Aglow Marketing's Blog

Are you suffering from "Check In" addiction? And is mine going to get worse?

As I awoke dreary eyed at 2:30 am to stand (or sit, actually) in virtual line to pre-order the Verizon IPhone at 3 am (I actually ordered at 2:45 am so camping out early did pay off), I was killing time and caught up on some articles from http://the99percent.com/ where as they say, "It's not about ideas. It's about making ideas happen."

Their article on How to Control Your "Check In" Addiction was timely as I move away from the already aptly named Crackberry/Blackberry to Wonderful World of Apps IPhone.  Will my need to "check in" be worse than ever?  I'm already trying to be better at disconnecting myself both mentally and physically from my hell phone.  Now will all the shiny newness and more information to absorb will I have taken 1 step forward and 12 steps back?  Only time will tell I suppose.

If you're in the same boat and want to get more in tune to why we feel the need to "check in" so much, check out the How to Control Your "Check In" Addiction article.  (Yes, you can read it from your phone if you must.)  Here's the intro, which definitely make my face turn red as I felt completely called out on my "Check In" addiction.

"Have you ever been caught sleeping with your mobile device? Perhaps checking your email first-thing in the morning when you’re still in bed? Given what we know about the emotional voids that are fulfilled by our electronic devices - the search for thrill, the alleviation of anxiety and panic - our intense attachment makes sense. When we wake up we want to be greeted. When we fall asleep we want to do so knowing that all is well. The mobile phone has become the security blanket of the 21st century."  Read the full How to Control Your "Check In" Addiction article here.

Take care of your employees and you take care of your business. A lesson from John Mackey.

This morning I was reading my newsletter from the Harvard Business Review and a new interview title caught my eye, "What Is It That Only I Can Do?".  I took the bait and clicked.  The article highlights the co-founder and co-CEO of Whole Foods, John Mackey.  I watched the short video (included above) and really resonated with what Mackey has to say about management's job at Whole Foods.  Even if you're a solo business owner, this still applies to you!  Mackey says it's to:

- Hire Good People

- Make sure they are Well-Trained inTheir Work

- So That They Flourish in the Workplace and Give Great Customer Service

Seems like common sense. right?  I thought so until I recalled the traditional jobs I've had (working for someone else) where every time it was "sink or swim".  As in, you figure it out and see if you can make it work here.  Also, that it's up to you to determine what makes this place unique and better than our competitors.  Both of those, in hindsight, were a big no-no. 

One of our favorite tasks at Aglow is doing a strategy session for this very reason.  It gives us a chance to help businesses (of any size) really see who they are in the marketplace and what they plan to accomplish while there (and yes, you need to be specific).  Then we really encourage our clients to share and implement these ideas with their team.  When your team can better speak to what you do (and it should be the same message no matter who tells it) and know what you're looking for (rockin' clients that can't wait to use you), they can spend more time building your business rather than trying to figure out exactly what it is you do.