• 07Jun

  When creativity deficiency syndrome strikes

  Business Marketing, Business and Health 1 Comment

  How has Creativity Deficiency Syndrome effected your business?
  
  Creativity Deficiency Syndrome (CDS) is a common problem small business owners and solopreneurs face when their marketing efforts grow stale. Typically it’s because of isolation and the inability to be look at your business with fresh eyes to see the endless sea of possibilities. Isn’t it great to know the possibilities hold the cure the CDS? You’re able to rid yourself of CDS once and for all.

  Checkout the possibilities…

  Embrace the ridiculous.
  Is the fear that others may think of you as ridiculous holding you back in your marketing? It’s ok to appear ridiculous. Try something outrageous and untried. Think about what feels totally fun in your marketing and test it out. You may find your idea is actually visionary, cutting edge and wildly innovative.

  Nurture fresh perspectives.
  Remember when you were a child and you discovered something new? Recapture your childlike innocence around your business. Reminisce and evoke the memory of why you fell in love with your business in the first place. Stir up those memories and get into a space of gratitude everyday about your business. This will allow you to be more creative about your marketing.

  Break the rules.
  There are no rules when it comes to being creative. These days, the unconventional absolutely works! Wondering who you are to do it differently? You’re a different person with a different business, ready to avail yourself of all the creativity in the universe. Break the rules and watch your creativity in marketing blossom.

  Maybe we all have a little Creativity Deficiency Syndrome (CDS) at times. You don’t have to allow it to cripple your business. Cure yourself today with a healthy dose of newness and fun.

  What do you do to rid your business of CDS? I know you have many more ideas and I’d love to see your comments.

  Tags: creativity, creativity deficiency syndrom, innovation, marketing

• 10Mar

  Operational-ize Your Business to Move Forward

  Business Marketing, Inspiration for Business, Strategic Planning, entrepreneur to ceo 1 Comment

  Operational-ize means to put something into use or action. For the purpose of this post, I’m sharing ways to operational-ize your business in the context of systems and processes. Very simply, it’s all about bringing a sense of order, stability and ultimately, automation to get your business running efficiently. Recently, I’ve been working on key operational objectives because I’ve felt out of sorts with the all of the many activities going on in my business. It truly makes a difference and I love the new sense of productivity it’s brought me. WOOHOO!

  An operational objective is a short-term goal that moves your business toward achieving its strategic goals. Here are a few that will get you started and surely support you in creating order, productivity and peace or mind:

  Operational Objective #1: Use your daily/weekly task list to identify processes in your business.

  Begin by categorizing similar tasks and activities together. You may begin to see repetition, routine and regularity taking shape. These are processes! You’ll even feel a sense of relief once you’ve identified your top three processes. Why? Now you have greater clarity about the actions that move your business forward everyday. Overwhelm magically disappears! How kewl is that?

  Operational Objective #2: Identify processes that MUST be outsourced to a virtual assistant, web developer, blog manager, or other team member.

  Remember your primary reason for being in business AND focus on doing just that. Outsource EVERYTHING else to your team members who are experts in their areas. Take it from someone who has learned this many times over: You do your clients a disservice when you try to be a jack of all trades in your business. Focus on your area of expertise and leave the rest to your team. Rely on your team to document the processes so your business runs smoothly if you have to be out of pocket for any reason. It works very well when you do! This is a “MUST-DO.”

  Operational Objective #3: Clarify the systems that support your business operations.

  Systems are the tools you use to support your processes. Think of software, hardware, equipment, and other resources that help you to be more efficient in your business. Email programs, social networking accounts, fax machines, computer, telephone, voice mail, cell phone, etc. — you get the idea. Making note of these systems is important so you’re sure they’re maintained, updated, upgraded and always working properly. It’s amazing how disruptive it is when anyone of your key systems fail to function by design. This is a “MUST-DO.”

  Answer these questions to begin the process of operational-izing your business:

  What are you willing to do to operational-ize your business?

  What processes and systems do you have in place? How are they working for you?

  Which ones do you have in place that are not working?

  What one system and process you will outsource this week?

  Tags: business operations, business processes, business sytems, Strategic Planning

• 13Jan

  Blog Tag: 10 Honest Traits About Me…

  Business Marketing, Inspiration for Life, Just for fun! 5 Comments

  
  Ok, Sandra Martini! You’ve tagged me and I’m ready to accept your challenge to reveal 10 honest traits about me…

  1. I’m the youngest of four and I’m not the baby!  For years, people have thought I’m older because of my take charge spirit.  Imagine that.  I’m just sayin’…
      
  2. I rarely meet a stranger no matter where I travel.  My son says I have a special fondness for babies.  (Don’t tell him I said so…it’s totally true!)
      
  3. I’m a workaholic learning to moderate my world more effectively.  I must say I’m doing pretty well these days.  Having a great coach makes all the difference in the world!
      
  4. I’ve been voted most congenial four different times:  as a freshman by the homecoming court, as a high school senior, in the debutante ball, in local pageant in my hometown of Macon, GA.  Do you suppose there’s any truth to that one?  LOL
      
  5. I love being a mom because it’s made me a much better person.  It’s the most challenging work I’ve ever done (including coaching) and I’m my son’s number 1 fan.  I always fight through the teenage fog to ensure we have the best relationship.  Really!
      
  6. I was born on my father’s birthday.  How kewl is that?!  Although my Daddy and I were not terribly close, I really miss chatting with him.  He always thought I was just too much!
      
  7. I enjoy smooth jazz, acid jazz and R&B.  I’ve been unplugged from it for awhile and love theatre, as well.  Alvin Ailey and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra does Gospel Christmas are among my all-time favorites!!
      
  8. I knew I was destined for something more from the moment I began working.  I held two jobs at age 16, GEICO (clerk/typist) and McDonald’s (drive thru whiz).  I enjoyed both of them until I went away to college and I’ve been working ever since.
      
  9. My mom and I have a challenging relationship at times.  She has a quick wit and that whole "mama" thing going on that rubs me the wrong way sometimes.  Still, I love her dearly because she’s mom.
      
  10. I really do talk like this:  LOL, Big hugs!!, I love it!, muuaah!  It’s totally true…I promise!

  Now, to tag a few of my friends and ask for your 10 honest traits…be sure to tag your 10 friends:

  • Inez Bracy - Lifestyle Transitions Coach
  • Roxanne Ravanel- Job Search Coach
  • Regina Baker - Internet Strategist
  • Leesa Barnes - Social Media Marketer
  • Monikah Ogando - Business Explosion Coach
  • Joselin Mane - Technical Consultant Extraordinaire
  • Sherman Hu - Genius Blogger, Video/podcaster
  • Carol Deckert - NetWeaver and Genuine Gem
  • Allison Nazarian - Copywriter and Sweet Person
  • Shannon Cherry - PR Coach, Consultant

  Join in the blog tag and share one honest trait about yourself. I promise, it doesn’t hurt one bit!

  Tags: allison nazarian, blog tag, carol deckert, inez bracy, joselin mane, Just for fun!, leesa barnes, monikah ogando, regina baker, roxanne ravanel, sandra martini, shannon cherry, sherman hu

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