Hi! I’m Stephanie Breedlove, Co-Founder of Care.com HomePay, Author and Angel Investor.
I absolutely adore taking an idea and giving it life in the form a business, then leading it to its full potential. Nothing is more fun. (Seriously!) I’d love for every woman who wants to start her own business to say the same thing, so here I am, mentoring millennial entrepreneurs. When I’m not working, I like to recharge and head outdoors to hike, bike, or stand up paddle board!
Is that list of business news and trending articles you’ve tagged still unread? I get it. Allow me to help. Take a couple minutes to read my summary of articles serving the most pertinent, actionable business topics. Or, take 10 minutes to read the full article, and put another brick on the foundation of your growing career.
This Week’s Must-Read:
Who it’s for:
Every entrepreneur, at every stage of business.
Why it’s important:
When you are a founder, there are no corporate boundaries for saying no or saying yes, or how to prioritize. Managing your time and your business smartly is a career-long battle. This article offers 5 things you should keep on your “yes” list for the duration of your entrepreneurial career. I’m 25 years in and these are highly valuable for me today!
No matter your workload, the payoffs these provide far exceed the time and effort:
- Build Meaningful Relationships Through Networking: Networking isn’t just about handshaking and chit chat; it’s about building authentic relationships that enrich our professions and our lives. To truly connect with others, you need to be willing to devote time and create consistency. Connecting not only builds business partnerships, but it also builds life partnerships with far-reaching value from the expertise and advice you will be exposed to.
- Find Outlets to Relieve Stress: There’s often a psychological price to pay for entrepreneurship. Rather than viewing stress relief outlets – exercise or creative diversions, for instance – as time-sucking items that block precious calendar time, view them as essential to your well-being and ability to manage your business and family. Since these breaks cannot always be guaranteed, try to structure a lunch workout or walk a couple of times a week. Twice a week is often all you need.
- Mentor and Develop Your People: No matter your business, your employees are your most valuable asset. Invest in helping them find their passion by getting to know them and giving them space to explore teams and projects that interest them. It is worth the effort many times over. When they grow, you grow and your business grows.
- Take Vacation: Leaving your business for a getaway can be worrisome, even terrifying to some. The truth is that you cannot afford not to step away. Besides the obvious recharge benefits, vacations force you to delegate to others. And some of our best business ideas come during breaks away from the business!
- Spend Time with and Listening to Customers: Don’t lose sight of whom you’re doing this for. Seeing how customers use your service and listening to their feedback is eye-opening. Some of your best features will come from customer requests. If you struggle to find ways to connect with customers, man the service queues for a half day, or host an “Ask Me Anything” webinar. The time spent will be well worth the insights.
Top Take-Away/Final Thought: No matter how busy you are day-to-day and week-to-week, it is essential to prioritize consistent efforts that help grow you and your business.
Want to add to the list? Here’s a few more:
With Only 24 Hours in a Day, How Do You Prioritize What to Do?
Why You Shouldn’t Feel Guilty if Your to List Only Gets Longer