The Virtual Office Source

There comes a time in every business when what has been working well is no longer enough. In fact, if you your business is changing…growing…evolving, it’s pretty much a given that you are constantly on the lookout for new and innovative ways to keep it alive and thriving.

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. It can seem a little scary, and even risky, to try something you’ve never tried before; but it can be exciting and fun too. I’m not advocating acting irrationally. On the contrary, think it through–consider the pros and cons–try to imagine the worst case and best case scenario. The worst case scenario should be something you can live with if it comes to that. But, don’t be afraid to venture out and experiment.

Start small if that feels more comfortable. There is still the risk it might not work, but at least if it fails, it will be a smaller setback, and a lesson learned. The important thing is, try something! If you sit back and do nothing to affect change, guess what’s likely to happen–NOTHING!

It has been is an incredibly cold and snowy winter so far! Even though I live on a mountain near a ski resort, winter is not my season. Therefore, it’s a good time for me to stay in and get things organized.

I’ve gone through my file drawers, cabinets and storage closets. I’ve shredded, thrown out, arranged and rearranged. I still have some things to get put into notebooks, as well as some bookkeeping to bring up to date. Once that is done, I’ll be in pretty good shape.

It will feel so good start out the new year with things in order. I hope you’ll take the time to do the same; I think you’ll find that you’ll be more productive if you do.

Do you have balance in your business? What doea that mean? To explain that, I’d like to put it in a slightly different context. In order to have balance in your business, you need to have balance in your life.

We’re all hearing more and more about mind, body, spirit balance. If you meditate regularly, you know what this means. You realize how it all comes together. For example, when you are out of balance your body reacts to stress and tension, your mind is cluttered with so many thoughts you can’t begin to sort them all out. You’re having headaches, back pain, or possibly more serious health conditions. You’ve totally lost touch with your Higher Power. Getting back to daily meditation can right all of these things in a short amount of time, almost instantly sometimes.

It’s the same with your business. To be the most productive, you need to  balance all the parts of your business. Perhaps you’re the best with customer service. Your customers all love you and enjoy interacting with you, but your finances are in trouble because you haven’t paid attention to them. Or you don’t have new products to sell because you’re focus has been on customer service.

What I’ve found to be true in my own life is that when I am balanced personally, in mind, body and spirit, it makes it much easier to balance other areas of my life. It all starts with ME.

If you are well balanced personally, and continue to exercise control over that, but still can’t get a handle on all the parts of your business, that’s not all bad. It probably means that business is booming, and maybe you need someone to help you manage it all. That’s where people like myself, and Online Business Manager (OBM), or a Virtual Assistant (VA) or two can help you get and keep it under control. Anyone in an OBM role will also help you brainstorm ways to work more efficiently, effectively and productively.

Most importantly, get your personal selff balanced. Everything else hinges on that. Then, decide what your next steps should be.

One thing I know for certain is that in order to be successful in business, you must be flexible. You need to be open to new ways of doing things as change occurs. Or even as it becomes apparent that what you are currently doing is not working.

Here is a perfect example of my own. For years—well, really all of my adult life, I’ve been a morning person. I get up before the rest of the household and have my wake up time…relax and watch the sunrise with a cup of tea; do my meditation and yoga; have breakfast and shower. Then I’m really ready to begin my day. That is, until recently…

Recently a six-month old puppy came into my life. Her name is Amber. Amber is also a morning doggy. She is up with the crack of dawn. If not then, then as the first sign that I am awake. She demands immediate attention in the way of breakfast, relieving herself and, of course, play. She cannot be left unattended because her middle name is Trouble with a capital “T”.

I can relax with my cup of tea once I get her settled down with her breakfast. Then, it’s outside. I can’t leave her for long because I live on 5 acres with no fencing.  Then the fun begins. She’s constantly looking for something to get into. As a result, I DON’T get my morning meditation & yoga in. This really starts my day off in an “off” way. I rely on these activities for my own mental, emotional and spiritual health, and this has been my routine for years.

For the past several weeks, I’ve just kind of done without, or gotten it when I can. I have finally developed a new routine. I get up and work for that couple of hours in the morning while I can at least keep an eye on Amber. Once someone else is up and can take over doggy duty, I go downstairs to my exercise room and get in my “me” time. It has been an adjustment, but it’s working better than before, when I was floundering trying to keep up with “me.”

Another major benefit I am seeing since I’ve made this change is in my business. I had become rather scattered; forgetting things, missing meetings, not being able to focus on the task at hand. Now I’m back to providing the level of service that is important to me, and I still manage to get in my “me” time. There are other benefits. It gives me time to turn on the space heater and warm up my excercise room. Also, I have difficulty focusing in my meditation because my mind is on everything I  have to do today. Now, I get those most pressing things out of the way first, and get a good mental handle on my day before I go into my meditation. I think I’m liking this new schedule better after all.

As I said, flexibility is the key. It sometimes takes a little creative thinking to adapt, but there are always ways!

I know we’re just coming up on the holiday season, and that tends to preoccupy everyone’s mind this time of year. But have you thought about your goals for next year? If not, now is the time. You’ll want to have something in place to implement come the first of the year.

When developing your business plan for next year, think about such things as:

• What projects to I want to start or complete?
• What are my due dates?
• What is my budget for each project?
• What is the scope of work for each project?
• What new procedures do I want to implement?
• Should I hire someone to help manage my business?
• What is my budget for hiring help?

Putting together a plan is not an easy process. It takes a considerable amount of thought and planning. But if you take the time, I think you’ll find yourself having a more successful business. If you already have a business manager, brainstorming with them is helpful. Set realistic goals, but ones that will ultimately move your business in a forward direction.

I sat on my deck Saturday morning and meditated. It was magical. It was as if time stood still, and the electricity of the energy of the Universe was all around me and in me and through me. I took in the golden glow of the autumn aspen leaves; the fiery red and orange of the scrub oak; the gentle breeze; the rising sun on my face; the scent of fresh mountain air.
 
And as I sat there, I was reminded that along with the change of the season, I am also seeing changes in my life. My business has all of a sudden exploded. I asked the Universe for this to happen a month ago, and received what I asked for, as is the Law of the Universe. But am I ready for it? It is most definitely making me realize that I have to be flexible enough to change with it—to adjust for it.

Change is always good. I embrace it as Life’s vehicle for teaching us how to grow and expand. It can certainly be challenging, but so rewarding when you get through the challenge feeling good about, not only the outcome, but the journey. Change always happens. But it sometimes it takes something such as my experience on my deck Saturday morning to be fully aware of it.