How did January go? Did you hit your goals?
Before you do anything else, now would be a great time to assess January. What sales behaviors / prospecting behaviors / marketing behaviors did you do in January? How successful were they? What worked? What didn’t work? What do you need to do more of? What do you need to change? What are you avoiding doing that you need to do? Why are you avoiding doing things that are uncomfortable? What is going to happen in 2012 if you do not make the necessary changes to grow your income? Is there a pattern of behavior here? Why do you avoid asking these questions of yourself every week and every month?
Do you have written goals for February? If not why not?
Now is the time to write in that journal that I have been telling you about for months or perhaps years. Time to sit down and have an honest to God conversation with yourself.
When you go through this exercise, a number of important things will happen.
- You will discover the truth – as ugly as it may be. Only when you are self honest and willing to admit the truth is there hope. Sticking your head in the sand and pretending that things are fine or that they are beyond your control or that the problem with poor performance is external only guarantees as best mediocrity at worse failure.
All top performer that I have ever met are ruthlessly self honest. - You will determine what’s working and what isn’t. Only when you examine what is not working will you know what behaviors to avoid and what behaviors to ramp up or improve and do more of what is working. It’s amazing how much time and moneymoney is wasted by sales people, business owners and entrepreneurs who keep doing the same ineffective marketing and advertising only because they haven’t reviewed results.
- You will be able to begin creating your 2013 sales and marketing plan in a flash. Reviewing each month in 2012 you’ll be able to quickly identify successes and failures that will help you plan more effectively going forward. You are working on 2013 now aren’t you?
This process is not to be dreaded. To the contrary, it is a process that should be embraced with excitement. Done properly it will lead to … business growth, financial independence, personal freedom.
So give this process the time and focus it deserves and in return you’ll get what you deserve.
Now go get that journal and start writing!