Focusing on customers

Archive for March, 2008

I’ve gotten quite good at this. I get so overwhelmed with not having time that I miss out on a lot of great things like keeping in touch with friends more regularly, reading a new book, exercising…oh you name it. Luckily, I have not sacrificed family life with these excuses; probably because I live with these people daily and have no choice…LOL.

It is possible to do things you’ve always wanted to by simply just doing them! Here are some things that have helped me that hopefully will help you.

1. Keep in touch with friends any way possible!
Email them. Text message them. Call them. See them. Any or all will help you stay closer.

2. Take advantage of events to see friends and family.
One example was “open gym” time at a local gymnastics academy. My friend Heather filled me in about it. We get to catch up and our kids get to play and have fun!

3. Get away from the TV and read with your kids.
I know, I sound like a commercial. I will say that I’ve started reading more with my seven-year old daughter, Sarah, and look forward to this “ritual” as often as I can. We will both lay on the bed and take turns reading pages from one of her books. We both have a lot of fun and it helps her to love reading, which can be challenging at times.

4. Let go of work and just have fun.
This is tough and if anyone who reads this has any tips on how to “leave work at work” please let me know. I have gotten better though. Family time is priceless and being a full-time working mom, I try to cherish every moment I can by spending time with the family and ONLY turning to work either after hours when everyone is in bed or at the office the next day. I’ve gotten very good at working on “my time” not theirs.

5. Commit to taking a vacation EVERY year.
Google how many Americans take a vacation every year, and you will find very sad results of Americans who let their vacation days slide and work instead. It’s very easy to do that, and Americans are the worst culprits. Take all your vacation days!! Our family takes a vacation every year and it’s the best thing you can do to decompress and spend time just having some plain old fun!

Don’t use time as an excuse. If you really want to do something, you can do it.

Having been in the business to business (B2B) world all my career and now starting to slowly enter the consumer market in my current responsibilities, I’m finding that marketing of any size or in any market has similarities. I believe everyone (Yes, you!) has something they are good at and should always take it as far as they can. Whether or not you want to get paid (at least initially) for being good at something there are some small steps you can take to help you get there, and they may not happen in this order, but make them happen!

1. Start a blog right now, right here at Blogger!
It’s free and a perfect forum for you to talk about what you love to do and get the word out. Despite working full time as I currently do, one of my goals was to make time to start a blog, and I did it! Of course, I would love to have daily posts, but know that’s not realistic so I try for once or twice a month. I get to talk about things that may help people with their businesses, other marketers, or people who are on the edge of the pool but are not quite ready to dive in and start something new, whether business or personal. One thing I’ve learned is dive in that pool now! A blog is a nice jump to get you started.

2. Connect with like minds
Whatever you like to do, there are others who share your interests. Look for those people (Google search based on your interests). That’s how I bumped into WorkIt! Mom. I was looking for career mom sites and found this site to be the best one I had come across. I’ve loved interacting with some great women on this site and have never looked back! Now I KNOW I’m not the only one doing a balancing act every day!

3. If you’re ready, buy a domain name and create a web site
You know your stuff and are ready to let the world know it. Buy a domain name and make sure it’s relevant to your business or interest. Domain names are very inexpensive and some sites offer packages that enable you to create and host web pages. Some good ones that I’ve come across and use are http://www.godaddy.com/ and http://www.1and1.com/.

4. Collect email addresses and start your own newsletter
This one can be challenging and requires a commitment similar to your blog (Notice how I said “your blog” like you’ve started one already? ). Newsletters are tricky sometimes because people tend to start off strong by sending one out regularly and then it tapers off to sometimes and then not at all. I have been guilty of that myself. There are email vendors you can sign up with for as little as $9.95 a month (http://www.icontact.com/) where you can create and send out your newsletter. Most of these vendors have free trials before you sign up. Another cost-effective one is http://www.constantcontact.com/ who caters specifically to small business owners.

5. Just do it already!
I have always loved Nike’s slogan, Just Do It! Often times you hear people talk about things they want to do but when it comes down to “walking that talk” there are always excuses like “Oh, I just had a baby!” “I don’t have time!” Yadda, yadda. I’m willing to believe that everyone has something they have always wanted to do in their lives but have been scared or used time as an excuse. Well, I say do it and do it now because the last thing you want is to be in a rocking chair one day thinking “Woulda, coulda, shoulda.” Don’t do yourself that injustice! Start off small today with these steps and see where they take you. You have NOTHING to lose.

Drop me a note anytime with your stories, inspiration or questions.