Okay, I got you with that headline, didn’t I?
And, of course, I don’t mean a big sloppy kiss…I mean what KISS stands for: Keep It Simple, Stupid.
No, I’m not calling you stupid – the KISS acronym was actually a design principle created by the U.S. Navy in 1960. It just means that most systems work best if they’re kept simple rather than made complicated. (History lesson officially complete.)
I’ve known about this principle for a long time, but my 2-year old golden retriever, Sunny, gave me a refresher course in it this weekend when I was playing with her in the back yard.
She could play with any number of toys I’ve bought her, but there is only one that she always loves. It’s not some cool, fandangled toy that caught my eye in the pet store. Nope, it’s a simple tennis ball. It’s absolutely all she cares about when she wants to play.
Who knew a tennis ball could bring so many hours of pure joy – but it can! 
And now you’re probably wondering, “Where the heck are you going with this story, Alex???”
Well, when it comes to your business and your life, what’s your tennis ball?
What are the simple things you just love to do? And are you losing sight of them because you’re making things more complicated than they need to be?
As humans we have a tendency to make things more difficult or challenging than they are – I am certainly guilty of this in my business!
So I decided to review how we can give ourselves a good ol’ KISS and get back to what makes us happy!
K – Know what your strengths are and what just lights you up when it comes to your work. For everything else, consider how you can delegate, outsource, or get help. If you’re spending your days doing tasks that are tedious to you, I can guarantee you’re draining your energy, creativity, and on the road to burn out. You’ll have no gas left for the stuff you really want to be doing.
I – Improve your skills in saying “no” and setting boundaries. Before you say yes to the next project or opportunity that comes your way, pause for a moment and evaluate if it’s aligned with your goals and what you really want to do it. If it’s not then it’s a “no.” The only way you can make real progress and achieve your goals is by getting laser-focused on them – and that means you’ve got to stop saying “yes” to everything and everyone. (For more on setting goals click here…and for more on how to stay focused on them, click here.)
S – Schedule; use your calendar to block out your day so that all those important and fun projects you want to work on actually get your attention, instead of slipping down the to-do list because the urgent and shiny new objects win you over. Prioritize what’s truly important, put it on the schedule, and treat it with the same respect you’d give to a client call or meeting.
S – Systems; get them automated! Look at all the tasks you do and ask yourself, “How can I automate this?” “Where can I find more efficiency in what I’m doing?” You’d be surprised by how much of what you do is simple repetition that could be systematized to save you boat loads of time and energy.
How are you going to KISS yourself and your biz this week? What’s your pure love and joy – your tennis ball? Share in the comments below or on my Facebook page.
You’ve got this.
I believe in you! <3 🙂
Alex 🙂 xo
PS – If you are an entrepreneur and want to be part of a community of like-minded business women, join my Facebook group! Share and promote what you do and get support and free resources to help build your biz. Just click here to join!
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