March 2009 Newsletter
“There is no substitute for persistence. Those who have cultivated the habit of persistence seem to enjoy insurance against failure.…Sometimes it appears that there is a hidden guide whose duty it is to test us through all sorts of discouraging experiences. The hidden guide let’s no one pass to achievement without first passing the persistence test, and then the world cries bravo, I knew you could do it” ~Napoleon Hill
TAKING PERSISTENT ACTION STEPS
Last month we explored your motivational drive to change. We discussed those short lived changes because we take action before we are truly ready or before we understand the underlying reasons we have the issue anyway. Weight loss is one excellent example; we loose weight for the tropical vacation and then gain it right back again. When your motivation to change is based on something so compelling that you’d do whatever it takes to succeed then you are on the path towards lasting change. This month, we’ll look at taking persistent action steps.
YOU'VE MADE A DECISION
So you’ve decided that it’s time to take whatever steps are necessary to grow your business and be financially sound. You’ve tapped into your underlying motivational drive and are 100% committed to your vision for your business. Maybe you’ve spent time working with a therapist, mentor coach or consultant and made some changes in how you operate your business and in your thinking. Maybe you are not sure what you need to be doing next. Wherever you’re at in this process is perfect. You know with absolute conviction that there is no turning back. Congratulations on reaching this level of commitment to yourself!
Now it’s time to take persistent action steps towards your goals. This means you keep at it, chipping away a little at a time until you accomplish it. You don’t stop because you have setbacks you just “tweak” your steps as needed and keep on going. Inaction brings fear and makes the goal seem even more daunting. Have you noticed when you try to push things away by ignoring them they show up in a gigantic way, sometimes screaming at you? This is “in your face education!” Your attention is needed NOW. Often people who undergo serious illnesses will talk about ignoring their symptoms until they find themselves in a crisis situation.
One recent “in your face education” was a true blessing to me. A short while ago, I was buried in office clutter and two new clients came to me within a few days of each other; and you probably guessed it; both were challenged with too much clutter in their lives. One had piles of unopened mail she was terrified of and another had a closet jammed full of clothes, many she had never worn with price tags still displayed. This experience supported me in making changes that I once was content to ignore. To feel in integrity while helping my clients I needed to “help myself” as well.
ASK YOURSELF WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOUR BUSINESS AND CREATE GOALS
Now some of you may be groaning and thinking that you really don't like setting goals or even see the need for them. Just as you wouldn't go on a road trip to an unfamiliar place without a map or navigational tool, buidling your business without knowing where you are going is just as risky. Often people don't set goals because they are unsure how to do this.
To decide what persistent action steps you will take ask yourself this question: What outcome do you want for your business? Do you want to make a certain income or expand your services for instance?
Then you can create S.M.A.R.T. goal(s)
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Risk (element of), and Time defined.
Goal setting will support you and help with accountability as you move closer to your goal/vision for your business.
(Next month look for more on the specifics of goal setting)
