How can you relax , have a ton of summer fun and still keep your business thriving? In the spirit of the season, I looked to the burgeoning microbrewery industry to provide a few tips on how to focus our energy to leave us time to enjoy the summer sun. (with 50 spf of course)
1/ Focus on your vision
The microbrewing industry knows that producing hand-crafted beer that is unique and flavorful is what sets them apart from the mass production of the large national breweries. That vision is never watered down. To succeed in a competitive market, they must keep that vision clearly focused and laser-like.
What is most important for you this summer and how does it connect with your vision?
How can you keep your focus laser-like on the things that are really foundational for your life and business this summer?
2/ Produce small batches
Reduce your production this summer and focus on quality, not quantity. A microbrewery produces a limited amount of beer and holds quality as its ultimate goal. Examine your summer commitments and drill down to those that will make the most difference right now. Trying to do it all will only burn you out and make you feel resentful, especially as you stay cooped up in your office on a bright summer day.
3/ Introduce unique ingredients
A microbrewed beer is only as good as its ingredients. Brewmasters create unique taste sensations by experimenting with adding all kinds of ingredients such as wheat, raspberries, oranges, coriander, and lavender, to name a few.
Summer is a great time to experiment with adding some new ingredients to your life or business. There is something about summertime that makes us naturally more open to any possibility. What could you experiment with? Be creative! Bring your most creative self to your small batch.
4/ Keep the passion
Brewmasters are artisans, always with an eye to craftsmanship and keeping their passion front and center. Every beer reflects the unique qualities of each brew house and brewmaster.
Although the volume of your summer work activity may be reduced, you can keep the passion burning inside by using the season to creatively think about, restore and affirm what and why you do what you do. Dream about it as you float on your air mattress, talk about your passion at the neighborhood BarBQ, and re-inspire yourself as you write in your journal while lounging on your chaise.
5/Add humor
For some reason, most microbreweries have a healthy sense of humor (must be the hops!). This sense of fun shows up in their beer crafting, and also in their creative naming of beers (how about the Bombshell Blonde Ale, the Faceplant Winter Ale, the Sasquatch Stout), and their beer slogans (like the Dead Frog Brewery's "Nothing goes down like a cold dead frog" or Buffalo Bill's Alimony Ale billed as "the bitterest beer in America"). My all time favorite has to be the Georgia Brown ale from Atlanta, whose hilarious label slogan is "Smoother than a Bill Clinton apology."
Jan Carley
www.creativecoachinggroup.com
