Planning: Are you treating your Business like a Vacation? You Should!
Ahhhhh, can’t you just feel it? The warmth of the glowing sun on your face, the seagulls squawking in the background, the cool breeze whisking on by carrying the sweet smell of tanning lotion and cotton candy as you bathe in the sun’s golden blanket. Ahhhh, it’s gonna’ be soooo nice. I can’t wait.... My wife and I are planning a cruise down to the Bahamas this summer for vacation. I know it’s the middle of March and the weather is still deciding whether to be hot or cold but I am almost done with our itinerary. If you have ever been on a cruise you are familiar with the number of activities and shows available. What’s our itinerary you ask? What a great question… We will be leaving the last week in July and we will be exploring the ship and the cafeterias (Yum!) the night of our arrival. Monday, we are jet skiing and having lunch on the island. Tuesday is our ‘off’ day. Wednesday, we are going snorkeling with the dolphins. Thursday…….. Oh, sorry, I caught up. I forgot you were there! Give me a second to re-engage with ya’.
“Think, think, think”… is what I constantly tell myself. After “thinking,” I really focus on the ‘doing.’ And to help me with the ‘doing,’ I am a part of a few “Mastermind” groups in different circles to help me come up with new ideas and stay accountable to my activities. So, I am just like you, I am still in the growing and creating phase of my business and trying to learn all I can.
I came to a unique epiphany with one of my groups the other week when our Mastermind group turned into a ‘confession.’ We non-judgmentally share are goals and activities from the previous week in the following order. Our initial statement is to identify what we want (our goal), the activities required weekly (action), how we did with our action (work habits/results), and what kept us from our goal (accountability). Now, keep in mind we are all friends and looking to help each other grow our companies, but as we went around the table, it was obvious we were unsure of ourselves because of the amount of stammering and stuttering.
The first person went and she thought about what she wanted for a moment and sheepishly suggested it to our group. Then she had to mention the activities she thought would get her there and she stated them almost to the point of guessing. Third, she had to state what her specific activities for the week were which she did with a gulp and her face getting red with a little sweat glistening on her forehead. Lastly, and the most painful she had to “sell us” on the idea why she did not complete her tasks that were to make her money.
This pattern became very evident by the time we got to the third person. My buddy next to me wrote me a little note which said, “None of these guys have a formal sales process, do they? My reply on the note was, “Nope, unfortunately, myself included, we all do business by ‘accident.’” The tragedy of all this, was this is the second week in a row we went through the same questions. You think we would have figured out the answer to these questions by the second week… you would think?
When we plan for a vacation, we know where we are going (goal), what we will be doing (activities), and when we get back we are excited to tell everyone what we did (work habits/results) and NO ONE had to tell us to do it (accountability). Why is it, we will plan a vacation meticulously for 6 months in advance and we do not do the same for our business?
For years I have lived the epitome of Steven Covey’s statistics:
85% of people who SHOW UP – WIN.
90% of people who SHOW UP ON TIME –WIN.
95% of people who SHOW UP ON TIME PREPARED – WIN.
But just ‘Showing Up’ is not enough. To go on our cruise do you think it will be enough for me to just ‘Show Up’ at Cape Canaveral in Florida wondering what to do next? Or would you think it would be smart for me to know the ship I should go on as well as purchase a ticket?
Just ‘Showing Up on Time’ is not enough. My wife and I could get to the docks and board but if we did not know the cabin we were staying in it would be a horrible experience. What if I did not plan the excursions ahead of time but just decided to wing it? Then, we will never have had the experience of swimming with the dolphins to share with our family and friends.
You see friends, to achieve in our business or our sales career we have to “Show up on time prepared – to Win.” We have to be intentional in our behaviors and activities through the week. It is not enough to ‘go through the numbers,’ a famous sales philosophy. I did that for years with no result. We have to ‘go through the numbers’ focused on our goal, intentionally and with purpose. This is the only way I know to learn enough about what we are doing to be successful or as Stephen Covey very simply puts it “To Win.” So, let me ask you, are you treating your business like a vacation?...Maybe, you should.
I hope this helps,
Chris
About the author:
Christopher Morrissette has been a top sales producer, with a Fortune 500 Sales Company, for 6 years of his 7 year career; regionally and nationally. Christopher has been crushing sales targets repeatedly before launching his first company, Easy Giving, and now his new company For Free and For Fun. Now, Chris teaches sales people of all industries how to ask for the appointment and get it! You gotta’ love this stuff!
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Christopher Morrissette
For Free and For Fun
More Fun… More Success!
www.forfreeandforfun.com
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