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