Avoid Self Sabotage with Self-Discipline and Commitment

The following is a contribution about self-discipline from Eric Olson, Owner of Windmill Creek Studios.

Self-discipline is easy when you’re committed. You want to do the work, can’t wait to do it. People ply you with diversions but you’re a bulldozer of intention. Time stands still and you come out of the zone hours later, as if it were minutes. This is the dream.

The only problem is how to become committed. It seems easy at first; you “just decide.” You begin. But things come up. Plans never quite work out. The will is drained.  For many people, this is the reality.

What goes on here?  What is the force preventing the insurance adjuster from becoming a successful painter?  What blocks the lawyer from becoming a songwriter? Why does the bus driver drive a lifetime away instead of becoming the organic farmer she really wants to be?

In The War of Art, author Steven Pressfield calls it Resistance. He says, “Resistance by definition is self-sabotage…the most toxic force on the planet.” The devil lies within. But if we can overcome this demon, we break the shackles preventing us from being the person we’re meant to be. As we all know, this rarely happens – but some people manage it.  How?

Sometime, ask an artist if they feel alone in the studio, at the typewriter, in the darkroom.  Most artists will react with a surprised “No!” When we’re working we’re not alone. We’re in a world of imagination, working with colors and ideas and characters that form as if they are alive.

It’s not easy to be an artist.  There is the training, which can steal more years than becoming a doctor. There are the lonely voyages of self-discovery, the false starts and blind alleys.  There can be ostracism, and doubts poured like boiling pitch on new ideas. Money is nearly always a problem, and so is the struggle for acceptance.

The artist endures all this and more in her journey.  If she sticks to it, through all these trials, something evolves.  The artist gives form to that magical source of inspiration, illumination, challenge and delight that is art.

The secret is commitment. When commitment is made, barriers come down, doors open, a mystical synchronicity happens. Resistance disappears.

Or as the good folks at Nike say constantly, “Just do it.”

Eric Olson began his formal training at Pratt Institute in 1966, where he studied Industrial Design under Etan Manasse. During the next 24 years Olson developed numerous award-winning products, pac kaging, graphics and websites for clients such as IBM, Vivitar, Mobil Oil, and Nakamichi America. Eric turned to fine art photography in 2003 and has exhibited frequently in the East Coast.  Eric’s goal is to share complex feelings in visual form that others can perceive intuitively. His works have been exhibited in the USA and Europe, and are found in private and corporate collections, as well as contemporary art galleries and museums.

Sailing in Murky Waters…Survival Techniques for Small Business

The following is a guest blog by Karen Metz of Keystone Mobile Shredding:

The economy started a slow descent in 2008 and caused business owners to slash costs and attempt to do more with less. Unemployment rose as a result and we officially entered our “recession”.  For the shredding industry, this meant that business owners were reluctant to spend money on destroying documents – there were more important things to worry about like meeting payroll. Even though the information protection laws were becoming stricter, companies were struggling to simply stay afloat in a sluggish economy and tended to ignore new legislation and threats of data breaches.

And just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, a national giant in the industry decided to infiltrate central Pennsylvania and purchased two companies to compete with me.  For the first time in eight years, I actually thought of jumping overboard and selling out. I was not only sailing in murky waters, I was surrounded by sharks!

As a small business in the shredding industry, I needed to reflect on what we do that sets us apart from our competition.  I found some comfort in looking at the professional awards that my business has won – more awards than any other shredding company in the state. So I must be doing something right…I needed to reassure myself that I should keep going and continue to grow in spite of the economy and competition.

So how do you sail in murky waters filled with sharks?

You have to take a good look at what your strengths are. If that is customer service, then do it bigger and better than before. Get involved in your local Chamber and other associations and network with other small businesses – it’s easy to sink into depression and think that you are the only one affected by the recession – but you’re not. Get out into your community and make yourself known. We offered 16 “Shredding Events” throughout Pennsylvania in 2010. Sure, it took time but the exposure and free advertising were worth it. If your customer base is your strength, implement a leads generation program or a referral campaign and get them involved. Your customers can become your greatest sales force. Take the time to write (hand-written) notes of appreciation for those referrals. Become the expert in your field. Your customers have questions and by educating yourself and being available, you can become the expert that they will rely on and that relationship can grow into more business. You can present your expertise in social media, face to face networking events or news releases.

In a slow economy, it’s tempting to take on the “Wal-Mart mentality” and drop your pricing. Avoid it if possible. Customers who are looking for the lowest price are not the customers that you want anyway. They’ll only be committed to you until the next low price comes along. Stay competitive and stay true to your values – offer great service and be the one who stands out in your industry. You can survive the murky waters and learn to swim faster than the sharks!

Karen Metz is the President of Keystone Mobile Shredding, Inc. and a Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist. She can be reached through her website, LinkedIn, Twitter, or FaceBook Page.

3 Major Sources of Executive Stress

When you have time, please read my ezine article, “3 Major Sources of Executive Stress”.  It will offer insight to the traits that frequently contribute to stress and ways to solve them.  I also believe entrepreneurs suffer from the same stressors, so I decided to interview Fran Verotsky, Director for the HACC Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies (IES). The IES program offers the tools for entrepreneurs to navigate owning a business and thus helps to prevent stressors through education.

Here’s her interview:

Background Info: What did you before this role?

Prior to this position, I have held several different positions of HACC:  faculty in the Business and Technology Departments; several administrative roles.  I come from a family of entrepreneurs.  My Mom and Dad were business owners; so, I grew up in that business atmosphere.

Tell me about the HACC Entrepreneurial Studies program.

The HACC Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies is designed to increase economic vitality in South Central Pennsylvania by providing business counseling and education opportunities to entrepreneurs and by creating partnerships through outreach programs with small businesses, government agencies, and community organizations.

The IES is in existence ten years.  We are proud that we now have a presence at all HACC campuses—Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York.  At all locations, we provide one-on-one business counseling, non-credit classes, seminars, networking opportunities, and Artisan Marketplaces.   We also have begun offering online classes and webinars.

On the credit side of the IES, HACC offers an associate degree and certificate in Entrepreneurial Leadership.  Most of these courses are offered at our Midtown1 location in Harrisburg with some being offered online via our Virtual Campus.

Our clients encompass members of the communities where the HACC campuses are located and HACC students—with the majority being individuals who reside in HACC locations.  The biggest impact our business counseling services and other programs make on emerging business owners is the security of knowing that one of our business counselors is available in a confidential setting to address particular needs.  We pride ourselves by offering this 1:1 service in a long term situation with ongoing appointments and provide the individual with the necessary information and plan.  It is then up to the entrepreneur to take that first giant step into business ownership.

The HACC Entrepreneurial Studies program has a unique opportunity to help mold those who are just about to go into business for themselves. Some of these business owners may become executives. How does your program addresses the sources of stress, which Sylvia mentions (fear, control, and over thinking)?

After discussing these questions with our IES staff, here are some comments to this question:

We believe that “truly” knowing our clients well and building a strong business relationship is a key factor.  It is common to find it difficult to talk about fear, failure, and over thinking. Owning a business is risky business; therefore, entrepreneurs need to be risk takers.  That has to be understood.  Allowing a person to discuss these elements of fear, etc. eases some of that anxiety.

Planning is essential.  However, some of our clients plan for years and never open their business.   Then they find out that someone else came up with a similar or identical business idea, took the leap to start the business, and became successful.  Over-thinking is not always the best way to consider options.

Getting involved with networking groups, such as our IES Talkabouts, lets individuals know that they are not alone in their apprehension.  We find it truly amazing to watch our clients grow with self-confidence.

Having a passion for whatever product or service you dream business is will be a necessity.  A business owner has to have the entrepreneurial spirit.

The program has been in place for several years. Have you seen students who have had their business come to fruition? How have these people changed from when they first started your program?

Several students have pursued their business idea and have been successful enough to support their financial needs.  Many have tried and changed their idea or gone into business on a part-time basis.

Many of our clients seek our services to gain an understanding as to what is essential in getting their business started.  They have the idea; we help them begin their entrepreneurial journey.   Creating a business plan is one of the biggest obstacles our clients have.  We assist in writing the plan; we do not write it for the client.  This gives the client a clear understanding of the process and allows for their ownership of the business plan.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start a business in 2011?

Many people feel that the economy is unfavorable to new business development.   That is true for some business ideas that would clearly be affected by customer spending, unemployment, transportation needs, and inflation.  However, we at the IES feel these times offer an opportunity than can prove to be prosperous.  Our client numbers have increased since the overall economy has slowed down.  With careful consideration and planning, a business started in 2011 can be as successful as those started at any other time.

For more information on the IES program, check out their website and their Facebook page