomenon described as follows:

To have one foot on the gas and one foot on the brake.

Before you conclude that you’re not doing this, please answer these questions:

• Is EVERYTHING in your business exactly as you want it to be?

• Are you reaching your goals or at least making progress on it?

If both answers are ‘yes’, you’re OK – at least for now ;)

You can stop reading this article and move on with your day.

But if you’ve answered ‘no’ to one or both of these questions, you’d better read on and make sure if you’re having one foot on the gas and the other on the brake right now.

This is what it can look like:

You say you feel you have an important message to share, and you wish you could help more people with it.

A week later someone asks you to be a speaker at her event – which gives you the chance to share your message.

A golden opportunity but…instead of saying ‘yes!’ you say ‘no’, because:

• You don’t have enough time to prepare your talk;

• It’s too soon: you don’t have enough experience as a speaker yet, or

• You suddenly start doubting if what you have to say is something that others will actually want to hear (let alone find interesting or valuable).

Whatever reason you come up with, there’s always a deeper cause for saying no to an opportunity that comes your way:

Fear.

It’s easy to SAY you want something. It’s easy to talk about it, dream about it, or visualize it.

As long as no action is required it feels nice and exciting and maybe a little bit scary, but it doesn’t get any worse than that.

But as soon as an opportunity presents itself to put your money where your mouth is, all of a sudden it becomes too real.

Every doubt, insecurity or fear you may have around this thing you say you want shows up…

This ALWAYS happens the moment an opportunity to reach your big goal comes along.

(Even thinking or dreaming bigger than you are used to will trigger every fear and doubt you have.)

And the first natural reaction we all have, is to freak out and freeze.

We back out and find a rational sounding excuse for not taking action and grabbing the opportunity that comes along.

I know what I’m talking about here. I backed out many times.

And I always came up with some very good excuses: they were so good I REALLY believed them myself.

(This is why I now recognize them instantly – my clients don’t usually fool me with their excuses ;)

I know how sensible it seems to back out when you’re scared, but in reality you’re not doing yourself any favors.

If you want to achieve your goals, you have to take action – which also means you have to welcome all opportunities with open arms, even if they scare you….

And of course, you have to recognize them first:

“Opportunity is missed by most people

because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

Thomas Edison

This week’s Transformational Action

1. What do you REALLY want?
2. What actions are you taking on a daily or weekly basis to reach this goal?
3. What opportunity is right in front of you right now? (Entering a writing contest / signing up for a program or workshop / make a call to someone you recently met / asking someone if they want to work with you….)
4. What’s your reason for not taking this opportunity? Be honest, and explore if you REALLY have no time/ money/experience etc. etc….or if you are feeling scared and uncomfortable.
5. Do you REALLY want what you SAY you want? If so, take a deep breath and…take action!

*************

Let me know what you think! You can post your comments below. Thanks!

*************

P.S.: Do you want to have more impact, more clients and make a bigger difference with your mission?

Do you long for a breakthrough in your business?

But do you feel stuck and are you wondering what is takes to overcome this?

If you do, my program Big Mission, Big Impact may be just what you need.

In it, you discover and connect to the highest vision for your business, and easily get rid of the obstacles that immediately surface once you start thinking bigger…

If this speaks to you, take a leap and take action right now by filling out your application form!

After I’ve received your application form, we’ll schedule an interview by phone to see if this program is a perfect fit for you.

There are still a few spots available in June.

Don’t wait too long if you’re interested: there will not be another chance to participate soon….

Read all about the program and apply for your spot here

Are you making this mistake too? is a post from: Brigitte van Tuijl

What do you need to let go of? is a post from: Brigitte van Tuijl

There are many methods you can use to develop yourself and your business.

One of the easiest ways is to keep a journal. For me this is a natural thing to do, because I love writing (on paper – the old fashioned way).

I keep 7 different kinds of journals, but that might be a bit much for you :)

Today I will share 3 of my journals with you.

These journals help me in many ways in my business, and I’m sure they can help you as well.

Yes, it takes some time to keep them – but you can gain so much by keeping them that it’s absolutely worth investing time in.

These 3 journals are:

1. Inner work journal

Every morning I take some time to write in this journal.

Often I start with a brain dump: I just write down everything that comes to mind and dump it all on paper.

This brain dump clears your mind.

After the brain dump I usually ask one (or all) of these questions, and write down everything that comes up after I wrote them down:

• What is it that needs my attention now?

• What is the most important thing to focus on right now?

• What does my soul need right now?

• What does my business need right now?

These questions and the answers they provide help you focus on those things that REALLY matter right now.

The questions help you listen to your intuition and open you up for signs and nudges from the universe.

It helps you determine which actions are the ones you need to take NOW. (Which are not always the same actions as the ones on your to-do-list.)

2. Success journal

At the end of each day, write down 3 successes (or more).
These can be ‘small’ things (only ate 2 cookies instead of the whole bag) and ‘big’ things (wrote a great article).

Writing down your successes helps you stay motivated and connected to everything that’s already working in your business. 

Most of us have a tendency to focus too much on everything that’s not right or perfect yet.

Keeping score of your successes, both small ones and big ones, helps you focus on the positive and everything that’s already going well for you.

3. Gratitude journal

This is another journal that helps you focus on all the wonderful and good things there are in your business and life right now.

Write down 3 or more things you are grateful for at the end of each day.

It will instantly boost your mood and help you feel more optimistic and fulfilled.

There is always something to be grateful for: the beautiful flowers on your balcony; your health; something nice someone did for you; etc.

And remember: what you focus on, expands.

The more energy you give to things that you are grateful for, the more things you feel grateful for will show up in your life.

Buy beautiful notebooks and set some time aside each day to write in them.

(The picture with this article is of my own success journal.)

Try to keep at it for at least a month, and see what it brings you and how different you feel.

This week’s Transformational Action

1. Decide which of these 3 journals speaks to you most.

2. Go out and buy yourself a beautiful notebook, and

3. Start your new journal today!

*************

Let me know what you think! You can post your comments below. Thanks!

*************

P.S.: Are you a heart-centered entrepreneur who feels stuck?

Do you long for a breakthrough in your business?

And are you wondering what it takes to make this happen?

If you do, my upcoming FREE call is definitely for you!

In it you will learn the ONE critical element you MUST know & accept if you ever want to grow your business;
the biggest mistakes that most heart-centered entrepreneurs make that keep them stuck and playing small;
and much more!

You can reserve your spot here

3 journals every entrepreneur needs (and why) is a post from: Brigitte van Tuijl

How to break through to the next level of your business so you can reach more people, have more impact and make more money with your message!

A free teleseminar for heart-centered entrepreneurs who want to make a positive difference with their mission

On this call you will learn:

• the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make that keep them stuck & playing small;
• the ONE critical element you MUST know & accept if you ever want to step up to the next level of your business (warning: you may not want to hear this…)
• what it REALLY takes to reach more people and have more impact with your business;
• the root causes of being stuck and how to overcome them;
• the 3 steps you have to take to get unstuck and reach your goals.

Free teleclass: how to break through to the next level of your business is a post from: Brigitte van Tuijl

“Do you really want to look back on your life and see how wonderful it could have been had you not been afraid to live it?”

Caroline Myss

Fear. We all know it.

Varying from being slightly nervous to waking up sweating in the middle of the night feeling paralyzed with fear.

Our fears have a huge impact on our behavior.

Some even say it determines most of our behavior. We spend a lot of time and energy trying to find a sense of safety and security by avoiding what we are scared of.
And because this happens at the unconscious level, we are not always aware that we are avoiding our fears.

If you want to be successful in your business, and especially when you are pursuing big dreams and have a big mission to fulfill, you have to find a way to deal with your doubts and your fears.

You will encounter fears and doubts, but they don’t have to hold you back or keep you stuck.

I talk from my own personal experience when I tell you this.

I’ve been afraid and had doubts around many, many issues you encounter in your business: 

I’ve struggled with fears and issues around money, success, failure, visibility, feeling safe in the world, marketing, selling….you name it, and I have struggled with it!

Thankfully I overcame all these struggles. And so can you!

There is, of course, a lot more to that than I can explain in just one article.

But I can give you these 3 tips that help you move from fear to faith:

1. Don’t force yourself.

Don’t make your steps too big. Take one small step now. Then take another. And the next. Until you have reached your goal. Taking small steps is always better and much more effective than not taking any steps at all.

2. Remind yourself of how courageous you already are.

You have already done hundreds of things in your life that initially scared you: your first day at school; your first date; your first presentation or exam; the first time you rode a bicycle; …etc.etc.

Make a list of everything you were once scared of and did anyway. I bet you are already  more courageous than you give yourself credit for.

3. Remember that your fears are just thoughts. 

Every fear is a thought in your head. It doesn’t exist outside your mind.

“Fears are nothing more than a state of mind.”

Napoleon Hill

And most of all, remember this:

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. You won’t find glory at the center of safety, but at its edge.” 

Neal D. Walsh

What glory will you be able to find when you do that thing that scares you today?

This week’s Transformational Action

Is there something that you know will make a big difference in your life or your business when you do it today?

What beautiful things can happen when you take this action, that will remain out of your reach if you don’t?

Take deep breath and take this small step or giant leap NOW.

************

Let me know what you think! You can post your comments below. Thanks!

*************

P.S.: Are you a heart-centered entrepreneur who feels stuck?

Do you long for a breakthrough in your business?

And are you wondering what it takes to make this happen?

If you do, my upcoming FREE call is definitely for you!

In it you will learn the ONE critical element you MUST know & accept if you ever want to grow your business;
the biggest mistakes that most heart-centered entrepreneurs make that keep them stuck and playing small;
and much more!

You can reserve your spot here

3 powerful tips to move from fear to faith is a post from: Brigitte van Tuijl

A lot of heart-centered entrepreneurs would like to play a bigger game and reach more people with their message. 

(And make more money as a result of it.)

But it’s not always easy to make this happen, and a lot of people feel stuck.

It’s like there’s a glass ceiling above your head and you just can’t break through it.

Sounds familiar?

Here are three tips that help you get unstuck and play a bigger game:

1. Shift your focus

Growing your business means you have to get out of your comfort zone.
Not just once, but on a (very) regular basis.

Fear of this unknown territory is one thing that can keep you stuck.

The more you focus on this fear, the harder it gets to overcome it.

A solution is to shift your focus from your fear to your why:

• Why do you want to grow your business?
• What motivates and drives you to long for a bigger reach and more impact?
• What will be possible when you step into this growth?
• What will you be able to feel and experience then that you cannot feel or experience in your present circumstances?

2. Don’t let fear of criticism stop you

Your actions and results trigger other people’s desires and fears.

The bigger or more visible your steps are, the more these feelings in others are triggered.

People who want to do what you are doing, but are too scared to take these actions themselves, can react (very) negatively on you and the things you do.

What happens is that your actions trigger their own fears and feelings of powerlessness.

And they project them onto YOU instead of facing their fears and deal with them.

Don’t take this personally. You’re just the trigger for some of the negative feelings they have and cannot cope with.

If you truly understand how this mechanism works, your fears of criticism will absolutely diminish.

And no, this doesn’t make criticism something wonderful to look forward to.
But it will change it into something you can handle so it no longer stands in your way.

3. Keep moving

Don’t give up. Keep taking steps towards your goal.
Even if it is just a very, very small step. It’s always better to take a tiny step than to stand still.

Just keep moving and keep going.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a thriving and successful business.

No one becomes a successful entrepreneur overnight. It takes persistence and constant action.

Don’t give up.

Do not EVER give up.

In the words of Sir Winston Churchill:

“Never give in – never, never, never, never,
in nothing great or small,
large or petty,
never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.”

This week’s Transformational Action

Create your own compelling vision: why do you want to get unstuck?

What is possible for you, your business and your clients when you do?

Write your vision down and read it every day, so you stay connected to it.

Ask yourself each time:

What small step can I take today to move closer towards this vision?

© 2012 Brigitte van Tuijl

************

Let me know what you think! You can post your comment below. Thanks!

*************

3 tips to get unstuck is a post from: Brigitte van Tuijl

Last week Erno Hannink interviewed me on getting unstuck and on purpose, my new book, marketing your business and much more. You can watch the interview above.

We had a really nice talk and I enjoyed it a lot.

Thanks, Erno!

I hope our talk will inspire you to overcome your obstacles, expand your reach and grow your business!

*************

Let me know what you think! You can post your comments below. Thanks!

*************

Interview on getting unstuck and on purpose is a post from: Brigitte van Tuijl

 
If you’re reading my ezine or blogs for a while, you already know I’ve written my second book and plan to publish it this year.

(on the picture above you see my first book, Ontdek wat je echt wilt – en maak daar je werk van)

One thing I didn’t mention to a lot of people yet is what my second book is about, or what the title is. Some people already know, but I haven’t publically shared this yet.

Until yesterday, that is.

Yesterday morning I shared the title with my clients in Big Mission, Big Impact. And yesterday afternoon someone interviewed me and asked me about the title of my book and what it is about.

So I’ve decided to share the title and a little of the content with you as well…

The title of my new book is:

The Art of Divine Selfishness – transforming the world by thinking of YOU

In it, I teach you why you need to be selfish to fulfill your purpose, why that’s sometimes hard to do and HOW you can be more Divinely Selfish.

Below you can read a short extract from the introduction of the book.

It explains why you need to be selfish if you want to fulfill your life purpose.

Now that I’ve shared the title and some of the content of my book, I really must finish it and get it out there.

I’ll keep you posted…:)

A short extract from my new book ‘The Art of Divine Selfishness – transforming the world by thinking of YOU’ :

“Why should you be selfish and what’s so Divine about that?

Everyone is born for a reason.

YOU are born for a reason.

You have a unique and wonderful gift to share with the world. You have something to offer that only YOU can offer in a way that no one else can.

You are here to make a difference and to make your unique contribution to the transformation the world is going through – so it becomes a better and more loving place for everyone.

What the world needs to transform is the same as what YOU need to be truly happy:

For you to live your destiny and fulfill your life’s purpose. To do what you were born to do.

All you have to do to be of service to the world is follow your bliss and listen to your calling.

But how do you do that?

The answer is to not only listen to your gut feeling and your intuition but to also act upon it.

This is where it gets complicated and where everyday life gets in the way.

Listening to your intuition and acting accordingly sometimes means that you have to takemore time for yourself (and start saying no to others to be able to find this time).

You have to be true to your path, which sometimes means you have to disappoint others.

It means you have to stop pleasing others and stop putting everyone else’s needs before your own.

It means you shouldn’t let anyone put you down. Be responsible for yourself and your actions and do what you need to do, regardless of what others might think of you.

In a nutshell it means you have to put yourself first:

You will have to be more selfish.

Now on to the next question:

What’s so Divine about that?

Isn’t selfishness the last thing this world needs? Isn’t the fact that most people care more about themselves the root cause of the problems our world is facing today?

No. It isn’t.

The root of all of our problems is of a spiritual nature: we have completely forgotten who we are and why we are here.

Once we remember this we can reconnect with ourselves more fully. Only when we are reconnected with ourselves are we able to connect with anyone else – with every living being, including the planet we live on.

You can only reconnect with yourself when you listen to yourself first and act in alignment with your purpose and destiny.

You need some practical tools to be able to do that.

These are the tools this book offers…….

………….

Read this book and put it into practice, so you can shine your brightest light and be the best version of YOU.

So you can spread your own unique message. Whatever that message is, on whatever scale you’re supposed to deliver it.

The world needs you to be YOU.

The world needs you to think of yourself more. To be as Divinely Selfish as you need to start living the life you were born to live.

It doesn’t just contribute to your own happiness. Everyone else will profit in the process.”

This is a short extract from my new book ‘The Art of Divine Selfishness – transforming the world by thinking of YOU’ - All rights reserved.

© 2012 Brigitte van Tuijl

 

 

 

*************

Let me know what you think! You can post your comments below. Thanks!

Why you need to be selfish to fulfill your purpose is a post from: Brigitte van Tuijl

What is it you want to say NO to today?

Why don’t you?

Just say NO is a post from: Brigitte van Tuijl