Inside Out!

Angry Rhetoric!

With just a few days left until the election, rhetoric is heating up.  As a small business owner, I think often of my Grandmother's admonition that religion, politics and how much you earn are never good topics for polite company.  The mechanisms of politics often makes it seem like we should all be wearing our political hearts on our sleeves for all to see.  To do otherwise, pundits announce, is to be unpatiotic. 

Hogwash!  My politics, to the best of my knowledge, contribute nothing to my ability to do the work you need done.  The only influence your knowledge of my politics might have on you is that you may not give me the job if my politics disagree with yours.  Is that fair?  No.  Does it happen?  Most certainly.  I've seen wonderful business relationships tossed out the window when politics got in the way.

Perhaps you have decided you will only work with folks who support your candidate.  That is your right.  In a free market capitalistic society, you have the right to do business with whom you choose.  But I have no obligation to help you make a choice based only on political considerations by telling you whether I support Obama, McCain or someone else.  And if you ask me who I'm voting for, I will most likely ignore the question or indicate that's between me and the voting booth.

Sometimes we learn of a person's political leanings because they work on someone's campaign.  I applaud those of you who do this as our political system is dependent upon such voluntary assistance to those running for office.  But that still does not give you the right to impose your beliefs on me for purposes of work.  I'd feel the same way if you were to ask if I am a born again Christian at our first project meeting.  That information is personal and I feel it should remain that way.

Many of you will disagree with me on this one.  I'm prepared for that.  But I also know how difficult politics becomes as we approach a major election.  In these times of financial turmoil, we can ill afford to lose clients.  It is our responsibility to give careful thought to what we say to clients and how it may ultimately damage or enhance our working relationships.

I encourage ALL of you to vote.  And I hope you will all help others to vote if they need a ride to the poll or a bit of urging to vote in that first big election since becoming of age.  But please do not make your personal politics a basis for offering that help.

Whether you are a Democrat, Republican, Independent, or a member of the many other small parties who have caring members on their rolls, I think we may agree the one thing we can ALL do to contribute to this election is to make sure as many eligible voters as possible make it to the polls to vote.    So let's keep politics out of the business meetings and offer to carpool to the polls on election day!  You may keep a client happy and help the environment at the same time!

Fall: Time To Clean The Drains

Life in an RV is full of lifestyle changes and challenges.  Space is at a premium and de-cluttering is a constant and repeated exercise.  As I explained this to a friend recently, she said she was used to hearing this: her significant other is a former submariner --- he finds it normal and gratifying to keep things tidy and organized in the extreme --- she, not so much.

Having lived the majority of my life in large houses, I've found it a bit challenging --- the downsizing, the constant organizing and reorganizing, the "layering" of items in storage to best utilize the available space.  It's not easy, but I'm learning and adjusting.  This same friend compared it to playing in a doll house.  Ah, yes --- and just WHY was that so much fun at age 6?

So, I decided to run a short series on de-cluttering our lives.  If I can manage to survive in a 34' RV with 2 Giant Schnauzers and 2 parrots, I'm sure you can learn something useful for your particular environment.

DE-CLUTTERING, Step 1:

I am not a morning person and I have no patience at all in the morning.  Waiting for a slow drain is as frustrating as it gets.  As I stood at the bathroom sink watching a swirl of toothpaste disappearing ever so slowly --- it occurred to me that cleaning the drain might solve the problem more quickly then standing and watching it.

So clean it I did!  And filled with satisfaction as I watched how swiftly the water now flowed down the drain, I started thinking about other problems in my life that might benefit from a quick "de-clogging."  Clutter slows us down --- it takes both physical and mental space.  It creates chaos and overwhelms us with the enormity of the projects before us.  Have you ever noticed how half of the stuff in a particular "project pile" often doesn't even relate to that project? 

Fall is a great time to get rid of the piles and clutter in our lives.  It's time to clean off the table-tops; clean out the closets and cupboards.  All that stuff we kept "just because" needs to go.  As we prepare for more time inside as well as the impending holidays, organizing and simplifying will make our time at home or office more enjoyable and our holidays more creative.

1.  Work in small segments.  Don't tackle the whole place at once.  It didn't turn into this mess overnight.  Taking time to clean and organize in an orderly fashion will provide as much satisfaction as doing it poorly to complete the process in one day. 

2.  Set a time limit for each work session.  If you know you have a hour to devote to decluttering  a small area you will be motivated to work more quickly and efficiently to finish that piece of the puzzle.

3.  All those recyclables need to be gathered, sorted, and taken to the recycling location --- saving them from the landfill is laudable.  Never getting them into the recycling mainstream is wasteful.

4.  Set up 3 piles: 

• Things to throw away: empty the trash after each decluttering session. 
• Things to give away:  Tag each item with the name of the person to receive it.  If you have numerous items going to the same person, address an envelope or label a bag or box with that person's name.  Then ship/deliver those items on a monthly basis.  If you are meeting that person for lunch, put a bow on the bag and take it with you to lunch!  Here again, it does no good to earmark an item for someone if they never receive it.
• Things to be filed:  Make sure items to be filed get in the proper files immediately.  If necessary, make new files on the spot.  Then place files in their rightful places in your file box or cabinet at the end of each session.

5.  Keep the basic tools you need handy and available.  One of those plastic containers from one of the discount stores works well.  With a cover on it when you don't need it, file folders, labels, markers, paper clips, a stapler, and tape are all kept clean and available. 

6.  Another works well for keeping small household tools together and easy to find.  Make sure you have the basics:  hammer; screwdrivers (Phillips and flat-head); measuring tape; masking tape; duct tape; a variety of picture holders, nails, screws; WD40 or similar lubricant; white household glue; small level.  There are other items you will undoubtedly add as time goes by.  The important thing is keep them all in one place and easily accessible.

7.  Whether it is files or tools of your trade, everything needs a home --- a designated place where it can be found easily and re-stored when you are finished with it.  When I traveled overseas as a journalist I packed my suitcase the same way each time.  I could find my passport or tweezers in the dark, if necessary.  It also made repacking easier as I knew everything would fit in the prescribed space.

Clearing the clutter frees your mind and allows you to focus.  It's amazing how much time and energy you save when life is clutter-free and organized.   It's also much easier to run that dust cloth around when a client or company gives you only 5 minutes notice!!

Happy De-Cluttering!!

WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME?

Just watched the debate.  Interesting contrast in styles.  I started asking myself what I expected to learn from the debate.  In the end it came down to a couple of points which, to my mind, apply to each and every one of us as we seek to sell ourselves to a new client.  You know --- that moment of panic when you try to get someone to listen to your sales pitch:

• Present your strengths and abilities in a clear, straight-forward manner.
• Listen to the other person and directly address the needs expressed in terms of your ability to provide a service.
• Answer ALL questions clearly and concisely.  

• Practice addressing the individual's needs within an honest framework of what you do and how you do it.  

• Explain what sets you apart from the pack.

• Avoid stretching the truth --- you will pay for it later.

• Always end the conversation with a concise restatement of the services you provide and how their performance will improve if they use your services.  Make it a win/win situation.  Remember if THEY succeed, so do you. 

This sounds simple.  In actuality it requires organization.  You must be clear in your own mind as to the services or products you offer, what sets you apart from others and how you can improve the person's chance of success.  While we may think we know these things, when faced with a request for the proverbial "elevator speach" as to what we do, most of us freeze up. 

One of the biggest mistates we can make is to ignore the needs of the person listening to our presentation.  As we saw this evening, ignoring the question does not remove it from the table.  It simply implies that we are either unable or unwilling to answer the question.  In the end, this leaves a bad taste in the mouth of our potential client.

And finally, always leave that potential client with a strong statement as to why they will miss the boat if they don't come to you for help.  State it clearly and concisely --- no mixed messages. 

For example:  When you avail yourself of my 30+ years of experience, you work with the same person each time, reduce your training costs, use my equipment instead of yours, and don't pay for my benefits.  In today's financial market, this is a tremendous savings to you.

Take a few minutes today and formulate your own 30 second statement.  Then arm yourself with a better sense of what you offer that sets you apart from others.  Your next presentation will reap the benefits of your additional preparation!

Fight or Flight --- Dealing With Stress

An good news out there today?  Banks failing; markets falling; Oprah interviewing Moms so overwhelmed with life they've endangered the lives of their children; gas lines in the south; hurricanes hitting the coastlines; MidAmerica hit with weather never before experienced.  When will it end?  I feel like I'm watching some kind of surreal party where Don Quixote is swinging at windmills and kids are swinging at pinatas.

During recent research on the subject of stress, I found there are a number of things we can each do to deal with these stressful situations Life seems intent on throwing our way.

• When panic strikes, get up and move!  That panic is really a physical manifestation of the Fight or Flight Syndrome, which releases a rush of adrenalin into our blood stream.  The best way to deal with this is to GET UP AND MOVE!  Movement simulates flight --- which calms the body down.  Take a walk around the block; walk the dog; go to the mailbox; run the vacuum; check on that project in the copy room.  Get your body moving.  The longer you sit, the more panicked you will become.
• Turn off the TV.  As a journalist, I'm a newsaholic.  But the media overkill simply whips up the fury and the fear.  Either read the newspaper daily or watch one news program a day.  Amazing how much better you will feel.
• Eat light --- eat things which are easy to digest --- why tax your system?  Limit the red meat.  Eat more veggies and fruit.
• Eat more frequently --- eating less food at more frequent intervals keeps your blood sugar level.  Keeping your blood sugar level helps eliminate mood swings.
• Drink more water --- research shows we don't drink enough water.  Drink 8 ounces of water every hour to flush and detoxify your system.
• Eliminate or reduce caffeine and sugars from your diet.
• Increase the use of cinnamon, ginger and turmeric in your system to aid digestion and help eliminate muscle spasms.  These spices should be as fresh as possible --- not from bottles that have been lazing on someone's shelf for a year.  Remember, these and other spices such as cumin, hot peppers, allspice, nutmeg, etc., have been used for centuries in 3rd World Countries as food preservatives and to assist in digestion.
• Try aromatherapy!  It's been around for centuries so why not try it?  Grapefruit is said to increase the ability to focus; lavender relaxes.  Think about it --- ever walk into a house where an apple pie is baking?  Doesn't it make you feel marvelous?  Don't want to bake a pie?  Keep a small pot of water boiling on the back burner and add cinnamon, nutmeg and a vanilla bean to it.
• Try peppermint tea (a few drops of peppermint oil in a bottle of water is an Old Wive's cure for colic that I used for years with my children); try tea with cloves and fresh ginger.  Your system will love you.

  But what about my business, you say?  What about my livelihood?  Small businesses and solopreneurs are already pushed to the wall and yet they are afflicted with more. 

This is the IDEAL climate for a VIRTUAL ASSISTANT.  Have you tried one?  If not, why not?  You are missing out on something big. 

With a VIRTUAL ASSISTANT:

• You do NOT pay for benefits:  no sick leave, no vacation, no healthcare.
• You do NOT pay for equipment that is only used when you require a temp.
• You do NOT pay someone for 8 hours when you only need them for 2 hours.
• You do NOT pay for a new temp you must introduce to your office procedures each time you need a temp.

What you DO get with a VIRTUAL ASSISTANT is:

• Someone who provides his/her own equipment.
• Someone who charges only for the amount of time they spend on your project.
• The same person every time you need help --- hence familiarity with your business and your work practices.
• Someone who is available on a unique schedule, including evenings and weekends.

Sound good? You bet!  Why pay for what you DON'T need when you can get what you DO need for less with a VIRTUAL ASSISTANT.  Less stress; less money; less hassle.  A well-trained virtual assistant is what you REALLY need. 

So ----- what do you have to lose?  And, what ARE you waiting for?