Those who are successful have learned lessons along the way. What does success mean to you? Does it mean going from zero to 60 in 3.1 seconds with a top speed of over 200 miles per hour? Would it mean having a house here and a house there and vacation spots in-between? Or perhaps it means never having to balance your checking account?
However you envision success, there are lessons that have been learned by those who have achieved it. We’ll borrow from the lessons they’ve shared so you can join their ranks more quickly and more easily.
Lesson #1: Listen to YOU
There’s always a reason NOT to do something. Too often others will agree, reminding you of this or that, discouraging you to try anything new. Instead, listen to your voice. What is your heart’s passion? Because of that, what is it you would like to do? Those who are successful tap into something they love to do and turn it from an avocation to a vocation. Instead of pursuing it in their spare time, they turn it into a full-time career.
Resist telling nay-sayers about your plans. As a result, they may sabotage your passion and enthusiasm. Discuss what you would like to do with a trusted coach or companion and ask for frank feedback. Pay attention to what you are thinking when you are listening. When it comes right down to it, though, hear what your inner voice is saying after the rest is said and done. Listen to YOU.
Lesson #2: Be There NOW
Too often on the way to success, folks are living in the future. When I have this….when I have done that. Instead, live fully in the present moment. Now is what you’ve got. Focus on the present tense.
It’s fine to make plans, and part of success requires that. Even still, to be successful today requires being right here, right now, in this very moment. Appreciate what you’ve got, who you are, and what you have today. Be there NOW.
Lesson #3: Believe It’s TRUE
Even if you’re not there yet, believe you are. So much of your time during your life is anchored to your self-image. What you believe to be true. By being confident in your own endeavors, you will be well on your way. Many testimonies by successful people indicate that even when others were doubtful, they kept a positive outlook. Studies have shown that one has a better chance at success if one believes it is possible.
What you are able to accomplish can be limited if you limit ourselves with negative thoughts. When your life’s pursuit is plagued with doubts and insecurities, it’ll be much more challenging to move forward and better yet, upward. Celebrate every small success and congratulate yourself, knowing that you can do it. Believe it’s TRUE.
Lesson #4: Put Success in ACTION
You want your customers to believe you are successful. Do what successful business people do. Get in touch with customers right from the start. As soon as they show interest in your product or service, send them more information. So much of sales rests on relationships. Build those with your potential clients by letting them know how important they are to you.
Use the tools needed to be successful. One that savvy business folks use is a Customer Resource Management (CRM) tool. How does it work? It’s a tool which helps you stay in close touch with your leads, your current customers, and your sales team. You link your CRM with your Email Service Provider (ESP) and send out messages to them so they find out about sales or events and learn more about your business.
A highly recommended CRM is Online Sales Pro (OSP). You can build a simple page for your business or service in minutes. In addition, get leads from your pages right to your smart phone through the mobile app. Give OSP a try and join the ranks of the successful. At OSP, we share success with you and lessons learned. Put success in ACTION.
Building a team to build a business. This company knows about this. Not only that, but they’ve written a book to tell the rest of us how.
37 Signals, a remote software company, focuses on problems. Not on their problems, but on the ones of their clients. Once they have those on the radar, they build products to help businesses remove friction and solve problems.
Initially a web design company, 37 Signals, the creator of Basecamp, switched gears to develop web applications. Let’s take a closer look at lessons learned from their recent book, Shape Up: Stop Running in Circles and Ship Work That Matters. Even though the book is geared for product development teams, any team can learn from what they’ve learned at Basecamp.
Say No
That seems odd, doesn’t it? Actually this tactic is a way to stay focused. Too often businesses will get off track by flirting with a new project. If it seems as though there might be a fit, put it on the table and have folks take a look at it.
After the details have been examined, a decision is made. If it’s NO, then that still may keep a project in the queue. The time is just not right for now. However, if it’s YES, then the team is stuck. Saying YES takes away your freedom in the future and you’ll have to work on it.
Regardless, building a team works when projects have a time limit.
Complete Projects in Six Weeks
Could it be? Don’t most projects take longer than six weeks? Not if you look at a portion of it.
That’s what works. Your focus? The deliverables that can be completed in six weeks. Most people can do anything for six weeks. They don’t lose momentum. They don’t lose their vision. And if things don’t work out on that project and it comes to a standstill? Not much time has been lost. It’s only six weeks.
Regardless, building a team works when everyone focuses on the finish line.
Cool Down In-Between
The world has sped up. Everyone seems to be charging through their days at such a frenetic pace. Long hours lead to long days. People become spent and then overspent. You can shape up the team by having a cool-down period in-between projects.
The project is done and behind you. It’ll soon be time to take on a new one. In-between, though, the team takes a break. Perhaps they’ll compile a list of lessons learned from the project recently completed. Or maybe they’ll do some research to discover more that can be done.
Regardless, building a team works when there’s time to chill between projects.
Stay on Track
Once a team moves toward the finish line, they may be lured away from the main path. Perhaps this would be a nice feature to add. Or maybe we should backtrack and try this instead.
Nope. This focused refresh recharges a team’s battery before they move on to the next project. Those on the team need to sort out the must-haves from the nice-to-haves. That way they’ll stay on track and meet the deadlines.
Regardless, building a team works when everyone focuses on the finish line.
Build Your Business
Think about what your team does and how you can build your business by shaping up. Perhaps one of these lessons learned is the boost you need.
Do you and your team say yes too often? Or do you find that the team works on projects way too long so that they go on and on and on? Might you all rush from one project to another with no break?
Focusing on one of these lessons may help to shape up your processes and maintain your business standards.
There’s another way to shape up your business and build your subscriber base and your sales. Online Sales Pro is a powerful software platform which includes both a web and mobile app. Because of that, you can actually monitor your sales campaigns from your phone!
By building your team, you can build your business. Stop running around in circles and focus on what matters. How? By generating leads and growing your email list with Online Sales Pro, Focus on lessons learned and zoom right past those in the slow lane.
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