Instant Strategic Clarity

Want instant clarity in your business? 

You can get it by answering 5 simple questions ...

1) What is your #1 goal for the next 30 days? Is it a sales figure? A number of new clients? Project completed? Whatever it is, write it down.

2) How many hours do you work each week? Write that number down. Now, divide it by two.

3) What will you do to reach your #1 goal in half the working hours? Write them down.

Example: If you work 60 hours a week and your #1 goal is $20,000 in sales this month, what will you do to reach that goal in half the time -- 30 hours a week?

Example tactics:

• Direct mail to 300 prospects within 5 miles
• Joint venture with 5 non-competitors
• Double your ad budget on Google and Facebook

4) Divide your working hours by two again.

5) What will you do to reach your #1 goal NOW, in 25% of the time each week? Write them down.

Example revised tactics:

• Direct mail your 30 best clients; ask to meet by phone or in person to discuss their goals -- and how you might help achieve them 
• Joint venture with your 2 best vendors and 3 best clients
• Double your mailing budget for letters sent to clients and vendors

See how your tactics have changed? The less time you have, the more valuable it is.

And that's why your answers to question 5 are your most-valuable marketing tactics. Because they are what you would do if you could work only 25% of the time. You've just proven their value with this thought experiment.

Do more of those most-valuable tactics for the next 30 days ... and see what happens. They results may astonish you.

Meanwhile, if you want to put an end to "feast-or-famine" syndrome in your business, my free Client Cloning Kit can help you. Grab your copy here, while they last.

How to Give Bad News to Clients

Free coffee cake = Bad news forgiven

Have you ever been let down by a vendor? 

Of course you have.

Vendor screw-ups are like death and the Detroit Lions missing the playoffs -- they're gonna happen.

Last Sunday, my wife and I were let down by a vendor. But they recovered so well that we gave them extra money.

Here's the story ...

We sat down for brunch at The Grand Cafe in Minneapolis and waited for our order to arrive.

And waited. And waited ...

After a few minutes, our waiter rushed over to apologize and take responsibility. "We're missing our regular Sunday morning cook, so everything is behind. I'm really sorry. Here's a piece of coffee cake on the house, while you wait."

A few minutes later, he returned. "We're still behind, so I'm going to take your coffees off the bill. I'm very sorry about this!"

Our brunch eventually arrived and it was delicious. 

And here's the thing: Because our waiter got out in front of the problem and "owned" the slow service, we really didn't mind. In fact, I gave him a nice tip.

The lesson is this: If you've got bad news to deliver, do it quickly, with a smile, over-communicate to keep your client in the loop, and throw in a freebie to thank them for their patience.

You can own the problem, or be owned. Pick one :-)

Meanwhile ... if you want to put an end to "feast-or-famine" syndrome in your business, my free Client Cloning Kit can help you. Grab your copy here, while they last.

Which Super Bowl Ad Won? That Question is Idiotic. Here's Why

Which Super Bowl ad won?

You know, which ad was most creative, made you laugh/cry/cringe the most?

Who cares?

Those questions are idiotic. Because they miss the whole point of advertising.

Advertising is selling, multiplied. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Because people don't buy from clowns. And you can't put awards in the bank.

You advertise to increase your sales. Period.

So ... which Super Bowl ad won?

The one that sold the most.

And here's the thing. Only a few smart advertisers can tell you how much their ad sold. Most will rely on agency awards or likes on Facebook to judge the "success" of their ad.

Dummies.

So check the news in a few weeks for stories about whose sales are up as a result of their Super Bowl ad. There won't be much news, I promise you. Because there aren't many smart advertisers. But those guys and gals who did sell more from their Super Bowl ads will be the real winners.

Meanwhile ... if you want to put an end to "feast-or-famine" syndrome in your business, my free Client Cloning Kit can help you. Grab your copy here, while they last.