Blog - Cathy Stucker - The Idea Lady

The Secrets to Creating Good Habits

August 16, 2017 by Cathy Stucker 1 Comment

Have you ever driven a familiar route, arrived at your destination, and realized you do not remember how you got there? You had driven that way so many times, you were not even consciously aware of making turns, stopping at traffic signals (At least I hope you stopped at traffic signals!) and making the hundreds of tiny decisions you make as you drive.

Driving that same route again and again had become a habit. Habits cause us to do things without even thinking about how we do them or even if we should be doing them in the first place. They are like a magnetic force that’s constantly pulling us toward doing the same things over and over again. And once we do those things over and over again over a period of months and years, that magnet pulls stronger and stronger.

A habit can be a good thing. There are likely things you do every day that are great for your health, family, and business. You do these things without really thinking about them. However, there are other things that aren’t so great for your health, family, and business. These things consistently lead to bad results and you may not be sure how to stop them. In fact, you may not even be aware that you do them. [Read more…]

Turn a Minus Into a Plus

August 7, 2017 by Cathy Stucker Leave a Comment

The thing you believe is an obstacle can actually be a plus to your customers. It just takes looking at it from another perspective.

Can’t afford an office or storefront? Go to your customers. They will appreciate the convenience, and you’ll have an edge over your competitors. There are hair stylists who regularly go to nursing homes to serve the residents, massage therapists who do outcall, and even pet groomers who go to customers’ homes in a van to bathe and groom cats and dogs.

Is the amount you can earn limited by the number of hours you can work? If you provide a service, your earnings can’t exceed the number of hours you can work times your hourly rate. However, you can “clone” yourself to serve more customers. One way is to hire help. Another is to create products and services, such as videos and books, that share your information with those who need it. You create additional revenue streams, and make your knowledge available to a wider audience, allowing you to help more people.

Don’t focus on what you don’t have or can’t do. Look for ways to serve your existing (and new) clients by giving them what they want and need.

Do you have an obstacle in your way? Email me! I will share some of your obstacles and how to overcome them.

Dealing With Business Setbacks

August 1, 2017 by Cathy Stucker 8 Comments

I got an email recently asking for some advice. The question is one that I think all of us face from time to time, especially with a new business or during lean times, so I thought it would be a good idea to share the question and my response with you. Details have been changed for privacy reasons, but the problem is universal.

I am feeling so discouraged right now. I spent a lot of time over the past month trying to sign a new client. There was a proposal followed by questions, meetings, emails, conference calls and more questions. Just when I thought I had the job, I found out it went to someone else.

I was counting on this work and really put everything I had into it. I really need the money I would have made. What do I do now? I don’t have any other prospects. I feel frustrated and sad and I just want to quit.

Wow. Been there, done that. We have all had times when things didn’t go our way. Sometimes big things, like this. Rejection at any time can feel like you were punched in the stomach, and it is especially hard to take when you really need the work (and the money–mostly the money!).
[Read more…]

Be More Productive By “Going with The Flow”

July 7, 2017 by Cathy Stucker 3 Comments

Do you ever have one of those days when everything seems to go right? When you get more done in one day than you might get done in a typical week? (I love those days!) You can have more productive and energetic days when you tap into the Flow Zone.

We’re going to get into exactly what Flow is and how you can tap into it to do everything in business better. You’ll start to feel more in control of your business, happier with your work, more productive, and less stressed. There are so many incredible benefits that come along with tapping into a state of flow. [Read more…]

Focus Gets Things Done

June 27, 2017 by Cathy Stucker Leave a Comment

Bright shiny objects (BSOs) are the little things that glitter in your path as you move along in life. BSOs are usually more interesting than whatever you are currently working on because they are new and exciting.

Although many other traits in your power arsenal are also essential, I truly believe that focus is the driving force of them all.

It may not seem obvious how critical focus is to your success. What becomes obvious is what happens when you lack focus. You’re distracted from essential tasks. You become unproductive. You don’t get things done that need to be done. You spread your efforts over a variety of tasks instead of a few and end up working on a lot of things, but not getting anything done. You start feeling frustrated. You begin to believe that you can’t reach your goals, or you stop setting goals altogether, or at best you set simple goals that are easy to reach and not the “stretch goals” that can truly change your life.

Worst of all, the BSOs that contribute to your lack of focus cause you to feel unworthy of success altogether because you think that you aren’t capable of performing up to your capability. [Read more…]