How to claim your power: Become who you want to be.

Are you ready to get more of what you want? To become who you want to be? To build confidence to make better decisions? If you want to get unstuck and move forward, this book is for you. The framework Gary Brunson leads readers through is one that has brought help, healing, and personal insights to hundreds of people throughout his career, first as a psychotherapist and for the past few decades as an in-demand executive consultant to business owners and entrepreneurs.

The model set forth here provides an avenue to becoming more aware of the filters we default to and the patterns of response we might not even realize we have. It is for those who want to better understand themselves as well as for leaders who want to create more emotionally healthy workplaces.

The overarching frame for this book is three things that we have control of in our lives:
1. How we are going to turn up each day
2. What we decide we are going to be, become, and try to accomplish with the life we have left.
3. How we view all experiences of our past, and what we choose to do with them in our present and future life.

Doing the first two things requires us to intentionally reconnect with ourselves to reclaim the power we already have to be the creator of the life we want from this moment forward to the end of our lives. Then and only then can we execute those first two things, jettison the role of a victim, and live out our power to be the self-determined creator of our own lives.

We have all scripted ourselves to manage our lives in hundreds of ways. We operate daily out of automatic patterns of behavior, and mostly we are unaware of the fullness of those patterns or where they have come from. It pays to examine them when something happens that puts us in a situation about which we feel a strong emotion such as sadness, anger, scare, happiness, excitement, or tenderness. Brunson provides what he calls Golden Questions to gently interrogate those emotions when we experience them, as a means to reveal the existence and source of those patterns.

You’ll appreciate Brunson’s practical wisdom and story-telling whether you are a young adult launching on your own, a CEO or owner of a company who wants to take your businesses to the next level, or you just think it’s time for life transformation.

Click here to order on Amazon or to read more.

We would love to hear your comments.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

The Misconception of a New Normal

The New Normal. The term has become a bit of a catchphrase since the early months of 2020. So much so, in fact, that the concept feels to many almost cliché. “New Normal” implies that current business dynamics are stationary, but business owners know that is far from accurate. Nearly every aspect of today’s marketplace looks and feels different than it did just a few short years ago. And it will look and feel even more different tomorrow than it does today. Yes, the rate of change in the post-pandemic business world is simply astonishing.

There are so many innovations that are altering the way businesses do business. November 2022 saw the release of ChatGPT by OpenAI. The artificial intelligence chatbot is already shaking things up throughout the business and education sectors and is expected to wield widespread impact for years to come. Maybe even forever.

Many businesses are still struggling with a sluggish supply chain. For some, it is probably better than it was a year ago, but a Gartner survey found that 76% of supply chain executives say their company is facing more frequent disruptions than three years ago. The slow supply chain recovery is due in part to continuing global political unrest and issues in China. The causes are almost irrelevant for most business owners; what is important to them are the continuous ups and downs in their ability to secure the raw materials and goods to run and grow their businesses. Look at lumber. It has been on a crazy rollercoaster ride since 2020, propelled by the pandemic, but also exacerbated by weather and other factors out of the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Lumber costs soared then plummeted (then soared and plummeted again). And there is nothing normal about that.

The point is that the explosion of innovation and the impact of ongoing market stressors will continue to thwart any semblance of a New Normal. And in a way, that’s okay. Business owners who survived pandemic slowdowns, lockdowns, and shutdowns have learned firsthand how to accept – and almost embrace – change.

What Should Business Owners Expect?

Again, business owners are perpetually in the midst of significant change right now. However, there are evolving trends that appear to be establishing their footing in most businesses today.

1. Artificial Intelligence. As we mentioned above, ChatGPT is poised to change the way we run our operations. Business owners can easily apply the technology to enhance their customer service capabilities, incorporate it into their recruiting and hiring processes, and leverage it throughout their marketing.

2. A Focus on Hiring & Retention. Employee acquisition and retention are very challenging. Added to the mix is an influx of workers due to mass layoffs in big tech. By concentrating on your people and your company culture, your business will be better equipped to find and keep the people you need to successfully run and grow your organization. 

3. Commitment to Cybersecurity. The current threat environment in technology is expanding, even for small businesses. Data breaches, malware, ransomware attacks, and other cybercrimes are expected to cost $8 trillion in 2023. Small businesses are a hacker’s favorite target. Make sure to carve out money in your budget to secure a strong cybersecurity posture.

So much is in flux in today’s world, so let’s not call it the New Normal. Let’s just call it progress.

Have you taken a look at our new book? Check it out today!

Click here to order on Amazon or to read more.

We would love to hear your comments.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

Are you an individual who knows how to make good use of your time?  If you are not, you may want to learn ways to make improvements.  This is because time management can have a negative impact on your personal life.  Unfortunately, many individuals only believe that poor time management hurts those in the workplace, but this isn’t the case.  In fact, there are a number of ways that your personal life can suffer from poor time management.

If you do not know how to manage your time, there is a good chance that you will be stressed out.  You may also feel a wide range of other emotions, including anger, frustration, and fear.  With that said, if you know how to properly manage time you are more likely to live a happy, healthy, productive, and stress-free life.

Although we often associate poor time management with missed deadlines and showing up late to work, it is important to remember that the same can be said about your social life.  Do you have friends?  How much do you stay in contact with them?  How often do you get together for coffee or lunch?  If you do, do you show up for your meetings with friends late or do you forget to make regular contact with them?  If you do, you may end up putting your friendships at risk.

In addition to having a negative impact on your friendships, poor time management may also have an impact on your relationship.  To have a healthy and happy relationship, time management is important. You need to know how much time you should devote to your spouse, as opposed to spending it working, watching television, or hanging out with friends.  Time management is also important as you want to make sure that you arrive home or at dates on time.

If you are a parent, having poor time management may also impact the relationship that you have with your children.  When you are a parent, you have responsibilities to your children.  The most common of these responsibilities is to feed and clothe your children.  Depending on their ages, you may also be reasonable for getting them ready and sent off to school or daycare.  If you do not have a proper sense of time or if you do just choose not to use your time wisely, you can end up hurting your children, like by making them late to school or other important events.  All individuals are encouraged to have a good sense of time, but it is vital for parents.

In keeping with being a parent, if you are a parent, poor use of your time also sets bad examples for your children.  Whether your children are teenagers, toddlers, or elementary school-aged, they will likely make note of your behaviors.  If you want your children to get good grades at school and later get good jobs, it is important that you teach them all about time management and its importance.  One of the best ways to do so is by setting a good example for your children.  The good news is that this is a lot easier than it sounds.  You can set a good example for your children by getting ready for work in the morning on time or by arriving at scheduled events on time.

Another one of the many ways that having a poor sense of time management can hurt you is with your credit.  Those who have poor time management also often have poor credit.  This is because those who are unable to properly manage their time often pay their bills late.  With credit cards, this can result in expensive minimum payments that just cannot be paid.  By knowing when all of your bills are due, you are likely to have better credit, but time management is important.

As you can see, there are a number of ways that poor time management can negatively impact your personal life.  For that reason, take steps to make sure it doesn’t impact yours.

We would love to hear your comments.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

Focus is defined by the Oxford dictionary as “the center of interest or activity”. When business owners feel focused, their time can be used much more productively. Taking time to increase focus as a business leader produces more long-term results. But – in a world full of distractions, how can a business owner stay focused? Here are some tips.

Tip #1: Establish a Daily Routine
Typical day-to-day as an entrepreneur and business owner can be chaotic. Most successful entrepreneurs start the day with the same routine. This allows for the ability to mindfully set intentions and start with an “easy win”. Whether it’s coffee on your porch while reading a book, a regimented workout, or a sunrise walk – build something into your schedule that’s always there on working days before you start your day in the office.

Tip #2: Time Block your Days

Do you feel like you always have an endless to-do list? Research suggests that around 41% of tasks on a to-do list are never actually completed. Take 10 minutes in the morning to time block your calendar in a minimum of 15-minute increments. This method helps to break the work down into realistic chunks of time and can help you to prioritize what matters.

Tip #3: Tackle the Scary Tasks First

It can be oh so tempting to schedule all of your meetings and complete administrative tasks first thing in the morning. However, data shows that most people experience an increase in focus in the first few hours at work. This is when you should be tackling those big, creative, or lengthy tasks that you’ve been putting off. Don’t open your email inbox the moment that you get into the office. Cleaning out your inbox is the illusion of productivity. Instead, focus on one large task that will move the dial forward that day!

Tip #4: Determine your Goals and Reprioritize (as needed)

Your goals for the next week, month, and year of your business can be a major way to increase focus as a business owner. Be sure to display those goals prominently to yourself (and your team) so that you can be reminded of your “why”. If you find that your focus has been on tasks or projects that don’t push those goals forward – it may be time to reprioritize. Every task and idea that you’re working on as an entrepreneur should have a connection to your short-term or long-term goals.

Tip #5: Be Efficient with Meetings and Calls

Meetings and phone calls can be the ultimate time wasters if they’re not properly structured. Increase the efficiency of your meeting schedule by prioritizing your time. Communicate clearly with those who are asking for your time to ensure that there is a focus for each meeting that’s scheduled on your calendar. If possible, ask for an agenda for longer meetings to ensure that things stay on track. Every meeting or call should end with action items and clear goals for staff, business clients, or other parties. As a business owner, you should never leave a meeting or call feeling like you did not give or receive direction.

Tip #6: Build in Mental / Physical Breaks

Neuroscience shows that burnout rates are higher in people who don’t take mental and physical breaks throughout the day. While it may be easier to skip lunch (or eat at your desk while working) – make a point to take the breaks that you need throughout the day to feel rested and recharged. Your brain and vascular system require movement during the day to stay alert, increase focus, and feel energized. Even a 2-minute walk on a set of office stairs can improve overall mental clarity and function! If you can, get outside during the day for a walk – your body and mind will reward you for it.

Tip #7: Leverage your Team and Talent!

Finally, you’re the boss for a reason! Remember that as a business owner your greatest talent is leadership and vision. Be sure that you’re leveraging your team and their talent to accomplish all of the goals ahead of you. Entrepreneurs can be reluctant to hand over the reins to projects – but it’s worth it to free up more time and mental capacity. Finally, for those staff members who are doing a great job be sure to give credit where it’s due. Compensation, benefits, and time off can be a great way for a business owner to retain talent and ensure that you’re able to be as focused as possible!

Please share with your colleagues & staff.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

How to Find Your Focus as a New CEO

Stepping into your new role as a CEO can be both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. Focus can be one of the hardest things to come by in your early days in the C-suite.

It’s true for a lot of new CEOs that focus is one of the last things that you’re worried about in the initial stages of your role. With a new job title comes new responsibilities, new worries, new management styles, and new teams to manage. But a new CEO role without a lack of focus can cause additional chaos as you try to find your footing.

Here’s how to find your focus as a new CEO.

Manage Internal Distractions

First and foremost, part of finding focus as a new CEO is to set boundaries for yourself. This includes managing internal distractions and things that may hinder your leadership.

Some easy strategies: 

• Reduce tech interruptions by setting boundaries around your usage, alerts, and expected responsiveness over various tools like IM, email, or the phone.
• Express boundaries to your team around respectful use of your time – especially for staff meetings. If you find mornings are most productive for you to work on big-picture projects then kindly ask your staff to approach you for assistance or guidance after a certain time of the day (unless it’s an emergency). The pandemic has made this easier by allowing for hybrid work-from-home structures where CEOs can accomplish work or add focus with an alternate office location.
• • Set boundaries for your time off and out of the office. If you have a more effective management style when you can disconnect every day – express your availability preferences to your team. Trust us, your employees will not be disappointed to know that their boss won’t be contacting them from the hours of 5 p.m. onward.

   

  Remind Yourself of your Unique Value            

  A new role can often bring new fears or a new feeling of imposter syndrome. The role of the CEO at most companies never feels as secure as those below it. You’re at the top – which means you are often the first to go if performance isn’t meeting expectations.

  It’s key to remind yourself consistently why you are in the position that you find yourself in. There’s a reason and it’s important to value yourself along with your team.

  Some easy strategies:

  • Practice mindfulness and gratitude throughout the day – many leaders find it powerful to carve out some time at the start of the day to help with intention-setting.
  • Make room to celebrate your team’s wins over time. Create a safe space to walk down memory lane for achievements by placing memories of those moments into a folder on your desktop. Anytime you’re feeling the imposter syndrome kick in – open up the folder and check out some of the amazing things that you and your team have accomplished.
  • Consider therapy or an unbiased third party for your mental health. Being at the top in C-suite leadership can be lonely and can often exacerbate feelings of isolation. Therapists or business coaches can be a great way to stay connected to your reality and to remain accountable to yourself and your health. The stigma around therapy is lessening — and many employees may even see it as a strength if they hear that you’re actively working on your mental health.

   

  Foster Independence and Innovation

  Behind every successful CEO is a talented team that has helped them get to (and stay) where they are. Fostering independence, creativity, autonomy, and engagement with your staff is one of the best ways to help you increase your focus as a new CEO. If your team is ready and willing to tackle challenging situations and execute day-to-day then it is one less anxiety on your plate in a C-suite leadership position.

  Some easy strategies:

  • Communicate clearly with your team regarding expectations. Strive to be fair, open, and transparent with well-communicated boundaries as a manager.
  • Consider new management styles and which will work best with your existing team and business model. Research effective management strategies and techniques to continue to show up for your team daily.
  • Ensure that adequate reward systems and compensation structures are in place for your employees. Listen to their feedback during challenging times of inflation, economic recession, or in a job market that’s red hot. The burden of employee turnover as a CEO can lead to a higher burnout rate and stress levels over time.

   

  Are you ready for C-suite Leadership?

  Do you have any other ways to increase focus as a new CEO? These are just a few strategies and techniques to keep your head in the game and continue to improve over time as a leader. CEOs are some of the most ambitious, innovative, and fiercely engaged people within an organization – remind yourself often of your “why” and consistently strive to be a better leader every day for your new team.

Please share with your colleagues & staff.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

How Businesses can Build and Maintain Trust Internally and Externally

Across America, studies have shown that businesses are some of the most trusted organizations in people’s daily lives. This trust has been carefully crafted by C-suite leaders based on the commitments and actions taken during global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. More than ever, businesses today are beginning to advocate for social justice and protect marginalized communities. Diversity and inclusion conversations are occurring more frequently within the office workplace.

Unfortunately, this idyllic picture is only one small piece of the corporate puzzle. More work has to be done to continue to build trust with customers and employees as business owners. There is a new pressure placed on those who are managing others to consider the betterment of all – not just the betterment of a corporation’s bottom line.

With that being said – how can CEOs and business owners build trust?

Advocate for Ethical Business Practices

This one is a big deal on the list as Gen Z continues to grow its wealth and enter the workforce. Ethical business practices encompass a range of issues including diversity and inclusion, pay equity, climate change consideration, vetting ethical and sustainable suppliers and contractors, and investing in ethical retirement funds on behalf of your employees. Believe it or not – having ethical business practices can be a major piece in attracting the right talent within the next decade. Those who fail to address this realm will be out of luck when trying to build long-term trust with employees and customers.

Hit Hyperspeed on Data Protection and Cybersecurity

Many are arguing that the wild west days of data collection and unsafe data storage are ending. With consistent global threats on the horizon, potential internal bad actors, and a media-savvy consumer audience… it’s time to step up your data protection game. Those who suffer dangerous privacy breaches lose all trust and credibility with both customers and employees. Data protection and cybersecurity have to be a priority for all business owners and CEOs regardless of organization size or scope. Legislation may force the hand of many companies regarding digital data collection, privacy, and use. Political structures are taking notice of the looming threats that are emerging worldwide.

Treat Employees more than Fairly

There is no question that over the last 2 years (and longer) employees have stepped up time and time again in North America to bolster the economy. Without employees, all organizations would simply fail to operate. There would be no products or services for customers to consume. The importance of talented, loyal, and hardworking employees cannot be overstated by business owners. Treating employees fairly, equitably, and compensating them adequately according to the profit margins of your organization is necessary. Thinking solely about investors and their best interests is a great way to land your company in hot water with employees and customers. More often than not, customers reward a company if they feel it is fair and just to its employees!

Made a Mistake? Don’t lie.

It’s just like we learned in childhood… mistakes happen. Unfortunately, if you’re facing a challenging situation regarding a mistake, it’s best to be transparent and honest with your employees and customers. Those who spend more time “covering up” an issue with clever public relations strategies can lose trust internally and externally. Work swiftly to remedy a mistake and then admit that it happened. Where necessary, apologize without placing blame on anyone except for the company. It’s hard as CEOs to look beyond our pride – but this is a major key to avoiding a drawn-out and publicized crisis.

We would love to hear your comments.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.