#bossLadyBlooms

Any one with a small business looks forward to the day that your dreams become reality and your small business takes off and becomes your number one source of income. The ultimate goal of being your own boss can happen and can be rewarding, if you have these four things in place.

COURAGE and Discipline

Not having the safety net of a traditional job, can be scary, and make the transition from employee to owner worrisome. Stepping out to be your own boss takes courage, as well as discipline. More often than not, if you have the courage to start, own and operate your own business, than you already have the courage to take this grand step.

Discipline, on the other hand, may take some practice. As an employee with a side hustle, we tend to be more laxed with working on our own business because we have the security of having a steady paycheck. When you are the owner, you have to be disciplined to handle your business, well, like a business.

Have set open and closing times and stick to them; opening late or closing early may cause you to miss customers and lose money. This, as well as proper customer service and providing your product or service as promised, are disciplines a small business owner can not waiver.

Having an emergency fund

Without the security of a steady paycheck, when you decide to stop being an employee to be your own boss, you will need emergency money. Unforeseen things can and will happen, and having a few extra dollars in place for just those types of things can make a big difference. Have an emergency fund specifically for your business. You don’t want to empty your personal savings, for a business emergency.

Have a plan

Have a plan in place well before your exit to business ownership. Talk to your current customers, let them know you will be working independently now. Have a grand opening that lets people know that you are in full time business now. Have a plan to market your self as a small business owner open for full time business. Be willing to be flexible, but firm. Now that you are a full time business, you will deal with people on a full time basis, and some may come with demands and bad attitudes, plan to deal with that in a professional manner.

Have a back up plan

Have a back up plan. Your business may not come out the gate making tens of thousands of dollars the first few months that you are in full time business, but that’s not reason to throw in the towel. A back up plan may include, doing a revamp on your budget, to limit the amount of out going expenses. A back up plan may also include not hiring extra full time staff until profits are better.

Even if your back up plan includes getting a part time job, don’t let that deter you from building, owning and operating the small business of your dreams.

GO FOT IT!!

You have a small business, an emergency fund, a plan and a back up plan. Now just go for it! Its going to be scary, its going to take courage and discipline, but its going to be worth it.

All the best in your business.

https://amzn.to/3icAiqK

Things that may make a small business owner’s life easier

As a small business owner, the more convenient things are, the better. Simple day to day task that can be made easier will allow for more time to be spent doing the important stuff.

I wanted to share with you two of my latest discoveries…two things I found to make my life a lot easier.

The first, is GROCERY STORE DELIVERY! yes…I have discovered this wonderful luxury and added it to my new lifestyle, as a small business owner.

Next…is something I hardly ever do. I never endorse a product of any kind but this I absolutely have to…. I love Cascade max dishwasher pacs!

Now you may be used to using grocery store delivery, I don’t know where you live, you can tell me that in the comments… and you may be used to having sparkling clean dishes; weather you use what I use or not! Its new to me and it makes my life a little bit better! I almost felt like I moved up a lifestyle grade.

Encouragement for business owners

I just want to encourage you to do what makes you feel good. Enjoy your entrepreneurial life .. love yourself…love someone else… enjoy THIS life. Yes, we are still reeling from a global pandemic (so please remember to wash your hands, use your mask and practice social distancing)… but call somebody and check on them, call somebody and tell them you love them, call somebody and tell them you miss them. Stay connected as your move forward, the support is beneficial.

Treat yourself

Some times working for yourself gets exhausting, remember to treat yourself on occasion, by doing things that you enjoy. Go read a good book or order some gourmet cookies, have them delivered and eat every single one of them.

Be careful of how you think, your thoughts have consequences, keep your thoughts positive because you’re the only one who hears what’s going on in your head. If you always think about what’s going on with your business, you may be wearing yourself thin needlessly. Every single second doesn’t have to be devoted to think about your business. Enjoy the freedom that you get with owning your own business and by all means love on yourself; and when you get a chance, spoil yourself a little!

Leave me a short note in the comments, like and share! Until next time…# boss lady out!

Wishing you all the best in your small business.

Genuine Kindness has almost become a thing of the past. Nowadays, if someone does something kind for someone they want to make a video or take a picture of it just to make sure the world knows what they did. This morning I had the “pleasure” of making my first video for my RBT class …after 32(literally) takes and four wardrobe changes..lol…I finally made something I felt “pretty ok” about sharing publicly. The KIND person who helped me do this new thing, was so incredibly patient with me and so encouraging; however she didn’t want me to thank her publicly or even acknowledge her in the video….’I didn’t do this for a thank you, I did it cas I love you”…”and you bet not cry and look crazy in the video” were her words to me as we hit our finally product. This is what’s needed more in the world, mine I know, maybe your world as well. Kindness is free, sharable and a lifestyle. #BeKind #video #NoCrying #LoveU #andOthers #checkOutMyVideo 😃😃
https://youtube.com/channel/UCf1yJqGkF_0Z2A0fSBgeo5Q

Seeking Clarity as you Start your Small Business.

As you set out to turn that idea in the back of your mind into a profitable business, its safe to make sure you have clarity on important things.

First, what do you want to do? Meaning, what kind of business do you want to start? Do you want to offer a service or a product. Start by deciding what problem will your business solve. Most people, including impulse buyers, buy things to solve a problem. We buy food when we are hungry, we buy a bigger shoe if our old ones hurt, we buy a rake to clean the leaves and debris from the yard. Narrowing down, or getting clear on what problem you business will solve is the beginning step.

Next, as you start your small business, you must be clear on your expertise. Are you good at making the product or can you actually do the service that you plan to start a business with. But even if you are not an expert, are you willing to do the research, attend classes that will better your business.

Clarity on Running a small business

Now that you have a a solid working start to your business, let discuss getting and keeping things clear as you run your business, the day to day operations.

Are you clear on your target customer or client? Exactly wo will be buying from you. Finding and promoting your business is the most important skill in running any business. You don’t want to waste time or energy, dealing with people that are not your potential customer and will not promote you to others.

Setting legitimate boundaries in your business. Nowadays, most small business are run from home, so making clear boundaries is essential.

1. Have set start and stop times. Be clear on what time you will start working and what time you will stop. The freedom of working from home, can lead to exhaustion and burn out. If you work a typical 9 to 5 job, you come in at 9 and go home at 5. Make the same distinction at home.
2. Responding to clients. If you answer calls from clients at all hours on the day and night, they will continue to call at all hours of the day and nigh and will expect you to answer and have a pleasant conversation. Make it clear what times you will answer phone calls, if you don’t want to respond to calls after 5pm, stop answering the phone after 5pm. The same can be said of emails. If you wake up at 3am and respond to an email, clients will think its ok to email you at 3am.
3. Set your prices and stand by them. It works both ways with prices, people feel they can throw money at you and “encourage” you to change something in their favor, that is not a good business practice to start. If you allow this to happen it will continue. Don’t reduce your prices to accommodate anyone’s budget!! People do not haggle at Walmart, or Target or any other stores, they pay the price as marked; and they will do the same for you if you stand firm in your pricing.

Gaining Clarity to Expand or Grow your Business.

With your business running successfully, clients coming in and you are making a profit. Now comes the time to expand and grow.

1. Hiring employees. As your business grows, it may come a time when you are not able to be all things in your business, this is a good problem to have. but hiring employees can be a process. Be clear on who you want to hire. Ask questions, take much consideration into the response. Be mindful of putting your business in the hands of someone who may not be committed.
2. Adding more products to your inventory, can be a way you want to grow your business. Be clear on what you want to add. How will it help you business, how will you market the new with your existing products. The same with services. Are your prepare to do expand on your service, do you have the manpower to do the physical work required. Do you need to educate yourself on the expanding service?
3. Once you are clear on expanding your business, how will you advertise to a larger audience to market your new service or product. Current customers should be your first stop. You already have their attention and if they are repeat customers, they are the perfect people to market a new product or service to first.

Final Thoughts on Business Clarity

Having a clear vision and plan before starting your business is key to having a profitable business. Continue to seek clarity as you run your business, dont be afraid to set and keep legitimate boundaries. As you expand your business, stay focused and keep a clear mind of where you want your business to go.

As I was starting my business, I did my research before I even came out of the gate. Below are some books that helped me gain clarity as I brought my ideas and dreams into reality. (affiliate ad).

This is a revamp of a post I first wrote in 2019.(pre pandemic)  I wasn’t sure what I was doing, at the time, in the blogging world and I most definitely didn’t know what I was going in the world of business.  What I did know is what I wanted to happen.   Since then so many things that I wrote have come to reality, it sincerely makes me appreciate the realness of setting intentions.

Future BCBA(originally posted in 2019)

WoW!!!    Its official!! I am in my third week of classes for my Board Certified Behavior Analyst certification.  I feel excited and nervous at the same time.  The next three years will be extremely busy for me, so taking care of myself will have to be a priority.  I became aware over the last two weeks that things move quickly and if I’m not careful I can become overwhelmed.

As I set the goals to finish my certification,  start my business, among other things, I have to KEEP the goal to continue keeping my mind and body healthy and say NO to things and people that I may need to say no to.

I love my yoga class and I will definitely keep making it a priority on Tuesdays and Thursday. It is a chance for me to regroup and quiet my mind and body.

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What is your go to for relaxing and keeping a healthy mind and body?

Do you have a favorite ritual or  quiet place to regroup?

Have you set goals that may cause you to be busier than normal? Please don’t move self care to the middle or bottom of your to-do list.  Keep yourself at the top.  Go easy on yourself and make yourself your #1 priority.

Love Yourself.  Set Your Goals. Live Your Life.

#bossladyOUT!

This original post was written before I had a Facebook business page as well; you can check it out here.

I’m so proud if my accomplishments!!

In last weeks blog post, we discussed common ways to bring more attention to your business and hopefully find more customers. We continue on this topic, but with more unique ways that may also be helpful in marketing your small business.

YOUTUBE

YouTube may not be unique, by any means, but using it to grow a small business cliental can be. Making quality videos to promote your business takes skill and patience. Yes some people may feel like making a video is simple just point and click record, but by doing that are you making something a customer would want to see? Will they choose to do business with your from it. YouTube can be beneficial in marketing your business if done correctly. Decide what do you want to show your customers, but just a video showing products will hardly do. What do you say to get a potential customers attention. Making client grabbing interesting videos on YouTube can be a great way to attract people to your business. Here is a look at the YouTube channel for BossLadyBlooms:RBT Exam Tutoring. It was just recently started but is growing a significant following so far, that has led to sells. YouTube marketing services are another way to use YouTube to help grow your business. The Family Table is a unique small business that uses YouTube to advertise.

EBOOKS

Several small businesses have started including ebooks as a way to advertise their business. If you are not familiar with this term, an ebook is an electronic book, a book publication in digital form. According to thinkmaverick, ebooks are an excellent way to advertise you business. If written correctly, an ebook can help establish you and your business as an expert in that field. You can use an ebook as a lead magnet to help grow or establish an email list.

Ebooks can be easy to create starting with a pdf. There are several ebook templates that can be helpful in creating your ebook from start to finish. Amazon Kindle is a useful way to publish your ebook once its complete. Adding audio to your ebook can be valuable as well.

I recently used my ebook, as a give away to my email list. Although it was written as a class project in 2016, it has been an asset to my RBT tutoring business.

Networking

YouTube and Ebooks are valuable ways to market your business, but nothing beats making a word of mouth sell. As strange as it seems, simple telling people about your business is still a good way to get people to work with, or buy from you. Talking about you own business is helpful, but having customers tell other people about your business can always be a benefit.

Getting people to notice your business is only part of the the whole of owning a small business. Once you have people noticing you, making the sell is the next step.

Amazon business is also a helpful way to grow your business. From buying supplies, to templates and more Amazon business is your one stop shop.