Research shows that there are ten basic strategies that people consider most effective in dealing with the obstacles or challenges that come their way.

 

1. Set Goals. Make them explicit, something that can be achieved in the near future, challenging and attainable.
2. Write the goals down.
3. Make each goal build on the past. You should be able to see a progression.
4. Offer yourself a small reward. Pat yourself on the back whenever you score yourself a victory on the way toward your goal.
5. Social support. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and support your goals.
6. Orchestrate the environment. Make sure you have all the required equipment and have arranged your schedule so you are able to perform the necessary tasks.  This might also include observing others whose achievements inspire you.
7. Start with a non-competitive situation. Challenge yourself first. After you have met your personal goal, you can pit yourself against others, if you desire.
8. Monitor your progress. Periodically check to see if you are moving in the right direction, closer to your goal.
9. Adjust your approach. If, after monitoring your progress, you find that you have veered away from your goal, change your course. Numbers 8 and 9 may have to be repeated several times before you achieve your ultimate goal.
10. Make these steps a habit. Then each time you have a new goal, you will automatically be able to repeat these ten steps.

 

Here are some simple ways to tackle worries on a day-to-day basis to help lessen tension and allow you to get on with your life.

Question It –Is it really your problem?

Talk It Out – Share your problem with someone you trust.

Write It Down – Putting on paper helps you to see things in perspective.

Distance It – Imagine a few years from now.How much will it matter then?

Exaggerate It – Picture the worst that could really happen.How likely is it?

Attack It - Take the first steps to solving the problem.

Breathe it Away – Inhale deeply, exhale with a sigh a few times.Let your tensions go as you breathe out.

1. Not knowing what to expect
2. Dismissing ‘turbulence’ as growing pains
3. Thinking you know it all
4. Being oblivious to how other people perceive you
5. Forgetting the importance of marketing data
6. Not focusing on strategy
7. Not communicating your vision and values and plan
8. Not hiring people who fit the values and culture of the company
9. Not making tough decisions regarding people and strategies
10. Not changing your own leadership style through different stages of business growth

1. Create expectations: Tell people up front what is expected of them.

2. Set a stretch challenge: Make people grow and coach them along the way.

3. Never move too slowly on critical personnel decisions: Dragging your feet here will really hurt your business.

4. Involve people in both DEVELOPING and IMPLEMENTING strategy: Too much tops down brings the top down.

5. Call a spade a spade: Address poor performance or it'll cost you - BIG.

6. Reward your stars!: Pay good performers what they're worth, and it will be returned to you tenfold.

7. Get the right person for the job: Define the job and find the person who can do it rather than redefining the job to fit the capabilities of the incumbent.

8. Require that people do their homework: When people are not prepared for meetings, the company is not prepared to make decisions.

9. Constantly upgrade skills: Provide continuous training to keep people at their best.

10. Recognise that pride drives performance more than money: Compliment people for a job well done.

Running a business is about identifying gaps between where we need to be and where we are, and the disciplined closing of those gaps.

That's how you produce results.

- Carly Fiorina, former CEO of HP

1. Get a real phone system.
Buy or lease the best system or service you can justify. At very least, you need more than one phone line. Nothing spells 'amateur' like having to say, 'Call me before you send a fax.'
2. Polish your presentation.
Whether it's a web site or your business cards, your message should be polished and professional. Don’t use web sites and printed materials created with cheap template programs. This is a job for pros.
3. Use technology.
Stay organised with the help of Palm Pilots and use service providers.
4. Register as a company.
"YourBiz Ltd" carries more weight than simply "YourBiz."
5. The right address is everything.
If you have an address that sounds professional, use it. If, however, you live on Pleasant Hill Road or Periwinkle Lane, you might want to consider renting a post office box or a box at a mailing service company. In any situation, consider adding a suite number.
6. Use the royal 'we.'
Always use "we" when referring to yourself in discussions with your clients or prospects.
7. Meet on their turf.
Unless your space offers some unique advantage for a meeting, don't meet clients at your office. Go to them, or borrow space at an office to meet.
8. Accept credit cards.
People don't expect that from a sole proprietor. Besides, if you're doing business on the internet, you're dead in the water if you don't.
9. Consider a toll-free number.
It says you want people to inquire about your company, to the extent you'll pay for the inquiry.
10. Exceed expectations.
Answer their questions before the question is even asked. Make sure each experience is a positive one and one they can pass along to their friends.

The following questions may help you to find your strengths and identify profitable niches;

• What makes me different from my competitors?
• If I ceased to exist, why would my customers miss me?
• What do customers ask for that I don't have?
• What need do I fill that no one else in the market fills?
• What need could I fill for my customers if I wanted to?
• Have I segmented my market precisely enough?
• Who are my best customers? Why? What needs of theirs do I fill?
• Do customers buy my whole line of products and services? What part of the line is most popular? Most profitable?
• Where are the customers I want to capture?

1. Tell me about yourself
2. Where do you expect to be in five years?
3. What do you know about our organisation?
4. What do you look for in a job?
5. Why are you leaving your present position?
6. What did you like most about your last job? Least?
7. What have been your most important career accomplishments?
8. What are your strengths? Weaknesses?
9. Describe a typical day in your job.
10.Why should we hire you?

58% of people have never read a non-fiction book after they left school…if you read for half an hour a day, you’d read over 40 books a year which would make you an expert on your topic of business, relationships or health.

 

 

1: 20 minutes of planning saves an hour of execution
2: List everything you need to do today - in order of priority
3: For each paper that crosses your desk; act on it, file it or toss it
4: Schedule time each day to read and respond to email messages
5: Slice up big projects into 'bite-size pieces'
6: Plan your meeting agenda in advance - cuts meeting time in half
7: When leaving a message on voice mail, say your phone number twice - clearly and slowly
8: When you estimate time for a project, add about one-third to cover unforeseen glitches
9: Schedule blocks of open time to recharge your batteries
10: Use your diary system to manage your busy life at work and at home.

These simple thoughts may help you cope with the challenges of owning your own business.

1. If you use what you have, you'll have what you need.
2. Before buying anything, ask yourself: Do I really need this? Can I buy it used, borrow or lease it?
3. Every day, tell yourself, I can't do it all, and get some help.
4. No matter how busy you are, take a break for lunch. If you don't want to eat a big meal, take a walk or a nap.
5. Every day, see your business as others see it. Walk out of the office and walk back in again through the front door.
6. Thank everyone you work with, every day. Thank your employees, vendors, clients and customers.
7. Use first names when appropriate. People like to be recognised.
8. At the end of every day, praise yourself for what you have accomplished.
9. At the end of the day, forgive yourself for all your mistakes.
10. Make a list of what you need to do tomorrow and get a full night's sleep.
By Jane Applegate

Complete the following sentences by writing down your responses on a blank piece of paper.

1. The people I view as successful are...

2.  I feel successful when I...

3. My symbols of success are...

4. I will feel like a success when I...

5. If I were to write my ideal obituary based on the fact that was life was a success; it would read like this...

From: If success is a game, these are the rules, by Cherie Carter-Scott

 

- Know your values, your strengths and weaknesses

- Seek feedback

- Be proactive

- Be an organisation builder

- Hire and leverage awesome people

- Never stop learning

- Develop leadership skills

"My vision for Virgin has never been rigid and changes constantly, like the company itself. I have always lived my life by making lists: lists of people to call, lists of ideas, lists of companies to set up, lists of people who can make things happen. Each day I work through these lists, and it is that sequence of calls which propels me forward. Back in the early 1970s I spent my time juggling different banks and suppliers and creditors in order to play one off against the other and stay solvent. I'm still living that same way, but I'm now juggling bigger deals instead of banks. Once again it is only a matter of scale."

- Richard Branson in 'Losing My Virginity; the autobiography'.

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.

Concerning acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans. It is this: That the moment one definitely commits oneself then providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred.

A whole stream of events issue from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no one could have dreamt would come their way.

- AH Murray

- Duvet or doona days for those days when a member of your team just can't face the office and wants to stay in bed.

- 'To don't' lists. Review your calendar and consider what might have been eliminated and consider what can be eliminated over the next few days and weeks. It's all about focus.

- Spending an afternoon in a café, by yourself, reflecting on your business or career and on where you are and where you want to be.

- Sending your team out to experience the competition's products or services

- Having a crisis management plan - for when the unexpected happens to your business or to your customers.

- Developing or mentoring someone

- Kicking everyone out of the office before six so they have a life out of work