| I've been a dancer my entire life. I started out at | | | | was stiff as a board. I wasn't moving my arms, |
| the tender age of 4 with my first pair of shinny | | | | hips, head, or shoulders. Nothing. I was only doing |
| black tap shoes with little pink bows. I later | | | | 10% of the work, but expecting 100% of the |
| graduated to jazz, swing, ballroom, a little country | | | | results.It's the same in business. If you have the |
| line dancing and in my mid 20s returned to my | | | | perfect marketing plan, but no systems to back it |
| love of tap where I studied with a professional | | | | up, it's like you're working at 10%. You need a |
| dancer who taught the likes of Paula Abdul and | | | | balance of marketing, sales, accounting, products, |
| other celebrities how to shake a leg.So when I | | | | staff, etc. Make sure you aren't dancing with just |
| decided I wanted to drop a couple of pounds | | | | your feet, use your whole body.Why do I have |
| before the holidays hit I went back to my roots | | | | to force myself to do something I love?Sunday |
| and signed up for a series of dance classes.Going | | | | morning I'm curled up on the couch with my dog, |
| in I knew that dance requires creativity, focus, | | | | a nice cup of tea and the TV. I love the dance |
| control and power. But driving home one day I | | | | class, you'd think I'd be ready to jump up and |
| thought about how much learning to dance is like | | | | head off to class. But no I literally had to force |
| running a business. Here are 5 business lessons | | | | myself off the couch.Even though you love what |
| I've learned from hanging out in a hip-hop class.I | | | | you do, sometimes you'll have to force yourself |
| can do a whole lot more than I thought.Each | | | | to work. Figure out what motivates you to get |
| lesson is broken down into sections. It doesn't | | | | going even when you don't feel like it.A group of |
| matter what class I'm in the instructor belts out 8 | | | | peers is really supportive.When there is a really big |
| counts of new steps and I watch thinking, "my | | | | class we split into two groups so at the end of |
| body doesn't do that".You know what, after it's | | | | the class each group has a chance to really let go |
| broken down and we practice a bit, "my body | | | | without worrying about running into their neighbor. |
| can do that". It's the same with your business. | | | | It's great having more advanced dancers to follow |
| What business tasks, systems, phone calls, and | | | | in case I forget the steps. Then at the end the |
| risks are you not taking because you think you | | | | group watching claps and cheers - no matter we |
| can't? All it takes is breaking it down and a little | | | | look like.Find yourself a group of cheerleaders. |
| practice and you'll be amazed at what you can | | | | Personally, I have a mastermind group, an |
| do.It gets easier with time.My first day in hip-hop | | | | accountability buddy, and a coach. All help me |
| class I looked around at the room full of | | | | when I need help with the steps and cheer for |
| 20somethings and through, "what on earth is a | | | | me when I have even a small success.© |
| tap dancer doing in a hip-hop class"? I tripped over | | | | 2005 Beth Schneider. Want to reprint this article, |
| myself, got frustrated with the steps and pretty | | | | feel free as long as you include the following: Beth |
| much looked like an idiot. But the more I do it the | | | | Schneider, Chief Infopreneur of Process Prodigy, |
| easier it gets and the more fun it is. To top it off | | | | is a business process consultant who helps |
| I'm surprised at how fast I'm picking it up.In | | | | solo-entrepreneurs, small business owners and |
| business you don't start at the top. You have to | | | | network marketers who want to systemize their |
| try things that make you feel uncomfortable, self- | | | | business to increase profits, increase productivity |
| conscious and maybe even (gulp), out of control. | | | | and grow their business without having to give up |
| But keep at it because soon things that gave you | | | | the family oriented, flexible, balanced lifestyle they |
| the heebie jeebies become second nature.It takes | | | | desire. Beth works one-on-one with her clients, |
| more than good feet to be a good dancer.So | | | | offers home study courses, and teleclass boot |
| there I was feeling a little cocky because I had all | | | | camps. For more information visit and sign up for |
| the steps down. I was moving all over the floor | | | | your FR*EE 5- Step Process Starter Kit and |
| and then I looked in the mirror and I looked like | | | | FR*EE Process Tips. |
| CRAP.My feet were perfect. But the rest of me | | | | |