By Natasha T. Brown I posted the accompanying image on Instagram last week, and someone made a comment that became the premise of today’s Sophisticated Sunday:
“I’M SUCH A SUCCESS JUNKIE!”
Success junkies know that failure is not an option, so they plan for the future and evaluate the past. I’ve been experimenting with various planning methods, reviewing what “experts” and business web sites had to say, and I spoke with my counterparts at OnStage and others. So here’s a comprehensive plan for fellow success junkies.
"Putting your attention purely on profits can take you off track. More profits are nice, but more clients can be leveraged for significant future growth. Focusing on deliverables is certainly important, but planning and execution is what will grow your client base, thus your company.” - says Dave Lavinsky, co-founder of Growthink in an article for Inc. Magazine
1. Identify major accomplishments from 2012 and areas of improvement for 2013.
First see where you are; what you accomplished in 2012 and should build on and what areas were lacking. Make a note, and then proceed…
2. Review your business plan
If you have a business plan, great, pull it off of your hard drive and review it to ensure it’s still the direction you wish to go in. Adjust it if necessary and if you don’t have one, now is the perfect time to write it.
3. Make a list of major GOALS that you want to accomplish in 2013.
· List every goal that comes to mind. If you’re really a success junkie, the list will probably complete an entire page.
· Answer the question “Why is this important?” for each item.
· From your original list, highlight the most important and realistic things that are absolutely necessary for your success, considering your “Why.”
· Then write a list of “Tasks” for each major area. These are steps to help you accomplish the goals.
· Put a deadline date on every task.
The last step is important so that your goals become action items, versus arbitrary wants.
Example from Think Brown INK:
Goal: Engage more Publicists and Managers on a National Level (Year round)
Why: To support national expansion plans, become a supporter to comrades, compare regional best practices and connect clients with organizations in other markets
Tasks: 1. Identify major players and build deeper lists with contact information
2. Send personal introduction messages sharing projects and collaboration opportunities: Deadline: Each month on the 15th
3. Seek input through existing media platforms and share regional client
initiatives with professionals in those areas (ongoing)
4. Count the money
How much did you make in 2012. What was your highest-grossing month? Can you live with that? Whether yes or no, calculate the following.
· Break-even Point
· Profit Margins (Gross and Net)
· Cash Flow Forecasts – don’t be afraid to change your rates, if your service or product allows for it!
· Profit and Loss
· Sales Forecasts
· Cost of Sales
5. Identify major projects for first Quarter and second quarter if you can
Create an outlook for your workload and projects for the first half of the year (based on your goals and projects that you have or are in the pipeline). This may change, but if you have it written down, you’ll know if you have room to take on additional projects or if you need to cut anything so you won’t be overwhelmed.
6. Select a chosen calendar method (I recommend a 2013 At-A-Glance book) then map out day-by-day duties if you can, at least for the first month!
It may be hard to map out 60 days, but if not, try to plan week-by-week. Challenge yourself to use a calendar like “At-A-Glance” to write daily tasks based on your deadline dates, project releases, personal goals that you created (refer to point #3)
WRITING down your quarterly, monthly, weekly and daily plans are vital. I know it’s a digital age, but I strongly recommend writing these items in a place where you can review them EACH DAY.
7. Review and create project plans for each client and project
This is extremely important for publicists and project managers. Seek input from your clients (their goals and hard plans) and teammates (their ideas) and then make the plan, using the list method discussed above, along with hard deadlines. Fill in your monthly and daily calendar tasks with your project plan dates.
8. Review your customer/brand promise
“The main area we plan to expand our brand is to continue to do a great job of finding out what our most-valued customers want, then provide it to them.”
-John Mastrianni, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Sports Zone/SPZN Elite
If you’ve told your customers that you’re going to offer something, make sure that fulfilling that brand promise is a part of your planning process.
9. Challenge yourself!
Nobody knows or can do everything, but research and implement some easy methods to improve your company’s processes and brand.
Example: I’ve been challenging TBI to dive deeper into social media and ensure that each of our brands are synchronized in 2013. Through this directive, we’ve decided to change and implement new things.
2. We changed the Twitter handle for our radio show, returning in 2013 from TheBuildUpRadio to TheBuildUpShow (so that it makes sense to the readers of our blog and it broadens the brand)
3. More interaction on LinkedIn Pinterest, Tumblr and Google Plus
(we’ve made a mark on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, so now it’s time to really optimize the other networks).
4. Additional use of referral links (referring folks from one of your company’s platforms to another, i.e: web site to Twitter or blog to Pinterest) Also, create a way to refer folks to your partner, client and affiliate sites
LASTLY: Create a comprehensive plan on how to build additional partnerships in 2013 that allow for additional income streams, increased brand awareness and societal impact. Don’t just think about YOUR brand. Think about whose brand coincides with yours and how you can be a benefit to them and vice versa. It’s all about building sustained and meaningful relationships. You never know how much the relationships you build and cultivate can change your plans for the better!
I could go on and on.... If you’re interested in additional strategy tips for planning, business or communications, feel free to contact me!
Best wishes for a successful 2013.
Stay Sophisticated and keep BUILDING!
Resources:
Natasha Brown is a writer and founding communications strategist of Think Brown INK, a creative think tank and strategic communications agency in the Washington area. Follow her on Twitter @TBINatasha @NBrownINK or her company @ThinkBrownINK.