Secrets to Success Deborah Cole Micek and John-Paul Micek

Preparation is a must to seize the day

IF you're looking to increase your profits or the number of clients you serve, you must have a specific marketing strategy clearly written down. Then you must take action on your plan daily, and pursue your goals diligently.

In the first of this series, we discussed Step No. 1: Determine what you really want; and, Step No. 2: Pick a specific date to write down exactly what you want.

We followed that with Step No. 3: Prepare yourself to achieve your goals.

Now, here are Steps Nos. 4 and 5:

» Step No. 4: Persist and diligently go after your goals.

Start by scheduling and completing at least one action each and every day that will help you get what you want. Whether it's an action plan to help you prepare for action, or acting on your actual plans, you've got to be like a pit bull with a 5-pound T-bone steak in his mouth. You can't let go! No matter what tries to pull you off track, you need to stick with it.

This is one of the easiest ways for busy business owners to incrementally step toward the goals they want. When we work with owners, we're always careful to do everything possible to make sure that their plan is broken down into bite-size pieces. You need to do the same thing, whatever your plan.

» Step No. 5: Flex and adapt when it's been proven that you must.

As you take action, you're going to get feedback, both subjective and objective. Feelings aren't that important here. The most important feedback is objective, measurable results.

For instance, if part of your marketing campaign includes a letter with a special offer and that mailing falls flat on its face, you need to change something.

It could be your headline. It could be the way you're stating your benefits. Or it could be the offer itself.

The point is, as you move ahead, you'll need to flex and adapt quickly when your results prove that you must.

Now, ask yourself, what is possible for you in the next 12 months? Where will your business be in three years? Will your business be delivering the lifestyle you want five years from now?

Carpe diem!

Don't wait another minute to seize the day! Imagine yourself fulfilling one of your greatest goals.

Now get to work on the five steps laid out in this three-part series. You can start devising a plan of action as soon as today, in order for you to reach your goals within the next three months, six months, and over the next year - or you can just keep "dreaming" about it.

The choice is yours. Preparation is a must.