Cathy Stucker - The Idea Lady

Attract Customers and Make Yourself Famous

Dealing With Business Setbacks

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I got an email recently asking for some advice. The question is one that I think all of us face from time to time, especially with a new business or during lean times, so I thought it would be a good idea to share the question and my response with you. Details have been changed for privacy reasons, but the problem is universal.

I am feeling so discouraged right now. I spent a lot of time over the past month trying to sign a new client. There was a proposal followed by questions, meetings, emails, conference calls and more questions. Just when I thought I had the job, I found out it went to someone else.

I was counting on this work and really put everything I had into it. I really need the money I would have made. What do I do now? I don’t have any other prospects. I feel frustrated and sad and I just want to quit.

Wow. Been there, done that. We have all had times when things didn’t go our way. Sometimes big things, like this. Rejection at any time can feel like you were punched in the stomach, and it is especially hard to take when you really need the work (and the money–mostly the money!).
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Find a Job You Love and Never Work Again

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It isn’t necessarily as easy as the kitty in the photo would have you believe, but it is possible to make a living doing work you love. It takes ingenuity and planning to make your dream career happen, though.

Start by asking yourself what you really want to do. The answer may not be as obvious as you first think. One client told me that he loved to surf, and his dream was to open a surf shop. At least until I asked him this: “Imagine that it is a beautiful day and the waves are cresting just right. A great day to surf. Where are you?” He paused for a moment and answered, “Uh, behind the counter at the surf shop.” Bingo! [Read more…]

15-Minute Projects

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Think you cannot get anything done in just 15 minutes? In fact, some of my most productive work is done in 15-minute blasts. Although I use 15 minutes as a standard, you may do some of your projects in 10, 20 or 30 minutes, depending on the time you have available or your maximum attention span. The time you spend is not the key, it is how you approach the project. Here are some ways you can power through your to-do list, 15 minutes at a time.

First, get past the idea that you can not accomplish anything in 15 minutes. Many tasks expand to fill the time available, so if you have two hours it will take two hours. When you only have 15 minutes, you will be amazed what you can do in just15 minutes. Don’t believe me? Think about this: How long would you say it takes to clean your house? Now, imagine that your mother-in-law will be at the door in 15 minutes. How long will it take to clean your house? Get my point? [Read more…]

Just Say No to New Year’s Resolutions

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No to Resolutions

If you are like most people, you made a long list of resolutions for the new year. Your list may include everything from losing weight or quitting smoking to finding a new job, taking your business in new directions, learning a language, not procrastinating, having more patience with your kids, finishing your degree, spending less money, or finally learning how to use that %&@#^$@$ computer properly.

Whatever your resolutions, it is likely that they will not survive to see February. Most people who solemnly list all the ways they are going to improve themselves give up all too soon. Not only are they still stuck with their bad habits, they also have a sense of failure hanging over them.

There is nothing wrong with making resolutions. However, trying to completely change your life over night is usually doomed to failure. The exception is when there is a powerful motivating force, such as the need to make lifestyle changes due to a major illness. Change or die can be a powerful motivation.

For most of us, though, the motivation to uphold our New Year’s resolutions is nowhere near that strong. And, when it gets hard it is easier to just quit.

I do not say this to discourage you, but to show you that there is a better way. Here are some tips to make changes in your life that will stick. [Read more…]

Don’t Do Today What You Can Put Off ‘Til Next Year

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Huh? Wait…what? Putting things off instead of doing them now is horrible advice, right? Then why are you saying that you can’t start that new project, launch a product or do any marketing until after the holidays or until you know how things are going to go with the economy next year? There are lots of excuses for not marketing now: I’m busy with the holidays, you can’t reach anyone now, no one will make a decision until January anyway, etc.

Wrong! Lots of business is happening now, and it’s not just holiday shopping. Hoping for publicity for your business? The newspaper is still being published everyday, TV news is still broadcasting, radio shows and podcasts are looking for guests, and so on. They haven’t stopped for the holidays, and neither should you.

This is a good time to keep in touch with your customers, too. Let them know how much you appreciate their business. Send out personal notes instead of mass-produced holiday cards. [Read more…]