4 Unconventional Business Tips You Haven’t Heard Yet
I’ve been in business since my early twenties, and one of the most interesting business tips I’ve picked up along the way is understanding that business success depends on so much more than just having incredible knowledge and great strategy.
In fact, you can know a ton about business and still fall flat on your face if you don’t take care of this one super important thing.
Want to know what that one crazy important big thing is?
Well you’re in luck, because I’m about to lay it all on you!
Here’s the clincher:
Your business is only as strong as you are.
Your personal brand is only as vibrant as you are in real life.
And that’s what brings me to today’s post.
When you think of online business and blogging, you probably think about writing content and posting to social media and selling online courses.
But there is something much bigger that needs your attention than the latest social media strategies or traffic generating ideas.
And that is YOU.
The reality is that you are the force behind your business. You are the engine driving the whole thing. And just like with the engine in your car, you have to take care of it if you wanted to keep moving you forward.
Ready to get real honest and personal with yourself?
GET OUT OF YOUR CRAPPY RELATIONSHIP
I like jumping in with the hardest things first, can you tell?
Joking aside, I’m going to give it to you straight.
It’s just about impossible to reach your full potential when you’re stuck in a sour relationship that’s holding you back.
Your creativity and positive frame of mind instantly go out the window under stress, and that’s what a bad relationship is- a chronic source of stress and negativity that brings you down rather than pushing you up.
Your business is only as strong as you are.
Not sure if romantic relationships really make that much of a difference to your business? Ask yourself these questions and try to be honest.
- How will you expand and grow your business when you feel stuck in your personal life?
- How will you show up every day with a happy, positive energy when your daily reality is filled with arguments and negativity?
- How will you push past the many obstacles your business will inevitably face without the support of the person closest to you?
Here’s the real answer (and I said I’d be straight with you so here it is):
You can’t.
If you want your business to thrive and bring more joy to your life, you need to show up from a place of passion, love, creativity, and service.
Here’s my advice to you, from one sister to another.
If the ship is sinking and trying to take you with it, walk away with as much love and dignity as you can muster. Then get to work with a new sense of freedom and purpose.
YOUR BUSINESS BRAIN DIES IF YOU DON’T EXERCISE
Have you ever noticed how the top entrepreneurs in the world are almost never out of shape?
It’s not a coincidence.
People who perform at their best know that to do so their muscles need to work and fail, over and over again.
Exercise keeps you sharp, happy, energetic, and on top of your game.
You simply won’t be able to create your best work if the blood hasn’t reached your brain in 3 weeks and your days consist of sitting on your butt staring at a computer screen. (I’ve been there too!)
Here’s my biggest tip for getting exercise into your daily routine.
Don’t do stuff you hate.
If you hate running, don’t try to force yourself to go on runs. If you can’t stand being in a gym, find a way to exercise outside or at home instead.
The key to actually liking exercise and making it not feel like a chore is to find a way that feels fun to you.
Maybe that’s playing a sport, or listening to podcasts on your daily run, or lifting heavy weights at home, or playing frisbee in the park with your friends.
Whatever it is, just find enjoyment in it or don’t do it.
GET BLOOD TESTS DONE EVERY YEAR
While interviewing some of the best athletes in the world, Tim Ferriss noted that professional athletes routinely get blood tests done to make sure their bodies are in top shape.
Tim said he started getting blood tests done every 6 months shortly after those interviews.
I’m a bit of a health junkie anyway, but isn’t that a great idea?!?
As entrepreneurs and as people, our performance is really only as good as our health allows.
I’ve started getting tested every year or so, and finding out my results has been so helpful in feeling better and creating my best life.
I’ll admit I’ve had the most success so far with functional medicine practitioners. In my experience, many conventional MDs won’t bother with nutritional testing unless you are basically at death’s door. (That’s a rant for another time.)
So what are the best of the best doing to build such successful businesses?
I follow a lot of successful entrepreneurs online, and honestly I can’t think of one who doesn’t credit a nutritious diet with some of their success. Tony Robbins, Richard Branson, Tim Ferriss, and Seth Godin come to mind.
They’re often the first to point out that you can’t be at your best if you’re filling your body with junk or hyping yourself up with caffeine and sugar.
Funny enough, despite entrepreneurs being well known for their coffee consumption, many top business leaders actually recommend cutting caffeine completely!
I still drink around a cup a week, but I think they’re on to something. Real energy comes from good rest, good food, good relationships, and a zest for life.
SHAKE UP YOUR ENVIRONMENT ON A REGULAR BASIS
Did you know that when you change your environment, your brain actually builds new neural pathways in order to create new patterns in your brain?
Yep, I’m getting super nerdy on you now!
If you’ve ever wondered why you tend to have “lightbulb moments” when you’re in a new place or you’re doing something you’ve never done before, it’s because of those new patterns being formed.
How cool is THAT?
I consider this to be one of my ultimate business and life hacks.
If my creativity is suffering or I can’t seem to figure out the solution to a problem that is turning in my head over and over, all I have to do is change up my environment and do something different and suddenly the ideas start flowing.
Want to do something different but not sure where to start?
One thing I like to do is check Groupon in the “Things To Do” section. I find so many ideas while looking through all of the fun stuff to do in Seattle. I also frequently check my city’s calendar of events for ways to get out of my work bubble.
What do you have to lose?
Maybe you find a paint night to go to, or you grab a voucher for an afternoon of hot air ballooning. Maybe you could try paddle boarding or hot yoga or a new cooking class!
What kinds of activities haven’t you done in a long time, or ever?
I’ve found that not only is doing new things super fun (and we entrepreneurs need more fun and socialization, let’s be honest!), but it will also help you kill it on the business side.
On a side note, I wish I could write these little excursions off on my taxes. Imagine explaining that to your tax auditor!
WRAPPING UP
Let’s recap.
If you want to be the most happy and successful businesswoman you can be, I have a few unconventional tips for you. And honestly, I wish more people were talking about this stuff. I find that it’s really critical to my health and well-being, which directly affects my work.
So anyway, here are four things you can do to keep yourself in tip top shape-
First, only allow loving and healthy relationships to stay in your life. Keep your environment exciting and stimulating with new activities every month. Exercise and eat well. Then, make time to get blood tests done every year or so to rule out major deficiencies, hormone imbalances, and thyroid problems.
I hope this post helps you move towards your best life and business yet.
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