SubscribeSMALL BUSINESS LEADER Feb 2008
Small Business Leader
Marian Banker, MBA, Business Leadership Coach, and creator of the Business Success System.
"Lead Your Business to Success" ISSUE #102
February, 2008
In This Issue
Business Success System Course
Events
Feature Article
Small Business Leader Marketplace
About The Publisher & Feedback
Quick Links
Past Newsletters
More About Us
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Note from Marian:
This month we have an extra day because its leap year. So what are you going to do with that day?
Since February 29th falls on a Friday, it's the perfect day to schedule an afternoon to work "on" your business. If you haven't already done so, think about what you want to accomplish this year.
You've got 10 months left. Without specific goals, a strategy and a plan your odds of success go way down. Select up to 3 goals you'd like to accomplish by year end and think through the actions to achieve them. Then put that plan into action. The Business Success Course will tell you exactly how to do it.
If you've got a plan and are working it, use the time to assess how you're doing. Ask what's working and what's not working. Then make some decisions, put it on your updated plan and follow through.
It's a very basic discipline, but it can make all the difference in your year-end results.
This month's feature article, "Are You Operating From IF or WHEN?" talks about the most basic success element, certainty. Once you've made up your mind something is going to happen, it's only a matter of time. Nothing will stop you. Decisions are easy because all roads must lead to your goal. I hope you'll be inspired.
Well, the third annual Small Business Summit 2008, http://smallbiztechsummit.com, is right around the corner. Our theme: "Business & Technology: It's Time to Reinvent Your Business" has attracted sponsors, partners, the media and lots of small business owners like you. It's going to be an event to remember. I'd love to meet you there. Register n0w at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/77143739.
See you at the Summit, http://smallbiztechsummit.com, on February 11th.
To your success,
Marian Banker
Publisher
Small Business Leader
NOTE: We have had to disguise some words in order to keep them from getting caught in the $pam filters. Please bear with us.
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Business Success System Cours e
Want your own Personal Roadmap to Business Success? Take Command of Your Business with the Prime Strategies Business Success System Course. Gain the confidence to make well-calculated strategic business decisions in spite of challenges and crossroads.
Included is a step-by-step guidebook, interactive tools to organize your thinking and your actions, plus coaching audios to support you as you take each step in the system. It's totally risk f*r*e*e because it comes with a 100% satisfaction *guarantee*.
Order Now
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Events
February 11, 2008, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Crowne Plaza Hotel, New York City
Only a few more days till the big event, http://smallbiztechsummit.com. Our team is feverishly working on creating another high-energy, high-interaction event that attendees remember and come back for year after year.
It's about bringing together entrepreneurs and executives in small - midsize businesses to learn from the experts, from each other, find new resources and make new friends.
Join hundreds of other wonderful business owners and decision-makers seeking to learn, share, connect and have fun.
Register now! http://www.eventbrite.com/event/77143739.
Small Business Summit 2008 starts when you arrive. Be there!
http://smallbiztechsummit.com
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Feature Article
Are You Operating From: IF or WHEN?
By Marian Banker
"The more clear and definite you make your picture, and the more you dwell upon it, bringing out all its delightful details, the stronger your desire will be. And the stronger your desire, the easier it will be to hold your mind fixed upon the picture of what you want."
Wallace D. Wattles, The Science of Getting Rich (first published in 1910)
IF or WHEN? Two little words that mean so much. IF implies an uncertainty as to whether or not something will happen. WHEN implies it will definitely happen, it's just a matter of timing.
When we're operating in IF, we're not committed. We're still questioning, "can I reach my goal?" There's no forward movement and it may actually feel like we're going around in circles.
When we're operating in WHEN we've made the decision to reach our goal. It's just a matter of WHEN. We may not know exactly how we'll get what we want, but the fact of having made the decision removes any doubt that it will happen. The "how" will come much easier because all future decisions will be taking us in the direction of our goal.
It's what Wallace D. Wattles in "The Science of Getting Rich" refers to as the certain way. Once you are certain, the universe will start to work with you.
The difference in the outcome of operating from these two positions can be huge. The implications for our future are critical.
We hear people saying, "I keep trying, but I can't reach my goal. Nothing works." These people are still unsure they can reach their goals. Making the decision that nothing will keep them from their goal, even if they have to try and fail many times, is what makes the difference between the winners and the competition.
The transition from IF to WHEN isn't hard, but it does require some contemplation and preparation. It seems to be like passing through a barrier. You're either on one side or the other. But once you pass through the barrier, you're able to make forward progress with much less effort.
Two of my clients just made the transition from IF to WHEN.
Brenda had a history as a human resources professional, most recently as Human Resources Director in a large corporation. She needed to see herself in a different way in order to make the decision to become an entrepreneur. She had been questioning IF she should make the commitment. By getting to know more about herself and her personal truths she passed through the barrier to commitment without even realizing she'd made a change. All her actions started to be focused on putting together a business that would use the best of what she had to offer. This tapped into an energy that motivated and activated her. She acknowledged she felt passionate about her new commitment.
The other client, Drake, had been an entrepreneur for 8 years before losing his business due to some major personal challenges. After 3 years and some serious soul searching, he realized he's ready to be an entrepreneur again. Although he has very limited capital, he's been able to pre-sell his prototype product to potential clients to the extent that he'll likely qualify for a bridge loan to start up on a small scale. He's now eagerly putting together a business plan. Having seen strong market support prior to commitment of dollars was, for him, the factor that moved him from IF to WHEN.
Consider YOUR goals. Are you committed to them? Do you think of them as IF or WHEN? It might be helpful to list each of your goals under either IF or WHEN.
Create a plan with a timeframe for those in the WHEN category. Providing a structure for your efforts not only saves energy, it adds validity to what you're trying to accomplish.
What's the missing piece or unanswered question for those in your IF category? How might you convert them to WHEN? It's also important to eliminate any that don't create a strong attraction. This allows more energy to be focused on those that are ready to move forward.
It's OK to have some goals that are undecided, but know that you won't make real progress toward them until they are converted to WHEN status.
Are you operating from IF or WHEN?
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READY TO MOVE FROM "IF" TO "WHEN"?
Since I've just had several clients move from IF to WHEN, I thought you might want to learn how to apply this technique to your own goals. So far, 2008 has been a good year for my clients. Goals are in place and milestones are being achieved.
Contact me at marian@primestrategies.com to discuss where you are and what might be the next step for you. First consultation is FREE.
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