Taking A Step Back So You Can Move Forward

Recently I posted on the effect of emotions on your business. For about the last month or so I’ve been taking a serious step back from my business and this blog. You may wonder how since there’s been several posts and tons of things going on over here and mostly it’s due to automation. I’ve been scheduling my blog posts and even the entire Brand Booster 21 is work that Ed and I have already completed. By the time we enjoy the series (which will help you with your brand right away), all we’ll have to do is sit back and enjoy the posts and comment as we go along.

We planned it this way because this was something extra we figured we could bring to the readers here at SBB. I’m always in the background here planning, researching, and keeping a heads up on information that I can bring to you. Plus a partnership with Ed has been way more than either of us expected, more on that later.

The main reason that I decided to pre-schedule everything is because I’m putting together more stuff in the background here, but mostly because personally we have a HUGE week here in our family life. My daughter has had 2 years of treatments including a stem cell transplant, chemo, radiation, blood transfusions, and more. It’s been a rough 2 years, and right in the midst of it is when I took over here at the site. This week we have a PET/CT Scan happening along with bloodwork, heart and lung tests and then… the results. I have a strong Faith in God so I know she’ll be quite fine, and there is alot of people praying for my baby girl (she’s 17 but I still call her my baby).

At the same time the last few days I’ve taken a step back this week and haven’t even been looking at emails. I’ve been thinking about where I should go with this site and my business. What steps I should take and which I should let drop. I find taking a step back helps me also recover the excitement of getting back at it.

During my step back I will often drive out to the beach alone and just sit for an hour, it truly helps.

How about you, how often do you take a step back so you can move foward?

Austin Divorce Attorney

I think sometimes what we need is just a little break from all the work and relax, working all the times drains us out a little relaxation can really help us regain our strength.

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Jill

We all need a space for ourselves. No matter how hard we work and how much we love what we do, we all need our own retreat. Personally, I like reading, doing yoga and meditating. tHEY help me renew myself.

ms small businesses

I am moved with your daughter's case, my family would include her in our prayers.When things started to stress me out, I take a nap or pause for a while for prayer.This usually clears my head and revitalize my soul. I try to gather myself and after a couple of hours I see things on a different perspective and I'd be ready to face it all.

Diana

Great article! Having your own space where you can retreat and connect with your emotions or personal projects and unplug from your business life is great. Taking up a hobby, reading or just surfing the web for pleasure makes wonder.s.

popcorn popper

Love the article. Keep blogging.

Strategic Growth Advisors

Stepping back is similar to enjoying a fine glass of wine after dinner or having the sensation of water tickling your toes as you walk by the seashore. Purely ethereal.

Vera, I don't know you. I read your recent blog about your emotions and your daughter's cancer. (I will also keep her in my prayers).

I also read your FREE copy of our New Report...
"4 Quick Ways To GROW Your Subscribers, Customers, and Business Reach." It has the right words but they read like many other comments on branding. You read it and forget what you have read.
As a stranger, here's one challenge as you step back from your business, maybe one of the hours you spend on the beach. Find the same level of emotion about your business as you have as a mother for your daughter. There's feeling and depth there. Your business calls for feelings and depth. Here's an article that says it better than I. Hope it's helpful, even coming from a stranger.

Is Your Branding Having a Mid-Life Crisis?

By Nancy Marmolejo

Just as in life, our brands can reach a state of “mid-life crisis”. You look at your business one day and feel like everything is wrong, outdated, unappealing, and that your cherished ideal clients and leads are going to run off with the 22 year old neighbor.

Your brand is the outward representation of your business. Using images, words, phrases, and concepts, your brand speaks volumes to people in the blink of an eye. It’s any and all of the following: your logo, tagline, Twitter ID name, headshot, business name, program names, style of communication, energetic connection and more.

For some entrepreneurs, your brand may require a little cosmetic touch up. Nothing drastic, maybe update a tagline or clean up the look of a website. In life, it would be like getting a new lipstick shade, or one of those “Old Guys Rule” t-shirts. Everyone needs to look at their branding and messaging and make sure it’s still turning heads.

For others, it may call for a full-on brand facelift. The concept of the brand stays more or less the same, but the logo gets updated, the look and feel get a nip and tuck, new phras es and images are used to add lift and vitality to sagging parts. People say “Wow!” when they see you. It’s not as obvious as say, Mickey Rourke’s facelift, but it definitely adds freshness.

On the extreme end is total reinvention. This happens a lot, it’s when you realize you’re living in the wrong brand completely. You may even be living in the wrong business. Recently I ran into a professional musician who no longer wanted to be known for his music, but rather his coaching. OK, that’s a big change and requires totally reinventing yourself, what people know you for, and what value you deliver. That’s a lot of work, but for many business owners is akin to breaking free from the chains of brand bondage.

So how do you know if you need a slight touch up, a full on procedure, or a radical intervention?

Here are some points to ponder:
1. Do you still feel excited about the way your branding represents your business?
2. Are you attracting ideal clients and well matched leads?
3. Has it been more than 5 years since you had a new headshot?
4. Is your tagline appearing outdated or overused? Does it follow a tired template?
5. Are new leads finding you and easily resonating with what you have to offer? Do the messages you have connect with them?
6. Are you Web 2.0 sexy? Are you proficiently using Facebook, Twitter, etc to market your message?
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About the expert(s):
Nancy Marmolejo is a social media and branding strategist who helps entrepreneurs stand out, get noticed, and get more business. Her clients have attracted major media attention, doubled their incomes, and positioned themselves as leaders in their industries. Get Nancy’s free tips on generating more business and leads with social media by visiting http://vivavisibilityblog.com/visibility-resources...

Ed Roach

Great article Vera.

Stepping back is great for business. Re-charge the batteries. I always have a non business book on the go. I love to paint in watercolour. I make it a habit to leave the cell phone home when I go out for supper with my wife. Stepping back keeps the sanity in check. It lets you appreciate the priorities.

We all have challenges. The key is to embrace the positive. Stepping back keeps the negatives from overwhelming us. In many ways I use blogging as a positive outlet. It fends of negative thoughts.