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Secure more stages in 2020 with these 3 Tips by @KerryHeaps

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by Kerry Heaps  | Featured Contributor

If you want to secure more speaking engagements this year, make sure that you are not only providing great content that solves a problem, ensure that you are helping the meeting planner make the event as successful as possible. These three tips can be implemented with very little effort and will go a long way in your favor.

  1. Help fill the room. One way you can help the meeting planner fill the room for the workshop or keynote that you are speaking at is to create a video under one minute, share a tip that you will be teaching. Make sure this is something that highlights one of the issues or concerns the attendees are facing in their industry.  If you are speaking at a workshop for at a human resource show, you may want to share it tip to help attendees recruits the best talent.  The video does not need to be fancy, it can be shot from your cell phone or laptop, it’s the quality of the advice that you’re offering not the background or fancy music.

  1. Have a conversation with the audience. Make sure during the event that you are having a conversation with the audience, talk with them not at them. Show up 10 minutes early and meet and greet people as they fill the room, you can always ask them why they signed up for your workshop or keynote and make them feel welcome. It is much better to be approachable as a Speaker those tend to get better feedback.
  1. Create audience retention with video. Audience retention is something every meeting planner is facing these days. With so much packed into a two or three-day conference, sometimes it’s information overload for the Attendees. When they return to work most of what they learn goes to the side and is never picked up again. Create another video that can be shared a month or two after the event as a refresher. If you don’t want to create another video, you can create online quizzes, a review sheet or even an audio clip.

 

20 Ways to Stay Motivated in 2020 by @DrRKayGreen

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by Dr. R. Kay Green | Featured Contributor

January has hardly begun, but already people are forgetting or giving up on their resolutions and goals. This is a process that happens every year, and it happens because once the “shine” is off the new year, it can be incredibly hard to stay motivated.

However, “hard” does not mean impossible, and with a bit of effort you can stay excited and engaged with your goals all year long. Here are 20 ways to keep your motivation up in 2020.

  1. Break your goals into chunks. If you try to tackle a large goal, you might wind up discouraged by just how much work there is to do. But splitting your goals into smaller parts will help sustain a feeling of accomplishment across a span of weeks or months.
  2. Set an intention for each day. This intention can be big, like starting on a project that you have been putting off, or small, like waking up five minutes earlier. But having at least one “win” every day can keep you feeling motivated and excited!
  3. Practice positive thinking. Optimism is learned. And people who think positively often have more positive experiences in life. How you approach things will often attract the sort of results you want to see, so try your best to catch your self in negative self-talk and replace that with more positive thoughts.
  4. Stay grateful. Practicing gratitude is an important part of motivation. At the end of the day, go over the things that happened that you are grateful for. This will help you to start the next day with motivation and excitement!
  5. Make sure each goal has a “why.” Nothing kills motivation faster than not having a clear reason for your goal. After all, if you do not know why you are doing something, what is the point of doing it? Put your “why” somewhere you can see.
  6. Get friends to hold you accountable. It is a lot harder to “slack off” on goals when you know that someone else is counting on you to do them. Make it reciprocal, too — help your friends stay on track with their goals, and you can get motivated by their success as much as your own.
  7. Reread your goals regularly. As we get into the day-to-day grind of life, it can be easy to lose sight of our larger goals. So take some time to read your goals weekly, or even daily. Keeping them top of mind will help you stay motivated to achieve them.
  8. Start slowly. When we set our goals, it can be tempted to jump into them all at once. But this can often lead to burnout and a lack of motivation. Instead, find a place to start small with your goals, and build your way up from there.
  9. Track your progress. If we cannot see the strides we are making, we run the risk of giving up entirely because it feels like it is not making a difference. Finding a way to track your progress can help motivation. Daily trackers are a great way to do this, because it encourages you not to “break the chain.”
  10. Schedule in time to work on your goals. It is easy to say that you will work on a goal “when you have the time.” But if you follow that train of thought, it will be easy to find excuses to never start. Set yourself clear deadlines and then schedule in time to work before your deadlines, too.
  11. Schedule days off, too. As important as it is to work on your goals, constant work is not sustainable. Make sure that you are taking regular breaks in order to keep your mind and your motivation sharp. You will find yourself returning to your goals with renewed excitement.
  12. Be sure to “unplug.” We live in a world with more distractions than ever before. It makes keeping up with goals very difficult, and motivation is hard to keep when it feels like there are a thousand more interesting things we could be doing. Schedule time to eliminate distractions like phone and internet.
  13. Identify your procrastination triggers. Some people procrastinate when they are stressed, others procrastinate when things feel like they will take too long or go too slow. Realize what your procrastination triggers are and come up with a plan to combat them, to keep motivation.
  14. Have a five and ten year plan. Where do you want to be in five and ten years? Identify that, and then take the time to consider how this year’s goals will help you reach the person you want to be in the future. This will make it much easier to stay motivated.
  15. Mix professional goals with fun goals. Having “fun” goals is a great way to stay motivated. Make it a goal to take a trip somewhere you have always wanted to go, or to try something new that you have always wanted to try. Working on these goals will make it easier to work on your more professional goals.
  16. Do nightly reviews. Take some time at the end of your day to review what you did to work on your goals, how it made you feel, and what you want to do next. Keeping track this way will help you stay motivated to take next steps.
  17. Reward yourself for completing goals. Rewards and incentives are powerful motivators. Do not be afraid to give yourself some when you finish a goal! This will help you stay motivated for the next ones, as you will be excited for the next reward!
  18. Help others set goals and intentions. Helping other people set their goals can be incredibly motivating. Seeing other people succeed gives you the drive and excitement that you need to succeed, as well!
  19. Celebrate your successes. Celebrating and simply giving yourself a “pat on the back” feels good. So while it can be tempting to simply check off one goal on your list and move onto the next one, take some time to recognize that you did well.
  20. Learn new things. Learning is a powerful motivator. When we educate ourselves, it empowers us and makes us want to take that new knowledge into the world. Employees are more motivated by custom classes, which is why more businesses are investing in them.

———————————————————————-

Dr. R. Kay Green – Marketing Expert from RKG Marketing Solutions Inc. from Atlanta, GA.

Dr. KayDr. R. Kay Green is the CEO/President of RKG Marketing Solutions Inc. With over 190,000+ Twitter followers, 35,000+ Facebook Likes, and the Top 1% LinkedIn profile designation, Dr. Kay, a self-motivated trailblazer, is the Quintessential “New-Age” Professional Woman, and PhD Marketing Pro. She earned a Doctorate of Business Administration in Marketing, and has completed PhD coursework in Leadership and Organization Change. She also holds a Master of Business Administration in Marketing and Management, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, and an Associate of Arts in Marketing Management.

She is affiliated with several prestigious universities and has instructed over 350 courses online. A popular speaker on Marketing and Business topics, Dr. Green is currently featured on Huffington Post, Black Enterprise, Black News, The Network Journal, Business Review USA, Digital Journal, College View, Business New Hampshire Magazine, Bay State Banner, Reader’s Circle, North Dallas Gazette, Harlem News, Top News Today, One News Page, NE Informer, Women in Business PR News, Consumer News Today, Women PR News, San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, Chicago Daily Herald, The Miami Herald, and Book News Articles.

Twitter – Facebook – LinkedIn

Video Marketing Strategies for 2020 by @DONNAAMOS

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video marketing 2020

by Donna Amos | Featured Contributor 

The video revolution has completely transformed how we consume content. Now, information is delivered in a visual, entertaining, and even interactive manner that engages users better than any other medium. Video is also a natural storytelling medium, making it both compelling and persuasive. These combined elements are why video advertising is so successful.

Let’s look at some facts:

  • According to a Hubspot study, 96% of consumers between the ages of 18-34 watch videos several times throughout the week, and 75% of millennials watch at least one daily video.
  • 64% of consumers claim that marketing videos have had an impact on their purchasing decision.
  • 45% of people watch more than an hour of video on Facebook and YouTube each week.
  • 90% of video viewers say that product videos are helpful in the decision-making process.
  • Videos are shared on social media 1200% more than images and text combined.
  • 85% of Facebook users watch videos with the sound turned off.
  • Videos in Instagram get twice the engagement of videos on other social platforms.

Statistics are from this link.

Using Video Marketing for Your Company

Of course, to be successful using video marketing, you will need to perform some preliminary work. Just creating and posting random videos will not bring leads pouring in. Use the following steps and linked resources to craft an overall approach to video marketing for your company.

  1. Research your target audience. Who is your target audience? What type of video content to they prefer? What social platform do they use most to consume video content? When are they most likely to be watching online video? What are the most effective types of video for reaching this demographic?

Resources:

  1. Outline a Plan for Sharing Video. What types of video will you use? What social platforms will you use to share your company videos? Will you need to craft specific videos for each platform? When is the best time to share video on these platforms? How often should you share video content? How often should you repeat the same video content? How much budget is available for paid video ads and promotion?
  2. Determine Who Will Create Your Videos. Do you need a professional media company? What types of video can your marketing team produce in-house? What do they need to produce quality videos? How much budget is available for creating custom videos? What is the best balance of video types for your company?

Popular Video Strategies for the Coming Year

As you formulate a plan for using video content in your company marketing, consider these types of video and how they fit into your overall plan. We give just a brief overview of each type.

Live Streaming

Live streaming on social platforms is a free, no-frills, personal method of promoting your company messages. Facebook Live, Instagram Live, and YouTube Live all help users feel like they are being spoken to directly. This feeling of intimacy encourages engagement since they know that their questions or comments can be answered in real time.

You can use live videos to promote practically anything, including:

  • New products
  • Announcements
  • Product demos
  • Webinars
  • Question and answer sessions, FAQs and SAQs (Should-Ask Questions)
  • Interviews
  • Events
  • Tips
  • Testimonials

These are a great way to start because they require no editing, special studios, or preproduction efforts or costs. Just go live with your phone and create great content.

Video Podcasts

A video podcast, or videocast, is simply just an audio podcast that you record on video. As popular as podcasts are today, an occasional videocast will allow viewers to see who they regularly hear, and observe the behind-the-scenes goings on while the podcast is being recorded. It’s a great way to make users feel more connected with your company spokespeople or podcast host.

Video Tutorials

Tutorials and explanatory videos are highly sought-after content (remember the stats from above). Many consumers search for how-to videos for DIY projects or using certain products. You should have a video tutorial for each of your products. Even if you only provide serves, some video tutorials explaining how you provide those services, especially in certain situations or for particular needs, can be great tools for users. These can be professionally produced, created in your own setting, or done over Live Streaming video.

IGTV and Vertical Videos

Users spend more time consuming video on smartphones than over tablets or desktop computers. This has led to the rise of vertically formatted videos and IGTV, Instagram’s TV-like channel for users and brands. Now, vertical videos can be viewed on Facebook and YouTube. Vertical videos are easier to watch on mobile devices, meaning that your video is more likely to be watched and remembered.

Shoppable Videos

Shoppable videos allow consumers a direct way to make purchases and be redirected to product pages. On shoppable videos, users click on a hyperlink and go directly to the online shopping process. Every social media video should contain a shoppable link.

Testimonials

Testimonial videos are one of the strongest types of videos. They show past or current satisfied customers talking about their positive experience using your product or service. Honest personal feedback from a customer is stronger than anything you could say about your own company. Customer testimonials are usually between 30 seconds and two minutes long and can focus on one happy customer or several.

What kinds of video do you use in your company marketing? What level of success have you enjoyed through video marketing? Share your thoughts and insights with our readers in the comments below.

Gig – Sharing – Youpreneur – [Ec]onomy by @SBSLEducSoltns

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by SJ Barakony | Featured Contributor 

 

‘Lean in … it’s growing daily.’

 

As this blog goes live, we find ourselves on a chronological cusp; it’s not just A New Year’s Eve/Day:  it marks an entirely new decade!

The 2020’s will bring us untold innovation which’ll make us do double-takes; one trend, though, that we can better understand since it’s been growing since ~ 2008 ?

 

A > It has multiple monikers:  Gig / Sharing / Youpreneur. 

 

All = synonyms for an independent workforce which’ll continue to improve day to day life, so long as we don’t stoke fear, assume, become too comfortable, or let corporate entities dictate the narrative.

Here’s a fundamental Q:

 

How can we entrepreneurs be trailblazers for our peer generation, those older, and, yes, younger, for this economic paradigm?

 

Gigs are Great

We’ve likely heard, or know someone who’s a ‘side’ hustler; this person’s also a side ‘gigger’.  She’s pursuing gig economy income, driven not by trading units of time for currency/dollars & cents; rather, via representing a product/s, service/s, &/or sharing her specialized knowledge in/to the marketplace, earning $$ in return.

This infographic offers a flyover, showing how many ‘gigs’ are available, just via smartphone apps.

Yet, there is far more at ‘work’ here: Entire new business models have, and will continue to be formed. One recent example?  Click here.

The back to back [ ‘blue’ & ‘white’ collar ] industrial ages shall continue to be supplanted by gigs, although it will necessitate re framing, challenging 20th century assumptions, & being willing to exchange calculated risk for more time & financial flexibility.

 

For it matters not, how much we own, the cars . . . the house . . . the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

 

― Diane Mulcahy, The Gig Economy: The Complete Guide to Getting Better Work, Taking More Time Off, and Financing the Life You Want .”

 

Sharing = Collaborative = Interdependent   

‘Share & share alike ..’ – weren’t we told this by a doting parent(s), or maybe a primary school teacher at some point?

However, as we aged into adulthood, and started our business(es), we might’ve forgotten this sage advice. We either learned how to be dependent ( ‘employ’[ee] – to be used (utilized)) , and/or that we had to be a cowgirl, & do entrepreneurship all by ourselves, as an in-dependent.

Not so fast!  Sharing economic models enable us to rebuild trust with our peers, be inter-dependent, and find/leverage ways to collaborate & partner with others.

This visual is worth many words.

 

Multisided Platforms / ‘Matchmaker’ Economics

This new economic era is restoring and flat out creating new sparks of creativity that were lost in the very linear, centralized, & hierarchical industrial ages preceding it.

This terrific post will make you think; next time you grab your smartphone & search for an AirBnB, you’ll look at this research in a fresh way.

Matchmaker (‘ing) is worth trillions – it squeezes inefficiencies out of conventional producer/seller→ consumer/buyer bilateral relationships & builds bridges. It is beyond intriguing & sits squarely in this new [ec]-onomy.

 

What’s a “You” Preneur, anyway?!  

YOU ‘re worth far more than a rigid, pre-defined wage, salary, or compensation package. Shouldn’t your pay be aligned with the absolute value you deliver to your clientele, & not based on the usage of space & time ( = occupar / occupation ) ?

Most, if not all, entrepreneurial minded people reading this would say ‘absolutely!’

Thus, we’ve 2 words fused together, creating a combo which richly reflects the spirit, heart, & mindset of this new economic model:  YOU + [entre] preneur.

 

Overcoming …   

There are 5 (‘for the hand’) root issues which stand in the way of ‘giggers’ & ‘youpreneurs’ ‘sharing’ more & building a stronger entrepreneurial edifice in the 2020’s:

 

  • Our 125+ year old schooling ( not truly education ) tracks, ‘K-12’
  • Fear ( cynicism, unhealthy skepticism, & negativity )
  • A completely broken political system
  • The incumbent hierarchies

&

  • Comfort/familiarity

 

We can hurdle over the first by focusing on self-directing our education & loosening the grip of credentialed degree signaling ( esp if we have staff ); next, we can win out over fear by being faithful & focused; thirdly, how about turning towards local elections to drive grassroots transformation upwards to state/provincial &/or national/federal offices?

Fourth, be wise to what the ‘status quo’ says, and especially does. Often times, they’ll attempt to buy influence through the deeply flawed politics of today. Don’t let them; put your trust in your own small business & those of your peers. Lastly, don’t rest on your laurels or read your own press clippings. Always strive to sit in a learning zone.

 

Future = Free: IF we Choose

Many step up to ‘be their own boss’ ; yet, the promises heralded in transition tend to be lost in the haze of working harder, not smarter.

Freedom is such an overused word; for the purposes of this post, let’s frame it this way: It’s having many conscious choices always available to match with our  most irreplaceable asset, time.

The ultra flex & portability available in the gig/sharing economy is there for the taking. Lean into it!

 

Twitter ‘To-Do’s 

Youpreneur

Sharing Economy

Future Workforce

VisualCap

Suitcasepreneur

 

Let’s ‘future’ proof …

… your business(es).

Be unique & willing to unlearn what you were taught in a conventional classroom about economics & entrepreneurship.

 

A dozen things I’ve learned about …

6 Ghosts of Fear

 

… Multisided Markets

The Matchmakers 

 

Mutual Aid Societies & the Gig Economy

Rise of the Youpreneur

 

Read to Lead

25 Ideas …

 

Summing up … 

  • A major milestone is upon us!
  • A fundamental question …
  • Multiple monikers
  • Multisided & matchmaker
  • 5 challenges
  • “Free”dom
  • ‘Future’ proofing

 

Thank YOU for reading!

____________________________________________

Allow Beauty to Capture your Heart and Mind by Sue Perez of @Beautyphonics

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by Sue Perez | Featured Contributor

With days to go until 2020 everyone is getting their gift shopping done and attending those Holiday Parties. But as entrepreneurs we are planning. The activities we are doing now in December yields fruit 60 sometimes 90 days later. I have my schedule laid out for the next 4 weeks. I’m currently traveling with NBC Sports and providing makeup services for the on air talent on Sunday Night Football. It’s so exciting to watch football live, the roar of the crowd, the energy and excitement on the football field! I can feel it in my soul and it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. But I’ve made some huge goals for 2020 and like many of us; it feels as though we are climbing upward, one reach overhead at a time, carefully and methodically moving forward.

 

Trust your confidence

I’m a successful television makeup artist but I always research every project. I read Bios, looks at images, ask questions, shop for anything I need and then at crunch time deliver first-rate work. Even though I obsess and over prepare for every shoot I have on occasion felt overwhelmed by those voices of self-doubt in my head. This is when I sit down alone and center myself. Having a clear vision of my plan, how I will execute whatever I am going to do next, having a successful outcome is a determination that I make. It’s a choice and that is what I prefer to entertain. At a holiday party recently an aspiring makeup artist who had missed an event of mine was finally introduced to me and she was beyond ecstatic to say the least. “Sue, I would love to work with you, I would carry your makeup kit or clean your makeup brushes!” she gushed. She’s fully aware that I published a book and won my Emmy award. She wants to do what I’m doing. Many of you have had experiences too where other people say how great and awesome you are. So how is it possible that even when we are experts in our field that we should harbor even a tiny shred of self doubt? It happens. But Trust in yourself and in your confidence.

 

Choose Joy

Something’s don’t go our way and how we respond to it is a choice. Sometimes I yell but most times I laugh. I’ve learned that when unexpected changes happen to pivot and allow myself this new venture into the unknown. Often a change creates a new opportunity, and usually one I wouldn’t have had without the mishap in the first place. It’s very interesting but the next time something goes against your plan, stay flexible and smile. Joy comes from life’s little surprises. It takes practice and it’s not easy, but gee it’s definitely a lot more fun! In my work I talk to all sorts of people, ages and with different backgrounds. I make sure to share something about myself, flash my sense of humor and keep the convo off any hot topics. You don’t need to go far to get into a debate these days about a variety of stories splashed in the media. But I like to laugh and prefer topics that are fun, inspiring or creative. Why discuss sad things, or dwell on bad news? It’s natural to have obstacles in life, loss and pain. When I have moments with people I want them to be fun and memorable for the right reasons.

 

 

Celebrate Life

So as we transition into another calendar year lets be joyful! I lost my mom this year, so it’s been very difficult without her. But I dream with her and see her as she was in her 30’s and 40’s. Vibrant and happy. I think about the best days I had with her and I made sure to have many. Celebrating the people I love and connecting with them is a reward I give myself. Watching them enjoy a meal I cooked for them, or enjoying a spa service as a treat, even opening a card or present I picked out for them and watching their excitement makes me feel so happy inside. I think I like giving gifts more than receiving them actually because I remember what people say they like. I try to celebrate little things too. Like when I reach a goal I made for myself, this year I’ve had some excellent career opportunities and I’ve been making progress in my other projects too. I list all the good things I’ve accomplished  and I keep all the Thank You cards I’ve ever received. It’s in this massive photo album and it’s so wonderful to review them and read all those heartfelt messages! Letters from family members some are now deceased, many sentimental beautiful notes. Treasures that I am proud to still have. There were more challenging times in my life (a super long time ago) when I wanted to give up, but I sat down and read those cards and letters. I cried, they made me smile and reassured my faith in myself.

 

Pass the Prosecco

Now at the end of every year I write a letter to myself. As a business owner I look at the year in quarters, every three months. My letter outlines my successes and goals of course. It’s a very pretty shiny work of art that I place stickers all over and decorate. Not every goal is achieved and thats fine, I can assess what needs to be completed. It’s also filled with good wishes and loving affirmations. I’ve learned to become my biggest cheerleader. Another great way I stay focused is by carefully choosing who I surround myself. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but when people are constantly in the default position I avoid them like the flu. These individuals are so judgemental, secretive, pessimistic and complaining. Never truly happy for anyone else’s success because they are always comparing themselves to some unattainable goal. Truly miserable folk that suck the air out of the room. Maybe you know a few, I prefer to smile and move away from them. It takes practice, but it keeps me sane and emotionally healthy. I don’t need thousands of likes and followers to know how great I am. I am the star in my life without even being in a movie. Celebrating life, ourselves and the good things we create in other people’s lives are the greatest gifts of all.

 

Happy Holidays and have a Fantastic New Year!

 

 

How To Sell Your Course Online Like Hotcakes by @victoriahock

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sell-your-course-online-victoria-hockaday
by Victoria Hockaday | Featured Contributor

Creating an online course can be a long process, but actually selling your course to keep your business afloat? That can be one of the most difficult and anxiety-inducing struggles for a course creator.

In today’s post, I’m sharing my favourite strategies that will – hands down – help you sell your course online like hotcakes. Ready to learn how to sell your course online? Here’s my favourite ways to do it:

1. Set your goals

Before you sell your course online you want to set goals, to give you an idea of what you’re working with.

You want to think about what your monthly revenue goal is, how you’re going to price your course and how many units you need to sell to hit your goals. 

If you’re selling your first course, I’d create a minimum goal and a stretch goal, so you can work out how many courses you need to sell at the bare minimum.

Once you’ve got an idea of your goals, you want to think about how you’re going to attract qualified prospects.

2. Plan a launch 

Most people create an online course, slap it on their website and expect people to come running with their credit cards.

This doesn’t lead to any sales (and don’t worry it wouldn’t work for me either!)

Instead, you need to create hype and anticipation for your course, so that people are excited to hear about your course.

One of the best ways to do this is by launching your course and making it available for a limited amount of time. 

It also means giving away free content and adding value, so that your audience is primed and ready to hear about your course. This can be through a free challenge, webinar or bootcamp.

Overwhelmed with how to launch your course? The Launch Accelerator is my signature coaching and training program designed to give you the strategy, tools and support for a profitable online course launch. It gives you the EXACT process maps and step-by-step execution guides I use with my clients, so you can say goodbye to soul-sucking projects and replace your one-on-one income with an online course.

3. Plan how you’ll make consistent sales

After the launch is over, you want to think about how you’re going to make consistent sales. 

There’s no point putting your blood, sweat and tears into a launch, having a successful 10-14 day period and then letting it slide. 

Instead, you want to think about how you can bring in sales after the launch is over. What will you do after the launch? What marketing activities will you do to bring in sales? Will you use evergreen systems?

One of the best ways to sell your online course all year round is through webinars. Webinars are really effective because they give you a chance to add value and show your expertise. Want to learn how to create a highly profitable webinar for your next launch? Check out The Launch Accelerator. 

So, there you have it! There’s my favourite steps on how to sell your course online. I hope that helps!

20 Business Ideas for Solopreneurs by @DONNAAMOS

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biz ideas

by Donna Amos | Featured Contributor 

According to Startups.com, 73% of all US-based businesses are solo, or solopreneur, businesses. TaxFoundation.org reports that there are over 23 million sole proprietorships currently operating in the United States, making it by far the most popular form of business ownership. And that number is reportedly on the rise as more people become disenchanted with the typical corporate structure and its undependable reputation for stability and longevity.

However, many huge corporations actually began as solopreneur enterprises and grew into other business structures. Some of the most famous include:

Whether or not you plan to go big in the future, a solopreneur business is a great way to begin. In fact, thanks to the Internet, there are many ways to launch a solopreneur business remotely, right from the comfort of your own home. Many of the examples below are Internet-based businesses. Others may require more human interaction.

Affiliate Marketer

Affiliate marketing allows you to share links to specific businesses or products and then earn a portion of the sales you direct to those companies.

Blogger

If you’re looking to build a business around your writing skills, you can start your own blog and manage it on your own, then make money through advertisements or sponsored content.

Bookkeeper

For another profitable opportunity to work with business clients, you could offer bookkeeping services for businesses looking to outsource that function. Many small businesses need this service but cannot afford to pay larger services for it.

Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants handle various tasks for businesses like email, payroll, transcriptions, scheduling, and social media management. It’s something you can do on your own from home or another remote location.

Consultant/Coach

Consultants or coaches specialize in a service or career type and then teach others how to succeed in their specific niches. If you have many years of valuable experience, you can pass on that wisdom to others through group or one-on-one coaching.

Social Media Manager

For social media savvy solopreneurs, you can offer your services to other businesses to schedule social media posts and manage their accounts. This can be very lucrative for the knowledgeable solopreneur.

eBook Author

You can also focus on writing more long form content and then self-publish your own eBooks to sell. Many self-published authors are very successful. This business takes time to scale into a full-time income, however.

Freelance Writer

Offer your writing services to other businesses looking for blog posts, ghostwriting, sales emails, or other types of content. There are many branches, or niches, for freelance writers.

Copywriter

Copywriting is another popular writing business. You can specialize in writing copy for websites, product descriptions, or even advertisements. Copywriting is more about sales and harvesting leads than regular topical writing.

Graphic Designer

For design savvy solopreneurs, you can start your own graphic design business and work with clients on a one-on-one basis. Many small businesses could benefit from this service, and cannot pay large firms for it.

Translator

If you know more than one language, you can start a business as a freelance or contract translator. There are many opportunities for this online.

Podcaster

Podcasting is easier than ever to set up on your own. You can host your podcast, build your website, and make money through advertisements or affiliate sales.

Event Planner

If you enjoy organizing and working with different vendors, you can set up your own business as an event planner. You can even niche into only weddings, corporate events, or other types of events.

Online Course Creator

Another way to share your knowledge with others, you can create your own online courses and then sell them to students so they can work on their own time. This can involve personal calls, video, audio, and print products, or require no personal involvement.

House Cleaner

Build up a base of regular clients and specialize in house cleaning services. Complete cleanings for new construction can be a lucrative offer for approaching home builders.

Lawn Service

For those who enjoy working outside, you can start your own lawn mowing service where you provide weekly maintenance during the summer. Consider offering fall leaf and winter snow removal, also.

Gardener

Specialize in setting up or maintaining gardens and more intricate landscaping projects. A variation of this is to raise and sell fresh produce at farmer’s markets in season.

Party Entertainer

You can use a number of different skills, from music to juggling to face painting, to start a business as an independent party entertainer. Specialize in birthdays, holiday parties, or whatever you like best.

Personal Trainer

For athletic solopreneurs, you can start your own business as a personal trainer who works with clients one-on-one. Sometimes, local gyms can help you promote this business and even send you clients.

Yoga Instructor

Offer fitness and wellness classes to bigger groups of customers. Yoga and Pilates are popular choices for women.

What about you? What is your best idea for launching a solopreneur business in the new year? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

 

How to Become Friends With Your Self-Doubt This Year by @JThiefels

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How to Become Friends With Your Self-Doubt This Year

by Jessica Thiefels | Featured Contributor

Self-doubt is real—and we’ve all felt it at some point in our lives. In fact, in a recent poll on my Instagram Story, of 90 responders, 85 percent said they struggled with self-doubt in some area of their lives. 

While that self-doubt is totally normal, it can keep us from taking action. Instead of moving from dreaming to doing, we get lost in analysis paralysis, criticism and most importantly, fear. What would people think if I fail? What if I think I can, but I can’t? What if I’m not enough?

The thing is, this self-doubt will always be there because it’s rooted in fear. As long as we’re moving toward something that matters to us—and pushes us out of our comfort zone—that fear is going to pop up again and again, which is why you can’t let it stop you. 

As Steven Pressfield, author of, The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles, says: “The amateur believes he must first overcome his fear; then he can do his work. The professional knows that fear can never be overcome.”

In reality, this self-doubt, as pesky as it is, is actually a good thing. If you’re doubting yourself, you’re likely committing to achieving what matters to you, and that’s always a good thing.

This year, instead of letting it paralyze you, get familiar with it. When you welcome self-doubt into your world, you may just find that you become fast friends.

Recognize It in Your Body

The first step in welcoming self-doubt as a friend is recognizing when it comes up. We often feel  this first and foremost in our body. Like any stressor, it affects us physically, not just mentally, and if you can recognize it creeping in, you can start to become friendly with the feeling instead of resisting, or worse, ignoring it.

Become a student of your self-doubt for the next few weeks and notice how you feel when it comes up. As you move into a place of questioning yourself, does your chest tighten? Does your heart flutter? Does your stomach turn? 

When that happens, feel into the sensation in your body. Welcome the feelings as they come and go, like you do with your thoughts when meditating. Make a note of what the feeling was and what you were doing. Do this over the course of a week or a month and you’ll likely notice patterns. This gives you an idea of when that self-doubt is triggered, allowing you to prepare yourself to welcome it in next time you’re doing the same thing, rather than being scared or deterred by it. 

Understand Why It’s Showing Up

When you slow down and recognize the self-doubt, don’t judge the thoughts or shame yourself for feeling them. Instead, get curious and let the feelings guide you. Like a good friend, the self-doubt can support you in achieving your dreams if you let it. 

let self-doubt guide you

For example, if you notice you always feel self-doubt as you sit down to send an important email, you may be struggling with fear of rejection—What if they don’t respond? What if their response isn’t what I want to hear?

Now, instead of being stuck in this feeling of self-doubt, you have something to work on: why you’re struggling with fear of rejection. Tackling this underlying issue will allow you to be more powerful in your work and more successful with what you hope to achieve. 

Let It Be a Reminder to Trust

We often feel self-doubt when we can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. We have big dreams, but if we can’t understand the “how,” we start to wonder if we can ever make them a reality. I notice this come up as I write my book. I’ve never published a book before, and my goal is to become a NYT best-selling author, so every once in a while, I feel that self-doubt flare up—How is that even possible? I don’t have a big brand. I don’t know how the publishing world works. I don’t know how to do this.

When that happens, I remember something important: you can control how much work you do and how you commit to your goals and dreams, but there’s something else playing a role in your success: The Universe, or the higher power that you believe in.

gnarls barkley quote

This higher power meets you at the point of action. You don’t need to have it all figured it out. You don’t need to know HOW it will happen. You just have to trust that if you move toward what you want with intention, your higher power will be at your side, pulling strings and supporting your efforts too.

Let It Open You Up to Support

This self-doubt is also an important reminder to surround yourself with people who have strengths in areas where you don’t. Of course you doubt that you can code that app because you’ve never written a line of code in your life! That’s just common sense—and though you could probably figure it out if you had to, you can also ask for support instead of letting the self-doubt consume you.

For example, I’m working with an agent who knows the publishing industry, and many of the top publishers, so I can let go of the need to control that part. Let your self-doubt guide you toward figuring out where you can bring in support so you can let go of the need to control, and the self-doubt that comes with it.

Become Besties With Your Self-Doubt

Self-doubt will always be there if you’re working toward goals that matter to you because you open yourself up to criticism and failure when you do. Instead of letting that self-doubt have power, or keep you stuck, become friends with it. It can be a guide if you let it, so lean into the feeling, understand why it’s showing up, and then let your higher power support you, along with others who bring strengths where you know you have weaknesses. It’s normal to feel self-doubt, but instead of letting it run the show, welcome the guidance that comes with it—you may be surprised by what you learn when you do.

4 Pillars of a Civil Society by @SBSLEducSoltns

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The ‘Holidays’ …

 

… offer entrepreneurs a renewed opportunity to serve, solve, & be civil, especially in hyper competitive industries.

 

With this mindset, we can ask ourselves a key question:

 

How can business owners strengthen the pillars of our civil society?

 

Please think & then brainstorm ways to turn thoughts into energy; consider this post both informative AND actionable.

 

Defining civil society

This topic echoes last month’s post, many definitions exist, leaving us with another question to ponder that’s also well worth our time. Which to pick?

 

Here’s my chosen one.

 

Yet, if you settle on another, there isn’t a ‘wrong’ answer; your choice is likely tied to your unique perspective, lens, and/or life experiences.

 

Civil societies, in the 19th century, often included a ‘sister’ term, a component, [a] mutual aid society …

 

[they] prefigure most functions of the modern state. They’re at least as old as armies, but their mission is life, not death. For millennia, people have banded together to provide each other with health care, pensions, … and livelihoods. They have also leveraged their numbers to elicit some of these same benefits from those other two institutions, business and the government. Mutual aid extends the bonds of kinship and makes individuals into citizens.

― Anya Kamenetz

 

1st pillar :  The Family   

The holidays & families often are rightfully intertwined: so, too, the first pillar of civil society is emblazoned with the word ‘family’ & it’s an earned label.

 

Maybe you’re a family business? Nearby where I live, the Conway Center is a terrific resource for them & the other businesses who seek to serve this demographic. Quite likely, there are ‘like’ organizations elsewhere in America, as family businesses are very common.

 

Perhaps some/all of your clients/customers are families?

 

No matter how we look at it, it’s rather challenging to separate family from civil society, and a civil society from entrepreneurship.

 

2nd pillar : Non Profits ( inc. social enterprise )  

As the 19th century transitioned into the 20th, mutual aid societies began to fade; previously thriving organizations were often overshadowed as America became more centralized, corporatized, & urbanized.

 

We’ve now begun (  this post offers backgrounder ) turning back, with a modern flair, to where we once were as a civil society. Rough edges & burrs on the saddle of the Gig (Sharing/Youpreneur) Economy can, without question, be ‘buffed’ by devolving & delegating societal challenges & thorny problems to non profit institutions, especially social enterprises.

 

What’s a social enterprise? As stated in this annual report, they’re ‘easy to understand’ & more necessary to renewing our nation than many might realize.

 

3rd pillar : Faith institutions 

Faith in the entrepreneurial ‘square’, our common culture, let alone civil society, often stirs up emotions & thorny debates.

 

To avoid needless arguments, I humbly encourage everyone to consider multiple definitions:

Perhaps you’ll pick ‘faith’ as defined by the venerable Napoleon Hill in his masterwork, ‘Think & Grow Rich’ , or maybe you’ll instead lean into a Judeo-Christian foundational definition, as espoused by organizations like Truth At Work.

 

No matter your decision, this pillar’s densely strong, earning its place as one of the key four; it props up each & every business owner at some point(s) in her journey from ideating a business, to launch/startup phase, thru ebb & flood tides, linear or exponential growth,  & further ahead into an as of yet unknown future.

 

How so? Faith oft times can act as the antithesis of fear; it can buttress your failures & keep you anchored to your purpose & mission.

 

4th & final pillar:  Entrepreneurs

And now, the spotlight shines brightly on Y-o-u:  The business founder/owner, the entrepreneur.

 

If by now it wasn’t crystal clear, it now will be: Entrepreneurship, in all its forms/types , is absolutely a pillar.

 

You’ve likely seen/heard statistics about small businesses’ vast importance to our nation’s vitality.

Or, maybe you’ve encouraged someone to start their own business at some point: maybe a family member?; neighbor?; a past co-worker?; or as a mentor for a future graduate or recent alumna from your alma mater?

 

Action(s) as common as keeping your business viable, including delegating task(s) to someone like Karissa , or expanding your product line, are each useful in ensuring that this fourth pillar will always be foundational for generations of Americans in the 2020’s & well beyond.

 

Further context to the first question

The first three pillars have boundless potential: leveraging 1, 2, or all 3 can enable your business(es) to morph from a pure ‘S’ [ self employed ]; to at least a hybrid ‘ S/B’, or even a straight ‘B’.  It’s the latter state where you’ve reached the nirvana of time freedom; you’re definitely working “on” & NOT “in” your venture, thereby freeing the owner to participate more actively in civil society.

 

Profiles Worth Following

NapHill.org

Social Ventures

Truth@Work

DSC

Sivers

YEA USA

Conway Center

 

Please invest further…

… in your thinking.

You’ve read & trustfully sensed the heart, soul, & spirit of this created content; now, will you commit to dig into this curated content from other valuable resources?

 

Civil Society

Mutual Aid Societies & the Gig Economy

Social Capital Primer

Root

B2C v B2B 

Working “ON” & not “IN” a Business

 

In short

  • The holidays offer a chance to reflect
  • Civil society: Quotable quote & definition[s]
  • First two:  Family & Non profits
  • Second 2 : Faith & Entrepreneurs
  • Further context
  • Follow these Social profiles
  • As always, take action: curated content from add’t resources

 

Thank YOU for reading!

____________________________________________

Learning to Overcome Challenges in collecting client payments by Danielle Hayden of @KickstartAcct

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by Danielle Hayden | Featured Contributor

Let’s get real and talk about our fears over money and more importantly how do we get more of it back in our business.

This interview I did with our bookkeeping client provided her with so much clarity she asked me to share it with you.

Here is what we conquered:

  • Learning to overcome challenges in collecting client payments
  • Overcome mindset issues around money and why that contributes to your ability to collect payments from clients
  • Strategies to increase cash collections
  • Practical accounting strategies to use in your business

 

What are the mindset issues around money that contribute to our inability to collect payments from customers? 

We all have mindset issues around money from our childhood. Some of us were taught not to discuss money and that asking for money would come off as rude or unprofessional. We lack the confidence to know our worth and that we performed the service or will perform the service and invoices NEED to be paid in order to perform the service. Take a moment to reflect right now on how your parents spoke about money? Did they speak openly? What was there overall tone? 

 

 

What strategies can I use to overcome these mindset issues? 

There are so many mindset books and strategies out there in the entrepreneur’s space so I want to keep this simple. Remember that you are in business to make a PROFIT! Yes, you heard me. There are so many business owners out there that are so passionate about what we do and helping others that we forget that if we only help other people for free we will not be able to create a sustainable business that generates profits and is able to support your family. You are worth the prices that you laid out for your customers, now hold firm to your mission.

 

 How can I increase the profits and cash in their business? 

I firmly believe in the 1% theory. If you can increase your prices by 1%, increase your volume by 1%, increase your collections by 1% and decrease your expenses by 1% can you imagine the amount of profit you would generate in your business? Start taking one action step every day to increase your profits. If you need ideas you can refer to the Profit Planner.

 

 

What are some practical strategies that I can use today to increase my cash?

Automate your bookkeeping systems, t ake payments or partial payments upfront before services are performed, accept credit card payments at time of service, automate monthly subscriptions so that they are billed automatically, send automated collection reminders, send out personal messages monthly to any clients who have not paid and stop servicing clients who are not paying their bills.

 

How do we overcome the mindset issues that creep up when clients do not pay?

This is something that we struggle with. We all know the value that we are providing to our clients/customers and most of us could never imagine not paying our vendors but there are people out there who don’t understand the value or do not have the ethics in themselves or their business to uphold their debts. This is not your burden to carry. That person has their own issues that they need to work through and it likely has NOTHING to do with you and your service or product. Remember to spend more time and energy on your ideal clients who value you and your service and less energy on the people who will not value. Terminate those relationships quickly!