Description
Our values act as anchors and help us with decision making and prioritization. When we act in alignment with our values, professionals may find a higher degree of satisfaction. For example, if I hold a value of freedom, I may thrive in a work place where I have the freedom to determine HOW I do the work, WHEN I do the work, and in what fashion I do the work. While I still may be responsible for end results, being in control of what I do and don’t do may be invaluable.

Activity
Take a look at the list of 200 values included on the Coaching Business Builder website. As you review them consider these questions:

What are the values you hold true? As you review your top 5 values, which ones are non-negotiable?
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What can you do to adjust your work and flow in order to live more by your values?

Need to Know
Values serve as an anchor for us. They will help us with prioritization, delegation and overall career planning.

So what? – What’s important about this topic?
Values are not just an individual framework. Teams have values too. On a remote team it can be very important to identify the values which shape the team (not the individuals).

These values will inform the BEHAVIORS people undertake. In turn the BEHAVIORS influence the RESULTS we get.

Discussion around values as a team, is not just a “nice to have” but an essential discussion.

For more on this:
Check out section 1 and section 4 of PlanDoTrack and Coaching Business Builder. Section 1 gets to you to explore what behaviors flow out of your values. Again, if you have a value of freedom, what behaviors does it lead to? How can that help and/or hinder your work and relationships with others in the remote space?

What’s important this year? What are going to be your anchors?

All the best, 
Jennifer

​Check out the most recent Remote Pathways Podcast Episode which covers the topic of Vision. You can listen to Episode 4 here, or on your favorite podcast player.

Description
This week’s blog post brings us to getting organized. What are the things you want to put in place in order to get moving in the way you want?
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As a remote worker there may be need for getting organized and using systems in several areas. Consider:

• Communication
• Files and information
• Financials
• Client files
• Marketing systems

Make a list of the different systems you want to make. Getting organized can involve more than having good systems. It might entail things like:

• Having a way to file information
• Having a place for everything – consider the things you are going to need to use on a regular basis. What are the things you will want to reach regularly?
• A way to keep different projects and pieces of work separate
• A way to access things offline and online

What’s going to help you get organized? Many professionals indicate that organizing approaches can be contingent on your style. So, if you have a preference for visual learning, it may be useful to have open cupboards (or be able to open a door and take a look at what you have). For those that are minimalists, a place to put things away and close off on business may be a preference.
What do you know about your own preferences for how you like to work and see things?

Need to Know

• Systems help with consistency which is important when we are part of a team. Systems can help to streamline and standardize communication and customer service, so everyone gets a similar approach whether they contact us in Toronto, or LA, or New York, or Sao Paolo.
• Systems help us automate. We use less brain power when things are systematized.
• Systems help us scale. If you need to send out the same information to all stakeholders, is there a better way you can automate that message? What systems are going to help with core activities like – communication, reporting etc.?

AS you think about your work right now, what systems will help you as a business?

To explore this topic further check out:
Section 3 of PlanDoTrack and the early part of this section around systems.
If you are a coach, check out this recent Coaching Business Builder blog posts on systems.
Check out this post from FlexJobs on how to organize your day when working from home -  https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/how-to-structure-your-day-when-working-from-home/.

If you are a professional who works remotely, check out these blog posts related to Systems. Whether you are a leader, remotepreneur, or team member, you'll find them applicable.

Enjoy!
​Jennifer

​Check out the most recent Remote Pathways Podcast Episodes which covers the topic of Vision and Creating SMART-E Goals. You can listen to Episode 4 here (vision), as well as Episode 5 - SMART-E Goals or on your favorite podcast player.

Description
As a remote worker we are left to our devices a significant amount of the time. While we have goals related to our work, it’s likely that we will also be setting goals related to our own focus as well.

​Check out the most recent Remote Pathways Podcast Episode which covers the topic of Vision. You can listen to Episode 4 here, or on your favorite podcast player.

Welcome to the Remote Pathways 52 weeks series! Each week I’ll be bringing you an installment. Part of the tagline of my writing in the PlanDoTrack Workbook and Planner is that Daily Steps + Consistent Action = Momentum. I hope that these weekly prompts will provide you with short, manageable action steps you can take weekly, which will create some momentum over the course of the year.

Activity
This week’s activity gets you connected with your vision for the year. Perhaps you’ve already created your vision but have put it away. Maybe you haven’t taken time to work on it yet. Spend 15-30 minutes working through the following vision questions:

• It’s the end of 2020 and I have…..
• _____ catches my eye.
• Wild success will look like…..
• Resources I need are:
• The pieces of your work for this year are…..
• My 5 priorities or big rocks are….
• Thinking about the fundamentals…
• I want to BE…
• Projects include:
• Partners include:
• Derailers…
• Habits…
• Enablers…
• My quarterly focus: Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4
• My theme of the year…
• My next steps are:

Need to Know
Don’t just go through this exercise and forget it. You may want to condense your focus onto a one pager that you can keep it visible throughout the year.
I just wrapped up a coaching session with a group who had gone through a similar exercise last year at this time. One of the major success factors they mentioned was “keeping their vision visible throughout the year”. Visions help us through the ups and downs. They are the big picture we reach towards.
So what? – What’s important about this topic?
Our vision can help to clarify where we focus and what we say “no” to. A compelling vision will help our prioritization and focus. As Seneca wrote in Ancient Greece, “If a [person] knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favorable.”

Where to go?
If you have a copy of PlanDoTrack, check out the Vision Questions on page 99.
 
Now What? What will you do?
Take time today to either revisit your vision or work on your vision. Make it visible.

Best wishes!
​Jennifer

Check out the most recent Remote Pathways Podcast Episode which covers the topic of Vision. You can listen to Episode 4 here, or on your favorite podcast player.