As independent contractor or commission only sales people we some times find our daily actions can defeat our goals. It is the self-defeating behaviors that severely hamper our success and well-being. As the end of the year is rapidly approaching, it is time to either finalize our business plan for 2012 or start it! We have all heard the expression, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." That statement is a simple powerful sentence. So, let's get started and make sure we have our business plan for the new year.
In order the be successful we need a plan. The first step in creating this business plan is to identify where you are now. What are the problems? How are we going to do this? By taking a self inventory we can shine a light on each of these questions. Really think about the statement and give a true honest answer by ranking yourself on a scale of 1-10. You should be using 1 for your no answers or I disagree. Use 10 if your answer is yes or I agree.
- TIME MANAGEMENT - I carefully prioritize my daily activities and tasks.
- PROJECT COMPLETION - I finish all projects that I start.
- PROCRASTINATION - I avoid delaying bad news.
- COMMUNICATION - My presentations are effective and polished.
- MOTIVATED - I have a clear vision for my future.
- PERSONAL WELL-BEING - I regularly take time off for vacations or get-a-ways.
Those can be an eye opening exercise! So here are my recommendations if your score didn't meet your expectation and what will be necessary for success.
TIME MANAGEMENT - Commit to using a system. Plan your day. For example, I have scheduled 3 days a week from 7-8 am as my ActiveRain time since this has become part of my business plan.
PROJECT COMPLETION - List all of your unfinished projects on a white board starting with the most complete at the top. Now, list the steps needed to complete the first task. Commit to it. Schedule it in your day. As you finish that project, move to the next.
PROCRASTINATION - Make a commitment to address issues as they come up. Even if you don't have the complete solution, don't leave your customer in the dark. Keep them in the loop.
COMMUNICATION - Some excel at this and other's struggle. Find a presentation you like and use that as a model for designing yours. There are some great templates available that should help with this. If not, find a coach/mentor.
MOTIVATED - Keep your goals posted where you can see them daily! I have mine on a white board in my office and the front page of my notebook that I carry with me. This will keep you focused.
PERSONAL WELL-BEING - This is the one that gets overlooked. We all need time to recharge the batteries. SCHEDULE your personal time. This should be a non-negotiable.
There are more suggestions to come, so please subscribe to my blog.
Wishing you every success in 2012!
If you found this blog valuable, please subscribe by clicking the button to the right.
|
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
What to learn more, Google Me!
The opinions and general information in this blog are soley those of Kathy Sheehan. Specifics regarding an individual case should be discussed in detail with a loan professional. For a confidential consultation, please feel free to contact me via phone or email. All terms and conditions are subject to change.
The timing of your post is ironic. We completed our 2012 business plans yesterday and covered just about every bullet point you have shared with us. Thanks for the reinforment.
Totally my pleasure. I finished my business plan just before Thanksgiving. I was thinking there might be some that would find this helpful in getting started. Best of luck to you!
Hi Kathy, Good to hear from you. We are doing our annual Business Plans in our office right now. But your suggestions take it just a couple steps farther down the road. Thanks much, Colin
Some people ask me how I fit in blogging. It is a time scheduled event in my book, at the start of the day and end of the day. Period.
Colin, I am delighted that you will be able to incorporate this information. Please contact me if need anything else.
Erica, I absolutely agree. Once I started to "schedule" that time, I found I was more consistent with my blogging.
Kathy, this is an excellent post. For me, maybe it is just because I am now in my early sixties, but I take the day off and get the much needed rest. It seems to really give a serious boost to the rest of my business.
David, everyone has to find what works for them. I would never have guessed you were sixty...