July 27, 2006
July 27, 2006
A Note from the Editor
Hello to All,
Welcome to this issue of The ART of Business newsletter, and a big welcome to all the new subscribers. I hope that each of you are making progress at making your dreams come true.
Many people get frustrated because they think they don't have enough time to get their business going properly--or grow it beyond its present level in a predetermined amount of time--so they just give up. What they don't realize is, you can still make huge strides, over time, by taking little baby steps.
That's what this week's feature article, "Just Do It" addresses: moving forward in pursuit of your business dreams even if it means inching along like a tortoise. I hope you find the article inspiring and informative.
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Just Do It!
It's hard to be patient when you want something so much you can almost taste it. It's like a physical ache that makes your stomach churn and your heart race with desire. Sometimes the idea of getting married or starting a family can do that to you.Starting or growing a business can definitely do that to you.
Sometimes we know what we want to do and how to get it done, but we don't have enough time to do it all at once, or something happens--a huge roadblock appears out of nowhere--and we're stuck. Or we find out we need something we can't afford yet, or have to get some document filed that we've never even heard of before we can begin operations.
It's enough to give an entrepreneur ulcers!
When you're first starting out in your own business, it's exciting putting all the puzzle pieces together, watching your dream come to life, but it can also be especially nerve-racking. It's no wonder that 3 out of 4 businesses don't make it past the 3-year mark. For many people, keeping the dream alive through good times and bad isn't worth the emotional toll it can take.
The key, then, is to dream BIG, but think small--as in the tiny little steps you sometimes have to take to make things happen.
I always want to leap right in and conquer any challenges instantly so I can keep moving forward, but the reality is, life doesn't work that way. While I want to take giant steps, circumstances invariably call for baby steps, so I'm forced to be patient--do what I can, as I can. Very frustrating! But necessary.
Support Systems
If you don't already have one, the first thing you need to do is get a solid support system in place: family, friends, or business associates who will encourage you and share in your triumphs. Without this support, it's almost impossible to keep yourself motivated, especially when times are tough.
If your loved ones don't share in your dreams, don't despair--there are discussion groups, online forums, membership associations and professional societies for just about any industry you can imagine. Get onboard and go where there are like-minded people. Believe me, someone, somewhere, has been exactly where you are now and knows just what you're going through--find them and let them help you get to where you want to be.
When All Else Fails...
No matter where you are in your business model, you're going to find that there are times when you can't move forward. Maybe you're waiting on a zoning permit, or waiting for the graphic designer to finish your new logo before you can get your brochure printed. Maybe you're a writer and you've sent your manuscript to several agents and you're waiting to hear back from them. Now what are you supposed to do?
How about doing some research on your competitors? Go sniff around their store, or check them out online--see what their website looks like and begin planning how you could do yours better.
Work on your marketing plan--it doesn't have to be the massive document like we've outlined on our website at: Marketing Plans. Just pick an area to work on, like what trade shows you can attend, either as a vendor or a visitor; what kind of advertising could you do, or promotion could you plan that the media might want to cover? Remember, great strides can be made by taking little baby steps.
If you're trying to run your business part-time while working at another job, maybe you could spend 10 minutes of every lunch hour making mini-lists of the things you need to do to get each major project accomplished. That way, when you ARE working on your own business, you don't have to waste time planning your next move.
Lists are a great way to get things done in bite-sized chunks. Carry a small notebook with you and any time you find yourself with a few extra minutes, like in the waiting room at the doctor's office, or standing in line at the bank or at the drive-thru window, pick a project that needs to get done and make a list of the things you need to do. Then, when you've got time to actually DO what's on the list, you can check that item off and move on to the next.
This not only gives you a visual chart of your progress, it keeps you current on what still needs to get done so you're not flailing around, getting stressed out about what to do next.
When you move forward at any pace, no matter how slight the motion, you're still making progress--moving forward, and that's how you'll get to your goal. If the tortoise could do it, you can too!
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Wishing you all the best in your endeavors,
Angel Brown
www.womens-business-gallery.com
Copyright 2006 by Angel Brown. All rights reserved.
Published by the Womens Business Gallery, Woodland Park, Colorado