Meagan Kerlin

Do you hope that you will be successful in your career or entrepreneurial pursuits? Do you have specific goals you want to achieve? If you do, you understand it is not enough to simply hope that your plans work out. You will want to have a success plan in place — a blueprint for how you will meet your goals and the steps you need to take to get there. If fact, when you plan for success, your chances are much more likely that you will actually succeed. Your success plan is a detailed proposal for what you want your business or career to look like in the future.

You don’t want to make a success plan just for the purpose of having a plan. If you’re approaching your plan as something you need to do to mark it off your list, there is no point to it. It’s a plan that includes things you will need to put into practice. It takes commitment, dedication and persistence to make your plan pay off. But you will find that when you work the plan, it will work for you — you just have to trust the process.

Your success plan should be unique to your situation. It can be an outline of bigger goals with smaller goals in between or a detailed plan for what you need to do each day to accomplish your goals. Your success plan is not something that has to be solely dedicated to your business, either — you can include your personal goals as well as your business goals. Your personal life and business life intertwine in so many ways that having one overarching outline may make sense. What is important is that it will work for you and what you hope to accomplish both now and years down the road.

Success doesn’t just happen randomly. You have to plan for it, work for it and commit to it. If you do not have a success plan, you may want to consider the many benefits of having a blueprint that you can follow as you chase your dreams, no matter what they are.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Are you an emotional person? If you are one of those people who always wears their emotions on their sleeves, you understand how sometimes this aspect of your personality can seem out of place in a professional setting. Work is typically not the place where you want to be acting out of pure emotion, but you also want to remain true to yourself. It can be highly beneficial to know how to manage your emotions without compromising who you really are. It’s also possible to stay calm without dampening your emotions, which is an important skill, no matter where you work or what type of job you have.

One of the most difficult times to stay calm is when stressful or unexpected things arise. Your first instinct may be to panic, cry or act rashly, but instead, train yourself to first take a deep breath and then proceed. Acting out of fear, sadness or anger probably won’t get you the results you want anyway. It can help to pause, think about what you want to get out of this situation, consider your options and then move forward with the optimal course of action.

Another way you can manage your emotions in the workplace is to avoid thinking about “what if” scenarios. It does you no good to think about the many ways things can go wrong. This will lead to stress and internalization of negativity, which will in turn lead to emotional reactions in the event that something bad does happen. Instead, focus on the positive aspects of your job and take time to think about the many ways you find fulfillment in your job. This can help you stay calm and avoid stressing needlessly.

Finally, managing your emotions can start with getting a good night’s sleep. When you are tired, you are more likely to act rashly and emotionally. When you are well-rested, you will be better equipped to stay calm and act professionally at work. Having strong emotions can be an asset, but it can prove wise to know how to manage them in any type of work-related setting.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Almost every successful career is built on hard work, consistency and skill. To get where you want to go, you have to commit to hard work that will pay off later down the road. One way you can do this is by developing and honing your skills. Some of the skills you will need are specific to your field and industry, but in many cases, the basic skills necessary for success translate to almost every type of job. When you invest the time to improve and strengthen your abilities now, you will be better prepared to step into your dreamjob down the road.

One of the most basic skills that can benefit anyone is a baseline knowledge of computers and certain computer programs, like Word, Excel and more. It is quite likely that you will have to work with computers in some capacity, and there is benefit in knowing as much as you can about them. Along those lines, it may also be smart to start working on your online marketing capabilities. Thanks to social media, many aspects of customer interaction now happens online. You’ll be ahead of the curve if you already know how to do this when the need arises.

It is also prudent to start working on your problem-solving skills. No matter what you hope your career will look like down the road or what you want to do with your own business in the future, it is almost a certainty that you will face issues and setbacks. Practice your problem-soliving skills now by taking a head-on approach to current challenges and learning from them. Everything you learn now will pay off tremendously down the road, so it’s worthwhile for you to work hard on both basic business skills and things that are more specific to your ultimate career goals.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

There are certain things that are simply not easy or comfortable to talk about. Whether you need to discuss something uncomfortable with a customer, employee or someone else, it’s important for you to know how to navigate these types of conversations. It is possible to learn how to have less-than-comfortable discussions in a way that allows you to communicate your concerns both intentionally and respectfully. You may dread this type of conversation, but with preparation and practice, you don’t have to be afraid of it anymore.

One thing that may help is identifying your purpose for the conversation. When you understand why the conversation has to happen, it can help you understand the best way to proceed. After this, you can start planning for how you want to walk through the course of the conversation. Where will it take place? How will you lead into difficult parts? How do you think the person will react to the conversation? When you think through and mentally prepare for every aspect of the situation, you should be able to have more control over how the discussion plays out.

It is critical as you prepare for an uncomfortable meeting or conversation to think about ways you can also show respect to the other party. It’s possible to say things directly while also maintaining your professionalism. Depending on your purpose for the conversation, you may want to ask questions and try to reach a mutual understanding. Be willing to listen, and be willing to see things from another perspective. You can still communicate your point while showing a certain amount of respect and compassion.

If you are putting off a difficult conversation because you’re dreading the awkwardness, it’s time to learn how to face these situations head-on. These types of discussions won’t magically become easier or better, but you will be more capable of communicating your point and seeking a beneficial outcome to your concerns.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

As a saavy business owner, you understand how important it is to have and maintain a strong social media presence. Building a following can take time and a significant amount of effort, and it’s important to make sure that your social media strategy does not go stale. This can lead to less engagement, fewer people seeing your posts and less return on your efforts. If you feel like you aren’t getting enough bang for your proverbial buck on social media, you may want to consider trying some new things to breathe life back into it.

What you need to do to add some excitement to your social media strategy efforts depends on your goals, needs and what you hope to accomplish out of your Facebook, Instagram and other profiles. While there are many things you can do to improve your presence and boost engagement with your followers, you may want to consider the following:

• If you do not already use videos, you may want to consider it. Videos, even short ones, can lead to great connection with your followers and increase the number of clicks you get. Facebook and other platforms are making it easier than ever to make interesting, engaging videos.
• You may benefit from using stories on Instagram or IGTV. This allows you to talk to your followers, show products, answer questions and much more.
• Use your posts as opportunities to engage with your followers. Ask questions, start polls and do other things that will get people responding to your posts. This starts conversations, and conversations often lead to paying customers.

If your social media strategy feels stale ad boring, you may not be getting everything you can get out of your profiles. Take some time to explore the possibilities and implement some of these free, easy-to-use tools to increase excitement, get people talking and boost your sales.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

One of the most important components of your success is to have the right people on your team. It doesn’t matter what type of business you have or what your goals may be for the future, you will be more likely to achieve success when you are surrounded by people who challenge you, make you better and push you to go further. From CEO’s to entrepreneurs, your success may have more to do having the right team in your corner than a stellar business plan or product idea .

From the initial stages of your company, it’s important to be intentional about the people you have in your core group. These are the people who inspire you, cause you to shoot for bigger and better, and give you honest feedback. They may also be the people who support you, encourage you and pick you back up when things aren’t going as planned. If you need to build a support team based on your business purposes, look for people who are motivated entrepreneurs, who understand what you are experiencing, and who have already achieved what you hope to have one day.

Your dream support team should push you to keep moving forward and chase your goals. Surround yourself with people who can help you get where you need to go and inspire you to keep working hard. In the same way your team will provide invaluable support to you, you will be able to do the same for them. The beauty of working with a team is that no one has to go it alone.

No matter what type of business you have, it is important to have people in your life you can rely on. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or if you run a business that employs dozens of people, you need a support team you can count on to walk with you through challenging times and celebrate with you in successful times.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Starting a business is an exciting and complex process, and there are things you need to think about beyond just deciding what you want your company to do and what your name should be. There are various legal decisions that entrepreneurs will need to make during the formation period and at the initiation of their businesses. The choices you make will impact your business for years to come, and it is in your interests to know how to avoid legal complications and potential financial losses down the road.

Making sure you have appropriate legal protections can help you avoid issues that could ultimately cost your business time and money. One of the most significant ways you can do this is by drafting strong partnership agreements. If you own your company with someone else, it is smart to have a legal contract that outlines the rights and responsibilities of each partner. It could also prove beneficial to have contracts with all of your vendors and even employees to reduce the chance of complications in the future.

Another way you can reduce the possibility of complications down the road is to have contracts with your clients — if it suits your particular type of business. Through these agreements, you can outline the expectations and responsibilities of both parties. For example, a sales contract can include your payment terms, the duration of the contract and more.

Finally, preparation can help you reduce the chance you will experience financial and legal issues at some point. Before you launch your business, you may want to talk to business and legal professionals in order to ensure you have the right documents and other protections you need before moving forward. If you already have your business up and running, it is not too late to consider what legal steps may prove invaluable to your continued success.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Every professional struggles with feelings of exhaustion at some point. However, there is a point where exhaustion turns into a feeling of complete apathy and discontent. This is burnout, and it can significantly impact your future. Burnout is a real threat to the longevity and continued success of your business, and it’s worthwhile to know how to prevent it. While you will probably feel exhausted from time to time, you will find it beneficial to know how to protect yourself from stepping over the line into complete burnout. For some, this is the point of no return.

Some people take pride in overworking. There is a certain perception that in order to truly pursue success, a person has to be available at all hours to take calls, respond to emails and strategize for the next steps to take. Not only is that completely untrue, it can be physically, emotionally and mentally unhealthy. For the sake of your mind and body, develop a schedule that allows you to balance your personal life and your work life. Taking breaks, spending time with family, watching your kids soccers games — these are all good things for which you should make time.

There will be periods where you will be extremely busy. This is normal, but be wary about allowing them to stretch longer and longer until you find yourself in a lifestyle where you are always tired, always on the run and always working. This is a recipe for burnout. Teetering on the verge of complete burnout won’t help you be more successful. You will be a better, more competent version of yourself when you are not sleep deprived and constantly thinking about work.

Balance is the key to avoiding the burnout stage. Find ways to invite more balance into your life, and be intentional about carving out ways to practice self-care and get rest. Ultimately, these will make you a better entrepreneur, professional, leader, parent, friend and much more.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC