I make it a point to market my business in every possible situation, including the times when I’m browsing books at the local public library or bookstore. While doing my own shopping, I’ll simply prop my business cards into relevant publications. By utilizing similar methods, you too can land new clients while showing creativeness and ingenuity!
Even in the depths of the digital age, people continue to rely on hard-copy books as sources of information. Imagine this scenario: A web/graphic designer – we’ll call her Susan – is seeking to expand her client list. She arms herself with a stack of business cards (a must for EVERY business, large or small) and heads down to her local library or bookstore. Concentrating on the most appropriate library sections – such as “Technology,” “Art and Design,” or “Small Business” – she inserts several business cards into as many relevant publications as possible.
A few days later, a fellow entrepreneur in dire need of a website for her own business visits the same library in search of information on web design. She picks Web Design for Dummies from the stack. As she flips through the pages, growing more and more daunted by techie lingo, she finds your business card… and pauses. It’s like a god-send! Silently, she ponders: “Should I really suffer through the stress of purchasing design software, and spending countless frustrating hours trying to design a website? I could really use that time to focus on my own work. Maybe I should give Susan a call and see what the rates are like.”
Just like that, Susan has landed a new client. This technique is simple, effective and most of all – FREE!
Let’s get going! Perform a web-based search of the most popular books in your industry (Amazon.com
is a great place to start). Take note of these books and locate them in your nearest library or bookstore. Place your business cards into these books and other publications in the same area of the library. It is helpful to place your cards into relevant sections of books as well. For example, the above-mentioned web designer might have placed her cards into the section of the book that describes costly design software. Such a maneuver is like an unspoken sales pitch!
Feel free to share your tips and your stories below. We would love to hear from you!
Whether you are a mom, who is an entrepreneur, or a single woman trying to fit everything in, it is difficult to find the time to get to the gym. Entrepreneurs are busy bees, and the order of prioritization tends to place working out after business and family life.
That being said, the following tips and tricks can help you to keep your mind and body in working order when you just can’t find the time to get on the treadmill:
1. Start each day with a series of stretches: When you get out of bed in the morning, make an effort to perform a menu of stretches that makes you feel good. Whether they are sun salutations (raise your arms over your head until your hands meet) or simple calf stretches, warming your body up before you get moving is a great way to get a positive start on the day. This blog describes why and how stretching is helpful to weight loss.
2. Choose green tea instead of coffee: I love coffee, can’t live without it. And that is a problem. Coffee is highly addictive and causes the ever dreaded noontime crash, if you become dependent. I suggest switching off coffee with tea at least a couple of times a week, if not more often. Green tea, both caffeinated and packed with antioxidants, is a great solution. I like Tazo tea for its unique flavors and blends.
3. Eat fruit: believe it or not, fruit is a very satisfying choice to satisfy your sweet tooth. Instead of going for the Oreos, snack on some pineapples or strawberries. I suggest these fruits because they are used in several desserts for its sweet taste and acidic content. So, this might assist in any mental block you have about satiating your sweet tooth with health food.
4. Add fruit to breakfast food: Speaking of fruit, I’ve found that replacing syrup or butter with fruit atop my french toast or pancakes is a highly successful way to add nutrients and flavor to a carb-filled breakfast.
5. Practice your posture at your desk: While immersed in work each day, we all become guilty of slouching, hunching or shoulders down, or generally treating our body’s alignment like garbage. Be mindful of this. Set your monitor high enough so that you don’t have to come down to your computer (use a monitor stand; Staples has very cost-friendly versions). Wear reading or prescription glasses if you need them, so as to prevent sticking your nose into your screen. Utilize an ergonomic gel wrist pad and mouse pad. Most importantly, perform a posture check: Head up, shoulders back, chest out, feet flat on the floor, and legs in a 90-degree position. This website describes the benefits of good posture, and provides an alternative standing posture-benefiting exercise.
6. Utilize a stability ball: My friend Shannon learned to use a stability ball not only for crunches, but also as a way to check her posture during work hours. Sit on the ball with legs at a 90-degree angle, and keep your back upright and straight as if a puppeteer was pulling you up like a string puppet.
7. Insert fitness blasts into your day: Need to go run errands? Put on your walking shoes and hustle down to Kinko’s, Starbucks, the library, etc. Power walk your way around instead of hopping into the car. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Small fitness bursts are better than no fitness at all!
8. Volunteer: Volunteering at a shelter or soup kitchen not only performs a great service to your fellow citizens, but it provides a great way to get a physical workout.
9. Weigh and measure your food: Oftentimes people think that because they are eating grilled chicken or veggies, their meal is healthy. The reality is that we are only supposed to have 4 oz. servings of protein at a time, and veggies are often loaded with oil or butter when prepared. Be conscious of the ingredients in your meals, and perform a quick calorie count before serving.
Keep your diet and cooking simple: Speaking of veggies, a great way to insert veggies into your everyday diet is to keep your meals simple yet satisfying. I’ve learned that a well balanced and easy-to-do meal consists of a lean protein (chicken or fish) and a bag of frozen vegetables. Quick, painless, good for you.
Now that we are into the new year (I’m hesitant to say “decade” because for some that’s still up for debate,) we start to declare resolutions.
Instead of coming up with a long list, why not simply it into 10 goals. You can then keep track of a goal a month and have the flexibility to relax for a month or two.
Here are my 10 for 2010.
Stay healthy or else the rest of this list won’t matter.
Either upgrade or buy a new desktop computer.
Finally get my driver’s license (I’m a native New Yorker, so driving hasn’t been a priority.)
Schedule informal Coffee Conversations with friends and colleagues.
Spend more time with my family (especially my growing niece.)
Write more with pen and paper
Speak or attend at more conferences than I did last year
Look for collaborative opportunities with resourceful people
Find clients that I enjoy working with so that work doesn’t feel like “work”.
Achieve one more internet certification.
What are you 10 for ‘10? Let us know in the comments.
With Amazon’s recent feature, you can “bookmark” any item from any online store and place it on your Amazon wishlist.
This works out especially well if you are organizing gifts for members of the family. Just create a separate wishlist for them and keep it private so there will be no spoilers.
So what are you waiting for? If you have a wishlist , great! If not, its never too late to get started. Plus, you don’t need the holidays as an excuse to have one.
Just in case you haven’t heard, Google has recently launched Google Wave. Google Wave is a service were you can collaborate with colleagues using text, photos, videos and links. I have used it to communicate with friends, but I am curious about its business applications. We have a few invites available. Every 100th subscriber to The WildWE Facebook Page will receive a Google Wave invite.
Also we are planning something extra special for our 1000th subscriber. So stay tuned.
The Gorillapod Flexible Tripod is the perfect flip camcorder holder for the entrepreneur who loves to do videos and share them on their blog! To see other versions of the Gorillapod, click here.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I love Christmas and the holiday season! That’s why when I read Tim Ferriss’ recent blog post, I was inspired to revive: 12 Days of an Entrepreneurs Christmas!
Watch the music video we recorded about 2 years ago. Just click on the picture:
So over the next 12 days, we will be bringing you some great holiday gift ideas that only an entrepreneur would love!
After reading “Work Less” from Entrepreneur.com, it made me realize that many of us forget why we started our own businesses in the first place. Here are 3 Simple reminders:
Spend More Time with our Friends and Families: Many entrepreneurs start their own businesses to make their own hours and work from home. Setting a schedule that allows you to have the time to spend with your loved ones is the key to keeping that balance you crave.
I Can Do it Better Myself: Great! Then prove it. Show the world that a great product and great customer service doesn’t have to swallow your life up. This is your chance!
FUN: When you lose the fun in life and in work, then you lose yourself. This is what life is all about. How can you add more fun in your life?
This is your life! This is your business! How are you going to make the most of it? Share your own stories and thoughts below.
local public library or bookstore. While doing my own shopping, I’ll simply prop my business cards into relevant publications. By utilizing similar methods, you too can land new clients while showing creativeness and ingenuity!
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