4 Must-Read Tips for Small Business Saturday

Tomorrow, November 29th, is Small Business Saturday. Although Small Business Saturday has become more than just a holiday tradition across the country, it has also helped jump start the economy and give small businesses a chance to get back in the black before the end of the year.

However, Small Business Saturday is more about promotions, sales, and driving customers into stores and on websites. It's also about being an entrepreneur and small business owner. Small Business Saturday should remind all of us why we are in business in the first place: to offer a product or service of value to consumers or businesses.

With that being said, here are some quick things to keep in mind tomorrow:

Instead of Buckling Down, Try Loosening Up...This time of year is easy for entrepreneurs and small business owners to get carried away and overwhelmed with trying to make year-end sales, sell off inventory, land new clients, and meet yearly goals. However, it's important to remember that in order to meet goals, it's important for entrepreneurs to loosen up when necessary. Avoid getting bogged down with the minutiae of daily tasks. Learn not to sweat the small stuff.

Learn Something New. Entrepreneurs and small business owners should dedicate themselves to learning something new each day. In fact, embracing any learning curve is important for the success of any small business. Learning something new contributes to the growth and development of any team, business, and entrepreneur. It also presents opportunities to expand.

So Small Business Saturday is no different. Meet a new customer who comes into your store or take the time to talk to him or her on the phone when they call, learn something new about a competitor and embrace that as an opportunity rather than see it is a direct competition, or if you think your Small Business Saturday strategy could have gone better, embrace that as an opportunity to improve for next year. Work with your team to make it happen.

Think About Your Business Plans for 2015. While you may be focused on leading a team or have numbers to meet tomorrow for the end of the year, don't put off business planning for 2015 until it's too late. Part of your focus should be on goals and objectives for 2015.

If you are unsure of where to start to put together a plan for 2015, first start with what worked and what didn't and go from there. This might mean admitting failures and looking at what didn't work and why. Get feedback from your team or trusted customers, if necessary. Don't forget about the who, what, where, when, and why.

Finally, once you've thought about what you want to change or see in 2015, it's time to implement. However, your execution strategy is just as important as taking the time to plan. Think about how you want to roll out new goals and objectives in 2015 and work with your team accordingly.

Don't Be Afraid of Change. Entrepreneurs have the toughest time with change. Admit it, guys, we do. We hate change because it's uncomfortable. We put so much time, effort, and sleepless nights into making sure our small businesses succeed. So any event or decision that might deviate us from that focus generates a psychological reaction. That reaction could be fear or discomfort because we begin assessing the risks (personal, financial, opportunity, etc.)

This brings us back to the first point about not sweating the small stuff. This isn't to say that ANY situation or change isn't a big deal, this is merely to keep entrepreneurs in check. Their focus should be on devising a strategy, solution or plan of attack to address any situation or concern rather than focusing too much on that psychological reaction, which only turns the focus away from the business or team, and results in low productivity.

So here's a final shout-out to all those local businesses who are looking to make a huge impact tomorrow. Keep your focus on those year-end goals and objectives, keep open communication with your teams, and keep business planning for 2015 at your not-too-distant horizon.



Image credit: © Marek
 
Written content: © 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 J. H. Language Solutions 

International Project Management Day: The Recipe for Project Leadership

November 6th is recognized as International Project Management Day. It is always celebrated on the first Thursday of November. Today we will recognize how project management is really shifting and evolving into project leadership.

What the Pros Think. We all know a project manager. Maybe we are one ourselves. With this in mind, how would you describe a project manager? My faithful audience knows I like to play word association in my blogs, so I'm going to start: Project managers are organized, excellent communicators, multi-taskers, proactive, and strive to make a difference. "Business to Community" recognizes some of the top project managers and their thoughts on the top project management skills needed to succeed.

What Makes a Project Manager Successful? The beauty of project management is that even though there's a definite science behind it, it's also an art. A large element of project management has to do with creativity. Creative problem solving, creative organization tactics and strategies, and creative project leadership all go into the "art" of project management.

So what does creativity have to do with project management success? Each project manager has his or her own unique, individual style for managing projects, working with customers, and working with team members. Sure, there are certain crucial steps in project management that are essential to success, such as risk management and response, gathering and identifying stakeholder requirements, communication and leadership styles, and estimating and budgeting, but there's also that gray area where each project manager has the opportunity to shade that gray area with their own color. While "following the rules" (such as the FMEA principles, ISO, and other set industry standards) is important, the other secret to project management success has to do with that little part of you that makes you, well, YOU.

Project Management is Really Project Leadership...So getting to the whole point of this blog, and the whole idea behind today, project management is really evolving into project leadership. I've always believed that there is a fine line between a manager and a leader. A manager does just that: manage. But we all know that a good leader displays an excellent balance between managing the business side and people side. A leader not only works with team members and stands by them, but also encourages.

We've talked before about how important communication is when leading a team (or any relationship for that matter). A successful project management leader encourages open communication among a team. A leader is open to conflicts and debate and sees them as an opportunity for change and improvement, and also recognizes the fine line between open, informal and formal communication, and knows when each is appropriate.

But there are challenges with project management leadership, isn't there? In fact, many would agree that the most difficult area of project management is working with different team members and personality styles. It's difficult to tailor your management and leadership style to the different working behaviors and learning styles on each team, especially if you have over ten people on your team.

What Do You Do When Your Team is Impossible to Work With? If you've been a project manager, team leader, or supervisor for some time, then you probably know too well what it's like to have a team that doesn't seem to agree on anything, or that are just particularly difficult to work with. But before you jump out the window, here are three ways to work with difficult teams:

- Recognize the four stages of project development

- Practice and encourage effective and active listening and questioning
- Use the "shit sandwich" technique when delivering negative feedback

I know what you are thinking, "What the hell is a 'shit sandwich'?" Don't worry, we'll get there. First let's start with recognizing the four stages of project development. Whenever a team is assigned together for the first time, there is always that awkward phase of getting to know one another...which can really create a lot of tension and not at all productive. But, recognizing the four phases of project development can help project managers and leaders understand what is really going on with a team.

These phases are the following:

Phase 1: Forming - The team is becoming acclimated, overcoming initial awkwardness
Phase 2: Storming - The team is learning how to work together
Phase 3: Norming - The awkwardness of the first two phases are over, the team is now solving problems together, and productivity starts to spike
Phase 4: Performing - The team has achieved a high success level together by either reaching a goal or finishing a project, the ultimate level of productivity and team performance

Through recognizing the phases of product, and ultimately, team development, a project manager or leader can oversee the phases, participate in various steps, but overall, he or she should be practicing effective and active listening while encouraging questions. Recognizing each team member for the unique individual he or she is really begins with listening. A team leader can certainly voice his or her opinions, but not without fully, actively listening to a team member first. And before consider your response before you respond. How will this team member react to what you would like to say? Remember, it's not always what you say, it's how you say it.

And, now, the "shit sandwich". I came across this term earlier this week when conducting research for a client and I thought it conveyed my point here perfectly. The "shit sandwich" is a method for delivering negative feedback. As Hubspot explains, "CEO, Ben Horowitz discusses the old feedback trick that is the shit sandwich. 'The basic idea is that people open up to feedback far more if you start by complimenting them (slice of bread #1), then you give them the difficult message (the shit), then wrap up by reminding them how much you value their strengths (slice of bread #2).'" 

However, the "shit sandwich" has its pros and cons...and not for the derogatory term. The positive reaction is that it is a highly effective communication tactic. The negative reaction is it could be interpreted as "sugar coating". All in all, the bottom line here is pay attention to your team members' personalities and tailor your communication accordingly.

Unfortunately, there are times when leaders really need to step it up a notch and lead a team through a crisis. The ultimate crisis is the downturn of a company or organization where morale is at an all-time low, and tension and fear are at an all-time high...and productivity levels are at 0. Again, the only way to really lead a team to the light at the end of the tunnel is communication.

There's Always Room for Improvement. Even if you are a senior project manager, or have been in project management for over a decade, there's always room for improvement. Project managers are constantly evolving and improving as leaders. But, the hard truth is that projects fail sometimes. It's just the nature of the job. While project managers and leaders are responsible for SO many facets of a project, there's still a great deal out of our control (even though we might hate to admit it). But accountability and responsibility are huge aspects of project management that go a long way.

Take some time today to think about your personal and professional goals, your strengths and weaknesses, your leadership and communication styles...even if you aren't a project manager. Think about how you can make a difference in all that you do, because that in itself, can make all the difference.

Image credit: © CurvaBezier

Written content: © 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 J. H. Language Solutions 

Is SEO BACK From the Dead? [Update]

In a previous post, we talked about how SEO and how strategies and web algorithms have changed over time, particularly in relation to social media and small business online marketing strategies. Content marketing may be partly to blame, with a huge focus and push on publishing content, establishing a tone, voice, and even a brand.

Most non-technical entrepreneurs or bloggers who think or hear anything about SEO often grown or run away in fear. Most perceive SEO as scary. It's big, bad, and can even harm us, if not taken seriously. But like something out of the "Thriller" video, we've seen the transformation of content marketing and shifts in SEO strategies and management over the last year (and even in the last week!) so much that it begs the new question: Is SEO BACK from the dead?

Yes, today is Halloween, and while its a time for ghosts, ghouls, and goblins to emerge from their dark hiding places, SEO is back from the dead, but its zombie-like presence shouldn't mean entrepreneurs and bloggers have to lock their doors tonight or plan for an apocalypse.

The Customer Journey is No Longer Spooky. Today when customers or website visitors hit the web for the purpose to look up or purchase something, they really embark on a journey. Back in the day, this journey used to be more like a haunted house tour...but without the thrill and the fun. Many websites employed tactics that were designed to "trick" (not treat!) customers into a specific call-to-action or even blowing up their screens with annoying pop-ups, ads, and download prompts. But those days are now gone...mostly. Not only are customers and users smarter, Google is smarter. Sites that attempt to trick customers by the allure of fancy keywords and back links now get knocked by Google.

Trans- "actions" -sylvania. The customer journey now involves three steps. Those steps are similar to the buying process we learn about in sales. Reaching a level of trust with a particular business, finding information on a particular product or service and recognizing the value of that product or service, and then make the purchase decision. In summary, the journey is informational, navigational, and transactional.

This customer journey experience now has everything to do with SEO strategy. It's about matching customer experience with SEO strategy; the SEO strategy ultimately playing the role of the customer map. Each "customer map" or SEO strategy should be informational and navigational in order to ensure a customer reaches the "transaction" or the step of "purchase decision".

SEO Becomes Human. Over the last several weeks, Google's algorithms have changed. It focuses on the HUMAN behind the MACHINE. Keywords, content, and SEO strategies are now all tied to the customer. It's all about user-centered SEO. So rather than focusing solely on keywords, back links, and meta tags, Google is now interested in websites and content that builds or represents a BRAND.

Brands Come ALIVE! Each small business should have its own content marketing strategy, which includes a unique tone, voice, culture, or recipe, if you will. Once this has been established, and even documented, this content strategy now becomes a part of the small business brand. So a brand itself has evolved from an image, a logo, a color, or even merely a customer reaction. A brand is still all of those things, but now throw in a superb blog and web content that incorporates all these great elements, and you've now got Google's attention. As a result, SEO has now shifted to focus on the end user, audience, and customer. It's now more about taking those keywords and HUMANIZING them.

So is SEO really BACK from the dead? Or with now more content marketing still taking charge and altering how Google ranks pages, does this really mark the death of traditional SEO? Traditional SEO can still be found haunting various web and social media channels, however, as we progress into 2015, small businesses and bloggers can expect to see an even bigger push on content marketing, but in different ways. As discussed, one of these ways is by embracing the customer journey, and their map is your SEO strategy. Each customer will be matched with a particular SEO experience. Talk about personalization tokens. We just might have created a monster...

Image credit: © Jeffrey Collingwood

Written content: © 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 J.H. Language Solutions

International Translation Day: How Important is Language Anyway?

In observance of International Translation Day let's talk about translation, the art of localization, and the importance of language in today's digital world. With technology, social media, and communicating through text, email, and through a number of other twenty-first century mediums, how important is language these days anyway?

It's no secret that technology and even social media run our society. We can't go anywhere without some tablet or device to refer to or communicate through at any point during the day. Since we now rely on this type of technology to communicate, our language and how we communicate to others has changed, hasn't it? Many of us often overlook when someone emails or texts us without proper punctuation, capitalization, or even shorthand abbreviations and acronyms. However, some still believe that language is still important. Do you still judge those who don't use proper grammar and punctuation? Has our digital society and age run language obsolete?

Translation and Localization. How do you think technology and our "social speak" has changed the world of translation and localization? Translators and localization teams have been faced with the challenge of translating and localizing shorthand language, acronyms, which, of course, vary between languages, cultures, and communities, and even digital terminology and phrases.

For example, let's look at the most basic, widespread acronym used throughout the digital and social worlds: LOL, which means "Laugh Out Loud". Obviously this is what the term is in English...but is "LOL" used in the same form in Spanish, French or German? No. So when translating or localizing a transcript, text string, email correspondence, or even G-chat or Skype conversation, the chances of coming across shorthand language and acronyms is pretty good...even in the world of business. Therefore, translators and localization teams have really struggled with properly translating these terms and phrases to accurately depict what is going on in the conversation.

Body Language: What Does it Mean? When we think of language, the first thing that comes to mind is our own language we speak. We think of a certain dialect or dialogue, vocabulary, and the language we were raised to speak. But what about body language? Body language is just as important as the language we speak. In fact, we might even rely on body language to help us "translate" what a person is thinking or feeling, which is a visual representation of "language" and can even help us when words simply won't do.

In the world of business, most sales and customer service representatives would agree that body language is incredibly crucial when working with customers or closing deals. In fact, body language can even play a crucial role in landing a new job in an interview, getting that promotion, or even help leaders carry themselves in a manner that allows team members to feel like they can approach them.

However, if we aren't careful, our body language can kill our image, as well as set up a poor first impression when working with others. Our body language and even our tone and what we say can all be easily misinterpreted if we aren't careful. It's important to establish a reputation, a rapport, or a comfort level in the language used with customers. Of course, this can vary between industry and business, but setting a consistent style and tone with customers can really help avoid misusing or misinterpreting body language. This is especially important to keep in mind for professionals traveling to other countries or working with various cultures. A phrase or tone in one culture may be seen as offensive or negative in another.

I've personally always found in working with a diverse client and customer base in both my professional, and even personal, environments to avoid using the word "you", either in the phone, text or email. "You" can be accusatory which can send an incorrect message, especially when communicating via email. For example, instead of typing an email that reads, "You need to take the time to review this so we can move this project along", how about rephrasing to, "It is of the utmost importance that this document be reviewed as soon as possible in order to avoid schedule delays. I'd be more than happy to help, if needed." Which sounds better to you?

Did you know that 72% of people prefer texting to calling today? Why is that? Some reasons may be because texting gives us the convenience to respond when we are able to. Another common reason is that it gives us a chance to think and craft an answer before responding. It's important to remember when conducting any message is that how it sounds to us may not always mean it will be received in the same way. The beauty of communicating via email, chat or text is that it gives us an opportunity to think before we hit "send".

Content Marketing and Grammar. Going back to an earlier question at the beginning of this blog, do you still judge those who don't use proper punctuation and grammar in an email, text, presentation, or social media post? Interestingly, the world of content marketing is beginning to believe it's okay to "break the rules" now and again when publishing or posting marketing or web copy. On the other hand, there are still those firm believers and those who stand behind the use of proper language and who still might judge those professionals or organizations whose copy or written communication is riddled with errors. This often gives the appearance of lack of education or unprofessionalism.

However, some content marketers believe that how we speak is different than how we write. While this is certainly true, it's almost that technology and the mediums in which we write or communicate to one another gives us a free pass to using shorthand, acronyms, or avoiding the use of capital letters and punctuation, because who has time? What do you think?

All in all, regardless of which type of language you "translate", whether it is French, German, Italian, Spanish, digital phraseology and terminology, or body language, it all counts, and today is for you.





Vector flat icons - translation and language
© venimo - Fotolia.com

Written content: © 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 J.H. Language Solutions

Business Women's Day: Why Women Naturally Do it Better

September 22nd is Business Women's Day. Hail to all the female entrepreneurs who are rockin' it in business today. Today it's all about you.

 

The Facts Don't Lie.

Women in business are highly successful in business, and the facts don't lie. The number of women-owned businesses and startups have almost doubled the last decade alone. Women have proven to become better managers, accountants, networkers and sales representatives, and even crowd funding entrepreneurs better than men. Recent studies have also detected some some pretty interesting differences between female and male entrepreneurs. 

• More than half of female entrepreneurs consider multitasking, creativity, and empathy to be major strengths compared to men. 
• Men consider confidence as their biggest strength.
• Women are more likely to sacrifice their personal time and social lives for the success of their businesses. 
• Men are more likely to sacrifice time with their spouse and children. 
• Women are also more likely to hire their own children to work with them in their businesses than men.

Personality and Passion. 

It's all about personality that separates one business from another. Women who run successful businesses embrace change, are empathetic with customers and team members, are willing to trust others, and are reliable. Some of these personality traits may be difficult to acquire when running a business, particularly being open to and embracing change. After a length of time, women or female entrepreneurs can become very attached to their routines and "set in their ways". While there's nothing really wrong with this, it can make adapting to change a little difficult. Each woman's individual personality, however, plays a huge role in this. A female entrepreneur who open, empathetic, are willing to trust, and are reliable will have an easier time dealing with change and will run successful businesses.

So this begs the question...Is entrepreneurialship inborn? Or is it learned and based on gender?

In this blog and many others, we've talked a lot about personality and how it is a key component in leadership and being an entrepreneur. So this begs the question...is entrepreneurialship inborn, or can it be learned? In addition to the top five key personality traits that are necessary to running a successful business, we dive into a little bit more detail here and look at what most entrepreneurs have in common...both male and female. Most entrepreneurs have a high level of intellect, have good instincts, are passionate and energized, have an exceptional drive like no other, are excellent communicators, leaders, and motivators, and are fearless. Does this sound like anyone you know?

So which comes first...the chicken or the egg? Are these characteristics that an entrepreneur learns? Or is are these innate personality traits that an entrepreneur is born with? You be the judge...

Show Us the Money, Ladies. 

In addition to the above, women are also believed to naturally be better money managers, which is obviously a crucial area of business. In fact, women have proven to be pretty successful crowd funders. According to a report released by Bank of America earlier this spring, about 40 percent of women began startup businesses within the last five years. Furthermore, 70 percent of those successful female entrepreneurs expect their revenue to increase over last year, which is more than the percentage of male-owned businesses. This is likely due to women's success with crowd funding.

While studies have shown that businesses and startups owned and operated by men receive more venture capital, traditional funding, and sponsors than women, women have proven to be more successful with crowd funding websites. This even goes for female-owned small businesses that are technical in nature or provide a tech-based service.

So we've covered quite a bit here. But what is the reason for all this? Why are more women killing it in business and becoming entrepreneurs? Is it because we are finally entering a more equal society? Are women taking charge and closing the pay gap? Is it because the economy has forced more women to take on second and third jobs? Does technology make it easier to operate a business for stay-at-home moms? Maybe all of these are legit reasons. But maybe the shortest answer is because women do it better...

Image credit: © ra2 studio - Fotolia.com

Written content: © 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 J.H. Language Solutions

3 Secrets Behind Strategic Thinking

If you are in business of any kind, then you've probably heard of a little something called "strategic thinking". This hit me for the first time earlier this year. I heard it for the first time at a seminar and thought "oh, yeah, sure..." but never really understood what it meant.

Since then, I've seen and heard it much more frequently, so now I take the time and dive into it. What IS strategic thinking? What does it mean? And what does it mean for business?

Strategic thinking relates to long-term thinking and planning.

There. The secret is out. Problem solved. Case closed. So why read on? Well, before you close out of this window, there's more...

Today there are several interrelated business management and planning trends that are "buzzing" today, and those are:

1) Big Data. When we think "data", this is often tied to some form of reporting. And reporting needs to come from a source...technology. Our best friend. This is where business analytics dashboards come in handy today. From acquiring and accessing "big data", we then proceed to the next point of...

2) Performance Metrics. So once we've gotten our hands on that data, now what do we do with it? Make decisions. That's what it's about. By accurately analyzing our "big data" we can now come up with three important things: 1) goals, 2) performance metrics to reach those goals), and, 3) a long-term strategic plan on how to perform successfully and meet those goals, and make more informed business decisions. Remember, data is merely support...it is not driven.

3) Strategic Thinking. Now that we understand what strategic thinking is, and how to get to that step with our big data, now we can talk a little more about the planning nitty gritty. Based on your data and performance metrics,  We already covered this one. But here is how all three of these tie together. But strategic thinking, like performance metrics are about decision-making. What data can we use and analyze to make better business decisions?

Strategic thinking is all about the "what", and it's pretty hard stuff. Not gonna lie. Strategic thinking is harder because it involves rigorous planning and thinking long term...which can be difficult for some entrepreneurs. Some entrepreneurs have a hard time seeing the VISION of their business because they are the doers, the worker bees, the "technicians". They are too focused on the here, the now, and getting "the work" done each day. When you are too focused on the here and now, it is harder to see the bigger picture. Other entrepreneurs have the opposite problem. They have BIG ideas, but have no idea how to take the smaller steps to getting there.

Regardless of which "problem" you have as an entrepreneur, the answer lies behind Door Number 3: "Strategic Thinking".

So what does either entrepreneur do? Planning. There are several planning steps—all of which we heard before and strongly encouraged—that all point and lead to long-term success, and hit all the pit stops along the way. They include: daily planning, weekly planning, monthly planning, quarterly planning, and annual planning.

For those entrepreneurs who operate as "technicians", daily, weekly, and even monthly planning are probably a piece of cake. But where is your business going a year from now? You probably have no idea. For those entrepreneurs focused on your BIG ideas, good for you. You probably know exactly where you want your business to be in a year from now, which is awesome. But what are your plans next week? I know, I know...you have no idea.

Each entrepreneur should spend a little quality time with strategic thinking. (I know, strategic thinking isn't really the "quality" time you had in mind. Trust me, I get it.) I read an article not too long ago on the secrets and methodologies of highly successful entrepreneurs and one female entrepreneur claims she spends the first two hours each day IN her business...not checking email or answering the phone or doing the little tasks here and there, but spending time on her business VISION. Maybe you don't have two hours to spend every morning on this, and that's fine. This is just an example. Another idea is to spend a day and go into "black out mode". Same rules apply: no phone, texting, social media or email. Just quality time for you and your business, and a little intimate strategic thinking.

So before we close, what are the risks to strategic thinking? Business planning strategies are often investments of time, money, and resources. So the main risks here are opportunity and financial. "How much is this Idea A going to cost?" "How does that compare to Idea B?" "What if by setting Goal A, I miss out on Goal B?" The best way to address each risk is to lay them all out. Break out your FMEAs, and develop a risk response plan to each.

Phew. We finally got there. We NOW have a clearer understanding of strategic thinking, and how that is tied into performance metrics and data, which ALL equal how to reach our business goals, objectives, and, yeah...success.



Image credit: © igor - Fotolia.com

Written content: © 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 J.H. Language Solutions

Finding Motivation to Make the Most Out of Every Day

The misconceptions that are associated with being an entrepreneur shock me sometimes. Whenever someone asks me the question "so what do you do?" And when I answer with "I run and operate my own business," the most common response I hear is, "Wow...you must be really busy", which I've learned really translates into: "Wow...you must have no life."

Yes, I can say from firsthand experience that being an entrepreneur comes with a certain territory, a certain level of expectations, and definitely a certain personality to be successful...and unfortunately, one of those expectations is making personal sacrifices. My personal secret? I have excellent time management ability...and I'm highly motivated. I do believe that one of the crucial personality characteristics to be a successful entrepreneur is motivation. If you aren't motivated or disciplined, then you will find it difficult to reach your goals.

It is true that some believe entrepreneurial skills can be taught, that they can be learned through experience and education. And a big part of this is true. But some also believe what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur lies within inborn personality characteristics, and in both strengths and weaknesses. What do you think?

 Furthermore, each personality trait (positive and negative) plays a part in our behavior. It affects how we work, what motivates us, and how we succeed as entrepreneurs. For example, some are motivated by rewards or incentives, some are motivated by advanced opportunities, and others are motivated by social acceptance and personal feelings.

All in all, regardless of who you are, what you do, or how you learn and work, there is one thing in common: Being an entrepreneur means making the most out of every day. But we get it. Everyone has those “slump” days (or even weeks...) when it's tough to get anything done. You don't feel like making that phone call, or running that errand or going to that appointment, sitting in that meeting, or spending another waking minute staring blankly at your laptop or tablet screen. Everyone has days like this. But, at the end of that day, we still have to conduct business...or we don't eat. So how can you ensure that you get the most out of every day?

 Start the day off right. It’s true that starting the day off right can make all the difference. It sets the tone for the day. But how you choose to start your day can vary from person to person, because ultimately we are talking about different personalities here. This could mean getting up early, taking the dog for a walk, or having a good breakfast for one, and exercising, checking email, and mentally preparing for the day for another. Whatever gets you going in the morning, focus on that and make it your goal to start off every day that way.

If you struggle to get up early each morning, then find out what motivates you to get out of bed. Maybe you have a pet that makes sure you are out of bed at a certain hour. Maybe it’s setting the alarm on your phone to your favorite song, or the post-it notes you leave on your nightstand the night before. Maybe it’s the sound or smell of freshly brewing coffee. Whatever motivates you to get out of bed, make it happen.

 Get organized, and get going. A little organization can go a long way. If this is what gets you going, then spend each morning over coffee or breakfast getting organized and planning your day. Some entrepreneurs claim they can’t focus until they feel organized, whether that is mentally or physically. Maybe this means organizing your work space, or cleaning up your cluttered email inbox. Even just spending a few minutes getting organized each morning will give you that little boost of accomplishment to set the tone for the rest of the day.

Some successful entrepreneurs claim they spend the first two hours of every day "IN" their business. This doesn't mean answering email, listening to or responding to messages, or anything administrative, this means actually thinking, brainstorming, and working on your VISION.

 Live for the Night... If you are more of an evening entrepreneur than a morning entrepreneur, why not spend the evening before planning for the next day? This may mean leaving a to-do list before you leave the office, organize your work space for the next morning, or focusing on something that motivates you before you go to bed. Studies have actually shown that the information or activities you complete the evening before can actually stay in your mind, even convert to knowledge, and the output is creative ideas the next morning.

Of course, we can’t control it all…but as entrepreneurs, we would like to. However, there are always going to be obstacles, challenges, and just things that go wrong. We can’t always avoid them, but we can choose to make the best out of them and learn from them. Each and every entrepreneur has his or her own personality, working and learning style and ways they go about doing business. The key here is to find out what makes your entrepreneurial mind “tick”, and how to go about boosting that to make the most out of every day.

Image credit: © Pixelbliss - Fotolia.com

Written content: © 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2012 J. H. Language Solutions 

The 3 Learning Styles and What They Should Mean to You

Have you ever sat in a meeting, lecture, or class, and think to yourself, "I have NO idea what anyone is talking about, or what I'm reading about"? We've probably all been there at least once in your life. The worst part about that is how stupid we feel in that situation. You can't help but think "everyone is getting this but me." It's a horrible feeling, no doubt about it. But what if it's not all you?

The truth is everyone has a learning style. Recognizing that learning style is also critical to your professional success as well as how you function as an individual. There is no "right" or "wrong" learning style, nor does one mean you are smarter over the other. It's just how you learn. The different types of learners include visual, auditory, and tactical. What kind of learner are you?

Visual Learners. Visual learners rely on visual aids, such as charts, graphs, concept maps, or even prefer reading material at their own pace in order to learn and intake information. So the team members in a meeting, training presentation, or class that may seem like they aren’t paying attention, probably really are, but will most likely read up on meeting notes, review the presentation slides or hand outs, or study on their own time and at their own pace.

Auditory Learners. Auditory learners prefer listening and participating in lectures, class discussions, meetings, and other group projects by asking questions as opposed to reading material. Some leaders or lecturers may find that the “talkers” in the group are often the people that wait until a minute before the close of a meeting to ask 100 questions. Be patient…those are just the auditory learners that are speaking up and feeding their own learning style and habits.

Tactical Learners. Tactical learners, also known as kinesthetic learners, are doers. They are the fidgety, hands-on, “I need to just DO this” kind of people. These are the individuals that might doodle or fidget in meetings or class that others might find annoying or distracting. They are in fact listening and taking in the information, but they prefer to do it and get their hands on it rather than listen to it.

By recognizingand understanding each learning style, we just learned a whole lot more about ourselves, and maybe even our class mates or coworkers, didn't we? Now that we understand each learning style a little bit better, how does this knowledge make us better students, employees, leaders, entrepreneurs, or even parents? It allows us to tailor how we teach, speak to, or support another, be it a class mate, a friend, a child, a coworker, or a team member.

For example, you are a manager and one of your team members is Joe. Joe is a visual learner. He visits your office or calls you up and asks a question that may require some training or in-depth explanation, how do you show Joe what to do? If Joe is standing in your office or is on the phone, you can verbally explain to him what to do, and then you might follow up with an email with those same instructions after your conversation. You can also email him charts or slides from a training presentation for his review. This way, Joe, who may not have taken in every single word you said when you spoke to him, but that doesn't necessarily mean he didn’t listen, but now he has an email from you to read on his own once he tackles his task.

Those of you who are managers or entrepreneurs who might be reading this might think this is borderline micromanagement. It isn’t. It’s not about doing team members’ jobs for them, or breathing down their necks to get it done, it’s rather about recognizing individual learning styles. Just like any manager would recognize a team member’s strengths and weaknesses, this is taking it one step further and reaching a team member in the way that they learn best.

So let's go back to the meeting or class and the moment you realize you feel stupid. What was it about that environment or how the content was presented that you feel like really didn't do it for you? Maybe it was too boring to sit and listen to someone blab? Or maybe the presentation itself was too hard to see from where you were sitting. Or maybe the subject material itself just doesn't hold your interest. Regardless of the reason, just because you don't understand something or having a hard time following doesn't necessarily mean it's a reflection on your intelligence or intellectual level. It's just your learning style.

Image credit: © iQoncept - Fotolia.com

Written content: © 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2012 J. H. Language Solutions 

3 Small and Easy Ways to Find Job Purpose

Everyone has a job. Well, unless you are blessed with not having to work, or maybe you choose to do volunteer work, or maybe you are a stay-at-home parent (which is probably the hardest job of all!) it is true that most of us have a job. We need a source of income. We need that paycheck. And we probably even need benefits. But at what point does a person settle for just any job and feels okay with it just being, well, that? How many people do you know have actually found not only a job that they like, but one that also has meaningful job purpose?

Passion is Fashion. Project managers, for example, are proactive go-getters that have an innate ability and personality to plan, organize, set goals, and just get things done. I can say this here because I am one. However, each and every individual has a burning passion within them. It's that fire that allows them to achieve what they want to. However, passion needs to come from inspiration and motivation. Each individual needs to find what heir "fire" is, what gets them excited to set goals, make things happen, and strive for success. In order to keep that fire burning, there needs to be fuel. The fuel, in this case, is job purpose.

It's really easy to get caught up in the day-to-day minutiae and boring details of any job, but it's important to remember what and who is it that you are working for. Of course, as we mentioned above, your "purpose" could be a paycheck, going on a dream vacation, or buying a new car, maybe you have children to raise, or maybe you just can't survive without an income. We all have our reasons for working, but are those reasons enough? Maybe. But wouldn't it be great to work for something greater? Now you can, with finding job purpose. Find that purpose, give it fuel, and make it happen for yourself…because you are worth it.

Make it Personal. One of the unwritten rules of working for a living is that we should never take things personally. It's just a job, it's not your life. While this can be true, sometimes giving projects or areas of your job your own personal touch can be quite rewarding. Each individual's personality plays a huge role how they work, of course. Each job requires a certain level of creativity, whether that's how you provide customer service and speak to clients, how you organize yourself, how you relate to coworkers, or even how you get your job done. The psychology behind how we work is both an art and a science. That level of creativity is an individual's own personal touch, which is also what makes you successful and helps you find job purpose.

Make an Impact Every Day. Even if you have the most boring ob known to man (and woman!), I'd bet money that you could still find a way to changes lives with what you do, and how you do it. Approach is key here. The point is also to find how you can help and impact another's life (regardless of how small or insignificant it may seem) and keep that goal in the front of your mind each day you go into work. 

What if your job doesn't involve working with people or the public? What if you work in a warehouse or stock shelves? Even if your job or area of expertise doesn’t change lives directly, you can focus your energy towards a coworker or supplier you may have a great working relationship with. A "hello, how are you?" and a smile in the hallway can make a bigger and more positive impact than what you might think. It will make getting up and going to work each day that much more rewarding.

But at the end of the day (literally), work is work. Working for a living is tough, and I bet most of us would choose to not do it. It's true that some jobs are more challenging than others, some are enjoyable, but at the end of the day, it's all still work. However, your willingness and effort to seek out and find job purpose really can make all the difference. Analyze your job as it is now, and find out how you can add your own personal touch, fuel your passion, and really strive to do something great each day.


Image credit: © iQoncept - Fotolia.com

Written content: © 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 J. H. Language Solutions 

Is the Content Marketing World Driving You Crazy?

The content marketing world is frustrating, isn't it? Tell me about it. If you are one of my clients or a small business owner or entrepreneur yourself, you probably know what I am talking about. But before you get a good grasp of what content marketing truly is and what it involves, and you think you've nailed down your content marketing strategy, just like the waves of technology, content marketing shifts again.

The last quarter of 2013 took a huge jump into the content marketing world. Then, 2013 ended on a strong note for content marketing, and promised that the beginning of 2014 would be the same. This forced many small businesses to take the giant leap with it, unsure of what was on the other side. They were taking a leap of faith that they'd hopefully come out on top.

Now the we have finished the first quarter of 2014 and are well into the second, the content marketing landscape is shifting again. So what is on tap for content marketing this summer?

Over the last six to nine months I've had the privilege of working with a lot of great clients, providing them more content marketing services and assisting them with their copy writing, web content writing, and blogging. Then, a few months ago, everyone all at the same time came to a grueling halt. It was then I realized that the content marketing sphere must be shifting again, and we are all sitting waiting to see what takes shape, and, yet again, revise our content strategies accordingly and reach customers and our target audiences in new, fresh, unique ways.

Each week I spend several hours doing research on content marketing, carefully studying the trends, the news, and brainstorm and create interesting, compelling topics to write for my clients. In many cases, because I spend so much time watching web trends and content trends, I am able to consult them whenever they are stuck or are experiencing "writer's block". The thing I have found in my research is that there seems to be many inconsistencies in content generation and marketing. Or...it depends on your industry, your target audience, product, service, niche market, etc. 

Here are just a few examples of inconsistencies I've found:

• Blog on a regular basis...but only when you have time.
• Long-form content writing is IN...but we read less than 600 words and retain only about 28% of the content we read.
• Short posts are highly effective...but deep data is crucial.
• Keywords and meta tags are still really important...but SEO is supposedly dead.

How does anyone have the time or patience to keep up with it all? How does one find what strategy works for them? A HUGE piece of content marketing, however, is creating buyer personas, knowing your audience, and reaching and hitting your target in the most creative and compelling ways. It's tough...I'm not going to lie.

The best way I can describe it is waiting for that new Smartphone to come out. You spend months and months researching, diligently doing your homework and watching for reviews on the new technology, planning financially, and maybe even investing a large amount of resources into purchasing several Smartphones for your small business team. Finally, the release date comes out, you're pumped and maybe you are even one of those crazed customers waiting outside in line in the hot sun or bitter cold for forty-six hours waiting for the doors to open to be one of the first to grab the latest and greatest phone. Then, after several months of really learning and adapting to your new phone's functionalities and usage, and maybe even training your team on how to use it for your business, you then find out there's a newer, better one coming out in another six months. Yes, content marketing is THAT kind of frustrating.

So what does he future really hold for us small businesses and content marketers? Some believe that content marketing will eventually replace public relations. Content marketing is a form of "self-publishing". Instead of hiring a publicist to write marketing materials or publish press releases or white papers, a content marketer can take this over instead. A content marketer can also handle the media end of it, posting releases, announcements, and any other publication via social media in order to effectively get the word out.

What is on the horizon for content marketing this summer? A focus on big data to increase and boost sell-through, and really marrying your brand. Getting your brand into customers' faces, making them remember it, react to it, and become dedicated to it. So while content marketing is and can be incredibly frustrating (trust me, I'm frustrated too!), embrace it and make it happen for your business.



Image credit: © baluchis - Fotolia.com

Written content: © 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2012 J. H. Language Solutions 

Why We Love Our Mothers and Female Entrepreneurs (And You Should, Too!)

You may recall an older post that I published a couple years ago titled, “What is a Mother?” I’m revisiting this post briefly today in celebration and recognition of Mothers’ Day. For those of you reading this how who haven’t read it or choose not to (it is quite lengthy…), the brief summary is that “mothers” can be in all forms, figures, and relationships. We now live in a society where a “mother” can be anyone: a grandmother, a stepmother, an aunt, a friend, or other type of “guardian”. A mother doesn’t even have to be a woman!

But…this year’s Mothers’ Day should be a shout out to all female entrepreneurs. And with the increasing amount of female entrepreneurs out there, there is a great deal of them who are also mothers. Being a female entrepreneur isn’t easy. Not only is being an entrepreneur hard itself, but being a woman on top of that can bring on additional challenges. Now, being a mother on TOP of all those, and you probably have the hardest job of all.

Ask any mother who is also an entrepreneur, and she will tell you that it is a tough balance. So why do female entrepreneurs claim that they are happier than stay-at-home moms or those who work in corporate atmospheres or hold down executive-level roles? This is because most female entrepreneurs get into business doing something they love or that they are passionate. In fact, many female entrepreneurs are breaking the glass ceiling with their online businesses and dominating e-commerce by selling furniture, cosmetics, and décor products, just to name a few.

So what do female entrepreneurs have to do with Mothers’ Day? The point here is that many mothers and female entrepreneurs are one in the same amazing woman. Take some time today to thank that special woman in your life that has helped raise you or your children, the “mother” figure, or that female entrepreneur who does it all. 

 © Alliance - Fotolia.com

 Written content: © 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 J.H. Language Solutions