If you’re not seated, grab a sheet of paper, a calendar, and a pen and sit down. I’m going to walk you through a little exercise (don’t worry, it’s not strenuous at all) that will help you extract what you need to change in your life and your business in 2011 to be happy and successful.
Basically, this exercise will help you visualize your marketing strategy for 2011, clearer than ever before, and implement your strategies effectively.
See below the 7 steps of change to find happiness and run a successful business in 2011:
Step 1: Remember that piece of paper and pen I told you to grab earlier? This is the time to use it. Create a two-column list on your piece of paper and title one column “It Worked!” and the other column “That didn’t work”.
Step 2: Close your eyes and take a little trip down memory lane to 2010. What were the best moments in your business and how did you get to those moments? When was she happiest and what was happening with her business at that time? All the actions she took that created these moments go under “It worked!” column. Write them down, feel free to draw shapes and pictures next to the actions you wrote down if it helps.
Step 3: Close your eyes again and take another trip down memory lane from 2010. The difference between this trip and the trip you took in Step 2 is that the weather turns stormy and grey. What were the worst moments in his business and how did he get to those moments? When was it at its lowest point and what was happening with your business at that time? He probably doesn’t want to go back to the sad days when he made not-so-important business decisions, but he has to. In order to grow from our past mistakes, we must face and challenge them head-on to positively influence our decisions in the future.
All the actions you took that created these moments go in the “That didn’t work” column. Write them down, feel free to draw shapes and pictures next to the actions you wrote down if it helps. Every item you write should focus on what you No work for your business.
Stage 4: Look at the “It worked!” decisions you made Now, take your calendar and mark on it the dates when you will make similar decisions. For example, if one of your “It worked!” decisions you were hosting a webinar that attracted 50 people and 15 of those people bought your product or service, please mark your calendar when you will host your next webinar. When you mark a task on your calendar that has been successful in the past, you have something positive to look forward to. The task view in your calendar also works to encourage you to get going instead of waiting until 2011 to do so.
Step 5: Look at your “That Didn’t Work” list and say the items on the list out loud, beginning with the phrase “In 2011, I won’t (insert problem)” and ending with the phrase “I willpower (insert solution). For example, you would say “In 2011, I will not wear too many hats in my business. I willpower delegate. Now bookmark your solutions and make a point on your calendar or on the bulletin board on your desk to always look for those solutions.
