Article
Taking Care Of Yourself And Your Health
Copyright © 2004 Lynne Bullen
Many of us adopt unhealthy work practices without thinking. Some examples:
To run a business successfully, you must first be healthy
Many businesses fail because their operators don't take care of themselves. Bet you didn't know that! You probably did, but it will never happen to you, right?
It's really all about matters of common sense, a sense that is often pushed aside.
Scheduling regular breaks, exercise, as well as eating and drinking should always be included in your workday. Keeping healthy doesn't mean that you have to rush out and join a gym.
Taking a walk every day for a minimum of 30 minutes should be part of your daily routine. You can do this before, after or during your working day. Get your walking gear on, head out and walk in any direction for 15 minutes. Turn around and come back. Take note of how far you went. Each time you walk that route, you'll find that you've managed further in the same timeframe.
If walking for just 30 minutes a day is all you do for yourself to keep fit, then do it!
While you're at work, don't work for more than two hours before taking just five minutes off for a few stretching exercises. Walk around the house or the office, go outside and play with the dog, make a cup of tea or coffee. This will give all your muscles a break.
Your business may require you to sit or stand for long periods at your workbench, a sales counter or computer.Click on this link for a sample of exercises you can do if you don't know where to start. http://www.healthworks.com.au/publications/
wellwork/02-06junp6.pdf
If you're not yet fitting these very necessary items into your work day, you may well need to review your Time Management skills. Read the article on Time Management by Susan Ward: http://sbinfocanada.about.com/cs/timemanagement/
a/timemgttips.htm
Lots of other good stuff to be found here.
Safe work practices, like having your desk and chair at the right height for you are paramount. Make sure you place your desk where the natural light is best, but not so that light reflects onto your computer screen. There's an article that addresses lighting in the workplace at http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=730, entitled "Stiff Neck, Headaches, Productivity Down? Check the Lights" It's certainly worth a read. For more information on ergonomics, call up this site: http://www.ergoweb.com/news/
Make sure you stop for lunch, unless you're on a very tight deadline for a client or customer, but don't make a habit of "just another few minutes". You know that this will turn into just a few more, and a few more and a few more ... and before you know it, a few hours will have gone by!
Drink plenty of water during the day. Drinking too many cups of tea and coffee can leave you dehydrated. Too much cola or other fizzy drinks can do the same. You need water as well. Six to eight glasses per day is the minimum for a properly hydrated body. If you don't, you'll become tired and less efficient.
Don't eat or drink at your desk. Get up and walk to the lunch-room or kitchen. If you have a nice outdoors area or a park near you, have your lunch with nature!
Eating at your desk is NOT a break, nor is it LUNCH! It's not just your health at stake here. If your work is done mainly at a computer you will also save your computer's keyboard and other office equipment from expensive accidents. Who wants a keyboard full of coffee? Or worse, who wants to be electrocuted.
Common sense, right?
If these tips sound a little frivolous and unimportant, then don't be surprised if you feel wrung out and tired at the end of each day.
Personal safety and security
If you work alone, either from your home office, or an office you've set up elsewhere, there are some things you need to look at in the course of your workday.
If you're set up in an office at a business premises, be aware of your surroundings, what and who is where. If the person who has just walked through your door is a fist time visitor, it's usually a good idea to "pretend" that there is someone else present in the rear office.
If your office is at home, build a rapport with your new clients before allowing them to visit your home, and be careful about going to someone else's home rather than his/her office.
Find a mutually convenient time and place to meet your prospective client the first time, saying that you'll be out and about either "picking up" files or products and supplies, or "delivering work" to another client in the area. Say you would be happy to collect the work. Suggest meeting at a nearby shopping mall or similar. This will give you a chance to assess whether or not the person is genuine in need for the goods or services you are able to provide.
Be wary of "strange" phone calls or approaches. If you receive a phone call that rings your alarm bells, you can hang up. Best not to enter into any conversation or give any information.
I don't want to frighten you with scary but true stories, so I won't. Common sense will usually always win.
Another way to stay safe if you're working from home, is not to have your physical address on your business cards or other stationery, or anywhere else you may advertise. A Post Office Box is the safe way to go. If your local council or government allows you to hang a shingle, think about who it might attract. My choice would be not to. The last thing you want is someone unknown to you just turning up on your doorstep expecting to be invited in.
Cultivating relationships
Building solid and mutually beneficial relationships with your clients is the only way you'll keep them.
People who come to you for your product or service is are " shoppers" or a "samplers" of your product or service. They won't become your customers/clients unless they return. Make each enquiry, whether personal or by phone, an experience the potential client will remember as a positive experience. If you do, you'll be rewarded with on-going business.
Take a little time
On each occasion you see your customer to talk about things that interest them. There's always the odd individual who doesn't like to talk anything but business, but you'll find that most will offer information when engaged in conversation. What ever it is, remember; don't get too personal.
Little things like favourite football team, new mum or dad, first time grandparents. People love to talk about themselves and their families. Why not take advantage. If you don't retain this type of information well, here's a clue. When your client has left, go to his/her file and jot down a few details or an outline of your conversation. You can use it to begin a conversation the next time he or she returns.
Now, I hear you saying, "Conversation! I don't have time to think, let alone have a chat with my clients/customers!" If you're serious about making sure you're clients stay with you instead of going elsewhere, then take note. If you treat your clients well, with respect, and engage them in a little conversation, it will let them know that you are genuinely interested in them.
Remember, you need to be open too; but don't divulge too much, and never, never, never talk about your other clients or business contacts (unless it's to recommend or praise them). As juicy as some stories can be, just begging to be told over and over again ... DON'T ... you could ruin your business and your reputation.
Saying thank you
Another thing you might like to try is sending a handwritten thank you if your client has steered business your way.
Look at your clients' accounts at the time of billing. If a client has given you a substantial increase this month, give him/her a discount along with a letter saying how much you appreciate the support.
Outstanding accounts
If some clients are late paying you, send them a friendly reminder. Next should be a personal telephone call to find out if your client is experiencing any major problems which will shortly be overcome.
Just as an example, I had a client who, after the initial invoice, a reminder and a phone call, had not paid his account. I asked the question, "If you're experiencing difficulty with your finances at the moment, is there some way I might be able to assist you ... say, having you pay in instalments until the debt is cleared?" The answer was quite a surprise. My client's mother had been diagnosed with stomach cancer, and he was trying to help the rest of his family come from the UK to see her before she died. His finances were definitely stretched. We were able to come to an agreement whereby he did pay in monthly instalments. As it turned out, I met two of his relatives while they were visiting, and one of them is now a client. I transcribe audio files for him. He emails them as .dss files and I email back the finished product!
Never be afraid to ask for your money. Just remember, there is usually a genuine reason that a debt has not been cleared. Your clients will appreciate your concern and your understanding.
No-one likes to suffer financial losses, but it's one of the realities of business. Although you don't EXPECT it, sometimes you will loose out.
Learning is a full time job and it never stops
Now, I know there are people out there who are unscrupulous and will "rob you blind", but as you continue in your business, depending on the relationships you cultivate and maintain, you'll soon be able to tell the bad from the good. Not always, but most of the time.
You as the Client
Your suppliers are also people with whom you need to build a good rapport and maintain mutually beneficial relationships. There's no reason why you shouldn't develop and nurture a relationship where you each know a little about the other's life.
Things like their son's sporting achievements, their grandmother's 90th birthday or their favourite restaurant. It might be a movie one of you has seen recently.
If you're happy with your supplier (say, your stationery supplier, your courier service, the person who maintains your computer and other office equipment) recommend them to your clients.
Short and Sweet, but also Sincere
There are all sorts of personal subjects about which you can talk with your clients and your suppliers without overstepping the mark. Keep your regular "chats" short and interesting. Never get too personal. You always have the opportunity to end the conversation by saying that you have a deadline to meet for another client.
So, you can see that health is not just about you, it's about your business, too!
Remember that to run a successful business there's much more to it than being able to provide a product or a service. You need to be healthy. Consider the value of cultivating relationships. Look after the Occupational Health and Safety Issues.
No matter what you do for a living, one thing is for sure: Of all the things mentioned here, maintaining a healthy lifestyle with your body's needs factored into the working day, is the best and most important thing of all!
Take care of yourself and your business will take care of you!
Here's to your successes!
Lynne Bullen is a successful businesswoman whose talents include Public Relations; Editorial and Commercial Copywriting; Design and Facilitation of Seminars, Forums and Workshops, Mentoring Services and Secretarial and Administrative support
She is a specialist in Digital Transcription
Contact Lynne via email:
or visit her website at http://www.lynnebullenstrategies.com.au |
