|
Small Business Marketing Tips
Ready, Fire, Aim!
September, 2008
If we want to figure out how to be really successful in our business we might want to start with a couple of questions. Are there any characteristics that set really successful people apart from the rest of the pack? If so, are these things that we can learn and copy, or are people just born with them?
Fortunately there have been some interesting studies on these questions, most recently by a team led by psychologist Marshall Thurber. They found that there were seven characteristics that stood out among all the people that they studied, and all of them can be learned or applied by anyone. Let's look at several of the most important.
First, Thurber found that the people were fueled by passion for what they did! Their work was important and meaningful to them and their determination to succeed was driven by this passion. It was not 'just a job."
Closely related to this was a second characteristic which revealed that the people had attached a higher moral or social purpose to their work, that in some way they were changing the world for the better. This didn't necessarily mean that their work was global or earthshaking in nature, it just meant that they saw an impact on people's lives right where they were. And that impact was important to them.
Can you see how this might apply to you? I've mentioned before that if you're not passionate about what you do, do something else! Find something that gets you excited and that you really enjoy.
Then add the higher purpose to it by focusing on the value to people, society or the planet that your work brings. Many business people have never thought of their work as having a higher purpose, but you'll find it if you look. How are you creating joy and beauty, solving a problem, or alleviating suffering with your work?
A third characteristic of the highly successful is that they aren't afraid to try new ideas. Many people get paralyzed because they're not sure they have all the information and don't know if the idea will work. Thurber found that his subjects were willing to try and fail, try something else, and in the process find innovative solutions quickly. They didn't see failed experiments as "mistakes" but as valuable learning experiences.
So be willing to "fail" your way to success. What is there that you've thought about using in your business but haven't tried because you're not sure it'll work? Now's the time!
Another important characteristic that Thurber found was that his subjects were always moving toward something, not away from something. They had a vision driven by their passion and higher purpose and that's what they focused on. I've met many business people whose goal, if you dig deep enough, turns out to be just making enough money so they don't have to worry about money. That's "moving away from" and you can do better than that.
Create a long term vision that excites you and keep your eyes on it. I call that "pull motivation" and it's a hundred times more powerful than "push."
The last characteristic that we have room for this month is one of my favorites. The super successful have a low regard for social convention. That is, they're not worried about what other people might think of them.
Southwest Airlines Chairman Herb Kelleher, famous for occasionally dressing up like Elvis, once settled a legal dispute over the use of an advertising slogan by publically arm wrestling the other company's CEO. Kelleher lost, but got millions in free publicity and got to use the slogan anyway.
Bill Glazer, owner of a chain of high-end men's clothing stores in Baltimore, ran an ad series that showed him ripping open his dress shirt to expose a Superman outfit. Conventional wisdom say these guys are nuts, but they're laughing all the way to the bank. What might you do if you weren't afraid of what "they" might think?
Passion, higher purpose, experiment, move toward your vision, break the rules. See anything you can apply?
Comments or questions? Please use the Contact form.
|
|
Seminar
Success Stories
"How To Create Success"
"I want to thank you for everything. Your guidance has helped me to achieve many of my goals in growing my business, and I am shooting for a 300% increase in sales this year. I am more excited and confident than I have ever been. Thank you again, and again, and again...."
Ely Delaney - Knight Tymes Designs Glendale, AZ *
"Your program has made a world of difference for me. My income literally tripled after doing the seminar! Thanks again for everything!"
Jaime Surrett, Glendale, AZ *
|
|
"Science of Getting Rich"
"Wow. The reward for these classes has been far greater than I imagined. I would highly recommend this program, especially the way that Wes pulls it together, to anyone who wishes for happiness. I have been using these principles in all areas of my life and they work. Thank you for helping me to enjoy the process of getting rich and living my dreams."
Trish Clark, Blue Sky ChiGong, Phoenix, AZ *
|
|
