2009 Focus

Are you holding off all of the distractions? There are more positives going on in the market place than the media is willing to talk about. Who are you believing?

We control and create our own reality. It is up to us.

To help you accomplish this I have 3 suggestions:

• Be Prepared
• Be Proactive
• Persevere

Be Prepared

In order to be prepared we must be willing to make decisions and move forward. Stop putting off critical decision making. Once you make a decision you make a commitment to achieve or fulfill that activity.

To be prepared in our businesses we must first decide what it is we desire to accomplish. Anticipate and plan for what you expect. Create specific and measureable goals for 2009. Set your revenue targets and your expense budgets. Once they are set, we must measure frequently, review our progress and adjust our plan as necessary. Adjust by changing the actions that create the results. The only way to get different results is to change our actions.

Create a marketing plan that supports your revenue targets. It is more critical now than ever to be marketing your business. Repeat what has worked in the past and do more of it. A marketing plan should consist of who your target audience is, why they need or want your product, clearly define why they should buy from you. And the answer isn't price. Once you have accomplished these critical marketing components now you can discuss how to get your message out.

Be Proactive

Take Action! The only way to be proactive is if we take action and control what we can control. Stay focused on the actions that create the results that you desire. Do the same with your team. Lead them, provide direction, feedback, guidance, and assistance to accomplish their goals. Once we are focused we must create accountability. Accountability is about follow through and managing the business or individual. Set benchmarks and make sure you adn your team make progress daily, weekly, and monthly.

What are your KPI's? KPI can stand for Key Performance Indicators or Key Predictor Indicators. How do we know what to improve if we don't know our current state. Identify the 2-3 specific items to measure progress in the business. Whether it is appointments and the number of appointments that turn into sales or number of phone calls it takes to get appointments, we need to watch and manage the actions of our business.

Persevere

I want to encourage everyone to refuse to participate in the recession. Focus on the right actions and the positives that are occuring. If we address the market with the right attitude and be creative in working with our clients we will gain energy and momentum.

Focus on your goals and the actions that create those goals. Every morning review your plan for the day to ensure that you are taking action to get closer to your desired outcome.

Another great strategy to persevere is to maximize your relationship with your business coach. Follow through on the proven strategies and tactics, review your marketing pieces and messages, confirm your team is following your guidance and your expectations.

Make 2009 one of your best years!

Monte, Your Action Coach, 515-222-9193, montewyatt@actioncoach.com