Meagan Kerlin

Many entrepreneurs find success due to their extremely creative ideas and unique ways to meet needs, provide services or introduce a new product. In fact, your creativity may play a significant role in maintaining your edge and keeping your company moving forward. For this reason, it can be both frustrating and a little frightening to find yourself in a place where you are in a creative slump. This happens, even for the most innovative minds, but there are ways you can boost your creative thinking once again.

One of the simplest ways to restart your creative thinking is to revisit old ideas. Not every idea will work out, but that does not mean there isn’t a useful place for it in the future. If you have a journal or notebook as a way to jot down your ideas and thoughts, go back through it from time to time and mull over possibilities that you may have overlooked. Old ideas don’t necessarily mean bad ideas — with some new perspective and fresh thinking, an old idea can be a great way to jumpstart an exciting new phase for your business.

Another way you can jumpstart your creativity is to discuss your current plans and ideas with others. For many creative minds, simply talking through things and listening to someone else is enough to spark an idea that will set the ball rolling again. In some cases, it may be necessary to get away to find your creative edge again. Take a vacation, read a new book, try something new — you never know when inspiration will strike.

You can’t guess or assume you know what it will be that will reignite your thinking and jumpstart your creativity again. When you find yourself in a period where you don’t feel inspired, motivated or excited about what is ahead, keep working until your creative thinking is going again. Your unique perspective and exciting ideas are what set your company apart, and there are more positive things to come!

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Every entrepreneur will make a mistake at some point. Missteps and errors are simply a part of life, and in the business world, learning from these mistakes could either make or break you. In some cases, you could be making a serious mistake and not even know you are committing errors that could irreparably impact your company. Perceptive business owners strive to grow continually, which could mean taking stock of your entire operations and finding out if you are committing any of the most common business mistakes.

Potential problems and errors come in all shapes and sizes. Some of the most serious errors may seem relatively minor, or you may find that you have allowed yourself to slide into complacency, which is a problem in itself as well as a source of a multitude of potential problems. It’s beneficial to evaluate yourself and your company, eliminating any problems that could harm your business. Common business mistakes include the following:

• Partnering with the wrong people, suppliers or employees
• Losing sight of your original objective and the reason you started your company
• Refusing to delegate and allow your employees to grow and succeed
• Falling out of the habit of personal development and self-improvement
• Quitting before you have a chance to evolve, grow and move forward

If you or your business makes a mistake, it is not the end of the world. Mistakes do not have to define you or determine your success in business, but your reaction to the mistake could. The most successful entrepreneurs do not shy away from missteps — they identify them, learn from them and find ways to avoid the same ones in the future. Even the most simple and common business mistakes can derail a company, but you can take steps to ensure that no preventable problem, big or small, will stand between you and your goals.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Customer feedback and criticism is one of the most effective ways to identify the areas you need to improve. When running a business, it’s easy to develop tunnel vision. No matter how focused you are, it’s beneficial to occasionally take the time to stop, listen to customers and make improvements.

Criticism and negative feedback happens, no matter what level of success you reach or how streamlined your operations may be. By taking your customers seriously and using the feedback you receive as a way to grow and improve, you’ll earn the respect and loyalty of your previous customers. In order to build a customer-centered business dedicated to satisfaction and service, you must give credence to the issues that your clients bring up. Criticism is not an affront to you or a slight on your business — it’s a chance to listen and improve.

One way for you to get feedback you can use for the benefit of your company is to ask for it. Some business owners are hesitant to ask for input, believing it will open the door for criticism and unnecessary complaints, but in reality, it’s an invaluable resource and learning opportunity. People want to be heard, and by asking for their opinions and critiques, you are essentially telling your customers their voices are heard and their patronage is valued.

It’s never a fun experience to hear criticism. Of course, there are times when criticism is unwarranted, but often, at the root of a complaint or negative feedback is an issue that needs to be addressed. It might sting, but don’t take it personally — take that complaint, identify the root issue and then strive to implement the changes necessary to improve your customer experience. When you listen well to all forms and types of feedback, you can start important conversations with your customers.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Two of the defining characteristics of many successful businesses are efficiency and organization. Companies with streamlined and highly organized operations tend to serve customers well and avoid certain types of costly disruptions. As a business owner, it is sometimes necessary to evaluate your company as a whole and identify areas where inefficient operations could be damaging your bottom line. Sometimes, implementing a few simple practices can help you be more efficient across multiple areas of your company.

One of the most obvious ways that inefficient operations can negatively impact your company is in moments when a crisis or unexpected situation arises. You should never wait for a crisis to happen before you start planning for one — plan ahead for contingencies and you will save yourself and your company stress, time and money. Whether it is a financial emergency, personnel crisis or simply having a plan in case you need time away for illness, family needs or other reason, failing to have backup plans in place can cause a significant disruption in operations. Customers and clients can always tell when a company is in disarray, and it can ultimately hurt your revenue.

Another way you can rid your company of inefficient operations is to stop attempting to do everything yourself. Every small business owner feels the temptation to simply do things themselves, and you may think this is the best way to make sure things get done and get done the right way. However, it can actually increase efficiency and allow members of your team to thrive by delegating responsibilities, investing in their leadership and trusting their skills.

Finally, one source of inefficient operations that could be impacting your company are time-wasters — meetings that are too long, cumbersome paperwork procedures and other ways you may actually be costing yourself and your employees valuable time. In order for customers and clients to see an organized and efficient business, it has to be organized and efficient behind the scenes.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

As an entrepreneur, one of the most valuable assets you have is your time. It is something you can never get more of no matter how successful you are, and using it wisely is critical. You understand the importance of time management, and one step toward this is to eliminate things that waste your time and implement timesavers as much as possible. Taking shortcuts is not always good, but you can still strive for excellence and do good work by being smart with your time.

One of the most important timesavers is to eliminate improvisation in your daily life. Make plans, keep a schedule and try to be organized. Disorganization and flying by the seat of your pants can waste a significant amount of time and effort. You can reclaim a large portion of your time simply by making the effort to plan well. Even scheduling things such as an hour to check email can go a long way to saving more time.

As you work on ways to implement timesavers in your day, think of other things that could be wasting your time in ways that you may not even realize. Unnecessary meetings are a huge waste of time, especially when you can communicate important information in other effective formats. Additionally, it can be extremely useful and effective to delegate certain tasks when possible. With intention and an honest evaluation of how you currently use your time, you can find ways to make a better use of the hours in your day.

Ask yourself about ways you could be losing time, even in ways you may not initially realize. Evaluate your current situation, and find ways to use timesavers to your benefit. You cannot add more hours to your day, but you can do things to make a better use of the time you do have.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Everyone makes mistakes — it’s inevitable. You will not be perfect, so instead of pretending you are or ignoring your mistakes, it’s always better to own up to missteps and try to address issues honestly. In fact, owning up to your mistakes is one of the most effective ways to grow, improve and foster strong relationships with others. It’s smart for both your personal life and your professional life to understand the right way to own mistakes, address problems and move forward.

One of the most important things to do after realizing you made a mistake is to remain calm. Panic can lead to hasty, ill-contrived apologies, poorly constructed solutions and even more mistakes. Take a deep breath, stay calm and think clearly and calmly about the most appropriate thing to do next. After you have had a second to take a deep breath, you can develop a plan that will help you address the mistake and fix the problem. It is always better to be thoughtful and intentional when attempting to address errors.

Once you know the best way to address the problem, do not lose any more time. Address issues promptly before there is time for hard feelings to develop and additional problems to arise. After you have done the right thing, take time to reflect on what happened, how you could have avoided the issue and how to do better going forward. Without reflection and honest evaluation, you may repeat the same mistake in the future.

After taking all of the steps necessary to owing up to your mistakes, the last thing you have to do is move on. The great thing about mistakes is that while they provide great opportunity for growth, you are not defined by them. You have to give yourself permission to move on, put the past behind you and strive for excellence going forward.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

One of the factors that could make a significant difference for your business is the strength of your relationships with the people you work with. Whether you own the business or you simply work for a business, it is always a good thing to attempt to build strong connections — it makes you a better boss, better employee and it leads to a better experience for customers. There are simple ways for you to develop and foster better relationships, and making this effort can lead to improvements for various aspects of your operations.

One of the most effective ways for you to build better relationships at work is to not be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Not only does this allow you to work closely with others, it allows people to see your vulnerability. Letting people know you want to do a good job and improve yourself will earn respect and lay the foundation for better connections with others. In the same way, allow others the freedom to ask for help and support when needed — then freely and gladly give it.

A key factor to building strong relationships is to avoid a tendency for perfectionism. Striving to be perfect only leads to frustration — perfect is an illusion. Instead, strive for excellence, improvement and growth. People do not really relate to those more focused on perfection instead of improvement. If you want better relationships, stop expecting people to be perfect. Give people the freedom to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes, including yourself.

While it sounds overly simple, treating others the way you wish to be treated is a great way to make sure you have better relationships with the people who work for you or with you. In the pursuit of success, do not forget the power and benefit of investing in people and treating others well.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

In the United States, thousands of small businesses are launched every year; however, only a few of them are truly successful long-term. It’s not easy to jump into entrepreneurship, no matter the type of business you are attempting to create and run. It’s always prudent to have a proverbial parachute packed before you take the leap. Having a smart back plan in place for supporting yourself through the initial stages of launching a business is greatly beneficial, as is having other contingency plans in place.

While you can never truly predict the future, there are steps you can take to give yourself some measure of security before you begin. As part of your “small business parachute”, you should have a strong business plan. There is much more involved with a successful business besides just having a good idea and opening up shop. Take the time to draft a thoughtful and thorough business plan — this will give your operation vision, direction and focus.

Another thing you may need in your “parachute” or contingency plan is a financial fallback strategy. Especially in the beginning stages, it can be difficult to turn a profit. You may find it helpful to have a plan for navigating the tough initial phases of a start-up. This could mean working another part-time job, raising capital or having another way to generate an income stream for you and your family.

Planning and careful consideration of your potential needs and goals will provide you with security and confidence for the future. As you walk through the often-difficult first stages of starting a business, it’s smart to have a safety net. Entrepreneurs can face many challenges, but the payoff can be well worth the effort. If you want to take the leap into the world of small business, pack your parachute before you take the leap.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC