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What the Google Pixel 2 and iPhone X Actually have in Common

The Google Pixel 2 and iPhone X are certainly receiving a whole lot of media attention. It’s two creative titans battling it out, attempting to win more customers. But, these two companies have quite a bit in common. At least, in one aspect. And, it applies to you as an entrepreneur.

What the Google Pixel 2 and iPhone X Actually have in Common

What you might think as rivals vying for bigger sales numbers is actually an important business lesson. It’s all about momentum. Keep momentum going and it serves up great rewards. After all, the Google Pixel and Pixel XL were hits. And, we all know the iPhone revolutionized the tech, communications, and entertainment worlds. So, it’s great to take away a valuable lesson from this latest product introduction round.

As the momentum starts and objectives are met watch for a change in pace; just like an out-of-shape runner, the tendency for many will be to stop part way up the hill to pat themselves on the back and look at how much distance they’ve covered. Don’t let them stop! You are pushing a rock uphill, as the momentum starts and everyone sees progress you need to double your efforts to keep it moving. —Inc.com

You probably know there are many components to running a successful business. That’s certainly no secret. But, specific actions can work wonders. For instance, giving up bad habits and other hangups are prime examples. Another strategy is to get in front of people personally. However, you need momentum to stay on track.

How to Keep Momentum Going

That’s what the announcement and release of the Google Pixel 2 teaches us. It’s a follow-up, designed to entice consumers. And, it’s generated a whole lot of media buzz. Now, every single thing about it will certainly be poured over by tech lovers. You can apply this lesson to your business. Keep momentum going and reap the rewards by doing the following:

Set new goals and objectives. As you hit milestones, dedicate yourself to setting new goals and objectives. Planning ahead means moving forward and that’s a great way to keep momentum working for you.
Automate where it is possible. Use automation to your advantage to maximize productivity. Don’t get bogged down where and when it isn’t necessary. You can set content marketing and social media marketing on a schedule, as two examples.
Always keep inspiration nearby. Research from Harvard and MIT reveals books are a great source of inspiration. Engaging your brain in something you love breathes inspiration. And, it also increases your knowledge, so it’s two-for-one.
Schedule time off and actually use it. Another way to keep momentum going is to take time off. That sounds strange at first but makes a lot of sense when you consider the benefits of rest and relaxation.

What ways do you keep momentum going? How do you stay motivated? What methods work best for pushing forward you’ve done? Please share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a comment!

Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

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Should You Scale or Scuttle Your Startup

May 16, 2017 No Comments

When business begins to slow, your sense of confidence can slide, and it’s a scary sensation that usually follows. Facing the possibility of having to close the doors isn’t a pleasant one, and, you could feel like a complete failure. Before you begin to pack-up your office, take some time to look at the situation objectively. Ask yourself what’s the most likely cause and begin to take steps to solve rather than scuttle. If you are experiencing a steady slide in sales, there’s obviously a reason why that’s so. The good news is, there are always options, which can range from scaling out, scaling down, or, shutting down. The latter might not be the most welcome, but, sometimes it’s the best option, providing you with an opportunity to try something else. How to Solve the Scale or Scuttle Situation Should you be facing a mountain of bills, not seeing a jump in revenue, and having to cut back where you’ve never cut before, it certainly can be frightening and frustrating. The first place to begin is with yourself, your emotions, dreams, and, mental state. If you’re in a situation that simply taxes you too much and drains your energy, you ought to consider closing and starting fresh with something new. However, if you believe you can turn things around, you should seriously consider scaling down or out. …you’re stressed out, your relationships are fraying and your resolve is destroyed. Nevertheless,you must take action in order to end the turbulence with as much poise as possible. You can’t change the past, but you can certainly determine how you [proceed]. —Entrepreneur.com Scaling down is obviously taking measures to reduce your business workload to concentrate on key accounts. Scaling out isn’t the same as going up, it’s more lateral, providing more of what you already do, not offering new things. If you’re still wondering which way to go, take the following into consideration to make an informed, well-thought decision: Look at your workable options. One mistake some failing businesses make is to hammer a square peg into a circle, meaning they attempt to go beyond their core competencies, and, that’s just not a good idea. You’ll nearly inevitably see this backfire and make things go from bad to worse. Be prepared to stunt growth. Some businesses falter, not because of the lack of revenue, but because they take on too much. Should you and your team be stretched thin, it’s time to scale back and produce the best you can deliver. What you’ll find is more happy customers, co-workers, and self contentment. Get some unbiased advice. An outside view by an experienced business consultant can shed a lot of light on problems you didn’t even realize existed. Have your business evaluated and get some helpful advice that isn’t tainted by being too close or too attached. Know your company’s limits, and, its potential. Here again, if your company can’t comfortably keep pace with demand, it’s time to pull back and deliver quality over quantity. Should you be experiencing a spike, consider your business’ potential and grow incrementally. Understand your cash position. Having less cash isn’t necessarily or always a bad thing. It causes you to look at and prioritize expenses, weeding out what’s not needed. You’ll find creativity if you don’t succumb to fear. Another factor you’ll have to face is the emotional adjustment. We’re told all our lives that quitters never win and winners never quit, but, that goes against reality. Be willing to make an emotional adjustment and deal with the reality. [shareaholic app=”follow_buttons” id=”26833294″]

How to Deal with an Employee with Limited Work Capacity

January 6, 2021 No Comments

Having a good employee who is restricted in their capabilities can be a very challenging situation. This is especially true if he or she is a valued team member, but can’t put in the hours due to certain limitations. Whether it’s a preexisting condition, and injury suffered on or off the job, you obviously have moral, ethical, and legal responsibilities to him or her. However, this doesn’t mean that they are completely protected from being terminated or having their role and/or responsibilities changed. Although this article isn’t specifically about legal ramifications, it will give you some effective tools on how to deal with this particular set of circumstances. Read on to learn more about how to deal with an employee who has limited capacity. Every Situation is Different Limited capacity can mean the number of things, including an inability to perform certain physical tasks, and other situations. But, most often it is due to a physical limitation which prevents him or her from fulfilling one or more of their responsibilities. These can range widely, from an inability to lift certain amounts, to not being able to sit for a protracted period of time. An ever persistent problem facing employers is what to do with the employee who is chronically sick or has a serious health problem. Besides the obvious issues it presents to the employer- additional strain on other employees to pick up the slack; inability to properly staff and manage work loads; basic coverage concerns- there are also potential state and federal legal ramifications if the absences are not handled and documented correctly. —HNI Risk Services Whatever the case may be, It is up to you to be as accommodating as possible, without fully compromising your company’s position. In other words, it’s best to strike a balance and find a happy medium where you can accommodate their needs while also allowing them to fulfill most or all of their work responsibilities. 3 Key Ways to Deal with an Employee with a Limited Work Capacity There’s no hard-and-fast set of rules for coping with an employee who can only work in a limited capacity. After all, no two sets of circumstances are exactly the same. But, there are some general parameters you should observe. Here are three good ways to deal with a team member who is limited in their work capacity: Gain a real understanding of the circumstances. Whether it’s a back problem, issues with a disease, or anything else, you need to have a very clear idea of what’s going on with your employee. Understand precisely what his or her limitations are and aren’t. This way, you’ll have enough information to make good decisions when it comes to his or her role and responsibilities. Make strategic concessions where necessary. Even your best employee can suffer from very unfortunate sets of circumstances and still be able to contribute to your company in a number of ways. Though it’s difficult to comprehend or even accept, it could be a detriment to your business (that is, if you insist on keeping everything the same). So, think outside the box and make strategic changes so he or she can continue to be a productive asset for your company. Realistically reassess the situation periodically. Sometimes, this can be a long-lasting situation that can go on for years. Or, it could only last for several months. Regardless, you need to take the time to reassess the situation every now and again. What other suggestions do you have? Please take a moment to share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your unique perspective; it’s greatly appreciated! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Here’s Another Key Ingredient to Success — Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

December 15, 2018 No Comments

“Stop comparing yourself to others!” Chance are excellent you’ve heard this advice more than once before. It might have been a parent, coach, a teacher, or even a friend. Okay, we all know this is true. Comparing yourself to others will inevitably lead to disappointment. But, we all fall into this trap and it isn’t helpful. So, how do you resist the feeling in the first place? Let’s take a look at how you can effectively stop comparing yourself to others. If You Keep Comparing Yourself to Others, You’re Standing in the Way of Success Before we get into the logistics, we’ll take a peek into what this actually does — it prevents you from succeeding. That’s right. Think about it. If you’re always comparing yourself to others, you keep moving the goal post. Comparing yourself to others’ accomplishments is a losing battle. There is an endless supply of people to whom you could compare yourself and your accomplishments, but, inevitably, you’ll always end up on the losing side of the comparison. That’s because there will always be someone who has done something that you wished you could also accomplish. —Forbes.com And, we all know what that means. So, doing this is essentially self-defeating. You can’t reach the goal if you keep moving it further away. It’s really that simple. Yet, it’s difficult to resist the urge because we all want to accomplish more. How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others Now, how do you stop comparing yourself to others? Sure, it sounds easy but it isn’t. Fortunately, there are ways to beat back the impulse: Practice getting over your FOMO urge. FOMO or fear of missing out. It’s a good portion of what drives the success of social media giants like Facebook. People are always measuring their own lives up against others on social media. Take a break. For instance, don’t check social media for an entire weekend. Or, make your evenings social media free. Look for commonalities, not differences. Instead of comparing yourself based on differences, try identifying commonalities. It will give you a level of reassurance, at the very least. It will also tell you that you are incumbents in some ways and boost your confidence. Take a long, mindful trip down memory lane. One of the best ways not to compare yourself to others is to compare yourself to yourself. That’s right. The you of today is likely a great improvement of the you of the past. Understand what you can and cannot change. Another way to stop comparing yourself to others is to understand and accept there are things you can change and things you cannot change. Doing so will certainly help you contextualize. What other methods would you recommend to stop comparing yourself to others? Please share your thoughts and experience by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

What the Google Pixel 2 and iPhone X Actually have in Common