Ten Tips For Staying Connected While Working Alone

Ten Tips for Staying Connected

Many of my business clients tell me that what they missed most when they started their businesses was the camaraderie of an office setting. Small businesses often start with the owner as the only employee. To combat this sense of isolation here are some suggestions that allow you to interact with people and improve your business at the same time.

1. Strategic partnerships work well for marketing your product or service. An added benefit is that you work with someone else. Consider collaborating on a project or product with a partner and hold face to face meetings.

2. Another marketing strategy is to join networking organizations. They can help you to get referrals but they also are another way to feel the connection to others. If you are missing the closer type relationships that an office provides, develop on-going relationships with some of the people with whom you network.

3. Sometimes all that is needed is to be with people not necessarily interacting with them. A coffee shop might fit the bill occasionally. Take your reading material or computer with you so you can work.

4. Have lunch with a friend or colleague. You need to eat anyway. Just being with a friend in a relaxed setting can energize you and make you less lonely. If you have an issue to discuss with a colleague, suggest lunch instead of a long telephone conversation. You'll both enjoy it more and if you stick to an agenda you'll accomplish your task too.

5. What kind of group would help you and your business the most? It could be a leads group, an R&D team or an advisory board. All give you opportunities to connect. Create a group that serves your business and keeps you engaged and connected.

6. Enjoy a concert or sports activity with a client or customer you like. It is a way to pleasantly stay connected with people you find interesting.

7. Exercise is important to your physical well-being. Find a walking or exercise buddy and take a needed break during the day. Even just a half hour walk with a friend will brighten your spirits and recharge you.

8. Become involved in recreational activities in your area. Bring business cards to your book club, your child's Little League Game or a Golf Tournament. Meet potential customers, relax and keep connected.

9. Develop an ongoing relationship with a mentor or coach. Talk to or meet with your coach or mentor weekly.

10. Take a course at a local college or training center. The course or training could be work related or just something of interest.

Some of the material in this list came from an article "The Power of Connection" by Karen Kahn Wilson found in Fempreneur Magazine March/April 2004 issue. Some of it is my own observation of what I need to do to stay connected. As I review the tasks I have for the up coming week. I make sure I have some that will get me interacting with others.

Alvah Parker is a Business and Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine. Parker works with high potential professionals who want have a career that is fun, fulfilling and profitable. Her clients are managers, business owners, sole practioners, attorneys and people in transition. Alvah is found on the web at http://www.asparker.com. She may also be reached at 781-598-0388.

---

Ten Tips for Effective Meetings

Here are ten things that you can do to hold... Read More

Seven Ways to Get the Most Out of the Next Training You Attend

Sometime soon you will be attending some training. It may... Read More

Start Your Own Website in 10 Easy Steps

If you're a beginner, starting a website doesn't have to... Read More

Ten Tips for Cross Cultural Communication

Here are some simple tips to help you improve your... Read More

10 Things To Ask Your Accountant

This is a quick checklist of a few things that... Read More

Famous Business Strategies

Either simply a looker-on or a player in the world... Read More

Event Planning: Seven Best Practices Successful Planners Use

Do you plan events for the corporate world like product... Read More

10 Ways to Develop A Free Agent Attitude

Whether you are self employed or you work for someone... Read More

Making Money over the Internet : 5 Cool Tips

The Internet is a fast growing medium, trancending the personal... Read More

Top 10 Ways to Turn Clients Into Raving Fans

Do you find great joy in being a coach? If... Read More

Ten Ways To Sell Your Ideas To Anyone

You have a great idea you know is a winner.... Read More

The Top Ten Reasons to Hire a Coach

1. You have a big goal and you want someone... Read More

Increase Business Profits - Ten Ways

How do you increase business profits? Answer the following questions... Read More

7 Money Saving Tips to Decrease Home Business Expenses

We all know that running a home business is highly... Read More

The Ten Best Kept Secrets For Protecting Your Business Property Against Theft

1. Locks and Padlocks ? Locks on all outside entrances... Read More

Increase Exposure, and Profits With Powerful Memorable Business Cards Using These Ten Strategies

Your business card is a valuable piece of real estate... Read More

Top Ten Ways to Manage Interruptions

So many people I worked with said they got more... Read More

10 Steps for Business Owners to Take if They Are a Victim of Identity Theft

Be aware that 40 million crooks obtained credit card numbers... Read More

Tips to Starting your Own Busniess

The 9-to-5 grind can make you feel like a just... Read More

Private Practice Success: 10 Essentials for Starting a Practice

As a counselor, therapist or healing professional (massage therapist, physiotherapist,... Read More

How To Make $20.00 For Every $1.00 Invested

It has been said you can lift the Rock... Read More

How to Apply the 12 Steps for Managment Conflict and Resolution

1. Admit there is a problem.The very first step in... Read More

10 Incredibly important business basics EVERYONE needs to know BEFORE they start a business!

In my career, I have had a total of 3... Read More

Ten Tips on Delegating Work

One way to manage your time more effectively is to... Read More

Business Meeting Etiquette

Business etiquette is essentially about building relationships with colleagues, clients... Read More

Top 7 Ways to Profit from Foreign Trade

Here are seven excellent ways to earn income from international... Read More

Ten Reasons to Implement Choice Theory in Your Organization

What is Choice Theory (CT)? CT is a theory of... Read More

Top 10 Stumbling Blocks that Limit Business Growth

Never in history have more entrepreneurs launched more new businesses!... Read More

Brainstorming! The Key To Wealth

Advertising executive Alex F. Osborne first coined the word "brainstorming"... Read More

Performance-Stress-Motivation: 7 Sanity Saving Business Boundaries

The lack of strong boundaries is one of the chief... Read More

Ten Tips For Starting A New Job

1. Get to know people. First meet those people in... Read More

Seven Ways to Improve Your Results with Follow-up

What follows is a bold statement, but sometimes it takes... Read More

The 7 Keys to Business Success

Do you run a business that seems to run you?... Read More