On Thursday, PayAnywhere served up a heaping helping of business tips courtesy of Entrepreneur on the mobile payments company’s popular blog
“Entrepreneur recently collected a few must-read tips for small business owners,” the entry reads. And the tips, they say, “may surprise you.” For example:
Don’t Feel Compelled to Set Goals
“Goals can be detrimental to long-term progress,” says James Clear, an entrepreneur, weightlifter and photographer who writes about how to improve your work and health. Once you reach a goal, that goal is no longer there to motivate you. “When all of your hard work is focused on a particular goal, what is left to push you forward after you achieve it?” Clear asks. Instead, focus on the process (marketing strategies, hiring patterns and other actions you take every day). That way you’ll remain motivated no matter what the numbers look like.
Incorporate Positive Habits Into Your Daily Routine
“Your brain is three times more creative in a positive state,” says Shawn Achor, the author of The Happiness Advantage (Crown Business, 2010) and Before Happiness (Crown Business, 2013). Devote some time each day to a positive habit like meditating and writing down things you’ve accomplished or things for which you’re grateful. Achor found that a test group of workers who engaged in one of these positive habits for a couple of minutes a day over 21 consecutive days reported a higher level of job satisfaction, greater job effectiveness and reduced stress.
Consult Your Staff Before Making a New Hire
You may think you know what’s best for your staff when it comes to adding new people, but you run a good chance of making a mistake if you don’t consult your employees first. If staff members are telling you they need an extra body to help them with the workload, then ask them to specify exactly how a new employee would help, says Mark Feffer, the managing editor of Dice News. “Bringing in a developer may get your existing developer’s nose out of joint if he believes he’s got everything under control,” Feffer says. “While his feelings may or may not change your mind, consulting with all involved will help you identify any challenges you’ll have to address to keep everyone happy and productive.”
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