Tag: Entrepreneurial

THE SECRET TO SUCCESS IS PLANNING

See as a planner I’m good about mapping, and drawing things out, where I lacked was in the area of parking tasks and timing, I sucked at it totally often running behind schedule looking at my well laid plan asking myself why.

“Without a plan, even the most brilliant business can get lost. You meed to have goals, create milestones, and have a strategy in place to set yourself up for success.” – Yogi Berra

I’ve falling in love with the planning process all over again! I must admit I’d been feeling a bit overwhelmed because I just couldn’t seem to find the best planning software nor format for my business and life needs.

As a serial entrepreneur this is majorly difficult, trying to weave seamlessly my life and businesses components. The other day I was out with my daddy have our weekly daddy daughter date and he said something so profound, he said “NuNu (my nickname) one thing about you is you’re a planner and that’s awesome.” He was so proud and amazed of me, he was able to calculate things I’d said even years ago and repeat to me how I’d then made plans. In fact I’ve been like that my entire life, but not without many detours, hiccups, and lost!

My daddy was so proud, but internally I was cringing because I felt everything, but that. See my father has been able to hear my plans, and now see the manifestation of my plans, but I on the other-hand knew of my dirty little secret. That secret being though I can draft some of the best laid planes, I can be bad at executing with precision. I am a planner, buuuuuuuut a lazy executioner, so bad that often times I’m livid at my poor execution because I know the outcome could’ve been a million times better, with less stress, ugh!

Now, for those looking from the outside in you’d NEVER know, but I know, and I carried some shame from it. I’d try so many different things, timers, softwares, planners, outlines, you name it, but it just wasn’t cutting it, that is until one of my clients who is a master at planning and business development, Phyliss of Hulbert Custom Designs, put me on to a new project management software by the name of CLICK UP (https://clickup.com/?fp_ref=kimberly31)!

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

I have tried everything from Trello, to Asana, looked into Dubsado, used HoneyBook, Keap, and other CRM and project management tools. Though they all have their place, hands down from costs, to integration, to format, to ease, to structure and unlimited use…. CLICK UP is the best! See as a planner I’m good about mapping, and drawing things out, where I lacked was in the area of parking tasks and timing, I sucked at it totally often running behind schedule looking at my well laid plan asking myself why. Now, having use CLICK UP the answer punched me right in the face!

I kid you not it seems as thought my production time has dropped immensely allowing for my execution time and volume to skyrocketed! This by default has raised my drive, momentum, and confidence! I am so on it dog gon it! I’m feeling unstoppable! Their system is so awesome I’ve parked all my companies in that one platform, creating various “spaces” and managing everything from there. I love see the planning process, the sub-categories, and the ability to map my time and progress chart from by a simple click of a button. This software is a massive game-changer, so much so I am making it a required tool in my business courses and business development coaching services.

One thing about me, I know something when it can help reshape a business for the better. There’s no way you cannot be profitable using this software, not manage staff/freelancers/contractors, or fail to execute. Success from the planning process rises up off the page and for me forced me to work even harder and execute more tasks.

I went ahead and purchased an annual subscription for the business tier after using the software for 30 minutes! I knew where CLICK UP could take me and my businesses so I dived in head first and I am loving it! If you are a one man band business to a large start-up this is the greatest project management tool! I already cancelled my Asana and I am using my Trello for personal/home use. FYI, I was able to integrate my calendars, emails, and others components. Please be sure to checkout https://clickup.com/?fp_ref=kimberly31 CLICK UP, you will NOT be disappointed!

THE BUSINESS GOLD STANDARD AGAINST COPYCATS

Knowing the realities of business is not always fun, but don’t stress over it, it’s business, not personal; that is until someone violates. Remember, true gold cannot be duplicated!

SET YOURSELF APART BY DOING YOUR PART AUTHENTICALLY”

CEO DriveHer

The other day I wrote a post explaining the importance of not giving too much thought about copycats internet thieves. As a business consultant this comes up often and I’ve found many of my clients suffering from execution paralysis, all because they’re trying to find the perfect safeguard for their business.

Now, I am all about protecting your intellectual properties and even creating safeguards, but if you allow yourself to be held hostage from actually putting yourself or products/service on the market, the would-be copycats have already stole from you. This type of worry brings about anxiety with the production paralysis. You do realize major brands everyday are copied? What is key is when wrongful parties are caught the consequences can be great. Nike, Beyonce, Burberry, Gucci, Chanel No.5, even the U.S. Federal government don’t allow copycats to stop them. Fraud is just part of the nature of the game, just make sure you find ways to rightly protect yourself byway of business insurance, disclaimers, copyright, and contractual agreements.

Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

The copycats and fakesters will always be a few steps behind you when you have an authentic and unique way of doing business. They can’t make a new move until you do! Remember that! This is why I believe personality, strategies, and unique formulas/style matters. People fail to properly brand themselves and create a “deep” digital footprint, hence making it easy for others to duplicate them. My brand is heavily predicated on ME, my life, my experiences, my flow, my style, even to how I communicate. Sure people can and have stolen parts of my business, but bay bay they fail miserably in trying to execute like me. What’s sad is they don’t get the results I do, why? Because I am heavily involved in the process of my procedures products, etc. What I do in business is always changing, some things even by the day, week, or month. This grants me a huge advantage, because I must remain very knowledgeable in my space and grant alternative info if need be. Most copycats will NOT keep up with the craft or info.

So, how what does this have to do with being part of the business gold standard? Everything! Authenticity in business is a gold standard, one the is actually very lacking. Even when it comes to make big name producers, companies, celebrities, you’ll be surprised how un-authentic they are and how they themselves have played copycat. They are always “re-inventing” themselves because often times they never were the real thing. We see this with many fake gurus on theses internet streets, their hand is in everything, they’re an expert on everything, etc., why? Because they’re shooting darks in the dark, hoping to land on target.

So, my little bit of advice is:

  1. Be authentic, but to be authentic you must identify who you truly are, and what are YOUR strong attributes in business that can minimize duplication.
  2. If you need help with business safeguards, get some consulting or a researcher that can help you identify some weak points of entry that may leave you vulnerable to copycats.
  3. Be unique and have a signature process of doing things.
  4. If you catch someone stealing, duplicating, or being a copycat; go after them and have ZERO mercy! Set the tone and prosecute to the fullest extent! Make an example out of them.
  5. Stop living in fear. Understand when you’re authentic you have a deep well of ideas, strategies, and creativity. They don’t!
  6. Always be clear in your contractual agreements, website disclaimer, legalities listed in/on digital products. I do not shy away from making my position clear.
  7. Do a SWOT analysis of your business, and market research to see common points of entries where’s people tend to copy.

Hopefully this blog can ease your anxiety and get you out of production paralysis and you can take that great chance of going into the marketplace with full confidence. Knowing the realities of business is not always fun, but don’t stress over it, it’s business, not personal; that is until someone violates. Remember, true gold cannot be duplicated!