Houston

The Resource: June 2020

Each month, we collect a full month’s worth of posts for you to pass along to clients, friends and family. Feel free to add these to your social media calendar this month!

Texas Tips

Just For Fun

Around The House

Buying And Selling

Trust us…you ARE creative.

It doesn’t matter how left- or right-brained you might think you are. Every single one of us has the capability of creative thought, especially when it comes to business. Adding that little bit of creative spark could, in fact, be the stepping stone to big business success.

If you’re feeling stuck or lost when it comes to new, inventive ideas, let us suggest the following steps to tapping into that imaginative side.

  1. Take A Walk Get out of the office! If you have a bit of free time, even just a five minute walk will give your mind a chance to wander. Here’s the thing, though. Leave the phone, music, or any other kind of technology at home. Give your brain a chance to relax and you’ll be surprised at how the ideas start to flow. Plus, won’t a little exercise be a nice change?
  2. Collaborate Collaboration is an excellent way to change things up in your business. Maybe you have a colleague who would love to run a promotion with you, or maybe there’s a business you admire who could benefit from some cross-promotion as well. What you’ll get out of finding a short-term business partner is a quick change of perspective. Who knows what business ideas you can take away and implement for your own success.
  3. Unplug We are so connected to the world at all times, aren’t we? Whether it’s checking your phone a dozen times a day, being interrupted by email notifications, or even unable to handle silence at home or in a car, we’re surrounded by electronics. With all that noise, it’s difficult to let any new ideas get in. Take a mini-retreat from tech, whether it’s an hour, an afternoon, or even a weekend. Turn the phone and television off, drive to work without turning the radio on, and take an email vacation, and see what develops.
  4. Change Your Routine It’s easy to get stuck in a rut with the same old routine. Get up, go to work, come home, work out, go to bed. We even take the same route to work, listen to the same music, eat lunch at the same places…all of these things make sense, but can also contribute to a bit of lazy thought. Keep yourself on your toes by switching things up every now and then. Take an alternate route, try a restaurant you’ve never been to, wake up early to work out, or forego your evening tv to read a new book.

The Resource: May 2020

Each month, we collect a full month’s worth of posts for you to pass along to clients, friends and family. Feel free to add these to your social media calendar this month!

Texas Tips

Just For Fun

Around The House

Decor Inspiration

Buying And Selling

Don’t live in that RUT!

It happens to all of us. Suddenly, nothing seems to be working with your business. You’ve lost passion and motivation is nowhere to be seen. You’re not alone. And the good news is, if you find yourself in a business rut, we’ve got a few ideas to get you through it and on the road to success again.

#1 – CALL IT WHAT IT IS

The first step to solving your problem is admitting you’ve got one. Say it out loud, acknowledge that this is happening. You may even consider telling a trusted friend or colleague who can encourage you through a lull. And ignoring the problem could just get you deeper into a rut.

#2 – IDENTIFY THE ISSUE

In your downturn, it’s not going to be easy to pinpoint exactlyone problem. But, if you’re feeling a lack of energy in your work, it’s important to know if you’ve lost passion in your career, or if there are smaller issues causing you to want to give up, whether it’s for a day or for longer. Figure out where your dark cloud is coming from and you’ll be a step closer to solving the problem and getting yourself “back in business.”

#3 – BRAIN DUMP

Business owners and entrepreneurs tend to focus on the “public” side of the business and let the “behind the scenes” work suffer. Chances are, there are things you want to accomplish in your business, but you lack the time to do them because the daily business itself gets in your way. Take some time to write down or type out every single idea that comes to mind – don’t focus on whether it’s a good idea or a bad idea, just write it down. As you write, you’ll feel inspiration starting to bubble up and you’ll realize what your next step will be.

#4 – FIND A MENTOR

If you don’t already have someone in your life who inspires and convicts you, it’s time to find one. This doesn’t necessarily need to be someone in your same industry, but someone that you admire professionally and personally. If it’s hard to think of a mentor in your network, find one online – even long distance! Search for others whose businesses or professional style you admire. If you haven’t met personally, send a short email telling them about yourself and asking about mentorship. The worst that can happen is you get a “no” and you move on to the next.

#5 – LEARN SOMETHING NEW

When you feel knowledgable, you’ll feel better about yourself and your work. There are a myriad of options available for affordable online courses and free webinars in every topic under the sun – marketing, social media, sales. If business is really bumming you out these days, use your time to learn something completely new. Take an art class or learn a new language. The confidence you’ll gain from a new skill could be just what you need to change your attitude.

#6 – ENJOY YOUR “DOWN” TIME

If you know you’re going to be slacking off a little during your slump, why not use your downtime better? Instead of sitting in front of your computer for 30 minutes and trying to convince yourself to work, take a 30 minute walk around your neighborhood. Or, take your “work” to the beach or the mountains, and give yourself a mini-vacation to inspire your mind.

#8 – SET REASONABLE GOALS

A mile-long to-do list can be just enough to keep you in your slump. Don’t try or expect to conquer it all at once. Set goals you know you can accomplish. For example: Between 9am and 10am, I’ll make three phone calls. Or: By lunchtime, I will have accomplished x, y, and z. Break your work into small pieces and handle only the next thing.

Remember, setbacks are normal. It’s a part of the game. Acknowledge that there are things you can learn from this. Recognize that you will eventually emerge, ready to take on your work with a new and inspired vision for your business.

The Resource: April 2020

Each month, we collect a full month’s worth of posts for you to pass along to clients, friends and family. Feel free to add these to your social media calendar this month!

Texas Tips

Just For Fun

Around The House

Buying And Selling

The Resource: March 2020

Each month, we collect a full month’s worth of posts for you to pass along to clients, friends and family. Feel free to add these to your social media calendar this month!

Texas Tips

Just For Fun

Around The House

Buying And Selling

The Resource: February 2020

It’s February already? It seems like we just celebrated the new year. If one of your resolutions this year was regular posting to social media, you’re in luck. Each month, we collect a full month’s worth of posts for you to pass along to clients, friends and family.

Texas Tips

Just For Fun

Around The House

Buying And Selling

Building Your Business in February

February is here already? The year isn’t going to slow down anytime soon, so let’s look at a few ideas to keep your marketing plans on schedule!

Start Looking at Spring Marketing Plans

We’ve got a couple of big things coming up in the spring – decide what works best for your business. You can remind your contacts about Daylight Savings Time on March 8, look ahead to Easter on April 12 or Earth Day on April 22. Use these key dates as a way to connect with customers new and old.

Revisit Your Annual Marketing Plan

You got this one taken care of in January, right? If you didn’t, it’s not too late to plan ahead for the rest of the year. If you did set up a marketing plan, now that you’re a month into the year, you should have a little bit better understanding of how it may work. Were you too ambitious? Too lax? Just right?

Social Media Focus: Spring Cleaning

With the holidays behind us and warm temperatures ahead (especially for our San Antonio and Houston audience!), many people are feeling the itch of clutter. Highlight tips for organization, cleaning, decluttering and more on your social media accounts. Help your contacts get that nice and fresh feeling!

Social Media Challenge: Who Are You?

In January, we challenged you to set aside some time to focus on social media. This month, we’re taking it a step further and we’re challenging you to post about YOU at least once a week. Tell your followers who you really are, whether it’s a selfie at a new listing, info on a new restaurant you tried, or info on your involvement in your community, church, school, etc. More people choose to do business with people they know – so let them see the real you!