Thirty One Days of Blogging - Day 9
News Flash: The Optimistic BA LinkedIn Page has reached 400 followers! Please encourage all your friends to follow my business page.
Today I want to talk about shiny objects! I am sure many of you have heard the term ADDASO! That stands for Attention Deficit Disorder Ah Shiny Object! As most BAs know, you obtain a Ph.D. in multi-tasking as a BA, and some of us get pretty good at it. I have always been focused and didn’t chase shiny objects. I feel that during my first year in my own business that I have been chasing shiny objects. This was part of trying out tools, applications, ads and see what worked. I created my website through WordPress, which was the biggest thing that didn’t work. I am not a coder/development type of person. In July, my coach introduced me to the people at Biaka Works. From that meeting, The Optimistic BA was born. They are very talented and have become an essential piece of “Team Alter.”
I didn’t have a detailed business or financial plan, but it allowed me to be more open to changes. I had not anticipated starting a business during a pandemic. That has turned out to be a good thing. Having a detailed plan would not have had any provisions for a pandemic. I bought tools, tried them out, and sometimes promptly stopped my subscriptions. After trying to utilize obscure virtual tools, I caved and purchased Zoom. My best purchases were Doodly, Canva, Zoom, and the free version of Calendly. I also became an expert at requesting complimentary information from many companies and then unsubscribing from any future emails. Everyone wanted me to attend a class, hire them, or join a webinar.
I have been quite a bit of networking, especially on LinkedIn. This has been a good thing for the most part, but there are Bitcoin and Forex traders. I have a BA in Economics, and I don’t pretend to understand those things. Add in all the men who want to date you. I have met some key people on LinkedIn that have helped me out in a big way. It is not easy having to be out on LinkedIn or other Social Media for several hours a week. It is just as necessary as writing presentations for conferences. For 2021 I do have some Business Goals in mind, and I will also do a budget and financial plan. I am just finishing up designing the training packages that I will offer in my business. Team Biaka is working on the last pieces of my website.
As for me, I need to quit chasing shiny objects. I have pushed myself a bit too hard. I need to make sure I take at least one day a week off. I also need to step away from my office more often every day. My husband started working at home right after I retired and will be doing it permanently. This arrangement has worked out better than anyone would have predicted. One of my friends checks up on Terry’s safety every so often. Most of my friends have decided I have failed at retirement, but I always planned to start my business. Never stop learning because once you do that, you stop living. Don’t waste a second as you never get wasted time back. Always keep your glass at least half full as you enjoy life.
