| Ive been a dancer my entire life. I started out at the | | | | heebie jeebies become second nature. |
| tender age of 4 with my first pair of shinny black tap | | | | It takes more than good feet to be a good dancer. |
| shoes with little pink bows. I later graduated to jazz, | | | | So there I was feeling a little cocky because I had all |
| swing, ballroom, a little country line dancing and in my | | | | the steps down. I was moving all over the floor and |
| mid 20s returned to my love of tap where I studied | | | | then I looked in the mirror and I looked like CRAP. |
| with a professional dancer who taught the likes of | | | | My feet were perfect. But the rest of me was stiff |
| Paula Abdul and other celebrities how to shake a leg. | | | | as a board. I wasnt moving my arms, hips, head, or |
| So when I decided I wanted to drop a couple of | | | | shoulders. Nothing. I was only doing 10% of the |
| pounds before the holidays hit I went back to my | | | | work, but expecting 100% of the results. |
| roots and signed up for a series of dance classes. | | | | Its the same in business. If you have the perfect |
| Going in I knew that dance requires creativity, focus, | | | | marketing plan, but no systems to back it up, its like |
| control and power. But driving home one day I | | | | youre working at 10%. You need a balance of |
| thought about how much learning to dance is like | | | | marketing, sales, accounting, products, staff, etc. |
| running a business. Here are 5 business lessons I've | | | | Make sure you arent dancing with just your feet, use |
| learned from hanging out in a hip-hop class. | | | | your whole body. |
| I can do a whole lot more than I thought. | | | | Why do I have to force myself to do something I |
| Each lesson is broken down into sections. It doesnt | | | | love? |
| matter what class Im in the instructor belts out 8 | | | | Sunday morning Im curled up on the couch with my |
| counts of new steps and I watch thinking, my body | | | | dog, a nice cup of tea and the TV. I love the dance |
| doesnt do that. | | | | class, youd think Id be ready to jump up and head |
| You know what, after its broken down and we | | | | off to class. But no I literally had to force myself off |
| practice a bit, my body can do that. Its the same | | | | the couch. |
| with your business. What business tasks, systems, | | | | Even though you love what you do, sometimes youll |
| phone calls, and risks are you not taking because you | | | | have to force yourself to work. Figure out what |
| think you cant? All it takes is breaking it down and a | | | | motivates you to get going even when you dont |
| little practice and youll be amazed at what you can | | | | feel like it. |
| do. | | | | A group of peers is really supportive. |
| It gets easier with time. | | | | When there is a really big class we split into two |
| My first day in hip-hop class I looked around at the | | | | groups so at the end of the class each group has a |
| room full of 20somethings and through, "what on | | | | chance to really let go without worrying about |
| earth is a tap dancer doing in a hip-hop class"? I | | | | running into their neighbor. Its great having more |
| tripped over myself, got frustrated with the steps | | | | advanced dancers to follow in case I forget the |
| and pretty much looked like an idiot. But the more I | | | | steps. Then at the end the group watching claps and |
| do it the easier it gets and the more fun it is. To top | | | | cheers no matter we look like. |
| it off Im surprised at how fast Im picking it up. | | | | Find yourself a group of cheerleaders. Personally, I |
| In business you dont start at the top. You have to | | | | have a mastermind group, an accountability buddy, |
| try things that make you feel uncomfortable, self- | | | | and a coach. All help me when I need help with the |
| conscious and maybe even (gulp), out of control. But | | | | steps and cheer for me when I have even a small |
| keep at it because soon things that gave you the | | | | success. |