Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference in Business

I work out of my home in a dedicated office space downstairs. Before I had my laptop I was confined to that particular space, which wasn’t a bad thing as my office is set up pretty efficiently with all the things I need at arms reach. However, I’ve found that these days I work a lot less in my dedicated space.

Do you like the atmosphere at Starbucks or Caribou Coffee? I love these two places because they have a relaxing, warm feel and are great places to work. I often spend time there but then I decided I could create the same atmosphere in my home and so I decided to create what I call my “Caribou Room”. I work in this room when my focus is on strategy, business development or I’m involved in some creative project like writing.

When I’m in my Caribou Room, my mindset changes. I feel less overwhelmed and more focused. I’m not surrounded by in-boxes and to-do lists and often don’t take the phone. I’m still working on the décor, but the room is simple. I have a chair, a miniature table (which can hold my laptop and a cup of tea) and floor pillows (sometimes I sit right on the floor and work or read).

Other times I opt to work upstairs in my dining area. I haven’t figured out the catch just yet, but I’ve found this too is a great place for me to refocus my energy. My dining table is near a window so it could be the bursts of sunshine that come through, or maybe it’s the elevated position I’m in (upstairs vs. down). Either way I’ve found it to be productive space for me and have taken to working in this area more often (I’m writing this blog in this area right now).

The point I’m making is sometimes small changes can make a big difference in business, whether it’s a shift in location (literally) or a shift in position (both literally and figuratively), the little changes can often impact how you feel, think, and are.

So if you find yourself stuck, unfocused, stressed or overwhelmed here are a few small changes to help make a significant difference in your business and life:

1. Change Your thought process and the way you’re thinking. This is a big one that takes very little to implement. It’s as easy as taking your traditional thinking and turning that upside down. Try taking another view and see if the outcome changes.

2. Change Your location. Get out of the office, take a walk, go to the library, go to another room or go to one of my favorites locations (mentioned above). A shift in scenery can make a really big difference in your view.

3. Change Your route – A friend mentioned this one to me and I thought it was a good idea. He shared that he often takes a different route when he’s driving to and from work or home. Who knows what you’ll find or discover just by implementing this small change.

4. Change Your routines – Similar to that above, this gives you an opportunity to do and explore something new. Do you eat lunch at the same place everyday or perhaps order the same meal? Try something different today. Do you always network in the same area with the same groups? Why not venture outside of your local area. Do you read the same papers, books, and magazines? Try reading something totally different and see what you learn.

5. Change Your Outlook – If you’re one of those individuals that often falls prey to the negative side of situations – the economy's bad, I need better clients, gas is too high, or I’m not going to make it, then stop it right now and change your outlook. Instead of looking and focusing on everything that’s not right, think about what’s going well in your life. Regardless of the situation, there is a way to turn things around. Find a solution and change your outlook.

8 Business Resolutions You Must Keep This Year

1. Create your strategy based on where you’re going vs. where you’ve been. It’s a new year and most likely you’re looking to do some new things. In a climate of change, businesses have to remain flexible enough to understand and see the trends and find ways to adapt strategies around that.

2. Adopt technologies that make you work more efficiently. Technology is the essence of business today, offering new ways to accomplish tasks, communicate, and grow your business. The trick is creating processes, finding the right technology, and incorporating it.

3. Embrace new business ideas and concepts that are beneficial and in line with your overall objectives – The beauty of business is there are a million ways to accomplish your goals and objectives. But trying to keep up with all the latest ideas --- whether it’s video conferencing, blogging, or social networking --- is a never-ending task, so the best strategy is to determine what you are trying to achieve, do your research and move forward from there. You can’t do it all, so you have to determine what works best for you and your company.

4. Balance your mental, spiritual and physical needs. Regardless of what you’re doing in your business, you have to have balance and balance means incorporating other elements into your life. Managing your mental, spiritual and physical needs is one of the most important things you do for your business, your staff, and those around you. If you are looking for more balance in the area of physical fitness, take a look at the resource below:

5. Create win-win alliances – When you’re doing really great things with your business, you will inevitably run across those that will want to align with you. It’s almost vital for small businesses to align themselves with others. The problem comes when you don’t choose your alliances carefully. Strategic alliances should be win-win, meaning each party should be getting something out of the relationship. An alliance should fill a void, offer added value and provide your company with something it needs. If you set some objectives up front to determine what a good alliance looks like, it’ll be easier to make a decision when the time comes.

6. Keep your goals and objectives at the forefront of all that you do. The best way to meet your goals and objectives is to 1. Know what they are and 2. Stay mindful of them. The only way to do that is to keep them in front of you at all times.

7. Set higher standards. Many proclaim to be the very best at what they, but that doesn’t necessary translate into giving your all. There is a difference. Decide to not only be the best but also to always do your best.

8. Vow to let nothing hold you back. Invisible obstacles like fear and doubt often hold us back. The truth is we don’t really know what the future holds for us. The only thing we can do is to launch forward, take some risks, and see what happens. Regret happens when there is possibility and no action.

Just a Reminder Girlfriend!

It's easy to slip into "coulda, woulda, shouda" as you look back on all the things that you could have done, would have done, and should have done if you had more money, more time, more help, more energy, more, more more . . .

And just as you begin to slide down the wishing well . . . I wish I had . . . more clients, better employees, more publicity . . . it arrives, just in time --- a phone call, an email, a supportive note, a thank you letter from that dear girlfriend, reminding you of all the great things you've done.

So as we leave one year and move into another, this is Just a Reminder Girlfriend of the many things you've accomplished!