self.employed.life

Free spirits shouldn’t fear a little structure

Lots of new entrepreneurs that I meet struggle with establishing structure — both in their businesses and in their day-to-day life. Their businesses are often run without many or any clearly established processes or systems, so in many ways the business is run from the owner’s head, so to speak. If someone (including the business owner) forgets how to tie a particular knot, a whole lot of time and energy can be wasted in re-figuring it out.

Really, systems and structure are nothing to fret about — and they are a critical element of building a strong, growing business. Remember, even really simple systems can be super effective. Sometimes a system is nothing more than a checklist or a list of steps for how to complete a certain task like preparing a spa treatment room for a client, or how to close out the cash register at the end of the day. With a solid set of procedures for various business operations (which should be in writing), you’ll improve consistency, which is a big element of customer satisfaction. Procedures and systems also help avoid errors and maximize efficiency, which in turn help keep costs down.

On a personal level, having no established schedule or structure for your day can also weigh you down. For most people, having at least some regular times for certain activities helps them be more productive and efficient overall. Establishing just a little structure in your days and weeks — say, you schedule Tuesday mornings (or maybe the 1st Tuesday each month) for doing marketing strategy and planning, and Friday mornings for entering receipts into your bookkeeping system — will still allow for the freedom and flexibility that probably attracted you to self-employment, but will streamline your operations and help you accomplish more for the same or less effort.

In fact, a huge benefit of systematizing is that it allows a business owner to actually take time off. Without any systems in place, you’ll need to be hands-on a lot of the time, basically tethering you to the business. If one of the reasons you want to leave your job and become self-employed is that you want more freedom in your life, putting good systems in place will help you achieve that. Otherwise there’s a good chance you’ll become a slave to your business just like you were a slave to your job.

Spring fever and changing course (a.k.a. failing)

Yesterday I decided to pull the plug (or at least, put on a far-back burner…on low) on a project that I realized I just couldn’t do right now. This project being my next book project which I was aiming to have done by the end of the summer. The thing is that I had already committed to it, and I really have a visceral aversion to not following through with my commitments. Put another way, I don’t like to fail. And since I had already said yes to the book and went all the way through the contract process and had even received an advance check, after three months of failing to make significant progress I finally had to get real and admit that I just can’t do this project right now. I think I knew deep down that this might happen (how I would do it with a toddler at home was always a mystery), as I never cashed the advance check that I received weeks ago.

It’s still possible that we’ll spin the book idea into something else (smaller), and/or put it off by 3 months, or even a year, but the hard part was making the decision yesterday that I just had to throw in the towel on the book as we originally planned and scheduled it. And then after making the decision, to send an email to my editor telling her the news. I still haven’t heard back from her but I’m just going to have to hope it’s OK. Read more…

It’s the 100th International Women’s Day

I’m going to be completely honest and admit I didn’t really have a plan for how to honor International Women’s Day. Just keeping the essential balls in the air has been a challenge. For the entire last week (plus a few days) our sitter who helps with our 16-month-old had the flu, and in the middle of that week my husband started jury duty — and on that same day I got the call from my daughter’s school that she had come down with the same crud that everyone else seems to be getting. Today, a week later, she’s finally back at school, our wonderful sitter is healthy again and watching the tottering toddler, and I’m madly catching up. (Dang jury duty lasts until the middle of next week! Ugh.) Thankfully I am still healthy (I’m knocking, BANGING on wood right now) but the pressures of the last week have got me worn pretty thin.

So instead of writing a long post about women’s progress in the last 100 years (believe me, there are plenty of other blog posts and articles online today that do a great job of this), I have a better idea: to shine a light on some of the awesome women business owners that I am honored to know. I interviewed several women entrepreneurs for  The Women’s Small Business Start-Up Kit; below is an excerpt.

What’s the best part of running a business?

“Getting to do exactly what I want, how I want to … and not working for someone else.”

— Kyle Zimmerman, founder and owner of Albuquerque photography studio, Kyle Zimmerman Photography.

“The fact that I work in the field of my choice doing what I love, with freedom to be creative. The ability to model the business philosophy exactly to my standards and beliefs is something I would never have working for someone else.”

— Sabrina Habib Williams, co-founder of JS Photography in Gainesville, Florida.

“Being self-employed is pretty ideal for becoming a parent. I can decide what kind of a schedule I need (within reason) and be more in control of my life than if I worked for someone else.”

— Rebecca Pearcy, founder and owner of Queen Bee Creations and Chickpea Baby, which manufacture and distribute a variety of handmade bags, wallets, panniers, diaper bags, and accessories to retail and wholesale customers around the world.

“The best part of running a business is the flexibility of my schedule. I realized how important this was when I was pregnant and after having my daughter.”

— Leila Johnson, vice president and co-owner of VelaMira, Inc, dba Data-Scribe®, a full-service Web firm, and author of Driving to Success: Let Your Spirit Take the Wheel.

“Getting to call the shots—nothing quite compares to having the autonomy to decide which projects you want to take on, and when and how you want to work. Even when things are rough, it’s reassuring to know that if you want things to change, it’s in your power to change them.”

— Lauren Bacon and Emira Mears, the founders and owners of Raised Eyebrow Web Studio Inc., a Vancouver-based Web development firm focused on providing strategic, beautiful, and effective online communications for clients in the nonprofit, government and progressive business sectors.

“The constant newness, change. There are always new issues and challenges, and this suits my personality. For example, just last week we decided to launch an entirely new brand/branch within Betty’s. Now we have this new focus to keep things fresh. It’s also true that I now cannot imagine working for someone else.”

— Elissa Breitbard, founder and owner of Betty’s Bath & Day Spa.

“The challenge and the learning are the best parts of this business owner puzzle. After failing at other businesses, I have rejoiced in understanding that my failures have been my best lesson. I have no fear of thought-through risk, and have built a tremendous amount of confidence from this.”

— Nicola Freegard co-founder of Vy&Elle, an eco-conscious fashion label headquartered in Tucson, Arizona.

“When you’re a consultant, people really are turning to you for advice. Having the intellectual freedom to speak my mind and being able to substantially influence the direction of a business entity are probably the benefits I appreciate most about the choice I’ve made.”

— Isabel Walcott Draves, Internet startup consultant and expert in strategic Internet marketing, social media, user-generated content, and creating communities online and off.

Leading provider of free unique natural green solutions

Sure, when drafting your marketing messages it makes sense to include appropriate buzzwords that not only will speak to your audience, but that accurately depict the product or service you’re selling. But empty, meaningless buzzwords aren’t likely to sway savvy consumers who have been relentlessly courted with promises of “free,” “best,” “green,” “exclusive” and the like. The best marketing messages are the ones that are backed up with something that’s real.

Seriously, I challenge anyone to explain to me how to cut a fry unnaturally.

When upselling backfires (No, I do NOT want fries with that!)

One of the cashiers at my local cafe is the world’s most annoying upseller. She’s friendly, she’s competent, she’s efficient and fast — but I hate when I get her at the counter because I know she’s going to try to push stuff on me. “Are you sure you don’t want a pastry with that, maybe an eclair or a cherry turnover?” Or, “How about a cup of soup to go with that; it’s delicious!” Not only does she try to upsell every single time, but she’s really high-energy about it which is incredibly grating.

So today I walk in and intend to order a bowl of oatmeal and a pot of tea, and since I’m hungry I figure I’ll get a couple eggs on the side. A different cashier is about to take my order, but in an instant he is sidetracked and you-know-who is now in front of me, asking for my order. I’m suddenly in defense mode.

Read more…

Play to your core audience, not to the back of the room

So the other night, Turtle and I went to see some awesome local musicians whom we just adore. We even got a sitter for the occasion so we both could go (these days it’s usually just one of us, while the other stays home with the kids). The bands were playing at a little restaurant/bar downtown, not really a music venue per se. We got there just in time to score a table right at the front by the small impromptu stage — and not a moment too soon, as in about a half an hour the whole place was packed all the way to the back. Up front by us, people started squirreling chairs in between tables and the whole area became one big happy social masse with strangers quickly becoming friends. Our beers were served and we were already mightily enjoying a very fun Grown-Up Night Out, whoo!

So the first band started and they sounded great. Except for one thing: they were really, really loud. And the same was true for band #2. Now mind you, none of these bands are loud rock-and-roll outfits (not that there’s anything wrong with that). We’re talking acoustic instruments (amplified), harmonies, sweet indie-style music here. And whoever was running the sound had them turned to 11. It wasn’t so bad that it ruined the night for anyone, but it definitely made it less enjoyable for all of us up near the front. All night long, amid lots of fun and merriment, someone would punctuate the festivities by mouthing to the person next to them, “Wow, it’s so loud!” which was usually answered by “What???” to be followed up by “IT’S SO LOUD!!!”

At which point I noticed (mostly via lip-reading) several people had the following response: “They must want to make sure the back of the room can hear.” Which seemed a little absurd since the folks in the back of the room were pretty much completely engaged in conversations amongst themselves, and seemed to care less about the bands up front. (Not to mention, unless they were totally deaf, they could hear enough to know a band was playing and could come closer if they were interested.) And this is where my business mind kicked in and this post was inspired.
Read more…

What are your favorite local businesses?

Another year…another book! As January winds to a close I’m already facing some deadlines for a new Nolo book I’m working on (!) which will focus on how small- to medium-sized local businesses can build a strong brand. I want to write this book because I think far too much information that’s out there about branding focuses on big businesses with mega budgets, and emphasizes an approach that’s way too advertising-heavy. Without revealing too much, let’s just say I’m going to write about a different way to go.

I’ll be profiling a lot of businesses in this book, so let me ask you: What are your favorite local businesses and why? I’m looking for the types of places people consider a “must go” for particular cities/towns. As in, if I told you I were visiting your town, you would say, “Oh, you absolutely MUST go to [insert name of fabulous local business here]!!!” If you can offer any insight into how they’ve successfully branded themselves, great. But if not, don’t worry (really, that’s my job as I research and write this book)–just tell me which places you just love.

Just post in the comments, and please include your city.

Thanks, and looking forward to hearing about your faves!

The holidaze are upon us

As with so much in my life these days, I am certain that scaling back expectations will be key to really enjoying these holidaze. It’s T minus 5 days to Christmas, my holiday to-do lists runneth over, and my elves bailed out on me at the last minute (so unreliable, those elves). We’re definitely not a “make a big deal out of Christmas” kind of family, but we do like to put up and decorate a tree, and — especially now that we have an exuberant 4-year-old — do at least one or two fun things like making cookies, crafts or whatnot.

We also live in a historic district of Albuquerque that’s on the luminaria tour route, so that means we’re pretty much committed to cleaning our yard, setting out 100+ luminarias and lighting them on Christmas Eve. It doesn’t sound like a big deal but anyone who’s been out there lighting them as the sun goes down and the tour buses start rolling down the street knows there’s at least a little stress involved!

Then there’s work. I’ve got a new book percolating (!), plus two large-ish client projects that want my attention even in the midst of holiday chaos.

To keep my sanity, I’m setting my mind to prioritizing, and to letting go. Will I reach my goal of making handcrafted gifts for the whole family this year? (I can hear you laughing.) Um, no. But I will be really pleased if I can finish the plush blankie I’m making for Jasper. I definitely want to make some cute decorated sugar cookies with Jila, but I’m not going to beat myself up if I don’t get those holiday cards in the mail (the boxes have been piled on the table mocking me for days). At this point I’m shooting for quality, non-angst-ridden time with the fam — and getting all those luminarias lit in time for the tour.

So in the spirit of recycling — and as a fond farewell to DADT — please enjoy our holiday card from last year.

Happy holidaze everyone — and keep breathing!

Following and breaking my own advice

I’ve written and said it before: I think one of the keys to success and happiness (whether self-employed or working a job) is to ride the waves of inspiration and energy when they come, and not to sweat it when they don’t. So that’s what I’ve been up to this past couple months: not sweating the fact that I just haven’t felt blogging inspiration or energy. What I have felt is sleep deprived as my one-year-old seems to be stuck in some weird 3am waking cycle that just…won’t…end.

But I also have taught and counseled that you really shouldn’t start a blog unless you can commit to posting at least every week or so. Sigh. Bear with me. Thanks.

Adventures in incongruity: Meatloaf sushi

I am neck-deep in updating one of my books for a new edition (Starting and Building a Nonprofit, in case you’re wondering), and during a quick New York Times break I read all about spaghetti tacos, which are apparently the rage among the tweener set. Truth be told, I don’t really find this concoction appealing — though I do quite enjoy incongruous food combinations!

My contribution to the genre? Meatloaf sushi. I first created this about 10 years ago and have been meaning to post a how-to for ages. So here you go; photos and instructions after the jump. You’re very welcome. Read more…