Secrets to Success
Secrets to Success
Persistence is an
ingredient for successSuccess is often a matter of merely hanging on after others have given up. This week, I had the privilege of coaching three happy business owners who were discouraged with the way their business was going just one month ago. But after they stuck with their action plan for the month, continued making sales calls and followed through with their commitments, they began to see the results of their labor.
Business is a lot like farming. A farmer plants seeds during one season and waits to see the results of his labor in the next season. What the farmer will see in the months that follow will depend on how well he takes care of the seeds during the time when he doesn't see anything happening.
A good farmer knows that giving seeds the proper amount of sunlight, soil and water will yield the best and biggest rewards once harvesting time comes. But he must be patient, and wait until he sees the sprouts emerge. If he digs them up every day to see how the seeds are doing, he'll sabotage all his efforts.
Think about your business. Do you get frustrated when you don't see the results of your labor right away? When you make 100 sales calls one week, do you beat yourself up if you don't get 50 appointments that same week? Do you feel as though you're wasting your time? Or do thoughts plague your mind that you're in the wrong business or position?
Coaches Success Tip: Hold fast. Measure the results you see one month, two months, even three months down the road after you have implemented an effective strategy. In the case of the three business owners I celebrated with this week, each will tell you she was glad she continued with the plan of action that we created for her business. It was only during the next season of their business when they began to see the seeds begin to sprout.
After just the fourth week of implementing her success strategy, one of the business owners actually received several unsolicited calls by people wanting to use her services. The groundwork had already been laid. Now all she had to do was sign them up and fill the needs in an outstanding manner. Another business owner obtained an entirely different result than she was going after, but it was far better than what she dared hope would occur.
Business Owner's Bonus: If you are interested in an action sheet to walk you through seven steps of an effective marketing strategy to generate business leads, e-mail me and I'll be sure you get it.
Coaching Action Challenge: What can you do this week that you've been putting off for months? What can you do today to follow up on something that may have fallen by the wayside? How can you encourage yourself to persist the next time you begin to make sales calls or send out invitations to try your product or service, so you'll press on until you obtain the results you're seeking? How can you remind yourself that what you do today will give you the results you will experience tomorrow?
Remember, for many people, success is right around the corner. Those who are willing to pay the price and stay on the top of their game are the ones who will reap all the rewards in the end. But you've got to stay in the game. You must reach the finish line. If you jump off the race before then, you'll never experience the victory that comes only on that last mile.
Deborah Cole Micek, chief executive officer
of RPM Success Group, is a business success coach
and life strategist. Reach her at DCM@RPMsuccess.com
or (888) 334-8151.