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How small business owners can manage stress

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No matter who you are, at times, as a small business owner, you will get stressed.

It’s how you deal with it that counts.

Which has me thinking. I am what I affectionately call a “stress pet”. Someone, who stresses a lot. If not daily, bi-daily. I find things to stress about that sometimes deserve my attention, and then others that certainly don’t.

Managing stress has always been an issue and I have over time tried everything. But just like any diet, or new health regime, you need to keep with it long after the actual decision to do it in the first place and constantly remind yourself that it is something that requires ongoing work, not just a quick fix.

Firstly, I am no expert. I am in fact the person who you DON’T WANT TO BE LIKE.

I stress out, my hair falls out and my back aches. I know what to do when that happens, but it’s more important to put mechanisms in place so that this happens less and less.

What can you and I do to manage our stress levels as small business owners?

Identify what leads to stress

  • By knowing what triggers stress in you, you are able to quickly take action and minimise it occuring.

Minimise getting stressed

  • Resist trying to be perfect and expecting everyone else around you to be the same
  • Be positive and see the positive in every situation even when sometimes you have to dig really deep to work out what it is
  • Clean up your work environment, your home and anything else that surrounds you. Clutter has a way of weighing us down
  • Eat well; if you are anything like me, when I eat ‘bad food’ it changes my mood, motivation and ability to have energy. I am also allergic to a number of foods, and when I have some of the minor allergy foods that are on my “NOT TO EAT” list, I instantly feel sick and it affects my whole state of being.
  • Drink loads of water and cleanse your body
  • Get a facial and/or massage regularly
  • Meditate and do yoga
  • Breathe and take time out every day to take 20 deep breaths.
  • Laugh until you cry and hang out with people who bring out the best in you
  • Take vitamins
  • Exercise to take your mind of things. It really is amazing how good exercise is for you.

When it’s too late, and you have already crossed the STRESS line, here are some things that may help:

  • Breathe and keep breathing – deep, long breaths.
  • Visualise calm
  • Use a Rescue Remedy spray or similar. One spray under your tongue does wonders.
  • Re-organise yourself.
  • Stop over commiting and ring up people that you have committed to that are not mission critical and postpone.
  • Remind yourself that you have choices; You can say ‘yes’ and you can say ‘no’.
  • Light a candle and play soothing music
  • Create a balanced schedule
  • Take time out; a holiday, a walk in the park or to the beach – it will do wonders
  • Wait to communicate back with people: Someone said to me today that a way to stop stressing is to “wag your tail more, and stop barking” – too true!
  • Be thankful for the things you have. Write them down and visualise how lucky you are.
  • React slower and with more thought
  • Work from home, instead of going into the office
  • Talk to someone – a shrink is aways a good idea. 1 hour of downloading your problems without someone putting your down, throwing stones or giving their uneducated opinion.
  • Get a good nights sleep.

I hope this is helpful to some of you. I know I am ticking off the list, as I type!

Here’s to a stress-free life!

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Entrepreneur

5 Minutes With a Green Technology Entrepreneur @ Charleston Airport

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Brian Heather is a serial entrepreneur; young, dynamic, good looking and with a real social conscience. Not only is he in the business of sustainable building, landscaping and water proofing, this 30 year old business man is changing the landscape of green buliding.

It may be a buzz word to many, but let me assure you, being green is more than meets the eye. Brian is a much sought after entrepreneur who has landed himself in the spotlight with his inaugural Ted Talk on June 23 on “The importance of reconnecting our cities to nature”.

His business, Solterra Systems, is a fully licensed electrical, landscaping and waterproofing company that focuses on integrating environmental technology into buildings.

This can range from green roofs where you are producing food, to rain screen siding systems that protect the building from the elements with plants.

But enough about that, how can we connect our cities to nature. Here’s what he had to say:

What can communities be doing more of to connect their cities to nature?

The first step is attaching an ROI to the benefits associated with being in nature for all humans. For example, they estimate that the average American spends 26% of the day being distracted whether its a text message or an advertisement – but right now technology is very much a part of what we do – and so, if we just look at businesses for example, there is a loss of productivity in the workplace and people have in general very un-balanced lives.

 

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Human Resources

Yusen Logistics – Forward Thinking

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Yusen Logistics offers a full spectrum of integrated logistics functions designed to give customers a better experience.

Japanese-owned company Yusen Logistics, which commenced operations in Australia in its current form on 1 April 2011, is actually a merger of two logistics companies that have operated in Australia for almost 25 years.

The merger between freight forwarder Yusen Air & Sea Service and domestic logistics company NYK Logistics was simply the result of business sense – it occurred when parent company NYK Group realised that, after 2008’s global financial crisis, having one integrated logistics arm was better than two competing ones.

The resulting contract logistics and international freight forwarding company offers a full range of end-to-end supply chain solutions, including ocean freight forwarding, air freight forwarding, customer brokerage and tariff consultancy, as well as supplier management. Its network is similarly comprehensive, linked together by operational bases in 36 countries worldwide.

General manager of business development Grant Gurney has been with Yusen Logistics Australia through the Yusen Air & Sea Service side since 1999 and thus seen it grow from being a “reasonably small freight forwarding company” to a “major player in the market place”.

“Yusen Air & Sea Service opened in 1988 as a fairly small operation in Sydney and Melbourne, offering freight forwarding and customs brokerage services,” he explains. “Since then the business has grown mainly through organic growth, to a stage where we employ close to 100 people in the freight forwarding division. We’ve since opened in Brisbane and our turnover has increased markedly.”

All in one

In the spirit of being a combination of two initially separate companies, Yusen Logistics has ensured none of its services are separate either.

Gurney claims Yusen Logistics’ “total integration of services” is one of its greatest points of difference. “A number of our competitors have the same range of services as we do, however in many cases their different logistics functions are run as separate companies under the one holding company,” he says.

“In Yusen Logistics, all of our functional logistics services come from the one business. This ensures better commercial offerings, better operational service and better administrative procedures, which lead to a better overall experience for our customers in all areas.”

Yusen Logistics’ complete management of processes on the freight forwarding side is supported by 1-Stop Connections, who supplies the information required for its import and export operations. “Our use of 1-Stop includes an important software tool that allows us to make and receive payments from fellow community members, thereby speeding up the exchange of documents and funds without the need to physically transfer paperwork,” Gurney says.

Positive change

Another of Yusen Logistics’ competitive advantages is said to lie in following a philosophy originating from the company’s country of birth.

“Kaizen is a Japanese word that, loosely translated, means ‘change for good’,” Gurney explains. “It is not just a program that we run to fulfil our customer’s expectations around continuous improvement, but a core principle of the way we do business.”

In accordance with the philosophy of Kaizen, Yusen Logistics staff are trained and encouraged to look constantly for ways to improve efficiencies. “In this way we can assure our customers that we are doing everything possible to help them in areas including safety, quality, environment, increasing efficiency and decreasing costs,” says Gurney.

For several years now, Yusen Logistics has also followed a “very strong” environmental policy. “In terms of not just having an environmental policy but in living by it, we would be at least the equal of our competitors, if not ahead of them,” he adds.

Catching the wave

Over the next three-to-five years, Yusen Logistics will focus on further developing its ocean freight forwarding services – a “growing area” according to Gurney. “Down to pressure from consumers to lower costs, a lot of businesses are transitioning from air freight to ocean freight movement – so a large range of products that were formerly transported by air are now moving by ocean,” he explains.

Using this strategy, and supported by its full spectrum of services and a dedication to continuous improvement, Yusen Logistics hopes to weather increasing consumer pressure to achieve “sustainable growth” across all facets of the business. “Our overall objective is to become a top-five international freight-forwarding company within the next three years,” Gurney says. “And it’s tracking in the right direction.”

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Travel

Like Nothing On Earth – Vail Resort

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At 5,289 acres, Vail, the largest ski and snowboard resort in the United States certainly lives up to its reputation. With breath-taking views of the surrounding mountains and warm, inviting ambience of Old World European-styled villages, it is said to be the “Disney World” of all ski resorts. The town of Vail sprawls over 4.5 square miles and is centred around two villages- Vail Village and Lionshead. The luxurious resort features an abundance of first class hotels, shops and restaurants. Vail has three main mountain regions; The Front Side, The Back Bowls and The Blue Sky Basin.

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Entrepreneur

The building blocks of B2B

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B2B relationships can often be fleeting, even transient. But not at VIPS International – the business is continuing to go from strength to strength, with an impressive history of client retention.

The Australian company boasts big-name clients including retail household names Estee Lauder, Nestle, Sportsgirl and Sussan, who have all been partnering with VIPS International for at least a decade.

Since taking over the company in the 1990s, executive director Douglas Dick has turned the business around, expanding to South Africa and New Zealand in recent years.

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Lifestyle

Recognising and Managing Stress: A Guide to Emotional Balance

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Stress is common, yet it is seldom given the recognition that it deserves. Research has proven that 70 per cent of stress injury claims were directly caused by workplace relations. Often people do not even realise that they are stressed, as the signs vary amongst individuals and can be difficult to determine.

Are you out of emotional balance? If you are experiencing a period of change in your life, or feeling under pressure, listen to your body to determine if there are any irregularities that you have noticed.

Even if you acknowledge that you are stressed, you cannot mentally block it out. Your body is clever and it turns stress from an emotional reaction to a physical problem. To individuals, stress can be seen as a heightened state of emotion while, to doctors, it can be any combination of anxiety, mood changes and low energy levels. Therefore, it is important to seek a professional diagnosis and avoid the temptation to self-diagnose.

There are some key symptoms and behaviours that suggest you are out of emotional balance and may need to take treatment-focused steps.

Sleep problems are a clear sign of stress and chronic sleep deprivation is a serious health issue. Early morning wakening can be linked to depression, while the inability to fall asleep, is often linked to anxiety.

Stress and anxiety can also lead to changes in behaviour such as a loss of libido and greater reliance on alcohol or recreational drugs to lift moods and relax. In addition, an increase of risky behavior, including gambling, binge drinking and sexual promiscuity are signs of amplified stress levels. High levels of stress can deplete the immune system which increases the frequency of colds and flus, particularly during the colder months.

The first and most important step is to exclude high blood pressure. It is a common misconception that anxiety and stress can cause high blood pressure when the truth is, that high blood pressure (which is usually hereditary) can cause feelings of stress. If untreated, high blood pressure significantly increases risk of strokes and heart disease.

Type 2 diabetes is another ailment which may go undetected with symptoms that appear similar to stress, causing mood changes, irritability and tiredness.

While stress can be crippling, there are some simple measures that can be introduced to your daily routine to help to improve your sense of inner balance and cope with emotional stress. An increase in aerobic exercise (a minimum of 20 minutes of sustained exercise such as walking, biking or swimming) is the most potent and effective stress reliever. It provides the added benefits of lowering blood pressure, weight, glucose and cholesterol levels, as well as boosting natural endorphins. Activities such as meditation or yoga can relieve inner tensions, while also building overall strength, both mentally and physically.

Through improved sleep hygiene, the potential for a restful night significantly improves. Alcohol and recreational drug intake affects the quality of your sleep and may impact upon your emotional state.

Pressures from family, work and finances have the tendency to cause stress for us all. However it is the way in which you respond to stress that is important. The most critical step is to listen to your body and recognise that stress is a normal human reaction to life’s challenges and it is ok to ask for help. The best place to start is your local GP.

With medical knowledge spanning more than 30 years, Dr Michael Olenski specialises in preventative medicine and early disease diagnosis at Iris Medical. He has practiced as a general practitioner since 1984, taking on a preventative approach to medicine over the past 10 years. In addition to working in a medical practice, Dr Olenski has also previously hosted a national medical talkback program on Triple M in 1993, winning an award from the AIDS Council of Victoria for his interview with an AIDS patient. He is also currently the backstage doctor for international performing artists at Melbourne’s top venues including the MCG, Rod Laver Arena, AAMI Stadium, Etihad Stadium, Palais Theatre and Festival Hall.

This story originally appeared in the Dec 2012/Jan 2013 edition of Australian Business Solutions magazine.

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Entrepreneur

Building an Empire at a Rate of Knots

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Founded in 1982, thirty years of solid industry experience has seen freight forwarding company VISA Global Logistics catapult from strength to strength.

Opening doors with the primary focus to ship containers from Italy to Australia, the company is now one of Australia’s largest privately-owned international freight forwarding firms.

Today, as the name suggests, VISA Global Logistics delivers fully-integrated solutions in global freight forwarding, customs brokerage, smart parcels, warehousing and transport & distribution services.

From the Italy to Australia trade route of yesteryear, the company’s network has grown, today spanning a well-established worldwide market in Australia, Europe, Asia and the US.

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Leadership

Top tips on how to keep your staff motivated

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A crucial element to the success of any business is to ensure your team stays engaged and driven to achieve. Without good people, you will likely have no business. You need to be on top of your game!

Incorporating the franchises Mr Whippy, Cold Rock, Pretzel World and Nut Shack, the Franchised Food Company CEO’s experience across the business in general and the franchise sector in particular, is extensive. Stan has a deep appreciation for the challenges which employers can be faced in providing and maintaining a desirable workplace for staff.

The savvy South African-born, Australian entrepreneur offers these top tips on how to get the best out of your employees, and reminds us that most of the time… it’s the little things that count.

Good working conditions
It is paramount that you create a positive space for your team. Team members need to feel comfortable and safe in their workplace, and they must be made to feel respected and valued. A friendly, and fun workplace is appreciated by most people and makes it easier to view work as a positive space – and let’s be honest, you spend a lot of hours there; so make it a good exciting place to be!

Lead by example
Creating a professional workplace with clear boundaries and guidelines is a great way to demonstrate workplace behaviour. Team members look up to their management to display strong leadership qualities to enable them to follow suit. Don’t expect your team to just ‘follow’ your management; there is a big difference between a good manager and a good leader. Be a good leader and you will instantly gain respect. Respect and mutual respect in the workplace is critical.

Common sense tells us that your team make up the ‘face of your brand’, so it is integral they are knowledgeable about your product or service and understand the company’s values. Don’t plan meetings where you talk to your team, but rather encourage interaction and input… No one likes to feel as though they are being lectured.

Communication
If your team do not feel valued or important to a company, their motivation to add value to a business will likely be at a minimum. Clear, concise and regular communication between everyone is essential to the success of an organisation, to ensure that everyone feels recognised and appreciated.

Effective communication with your team can be achieved through several mechanisms, such as regular meetings, where your team can ask questions and offer their input.

Have a ‘walking meeting’ with your team members, where you can walk and talk. This allows for the opportunity to chat with people in a non-confrontational environment, you get out in the open and even get a bit of exercise… Fresh air does wonders for creative thinking!

People naturally feel valued if they are listened to, their opinions are considered and if possible, implemented. Again, get in amongst it!

Once in a while, make an effort to interact with your team. Showing that you understand the distinct roles played out by each individual and acknowledging each person is an expert in their position can do wonders for the way you are perceived by your staff.

Training opportunities
Offer your team the opportunity to grow and develop themselves. Not only does this educate and keep them up-to-date with industry knowledge, developments, and other opportunities, but it can also give an insight into the bigger picture of running a business. Team members become more of an asset if training and development are maintained, and who knows, they might ever have the potential to be the next business owner… Something I genuinely relish!

Incentives
Offer your team a reason to work harder. Having incentives to not only keep team members interested in their job but to encourage them to work to their optimum, is a simple but effective idea. This can easily be achieved in several ways, including reward programs, staff discounts or special offers

It used to be that for those striving for an opportunity in the workplace, an incentive might be more responsibility or the opportunity to move into a more senior job role. Why not give time off in addition to annual holidays and provide ‘treat experiences’; like a day spa… or a ride in a Rolls Royce? These experiences are invaluable and something most people won’t do for themselves.

Do your research into what motivates your team members and understand that different things motivate different people. If you are prepared to tailor your incentives to individuals you will get the best results from your team.

Just remember, talk to your team, be there, get in amongst it and listen. It’s not hard to be a great leader!

Stan Gordon is the CEO of Franchised Food Company, the umbrella company that encompasses the brands Cold Rock, Mr Whippy, Pretzel World and Nut Shack.

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Entrepreneur

From paper to public

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Becoming an architect was a childhood dream come true for Melbourne designer Amnon Weber. While most children were dreaming of becoming firemen, superheroes or football players, he found himself constantly penning houses and buildings in his spare time.

Twenty years later, Mr Weber heads his own award-winning architecture and design firm, specialising in utilising cutting-edge technology for high-end residential and commercial projects. He still thinks back fondly on his high school days where he would put pen to paper and sketch out drawings.

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Entrepreneur

Eric Bailey – Overcoming Obstacles

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Eric Bailey is a man who knows about having obstacles in life.  Now a global success, entrepreneur and businessman he never forgets what he had to overcome to escape the harsh poverty he faced as a child on the streets of South Central Los Angeles.

In fact, he now spends his time travelling Australia and the globe, teaching, encouraging and inspiring those he meets about how to handle the challenges we all face in life.

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