What's your shelf life?

As business owners, it’s really important that we all stay relevant within our field to ensure that we are able to run with the larger companies and offer our customers the best solutions but…

How do you keep relevant and find the time?

Let’s tackle the elephant in the room first, THE TIME!

That for me is the biggest challenge. - being a small business it’s another action on the ‘to-do list’ but it’s important to remember how critical it is to business success. If I’m not up to date on employment law, the economy, and business challenges when I’m offering solutions to customers how can I be sure they are the best options? If I’m not sure, then how will that come across to the business will I be confident in my approach and how will I fair against other competitors who are tendering for business?
​
Years ago, I had the privilege of working for a very successful businessman who gave me some wise snippets that I have always held onto, one was;

---

Everyone has a shelf-life

For me, whilst employed by him it used to concern me in terms of our conversations, I would always have in the back of my mind “is he telling me that I’ve reached my shelf life” though thankfully he wasn’t! On the positive side though it did make me realise that we always need to remain relevant and that I’ve carried forward since that day.

How do I make time work for me?

I look for quick wins and multi-tasking!  I always ask myself how can I get most out of the time I have.  After all time is limited isn’t it, when you are taking on the world!

Being relevant
​
Have you ever thought about it?  
Or is it something you just do or maybe you don’t?

I’ve always advised teams, and business owners to try to keep a set time for learning in their diaries each week, whether that is 60 mins., 45 or 30 mins!

If you think about all your interactions, if you remain curious then you are learning and keeping relevant all the time.

Where I tend to struggle is if I’m studying for a qualification and there is a lot of learning to do in order to achieve it. I’m currently studying for several diplomas and the time needed to study can be a challenge! Each week I review my diary and then try to work around business and personal needs / appointments to then add in studying time.
​
I find that if I allocate time then I am more committed to studying rather than getting distracted by something else! I also find that colour coding my diary helps me see how my diary is planned for the week - it is split into 3 colours, studying, work and personal but it’s a great visual check! 

Quick Wins

I find these options work well:

• Networking - it’s a great way to build a customer base, listen to what is happening within the community and how businesses are fairing

• Webinars - great way to update knowledge and skills whilst minimising travel disruptions. Also, a lot of webinars record the sessions and send them to participants so you can always listen again at your own pace.
• Articles / News - quick way to review what is happening in the world, in your sector and for your customers. Whether this is the national news, or subscriptions to blogs - they are quick ways that you can keep your knowledge growing.
• Audio-books / Podcasts - if you are organised get some downloaded and then listen in your car or on your journey. I tend to listen to books / podcasts on the way to customer visits and then reward myself after the meeting with music on the way home. Music is one of my ways of decompressing from the day and just having some fun (though my singing is terrible it’s definitely for solo car journeys only!) ​

​My challenge / ask of you is to take 5 minutes over a cuppa and consider how you keep yourself relevant.

• Is this something that you need to put into place?
• Or revisit to make sure you are offering the best to your customers?
• Are you comfortable with where you are at and if that is the case, how are you sure?

​It would be great to hear from you on what other ways you keep relevant!
​
Remember, stay curious and everyone has a shelf life you’ve just got to make sure you are always in date!
 
Can Be You support you?

Yes of course. This support and empowerment would come through the form of coaching.

After all the service we offer to our customers is based on what they want, their needs and therefore enabling our customers to be themselves.

How can I find out more? 

Please <contact me>.