Eliminating Negative Attitude

If you’re intellectually honest, you’ll have no trouble admitting that you’re often limited by negativity. Maybe you’re pretty successful, and you’ve vanquished a lot of your habitual negative thoughts or negative attitude, but even if you’re that far along the path, you’re almost sure to have a substantial amount of negativity in your head and in your life.

Negativity takes many forms. It may appear as fear, frustration, habitual anger, self doubt, anxiety, discouragement, depression, or a variety of other emotions.  It likely affects your ability to communicate clearly, to motivate yourself, to maintain perspective, to sell effectively, and to rise above unexpected occurrences.
For those of us who rely on our people skills, certainly the case for those of us in direct sales or any home based business, our state of mind is directly proportional to our results. So being able to beat negativity has a profound effect on our earnings. When you cultivate the qualities of a positive mind; optimism, clarity, enthusiasm, etc. you’re in a much better position to influence and lead others. For that reason, many people in home based businesses monitor their emotional state.

Even if you’re aware of it, however, you may not know how to eliminate negativity when it’s present. So, here is a primer on the art of eliminating negativity; erasing fear, anxiety, anguish, frustration, and the like.

• Notice that you’re experiencing negativity. This is sometimes the hardest part. We’re often so caught in the drama that provoked our feelings that we’re not noticing the feelings themselves.
• Name the brand of negativity you’re experiencing. Is it fear, judgment, impatience, etc.
• Stop thinking about the thing that caused it and turn your attention to the feeling itself.
• Don’t try to make it go away. You can’t use your mind to cure your mind. You’ll only create more of the same. You’ll get angry that you’re angry or anxious that you’re anxious. No way out!
• Scan your body with your mind. Notice the sensations that comprise the negativity. Eventually, this practice will lead to a softening of the feeling; its intensity will diminish.
• Take a few deep breaths and relax.

Stay Positive

When you replace the negative thought with a clear vision of the outcome or intention you seek it will be natural to stay positive. Even if there’s still a residue of uncomfortable feelings in your body, focus on the new vision.

By following this simple, seven-step formula, you’ll eliminate most negativity when it arises and put yourself back on track to function at a higher level of effectiveness by maintaining a positive focused attitude.

Steve Taubman educates direct sales professionals in the art of cultivating mindfulness.  In 2005 Steve wrote his groundbreaking first book entitled UnHypnosis: How to Wake Up, Start Over, and Create the Life You’re Meant to Live, in which he shares powerful tools and techniques for removing inner barriers to success and leading a purpose driven life. UnHypnosis quickly rose to #1 on Amazon.com as a self-help bestseller. Visit his site for direct sales professionals and download a complimentary chapter.

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The Elite Leadership Training Conference

October 14-16, 2010 in San Diego, California. Click here to learn more: Inspire, DSWA Leadership Retreat 2010

Bobbi Hood shares her experience from attending the DSWA Leadership Retreat 2009.  This conference and retreat is for leaders with 100 or more people in their organization, or $750,000 in annual group retail volume or who are one of the top 5 leaders in their company.

Are you an Elite Leader in your company?  Attend the leadership retreat!

This retreat is informative, enlightening and inspirational. Enjoy visionary trainers, win-win workshops, straight-talking mastermind sessions, and compelling dialogue about the direct selling profession, leadership and how YOU can empower others.

October 14-16, 2010 in San Diego, California. Register now!  Inspire, DSWA Leadership Retreat 2010

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QuickBooks Makes Home Business Tax Time Simple

QuickBooks is one of the most popular money software applications available for small business owners. If you are in the direct sales industry, then you need a way to organize your information in a way that makes sense and is easy to follow. Maintaining your financial books is one of the most important business tasks you do each day. When it comes to this aspect of your home business, the easier this task is to do, the better.  Unfortunately sometimes the finances get the least amount of our time then at tax time we spend more time getting organized. QuickBooks or other software finance management systems will make tax time simple!

QuickBooks is affordable, easy to install, and provides many useful features to help you keep up with your expenditures and quickly retrieve the data when you need it.

Home Based Business Investment

You must have a handle on your finances.  If you expect to make money you must understand your money.  As a home based business owner, it is essential to make investments and spending decisions.  Without proper money and financial systems in your office you will never know if you are making a good decision when considering an investment. A problem will arise if you spend money you don’t have, and you will then find yourself wishing your books were better organized.  It is not unusual for a home business owner to over spend because they are unclear on their true profit.  When you use QuickBooks, you need never worry whether your books are in good shape. Organizing them has never been easier.  Before I started using QuickBooks I had no clue if my accounts were balanced. Now I always now at a glance what the REAL bottom line is.

Home Office Deductions

QuickBooks also helps you organize your finances and keep them up to date, thus enabling you to access important financial data and make important business decisions easily. When you have a good handle on your expenses as well as a written business plan you can feel secure in taking the home office deduction. The ability to reduce your taxes as a result of your home base business is a benefit of w0rking from home.

Write a business plan and use a simple software program to manage your money so you are meeting the requirements that the IRS has requested.  You are entitled to the home office deduction.  Your QuickBook ledgers and your written business plan show two of the three things that the IRS is looking for to.

Your Tax Deduction

In order to feel comfortable taking the home office tax deduction the only thing you need to prove is:

• An intent to profit (your business plan)
• Activity (calendar, mileage log, etc.)
• Documentation (Quickbooks, etc.)

There are several key benefits to using QuickBooks. First, it is inexpensive. You need to invest money in your business, and this investment will pay off. There is no need to ever wonder how your sales are doing or how much money you have made in the past month. You never have to look far to find out how much money you have in the bank. QuickBooks organizes it all for you in a way that is sensible and easy to follow. Should a problem arise with the software, you can take advantage of top notch customer service and technical support.

QuickBooks has been referred to as the best small business accounting software available. You can also set it up for a wide variety of business types and can use many great tools for keeping up with your books. It is very intuitive and will walk you through the various processes and tasks without the need for training or a complicated manual.

You can install QuickBooks on almost any computer and can update it quickly and easily. It is compatible with various Windows operating systems and won’t take up a lot of room on your hard drive. It’s a cost-effective way of keeping up with your finances on your own home computer.

QuickBooks contains many useful features that help you maintain all your accounting needs, including keeping up with your tax information. This is crucial for a business owner as this information is always helpful to have close at hand and will save a great deal of time come tax season.

Home-Based Business Plan Template

QuickBooks provides you a quick and easy method for organizing your business finances. This is essential for any home-based business owner, regardless of the type of business you run. It will save you time and money by providing you a service you might otherwise have to pay someone else to do.  Learn more about creating a home-based business plan template that was created by a direct sales accountant specifically for the direct selling industry.

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