Business Strategies That Work!

Make It Happen Monday!

Does your business day include a Power Hour?  In the world of Small Business, many entrepreneurs begin their day with one full hour of uninterrupted mind and body preparation.  Here’s how it works:

Designate one hour during the interval between awakening and beginning your business activities as your Power Hour.  Divide that hour into four, 15-minute segments.  One 15-minute time slot will be for the sole purpose of invigorating your body with a brief cardio workout.  A 15-minute yoga session will loosen muscles and relax the body in preparation for the stresses of the day.  15 minutes of meditation, visualization, or autogenic training will clear your mind and set you up for smooth sailing through the decisions and tasks ahead. Spending 15 minutes reading a book that motivates you or increases your knowledge of your industry or business practices will put you in the proper mind-set for a productive work day.  This gives you the added bonus of a new topic to discuss at your next networking event.   Work Power Hours into your schedule this week.  You may be surprised at how much difference it will make in your entrepreneurial life.

Friday is typically an aaahhhh day.  End of the week, many things have been accomplished, and now we’re looking forward to the weekend.  Let’s take a look at some things that we can do to make every day an aaahhhhhh day:

• Exercise We all know that exercise is good for us. We some times forget that exercise is also good for our mind.  The same exercise program that helps prevent disease and build muscle can also help manage stress.  Time, or lack thereof, seems the most common reason for exercise programs to go by the way side.  Fitness expert and owner of LeanDream, Alan Zimmerer, understands this.  Zimmerer said ” The single, most valuable resource for nearly all entrepreneurs is time.  No stranger to late nights, the twenty-hour work day, or frequent travel, it’s even easier for those chasing the dream to put exercise and health on the back burner, if not off the stove all together.  What many fail to realize is that maintaining your health doesn’t take a significant time investment if done correctly.  Additionally, maintaining your health will leave you with more energy, less stress, a more focused mind, and a more productive day – ultimately saving you more time than you actually put in.”  How to make this happen? Read more…

• “Your mind will overcome anything. That is, anything that matters to you”. -km Okay.  That sounds good, but how can we get mind and matter to work together?  Autogenic training is often associated with deep relaxation and stress relief.  Today’s practitioners recognize that autogenics can aid in overcoming addictions (such as smoking or gambling), change unwanted behaviors (such as OCD), and resolve anxieties (such as fear of failure or public speaking). In fact, you can use autogenics to help overcome a variety of psychological or physiological problem.  How’s that for Fabulous Friday news?  Personally, I’ve practiced autogenic training for about 4 months, and I’ve been amazed at the almost instant results (both physical and mental).  It can’t hurt to learn more about it, right?

• Approach with optimism. There are days when it’s tough to say things are going well, and some days when it seems like things aren’t going at all… well or otherwise.  That kind of  day can get the most optimistic entrepreneur down.  A personality makeover isn’t necessary, but perhaps approaching situations from a different perspective can make it all seem easier.  On hold indefinitely waiting for a tech when it looks like you’ve fried your iPhone?   Pass the time while improving your eye-hand coordination with an online jigsaw puzzle.  Stuck in traffic after a client meeting that started poorly and went from bad to worse?  Pop an audiobook in your CD player. I like The Success Principles by Jack Canfield.

Above all, just as I wrote in an earlier post… be good to yourself.  Take time for yourself, and the people and activities you enjoy.  Goals and plans are great, but when they control our lives they become the same ball and chain we sought to steer away from when we chose entrepreneurship.

Happy Friday!

Google:  Making The Most of It!

Google is everywhere and it’s even been said that it is the defining word for the last decade.  Do we really take full advantage of all that Google has to offer?  Google tips abound.  Real Simple magazine offers  these expert tips. There are these 7 things that you can do directly in the Google search field.

Wondering about Google Wave?  Take a look here.  How about Google Chrome?  That’s certainly been in the news.

Maintaining your business web site, and wishing for easier and better techniques?  Visit this Google site Google Keyword Toolbox.

Is scheduling your nightmare?  Your calendar is never around when you need it, or worse, you forget to check it!  Google simplifies it with, of course, Google Calendar.

Google Apps are invaluable to a lot of business owners.  And, don’t forget Google Docs!

A new work week.  A brand new beginning.  Ready?  Let’s get started!  If you haven’t made your To Do list for today, make one now.  Don’t get bogged down by prioritization and delegating as you initially make your list.

Let the thoughts flow. After you’ve written all the To Do items you can think of, assign priority numbers to each task.  Then go back through the list and decide which tasks can be delegated to others.  Mark that person’s name or department by the task.  Review your list a second time.  Which items can be relegated to another day?  Which tasks are busy work and can be eliminated?

All right!  The To Do list is complete.  Make sub-copies for those that you’ve delegated tasks to and pass their list along to them. Done.  Excellent.  Check your priorities now, and get started knocking that list out.  As a task is completed, mark it off the list, congratulate yourself on a job well done and keep going.  You’ll have your list wrapped up in no time!

Relax and renew.  This seems like the tip for yesterday?  Yes.  It’s very similar.  Today… seriously, take the day off.  Your mind and body need the rest.  You’ll be surprised tomorrow when you feel so good!  You’ll have renewed energy, an increased flow of creativity, optimism and an overall sense of well-being.

Turn off your phone and computer.  Set aside your continuing education books, CDs and DVDs.

• Read a book you’ve had sitting on the night stand for a month.
• Watch a movie.
• Go for a walk.
• Start a jigsaw puzzle.
• Work the crossword, Sudoku or word find puzzle in the newspaper.
• Go to church.
• Take a nap.
• Bake cookies.
• Call a friend or family member, just to catch up.
• Do yoga.
• Listen to music while you watch the sun set.
• Drink 8 glasses of water, and eat only healthy and nutrition packed foods today.
• Peruse a magazine.
• Window shop.
• Ride your bike.
• Visit the local recreation center, and take a swim.
• Select a tip from Five Good Minutes and try it out.

Okay.  That’s it.  Turn everything off and enjoy the day!

Saturday… ahhh, a day for rest and renewal.  Every business owner knows that no day is truly a full day of complete and total rest.  There are ideas, plans, decisions, tasks and meetings that fill our minds and motivate our bodies to action.  My suggestion to you today, spend an hour working on the most pressing issues effecting your company.  Spend a second hour on your business networking and marketing.  Post to your blog, comment on several industry blog posts, join a new target audience group on LinkedIn or Facebook.  Sign up for my new Facebook Group:  Business Strategies That Work! At the end of that second hour… switch your cell phone to silent, turn off your computer, grab a book, connect with your significant other and/or your child(ren) and ENJOY!

Whether or not to walk away from a business situation is a challenging decision. What reason could  possibly be good enough that you walk away from an opportunity?  The possible effect of not walking away, and potential subsequent damage to your reputation and brand is a most valid reason to steer clear of those situations that “don’t feel right”.

How do you know whether or not to walk away?  Our intuition about a person, opportunity or situation is our first signal as to what our ultimate decision should be. Intuition may show itself as a formed idea, a general feeling of optimism and energy, or alternately dread or discomfort.  Many times when everything seems to fall into place with a new idea or relationship, it’s our intuition to allow the situation to follow its natural course.

In our fast paced business life, we may not take the time to heed our intuitive voice. We feel compelled to make on the spot decisions. I suggest that this urge be replaced with patience. Teach yourself to  trust your  professional experience and expertise that have resulted in the evolved instincts that are part of your decision-making tool kit. Then you can feel comfortable that you are following the appropriate processes to achieve a positive end result for your business.

To walk away, or not walk away… Yes, there will be times when we will walk away from challenges and end up wishing we had taken them on, or vice versa.  I offer that there will be many more times when you stick with it or walk away, and you will have no regrets. There will be no second guesses. You will know you made the best decision possible with the abilities that were on hand at the time.

Happy New Year!  2009 was a great year for many, but not so good for others.  Regardless, it’s up to you to make 2010 the biggest and best ever.  Let’s get started:

• Make a list of the marketing techniques, employee strategies, cost cutting efforts, and customer service strategies that worked.  Then make a list of the initiatives that weren’t as productive as you had hoped.  Compare the lists and establish new goals and plans to enhance each of these business focal points.
• Work the internet.  Resolve  to write one blog post each day.  Write 4 – 6 micro blog posts each day as well.  Visit popular industry blogs and establish yourself as an expert by posting well thought out and informative comments.
• Develop a personal continuing education program with focus on both your specific industry and new developments in small business.  Explore internet resources and your local library for inexpensive, but extremely valuable learning tools.
• Network, network, network.  Locate networking calendars for your area, and sign up for weekly updates.  Schedule at least one networking event for each week.  Check in with your web contacts and keep them up to date on your business’  latest  developments and achievements.  LinkedIn offers a wealth of networking opportunities.  Explore it and use it!

Make It Happen! 

2010 is going to be your best year ever!