Welcome back to AirSend’s Book Corner! This week we are covering a fairly recent book published in 2019. The hot-selling knowledge enthrallment that we are covering this week is titled, “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World,” written by David Epstein. In this week’s book corner, we are going to do something a little different. Rather than giving you chapter analysis’ or several key points of the book, we are going to elaborate on Epstein’s argument. Just a little something to provide perspective. Let’s dive in. 

One of our favorite comparisons by far is Tiger Woods vs. Roger Federer. Don’t worry, this comparison actually comes in handy when explaining the overall argument. So, you are probably asking, or probably not, what is the Tiger Woods vs. Roger Federer comparison? According to our analysis, Tiger Woods and Roger Federer represent two ends of a spectrum. Both sharing a commonality, specialization. However, this type of specialization is seen in two different ways. Specialization is defined as the process of concentrating on and becoming an expert in a particular subject or skill.

Alright, enough side talk. The comparison of both athletes lie in the process of their specialization. Since he was a child, Tiger Woods was a prodigy golf player. He had far excelled in his abilities, resulting in his competing at a young age. Roger Federer on the other hand, actually did not start off as a prodigy child. Instead, he played a variety of sports at a young age. Only after did he discover tennis, did he really start honing his skill in the field.  Epstein claims that though it would be nice to live in a world that is like golf or chess, i.e. a world with predicted consequences and results, and defined rules, we wouldn’t be living for one. Secondly, we wouldn’t be in a society where specialization exists. 

The argument Epstein makes is that we, as a society, should stray from a specialist-only view, in order to become better at it. In a world where specialization exists, we need to carry a holistic or broad perspective of our field, rather than having a narrow scope.

Basically having one foot outside the door. Tiger Woods embodies the narrow focus, where, even as a child, all he did was focus on golf. In antithesis, Roger Federer started with a broad perspective on all types of sports and then narrowed his focus to tennis. Now, I know you will most likely argue that one cannot compare a prodigy to a non-prodigy. That is not the argument we are making here.

The argument we are trying to convey is that Tiger Woods=specialized focus and Roger Federer= broad perspective. Of course, not every specialization can carry a broad perspective. For example, Epstein refers to firefighters and scientists. They too cannot carry a broad perspective in their field. What they could do is implement creativity in their field, which is another form is a holistic view. Without creativity, there is no innovation. 

“The more contexts in which something is learned, the more the learner creates abstract models, and the less they rely on any particular example. Learners become better at applying their knowledge to a situation they’ve never seen before, which is the essence of creativity,”- p.77

The Argument

As reiterated before, David Epstein’s argument is that we should have a holistic style of thinking in specialized focus. Especially in a specialized and industrialist society, as he notes in chapter 2. 

“The more constrained and repetitive a challenge, the more likely it will be automated, while great rewards will accrue to those who can take conceptual knowledge from one problem or domain and apply it in an entirely new one” p. 53

If we were to look back on our college days, we would find that all we knew at that time were what was in our field of study. An English Major could list you the top British Literature, but they may not be able to tell you anything related to changing a tire. An organic chemistry major could tell you all there is to know about their related field, but they probably couldn’t tell you how to file taxes. To the author, this is an issue.

The issue isn’t that an English major doesn’t necessarily know how to change a major, or that an organic chemistry student doesn’t know how to file taxes. Even in college, we have a narrow focus on our specialization that we fail to look at a broader perspective. 

Examples

The Architect

Let’s apply this to professions. Take architects for instance. According to d2 architects, an architect should have confidence, adaptability, creativity etc. Now, what if they have the focus of being creative, but do not have the focus on adaptability. For instance, an architect who is easy going and has all the creativity they need to do their job, but they lack the skills to give them range (perspective). A perspective that gives them adaptability. This is a hypothetical example, but one that actually happens in quite a range (pun intended) of fields.

Having a range of perspectives inspires creativity in a world that is heavily specialized. Of course, not all fields can have range, such as science, chess, sports, etc. 

The Real Estate Agent

Let’s take another example: A real estate agent. Real estate agents should have the tenacity, knowledge of the market, and have attention to detail. Let’s say this real estate agent possesses all these qualities.

A client comes in one day, specifying all the qualities they want in their home. The real estate agent understands and picks his/her top three favorite selections. From the three selections, the client chooses none. No biggie, sometimes agents don’t get the house on the first, second, or third try. But let’s say this is the agents sixth time in showing selections. The client doesn’t like any of them. The real estate agent is confused because they used all of their strategies. However, for whatever reason, the client is not happy. Could it be that the real estate agent is focusing too much on what the client wants, and not looking on a broader scale?

Welcome to the TV series, House Hunters. Not everything they show you are true. Perhaps if the real estate agent had a range in perspective they possibly could have found the client’s dream home. Now, not every situation is like this. Half of the time the real estate agent could do everything right, and it is perhaps the client themself who do not carry a range in perspective. The point is, having a narrow focus of what you want/ know does not always lead to success. 

“It’s strange that some of the greatest musicians were self-taught or never learned to read music. I’m not saying one way is the best, but now I get a lot of students from schools that are teaching jazz, and they all sound the same. They don’t seem to find their own voice. I think when you’re self-taught you experiment more, trying to find the same sound in different places, you learn how to solve problems.” 77

So, as you can see, having a specialized focus of something does not always lead to success. However, if we were to take on range, then perhaps, innovation may happen out the wazoo! As the author points out, we should stop living in a wicked learning environment. We need to carry out the task to remind ourselves to have a broad perspective, especially in a specialized field. 

“The more contexts in which something is learned, the more the learner creates abstract models, and the less they rely on any particular example. Learners become better at applying their knowledge to a situation they’ve never seen before, which is the essence of creativity,”- p.77 

AirSend is a versatile digital workspace to share files, send messages, and complete tasks. See how AirSend can help you.

The major steps and questions that real estate agents must consider when working with a seller.
The major steps and questions that real estate agents must consider when working with a seller.

Whether people are upgrading, downsizing, or relocating, one of the first decisions they must make is what to do with their current home, and selling is the most common way to go. Maybe that’s why over five million homes are sold in the U.S. every year as part of the multi-trillion dollar real estate industry — great news for real estate agents who work with sellers.

While helping someone sell their home can seem daunting if you are new and have never gone through the process, with the right approach, you can come out of a sale knowing you helped your client get the best possible price with the least amount of hassle.

This guide summarizes the major steps and questions that real estate agents must consider when working with a seller.

How to ace the real estate hiring process

Source: unDraw

Before you can even begin to help someone sell their home, you must first get hired by acing the hiring process.

Show your value.

Some potential clients might be asking themselves if they even need a real estate agent. While some states require people to have an agent to complete closing paperwork, others do not. That’s why it’s important you show the value that you can bring to the table. Real estate market analysis, pricing, listing, marketing, negotiations, and paperwork — these are all basic services that you provide as a real estate agent. It’s important that you make sure potential clients know this so that they have a reason to hire you.

Some common interview questions…

The sale of a home is often one of the biggest financial transactions a person experiences in life. It’s no wonder people are picky when it comes to choosing a real estate agent. Clients want their agent to be knowledgeable, dedicated, and highly accessible. So make sure this is the image that you portray when you go into that first meeting or phone call.

Below are some common interview questions to help you prepare.

  • How long have you been in real estate?
  • As a seller’s agent, how many homes did you help sell last year ?
  • What marketing strategies do you use to help your clients sell their properties?
  • Can you tell me the average time between listing and accepting an offer for the clients you work for?
  • What are some things I can do to make my home more attractive to buyers?
  • How often will you communicate with me about our progress?
  • What are some ways I can contact you?
  • Will you go to all of the inspections on my home? (The answer should be yes.)
  • What are your fees?
  • Will I be able to terminate our contract if I’m not happy with the results you’re giving me?
  • What are your references? (Always have these prepared.)

How to prepare your seller’s home

Source: unDraw

Should they renovate?

Deciding whether or not to renovate comes down to comparing the cost to the value added. Sellers don’t usually renovate their homes right before selling because they find that the sales price will not fully recoup the cost of renovations. In some cases, though, small renovations can make a large impact on the property’s perceived quality and value. These types of renovations are worthwhile because they pay for themselves.

Some possible interior repairs and renovations…

Buyers decide to buy a home based on emotion as much as logic. Whether or not a property feels right is a common reason an offer is or is not placed. Can the buyer imagine themselves watching football on the couch in your living room? Enjoying a family meal at the dining table?  

If a part of your seller’s home looks outdated or worn, giving it a makeover can add a lot of perceived value. The two most common places for these types of renovations are the kitchen and bathroom. In the kitchen, updating the flooring, cabinets, appliances, counter tops, and lighting can transform your seller’s home from a no to a yes. If they are on a budget, even small changes like newly painted cabinet doors will make a difference. Updating the bathroom in similar, small ways is very helpful especially in older homes. No matter which part of the home they choose to renovate, encourage your seller to choose neutral colors, good lighting, spacious storage, and energy-efficient upgrades, if applicable.

Here is a list of other small interior repairs or renovations for you to suggest:

  • Tighten loose door knobs.
  • Repair leaking toilets and taps.
  • Oil squeaky door hinges and fix screen and closet doors that are not on their tracks.
  • Replace or fix cracked molding or floor tiles.
  • Replace all dead light bulbs.
  • Clean vents and ceiling corners.
  • Repaint walls with a new coat of paint, favoring light, neutral colors.
  • Shampoo or replace their carpet and rugs.
  • Clear out and clean the garage.

Some possible exterior repairs and renovations…

While important, the interior of your seller’s home is not the only aspect that requires consideration. The second a potential buyer parks in their driveway is the moment the first  impression begins, culminating in a decision whether or not to place an offer. Here is a list of items to check to make sure that the exterior of your seller’s home is in top condition.

  • Mend broken fences.
  • Clear out the eaves and gutters.
  • Fix or replace any broken screens, windows, shutters, or storm doors.
  • Re-paint any worn surfaces on the exterior of their home.
  • Fix and paint the patio and deck.
  • Make sure their pool is clean or covered if there is one.
  • Clean and re-paint the front door and consider a fresh Welcome mat.
  • Plant fresh flowers and fix any dry patches in their lawn.

Marie Kondo before listing.

Source: unDraw

Part of boosting a home’s appeal to potential buyers is clearing out unnecessary clutter. Clutter can make a space seem smaller, darker, and even older. On the flip side, clutter-free homes make it easier for potential buyers to envision the home the way that they might occupy it.

If the house seems cluttered, encourage your seller to move their treasured belongings from the house to storage or a friend or family member’s place until you have sold the home.

Set the stage.

Staging may not be necessary, but it doesn’t hurt. Little things like buying some discounted pillows for a splash of brightness or putting fresh flowers on the dining room table provide a nice touch with minimal effort and cost. And all real estate agents know the importance of scent.  Open the doors and windows and light a warm-smelling candle, or bake a pan of cookies. These small details add up to a quickly sold home and satisfied seller.

Successful real estate sales is about listing at the right price.

Source: unDraw

After you have completed the work necessary to get your seller’s home sale ready, it is time to set a price. Pricing a home is the single most important step in determining how quickly the home will sell and how many offers you will receive. This is where your real estate expertise and any persuasion skills will come in handy.

Avoid overpricing.

Convincing your seller to list at the right price is a balancing act between starting too high and idling on the market for months or shooting too low and getting flat out rejected or missing out on potential profits. A CMA, or comparative market analysis, is your best friend here because it not only provides you with necessary data but also gives your seller something solid to refer to.

The most common mistake that sellers make is overpricing, and many of these sellers are working with real estate agents who were not able to convince them to do otherwise. Knowing the market and the worth of your seller’s home and being straightforward with your professional opinion is the best strategy to take in most situations.

A few words on marketing…

Once you and your seller have settled on a price for the property and you have listed their home, it’s time to market.  

As you know, listing your seller’s home is very much like putting a product up for sale on Amazon. It is now available for purchase, but there are other products just like it. Be sure to do the necessary marketing to ensure your seller’s home stands out. This marketing includes posting on social media and blogs, ensuring that listings are filled with attractive images and detailed descriptions, and hosting open house events that will attract potential buyers. This is your job and no one else’s.

Starting a bidding war

Source: unDraw

After you have listed your seller’s home and spread the word through marketing, you will begin to receive offers. A buyer makes his or her offer by using a standard contract. In this contract, the buyer specifies a sale price and conditions such as deposit amount, closing date, and date of possession. The buyer’s agent will provide this to you. You will then review it with your seller, whose options when faced with an offer are to accept, reject or counter. Countering an offer begins the negotiation process.

If you have multiple offers, then you have the advantage in these negotiations. A bidding war is where a seller has multiple offers on the table, more coming in, and is able to leverage the interest to obtain a higher price on the property. You can find yourself in this situation if you are in a seller’s market, if you have a unique and highly desirable property, or if you as a real estate agent have done a very good job.

Are you ready?

Selling your first home can seem daunting if you have only read about the process while studying for your licensing exams. However, with an organized approach and the guidance of your broker, you can come out of a sale knowing you received the best possible price with the least amount of hassle. After reading this guide, you should feel better prepared to undergo the process. Now that you have more of the knowledge you need to help your seller make the most of it, it is time to take that first step and find your first clients.

AirSend is a versatile digital workspace for professionals to share files, send messages, and complete tasks. See how AirSend can help your real estate business here.

Here are three more tips from a modern text — Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion by George J. Thompson — to improve your team management skills.
Here are three more tips from a modern text — Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion by George J. Thompson — to improve your team management skills.

Have you ever had a great manager? Someone who made you extra excited to go to the office and do your best work possible every day.

How did they do that?

Even though management is an essential skill for most business owners, it’s often overlooked as something that needs to be learned and practiced. This can have negative consequences on factors that directly impact the bottom line, including team productivity, employee turnover, and client relations. Thankfully, because it is a skill and not some innate talent — anyone can improve their management capabilities.

Earlier this month, we shared some helpful management tips from the Thirukkural, a 2,000-year old classic Tamil text, for our weekly Book Corner. Here are three more tips from a modern text — Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion by George J. Thompson — to improve your team management skills.

Tip #1: Stay humble.

Source: unDraw

Thompson’s first tip is that no matter how large your business grows, never lose touch with the front line. Even if most of your work becomes planning and directing at a high level, spend at least a few hours per month working in the field.

Taking some time to do the work that your team is doing ensures that you maintain real-time knowledge of what is happening at every level of your business. It is also a way to gain the respect of those who work for you and to show them respect as well.

Tip #2: Forget yourself.

Source: unDraw

The moment you begin managing others, you are no longer one person — you are your team. That means that the success of your team members takes the spotlight over your own individual career success. This echoes the tip from the Thirukkural that your job as a manager is to make sure your people have everything they need to succeed.

The main point: look after your people, and you shall rise.

Tip #3: Punish positively.

Source: unDraw

Everyone makes mistakes, including the people who work for you. How you respond to those mistakes defines who you are as a manager.

For example, it may be tempting to blow up in frustration at an employee who disappears for multiple hour-long breaks everyday without clocking out or letting anyone know. But yelling at them will not make them want to do a better job. In fact, it’d probably have the opposite effect.

In his book, Thompson makes the point that the goal of punishment is positive, so the tone and language should be positive, too. Never show anger when disciplining a team member. Make corrections using disinterested language that shows no bias. The moment you show anger or condescension when you punish is the moment you lose power in the situation and cause permanent harm.

You can express displeasure if you need to. Just don’t do it while you are disciplining. Make it a separate conversation.

Keep practicing.

Management is an essential skill that can make or break your business, so it is worth taking the time to learn, practice, and improve your capabilities. No matter how happy and productive your team is, there is always room for improvement, and bettering your management skills will always be a step in the right direction.

AirSend is a versatile digital workspace for professionals to share files, send messages, and complete tasks. See how AirSend can help you as your business grows here.

Introducing AirSend’s new weekly theme…drum roll please…productivity trends!! Every Friday, we will be releasing a new post on the latest productivity trends that are happening in the world. We figured, instead of us giving you great advice, let everyone else give them to you. For more productivity advice, check out our podcast recommendation. Without further ado, let’s begin with the first current trend. 

Break Time! 

According to a recent study done by AtmanCo, quantity is no longer equivalent to quality. In other words, the more time you work (quantity), the less quality you produce. “Less can be sometimes more,” (Roy, 2019). Based on their study, it is concluded that taking short breaks to move around, stretch, socialize, or even contemplating a screensaver, “can increase concentration and performance at work,” (Roy, 2019).

Zero Waste

Two people recycling

What is Zero Waste you might ask? You didn’t? Well, we asked for you anyway. In the past year, Zero Waste has increased in popularity. Not only does it benefit the environment, but it has also been proven to make those who implement the strategy more productive. According to Mandy Gilbert, founder, and chief executive of Creative Niche, Zero Waste involves, “eradicating your workplace operations so that not one ounce of garbage goes into the landfill,” (2019). By taking on the challenge of Zero Waste, goals and challenges are created that can help bring your team together, i.e. bonding. Gilbert further mentions that setting goals and benchmarks is a great way to keep everyone involved, and therefore more motivated and connected to the cause. 

Maximizing Soft Skills!

Due to the ever-present influence of our new and upcoming generation, soft skills have become one of the top leading productivity trends. “Soft skills are the personal attributes, personality traits, inherent social cues, and communication abilities needed for success on the job,” (Doyle 2020). Essentially soft skills are similar to emotions, the ability to create and innovate, and characterize a persons’ interaction with others. The way soft skills implement further productivity is by allowing expressive creativity, communication, and leadership skills. After all, creativity leads to innovation. For more information on understanding soft and hard skills, check out this article, here.  

Summation

There are plenty of hacks, tricks, methods, and tactics to become more productive. Of course, that’s our job to tell you what the latest trends are, so stick around for next week to see the latest, latest trends. To briefly cover this week’s productivity motto: take breaks, get rid of unconventional work items, and embrace your creativity/soft skills. 

AirSend is a versatile digital workspace to share files, send messages, and complete tasks. See how AirSend can help you.

The top three 2020 health trends that can make it easier for you to achieve your goals.
The top three 2020 health trends that can make it easier for you to achieve your goals.

How are you doing? The end of January is a great time to check-in with yourself on the goals you set at the beginning of the year. Hopefully, we’re all still working hard at our new year resolutions. If not, no worries. This blog post is here to give you that extra push you need to keep going.

Whether your resolutions are to be healthier, increase work performance, improve financial well-being, or a combination of those, these top three 2020 health trends can make it easier for you to achieve your goals. Here are the top current health trends to increase wellness and boost productivity.

Trend #1: Meditation

Source: unDraw

Meditation has been mainstream a while now, and it remains a crowd favorite for everything from stress-relief to anti-aging. Other health benefits of meditation include:

As you can see, many of the benefits you can get from meditation have a clear connection to productivity.

So how do you start?

If you’re tech-savvy, there are meditation and mindfulness apps that can help. Two top-rated ones are Calm and Headspace. There are also many videos and articles with simple step-by-step instructions. Here’s a good one to start with: Go to Video >>>

No matter how you choose to start, the important thing is to do it consistently, even if it’s just three minutes a day.

Trend #2: Healthy Snacks

Source: unDraw

What is your go-to snack in the middle of the afternoon when you just want something to nibble? If your answer is a bag of chips or a candy bar, this next health trend is for you.

It’s easy to overlook what our snacking habits do to our health and work performance, but what you snack on can have a big impact. For example, most chips and candy bars are 150 – 200 calories per serving and high in carbohydrates. Eat a few per day and say goodbye to your fitness goals and hello to carb hangovers — both barriers to a healthy, focused, and productive you.

So what should you have instead?

Here are some alternatives that will satisfy your hunger and keep you healthy and productive:

Like most things in life, the key to healthy snacking is finding a good balance. Don’t be afraid to explore and keep switching it up until you find what works for you.

Trend #3: Fitness Challenges

Source: unDraw

Studies show a positive correlation between physical movement and workplace well-being and productivity. This isn’t surprising considering the benefits of exercise. Exercise improves sleep, mental health, and mood. It also tells your body to release chemicals that enhance brain structure and function.

We all know that we need to work out. The problem is getting ourselves off the couch. If working out feels like a chore or you’ve been having trouble getting started, a fitness challenge might help.

Fitness challenges appeal to our competitiveness. Many also come with the additional benefit of community support and accountability. Here are a few popular ones to consider:

Ready, get set, go!

Being healthy and more successful are the most common new year resolutions, and they go hand-in-hand. Taking steps to improve your mental and physical health will always positively impact productivity.

Wishing you a healthy, productive, and successful 2020!

The AirSend Team

AirSend is a versatile digital workspace for professionals to share files, send messages, and complete tasks. See how AirSend can help you as your business grows here.

Here are three tips on how to manage your team successfully from the Thirukkural.
Here are three tips on how to manage your team successfully from the Thirukkural.

In our previous post about how to hire well, we talked about some tips on hiring the right person that can be learned from the Thirukkural. But putting together a great team is only the first step. Next you need to figure out how to manage your team in a way that is easy for you and effective in getting work done.

Again, the Thirukkural can help.

The Thirukkural is a 2000-year old classic Tamil text written by Thiruvalluvar on every aspect of life, including leadership. It is considered one of the most important texts in Tamil literature and has been admired by many influential people over the years, including Leo Tolstoy and Mahatma Gandhi.

Over 40 translations of the text exist, but many are outdated and difficult to apply to modern times. That’s why we chose the easily relatable modern rendition of the text written by Kannan to use for this post.

Here are three tips on how to manage your team successfully.

Tip #1

அறிந்தாற்றிச் செய்கிற்பாற் கல்லால் வினைதான்
சிறந்தானென் றேவற்பாற் றன்று.

“Assign the task to those who know it, can plan, execute and get it done; and not to the most prominent, or likeable, person.”

– modern rendition of the Thirukkural by Kannan
Source: unDraw

If you read our previous blog post, this tip might sound familiar. Just like with hiring, when it comes to choosing which of your team members should do a task, be sure you select based on ability and not likeability or popularity.

This can be hard to do. We all want to be good to our friends, but at the end of the day, things need to get done. This is especially true in a small business where every resource (time, money, energy) counts. And despite our good intentions, the best person to get those things done may not be the best liked.

Tip #2

வினைக்குரிமை நாடிய பின்றை யவனை
அதற்குரிய னாகச் செயல்.

“After figuring out who should own a task, equip and empower him to get the task done.”

– modern rendition of the Thirukkural by Kannan
Source: unDraw

One you’ve chosen the right person for the job, the next part of your job as their manager is to make sure they have everything they need to succeed.

This could be knowledge, time, or financial resources. Whatever it is, if they don’t have it — provide it or point them in the direction where they can find it. Sometimes this process is called unblocking. A good manager’s job is to remove any roadblocks that are keeping her team from succeeding. The key is to set up the right conditions for excellent work to be created, and then to let it happen.

You don’t want to be totally hands off if its obvious your team member needs help. This could leave them feeling unsupported and lead to bad work. But, you also don’t want to micromanage. This leads us to the third tip.

Tip #3

இதனை யிதனா லிவன்முடிக்கு மென்றாய்ந்
ததனை யவன்கண் விடல்.

“This task – he can do, using these resources : once you reason it out thus, leave the task to him.”

– modern rendition of the Thirukkural by Kannan
Source: unDraw

Don’t micromanage. You hired this person for a reason, and you chose them to do this task for a reason. Once you’ve provided them with all the necessary resources, trust that they will do a good job and leave them to it.

Micromanagement is a killer of team energy. It’s exhausting to deal with and exhausting to do. So don’t do it.

Instead, manage through context rather than control. Context is the information behind all the decisions of an organization. People who have the same responsibilities have the same context. So context isn’t based on individuals, it’s based on function. The stronger context you create for your team, the less control you need to exert to get things done.

Feeling better about team management?

Source: unDraw

Management is a skill, so it takes knowledge and practice to get things right. These ancient, time-tested tips will start you on the right path for both you and your business to succeed.

AirSend is a versatile digital workspace for professionals to share files, send messages, and complete tasks. See how AirSend can help you as your business grows here.

The start of a new year is a great time to review your previous year in business and set a new vision for the coming year.
Source: GIPHY

The start of a new year is a great time to review your previous year in business and set a new vision for the coming year. New year resolutions get a bad rap for being overly positive goals that never actually get done, but it doesn’t have to be that way. The difference between a new year resolution that gets accomplished and one that doesn’t is the goal-setting process. So instead of giving up on new year resolutions entirely, why not try a different way of setting them?

Below is a short but effective visioning process to help you make 2020 your best business year yet.

Step 1: Reflect on the Past

Source: GIPHY

Pull out your journal, laptop, or a piece of paper and take a few minutes to answer these questions. Your answers can be as simple or detailed as you like. Do what feels right to you.

  1. What were some of the high and low points for your business in 2019?
  2. What are some entrepreneurship lessons you learned throughout the year?
  3. Which things do you want to take with you and what do you want to leave behind in 2020?

Step 2: Observe the Present

Source: GIPHY

The next step is to assign a rating to each major area of your business based on your current state. On a scale of 1-10, rate the following:

  • Client / Customer Relations
  • Product / Service Quality
  • Team Collaboration
  • Sales / Marketing
  • Finances
  • Overall State of the Business

Step 3: Envision the Future

Source: GIPHY

After you’ve assessed the present, it’s time to envision the coming year in business and what you want it to be. Write a short story (a few paragraphs) about your ideal year and write it in the present tense as if it’s happening right now.

For example, if getting more clients is something you want, one of your paragraphs might start like this: “I am spending more time networking and am landing more clients per week than 2019.”

Try to take at least fifteen minutes for this part of the exercise and think about what you really want to do. How do you want to feel? What would be fun? What would be a worthy challenge?

Step 4: Set a Theme

Source: GIPHY

In our blog post about start-ups, we talked about the importance of having an overarching vision for your company and product. A vision guides you like the North Star. It keeps you from getting lost in the day-to-day by reminding you of what you’re working towards.

The final step is to give your 2020 a theme. Some examples could be: “2020 – The Year of Expansion and Revenue Growth” or “2020 – The Year of Mindful Habits and Work / Life Balance.”

Write down your theme and pin it somewhere where you will see it everyday.

Ready for an amazing 2020?

At AirSend, we like to give credit where it’s due. This process is something we first discovered on an excellent business coaching Instagram. You can view the original post here. You can also click here for a longer, more personal and detailed version of the process.

We hope that your 2020 is off to a great start and that it only gets better from here!

Happy New Year from The AirSend Team!

AirSend is a versatile digital workspace for professionals to share files, send messages, and complete tasks. See how AirSend can help you as your business grows here.

Meditation is defined as a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state. Meditation has been known to reduce stress, control anxiety, promote emotional health, and more. There are two major styles of meditation:

  • Focused-attention meditation: Concentrates attention on a single object, thought, sound or visualization. It emphasizes ridding your mind of attention and distraction.
  • Open-monitoring meditation: Encourages broadened awareness of all aspects of your environment, train of thought and sense of self. It may include becoming aware of thoughts, feelings or impulses that you might normally try to suppress.

According to Johnson and Kristeller (2005), meditation often is associated with solitary retreat, if not the preoccupation with one’s own concerns. The question they propose is, “how, then, does such a practice promote compassion for others?” Through their research, the authors proposed a two-stage model. “The first stage involves disengagement from usual preoccupation with self‐reinforcing, self‐defeating, or self‐indulgent behaviors and reactions; the second involves a focused engagement with a universal human capacity for altruistic experience, love, and compassion,” (Johnson and Kristeller 2005). Their findings indicate that with meditation comes altruistic behavior and self-compassion, therefore by enforcing a positive and healthier mindset.

This blog post will explain how meditation is a proactive practice by listing its benefits, why it is now becoming the new practice in business, and mention a few successful leaders that have taken up the practice. Ultimately, meditation has now become a practice that has helped leading businesses and leaders find further success. Let’s start with the benefits. 

Meditation is a Stress Reducer

When increased by mental and physical stress, the hormone cortisol, a stress hormone released by the adrenal glands, can produce harmful effects, such as inflammation-promoting chemicals. Many styles of meditation can help reduce stress, such as Mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness meditation is the psychological process of purposely bringing one’s attention to experiences occurring in the present without judgment. 

Enhances Self Awareness

Some forms of meditation, such as self-inquiry meditation, aim to help develop a stronger understanding of the self. Understanding the self, or self-awareness has been found to improve self-esteem, reduce feelings of loneliness, and development of empathy. Essentially, self-inquiry meditation helps with the process of knowing/finding yourself. This style is also a great starting point for making positive changes. 

Meditation Improves Sleep

Meditation helps control or redirect the racing “runaway” thoughts that most people experience each night. Further, mindfulness meditation can help relax the body, releasing the tension, and placing you in a peaceful state. In addition to better sleep quality, meditation also helps with better memory and self-observation. Now that I have listed some benefits, allow me to introduce the effects of meditation in relation to business.

Meditation=Discipline

In addition to the benefits listed above, which are also beneficial to business, I will list more specific-oriented benefits that focus on your most valuable asset: the mind. By not immediately reacting to feelings of pain and pleasure, we toughen our minds and boost our sense of inner peace. Additionally, we broaden our perspective and capability to understand things that stress us out. Unfortunately, most things in our life are out of our control. However, we can control OUR minds. Through patience and persistence, which is also the key to success in terms of business,  meditation teaches discipline through the mind. The effects of discipline allow the mind to stay focus, become resilient, especially for overworked CEOs, and improve long-term mental health.

“I came to meditation in my own life during a very stressful work period that then turned into a very stressful personal period. But it freed me from so much pain. It completely inverted my entire point of view on life. I’ve been meditating consistently….and I’ve seen an exponential impact. In terms of scale, the more you do the greater the reward. More than linear.”

Ray Dalio

Communicate Effectively While Under Stress

An important trait for entrepreneurs, especially while under stress, is to communicate effectively. Mindfulness meditation can alleviate this stress. Instead of avoiding daily issues, such as investor oversight or negotiations, you can confront them with a level head, therefore increasing the rate of success. With mindfulness meditation, you can hone your communication skills, thus ensuring future personal/professional growth and success. 

Awaken a Deeper Creativity

Allowing yourself some time for peace and quiet will allow your mind for some decompression. Why is it important to give our minds some decompression? Silly question, but it is so your mind can refresh itself and allow you to tap into a deeper and creative self. Additionally, giving yourself some quiet time, allows the mind to better manage emotions effectively and productively.

It is hard to be told that failure=success; however, with mindfulness meditation, the idea of failure makes for more of a positive and motivational feeling. Why? Again, it is because you have given your mind to breathe and understand all the things that went wrong, instead of trying to overload yourself with emotion. Meditation allows for better control of emotions and allows a level head, which is what everyone needs when they are in the face of failure. After all, the way you deal with your failure is what defines your next innovative project. 

“You cannot change the past, other people or the outcomes you will face as an entrepreneur. However, the one thing you can do is be in control of yourself. In doing so, you will easily find that certain situations, your lifestyle and ultimately your business will prosper with a new mindset.”

Kumar Arora

Enjoy the ease of productivity with all the benefits of guided meditation.

Successful Leaders

Now, if you are not fully convinced that meditation is the right practice for you, let me introduce to you a few successful leaders that may change your mind.

AirSend helps the average busy bee create a versatile digital workspace to share files, send messages, and complete tasks. See how AirSend can help you.

We’ve all been there before. We experience the high of being productive, and then one day we just stop. We aren’t experiencing a crisis or anything (at least most of us aren’t), but we just experience the feeling of unproductivity. Telling ourselves to be productive isn’t doing anything, therefore we don’t. Well, that all ends now. Here at AirSend, we have come up with a list of disciplines that is guaranteed to keep the productivity train in motion. 

Stop Multitasking.

While the idea of multitasking sounds amazing, it actually slows down the productivity train. Having multiple tabs opens actually increases stress, and reminds us that we have unfinished assignments. Pace yourself! Take your time and create a schedule of what you will accomplish. In essence, learn how to manage your time. It’s not easy, but once you get the hang of time management, productivity becomes much easier.

Take Breaks.

While it may seem like taking scheduled breaks periodically is counterintuitive, it actually improves concentration. If you have a set of tasks ahead of you or a long task, scheduled breaks maintain performance levels. Give your mind a refresher. Taking 15-minute breaks three-five times a day is suggested. Lie down, color, eat, watch your favorite youtube video, knit, exercise, read, do whatever you need to do to relax and refresh yourself. Additionally, having scheduled breaks gives you something to look forward to. 

Add Aesthetics to Your Life.

Research shows that adding pleasing elements to your workspace can increase productivity by up to 15 percent. Add things that will make you smile such as, candles, knick-knacks, pen collection, motivational signs, whatever makes you happy. By having aesthetic, you will feel more inclined to be productive; simply because you have things around you that make you smile. 

Eat a Live Frog!

Mark Twain once said, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” It’s a metaphor, calm down. Don’t actually go hunting for a live frog. The ‘eat the live frog’ technique is actually an immense asset to productivity. Brian Tracy explains this technique. Summed up, your frog is the most crucial task on your to-do list. It is usually the task we tend to save for last or even procrastinate.

Well, according to Tracy, the key to reaching high levels of performance and productivity, is to actually conquer your frog first thing in the morning. “If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first,” (Tracy). In essence, if you have multiple crucial tasks, take on the hardest, or in this case the ugliest, one. “Discipline yourself to begin immediately and then to persist until the task is complete before you go on to something else,” Tracy.

Get Organized and Limit Distractions.

This is a two-in-one double-decker sandwich. Research says people who have messy workspaces tend to be less efficient and more frustrated. Note that being organized is different from having an aesthetic workspace. Aesthetics= happiness; similarly, clutter=sadness. To improve your mental help and work efficiency, retire all things unnecessary from your workspace; and this includes distractions such as cell-phones, iPods (if those still exist), books, lotion, chapstick, chargers, unnecessary tabs open, etc. If it helps, mute your notifications, so you don’t have a waterfall of notifications pouring down your screen. 

Follow these disciplines, and I guarantee your productivity train will be full-speed ahead. 

AirSend is a versatile digital workspace to share files, send messages, and complete tasks. With AirSend, we apply the aesthetics, multitasking, and organization. See how AirSend can help you.

How the AirSend brand came to be - part 2.
How the AirSend brand came to be – part 2.

In our previous post about branding, we talked about some of the lessons we learned along the way to develop and launch a product successfully in four months. As we discussed previously, one of the keys to bootstrapping your way to a successful new product or service launch in less than half a year is having a clear vision and roadmap.

But clarifying your vision and roadmap is only the first part of developing a complete brand.

The next part is deciding how you are going to communicate those aspects of branding (vision, mission, guiding principles, and core values) with the world. Communicating these aspects helps not only your customers but also your team know what you are all about. If done correctly, it lets your customers know what to expect from you and it lets your team know what is expected of them.

Logo and Brand Voice = Face of Your Product

Source: unDraw

With AirSend, we built a contextual workspace that brings all your conversations, files, and to-do lists into one place so that you can get work done better and faster. This workspace will save millions of hours for professionals who work with clients, improve their focus and quality of life, and help them get work done faster and more easily.

So how do we communicate that with the world? There are a lot of different approaches to marketing, but the most basic and necessary step before social media, ads, and press kits is to decide on your logo and brand voice, or the face of your product.

The AirSend Logo

When trying to decide on a logo, think about what you want your logo to convey.

What attributes of the product should it represent? What feelings do you want it to evoke?

We spent weeks thinking about these questions before we chose a dandelion to represent AirSend. We chose the dandelion because it is simple and accessible, yet wondrously capable. Dandelion seeds spread over vast distances quickly and effortlessly through their perfect design.

Like the dandelion, AirSend is about effortless connection. AirSend makes communication a breeze and is built for easy, every-day use to connect people to get work done.

If you get stuck, try listing out the top three best attributes of your product. Then, try thinking of plants, animals, items, or symbols that also have those attributes.

The AirSend Brand Voice

Source: unDraw

The other way that you communicate your brand is through your brand voice. This is the voice you use to write everything from emails to website copy. And since it is often the first impression that customers have of you, it’s important you develop your brand voice wisely.

For AirSend, we wanted to continue with the theme of simplicity and accessibility that we started with our dandelion logo. AirSend is for all professionals and their clients, so we want to make sure that we use simple language free that is of technical jargon.

Show who you are.

There are many other aspects of branding, such as brand colors, typography, visual design, and marketing content, but your logo and voice are the guiding factors when it comes to how you communicate your brand to the world.

At the end of the day, branding is about letting people who you are and what your product is all about. So first, know who you are and what you are offering. Then, announce it to the world.

It’s as simple as that.

To see the complete AirSend branding guide, click here.