The budget conflict rages on in Washington. As entrepreneurs, we focus on what we can control right here, right now. We are responsible for our own businesses.
What do we know for a fact? Business 101: the business either earns a profit or it becomes an expensive non-profit hobby. Go back to the basics. What did you do when your business was at its very best?
Be a GPS for Your Business
Stop reading right now and pull out your written goals sheet. (pause) Where do you plan for your business to be five years from now? Act like the GPS for your business. Where do you need to be in three years, two years, one year, six months, three months, this month, this week and today?
The car GPS tells you when and where to turn; your written daily business plan tells your business when and where to turn, speed up or slow down.
Daily: Review your Goals and set your daily Action Plan
S – specific
M – measurable
A – attainable
R – relevant
T – timely
Each goal and task on your list will be more likely to be achieved when they adhere to the SMART formula.
List your “must do,” “could do” and “if there is time to do” tasks and block the appropriate amount of time for each. Planning your actions and time required in advance enhances the probability of accomplishing each task in order of priority.
Income Producing Activity
Having a plan sets your business GPS; taking action is the key to success. Just as you set your quantifiable targets, establish your mindset. A successful person focuses on enthusiasm, optimism and positives. In contrast a struggling person focuses on lack, urgency to make a sale and fear. In order for your marketing efforts to be most successful, it will require a positive expectation. With your mindset on the right track, all of your marketing will be more successful.
Lead generation revolves around attracting more of your target market. Before you can attract them, you need to clearly identify them. Know what problem your product solves and who would be willing to pay for a solution to that specific problem. Once you identify your target client, you know what benefit will be most appealing to them. Numerous ways exist to locate and connect with your ideal client. Select the ones which are most appropriate for you and make the connection. Relying on only one media ignores a significant market segment. Incorporate printed marketing media, social media, online marketing and networking for maximum results.
Key: The fortune is in the follow up.
Personal Development
Jim Rohn, noted business philosopher said, “In order to have more, become more.” Read Success magazine, listen to Success book summaries, write in a gratitude journal, read books, and visualize yourself as the person your dog thinks you are.
One exercise in the book Emotional Ice Water recommends writing the characteristics of the five people you admire most. This list clarifies the qualities you consider most important and thus the traits, habits and values you would like to emulate. When you feel better about yourself, your positive outlook reflects like a beacon to attract more like-minded individuals to you.
Mastermind with Leaders
Surround yourself with winners. You will find them in Rotary (motto - service above self) and the Chamber of Commerce. Leaders are featured in Entrepreneur and Inc. magazines, biographies, blogs such as SethGodin.com and local community leaders. Set a goal to take a mentor or local leader to lunch once a month; ask questions and listen.
Cultivate an Attitude of Success
When in doubt, stop and think, “What would name your mentor do?” An old familiar formula is Be, Do, Have. Be the leader, do what the leaders do and you will have what the leaders have.
Regardless of what happens in Washington, as entrepreneurs, we control our own destiny. As a serial entrepreneur, going back to the basics of these five daily activities has been the key to success. It all comes down to the final Be, Do, and Have.
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