Eddie’s Energy Bars Blog

I got back from my trip to China on Saturday, and it was a blast. Pictures will be up soon. After my vacation was over, I went back to school to move in with the help of my parents. I start school Tuesday, and need to get back into the swing of things, and manage my time accordingly. So, I have compiled the three tips that have helped me manage my busy schedule of school and business.

1. Make Lists
I have a little red notebook that I use to make bulleted lists of things I need to do that day, if I have a busy day. When you make your list, write it down in terms of the priority it needs to get done. As you cross things off the list, I hope you feel a sense of accomplishment, and a stress-free day ahead should be ahead of you.

2. Sticky Notes
My desk at school is plastered with sticky notes. Why, do you ask? Well, they’re bright, and I notice them every single time I sit down at my desk. It propels me to do the item written on the sticky. Put your sticky notes where you will see them. It could be the computer desk, the fridge, or the front door–that’s a popular location at our bakery! You will get things done if they are constantly in your face. Write appointments, your kid’s soccer games, or your grocery list. You could even color code them if you wanted–whatever works for you.

3. Put some fun in your life
Alright, so you’re working incredibly hard through the week, and here comes the weekend. Do you work? Do you play? Well, it’s fine if you work. I work on the weekend all the time, but I am sure to include some fun, too. Even if it’s just dinner with a friend, you are giving yourself time to relax.

These couple of tips can be applied to anyone. A student, small business owner, or stay-at-home mom. Let me know how you manage your time. Do you have any tips? Comment below!

Michael Adams, Owner
Eddie’s Energy Bars

Good Saturday morning!

I awoke today to a very ugly weather system swatting at the east coast.  It’s windy, rainy, and kind of cold. I don’t like it, but on the other hand, it gives me a chance to let you guys in on a little nugget of knowledge from yours truly.

The secret to anti-procrastination.  You may have your own little secrets, but I believe mine trumps all.  What I do is create a calendar (sometimes in my mind, sometimes on paper), and it really helps me to plan out my week, and even down to the day.

These next few weeks here at school are brutal for just about every student here.  Many papers, tests, and projects are due, as the semester is slowly drawing to a close.  But, it’s important to note that these calendars can work for more than just your son’s or daughter’s school schedule.  You can also use them for your schedule. Schedule lunch with an old friend, make sure you get to that PTO meeting, and make sure to take the family on one last fall hike.  All of this can be accomplished by making a schedule, and knowing when you are available.

Make sure though, that you don’t overload your schedule.  Make time for yourself, and create a positive work, life, and family balance.

That’s my nugget–what’s yours?

Michael, Owner
Eddie’s Energy Bars

Deadlines are constantly popping up everywhere: in business, in life, and in school. It is important to deal with your deadlines in a timely fashion. If you’re in a bike race, you have a deadline to finish–you can’t spend twenty-four hours finishing a five mile bike race, can you? Well–maybe you can, but I am sure you would have some mad people waiting for you at the finish line.

Mad people. I don’t like mad people, and I am sure you’re the same. Get things done on time, and you have happy people. Get things done late, and you have mad people. We don’t want the last one. Do whatever it takes to get the assignment/project done on time, or even earlier, then you have time to go outside and play. I know everyone is truly excited about that!

In order to get things done before the deadline, you need to be able to manage your time effectively. If your summer reading is going to take you the entire summer, then start it now, rather than cramming it into the night before the bell rings at school. Need to get a delivery over to a store before noon. Sacrifice, and wake up early. You could even give yourself breakfast out (a healthy breakfast, mind you).

Rewarding yourself for accomplishing things on time is important, and to be on time, you need to manage your time. Go ahead, put up that giant calendar in the kitchen of everything you have to do. Make sure it is dry erase, so you feel better every time you erase something of your calendar.

I meet my deadlines all the time, and go above and beyond what I need to do to be on time. Some may call it goofy, but that’s what an entrepreneur has got to do.

Oh, don’t forget to schedule in FUN!

Michael,
Eddie’s Energy Bars

I can’t express more how important it is to be nice to your store accounts, of which you sell your product.  Being nice to them, especially when selling homemade energy bars, is so crucial to success in stores. I try my best to be nice to all of my stores that I sell in, and I think it translates into more sales.

Store owners and employees will talk up your product and push it off the shelves into customers hands.  This helps more than your company, but the store itself.  If customers want an Eddie’s Energy Bar, they will go to their favorite store, which gets them to look at more products the store sells, and hopefully purchase.

I heard a story today, of horrible customer service.  Someone badgered the store owner to sell their product, and thought it was unfair that they were selling the competition’s product.  That’s only slightly annoying to me, but the store owner ended up refusing to sell the company’s product because of the way they were treated.

This not only happens with your customer accounts, but it is also true in life.  The people you surround yourself with are generally people who treat you nicely, not badly.  You will help these nice people out because they have decided to help you out.  These are the people to know.

So, to sum this all up, be nice or go home.  Being mean will not really get you anywhere.

Michael
Eddie’s Energy Bars

I cringed today, as the students in my macroeconomics class made presentations, some of which were completely butchered. Today, I decided to make a list of things you should do to give your audience a stellar presentation:

1. Rehearse
I can’t put more emphasis on this. It is so crucial to rehearse your presentation. Rehearsal is important for a couple of reasons. First of all, it makes you seem more professional. A sloppy presentation seems like it was put together the night before. Chances are that it actually was made the night before. Secondly, you will feel more comfortable presenting in front of people. Even if you go over your presentation with friends or family members, the more times you practice, the better you will get at it, and the more relaxed you will be when the presentation day comes. Lastly, be prepared to answer any questions that might be asked. This will again show professionalism, and that you know what you are talking about.

2. Eye contact and body language
Many presenters don’t know this, but how you stand can really play off how your presentation is received by your audience. If you are using note-cards, you should practice with them first, that way it will seem more fluid. Making eye contact with your listeners is important because it shows that you care about your presentation. Looking down at the floor or continually at the PowerPoint slide will make it seem that you are not interested in making sure the listeners understand the topic. Body language is very important as well. Whatever you do, do not stand there with their hands in your pockets or your arms folded. These are signs that you are not interested at all in the presentation, and you would rather be doing something else. Instead, fold your hands in front of you, in back of you, or use your hands to talk, letting the listener know you are engaged in the topic.

3. Use the PowerPoint as an aid, not a presentation
Microsoft is a god-send for creating PowerPoint. We all know that, but it is important to use it as a tool, and not the presentation itself. A lot of people read straight from the PowerPoint, and they think they are making a great presentation, when they are really not. It is even worse when you have a note-card that you read from which includes, word for word, what is on the PowerPoint slide….Do you think you’re really helping your cause? I don’t think so. Using the slides as an aid to what you are talking about. The slides are for the audience so they can visually follow along while listening to your comments on the subject.

Hopefully, I have given you some great tips for making a fantastic presentation. These skills are so essential in both the entrepreneurial world and your personal life that they can’t be taken lightly. I use my presentation skills not only in the classroom, but also when I pitch my healthy homemade energy bars to stores in Vermont. If I make a horrible presentation, the store will be less likely to carry my product.

So when you have a presentation coming up, be sure to review back to these points, and you will do a stellar job!

Have a great day!

Michael Adams
Eddie’s Energy Bars