Success doesn't just happen - it comes from your commitment to thoughtful planning, intentional action, and truthful speech.

So my question to you is: Are you ready to commit to your success?  If your answer is "YES!" follow the four steps to successful planning and start creating the future you'd like to have!

Here are the first two you can get started on right now!

Step #1 - Get Clear.

Create a picture in your mind's eye of your business a year from now.  Thinking as though it already happened - What have you accomplished?  How much revenue did you generate?  How much did you take as a salary?  What products or services did you deliver?  Who are the customers you served?  Imagine yourself telling a friend about how the year turned out.  Write down exactly what you saw - and be as specific as possible.

Write down the biggest challenges you face in your business - the things that you know could get in the way of reaching your goals in this next year.  These could also be things that are missing that need to be in place in order to get where youw want to go.  Be truthful!  What's missing from your business?  What isn't working?  Where do you need help? What processes need to be put in place? For instance: Maybe your sales are in a slump and you need to tune up your marketing. Maybe you need to tighten up your record keeping. Or, find a replacement for someone who isn't pulling their weight.  

Be ruthlessly honest in thinking about where you are!  One of the reasons people don't reach their goals is that they don't face the truth about where they are starting out.  The more honest you can be about where your business is, the greater the likelihood you can set goals and achieve them. (Note: Being honest does not mean beat yourself up! Give yourself credit for what you have accomplished and encouragement to take the next steps.)

Step #2 - Get a Plan.  

Go back to your list of the three biggest challenges you wrote down in Step #1. They will become the Key Areas you'll plan to focus on in the upcoming year.

For example: You realize you need to improve the consistency and effectiveness of your marketing. This would be one of the three Key Areas you'll focus on improving during the year.  Now, what are three goals you have in that Key Area? You might . . .

Now, your Key Area of "Improving Your Marketing" has three specific goals for you to address.

To hire a marketing coach, you may need to...

1. Search the web
2. Ask friends for recommendations
3. Make appointments to meet them, etc.

Now, you've got simple, specific steps you can easily take to meet the goal of hiring a marketing coach.

Create a similar list of action steps for each of your goals.

Breaking your goals down into small achievable actions is what will help keep you on track to meeting your goal.

In planning, make sure to assign someone as the person responsible for taking the step (it doesn't have to be you!) and the date by which that step needs to be completed.

This step moves you from goals to actions - a critical element in effective planning.  

Make sure not to put all your deadlines in the first quarter, or you'll quickly become overwhelmed.  Spread the steps you'll take out over the entire year.  

Simple enough?  It is! Successful planning - and execution - are easily achievable when you . . .

You can get started planning right now!  And stay tuned for steps 3 & 4 which we'll discuss in next month's newsletter.

In the meantime, have a very happy holiday - and pleasant planning!