Tech brands that made it big

Most companies and businesses nowadays do not have a physical product to sell. With information and transactions mostly done online, many brands that we have come across offer various services through websites or phone applications. From photo sharing, social networking, email marketing to buy-and-sell, there are plenty of industries that now rely on the internet to push their businesses forward.

Some of these businesses started as side projects, yet they became so popular that they evolved into core products of their companies. Others offer simple yet valuable solutions to certain challenges or difficulties we encounter in our day-to-day lives. Let’s take a look at a few examples and get insights on how they have built their brands from nothing into something big.

Mailchimp

While founders Ben Chestnut and Dan Kurzius created a web design agency for large corporate clients, they also made an email marketing project on the side to cater to small businesses. But this email service has become a valuable tool among individuals and small to medium-sized enterprises, garnering a user base of tens of thousands that continues to grow exponentially. It led the founders to focus exclusively on their product, called the Mailchimp. At present, users can integrate Mailchimp in their websites and social media platforms, making it easy for them to communicate and reach out to their customers and those in their mailing list.

Craigslist

One of the early players in the field is Craigslist, named after its founder, Craig Newmark. It began as an avenue for Craig to inform his friends of the latest happenings in the San Francisco Bay Area. Eventually, other people started posting jobs, items for sale, apartment for rent and other announcements on the list. The site, which is very simple in appearance and easy to navigate, has become the go-to place for people offering and looking for various items and services. Now, Craigslist service several cities and countries around the globe.

Skyscanner

The tourism industry is among those that have benefitted greatly from the advancement in online technology. Several websites and apps provide information and easy access for travellers to plan and book their trips by providing information on accommodations, flights and car rentals and compare costs. One of these sites is Skyscanner, which traces its roots in Edinburgh, Scotland, and later acquired by Trip.com.

Twitter

In the social media realm, Twitter is one of the main players where people can connect and share thoughts, moments and information. The microblogging site was initially called twttr, a project of its mother company, Odeo, and it was first used internally among the employees. Later on, celebrities, brands and even government officials turn to Twitter to post on various topics and users turn to the “trends” to jump in the conversation. Now, Twitter is a company in itself and is widely used worldwide.

Shopify

Before it became an e-commerce platform, Shopify was just another online store, called Snowdevil, that was selling snowboards. Not satisfied with the existing e-commerce tools at that time, one of the founders, Tobias Lütke, decided to build their own, which is now Shopify. This online marketplace grew from just five people meeting and working in coffee shops to having thousands of employees across the globe, servicing over a million businesses and buyers.

Unsplash

It all began as a Tumblr blog filled with photos from photoshoot outtakes of founder Mikael Cho’s company. He welcomed others to use the photos until it grew and became what is today’s Unsplash. Now, it is one of the sources of stock photos although changes have been in place and there are certain restrictions. But who ould have thought that from a humble beginning, it is now widely used by various individuals and companies?

Grammarly

At first, Grammarly was created by Alex Shevchenko, Dmytro Lider and Max Lytvyn to support students in their spelling and grammar. But the product held so much promise that it was also being used by professionals in business and everyday writing. Grammarly can also be used as an add-in to various platforms and browser extensions.

GoFundMe

If you’re looking for a job, a property, an item, a picture, a flight schedule or an event, you name it and the internet will surely lead you to something. But it’s not just products or services that are found in e-commerce and tech sites. There are also crowdfunding that aims to help those in need. GoFundMe is one site that provides a platform for those looking for resources and those looking for a cause to support. Its forerunner was Paygr which was originally established to provide its members with an avenue where they can sell their services.

Houzz

The advent of the internet also paved the way for many do-it-yourself projects, allowing those who cannot afford to pay professionals to do things by themselves or seek advice from people with similar interests or concerns. Houzz was born because founders Adi Tatarko and Alon Cohen were remodelling their home. Frustrated with piles of magazines where they cut out pictures of houses and still couldn’t put together their dream design, they built Houzz and became an online community on interior design, architecture, landscaping and home improvement.

Groupon

Groupon is a platform that banks on the concept of collective bargaining power. Its founder Andrew Mason first helped establish The Point, which was based on the principle of the “tipping point”, gathering people for a common goal. Eventually, people started using it to band together to save money through group discounts. It evolved into Groupon, an e-commerce site focused on group buying.

There are many more technology-based startups that have grown in a span of a few years. It goes to show that people turn more and more to the internet for all their needs and wants. The challenge, however, is in sustaining these brands by staying relevant amidst the changing times.

How entrepreneurs can spend their weekends in the new normal

Restrictions have eased up after the quarantine, but movements are no longer the same as to how it was before COVID-19 hit the world. People are still advised to observe distancing as much as possible. Some companies have opted for flexible work arrangements with their people where certain staff members work from home. Many events and activities are still held online. As long as no vaccine is available, precautions are still advised to be taken to avoid a similar occurrence in the future.

For everyone else, it’s a new normal. Even entrepreneurs are not spared with the lifestyle change happening in our society. The boundary of home and office becomes blurred as many opt to work from the confines of their houses. Although you may have an allotted space where you do business, making it more accessible often leads you to attend to your business more than you used to. How can business owners spend their weekends and spare time in the current unusual scenarios? When you can’t go to the beach or hike to the mountains, there are other ways to take a break, especially when the stress and pressures of work are too much to handle.

Look after your body

With the health crisis that the world is facing today, it is important to look after your physical well-being. You can do some exercise or be creative in your exercise routine and indulge yourself to other physical activities that will not require you to leave your vicinity. You can also get into gardening or cooking healthy food that can help boost your immune system.

Take care of your mental health

Worrying about the future, your family, your business and your people can take a toll on your mental health. The uncertainty that the situation brings can be a major concern for an entrepreneur. Do some meditation exercises, talk to people close to you or indulge yourself into something that can help you relax and ease you of your worries. Get into music or learn a new hobby, something that can bring you little joys.

Deepen relationships

During these challenging times, it’s okay to check in with your friends or call someone whom you have not spoken for a long time. Reconnect old ties and strengthen new ones. You can even stay in touch with your clients and business associates. Attend online gatherings when you can. Most of all, spend more time with your partner and family members. Being cooped in your home may be an opportunity for you to enjoy each other’s company even more.

Clean up and organise

When you’re off your computer or not out for some business matters, you can spend time at home cleaning up, fixing things or organising your stuff. Maybe they are just waiting for you to find time to arrange them. Not only will it keep your surroundings clean but it can also be therapeutic for you.

Develop yourself

Continue developing yourself amid the crisis. There are plenty of webinars that are available online that can help you gain more insights not only on how to survive the present challenges but also on how to make yourself better in various ways. Read books and listen to podcasts on things you want to learn more.

Do philanthropic work

A lot of people are suffering. Some of them may be within your community. Take time to know the immediate needs that require quick action. As volunteering physically may not be possible yet, you can help out within your means, whether you donate to a cause or lend your expertise to a group.

We’ll never know what the future holds, but we have experienced something that has changed our lives. It has taught us to take care of ourselves and be mindful of those around us. Life goes on, and work still never stops for the entrepreneur, yet a weekly break is a welcome respite from all the stress we receive from within and around us.

8 Crisis management books to help your business

Whether it is in the form of a natural disaster, an armed conflict, a stock market crash or a pandemic, a crisis is bound to happen, and often when we less expect it. Rather than be caught off guard, such as how other businesses were during the recent events, it is better to familiarise yourself with various scenarios and know the strategies on how to cope and survive them.

There are many resources on crisis management and leadership that can guide you on how to navigate through the crunch. You can get some insights from crisis management books, which are aplenty. Here are eight of them to start you off.

Crisis Management Leadership: Training to Survive the Critical Moment by Kenneth A Lipshy, MD FACS

Kenneth Lipshy, a surgical leader, put together in his book snippets of crisis leadership styles and advice from leadership professionals belonging in the fields of medicine, aviation, military, wilderness rescue, police and fire. He also shares about his experiences in his medical practice and learnings on human cognitive errors, their causes and how to prevent and mitigate them.

Cultural Competency for Emergency and Crisis Management: Concepts, Theories and Case Studies by Claire Connolly Knox and Brittany "Brie" Haupt

While disasters and tragedies happen in various parts of the world, responding to them should also consider culturally competent practices. The book highlights the need for an in-depth understanding of cultural competence for emergency preparedness. It also provides a guide, case studies and some exercises for individual and group discussion and assignments for crisis management.

Crisis Management: The Art of Success & Failure: 30 Case Studies in Business & Politics by Yunus D. Saleh

With 30 case studies compiled, Yunus Saleh’s book provides a tool to evaluate various scenarios and for readers to understand and learn how to tackle crises when they happen. The examples present fruitful and futile approaches in managing a crisis, where one can draw lessons from such events.

Crisis Managemen: How to develop a powerful program by Regina Phelps 

Crises are inevitable. They can happen in various ways and different degrees. But even before they come knocking at your doorsteps, the crucial question is “what should I do?” The answers may be in the pages of this book as Regina Phelps step-by-step tips on how to develop a powerful crisis management program.

Crisis Management: Responding from the Heart by Kristin S. Harper, Brent G. Paterson, Eugene L. Zdziarski II 

This manuscript provides a different angle on how to approach crisis management. Apart from drafting procedures in preparation for a crisis, responders can also learn to do the right thing. It infuses feelings into the whole process of crisis response by responding from the heart.

Crisis Management: Planning for the Inevitable by Steven Fink

Compiling some case studies and the things that happen behind them, the book provides scenarios, practical tips and advice on how to respond to a crisis, avoiding its drawbacks while traversing out of it. This has become a significant resource among small and medium businesses, governments, large companies, and educational institutions.

Leadership: In Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin

By studying four US presidents namely, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson, Doris Kearns Goodwin presents their respective journeys in their public life. It shows how they dealt with their leadership positions despite the challenges and hardships they experienced. The book also gives insights on how these leaders battled their internal and external predicaments. It also provides a road map on leadership based on the stories of the four leaders.

Crisis Management: Resilience and Change by Sarah Kovoor-Misra

Mismanaging a crisis may cost companies and communities resources and lives. Sarah Kovoor-Misra uses her transformative crisis management framework as well as presents factors to successful crisis management like leadership, systems, communication and stakeholder perspective. It also incorporates the ethical, emotional, change and global facets of crisis communication. These allow companies or organisations undergoing a crisis to be resilient, proactive, adaptable and ethical.

Supporting your team during a crisis

A crisis, big or small, can cause a lot of stress and anxiety to a lot of people. As you look after your business and your well-being, make sure that the welfare of your people, which forms the backbone of a company, are also given much attention.

When problems arise that may affect the future of a company, it cannot be avoided that people will feel unsure. How do you support your team during challenging times and lead them through it? Before it can get worse and cause bigger problems, it is better to meet it head-on and help them steer through the problems as a team. They will look to you for guidance and inspiration, so you have to take care of your mental state first to be able to have the strength and competence to direct them amidst the chaos and confusion.

Open lines of communication

Be transparent. Listen to their concerns. Inform them of pertinent details so they will understand the whole picture. If there is any decrease in sales or drop in revenues, let them know about it. Reach out to your staff as they may be hesitant to approach you. Open your lines of communication to avoid misinterpretation and false information to spread within your organisation.

Adjust some work policies and benefits

You might want to loosen some things in your company while undergoing a crisis. Others lessen work hours, ease the workload, allow their staff to work from home or provide some form of flexibility with how work is done. Check your resources if you can extend some in-kind or monetary support to your team, especially when a disaster, tragedy or pandemic is happening.

Organise your team in a new set-up

If changes are happening within your organisational structure or operation procedures or systems make sure to provide distinct directions or instructions for better guidance. People tend to look up to or rely on a leader to clear a path amidst the chaos. Managing change during a crisis is essential to ease people’s anxiety and prevent confusion.

Provide support for their mental health

With all the external pressures that a crisis may bring to your people, your organisation can help by not putting so much burden to them but by helping them navigate through it. An HR team or consultant may have to look after the welfare of your people. Often, they need to have someone available whom they can talk to, especially an expert who can help them deal with things. Come up with avenues for your staff to be able to process what they are going through. You may also have to put together resources that can help them survive.

The important thing is that as you and your team go through hardships, they should feel that you are in this together and that you understand their predicament.

The pros and cons of serial entrepreneurship

There are entrepreneurs and there are serial entrepreneurs. But what is the difference between the two? Both start a business from an idea. While a typical entrepreneur may opt to stay to run their venture, a serial entrepreneur may pass on the reigns of managing the business to someone else and moves towards starting another one.

Some entrepreneurs may be more skilful at the startup stage and find it a challenge overseeing the day-to-day needs of the business. Serial entrepreneurs thrive at creating ideas and putting such concepts into concrete results by building startups. There’s nothing wrong with it if one’s skills set better matches becoming a founder rather than managing a business. Still, it pays to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of serial entrepreneurship should you decide to be one.

Pros of serial entrepreneurship

More opportunities to widen one’s creativity

Not all business ideas can be merged into one venture. Some are unrelated that you need to establish a separate enterprise for your various business concepts. The good thing about being a serial entrepreneur is that you don’t get stuck with just one idea or box yourself within your existing business. By opening another startup, you can experiment and come up with many creative outputs without putting your other business in jeopardy.

Gives you more flexibility and freedom

A variety of businesses with different concepts and core products or services may allow you more flexibility and freedom to do whatever you want. As you are more into generating ideas and laying them out, you are not tied up with the day-to-day operations of your businesses. With that, you can pour your time and effort into what you do best while getting experts to take care of areas where you need help the most.

Personal and professional development

Exposure to different industries and challenges will help hone your skills and capabilities. It can provide you with various avenues for professional growth as well as personal development. You get to learn the ins and outs of the many industries where your enterprises belong and understand more the mindset of different market groups.

Can bring in more money

Having more businesses may bring in more sales and profits. It’s not always the case, but if they all become more prosperous, you will reap a good harvest with what you’ve sown. Many successful serial entrepreneurs now enjoy various streams of income because they have established several ventures and provided a good foundation to allow them to grow.

Cons of serial entrepreneurship

Several risks to take

Establishing businesses here and there may sound exciting but it may come with a huge price. Starting a business means investing your resources, time and effort. If you have several ventures you may need a lot to invest in them, which means exposing yourself to a lot of risks. You need to be more calculating in your decisions to lessen probable harm to you and your businesses.

Need for trustworthy people

Since serial entrepreneurs are usually more present in the business during the early phase and may have to hand over the reins to someone else, there is a need to find trustworthy people who can manage the various aspects of the business once it has started to take off. As the entrepreneur moves on to another startup, there must be strong leadership that will steer the other ventures forward.

A lot of accountability

Although there may be directors and managers that will take care of the other businesses and their departments, having several enterprises entail bigger accountability to the entrepreneur. There are more people under your wing. One misstep may not only affect one venture but may also affect the others. When something unexpected happens, you have more people to tend to and matters to attend. It cannot be avoided that as you multiply your businesses and expand them, there are more mouths to feed and more individuals relying on you. It might be difficult to pull out when the right time comes.

Lack of focus

With three or more businesses to your name, you need to allocate quality time for each. Having too many may result in a lack of focus, causing one or several of them to suffer. Some of your businesses may demand your attention all at the same time and not be able to address a certain issue may yield to losses and failure.

Becoming a serial entrepreneur takes a lot of courage and confidence. Not everybody may be one, as much as not all can become an entrepreneur, but if you put your mind and heart into it, you may be able to surpass the unimaginable and be able to build a business empire.

When to partner with a competitor

It may not be commonplace to find competitors partnering with each other, but it is also not a rare case. Besides, such collaboration only lasts for a certain period and is not expected to be done in the long-term.

However, there are benefits you can get by working with a competition, although it may also pose some risks. But if you have a common goal in mind, then doing so may mean you have to set aside your differences and cooperate until you achieve what you both want to attain. Just make sure that you keep your trade secrets close to your chest as certain circumstances may call for it.

During times of crisis

A crisis, tragedy or disaster, such as the global pandemic we are currently experiencing, are few instances when you need to put two minds together until both your businesses can surpass such difficulty. Oftentimes, several companies in the same industry come together to cooperate so that they can survive and navigate through a crisis.

For innovation in the industry

Competition happens not just among businesses belonging in the same field but also among various industries. With the rise of online and app-based ventures, physical stores or those with physical products experience a dent on their performance. Other industries are left behind because of the fast technological advancements. Partnering with a competitor to revive your industry or innovate it is a good move to help your business withstand the rising trend of other new industries.

When expanding the market

It is often difficult to enter a new market or expand your existing one to new territories. To save you on your effort and resources, as doing so may require a huge risk, partnering with a business similar to yours may be a wise thing to do in certain situations.

To complement each other’s business

While you are competitors, you may have different strengths and unique selling propositions that one may have over the other. You may complement each other’s businesses by putting on the table something that the other one does not have.

In facing a bigger competitor

When a huge corporation dominates a certain market, small businesses sometimes suffer as they only get a meagre portion of the pie. They need to join forces so that they can increase their market share and have a better competing power against the big player in the field.

For a common charitable cause

Businesses usually help out a sector that is related to their brand or operation. Construction firms would want to build homes to the homeless or schools to communities in need. Enterprises that are into children may help in education. Competing companies can work together to help a particular sector of society, hoping to provide better conditions to that group.

It may be an opportunity to find a circumstance where you can partner with a competitor. But then, think it over thoroughly, do a lot of research, discuss it with your team and analyse the situation carefully. There are benefits with working with a competitor but know the risks. Be sure that you do it to advance your business and help you get closer to your vision and goals.

Tips on doing niche marketing

Getting exposure to as many people as possible may be a good thing. But it can take so much time, effort and resources on your part. Meanwhile, if you target a specific market, it will take less but may produce the same or better results.

Niche marketing is a strategy where you direct your initiatives towards a target market and customise your messages and design to their preference. It is different from mass marketing, wherein you convey you communicate to a bigger audience. On the other hand, niche marketing focuses on the segment which has the most need and most interest in your product or service.

To make sure that your niche marketing strategies are effective and successful, here are a few tips that may help your business.

Get the demographics of your market and segmentize them

Surveys, feedback forms or interviews are just a few methods of getting information about your customers. It’s always helpful to gather data, observe first-hand and analyse the numbers to set the foundation of your strategies. Know the age, location, occupation and other information on the demographics of your clientele. From the statistics generated, divide your market into segments so you can decide the best group to target for your niche marketing.

Research on the behaviours and psyche of your target market

Delve deeper into your target segment and know their behaviours, hobbies and preferences. These will help outline your strategies on how to approach and communicate with your market. Understanding their needs and pain points and seeing the connection as to how your products or services address such will enable you to tailor-fit your marketing campaign towards them.

Maintain a database of your customers from that niche

Put together a database of your clients belonging to your target segment and communicate with them regularly. Better yet, provide an avenue for them to form into a community. It will enable you to strengthen your relationship with your target market and encourage loyalty to your brand.

Choose the right communication platform or channel

Once you have determined your target market’s mindset and behaviour, select the right platform or channel where you will communicate to them. Although bags are the same, targeting a high-end and matured market is unlike communicating to a young group. The idea with niche marketing is that you don’t have to be all over the place. Instead, you can focus more on where you can be most visible to your intended audience.

Craft your messages and design for the target segment

When you have fully known and understood that market segment you want to aim, craft your messaging and design your marketing materials as to how they will appeal to them the most. Doing so is like communicating to them directly. Adjust your messaging and design according to the platform you are using. Ads in written format should not be the same with broadcast media. Similarly, direct emails are drafted differently from press releases and social media posts.

Follow-up, follow-up, follow-up

Sustain your initiatives by scheduling properly your activities. If you did an exclusive event for your target market, sent out an email or launched an online campaign, make sure that you do a follow-up. With so many things going on in a single day, people may tend to forget about your brand. Make your presence felt in a way that your product or service becomes more relevant to them.

If you even know better the market you want to target, you can be even more specific on your action points. Don’t forget to evaluate how effective your niche marketing is and if it’s something that you should consider doing for your brand for the long-term.

Dealing with high emotions at work

Organisations and businesses are composed of people. Emotions are part of our human nature, and they may intensify when we interact with others. When you are working as a team, and there is so much energy, pressure, egos and excitement in the environment, it is unavoidable that emotions may run high, which can lead to conflicts or friction among colleagues.

Let’s focus more on volatile emotions that, if remained unchecked, may cause harm to one’s well-being or professional relationship. Anger, disappointment, frustration, distress, resentment, fear, sadness, displeasure and anxiety are just some of the sentiments one may feel towards a situation or person. However, even if one’s negative sensation is not necessarily directed to all the people within an organisation, it can stir the office atmosphere and create a ripple effect of undesirable energy that may not be helpful to everyone around.

While work may cause a lot of stress on people, it is undeniable that some negative feelings may be caused by external forces, such as personal concerns and other factors that may not be work-related. You must acknowledge such emotions, whether yours or from others, and not repress them. Better yet, talk it out in a composed and calm fashion to eliminate any misunderstanding, acknowledge any mistake and move towards an amicable solution.

Manage your own emotions first

Whether you are the one who is at the height of emotions or dealing with someone who is, you must keep your reaction under control. It is innate for human beings to have feelings but it is also the nature of feelings to change over time, depending on the circumstances and how people deal with them. To avoid causing distress or wreaking havoc on your team or clients because of what you feel, you may find these tips helpful.

Take a deep breath and have a minute to compose yourself

Before you face anyone, allot a minute or two for yourself to take a deep breath and clear your head. Sometimes, you need a moment to identify your emotions and process things internally or prepare yourself for what’s to come.

Talk it out with someone you trust

If you feel sad, angry, anxious or anything else that is weighing you down, try to talk about it to someone you trust. Maybe a lending ear or a reassuring remark can help ease the burden off your shoulders.

Do an activity to relieve you of such emotions

Go for a walk outside, squeeze some stress balls, listen to soft music or have a cup of tea. Try to do an activity that can help you calm down or relax, even for a short while, before you continue with the tasks at hand.

Outline the things you can do to mitigate the issue

You may not fully control the thoughts and feelings of other people but you can do something about yours. When you have cleared your mind and identified the root cause of your emotions, list the things you can do on your part to resolve or mitigate the issue. Do you need to talk to someone? Do you need to verify something? Is there a need to correct a person, a process or a situation?

Manage your people’s emotions

Before you are going to deal with the emotions of others, make sure that you are in the right frame of mind to face the person who is having an emotional breakdown. Whether those sensations are work-related or personal issues, not attending to the emotional needs of your team members may affect everyone else in the organisation. Although you may have an HR who can focus on these matters, there are instances when your team people will look to you for support, comfort or resolution. How do you become a beacon of light for them when they are in distress?

Make the person calm down and listen

Let the person calm down. Offer a glass of water and allow emotions to subside. Lead the person to a private space for a chat. This way, the person will not feel embarrassed while not disrupting the rest of the team with an outburst. Ask the one involved how he feels, listen to his concerns and affirm his emotions.

Check facts, verify details and know the reasons for such feelings

Get to the bottom of the matter. Know the reason why your people feel that way. See the big picture so you can better understand the person. If there’s a conflict between colleagues, listen to both sides of the story and look at the situation from various angles and lens.

Steer them towards a solution

If it is due to personal issues, you can ask questions that will help lead the person to a solution. However, if such feelings were brought about by work, you can probably come up with steps that can help alleviate negative emotions in the workplace.

No matter how much you keep things professional at work, it is inevitable for people to feel slighted, offended or dejected in the office. Personal feelings can also come into play and small issues may blow up along the way. These are things that must not be ignored. For your business not to suffer, along with relationships within your organisation, it is better to nip it from the bud by attending to such concerns early on.

How to sell your business

Selling a business, big or small, is not something that happens overnight. If it is part of your exit plan, you need to outline how to go about it so that when the right time comes, you can easily start the ball rolling. Whether it’s the point when you feel you need to move to another industry or retirement, attend to other personal matters or navigate through a crisis, such the pandemic that the world is experiencing, selling a business is always an option that an entrepreneur can consider doing.

The logistics of preparing to sell your venture is tedious in itself, which includes the financial, legal, mental and emotional aspects of it. Consider also that there are people that will be affected by it, so think through it several times before you make decisions, plan out your steps and carry them out. What are the things you need to do to help put your enterprise on the market?

Know your company’s worth

You have to know your company’s market value. There are several ways to calculate this, which is by looking at the return on investments, growth, performance rating, assets and other factors. It also depends on the size and potential of your business. You may consult with an expert or check out data in your industry to help you determine the right price for your venture.

Look for a broker, adviser or someone to represent your business

A broker can help you look for potential buyers and also help with the valuation of your business. Consider that the broker gets a piece of the pie as well, but you can unload some burdens on your shoulder. However, if you want to do it yourself and save some money from getting a middle man, you should have an adviser whom you can consult on various matters regarding the sale. If someone is willing to help you out minus the hefty fee, then the better it is for you.

Organise your financial books and important documents

Prepare your finances to make sure that everything is in order. Work with your accountant on this so that it is easier to present your business status and when due diligence is required. Also, make sure that important documents, especially licenses and legal papers, are in place and without any problem. Prepare a contract and have a lawyer and financial expert check it for you.

Talk to the people around you

Whether it is a family business or not, it is good to talk it with your family so that they can support you on your decision. Discuss the matter with your business partners, if you have any, as well as your associates and staff. They will be most affected by the sale of your business, so you have to make sure that emotions are kept in check by giving assurance and clear directions.

Polish your business model, systems and workflow

Your business must be able to function and grow without you. Should you decide to stay in the business even after the sale, you need to change the mindset of people within and around your organisation. Lessen the dependence of your people on you. Strengthen your systems and workflow so that when the new owner comes in, the business will continue to operate.

Get the word out

If you have already done half of the preparation of selling your business, start talking to people and let others know of your intent to put your business in the market. Once, everything is ready and the only thing needed is a buyer, market or advertise your business and get on the proper channels that can lead you to interested parties.

Review prospective buyers and prepare for due diligence

Once you have a list of people who are expressing interest to acquire your company, check their background thoroughly to make sure that you are leaving your venture in good hands. In the same way, buyers will also conduct due diligence on your business, so be prepared for it as well.

Negotiate, close the deal and hand over the business

When you and the buyer agree on the price and the provisions on the contract, sign it, close the deal and provide a period of turnover with the new owner. Once everything is done, don’t forget to celebrate.

Starting and building a business is like nurturing for a child. The emotional attachment may be there, which may often make selling a business a little difficult for entrepreneurs, even for team members. If you have fully thought and decided on putting your business on the market, mental and emotional preparation is paramount. One way to look at it is that you want the best for your company, so selling it to the right person or group may be necessary to let your business grow more and flourish in its industry.

The need for concept testing

Good ideas can raise your business to greater heights. Whether it’s a brand name, logo, packaging, new product or service, promotional design or marketing campaign, concepts help your venture grow and thrive. But how do you know if your brainchild is indeed a good one? Some may seem brilliant but they don’t necessarily translate to sales or profit.

Concept testing allows you to calculate the probability for success or profitability of your idea. You may conduct a survey, focused group discussion, interviews, product sampling, test runs or soft launch to gauge how your target market will receive your idea. Some companies acquire the services of an agency to do market research while others do it in-house. Whatever method you think is best for your idea to be tested, know first why it is important that you do it before you fully launch your idea.

To avoid wasting time and resources

Trying to perfect your idea on the drawing board will often cost you time instead of going out and testing it to your market. You launch your idea to the market without knowing how they’ll respond to it may sometimes lead to failure. Remember that the process of turning abstract into something concrete involve investment, effort and time, which may go to waste if the project does not succeed. Testing your idea on your target market will give you a piece of the bigger picture that you may not be able to view if you only stay within the confines of your workspace.

To know the pulse of your market

You come up with new concepts, may it be a product or a marketing strategy, to satisfy your customers. While you may be contented with what you have come up with, people may have a different view of it, and it will show with how they will receive the fruit of your idea. You cannot know what’s in their mind unless you test it on them and see their reception to the novel thing that you want to introduce. It will also give you insights that you may find useful in your other initiatives or endeavours.

To estimate the potential of the idea

You, your team and closest friends may find your new idea remarkable, but you can only estimate its potential, especially the profit or benefits it may generate unless you go out and ask your existing or prospective buyers if it’s something that they deem favourable to them. You can then gauge the extent of effort and resources you can invest in such a project once you can approximate the degree of returns it can give you.

To improve it further

There are times when time is crucial and one does not have the luxury to perfect an idea. Concept testing acts like a filter that highlights areas you can still work on while providing you with answers that you will not be able to generate if you spend so much time on the drawing board. As you gather feedback from your target market, testing your concept can even give birth to tons of new ideas and help you improve your initial concept to become a better one.

To bring you closer to your goal

The goal could be increasing sales, expanding your business or leaving a legacy to your clientele. Whatever it is, concept testing will help you determine if your idea will lead you in the right direction. It will help you plan the next steps that will bring you closer to your goal.

So, next time you have a brainstorming session in your business, don’t miss out testing your concept on your market in the whole process. Choose the best method or methods to do it that will help you evaluate better your concept.

Mentoring your team effectively

Business growth is not only measured by the increase in sales and profit but also on how the organisation develops and improves. Human resource development allows you to shape the people within your organisation and let your venture grow and thrive.

Whether there is a newbie in your team, someone up for promotion, a member being honed for succession or only a skeleton staff is working and you have to deal with a lean organisation, training a team member is part of your human resource development. One form of training is by mentoring, which is teaching new skills, adding knowledge and guiding the person-in-training.

It can be done formally and informally, as mentorship can also be part of your corporate culture. However, if you have a goal in mind and to make sure that your mentorship is effective, there must be a certain framework where the mentor and mentee can refer to as they go through the process. You or your HR may outline the things needed for mentoring, such as the activities we have listed below.

Do a skills review

Before you plan out how you will conduct your mentoring, do first a skills review so that you can identify the strengths and weaknesses that the person can work on as well as where the skills set can fit in your organisation. What are the competencies that need to be built up? What talents and capabilities that must be instilled in the mentee?

Set clear objectives and accountabilities

Once you have identified the skills that can be enhanced and those that still need to be developed, design the objectives and measurable goals of your mentoring. Draw up an action plan and specify who is accountable for which. Stipulate how you will achieve your goals and how to evaluate if the mentoring is indeed successful.

Build a good mentor-mentee relationship

As much as you have a goal in mind, don’t forget to put importance on the whole process and the relationship. As tennis player Arthur Ashe once said, “Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is more important than the outcome.”

Trust is a good foundation to make the mentorship a fruitful one. Mentors must exercise patience and provide motivation and inspiration to the mentee. On the other hand, the mentee must be open to correction and learning so that the lessons that the entire experience can bring will be ingrained deeply to one’s frame of mind.

Delegate and assign tasks

Experience, as they say, is the best teacher. The best way to mentor someone is to allow them to be immersed in various situations where they can exercise good judgment and resourcefulness. Delegate tasks that the person can work on. Don’t spoon-feed. Rather, be a guide and allow room for the person to do things based on his abilities and work style.

Monitor and evaluate

Have a regular huddle or avenue where you can assess the short-term goals of your mentoring. By monitoring the progress of the process, you will be able to define the areas where you need to work on the most to achieve the objectives you have set for this mentorship.

Mentoring is a way of sharing knowledge and building expertise among your people. As your team develops, your business will also grow. Even when you have a lean organisation, if you have quality people, it will keep your venture going. Moreover, looking after the improvement of your staff also boosts their morale and strengthens your relationship with each other. But as you mentor your people, it is also best that you also look after your professional growth. Have someone mentor you as well so that you keep on increasing, expanding and improving your skills set and experience as an entrepreneur.

Benefits of business collaborations

Companies, big or small, sometimes work together for a common goal that will mutually benefit each party involved. Collaborations are not uncommon among brands and organisations, especially if this can lead to increased knowledge and sales. Such partnerships may occur through joint projects in developing new products and services, enhanced processes, training and upskilling of people, sales and marketing initiatives and so much more.

Before you get into any form of collaboration, you first have to assess your current state and upcoming plans vis-à-vis to that of the prospective partner organisations. Conduct a SWOT analysis of your business and the other participating businesses. How will this benefit you and your company? What will be the division of labour? How are you going to work out the partnership? What are the stipulations in the collaboration?

One thing to note is that you need to do your thorough research and risk assessment before committing to a collaboration. Make sure that things are documented in black and white so that you have something to refer to in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the business relationship. But if such cooperation between businesses become a huge success, the benefits to your venture can be enormous.

Shared learnings

Collaboration may lead to the sharing of new information, best practices and additional knowledge about your industry and current trends that can be useful to the development of your business. It is when you go outside the box and expand your horizons that you will get to see so much more things to learn that can help you and your venture grow significantly.

Enhanced human capital

The best training for your people is to provide them with on-hand training and exposure, one that collaboration with other businesses can bring to the table. It can widen their horizon and allow them to think outside what you consider as a norm in your organisation. This will enhance their capability as they get to experience new things in a different setting.

Improved products and services

Whether your partner with other businesses to develop a new product or service, combine the best parts of your respective offerings or enhance what is already available, such cooperation will allow you to offer more to your customers. In effect, it will attract additional prospects to your business and grow your clientele.

Increased promotions and brand value

Some collaborations may be limited to joint promotions or marketing tactics. Nevertheless, partnering with another brand, especially a stronger one, may increase the value of your name and expand your reach. It will widen your audience and market as you will be able to communicate to your collaborators’ network. In the long run, it will be helpful to your brand, not only for name recall but also for its trustworthiness.

Financial gains

With experienced people, better offerings and attractive promotions, collaborations may be able to help boost your sales and increase your profit. Successful partnerships may even benefit your bottom line in the long-term as more and more people will look at it as a sign that your business is one that they can depend on. Moreover, the resources and effort that you will put into collaborations vis-à-vis the advantages you will gain will be more cost-efficient as compared to you doing it all by yourself.

Competitive edge

During and after a successful collaboration, all the learnings and improvements that your venture will obtain will give you a competitive edge over other players in the field as you move forward on your entrepreneurial journey. Other businesses get into some form of cooperation with other companies, even for a short period, to use it as a launching pad for more endeavours.

There are surely great wins when you work with other business entities. There are also risks involved and failed collaborations may even have an adverse impact, so do it sparingly and with caution. But if you work towards making it successful, you will reap the fruits of your labour a hundredfold. They may not necessarily come immediately or in monetary form, but it will provide your organisation with many more insights that you will not normally get when you work on your own.

Dealing with angry customers in your business

At some point in your business, you might encounter unhappy clients or customers. It could be that a fault in your product or service was found, a mix-up took place or an unexpected misfortune occurred. Whether the concern was caused by internal or external factors, businesses have the responsibility to look into the complaint and even appease the customer.

Sometimes, the client may also be going through a rough patch and emotions may run high. You and your team must not take things personally and deal with the matter at hand with fairness and an open mind. Below are tips on the actions you can take when dealing with irate customers.

Understand the problem and the customer

In an emotionally-charged situation, it is important to keep everyone calm, especially the customer. First, listen attentively to the complaint and understand the problem. Allow the client to state what the concern is and repeat them to clarify. Ask questions to have a better picture of the scenario. Adjust your mindset and try to look at things from the perspective of the customer so you can sympathise with them. Remember that the consumer may be exasperated or frustrated, so make sure that you ease their minds and let them know that you’re there to help them.

Respond politely and explain thoroughly

No matter how angry a customer is, be polite as much as possible, unless the patron goes beyond the line. Be sincere in your response and state your explanations with composure. While you may have a customer service or staff receiving the complaint or attending to the customer, it may sometimes be helpful to have a manager step in. Be conscious of situations where the business owner has to interfere as it may bring positive results, but may also make matters worse.

Acknowledge any mistake and apologise humbly

Whether it was an unintentional error or a misunderstanding from the part of the customer, offer an apology for the stress the situation may have caused. If a mistake was done from anyone in the company, acknowledge it humbly.

Offer solutions and compensate, if needed

The best way to respond to a complaint is to offer solutions if there are any problem presented. If it’s a damaged product, you might want to send a replacement. There are incidents where a ready solution is in place while there are those where you probably need to discuss internally how to mend an issue or solve the problem. Be ready to compensate, if necessary. Even if it’s not needed, do an act of goodwill by sending over free goods or special benefits to the consumer as a way of making up for the anxiety that may have been experienced due to the situation.

Follow-up and update the customer

If it takes time to resolve the problem, make sure to update the customer of the status of the complaint. Follow-up with the customer if you have brought satisfaction with the way you dealt with the problem. It may even be even helpful to let the customer know if you have instituted changes or improvement within your business that was a result, directly or indirectly, of the circumstance.

In business, one is bound to commit mistakes and misunderstandings are unavoidable. Nevertheless, whenever you encounter disgruntled customers, treat every complaint as important. One tiny error can ruin a lifetime of hardwork. Don’t be afraid to face an angry client. It is better to resolve issues as early as possible, seek ways to mitigate it and review how it can be prevented in the future.

How to pivot a business

During interesting times, such as a global pandemic and an economic crisis, some industries and businesses suffer due to little, no or negative growth. It often happens during normal days as well, when the market does not seem to be enthusiastic about a brand or certain products or offerings. There are several moments when a business hits a plateau or reaches a downward slope. When this occurs, maybe it’s time to revisit your goals and if you need to do a pivot.

Pivoting is an option to save your business from eventual failure. If you do it at the right time and proper strategy, you may be able to even grow your venture. While it may not be easy to do a turn, especially if it’s something that may not be aligned to your core products or services, it is an opportunity to test your flexibility and resourcefulness.

The question is how do you pivot? How do you decide what kind of new offer should you be doing? How do you get out of the mould and institute changes in your business?

Assess your talents and assets

Have an inventory of your assets and talents. Maybe you can use your raw materials and turn them into something else that is unique, affordable and marketable. What are your other skills and talents? You can probably turn a business out of it. If you have hobbies and you are good at them, you can consider creating a business out of those. See how your other resources and talents can respond to a need in society. Some businesses are born out of necessity, while others are built because of ingenuity, generating new interest from the public.

Look at opportunities for new demand

Feel the pulse of your customers and see what keeps them preoccupied or if there’s anything that can make things easier for them. The best way to pivot is to create new demand for your market. Find gaps in society and evaluate how you will be able to fill that gap. Opportunities usually come in areas where there’s most need, so keep your eyes open for them. Some of them may be unrelated to your current offering. Look beyond what you currently have and view the scenario from the eyes of your current and prospective clientele.

Explore the digital world

Take advantage of modern technology. If you can bring your business to the realm of the digital space, you can probably come up with tons of possibilities to pivot your business. Transactions are done faster online, and with the occurrence of the pandemic, more and more industries are turning to the virtual world to deliver the services they can offer.

Innovate your business model or offerings

Is your business model still working? Are your products and services in demand at this time? If the answer to both questions is “no”, then probably it’s time to rethink your strategies and approach. Brainstorm with your team and assess how you can innovate to pivot your venture. You can bring your products a notch higher by innovating or introducing something novel to your clients.

When your business hits a wall, find ways how you can go over or around it. Look into how businesses that have successfully pivoted did it and learn from their best practices. There are many ways to pivot. Be creative. Consider carefully various alternatives and plan your next steps towards achieving your goal.

Data vs gut-feel in decision-making

How do you make decisions for your business? Do you rely on numbers or to your intuition? In this age where information is vast and several tools are available in measuring them, many companies turn to data in helping them come up with plans and strategies for their businesses.

It cannot be denied, however, that there are entrepreneurs who gained resounding success for listening to their business instincts. But with resources, people and many other things on the line, you cannot afford to take a huge risk and decide on something that cannot deliver the expected result.

There are pros and cons when deciding based solely on data available or listening only to what your gut is telling you. The key is a balance of both. There are times when you need to take into consideration one over the other but it is helpful not to discount the other in the process of arriving at a resolution.

Data-gathering may take a lot of time, effort and resources. While numbers can scientifically provide a basis in forecasting what is to happen, there are other factors involved that data cannot fully capture. Since businesses always involve people, emotions and other influences may come into play that data may not be able to completely predict. That’s where gut-feel comes in. Certain decisions have to be made instantaneously and your instinct and hunch can guide you to making a good one. The downside with intuition is that it is more of a hit or miss thing, which can lead to either great achievement or a huge failure.

Numbers may sound cold but logic can provide a greater probability. On the other hand, perception and gut-feel will provide the warmth and may up your chances for success. Here are some instances of how looking at both methods can be advantageous in decision-making.

Spotting trends and patterns

Consumer behaviour can be plotted and measured, which can allow you to see patterns on how trends come and go. Data will provide you with a rationale on how the market moves and allow you to see the next things that may happen. However, how things will unfold cannot be foreseen fully by the numbers. Changes in human habits are unpredictable because people’s feelings are not based on logic. You need to have a good grasp of your market through experience and relationships, which may be able to complete the picture that data can partially provide.

Getting feedback

Surveys are prevalent nowadays, especially with modern technology, as they can be administered online. It’s a good way to get feedback from your clients and prospective customers. But it can only gather limited information as you may not fully know the rationale as to why participants gave such answers. But if you communicate effectively with your market and you interact with them regularly, you will be able to comprehend why they behave in a certain way. Knowing them well will enable you to get their pulse which graphs and pie charts may not be able to entirely provide.

Planning strategies

You can craft your strategies and tactics based on scientific facts. It may save you unnecessary losses as it will help you efficiently match the need and demand of the market rather than taking a shotgun approach and make you overpromise what you can do or underpromise and limit your capability. But there will be times when experience and right judgment may give you a better lead than what data can offer. You can inject some creativity and ingenuity in your strategies based on your gut-feel and good perception.

Putting your faith in your intuition may pose an enormous risk. But going into business is a risk in itself and only those who are courageous can truly achieve success. However, you can take a calculated risk when you back your judgment with data. That will increase your odds towards success.

Letting go of employees

Certain circumstances may cause you to rethink your current organisational line-up and let go of some people in your team. Staff members performing poorly at work, acquisition or merger that may result in redundancy or financial difficulties or disasters that force businesses to downsize. Firing an employee is not always easy and may sometimes be unpleasant.

However, business owners have to face the situation and deal with the difficulties for the good of the company and the people who will remain in your organisation. How do you go about letting go of an employee?  

Check the laws and confer with your HR

Consult with a legal expert or refer to your local labour laws to avoid complications and ensure that everything is done appropriately. If you have a Human Resource department, empower your HR team and let them take the needed actions. Make sure that you process everything by the book.

Review the documents and assess the situation

You need to have a basis for why you need to release someone from his position or spot in your organisational structure. Make a decision that is backed up by data, so make sure that proper documentation is in place.

Plan the transition process

Before you start the ball rolling, plan out how to go about with the process. Do you need to issue a warning first? If the option is clear to fire the employee, have a checklist of what needs to be done and the crucial steps that must be taken to ensure a smooth transition of tasks and responsibilities. Include in your plan on how to avoid or lessen the negative impact of your decision on the business and the team.

Talk privately with the employee

The person concerned may not be able to fully grasp why you have to let him go. To prevent hostile scenarios, speak with the employee in private. Stay on the course and be direct without being antagonistic. There’s no need to sugarcoat things as well, but be diplomatic when you have to explain the whole picture and lay down the next steps.

Carry out changes and adjustments

The next step is to secure your company’s assets and information, which has to be explained thoroughly to the employee leaving your organisation. Also, you need to have alternatives when the position is left vacant to ensure that there is no void in the work you render to your clients and customers. Discuss with your other team members on the next steps to be taken as the employee turns over his responsibilities to the remaining staff.

It is often a sensitive issue to let go of an employee, regardless of the circumstance. The last thing you want is for emotions to run high. Don’t let tension take control of the situation. If a third-party or a consultant is needed to manage this scenario, tap into the expertise of those who the capability to do this. Don’t drag the situation too long and don’t delay the process. Settle things peacefully, learn from the experience and move forward to other important matters in your business.

The 5 C’s of PR Crisis Management

Unforeseen circumstances are not uncommon in any business and industry. You may not fully prepare for it but you can somehow mitigate the ill effects of a crisis if you just know how to handle it. There are many aspects of crisis management. Some may be working directly in the frontline to lessen the problem, others may be looking for a concrete solution, while others may be tasked to face and update the public.

Public relations in times of crisis is often necessary because it is during this period when your audience needs information and some form of assurance from you. But when do you need PR for crisis management? It may be a calamity, labour dispute, product damage, unfavourable situation, business change or any circumstance where it may adversely affect your brand. Here are the five C’s you can note when doing PR during a crisis.

Crisis Management plan

Planning is getting prepared for what’s to happen, even when it is just a probability. Part of it is anticipating the worst-case scenario and putting the safety nets in place before they occur. Gather your team and consults to put together a crisis management plan that will provide a framework of what to do before, during and after a period of disaster or emergency.

While it can be flexible to suit various situations, it should be able to outline the processes or protocols that your organisation must undertake during this circumstance, the structure of the crisis management team including the spokesperson, and probable timeframe. The plan must include training and workshops to equip your team in responding to a crisis.

Checking facts and gathering data

When a problem occurs, the basic action to do is to gather information and check the facts to size up the extent of the catastrophe, the corresponding solution to such predicament, and the resources needed to deliver such solutions. In times of disaster, people will always clamour for data so that they can gauge how the problem is being handled. Update your facts regularly so that you can monitor the progress of your actions.

Coordination with other departments

During times of emergency, it is helpful to have a task force representing the different departments of your organisation for a more coordinated effort in tackling the issue at hand. Some units may be putting the fire from behind the scene while the PR’s task is to face the people and assure them that things are under control. One is needed by the other and no single unit can face a huge task by itself. Teamwork, unity and harmony are vital to overcoming a crisis.

Communication content and messaging

Before facing your audience, be sure to draft the key points that you want to convey. While certain information needs to be protected, be as upfront and straightforward as you can. Wordsmithing and choosing the right words are crucial in communication. Stick to your core messages and communicate them calmly and diplomatically. Brief your task force and the entire team of these messages so that even if they’re not going to face the public, they still know the points and embody them in their work and casual conversations.

Credibility and sincerity

Another important aspect of PR is showing that you are sincere and trustworthy. Be consistent. Make sure that your statements coincide with your organisation’s actions. If you declare that you are distributing goods but people are not seeing them, then it will just result in doubt and suspicion. Maintaining good relations between your business and your market/audience is vital to your company’s survival.

In a crisis, one can either transcend it or fall flat on the ground. However, it’s not just all about you. It is also about your team, your stakeholders, and the countless people you serve, such as your clients or customers, including your prospects. Public relations during a catastrophe is a huge challenge that if it is not handled well it may cause a long-term setback, but if done properly can lead to better results.

Practising hygiene and sanitation at work

With the rise of so many illnesses and the world coming face-to-face with a pandemic, it is high time that we revisit our sanitation and hygiene practices at work, whether you do it from home, from the office or at the field. Nevertheless, it is a must to observe cleanliness at all times to keep you and the people around you healthy and fit and safe from infectious diseases.

As they say, “prevention is better than cure.” Make it your goal to put hygiene and sanitation as an important part of your corporate culture. Start with doing a checklist that you can do and instil with your colleagues and your team.

Come up with a policy on hygiene

Have you laid down some rules on how you and your team should follow sanitation and hygiene in your office? Inculcate strict handwashing, cleaning after working, and wearing clean and safe clothing, depending on your industry and corporate culture. Your policy may provide toiletries or materials to your team, install hygiene signages or reminders around your office or put anti-bacterial sanitizers in designated areas. If you still do not have such a policy in place, discuss it with your team. If you have one, make sure to review it regularly if it is still relevant and updated.

Designate different areas for different activities

Make sure that your office has a pantry, a toilet, and a supplies room. Given that, eat only in the pantry and not on your work desk. Keep food in a clean and safe place. Supply every work station with a trash can and segregate biodegradable from non-biodegradable garbage. Don’t mix dirty items from clean ones.

Equip your toilet and sink with cleaning tools and materials

Your toilet and sink must be clean at all times. Equip it with cleaning tools. Furnish your office with soap, detergent and disinfectant to be used in keeping bacteria and other kinds of germs away from every area of your workplace. Change common washcloths, towels and rugs regularly.

Assign someone to take charge of cleanliness

As your organisation grows, have someone who oversees the cleanliness of your office. If you cannot hire a cleaner, check third-party services that provide such services. Assign someone to regularly monitor the cleanliness of your office. If you work alone or if you are working from home, put cleaning as part of your schedule.

Have a yearly check-up for you and your team

Cleanliness starts with your body. Apart from good hygiene habits, take care of your physique through regular check-ups. Also, if there are vaccinations available, extend such benefit to your team.

Make your workplace bacteria-free and safe for you and your team. Put cleanliness, good hygiene and sanitation as among the top priorities in your corporate culture. It’s for your own safety and that of your organisation. In the end, you will reap the fruits of your endeavours, keeping you healthy and strong.

8 things to do while in isolation

The current global health situation has forced people to stay in their respective quarters, halting many activities around the world. But it is not only during times of quarantine when one has to go into isolation. There are many instances where one has to be on his own, may it be during travels or even to take extreme measures.

However, having some “me” time is something that every entrepreneur must enjoy. It allows business owners to recharge, think things through with clarity and step back to see the bigger picture that is often missed by the mundane day-to-day activities. But what happens when being isolated stretches for a longer period like how it is now?

For one, being away from the office or even your loved ones is not an excuse to cut off any form of communication with your team or family. Modern-day technology allows you to keep in touch with them and still do a lot of work remote and virtually. Nowadays, there are several platforms that you can use for online meetings. The only caveat is when you’re done with work and boredom sets in. What are you going to do? We have listed eight suggested activities to not only keep your preoccupied but also help you grow while you are in isolation.

Finish a book about business

This is a good time to immerse yourself in reading materials that can inspire you and give you life and business lessons. You can start by reading the biographies of successful entrepreneurs and businessmen. Learn some insights and be inspired by women business leaders who penned their books. If you want to brush up on your persuasion and negotiation skills, this list of books may also be a good recommendation.

Complete a jigsaw puzzle or a creative project

Being cooped indoors or away from others can be an opportunity for you to channel your creative energies and express them through a project. With more time in your hands, you can complete a jigsaw puzzle and even learn how to apply the insights from jigsaw puzzles to running a business. You can also get into painting, sketching, lego building or indoor gardening. It will hone your mind to see tiny details and allow you to visualise the big picture. How about checking out some of these hobbies that may sharpen your thoughts?

Do some DIY crafts or carpentry work

If there’s anything that needs fixing in your home or area, you can do some carpentry work or do-it-yourself crafts. You can create small cabinets that you can use in your work area or small useful accessories that you can put on your desk or something for your family and kids. DIY crafts can teach you how to become resourceful and transforming simple items into practical uses.

Watch videos about business or do a movie marathon

It’s time to binge-watch and finish that movie or TV series you’ve been wanting to see. But if you want something that can be close to home when it comes to entrepreneurship, these 10 movies might be helpful. Apart from films, you can also try watching these YouTube channels that are apt for business owners.

Organise your stuff

Go through your files or things and see which ones to keep and throw away. Keep your work area, even at home, always neat and tidy. Organise your documents, both the physical stuff and your digital copies. Sometimes, you’ll find something useful now that you’ve kept hidden for a long time. Check out some Mari Kondo methods and see what you can apply to your home. Check out also other areas of your life that may need to be decluttered.

Learn a foreign language

In our globalised world, learning another new language may be valuable in communicating with other cultures. Some online apps and websites will enable you to take language lessons. Knowledge of a foreign language or more, even just the basic words and phrases, can take you places, literally and figuratively.

Write an article or reflection

Put your thoughts into written words. Later on, you may be able to utilise your writings for your marketing, blog, speeches, podcasts, interviews or avenues where you will be able to share your thoughts and musings. It’s also a good exercise of self-reflection and remembering areas in your life that could be a source of inspiration for others.

Play an online game

Treat that inner child in you through an online game. Give yourself a break and have some fun moments even when you’re by yourself. If you want to nurture that entrepreneurial spirit within you and release your business prowess through a game, consider these online games about starting and growing a business. Who knows, you might just emerge as one of the top players in these games.

Just look around you and there are plenty of things to do. But then again, don’t forget to rest or sleep, which is very important for business owners like you. You’ll never know when you’ll be back in your normal working environment and routine so take your isolation as an opportunity to recharge your body, mind and soul.

An entrepreneur’s daily checklist

The life of an entrepreneur is demanding. It means facing risks, meeting challenges head-on, taking responsibility for lives reliant on you, and dedicating yourself to bring the business forward towards your goals. If you take a look at it, it is not an easy role, but the emotional, financial and social gains of its success are tremendous.

While you keep your eye on the vision, which may be a long-term one, you need to break down your goals into tasks to make them achievable. To do so, a good form of discipline, order and commitment can help you get through your day-to-day undertakings and obligations. Successful entrepreneurs have daily checklists and routines that enable them to manage the tasks on hand while not losing sight of the result.

Here are some of the things that effective business owners do. Of course, you have to tailor-fit your checklist towards your needs and priorities. More importantly, you have to be flexible. You can always adjust your checklist depending on something that suddenly props up or on its relevance to your over-arching goals. But they can be overwhelming sometimes and you may want to get some ideas on what to do daily.

Plan your schedule at least a day ahead

You wake up with a fresh mind if you already have an idea of how to go about your day. The best option is to plan. As they say, “take care of your tomorrow today.” Managing a team or a business effectively starts with managing yourself, which includes your schedules and activities. Visualise how your day will unfold and consider the things which you can control and those you can’t. See if you have any pending or unaccomplished tasks that you have to carry over the next day so that you will be able to tick it off your checklist of to-dos.

Think of what you want to achieve on this day and work around it

What are your top priorities? What do you need to achieve for the day? Is it meeting a sales target, approving new product designs or mentoring your understudy? Whatever big or medium goals you want to accomplish, break them down into doable tasks for the day, such as calling a prospective client or visiting a supplier’s workshop. And think also beyond work. Include your personal goals and those for your family and community.

Reflect and meditate

Always allocate time for reflection or meditation. It may be starting your day with prayer or simply breathing in and out while driving to work. Do something that you find therapeutic. And while you’re at it, reflect about your inner self, on what makes you happy and contented, and of what you want to achieve. 

Nourish yourself and take care of your body

Take good care of yourself so that you can take care of others. As a business owner, you have a team to supervise and lead. Many entrepreneurs are also parents, so they also have to oversee their household’s needs and make sure their family is okay. Be sure that you are physically, mentally and emotionally able. Eat breakfast and don’t skip meals. Exercise or do activities to keep your body fit and healthy. De-stress when you fell burdened or burnt out. Get enough sleep and rest when your body shows signs of tiredness.

Talk to important people in your life

Whether it’s a morning conversation with your loved one, bedtime storytelling with your kids, brief updates from your managers, meeting with your client or one-on-one forum with a fellow EO member, make sure that you allow time to talk with important persons in your lives. They may be family members, colleagues, team members, fellow entrepreneurs, customers or friends who can provide you with valuable insights, inspire you to keep going or encourage you to be the best that you can be.

Clear your inbox

In this digital age, it is also important to keep your gadgets and devices free from clutter. Delete unnecessary files. Make it a habit to clear your inbox regularly. You can either allot a schedule when you can check your emails or set your account to only notify you of urgent messages or from important people.

Clean and arrange your desk

Having a clean environment has a positive effect on one’s mood and mental state. Some people find order amidst the clutter, but it’s still best to have some system and arrangement in place even when your desk may be full of papers and other things. Separate things that need your immediate attention and put them in an area that can easily be seen. During the day, take a few minutes arranging your stuff and throw what needs to be in the wastebasket.

Develop yourself

Listen to a TED talk podcast or read a book. You can enrol yourself in a short class and allot an hour or two for practice or study. Indulge in your hobby or do a creative activity. Always include an item in your to-do list that can contribute to your personal or professional growth and development. It may not be too big or noble. It can be a simple thing that will add value to yourself.

Inspire others

Do something where you can inspire or help others. It may be a simple smile to a person you meet on the street, a tap on your team member’s shoulder, doing a podcast, writing a short sweet note to your life partner or family member, or a pep talk to a community of entrepreneurs. Each one of us can uplift somebody else. Include that in your daily checklist and see how it can do wonders to your day.

There may be days when you may not be able to accomplish a lot of things in your checklist. That is fine. Don’t be too hard on yourself. But if it keeps dragging on, see what causes the slump. Review your list if they are still relevant or if they are truly attainable. And if you need help from people around you, do not hesitate to let them know about it.