You Have to Have a Plan
Do you feel like you’re running around in circles, working hard but seeming to get nowhere? Sometimes we confuse activity with progress. Just “doing stuff” doesn’t mean you will get results.
Having a plan helps. It doesn’t have to be complicated, either. Just know a few things: where are you now, where do you want to be (and when), and how will you get there?
Here is how that translates to your business: You know where you are now. You’re just starting out, or you have a certain number of clients, or you’re maxing out your income possibilities, or whatever your situation is. Now, where do you want to be? Do you want to get your first client, “x” more clients, increase your income without adding more clients...? Maybe you want to become famous in your field, less for the business boost you will get (and you will get one) than for the ego boost you will get. Whatever it is you want to achieve, write it down!
Now, how do you draw the map that gets you from where you are to where you want to be? It’s usually not a giant leap, it is a series of small steps (often not in a straight line).
One way to figure out what the steps should be is to go backwards. If you want to be on “Oprah,” what could lead up to that? Yes, you might send a media kit to them, and get a call the next day booking you on the show. More likely, however, “Oprah” will not be your first TV appearance. You will probably do other local, regional and national shows first. So look for those shows. Send your media kits to them. Call the producers when you have a hot topic. Also go after print media—after all, Oprah and her producers read, you know. And in the meantime, keep sending information to Oprah.
What if you want to increase your income without increasing your work? That probably means raising your fees, or increasing passive and residual income (such as royalties or product sales). To raise your fees, you will have to raise the perceived value of your service. Do that by developing a high profile for yourself as an expert in your industry, or by shifting to a new niche that will pay higher fees.
Another benefit of having a plan is not spending a lot of time wondering what to do today. A plan helps you to accomplish something everyday, because you know what has to be done. Call a few prospects, send notes to recent clients, write and send a press release, write an article or two, send out articles to ezines and magazines, create a new product or service, book a speech, get business cards made with your new slogan, attend a meeting or conference…
You may already be doing some of these things, but not getting the results you want. Done scattershot, they are not as effective as when they are done as part of a plan. Know what you want to achieve, and how each action helps you get closer to your goals. Then, get out there and work your plan.
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