August 4, 2011
OPEN Forum Message
Affordably Build Your Brand
FedEx Global Brand Management Director Monica Skipper shares a cost-effective way to build a bigger brand for your small business.
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For the past few weeks, I’ve been using a sleep mask as, lately, the bedroom light is on longer. The mask keeps light from my eyes, since even when our eyes are closed light seeps through our eye lids. It has been amazing for my sleep. A secondary benefit to the mask is that, in the wee hours of the morning, when the light comes through my windows, I don’t see it and I don’t wake up. My sleep is quite peaceful and undisturbed until my alarm clocks go off.
I found that I need an eye mask for my business as well. Why?
Business owners are often so busy running their businesses they do not carve out time to think and focus. This time brings clarity to the mind, gives room for new ideas and helps you solve problems. You’ll find that many senior executives who are at the peaks of their careers all have one thing in common. They carve out time to think—this might be daily, weekly, monthly or yearly.
Small business owners must do the same thing. We must create space in our agendas to not write e-mails, not take phone calls, but simply think, maybe read a few good books, write notes and strategize about our lives, companies and families. Here are six reasons you need to give yourself time to think.
1. Time to think about your employees
How often have you taken the time to review and think about the employees you are working with? Many of us don’t have salaried (or hourly) employees, but do work with consultants, often on a full-time basis, who are helping us build our companies. Have you taken the time to consider what they are doing, how you could use them more, who needs to be given more responsibility and who needs to be let go?
2. Time to think about clients
So often we get busy selling that we don’t take the time to stop and nurture relationships with clients or customers. Putting on a business eye mask gives us time to think about those special customers who are most profitable to our business and think of how to pay special attention to them. Maybe even just take a walk to the post office and send a few thank you cards.
3. Time to think about your company’s growth
Like many of you I run a small business. If I spend all my time running my business, there won’t be any time to grow the business. It’s important that you take time, maybe a few times per year to evaluate the growth of your company, where it’s been, where it’s going and how to get there. Think about what has worked and what has not worked and how to strategically move forward.
4. Time to think of new ideas
I produce a lot of events, but what I enjoy most is going to other great events and not only learning from the speakers and panels but also taking away the great things they’ve done and applying it to my own events. I also read not just about technology but other publications not directly related to the small biz, tech, geek world I live in.
5. Speaking with other growing businesses
On a regular basis I meet with many business professionals. Some business owners want my help and to help them grow. Others are my peers, as it were, and we help each other out. Then there are others whose help I want and have advice to help me grow. Make sure you carve out time for all three types of meetings—especially the latter two.
6. How to create digital business eye masks
One of the easiest things you can do to ensure you carve out time for yourself is to ensure you have no computer or smartphone with you when you take time to think. If it’s only for an hour or two, you don’t need your phone. If you’re getting away for a few days it’s OK to get on your computer for a few hours a day and to take your phone with you. But be disciplined and spend your time thinking and reading—not updating your Twitter account.
Check your balance, review recent transactions and pay your bill on the go.
