smart |life Like a boss Five ways to be the CEO of your life


Photo by Du Truong. W


hether you’re running the show, working for the Man or “in-be- tween jobs,” you are a boss. Even


if you don’t sit at the head of the boardroom (and even if you do), you’re in charge of your own life and it’s time to get bossy. Tap into your inner CEO with these five business tactics that you can apply to your own life. Identify your core values Most companies have a set


of core values that encompass what the organization repre- sents, believes in and stands for. Tese values act as a refer- ence point for decision-making and the way the business is run. You probably have a general


Have a hard decision to make? Compare


the options to your core values. Does one fit better? Does one cause you to compro- mise your values? Tis can help make tough decisions a little bit easier by providing a more concrete moral compass that resonates with you and your beliefs.


Call the shots You’re the boss; you make


Note to Self Faye Armstrong


idea of what values are mean- ingful to you, but clearly defining –and committing to – a set of core values helps make you accountable to them, and ulti- mately, to yourself.


the rules! Don’t like some- thing? Change it! If the head of a major company was unhappy with their results, you can bet there would be changes on the horizon. Tis can apply to all sorts of situations in your life, but the main point is, while it’s true that some things in life are beyond your control, there are probably a few things you’ve


been venting to your BFFs about that you actually do have the power to change. Be honest with yourself about what those things are, and then take the responsibil-


ity to either make those changes, or accept things as they are. You can blame other people and situations for your reality all you want, but at the end of the day, it’s up to you to take control of the wheel. Own up to your mistakes


Remember when Martha Stewart went


to jail? Te empire built on the American Dream and a literal cookie-cutter image could have easily crumbled at the hands of Mama Martha’s mistakes. But instead, she put on that orange jumpsuit (before "Orange is the New Black" made it cool) and handled the PR nightmare with class and transparency (and let’s be honest: probably an amazing publicist). And you know what? She owned it. Post-


felony Martha is more down-to-earth, relatable and real. Your mistakes make you human. What’s more important is how you handle them. Own up, find a way to make it better, and then forgive yourself, move forward, and learn from the experience. Evaluate


When you reach a goal or a milestone, do pop that champagne – but also take some


time to evaluate the process that led up to your accomplishment. What did you do well? What strategies helped you succeed that might help you succeed in other areas too? What could you have done differently or better? Tis will help keep you on track for ongoing improvement and help you reach your next goals even more efficiently. Be flexible


Being a boss means sticking to your


guns, but being a great boss means also knowing when to allow for some flex time. Being flexible is not about bending on those core values we talked about, but it is about remaining open to ideas, perspectives, op- portunities and possibilities that you may not have considered. Even the boss doesn’t know everything. Your life is your legacy – don’t forget who’s


in charge. Faye Armstrong is a life coach based in


Winnipeg who is passionate about living life to the fullest and helping others do the same. For a little motivation or to learn more about personal coaching, visit www. fayeaarmstrong.com.


Summertime and the living’s easy – if you


stick to the plan Keeping eyes on even an adjusted financial plan will help you breeze through the summer


W


e’ve been waiting for the sum- mer to begin, and now it’s in full swing. So far, we’re enjoying


beautiful weather and many lazy evenings with friends on the great patios in our city. Tere are many times of the


year when it is easy to throw plans out the window, and summer can be one of the most difficult. Four months of leav- ing a budget unchecked could result in an entire year if not more of lost effort. Like any other time, sticking


to your budget can help you breeze through the summer. If a trip isn’t in your plan for right now, then perhaps ad- ditional time out with friends and family is. Now is the time to adjust


it’s a good time to begin the search. To get the search started, first be clear in


your own mind what type of a relationship is good for you. Tis relation- ship should be built on what you need and what goals you want to fulfill – it is truly all about you! Te most key to a good expe-


Financial Literacy


Janice Desautels


your budget if this wasn’t considered al- ready. Keep in mind that the adjustment shouldn’t interrupt saving for your future. Summer time is also an excellent time to


review your savings strategy. Even though life can be hectic regardless of the time of year, summer just seems more laidback even if it’s just in our minds. It’s this frame of mind which makes it an excellent time to meet up with your financial advisor – or if you haven’t connected with one in the past,


14 Smart Biz


rience is the skill and expertise that an advisor can bring. It has nothing to do with your own knowledge in the subject matter; it is about surrounding yourself with those experts that can help you keep focused and on track in all aspects of your financial wellbeing. Next in your search, it should


be about finding that good fit where the advisor can help you prepare or refine your strategy


to ensure a solid financial foundation. Look at it similar to building a house. If the foun- dation isn’t solid, how safe would you feel living in that kind of house? Also, if there is no contractor overseeing the project, then how organized would the process be? Who would know if it was built properly, and would it get built in time? Your “financial house” is no different,


and should be built strongly and securely from the ground up. It is the interconnect-


Summertime is a good time to enjoy the patio... and to take time to review your savings strategy.


edness of saving and investing, having enough cash reserves, life, illness and dis- ability insurance, debt management, and tax minimization that work in tandem to secure your future. An advisor who can partner with you and


guide you through the changes that will most undoubtedly occur throughout your financial life is key to fulfilling your goals – so be clear about what you need. If it’s a general plan, then look for some-


one who can holistically set that up and then connect you with the industry experts to execute it. If you have a plan but some- thing has changed, then partner with that


www.smartbizwpg.com


industry person to make those changes. Whichever partnerships you decide on,


ensure that you provide them with all the information they need to make the best recommendation for you. A successful partnership is a result of honest and total information sharing from both parties. Janice Desautels has been working with


families and individuals for the last seven years helping educate in the field of finan- cial literacy. She is a Certified Financial Educator with over 15 years’ experience in teaching and training adults. For questions or advice, please contact jdesautels11lmlc@ wfgmail.ca.


July 2015


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