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September 2021
HANSON HEADLINES
CraigHansonCPA.com • (701) 252-6190
Staying Positive
How I’m Trying to Improve This September
Despite that realization, this isn’t easy! It takes work to change a habit, and I must commit to focusing on the positive if I hope to change. While I may not have tricks for doing so, I have found ways to create positivity. For starters, I’ve begun to slow down at work. Now that tax season is over, I have time to relax. I’m enjoying my family, spending more time on the creek fishing, or tinkering with my fishing poles. I’ve found a lot of joy in not filling my days with endless tasks and trying to get more out of what I do for my mental well-being. As the world starts to normalize, it’s been really nice to spend time with those I love and care about, and just being with them again has made me infinitely happier. Finally, I’ve watched how my improved positive outlook has had an impact on those I love. Our emotions and moods tend to rub off on people around us. Just by being happier and focusing on the good in each situation, I’ve felt that tide shift in others, too. Maybe that’s how I came to settle on this goal! Maybe it was someone else whose attitude helped me realize the value in positivity.
The past year and a half hasn’t been easy for anyone. While we all grappled with a pandemic, we also had to cope with missing our favorite events and our families while managing our own personal trials and tribulations. Sometimes it felt difficult to do even the most basic of tasks, like going to work or making dinner. We all deserve a break.
As I take time to slow down, be with others, and focus on what’s good, I know I will have a few setbacks. It’s easy to fall into old habits, yet I’m determined to make this change. Will you consider doing the same? You don’t have to focus on positivity for Self-Improvement Month, but I would be honored if you joined me in changing your life, one habit at a time.
September is Self-Improvement Month, and I’m taking this opportunity to shake off the proverbial rust and choose to focus on the positive. Admittedly, I can be negative when something doesn’t go as planned or I’m faced with unexpected bad news. While being realistic about a situation can help you build a plan to move past it, viewing only the negative can be a terrible state to live in. Your approach becomes pessimistic and sour, and that carries over into other parts of your life, like your marriage or hobbies. So, I’m dedicating myself to staying positive. I’ve come to realize that having a negative attitude hasn’t helped me — especially in the past two years.
Good luck!
—Craig Hanson
CraigHansonCPA.com
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Is Your Business Running the Way You Want It To?
Follow the Road to Optimization
to optimize — whether you have an ongoing problem or that area of the business simply isn’t running smoothly.
Is your business optimized ? You might scratch your head and ask, “What does that even mean?” In terms of your business, it can mean a dozen different things.
Coming back to the marketing campaign example, let’s say the campaign was poorly targeted and now you’re going to miss
But let’s define it and make it concrete: Is your business doing what you want? While “small-business optimization” can
your Q2 sales goal. You’re just not reaching your ideal customers. Why? Maybe you’re missing key data — the demographic data was wrong or out of date, or you’re leaning too heavily into the wrong platform (i.e., you’ve used Instagram when Facebook would have made more sense).
mean a number of things, that first question, “Is your business optimized?” points you to other questions you need to ask: Have your marketing endeavors paid off? Are your employees working cohesively as a team? Are you hitting your financial goals? If you can answer “yes” to these questions, then your business is likely optimized. However, if you’re answering “no,” then your business needs some work. Here’s how you can remove obstacles and achieve optimization.
Fill in the holes and re-strategize. It may be as simple as realigning the campaign or starting over. The same applies to systems and processes within your business.
Follow Your Road Map It may sound simple, but it rarely is. You need the tools, resources, and support of your team (just as your team needs your support) to put your plan into action. If you want any part of your business to become optimized, the pieces must fit together. If your team needs help, get them that help. The road map should also offer flexibility in the event that you run into any roadblocks, and it should have enough guidance to get your business from point A to point B. The plan needs to be detailed but not too detailed because you don’t want to give yourself room to cut corners (which can be tempting when you want to save time and/or money). When you cut corners, you’re liable to miss a step, which could end up setting you back or putting you right where you started. Optimizing your small business isn’t easy, but if you want it to run the way you intended, it’s absolutely necessary. Walk through these steps and you’ll achieve that wonderful thing called optimization.
Identify the Problem If your business, in part or whole, is running inefficiently, you must identify the source of the problem. If you won’t hit your Q2 sales goal, there is a reason. For example, your current marketing campaign may have a kink in it — it may be poorly targeted and/or on the wrong platform, or maybe it’s just a bad offer. The challenge is getting to the actual source of the problem. It’s like back pain — you can throw painkillers at it, but the fundamental problem remains, and the pain will inevitably return. Find the source and you’ll be able to correct the problem. Make a Plan Once you’ve identified the problem, you can create a plan to overcome it — and put your business on the path you intended. It’s important to have a plan for every area you want
CraigHansonCPA.com
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HAVE A Laugh
Nothing to See Here The History of the Mystery Spot
American mystery spot destinations have a strange foothold history in U.S. culture. The most famous mystery spot, with its own paranormal and physics-based oddities, is in Santa Cruz, California, but it has cousins in Oregon, West Virginia, and Michigan. Each one has phenomena that are not easily explained — drawing thousands of people every year to come and witness the strange happenings (for a fee, of course). “Roadside attractions” of all kinds have been all the rage since people began to tour America by car. That’s why many of them have updated over the years to suit changing tastes — such as the Michigan St. Ignace Mystery Spot’s addition of zip lines and other attractions. Today, mystery spots continue to draw attention. The best way to decide, of course, is to visit one of these mystery spots for yourself!
5 Ways to Fit Extra Movement Into Your Day
up from your desk. The more water you drink, the more times you’ll have to refill it in your kitchen or at the watercooler. And, on your way back to your workspace, take the long way around to say hi to your coworkers!
If you're restless at your desk, extra exercise and movement might be exactly what the doctor ordered. Even just a little bit of unplanned movement every day can help boost your mood and maintain good blood circulation. Here are five ways you can fit in extra movement without losing your productivity!
No. 3: Stretch in doorways.
No. 1: Park farther away.
Our shoulders and neck can quickly get sore from the amount of time we spend slouching in front of our screens. An easy way to relieve the stress is to press your hands on either side of a door frame, then lean forward as far as you can. If you don’t have a doorway to use, you can try doing shoulder shrugs or neck rolls right at your desk to ease some stress or even just clear your head.
It might be more convenient to park as close to your destination as you can, but parking farther away can add some extra steps. It’s a small difference that certainly can’t replace regular cardio, but it doesn’t hurt either!
No. 2: Drink more water.
No. 4: Do more calf raises.
Drinking plenty of water is healthy for flushing out bacteria in your system, but it’s also a great way of helping you get
One of the easiest exercises to do in public or at home are calf raises. Do this by simply raising your feet high off the ground one at a time. Squats and lunges are also easy to do but may require more flexible clothing than you’re wearing and a space where you can move freely.
No. 5: Walk for all of your phone calls.
Sometimes, people start walking naturally while they’re on a phone call. Why not make it an intentional movement every time you take a call? Studies show that walking will keep your body in high gear by encouraging energy and productivity!
CraigHansonCPA.com
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905 James Ave. NE • Jamestown, ND 58401 (701) 252-6190 • CraigHansonCPA.com Inside This Edition
Have tax problems? Unsure what to do? Before you do anything, call me to get a special report, "The 7 Secrets the IRS Doesn’t Want You to Know!” Call (701) 252-6190 to get your free copy today!
1. 2. 3.
The 1 Thing I’m Working On This Month
3 Necessary Steps to Optimize Your Business
The Mystery Spot is a True Piece of American History
5 Ways to Keep Yourself Moving
4.
Does Positive Marketing Work in 2021?
You Are My Sunshine Positive Marketing in 2021
Positive marketing is a tactic that has been around for a long while, but in today's world, it might be more powerful than ever. We're constantly surrounded by terrible news about our nation, society, and the entire world, and people can definitely use more positive forces and content in their lives. Will your brand be there for them? What are other brands doing to provide positive marketing to their customers? Empowerment and Inclusivity In the 2000s, positive marketing was all about looking at the world through rose-tinted glasses. A great example of this is McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It” campaign. It’s not a bad thing to create a wonderful, positive image of your brand and the world it lives in — so long as you’re keeping up with people’s idea of a better world, too. Today, positivity is closely related to empowerment and inclusivity. What is “empowerment”? When you empower someone, you’re likely doing two things: making them feel accepted and encouraging them to succeed. Doing this helps imbue them with positive energy, and it even makes the world feel like a better place for a little while. That’s the ultimate thinking behind a lot of inclusive empowerment and positivity marketing today. And why wouldn’t you want to shop at a brand that makes you feel great? According to Accenture, over 41% of consumers “have
shifted their business away from a retailer that does not reflect how important [identity and diversity] is to them.” The same study showed that 29% of consumers are willing to switch brands if they don’t showcase enough diversity. If you’re not sure where to start, try showing support for local support groups, women’s shelters, or free mental health clinics — it’s a great, positive way of supporting your community’s well-being! Build Influence Through Positivity If your brand produces positive, feel-good content, people will tend to listen. Make sure to optimize your marketing by using social media to regularly post content relevant to both your business and your local efforts. Building engagement takes a lot of time and effort, but it can pay off in massive ways. You never know when a business’s content will go viral. Consumers are exceedingly picky in 2021, but positivity will always win the day. Show your customers that they’re valued, and many will make sure to return the favor.
CraigHansonCPA.com
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