Brighter Futures Ahead
What a doozy of a year this has been!
Individually and collectively, we have suffered great tragedies, witnessed profound losses, and have taken many sips, even gulps, from the ever present cups of fear, uncertainty and doubt.
Simultaneously, amidst all the chaos, we have produced and witnessed many of of life’s greatest treasures: tremendous compassion, unrelenting teamwork, tireless endurance, expeditious innovation, focused cooperation, resolute courage, and great recurring faith.
We each have been pressed each day to see the impossibility of surviving and thriving alone. We are recurrently confronted with the undeniable linkage of my success, my independence, with our success, and our inter-dependence.
And so it is for us.
We appreciate how you have looked out for us. How you have reached out to us, fostered us and encouraged us. How you have shared us and introduced us and recommended us. How you have collaborated with us, cheered us, and even at times, comforted us.
Within your veil of support and encouragement, for now almost 20 years, we have advocated for diverse small-to-medium size businesses. We continue to do so, and with your continued support, we will help even more survive, thrive, and grow.
Thank you for your efforts, for you being you, and for working with us to encourage others to make our communities great. As we continue to build brighter futures together, we acknowledge you this day, our inter-dependence, and we celebrate you!
If you think your resources, team, technology, tools or processes could be better configured to help you and your company thrive, communicate your ideas to your team and leadership.
If you or your leadership needs additional support, please let KMG know. (Share Your Needs or Learn More)
KMG has specialists available to support you.
Unlock Your Business – Unleash Your Life™
READ MOREStabilize to Keep Your Business Afloat
“The Entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity”
-Peter F. Drucker
In times of crisis and disruptions, committed entrepreneurs are challenged to keep their SMB’s afloat and on-course. While digesting all of the news and keeping their families safe, entrepreneurs also try to forecast the future of the environment and their businesses, and weigh continued employment of their employees.
Most small business owners facing unprecedented hardship struggle to cope. So, how can you prioritize to stabilize and keep your business afloat?
- Cash. Access to cash can be the lifeboat for your business. Therefore, the number one priority for any business is maintaining cash reserves. Even more so in a crisis. Start now by looking through your business’ budget line-by-line and cutting out unnecessary or excessive expenses.
- Contracts. During a crisis, it’s important to remember that collecting on your jobs is just as important as delivering your services. Evaluate your current contracts and cancellation clauses.
- Payments. Service and stagger payments to critical vendors to stretch your cash. This will not only help stretch your cash reserves but also will preserve your vendor relationships and maintain your critical supply chain.
- Innovation. In times of turbulence, all businesses need to adapt to the emerging “new normal.” Quickly find ways your business can serve the new crisis-driven needs of customers by honing your service or product offering.
- Support. Consult with advisors and accountants well-versed in SMB’s during any crisis for focus and support. They can help with business contracts, collections, budgeting, and financial management quickly and cost-effectively. Do not go it alone!
If you think your resources, team, technology, tools or processes could be better configured to help you and your company thrive, communicate your ideas to your team and leadership.
If you or your leadership needs additional support, please let KMG know. (Share Your Needs or Learn More)
KMG has specialists available to support you.
Unlock Your Business – Unleash Your Life™
READ MOREThriving While Working from Home
Back at the office when we fantasized about working from home, images of sleeping in late, lounging in cozy clothes, and avoiding the commute and inclement weather came to mind. But now that working from home is our reality, how do we set up ourselves and our company to thrive? You, your tools, your environment and your time can be configured for success. It just requires planning, structure, and discipline. With a little guidance and practice, even the most reluctant of us can adapt and thrive while working from home.
10 tips to help everyone work their best life…from home:
- Find your place…where do you want to work? What space will be most conducive to optimizing your time and workflow? Whether it be the makeshift desk or workstation, try not to make it near a bed or a TV so that your “productivity zone” emulates that of a more familiar productive environment.
- Plan for potential distractions and resolve. If necessary and as possible, plan any childcare and children’s activities in advance, schedule partner or caregiver swaps, and maintain your separate distraction-free workspace to maximize your concentration and output.
- Get organized. Gather everything you will need and bring it into your workspace. This includes technology, files, papers, snacks, coffee, water etc. Less is more, but ensure you feel comfortable and supported for success.
- Define your boundaries. Create your ideal work schedule for the week. Calendar it. Break each day into focus periods, meetings, and breaks; with personal time before and after core work hours.
- Review, set and revise your priorities. Each night think about your “Focus 5″- your top priorities- for the following day. Write them out, say them out loud, then relax. Each morning, review and update and relax. Whether it’s producing a proposal, generating invoices, replying to emails, planning to meditate or workout, write it out, then relax…and begin.
- Set it, but don’t forget it. Maintain your schedule! Ritualize it. Routine, routine, routine. Continue to wake up at the same time, start at the same time, and plan on finishing at the same time to ensure you make the most out of your work from home day.
- Set alarms without being alarmed. Set timers for focused periods of productivity. Work to the clock. You will be amazed how much you can accomplish by focusing and working to the clock. As possible, limit the number of times you check emails and social media. While it’s important to remain aware and stay connected, spending too much time on e-communications will greatly undermine your efforts.
- Bookend your day with personal tasks. Make sure that you are focused on the priorities at hand during your core work hours. While it may feel easy enough to start that load of laundry, have lunch with your mother, or do that favor for your neighbor…these distractions can take on lives of their own and undermine your momentum. Be cautious.
- Maintain your health. Working from home often contributes to a sedentary lifestyle, not to mention a closer proximity to the refrigerator. Take alertness breaks, stretch, walk, or do some basic chair exercises. Eat and snack healthy and be sure to stay hydrated.
- Be patient and compassionate. If you are collaborating with others also working from home, be compassionate, practice patience, and negotiate for your needs. You may feel others are not responding to emails quickly enough, or are seemingly distracted while on conference calls, or taking longer than usual to finalize projects. You don’t know where they are in the process of mastering working from home, nor always what is exactly on their plate. So, as best you can, provide a space of support and compassion and be productive together.
By conscientiously implementing these 10 tips, anyone and all of us can not only survive, but thrive while working and collaborating from home!
“Never miss an opportunity to do something better each day. Success is the sum of many small daily triumphs that accumulate like gold in the rivers of our lives.”
If you think your team, technology, tools or processes could be better configured to help you and your company thrive, communicate your ideas to your team and leadership.
If you or your leadership needs additional support, please let KMG know. (Click here to share your needs or Learn More)
READ MORE5 Important Steps to Make Sure you are Building an Effective CRM Solution
At any stage of entrepreneurship, you’ve heard your fair share of CRM importance. But how clear are you on how to build one? Because CRM’s are instrumental in helping businesses build relationships with customers, it is critical to make sure your CRM is set up in a way that creates loyalty and customer retention. Since customer loyalty and revenue are both qualities that affect a company’s revenue, CRM and its management strategy have a big impact on increased profits for a business. So, what can you do to build a stronger CRM?
One – Make sure you truly understand the owners version.
The owner of a company typically has a high level vision they want to achieve. Making sure you understand this vision will help you to make the right decisions to ensure it is possible. Because of the complexities of CRM, often it helps to have a high level vision in mind from the beginning that can serve as a Northstar along the way.
Two – Make sure you have a plan before you begin.
Creating a plan will align the owners version to a strategy that can be successfully executed. This strategy should be realistic and consider the unique needs of the business. It is important to discuss features and use cases, but it is also important to consider the results from the beginning. This includes identifying Key Performance Indicators that measure success and making sure these a hardwired into your CRM and related workflows. If you can measure it you can increase the accountability required to achieve your goals.
Three – Ensure you have the right professional services available to fill in the gaps.
It is important to consider the impact of CRM across your entire organization. Because an effective CRM is not limited exclusively to your sales team, you will want to consider everyone who will interact with it. This includes, employees, customers, vendors and other key stakeholders. Many times this can be solved easily by bringing in subject matter experts for aa few hours to define key success factors. A fully leveraged CRM touches on all aspects of your business including marketing, recruitment, delivery and project management. Make sure you consider all perspectives from the beginning.
Four – You can’t avoid the hard work.
Once the planning is complete and the work plan is in place, there still a lot of hard work to be done. While it can be time consuming, taking on the hard work will ensure that workflows are properly integrated and the data in your CRM is clean and accurate. This hard work is often the difference between a successful solution you can leverage for Quantum Growth™ and a disparate set of tools that hangs over your organization like an albatross.
Five – Your tools should fit your needs not the other way around.
There are many great CRM solutions in the marketplace, but unfortunately, many businesses start by selecting a tool. Features are important, but they should not come before the first four steps we have mentioned above. When you start with a tool, you limit yourself to the vision that the CRM creators had. This may help, but it is impossible that they can conceive of the very unique needs of every business. It is better to go through the four steps mention above and then ensure that whatever tool you select can be tailored to meet those objectives. An effective CRM tool should be easy to use, available across multiple devices, provide clear transparency and accountability for who is doing what. Finally, it should give you real-time access to the measurements and metrics that are most important to grow your business.
One final thought. The true power of CRM lies in its ability to provide you with the data that you need to make effective decisions. Make sure you are aligned with that objective and things will be much easier at every step.
Good luck! Let us know if we can help!
READ MOREExercise and the Workplace
Unleash Your Life™
No matter the source, we all know that exercise is good for our mind and body. Whether you are managing your weight, combating an illness, struggling with mental health…exercise is often one of the first ‘medications’ prescribed. Considering how well versed we are in this, isn’t it surprising that many of us STILL struggle to find time for our physical health? Would that change if I told you that not only can it positively affect your body but also your work?
That’s right, doing moderate-intensity exercise (specifically in the morning) improves your cognitive performance throughout the rest of the day. What do I mean by cognitive performance? This is your mental processing, your decision making, your short-term memory. All the tools needed for making very important decisions… aka, all the tools needed for work! Other areas that may be improved with exercise include:
- Improved concentration
- Sharper memory
- Faster learning
- Prolonged mental stamina
- Enhanced creativity
- Lower stress
With all of this in mind, let’s focus on what keeps us from making it to the gym. Time? Energy? Or perhaps even prioritization? If we are aware that exercise enables us to be more productive, soak in more information and elevate our mood, why do so many of us consider it a luxury vs a priority?
Perhaps it’s time that we start considering exercise as part of the job, and not something that takes you away from work. Exercising regularly would ensure that the hours you put in to the job are your best… as opposed to functioning less effectively, processing slowly, and forgetting more often.
“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.” ~ John F. Kennedy
For more assistance to Unlock Your Business and Unleash Your Life™, please contact www.kmgweb.com for more information.
KMG Enterprises
Quantum Partners/SMB Growth Solutions℠
800-871-2851
When You Do Better – We Do Better™
concierge@kmgweb.com | 800-871-2851
©KMG Enterprises, LLC. 2019. All Rights Reserved. www.kmgweb.com
READ MOREHappiness as a Business Model
Happiness before profits as a Business Model? Creating your own schedule, flex time off, approved/encouraged work life balance, freedom to work from home, comped breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, what’s not to love about this Happiness Business Model.
More and more businesses are adapting to this model: Google, Netflix, Facebook. Happy employees and customers equate to improving your bottom line. Increased productivity, innovative ideas, less sick days, higher income, stronger evaluations and an overall supportive work environment are all outcomes of this new business model.
And this Happiness Model doesn’t just stop with employees! It spreads to the customers as well, creating loyalty, new opportunities, and welcome collaboration with vendors and other stake holders.
So, why does this model work so well?
- Feeling as though you are a part of something meaningful:
- Feeling as though you are connecting and contributing to something beyond the self is an incredible motivator! It can rejuvenate the soul, foster positive emotions, and deepen social/professional connections. The more meaningful our lives become, the more joy we experience in our day to day activities!
- Feeling as though you have control over your day-to-day life and future:
- Feeling as though you have control means you have choices! These choices can influence the environment around you, and your impact on others. This sense of empowerment impacts our emotions, efficiency, and outcomes. When we feel as though our lives are impacted by our choices, there’s no stopping that power.
- Feeling surrounded by like-minded individuals is inspiring and encouraging:
- We all know that our environment shapes who we are and who we will become.Therefore, in order to foster happiness and success, it’s crucial that we surround ourselves with individuals who yearn for the same.
- Feeling like your work matters and impacts others:
- When we feel as though our work doesn’t matter, we don’t process information as well, our creative thinking diminishes, and we make poor decisions.If business owners encourage meaningful and purposeful visions for the office, employees are likely to be emotionally and intellectually committed.
So, consider infusing Happiness into Your Business Model.
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
For more assistance to Unlock Your Business and Unleash Your Life™, please contact www.kmgweb.com for more information.
KMG Enterprises
Quantum Partners/SMB Growth Solutions℠
800-871-2851
When You Do Better – We Do Better™
concierge@kmgweb.com | 800-871-2851
©KMG Enterprises, LLC. 2019. All Rights Reserved. www.kmgweb.com
READ MOREBetter Balance Your Business & Your Life
Being an entrepreneur sounds like the dream: making your own schedule, calling the shots, making ALL the money…but all too often people forget the really challenging side of entrepreneurship. The difficulty of balancing your business and your life!
In the beginning, you may feel like you have to invest 100% of your time into the business; mostly because resources as so tight that there is no other option. If you are an established entrepreneur with 7-10+ years under their belt, you may be feeling just as stretched thin as you did at the onset!
Unfortunately, entrepreneurship doesn’t come with its own structure-it’s often not that easy or clean cut. Simultaneously, we have to maintain balance. If we don’t, the tipping of scales will create unwanted stress in OTHER areas of our life. The balance of your business cash flows and personal cash flows becomes even more complicated if you are married, have children, or simply have any other obligations that require your time.
Keep these principles in mind to help Unleash Your Life™:
- Happy Family, Happy Entrepreneur
- Family first! It may seem like common sense, however for many entrepreneurs, family is often the factor that’s pushed aside, taken for granted. However, by putting your family first you will strengthen every other area of your life.
- Healthy Heart, Healthy Mind
- Entrepreneurs also have a tendency of sacrificing their health for the sake of the business. Don’t! Take care of your mind and body Every. Single. Day. This will inevitably change the way you feel and change the way you process your growth (mentally and physically). The amount of TLC you show your body and spirit will shine through the many layers of your business!
- Appreciation for your Accomplishments and Mistakes
- How simple it is to get caught up in all the negativity. While it is important to recognize your mistakes to learn from them, it’s equally (if not more) important to focus on your accomplishments. This fuels positivity, which will have a wonderful impact on the output of your business and life!
- Efficiency is Key
- With all the open tabs in your life, working efficiently is key. Prioritize and reprioritize daily. Work smart and make time for your utmost responsibilities. By establishing your personal rhythm, consistently reviewing your plan, and constantly communicating with your team, you can achieve your goals with ease!
- Networking
- Surrounding yourself with balanced, like-minded individuals, who share similar dreams and goals, will help you maintain balance among you, your business, and your family. Never be afraid to network with people “out of the box,” you need to feel happy, healthy, and fulfilled!
For more assistance to Unlock Your Business and Unleash Your Life™, please contact www.kmgweb.com for more information.
KMG Enterprises
Quantum Partners/SMB Growth Solutions℠
800-871-2851
When You Do Better – We Do Better™
concierge@kmgweb.com | 800-871-2851
©KMG Enterprises, LLC. 2019. All Rights Reserved. www.kmgweb.com
READ MORESticking to Your Plan
A New Year, A New You?
Did you spend time hashing out your 2019 goals? Feeling good about the plan? Struggling yet again to stick to your resolutions (whether personal or professional)?
Let’s Address:
Idealizing about the future is a national pastime. We all do it, and yet we all struggle to ‘make it happen.’ Why? What’s the glitch? Whether you are trying to keep to your resolutions or sticking to a business plan, here are some top tips for success:
Keep your resolutions visible
- Pin them to your board, add them to your calendar, tape them to your mirror.
- Whatever you do, keep them visible (not tucked in drawer).
- The minute we lose sight of our goals, is the minute we start to slack.
Set deadlines
- No matter what your goal is, set a deadline.
- Hold yourself and/or your business accountable.
- Set an alarm in your calendar, add it to your quarterly meeting.
Resolutions/goals/business plans require flexibility
- Understand that resolutions/business plans need flexibility to work
- Don’t fret if you have veered off course
- Document the process/progress
- Keep moving forward.
Keep track of your figures
- Whether you are saving money, or losing weight, keep track of the numbers and projections!
- Keeping track of figures will help you make decisions in the long run.
Ask for help
- You don’t have to go it alone. That’s why professionals in helping positions exist.
Rewards
- Reward yourself and/or the business no matter the size of the accomplishment.
- Celebrate, it’s all movement in the right direction.
Keep track
- Your resolutions/business plan can help set future goals!
- Monitor your success, your setbacks.
- Where did you go wrong?
- Where could you improve?
For more than 18 years, KMG has scientifically helped more than 150 SMB’s Replicate, Scale & Grow. We’re ready to help you accomplish your goals.
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
– C. S. Lewis
KMG Enterprises
Quantum Partners/SMB Growth Solutions
800-871-2851
When You Do Better – We Do Better™
READ MOREA New Year, A New You. Resolutions for You, AND your Business!
Making New Years Resolutions is a great way to make positive change in your life. However, more often than not, many of us inevitably fail. Less than 10% of individuals keep to their resolutions. For those of us that put in the time to set them, that’s a startling figure! So why is it that so many of us struggle to keep our personal and professional resolutions?
Let’s take a look!
Why We Set Resolutions:
- Recognize that change is needed
- To embark on a new challenge
- Opportunity for growth
- Opportunity for career advancement
- Money
- Making a difference
- Incentives
- Work-life balance
- Overthink: to a point where the process becomes exhausting and arduous
- We give ourselves a mental ‘get out of jail’ card
- Goals were not realistic
- Goals were not well defined
- Goals and mindset do not match up
- Poor time management
- Too many distractions
Unlock Your Business, Unleash Your Life™
KMG Enterprises
