ASK JASMIN: BBQs and Business Development
The month of July always reminds me of barbeques, fireworks, and of course, my endless internal battle with swimsuits. But the season also makes me ponder opportunities for a more productive and profitable summer!
Though this is typically a time of year when many of your coworkers, clients, vendors, and competitors take it easy, I see it as an awesome chance to step your game up and forgo the temptation to slow down in favor of strategic work that produces tangible results. Business never sleeps, nor does additional networking and revenue streams.
Don't let the pool party scene fool you, Jasmin's actually on the job, as snapped here at an event for Brandpointe client, Mockingbird Station; find out how you can turn summer fun into opportunities to expand your business with Jasmin's hot tips for brand development.
Want to turn up the heat on your professional pursuits? Make strides in the months ahead by warming up to a few simple tips.
1) ORGANIZE: With practically unbearable temps outside, there are plenty of indoor activities to keep you busy. I make the sweltering season work for me by putting new systems into place:
Contacts: Clean and update these lists to ensure that all info is current. Excel spreadsheets are a good place to start when it comes to managing your contacts, but take this time to explore some more advanced options. As my business has grown so has my need for a more robust contact management system. I rely heavily on Microsoft 365 but there are many others out there to choose from. The goal is to be able to access your list quickly anytime and anywhere.
Closet: This may sound like obvious advice but the arrival of summer should also prompt a little reorganization for your closet too. I’m not just talking about packing up your warmer clothes but rather, taking an inventory of your business wardrobe to see what still fits, what needs to be replaced, and most importantly, what pieces do you need to purchase in order to maintain a healthy balance between comfort, style, and professionalism. And you can expect more on this topic in upcoming Ask Jasmin features!
2) GOAL- SETTING: I live my life in 90-day increments. That means executing a two-part approach to meeting my objectives: I give myself 90 days when trying out anything new, and I apply the timeframe to the goals I set. Too often, I hear people create amazing objectives, while also placing unrealistic expectations on actually reaching them. It’s important to establish a targeted timeline that gives you enough time to achieve, or you run the risk of failing to complete your goal. In my experience, 90 days is an effective schedule for benchmarks and provides the right amount of structure and flexibility for success.
3) NETWORK BUILDING: It's a well documented fact that I believe in the power of incorporating network building in your schedule. It’s simply that important! Whether you work in a corporate setting or are self employed, maintaining great relationships and discovering new ones makes the difference between you and your competitors. When you want to lose weight, for example, you establish a daily and weekly diet and exercise plan. Same goes for building your network. I commit 1.5 to 2 hours to this goal on a weekly basis to ensure maximum success, executing what my friends now call "Jasmin's Kickass Networking Plan;" take a sneak peek at my typical seven-day strategy, with my weekly preview covering July 15 to 21, 2013:
New Friend Goal: Goal - Three. In this context, "friend” refers to someone new that I’ve recently met while out and about and/or a new online connection with someone who shares mutual social circles via LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. I recommend sticking to those with whom you share mutual circles because no one wants to stumble into being labeled a stalker!
Existing Friend Follow Ups: Goal - Five. I achieve my goal by sending emails, Tweets, direct messages, etc., to five people I already know or work with. And because my interest and correspondence is sincere, I find it fun and easy to send along basic inquiries about how they’re doing, what they’re working on, and generally, what’s new. Once you add someone to your network, it’s important to maintain communication with them for a truly authentic connection.
Connect with New Businesses, Blogs, and Ideas: Goal - Five. I am always looking for new ideas, new places, new people to meet. This is as simple as checking out your favorite local magazine or newspaper and connecting with their social profiles.
Influence and Assist Existing Network: Goal - Two. Good karma leads to, well, good karma. If you help others they will help you, so I make it a priority to identify people each week with the sole purpose of helping or connecting them to resources in some meaningful way.
Meetings and Events: Goal - One. My work schedule makes it challenging to make it to all of the great events taking place, but I try to schedule at least one to three per month. Even with all of the social media activity, face-to-face communication and commitment is still really important for your personal and professional pursuits!
Successful people do successful things. Attracting new connections, opportunities, and sources of wealth requires thoughtful planning and consistent action. Even in the summer. Take the next couple of months to be creative when it comes to combining fun and productivity.
Have a question for Jasmin? Touch base with her 24/7 via Brandpointe's website, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages to share your inquiries!
