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Moving Your Business Forward

Tuesday, May 31st, 2016

annehubbenWe hear it a lot from small business owners – they are stuck in one place, juggling too many things at once and can’t organize the various parts of their lives.

When you look closer, everything seems to be right on track. Their businesses are doing well, their finances are in good shape, they have enough time to just relax and enjoy their families and activities. Yet they still feel they are moving in place, going through the motions each day.

Commit to action.

A commitment to action means stop procrastinating. Stop putting off the difficult decisions, the work that you don’t like to do and therefore avoid. Stop putting off the steps that will advance you from a standstill to moving forward. Be stubborn with your business. Refuse to let the little things stop you in your tracks or slow you down. Get help with the jobs you don’t like to do, hire a remote team and let them help you get organized. Don’t quit until you’re finished.

Recognize your self-defeating behaviours.

Self-defeating behaviours are those that keep you from doing what you know needs to be done. Ignoring your to-do list, letting less important things or those people who just want to chat interrupt your work, purposely finding something else to do so you can tell yourself you really didn’t have time to get to that item today. We all have behaviours we indulge in when we would prefer not to do something. Once again, don’t get distracted, do the jobs you’re best at and hire help for the rest!

Realize that it really is that simple.

Deciding you’re going to do something is as simple as finding the initiative to really want to reach your goal. Not so easy? That’s true, but at some point you will realize that the way you are doing things now is actually taking more energy than tackling the things that have to be done. Finding the discipline to start an initial effort can seem exhausting especially if we are used to receiving things immediately without waiting for a return on our time and energy. Focusing on our goal can help but for most of us an attitude adjustment is in order. Our goal can be reached by taking a series of small steps and it really is that simple.

Getting out of a rut, changing ourselves and as a result, our business, can give us more energy by reviving our interest in what we are doing and shaking us out of the same old boring path. Do it one step at a time, choose your optimal plans, gather all of your necessary resources and don’t make it harder than it has to be. Move forward.

© Copyright 2016 Chris Draper  All rights reserved.

image courtesy of annehubben

 

Categories : Marketing, Sales, Small Business
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How Learning Can Help Your Business

Tuesday, May 24th, 2016

learning goldfish

At QuantumShift’s leadership development program, one of the many tips that attendees received was that in order to succeed as an entrepreneur, they would have to dedicate themselves to a life of learning. Focusing on improving yourself and a dedication to knowledge of all types was a main ingredient to having a successful business.

While many balked at first, thinking this meant continuing education, what was really meant by this was learning more about yourself, more about your customers, your product and anything else you were interested in. It was the actual learning experience that brought the owners of these companies to the forefront and helped them keep up with ever changing business demands.

They found it was not so much about balancing learning with their other interests, as it was about priorities. One of those priorities should be to always learn. In today’s quickly evolving business community, knowing what you need to do is just as important as finding the time to do it. We all have the same 24 hours a day, yet some people seem to accomplish all they set out to do, while others don’t do much of anything.

There is also a difference between information and knowledge, which leads to wisdom. Many of us have lots of facts that we have memorized or data that is stored in our brains. We have access to tons of information online. However, knowledge is being able to interpret this information, analyze it and put it to use.

Changing your daily routine and realizing that each thing you do is a choice, will gradually result in a change in your life and these business owners found that the more they became interested in not only various aspects of their business but hobbies and subjects which were far outside of the scope of business, the more they found different ways to provide new services for their customers. The small act of even the simplest changes seemed to activate something that evolved gradually and then began to pick up steam.

Looking back, in the past, what these entrepreneurs were gathering would have been considered knowledge, a general understanding of various skills and principles, but most of us have lost the ability (or interest!) to learn in this way. Discovering a new way to do something routine or adding to what we already know and then applying it to our lives seems to be a lost art.

Amid all of the other tips that these entrepreneurs received, they realized that learning in a classroom or learning a new business skill has somehow become more important than expanding their interests. What small business owners are now finding out is that learning itself is a skill, and if they wish to excel, learning must be practised.

© Copyright 2016 Chris Draper  All rights reserved.

image courtesy of henley.ac.uk

 

Categories : Business Tools, Small Business
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The Long Term Entrepreneur

Tuesday, May 17th, 2016

entrepreneur

Successful entrepreneurs, who have run businesses for many years, tend to have similar qualities. Mostly of boomer age or even older, these traits have been true of them since they were quite young and though they may not have been as successful at a regular job, on their own, they are powerhouses.

Not afraid to work hard

If you were lazy at school, especially in your younger years or didn’t think you needed a part-time job while in high school, the entrepreneurial lifestyle is not for you. Working from a home office puts you in charge of you and possibly others who you may hire. What it comes down to is a lot of work, which means self-reliance, in all aspects of your life.

Motivated and driven – you have ambition
For many years ambition was a dirty word, but how else can you describe someone who has the ability to get ahead on their own?

Organized
Organized is one of the most important traits of someone who works on their own. If you can’t find your work, how will you complete it?

Strong and emotionally stable

We aren’t speaking of weight lifting and physical strength here; we mean the ability to keep going when the going gets tough. The bottom line – not breaking down in tears or frustration over the many tasks that have to be accomplished, especially when it seems they all have to be finished at one time. Overwhelmed is not in your vocabulary and you look down in disdain at those you use it.

Adaptable: independent and not afraid of change

Anyone starting a new business knows that they will have to change with the times. Fear of the future and what it may bring is not an option if you want to be successful. Looking forward to change or at least finding yourself capable of making sense of it, keeps your business successful.

Not easily swayed by the opinions of others; don’t follow the crowd

Having your own ideas and sticking to them will bring you a long way. Don’t believe what everyone tells you, you want your business to stand out, not copy the others.

Confident in the product or service you are selling or providing

Not being a believer in your own business will show to those you are trying to sell to. Having complete confidence in your work and the way you carry it out shows that you can get the job done. Know your products and services inside out.

Able to follow through on your plans and goals

A quitter will get nowhere when it comes to operating on their own. Going the extra mile time and time again will bring your business to the forefront among competition. Have plans in place and don’t be afraid to change them as time goes by so your business is competitive with others.

Interested in a variety of new ideas and love to learn

Stagnation can put an end to your business or your ability to work from home. Keeping up with technology, to a degree and trying out new ideas will give you an idea of which direction you would like to take your business. Read about the topics that you find interesting, it makes you an intriguing person. All of these things create an interest in your business and even more so, an interest in you!

© Chris Draper, 2016

image courtesy of crayond

 

Categories : Entrepreneurs, Productivity, Small Business, Success
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Get More Done in Less Time

Friday, May 13th, 2016

ants

How many times have you started your work day thinking you had everything in place, schedule organized, allotted time for each task written down? And how many times did that same day slowly start to unravel, leaving you feeling frustrated and that you somehow failed yourself?

You look around and see others who have neat and organized home offices, their work areas holding just the things that are needed at that time, everything in its place. Their computers are not holding hundreds of difficult to locate files and their email has not run away with itself after declaring mutiny on its owner. Yet these apparent super humans still find time to eat relatively healthy meals, indulge in their interests and spend time with their families. What’s their secret?

There are three basic steps you can take to get your work/home life back in balance and by doing that, accomplish more in one day than you used to accomplish in a week.

Organize by using available tools.

This is a step-by-step process starting (preferably) with a pen and paper where you first list the things that absolutely have to be done, both in your work area and your home life. Make it a long list because when you’re finished, you’ll find that a lot of these items can be grouped into one category. This list can also include anything else in your life that needs organizing, especially if you work from home. Spreadsheets are perfect for this. External hard drives and flash drives are a good option for keeping things separate, such as work files, finance, household items, appointments, etc. Take one whole weekend and divide up the areas that need work. Keep a folder for each area and separate spreadsheets within the folder. Once you have everything listed, you will just need to update it every week. It may look time consuming to set up but it will be a huge time saver once you have your processes in place.

Work selectively and utilize your peak periods.

This means if you have several tasks to do, it’s sometimes best to break them up into bite size chunks and do a bit of each one, alternating them. This gives you a break from monotonous work and sometimes gives you a fresh outlook on something when you get back to it later in the day. Always try to complete the most mentally tasking items earlier in the day or whenever you are at your freshest. Leaving them until late afternoon may mean that you complete them in a hurry and don’t do your best job.

Make healthier food choices.

Eat more frequently and eat less at once. Large meals can make you sluggish and feel lazy. Make your favourite fast foods things such as yogurt, cottage cheese, fruit, nuts and dates or something similar. They don’t have to be boring and by choosing these, you’ll have increased energy. For larger meals, take time on the weekend to make up one large batch of a staple for the week…soup, chili, pasta sauce…there are lots of options out there, depending on your preferences and the size of your family. Divided up and frozen, this gives you something available when there isn’t enough time for cooking a larger meal.

Following these three steps will help you along the way to greater energy and more time to enjoy the things you love. There are other things you can do to save time e.g. grouping errands together and if you live in a multiple floor home, having baskets at the bottom of each flight so you can bring things up together (or down) instead of making several trips. Saving your energy for the more fun things in life is worth the time it takes to get it organized.

© Chris Draper, 2016

image courtesy of thenextweb

 

Categories : Productivity, Small Business, Time Management, Work/Life Balance
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How Lists Help Your Productivity

Monday, May 9th, 2016

listFor those of us who wish we could simplify our lives just a little – and which of us doesn’t wish that – maintaining a productive schedule doesn’t always come easy.

What are the most important things you would like to accomplish today? Which things do you really need to do and which would you like to do?

This is where maintaining balance and boosting your productivity cross paths. It’s also where  lists, whether you love them or hate them, are important. Some people are expert list makers. They have lists for everything and if you can manage that and it doesn’t take away time from actually getting things done, then you’re already a step ahead of most of us.

The great thing about lists is that as long as you pay attention to them, they will keep you organized. A master list is a great thing to have; one that encompasses both your work and your home life. For the professional list maker, this keeps everything running on an even keel. If you aren’t good at lists, an online app might be more to your liking, otherwise most of your day will be spent getting started on a list!

For the rest of us, the to do list should become a priority. This is the list that you make at the end of each day with a running tab of everything that you want to get done within the next several days. These are the things which when not written down, will keep you awake at night, worrying that you have forgotten something important. These are the things that you want to focus on and accomplish as quickly as possible and then get out of the way so you have time to enjoy your life.

It’s always a good idea to put a set amount of time beside any item(s) on your list and have a variety of tasks, some which can be finished quickly and others that may take a bit longer. This way, when you have those periods throughout the day when your energy is lagging, you can look at your list and complete one of the smaller tasks. This is usually all you need to get your focus back.

Getting right to your tasks early in the day will help you accomplish more and if you do hit a period where your energy level drops, it will be easier to get back to your list later in the day if you feel you have already completed the majority of the items.

Remember to take short breaks. Getting up and moving around will increase your energy and also give your eyes a rest, especially if most of your tasks are computer related. Rushing through to finish everything as quickly as you can usually means you aren’t putting your best effort forward. Know when to stop for the day. Not completing everything isn’t the end of the world. Add any remaining items on your list to tomorrow’s to dos. Right at the top so you get to them first.

Another example of a useful list, taken from the master list gurus, is one that you will re-use, such as a grocery list, a travel list or a 4 season list. This last one is a list of the things that have to be done around your home throughout the year. Once the list is made, things can be added or subtracted from it as needed but it will save you time once the original list is there for you.

One final note; remember to keep your list up to date. Remove all completed items and those that are no longer of interest or needed. You’ll notice your productivity increase quickly and at the same time you will get much more from life!

© Copyright 2016 Chris Draper  All rights reserved.

image courtesy of pd4pic

 

Categories : Business Tools, Productivity, Small Business, Time Management, Work/Life Balance
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How Much Productivity is Too Much?

Wednesday, April 27th, 2016

ProductiveStriking items from our to-do lists every day makes us feel good. To see, at the close of the day, that we have completed every task we set out to do causes a feeling of accomplishment and that we won the fight against the almighty “have to get dones” that are knocking at our door every day.

Are we overdoing it? Is productivity the key to happiness or are we so busy that we aren’t even aware of what makes us happy anymore? Most of us seem to justify what we do with our time by labeling it productive and this includes our leisure time. Achievement seems to be the goal, doing things faster than ever and especially better and faster than those around us, for achievement is a very competitive thing. Our answer when asked how we are always includes “busy”. It makes us feel somehow superior to those who aren’t.

The problem arises when we feel that we have to justify everything we do by calling it productive. Efficient use of your time has its place; in your workplace or business, but outside of that, should we really be keeping tabs of each minute and how we spend it? While we all like to think we are getting somewhere through our efforts, either in business or a hobby, is it necessary to always be producing or is this our manufactured way of making ourselves feel important?

Once you start to feel that you have to make the most out of every minute of your day is when leisure and relaxation disappear and you are on a constant treadmill of keeping up with not only your idea but everyone else’s idea of what you should be doing and when you should be doing it. Losing control of your actions in the workplace is one thing but to never really be in charge of what you do in your private life is another.

Increased productivity rarely leads to happiness or a sense of satisfaction, as there will always be times when we feel we haven’t done enough, and should have done more. Managing our time in an efficient way can be great, especially when we get more done in less time by focusing on what we are doing. But if we are putting aside the things we really want to do, just to accomplish things we’ve been told we should want to accomplish, then we are being productive for the wrong reasons.

The feeling that we have to be productive is actually cutting into our real productivity, that balance between work, leisure, recreation and family that keeps us happy and fuels our energy so we can accomplish the most important things. Our fear of being left behind has led to a productivity crisis, one where everyone is busy doing but not really getting anything done that will have any major impact on their future, will not lead to a quality life and in the end will leave them frustrated and stressed.

Leaving time for “unproductivity” will allow you the chance to have real ideas, learn more about what you would really like to do that is enjoyable and maybe even get those real things done.

© Chris Draper, 2016

Categories : Entrepreneurs, Productivity, Small Business, Success, Work/Life Balance
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Learn to Say No

Friday, April 22nd, 2016

no moreCrowded schedules, stressed out lives, a to-do list a mile long and no end in sight. For many business owners, this is so familiar it has become their lifestyle.

Though it may be your present lifestyle, it isn’t one that you have to commit to, continue with or even put up with now. Your business is something that belongs to you and as such, you are the one making the decisions. If your decisions are causing all of the above, then you have far too many commitments and they are usually business based.

How do you change? Which commitments do you give up? How do you say no to more?

First, start with your goals. Goals are not always your friends. Quite often, they can rule your life, instead of your being in charge of them. Besides your own personal goals, you probably have goals that involve other business owners or associates. Though you may have promised them certain things or have deadlines and are committed to reaching them, leaving yourself more leeway and even saying no, will reduce your stress. Very rarely will you find that you accomplish less because of not reaching a certain goal at a certain time.

Unwanted commitments. These are commitments that you were usually talked into against your better judgement and didn’t want to make. Classes, talks, meetings – take your pick. Backing out of an unwanted commitment, though you may feel you are letting others down, will make you feel better immediately. There is no need to give a reason, just state that unfortunately, you are no longer available for such and such a thing and then change the subject. If anyone should ask why not, you can simply tell them that it is personal. Drop the guilt.

Self induced commitments. While you may not think these exist, most of us force commitments on ourselves. We absolutely have to do this, that or the other thing. Not to be confused with goals, self inducted commitments tend to be time wasters or not necessary and we put them in place to justify doing certain things. These could be anything from spending too much time on the computer to over cleaning or organizing our homes. We can all fill in our own blanks here for what would be considered a time waster in our lives that we still feel we have to do.

How to you stop committing yourself to things you really don’t want to do or don’t have the time for?

Besides just saying no, you can always soften the blow a little by adding that at this time, you can’t commit to anything but will have to get back to this person or that person (or yourself!) at a later date as your schedule will not allow for further commitments at the present time. Remind yourself of your convictions, that you will no longer commit to anything just to please others or to make yourself look busy.

Remember, the dictionary defines a commitment as “an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action.” Once you start to think of it that way, you will find a way to cut down on anything that complicates your business and life and makes work more of a chore, instead of something you should be enjoying.

© Chris Draper, 2016

image courtesy of web.theabl

 

Categories : Entrepreneurs, Productivity, Small Business, Work/Life Balance
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Taking a Business Break

Wednesday, April 20th, 2016

taking a break

The average small business owner spends 70 – 80 hours per week on their business. Therefore it’s no small wonder that they either are unable or don’t know how to take time off. Both scenarios can lead to a downfall, either of your business or your health and many times, both. Though most of us can’t say no to extra hours or opportunities due to financial constraints, at some point, the decisions will be made for us, usually through failing health.

Though all work and no play can make you dull, there are worse things in the world than being boring and one of those is being ill. Taking time off is a necessity and one that should be made a habit of, not something that just happens at vacation time, for how many of us out there spend some time also working on the weekends? Signs of needing a break include low tolerance for things that normally wouldn’t bother you; fuzzy thinking where you were once on the ball. You no longer enjoy what you are doing and make more mistakes; you are twice as exhausted doing half the things you used to do, yet you can’t sleep.

For those of us with our own businesses or who work remotely, the percentage working more than 5 days a week is astronomical. Unlike our friends, who may work the typical nine to five job, we are working a variety of hours around the clock, 7 days a week and though we may not always work straight 8 hour shifts, the ongoing schedule of working every day of the week leads to more stress and worsening health.

When a break is what you need you have to figure out how you are going to make it happen and not just this week, but every week so your body has time to relax and not think about work or other worries. If you are in charge of a business, it’s time to call in that virtual team. Though you may not think you can afford it, can you really afford not to? If you also have employees that work for you, this will involve more planning as they need to know who is in charge and what their extra duties may entail while you are away – calling you is out of the question.

Explain to your employees and your customers if you must, that you are more effective when you’re rested and that you will return, better than ever. Once everyone gets used to your taking regular time off from your business, the easier they will accept it and the smoother the transition will be each time. Once you are back, start moving forward at a pace that is more comfortable for you. Not all steps have to be large steps. Understand what it is about yourself that makes you push forward when it’s actually to your detriment.

Be easy on yourself. Everyone needs a break, even you. You don’t have to wear a flag that says you are a martyr to your business. With regular breaks, everyone will know better. They’ll realize you are a successful business person and a smart one, who knows when to take time off.

© Chris Draper, 2016

image courtesy of teamgantt

 

Categories : Entrepreneurs, Productivity, Small Business, Time Management, Work/Life Balance
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How Successful People Succeed

Tuesday, April 5th, 2016

succeedSuccessful people just seem to have that something extra. We look at them, wonder what is it they have that we don’t and they come up in our conversations frequently. What is it that they do differently?

They have the ability to keep their emotions under control and stay calm. The most successful people in all professions, including business owners, rate high in emotional intelligence. Their self worth comes from what they think of themselves. They refuse to react in a negative way when hearing of what other people think of their actions. They are able to filter out the judgements of those who may be envious of their success and rely on their own business sense and push toward accomplishing their goals.

They don’t let frustration take over. Successful people know that not every day will be perfect. They’ve been in business long enough to know that “this too shall pass” and are able to keep going even when it gets tough. They aren’t bothered by the minute details and tiny risks that are part of running their business each day and keeping it on a steady path. Planning is a huge part of their life but they don’t let their to-do list run every minute of their day. Sometimes it’s best to step away from the essentials and take a chance.

They don’t allow themselves be controlled by the uncontrollable. Outside circumstances may not be perfect but successful people know that not only is perfection a facade but it is boring. Allowing your imperfections to show as a business owner but not in your business practices makes you more human and approachable to your customers and they appreciate being able to meet the person behind the business.

They have learned to say no. As difficult as it is, you can’t say yes to everyone and everything. Prioritize your business commitments and say yes to only the most important. Those who are successful know how important relaxation and time away from their business is to their general welfare. It’s what makes them succeed in their business and also enjoy their personal time.

They don’t make excuses and always take responsibility for their actions. Successful people know that you have to be mature and take ownership for the outcome of your business. Making excuses is not an option. Sometimes failing is part of any business venture and opportunities don’t always work out the way we wish they would.

Those who succeed realize that the most important things in life are a combination of work and play, business and family, knowledge and learning. Their lives and their businesses reflect this and they’ve learned that the road to success has to be enjoyed to be worth it.

Chris Draper © Copyright 2016 All rights reserved.

 

Categories : Entrepreneurs, Small Business, Success
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How to Simplify Your Business (and your life): The Basics

Tuesday, March 29th, 2016

simplifyIt’s time to put down the lists, decide what really matters to you and stay focused. This is called prioritizing and if you can’t make up your mind what’s important, what you really want and why you’re in business, it may be time for a complete overhaul, especially with how you deal with the various aspects of your life where it crosses over into your business.

Get back to basics. Once you decide to concentrate only on the things you love in your personal life, it won’t be long before it’s reflected in your business. The more you have, the more complicated life becomes and there is such a thing as over abundance. Downgrade by deciding which of your products or services are the most useful to your customers, are financially viable and result in the largest profit for you. Most businesses offer too many choices which confuses their customers and if they have to hold items in stock, it costs them. The cost is then reflected in how much the customer pays. Don’t be a business owner who is making his customers pay for his bad choices.

Minimize your scheduled activities. You’ll find that the less you have to stick to a schedule, the more relaxed you become. This helps creativity, something missing in most businesses because their owners just don’t have time for it. Don’t just organize. Re-organize again and again until you have it right and don’t trust everything to your computer. Paper has its uses and one of them is that it doesn’t need an internet connection. Technology is a distraction and a huge time waster if it isn’t used for productive purposes so turn it off. Now you can concentrate. We are overloaded with gadgets that take up huge amounts of time and show little in return. Too much information, too many choices, leads to too much stress.

Keep your work and your personal life separate. I know that many people find friends and even mates through the workplace or through business but it’s refreshing when you spend your leisure time with others who have absolutely nothing to do with your workday. It gives you a break from thinking about your business, talking about your business and worrying about your business. Put boundaries on your personal life and be choosy over who you let into your life and into your home.

Decide which parts of your business you really enjoy and that you’d miss the most if they weren’t there. Concentrate on those tasks, outsource the others to someone else. Wealth is measured by many others things besides dollars. It’s measured in happiness, confidence in your abilities, and enjoyment of your life as it is now.

Chris Draper © Copyright 2016 All rights reserved.

image courtesy of usmansheikh

 

Categories : Productivity, Small Business, Work/Life Balance
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  • Moving Your Business Forward
  • How Learning Can Help Your Business
  • The Long Term Entrepreneur
  • Get More Done in Less Time
  • How Lists Help Your Productivity
  • How Much Productivity is Too Much?
  • Learn to Say No
  • Taking a Business Break
  • How Successful People Succeed
  • How to Simplify Your Business (and your life): The Basics

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