Posts Tagged ‘planning’

Developing New Habits (aka: Don’t Overdo It!)

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Habit forming.  We all know that phrase.  But, did you know that for adults to acquire a new habit, it has to be a conscious activity for 21 days?  Then, on the 22nd day, it becomes habit.  If you are like me, I go through my day doing so many things unconsciously; I have to consciously check that I got them done.  With all of these unconscious activities, there is little room for new ones.  That’s why the gazillion New Year’s resolutions that we plan on doing often fall by the wayside within a month.

Planning Tools

Try this: Try one new habit at a time.  If you take the 52 weeks in a year and divide by 3 weeks (21 day period) you find that you can develop 17 new habits each year.  Think about it – that’s a LOT.

My first resolution is to get my emails under control.  I have started to schedule when I check my email inbox – 4 times a day.  Wouldn’t life be grand with email under control?  It’s vital to communications, but it can be a big time-drain.  So, it’s my top SMART business priority.

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BACK IT UP!

Monday, November 30th, 2009

There are no excuses with today’s technology

Is your information and your business at risk? Theft, natural disasters, fires, broken water pipes, computer failure, viruses, and errors can torpedo your computer data and leave you scrambling to access critical information. The Small Business Administration noted that 85% of small businesses that lose their data close their doors within 18 months.

hard drive image

How many times have you called people only to hear that they can’t access their information because their computer “crashed”? Or, their system had a “melt down”? To me, that raises red flags: small thinking, lack of vision and safeguards, and questions about viability of their product or services.

With today’s technology, protecting your data IS protecting your business. And, with all of the options out there – there is no excuse. Be sure to backup your computer data frequently, and store that data in secure locations on- and off-site. There are so many ways to back up your data – DVDs, CDs, external hard drives, memory sticks, and external servers are a few.

If you haven’t done a backup, stop now! Assess your computer system and files and back up your data, documents, financial information, applications, contact list, and database – the information you take for granted will always be at your fingertips. Then, create and keep a backup schedule and continue with daily, weekly, and yearly backups.

The next time I hear “My computer crashed and I lost my data,” is the time I change vendors. Reliable vendors and partners all fit into a winning mix, When SMART Business Matters.

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When Was the Last Time You Tapped “The Rolodex”?

Friday, November 20th, 2009

Start with your Rolodex AND Call on Others

It costs more money to acquire a new customer than it does to retain an existing customer; if you want to increase sales, start with your address book. Are there more services or goods you could be selling to current customers, or have you come up with any ideas on how to offer them creative solutions to reach their business goals? Can they refer you to any other businesses or individuals who may need your services? Set aside a half-hour a day to check in with lapsed customers. Are there new products or services you can offer them? Are you now in a better position to offer better prices, services, or quality than your competitors?

And, when you reach the end of your Rolodex, try tapping a good client. When was the last time you called a good (reference-able) client and said: “Mark, this is Kathy. Will you do me a favor? Can you go through your Rolodex and give me 10 names and numbers of people you recommend that I call to introduce my services?” How can they say “no”? You will find that most people want to help.

When SMART Business Matters, all you need to do is: Just Ask

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When Was the Last Time You Had Your Vision Checked?

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

by Jennifer Kimme

In my nearly 20 years of experience in corporate America, I’ve seen a lot. But what’s really stuck with me are the consequences of poorly thought-out strategy and ill-informed decision making. I’ve watched teams become demoralized because they’re not heard, because management isn’t willing to make much-needed changes, and because they know they’ll be the ones who end up paying for it in the end. It’s no wonder that stress levels are so high.

Plain and simple, people panic. A tough decision has to be made quickly and management doesn’t take the time to really think through the ramifications––let alone make sure they have the right people on the bus. They just want the problem solved––now––so that they can get back to the business of running the business. Or worse, they recognize that the problem is bigger than a breadbox and they don’t want to take the time to really tackle the challenge.

Unfortunately, in these tough economic times, those short-sighted decisions are costing more than anyone realizes. Businesses can’t afford to waste time traveling the wrong path. One of the first places that I’m seeing businesses cut corners is in strategy. I’m amazed time and again when business owners want to shortcut to the end game without taking the time to develop the plan. How can you realize your vision when you’ve got blinders on? Strategy can be a scary concept to some, but you need to realize that it’s simply figuring out what you want to accomplish and developing the plan to get you there. Before you ask your teams to travel yet another road, make sure you know the right direction to lead them.

We’re all running crazy trying to keep up with our ever-growing to-do lists (my short list runs about 2 feet these days), but that doesn’t mean that you can’t work SMART. We at KMA specialize in strategy and business development and even we fall prey to the challenges of balancing client demands with taking time to focus on our business development. Kathy and I make time to update our strategy and goals on a quarterly basis, and we check in at least once a month on our progress. Even if some things have to temporarily go on the backburner, we know they’re there, and we keep an eye on all of the piece-parts that will impact our development.

Quite simply, we took the time to make a plan, and it’s been worth it. We see our future, and it’s bright.

Work SMART.

Jennifer.

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