Time Management Tips to Slay your Goals

Hey friends!  As I mentioned in my last post,  I’m making a personal commitment to post at least 1x per week in 2017.  Man….I tell you what….it’s harder than I thought.  I know I have to set aside designated “blogging time” to reestablish the discipline and rigor I once had around writing.  That’s why I love the quote above so much…it’s so true!  If I don’t plan, I’m essentially “planning” to not achieve my goal.

As small business owner, efficient time management is critical for survival because I have limited resources and am consistently forced to do more with less.  So I thought “Time Management” would be the perfect topic for this blog post.  Now  I’m not the most detailed nor the most talented person, but when comes to getting sh*t done, I don’t mind tooting my own horn.  People ask me all of the time, “How do you do it?”  And the short answer is, I’m NOT a perfectionist.  I prioritize the most  critical tasks required to achieve my BIG goals.  And I plan everything!  I actually have some strategy around how I plan my week and how I think about each day as an input into the greater whole.   I also operate under the core belief that DONE is always better thanks PERFECT, thus I’m not a perfectionist.

Below is my personal 5 step approach for strategizing and managing my time.  Now, most people probably have a day planner and they just pencil in everything that pops up on their “to-do” list.  Not my style.  I create strategy for my entire week and then slot my activities into my “ideal outline.”  Let’s dive a little deeper…

Brit’s Weekly Time Strategy for 2017

STEP 1: CREATE AN OUTLINE OF YOUR ENTIRE WEEK BY FIRST BLOCKING OUT THE NON-NEGOTIABLE TIME

As you can see above, I think about my week as a whole, and set aside designated time to work on the things most critical for achieving my BIG life goals. In doing so, I essentially have a “template” for my day planner and give myself structure so that I’m in control of my time, and random stuff that pops up can’t control me!

Obviously, I have to be physically present at work at certain times, so I block this time in green.  For me this is when I’m physically teaching classes.  So step 1 for you, think about your entire week and block out the time that is totally non-negotiable for your livelihood (i.e. weekly work and family commitments)

STEP 2: EVALUATE YOUR PERSONAL GOALS AND BLOCK TIME TO WORK ON THEM

Then I review my list of goals for the year and think about what specific actions are required to make them come to life.  For example,  I want to continue to grow my business and innovate new services for our clients.  So, I have to block a few hours on my weekly calendar for “Standardization” and “Innovation.”  During these time blocks I document our business processes, develop training manuals, create new class formats and work on strategic brand partnerships.  Notice that nobody is “making” me do these things, but I have to make a personal commitment to myself to work on these things.  Otherwise, 6 months will pass and I realize that I’ve made no progress.

Me with my 2017 goals in hand!

Another example is time for my relationships.  On my 2017 goals, I stated that I want to continuously strengthen my relationships with my friends, family and myself. So I block out time on my weekly template to hang out with besties, to catch up with family and to just be alone and read, work on my personal development and quite simply enjoy my own company.

I can go on and on, but I think you get the point.  Step 2 – evaluate your goals and dedicate time each week to work on them in bite size chunks.

STEP 3: PLAN TO PLAN

Weird, I know.  But the reality is,  I allocate time in my weekly calendar to plan the next week!  That’s right…I plan to plan.  So for me, on Sunday evenings I plan all of the choreography and playlists for my fitness classes the upcoming week, I plan my meals and my personal workouts.   I also plan “free time” which allows me to handle random events in a structured, efficient way.

STEP 4: FILL OUT YOUR DAY PLANNER WITH SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES ALIGNED WITH YOUR OVERALL WEEKLY TIME STRATEGY

This part is fun.  During my “planning time” each week I physically update my planner for the week ahead.  As you can see above, my day planner aligns with my overall weekly strategy.  I force myself to work on the things only during their designated time slots.  This prevents me from getting distracted and makes my life easier because each day I simply wake up and follow the plan for the day.

STEP 5: TREASURE YOUR TIME

You owe it to yourself to achieve your goals and fulfill your dreams, and the only way to make that possible is to spend time working on your goals every single week.  That means when people or outside commitments try throw something on your schedule, tell them  that that you can get to it during your “free time” not during the time you’ve designated for working on your goals, your full-time job or other critical activities.

Well, that wraps it up.  My 5 step time management approach for slaying your goals.  Do you have any additional tips for making every minute count?  If so, I’d love to hear them!  Have a wonderful week and I’ll be back with more life and business hacks next week.  xoxo, Brit

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My 2nd Business Pitch Contest

Brit Rettig- Business Pitch at InnovateHer

Hey Friends!  Last week my mom and I made  road trip down to San Antonio, TX where I competed in the InnovateHER Women’s Business Pitch Competition sponsored by the SBA (Small Business Administration).  It was a bittersweet experience as I practiced all week, picked out the perfect outfit and thought through all of the questions the judges may ask.  Alas, I didn’t win 🙁

However, I felt really great about my pitch delivery.  Unlike the competition I recently won at the Dallas Entrepreneur Center (DEC), this was a true “pitch” competition meaning I only got 2 minutes to speak and could only have 1 slide on the screen.  That said I had to prioritize the most critical aspects of my business plan and immediately excite the judges.  This experience definitely pushed me past my comfort zone and elevated me to a new level of public speaking and handling high-pressure situations.  Also, I got to the meet the founders of these 4 awesome, female-owned start up companies – I highly suggest you check them out and show them some love!

The 5 Finalists – Me and the fierce female entreprenuers who presented our businesses to the judges – I was so inspired by their awesome ideas, passion & energy!

In the spirit of “keeping it real” I was super bummed about the outcome (I even shed a few tears when I was alone in the lady’s room).  Honestly after watching the video of my pitch, there wasn’t anything I thought I could have significantly improved.  Fortunately, my competitive nature is getting the best of me and now I’m even more motivated to spread the positive vibes of GRIT Fitness and impact women all over the world!  #CantStopWontStop

Before I went to bed that night, I came across this post that gave me so much peace, hope and purpose.

“I want to be in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. And when we make the choice to dare greatly, we sign up to get our asses kicked. We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both. Not at the same time. Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.”
― Brené BrownRising Strong

I remember being in my corporate career with my steady paycheck and awesome expense account and thinking to myself, “I want more than this.  I want to take a risk with my life and pursue my dream.”  Now I’m living boldly and there are several ups and downs, but boy is it exciting!  I hope this quote positively impacts you as much as it did me.

Keep up the good work ladies and shout out to all of the #GIRLBOSS chicks out there!  xoxo, Brit

Me and my Mama Kay enjoying margaritas and Mexican food on the San Antonio River Walk after the competition – you can find a silver lining in EVERY experience if you just look for it!

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Celebrating 5 Months of Business at GRIT Fitness

Hey friends! I just finished teaching my 6am GRIT HIIT class at my studio and I’m feeling energized and ready to take on the day.  Here’s the workout we did this morning in case you want to give it a whirl on your own! (Do 20 seconds of each exercise then rest for 20 seconds, repeat each round 4 times continuously before moving on to the next round)

 

GRIT HIIT – June 18, 2015

Round 1

  • Triple step side to side
  • Skater leap holding medicine ball

Round 2

  • Plank Froggers
  • Forward lunge with medicine ball overhead press

Round 3

  • Hop on one leg, side to side and front to back (2 rounds right, 2 rounds left)
  • Side squat with knee raise back to center holding medicine ball

Round 4

  • Wood chop jumps swinging medicine ball between legs
  • Chair pose twist jumps alternating sides

Round 5

  • Plank spider knee pulls (same knee to same elbow)
  • Full sit up with medicine ball

Today is an extra special day because we’re celebrating 5 months of business of GRIT Fitness!  (check out the little slide show I made in honor of our clients and staff) Time flies when you’re having the time of your life.  I’m so grateful for every single person who’s taken a class, attended an event or simply shared an encouraging word.  I have 100% confidence that the best is yet to come.  Here’s to the next 5 months…and the next…and the next!

Have an awesome day!  xoxo, Brit

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5 Acts of Gratitude to Boost Your Mood

As you know, this month is all about gratitude = the quality of being thankful.  I’m so grateful to wake up everyday and do something that I love: share fitness & healthy living with people I care about = YOU!  I’m also grateful for the opportunity to share my fitness business start up story with SELF Magazine.  Woo ho0 – check out my article on self.com!

I’ve found that practicing acts of gratitude makes me a happier person. In fact, studies from University of California Berkeley show that grateful people are less resentful, more optimistic and healthier than their ungrateful counterparts. Also, physically expressing gratitude generates a greater happiness return than simply feeling appreciation. So just in time for Thanksgiving, here are five acts of gratitude to ensure you have the happiest holiday!

  1. Savor the Small Stuff – Whether it’s your morning cup of coffee or hot shower after a long day, take a moment to be present and acknowledge your little luxury.
  2. Say Thank You – Actually pick up phone, call someone and tell him or her how much they mean to you. Not only with they feel wonderful, but you will too.
  3. Love Your Body – Go for a sweat session at your favorite fitness studio. Afterwards thank your body for its physical fitness.
  4. Be One With Nature – Step outside and look around. Appreciating nature’s beauty can quickly lift your spirits.
  5. Acknowledge Your Accomplishments – Make a list of three personal accomplishments and thank yourself for your dedication and commitment. We often express gratitude to others, but it’s equally important to appreciate ourselves.

This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to not only feel thankful but to also express your gratitude!

Happy Thanksgiving! xoxo, Brit

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Dallas Grit Fitness: Site renovation almost complete – we have a floor!

Image: I literally ran outside and jumped around in front of the truck delivering my studio floors!

Great news gang!  We are less than 2 weeks away from fully renovating my very first fitness studio, Dallas Grit Fitness – YIPPEE!  Last week marked the completion of a major renovation milestone as our floors were installed!  I was so excited when the floors arrived, I couldn’t stop jumping around and cheering.  You can see me in action on this Instagram Video clip.  Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm, right?

Floor installation at Dallas Grit Fitness was no easy task since our space was formally a chiropractor office.  We had to demolish all of the existing carpet and tile to create a smooth surface for the new studio flooring.

Now that the hard work is done, I’m excited to move on the to fun part – decorating!  I got lots of cool wall art and lighting for the studio.  We will also install a full wall of mirrors and the sound system this week.  It’s really coming together.  I can’t wait to share my energy, passion and grit with you in person.  If you live in Dallas or ever come to visit, you must pop in to Dallas Grit Fitness for a sweat session! 🙂

Tearing up the existing carpet and tile
Smoothing out the surface to ensure the floor is completely level
All smooth! Waiting for the surface to dry to until we start laying the floors
Floors are installed and the black base was molded to the wall – almost ready to dance!

Get ready for the most FIERCE, FUN, FABULOUS fitness studio in Dallas!   xoxo, Brit

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Dallas GRIT Fitness: My 1st Studio – Progress on Site Renovations

Hey guys – happy Tuesday!  So I’m back in Dallas and back to work renovating and preparing for the grand opening of my very 1st fitness studio!  I can’t believe this is all happening.  It’s SO MUCH more work than I anticipated but I’m loving every minute of it.

My studio, Dallas GRIT Fitness, is located in East Dallas at 3821 Ross Avenue.  I’m SO excited to bring the very 1st one-stop-shop for a variety of the most energetic group fitness & yoga classes!  No more having to drop in to 5 different studios to attend your favorite workouts.

Right now, I’m in the thick of of renovations and managing contractors.  We started off by tearing down 6 walls in what use to be a chiropractor’s office.  Talk about manual labor.  I had a little bit of a hiccup last week when the City of Dallas officials stopped by and said I needed an additional permit for the demolition work that was done – YIKES!  We had to stop working for a couple of days until we secured the permit – UGH!  Fortunately, everything is squared away now and we are back in business!

My friend Turner, owner of Dallas Fit Body Bootcamp, did all of the demolition work by himself! Talk about GRIT
Turner knocked down 6 walls on 1 Day #BEASTMODE
During the demolition, the flooring guys came by to give me an estimate on wood floor installation
I almost fainted when I heard the price… maybe I can get wood floors installed barter for classes???
At the end of Day 3 all of the wall were gone and the debris was cleared out. Turner and his buddy Glen literally did magic!

Once we got all of the walls knocked down and cleaned out, we did a mini celebration – YAY!  Then the painters came in and worked their magic.  I decided to go with gray walls and white crown molding.  What do you think?  My biz partner, Tuner, will run Dallas Fit Body Bootcamp in the suite next door.  We’re excited to offer cross-studio memberships and  joint workouts 🙂

Painters doing the final touches on the crown molding
All done with painting yay! Now I need to get a “Dallas GRIT Fitness” sign made to go in the entry way behind the welcome desk

Now that painting is done, the flooring guys will install beautiful maple wood floors this week.

Last but not least, we will wrap up renovations with mirrors, wall art and sound/lighting installations.  Then we are good to go!  I’m having an orientation for all of my rockstar instructors in early December and “soft opening” in late December 2014.  I’ll be sure to keep you updated on the progress.  In the meanwhile, check out the studio website: dallasgritfitnesss.com

So much is happening so fast!

Thanks for being a part of the journey.

Lots of luv, Brit

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Chase Your Dreams Ignore Your Fears

Happy Sunday!  I wanted to share a little inspiration to get your week started with a positive and optimistic outlook.  “Chasing your dream” is much easier said than done.  Especially, when you’re at a crossroads in your life and the opportunity cost of fully pursuing your dream is high.

In recent years, I’ve develop my own dream of opening fitness studio in Dallas. Each time I take a few steps forward, I take 3 or 4 steps back because my fears kick in.  I often think to myself “I won’t make as much money,” “there are too many competitors,” “can I do this all by myself?”

I found this great article on Forbes.com that really hit home and gave me a little push to quit wallowing in my fears…

The 5 Way s to Overcome the Fear of Chasing Your Dream

By Steven Berglas at Forbes (click the link to read the full article)

  1. Your fear of taking action is a result of watching yourself fail to act–not the other way around.
  2. Your fear of losing a paycheck is exaggerated.
  3. Your fear of launching a start-up stems from knowing someone whose new venture fell flatter than a crepe.
  4. You won’t sacrifice a paycheck because it would be “wrong, reckless, irresponsible, etc.”
  5. No one daydreams while watching a Super Bowl game that goes into the fourth quarter with the score tied.

I hope these 5 tips give you the same inspirational kick they gave me.  In the near future I expect that my blog posts and your comments will reflect that we finally ditched the fear and went for it!  Be on the look out.  A Grit by Brit Fitness studio could open soon near you (wink wink)!  Send me your positive vibes and I’ll send you mine.  Have a wonderful week!  xoxo, Brit

What’s your dream?  How will you more actively pursue it?

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