28 December 2012

Will your New Year’s Resolution for your business Stick or Fail?


A better solution than a Resolution


  
This is the time of year when most of us start thinking about our new years resolution for our businesses.
Whether it is starting a new business or improving the processes of the current businesses, resolutions play a key part for many of us.
Resolutions are elusive and dangerous especially for a business. Why?
  Think back to the times when you or someone you knew made a new year’s resolution and did not stick to it. Think about how it made you or them feel.
We have to go no further than our local health facility to see what takes place every January. The gyms are filled with people that have every intention of getting fit. By the time March of the same year arrives the gym is back to the normal levels of dedicated members with only a few additional committed people. Statics show on average, 26% of the New Year’s resolutions are achieved. That means there is a 74% failure rate. That’s not encouraging at all.
  To me it seems like a New Year’s resolution is like a wish instead of a catalyst to kick start something great for the New Year. 
Resolution: (from resolve)
1. A formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting, by a formal organization, a   legislature, a club, or other group. Compare concurrent resolution, joint resolution.
2. A resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.
3. The act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.
4. The mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose.
Resolve:
to come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine (to do something): I have resolved that I shall live to the full.

  Based on the definition, a resolution can be looked at as a “made up mind” if you will. The challenge with this is a made up mind does not lead to action.    How many times have we decided to quit smoking, exercise more or get our finances in order (to name a few), only to succumb to the same comfortable routine that lead us to have the "made up mind" in the first place?
To me resolutions can be a trap.  
Why do I feel that resolutions are traps?

  • They are normally made “in the moment” without a plan
  • A future date is set thus creating pressure and stress with anticipation of the start date.
  • Allows for time and excuses not to follow through or even start the stated New Years resolution.
If New Year’s resolutions are traps what is a better solution?
A better solution is to set goals before the New Year starts.

Goals:
The result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.
 Synonyms
1. target; purpose, object, objective, intent, intention. 2. finish.

What are some of the advantages to setting goals vs. making a New Year’s resolution? 
  • Gives us direction and something to aim towards?
  • Allows for focus
  • Offers guidelines
  • Promotes action
  How should we set goals for the New Year?
Get started immediately. Devise a plan to promote action thus creating momentum heading into the New Year.
  Where should we start? I was always taught there has to be a reason why we do anything. If there is no reason why, nothing gets done. Without a reason why, it is easy to quit when faced with roadblocks setbacks and obstacles. Establish a WHY.
If a business is established, revisit the reason why. If applicable add additional reasons why. Go over goals, milestones and accomplishments from the previous months. Look for opportunities for improvements and implement those into the New Years goal.
Share your goals with a trusted and supportive friend or family member, this will promote accountability.
Do some research!
Find the most successful individuals in your field and study them. Read as much information on them as you can. Subscribe to their newsletters, link to their blogs and if possible get on their email list. Why?
We assimilate those in which we most associate. To put it simple, If they are the most successful people in their industry and we do what they did we will have what they have. The most important is don’t give up and don’t quit.  Should we be so brave to follow these steps and dare to follow our dreams we will find that our New Year will be rewarding and fulfilled. Happy New Year and please share your goals for the New Year.

19 December 2012

Are your past experiences keeping you from your present successes?


Don’t let fear be your bridge to defeat.


I have read in many books and heard many mentors quote “ You cannot drive your car successfully looking in your rear view mirror“  The Analogy speaks to focusing on the past and how it can keep us from working in the present. There can be no progress in the present if the focus and the angst is in the past. Likewise, there can be no success in the present worrying about what will happen in the future.
Past -  adjective
1.gone by or elapsed in time: It was a bad time, but it's all past now.
2.of, having existed in, or having occurred during a time previous to the present; 
bygone: the past glories of the Incas
3.gone by just before the present time; just passed: during the past year.
Present –  adjective
1.being, existing, or occurring at this time or now; current: the present ruler.
2.at this time; at hand; immediate: articles for present use.
Future- noun.
1.time that is to be or come hereafter.
2.something that will exist or happen in time to come: The future is rooted in the past.
3.a condition, especially of success or failure, to come: Some people believe a gypsy can tell you your future.

 In order for success to take place, attention and focus must be placed on the present because the present is the only time period action takes place. Action creates results and results are how businesses are judged.
Many business owners are stuck on past failures and missed opportunities. Such reflecting is like building a bridge of fear from the past to the future, totally disregarding the present. When the present is not addressed in a proper manner, a cycle is perpetuated thus creating or allowing negative circumstances to overtake the business.
An acronym for fear is false evidence appearing real. Fear is relative to the individual experiencing it. Dwelling in the past feeds the fear and forces us to hope for a better out come in the future without realizing that the power to have a better tomorrow lies in the preparation and activity carried out NOW.
Some ways to stay in the NOW with our business are:
  • Set daily goals in the morning and review the progress at the end of the business day.
  • Set weekly goals at the beginning of the week and review the progress at the end of the week.
  • Set monthly goals and review them at the end of the month.
  • Stay present and aware with every activity possible while conducting business.
  • Develop a mastermind team consisting of individuals strong in areas of business that we are weak. Meet at least once a week with the mastermind group. 

Consistently performing the above task will keep us present, focused and less likely to continue building that bridge of fear over our present situation.
Our businesses and the present moment are a gift, shouldn't we enjoy every moment of them both?

12 December 2012

What’s keeping you from having the customers and clients you want.



How who you are attracts what you get.

I am sure you have heard that statement you attract who you are and not who you want.
Attract: to draw by physical force causing or tending to cause to approach, adhere, or unite; pull (opposed to repel ): The gravitational force of the earth attracts smaller bodies to it.
This is true in your business as well.  What do I mean? The type of customer you are is the type of customer you will attract. The type of client you are is the type of client you will attract.
Below are some examples to help demonstrate.
  • If you are a customer that wants to pay rock bottom prices and get exceptional service then those are the clients you will attract.
  • If you are the type of customer that has loyalty to the cheapest price and not the quality of service then that is the type of customer you will attract.  
  • If you are the type of customer that does not refer business to the establishment that you frequent that will be the customer you attract.

It is a universal law that you are who you attract. It does not matter that you don’t believe it.  It does not matter that you have never heard of the law of attraction.
 It doesn’t matter if you believe in gravity but if you step off a 3 story building, gravity will take effect.  
The law of attraction is consistently talked about in the personal development arena and there have been many books published for business and entrepreneurs. I felt a need to parallel the business owner and the customer also the business owner and the client.
Without getting too deep, the basic principle is that your actions and conduct are a direct correlation to what you attract. If you are a bad customer or client then you will attract bad customers or clients.
As business owners we must not forget that we are customers and clients. Businesses that offer products and services also need products and services thus making them customers and clients.
  
With that in mind we need to treat the businesses we patronize the same as we want our businesses to be treated.  It is the golden rule. Do unto businesses as you would have your customers and clients do unto your business.  
Some other things to think about are:
  • If you are late for or miss appointments, then your clients and potential clients will be late for and miss your appointments.
  • If you do not return phone calls then your clients and potential clients will not return your phone calls.
  • If you are a client that does not offer references and valuable feedback then you will have clients that do not offer references and valuable feedback.

Your customers and clients will mirror your actions as a customer and client.
The object is not to convince anyone that this law is real and it works. There is more than enough proof from real business owners that the law of attraction is very powerful. The purpose of this blog is to offer struggling business owners something to think about in hopes that it will resonate and kick start their company. If you don’t believe the law of attraction affects your business than chances are that your business will continue to not produce your desired results.
You want to be the customer and client that you want to attract. So the question is… are you?