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Use this checklist to ensure that your website portrays your brand in the best possible light. Do you have professional photographs of you, your team, and services on your website? You want to use high-quality photos. This demonstrates that you take your business seriously. Blurry, too-small, poorly cropped images indicate your attention to detail and work ethic. Do you have a professionally designed logo? A professionally designed logo helps to capture what your brand is all about. It’s also a way of representing the quality of your brand. It is an ambassador. It shows that you are taking yourself seriously. If you need help designing a logo, Neon Lizard Creative is a nationally recognized specialist that is as good as the "big dog" agencies in the cities but significantly less expensive. A great brand image isn't cheap! Budget $2500+ for a true professional. Make sure you OWN the art/files and receive all the subfiles and governing style guide. If someone hands you a jpg and calls it done, they are NOT professionals. Hire a team who can build brand equity and presence rather than hand you a piece of art and walk away. Your brand is more important than that. Is Your Unique Service Proposition clear and visible? The magic of marketing is in the messaging. Remember, your Unique Service Proposition (USP) describes precisely what you do and how you help people in a way that evokes emotion and builds desire. Your USP should be big, bold, and immediately visible when someone comes to your website. It should be above the fold and be front and center. Think of it like a headline in a newspaper. Don’t make visitors work to figure out precisely what it is that you do. Do you have several testimonials on your website? Testimonials function as social proof. They prove that you really can do what you say. You can effectively solve people’s problems and help them in significant ways. At a minimum, you should feature several critical testimonials on your site. Use your best ones - the ones where you got the biggest results for a client. Video testimonials are even better; take the time to talk to your clients on video to get real feedback in their voice. It's a game-changer. Do you have a clear call to action? What is it that you want visitors to your site to do? Do you want them to sign up for your email list? Attend a webinar? Follow you on social media? Sign up for a free consultation. Whatever it is, ensure that what you want them to do is abundantly clear. You may even want to use a pop-up window to get their attention. Most people will act on what they are told to do, so tell them! Do you have a compelling “About” page? Your “About” page is both where you tell your story and reiterate your Unique Service Proposition. It’s a place for you to talk about why you do what you do. Why are you so passionate about helping people? Use your “About” page to explain how you arrived at where you currently are and your mission. Be authentic, not sales, and explain the values you live by. Do you have a clear “Services” page? Your services page should clearly list all the different services that you offer, as well as what’s included with each service. Be as detailed as possible in listing what’s included in your services. You may want to allow clients to sign up for a free strategy or consultation through your services page. Do you give away free resources? Ideally, you should give away at least some form of free resource on your website. Why? Because you want to give value to everyone who visits your site. Demonstrate expertise from the very first time someone encounters you. What sorts of free resources work well? Blog posts (imagine that!) Podcasts / Audio interviews eBooks / Audible Books Videos Email courses Webinars Do you have clearly marked links to all your social media profiles? Your website is a great way to get more people to follow you on social media. If a visitor likes what they see on your site, there’s a good chance that they’ll want to follow you across your social media platforms. Include links to all your social media profiles in prominent places. Linktr.ee is a great resource and way to put one link on emails, etc., and someone can visit your digital media. Do you have a way for visitors to contact you? Obviously, you want visitors to your website to be able to contact you. If you want to convert visitors into clients, it’s crucial to have a clear and compelling contact page. On your contact page, you may want to give visitors different options for why they’re contacting you. For example, general requests, working together, speaking requests, media interviews, etc. Would you like a partner to work with you on your design and marketing efforts? Give us a call for a FREE brand audit! We'd love to help! Linktr.ee/neonlizardcreative ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168 If you would like to guest post on NLC's blog, let us know! We'd love to share your knowledge with our business community.

Another thoughtful guest post! Colleen Moselle | President + COO Work at Coco co-working spaces throughout the Twin Cities. Throughout my career journey, I have worked at and with companies of all sizes. Regardless of my given work situation, I always found myself craving an escape from my current “office.” Whether it was for a focus day or just to shift my energy, I found myself migrating to local coffee shops. There was something about the “buzz” of a coffee shop that elevated my sense of inspiration and happiness. People were choosing to be there to relax, engage, connect, re-energize. I love coffee but even more than the amazing smells and soul-warming drinks, I found myself inspired by the environment and energy. The first time I walked into a coworking space in 2012, I felt that coffee shop buzz on steroids. The energy, freedom, movement, and inspiration were palpable. Inside of one space, I could meet and connect with architects, health professionals, software engineers, chiropractors, construction professionals, consultants, teachers, and countless others all pursuing their dreams. I continued to be drawn back to the spaces for meetings and days when I needed extra inspiration, connection, or a change of scenery. In 2019, when it became possible for me to help lead a company that was a pioneer in this space in Minneapolis, (Work at Coco), I jumped at the opportunity to be a more integral part of the community and spaces I had grown to love so much. The entrepreneurial spirit that flows through the halls of flexible workspaces, as well as the community of professionals who found and operate in them is uplifting and inspiring. Most often the question I hear is, “how can I help you?” Working crazy hours and going to the ends of all things we thought possible, this community is never too busy to stop and help a fellow professional. One of our members summed it up best when he said, Have you ever heard "you're the average of the five people you spend the most time with?" Well, I would go a step further and say you're also the average of the five biggest things you do every day. A shared workplace is like Shark Tank, except everyone is rooting for you to win... It's paid dividends on my personal and professional life over and over. It's not an expense, it's an investment in yourself and I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you are looking for a way to connect with a friend, your team or shift your inspiration and energy I would strongly encourage you to check out a shared workspace. There is a community of amazing people waiting to welcome you and lift you up. If you happen to be in the Minneapolis area, I would LOVE to welcome you to our spaces and community at Work at Coco. We have flexible membership options to meet you where you are in a space that can be personalized for you. We are here every day to listen, engage, support and help you be the most successful version of yourself. We have pretty great coffee, too! Colleen Moselle | President + COO (formerly COCO) Mobile: 651-261-3099 LinkedIn: colleen-moselle https://workatcoco.com/ If you would like to guest post on our popular blog, please contact me to get you on the schedule! ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168

Are you missing valuable opportunities because your small business can’t afford a fancy PR firm? What's the difference between marketing and PR anyway? Organizations of any size can benefit from public relations, and there are many techniques that you can use on your own. In fact, you probably engage in PR as you go about your customer service and other daily tasks. Becoming more intentional could make you more successful in communicating strategically, building a positive reputation, and increasing your sales. Get ready for your adoring fans! PR may require time and effort, but the payoff is significant and it’s usually less expensive than paid advertising and regarded more favorably. See what it can do for your business. General Principles for Public Relations for Small Businesses Public relations is how you shape your image and build relationships between your business and the public. That usually includes customers, employers, and investors, as well as other audiences that matter to you. Keep these relationship-building strategies in mind: 1. Tell your story. Put a friendly human face on your business. Demonstrate what makes you special and unique. Forge an emotional connection by being sincere and authentic. Ask your loyal customers what they love about you. Your message will sound even more persuasive coming from them. 2. Stay informed. Keep up with what’s going on in your field. Network with others, attend conferences, and read industry publications and local news. 3. Be helpful. PR is more successful when you concentrate on what you can do for others. Try to give customers and reporters what they need instead of thinking only about promoting your own interests. 4. Do your homework. Journalists and social media influencers receive mountains of pitches and requests. Show them that you respect their time. Research will help you to identify their needs and customize your approach. 5. Follow through. Lasting relationships depend on trust. Be prepared to deliver what you promise and ensure that you have data to support your claims. 6. Spot trends. You can learn from PR experts even if you don’t have the budget to hire them. Pay attention to what other businesses are doing and adapt some of their initiatives to reach your own goals. Specific Strategies for Public Relations for Small Businesses You have plenty of options, so find the mix that works for your business. You may get your greatest return from traditional media, digital platforms, or live interactions. Try these techniques: 1. Take advantage of media coverage. Greater visibility is one of the rewards of PR, especially if you receive favorable treatment from respected sources. Pitch your story and do interviews. If you’re skillful and persistent, reporters may start calling you. 2. Share your expertise. Put your knowledge and experience to work. In addition to providing content for news stories, you can publish your own materials, book speaking engagements, and participate in online forums. 3. Monitor your mentions. Keep track of what others are saying about you. Sign up for Google Alerts or other notification services. Respond promptly to criticism and thank others for their feedback. 4. Give back. Support your local community and worthy causes. Donate money and encourage your employees to volunteer. Sponsor a fun run or clean up a beach for Earth Day. 5. Create resources. Develop an accessible archive of high-quality content. That way, you’ll be prepared to make a positive impression when potential customers are searching for information or reporters need quick answers while you’re on vacation. 6. Consider outsourcing. While there are many things you can handle yourself, you may want to explore professional PR services too. The investment could be worthwhile if you’re trying to manage a crisis or launch a major new campaign. You can communicate effectively and build mutually supportive relationships with a DIY approach to public relations. Strategic outreach will help your small business to stand out and succeed. Would you like a partner to work with you on your design and branding efforts? Give us a call for a FREE brand audit! We'd love to help! Linktr.ee/neonlizardcreative ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168 If you would like to guest post on NLC's blog, let us know! We'd love to share your knowledge with our business community. BONUS ITEM! Credit:https://foundersguide.com/marketing-pr-differences/

Feeling invincible? Self-confidence fills your world with joys and abundance that you can't get without it. However, it's possible to step over the line where it benefits you and become too confident. Overconfidence can lead to dangerous situations. It can damage you, both personally and professionally, and the fallout from these disasters can hurt your family as well. What are these dangers you speak of? Consider these qualities that can develop from overconfidence and lead you down a tortuous path: 1. Taking too many risks. Are you taking unnecessary risks because you feel powerful and able to control them? These risks might be in your relationships, career, or physical, such as in extreme sports. * Risks can't be avoided completely, but overconfidence can convince you to take too many of them. At some point, you won't be able to control the consequences of your risky behavior. 2. Inability to see mistakes. Mistakes can occur in every aspect of your life, but overconfidence can make you blind to them. If you believe you never make a mistake, then it's time reevaluate your confidence levels. * Mistakes provide important learning opportunities. By ignoring them, you're not getting the full benefit of the mistakes. 3. Blaming others. Overconfidence can lead to blaming because you feel like anything that goes wrong can't be your fault. It always has to be due to someone else's shortcomings or behavior. * However, by blaming others, you're risking your relationships and job. You're also losing the opportunity to grow and learn from the situation. Responsibility is an important aspect of success. 4. Refusal to learn. You may believe that you're done learning and have nothing new to discover. Overconfidence in your abilities and knowledge may prevent you from learning the very ideas or skills that will bring you success. * Those who are successful advocate learning more, regardless of how much you already know. * Researchers have found that learning is a life-long experience that benefits the brain and body. You don't have to go back to school or take extra classes to learn. You can read, write, or develop new hobbies. 5. Refusal to listen. Overconfidence may lead you to ignore the advice of others. You may also have difficulty listening to feedback or criticism. * It's important to listen to the comments that others make because they may have valuable insight. They may see an aspect that you're missing. They may be able to help you avoid mistakes or formulate a plan that jumps you forward toward achieving a goal. 6. Cutting it close. Overconfidence may make you cut things too close. You may arrive late to a job interview or miss a flight. * Your inflated confidence levels may make you believe that everyone will just wait for you. The reality may differ from your expectations, and you may end up losing opportunities or dealing with serious consequences. 7. Predicting the future. Research has shown that overconfidence can lead to inaccurate predictions. For example, you may believe that a raise will be easy to get or your client will instantly fall in love with you. * Your judgment may not be correct. Your overconfidence can make you ignore important elements of the current situation that affect your future. It's important to have confidence in your abilities and skills, but realistic expectations and ideas contribute to your wisdom and make life easier. Avoid letting overconfidence dim the bright future you can create with your unique talents. Would you like a partner to work with you on your marketing and branding? Give us a call for a FREE brand audit! We'd love to help! Linktr.ee/neonlizardcreative ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168 If you would like to guest post on NLC's blog, let us know! We'd love to share your knowledge with our business community.

Every entrepreneur seems to have a secret to their success. For some, it’s an ability to think outside of the box and take risks. For others, it’s staying humble, even when faced with huge success. While every entrepreneur is different, you’ll notice that there are also some things that they seem to share. For instance, talk to almost any successful business owner and they’ll tell you that a good morning routine is the key to unlocking endless opportunities. Here are some of the things you can do to spend your morning like a successful entrepreneur: 1. Wake up early. While you don’t have to be an early bird to get the worm in business, it often helps. According to Richard Branson, the entrepreneur behind Virgin, wherever he is in the world, he makes a concentrated effort to get up at 5am. ● Branson believes that getting up early helps him to spend more time with the family before he gets down to business. ● Try going to bed a little earlier than usual and waking up early too. Research consistently proves that many successful people wake up well before the workday begins. How could you spend an extra hour before your commute? 2. Be prepared. How long do you spend each morning just trying to work out which tasks you should be tackling first? Figuring out a schedule can take a lot of crucial time for productivity out of your routine. That’s why it’s so helpful to plan ahead. ● At the end of each workday, put ten minutes aside to make a list of the things you need to do first the next day. ● This way, you can start your morning with a focus on what you need to get done and avoid anything that might put you on a path of procrastination. 3. Exercise. Exercise can do incredible things for the body and mind. Studies show that regular exercise increases your energy levels and strengthens your cognitive abilities. A few minutes of sweating before work can also help you to clear your mind for the day ahead and reduce stress. ● If you’re wondering how to use that extra thirty minutes you’ve added to your morning each day, a mini workout could be just the thing. ● Follow up with a healthy breakfast to nourish your mind, kickstart your metabolism, and give you the energy you need to handle the day. Drink some cold water too. Huffington Post founder, Arianna Huffington, says she always starts her morning with a tall glass of water. 4. Do the toughest job first. Trying to plan your day to facilitate success? Start with the toughest task first. The idea of “eating the frog” comes from Mark Twain, and it basically means that you handle the thing you least want to do first. ● If you overcome your biggest challenge first, then everything else you do will feel easier by comparison. ● Plus, tackling and accomplishing a challenge first thing is a great way to motivate yourself. ● As the founding editor of Lifehacker.com, Gina Trapani tells us, your mind is clear first thing in the morning, and you’re not getting distracted by other demands. This is your chance to get things done! 5. Get rid of distraction. If you’re going to seize the day like a successful entrepreneur, it’s important to avoid distractions. That means not constantly checking your emails and social media on the way to work. ● Starting the day with a heavy focus on your social media and phone alerts means you’re more likely to get easily distracted throughout the remainder of your day too. ● To start the day in a more helpful way, why not try an activity that relaxes you? Up to 90% of the doctor’s visits reported per year come from stress-related problems. If exercise doesn’t lower your stress levels when you wake up, find something that does. 6. Illuminate the possibilities. Finally, if you’re struggling to start the day on the right note, brighten things up again. Turning on multiple lights around the home and opening your curtains will actively wake you up. It’s the best way to tell the brain that the day has started. ● Natural light actually tells your body to stop producing melatonin – the hormone you need for sleep. ● Get outside and breathe in some fresh air if you can. Natural light and a fresh dose of the great outdoors will put you in a great mood for work. ● If you can’t quite make it outside, don’t panic. Brightening your indoors will help too. Find Your Own Routine These are just some examples of how to spend your morning like a successful entrepreneur. Remember that you can always put your own spin on these suggestions. Find out what works for you and add some rituals of your own. Once you find what works for you, stick to it! Would you like a partner to work with you on your marketing and branding? Give us a call for a FREE brand audit! We'd love to help! Linktr.ee/neonlizardcreative ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168 If you would like to guest post on NLC's blog, let us know! We'd love to share your knowledge with our business community.

Congratulations on your new business. Business owners have a vision, are motivated and determined to succeed. Likely, you’ve created a business plan or at the very least, spent considerable effort figuring out your overall goals and desired outcomes. You probably already know that networking is one of the best and most cost-effective ways to market and build your business. But have you given much thought to how to approach your networking strategically? Time and time again, I see people stumbling into networking without any clear idea of what they are doing or why. It breaks my heart because these same people then get a bad impression of networking and assume that it doesn’t work for them. When they don’t fully know why they are doing networking, it’s certainly more difficult to know where to put their time and energy and what type of results to expect. It pays to plan ahead. Set your unique networking goals, do your research, develop a strategy and assess your results. Take these simple steps starting now and you will save countless time, money, and a load of frustration. By revisiting and putting these steps to use, you will refine your networking so it can support your business in numerous ways. Some of these ways include marketing, brand management, sales and even connecting you with the best resources for professional development, HR, and strategic partnerships, to name a few. Use the following to help you think through and set a plan for: Why you are networking In the paragraph above you may have noticed that I suggested setting your unique networking goals. Many people assume that networking as a business owner serves only to make sales but it can provide so much more. Think about what your key needs are at each stage of your business growth. Chances are, most of those needs can be served through networking. Especially in the beginning stages, you need to get the word out about your business, gain support, build your reputation, and garner ideas and resources. Each of these things can be effectively and affordably fulfilled through relationship building (otherwise referred to as “networking”). Where you are networking and with whom Often, people fall into networking with a group or in a way that isn’t the right fit for their business goals. Perhaps they saw an ad or joined the first networking group they attended without doing much research. Sometimes happy accidents happen and your first networking experiences are rewarding and fulfilling (like love at first sight). Usually, it is best to test the waters and try several different networking experiences to find the ones that work best for you. And remember that networking experiences aren’t always touted as such. Conferences, seminars, and workshops are all great places to not only network but to learn alongside new colleagues who share similar interests and challenges as you. When and how often you are networking Consider what works best for your schedule and your energy level. Make a commitment to network regularly. Whether that means once a week or once a month, it’s important to engage with others for ideas, motivation, support, and to lead you to opportunities you wouldn’t find on your own. Seek and maximize quality over quantity. How you are networking Think through your plan before you enter the event. Know what key point(s) you’d like to share in your introduction. Set an intention for the types of people you hope to meet. As tempting as it may be, don’t immediately head for the food but remind yourself that you are there to expand your network. If you see a familiar face, first try to meet some new people and then don’t glue yourself so tightly to close opportunities for meeting others. (While I do have valuable strategies for networking in pairs, that is an entire subject in itself.) What you do to leverage results from your networking Networking doesn’t end when you leave the event. On the contrary, it has just begun. At the event, you sought out the initial sparks for the types of people with whom you’d like to be connected. Now it’s time to assess who you would like to further connect with, how, and why. Determine how you will follow up with them. Get it on your calendar and begin reaching out. As in marketing, consider multiple touches you could provide to stay on their radar. For example, you might start with an email stating it was nice meeting them and sharing a useful resource followed by a connection request on LinkedIn. You might positively comment on something they’ve posted on social media. If it seems like it would be a win/win connection, you might even extend an invitation to meet further. These are just a few of the steps to consider when networking. Set yourself apart from the crowd that is just winging it with their networking. By having a plan, you’ll receive better results from your networking and—dare I say—even enjoy it. __________________________ As founder of Win-Win Connects, Teresa Thomas connects people, possibilities, and purpose as an award-winning professional Connector, presenter, networking expert, and author of Win/Win Networking and 50 Fun Things® – Enjoy the Small Things. She was named 2019 Women in Business Champion through the Small Business Administration (SBA) of Minnesota and as a 2019 50 Over 50 exemplary leader by AARP and Pollen. Teresa fosters our interconnectedness and the ways we can lift each other up for success. Teresa believes networking is really about seeing the interconnectedness between all of us. It is about listening and noticing the ways we can lift each other up. For more in-depth tips, techniques, templates and checklists to help you with your networking, order a copy of Teresa’s book, Win/Win Networking: Your Guidebook for Confident and Effective Networking (available through Amazon and www.winwinnetworking.com). The book’s interactive style will help you to get clear about why you are networking and how to get the results you seek. For speaking, workshops, or consulting to have better results in your networking, Teresa can be reached at teresa@teresa-thomas.com. www.teresa-thomas.com | www.winwinnetworking.com If you would like to guest post on NLC's blog, let us know! We'd love to share your knowledge with our business community. ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168

As a business, you are a leader. As a leader, it is your responsibility to lead! How your business gives back to your community makes a difference and is an example for others to emulate. Add-vantage Realty, run by Ann Jones of Shakopee, MN, is just that type of business. Her “Hearts of Service Advantage” is a discount program for all emergency responders, teachers, and military. Ann feels strongly about this group because she admires them and hears about the struggles and sacrifices they make to help the community as a whole. “Every day you give your all, the least I can do is give you a break.” — Ann Jones Ann provides honesty, patience, guidance, and resources so that these essential servants have a 100% positive experience during their home purchase or sale transaction. She strives to take the stress out of moving & save them money as well as provide HOS Sellers a 25%discount on commission and offers HOS Buyers .05% of their purchase price back after closing. Does she have to do this? No. She simply wants first responders, teachers, and those who protect our neighborhoods and families to know that they are appreciated. Do you qualify as a Hearts of Service Add-vantage client? Contact Ann if you are, she would be thrilled to help you. 952.445.8636. www.add-vantagerealty.com What about you? Are you a business that wants to make an impact on your local community? Through charities and some creative thinking, you can use your business to help others and start a movement with your networks and industry leaders. Check out these five ways businesses are giving back. 1. Incorporate a charitable element into your business plan by participating in fundraising events for a local charity. Just make sure you donate products or services to events that align with your company values. 2. Create a collaborative Holiday Campaign with other businesses to provide gifts to underprivileged kids' families. All of us are networking all the time, call in those favors and show those who are struggling that they are not alone! 3. Install GoodShop on all of your company's Chrome browsers. Every search raises money for charities and philanthropic efforts. https://www.goodshop.com/search 4. Find a “partner of synergy.” Perhaps you are a florist, align with a local funeral home to deliver flowers for a ceremony at an elder care home. Or if you are a paper company, donate your paper waste to a company that recycles paper into products that promote organic sustainability. 5. Create a mentorship program, offer internships, or share free industry-related educational seminars/webinars with students and job seekers. Giving back feels good to all involved! Even though it takes a little time and effort out of your week to organize and/or participate in charitable events, giving back feels fantastic! Plus, it could help you expand your network by meeting more people in your industry and community. The best part, though? You’re helping people truly in need. So let’s follow the example set by Ann Jones of Add-vantagerealty.com and give more to the community around us! Are you doing something special? We'd love to give you a shout-out! Contact us at: ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168

An insightful guest post from Lisa Carmichael! Enjoy! ____________________ What drives you out of bed every morning? What pulls you out of those nice warm covers? What is it that makes you realize that nothing matters more than the force of being an entrepreneur and building your own business? Building and growing a business of your own is an amazing feeling. Maybe it’s not so logical to stay in bed and not worry about the work that needs to be done for the day. But someone has to do the work. It has to get done. Who will do it, if you don’t? Who will get it done? I’ve been digging deep into mindset and into why I’ve never felt I’m worthy. Then one day out of the blue I decided to write a book. It was time to pull myself out of my warm comfortable bed. It came to be because I was given a gift. I was accepted into a program called Bunker Labs that connects military veterans and their spouses to the resources that help grow their businesses. My husband served almost 38 years in the Navy before retiring. So, yup. I qualified. I was reluctant as I applied to this program because I really enjoyed working from home, staying warm, and being comfortable. My business seemed to be going well. But maybe I needed this I thought. I had nothing to lose by completing the application. I remember waiting until the last day to fill out the application. I waited until the last minute… 10pm to be exact. To my surprise, Bunker Labs followed up with me and invited me for the interview. Now, this was pre-covid, so I had already been working as an entrepreneur from home comfortably for several years. Getting out of my comfort zone and going to an interview didn’t excite me. I wasn’t looking forward to being interviewed for something I didn’t want. I made the decision to go in and instead, interview them. If this was a program that was so awesome, I made the decision to get the facts. As I walked into the WeWork building in Minneapolis, a flash passed me by as I remembered that feeling of walking into an office again. “Did I just miss being in corporate I thought to myself… gosh this feels good!” Riding up the elevator into an office atmosphere, strangely felt good too. Oddly enough I left that interview wanting to be accepted. I was accepted and I was excited to propel my internet marketing business forward. Along with this gift was a requirement to attend a meeting in Minneapolis once a week for two hours which meant driving in rush hour traffic. It also meant working at a WeWork facility another day of the week. I had to get out of bed, out of my pajamas, and work in an office. I actually loved the idea. Fast forward two months into this and sitting in a room with successful entrepreneurs scared me. During breaks, I would do breathing exercises in the lady's room. The other cohort members were successfully changing the real estate industry, working with hospitals, and creating fetal monitoring devices while working with other countries around the world. How could I have ever been accepted into this program? What did I have to offer? My mind kept telling me I wasn’t good enough. Stop! I was done listening to that voice. I was done making that choice of not feeling good enough. I made the decision to become an author because of Bunker Labs. I was good enough. I started a project and this time I had to complete it. I was driven. It got me out of bed every morning. I never even noticed those warm covers or that comfortable pillow anymore. I had a burning reason to get out of bed every morning. Becoming an author was never on my bucket list. It was just part of my vision of becoming bigger and better. I became an internet marketer because I no longer wanted to work corporately. I wanted to be my own boss. What’s your passion? What drives you out of bed every morning? What pulls you out of those nice warm covers? What is it that makes you realize that nothing matters more than the force of being an entrepreneur and building your own business? Dig deep and listen to the voice that wants you to know that you’re good enough. This is how I became an author. Lisa Carmichael lisarcarmichael.com 612.280.0734 | contact@lisarcar.com If you would like to guest post on NLC's blog, let us know! We'd love to share your knowledge with our business community. ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168

Time is relative. There is enough time to create and steer your course. If you really want to do something large, like start a business, you need to budget your time and finances carefully. Business owners are famous for giving too much to the dream and not making time for themselves. You need to create the time for yourself. No more excuses! (preaching to myself!) Prioritize the most important tasks that you do daily and delegate anything that someone else can effectively do. Micromanaging is stupid, hire well and trust them to do their job. This will help you to create the time you will need to focus on your dream. Your time is worth your hourly wage-right? Then why spend time doing tasks that someone at less-than-half-your-wage can do? You literally are throwing money down the drain! Use your time to make money, not waste it. Delegate as much as you can. (Read Tim Ferris, "The 4-Hour Workweek") Avoid sabotaging yourself by making lame excuses. Excuses are simply evidence that you are not evaluating tasks clearly and intentionally attempting to triage the most important. If you are fully committed to securing your dream, then determine how much time you need to spend on each task. You are the boss. Manage that time as not to get bogged down or distracted by something that has nothing to do with the task at hand. A.D.D. are us. Ha I feel you, I get it. I am the poster child for easily distracted, ooh look, “Shiny Squirrel!” I am learning to lessen that distraction bait by turning off all notifications, including my phone, mail and social. I also set a timer for the allotted time to work on the ONE task. It is hard to accept, but if I make a litany of excuses, it doesn't absolve me of the failure, it makes me appear weak and flaky. No one really cares why something didn’t get delivered on time, they just want the promised product or service. I'm committed to making my deadlines, you can do it too. I am the poster child for easily distracted, ooh look, “Shiny Squirrel!” Dependability is a brand value, make a plan to truly live up to it. You’ve got this. The world is your oyster, go get it. ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168

The Good, the Bad & the Ugly There are so many four-letter descriptive words, some of which make you sound like a sailor! I grew up in the South, and we called that, "talkin' ugly." However; some of these words, though not really bad, are still negative and can affect your business in a negative manner. Think about these words and what they imply: Can’t Won’t Just Only Need More Hard “We just can’t do it. That won’t work out. We just need a little more time. It’s just too hard." The negative connotation can be subtle and pervasive. This type of declaration is not helpful and can be insidiously destructive. It propagates an infectious, closed mindset. Perhaps a change in your way of thinking may improve your attitude about your job or business, even the business bottom line! Alternative methods of conveying the same thing: Can’t Will Won’t Could Just I bet if Only What if Need It might be a good More Let's review the details Hard It might be easier if Here are some other positive four-letter words to work into the conversation: Kind, Grow, Care, Able, Help, Love, Hope...the list goes on and on. Check out this resource below to work some new language into your vernacular. https://www.positivewordslist.com/positive-4-letter-words/ The English language is chock-full of affirming words you can use to express your opinion. The fact is, the intentional use of positive words can transform your business. Positivity is a value that you can declare and live as a brand. Practicing positivity will change frustration into a challenge of how something can be accomplished. Rather than negating a suggested idea and having the contributor feel belittled, assume every idea has merit and possibility. People may not remember the words you say, but they will remember how you made them feel. It is always better to think in terms of how you can make something happen rather than brushing off something that seems too hard to do. Who remembers the camp song "Going on a Bear Hunt?" The premise of which is that they come across various obstacles and instead of giving up, the campers sing, "I can't go through it, can't go under it, gotta go around it!" etc. There is always a solution when faced with a business challenge. It simply may take a little extra ingenuity and articulation. (See how I did that? I used "simply" rather than "just".) Mayo Clinic reports that positive attitudes improve your health and well-being. How you view the world affects your reality and self-talk. Rose-colored glasses decrease stress levels. This will lower blood pressure and lead to better productivity as well as a more jovial community. Approaching challenges with positive creativity may even lead to better solutions! So, smile more often, believe in yourself, coworkers and business. Assume the best, first. Be pleasant and compliment your staff at every opportunity. Let positive feelings permeate your life and brand, it can be downright contagious. Have a "negative nanny" in your midst? Share this with all of your associates and lead by example! ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168

Think deeply and carefully when you develop a product or service. Do you genuinely feel that your idea is truly needed or wanted? Did you ever experience a time you wished something like it existed? Is the product going to work out there in the real world? Who is the person that would want to buy it? How much would they be willing to pay for it? Have you gone out into the world and asked IRL if they want/need it? Clarify comprehensively if the product/service does what you designed it to do. Have you have curated any sort of proof or metrics that this is a product or service worth pursuing? Customers require proof that something is worthwhile, accurate, and works. No one likes the unsupported promise. Qualifying your idea can only be discovered after a product/service is out there in the market for a period of time and receives feedback from users. You cannot validate or make any assurances regarding something that has not yet been tested. Create a beta group, offer free products for online reviews, create a poll, have your team test it and measure results, or... ask your mother. (Moms always tell you the truth! Right?) That kind of information will uncover any flaws or areas that need improvement prior to formal release. ALL feedback is valuable. You just may discover things that can be easily corrected, or perhaps some you never thought about. Don't be too cocky! Perfection is rarely attainable, be prepared to make alterations. Do processes or materials need to change? What action steps need to be done to fix those flaws? Whatever you do, don't take shortcuts! Do it right the first time! Otherwise, all that money you made upfront may need to be refunded. Be confident enough to offer a guarantee and stand by it. Another great piece of advice is to find a revered mentor. You do not want a mentor who tells you "what" to do. It is best to find a mentor who will help you learn to think critically. You need a mentor who is experienced and has been where you want to GROW. Your mentor should be a great listener, someone who challenges you, yet guides you toward the right answers that align with your values and vision. Good mentors should be available and encouraging, a cheerleader and advocate for your business. They should be skilled in communication and marketing language. How you share about your product is the fulcrum on whether or not someone chooses your service or product. Hire professionals to do your marketing and design in tandem with your mentor. Your visual presence is as important as your message and should be carefully crafted to appeal to the audience you seek. The public doesn't mince any words if they are disappointed, they tend to declare their disappointment to the world online. So, be smart, be prepared, and be forewarned, the public may be even more honest than your mother. Need a reference? Give me a call, I know a few people. :0) ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168

The Take-Away: Annoying coworkers are challenging, but it is possible to strategically manage them. Work would be great if it wasn’t for coworkers, right? Ready or not, many of us are headed back into the office to see those coworkers we haven’t physically been working with for over a year. Colleagues can be a source of inspiration and fun, but sometimes they are the worst part of our jobs. You are not a victim of who you work with though—read on to learn how to strategically manage those coworkers who drive you nuts. 1. The Noisy Coworker We all have that one coworker who has zero awareness of how loud she speaks or moves about the office (yawning or sighing loudly, drumming fingers on the desk, etc.). This person is probably loud wherever she is and has never learned to vary her volume and actions to suit the environment. How to cope: Three words—noise-canceling headphones. Wearing headphones also signals that you don’t want to be interrupted by other annoying colleagues, such as the Gossip, the Complainer, the Flirt, and the Talker. If your coworker has a strong sense of self, you can also say straightforward but playful things like “Please use your inside voice so we don’t bother others.” You’re probably never going to change this coworker, but you can control the volume of your conversations if you’re willing to be upfront with her. 2. The Gossip This coworker is energized by spreading news and juicy tidbits about coworkers and the company to others, whether true or not. He feels important and connected by being the one in the know, but it often masks insecurity of his own abilities or role in the organization. How to cope: First, don’t tell this coworker anything you don’t want everybody to know. Second, don’t engage with him when he’s sharing information that isn’t job-related. If he starts gossiping, kindly tell him, “I’m sorry, that’s none of my business, and I have work to do.” Once he hears that from you a couple of times, he may stop sharing gossip with you because you don’t give him the attention he desires—problem solved. 3. The Smelly Coworker You can often smell this coworker before you see her. Perhaps it’s her body odor or bad breath, or maybe it’s because she uses a strong perfume. This coworker may also be the one who causes the office to smell horrible because she burnt popcorn or cooked fish in the microwave. How to cope: This is frankly a tough one to manage. Easy solution—tell your manager about it and how it’s affecting your ability to work. Your manager may or may not do anything about it, but you’ve at least delegated the problem to him. Difficult solution—tell her personally that there’s an odor problem. Will she feel mortified? Yes, but also grateful in only the way people who have something in their teeth feel when you tell them. There are people who just don’t care, however, and you are not likely to see any change in them. In that case, rub a couple of drops of essential oil under your nose before you need to interact with her. 4. The Whiner This coworker’s glass is always half-empty and he has something bad to say about everything. He has a difficult time acknowledging improvements or progress in work projects and can say what is wrong with the weather on any given day. How to cope: Let most of this person’s words pass through you and don’t react to them. Be careful that you don’t miss the important work complaints that you might not otherwise hear though. Sometimes he speaks for many others, but it’s easy to ignore him because he’s cried wolf too many times. Ask what he would do about the problem—he may have creative solutions since he’s probably been stewing about it for a while. 5. The Flirt Some people rely on their flirtatious behavior to get what they want or simply enjoy seeing what kind of reaction they can get out of you. The Flirt can sometimes cause attachments that later affect other work relationships as well. How to cope: If you are married and want to stay that way, don’t engage in flirty behaviors back. This is also good advice if you simply don’t want to be the object of someone’s flirtation. If you’re interested in pursuing something beyond coworker status, make sure she doesn’t flirt with everyone else. If she does, then you don’t know that she is actually interested in you so much as wanting to get a reaction out of you. Since people spend so much time at work, it’s natural that dating relationships start there. Check what your company’s policies are about this before proceeding too far. 6. The Talker This coworker shouldn’t be confused with the Noisy Coworker, although she could be both. The Talker doesn’t know when to stop talking, either on the phone or with coworkers. She might not have enough work to do, because she always has time to converse. How to cope: If this coworker comes over to your office, let her know you only have five minutes before you have to go somewhere (even if it’s only the restroom) or do something (even if it’s only calling your spouse about the TV schedule that night). Setting a time frame at the beginning of the conversation will remind her to give you the necessary work information right away and keep the chitchat to a minimum. Noise-canceling headphones also work to drown out the conversations she has on the phone or with coworkers. 7. The Busy Worker The Busy Worker takes pride in being busy and makes sure everyone knows how over-scheduled he is. He appears to be hardworking but maybe all hat and no cattle—not a lot of work being accomplished behind his outward busyness. This may result in him never being willing to accept new projects or his work on projects might not get done because he’s so busy. How to cope: Tune this coworker out when you can. When his “busyness” means you have to take on more, then be clear on what you can do and when it can be done. Watch that you don’t become the savior who always comes through—while it’s lovely for people to know they can count on you, it shouldn’t be done at the expense of your other work projects or your personal life. 8. The Slacker This coworker cuts corners, ignores project expectations and tries to work as little as possible. Her work product may not be important so she can get away with doing less, or she simply doesn’t want to work hard. How to cope: This frustrating coworker needs to be actively managed—give clear expectations of her work and remind her of deadlines. This can be done with a weekly check-in meeting about your joint projects. Whatever you do, don’t let her go off on her own, even if she resents check-in meetings. She has shown she can’t be trusted to independently complete quality work, so you need to be the adult here. 9. The Cruncher Chips, carrots, crackers, and more, this co-worker loves to challenge the chompers with every crunchy food they can find. However, similar to the noisy worker, they have no awareness of how loud their crunching is like fingernails on a chalkboard to their nearby office neighbors. They are blissfully unaware and believe the crunching is only in their own head. How to cope: Gently your neighbor that you can hear your crunching and it is problematic. Would they mind not eating crunchy food at their desk? Suggest switching out to softer foods, or bring in soft snacks to share and keep them in generous supply. You can always use the solution from the "Noisy Coworker" as well with noise-canceling headphones and music. If the worker refuses to comply, you can always ask to be seated elsewhere with a less crunchy neighbor. 10. The Know-It-All He has strong opinions about everything, dominates meetings, and has a hard time accepting if his idea is not adopted. He may even subvert a new project if he was not in favor of it. How to cope: Feed this person’s ego by asking for his opinion when you can, and publicly tell him how much you appreciate his knowledge. Keep him honest by reminding him that the entire group needs to agree on a solution and that everyone’s ideas need to be heard. If he resents that his solution wasn’t chosen, ignore his comments about it. If he actively subverts a new project he didn’t like, this is one for your manager. Are you the annoying one at work? If so, read the related post: Are You an Annoying Coworker? ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168