Goal setting and implementation are a major component in creating a successful business so I am doing a few posts about goal setting to help you create an actionable plan for your business. Today I will focus on life choices.

You may have taken certain paths or created goals to please someone else in your life. Did you step into a leadership role in the family business because it was expected of you? Did you go to your parent’s alma mater because it was their dream?

Neither of these examples are necessarily bad decisions. If you do not have a strong desire to forge a new path it is fine to let others help guide your goals. But what if the idea of someday running the family business fills you with dread or the field of study you wish to pursue is not offered at your parent’s choice of schools?

Take some time to reflect on why you have made and are currently making decisions. I had a friend who miscarried six times trying to become a mother. The sixth time she carried a boy for more than five months before she miscarried. That final loss was so devastating she had to do some soul searching.

Even though her family urged her to keep trying to have “her own” baby she decided her primary goal was to be a mother and biology would not make her love her child any more or any less. She and her husband adopted a beautiful baby boy from a teen-aged couple and two years later they adopted his baby brother.

Sometimes you have to stay on a path you do not like. You may feel stuck at a job you do not like because your family depends on your paycheck. Take the time to look at what you can change to align with your desires. (Yes, it would be nice to win the lottery and follow your whims for the rest of your life, but this is the real world not Fantasy Island.)

Can you start looking for other employment while you are still working? If education is a barrier can you take flexible-schedule training? If your dream job would step you down the income ladder take a look at your lifestyle to find ways to downsize. Do you need premium cable, a large house or to live in an expensive zip code?

You have to decide what you want for yourself and you should understand there may be consequences and compromises for your loved ones. Getting a degree may mean you miss some of your children’s games or date nights with your spouse. Starting a home-based business may entail hiring a baby-sitter four hours a day so you can focus on your business.

Take the time to look at where you are in your life. If you are happy, celebrate! It is okay to be content with the life you have; the grass is green enough in your own yard. If you are dissatisfied create a plan to improve that part of your life. When it comes to reaching your goals and improving your life, you need to be the leader.

Until next time…

Have a great day,
Susanne

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We are talking about moving as much of your back office to the “cloud” as possible. This is part of a series of posts showcasing reasons why this is a good idea. A few of these reasons will not be as beneficial for brick-and-mortar stores because if your limousine is pelted by softball-sized hail stones only a friend with a body shop that will move your repair to the front of the line will bring the customers in again.

Last month I got to put my money where my mouth is and I tested Microsoft Office online. I was out of state at a business conference for a week.

I am fortunate with my business model and was able to do all my planned work before I left on my trip and I told all my clients I would be out of town so all emergencies were their responsibility (oddly enough there were none). I never checked my email the entire week.

I could have gone the week without a computer if I chose, but I was staying an extra day for ease of travel and wanted to spend the last part of that day entering the contact information of the business cards I had acquired on an excel spreadsheet. The laptop I borrowed for the trip did not have excel on it.

I keep my files “in the cloud”; however all of my programs live on my desktop. I actually have an all-in-one computer so if I travel via automobile I take it with me. I took an airplane and my all in one is too large to come with me so it stayed home.

You can subscribe to the online only version of Microsoft Office for $60 per year or $6 per month. I was testing so I bought one month.

I am one of the reasons software developers have switched to monthly subscriber plans instead of occasional updated releases. I still use Office 2007. I am sure there have been at least three versions since then but I am happy with what I have so I have not even considered upgrading.

Microsoft Office online has the most recent version of excel and there were several tasks that did not work the same way as my version and a couple of buttons I could not find. I did not have the desire to waste time searching for what I wanted so I had to fix all the formatting issues when I got home so I really did not come out ahead.

I cancelled my subscription when I got home because I do not have any current travel plans and I do not feel like learning a new version at this time. As I book appearances next year and start to travel more, I will reconsider Microsoft Office online.

Just because an online system is not a fit for me now does not mean it will never be the best option. Please keep that in mind as you test ways to move your back office online.

I have more reasons to consider the cloud coming in future posts.


Until next time…

Have a great day,
Susanne


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