RUSSEL'S
LIBRARY
Back in the late 1980s, I was in the process of starting my fourth business. The three previous ones had been successful, so I had no doubt that I would be successful again.
Music for your reading pleasure
"Olympic Theme," John Williams
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It's fun and easy, and today's probably the day.
However, I wasn't as young as I was in the first three and felt overworked, even though I wasn't doing anything different. One night, over margaritas and jalapeno nachos, a friend gave me a book titled "How to Use Your Time Wisely," by Phyllis C. Kaufman & Arnold Corrigan (ISBN 0-681-40136-2).
Although it's out of print, there usually are several copies available online. I buy several copies a year to give to friends starting their own businesses, and for graduation, wedding, and birthday gifts.
It's a mere 102 pages, but by far the most 102 pages I have ever read in my business career. Everything is based on GOLD. Hasn't it been that way throughout history? LOL In this case, however, GOLD is an acronym:
- G - Goals
- O - Organize
- L - List
- D - Do
It's almost too simple, yet the fact that a book was written about it says something to every small businessperson or self-employed individual.
- Goals can be something simple and short-term, such as making $5,000 in the next three months to take a vacation, or something complex and long-term, such as being a millionaire by the time one's thirty (oops, missed that one!). Complex, long-term goals should be broken down into simple, short-term goals. Then, by meeting or exceeding those simple, short-term goals, one should meet one's complex, long-term goals.
- Organize doesn't mean to get one's desk and one's files in order. It means to Organize those Goals. What' most important? What's least important? Number them from one through ten. In fact, one can do a Top 10 list and a Bottom 10 list. Once those Goals are Organized:
- List them. That means write them down. Post them on the back of your bedroom door so that they are the last thing you see each night. Post them in the closet so you see them when you go to get your clothes in the morning. Post them on the mirror in the bathroom. Post them on the last door you see on your way out of the house. Post them where they can remind you on a daily basis about what your goals are.
- Do them. In the process of doing them, make sure to track your progress. Immediately after I had my first customer at the age of 10, my wise old grandmother told me to track everything about my customers and my little company. Ever since then, I've been doing exactly that, and it's helped me get where I've wanted to go.
If you walk into the office of the top sales agents for virtually any big-name company, you quite often see pictures of exotic vacation spots, top tourist destinations, fabulous houses, fast cars, etc. Ask that salesperson if it's his home, his car, etc., and you'll typically get a "No. It's just something that I want." or "It's just some place I want to go." They know their Goals, they have them Organized, they have Listed them, and now they are Doing them.
Most of us here at Active Rain, as self-employed businesspeople, could do well to learn from those top salespersons, to
Go for the GOLD.
Be sure to scroll down for titles and quick links to some of my other blog entries.
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Some of Russel's other blog entries
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- How a Seller can cancel the purchase contract during the home inspection
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- Not responsible for advice not taken
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Featured!
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Russel, thanks, I just found some extra time! Hope all is well with you!