Bungling Bonnie Raitt, or “How to Handle Challenges, Learning Curves, and Breakdowns in Your Business.”
Bungling Bonnie Raitt, or “How to Handle Challenges, Learning Curves, and Breakdowns in Your Business.”
1. Take risks and try new things. It’s all about courage - in business and on the stage. Instead of doing the tried and true songs, I went outside of my comfort zone to stretch myself. Do you do that in your business? Are you looking for ways to expand your product offerings or create fresh content?
If you don’t grow, you become obsolete. It’s that simple. Try coming up with three new ways folks could work with you. This can be a huge growth opportunity. Especially now…quit playing it safe!
2. Observe how you are doing and ‘being.’ Have you ever felt like time stands still and you seem to be watching yourself go through life? That’s what it was like for me during the first minute of the song. I was just praying the thing would end, looking around the room for validation, and trust me… not really enjoying it.
In business, do you have a way to be able to track or measure how “on your game” you are? Do you take time regularly to ask yourself how you are doing? Have you involved trusted advisors or mastermind partners who are sharing their feedback with you? Are your customers invited to give you input so you can tweak and improve your performance? But mostly, are you slowing down enough to really feel how you are doing?
Create both tangible and intangible measures to observe where you are. When you measure something, you’ll take better care of it. Be honest, and do this on a regular basis.
3. Correct by being connected. After a few moments of really being uncomfortable, I remembered that I know how to sing, so I just willed myself to get out of my head, and into my body. In my head was all the negative chatter, which was making me crazy! When I finally said to myself, “shut up and sing,” I was able to relax, and allow the music to come through me, with much better results. The audience applauded, I was happier, and Bonnie would have been proud!
Let’s look again at the business application. You have to try new things to stay fresh. You may fail or at the very least, mess up a bit; things will break down, and people sometimes won’t love what you do. That’s just the reality when you are constantly pushing the edge of your comfort zone, continuing to grow, and expanding what you do and who you are.
The trick is being able to self-soothe. A successful mindset is one where you can observe yourself but not get caught up in negativity. It’s about constantly recalibrating and staying focused on your goal.
You have probably heard that an airplane is off course 97% of the time, but the auto-pilot is constantly correcting. The plane always lands at exactly the correct destination, but wouldn’t if it weren’t for the corrections along the way. I believe that the true measure of success is in how you recover from the mini break-downs.
What can you connect to as a way to stay grounded?
• For most of my business owner clients it’s the “Big Why.” If you can stand in the place of being connected to why you are in business and why you serve the people you serve, handling the little bumps in the road is easier.
• You can also connect to your spirituality as a way to remind you of what’s important in your life.
• And finally, connect with your clients. Pull out those testimonials; remember those stories of the times you made a huge difference in someone else’s life. This is truth with a capital “T” - - not those small obstacles along the way.
So my friends, sing your heart out in what ever way you do. Just make the commitment to keep playing a bigger game because we need your gifts in the world!
Therese Skelly
Bungling Bonnie Raitt or How to Handle Challenges Learning Curves and Breakdowns in Your Business - To learn more about this author, visit Therese Skelly's Website.
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You are probably wondering what the heck my botched Bonnie Raitt song has to do with handling the challenges you encounter as a business owner. I’m a big lover of metaphor, and in my life, there is no better metaphor for me than when I am singing. Let me tie my karaoke story to some examples of what you need to create a mindset for business success.
1. Take risks and try new things. It’s all about courage - in business and on the stage. Instead of doing the tried and true songs, I went outside of my comfort zone to stretch myself. Do you do that in your business? Are you looking for ways to expand your product offerings or create fresh content?
If you don’t grow, you become obsolete. It’s that simple. Try coming up with three new ways folks could work with you. This can be a huge growth opportunity. Especially now…quit playing it safe!
2. Observe how you are doing and ‘being.’ Have you ever felt like time stands still and you seem to be watching yourself go through life? That’s what it was like for me during the first minute of the song. I was just praying the thing would end, looking around the room for validation, and trust me… not really enjoying it.
In business, do you have a way to be able to track or measure how “on your game” you are? Do you take time regularly to ask yourself how you are doing? Have you involved trusted advisors or mastermind partners who are sharing their feedback with you? Are your customers invited to give you input so you can tweak and improve your performance? But mostly, are you slowing down enough to really feel how you are doing?
Create both tangible and intangible measures to observe where you are. When you measure something, you’ll take better care of it. Be honest, and do this on a regular basis.
3. Correct by being connected. After a few moments of really being uncomfortable, I remembered that I know how to sing, so I just willed myself to get out of my head, and into my body. In my head was all the negative chatter, which was making me crazy! When I finally said to myself, “shut up and sing,” I was able to relax, and allow the music to come through me, with much better results. The audience applauded, I was happier, and Bonnie would have been proud!
Let’s look again at the business application. You have to try new things to stay fresh. You may fail or at the very least, mess up a bit; things will break down, and people sometimes won’t love what you do. That’s just the reality when you are constantly pushing the edge of your comfort zone, continuing to grow, and expanding what you do and who you are.
The trick is being able to self-soothe. A successful mindset is one where you can observe yourself but not get caught up in negativity. It’s about constantly recalibrating and staying focused on your goal.
You have probably heard that an airplane is off course 97% of the time, but the auto-pilot is constantly correcting. The plane always lands at exactly the correct destination, but wouldn’t if it weren’t for the corrections along the way. I believe that the true measure of success is in how you recover from the mini break-downs.
What can you connect to as a way to stay grounded?
• For most of my business owner clients it’s the “Big Why.” If you can stand in the place of being connected to why you are in business and why you serve the people you serve, handling the little bumps in the road is easier.
• You can also connect to your spirituality as a way to remind you of what’s important in your life.
• And finally, connect with your clients. Pull out those testimonials; remember those stories of the times you made a huge difference in someone else’s life. This is truth with a capital “T” - - not those small obstacles along the way.
So my friends, sing your heart out in what ever way you do. Just make the commitment to keep playing a bigger game because we need your gifts in the world!
Therese Skelly
Bungling Bonnie Raitt or How to Handle Challenges Learning Curves and Breakdowns in Your Business - To learn more about this author, visit Therese Skelly's Website.
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Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
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David BarrDavid Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website |
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Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
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Jeff FosterWebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website |
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David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
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Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
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