Entrepreneurial Reads

How a Weekend Away can Give you a Fresh Perspective; Two days is all it Takes

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It can be draining to perform the same tasks day after day, even when they are profitable and your overall business plan is succeeding. When it comes to shipping, fulfillment, processing and just plain brainstorming, it can really take a lot out of you. There’s a saying that goes, “Even when all the news you hear is good, and things are on the up and up, something in your mental health could still pay the price.” Having a fresh perspective is necessary in the entrepreneurial world that without it, you may struggle. If you are managing a brand or product that is wildly successful, you may begin to obsess over tracking results, especially late into the evenings. The importance of spending time away is more and more relevant in the digital world, as we spend less time face-to-face and more hunched over laptops and tablets.

The writer who needed a rainy retreat:

A recent article from a well-known blog was about a literary agent in New York who worked from home. Whenever she stepped out, there was lots of noise, honking horns, and a sea pedestrians and traffic. She did realize how much it was really taking its toll on her day-to-day to activities. She was getting everything done, but her overall state of well being and outlook on her career was getting worse. When dealing with folks on the phone, she was becoming more irritated, and burning out quicker in the evening. She took a vacation to Portland, where she spent time cooking healthy food, hearing the rain overhead, and reading her favorite books instead of writing and producing. She claimed that upon her return, she was more rejuvenated than ever, and eager to tackle her daily tasks. The main difference was made in her outlook; when she saw the world ebb and flow without her running around trying to get everything done, she was well prepared when the time came to produce again. Back home, the noisy streets and deadlines didn’t seem as bad, she was able to retain some leftover peace.

Be careful when the going gets tough:

There are some sure fire signs that you are in emergency need of refuge. Don’t ignore them! When you begin daydreaming all day about your favorite vacation spot, it’s time to make the call to book it. When you begin to slump down over the keyboard and only wish you were at Cabos or the Grand Canyon, you’re headed for trouble! Especially in the realms of marketing and sales, reaching extreme burnout’s going to leave you in incredibly hot water; you do not want to react the wrong way in front of a potential client or new gatekeeper! These roles are the most susceptible to burnout, as dealing with people on the front lines all day can get tedious, especially during negotiation. Having time to get enough rest, the proper foods for fuel, and easing strain on your creative mind with just a two day vacation can really pay off in the long run. When you arrive back in the door from a trip to the San Juan or even just a close cabin jaunt outside they city, you’ll be well refreshed. Yes, you’re allowed to take your laptop, but beyond that, let the fresh air take over, and feel the chaos escaping you by the minute.

Top Entrepreneurial Reads of Fall 2014; Books to help Cultivate your Business

You may be scrambling for some inspiration about social media methods, new trends that are taking place, and latest news on the most motivating factors in startups. Many business owners that I’ve talked to mentioned that in their most desperate times where they simply did not have good ideas, clear thought, or a clear plan of action, were inspired by reads such as these. Sometimes when you are looking at plotting up marketing methods, and researching new strategies, it takes a fresh perspective and the words of someone else to help you get back on track. Here are 4 books from this year that will help you stoke the creative fire and grow your business in the most innovative ways out there.

1) Big Bang Disruption: Strategy in the Age of Devastating Innovation

This remarkable and fresh read describes how the ability to innovate well has been shaken up a bit and lacking due to the massive advances that have taken place in technology, and how a clear vision is a bit tough to get ahold of. It is full of advice about how to survive in a very fast paced world, and how much you are going to have to adapt to stay lean, and quickly. It’s based on the premise that the advances in technology won’t be of much use if you are not willing to be ready for anything, and is intense to say the least.

2) The Big Lie; or Interpreting your Customer’s inner Life for Profit

Explaining the notion that customers really need to feel good on two different levels, this book discusses the importance of customers wanting to have not only their needs, but their dreams met. Full of backing examples, strategy to simply be leaner and better, and simply being all about what the smart brand must do to succeed these days, it investigates strategic value. In the realm of marketing placement, you will have to follow a path that has no confusion or contradiction.

3) Chicken Soup for the Soul; Reboot Your Life + 101 Stories About Finding a new path to Happiness

We are at a time where business owners are going to be well influenced by stories of change and walking in its path. It really focuses on what it feels like to be in a rut, and how to get out of it with grace and courage. Great writing; clear and concise tales of people that survived feeling down and out, and pulled a rabbit out of the hat in more ways than one. Feeling successful isn’t just about the bottom line, but the emotions you encounter at all stages of the game. As we all know the broth of soup revitalizes us during down times, so will reading stories of inspiration and numerous individuals finding ways to rise up and trump their own fears, and fears of what governs habits or the market.

4) Your Inner Will: Finding Personal Strength in Critical Times

Author of ‘The Power of Kindness’ gives us an in-depth of the most resilient people on the planet and the doses that life has given them. Truly finding your untapped energy as an entrepreneur may take a bit more than wit and will, this taps deep into philosophy, practical advice and reasoning, and has been heralded as genius. A dweller of Italy and also one who has studied Adolph Huxley’s lectures, he has much to say about the soul and how deep you can tap into it if you really need to.