Freedomlance Inc.

Making resolutions for the new year is a tradition that usually ends with you beating yourself up by the end of January. Why go through this emotional roller coaster of declaring an ending? It's not that you don't have good intentions. You even make a toast to your decision. After thinking about so many things to improve, you settle on the one thing that stands out among the rest and declare it. So why doesn't this work?

Since a resolution is a statement of promise, it has been fulfilled once the statement is made. Taking it a step further by adding an action plan, and committing to it, is where the success comes in. This is the most important part that many individuals neglect. Think about it...throughout the year you plan your strategy to meet your business goals. Getting more gigs, growing your blog, increasing traffic, building positive relationships, and making more money all are backed by plans of action. Going into the new year with the same approach is the pathway to your success. 

Anticipate positive results of your goal. Think, talk, and live what you are reaching for. Success breeds success, so be sure to surround yourself with it. Toast in the new year with a promise of action!

Entrepreneurs that truly believed in themselves and at all costs stepped out on faith to pursue their passions to become totally independent are peak inspirations. One of my favorites is Gurbaksh Chahal (@gchahal). Long before starting gWallet in 2009, appearing on Oprah, Bonnie Hunt, America's Most Eligible Bachelor, and others, G left high school at the age of 16 to form the internet advertising company Click Agents. After selling it for $40 million dollars two years later, he continued his entrepreneurial pursuit and formed BlueLithium, another giant in internet advertising that pioneered in behavioral targeting.  In 2007, Yahoo acquired BlueLithium for $300 million. 

This is just one example of what you can accomplish by going after it. There may be some objections, haters, and hecklers. (I call them motivators.) By letting them continue to do what they do best, is getting you closer to success. Don't allow anyone to rent space in your head to throw you off. Surround yourself with like minded individuals, those that love you and fill your mind with the knowledge you need to reach your goals. The sky is the limit indeed!

When you get comments on your blog what do you do with them? Providing you are able to make time, do you read them all? Allowing readers to leave comments is positive on several levels. Whether comments are good, or not so good, there are benefits to gain. Bear in mind:

1. Words of appreciation: Most readers leave comments of a "thank you", or "great post".  These types of messages let you know that you have made an impact. Your information has made a difference. And this should make a difference to you. Try your best to acknowledge the reader by responding to his, or her, comment appropriately.
2. Embracing criticism: Comments come in all shapes and sizes. Not all readers will agree with what you have to say. As long as what is said is not meant to be in a degrading or violent nature it's okay. One thing I have learned over the years is that if someone puts forethought to respond negatively on a subject, it still holds some level of importance. The acknowledgement should reflect this. 
3. Tools for learning: The interpersonal communication exchanged through blog comments provides the opportunity for you to find out what is important to readers and how you fit in the picture. By knowing this, you are able enlighten with your expertise, assist in reaching goals, and extend encouragement. 
4. Inspiration for growth: Readers share a lot of themselves, from hopes and suggestions to their current realities. These expressions play a large part in the growth your blog and how your connect with the online subculture, so it should not be viewed lightly. 

As you begin, or continue, to build your blog, consider the merit that various comments bring. You will not please every reader, nor should your try. Doing so can remove focus and may cause readers to lose interest. Maintaining an honest presence is the most significant. 

What are some other reasons that make comments important? Share your thoughts with a comment.

Lately I have been quite busy. I admit sometimes the anxiety level takes over and makes me kind of nutty. But truly this is no way to work on a regular basis. In my quest to increase productivity I am so hyped to tell you about an app that truly makes a difference in not just the amount of work that can be done in a set time frame, but also the difference it makes in how work is completed. 

Anxiety can be a trigger for procrastination. Many writers experience this too often. Distractions take first place, hours have passed you by, then you kick yourself for not taking charge in getting the work done. This common mental roller coaster can keep you on edge...if you let it. 

The must have app I have been testing for the past week is Focus Booster. Based on the Pomodoro Technique, the Focus Booster is a time management app, you can customize, that helps eliminate the anxiety you feel when the pressure is on to get projects completed. With the use of sound, timed sessions heighten your concentration and focus. The more I used it, distractions became less of an issue. My focal point was to get the writing completed, which is what I wanted! 

The Pomodoro Technique was developed by Francesco Cirillo to improve efficiency and remove stress. Cirillo states, "The idea is to make our minds work in the best way possible." I had to give it a try. 

To learn more on how this cool technique can help you or your team with any freelance project, check out the site for more in depth information and download the free e-book. The Focus Booster is a free app you can download to your desktop or you can just use the live web version. 

Have you used this technique? Share your experience by leaving a comment.

Probably the first thing you do while having that first cup of java in the morning is check your email. You read several posts from other blogs, check out Twitter, Facebook, and other social media. Before you begin working on projects something compels you to go back to your inbox again, and again. Much of the day is spent checking the darn inbox!

I have taken note about how much people talk about their relationship with email. This is usually in reference to how their inbox slows down productivity. When you think about it, checking email is something that is often done without any thought. I've been guilty of it. I also realized how this subconscious habit was affecting my productivity a while back. Because it always had the potential to take my attention away from working, it was time for an intervention. 

I basically approached the issue like a bad habit. Not because I needed to quit, keeping tabs on the inbox is important. But it's a problem when productivity has been cut short. And as we all know...time is money, especially when freelancing. 

Incorporating an inbox schedule improved the situation. By redirecting this habit into time frames, productivity was back on track. Having a few email accounts, this worked well to check them at once and not think about it until it was time to. Anything urgent was taken care when the email was read. If there were any that did not fit into this category, it was dealt with at the end of the work day. 

The thought of an inbox intervention was different, but worth a shot. I found it to be a good benefit. Starting anything new takes some getting used and may need a few adjustment s along the way. To help break the habit of babysitting your inbox to improve your productivity:

1. Assess how often you check your inbox or feel the need to (once or more per hour=intervention)
2. Schedule inbox checks for once an hour to start. On the hour, quarter hour, half, etc.
3. Use a timer or Outlook scheduler
4. Check your inbox only at the scheduled time
5. Only address urgent matters as soon as email is read, save all others for the end of day

Do this for a week. The anxiety level associated with going to the inbox should decrease, keeping the focus work. If you find that checking every hour is too much, just cut down on the number of times you check your email throughout the day. Make any changes until you find the times that work best for you.

How do you keep from monitoring the inbox? Share your tips by leaving a comment.