Business. The art of creating one and making it successful can be a tricky mix.
I’m often asked how do you do it? My specialisation is online presence. The common mistake here is that I must only be online to be successful. The reality couldn’t be further from the truth.
Take a look around, do you only live online? We may say we live online thanks to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Amazon, Ebay and the plethora of other eCommerce shopping websites and Social Media platforms. But, I don’t know about you but I LOVE my coffee at the local cafe, meeting friends and family in person and going on holidays using planes, trains and automobiles… and that’s just for starters.
So now that we all agree that we don’t just live online, here is my A-Z of business success. And – in case you’re wondering – yes, this is what I live by for my business, every single day.
A – Apps
It’s true there is an app for that. There really is. In my case, I run my business with a rule. If I’m getting busy and think I need to hire someone to help, I start with looking for an app first. This meant I didn’t hire my first employee until I was in business for 18 months. I now have more than 12 apps in use for my business. A few of my favourites include Trello for Task management, Evernote for reading lists, and Hootsuite for Social Media Management.
B – Build
I remind myself daily that ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’ Allow yourself time to build your business. It is better to take your time and build the foundation right that rush it. Without a steady foundation, it will prove difficult to have long term success.
C – Create
Always look for things to create. When you create it, you have an opportunity to stand out from the crowd.
D – Define
The more defined you are for what you want to be found for, the more likely you are to be found. This includes being more easily understood and connected with.
E – Experience
Experience is incredibly powerful. Don’t assume that you need to be in business a long time to have experience. Learn from others who have successfully been in business. Getting a business mentor is a great idea (I have a few). You can also apply your vast life experience to your business.
F – Friends
It is true. Your friends are strong influences in your success. It helps to surround yourself with a strong positive team who can support and inspire you.
G – Generosity
When you are generous of heart in all that you do, amazing things happen. It helps to be driven in business by something more fulfilling than money.
H – Happiness
Owning and running a business is not an easy option to earn an income. Being happy doing what you do helps.
I – Interest
Your interest is what can sustain you. Do you live and breathe what you do for business? If not, doing well in business is going to be hard.
J – Jammed
Expect to have a jammed-packed diary. Being in business you are the driver of your business. It is not about being busy for the sake of it, but rather it’s about finding and doing everything you can to be productive for your business.
K – Kindness
Everything you do for your business should come from a place of kindness. The biggest learning from this is that when the going gets tough, when you do something kind, everything is easier. That includes doing your business.
L – Learner
Be a learner. I teach online presence. I love teaching. What goes hand in hand with this is learning. For me to be good at what I do, I learn consistently. I encourage everyone I know to do the same. After all, if everything is changing constantly, it would be wrong if we didn’t do likewise, wouldn’t it?
M – Money
The fact of the matter is that we need money to survive. The amount we need varies based on our circumstances. Make sure you understand how much you need, price yourself accordingly and value what you do. Your business success depends on this.
N – Network
You cannot do what you do alone. You do need a network of people to help you. Your network is unique to you. If you only find people who are similar minded to you, be mindful that you will not get all the support you need from one area, group or person. Great places to start looking are local Chambers of Commerce, industry groups for your niche and Groups on Facebook.
O – Opportunity
Always look for opportunities. In fact just be open to them. They may come from having a chat with your accountant, being at a coffee shop, attending a networking group meeting, being nominated for an award or simply seeing a Facebook post. Seize the opportunities.
P – Power
There are so many things you are in control of. This is your power. This is why I’m passionate about DIY digital. There are so many digital tools you have access to that are FREE. When you update all of these, wow! You significantly increase your chances of success. How do I know this? I’ve applied this exact principle to myself and my business.
Q – Quality
Focus on quality in everything that you do. This principle has meant that I have even missed sending a weekly email to my subscribers if I felt the quality wasn’t there. Focus on the quality and you will increase your impact.
R – Real
Be real. Clients and potential clients will connect with you when you are yourself.
S – Stamina
Look after your self so you can have the stamina to keep going. This can be easier said than done. Give yourself time to look after yourself. After all if you’re unwell, who is going to run your business?
T – Time
Time, especially time management. Is critical to your success. I use Trello as a great support for this.
U – Useful
Be useful in everything that you do.
V – Value
Be of value. This includes what you are creating, but also in the value of what you are doing. Is what you are doing adding value to your life?
W – Wonder
Is there an element of wonder in what you do? Quite simply, there should be. I love the wonder I have at digital technology and what it can do to enable all our lives to be better. I love educating people about this.
X – Xero
I struggle with accounting. Xero makes my life easier. It also allows me to track and manage my cash flow. As a business owner, this is priceless.
Y – Yield
Understanding my business profit and loss allows me know what I can and can’t do. The yield of my business depends on this. And when you look at it like that, my livelihood depends on this.
Z – Zen
The art of zen (a.k.a. meditation) and self care cannot be underestimated. The more aware I am of this and allow myself time to look after me, this especially includes running regularly (my way of achieving a ‘zen state’), the better I am physically and also in my business.
So there you have it. There’s actually not one single ingredient. And in fact, I’m certain there are more that you could add. The A – Z of Business Success.
