It's an interesting time to be in business or sales right now. So much has changed and yet so much hasn't changed.Business needs people and people need business to accomplish anything. When I get overwhelmed, which lately has appeared when I read newsletters, social media or other channel that highlights all that is going wrong, I make lists and plans. I can only control what is right in front of me in my inbox and prospect list as well as deliver work to current clients.I advise people to make plans. Not a three-year long-term plan, those are what go into a three-ring binder and sit on shelves and collect dust. I am talking about a plan that you can actually see the results of your efforts that aligns with the vision of that three-year plan. A 45-day, take-action plan.This plan gives comfort to all those insecurities that surface when prospects don't answer your email in 24 hours or when you can't figure out who to even reach out to get a meeting to discuss your services or products. A 45-day plan allows for habits and actions to move you forward with purpose. Get out your sheet of paper and don't overthink this please.
1. Vision/goal
What are you in business to do or sell? What is it that you want to offer to your network? For example, selling website services to mid-sized businesses who want to save money on their e-commerce efforts.
2. Know why you're the best
If you don't know why you're the best at what you do, then reread past endorsements or client emails. Remind yourself of your own strengths through one of the many online personality assessment tools. If you don't project confidence, with a side dose of humility, other people won't pick up on that and want to hire you or recommend your company's services.
3. Make a take-action plan
All of this pre-work is helpful but where you really can differentiate yourself from other people is by taking action. Make a 45-day plan for what you are going to do each day and each week.
These habits will serve you to increase your connections, be more prepared and to secure more business with your network.
Book time for when you are going to do these actions. When a person is overwhelmed or anxious, we tend to lock up and stop breathing. Spend one hour each day and each week on these actions to make the next 45 days productive.
Daily actions
Spend 15 minutes on Linkedin/Facebook and Twitter or Instagram. Actually post and comment and make yourself visible.
Spend 15 minutes reading and writing. Be knowledgeable and share articles with your centers of influence or clients from your list of your key contacts.
Spend 15 minutes moving and exercises. Get off the couch. Get active. Fifteen is the minimum; shoot for 30.
Spend 15 minutes preparing notes on people, reviewing your lists, replying to emails in 24 hours. These tasks may require more time but by blocking out time to do these tasks you will see your energy level and your results grow.
Weekly actions
Write thank-you notes to people that you connected with this week.
Text five people to say hello and send them a photo of a hobby or interest you share in common. Connection is key, purpose and meaning helps move the relationship forward.
Send 15 emails at the minimum. Make your emails short, have an impactful headline, use a picture, have a call to action.
Ask for feedback. Ask a trusted person to tell you how you're doing with your new actions. Ask them to proofread an email you are writing. Asking for help and feedback is how you can get better and secure more business.
Review your key contact list. Check in on how you are doing at staying connected with this list. Are you sharing and giving back to your network or are you only asking for things you need?
Help other people. Get involved in your community and donate or volunteer or help another person. With unemployment at an all-time high, offer to help other people get connected to one other person.
Taking action and having a plan, complete with checkboxes will give you the ability to reflect on the actions you are taking. The results will follow, but making the 45-day take-action plan will give you comfort that you can accomplish more than you thought possible before you made the list.