When you struggle to complete a task or project, often it’s because of the lack of just one question: Why are you doing it?

Take a step back and ask yourself what the purpose is of creating that flyer or developing that new service, or even why you want a website or new blog.

According to David Allen, asking such a simple question will provide these huge benefits:

1- Clarifies focus

2 – Expands your options

3 – Defines success

4 – Creates decision-making criteria

5 – Aligns resources

6 – Motivates

Seems like such a simple solution, huh? Try it and let me know how it works for you!

Margie

On the last page of BusinessWeek, Jack Welch writes a regular column with his wife, Suzy. They always share an interesting perspective, and the last article sparked this blog.

One of my favorite classes I took during my MBA program was a leadership program. One question we addressed, both in this particular class, and in all of my entrepreneurship classes was; are entrepreneurs born or made?

What do you think??

In this article I mentioned, the Welch’s talk about the need of leaders to not just ‘react’, as many will today, trying to keep their heads above water, but to define and create tomorrow.

Do you realize that we are in an incredible time? New opportunities are born out of hard economic times. The challenge for a LEADER is to trust in himself/herself and take a chance!

I call it “Just Jump“!

There may not be another time just like this one for some people. Opportunity often is fleeting. As some of my own clients hear from me, FIRST you say yes, then you figure out how to make things happen. And, if they aren’t happening FOR you, you must go out and search, eyes wide open.

Are you an entrepreneur? And, are you looking to create tomorrow? If you answer yes to the first question, but wonder about the second question, contact me and let’s set up a time to talk.

Margie

Awhile back, I mentioned how important it is to take stock of your finances so that your cash flow is more POSITIVE than NEGATIVE. This literally means the difference between life and death for a business.

Today I’d like to talk about your goals. As you know, we’re in tough economic times and when you listen to some of the media, we’re heading into a tailspin of doom and gloom before we really pull out. Maybe. Maybe not. All depends on how you prepare for it, right?

A big part of preparation is knowing where you want to go.  I don’t know about you, but if I were to drive from California to New York in my car, I would map out a plan for where I want to go. It’s the same thing with business, yet WAY too many people haven’t done that! They believe the phrase, “build it and they will come”.

If you have a business and have sat down in the past and mapped out your goals and objectives, great! How long ago??? If it’s been several years, not only has the economy changed, but so have other things in the environment. For example, if it has been years since you updated your marketing plan, you are really behind the times! How are you using social networking??? And, if you are using it, how do you take the best advantage of it to reach your potential clients?Are they THERE to receive what you have to say?

My message today is clear: Make sure you are always current in your plans for developing actions that help you take your business where you want it to go. Where you wanted it to go even last year may be different today, and definitely HOW you will get there changes regularly. Don’t be left behind, grumbling how the economy killed your business.

To help clients update their business and marketing plans, I’m thrilled to announce that MEG Enterprises will soon unveil additions to the company staff with specialists in business plan and marketing plan revisions.

Margie