I just love the New Year – people are fresh full of energy, ambition and hopes of making this year the best one ever. Goals are set, resolutions are made and the fun begins.
Whether you’ve made resolutions or new goals, anything you want to be different in your life and business must be written and here’s the important part that I missed for years you have to develop a plan to work on the goal/resolution. You don’t have to know everything you’ll need to achieve it, or have it all lined up perfectly to start, you simply have to take action in the direction of your goal and create a plan to continue doing this.
According to ProactiveChange.com, 40 to 45% of American adult make one or more resolutions each year. (OK, great, I’m one of them.)
Among the top new years resolutions are resolutions about weight loss, exercise, and stopping to smoke. Also popular are resolutions dealing with better money management / debt reduction. (I’m in the weight loss, exercise category, but chose to use the words “weight removal” because each time I lose something I look for it and hope to get it back. Psychologically remove feels better. I’ve also chosen some pretty lofty business goals.)
The following shows how many of these resolutions are maintained as time goes on:
- past the first week: 75%
- past 2 weeks: 71% (Wahoo, so far so good!)
- after one month: 64%
- after 6 months: 46%
This tells me that while many of us want things to be different, we haven’t created a plan and implemented a system to achieve the desired result and give up.
For me, weight removal means I have to have a plan achieve the results, i.e. eat for optimal health and exercise. More than a plan however I’ve created a system to make sure I follow though. I’ve made an appointment daily with myself to go to the gym or walk on the beach as well as menu planning to incorporate healthy foods.
Expanding TMC and increasing sales means I have to develop a marketing plan that will make the phone ring and talk to more leads. To insure that the plan is followed, I’ve incorporated a “System” to ensure that it is easy to manage and yields results.
Because of my passion and experience in creating systems, I often am asked to speak and do consulting with clients to help them with their business systems. For me, taking a problem, strategizing for the solution then developing a plan or system is fun. It’s also a real thrill to see others achieve their personal level of success by doing a few things differently.
One of my favorite books is The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber. The book tells the story of why many small businesses fail and offers suggestions on preventing it. (If you haven’t read it, I suggest you pick up a copy and dive in., for me it was a real life changer.) Much of the reasons for business failure or frustration has to do with systems or lack thereof. Systems are what can help you take your business to the next level. They enable you to consistently deliver top quality service to your clients always and from each member of your team.
Here are some simple systems builders to help you achieve all your business goals:
1) Use check lists. NEVER rely on your memory. Sounds simple, but often overlooked. Lists will help you ensure that all activities on a listing or transaction are complete. Checklists are also a great way to communicate with your clients and team members.
2) Develop a written procedure for all of the activities you do to run your business. Document everything from how you market your services, input a listing, to how to close out a file after closing. Knowing what you do will help you realize what you should delegate or eliminate. Having a written plan will also make it much easier to add people to your team.
3) Devote time for income generating activities DAILY. Review your business, determine the steps necessary to create the results you want then daily take steps toward that goal. Don’t get bogged down with Busy Work and over look this very powerful business building activity. Putting it into your calendar and making it a system will increase the likelihood of these activities getting accomplished.
4) FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS! Start your day with a plan and stay focused. It’s easy to get off on something else as soon as the phone rings but, staying true to your plan will help you grow your business.
When you’re working on a deadline or important project, turn off your email, and spend the next hour or however much time you think this will take on this activity only. Then focus, focus, focus. You’ll be amazed at how much you’ll get done in a shorter period of time without any interruptions or distractions.
5) Schedule time to work on your business rather than in it. Spending time developing goals, new systems and solutions for implementing them is a surefire way to increase your business.
Don’t get stuck in the day to day and confuse busy time for business building time. Many top professionals take one day off a month and work on their business. They do not take calls, emails or any interruptions during this time. They simply work on building and improving their business.
To gain the freedom and income we sought when you struck it out on our own, we have to establish systems to ensure that things get done, that our time is leveraged and that we are devoting our highest quality of time to income generating activates.
The fastest way to rev up your business is to spend more time doing the things you’re great at and stop doing most if not all of the things you aren’t. Systems will insure that the work is done, the clients are treated well and you have time for …………mmmm perhaps a much deserved vacation!!!
For assistance in creating systems improving your current systems, contact me for a consultation and let’s discuss how to make 2011 your best year in business
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