Dear Readers,
Happy New Year!
In order to help you make your year as successful as possible, I have compiled a list of my tips and go to resources to help kick start your business. This is my new year gift to you.
You are welcome.
Before I get started, please feel free to read only the sections that apply to you, although you are very welcome to read the whole thing.
If you have any questions please do get in touch, I'm more than happy to help you if I can.
Okay then, let's get started by getting the longest section out-of-the-way!
1.Preparation Is Everything.
Organisation is very important to ensure that your business runs as smoothly as possible and you don't waste valuable time.That's pretty much a given, but what people don't usually think of is how important it is to have a backup plan. It's really important to spend some time working out what you will do if your business starts to fail.
Do you have some ideas of how you could get your business back on track?
Do you know where you're going?
Gaining clarity on where you are going is super important and this needs to happen right at the beginning of your business, preferably before launch.
If you fail to do this, you will be setting yourself up for failure.
Also be aware that no matter how amazing your business is, not everyone is going to like you or believe in you, that is completely okay, they are entitled to their opinion, but don't let what people, even people in your close circle, think of you take you off base.
Again this is far less likely to happen if you plan for it. Have some polite but firm statements on your position rehearsed and written down for when you can't just ignore the naysayers ( because maybe the naysayer in question is a family member)
Make your statement, stay polite and focused but if the person questioning you refuses to listen, don't let that get to you. It can be so tempting the early stages of a new blog or business, to give up when people you care about don't share your dream but remember this is your dream, don't expect anyone else to see it the way you do because they won't. ( especially if your dream goes against the grain of what is deemed a proper job these days)
All of this perpetration stage could be covered if you make a business plan, even if your business or blog is not intended for making a profit, it's still a really important step. There are lots of different ways to do this, it's even possible to make a one page business plan, how you do it is not important. It's just really important that you take some time to do a bit of planning. It makes all the difference.
2.Have A Good Key-Chain.
There is not just one key to success in business, there are several but establishing a really strong network is really vital because sometimes the key you are looking for, is a person.
Not only is a good idea to connect with people in your industry, or similar industries via social media, but it is also a good idea to have a look at your friendship circle and see if you know anyone that could help you in a certain area of your business. One of my closest friends is a marketing expert. Another of my close friends is really good at coding ( something I hate) and others still are artists, writers of a different field and fantastic administrators and researchers.
Life is about helping each other and growing, if you think about blogging, what this looks like is simply leaving genuine comments on other people's blogs. People are far more likely to check out your work if they see you care about what they have to say.
Also be engaged with your audience, if you get comments, tweets etc...make sure you reply.
3.Be True To You
I know I just said that networking is important and it is, but at the same time you need to make sure that you are only networking with people who enrich your life and business.
Once you have established the direction of your blog or business, then you should know what kind of people you want to be connected with, connect with the people who make you happy to have them in your contact list.
Don't feel like you have to talk to everyone because they might possibly be a future customer. Your focus matters but so does your health, convictions and happiness, don't compromise on any of these just to gain a new customer.
You may gain that customer but you will lose many more that liked the real you and that is just really sad.
You will figure out your focus when you are true to your own heart because this brings out your passion and passion is something that impacts the success of your business greatly.
4.Move With The Times.
Trends change and grow, they evolve and take twists and turns, its important for anyone in business to make sure that they are keeping up with the trends of today so they can create the demand of tomorrow.
There is no point in blogging about how to use video cassettes because they are now redundant for the most part.
A good way to make sure that your business is current is to see what else your customers are paying attention to and then what kind of content your competition is producing. Amazon comments can be great for this.
5.Balance it baby!
Life is not meant to be all work or all play. We need a balance of both in order to feel fulfilled. I absolutely detest the idea of chasing happiness. I believe in chasing fulfillment instead. A key way of doing that is by living in the moment and enjoying the life you have and the people who are in it, and making sure you take care of yourself too. Yes, building your business is important to you, but if you don't have anyone to share your success with, then what is the point?
Family and friends matter, don't neglect them in pursuit of success. It's not worth it!
Also, the more enriched your life is by things outside of your business, the more you will have the energy to focus on your business.
There will be times when you have to make sacrifices but don't work too hard, burning out is not going to be a good thing for you or your business.
If you don't check out any of my other resource recommendations please do check out this one, it's really important you understand what working too much could do to you.
Please take care.
6.Don't be Beige.
Standing out is the only way to make people take notice of you. Don't be beige it's boring. Beige stays in the comfort box, doesn't take risks and doesn't make a difference. Some of you reading this will only be wanting to make success from your business, but some of you may well be looking to make history.
Did beige ever do that?
No, not unless it counts for being the most boring and depressing colour ever.
Being undecided is just not an option if you want to make it in the business world. Taking risks is just part of the deal. Running a business is hard work,beige would take the short cut, stay in the middle and be satisfied with less than the best.
Don't do that.
If fear is an issue for you then Susan Jeffers book could be as life changing for you as it was for me.
7.If You Want Customers To Care, Your Customer Care Needs To Be Top Notch
You've heard it before but
taking care of your customers should be your number one priority, you wouldn't even have a business without them. Again, this comes into the business integrity issue, but more than that it's about making someone's day and ultimately getting them to keep coming back and tell others about your business and how you gave them such good customer service!
If you look after them, how can they not come back?
8. Be Tigger
Those of you who know me in real life will know that I am the girl who has been knocked down more times than I can count,but I am also the girl who has gotten up more times than most. You have to.
Tigger never ever stops bouncing, you shouldn't either.
You can't predict what is going to happen in life but you are responsible for how you react.
Get up and keep going, if you have a dream then make it happen, no one else is going to do it for you and you are the right person for the job.
Business, like life is a roller-coaster, and you do have to learn to roll with the punches, but it is worth it in the long run.
If being your own boss is the thing you need to do to be fulfilled in life, then get up and make something awesome happen!
Remember any issue you have in business is likely to already have been experienced by someone else and chances are that someone has written a book or uploaded a video on that very topic. Don't be afraid to
reach out, it can create great working relationships and is good for your health, well-being and business.
We are designed to grow,
if we stay still too long, we usually wind up falling and looking back. Also, don't neglect your spiritual growth and take some time out just to relax and be at peace. Don't think you know it all, stay teachable and keep learning, keep growing and make your business awesome, because you can.
You just need to believe that and get to work.
Over the next few months we will be unpacking these tips once every two weeks.
Why so spaced out?
Because I want you to have ample time to apply each tip. Rushing this will only lead to a crash and I don't want that for you, so please do take your time to use these tips as starting point to dive in deeper in each subject.
See you next post!
Love Hayley
xXx
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A Christmas stripped back.
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