A 2020 Vision

February 20, 2019

“Martha and Chris — I’m going to make your day, because I made my year!  I hit my 2019 revenue goal.  Actually, I exceeded it.  And it took me less time to do it, because I had more clients paying more than I ever used to get.  I used some of my extra, free time to work on the business and took some of the rest for vacations and family time. I’m so psyched, because I know I can do it again in 2020!”

Nice email.  And those dates are not a mistake.

Know who sent it to us?

You did.

Today.

Here’s what I’m asking you to do today (today…not tomorrow; you know how things get in the way of best intentions).

Write a note to us today as though you were writing it on January 1, 2020.  Post your note on our Facebook page by clicking here as a means of making a commitment and asking for accountability from us and your colleagues.

Tell us what will happen by the end of 2019…something like what you see above.

You want a great, successful year?

Then don’t walk into it without a singular, measurable goal or a clear picture of what you want to happen this year.

Don’t walk into it without a clear picture of what success looks like for you.  Believe it.  Then you’ll see it.

A more perfect direction for 2019 would be hard to find:  Make your iron hot by striking. Stop waiting for it to get hot.

Your “crushed it” email should hit our Facebook page today.  I know you have best intentions to do it.  So, do it now before a thousand other things occupy your time.

We’ll be watching for it.

Martha Hanlon and Chris Williams

You Better Believe It

February 13, 2019

don't stop believing

One of the unfortunate things solo-preneurs and small business owners say to me all too often is…

“I can’t see how I can get where I want to go this year.”

Did you see and get to your goal for 2018?

Can you see your goal for 2019?

If you answered, “no” to either of the questions above, that’s a problem, isn’t it?  Because…as they say…seeing is believing.

That’s not entirely true…seeing is not the “cure” to get you to your goals.

Reaching your 2019 goal requires something else from you.  You must believe in your goal because…

…Believing is seeing.

Ask yourself how often you’ve discovered the path to your goal when you first start by believing in the goal.

When you believe your business goal, everything else becomes possible.  It’s Step One.

When you believe that your prospects and customers will lead better lives when they work with you, you’ll see the phone in your hand…and you’ll see how to sell more.

When you believe you have all the talent you require already in your possession, you see the path to find more customers.

When you believe money will flow in, you see it’s possible to hire Team to support your work.

When you believe, you see.

I think it’s a lack of believing that causes us to miss our goal.  The chronic disinterest (desire?) in putting a business plan on paper often stems from insecurity about your ability to reach your goal.

An unwillingness to sit down and do a revenue model/forecast comes from a lack of belief in your goal.  “I couldn’t possibility make $500,000 dollars this year.”  Or $1 million or $120k.  Whatever the number might be.

When you utter things like that, you’ve actually created a different belief, a belief that you can’t do it.

So, let’s take a small step towards changing that this year, okay?

Start with this:  turn to a friend or colleague who holds you to your commitments.  Say something like this to them:

“My goal this year for my business is [insert your one, measurable goal], and I BELIEVE I am on my way to making that goal.  I BELIEVE this will be a great year.

“If you see me messing around or procrastinating…if you hear me getting soft in the knees about my belief…please remind me I can do it and I’m on my way.

“Thanks for your support.”

You see, the very first fuel for your business is your BELIEF.

Believing powers your business like no other power at your command.

Go forth and do great things,

Martha Hanlon and Chris Williams

 

Dog vs Pig?

February 6, 2019

Is this you?

Independent, sincere, loyal and decisive?  Clever, courageous, lively and not afraid of difficulties.  Maybe a little sensitive, conservative, stubborn and emotional?

Or are you warm-hearted, good-tempered, loyal and honest?  Gentle, considerate, responsible and optimistic.  Maybe a little naïve, gullible and short-tempered?

The Lunar New Year arrived yesterday, February 5th, and with it we exited the Year of the Dog and entered the Year of the Earth Pig.

Dog vs Pig

Whether you follow and believe the Chinese Zodiac, or the only thing Chinese in your life is take-out, there’s something valuable in looking at and remembering “assets” all around you.

How many of your Ideal Customers engage with you because of your personality…your values…and they shine through everything you do?

They aren’t buying your products.  They don’t care about your solutions.

There’s just something about you that ‘clicks’ with them, some feeling that shines, glows or vibrates as you speak with your Ideal Customer about the challenge/issue/problem they want to be rid of.

You’re likely to be as much of the attraction as anything you say.

Did you use all of your assets during January to start your new year fast?  Starting this new year on your Goal target for January, rather than falling behind, gives you the confidence to do even more in February.

Be true to you.  Use your assets…all of them…to rock February.

No matter whether you’re propelled by the Dog or the Pig, YOU will be a hero. Grab all your assets and use them to your best advantage.

Go forth and do great things,

Martha Hanlon (Tiger) and Chris Williams (Earth Pig)