Check out the December edition of our monthly newsletter!
DECEMBER 2021
7462 Old Hickory Drive, Mechanicsville, VA 23111
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www.sklartechnology.com
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804-730-2628
Here’s a Cheat Sheet! STILL SCRAMBLING FOR THE PERFECT GIFT?
It’s December again, and you know what that means — it’s time for another gift guide! Every year in this newsletter, I share the coolest products, gadgets, and life-enhancers I’ve discovered since Jan. 1, and today I’m back at it. Some of these are things I’m planning to buy for the folks on my Christmas list (not to toot my own horn, but I’ve been told I’m a pretty great gift giver!), and others are items I’ve tested out and loved in 2021. If you still have folks left to shop for, this list can be your cheat sheet. As a bonus, all of these products are available on Amazon so you can shop right up until the last minute and get two-day delivery.
been trying to spend as much time outside as possible during this pandemic, and I love that the FlameMore lets me use my deck all winter long.
‘Hiking Waterfalls in Virginia’ Speaking of getting outside, I recently came across a book that would make a great stocking stuffer for hikers: “Hiking Waterfalls in Virginia: A Guide to the State’s Best Waterfall Hikes.” The book includes maps, photos, and tips for navigating 100 of the state’s most scenic waterfalls. I picked up versions of this book for Oregon and California while I was on vacation, and it helped us squeeze some exercise in. Superfood Starter Pack Superfoods like green tea, red wine, blueberries, turmeric, and kale are trendy right now, so if you know a health nut, I bet they’d love a gift basket full of these items! You can make your own by following an online list (Healthline.com and HuffPost.com have good ones, although they both left off the wine), shopping at the grocery store, or by ordering a premade healthy snack basket through Amazon. The Good Grocer makes a couple of awesome vegan baskets with treats like superfood smoothies, protein cookies, and nut mixes that even a carnivore like me can get behind. They’re around $45. Muscle Floss You might remember from a few newsletters back that muscle floss helped cure my knee and elbow pain. The floss looks like a stretchy roll of tape or an unlooped exercise band. To use it, you just wrap it around your painful joint or muscle group, then exercise that spot for about half a minute to two minutes. It works like a charm and is the perfect gift for any athlete! You can buy a roll of WOD Nation Muscle Floss on Amazon.com for less than $12.
Polywood Presidential Outdoor Rocking Chair It sounds a little crazy, but I’ve been completely addicted to these rocking chairs all year. They’re on the pricey side for a Christmas gift at $219 each, but they’re made right here in the USA with stain-resistant, rot- resistant, water-resistant polywood.
The material is extremely durable and easy to care for; the contoured seat and wide arms are comfortable for porch-sitting; and the chairs even come in a range of colors from slate gray to mahogany. I bought one and liked it so much that I got more for my rental properties! Putting them together is tricky but totally worth it.
Infrared Deck Heater If you have someone in mind for that rocking chair, why not make their experience sitting outside even better with an infrared deck heater? Amazon
Merry Christmas, and happy shopping!
has a few great options, including the FlameMore Electric Outdoor Heater. The FlameMore comes with three heat levels, a remote-controlled 24-hour timer (so you can change the heat without getting up), and an adjustable stand. I’ve
–Randy Sklar
Security. Availability. Support. .................................................................................... 804-730-2628 • 1 A REFERRAL IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF FLATTERY. WHEN A CLIENT REFERS FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES TO US, IT REPRESENTS AN APPRECIATION OF A JOB WELL DONE. IF YOUR FRIENDS OR ASSOCIATES COULD BENEFIT FROM OUR SERVICES, I’D BE HONORED TO HAVE YOUR REFERRAL!
SEE SALES GROW
With 4 Lead Nurture Must-Do’s in 2022! People want to do business with people they trust, and you can’t form a strong relationship after just one interaction. It takes time to build a connection with potential and current clients, and the more you put into these relationships, the more you will get out of them. When lead nurture is one of your top sales priorities, you land better sales, generate more customers, and create lasting partnerships that spawn referrals and more money spent.
START 2022 OFF WITH CONFIDENCE
3 Tips to Strengthen Your Entrepreneurial Mindset
The most difficult part about running a successful company is keeping your head constantly, relentlessly in the game. As Harvard-educated talk show host Soledad O’Brien once put it, “Being an entrepreneur is a mindset. You have to see all things as opportunities all the time.” Achieving this mindset is easier said than done, but a big piece of it is confidence. You can see all of the opportunities you want, but they won’t matter unless you have the courage to go for them! To maintain — or reclaim — your confidence in 2022, try these tips before it’s too late. 1. Look to your role models. So maybe 2021 wasn’t your best year ever. Did Walt Disney give up on his empire when he was fired from the Kansas City Star for “lacking imagination”? Did Winston Churchill throw in the towel on politics when his party disowned him in 1929? Of course not! So why should you let failure get you down? When in doubt, pick up the biography of a hero in your field to get inspired by the obstacles they overcame. 2. List your successes . What did you succeed at in 2021 or in the last five years? Take out a piece of paper and write down that list of accomplishments. This will remind you of the “why” behind your business — and of how far you’ve come. This is especially important if you feel like you failed someone else (like your employees or family). As Inc. magazine reminds us, “Being hard on yourself only perpetuates your feelings of failure, which does neither party much good.” 3. Create a plan for long-term success. If you’re unsure of where you’re headed, it’s difficult to go forth with confidence. But if you have a plan, then you can hold your head high. So, make one! Now is the perfect time to map out your goals for 2022 and beyond. Pick up the book “Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals” by Michael Hyatt for tips. P.S. If “make sure our company’s data is secure” is on your list of goals for 2022 (which it should be!), you can get started now by booking an in-depth risk assessment at RiskAssessment.SklarTechnology.com/risk-assessment.
If you’re ready to get started, don’t forget these four tips.
Automate: There’s no reason lead generation has to require extra work, even if it should be a top priority. Set up weekly or monthly email messages, newsletters, postcards, celebration cards, and coupons that directly put your information in your potential consumers’ hands. This constant drip ensures you are always communicating with your leads without much effort. Be Consistent: Far too many businesses give up after three or four lead generation tactics because they “haven’t seen a response.” Nurture takes time! You wouldn’t expect a newborn to walk — why are you expecting your prospects to invest after such a short time? Commit to the long game, and you will gain the right customers who are excited to work with you! Use Multiple Techniques: In today’s digital age, you may believe email is the best way to put your message at the forefront of your prospects’ minds, but that’s the wrong approach. Your prospects get hundreds of emails every day — what’s going to make yours so special? (It probably won’t be.) You also have to target them with direct mail, phone calls, and freebies. Hit them on multiple levels, allowing your business to stand out from the crowd. Track: Once you make a sale, ask the customer what motivated them to buy from you. How did they hear about you? What platforms did they enjoy? This information can help you track what’s working and what isn’t, allowing you to invest properly in your lead generation campaign. Furthermore, track open rates, responses, and phone calls after you release a lead nurture message. This data is invaluable.
2 • www.sklartechnology.com .................................................................................... Security. Availability. Support. Lead nurturing should be a big component of your business in 2022. We promise the effort will pay off!
GET INSPIRED FOR SUCCESS IN 2022! The ‘Inspiring Lives’ Podcast Is One Click Away
• Master Communicator John Romaniello — Romaniello is described as “an author, angel investor, media personality, and consultant who helps entrepreneurs improve communication skills and increase revenue through writing.” In his episode, he shares his tips for finding the silver lining in any tough situation. • Mountain Climber Karl Egloff — Have you ever wondered how it would feel to train to climb Mount Everest? In this episode, super athlete Egloff shares his experience doing just that, along with tips for getting out of our comfort zones so we can experience new things.
About 24% of all Americans listen to podcasts weekly, and Randy is one of them! A few years back, he stumbled across a show that just might be the perfect launchpad for your 2022 goals: “Inspiring Lives.” “Inspiring Lives” truly lives up to its name. The hosts interview entrepreneurs, athletes, nutritionists, and other professionals over 24 episodes so people can hear their stories and find out what keeps them motivated. As the podcasters put it, their goal is to help you “learn how [the guests’] struggles, successes, and failures have helped to shape their own views and discover key insights that can help you live a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life today.” Here are just a few of the famous voices you’ll hear if you check out the back catalog this month:
entrepreneur who has disrupted the hospitality industry not once, but twice.” His episode is a deep dive into the perks of curiosity and how to power through a midlife crisis. You can find “Inspiring Lives” on Apple Podcasts or InspiringLives.SimpleCast.com. The podcast is no longer airing, but the existing episodes are worth a look. If you have a spare hour, why not spend it getting motivated to succeed in 2022?
–Randy Sklar
• Hospitality Entrepreneur Chip
Conley —“Inspired Lives” describes Joie de Vivre Hospitality Founder Chip Conley as “an
Crispy Fish With Brown Butter Sauce Inspired by BonAppetit.com
Want to enjoy the decadence of the holiday season without adding too much to your waistline? Swap red meat for fish and serve this delicious, easy dish.
Ingredients •
1 tbsp olive oil
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1/2 cup blanched hazelnuts, chopped
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4 5-oz Chilean sea bass or salmon fillets, skin-on
2 tsp lemon juice
Salt and pepper, to taste
Lemon wedges, for garnish
6 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pieces
Directions 1. In an unheated skillet, add oil. Season fish with salt and pepper, then add to skillet (skin-down). 2. Heat the skillet to medium and cook for 4 minutes. With a spatula, press each fillet down, rotating between fillets every few seconds. When the skin begins to crisp, stop pressing and cook 8–10 minutes, then flip and cook for another minute. Remove the fish. 3. Wipe the skillet clean and return to medium heat. Add the butter and hazelnuts. Heat, swirling continuously, until butter foams and browns. Remove from heat. 4. Stir in lemon juice and season to taste. Pour over fish, garnish, and serve with salad.
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7462 Old Hickory Drive Mechanicsville, VA 23111 www.sklartechnology.com 804-730-2628
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Inside This Issue
1
5 Gift Ideas to Save Your Christmas
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4 Steps to a Better Lead Nurture Campaign
How to Achieve the Right Mindset for 2022
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Gain Motivation From the ‘Inspiring Lives’ Podcast
Crispy Fish With Brown Butter Sauce
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Get the Most Out of Your Sleep
How to Wake Up Refreshed
THE TYPE OF SLEEP YOU GET MATTERS!
Are you getting enough shut-eye but still feeling groggy when you wake up? The type of sleep you get matters, and a sleep schedule can help ensure you’re cycling through all the stages of sleep your body needs. Sleep is broken up into four different stages. During the first stage, which only lasts about 5–10 minutes, your body is softly drifting off, and as your brain slows down, your breathing and heartbeat slow as well. When you transition to the second stage, you become less aware of your surroundings, your eye movements cease, and your body temperature drops. Moving into the third stage, your body will drift into a deep sleep, where you will not be awakened by small noises and your muscles are completely relaxed. In the fourth stage, your body is in a deep, restful state. In stages three and four, you’re getting REM sleep, which is when your body is in its deepest sleep, and your breathing, heart rate, and temperature all reach the lowest level. In these stages, your body is able to fight sickness, begin repairing itself, and commit information to memory. During REM sleep, which occurs about 90 minutes after your head hits the pillow, your body is completely relaxed, and you begin to dream.
Throughout the night, you will progress through these stages of sleep multiple times, but usually not in a perfect sequence. You will likely be in each stage of sleep about 4–5 times per night, and one cycle typically lasts about 90–110 minutes. Too much or too little REM or non-REM sleep can affect the quality of your sleep and how refreshed you feel.
Quality sleep is important to make sure you are recharging your body, strengthening your mind and immune system, and prioritizing your health. If you never achieve deep sleep throughout the night, sleep deprivation sets in, and you won’t get the proper rest you need to recover.
By setting a sleep schedule, you can make sure you are hitting the hay each night at a reasonable hour and allowing yourself to properly cycle through the different stages of sleep. Be sure to clear your mind before tucking yourself into bed and make sure your bed is comfortable to promote the best possible sleep — your body counts on it! 4 • www.sklartechnology.com .................................................................................... Security. Availability. Support.
IS YOUR WEBSITE LOSING YOU CUSTOMERS? Get a New Look for the New Year!
Have you had the same website for the last year? The last five years? The last 10?!
If you have, consider this your reminder: It’s a new year, and you need a new look.
When potential customers find you online, your website is your handshake, so you want to make the best first impression possible. Don’t greet them with a limp, sweaty palm! 5 SIGNS THAT IT’S TIME FOR AN UPGRADE
If your website is ...
1. Tough to navigate from a smartphone 2. Antiquated, with an outdated design 3. Missing a chat box or other communication feature
4. Not up to date with the latest security and SEO optimization 5. Missing a strong call to action that grabs readers
Then YOU CAN DO BETTER!
Let us take your website to the next level, protect your data, and bring in the customers you need.
Call our office today at 804-730-2628 or visit SklarTechnology.com to set up a consultation, and we’ll craft you a handshake that closes the deal, every time.
www.sklartechnology.com.................................................................................... Security. Availability. Support.
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