Happy Holidays!'Tis the season to be jolly. Also the season to be thankful. I suggest you take some time and review the year in your mind or on paper. Think about all the things you enjoy every day that you take for granted.  Family, friends, food, shelter, high speed DSL! OK, let's keep it light. :0) This is also the time of year where us self-employed folks can easily get off track, or give up working until January. I'm not saying not to take some time to enjoy the holidays, take a week or two. But don't stop working on your business. Use this time to review how well you did in 2007 and prepare your plan for 2008. If you did well, what will you do to continue your success? If you didn't do so well, what will you do differently next year to correct the situation? If you've been thinking about getting help with your business, now is a great time to start. Simply put, people with coaches do better than people without coaches. Consider investing in yourself and your business before next year and make 2008 your best year ever. Make it a Healthy and Productive Week, 
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"Learn from the Past for a Brighter Future - 5 Tips for a Better New Year."by Steve O'Sullivan  It's easy to get emotionally lost at this time of year, perhaps stuck in past wins or losses, opportunities that you missed, relationships that went awry or just the 'Ghost of Christmas Past'. Some solo-preneurs just give up around the end of November, either because it's been such a great year (I deserve a break) or such a bad year (I need a break).
It's fine to take a break, but don't give up for the year unless you previously planned to take December off and your business is on auto pilot. If not, chin up and shoulder to the wheel. Plan your time off and plan your work time as well. This is the best time of year to work on your business and not in it. Take advantage of this golden opportunity to learn from your actions and the results of those action as they apply to your success. Have you been up late at night wondering how you were going to retire, pay the mortgage, or make the credit card payments? Yes? Then I suggest you schedule a day or three to do the following exercises. If you do, I promise plenty of Ah Ha moments. Time for action! Take Your Inventory Get out a yellow pad and start writing down everything you can think of that you did regarding your company this year. Did you have a plan? If so, did you follow it? If not, why not (for either question)? Did you set goals? What were they and how many did you achieve? Did you review and update your goals regularly? Did you have a marketing plan? Did you stick with it? If not, why not? Now think of all the 'wins' you had. I'll bet you had way more than you thought. Write them all down and do a short celebration dance! Then write down all the losses and missed opportunities. No pouting or spontaneous depression allowed! These 'negatives' will be the vitamins of your future business health. The next step is to ask yourself this question. "If only I'd________ this year, I'd have accomplished ________." Now start filling in the blanks. For every missed opportunity and for every goof you made. Looking back, what action could you have taken and what would the projected result be. This is not a game of woulda, shoulda, coulda. It's a practical look at how to make the most out of the experiences you've had. Behind every win and every loss is a lesson. Learn the lesson now, or repeat it in the future. It's your choice. As you go through these exercises, keep in mind the following: Read and Heed the Following Tips No judgments - There is no judgment attached to these evaluations. Don't take this as an opportunity to beat up on yourself. That won't help. Every rejection isn't about you. It's always about the other person and their needs. The mistakes you made are just chances to learn. The only bad mistakes are the ones you make over and over expecting different results. You think Bill Gates and Donald Trump don't screw up now and then? Guess again! It's Not about Excuses - In order to make changes in your business you have to take responsibility for your actions and choices. Skip the excuses why you did or didn't do something. 'Reasons' like "I just don't feel motivated in the winter" and "I didn't have enough time to prepare" don't cut it. Look deep beyond the surface at the obstacles in your path. Fear is almost always the culprit. Fear of failure, success, rejection and what people will think of you are the most common reasons for people to not get what they want. Stand up to your excuses and face your fears, they are not as big as you think. Look for Patterns - Are you consistently doing particular things well? How are you doing it? Can you apply that to something that you find challenging? Are you making the same mistake over and over? Getting half way to a goal and giving up? Make a fearless evaluation of patterns and habits that have shown up in your inventory. You may find yourself habitually drawn to the wrong type of client, spending time on things that never pay off or simply neglecting tasks you don't really like. Make better use of the positive patterns and try apply those habits to the things that need some improvement. Get feedback - What do you do with feedback? It's all about perspective. Ask for feedback from your clients, friends, family and especially from the prospects that choose not to buy your products or services. Now look at it from their point of view. This is the most valuable information you can get. I know it can bruise your ego to hear 'bad' things about you, but this is like free gold. In order to grow your business to it's true potential, you must keep in mind the wants and needs of your clients and prospects. They have the money, and you want some of it. Give them a great reason to give it to you. Ask for feedback, don't take what they say personally even though it may feel like criticism, and leverage that information to improve what you offer and how you offer it. Take Action and Stay on Track - You've just spent a substantial amount of time evaluating your life and biz. Take a little more time now and develop a plan to implement the changes you want to make over the next 12 months. Consistent stubborn action will bring a bounty of new and better business your way. Have at least a basic business plan, marketing plan and half a dozen goals to work toward in the new year. And not to be too self serving, but get a coach or mentor to help you stick to these changes. It's way too easy to slip back into old comfortable habits that will lead to no real change. I know you don't want that! It wasn't until I got my first Business Coach that I discovered how much potential I had with the right kind of help. I wish I had known that 17 years earlier when I started my first company. It would have saved me many years of doing it the hard way.
Next year at this time I hope you can say "I'm so glad I took action this year, I've accomplished more than I could have dreamed of!" © 2007 Steve O'Sullivan |
Run Your Business From Home? Here's 10 Ways to Be More Productive
by Alexandria K. Brown
Ah, working at home sweet home... Visions of leisurely days, conference calls in comfy sweatpants, increased productivity with fewer interruptions. But the distinctions between work life and home life soon blur. You really should throw some laundry in the wash before you write that proposal. You have an hour before a meeting: Should you balance your books or clean the kitchen? And remember to call that client back right after you empty the cat box.
Welcome to the real world of the home office: unforeseen distractions, a lack of structured time, and sometimes a perceived loss of identity. But don't give up the dream just yet! By putting into place a few simple ideas, you can reap more of the rewards of staying home-bound. Based on my experiences and those of my clients, here are 10 simple ways to help you stay on track.
1. Separate Your Space.
Keep a separate, distinct work area in your home. Very important. (This is especially difficult if you're living and working in a shoebox apartment, like I was when I started my business in New York City!) If you don't have a separate room, at least define an area, and know that when you're in it, you're in "work mode."
2. Structure Your Time.
As your business and personal time mesh, it's more important than ever to structure your day. For example, if you regularly take a walk or go to the gym, try to do it every day at the same time. Value that personal appointment with yourself -- even when you're very busy. It will actually help you keep your business on track! I like to get up early and work until 1 pm, then I take a few hours off to enjoy lunch and go to the gym or jog on the beach. Then I'm back at my desk at 5:00 until who knows when!
3. Outsource All You Can.
When I began my business, I made the mistake of doing all my own administrative work. Whenever you start thinking, "Well I can just do that myself," STOP. Streamline your business, making everything as automatic as possible. Use outside services to stay focused on your *real work*. Get accounts with an overnight delivery service, messenger service, errand service, bookkeeper, etc. Save your time and energy for your brilliant ideas!
4. Use Technology to Your Advantage.
In-person meetings are very valuable when appropriate, but schedule them sparingly. Try to do most of your business via phone, fax, and e-mail using the best equipment you can afford. For most of us, when we're out of the office, we're not bringing in the bacon! So it's important that you can communicate flawlessly from where you are. PLEASE do us all a favor and get separate lines/services for your phone, fax, and Internet! No one likes getting a busy signal or having to call first before faxing.
Get separate lines for home and business, or ask your phone company about getting "distinctive ring". Also, voicemail is better than an answering machine, because if you're on an important call and don't want to be disturbed, other callers can still leave you a message.
5. Group Your Errands.
Try to group your meetings and errands together to minimize your out-of-office time. Make a list in the morning of all the outside tasks you need done for the day, and attempt to complete them in one fell swoop. Even better, do what I used to do and designate just one day a week as your "blitz" day for errands and meetings. Plus, then you only need to get dressed up one day a week! : ) (Nowadays I use an errand service to run around for me.)
6. Stay Focused.
Make your workspace off-limits to other roommates or family members when you're working. For you animal lovers, this may go for pets as well. (My cat Francine gets extremely jealous when I'm not giving her complete attention!) Keep all personal paperwork such as bills, magazines, and to-do lists out of sight, so they won't distract you from your work projects.
7. Beware of Yappers.
Many of your friends and family will be immediately delighted when they learn that you're now home-officing. They picture you lounging on the couch, eating potato chips, and waiting for their calls. When they call you simply to chat, politely remind them that you're working, and ask them if you can call them back after your day is over. It may take them a while, but they'll eventually get the idea.
8. Work With Your Moods.
Keep track of your moods and productivity compared with the time of day. For example, if you find you're more alert in the morning, use this time to make important calls and do your creative work. Take advantage of your natural cycles. If you feel better after an afternoon nap, go for it! (I'm a BIG proponent of the catnap. In fact, I may start a support group.)
9. Suit Yourself.
To bring out your best work, make your environment perfect for YOU. How do you work best? With plenty of breaks, or with no interruptions? In silence, or with some light music in the background? On a cushy couch and coffee table, or at a business desk in an ergonomic chair? (My friends thought I was nuts when I spent $750 on my Herman Miller Aeron chair, but they quickly understood why I did once they sat in it! It will last forever and my spine thanks me every day.)
Also, find some places you can do work when you need a change of scenery. How about the library, the park, or your neighborhood coffee shop? When I need to do serious reading, thinking, or editing, I take my work outside to the beach. The sea air, sunshine, and soothing waves help me think much more clearly.
10. Break for People.
Feeling sluggish, lonely, or moody? Arrange for at least one social break during the week. Schedule breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even just coffee with a client, vendor, or friend. Join a business networking group, or sign-up for social activities such as dance class or recreational sports league. Don't go into hermit mode -- it can be self-destructive!
© 1999-2006 Alexandria Brown International Inc.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Online entrepreneur Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen," publishes the award-winning 'Straight Shooter Marketing' weekly ezine with 22,000+ subscribers. If you're ready to jump-start your marketing, make more money, and have more fun in your small business, get your FREE tips now at www.EzineQueen.com
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