Hi Reader! Brrrrr. How are you doing with these arctic temps?! I secretly love winter days like this where you are basically forced to stay inside and take a break from all the usual activities. At its core that is the purpose of winter, isn’t it? To rest, turn inward, and prepare for the season of growth that inevitably follows. What’s true for ourselves is also true for our business! This is the time to reflect on the big questions related to your business and to start prepping and assembling the resources you need for the year ahead. That’s why I love the concept of scheduling a CEO day and why I’m talking about it in today’s newsletter! Ok, that's all for now - I’m going to retreat under some blankets and fix myself some tea! Stay warm this week, friends! CONCEPT: If you want [THIS], STOP doing [THIS] DESCRIPTION: Film yourself looking directly at the camera and point at a place on the screen where you will place text. Nod your head and point or gesture to the words. Then switch and cross your hands or shake your head and place the other text of what your audience should STOP doing if they want to achieve their goal/desired outcome. Explain more in your caption. EXAMPLE: Posture Hack (https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1AOhYpObxV/) Will you try it? If you do, be sure to send it to @mccullochcomms as a DM, which will ensure that I see it, and can increase your engagement and views! Maybe it’s the girl boss in me, but when I started my own business, I LOVED the idea of being the CEO of my own company. And that’s exactly what you are when you run a small business - you’re the CEO! But it’s actually kind of hard to get into that mindset and act like a CEO because we're focused on the day-to-dat tasks of running our business. But as a CEO, your job is to look at the big picture and set the direction and forward movement of the entire company. It’s good to look up from the daily grind every once in a while and make sure your company is headed in the direction you want it to go. That’s where the idea of scheduling a CEO day comes in! What is a CEO Day?A CEO Day is a day where you clear your calendar - yes CLEAR it - to focus on the “CEO things” of your business. It’s where you strategize your future planning, set and review goals, analyze your numbers, envision where you want to be, and figure out what types of resources you’ll need to get there. How often should I schedule a CEO Day?Personally, I do this once a year and I find it to be super helpful. I’ve heard of some business owners who do it monthly, sometimes even weekly. If you’re able to work it into your schedule more often, do whatever works for you! Does it need to be a whole day?Yes! The key to a CEO day is that it is uninterrupted and not infringed on. If you only schedule a couple of hours, it’s so easy to let other work spill over into that time. A meeting could go long, a client could expect something a little more from you, and the next thing you know the time is gone. If you don’t plan for and protect the entire day, chances are you won’t even get an entire hour. Where should it be?Can you do this at home or in your typical workspace? Sure. Is that the best way to execute a CEO Day? Maybe not. I’ve found that sometimes it’s best to get out of the space where you usually do your day-to-day work if you want to think more clearly and objectively about the big picture of your business. So whether that’s reserving a conference room in a fancy building (or your local library!) for a day, or just picking a new location that’s clean and clear of the usual work, change your environment [link to last week] to get more productivity out of your day. Should my team be there?That is 100% up to you! Some people like to strategize alone in a room, others like to talk it out with their team. If you have a collaborative team that thrives by getting together, get the people together! Make sure you have an agenda and stay on task. On the other hand, if you find more people and more input to be distracting and frustrating, do it on your own. 20 Questions to Ask Yourself During Your CEO DayHere’s a list of questions you can ask yourself during your CEO day. By no means is this a complete list, but it should help get you going in the right direction…
All that may seem like a lot, but it is so important to pause and take stock of these things so that you ensure your business is working for YOU and is growing in the direction you want it to grow. So even if you feel like you're too busy with Zoom calls, order filling, proposals, and the general running of your business - take a moment to intentionally schedule a day to focus on planning, strategy, and the big picture of your business. Future you will thank you! More on CEO Days...
|
2235 N Saint Louis Ave, Unit 2, Chicago, IL 60647 |
Hi Reader! I went outside without a coat on yesterday! In Chicago, this is what’s known as the “spring of deception!” I know it’s not going to last and we’ll be back to 15 degree days before the weather really turns, but it is SO NICE while it lasts!!! I hope you had a chance to get outside and enjoy the sunshine too! Today, I’m so excited to give you access to a Quarterly Customer Appreciation Checklist that we created based on the recommendations we’ve shared so far this month. It’s an easy...
Hi Reader! Valentine’s Day is practically here, and if you’re looking for a way to “show the love” to your customers and clients, today’s issue has a fabulous (and easy to implement!) idea! Of course, this isn’t just for Valentine’s. Showing appreciation for those who support you is an ongoing effort for small business owners (or should be!). So if it’s too stressful to think about doing this in time for Vday, then mark your calendar for another time/season/holiday that works better for you....
Hi Reader! I never realized how much I value sleep until I got a puppy. And wow - it makes ALL the difference in nearly every aspect of your life. Sadly - even though Fiona is 10 months old - we were still dealing with disrupted sleep almost nightly. I was barely functioning and something HAD to change. So this is what I did… I created a routine for Fiona (and for me!). Each night for the last week, I removed her food bowl and didn't feed her anything after 7:30 pm; we took her harness off...