| I've been a dancer my entire life. I | | | | of me was stiff as a board. I wasn't |
| started out at the tender age of 4 with | | | | moving my arms, hips, head, or |
| my first pair of shinny black tap shoes | | | | shoulders. Nothing. I was only doing 10% |
| with little pink bows. I later graduated | | | | of the work, but expecting 100% of the |
| to jazz, swing, ballroom, a little | | | | results.It's the same in business. If |
| country line dancing and in my mid 20s | | | | you have the perfect marketing plan, but |
| returned to my love of tap where I | | | | no systems to back it up, it's like |
| studied with a professional dancer who | | | | you're working at 10%. You need a |
| taught the likes of Paula Abdul and | | | | balance of marketing, sales, accounting, |
| other celebrities how to shake a leg.So | | | | products, staff, etc. Make sure you |
| when I decided I wanted to drop a couple | | | | aren't dancing with just your feet, use |
| of pounds before the holidays hit I went | | | | your whole body.Why do I have to force |
| back to my roots and signed up for a | | | | myself to do something I love?Sunday |
| series of dance classes.Going in I knew | | | | morning I'm curled up on the couch with |
| that dance requires creativity, focus, | | | | my dog, a nice cup of tea and the TV. I |
| control and power. But driving home one | | | | love the dance class, you'd think I'd be |
| day I thought about how much learning to | | | | ready to jump up and head off to class. |
| dance is like running a business. Here | | | | But no I literally had to force myself |
| are 5 business lessons I've learned from | | | | off the couch.Even though you love what |
| hanging out in a hip-hop class.I can do | | | | you do, sometimes you'll have to force |
| a whole lot more than I thought.Each | | | | yourself to work. Figure out what |
| lesson is broken down into sections. It | | | | motivates you to get going even when you |
| doesn't matter what class I'm in the | | | | don't feel like it.A group of peers is |
| instructor belts out 8 counts of new | | | | really supportive.When there is a really |
| steps and I watch thinking, "my body | | | | big class we split into two groups so at |
| doesn't do that".You know what, after | | | | the end of the class each group has a |
| it's broken down and we practice a bit, | | | | chance to really let go without worrying |
| "my body can do that". It's the same | | | | about running into their neighbor. It's |
| with your business. What business tasks, | | | | great having more advanced dancers to |
| systems, phone calls, and risks are you | | | | follow in case I forget the steps. Then |
| not taking because you think you can't? | | | | at the end the group watching claps and |
| All it takes is breaking it down and a | | | | cheers - no matter we look like.Find |
| little practice and you'll be amazed at | | | | yourself a group of cheerleaders. |
| what you can do.It gets easier with | | | | Personally, I have a mastermind group, |
| time.My first day in hip-hop class I | | | | an accountability buddy, and a coach. |
| looked around at the room full of | | | | All help me when I need help with the |
| 20somethings and through, "what on earth | | | | steps and cheer for me when I have even |
| is a tap dancer doing in a hip-hop | | | | a small success.© 2005 Beth Schneider. |
| class"? I tripped over myself, got | | | | Want to reprint this article, feel free |
| frustrated with the steps and pretty | | | | as long as you include the following: |
| much looked like an idiot. But the more | | | | Beth Schneider, Chief Infopreneur of |
| I do it the easier it gets and the more | | | | Process Prodigy, is a business process |
| fun it is. To top it off I'm surprised | | | | consultant who helps solo-entrepreneurs, |
| at how fast I'm picking it up.In | | | | small business owners and network |
| business you don't start at the top. You | | | | marketers who want to systemize their |
| have to try things that make you feel | | | | business to increase profits, increase |
| uncomfortable, self- conscious and maybe | | | | productivity and grow their business |
| even (gulp), out of control. But keep at | | | | without having to give up the family |
| it because soon things that gave you the | | | | oriented, flexible, balanced lifestyle |
| heebie jeebies become second nature.It | | | | they desire. Beth works one-on-one with |
| takes more than good feet to be a good | | | | her clients, offers home study courses, |
| dancer.So there I was feeling a little | | | | and teleclass boot camps. For more |
| cocky because I had all the steps down. | | | | information visit and sign up for your |
| I was moving all over the floor and then | | | | FR*EE 5- Step Process Starter Kit and |
| I looked in the mirror and I looked like | | | | FR*EE Process Tips. |
| CRAP.My feet were perfect. But the rest | | | | |