Mike Michalowicz's Blog, page 35
January 29, 2021
Mike’s Likes: John Ruhlin talks about thoughtful gift giving in Giftology
My team and I are always sharing books and products that make our professional and personal lives better. I thought I would do the same with you!
This week I wanted to share…drumroll please!
Girl Wash Your Face, by Rachel Hollis, may not be written specifically for entrepreneurs, but man, it’s an eye opener. Rachel shares her own experiences, connects with you as a human, and then lends some empowering, get unstuck wisdom. She reminds us that we must shed those lies we have told ourselves that hold us back. And, Rachel provides my favorite, systems (pan to fan boy), to move forward.
“Regardless of how you were raised or what you were taught to believe, you get to decide where your story goes from here.” – Rachel Hollis
John Ruhlin’s Giftology has changed the way my team and I give gifts. John explains that it’s not just the thought that counts when giving gifts, but the thought that we put into the act of giving. We’ve taken this ball and run with it in our office and personal lives, and I hope you do to. It is one of the most effective ways to let people know you’re thinking of them specifically.
“Personalization is what turns an ordinary gift into an extraordinary one”. – John Ruhlin
I can’t wait to share more likes with you. Leave a comment or send us an email with yours!
-Mike
PS – I invite you to get in on the courses I have created for you to help you reach your potential, and more.
PSS – Get the free resources for Profit First. From a Profit First One Sheet to finding banks to open your accounts in, it’s there waiting for you!
Remember – Profit is not an event. Profit is a habit!
Join the journey More Mike on Instagram
Check out our fresh new podcast! Mike Up In Your Business
The post Mike’s Likes: John Ruhlin talks about thoughtful gift giving in Giftology appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.
Mike’s Likes
My team and I are always sharing books and products that make our professional and personal lives better. I thought I would do the same with you!
This week I wanted to share…drumroll please!
Girl Wash Your Face, by Rachel Hollis, may not be written specifically for entrepreneurs, but man, it’s an eye opener. Rachel shares her own experiences, connects with you as a human, and then lends some empowering, get unstuck wisdom. She reminds us that we must shed those lies we have told ourselves that hold us back. And, Rachel provides my favorite, systems (pan to fan boy), to move forward.
“Regardless of how you were raised or what you were taught to believe, you get to decide where your story goes from here.” – Rachel Hollis
John Ruhlin’s Giftology has changed the way my team and I give gifts. John explains that it’s not just the thought that counts when giving gifts, but the thought that we put into the act of giving. We’ve taken this ball and run with it in our office and personal lives, and I hope you do to. It is one of the most effective ways to let people know you’re thinking of them specifically.
“Personalization is what turns an ordinary gift into an extraordinary one”. – John Ruhlin
I can’t wait to share more likes with you. Leave a comment or send us an email with yours!
-Mike
PS – I invite you to get in on the courses I have created for you to help you reach your potential, and more.
PSS – Get the free resources for Profit First. From a Profit First One Sheet to finding banks to open your accounts in, it’s there waiting for you!
Remember – Profit is not an event. Profit is a habit!
Join the journey More Mike on Instagram
Check out our fresh new podcast! Mike Up In Your Business
The post Mike’s Likes appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.
January 22, 2021
A Rallying Cry to Market
Set aside your fear.
So many of you are afraid to market right now. Afraid to stand out. That’s normal, you’re only human after all. The thing is, if you don’t make smart marketing moves, your business isn’t going to get recognized. Worse yet, your clients won’t be served. Not by you, anyway.
Your offerings are critical to your potential customers. They need you. So get in front of them before your competition does. Competition who may not serve your clients as well as you do.
Maybe you need to be reminded of your mission. You know mine – to eradicate entrepreneurial poverty. You know it’s my mission because I am out there letting people know how I can serve them. Do I wonder if the time is right? Sometimes. Here’s the thing the time may not be right for everyone, but it will definitely be right for someone.
My mission (and my team’s) is more important than anything else that we think stands in our way of marketing and getting out there.
I call on you to take action now. Make your mission your rallying cry! Your prospects are being underserved right now. Make your mission to serve your clients bigger and more important than your fear.
What are the roadblocks you think are standing in your way of marketing? If you’re not marketing right now, you need confidence boost, and you need to channel that into your marketing. Remember these two things:
Confidence is key – If you’re feeling under confident about getting out there, you have to get out of your own way for the sake of your business as well as your customers. If you aren’t confident about your offering, that’s another thing all together. It may be time to revisit the structure of your offering. But, if you feel that your service is in tact, stand tall! Get out there! Shed the things that are blocking you from your mission. No one every got injured because they took a step when they were lacking confidence. Just the opposite. Taking that one step forward will only increase your confidence. And speaking of confidence, your clients? They are going to sense how you feel about your business. You need to be able toYour offering is a service – Do you have to make sales? Absolutely. But remember, the craft of sales goes beyond a monetary exchange. When you sell to someone, you’re building a relationship based on trust. Your customer trusts you to provide them with the best service out there. They chose you over your competitors. Make sure you are showing them why. Remember that above all, you are serving your clients.Remember, your responsibility to market, to serve your clients, is far bigger than any fear you have.
You’ve got this!
-Mike
P.S. I invite you to get in on the courses I have created for you to help you master your confidence and selling strategies.
P.S.S. – Get the free resources for Profit First. From a Profit First One Sheet to finding banks to open your accounts in, it’s there waiting for you!
Join the journey More Mike on Instagram
Have you listened to the fresh new podcast? Check out Mike All Up In Your Business today!
The post A Rallying Cry to Market appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.
January 15, 2021
Marketing Now – 3 Best Strategies
If your customers are failing to find you, it’s time to change your marketing.
You have a remarkable business. Your clients need you. Get the word out!
What will move your business forward is your marketing. I realize that sometimes it doesn’t feel like “the time” to market. But, and I cannot emphasize this enough – marketing in any environment is necessary for the survival of your business. And, effective marketing is also imperative so you can reach your customers and truly serve them.
Three of my go to marketing strategies I employ to stay on the marketing track are:
Be consistent – One big email blast isn’t enough. You need to continuously, market. This is an every day endeavor. Remember what I said about Atomic Habits? It’s worth noting here that it’s the consistent, small steps that will deliver the big results you want for your business. There’s not going to be a windfall moment from one ad or email. You have to communicate with your clients often. Nurture that relationship. Let them know how you can serve them. Not once, but going forward.Deadlines, deadlines – Accountability is king here. Set a deadline for your commitment to marketing your business. Decide how you will target your audience and what the deadline is. Then every day, set time aside to chip away at it. When you consistently work at something each day, not only is it less overwhelming in the long term, your efforts will be rewarded.Be confident – Is your offering the best product out there? Do you know your community of clients will be best served by you? Then show it! Now is not the time for excuses. If you don’t get out there and serve your clients, some other business (not yours!) will.It is the consistent effort that brings results. It’s challenging, I know, because in the interim you may not see the final result of your work. It can and will feel intangible at first. But it’s been proven time and time again that it’s the small, consistent efforts that will get your tangible results.
You’ve got this!
-Mike
P.S. If you have an exceptional offering, yet no one ‘gets it,’ you need to check out Matthew Pollard’s
new book, The Introvert’s Edge to Networking.
Click here to download the first chapter free.
If you like the first chapter, you’ll love the rest of the book.
Purchase your copy of The Introvert’s Edge to Networking today.
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January 13, 2021
Set Your Atomic Habits
We just had our quarterly retreat. And while there was some good fun, including a murder mystery (I didn’t do it), we also got down to the nitty gritty. We asked each other, and ourselves – Are you creating better habits to achieve your goals?
Gulp.
At our retreat a year ago, we created goal boards and hung them up on a wall in the office for all to see. We had that accountability right on the WALL, people. We would see the boards every day. Until, well, March at least. The point is, we verbalized and visualized our goals. When it came time to report it if we had achieved each goal it was a mixed bag. Some of our goals were met (Yay!), some of our goals were on hold thanks to a sneaky pandemic (NOT yay) and some of them were just plain ol’ not completed (Ok, we’ll all become proficient in Spanish THIS year).
James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, says that we have a habit of setting big, audacious goals. And that’s great! But often times, we set it, and well, forget it.
Since your goals aren’t a rotisserie or a slow cooker that will have your dinner ready for you at 6, you may want to use a method that works.
Reading and applying Atomic Habits changed my life – from the way I work out (ok, to actually working out), to the way I create and achieve my business goals. I followed James Clear’s advice, and began to set up atomic habits.
If you haven’t heard of his methodology, you’ll be glad to know I wasn’t conducting any lab experiments. I did however, learn to set small habits that lead to my goals. Baby steps.
Example: Say you want to increase revenue. It won’t happen overnight. But what if each day you called a prospect? Repeat this process and take a small step per day. The outcome of each step grows and grows, until you see your completed goal staring back at you.
Remember, create micro habits and stick with them. Together, they will create the big, transformative moments in your business.
I cannot wait to see what you accomplish.
-Mike
PS Like free stuff? Check out the free resources
Join me – follow the journey – Instagram
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January 5, 2021
My Best Year Yet
It’s here! 2021!
Last year was, well, you know.
Did your goals go to the wayside? If they did, don’t feel guilty. Hit that reset button and let’s move forward.
I’m excited to say that because of the habits I established (ahem, taking my own advice), I met many of my goals last year, personally, and in business. (Sneakers on the toilet, remember?)
One of my goals was to complete 250 workouts. (Yes, some days I had to do 2.) By using the 6 points below, I am happy to report that I hit that goal of 250 workouts. Phew!
Remember:
Be mindful
Be intentional
Create rituals to foster good habits
Stay accountable
Baby steps
Track progress
So. Are you ready for this year’s journey? I will be sending out some resources and systems to help you get motivated and organized throughout the year. I cannot wait to see what you accomplish!
Let’s do this!
-Mike
PS Like free stuff? Check out the free resources
Join me – follow the journey – Instagram
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December 12, 2020
10 Tips to Improve Your Habits – and Your Business
As we wrap up the year, I hope you and yours are well. While it may all be a blur, 2020 is just about over. I won’t lament on what it was like, you’ve lived it. We’ve all seen the memes.
Wishing one year away as a new one arrives isn’t going to change things or bring back normalcy (whatever that is). One thing remains the same, some of you are making New Year’s Resolutions.
What are your resolutions?
Self improvement? Financial goals? Business goals? All of them?
If you don’t have good habits established, you know what will happen to your shiny new New Year’s Resolutions and goals?
Nada. Bupkis. Dust.
If you’re standing in front of these goals and they resemble Goliath, don’t be overwhelmed. It’s all figureoutable. You can do it! If you think you have to make major changes to yourself to accomplish your resolutions, I have good news for you.
You don’t have to change yourself in order to achieve your goals. (You’re just right the way you are, thank you.) You just need to upgrade your habits.
I’m not really into hacks, especially when it comes to real deal resolutions and goals. I like to do the work. I’m a trudger. I like to see what the real muck is. Besides, if I ever find myself or someone else stuck, I’ll know what to do, or how to help (instead of being full of, er, muck).
Using systems (Oh am I that guy) and working through challenges to achieve your goals creates better, more long lasting results. But, there is a hack, or shall I say, technique, for attaining your goals.
Improving habits. (Snaps fingers, all done. OK, not quite.)
Improving your habits sounds simple, and it can be. However, to truly improve habits for a lifetime, be it your health, relationships, finances or business, you are going to have to get honest with yourself. Like. Real honest.
I am that real, and honest guy. But, once upon a time, I thought that if I had the intentions, desires and wants, I would get the results I wanted – if I just wanted it badly enough. As if to say, “Hey Mike, you think about it, you want it this passionately, you have to get it!) Shockingly, that strategy didn’t seem to work (reading the sarcasm here I hope).
Unless you work for something, you won’t get it. And you won’t get it unless you learn how to improve your habits.
Take working out for an example. Years back, I wanted to get healthier. So I set a goal – to have a stronger, leaner body in four months. I was going to eat clean. So clean. No drinking too! I was going to work out five times a week. I was going to lift two times a week and do some serious cardio the other three. I’d nail that goal. Then I’d be strutting! The poster man for lean, mean…Yeah!
Guess what kind of results you get when you work out two times a week instead of five, and eat and drink whatever you want?
Exactly. Not much changed. But, but, I wanted to!
What went wrong? I decided I needed to check myself – and my habits. Aside from not much, what was I doing that needed improvement? What were my established behaviors and habits before and during my workouts when I actually attempted them? Were the habits useful? Could I channel more of the useful habits toward my goal?
We’re all good people. And I’m a good guy. My habits, however, needed improving. I found that my habits were holding me back. My habits were making me miss my workouts. Does this sound familiar? I’d have coffee, check my phone, get lost in the black hole of the internet and, oh look, time to get ready for work. No work out.
Could I intercept my pattern in order to improve my habits? So I made this one change. It has to do with a toilet so work with me. The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is use the bathroom. So, I put my sneakers on top of the toilet seat the night before. This way, I had to move them to use the toilet. Ok, now I had my sneakers which I required for my work out.
That one, small, simple step was a game changer! Yes, friends. Sneakers on the toilet would start the momentum for the day. I wasn’t going to put my sneakers back on top of the seat now was I? Ta da! New habit. I’m happy to say that after a couple of years, my new habits have brought me to a level of health I can be proud of. I even broke my own running record a few weeks ago.
It should go without saying that forming better, more aware and organized habits are a huge part of running a successful business as well. Small changes work here too. (Yes. It’s universal.)
Now, creating small habits to build toward your goals and resolutions isn’t a new system, and certainly I won’t take 100% credit. There are others out there who inspire me daily. James Clear is one of them. He wrote Atomic Habits. In this (friggin’ awesome) book, he talks about intercepting behavioral patterns. He says you must exchange your “bad” behaviors and replace them with “good” ones. New, better, and permanent habits will slowly begin to form. By making small changes. Bring it.
This is practical in theory, no doubt. Implementing habits, and sticking with them until they are characteristics of who you are, that’s going to be a bit more challenging. There are two main ways I have accomplished creating better habits so I can achieve my personal and business goals: Break bad habits. Create good habits.
Ok the end. Have a great year.
I cannot tell you exactly what you should do, because it’s not all one size fits all. We are all, all of us, unique and have our own set of dynamic needs. So maybe leaving sneakers on the toilet won’t work for you (though come one, it’s kinda foolproof). Here are 10 tips to create better habits from me to you, however. Maybe some will land with you.
Be realistic. I have lofty goals. But to get to them, sometimes I have to create a group of smaller goals to get there. No shame in my game.
Be mindful – In order to break lousy habits and create glorious ones, we need to be mindful. Sure, we all hear about it, but do we put it into practice? Mindfulness needs to be fostered. You can do this by getting your clarity on. You can be as motivated as you want, but if you are not 100% clear on what your “want” looks like, then what are you really going after? Find ways to increase your awareness and be more mindful overall. For you that may be working out, meditation, prayer, yoga, writing – whatever it may be, practice it at the start of your day. Because without being mindful, it will be harder to be intentional, which is another important step in creating better habits.
Be intentional. Getting swept away in your day is natural, but not productive. If you set your intentions early on in the day (you can write them on a post-it at your desk for all I care, I’m not above it), whenever the static starts to bear down, you can hit that imaginary reset button and return to the intention you set for yourself.
Avoid bad habits. You’re an adult, you know what they are. Avoid the actions that cause the bad habits. Stop the behaviors that are counterproductive. And, stop avoiding the unavoidable. Not checking bank statements will not increase your balances.
Create rituals to foster good habits. Sneakers on the toilet. I won’t say it again. Work out clothes folded at the end of the bed or a gym bag packed. Automated daily accounting/banking reminders. These are in your face reminders of the bigger picture, of the goal you set for yourself. Which leads me to…
Stay accountable. If you follow the Profit First system you know how successful your business will be when you stay accountable. To improve your habits and achieve your goals you must, must stay accountable. Do you check your bank account balance daily? Do you make it a habit to log in and monitor your account balances? That one small step can help you kick off the traction you need to create, establish or maintain just one business goal. And it’s a great way to start the domino effect toward a more profitable business.
Go slow. Little of quality is created within minutes. Small steps (check out my Small Steps blog here) will garner bigger results. It takes some patience, but your results will be real and lasting.
Follow systems to attain goals. Following systems will help you maintain good habits because they are organized and clear cut. All you have to do is follow and apply!
Track your progress. Me? I like graphs. Those spikes, either way, are very motivating!
Make decisions that feel good, not guilty. If you implemented Profit First, you know how empowering it was when you opened the five accounts. Then you had those accounts listed for you to see every day. Then you completed the assessment. Maybe it was daunting at first, but it was an empowering and fiscally responsible decision. The good decisions, the responsible decisions, are what ultimately help you change your habits and permanently obtain your business goals.
Even a little bit of progress, is progress! As long as you can look in the mirror and honestly tell yourself you chipped away at your goals by following a better habit vs a bad one, I’m calling that a win. All of those moments will get you to the finish line. I know it.
Here’s to your good habits! And here’s to your profit!
-Mike
PS – We’re big on paying it forward. Want to get on board? Email us and tell us your story! We want to hear your Profit First testimonial. Email Jenna@mikemichalowicz.com, and we will share your story on our social media platforms so that business owners like you benefit as well!
PSS Like free stuff? Check out the free resources
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December 6, 2020
Zig Zag
“When they zig, you zag”
This is the latest advice I received from Jeff Walker, internet marketing pro.
So here’s my (albeit goof) on a zag. We see a lot of people taking pictures with celebrities. So here I am, not exactly with celebrities. I mean, I can see them. I ‘m even in the frame. Just look at the proximity of me with Tony, Oprah and Bill! So. Not. Close.
Kidding aside, how are you standing out in a crowd in your industry? Are you going with the flow and kind of moving in the same tide as your cohorts? Or, are you willing to, as Jeff put it, “zag”
For me, I think you know the answer. Aside from my sweet vest collection, here are a few suggestions I have come across over the years that help me separate myself from the pack:
Be confident – From the way to speak to the clothes you wear, people will trust your offering if you are confident in presenting it. I’m still very humble, and there is a maintenance in remaining confident. But with a little upkeep, my confidence helps my day, business and relationships flow much smoother than when I am letting all the static in. It’s amazing how a few small mindset shifts can change the shape of everything.
Serve – I truly feel this sense of service. And I lead with this. When I sell, I sell to serve. Look, we can all sell. But do you then sleep well? When I started to purposefully serve people through what I was selling, my offering, well. Boom. I am here to eradicate entrepreneurial poverty and make sure small business owners have what they need to succeed.
Cultivate a truly special workplace – For your employees to be “all in”, they need to feel as though they belong. Don’t worry so much about what their resume looks like. Who are they as people and what passions and talents can they use to leverage your business. If you stay open, you will be pleasantly surprised to see what they can bring to the table that may be different, and better, than what you had planned in the first place.
Take risks – Don’t be afraid to try something crazy or different. From a book cover, to your website, to your newsletter or even your office, as long as it is authentic to you, try new things to stand out. Even if they feel risky. We all have something unique to offer.
By the way, you, the entrepreneur, YOU are the celebrity.
-Mike
PS – I invite you to get in on the courses I have created for you to help you reach your potential, and more.
PSS – Get the free resources for Profit First. From a Profit First One Sheet to finding banks to open your accounts in, it’s there waiting for you!
Remember – Profit is not an event. Profit is a habit!
Join the journey More Mike on Instagram
The post Zig Zag appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.
Reinventing Your Business
Are you waiting until big, bad, 2020 is over to make changes?
Don’t.
Things won’t be different on January 1st, 2021, unless YOU are.
To survive today’s ever changing world, you’re going to have to reinvent yourself and your business at some point. The good news? It’s never to late. And I have a replay of the most recent What Now webinar right here for you to prove it. I’m sure you’ve heard of Dorie Clark and Jenny Blake. Right? These two are THE experts when it comes to reinventing themselves, and businesses.
Dorie helps individuals and companies get their best ideas heard in a crowded, noisy world. She is a keynote speaker, a consultant, teaches executive education at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and Columbia Business School, and, is the author of Reinventing You and Stand Out, which was named the #1 Leadership Book of the Year by Inc. magazine. The New York Times described Dorie as an “expert at self-reinvention and helping others make changes in their lives”. She’s even been a producer of a Grammy winning jazz album. I could go on with this list of her accomplishments but I also need to introduce:
Jenny Blake is the founder of Pivot Method, a growth strategy company that helps forward-thinking individuals and organizations map what’s next through scalable Pivot programs. Jenny’s motto is: if change is the only constant, let’s get better at it. We could all use that right now! She is the author of Pivot: The Only Move That Matters is Your Next One, which won the Axiom Best Business Books award in the careers category.
Bottom line? Using our strategies, you will keep up with changes and do some reinventing.
Together, we will teach you how to:
Take control of your business
Get inside tips from our assessments
Build on your unique passions and talents
Get perspective about what your strengths and weaknesses are – and how to apply them
Learn to develop a unique personal brand
Determine what’s already working in your business and apply it
Move past burnout
Learn how to share your best ideas with the world
And best of all, make the moves to reinvent yourself and your business that have true meaning to you, so you can be authentic in your business.
Reinvented or not, I am, as always, wishing you massive success!
-Mike
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November 12, 2020
Building Better Culture
How are you motivating your team and maintaining healthy work culture in our current environment?
With half of the workforce in the US working from home, you would think attention to work culture would be on the back burner, since face to face interaction is decreased.
Not here! I gotta say, we are winning when it comes to the work culture thing. We were before this pandemic, and we are now. We didn’t set out with a plan, but it seems that we’ve become stronger and closer as a team organically. Kind of a “you’re not stopping us, Covid”, side eye. Being forced to stay away from each other made us appreciate how good we have it.
Since we can’t see each other as much, we have started looking for outlets so we can continue to grow our relationships.
Collaboration – We can’t all be in person now, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be! Right before the pandemic hit, we had planned for a dedicated space, away from distractions, to collaborate and create. In this video, Amy is preparing a space for us to come together and brainstorm. Behold! The Mad Lab! Mwah haha! These are the beginning stages and we can’t wait to show you the finished space. And, we cannot wait to see what new ideas are shaped here.
Communication – Since we cannot all meet in person yet, we’ve stepped up our avenues of communication. As with all relationships, communication is key. I’m not talking boring Zoom meetings either. Kelsey, our dynamic president, has carved time out of her schedule to have 1:1 meetings with each team member once a week. These meetings of the minds allows Kelsey to see where the other employees are in their growth and tasks. The employee, in turn, gets feedback and clarifications on questions they may have before they start to linger. We also have mini-huddles via Zoom a couple of times a week so we can stay accountable to our daily goals. And, to keep a sense of normalcy, these meetings end with a dance party…what? Don’t yours?
Systems – I am forever talking about systems. Because they work! The systems we have in place enabled us to be more agile when the pandemic hit. There was the initial shock and concern, of course. But having our systems in place, and shared with each employee makes us confident that we are equipped to handle what comes our way.
So how is it going in your business? Are you increasing engagement with your team? What steps have you taken to maintain, or strengthen a solid work culture during the pandemic? Let me know in the comments!
As always, I am wishing you tremendous succces!
-Mike
PS – We’re big on paying it forward. Want to get on board? Email us and tell us your story! We want to hear your Profit First testimonial. Email Jenna@mikemichalowicz.com, and we will share your story on our social media platforms so that business owners like you benefit as well!
PSS Like free stuff? Check out the free resources
The post Building Better Culture appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.
