Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking to a large group of privately held family busiensses. Toward the end of my presentation, I gave a sneak peek of the new book I am beginning to work on. The component I shared was time management. So, I thought I would share a little more here to our loyal blog readers.
In life, or in business, if you want something bad enough you will find a way. However, if you do not want it bad enough, you will find an excuse as to why it can’t or won’t work. It is amazing to me how many companies are still complaining about the “bad economy,” whereas other successful ones (in the same field) have grown by acquiring other companies, hiring employees and diversifying. They are making a solid profit. Why? Simple; they have “out-thought” the competition. Remember, if you want it bad enough you will find a way, and if you do not then you will find an excuse.
Quite frankly, I hate excuses. My mindset is simple. My mantra is make it happen. Said other ways, “Suck it up, put on your big boy pants, quit complaining, stop making lame excuses that were valid in 2009 and, for goodness sake, bring some true value to the table.” Yes, that is right. Winners will find a way to succeed in any situation, whereas whiners will tell you the things that are holding them up. Here is my question: Are you better, more talented, more valuable and more creative than those who you compete with? Do you want to win or just go along for the ride? Are you part of the solution or part of the problem?
You have 168 hours in your week. 24×7. It is simple math. Whether you represent a large or small company, you do not have any more or less time. Also, with the new social space we can connect with anyone on the globe. I see this as an amazing opportunity for sales growth. So, my question is what do you do with your time? Do you focus on things that really matter or are you in “paralysis by analysis” or “decision by indecision” mode?
I challenge you to dig deep, want it more than the other person, use every resource at your disposal in an intelligent manner, begin with the end in mind, be strategic in your thinking and make it happen. So, what do you do to grow? First, you find a way. And, folks, there is a solution behind every problem. Always!
So, as a first step, try setting SMART goals (Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time bound). Be sure to put these goals in writing and only focus on 2-3 at a time. You should have a mix of long, medium and short term goals. These goals should serve as your compass to ensure you are spending time on things that matter and heading the right direction.
Winners embrace this mindset. Whiners do the opposite. I challenge you to be a winner and to plan your work and work your plan. This will allow you to gain customers based on your strategic planning and confidence. Do you want to succeed bad enough to find a way OR are you comfortable “hiding out” and making lame excuses? The choice is yours. And, if you do not believe me then hear this insightful source for proof. Yoda, our wise Star Wars friend, says “Do or do not. There is no try.”
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