Successful Blog

How to Get More Done by Managing Your Energy

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We all aspire to be Dicky Fox from Jerry Maguire.

I’ll bet he doesn’t even drink coffee.

The reality is that, for most of us, our energy ebbs and flows throughout the day. We aren’t going 100 mph all day long.

Around 3pm, trying to get something accomplished is like pushing a cooked noodle uphill.

So what if we leaned into our energy flow to take advantage of the Dicky Fox time, while accommodating our natural low-energy time?

Here are some tips for working with your own natural energy flow, rather than fighting against it.

You’ll get more done, I promise:

  • ZONE OUT: Figure out what time of day is your “zone” and load high value tasks within it. For a few days, take active note of your routine and how energetic/productive you feel at different times of day. Note when you’re in “flow state.” Then try to schedule difficult or challenging tasks during that time (whether it’s first thing in the morning or late night).
  • OWN IT: Stop beating yourself up for cruising Instagram; give yourself a break to do that, then return to work. You might be spending more time unproductively being guilty than if you just took a moment to goof off.
  • SLEEP RHYTHMS: Do you need a power nap? Lots of famous go-getters included a brief nap in their routine (Churchill, Benjamin Franklin). Are you getting enough quality sleep in general? Your body needs that restoration time, so don’t skimp.
  • TLC: Don’t try to “push through” injuries or sickness. Take time off for recovery instead of doing half-baked work while ill. People who force themselves to keep going aren’t going to win a medal; they’re just going to infect the rest of us with that virus.
  • FUEL YOURSELF: Watch your snacks. Grab a handful of almonds or some apples/peanut butter instead of a Snickers or another cup of joe. The sugar or caffeine high will give you an artificial burst of energy, but then the crash will come.
  • CHANGE IT UP: When you start to feel your energy flagging, change scenery and/or your state of mind. Stand up at your desk, walk down the stairs, or use a technique to change your entire state of mind.
  • PERSONALIZE: Don’t use others’ schedules, follow your own body’s queues. Not everyone can do 4am crunches, and not everyone is jamming uninterrupted at Midnight. Listen to yourself, and set a schedule that is optimized for you.
  • MOVE: Exercise doesn’t sap energy, it creates it. Be a body in motion, and create your own energy source. Elevated endorphins can last a few hours after intense exercise!

Interested in reading more about how to manage your energy? Check out “The Power of Full Engagement,” by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, which contains a step by step approach to increasing performance and productivity, or this HBR article co-authored by Tony Schwartz.

How do you keep yourself energized and manage your priorities? Please share your own tips!

 

Author’s Bio: Rosemary O’Neill is an insightful spirit who works for Social Strata — makers of the Hoop.la community platform. Check out the Social Strata blog. You can find Rosemary on Google+ and on Twitter as @rhogroupee

How to prepare a disaster plan for your business

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Every business should have some minimal type of disaster plan.

Even if you’re a solo entrepreneur or have a remote team, you need to be ready for disrupted communications, the potential for lost data, and project delay due to a disaster.

We had to shut down and evacuate our Charleston, SC office last year due to Hurricane Matthew, so these insights are based on that (rather eye-opening) experience.

Your disaster could be something totally different…a fire, earthquake, incapacitation of someone on your key team, or an emergency you can’t even anticipate.

But there’s no need to panic if you have done some preparation ahead of time.

Here’s a basic checklist to run through now, while all systems are normal:

  • What types of natural disaster are more common in your location? Our Charleston office is in the hurricane zone, but our Seattle office went through the 2001 Nisqually earthquake. You might have offices in wildfire or flood zones. Tailor your plan accordingly.
  • Consider insurance on your physical site (are you renting, do you own your furniture/IT equipment, what’s covered). Is your landlord responsible for utilities, repairs, access during an emergency? Do you have “key man” insurance if needed?
  • Where is your data stored? Are there backups? Does your data center have its own disaster plan? Do your employees back up their data individually, and do you have access from a central location if their access is interrupted?
  • Do you have multiple Internet service options?
  • Where will you go if you have to evacuate? Have you shared that plan with your colleagues?
  • If you have a team of far-flung remote workers, is there a way for everyone to “check in” and say they’re safe? (Facebook has added a feature called Safety Check that helps with this.)
  • Is your office fire-ready? Do you have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers? Does your staff know how to use them?
  • Have you had a fire drill? Do you have an emergency meeting spot outside the building?
  • Who is in charge if the person in charge is not available? Who makes decisions?
  • How will you communicate during the disaster, with colleagues and clients?
  • Who is responsible for public messaging on social media, etc.? Do they have passwords and access available remotely?
  • Who gives the “all clear” for staff to return to the office? How do they communicate that?
  • Have you done cross-training as much as possible? Especially for small teams, be sure that critical responsibilities are double covered for continuity if a key staffer becomes ill or injured unexpectedly (payroll, client billing, etc.).

Once you’ve considered all of the above, and come up with your answers, don’t forget to share and communicate the plan with the rest of your team. You may even want to share some elements of the plan with major clients, so they know what to do in case of emergency.

Be sure to store your plans and instructions in an offsite, accessible location (that’s where services like DropBox come in handy).

Have you gone through a natural disaster with your business? What tips would you add to the list?

 

Author’s Bio: Rosemary O’Neill is an insightful spirit who works for Social Strata — makers of the Hoop.la community platform. Check out the Social Strata blog. You can find Rosemary on Google+ and on Twitter as @rhogroupee

Persuasive writing taps into emotional responses

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Don’t be afraid to use emotional punch to make your writing more persuasive.

Persuasive writing uses words that evoke a gut-level response from the reader, that paint a time and place with specificity.

The next time you open your laptop to start writing, think about the emotional state you want your reader to reach.

  • If you’re writing website copy, make them curious enough to click some links.
  • If you’re writing a novel, inspire love (or hatred) for your main character.
  • If you’re writing a business blog post, get your readers into a state of inspired energy so they’ll be acting on your advice.

You learned a lot of cool words when you were in school. Remember Barron’s vocabulary tests? (No? Just me?)

However, don’t be the guy who lobs big words into his writing just to get an ego boost (look how erudite I am!). Be the guy who chooses precise words with intent.

Examples of emotion words include: cheerful, intrigued, confident, tenacious, and liberated. Scientists have even come up with new words to describe very specific emotional states. Could you find a way to weave a little “pronoia” into your story? Remember that it’s not about necessarily using those emotion words…it’s more about eliciting that feeling from your reader.

If you typically go straight from blog draft to “publish” button, consider taking an editorial pause.

Re-read your article, and look for ways you can grab the reader by the lapels, starting with your headline.

Consider the words you’re deploying.

Consider the structure of your story.

Consider surprise.

Your writing will stand out from the crowd if you find the courage to write with emotion.

 

Featured image via: Alice Achterhof

The Value of Learning to Read Between the Lines in Business

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By Kayla Matthews

The ability to “read between the lines” can be extraordinarily valuable in business. The skill can help distinguish what people actually want, whether it’s their boss or a client, resulting in new opportunities for themselves and their business.

Critical analysis is valued in fields like music and writing, with seemingly simple lyrics or written words being scrutinized with the intent to see beneath the surface. Ernest Hemingway’s implementation of his “iceberg theory,” relaying often seemingly straightforward content with an intent to have the reader discover and expose the deeper themes, is a testament to the power of such depth.

Critical analysis of media has made it the norm to read subtext when it comes to art; however, there are those in business who also recognize the importance of reading between the lines in the workplace. One of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world, Richard Branson, said as much in a Business Insider op-ed:

“Paying close attention to not just what someone says but the way in which they say it can help you to read between the lines — a place where the real story is often dramatically different to what the casual listener might understand is being said on the lines.”

 

Regard the Many Aspects of Communication

Although it may be difficult to read between the lines in a conversation between two androids, human beings express emotions and intent in ways beyond the content of their words. In business, being aware of various aspects of communication can help you properly read between the lines.

Body language is a huge element here. Facial expressions, word emphasis and other nonverbal cues can place a different meaning on words.

If someone is relaying a business plan to you with a lack of enthusiasm and gesturing, it’s possible they aren’t as fond of the plan as they’re letting on, but they may be too wary of retreating on their own idea. In this case, offering a new idea without outwardly criticizing the old idea is a great way to interact and read between the lines.

The Value of Personal Connection

Any business can assemble a well-worded statement that lauds fellow employees and shareholders. If this message isn’t conveyed with passion and enthusiasm, though, it may come across as more going through the rounds. In the op-ed referenced above, Branson notes an occasion where a British Airways chairman was addressing the topic of low-level employees’ misdemeanors: “The way he looked away from the camera as he said it made me seriously question the veracity of his statement.”

Especially for successful entrepreneurs like Branson, who likely experience many disingenuous people who feign enthusiasm for personal gain, reading between the lines is an excellent tactic to go beyond the PR-speak. Body language and enthusiasm can provide relevant subtext regarding the veracity of the statement, whether it’s just lip service or something more genuine.

People Love Listeners

In the business world, people are often jumping over one another to get their word in. They want to have the best idea, or at least show their boss they’re contributing something worthwhile. However, in desperately trying to speak, many businesspeople neglect the importance of listening.

Think about how you would feel in a meeting where someone monopolized the whole conversation by talking about their own ideas. Even if the ideas had real merit, you’d probably feel ignored. If the person you’re speaking to feels more like a sounding board, as opposed to an actual participant, it’s unlikely they’ll look upon you or your content with much regard.

The Power of Follow-Up Questions

An especially useful perk of listening more often is that you can come up with relevant follow-up questions, which informs the speaker you’re listening attentively and provides you the opportunity to explore potential subtext. If someone seems like they’re at a loss for being able to answer basic, relevant questions, their initial delivery will seem more like generic PR-speak. However, if they enthusiastically answer off-the- cuff questions with depth, it provides an effective oomph to the topic at hand regarding the speaker’s authority and passion.

The Socratic method of participatory dialogue is an outstanding way to build upon ideas, with various people’s creativity and knowledge contributing to greater understanding among all involved parties.

However, it’s impossible to replicate the Socratic method in full if someone is failing to listen, which will make it difficult to ask relevant follow-up questions that provide clarification of the content, as well as the person’s authority on the subject.

Proofread Emails, Twice

Even if you add emoticons in an attempt to show levity in an email, it can be very difficult to relay tone. “I’m looping Bill in” can read more like “This is Bill’s problem now.” Similarly, sending an email at midnight can show over-commitment. Although it’s impossible to avoid email tone miscommunication entirely, paying close attention to tone and aspects like the time you’re sending it out can help the message be delivered as intended: without the subtext of being annoyed or overly fatigued.

Especially for highly communicative positions like project managers and HR reps that rely on email and chat often, proofreading your messages not only for content but also for tone can prevent unnecessary conflict.

How, when and why you interact with others can provide extensive subtext that can form biases, either good or bad. To reduce mistaken subtext and nurture healthier business relationships, it’s important to be very mindful of your body language and tone, as well as considering others’.

 

Image by Nik MacMillan

 

About the Author: Kayla Matthews writes about communication and workplace productivity on her blog, Productivity Theory. Her work has also appeared on Talent Culture, MakeUseOf, The Muse and Fast Company.

Changing channels – should you switch media platforms?

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Now is a good time to shake up your content strategy and your mix of platforms. Audiences are everywhere, from Facebook Live to print magazines to in-person events. People are moving from one screen to another, from one format to another, and no longer tied down to one mode of consumption.

When is the last time you re-evaluated your media platforms? Are you stuck inside your WordPress blog like a mime in an invisible box?

I’ve seen the following platform jumps in the last year:

  • The blogger Pioneer Woman has a TV show and a print magazine
  • Gary Vaynerchuk is on the new Apple show, “Planet of the Apps”
  • Tim Ferris is on a cable network with his own tv show, “Fear{less}”
  • Lots of Vine stars had already moved to Instagram when Vine shut down
  • TV and movie stars are doing podcasts (have you heard “Anna Faris is Unqualified” or Alec Baldwin’s “Here’s the Thing” yet?)

Why do you think these stars are shifting gears and finding new outlets? It’s because they want to reach new audiences and keep up with the shifting media landscape.

Here are some tips to help you decide if you need to change the channel:

  1. Maintain flexibility, don’t get locked into one format forever. If you’ve been on the same platform since you started writing, it is time to check out other options. Talk to your peers and get some inspiration, or test drive some other spaces. If you’ve always blogged on WordPress, venture over to Medium and see how it feels.
  2. Keep an eye on where your key audience lives. It may not be the same answer as when you started. People who wouldn’t have considered Instagram a couple of years ago may now be super-users.
  3. Never forget about “old media.” Print articles, TV or radio guest spots, or even mailed newsletters might feel fresh and new now. Don’t shut off a channel just because it isn’t a shiny new object.
  4. Has your viewership/readership stagnated? Perhaps adding a new punch of content from another source would bring in fresh visitors.
  5. Use your five senses as a jump-off for your creative thinking. Every channel targets different senses…visual, auditory, touch…what senses are you currently employing, and which ones could you explore?

Hopefully this sparked some ideas for you; what do you think about changing channels?

 

Featured Image:
Anton Ponomarev

Five reasons you should still blog on your own site

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Let’s face it, you have a lot of options if you are interested in blogging.

Your pearls of wisdom can be shared on Medium, LinkedIn Pulse, Facebook Articles, or dozens of other places around the web.

It’s good to get exposure for your writing, to speak to new audiences, and to become a thought leader in your subject area. However, there are certain advantages to blogging on your own home site or domain rather than an external social network. Your website is your castle.

1. SEO

It should be obvious, but building up a deep resource of well-written articles on your own domain will help you get found by the search engines. No trickery or keyword stuffing needed, just quality content that is valuable to your readers over a long period of time.

2. Collect Email Addresses

Social networks can be a fickle bunch. In January of this year, Medium fired a third of its staff amid a strategy shift. It appears they aren’t going away for now, but there are no guarantees when you’re not paying for use of the platform. Collecting subscriber emails gives you insurance against the vagaries of social media pivoting.

3. Control the Experience

On Facebook and LinkedIn, all published articles march out like little soldiers, exactly the same format and presentation. You can inject images and text formatting, but you certainly can’t differentiate the structure or branding. On your own site, you can make your blog stand out from the crowd with great design as well as great content.

4. Cross Promote

Did you just write an e-book? Are you speaking at an upcoming conference? On your own site, you can pop in an ad or image to promote whatever you want, in context. On a social network, you might instead have an ad for one of your competitors pop up beside your article.

5. It’s Not Either/Or, It’s And

I’m not proposing that everyone withdraw into their website cocoons. The strategy I endorse is website-first, then promote and share out to the social networks that make sense. You can even republish your entire article on LinkedIn or elsewhere, as long as you include a link back to your original post (to make sure Google knows where it originated). Be sure you tailor your posts a bit for each social network, so it fits in. Don’t forget to promote your blog posts on Twitter, Instagram, and other social networks that don’t support long-form content, as long as your potential audience is there too.

Where are you blogging right now? Do you have a castle that will endure?

 

Author’s Bio: Rosemary O’Neill is an insightful spirit who works for Social Strata — makers of the Hoop.la community platform. Check out the Social Strata blog. You can find Rosemary on Google+ and on Twitter as @rhogroupee

Featured image: Johannes Plenio