Things Entrepreneurs Never Do

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Hello, Ken Lear here again!

One of the reasons that entrepreneurs are so successful is that they know what to do to become successful and productive. Even more, they know what not to do:

Second-guess themselves and their employees

Entrepreneurs are confident in themselves and their own abilities. You will never find them second-guessing their decisions or the decisions of those working around them. Entrepreneurs know that one must have confidence in oneself to remain constantly productive.

Refuse to learn new skills

Entrepreneurs thrive because they are on the bleeding edge of their industry. If an entrepreneur refused to learn new skills or be up to date on the new events and techniques in their industry, they would quickly fail. Entrepreneurs understand better than most that professional development is vitally important to career success.

Avoid networking and public speaking opportunities

While they may not always be in the mood to socialize and network, entrepreneurs know how to “turn it on” and put on a pleasant face to take advantage of networking events. Since entrepreneurs are self-made and generally run smaller businesses, they understand that if they aren’t their company’s biggest advocate (and actually go out and advocate for their business), then nobody will be.

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Jealousy and envy

Being self-made, entrepreneurs are very good at embracing what makes them unique, successful, and special. Along with that knowledge is a mindset that doesn’t compare oneself to others, thereby experiencing jealousy or envy at another’s success or achievements. All that matters is their success. We could all benefit from this mindset.

Looking back at tough times

Entrepreneurs experience disappointment and failure like everyone else, but one difference is that they learn from their mistakes instead of dwelling on them. It is important to look back at tough times to learn something but never to beat yourself up about actually having failed.

Making excuses

Entrepreneurs know that when they fail, they shouldn’t make excuses. Learning from your mistakes is more important than finding some reason why you failed and that it wasn’t your fault. Instead, if you figure out how to do things better the next time, your efficiency and quality of work will likely increase.

Let failure stop them

Entrepreneurs understand that everyone fails at some point, and that failure is one part of the equation that includes taking chances and succeeding. You have to put yourself out there to make real innovations.

Multitask

Multitasking can distract your brain and essentially split your mind’s resources between two processes. This is not good! Instead, you should focus on doing one thing really well and devoting all of your energies to completing that task before moving on to something else. This will increase the quality of your work and help keep things from falling through the cracks when you are juggling multiple projects.

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Teambuilding During Meetings: How to Make It a Reality

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Hello, Ken Lear here!

Team building is an important part of creating a thriving work culture and an efficient team. However, it can become difficult to find a time when the entire team is free to participate in teambuilding exercises—so how are you supposed to bond with them? One trick you might try is taking advantage of the times you are all together, such as meetings, to hold teambuilding exercises and get to know your team.

Given that you’ll have a limited amount of time immediately before and after your meetings, your teambuilding activities should be short and effective. Below are a few examples of quick teambuilding exercises that are also really fun!

Two Truths and a Lie

This game allows you to get to know your team better in quite a few ways. The rules are simple: one nominated person will think of three things about themselves, two truthful and one a lie. Then, everyone else must attempt to pick out which of the three items is the lie.

This game is best played when the nominated person chooses ridiculous and unbelievable things for the game. Not only is this game a lot of fun, but it also allows your team to bond with each other and share exciting facts about themselves with the entire team.  

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Board Games

The short periods of time before and after meetings are perfect for playing one or two quick board games with the team. The biggest trick to accomplishing this without it devolving into a distracting exercise is to intelligently choose board games that are fast to play and where teamwork is present.

Keep in mind that there should be a set time limit for games, and that playing them isn’t appropriate before every single meeting. Most importantly, choose a game that can teach your team something that they can use in their work in some way. Some examples might include Checkers, Connect Four, Mancala, and Zombie Dice.

Just Talk!

It sounds obvious, but simply talking with your team can be one of the most effective teambuilding exercises. Try asking your team about their weekend, recent movies they have seen, or their hobbies and interests.

Think of this experience as similar to trying to make a new friend. Remember that you are still in a professional setting, but don’t be afraid to let your guard down and share a few chuckles with your team from time to time.

For additional blogs from entrepreneurship , leadership, and business expert Ken Lear, head over to his personal website Ken-Lear.com.

Regaining Focus After It's Been Lost

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Hi! Ken Lear here.

Some days it’s easy to stay focused at work and get everything done – while other days every little noise or email can be distracting. On the days where you just can’t seem to focus, it’s important to acknowledge the situation and do something about it. It’s better to take a 5-minute break to regroup than to continue working with several other things running through your brain.

Here are 5 steps to help you regain focus at work:

Don’t Force It

When you start to lose focus, don’t force yourself to continue working unless there is a tight deadline. Take ten minutes to go for a walk, eat a snack in the break room, or go sit outside. If there really is no time to step away, take a short breather to read an article or scroll through Facebook, or even just stand up and stretch your legs. It doesn’t have to be a long break, but taking a second away from the computer or current task can work wonders.

For more information about Ken Lear, check out his personal website at http://ken-lear.com/.

Find Your Distraction

In order to stop being distracted, you need to figure out why you are distracted in the first place. Are you thirty, hungry, tired, cold? Is something at home on your mind all day? Once the distraction is nailed down, it will be easier to figure out how to get past it.

Make a List

What is the most important thing to do today? So many employees just go from task to task, which can end up being very distracting and inefficient. Make a list of all the tasks that need to get done in order of importance, and do it in that order – don’t switch between tasks. It’s easier to stay less distracted if there aren’t a million little projects on your mind all at once.

Get Rid of Clutter

Is your office dirty or your desk covered with papers? It's time to clean. A messy workplace is distracting and (sometimes) gross.

Decorate

If your workplace is generic and plain, then it might be time to decorate or rearrange. Hang up a picture of friends or family or move stuff around – a “new” place can make your desk a bit more exciting and inviting to work in.

Getting Back on Track after a Bad Start to the Week

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Hi, I'm Ken Lear, an entrepreneurship, leadership, and business expert.

There are very few genuine fans of Mondays. This is the start of the week, and even when we want to have a good start, it can go down hill fast. From out-of-the-blue appointments, or missing your alarm, the week can get to an awful start really fast. For all those times that Monday doesn’t work out as you had hoped, there’s still time to fix it. Here are some steps to take to still capitalize on a full week of productivity.

1. Identify Reasons Why

To really be able to start fixing a bad start to the week, it’s important to examine why it got to a bad start in the first place. Did something come up that you didn’t expect, or was it your own fault? You must confront these things stopping you from having a productive week if you don’t want to fall victim to them again.

2. Start the Day Earlier

The more time you have in the day, the more time you have to be productive. Make sure to get a good night’s sleep the night before, and wake up earlier that usual. Setting this tone will give you more time to relax, and you won’t feel rushed to get everything done.

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3. Practice Being Health

When we’re healthy, we are much more content with how the day has been. Try and eat as well as you can; skip the desert or the morning doughnut. We all feel better after a work out too. Working out not only keeps you be healthy, but the increase in endorphins will make you happier.

4. Practice Discipline

Being able to say no to things is critical if you truly want to be productive.. There may be times where you’ll have to turn down plans of fun to get some work done. Practicing good discipline is required to accomplish anything. The stricter you are with yourself, the more discipline you will have.

5. Plan for Next Week

Take the necessary steps to ensure you never will start another week unprepared. Planning ahead can help in many different ways, and will act toward your benefit. Being prepared with a game plan for the future means you will be ready for anything.

Time Management Tips

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Hi, I'm Ken Lear.

Managing your time at work and in your home life is essential. Managing your time is all about “working smarter, not harder.” Putting in a 10-hour day doesn’t mean you necessarily were productive. Could it have been done in 8 hours? Managing time isn’t about doing as many tasks as possible. It’s about simplifying how you work, doing things faster, and feeling less stressed.

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Keep Track of Your Tasks

Whether this be on your phone, a calendar, or a checklist – make sure these are documented somewhere. If not, there is always the chance you will forget one or two things on your list.

Complete the Most Important Tasks First

When you start working, identify a couple of tasks that have to be done that day. Instead of putting them off till later, work on them now. You never know what troubles may come up.

Learn to Say “No” When Needed

Sometimes we feel obligated to say yes to a task our supervisor gives us, but if you simply just don’t have the time, say “no.” You should be only be taking on new commitments that you know you have time.

The Ken Lear Leadership SlideShare has a great presentation on entrepreneurship. Read it today!

Focus on the Task at Hand

If your email keeps popping up (and it’s not important) – ignore it. Every time you check a new email or go on Facebook, you are losing focus on the task at hand. Put your phone away, log out of Facebook, and turn off your music if that distracts you.

Assign Time Limits on Projects

Instead of working on a project till it’s done (unless of course there is a deadline) give yourself a time limit. There is a good chance that after 2-3 hours of working on the same project, you’ll need a short break to recharge.

Target to be Early

If a task is due at 2:00, try and be done before 1:55. There is a good chance something will come up that will make things take a bit longer. For appointments, strive to be early. For your deadlines, submit them earlier than required.

Set Reminders

If you have a meeting, set a calendar reminder for 15 minuets beforehand. If you have a project due in a couple of weeks, set a reminder for a few days before.

Finding a Job You Love

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Ken Lear here.

A famous Confucius quote reads, “Choose a job you’ll love and you’ll never have to work another day.” This is something that most people believe in, but don’t take the steps to make it a reality. No job is worth it if you’re not happy or satisfied with the work. It can be difficult to find and lock down a job that you will love, but it is also very worth the effort. To find that job, you must be able to have a sense of where you want to be headed in the future. Finding meaning in a career is of utmost importance to a happy life. Here are three things you can do today to find a job that you can have a real passion for:

For more business advice and information about Ken Lear, check out his personal website.

Find a Company with Similar Values

It’s tough to love your job when the company you work for does not practice the same values as you do. From environmental awareness to employee appreciation, finding a company that does the things you think a company should is significant. This is imperative: no one can be happy with a job when they are aware they heavily disagree on the values the company presents.

Look to the Future

When taking a new job, think five years down the line. Is this a job you will be satisfied with? Will it keep you motivated? Will it help you get where you need to get?  Looking down the line with your job is a great way to see if it will be worth your time. If this job is not going to get you where you need (and want) to go, you may have to look elsewhere.

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Talk with People Who've Figure It Out

It doesn’t hurt to ask those who love their jobs how they were able to do it. Most will tell you that they figured out what they were passionate about and pursued it. This is the underlining fate that you must understand to get a job you love: passion will always triumph money or power. Talking with others will allow you to see that its possible to find a job you love. You just need to put in the effort and time to find out what your passions truly are.

Creating the Perfect Resume

Ken Lear's Resume Workshop

Hi, I'm Ken Lear, an expert in all things business, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

Crafting a perfect resume is an essential skill that any job seeker should continually be improving upon. Like you, your resume is a living and breathing document that will evolve and follow you throughout your career. As such it is important to revisit it and revise it to reflect your life’s trajectory.

Here are a few tips and techniques designed to help you along the way:

·               Create Your Own Template: You can use the pre-made templates found in word processing programs or online to serve as a foundation for your formatting but it’s often best to develop your own template that is appropriate for the industry you are applying for.

·               Don’t Include Irrelevant Information: Keep your list of hobbies and references out of the resume because they simply waste valuable space. You should locate your education history at the bottom of the page and only include the relevant details (organization, degree, and graduation year).

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·               Experience Should Determine Page Length: Your resume should only contain professional experience that you are proud of. Generally speaking it should remain at one page for ease of use but if you’ve acquired more than 10 years of experience in your field, adding a second page is perfectly reasonable.

·               Format the Page to Organize Your Data: By breaking up blocks of text with bolded and italicized words you can emphasize the inherent strengths found within your resume. Additionally, using bulleted lists to organize your key responsibilities and accomplishments will help improve the readability of the page.

·               Have A Creative Objective or None At All: There is some debate over whether or not to include an Objective on your resume. If you include one it can pigeon hole you into a narrow focus, if you don’t it can leave your resume feeling directionless. Ideally your Objective should emulate your elevator pitch by remaining clear and concise.

·               Highlight Your Name & Contact Info: Many resumes push the applicants contact info to the bottom or to the side. It should be front and center (so to speak) and aligned at the top of the page in bold.

·               Quantify Your Accomplishments: Whenever possible, stay clear of subjective and abstract language – instead opt to include real and manageable numbers that give your experience grounding within the company.

·               Tailor Your Resume for the Position: By molding your resume to reflect what the employer is looking for you maximize the potential of a single sheet of paper. Research the company to identify key words, phrases, and the company’s overarching philosophy. You should also research the position itself to determine which work experience you should include.

·               White Space is Key: If you’re resume contains too much information it can quickly overwhelm the tired recruiter that is reading it alongside a hundred others. By using negative space to draw the eye you can highlight the key information on the page in an intuitive manner.

Remember that your resume should be designed to get you the interview. It is there that you can elaborate on the information that you left out. By having an up to date resume on file at all times you will be more equipped to handle opportunity or hardship when it happens. In these moments it will provide you with a sense of professionalism and also relief.

Good luck!

Using the Law of Attraction to Get What You Want

I’m Ken Lear, entrepreneur and leadership expert, and I have implemented the Law of Attraction throughout my professional career. Business is created through relationships. Utilizing the Law of Attraction can bring new connections that can turn into success. By focusing on positive thoughts, we can bring positivity to our lives. The same can be used for negativity; it comes when we tend to think negatively.  By implementing the Law of Attraction into what we want professionally, more opportunities for new business can be created.

The Law of Attraction’s concept is that you draw things through your thoughts, whether your mindset is positive or negative. These opportunities can be meeting new prospects by believing you can, or losing a client because you believe you’ve been struggling lately. A danger of succeeding with the Law of Attraction however can create an ego that makes you think anything can happen if you want it to. If you try to present yourself as something you are not, the fear of getting caught will affect your thoughts. To succeed in practicing this well, we need to keep our ego in check.

In order to survive in any type of business setting, you must thoroughly enjoy what you do. By believing in your business and being passionate about it, you can create some clarity, focus, and enthusiasm. It can keep you going when times get tough, and also help to spark solutions to any problems that may arise. Your passion will not only inspire you, but your colleagues and customers as well.

Look at successful people who dreamt big when everyone said they couldn’t succeed. When those people finally found success, others quickly accepted that their achievement was normal, and the accomplishment they once dreamt of now existed.

To gain success, we need to feel success. Our thoughts create our experience, and only do we find success if we can feel victory as well. Understanding that you can’t do it alone will keep your thoughts positive as well. Rely on coworkers, family, and friends. They can help to build the positive thoughts to create positive actions.

Succeeding in our professional lives takes a lot of hard work. Not everyone will find it, but the ones that do most definitely practiced the Law of Attraction. If you can see yourself being successful, and make yourself believe it is possible, you can reach it. Think about all of the success you have achieved to get to where you are now, and this will allow you to focuses forwardly on the future.

For more blog posts by Ken Lear, check out http://www.ken-lear.com/