Are You Happy With Your Business?

Starting and running a business is like giving birth and raising a child.

You give every ounce of love and care to it and watch it grow. But what if things are not going as planned? It maybe time to take a second look and diagnose the problem.

If you are in a business funk then it may be time to reinvent your business. Take a look at an article I wrote previously on how to do just that. 

We all get into a personal rut sometimes so quite naturally this can happen inside of our business. Just like Taylor Swift said, "Just Shake It Off" and move forward!

 

Keep It Sunny!

DO YOU MIX BUSINESS WITH PERSONAL EXPENSES?

As small business owners who are usually wearing many hats we tend to do thing that overlap with our personal life: Go grocery shopping in the middle of the day after a business meeting, work while away on vacation with our family and make purchases with our company credit card for personal expenses.

WAIT!

WHAT WAS THAT LAST ACTIVITY????

We have all been there: We are at the register getting ready to make a personal purchase and decide that it doesn't matter which card we use because it's our business. I recently read a post on a forum that says as much:

Paying personal purchases on company credit card.

[I’m the sole owner of an s-corp and have an owner’s equity account. This months cc bill  has both personal and business purchases. I would like to pay off the credit card balance using $ from the company checking account.

For example :  I owe $150 on the cc, $25 for personal purchases and $125 for business purchases. What is the best way of dealing with this in QB.  Do I draw the $25 out of the owners equity account?]  

thx

This is disaster on a stick! Much like what the commenter below states:

[If this is a corporate credit card, this is called "commingling" and is mixing personal and business. Further explained, you are using the Corporate's finances for personal.

The rules for what type of activity is allowed for the movement of funds between the corporation and shareholders are very narrow. The whole point of having a corporation is the protection of Self from Business. Your personal assets and the corporation's assets and risks should be seperate. Once you commingle, there is no longer that separation. This is called "piercing the corporate veil."

If you do not honor this separation, why would an attorney or collection agency honor it ?]

I know life get's busy crazy but not paying attention to this small detail could cost you big time. I will be sharing some tools that you can use in the next few weeks that will make keeping track of this mundane tasks not such a pain.

Are you guilty of this? Share in the comments below.

 

KEEP IT SUNNY!

Is It Worth It To Go To Networking Events?

It was once said that it takes a village to raise a child.

I believe that it also takes a business village to grow a business. We can only do so much on our own that's why it's important to get out of our comfort zone and go meet other entrepreneurs. The best way to do that is by attending conferences.  According to Crunch.co, "54% of those who had attended a networking event agreed that networking “is very important for their professional development”.

I know what your thinking: I don't have time to attend conferences!!

It is easier than you think.

Introducing: Meetup

For those of you not familiar with Meetup it is a great online networking tool. You go on the site look for groups that have similar interests and join.

It's that simple.

I did just that and it led me to attending a conference in my own backyard called Amplify Live Experience which was amazing and led by a terrific guy by the name of Keith Yackey. I got a chance to hear nationally recognized speakers on all things entrepreneurship and I met some really cool like minded business people.

I even met one of my favorite podcasters Lewis Howes which I wrote about in a previous post. And got a chance to talk to a lot of people about my business and gain new insights and possible new clients. All this came from joining a local Meetup.

So do you think it is worth it to go to networking events? I would say absolutely YES!!

What do you think? Are you going to sit in a silo or go out and make new business friends and start telling people about how you serve others?

 

Keep It Sunny!

New Trends: Subscription Based Healthy Food Options

 

We are all so busy these days. And your clients may have a hard time finding healthy options to integrate into their daily meal planning schedules. Insert the solution: subscription based healthy eating services. Let's take a look at a few below:

Sun Basket

Sun Basket according to their website they are a "Subscription meal delivery service that ships members fresh organic, sustainable ingredients and recipes every month, allowing them to cook their own meals". 

Blue Apron

Blue Apron  "Is an ingredient-and-recipe meal kit service". They pride themselves on offering, " A better food system". This includes partnering up with local chefs, farmers, ensuring that waste is cut to a minimal amount and looking out for the ecosystem.

Green Chef

Green Chef is another healthy food based subscription service that prides themselves with having premium ingredients that are "More organic, more flavor and more options". You can check them out here.

Hello Fresh

Hello Fresh prides themselves on having "Delicious ingredients you'll love to eat & simple recipes you'll live to cook". You can check them out here.

All the healthy meal subscription services pride themselves on offering organic food choices, easy to follow recipes and some type of trial offer. 

So what do you think about the whole idea of healthy meal options delivered straight to your door? Do you think you or your clients will give it a try? I am going to try a few and share my thoughts on a future blog post.

KEEP IT SUNNY!

IS THINKING NEGATIVE AFFECTING YOUR BUSINESS??

We all have those people in our lives that cast a huge cloud of doubt on new ideas or rain on our parade. Have you stopped to think about how this is affecting not only your business but your emotional well-being?

Take a look at a post I wrote some time ago about this very subject. And share your thoughts in the comments below.

KEEP IT SUNNY!

I HATE MY CLIENTS!

Are you feeling trapped in a nightmare that you can't wake up from?

If you are working with clients that make you want to pull your hair out and stomp your feet on the ground like a 3-year old then take a look at a post I wrote previously on how to attract your ideal clients. And get your smile back!

 

Keep It Sunny!

3 Tech Tools You Can Use To Create More Freedom In Your Business

I hope you had a great 4th of July with your friends & family.

It is not a day to be taken lightly as we should all be very grateful for the men & women who have sacrificed their lives to make sure we can enjoy our freedom as Americans.

One part of that freedom is the opportunity to create the dream lifestyle we want as entrepreneurs.

America is the land of opportunity and being an entrepreneur allows us to take part in our "piece of the American dream". 

My question to you is: Do you feel free in your business or are you living a recurring nightmare with a growing to-do list of stuff not getting done?

Take a look at the 3 Tech Tools below that you can use to create more freedom in your business:

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Contactually.com: This is a great CRM that helps you to manage all your client information in one place. Let's say you met a couple of great potential clients at a networking event and now you have a bag full of event promo pieces and those dreaded business cards. If you don't get those business cards out your goodie bag, follow up with the potential clients while everything is fresh then the trail goes cold and your time is wasted. Contactually allows you to dump all that information into their system in an organized way and manage that lead right onto a viable client and beyond to gain referrals. Check out the site here to see how it all works.

Communication

E-voice: What happens when a prospective client calls you? Do they call your cell phone, business line (if you have one) your business cell line? What if they just called one number and then the call was routed to you in the way you desire. That is the nexus of E-voice. E-voice provides you with a separate business number that rings to your cell, a professional greeting & call forwarding options so you look and sound professional. This will allow you to deliver that white glove experience to your customers. Check them outhere & use promo code "Fire" (thanks John Lee Dumas) and receive $5 off your subscription forever.

Healthy Eating Options

Sun Basket: Now I know your probably thinking how does this create more freedom in my business. Well if you are busy taking care of clients and running your business who is taking care of your belly? When do you have time to check out the latest healthy snacks or produce at the local farmers market? You probably don't have as much time as you would like, so let Sun Basket do all the heavy lifting for you. They deliver healthy organic ingredients weekly right to your doorstep. Check them out here and use promo code "Fire" to get a discount.

So there you have it. 3 tech tools that you can use to create more freedom in your business. Enjoy the journey as you carve out your piece of the American dream.

KEEP IT SUNNY!

Do You Have What It Takes To Run A Health & Wellness Business Online?

Running a successful business is hard work.

Running a business that is focused on helping people be the healthiest

that they can be & using the online platform as your storefront can be

EXTREMELY challenging. 

Is it doable?

Of course it is.

Are you up for the challenge?

That is a question that only you can answer.

While you are pondering this question check out this article I read on

DamyHealth.com and learn about the pros & cons of running a health &

wellness business online.

KEEP IT SUNNY!

I Love The School Of Greatness Podcast by Lewis Howes!

Lewis Howes has an awesome back story. According to Wikipedia, he is an author, entrepreneur and former professional arena football player. He often tells the story about how he was essentially homeless and living off of the generosity of his sister for a place to sleep. Many years later he has turned his life around and has become a catalyst for the motivational mindset movement.

On his podcast The School of Greatness, he interviews artists, entrepreneurs and thought leaders to find out what makes them tick and what makes them great. If you are looking for a positive energy boost check out his podcast and read an article I wrote last year about mindset.

Keep It Sunny!

STAY PRODUCTIVE IN YOUR BUSINESS WITH THIS CHEAT SHEET

How To Stay Focused & Not Get Burned Out When Building Your Business

How is your business doing? Do you have everything on your checklist done? What about client acquisition? If you're feeling overwhelmed then check out my previous post on how to get your motivation back and get back on track.

 

Keep It Sunny!

How To Offer Your Service As Part Of A Wellness Employee Program.

So you have the skills, the drive & the passion for helping people be their best. But the only problem is you have no one to help. A great option might be to offer your services to a company as part of their employee health and wellness program. 

According to Inc.com, "Findings from 56 studies on worksite wellness programs that were published in the American Journal of Health Promotion showed an average 27 percent reduction in sick leave absenteeism, 26 percent reduction in health care costs, and 32 percent reduction in workers' compensation and disability management cost claims". 

Your services have a real impact on employees work life and the business owners bottom-line.

A win-win.

How can you get started with helping businesses & their employees?

Health & Wellness Consulting Companies

There are companies that exist to connect health & wellness professionals with businesses that have an onsite employee wellness program. Infinite Health Coach is an example of this service offering. They are a hub for businesses searching for practitioners. They use a RFP system to help with the matching process. 

Go Directly To The Source

As entrepreneurs, our job is part marketing and part service delivery. A great way to get business is to find out what companies in your area need health & wellness services and cut out the middle man by delivering it directly to them. WellSteps is an online site that has gathered over 50 wellness programs that you can use to start your research. 

The Possibilities Are Endless

This is your business created to share your unique talents. The marketplace is waiting on you to deliver only what you can deliver. These tools offer a great starting point to research and find your ideal clients and go on the journey with them towards a healthier lifestyle.

What are some other ideas you have on offering your services? Share in the comments below.

Keep It Sunny!

5 Creative Ways To Make Money As A Health & Wellness Professional

Having a dream to be a successful health and wellness professional is great. But you need a way to get from your dream to your reality. Below are 5 creative ways to make money in this space.

1. Work with corporations and offer your service as a part of their wellness employee program.

2. Create an online program that is focused on your area of expertise.

3. Do group offsite classes or coaching.

4. Create a weekly podcast.

5. Offer your services as a part of specialized retreats and conferences.

There are many ways to make money as a health & wellness professional. In the upcoming weeks, we will take a deep dive into each of these ideas to see how you can take action.

Keep It Sunny!

Show Me The Money!

We have all heard this famous movie quote from Jerry Maguire,

"Show Me The Money" 

And as business owners first & foremost we care about serving our clients with the best service possible.

But the bottom-line is well the bottom-line:

Are we making any money?

This month we will be looking at creative ways to make money in the health & wellness space and shine a light on those entrepreneurs who have reached their money goals ten times over.

So get ready to dive into how your clients can show You the money in exchange for helping them live the best version of themselves. Need some motivation? Check out one of my previous blog post on mindset & motivation here. 

KEEP IT SUNNY!

Why Stitcher is My Favorite Podcast Tool

Today I will keep it short & sweet.

I love consuming content by reading blogs, watching videos & listening to podcasts. The Stitcher app is my number one source for listening to all my favorite podcasts. It has over 65,000 podcasts to choose from and no I am not getting paid to share this with you.

Give it a try while you're working or working out. Last week I shared an awesome inspirational story I heard on Entrepreneur Onfire about John Morrow. If you haven't had a chance to check it out then go do it now. It will motivate you beyond your wildest dreams.

Check out stitcher.  What are your favorite tools to listen to a podcast? Share with me in the comments below.

KEEP IT SUNNY!

A Motivational Story On How A Man Who Couldn't Move Found Success His Way

Everyone get's distracted and even discouraged at times when working towards making life work for them.

Every 3rd Thursday of the month I will be highlighting how different entrepreneurs found the strength to turn lemons into lemonade.

My goal is to share these stories in an effort to encourage all of us as we go about trying to live life on our own terms.

The first story I will share is of John Morrow.

John has built multiple multi-million dollar businesses.

He has discovered what hustle & grit can accomplish if you choose to put them to work for you.

John can't move from the neck down.

Listen to his story here as he tells it to John Lee dumas on the Entrepreneur On Fire podcast.

Think.

Reflect.

Take Action Today.

Keep It Sunny!

How to Stay Motivated When Building Your Business

Do you sometimes feel like a hamster on a wheel that never stops? Like you are working towards your goals for getting your business off the ground but your not getting anywhere? I can sure relate to both of these feelings. And when I feel like I am hitting a brick wall I go back to square one to regroup: My "Why".

Simon Sinek describes your why as, "The purpose, cause, or belief that inspires you to do what you do".

It sounds simple but in the rush of everyday life, this idea can get lost. I would encourage you to write down a one-sentence statement that describes why you are interested in being a health & wellness entrepreneur.

Make it bold and personal.

On the days when you feel like you are spinning your wheels take it out and meditate on it. Or put your statement on a piece of paper and tape it to your bathroom mirror. The point is to stay motivated and energized toward making your business a success. Take a listen to the TED Talk Simon did describing this "why" idea in greater detail.

What is your "why"? Tell me in the comments below.

Keep It Sunny!

Are You Burning Out From Building Your Business?

Image courtesy of marin at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

April is here and spring is underway.

How is your business doing?

How are you doing?

Are you stressed out trying to run your business and your life?

I know first hand how you can become burnt-out when you're trying to maintain the upward trajectory of your business. You want to succeed and not give the naysayers anything to talk about. If you are looking for tips on how to avoid burn-out check out this post I wrote back in November.

As we move ahead this month I will be sharing different ideas on how to market yourself so that you can build your client list. Like the Burger King slogan, you can "have it your way" BUT you must have a plan and take action.

This journey we are all on is worth it. As Wayne Dyer famously stated, "Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life".

So relax. Take a deep breath and let’s get ready to build connections and relationships so that we can help our clients be their best.

Start by reading my post on how to avoid burn-out and share some of your own ninja tricks below that keep you from burning the candle at both ends.

Keep It Sunny!

3 Tech Tools You Can Use To Communicate With Your Clients

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The month of March went by way too fast!

We dedicated the whole month to taking a sharper look at how to give your health and wellness business a reboot, tips on how to make your online business more sound and ideas on how to attract your ideal client. As the month ends we will round it out by looking at 3 tools you can use to communicate with your clients. We all know it is hard to find good clients so ensuring they keep coming back is paramount to keeping your business healthy.

 Communication is key.

Using email only to talk to clients can get cumbersome. Here are 3 tech tools you can use to stay connected with your clients.

1. Slack: This is a collaboration tool with many bells & whistles. If you have a project with a team and you need a way to keep your client in the loop then this tool may be just the one to use. Check out how it all works here.

2. Ryver: This is a competitor to Slack and has a lot of great features. The best part of using this tool is that it is free. You can check it out here.

3. Google Suite: Google is the best when it comes to having tools for text-based chats, file sharing, email and video chat. The cost for the basic plan is just $5. 

There are all sorts of techie tools to use as a way of staying connected to clients. The most important thing to remember is to make sure your client knows how to use the tools so that you can make the most out of it. So what tools do you love using to stay connected to clients? Share in the comments below.

Keep IT Sunny!

 

How to make sure your client is a good fit for you

Image courtesy of renjith krishnan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

How much time are you spending with potential clients before you take them on as a current client?

Last week we discussed tips on how to attract your ideal client and this week we take a deeper look into how to vet our clients.

In his article, Tips on Vetting Prospective Clients, writer Chip Camden states a golden fact: “We sometimes forget that not all business is good business." Wow! This is so true. 

As health and wellness professionals your time is very valuable and in demand. So using technology to consult with clients is a must in order to work in an efficient way.

Picture this: You kick butt doing all the “right” marketing things, you spend time networking online and in person. Finally, it all pays off in the form of a potential client lead. But what you do next will either leave you in a happy zen place or crying the blues. You must ask yourself this question?

What method should I use to vet my clients?

Should you rely mostly on email, a phone conversation, FaceTime, Skype or some other face to face video tool to meet with them?

This issue was raised on a forum I am a member of and for the professional who posted it the outcome was not good. They chose to use email only. Their potential coaching client was located overseas so they believed that email would be the most efficient tool to use due to the time differences. The health coach mentioned that they should have spent more personal time with this client to make sure it was a good fit BEFORE they signed them up & took their money & subsequently had to offer a refund.

That is the price of not really thinking through how much time should you spend with potential clients before you sign on to help them. It is crucial to pick the right tool or tools so that your consulations produce good results. 

So what tools do you use to vet potential clients? Share your thoughts below.

Keep It Sunny!