As a small business marketing coach who started her business 2 years ago, I feel proud to have almost tripled my last year’s sales. This year, I’ve set myself the goal to double that. Does that make me overly ambitious? Maybe… Is my darling husband who I met after waiting 37 years, and my 4 year old son who I went through 4 miscarriages to create still my number one priority? Definitely… so how do I keep it all balanced if I’m an overly-ambitious-businesswoman-in-a-chaotic-world?
I thought of some tips for those of you who are like me and who want pretty much the same things…
Have a Plan
You are never going to get to your business or personal goals if you’re still doing things by the seat of your pants. If you have no strategy or direction in your business, if you don’t know who your ideal client target is, if you don’t know how to get in front of them to grow your business, you can’t make a plan. If you can’t make a plan, you can’t get to the finish line. I have a plan this year that has me more present at trade shows, conferences and high level, high ticket priced galas. I’ve got a team in place to help me achieve these goals. It all starts with a strategy.
Have Help
One of the on going arguments with my dear hubby was about hiring a maid for our tiny bungalow. He claimed that he could clean better and kept criticizing the maid’s work. I kept saying he didn’t have the time nor did I want the job. It’s one of the privileges of making more money that I allow myself. So, I don’t care if my maid doesn’t lift the furniture, I don’t care if she doesn’t stay the whole time I pay her for. It feels wonderful to walk into a clean home and NOT have to do it myself. I mean, guess where I am when my house is being cleaned? I’m with clients! The other kind of help I now invest in are Virtual Assistants and Sales Managers to help me get more leads and manage the boring stuff like paperwork and details. Even if you’re a startup, there are really great ways to get affordable help from odesk.com or fiverr.com.
Have a Break
When I told a long time client that I was taking another vacation to the South, she raised her eyebrows and said ‘you take a LOT of vacations Chala!’. Yes, that was one of the things I promised I would do when I made enough money—take 3 Caribbean vacations a year. Even if you don’t have that possibility, take mini vacations for yourself. Nobody other than you really organizes your schedule if you’re a small business owner like me. What’s stopping you from taking a spa day or a day to just be at home reading fluff, away from business every few months? Have a break and have it often and schedule it so you don’t feel guilty about it. Organize your life and your work to give yourself that break. It feels so good because I EARN it the rest of the time. If your life is so chaotic that there’s no way you can do this, look into reading self-help books and articles about time management because even Oprah takes breaks and so can you.
Have a Mental Timeout
I often tell the story of when I first left my big time corporate job after 20 years to start my own company 2 years ago. I didn’t sleep a single night for 2 months straight. I thought I needed a shrink! The insomnia still comes back to haunt me when my business is going through a rough patch now and again. Here’s what I do to bring me back to normal: I take the image that’s making me miserable in my head and replace it with a mental picture of me suntaning after swimming in the ocean in Jamaica. I can actually feel the temperature, the sun on my skin, the wet bathing suit, the warm wind in my face and smell the ocean. I feel myself there and it completely takes me away from my bad thoughts. I really recommend these mental timeouts for you if you are also having a tough time.
So these are the secrets of this overly ambitious business woman. Do you think some of them might work for you? No harm in trying! What are some of yours?
Wishing you and your brand a rocking week!
Chala
