Are you struggling in today's economy?

In today's economy and political climate I get the sense that many business owners have lowered their expectations, their goals and their dreams.

Unemployment is still rampant, foreclosures are at an all-time high, stores are closing, and Independent Professionals are struggling. 

Optimism for the future is an an all-time low.

Thousands are taking to the stress through Occupy Wall Street, yet there seems to be no end in site. As they say, the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. 

The real tragedy is that people, including Independent Professionals, get dragged down by the tide of frustration, negativity and hopelessness. 

I have something very important to tell you. 

There is absolutely nothing you can do to change the current downward economic slide. You can't do it. Powerful business leaders and politicians can't do it. OCW can't do it. Nobody knows what to do to turn things around. 

That's the bad news.

The good news is that you personally can change your individual circumstances and still be successful in your business, no matter what the economy is doing. This is true now, has been true in the past, and will be true in the future. 

Despite the economic ups and downs, the Dot-com crash, 9/11, the financial collapse of 2008 and the ongoing employment crisis, my business has consistently done well. This past year has been one of my best years. 

Perhaps luck has something to do with it. 

But I'm confident that good, consistent marketing of my business has a LOT to do with it. I keep creating programs and services that serve a need and make a difference, and market them in a low-key but consistent way. 

But good marketing is only one of the X-Factors that lead to business success. There are two others that are also essential. 

X-Factor 1 

The quality and professionalism of your service. The better your service, the higher the demand. The better the quality, the more success you will see. This doesn't guarantee success but it's hard to have it without it. 

X-Factor 2

The individual's mindset or attitude. This isn't about positive thinking, but thinking that is aware and awake. Those who can stand calmly amidst outer chaos and confusion, make good decisions and take effective actions, despite fears and doubts, will always triumph. 

X-Factor 3

The ability to communicate the value of your services. Marketing is all about getting your message across in such a way that it generates enough attention and interest to move people into action. Almost anyone can be a better marketer. And the worse the economy, the more important it is. 

These are the qualities you see in the most admired and visionary business leaders such as Steve Jobs, Richard Branson and Warren Buffet.

They embody these X-Factors.  

If you passively accept your situation, are resigned to the current economic realities, and sit around waiting for things to change someday, your chances of success are next to zero. 

I've noticed that the only people I can really help are those who already understand the importance of these X-Factors and are willing to do the work necessary to grow in each of these three areas. 

It's simple, but not necessarily easy. 

What can you do and where can you start? Here are a few ideas I've applied in my business over the years. 

1. Commit to continuous improvement. Know that you can always increase your knowledge, understanding and skills. There is no ceiling on what you are capable of. Learn something new every day that will strengthen your X-Factors. 

2. Look at your business though the eyes of your clients. What would they want? What would help them? How can I make my services better, easier, simpler, more valuable, more fun? If I was a client, what would I want? And then work on one thing at a time to make it happen. 

3. Know thyself. Make it a lifelong project to learn your strengths and weaknesses and discover ways to work with more focus, energy and inspiration. There is no simple formula for this one. For me, it started with the question: "What can I do to improve my productivity, value and personal awareness?"

4. Surrender to marketing. You can resist it forever, like eating your veggies or flossing your teeth, or you can just work on marketing a little every single day. Consistent learning, practice and skill-building ultimately leads to Marketing Mastery.

5. Get support. If you think you can do this alone, you are deluded. You can't. You need to be guided by those who have travelled the territory before you and who can save you time, energy, and money to help you get there faster and in one piece. 

6. Learn about others' success. Much of my success was built upon the stories of others who have succeeded. I'm always looking for specific, how-to strategies and tactics that work consistently to produce results. 

I invite you to attend the TeleClass on Thursday the 15th, "Marketing Mastery in Action" to hear the stories of several Independent Professionals who are on the path to Marketing Mastery. 

actionplan.com/intromm2-2012

The More Clients Bottom Line: You can succeed beyond your wildest dreams - even in this economy. But it won't just happen. It takes a certain degree of commitment, work, and persistence to take each of the X-Factors to the next level.

Do you have my report on "The 5 Key Strategies for Attracting High-End Clients?" Get it at this link.

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