learning Archives - Nuggets of Wisdom from 40 Years of Self Employment

Boomers: Stay young. Start a business.

April 16, 2022 No Comments

We all know that as baby boomers we are the largest group in the population. As a result as we age there has been no end to products and services directed at us (I’m a boomer born in 1950. You can do the math to figure out how old I am.) There are ads on TV and in magazines that will help you look young. There are articles about how to stay young. There is even software you can buy that will stimulate your thinking and keep you young. Everything is about anti-aging.

Have you ever thought that starting a business will keep you young? Not the “bricks and mortar” kind but a service business like consulting, photography, event planning, virtual assistance or pet sitting.

I know that running a business is a lot of work but women business owners that I have interviewed all said that what they like most about being self employed is the freedom it gives you. How does freedom relate to staying young?

Why start a business to keep young?

Every article I’ve read says that you need several things to keep you young (look at Betty White, Don Rickles, William Shatner and Christopher Plummer) and having your own business provides all of them.

learning about the variety of work that clients do
building relationships with clients and colleagues (and relatives)
time flexibility – you choose when to work and how much
learning new things like a language. Self-employment, your bookkeeping, accounting, marketing and technology have languages that are new to you.
feeling and knowing that you’re useful. In business you’re always helpful to your clients.

Don’t listen to your friends and relatives. Check it out for yourself. One of the women who I interviewed, Janet Williams was influenced by another student in her reflexology course who was 71. When Janet asked her why she wanted to start her own reflexology business she said: “You’re never too old.”

Listen to the words of the song Young At Heart. I just heard the version by Frank Sinatra on the radio and have a CD of Jimmy Durante singing it. My mom always sang it to me when I was a child, too. I guess that’s why I think young.

What are your thoughts? If you haven’t started yet, what’s stopping you? Any of the many women entrepreneurs can motivate you. If they can do it then why not you!

Originally posted June 14, 2012

Beliefs and Views, Small Business

The best way to learn is to teach

June 29, 2021 No Comments

: Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

There are hundreds of reasons NOT to teach.

I’m not a “born” teacher.
I don’t know how to teach.
I don’t have the knowledge yet in my subject area.
I don’t like public speaking.
I’m not a techie so can’t use the technology tools necessary to do an online class.
I don’t have a group big enough to teach a seminar to.
I’m an introvert or I’m shy and don’t like big groups.

The fact is that these are just excuses. In fact, teaching is one of the best ways to learn – your subject matter, technology, speaking in public and the skills needed to teach.

There is also an answer for every one of the excuses.

“I don’t have a group big enough.” Get to know people who do have groups they influence and talk to them about publicizing your event or interviewing you about your subject on their webinar or podcast.

“I’m not a techie.” Learn the technology yourself and better yet get to know someone who’s already done several webinars.

“I’m not a teacher.” Everyone has had a good teacher at some time in their life. What was it that made them good? What did they do? Learn those things yourself. Take courses. Read articles about how to teach.

So what is YOUR excuse?

What is teaching?

Teaching is much more than delivering information. People can find information on the internet. It’s taking that information and translating it to knowledge so people can use that same information to reach their objectives. It means that you deliver knowledge.

Wisdom means that you have the ability to make judgments and decisions. Wisdom is an intangible quality gained through your experiences and through learning more about your subject.

Information leads to knowledge leads to wisdom.

Let me repeat – teaching is the best way to learn something new – your subject matter, technology, speaking in public and the skills needed to teach.

It’s also a way to keep young when you’re older. You already have the knowledge and experience. Why not share it with others! Teaching IS sharing.

Marketing

Is marketing art or science? Here’s what Seth Godin says

May 15, 2021 No Comments

photo credit: Capture Of Dreams via photopin cc

IS marketing an art or science? This is a great question that one should think about. Seth Godin‘s blog post (I get them delivered to my inbox regularly) answers this.

He begins by writing “It’s both, and that’s the problem. ….Some marketers are scientists. They test and measure. They do the math….The other marketers are artists. They inspire and challenge and connect..” We need both, don’t we.

Read what he has to say … Is Marketing an Art or Science?

I hope the article makes you look at your marketing in a new way. Tell me what YOU think!!

Originally posted on April 2, 2014

Beliefs and Views

Have a beginner’s mind when you’re learning

May 5, 2021 No Comments

When you learn something new, are you afraid of failure or how you look to others? Don’t.

Look at children. They’re wired to learn. When my nephew was learning to walk in the early 90s, he fell more than he walked but it didn’t matter to him. He got up and tried again .. and again .. and again.

When I was 10 in 1960, I learned to ride a two-wheel bicycle. A teenage boy who lived across the street from us held my bike seat and ran down the road with me lots of times. I didn’t learn. A teenage girl who lived several houses down from him did the same as him three times. Then she let go of my seat while I was riding. I made the mistake of looking back to see if she was still there and I fell. She yelled down the block to get up and try again so I did. I rode!!!

When we were kids, neither my nephew nor I had worried then about what people would think. We were learning and making progress and eventually we succeeded.

He and I have both used this attitude (except for a few times when we didn’t) over the years.

Can we learn something from children’s behaviour as they learn to walk, run, jump, swim and talk? Yes. We can and should apply this “can do” attitude every time we learn a new skill. As the song Pick Yourself Up composed in 1936 says …

“Pick yourself up. Take a deep breath. Dust yourself off. And start all over again. Nothing’s impossible, I have found. For when my chin is on the ground I pick myself up, dust myself off, and start all over again.”

Remember the following every time you learn something new.

Have a “beginner’s mind”. Think of yourself as a child and how you learned to talk, crawl, walk. Everything was new to you and you looked at others and wanted to do what they did … and you eventually did.

Plan to fail – a lot. Then get up and try again. Each failure is one step closer to success as you define it.

Feel uncomfortable. Look foolish. Everyone does as a beginner. You don’t have a choice of how others see you (and you shouldn’t care) while you’re mastering something new. Smile. Laugh. Try again.

You can read about how to do it but that will never be enough to take you from a beginner to an expert. You have to get off the sidelines and DO IT!

Prepare for the bumps and bruises you get along the way. It’s the only way to learn, isn’t it. When children are learning to walk, they fall and when they do they sometimes hurt themselves and cry. But they don’t cry for long. They fail, shed a few tears, pick themselves up, and try again.

As someone once wrote “having a beginner’s mind means you’re fearless”.

“Beginner’s mind means having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject, even when studying at an advanced level.”
Lisa Bloom, Storytelling Coach

Think about a time as a child when you were learning something new. How did you feel? Remember that feeling and let us know in the Comments.

Small Business

Do you let fear hold you back?

April 21, 2021 No Comments

photo credit: Shandi-lee via photopin cc

Fear is a natural feeling.

It told cavemen and women to run away from danger. We’re not cavemen or women any more but having some fear is still healthy. We should feel afraid when a gun is pointed at us. It’s only unhealthy when you feel so much fear that it stops you from acting.

It’s normal to be afraid when you’re starting or running your business. Fear acts as your guard at the gate of your comfort zone. But getting out of your comfort zone especially in business is a good thing.

Letting those fears stop you is a bad thing. Using them to transform your business and you IN your business is good.

Here are some ideas of how to use fear.

1. Fear of being judged. Needing approval from family, friends or clients in order to do something is bad.

Each time you catch yourself wondering what others would think, try what I learned from Jack Canfield in 1992. Look into your eyes in the mirror and say “I approve of me.” It works.

2. Fear of rejection. This can happen with every sales call, newsletter, followup or offer – the core activities of business.

Rejection is just a no of what you’re asking. It’s NOT a rejection of you. You actually want rejection as a business owner so you can learn from it. If you’re not experiencing rejection, you’re probably not getting clients. Don’t take “no’s” personally.

3. Fear of embarrassment. Think of a public mistake someone else made. Did they acknowledge it? What happened? You probably said or thought that it was nothing and then carried on. Be easy on yourself too just as you were to them.

4. Fear of the unknown. This is probably the biggest fear of all for a business owner.

Remember that business builders have had fears and failures, and then needed to dig deep to find the courage, motivation and willingness to keep moving forward with their dream. Even when it wasn’t easy. Remember that you’re not alone.

Don’t let fear stop you from moving forward.

Take small steps and take actions which move you toward your goals. Don’t let yourself wallow in your fear and tell yourself scary stories.

Do this …

photo credit: -mrsraggle- via photopin cc

Pick one of your goals for the next year. Now think about one small step that you can take over the next week to get started now and start building positive momentum immediately.

Don’t worry about thinking beyond that one step. It will inevitably lead to a second, then a third. Just take the first one. You’ll already be way ahead of the alternative – which was the inaction that your fears caused.

Go from fear to triumph.

What have you tried that worked? Comment so others can benefit from it.

Originally posted December 30, 2014

Beliefs and Views, Small Business

How being a schoolteacher prepares you for entrepreneurship

February 17, 2021 No Comments

photo credit: Cultural viewpoints from around the world from photopin.com and flickr.com

You’ve probably been a schoolteacher if you’re a woman over 55.

I was born in 1950 when women had three career choices. You could be a school teacher, a secretary or a nurse. I chose to be a teacher since I knew even then that I wouldn’t be one forever.

Since attending university in the late 60s and early 70s, I’ve wanted to have my own business. I taught elementary school for 8 years from 1972 to 1980. Little did I know then that teaching would give me the skills I’d continue to use as a business owner.

In the summer of 1978 I taught how to use computers in the classroom as a course to other teachers BEFORE you needed credentials to teach it. Nancy Murray a Superintendent in the Windsor Separate School Board took a risk on me. I had 40 elementary school teachers in my class that summer. That was the beginning of my self employment journey. I’d started.

Being a teacher is one of the best things you can do.

Many of us have been teachers and most don’t know that teaching prepares you to become an entrepreneur who starts and runs your own business.

Here are some of the many skills that teaching gave us.

being “teachable”. Learning what you need to know through professional development.
short term and long term planning. (Do teachers still create “day plans” and “weekly plans”?)
running a large group. When I started in 1972 I had 42 students in my first year. Did that ever prepare me!
risk taking
persistence
patience
goal setting. You set goals for yourself each year, for the class and especially if you taught special education as I did, you set goals for each individual student as well.
speaking to a group. You know how to speak to a group and if you had the courage, you also spoke to groups of your peers.
educating!!!
how people learn. As a teacher it was in the curriculum at teachers’ college.
how to research offline and online
“reading, writing and of course arithmetic”
creativity. You had to make do with what you had and therefore if you didn’t have something you used your creativity to make what you needed from what you had.
listening to and knowing the individual needs of your students/ clients
… and of course …being your own boss (I guess that’s why I liked Special Education so much.)

I could go on and on.

Do you see how as a teacher you have the skills needed as a business owner? What you don’t know yet is how to start a business but you know how to learn, don’t you? Well that’s all you need.

I and most entrepreneurs didn’t take courses on how to start a business. They and I learned what we needed as we went along using trial and error. Sure we made mistakes. Didn’t your students when they were learning? We read books, took classes, attended conferences and hired coaches.

Take a risk and start your own business. Ask for help when you need it. And keep learning. That’s what keeps us young!

As the Nike slogan says just do it .

What else would you add to this list?

Originally posted October 23, 2012

Startup

8 Actions for startup – #8 who is your target market

February 6, 2021 No Comments

You have an idea of what you will sell to whom, don’t you.

Now that you’ve done the first seven actions, it’s time to get more specific and decide WHO your target market or niche is.

Whether you’re starting your first business or have been a business owner for years, every year you should review who and what your target market is. I did this in 2011 since many things had changed in my life. I used Judi Hughes of Your Planning Partners here in Toronto https://yourplanningpartners.com/ . I also took a small group course by phone from Tsufit called Step into the Spotlight. https://tsufit.com/blog/ They really helped me focus on what I have to offer and to whom.

6 ways to help find your target market

1. Go to bed with it (what is your target market) on your mind then let it go and fall asleep. That’s what Jack Canfield did to get the name for the book series he co-authors with Mark Victor Hansen call Chicken Soup for the Soul.

2. Meditate. Put this as a question BEFORE your meditation then let it go.

3. Contemplate all that you’ve learned from books, webinars, conferences, your coach and newsletters you get. What do you REALLY sell to whom?

4. Daydream. We all have daydreams, don’t we? Look at them. Take them seriously. You may see your target market.

5. Imagine what you’d be doing on your ideal day. Who are you doing it for? What are you doing?

6. Listen to your coach (be sure they really know you) and consider what the leader of each webinar you take says.

BELIEVE! Most importantly, what do have PASSION for? What do you need? What solution do you have for a problem?

Tell me and my readers what problem you can solve with your solution. Who is YOUR target market?

Originally posted March 3, 2012

Beliefs and Views, Small Business

Do people come to you for info? Are you a resource?

January 19, 2021 No Comments

Whether you’re a novice business owner or an experienced one you already may be known as a resource. When I was a schoolteacher and now in business, people always think of me as someone who has heard of nearly everybody or everything. And if I don’t know something or someone I suggest someone who knows. That makes me a resource.

So if I can’t help you then I can recommend someone who can. You may need a copywriter, a cleaner, a massage therapist, a photographer, a web designer, a lawyer or something else.

After all, I’ve been in business and networking for 40 years so I know lots of people!

How to give someone the name of people you recommend

Send an email yourself. Put both people in the “To” line. Introduce them to each other. Tell where you and the referral met and why you think the referee and her business could use her services. Then leave it to them.

Always ask that they use your name

The person will remember who you are and it becomes another way to build relationships. When the time comes that they need your services they’ll think of you. Who knows?

Here is an example of how it can work

I was at a networking event and told a colleague that I needed a cleaner. She brought me a flyer of one who was at the networking event we were attending. I saw the name of that network event’s leader Deanne Kelleher of Kaos Group as a referral in the brochure so I asked Deanne about them. She said they’re really good. But there’s more! She said that if they weren’t right for me she knows others.

So I called the cleaner and used her and her work was great!

Remember that you need to describe what you need as precisely as you can when you ask.

As women, we’re good at giving, aren’t we?

What service did you need and someone gave you the name of someone she uses or knows. It happens all the time! Comment here and share their contact info with everyone.

Originally posted on March 10, 2012

Startup

8 Actions for a startup – #6 attend conferences

November 17, 2020 No Comments

Have you ever gone to a conference? They have a lineup of speakers, panels, and topics to pick from. They have concurrent sessions and sometimes two of the sessions you really want to go to are at the same time. How do you choose? By the speaker? by the topics? do you “toss a coin”? Decisions Decisions …

1. How do you find out about conferences?

Ask the same people you asked about what newsletter to subscribe to (#3 in my list of 8 actions) or courses to take (#5 in my list of 8 actions) or books to read (#4 in my list of 8 actions). I’ll repeat them and I’ll add one more.

Ask other women at networking events.
Read the speakers’ websites and the conferences’ websites that other business owners suggest. Add these to your list and ask your mentor or coach or someone who’s attended before.
Ask your mentor and your coach which ones they go to. Ask them which ones they recommend. Have a list of the speakers and the topics offered that you’re considering when you ask them.
Check out the ones the writers/ owners of the newsletters you subscribe to attend or speak at.
Ask someone who’s gone to AND participated in the conference you’re thinking of attending.
Use a search engine on your computer like google. Enter a word or phrase that best describes what you’re involved in and looking for. For example: marketing, startup, chiropractic, alternative health or lifestyle coaching. How do you describe your business when you tell others what you do? Enter that phrase.

2. How do you choose whether to attend or not?

Use the criteria:

Location. Is it too far for you to go or is it in your city?

Cost. Add up accommodations, travel, attendance fee and your time and get the REAL cost of an event. Can you afford it?

Contacts. How many will you make? Remember you don’t just want to meet the presenters in person but to network with the other attendees.

Professional Development. What will you learn? Could you read it in a book? Take a webinar?

Timing. Do the dates conflict with anything you’ve already committed to?

If the contacts and your professional development and learning outweigh the costs and you can make the time for this then go. Don’t let yourself be swayed by the urgency that many conference organizers put on deciding. Do your “due diligence” just as you did before starting the business then decide if it’s right for you.

3. How do you choose which sessions to attend?

Speaker. Is there one of them you really want to hear and meet and that’s why you came?

Topic. Would you learn more from one topic than the other?

Recording. All events record the speakers. Could you buy the recording of the one you choose NOT to attend?

Associations. Do you have any associations you belong to who have an annual conference? Who attends this?

Is someone else going to that session and taking notes? That’s why networking is so important. Ask the people sitting near you at the conference what they do. Arrange to meet them for coffee or lunch or dinner. Which sessions are THEY attending?

Do This …

Share with us which conferences worked “best” for you. Tell us the name so we know and can tell others.

Originally posted February 24, 2012

Startup

8 Actions for a startup – #5 Take live courses and webinars

November 15, 2020 3 Comments

You take courses for at least two reasons – to learn and to meet people – network.

Kinds of Courses

1. Live Course. This is just as it says. You’re in a seminar or course with a group of people in a physical place like a hotel. Pros: you network with people, “personalized” attention from instructor Cons: cost – your time to get there, parking and fuel, paid recording of the course.

2. Webinars (used to be called telecourses and were via phone only) These use technology – computers or phones. Pros: cheaper, no travel time for you or the instructor, no cost for parking, can get a replay if you’re not available, use your laptop computer or smartphone for webinars Cons: networking with other participants is difficult or impossible, you may be at a client and therefore have no access to long distance for a phone course.

You can see that both types have their pros and cons. For me who can’t travel as easily since my stroke, if a seminar is in town I either have to pay for a taxi or find another participant to give me a ride, the webinars and telecourses are perfect. I can take several each year and I never have to leave home. Thank goodness for technology:-) But choose for yourself.

Why Take Courses?

As a lifelong learner I believe in education and learning. Never stop learning. Even if it’s a free webinar, as long as the advertising of the speaker’s next course is kept to a minimum, sign up for them. The good news is that all webinars are recorded. The bad news is that the slides used in a webinar aren’t always available.
Networking is the first kind of marketing I always suggest. At a live seminar you can choose the other students you wish to and talk with them or set up to meet them. You also have an opportunity to meet the instructor in person.

How do you hear about them?

Ask the same people you asked about what newsletter to subscribe to (#3 in my list of 8 actions) and books to read (#4 in my list of 8 actions). I’ll repeat the points here.

Make a list of what matters to YOU.
Make sure you put professional development costs in your planning budget.
Take a free webinar first.
Ask your mentor and your coach which ones they attend in person or listen to on a webinar. Ask them which ones they would recommend. If they’re paid courses by someone you’ve never heard of, ask your mentor or coach if they’ve heard of the speaker. If they have and you can afford it, take the course.
Have a list of what’s offered that you’re considering.
Read websites and go to the ones the business owners suggest.
Ask other women at networking events.
Check out the ones that the writers/ owners of the newsletters you subscribe offer.

Remember, you always learn something. Over the years I’ve taken many courses and webinars. You can never know everything.

You would think I know a lot since I’ve been self employed since 1980. Nope – one can always learn more. Early in 2011, I took a group coaching program/ telecourse for 10 weeks from Tsufit of “Step Into Spotlight” and I learned something new AND different ways to look at something that I already knew. There’s always something new to learn!

Often I’m called a marketing expert. That’s because I keep learning through books, newsletters, webinars and conferences. But I learn the most from YOU – my students and followers. YOU ask the questions and if I know I tell you the answer. If I don’t know I tell you and then search to learn it and then tell YOU!

That’s how it works. It’s okay to not know the answer. Just ask and then you’ll know.

Originally posted February 14, 2012