Making things happen in your business

Copyright (c) 2007 A Marketing Connection

If you're anything like me, you've got a million goals,
plans and ideas and not enough time in the day to put a
dent in any of them. I may pick one or two of my ideas and
go gang busters working to get it going, and then another
fun thing comes along and I get excited and go gang busters
getting that one up and running.

There are a few downsides to this. The biggest being I am
in the middle of a bunch of really great projects that
aren't done! It's easy to see how this can happen next year
too with all of us excited about our New Year's
resolutions. What happens to a lot of us is either my
scenario above or the opposite happens - nothing because
you don't know where to start.

With that said, I have a recommendation on how to handle
this strange phenomenon this year...make very small
commitments that you know you can fulfill. By keeping your
commitments small and simple you will have more flexibility
to change, and more freedom to try different ways to keep
your commitments.

Here are a few examples of what I'm talking about...

You may commit to doing one additional marketing piece or
trying one new marketing strategy a month. Something
simple. By the end of the year that really means that you
will be trying 12 different marketing methods.

Another idea is to commit a certain amount of time to a
specific project. For example, if you have a goal to write
a book this year or develop products to sell online, set
aside one hour a week (or a day - whatever you can commit
too) that is devoted to meeting this one goal.

I am not going to say I am going to work out every day
after I drop the kids off at school. Yes, while being
healthy is important, making such a stringent commitment
realistically won't happen. A better commitment may be to
promise myself that I will work out consistently this year.
For me that could be two times a week as opposed to my
sometimes every day and other times nothing for three
months.

Other ideas of small goals that can make a big difference
in your day are to:

-- Only check emails at 8:00 and 2:00

-- Have a cup of coffee once a week with a new friend or
business acquaintance

-- Take two hours off in the middle of the week that's free
time

-- Do one self-improvement tool or book or something a month

-- Post on other people's blogs once a week

But the deal is whatever commitment you do make, you HAVE
to stick to it. So keep your promises simple and realistic.

If you've taken the time to develop long term goals and
strategies for your business (or your personal life) that
is great. You've done more than most people I know. If you
don't want this years resolutions or commitments to fall by
the wayside, break those long term goals into super short
smaller commitments that you know you can keep.

In my newsletter I talked about discipline and keeping your
word to yourself. Now is the time to be thinking about what
commitments you do make and your ability (or inability) to
keep them. For us entrepreneurs and small business owners,
oftentimes ANY commitment we make is one we make to
ourselves only. No one knows about them, and no on else
will hold you accountable to keeping them. Plug your
commitments into a calendar, schedule the time with
yourself to get them done, and don't make a commitment or
resolution unless you know you will keep it.

No one else knows you are making it, and no one knows if
you break it.

Except the all important you.

----------------------------------------------------
Author of Healthcare Copywriting Secrets Revealed, Kelly
Robbins is an award winning copywriter and marketing
coach/consultant. She also publishes The Healthcare
Marketing Connection
(http://www.healthcaremarketingconnection.com), a free
e-zine on healthcare marketing tips. Contact Kelly to
receive her free report, "5 critical things you must know
when writing for the healthcare industry" -
info@KellyRobbinsLLC.com or 303-460-0285.