Wow, what a day so far. As a project manager i am usually very organized, i plan out each day so i know exactly what I am working on, what the deadlines are and how long I am going to work. Today however, my whole plan got messed up, it started just after 8am when i heard that my car needs a longer service than expected...this meant I was stuck at the car dealership for the whole morning.
Nothing I could do. i got my coffee, read the paper, made notes, to-do lists, phone calls that needed to be done...only 9.30am...
then i got a phone call from my IT guy saying that the hard drive of my laptop is about to die...what do you want to do, replace hard drive or buy new laptop...by then my mood was at the lowest for that day, and it wasn't even 10 o'clock!
Talking to my friend afterwards actually made it better. i realized that however well you are organized, sometimes it just doesn't go the way you want to. The question then becomes, how do you get out of this.
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I just had to find the reason.
I went for a walk, enjoying the warm fall sun when i decided to take it slow. There isn't anything I can do anyway...so why worry about it?
I took a longer walk, went to the book store etc etc. on my way back to the car dealership they called me saying that the car is ready earlier than expected. YOU SEE?
It all happens for a reason, you just have to go with the flow and believe that it will be fine.
2 hours later I had a new laptop and the world was good again.
Lesson learned?
Don't try to plan every minute of your day. Go with the flow and make the best out of it. Leave room for spontaneity, some fun and surprises. With the right attitude and trust, those surprises will make your day.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Are your Thoughts Taking you Down?
I have been listening to some podcasts over the weekend about how your thoughts can take you down or can take you places! Did you know that your thoughts do not always reflect facts or the reality?
It's true. You might wonder "why didn't that prospect call me back? He probably went with another service provider!" and you create a negative feeling towards the prospect...while in reality the prospect was really busy and couldn't return your phone call but is still eager to work with you - just not right this minute. If you keep the negative thought, you won't call him back and you probably won't make the sale. However, if you keep a positive mind and follow up with this prospect until you get a definite no you have done your best. Even better, you might get a YES after the 2nd phone call because the prospect finally got time to think about this and is happy that you were so persistent. Guess what? You just won a new client!
Sometimes we can stand in the way of our own success by thinking negative or not believing in yourself or in the sale. But if you keep a positive and open mind to everything, find yourself in front of a lot more opportunities than ever.
Try it out and let me know what you experience.
Regina
Your Project Manager
It's true. You might wonder "why didn't that prospect call me back? He probably went with another service provider!" and you create a negative feeling towards the prospect...while in reality the prospect was really busy and couldn't return your phone call but is still eager to work with you - just not right this minute. If you keep the negative thought, you won't call him back and you probably won't make the sale. However, if you keep a positive mind and follow up with this prospect until you get a definite no you have done your best. Even better, you might get a YES after the 2nd phone call because the prospect finally got time to think about this and is happy that you were so persistent. Guess what? You just won a new client!
Sometimes we can stand in the way of our own success by thinking negative or not believing in yourself or in the sale. But if you keep a positive and open mind to everything, find yourself in front of a lot more opportunities than ever.
Try it out and let me know what you experience.
Regina
Your Project Manager
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Keep going!
Have you been in a situation where you just couldn't see the end but you knew you were on the right track?
Well I was hiking the other day (you might realize that I like hiking and that I get a lot of ideas and thoughts while hiking) and it went up steep. I couldn't see the end, my hiking buddies were already further up and seem to hike without breathing to hard. I was exhausted...especially since I didn't know how much longer this would go on like this.
It's sometimes like in business. You decided on a plan or strategy but while doing it, it seems that there is no end to it. You launch a website and think that once launched, clients have to come and find you. But then you find out that you have to do a lot more and have to keep working on getting more traffic to your site and it seems that there is no end.
Fortunately, if you are part of a mastermind, they will support you along the way. They have all been there and know where you are coming from. Sharing your thoughts will make it easier to bear - especially because you know you are still on the right trail.
Another way is to junk down the bigger steps into smaller ones and create small goals along the way. That makes you feel much better because you see that you are actually moving forward and getting somewhere.
I finally got to the top and looking back it was less strenuous than I thought...but not knowing how long it was going to be sooo steep was really nerve wracking!
Well I was hiking the other day (you might realize that I like hiking and that I get a lot of ideas and thoughts while hiking) and it went up steep. I couldn't see the end, my hiking buddies were already further up and seem to hike without breathing to hard. I was exhausted...especially since I didn't know how much longer this would go on like this.
It's sometimes like in business. You decided on a plan or strategy but while doing it, it seems that there is no end to it. You launch a website and think that once launched, clients have to come and find you. But then you find out that you have to do a lot more and have to keep working on getting more traffic to your site and it seems that there is no end.
Fortunately, if you are part of a mastermind, they will support you along the way. They have all been there and know where you are coming from. Sharing your thoughts will make it easier to bear - especially because you know you are still on the right trail.
Another way is to junk down the bigger steps into smaller ones and create small goals along the way. That makes you feel much better because you see that you are actually moving forward and getting somewhere.
I finally got to the top and looking back it was less strenuous than I thought...but not knowing how long it was going to be sooo steep was really nerve wracking!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Launch of My new Website!
I am very excited to launch my new website, the Entrepreneur's Project Manager Site.
Go have a look right now to see what's new, how you can use a project manager in your business and learn ways how to outsource effectively in going to www.reginaminger.com
Are you awake at night wondering how you get everything done?
Do you want an expert to help you manage projects and people?
Ready to start using experts to get things done?
Then check out the site and listen to the interview with me and Melanie Benson-Strick about the Mistakes we make when launching a new Product.
Go have a look right now to see what's new, how you can use a project manager in your business and learn ways how to outsource effectively in going to www.reginaminger.com
Are you awake at night wondering how you get everything done?
Do you want an expert to help you manage projects and people?
Ready to start using experts to get things done?
Then check out the site and listen to the interview with me and Melanie Benson-Strick about the Mistakes we make when launching a new Product.
Friday, March 28, 2008
marketing mix
Are you thinking about your marketing? How do you feel about it? Do you feel you are spending to much time and money on it? As a small business it's sometimes hard to decide on your perfect strategy and often there isn't just one answer that makes the problem go away. It's a process of finding the marketing mix that works for you!
So let's look at what could work for you. A marketing mix already tells you that it is more than just advertising or doing one activity. It's a series of different strategies or activities that work together. Let's brain storm strategies that are cost effective:
- newsletter
- voice mail
- auto-responders
- networking
- referral program
- affiliate program
A lot has to do with building a relationship with your target group, via mail, email, networking, phone, meeting. The more the people get to know you and your service, the more they will think of you when someone needs a service. Being of help to other people like giving them the right contact or some free advice builds trust and loyalty. And that is a key element in cost effective marketing.
I suggest do a series of different activities to be in front of your potential client as much as possible. Being able to show your expertise will eventually make them buy. Try it out, one strategy at a time.
So let's look at what could work for you. A marketing mix already tells you that it is more than just advertising or doing one activity. It's a series of different strategies or activities that work together. Let's brain storm strategies that are cost effective:
- newsletter
- voice mail
- auto-responders
- networking
- referral program
- affiliate program
A lot has to do with building a relationship with your target group, via mail, email, networking, phone, meeting. The more the people get to know you and your service, the more they will think of you when someone needs a service. Being of help to other people like giving them the right contact or some free advice builds trust and loyalty. And that is a key element in cost effective marketing.
I suggest do a series of different activities to be in front of your potential client as much as possible. Being able to show your expertise will eventually make them buy. Try it out, one strategy at a time.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Think like a CEO
Do you own your own business but you think it owns you? how do you know? do you work long hours, trying to meet deadlines, doing 10 things at the same time, never seem to finish anything? then your business probably owns you. what can you do? whenever I get that feeling, I take a break to write down what needs to be done today and cannot wait till tomorrow. I then prioritize the tasks and then go back to work doing the most important things first.
Do you feel you are getting back the control? another, more advanced way to think is who can help me do things so I don't have to do them all? After all you are the CEO of the company. Only because you don't have employees to do things for you doesn't mean you have to wear all the hats. Start with a list of things that someone else could do. Start with a bookkeeper, with a virtual assistant taking care of your admin. Maybe you have a marketing consultant that helps you with your marketing. Then you already outsourced your marketing which is a great step.
Step by step you can start getting back that control and more time during the day to work ON your business.
So I challenge you to ask yourself everytime you feel overwhelmed: what shouldn't I be doing as the CEO of the company? Is there someone else that could do it? Maybe faster, more effective, even cheaper?
Do you feel you are getting back the control? another, more advanced way to think is who can help me do things so I don't have to do them all? After all you are the CEO of the company. Only because you don't have employees to do things for you doesn't mean you have to wear all the hats. Start with a list of things that someone else could do. Start with a bookkeeper, with a virtual assistant taking care of your admin. Maybe you have a marketing consultant that helps you with your marketing. Then you already outsourced your marketing which is a great step.
Step by step you can start getting back that control and more time during the day to work ON your business.
So I challenge you to ask yourself everytime you feel overwhelmed: what shouldn't I be doing as the CEO of the company? Is there someone else that could do it? Maybe faster, more effective, even cheaper?
Sunday, March 16, 2008
My first blog post
Hello everyone
Welcome to my new blog. You'll learn all about how to get things done faster and more effectively and how you can organize your business in a way that makes it easier to get thing done. Excited? I am. Sometimes we don't need to change a whole lot to make a big difference. You might have to change a habit or a detail in your plan to make it work. I want to show you easy ways how to do that. If you have specific questions about something around project management or organizing your business, here is the place to ask!
You'll read from me again soon.
Regina
Your Marketing Manager
Read more about our services on www.businesslifestyle.ca
Welcome to my new blog. You'll learn all about how to get things done faster and more effectively and how you can organize your business in a way that makes it easier to get thing done. Excited? I am. Sometimes we don't need to change a whole lot to make a big difference. You might have to change a habit or a detail in your plan to make it work. I want to show you easy ways how to do that. If you have specific questions about something around project management or organizing your business, here is the place to ask!
You'll read from me again soon.
Regina
Your Marketing Manager
Read more about our services on www.businesslifestyle.ca
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