Throw It Back Thursday

On this Thursday as Summer has evaporated so quickly that it's a distant memory and the cold rushed in literally overnight it is clearly a time of change.  As the Expose song goes Seasons Change and some changes are obvious and even expected but most creep in when we were too busy focused on something else.

In this age of mindfulness take a moment and really take stock. Physically what's shifting.  Mentally what's taking up space.  In your business is your time being sucked up in a particular area.  

I'm a firm believer that CHANGES Give Warnings but are you AWARE.  Are you paying attention?  Are you proactive or reactive? 

How are you measuring your life in order to be able to assess your current status and thereby note when things are shifting?  Most changes don't really happen overnight.  Your weight doesn't increase 10 pounds overnight.  You got stressed, started snacking and skipping workouts but you were focused on the stress and didn't notice until you couldn't fit in to your favorite jeans any more.

Well TODAY stop just taking whatever life sends your way and take back your power.  You get to decide but YOU HAVE TO DECIDE.  You have to set goals.  You have to live an intentional life.  You have to go beyond dreaming...to planning...to taking action to make those dreams a reality.  

So while I love lemonade it's not always what I want.  If you have enough lemons then stop just accepting the bitterness of them and simply THROW THEM BACK and go get the chocolates that you really want. 

Shirley E. Crawford

Small Business Whisperer * Speaker * Lecturer

The tools and resources that your business needs  to succeed

2nd Chance Consulting

Your 2nd Chance at a first impression

Grow Right or Die

Grow Right or Die

My great nephew, Jeremiah, is only 2 years old, (pictured left as a baby) but is the size of a very solid 5 year old.  But he still has the communication skills and comprehension of a 2 year old.  He has the same inclinations of a 2 yr old to throw things and that strong temperament often aligned with the "Terrible Twos."  So, he has all of this strength and height and therefore can get in to SO MUCH trouble but people see him and assume that he's mentally challenged because he doesn't really talk but not realizing that he's younger than he looks.  Fortunately, as he ages his mental abilities will catch up with his body but can your business say the same.

Our business babies that we nurture and grow can also have growth spurts.  The concern isn't the growth but how prepared are we to handle and manage it.  Did we know a growth spurt was coming?  Can we keep our quality to match our increased production?  Have we priced our products and services accordingly or are we undercutting ourselves?  Do our employees understand our culture?  Do we need more employees?  Is it time to switch from jack of all trades to delegating and specializing?

For children it's pretty easy to see if they're on track.  Grab your ruler makes some tick marks on the wall and talk with your pediatrician to make sure they are growing as they should.  For your business the formula gets a little more tricky.  So, yes the business down the hallway started at the same time as your business but does that mean you should expect the same rate of growth or success.

While industry data does assist you in understanding how you stack up your real measurement of success is a bit different.  Frankly what's most important is not that you are growing at the same rate as another business but are you able to grow healthily.  As a consultant I've worked with companies that have been around for more than a decade but because they've never planned but only reacted they are only a crisis away from having to shut their doors.

The simple truth is that many businesses have never written a business plan, established what kind of culture they want for their office, developed policy and procedure manuals or developed a training procedure.  So, there is no need to be amazed that the business that has been in your neighborhood forever has all of a sudden shut it's doors because you either Grow Right of Die.

Shirley E. Crawford

Small Business Whisperer * Speaker * Lecturer
The tools and resources that your business needs  to succeed

2nd Chance Consulting

Your 2nd Chance at a first impression
804-426-1515

Happy Birthday to Me!...CheckPoint

There are points in our lives where we all stop from just grinding and reflect on where we are and where we wanted to be.  I call these checkpoints.  For some of us it only happens on New Year's Eve when we have a "come to Jesus" meeting with ourselves and make false promises of changes to come in the new year.  For others it might be certain points in your life like your 16th birthday, your first day of college, when you got married, had a kid or even your first home.

My checkpoint for the status of my life are my birthdays.  It's my annual evaluation which allows me a lot of time to pivot or plunge full steam ahead if desired.  But this year for the first time ever I felt, and still feel a little, melancholy.

I've been bold and I've been brave and I KNOW without any doubt that an amazing future lies before me but during the process I'm just feeling the aches and pains.  I miss my steady, nice paycheck.  I miss...okay that's what I miss.  (Just kidding I love all of my former members at BizWorks). 

I've chosen this point in my life to fully believe in me.  To offer me the advice I offer to so many others.  Frankly, I'm amazing at what I do.  I elevate people's ideas to a sustainable reality.  I console and cajole entrepreneurs who would otherwise operate in a silos.  I bring brands to life.  I help entrepreneurs value themselves and their business.  I educate and inspire with seminars and speeches.  I DO IT.

Yet, today as I've deleted a document that was due today.  Today, as I have yet to make the final changes to my website (www.2ndChanceRVA.com - please visit on Friday).  Today, as it's my birthday I'm reflecting on my life and the people in it. Today, like every other entrepreneur out there I pay myself on the back for my accomplishments, I kick myself in the butt for my failures and I go back and do it again until I've done it right.

If we don't love our businesses like a newborn child we may as well quit now.  And I'm not quitting I've only just begun.  So, if not for you then in honor of Shirley E. Crawford Day shake the dust off your feet and get moving until you arrive at Your Best.  I'll see you there.

Don't Rain On My Parade...The Entrepreneur's Mantra

The Funny Girl is clearly belting the tune of our collective entrepreneurial hearts.  People in their well meaning ways try to keep you from taking the leap.  They want to provide your safety net but instead weave a net of negativity.

On this rainy day my reflections seem to revolve around my first parade. We practiced for weeks until the day but, since I was an orchestra gal rather than band, I'd never done a parade before.  So, there in the midst of my early twenties I joined my fellow steppers to be on display for thousands upon thousands of people and those at home watching the tv broadcast.

All of the work finally led up to the day and the sky was overcast.  The news predicted rain and I assumed that the parade would be canceled but, like a dutiful soldier, I showed up just to wait for the word to go home. Well I arrived to a bustle of activity.  I located my group and waited for the word...that never came.  

We were given basic instructions and placed in our order.  Did no one else feel the cold in the air? Did no one else know that people wouldn't come out in the rain?  Did no one else realize the safety hazards?  What was wrong with these people?

I asked a lot of internal questions but surely went along with the program. We assumed our positions and before we had walked two steps the heavens opened and do you know what happened.   The parade captain said move out...not go to our cars but "GET GOING."  No one cared that it was raining.  No one worried about the hazards.  This was the opportunity.  This was an honor.  This was our moment.  It was to be taken or to be lost and so we took it.

Years after I still received accolades and comments from people who saw me as they were OUT IN THE RAIN or who watched the live broadcast or rebroadcast of that Richmond Christmas Parade over two decades ago.  Logic says that when rain falls that our activities have to cease or be downgraded.  Logic says that no one will participate or care about your activities when it's inconvenient.

But Life says that you work hard for your moments and no matter what the temperamental weather brings you are to TAKE YOUR MOMENT.  Your business is not your fair weather friend and you can not be a fair weather friend to your business.  If THIS is what you are truly about then it is what you must be about at all times.  Rain or not this parade is going down!

Shirley E. Crawford

Small Business Whisperer * Speaker * Lecturer

The tools and resources that your business needs  to succeed

2nd Chance Consulting

Your 2nd Chance at a first impression

804-426-1515

Time to Make the Donuts but Who Makes The Donuts When You Can't

It's Time To Make The Donuts.  This famous line from Dunkin Donuts' Fred the Baker commercials of years gone by still remains my favorite.  When I am trudging along and want to take a break or to stop I pluck myself, literally, and state aloud, no less, it's time to make the donuts.  Like Fred I want the practice of putting in quality work to be such a part of who I am that sometimes I too might forget that I've already done the work.

Fred was seen getting up at the crack of dawn to go make the donuts no matter the weather.  Nothing stopped Fred from getting the job done but I wonder what failsafe, what backup plan do we have for our businessses when we can't be there.

Unfortunately for the past 3 weeks I've been ill.  I've trudged through and I've still made my donuts but my production levels were low or things totally fell off my plate.  I met the needs of my clients but I haven't done a Periscope post  in all of that time and a lot of other business building activities were abandoned as well.  

Now I feel a little better but the mountain of things to do makes for a depressing start and so I ask, What Now.  So, I slip in to consultant mode and treat myself the way I do my beloved clients.  Here goes: 
1.  Accept the fail.  Accept the fact that you loss money and it's not coming back.  Enjoy your momentary mourning period but then recognize that if you don't move on your business can't either.  Shake the dust off your feet but REMEMBER this experience.  Remember the stress of monies that you expected, wanted and needed but did not receive because you couldn't do the work and had no backup plan to get it done.  Remember this pain as a motivation to NEVER do it again
2. Develop a plan for your reinforcements.  Partner with someone who does like business.  Hire an intern (mine starts Tuesday). Hire a contractor as it's better to get a percentage than to get none at all. Even consider hiring a sales rep.  This person is motivated to sell your business products/services and can be set up on a commission only basis thereby costing you nothing up front
3. Don't ever get sick or take a vacation or have an emergency.  Oh, that doesn't sound realistic.  Well then it's time to put in place better time management.  For my vacations it's easy for me to plan my appointments around them or allocate time first thing in the morning (normally 2-3am) to knock out my daily tasks and then sleep in until the vacation day really begins after 10am.  Your scheduling techniques might be different than mine and since you're a different person that's great but create a process that works for you.  

I wasn't ready for a 3 week bug to hit me but it helped me because I'll never not be ready again.  What about you?  Because it's Time To Make The Donuts.

Shirley E. Crawford

Small Business Whisperer * Speaker * Lecturer
The tools and resources that your business needs  to succeed

2nd Chance Consulting

Your 2nd Chance at a first impression
804-426-1515

Is This The Life You Dreamed Of?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng0VcQjZVbk

When I grow up...  Did you envision life as a football player, ballerina or a movie star.  What did you dream that your life would be?

Are you what you'd always hoped you be?  Are you anywhere near being what or where you'd planned for in college or after high school?  Do you look up from your desk job or carpool and wonder how you got there?  

Well rather than wondering if this is really your life it's time to dream again but then follow up with some action.  It might be too late to be a football player but it's not too late to have a life where you can earn income and still have time and funds for travel, family.

The life you seek could probably be found in answering this simple question for your business. What will my business be when it grows up? Take some time and revisit your "When My Business Grows Up Plan" otherwise known as your business plan.  

Are you still on track? Did you get distracted by dollar signs, the economy or convenience?  Now is the time to go back in order to go forward. Figure out what you want your business to be, plot the course and then stick to it.  You'll be amazed that your business can grow in to everything you've envisioned when you do the work to help it grow up.

Shirley E. Crawford

Small Business Whisperer * Speaker * Lecturer
The tools and resources that your business needs  to succeed

2nd Chance Consulting

Your 2nd Chance at a first impression
804-426-1515

Take What You Need and Leave the Rest

To be successful one has to be a perpetual student.  There will always be something new to learn or expound upon in order to stay on top of your industry and frankly your life.  In that vein last week I attended a very promising all day seminar.  The speaker had an extensive list of credentials and a truly exciting outline (yes, I'm a geek).

Within less than 20 minutes of the presentation and in the midst of an eye opening aha moment she made a statement about the value, or lack thereof, of social media in the spectrum of things.  As a social media educator and one who has seen the massive impact of social media, used correctly, my ears started to close shut to any additional "words of wisdom" and also made me want to question everything she'd said up to that point. 

At this point I had a couple of choices and I promise you I debated extensively within myself.  In the meantime I missed a portion of the seminar before I shook myself and realized how stupid I was being.  Her pedigree was clear.  Her experience was unquestionable and even within the first few minutes she had already opened my eyes to things that seemed so obvious but were untouched in my life.

I determined then to take what I needed and leave the rest.  I filed away the questionable comments, admittedly physically flinching when I heard them, instead focusing on the amazing pearls of wisdom that she was throwing out like beads at Mardi Gras. The lesson for ALL OF US became blatantly obvious.

In every teacher/mentor/educator there are fountains of information ready to be poured in to your life BUT just because they package it differently or have differing opinions about some things does not negate the tutelage that they can offer you.   Shake yourself, open your eyes and ears and then Take What You Need and Leave The Rest. 

   

Shirley E. Crawford

Small Business Whisperer * Speaker * Lecturer
The tools and resources that your business needs  to succeed

2nd Chance Consulting

Your 2nd Chance at a first impression
804-426-1515

Beware of Dream Killers

Several years ago while I was a consultant heading up a mentorship program for PAL (Police Athletic League) I often talked to middle school students about their hopes and dreams.  One of my favorite exercises was to ask, "What do you want to be when you grow up?. "  

The answers were pretty standard...football player, singer, movie star with a few answers of teacher slid in for good measure.  My counterparts once observed that these were unrealistic and that I should discourage the children from those arenas to more "practical, obtainable" occupations.

While this might sound logical it offended me in ways that are hard to explain and my sharp, but polite, retort probably seemed out of context but I know these dream killers from personal experience.  When I was a 6th grader at Thomas H. Henderson Middle School I was an awkward, violin playing, walking down the hallway with my nose in a book reading, volleyball playing and track running  straight A student.  

As was standard we each had a visit with the guidance counselor.  I was freakishly excited to hear her "guidance."  I sat down and this women who I had never met before and never saw again proceeded to tell me, with the kindest of smiles, that while my grades and activities were great that I had better consider learning a trade and potentially consider trade school since college would probably not be an option for me.  

I can still feel the chill from that day as I sat there shivering in her office.  But today I thank her as I left that office MOTIVATED to not only go to college but to succeed, to never be mediocre and to be more successful than her.  To this day I still bear that slight and so when I stood at my middle school alma mater Henderson sharing hope and vision with future generations I can't allow someone to even think about killing their dreams.

As I shared with every group that did that exercise the size of the dream is irrelevant.  The most important piece is how bad do you want it and what are you willing to do to get it.  I talked them through the steps and requirements of their desired professions and helped them create a timeline and checklist.   They left those groups with a goal which often led to higher grades, attendance and attrition rates.  

For your business you have a goal, a dream and a vision.  Don't allow others who are too afraid to try, too afraid to succeed impact your decision to try, to succeed and to prove them all wrong.

Shirley Crawford

2nd Chance Consulting

   

Shirley E. Crawford
Small Business Whisperer * Speaker * Lecturer
The tools and resources that your business needs  to succeed

2nd Chance Consulting
Your 2nd Chance at a first impression
804-426-1515

Give The People What They Want....Wait What Do They Want?

Everyone always says that the best way to be successful is to find THE solution to a problem.  While this is logical how do you determine the problem, how to know if the problem is a big enough concern that people will pay for your solution, how to respond quick enough with the answer before someone else does or before those demanding a solution have moved on.

These are the daily dilemmas of entrepreneurs.  Historically we've been told to write a 40 page business plan, get funding, make a billion of your widget, get it to market or your car's trunk and sell, sell, sell.  The problem becomes the cost of production, marketing, physical labor and extensive effort when you've really still not answered the question of do the people want what you're offering.

In this instance I agree with the Lean Startup movement.  Advice that I've given to my clients for over a decade is to make sure someone wants it before you invest your life savings into it.  Quickly take your salsa, widget, app to a test market.  Set up a stand at the flea market, church bazaar or networking event and see who puts money on the table. See what price points people will make the purchase.  Study the customers who make a purchase.  Ask them to share their comments and opinions.  Send out a Survey Monkey.  

Once you discovered the audience for your product and have actual sales data to share then write the business plan (40 pages still not necessary), seek funding if necessary, ramp up production and start considering the modification of said product that will keep you ahead of those who will soon follow you to market. Got an idea, get started, be honest about your successes and failures and be it as a Side Hustle or full time income let's go Make It Happen.

Shirley
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