Abigail Dougherty Archives - I Take The Lead

Make Time Off a Priority by Abigail Dougherty

Becky T — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:40:07 +0000

I always look forward to reading Abigail’s latest “words of wisdom.” Please scroll all the way down, if you find that taking vacations seems to be a ‘foreign concept’ in your world. Abigail can help you create the kind of business that will allow you to take time off! She is fantastic!A generation or two ago, most people worked hard for 40 hours each week and had time each evening for dinner, visiting with neighbors, supervising their children’s homework, and bath time. For the past two decades, not taking vacation time has become a desperate attempt to keep our jobs, despite no proof to support the practice. Today, Americans work more days per year and more hours per day than workers in any other industrialized nation. We have no national vacation policy, unlike other industrialized nations. Only 10% of employed Americans take two weeks off at a time for vacation.What’s Preventing Time Off?We all have 24 hours in a day. How we allocate them is completely individual. When clients tell me they cannot take time off, their reasons fall into very predictable buckets.1. Money – If you are paid hourly, then time not working is less dollars in your pay package. The majority of my clients own their own business so that’s a lame argument. When they have a net income goal that they are not meeting, we need to look at their marketing, their conversion rate from lead to client, their follow up to retain existing/prior clients, and their expenses.2. Fear – These days many salaried people are terrified of taking time off in case they lose their job. There are thousands of people who made this decision and lost their jobs anyway. If you believe your boss “won’t like it” when you take time off, think about who will be around to enjoy when you are 65. It probably won’t be your current boss. 3. Poor Planning – For business owners, if their business is set up so it cannot function without them on hand, it’s definitely time to look at their systems, policies, and protocols so they are set up to allow a month-long cruise with no worries about the business continuing to prosper. Or, help them make their annual revenue in 11 months of the year so they have the twelfth month free. A clockmaker friend of mine spends the month of February in Hawaii, because he generates his desired annual revenue March through January.4. Avoidance of Other Things – This is more common that most of us want to admit. If there are problems in the marriage, it’s easier to work longer hours. When you have a teenager with attitude, it’s less stressful to go to the office on the weekend. After you welcome the new puppy in the family, it’s definitely better to avoid being the first one home to clean up any accidents and take the puppy for a walk. We don’t like to admit that we are working longer hours to avoid other things, but it’s a very probable cause.Just because we can – does not mean we shouldTechnology allows us to be connected 24/7 around the world. We’ve become so infatuated with our “toys” that they now dictate our lives. They come with OFF buttons! Learn to use them! I promise there is no law, rule, or commandment that says we must be connected every hour of every day. Even God, in the middle of creation, managed a day of rest. If it’s good enough for the Big Guy, it’s good enough for us mere mortals.Protect What is Most ValuableYour technology tools can be lost, stolen, or destroyed. If you’ve followed basic levels of security and back-up protocols, you can easily replace the tool, recover your information, and be functional in a matter of hours.Human beings, you, your family, friends, and co-workers are not replaceable with downloaded memory. As I have pointed out frequently, if you do not take extremely good care of yourself, no one else can or will do it for you. Only you can control how your physical, mental, and emotional well-being is cared for. Many of us take better care of equipment than of ourselves.Take The Long ViewAre you nicer, calmer, more creative, and helpful to your clients when you are rested and refreshed, or when you are half sick and exhausted? Will your clients be happier finding a new supplier for your goods or products when you have burned out to the point you need to close down your business?Make yourself and your own well-being a priority. Take time off to relax, refresh, and recharge. Your body, your business, and your relationships will all benefit.I keep this question posted to my bulletin board as a reminder. “How thin can you spread yourself before you are no longer “there?” © 2010 Straight Edge News All Rights Reserved.Abigail Dougherty, PCC, is the founder of Straight Edge Solutions, a Professional Certified Coach, Business Process Expert and Motivational Speaker. To read more articles by Abigail and learn more about her work, please visit her website, StraightEdgeSolutions.com or contact Abigail at Abigail@StraightEdgeSolutions.com.For those of you who prefer to vacation off-season, now is an excellent time to confirm that your business will run smoothly without your attention for a week or two. Send Abigail an email so you can set up a time to talk about how to prepare for your gift of time off.Abigail DoughertyStraight Edge SolutionsAbigail@StraightEdgeSolutions.com

The post Make Time Off a Priority by Abigail Dougherty appeared first on I Take The Lead.

What’s Your Formula

Becky T — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:43:27 +0000

If you are networking, chances are you own a business. You will want to read the following article by Abigail Dougherty. BeckyAs I’ve admitted before, my definition of a “business” book is broader than most publishers’. Because I read over 200 nonfiction books a year, it means I’ve read several on leadership, sales, marketing, management, etc. The more I read, the clearer it becomes that there is no single precise formula for success in business. Most of the books agree on six key attributes needed to be successful. They might name them differently, but the fundamentals are the same.SkillThis is usually the easiest one. Sane people do not start a business unless they have a certain level of qualification in that field, either by experience, education or certification. If you are a carpenter, travel agent, coach, lawyer or dog groomer, somewhere along the way you’ve picked up the necessary abilities to do that work.VisionGoing into business for yourself requires a vision of what you want from life that is greater than the relative security of working for a paycheck. The vision could be about freedom, about creativity, about flexibility of where and when you work, and who you work with. It could be as simple as the change you want to bring to the world. Without vision we cannot run our business; it will always run us. PersonalityOf all the attributes for business success, this, to me, is the most controversial. Sometimes charisma is mistaken for the ability to lead. Sadly, leadership isn’t always combined with integrity and competence. When it is, it’s a fabulous combination for success. Too often, key qualities are missing and we see the business fail in a headline-blazing fashion.CreativityThis is the ability to find, engage, and listen to our customers so we can understand what they WANT to solve problems or save themselves pain. Creativity includes being able to keep that dialogue going as tastes or the problems they face change. Being a buggy whip maker in the age of automobiles could limit your business success, unless you are Jedediah’s Buggy Whip Maker, who has carved out a unique niche in what most believe is a dead industry. Creativity helps you get through any barrier to your success. That might mean going over, under, around or through the obstacles that pop up. This is where Master Mind groups are invaluable. Often we are too close to the problem to see the solution that is obvious to someone in a different industry.DeterminationI was listening to an interview of a well-known speaker who, early in his career, was asked to work with an inner-city youth group to help them develop self-esteem. He was wise enough to help them acknowledge that they faced challenges, that people have faced similar challenges in the past, and that similar challenges will continue in the future. This speaker’s message to these youths was, “Now you know the challenges, succeed anyway!” We can all produce a litany of excuses for not being successful. We’re human: as long as we are alive we will have challenges. We can use them as our excuse to not succeed or we can use determination and creativity to succeed anyway.ActionIt’s probably not surprising that action is often the hardest step for business owners. Purposeful action to attract clients, to book business, to earn revenue, and to ensure the clients become your fan club is significantly different from activities. Business owners too often believe that it’s their job to do everything in the business. Successful business owners figure out where they add the most value to the business and find ways to delegate the rest to a third party, an employee or a virtual assistant. Remember, delegation retains your control. Abdication means you’ve abandoned part of your business to someone else’s priorities.What’s Your Formula?Skill, vision, personality, creativity, determination, and action are all essential building blocks of business success. How much of each that is required for your success is completely individual to your business and your market. No matter how your formula reads, ACTION is the essential ingredient to ALL success.

“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.”

Leonardo DaVinci

© 2010 Straight Edge NewsWANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE? Check our website: Straight Edge Solutions.WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Abigail Dougherty, PCC, is the founder of Straight Edge Solutions, a Professional Certified Coach, Business Process Expert and Motivational Speaker. To read more articles by Abigail and learn more about her work, please visit her website, StraightEdgeSolutions.com or contact Abigail at Abigail@StraightEdgeSolutions.com.

The post What’s Your Formula appeared first on I Take The Lead.

Success is a Package Deal – Part 2

Becky T — Thu, 27 May 2010 04:13:56 +0000

Success is a Package Deal – Part 2

Thanks, Abigail…I’ve been waiting for Park 2!Untapped Golden GeeseMany business owners make the mistake of making a sale or providing a service for a client, and then let the client fall by the wayside while they seek new business opportunities. I’ve spent a decade trying, unsuccessfully, to find a business that could never repeat a sale or service to the same client, or their family and friends. Starting now, keep a list of everyone who touches your business. Collect names, email addresses, physical mailing addresses, and phone numbers. If you can still find prior customers, ask them for the same information. This information is essential for keeping in touch with your clients. Today, letting your clients know you are still in business is important. Also, this list is vital to let your clients know how you can help them resolve new business or personal challenges. Supplier or SupporterIt’s human nature to want the very best value, every time we make a purchase. Many businesses measure cost strictly by the initial price tag on the “widget.” Toyota, right or wrong, has become a textbook case for the perils of focusing only on cost.Too often, business owners or their staff believe they are the best experts to create their product or service. They specify what they want in a “widget” that is needed to make their product, and then put that spec out to bid. That does not mean it’s really the optimal widget for your application or that it incorporates the latest technological innovation.Generally, your suppliers will be the experts on their products or services. Take the time to meet with your suppliers. This relationship requires your personal focus, rather than leaving it strictly in the hands of your design or purchasing teams. Help your suppliers understand your business vision.For example: For a moving company, is your vision simply to transport goods from point A to point B? Maybe your vision is to provide the owners of those goods with a worry-free relocation, on schedule, of their carefully packaged products. The clarity of your vision makes a tremendous difference in how your supplier can support your business.Ideally, the supplier who “gets” your vision will seek out creative solutions to enable you to meet your goals. They can also become some of your best referral partners when they understand your commitment to your customers. Pragmatic ManagementThe March Vanity Fair magazine had an article that would have been the norm several decades ago. It was about Goldman Sachs and their 21^st-century expectations for the “company spouse,” including accepting that the father would be away on business when his children were born. That belief in “everything for the company” was much more common until recent years. With the definition of “family” becoming so broad and diverse in the past few decades, employers have learned to focus only on the warm body sitting across the interview table. Experienced employers know that problems outside the office definitely impact productivity and morale in the office. Absenteeism, poor focus, illness, and disengaged employees can all result from problems outside the office. Many external issues can be supported by programs that are of little-to-no cost to the employer, yet will yield huge rewards with happy, healthy, and focused employees.Many employers can neither afford nor wish to pay for more than the most minimal benefits. It is still possible, and highly practical, to offer optional programs the employees pay for with payroll deductions to provide them cash in a medical emergency, to help protect them from identity theft and restoring their good name when it does occur, or provide basic mental health counseling. All these offers support your staff and can be enormously valuable to keep your business running smoothly.Ask your network for ideas on how to help your employees at minimal cost to the business. The help is out there; it’s your job as a business owner to find it.© 2010 Straight Edge News All Rights Reserved.Abigail Dougherty, PCC, is the founder of Straight Edge Solutions, a Professional Certified Coach, Business Process expert, and Motivational Speaker. To read additional articles by Abigail and learn more about her work, please visit her website, StraightEdgeSolutions.com or contact Abigail at Abigail@StraightEdgeSolutions.com

The post Success is a Package Deal – Part 2 appeared first on I Take The Lead.

Success is a Package Deal – Part I

Becky T — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 21:05:55 +0000

I always look forward to Abigail Dougherty’s newsletters! As you are networking, I encourage you to keep Abigail’s following article in mind. (Abigail is the owner of Straigth Edge Solutions)I also recommend that you check out her website: www. straightedgesolutions.comOne of the most crucial lessons an entrepreneur can learn is that in order to succeed, you need to have the support, ideas, and work of other people. The second most crucial lesson to learn is to be careful about who you invite along on your success journey.Individuals MatterToo often as business owners we focus on the WHAT of our business and consider the WHO involved in the business to be secondary. Frequently we fail to see the person behind the role. If you were asked about your vendor’s weekend hobby, would you have an answer? Did the business down the street ever need to find new clients? How did they go about it? Does your CPA understand what your business is? Can your next-door neighbor explain to his brother-in-law what you do?Wisdom and experience make working with people we know, like, and trust far more important than what someone puts on their resume. Trust your gut and do your research when you are inviting people on your success journey. It’s worth investing the time to really get to know the people you are interested in inviting along. A few months spent upfront can generate decades-long business relationships and lifetime friendships.Pool Your ResourcesBeing a business owner does not mean we have all the answers. As a client of mine put it – “We don’t even have all the questions.” Get input from other people, from books, seminars, tapes, and magazines. Keep a notebook with you to capture ideas from every source. Having lunch with a few friends might give you insights on a new meeting location for your next seminar. An article on recycling might spark an idea for saving money with your own office recycling practices, which could also be worth sharing with your success partners and your past, present, and potential clients. Mastermind or Never Mind“None of us is as smart as all of us.”Vince LombardiThe more minds focused on making a business successful, the higher the probability that will be the result. Masterminds can be a fabulous tool to help you move forward quickly. Napoleon Hill, in Think and Grow Rich, compared minds to batteries that alone could light a lamp, but collectively could light a city. The more successful the members of your Mastermind, the more successful you will become. I have clients who will only belong to a Mastermind with business owners who earn over $1M annually. A highly effective Mastermind usually requires an up-front investment to help weed out the “hobbyists” and will have a facilitator who keeps the agenda moving and everyone in the group moving forward. I’ve been involved with different Masterminds over the years. Some were more effective than others. Strong Mastermind groups are challenging to find and are difficult to gain acceptance. Again, it’s worth the investment in time and resources to locate the best ones you can find and petition for acceptance as a member.Share the JoyAs you succeed, remember to share the joy with all the people who helped make it possible. Two movie passes with a note saying, “Thank you for helping us be successful,” probably isn’t going to break the bank and will generate a huge wave of continued support.One business I’ve worked with for two decades takes their entire staff and their families someplace special for five days each spring break. They combine it with 20 hours of continuing education requirements for the employees, so it’s not a free-for-all. This getaway thanks the families for their sacrifices they make all year to accommodate the parent’s work schedule. For the last 25 years, this firm has less than 5% turnover annually, compared to 38% in their industry.In a future article I’ll talk more about how family, clients, employees, vendors, and support staff all can be instrumental in making your business a success. Their ability to help or hinder is often directly in relation to how we, as business owners, work with them. © 2010 Straight Edge News All Rights Reserved.

The post Success is a Package Deal – Part I appeared first on I Take The Lead.

Profiting Between the Lines

Becky T — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:57:11 +0000

As you are busy networking – trying to build your business – keep the following article, by Abigail Dougherty, in mind.

The Bottom Line

Every business owner I know has a keen sense of their business bottom line. Is the business profitable, or not? If not, most owners have ideas to improve the business’s bottom line in the future.

As you are busy networking – trying to build your business – keep the following article, by Abigail Dougherty in mind.

The Front Line

The front line is seldom as keenly managed. Most businesses define “front line” too narrowly as the first point of human contact. Front line actually includes every contact point a customer has with the business; from the moment the phones are answered, live or mechanically, all the way through the transaction, including service long after the original transaction is completed.

We recently dealt with two front line employees in a local store with markedly different results. One took the stance that our issue was outside the policy. He could not help us and we could take our business (and 13 years of customer loyalty) elsewhere. The second person explained why we were told “no,” then took the time to negotiate a win-win solution. The second person generated a huge sale and kept loyal customers happy. Sadly, the first person was the store manager. The helpful employee was a subordinate who took the initiative to seek a solution outside the policy to resolve the issue.

Tools for the Front Line

The best way to lose customers is to have rigid customer support policies that allow no initiative from your employees. Unless you have a truly unique product or service, it’s imperative that your customers believe they are being treated as individuals and someone is ready to listen and help them.

New hires do not belong in a front line role. They need to be shown, as well as trained, on the broad view and the details of who, what, why, how, and when of your products, services, your ideal clients, and your competition.

Experienced employees need to be armed with options and examples of prior customer solutions. It’s worth the time to send regular “win” messages to your entire team spotlighting challenging customer issues and the creative solutions to resolve them.

Make it a team effort. Use your collective resources, solicit, and then reward contributions for customer satisfaction from your entire team. You will probably be surprised how creative your staff is, when given the opportunity to contribute.

The Front Line Drives the Bottom Line

More than 70% of all buying decisions are driven by referral marketing, or word of mouth. Happy customers are your best sales staff. Happy employees who understand, believe, and can share success stories about your business are essential to creating happy customers.

Years ago I was the “right-hand assistant” for a funeral director/mortician. My job definition was one line: Help him do his work. One of my regular tasks was to write up, proof, and print the memorial cards for each visitation and funeral. It was better to have extras left over than to run out. I soon learned that most people have a circle of about 250 others who know and or care about them. We printed 250 memorial cards for most services and usually had only a few left over. This was pre-social media; today 6,000 appears to be the accepted reach for our circle of influence.

It’s human nature to share bad news more readily than good news. A happy customer will tell several friends, especially soon after they’ve done business with you. An unhappy customer tells everyone they speak to about their experience and will remember the story for years to come when your business name comes up, or even when the discussion turns to the same industry. Unhappy customers never forget and seldom forgive.

We are blessed with two eyes. As business people that means we keep one on the front line and the other on the bottom line.

Abigail DoughertyStraight Edge Solutions

www.StraightEdgeSolutions.com

Abigail@StraightEdgeSolutions.com

The post Profiting Between the Lines appeared first on I Take The Lead.

Nags, Neds, Nits, and Nuts

Becky T — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 06:08:42 +0000

Everyone has personality quirks. How we behave when well rested and relaxed is often quite different from when we are tired or stressed. Beneath the variations, we have our fundamental personality. Some personalities are beneficial, even when they are annoying. Some personalities are better avoided. Here are four personalities I’ve labeled Nags, Neds, Nits, and Nuts.NAGSContrary to popular fiction, this personality occurs in both genders. They repeat, repeat, and repeat the same information or direction. Since it’s impossible to find their “off” button, an effective strategy is to discover which communication style works best for them. Everyone uses sight, sound or touch to communicate. We each prefer one above the others. If your Nag prefers sight, a large erasable board to log their directions will often satisfy their need to know the message is received. If your Nag prefers sound, a return phone call to repeat back the directions could suffice. If your Nag prefers touch, ask them write to the message on your erasable board or on your priority list for the week. Once they know their message is heard, Nags are usually content to leave you in peace; at least until the next set of directions.NEDSNeds, also known as Negative Ned, never see the glass as half full. To them the glass is always broken and water is dripping on the floor. This personality kills all energy and enthusiasm out of their environment. They find fault with every suggestion, every innovation, and often with individuals as well. The only way to cope successfully with Neds is to keep them away. One Ned on the team drags everyone down. It is not your role, nor in your best interest to try and “cheer up” a Ned. Help them out the door!

“The only true disability in life is a bad attitude.” Scott Hamilton

NITSNits, also known as nitpickers, can be a gift. Nits’ role is to point out the details that separate the good from the best. Nits find the typo on page 372 of a 600-page manuscript and tell you about it. Nits remind us about due dates, in advance, so we can be successful. I appreciate the Nits in my life, even though I get frustrated when they find a detail I missed. If you are a Nit, be selective about which nits to pick. It’s more valuable to connect, rather than to correct, people. NUTSHumans are like a can of mixed nuts; some are enjoyable, some tolerable, and some need to be tossed. Unlike the can, human Nuts cannot be identified by appearance alone. It takes time to get to know the real person behind their persona. There are Scary Nuts with little or no self-control of their behavior. There are Odd Nuts who have a zeal for a collection, an era, or an event. They love to share their passion with others. Best of all are Delightful Nuts who view life as a comedy and invite you to laugh with them. Based on observation, Scary Nuts tend to have few friends. Odd Nuts tend to belong to groups involved in their fields of interest. Delightful Nuts will invite other Delightful Nuts to join their circle when they discover each other.Odd Nuts and Delightful Nuts add tremendous joy to the workplace and to our personal lives. Scary Nuts are best avoided.Be AwarePersonalities on the team have a huge impact on the success of any venture. It’s easier to be aware of the personalities prior to adding them to your team. There are tools and experts who can help you hire for personality as well as for competency. It’s worth the money to use their help. If you have Neds or Scary Nuts on your existing team, start the process now to help them find a new place to work. When those personalities get “hired away” it’s a happy parting.© 2010 Straight Edge News All Rights Reserved.Abigail DoughertyStraight Edge Solutions 503-297-5798 Abigail@StraightEdgeSolutions.com

The post Nags, Neds, Nits, and Nuts appeared first on I Take The Lead.

The Power of Community

Becky T — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:21:33 +0000

Thanks, Abigail!Excellent and Plentiful CompanyThe latest Census Bureau statistics reported 20M businesses in America have one employee – the owner. An additional 6M businesses have fewer than 10 employees, counting the owner. To put those numbers into perspective: 26M businesses are more than the combined population of the 10 largest cities in the USA.* For these small businesses, the good news is they have the ultimate flexibility to change and adapt to their clients’ needs and competition. The flip side is they are probably managing their business in isolation. Reasons for Community Share KnowledgeThere is no reason to repeat the same mistakes another new business made. Other owners, even in different kinds of businesses, have a wealth of experience that will balance both scare tactics and rosy promises of an advertising salesperson, as an example. Realistic Benchmarks for SuccessBusiness owners tend to be optimists; it’s a prerequisite for daring to control our own destiny. Sometimes having advisors to push us when we are being too conservative, as well as to add a voice of sanity when we are about to bankrupt ourselves with a poorly analyzed action, can make all the difference to the success of our business. Realistic Analysis of ErrorsWe are often our own worst critics! Sometimes it’s difficult to have a clear postmortem of what happened, why, and how to avoid a repeat in the future. It’s even more difficult when we are standing amid the fallout to see the next step to salvage our business. Safety NetPeople with close ties to a network of friends and family live longer, are happier, and enjoy better health than people who are isolated. Many business owners cannot discuss their challenges with the family without causing alarm. It’s not sensible to discuss your challenges with a competitor or your own clients. Who can you talk to? Develop Your Community NetworkI wish network training was mandatory at age 13, with a refresher course each decade afterward. It would make school, the work world, and our communities much easier to navigate. Collecting business cards is not networking. Making and maintaining a true heart-to-heart connection is networking at its best. Research the commercial networking organizations in your community. The newspaper, craigslist, and Meetup all list these resources. It takes time to become known and for people to feel comfortable about referring you. Give any group you join at least six months before you decide you need to move on. MastermindMasterminds are a small group of people, usually with non-competitive businesses, that get together on a regular basis to support each other’s growth by challenging the members to stretch into new goals and holding each other accountable for meeting their commitments. Commercial masterminds are usually more successful than voluntary ones, as they have enough structure and financial cost to encourage commitment. Ideally, find and negotiate to join a mastermind of the most successful people you can locate. Mastermind members are often scattered across the country and rely on the phone for some meetings, as well as weekend working retreats in various locations throughout the year. CoachCoaches are like a personalized Mastermind. They keep you accountable, will stretch you into new goals, and provide third party insights you might not have considered. People can work with different coaches, for different purposes, simultaneously. It’s also possible to work for several years with the same coach. As long as they are helping you grow personally and/or professionally, they are worth the investment. Conference/SeminarsThis is an expensive and often inconvenient way to build a network of like-minded people. Once the event is over, a rare individual follows up with the people they met at the conference. It’s difficult to absorb all the content provided and remember to make connections during the breaks or before and after the sessions. I encourage everyone to still network at these events, though it’s usually the hardest way to develop your network. Your DecisionRegardless of how you build your community, it’s important to remember that other people and their opinions have no power in defining your destiny. We can listen to their ideas, but at the end of the day, it’s our business and we make the final decisions. © 2009 Straight Edge News All Rights Reserved.

Contributed by Abigail Dougherty

Straight Edge Solutions

www.straightedgesolutions.com

The post The Power of Community appeared first on I Take The Lead.

Prioritize Three!

Becky T — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:34:42 +0000

People, who are building their business through networking, can be some of the most successful professionals, and also some of the most active. Because of this, I asked Abigial to contribute the following article so we can all gain some benefit. Enjoy. Thanks, Abigail!When someone else is managing a project or outcome they will remind you of what is due and when. When it’s your own business, especially if you are a sole proprietor or only have a few employees, it is often extremely difficult to stay focused on the priorities or to feel like you are making progress toward your goals. Tyranny of the UrgentIf you’ve read the Steven R. Covey book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, you already understand the difference between important and urgent tasks. If you haven’t read this book, it’s worth making the time to at least understand the four quadrants and where you are spending most of your time. Taking ActionIn addition to understanding the difference between urgent and important, it’s crucial that you understand the difference between an action and a project. What we think is one action might actually be a series of actions required for a result. My own experience and my clients have taught me that business owners often label a result as an action. “Update your website” is a result I often see on my client’s list. It’s usually been on their “To Do” list for months, because they haven’t taken the time to break it down into bite-sized actions. Without breaking it down, they cannot figure out what action is needed, so none is taken. ExampleLet’s talk about the steps involved to get to the desired outcome of an updated website. This list is neither comprehensive, nor in priority order. It’s merely an example to clarify the difference between the desired result and the many actions it takes to achieve that result:

Establish a budget for updating website
Get recommendations for a web designer
Hire a web designer
Establish priorities for the site update
Call photographer for new photo
Schedule haircut prior to photo
Select photo
Hire a writer to update content
Hire marketing expert to consult on new brand/content/logo
Book meetings with designer to review updates
Proof updates
Schedule soft launch of new site
Marketing blitz for major launch of new site

The important point is that most of these steps are easy to do. If necessary, assign them to your assistant for completion. Prioritize DailyWhen there is a fabulous vacation coming up, or a crisis, most of us easily prioritize what must be done and what can sit or be delegated. Developing that skill on a daily basis dramatically increases results and reduces stress. Many years ago I discovered that I need to write things down. All that writing meant I spent years with a “To Do” list with 20 to 40 things on it, every day. The pressure of undone tasks was exhausting. Recently, I learned a new discipline – prioritize three daily. I still keep a list in my notebook of all the things that need to be done for my businesses, my health, my home, and my family. The night before, I review the list, and select the three next actions that will have the biggest impact. I write those down and make them a priority for the next day. I might get them all done by noon; sometimes it will take the entire day to get them done. At the end of the day, I know I am moving forward on my highest goals. Occasionally, when I’ve been able to complete the three priorities for the day early, I will take on the next two or three highest priorities in the same day. Some days, once I’ve accomplished the highest priorities, I give myself permission to take the rest of the day “off.” © 2009 Straight Edge News All Rights Reserved.Contributed by: Abigail DoughertyStraight Edge Solutions 503-297-5798Abigail@StraightEdgeSolutions.com

The post Prioritize Three! appeared first on I Take The Lead.

Becky T — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:04:05 +0000

You may wonder what Tips for Outlook has to do with Networking Is Not Selling, but if you are trying to grow your business by networking, I’m sure you’ve found, like I have, that you need to stay organized. One of my favorite writers/speakers, Abigail Dougherty, has given us some useful tools to stay organized using Outlook. 1. Change Your ViewSet up your Outlook page so you see your calendar before you see your email. That keeps you focused on the tasks that must be done for the day, before you risk being sidetracked with email messages. On Microsoft Outlook main page click on TOOLS, then OPTIONS. At the top of Options page you have choice tabs: Preferences, Mail Set Up, Mail Format, Spelling, Security and Other. Click on OTHER. Under General (the first choice) there are two buttons – select ADVANCED OPTIONS. Under “Startup in this folder”: Browse for CALENDARThen OK yourself back to the main screen.This will prompt the calendar to be the first thing you see when you turn on Outlook.2. Turn it OFF! A. Turn off default meeting reminders – You can manually set this for only your critical appointments. This will save you a long list of reminders for appointments that are passed when you’ve been away from the office for a few hours.On Microsoft Outlook main page click on TOOLS, then OPTIONS. At the top of Options page you have choice tabs: Preferences, Mail Set Up, Mail Format, Spelling, Security and Other. Select PREFERENCES, go down to Calendar (second choice) and remove the check mark from default reminders. B. Turn off all the incoming email notificationsOn Microsoft Outlook main page click on TOOLS, then OPTIONS. At the top of Options page you have choice tabs: Preferences, Mail Set Up, Mail Format, Spelling, Security and Other. Select PREFERENCES, go down to email (first choice), click on EMAIL OPTIONS. This opens up Advanced E-mail Options.The second section “When new items arrive in my Inbox” should ALL be UNCHECKED. You do not need a ding, a ghost, a changed cursor or an envelope to tell you email is there if you get in the habit of regularly checking your email only two or three times a day.3. Building Your Contact ListUse your signature block on all new messages.On Microsoft Outlook main page click on TOOLS, then OPTIONS. At the top of Options page you have choice tabs:Preferences, Mail Set Up, Mail Format, Spelling, Security and Other.Select MAIL FORMAT, go down to SIGNATURES (third choice) and select your email account(s) that need a formal signature block. Select signature blocks for both the original messages as well as responses to messages. Click on SIGNATURES to see and edit any signature block you currently have set up.The key is to click on APPLY, rather than OK once you have made your updates/corrections. When someone pulls up your message they can easily create the contact page in Outlook to reconnect with you. They will simply drag your message into CONTACTS, which automatically opens a new contact. It’s a quick cut and paste to put the information in the right places in the contacts form.4. Booking AppointmentsHave you ever missed an appointment because critical information wasn’t on your PDA or calendar page? It’s not even necessary to open the email to turn it into a calendar event.Simply drag the email message onto the Calendar selection and a new appointment will open – with today’s date and the current time. You will need to edit the date and time to match the actual meeting time. It’s also an excellent time to copy-paste the location or bridge line information into with the subject or the location of the appointment. Now your PDA will show the necessary details. A copy of the email will stay attached to the appointment in your calendar. The original message is still in your in box, so you can file it appropriately.These simple steps will make your life easier and allow a few more minutes to call that client or talk to that vendor you’ve been needing to meet.© 2009 Straight Edge News All Rights Reserved.Contributed by Abigail DoughertyStraight Edge Solutions 503-297-5798Abigail@StraightEdgeSolutions.com

The post appeared first on I Take The Lead.

Focus and Influence

Becky T — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 01:24:03 +0000

Contributed by Abigail Dougherty (Info at bottom)

Keeping Your HeadThe ability to stay focused on the goal is one of the most essential traits in any successful business. When a businessperson says they are in business “to make money”, I assume they won’t be in business very long. If money is the only goal, there are easier ways to get it; some legal, some not. Running a successful business needs a greater reason for existence. Otherwise, the obstacles will prove to be overwhelming and the business will close.

Make the time, to write down the five things you want from your business in the next two years. One of the goals might be a certain income level; what are your other four goals? These goals help drive everything about your business. They help you define your processes, which in turn help build your income.

George, a client, has a goal of 13 weeks of vacation a year. Most of us might think it’s impossible to run a successful business when you are gone one quarter of the year. George knew in order for him to be gone 13 weeks a year he needed a well trained team to run the business in his absence. It wasn’t as simple as placing an ad then handing them the keys to the office.

George spent weeks examining everything his company does for clients. With his existing staff, he documented each step from the marketing plans, to initial client phone calls, through to the job close out and payment. They also included his quarterly mailings to all clients with seasonal suggestions. In the course of this work he found gaps and redundancies in the process that previously were resolved with “human glue”.

Once the documentation was complete, George analyzed what personnel was needed to accomplish each step in the process. The ideal is a staff of five, including himself. Two of his current staff matched the new well-defined roles. With clarity, he was able to post and hire for the remaining openings. George focused six months on this project, and he added headcount. Was it worth the time and expense?

George’s net revenue grew 11% for the fiscal year that ended in June 2009. During that fiscal year, George spent 9 weeks on vacation. He’s booked the full 13 weeks of vacation for the current fiscal year. An unintentional consequence of George’s work: he now has a business that can be sold more easily with it’s defined system and identified proprietary processes. If he, or his heirs, decided to franchise the business, they can ensure the same results in another location.

“Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal.”- E. Joseph Cossman

Who’s Influencing You?In addition to focus, the people you routinely spend time with play a huge role in the success of your business. We need competitors as well as supporters to keep our businesses focused on meeting the customer’s needs. The Latin root for the verb “to compete” is “competere”, which means “to seek together” or “to strive together”. Product and process improvements seldom happen in the absence of competition. Our competitors, collectively, will come up with more innovations than we could individually dream up in several lifetimes. Know your competitors, learn how to tap into their collective wisdom, and when to use them to solve your challenges.

In addition to competitors, it’s crucial to have supporters. Other entrepreneurs understand the challenges of running a business and are often your best supporters. Being able to commiserate, gain ideas and tap into their resource network is a wonderful boon to your business. When we want to grow, as individuals and as business professionals we don’t want to hang out with people who reinforce our own obstacles. When you routinely spend time with creative, positive people, there is no challenge too big to resolve. “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”Jim Rohn

Abigail DoughertyStraight Edge Solutions

503-297-5798

Abigail@StraightEdgeSolutions.com

The post Focus and Influence appeared first on I Take The Lead.