Category: Attitude
It's simply amazing how quickly time slips away. Especially for a business owner. The plans that we have, and the best of intentions don't always guarantee follow-thru and success.
I realize today that it has been over 6 weeks since I posted to my blog. I'm pretty sure that in July when I last posted, I would put something on the site weekly. Turns out it's more like WEAKLY!
The snag for us business owners is: we don't immediately pay the price for not following through with some of our best intentions. We're busy. Things are getting done. Sometimes it is only the absolute essentials that get done.
So let's take a step back. Knowing that everything comes and goes in cycles, and knowing that summer is playtime for a LOT of us, maybe time didn't actually slip away. Maybe it was put to very, very good use.
That said, I'll reset my intention of writing weekly, and know that if it doesn't happy - well - that's just fine too....
I wish you every success,
Jerry
|
| |
Responsibility
One of the common traits of very successful small business owners is that they take responsibility for everything in their business. And I mean EVERYTHING.
When owners do not take responsibility, they see themselves as victims. This victim mentality stops them from moving forward, and actually gives them and excuse to not take appropriate action.
Here are just a few of the excuses I hear as a business coach:
"This town just doesn't support my business."
"My customers don't understand what we're doing here."
"I could do so much better if I could find the right employees."
An unsuccessful business owner identifies an issue, lays blame, holds that blame as a truth, and continues to act as if there is nothing that can be done. That's the easy way out. By blaming others, they don't have to take responsibility themselves.
A successful business owner accepts everything that happens in their business as their own responsibility. Sales are down? They will analyze and refine their marketing effort. Customers don't understand them? The owner sees it as his/her fault for not making it easy, and then rolls out a customer awareness or education program. Employees aren't performing well? The owner sees it as either a hiring or training issue and addresses it.
Just like in business, the same is true in life. The people we think of as heroes have all taken on terrible adversity. So what is the difference between the ones that overcome it and the ones that succumb to it? The ones that have overcome their adversity took responsibility for it, and charted a path to move past their obstacle.
There's a rule in golf that really explains it all. You have to play the ball where it lies. Where you are is where you are. When a lousy golfer hits a terrible shot, they blame the ball manufacturer, the golf course, the golf course designer, the club they used, the foursome on the next hole that made noise during their backswing, the sun, the weather for the past week, their terrible instructor... The list can go on and on. The rest of the folks playing don't want to hear any of this. Play the ball from where it lies, and keep headin' toward the hole. It's really that easy.
The past does not equal the future. Where you've been does not determine where you have to go. Take responsibility for WHERE YOU ARE NOW, and choose your path from here.
Till next time...
Jerry
PS - Jerry's class "Planning and Launching Your Small Business" is being offered through the Windsor Connecticut Adult Education office. To find out more about the class,Click Here.
2004 Jerry Wistrom and All Out Coaching, LLC
All rights reserved.
|
| |
Welcome to All Out Coaching's new Email Newsletter!!!
Those of you who were on distribution for the original "paper" version, are about to be impressed.... Since this newsletter is sent in HTML format, you can hyperlink to anything on the All Out Coaching Website for further information.
There are two themes in this newsletter: Attitude and Momentum
I'M EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why??? Because I've realized that every one of my clients who has been with All Out Coaching since 3Q2002 are making breakthroughs in their businesses. What is the cause of this?
My coaching??
Maybe/Maybe Not.
The Economy turning?
Maybe/Maybe Not.
2003 Budgets opening up?
Maybe/Maybe Not.
It actually doesn't matter what the reason is, but what is the "theme" that I could take from each of them??
MOMENTUM.
Ask just about anyone in sales when the ABSOLUTE BEST TIME to call a prospective client who has been on the fence for a while is? They will quickly tell you that it's right after they closed a big sale. You see, when things are going right, they keep going right. There is a much higher conversion rate experienced when they're coming off of a success.
And what is MOMENTUM'S closest friend?? ATTITUDE. They actually go hand in hand. It's hard to talk about one without the other. AND.... These are two things that I consistently check in my clients. If either one gets damaged, the other follows. As soon as we start a call, that's the first thing my antennae are tuned to. And don't think that I'm the only one checkin' for this. So are every one of your clients and customers. Time for a couple of examples:
"Sally" is not doing well in her interior design business. People have been calling, but she just isn't closing any deals. Just ask Sally "How's business?". What comes back is an absolute TIRADE about how LOUSY the economy is, what a TERRIBLE town she decided to set up shop in, how the news on TV is SO DEPRESSING!!! I'll bet you just can't wait to talk to Sally again!!!
"SUE" on the other hand, is in the same town, not doing terribly well during this quarter, but never shows anything but a smile. The worst you'll ever hear from her is "Everything's OK, No Big Complaints" (even if she's really having a tough day). When things are going well, she's got a smile like sunshine, and still makes sure that the majority of the conversation is about you, not her.
Is there any question who you'd rather do business with? Who would you rather bump into on the street? Here's my observation on this, and I could be really wrong on this, but.... I think that SUE knows exactly how she looks to the world, and SALLY doesn't.
OK, that explains ATTITUDE. How does MOMENTUM come into play here? Because... If you lose your MOMENTUM, you can just as easily lose your ATTITUDE. One deal goes bad. Then another. Before you know it, you're in a funk. Once you're in the funk, you start lookin' like SALLY. The customers avoid you like the plague, and now you've got some MOMENTUM going. It's just going the wrong way!
Last word on this: Guard your ATTITUDE and your MOMENTUM. Let nothing come in the way.
Be Well, and I Hope to See you Soon,
Jerry
PS As you may or may not know, I build my practice ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY through your referrals. If you know someone who's business or personal life just isn't where they want it to be, please give them my name and number. During a complimentary session, I'll be happy to see if there is a way that I can help. All sessions are strictly confidential.
2003 Jerry Wistrom and All Out Coaching, LLC
All rights reserved.
Permission is granted to print or forward this email only in it's entirety.
|
| |
| |
|
|
