HOW TO USE INSTAGRAM FOR BUSINESS

Instagram is an awesome platform for sharing your brand and business with the world. It’s simple, it’s clean, based around great photography and easy to use. Best of all, unlike Facebook and Pinterest, every single one of your followers will see your posts in their feed. It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of Instagram and the power it has for your business.
But where’s a business owner looking to dominate on Instagramm to start? Let my list of ideas for How to Use Instagram for Business guide you below!
I’ve been on Instagram for years but it wasn’t until one year ago that I started ‘analyzing’ my online presence. What was I sharing and why was I sharing it? Did I take notice of how certain images looked in my feed or did I simply post whatever I wanted? I’m not saying we should “perfect” our lives by any means, however, it’s important to understand how our feeds represent our business and what we share (photos and content) does matters.

INSTAGRAM “DO’S” FOR BUSINESS

• DO post consistently to your feed.
• DO include a link to your most recent blog post in your Instagram profile.  When you post an image, let followers they can click the “Link in profile” to access the latest.
• DO tag the location of your photo to provide your account extra exposure. (But be safe – don’t tag your home or office.)
• DO try to vary the composition of photos posted. For example, share an image with lots of negative space next to an image where the subject fills the frame. It allows “breathing room” for the look of your feed. (The two examples below are from the feeds of J.Crew and Anthropologie.)
• DO schedule your instagram posts sometimes using Latergram.me. It’s handy to not have to think about your feed in real time. (I find it really handy to schedule an image that specifically relates to a blog post you have pre-written. You can also use Latergram to preschedule a Valentine’s Day or St. Patrick’s post, etc.)
• • DO design quotes in Photoshop or a free online program and share in yourinstagram feed for variety. Pay attention to the branding and colours – keep consistency in your feed’s theme.
  • DO ask for engagement! Ask your followers an insightful question that will encourage comments. It really works. 
  • DO follow users in your niche and comment on their posts. You get what you give!
  • DO share behind-the-scenes of your blog, business, customers, portfolio, etc as well as personal photos of your life (in limited doses – but sharing personality makes you human!)
  • DO carefully consider which images you share in your feed, taking time to note the colours/contrast and how they’ll pair with your already-posted images. (If I’m near my computer, I’ll pull up my Instagram profile on Instagram.com to compare the image on my phone to my feed side by side.) Instagrammers @emthegem and @imkristen_ model a consistent style really well in their feeds:
  • DO treat your Instagram feed like an extension of your brand. I struggled with this for a long time, I felt that carefully choosing what to post and when was “inauthentic.” It’s easy to fall into this trap, our brands are ourselves and we feel silly sharing a curated version. However, when you look at Anthropologie’s Instagram feed do you ever think, “That silly social media manager, this is not her home. She carefully thought about what to post and styled those candles on the ‘breakfast in bed’ tray on the white fluffy king size bed?” (If you do that’s weird, because that’s the social media manger’s job.) We are our own social media managers – so don’t feel bad about your feed representing you.
  • DO engage with your followers. If somebody takes the time to comment, take the time to comment back! I love using Iconosquare.com for this if there are a ton of comments. It’s easier to type on the computer than my phone!
  • DO edit your Instagram photos using VSCO or a similar app. Use similar filters each time to keep consistency for your followers!
  • DO post an introduction of yourself (#fridayintroductions) ask your followers to introduce themselves every now and then! It’s so fun to hear who’s following you and this encourages engagement, too!
  • DO use hashtags to categorize some of your best content. For my business, I use#jamiedelainephotography to keep all of my photography work in an easy to access portfolio. Search for popular hashtags in your business and use them.
  • 
    DO create a iPhone shortcut on your phone for easy hash-tagging. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Shortcuts and hit the “+” button in the top right. Enter in your phrase (what you want to hashtag) and your shortcut (what you’ll type to have the phrase inserted.) Create a list of different hashtags for different photos and next time you post, save yourself 2 minutes of time! 
  • Do create your own custom backgrounds for clean iPhone photos! Read this postto learn more about taking great iPhone photos (and watch a free tutorialon iPhone photo editing!)

  INSTAGRAM “DON’TS” FOR BUSINESS

  • DON’T share hashtags in the main caption of your image. That can get obnoxious to viewers. A better way is to share your hashtags in a “comment” on your photo rather than in the caption. Once you have a couple comments, your hashtag list will be hidden and less annoying. (Bonus tip: create your hashtags shortcuts–see tip above–with a few line breaks with periods. Then when your hashtag comment is posted, users won’t even see your hashtags!)
  • DON’T forget that primarily your Instagram must be curated to reflect your brand and business. (Ten photos in a row of the hilarious trick your pet was doing last night won’t cut it.)
  • DON’T post more than 1-3x a day, depending on your audience and niche. Respect your follower’s feed space.
  • DON’T post those 3 photos in a row – space out your posting times strategically!
  • DON’T switch between crops. Choose all squares, all squares with a border, all circles using a fancy app, doesn’t really matter, but consistency is the key with the Instagram platform. See this example below of my feed one year ago, compared to recently. I’ve found providing a consistent look is key for followers.
  • DON’T hesitate to create a secondary Instagram profile for “personal” use. Keep it private, share whatever photos you like, don’t edit them, crop anyway you want, post 10x a day and follow close family and friends. This is wonderful! But remember you = your business, so your “business” Instagram needs to reflect professionalism.
  • DON’T forget to add a caption to every post! Captions matter.
  
  
  Jamie Delaine Watson

Are You Building Leaders for Tomorrow?

The outlook for future leadership certainly seems bleak, judging from the current landscape managers describe nationwide:

• The 2015 Business and Human Capital Challenges report from the Society of Human Resource Management found that one of the top concerns among HR and business leaders was the development of the next generation of leaders.
• Workplace Trends’ Global Workforce Leadership survey in February and March said that leadership is the hardest skill to find in employees.
• A 2015 Gallup study of 2.5 million manager-led teams found that a mere 18 percent of current managers said their companies had the talent required for leadership.
• Not surprisingly, among the 1,000 employees surveyed by Workplace Trends, only 36 percent said leadership was a strength in their organization.

With the demand for leadership development on the rise, companies are scrambling for solutions that are effective and quick and require a minimal investment of time and money. Fortunately, there is good news.

That news? Leaders are made, not born. While no one is created with leadership in his or her bones, many people in business are ambitious, strong communicators from the start. So, it’s up to employers to determine who shows the motivation and tendency toward leadership -- and then develop it.

But how does an organization find these diamonds in the rough? The answer is, observe how employees communicate, and identify those who seem to be the most motivational team members These young leaders are usually hiding in plain sight. They solve problems creatively, take charge and plan strategies well, and are the people others go to when they have questions or need guidance.

Once these "A" players are found, organizations should cultivate their leadership skills and "grow them" within the company using the following simple techniques:

1. Use technology to educate.

Fires don’t start with roaring flames -- they need kindling, logs, access to air and, finally, a spark. Those who want to learn leadership skills will do so, given the right opportunity andtools. Give them their spark.

Many employers worry about the cost of professional development, which is understandable. Why would they invest time and money into employees who may leave at the drop of a hat? Good news: There are many free online resources employers can offer to their staff to develop their leadership skills. Examples include Coursera, Alison.com, Open Learn, andMindtools.com. MIT even offers an online version of Organizational Leadership and Change, a graduate level university course.

Other resources vary in cost, but may be worth a look. For example, career counselors help employees gain confidence and feel more inspired. They typically use processes and build action plans geared toward goal achievement.

Webinars are also great tools. Professional organizations like the American Management Association offer webinars that are interactive and offer step-by-step guides to learning new skills.

2. Encourage networking and engagement.

Great leaders keep their fingers on the pulse of the industry. A great method for keeping informed is regularly networking and engaging with colleagues.

Teach employees to create professional relationships and confidently initiate conversations. Expanding their networks builds crucial leadership skills like communication and makes them strong representatives for the company.

Refer them to tools like Let’s Lunch, so they can easily coordinate and meet with experts in their field who can help them achieve career success.

In addition to outside experts, focus on internal mentors. The 2016 Deloitte Millennial Survey found that 94 percent of 7,700 respondents surveyed said their mentors' advice was good, and 91 percent said their mentors showed a good level of interest in the their development. When managers can create a relationship with employees that makes the former feel less like a boss and more like a guide or a coach, they can have a great influence on employees.

Establish this dynamic to earn trust and respect. Employees are more apt to listen to and engage with leaders who develop a strong sense of camaraderie on the team. When those employees see an investment of time and energy from their employer, they will reciprocate and show an eagerness to grow in the company.

3. Suggest personal development techniques.

Personal development is a major part of any great leader’s life. Encourage employees to explore techniques in their personal lives to improve their awareness, develop their talents and build human capital while enhancing their quality of life.

There are various tools companies can use -- like exercise.  An April 2015 study from Leeds Metropolitan University found an increase in productivity and satisfaction and improved time management skills when employees exercised during business hours. Encourage exercise regimens and offer flexibility during business hours to provide employees with gym time.

Mindfulness practices are another tool. Yoga, tai chi and meditation are all great for building a sense of "present moment" awareness that helps with decision-making and productivity. There are several free and low cost online resources that can teach meditation, such as Headspace, Calm,Sattva and Buddhify.

These lifestyle choices can increase knowledge and effectively reduce stress and improve productivity. A less-stressed, more productive employee is more apt to learn and develop his or her leadership skills.

Heather R Huhman

6 Startup Tips for Women Entrepreneurs

In 2015, the number of women-owned firms increased again. Women now own about 30 percent of U.S. businesses and employ nearly 8 million workers. Businesses owned by women provide one in seven jobs in privately-owned businesses, reports Womenable.com.

It’s not uncommon for women to face unique challenges, especially when trying to juggle traditional roles of wife and mother with the demands of starting and running a business. Over the years as a business owner myself, and through training women to run their own etiquette businesses, I have learned a few tips that may help women looking to start a business.

1. Find your passion.

You are going to spend many long hours working in and on your business, so pick an industry that you don’t just like, but are passionate about. When you are passionate, it shows, and your enthusiasm and belief in what you are doing translates to your customers, sparking their enthusiasm about what you are offering.

2. Fit your business to your personal goals.

Are you looking to work part time to supplement the family income or work around the children’s schedules or are you focused on building a full-time business? Is money or freedom the goal, or both? There’s no rule that you have to work a full-time schedule when you run a business -- start a boutique business or work as a consultant. Choose a business and business style that suits your picture of a fulfilling life.

3. Keep your home and work life separate.

It is important to set aside time for both personal and work lives, in order to give each the attention it deserves. Set specific office hours and unless there is an emergency, stick to them. Train yourself to work during office hours and do not accept calls or check emails after hours. Your customers and clients will also conform to your schedule as long as you stick to it. That means not calling or emailing others after hours. Create a separate work area, whether inside the home or in outside office space, and shut the door to the office after hours.

4. Embrace technology.

Don’t let the lure of an incoming message get you off track, whether you are concentrating on a project or spending quality time with your loved ones. Let emails wait until morning or check them at certain times of the day only, allow your voicemail to take calls, and employ auto responders. Let technology work for you.

5. Form genuine connections.

It can be difficult to work alone, so the connections you make will prove invaluable, and not only for business. Find a mentor or create a women’s support group and share your ideas, goals and frustrations. Use the “village” to help you navigate the business landscape. Join a women’s business association such as the National Association of Business Owners (NAWBO) or the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) for professional support and resources.

6. Define your brand.

Carefully define your brand: what does it look like and what does it stand for? And stick to it. Make everything you do and offer conform to the brand, from color schemes, logo design, packaging, correspondence, and presentations, to customer service, and the company culture and mission. Do not deviate from your brand. It is the message and consistency by which your clients know, remember and trust you.

Having your own business is an adventure, so embrace the challenges and rewards it offers.

Jacqueline Whitmore

5 Things Every Entrepreneur Should Know About Risk-Taking

Taking risks is scary, whether you’re going all-in during a friendly game of poker or quitting your long-time career to pursue one of your promising business ideas. Most people tend to avoid risks when possible, because inaction is often safer than action, but most successful people will tell you they got to where they are because they were willing to take risks no one else was -- whether that was developing a product nobody else thought would work or investing a sum of money everyone else thought was crazy.

Still, taking risks is intimidating, especially for new entrepreneurs. But it’s more complicated than just “doing something that might turn out bad.” To feel more comfortable taking risks and make more informed risk-based decisions, keep these five considerations in mind.

1. Risk-taking is inherent in entrepreneurship.

If you aren’t prepared to take risks, you have no business being an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is fundamentally linked to risk-taking. You’ll need to invest some of your personal capital into a growing business -- in most cases. You’ll stake your reputation on an unproven idea. You’ll sacrifice a steady paycheck for the first several months to a year -- again, in most cases.

And from there, every decision you make carries some small risk -- your new hire might leave in a month, your lead generation strategy might fail, your new approach might anger one of your best clients, and so on. Accepting risk as a part of the deal, and you need to be ready for that as you enter the entrepreneurial world.

2. There are different types of risks.

I’m not just referring to “big risks” and “small risks” here -- though those exist, too. There are calculable risks, which involve a series of knowns that allow you to reasonably predict the odds of success. For example, you might be able to infer from historical data that there’s a 30 percent chance a tradeshow’s attendance will dip to a point that makes your attendance unprofitable.

There are ambiguous risks, which involve some knowns and some unknowns, which complicate your decision making process. Most business risks fall into this category, because so many factors, like consumer behavior and economic shifts, are difficult to quantify or predict. Then there are complete unknown risks, which arrive when you bring something truly unique to the market. Knowing the differences between these risks can help you better understand how “risky” your decisions at certain points actually are.

3. Some of your risks won’t pay off.

The optimistic risk-taker will always see things as half-full, a 50-percent rate of success is “pretty good odds” and a 75 percent rate of success is a “sure thing.” This is compounded by the cultural idea that risk taking is generally a rewarding strategy. However, don’t be fooled into thinking that all risks are good risks or that always taking the risky option will pay off.

Some risks -- even carefully calculated ones -- will fail. Instead of ignoring this fact to overcome your apprehension toward risk, embrace it. Let yourself accept the possibility of failure, and when you do fail, don’t take it personally -- learn from the experience and move on.

4. We’re inherently biased toward predicting disaster.

There are two inherent biases in the human mind that skew our perceptions of risk. The first is that we tend to exaggerate the possibility for failure. In raw estimates (with limited numerical data), people tend to pessimistically predict failure more than real situations would warrant. The second is that we greatly exaggerate the consequences of those failures -- we envision the worst-case scenario, when the reality is far more manageable.

Keep this in mind when imagining the negative possibilities associated with your risks.

5. Risk is a differentiator.

Some risks offer the promise of higher value. Some risks offer smaller potential consequences than others. Some risks could make or break your business. But there’s one key element all risks have in common: They’re differentiators. Because most people are unwilling to take risks, the risk-takers of the world naturally stand out in the crowd, and as we all know, entrepreneurs and businesses that stand out are the only ones with a shot at breakout success.

Even if you end up failing, you’ll end up “failing in style,” so to speak -- and you might reveal more opportunities for yourself just because you were willing to stand out and break away from the norm.

Hopefully, these facts have transformed your perceptions of “risk” as a general concept, even if only slightly. It takes time to get to know the complexities and nature of risk, and even more time to get comfortable taking them, but eventually it will become second-nature to you. Focus on the known factors when you can, accept ambiguities -- and understand that failure is never the end of the road.

Larry Alton

The Quick Guide to Using Snapchat for Business in 2016

If you’re not already familiar with Snapchat, you should get acquainted. Snapchat is a mobile photo-messaging app that allows users to take photos and short videos that remain viewable to recipients for approximately 10 seconds; after that, the “Snap” disappears into the dark tubes of the interwebs, never to be seen again.

To expand its services, Snapchat has added live text, chat and video calls between contacts, which has helped increase use of the application among younger audiences. Just check out these stats:

• Snapchat has roughly 26 million users in the United States
• 77 percent of college students use Snapchat daily
• 58 percent of college students would be likely to purchase a brand's product or service if they received a coupon on Snapchat

That’s a huge audience of potential customers. If you’re not already using the app as part of your own marketing strategy in 2016, you should be. Check out this guide to help you get started:

Highlight special events.

If you’re hosting or taking part in live events (grand openings, anniversaries, trade shows, charity events, etc.), then Snapchat is a great tool to leverage. It gives your audience members direct access to your live event, no matter where they are.

The NBA used snapchat in this manner during draft picks, All-Star games and finals. During the 2014 All-Star Game, the Association launched its brand on Snapchat, where fans were able to get up close and personal with players during the game. They also got tight Snaps of the game’s Slam Dunk Contest.

Tease new products to your fans.

Some brands still worry that social use can be self-destructive and lead to a host of problems with managing user engagement. But others are jumping in, because marketers can make a serious impact with product launches using apps like Snapchat.

Snapchat is an ideal opportunity to start teasing out videos and pictures of new products. Because these images last a few seconds, you can expect a fair amount of buzz and chatter to surge around your new offering.

Pull back the curtain.

Snapchat can also be used to take your followers beyond raw products and services so you can engage the community more. Take them behind the scenes to show off your company. Have fun, and use the caption and drawing tools within Snapchat to show off your personality and corporate culture. This is a great opportunity to show your fans how different your brand is from your competitors’.

If you want to mix it up behind the scenes, rotate control of your Snapchat account among trusted employees. Give them each control of it for a day or so. This adds a great deal of variety and flavor that your fans will enjoy. Just be sure to set some guidelines to keep “bad stuff” from popping up.

Keep it Disney

Snapchat is about as casual as social media platforms can get. Your followers aren’t interested in corporate stuffiness -- they’re looking for color, action and fun. Give it to them.

At the same time, you still need to maintain some professionalism due to the nature of the audience. Snapchat followers are younger: according to Snapchat, the average user age group is 12-34. That means “keeping it Disney” with content that is clearly for a general audience.

Tell a story

Videos in any medium should be kept short and snappy, and that’s certainly true with Snapchat. Regardless of the medium, your audience is out there looking for brief content to digest while in line, sitting in class or on a short break at work. Feed them brief content and they’ll gobble it up.

Snapchat works because the videos you take are limited to 10 seconds. Take that and run with it, because you can make multiple video clips and string them together to tell a story that your followers can go through all at once when they have the time.

Push the incentives

Here’s where Snapchat can get you real foot traffic if you own a physical business: incentives. Incentives are a classic marketing strategy, and have become an expected staple within social media. Businesses often host giveaways and sweepstakes asking fans to like, retweet, share and comment for a chance to win something big.

Snapchat can be used the same way. In fact, an impressive 58% of college students stated they were more likely to buy from a company if they received a coupon via Snapchat.

So can Snapchat actually drive customers to your business or to your website? The answer is absolutely “yes.” If you haven’t started using Snapchat as part of your marketing strategy, you’re definitely missing out on the opportunity to connect with relevant members of your target audience.

Have you used Snapchat in your marketing? What kind of results have you seen from this increasingly popular social app? 

Sujan Patel 

Real Leaders Own Their Mistakes

Whether you’re a CEO, a manager, or a business owner, you’re the boss, and that means you’ve got a lot of responsibility riding on your shoulders. When you’re in position of authority, your customers, investors, and employees put a great deal of faith in your ability to make the right call. So you have to step up to the plate and deliver.

But sometimes, things go terribly wrong. And while it might be tempting to fall back on some lame excuse or blame someone else, that’s a big red flag that you’re not ready for prime time. If you want to make the big bucks, you’ve got to put on your big-boy pants and hold yourself accountable. Whining and pointing fingers won’t cut it.

Unfortunately, when it comes to the need for business leaders to own their mistakes, far too many bosses act as if they never got the memo.

For example, I’ve heard former Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman(she’s currently CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Chairman of HP Inc.) make plenty of thinly veiled excuses for four long years of write-downs, layoffs, and revenue declines before finally giving in to shareholder pressure and splitting the company in two.

Whitman blamed former CEO Leo Apotheker and his botched acquisition of Autonomy. Never mind that, as a board director, she approved every decision he made. She also blamed his predecessor, Mark Hurd (now co-CEO of Oracle) for his acquisition of EDS and R&D cuts.

And when Apotheker was running the show, I remember a couple of earnings calls where he lowered the company's revenue targets after having just raised them. Instead of holding himself accountable for lousy forecasts, he blamed everyone and everything from Hurd and the breakout success of Apple’s iPad to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.    

In contrast, Hurd never pointed a finger at his predecessor, Carly Fiorina. He simply took the reins, did what had to be done, turned the company around, and led HP to market share gains across all core businesses and five straight years of profit and revenue growth, even though half his tenure coincided with the Great Recession. 

This lack of accountability epidemic is even worse in Washington. Whenever a politician opens his mouth you can expect blame to spew out. Speaking at a fundraiser in Atlanta a couple of years into his first term as President, Barack Obama blamed the sub-prime mortgage crisisand ensuing recession squarely on the Bush Administration:

“We got here after 10 years of an economic agenda in Washington that was pretty straightforward. You cut taxes for millionaires, you cut rules for special interests, and you cut working folks loose to fend for themselves. That was the philosophy of the last administration and their friends in Congress.”

That wasn’t the first time and it certainly wouldn’t be the last that Obama blamed America’s economic woes and chaos in the Middle Easton his predecessor, Republicans in Congress, anyone but himself. Frankly, it’s obscene for a sitting president – the most powerful man in the world – to shirk his responsibility and play a childish blame game.

Bush certainly had his issues, but blaming others for his failures was not one of them.

Not only can Obama, Apotheker, and Whitman learn about leadership accountability from Bush and Hurd, they can also learn about owning their mistakes from the National Football League.

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was recently taken to task for his decision to kick an extra point and send the Arizona Cardinals game into overtime (a fifty-fifty bet), instead of going for a two-point conversion, which the team had done successfully two thirds of the time this season. But like a true leader, McCarthy owned the decision and held only himself accountable.

A couple of weeks before, New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlinmade the rare decision to resign after three losing seasons, instead of putting the team’s management, players, and fans through the drama over whether he’d be fired or not. He left with integrity … and his head held high.

And sophomore wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. posted an unconditional apology for his unsportsmanlike behavior against cornerback Josh Norman during a Carolina Panthers game. He could have blamed it on taunting by Norman and some pregame antics, but instead, he held only himself accountable.    

This is simple, folks. Everyone makes mistakes, but real leaders own them. Real leaders hold themselves, and only themselves, accountable. The buck really does stop with them. That’s the way it should be. That’s the only way to lead.

Steve Tobak

Getting Happy in 7 Days!

Boost your immune system & work performance with these 15 minute daily plans.
Get happy & moving now!

http://bbc.in/1PnU1eN
#inspiration

5 Ways to Boost Your Business in 2016

With 2016 fast approaching, many entrepreneurs are spending at least part of their holiday break finalizing their plan of attack for the new year. While many business owners are busy trying to get 2015 wrapped up, it is just as important that you take the time to focus on what 2016 will hold. Here are six ideas to consider when planning the next mountain your business will climb in 2016.

1. Set five top goals for 2016.

Before the new year even starts, make a list of five things that need to happen in 2016 for it to be your best year yet. These five things need to be clear, specific and tangible goals. After you list all five of these goals, detail how you can achieve those goals. Be specific and take the time to figure out what you will need to do to improve. Write down as many steps as possible so you have a clear roadmap for what needs to be done in 2016 for your five biggest goals to become a reality.

2. Evaluate your systems.

The start of a new year is a great time to start evaluating and re-evaluating the system that you have. Look at all of the systems that your company has as well as the roles that your team has in implementing these systems. As you look into the details of how these systems are currently operating, make sure to focus on searching for areas that can be streamlined to save you time. You should also be looking for components of your systems that are no longer necessary, and ones that free up more time and energy so that your team can focus on the most important goals at hand and not waste any more time on outdated systems.

3. Delegate some daily responsibilities.

As a business owner, chances are a lot of your day is consumed by little day-to-day responsibilities that could be done by someone else. While it can be hard to let go and start giving tasks to someone else, there comes a time when you need to realize people can be trusted with some tasks. Look at the list of daily responsibilities you currently have and start delegating some of these tasks to other team members. It will help you free up more of your time so you can work on bigger, more important, higher priority tasks. Delegate one or two little tasks, see how that goes, then move to bigger tasks. It will make giving up some of the control easier and show you that there are responsibilities that other people can take off your plate.

4. Start automating parts of your business.

A new year is a good time to start an improved approach to your business model. Start automating some of the menial day-to-day parts of your business with new apps and new technology. There is no better time than a new year to make a clean change. There are countless programs and apps available for automating your project management systems, accounting and even marketing and social media. Spending less time on the day to day tasks in these areas frees up more of your time to focus on the big picture and grow your company.

5. Look for new ways to wow your customers in 2016.

Every year, you should be taking the time to think of new ways that you can wow your customers that year. Take the time to have a real, sit-down discussion with your entire team. Think about the different ways that you can really thrill, surprise and delight your customers this year. Many times, business owners get so caught up in the day-to-day demands of running their business that they do not take the time to sit down and really think about what they can do to impress their customers in the coming year.

Above all things, one of the most important ways that you can prepare your business for 2016, is to really take advantage of the new year. This is a brand new year, which means that you are starting with a new slate for 2016. Stay focused, stay on task and take advantage of this opportunity to make exciting new things happen in 2016.

Ben Simkin

The 5 Non-Negotiables for Thriving in Business and Life

Starting a business is easy. Millions of new businesses are started each year. However, you must do more than create an LLC to become a thriving entrepreneur. Unfortunately, simply starting a new business is all the farther that most get. Inevitably reality creeps in and the cold hard truth emerges. Creating a business that enables you to generate enough money to truly thrive at life and achieve your wildest dreams is not so easy. Entrepreneurs with the ability to thrive at this highest level are a rare breed.

What makes these elite entrepreneurs different from those still struggling? Here are the top 5 non-negotiables that every new entrepreneur must take action on promptly. 

1. Stay fearless.

Fear can paralyze and absolutely destroy an entrepreneur's ambition and confidence, but only if they let it. When I quit my job and created my own business, I experienced the same fears all entrepreneurs face starting out -- the fear of failure, the fear of what others might say, the fear I wasn’t good enough.  As I increased my certainty, and became aware of what limitations were holding me back I started to face my fears head on. When you face your fears, they disappear.

You cannot let your fears control you and you must be willing to take risks despite them. All great leaders and visionaries have realized that being fearless is part of the recipe for success. In my experience, most of the people who gave in to their fears and quit are eventually employed by those who conquered their fears and never gave up.  Your only fear should be having the exact same life you currently have a year from now. Remember that your dreams will always eclipse your biggest fears. Stay limitless mentally.

2. Creating, not waiting.

I've been fortunate enough to interview dozens of the world's most successful entrepreneurs and one thing is always abundantly clear - they don’t wait for opportunities to come to them, they create them. A WANTrepreneur spends their first day designing a logo while the true entrepreneur closes their first 10 clients. If thriving is a goal, you must stop procrastinating, stop creating 100-page business plans, stop researching the perfect website font, and start executing on the things that matter.

Most people spend the first half of their lives saying they are too young, and the second half saying they're too old. The time is now, and there is no tomorrow for champions. I promise you that one year from now you will have wished you started today. Wake up early, go to bed late, disable distractions, be relentless, stay intentional, and never give up. It's simple - if you want it to happen, make it happen. Period. You will make time for things you really care about.

3. Focus on continual growth and development.

Are you showing up better than you were yesterday? Seriously, is your life better today than yesterday? If not, why not? Create tactical steps for tomorrow to ensure you grow and develop. Ask yourself these 3 questions before starting your day.

• What am I grateful for today?
• What am I committed to making happen today no matter what?
• What am I excited about today?

Most people fail to ask themselves questions that spark their minds, and remind them to maximize each day.  Every day you fail to grow is one less day you have to make your dreams become reality. Once small positive thought can change the outcome of your entire day.

All thriving entrepreneurs know that every year their business must become 365x better than the year before. This is accomplished by focusing on continual growth and development each day. Just like compound interest, mastering this simple strategy can put you on the fast track to financial freedom. Make growth a part of your daily agenda.

4. Making money matter.

There has never been a better time in the history of our economy to create businesses that matter. My friend Cole Hatter says, 

"Don’t wait to get rich to make a difference, but rather make an impact as you get rich."

Visionary Tony Robbins has preached on this concept. but it has never been as important and powerful as it is today. Historically, money was a taboo subject few dared to debate. Culturally, the topic of money has recently gone from being the unspeakable subject to a global obsession, and rightfully so. Money is the great equalizer. Having money is a lot more enjoyable and fulfilling, but most importantly it gives you the power of choices.

One in three Americans believe their best chance of becoming wealthy is winning the lottery. Are you kidding me? This flawed mindset comes from the antiquated curriculum traditional education teaches. To truly understand the concept of mastering money, you must self-educate. "Traditional education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune."

Those that want to thrive know that money is the one thing that has the instant ability to turn their dreams into reality.

5. Urgency.

I’m guessing you’d like to be financially free by the time you’re 65 years old? I’m sure everybody does. Let’s deal in reality here.

• 69 percent of Americans who start working at 25 will be dependent on relatives, friends, or charities at age 65.
• Nearly 36 percent of people age 65 to 69, and 21 percent age 70 to 74, are still working.
• Almost 75 percent of single Social Security recipients aged 65+depend on Social Security for all or most of their monthly income.

I will tell you becoming one of the few who are economically secure starts with urgency now. You MUST have a sense of urgency to thrive. Do you think those struggling in their 30s, 40s, and 50s told themselves they were going to struggle? Of course not. If you talked to them when they were younger, they were confident they would have their dream house, dream job, have lots of money, and be enjoying life to the fullest. What happened? They never told themselves NOW matters. They didn’t connect their daily actions with their future goals. Don’t fall into that trap.

Realize that now matters more than any other time, and the "someday isle" mentality is killing so many dreams. I know people who have been in the same company for years, but haven't advanced. You often hear people say “I have 20 years of experience, I should get paid more,” but in actuality, that person has one year of experience repeated 20 times. If they’re not sharpening their skills, learning better tools, or constantly trying to better themselves, they aren’t becoming more valuable. Why should they expect more money?

Age doesn’t guarantee a higher income, value does. Opportunities are only opportunities if you're taking full advantage of them. Young millionaires always do, and they are consistently reaching for new goals and ambitions. You MUST have a sense of urgency that most of society doesn't have if you're serious about success. There will NEVER be the right time.

Achieving your wildest dreams and thriving at the highest level is not for everyone. You must be relentless and 100 percent committed to the hustle and grind that is required. You must believe that not only is it possible for you to have your dream but it is necessary. If you are still reading, you have taken the first step to changing your life and making an impact on the world.

Peter Voogd