Overwhelmed and Growth Do NOT Go Hand in Hand

Recently we discussed the concept of a LifeWorks checklist so that you can catch yourself doing things right and then do them intentionally and by design.

That’s a great start.  In addition, I recommend the use of a planner or journal that is templated for your success.  Let’s see where you are with regard to time and maybe create a little more time for you.  If we plan our time effectively, we tend to use it more effectively.  On the other hand, if you are overwhelmed now, growth is unlikely:

Is there enough time in your day to get your job done?

Š     Yes, my days are well planned and I complete everything I set out to do each day

Š     Rarely.  I struggle to keep up with my workload

Š     Never.  I feel completely overwhelmed with my workload

How do you currently manage your workload?

Š     My days are largely disorganized and unscheduled with unpredictable interruptions

Š     I plan ahead but also allow for unexpected challenges

Š     I prioritize my tasks by level of urgency and/or importance

Are you able to spend quality time with the people you care about?

Š     I always spend quality time with my family and friends

Š     I occasionally spend time on the weekends with my family and friends

Š     I am so exhausted after work, I don’t want to spend time socializing with anyone

Do you use time in meetings to your advantage?

Š     Most of my meetings rarely accomplish anything

Š     Meetings are arranged on an as needed basis with no set agenda

Š     Every meeting accomplishes some specific outcome or objective

 

What time do you take out of the day for yourself?

Š     I put aside time to enjoy my personal interests and hobbies

Š     I try to leave work behind me at a certain time each day

Š     I don’t have time to relax

 

So, if I were going to assist you in becoming more organized, here’s where I would start:

1. Print your daily schedule every day and organize your day in time
2. Print and review your LifeWorks Checklist
3. Create a priority system on the things that must be done
4. Take the quality of your life and put it into time so that you make it happen
5.  Be committed to completing your cycles of action
6.  Use a Planner to manage staff, projects, weekly planning meetings and to do priorities
7.  Start and end every day with a clean desk
8.  Schedule time to stay organized
9.  Create checklists in time
10. And, just as you would pay you first…your time must come first (HINT:  think PowerHour)

 

The most common excuse for NOT doing this is that it takes up too much time.  Truth is, if you did this, you would have more time.  And, if you don’t have the time to run your business/life/practice right to begin with, when will you find the time to fix it?

This is a patient mentality excuse.  Plan your life now and you can help them plan their lives out of your experience.  Remember, it’s wrong to sell what you don’t own.

The last type of plan we will discuss in this article series is a Marketing Plan.

Some market when they NEED new clients and usually find that their actions rarely produce the desired result.  Others market even though they are overwhelmed and have no room for growth and, as a result, rarely find their marketing “pays off.”  I am often asked by clients what I think about this program and that program so, in turn, I often ask them, “who are you trying to attract?”

Even the most rudimentary marketing plans start with “who is your target market?”  Most practitioners cast a wide net hoping for something instead of having a laser approach to the demographic and psychographics that are most appealing to them.

Once you have identified your target market and perhaps your secondary market, the next step in the development of a marketing plan is to determine and clarify YOUR MESSAGE.  In its most basic form, your message answers the question, “the problem(s) that my product or service solves for people is?”

Then, there’s the question of the image you want your business to have.  If you’re about wellness then having a “pain” image makes little sense.  It is within the realm of your message and your image that you can tell the story behind the business or yourself…meaning why are you doing what you’re doing?

A critical aspect of marketing is the concept of features and benefits.  Everyone tries to sell on features alone but rarely does anyone buy based on that.  You must be able to convert, in your client’s mind, the features of your service into very real, specific and concrete benefits for them…or no sale.

Do you have an effective call to action?  In other words, is it easy for a new client to be eager to accept what you have to offer?  It should be.  If you’ve been paying attention to the series of articles I have written here over the past several months, I always have something more that you can get from me…just for the asking.

Now, with regard to the marketing plan itself, are there people you could joint venture with?  Can you take your product/service and their product/service and find a more unique niche for both of you?

Do you have a formal referral system in place that actually rewards referrals?  Do you have a usable database that you can market your products and services to?  Do you have an ongoing database marketing system?  Do you know how and when to upsell?  And, conversely, how and when to downsell?  Do you have ancillary products and services that you can offer.  Have you ever considered bundling your products/services into a more usable and affordable form?  Have you ever thought of having a monthly fee for certain services?  Do you have a program to acknowledge your very BEST clients?

I could go on and on about interviewing clients and using that for marketing purposes.  About doing charity work and networking with merchants within your community.  And I do in our 12+ hour marketing audio series and 200+ pages of transcripted information.