How to Win an Argument!

From Seth Godin's blog - I loved this!

'Earn a reputation. Have a conversation. Ask questions. Describe possible outcomes of a point of view. Make connections. Give the other person the benefit of the doubt. Align objectives then describe a better outcome. Show up. Smile.'

To read how not to do it, click the link. Brilliant blog, by the way - I wish mine could be half as simple, clear and thought-provoking...

Eek!

Having struggled for a while with keeping up the momentum, business has suddenly taken off (though I wouldn't say it's stable yet). Now I'm dealing with the need to keep injecting the appropriate level of marketing activity, while at the same time handling the new work that's coming up. Phew! Quite a balancing act.

What I've always done in the past is let myself get so immersed in the work that I stop the marketing. I'm determined not to do that now, now least because it leads to a very unbalanced, stressful life, and because I've really enjoyed the networking I've been doing. The 'buzz' and confidence I get from networking fuel the contribution I can make in my work. I'm committed to having a business that's part of my life and an expression of who I am, to the extent that all of it is seamless, flowing and fun - and I can really see that beginning to happen. Next challenge is to develop simple systems and tools to keep it all manageable.

Concentrate...concentrate...concentrate - Breakthrough!

What happens after you've been in 'concentration' for some time, and put in the work, is suddenly things start to move. Results come in from completely unexpected directions, or from hares you set running so long ago you'd forgotten about them! Results start to equal the activity you put in. It's time now to keep your eye on the integrity of yourself and others in the project.

Note to self: where is my life out of integrity? Nothing's going to stop the momentum faster than running away from, or covering up, a tricky issue.

Doing the Necessary

It's amazing, but since I got really clear on the current status of my project, all the angst and suffering has gone. It's really clear - I'm in 'concentration' with early signs of 'low momentum' (see below if you're wondering what the hell I'm talking about!). So what there is to do is throw more (value-added) activity at it, and trust that the results will come. Some early 'signs of land' coming in already.

Half the overwhelm and anxiety in pursuing a new direction come from expecting results too quickly, and taking action which is not appropriate to the current status of the project. Early days, lots of activity - later on there may be time to coast a bit!

Back To Work!

They say that the more vacations you take, the more successful you'll be. I've been on holiday for the last week, so I've had a chance to think about where I'm going with the next phase of my business.

In my last post, I thought I needed to do more work on the 'formulation' of my new message, but everyone I've checked with seems to feel it's already pretty clear. So now the thing to do is get in action finding smallish businesses whose owners want to understand how their business, and the people in it, really work most effectively.

I have to find more places where these business owners gather, and work on creating simple talks and 'flyers' to explain what I do. In the model I'm working through, I'm into 'momentum' (though quite low momentum!), and need to put a lot of effort in to get relatively small returns.

Still, even low momentum is better than none - and it's the only route to high momentum! Wish me luck...

Formulating Your Project

'Formulation' begins with creating and declaring an intention, then taking a stand about it. You then formulate your project, including outcomes, results, who's accountable and how you will communicate it. Then announce yourself - make yourself known. Thinking about my current project, to relaunch my business in a new market, how much have I done of this? Looking at the steps, I think I've done them backwards: I'm out there communicating about my intention, without being clear on the outcomes I want to produce! Duh! That's today's task, then...

Wading Through Treacle!

This idea of marketing the business energetically enough to push it through to the next level: I see others who've done this, and they don't seem to have to have to 'push' all the time. I'd forgotten a useful model that has always seemed to me to ring true in these situations.

Here are the phases or 'states' a new (or newly relaunched) venture goes through:

Formulation - creating the project and its intended outcomes
Concentration - putting a lot of effort in, with initially little return (put 10 in, get 1 out).
Momentum - Results start to come in commensurate with your effort (put 1 in, get 10 out).
Stability - the time for being completely consistent and reliable. Everything is present and it works.

I'd forgotten - in my newly relaunched business, I'm in concentration. That's why it sometimes feels like wading through treacle! More on this next time...