Business Success Archives - Page 2 of 3

I will be traveling to Atlanta this week for the NAMS conference. It happens twice per year in February and August. It is such a great event and I always learn so much. I have lots of fun, but the days are long and packed with interesting educational sessions. So you need to be prepared! You have to pack for comfort and look pulled together. This list will help you to hit the ground running and keep you from becoming frustrated as you pack.

1. Be Comfortable: When planning what to wear, think about what you feel most comfortable in and looks good on you. When picking out what to wear think casual or business but very pulled together. No sweats that you wear around the house. A nice pair of jeans and a fancy t-shirt with a nice blazer or sweater work just as well as slacks and a blouse. The impulse is to run out and buy new clothes, but remember all those clothes you never get a chance to wear currently in your closet. Now’s the time to shop your closet. Only buy something if you absolutely must, and then consider purchasing a piece of jewelry or a scarf that will match multiple things and pull your outfit together.

2. Pack Transition Clothing: Pack outfits that can transition from day to night with a change of shoes and/or accessories. One of the most versatile items, in my opinion, is a nice pair of jeans or khaki pants. They work well for day with a blazer or sweater, add heels and flashy accessories for an evening out. Dress in layers since you never know how warm or chilly the room will be due to air conditioning. Consider hanging your clothes up before you leave and just packing them on the hanger or throw a few extra hangers in your suitcase because there are never enough in the hotel rooms. I put my accessories in a ziplock bag and attach to the hanger. I try to do as much of the planning and deciding what I will wear with what before I leave home.

3. Wear Comfortable Shoes: It is a long day and you move from room to room. Wearing uncomfortable shoes just makes you miserable. Those super high heels may look wonderful, but if your feet can’t stand them for the long haul, leave them at home. It bears repeating again and again: your feet are going to hurt from all the walking and standing. You want shoes that look good and are comfortable. Take a pair of flip flops or casual scandals for evening. And if you get new shoes be sure to break them in before going to the conference.

4. Pack PJ’s and Extra Underwear: If you have a roommate be sure you remember to pack pajamas as a courtesy. Why extra underwear? You just might want to change as you head out for the evening. And it always gives me a sense of confidence knowing I have extra pairs.

5.Simplify Your Skincare Routine: Cut down on the products you will need for a few days. Those bottles take up valuable space in your suitcase. Bring a separate makeup bag or something you can hang on the bathroom door. Keep your makeup and hair stuff in a separate bag so you can use the mirror in the room while your roommate is showering.

6. Don’t Forget Your Meds: If you take daily meds, be sure to pack them. You don’t want your weekend ruined because you forgot them. Also throw in a bottle of Tylenol or other pain reliever just in case you get a headache. Some people bring antacids and other stuff. Bring what you think you will need and don’t forget to take them during the busy days.

8. Be Strategic With Tech: Bring an outlet strip for your room, especially if you have multiple devices to charge. You may need it for some hands on sessions as well. Those outlets go quick and you will become fast friends with everyone you share your power strip with! Also consider what you will really use. If you’re not into photography, do you really need the fancy camera or even a camera at all? Especially if you have a smart phone with camera/video capabilities. If you don’t plan to blog and can take notes with pen and paper, leave the laptop at home. Or consider an iPad or other tablet that packs easily. If you need a tablet or laptop and want to be online consistently, consider getting a portable hotspot since the wifi at the hotel will probably be overloaded at times. I carry a small bag with all my cords, chargers, etc. and pack in my carry-on

8. Think Portable: You will be on the go all day so pack a few items that will keep you looking and feeling good. Things to consider….lipstick, meds, tiny sewing kit, band-aids, breath mints, and gum. I also like to pack a usb drive, powerstick for phone, and business cards. Don’t forget a lightweight sweater or jacket. Some rooms are chilly and evenings can sometimes be cooler.

9. Plan for Extras: Depending on the conference you are attending, you will be treated to some nice items from sponsors. Or you might have a few minutes to shop. Or better yet you might win a free prize or two. Bring a small extra bag with you so you can tote those items home!

10. One Suitcase: Remember, you have to get all this into one suitcase. The lighter you pack the easier the trip. With airlines charging for luggage it is even more important to learn to pack lightly and efficiently. I always try to make sure I can lift and carry my luggage. If a wheel breaks or I need to carry it, I want to be sure it isn’t too heavy. Also, if you are sharing a room, you don’t want to take so much stuff that you are taking up more than your share of space. Some people take everything but the kitchen sink and leave very little room for others.

11. Be Confident: The biggest piece of advice I can give is be comfortable with who you are. There will be some amazingly dressed people there and there will be some women who wear shorts and tees. Be comfortable and confident and don’t let other’s attire intimidate you. Don’t change who you are because you think have to to fit in. Just be yourself and have fun!

I hope these tips help you to pack and to enjoy NAMS or whatever conference you might be attending. I’m sure I might have missed a tip or two. If you have a tip to share, please leave it in the comments.

The next NAMS event will be in February….if you think you might want to attend, check out this huge discount only available till Sunday. Save $400 off the registration price.

In life, we can learn lessons from just about anything. Several months ago my son was part of the cast for our school’s musical, “The Wizard of Oz.” I previously wrote a post about “Opening Night” and a big problem we had leading up to the Play.

The Wizard of Oz

As I watched the performance, three days in a row, (moms do that!) a couple things came to my mind in regard to business that I would like to share.

1. It isn’t just about what is in front of you!

The play wouldn’t be a success without all the scenery, costumes, sound effects, orchestra, and other production crew tasks. These people are not front and center when the play is performed, but they play an important role in its success. Without them the show could not go on.

Just like a play, a business is dependent on a lot of things that are not front and center. Someone has to do bookkeeping, taxes, social media management, PR, product creation, research, and the list goes on. Sure at the very beginning you try to do everything, but it doesn’t take long to learn that a one man show, trying to do everything will not lead to huge success. We all have strengths and we need to focus our time on those strengths and find others to help with the other things.

This was something I had a hard time grasping at first. But a year later and I am very much a believer in this. My time is best used doing the tasks that only I can do and hiring others to do the rest. If you can hire someone to do something for less than you make per hour when doing focused work, you need to outsource.

2. Planning and timing are important.

There was a part near the end of “The Wizard of Oz” right before Dorothy woke from her dream, where several castmates had to change from their Oz costumes back into regular clothes. They only had a few minutes to make the change and get their makeup off and look normal again. For my son, the “Tin Man,” this took a lot of planning and timing. He had to go from the “Tin Man” with thick grey makeup all over his face and neck, back to “Hickory” the farmhand, his exit had to be timed to get him to the makeup area and then several people had to be on hand to scrape the makeup off, cleanse his face and put the new makeup on and the way had to be cleared for him to get back to the stage quickly to make his entrance.

Heavy makeup to normal in a matter of minutes!

As we run our business we need to plan for all the things that could happen. We need to be prepared for obstacles and setbacks. We need to have alternative plans thought out. We need to time things in our business to coincide with seasons and when the best time to launch products and services. Offering grass cutting specials in October in the Eastern US is probably not a good idea for your business, just as trying to sell snow blowers in Florida in July probably wouldn’t make you any money.

3. If I only had a brain – YOU have a brain…just use it!

In The Wizard of Oz, the scarecrow wanted a brain. A lot of times we think we are not smart enough, everyone else knows more, we don’t have enough education, we have too much to learn, and the list goes on. Most times these are just excuses we are telling ourselves for not trying new things. Sure, we will never be brain surgeons if we don’t go to medical school, but most tasks are doable by most people if they just take a few minutes or hours to learn a new skill. Some things that I once thought might be difficult or hard to learn that turned out to be fairly easy once I spent a little time learning are podcasting, creating videos, writing blog posts, and setting up web pages.

God has provided each of us with more brain power than we can possibly ever use. If we just tapped into 1/10 of our brain capacity, we would set the world on fire. I think that is worth striving for. Don’t shortchange yourself and say you don’t have the brains to do something. YOU do! You just need to use the wonderful brain that God gave you!

4. If I only had a heart – YOU have a heart – tap into it!

The “Tin Man” wanted a heart so he could feel love, joy and sorrow. We have to be in tune with our feelings and our customers feelings. We have to have a heart and love our customers.

To be successful in business, regardless of what the business is, you have to serve your customers well. Without a heart of service and love, your business will never reach its full potential.

5. If I only had courage – I would try something new!

The lion wanted courage so he would not be afraid to try new things and be a leader. We need courage for the same reason. We need to stop worrying about all the things that could go wrong and focus on what could go right. To step out of our comfort zone and do new things.

6. What we wish for is often already inside us.

The Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion all wanted something they felt someone else had to give them. They didn’t realize they already had these traits buried deep inside.

We are often like those characters and search and wait for someone to give us something to move us forward. When all the while, we just needed to look inside ourselves. God has provided us with all the traits and gifts we need, we just have to look inside and fine tune them and use them.

7. There is no place like home!

Dorothy was running away because things were not perfect, but in the end realized and appreciated her home and family and said, “There is no place like home!”

Our business is important and we need to spend lots of time building and nurturing it so it will be successful. But we need to close down shop and turn off the laptop at times and just focus on the people we care about. The people we love and those who love us. They deserve a portion of our uninterupted time.

Many people push them to the back burner to focus on business too many times and end up losing the people they love. Or when they finally make time to spend with them they are grown and moved out. Make downtime and time with family a priority.

There is nothing like being with the people who love us and support us. There truly is nothing like family and “there is NO place like home!”

So there you have it….7 Things About Business I Learned From “The Wizard of Oz.” Do they make sense to you? What have you learned that I could add to this list?

What To Pack for NAMS or Other Conferences

7 Things About Business I Learned From “The Wizard of Oz”