Q4: How do I get clients when I don’t have tons of money for advertising?
A4: Say hello to social media and networking! You didn’t give me specifics on what kind of business you have, but social media can be a starting point. Make sure your post are consistent with your brand and have a name that matches your products/services.
Second thing you must do, NETWORK!! Print out flyers, business cards and pass them out to local companies that can refer you customers. Don’t just drop off a flyer and expect them to say good things about you and your business, you have to form a relationship with them, support their business.
Always market yourself!! Don’t have tons of money? Print your logo on t-shirts as they are the most cost effective, print out your logo on clear stickers and put that on EVERYTHING (pens, notebook,laptop, water bottle).
Being an entrepreneur is an incredible opportunity, one that has stretched and grown me in SO many ways! However, if you’re anything like me, you can find that it’s challenging to stay motivated with the work you have to accomplish…it’s easy to find yourself bored and discouraged, wondering how you got to this point and how you can get back to the excitement you first experienced when starting off in the entrepreneur world.
One of the biggest changes I have had to make in my mindset as an entrepreneur is the separation from my business and my home. I LOVE that I can work my job while being at home investing in my family, but there are some specific boundaries I need to set up for myself in order to stay motivated and to keep my work from becoming stale. I will be sharing a few of those tips with you now!
Set up specific hours of the day for working. Take some time to sit down and work through your daily schedule. Decide which hours of the day will be dedicated specifically to your work and which hours of the day will be for family, friends, and home. I find that this has really helped me in staying focused and on task.
Create a designated work space in your home. I know it is way more relaxing to plop on the couch or chill in bed while plugging away at work on your laptop, but those cozy environments make it much easier to get distracted and to lose focus. Instead, set aside a quiet area of your home and make it your office. Have fun with this area, decorate it, invest in a desk and comfy office chair, make it pretty, relaxing, and a focused place to work! Having your own personal business space can REALLY help in upping your excitement as an entrepreneur!
Don’t stress out. I think we all know being our own boss can up the stress levels! Obviously there is much to accomplish each day, but don’t let your work consume you. If you’re feeling weighed down and overwhelmed by work, then add some time for self-care to your daily schedule. Get out of the house, pamper yourself for an hour or so, take the time you need to bring yourself back to a calm and positive place of thinking. Don’t let stress steal the love and excitement you have for your job!
I hope some of these tips can be helpful for you!
Yes, entrepreneurship is hard work, but it’s also so rewarding and empowering! Stay positive, stay motivated, stay grateful for all you’ve accomplished and all the amazing things you are going to do.
The last 3 weeks have been a physical, mental and emotional roller coaster for me. Let me tell you why, my husband and I weren’t on the same page and instead of sitting down and communicating our needs like we usually do, we kept playing the blame/victim game and shutting each other out instead of reaching out and LISTENING.
While that was going on, I had to focus on work and keep studying for a big test I have at the end of the month, and also start packing for our move. We moved into a new place after moving to the East bay almost 2 years ago. I also had to deal with end of the year school activities, which are time consuming.
All this was manifesting on my body and mental state of mind, I was getting headaches, I was emotionally drained and my joints hurt.
I couldn’t handle it anymore and I decided to tackle every issue head on, starting with my marriage. I’m happy to report we are back on track and improving our communication skills, we sometimes get complacent with life and forget each other’s needs. I FINALLY finished moving yesterday and I also signed up to the gym to get back on track with my physical transformation.
Now that is in order, my head is clear and I can focus on work and on studying, because let’s be honest, if my family isn’t in order then I can’t focus on ANYTHING.
Why, do I have the need to tell you this? Because it’s OKAY! Life is not always rainbows and unicorns and definitely not what social media portrays. It’s okay to feel stressed and overwhelmed, but always remember “this too shall pass” BUT you have to take control of the situation. Now lets get that mindset back on track and tackle a new week!!
As you know, I have been doing a lot of self-care and self healing for the past two years but really have focused on emotional and mental well-being the last year.
What have I learned about myself? That I love people too hard, that I care a lot about other people and their happiness. For all those reasons, sometimes I can come as cold and hard. I guess that’s just me knowing the potential and seeing the good in people before they see it in themselves, and getting disappointed when they quit on themselves.
You probably remember this from a few post back but the main take away is this: “It is not your job to show others the lessons they need to learn.”
I’m not perfect and I don’t claim to be or expect the people around me to be perfect. I do expect them to always be a work in progress, always learning, to keep an open mind and don’t accept shitty circumstances.
I also learned that once you start to self-heal that you need to protect your energy. I have worked so hard on overcoming childhood trauma, anxiety attacks and depression that I’m very limited with the people that I let in my life.
Don’t be ashamed to distance yourself from the people that bring out the bad in you, and letting them know right know you are working on yourself. Look at your immediate circle, look at your social media “friends” or accounts you follow. Are they bringing you good energy?Are they good people?
The people that love you will understand you and if they don’t get a new circle.
Super excited to be starting this series! I had a couple questions but most of them didn’t want them on the blog. These two said it was fine.
Q1:Hi Yoli! I see your kids are a few years apart so I think you could help me with my situation. My son is 4 years old and I’am pregnant with my second boy, due in August. My son isn’t excited to be a big brother. Help!
A1: Congratulations on your pregnancy! My kids are 6 yrs apart and my son would be in love with the idea of a baby in the house and the next day he would say he would flush her down the toilet if she cried. AHHHHH! I recommend you include him on things for the new baby so he’s excited for his brother’s arrival. Have him pick out babies first outfit (give him three choices), have him help set up the crib or stroller. I would tell my son that my daughter would kick in my tummy and she wouldn’t stop unless he sang a song to her. I wanted him to feel included and know that he was a big help in raising the baby. Good luck mama! You got this!
Q2:I want to start an online business but I’m scared. I have three kids, all of them in elementary and my husband works evenings. My evenings are packed with sport activities and my mornings consist of housework and spending time with my husband.
A2: Starting a business can be scary! Especially when you have many roles to fulfill, but don’t worry! There’s a lot of successful women around us, which shows us it’s possible! There are a few things you need to do, start of by documenting your schedule, NO, not what you SAY you are going to do, or what you THINK you do, what you actually do. From the time you get up to the time you go to sleep. Do that for 3 days. Once you’re done, look at your days and figure out what can be outsourced, extra chores for the kids, online grocery shopping, a more structured schedule? Early mornings or late nights for you? While the kids are busy with sports, can you work from your laptop? The key to this is to prioritize your time and multi-task. Giving yourself a full hour a day IS possible, you just have to stop making excuses and go for it. <— It sounds harsh but its true! You won’t know what works for you if you don’t start.
