When it comes to staying focused and productive, a support system can make all the difference. Busy mom and entrepreneur Tasha Scott and I talked about how she makes it work.
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It Takes a Village (or at least a really good support system)
Coach, speaker, author, and entrepreneur Tasha Scott and I had a great conversation about staying focused on what matters.
Get to know Tasha
Tasha has been a full-time entrepreneur for twelve years, and describes herself as a typical woman who is trying to prioritize life being a wife, mother, and active in her church and in her community. She wants to make a difference for others, paying it forward in gratitude for the people who’ve helped her get to her next level of growth.
A typical day
Tasha usually gets up around 5:30 a.m. and starts the day with prayer, meditation, and worship to prepare for the day ahead.In order to create a meaningful meditation time, Tasha has a playlist of Christian worship music that she loves and listens to during her quiet time. She reads the Bible, uses a journal, and uses a book study to help her focus her time. Tasha likes getting her thoughts together before she starts the day.She then makes sure her 10-year-old gets to the bus on time. After that, she gets in her workout, perhaps watching a YouTube video if riding her stationary bike. She then gets ready for the day, and often has meetings, first thing, with other professionals, so she can stay connected.
Thus mentally prepared for the day, she turns to mom responsibilities, getting her 10-year-old ready to go and to the school bus on time. After that, she gets in her workout, perhaps watching a YouTube video if riding her stationary bike, before showering and dressing for her day, which often starts with meetings with other professionals, so she can stay connected. Tasha then coaches clients and works on personal projects, such as her recent book.
She tries to have all of her work done by 4:20 p.m. so she can be at the bus stop for her daughter, and then she puts her “mom hat” back on. She helps her daughter with her homework and starts preparing dinner. She tries to only do one thing for her business in the evening, if needed, and tries to guard her family time. She spends one evening a week at marriage class with her husband at her church.
Biggest challenges
Because of all of the different hats Tasha wears, and because she runs two businesses, her biggest challenge is focusing. She has so many things demanding her attention, and if she isn’t careful, her lack of focus can lead to an unproductive day, because she hasn’t been able to focus on the most important tasks.
Tasha has intentionally developed a support team to help her stay focused
Tasha has a support system that includes two virtual assistants and an accountability group she meets with each week to discuss her intentions for that week. Tasha also has coaches and mentors that help her to stretch and grow. These opportunities for accountability help Tasha to stay productive.
Tasha personally knew each of the women in her accountability group prior to the start of the group meeting together. Because they already had good relationships, it was a natural progression into a supportive network of women. The group members were all entrepreneurs and leaders, and each of them needed a space where she was not the only one giving. They all needed peers that could support one another.
Tasha is a big advocate of accountability groups as a means of helping you keep moving forward toward your goals. If you are looking to start an accountability group, Tasha recommends finding someone in your life right now who is already challenging you. This is likely someone who is not just telling you just what you want to hear, but someone who is saying, “Have you considered ____________?”. It needs to be a relationship of mutual respect and trust, where neither of you is afraid to take off her mask. It may not be someone in your town, in which case you could take advantage of video calls. It needs to be someone who is your peer and not someone you have to coach, or they have to coach you. (Note: If you don’t currently have an accountability partner, consider joining me in a TPW mastermind group for that accountability, support, and encouragement you need to move forward on your goals.)
Productivity tools Tasha uses
Tasha relies on her Google Calendar, which she accesses on her phone and her computer, to manage all of her appointments and tasks.
Tasha also loves Trello because it helps her to manage her projects. She plans 90 days at a time and creates a board for each aspect of her business, which allows her to see the overall vision of her business. Where appropriate, she shares the boards with her assistant.
She also uses paper to create a daily intention list, writing out what she has to do that day. She loves the physical act of crossing items off when they are done.
Tasha created and uses a 90 Day Business Planner (get your copy here FREE!!), which helps break goals into bite-size pieces and allows for short-term victories. Once she determines her goal, then she can examine her marketing efforts, and then what systems and projects need to be in place to make it happen. For example, when preparing for a launch, Tasha will know how many people need to be enrolled to meet her financial goal. She then considers what marketing tools to use, such as webinars, Facebook ads, etc., and then decides what systems and tools she needs to create. Based on this information, Tasha will then create a to-do list. Some of those items she will delegate, and some she will do herself.
What happens on a day you feel gets away from you?
“Life doesn’t get in the way; life is the way.” ~ Michael Port
Like all of us, Tasha does have times when things don’t work out as planned, and she is learning that even with the best of intentions, she just can’t get it all done. This is one reason she loves writing things down with pen and paper. The act of transferring the list each day gives her a chance to evaluate whether a task needs to fall off the list or be delegated. She has learned not to suffer in silence, and that it is better to talk it out with her husband or with her girlfriends. She admits she will not get it all done, but her support systems help her get through the hard days.
What is on the horizon for Tasha?
Maximize Your Existence: Unleashing Your God-given Potential is Tasha’s latest book (watch her website for more info). She will also be launching a program soon, and is often busy with speaking engagements. She spends a lot of time connecting and working with other women — helping them to know who they really are and to uncover their purpose.
Last Words on Making a Life That Matters
“Do not suffer in silence, “ says Tasha. It’s not worth suffering in shame and guilt and embarrassment–it’s okay to admit that you don’t always have it all together. Simply asking for help can help your business and life to flourish.
Resources and Links:
More About Tasha
Tasha M. Scott is a transformational speaker, certified Life Coach for women in business, workshop leader, entrepreneur, and author. She’s a wife and mom, and the founder of the “Don’t Limit Me” and WomenCONNECT™ movements. She owns two thriving businesses, Scott Realtime Reporting LLC and TashaMScott.com, where she motivates and encourages women entrepreneurs.
Through her coaching programs, live workshops, small groups, and WomenCONNECT™ movement, she regularly delivers life-changing messages, empowering women to strengthen their faith and their family while building a profitable business.
What makes Tasha unique is that she draws audiences in with her powerful stories that are transparent and honest to the core. With humility and conviction, she shares the lessons she’s learned in business and life.
Tasha exhorts others to fully realize every ounce of potential within them and live a “no-holds-barred” life of purpose and significance. Her popular video blog contains useful instruction, guidance, and support for living the Unlimited Life. All her endeavors facilitate others in pursuing their own personal journey toward Maximizing their Existence!
What do you think?
Any questions for Tasha, or comments on the tips and suggestions she shared? Share your feedback in the comments section below or on The Productive Woman Facebook page–or email me.
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Funny, I just ha a conversation with a friend yesterday that is teaming with another friend to be come accountability partners in January! I will share this episode with her so she can also listen to it.
Excellent! Thanks, Shaunah!
So timely! I’ve recently joined a friend for accountability to stay on track with publicity efforts. Thanks for the resources!
I’m glad it helped, Jill!