Schedule That Appointment

My husband and I once served as activity committee chairpersons for our ward. We were responsible for a Christmas party one year. While some things went swimmingly, there were other things that I would do differently if ever presented with another chance. When someone new was given the job, I watched how she did things. She and her committee planned and carried out multiple excellent parties, but I what was most impressed with were the analysis meetings held after each one. Doing that had never occurred to me.

If you want to make sure you’re progressing, every so often it is necessary to analyze how things are going. How will we know what changes need to be made otherwise? Human beings are encouraged to get physicals yearly. Doctors take blood, perhaps x-rays or other tests, and do physical examinations to assess what has changed in the previous year as well as what changes need to take place in the coming one.

Think of Google Analytics as a business checkup. Learning to use it to its full capacity can keep your business on a long, healthy road to prosperity. 

Learn, Rinse, Repeat

I once heard a story about a woman who attended a concert given by an expert pianist. Afterward, the woman commended the performer and told him, “I would give my entire life to be able to play like you do,” to which he replied, “Ma’am, I have.”

Anything worth learning takes time. Learning it well, well, that takes even more time.  That is my biggest takeaway this week. Building a web business takes time. Learning the many aspects of running a business takes time. Becoming good at SEO and social networking and marketing takes time. Tweaking a website to take advantage of potential earnings takes time. Even learning through trial and error—you guessed it—takes time.

Time is also a precious commodity. And, it’s something I feel I haven’t had nearly enough of in the last 12 weeks.

But, a lack of time is not a good reason to give up, not on something that you really want to learn in order to become successful. Sometimes, we need to restructure our time. Sometimes, we just need to wait until the right time. And many times, we have to do things multiple times.

Here I go again.

Fudgies

I have a recipe for no bake cookies (we call them Fudgies) that I have used since childhood. It has seven ingredients: margarine, milk, sugar, cocoa, peanut butter, oats, and vanilla. Fudgies turn out best when the ingredients are added in a specific order. The margarine and milk are melted together, sugar and cocoa are added and that mixture is brought to a boil. Oats, vanilla, and peanut butter are added last. Cookies are spooned out onto parchment paper and left to cool. They are very yummy.

As it turns out, Search Engine Optimization also uses recipes, also known as algorithms. The key to making a website successful—found by Google search engines—is to make sure it has the ingredients for the recipe that Google is using. Google may occasionally change their recipe, but it basically stays the same. The right ingredients in Search Engine Optimization include the right words in body copy, the right words in titles, links as well as the words in those links, and site reputation.

I knew someone who knew someone who substituted ingredients that LOOKED similar to whatever ingredient she was missing, like mayonnaise for whipped cream. Can you image!?  Her website would NEVER get ANY traffic. 

Thrown Another Ad on the Barbie

I am a decent cook, but I don’t particularly enjoy it. I guess you could say I cook out of necessity. I do have two meals that I love and feel that I do well—lasagna and chicken pot pie. In fact, lasagna is one of the few meals that all four of my children agreed on when they lived at home. Because we all liked it, I changed the recipe so I could cook it in a crockpot.

One thing I did not care to do was barbeque. It required constant supervision, turning, seasoning, and tweaking to get it done just right. It was not as convenient as the crockpot where I could set it and forget it.

Optimizing Ad Performance is like barbecuing. It is not a set-it-and-forget-it kind of meal. It requires constant care, interest, and fine-tuning. Looks like I need to pull out my grill and find some new recipes. 

Thanks, Google

This semester, I am taking an art class—Intro to Graphic Design. This week, we are researching famous modern-day artists. We document everything as we study, and we answer questions that become part of our assignments. One of the questions this week was, “Why do designers conduct research?” Here is my response to that question:

“Designers conduct research to see what has worked and what has not; to learn about a specific artist, style, or era; and to learn what needs are for a current project.”

With Google Analytics, we are taking advantage of someone else’s research. Technically, I suppose we are taking advantage of an algorithm that was created by someone else to do research. We can use this wonderful piece of technology to see what has worked and has not, to learn about a specific item or product, and what keywords are meeting the needs of potential clients for our current project.

Sounds like our workload was just made a whole lot lighter and success will be that much easier. No wonder Google got the honor of a definition in the Oxford English Dictionary. 

                

How Can I Help?

Last fall, there was a new television series introduced. It's called New Amsterdam, and it's based on the oldest public hospital in the U.S., Bellevue Hospital, in New York. There is a handsome, compassionate, thirty-something medical director who is new to the institution by the name of Max. Max is always trying to make things better for the staff, patients, and the board of directors. I don't think I've seen an episode yet where he hasn't asked the question, "How can I help?".

This is exactly how we, as online entrepreneurs, must think when creating ads. How can I help those who are searching for what I have to find my site? What words and phrases will they type into a search engine to look for what I have to offer? We need to think as they think. Those four words are simple words. Our ad words must be simple, too.  

The acronym KISS comes to mind--Keep It Simple, Silly. 

Yeah, I know that's not exactly how it goes, but it never hurts to practice being nice. After all, nice and simple play well together. 

Human Sponges

Who you keep out can be as important as those you let in....sometimes, more so. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want some bum to waltz into my house, make themselves comfortable in my recliner, eat my food, get on my computer, and use my hot water. And, I’m sure as heck not doing to PAY for their gas to get there.

So, why should website traffic be any different? When you are using keywords to attract potential buyers to your website and you are paying for the cost of them to visit, you don’t want or need any “looky-loos” breezing through your site on your dime. This is where “negative” keywords come in handy. They keep people who are not really looking for what you are offering on your site from seeing it and visiting, thus saving you money.

It’s kind of like moving and changing your phone number and not telling your freeloading second cousin. He might be looking for you, but he can’t find you…

Use the Umbrella You Already Bought

In June of 2016, my husband and I went on a cruise to the Mediterranean with my best friend from high school and her husband. A few of our ports of call were in Italy. I had been to that region in June six years prior. No one else had visited there, so they took me at my word when I told them how HOT it was. Consequently, none of us planned for bad weather. 

Well, June of that year was unseasonably cold and rainy in the Mediterranean. We overpaid for cheap umbrellas the moment we stepped off the tour bus in the town of our first tourist attraction, Pisa. We still got drenched from our necks down, and we were cold. It was not very pleasant. 

We took those cheap umbrellas with us into our new few ports of call and didn't need them. When we got to Athens, we decided to leave them on the ship. While sitting on the tour bus outside the port, we saw the weather forecast and realized we had made a mistake. This time, we got totally soaked. Twice.

I had already paid for an umbrella—it was a shame I didn’t use it twice more for the same money. 

In my research this week, I have discovered that I can save a lot of time, money, and perhaps a little bit of discomfort by using “an umbrella” that I have already paid for…my LLC. There is a fabulous little business acronym called a DBA. It stands for “doing business as” and it was created for registered entities who do business under an alias.

I’m going to take advantage of this protection. I hate it when my hair gets wet anyway. 

Copycat

When I was a child, if you mimicked the behavior of someone else, everybody called you a copycat. It was not meant to be a compliment. I guess fourth graders are not mature enough to realize that imitation is one of the best forms of flattery.

In website design, it is wise to mirror what already works. Site visitor attention spans are extremely short. If a guest to a website gets confused because the layout does not match what is coming to be recognized as pretty universal, they won't stay, let alone click an affiliate link.

This week, I identified some very successful affiliate marketers. Since I am building an affiliate site, I want to see what the best affiliates are already doing. I looked at their site layouts, colors, typography, etc., to see what works for them. Now, I intend to do a little impersonating of my own...without stepping over the boundaries of copyright, of course.

Wish me luck!

You Don't Know Until You Know

There is a saying that "it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind," although there is no internet source that names a person to whom this can be attributed. I will agree that because of our biological makeup, sometimes we can be indecisive. Our bodies are constantly changing so why should our minds be any different, right?

Maybe we humans change our minds because we think we have to make snap decisions before we can collect all the information about a particular subject. Or, maybe it happens because we base our decision on old information without realizing there is an update. Yeah, that's it!

I pretty much had my mind set on which site builder/web host service I was going to use because I had used them before. And, it was easy. But, prior to actually making a decision, I had to do some research where I was presented with new information. Based on new evidence, I decided to go a different route than the one I originally planned. 

The bottom line here is that sometimes we head down a specific path because we are not aware there is another option. Every so often, we realize there are multiple choices, but perhaps we aren't familiar enough with them to make an educated decision.  It is always a good idea to edify oneself when presented with a choice. After all, we are each responsible for where we individually end up. 

Besides, I would kind of like to know where I'm headed and what to expect along the way. I think that just might make my journey a little more pleasant and a lot more successful. 

Walk Like a Reptilian

Be careful, Meagan, your 80s are showing. 

Through some of my online discussions and reading this week, I have had the opportunity to reflect on my current business. I am also looking at what I want for my future online business for this class. It has taken almost 15 years for my online retail business to reach its current level of consistency. We have taken it slow and steady.

And, it is okay to do that again.

Aesop illustrated this principle in his fable The Tortoise and the Hare. We know what appears to be the fastest way to success is not always efficacious. While get-rich-quick schemes sound enticing, they seldom work out. In most instances, true wealth, true triumph comes through persistent, hard work. 

In the Spring of 2017, I read a book that illustrates this principle well. The Slight Edge illustrates the long-term benefits of doing the small, productive things on a daily basis, like the tortoise in the story.

I think I can make my new online business venture successful by following that tortoise...and The Slight Edge. 

What a Joke

I don't think that I think big enough. I tend to limit myself and what I think I can do. That needs to change. 


These thoughts are my main takeaways from this week's lessons in Web Business Creation. 

In order to create a successful online business (or multiple online businesses...why stop at only one?), I must think outside the box. I should look for problems that need solutions. Or, I could look at an existing business model that could be tweaked. I need to do some brainstorming exercises. 

In 1899, Punch Magazine, a comedic periodical, ran a story about why patents were no longer necessary because "everything that can be invented has been invented." Can you imagine if everyone thought that way? What would happen to modern medicine, transportation, education, politics, human rights...the list goes on.

And, we could add to that creativity. We will never unleash all the potential possibilities that our collective human minds hold! The trick is training myself to believe it (note to self: see blog post dated January 29, 2018, entitled "Brain Food").
Anything is possible. I'm working on it. 

All You Need is Love

I am not a huge Beatles fan. I mean, they were okay. But, I think by the end of their reign that some of them got a little bit too big for their britches. Although they had a song with a cool title that I borrowed to write my “last lecture” blog post, I think they totally missed the point of the subject of their own song.

Someone may be out there saying, “This is your final blog post, your ‘coup de grâce,’ and you’re talking about LOVE?! Where does that fit in entrepreneurship?”

Allow me to explain.

First, as an entrepreneur, you must love what you do. Most entrepreneurs I know work more for themselves than for any “job” they ever had. You will be spending a lot of time, effort, and probably money on your idea, so you’d better enjoy it. If you don’t, it will become a burden instead of a blessing.

For my second and third points, we need to turn love into an action word.

Although small (and large) business owner-operators do lots of work solo, they can seldom become truly successful without somehow involving other humans--they are your customers. No other species will do (thus, my second point). Sometimes you need help from a real person. Fruitful business ventures typically solve people problems. In learning to love others well, we learn how to treat them well. We develop good relationships. When we need something, we feel we can ask. Sometimes we don’t even have to do that. When we get to know others, we know what difficulties they face. Finding these solutions leads to win-win situations for both parties.

Lastly, we need to love God.

When we learn of our relationship to our Heavenly Father, we realize that we need Him in every aspect of our lives (I think this is where John Lennon messed up, may he rest in peace). We want Him to be involved. We need Him to be. He wants us to be successful. He cares about what we care about.  Through the Spirit, we can receive confirmation regarding our entrepreneurial endeavors. He can help us grow, progress, and learn so much faster than we can on our own. Loving Him encompasses getting to know Him through obedience, scripture study, fasting, and especially prayer. Loving Him involves serving His children. Loving Him means following His Son.   

And the really crazy thing about love? It isn’t just a secret weapon for the self-made individual. Practicing love works in every aspect of life. Go ahead and give it a try. 

We the People

I love musicals. One of my favorites is “Singing in the Rain.” There is a scene near the movie’s end that unmasks the true villain of the show. The studio owner, RF, tells his leading lady, hoity-toity actress, Lena Lamont, that what she’s demanding is extremely under-handed.

“People just don’t do things like that,” he says, to which she responds in her high-pitched, grating voice (which is the problem in the first place), “Peeeeple!? I AIN’T PEEEEPLE!!”

Of course, the truth is revealed, justice prevails, and Lena learns an important lesson—we are all people, and we all matter. This happens off screen, of course, and we are making some assumptions.

In business, and in every other aspect in life, it all comes down to people. Can you think of one where it doesn’t?!?. If we want to be successful entrepreneurs, we need people. We can be effective if we solve people’s problems, help people with a need, or make people’s lives easier. If we want our business to grow, we’re going to need help from… you guessed it… people. Making them feel valued and intelligent is a win-win situation for both parties.

While there are many different personalities in the big, wide world, “there’s only one race, and that’s mankind.” (Garth Brooks, “We Shall Be Free”). The Golden Rule still applies.   

What’s that Smell?

I am sure anyone that has ever purchased potatoes has had this experience: There is an awful smell in the kitchen, but the problem is elusive. Finally your nose directs you to where your potato bag lies, and one of them has spoiled. When that has happened to me, I toss out the whole bag.

In “The Harvard Business Review” What’s a Business For? Author Charles Handy makes a similar analogy using apples. He says that “the markets would eventually sort the good from the bad… the world would go on much as before.” This happens less all the time.

There’s something stinky in the business community.

Integrity and virtue have become rare commodities. “Markets rely on rules and laws, but those rules and laws in turn depend on truth and trust. Conceal truth or erode trust, and the game becomes so unreliable that no one will want to play.” Handy has a point. In order for our system of free enterprise to continue, virtue and integrity must be at the center of every transaction. This would allow businesses to fulfill their true callings—making a difference in the world.

Yes, earning a profit is important, but it’s not everything. Funny thing about business--when an entrepreneur sets out to help someone or solve a problem instead of looking to make it rich, the business becomes successful, and the owner can become wealthy. It kind of reminds me of the principle of service; in serving others, we forget about our own problems.

Maybe there was some Greek businessman whom we could name an oath after (think Hippocrates). Businessmen would have to swear under threat of death (well, maybe not DEATH) to “first do no harm.” That might make one think twice before doing anything illegal or immoral. I like the idea of giving the “worker” more ownership in the business similar to what Germany has done. It would give the common laborer a little more pride and remind CEOs they don’t necessarily own the company.

There’s always the “drain the swamp” idea. Man, those stink, too. Hey, if it works for politics…

New Glasses

I just returned from a business trip with a friend of mine. We spent five days together somewhere warmer than where we live. We talked, laughed, whined a little, and then reminded each other how blessed we really are. We each returned home more relaxed, rejuvenated, with creative juices flowing and ready to make some positive changes in our business and personal lives. It was good to take a break and get lost for a while. We have come back with a new perspective.

In this week’s reading was a pamphlet entitled, “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness (A Cautionary Tale)”. The author listed methods of true happiness by getting “lost” in various activities, one of which was subtitled “Gratitude: Losing Yourself in Thanks and Generosity.” Some of the ways to do that include keeping a journal, volunteering, donating to a good cause, practicing gratitude, and having a positive attitude. I have had some personal success with consciously applying a good attitude to less than pleasant situations, and it has helped.

As an adult, I have had to get “new lenses” with which to view many things, including money. I recognize that the way I saw money in my childhood home has caused me to view it through an unhealthy filter as an adult. Incorrectly viewing one’s adult responsibilities can cause undue stress and strain on self and family. Skewed ideas about finances are no different. In fact, because money is so interwoven into every fabric of our lives, erroneous fiscal behaviors can be a leading cause of quick temporal, emotional, and spiritual decline.

In the Book of Mormon, Jacob teaches us the way to Lord’s way to prosper, “And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good.” Wealth itself is not evil. And, if we seek it in the Lord’s way and for his purposes, we can achieve it.

Who’s Your Buddy?

When my girls were young, I was a Girl Scout leader and took them to camp. I also spent time serving in Young Women and went to girls’ camp. Whenever one of the girls for which I was responsible wanted to leave the group for a short period of time for any reason, my direction was always the same.

Take a buddy with you.

It was never good to be off by oneself. It was always safer to travel in a pair. We humans like to do things with other humans. As it turns out, we should be kind of picky when choosing those other humans.

In his second letter to the people of Corinth, Paul tells them “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers,” meaning that the Saints of God should not marry those that are of another faith. Each individual needs to choose a spouse that has similar goals and values.

And, so it goes in business.

In “The Hero’s Journey,” Jeff Sandefer tells us to “choose your fellow travelers well” with what he calls three lessons:

1.     “Surround yourself with people of integrity”

2.     “Surround yourself with people who are optimistic”

3.     “Surround yourself with people who are passionate”

It’s been said that we become like those with whom we hang out with. It’s true. Guilt by association is a real thing. Think of the teenage boy who goes out behind the backstop with his friends during lunch break. The boy's friends light up a few cigarettes, but not the young man we're thinking about; he doesn't smoke. Yet, when the principal shows up, our young friend gets in trouble right along with those who are smoking just because he’s with them.

Author, public speaker, and entrepreneur Tim Ferris, who borrowed this concept from Jim Rohn, says, “You are the average of the five people you most associate with.”

If I’m going to be the average of five, I’d better pick a buddy or two with some pretty high stats.

Can I Say “Just Do It”?

President Spencer W. Kimball, frequently called a man of action, had a sign on his desk that read, “Do it.” Film producers shout the instruction, “Action!” and everybody on set is suddenly very busy. Even one of my favorite gym shoe and sports equipment companies, Nike, tells us… well, you get the picture.

It’s in the doing.

Take learning a language, say, Spanish. You can study and read about it all you want, but you will never be able to carry on a conversation with a native Spanish speaker if you don’t SPEAK it.  

I can get on a soap box and tell everyone how wonderful it is to eat right and exercise, but until someone takes my advice and ACTS on it, they’re never going to really know how beneficial that kind of lifestyle can be.

It’s the same way with the gospel. Kim B. Clark, former BYU Idaho President, affirms this. “You teach your children to obey the commandments of God by keeping the commandments of God… it is in the doing that there is real power to shape their lives.”

And, it’s the same way in business.

Elbert Hubbard demonstrates this in his essay “A Message to Garcia.” He said, “Replace the voices in your head with positive action. Turn away from the temptation to dwell on negative thoughts. Dwelling on fears only gives them more power. The best way to rid yourself of a fear is to take positive action. Courage isn’t the absence of fear but rather the ability to act in the face of it.”

Everybody has fears at some time or another. To overcome those fears, we must “Just Do It,” whatever “it” is.

There was no way I was NOT going to use that slogan; it’s just too good. 

Where's My Sword?

I’m tired. Maybe I’ve got spring fever, even though winter just showed up last week. Maybe I’m tired because it’s half-way through the semester and I’ve got a Sophomore form of Senioritis.  Maybe it’s because it’s almost March; I have personal experiences that make me agree with Shakespeare about March. Maybe it’s because I stayed up too late last night watching the Olympics, got up early this morning, went to the gym, did a half hour on the treadmill, completed 3 sets of 9 different weight-lifting exercises, and came home to 27 minutes of yoga. Maybe it’s because I’m “getting up there,” and I’m frustrated because I don’t learn as quickly as I once did.

Regardless, I need to do something. A nap sounds good. But, that is only a temporary fix. Maybe I need a new attitude. Anyone know where I can get one?

Elder Holland (I L.O.V.E. him!) knows how we feel; he’s been there before, too. He gave some great counsel to BYU students clear back in 1983 that still applies to us today. He says, “If your eyes are always on your shoelaces, if all you can see is this class or that test, …this disappointment or that dilemma, then it really is quite easy to throw in the towel and stop the fight. But what if it is the fight … for your eternal life? What if beyond … this disappointment or that dilemma, you really can see and can hope for all …that God has to offer? Oh, it may be blurred a bit…faintly, dimly, and ever so far away you can see the object of it all. And you say it is worth it, you do want it, you will fight on. Like Coriantumr, you will lean upon your sword to rest a while, then rise to fight again (see Ether 15:24–30) …As long and laborious as the effort may seem, please … take advantage of every opportunity to learn and grow… work, [and]… wait patiently when you have no other choice. Lean on your sword and rest a while, but get up and fight again…however long and hard the road.” 

Elder Holland also reminded us during Conference recently that we get credit for trying. Thank heavens.

Okay. I can do this, just let me take a little break, rejuvenate, and get an outlook makeover. Now… who moved my sword?

Just Breathe

A few years ago, a counselor recommended a book for me to read. It was on the practice of mindfulness. In a nutshell, it involves a little bit of meditation to focus on what’s going on in the present moment. Ronald D. Siegel, PsyD, author of “The Mindfulness Solution” says that it is an “awareness of personal experience with acceptance.” Ultimately, it’s all about the attitude of one’s experiences, regardless of whether they are considered good or bad.

Using deep breathing techniques, a mindfulness practitioner tries to clear her mind and just focus on being, right now. If negative thoughts intrude, she is encouraged to acknowledge them and let them pass. This kind of “therapy” has been practiced by many different cultures and peoples throughout centuries. And, the practice of deep, mindful breathing has powerful effects on the brain, the body, and the psyche.

George Leonard, author of “Mastery,” shares his own ideas of this concept. He encourages us to “acknowledge the negative and accentuate the positive.” When we couple this with regular physical exercise, we direct our energies into positive channels. Regular exercise and meditation coincides with Habit #1 in Steven Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” be proactive.

By taking action in this one area, we can effect change within ourselves that can be a first step to a successful journey.