Month: March 2020

It’s not an easy time to own a business, manage a company or be in a leadership position. With Coronavirus spreading in the United States, everyone feels the impact. From local businesses to schoolteachers to corporate leaders, no one is exempt. Across the country, there have been shutdowns of restaurants, schools, small businesses and large corporations, and it not clear when everyone will be able to return to a normal life.

Right now, leadership requires an extra measure of patience and compassion. If you are a leader in any capacity, you may have to make arrangements to work remotely and find ways to keep team members employed and busy. You may have to email more, worker harder, think more creatively and keep fighting to stay afloat, possibly for weeks or months. It’s going to be difficult, but that shouldn’t be an excuse for letting negativity take over your mentality.

Compassion is more important than ever. Your employees and team members feel just as confused and uncertain as you do. Be patient when they ask questions and offer reassurance where you can. Provide opportunities to keep working when you can. This is the time to employ both your emotional resources and financial capabilities for the good of those who rely on your leadership. Sometimes, good leadership requires you to put the needs and interests of others ahead of yourself.

Things are going to be more difficult for awhile, and even when we are allowed to return to normal, it may still not quite feel normal. There was never a guarantee that leadership would be easy, but your current situation may feel like more than you bargained for. Keep looking ahead – things will get better, and when they do, your team will be especially thankful for how you lead during this difficult period in history.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Owning your own business can be an exciting adventure. Perhaps you’ve dreamed for years of working for yourself, being your own boss and using your talents to earn an income. While there are many positive aspects to being a solo entrepreneur, it can also be a lonely experience. Working for yourself probably means working alone, and after awhile, loneliness can start to take a toll on your mental health.

As an entrepreneur, you may have to find ways to combat loneliness. If you work on your own every day, one thing that may help is to find places to work outside of your home. Make phone calls at a local park, take your computer to a coffee shop or considering renting co-working space. This allows you get fresh air, be around people and have some social interaction. Even a few minutes of contact each day can make a significant difference in your battle against feeling alone.

Another thing that can help is to establish contact with other solo entrepreneurs. Through social media, you can connect with other people who also work for themselves or work in the same field that you do. Facebook groups and online communities can help you feel connected to others even though you are all far apart.

It is also important for you to foster hobbies and protect your social life outside of work. This is especially crucial if you work by yourself or work from home all day. Allow yourself the time to have a life outside of work and enjoy the richness that comes with strong relationships with friends and families. This is one of the most effective ways to fight loneliness, protect your mental health and allow you to maintain your peace of mind.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

No one likes to hear the word “no.” Whether someone passed over your suggestion or you didn’t get selected for something, it can be painful when you experience rejection. Even if you have thick skin and you aren’t afraid to try again, you may be surprised by the ways that fear of rejection can impact your decision-making and choices. Getting over this fear can help you move forward confidently and stop worrying about failure.

You know that business decisions are rarely personal, but that doesn’t mean you don’t experience the sting of rejection when you hear no. It can be especially painful when you expect a yes or you believe you deserve approval. Taking the personal aspect out of it isn’t easy. One way you can prepare yourself to deal with rejection is to acknowledge that it will probably happen at some point.

When you’re honest with yourself, you can face this possibility head-on and deal with it appropriately if it happens. Once you start to deal with the reality of rejection, you will be able to see the positive aspects of hearing no. It’s no fun to experience rejection, but something better could be around the corner. Use the pain to push yourself forward and keep asking for yes – it will come if you keep fighting for it.

It’s okay to feel disappointed over rejection, but it’s not okay to allow it to define you. One “no” has no bearing on your future, especially if you use it as a learning opportunity. Reframe how you think about rejection, and you will find yourself excited for the opportunity to grow, adjust, learn and look ahead. Rejection isn’t fun, but it’s not something to fear. Don’t let it play a role in how you chase your goals.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Everyone wants comfort. One of the main reasons for your pursuit of success is so that you will have the time, money and resources to enjoy certain benefits, such as nice vacations, a larger home, your dream car and other things. Wanting to be successful is not a bad thing, but it could eventually lead to a place of complacency. This is rarely a positive situation, and you should be wary of growing too comfortable in where your business is, where you are and the level of success you’ve already reached.

One thing that might help is to reconsider your idea of success. When you first started chasing a specific goal, whether it was starting your own business or reaching a specific milestone, you probably weren’t comfortable. After all, your career or your financial stability was on the line. This sense of urgency pushed you forward, giving you the motivation you needed to pursue your dream. Once your business “makes it” or you reach that specific goal, you may be tempted to lay off the gas.

You may have a good profit margin, recognition and other things you consider markers of success, but you can enjoy these things without getting too comfortable. In fact, you may find that you actually thrive when you’re outside of your comfort zone. There can be a certain solace in routine, but it’s important to make sure that your routine is actually helping you accomplish something – not just spin your wheels.

It’s certainly okay to appreciate where you are today, and it’s fine to find a certain comfort in your routine. Just make sure that you aren’t so comfortable that you don’t set new goals and keep pushing for something new and better. Comfort can lead to complacency, which is not somewhere you want to be. So take steps today to make sure you don’t end up there.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC