7 Ways To Build Your Skills and Your Business This Summer

It’s HOT. Summer is here. Business is probably a bit slower – or at least, more relaxed. This makes the summer season a great opportunity for business owners like you, and for your employees and/or team members, to hone your skills and develop new ones that you can take into the often busier Fall season.

Summer is a great time to bring yourself and your team up to speed on technology, marketing, operations, leadership and more. Here are my top recommendations for Business Summer School 101.

1. Make computers work for you.
   Learn how you can leverage the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to take your raw data and make it smarter in your business. The Wall Street Journal writes about that here.
2. Great design.
   Your corporate IMAGE is so important to attracting new customers and staff. While I don’t advocate that you become a DESIGNER, I do suggest that you understand the importance of great design, and use your summer vacation to make sure your design is sending the right message to your customers.  Forbes.com has an article on “design thinking” here. Design resources to consider include Canva, 99Designs.com
3. Leadership.
   It’s easy to get “stuck” in the day to day responsibilities of running your business – so much so that sometimes we forget to LEAD. It’s easy to “manage” a business but leading a TEAM to success is a lot different.  A few courses to consider include these from Coursera, Harvard, and the Disney Institute.

Summer is the perfect time to hone your business skills. Here are the top 7 things we think you need to know before the fall chill sets in
4. Communicate better.
   I’ve been a professional speaker for many years and I know that the POWER of communication is essential. Whether you’re in sales, at the cash register in McDonald’s; or leading a 2,000 person company – being able to COMMUNICATE is essential. One of the many organizations that can help you speak better is Toastmasters.
5. Social content marketing.
   The power of using Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other social platforms is amazing. Learn how to generate great content, to build a fan base and drive sales through content. Got to Amazon.com and check out the top 10 books on content marketing – trust me. They’re all good. I’ve read many of them. One book to consider is Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk. You can also reference our posts on how to optimize your Twitter and your LinkedIn profiles.
6. Financial literacy.
   Financial literacy is a challenge for many business owners, especially those who are smaller. However, if you don’t understand finance you won’t be able to effectively grow your business. Check out your local library or community college for courses on financial literacy. One resource to consider is the FDIC.
7. Health.
   If your body is not healthy, you’re not serving your business, your family or community. I’m no health expert, but what I’ve learned over the years is that simple changes in your eating habits (less sugar, more water, more vegetables) and more exercise (cardio and strength) can yield big results. A simple Google or YouTube search can give you lots of tips and insights on fitness exercise, but summer is also a great time to schedule a physical, hire a personal trainer, or take whatever step you need to take in order to feel and perform your best.

For more tips on building your skills and growing your business – or for tips on how to actually enjoy a summer vacation while still keeping tabs on your office – subscribe to the Small Business Solutions blog today!

Share this on Twitter!
Tweet: 7 Ways To Build Your Skills and Your Business This Summer: https://ctt.ac/c80Dv+ via @Xerox