Tag Archives: Small Business

Feb21

Welcome to OZ

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Welcome to OZ

OZ – the Outer Zone.

Welcome to OZ.

If you are an artist, craftsperson, small business person, consultant – you have broken the barrier of the Comfort Zone and moved into the Outer Zone.

Or have you?

One of the problems with the Comfort Zone is that we tend to rebuild it wherever we land, after breaking through the membrane of complacency.

As business people, we rely on our strengths to carry us through.  And every so often something new occurs, and requires an adjustment to the Zone.

Change.

It is inevitable, and like death and taxes, it requires an enormous will power and several experts to thwart, and usually – you only windup forestalling the inevitable.

How do you learn to embrace change?

That will be the subject of the next post… in the meantime, enjoy OZ and remember to “Follow the Yellow Brick Road”.

 

Feb17

The cost of doing biz

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The cost of doing biz

There are a lot of folks out there struggling.  The cost of doing business is so very expensive that it makes it seem like a Herculean task to try to navigate through all the different tools and decide what to use for what – and get the most bang for your buck (a very important consideration).

So I am here to tell you about two services that are FREE, that can help most consultants, small business owners and even the occasional artist.

The first is FreeConference.com – it enables you to have a conference call, for free.  Hence the name.  LOL.  Seriously – if you do phone training, need to have a meeting with people across town or across the states – this is a great tool.   You can tie it to your Evernote.com application for reminders, if you like.  You get up to 4 hours of free conference time for up to 150 participants.  For additional costs, you can record the conference call – which works great if you plan to put a copy of  the call on your website.  It is easy to set up, and you can send emails to your participants with the phone number and pass code to use for the call.

What would you use it for?  Team meetings, collaborations, fundraising, study groups – the possibilities, as they say, are endless.

The second tool, enabling you to do webinars – is Anymeeting.com .  It enables you to have a webinar (voice and web-based presentation which allows you to share desktops) .  As with the first tool, there are some cool free features and the best feature (in my humble opinion) is that there are no downloads needed.

How would you use it?  Presentations that rely on slides or pictures (which you can show on your desktop), training, collaborations, study groups, orientation meetings,  weekly status meetings, interviews – you can do a lot.  You can even charge for your webinar using this tool.  And they have training tools available so you can easily learn how to use this tool.

TGIF – ponder how you can use these tools to improve your business or just have a great weekend (or both).

Feb1

Up at the Crack of Dawn Today

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Up at the Crack of Dawn Today

I rose early this morning – 4:30-ish – to trek across the city of Dallas and meet with a fellow writer who wanted some advice on kick-starting her writing business. We’re also involved in a mystery-writing critique group, so the foggy mist that obscured the White Rock Lake area along Northwest Highway seemed the perfect setting for our get-together. It was literally so foggy that I held the wheel with both hands and peered over it into a pea-soup cloud. The good news – all the traffic was headed west, and I was going east, so I didn’t have to worry about cars right around me as I strained my eyes to see the lane markings.  Meeting at 6:30 a.m. is a rare event for me.  But J. is a rare friend, and I didn’t mind giving up a little sleep to meet with her.

Today my friend wanted to talk more about business-oriented writing services rather than our usual creative novel-writing pursuits. Like many experienced writers she is learning to transition from traditional marketing to the new age of social media, with all its complexities.  We had a great brain-storming session and she left with some good ideas about how to promote her work.  She wants a website, so my suggestion was to use WordPress as her starting point, because it is intuitive, easy to use, and free or low-cost, depending upon the options chosen.  I encouraged her to set up a LinkedIn profile, but I’m not sure she is ready to do so.  I also showed her a blog post by Carol Tice, whose blog and website I’ve found both practical and thought-provoking.  Carol is a successful free-lance writer and award-winning blogger who recently wrote about where her writing business came from in 2011.

There are other options, of course.  Using the telephone to contact her targeted customers is one possibility, with a follow-up letter and/or email.  She might consider doing a newsletters using an online tool like ConstantContact, iContact, or AWeber, but a traditional printed newsletter might be an option for her, also.  She can do it on her computer and have it printed at an office supply store like Office Depot.  We also discussed magazines that use free-lance writers and would be interested in her travel-writing skills.   Please note that the advice I gave her was geared to someone who is not yet comfortable with social media.  It’s about dangling one’s legs in the water and adjusting at a slower pace rather than diving in headfirst.

I’m eager to see where my friend goes from here.  J. has many years of experience in writing, ghost-writing, travel writing, resume writing and editing books and marketing materials for all kinds of businesses, so I know she’ll do well with her writing endeavors.  I’m also hoping to see her pursue her dream of self-publishing the mystery novels she has written, since she’s one of the best writers I’ve ever read – honestly – and her work should be out there for readers to find.  She’s a published writer already, but she doesn’t currently have an agent or publisher.  That shouldn’t hold her back.  Lots of writers are finding success by self-publishing.  It’s a brave new world, and everyone – writers, publishers, agents, and even readers – is learning to swim in unfamiliar waters without any floaties.

I’ll keep you posted once she gets her online presence in place.  And I guarantee you, her books will not begin with “It was a dark and stormy night….” and they will keep you perched on the edge of your easy chair, reading long past your bedtime.

Jan30

A team of ONE

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A team of ONE

If you are an artist, consultant, sole proprietor you may be missing out on the value of feeling a part of a team.  One of the advantages of larger companies (and one I hear most often that is missed by ex-employees) is the daily socializing with co-workers and team mates.  A recent article on the Gallup Management Journal – “The Business of Good Friends” talks about the five essentials for personal well-being, one of which is “Social Wellbeing” which includes 5 to 6 hours a day of socializing.  This happens most frequently as socializing with co-workers.

But what if you are one of the aforementioned lone or small business?  How do you manage to attend to your Social Wellbeing then?

Extend your concept of team.

For example: the postal employee that delivers your daily mail – make a point of introducing yourself and saying “hi”; do the same at the library or the office supply shop.  Get to know your “extended team mates”, they contribute to your success, don’t they?

Plus, the socializing helps to spread the word about your small business – you can get practice in, explaining what you do and getting additional “word of mouth” exposure.

Let me know how this works for you (yes, emails and chatting count as socializing).

Jan25

Shifting Gears: From Employee to Entrepreneur

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Shifting Gears: From Employee to Entrepreneur

In her January 5 post, Unemployed or Underemployed, Natalia said:  ”I fully believe that the next big thing will be cottage industries – especially with the trend to buy locally to alleviate dependence on oil, help conserve resources, and to be greener. People who find ways to help others be green, upcycle old items, organize recycling where it really makes sense – those are the folks who will help re-establish small businesses and therefore create jobs.”

Shifting gears and viewing oneself as an entrepreneur can enrich you.  It will change the way you view your job, if you are employed, and the way you perform your job.  It will also help you to understand that there are many options available to you.  You can write a business plan and use your own funds or secure funding.  You can work a full time job and start something part time in the evenings, thanks to the power of the internet, which can attract a global audience.  You can  experiment inexpensively with blogging, an Etsy store,  a Zazzle store, an ebay store, a part-time service, writing skills, cooking skills, handiwork skills, volunteer work – the ideas are unlimited, you just have to find one that works for you.  Ideally, you may find several oppportunities that can work for you.

Really — you are never stuck.  Stuckness (I know, I’m making up a word) is an illusion.  But I do believe that you need to follow your dreams in some fashion, if not in your 9 to 5 job — do something in your spare time that feeds your spirit.  Whatever you do that feeds your spirit can only lead you to a better, fuller, happier life.

My background is in recruiting, research and writing – those are key skill areas for me, but like Natalia, I enjoy art, crafts, cooking and other hands-on activities.  My daytime work in the non-profit world provides a great deal of satisfaction for me, but I view it as my “base” and use my spare time to explore other areas.  Currently I’m editing articles for a national magazine; writing web copy for a client; writing recruitment ads for another client; writing fiction, non-fiction and poetry; and I run an ebay store.  I’m toying with the idea of opening an etsy store.

I’m turning my dining room into a factory of sorts.  It will be a writing factory, an ebay shipping center, and an etsy crafting room.  Thinking about it makes my eyes light up with joy.

In 2009 I took Profiting From Your Passions (PFYP) coaching training from Valerie Young, author of  The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women, so I could help people turn their passions — the things they love to do — into profit streams.  The reason I did that was because as a recruiter, I could only help a limited number of people find work.  I talked to many people who didn’t want to face the truth that their line of work was gone, or diminished to the point that finding a job like the one they once had was going to be an uphill struggle.  Some of those people were using up all or most of their savings in a quest to find a job that was turning into long-term unemployment.  Things have gotten worse since 2009.  I’m not being doom-and-gloom-ish here, I’m just stating the reality that too many bright and talented people are facing.

So, maybe you think this doesn’t apply to you — you’re working right now.  Even if you have all the right skills, and you are highly employable — can you depend upon your employer?  Will your employer make good decisions? If your company markets globally, will some event halfway across the world like a tsunami, an earthquake, or a war shut down their foreign facilities?  Will your work be outsourced?  Will you be replaced by a new, disruptive technology that makes your job obsolete?  Or — worse yet — do you dislike your work?  Do you dread going to work every day?

Americans have always taken pride in being independent.  Yet we also know that we are interdependent, not just on each other, but on the rest of the world.  America is not isolated from Europe, China, Africa or the Middle East.  I think part of thriving in this century will involve taking a good, hard look at your situation — whatever it is — and making adjustments to fit the times.  Whether it involves getting rid of debt, saving more, setting up a part-time or full-time business, following your passionate love of a hobby or pastime — if you think about it, you’ll figure out the right direction for you.  And when you’re ready — the path will appear, a teacher or mentor will come into your life, you’ll read the right article or see something on television – and you’ll have what you need to start shifting gears.

In future posts I plan to highlight innovative ideas to help stimulate your thinking and help you move forward with your dreams.  Some will involve people I know; others will involve business ideas I’ve seen on the web, in the paper, in books I’m reading, or in the news.  My goal will be to stimulate your own creative ideas and encourage you to make changes, and I would appreciate your feedback.

Feb24

Sometimes you need a swift kick in the pants

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Sometimes you need a swift kick in the pants

A few weeks ago I wrote about “Failing better”, and apparently the “Powers-that-Be” assumed I needed to exercise that advice again, and so at this writing I am regrouping and taking stock after the company I worked for – a start-up – shut down.

The average lifetime of a new company is about 2 years, and so this one lived an average lifetime.  And while I am looking for the next great adventure I have a few moments to review what I have learned in this experience, and to share that learning with you:

  1. Enjoy the team you work with – sometimes I think I am drawn to a gig purely because I am supposed to meet and learn from someone else who is going to be there.  In this particular case, I made some long lasting friendships, and we created some wonderful memories of working together that I would not trade.
  2. Appreciate the challenges.   I believe that I learn more quickly under the pressure of fixing something or solving a problem with limitations.  I think we all learn to become more innovative, more flexible and more able to move in and out of “the box” when we are challenged to do so.  I learned an enormous amount about social media, researching start-ups, and best uses of tools for collaborating with an off-shore team in the last few months due mostly to the extraordinary need to do so on a shoestring and as quickly as possible.
  3. Communicate communicate communicate.  When you are very busy, you can forget just how important it is to communicate with others who are very busy.  It isn’t just important, it is imperative if you are to survive in business.  This is something I will continue to strive to do BETTER.
  4. Take time off. This is something I wish I had done more of…since I was pretty much available and doing work seven days a week often more than 10 hours a day for the last two years… I missed a funeral because we had a release going into production – and I truly wish that I had taken care of that and other personal types of business rather than making the company my number one priority. That time will never be recaptured, and it is my only regret in the whole experience.

What’s next?  I am open to possibilities and also think I will be heading towards doing things I have passion around, and hoping that the $$’s will follow.  I will continue learning and sharing information about business development and business networking – and lessons learned as a consultant and as an employee.  I love to share what I learn and I am grateful for the opportunity to do so.

I view this as a “swift kick in the pants” and will get it in gear.  Hope to hear from you, and thanks for continuing to follow the blog.

Cheers,

Natalia

Feb10

The Art of Working A Room — Networking Skills for Small Business Copyright (c) 2010 K. MacKillop

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The Art of Working A Room — Networking Skills for Small Business Copyright (c) 2010 K. MacKillop
The Art of Working A Room — Networking Skills for Small Business
Copyright (c) 2010 K. MacKillopLaunchX
http://www.launchx.com/

Mastering the art of effective networking marks the difference between merely successful entrepreneurs and captains of industry – the better you are at networking, the more power you wield. Networking serves many purposes, from building your customer  base to providing and receiving needed resources from contacts in the business community, and anyone planning on growing a startup should devote time to sharpening their networking skills.

For many experienced entrepreneurs, networking events are the most productive way to spend their limited business-social time. For others, entering a room full of people seems overwhelming, especially if they don’t know anyone else there. There are a few simple rules to follow to be successful working the room, and anyone with a little willingness can learn to be a master of networking.

Begin With the End In Mind

Before you attend any networking events, plan your objectives. Whether you have a specific business problem you need to address, or you are looking to add three solid business contacts to your network, or you need two new client leads, going in with a plan will make the time you spend networking far more effective. Attending without set objectives is far more likely to result in a lot of time spent with very little payoff.

As you become more involved in your business community, you will likely find that there are enough networking events to completely fill your calendar. There is no need to attend every event. Some organizations will meet your particular needs better than others. Try out different venues, and evaluate the outcome based on a simple rule – you should obtain at least three new contacts, leads, or pieces of useful information for every hour you spend networking. If you find yourself attending a weekly event with the same people and you are not garnering any new information or leads, consider reducing your attendance to once per month and trying different events to improve your results.

In addition to setting specific objectives, prepare topics to discuss, knowledge to offer, and questions to ask to keep the conversation going. If there is a specific referral or information that you need, make a note so you don’t forget. Take your planner with you to hold business cards and take notes as needed.

Working the Room

Every networking event you attend will fall into one of three categories: you know everyone there, you know a few people, or you don’t know a soul. Each circumstance requires a different approach. If you know everyone, be sure to make contact with them all. Limit your conversations to a few minutes each. If possible, make introductions between professionals you know who have something in common or complementary skills or businesses.

If you know only a few people in the room, start by catching up with each of them. Ask them who else they know and to introduce you around. Be sure you do the same by introducing the people you  know to each other. Be prepared with business cards to exchange and make a habit of giving two to each new contact – one to keep and one to pass on as a referral. When you receive cards from new contacts, take a moment to note any interesting personal or business information about them to add to your contact database. If someone you meet does not have a business card, write down their information in your planner…whatever you do, never let a potentially good contact go to waste.

If you don’t know anyone at a networking event, start by looking for people standing by themselves. No one likes to be on the outside looking in, and generally these other folks will also be uncomfortable because they don’t know anyone. Once you have chatted for a few minutes, take your new contact with you to meet another loner, and another, until you have a group that everyone else in the room wants to join. Showing that kind of leadership will make you the go-to contact in your business community and will increase the odds of growing your business through referrals.

If the event you are attending has a “special guest” invited, most attendees will be clamoring for their attention. If the press is present, you should be talking to them. Meeting the state Senator is exciting, but knowing the local business reporter will get you more exposure and, thus, more business. Pay attention to what people are talking about and be just as interested in what you can do for them as in what they can do for you. Set an objective to be the best networking contact in your industry or area, and work every room with that intention in mind.

What to do (and not to do) at networking events

Some basic do’s and don’ts of networking events:

* Do dress one step up from how you expect everyone else to be
dressed.* Don’t make critical judgments of others based on how they are
dressed.

* Do carry more than enough business cards, at least one pen,
and your planner or notepad.

* Don’t answer calls, texts, or emails while talking with
others. If you must use your smartphone, excuse yourself and step
outside.

* Do listen to what other people need and take note – if you can
help them, it will improve your reputation as a great contact.

* Don’t talk too much about personal things, especially if they
are negative. Even if you are on the brink of divorce, your kid
was suspended from school, and your dog bit the neighbor, nobody
in the networking environment needs to know about it. Same goes
for medical issues.

* Do review your notes from the last event and follow up as
appropriate.

* Do not bring up negative issues in front of uninvolved
contacts.

* Do make a point to chat with the bartender and servers -
you’d be surprised who they know and who they might end up to
be.

* Don’t drink alcohol. Avoid eating unless absolutely starving.
Food in your teeth and garlic breath is not the image you are
striving for. If you must eat, take a break and be sure to check
yourself in the restroom before getting back to networking.

* Don’t try to talk to others while they are eating. Seriously,
grab an energy bar on the way – why waste limited networking time
on a snack?

Effective networking skills are a powerful tool for entrepreneurs, and the ability to work a room is one of the toughest to master. Use common sense and make a point of evaluating your performance after each networking event. The more self-aware you are, the easier it will be to become the go-to contact in your area and industry.

—————————-

K. MacKillop, a serial entrepreneur with a J.D. from Duke
University, is founder of LaunchX and authors a blog focused
on starting a business (http://www.blog.launchx.com/). It is
a complete business startup kit containing everything you
need to turn your idea into a successful business. Visit
http://www.LaunchX.com/ for a free Business Readiness
Assessment and get on the road to starting a business
today: http://www.launchx.com/are-you-ready.html

Posted via email from Natalia’s Other Blog

Aug7

One for the Gipper

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One for the Gipper

Too often small businesses fly by the seat of their pants in terms of Operations – their focus is on “The Sale”, “The Placement”, “The Big Win”.  The pre and post-win activity is relegated to the lowest paying member of the staff.  Usually an Administrative Assistant who makes sure that all the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed.  This person’s expertise in business, law, and hr codes is usually limited.  Their ability to negotiate, communicate, and set policies and procedures is likewise limited.  And so the person in that position – well meaning and trying hard to meet the needs of the business – often burns out and leaves.

Whether the small business experiences tremendous turnover in the admin slot – or whether they are just frustrated by why they cannot seem to break through a “glass ceiling” of sales/placements/wins – they are stuck there because of their inability to see how important the “details” are and to allocate resources to the areas that are weak.  

If you are on a sports team, your coach will tell you to play to your strengths and analyze the other teams weaknesses in order to leverage your strengths.  The coach will also analyze the overall strengths and weaknesses of his/her team as a group and seek to augment the “holes” by finding appropriate talent with those strengths to recruit to their team.  That is deemed good leadership.  Yet the “coach” of a small business “team” often tries to play all positions, and expects their team to do so as well.

Is it any wonder why so many small businesses suffer from “arrested development”?

What can be done to “fix” this? 

First, as with so many self-help programs – you must acknowledge you have a problem.

Then take stock – BE THE COACH – and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of your TEAM.  Where do you need help? What strengths and skills are in your team that are not being utilized?  Where are there mismatches between resource and task?  Where are the holes?

Sometimes you will find that you have big gaps in the strengths needed and the resources to provide them.  Here is where you really can shine as a coach – because not all teams have all the strengths they would like to have, but a good coach can still direct his/her team to win by playing to the strengths present and minimizing the losses.  

Remember it is okay to know what resources you will be looking for in the future, it is understood that not every team will have ideal conditions, resources, and members. This way you have a PLAN.

To get out ahead of your competition, you have to understand what you have to work with, and make best use of it.  And you have to know what you need, so you will recognize it when you find it.  For Example: knowing you need a strong office manager, means knowing what that person will be doing, the skills and strengths needed for the job, and how that person will interact as part of your team.