Hi everyone, it’s Pat Mussieux here, back again with a few tips to help you improve your business, improve your life, and just get on with what we have going on in life right now.

I was listening to Good Morning America yesterday morning, and they had a segment on about Simon Cowell. The story was about the fact that Simon Cowell had not used his cell phone in over 10 months. That really caught my attention and it should catch your attention too. Simon Cowell, a busy executive. He’s a busy person overall, and in general, like we all are because, if and when you talk to anyone these days, and you ask them how they are, the first thing you’re going to hear is, “Oh, I’m busy. I’m so busy. Oh, I’m busier than you,” and it just goes on and on that were just so busy.

Simon Cowell, in the midst of all that he has going on, has ditched his cell phone, and that’s what I want to talk to you about today because listen, it’s not a newsflash when Simon Cowell said, as a result of ditching the cell phone, he’s become more productive, more focused, more engaged, and bottom line a happier person.

He said that he’s just absolutely noticing much more going on around him, and more importantly, the people around him. Not a news flash, right? How many of us have become addicted to the phone in some way, shape, or form? Now, I have my phone here, with me, and I have it fairly often because, yes, I do have a lot of my life in there, so I’m not talking about that. The message I want to share with you today, and the challenge or the invitation that I want to leave with you today, is about ditching your own cell phone.

Here’s what I mean by that, specifically. In business, we have offices, and in our offices, we have telephones and we have computers, and there are very few of us who operate solely with a cellphone. Very few. If you do, then I’m not talking to you. I’m talking to those of us who have an office and who have technology in the office, and so the invitation to you, and is what I am encouraging my clients to do as well, is to unplug. If you have the cell phone and you’re out and about, use the cell phone as a phone. I get that. I do that, but here’s what I’m doing and I want you to join me. I am taking the social media apps off my phone. When I’m home and in town, I’m in my office, I’m at my computer.

I have already, and for years now, developed the habit of checking into social media three times a day. Now, it used to be five minutes each time, but I’m involved in more groups right now and I believe that when you’re in a group, be engaged, participate, and be present. So now, it takes me 10 or 15 minutes three times a day, morning, noon, and night, and that’s it. I’m done. Because here’s another news flash for you. There’s nothing going on on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram that is life and death for you in your business. There’s nothing, and so your absence from commenting, liking or sharing, it’s really not going to significantly impact anybody or anything over a period of two or three hours. It’s just not going to happen, so that’s our ego getting in the way, and take a look at that because, those of you who know me and have worked with me, I talk about the seven barriers that get in your way from reaching your goals, and one of those is ego. Put that aside. Social media will still be there in three hours.

I want to encourage you to take those apps off your phone. You don’t need them to survive. I understand many women entrepreneurs, of course, they want to have the cell phone with them if they have families, children, family members who might need to connect. I get that. That’s not what I’m talking about, and I don’t believe that’s what Simon Cowell was about either, so I want to encourage you to use the phone as a telephone. You don’t need to have email on your phone. I don’t. I use email on my computer, and so I have boundaries. I’ve drawn a line in the sand. Social media three times a day, email three times a day, and I don’t typically respond to email on weekends. I don’t work weekends. I’m not in a life or death occupation, so it’s not that somebody needs to get me right away, and if they do, hey, telephone me. I’ll answer.

So I am encouraging you, get rid of the social media apps, get rid of the email, and only have on your homepage on your phone, those apps which are directly related and important for you. For example, when I’m traveling, I will keep WhatsApp on my main page because that’s a telephone platform. I will keep the weather. I’ll keep my flight information and that kind of information that I need. But again, I’m talking about things that take you away and that really diminish your focus and your productivity, and my clients have said, in practicing this strategy, that absolutely their focus and their productivity have increased.

That’s my message to you.

1. I’m suggesting take social media apps and email off your phone. You have an office and you have a computer or a laptop, and even an assistant who does that for you, then all is well.
2. Access your social media three times a day. That’s plenty. That still gives you a presence. People know you’re alive and well. Three times a day, and unplug evenings and weekends.

I have a habit of plugging my phone in on the charger and that’s it, and so I’m either out for a bike ride, I’m reading a book, I’m sitting on my balcony having tea, waiting for the sunset. I will bring the phone back in because it’s my camera.

Why do I want to suggest this? First of all, it’s the way I’m living life. Secondly, validated and affirmed by Simon Cowell, one of the busiest people ever, and the takeaway for you on this is that I want you to see the difference. Try it for a month. Try it for a week, if it’s a pretty tense situation for you. I want you to see the difference. I want you to feel the difference. More importantly, I want you to live the difference. Be present. You’ll be happy you did. See you next time.