So, the holiday shopping weekend is over, and you’re either riding high on a wave of success or maybe you’re feeling a little bummed out. Either way, December is here, and it’s time to celebrate it all. The results of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday don’t define you, and your success isn’t just about one day—it’s about the small, consistent actions you take moving forward.
The Surprising Habit Limiting Small Business Growth
Introduction to Success and Its Meaning
Success is a word I utilize a lot, in fact, it is a word used to describe my company, Our Success Group. But what does it mean can often get lost as we strive to reach it? To some, it is measured in money, to others it is measured in lives affected. To others, it means being happy and fulfilled. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary says it is defined as a “favorable or desired outcome.” Your definition and the way you measure it is crucial to ultimately say you are a success. How do you measure and define success?
How can I Spend More Time Working ON my Business?
As we work to create a growing business, we often find ourselves caught in a relentless cycle of day-to-day tasks, leaving little room to step back and view the bigger picture. The concept of working ON your business, rather than getting bogged down working IN it, is a transformative mindset that promises not just growth, but a rekindling of the passion or zest for why you started your business to begin with. “I don’t have time for that,” you might think, or “Isn’t that just diverting from crucial daily tasks?” But what if I told you that finding time isn’t about searching—it’s about creating? And it’s not just beneficial; it’s non-negotiable for your business’s growth and your fulfillment.
Why Spend Time Working ON Your Business
Ready to talk about an uncommon mindset that I believe is a FUNdamental topic that every business owner must understand? That mindset is the distinction between working ON your business and working IN it. I want you to understand why you must make the distinction and why you must find a way to commit time to work ON your business, not just always in it. This distinction might seem subtle, but it can be the game-changer in how you approach your business and, ultimately, how successful you become. Share in the comments your thoughts on working ON your business versus working IN it. Do you make time to work ON your business currently? If not why? Do you see the value in working ON your business?
Do Sweat the Small Stuff
Yes, you read the title correctly, I’m saying sweat the small stuff, not DON’T sweat the small stuff. In this column, I want to talk about how little things can make a big difference. By focusing on the small stuff, not only will it improve your business, but it will make your lives easier. You will not be constantly faced with huge daunting tasks or attempting to make large changes in your business.
Admitting you Need a Standard Operating Procedure Doesn’t Have To Be Hard
Standard operating procedures are in a simple term a guardrail for doing the work that needs to be done in your business day to day. The standard operating procedure (SOP) documentation is just a tool that allows owners and managers to continue to focus on improving the business and allows the employees to feel confident to make decisions and solve problems because they have a guide.
Sales Tip – Basing your sales call goals on getting told NO!
So you have read the title of this blog and you must be thinking I have lost my mind, but this is not a new sales tip. Throughout my career in sales and marketing, I have heard this strategy in several different variations. I am not sure who originally coined it and definitely not taking credit for its invention, but I think it is very beneficial technique to generate business. Personally, I compare this approach to a similar strategy for playing Blackjack. Side note, I’m a horrible Blackjack player and seem to be the guy who can have a 20 with the dealer showing a 6 and inevitably the dealer will pull a 5 card for 21! But…I am not crazy; this really is a good sales tip. I have heard it from other professionals and it makes sense.
Reaching the Pet Market with Personalization
Growing up in a home with a few acres of land in a rural community, my brother and I were fortunate to have a variety of animals. We had goats, chickens and of course dogs and cats. Believe it or not, in my high school year book there is a picture of me and my horse – Blazer. Obviously, I am not alone in my love for animals, since the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reports that more than 63% of households in the US have at least one pet. Those pet owners spend in excess of $55 billion dollars on pet products every year. As a decorator, you should be grabbing some of that big tasty pie!
Top 3 Things Every Small Business Must Do
When talking to people about how things are going in their business, I have discovered some common tasks. People who have successful businesses are doing certain things on a regular basis that appear to be similar. Also, it seems those who are struggling are not doing these things. In addition, I have noticed that sometimes … Read more
Better Understand and Grow Your Business with Social Media
News flash… Social Media is here to stay. Think about the course of your day, how many times are you on Facebook, or how many times during the course of a news broadcast is Twitter mentioned or how many times do you look up a review of something before you buy on Yelp or Google … Read more