I wake up around 7am and I am always hungry, my favourite breakfast is Porridge, which my lovely husband DaveOJ lovingly prepares for me, he is normally half asleep, and I make us a nice cup of tea. My laptop is open and ready to go so as I read the newspapers online I check my emails too and make some comments on Twitter, Facebook, Sprouter, to name a few of my social media sites.
After a shower if I am working in my office and not speaking at an event I reply to emails and note which newspaper articles are worthy of showcasing on my social media sites. Due to the amount of emails I receive regarding the Small Business Community Network, which I co-founded with DaveOJ 7 years ago, and the emails regarding Motivational Steps, I am normally stuck at my desk for hours replying to people who I feel deserve a reply. Obviously like most of us I get a lot of spam email, some of which I send to Junk if our spam filter did not catch it first. Others I keep as my way of doing lazy market research, useful to know what works and what does not in this area.
I normally speak at conferences across Canada and if I am not opening Keynote Speaker I am closing Keynote Speaker, this is my passion and joy and where I feel I reach so many people and help them in many different ways. DaveOJ and I are very happy to be able to travel to these events together and most conference organizations invite us to enjoy the whole conference and this means meeting so many wonderful people and build relationships. Most of the events I speak at are during the week, but if the odd conference happens to be during a weekend, Dave and I make a short holiday off it and take a few days extra to explore the surrounding area.
I know the benefit of a healthy lifestyle so I break around 10.30 for a coffee and a healthy nibble and stretch my legs and give my eyes a break from the computer screen. If the telephone is quiet and no one bothers me with calls I get to work on my articles, blogs, new keynotes or finding information & tips for my groups on LinkedIn, Facebook and other sites.
Networking face to face and attending different and diverse networking events takes up a lot of my time, but the benefits are tremendous.
After lunch if it is quiet I watch videos, read blogs and seek out people I respect who I can learn from and take notes or connect with them to ask questions or gain new mentors.
My newsletter, Stepping Stone is published once a month and I am always looking for articles from subscribers to publish in my newsletter. I also offer the Motivational Moments Podcasts at least twice a month and like to interview people from all walks of life for my podcast. I am often invited to be interviewed on radio stations and local t.v. shows which is great exposure for me.
The Small Business Community Network offers meetings once a month, for which I find speakers and also guests and members are encouraged to attend as much as possible. The SBCN also offers a couple of special events a year so I am always looking for seminar leaders.
I am also a business development consultant and take on 4 clients a year and that fits into my schedule nicely as I tend to keep those clients for early morning appointments.
As a successful business owner and member of a wonderful local community I offer mentorship to people who I feel need my help and this is on a complimentary basis. If we do not speak on the phone I meet them at my other office, which is located at a local Williams Coffee Pub.
Volunteering is very important to me so I make sure I leave space in my calender for my duties with various organizations.
When 5.30 arrives, I look at the clock and wonder where the day went! After supper DaveOJ and I can often be found at our laptops working on new ideas, marketing plans or just relaxing chatting on line.
It seems like I have a busy day, which I do but I would not change a thing, I love what I do and I love my life!
