Allison Todd, Operations & Digital Growth Strategist, helps businesses and their teams, scale and grow. She believes that within adversity lies the golden opportunity to change, adapt, and evolve. The world is facing a crisis right now. We are all doing what we can to manage the effects of the pandemic on our businesses and in our lives. Perhaps we use this time to plan to pivot. If you aren’t prepared to conduct business in the digital world, SiMar is here to help. 

Our team will help you reinvent your digital marketing strategy. And here are some ways to get started now:  

Go Digital

People are spending more time on social media now more than ever before. Brands are required to shift their overall attention to maximizing digital visibility and automating business operations. While doing so, these brands should look for lucrative ways connect, transact, and interact with the target audience.

Allison explains that she believes businesses are beginning to value the importance of the digital business world. “Business are going digital while expanding their digital presence. I am seeing more attention on business social media presence, consistent blogging, create newsletters and more. It’s only a matter of time before businesses of all sizes start leveraging their digital marketing potential. Many businesses are already doing so.

Re-evaluate Your Core Offerings

Due to the pandemic, businesses and organizations are bound to experience rapid change in many ways. Both the market dynamics and consumer behaviors will begin to look differently. As such, consumer needs may or may not shift and change. It’s essential to manage and monitor effective brand communication as this happens.  Your core offerings should align with your messaging and be flexible to changing circumstances.

When you are timely and have an understanding of how current market conditions affect your brand relevance, it will prove to be effective for your business. The way your products and services shift with change communicates something to your market. It becomes a determining factor of business success.

Support A Cause

Business might be slow but it shouldn’t stop you from supporting a cause. Pick something your business believes in while supporting the community that supports you. This is a socially responsible way to reach out to your target audience.  It is the beginning of some new & meaningful conversations. You should understand the things that end customers expect out of your brand and how you can deliver the same.

People are attracted to a brand with values. After all, everyone wants to feel like they are making a difference, don’t they ? It is important to realize that the power of social entrepreneurship and philanthropy appears to be huge. It can increase your customers confidence in your brand. 

Conclusion

Overall, a brand that is willing to meet the consumer where there are is bound to attract their audience. In an effort to demonstrate that you are a brand that cares about its consumers, you will position your brand and its value. In these times, all should do their part to minimize stress and maximize value. You are not alone. Join a business community of entrepreneurs who want to position their brand for profit. 

One of the silent killers in business and life is insecurity.  It’s an emotional aspect that molds self-image and influences human behavior. Some people, indeed, feel insecure in their own skin.  As entrepreneurs or employees, insecurity can easily be hidden behind huge smiles and large cloaks of anonymity. However, such underlying hurtful and self-critical thoughts will continue to create more thoughts and emotion.  Even if you know it’s coming, you want to do all you can to manage it.  Don’t let insecurity drown your success.

Here are some common signs of insecurity: 

1. You change your mind a lot.  If you find yourself unable to figure out what you really want thus, your goals and objectives continually fluctuate like the market interest rate, you change your mind a lot. One moment, you are all for re-branding and the next moment, you want to stick to current strategies. It’s a dilemma that breeds disaster. 
2. Decision-making is a constant struggle. Is everything a challenge from deciding what to eat to major business decisions?  Do you find it hard to take a stand? Better yet, if you consult friends and colleagues over and over again but still don’t trust their opinions and can’t make a decision on your own, then decision making is a constant struggle. 
3. Validation from others comes highly regarded. You want every action, every decision, or even the way you dress, move, or speak to be acceptable to others. You scream for approval in everything you do. 
4. You have the tendency to be over-controlling and demanding.   Do you know someone who takes offense when others do not share their ideas or methods–and they take it as a personal attack?  If constructive criticism is not in their vocabulary, controlling may be a part of their personality.

More signs of insecurity: 

1. People who are insecure constantly talk about themselves. They sing praises not to impress others but more to appease their own insatiable desire for approval. This is also part of the reason why they have a hard time recognizing the efforts or worth of others–because they are too busy talking and thinking about themselves. 
2. Being defensive is like a reflex. You easily take offense, even on things that do not matter. As previously mentioned, criticism is not your cup of tea. 
3. An insecure person finds it easy to pick on another person’s faults. This is either to hide an inner affliction or a way to feel a superficial superiority. Often, these acts are done by either starting or spreading gossip. 

This is serious business.  Read more on this topic: How Self Esteem Shape Up Life and Business Decisions

Next Steps & Solutions

It is important to know where your insecurities stem from and the influence it has on your life. A business coach is an optimum choice when one’s insecurities become so intense that it prevents progress.  One way to divorce your insecurities is to start by accepting that you have strengths and you have weaknesses, we all do. 

The process is not going to be easy because it is really a struggle within your own self. The moment you start poking on those critical inner voices, expect screams of retaliation in return. Push your hardest and do not back down! If you want to be successful in your business or personal goals, do not listen to the taunts that entice you to hold back on your greatness! 

Want to break the walls of insecurity and create bridges of confidence? A coach or mentor is your solution.  SiMar Inc. founder Allison Todd is a professional coach who develops high performance capabilities in people. Schedule a consultation now! 

Would you ever book a vacation without making any plans whatsoever? Traveling with a plan allows you to at least have an idea of where to go, what to wear and eat, and what to see in order to get your money’s worth. Just like in life, a vacation is even more fulfilling when you have a detailed plan in place. 

A personal development plan, as the term implies, allows you to organize your thoughts and actions so as to cohesively deliver the results you need. It’s a set of guidelines you methodically create to help make better decisions or even make the worst of scenarios work to your advantage. At its core is good preparation to mitigate, lessen, and hopefully eliminate any risks which can pull you down on the journey to greatness. 

Where and When to Start a Sound Personal Development Plan 

It is important to note that nothing great happens overnight, and your efforts require solid commitment from you. To achieve your goals, you will need to create detailed action plans along with contingencies and alternatives. You will also need patience, perseverance, and a strong sense of conviction to be able to bounce back when the situation warrants it. 

While there are many ways to write your personal development plan, start by creating a strategy which can be improved upon as you move forward. Cut/paste/print the sample template below created by SiMar, my premier business consultancy and digital media management firm in Atlanta. Then check off tasks as you accomplish them: 

• Define your goals 
• Create your micro goals 
• Prioritize action plans 
• Set a timetable complete with deadlines 
• Identify strengths and opportunities 
• Recognize weakness and threats 
• Identify skills and build new ones 
• Seek out a professional coach (you officially already have one–me!) 
• Implement action plans, monitor progress, and measure results 
• Optimize your plan and continue moving forward 

Now, go and start building your 2018 personal development plan! Let SiMar’s template be your guide, and don’t forget to share your feedback! 

Having trouble creating your personal development plan? Allison Todd, Founder of SiMar Inc., offers professional coaching services to aid you and your business’s needs. Schedule a consultation now! 

It’s great to have a good idea but it’s even better to have a working idea.  Take a look at these entrepreneurs ideas that have proven to be a success.  Here’s a list of the series on Business Startup Idea for Less Than $100 to inspire your entrance into the entrepreneurial world.

• Consultancy. If you have the expert level knowledge, that’s expert level advice.  Your business startup can be your own consultancy. You can provide advice, management and project tasks.  Got a new method for eco-gardening, a superstar on social media or the best-organized assistant, ever?  YOU are ready to begin.  All you need to do is set-up your digital space, create your social media accounts and start sharing your content.  This is where you market your expertise.  Join a freelancer site like Upwork or Elance and earn while you grow.
• Direct Sales. Be your own boss and work at home.  Go into direct selling for established companies like Mary Kay, Rodan + Fields, IT Works! Global and more. You may also set up an online website and organize your own direct sales party.
• Professional Organizer. From organizing events to putting things in order in a home, you can monetize your skills and earn.  With a 1-page website, active social media accounts and a couple of social media ads – YOU are ready to go!  Begin with your network, you’d be surprised how many need to be organized.  Don’t forget to ask for referrals.
• Homemade Foodie. Do you have a penchant for homemade gourmet foods? You can create your signature chocolates, cakes and pastries and soup mixes to name a few.  All you need is access to the food, preferably a farmer’s market, shop local! Oh and cooking skills, of course!
• Life Coach.  People hire coaches to give them sound, unbiased advice.  People want to be led to their success and reminded what assets they possess.  This special skill doesn’t require certification but its absolutely preferred.  You want something that sets you apart from the rest.  You also need to build a strong reputation and work on getting a solid following in the market.  When done correctly, this can be a profitable business.
• Decorator. The holidays are coming up.  People want their homes and tables decorated and more.  This is a profitable season for professional decorators.  Start taking pictures of everything you do and post those on your social media accounts.  Write blogs about your experience and your love of creativity.   Let your client referrals be your best marketers.  Take note: the whole year is filled with anniversaries and holidays!
• Home Companion/Caregiving Services. Help families connect with the right caregivers and companions to a family member in need.  With a simple website, some social media and a great network, you can spread the word fast.  Sign up with agencies looking for contractors to refer clients.  Call other agencies and position yourself as the person they call during overflow.
• Rental Services & Sales. Got equipment and stuff lying around at home? Monetize these by renting them or letting go.  From lawnmowers to chocolate fountain machine you may be on to something.  If you don’t have the equipment, I guarantee you have clothes and clutter that you can post on sites like Letgo, Poshmark, and Facebook (yes you can sell things on FB).

• Assume the leadership role to set the tone in your business. Note, innovators have their ego in check!  Be succinct in presenting the vision, priorities and goals.  Likewise, be consistent and transparent in communication.  You, set the pace by upholding core values focused on accountability, transparency and efficiency.  Also, convene other leaders and create your business influencer group. These leaders are the ones who generate noteworthy ideas and compliment their actions with motivation for others to do the same. Remember if you delegate some of the culture goals to your business influencer group, you will grow farther, faster.

• Embrace diversity and allow the unique collective to demonstrate its value to your business. There is nothing more astounding than being able to bring together employees from different backgrounds with an excess of experience and skills.  Be reminded that while leadership may set the tone, the lifeblood of culture rests in the involvement of your teams.  Motivate employees to speak up, in safe environments for the good of the business and the greater good of their professional development.  Be sure to LISTEN…and take note of the ever-evolving ideas as they are revealed.

• Do not cower in the realm of failure. Business is all about risks.  Our mistakes are often our best measure of success.  Learn from each experience and build for better.  Also, don’t just share the success.  Transparency is the art of being like glass – clear and see through.  Perspectives are helpful, especially in the goal of creating culture.  Be as open to share as you are to listen to what the team has to say.  Through this careful projection, employees in the workplace will be more willing to share their ideas and grow comfortable in taking risks.

• Practice proactive listening. You will notice, I have referencing listening many times.  It’s the one thing we can all do more of and it doesn’t change in the business world.  There is a distinct difference between hearing someone vs really listening to what they are saying.  While leaders can start the ball rolling on cultivating a culture of innovation, it must permeate every level in the organization.  As such, really listen to the beliefs, ideals and opinions of your team members.  It’s important to understand their expectations and understanding of the business, specifically because of their daily interactions and contributions to your business growth.

• MOTIVATE creative thinking and team collaboration. Your role as a leader is that of a coach, mentor, cheerleader, trainer and so on. Let’s face it, your list doesn’t stop.  Cultivating a strong innovative culture is not about who’s boss. It is doing things hand in hand with the goal of propelling the business.  It’s equally important to have team members who are always thinking while working hard to drive your business purpose.

• STOP apologizing. Your opinion and your actions don’t have to match anyone else’s style.  Be collaborative without bending (or bowing) down to others. Your unique disposition can achieve the goal and be a valuable contribution to the decision-making process.

• STOP curtailing your own convictions to accommodate someone else. It’s virtually  inconceivable to limit your greatness so others can feel better about themselves. It’s not as if you are choosing bragging or being a pushover.  Instead, you are making you, priority.  By valuing and trusting your ideals and decisions, you would be surprised how profitable it is for your career and business.  Be open to ideation, share your creative mind, offer your talents and capabilities, lend your support and do so with an energetic vibe.  Never let yourself feel small so another person can feel big, period.

• STOP unhealthy habits.  Okay here’s a secret revealed, its OK to be an ambitious woman.  Be committed to achieving your career or business goals but do so without compromising your health.  Many successful workaholics have literally passed out before the awakening that they had to care for self first, more, NOW!   Divert from your routine and have fun.  Schedule time to be still, silent or meditate.  Let gratitude be a permanent part of your daily habits.  Most of all, forgive yourself.  There is no such thing as work-life balance and life happens. Ensure you can make it to the “finish line” and prioritize health and wellness.

• STOP looking at the future but rather focus on the “now”.  Once you plan your goals and set your goals, focus forward and live in the now.  Coulda, shoulda, wouldas have no place in your vocabulary.  Give your best daily and press forward without regret.   Doing so will give you plenty of chance to build on your personal brand and carve a career path that will lead to the promising future of your dreams.  But don’t forget you can live abundantly today.  It’s not just about sustaining it’s also about adapting, life will throw change at you like curve balls (at high speed), it’s OK. Brace yourself and ….what? You got it! Press forward!

• STOP limiting yourself. Many people will tell you not to have a family, career, entrepreneurship, volunteerism and more at the same time.  They will give you every reason while living with boundaries is what’s right for you! WRONG. Kick those notions to the curb and do, at least try the things that speaks to your heart (and the things that don’t).  Live limitless and accept the notion that life is an adventure. A quick look at some of the most successful black women today will tell you that there is no limit to what you can achieve as a mother, a wife, an entrepreneur, a career professional, a celebrity, an executive, you name it – there’s no limit. Believe and take action and you have won half of the battle is won.