Category Archives: Business

Right measures

What’s your method to measure success?

Do you count your sales? Or view your web traffic? Or admire your Facebook fans / Twitter followers / Pinterest re-pins, etc.?

Or…

Do you look at individuals whom you’ve helped? Or compare yourself to your (past) self? Or review your commitment to your promise statement?

No, it’s not necessarily an “either or” situation.

But when you make it one, and choose the right measures, life and work get a whole lot sweeter.

What am I doing?

That might not be the best question.

How about asking, “Why did I get started?”

  • Football players started because they loved the game.
  • Writers started because they love writing.
  • Retailers started because they love enhancing lives of their customers.
  • Bankers started because they love being organized and facilitating for other people.
  • Traveling consultants started because the love having a variety in their work and learning with others.
  • Dog owners got started because they love to love dogs.

Remember why you started.

It may very well help you appreciate your current position.

“I’m started doing this because I love…”

Better than worst

What’s the worst that could happen?

Ask yourself this question when you’re stuck. When you’re feeling afraid. When you’re feeling self-doubt.

Then, once you’ve answered, make a small modification which causes the new worst-case scenario to be a little better than the old one.

Finally, take the plunge.

You know the worst that could happen.

And it’s not even the worst anymore.

More than two

When making decisions, you have two choices. Either:

  • Give yourself two options (or worse, just one).
  • Give yourself MORE than two options.

Two options is good for getting people (yourself) to have no choice at all.

More than two options is good for making good decisions.

Who isn’t going to choose the second option?

Mind readers

What do you want?

  • Referrals for your business?
  • Direct replies to your newsletter?
  • Your omelet made a certain way?
  • The ability to bring your dog to work?
  • More vacation days?
  • A 5-minute back rub?

Very few are able to read minds.

But offering “the why” followed by “a direct ask” seems to do wonders.

People, People

People:

  • Buy from people.
  • Buy people.
  • Refer people to people.

It’s hardly ever about the stuff.

It’s about the people, People.

Their golf

Golf is an interesting game.

  • You cannot beat it.
  • You play against yourself.
  • Most players are legitimately addicted.

No, I don’t play golf.

But there are many similar things I play instead.

Making money online, saving the world, optimizing my mind and body, are a few examples.

And while it’s not for me, fashion is another great example.

So if you want to succeed in business, find a game like golf.

Help them beat the unbeatable game.

Missions and promises

Mission statements describe what you’re trying to do. Your customers appreciate the effort. No doubt.

Promise statements describe what you’re going to do. Your customers appreciate the guarantee. No doubt.

Which is more powerful?

Aren’t promise statements more beneficial for customers? Guarantees instead of goals?

And aren’t promise statements more beneficial for organizations? Clarity instead of confusion?

Promise yourself you’ll figure out your promise statements.

 

Subject

What gets your email opened?

The subject.

What gets your email read?

The subject.

What gets your email read again?

The subject.

So, what do you spend most of your time writing?

Uncomfortable meetings

Who appreciates meetings that have:

  • Gone longer than 30 minutes.
  • People speaking just to hear themselves (not get fired).
  • Time dedicated to reading memos out loud.
  • People IM’ing other attendees.
  • People IM’ing non-attendees.
  • People checking email.
  • No clear objective.

Answer: No one.

The solution?

Standing meetings.

Because having one’s time wasted sucks. But having one’s time wasted while standing is, to most, not acceptable.