I recently attended a trade show just outside Toronto.  It was bustling with small and medium sized companies displaying their products and offering incentives on their services.  It seemed everyone there was selling.  Not just the vendors that paid four hundred dollars  and more for a display booth, but also the attendees that paid twenty dollars to get in.  Standing back and watching the back and forth I was reminded that business isn’t necessarily easy.  If you build it, they wont necessarily come.

Forbes Magazine in January 2014 posted an article, “7 Big Things a Startup Must Have To Succeed.”  Of course most people in business can recite these off the top of our heads; a sense of timing, simple budget, money, great social skills, follow-through (Stick-to-it-iveness), self discipline and flexibility.   Although these make sense and are a must for just starting, many business owners and sales people are struggling to compete.

At the trade show, the conversation seemed to go like this:

Vendor: “Hello, would you like to try our service?”
Visitor: “Sure maybe but why don’t you try my service?”

Then cards are exchanged and perhaps there is a connection, but perhaps not.

So I have put together my list of 5 Musts for Business Success in 2017.

1. Remember The Basics:  Sometimes the pressures of business make you forget the basics.  You are in business to make your customers happy and to earn a living.  So strive to be the best.  It is ok to want to be the best.  Keep your service offering simple.  Charge enough so you can always provide the best service to your customers.  Remember you are running a business. Hire the right staff.  Lastly, it is ok to use old technology.  Sometimes people love getting mail.  Yup, just regular mail that is not an invoice or an ad.  A simple thank you letter or card.
2. Attitude of Gratitude:  Most in business can think of one customer we took for granted and realized the relationship was deteriorating in the background.  Show appreciation to your clients and staff.  Remember, no-one has to do business with you.  There are other companies like yours so have an attitude or appreciation and see how your relationships in business are strengthened.  Try this – Next time you go to a trade show or networking event, walk around smiling as if you appreciate and love being there and see how magnetic it is.
3. Grow as a leader:  Businesses grow and evolve and so should you.  This may require skills training or learning certain aspects of your business at a higher level.  Do not put it off in 2017.  Remain your businesses greatest asset and stay ahead of technology and trends.  Remember your mentors and reach out to them.  Grow or die is my favorite saying. If you are not growing, your competition is in the process of taking you out.  So grow as a leader as if your business life depends on it.
4. Build an EcoSystem:  A business can only scale if there is more than just you.  Many people start businesses as single entrepreneurs or with a small group of partners.   At some point, inspiration lags and the business may start to sputter.  Especially if you see areas of desired growth but you put off that step until you or your existing partners have time to allocate to rolling out the new service.  Inevitably this gets pushed until the energy for the project is gone.   Consider accomplishing your goals using third party partners.  This may allow you to offer services to your customers that are delivered through your partner company.
5. Understand Money:  A question I had when starting out in business is how do I best manage my money?  How do I pay myself?  What is the best way to depreciate an asset?  Are there grants available for me and my company?  Does the government have technology and innovation grants?  What about right-offs and taxes?  It may not be necessary for you to know what an accountant knows, but it can’t hurt to know more than you know now.  When an accountant explains something to you, be sure to know fully what they are talking about.

The post Business 5 Musts in 2017 appeared first on MiAgency Digital Marketing Agency - Hamilton.

One day, after months have flown by you realize that you have become a
work-a-holic.  And you justify it by saying that family will
understand because you are bringing home the bacon (or tofu burgers).

Work is essential for living and helps define our identity.

Recently, in a discussion with a colleague, we explored the life
centered approach to success and the task centered approach.  When
we are obsessive about filling our waking hours with tasks and
compulsive about our pursuit of financial wealth, it is easy to fool ourselves
into believing that if I could just do more work, or get more done in a
day I will be closer to success.  We can focus so much on the daily
list of tasks that we neglect to stop, step back for fresh perspective
and spend time with family and friends. We forget the importance of balance.

The pursuit for success and recognition can affect some people like
gambling, hoping that just put in a little more time and you may hit the
jackpot.

Here are my personal suggestions that are guides and not rigid rules.
Understand that things always come up and growing a business is
often unpredictable.

1. Set and review your task list the evening before.
2. Wake one hour earlier than normal and use that time to have breakfast with your partner or family and do some light exercise
3. Stop doing non-productive things during the productive hours of the
   day between 9-5.  Yes, that means no unnecessary Facebook and
   definitely no Candy Crush.
4. Recognize unproductive behavior and stop it.  I have a
   productivity reset that I implement when I become aware that I am
   slowing down during productive hours.
5. Stop working one hour before dinner and be part of the dinner
   making.  This prepares your appetite and body for best digestion. (http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-eats/digestion/6-tips-to-improve-your-digestion)
6. Take time for yourself and family

There are many stories about entrepreneurs that set out to provide a
better life for themselves and their family only to loose their families
through separation or divorce because poor communication and a shift in
priorities from life centered to task centered.  Think of all the
ways you can add better balance to they way you approach success.

The post Work To Success – Fact or Illusion appeared first on MiAgency Digital Marketing Agency - Hamilton.