We’ve been informed
that our electricity
will be shut down
from 8 am to 8 pm
a couple days this month.
I run my Romance Writing Business
from home.
I can’t go multiple days
with no electricity
during prime promotion/selling hours.
So I’m going to
an unimpacted library
to run my business.
Things happen.
Power goes out.
Flooding occurs.
Wildcat strikes
surprise us.
We all need
to be able to
run our businesses
from alternate locations.
Have one in mind
and ready.
My Farming Grandpa
would often say,
“Ya gotta make hay
while the sun shines.”
When the conditions are right
to do something,
do that something.
For many of us,
the time is currently right
to make sales.
People are looking
for gift ideas.
They’re looking to make
their lives easier
during the busy holiday season.
They’re looking
to treat themselves.
Suggest your product/service.
Put it in front of them.
Be where they are.
Market your face off.
Make hay
while the sun shines.
Many people believe
a project is completed
when the new product is launched
or
the system is installed
or
the marketing campaign
is no longer active.
Those many people are
wrong.
Completing a project
means dealing with the waste
the new product produces.
It means completing
the return on investment calculation.
It means listing all the learnings
from the project
and presenting those findings.
It means figuring out
how to do that same project better.
It means documenting
and putting materials away
and cleaning the space.
I think of the project going live
as 2/3rds of the way
through the project.
There are still a lot of tasks
left to complete.
Fully complete the project.
We have a rule
for road trips
– the driver
chooses the music.
They have control
over the little things
that make
their job easier.
This thinking
applies to
delegating tasks also.
When we delegate a task,
yes,
outline the important things
that must be accomplished.
But leave the little things
to the person
we’re delegating the tasks to.
If a social media post
is to be scheduled,
for example,
yes, tell the person
when that post should go live.
But maybe don’t tell them
the hour of the day
they should craft the post.
Don’t tell them
what they should be wearing
while crafting the post.
Don’t tell them
not to listen to music
while they craft the image-only post.
Leave the little details
to the person you’re delegating
the task to.
Get into the habit
NOW
of writing things
like to-do lists
and/or reminders
down
(either on paper
or on a device).
Yes, your memory
might currently be good.
You might not need
these reminders
now.
But, if you’re fortunate
and you live a long time,
you WILL need
these reminders in the future.
And if you’re not
already in the habit
of leaving yourself reminders
by that time,
you’ll be f*cked.
Because you’ll forget
to write them down.
Write reminders down
whether you need
those reminders or not.
I’m a big believer
in to-do lists.
I list the important tasks
I should complete
each day
and I cross those tasks off
the list
as I complete them.
It keeps me organized.
It gives me
physical proof
I’m making progress.
And it makes it easier
for me to delegate tasks.
If I’m ill
or I have an emergency
to deal with,
I can often
give
my to-do list
to someone I trust
and THEY will complete
as much of it as possible.
If they have limited skills
or knowledge
or time,
I can quickly scan
my to-do list
and assign some of those tasks
to them.
To-do lists help
with delegating tasks.
Use them.
There’s a reason
Fascists are banning books
and trying to close
libraries.
Knowledge IS power.
The more you know
the more powerful you are.
This is especially true
in business.
And there is SO much
to know
– contract law,
tax rules,
the latest social media tactics,
the hot colors for 2025
and much, much more.
Read a 1 page summary
while sitting on the toilet.
Listen to a 10 minute podcast
while driving to an appointment.
Take a workshop.
Talk to an expert.
Learn something new
today
and every day.
Absorb that power.
Many people are super busy
right now.
They are overwhelmed
by…everything.
Many people also are suffering
from poor memories
due to COVID
and other factors.
If your customers
ordered one of your products/services
around this time last year,
send them a message
asking them if they need anything
from your company again this year.
Maybe make a few suggestions.
This will
not only
increase YOUR sales.
But it will help them.
They will feel organized
and on top of their lives.
Send a reminder today.
A (rather emotionally unstable)
neighbor was throwing away
a cracked garbage bin.
I needed another garbage bin
for my backyard composting.
I planned to put holes
into it.
The additional crack
wouldn’t bother me.
I asked him
if I could have it.
He said, “Of course.”
I told him
I had to drop off
the things I was carrying
and would be back for it.
When I came back,
mere minutes later,
the garbage bin
had been smashed
into a thousand pieces.
People tend to agree
to EVERYTHING
asked of them.
They don’t want
to look unhelpful.
Their actions tell us
if they TRULY agree.
If you are counting
on that agreement,
test them
with a small action first.
Today is Remembrance Day
in Canada, the UK,
South Africa
and many other places.
We remember the sacrifices
regular people
like you and I made
to keep us safe
and
free
and
able to do all the things
we dream of doing
(including, yes, building businesses).
Freedom isn’t free.
It comes at a cost.
This year,
even more than others,
we should remember
what they fought
and died for
and
we should do all we can do
to protect it.
Lest We Forget.