As we get close to the midpoint of the year, it’s a great time to look back at where you were in January, and how far you’ve come. I hope you’ve seen some real progress personally and professionally, and that you can see a clear path to where you’re trying to get to by the end of the year. Every week the Bureau sends out a newsletter focused on helping you achieve these goals so you and your business are headed in the right direction. If that sounds good, take advantage of our no-spam guarantee and sign up for it here. Want to see a quick glance of what we put out there in May? Read on, my friend.
Getting Your Focus Back
Distractions are everywhere. And if you looked at your phone between that sentence and this one, then I know you agree. This month I shared a few ideas that have helped me disconnect when needed, like these:
Give your mind dedicated time to run wild with ideas, and follow that rabbit hole wherever it takes you. Then, like a dog that had its walk, it’s ready to calm down and focus.
Remove as many distractions from your environment as you can. No need to make it harder than it already is.
Block off portions of your day. While you need time to put out fires that come up, set aside specific times dedicated to the tasks you need to get done.
AI A-OK?
The debate over whether to adopt AI at all is pretty much over, and the stakes are high for how you implement it. Here are a few things I shared about keeping up with the latest sea change in business.
Take it slow. You don’t have to start using every tool all at once. Start with the low-hanging fruit that doesn’t require a computer science degree, and slowly wade farther in as you get more comfortable.
Partner with experts. There are agencies and consultants out there who can help you get the most out of your tools. Start by leaning on them, and you can decide how much to build up your in-house abilities.
Get strategic about it. You should create a long-term strategy that takes you step-by-step through what you want to achieve, the investments it will require, and what your acceptable timeline is.
Digital Services Sales Trends
This month we also took a look at sales trends in the industry. Overall we saw reason for cautious optimism, with most agencies holding the line or growing slightly. Web development and SEO sales are down, though, while creative offerings saw a significant dip. Only maintenance and support really gained any ground at all. The sales cycle might also be taking longer according to most agencies, so there are some signs of challenges ahead. We’ll keep an eye on things and report back again in a couple months.
Facing Fear
One of the keys to being a leader is being able to confront fears head on, especially fears about the future of your business. We discussed the need to acknowledge them and that it’s okay to be afraid sometimes. But if you sit down and analyze them and where they are coming from, that gives you the power to develop a plan to deal with them and keep them from controlling you.
One of the best ways to confront fear is through the power of community, which is why I love my Bureau friends. To get a sense of this group of amazing leaders, the weekly newsletter is a great place to start. I hope your summer is full of amazing adventures, and I’ll see you back here next month!