Articles
Browse every published article connected to Liz Uram, with exact attribution and full-archive search.
Articles
Browse every published article connected to Liz Uram, or search within this exact expert archive.
I was recently asked to speak to a team of independent distributors for a health and wellness company to give them some step by step action steps to get them ready to tackle a 90-day challenge that will help them achieve their next level of success. The challenge involves giving away 90 magazines in 90 days. That seems easy to do, but without a committed action plan it's easier not to do.
Are you doing the same thing over and over hoping for different results? If so, that’s the definition of insanity. If you’re trying to improve something you need a plan that will get you out of the rut. Otherwise you could get stuck in an ongoing circle that goes nowhere.r
Twice in as many weeks I have been referred to as the Queen of Operations. That’s a title I’ll take. Business Operations, as defined by www.businessdictionary.com, are the activities involved in the day to day functions of the business conducted for the purpose of generating profits. Operations is my sweet spot. I love to know how things work and I love finding ways to improve a process to make them work better and improve the bottom line.
One reason many people go into business for themselves is that they have a strong independent streak and want to do things their way (or, is that just me?). However, that drive for independence can also be a detriment. One of the downfalls of being a solo entrepreneur can be not having other people to bounce your ideas off. If you are like me, you have a strong sense of independence but you also thrive in an environment where you have other people to share your ideas with. Collaborating with your peers can help take your business to a new level.
For effective communication, check your messages for the 3 C’s – clear, concise, consistent. It is a waste of time to speak to an audience whose eyes are glazing over because they are overwhelmed with the amount and flow of information you are providing and meaningless to write communications that no one reads because the receiver has lost interest before you get to the point. One of the quickest ways to lose trust is by withholding information or by being inconsistent with your communications.
How far are you willing to go to get the word out about your business? How about 18 miles? That’s how many miles my client walked to distribute 1000 fliers to market her business. Impressive. She’s going to do it 7 more times. We built a marketing campaign that’s perfect for her business. She is a personal trainer in a community full of her ideal clients. She could have easily said she doesn’t have the time but she’s willing to make the time. Is it easy? No. It takes dedication and perseverance. It takes getting over the hang-ups most of us have about marketing.r
Is there anything more important than visibility to the solo entrepreneur? Your first reaction might be… yeah, sales. That would be putting the cart before the horse. People can’t do business with you if they don’t know about you. It starts being visible. Solo entrepreneurs can’t afford to be the best kept secret in town. You need to be seen and be heard. It’s not that business owners don’t know that. There are just so many options, it can be hard to know where to start and how to stay focused. Here are 3 things you can do right now to increase your visibility:r
When it comes to building a business, solo entrepreneurs face decisions every day. We need to decide if we want to take on a certain client, who we want to partner with for joint ventures, or if we want to take on a new marketing project. One reason businesses suffer from indecision or poor decisions is that they skipped over the foundational work that sets the stage for what the business stands for.
For many business women pinpointing a target market can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. In reality it’s right there in plain sight. Smack in the middle of “everyone”. Your target market is, of course, the bullseye. It is the smallest point but has the biggest payoff. Sure, you can aim wide and hope you’ll hit your target but you’ll find out quickly that is not a winning strategy. Practice and focus will have you hitting the mark consistently resulting in sweet rewards . Here are some tips to get you there as quickly as possible:r
One reason many people go into business for themselves is that they have a strong independent streak and want to do things their way (or, is that just me?). However, that drive for independence can also be a detriment. One of the downfalls of being a solo entrepreneur can be not having other people to bounce your ideas off. If you are like me, you have a strong sense of independence but you also thrive in an environment where you have other people to share your ideas with. Collaborating with your peers can help take your business to a new level.
This is especially for women solo professionals and may be suffering from doubt and insecurity about their worth and ability to succeed. By definition a solo professional is someone who is alone in their business and that can be an unsettling place to be especially if you’re starting out. As I reflect on 2 years of business ownership, I remember what an emotional roller coaster I was on that first year. One minute I knew I was doing the right thing and the next minute I was full of doubt. I was on my knees praying a lot that first year.
Key Performance Indicators, or KPI’s, are quantifiable measures that tell you how your business is doing. The numbers should measure your overall company goals and objectives which is one important element of a business plan. If you don’t know what you are working toward you have no way of knowing if you are on track. If you have an overall idea of what your goals are, then you can start putting together your KPI’s.
What does it mean to listen effectively? It means that you are in the moment and open to the message that is coming your way. When you are listening effectively you are receiving, interpreting, and responding appropriately to the message that is being given. The type of response required, or desired, depends on the situation. The more effectively you listen, the more likely it is you will be able to respond appropriately. Here are some tips for becoming an effective listener:r
If you could reduce your staff’s wasted time by just five minutes every hour, productivity would jump 8.3 percent. Efficiency levels would also rise as staff members began to devote more time to completing critical tasks.
A question was raised recently about what causes employee disengagement and what can be done about it. This is a broad subject and requires investigating the root cause of the disengagement before the best course of action can be determined. The danger of applying a one-size-fits-all approach is that only the symptoms are treated and the underlying problems persist. This may provide temporary relief but you will soon be dealing with the same problem again, and again, and again.r
Expectations, Standards, Goals, Measures, Criteria, Benchmarks, Accountabilities. Whatever you call them, make sure you have them. Setting expectations is the foundation of good management skills. First, it shows that you are confident about what you want and you are able to make decisions. If you have no standards you have nothing to communicate, nothing to give feedback on and nothing to hold people accountable for.r
Tired of coming up with great ideas that never see the light of day? Have a great idea but no idea how to take it from concept to reality? Business objectives that need to be met but you don’t have a plan? Don’t give up! Learn how to achieve your goals the SMART way. It’s the time of year when everyone is thinking about goals for the coming year. Whether you are a business owner with objectives to meet, or you have personal goals you want to achieve, the SMART strategy will help keep you on track. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-based.