Second quarter is almost over in the business world – Do you still have January’s new-year momentum, or have you lost motivation and focus on your company’s goals?
When running your own small business, it’s so easy to get lost in all of the hustle and bustle, and to lose focus on your company’s priorities in order to achieve more success than your business did last year. Here at Cloud3, we practice daily habits and aim to keep the momentum high and constantly pumping for our team, and we’d love to share a few of our best tips on how we do it.
1. Balance Realistic Loads
Taking on more work than you and your team can mentally afford, and attempting to push your business at a faster pace than it can actually handle can cause setbacks. Many small businesses make the mistake of trying to operate as if they’re a large corporation, not taking into consideration that they don’t have the manpower and/or budgets to successfully operate at such a large level. It’s one thing to work towards becoming a successful corporation sometime in the future, it’s another thing to take on the loads of one while you’re still growing. Do not get caught up in trying to do it all and sacrifice sight of long-term goals for your company. Never spread yourself thin and never exhaust your business resources. Remember: slow and steady wins the race.
2. Write and Post Goals (So Cliché, but So True)
They say only 3 out of every 100 people write their goals down, and the ones who do are 50% more likely to achieve their goals versus the ones who don’t. So, you’ve heard it before and you’re going to hear it again… At Cloud3.ca, we, first, figure out what our goals are. Then we write them down in detail and set a deadline for each one. Next, we write down a detailed 5-step plan on how to achieve each one. Finally, we take action, and then wait to reap the rewards from following the steps we set in place. Easier said than done, but we promise, writing ours down has made such a drastic and positive difference, and we’re sure if you follow our advice, you’ll look back and be glad you did.
3. Remember to Take Breaks, Relax, and Have Fun
Duh! Right? Never forget why you chose to work for yourself and operate your very own company, versus working a nine-to-five and helping make someone else’s dreams come true. Running a small business is definitely more challenging than working a standard corporate job – business owners wear so many hats, manage and run so many different departments, and tend to work throughout their evenings and weekends; and many brave entrepreneurs aren’t even guaranteed a bi-weekly salary. So, remember to schedule and take breaks throughout the day to clear your mind (and your desk); meditate, do yoga or listen to a great audiobook and schedule time for relaxation; and don’t forget to take off your serious hat and have some fun, whether it’s a company luncheon or a team building game night, incorporate fun activities and events as a reward for all the hard work you and your team put in.
We know, it’s easy to lose momentum – life gets hectic at times, things happen, and there’s not enough time in the day, nor enough physical energy to keep up. The year is still fresh and you still have enough time to get back on the ball and catch up before the summer hits!