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Define success, then you can find it

June 23, 2016 by Rosemary

I recently watched the movie Everest, a harrowing account of the 1996 disaster that claimed eight lives.
The movie was well done, but it’s the story that has me still thinking about it days later.

Consider the internal fortitude it takes to put yourself so far outside your comfort zone that you are willing to die. The climbers on that expedition decided they were going to touch the top of that mountain, period.

Once they decided, a whole machinery fell into place around them. The guides, the equipment, the climbing permits, the base camps, and the training.

At the end of the day, it was the climber who reached the summit and then died on the way down who really affected me. Was he successful?

Is success even a thing that can be “done?”

It’s not over until the fat lady sings, people. And we’re all going to have small and big successes along the way, but not unless we decide what we want. Define success. We need the sherpas and guides to gather around us.

Small success. Send out an email campaign that results in some potential client meetings.
Big success. Hit the New York Times bestseller list.

What do you want?

And what are you willing to do to reach it?

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

Is a Leader Emerging Within Your Company?

June 22, 2016 by Thomas

How do you know if you have a budding leader or leaders within your company ranks?

In some cases, that individual or individuals will emerge from the ranks right before your eyes in no time at all. In other instances, the employee will take time (perhaps even years) to fully blossom.

No matter how leaders emerge under your guise, it is important that you give as many employees as possible the opportunity to work their way up the company ladder.

In doing so, you enable them to chart their courses for not only leadership opportunities within your company, but perhaps elsewhere.

So, as 2016 nears the halfway point, is a leader emerging within your company?

Why Leaders Are Important to Your Brand

Some employers may look at their rosters and feel like there is no one willing to step up to the plate and become the next leader within the ranks.

Others, meantime, see the talent they have onboard and note that any number of candidates could easily be a department manager in no time.

So, how do you encourage your staff to take their work games to the next level?

Among the ways to go about this:

Encouragement – It is so easy at times to point out the wrong things that your employees do. Instead of taking a pessimistic view of things in the workplace, always do your best to be positive. Sure, constructive criticism is always necessary and should always be part of your company’s blueprint. That said don’t allow the criticism to take on negative tones. When you encourage your employees to strive for excellence, you will typically get more effort out of them than if you always pinpoint the bad stuff;
Incentives – When employees are incentivized to strive for things in the workplace, they typically will provide you with even better efforts on a daily basis. Even though it is fine to offer a little friendly competition amongst employees, don’t turn it into a knockdown brawl. Encourage teamwork (see more below) and putting heads together to solve problems, especially as they relate to customers and their needs. One of the incentives you can offer is taking a customer problem, then bringing all company heads (in that related department) together to fix it. For example, if you have a customer feeling like the accounting team is not working with them on a payment issue, sit down as a team and figure out the best response. It could be someone lower down on the accounting totem pole that actually comes up with the best means to solve the problem. Make sure he or she is rewarded in doing just that. All voices in a select department should be heard, not just the individual who is wearing the title of manager or supervisor ;
Speakers – Remember when you were in school and you would have guest speakers come in to speak to your class on a wide variety of topics? Business owners are best-served when they do the same. Whether it is someone like Michelle Stacy, a woman who has been focused on putting together first-rate cultures in companies, or Dana Perino, a woman who knows all about the importance of communication having served as a White House press secretary, make sure you tap some of the best minds out there. Bringing this kind of talent to speak to your employees can not only benefit them, but also allow them to hear from outsiders as to why their roles with your company are in fact so important;
Unity – Finally, how much of an effort do you put into encouraging unity and teamwork in your business? If you’ve been a little lax in this department as of late, alter that thinking as you move forward. Your team is just that, a team. Yes, some individuals will shine more than others (there is nothing wrong with that). That said always do your best to stress unity in the office. This is not only true while everyone is working, but it can carry over outside the workplace too. From get-togethers after work to even an occasional weekend retreat, treating your employees as one big family can go a long way in making your brand the best it can be.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.

Is Your Business Coming up Short in the Cash Department?

June 15, 2016 by Thomas

Running your business might seem at times like more challenges than it is worth.

That said always remember why you likely got into business in the first place.

For many business owners, it was to grow something they created, allowing them to be their own boss and make some money along the way.

Ah, the money part.

In many instances, it is the lack of money that leads one to have to close down their businesses sooner rather than later.

So, take a look at your business operations to see if you’re in fact coming up short in the cash department.

Meet Financial Challenges Head-on

So that you can meet any financial challenges head-on, remember these tips in running your own business:

Don’t get in over your head financially – The biggest risk one takes in starting and running their own business is getting in over their heads financially. As an example, someone wanting to open a small eatery takes out a significant loan, not to mention taps into some of his or her savings, perhaps even gets family or friends (see more below) to invest in this dream entrepreneurship. In doing so, they must hope that the establishment does well sooner rather than later. In the event it does not, they could find themselves in severe financial difficulties and not even turn a profit along the way. If you are in need of fast cash for your business, it is important that you check around to see which establishment will give you the best deal, that is a deal that does not leave you handcuffed when it comes to your overall financial health. In the event your business is doing well and it might be time to expand, the same rules of commonsense apply when seeking cash. Always make sure you do your research before settling on a financial establishment to provide you with the cash infusion your business needs;
Family and friends – Some soon-to-be or struggling small business owners are inclined to turn towards family and/or friends for a financial investment in their business at some point. So, is this a smart or bad decision to make? On the plus side, you know where the money may be coming from. There is also more likelihood that someone close to you is not going to charge you an arm and a leg in possible interest fees. On the down side, there is always the possibility that such a financial arrangement could curtail a close relationship in the event things go bad and/or you are slow to pay them back the money they loaned or invested in you. Even when it is someone close to you, be sure to draw up an official contract when an exchange of money takes place. In doing so, you acknowledge that the person or persons have loaned or invested money in your business, just as a financial provider would be doing. If something goes wrong, it is imperative that those who helped you get all of their money back;
Recognize red flags and react – Finally, just about every small business goes through some ups-and-downs along the way. That said it is important that business owners know what red flags to be on the lookout for. A nosedive in the overall economy can be the first harbinger of bad tidings to come. Keep in mind that when the economy heads south, consumers typically have less money to spend. With less money to spend, they are less inclined to go on buying sprees. For example, if your small business is running a small eatery, one of the first things consumers typically cut back on when the economy is down is going out to eat. Another red flag is when food prices start to going up rather quickly. Lastly, if your health insurance costs to cover you and your employees suddenly explode, this can be another sign of trouble on the horizon. Always keep your ears and eyes focused on the overall economy and what is happening in the real world.

Running a small business is one of life’s greatest dreams for millions of people.

If you are one of them, do you have the business savvy to make your cash flow?

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.

Book Review: The Hockey Stick Principles, by Bobby Martin

June 9, 2016 by Rosemary

What do your favorite huge, successful companies have in common? What did their founders do right (or avoid doing) as they were building their business?

In Hockey Stick Principles: The 4 Key Phases of Entrepreneurial Success, Author Bobby Martin explores the patterns of behavior, strategies, and key decisions that define some of the most admired companies of our generation.

The four phases are:

1. The Tinkering Stage
2. The Blade Years
3. The Growth Inflection Point
4. Surging Growth

The book reviews each phase in detail, with real-world stories from founders both successful and unsuccessful. The reader can then apply the lessons learned while avoiding the bumps and bruises along the way.

Don’t just plunge into writing a finely crafted business plan; give your business idea some road testing and let the market have input. Don’t be afraid to shift your strategy or tweak your product along the way.

Sometimes you’ll have to take three steps back on one track just as you’re taking two forward on another. Th e sooner you begin getting used to this, the better, and it’s more helpful to not even have a conception in your mind—or on paper—of a linear orderly series of next clear steps.

The author gives solid advice for navigating each phase of the entrepreneurial journey. He also debunks some of the most precious beliefs of some new entrepreneurs– the need to hold new ideas close to the vest, the unhealthy focus on venture capital, and the reliance on friends and family for feedback.

I’d recommend this book for anyone who has an idea, and wants to turn it into a thriving business.

Where are you on the path to entrepreneurship?

I was given a free digital copy of this book for review purposes. Opinions expressed are my own. ~Rosemary

More Lawyers Becoming Adept at the Internet

June 8, 2016 by Thomas

Would you be surprised to learn that more and more legal professionals are using the Internet to their advantage?

While that statement may surprise some, many others are not in the least bit surprised to hear such a thing.

As businesses continue to see all the Internet can do for their brands, law offices are certainly not standing on the sidelines. In fact, many lawyers are using their websites and social media on a daily basis, hoping to attract more clients in their time of need.

That said how can would-be clients reach out to lawyers, hoping to find those best suited to handle their respective cases?

Web and Social Media Getting Thumbs up Verdict

As more lawyers head over to the web and social networking venues to state their cases as to why individuals (and families for that matter) should choose them in their time of need, the former should keep these items in mind to present their best case:

Where to go? – The first question that someone in the legal arena will likely have when venturing over to the Internet is where should they start? While a formidable website is of course important for one’s brand, it is also quite beneficial to have a regular presence on social media. To start with the website, make sure if you’re not capable of putting it together and/or running it, you find someone who is. Even though having a website is great, one that is put together in sloppy fashion, along with not really serving a purpose to the public, is quite frankly a waste of your time and that of the public. You may choose to outsource such I.T. needs and find an individual or company specializing in website construction and website marketing. Just make sure you have a website that is not only productive for the public, but that is also secure. In today’s world of identity theft and other online issues, you need to make sure your site is as secure as it can possibly be;
Social networking is a bonus – As important as having a solid website in the legal field is, whether you are Scheiner Law in Houston or one of the many other law firms out there, it is also a good idea to put social media to work for you. Your social media efforts can also be done by outside sources if you neither have the time or expertise for such efforts. Don’ try and be too many things for too many people right off the bat. For example, if you specialize in DWI cases, there is not a specific social site obviously catering to that problem that will bring you instant business. On the other hand, having a Twitter and/or Facebook profile, you can tweet and share posts with hashtags such as #legal, #DWI, #DrinkingandDriving, #findalawyer and more. When you do that, each of your posts where you added those hashtags will end up in the respective category. Lastly, make sure you do not forget how important LinkedIn is to your law firm. The most popular of sites on social media for professionals, LinkedIn, can be great for bringing more awareness to your firm. Be sure you periodically update your LinkedIn profile, giving the public the latest information about your firm, cases you have been involved in, any new hires to the firm etc. As you can see there is a treasure-trove of opportunities waiting for you when you put social media to work for your firm.

While just about every lawyer will tell you that their top priority is making sure their clients get a fair trial (and hopefully the case goes their way), more in the legal field are learning how much of a role the Internet plays in bringing business their way.

When lawyers apply the time and effort to promoting their services with both a sound website and solid social media promotions, the possibilities for landing new business are endless.

If you are a lawyer looking for more of a presence on the Internet, start today to see how adept you can become at working the worldwide web to your advantage.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business and marketing topics on the web.

#GetMomentum – Interview with Jason and Jodi Womack

June 2, 2016 by Rosemary

Everyone has felt it at some point in their lives. You have the desire, but can’t seem to start moving in the right direction. Maybe you haven’t even figured out what the right direction is, yet.

With Get Momentum, the new book from Jason and Jodi Womack, you’ll be able to work through a series of exercises and guided thought processes and come out the other side with a clear set of actions. I enjoyed having a paper copy of the book, so I could write in the margins and create my own roadmap along with the activities provided. There’s also a wealth of additional information on the GetMomentum.com website.

Jason and Jodi were gracious enough to answer some of my questions.

What inspired you to write your new book Get Momentum: How To Start When You’re Stuck?

We’ve been working together for more than 20 years, and over the past 9 years we’ve served as leadership and executive coaches helping busy professionals improve their productivity – and their lives. We wrote this book to share the secrets to success that we know will help people achieve more, work smarter, and be happier.

What are the key themes of the book?

When you know what you want to be known for, it’s easier to decide what to do and what not to do. As you read through each of the 5 stages of momentum that we describe, you will begin to understand the approach you can take to Get Momentum on projects you want to start or changes you want to make.

There are 5 distinct stages you’ll pass through; they are:

Motivation: Here, you decide what you want to be known for so that you can more easily decide what to take on and what to let go of.
Mentors: At this stage, you identify the people you can learn from, the ones willing to help you by sharing what they have learned (often, the hard way) so you don’t make so many mistakes.
Milestones: By choosing 3 subprojects (milestones) you can complete over the next 90 days, you are spreading the work out. Even a project that will take you a year or more NEEDS to be divided into chunks that you can work on.
Monitor: At the end of the day, you must reflect on success. You have to look back and recognize that you “moved the mission forward”. Identify what you want to watch for, what you’ll want to have completed, and celebrate what you accomplish.
Modify: Along the way, you’ll make small changes, consistently, that act as guard rails that pull you back on track as you continue moving toward the goals you’ve set. As you become what you want to be known for, you’ll be ready to take on new goals.

What is the most important thing you want readers to learn from the book?

Ask for help. So much time is lost and so much hardship is endured because we wait too long before we ask for the assistance we COULD have used to achieve success. Once you know what you want to be known for, and as you surround yourself by people willing to help you, it’s easier and easier to make progress on those subprojects you’ve set for yourself.

Why do you think it’s so hard for people to get and keep momentum?

Many leaders subconsciously believe that they should already know everything there is to know about how to work, manage teams and projects, and make progress on their goals. When people lose momentum it is usually because they’re comparing themselves to someone who has it different than they do. There’s only one person to compare yourself to, and that is you!

Reflect back on what you DID get done today and think about what you can do tomorrow. Create a plan, ask for the help you need, and honor the process as you move from where you are to where you want to be.

How did the two of you meet?

We met in the front row of a history class at the University of California. Jodi asked Jason if she could borrow his notes. He said, “No”, and that was the beginning of what has become a beautiful relationship.

After spending time as school friends, the “No” turned into many “Yeses” and 23 years later we are still sharing our notes and editing each other’s writing. We’ve grown up together as we worked in our local, small town high school where Jason taught history and Jodi worked in the Counseling office. We moved on to found our own consulting firm, The Womack Company. We help busy professionals be more productive through coaching, consulting, our Get Momentum Leadership Academy, and now the book… Get Momentum: How To Start When You’re Stuck (Wiley, May 2016).

What is your favorite thing to do together?

Our version of nothing… That’s going for a hike in the hills of Ojai, California or Costa Rica… a long road trip, singing (badly!) to the 80’s tunes we both grew up with…dreaming of the next article or book we could write that would help the people we love working with and serving all over the world. Basically, we love doing life together!

How do you balance being partners in both work and in life? How does that play out in a practical way for each of you?

We are different. Sure, some days it’s tough because we both can see the very same problem from two different perspectives, or with one perspective we see two very different problems. However, what our Get Momentum Leadership Academy members tell us is that the “she said / he said” approach is a healthy way to recognize the many ways they can address the projects they are working on and the problems they are solving. In a practical way, we work very well together when we recognize the strengths each of bring to the work we do.

What was it like writing your first book together?

Oh, it was easy! Jason wrote the book. Jodi deleted it! Seriously, we played to our strengths. Jason is prolific. He can write hundreds and even thousands of words in a sitting. Jodi can read through all that “raw material” and choose the best lines and paragraphs that are going to help readers Get Momentum!

I was given a free copy of this book for review purposes. Opinions expressed are my own. ~Rosemary