A Year in review with Simplicity Mastered

2010 has been an extremely eventful year, full of learning, sharing and growing. The feedback, comments and traffic from the articles below have shown themselves to be the most helpful to readers. They are sources of encouragement, strength and empowerment. Use them to set the tone and foundation for a remarkable New Year!

9 Powerful Social Networking Sites for Women Entrepreneurs. Not just for women, this list of social networking sites provides women with connections and resources they need.

91 fundamental habits of highly motivated small. Use this list to keep the momentum and excitement of starting the New Year on the right foot.

31 of the best business books for solopreneurs and micro business owners. Business and personal transformation are equally important. One without the other is unsustainable. Use business books to expand your mind and hone your business skills.

35 ways to keep your clients YOURS. It’s not too late to give your clients the gift of ATTENTION. Use this list to find ways to provide your clients with an extraordinary experience.

7 Seeds to Plant That Will Grow Your Business. These simply strategies are practical and easy to implement. Water one seed at a time and watch your business flourish.

5 Ways to Erase Daily Procrastination in Your Business. Increase your business discipline with daily practice. Prepare yourself to break old habits and cultivate new ones.

10 Smart and savvy small business questions for 2011. Proper planning prevents poor performance. Review and analyze the past, present and future direction of your business.

Need more help creating a business that works for YOU? Be sure to check out Micro Business Therapy for additional information and support. Don’t forget… I want to hear from you. Share your comments and questions below! To address your specific concerns, Skype me: amichelleblakeley or email me atinfo@simplicitymastered.com Did you enjoy this article? Subscribe to Simplicity Mastered and never miss a post!

WANT TO RE-POST THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR BLOG OR USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

For over 18 years, Simplicity Mastered™ founder and CEO A. Michelle Blakeley has owned or managed small businesses and nonprofit organizations. Expert in her field, Blakeley personally guides her clients out of their Business Brain Freeze™ to streamline operations, increase return on investment, and attain quantifiable results. Forbes.com and FinancialPost.com each recommended her as one of 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter, joining the experts who know that Blakeley is a master at growing small businesses … and doing it with “Simplicity.”

Small business owners should cancel all unnecessary meetings

One of the best ways to recapture energy and time is to identify timewasters. Unnecessary meetings can be major time and energy wasters for small business owners. Be mindful of how you spend your working hours. Make them productive, make them effective and make them efficient. The more you ask yourself “what decision needs to be made?” or “how will this bring me closer to meeting my goals and objectives?” the more you will start to eliminate unnecessary meetings. With all the technology we have today, take advantage of ability to reduce travel time and expenses.

Face-to-face meetings should be scheduled wisely. They should include establishing a personal connection with a potential client, sales dialogue and persuading or soliciting a decision. Most other meetings should be done virtually. For more effective and efficient meetings:

• Make sure there is a real purpose for your meeting or event and predetermine your outcome. If your meeting involves: business negotiations, connecting with a decision maker, personal favors, promises, understandings, coordination, persuasion of others, expression of emotions, etc. they should be face-to-face. If not, schedule a virtual meeting.

• Use technology to make scheduling easier and stop playing phone tag. Sites like Tungle, Doodle,Bookfresh and Setster allow you schedule a board meeting, business lunch, conference call, family reunion, movie night, or any other group event.

• Use your virtual meeting to determine the need for a face-to-face meeting and cover the basics (i.e. draft an agenda, review material, etc.) Use sites like DimDim.com, gotomeeting.com, conference call lines, Skype and video conferencing to save time, gas and money and still achieve optimal results. Be sure to send visuals (i.e. PowerPoint, reports, documents, presentations, etc.) ahead of time so that you can review them together online. (This also saves paper).

As a small business owner, you can’t afford not to streamline your business operations, work with a purpose and be efficient. So before you schedule your next meeting, ask yourself, “What is the purpose?” “Is this the best use of my time?” and “How will this bring me closer to my goals and objectives?” and cancel any current unnecessary meetings.

WANT TO RE-POST THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR BLOG OR USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

A.Michelle Blakeley is in the listening business. As a Micro Business Therapist, she provides an open-minded and non-judgmental ear to listen to the real issues and concerns that start-up, emerging and women entrepreneurs experience and negotiate solutions through comprehensive discussions and practical micro business plans. She is featured in Forbes.com and the Financial Post as one of 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter, contributor for the San Francisco Examiner and Fearless Woman Magazine; the host of Simple Truths for Women Entrepreneurs on BlogTalkRadio.com and author of the NEW e-book: “Get it Right and Move Along… a collection of practical tips, tools and techniques for small business owners.”

7 Seeds to Plant That Will Grow Your Business

Small business management is a delicate balance of planning, action and intrinsic perspective. With minimal resources, time and money must be spent wisely. Business fundamentals must be incorporated at all times. Below are 7 “best practice” seeds to plant. When watered (acted upon), they will help your business grow.

1. Be clear about what need your business fulfills – Just because you have business cards and your sign says “open,” doesn’t’ mean you have a sale. Be clear about how your product or service helps or benefits someone. We have so many choices these days and people are savvier than ever about how and where they spend their money. Make sure you have something of real value and use and be ready to explain why and how it makes life easier or better.
2. Know where to find your ideal clients and how to communicate with them. It doesn’t make much sense to have the perfect product or service for pilots who fly charter planes if you are spending your time connecting and marketing to them on Facebook or Myspace. You have to know where to find your ideal clients and how to communicate with them. Too many small business owners are still marketing to “everyone” or the “general public.” It can quickly kill a business.  Refine your target market and define your ideal client.
3. Have a clear, concise and consistent marketing message – Do potential clients know what you do based on the information on your business card, website, social network profile? What is your elevator pitch? Do you have one? Can you clearly define your business AND its benefit in 30 seconds? You never know when an opportunity will arise or when you will spontaneously be in the presence of your biggest client. Always be prepared to explain what you do, how you do it, why you do it and what’s the benefit.
4. Take inventory of your existing resources – Small business owners are in constant “I need” and “If only I had” mode. The truth is, often times what you need is already in your bag of resources. You had a life before you started your business and you have colleagues, friends and family. Always be sure you check your sphere of influence for your needs first before looking outside. The people that already know you are your greatest asset. If you need clients, tell them first. If you have a sale or promotion, tell them first. If you need help, tell them first.
5. Have a functional system in place – As a small business owner, you probably can’t afford to get sick or take long vacations. Which is why it is vital that you have functional systems in place that will minimize unexpected absences and the need for damage control. You should document your processes. When your business is streamlined and you have systems in place, it reduces chaos and stress on bad days, missed days and sick days. It also makes it easier for someone to come in and “follow along” when help is needed.
6. Communicate with your clients… often – Many small business owners spend an inappropriate amount of time generating new clients. This time and energy is better spent if you focus on cultivating relationships with your existing clients. How many of your existing clients are “repeat customers?” If your “new clients” outweigh your “repeat clients,” you have a problem. Repeat clients are the ones who are singing your praises to their friends and family. Word of mouth advertising is priceless. Repeat clients are the ones who will continue to patronize you out of loyalty through price changes, varied economic climates, and a bad day. Yes, you need to engage new clients, but your existing clients are your foundation.
7. Stay ahead of the curve – The best way to stay ahead of the curve is to continue to educate yourself in all areas of your business and industry. You also want to keep your finger on the pulse of your clients’ needs. Clients’ needs change with the wind and the quicker you can adapt to the changes (while maintaining the integrity and purpose of your business) the better your business will be for it. Anticipate change and adapt.

Even redwood trees started out as seeds!

WANT TO RE-POST THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR BLOG OR USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

A.Michelle Blakeley is the Founder and CEO of Simplicity, Inc.; a progressive small business development firm. She manages her clients’ business expectations and prevents information overload via Micro Business Therapy™ and Micro Business Action Plans. She is featured in Forbes.com and the Financial Post as one of 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter, contributor for the San Francisco Examiner and Fearless Woman Magazine; the host of Simple Truths for Women Entrepreneurson BlogTalkRadio.com and author of the NEW e-book: “Get it Right and Move Along… a collection of practical tips, tools and techniques for small business owners.”

5 Ways to Erase Daily Procrastination in Your Business

According to Real Simple magazine’s survey of 10,000 readers, the average daily to-do list has 5 to 9 tasks on it. Only 5% of the readers are productive for 3 hours during a 9-to-5 workday as a result of web-related distractions. According to the Procrastination Research Group, based on some figures, it is estimated that as much as 95% of the people are prone to procrastination. Amongst them, 20% of them are chronic procrastinators.

Procrastination is generally defined as avoided tasks or activities that need to be accomplished. Poor time management and procrastination can be a direct result of having unreachable goals, having to meet others’ standards, disorganization or the inability to handle the task. Below are ways to erase daily procrastination in your business.

1. Use the first hour or two of your day to work on things that require your attention or have deadlines. Accomplishing necessary tasks will invigorate you to do more.
2. Inspire yourself with insightful reading. Read at least one business article daily and take action. Try implementing a new idea. Don’t just read about it, but do.
3. Afternoon organization can make the next day easier. Take 15 minutes at the end of each day to think about tomorrow’s priorities. Knowing what needs to be done at the beginning of each day gives you focus and direction.
4. Break large projects or tasks into smaller activities and schedule them on your calendar as appointments. Do them in 30-minutes, 1-hour or 3-hour time blocks. You wouldn’t interrupt a scheduled appointment, so don’t allow unnecessary interruptions when working on your projects.
5. Don’t make lofty goals. Be reasonable in your expectations of yourself, your time and your commitments. Overextending yourself can cause you shut down. Be practical and realistic.

It’s always helpful to identify the source of your procrastination. Take some time to think about why you are putting things off and then try one of the above techniques. Procrastination can really be a struggle and challenge for small business owners, especially when they are simply overwhelmed and unsure of their next move. Take it one step at a time and be conscious of your actions AND inaction.

WANT TO RE-POST THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR BLOG OR USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

A.Michelle Blakeley is the Founder and CEO of Simplicity, Inc.; a progressive small business development firm. She manages her clients’ business expectations and prevents information overload via Micro Business Therapy™ and Micro Business Action Plans. She is featured in Forbes.com and the Financial Post as one of 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter and the host of Simple Truths for Women Entrepreneurs on BlogTalkRadio.com.

Your business skills have an expiration date

It’s never too late to learn something new. Honing your business skills can help you maximize productivity and attain goals by providing strategic insight and applicable techniques. Don’t just take the time to learn something new. Knowledge unused is wasted. Implement what you learn and share it with others.

It doesn’t matter how you acquire information and new knowledge. However, it does matter that you actively pursue it and utilize it for the benefit of you and your business. Your business is a journey and just like with any trip, you see new things, learn new things and bring new things back with you. Make the most of your journey. Don’t just be a tourist; get to know the people and culture of where you are.

5 ways to hone your business skills:

1.     Take a class online, live or via phone. Most of the time, these are cost-effective ways to acquire new information on a wide variety of topics. They are also convenient in terms of location and access.

2.     Connect with a mentor. The wisdom that you gain from someone who has walked the walk is priceless. You can learn from their experiences and mistakes. You can expand on what has worked for them. Most importantly, you have emotional support and encouragement.

3.     Read business magazines, books and reports. These are quick, yet powerful ways to discover quick tips, tools and techniques that will increase your knowledge and resources.

4.     Join a business association related to your industry. Association memberships keep you aligned with best industry practices and legislation.

5.     Sign up for a business retreat or convention out of town. Getting out of your “territory” and meeting new business owners is refreshing. You can see how things are done in other areas, expand your market base, collaborate with new connections and break the monotony of your daily routine.

Don’t get left behind. Failing to refresh yourself and ideas on a regular basis is a sure way to not only kill your creativity but dull your business senses. Use the venues above to keep your finger on the pulse of your target market, industry and relevance of your business. Your business skills are directly related to your business success.

WANT TO RE-POST THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR BLOG OR USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

A.Michelle Blakeley is the Founder and CEO of Simplicity, Inc.; a progressive small business development firm. She manages her clients’ business expectations and prevents information overload via Micro Business Therapy™ and Micro Business Action Plans. She is featured in Forbes.com and the Financial Post as one of 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter and the host of Simple Truths for Women Entrepreneurs on BlogTalkRadio.com.

Stop, think and listen

Small business owners often find themselves in a constant state of emergency. Emergencies can occur through no fault of your own, however; putting out fires on a daily basis is a sign that your business systems, processes and practices are not functioning properly and are ineffective.

It is imperative that small business owners (especially those without staff and limited resources) have streamlined and organized systems and practices. This includes the way you process your clients’ information, marketing techniques, sales scripts and invoices/ bookkeeping. And let’s not forget hours of operation. There is nothing wrong with setting your own hours, but are you adhering to them? Are you spending the appropriate amount of time with your family? How and when are you honing your skills and increasing your business knowledge? Do you set aside time to perform the menial administrative duties? Do you plan your work? There needs to be a clear, well-defined and functional manner in which you operate your business.

When you are overwhelmed, frustrated and lost you should stop, think and listen. Stop doing what you are doing. Just like in a real emergency, STOP. Don’t panic. Our stress and anxiety levels immediately increase when we are flying by the seat of our pants. We are naturally concerned about revenue, clients and the direction of our business. This is okay. However, it is also easy to add to this concern unnecessarily when we operate our business without proper planning and a functional work system. So again, when you find yourself panicked, overwhelmed or simply unproductive, stop. When you are in quicksand, it is the flailing around that will cause you to sink even faster. Don’t move forward or backward. Just be still.

Think. Reflection and introspect is critical for small business owners. We have to be able to step back and survey the land to see clearly. Be realistic about where you are and what has taken place so far. Assess your business condition. What are you doing right? What are you doing wrong? What are your resources? What are your strengths? If you are not sure, don’t be afraid to ask for help. The knowledge and wisdom from wise counsel and a fresh pair of eyes could be the jolt you need to redirect your energy in the right direction.

Once you have come out of survival mode and have taken some time to really think about and assess your position, you must be open-minded and prepared to listen. Open-minded enough to accept the reality of your condition in whatever state it is in. Denial is destructive to you and your business. Listen to your intuition. We all have that small voice inside that gives us a heads up when we are going in the wrong direction or if something doesn’t feel right. Listen to that voice and give it the power and credit it deserves. If you have sought wise counsel, listen to what it is they are telling you. They should be telling you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear.

The next time you find yourself overwhelmed, lost, frustrated or in a constant state of emergency, stop, think and listen.

WANT TO RE-POST THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR BLOG OR USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

A.Michelle Blakeley is the Founder and CEO of Simplicity, Inc.; a progressive small business development firm. She manages her clients’ business expectations and prevents information overload via Micro Business Therapy™ and Micro Business Action Plans. She is featured in Forbes.com and the Financial Post as one of 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter and the host of Simple Truths for Women Entrepreneurs on BlogTalkRadio.com.

Your theme for 2010 should be “I am FEARLESS!”

Many of us spent the past year struggling to hold our businesses together, trying new marketing strategies to generate sales. In addition, we may have experienced personal turmoil as well. It was a year of exposure. A year of getting down to the nitty and gritty of things. A year of opening our eyes to things we refused to see, things we avoided and things we took for granted.

We let our fears get the best of us with news stories about the economy, the war, healthcare, H1N1, etc. We worried about the state of our country, the state of our cities and the state of our homes.

2009 is over. It’s done. Never to be relived, rehashed or revisited. You simply can’t stop time. Time is one of the few things we can never replace. However, we can honor it. We can honor time with our actions. We can actively work on making our dreams reality, we can speak kindly of others now and not when they are gone and we remember to have a little fun and not take ourselves too seriously.

Let 2010 be your year to be FEARLESS. You survived one of the worst years since the depression. Acknowledge what that is worth, value it, and embrace it. Use the same tenacity you used to get through the 2009 to lay the foundation for a new beginning. Take stock of last year and believe nothing is impossible… negatively OR positively.

Don’t drown yourself in lofty resolutions. Simply make a commitment to be and do better today than you did yesterday. Strive to make each day more worthy of the last. Be FEARLESS. Do the very things you think you can’t. Before you know it, not only will your dreams and goals be realized, but you will become the person you always thought and sought out to be.

Claim 2010 as your year of FEARLESSNESS!

WANT TO RE-POST THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR BLOG OR USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

A.Michelle Blakeley is the Founder and CEO of Simplicity, Inc.; a progressive small business development firm. She manages her clients’ business expectations and prevents information overload via Micro Business Therapy™ and Micro Business Action Plans. She is featured in Forbes.com as one of 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter and the host of Simple Truths: Intelligent. Insightful. Informed. on BlogTalkRadio.com.

Are you a statistic?

When is the last time you really thought about just how much time you are wasting with menial work, misguided business practices, misdirected energy and money? Are you a statistic?

• 43% of Americans categorize themselves as disorganized, and 21% have missed vital work deadlines. Nearly half say disorganization causes them to work late at least 2 or times each week.
Jane Von Bergen, “So many reasons to neaten up…”, Boston Globe Esselte survey, David Lewis
• Most people actually use 60% or less of available work time. When more than 38,000 people in 200 countries were queried about individual productivity, it showed that even though they were physically at work five days a week, they were only productively using three days. 
Microsoft Survey
• Unnecessary meetings cost U.S. businesses approximately $37 billion each year. 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2005
• 48% of us feel our lives have become more stressful in the past five years. 
American Psychological Association (APA), 2007
• 71% of white-collar workers feel stressed about the amount of information they must process and act on while doing business; 60% feel overwhelmed. 
Institute of the Future, Menlo Park, CA
• Spending 15 minutes every weekday morning mapping out your day can save you an average of six hours of wasted time during your workweek. That’s a 480% return on your investment of time.

The end of the year is fast approaching. Are you going to continue to do what you’ve been doing? How’s that working for you so far? If it’s not and you are tired of spinning your wheels or are bogged down in disorganization and frustration, STOP. Stop with the poor business practices. Stop with the poor planning. Stop with the lack of accountability.

START the New Year in a better and stronger position than ever! Now is the opportune time to analyze your business operations, identify areas for improvement, cut the fat, hone your niche and drive your business forward. When it comes to proper planning, what gets measured gets done.

With the end of the year fast approaching, you would be wise to plan well for the new one. If you are still trying to figure out how to adapt to the changes in the economy, as the old adage states, “Out with the old and in with the new.” New perspectives, new ideas and a new agenda.

Before you make your long list of New Year’s resolutions (or NOT), start with a clear understanding of where you’ve been, what you’ve been doing, what’s working, what’s not working and where you ultimately want to be and where you want to go. Get help and a fresh set of eyes. More often than not, small business owners are too close to their business to be objective. You need someone from the outside to look deep within your business and ask you the right questions. Don’t be a statistic. Be progressive. Be pro-active. Be prepared. Be purposeful. Take complete control of your business.

You simply cannot move forward until you know where you have been and what needs to change. Change can be small. Change can be big. Change can be empowering.

Submitted by A.Michelle Blakeley

Simplicity, Inc. |Because you don’t have time to waste.™ |866.927.5888 x1

Ask about our PROVEN Coaching and Mentoring Services.

Copyright Notice: Visitors to the Simplicity Mastered™ website may not reproduce, republish or redistribute material found on the website in any form without the express written consent of Simplicity, Inc.. For all requests for use of copyrighted material from the Simplicity Mastered™ website, please contact amichelleblakeley@yahoo.com

Really, What’s your excuse?

Are business plans really needed when you are a small business owner; especially when you are not looking for funding, an investor or partner? The majority of small business owners don’t even have business plans. Why should they? Do you have a business plan? For every reason a business owner gives for not having a plan, there are two solid reasons why you should.

But first, let’s quickly define what a business plan is in its most simplest terms. Although the format and outlines may vary, a business plan will generally cover the same components. Every business plan has the same basic elements: Who, what, when, why, how. The process and time it takes to answer these questions will always prove to be invaluable to all small business owners. Let’s look a few of the reasons for not having a business plan and a few why you should:

Too much work. You don’t have the time or energy to research and put together a business plan.

• Keep things simple. Start by performing a SWOT analysis. Even if you clearly identify your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats; you’ll be in a better position than if you attempt to operate your business with no plan at all.

• For an in-depth analysis of your business, engage a business mentor or consultant. These third party individuals can bring a fresh set of eyes, expertise and experience to help you see what you may be too close to.

Too long and boring. Who has time to draft and flip through 30-50 pages?

• Keep your plan limited to one to three pages. It need not be any longer than that. Keeping your plan to one-page forces you to think about what is most important and relevant.

• Why not put the essential information (SWOT, who, what, when, where, why, etc.) on one page? Better yet, as bulleted items for better reading.

• Grow your business organically. Create plan that provides you with energy and clarity. A good plan will show you how to get through today and next year.

It’s not useful. It is a document that pretty much sits in a file cabinet or stashed in a box in a closet.

• Having your plan allows you to gauge new ideas and opportunities against it. Do they align with your mission and objectives? Use it to maintain your business consistency and stay focused. It keeps you energized because you know what you need to be working on and spend less time feeling unproductive.

• Keep it visible and accessible. By keeping your plan visible and accessible, it is a constant reminder of your purpose, what you should be working on and what direction you should be moving in.

• Flexibility. Do enough planning to understand how, where, when, what, etc. is needed to move forward in an efficient sequence with room to quickly revise as necessary. It is much more effective and efficient to update 1 to 3 pages as opposed to 30-50 pages.

There are two types of business plans. One that is written for banks or investors; and the plan that you create for yourself and for the growth and direction of your business. Without your plan, how do you know where to focus your time, energy and resources? How do you measure progress? Let’s be clear, thinking a business plan is an enormous document intended for obtaining funding only, is the problem. Business planning is not. Plan your business accordingly.

Submitted by A.Michelle Blakeley

Simplicity, Inc. |Because you don’t have time to waste.™ |866.927.5888 x1

Ask about our PROVEN Coaching and Mentoring Services.

Copyright Notice: Visitors to the Simplicity Mastered™ website may not reproduce, republish or redistribute material found on the website in any form without the express written consent of Simplicity, Inc.. For all requests for use of copyrighted material from the Simplicity Mastered™ website, please contact amichelleblakeley@yahoo.com

Recognize your business traffic signals

Are you constantly “looking” for ways to get clients or grow your business? Are you constantly “talking” about what you’d like to do?  Heaven forbid you are “waiting” for the economy to turn around before you… Recognize your business traffic signals and take the appropriate action.

Go. Consistent and focused marketing is essential to each and every business. Do you know where the majority of your business comes from? Is it referrals? Is it advertising? Is cross-promoting? If it referrals from other people, who are they and where can you get more of them? Expand or increase the incentive for them to make the referral and show your appreciation. If it advertising, what is the ad and where else can you place it? What market can you expand to? If it is cross promoting, whom else can you collaborate with?

Stop. Eliminate your time wasters. They will, no doubt, consistently drain you. If you are attending networking events and find yourself talk to the same people, you have 3 choices: change events, stop going or host your own event. It’s okay to be social and meet up with colleagues, but be mindful that you are a business owner. Recognize the purpose of your actions. Yes, your actions should have a purpose. Networking events are for connecting with new people. It’s the follow-up where you continue your conversations and develop relationships. If you are constantly talking to the same people at your networking events, change venues. Unless your business is extremely local (you lack the capacity to service clients outside a set geographical parameter), check out other regional events or try virtual events (great way to save gas and travel time). Expand your horizons. Cast your rod further, into deeper water.

Go. Keep your pipeline full by consistently adding to it. If you get tunnel vision on 1 or 2 potential clients, you are loosing valuable time. Nothing is guaranteed leads and clients are known to “change their minds.” Understand what it takes to meet your sales goals. How many leads to generate how many sales? How many sales to make how much money? No doubt, you will need a lot more leads to generate a minimal amount of sales. This requires you maintain a “pipeline.” Keeping your pipeline full allows you to make more accurate sales projections and increases the opportunity for you to meet your sales goals.

Stop. Eliminate time wasters. They will, no doubt, consistently drain you. If you are spending hours on the Internet surfing, updating your Facebook status or anything else that steals your valuable time, STOP. Notice what’s not working and change your actions until you figure out what works. Then do that as often as you possibly can. Social networking can be an essential and valuable tool to a small business owner. However, it can easily be mismanaged. Are you using the right social networking sites for your business? Are you consistently adding value, sharing information and participating in discussions? Are you reaching out to new connections? Have you taken any connections offline and had a verbal conversation?

Go. Get excited about your business. Why did you start your business? What got you excited about your business? Where is your passion? What is your mission? Your purpose? Imagine your business at its peak. What does it look like? How are you going to get there? What’s your plan? If you don’t have a plan, get one! You have to believe there is business to be had, if not, you might as well close the doors now. If you have a product or service that is valuable to a defined market,

To achieve business success, you must take the right actions. There’s no such thing as a “rut.” Either you are taking action to move your business in a forward direction or you are taking action to close your business by not taking any action at all.

Submitted by A.Michelle Blakeley

Simplicity, Inc. |Because you don’t have time to waste.™ |866.927.5888 x1

Ask about our PROVEN Coaching and Mentoring Services.

Copyright Notice: Visitors to the Simplicity Mastered™ website may not reproduce, republish or redistribute material found on the website in any form without the express written consent of Simplicity, Inc.. For all requests for use of copyrighted material from the Simplicity Mastered™ website, please contact amichelleblakeley@yahoo.com