| Where is your business going? You must begin a | | | | people struggle with. To make your goals more |
| business with the end in mind. In order to get | | | | powerful, give each of your goals a why and a |
| from point A to point B, must know where both | | | | how. A great formula to use is the 1-3-5. In this |
| of those points are. If you don't define the end | | | | format, the 1 is your goal, the 3 is your whys and |
| goal, you have very little hope of ever getting | | | | the 5 is your how's. So for each goal, you will |
| there. Strategy is about planning and defining the | | | | state the goal, then give 3 "whys" for the goal, |
| straight line between those two points. Rather | | | | why do you want this goal, what will it allow you |
| than taking the scenic route, a good strategy | | | | to have in your life, to enjoy, to feel, to |
| gets you from where you are to where you | | | | experience, lastly, come up with 5 how's. 5 ways |
| want to go in the most efficient way possible. | | | | that you are going to accomplish this one goal. |
| You can't draw that straight line if you haven't | | | | Make your whys motivating and your how's |
| figured out where and what point B is. I find a lot | | | | effective. Write these out on a card and post |
| of entrepreneurs try to skip ahead and do | | | | them somewhere for you to see everyday. You |
| marketing for their business before they have | | | | can put them on your desk or on your bathroom |
| defined where their desired end point is. This is | | | | mirror or on the dashboard of your car, but |
| impractical and more importantly a mistake that | | | | make sure they're in a place you will see them |
| can doom your business' potential. There are | | | | everyday. Focus on achieving your goal because |
| plenty of marketing methods you can utilize. Sure | | | | of your whys, feel them, and using your how's to |
| marketing is an important business strategy but | | | | execute them. |
| what you say, how you say it, and who you say | | | | Set your priorities. |
| it to, all depend on clearly defining your point B. | | | | The next thing to do is to set your priorities. If |
| You can spend your money and your efforts on | | | | you try to do everything all at once, you will |
| marketing all day long, but if you don't know what | | | | never accomplish any of it. In fact you will never |
| the goal of these efforts is then that spend can | | | | even make a dent. Prioritizing does not mean |
| be largely waste. And small businesses do not | | | | giving up on some things; it simply means putting |
| have room for waste. So what is your vision? | | | | things in order, which means some things go first |
| Create a clear picture in your mind. You can not | | | | and others go behind them. A business is made |
| acquire what you cannot see. That is why | | | | up of many critical elements, which make up its |
| visualization techniques are so effective. Follow our | | | | success. You must tackle these in an organized |
| vision formula and your business is sure to flourish. | | | | and orderly manner, as opposed to haphazardly |
| Create your business vision. | | | | throwing your attention here and there and |
| There first step in creating your business vision is | | | | bouncing around to all of them. Some things must |
| to clearly define what that future looks like. You | | | | go on the back burner temporarily if you are to |
| do this by traveling forward in time to point B and | | | | accomplish anything at all. So, decide what your |
| then looking back on what has transpired to get | | | | most pressing priority is and ask yourself if a |
| you there. It is important to write this out, not | | | | genie appeared and granted you one wish for |
| just think it, to further solidify it in your | | | | your business that you could have this month, |
| subconscious mind. This should be in paragraph | | | | what would it be? |
| format and include as much rich detail and as | | | | Imagine that the genie would appear each month |
| many emotional words as possible. It is best to | | | | and ask you for one wish again, but you only got |
| write it as if this future vision has already | | | | one wish a month. If you knew you would get 12 |
| occurred and you are expressing gratitude for the | | | | wishes, no more and no less, each month for 12 |
| events that have unfolded and the things you | | | | months straight, would you plan out their use? I |
| have accomplished. Here is an example: I am so | | | | hope that you would. Think of it like a chess |
| happy now that I have expanded my business | | | | match. Start with this month as move number |
| successfully using a licensee model. I have 30 high | | | | one, what would be your best one move this |
| caliber licensees that do a fantastic job for clients | | | | month? Know your outcome; know your purpose |
| and the company earns royalties off their efforts. | | | | behind that wish. Look at it with this perpetual |
| I have written and published 5 books best selling | | | | futuristic view. Phrase your wish in this format: I |
| books and have 3 more in process for this year. I | | | | wish to accomplish X, which will look like Y, so |
| have put solid systems and processes in place so | | | | that then I can do Z. What would be the one |
| that anything that is repetitive is automated. I | | | | thing that if you could make it happen this month |
| have hired excellent people who enjoy their work | | | | that would put you in a strong position to achieve |
| and are passionate about contributing to the goals | | | | your next mini-milestone? Then put all your |
| of the organization. I am so productive with this | | | | efforts on accomplishing that one first thing. |
| high powered team. I only work about 40 hours a | | | | Except for keeping up with maintenance activities, |
| week and enjoy plenty of free time with friends | | | | don't worry about all the other big picture |
| and family on a regular basis. Business has grown | | | | priorities, focus on finishing that one with the goal |
| 50% a year over the past 5 years and is on | | | | of achieving your desired outcome of that one |
| track to continue. Our message resonates with | | | | thing. |
| our target audience and our products and | | | | Next flex your discipline muscles. |
| services provide a good value to our customers. | | | | Just do it is not as easy as it sounds. But now |
| Word of mouth has become a powerful | | | | that we have narrowed the playing field for you a |
| marketing agent for us. We are making the world | | | | bit by getting you to focus on the high value |
| a better place by empowering entrepreneurs | | | | activities and accomplishments that are necessary |
| everywhere to achieve a flourishing business of | | | | to get you closer to your goal, just doing it should |
| their own. I make more than $500,000 a year | | | | become a bit easier. |
| which I deserve and enjoy and I can now give | | | | Discipline is about consistency and routine. For the |
| back to others by supporting causes that I | | | | most part the majority of our day we do on |
| believe in. | | | | autopilot. We just do what we are in the habit of |
| Next you should use this looking back on the | | | | doing, with little thought to it. You need to |
| future exercise to develop a purpose statement | | | | program those things that you have decided to |
| for your role within the company and all of the | | | | do into your autopilot function. This means not |
| other roles within the company. Many | | | | procrastinating and then having to tackle some big |
| entrepreneurs struggle with wearing all the hats in | | | | overwhelming mound of work all at once. Instead |
| the organization. It is impossible to be highly | | | | you should bite off manageable pieces and |
| effective when you are playing 17 different roles. | | | | schedule them into your day to day routine so |
| Instead create a purpose for each role. Draw up | | | | that they become habits. The easiest way to |
| an organizational chart, with each of the essential | | | | become disciplined is to schedule it in to your day. |
| roles on it; even if all of the jobs are held by you | | | | When a reporter asked Oprah how she managed |
| right now, it is important to separate them out. | | | | to run five miles everyday she responded, "I |
| Then you can gradually start delegating out these | | | | recommit to it everyday." You must recommit to |
| roles. Without separating them out, your | | | | tasks you deem worthy everyday until your |
| delegation will occur more haphazardly, a task | | | | business is flourishing. Doing certain things at the |
| here and there, with no real role definition and no | | | | same time each day or on the same day of the |
| purpose of that role. The format of the purpose | | | | week each week, you will start to instill these |
| statement should be: The X position does Y in | | | | habits into your business. Set aside a specific time |
| order to Z. | | | | in your schedule as your "Just do it time." And |
| Set specific goals. | | | | commit to making strides toward your goal during |
| You can do this by breaking out pieces of the | | | | those set hours. Commit yourself to the future of |
| vision you articulated into specific and measurable | | | | your business, not just what is going on today but |
| goals. Many people talk of goal setting. While | | | | to for the future. The commitment that you |
| obviously setting goals is vital to your success, | | | | make to the future of your business will be what |
| setting them is just the beginning. The setting part | | | | carries you effortlessly towards achieving it. |
| is relatively easy, it's the accomplishing part that | | | | |