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Clean and Grow Rich
Cluttered work space
I hired a professional organizer to help me get all my stuff under control. She is starting in my office area but will have to eventually continue into the rest of the house. I am thrilled and it feels so decadent! Normally, I’m not the type to spend money on something like this, but it is making me (and my husband) so very happy. Laughingly, I told her she was on retainer now. She doesn’t know it, but I am serious. While I feel like an episode of “Hoarders,” she assured me I don’t have that much stuff.
Our first session was only an hour long, but in that time she took a look in pertinent storage areas and then tackled my so-called office supply area of a closet. After pulling everything off the shelves, she put items in different stacks. Some went right out to the trash, some went into my car for donation, and just a little bit went back into the closet. She helped free me of a few articles of clothing hanging there with the comment, “If linen like that comes back in style, you can go buy a new skirt!” Ha Ha. Ouch. We finished the day with her admonition: “Don’t buy any more supplies.” I have an embarrassingly large number of paper folders and reams of paper on hand. Come by if you need folders of ANY color. Really. I’ve got plenty. It’s still hard to pass up those school deals in August. (and remember – I don’t have children at home anymore…)
Over the weekend I cleaned out 3 file drawers and threw out thousands of pieces of paper from the last 20 years. Smile and nod if you can relate. That was my homework before she comes again on Thursday. The sense of accomplishment is really a natural high. I’ve got a silly little grin on my face and am feeling really self-righteous about the whole thing. Having heard that less is more, now I am experiencing it. By tossing tons of junk, all those things now just laying around will finally have a home and can move from the counter top into a file or space in a cabinet.
More to the point: 15 months ago I joined a co-working facility and love it because my work space is just a blank table and a chair. I bring my laptop and a file or two to work on. I’m very productive. There aren’t any distracting things on the walls, and there’s great white noise in the building. From that I learned how important my work space was. Therefore, the huge need to simplify my home work space which couldn’t be any more distracting and cluttered. Ugh. Therefore, my new best friend – the organizer!
Soon, working from home will be much more productive. I’m going to take down everything that is distracting, and keep only the things I need on a recurring basis within reach. Everything else will move to another file cabinet or closet. Less cluttered work space, less cluttered mind, more productive work day.
Tell me about your organizing failures and successes. (Maybe you are like me and have half a dozen books on organizing, but can’t find them?!)
Q is for Quality
Nice – so many great responses to my last post on choosing a word to be your theme in 2012! Thank you all. It was fun to read what everyone else is working on. Many were captivated by “sparkle,” as one poster commented. Pop on over and scan through the other great entries and I’ll wait right here and then unveil my own word.
Good. You’re back! Drum roll, please… I’m happy to announce that my word for 2012 is QUALITY. As in “more quality time with my family,” and “pursue quality in all areas of my business,” and “increase the level of quality with my clients so that they become those raving fans we all want.”
Going on to include
- quality work space
- quality information in my blog posts, social networks
- high level of quality interactions in my networking group, not just passing the time
- improve the quality of all the systems in my business
- Surround myself with quality people who enrich my life, both personally and professionally
- Raise the quality bar on my every day activities, including dramatically cut back on the TV and put those hours into improving the quality of my life and business.
- Enjoy the really amazing quality of the life I already have!
This word is a good fit for me and I am looking forward to keeping Quality in mind all year long. It’s going to have a significant impact on how I live and work each day. Good luck to each of you in letting your own theme word guide your year!
My One Word for 2012
It’s “pick your word” time. It seems like every other blog post or Facebook post is asking the question: what is your one word for 2012? Honestly, I’m reluctant to play along. Two years ago everyone was doing vision boards. I resisted as long as I could but eventually gave in to the pressure. I found a jillion old magazines at the used book store (which they were happy to give me) and spent a few fun hours cutting and pasting. However, it wasn’t long before my little project started collecting dust. Occasionally it would draw my eye and I’d longingly look at the picture of the spa vacation or remodeled kitchen. But for the most part, this was not anything I felt kinship to. Does that mean I’m not a visionary, or not a visual person, or just someone not driven to achieve the goals pasted on a poster board?
In 2012 I’m buckling to the peer pressure once again by choosing “my one word.” The choices have been tumbling around in my head for days. What feels right: Excellence, Power, Focus, Happy, Growth, Fun, Family, Time Management – can I even choose two words? What are the rules anyway…? What if I choose the wrong word? What happens if I don’t like my word in a couple of months? What do I do to make sure that word has significant meaning in my life? Oh…all the what if’s!
Pinterest Word Collage
Happily, I’ve chosen my one word. It suits both my business and family life. What more can a girl ask for? It will look good made up in a Pinterest type of sign, too. (except mine will be one you can read and understand. What is this sign saying anyway?)
If you are playing along this year, leave me some New Year’s love. What is your One Word? I’ll share mine in the next post…!
Letting Go
Life is Good! Here are some things going on that I am happy about:
- Several mini-trips with my husband on the calendar
- Wedding plans for my daughter
- Awesome job for my son with crazy good potential
- A business made just for me that I am so blessed to have
2011 has been an incredible year. Maybe it’s partly because I quit trying so hard to paddle upstream and just decided to stop and enjoy the ride instead. Maybe it’s partly because I have cried a bucket of tears and prayed a thousand prayers. Maybe it’s because I finally reached that point in my life when I finally quit talking about things and started making them happen. I’m pleased as punch to be here and happy for everything that is in my future.
The theme this year might be “Letting Go.” I’m letting go of lots of stuff, including
- physical things in my environment; heaven knows I’ve got lots more to go.
- relationships that were no longer serving me well.
- wrong notions or ideas that were holding me back.
- paralyzing emotions.
All of this is really making my way so much brighter and happier. A friend once told me that if I wanted to have a breakthrough in my work I needed to clean out a drawer or cabinet. She was right. Try it and see. Letting go of “stuff” is totally freeing and sets your mind on the most glorious paths.
What are you letting go of? Please leave a comment and let me know!
A Small Bump in the Road, or Why I am Pouting
Can we talk here? I am glad this week is about over. My VA and I have been grinding our teeth over my move to a new email marketing software. It was motivated by a desire for 1 (only ONE!) function that was really important for me that I could not get with my other email marketing service. And I knew going into this transition that there were some functions I was giving up that were not as critical, but I didn’t know how much I was going to miss my other software. I just cut over today, and I am already almost sorry.
The blame for my feelings goes to being just a little more technical than is good for me. All my life I have been a problem solver. I analyze things and wonder why they are done the way they are. I see better solutions everywhere. So I have been shaking my head and scowling and possibly saying a few “salty” words every time another annoying function, or lack of function, raised it’s head. Yes, there are software solutions that are a much better fit for my needs and encompass everything I want. They are just more than I am willing to pay each month, and more than I need at this point. And no, I am not going to name names. (contact me if you must)
After this week, I am going to embrace and be happy with my new software. The one function it has is going to make all the difference in the world to my business, and so I’ll concentrate on that moving forward. Just not now. I have a few minutes of pouting to do.
Have Business, Must Travel
Being a business owner has it’s perks! Since I started my business four years ago, I have enjoyed having complete control over my schedule. To me that includes plenty of down time and hanging out with my family. My husband has been on the road quite a bit lately, and has picked up a LOT of new territory covering states we have never been to, or those we love to visit. We have been trying to get an impromptu vacation put together for several months now. Let me tell you about my weekend!
Hubby had meetings last week in Salt Lake City and Denver, and when he made his reservations he saw how cheap the round-trip airfare was through our airport. Needless to say, we jumped all over another ticket for me to fly up for a long weekend. As it turned out, my son was able to fly in from another state to meet us. We had a fabulous visit and really enjoyed the much cooler weather in Colorado. And as a business owner, I didn’t have to “take vacation days” or worry about time away from work.
As it turned out, it was Oktoberfest weekend in Breckenridge. We enjoyed the polka music, costumed servers and drinkers (think lederhosen and beer maiden outfits), and lots of people watching. It’s amazing what can happen when the streets are blocked off, you allow beer drinking in the streets, music is blaring, and thousands of people are crammed into a small area!
No big message today. Just gratitude for a wonderful life. How blessed I am to be my own boss, decide when and who to work with, and choose the life of my dreams. Almost every business owner I know says how much they love their job. Every month I love my job more!
What do you love about your job?
A check, a bank, and a cool girl
Don’t you just love a great customer service experience? As a backdrop to what happened to me recently, let me paint the picture of our summer here. We were in the middle of over 50 days of 100 plus degree temperatures, and absolutely not a drop of rain. Talk about setting some records! The heat was unrelenting and it is hard to stay cool when you are running back and forth to client offices, or doing errands.
So, on that steamy Friday I was pulling through the bank after lunch, on my way to another client appointment. (I remember it was a Friday because the bank tellers had on their “Got Money?” t-shirts.) I was depositing a check and getting some cash back for the weekend. When the little container came back to me through the bank chute – what do they call those things? – I took out my receipt and cash, and saw something else there. Lo and behold, it was a popsicle! I just chuckled and looked over at the teller. She was grinning and laughing and said, “It’s Beat the Heat” time. What a very small and inexpensive thing to do to add customer service. It was totally a surprise, and very welcome after weeks and weeks of heat and humidity. I was thrilled, needless to say, and thanked her and laughed, too.
I told many people about my experience that day and posted about it on Facebook. It made a big impression on me, and I suspect on many others that afternoon. I don’t know if that was just a one-day happening, but it will stay with ME for a long time.
So, think about how you can add over-the-top, unexpected customer service to your own clients. It doesn’t have to cost much or be extravagant. Sometimes it’s the little things that matter the most.
Tell me about your favorite customer service stories. We’ve all had bad ones…time to celebrate and brainstorm some “cool” ideas!
How is being the Mother of the Bride like Participating in Social Media?
Last month I watched my next-door neighbor enjoy her daughter’s wedding after nearly a year of planning. We’ve had countless conversations since the engagement and I know she was thrilled to come home and put up her feet after it was over. It was especially fun since the bride was friends with my daughter back in middle school and they were sorority sisters in college. I have watched her grow up!
Recently my own daughter became engaged, and while the wedding is too far off to start any serious planning, I have started to consider my role as Mother of the Bride. (known by many as M.O.B.) And here is what I know: walking the road in my support role for the wedding day there will be a lot of twists and turns, probably some good and bad surprises, and hopefully a wonderful result at the end. But most interesting was the sudden realization that there are a lot of similarities between this role and the role of social media.
How so, you ask?
- You have to build relationships. This is where social media shines. Our communication models have evolved and businesses need to get on board with how to do business here. People have always bought from those they Know, Like, and Trust, and social media is just the perfect platform to do so. Prospects want to get to know us before buying, and you can outshine your competition and become the go-to person by building relationships in Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.
Now, in my role as MOB, I have to build new relationships with my future in-laws. They live hundreds of miles away, and I have never met them. In fact, it’s likely that I won’t meet them until the day before the wedding. So, I will pick up the phone, maybe use Skype, and get to know them so we aren’t strangers when we walk into the church together.
- You have to have a plan. Many business owners don’t have any kind of business or marketing plan, and therefore, have no social media plan. Without a strategy to follow, you will likely end up making mistakes, wasting time and effort, and not get the results you desire.
What I know for sure about weddings is that there are people out there called Wedding Planners. They can make the experience run smoothly and get the promised results. It’s likely my daughter will call upon her own planning and organizing skills to pull off her wedding, but there are certain steps you have to take, things to do, and we will all sleep easier at night and be a lot happier with each other by creating and following a plan.
- It’s not about you. You’ve all heard that social media has its own 80/20 rule. Some say even 90/10. As a business owner, you get to talk about your company and its products and services only about 20 percent of the time. The rest of the time you are sharing information of value to your audience, plus entertaining and engaging them in conversations. You need to think of your audience first and foremost.
As MOB, it certainly is not about me, what I want, what I wear, or what I think is right. My opinion will be taken into consideration, but I just get a tee-tiny bit of input. Maybe 20%. Bottom line, it IS all about my daughter!
With careful planning, and a little bit of know how, we can all be successful in our social media (or wedding) endeavors.
(Wish me luck, and leave me some love!)
7 Great Video Marketing Ideas
Developing marketing ideas that will attract prospects and cultivate clients is one part of my business that I love! Over the last couple of years I’ve been talking to everyone about creating videos. There hasn’t been a business yet that couldn’t benefit from creating videos. Hardly a week (or a day) goes by that I am not tempted to click on a video in Facebook and watch. If you haven’t started using videos for marketing your business, you are missing out on a popular tool.
Now, you may be thinking one of these things:
- I don’t know what kind of video to create. (of course that is why you need to continue reading…)
- I don’t have access to good video equipment.
- I hate to be in front of the camera.
Here’s the good news! You don’t need expensive equipment, I’m going to give you a lot of good ideas, and most of them don’t require you being in front of the camera! Most businesses can create a short video – 30 seconds to no more than 2 minutes – using a low-cost video camera. There are lots in the $175 range. I have a Kodak Zi8 that does a great job. Someone you know may have a Flip camera. Easy to do: Power on, shoot video, upload to YouTube, and post. And honestly, I’m sure a lot of the videos that people create are taken using their smart phone.
Now, you’ve got the camera. Where are the ideas? Here are some of my favorites.
- Give a tour of your office or location. Let us see what’s going on inside. You might show us the shop where your products are made, or introduce us to your customer support person. If you are a restaurant, how about a peek inside the kitchen. If you are a retail store, show us some of your wares.
- Interview someone in your office. It’s nice to see and get to know the people you are working with.
- Interview some of your clients – we’re talking video testimonials. Many would be very happy to oblige. Just ask!
- Do some before and after videos. This could apply to building a house, style makeovers, personal organizers, or updating a website. Another variation that might fit some clients is explaining how your product works, or applications for your product.
- FAQ’s are great to create videos for. What do people always ask you? Create a series of videos answering one question in each video.
- Do regularly scheduled tips. Search for “legal minute” or “marketing tips” or something similar inside YouTube. You will find a lot of people give out tidbits of information in this fashion. If you are a fitness expert, create a video showing the proper way to do each exercise.
- Do a video blog. This would be just you sitting in front of the camera telling the story or teaching the information in the way that you would have written it down.
Most of those ideas can even keep you off the video if you are not interested in being in them. Find someone else to be in the video if that is an issue. However, there is great power in building relationships if prospects can actually see you. Don’t miss out on that! Another tip is to vary the setting of your videos. One time you might be in your business outfit at your desk. Another time you might be outside on your patio in more casual wear. The viewer is more interested in what they are going to learn from you than what you are wearing or how your hair looks. (Depending on your business, you will have to use good judgement as to how casual you can go. I’m a firm believer in looking presentable at all times…)
Are you using videos yet? Please share some other video ideas in the comments!
Stuck in business like that cat in a tree
The howling cat I could hear from inside my bathroom had me outside in a flash. It didn’t sound very happy, and was a continuous cry. I see some cats occasionally crossing through the yard, but don’t currently have one, nor do either of my next-door neighbors. Still, I could tell the cat was close by. After a few moments, the cat was spotted half-way up a tree in the backyard of the house behind me and over one. It appeared to be hanging on for dear life. You could just hear the pitiful conversation it was having with itself and the world. Now, I knew that it would be fine if it ever got up the courage to just let go and drop, but how do you tell a cat that?
My husband had joined me outside and I pointed out the whereabouts of said mournful kitty. Just as we were discussing how long it was going to hold on, the little dear finally let go and dropped. One minute it was hanging on, and the next it was nowhere in sight.
Of course, as any good Social Media Evangelist would next do, I came inside to post about it in Facebook. As I was posting, it suddenly occurred to me how this was like what we sometimes do in business. (Did you wonder how I was going to tie all of this together?) We sometimes hold on to things for too long because we are afraid.
Here are 2 questions to ask yourself.
- What do I want for myself and my business so badly that I can see it from where I am?
- What am I holding on to that is keeping me from getting there?
As business owners we are constantly being presented with lots of options and directions in which to go. Have you ever not acted because you were afraid, even though the reward was great? Like our little kitty friend, it takes courage to leave the ground and seek out something appealing. It was probably chasing a bird or lizard and eventually got in over it’s head (literally) and didn’t know what to do next. It could have continued forward and would have eventually gotten to a branch where it could rest. This would have opened up greater views and opportunities to keep moving forward.
In my story, the smart little cat realized that in order to reach it’s real destination it needed to have even more courage than it had when it started it’s little journey up the tree. It recognized the decision that had to be made, gathered up some gumption, and let go!
So, I ask you again, are you clinging to something on your journey that is stopping you from the goal you so desperately want to achieve. Gather up your own gumption and JUMP!
