Author Archives: Aunti Cindi

3 Business Rules for Today and Always

3 Business Rules for Today and Always

Normally, once Saturday Night Live is over, I’m busy doing something. As a night owl, I’m often off the sofa and into my office to work on my lengthy to-do list. But, a few weeks ago, I was a bit tired and didn’t get up before the next program began. And, I’m very glad!

Immediately following SNL, at least in this market (Las Vegas), is Your Move with Andy Stanley. Now, I’d only seen the program a couple of times, but that night’s talk really hit home, with one slight twist. Stanley was addressing viewers to make changes in their personal lives. However, I had my business hat on that day and before he spoke a word, once I saw the bullet points on the screen, I immediately went into entrepreneur mode.

Stanley wanted you to look deep inside you to make the changes necessary to become the person you’re desiring to sit across the table from you, the perfect mate. If viewed from the other’s perspective with your checklist, do you match up? I’d heard this advice before, but my business brain was running a mile a minute on his bullet points. So let’s take a look.

Here are Andy Stanley’s Three Rules:

  1. Get out of debt
  2. Stay out of bed
  3. Clean out your closet

Now, aside from the first one, you may be wondering how the next two apply to business. Let’s take them one by one.

Get out of debt. Some people advise you to leverage, leverage, leverage. When it comes to debt, I’m advising to be debt-free. The less debt you have, the more control you have over your company. As a solopreneur or small business owner, if you don’t owe anyone money, then you have more money to keep the doors of your business open longer. You’ll make wiser decisions because if you’re spending your money and not someone else’s, you are apt to be very cautious when signing on the dotted line. If you’re debt-free with savings in the bank, you have a more solid foundation on which to grow your business.

If you have a type of business that requires a large capital outlay and it will be a few years to get those loans down to zero, at least pay off your personal debt. Your individual credit score might be required in order to secure financing for your business. And, if you’re looking to woo a potential partner, investor or company to acquire your business, the prettier the balance sheet, the better chance you have of finding that perfect one that checks off all the boxes on your list.

Stay out of bed. Here, Stanley was suggesting you not sleep around, and while that’s good advice for the business environment as well, I immediately thought in different terms. If I were to use this bullet, I would say Get out of bed.

So many people start a business not knowing the immense amount of time and effort required just to get it off the ground, let alone maintain. If you’re lying in bed instead of working on your to-do list and reviewing your goals to see where you can move forward, your business is doomed.

You don’t even have to own a business to make sense of this advice. Taking the time to improve your skills, get a better education, network with people in your desired industry, research requirements for the job you want – they all require that you spend some time in the full upright position.

I’m not advocating you never take time off. On the contrary, rest is essential to having the endurance to be a successful business owner. Lazing around and complaining that nothing ever goes your way will have quite the opposite effect.

Clean out your closet. Dealing with past emotional baggage was the point Stanley was making here, and that’s not bad advice for a business owner. However, I took it literally. Clean out your closet. And your basement. And your garage. And any other place that’s cluttered! Clean!

Why clean? First of all, a clean environment is healthy and conducive to inspiring thought. If you only see clutter around you, your brain has a hard time slogging through the mess before it can focus on creativity. If you’re looking at a clean and organized interior landscape, surrounded by things that make you happy, your starting point for work is significantly better.

Some people say they can’t find the money to start their business. Well, it might be sitting in your garage or the back of your hall closet. Clean out and sell items you’re not using. You might fetch a few thousand, or at least a few hundred, which could be enough to get your website going and business cards designed and printed. Accomplishing a whole house cleanout will also boost your confidence to accomplish those sometimes-scary business tasks. Just don’t waste the money you gain. It can dribble in as things may sell one by one and take a period of time for everything to sell. Set the money aside so you have all the dollars ready to work for your new business.

As you can see, the same words can mean different things to different people, depending on your perspective and state of mind at the time. Andy Stanley was working on your spiritual self while I saw the words from a business perspective. Still, good advice whichever side you’re on!

What are your thoughts? Can you relate to any of these three scenarios? I’d love to hear about your experiences.

Sparkle On!

Aunti Cindi

Word of the Year

Word of the Year

Every year – for years – I’ve had a motto for my business, many times two mottos. I believe that an overarching theme for the year is a great way to focus when it comes to shiny objects. It’s easy to ask yourself, does it fit with my goals? Can I wholeheartedly state that this will make my business stronger in my preferred direction? Is it just a distraction?

And, to keep myself in check, I would add the mottos to my calendar every single day, so when I turned on my computer or checked my calendar, they were there, in front of me, reminding me of the big picture for the year.

But, I’ve decided to take a different approach to 2018. The year of this or that just doesn’t seem to resonate with me, much as it did in the past. I’ve noticed a lot of people are now choosing a word of the year, often in retrospect, but still, one word that defines the year. And, I’m on board!

However, I wish I had waited a bit before I selected my word. I still love it – but I’ll explain as I go along.

These last few years have been difficult in many ways, as I lost my brother just over a year ago plus I was a full time caregiver to my Mom for several years. She passed away in December, and I’m just finally coming up for some air. I loved taking care of my Mom, and it was the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my life. However, it took its toll. Lots of stress, decisions, anxiety, lack of sleep – you get the picture. (Book in development – stay tuned!)

So, when it came time to choose my word, I decided on Celebrate. I want this year to be the year when I find many things in my life and business to celebrate, injecting joy along the way. I even created a small binder to track my progress throughout the year, and I’m excited to fill the pages.

However, the Chinese New Year is approaching, and it’s the Year of the Dog, the earth dog. As it happens, I’m an earth dog. I didn’t realize the year comes with its own word – Action! That sounds like a pretty good word, too!

I was a bit flummoxed as to which word to use after reading that, but then I decided that by taking action I would have much to celebrate. So, not a bad combination!

I think I’m off to a good start, working through the grief yet checking things off my ever-growing list. I have books to write, blogs to post, courses to create, clients to coach – and I hope you’re along with me for the ride.

We all face challenges in our lives, but being part of a supportive and inspired community helps us to keep moving forward.

I’m excited to share so much with you this year! Let me know what your plans are and how I can help! I’d also like to know what your word or motto is for the year.

Please be sure to like our Facebook page!

Sparkle on!

Aunti Cindi 

Tame Those Pesky Goals!

Tame Those Pesky Goals!

Many studies show that when you write down your goals, you have a much better chance of accomplishing them. So, then, why do so many people avoid setting and accomplishing goals?

Aside from the stress and anxiety of potentially feeling like a failure when you can’t cross an item off your list, I think there are three key areas that people struggle with when it comes to goals:

  1. When to set them
  2. How to define them
  3. How to track them

So, let’s look at each of these topics.

  1. When to set goals
    The logical time to set a goal is when you are ready to go after it! Traditionally, goals are set at the very end of the year or beginning of the New  Year. But, things change over 12 months and you might change your course of action, have a life-changing event, or discover something that absolutely needs to be accomplished right now! Limiting yourself to setting goals just once a year can impede your progress. I suggest setting them, but reviewing them on a regular basis – weekly or monthly – to make sure they still align to you. Having two or three umbrella goals like achieving financial independence, becoming the next best technology company or balancing your work/home life dynamic, will probably remain the same, with the subgoals and projects emanating from that.
  2. How to define goals
    Ah, this one is a bit tricky, as is the next. The best way to define the goal is in a way that you understand and will motivate you to achieve it. I know, that sounds like a cop out, but it truly makes sense. Giving you hard and fast rules as to how to define your goals might dissuade you from setting them. You know yourself best and how you like to see things – vision boards, colored markers, spreadsheets, pie charts, essays – whatever works for you is how you should do it. My one caution here is that if you like to do vision boards to also have something in writing so you can identify accomplishment, or have a way to mark the item off on the board, like a big gold star.
    As I stated above, I would start with a couple of umbrella goals, sometimes referred to as your WHY. What is the main reason you want to improve yourself/your business? Once you have the WHY identified, you can create subgoals and projects/action items related to each. As each action item gets crossed off the list, you’ll be that much closer to achieving your goal.
  3. How to track goals
    Again, tracking is as personal as you are. Some people are reluctant to set goals because they’ve tried it in the past and were not able to cross everything off their list by the end of the year. Well, guess what? That’s normal! Many goals take longer than a year to achieve, but as long as you’re making progress, that’s all that matters. I like to identify a highlighter color for each year – either a digital highlighter or a physical one – so I can see very clearly what was accomplished each year and how many years it took. I highlight and date as each action item or goal is accomplished. As you see accomplishment, your confidence grows and you want to achieve even more!

I hope these tidbits help you to begin or renew a process of goal setting and tracking. I talk a bit about goals in my book, Tame Those Pesky Details. I’m also working on an online course that will show different ways to identify and track your goals. Like my Facebook page to be the first to know! Sometimes you just need to find a new way of doing things!

How do you set and track your goals? What might be keeping you from accomplishing more? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please leave your comments below.

Sparkle on!

Aunti Cindi 

5 Books Every Entrepreneur Should Read

5 Books Every Entrepreneur Should Read

I love to read – as well as write! I’m amazed how many people do not read! As they say in school, reading is fundamental! Sure, you might spend hours each day scouring Twitter, Facebook or even blog posts, but a book allows an author the opportunity to go into far more detail on a given topic than any blog or tweet.

I always have something interesting on my night stand or desk, and although I do read fiction, I generally read more nonfiction. Business books and biographies or motivational books top my list. 

Here are five books that I think every entrepreneur or small business owner would enjoy – and learn from! And – they make great gifts!

Finding My Virginity by Sir Richard Branson

I love Sir Richard Branson! I must have read or listened to his first autobiography, Losing My Virginity, at least five or six times. He’s very open and honest about struggles he’s gone through in building his business.  Plus, he’s an amazing adventurer and holds several world records. Talk about living a full life! I’m always very envious that he has such a simple but multi-use global brand. I’m not good at headlines or product names like Sir Richard! He is also very giving of those in need. The books are quite detailed and long but worth every second of your time.

Inventing Joy by Joy Mangano

I’m a huge fan of Joy Mangano. If you watch the movie, Joy, starring Jennifer Lawrence, you’ll get a bit of background on this lovely lady. Both she and Sir Richard came from humble beginnings and built gigantic businesses. She, too, looks at things and always tries to improve on them. I have a number of Joy items in my home and I’m very pleased and impressed that she created so many different products. Building a business is a lot of hard work and struggle while finding the best path for you. This interesting but quick read will lift your spirits and know that it’s possible to overcome obstacles.

Your Right to be Rich by Napoleon Hill

This audio CD set is very hard to find, but if you can locate it, you must have it! Napoleon Hill is best known for his book, Think and Grow Rich, but this CD series is audio recordings of seminars he taught many years ago. Hearing him speak rather than just reading his words will give you goose bumps and get your mind moving forward. I wish someone would re-release them. An absolute must-have!

The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone

Just 10 pages into this book and my mind was racing a mile a minute! I’d never read anything by Grant Cardone, but this book is truly motivating. We all have gifts and talents and it’s up to us to share them with the world. Not only does our work help others, it inspires others to use their gifts and talents, too. Again, nothing is easy; it takes a lot of effort – maybe a bit too much effort in Cardone’s case – but you will definitely find cherished nuggets in this book.

How To Screw Up A Good Idea

Aunti Cindi Presents: How to Screw Up a Good Idea by Cindi R. Maciolek

Seriously, did you think I’d create a list and leave off one of my books? Having worked with numerous startups over the years, I’ve seen repeated mistakes made by both seasoned executives and newcomers. In this book, I detail a number of common faults that cause businesses to fail. Do you see yourself falling into any of these traps? Better check it out before you are doomed to repeat other people’s mistakes.

That’s it for this list! I’d love to hear your thoughts, and to find out some of your favorite books. Be sure to leave a comment down below.

Don’t forget to like our Facebook page!

Sparkle on!

Aunti Cindi 

This post contains affiliate links.

Gift Guide for Entrepreneurs

Gift Guide for Entrepreneurs

Greetings Sparklers!

The holidays are not the only time of year when we worry about buying the right gift. There are birthdays, anniversaries and thank you gifts, just to name a few. We want to purchase something that is both useful and memorable – more than a gift card but less than the food and alcohol options which might not be anxiously received. Then there’s that whole budget issue…

Here are a few gifts sure to please!

VuPoint Magic Wand Portable Scanner

I first bought this scanner to scan all the family photos I have, but it does so much more than that! It will scan contracts, receipts, and anything else that can slide through the scanner. There are two main reasons I really like this product. First, it scans at 1200 dpi in the dock. That’s awesome! Second, the wand can be removed from the dock and scanned over anything from images to articles to fabrics to pretty much anything your heart desires! It’s super easy to use, a great price, and if you do a lot of scanning, it won’t wear out your printer/scanner combo that most people have nowadays.

Bell and Howell Tac-Bat

I’m really into emergency preparedness, and preparation for small business must be on the list! This Tac-Bat is a five-way light source (low, medium, high, strobe, SOS), a weapon and an escape hammer. So, in addition to helping you see when the power goes out, you can use it to knock out a window – or an assailant – if need be. It’s super heavy duty and operates on just three AA batteries. It comes in a variety of colors and a great deal at less than $20 (as of this writing). Buy a few for yourself while you’re at it!

Nate Berkus Gold Scissors

Nate Berkus Gold Swingline Stapler

I came across these at Target when I was redoing my office, with gold and rose gold accents. I absolutely L-O-V-E both! The scissors are the best I’ve ever had and so chic in gold. The stapler is made by Swingline and we know those staplers last forever! I had a trusty old black Swingline but fell in love with this gold one. Again, great gifts are great prices and so contemporary. Target seems to have the best prices on these.

Himalayan Salt Lamp

Pink Himalayan salt is all the rage these days, and for good reason. It’s supposed to clean the air and provide positive health benefits. Plus, these lamps are really cool to look at. Salt rooms are popping up all around the country. Be a hero and buy one for your favorite entrepreneur! Again, these are quite affordable – generally under $30 – and will be both useful and memorable to the gift recipient.

AA Batteries

Now, you  might think this is the strangest gift, but I guarantee you every time the recipient needs a battery, they will think of you as they go to their stockpile. Wrap it pretty. Put a giant bow on it. It is both useful and memorable and works within your budget. You can purchase any quantity you like, but this lot of 100 will be used up just in time for you to purchase another package in a year!

What are your favorite gifts for entrepreneurs? I’d love to hear! 

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Sparkle On!

Aunti Cindi

Four Perfect Briefcase Options

 

Four Perfect Briefcase Options

Greetings Sparklers!

Finding the right briefcase that works for you and your business can be almost as exhausting as buying a new pair of jeans!

Some people work from home nearly 100 percent of the time and really don’t need anything more than a laptop case. Some have events around town or make day trips and need room for clothing and supplies. Others have large client files or lots of product samples and need something a bit roomier. Quite frankly, over the years I’ve accumulated a variety of briefcases, and use them at different times.

Here are some options for your consideration.

1. Leather duffle.

A leather duffle is timeless and long lasting. If you’re a speaker, presenter or have need to carry a lot of stuff with you, get one with wheels. I have this particular one from Joy Mangano (sorry, it’s no longer available) and it’s great if I’m at an all-day event where I need my business resources as well as a change of clothing for an evening event. It’s simple and classic and works for both men and women.

2. Laptop case.

Sometimes all you need is your laptop and a file or two. I’m totally obsessed with this one on Amazon in the beautiful rose print! I seem to be in a pink/rose gold mood at the moment, so I’m sure I’ll add it to my collection. It comes in a variety of prints, so you’ll be sure to find one that fits your taste.

3. The weekender/underseater

This option is great if you need to make a day trip or overnighter out of town. I have this bag and it’s great because it fits under the seat in front of you on an airplane. There’s room for your laptop, files, product samples, clothing, shoes, large water bottle and grooming items. This bag is by Samantha Brown but Lori Greiner also makes one that is very similar. Works great for both men and women.

4. The Wheelie

The ultimate rolling briefcase here is by Joy Mangano. I’m a huge Joy Mangano fan, have you noticed? This bag has room for a laptop, tablet, separate compartment for files, plus room for either product samples or clothing. Color options will suit both men and women. I own the taupe which is like a nice khaki.

You might have noticed that three of the four options I’ve shown have wheels. Yep! I feel that we put enough stress on our backs and lugging heavy briefcases will not make you wealthier.

Joy Mangano and Samantha Brown products are sold on HSN. Lori Greiner works with QVC. But, you can always check eBay for these items or something similar. Sometimes sellers have the same items at good prices, or even out of production items such as my duffle.

Owning a business is stressful enough without hauling multiple bags or boxes of equipment, files and product. If you have a briefcase that suits your taste and needs, you’ll show up at a meeting looking relaxed and refreshed, and most of all, professional and pulled together.

What are your preferred briefcase options? I’d love to hear! Please share!

Be sure to like our Facebook page.

Sparkle on!

Aunti Cindi

4 Great Lighting Options for that Unexpected Power Outage


4 Great Lighting Options for that Unexpected Power Outage

Total darkness. For miles…

I lived in California for a number of years, experiencing earthquakes both large and small, occasionally resulting in a loss of electricity. I also lived in an apartment where I was guaranteed the power would go out once a week. So, the question is, what do you do when the lights go out?

Let’s say you’re sitting in your home office in the evening, trying to finish a big project, when suddenly you’re cloaked in total darkness. Your natural tendency would be to grab your cell phone and turn on the flashlight so you could assess just how far reaching the outage was. That’s fine for a bit but what do you do when it goes on for hours? How are you prepared?

In case you’re wondering why I’m presenting this topic, I’m following along with my book, Tame Those Pesky Details (TTPD), where I focus on one specific item each month to keep your business in tip top shape. April is the month for Emergency Preparedness. I’ve written at length about backing up your backup, so today I’m addressing a more practical issue.

If you think it’s no big deal to be without lights, you have to realize that if you don’t have lights, you don’t have Internet either. You can get stir crazy pretty quickly. It also means the microwave doesn’t work nor does the hot water heater. But, I digress…

I actually was in this situation a few years ago. When I lived in California, I was diligent about maintaining my earthquake kit as well as having emerging lighting options throughout the house. However, once I moved to Nevada – even though the state is number three in earthquakes behind California and Alaska – I put my kit and lights on a high shelf in the garage. I got lazy.

Then the power went out. I didn’t have my phone at my side, so I banged and felt my way to find it. Then, while on hold with the power company to find out the extent of the outage, I climbed an unopened ladder pushed against a pile of unpacked boxes and managed to grab my Coleman dining lanterns with the end of a broomstick. The power would be out at least till the next morning. I grabbed all my lanterns and turned them on, one of the few houses on the street to have some light.

After that experience, I made sure that every room had a lantern of some sort. I’m never more than a few feet away from a light source. I keep a flashlight in my nightstand and have others sprinkled around the house. And I still want more!

In the photo, I’ve shown some of my favorite emergency light options. You might want to buy a couple to keep handy next time you wind up in the dark.

  1. Brooklyn Lantern. These were advertised on television for months, but I bought mine at Target. You can also find it at Amazon. I really purchased it because the light is supposed to last 10,000 hours or something like that, and it’s dimmable. I only have a couple of these and while not my absolute favorite, they give off a decent amount of light and you shouldn’t need to replace the batteries or bulbs for a while.
  2. Coleman dining lantern. This is my absolute favorite! I’ve had these for years. They don’t have this exact style any more, but I’m tempted to buy some new ones. Just one will really light a room. And, I looked for a long time to find one that uses regular D batteries instead of the lantern battery. I like that it has a hook on the top so you can carry if you need to. Love love love it!
  3. Bell and Howell tactical flashlight. I’d been reading a lot about the benefits of having a tactical flashlight, and this one is great! It’s very bright so it lights a wide area, but you can also focus the light if you need to. It’s a bit heavy, but definitely worth it.
  4. Blocklite. This is another of my absolute favorites. I was reading about this on a blog one day, and just had to get one. You simply attach the light to a 9v battery and you have an instant flashlight! It has two settings, which is nice. I’ve used it to walk out to check the mail at night and to make sure I got everything out of my hamper, which is dark purple and in the corner of my closet. It’s come in handy so many times, I’d buy them as stocking stuffers for all your loves.

I also purchased a hand crank lantern with a USB plug to recharge my phone or any other small device. Oftentimes, we charge our phones at night and you might just need a few extra minutes that the hand crank can provide.

This may not be the most glamorous post, but I’m here to make you ponder what you need to make your life and business more efficient. Preparing for emergencies is part of the responsibilities of you, the CEO of your business. I’ll cover other emergency topics in the future.

If you’d like to follow along through the year, purchase your copy of Tame Those Pesky Details. (link below) 

How have you prepared your business for emergencies?  I’d love to hear! Leave a comment below.

I do hope you’ll enjoy my blog posts, Instagram photos and tweets on Twitter!

Sparkle On!

Aunti Cindi

Are you making money while you sleep?

Are you making money while you sleep?

Cha-ching!

Ah, the joy of waking in the morning to discover that money was deposited into your account while you were off in dream land.

I’m following along with my book, Tame Those Pesky Details (TTPD), where I focus on one specific item each month to keep your business in tip top shape. March is the month for Passive Income, the ability to make money while you sleep. As the Internet pervades our lives more each year, options for passive income become more readily available. Of course, it’s not as easy as waving a magic wand; there is much prep work to be done, but once you’ve put in the effort, you can reap financial rewards for some time to come.

I think it’s the ultimate goal of many online entrepreneurs to be able to work as few hours as possible while making as much money as they can. That’s not the only goal, mind you, but by creating a steady online income, you can do anything from quit your full-time job to plan extravagant vacations or donate to your favorite charity. Even if you have some other source of income that you’re content with, earning extra money online is still a good thing. It’s always great to have multiple streams of income.

So, where do you begin? Here are four options to help you build your bank account in your sleep.

  1. Affiliate links. Everyone has them. Why not you? If you reference any products in your blog posts, YouTube videos or elsewhere, it’s easy to direct people to the item you’re referring to by including an affiliate link. Your commission will vary depending on the agreement the company offers. Be sure to disclose your use of affiliate links, and check for broken links on your site on a regular basis. Broken links result in lost commission and can even impact your search engine ranking.
  2. Books. As a writer, this is one of my favorite ways to find money in my account! With POD (print on demand) and ebooks, there’s no inventory or shipping required. If you have a shop on your site, you can even include the books there, avoiding sharing the commission. Choose a topic – or three – that relate to your business and pound away on the keyboard. Of course, the book will need to be well-written and properly priced, but there are many ways to build a lasting income through the written word.
  3. Classes on demand. If you have an area of expertise, or if you can produce training classes that show how to use your products, then online classes might be a good option for you. You might need some technical guidance to put this all together, but once you’ve mastered the process, you can create one or two new classes each year to build your offerings. I’ve seen classes for free (particularly when purchasing a product) or for a wide variety of prices, from $19 to several hundred dollars.
  4. Online shop. Can you create digital downloads that complement your blog content, books or classes? Post them in your online shop. People are online 24/7 and a digital download is readily accessible with an easy shopping cart. It might even be the way to find customers for your other products – a digital download could lead to a book or class sale. Be sure to have a secure checkout and capture the buyer’s info to build your email list. One thing leads to another…

Don’t feel you have to do everything at once. Choose one method of passive income, make sure it works properly, then add another to the mix. Evaluate your income streams on an annual basis. If it requires too much work to maintain for too little return, consider dropping the stream or item and add or enhance another. Things are constantly changing on the Internet, so what works this year might be passé the next.

If you’d like to follow along through the year, purchase your copy of Tame Those Pesky Details. (link below) Print books will be available soon!

What are your favorite sources of passive income? I’d love to hear! Leave a comment below.

I do hope you’ll enjoy my blog posts, Instagram photos and tweets on Twitter!

Sparkle On!

Aunti Cindi

How well can your business run without you?

How well can your business run without you?

If you’re a solopreneur or small business owner, chances are you’re focused on growing your business. Or, at the very least, maintaining a smooth operation. A good mindset to have, but what happens when – Heaven forbid – something unexpected occurs and you’re unable to helm the day-to-day activities of your company?

If you were part of a large organization, there would be multiple people at the ready to take over in your absence. But, if you’re a one-person show, it’s very possible that no one else has a complete understanding of how your business is run. Every business has so many different facets that it’s more than just leaving passwords, mission statements and banking information for your temporary CEO; contracts, trademarks and even fonts and colors of your logo are all crucial information.

I’m following along with my book, Tame Those Pesky Details (TTPD), where I focus on one specific item each month to keep your business in tip top shape, February is Legalities and it covers a wide-range of issues. Having a way to provide a temporary – or even permanent – means of understanding and operating your business will bring peace of mind.

I’ve been busy updating a lot of personal and business items lately, and although I have binders and electronic and paper files filled with the proper data, I realized that it would take a concerted effort for someone to step into my shoes should that unexpected need arise. I also discovered that I was missing some crucial information because my business has been operating for so long and I’ve moved so many times, some things have gotten misplaced.

I also think in terms of emergency preparedness. I keep hearing stories of people who had to leave their homes with moments’ notice and left behind some key business info because they were unprepared and were worried about saving their lives, which, of course, is most important.

In addition, I’m looking forward to expanding my business in the foreseeable future. Parts of this data collection can easily be organized into an employee reference manual. A little extra work up front will pay big dividends down the line. Again, this is all normal in a larger organization, but smaller businesses might not view this as a high priority. I’m all about having a solid foundation to build upon so this data collection and coordination will benefit me greatly as I move forward. Having all my info at the ready will save me time and frustration and enable me to easily update any changes. Whew!

While you’re organizing your business, think about vendors or employees who perform key tasks that you personally don’t know how to do, for example, adding/deleting items from your online store. This may seem like a small item but your inability to make these simple changes can have an impact. That employee or vendor can disappear on a moment’s notice and your ability to run your business smoothly will be hampered until you either learn how to do it or find someone new to work with.

Aside from determining the safest place to keep this info, my next decision is whom to share it with. And, I’m even thinking about a permanent succession plan for down the road. If there’s someone in my family I’d like to groom to take over the business, one can never start the process too early!

It will take a couple of months to pull this all together, I suspect, but once I’ve completed it, I’ll post a free checklist in my store. I might even do another blog post with more details. So, keep your eyes on all my social media so you can access the information as soon as possible.

I do hope you’ll enjoy my blog posts, Instagram photos and tweets on Twitter!

If you’d like to follow along through the year, purchase your copy of Tame Those Pesky Details. (link below) Print books will be available soon!

How do you organize your business data? Do you have a plan for someone to take over in case of emergency? Have you ever experienced the need to have someone step in your shoes? I’d love to hear all about it. Please leave details in the comments below.

Sparkle On!

Aunti Cindi

What to wear to your home office

Fashion versus comfort – What to wear to your home office

Working from home definitely has its advantages, but there are a steady stream of challenges as well. Surprisingly, one issue that crops up time and again is what to wear to your home office!

In general, corporate office attire has become more casual over the decades although some companies still require strict adherence to a formal suit and tie dress code. Casual clothing in the workplace has swung so far away from professional attire that some people opt to up their game in the fashion department because they realize dressing well for work makes them feel better and co-workers give them more respect. Your physical appearance, after all, is the first way people form an opinion of you.

Regardless of how you dressed when you actually left the house for a job, once you work from home you have total control over your wardrobe selections. And, depending on your circumstances, it can vary widely from day to day and may change significantly over time.

I know many people who work from home and their daily fashion habits run the gamut from rolling out of bed, grabbing a cup of coffee and working in their pajamas to full-on hair, makeup and business casual outfit. The current trend of athleisure wear lies somewhere between pajamas and casual dress, so if you truly get to stay home all day, you can look a bit more together in your hoodie and compression capris. However, at some point you will encounter the outside world. Ask yourself, if you have to open the door for a delivery or run out for coffee, do you want to be known as the lady in the pink pajamas?

So, how do you decide what is best for you? Here are some suggestions.

  1. Dress casually. If you have an opportunity to have one or two really casual days of just sitting in your office to work, then enjoy yourself. How casual you go depends on your circumstances. If you live alone, it’s your option. If you’re married or have children, you’ll probably at least need to get dressed lest you encounter negative comments from your spouse or kids.
  2. Dress fashionably. If you are a social media devotee, you’ll probably have to do hair and makeup on a daily basis. If you’re a fashion blogger, I suspect you look forward to it! Also, if you do video webinars or meetings, not only will you need to look good but all the surroundings that appear on screen will need to entice as well.
  3. Dress professionally. If you attend a number of meetings outside of your home, I would suggest dressing professionally unless that’s deemed taboo in your industry. Professional dress shines a positive light on you, and your main purpose for being a business owner is to make money and be successful.
  4. Dress for you. If it makes you feel good to always look your best, it doesn’t matter what others are doing in their home offices, it just matters how you feel.

Your relationship with your personal work environment and wardrobe will likely evolve as you define yourself as a business owner. Whatever makes you feel your good will reflect in your business.

How do you like to dress for your home office?

Sparkle On!

Aunti Cindi