Covid-19 is still wreaking havoc in the economy. Many businesses will never recover, many are losing employees because they are mandating the vaccination. Still, others are losing employees because after having worked from home for so long and now that they’re accustomed to it and have an office set up, employees don’t want to go back. I have pulled together 3 tips for budding entrepreneurs, and I have many more on tap!
This is also leading to a rash of new entrepreneurs. Isolation may have anecdotally led to an explosion of business ideas, but no matter the reason, there are many entrepreneurs and as a business coach, I love seeing that entrepreneurial spirit!
If you’re new to being a business owner and not just pulling in a paycheck, where do you begin? First, stop thinking about your past job performance evaluation as a yardstick by which to measure your skills and talents. Many people thrive much more when they are doing what they love rather than working for a paycheck at a job that drains them.
3 Tips For Budding Entrepreneurs
Don’t ever say no to a learning opportunity. Whether it’s an in person networking event or an online seminar or webinar, there is nothing better than gathering all the knowledge that you can. You never know which nugget of information will give you an a-ha moment and help move your business forward. Also, networking and meeting people is one of the best ways to interact and find potential clients.
Always have a back up plan. If you had the luxury of being able to build a nest egg or a cushion in your savings account before you launch your own business, that is best because it takes away a lot of stress from a new entrepreneur. Have a back up plan until you’re making the money you need to survive. Plan to cut out your extra expenses, look for free entertainment instead of paying for premium channels, cook at home, swap or barter services until you can pay for them.
Keep your eyes open for opportunity. I love the word serendipity. When everything comes together, it is a beautiful event. Whether it’s an introduction to a potential client, or your ability to introduce someone to another potential colleague, successful people know how to recognize a potential opportunity and make the most of it.
Remember, not all ideas will be gold. Be willing to let some go and move on. Don’t keep clinging to a sinking ship just because you’re afraid to admit it didn’t work like you thought it would.
As a business owner, you probably take classes and courses and are invested in ways to incorporate new training into your daily life as an entrepreneur. Do you commit to your personal success as often as you commit to business growth and personal growth? how to commit to personal success is as important as committing to business success and growth.
We have put together a list of ways to commit to personal growth that I have found to be crucial to my clients as part of our coaching programs.
How To Commit To Personal Success
For many, they have to purposefully commit to their personal success. We tie our personal success with our business success but they may need to be separated in order for you to thrive.
Your business will grow when you grow and you will grow when your business grows. As entrepreneurs we are closely tied to the success of our business and that just might push us forward toward pursuing personal growth. Just because you work a 16-hour day doesn’t mean your business is a success, it just means you’re working a lot of hours. Just because you take a day off doesn’t mean you are growing personally. Focus on personal success to grow your business.
You cannot separate yourself from your business — it’s impossible so don’t try. That does mean that your business is a reflection of you, your morals and ethics and beliefs.
Don’t get bogged down in the tasks that you don’t leave the office. You need to network for business and you also need to take courses or pursue hobbies to grow personally.
Focus energy on core competencies. Don’t think you have to do it all. You won’t succeed if you try. You will only feel overwhelmed and burn out. Why do your own bookkeeping if it’s not what you know how to do? Why waste your time on this area if it’s not your expertise and you should be building the business instead.
If you don’t have a definition of what personal success means, you won’t know when you’ve achieved it. Do you measure success on your bank account or the number of new clients you sign up , the hours you put in at the office, or how happy you are?
We know that post-covid may not be happening yet for many entrepreneurs. Some are still struggling to pick up the pieces, others are back up and running but are struggling to find workers, but there are others who are thriving and thrived during the entire past year. We know though that it is hard to be productive, no matter when, but we have tips on how to be more productive post-covid.
No matter where you are on the spectrum, I find that there are entrepreneurs who I work with that struggle to get it all done and we typically find out that the reason they aren’t getting everything done that they need to get done is that they’re doing tasks they should be delegating. In other cases, entrepreneurs will focus on tasks that are unnecessary because they are procrastinating on what truly needs to be done.
How To Be More Productive Post-Covid
Here are tips to regain your organizational and productive mojo.
Build a system with a structure that fits your personality. You can only be efficient and effective if you have a system in place. Use a synced calendar so you don’t miss meetings. Use a shared calendar with your staff. Respect your calendar, schedule downtime so you can recharge and so you can also make plans for the future.
What tasks can be automated.
What tasks can be delegated.
Where can you streamline operations?
Are you using too many applications to track projects that you spend too much time on the tech and less on the task
Are you focusing on the future? Don’t get stuck spinning your wheels in the present. Put together steps to move into the future with your goals.
Take a look at your schedule, your to-do lists and then take a long, hard look at what you accomplish daily or weekly. Are you moving toward future goals or are you stuck in tasks that are holding you back?
Rex Richard of Peak Dynamics has been quoted as saying, “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, knowledge, or skill, but rather a lack of will…” Willpower in work and life matters and there are ways to “get more” willpower. We’ve been told that our willpower is a limited resource and we only have so much of it to work with every day.
We know that willpower or lack of willpower comes when your self-control is ebbing and when you’re emotionally and mentally exhausted.
Can you improve or regain willpower and self-control? Yes!
Willpower In Work And Life
Rex Richard has compiled his top three ways to improve your willpower in work and in life
Know your triggers. What makes you lose self-control? Stress? Boredom? Because your self-control is limited and you deplete it daily, you need to save some or bank some for later in the day when you may need it most. If you know you have a challenging day or event ahead — or at the end of the day — you need to “save” your self-control until then. For example, if you’re hungry or angry or bored, don’t grocery shop — this is especially true if food is your trigger.
Keep yourself out of tempting or stressful situations if you simply don’t have the reserves to control yourself or harness your willpower.
Strengthen your willpower through exercising it. Willpower and self-control are muscles and the more you work it, the stronger it will be. What can you do to improve your willpower and self-control and find reserves of it when you need it? These may seem odd, but they work.
Watch a movie that makes you cry and don’t let yourself shed a tear
Watch a movie that always makes you laugh, but don’t laugh
Solve a hard puzzle — crossword, Soduko or others
Control your emotions when you’re in a situation that tries your willpower. Shop when you’re hungry and resist the urge to stock up on junk food
Drink juice. Whip up a green drink (kale, spinach, fruit juice). The glucose in the fruit juice will help restore your brain and get you back in balance and in control. Feeding your brain can strengthen your willpower and self-control.
When it comes to business tools, we still say and believe that blogging is one of the most effective marketing tools an entrepreneur can have in his or her arsenal. Whether you’re doing your own blogging or hiring a professional writer, your blogging should be bringing in ROI — if not, why are you doing it? If you’re wondering how to make your business blog work for you we have advice.
If you have a business website, the biggest benefit of regular blogging is that every time a new blog post goes live and Google takes notice. Google loves good, new, valuable content and your blogs can be just that and they could help your business rank and get found online.
How To Make Your Business Blog Work For You
Try these tips for your blogging efforts.
Cluster your topics. If you have a LONG article or blog post, consider breaking it up into a series. Google, and readers, love a series. When you do a series you can specialize on the topic and it truly shows your expertise. When you write a series make certain you’re linking back and forth between all parts of the series and make it easier for your readers to find. Also, when doing a series, make sure you’re not making the reader wait weeks and weeks for the next part — they will lose interest.
Be authentic and yes, personable. Regardless of the niche in which your business is, you can still have a personality, right? Do you have to be so staid that you don’t have hobbies? A sense of humor? A story to share? Readers and potential clients will connect with you more readily if they see that you are a “real person” not just a business name with an unknown entity behind it.
Don’t forget the CTA (call to action). What do you want your reader to do after he or she has read your article? Do you want them to call you? Sign up for your newsletter? Buy something? Follow you on social media? If you don’t ask for or prompt a reader, chances are they will read your article and walk away. Don’t let them go until they have been prompted to action.
Keep in mind where your audience is. Are they at the 101 level or are they more advanced? Why do you think they Googled and found your site and are reading your articles? Do your readers understand complex topics you’re sharing? Sure, they may need that complex information BUT you may want to lead them along before you jump right to the highest level. Meet them where they are and nurture them along.
Whether you want to be found by a hiring manager, want to find a new client or simply want to put forth your knowledge and skills you need to have your online biographies completed filled out. We have 3 tips to writing a professional bio that will help you make a great impression before you even say a word or shake a hand!
A professional online bio and a great headshot are what potential connections will see first and will, honestly, judge you on. If you purport to be a professional, but you can’t find a professional headshot… there is a disconnect.
3 Tips To Writing A Professional Bio
What should go into your bio to make you stand out?
As mentioned, a professional photo. Don’t take a selfie. Don’t have a photo of you in your tuxedo from your wedding. Don’t cut your face out of a group photo. Call a professional photographer and get one taken.
Your name and title (don’t make up a title that is so obscure and clever that someone couldn’t figure out what you do). What do you do in your current role?
Add your branding statement. A branding statement is like your mission or vision statement. It helps someone who is reading your bio to know what you stand for and how you stand out from the competition.
Should you write your bio in first person or third person? The jury is still out on that. First-person point of view would be: I am an accountant who has worked for XYZ Company and I was responsible for… A third person bio would be: John has worked as an accountant with XYZ Company and he was responsible for…
Your bio should be updated and refreshed regularly. If you haven’t crafted your bio or don’t know what your branding statement is, reach out to Rex Richard of Peak Dynamics and talk with him.
