I often teach my clients about the power and importance of strategy. But unless you take one of my “in person” classes, or coach with my privately, or get to know me, you might not realize where the power of strategy comes from for great warriors (or me!). One great warrior, Ulysses S Grant was known for saying “trust AND verify”. (Not trust but verify, different warrior- and VERY different meaning!!). I embraced this YEARS ago when I heard it. To me it meant that I had to trust my instincts first, verify them, then execute–>that is VERY strategic.
Surprisingly, some people think that strategy has nothing to do with intuition. I strongly disagree! To me that is what “trust AND verify” means. Great strategists TRUST their instincts FIRST, then verify those instincts and develop a plan. Strategy is a necessary part of business success. James Brian Quinn says that “small businesses too need to develop strategies in order to use their limited resources to compete effectively.” For me, as a small business owner, appreciating what a great warrior in battle had to do to be strategic is powerful. They didn’t have a board of advisers to bounce ideas off first. They had to learn to trust and verify -instinct and plan- quickly and effectively. See, great strategists in today’s business world have to consider the predictable, the unpredictable and the unknowable, and using instinct can help that process. This means that strategy requires you look beyond current practice. What better to trust but your instincts to achieve that?
There are several challenges to be strategic first:
1-For most warrior-preneurs the biggest is to trust and verify more quickly.
2-Listen to that inner voice; realize what it’s telling you about what you need to do next and not rationalizing it away.
3-Get over needing to know everything BEFORE deciding. The unpredictable and unknowable require that you do so.
4-Strategy is flexible, but not random.
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
Social Media has dramatically changed how we can do business, because it has changed how our customers interact, make decisions and ultimately decide to buy. Not realizing this could hurt you not help you. I once heard Tim Ferris of The Four Hour Work Week speak and he said if you are not interacting online you just have no clue what’s being said about you or your business.
How many of you believe you run or work for a company that’s doing a pretty darn good job?
How many of you realize that ALL companies big and small make mistakes?
How many of you realize that sometimes a customer needs help?
Here is the thing though: Now more than ever customers are making their decisions ONLINE.
If you are not managing your business online, you are loosing opportunity. Just like these two companies did. Don’t be that company. What will you do differently to engage your customers online?
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
This morning I was thinking about success and wanted to share with you. Thank you Candace Davenport for sharing Jeff Olsons book: “The Slight Edge” with me!
What does success mean to you? How do you practice “continuous movement”? If you had to recommend a book or CD what would it be and why?
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
In my workshops and social networking and media bootcamps we spend time discussing limiting beliefs. 99.9% of my clients have a mindset that holds them back from marketing and sales success. Do you know what yours is?
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
Video is not the future; it’s now – you have a great chance of building trust and credibility when you use it online – have you set a video goal for 2010? I have! In this video I give 5 tips to help your video success!
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
I often teach my clients about the power and importance of strategy. But unless you take one of my “in person” classes, or coach with my privately, or get to know me, you might not realize where the power of strategy comes from for great warriors (or me!). One great warrior, Ulysses S Grant was known for saying “trust AND verify”. (Not trust but verify, different warrior- and VERY different meaning!!). I embraced this YEARS ago when I heard it. To me it meant that I had to trust my instincts first, verify them, then execute–>that is VERY strategic.