As an entrepreneur with a business to run and nurture, time isn’t one of those things we have in abundance. All kinds of important things make it to our “To Do” list but at the end of the week the same items seem to be staring back at us.
And I’m betting one of those things is investing in YOU.
Have your calculated lately what your Return on U is? ROU.
You’re the CEO, the creative, the inspirer, the chief financier, the buck-stops-here person. Any person that important to a business needs to be the center of investment.
While there are many things we should be doing to invest in ourselves, to get that great ROU, seven tip the scales from good to remarkable.
1. Learn to Sell Yourself—You are your business. The two of you are impossibly linked together. How many people buy from your business because they are buying from you? You have to learn to comfortably sell yourself. If you haven’t done the Preeminence work in the Tribe, go do it now. If you haven’t got a spot-on Elevator Speech, go do your Positioning work immediately. When you sell yourself, you’re selling your business. Get comfortable with that now. Because we’re buying you!
2. Become An Expert—Actually, you already are. You founded your business on something you know—probably very well. Go learn it even better. Don’t sit on your established talents. Go learn more. Discover the latest. Work on an associated skill. Skills from 2008 don’t cut it in 2013.
3. Focus on Now—Who cares what happened five years ago? Two years ago? Your opportunity for success sits right in front of you now. Let go of any could haves, would haves, should haves you may still be lugging around. We’ve all got some. But they don’t serve us today. Focus on the You of today and the opportunities of now.
4. Focus Forward—Where do you want to be in two years? If you can’t see it, can’t state it, how can it happen? My favorite planning technique is to project out two years. Write down everything you see, everything you want to have happen. What does your business look like? How much money are you making? How are you making it? Where are you living? What’s your family look like? Write down where you want to be in two years. Then plan your way backwards. Get a clear vision of your future and you’ll get to that future.
5. Review Quarterly—Sit down and take a hard look at what’s working and what isn’t. Usually 80% of success comes from 20% of our efforts. Identify that 80% and determine the 20% that’s bringing it in the door. Now do more of it. Look at the rest of your time because 80% of what you do isn’t taking you where you want to go. Determine what you need to stop, what needs to be adjusted and what needs to be added. Do this quarterly to maximize your results.
6. Become a Super Networker—Business doesn’t come to you. You need to go to the business. Get out and shake some hands. Get to know your communities. So much business these days comes from referrals; the only way to get your share is to get to know business people. Ask them what type of client they are looking for…odds are great they’ll ask you the same question. Then stay in touch.
7. Learn to Ask for Help—No business person does it all by themselves. And you can’t possess every skill your business needs. Find out who has what you need and ask them for their help. Maybe it’s time for you to cry “UNCLE” and hire that skilled person who rounds out what you don’t have. People want to help, but only when they know what you’re looking for. Ask.
This is all about you, my friend. When you get a little ROU time on the calendar each week, not only will your business improve so will you. Everything gets better—your family, your health, your wealth, your attitude.
Opportunity likes to live in positive, healthy places. It’s time you invited opportunity to come and stay. It starts with Y_O_U.
Go forth and do great things,
Martha Hanlon and Chris Williams