IS FAILURE AN OPTION? SUCCESS CAN BE ELUSIVE, BUT FAILURE IS EASY. IT’S UP TO YOU! By Mark LeBlanc So much of what I write and speak about will help you become more successful in your business and your life. Over the course of my career, I have had the good fortune of working with over 1,000 small business owners and speaking across North America to thousands more. everyone is looking for an easier way to grow their business. While we work hard (and often put in long days), wouldn’t it be nice if there was a magic bullet? there are two diseases in being in business. the first disease i refer to is the discovery disease. this is a dream where something happens and you and your business are discovered. in this dream, you are whisked away to the land of success, and everything is fine from that point forward. the second disease is the arrival disease. in this dream, you arrive in the land of success and are forever well. from here on out, you do not need to concern yourself anymore with what you did to get to where you are – everything is fine from this point forward. if only these things could happen. there are three reasons why you will fail in your business. you will fail due to a lack of clarity, a lack of congruency, and/or a lack of consistency. it will not be due to a lack of commitment. most people are committed to making something happen. it will not be due to a lack of conviction. every single person i encounter inherently believes they have some product, service, or program that can make a difference in the life or work of another person. clarity, congruency, and consistency are a whole other story. let’s take a little step in reviewing each of these. CLARITY: do you measure and track your numbers on a monthly basis? do you know specifically what you want to sell more of? are you able to introduce yourself to another person in a way that leaves him or her wanting to know more? if you can achieve a higher degree of clarity and eliminate the gray area, you will be one step closer to reaching your potential. CONGRUENCY: there are many ways to look at congruency, but for our purposes, let’s sum it up as bringing more of who you are to what you do. are you real with your prospects and customers? do they know who you are? can you admit when you are wrong or make a mistake? What do you specifically do to enhance the critical relationships in your life and work? CONSISTENCY: anyone can do something once. let me see you do it again. more than anything else, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and independent professionals are inconsistent when it comes to doing what matters consistently. “doing what matters” can be defined in many ways in your life and business. We feel better about ourselves and our businesses when we identify those regular and repeating activities that put us in a position to succeed. Whether it is exercising, recreation, marketing, or other business development activities, when we commit to certain activities on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual basis, it begins to set up a foundation for success where you can be unstoppable, both personally and professionally. here are examples of deliberate active steps you can take that will help you move in the direction of your dream. 1. update your net worth statement every ninety days. 2. Walk a mile a day. 3. send 100 pieces of direct mail every thirty days. 4. rent or go to the theatre and watch a movie once a week. 5. make one strategic business call every day. 6. create and mail a newsletter to your database once a quarter. 7. set aside one hour a week, every week, for a creative brainstorming session with yourself or your team members. When you identify those critical – and sometimes simple – activities and strategies that you can repeat on a regular basis, you set yourself up to succeed for the long term. do not trust how you feel on a daily basis, trust the process and work your plan. Mark LeBlanc is the author of Growing Your Business and Never be the Same, inspired by his 500 mile walk across Northern Spain. He was the 2007-2008 president of the National Speakers Association and the founder of the Small Business Success Coaching Network. He can be reached at www.GrowingYourBusiness.com. 36 hbma billing • may. june.2013
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