Lagging Profits? Year-End Is Ideal For Reflection, Planning

 

Dec. 15, 2011

Year-end is a perfect time for reflection and planning for your business.

Don’t be distracted from improving your business because of all the negative news: RealtyTrac reports homeowners from Seattle to Sarasota face another round of foreclosures. Nearly 50 percent of Americans are either characterized as low income or in poverty. U.S. business expects anemic growth and Europe anticipates a recession.

The only possible bright spot is in employment numbers, and CFOs plan more hiring in 2012 according to the Duke/CFO Global Business Outlook Survey.

Yes, you are busy and overwhelmed. You can’t do much about the macro developments but you can do something about your company. Even if you’re a retailer scrambling to make your numbers from holiday sales, it’s fitting that you start reflecting about 2012.

Start with an attitude of gratitude – make a gratitude list about what is working well. If you’re still operating as a business, you do have some blessings. Consider your customers, employees, family and close friends. All deserve your gratitude, time and attention.

If you’ve been feeling beleaguered, chances are you’re focusing on the 10 percent that needs correction instead of the 90 percent that’s working well in your professional and personal life. Consider these 23 tips to reduce stress, and work Happier for top performance.

Now that you feel better from a more positive perspective, think about what is needed for a better 2012 – Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

If you need a complete turnaround, here are13 steps you can take;  plus these 12 tips for profits to keep your business dreams alive.

Here are 31 New Year’s Resolutions to Recover from the Great Recession.

Otherwise, consider:

• Start with your role. Have you performed at a high level as a boss? Did you know there are 10 key differences between leaders and managers?
• Finances and cash flow – analyze your profits and expenses. Don’t forget to review your break-even point. Plan to make any needed changes.
• Regarding employees, decide what is needed in performance appraisals, salary reviews, training, and corrective action.
• Check your online customer service reviews. Write responses for negative reviews, but strategize on the internal changes you need to make to prevent more complaints. If you don’t have enough reviews, give an incentive to each of your best customers to take a moment to write a favorable review.
• Identify what you need in technology and make an investment to innovate for profits. That includes a strategy for a Web site update, online mentions and social media – LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+ and Twitter. Get your employees involved.
• If you’re frustrated in looking for new business, soften your approach.

Here’s to your serene holidays and a prosperous New Year.

From the Coach’s Corner, continue to fine-tune your strategies as events occur. But remember to think 1930s for business success. Consumer attitudes are changing. Maybe you should, too.

“I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.”

- Martha Washington

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Columnist Terry Corbell is also a business-performance consultant and profit professional. Click here to see his management services (many are available online). For a complimentary chat about your business situation or to schedule Terry Corbell as a speaker, why don’t you contact him today?

8 Tips for Cold Calling By E-mail and Telephone

 

Since the advent of the digital age, cold calling went out of vogue. But in the lingering downturn – whether you’re in advertising or staffing services – cold calling has become the logical tool to use to generate clients or business customers.

For most businesspeople, cold calling isn’t the easiest route but it is a proven way of getting clients and customers. It gets easier and more fun with practice – using your value propositions.

Once you get some results, it will actually create a domino effect. A little bit of footwork leads to some business, which leads to even more business.

So it’s all about attitude – an attitude of gratitude and providing a valuable service to your prospects.

Here are eight tips:

1. Make certain all online references about you – social media, Web site and press releases – are professional. Once a prospect is interested in you, the person will search your name on the Internet. So do the footwork now.
2. Remember you’ll only get a brief moment to pique the person’s interest in a phone call. Develop a tantalizing phrase for your subject line, if you’re e-mailing. Know your elevator pitch before you start the sales process – benefits that differentiate you. Your initial goal is just to get face time to lay the foundation for a possible relationship. Don’t try to sell your products or services. Go for a single instead of a home run.
3. After you’ve identified the right prospects, also target centers of influence – people and organizations that can direct business your way. That means a business association, chamber of commerce or the news media using press releases.
4. The best time to make contact via e-mail or telephone is early in the morning. If you get the person’s assistant or receptionist, indicate you’d like to call back. Try to learn the best time to try again. But try never to allow an employee to forward a message to the person for you.
5. Engage the prospect by setting up a dialogue by asking open-ended questions. The best salespeople listen 90 percent in such conversations.
6. Demonstrate that you care about the person and her/his business, and that you listen. Follow up with a handwritten thank you note – or an e-mail, if you must. Include a restatement of the prospect’s concerns, an appropriate value proposition with additional information, and a statement to prevent buyer’s remorse.
7. Unless you are able to schedule an appointment in the initial contact, allow five business days before you follow up. Remember your image — you want to earn the business, but you don’t “need” it.
8. Be patient and persevering. Only a small percentage of the contacts will turn into prospects or sales. It often takes five positive contacts before a person buys. Make sure you’re not committing the seven deadly sins of selling. So use the best selling techniques, the seven steps to higher sales.

From the Coach’s Corner, here’s another resource link: The Lost Art – How and Why to Use Cold-Calling for Higher Sales.

“If you don’t take a chance, you won’t have one.”

 

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Columnist Terry Corbell is a business-performance consultant and profit professional. Click here to see his management services (many are available online). For a complimentary chat about your business situation or to schedule Terry Corbell as a speaker, why don’t you contact him today?

Risk Management – Picking the Best Cloud Storage Provider

 

Dec. 13, 2011

There’s been quite a buzz about using the cloud. Personally, I’m still not sold on using cloud services for many businesses. There have been too many problems, and I prefer to maintain controls to alleviate uncertainty in business. Not to mention one of the lessons I learned very early — when there’s a lot of hype like there is with the cloud — go slow with due diligence.

But if you feel you must go the cloud route, remember choosing the right cloud storage provider is a must for risk management.

You have a vast array of options. Cost is important, of course, but so are your company’s risk-management needs – just like the federal government.

It’s taken two years, but now the government has launched FedRamp, the federal risk and authorization program (FedRAMP). It established security standards for providing cloud services to the government. FedRAMP also provides agencies with monitoring tools to insure continuous compliance with security standards.

Those are important considerations.

So what about cloud risk-management for your business?

Here are basic questions to ask of your potential cloud provider:

1. If they’re a large provider, has the vendor been qualified by FedRAMP?
2. What is the company’s financial situation? According to federal data, there were 1,467,221 bankruptcies last year. Of which, 49,895 were business bankruptcies. Have a frank discussion with the supplier. Find out if they expect to gain or lose business in the next year. And ask about their cash flow, and for references regarding the status of their banking relationships.
3. What would be their total charges? Is it a flat fee? What are the additional costs for storing each gigabyte or for transferring data?
4. What about the security of their services, and what does their service level agreement (SLA) provide? Keep in mind commitments for performance and reliability, and what happens if they fail to perform according to the SLA.
5. What do they provide in the way of data availability each month? What will be the percentage of time you will be able to get into your data or add new data?
6. What do they provide in data transfer rates? Data storage is important, but so is your ability to rapidly transfer your data.
7. What level of data durability do they offer? That is the amount of potential data loss from data corruption.
8. Does the vendor provide data shuffle or bare metal service? This service is a hard copy backup. Will you be able to present a hard-drive data copy to the cloud or will you be able to retrieve a copy of your data?
9. What do they support in operating systems? Make certain they’re capable of working with all your operating systems.
10. What are their backup services? You’ll have problems if they simply backup your data. You’ll also want assurances that they will back up all your computer applications and operating system, and will provide virtual servers for crashed systems.

From the Coach’s Corner, here’s How Small Businesses Can Capitalize on Cyber Strategies for Profit.

“It’s not a faith in technology. It’s faith in people.”
-Steve Jobs

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Terry Corbell is a business-performance consultant and profit professional. Click here to see his management services (many are available online). For a complimentary chat about your business situation or to schedule Terry Corbell as a speaker, why don’t you contact him today?

Overcoming Obstacles for Business Turnaround — 13 Steps

 

For a successful turnaround of financially troubled businesses, there are usually two obstacles to overcome. They include the ego of the business owner or CEO, and poor advice by the lawyers.

It’s difficult for a business owner or CEO to accept the need for a turnaround specialist. Most often, they’re in denial about the company’s prospects or they don’t believe an outside participant can come to their rescue with restructuring services.

As for many attorneys, in my experience, they have tunnel vision. Not to be gauche, but they only see what’s at the end of their noses. They’re more apt to insist on filing bankruptcy to protect assets because they don’t have the capacity to see the big picture.

While bankruptcy might appear to be a logical recourse to hold off creditors, that’s not always the appropriate course of action. A turnaround can succeed if it’s handled quickly and by giving the turnaround specialist complete autonomy. But that’s the hard part for turnaround consultants – dealing with the egos.

The easy part is knowing what to do. The advisor will need to improve the company’s cash position with a myriad of steps:

1. Evaluate the company’s prospects and reasons for the demise – starting with the company’s culture and human capital, processes and products
2. Develop the turnaround plan
3. Launch implementation
4. Change what’s needed in human resources – replace the key employees lacking character
5. Teach new skills, core values and vision to staff
6. Fix processes
7. Improve the inventory and products
8. Require the company’s customers to pay in cash when making a purchase
9. Control the checkbook
10. Prioritize on cash outlays
11. Negotiate with unsecured creditors and lenders
12. Sell certain capital assets, including facilities and leasing them back
13. Measure sales and operational performance

When given complete autonomy combined with quick action, such turnaround specialists are successful and the need for bankruptcy is averted.

From the Coach’s Corner, here is more information on financial strategies:

Step-by-Step Solutions for a Company Turnaround

Management Strategies for a Successful Turnaround

8 Simple Strategies to Give You Pricing Power

“In the business world, everyone is paid in two coins: cash and experience. Take the experience first; the cash will come later.”

-Harold Geneen

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Columnist Terry Corbell is a business-performance consultant and profit professional. Click here to see his management services (many are available online). For a complimentary chat about your business situation or to schedule Terry Corbell as a speaker, why don’t you contact him today?

 

Do Holidays Frustrate You in Looking for Clients or Job? Soften Your Approach

 

Is the holiday season a misnomer for you? It probably is if you’re overwhelmed looking hard for income — either for clients or in  job hunting. Take heart, there are options for a new approach. 

These days if you have desperation in searching for clients or a job, it doesn’t feel like a holiday season. So turn it into one. 

Yes, this can be an unnerving time. So don’t try so hard. 

Aside from family and close friends, this is a season for reconnecting with longtime business associates and pals. Use the holidays to your advantage. 

Sure, continue your quest, but spend the majority of your time building your network. Meet for coffee. Take someone to lunch. Connect with past associates or people with whom you’ve done some profitable business. 

Out of sight, out of mind – too often , that’s true. So rekindle your relationships. Your acquaintances will remember your commitment to excellence and skills. 

Don’t forget to get your exercise. 

Oh, now’s a good time to brush up on the 22 Do’s and Don’ts for successful negotiations or to get a head start on New Year’s resolutions to recover from the Great Recession. 

And if all else fails, look around for someone less fortunate to help. Believe me, these folks are out there. Volunteerism will put a smile on your face. You’re more apt to get some deserved attention. 

You don’t have to feel frustrated in looking for clients or job. Soften your approach.

From the Coach’s Corner, whether you’re searching for new clients or job hunting, here are more resource links: 

Business Got You Down? Tips for a Morale Boost 

Discouraged in Job Hunting? Powerful Tips for the Best Job 

Job Hunting? Tips to Land Your Dream Job with Style, Substance 

“Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!”

-Amanda Bradley

 

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Columnist Terry Corbell is also a business-performance consultant and profit professional. Click here to see his management services (many are available online). For a complimentary chat about your business situation or to schedule Terry Corbell as a speaker, why don’t you contact him today?

 

The 22 Dos and Don’ts for Successful Negotiations

 

Whether you face haggling with customers, salespeople or employees, there are easy strategies for negotiating anything you want. But you must first remember it’s important to reach a fair compromise – with win-win negotiating skills.

You’ll want both parties to feel positive after the negotiation is complete. In other words, emotional needs for both of you have to be met.

So don’t carelessly let something slip out. Whether you struggle to protect your turf, putting an end to people taking advantage of you, or you’re laboring to get what you want in a transaction, there are basic skills you need to know to find solutions that are acceptable to you and the other person.

Understand that your position is strengthened by having the ability to walk away. The winner is the person who’s best prepared for the deal not even happening.

The dos:

1. Determine goals. Decide on your objectives. Know your bottom line.
2. Anticipate the desires of your opponent. Think collegially – envision the person as your partner in the deal.
3. Analyze the assets. What do both of you bring to the table?
4. Evaluate options. That means for both of you.
5. If you have a history with the other party, analyze your track record and precedents with the person. What issues have impacted the two of you?
6. Assess the power you bring into the discussion, and that of the other person.
7. Anticipate the obvious consequences, the corollaries.
8. Pay attention to detail. Try to put the other person’s needs first. In that way, the person feels as though you’re listening. Show empathy to the other person’s concerns and problems.
9. Stay calm, no matter what. You’ll keep the emotional advantage. Focus on issues, not personalities.
10. Keep in mind plan B. Know your options for a fallback position.
11. Document the deal – get it in writing immediately.

The don’ts:

1. Never bargain with someone using the word, “between.” If you offer a range using this word, customers and vendors will only hear the minimum. Sellers and employees will hear the maximum.
2. Don’t signal the person that you’re done negotiating by using the phrase, “I think we’re close.” You’ll be giving away your power – the person will believe you’re exhausted and that you put a higher priority on getting an agreement instead of achieving your actual goals.
3. Don’t get into a bidding war. Brand yourself so that you’re the only party the person should deal with. Don’t negotiate against yourself. If you make an offer, wait for the response. Be careful in using the phrase, “Why don’t you throw out a number?” Usually, the first amount mentioned by a seller is the amount that’s ultimately agreed upon.
4. If you need time to think, don’t establish at the beginning that you’re the final decision-maker. You’ll get more wiggle room if you indicate there’s another person with whom you must speak.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask what you want – be specific about what you want and don’t want.
6. Don’t negotiate with a person who doesn’t have authority to sign off on a deal.
7. Don’t do all the talking. The best results occur when the other person does 90 percent of the talking. That’s accomplished by asking open-ended questions, such as “What are your concerns about what I am suggesting?”
8. Don’t ignore the person’s body language. Know the green lights.
9. Don’t argue, but discuss items in which there are disagreements.
10. Steer clear of form contracts. They are designed for a pre-determined outcome. The agreement must reflect the negotiations.
11. Don’t forget to prepare. Failure to prepare leads to failure in negotiations.

Good luck.

From the Coach’s Corner, remember in all negotiations, your purpose is to sell your ideas or products. You need to know the five value perceptions that motivate customers to buy; seven steps to higher sales; and the three-step process for overcoming sales objections. They’re all included in this related resource link: The Seven Steps to Higher Sales.

“If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend six sharpening my axe.”

-Abraham Lincoln

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Columnist Terry Corbell is also a business-performance consultant and profit professional. Click here to see his management services (many are available online). For a complimentary chat about your business situation or to schedule Terry Corbell as a speaker, why don’t you contact him today?

 

12 Tips for Profits to Keep Your Business Dreams Alive

 

Most businesspeople agree the economy continues to be challenging. Signs of a lingering downturn are everywhere. Business activity is slow. Governments at all levels report low tax revenue and are restructuring, and not spending. Customers want you to cut prices.

With a high level of oversupply in many industries, high unemployment and reduced customer spending, many businesspeople face a highly competitive environment.

To keep your dream alive in this downturn, you must find ways to adapt and do it quickly. That means re-examining business plans, strengthening risk management initiatives, retaining top talent, and making internal changes and restructuring to increase efficiency and profitability – all while looking for new opportunities for growth.

How to improve your business position:

1. Be defensive. Protect your turf by taking the best possible care of your best customers. You can invigorate sales with customer retention strategies. Find out what they think of your company, and make necessary improvements. You might consider jettisoning high-maintenance customers. Upon careful review, you might find they’re not profitable for you. You don’t want to be in a position where you’re just moving money around.
2. Expand your customer base. By surveying your best customers, you’ll probably get some compliments. That’s a perfect opportunity to ask for referrals. Find low-cost ways of rewarding them for referring their associates, relatives and friends to you. Here are sales and networking strategies to build strong relationships.
3. Invest in your future. Keep your productive marketing going. Train your workers. Take advantage of innovations in technology. Consider the 11 strategies to keep your business floating above water.
4. Develop an employee-loyalty program. Make it a fun working environment. Even if you can’t give raises, learn how other businesses are successful in retaining their best employees.  Learn which employees are most-likely to quit. Be transparent with them. Explain your challenges and how they can help, especially in processes and with customers. Note the strategies if a valued employee wants a raise, and money’s tight.
5. Fine-tune your branding. The Eight Best Practices in Small Business Marketing. The key to remember – customers want value. Think 1930s for business success. Consumer attitudes are changing.
6. Give back to the community. Did you know that cause-related marketing can increase sales by double digits?
7. Review your pricing strategy. Determine how to get more return on your sales. There are eight simple strategies to give you pricing power.
8. Use best practices in managing your financials. If you’re struggling, here are the step-by-step solutions for a company turnaround.
9. Be creative in your receivables. If collections are a challenge, here’s how to ease debt-collection headaches.
10. If you’re small, make it work for you. Remember  size doesn’t matter but image, professionalism count.
11. Do your best for the environment. Eco strategies work with customers. Here’s a checklist for branding, selling your biz as green.
12. Become an innovator. You must constantly evolve. Here’s how successful companies innovate. Once you are running on all cylinders, consider buying your competitors – providing, of course, you can manage them.

From the Coach’s Corner, if you’re really in a survival mode, here’s a six-part series with tips on “Surviving Economic & Industry Downturns” for your Downturn Survival.

“Nobody talks of entrepreneurship as survival, but that’s exactly what it is and what nurtures creative thinking.”

-Anita Roddick

 

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Columnist Terry Corbell is also a business-performance consultant and profit professional. Click here to see his management services (many are available online). For a complimentary chat about your business situation or to schedule Terry Corbell as a speaker, why don’t you contact him today?

You Have a Great Business Idea, but You’re Stuck in 1st Gear?

 

Not to be gauche, but I generally don’t take on startups as business-performance consultant. Why? The same reasons new entrepreneurs aren’t successful in getting their idea into second gear. New entrepreneurs often have great ideas but many hit self-created stumbling blocks.

The typical excuses and reasons:

• They’re afraid of having their idea stolen.
• They’re indecisive about how to proceed.
• They’re not expert in management and operations.
• They’re unsure about the economy.
• They don’t take direction.

So nothing gets done – it’s called paralysis from analysis. Procrastination results from fear.

Well, to get started, there’s a simple solution: Get feedback from knowledgeable sources. Personally, my experience is that people are generally honest and have too many other priorities to steal ideas.

Yes, there are predators who can’t be trusted. But you can still get started.

Step No. 1: If you don’t have trustworthy savvy associates, do the necessary legal footwork. That might mean a non-disclosure agreement, copyright, trademark and appropriate contracts. Be sure to have an exit strategy.

Step No. 2: Get feedback. One of the salient reasons for startups’ failures is that they don’t intimately know their niche and marketplace.

You might have an outstanding idea. But it’s only good if you can learn the right insights. That comes from soliciting feedback in order to sell your product or service.

So get your non disclosure agreement signed. Then, get your feedback.

From the Coach’s Corner, for new entrepreneurs here are more resource links:

Been There… Done That… Here’s How – New York Times

Advice on Taking an Entrepreneurial Leap – New York Times

Management and HR for higher performance

Marketing Essentials on a Shoestring Budget

10 Scholarly Solutions for Selling More Products

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”

-Lao Tzu

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Columnist Terry Corbell is a business-performance consultant and profit professional. Click here to see his management services (many are available online). For a complimentary chat about your business situation or to schedule Terry Corbell as a speaker, why don’t you contact him today?

Strategies to Succeed as a New Manager – a Checklist

 

Congratulations, new manager. Welcome to a job you’ll find most challenging – if you do it right.

You’ll be carefully watched by your staff. You’ll be judged on values demonstrated by your actions.

What values will you show your employees? Will you be a positive role model constantly striving for improvement or will you head in the opposite direction with slipshod actions?

You will set the tone for performance. Basically, that means listening, providing a vision, implementing flawless processes, outlining responsibilities, delegating, treating everyone the same, being approachable, rewarding strong performers, not accepting sub-par work and being proactive on potential problems.

So think about your vision, role and expectations. Better yet, if you want to be imminently successful, know the 10 Key Differences between Leaders and Managers.

Here’s a checklist:

1. Understand that it’s your responsibility to know how you’ll be evaluated by your boss in goals and targets.
2. Maintain the status quo, and don’t make major changes right away unless your department or company is in a crisis.
3. Inspire trust and cooperation in communication. Use positive body language and tone, and actively listen. Earn commitment from employees on common company goals.
4. Be visible and walk the floor twice a day to get well acquainted with your team. Budget an aggregate five minutes a week with each person. Ask open-ended questions, and for input for the benefit of the company. Learn their individual aspirations, and give them support. Be courteous. Note: The words, “please” and “thank you” should be used in a majority of your communications – verbally or written.
5. Treat employees as valued human capital. Demonstrate your empathy about their career and life balance. In essence, use the Golden Rule. Treat your employees as you would like to be treated. Power Your Brand with Employee Empowerment, and consider the 15 HR Strategies to Improve Your Business Performance. Explain to employees you don’t want to be the last to learn of negative news.
6. Don’t give personal advice.
7. Articulate the company’s strategic mission, and explain expectations to your employees about how their performances fit in the big picture.
8. Explain your preferences for communication – regularly timed reports or frequent updates – in group meetings and one-to-one conversations.
9. Make development and training a priority with a view to the future. Continual growth for each staff member is paramount in this new economy. Mobility counts; successful businesses are agile and adapt to the dynamics of the ever-changing marketplace. Focus on solutions to problems.
10. Share your logic in decision-making processes. Explain concepts and principles to your workers, so they can feel involved and valued, and can be pro-active and take ownership of their work.
11. Get to know your management peers for a diversity of thought. Capitalize on their experiences, strengths and hopes for success. Keep an open mind. Consider different approaches in analyzing problems.
12. Find a mentor – someone who is successful in areas that you need improvement.
13. Delegate. Avoid burnout. Use effective time management. Remember that whenever you fail to delegate on mundane tasks, this means you have a very expensive employee. Try to save your time and energy for critical thinking and strategic planning.
14. Manage by exception. Learn how much autonomy you can accord your employees. Don’t micromanage, but get involved on problems.
15. Be generous with your praise on performance and innovation. After all, employees are making you look good.
16. Reward results, not busywork. Rewards should be reserved for impactful results. Know the 12 Errors to Avoid in Evaluations.
17. Promote humor and fun. Don’t be a stress carrier. Your employees will feel it.
18. Know when to cut your losses. If a project looks as though it won’t be successful, know when and how to pull the plug.
19. Get to know your other stakeholders. Explain your expectations to vendors, and ask for input from your customers.
20. Stay current on all employment laws and regulations, especially about discrimination and harassment. Prevention is important. Should they rear their ugly heads, follow the right protocols. That goes for all interviews and pre-employment tests. It’s true that Many Big Companies Are Ripe for EEOC Complaints.
21. Document everything that might prove to be sensitive. Establish a paper trail.
22. Keep an open mind if there’s conflict among your workers. Don’t react, respond.
23. Stay on top of all technology that affects your business.
24. Dress for success – professionally – as though you’re being considered for your next management gig.
25. Always look ahead. When you’re ready, here are 7 Tips for a Young Professional to Become a CEO.

From the Coach’s Corner, here are more management resource links: 

20 Tell-Tale Signs – If You’re Under-Performing as a Manager

21 Quick Tips to Avoid the Dark Side of Management

Profit By Not Letting Your Stars Become Free Agents

HR Management: Which Employees Are Most-Likely to Quit?

Strategies: If a Valued Employee Wants a Raise, and Money’s Tight 

“Good management is the art of making problems so interesting and their solutions so constructive that everyone wants to get to work and deal with them.”

-Paul Hawken

 

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Columnist Terry Corbell is also a business-performance consultant and profit professional. Click here to see his management services (many are available online). For a complimentary chat about your business situation or to schedule Terry Corbell as a speaker, why don’t you contact him today?

23 Tips to Reduce Stress, Work Happier for Top Performance

 

You have a 35 percent better chance of living longer if you feel happy. That’s the upshot from a 2011 British study that links feelings of happiness to longevity. Note the key word, “feel.” So the emphasis is on feelings. Makes sense, right?

The study acknowledges some people inherently feel happy. But there are environmental factors, such as dissatisfaction with a job or career field, or working or living with the wrong person. The wrong job or living with a toxic person creates lots of stress.

The Great Recession is technically over, but if you’re like most businesspeople you probably need Solutions to Rejuvenate Yourself and Business. And if Business Has Got You Down, Tips for a Morale Boost are helpful.

In my experience, many people tend to allow pressures to become stress, and they have a lot of fears – even without realizing it. These also stem from career challenges or having the wrong partner in business or at home.

Aside from being stuck in a career or changing partners, here are 23 stress management tips:

1. Avoid sleep deprivation. Insomnia and sleep apnea lead to strokes, heart attacks and other health issues. If necessary, see a sleep physician.
2. Drink enough water. It will help your mind and body.
3. If you drink, do it in moderation.
4. Create a balance sheet — a list of pros and cons of your work and personal life.
5. Write affirmations about your qualities or talents. Read the list as often as you feel necessary.
6. Write out your goals. Prioritize your career and personal life. Make necessary changes.
7. Use effective time management strategies. They include avoiding clutter and post-it notes. Don’t work against deadlines. They trigger stress.
8. When you finish a project, meet a deadline or accomplish a task, relish your success and celebrate it.
9. Self effacement works. Poke fun at yourself. It’s OK to be serious, but not be overly dramatic about, so smile.
10. Minimize junk food. Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruit, salads and vegetables.
11. Don’t stuff your feelings, but that doesn’t mean showing anger.
12. Look for the silver lining in every situation – even be grateful for them because any negative situations can be opportunities for growth.
13. Take time off and go on vacations. You can’t afford not to get a change of scenery.
14. If you have a problem work to solve it ASAP. You’ll feel better faster and all other matters will be a proverbial piece of cake.
15. Do the things that promote healthy emotions. Be more accepting of events and people. You’ll find you won’t be so hard on yourself. Perfectionism leads to stress, too.
16. Be generous with compliments. Look for opportunities to confidentially to pat others and yourself on the back.
17. Do everything gently – whether it be setting objects on a table or talking with others.
18. Make family and good friends a priority.
19. Enjoy your hobbies.
20. Get exercise. Cardio workouts are best. At the minimum, do a lot of walking.
21. Remember there are many forms of success. It’s not always about money.
22. Make decisions promptly. Over analysis leads to paralysis. If you have good self esteem, you won’t be constantly engaging in self doubt.
23. Remember you’re never saddled with anything you can’t handle. Some events or people early in your life have prepared you for today.
24. If all else fails, look around for someone less fortunate to help. A volunteer spirit works wonders.

From the Coach’s Corner, here are related resource links:

Why ‘the Overflow of a Revived Heart Is Always Generous Living’

30 Time Management, Stress Reducing Skills

New Year’s Resolutions to Recover from the Great Recession

If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn’t ask me, I’d still have to say it.”

-George Burns

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Columnist Terry Corbell is also a business-performance consultant and profit professional. Click here to see his management services (many are available online). For a complimentary chat about your business situation or to schedule Terry Corbell as a speaker, why don’t you contact him today?

 

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