It's Not an Overnight Thang

We are creatures of immediacy. Our world today has been intricately developed to cater to our incessant desires of “NOW MATTERS”! The less time we spend somewhere and the quicker we can receive the service or product, the more satisfied we become. UPS and FedEx can deliver a package practically to any point in the world overnight. We can purchase almost anything we want without ever taking a step outside of our home; scratch that, you can purchase anything you want in the world, anywhere you are in the world, as long as you have an internet connection or a smart-phone. When using your credit card, you no longer have to sign for some purchases. The fact is, we are evolving with an infrastructure that serves and conditions our expectation of instantaneous return. While this is rewarding as consumers, this concept and expectation becomes problematic for business owners.

For business owners or entrepreneurs this concept of immediacy is in direct conflict with the reality of growing and nurturing a model that realizes return over a period of time, which may not be aligned with our conditioned expectations. This is problematic within a majority of circumstances in the business world, and we have to ensure that our strategic plan does not integrate objectives and goals that are unrealistic in relation to the timeline.

At the highest level, your planning should consist of short and long-term objectives and goals. This categorization should provide a means in simplifying your expectations for your tactical initiatives. Furthermore, it provides you the ruler to measure your progress and helps to calibrate your expectations and minimize the tendency to react to situations which were previously perceived as a threat.

Within each short and long-term objective, ensure that each is practical and achievable. With marketing activities, it is essential for a small-business to consider budget and resources. A simple evaluation of activities in regards to impact and ease-of-implementation is beneficial, as it provides a process to prioritize your marketing. Practical and achievable, this will set the tone of your expectations.

Manage a To-Do List

Do you work with a To-Do list? Whether you realize it or not, most of us work with some form of a To-Do list to manage our business. However, we probably don’t manage this list enough strategy to ensure focus.

I admit that I have fallen in the trap of the “busy-ness” of managing life, but it is very important that as a small-business owner that our efforts are focused. And this can easily start with our To-Do lists that we utilize to check things off. Some of us may use these ritually, others not so much, in either case, here are some helpful ways to contain that To-Do list.

Define Strategy and Objectives for 2010

After all, we can’t begin to put together a meaningful list of To-Do’s if we don’t have a goal for 2010. Keep it simple if you have to, but ensure that your business is operating under a strategy to maintain that focus, otherwise, you will find yourself wandering for most of the year and it will yield only a series of frustrations.

To-Do List

Let this list be a product of your strategy and objectives planning for 2010. However, be very careful and ensure that this list is distilled to only about 3-4 main To-Do’s. If you have any more than this then it is crucial that you evaluate each and ensure that each item on your list contributes greatly to the advancement of your objectives. This is where focus is crucial.

Start a To-Don’t List

Your list will likely start to be longer than you expected. And that’s certainly okay, but go over it one more time with the idea that there are such things as a To-Don’t list. Try identifying a few of these off your list and determine how each one can qualify for your To-Don’t list. Chances are you have a lot of ideas for 2010, however, these ideas need to be closely reviewed for their applicability in achieving your goals. Notice a pattern here? Your goals and objectives are paramount, only list items in your To-Do list that pushes this!

Prune Your List

Review your list every time you put one together! Continue with the concept of a To-Don’t list. They do not necessarily need to be eliminated but simply categorized as less urgent items. This behavior of prioritization will immensely help your day to day activities within your business.