Category: Exit Map

Major Challenges CEOs Are Facing During The Pandemic

The pandemic of 2020 has brought a lot of stress and anxiety for people all over. People owning and running a business are absolutely no exception to that. Trying to stay afloat in a world where people are told to stay home and don’t go shopping unless absolutely necessary.

It is not easy and causes a lot of challenges for keeping a business going. There are many different things the CEO’s are facing right now during this time. Here are a few of the most common challenges that they are facing throughout this uncertain time.

When Is It Safe To Return To Work?

Many places are needing their employees to return to work to keep the business running. Then they have to think about if it is safe. Trying to keep people healthy and safe is the main priority throughout this whole thing. Places who have the ability to work from home are in a little bit better of a situation, but it is still not exactly the same.

What If Someone Tests Positive?

While it has been said people can return to work, the doors are able to be open, precautions are to be taken, you may still have concerns. As the one in charge, it can be hard to make the decisions that you need to about opening the doors.

What happens if someone tests positive? Do we close again, send everyone home, quarantine? Even if all necessary steps have been adhered to, the reality of someone testing positive is a concern. The leadership team has to be prepared for this scenario and have a plan ready to put into action.

Do What You Can To Stay Positive

In these uncertain times keeping up confidence is not an easy task. Employees have just as much stress as those in charge. They’re concerned with their health and the risk of contracting the virus and bringing it home to their families. The future of their jobs is on their minds and many other stressors.

When the morale of a company is high it has been shown over and over that production is also increased. Likewise, when morale is down, production tends to decrease as well. Being a leader is tough even when things are good, but given the current conditions leadership positions are even harder. The key to surviving the CEO world in these times is to just keep moving forward.

We would love to hear your comments on this article or any of our latest articles.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

How To Spot Leaders You Can Develop

When you are hiring people or looking for someone to do a specific job. Usually, you have an idea in your head that you are looking for in the person. It also greatly depends on what you are needing them to accomplish for you.

If you are looking for someone to be a leader of a project, group of people or a department, there are some things you need to look for in that person. Being a leader is sometimes a challenging task and some are not cut out for it. Here are some things to look for in a person that could mean they are leadership material.

1. Shows Positivity

If you are around someone who is constantly negative and never sees the bright side of things, it is going to tear you down over time.

Even though the tasks of everyday life aren’t always happy and uplifting, being able to find the positive in things in order to keep the team going is important. When someone has leadership qualities, they usually show that they can turn a bad situation into a better one when needed.

2. Can Listen

If the people that they are leading don’t feel heard from them, they aren’t going to stick around. Jobs won’t be accomplished and people will be discouraged. Being able to listen to people and show them that they care about what they are saying shows that they are what it takes to be a great leader. This way the people that they are in charge of and teaching, feel that they can come to them with their concerns and needs.

3. Has Empathy

Having empathy means that you have the ability to hear someone and what they are going through. Being able to connect with people is very important when you are in a leadership position. Dealing with other people can be difficult, emotions to each person can vary greatly.

4. Is Resourceful

This is a big one. If you can’t find a way out of a bad situation, you may not be someone who would be good for a leadership position. They need the ability to find a solution to the problem that is at hand in a timely manner.

5. Possess Confidence

If someone in a leadership position is constantly doubting themself, the people under them aren’t going to be able to get things done. The person needs to be able to stand up and admit fault or figure out a way to fix the problem.

We would love to hear your comments on this article or any of our latest articles.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

Glenn Youngkin: Learning New Skills For A Changing Economy

Right now, things are no less than strange and unknown to everyone. Many have lost their jobs and are looking for new ones. Most have left a job that they have been at for years, to pursue something else for reasons pertaining to the pandemic.

When the economy had to stop services that were given by many places that couldn’t social distance, that put a very large amount of people out of a job. The people may not have other job skills that they can fall back on to get them through. So many had to rely on unemployment to pay their bills and put food on the table. Glenn Youngskin came up with a program that may help this situation.

Learn A Skill or Two

When the economy shut down for Coronavirus, there were hopes of it opening back up shortly. That has not been the case. Many businesses had to shut down completely. People who work doing a specific trade may have trouble finding work due to that is their livelihood.

If your job was shut down due to Covid-19 it’s probably because you work with the public closely. Meaning that if this virus continues to pursue, you may experience many openings and closings throughout this process. That is not a reliable way to make an income.

How The Program Works

With the recent explosion of unemployed individuals and companies needing employees, there needed to be something done. When people search for job opportunities, they may come across many that they don’t have the right qualifications for. Maybe it is still something that interests you though.

This is where this program can help you gain the right skills and certifications you need to apply for that job. With the options that are already available to people through many community colleges, it kind of just all made sense and worked out.

The Benefits

This is an awesome opportunity for the public to take advantage of. When you are unemployed and needing work, sometimes you just don’t have the skills that are needed. With this available for people to take advantage of, they can gain those skills.

Just like any other job interview or hiring process, the job is not guaranteed to you. This just gives you the skills and knowledge you need to get that job. Making it more accessible to you.

We would love to hear your comments on this article or any of our latest articles.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

Who Would You Take On An Island With You?

The question “Who would you want to be stuck on a desert island with?” comes up every now and then and we laugh it off. You don’t really answer it, but do we really think about who we would want to be on an island with? Most of the time it is thought of as a joke, not a question that you really need a response to.

There are several people that come to mind when thinking about this question and each of those people have personalities or skills or characteristics that might be advantageous to the situation. So, let’s think about this in a real-life situation. Who would you pick to be on a desert island with?

1. Would you pick someone with skills to make you comfortable?

Would you take Martha Stewart or Gordon Ramsey so they could cook for you and you could eat well? Or would you find someone that could take the things they found in nature and make you shelter? The things you would need to sustain you, you may want to consider a record-breaking fisherman or hunter.

You need to eat to survive, so having someone who knows how to cook would be very beneficial. The shelter is also a great advantage, whether it be from the sun or the rain. Both of these skills would be assets to being stuck on an island.

2. Would you pick someone you enjoy to just be with?

Maybe, your husband or your wife would be the one you pick. Or even a best friend. Companionship is important and helps us to keep going. Giving us a balanced outlook on life and everything that is going on.

Human interaction is smoothing that is important for the soul. If you were all alone for a long period of time, you would begin to miss having someone to talk to or be with. It can make going through different situations easier when you have someone to do it with you.

3. Would you choose someone with skills to hopefully escape?

Maybe MacGyver would be who you would choose to be on a desert island with you. He would probably come up with some type of contraption that could alert help. That would be a great person to be stuck with, there would most likely be an escape plan made to get you both off of the island.

Who you’d choose to take with you could give you some ideas of the type of person you are.

We would love to hear your comments on this article or any of our latest articles.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

How to Conquer Self-Doubt at Work

Self-doubt is something that can really hinder you in the workplace. Being able to follow through with tasks that you have can be dependent on the amount of confidence you have in yourself. Different scenarios that you face at work can cause you to experience more and more self-doubt. There are many successful and wealthy people out there who struggle with this same problem daily.

If you are someone who is experiencing self-doubt and need some strategies to help you overcome them, there are many things that you can do mentally and physically to help you with these situations. When it comes to doubting yourself, what helps one person may not be the strategy that helps you.

Overcoming Self-Doubt

Just know that you are not alone, there are so numerous people who deal with this same problem. It is all about how you confront it and deal with it. The key is finding the strategies that work for you.

• Don’t Make Excuses

When we doubt ourselves and the abilities that we have, we tend to question everything. We will start to question whether we have done something right if we know what we are talking about, and so many other aspects of doubt. That can give you a nauseous feeling in the pit of your stomach and begins the cycle of self-doubt.

Stop making those excuses and don’t be afraid of your abilities. Know that you are knowledgeable and skilled in your job. You have the ability to accomplish great things and should take advantage of the opportunities that are put in front of you.

• Surround Yourself With Positivity

It is very true that you become what you hear and surround yourself with. If you are constantly around negativity, you will start to show attributes of being negative. That isn’t good for anyone.

Having a positive and uplifting outlook on life and your job is going to help you go so much further. If the people you are around every day don’t bring you the feeling of confidence in yourself, find other people. Positive affirmations are a great proven technique to help you stay positive.

• Be Aware Of What Triggers Your Insecurities

The doubt that you have in yourself can be triggered by many different things. Finding out what those things are can help you overcome them. You shouldn’t avoid them completely, but take the needed time to improve on them. Whether that means studying up on it or doing some research become more educated.

Don’t let self-doubt keep you from doing great things in your professional and personal life.

We would love to hear your comments on this article or any of our latest articles.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

Are You Spending Your Time on What Matters?

When it comes to your time, every last minute is important. You have to prioritize your time and find out what is important to you. There are approximately 24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week, 730 hours in a month, and 8,765 in a year. When you think of it that way, are you spending your time on what really matters?

How To Prioritize Your Time

When you are trying to prioritize your life and plan for the future, it is important to take notes, make lists, and really ponder on what you want. There are some major areas of your life that you should look at to do this. The areas such as:

• Career
• Family
• Health
• Spirituality
• Fun
• Volunteering

These are the areas that make up the many areas of your life. Filling in the amount of time and energy that you want to spend on each one of these will help you to make sure you are doing what matters to you. Life may seem like you have a lot of time, but in reality, it passes quickly.

Why You Should Make Lists To Manage Your Time

It is so easy to get completely engulfed in a project that you are doing and lose track of time. Have you ever started to do something and then looked up at the clock and been in complete shock of how much time has passed? It is so easy to do, and without a plan, it can continue to happen.

Take each section of the areas to reflect on and decide how much time you are spending on each right now. Once you have done that, decide if you are happy with that or not. Do some self-reflecting and find what you want to spend your valuable time doing. Maybe you didn’t spend as much family time as you wanted to, change it.

Make The Necessary Changes

Even when it comes to the workplace, sometimes you have to decide if you are spending your time wisely. Deciding if what you are spending long hours on is what really matters. While the workplace is oftentimes where long hours are spent, this can go for multiple areas of your life.

A good idea is to have a person who you can trust and rely on to hold you accountable. It can be anyone, just someone who will be honest with you. It is easier for someone on the outside looking in to realize it before you do.

We would love to hear your comments on this article or any of our latest articles.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

Be a Better Leader Through Self-Reflection

Are you a leader at your workplace, church, or extracurricular activity that you are involved in? Being a leader is such a wonderful attribute to have. You are the one that people can turn to for help, questions, and direction. Not only do you hold the ability to direct, but you do it compassionately.

Sometimes there are moments that we need to stop and do some self-reflecting about our leadership positions that we are in. Whether it be in the workplace or not, there are always ways that we can stop and make changes. Finding the areas that you can be a better leader takes self-reflection.

What Does It Mean To Be A Leader?

If you are considered a leader, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are the one in charge. It just means that you have the capability of encouraging, directing, and organizing while still being compassionate. For the person who is the boss or in charge of a situation, it can be hard to be all of those things at once.

How To Self-Reflect on Your Leadership Skills

To self-reflect, you have to take some time to think back on the events that have happened or are happening. That doesn’t mean the bad times, it means all times. This is going to help you to realize what worked and what didn’t.

During this time you are able to realize where improvements can be made to better a situation. By looking back, you are able to assess what could have changed, with the knowledge you have now. Over time you become aware of newer and better ways to do things.

How Self-Reflecting Can Help You As A Leader

This is extremely beneficial to someone who is in a leadership position, as it will help them to improve if needed. Make note of some areas of this journey, such as:

• Your Strengths
• Your Weaknesses
• Ways That You Reacted
• Then The Ways You Want To Encourage Others

By reflecting on these areas, you can see if you have been meeting all the areas that you are wanting to. Admitting that you are struggling in an area of your life, doesn’t mean you aren’t doing a good job. You are just admitting that you want to be the best version of you that you can be, and you are willing to make the needed changes to do that.

We would love to hear your comments on this article or any of our latest articles.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

How to Sell in a Pandemic Virtual World

Selling virtually is a very common way that many people buy things and have for many years. People are able to sell more to a wider variety of people because there isn’t a need for in-person interactions. The pandemic of 2020 has made virtual sales skyrocket, not to mention the number of people who are selling virtually now instead of in person.

Many businesses through the pandemic have gone home to work, which means that they are still doing their jobs, but from home. Individuals who have meetings and appointments are learning to use virtual ways to still have these meetings. Using sites like Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime. The only downfall that you have to consider is that technical difficulties can be a pain to deal with. But, this has been the way to keep businesses profitable and still stay socially distanced.

How To Do Virtual Sales

It can be hard to transition from in-person sales to virtual sales. When you are so used to being able to have that personal feeling and face-to-face interaction it can be hard to switch it up to a computer screen. You can be just as successful, you may just need to put in a little more effort.

Advertising online and using social media to market your items is a big part of the ways people would sell online before the pandemic and even now. There are more businesses and people using virtual sales now. It is a way for businesses to still keep up their sales even though they are needing to socially distance themselves from people.

How To Be Successful In Virtual Sales

There are so many different areas of the internet that can be utilized when you are selling virtually. Everything from social media, zoom, skype, and websites. There are ways to get the word out and advertise. It is something that you have to stay on top of and keep running.

Selling virtually can be just as successful if not more than in-person sales. You just have to have the right mindset and put your head in the game. Getting people to try your product or items that you are selling and then telling others about it is one of the best ways to boost online sales. Word of mouth is probably one of the most valuable key motivations for people to try a new item.

We would love to hear your comments on this article or any of our latest articles.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

Improving Memory With A 3 Step Technique

It isn’t any fun when you are having trouble with your memory. Even when your memory is great, but you are having a blank moment and struggling. It can drive you crazy. Especially when you are at the store without a written list, but a list that is in your memory.

When you think about the workplace, it is very important to remember the key components of the business. If your memory is lacking when it comes to important information about work, you can start to have some serious problems arise.  There are some things that you can do to try and boost your memory.

1. Meditation

The brain is a very complex part of the body. It is where so many things within the body occur. It is where your body gets the signals to perform as it should. Take care of your brain and give it what it needs to keep it working at optimum performance.

Meditation is something that is very beneficial to the brain. It can increase blood flow which is so good for brain health. The blood flow that is occurring is going to increase the ability of your memory to retain information.

2. Train Your Brain

There are so many resources that are available for you to help your brain retain more information. Having a problem remembering things can be frustrating and even embarrassing. One way that you can help yourself is by practicing brain games and techniques.

Look for online resources that you can take advantage of and also mental things that you can do to help. When you choose online availability, they are usually a series of repetitive numbers, letters, or patterns to remember. Mentally you can create sayings, stories, or even patterns that you repeat in your head several times to associate things with.

3. Sleep Is A Factor In So Many Things For Your Body

When it comes to the body and the different ailments that we experience, you will be so surprised at how many of them are affected by the amount of sleep that we get. Sleep can benefit you in a tremendous number of ways. Even with our memories.

Running on little sleep causes you to be more forgetful and scattered. You don’t have the same amount of concentration and tolerance. When you are well-rested and awake, you are able to think clearer. This will also give you the ability to retain more information.

We would love to hear your comments on this article or any of our latest articles.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

3 Hiring Tips For Managers in Today’s World

Right now in today’s world, it is extremely hard to be a manager of a business. The worries associates with COVID-19 and all the other craziness going on makes every day challenging. So many people have lost their jobs and are out looking for new ones.

There are so many important things to keep in mind as you continue to bring employees back or starting to hire new ones. With all the uncertainties going on, it can be a lot of stress knowing the right things to do. There are some things you can think about to ease your mind and make it a little easier.

1. Have A Plan

Before you bring in the potential employee, you should already have a plan in place of what is needed and where they are needed. The size of many companies and businesses is needing to be downsized. When you begin to bring employees back, you don’t want to overwhelm things and bring too many back at one time.

Having a written out description of what you want out of the employee will benefit you greatly. Knowing what you can offer the employee in the benefits package will help when interviewing. The potential employee has expectations just as you do.

2. Advertise What You Are Looking For

When you have decided exactly who and what you are looking for in the employee that you hire on, it is time to act on it. In today’s world, you have a multitude of ways that you can advertise a job position being needed. If you want to pay for the advertising, there are companies that can help to find the people looking for jobs.

3. Interview and Hire Your Next Employee

Once you begin to receive resumes, you can start weeding through the ones you want to meet. Deciding on the people that will best fit the position you are needing to fill. Most likely, due to timing, you won’t be able to interview every single person who applies.

It is so easy to preconceive what you want in your mind, trying to get rid of that and see everyone as a blank canvas will help. They may possess the abilities that you didn’t realize you needed. Interviewing people can be intimidating for both parties, and giving them a chance to show you what they can do and offer you may benefit you both.

Do you have some effective hiring tips? Share them today via email. We would appreciate hearing what is working for you.

We would love to hear your comments on this article or any of our latest articles.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.