Management Tips Archives - Connor Business Resources

Tracking Strategy Success or Failure

Inherent in any effective strategic plan are provisions for tracking the success or failure of the plan. By definition, “strategic planning allows for marking success and failure. Performance measurement or tracking of strategic objectives and action plans are of significance.” To effectively track whether or not you are meeting the goals set forth in your strategic plan, it is imperative that you regularly check in with your employees and monitor their progress.

How Evernote can help “the disorganized” feel organized

Posted by Carol Williams

Many of the kindest, most genuine, and wisest people I know have a brain structure that is labeled “AD/HD.” These are typically my favorite clients, because they are big thinkers, big dreamers, and amazing risk-takers. They also have a tendency to beat themselves up, because for their whole lives they have been told that they are not “doing it the right way.”

I have found that Evernote can really help my clients and particularly the ones who have an AD/HD-leaning brain.

Regardless of how you may wish to try on Evernote, it is imperative that you begin with a “pilot” project. For those who can relate to the never-ending distracting thoughts of living with AD/HD, this is particularly important.

Kickstart 2019: Discover what is holding you back, why, and how to avoid getting stuck “again.”

By Carol Williams

First, some questions:

Who’s in charge, anyway? Is it you, or is it life?
Are you a planner, or, are you a “go with the flow” kind of person? Why?

i) If you are a planner, what do you fear might happen without a plan? Why do things have to go “your” way? “So what” if they don’t?

ii) If you “go with the flow,” what scares you about making a plan? Is your plan too rigid? Do you fear disappointing others or perhaps not having enough room to be spontaneous?

The answer is … a little of both.

Summertime…and the livin’ is easy….3 steps to living peacefully; conflict-free

by Carol Williams

Or is it? Does your life change in summer? Mine sure does. With two very active children, our schedules are impacted by this change in routine. I have a teenager now, who does not drive…so….we have THAT plus “various” camps, plus vacations, long weekends, time at the beach, visitors…it seems so hard to actually WORK sometimes! Am I the only one?

Let’s start here- we’ll start in this article and keep this conversation going on our August call…

What are your expectations for the summer (overall)?
What are your work goals? Your personal goals?
How do you plan and prepare for the fall and winter, which will be here SO soon? What might get in the way of a smooth transition to the autumn season?

So much of the clutter in our minds begin with a lack of clear exceptions. And, while the solution to this may seem simple, when we are in the clutter of unclear expectations or conflicting goals, the solution can fade so far into the background that it becomes un-seeable.

Why do entrepreneurs fear vacation? What can be done about it?

Posted by Carol Williams

According to Inc. Magazine, there are 3 main things entrepreneurs fear about taking a vacation. Do any of these resonate with you?

fear of being replaced
facing what we “left behind” (like our family)!
getting off the treadmill

Fear: it can be both a motivator and a cause for procrastination. Fear can have a mysterious hold on us. In this case, let’s go through the fears listed above, and demystify them.

Fear of Being Replaced: What is this one all about? I know that as an employee, I feared being replaced while being out on maternity leave, which is a real concern. But will a week really make a difference? If so, perhaps you should assess your value to your market and your unique offering.

Facing what we left Behind: This one is telling. If we leave behind our family then fear reconnecting with them, it seems that other issues must be addressed. For example, what expectations does your family have of you, and you of your family since you are an entrepreneur? It can be a lonely life sometimes, and not every family can ride the wave of an entrepreneur’s life.

Getting off the treadmill: Here we are talking about re-assessing. Vacation generally means we have time away from our “regular” lives, where we find a new perspective. It can be refreshing and rejuvenating (which is the whole purpose, really). But when we are forced to stop doing what we do every day, it can also be a little scary. Lean into this fear, entrepreneur, and stay nimble!

Overall, the science says vacation is a good thing. More unplugging leads to a creative mind. The creative mind is one thing that can’t be outsourced.

The Keys to Running a Business

By Ann Connor

Running a business may be difficult, but it most certainly can pay off when done correctly. One of the keys to running a successful, home-based or on-site business knows how to implement your businesses style and strategy while also identifying who your target market is.