Chaos Busters 3-2-1 Action

How do you communicate with clients during a crisis? Does it matter how you communicate with clients during a crisis? Client communication is vital during a crisis. A business crisis is not a new term in the business world because unexpected events happen daily. The current COVID-19 pandemic is a unique one since it affects businesses worldwide simultaneously and in an almost similar manner. It is both a social and financial crisis for companies and employees. The persistent spread of the pandemic is changing the way we work, live, and how we interact, thrusting business leaders and employees into new territory. During this uncertain period, businesses must ensure that communication is ongoing, accurate, and transparent.  In October 2020, a crisis struck my business. Cancer struck in our family, and the lens tightened into survival. I had recently hired new staff and had just onboarded a new client. Here are three thoughts to provoke you, two ideas to inspire you, and one item to act on!   Read more at olindaservices.com/blog

In today’s podcast, we ask, “What can we learn from crisis? Can it teach us about our leadership style and our business resilience?” A strong vision, courage, integrity, humility, strategic planning, team management, and focus make a good leader. Great leaders find the balance between business foresight, performance, and character. So, when there is a crisis, the team would expect the leader to use all of these qualities to inspire them and offer direction. Your business can be faced with crises like COVID-19, service failure, or PR damage. How you respond says more about who you are and how you lead, than it does about the problem itself. It is challenging and emotionally disturbing with a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic strikes. This type of crisis has never happened before and was sudden. The pandemic is unfamiliar and uncertain; there is a need for effective responses and strategic behavior from business owners. Business owners learn from crises and they should develop a fundamental crisis response plan. You can find out more about developing a business crisis plan by visiting my website, olindaservices.com/blog, and search for the keywords “business crisis.” Today let us focus on what a crisis reveals about our leadership style and business resilience.  Here are three thoughts to provoke you, two ideas to inspire you, and one item to act on!

What to do after a business crisis! Look at these possible scenarios; It is Monday morning, and your computer refuses to start.  Your son hugs you and knocks over your cup of coffee - all over your laptop! You get a call that Dad is in the hospital with a heart attack.  Someone is intentionally writing bad reviews about your business, and you have done everything to make it right.  All businesses deal with crises at some point. These could be a data breach, IT shutdown, brand damage, data loss, or even a global pandemic like the current COVID-19. A business crisis can be anything that is a significant disruption to your workflow or normal daily operations. These situations can impact a business, whether large or small. Depending on the intensity of the crisis, there could be loss of existing and potential clients, damage to business credibility, reducing operations, and threatening employee's lives. At worst, it could lead to your business closing. Without proper strategies and plans to deal with a crisis, it is not easy to recover. Several weeks ago, we spoke about planning for a crisis. How important it is to have a plan B.  Plan Thoroughly Crisis Management Plan Communication is Vital Now let's look at the next phase. Today let us focus on strategies to get back into action after a crisis. Here are three thoughts to provoke you, two ideas to inspire you, and one item to act on!

Coping with Grief While Running Your Business Grief is an unwelcome visitor who arrives without invitation, disrupting life as we know it. It presents an even greater challenge for business owners—how do you keep things running when your heart feels broken? This topic is deeply personal to me. I recorded this episode of Chaos Busters 3-2-1 Action after my mother passed away on November 30, 2020. It hit me hard. The grief wasn't just emotional; it impacted my focus, my ability to make decisions, and even my energy to run my business. On top of that, as the executor of her estate, I found myself driving 600 miles every six weeks to manage responsibilities I had never encountered before. It was overwhelming. In this episode, I share my raw and honest experience of navigating grief while running a business—a topic many avoid, yet so many of us will face at some point in our careers. Grief Takes Many Forms While I speak about the loss of my mother, grief isn't limited to losing a parent. It can stem from: The loss of a child, spouse, or close friend The passing of a beloved client or mentor Even the loss of a business relationship I have been surprised at how deeply I grieve the loss of a client. When you work closely with someone, they become a part of your routine, your world. Their absence is felt, just like any loss. It reminds me of something Star Trek's Data once said: "As I experience certain sensory input patterns, my mental pathways become accustomed to them. The input is eventually anticipated, and even missed when absent." This quote resonates with me. The people we interact with—whether in business or in life—become woven into our daily experience. Their absence creates an emptiness that is hard to fill. How Do You Keep Moving Forward? Grief has no set timeline. It doesn't disappear after a few weeks or months. But as business owners, we often don't have the luxury of stepping away indefinitely. Here are a few things I learned along the way: 1️⃣ Give Yourself Grace – Productivity won't look the same, and that's okay. Prioritize what truly needs to get done and let the rest wait. 2️⃣ Lean on Systems and Support – If you have a team, delegate. If you don't, consider outsourcing small tasks. Simplify your workload where you can. 3️⃣ Take Breaks Without Guilt – Grief is exhausting. Step away when needed, whether for a short walk, journaling, or resting. 4️⃣ Connect with Others Who Understand—Don't grieve in isolation, whether it's a coach, a support group, or close friends. 5️⃣ Honor the Loss—If you have lost a loved one, client, or mentor, find a way to remember them. A simple ritual, a written tribute, or continuing their legacy in some way can be healing. You're Not Alone If you're navigating grief while trying to keep a business running, know you're not alone. This podcast episode is my way of saying, I see you. I understand. Join me for this heartfelt conversation on Chaos Busters 3-2-1 Action. I hope it brings comfort, validation, and a reminder that even in grief, we can find a way forward—one step at a time. Sometimes, We Need Someone to Listen If you're struggling and need to talk, please know you don't have to go through this alone. Sometimes, we need someone to listen. Feel free to email me or schedule a free call—I'd love to be your listening ear. 📩 Email me at lisa@olindaservices.com 📅 Schedule a free call here: https://lisaolinda.consulting/listen You are seen. You are supported. And you don't have to navigate this alone. 💙

Running your business during a crisis: Are you set up to succeed? Here are the 5 Most Powerful Ways to Run A Business During A Crisis! Unexpected events can wreak havoc on any business, large or small. Crises such as global pandemics or dealing with an IT system failure can paralyze a business. We have daily calamities, like personal illness, a key staff member's illness, or even the death of a loved one.   To contain any of these crises will involve various approaches and agile measures to ensure its continued existence and survival. Crisis management is a skill and requires personal qualities for efficient execution.  The COVID-19 pandemic has tested many businesses and taught us unforgettable lessons. In some areas, the pandemic continues ravaging. As a business owner, let's reflect and ask ourselves these two questions:  Number one, what is my Plan B? Number two, do I have a strategy on how I will manage my business in a crisis?" Today let us focus on ways to do business with dignity, integrity, and respect during crises leading to success.

Today's podcast is #2 of the series, Work Less, Earn More. If you are feeling the pain of overwhelm, download my gift to you! 7 Secrets to Working Less and Earning More at olindaservices.news/7secretsgift. I will be retiring this eBook soon.

Do you want to work less and earn more? This 2-part podcast is based on my eBook, 7 Secrets to Working Less and Earning More. To get your free copy, visit https://olindaservices.news/7secretsgift   "I can't do it all." My despair was real. I was utterly overwhelmed. I knew I had to do something!   Running your own business or non-profit is downright HARD work. You know what needs to be done, but there is only so much of you to go around. How do you get it all done?  Don't let your business stop growing just because you are not ready for employees. The secret is to work smarter, not harder. – Lisa Olinda Today, let's focus on some tools you can use to drag you out of the constant circle of overwhelm. 

Technology is a tool designed to make life easier. We can use it wisely, but we must leave a margin to enjoy the beauty of life around us. If we get too wired to technology we miss those little things that can make our days brighter and our nights restful. Unplug this week. You choose the amount of time. The when and the how. Make a plan. What will you do to replace that time? Write it down. Follow it for the week. Let me know what you gained through this exercise. Will you do more unplugging next week?

Preparing for your time off Mom, my throat is sore. Honey, my client has an emergency. Have you ever been stuck in vacation woes? As a mom to five children, I struggled to enjoy traveling. Don't get me wrong, I love to travel, but it seemed like drama ruled the day when traveling with the kids. Since my Mom lived about 600 miles south of us, at least 2 or 3 times a year, we journeyed down I95 to I85. Adventures like ice storms, car sickness, weak bladders, and one year of arriving with three having strep. These adventures have made me immune to most travel woes. Now that I own and manage my own business, I have different kinds of travel woes. I am finding that taking time away from my 24/7 business demands is challenging. Today, we will learn more about how to prepare properly for our time off work.

Is Your Team Hindering Your Business? If you need to micromanage your team, setbacks might be more significant than progress.  At the end of last year, my family went through a massive change in our lives. I had to devote 100% of my energy and attention to this crisis. I was out of the office for a while, and it interrupted some processes that I had just put into place. I knew that when I came back, I was not going to be able to take on everything by myself. If I wanted to help people whisper their chaos, I needed some help in whispering my own. 

Believe it or not, we are already into the second half of February, and Valentine's Day has passed. It is always delightful to dedicate time to celebrate love and friendship with the important people to us.  Yes, the first ones that come to my mind are my family and friends. With a loss of a few loved ones this past year, we are more grateful for those who remain.   was talking to my assistant recently and going through the history of some of my clients. I have worked with many of these clients for YEARS! We have become friends and have gone through gains and losses together.  Sometimes my clients email me in shorthand. I know what they mean, but my assistant has no idea. I had to chuckle as I explained the code. The conversation reminds me that I have fantastic clients and love working with them.  Today, let's listen to some ways client appreciation is vital in your business.  

Let's take a quick look back at the first week of this year. With all the political happenings globally, the fresh memories we have of them, feels like yesterday, but it's already a month and a half since the new year! It is easy to have squirrel moments and lose focus; when we snap back to reality, we can see time didn't stop, and now we need to catch up! Losing focus is widespread, and more so if we are setting project goals, like the ones we start on New Year’s or at the start of a new quarter. These projects take time to produce results and can lead us to become impatient and lose energy. We're six weeks into 2021, it's normal to have lower energy reserves compared to the start of the year. This is not an excuse to give up! It’s time to assess our progress and sharpen our focus. Today, we will reflect on renewing our motivation and staying focused for the weeks to come. Here are three thoughts to provoke, two ideas to inspire you, and one item for you to act on! https://www.olindaservices.com/blog

We are already one month into 2021. Many of us have high expectations of what January and the remaining months of this year will bring. To say 2020 was a challenging year in our lives’ professional and personal aspects is an understatement. We have heard stories or experienced being separated from families, losing jobs, or even loved ones. These circumstances hit us hard! I am sure I am not the only one who is quietly questioning; can 2021 be worse?

Is Poor Business Housekeeping Costing You Money? Do you have subscriptions you are not using? Domains that are on autopay, but unused? It may be time for a systems audit. Today, let’s find a few ways to decrease the chaos in your systems, save you money, and get you ready for the holidays. Find out more by visiting https://olindaservices.com/systems-audit-poor-business-housekeeping-costing-you-money/. 

Your business is thriving and suddenly distractions rear their ugly head. They cause chaos and sap your passion. You can overcome distractions by focusing on the best use of the finite amount of resources you have. Find links and other goodies at olindaservices.com/passion-build-it-conquer-distraction/.

I have to chuckle as I upload this podcast. Right after recording, I got sick! You get to hear this podcast in all of its imperfection. I did multiple takes and just couldn't stop the word stumbles. Now, I know why.  Are you pushing hard to meet deadlines and get everything done? As we strive for perfection (am I the only one?) we must be careful that we do not push too hard. We must build margin into our days. Want the notes? Visit https://olindaservices.com/margin-is-work-making-you-sick/. 

Are you handling some major pivots in your business? How are your business relationships? Are you overwhelmed with all of the details? Today, Lisa Olinda, Chief Chaos Whisperer of Olinda Services, explains why your business may be ready to invest in an Executive Business Partner. 

Today, let's highlight three women who helped me in my business life. As you read about my experiences, consider who has helped you. Here are three thoughts to provoke you, two ideas to inspire you, and one item to act on! To read more and find links to valuable information, click here. 

Working from home can cause major headaches with business communication. How do I define a squirrel moment? “You are writing your newsletter and suddenly you remember the bill you forgot to pay. You go to pay the bill and remember you did not take the clothes out of the washer. You go to take the clothes out of the washer and remember you had a 1 p.m. meeting and it is now 1:15 p.m.” How can our minds go in so many directions at the same time? Today, let’s learn about quieting those squirrel moments and gaining focus so we can communicate precisely, retain our sanity, and wow our clients.

Are you the remote communicator that everyone shakes their head, knowing you will have a communication breakdown? Today, let look at how we can make video communication a success even if you feel you are all thumbs with technology. Here is a free login notebook for you with video tutorial links!