Written by: Amber Stitt, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
No matter who you are or what kind of lifestyle you lead, planning for disaster should be at the top of your priority list. As we emerge from a global pandemic, we can all appreciate the need for better preparation and steps that keep us firmly in control.
In this blog, I’ve put together some of the essential business strategies that will help you do what you love and follow your passion, regardless of catastrophe. With so many factors in life remaining out of our control, I want to help you focus on what you can plan for and how it can help you succeed.
Fail to prepare, prepare to fail... right? Let’s dive in.
Growth Mindset
Before we talk about the steps you can take to plan for catastrophe, it’s important to figure out your unique situation and how you personally need to do things.
Grant yourself the grace of growth. I find that we are at our best when we are doing what we love in a way that comes completely naturally to us. There are lots of ways you can go about exploring who you are and what works for you.
I recommend initially looking into some acclaimed personality tests such as:
Emotional intelligence 2.0
You might also want to take a look at my essential reading list. This is an extensive collection of all of my favorite books for deeper self-exploration and finding the mechanisms of success that work for you.
5 Business Strategies That Will Help You Do What You Love While Surviving Any Catastrophe
1. Get Money Smart
Saving and budgeting correctly are the best things you can do to protect yourself and your business. Put away funds each month. Save 6-months of rent. Have a budget. Maximize your contributions at work. On top of this, hiring a good tax advisor can go a long way towards making the most of your money.
Set your goals up for success using methods that are geared towards your personality and then work with your partner on their methods as well. Understanding how each other's minds work when it comes to money will bring your plan success.
2. Focus On Transferring Risk
Review your insurance policies. By considering what endorsements you might need and asking your insurance company what is included in your basic policies, you could discover new ways to get better protection; especially if you have had a change in life events. An insurance broker can help you determine what you’re covered for so you don’t get any nasty surprises when the unexpected comes knocking at your door.
There are other ways to transfer risk too, by just getting organized. You may consider keeping an electronic method of storing important documents with your partner and/or other family members for safekeeping. This will allow for easy access to the resources in a time of need and keep clutter at home to a minimum.
3. Level Up Your Marketing And Technology
One of the best strategies you can adopt is to take a global approach to communicating with your audience on an annual basis. Break up your year into quarters or 4 seasonal segments and research your client base in depth. This will give you a clue as to how often you must communicate with them to stay relevant. Consider and develop your email marketing and social media strategies in response to your findings.
Try to plan a full month at a time and have that plan ready 2-weeks in advance of the next month! Batching your time in a day a month can help to be more efficient and to build consistent strategies. With consistency, you can create habits and track progress.
4. Expand Your Network
When I started as a solopreneur, it felt as though I was very much on my own – until I met all of the other entrepreneurs out there! When you work for yourself, building a community with like-minded souls is essential. Support each other and your businesses throughout thick and thin by building a mutually beneficial community.
Not only will you have fun meeting new people, but you can also have a community to rely on when you need help. With a trusted network in place, you can get mentorship but also provide your clients a resource if you are temporarily or permanently unable to help them. Having a safe place for clients to go (in the event of an emergency) will bring you peace of mind and secure ongoing reciprocal relationships with strategic partners.
5. Make Use of Your Talents
The final and most important strategy is to find what you love and commit to developing your talents. There’s no point in trying to please everybody all of the time – it just doesn’t work! You’re guaranteed to end up overwhelmed and disengaged if you try to fix who you are by focusing on what you are not.
If you want to survive, build your business around the passion that drives you, and your success will be much more sustainable throughout any disaster that strikes. Self-awareness will keep you grounded to continue doing what you love and to provide yourself grace when you are facing a tough time. Knowing what makes you thrive in addition to implementing the 4 steps above, will help smooth out stress during an uncertain time. The above-mentioned assessments will help you get there.
So, are you ready to take the necessary steps to catastrophe-proof your life and business? You can get access to my Action Plan and start your journey to a successful future on my website.
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and visit my website for more info!
Amber Stitt, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Amber Stitt is a Financial Consultant, Business Strategist, and Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach who helps individuals and businesses to take action to Catastrophe Proof their lives. She is co-owner at M.D. Disability Quotes and founder of the AmberStitt.com Blog and has been working in the financial industry for 10+ years.
Amber's passion is to help individuals identify how to implement custom planning processes that allow for those to do so within areas where they are naturally talented. She feels that it is everyone's duty to take care of those we love as well as ourselves, while we are able-bodied to. Planning can feel like a daunting project; so many or most, don't take the time to work on their overall game plan. She loves to educate and motivate those that she meets, so they achieve success and resilience with whatever obstacles they may face in life!
