More Clients - the Online Marketing Newsletter
for Independent Professionals
from Action Plan Marketing
and Robert MiddletonIn This Week's Issue: If you want results don't put a lot of focus on actions.
The Action Trap
We live in a very action-oriented society.
Getting things done, accomplishment, success and winning are valued above almost everything else. When you meet someone new, they first ask you what you do. And we love to tell them.
And I'm no exception.
As someone who owns a company called Action Plan Marketing, I've also made a bias for action and getting things done a top priority in my business and my life.
In fact, I feel guilty when I take it easy and am not doing something productive. It was ten years into my business before I even took a vacation! My motto might be, "Action is My Life."
What's wrong with this picture?
What's wrong is that this primary focus on action is ultimately doomed to failure. It's a strategy that will not consistently get us what we want. In fact, it can contribute to huge amounts of wasted time, spent energy and unfulfilled dreams.
I'm not saying that action is bad. No, it's quite essential - in its place. What doesn't work, what actually hurts us, is a focus on action above all else.
The motto "Just Do It" is a lie.
And I'm not saying that taking it easy is the answer either. This article has nothing to do with finding balance and reducing stress. Although useful, they are not the key to making your dreams come true.
Have you ever noticed that two people can be equally busy in their lives - in their business - and yet one is a lot more successful, more accomplished than the other?
I've certainly observed this with my clients.
Similar businesses, similar levels of intelligence, but very different results. One consistently produces superior results and the other struggles valiantly only to see their efforts fall on rocky soil. Both are equally in action. So why do they get different results (even when using similar methods)?
This really is the proverbial $64,000 question!
And the answer to this question is both powerful and elusive. It's powerful because, if you understand and apply it, it can change your life. It's elusive because, like the air we breathe, it's subtle and easy to miss.
So let me demonstrate how it works.
I'm going to ask you to do a little exercise: I want you to picture something that you very much want to accomplish in your business but haven't yet. Make this as clear as you possibly can. See it, feel it, touch it. Make it completely real.
Then say these words to yourself: "I want...." and then describe what you want as clearly and as concisely as possible. Focus only on this, on nothing else. Take your time until you are clear.
And now that you have a higher level of clarity about what you want in your business, notice how you feel. Are you more (even if a little) excited, enthusiastic and confident than before? If not, go back and claify that want a little more.
Next, take a minute and write down three things you can do to make your want happen. It could be anything, but again, like your intended result, make your action steps very specific.
Do these action steps seems doable, achievable? Can you easily see yourself doing them and having them lead to your ultimate accomplishment? Are you ready to get started?
OK, that's the exercise.
If you only read through this exercise quickly, I urge you to go back and actually do it. Only takes a minute or two.
1) Clearly picture something you want to accomplish in your business and concisely articulate what it is.2) Notice how you feel (if it's not more positive, repeat step 1).
3). Write down three specific action steps.
And the secret is...
The secret to effective action is "Clear Intention." Without clear intention, you're just going through the motions. You're putting a plan into action with no direction. And more often than not, you don't get favorable results.
I've noticed that when you tell someone that they haven't created a strong, clear, intention, they usually won't agree with you!
But the proof is in the pudding. When the intention is clear, your feelings are in alignment and the steps you need to take seem both obvious and simple. You effortlessly move towards realizing the intention you created.
Is there more to this? Of course, and I'll be exploring this in future issues of More Clients.
In the meantime, create a clear intention for your business - what is something you really want to accomplish? Set a clear intention for money - how much do you want to earn and what will you do with it? Set a clear intention for marketing and selling - what projects and clients would you love to have?
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The More Clients Bottom Line: Don't focus on action first, focus on intention. Until your intention is clear, your actions have no context, no direction, no meaning. Strengthen your intention and your actions will naturally lead to the results you want.
Tools on the path to realizing your intention
Once you have a clear intention, it's time to take action. Take one step at a time towards your desired goal. Some of your action steps will include learning from those who have been there before. Take advantage of their expertise. You don't (and you can't) know everything you need to do, so get support.
If these tools below can help you with your marketing and selling (as they have for thousands of others) then my intention has been realized and I'm a happy man!
The InfoGuru Marketing Manual
This manual will help you develop a complete, workable marketing strategy to attract new clients to your business. It will give you the hands-on tools and action plans to market your services with authenticity and impact.
http://www.actionplan.com/infoguru.html
The Web Site ToolKit
This ToolKit provides you absolutely everything you need to create a high quality web site that will establish a solid foundation for all your marketing. It will show you what to put in your site, how to write it, format it and design it for the best possible results.
http://www.actionplan.com/wstk.html
The Take Your Business to The Top Program
This program gives you a proven step-by-step strategy to get the attention of, make appointments with, and close sales with Top Officers in big companies and corporations. It includes a manual, CD, two bonus reports and personalized feedback on your letters.
http://www.actionplan.com/tybt.html
Until next week, all the best,
Robert Middleton
ACTION PLAN MARKETING
Cracking the Marketing Code for Independent Professionals~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
210 Riverside Drive
Boulder Creek, CA 95006
831-338-7790© 2005 Robert Middleton, All rights reserved. You are free to use material from the More Clients eZine in whole or in part, as long as you include complete attribution, including live web site link. Please also notify me where the material will appear. The attribution should read:
"By Robert Middleton of Action Plan Marketing. Please visit Robert's web site at http://www.actionplan.com for additional marketing articles and resources on marketing for professional service businesses."
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