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CRAVE CRUSH the urban girl's blog to all that you CRAVE
Five Focal Points To Simplify Your Biz
Being a business owner means that you perform a multitude of roles. And often it seems like there’s always more to do than there is time.
But there are ways you can keep things as simple as possible and reduce the amount of time and energy you spend running your business.
I’m sure you’ve heard of the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid). Well, let’s leave off that last word and just focus on keeping it simple. Here are five areas of your business you can simplify starting today:
1. Your Business Model
Your business model is the foundation of your business, how it makes money. If you’re offering too many products and services or if your products and services are not logically connected to a central theme, then you’re going to struggle.
Take a close look at your most profitable revenue streams (more on how to do that here) and only focus on promoting the ones that are most profitable.
You may discover that there are products and services that aren’t making you money (or that don’t fit with your focus) that you can simply stop offering. To find out if your business model is healthy read this.
2. Your Time
You get to choose how you spend your time. You can say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to all of the opportunities available to you.
For many of us it seems crazy to say ‘no’ to something that could be good for the business. But if you’re extremely clear about your focus, you can easily see which options are the best use of your time and will know which ones to say ‘no’ to.
For more information about how saying ‘no’ can grow your business check out this article.
3. Your Marketing
Mediocre marketing done consistently beats ‘stop and start’ marketing that’s done randomly every single time. Analyze your marketing efforts and find out which of your marketing strategies are the most effective.
Once you know that, focus only on the strategies that work and drop the rest. Having a few successful marketing strategies that are done consistently can work wonders for your business.
4. Tasks you don’t like or aren’t good at doing
Outsourcing and delegating are fabulous ways to simplify your business. Think about thinks like: administration, technical tasks, accounting, and taxes.
By hiring someone to do these tasks for you, you will have more time to focus on higher value activities and the things you love to do.
5. Your Life
I’m guessing you started your business because you are passionate about what you do and you wanted the freedom to create a business that supports your life. If your business is running your life, it’s time to turn that around.
It’s critical that you make time for yourself to do the things that give you energy and allow you to recharge your batteries. If you don’t do this you are actually putting your business in jeopardy.
So although it may seem counterintuitive, and you may feel like you don’t have time to spend on yourself, the truth is you can’t afford not to.
Make the decision to keep it simple in your business and change the way you’re currently doing things. By applying the KISS principle, you’ll have more time, less stress, and more money in your bank account.
This post was written for the CRAVE company by marketing coach Stephanie Ward of Firefly Coaching.
Pucker Up and Get Ready to KISS
Pucker up everybody, it’s time to KISS. In other words – keep it simple, stupid! This month, CRAVE is focusing on the best ways to un-complicate your business.
There are so many companies out there that have a single focus – cupcakes, edgy haircuts, handmade greeting cards, you get the idea – and they are successful because they have perfected their craft and don’t let extraneous or unnecessary “stuff” take away from what they’re truly best at.
Throughout February, we are going to hear from women business owners from many industries and locations on their strategies for KISS-ing. We hope you’ll stay tuned – there’s lots of juicy advice coming your way! You’ll learn what works, what doesn’t, and why you need to KISS from these impressive entreprenesses.
Get the low down on how to keep it simple as our experts indulge you with valuable tips about how they manage to keep their business models and their lives operating with sweet, sweet simplicity.
BONUS Post: 5 Risk Rules for a Balanced, Sane Life
For years, you have worked towards achieving that perfect work-life balance. Now, you have it down to an art and you are living and loving life. Then one day you wake up and BAM! A new, fabulous opportunity knocks at your door. Your logical inner voice says, “You just mastered this life. Don’t shake things up now.” But, that other, more adventurous you, says, “Go for it and live to your greatest potential.”
The inner battle continues. Your free-spirited self, reminds you of your college days, when you were spontaneous and lived in a not-so-calculated world. You still adore her, but are afraid to embrace her. Remember, living a balanced life calls for…balance! This includes the balance of professional and personal life, but also the balance of a calculated and care-free life. These 5 rules of risk-taking will help you maximize your potential, while still living a balanced and sane life.
Take the risk if you will regret the inaction more than the action. When you are confronted with a new and risky endeavor ask yourself, “How would I feel if I don’t do this?” Would you look back five years from now and regret your decision? If so, then go for it. There is nothing like living a life clouded by “what if’s.”
Take the risk if your biggest fear is rejection. Recently, a great opportunity came my way and I almost rejected it. My best friend asked, “What is the worst that could happen?” As it turned out, I feared failure. Once you identify the worst case scenario, ask yourself, “Is that good enough?” My answer was a big fat N-O. A hurt ego is not a good enough reason to pass up a potentially, career-changing opportunity. What is your answer?
Remember that risk is relative. My notion of a risk is not the same as yours and vice versa. For example, what you define as a risk might be based upon the amount of money it requires while my risk might be defined by how much it will limit my time to work on other projects. Only take on what is appropriate for your situation.
Visualize the best outcome. You are uniquely created and no one else can do what you do, how you do it. After all, that is why this opportunity found its way to you in the first place. Give yourself the benefit of the doubt and imagine your success. It feels good doesn’t it?
Stop worrying about perfection. You may be more likely to take on a risk once you eliminate the perfection factor. I was hesitant to launch my blog because I wanted to wait a few months to get it “just right.” Launching an imperfect blog was just not the risk I wanted. In reality, nothing is ever perfect. We constantly find imperfections and ways to fix them. If we continue to wait for perfect moments then our lives will be one, long waiting game.
Patrice N. Perkins is the founder and editor of My Lifestyle ZEN, a Chicago-based blog for working professionals and entrepreneurs who value quality of life. You can visit Patrice’s website here: http://www.mylifestylezen.com/
Don’t Be Shy, Make Some Noise
Am I good enough? Smart/attractive/savvy enough? Do they like me? These are all questions that women may have asked at some point in their personal (and maybe professional) lives. In our businesses and entrepreneurial spaces, the questions shift some but follow that same pattern: Am I doing this right? Will this generate income? Will the customers like my new product?
The fear or responses to these questions can hinder a person and cause hesitation in action. As an entrepreneur or business owner, you’ve taken the biggest risk…allowing yourself to get started and believing in your venture.
As a publicist, my job is to get the word out on behalf of my clients ~ writing articles, booking media interviews, etc. I know that sometimes people are fearful of drawing attention to themselves. There are, of course, some good reasons to hold off on media attention. Perhaps your marketing collateral isn’t ready, you need to wrap up final details on a product launch, etc. However, once those pieces are in place you’ll want to have all eyes on you, make some noise and get the word out about your product or service. Never been on TV? Why not now? Never seen your name or your business’ name in print? Now’s the time! OK, OK, there’s absolutely no way you’re going on TV…well, let’s get you a spokesperson. No excuses, let’s put your brand out there!
Having a marketing budget is often mistakenly left out of the “I’m launching a business” equation. Without a plan to market or publicize your business, this can be more than risky…it may actually put you at a disadvantage. Reaching out to the media and generating some buzz for your business doesn’t have to be nerve-wracking or expensive though. Thanks to social media and the internet, there are numerous cost-efficient ways to get the word out about your company and brand. From Facebook pages and twitter, to free online distribution websites including 1888PressRelease, i-Newswire and PRZoom.
Here are few quick tips to get you on the buzz-generating track:
1) Research your target audience. What are they reading, watching and what websites do they peruse? You want to be on there, too. Whether you’re writing a guest post or commenting on a blog, reach out to your target so they can get to know you and your company.
2) What problem are you solving with your product or service? Yes, YOU are filling a need with your business. What is that need and how are you fulfilling it? Now put this in a story pitch or press release.
3) Before you reach out to the media…read and watch them. There’s nothing worse than putting your brand out there to the incorrect media contact. It shows that you’re not paying attention to what they do professionally. (The food editor does not need a pitch on your new handbag line.) The same thing applies to bloggers. They want to know that you’re genuinely interested in what they have to say.
Take a risk, put yourself out there and make some noise for yourself and your business this year. You’re a risk taker and you deserve the attention!
Nancy Vaughn is the principal, PR & Marketing Director at White Book Agency, a public relations, marketing and special events firm providing cost-effective communication strategies for entrepreneurs and businesses across the country.
Conquer Your Fear of Risk in Four Steps
I recently attended a lecture by Rabbi Harold Kushner, who’s probably most well known for his best-seller “When Bad Things Happen to Good People” but whose subject this particular evening was his latest book release: “Conquering Fear: Living Boldly in an Uncertain World.”
The introduction caught my attention when it was said that more people have died of fear caused by 9/11 and the idea of terrorism after the fact (anxiety produced complications and deaths) than the number of lives actually lost by the events that day. Wow.
Our Greatest Fear: Rejection
Interestingly, terrorism is not our greatest fear. Nor is the economic recession. Nor is it the reality of aging or the thought of someday dying. We hear a lot of about those things; the news is consumed with those subjects. But, truth be told, the most paralyzing fear we experience is rejection. Or said another way: the fear of what people will think about us. Sounds small, but lives out in huge ways.
Sitting in that auditorium, that observation resonated. How many of my life choices are impacted by that fear? How much of our lives are influenced by the desire to be accepted or the desire to avoid rejection? Even the fear of success and failure have roots in this overarching fear.
Whether it’s doing something to try to get someone to like me or not doing something to avoid someone not liking me. Whether it’s not trying for the promotion, the new job, the business idea development or the sale for risk of failure or pursuing them only to try to gain approval. Whether it’s acting uninterested when I really am. Or acting interested when I’m really not.
Stepping Through the Fear
While many fears stem from our fear of rejection, not all of them do. And while often our fears of what others think say more about us than it does about them, it doesn’t mean those fears are silly or unfounded. Regardless of your fears, we have to keep learning how to step through them.
1) Acknowledge the Fear. The first step to overcoming fear as we consider risks is to acknowledge it’s there. I think it was Mark Twain who said courage isn’t the absence of fear but the mastery of it. Feeling the fear only means you’re alive and that something matters to you. That’s good!
2) Identify what You’re Possibly Risking. Every choice (even the choice to do nothing) has possible losses. List them! What is the worst-case scenario? Answer this question honestly. What do you risk losing in this choice? And importantly, include the fears that stem from some variation of rejection—for there are many.
3) Identify what You’re Possibly Gaining. One must be informed of the risks, but no one risking losing for nothing. What are you hoping to gain? For what purpose are you considering this risk? For some, answering this question will help them determine that even risking their life is worth it for the purpose. For most of us, the risk will not be so costly but they will be put in the right context.
In my business of introducing women to new friends in their area, I see how easy it is for women to focus on the risks: they don’t want to admit they need new friends (fear of what that might say about them), don’t want to risk the time it takes to pursue them or risk feeling awkward or insecure in the process. However, for those who can identify what they might gain: increased happiness, a sense of connection, local support, improved health, more fun memories, deep conversations—they are more likely to take the risks because they so value the gains.
4) Affirm that You’re Not Alone. Confide in someone who will love you no matter the loss or gain from your risk. Surround yourselves with others taking the risks you want to take. Connect with a community that reminds you of why you’re doing what you’re doing.
Risks are in the blueprint of business owners and entrepreneurs. We live in this world. It is not a worthy goal to simply show up without fear—we cannot control our emotions. But it is a worthy goal to glean information from that emotion and learn to step through the risks that we feel will move us toward the things we value.
By Shasta Nelson, M.Div, CEO of www.GirlFriendCircles.com, the only online community of women that matches new friends up to meet in small groups in local areas. She is a life coach, blogger and writes and speaks prolifically on the subject of friendship.
*dice photo is courtesy of Flickr user parl.
What’s The Bravest Thing You’ve Ever Done?
Continuing our monthly theme of risk taking in life and business we would like to share with you this great post from Chris Guillebeau:
The Bravest Thing – I asked this question last week and was flooded with hundreds of great responses. Here are many of them, with links to the people who were brave enough to share.
ferolea: Quiting my job go around the world was easy. Coming back… that’s the bravest I’ve been.
avalonmel: Agreed to teach uni computer science course to 130+ students when I was 22… and afraid of public speaking.
TylerLClark: I moved halfway across the country for an unpaid internship. At the end, they offered me a job. Glad I took the risk!
opheliaswebb: Called off my wedding. And killed a spider in the shower. Equally terrifying.
“My belief about fear and courage is that all of us are scared of all kinds of things, so the wrong approach is to pretend to be fearless. Instead, acknowledge your fears, but proceed anyway” (Chris Guillebeau).
Read more here and get started with taking your own life changing risks!
Image by NickNguyen
Video: CRAVE Women Speak Out On Risk
Over the course of this month, we’ve tackled risk from many angles – from no-nonsense strategic advice to more personal affirmations that risk can be very rewarding. What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken in your business? Maybe you’re thinking of taking that risk soon? If you’re craving a little adventure, stay tuned because we’ve got four fabulous CRAVE entreprenesses sharing their experiences with risk on video for your viewing pleasure! We encourage you to watch this video and explore this month’s blog posts as you develop your own risk-taking style. Enjoy!
To learn more about the CRAVE businesses featured in this video, check out their websites below.
5 Steps To Big, Bold and Brave
We’ve all heard the myth that women are less inclined to take risks in business and their personal life then men. Yet it’s been proven that we are just as successful as male entrepreneurs and have access to the same amount of capital as they do in which to scale our businesses.
I’d like to think this `risk averse’ label we’ve been tagged with is because we’re smart and we calculate the trade off from going big or going home more often than men do. We put more time and effort into our decisions so as not to fail.
As a result we’re more strategic with our financial decisions, our hiring of the right team and our business development plans. Women entrepreneurs have many inherent advantages that we use to our full capabilities.
However you weren’t put on this earth to not make an impact. Your time for risk-taking is now. The latest Intuit Report states that over the next decade close to 1 billion women will be contributors in the world economy and women will create work and start businesses more readily than ever.
I’m pretty excited about that as my mission is to see more women start businesses. And not just any business – not a hobby or a jobby – but a fully scaled business that makes you lots of money and affords you the kind of lifestyle you’ve always wanted.
So how are you intending to join the 80% of women taking more risks and succeeding at the same time?
Step 1: Calculate your opportunity cost
This concept is basically working out the best use of your time. Calculating every minute or hour you spend doing something else that keeps you away from another activity that is worth much more to you. Then focus on the activities that, over the long run, will produce the highest return and most money for your business. Outsource the rest to a virtual assistant for much less than your hourly rate and get serious about investing in your business.
Step 2: Consider long term impact
Whatever decision you’re making that seems risky, look at the long term impact of it. Even if it seems scary right now, consider how it’s going to positively (or negatively) affect your business in 5 years from now. If you know it’s the main barrier holding you back from 6 or 7 figure revenues down the line then you need to take that first step – do it.
Step 3: Weigh up your options
Once you’ve decided to make the first step above, then look at the different options you have available to you and have a back-up plan. As entrepreneurs we’re meant to fail, just make sure you fail fast and often and know how you can change your approach should your `risky’ move not take you in the direction you wanted. Plan in advance for a change in plans and you’ll find you’re much more prepared.
Step 4: Split test your approach
If you feel diving in head first is just too much for you, for example you’re going to get a bank loan of $50,000 and invest it into opening two stores, then why not open one and put a proportion of the remainder towards an online shop to test and compare your success rates. If you have a private consulting business then consider doubling your rates (go on try it) and offer a package rate for your services as well as a monthly retainer. Let your clients select which one is more appealing to them.
Step 5: Learn from your mistakes
All this testing, risk taking, adjusting, failing and succeeding will be without purpose if you don’t take the key learnings from it. As you adjust make sure you note down why something didn’t work out, and when it did, what the ingredients were that led to that your success. Make sure you pass this on to your team and your support crew (mentors, coaches, family) so they can remind you of this later when you take your next risk!
Just remember not to take a risk out of desperation, nothing good ever came from that kind of decision. On the flipside don’t get talked out of taking a calculated risk by cautious family and friends and miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime.
At the end of the day – trust your gut instincts. As women it’s the most important asset we possess.
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Natalie Sisson is a Kiwi Entrepreneur and Adventure. She finds creative ways to run your business from anywhere using online tools, social media and outsourcing. She’s passionate about getting more women to create freedom in business and adventure in life and blogs about it at The Suitcase Entrepreneur.
Stop Analyzing. Start Doing.
Neither of us are really the adventurous type. Let’s just say we like to be comfortable. You know, comfy hotel rooms (no camping), warm fireplaces (no outdoor winter sports), and staying close to loved ones (no big cross-country moves). But while comfortable is easy, sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone to grow as a person and discover new hobbies and meet new people.
We learned this firsthand when we were asked if we wanted to attend a blogger trip to a Vermont mountain to try snowboarding. Honestly, our first instincts were to say “heck no!” Standing around in cold weather, surrounded by strangers, with potential for injury? That is so not us. But we were tempted by the promises of good food, luxurious accommodations, and a hot tub. So we closed our eyes and winced, said yes, and hoped for the best.
To many of you, spending the weekend in the mountains being treated to delicious meals and free ski passes isn’t exactly a risk. But to two girls who didn’t grow up skiing and have always been a bit nervous about winter sports, it was a big risk. We weighed our options: what’s the worst that can happen? Sure, we could break a bone, but we could also do that walking down the street. Ultimately, we decided to stop analyzing and simply focus on doing.
And when the end of the weekend hit, guess what? We didn’t want to come home. We started referring to the mountain life and how we were getting used to it. We went for our last run on the mountain (OK fine, bunny hill) and immediately wanted to go up again. And when we were driving back to Boston from Vermont, we found ourselves discussing when we could return again.
Our theory is that when opportunities come along, you take them. No over-analyzing or making excuses and no trying to determine exactly what benefits the opportunity will bring you. Often you really have no idea what the benefits will be until you just do it. No, we didn’t move across the country, but we did participate in something we always just assumed we wouldn’t like. Against all odds, we came away loving it. Sometimes it’s the smallest risks that can have the biggest impact on your life. And that’s likely something we’ll still be talking about 15 years from now when we’re taking our families on joint ski trips.
Sues and Chels are the powerhouse duo behind We are not Martha, a fabulous Boston-based blog featuring scrumptious recipes, simple organizing tips, and must-have product recommendations. Chels is a graphic designer and designs mostly wedding invitations and stationery. Sues is a freelance writer and writes for a variety of websites. They’ve been friends since the second grade.
Take a Chance: Be Yourself
Out of all the things you call me, you might call me a risk taker, first. There’s a quirk in my personality that demands I do exactly what those around me say I cannot do. My ‘risk-taking personality’ has led to some of the greatest triumphs and humbling disasters in 29 years of my life.
As humans, we struggle with risk. When a moment calls for action, we stumble between wanting to play it safe and wanting to be a hero. Any successful business owner or aspiring business woman knows that it’s how we act under pressure that shows others who we truly are. Our approach to the struggle between safety and greatness, creates our true ‘risk-personality.’ And it is, our ‘risk-personality’ that will determine our success. I say, if you can find out WHO you are and what your ‘risk-personality’ is, you can immediately begin to understand your greatest strengths.
If you asked me what my greatest risk was, the answer would be simple. There’s a common misconception for women in business today. We’re taught that to function in a man’s world, we need to ‘act’ like men. I can’t think of anything farther from the truth. The moment we declare that a man’s actions are perceived to be stronger, or more important than a woman’s, we buy into a losing philosophy. I decided long ago, that I wouldn’t function as a man or a woman in business, but rather, as “Kate-Madonna.” My largest risk, has been in being myself. I know myself, and I know that the truer I stay to my own personality and strengths, the less I’ll have to compete with people who are merely playing a role instead of bringing their authentic selves to the table. I don’t see my strength as male or female, and I certainly don’t see my emotion as a weakness. My business relationships have been built because I didn’t offer a ‘male’ perspective or hide my truest passions and reactions out of fear of being labeled. For those that choose to label me, I ultimately win. Why? The more people understand who I am and what I bring the table, the more they’ll recognize my traits in others. Labeling is another way of being original. Good business knows no sex, creed or origin. Good business thrives because the people behind the brand ARE the message. I try to be both.
We are taught from a very young age that differences only rock the boat. Many of us submit to a belief in high school that conformity will bring us happiness. Those strongest and most successful in business have learned that their differences, personality and originality is what creates winning brands.
Take a risk in being yourself. It’s the greatest strength you offer. And you’ll find? It’s not a risk at all.
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Kate-Madonna Hindes, is an industry leader and national author and speaker on emotional integrity and authenticity in today’s online media. Her columns are regularly published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Brazen Careerist and JobDig. Check out her website, Girl Meets Geek.
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