But what I didn’t realize is that I really, really need to attend his program, Soul Tech.

Maybe you saw the feature on The Today Show about his cutting edge, yet beautifully low-tech seminars he co-teaches. If not, check it out:

“It’s not about smashing screens…” Leif says in his blog. Because that would be pointless. He explains on his website that it’s “essential to break away from the daily grind, turn the cell phones and laptops off and let the wisdom that is in you (and your team) rise to the top.”

Halting the tech input and focusing on connections (to self and others) is an incredible way to not only free your brain from the message onslaught, but acually allows ideas to percolate. Your business depends on this.

The impact of Soul Tech is huge. The woman featured in the video started a ning blog that chronicles her 52 nights off and encourages others to do the same.

For me? I don’t twitter, or IM (much), or even send text messages. I just have the kind of brain that can’t stop when I’m in front of a screen. My turning point? It took an out-of-country guest and two days in the mountains for me to decompress. And then I got sick.

But since then, I’ve been better… I’m going to bed at a decent hour and frankly just haven’t had the desire to do the email thing (my tech drug of choice).

Have you already perfected the life/tech balance? What would it take for you to turn off one night per week – or more?

Post from: My Organized Biz

Myself, I alternate between putting my nose to the grindstone and breaking out in a cold sweat. As a small business owner, I wonder how I’m going to keep afloat.

The good news is that no amount of worry will to change the way things are going. So what’s a savvy, organized business owner to do?

Have a kitchen table financial summit.

My buddy, Mark Silver introduced me to this concept and it has proved to be a life- and sanity-saver. Not to mention a really cool way to stay financially organized.

The basic idea is to develop a regular and sane relationship with your money and finances. So often we run from money issues, and this allows you to face them squarely and gently.

What do you do in a kitchen table financial summit?

For one, make the time for it. Put a kettle for tea and begin to treat your money like you would a good friend. Mark recommends doing it for an hour on a weekly basis. Time invested will pay off.

Once you’ve set aside the time, you develop a spreadsheet. It can be high tech or low tech. Personally, I like scratching it out on paper because the physicality is grounding for me and I can see everything without scrolling. Use what feels comfortable to you.

Enter any upcoming expenses and the dates they’re due. And then enter income you’re expecting. If you’ve been doing it for a while, cross off anything you’ve paid already.

How to beat the recession

A weekly Financial Summit can recession-proof your business because it helps you analyze where your money is going in a non-judgemental way. Over time, you may be able to cut back on certain expenses, pay off debts, and build savings – just by paying more loving attention to your money.

Sound wild? It’s awesome. And if you want to get a complete description of Mark’s Kitchen Table Financial Summit process (as well as a sample pdf spreadsheet) visit his website.

Is your head in the sand? Are you nervous about the recession? What are you doing to stay on top of your financial situation?

Post from: My Organized Biz

In this article, we’re getting down to the nitty-gritty about what systems you can create in your biz to build this trust.

1. Listen to the subtle messages that clients give you. Then get more information.

People hire you or buy your products because they like what you’re doing. In most cases, they have a genuine desire to see your business succeed. When you mess up in a small way, they may drop small hints about something that didn’t work for them.

Start paying attention to hinted-at messages – and ask for more information. If you’re genuinely open, clients will tell you what they need and what you can do to better provide it. You can’t pay a consultant enough money to give you the kind of insights your clients can. Don’t make excuses or explain (e.v.e.r.), just say thank you from the bottom of your heart.

Organized Biz Tip: Write down this information. Using their ideas, create new systems that change your business into a more customer-focused experience.

2. Underpromise, Overdeliver

When you’ve been at your business a while, you become familiar with how long your internal processes take. 3-5 day delivery. 2 day turnaround. Emailed estimate by the next business day. In other cases, you may have no clue how long something will take, so you give a ballpark guess.

What happens when something comes up you didn’t plan for and there’s an unexpected delay? It means you’ve just broken a promise to someone whose trust is valuable to your business. Long-term clients might be understanding, but it’s still a breach of the trust you’ve worked hard to gain… and there can be a high price to pay.

Take a good look at what’s a reasonable turn-around time for your various products and services, and then add a “time cushion” to it. This allows you to:

• Honor your time agreement even if a contingency arises, giving you a little breathing room
• Get the job done sooner than “expected”, satisfying the customer’s need for promptness

Organized Biz Tip: Start keeping track of how long various projects actually take from start to finish. Compare the reality to what you’re telling clients to expect and match them up.

3. Communicate deliberately with customers

The regular exchange of ideas and information builds trust and understanding. Ask your clients if they have a preferred method of communicating and use it. If they prefer phone, call them. If they use Skype, get it. It may not be your preferred method, but it helps them feel more connected to you.

Follow up with your clients regularly. Instead of either hounding them or leaving them to drift, each time you speak agree to a “next check in” day and time. Even if it’s a loose agreement, it creates clarity, safety, and structure for both of you.

Organized Biz Tip: Make an appointment in your calendar for the day and time you’ll be following up with them. This helps you remember and set aside the time to do it.

4. Provide a written guarantee

When people sign up for one of my classes, they get my 90% Bookworm Guarantee. In other words, if they give at least 90% effort, do 90% of the homework, and attend at least 90% of the sessions and are not satisfied, they get their money refunded. Period. In addition, I send them a $10 gift certificate to my favorite bookstore toward the purchase of a book that gives them the information they need.

What does this guarantee do?

• Makes the customer’s responsibilities clear (90% effort).
• Conveys my commitment to their success.
• Gives them confidence in my services.

Mark Silver at Heart of Business has a fantastic article and free audio about writing a guarantee like this – in a way that doesn’t compromise profitability.

Organized Biz Tip: Write a guarantee that is both fair to your business and gives the customer complete faith in your offering. You may have some “takers” for refunds over time, but the positive collateral it gives your business is priceless.

How useful are these suggestions to you? What are your next implementation steps?

Post from: My Organized Biz

I’m planing to write several Valentines – and I want to start off with my most influential mentor: Mark Silver from the Heart of Business.

Almost two years ago, everything I’d learned about business got turned on its ear when friend forwarded one of Mark’s newsletters to me. What I read blew me away.

Here’s what he said: You can make a difference in the world AND make a profit.

I almost didn’t believe it. But Mark has a long entreprenurial lineage and is also a Master Sufi teacher. With those credentials, I figured if anyone would know about this topic, it would be Mark.

So I subscribed to his newsletter, then I bought his book, and then signed up for his members-only online forum. Over a year later, I’ve taken every class he’s offered and then some. I’ve volunteered to support his most recent workshop and may be doing the same for his upcoming one.

Over the last year, Mark helped me realize that the key to a sustainable business is loving what you do. He helped me understand the simple steps to take in order to make a living at it. This knowledge has strongly influenced my approach to organizing and helping people set up offices that work for them.

So, this Valentine’s Day, I want to thank Mark from the bottom of my heart for the difference he’s made to my worldview and my life.

And, if all the books you’ve read about business just.. don’t.. fit, check out the Heart of Business. You might find the path you’ve been looking for.

Post from: My Organized Biz