Twitter

hmmm… this is my Twitter page - http://twitter.com/RainbowDesigns but I must admit I don’t really know what it’s all about.
It seems to me you just write random thoughts or activities that you’re doing, like a blog but much briefer. My Twitter page only started yesterday and I can’t see me keeping it up but you never know. I definitely can’t see people being interested in it, again a bit like my blog. It’s very ‘me, me’ really, why would anyone care that you’re eating breakfast, heading to the bank, changing your mobiles ring tone etc etc
So what is it all about? Staying in touch with family and friends apparently, isn’t that what phones and emails let us do? Twitter is instant and can be done where ever you are, again like a phone or sms…..hmmm, I’m still puzzled?
Any ideas?

Time Out!

We all need some down time from the busyness (a word?) of everyday, whether it be reading, knitting (you’ve seen my attempt in a previous post!), gardening or even sudokuing (maybe a word?) it’s good to just do something because you want to not have to. It helps us recharge and relax and clear our minds, even if only for a short time. I know with running my own business it can be all consuming, I eat, breath and sleep Rainbow Designs (although the eat parts not so bad!) and find it so hard to switch off. This is not a productive way to run a business as I find I end up going round in circles - a break is the only thing that helps, even if it’s just 10 mins flicking through my latest copy of Notebook. Weekends are another time that can get over run by ‘the business’ especially with the computer only a few metres away. It is so easy to sit down ‘for just a few minutes’ and find half the day has disappeared, I’ve done that many a time and then later on think ‘what did I actually achieve’? Now I know, sometimes it is unavoidable working long hours including weekends but you need to make sure it doesn’t become the norm or else you’ll burn yourself out.
Taking time out should be a permanent part of your day, like doing orders, ringing customers, paying bills, they all need doing to keep your business running smoothly and your sanity in check!

Tha Calm before the storm

More often than not the days/weeks leading up to a special occasion (this one being Father’s Day - Sunday 2 Sept) mean racing madly around getting extra everything. Extra packing tape, extra boxes, extra gift tags, extra lollies, extra post bags, extra labels - I think you get the idea. It’s now time to be a mind reader and try and pre-empt what gifts people will be ordering and ensuring there will be enough stock when the orders do start flooding in (please, please). A final check of everything and a last minute flurry of making up more packing boxes before everything is ready for the ’storm’.
The first lot start coming in so I get to work packing them up and carefully organising them in ‘date to be sent’ order - phew, that lot done, time to make up more packing boxes, change the printer ink, refill the paper, empty the garbage bin, find another pen because the inks just run out and a quick phone call to our supplier to check whether they have Freddos and licorice in stock (must be a dad thing)!
I’ve got myself so organised this year that I’m now so up to date I’m driving myself crazing and visiting every blog, forum and online shop I’ve ever put into my favourites and wasting so much time!! Plus it’s making me nervous that my ’storm’ has already hit and it was just a slight breeze but never fear as the moment I type those words in come some more orders - yipee. The sun’s shining but the storm is still raging 
It helps to be organised but it can also be distracting, giving you tunnel vision and forgetting all the other elements of your business that still need looking after - paying the bills, answering the emails, sending out your newsletter, chasing up stock orders, following up on advertising opportunities, overdue accounts, dodging telemarketers……
Did I say there was a ‘Calm’??

5 Things I Do Every Morning

Number 1
Turn my kettle on - I must have a coffee (preferably percolated) to get my day started
Number 2
Turn my computer on - although lately I haven’t actually been turning it off, so I just need to wake it up
Number 3
Print out the orders that came in over night and start to write out the gift tag messages. Depending how many there are I may finish this a little later
Number 4
Visit my regular online networks - Messy Desk, She-Essence, Free Business Tips and Small Business Den I love to read what other small business owners are up to, it’s always exciting and motivating to read about others successes - even their difficulties can inspire. You think ‘what can I do to help’?
Number 5
Eat my breakfast - I am trying very hard to have brekky every morning as I have read (and am now starting to believe) that breakfast or lack of can effect your mood for the rest of the day.
I normally allow myself 30-40mins to do the above before I ‘get ready’ for the day ahead. It helps me to ease myself into the day so I don’t start frazzled and stressed before it has even begun!

Australian Bankcard

Bankcard introduced credit cards to Australia in 1974 but was gradually phased out in 2006 due to the declining use of it.

Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal!

Joyful, Jubilant Learning has set a target of 7 wonders and 777 links - that’s why it’s called the bhag! (big hairy audacious goal). I came across this event through Ramblings from a Glass Half Full and thought it was a pretty great idea so have decided to join in the fun.
Now I have to give some serious thought to the posts and links I have found to be my top 7 in helping me learn, live, leap, love and smile. It’s not a small task, there is just so much amazing resources online from so many amazing people - where will I start? Close to home I think as I have met a great number of people online, through various forums and blogs who all reside in my little part of the world. So Australian bloggers you’re on my hit list but I’m not going to limit myself to the southern hemisphere as I too have also found some very inspirational sites in far, far away places.
So, my target for 7 by 7/7/07 is on……..
Will you help them (Joyful Jubilant Learning) reach their goal?
This is what you do:
1. Between now and Saturday, July 07, 2007 take your personal leaps of wonder:

- Listen, Laugh, and Learn as much as you can from the collective wisdom online.
- Link to this post and spread the good word for them!
- If you blog, feel free to grab a banners from their site to promote the event on your own site, and proclaim yourself as a JJL Contributor.
You will be Loving, Living, and Leaping to wonder as you take these first steps!

2. On (or before) Saturday, July 07, 2007 return here, and enter your favorite 7 Learning Links in the comments. They can be from your own site, or from others. Along with each link, designate which of our JJL Learning categories you feel they best fit into, for they will be compiling them on this master page by category:

Compilation: 7 Wonders of Joyful Jubilant Learning

What a great Action Plan!

1. Decide exactly what you want in life in each area, and write it down. Make your goals clear, specific and measurable.
2. Specify the most important skill you could develop to move you into the top 10 percent of people in your field. Then do something immediately to begin developing that skill.
3. Identify the major constraint or limiting factor inside yourself or in your world that is setting the speed at which you achieve your most important goal, and begin working on removing that constraint today.
4. Determine your single biggest problem or obstacle in your business or personal life. Then focus all your time and attention on the possible solutions.
5. Make a list of what you would want to be, do and have if you had no limitations and you were absolutely guaranteed success.
6. Accept complete responsibility for your life. From this day forward, refuse to make excuses or blame anyone for anything. Instead, take action to make your goals a reality.
7. Reaffirm and visualise your goals of financial success, excellent health and personal happiness as a reality. Remember, the person you see is the person you will be.

From: The Way to Wealth, Part I: The Journey Begins–Success Strategies of the Wealthy Entrepreneur by Brian Tracy (Entrepreneur Press)

Well for me number 6 is a biggy - “Accept Responsibility” - all too often people blame someone or something else (me included) but I’ve realised that it is up to me and me alone to decide on how I will react to things. My life is in my hands, no one elses, so I need to start accepting responsilibity for everything I do and for everything that happens in MY life. I need to stop looking out and starting looking in. I need to stop envying others and start recognising my achievements. I need to stop living by other peoples ideals and start living by mine. I need to stop focussing on what I don’t have and start looking at what I do have. I need to be ME and stop trying to be who I think other people expect me to be. I need to stop dwelling on the negative and look at all the positives. I need to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for MY life.

I have a great business, I have a gorgeous little house, I have a loving family, I have a sexy car, I have great potential, I have a caring nature, I am healthy, I am happy, I can cook and I can SMILE.