• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Lori Bruton

Author | Writer | Lifestyle Blogger |Speaker

  • Home
  • Coach/Speaker Op
  • My Books
  • Blog
  • About
  • Podcasts/Portfolio
  • Contact
  • Journey with Essential Oils

BLOG

Hi, I'm Lori.
Author, Speaker, Coach, Ghostwriter

Look No Further. You Found It!

May 15, 2022 by Lori Leave a Comment

Look No Further

It’s May 15th as I write this message. That date represents my Grandpa’s birthday when he was here on earth. Fond memories bring a smile to my face of when I spent time with him on his farm. I got a giggle watching all the pigs snort, wiggle, and root around trying to find something in the ground.

Pig rooting in the ground

Those seemed like simpler times to me since I was a young girl and carefree. I had fun swinging on the tire hanging from the big oak tree. I could just be me, free-spirited and carefree.

Why am I telling you this? Sometimes as adults we complicate things and get overwhelmed. Doubt and fear creep in through our thoughts and other people’s opinions. Can I get a witness?

Don’t let doubt dominate your thoughts or beliefs. You can do more than you think you can. You do have the skills. You can acquire new skills. You will serve with excellence and accomplish more than you can imagine.

Okay, so does anyone else still question their destiny? I even joined a group called, “Your Dream to Destiny.” It’s about how to step into the dreams that God has put in your heart and activate your calling. It’s a great group of people and good content. That was one step I took.

What are you searching for?

Why did I keep searching for my destiny? What is my purpose? Have you ever asked yourself those questions? It may cause stress and discouragement if the answer is unknown to you. You may want to give up hope… but don’t.

 

 

Personally, self-sabotage was one obstacle that kept rearing its ugly head. Comparison and comments caused me to question myself. Some people said I took too long to do certain things. However, the end result that I produce is excellent. I refuse to put out half-baked work or half-baked cookies. Don’t rush the cook. Everyone has their own pace. That’s got to be worth something to somebody, right?

Instead of believing that I was slow, maybe it was that their instructions weren’t clear, or their budget wasn’t enough to pay for the value I provide. No more undercutting myself, even though people in other countries can do many projects quicker and cheaper. Yes, that has its place at times.

I know there are people who do want what I have to offer and the value I bring. Too many want the blue light Kmart special. Is Kmart still in business? Anyway, those people aren’t your people.

Once I got clarity, (I’ve got an essential oil for that, by the way. LOL) then I saw a new perspective. The right people at the right time will come. Divine appointments and divine assignments meant for you and me will happen.

Look no further. It’s been right in front of you but you couldn’t see it yet.

Back to the destiny question. A book in my collection was highlighted to me; a specific chapter called, “Writing is My Destiny.”

That was the answer and confirmation. I have authored three books so far as well as articles and content creation and repurposing. In the book, Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul, a quote in that chapter said, “Deep in your coded instructions, your Creator has placed a very special job that only you can do. You are patented and copyrighted in Heaven.”

Can I get an Amen? The author of that chapter quoted her writing teacher, Bud Gardner, “When you speak, your words echo only across the room or down the hall. But when you write, your words echo down the ages.”

Those words spoke to me and inspired me to write this blog. Hi, I am Lori Bruton, Writer (and more). I am thankful for that gift and passion. I hope this message has inspired and encouraged you.

No matter what your bank account says or what people say, let God highlight and confirm the desires of your heart. If you’re not already there, step into your destiny because it will change and save many lives. Your destiny will create a legacy.

I’ll close with this question. If you need help with your business, what would you need help with? Let’s talk. Message me. If I’m not the one, maybe I can connect you with the assistance you need.

What do you need help with?

Here’s what I know. We were created to create and impact lives.

In Gratitude,

Lori Bruton
Author, Writer, VA

Filed Under: MY BLOG Tagged With: article, assignment, author, bestvalue, blog, books, business, clarity, confusion, content, contentcreation, copywriter, delegate, desires, destiny, doubt, dreams, faith, fear, help, hope, message, overwhelmed, program, project, purpose, quotes, repurposecontent, search, skilledva, VA, virtual assistant

Can I Bring Anything?

November 9, 2021 by Lori Leave a Comment

Can I Bring Anything?

 

Do you ever have holiday or social gatherings where each person or family is assigned to bring something? How does that work out?

One advantage is that the work is shared among everyone. Each person makes a contribution, which is helpful. Therefore, the work and expense doesn’t fall just on the host.

[Keep reading to discover 5 juicy solutions.]

What can be some downfalls?  The people who are chronically late offer to bring the appetizers. That is not helpful, because the meal is ready by the time they get there. No appetizers were served since you were waiting for them to arrive ahead of time so that everyone could enjoy hor d’oeuvres and mingle before the meal.

I had a family member who offered to bring appetizers and was always late. The lesson I learned was tell her no thank you and that she didn’t need to bring anything. That was the solution to politely decline her offer to bring a dish. I could have assigned her dessert, but I enjoy making the desserts.

When my mom served a meal, it was always on time. She didn’t penalize the ones who got there on time instead of rewarding those who were late. She wasn’t going let her hard work result in a ruined and cold meal by waiting for the latecomers. She was a wise woman.

Respect the host and be a good host.

What standards are you setting personally and professionally? Let’s say you are holding a webinar. What are your expectations? Once you have invited people and promoted your webinar, you expect people to show up on time, right? The attendees are investing their time and also expect you to show up on time as well. Yes, sometimes there are technical issues, but that aside, everyone needs to show up on time, especially the host.

Start. No matter who is on or not on the webinar, start on time. Those who are already there deserve to have their time honored. Anyone who jumps on late can tune in from wherever you are in your presentation. Maybe they can catch the replay for the part they missed. There are legitimate reasons why people could not jump in on time. That’s not the point. The point is that they will join when they can. It’s their responsibility to catch up. It’s our responsibility to start our webinars on time. It’s frustrating for those who are already there when you say, “We will wait a few more minutes for more people to join us.” Tick, tick, tick. Just start and honor your word.

Replays. Not everyone can tune in live. Thankfully, many people record and offer the replay. Different schedules and time zones make it challenging for everyone to tune in live every time. Important note:  When you promise a replay, be sure to deliver it. Keep your promises no matter how you think the quality turned out, people need that content.

What can you bring to your present and potential clients? Value.

I mentioned in my previous blog about your plate being too full. When you are juggling everything in your life, some of those plates will fall and break. That can result in breakdowns. Breakdown in communication, breakdown in completing and keeping up with all you have taken on, which may lead to personal breakdown and burnout. You don’t want to end up there.

Here are 5 recommendations:

  1. Value yourself and value your clients. Don’t let your overbooked schedule affect your clients. Look at what to keep doing and what is too much. That’s when you need to get help, have a backup, or remove some things to lighten your load.
  2. Be prepared. Are you taking time to be prepared for your meetings and webinars? We often forget to factor that in. We rush around and start a meeting without reviewing and preparing first. Our clients and prospects can tell.
  3. How can you be better prepared? If you are on Zoom, make sure your lighting and surroundings are good. Make sure all your equipment is plugged in and charged. Have water near you to drink as needed. Have all your notes and slides on hand and ready to share. Read through, review, and practice first so that it is fresh at your fingertips and fresh on your mind. Don’t try to run around and do errands or fit in something at the last minute that will cause you to be late to your own meeting. Make sure you take a bathroom break ahead of your meeting start time. Allow for connection time. Be in the Zoom Room a few minutes early, especially if you have it set up where you need to let people in the room.
  4. Hire a Holiday Helper. There are virtual assistants who can help you on a short-term basis, especially during the holiday season. That solution can turn into long-term assistance if you discover you need the continued help, which frees you up. Think about what tasks you can outsource. For example, maybe you need social media graphics and posts created or blogs and articles written. Do you need videos or audios repurposed? Do you need thank you notes written and sent out? Those suggestions should whet your appetite. Message me if you need a holiday helper as I provide VA services and know others who do as well.
  5. Hire a Holiday Shopper. Some things are nonnegotiable in your business and must be done by you. That may not leave you time to do personal things. For example, you want to give special gifts to your staff and colleagues, but you don’t have time or know what to get. Keep in mind that is a service I offer, contact me if you want to know more.

Now that we have reviewed the menu, what would you like to bring to the table? Remember you can assign some dishes to others. If you rather cook it all up yourself, I hope these tips were helpful.

Wishing you the Best and much Success,

Lori

Author, Copywriter, VA

Filed Under: MY BLOG Tagged With: appetizer, appointments, article, assignments, assistance, blog, business, clients, colleagues, content, contentcreation, copywriter, delegate, deliver, dessert, dishtopass, entrepreneur, expectations, gifts, help, holidaygatherings, holidayhelp, holidayideas, holidayshopper, ideas, investment, menu, offers, pie, prepare, promise, promotion, recommendations, recording, replay, repurpose, schedule, shoppingservices, socialmedia, solutions, standards, table, time, tips, VA, value, VAservices, virtualassistant, webinar, work

Is Your Full Plate Devaluing Your Client’s Time and Projects?

November 1, 2021 by Lori Leave a Comment

It was a requirement by my mentor to attend certain events. The motive and intent were for my good. Learning the same business and personal training was a valuable experience.

As I observed her life and the craziness of the event, she said to me, “If you want what I have you have to do what I’ve done.”

Without hesitation, I said, “I don’t want what you have! Weeks without seeing your husband, working so hard and long that you collapse and hardly get any sleep. That isn’t my definition of success. That isn’t how I want my life to look. No thanks.”

I know it’s one thing to be driven and “hungry,” but you can’t be so out of balance for a long period of time without it literally making you sick and tired, burned out with damaged relationships.

My dad often said I needed to work three jobs, come home, pull weeds, and cook a hot dog, and go, go, go every minute. Work hard, yes. However, that pace and method look different for everyone. Many people brag how many jobs they are working while building their dream and business. They wear it like a badge of honor and may discredit people who aren’t working as hard as they are and even label others as lazy.

Is it worth it? Have you taken on more than you can handle? What consequences have happened?

I see it often. Business owners are taught they need to sign up for every program, group, and training. Keep in mind to choose what works for you and not get caught up in the marketing aspect of it.

On top of that, you are told it’s necessary to lose sleep, sacrifice time with your family, and work until you drop.

Yes, sacrifices are necessary, but at what cost? That can’t be the only way to achieve your dreams. Fair warning, it may result in resentment from your family, friends, and clients.

Pushing yourself to burnout isn’t benefitting anyone. Working multiple jobs while building your dream will affect how and if you show up. That will compromise your reputation and whether or not people can trust you.

Life happens and we all have missed or been late for meetings and appointments. It’s when it’s more the norm than the exception that causes problems.

Keep in mind when you set a date and time for a meeting and are late, unprepared, or a no show, what message does that send to your client? Repeated apologies get old real fast.

Your plate is not only overflowing, its breaking. The tasks you forgot to do or put aside affects more than you, it spills onto your clients. You tell them their project is being worked on, but is that just an excuse due to the way you managed or mismanaged your schedule?

If none of this matters, and the way you are doing things is working for you, keep doing what you’re doing. Success looks different for everyone.

Those of you who are ready to admit you can’t keep up your current pace and there is too much on your plate, maybe these 8 recommendations will help.

  1. Evaluate your current status. How many jobs do you have? How many trainings and groups are you in? Are you able to give your best to all of them or do you just pop in to make an appearance? Invest in yourself, yes. However, if you are in too many things at once, no human has the capacity to reap the full results and benefits.
  1. Does anyone get your full attention? Multitasking is an illusion. Active listening is a skill. How many times has someone been talking to you and you only heard bits and pieces, if anything, because maybe you were texting or doing other things while pretending to listen? Did that save or cost you time? What message did that portray to the person in front of you? Important note: If you rarely give full attention to your spouse, one day you make look up and they’re gone. If your marriage isn’t important and you prefer to be away from each other, then that may not matter. Love and happiness look different for each couple. 
  1. Who and What are Your Priorities? We are all created by God for a purpose. That doesn’t mean you have to cram too many things into each day. God wants us to enjoy life in abundance. What does that look like for you? Stop and see the big picture. Dreams are important, but when you’re on your death bed will you wished you worked more? Or did you work so much it literally killed you? These are things we often don’t consider because we are racing the clock every day. Personally, the harder I push myself results in sickness and exhaustion which is costly in many ways. That doesn’t make me a wimp or lazy. Discover what’s right for you and prioritize accordingly.
  1. Pace yourself and know your limitations. Rest is a must in these human physical bodies. If you don’t, your body will rebel at the most inconvenient times, which will affect not only your health, but the commitments you made with your clients.
  1. How is doing everything yourself working for you? Hanging onto control of it all will cost you one way or another. For example, did you schedule a webinar, but you didn’t show up on time? Everyone has a learning curve with technology, but that’s when it’s good to practice or get help. If you or others were promoting a specific day and time and inviting people to the webinar, but it ended up changing at the last minute, that will affect whether or not people show up and wait for you or not show up at all. Before your meeting or webinar, assure that you have correct logins, resources, and presentations ready to go and you tested them ahead of time.
  1. No More Delays or Assumptions. It isn’t always about a client’s expectation of when each phase of their project gets completed or not. It also involves how you schedule your time and anyone on your team. Setting and meeting deadlines involves many people and their priorities. Missing meetings, not responding to messages (especially in a timely manner), and assuming your client will contact you all result in delays. Clear and timely communication is essential.
  1. Get Help. If you are exhausted and not able to keep up with everything and everyone, it’s time to get help. You can’t afford not to. Otherwise, you are risking your reputation, trust, and business.
  1. Remove things off your plate. When you keep piling on more things, other things will get buried, including yourself. There is a time and season for everything. Not everyone can successfully juggle too many jobs and clients and fit in family and fun. It will be like a house of cards waiting to fall. You may end up oversleeping and not hearing the alarm.

Hopefully, this was a wake up call for you and provided valuable considerations and solutions. Look at what is packed into each day. Make changes, adjustments, deletions as needed.

Observations and personal experiences brought me to write this message. Reach out if you need recommendations for assistance in managing your life and business.

Wishing you wellness, success, and happiness and the time to enjoy it.

Filed Under: MY BLOG Tagged With: alarm, appointments, assumptions, attention, balance, blog, burnout, business, clients, connections, consequences, control, death, delays, disappointment, dream, events, exhaustion, goals, help, job, marketing, marriage, meetings, message, plate, preparation, priorities, projects, recommendations, relationships, resentment, rest, sleep, solutions, success, time, training, trust, VA, virtualassistant, wakeupcall, webinars

LIVE IN THE MOMENT:  A MICRO-MOMENT

April 8, 2021 by Lori Leave a Comment

 

You are in the middle of a task when a question pops into your mind. There is an urgent need to know the answer at that moment. That’s when you immediately search the answer typically on your phone or computer to learn, discover, or buy something.

What you just experienced is a micro-moment. Maybe you want information about a product or a person; you go online. Quick online searching for personal and business information is a frequent occurrence nowadays.

Micro-moments are beneficial. The content and answers are at your fingertips. Enter key words in an online search engine and poof, there you go.

Imagine if your business was being searched by potential customers and clients. You can become the go-to place for the information, products, and services they need.

Give the people what they want. Once they find you, keep them engaged. How? Provide ongoing, up-to-date content. This can take you to the next level.

Question:  Did I hear you say you don’t have time to create more content?

Answer:  Outsource a copywriter.

Delegating this task frees up your time to do what you do best. It’s worth the investment. You will profit and serve many overall when you look at the big picture.

There are many excellent freelance copywriters available to fill your need. Take a micro-moment and search for a writer who will create content on your topic.

Better yet, I could be your answer. I provide copywriting services. Let’s discover if I am the one for you.

Thanks for reading. Was this helpful? Leave a comment and then go back to whatever you were doing.

Lori Bruton
Author, Speaker,
Copywriter

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: MY BLOG Tagged With: answers, author, business, clients, coach, content, copywriter, customers, delegate, freelance, ideas, information, inspiration, invest, micro moment, online, outsource, read, search, services, solutions, speaker, time freedom, virtual assistant, write

The Power of FOCUS

March 8, 2021 by Lori Leave a Comment

You get what you focus on. You’ve heard that advice, right?

It reminds us that, to begin living the life we really want, we have to start doing those things that will get us there.

There was a time my life was extremely out of balance. All I could see were my struggles and didn’t have any solutions. It kept me stuck. Focusing on the struggles kept me in a state of hopelessness and defeat. I had to stand up inside myself and be determined to find a better way. I knew the life I was living wasn’t meant for me. I took one step and then another and kept going. Sometimes I fell back and then I got back up and didn’t give up on myself, my dreams, and the life I truly desire.

Maybe you’re not where you want to be yet, but at least we are not where we used to be. It’s never too late to live the life you were born to live. The good news is you don’t have to figure it out and do it all on your own.

Now I am a Certified Oola Life Coach. I help clients determine what’s not working for them in the areas of fitness, finance, field (career), family, faith, friends and fun – then correct those stressors and bring about the lifestyle, relationships and financial security they need to be happy, balanced and growing.

So what could the OolaLife look like for you?

 

I’m challenging you to decide, then focus on getting this life you really want.

Let’s Get Started: Decide What You Want

Have you ever thought about the lifestyle, activities, wealth, longevity, family relationships and other parts of a fantastic life that YOU want?

If you haven’t, that’s the first place to start. Why? Because in order to get what you want, you have to KNOW what you want. If you’re going to focus your time and energy, it’s got to be awesome and a major life improvement for you. For instance, do you want to . . .

Fitness: Be date-night ready with tons of energy?

Finance: Eliminate all debt and have money to spare?

Family: Have a rockin’ good marriage + amazing kids, too?

Field: Find a dream job or start a business you love?

Faith: Start an exciting new faith-based project?

Friends: Find new friends and mentors who believe in you?

Fun: Crush those bucket-list adventures you’ve dreamed of?

Whatever inspires you, why not share it below? (But hey, don’t reveal super-personal details!)

To help you achieve your own OolaLife, I’ve joined forces with Dave and Troy – The OolaGuys – to privately coach you and support you via a TRANSFORMATION Program designed to transform your life, your finances, your relationships and more. Click here to get started. I am glad I took my first step on the journey to transformation. You will be glad you did too. I believe in you and want to see you win.

Much Love,

Lori

Lori Bruton
Author, Speaker, Coach,
Copywriter

Filed Under: MY BLOG Tagged With: balance, breaking point, business, career, coach, decide, desires, dreams, faith, family, fitness, focus, framework, freedom, friends, fulfillment, fun, goals, happy, help, hope, hopeless, inspiration, journey, lifestyle, love, motivation, oola, oolalife, plan, relationships, starting point, struggles, stuck, system, thelorifactor, transformation, wealth

Breakthrough Call with Alec Stern

July 4, 2020 by Lori 17 Comments

How many of you need a breakthrough? It’s coming. Believe it.

What can you do to get there? OQP is essential. What is OQP? Les Brown said, “Surround yourself with OQP (Only Quality People).”

I want to talk to you today about the quality people I have met. Manny Lopez from Network of Influence has been a key connection. He is a master of connecting people and providing huge value. He knows how to serve his way to success. My connection with Manny has resulted in hearing influential speakers such as Les Brown, Forbes Riley, and Alec Stern.

The legendary Les Brown is an international motivational speaker and author. His new book just came out called:  You’ve Got To Be Hungry:  The Greatness Within To Win. Les has made a huge impact on my life.

Forbes Riley, Award-Winning TV host, Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur. She is inspiring and helps people perfect their pitch.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Alec Stern recently. Alec has more than 25 years of experience as a founder, mentor, investor and hyper-growth agent for companies across various industries. He is an innovator with extensive expertise in growing and scaling companies, startup and operational growth, go-to-market strategy, strategic partnerships and more.

As a primary member of Constant Contact’s founding team Alec was one of the original 3 who started the company in an attic. Alec was with the company for 18 years from start-up, to IPO, to a $1.1 Billion-Dollar acquisition. Alec has also been a Co-Founder or founding team of several other successful startups including, VMark (IPO & acquisition), Reacher Grasper Cane, and MOST Cardio amongst others.

Performing hundreds of keynote addresses Worldwide, Alec has become known as America’s Startup Success Expert for his popular sessions at conferences like Secret Knock, CEO Space International, City Summit, Powerteam International, and Habitude Warrior. In 2019 Alec was the Keynote speaker at three out of the top five “Inc. Magazine Must Attend Conferences for Startups and Entrepreneurs in 2019.” While on tour, Alec has shared the stage with the likes of Tom Bilyeu, Jack Canfield, Les Brown, Kevin Harrington, and Mark Victor Hanson. Alec was selected to the Influence 100 Authority List by Influence Magazine which recognizes his contribution to helping and advancing startups and entrepreneurs worldwide. He has also recently been featured on the covers of several other magazines including “Small Business Trendsetters,” “Success Profiles” and “Business Innovators.”  Alec was honored with the “2020 City Gala Visionary Award” and the “Habitude Warrior Conference Global Awesome Visionary Award” for all his accomplishments as an entrepreneur as well as speaking before thousands of entrepreneurs and startups each year.

You can contact Alec here:  http://www.alecspeaks.com: 

This is a testimonial I wrote after the call with Alec:

Alec’s coaching and mentorship brings breakthrough and clarity by brainstorming ideas on how to position yourself, your message, and identifying action steps to success. I discovered that I am an Inspirational Thought Leader with a great message of hope and helping people find balance in an unbalanced world. Constant Contact with Alec Stern will launch you to new levels.

 – Lori Bruton, Author, Speaker, Coach & Freelance Writer

A big thank you to all these “Rock Stars” who have impacted my life. Who has influenced your life?

Let me impact your life. How? Grab a copy of my book. I am also available for writing services, speaking and workshops — text SPEAK to 844-394-4798 or message me.

Lori’s Stories are enriching lives and filling people with hope, love, and helping them find their purpose. Thank you for reading this blog. Leave a comment or message me on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/loribrutonbiz

 

 

Filed Under: MY BLOG, Uncategorized Tagged With: alecstern, article, author, balance, believe, blog, books, breakthrough, business, connection, constantcontact, contentwriting, discovery, entrepreneur, faith, forbesriley, freelance, fulfillment, growth, hope, influence, inspiration, keynote, leader, lesbrown, loribruton, love, magazine, mannylopez, media, mentor, message, motivation, network, networkofinfluence, oola, OQP, podcast, purpose, quality, read, serve, speak, stage, storytelling, success, thoughtleader, value, virtual assistant, virtual services, write, youvegottobehungry

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Lori!

I'm a copywriter, blog writer, and ghostwriter, with a focus in the inspirational and travel niches. Need custom copy that motivates? Learn more about what I do!

Check it out!

Get Updates!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 Lori Bruton | Designed with Love By The Girl Brand