1. Show up – Seriously Happy business owners show up, and they show up often. Whether your main method of marketing is sending out newsletters, blogging, creating FB ads, or attending networking events, the key is to be prolific. Sharing your message often, like blogging weekly, will get you a lot further than posting one blog a year. Find a platform you can commit too, then show up on it at least twice as often as you are now.

2. Track your time – Seriously Happy business owners know where their time goes. If you want to grow as a business (and make sure you are charging your customers the right amount), then you’d better know where your time is going! Find an app and start tracking your time. You’ll not only be more efficient but future you will thank you when it’s time to hire and you are ready to pay someone to do every single task you do every day!

3. Set communication standards – Seriously Happy business owners set the rules, and expect their clients to follow them. If you communicate with your clients by text, FB messenger, email, phone, and who knows how many other platforms then you risk losing information, missing messages, and driving yourself crazy! Pick your two favorite platforms and let your customers know that that is how they can reach you. You’ll not only have less chaos in your life, but you’ll look more professional too (because you are setting the rules!).

4. Plan your week – Seriously Happy business owners have a plan for their day, their week, and their years. Before the start of each business week make a list of all the design work you need to do, the small business tasks you need to take care of, and at least one big business goal-related job you need to do that week. The design work will get you paid, while the small task list will help you put those random 15 minutes you have here and there to work, and having One Big Task on your weekly list will help you make progress towards the Big Goals.

5. Get rest – This one doesn’t really need spelling out, does it? Seriously Happy business owners know when enough is enough, and when it’s time to turn off the devices and turn out the lights so the brain can reboot. When you don’t get enough sleep you can’t be as effective. So be honest with yourself about how much sleep you need every night, and make the changes you need to in order to get that shut-eye!

6. Practice your message – Pop Quiz! What do you do? Seriously Happy business owners know the value of their service, and they are excited to help people. Of course, that only works out if people know what you do! If you find yourself at a neighborhood barbecue or a holiday party and folks ask you what you do, do you have a handy, not-too-forced way of describing what you do? If you tend to revert to just your title you are missing a great opportunity to let people know you have an awesome service they might want. Get your message potluck-ready so you are never caught off-guard.

7. Get exercise – Yah, you saw this one coming, too, didn’t you? But really, Seriously Happy business owners know that without blood flow there is no brain flow, so get up and move. Often. In fact, don’t read the rest of this until you stand up and stretch, or at least take a deep, head-clearing breath. Doesn’t that feel better?

8. Say yes – Seriously Happy business owners say “yes!” often. They see opportunities and (instead of letting fear stop them) they have the courage to take on the challenge. You never know where something will lead!

9. Say no – Seriously Happy business owners also say “no” often. They recognize that every time they say “yes” that means saying no to something else (because there is only so much time in a day) so while they embrace opportunities, they also use their Core Values and Big Picture Goals to help them know what, and who, to say no to, creating room for taking care of their clients, their team, and themselves.

10. Take action – Above all, Seriously Happy business owners act. They break Big Goals into small, achievable tasks and maintain steady momentum towards those Big Goals. Even in the face of fear they take a big breath, say “I Got This,” and take a baby step into their future.

BONUS: Celebrate! If you are always doing doing doing, then you’ll miss the chance to celebrate the things you’ve actually done. Seriously Happy business owners know that it can’t be all work and no play! So be goal-oriented, but take a moment every day to toast what you’ve accomplished, from the big things like landing a big client, to the little things like fixing the typo on your website. You deserve a pat on the back for all your hard work! Bravo!

Whether you are on top of your game, treading water, or seriously drowning, having a coach and mentor by your side can help you sort through all the ideas, stay focused on your goals, leap-frog over obstacles, and get to your next level of success faster. I’m here if you need me!