August is traditionally a month for vacations, but even if you’re not taking a vacation this month, there are things you can do to re-energize yourself and your promotional products business. You deserve a break and will be more productive after you have taken some time off, even if it’s just a staycation!
Practice the following strategies to stay fresh:
- Spend at least one 24 to 48 -hour period a week not working, not going in your office and not answering email and phone calls.
Modern technology can make it impossible to get away, so you’ve got to practice self-discipline and take care of yourself both mentally and physically. It won’t happen if you never stop working.
- Find time to do things you enjoy that are not work-related.
It’s amazing how creative you’ll be after a break doing something fun that’s not work-related.
- Plan regular vacations.
Build them into your calendar months ahead of time. Your customers will survive without you. If you work alone, start in advance to train a friend, colleague or relative or virtual assistant to fill in for you while you’re gone.
- Set priorities.
Know what is most important in your life and what can wait. My family comes first, that’s my priority. I use the services of a virtual assistant and a part-time assistant to take over when I can’t be here. I have also closed the office when I had to, and you know what - my business continued to thrive! Customers understand you are human and need a break.
- Surround your workplace with things you love - pictures, plants, music.
I love being in my office; it’s a room with plants, sunlight and my favorite music close by. This makes it a pleasure to start my workday.
- Reward yourself.
If you’re self-employed, you won’t have a boss to tell you did a great job, or to give you the employee of the month award, so do it for yourself. Whatever it is that will acknowledge what you’ve accomplished, do it!
- Get help.
Don’t try and do it all yourself. I always make it a habit to get help, even during lean times. It frees me up to concentrate on what I do best. College students, especially marketing majors, make great part-time help. They’re knowledgeable, fast on the computer and love to learn.
- Commit to spending some quiet time with your favorite person – you!
This practice will do more than support you through difficult times. It will ensure that you are committed to making choices about your life and your business that bring you back to yourself and awakens your dreams.
- Celebrate your wins.
So often we spend time focusing on the negative instead of the positive. What went right this year? What can you duplicate and do again to achieve even greater success next year? What goals did you accomplish? What projects did you complete? Taking inventory of the positive changes you've made in your life and your business is the best way to reinforce good habits and build your self-esteem.
Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, have a fantastic month!
Rosalie Marcus, The Promo Biz Coach, is a promotional products business expert, coach, and speaker. Combining her skills and years of experience in promotional sales, she helps her clients sell more at higher margins to better clients. Get a free special report: 10 Proven Ways to Thrive in Promotional Products Sales… in Any Economy at www.promobizcoach.com. Contact her at Rosalie@promobizcoach.com.