Archive for the ‘Systems & Processes’ Category
You hear this often in advertising, especially for exercise equipment. There is something to this principle at least as far as working is concerned.
Beginning your workday with a plan could mean you finish early and with less effort. Use that noggin to make your work more structured. Perhaps you’ve been in the situation before where you have several deadlines looming and a desk full of work that still needs to be done. You want to pull your hair out but don’t relish being bald. What you want more is a system to keep this from happening every month. One solution is to work smarter. One tool you have is a calendar. It can be a desk calendar, virtual calendar or a day planner. Log all of your due dates for work in the calendar. Virtual calendars give the added benefit of alarms and pop-up reminders to keep you on track. For those who travel, PDAs and planners keep you aware of looming deadlines, meetings and paydays. Examine your week at a glance. With one or two deadlines, plan the projects you will work on each day accordingly.
To avoid boredom, divide your time into blocks. Timeboxing is a technique that works this way. During each block of time, work on a different task. Keep adding blocks throughout your week until that task is finished. At the end of the day, you’ll find that you completed work on several projects and spent less time evaluating what to do.
Limit the amount of work you take on at any one time. It’s nice to be able to accommodate your clients but let’s be realistic. There are only so many hours in the day and all of them can’t be spent working. You are allowed to have a life. To that end, don’t stack the deck against you. Give yourself the time you need to finish a project. Some will be short and require less time than others. Don’t work yourself into a corner but handle only what you can successfully cope with. As your skills and speed improve, you can add a few more projects.
Take a break to refresh. All work and no play as they say... Schedule in time for socialization. A person who is well-rounded enjoys their work. Work is not their entire life but a small part. Even if you own your own business, taking a breather lets you unwind from the pressure and jump back in with fresh ideas and more energy.
End each day with a tentative plan for tomorrow. We all know that life happens, but without a plan, work doesn’t happen. Give yourself and your clients your best by planning ahead and making the best use of your time each day to work, laugh and live.
Deanna Maio, Business Development Strategist & Speaker, teaches women business owners how to grow their business significantly while still having time to live a great life. For FREE tips on how to get more results without working harder, attract more clients, and grow your profits, visit http://www.savvygals.com/
There are very few people, if any, who long to be unsuccessful. You don't just wake up in the morning and decide that you want to be mediocre. Most people long for more, but only a small few actually achieve the success they want. Just the same, successful people don't just become that way by accident. They have to work for it.
So what makes the difference between success and failure? What is it that successful people have that helps them get where they are? Here are just a few key traits of successful people.
Goal oriented
When you are sifting through piles of work, or are hit by a setback, it's easy to feel distraught. If you can't look forward and see why you do what you do, you're going to be more affected and more likely to give up.
Persistence
When you talk to successful people, you'll find a common theme. It's not that successful people don't fail, it's that they don't give up when they fail. They keep going and keep trying until they make it. Even if things go well for you in the beginning, eventually, the odds are you're going to fail eventually. You've just got to dust yourself off and keep trying.
Self-aware
In order to be successful, you need to know what you're good at. That way you can direct your path towards your positives and exploit them. It's also important that you be aware of your weaknesses, which is something that's a little harder for most people. By knowing your weaknesses, you can figure out how to avoid them faulting you, or you can take steps to improve on them.
Positive thinking
Have you ever noticed that when you're around someone who's excited and happy, you feel happier? And if you're around someone who's always depressed, you start to feel sad yourself? We are affected by what we are surrounded with. And the same goes internally. If we fill our minds with positive thought, we eventually start thinking more positively. And if you believe you are good at what you're doing and can accomplish your goals, you're going to try harder and longer to get them.
Creative thinking
There are thousands of businesses across the country and millions more across the world. These are all people competing for the same money you are. In order to make yourself known, you have to do something different. That will require you to be creative - through product ideas, marketing, customer support, or even in how you organize your office.
So, you're maybe thinking that you don't have most of these attributes, but that doesn't mean you can't become a successful person. The good news is that these behaviors can be learned. If success is something you really want, you just need to get the systems, support, and focus so you can stop working so hard and start working savvy.
Deanna Maio, known professionally as The Savvy Strategies Coach, teaches business owners simple, powerful processes to stop wasting time, start making more money, and create a business that acts as a vehicle for living the life they desire and deserve. For FREE tips on how to increase your income and use your valuable time more wisely, visit http://www.savvygals.com/
Deanna Maio joins Stephen Covey, Les Brown, & Dr. John Gray in a new book,
GPS for Success!
Goals & Proven Strategies from the Industry’s Leading Experts
SEVIERVILLE, TENNESSEE— Deanna Maio, keynote speaker, business coach, and author, has been selected from a nationwide search to be featured in GPS for Success; a highly successful book series from Tennessee based Insight Publishing. The book features best-selling authors Stephen R. Covey (Seven Habits of Highly Effective People), Dr. John Gray (Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus), and Les Brown (The Power of Purpose). Deanna Maio, Covey, Gray, and Brown, are joined by other well known authors and speakers, each offering time-tested strategies for success in frank and intimate interviews.
Deanna Maio is the Founder of SavvyGals Coaching & Consulting, LLC in Portland, Oregon. Her specialty is teaching women business owners how to stop wasting time, start making more money, and live the life they deserve and desire. Known professionally as The SavvyGals Coach, Deanna started coaching in 2005 to help business owners people get the information, systems, support, and accountability they needed to deal with the sometimes overwhelming prospect of growing and running their business while still having a fulfilling personal life.
Prior to starting her own business, Deanna spent over 10 years as a manager, instructional designer and workshop facilitator. An unconditionally supportive coach and sought-after speaker and facilitator, Deanna is known for her passion and dedication to helping her clients create better results faster and easier than ever before.
You can learn more about Deanna and her programs, coaching, and do-it-yourself products at her website, http://www.savvygals.com/ For more information on Deanna Maio and to order your copy of GPS for Success, contact: Deanna Maio 503-922-2688 or support@savvygals.com http://www.savvygals.com
Teaching at a rock and roll music camp for 7-14 year olds this week taught me (or reminded me) of some valuable lessons that can help us to running successful businesses. In this, the first article in a two part series, I'll share 3 lessons you can learn from rock camp and how you can start applying them to your business.
Lesson #1: Life is short. Have fun!
While this lesson may seem cliche, it became so clear for me just after the first few moments of being with my eager young students. Laughing, giggling, joking is innate in kids and isn't something they need to plan for, schedule in, or "make time for." Imagine how challenges, obstacles, or decisions would be easier to manage and handle if we just injected a little bit more fun into our businesses. Here are some ideas on how to have more fun at work, whether you work alone, with others, at home, or in an office.
- Write a joke on a post-it and tell it to those who call you or you call during the day
- Before making a difficult call or one you've been putting off, start laughing for no reason for at least 10 seconds, no matter how forced it may feel, then stop and dial
- Dress up one day in a silly outfit. Be a clown, pirate, hobo, or punk rocker. Look at yourself in the mirror often and remember what it felt like to be a kid
- Color in a coloring book, finger paint, make music on a kazoo, or do a dance when you are feeling stressed. You'll release creativity and energy will flow in a more positive direction
Lesson #2: Practice Makes Progress
Each day at camp, each band (there were four) not only practiced their instruments but, also got together for band rehearsal. In 5 days each band will play 3 new songs, and sing on 2 new ones too. Plus, they'll write one collectively as a group. Whether it's playing music, having sales conversations, or introducing yourself at a networking event, practice is KEY to having a great performance. Repetition is the mother of all learning. The more we do anything, if we practice noticing what worked and what didn't, we will improve.
- Read your 10 second introduction or elevator speech out loud every day in front of the mirror
- Call a friend and ask them to practice being a prospect. Walk through your qualifying questions or "free consultation" process with them
- Get dressed in your networking clothes and go to a new networking event. Set a goal to meet 3 new people and try to connect them with one person within your network that would be a good referral partner for them
- Meet with a colleague to practice overcoming sales objections that you might hear from a prospect. Be realistic and offer each other feedback after each role play.
Lesson #3: Classics Never Go Out of Style
This week the bands are playing some of my favorite rock and roll tunes: Twist and Shout, Joy to the World (Three Dog Night, not the carol,) Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, and Hey Jude. These songs are expertly written and well loved by hundreds of thousands of music lovers. They were chosen for the show because they are songs that would be entertaining and enjoyed by the audience and the bands playing and singing them. How does this apply to your business? 2 things, actually. Give your audience what they want. Here are some thoughts how...
- Ask your favorite clients what they'd like to see from you in terms of new products or services. Survey them as a group, call and ask them three short questions to get their feedback, find trends in their answers, create what they want or find someone to offer it to them
- Don't waste time creating a new product, service, or package and then marketing it if you aren't absolutely sure your target market wants it. (It doesn't count if you think they need it, if they haven't told you they want it too.)
- Remind your target market, current clients, and your past clients of all the services you provide. Send them a note every once in awhile to remind them and make an offer to work with you again. Don't let repeat business fall through the cracks because you've become invisible to them.
- Review the services you provide and find new ways to offer them. Usually work in person, consider working by phone to reach more people. Usually work one on one, consider doing a group program or a one day workshop. See ways to offer the same or similar results and leverage your time by using a different delivery model and you could start reaping the rewards of working smarter in no time.
With these three rock camp lessons, you'll start to feel a new creativity, flow, and rhythm in your business and move closer to being the business rock star you were born to be.
Deanna Maio, Business Trainer & Coach, teaches business owners simple, powerful processes to stop wasting time, start making more money, and create a business that acts as a vehicle for living the life they desire and deserve. For FREE tips on how to increase your income and use your valuable time more wisely, visit http://www.savvygals.com/
Hiring an intern is a great way to get extra help for your business but in order for an internship to be successful, you must choose your intern carefully. Understanding the concepts of choosing a member for your support team will greatly benefit you. The following 5 savvy strategies will guide you in your decision.
Treat the process of hiring an intern just like hiring an actual employee
Request a resume, cover letter, or both. Do an interview, and give the same tests/questions to your potential intern as you would any other applicant for a similar position. Also, treat the intern as you would an employee. Having a solid relationship is key to success. This will give you valuable insight into the intern's capabilities and work habits.
Keep in mind that interns rarely have a great deal of work experience
It is important not to expect too much right away. Do though, encourage your Intern to ask questions while also encouraging them to find the answer themselves. The usual purpose of an internship is to gain work experience and credits for college. So if you're looking for years of experience in the field, an internship is not going to be the right solution for you. On the other hand, there are some forms of experience outside the workplace that you could consider. Some potential interns may have volunteer experience that is relevant to your business. And most have done extensive coursework in their fields, giving them knowledge they can apply when working for you.
Look for enthusiastic candidates
Someone who is excited about the position will try harder than someone who is just in it because she needs an internship to get her degree. And when most candidates are lacking concrete experience, trying hard and wanting the experience is very important.
Think about which candidate can benefit the most
An internship is a two-way street and should be a mutually beneficial experience. You get work done at little or no cost, and the intern gains valuable experience. But if the experience is irrelevant to the intern's goals, she will be less likely to do her best and have a truly valuable experience. Make sure that your intern is a good fit for the position and that she will leave with new knowledge in her chosen field as well as experience. This will ensure that the internship is a success.
Make sure your intern has realistic expectations regarding the position
She shouldn't expect this to be an ongoing job, even if you plan on considering an intern for full-time employment. If she gets a paying job out of the deal, that's great, but she should be prepared to look for work once the internship is over.
Just like paid employees, a new member of your support team can be very valuable to your business. Taking the time to choose the right one for the job can pay big dividends. By keeping your expectations realistic, communicating them thoroughly, and looking for some key traits, you can find an intern that is perfect for your purpose and is a good fit for your team.
Deanna Maio, Business Coach & Consultant, teaches women business owners how to attract more clients, make more sales, stop wasting time, and create a business that acts as a vehicle for living the life they desire and deserve. For FREE tips on how to increase your income and use your valuable time more wisely, visit http://www.savvygals.com/
As a small business owner, finding good help can be a challenge. Qualified candidates are more likely to be attracted to large companies than small businesses because of their high profile and better pay. If you are very small or just getting started, you probably can't afford to hire someone even part-time but, having office help would free you from the busywork and tasks that get in the way of the stuff that needs to get done to bring in the revenue. One way that you can get good help is by creating your own free powerful support team by capitalizing on the power of academic internships.
Who Are They?
Most interns are college students (though there are some high school students looking for internships) who need more school credits for graduation, or simply want to get work experience. But some are past students or displaced workers who would like to either build skills and experience or try to break into a new field. Both of these groups can be a key asset to your business. And they are often open to working for little or no pay, so they are less costly than bringing on a regular employee.
Interns Can Help With Everyday Tasks
Most interns have little or no actual experience in their field, so they're best suited to small tasks initially. But, don't relegate them to the role of gopher. They'll just need to work their way up to the more complicated tasks. Interns can start out doing the busywork and paperwork you dislike Or maybe it's the administrative and clerical work you may put off or ignore. Once they've mastered that, they can grow into tasks that are more complicated. The timing will depend on the intern's skill level and your needs.
Here’s just a short list of what my interns do for me:
- They manage my email and answer my phones
- Keep my calendar organized and confirm my appointments
- Update my website and manage my social networking
- Help me publish my ezine and post articles to my blog
- Keep my database and email list updated and growing
- Develop processes for running my business smarter
Oh, yeah, and did I mention they do it for free? They need and want experience, skill building, and knowledge for the next stage of their career. I get help. They get another resume entry, everyone wins!
Interns Can Help With Short-Term Projects
If you have a short-term project that you need extra help on, or if your company gets seasonal boosts of business, having interns is a super way to acquire the support you need at a low or no cost. They are often willing to put in extra effort to get a good reference or letter of recommendation from you. And because you don't have an employment agreement, they can stay on with you only as long as you need them.
Here are some projects an intern could help with:
- Preparing receipts and records for tax time
- Organizing a file cabinet or creating filing system
- Scanning important documents or photos
- Direct mail campaigns
- Moving or organizing your office
Interns are great for businesses, and small businesses, including solo-business owners, can benefit from hiring them. Whether you need a temporary extra hand around the office or someone to help with a small project, hiring an intern could be just the solution you're looking for. It's a cost-effective way to help others in your community get much-needed career experience and you get the help you need to stay focused on what's most important in your business.
Deanna Maio , Business Coach & Consultant, teaches women business owners how to attract more clients, make more sales, stop wasting time, and create a business that acts as a vehicle for living the life they desire and deserve. For FREE tips on how to increase your income and client base in your business, visit http://www.savvygals.com/
I'm so super excited to announce my newest program, Creating Your Free Powerful Support Team.
Learn More and Enroll Now
I put together a little video for you about it. Check it out here:
I hope to see you there!
Deanna
