It's All About YOU in Business

I'm sure you've heard people say "It's not about you when it comes to business.  It's all about the customer and making sure they are satisfied."  


Yes, there is definite truth in that statement---no question about it.  If you have a service or product, your objective should be to have a "more than satisfied" customer because that customer is more than likely to refer other customers to you.

But I'm here to tell you, it's all about YOU too.  You are the most important part of your business.  Without you there is no business.  You are the designer of your destiny.  From the beginning you get to decide how much effort you want to put into your success.  You are the captain of your ship and you get to alter the course when necessary.

So here's what YOU have to do each day to jump start and maintain your successful business mindset:

• Wake up ready for the challenges of the day.  Some people just lie in bed dreading the thought of having to get up and face the day.  What I started doing was making a list the night before of things I wanted and needed to accomplish the next day so that would give me a jumping off point.  

• Get in the zone with a heart of gratitude (whatever it takes--I use prayer and meditation).  I also keep a journal where I write down the things I am grateful for as a reminder of the blessings I have already received.

• Put the right food in your body.  You've heard the saying---a healthy mind and a healthy body go hand in hand.  Starting out with a nutritious breakfast goes a LONG way in helping to keep you energized.

• Sweat out the Small Stuff:  Along those same lines, a healthy dose of exercise is good for the mind and body and it helps relieve stress.  So on those days when you're feeling a little overwhelmed, take a break and find an exercise routine you enjoy with some great music to move you along.

• Get perspective.  If you don't know where you're going, how will you know how to get there?  Take some time to map out your day so you can hit as many of your objectives as possible.

• Build strategic alliances.  Look at businesses associated with yours.  Connect with them and discuss what you're both looking for and see if there are ways you can help each other out.  These types of relationships can prove extremely powerful when it comes to referrals so make sure you give as much as you receive.

There are those who work all day.  There are those who dream all day.  And then there are those who spend an hour dreaming before setting to work to fulfill those dreams. Which one are YOU?  

What's Your WHY in Your Business

As I said in a previous blog post, starting your own business can be challenging. You may have some sleepless and eat-less nights.  Unlike a traditional job where you go to work for eight hours a day/40 hours a week (sometimes more), your own business may find you burning the midnight oil----even on the weekends. And while you get a steady paycheck from your regular job (which you will NEVER own), as a business owner you may not see a steady anything for awhile.  

As someone who has flirted with being an entrepreneur, I understand that starting a business takes passion, perseverance and purpose.  It's what I like to call it my "why."  If you don't have a WHY, you can't be very serious about your business.  Your WHY will keep you focused on your goals.  Your WHY will make you keep moving towards your goals when you want to give up.  Your WHY will fuel the passion you have to succeed.

Everyone's WHY is different.  Sure I want to achieve financial success---as does everyone else, but my WHY goes deeper than that.  My WHY is my family.  I don't want my daughter or grandson to have the financial burden of taking care of my expenses when I can no longer take care of them myself or when I die. When my mother passed away in 2012, she left over $100K in debt in the state of Ohio that I had absolutely no clue about.  As her only heir, I became responsible.  I will not go into details about how this story played out in the end but the lesson I learned is that I was the product of parents who did not understand generational wealth.  

GENERATIONAL WEALTH:  an aspect of financial planning that is geared towards passing down stable, significant financial resources to future generations.

As I said earlier, my WHY may not be the same as yours, but perhaps these are some others reasons that motivate you: 

You want meaning and purpose for your life:  Your commitment to your business will strengthen your sense of purpose.

You can learn new skills:  You don't need an MBA to start a new business.  Many times you pick up the skills as you go along.  

You can give money to causes you care about:  There's absolutely nothing wrong with being a "do-gooder" in our world.  And there are so many needs in our society.  The Gates Foundation, created by Bill and Melinda Gates, have donated nearly $32 billion to charitable causes.

You want to travel more:  Owning your own business can give you the freedom to travel more to places you've only dreamed about.  And what's better than traveling to some exotic place and using it as a tax write off.  When my husband and I traveled to St. Lucia for our honeymoon, I donated some of my books to the hotel where we were staying, did a little speaking, and used part of the trip as a tax write off.

You can be your own boss:  When you start your own business, you ARE the boss.  It's that simple.  The answering to no one but yourself will always be attractive and you can work with a hand-picked team who will, hopefully, all be on the exact same page leading towards success.

Here's to your WHY!

Everyone Needs a Support Network in Business

Entrepreneur Jonathan Fields expressed my sentiments exactly when he wrote: "There is absolutely nothing glorious or glamorous about starting a business.....While launching a startup is undoubtedly an exciting and liberating experience, managing the organization on a daily basis can be anything but a dream."

Yes, when you're calling the shots and your success is determined by your drive, motivation and perseverance, the game plan has got to be solid.  And that's why a solid support network is essential.  A network of supporters will carry you along when you feel like giving up.  They will give you encouragement and a swift kick when you need it.  

Here are the types of people you should have in your network according to Rich Mizner, owner of Celebrity Gyms 

Cheerleaders:  Cheerleaders are those individuals who rally behind your ideas and believe in you as an Entrepreneur through the initial start up struggles.  And they stick with you through thick and thin.

And one more thing to add to that from my perspective---make sure your cheerleaders range in age.  Now I know this can be a hard pill to swallow for those of us who have been there and done that and could probably teach our younger counterparts a thing or two but because there is a changing of the guard so to speak, we need to have some young people in our camp who can help us reach their market (if you're aiming for it). 

Role Model:  This is someone who leads by example. This person has paved the way to success and is guiding you to the promised land. 

The Expert:  Experts often provide the missing pieces for Entrepreneurs who are focused on, and anxious about, getting their business off the ground and keeping it afloat. And don't be intimidated by "youth."  Some of the most brilliant entrepreneurs I know are under the age of 40 so who better to learn from than someone whose already playing the game and WINNING? 

If you're fortunate to have your own support network that's awesome, however, if you don't try looking more closely at your inner circle or as Rich says, "...get out there and do more networking!"

The Choices You Make

We all have choices in life and in business:

A choice in attitude
A choice in direction
A choice of victory or defeat
A choice of bitterness or sweetness
A choice of falling down (and staying there) or rising up
A choice of drowning in a pity pool or learning how to swim
A choice of getting burned or being baptized by fire

The mental attitude which we hold towards our work, our aim, our goals and dreams has EVERYTHING to do with what we accomplish.

"If you're driving with passion don't allow yourself to get pulled over by someone looking for a free ride." ~Beverly Mahone  

Building Relationships in Business with Strangers

My husband and I have been together for 15 years (9 of them as husband and wife).  Not long ago, while traveling, one of my all-time favorite songs came on the radio.  It was "Africa" by Toto.  I turned up the radio and started singing along.  My husband said, "That's one of my favorite songs!"  Of course, I was shocked because, first of all, I didn't think that would be his style of music and I thought we had been together long enough for me to know that little piece of information.      

So where am I going with that story?  The point is even though my husband and I have been together for more than a decade, we are still building our relationship as a married couple and as friends. I still learn new things about him which keeps things interesting.   

So how does this relate to business?  In order to be successful in business you must focus on building relationships with others.  It starts from the moment you meet someone.  My husband and I didn't meet and instantly fall in love.  We were truly strangers because we met online and it took time to get to know whether we were compatible or not.

Every stranger you meet has the potential to have some sort of relationship with you---whether it be as a love interest, friend or customer.

Here are some tips for turning strangers into potential customers and building on the relationship:

SMILE:  I can't tell you the number of times I've had strangers smile at me.  It's a wonderful form of nonverbal communication and can open the door to some engaging conversation.  Besides, smiling makes a good first impression!

Speak to EVERYBODY:  I've been told quite often that I never meet a stranger and that's true.  I'm a communicator and I will talk to anybody.  Now you may not be as outgoing as I am and that's okay, however, in business you need to get in the habit of saying hello to people you come in contact with.  A simple "Hello" can lead to awesome future business opportunities.

Don't Take Anything PERSONAL:  If you smile or speak to someone and they don't acknowledge you, don't worry about it.  You are not responsible for what's going on inside their head at that particular moment or they could just be hard-of-hearing.  

Network, Network, Network!  That doesn't mean you have to go to every event in your community.  Be selective.  But when you go, make it your business to connect with someone you don't know and if you see someone you know talking to someone you'd like to meet, ask for an introduction.

Mix Pleasure with Business:  People are more inclined to do business with those they know, like, and trust so if you spend your time talking about what you do for business, chances are you'll be talking to deaf ears.  If I spent my time just talking about what I do, I'm sure I would be avoided like the plague and word would get around fast to stay away from me.  Building relationships with others means getting to know someone beyond what they do.  It is in the "chit chat" that you discover what else you might have in common.   

Be a Good Listener:  Once you open the door of communication make sure you take the time to listen to what the other person is saying and ask them questions about themselves  instead of making the conversation all about you.    

Don't Hesitate to take the Lead on Striking up a Conversation:  There's an old saying, "He who hesitates is lost."  If you choose to sit back and wait for someone to come up to you to start talking, you may be missing out on a potential new customer and possibly a new friend. 

When you allow yourself to interact with strangers beyond the traditional "shop talk" you may discover you're in a win-win situation.


  

Are You a Chicken or an Eagle?

We all want to live life to its fullest potential. Nobody wants to struggle through life with less than what they could have achieved. Wouldn't it be the greatest shame to go through an entire lifetime wondering what it might have turned out like if we only followed our dreams.

There is a wonderful story about an eagle that illustrates this point well. Once upon a time, there was a large mountainside, where an eagle's nest rested. The eagle's nest contained four large eagle eggs. One day an earthquake rocked the mountain causing one of the eggs to roll down the mountain, to a chicken farm, located in the valley below. The chickens knew that they must protect and care for the eagle's egg, so an old hen volunteered to nurture and raise the large egg.

One day, the egg hatched and a beautiful eagle was born. Sadly, however, the eagle was raised to be a chicken. Soon, the eagle believed he was nothing more than a chicken. The eagle loved his home and family, but his spirit cried out for more. While playing a game on the farm one day, the eagle looked to the skies above and noticed a group of mighty eagles soaring in the skies. "Oh," the eagle cried, "I wish I could soar like those birds." The chickens roared with laughter, "You cannot soar with those birds. You are a chicken and chickens do not soar."

The eagle continued staring at his real family up above, dreaming that he could be with them. Each time the eagle would let his dreams be known, he was told it couldn't be done. That is what the eagle learned to believe. The eagle, after time, stopped dreaming and continued to live his life like a chicken. Finally, after a long life as a chicken, the eagle passed away. The moral of the story: You become what you believe you are; so if you ever dream to become an eagle follow your dreams, not the words of a chicken.

How often do we let ourselves be defined by other people, we let them determine our self worth whether we realize it or not. Or how many times have you decided to give up on a dream or idea you had because you just didn't think it would work?

In order to live your full potential you must first believe you were born to be more than you are, you must believe it with such conviction that you follow your dream no matter how often you may be ridiculed or how often you stumble. For it is in the act of following ones dreams that your potential will be realized.

The worst thing that could happen in life is to wake up one day and realize too late that you have been held back from your dreams because you were too afraid to lift yourself out of the chicken pen and from the small thinking people. Some people do mean well but can only see possibilities through their limitations and not from your probabilities.

Making a Difference in the Lives of Others

Whether you work for yourself or for someone else, your goal each day should be doing what you can to make a difference in the life of someone else. Sometimes all it takes is a smile to brighten someone's day.  I know because I have been the recipient of warm smiles and friendly conversations from strangers when I needed them most.  

You and I have been blessed with a unique gift of skills and abilities and I believe it is our duty to use what we have been given to bless someone else.  To make a difference in someone else's life doesn't mean you have to do incredible things.  Often times it's the small things you say or do that have the greatest impact. 

This brings me to the story of Joshua (pictured on the left).  He's a young man I interviewed a few months ago for a job with our City.  As I recall he was extremely articulate, very well mannered and had a wonderful ability to express his thoughts and ideas (he was truly in the minority of everyone I interviewed). A couple of months after the interview, he found me via Facebook and sent me this message:

My name is Joshua (last name withheld) and I am a summer intern here at WUNC radio station. I'm not sure if you will remember but, you interviewed me for the Durham Summer Youth Internship. At the end of our time together you said that I done a great job but you also warned me that in the future my hair could be negative sign to future employers. 
Ironically, I'm creating a story about whether "hairstyle affects employment?" I was hoping to get in contact with you and do an interview if you would be willing.

I had to go back into my memory bank to recall the young man because, truth be told, I gave out A LOT of advice to many of those young people because I really wanted them to have a chance to be successful at whatever they wanted to do.  The interviewing process and their presentation is the beginning, and as we all know it can make or break you.

Here's the deal:  I intentionally set out to make a difference in Joshua's life that day.  I didn't know how well he would receive it because not all young people are receptive to constructive criticism (especially not these days).  But the irony here is, HE actually made a difference in MY life when he reached out to let me know he was listening and was willing to take my advice.

We all have the ability to make an impact every single day.  We may not all be able to do great things but we can certainly do small things in a great way.

So think about it.  Whose life are you going to make a difference in tomorrow? 

  

  

Feeding Your Business Mind with Spirituality

I am a woman of Faith.  Lord knows I have to be for as any times as I've tried something new or different and FAILED---and sometimes failing miserably. 

 Whether you work for someone or for yourself, you always need to be mindful of your WHY.  It is your WHY that will keep you from wanting to quit when everyone is getting on your last nerve and nothing seems to be going right. 

 You will also need to connect to your inner spirit---some people do it through prayer and meditation.  Some do it with daily affirmations.  You have to find what works best for you and stick with it even when the bottom is falling out.  Your inner spirit will guide you through the darkness and back into the light.  

As I, once again, venture off on another reinvention journey (with 5LINX), I have to keep reminding myself of the things I need in order to make the journey worthwhile. 

 Here is my survival kit.  Perhaps, you will find these items useful in your own business journey:

Toothpick:  to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others (Matthew 7:1)

Rubber band:  to remind you to be flexible.  Things may not always go the way you want, but it will work out if you continue to run your race with endurance. (Colossians 3:12-14)

Pencil:  to remind you to list your blessings everyday (Ephesians 1:3)

Eraser:  to remind you that everyone makes mistakes and it's okay (Genesis 50: 15-21)

Chewing Gum:  to remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything (Phillippians 4:13)

Tea bag:  to remind you to relax daily and go over your list of blessings (1Thessalonians 5:18)

Candle:   to remind you to let your light shine because you have tremendous gifts to give the world (Matthew 5:16)

Always Be Thankful

Saying thank you just takes a moment.  


It seems as though we live in an age where social graces and common courtesies no loner exist.  Blame it on social media since we can hide behind a computer.  But even in social media, a simple "thank you" or a retweet or comment on your LinkedIn post can go a long way in establishing and building relationships with others.

There is POWER in a thank you.  If you're applying for a job, sending a simple thank you card after the interview can be the deciding factor between you and another candidate. (How many times have I had to say THAT to my 25-year-old daughter)  It's one of those oldies but goodies that will never wear out of style---at least not as long as Baby Boomers are still in the hiring positions.

Forbes contributing writer Amy Rees Anderson says, "One of the powerful forms of appreciation is when you take the time to say thank you to someone in a handwritten note.  In all my years as a CEO I found time and time again that the most valued gift I could give someone was a handwritten note of thanks, and the only items I have saved without fail over the years are the handwritten notes of thanks that employees and clients sent to me."  (Thank you Amy for this comment!) 

The same rule applies for Employers.  Many employees work much harder than their paychecks reflect so why not recognize their efforts with a "thank you for a job well done and do it OFTEN!

It doesn't matter how busy you are or how important you think you are it's common courtesy to thank people no matter how small they thing they did appears to you.
Any of us who has received a sincere thank you knows and appreciates what it means.  Also it takes very little effort to send a thank you email note if you're too lazy to send a personalized card in the regular mail.  

When you fail to recognize someone's gesture of kindness for trying to help you, you should not expect that they will be willing to help you again.  And you could bear the brunt of some negative publicity. 

Millennials and Identity Theft

Mama needs a new car but she doesn't have enough money and her credit is bad. What does she do? She uses her child's social security number to establish herself a new line of credit. Sound far-fetched? Actually, it isn't.

Child identity theft has been on the rise for quite some time and it could affect YOU as a young adult. According to Researcher Richard Power, children make perfect targets because they have no records and the crime usually isn't discovered until they become an adult.

Among the 4,311 children found to have distressed identity records, 300 were under five-years-old. Nearly 1,800 cases involved utility service records, such as bogus electricity service accounts. There were also 500 kids’ names attached to mortgages or foreclosures, and 415 of the kids had driver's licenses.

The sad part of this is it takes young people an average of 132 days to detect fraudulent activity on their credit cards, bank accounts and other personal holdings. When their identities are stolen, millennials are victimized by thieves for an average of about five months.

Among the more serious cases: a 16-year-old girl in Arizona with 33 credit accounts linked to her name, including three mortgages.

How does this happen? According to the report, the primary reasons for child identity theft are illegal immigration (e.g., to obtain false IDs for employment), organized crime (e.g., to engage in financial fraud) and friends and family (e.g., to circumvent bad credit ratings, etc.), the report says. And, more often than not, it is someone the child knows.