One little Yes at a time

Hi, it's me Mynde. I am compelled to write in this moment. I was sort of taken away in the possibility of writing a blog post right when I noticed I wanted to procrastinate on Twitter. You see my to-do list is quite undone and growing more unruly by the hour.

Also, I am frequently challenged with "where do I put it?... which blog? My life coaching blog? My other blog? This one. The-YWC-blog-you-are-reading-right-now One."

Well now you know how I got here. Now the why.

I need your support (ha! that's funny when I am the purported helpER here, with Wendy).

Ever been really frustrated with Technology?
Well that's me. The last last few... um... weeks or so, it's been me versus Blogger Custom Domains. I guess I need a place to vent, feel safe and be human and say "Grrrrrrrrrrr Technology! It's sucks not to get it!!! Not to be able to figure it out. To feel stuck, stupid and stumped and just done with it. Ugh!"

Plus, isn't blogging about sharing more of who we are? I think it is. It's a risk to write anything. A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G! So I bring my actual life experience, in this case around technology, to the topic of this post.

I have been wrestling for far too long now with resolving a technical issue around using custom domains with a blogspot. I have researched on Google and read so many great articles (recently a series at Blogger Buster called "A Better Way To Set Up Your Custom Domain" to help teach myself and solve this issue. Even more frustrating is that I have successfully gotten this to work several times, with minimal steps and mostly ease. Seriously, not an issue. Until now.

I'm wrestling around, determined, burning up precious brain cells in the relentless compulsion to "fix/figure it out" (aha! I see you fear.)

Okay. Deep breathe. Time out. Focus check.

I know when I feel overwhelmed, breaking it down into small steps is really supportive. One little yes at a time. Yes, a client's email issues appear to be resolved. Yes, a new client engagement is unfolding. Where I put my focus is a choice. Putting my focus on what's well and good in my world is a perfect remedy for overwhelm and frustration. Right now, I'm putting my focus on what's not working and then my body is informing me there is another option (indicated by uncomfortable feelings like anxiety, worry, procrastination... )

Did i just say that?

Writing a blog post is NOT procrastination. It is a definite Yes and not little at all!

What is working well in my life?
The ultimate reframing question that works instantly! Just add focus.

Today I am grateful that I can write, anything.
Today I am grateful that I have eyes that can read and a brain that can process "stuff" and figure things out.
Today I am grateful for Your Web Coaches and possibility that looks like hubs - the answer to my always present question of where will I blog today?
Today I am grateful for Paypal (smiles).
Today I am grateful for my technology burnout that turned out to be a blogpost for you and me.

Before I succumb to my to-do's
If I can see what is good then how can I also focus on how I want to feel about this current challenge?

• Am I willing to see my imminent success right around the corner?
• Am I willing to see my all my clients and myself happy and having fun with technology?
• Am I willing to be happy and have fun no matter what?
  

One little Yes at a time.

Adsense vs. Affiliate Links

This is going to be fun. Changes are coming to YWC!

Mynde and I are going through a lot of conscious biggifying these days, both individually and in our work together as Your Web Coaches.

(If you're not familiar with the highly technical term "biggification," you should check out Havi Brooks. Just read her blog for awhile and soak up the love. I've paid for several of her products and they seriously rock, in a completely calm, non-stressifying way.)

We're working on redesigning our website, making the blog more central, and planning some great classes and products. Stay tuned because we're going to be blogging every step of the way, describing what we're doing so you can turn around and apply our experiences to your own websites.

So the first tiny step is that we've taken out the Adsense ads at the bottom of every post. Additional income streams from ads are definitely attractive, and we know plenty of people who've made lots of money with Adsense. But it no longer feels congruent for us to show these ads (for sites and stuff we don't know anything about).

We'd rather be extremely selective, and give our honest recommendations and reviews of people and products we truly love and wholeheartedly recommend (my link to Havi's website above is an example). Most of these folks have affiliate programs, so yes, we'd get a commission if you buy something from one of these links.

We don't think there is anything dishonest or incongruent about this. We will only be recommending things we actually own, and people we actually trust. For us, the main benefit is sharing something we love that will help empower you (our intention: empower - fun - share, remember?). Any affiliate commissions are simply a bonus.

More website-revision news coming soon. We'll alert you as changes are ready (but we're still keeping lots of familiar stuff, so our new site won't look crazy-different from what you see today).

What are the Roots of Your Business?

Let's talk about the roots of your small-business tree (what's the small-business tree?). We'll need to do a little digging, because roots are hidden underground. But the excavation is worth the effort. Finding and naming your roots is absolutely necessary if you want to nourish them.

Remember, your business's roots are its life-support system. And your business is a part of you, a part of your life, so these business-supporting roots will overlap significantly with your own personal life-support system.

To begin identifying your roots, ask yourself three questions:

1. Why am I doing this? (Why am I in business? Why do I provide this particular product or service?)
2. What sustains me? (Where do I turn when I'm challenged? What gives me strength, courage, hope?)
   
3. What do I need? (in order to keep doing what I'm doing)

Meet some of my most important roots here (clip is 36 seconds):



If you want to go deeper, you might consider different categories your roots fall into. If you're geeky like me, you could whip up an Excel spreadsheet or a table in Word, but you don't have to turn into a matrix-master. You could simply use the three questions above as journaling prompts, for example, or as topics to meditate on.

Here are some examples of business root categories and some things that might fall into them. Don't be limited by this list!

• Physical roots: things that support and enable your business and your body. Your office space, your computer, the foods you eat and when/how you eat them, your sleep routine and exercise plan.
  
• Mental roots: Your idea of a successful business. Colleagues and friends with whom you can share ideas, commiserate, and strategize. The way you organize your day, your life, your schedule. Your plans for the future.
  
• Spiritual roots: your belief system and practices, anything that connects you with a force or power outside yourself (whether you call it God, nature, the Universe, mankind, Spirit, or the term of your choice).
  
• Emotional roots: Your desire to improve the world. Your feelings (satisfaction? generosity? pride? gratitude?) about being a business owner. Supportive family and friends.
  

You definitely want to write down your results, whether you just dash off three roots right now or spend a week meditating and journaling. This is important for two reasons.

First, naming your sources of strength and support is in itself a powerful act of self-support. By acknowledging your roots, you are consciously agreeing to be supported by them. You are building evidence that you are, in fact, supported. This trains your mind to look for more such evidence. Soon you'll be seeing roots everywhere!

Second, naming is also an act of creation. When you looked for your roots, were there areas you found lacking? Practices you have been too busy to keep up (even though you know they are good for you)? Roots you wish you had? That's very normal, and you're definitely not alone. The good news is that you can consciously grow your own roots. Choose an area you'd like to work on and affirm that you are going to grow a strong root there.

Now you can revisit your written roots periodically and add to the list, make changes, and consciously direct your growth as a business owner (which, of course, is also your growth as a human being).

What are your roots? Join the discussion by leaving a comment here! Future posts will continue our in-depth exploration of the small-business tree, plus I'll be happy to answer your questions about roots.