Ideas To Deals

Weekend Long Run January 27, 2012

It's been a big "Paperwork" time for me this week. I know you all love paperwork, right? I don't but sometimes it is critical especially when it allows you to get paid like my paperwork did (Reviewing three inch thick grant invoices is awesome). 

 

One thing that I have focused on this week is consistency in my running. Given that the Cleveland Marathon is only 113 days away I needed to get serious about training. Just like business I have built a plan, now I have to execute. The challenge is getting my training in given everything else that is going on in my life. I decided that this week I would make training a priority and workout every day to get myself in the habit of doing it. I needed to build consistency. It is the same for business. There will always be more than enough to do. The key to success is to determine what is most critical for the success of your business and make it a priority. Once you have done that you need to schedule that activity into your day and consistently do it. After a while you will begin to see the results and it will become much easier.

My quick tip can be found in the post "To-Do Lists Don't Work" on the Harvard Business Review. Think about using a calender to schedule to-do's not a list. I know some people love lists but often times it is difficult really get the important things done when you use a list. The calender allows you to allocate time and block out other competing priorities.

Now on to this weekend's business long run. Remember these are articles that I have come across this week that would be good to look at to improve your business. Week one of my training plan for the Cleveland Marathon concludes this weekend. I have had a pretty good running week so to go out on a high note I am going to try to get 8 miles in on Sunday and read these posts:

When to Hire a Lawyer for Business Matters (and when to Do it Yourself)!  at SBA.gov by Caron Beesley ~ If you are in business you need to decide when to engage and attorney. This post helps with that decision.

How Do You Know When It's Time to Fire a Client? at Spin Sucks by Gini Dietrich ~ If you haven't run into this problem you haven't been in business long enough. It's tough to do but sometimes you have to fire a client for the good of your business and your sanity.

VC funding is not a blank cheque with no strings attached at Memeburn ~ I am always amazed when people come to me seeking investment and think they will simply get a check and go on about their business...Not so. 

The One Reason Your Business Can’t Afford To Ignore Google+ on Adam Schweigert's blog ~ As much as I want Google+ to succeed (Yeah I am a Google geek) I have to be honest I can't get my arms around the value of G+. Adam has found at least one reason it is relavant.

How Long Does It Truly Take For A Business Blog To Grow Big? at the Sales Lion ~ This may be the primary question anyone that starts a business blog asks. Marcus shares his story and thoughts on building a big blog.

6 Fatal Symptoms You’re in the Wrong Niche at Pro Blogger ~ Having a the right target market or niche is critical for success. To many people ignore this and struggle. Are you one of them?

 

 

Finally, here is my weekly running partner. Not really someone I run with but rather a resource I want with me to help my business. This week my running partner recommendation is Heather Whaling. Heather is the founder and President of Geben Communication. Heather is an expert at assisting small- to mid-size businesses and nonprofits integrate traditional PR with online strategies. Heather is big on Twitter as PRtini. Heather is a past speaker at the Ohio Growth Summit where she was a huge hit. You need to check out her post and video interview (rocking a cool hat by the way) about her getting started in business at My "Built In Cbus" Story. Heather is certainly someone to know to help your business.

So get out and get your mileage in this weekend so you are ready for your business marathon.

Weekend Long Run January 20, 2012

 

This has been the busiest week I've had in a long time. As a consequence I have been struggling with how to get everything done. Let's face it work is challenging enough but add on being in the middle of my kids youth hockey season and trying to train for the Cleveland Marathon, it gets a little overwhelming. Now I have never had a problem waking up early to get things done but the challenge I have is what should I be doing when I get up. I tend to work best in the morning before the email and phone starts to blow up. OK, go to work. Not so fast, I need to run too and if I wait until the end of the day I have trouble escaping from work and I also have my driver duties for the kids.  So what has to give? I'm not sure anything has to give. Last week I stumbled over an article called 23 Successful People Who Wake Up Really Early. What I thought was interesting was that while they all woke up early they didn't typically allocate this time to work only. Most of them used this time to catch up, prep and workout before arriving at the office at a standard time. They know that this time is important to their productivity and they make it a priority.

This leads to my quick tip of the week: Know what makes you productive and make it a priority. It isn't always an either or decision. I know when I wake up at 4:45 am I can get my run in and still get to work a little early and get the day started. You need to allow yourself some "you time" even if it means waking up before the chickens. If you have thoughts on what works for you leave a comment, I need the help.

Now on to this weekend's business long run. Remember these are articles that I have come across this week that would be good to look at to improve your business. I need to get my run on this weekend so I am going to try to get 8 miles in on Saturday, 3 miles in on Sunday and read these posts:

How to Develop a Blog Post Idea ... Pain-free! at BlogCoaches ~ Good tips to help you put together a blog post when the ideas don't seem to be there.

5 Tips For Entrepreneurs Before Starting an Online Business from the Arkansas State SBTDC ~ Tips you should consider to get you launched quick and cost effectively.

10 Marketing Trends For 2012 on MediaPost's Marketing Daily ~ Interesting set of trends that can help you move your message and business forward in the coming months.

What To Do After A Conference (or other networking opportunities) via Savvy Sexy Social ~ Video from Amy Schmittauer on things you should do to follow-up with connections you made at a conference.

Four Keys for Successful Project Leadership at Thought Leaders ~ I like the distinction here between management and "Leadership".

Finally, here is my weekly running partner. Not really someone I run with but rather a resource I want with me to help my business. This week my running partner recommendation is the Los Angeles Small Business Development Center. This may sound odd given that I live in Ohio and I run and Ohio Small Business Development Center but I really like the content that comes from this center on Twitter and Facebook. I make sure that I pay close atttention to their activity and I get great information that I use to help small businesses. If you are in the LA area you really need to be working with them. If not follow them online, it will certainly help you grow your business.

So get out and get your mileage in this weekend so you are ready for your business marathon.

Weekend Long Run January 13, 2012

So how are you adjusting to 2012? I've felt like I have been running hard, not the good kind of running but rather the really busy kind of running. We are finalizing and posting our 2012 training offerings for the Ohio SBDC at Columbus State as well as revamping some internal activities to allow us to have a better outcome with the small business owners we work with. All of this has cut into my blogging and social media/twitter time but I promise I will get a handle on it and get back to posting valuable small business content next week. 

I want to congratulate all of the finalists who participated in the 1492 business accelerator program. This week marked the end of the 12 weeks of coaching and mentoring program with team presentations. I want to especially congratulate Capstone Innovations and SBDC client with founders that have or are attending Columbus State Community College. Capstone is developing an adjustable pallet system that will make a significant impact on the logistics industry. Best of luck guys.

Here is my quick tip of the week ~ Don't feel like you need to go it alone in building your business. As I was working on a presentation I was going to deliver to the SBDC's BizStartNow program I started to think about all the people trying to figure out a strategy to build a business without a real understanding of the things that can help them succeed or fail. My advise is that they get someone that can provide guidance to them on the areas they are weak in. A coach, mentor or advisor can really make a difference. I know that I constantly look to people to advise me and I am an advisor myself. Getting different perspectives can make a huge difference. At the very early stages I would recommend you check out some no cost alternatives like the SBDC or SCORE (check out this article about why you should work with an SBDC). I would also encourage you to not be afraid to look to sources that might have a cost to them. Sometimes you have to invest money into your business and paying the "right" coach might be just what you need to get over the hump.

Now on to this weekend's business long run. Remember these are articles that I have come across this week that would be good to look at to improve your business. What to run this weekend? This weekend looks like I'll be doing a hotel treadmill run as I am traveling to Cleveland to watch my son's hockey team. I'm thinking about running 3 to 5 miles and reading these posts:

How To Value Your Start-up at Entrepreneur.com ~ Three tips to help you come up with a dollar number when you don't have much history.

Mark Cuban's 12 Rules For Start-ups at Entrepreneur.com ~ 12 quick tips from Mark Cuban (love him or hate him he knows what he is doing)

10 Often Overlooked Ways to Get Traffic to Your Blog on SBA.gov ~ Nothing new here but still good points for those new to blogging.

Why You Don't Need To Be (More) Organized at Young Entrepreneur ~ Goes beyond the typical to-do list building advise.

When Should You Launch Your New Blog? at ProBlogger ~ Nice tips on things to do before you launch you blog.

Finally, here is my weekly running partner. Not really someone I run with but rather a resource I want with me to help my business. This week my running partner recommendation is Paul Evans. I met Paul this fall at Carrie Wilkerson's BOSS event. Carrie had told me about Paul but when I met him I was blown away. He has some really great things going for him...he is a very knowledgeable business coach, he is a great speaker/presenter, he is a man of great faith, he has a child attending the University of Alabama (that right there is good enough for me) and he is a runner. Be sure to check out his YouTube channel Paul Evans Live to get a real sense of the man (if you need someone to translate southern for you let me know, I can help). 

So get out and get your mileage in this weekend so you are ready for your business marathon.