Despite the reopenings across the country, many places have still yet to return to normal, pre-pandemic schedules. Several offices continue to allow employees to work entirely from home, or only require minimal in-office workdays, usually just one or two. Meanwhile, small business owners also continue to experience disruptions in their operations, due to a labor shortage, shortage of materials and supplies, and other abnormalities. Plus, several professional associations are not holding annual meetings, or have greatly altered, meaning mostly reduced, their events and in-person get-togethers. All of these unusual occurrences have likewise lead to fewer opportunities to network, but this form of relationship-building still remains essential. The Importance of Networking Consistently Even during normal times, regular networking is important for career professionals and entrepreneurs alike. It provides them with the opportunity to meet new people and gain a new perspective. Networking also helps them discover other types of opportunities, including career advancement, product innovations, and possible future alternative routes. Networking has always been essential to small business owners because it costs little to nothing and helps them create brand awareness. Small business owners use networking as a means to form relationships with others, in like or related fields, that help to expand their business’s ability to find new customers, partner, and grow. A key element to effective networking is to make you known. The premise being that the more people you meet, the more people there will be to get to know and remember both you and your business. You should use every professional and social opportunity to meet and connect with new people.–Olympia Benefits Networking also offers a few other benefits, such as improving social skills, being exposed to new environments, and forming new relationships, both professional and personal. In other words, networking isn’t just about selling products and services, it also is a prime environment for self-enrichment. Too few people see these qualities and only network purely for the sales aspect. Regardless, this relationship-building activity still remains extremely important, even though there are many abnormalities that persist, even well after the pandemic reopenings. How To Continue to Network during Unstable Times There have been periods in the past that have completely disrupted the entire business and economic landscape. Perhaps the most recent and largest in modern history began in earnest in 2008, continuing for several years and what is now referred to as the Great Recession. Although this was mostly related to the housing sector, its effects reached practically every corner of commerce in one way or another. Both business owners and consumers had to adapt, with people leaving long careers to go in entirely different fields of work. Similarly, business owners changed their models in order to survive and return when economic circumstances permitted. During this time, networking became very important not only to sell products and services but to find new opportunities. Here are a few helpful suggestions for networking during such times of upheaval: Change your mindset. Perhaps the biggest obstacle to overcome isn’t in external factors but is entirely internalized. That is to say, it’s very difficult to not only identify but change one’s mindset. Your attitude and outlook will have much to do with this and it’s critical to understand how your approaching the world as so many people’s lives and other businesses are still in a state of disruption. Be flexible with your schedule. Your old way of networking might still be partly or mostly intact. If so, that’s very good news and you won’t have to make many adjustments. However, if very little has returned to normal or is still in a state of flux, you’ll need to be flexible in order to find the time and places to network. This is also a great opportunity to think outside the box and identifies places where you did not network before. Temper your normal sales approach. Since things are not completely back to normal for everyone, it’s best to pull back on the sales talk. Instead, make it more about building new relationships, whether they are professional or personal. This might not be of big benefit now but could prove very advantageous in the future. What other strategies can be used to network during unusual economic times? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your input! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Andrew Carnegie. JP Morgan. John D. Rockefeller. Once, these men were titans of industry and the most successful among American entrepreneurs. This, at a time when technology was extremely limited by today’s standards. Communications were not nearly as instantaneous, and the advantage of a democratized autodidact education couldn’t have come from the internet. Now, it’s an entirely different world – except in some remarkable respects. Business owners are still subjected to a lot, particularly stress. And this means these individuals will suffer both mentally and physically. Common Causes of Mental and Physical Stress and Poor Health Being an entrepreneur comes with many challenges. Business owners often have to deal with a high level of uncertainty and unpredictability in their ventures. This can create feelings of a lack of control and lead to stress and anxiety. Plus, having to work long hours to keep their business running, can lead to fatigue, burnout, and poor physical health. It’s no secret that entrepreneurship in the startup field comes with a lot of uncertainty and stress. Researchers from Harvard Business Review interviewed 65 entrepreneurs and found that stress and fear had both motivating and inhibiting consequences. For example, fears related to financial stress actually encouraged greater persistence, while fears of failure related to aptitude had an inhibiting result. —Forbes Running a business can be financially stressful, especially during the start-up phase. Money worries can cause anxiety, depression, and affect overall well-being. What’s more, entrepreneurs may neglect their physical and mental health due to the demands of their business. This can include poor eating habits, lack of exercise, and lack of sleep. How Entrepreneurs can Improve their Mental and Physical Health Entrepreneurship can be a very difficult endeavor. While the rewards of building a successful business can be significant, the pressure to perform and the constant uncertainty of the future can take a toll on one’s mental and physical health. However, there are several effective ways that entrepreneurs can improve their mental and physical well-being. Prioritize self-care. Entrepreneurs often have a lot on their plate and may neglect taking care of themselves. It is essential to set aside time each day for self-care activities such as exercise, meditation, and relaxation. These activities not only improve physical health but also help clear the mind and reduce stress. Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Entrepreneurs can practice mindfulness by setting aside time each day for meditation or other mindfulness practices such as yoga or tai chi. Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep can have a significant impact on one’s mental and physical health. Entrepreneurs should aim to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night and establish a consistent sleep schedule. Eat a healthy diet. A healthy diet can help improve energy levels, reduce stress, and improve overall physical and mental health. Entrepreneurs should aim to eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. Connect with others. Entrepreneurship can be a lonely endeavor, and it is essential to maintain social connections with friends and family. Entrepreneurs should make an effort to connect with others through activities such as networking events, social clubs, or volunteer work. Seek help if needed. Entrepreneurs should not be afraid to seek help if they are struggling with mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. Help is available through counseling, therapy, or support groups. As you can plainly see, entrepreneurs can improve their mental and physical health by prioritizing self-care, practicing mindfulness, getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, connecting with others, and seeking help when needed. Remember that taking care of yourself is crucial for your business’s success. What do you think? Do you have any other suggestions that others can benefit from? Please take a moment to share your thoughts and experiences! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Just one word can serve as your most powerful ally in a coming post-pandemic business world. It’s actually one of the shortest words in the English language, but wields an incredible amount of influence. It’s a single syllable that can save you from a lot of trouble, and even one that can help you realize a profit. This magical word? It’s “no,” and it will be very difficult to utter in the coming months. Why “No” will Become Absolutely Necessary Risk is inherent in entrepreneurship, and that’s why it’s so difficult to turn things down. Business owners realize when they do not seize upon a seeming opportunity, they ostensibly lose out in one way or another. Call it FOMO or fear of missing out. Call it pride or even stubbornness. Whatever it is, there’s an impulse to accept things as they come. It’s easy to say yes and hard to say no. Anyone who has children knows how effortless it is for kids to learn the word ‘no.’ They love to say it—all the time! So, it’s curious that as we get older, the word ‘no’ becomes a distant memory and ‘yes’ is the order of the day. This is especially true if you are a people pleaser. Let’s face it, deep down we all want to be liked. For an entrepreneur, learning to say no is crucial because it can mean the difference between success and failure. —Forbes This isn’t to say it’s necessary or even smarter to avoid risk, but rather, to measure it on a case-by-case basis. And in a time when you’re in a position to help others out in their time of need, it will be extra tempting to accept rather than pass. This can easily become detrimental to your business in a very short period of time. So, it’s critical that you learn or relearn how to say “no.” How to Say “No” The real problem with saying “no” is that you’re not saying “yes.” If you think about it for a moment, that becomes fairly profound. In other words, “yes” carries a positive connotation, while its antonym is, understandably negative. But, that doesn’t mean that saying “no” can’t have a positive income. Here’s how to say “no,” when you impulsively want to say the opposite: Suggest alternatives. Instead of just posing an objection and leaving it at that, suggest alternative scenarios. It will help you to feel a sense of usefulness and even a sense of accomplishment, perhaps pride. This way, you’re offering solutions rather than shutting the other person out. Explain your reasoning. Although we’ve all heard the phrase “No is a complete sentence,” in many instances, it’s just not enough. So, take a moment to explain why you’re saying “No thanks,” and don’t belabor the point(s). After all, if you do prolong the situation, you’re opening yourself up to self-doubt. Don’t rationalize your decision.This goes right along with the last point. If you begin to rationalize, you’ll send yourself out on a path to going the opposite way to “yes.” And, that defeats the entire purpose of saying “no” in the first place. What other suggestions would you add? Please share your thoughts and experience by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.