George Kao's Blog, page 12

5 Motivational Methods to Help You Overcome Procrastination and Get Focused

​If a goal is challenging (and the most worthwhile goals are!), you will need motivational methods that are effective for you personally. You’ll need to continually practice the methods that help you focus and make progress, no matter how "hard" the task feels.

Below, I describe the methods that have worked best for me and my clients.

As you read this, I invite you to score each method on a scale of 0 to 10. Zero means “I’ve tried many times and this won’t work for me” and 10 means “This is a game...

Calm Joyful Focus

​When working, are you aware of your facial expression, your body posture, your breathing?

The more challenging the project, the more tense your face and body might get. This doesn't help you to do better work. Yet it increases stress.

Years ago I started practicing what I call "calm joyful focus", which is to practice noticing, throughout the day, my body expression as I work, especially my face.Instead of furrowed eyebrows and pursed lips, I consciously relax my face, and hold a soft, gentle smi...

Uninspired, but Willing.

​I share this “secret” with many creators -- I don’t feel inspired until I’ve already started creating... as short as 5 minutes, upwards of 45 minutes.

I often feel uninspired. But I am willing to try.

It’s how I start my work most of the time. This very piece you’re reading started with an uninspired mood.

Working conditions don’t seem ideal to me, most of the time:I’m either not feeling like doing what my schedule says… 

Or there’s construction or other noise going on…  

Or I’m not in the mood for ...

Uninspired, but willing.

I often feel un-inspired…

…but I am willing to try.

It’s how I begin work most days.

This very piece you’re reading started with an uninspired mood.

The same with my videos — when I record them, it’s almost a guarantee that I’m not feeling inspired at the beginning. I don’t go around all day feeling eager to be on camera! Yet, I show up because I committed to doing it, and have a belief that what I share might eventually help someone.

For me, working conditions don’t f...

Break the pattern of delay. Stop "preparing"...

​A common thought-pattern that prevents a lot of people from making progress in their business:

Before I...  [take the next real step in my business]
…I need to first do  [some preparatory action that takes a lot of time]
…so that I'll feel more ready/confident to move forward.

This is a dangerous train of thought because "preparation" always sounds logical... until you wake up to the fact that you have already been preparing for months (maybe years!)… and you can be in preparation mode for the rest...

Layer a Higher Meaning into Each Moment of Work

​What’s stopping you from showing up fully for your work?

Oftentimes, it’s not “more” knowledge, training, or ideas. The greatest obstacle I've seen in people is fear:
​
Fear of making a mistake… looking bad to others… disappointing yourself… fear of rejection… discouragement… tedious work.

Consider this mistaken perspective that causes the fear:You believe that the result matters a lot. 

It occupies a lot of your energy.

You think that the moment is all about the project you’re working on… and theref...

On a Regular Basis, Repost Your Old Best Content

​"I love that song... I hope they’ll play it at the next concert!" --a fan of any band. 

The same is true for your content and your audience. 

Not only should you not be afraid to repeat yourself, you should consider doing it regularly. Have a consistent rhythm of reposting your popular articles, videos, or podcast episodes. Feel free to repeat the same ideas you’ve said before, whether in the same way or in a different way.

This may give you some relief that you don’t have to constantly create new...

Conscious Systems Design for a Better Life & Business

​Your life is actually working perfectly.
 
And your business? It’s exactly where it’s supposed to be.
 
It’s not that you love all the results. 
 
However, anything and everything occurring in your life has a system behind it. There’s cause and effect. You experience the effects… and you have more choice in the cause than you realize.It’s true that there are some causes beyond your control, but you always have a choice of where you focus. 
 
You can blame others for the bad effects in life -- other peo...

To help you clarify your offers -- The CORE Program

​I'm launching a new coaching program to support you in clarifying the most resonant service or product that you can offer to your audience.

You’ll gain confidence in brainstorming and then narrowing down what you would enjoy offering, that will likely be also financially successful.

You’ll learn to explain what you offer in a clear way.

This is a program I'm facilitating live only once every 2 years. The next round starts in August 2021. More info: The CORE Coaching Program

Drop the need to “overcome objections” in your marketing.

​One of the common pieces of advice in selling and copywriting is that you need to “overcome the objections” of your prospective client. To ensure that their every concern and “what about….?” are answered so that they have zero doubt that your product/service is right for them.

Let’s take a step back and consider this first: what kind of person would you rather sell to -- someone who has doubts and needs to be persuaded, or someone who is eager to see what you’re offering?You do have a choice in ...