Bev's Tips for a Better Work Life

Tips for a more rewarding and resilient career

For almost 20 years, Bev has been coaching
professionals to thrive at work, navigate
transitions and grow as leaders.

entrepreneurship

10 success tips for midlife entrepreneurs

Posted by Beverly Jones on

How to Launch a Business

In the Middle of Your Life

If you’re thinking about starting a business  — either now or off in a distant future – do I have a good read for you!

Career and personal finance expert Kerry Hannon has just launched her latest book, Never Too Old To Get Rich – The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Starting a Business Mid-Life. 

In the book, Kerry talks about how creating a business is not just a young person’s game, and how a huge wave of successful ventures are being launched by people in their 40’s, 50’s and beyond. In addition, she shares stories of successful entrepreneurs, complete with useful lessons from their experiences. And she offers specific tips about how you can go about laying the groundwork for your own business.

Kerry is my buddy, and one of my professional heroes. So of course I loved having her share insights from the book on the August 29, 2019, episode of my Jazzed About Work podcast. We had fun, and Kerry packed in an extraordinary amount of good information for aspiring business owners.

 Finally, I was flattered that, early in the first chapter of Never Too Old to Get Rich, Kerry included some of my favorite suggestions for budding entrepreneurs. And she has kindly allowed me to share them with you right here:

BEV’S 10 TIPS FOR MID-CAREER ENTREPRENEURS

  1. Be clear about your goals.  You probably have more than one reason for starting a business.  Sure, you want to earn some money. But are you also aching for more variety? Do you dream of a career that allows a more flexible life style? Or do you want to take the next step with a hobby you already love? Write down  what you hope to achieve, frame specific goals, and remember that your bottom line is just one way to measure your progress.
  2. Start early to prepare.    If launching your own business is something you want to do “some day,” it is never too soon to start laying groundwork.  If running your business will require a new set of skills, you might build expertise through local or online college courses. Or perhaps you could start a small side gig, to test your business idea and get some experience. At the same time, do what it takes to get your life in order. This could mean paying off debt and building a nest egg, committing to a fitness program, or creating habits that will help you be more organized.
  3. Learn business basics.   From choosing a legal structure to paying your taxes, you have to comply with laws. The rules that apply will depend on the state where you live, the nature of your activities and what kind of entity you create.  And, even when you have a small business accountant, it is so important that you know how to measure costs, keep track of expenses, and decide what to charge. You can take courses, work for a spell in a small business, or apply to a business incubator, as you learn what it takes to run a company.
  4. Build your network. As you grow as an entrepreneur, your network will be a critical asset.  You can visualize it as complex pattern of human relationships, spreading out around you in concentric circles. While the innermost ring may include close friends and family, further out are people you know slightly, like alumni of your college, members of your clubs, and folks who live nearby. Even your most casual contacts can support your success. Throughout your expanding network are potential mentors, collaborators, customers and fans.
  5. Surround yourself with positive people. Entrepreneurs must deal with discouraging moments. False starts, rejected proposals and disinterested audiences are part of the game. Because emotions are contagious, one way to protect yourself from some of that negativity is to stay in touch with upbeat people.  Try to reach out to the optimists in your circle, and avoid the complainers who leave you feeling down. And find other ways to surround yourself with positive voices, like reading uplifting books or finding community events that leave you feeling good.
  6. Offer and seek help.  Even though you know that connectivity is the life-blood of small business, building a supportive community can be a challenge. A starting point is to look for opportunities to be helpful. Reach out to old friends and new acquaintances, listen to their problems, and look for small ways to offer assistance. Introduce folks with good reasons to meet each other. Support other small businesses. And give authenticate praise. The more comfortable you feel as a helper, the easier it will be to ask for the support and encouragement you need.
  7. Create a social media strategy. Even if you avoid Facebook and other apps in your personal life, don’t ignore the power that social media can bring to your business. A smart mix of channels can help you check out the competition, understand your potential customers, keep up with industry news and show off your products. It takes a while to get a feel for tools like Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest, so practice using them as you expand your network.
  8. Define and promote your brand. Your brand sets you apart from the competition. As an entrepreneur, you will need to identify your special value, and have plans for spreading the word. To get comfortable with projecting your unique strengths, a useful exercise is to write a brief statement summarizing your personal  Be honest with yourself about how you want others to see you.  And your current brand can help pave the way for your future business.  For example, if you dream of opening a doggie day care facility, your brand might include your skill as a dog trainer. You can raise your brand profile by connecting with dog lovers, whether that means posting on Twitter or volunteering with service organizations.
  9. Listen to your customers. Turning yourself into an entrepreneur may require a shift in your mindset. When you start your business, your customers will ultimately determine whether you succeed.  So now, wherever you are in your career, cultivate the habit of listening intently to the people who are impacted by your work. Make it your job to understand what your “customers” need, what the want, and what they think. And keep looking for new projects and products that might help your “customers” meet their goals.
  10. Learn to be motivated. You may have heard that “entrepreneurs are passionate about their work.” But what if you’re not sure you can maintain that kind of passion? The reality is that motivation is something you canacquire and manage.  Now, in your current job, you can develop the skill of triggering your own drive and enthusiasm.  One way to build motivation is by setting small goals, taking action, and experiencing moments of success. If you have put off tackling an important project, schedule an hour to focus on it exclusively.  Quickly create a list of small subtasks and power through them for 60 minutes. By actually getting some things done, you will motivate yourself to do even more on the project tomorrow.

Kerry says, “Transforming a passion into paying work can do a number on your desire for it, so you need to plan ahead and test the waters with care.”

Smart entrepreneurs know the power of communities

Posted by Beverly Jones on

Being active in communities

can help your career to thrive

When I meet new clients, it’s sometimes easy to spot the ones who’re enjoying resilient careers. Whether they’re solopreneurs creating their own thing, or professionals making their way through large organizations, people with thriving work lives tend to share some of the same characteristics, like a positive attitude and an ability to listen.

As I chat further with clients, one thing I want to know is whether they consciously manage their networks. While most people know that networking means building strong personal and professional relationships, the most well connected people go even further. They not only create and care for individual relationships, person by person, but they also understand the power of their broader communities.

A “community” is a group that has members, rather than a collection of unconnected people. While membership may be informal or unacknowledged, the members of the community are linked by common values, interests or history. And often they have some feeling of belonging, as well as a sense that they matter – that they can make a difference to the group.

Among your communities are your neighbors, people with a background or interest similar to yours, professionals who share your training and expertise, and members of the clubs and associations you’ve formally joined. Your communities are packed with people you haven’t even met. But when you approach someone as a part of your group, it’s unlikely that he’ll treat you like a stranger. Your communities are a source of business intelligence, clients, customers, mentors, introductions and friends.

There’s a growing body of research that links good health with your degree of social connection. That reflects not just relationships within your inner circle, but also your interaction with far-flung communities. Reasons for the health impact might be that supportive communities can help us to manage stress, gain perspective and maintain healthy habits.

Beyond that, your emotions and behaviors can be influenced by the emotions and behaviors of those in your extended communities.   Research on human networks suggests that your attitude and habits may be shaped not only by your close contacts, but also by your contacts’ contacts and their contacts, as well.   If the people in your communities are energetic, accommodating and creative, their positive vibes can be contagious, assisting you to stay upbeat as you push your boundaries.

Successful entrepreneurs are often particularly attuned to their business, customer and social communities, looking to them for inspiration, technical knowledge, referrals, and empathy. Photographer Molly Peterson, is a fine example of a modern entrepreneur who is investing in her communities as she continues to invent her multifaceted career.

Molly Peterson & friends. Photo by Mike Peterson.

Molly’s documentary-style photos are beautiful and authentic, and have been widely published. She’s known particularly for her food and farm shots, and she took the pictures for “Growing Tomorrow,” a new book with portraits of 18 sustainable farmers. Photography is only one of Molly’s professions. She and her husband run Heritage Hollow Farms, where they raise grass-fed livestock and also operate a farm store in Sperryville, a village in Rappahannock County, Virginia.

Although it seems like two active careers would take up all Molly’s time, she’s one of those natural givers and connectors, active both in community nonprofit groups and in online networks. Everything seems to work together. It was through customer and online communities that Molly came up with one of the Farms’ distribution channels. She noticed that many Washington, DC, residents care about the benefits of sustainable meat but can’t always make the two-hour drive to Sperryville or be available for a scheduled delivery. So she arranged for meat orders to be delivered to freezers installed in Washington area Crossfit Gyms.

When I asked Molly why she’s so active around the County, despite her heavy work schedule, she said, “Iwas taught from a young age from both of my parents to be curious, connected, and ‘well rounded.’ They were both entrepreneurs… I’ve always been curious and interested in a world outside of my own: why do people do what they do, is there a deeper reason for it, what makes them ‘tick’. I also feel it never hurts to ask; nothing frustrates me more than when I’m told that something can’t be done simply because that isn’t the way it’s usually done.”

Molly also said, “Outside of my careers I have a genuine care and concern for my community and the

Heritage Hollow Farm Store in Sperryville, VA

Earth and how to make it better, more joy-filled, healthier – whether that’s through my photography as art, through the way we raise our livestock that ultimately feeds families, or through my time.”

Staying in touch with a range of supportive communities can be key to building your resilient career. These strategies can help you to build stronger community involvement:     

  • Identify your communities. Start by listing groups of people with whom you’re already associated. This might include your college or other alumni groups, professional associations, neighborhood committees, and even online groups. Then think about your interests or favorite activities, and search for additional organizations of like-minded people. If you’re an Italian-American who likes to raise herbs and cook, look around for a garden club, a gourmet group, or an Italian-American association.
  • Become active. Consider organizations where you are now a member, as well as others you might join, and target several where you’ll raise your profile and build relationships. Next, watch for opportunities where you can make a contribution. This might mean volunteering for a service project, joining a committee, or simply attending functions.
  • Care about an issue. Many communities are built around causes or local needs. If your family has been touched by cancer, you may want to join a committee that raises money for research. The best way to get to know people can be working with them to address a problem you all care about.
  • Be a mentor. To connect with a younger crowd or make your network more diverse, offer to serve as a mentor. Contact a professional association, or get in touch directly with someone who is starting something new and volunteer to share your skill set or serve as an advisor.
  • Give money. If you’re overwhelmingly busy right now, you can quietly begin to build name recognition by making contributions to nonprofit groups. If your name shows up repeatedly on donor lists, group leaders may eventually beg you to become more actively involved.

Maintaining your connections with multiple communities is not just about your career. By investing in your communities you’ll be forging a support system that can help you through the tougher times and make the good days even more enjoyable.

The things you do in your free time can inspire your career

Posted by Beverly Jones on

Lessons from yoga helped me

become more entrepreneurial

When clients are feeling blocked in their jobs, I encourage them to think about ways to bring change not just to their work lives, but to the other parts of their lives as well. And often when they do take up new interests it can inspire an energy boost and a fresh perspective in their career.

In my case, I started yoga lessons soon after leaving the corporate world and starting my business as an executive coach and consultant. Recently I wrote an article for NextAvenue.org describing how yoga helped my career transition. Please continue reading here.

 

For more about how leisure activity helped me shape my career, see this post on career lessons from the garden.

Think like an entrepreneur and find new career success!

Posted by Beverly Jones on

Think like an entrepreneur 
And find new career success!
 
If you are still contemplating your career goals or intentions for 2013, let me suggest a theme: entrepreneurial attitude. A new view is that entrepreneurship can be taught, and entrepreneurial literacy can foster success, regardless of your field.

Ohio University, where I’m connected to the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, is one of the many institutions forging the new interdisciplinary academic field of entrepreneurship. Students no longer expect to spend their careers in one place. Whether they are engineers or journalists, they know they will need the knowledge, skills and flexibility to shift or redefine jobs with ease or even create their own enterprises. [Read more…] about Think like an entrepreneur and find new career success!