Since I started my first website in 2013, I have gone through the ringer when it comes to the balance between work and family, working in and working on your business, ideal clients and not ideal clients…and attempting to figure out how to schedule my time. Hence, a category on this blog “Hot Mess to Great Success.”
I was stunned when I launched my first great idea and heard crickets. Started networking and reading about all these neat things that “they didn’t teach me in PhD school.” I’ve held together my business with post-it notes and peanut butter.
And then there are the pile of excuses – as I have always known I have to get it together as I allowed my personal life to blindside me. It seems like each time I attempted to put new systems in place the universe had other plans. I would have a personal curve ball thrown at me (some good some horrific) or a slew of new clients would run in the door and I would abandon all plans and stop paying attention to goals…and systems. I was a rat in a wheel.
However, with the start of 2018 I have taken the opportunity to say that for the first time I will achieve my goals – with relentless pursuit and never ending passion. No longer will my personal life get in the way of my sales system. The hot mess but great success that I was isn’t cute anymore – it is unbecoming of a CEO.
Here are a few things I have started…and that all entrepreneurs can start as well…to get their mind, body, soul and business moving forward.
Habits
I have a massive list of daily habits that I want to build and for me the only way to accomplish this is by writing it down and then ticking them off each day. They range from 30 minutes of cardio to blogging to learning french. Most of the things on the list I have wanted to improve upon for some time and…as I have stated to the universe…now is the time.
Scheduling Every Single Last Thing
I took the time and figured out all of the different activities I need to spend time on each week – from writing and blogging to client work and tennis. I then standardized it into a template so I can get in the habit of doing things on certain days at certain times. I purchased a calendar that has the month view but also a page for each week in column form. Each Sunday I block out my calendar – for instance, Wednesday morning from 8-11 is marketing brainstorming and writing, Mondays from 9-12 I am working on sales system touches. In each of these categories I will have specifics of what I want to accomplish – little to-do lists.
Sales
I have never had a sales system. I’ve never had a way to reach out to cold leads, follow-up to those who show interest – or even follow-up after I send a proposal. Now I have the systems in place so I can really start to sell – and track – and reach out. I’ve heard the phrases “if you aren’t selling you are dying,” “sell like hell.” Now I can do that because I have a plan in place for each step.
Tracking
For someone with such an analytical mind I have not done a good idea of tracking…anything…for my business. I’ve simplified my tracking systems and made sure they fit with my goals. I’ve also standardized lists – so everything is in the same order as I move from daily, weekly and monthly notes to tracking sheets for the year.
I will say that on each of these topics I have done a tremendous amount of reading and introspection. I’ve taken notes on what successful entrepreneurs do, what is going to work for me, and then what I am ready to commit to. For me, the biggest piece of this is that commitment to relentlessly pursue my goals.
