It’s time for a “rant and rave” article. Why? Well, mainly because I have been ranting and raving at myself for a bit, but also because I have had multiple clients ranting and raving about their businesses and about their seeming lack of success in them. And you know what? They ALL have the power to change their situation, quickly, effortlessly and successfully.

Apart from my expertise in personality type profiling for business and personal success, which is an art of its own, I really enjoy keeping things simple. Human beings seem to have the tendency to complicate things. Apart from that, there is a widespread belief that the more complicated something is, the more valuable and desirable it must be.

Wrong on both ends.

From a sales & marketing and business building point of view, your success really and simply evolves around the answers to two questions:

1)      Is what you are doing honouring you and others?

2)      Is what you are doing effective?

I use the word “honouring”, but you can replace that with “serving”, “doing good”, “to your benefit”, or whatever else. It’s about assisting yourself and others in a positive way.

Two extremes come up:

a)      You are not honouring yourself and others, but you are effective. You are a white-collared criminal (just kidding). No, really: you are probably working on or in an environment that is not good for you. That was me as a litigation lawyer. I was good at is (so very effective), but I was not honouring myself, or others (what I did lay WAY outside what I think life and business are all about). Ultimately you will want to quit behaving this way, as it will literally or figuratively kill you. I was most like dead figuratively speaking, and on the way –slowly- physically speaking.

b)      You are honouring yourself and others, but you are not effective. You’re a nice person, that’s for sure. Your business will probably suck (excuse my English). Not being effective means you spend too much time in your comfort zones, without making a massive mark in the business world. And I hope that you ultimately got into business to make that mark….. Again a behaviour you will want to quit. It’s time to move out of your comfort zone, and start doing the things that are really important for your business growth.

This is how simple business and business growth can be. Are you doing what’s necessary, and are you helping yourself and others with that? Each and every time those are the only real questions you need to ask yourself. The “why” and “how” questions will generally be answered once you have your basics clear.

I’ve heard too many people fumbling around lately with websites, USPs, copy writing etc, whereas they REALLY needed to make that one phone call to a prospect, or book that one speaking gig. The first batch of jobs may have been honouring, but not (as) effective (as it could be), whereas creating sales and impact in the market place is both honouring AND effective!

I call it Procrastination. Or the Comfort Zone. And we generally know where we’re at. Hey, I’ll stick my hand up. I am very aware of my comfort zone, and about where I procrastinate. But you know what? The more you align yourself with both questions, the more all your woes seem to subside. Being good to yourself and others, and making a massive impact in the market place is one of those equations that mathematically don’t work, but are still true: 1 + 1 = 11! It’s called leverage.

Set  a Landmarc:

Firstly, where in your business do you know you are NOT honouring yourself or others? Where are you doing things that are just “not you”? Where are you selling yourself or others short? Where are you damaging yourself physically, mentally or emotionally?

Secondly, where in your business are you playing hide and seek, being ineffective? Where are you spending time you KNOW you shouldn’t? We’re all guilty of it; it’s primarily a matter of being honest with yourself.

Thirdly, use a time management strategy (my “rule of 6” works wonders; ask me about it) to implement 3-5 new behaviours that you KNOW are more honouring (it could be taking a day off per week) and effective (it could be writing a blog post instead of writing facebook messages).

Lastly, as always, go easy on yourself. It’s not a matter of feeling massively guilty and/or frustrated. This is an honesty exercise, combined with commitment to change. Beating yourself up is not honouring anyway!

Trust me (and again, I am sticking my hand up), we all fall off the wagon every now and then; thank God for that. We ARE human. Our measure of success can be found in the speed with which we get up, and the steps we take after we got back up.  Both parts are up to you. Are you up to it?

To  your business success!