Check this out this video. It shows that people stop avoiding effort when a task is make more fun:

As you'll see in the video, people start taking the stairs when the steps are made to look (and sound) like piano keys.

Nothing else changed. The people aren't given money or bribed. They are still presented with two options – stairs or escalator – yet the stairs are chosen more often, even though they obviously still require more effort than the escalator does.

Let's apply this to life and business.

As a parent, you may remember the song “Clean up, Clean up, everybody do your share. Clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere.” It makes cleanup more fun.

Humming the ABC's twice when you're brushing your teeth helps the time fly and lets you know when your time is up.

What about work? What can you do in your business to make work FUN?

Please add your suggestions, and I'll add mine, too.

1. Make your office environment a place that you like being. For awhile my desk was in a really dark room in the house and I found myself dreading walking to my desk. Now, I have a great room with a big window. I have hilarious “Demotivators” on my wall, an 8 foot by 6 foot whiteboard behind me, and I have a variety of other bizarre things in here that make me smile.

2. I've ONLY chosen to work with people who make me laugh – or at least smile, a lot. I'd previously taken clients who were not fun, and I grew to hate doing the work. That's when I realized that I was creating a job, rather than the lifestyle that I dreamed of. Adios to them.

3. I try to include humor in my day to day work whenever possible. Weird Niche Wednesdays is obviously one of those attempts. My Online Success Podcast is full of laughter. Heck, even if it makes you groan instead of laugh – if you keep coming back, then it does its trick because I want my “peeps” to be those with a sense of humor. Life's got too many actually “serious” moments. Work can not be one for me.

4. My helpers are strongly encouraged (actually PUSHED) to communicate their favorite activities (and more importantly, their least favorite). I do not want to give a creative person the job of researching for me any more than I want to stress out a very analytical person by giving him/her a highly creative job. I want them to be doing tasks that they find FUN!

5. Along the same lines – I avoid certain tasks like the plague. If it's tedius, I outsource it. If it's tedius and I can't outsource it (yet) – then I play loud music while I do it.

6. My mentors. I have made the mistake of buying products from people who I either didn't respect, or who were dry and not very fun to listen to. What do you think those DVDs are doing now? I can give you a hint. They're getting dusted weekly — and that's about it. Now I choose to learn from people who I respect AND who I am entertained by. And, I strive to offer both to you – with my new Blog Tour Guide. Hope it's both interesting and informative.

Throw your “How to Make Work More Fun” ideas at me. I want them!

Smile. It's just internet marketing, guys. We're allowed to have fun. Really!

((hugs)) and thanks for reading.
Nicole

These will all be things to help you to be more successful in your business, and in your personal life.

Today is about excuses and how they suck.

• Excuses suck energy.
• Excuses suck self-esteem.
• Excuses suck time.
• They give you nothing good in return.

Watch this video and then tell me if your excuses for why you “can't” do something are valid or not. I have a feeling this will put things into perspective. It did for me.

(Thanks to Danielle Miller, for letting me know about this!)

Let's translate this to business.

• I can't do an interview because…
• I can't write an article because …
• I can't find 10 minutes to exercise and participate in the Fat Loss Quickie Challenge, because…

I say BALONEY! BALONEY on you!

But, I say it with love.

Today, I challenge you to look at the excuses that are holding you back and really challenge them. Are they valid? In most cases, no, they aren't. So, get over them already and move closer to your goals!

Let me know what you think about this new feature.

((hugs)) and high fives!
Nicole

PS. After I decided to do this Motivational Monday thing, I started to look for keywords. It appears that I'm not unique in this idea at all. However, since I'm in the “no excuses” mode, I'm doing it anyway, just because it'll be FUN and I know you guys will really benefit from it as much as I will.

PS again. For those doing the Fat Loss Quickie Challenge with me, this is also for you. No excuses today. I know it's a holiday, but we can still find 10 stinkin' minutes to take care of ourselves, right? You can't take care of anyone if you're unhealthy, so take care of you!  Or as I say to my friends and the people I care about, of which you are one. “Please take care of my friend.”