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In part one, we looked at why planned incremental improvements are the sure path to big success. You also learned why making improvements in your business in bite-sized pieces is the way to keep yourself from "should-ing" all over yourself.

This week, you'll learn a practical process to make it easy for you and your team to put incremental improvements into action:

» Once a month, you and your team create a master list of five improvement targets (tasks or projects) that you'd like to make in the next 30 days -- one for each category in the list below.

» Decide how you'll know when each target has improved to an optimal level. (To make this easier, always make sure your plans and actions are linked to measurable results. To help with that, just think about how your clients will be able to tell when you've achieved the improvement you wanted in this target area.)

» Every week, choose one small step you can take in each improvement target that will help you reach your goal. Focus your attention ONLY on taking that one small step in each improvement target area -- no more! Do this for all five areas listed below.

» Before planning your small steps for the upcoming week, review the previous week's actions and see how you've improved. Once the month is up, repeat the process again for the following month.

When working with our clients we help them to focus on 12 specific areas of business development. That can be a little overwhelming when starting out on your own, so here are five general areas to start. These are core areas that every business owner should focus on improving, no matter what their industry or niche is.

» Systems and organizational structure
» Click-and-mortar marketing
» Consultative selling
» Client service
» Delivery of your product or service

After just four weeks of consistently practicing this process, you'll be amazed at what you'll begin to see. You'll have proved to yourself how easy it is to make significant and measurable improvements, one small step at a time. And if you're like most small-business owners who faithfully follow this process, you'll have tons of new ideas for improvements in your business.

This process of incremental progress is too valuable a tool for you not to have in your growth and success arsenal. Like many of our clients, you'll find that this proven incremental process works in any area of your business and life.

If you want exponential returns on your time, money and effort, stop "should-ing" all over yourself. Create your own success, and do it one small step at a time.

See the Columnists section for some past articles.

John-Paul Micek is the lead business coach at RPM Success Group Inc. Reach him at JPM@RPMsuccess.com or toll-free at (888) 334-8151.

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 toll-free at (888) 334-8151.

Read an expanded version of this article at www.GetCoachedforFree.com.

More on how to make big gains easily

More on how to make
big gains easily