Running a successful business is more than filling your appointment book (although that is important), it is more than managing your accounts and schedule (even though that is vital), and it is more than using your time wisely (but if you don’t do that, you’ll get stressed).

To stay competitive, and ahead, in the business game (whether you work for yourself or you are employed in a spa setting or doctor’s office) requires an additional set of tools. No matter where your business is located, you can integrate these “psychological” tools into your every day work life.

1. SEPARATING PERSONAL FROM PROFESSIONAL LIFE
A simple concept, but some find it hard to do because it requires some change in your thought processes and ultimately in the way you run your business. If you are finding that you have a difficult time keeping your personal life out of the treatment room (whether you are thinking about problems at home during the massage or talking to your client about them) this visual exercise works: Imagine two file cabinets one labeled Personal, one Professional. Picture locking the personal file cabinet before leaving for work and then locking the Professional one before you leave for home.

2. MAINTAINING HIGH ENERGY
Negative self-talk can be energy draining. Other reasons for physical, mental and emotional exhaustion are inadequate communication skills to handle client demands, their being late for appointments and not showing up at all. There are always glitches in business that we have no control over. It is more effective to concentrate on our attitude toward them. These are some that deplete us.

REBELLION: An immature reaction to what you don’t like. Rebellion takes many forms, such as procrastination, absenteeism, drinking or eating too much, badmouthing other staff, etc.

RESISTANCE: This is a block that definitely holds us back. When it has become an ingrained habit, we can be resistant to any kind of change, even those that are good for us. Try this technique: Talk to the block and ask, “What are you here for.” The information you receive may surprise you and get you on track again.

RESENTMENT: This is a powerful harmful emotion expressed by quiet resignation or outbursts of rage. It’s a mixture of disappointment and unrealistic expectations. Find ways to meet your own needs instead of expecting your demands to be met by others and….“Get rid of your resentment before it gets rid of you”. Raising self-esteem, confidence and assurance are great substitutes for rebellion, resistance and resentment. Rather than dwelling on problems, do nice things for yourself by including these energy boosters in your day:

REST & RELAXATION: It is vital to pause during each day. You can stop for a moment and breathe, be quiet, go within, pray, meditate, listen to music. Give up your worries, fears, concerns, complaints, etc. for a few minutes and stretch. Lie down and visualize a cool breeze at the ocean. A quick technique to energize and get ready to work again is: Make a fist and gently, but firmly pump on your chest while making a sound. This stimulates the thymus gland and gets you revved up again.

REJUVENATION: Take a bubble bath, get a massage, instead of giving one, a pedicure, facial, or go for broke with a whole day to yourself. Take a mini-vacation if you can’t leave your business for long. Whatever you do you need to completely get away for a little while, even if it is only for a few hours.

REINFORCEMENT: We human beings have a tendency to go back to old embedded habits (even the ones that aren’t good for us). As a member of the adult human race you can adopt constructive strategies for successful business through continuous reinforcement. One of the best ways to do this is through ongoing education. Go to seminars and workshops in your field, take communication and human behavior courses to help you in customer service. Put the information and skills into practice on a regular basis and you’ll be as successful as you want to be.

3. INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY
You already have a strong sense of what keeps you going and on top of things. But you may not have put your finger on the three most influencing habits that keep you from maintaining peak performance. You will see almost an instant improvement when you work on eliminating these three troublesome habits.

PROCRASTINATION: This habit is created in an attempt to deal with taking on too much. Repeatedly telling yourself you are a procrastinator makes you less productive. When you don’t listen to your body’s messages you can’t hear the subconscious "Time Out" signal that says stop and refuel.

PERFECTIONISM: If you are one of those Perfectionistic people, you most likely squelch not only yourself, but others. In the long run you will burn out as you rush about trying to accomplish more and more.

PAIN: Some pain is unavoidable, like feeling sad when you have lost someone or something that is precious to you. However, most suffering is caused by guilt, worry and fear. Much guilt is self-blame, like berating yourself for not taking a stand, while worry and fear are reactions to anticipated events, such as obsessing about needing more money. Try this simple formula: When you feel guilty, if you’ve done something wrong, correct it immediately, apologize and learn from your mistake. When you’re worried or afraid, recite the Serenity Prayer: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference. Then substitute these affirming habits:

PERMISSION: Instead of letting your business run you through guilt, worry and fear of failure, give yourself the approval to be as successful as you envision and affirm, “I give myself permission to succeed.”

PERSEVERANCE: Life is full of roadblocks. Some we create ourselves through self-limiting behaviors and beliefs and others are life “accidents.” Hitting a roadblock can cause feelings from mild depression to deep despair. It is important as a professional to keep your perspective. Life doesn’t have to be a struggle when you make your mind up to “NEVER GIVE UP” no matter what. Be tenacious with determined effort, and unflagging focus on the goal, and you will get where you want to go.

PLAN: It may be easier to just go along day to day, but not satisfying. A disciplined business approach, even though it is harder, brings more rewarding results. Winners clearly decide what they want to do, set their goal and stick to it.

4. SUSTAINING SELF-DIRECTION
Staying motivated requires continuous pumping up. Instead look for inner direction to keep your passion and purpose ignited. Develop a moment to moment awareness of your vision and dreams for your business. Inner direction is sustained when you meet your five basic needs: PHYSICAL: Sleep, exercise, nutrition; EMOTIONAL: Love, Self-Acceptance; SOCIAL: Relationships w/family and friends, belonging; MENTAL: Achievement, Purpose; SPIRITUAL: Higher Power, Higher Self, Universal Wisdom.

5. ENHANCING CREATIVITY
You can learn to manage your time, your business and yourself by harnessing your creativity. Intuition is one part of our creative nature and they go together to provide the best inner support system for meeting the continuous challenges of living – both personally and professionally. Here are three tools to access and utilize your creativity:

1. SELF-SUPPORT: Stop criticizing yourself and listen instead to your inner guidance. Take a few minutes every day to tune in to that special place inside and support and encourage your inner feelings.

2. SUPPORT FROM OTHERS: Caring friends, peers, a coach, a mentor and/or a mastery group can help you to pursue your goals.

3. ANIMAL IMAGERY: This is a powerful technique to enhance your intuitive, creative powers: Focus on a place of tension in your body. Imagine an animal coming from this place. Ask the animal what it needs. After it tells you say, “Thank you for letting me know” and immediately find a way to fill the need it stated.

6 SELECTING STRATEGIES FOR CHALLENGES
Take the words “handle, cope, try, deal with” and throw them away. Substitute the word SOLVE. Become solution-oriented and practice these methods of problem-solving.

1. BREATHE deeply and take in oxygen. Breathing is nourishment for the body and food for the brain. Inhale to the count of two through your nose, hold to the count of two and exhale to the count of four through your mouth letting out a sigh. It works!

2. EVALUATE: Take your time to logically (not emotionally) assess the situation. Ask yourself, what does this client or staff need? What do you need?

3. ASK FOR HELP: Today we need all the help we can get. With time constraints we are more efficient when we do things together. Collaborating with others allows them to become a part of the solution.

4. TRUST: Believe you can find an effective solution to a problem. Self-trust and solving your problems ASAP keeps you on track. Here is one technique that works:

State your challenge by writing down a brief description of what the problem is.
State your opinion about it. Example: I will never solve this.
State your emotion. Example: I feel anxious.
State where you feel tension in your body. Example: Tension in your shoulders.
State what you need. Example: A better way of doing things or To be more assertive.
State three action steps you are willing to take toward meeting your need. The moment you write down the first five steps and state one action step, you have an answer that will clarify how to go about solving the challenge. (This method is from REAL SOLUTIONS systemTM which I designed to effectively solve problems.)

7. INSURING CAREER SATISFACTION

LOVE 80% OF WHAT YOU DO; 20% IS "DIRTY" WORK. The 80% may be demanding, but if you love it, you will feel satisfied. The 20% you can “DO, DELAY, DUMP OR DELEGATE”.

DEVELOP A MISSION SENTENCE: Notice the word is “sentence.” Make it direct and focused. It will do wonders to give your work focus. For example, this is mine “Together.....we create remarkable relationships and successful solutions.”

The way to accomplish your goals as you make your way in the world of successfully running your business is to focus on the BASICS: Work INTER-dependently as you INTER-act with different and diverse clients and staff and SOLVE the daily difficult crises and challenges. At the end of your day, let yourself feel successful, satisfied and secure in the knowledge that you are running your business (and yourself) well.

This skill-building is an ongoing process of learning, study and practice. The more you become an expert about who you are and the more you polish your professional skills, the more you increase your self-respect. Your acceptance of yourself will alter greatly and you will come to believe in yourself. The end result: enhanced feelings of self-worth and self-esteem -- and a positive self-image!

Arlene Alpert, MS, LMHC, President/CEO of Jupiter Consulting & Training Institute a Business Relationships & Communication Specialist, Consultant, Educator and Author with over 23 years of experience, education and expertise. Arlene offers individual consulting/counseling/coaching by telephone, plus workshops and retreats. In addition Arlene is a CE provider in FL and a NCTMB provider. Arlene has been on radio and TV and has written numerous articles for the salon/spa industry. Arlene’s newest books are, “Traveling Beyond Life’s Roadblocks: Creating A Life Of Choice ” and “Moving Without Madness: A Guide To Handling The Stresses And Emotions Of Moving” are available for purchase. Arlene also has tapes and manuals for the industry. For further information and a complimentary copy of her 21 Tips For The 21st Century contact her at 561-744-4988, ALPERT10@aol.com and visit her website: http://www.arlenealpert.com