April’s Coach of the Month

Despite her childhood dream to journey into “space—the final frontier,” SuccessTracs Coach Tiffany Young’s career began in the supercharged, fast-paced atmosphere of a global advertising giant and later, an outside-the-box book publisher. Read more about Tiffany here…

Dear Coach - I am attractive, successful, caring, loving, attentive and, according to my friends, have a great sense of humor. I have raised three wonderful children on my own. I am very independent, but appreciate when a man does things for me. However, I don't like drama, arguing or yelling and therefore have spent most of my life alone. I have seen a psychiatrist and I am already doing what she suggested. So what's the deal?
What about us who aren't weird, strange or otherwise undesirable? How do we find someone that will love us in return? What do WE do? I know I am not alone.
– Done with Dining Alone

Dear Dining Alone—
Let's start with the good news: You are obviously a winner and deserve a great guy!

Clarity is the first step in attracting your true love. You know what you don't want. Now all you have to do is focus on what you do want.

Step One: Make a List 
A few suggestions to get you started: "He's funny, romantic, caring, and considerate, with elegant manners and fantastic communication skills. There's nothing he likes more than taking me out to dinner."

Step Two: Watch the Movie
You can even make your own personal movie, in Technicolor with surround sound: "We were on top of the world at San Francisco's Top of the Mark, the city's lights a carpet at our feet. But he had eyes only for me—warm eyes that seemed to melt the elegantly molded pats of butter next to the basket of hot, steaming, freshly baked bread." 

Whew! It’s getting a little warm in here. Now that I’ve got you started, please keep going in the privacy of your own mind! Create a clear vision of what the love of your life will look like, make it specific and focus on it every day with certainty and gratitude that the relationship of your dreams is yours. (And already on its way!)

Live by the “Law”
Love is in the air! Smell it, taste it, shout it, proclaim it. Yes, it's called The Law of Attraction and it works! Tune the dial to K-LUV and turn the love frequency in your heart all the way up! He's on his way...
– Coach Tiffany

Dear Coach – Balance! I have just created a new LLC (since July 2006), business is great, but I feel like I am working 24/7 and have little time for "play." I have so many goals I'm trying to reach–mostly that I want to buy my own home. That takes $$$! So, I am willing to do what it takes, but before I know it, my calendar is filled with onsite appointments (that's great! Love the work), but my downtime is disappearing. I need help with finding balance when I am focused on my goals. Any suggestions?
– Out of whack

Dear Out of Whack –
You're right. It's either balance or burn-out and you're wise to make balance a priority. The only thing you want to be working 24/7 is your money!

Sometimes it's just a question of working smarter, rather than harder. See if you can divide your goals into immediate, short term and long term.

Create a Spreadsheet
I'm a big believer in creating spreadsheets that outline exactly what you want to create. A spreadsheet allows you to organize information by: (sample column headings)
1. Project Name
2. Action Items
3. Person in Charge
4. Division within Company
5. Due Date
6. Notes (Specifics)
7. Contact Information
8. Vendors (People and Places You’ll Need Things From)
9. Priority
10. Next Steps

Build a Priority List
An important step is assigning due dates and a priority rating for every action item in your spreadsheet.

Priority one is an action which needs to be taken immediately. Priority 5 may be 3 months out or even 1 year out, depending on how far ahead you are planning. Here’s the really cool thing about a spreadsheet program: it can sort, first by priority and second by due date.

Voila! Your computer has generated a report of all of your Action Items for April organized for you by priority and due date. This is especially helpful for those of you who have multiple projects or several companies to balance.

What this type of planning does is transfer all the to-do’s that are continually cycling through your brain, onto paper. What a relief! Organize your thoughts and your life will quickly begin to organize itself. The problem with disorganized information is that it's easy to view everything as equally pressing and important, when in fact it’s not.

Make a Calendar
You can also plot your key projects on a master calendar by due date. This becomes an invaluable tool in project planning so that you manage client expectations and timelines appropriately and don't overbook yourself.

Schedule Downtime
The other key is to actually schedule time off and then take the time off! Resting body and brain is a crucial part of the formula for working smarter, not harder. You'll dive into each week refreshed and renewed, thinking more clearly, working more efficiently, and feeling wise instead of whacked! – Coach Tiffany

Dear Coach – How do I overcome the feeling that people will not take me seriously? I have started my business in Mary Kay and my director says I definitely have the image that makes me credible and sincere, but I don't feel that I come across assured and knowledgeable. In other words people do not take me serious.
– Va-va-voom in Vegas

Dear Va-va-voom –
All those v's make me think of Value. Let value be your va-va-voom!

Ask the Right Questions
What does Mary Kay stand for? What are its corporate values? What do you stand for? What are your personal values?

Value your Value
You need to know what you bring to the marketplace to provide a solid foundation and build both credibility and rapport with your customers. 

Value goes beyond image. Think: energy. Customers can read your “value-ometer” in a heartbeat and make a pretty quick decision about whether to do business with you or not.

Be the Expert
Secondly, I'm a big believer in practice, practice, practice. Learn all there is to know about your company's products and services. Seek mentors within the Mary Kay organization and ask for their help. Practice every skill that serves your success until you are polished and assured. If that means taking a class in public speaking or improv or dancing, just so you can feel more relaxed and poised, go for it!

It’s all About Them
Remember, it's not really about you. It's about what your customers need and want. You are offering not only a product, but an experience. Buying from you is a pleasure! Turn the spotlight on the people you are selling to and let your va-va-value shine for them. Don’t forget to have fun with the process. Success is yours! – Coach Tiffany

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