It's Time To Have Fun!

boys-childhood-children-51349.jpg

As we come to the end of June and close out the first half of 2018 I hope you have conquered your goals.

If not then it's time to relax and take stock of what's working and what isn't.

Summertime is here and it is the season for basking in the sun and taking vacations. As you get into the full swing of the season take some time to have fun like you did when you were a kid and plan ahead for the rest of 2018.

What are some of the fun things you do with your friends & family during the summer?

 

Keep It Sunny!

I Don't Have Time To Network!

man looking at watch.jpg

Do you feel like this? You are so busy that you don't have time to network? Well picture this: You are humming along in your business taking care of your customers and managing your daily admin tasks and then suddenly......business starts to SLOW down to a crawl.

What do you do then?

Oh you can contact that person you met at that networking event to see if they need help from you.

Oh wait a minute....you didn't have time to go to the networking event....bummer.

Does this sound familiar?

I hope it doesn't but if it does then it is time right now to start networking with other business owners. It isn't necessary to even leave your house and go sit at a lunch and learn type of event or an evening mixer. You can start online using a platform such as Alignable.com.

Alignable is similar to LinkedIn but with more focus on small business and building a true community. I started a profile a few months ago and forgot about it and then guess what my business started to dry up with clients so I thought about how I could network with other business owners to share what I know and learn from them in a cost-effective way.

Alignable.com definitely fits the bill. Check out Alignable.com and this post from one of the members. He explained why Alignable.com was the best choice over using LinkedIn. I personally think you can use both but he definitely convinced me to put more effort in networking with Alignable.  Are you using online networking tools right now? What are the best ones that you recommend?

Keep it Sunny!

Must Have Online Marketing Tools You Need

man with hand out.jpeg

We all know that you should always be selling..a.k.a marketing your business. And we also know that even if your business is a bricks & sticks operation that you still need to market yourself online. But where do you start in this online wilderness? What tools should you really be using?

Savvy marketer Neil Patel states that "To do online marketing right, you've got to buy the right tools." That's right you need to actutally purchase the tools. I know we all like "free" stuff but sometimes that just won't cut it. Check out this article to learn what are the 7 must have tools you need to have in your online arsenal.

What tools do you love using to market your business online?

Tis The Season Of Business Networking!

Surprised Santa.jpeg

Well it's that time again everyone. It is time to get out there and make new friends and share your business with others. In short it is the season of business networking. Does your face look like the surprised Santa above?

Is this how you feel when you walk into an event and attempt to start "networking"?

Well fear no more. Check out this post on how integrating these 7 tips to your networking efforts could help you to feel relaxed and excited to share your business. The bottom line in my opinion is to just be yourself and share what value you can bring to help someone. 

Keep It Sunny!

HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?

How do you define success?

That is my question for you today.

Is it based on comparing your activities to others accomplishments? Is it based on your own personal goals, beliefs, and desires?

If you haven't thought about it lately then take a moment today to pause.......and answer this question.

I am a very goal-oriented person and do my best to set the bar high and achieve my goals. When I fall short of reaching my goals I can get bummed out BUT I always take a moment to reflect and think about these questions:

Did I set my goal too high?

What could I have done better in a process or system?

Who can I help more and deliver more value to?

Did I help one client achieve their business goals this month?

When I answer these questions it gives me time to really give deep thought to how I define success. It's really important that we get intentional about defining what success means on a personal level. Your business is your personal expression of your gifts and talents. Your goals and how you define success should be personal to you as well.

Take some time this weekend to celebrate every win you had this month, regroup and refocus your efforts on areas that you want to improve upon.

Keep It Sunny!

IT's Time To Fall In Love With Your Business Again!

If you are thick in the weeds of running the daily operations of your business then you might be out of gas.

It could be hard to remember why you even signed up for this madness in the first place right?

One of my favorite authors Simon Sinek has a very famous book that I am sure you have heard of called, "Start With Why".

Check out the video clip below and take a mental break today to rediscover your reason for being in business.

 

Keep It Sunny and You are Amazing!

xxoo

Are You Running Out of Gas?

gas-pump-petrol-stations-petrol-gas-284288.jpeg

We have all been there. You wish it was Friday but it's only Monday!

:(

As much as we love our business and serving our clients....well....we are human and as a result, we can burn the candle at both ends.

Sometimes you just need a little jolt to get you going again.

Check out the video below from one of my new favorite motivational speakers Eric Thomas.

I know you are burnt out BUT guess what?

It is GO TIME!

In the famous words of Chip & Joanna Gaines...Let's Get After it!

How To Share A Password With LastPass

If you are like me I have a ton of passwords and I was either writing them down in a notebook or I typed everything in a Google Doc and saved it. The problem with both of those systems is that they were inefficient and not very secure.

Then I started working with clients and knew I needed a secure online tool that I could use to access their sites to work on their projects. I did a lot of research and the password management system LastPass seem to check off all the boxes. It's a one-stop shop for sharing your password information with your business collaborators as well as using it for personal password management.

Check out the video I made below to learn more about how it all works. Are you having trouble remembering all the many passwords it takes to run your business and your life? I can definitely relate. I hope this video provides a solution to bring a little serenity back to this area of your life.

 

 

Keep It Sunny!

Do You Take Time Out To Relax and Have Fun?

Simple Chill Nature Creative Desktop Wallpaper.jpg

Can you remember the last time you did something just for the fun of it? I know you're probably thinking you don't have time for fun. But it's so important to put relaxation and non-work activities on your calendar. According to Business Matters Magazine, "Forgetting to relax can cause a number of problems with your health – including stress and anxiety, high blood pressure, headaches, muscle pain and more, which can add up and take their toll."

You don't need health issues to come in between you and running your business successfully. Here are some suggestions on ways you can unwind on a budget:

1. Take a blanket and go to the park for an afternoon picnic.

2. Unplug and have a staycation at home in your backyard.

3. Get out and go on a nature walk with friends.

4. Join a local Meetup Group to discover low-cost activities to do in your city.

5. Read a good book from your local library.

6. Go see a $1 movie at your local movie theater

7. Grab a Groupon and try out something new in your town.

8. Take an afternoon nap with soothing music playing in the background.

The list of relaxing fun things to do is endless. I hope you take the hint that it is important to take a break and make time for yourself. Do you have fun things you do to take a break from your normal routine?

 

Keep It Sunny!

3 Steps To Building A Successful Contingency Plan For Your Business

First Aid Kit.jpeg

Life is full of surprises and we can't control what happens to us. BUT we can be proactive and put a good contingency plan in place to help us deal with these events when they occur. Think of it as a first aid kit for your business. Here are 3 steps to building a successful contingency plan for your business.

Step 1

Figure out what main areas of your business would be at risk in the event of an emergency. For example, if you live in an area that is prone to weather emergencies you may want to put a plan in place to deal with power outages or safe evacuation procedures.

Step 2

Determine what it really takes to run your business. If you work from home and use technology to run your business then ensuring that you have a data back up plan is essential. Also having a system to get internet service is important if your main internet supply goes down. Are you providing services that are prone to lawsuits? If so making sure you have good professional liability insurance plan in place is a must. Eric Michaels from Hiscox USA an industry leader in small business insurance states, "Lawsuits are not just stressful and distracting; they can actually shut down your business if you’re not prepared to defend yourself. This year alone, small businesses may face a bill of $152 billion in tort liability costs, according to the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform."

Step 3

Will your business continue uninterrupted if you get sick or need to care for a family member? If not then it's time to identify a trusted colleague who can step in to assist your clients if you are not available. This trusted colleague can also be your backup plan for fun things like family vacation leave.

We all need to think about planning for the unexpected. Being an entrepreneur is fun and exciting but it can be very stressful if we don't act in a proactive way to plan for emergencies before they happen.

What about you? Do you have a current contingency plan in place and if so can you share some of your best tips?

Keep It Sunny!

DO YOU HAVE A BACKUP PLAN FOR YOUR BUSINESS OPERATIONS?

pexels-photo-263402.jpeg

Do you have a contingency plan in place for your business operations? What if you get sick or life challenges come knocking at your door? How will you continue to serve your clients and provide them with the best customer experience possible? If you haven't thought about these events then now is a great time to get busy planning.

According to Study.com, "a good contingency plan should include any event that might disrupt operations." Here are some specific areas to plan for: 

  • Natural Disasters

  • Crises such as work accidents or employee related issues

  • Death of a key employee

  • Data loss due to cyber attacks

  • Mismanagement of financial resources

  • Product issues and lawsuits

  • Health Crises

 

We can't foresee the future but we can put a good plan in place to help keep things moving smoothly in our business. Next week we will take a look at how to put a specific plan in place so we are not caught off guard and left stressed out.

What about you? Do you have a contingency plan in place for your business? If so what are some ideas that you can share that really seem to work for you and your business?

Keep It Sunny!

How Do You Handle Setbacks In Your Business?

pexels-photo-sadface.jpeg

Picture this you go to do work at your computer and it doesn't come on.

Or you have been playing phone tag with a potential client and due to the lack of communication the meeting doesn't go forward.

The list could go on and on but the question is how do you handle setbacks in your business?

Do you yell, scream and throw up your hands in anger? Or do you take a step back and turn your attention to something else?

I will admit I have done both BUT the second option works very well. It provides you with the time to get a moment of clarity so that you can reset and redirect your efforts.

Next week we will take a look at how to put a contingency plan together for your business operations so that if an emergency does arise your ship won't sink.

What about you? How do you handle setbacks in your business? I would love to hear your ideas.

 

Keep It Sunny!

Why Did You Start Your Business?

pexels-photo-question mark.jpeg

Hello everyone. I hope the month of March was productive and profitable for you. If it was then that is awesome and of course, you should do more of the same for the month of April. If you didn't reach your goals for March then maybe it's time to;

STOP

REFLECT

AND ASK YOURSELF THE QUESTION BELOW

Why Did I Decide To Go Into Business For Myself?

The answer to that question is different for everyone. But it is the foundational fuel that will push you to be a better entrepreneur.

It will give you purpose, energy, and motivation to redirect your efforts toward making your business a success.

This month we discussed how to solve some the biggest problems with running your holistic practice successfully. We took a look at how you can have more peace in your business and using online tools in your business to make it run better. Finally, we took a look at a few ideas on how to be more productive and make more money in your business.

The bottom-line is it is YOUR business. Your heart and soul should be in it 100%. If you feel you are off track then take a little time now before the next month starts to reflect and redirect your efforts.

I will leave you with some words of encouragement that I shared at the beginning of the month.

You can do this. Your destiny is to use your gifts to help people to change their lives for the better! Now get moving!

Keep It Sunny!

Would You Like To Be More Productive and Make More Money?

pexels_woman looking at laptop.jpeg

As a solopreneur I understand first hand how not having things organized in your business can quickly leave you broke and frazzled. The answer for me is always going to be using technology to help me keep my business systems in order and my business humming along. If you would like some ideas on how you can keep your business running smoothly check out this article. The freedom that comes with being an entrepreneur is awesome BUT it can quickly run off the rails and make your life difficult if processes aren't put into place to keep everything in tip top shape.

What are some areas in your business that are making you pull your hair out? Share in the comments below.

Keep It Sunny!

Online Tools To Help You Run Your Business Better

people-woman-coffee-meeting photot.jpg

Are you still running your business like it's 1985?

Writing down ideas on little pieces of paper?

Taking calls on your own personal cell phone?

Missing out on potential clients because no one is there to handle incoming messages?

STOP THE MADNESS!

:)

Check out this article about how to use online tools to help you run your business better. If your looking for ideas on cool receptionist services check out this post I wrote about some of the leading services available.

If you could wave your magic wand and make one area in your business run smoother what area would that be?

Keep It Sunny!

How To Solve The Biggest Problems With Running A Successful Holistic Practice

sunset-hands-love-woman.jpg

 

You are ready to change the world one person at a time by helping people with their health and wellness challenges. You completed your training. You have watched countless webinars and attended in person conferences about how to be a successful entrepreneur. 

But you are still not bringing in enough client revenue to do more than break even. 

And now your own personal health is starting to suffer. What is my next step you might be thinking?

Take a step back and learn from others who have reached great success in their health and wellness businesses. Read this post on what The Top Health & Wellness Entrepreneurs wish they would have known before starting their own business. Sometimes it just takes learning what not to do from others to propel us on our way towards success. 

What are some of your biggest problems with running your business? I know that social media and creating consistent content was always a challenge for me but not anymore. What about you?

Stay inspired by checking out this cool motivational quote.  You can do this. Your destiny is to use your gifts to help people to change their lives for the better!

Keep the positive vibes flowing and keep it sunny!

Do you feel rundown? If so it will affect your business operations.

pexels-photo-313690.jpeg

Being an entrepreneur is tough. You are responsible for the final outcomes in your business. It is important that your business operations are running smoothly and that can't happen if you are out of gas. I get it. As a fellow entrepreneur, I am always looking for ways to fine-tune the process of running my business in a more holistic way. Check out this article to learn how to improve your mental state and feel more in control of your life which will trickle down to help you run your business better.

Happy Reading!

Keep it Sunny!

The Tax Time Clock Is Ticking and Making A Mistake Will Cost You Big Time!

pexels-photo-sadface.jpeg

We are here my fellow entrepreneurs. And just like you I hate tax time and don't want to pay any unnecessary money to good ole uncle sam. Read this article to learn how to avoid givin your money away. Also, now is a good time to put a process in place to get your business receipts in order. If you want to use your expenses as a write off then you need actual receipts because bank statements will not substitute. I hope you gain some useful tips to help you navigate the sharky waters of tax time.

 

Keep It Sunny. 

Are You Building Your Business Foundation on Solid Ground?

pexels-photo-122744.jpeg

Does your business foundation resemble a sandy desert instead of solid concrete? If you are seeking to have a lasting meaniful business it is extremely important to create a solid foundation. As we start this month off with taking a look at how to run your business more efficiently it's important to make sure all of your ducks are in a row. Check out this previous post I wrote on how to make sure all your t's are crossed and your i's are dotted.

 

Keep it Sunny!