If you are a business owner, you know that life can get pretty hectic. The day to day grind can get overwhelming and your patience starts to get shorter, your temper starts to flare more often and you find yourself snapping more than you usually do. Trust me I get it. This happens to all of us and it doesn’t mean you are a bad person. It just means that you are probably tired, you’re overwhelmed and in my case probably hungry.
It can be hard to remember to be kind and to go out of your way for others when you feel the weight of running a new business on your shoulders. Those small acts of kindness towards others can feel like the last thing you need to be worrying about when you’ve got a to-do list a mile long and not enough hours in the day. However, Nicole McGiboney looks at things a little differently. Nicole has built and structured her entire business around those small acts of kindness. As she put it, she “deals in the currency of happiness”.
Owning your own business can be fulfilling but utilizing your business for the power of good can be even more of an achievement. It can be hard sometimes, as Nicole admits, especially when life isn’t being too kind back. But working hard and being kind doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive. In this episode, Nicole taught me just that and amazed me with her generosity, ability to not take life too seriously and her incredible drive to create a successful business that not only makes money but gives back as well.
The Importance Of Giving Back:
Working philanthropy into her business was really important to Nicole and her business partner. They knew from the being that they wanted to use their skills and creativity to not only serve their clients but to give back to the community. I love this and believe that it is what makes a business really stand out. The heart behind what you’re doing is just as important as what you’re offering or creating.
If you want to give back and you feel that maybe you don’t have enough money to space then donate your time! Time and support are just as important as money and a lot of the time it’s what needed most. So don’t feel like you have nothing to offer if you aren’t a millionaire. There are tons of creative ways you can serve others that aren’t money.
Staying Top Of Mind:
SEO and marketing are great but one of the easiest, fastest and cheapest ways to gain new customers is by word of mouth. You would be surprised how many customers you will get by referral if you focus on staying top of mind. By top of mind, I don’t mean bugging or annoying your customers with tons of emails or phone calls or annoying sales pitches. Staying top of mind means that you are constantly ready and there to serve when you are needed. You don’t have to be “salesy” to do that. All you need to do is show up, offer usable and valuable content and information and be consistent.
This will keep you and your brand fresh in your customer’s mind and when they need your service or know someone else who might need your service, you will be the first person they think of to refer.
Utilize Collaborations:
Collaborating with other creatives is one of my favorite things to do. Nicole and I are both people that love trying new things and so collaborating with other artists for different projects allow us to learn a new skill but also not get derailed by “shiny object syndrome”. Obviously, you can’t do everything but you can collaborate on projects that will allow you to try something new while still staying in your lane.
Resource List:
Connections I have/need Facebook group
Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan- Be Nice Campaign
Get In Touch:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-mcgiboney-b7670a33/
