Top 5 Business-Plan Hacks for Entrepreneurs

Kevin Shirley, Associate Broker (DC), ASP, GRI, e-PRO

Whether you run a nonprofit, work on your own, or are a seasoned entrepreneur, chances are, you’re in the throes of building your 2021 plan for your business and/or your life. No matter what, in developing a business plan, it is always essential to start with a solid vision. Writing your business plan may appear a daunting task, especially if you are a beginner, but this is actually not that difficult a task. If you follow all steps below accurately and in proper sequence, you can enjoy great results in the long run. Here are a few business plan-hacks that entrepreneurs can follow with ease:

Incorporate multiple viewpoints

Entrepreneurs must have different perspectives as they give form to their vision. It is essential to understand that each person in your organization has his or her own viewpoint to see strengths and weaknesses. If you want to succeed, it is better to consider pulling all those ideas together. This will help you create a well-rounded perspective that could lead to a fruitful future journey.

Analyze your business’ current situation

It doesn’t matter how long ago you launched your business; it is always important to track its performance and understand current situations. You may choose to do a SWOT analysis (“strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats”) to evaluate your business’s current state. Excelling at this step may reveal challenges and opportunities that you might otherwise miss. It is among the most trusted tricks used by entrepreneurs to identify the best growth ideas for the long run.

Set short term and long-term goals

To analyze and gauge your business’s growth, you must create both short- and long-term goals. It is not possible to achieve the ultimate goal of business by just taking blind steps. Instead, you need to decide on a reasonable journey to accomplish your dreams with realistic, actionable steps. Experts advise business owners to write down all the short- and long-term goals. Make sure you mark them when they are accomplished and write down your analysis and resulted in growth.

Create a cohesive plan, but build in flexibility

It is always good to set up an effective plan for your business, but it doesn’t mean that you should lock yourself with that particular strategy. Instead, growth demands flexibility, and you may have to make some relevant changes whenever needed. It is better to attach yourself to the smaller limits and find ways to grow most effectively. This could take your business to a whole new level.

Stay focused on your journey

Distractions, fear, stress, and anxiety are part of life. They may come and go depending upon the surrounding situations. But through it all, you must stay focused on your journey. Eliminate all the interruptions and stay motivated to achieve your goals.

These simple yet effective plans may help you grow your business in the competitive market while building a solid impression.

How Your Fear of Failure Causes You to Procrastinate (and What You Can Do about It)

How Your Fear of Failure Causes You to Procrastination (and What You Can Do about It)

Kevin Shirley, Associate Broker (DC), ASP, GRI, e-PRO

Some recent studies conducted by the professionals at the University of Western Ontario suggest a strong link between fear of failure and procrastination. The research states that this behavior is further linked to suicide. There is no doubt that fear is the biggest enemy of our success and self-confidence. Over time, it can manifest as procrastination. A wide range of people suffers from the fear of criticism, failure, and rejection. Examining the fear of failure is not that easy. Accepting this reality takes serious effort. You need to look at your mistakes, own them, and then create a new approach to overcome and become more effective.

Where does fear originate?

When thoughts about fear overwhelm you, it becomes vital to recognize those feelings’ inherent source. Once you understand the hidden cause behind it, you may find better ways to eliminate these thoughts and achieve your goals.

You may have to do something that could relax your brain and gives a feeling of safety. There is no need to feel worried about failures. They are a part of the process, and you need to be comfortable with this possibility. This is the only way to boost your confidence, and soon you will be able to achieve the desired results.

When fear turns out to be procrastination?

Without any goal, you may not have any destination or direction for your journey. It is better to take a pen and paper to write down your short-term and long-term goals. When all the activities are well aligned, you may find better ways to take relevant actions.

The moment you start proceeding towards your goals, some emotional disturbances in your mind may stop you. The feeling of loss, failure, and uncertainty slowly becomes a source of stress and anxiety. But the moment you feel that fear is blocking your way, you should search for a solution to move forward from it. The idea is to accept the uncertainty and become ready for the outcomes, no matter what they are. It is just about your sincere efforts to achieve your goals; there is no need to chase perfection every time. It is essential to understand that distractions may come and go. You need to keep yourself moving.

How to overcome the fear of failure and procrastination?

You have already gone through essential aspects related to fear and procrastination. Some of you might be now eager to understand how to overcome these feelings to ensure success in life. The best thing you can do is learn which specific fear is forcing you to delay things. Once you recognize it, it will be easier to take small steps to get rid of what is holding you back. Instead of making excuses to escape, create conditions that could help to eliminate obstacles. Analyze and organize all the efforts, and soon you will be able to accomplish your pending and ongoing tasks on time.

Best Practices for Organizing Your Digital Files

By Kevin Shirley, Associate Broker (DC), GRI, ASP, e-PRO

If you spend most of your time working on your computer, chances are that you end up creating lots of files, documents, and folders every day. Many people even end up storing all their documents locally on the desktop to ensure easy access. But after a few days, you may find it challenging to recognize the folders and files on the system. Moreover, improperly placed digital files may take up most of your valuable time to locate the right folder or file at the right time.

Learning best practices for organizing your digital files is a must. It may help you avoid complications in the storage, sharing, and searching for the desired documents and files. This is essential not just for individuals but also for business owners and employees, especially when working in a shared environment.

Create a folder structure

This may sound complicated at first, but there are generally three basic options for the folder structures. You can organize them based on the file type, data type, and project or client type. This structure ensures easy identification of folders and files so that you can save time while searching and sharing them. For personal files, you can create subfolders such as family, friends, finances, etc.

Stick to a specific organizing system

Once you are ready with the structure, it is better to stick to it for storing different documents. Plan to follow it for at least 3-6 months strictly, and then you will be used to the pattern. It will also help you recognize which things are critical and must be protected with passwords. Also, it ensures an easy optimized file system.

Use default installation folders

It is vital to use default file locations while installing different applications. In window systems, the application program files by default are saved in the Program Files Directory. If you try to install applications anywhere else, it may get confusing over time. Hence, it is better to follow default locations for installations so that you can access the system files easily when needed.

Nest folders

It is useful to create folders within the main folders whenever needed. For instance, when you have designed a folder for financial documents, you can create separate subfolders to store invoices, balance sheets, customer data, and correspondence files. This nested folder system’s primary goal is to locate similar types of files at a specific location.

Back up files regularly

Experts advise following appropriate backup routines for your system folders and files to some other drive. It is better to keep a hard-disk where you can store all your essential documents from time to time. It will save you from trouble even if your laptop or desktop operating system suffers some major issue.

Once you start following these simple tips and tricks for organizing your digital files, it will be easier to manage your routine work without worrying about lost files.

5 Ways to Manage Procrastination During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all our lives in many profound ways. The typical social distancing practices, quarantine, and increasing stress rate due to health issues have left many of us unmotivated, feeling lost, and less productive. These consequences are nudging many of us ever closer into the trap of procrastination, which is often confused with laziness. In general terms, laziness is a feeling of not doing anything, whereas procrastination involves the bad habit of leaving some critical actions pending for no real reason.

In the moment, procrastination may give a fleeting pleasant feeling as you avoid doing a task that you do not like. But in the long run, putting something important off could be more stressful. Here are five essential ways to help you manage the habit of procrastination during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Set simple routine goals. Living a goal-oriented life has several benefits. It helps people become more organized and can also help you track your progress in terms of goals achieved daily. Goal setting is the best way to prevent confusion regarding what needs to be accomplished first and bring personal affirmation and validation for your goals. But one should always take care to set up realistic and achievable goals so that you can feel positive while accomplishing them.
Set a deadline for your work. Setting particular deadlines for your routine work may help you feel the right pressure to finish it on time. It will help you avoid falling into the trap of “I will do it later.” Moreover, you will be able to make the best use of available time while staying encouraged and prepared to handle it well. Setting a deadline is the best way to avoid leaving your work for tomorrow, and hence, you will naturally be more productive in life.
Spare time for yourself. Sparing some “Me Time” is the most important practice to help avoid procrastination, and it can improve your general lifestyle as well. When you take care of yourself, you get better strength and determination to handle life’s challenges. But first of all, you should understand that self-care is not like being selfish; so, you should not feel guilty about it. Instead, it is the best way to uplift your energies and mood so that you can perform better in your personal and professional life.
Be aware of the consequences. It is crucial to be mindful of the consequences associated with procrastination. It may create the desired amount of pressure on your mind to get the work done on time. This tactic is vital in helping you stop wasting time while accomplishing tasks on time. Furthermore, being aware of the consequences may help you to enhance your motivation, energy, and productivity levels.
Prioritize difficult tasks. The best way to avoid procrastination is to prioritize tasks, especially those that are difficult to handle. When you begin with the easier tasks first, it may lead to poor time management, and you may not allow yourself adequate time to handle the difficult ones later. Moreover, difficult tasks need more energy and focus; therefore, it is better to do them first.

Hacks for Working in Your Car

By Kevin Shirley, Associate Broker (DC), ASP, GRI, e-PRO

Whether you are looking for a change in your work schedule or need to get work done between client meetings, a work set-up in the car may increase your comfort and productivity. Among other things, this pandemic has shown us new scopes of working from home or remote locations. However, to make a work-from-car routine comfortable and fruitful, you may need to invest in some essential accessories.

Here are a few items that will help round out your mini car office:

A laptop desk. Holding a laptop for hours on your lap may lead to significant discomfort. It is better to invest in a lightweight and sturdy steeling wheel desk that can help you put your laptop safely in front of you. These specially designed desks can be fixed easily on the steering wheel, and you can disconnect them while driving. The compact design makes them suitable for back-pocket storage.
Power inverter. You cannot charge everything with a car adaptor plug or USB. Most of the laptops even require a traditional AC outlet. In this situation, a lightweight, ultra-compact car inverter can serve your needs. These power inverters generally come with two-three USB ports and few AC outlets, so you can hook-up multiple devices with ease. But while buying one, you should ensure that it can serve the rating of your gadgets.
Wi-Fi connection. While working in the car, you may also need a reliable Wi-Fi connection. Of course, you can grab Wi-Fi from a nearby restaurant or store that offers free connectivity to all visitors; but make sure you are connecting legally and securely. Whenever a reliable public connection is not available nearby, you may be able to turn your smartphone into a Wi-Fi hotspot and share internet access with your laptop.
Mobile printer. If you are serious about remote working from your car, you may also need a portable printer. There are so many options in the market; most modern printers work perfectly well with Android and iPhones to give instant print commands. But make sure to protect your heat-sensitive printer during the hot summer days.
Food and drinks. It is not just about work essentials. When you plan a long work session in the car, arranging for food and snacks is also essential. It may save you from interrupting your work to find a café or coffee shop time and again. Also, having a hot coffee with some snacks may power up your energy, enabling you to work over the long haul.

Now you have gone through the essential tips and tricks to work from your car. It is good to get these necessary tools, and soon you will be able to boost your productivity on the go.

When the real estate market changes, REALTORS get back to basics

When the Real Estate Market Changes, REALTORS Get Back to Basics

By Kevin Shirley, Associate Broker (DC), ASP, GRI, e-PRO

When you joined the real estate profession after getting your license, you might have performed the grueling exercise of writing down the names of relevant people in your sphere of influence along with their contact information so that you could announce your new gig. Maybe that was some time ago; have you checked and updated your own list of contacts recently?

The market trends are changing, and so has the way real estate is done. Buyers and sellers now have myriad options for navigating the local real estate market. As a result, if you want to be their top choice, it is essential to refresh your relationships by getting back to real estate marketing basics.

People in your network are already aware that you are in the real estate industry; it is now time to reach out and let them know that you care. It may help them to get back to you when they are interested in investing or selling. Get ready to help them through all the ups and downs in the market so that you can find potential deals to close in the future.

Here are a few tips and tricks that REALTORS can follow to get back to basics in the changing real estate market:

Mail out encouragement. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we handle our schedules, workspaces, and routines. Before the epidemic, maybe it was enough to carry out some simple email drip campaigns, but now, people expect an authentic human touch in every real estate conversation. It is the right time to manage your client-relationship management system, prepare a list of anniversaries and birthdays on the way, and send them best wishes on every occasion. It may help them feel connected to you, and they may contact you back for potential sales.
Offer exclusive services. It is not always possible to capture an audience’s attention via emails. Their inboxes are already overflowing with an extensive range of information on keeping productive and stress-free during a pandemic. You need to plan something out of the box. Try to use Facebook Live and Instagram Live to share your daily story. You can also use Zoom tutorials to connect to the clients and support them during these challenging times. It is not just about showing new deals to them; you can have a general discussion about their life and special moments to hold a deeper connection.
Provide local market updates. Like most other business sectors, the real estate industry is also experiencing lots of uncertainty these days. It is your responsibility to keep your clients updated about the conditions of the local market. Make sure you educate your clients periodically about attractive real estate deals. Add the human touch to all your customer services and show them that you care about their interests.

These simple tips and tricks may help you to achieve your goals during uncertain market conditions.

5 Tips to Create and Nurture Your Online Presence

Engaging the target audience and improving online brand impression is the primary target for growing business owners and social media marketing plays a vital role in this. As per a recent survey conducted by experts, it is observed that almost 77% of the Twitter users feel privileged when they receive replies from a brand to their Tweets. On the Instagram platform, nearly 600 million people are actively connected, and they share over 4.2 billion posts every day.

In this scenario, it is better to use social media marketing to build a solid web presence online. Here are five crucial tips to help you create and nurture your online presence:

Present yourself as human. The modern age audience prefers brands that appear more authentic and set up a human-like presence. They are not interested in corporations with no personality or reliability. So, while posting ad campaigns on social media, you have to be very careful about the content. It should be transparent, fun-oriented, and down to earth. Experts even advise creating content in the form of TikTok videos, memes, and articles that showcase your value.
Live stream on social media. Live streaming is an excellent way to enhance your reach in the competitive market. Growing businesses find it the most trusted solution to connect with the new audience and increase engagement online. You can start streaming with YouTube Live and Facebook Live to boost your brand reputation online. The expert projections reveal that live streaming is expected to build a $70.5 billion industry by the end of 2021. No matter what niche you are serving to the target audience, live streaming can be an excellent idea for demonstrating your product and services.
Take advantage of advanced analytics tools. When you are interested in improving your social media campaigns’ success, it is better to use advanced analytics tools to enhance performance. The great news is that software developers have created several advanced solutions to monitor social media campaigns and track the ROI. You can have unique tools for measuring performance on Facebook, Instagram, and other marketing platforms. However, it is not just about collecting stats from the market; instead, at the same time, you need to use those metrics to improve your brand impression in the long run.
Creative content development. How can we miss the importance of creating content for building an online presence? As there are several competitive brands online, you may need to follow trusted tactics to set yourself apart. It is better to make use of Instagram photographs to create stunning appeal in the market. Other than this, prefer to follow SEO practices to write keyword-rich blog posts that can maintain the top ranking on search engine results.
Lean into user-generated content. Experts advise using customer-generated content more creatively to lead an authentic appeal in the market. It can be the most inexpensive way to produce solid credibility in the market. Make sure you analyze available information more carefully to extend your reach and to boost credibility.

These simple and trusted tips from experts can help you achieve top ranking online in significantly less time.

Stop Work-from-Home Procrastination with These 5 Strategies

Although the Coronavirus pandemic has brought numerous difficult challenges into our lives, one significant advantage of this phase has been the routinization of working from home. This new trend has helped eliminate hours-long commutes, annoying traffic noise, and the constant air-conditioning wars at the office. Many people even lost their jobs during this pandemic phase; however, of those who didn’t, many have now started working from home.

There are many positives about working from home, but there’s one notable negative: How easy it is to procrastinate. And this habit further leads to the guilt of lost deadlines and missing work opportunities in the long run. Hence, one needs to be more careful about managing routine work without falling into the trap of procrastination. Here are a few trusted strategies to help you manage procrastination while working from home:

Acknowledge your behavior. The first most important thing is to accept and understand the behavior of procrastination. One needs to understand what is actually affecting productivity levels. Some of you may lose several hours watching TV, many others might be busy scrolling unworthy social media newsfeed, and a few others might be feeling bored while working alone. Check what is distracting you from your goals and what is eating up all your valuable time. This analysis may help you better to set up a counter plan.
Establish a routine. The best advice from experts to deal with procrastination is to establish a set routine. When you start working with full determination early in the morning, you can feel motivated to accomplish your small goals all day long. It is better to set up an easy and comfortable routine for your work to be highly productive all day long. Set up your time table ranging from the wake-up time to bedtime to stay focused.
Make two lists every day. When you get ready for work in the morning and sit on your work desk, the first most thing you need to do is prepare two lists. The first list must include three-to-five crucial things that you need to do today, and the second list must consist of three-to-five things that you absolutely do not need to do today. It may help you to stay focused on your work while maintaining an adequate flow of tasks.
Align your small goals to achieve bigger. It is not just about focusing on the bigger goal; you need to start with the smaller ones. Taking small steps to achieve the bigger one may help you to succeed fast. Many people fail to maintain their direction towards big goals, but following a step by step approach towards the small ones may assist you better.
Don’t forget to reward yourself. Last but not least, don’t forget to reward yourself when you succeed to avoid procrastination. Rewards may motivate you to achieve more in life. You may also feel an inner urge to perform better in your routines, and it may automatically lead to success.

Start following these trusted tips and strategies to manage your routines with high productivity levels.

How leaders model productive behavior

Leaders in our time are often admired for their dedication to staying productive and delivering results every day. They seem to have they have preternatural abilities that help them achieve a high level of productivity. But leaders have 24 hours in each day, just like everyone else.

But by carrying out some specific habits and staying true to their purpose, they achieve tremendous accomplishments that inspire the world.

The first and most important is that these people avoid procrastination. Needless to say, it is easier said than done, but most people don’t fully understand it. Research suggests that there are two base reasons for procrastination. Either the task that you are doing is too challenging, or it is too dull. When modern leaders face this dilemma, they quickly act. If the task is too complicated and hard to do, they break it into simple and easy steps. If the task is too easy, they add a couple of extras and make it exciting or delegate the job to someone else. In simple terms, to avoid procrastination, bring your work just outside your comfort zone, enough to be compelling but not overwhelming.
The second way these leaders model productive behavior is by making a calendar. They add their goals and tasks into their calendar and make it work for them. Even though it is difficult to thoroughly check off the to-do list, they end up hitting it with at least 70 percent accuracy. This is certainly better than not making a calendar and missing your tasks altogether.
Another significant way that leaders maintain their productivity is by committing single-mindedly to their goals. It is frequently called the ‘Hyperfocus’ mode. With utter devotion towards their targets, modern leaders cultivate an unwavering ability to focus on their work. They understand that each day, they are bestowed with a limited attentional capacity. And they know that doing multiple things at once will impair it. When they realize that attention is an enormously valuable asset, they utilize it wisely. Picking a few (but the most important) targets is the best way to protect this asset.
Moreover, they avoid digital distractions to protect their concentration. Turning off devices or using excellent online extensions help them navigate easily through the web. While they work, they establish a rule where nothing and no one can disturb or interrupt them.
Similarly, they also avoid internal distractions commonly described as mind chatter. To calm their mind, these leaders practice meditation and mindfulness relentlessly. This not only makes their focus laser-sharp, but it also increases their attentional capacity, which means they can concentrate on more things without getting tired or losing their attention.

Leaders today are very self-disciplined. They exercise and inculcate productive habits in their lives to increase their income and impact. Likewise, anyone can apply these techniques in their routine to improve their work and personal lives. After all, it is evident that nothing will work unless we do.

5 Strategies For Managing Your Time During Crisis

As an entrepreneur, one of the essential lessons you need to learn is time management. It ensures that whatever business operations you undertake will run smoothly. Time management is vital, but during a crisis, it seems almost impossible.

You might have planned something unique for your business but never expected a crisis like the situation to come suddenly. In this situation, you must handle the stress and avoid burnout. You can handle pressure and prevent burnout by increasing communication, bringing focus to activities, self-care, and reaching out to advisors to seek support. To manage your time effectively during the crisis, here are five strategies:

Plan your day. Another effective strategy of smoothly managing the time during a crisis is planning your day in advance. Planning is essential even during a crisis. Depending on the circumstances, you may find the need to modify your plan a bit, but having a plan for your day helps you reach closer to your goals. Without a plan, you will have no idea what exactly you want to do.
What’s First? The problem with many entrepreneurs is they keep delaying tasks that they need to be focusing on first. Instead of postponing different tasks and getting burnout due to so much work, prioritize the critical tasks. You can postpone tasks that are of less priority and focus on working on something important. You need to work by prioritizing short versus medium-term goals.
Manage your energy, not just your time. During tough times, what you can do is – instead of managing just time, you can manage your overall energy. You need to figure out ways how you can bring productivity to the organization and get the most. Here’s what Richard Steele (Partner McKinsey & Company) says, “You can’t add more hours to the day, but you can do things to maximize your energy and make it go farther.”
Delegate what you can. You don’t need to do every task of your business by yourself. Sometimes, it is best to delegate or outsource specific tasks. Especially during a crisis, when you want to get tasks done as quickly as possible, you can delegate whatever business functions you can. Delegating small tasks will save you time so that you can focus on what’s more important.
Use technology. In any stage, you think that the usage of technology can smoothen your business functions or add productivity to the organization, just do that. What type of technology or software you will be using will differ based on your business type. Let say Slack can be used for communication and collaboration, Buffer for automating social media management, Zapier to eliminate tedious manual tasks, and Calendar is the tool for saving time on scheduling.

The success or failure of any business is based mainly on how the time spent. If your business is affected due to the crisis, it’s time to make some changes.