Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner at Titanic Belfast

This week I was privileged to attended the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner at Titanic Belfast. This night was a high profile event with over 800+ guests and the first business gathering in the iconic Titanic Belfast. With so many business, sport and political leaders it truly was a remarkable celebration topped off with Grammy and Golden Globe nominated Jamie Cullum, the Ulster Orchestra and others.

For more information click http://www.northernirelandchamber.com/Content.aspx?nSectionId=1&nSubSectionId=10&nContentId=1561

April and spring go hand in hand. Spring is the season for renewal and new beginnings as this seasonal change is a great time to get re-invigorated and inspired, and this can be infectious. As you tackle your annual spring cleaning tasks, go beyond the feather duster and the oven cleaner, and let the clean-up trickle into your business.

Now is a great time to start dusting off your accounts and clearing away the cobwebs of recession by looking at exactly what your costs are and how you can reduce them. From your marketing to your sales process to your office space, there are always ways you can make savings and de-clutter.  Company leaders can pump new life into an organization by transferring this springtime routine to the workplace.

Don’t know where to start? I’ve looked at some of the easiest ways help you shake off the winter woes and get a renewed enthusiasm for the season of growth and new beginnings.

De-Clutter Your Business Services and Products.

When was the last time you reviewed your services and/or products. Think about your business activities that no longer add value to your organisation and ask yourself are they commercially viable? If products or services have outlived market demand, sweep them out. It may be a difficult decision, but clear the clutter and focus your business energy on what will be ‘hot’ in the coming quarters.

Dust off Your Vision

Given how much the markets have changed, evaluate whether your vision still matches your company’s strategic goals.

Hire Some Help

If you’re committed to a thorough cleaning, you may want to call in expert with the right tools help to make sure nothing is overlooked. The experts in business will help you tackle the core challenges, give support and guide you to a faster solution. Accountants, marketers and even a great business coach will cut through the clutter.

Sharpen Your skills

In this ‘New Economy’ it is imperative that Spring may also be a good time for you as a leader or employee to review and sharpen your skills or learn new ones to improve work efficiency to last the rest of the year.

A Once Over

Spring is traditionally about spring cleaning – give the office a once over. Get rid of the clutter, clear the desks, clean out the storage room and get into the nooks and crannies. The old files hanging around  can be moved stored or binned. And what about some new paint, or blinds, or even some new furniture?

Spring e-Clean

Consider some spring e-cleaning and ensure you are protected. Clean out your computer in-box. Delete unused, old e-files. Back up your system or sign up for a monthly backup service if you do not have one. Run updates, maintenance processes, and virus scans on your computer and commit to doing it on a regular basis going forward.

Plan Ahead

The perfect time to get ahead of the game. Make a list of projects you would like to get done in the next six months or before the end of the year. Write them down. Prioritize them. List them on the white board. I read that President Obama’s political strategy is to “have a long-term strategy and goal in mind, and then work backwards from there.” (And say what you will, but anyone who gets elected President knows a thing or two about politics.) That sounds like a pretty good business strategy too.

Planning ahead can also involve planning for some fun this summer. Build in some time off, and while you are at it, consider some fun things you could do with your clients and/or employees, or some ways to provide additional products and/or services to meet their needs.

Try Something New:

For many businesses, summer is a slower season. As such, it is a perfect time to try out new ideas that you don’t have time for during busier times. New products, new services, new partnerships for instance, what about making a commitment to experiment with social networking a few hours a week for a few months? Set up a Twitter account and begin to tweet, or create a Facebook fan page.

Many of my clients have participated in my popular business Spotlight Programmes  in particular my Infinite Business Commercial Make Over – “Show Me the Money”.

This Business Make Over is a great, cost-effective way to dramatically improve the financial and sales performance of your business.  In this programme I help you to establish where you are now and where you want to be, allowing you to benchmark your business performance and create a platform for financial change. Then, once we have set some sales targets together, I provide key insight and practical advice on how you can attain the profit goals you want to achieve.

Heck, even the most powerful of people across the globe need to take a step back from their business to reflect and to reconnect. Don’t take my word for it, many of my clients have already kicked off 2012 by reigniting their passion in their life, careers and business – click here to find out what my Personal Life and Business Coaching clients achieved already.

What are you waiting for!!! Call today to get started on 07725 052 349. I’ve got openings for some new Personal Life & Business clients at the start of the year and I’d love to fill my schedule and work with you to make this spring easier, more productive and more profitable than ever! If it’s time for a personal coach, contact me! Let’s talk and if it makes sense, let’s get started!

Here’s to making 2012 hugely successful, fascinating and fantastic.

Business Coaching Packages, Business Coaching UK

The value of Gift Vouchers range from one session to a Life Coaching Programme, denominated in numbers of Coaching sessions.

Please contact us to discuss purchasing our Gift Vouchers. Vouchers can be sent either to the purchaser or direct to the recipient, and can include your own personal message. Or just

click on the link and I’ll give you a call to do the work for you.

Infinite People Solutions has helped its clients to achieve great successes. For a selection of comments made by previous clients, read what they have achieved on the link - what clients say

How will you feel, knowing you have made a difference?

Choose to learn how to identify and promote your core strengths to stand apart in today’s crowded market.

Career Coaching will make your next career move with confidence. In these turbulent times, clarity of focus is more important than ever to take control of your career path and separate you from other qualified candidates.

The Transition Career Programme covering topics such as:

• Empowering You
• State of the Job Market
• Your Personal Strategic Plan
• Packaging and Promoting Yourself
• Presenting Yourself to the New Marketplace
• Understanding You as a Product: A Personal Assessment
• Using LinkedIn and Social Media in Your Job Search

So whether you’re currently employed, searching for the ideal position in your industry or looking to make a career change, this workshop will prepare you with the tips, techniques, and strategic plan to get your career on track. Call today 02890 457045

Here’s to making 2012 hugely successful, fascinating and fantastic

Calling ambitious Entrepreneurs and Business Owners – its time to raise the bar and enter Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award to be most Ireland finest!

Check out why you should enter on – http://www.eoy.tv/about.php

“I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date (Your Life).” ~ The March Hare
(well, we all know what happened to the hare)

As a Personal Life and Business Coach, here’s a question I am commonly asked:

How do I prioritize when I truly have too much to do?

I hear about the your exhausting life, the businesses you are running and your demanding careers. I understand the difficulty of getting where you want to go with your personal and professional goals. And you are feeling frustrated because you don’t know what to do and don’t have the time to think about it or start doing anything differently.

I have news. This problem almost never solves itself N.E.V.E.R. No one can change the amount of hours there is in the day. Time will never just show up—and honestly, if it does, you’ll probably find yourself so glad to have it that you just collapse into it and don’t really use it in a way that will benefit you. Most people today are mentally exhausted just thinking of all the things they have to do but it’s a never ending circle.  If you want to get off the hamster wheel, you are going to have to CLAIM some time. Use Time to your advantage, a positive, as your friend.

Imagine you never allowed time to be your excuse?

Claiming time means that for now (not forever), you say no to something else in order to claim some time for you. It doesn’t have to be a week. It might be ten minutes. If it is, that’s a great start. Ten minutes devoted just to you and your goal may be more than you gave yourself yesterday. So claim it. Write it in your schedule. Decide in advance what you will do with it. Somebody just emailed me that she purchased my but hasn’t had enough time to do it. Ten minutes a day won’t get it done in 28 days, but it WILL move her forward.

Personal Life and Business Coach’s Tip –

Write this down: Taking ten minutes counts!!

Here’s the thing:

Action (even ten minutes) perpetuates action. Getting started—whatever your goal—is a momentous step and just that one act will get you over a hurdle.

Once you learn to carve out ten minutes and really leverage that time you are likely to see what ten minutes can accomplish. Many of us dismiss small actions as “not enough.” When we do that, we stay stuck. I bet you will find ten minute pockets in other places you haven’t been looking—on your commute, before the kids get up, while you are waiting for your computer to start up or your tea to brew. You may also start to see ways you can claim bigger chunks of time (wait until you see what you can do in 20 minutes).

Claiming the time you need for yourself and spending it on activity that is meaningful to you is rejuvenating. People who take regular breaks and who get the self care that they need have more energy.  They are more focused and accomplish more in less time. Claiming time will pay you back in ways that may surprise you.

Looking for time to claim will lead you to be more aware of how you spend your time—maybe not the big chunks of activity, but all the small pieces. It’s amazing the amount of time we give away to things that aren’t important, that we don’t really want to do, or to boredom, procrastination, or even difficulty getting started.

Don’t let not having time be an excuse. Set the timer and claim ten minutes. Today. Remember – Small Hinges Swing Big Doors!

Never let the size of your business (Life or Career) become your focus. Remember small hinges swing big doors! Disney started his business from a garage and created one little mouse, next he owned a studio, then Disneyland and now Disney World. The little mouse makes the elephant dance.”

Point to remember, when we are older and we look back at our life will “I didn’t have enough time” be a good enough reason why not to have had the life your desired? Only you can decide, its up to you. Call me today to discuss how can take small action to achieve your goals on 02890457045.

Small steps + small goals = makes big achievements!

Here’s to making 2012 hugely successful, fascinating and fantastic

Ann

“Transformed the performance of my employees and business partners…”

“Ann took our business to a whole new level of effectiveness…”

“Instrumental in growing my business…”

“She equipped us to produce maximum results for our clients…”

“Invaluable to my business…”

“The most important investment of my personal and professional life…”

Ann Rodgers

Personal Life & Business Coach

Infinite People Solutions

Coaching For Your Success

BA (Hons),Dip MLBC, PECI, ICF, NLPP

T: 02890 457045

M: 07725052349

You’re trying hard not to show it,

But baby, baby I know it …

You’ve lost that loving feeling …

~The Righteous Brothers

As we turn the calendar page to February. And in this second month, when our thoughts give way to celebrations of love. Today I’d like you fall in love with your life, career or business all over again and ensure you’re in this long term relationship for the right reasons. Passion is one thing but bad love is another.

Being addicted to your life, career or business and being plugged in 24/7 can be a great adrenalin rush. Is this sustainable? In my opinion, no. I’ve seen it all too many times. But You are not alone.

You don’t want to quit … but you do want to get some of that old magic back, the way it was in the early days. Your Life, Your Career and Your Businesses in general are a lot like marriages. Sometimes you’ve got to put in a little extra work to keep that spark alive.

If you could use a few tips on how to renew that passion and romance your life, your career, your business -you’re in the right spot. And if you’re still passionately in love, don’t worry … the same techniques that rekindle the spark can be used to keep that flame as bright as it is today!

#1: Attraction, Reignite the passion – Ask yourself what you really love about your life, career or business. “I love my life/career/business because I ______________.”

Some of the work you love, some of it is just plain old work. Focus on what you enjoy. Appreciate what’s working. Develop systems to make the hard work easier. Delegate the work you don’t enjoy. Get outside help. Do what you love and give the rest away.

#2 Reconnect the Spark- Schedule frequent ‘date’ time to reconnect with your life, your career or your business (every week). Absence does make the heart grow fonder. – everyone struggles justifying but will have the most impact – imagine you could not use ‘time or money’ as a excuse. I don’t care how much you love life, career or business. I don’t care how much energy it gives you. If you want to give it all the juice and passion you have to offer, you’ve got to step away. It’s easy to think you should do that all day, every day. But that’s a quick path to burnout. You’ll be more creative, more energetic, and more excited about your life, career or business when you build in time away to do some the other stuff you love.

#3. Make a plan. Make a plan to get yourself out of overwhelm and back to a life, career or business that you really enjoy. Put it in writing. Dust off your plan. Read the first page where you wrote all the exciting stuff about what a great life, career business you have. Or start one today. Having a written plan eases stress and gets you back in charge. You’ll feel powerful with a plan and feel in control.

# 4. Engage with Clients, Staff, Suppliers, Colleagues, Family, Friends.  Share your excitement. With your new plan and your renewed vision get out there and tell people about it. Just like after your first dates when that’s all you’d talk about, share your enthusiasm. Share the feelings of passion you enjoy. Being in love is contagious and you’ll be amazed at the difference this makes in your life, your career or your business

#5 Hire a coach – People who are ambitious in life, careers  or in businesses are kind of nuts. We think we can do everything alone. We tend to be contrarians by nature, and we’re addicted to drawing our own map. And all of that is awesome. You need to be self-reliant. But it’s not cheating for you to get some help, too. When I was starting out on my own, my legs were wobbly. I had a lot of passion and a ton of drive, but there were definitely days I was going the complete wrong direction. Working with a Personal Life & Business coach gives my clients some perspective, and helps them consistently to remember to do what they need to do. It also helps them enjoy the process a whole lot more. Just like a personal trainer at the gym, a coach won’t do the work for you. But they can help you realize that you’re strong enough to do the work yourself.

In this challenging time, when quitting is not an option and taking Action is the only way forward. Your life, your career or your business is like any relationship. When it’s new and fresh, you are passionate about each other and can’t wait to spend time together. But when you’ve been together for years, it takes more work, more spontaneity to keep the passion alive and burning. It’s not that its not there; it just takes certain steps to reinginite, reconnect and engage – But its well worth it and you know it!

Take these few simple steps to mend your weary heart, and jump back on board with pursuing your dreams wholeheartedly. The best is yet to come! Never give up and stay motivated and inspired to succeed.

You have what it takes, because if you didn’t, you wouldn’t have made it this far.

All it really takes to fall in love with your life, career or business all over again is a moment to Reflect, Reignite, Reconnect and Engage with the reasons you wanted to make the shift in the first place.

It can be good again. You can be good again. Just remember, you do it because you love it.

Heck, even the most powerful of people across the globe need to take a step back from their business for a little while to reconnect.

Don’t take my word for it, many of my clients have already kicked off 2012 by reigniting their passion in their life, careers and business – click here to find out what my personal life and business coaching clients achieved already

What are you waiting for!! Call today to get started on 07725052349. I’ve got openings for some new Personal Life & Business clients at the start of the year and I’d love to fill my schedule and work with you to make next year easier, more productive and more profitable than ever! If it’s time for a personal coach, contact me! Let’s talk and if it makes sense, let’s get started! Email me.

Last week, the Belfast Telegraph ran a Start a Business Supplement, if you are interested in starting a business – check out my top tips in Starting a Business In Turbulent  on this link.

Here’s to making 2012 hugely successful, fascinating and fantastic

Ann

“Transformed the performance of my employees and business partners…”

“Ann took our business to a whole new level of effectiveness…”

“Instrumental in growing my business…”

“She equipped us to produce maximum results for our clients…”

“Invaluable to my business…”

“The most important investment of my personal and professional life…”

Ann Rodgers

Personal Life & Business Coach

Infinite People Solutions

Coaching For Your Success

BA (Hons),Dip MLBC, PECI, ICF, NLPP

T: 02890 457045

M: 07725052349

E: ann@infinitepeoplesolutions.com

It’s the new year and I knew I needed a rather large push to focus properly on my business and build momentum, so it keeps going.

Ann’s excitement, enthusiasm and guidance has really built up my confidence, self-belief and focus  and already I’m out there doing it, as opposed to worrying and thinking about doing it!

She has coached me to be truly commercially focused to produce real results in the form of sales.

A much better place to be for me and my business!

Heather, Heather Craig Interiors & House Doctor  -www.heathercraiginteriors.co.uk

Award Wining Certified Business Coach UK

In 2012, thousands of professionals will see their income decline, and some will give up, change careers, move on orgo solo by starting their own business.As a soloist, starting your own business today, you have the advantage of being able to learn from those who have gone before and enable you to make money now.

“If you have an idea and you have the research to back itup there really is no time like the present to start up a business,”said Ann Rodgers, Award-Winning, Certified Personal Life and Business Coach. InfinitePeopleSolutions.com

Have you an idea you’d like to discuss further, make it happen in 2012. Call today to get started on 02890  457045