It’s nearing the end of another deadline. And, you’re too far behind to finish comfortably. The rush is on and time isn’t on your side. If only you’d started earlier. You can’t afford to spend time reflecting. But, you can’t help but feel a strong sense of regret. How did this happen again? You’ve fallen victim to your own procrastination and you vow not to put yourself in this position ever again. Top Reasons We Procrastinate Everyone knows procrastination leads to trouble. So, why do we do it in the first place? What causes people, even the best of us, to procrastinate? Sometimes, it’s because we feel events are out of control and it leads to paralysis. Or, it could be due to a lack of energy. On a neurological level, procrastination is not the slightest bit logical — it’s the result of the emotional part of your brain, your limbic system, strong-arming the reasonable, rational part of your brain, your prefrontal cortex. The logical part of your brain surrenders the moment you choose Facebook over work, or decide to binge another episode of House of Cards when you get home. But there’s a way you can give the logical side of your brain the upper hand. —Harvard Business Review Of course, perhaps the single biggest cause of procrastination are distractions. Having attention taken away from the task at-hand can really undermine productivity. Other times, it’s just feelings of sadness or depression. Most Effective Ways to Deal with Procrastination If it’s so common, just how does one beat procrastination? Fortunately, there are a few ways to deal with procrastination. First, recognize when you’re procrastinating to start. Then, do the following: Commit to just one task. If you feel the urge to procrastinate, instead of doing nothing, do something, but something meaningful. Commit to just one task, even a small one that will give you a real sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Give yourself a reward. Another way to overcome procrastination is to promise yourself a reward. If you tackle the task you’re tempted to put off, you’ll give yourself an enjoyable reward. You’ll be amazed at how you’re able to buckle down and focus. Act on things as they happen. Okay, so you might feel a bit intimidated by a particular type of task. That’s okay, deal with it by taking things in order, as they come. This way, you’ll build momentum. And, if it’s the first item on your plate, take comfort in the fact once it’s done, it’s out-of-the-way (at least, for the day). Minimize distractions around you. Alright, this is obvious advice. But, it definitely warrants inclusion. Get rid of any (or as many) distractions as possible to help beat procrastination. What other suggestions do you have to deal with procrastination? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Ostensibly, a partnership is an ideal way to bring two necessary but different skill-sets together. After all, it makes sense to join various strengths in order to form an alliance. Such an arrangement seems like it will yield fruitful results. However, far more partnerships fail than succeed. There are many obvious reasons why this happens. But, it’s not always so clear-cut. So, let’s take a look at some subtle telltale signs that a partnership is in trouble. The Biggest Partnership Dangers Dave Ramsey has made famous his five dangerous D’s of partnerships: death, disability, disinterest, drugs, and divorce. Of those, only one makes the list below. That’s because it’s not always crystal clear that something is awry. You generally spend more waking hours at work than at home, which means you have more opportunities to interact with your business partner and the nature of your interactions tend to be more intense, with more potential for conflict because there are so many external variables that are beyond your control. —Forbes.com There are scenarios when very subtle factors are in play. Unfortunately, most business people miss these signals put out by their partners. Eventually, they become more pronounced and at that point, it is usually too late to save the enterprise. 3 Signs a Business Partnership is in Jeopardy When a business partner goes through a very difficult time in his or her life, it’s usually quite easy to see the writing on the wall. But, there are instances when there are no overt problems or issues. Here are three subtle yet serious signs a business partnership is in trouble: Apathetic. Let’s begin with the only sign that makes the list above — disinterest. This can manifest in two different but similar forms: distraction and apathy. A lack of concern and focus can wreak loads of havoc on a business. Before you know it, the onus falls on you alone. That’s when you’ll realize your partner is no longer interested in participating. And, by this time, it usually causes an irreversible rift. Autonomy. On the opposite side of the spectrum is autonomy. Sure, being able to operate independently is typically a good thing. Except when there’s far too much of it. So much, you find out about key decisions well after the fact. This is a sign that unpleasant news is most likely on its way to you. Elusive. This is a very tough one and perhaps, the most frustrating of the two because it’s so difficult to understand. When your partner becomes elusive, that is to say, overzealous one moment and indifferent the next, you’ll struggle to cope with why. This will only lead to unnecessary disruptions and make the partnership unsustainable. What other signs would you add to the list? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

New competition can unnerve even the most seasoned business owners. After all, it’s new (meaning it brings a new presence, new energy, and a new atmosphere). Even if it offers something that’s already long-available — such as retail goods — it just seems like it’s got an immediate edge. So, people give it a try. When it appears it’s starting to take away sales, that can be cause for concern. But, it doesn’t mean the end of your business whatsoever. Read on to learn more about how to deal with new competition. New Competition Means New Opportunity New competition might well be frightening. It’s scary to think of someone else coming into the area to poach customers. And, if it starts to occur, that’s downright troublesome. However, it also means there’s new opportunity. …if you don’t have a strategy to beat the competition, you probably shouldn’t be in the business in the first place. But how can your business out-compete competition when the business world is such a tough place to survive? Much of it is about understanding the competitive threats and overcoming them. —Cleverism It’s important to remember that opportunity comes in many forms. Although this is one that is unexpected and probably unwelcome, it nonetheless remains an opportunity for your business. If you think about it in terms of opportunity rather than crisis, you will make far better decisions than you would otherwise. This means adopting a positive mindset that allows you to see and act clearly. 3 Practical Steps for Deal with New Competition A new business has opened in your market and you’re worried that it will or is taking sales away from your company. It’s an unsettling experience to say the least, but you can take three strategic steps to effectively deal with the situation: Don’t panic. It’s imperative to put things into perspective right away. Remember, your business is already established and the competition is new to the area. This means they have to make inroads where you’ve already been successful. Additionally, there is no cause for concern when you have an existing loyal customer base. Do some research. Take a little time to do some research. You can always visit the business yourself (online and in-person) to see what’s going on first-hand. Additionally, you can ask people who’ve patronized the company about their experiences. Between your own observations, and soliciting feedback from others, you’ll get a complete picture. Take appropriate action. Now, you can use that information along with anything else you gathered about your competition, to create a plan of action. Since you already know the local market, including demographics, your target customers, the overall niche, as well as other relevant factors, you still retain the advantage. Leverage this to retain your current customer base and to position your business as the established, trusted choice. What other suggestions do you have? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.