Sprout Magazine

Category: Commentary & Analysis

5 Signs Your Business Is Growing Too Fast

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By on Feb 4th, 2012

Business success can be intoxicating. The growth of your business often leads to new ideas and new opportunity allowing your business to grow even more rapidly. Most businesses want to take hold of these new opportunities and use them for all that they are worth, but this can result in some unexpected and potentially disastrous problems.

Computers, desks and chairs have become hot commodities.

Outgrowing your office space is par for the course, but employees who are working on top of filing cabinets may feel unappreciated — or worse — suffer repetitive stress injuries.

Turnover is increasing

A sharp increase employee turnover during a period of expansion is a likely warning sign that growth is too rapid. Employees who feel overwhelmed will eventually leave for less stressful opportunities. This symptom can turn into a fatal problem if left unchecked as your company will be forced to replace veteran employees with new faces unfamiliar with your operations.

You have more time

When things begin to work and flow naturally, you’ll quickly discover you have more time. It’s much easier to keep your plans, strategies and systems working than it is to create new. When they work, you spend a small amount of time keeping them in place, and use the rest of the time to do the things you enjoy – even if it is expanding your business.

You’ve received customer complaints and negative feedback.

Complaints can sometimes tell you what expensive research can’t. Use them to diagnose shortcomings in your organization and point to possible solutions.

People recognize your name

Have you ever headed out to a networking event, and met someone that said, “I’ve heard of you, my cousin used your services”. When your name gains traction in your community, you know you are marketing effectively, and you are beginning to build up a successful reputation.

 

Freelancing Bad Habits That Could Kill Your Design Career

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By on Jan 31st, 2012

Things you should avoid

Whether you are a freelance graphic designer or a web designer, you both face the same challenges in freelancing. Both deal with clients, do their own accounting and even marketing. There are so many things that a freelancer has to do and has to take note of in order to be successful in freelancing. If you don’t want customers to hate you for good, change bad habits and behavior that a freelance professional shouldn’t have. Here are the list of bad habits that you need to avoid:
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Solopreneurs and Freelancers: Developing Money-Making Busines

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By on Jan 20th, 2012

Solopreneurs and Freelancers

Why did you start your business? It’s not a trick question. Most folks will immediately say, “To make money,” but there is usually another reason lurking beneath that slick answer. The underlying reason you started your business, not the dollar signs, is what will keep you motivated to slog through all of the terror and confusion that’s associated with being a business owner. The Solo Entrepreneur may also be called a free agent, freelancer, solopreneur, self employed, sole proprietor, or home based business owner. Solopreneurs are self-motivators who enjoy the freedom and benefits that come for working for themselves. They thrive on the ability to work on different projects, being creative and flexible, and most importantly creating opportunities for themselves.
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5 Effective Tips To Recession-Proof Your Career

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By on Jan 19th, 2012

Careers are a young professionals ticket to achieve the dreams of their lives however, they are not immune against any recessions that could come. Being proactive about keeping your job, even when your company shows signs that it is losing money and struggling, can be difficult.

Stay where you are
When a recession occurs, it is very important to stay at your current job even if you are unhappy. This would help you be secured of your job during this trying times. See to it that when you leave your current job, the recession has already lifted. Bear in mind that one should have a back-up plan in leaving your current job. It is best to stay on your current job and let the recession weather out.

Build your skills

Increase your competencies (knowledge, skills & abilities) through continuing education, volunteer work (Human Capital), reading, etc. Did you know you can get 12 hours of high quality education.

Be flexible

The days of “a job for life” are long gone. In times of recession not even the biggest companies are a safe bet, so it’s important to be adaptable and keep an open mind about what career paths are open to you.

Don’t panic

Keep a long-term perspective. “In times of economic crisis, when you’re worried about the short term, it can be hard to think about the longer term but remember that your career will last several decades, so try to take the long view,” says Diarte-Edwards.

Create additional income streams, even if you are an employee

Or perhaps especially if you are an employee — because your salary is vulnerable to disappearing all at once, while freelancers and business owners usually have multiple clients.

How can you create additional streams of income? Find a side job as a freelancer, start an ad-supported blog, sell products online, or offer consulting services in your field of expertise. While none of these things will — at least initially — make enough money to replace a full-time-with-bennies job, they can cushion the pain of income loss while teaching you new skills and growing your professional network.

 

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