Bill Gluth, Creative Business Strategy Blog

Get Ready for 2012

 

Have a wonderful, safe, prosperous and very Happy New Year

2012 is the Year of Focused Action

Every New Year presents a new set of circumstances.

From my position in small business I'm seeing 2012 as the year of focused action.

That means you don't have time to waste.

Focus on what your want in your business. Write down real decisions you've made about 2012 in plan form.

Eliminate encumbrances, distractions and other things that inhibit your progress in reaching your true goals. 

Plan each day. Ask yourself, "What will I do today today to achieve my focused decisions (goals) in 2012?" Be sure you're moving forward productively every day.

If revenue growth is your goal, make sure 40% or more of every working day is spent on sales related, revenue generating activities. Social media is great, but if it isn't generating sales, you need to put a new plan in place. 

The point is to focus on what you want to achieve and take REAL steps every day to achieve it. 

If you don't know what you want or how to go about getting it, then get help so you can see your business from a broader perspective. 

2012 is a powerful year and you can be the change you want to see in the world. The secret is to know what you want and take action every day to get it.

In other words, focus.

2012 Graphic Courtesy of: Joseph Chang

May You Have a Blessed Christmas

"I have always thought of Christmas as a good time; a kind, forgiving, generous, pleasant time; a time when men and women seem to open their hearts freely, and so I say, God bless Christmas!" - Charles Dickens 

Enjoy a wonderful Christmas weekend. 

First You Suck. Then You Grow

In a recent "Name your own price business coaching" meeting, I helped someone understand how important it is to extend beyond their comfort zone.

Then I gave them exact action steps to take to get moving in the right direction. 

In this case they needed to grow their small business.

Unfortunately, like most people, they were not doing anywhere near enough marketing and outreach to attract clients and fill their sales pipeline. 

I suggested they start with doing some recordings that they could use as a freemium.

Since budget was low, I showed them how to do it for free, without a lot of "techie" background.

To help them overcome their own self doubt about being "Good enough" to do a recording as an expert, I pointed them to one my videos that talked about why You Have to Be Willing to Suck, when starting new creative tasks. 

I was pleased to see that they are taking action. They emailed me to say, "I will send you my first recording, which may suck, but of course you have to suck sometimes :))."

It’s so true.

When it comes to the creative process, you have to be willing to suck at first. Then with practice you become better and better.

Perfection is not the goal. Taking ACTION is. Focused action is the only thing proven to create a great result, consistently.

The reason is, no one else is willing to step out of their comfort zone to create a new result, so the few who are have a distinct advantage. 

Then I congratulated them on their courage.

Realize this important fact.

Stepping out of your comfort zone may be the greatest present you can give to yourself this holiday season. 

"A non-doer is very often a critic-that is, someone who sits back and watches doers, and then waxes philosophically about how the doers are doing. It's easy to be a critic, but being a doer requires effort, risk, and change." Dr. Wayne W. Dyer 

Lipogen PS Plus Boosts My Brain

I'm a Buzz Agent and was invited to participate in the Lipogen PS Plus campaign. 

By the second week of taking this product, my memory, concentration and ability to focus was greatly enhanced. It's like I "Woke up" and got much clearer.

This is a great product for those of us who need our brain to be strong. Give it a try. I recommend it highly. 

We Need to Create More Fun

I was listening to a teleseminar with a noted sales trainer named Stan Billue last week.

The subject was cold calling. I know, AAAAHHHH ... right?

But Stan is unique.

He takes something like cold calling and actually has fun with it.

How does he do that?

There are many ways. For example, he makes light of the fact the person being called probably hates the call as much as you do making it.

Stan suggests making your introduction more fun.

If following Stan's lead I might do something like, "This is Bill Gluth. That's like glue with a th at the end so I hope this idea sticks with you."

How can you have more fun right now?

Lighten up.

Make the stress of the day lighter, even funny and learn to laugh at yourself. 

Share that joyful, no stress, fun energy with the people you encounter today. 

Have fun and make your workday more of a play day instead. 

After all, a small business that is developed to create values that enhance the lives of others is how we actually play as adult human beings. 

Learn more about Stan Billue and his sales training products at www.stanbillue.com. 

Photo of Stan Billue courtesy of Mike Brooks http://www.mrinsidesales.com/

Realities of Home Based Business

When it comes to home based business there is quite a bit of confusion. I addressed some of the typical questions in a recent Linked In group post. 

It's important to understand that a home based business can be based on a number of different business models. Most people think network marketing is the only home based business model.

That's not the case.

I demystified business models in this free coaching session video. Be sure to listen to it if you want to understand small business models better.

Here's the thing about home based small business.

Anyone can start one but it takes self-empowerment, focus and consistent action every day to succeed.

I have learned firsthand, over the past 10 years of coaching entrepreneurs and small business owners, that unless passion exists for the business being pursued, often, the business owner will jump from one thing to the next.

So build your home business and personal brand this way: 

Understand your talent, knowledge, passion and experience.

Relate those gifts and skills to a group of people you could potentially serve. This is called the niche audience. The tighter the niche, the greater the potential for success.

Understand the problem that keeps your niche(s) up at night. 

Then create a value (products, services and experiences) that enhances the lives of each niche you want to serve.

Market by educating your target group consistently every day.

Make sure you have a winning sales process developed and follow it consistently.

Start each morning by planning and scheduling every hour of your day.

Follow the plan consistently. Keep every appointment you set with yourself faithfully.

Make sure sales activity comprises at least 40% of every working day. 60% is even better. If you're a start up 90+% of your day will be in sales related activities because you don't have any clients yet to serve. 

If you want to understand the sales process better go to: http://bit.ly/omXdd3 - free information no opt in required. 

If you want to know why running a small business is so darn hard download my book Why is Running a Business So Darn Hard at http://bit.ly/mqYpm5 again, free, no opt in required.

But above all, empower yourself first. Find your passion and get to work, consistently.

Plan, get focused and take consistent action. 

That's the formula I've seen work time-and-time again to take you from where your are now to where they want to be in a small business of your own creation.

And whatever you do, educate and demonstrate your value and please stop pitching us to death. We learn to ignore you when you do and that's not what you want at all.

God bless you all. Your home based small business is the future of work. Self-empowered entrepreneurs can turn the tide of the sagging US economy. Your business is a gift and a blessing. You need to be heard. 

I wish you nothing but success, peace and fulfillment in 2012 and beyond.

The World's Simplest Business Growth Strategy

 

 

Simple Business Growth Strategy

 

Listen to this brief 2 minute and 30 second podcast to learn how you can work less and achieve more in your small business in 2012 and beyond.

Give Back This Holiday Season

I think all of us as small business people are very grateful for all we have.

But there are people who, for one reason or the other, cannot afford to avail themselves to our services or products, even though they really want the help we can provide.

What I'm proposing is to give back to those who need you, in some way.

What can you do to give back this holiday season?

I did a special holiday coaching offer to assist those who need new ideas, new direction and new focus, but may not be able to afford it normally.

This is how it works:

People tell me their challenge. 

I let them know if I can help them.

They name the price they would like to pay for that assistance.

I give them focused strategy and direction to resolve the challenge and move forward productively in 2012.

What can you do right now to impact the lives of people who need you most?

Giving back expands and the reward of happiness and appreciation is felt in your heart and throughout your personal Universe. 

So, how will YOU use your talent, knowledge, passion and experience as a "give-back" gift for the holiday season?

Photo Courtesy of Enokson

One Successful Advertising Secret

When it comes to advertising, there is one secret that most people in small business are not always aware of.

Think about this for a moment. 

Why do professional athletes, actors and others in the public spotlight get paid millions and millions of dollars to endorse products?

The reason is, they can bring people who have little to no money to the front of the television (or movie theator or sport complex) consistently so advertisers can convince them they "must have" some item.

Then these advertisers sell people things they cannot afford now and won't want any longer in a month or two anyway; even as the credit card payments persist.

So to make millions of dollars you must be able to engage a large group of people to be interested in what you're doing so third parties can sell things to these people.

It happens all the time, from televison to the internet. Draw a large audience and you'll make big bucks too.