Dalbey Education Institute

Get 'er Done!

Let’s face it: not every little thing we do for work is exciting and thrilling. Some things – like budgeting, filling out forms, organizing your filing system – can be downright boring.

But the fact is, even the not-so-exciting and the mundane are part of the job. It’s gotta get done, right? So you might as well give it 100% and get it done as fast as you can!

So, here are my suggestions on how to deal with the routine aspects of any task:

1. Make it fun by making it a challenge. When you look at a “boring” task, like paying bills, shift your thinking. Instead of saying to yourself, “Ugh! I hate this…,” turn it around. Turn it into a game or a personal challenge for yourself: “I am going to test myself with these bills and see if I can’t get them done in 20 minutes.”

2. Use the egg timer trick. When you know you have a mundane task to complete that might take a big chunk of time, try this: Find an egg timer. Set it for 20 minutes or 30 minutes. Focus on your project, don’t think about anything else. Then when the bell goes off, you get a break (for a certain amount of time; say, 5 to 10 minutes). Then you go back and do it again, and before you know it, the project is done. Knowing that you will get a break soon always makes it easier.

3. Give yourself a reward. Nothing motivates people like a reward. When faced with a boring to-do list, tell yourself, “When I get these things done, I’ll go out for a bike ride,” or “When I get this done, then I get to do the stuff that I really love.”

4. “Firewall” your attention. Sometimes you just need to hunker down. Focus! But, when you are working on something that isn’t all that exciting, it’s easy to get distracted. So, I recommend closing your door, hanging a “DO NOT DISTURB” sign on the knob, and routing all of your calls to voicemail if you can. Then just do it.

While taking care of the nitty-gritty, routine stuff certainly isn’t why we went into business for ourselves, these tasks are the basis upon which a successful business depend.

These tasks still must be done, and done professionally. But remember, even the most humdrum of tasks can be made challenging or fun.

Warmly,
Russ

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
Dalbey Education Institute

Our Latest Community Recycling Event!

Cheers and congratulations all around! The numbers are in and they are AMAZING!

On February 9, the Dalbey Education Institute hosted its third Community Recycling Event at our office in Westminster, Colorado. Nearly 40,000 POUNDS of unusable, old and obsolete computer and electronic equipment were dropped off to be properly and safely recycled.

Wow!

For more than two hours, people from all around the Denver Metro area – lines of cars – came to our parking lot to participate in this worthy and important event.

WOW!!!

We were featured on three television stations and on the radio, too!

Recycling your old computers and electronic equipment is a very important environmental issue.

Did you know?

•    While there are many organizations that accept donations of working computers, many computers are simply too old and obsolete. 

•    More than 315 million computers became obsolete by the year 2004, containing an estimated 1.2 billion pounds of lead, 2 million pounds of cadmium, 400,000 pounds of mercury and 1.2 million pounds of hexavalent chromium.

If improperly handled or disposed, these toxins can be released into the environment through landfill leach or incinerator ash.

•    In addition to their inherent hazards, computer parts often contain items that can be reused or recycled. In just one year, more than 112 million pounds of valuable materials were recovered from properly-disposed electronics by recycling for reuse. Materials include steel, glass, plastic and precious metals.

•    Improper computer disposal is not only an environmental threat; it is also illegal in many states.

Stayed tuned for news about our NEXT free computer recycling event, and please do your part in your community to always recycle and dispose of hazardous technology products responsibly!

Warmly,
Russ

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
Dalbey Education Institute 

Sleep Your Way To Success!

Success is achieved by a combination of many things. While the path to success is unique for every individual, I deeply believe that setting clear and reachable goals, being absolutely committed to your dream, obtaining a mentor, and having a loving and compassionate support system behind you are all contributing factors.

I am also a big believer in the role that physical well-being plays in success: exercise, drinking enough water, eating healthy foods... all of it impacts and supports your life in ways that can only make it better.

So can sleep.

I’m a bit of a workaholic – for me, work isn’t really work, it’s my passion; it’s what I want to do every day. And when my mind is running a mile a minute because I’m always so into what I’m doing, honestly, sometimes I forget that I need to go to bed!

I want to remind you (and myself!) that sleep plays a critical role in living a successful life. In fact, getting enough sleep – the kind of sleep that is regenerative – is an important key to your physical, emotional and financial health.

Here are some interesting facts to keep in mind:

1.    Everyone’s sleep needs are different. Whether it’s a full eight hours or just four, many experts say that it’s the quality of sleep that’s important. If you often find yourself nodding off in the middle of the afternoon, chances are you need more “good sleep.” Experts recommend between six to eight hours of sleep every night.

2.    While eight hours of sleep might be the old standard, a study from some doctors at the University of British Columbia that found that eight hours of sleep should really be thought of as the maximum. In fact, the study found that people who sleep longer than eight hours die younger than individuals who get between six and eight hours a night. The doctors found that those that sleep longer could be more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, depression or even diabetes.

3.    We’ve all met people who claim they don’t need much sleep and that they do fine on just two or three hours nightly. While you may feel like you can get by with only few hours of sleep a night, you probably can’t.

Researchers have found that being awake for 18 continuous hours actually makes a person act and feel like they are legally drunk. Lack of sleep hinders performance and judgment. Insufficient sleep can also weaken your immune system and makes you three times more likely to gain weight.

Be sure to see your doctor if you have any serious concerns about your sleep patterns.

So, work hard, work well, and work with all of your energy and determination... but remember to give your mind and your body the rest it needs – get a good night’s sleep!

Warmly,
Russ

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
Dalbey Education Institute 

Support: The Key To Success

I saw this great story on "The Today Show" recently. It’s about a family that pulled together and helped each other lose an amazing combined total of 500 pounds!

One of the things I loved most about this story is that it illustrates so well the necessity, the importance and the limitless power of having a support system.

The other thing I found so inspiring is that this family then went on to help others. And, they even turned the experience and the lessons they learned into an entrepreneurial venture!

Take a look:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23110183/

Warmly,
Russ

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
The Dalbey Education Institute

Tomorrow's Entrepreneurs... TODAY

Every year Forbes magazine honors enterprising, ambitious and creative young people that embody the entrepreneurial spirit.

Here’s an article that profiles each of the 2007 Young Entrepreneurs of America award. Each of these kids is amazing.

They range from athletes to actresses to budding business people – like Jason O’Neill, who at 12 years old founded his own company, Pencil Bugs, and 17-year-old Maryanne Barrott who started her own successful line of body care products.

I love to read stories like this... young people who have dreams and who have purpose and, most importantly, have goals.

They started with an idea and a passion, and then plotted out their course to achieve their goals.

Their drive to do more is inspiring; as a result, their futures are bright. They really are role models, as the award says.

Read about these great kids by clicking on this link:

www.forbes.com Young Entrepreneurs 2007 article


Warmly,
Russ

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
Dalbey Education Institute

 

Is it time for your home-based business to "move out"?

It’s ironic: many entrepreneurs start up their own businesses to facilitate working from home and staying closer to their families. But there comes a time in every successful home-based businessperson’s career when the question comes up: is it time to start thinking about renting a dedicated office space?

While some home-based entrepreneurs want to remain just that – HOME-based – there are plenty of sole proprietors who decide having an office space away from where they live is the best option.

This can certainly be a valid choice, but one that requires some thought. There are many considerations that go into renting office space. Consider these five points before you decide:

1.    Financial: Make sure you’re ready. Look carefully at your past income levels to make sure that the new expenses of your office space won’t eat up all your profits.

2.    Lease terms and location: Obviously, the office must be convenient to you (and your clients, if they will often need to visit you there). Make sure you read the lease carefully before signing; you might even consider having a lawyer look it over for you. You don’t want to be caught in a lease that binds you to a place that, in the end, doesn’t work for you or your business.

3.    Consider it from a customer’s view: Is the office clean? Is it in a safe area? Remember, the office space will be a reflection on you, so it needs to be as professional as you are.

What about the other tenants in the building? Is the overall office culture laid-back and casual or is it buttoned-up and more conservative? What hours do the other office residents keep? Does the culture fit your style? And what will that culture say to your clients about you and your business?

4.    Consider your “office mate” carefully: If you’re going to rent an office with a partner to cut your costs, make sure it’s a good fit. You don’t want to end up with people who leave your shared conference room a mess after a late-night brainstorming session, expecting you to play clean-up crew, when you really should be focused on prepping for your own client meeting.

Your office mates are people who you will be in contact often for many hours every week. You don’t have to be best buddies, but it is important that you like them. You must have a respectful relationship with good communication. Everything from a schedule for sharing the conference room to how you will split the bills for the phone lines and utilities needs to be discussed and agreed upon.

Also, remember that signing a lease with someone is a legally-binding relationship. Make sure the other leasee’s business is stable, legal, and sustainable. You don’t want an office mate who might “flake out” and go under in six months, leaving you holding the lease.

5.    Trust your gut: If you look at a rental space and it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. If you walk in and think, “Wow! I could work here!” then go with it.

If you are indeed ready to expand and make your office space a reality, then go for it! In many situations, you can’t really get “big results” without some real room to grow.

Warmly,
Russ

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
Dalbey Education Institute