Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Personal life and business.. when they conflict.

What to do.. what to do. For the 1st time in my life, there are some personal things happening, that may end up conflicting with my business. Hmm.... so what to do.

I am usually a very private person, and there are a select few who know me on that level. My business has always come 1st, but I now find my self in a position that may well end up making it 2nd.. or 3rd.

My customers are number one, however, I cannot take care of them, if I am not taking care of me. How do other business owners do this and still stay in business? I can't be the only one out there with some things to attend to. The problem is, it seems as if they may be on-going. Where is the balance? Acckk! It's making me nuts. I have always done well under pressure so this should be a no brain er right? Just schedule things to fit whats happening.

Well... on the internet, there are expectations that your available 24 hours a day. My god! How do people survive getting up at 3 am to answer a desperate email to see if you still have a particular product available? Where did this expectation come from? I would never presume my local deli mart to be open solely for my needs. I can wait until tomorrow. I can really. It's not a big deal.

So this is for those who need it right NOW. I am here, and I will get to you, and it will be as lovely as you need it to be, but, I will not answer 3am emails, I will not be here on weekends, and I will not jump because you say jump. Please understand that us business owners have a life also, and communication is key. We know your there, and will do our 100% best to get what you need, but our 100% has to be because we are 100%.

I love my business, it is one of the best decisions I ever made. I run it to the best of my ability. Your #1 when it comes to staying in business, but I am #1 when it comes to running it.

Monday, February 8, 2010

The internet, and rose colored glasses,.... has it become silent all of a sudden?

So for the last several weeks, I have slowly pulled away from the internet.

It used to be, (and this was only a year ago) that when I would log in, there was always something happening. Podcasts, forums, valuable blogs, tips on marketing, ect. All of a sudden of late, I no-longer hear that background chatter. I had my days and evenings booked, with calls, and events, chat's and webinar's. Groups and new people, now I do not.

I am not sure if this is because this is the beginning of the new year, or if this is just my perception, but it seems as if there is less and less information out there to be had, or at least less valuable. It is feeling cutthroat all of a sudden. I am no longer quit enamored of the people I meet, or interact with, because there seems to be a lack of engagement. No chat, no group meetings, no hey, how ya doing? Some one is always looking for something to benefit them, whether it be sales, or just the looky me mentality... but it has become quite the turn-off.

Oh...business is still good, goals are still in place, but I no longer find the mutual support amongst people, at least not in the manic manner in which it seems to have been prior to now.

Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy and benefit from some of that information that is out there, and from the people that it comes from, but not from behind rose colored glasses. Maybe this is part of growing in business and on-line, but in my opinion, it no-longer holds the power it did at 1st with me. Maybe I am wrong to think that who I have met and interacted with, learned from, and moved forward with should still be around for my needs, or my perceived needs, but one of the 1st things I was taught here was to support those who support you. I just don't see it happening. It's awful quiet out there.

What do you think?