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Have You Planned Out Your Biz Steps For Next Year?

Have you seen the cover of Time magazine this month? It’s a picture of the numerals 2020 written in black on a stark white background, with an undeniable editorial red X running through it. Let me be frank and say they hit the notion right on the nose. And as daunting, heavy and insufferable the year has been, I’m trying my best to shift my energy from indifference to being optimistic for what’s to come.

What do you see for yourself for 2021? Are you moving forward with your present business? Or maybe you’re starting anew with a completely new business venture. Whatever it is, what are your plans to achieve your goals for 2021?

Personally, 2020 was a rollercoaster ride of various emotions. From the pandemic, social injustices and blatant racism to personal hurdles, motherhood and entrepreneurship, it’s been a lot to carry. Disbelief and numbness hit hard when I unexpectedly lost a few close family members and a good friend. For a couple of months, my small business also went radio silent. It wasn’t enough to cause worry, but it was enough to shift gears and take action. The time off allowed me to grieve, refocus and figure out how to pivot during a time when clients abruptly put a halt to projects or shut down altogether.

Can I be optimistic with planning, please?

With 2021 on the horizon and a vaccine, would it be premature of me to think that next year can and will be better? How about business-wise? What do you see for yourself for 2021? Are you moving forward with your present business? Or maybe you’re starting anew with a completely new business venture. Whatever it is, what are your plans to achieve your goals for 2021? While I’m a little later than usual planning out my path for next year, I feel extremely confident that everyone will be working on rebuilding and re-establishing themselves. This year, I watched as some friends lost businesses, took time off because of the weight of it all or took a completely different route from what they knew, and flourished.

Make the change work for you in the new year

We’ve been thrust into a whirlwind of change. I think whether we like it or not, we’ve all had to step back and envision a new way for ourselves. This year, transformation and development were key. I do hope that the changes you had to go through have brought about positive resolutions of some sort. Grab the nugget, big or small, and work with it. Bring it with you into 2021 and don’t look back. Honestly, I don’t think any of us want to. Go ahead and plant the seed. I do know this though, I’m moving forward propelled with a brand new perspective.

Grab the nugget, big or small, and work with it. Bring it with you into 2021 and don’t look back.

There’s a lot of work to do. Please let me know if you need any assistance—an ear, a sounding board, a mentor, a project collaborator—I’m just an email away.

Photo by Any Lane

With all of that being said, I would like to wish you and your family a very happy holiday season. Hug your loved ones tight and go into the new year feeling blessed, beloved and fortuitous. See you in 2021.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!

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The Business of Small Business Building

Photo by RF._.studio

And I’m back!

So much has transpired over the *ahem* year and change that I’ve been away from my business blog. Notably, I’ve been putting in time and building my small business. Guys, I am crazy busy (and thankful). This photo above is a great depiction of how things are progressing now. Replace the young lady with my body and make my desk a little messier with sticky notes and writing pads strewn everywhere and a pair of Beats headphones I invested in to block out my screaming toddler when he plays with his superhero crew, but everything else is picture perfect.

Let’s talk about the obvious—building a small business or any business, takes time and effort and yes…plenty of time. With the emphasis on time. It doesn’t happen overnight. The cold calls, the networking, the emails, the strategy to get clients and the business projections. All of it and more. It’s all time consuming and the effort that you put in, you gloriously get out in the most ways down the line.

What is one tool you depend on to get or retain business clients? For me, it’s customer service. I know, it’s not a tool per se, but you get the gist of what I’m saying. If done right, customer service pays you back tenfold. You would be surprised how it can go a long way. Remember how a genuine ‘thank you and a smile’ from a cashier after ringing up your groceries was the norm? Now, some don’t even take the time or even care. Think about that for a moment. Clients not only remember how you deliver their request, but they also remember how they were treated in the process. Were you easy to work with? Were you professional? Did you extend yourself beyond the project at any time? Did you offer solid and constructive feedback without sounding condescending? Were you even nice? They may sound like ridiculous questions, but trust me they are all warranted.

I tend to do all of the above and more. I make sure my customer service is always at peak. There’s nothing more rewarding than hearing extremely positive reviews from clients when they respond to my survey after the work is completed. I make sure that I’m professional, courteous, thorough and most of all, flexible with clients. It doesn’t hurt to go the extra mile sometimes, just make sure it’s always within your boundaries. All of the above listed has helped me to retain many clients over the years and I’ve gone on to be recommended to others by many of my clients as well. I would say that a whopping 60% of my roster are returning clients and 40% are from referrals. Why? Because customer service is king.

Oh yes, and content. Great content is king.

I really hope that everyone is managing and prospering to the best of their ability right now. Sending good vibes out.

What is your weapon of choice to keep your business going? Let me know!

See you soon!

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Hello Again…How Are You Really Doing?

Hello image with a setting of leaves on the side

It has been a minute, hasn’t it? Since August 15th, 2019 to be exact.

So much has transpired over the last year and change. It’s hard to believe where we find ourselves today.

The fight against systematic racism and oppression, parents becoming full-time teachers and more for their kids, single people coping with a new onset of loneliness and people losing their jobs being put in the predicament of figuring out how to support their family—all because of the effects of this pandemic. This, and more, have all been a heavy load to carry.

This isn’t the usual post and I’m not here to have a lengthy conversation about the usual work tidbits either. I did want my first post back to genuinely ask one question:

“How are you feeling?”

Please take your time and be gentle with yourselves.

I do hope that you are coping to the best of your ability with everything transpiring. I’ll be back next month (I promise!) to share, chat and let you know what’s on the horizon.

Be well,

New Year – What I’ve Learned In 2021

Folks, it’s been a minute. I won’t even get into the logistics of how long, what transpired and such. But, while the pandemic has been rearing its ugly head, making lives even more difficult than usual, suffice it to say—It’s been a doozy.

Will this year be groundbreaking? Nerve-wracking? Fulfilling? Or maybe daunting? It could be all or none for many. Yet, it could also be a mixed bag of everything.

Thankfully, some of us can say that we’re here for another year—by hook or crook. But, it’s unfortunate to think that many can’t say the same. Will this year be groundbreaking? Nerve-wracking? Fulfilling? Or maybe daunting? It could be all or none for many. Yet, it could also be a mixed bag of everything. We’ve all been privy to the maneuvering and changes we’ve experienced for almost two years to keep businesses afloat. It’s either been a where there’s a will, there’s a way option or, all or nothing was the way to go. Whichever path was taken, I hope it didn’t burden the load but helped you work through any obstacles presented.

2021 was simply not my year, guys. Even though the pandemic has its own set of challenges, I also faced a host of obstacles last year—my mom was hospitalized, being a single mom raising a toddler, the deaths of a few close friends, keeping my business going, and life all had me in a chokehold. I was emotionally and mentally exhausted. As a result, I put many things on the backburner. I sat down at the end of the year to do my year in review, and I jotted down the lessons I’ve learned and will take with me moving forward. Have you asked yourself the difficult questions? Have you thought about any highlights from difficult times that you can use moving forward? What lessons have you learned in 2021?

Have you asked yourself the difficult questions? Have you thought about any highlights from difficult times that you can use moving forward? What lessons have you learned in 2021?

Whether personal or business-wise, these lessons are major and cross-over for me. I hope you’ve been able to carve out the time to see what 2021 has taught you about your business and how you work. Even if they’re revelations you don’t want to hear (we’ve all been there!), take it in stride and make the necessary changes.

Oh, and don’t forget my last lesson: Don’t be afraid to soar.

Until next time…