by lisa@lisacanning.ca | Apr 21, 2015 | Lifestyle Design
When I am overwhelmed with life I have a few tools in my back pocket I go to often. But my favourite technique to battle overwhelm is to simply fill my brain with as much good stuff as possible- meaning reading things that fill my soul, make me better, and following people with great practical tips in general. So today I would love to share my favourite motivating people to follow on the internet- and why you should follow them too.
1. Michael Hyatt
So it's no secret I am a fan of Michael Hyatt. In early 2014 my husband introduced me to his blog and book. His blog, podcast and membership site Platform University are great sources for leadership development, how to be a great blogger / writer / platform builder, and I just love overall his attitude towards living with intention and integrity.
You should check out: this podcast interviewing Greg McEwen, authour of Essentialism. Amazing stuff on the disciplined pursuit of less.
2. Marie Forleo
I swear my baby is going be born with a New Jersey accent I have been listening to so much of Marie's content. She is just awesome. With her happy, sometimes a little crass, everything is figure-out-able attitude, you can't help but be in a good mood after listening to her helpful videos on getting more done in less time and overcoming fear and self doubt.
Fellow entrepreneurs check out: her video on how to determine how much to charge.
3. TIM FERRISS
I have just discovered his platform and what intrigues me is his approach to lifestyle design. He has several products with the 4-hour promise: 4-Hour Work Week, 4-Hour Chef, 4-Hour Body, etc. Essentially he is full of strategies and hacks to be efficient and get more done in less time. I look forward to delving into his content more.
Favourite thing so far: he suggests to check your email ONLY TWICE A DAY. This would be a huge departure from my current behaviour- but I totally see the merit and how it would save me a TON of time.
4. LYNNE KNOWLTON
I have known Lynne through the Toronto blogging scene for a little while now, but when you read her blog, I feel like you really get to know her. Her blog is full of design tips, cool DIY projects, crazy helpful blogging strategies, but the best is Lynne's vulnerable self that is pretty darn motivating (and often times so funny you'll be crying) even in the worst of moods.
Don't miss: her family's story of cancer, why your voice matters and 40 funny things about men – this last one had me laughing SO hard.
5. Stu McLaren
Doesn't this picture say it all? Sign up for his emails for regular motivating posts on growing your platform while making more time for the things that really matter. Stu practices what he preaches by making time for his charity he runs (with his wife!) World Teacher Aid.
For visual motivation: Check out his instagram feed filled with great quotes.
Who are your favourite motivational people to follow online? Love to now in the comments below.
by lisa@lisacanning.ca | Jan 26, 2015 | Lifestyle Design
My lovely colleague Vanessa Francis posted this to her Instagram today:
This resonated with me big time this morning. Saying "no" is a skill that has taken me a really long time to learn. But what I have learned is that saying no really means saying yes to much more: to happiness, to sanity, to living with intention. So if saying no for you is a difficult thing (let me tell you it still is for me) here are some strategies to help you say no with more freedom:
1. KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS
In order to say no with intention you kind of have to know why you would say no to it. One big catalyst for me to say no more freely was knowing my strengths. I did a Strengths Finder assessment a few years ago, and did some further coaching in it more recently, and it was super duper revelatory. One thing it showed me is that I am really good at 2-hour interior design consultations. In a 2-hour consult I am able to use my empathy, strategy, input and relator strengths (that is 4 our of my top 5 people!) to help people make the best out of their home. Strengths Finder also shows you pretty glaringly what you are not good at- I have used my assessment as a filter for what to delegate or simply decline.
I really recommend this tool. It's a whopping $10 to do the basic assessment online and it is worth every penny. Trust me, it is life changing.
2. WRITE A BRAND SCRIPT
This is important whether you run a small business, write a blog, or simply want to change the way you run your household. It essentially is the act of defining who you are and what you want to be known for. If something doesn't fit within your brand script it becomes a lot easier to say no to it with total freedom.
My amazing friend Sarah Walker wrote a post on creating a compelling brand story aimed at interior designers. You can do this for your personal brand, or blog as well. It's essentially answering a few questions (Donald Miller is the expert on this, credit for these questions to him!):
- Why do I do what I do?
- What exactly do I do?
- Who do I do it for?
- What is their internal / external problem?
- How do I help them solve this problem?
- etc. etc.
Again, it's a funnel. Having these questions answered really clearly will help steer you away from opportunities that just don't fit your bottom line. You can also phrase these questions into more of a mission statement. For example, here's a tool I learned at the Platform conference:
I'm a: ____________ (lifestyle blogger, interior designer, marketer, etc. BE SPECIFIC)
I help: ___________ (overwhelmed mothers, overwhelmed business owners, couples with financial trouble, etc. AGAIN BE REALLY SPECIFIC, NOT SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE- THIS IS KEY)
By offering: _______ (interior design services, copywriting services, a 10-week self-help program, etc.)
So that they can:________ (live a better life, sleep better, dress better, etc.)
Anything that does not fit in this brand script- politely decline.
3. WRITE DOWN YOUR PERSONAL VALUES
I am convinced everyone should do this exercise as it REALLY scared me when I did it. As part of Crystal Paine's Say Goodbye to Survival Mode book and Michael Hyatt's 5 days to your best year ever course, I had to write down how I spend my time, what is most important to me, and why.
Writing down my values was easy: faith, family, physical health, career, friends, etc. I had 7 really specific things on my list in order of priority. Then I examined a typical week. And it was kinda scary- I was spending 90% of my time on career, and trying to cram everything else in the remaining 10%.
Woah nelly recipe for disaster- and primarily my health and family were feeling the impact. Having your values really clearly identified on paper, and where you examine them all the time is really crucial. Saying yes to better heath for me has meant saying no to invitations that will keep me out late at night. Saying yes to more family time has meant saying no to contracts that will take me out of the house on a consistent basis.
This has been kinda critical for me. If you are struggling with this I really recommend Michael Hyatt's 5 days to your best year ever course. Let's be clear- no affiliate link or any back-end deal here. I realize a plug this man a lot. But I do because I have seen the changes in my own life as a result of this course and other tools and I know how it could impact you too.
Again, in the pursuit if saying no with more freedom- knowing WHY you are saying no because of its impact on your personal life is pretty essential.
OTHER RESOURCES
So something is in the air as I keep stumbling upon resources that totally fall in line with this topic. Here are a few more to help you out:
This is a beautiful post by my friend Sarah Walker on renovating your life like you would a house. Beautifully written, beautiful images, beautifully inspiring.
Essentialism by Greg McKeowon is, for lack of better word- essential in learning to say no.
I have not read yet but am excited to get my hands on The Joy of Missing Out by Christine Crook.
Have you said no to something that was hard recently, but you knew it was for the best? Love to know in the comments below.
by lisa@lisacanning.ca | Jan 13, 2015 | Lifestyle Design
I have 4 children. Under the age of 5. I run a business. And I attempt to fit in hobbies and personal time. I am exhausted just writing that. So running on empty is a feeling I am regrettably very familiar with. Last week I shared how 2014, while an incredible year, was one so full to the max I had hardly any breathing room. And I am determined to make changes to enjoy more balance and happiness this year.
But inevitably, there comes a time when despite your best efforts, the season of life you are in is super challenging. Right now, all 4 of my kids are sick (AGAIN). I will spare you the incredibly horrific details but tons of bodily fluids are involved. And of course they often pick the middle of the night to take shifts. This leaves a really tired mom during the day and a feeling of desperation so deep I could cry.
Today was one of those days for me, where I kind of felt like giving up on everything, where every single task felt insurmountable and where I felt like I could not survive the day. Have you felt like this before? Kids or no kids, I am sure I am not alone in this feeling.
If this is a familiar feeling to you too, here are some strategies on not only getting through the day, but filling your tank so you can indeed thrive, not just survive (to borrow from Crystal's book title).
1. CLEAN SOMETHING
This is such a simple task, but the reason why I think it's effective is because of the instant gratification that comes with one clean space. It's like you're one step closer to a cleaner house, which means order and sanity. And when you think about it, a messy room is really just 20 small "somethings" to clean. So do it. Clear off a counter, organize one drawer, purge one spot of your closet. You'll feel good, and it's instant, I promise.
2. DRINK SOMETHING
Preferably water. There are so many proven benefits of water- I am no nutritionist but lots of experts talk about it's efficacy. I now keep a pitcher of water with lemon slices in it on my counter- and basically force myself to drink the whole thing in a day. I still need a better strategy for drinking water on the go (it's probably as simple as reusable water bottles- I just don't have any?). If anyone has a great strategy for remembering to drink water while out and about please share.
3. MAKE A GOAL LIST
As part of Michael Hyatt's Best Year Ever Course I made a pretty epic goal list over the weekend. Like crazy epic, crazy good. And the exercise of getting the jumbled mess of thoughts in my head in an organized fashion was such an accomplishment. I felt an instant surge of confidence, and regardless of how daunting (great goals should be kind of scary!) the act of organizing the goals, writing them down with some semblance of a plan attached is an immediate mood lifter.
4. PUT ON SOME MAKE-UP
For my fellow moms out there that feel like you are in an endless cycle of diapers, spit up and mess, you know how good it feels when you put your face on. So do it. Put on a TV show for the littles, and take 15 minutes even if you have no where to go. As my friend Donna Bishop says, vanity can be a great motivator. So glam it up.
5. THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO LOSE BY NOT DOING IT
This is a total mental shift strategy, one that again Michael Hyatt's course helped me to learn. As part of the goal setting exercise, he asked us to consider what is at stake, or what might you have to lose by not accomplishing your goal. This kind of thinking can be applied to the big stuff- for example- why blog 3 times a week? What's at stake if you DON'T blog 3 times a week- you won't be consistent, which means you won't build a loyal audience, which means you have less of a chance of sharing your message and helping people, etc. etc. This is also totally applicable for the small things- what is at stake if you DON'T empty the dishwasher, or put away the laundry right now? Your kids won't have clean cups to drink out of, you'll be scrambling for clean socks when you are in a rush later, etc. This simple shift in thinking helps keep me motivated and especially where laundry and the dishwasher are concerned, it helps me get mundane tasks done that feel insurmountable at times.
How do you "fuel up" when running on empty? Love to know in the comments below.
by lisa@lisacanning.ca | Nov 16, 2014 | Interior Design
Last weekend I had the beautiful experience of visiting The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado for Michael Hyatt's Platform Conference. I could write 10 blog posts on how fantastic this location is (I promise a post on the features of this location to follow!) but for today's post, I'd like to share my highlights from this conference.
I have been following Michael Hyatt for about a year now and my life has been enriched by his weekly podcast. If you aren't familiar with him, Michael Hyatt is kind of the expert on building a personal platform and in addition to all his tips on blogging, social media and speaking strategies, I love what he has to say about living a life of intention and integrity. You should definitely check him out. So when the opportunity came to see him and his team live in action, and the chance to invest in me and my business for a few days- it was not a hard decision to make the investment and book.
And am I ever glad I did.
Because I left with laser sharp clarity on why I am doing what I do.
As I mentioned in my earlier post this week this blog is about to get a bunch more personal. Being personal on the internet is something that has scared me, and something I have basically shied away from. I have shied away for fear of rejection, for fear of letting people know the "real" me, and fear of what that might mean. I think part of it was also a fear that being more personal meant I was somehow less of a "professional business owner", something that I felt I had to prove starting my business at the young age that I did, and constantly comparing myself against peers 10 years my senior. But during this conference again and again I got the message to have courage, to be fearless, and that my message, if I can be couragous enough to share it, can really help people. I hope you'll journey with me in this next chapter of my blog.
Without further ado, here are my top ten quotes from the Platform Conference:
On being fearless:
"Lies that stifle our own success: 1) I don't know where to start. 2) I don't have time. 3) I'm not good enough." – Crystal Paine
"I will own the gifts that I've been given." – Crystal Paine
"Comparison is the thief of joy." – Crystal Paine
"Clarity brings confidence that results in concrete action." – Casey Graham
On helping others:
"Focus on your audience & how you can contribute to their lives. It's not about you." – Ken Davis
"We make a living from what we get, we make a life by what we give." – Winston Churchill via Stu McLaren
"No other success can compensate for failure in the home." – David O'McKay via Stu McLaren
On blogging / business:
"If you're not consistent, you're non-existent." – Michael Hyatt
"The energy of your business is directly tied to the strength of your email list." – Amy Porterfield
"Anyone with a personal platform should make speaking a part of it. It will clarify your purpose, and change lives." – Ken Davis
As if God wanted me to be REALLY sure what kind of laser sharp clarity I was meant to have from this conference, I share this final story from my Platform experience. I ugly cried multiple times during this conference, always when a speaker was addressing the topic of how you can help people if you only allow yourself to share abundantly, and to not let fear stand in the way. After one of my ugly crying fits, I fought all temptation to retreat to my room and wallow in self pity. I walked into the lunch room, head held marginally high, and this beautiful woman with blonde hair, who I had connected with a few times at the conference before, could sense something was up with me. It only took 2 seconds for me to be crying, literally on her shoulder, about how afraid I was of being more honest with myself and my audience. She provided me some brief counsel and encouragement and we enjoyed a lovely lunch. At the very end of the conference she found me and said she had a gift for me. Cue the ugly tears again cause this is what she handed me:
I wear it proudly. This gift from a relative stranger was my most memorable gift from this conference. I treasure it, and the experience, so much.
To my fellow #platform14 attendees- what was your most memorable gift from the conference? Love to know in the comments below.
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