It is hard enough managing time as a solopreneur, add to that – mom, wife, employee or even student and you can easily find yourself way off track. Trying to get it all under control can be a challenge, especially without compromising one thing, for another.

Very often though, that is exactly what ends up happening. One or two of the primary roles in our lives usually dominate, causing us to neglect the others. The one the suffers the most is, you guessed it – our role as “Business Owner”. Life has a way of sometimes knocking us back a few steps to the point where our business efforts get shoved into a place of paralysis.

As time goes on, it’s almost hard to notice the invisible barrier around our business and how it even occurred. In this post today, I’m going to keep it short and straight to the point.

In business, you’ve got to learn to set Boundaries and release the Barriers

I’m not oblivious to the fact that things don’t always go “as planned” (whatever that means), and we can’t control every situation that comes our way, believe me…with six kids, I completely understand.

We can however make things a bit easier for ourselves by setting boundaries when it comes to managing our time. Setting boundaries creates structure, which helps things run a little more smoothly in your day-to-day life and business.

A few things you can do TODAY to set boundaries:

• Set scheduled work hours
• Limit the amount of times you check email throughout the day
• Limit the amount of time you spend on social networks
• Limit the amount of time you spend on the phone with clients/customers
• Create a prioritized “To-Do” list
• Value your own time (when you do, others will too!)
• Learn to say NO

Obviously, this list could go on…but you get the idea. Setting boundaries gives you MORE freedom and will prevent you from creating unwarranted barriers that keep you from making progress.

I learned this lesson with a few bumps and bruises, hopefully you won’t have too.

How has setting boundaries in your business helped you be more productive? Let me know in the comments below:

So, I wanted to share this audio post today, in effort to offer some insight, to those women who have started a business or have a business but are stuck in start. Meaning that in their attempt to learn how to develop a business foundation, they have instead, become bogged down by information overload to the point that they aren’t able to do anything at all.

Like many of us getting started online or who have the desire to expand upon our knowledge for growth, what do we do? We turn to the internet and start searching for information. And what do we find? A ton of it. But what happens is, we become so intent on collecting all this information that we overwhelm ourselves when the time comes to actually apply it because now, we don’t know where to begin.

Another issue that arises is our obsession with Social Media and getting caught up with feeling the need to have to be connected to, and follow and fan, every industry leader, in order for us to experience our own success.

This is such a myth….

Don’t get me wrong, we most definitely can learn from those who have worked hard and were able to rise to the top. It’s empowering to know and we’re inspired by their stories but at the same token…to much of anything is never good.

Now, let’s just say you are truly committed to your success and you decide to learn from 5 of the top industry leaders right now. What do you do? You subscribe to their list, you fan their page on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, add their RSS feed to your reader and so on.

Each day, you receive about 3 emails from each of them with all sorts of information. One is telling you to do this, the other is telling you to do that. This one invites you to this must attend, business transforming webinar with special guest “so-and-so”.

In your attempt to keep up with it all and apply all these different tips and strategies at once, its a wonder why you can’t figure out what in the world you are supposed to do. Next thing you know…following ALL these leaders starts to take on a business life of its own.

My suggestion to eliminate information overload is to find just one industry leader with whom you resonate with the MOST. An individual who is moving in the direction in which you wish to go and is someone with whom you share similar values and personal ethics.

If you are not yet in a position to invest in coaching, this person can be an indirect mentor in your business.

So, that brings us to the point of this audio. I want share with you how to design your own solid business foundation that will help you stay focused and able to consistently, grow your business.

What is extremely important to establishing a strong foundation for your business is to get completely clear with yourself and in tuned with your Vision, Mission and Purpose – with your primary focus on serving others.

Defining your Vision, Mission & Purpose should not be self-centered or money driven but come from the passion within you, with unlimited belief and in the absence of fear. This is where you must begin.

This is where the foundational principals of your business will come from. Having an overall vision and knowing your mission and purpose gives you direction to allow everything else, to fall together and work in alignment when partnered with action.

Building on these principals is what also allows you to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and innovative strategic thinking.

By being fully aware of your vision, mission and purpose, it becomes easier to recognize your next steps and develop a strategy and process to move forward and achieve your goals.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback on this audio post, take a moment to share with me in the comments below. Thanks for listening.

So many entrepreneurs go on and on struggling, not realizing that their busyness is not only unproductive but ineffective because they are wasting time doing things that are meaningless, or low priority tasks in their business.

This was a big struggle for me for a long time. I assumed because I was making some money, what I was doing was effective – which was partially true. You see, I happen to suffer from a debilitating illness that quit a few entrepreneurs suffer from and it can sometimes negatively impact the way we operate on a daily basis.

One primary symptom of this sometimes severe condition is impairment of strength. Yes, it creates the inability to operate in our strengths thus causing us to become ineffective. Those who suffer from this limiting condition are normally classified as a: Perfectionist

Those of you who share this issue with me may feel that being a perfectionist is actually a good thing – I believed that for a long time. I took great pride in everything I did because it always came out perfect, just the way I envisioned it.

I would loathe at the mere thought of error or incompetence and presumed my “gift” of perfectionism was a powerful trait to have.

Don’t get me wrong, it does have it’s benefit for those in certain fields and anything in moderation is okay…right? But what about those of us who don’t realize the additional ailments perfectionists often develop when left untreated; such as procrastination in the inability to complete tasks. (oh don’t act like I’m the only one).

As a perfectionist myself, my first step was – yup, you guessed it – admitting I had a problem. I can’t tell you how many times I would sometimes spend in excess of 3 or more hours trying to make a banner just right or formatting the outline of a document (did you hear me…the OUTLINE) or trying to align certain text on my blog to the exact way I think it would look the best.

When I began to notice that I could spend an entire work day caught up in some of the most insignificant tasks, things that were a part of my business, yes…but were not activities that were producing me any income, I knew I had a problem.

Procrastination would set in when it would take me an entire day to craft a plan of action to the umpteenth degree, and then I would be to tired and mentally drained to actually START the original project…talk about NOT being effective in my business NOR as an entrepreneur.

If any of this resonates with you, I’ve got a few tips to share with you that helped me control my perfectionist tendencies and help me become more effective in my business.

Conquer your mindset – The first step to achieving this is to do what I mentioned earlier, acknowledge it is in fact, a problem. As Dr. Phil always says, “you can not change what you do not acknowledge.” Start to be mindful and aware of the less important tasks in your day that seem to demand your attention the most.

If you have a hard time distinguishing if it is something that is moving you closer to your goals and/or end results, ask yourself if it is an income producing activity. If it is not, affirm outloud, “this is not a priority in my business right now.” Get comfortable letting go of the idea that it is something that MUST be done right now.

Create new habits – What has helped me tremendously was to create a “To-Do” list each night for the next day, in order of priority. I keep my list short, with no more than 6 items and begin with the most important tasks. I no longer check email first thing in the morning (although I still skim through for important stuff…hey, I never said I was cured…lol) I do the things in my business that are most important and move me toward growth and increased income.

I also keep a daily schedule using my Gmail calender which I sync with my Blackberry and set it up so I get an alert when it is time for me to move on to the next thing on my calendar. (Allocating blocks of time to complete tasks helps a lot for perfectionists) If it doesn’t get completed today…it moves over to the tasks for the next day.

Adopt new behaviors – You may be wondering exactly when you are supposed to actually do those “not so important things” in your business. Well, a suggestion is to NOT do them during your regular business or work hours. You can spend a few hours in the evening our on weekends completing non-priority tasks. You can also delegate or outsource these tasks if you are in a position to do so.

As an entrepreneur, the way we conduct our business is in direct relation to our success or failure. We are small business owners, you are THE owner of your business so we have to learn to play our position and change our behaviors – in other words, get some self-discipline. I don’t think Oprah become who she is over night…do you?

If you want to achieve more in your business, you have got to be willing to do the things it will take to reach your goals. If you have to talk to yourself to get motivated, do it. If you need to partner with a coach or mentor for an extra kick in your pants, do it. To be effective in your business, you’ve got to do the work to make it happen.

Of course you are going to stumble and fall down along the way but what’s important is that you don’t stay down. Entrepreneurship is a journey, you’ve got to be willing to take the good with the bad, learn from the lessons and enjoy the trip!

Additional Resources:

• Perfectionist Traits: Ten Telltale Traits of a Perfectionist
• Overcoming Perfectionism: How to Work Past Your Perfectionism

I know I’m not alone on this one, do you have PERFECTIONIST tendencies? What do you do to “manage your condition?” Share in the comments below:

If you have just begun your business and currently debating on whether or not you should start a blog for business, hopefully, this post will help you make the decision process easier.
 

Is a Blog Right for my Business?

If you erase out of your mind what a blog is, or looks like based on the conventional definition, you will be able to understand why having a blog for any business online, is absolutely necessary.

Instead, envision the bigger picture! SEE your blog as the central place for people to be to get valuable, up-to-date, resourceful information about your topic, industry, services and products.

Your business blog is the medium or platform you use to share useful and relevant content to attract your ideal clients and customers.

Having a blog makes it easier for you to promote your brand and connect with customers.

If you are still on the fence and not sure how having a blog can benefit your business, here are 5 reasons to consider, why your business needs a blog.

1. It Builds Your Brand. We are in the social era of business. Traditional marketing methods are becoming less and less effective with people searching the internet for information. Having a blog allows you to stay relevant, be found in the search engines, share your story and expertise while building a presence online.

2. It Builds Your Traffic. The more frequently you post new and relevant content to your blog and link to other social networks, like Facebook and Twitter, the more traffic you can bring to your blog. More traffic to your blog equates to more sales.

3. It Builds Your Credibility. Building credibility starts with establishing relationships. Posting regularly creates a blog community as you engage and interact with your readers by encouraging and responding to comments. This helps make people feel more connected to your brand and to you more personally on a  “human” level.

4. It Builds Customer Loyalty. Again, posting consistently and sharing highly informative and helpful information keeps visitors coming back for more. They begin to feel they know you more personally, they like you and trust you enough to “spread you around” on social networks. Loyal readers become loyal customers and blogging makes it easier to build this kind of customer loyalty.

5. It Builds Your Social Influence. Having a blog for your business allows you to define your own voice. You are able to attract the right people by sharing your marketing message in a unique and authentic way that establishes you as an authoritative presence online. Your blog is your branding platform that allows you stand out from everyone else.

Can you see why blogging is a must for small business owners and entrepreneurs? If you aren’t blogging for business and want to learn how, click here to find out how you can get started the right way.

Photo: www.socialtikmag.com

To many service based entrepreneurs are all over the place when it comes to the services they offer in their business. “Doing it All”, doesn’t mean you will earn more money. What that really means is you are burnt out and overworked, (or soon will be) because you are attempting to build a “people-pleasing” business.

Believe me, I get it…you want to serve the masses, you want to help as many people as possible. But let me ask you this – how is trying to be ALL things to everybody, really working for you right now?

Honestly, do you feel fulfilled in your business or are you stressed because of the amount of work you have on your plate? Don’t get me wrong, work is good because that means money, but are you doing the kind of work you want to be doing?
 

Here’s the real deal…

If you are trying to do it all…I can almost guarantee, you are working harder than your peers and you aren’t even making close to the kind of money that is matching your efforts.

If you aren’t operating your business in alignment with your true authentic passion, eventually, you are going to throw in the towel because in order to make money, you will have to continue to appease the masses instead of being able to passionately, work your specialty.

What does that mean?

When you are so busy trying to be a “Super Business Woman” to everyone, you are unable to focus on your specialty – the area of expertise in which you love. If you can’t focus on it, you can’t master it, if you can’t master it, you won’t be able to serve at your level of excellence.

That’s why it’s important for you to have a specialty. If you are unsure about what that means for you, start by thinking about what is it that you are passionate about. What do people always ask your advice about?

I love all things Social Media, however…I’m most passionate about business blogging, so that is my specialty. It is the area of Social Media that I have chosen to focus on the most because it is what I love doing, it’s working for my business and that is what the majority of my clients come to me for, to learn.

Now, just because you specialize in ONE thing, does not mean you have to let go or give up the areas where you are also gifted, that’s not what I’m saying. As an online business professional, you have to do what will benefit your market the most and what makes sense for them.

Be clear on your ONE specialty so it becomes a breeze for you to attract your perfect clients and customers, while making it easy for them to identify YOU, as the one with the solution to their problem.

When you are intentional with how you operate your business and remain aligned with your passion, it becomes much easier for you to market yourself and your services to those YOU WANT to serve and work with.

Take back control and REshift your focus before you lose your passion and the desire to build a thriving business.

What is your specialty? Share in the comments below:

They did for me.

Looking back now, I wonder what the heck was I waiting for. You know why? Because I realized it is okay to toot your own horn in celebration of your accomplishments.

Many of us don’t want to “seem” a certain way, as if we are trying to be bigger than we are. No matter how big or SMALL your accomplishment is, you need to share it with others who will support you!

Think about the last goal you set for yourself in your business. Now, think about how you felt when you achieved it. Felt good right? Of course it did, because you worked hard at it and you got it done. Celebrate it!

You know, as many of us are building businesses online, we need to recognize the amount of weight our social influence has over the way we attract clients and customers.

Honestly speaking, those who are profiting the most online are those who aren’t closed mouthed about what they do and how they are doing it. You have got to learn to get out of your own way and stand in confidence knowing that you’ve got big things (big plans, big goals, big dreams, etc.) going on and it is your duty to share!

Seriously though, wouldn’t you agree you are more apt to follow someone who openly shares more about what’s going on in her business, her new latest whatever and how she’s doing it rather than someone who just talks about their business all the time?

Aren’t you interested in hearing what others have to say and see how they are making a difference in the lives of their clients and customers?

I know I do! Because that is what motivates and inspire us to be better….great even!

So, understand there is a difference between tooting your own horn and just being outright boastful.

I’m telling you today, give yourself permission to Toot Your Own Horn! Acknowledge your successes no matter how big or small. Share them with your support network – we want to celebrate with you and let people know what your raving fans and satisfied customers are saying about you, your brand, products and services!

Step into your greatness, (as my friend LaTersa Blakely would tell you) and believe in yourself!

What is something you have recently accomplished that you are proud of? Toot Your Horn in the comments, I want to celebrate with YOU!

Now, just because social media is a free source available to anyone, doesn’t mean there isn’t a required  investment applied. There is way more to it than posting your blog posts to Facebook and sharing links on Twitter.

If you are serious about building a profitable business online and using social media to your benefit, you MUST learn how to apply effective social media marketing strategies to your overall marketing plan.

What many people don’t realize is that in business, spaces like Facebook or LinkedIn are social networking tools for us to use primarily, to connect and NETWORK with others.

Behind every successful and profitable online business using social media marketing to grow their business, there is a SOCIAL MEDIA PLAN & STRATEGY in place. Because of the amount of time and dedication implementing social media requires, savvy small business owners understand the importance of having a plan that works full circle.

Recently, LaTara Ham-Ying of the Integrated Talk Blog Talk Radio Show had guest Rod Kirby share on the topic of: How to Build Your Social Media Platform. Rod gave some very valid points and tips on how to use social media effectively to grow you business with social influence.

I was also afforded the opportunity to briefly share one of my tips on the show about how to use your blog to brand yourself and establish influence.

To listen to the the entire highly valuable, information packed interview with Rod, click here.

If you are even a little blog savvy, you know how to share your content on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and you probably even know how to use some of the cool time-saving social media tools like HootSuite and Buffer to help with automation.

Now, all this is fine and dandy but the question I want to ask you is – How well are you listening?

So many bloggers are pouring their hearts and time into blogging for their business and don’t understand the reason why they aren’t seeing results. Visitors aren’t subscribing to their list, they aren’t commenting, they rarely share…so what’s the problem?

Well, maybe it is because you’re not “LISTENING” to your readers.

I don’t mean that you are ignoring them, what I mean is – not meeting them where they are, not connecting with their needs, not speaking to them in a way you can be heard.

A lot of times when we first start to blog, we want to talk about what we want to talk about. Which is absolutely fine for a general blog or hobby blog. However, if you are blogging for business (and you actually want to earn a profit from blogging), you have to focus your content on a topic that is of high interest to the audience you hope to reach.

You have to listen to them so you know how to fill the void and offer the right solutions.

How do you “Listen” and “Hear” what they are saying?

• Interact and engage on social networking spaces like Facebook and Twitter. See what they are talking about and what their biggest challenges are.
• Hangout where your audience is and ask questions or use a survey. Questions like, “What’s your biggest challenge when it comes to ________?” or “If you had a solution for _______, what would it be?“are a good starting point.
• Know your audience and what they are thinking. Easier said than done…right? If you know how your products or services can help your customers, you already know their problem. You listen to them by paying attention to their needs and sharing how you can provide them with the solution.

If you are blogging for business and not focused on listening to your audience, you’ll never be able to capture their attention. Put on your listening ears and start paying attention!

How do you listen to your audience online? Share in the comments below:

Photo Credit: www.sanguinesolutions.net

If you are running a business online, you know how much social media impacts our lives. Social networks make the divide between our business and personal lives, almost inseparable.  As small business owners, some of us need to realize how to take better charge over our business practices to avoid killing your social reputation.

Over the past few weeks alone, I’ve noticed a few things that have irked my nerves just a little (okay…more than a little, enough to make me want to write this post). These are some of the things I find are happening more and more and can have a negative impact on your professionalism and online social reputation.

1. Adding people to your mailing list without permission. This has been a big one blowing my mind almost daily and I must tell you is a HUGE No-No. Let me make this clear – if I DID NOT opt-in to your list, please don’t add me to it simply because we’ve had one or two email correspondence on an unrelated topic.

This does not mean because I sent you a reply, my email is full game. While we are on the topic, it is not okay to add me to your list simply because you have opted in to mine. Or, because we have exchanged contact information for the purpose of communicating somewhere down the line.

Give people the option to WANT to be on your list and the ability to learn more about what you DO or offer. Don’t assume because you have someone’s contact information, they want what you are selling. This is a very tacky way to build your list and do business and it is a waste of time for you because your unsolicited emails get sent straight to spam.

2. Not giving credit where credit is due. It’s great to share the useful content of others with your circle and across your social networks if you feel it will add value to the lives of others. It’s not great to not give credit to the original author of the content you are sharing. As entrepreneurs, our social media presence is a big deal and most of us work really hard to publish amazing work and content to help others, acknowledge those individuals for their diligence.

If you tweet a post, mention the author. If you share an inspiring quote from a friend or colleague, reference them by name. If you use a blog post, link back to where the original content came from. Using other people’s content in your blogs or on your website passing it off as your own is not only hurtful to your reputation, but is also plagiarism and copyright infringement which is illegal. At the very least, you can change the wording to make it your own.

This behavior is not a good look for you because it displays a lack of integrity and respect for others. (here is a nifty little tool you can use to see if someone is using your content.) Keep an eye on those who are not giving you proper credit (like I do…yea, I’m watching!)

3. Being an opportunity hopper. Of course we are all online trying to make money from our respected business endeavors, I get that. However, if you want to remain respected amongst your peers, potential clients and customers, don’t jump on the bandwagon for every cool new opportunity that comes your way.

Opportunities come a dime a dozen, that doesn’t mean every one is meant for you. If you don’t want to ruin your social reputation, you can’t appear to be in a new business every other week and asking the same people to join or partner with you.

Legitimate entrepreneurs and small business owners want to do business with serious people. Those who can COMMIT. If this is a common practice for you, it is time for you to make a decision about the direction you want to pursue before people dismiss you as someone not very credible.

As an entrepreneur building a business online, be sure that everything you do – from networking to daily operations, does not have a negative impact on your social reputation. Nowadays, it is almost all you’ve got!

What do you think? What are some other ways you have seen that can kill a social reputation? Share in the comments below:

Through the power of technology, purchasing a domain name and starting a blog for business has become extremely easy. From corporate America to stay-at-home mom, lots of people are finding creative ways to earn money from the comfort of their own home.

But is is really as easy as it sounds?

Of course not, because if it were, everyone would be doing it.

Before you can establish an online business and start making money with a blog, you have to create visibility and build credibility with your audience. The way to do that is by BRANDING.

How can your blog become your branding platform?

Well, aside from having an overall goal for your blog, it’s important to consider what you can offer others. Ask yourself, “what can I bring to the table, what are my strengths, what are some of my best skills?”

Your blog is your personal platform – your central hub,  to display not only what you know, but it is your space to be unique and utilize your voice. Being authentic and sharing valuable content with your audience at the same time, will help them relate to you and interact with you.

Connecting with other people in your industry (or similar industry) on social media and sharing your awesome content is an effective way to grow your social influence, build your brand and create more awareness to your blog.

Using your blog as your branding platform is a way for you to stand out from the crowd. You want to be known for your expertise and as a thought leader within your industry. You have to help your readers see your value and recognize you are the “Go-To” girl for whatever it is you do.

Take it Serious…

Building your brand is no easy task and requires you to be committed to yourself and what you believe in. People need to see consistency from you in all that you say, write and do in order to like you and trust you…hey, that’s just the way it is!

Blogging has become “THE” way for entrepreneurs and small business owners to build a credible brand online. If you would like to discover how you can start blogging for business, learn more about my Business Blogger Bootcamp.

How about you, are you building your brand with blogging? Share your comments below: