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Lori Bruton

Author | Writer | Lifestyle Blogger |Speaker

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

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

A Day of Celebration

November 8, 2020 by Lori Leave a Comment

As I write this, today is my son’s birthday. Joseph David born November 8th. He and his brother were the best gifts I ever received. He is destined for greatness.

I am talking about one of the 7 F’s of Oola–Family.

Family is of high value to me. I am thankful I got to spend time with my son and daughter-in-law today. They add so much meaning to my life. I am blessed.

What’s Oola?  It’s a state of awesomeness when your life is balanced and growing in 7 key areas of life (Fitness, Finance, Family, Field, Faith, Friends, and Fun).

Today’s birthday celebration added another “F” of Oola–Fun. It’s important to take time for fun. Fun with family was a double blessing. In fact, it was a beautiful fall day beaming with sunshine and we cooked on the grill. I love the taste of food cooked on charcoal. It was completed with a sweet treat. What a lovely day!

The number 8 is significant. It’s the meaning of new beginnings and renewal. What new things are happening in your life? Or what new beginnings are you hoping to see? What’s important to you?

The flow of number 8 represents the infinity symbol. Let your life flow naturally in the direction you desire. It won’t be a straight line, but a path with some detours. See the detours as adventures that bring you to unexpected places. Those places are just where you are meant to be. Take the risk of doing new things. You never know what you may discover about yourself.

When you look at the 7 key areas of your life that I mentioned above, how are you doing? Which areas are flowing and growing, and which ones are unbalanced and slowing you down? We all have struggles and challenges. Together, we can help each other get in a better place.

Think of each “F” as a spoke on a wheel. Some may be broken or have a hitch right now. Your wheel doesn’t roll smoothly, does it? I have a framework I can guide you through. It starts with where you are now and shows you how to get where you want to be.

It will get you rolling down your desired path.

Ready, Set, Go! Here is a free gift to start your transformation adventure:  http://bit.ly/3stepTransform

When you’re ready to shift into a higher gear, go here:  https://www.liveoola.com/?ref=4e7de7 Let’s ride down the highway together.

I celebrate you. Remember, you have greatness in you. Do what you came here to do. Let me know how things are going and how I can help. Keep in touch.

Much Love,

Lori

Filed Under: MY BLOG, Uncategorized Tagged With: adventure, author, balance, beginnings, believe, bicycle, birthday, blog, cake, celebration, challenges, coach, desire, destiny, discover, dreams, eight, family, food, fun, gift, goals, greatness, growth, help, infinity, inspiration, love, oola, path, personal development, purpose, renewal, restoration, revelation, solutions, son, speaker, struggles, transformation, value, wheel, writer

THE ONE TRUE LOVE

February 14, 2020 by Lori Leave a Comment

As I write this, many of you are celebrating Valentine’s Day with your true love. Others may be in a toxic relationship or have let go of one. Let me talk to you about the most toxic relationship of all.

Has your heart been broken? Did someone make promises and say they loved you and you were the only one for them? When we hear those words, we want to believe they are true. Sadly, there are many who will only play with your emotions and infect your heart. Their motives are not pure. Yes, it hurts DEEPLY.

What if the closest toxic relationship is staring you right in your face? It’s the one you see when you look in the mirror. Who do you see? YOU. You see you. Are you “The One” having a toxic relationship with yourself?

Fear, self-sabotage, and self-hatred may be your blockers. Let’s look at those a bit closer. Fear blocks love. I don’t just mean sharing your life with your true love. First, what are your fears? Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of not enough finances, fear of loneliness, fear you will never be enough? Identify it and know that fear can be overcome or at least learn to do things afraid.

I don’t know about you, but this is a verse I relate to often:  Romans 7:15, “I don’t understand why I act the way I do. I don’t do what I know is right. I do the things I hate.” That brings me to self-sabotage. We allow criticisms and judgments from others and ourselves to us hold back, procrastinate, and not believe we can live the life we are designed to live.

It’s possible that fear and desperation cause you to make decisions that do not line up with what’s best for you. Les Brown said, “Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.”

What about love? Proverbs 19:22 says, “What a person desires is unfailing love.” Do you feel unloved or unlovable? Look to The One who loved you first. The One who designed you for greatness. The One who will never leave you or forsake you. The One who will never abandon you. The One who died for you and rose again to give you life.

He speaks to you in Song of Solomon, Chapter 4, saying, “Invite me, and I come. I stay until dawn breathes its light and night slips away. You’re beautiful from head to toe, my dear love, beautiful beyond compare, absolutely flawless.”

 

Let Him embrace you and love you. Then, you will learn to love yourself and love others.

Who is The One? His name is above all names – Jesus.

 

Do you need guidance in getting more love and balance in your life? It would be my pleasure to help you. Message me and check out this option. http://bit.ly/liveoola

Much Love,

Lori

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: abandonment, author, belief, believe, chapter, coach, decision, dreams, faith, fear, finance, God, guide, invite, Jesus, life, loneliness, love, oola, procrastination, relationships, self-hatred, self-sabotage, solutions, speak, success, theone, truelove, truth, Valentine’s Day, verse

WHY I CHOSE TO WRITE A BOOK

February 8, 2019 by Lori 143 Comments

HOLE TO WHOLE by Lori Bruton

In my last blog, I announced that I wrote a book called HOLE TO WHOLE.  It’s been a strong desire on my heart to write a book for many years.  In fact, I believe it is my assignment.  More importantly, I choose to make a difference in many lives.

Some people write to gain status or the title of being an author.  For me, it’s not an ego trip or for a “title”.  I speak and write from my heart sincerely in truth.  May my words help you in a profound way and make a positive impact in your life.  Get comfy; there may be tears and definitely laughter.  May your heart and life be touched changed forever after.

Even though my book talks about my personal experiences, it isn’t truly about me.  What do I mean?  The purpose is to help and encourage others.  No matter how many “holes” and obstacles we encounter, anything is possible.  We can overcome and press forward.

My dad always told me everything starts with an idea; my dreams CAN come true.  I admit that I doubted.  Hearing people say, “You can’t do that.  No one will read your book.  Only rich people are successful authors.”

Know that I poured my heart and soul into every page.  I took a BIG RISK putting my story out there.  I know that I know that I had to expose my darkest secrets.  Why?  There are too many people in pain; suffering shame and guilt and feeling unworthy and discouraged. 

I chose to come to a point that I didn’t care what other people thought, their opinions, their judgments; I care more about how my story can help others.  Losing hope and giving up is no way to live; it’s just existing.

We are all born and created for a purpose; to make a difference.  It’s time to get off the couch and live.  Maybe you want to get up, but you feel you can’t.  Something is keeping you down; something you may not be aware of yet.  It’s not just about willing yourself to do it.  It’s time to dig deep and expose those roots that have kept you stuck.  Don’t let them rot and ruin your life.  Maybe you don’t even know all the stuff you’ve been stuffing.  Warning:  It will surface in some form.

Let’s take this journey together so you will come out on top.  My story may offer you solutions.  Just knowing someone else has gone through similar experiences may be helpful.  There is so much more!  It’s time to thrive and make your dreams a reality.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: author, blog, book, dreams, encouragement, entrepreneur, guilt, holetowhole, hope, hurt, idea, impact, inspiration, itspossible, journey, library, motivation, read, secrets, shame, solutions, story, success, transformation, unworthy, whole, words, write, writer

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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!

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