In today's fast-paced and often chaotic world, finding serenity can feel like an elusive goal. The constant barrage of information, the demands of modern life, and the ever-increasing pace of technology can leave us feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from our inner sense of calm.

But finding serenity is not a distant dream; it's a state of being that we can cultivate and nurture,

So, here are some techniques that help me tremendously. I'm sharing them with you, hoping they can also help you.

1. Practice the 5-Senses Grounding Technique

When I’m too excited about something or am stressed out, and my brain is going 90 mph, practicing these grounding techniques helps me. I’ll find a quiet space to focus intently on these five steps, moving slowly from one to the next.
​

1. Acknowledge FIVE things you see around you
2. Acknowledge FOUR things you can touch around you.
3. Acknowledge THREE things you hear.
4. Acknowledge TWO things you can smell.
5. Acknowledge ONE thing you can taste.

You’ll hopefully feel calmer and more present in your circumstances when you finish.

2. Share Your Life with Friends

If you’re anything like me, I work from home with no one but my dogs to keep me company during the day. The isolation can sometimes get to me.

Since I am an external processor, I make it a point to reach out and share my life with friends to have in-depth, authentic conversations. Doing so helps me to stay more centered. And even in times of excitement, sharing your recent experiences with friends can be fun. That can even uplift them!

3. Practice Journaling

I’ve been journaling since my late 20s, and it has been my lifeline. If you have a myriad of emotions you’re experiencing, working through those with pen and paper can be therapeutic. It’s certainly been that way for me.

And there’s proof of how powerful journaling can be. Studies show that journaling can reduce the adverse effects of stress, decrease the symptoms of chronic health conditions, improve clarity, and help with problem-solving.

If you’re unsure how to start, there’s no set formula. Just start! You don’t have to think about what you’re going to say. Just let the words flow.


I hope these tips will help you reduce your stress levels. If you have a chance to try them out, I’d love to hear how they worked for you!

# # #

Speaking of stress, are you facing challenges in your organization that seem unsolvable?

That’s where I love to come in! As a business transformation expert, I enjoy helping organizations solve their most pressing problems.

If you’re interested in learning more, I’d love to hop on a quick phone or Zoom call to help point you in the right direction.

Click the button below to get started!

With all the uncertainty many businesses are facing in today’s post-pandemic world, organizations are looking at ways to improve their bottom lines, especially if they can do it themselves.

One great way to do that is to streamline business processes; however, many of these same organizations don’t know what tools to use for going about this, outside of hiring a consultant. 

If that’s you, then check this out the following list of 10 DIY steps for streamlining how your team accomplishes work.

1. Choose the Process Improvement (PI) Project

Decide where you want to start. Tackling a smaller project at first is a good idea, particularly if your staff doesn’t have the bandwidth or PI experience. Otherwise, you can choose a more challenging project.

2. Define & Document Project Scope

Determine the plan for improving the process and the timeframe you want to accomplish it in. Define it in as much detail as possible to prevent scope creep. 

3. Map the Process

Bring together your Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to document the workflow based on the “Current State” of the process. It’s important to have someone facilitate this activity who is experienced in process mapping; otherwise, the basis of your whole project could be built on a faulty foundation.

4. Estimate Process & Cycle Times

Estimate time frames and costs associated with the steps in the process. This is done to highlight areas where inefficiencies exist and unnecessary resources are being utilized.

5. Review the Process Map

Do this to ensure accuracy and completeness of the map, making sure that the process matches reality. The end goal is to get buy-in from your SMEs.

6. Improve the Process

Look at each section of the map to identify problems. The team needs to brainstorm and determine the most efficient way to perform the process that results in the most ideal outcomes for the customer. It’s also good to look at whether another person or team can more efficiently perform certain steps.

7. Develop Metrics, Controls & Tools

Determine areas you want to measure and create metrics around those areas. Develop tools and documentation to support the process, and develop a plan to control/prevent process deviations. 

8. Test & Revise the Process

“Try Storm” the process. Take a mock run through to see if it functions as intended. If it doesn’t, make adjustments so the work will flow as intended.

9. Prep for Process Roll-Out

Do these three things to ensure a successful roll-out and better process adoption:
​

1. Make sure it’s thoroughly documented so that end users can properly follow it
2. Create a Communication Plan so end users are aware of the new process you’re rolling out
3. Train them so they’ll know how to use it

​10. Drive an Organizational Continuous Improvement Mindset

Create an expectation in the organization that you’ll continue to improve processes on a regular basis. It’s definitely not a one-time event, and driving CI starts at the top!

For those of you who would like to download an infographic of these same steps, click here.

# # #

How many of you, after reading this list, are thinking that there’s no way you can undertake this on your own, without outside help?

Perhaps there are some of you who might be a bit mind-blown like Aston Kutcher in this video, when you think about trying to do this on your own.

Then consider this--as a process improvement expert, that’s right up my alley! I’d love to hear all about your challenges and help you brainstorm solutions.

If that sounds good, click the button below to schedule a chat!

​It goes without saying how important it is to have effective sales and marketing processes. However, many organizations struggle with how to improve them. Ultimately, it involves a combination of strategies, techniques, and continuous optimization efforts.

Here are 15 steps you can take to enhance your sales and marketing processes:

1. Define Your Target Audience

Identify your ideal customers and create detailed buyer personas. It’s essential to understand their needs, pain points, and preferences.

2. Set Clear Goals and Objectives

Define Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) goals for your sales and marketing efforts. Doing so helps align your teams and measure progress.

3. Implement a CRM System

Use a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to effectively organize and manage customer data, track interactions, and drive leads and opportunities.

4. Content Marketing

Develop high-quality, relevant content that educates, informs, and engages your target audience. Doing so can include blog posts, videos, infographics, and more.

5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Optimize your website and content for search engines to improve organic search visibility and attract more relevant traffic.

6. Social Media Marketing

Utilize social media platforms to connect with your audience, share valuable content, and build brand awareness.

7. Email Marketing

Create personalized and segmented email campaigns to nurture leads, provide valuable information, and promote your products or services.

8. Sales Funnel Optimization

Map out your sales funnel and identify areas where potential customers might drop out. Optimize each stage of the funnel to increase conversion rates.

9. Lead Generation

Use inbound and outbound strategies to generate leads, such as content marketing, social media, paid advertising, and networking.

10. Sales Training and Enablement

Provide ongoing training and resources to your sales team to improve their skills, product knowledge, and ability to effectively communicate with potential customers.

11. Marketing Automation

Implement marketing automation tools to streamline repetitive tasks, nurture leads, and deliver personalized content at scale.

12. Data Analysis and Measurement

Regularly analyze Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track the effectiveness of your sales and marketing efforts. Use data to make informed decisions and optimize strategies.

13. Collaboration Between Sales and Marketing

Foster effective communication and collaboration between your sales and marketing teams. Alignment between these two departments is crucial for a seamless customer journey.

14. Customer Feedback and Refinement

Collect and analyze customer feedback to understand their needs and preferences. It’s essential to continuously refine your processes based on this feedback.

15. Stay Updated with Industry Trends

Keep up-to-date with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in sales and marketing to stay ahead of the competition.


Remember, improving sales and marketing processes is an ongoing effort. Organizations that regularly assess your strategies, test new approaches, and adapt to changes in the market will be well on their way to more sustainable growth and success!

# # #

An excellent way to improve your sales and marketing processes is to use a CRM that integrates the two, one that seamlessly performs most of the abovementioned approaches.

One Inbox is such a system. It replaces 15+ apps like Mailchimp, Calendly, Click Funnels, Kajabi, and Wix. And it does it all at a fraction of the cost of these apps and comparable CRMs.

To learn more, click the button below to schedule a demo!

By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Business Solutions