The header really set me up there. What reruns of MasterChef taught me about running a business. Reruns of MasterChef? Really, Suger? MASTERCHEF!? But it’s true. Lately, I’ve been playing old episodes of MasterChef while I work and it’s permeated my brain. But from this Zombie-Level addiction has taught me a few things about business that I wanted to share.
Consider this a business guide for growth and learning extracted from my brain at midnight. Refined in the morning and sent out into the world. When you look around you, keep your eyes open, you can be inspired by anything in your business and in your life. This is one of those times. Enjoy the post, and if you know someone who might like to read it, I’d love for you to pass it on!
Ready? Business Tips from MasterChef.
Be Inventive
Everyone loves a good mystery box or invention test, right? The same goes for your business. Take a look at the ingredients you have to cook with, your Instagram feed, Facebook page or mailing list, and work out how to use them differently. Don’t just keep doing the same old thing that you’ve always done. That your competitor has always done. Find a new approach, learn a new technique and mix things up.
Start and things will fall into place
There’s a contestant who stands and reads the recipe for the fourth time. The rest of the contestants shout that he needs to get moving. They’re right. He has a plan, an idea of where he’s going, but you can’t get caught up in the starting block. Sometimes what you need to do is start. Like my YouTube channel. I had to learn a lot as I went along, I’m still learning, believe me, but if I’d never started I wouldn’t know that. I’d still be right back at the starting line with nothing to show for it.
Go beyond where you are now
As humans, some of us that overestimate our abilities and some of us who underestimate. If you tend to underestimate your abilities it can be easy to slip into your comfort zone and stay there. But, the good stuff happens outside those boundaries; you have to go outside your limits. Keep pushing, trying and experimenting. You think you’ve gotten as good as you can get? Think again, there’s always room to improve. You never know what is going to come next and where your new normal might be.
Collaborate
Business can be a lonely gig. Especially if you rise to the top of your industry or work in an isolated environment like most of us interweb types. But like the weekly Group Challenges teaches us, no woman is an island. Look for ways to collaborate with others, reach out and work in a team when you can. Not only will it fulfil whatever social need you might have, but you might just learn something new.
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So, what say you, team? Is there something in there that you can take away with you? I’d love to hear how YOU are applying these ideas and strategies to your blog or business. For me? I’m going to finalise the email I have sitting in draft proposing a collaboration project I’ve been thinking about since late last year. I’m going to reach out and see where I end up. What about you?
Photo by Daria Nepriakhina on Unsplash
Hi! I’m Melissa Walker Horn. Around here, they call me Suger. I’m the Chief Blogger and doer of all the things here at Suger Coat It. Blogging since 1901; I love a casual ootd, taking photos, and writing about things that irk or inspire me. I love wine and cheese, long days at the beach and spending time with my family. I make stuff for the internet over at Chalkboard Digital. You know, living the sweet life.
This is excellent advice, Melissa! I especially like Be Inventive. They’re the words I need to hear today. And I am totally there with just starting. Starting is always the biggest challenge for me, and I forget that it’s always easier to keep going once you’ve taken that first step!
#teamIBOT
Thank you, Kylie! Starting can be a problem for me too. Once I’m there, I’m on a roll, but it can be a real struggle to get going.
That is all great advice, I absolutely need to be more inventive! #teamIBOT
Thank you, Claire. I hear you, after all these years I need to approach things with a little more inventiveness.
I feel like I’ve been too inventive (with my non bloggy stuff). Am seriously getting blank stares from people. Apparently you can’t be proactive and freelance and virtual. Frustration, party of one.
I wouldn’t worry about people too much. Unless they’re your clients and they’re not getting it. Might be time to make a change if that’s it. Haha. But otherwise, meh, you do you.