The Silver Bullet For Success Revealed
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Looking for the magic formula or the whiz-bang approach
that will unlock your business success? Are you willing to pay
hundreds for it? How about thousands? Guess what, you are not
alone.
Just as people, for ages, have searched for the fountain of
youth, entrepreneurs and small business owners around the world are
looking for the silver bullet for success: that one
sure-fire way to achieve the success that they want without doing a
thing. This demand for this magic "success" pill has grown even
more desperate and confusing. This need, especially for
entrepreneurs, is understandable; time is limited, budgets are not
yet created and... lives are at stake... yours.
Well you can rest easy. Your search is over. Are you
ready for the answer? There is no silver bullet.... or is
there?
While speaking at seminars around the country with dozens of
other experts in their field, I'm amazed at the amount products
that can... and will...help business owners create more successful
businesses. I mean we're one of them. The plethora of
information available today is astounding and often...
overwhelming.
This hit home a few weeks ago while I was speaking at a
multi-day seminar for small business owners. I was honored to be
among a select few outstanding experts speaking about marketing for
small business owners. I watched the confusion grow in the audience
as program after program (mine included) was rolled out throughout
the three days, as the business owners tried to determine which
product best served their need at that particular moment.
I watched them. No, I studied them. And, my heart
went out to them... mostly because I'm just like them. I'm
just like you-- a small business owner with a vision for my
business and looking for help to accomplish it. While some
people at this seminar invested in a product that met their biggest
problem at that specific time, some didn't at all. Often these
purchased products are listened to for a short period of time; some
are even applied... for a short period of time. These tools are
often relegated to a closet or bookshelf-- abandoned for another
new tool at another seminar at another time. Thus begins a vicious
cycle that leaves the purchaser feeling empty, without the business
power they were looking for in the first place. I refer to this to
as "shelf-help"--serving only the shelf that these products
sit on. Watching and talking to these business owners... no
wonder they wanted the silver bullet.
And even though my business success tool, BrandU, breaks
down the powerful brand development process into a easy to follow
step-by-step system, once in a very blue moon one of my students
finds themselves sitting with the power they got from creating
their brand asking "Is this it?" "Am I done?" "Where's my
success?" While they carefully chose, and found value in,
BrandU what they really wanted was... yep that's right...
that darn silver bullet.
The bottom line is no matter how much external work you do,
learning and application, emulating and testing, there is no single
silver bullet to assist you reaching your success goals.
Success is more like silver buckshot-- a shower of
focused impact full hits. These focused efforts can be distilled
down to four major "pellets" or keys of success:
* Deliver Value.
This may sound overtly obvious for
most of you, however you must always think of your customer first
and be sure that you are delivering the most helpful and valuable
content.
* Consistency. Consistency. Consistency.
You just can't get away from this
key-- and you shouldn't. Everything you say, write, show and
do must support your vision and your... brand. In your
presentations, your e-mails, your web site, your content, your
marketing materials. The ability for your customer to completely
experience your brand depends on consistent communication from you.
Only then, will they value you.
* Finish What You Start.
Once you commit to yourself, a
partner, your staff, a client or customer always follow-through--
to a fault. The corollary of follow-through is under-promise and
over-deliver. Set and keep expectations where they belong--
calm, reliable and consistently in-favor of the other party.
You will be rewarded.
And finally,
* Own Your Power.
Now for the most misunderstood key. You've heard it stated in a
number of ways. To us it means know your power and own the
path you travel on and the results you get from it. If your
"inner house" is built on a solid foundation, it is imperative that
you own the power you know you have. No confusion, no avoidance, no
'victimhood' and no excuses. Be a voracious learning sponge.
Stand strong, watch for helpers, take bold steps, lovingly adjust
and stand ready to reap the rewards!
With these pellets in your shell, your silver
buckshot is sure to hit your target.
Come to think about it, the four keys do have one thing in
common: they are all completely in your control.
Could that mean there really is a silver bullet for
success after all? There is one true, fail-proof thing that you can
depend upon for all your business success and that thing is...
you. Weld yourself wisely; your success depends on
it!
Make a plan that is supported by your vision, surround yourself
with the right people and tools that specifically support that plan
and put the silver bullet that is you in action. You
will experience all the success than you can imagine.
See, it all comes down to... you.
About the Author
Kim A. Castle, Co-founder BrandU, Co-Author of Why Brand: Big
Business Success No Matter Your Size, and BrandU
Bible, the only step-by-step workbook for developing your
business as a brand.
www.whybrandu.com
© 2004 Castle Montone, Limited Reprinted with Permission.
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Article Published/Sorted/Amended on Scopulus 2006-06-06 21:02:31 in Business Articles
