....plan....

....everyone says this but I am not seeing any evidence of it being done in the business spheres i travel in…this is especially true in sales -- you hear in EVERY company-- plan the work and work the plan….the plan is usually driven by CRM  software which is so screen intensive that the sales force in general puts in an effort albeit a minimal effort (since it is quite common that CRM is a condition of employment) but considers it a waste of time that keeps them from what they do best -- selling....

do you know that it takes only 15 minutes, if done daily, to use CRM software to your advantage; i.e., plan your next day, week, month.…(yeah…all by itself…with minimal effort on your part....)

what did you do today....enter it and a follow up date & activity and viola -- this one entry schedules that activity and future follow ups on your calendar….you saw 4 customers – do 4 entries and off you go…..ain't technology grand....

....more branding....

....keep it simple --  in a complicated world there is no greater force in business; it is both a guideline to work faster and smarter and a competitive advantage....pick up the phone and call someone....if someone asks you a question, answer it….easy, huh....

• be concise --  brand yourself as one product offering....you are an image -- an iconic one....
• brevity is brilliance....
• go minimal -- small groups, smart people, you are the leader and you are involved in ALL aspects of the project ala steve jobs….
• wear black....
• say what you mean -- this is a killer but it works....in cases where it does not, you did not need that person (group / company / client) anyway....
• focus -- in an ADD world, the new ''F" word is the "M word -- multitasking -- guess what....you can start a lot of things by multitasking but you cannot finish one of them....focus on one thing at a time and do it well....why not....you come off as an expert....

....take the initiative

....break out of your routine and meet people...talk to people in at the coffee shop in the morning....tell people what you do and be interested in what they do...maybe they can do something for YOU....

• plan your moves....imagine your ideal work situation then work backward from it....you can SEE it....take steps, however small, to get there....
• luck involves strategy and comtemplation you need to visualize what lucky looks like....lucky looks like ME...
• optimize quality connections - not just anyone....it's not about having a large follower count online, it's about finding people you can connect with who can turn a great idea into reality.....cultivate a smaller garden....you get higher quality fruit....
• spread the word....the clearer you are about what you are after, the likelier you will get it…..get it out on twitter, get it out on your facebook business page, get it out on linkedin......NOW....
• commit to what you are doing....patience ....keep your branding to a simple offering and keep your goal constant.....only expand your outward sphere when you can give it the time it deserves....quality time....quality work....quality you....