One of the things we hear a lot from the small business owners and charity leaders we work with is that they are not sure where to start. They have limited time, limited budgets, and lots of big ideas. In most cases this combination results in a tension that limits action and gets people stuck. They get caught up in a cycle of overthinking and procrastination, trying to find certainty about what the right thing to do is.
When considering where to invest your time, energy and money, there are almost unlimited options. There are thousands of courses, tools, and gurus out there, all promising that their thing is the one that will transform your business and/or your life. Often this means you are left feeling as though there is so much you should be doing but you can’t possible do everything.
It’s incredibly easy overwhelmed by the possibilities but the simple truth is there is no single right thing. Life isn’t that simple and nor is business. The only thing to do is take the next step, and the next, and the next, deciding each time based on the information you have what each of those steps looks like, and what feels right FOR YOU.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to the challenges you have in your business. Whether you need to generate awareness of what you do, attract more customers, generate more revenue, or something else, there is no one way to do it.
So, don’t be afraid of moving slowly, be afraid of getting lost in the noise and standing still. Taking imperfect action step by step is the only way to make progress towards your goals, and that means being brave enough to do something today, rather than just think about doing it one day in the future.
To help make that transition from thought to action, it helps to get really clear about what you’re trying to do. Ask yourself, what does success look like, and write down the answer. Then ask yourself, what one thing could I do today or this week that will get me just one step closer to that point and do it as soon as possible! If you can’t do it now, schedule it in your diary or tell someone you’re going to do it to help yourself commit to seeing it through.
Another helpful question to ask yourself is, what if it was easy? The magic if in that question gives you freedom to break free of some of the constraints to your thinking that are created by your fears. Common fears that get in our way include fear of judgement and what other people will think and fear of failure and what happens if it doesn’t work. Imagining what could be possible if what you’re trying to do was easy can help you get out of your own way and take a step forward, no matter how small. Once you do and you see that nothing bad has happened, it becomes much easier to keep going.
Whatever your goals are in your business, especially if they’re related to sales and marketing activities that require a consistent, proactive and long term strategic approach, this method will allow you to make progress. If you want to accelerate that progress by partnering with a business development specialist, get in touch today.
