Inspired Action: Planning
Editorial
Welcome to the Second Edition of Inspired Actions. The beginning of a new year means time to re-evaluate your business plans and strategies. Now is the time to make your plans for the year. Understand where you are going and what you want to accomplish on the way there.
Director/Curator: Lori Lynn Smith
The beginning of a new era of deeper consciousness and enlightenment. How do you and your business figure into this evolution. Contact Us Sacred Earth Partners Training and Retreat Center Inc. 6326 37th Ave NW Edmonton AB Canada T6L 1H8
Over the next year we will definitely be spending time focusing how we can align our businesses with the Universe Consciousness. Bigger, Better, more in-depth articles that will demostrate our higher alignment.
If you have any questions or suggestions for future topics, please feel free to contact me at info@sacredearthpartners.com.
I am loving travling on this journey with you and I am looking forward to the next year. ŠSacred Earth Partners Training and Retreat Center Inc 2012 All Rigths Reserved
Thanks for reading and we hope you enjoy!
We encourage you to download each edition so that you can easily click all blue underlined links to valuable resources without losing your place while you are reading.
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Yearly Business Planning Must Have Action Steps Did you accomplish what you wanted to last year? Did you feel you moving aimlessly from task to task? According to the Small Business Development Center, lack of planning is one of the top three reasons businesses fail. Without a plan, it is easy to see every task as equally important. A full business plan has is just too much for a Solopreneur, it is too long, it is too time consuming and has waaaay too much meanless information. What Solopreneurs need is a living manuscript that is constantly used, updated and tweaked to meet YOUR needs.
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There are just a few simple steps to get you started and moving in the right direction. It will take you a cup of coffee (or tea) and a couple hours to ensure that everything you are doing this year will lead you to the results you are looking for. Here is what we will be looking at: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Where are you Now? Who is your market? What is your Vision? What is your Mission? What are your goals for the year? How will you accomplish these goals What actions do you need to take Just do it!
In this months issue of the magazine we will do a quick overview of each area. Along with some tips to get your going. I highly recommend that you start with visualzing where you see your business in 1, 5 or 10 years. I like to spend 10-15 minutes every day visualizing.
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Business Visualization Exercise In 1 year, this is how my business will look…
In 5 years, this is how my business will look…
In 10 years, this is how my business will look…
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Where are you Now? I believe the most important part of the whole process is to actually understand where you are now! You need a starting point right, you need to get your bearings. I am sure you had heard the analogy of driving across country. You need to know where you are right now, you need to know where you are going and ONLY then can you create a plan to get moving. I highly recommend that you get a pen and paper out and start with your first draft or notes manually. I know it is not as easy as the computer, but the people smarter than me have said that using a pen and paper allows you to engage the creative parts of your brain. A Digital Publication From Sacred Earth Partners
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So let’s get started: Think about these questions for a few minutes and then write down your answers. 1. 2. 3. 4.
What are the business strengths? What are the business weaknesses? What do the financials look like? What kinds of clients are is it attracting?
5 Minute Exercise: Stop what you are doing right now and quickly write keywords or adjectives for you business. Just write as many as you can think of. After 5 minutes is up, review what you wrote.... is this what you want for your business or is this something that you need to change?
OKay dokie back to your notesbook.
1. What do you do really well? 2. Where is your business succesful right now? 3. What are 5 reasons that someone should buy from you rather then someone else? 4. What do you need to improve? 5. Do you have a vision for your business? 6. Do you have a mission for your business? 7. Do you have a marketing plan? 8. Where are you missing resources? 9. What are you losing money?
Take another 5 Minutes and add or remove keywords, so that it fits better with where you want to go with your business.
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Who is your Market? If you are just taking any old client because you are desperate for money, that is going to give off the wrong kind of vibes.
Who are your IDEAL Clients? Think about the clients you have now, the good ones and the bad ones. Now what do you have?
Find the fun, exciting, well paying clients! Think also about your clients buying habits.
1. Do you love working with them? 2. What are the personality traits? 3. How to you feel after speaking with this client? 4. Do you current clients give you a lot of business? 5. Is the frustration factor low?
Why does a client make a purchase? How often will a client buy a product or service? How long does your prospect take to make a decision?
It definitely is NOT about the money. The more you enjoy working with a certain kind of personal the more you will find yourself attracting them. A Digital Publication From Sacred Earth Partners
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Vision +Mission A lot of people are confused by what exactly a vision and a mission statement are. I think for the most part this jsut comes from information overwhelm. So this clear it up once and for all and then get you building your very own. What is a Mission Statement? A Mission statement talks about HOW you will get to where you want to be. Defines the pupose and primary objectives. It answers the question, “What do we do?”
bal financial services company. Life any other company, we’re obligated to deliver profits and growth to our shareholders. Of equal importantance s to deliver those profits and generate growth responsibly.”
What is a Vision Statement?
Example: Citigroup
A Vision statement outlines where you want to be. Communicates both the purpose and the values of your business. It answers the questions, “Why are we here?”
“Our goal for Citigroup is to be the most respected glo-
The Vision Statement creates a mental picture of what
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the business hoped to become or archive and states it as if it already exists. Example: Amazon “Our vision is to be earth’s most customer centric company;to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online.”
So how to do we put this into practice for our businesses.
Now rephrase it so that it fits the your personality.
Don’t worry it is quite easy. AND this will change with time, as you evolve your business will evolve.
Final Example: ”At Earth’s Bounty, we grow market vegetables in a way that’s good for the earth and good for the table”.
Mission Statement:
Vision Statement:
Step 1 - What does your business do?
Step 1 - Look at your Mission statement.
Example: Grows Market Vegetables
Step 2 - Visualize and Dream about where you would like to take your business.
Step 2 - How does the business do this? (think about your core values and how you want those to be seen in your business)
Step 3 - Shape your business vision.
Example: Growing Market vegetables using organic, sustainable farming practices. Step 3 - Why does your business do this? Example: “My company’s purpose is to grow market vegetables using organic, sustainable farming practices to give people safe and healthy food choices”
Within the next five years, the Women’s Centre will have helped create a safer, more harmonious community by helping women acquire the education, skills and resources necessary to build self-sufficient prosperous lives. Now it is your turn, what does your business do and how is it going to accomplish it? Take time to write it out now.
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Goals + Plans How to Set SMART Goals for the New Year
Follow this strategy to set SMART goals:
One of the best ways to guarantee goal-setting success is to ensure that each of your goals or New Year’s resolutions fits the SMART formula. SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. When your goals have these characteristics, you are much likelier to achieve them.
1. SMART goals are specific. This means that your goal should be numbers based, or have a specific goal in mind. A smart goal may be “Go from 165 pounds to 155 pounds,” or “Touch my toes without bending my knees.” Both are specific goals without any vague phrasing left open to interpretation.
Goal Setting Success Setting short term, medium term, and long term goals for yourself is a key to success in your life. If there are things that you want to achieve or ways that you want to grow, setting goals as stepping stones is an important part of getting there.
• The more specific your goals are, the clearer it will be when you finally achieve them. • Break your large goals into smaller short-term and medium-term goals, with each smaller goal phrased just as specifically in order for them to be attainable and achievable.
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2. SMART goals are measurable. This is another reason why smart goals are numbers based. To know whether or not you achieved a goal, you must be able to measure your progress. SMART goals are goals that you can track and measure that have a clear end or point of attainment. • Being able to measure your progress is really important in goal setting and goal achievement. It helps you determine whether or not you’re moving in the right direction, since you can clearly track and measure both positive and negative progress along the way. 3. SMART goals are attainable. Smart goals are goals that you can actually attain. They’re not extremely farfetched goals like “Lose 100 pounds in 90 days,” because if there’s no way to achieve the goal, why set it? SMART goals are goals that you’re physically and mentally capable of achieving. 4. SMART goals are realistic. SMART goals are not only attainable, but they are realistically attainable. They are a combination between a specific achievement that you can reach and a time frame that realistically coordinates with that achievement.
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• For that reason, a SMART goal would be “Lose 10 pounds in 90 days,” for a healthy weight loss of 3 to 4 pounds per month, rather than “Lose 10 pounds this week.” 5. SMART goals are timely. Smart goals have time frames, and realistic ones at that. When you put a realistic time frame on your goal, it gives you something to work for. To simply “Lose 10 pounds,” without a time frame lacks motivation. “Lose 10 pounds by my birthday” has a realistic time frame that gives you something to work for and a date for completion. Bottom Line Setting SMART goals is the best way to guarantee success at setting and achieving goals for what you want in life. By setting goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely, you can and will achieve
Now let’s move this thought process over to your business. What SMART Goals can you set?
Specific: Great goals are well-defined and focused. “Obtain 2 new billion dollar corporate clients in the Boston property insurance market” is more meaningful to mobilize your team than “Get more business.” Ryan Blair, The Goals Guy eloquently states,”Focus creates a powerful force: goal power. The moment you focus on a goal, your goal becomes a magnet, pulling you and your resources toward it. The more focused your energies, the more power you generate.”
Measurable: A goal without a measurable outcome is like a sports competition without a scoreboard or scorekeeper. Numbers are an essential part of business. Put concrete numbers in your goals to know if you’re on track. A goal white board posted in your office can help as
a daily reminder to keep yourself and your employee focused on the targeted results you want to attain. Attainable: Far too often, small businesses can set goals beyond reach. No one has ever built a billion dollar business overnight. Venture capitalists and angel investors discard countless business plans of companies with outlandish goals. Dream big and aim for the stars but keep one foot firmly based in reality. Check with your industry association to get a handle on realistic growth in your industry to set smart goals.
Relevant: Achievable business goals are based on the current conditions and realities of the business climate. You may desire to have your best year in business or increase revenue by 50%, but if a recession is looming and 3 new competitors opened in your market, then your goals aren’t relevant to the realities of the market.
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Time-Based: Business goals and objectives just don’t get done when there’s no time frame tied to the goal-setting process. Whether your business goal is to increase revenue by 20% or find 5 new clients, choose a time-frame to accomplish your goal.
Smart Goal Sample So what does a smart goal look like? Based on the acronym, our example would state, ““Obtain 2 new billion dollar corporate clients in the Boston property insurance market by the end of this fiscal year through networking and marketing activities.”
Once your business goals are SMART, break down each goal into a specific set of tasks and activities to accomplish your goals. It’s important to periodically review your goals and make adjustments if necessary. Goal setting for your small business is an essential tool for success. Remember in the end to be SMART. From About.com
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SMART Goal Setting Worksheet Write down your business goal in the space below. GOAL: Use the questions below to determine if your business goal adheres to the SMART methodology. If your goal doesn’t successfully fulfill each section, rewrite it in the space provided.
Is your goal specific?
A specific goal should clearly state what you want to accomplish, why it is an important goal, and how you intend to accomplish the goal.
Is your goal measurable?
A measurable goal should include a plan with targets and milestones that you can use to make sure you’re moving in the right direction.
Is your goal attainable?
An attainable goal should be realistic and include a plan that breaks your overall goal down into smaller, manageable action steps that use the time and resources available to you within the timeline you’ve set.
Is your goal relevant?
A relevant goal should make sense when measured against your business model, mission statement, market, client base and industry.
Is your goal time-based?
A time-based goal is limited by a defined period of time and includes a specific timeline for each step of the process.
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One Page Business Plan
A simple but powerful worksheet for planning your business goals and objectives. Complete one every year.
Business Period/Due Date: Business Vision/Mission (Include what, how, and for whom)
Marketing Strategies (Include growth strategies around customers, products, segments, etc)
Financial Objectives (Include projected costs and income)
Plans (Include plans for staff, funding, premises, professional development. etc)
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Goal-Setting Traps Do you find yourself struggling to achieve your goals? Perhaps your difficulties lie in the way you’re setting your goals in the first place. Rather than setting yourself up for success, you may be setting yourself up for failure in your first step! There are four very common “goal setting traps” that you may be falling into. These are dangerous mistakes that can make it very difficult for you to accomplish whatever you’re setting out to achieve. Find greater success with your goals by avoiding these goal-setting traps: 1. Your goals are too vague. If your goals contain uncertainties, you’ll have difficulty attaining them. Strive to create specific goals. Determine exactly what you want to achieve and attach terms to your goals that are certain and measurable. • Ensure that your goals are measurable and timely. There should be a specific point when you can tell that you’ve achieved your
you can simply set new goals to replace the old as you reach each smaller goal. • Goals that are too easy can also be detrimental. If you don’t feel motivated or challenged, you may not perceive that the goal is worth your time or effort. Choose goals and aspirations that drive you to achieve them. 4. You’re keeping your goals a secret. If you keep your goals hidden, you’re more likely to abandon them. Tell everyone you can about your goals and put them out there in the public eye so others can help motivate you to achieve what matters to you most.
goal. “Lose weight” is not measurable, but “Lose 10 pounds” is. “Lose 10 lbs in 90 days” is ideal, because it’s clear, concise, measurable, and has a motivation-driving deadline. 2. Your goals aren’t personal enough. You’re much more likely to reach your goals if they’re your own goals, speaking to your own desires, rather than being inspired by others. While you can model your goals on the achievements of others, they should be goals that are meaningful to you in order to drive your success.
• Develop a support team of like-minded individuals to get the help and support you need. When you share your goals with others, they can build you up and help you find the drive that you need to fulfill all that you set out to do. Although these are simple pitfalls, they can have an enormous impact on your ability to achieve what you want. When you avoid these four common traps to effective goal-setting, not only does it make it easier for you to attain your goals, but it also helps you overcome challenges along the way.
3. Your goals are more difficult than you realized. Setting goals that are beyond your reach is simply inviting failure. Instead, set goals that you know are attainable, and break them into smaller, bite-sized stepping stones to enhance your ability for achievement.
At last, your days of struggling to reach your goals can be a thing of the past while your future shines brightly ahead!
• Follow the SMART strategy for goal setting. Create goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely in order to make it easier for you to achieve them. Your goals don’t have to be far off or hard to reach -
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Turning Plans into Reality 5 Proven Tips to Turn Your Plans Into Reality Surely, you have big plans for your future. However, a plan is just a dream without action to get the ball rolling towards your desired result. It’s time to put your fears and indecisiveness aside and pursue the reality that you know you deserve! Try these proven tips to help you achieve your dreams: 1. Know what you want. Decisiveness leads to success. If you’re fickle about how you see your life in 5 years, or even just 6 months from now, you’ll keep spinning your wheels. Pick the road that is best for you and stick to it! • Ensure that your goal directly affects and benefits you. Let others worry about what’s best for them. For example, if you want your son to get into Penn State because that’s your alma mater, he’s the one that has to make that call. You’re in charge of your own life, and only the decisions that affect you.
• It’s easier to cut fast food out of your diet than it is to cut every bad food from your life altogether. It’s also easier to jump into the pool before you try to swim a race. Baby steps are vital to your success and self esteem. 5. Acquire some training. If you’re attempting to carry out a complicated plan that you lack experience in doing, it’s a smart idea to get training in the field.
2. Be practical. You’re unlikely to lose 10 pounds in five days, and it’s silly to want to teach yoga before you’ve never even taken a class yourself. Ensure that your plans are practical as a whole and that you allot a reasonable timeframe to their attainment.
• You’ll greatly benefit from downloading an eBook or attending a local class that teaches you how to properly execute your plan. The investment is often free or inexpensive, but the additional information could make the difference between failure and joyous success.
3. Get started. The first step is by far the most important step in order to enact your plans. Making the initial move will inspire you to follow through with the necessary steps thereafter.
Many plans that we create in our minds remain only a dream. The culprit of this dooming behavior is often complacency, fear of failure, or sheer laziness. But know this: if you truly want something, you stand to gain a lifetime of happiness by chasing it.
• Often, the first step is the simplest step. For example, if you’re determined to impress your mother-in-law with a juicy turkey this thanksgiving, research turkey-cooking techniques online. If you want to tone up your abdomen, enroll in a belly dancing class.
If you fail, you can always try again. Being able to say that you’ve given an honest attempt is an honor in itself. You only have one life to live; with decisive action and persistence, you can overcome every obstacle in your way to achieve the reality you desire.
4. Take it step-by-step. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. If you want quality, lasting results, break your process down into small, measurable results that you can surely attain.
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Marketing Plan The goal of marketing is simple – to gain awareness, to attract your prospects’ attention, to give your prospect a way to discover how your solution fits their needs, and move them into a client relationship.
time? Coaching, training, growing a large business and managing others, speaking, teaching, creating products, etc?
Step 1 - What are Your Goals? 1. How much money do I want to make? 2. How many people do I want to serve and in what capacity, i.e., oneon-one, groups, trainings, etc.? 3. What products and services do I want to offer?
Step 2 - Develop an Overall Plan Step 3 - Proritize Step 4 - Schedule your Activities into Your Calendar? Step 5 - Take Action Now!
4. How big do I want to grow my list, and by when? 5. How do I want to be spending my
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My favourite marketing strategies revolve around “online” efforts. These are appealing to me because you set them up once and reap the ongoing benefits. But the real startegies that you should be using are the ones that best appeal to your clients. These takes a bit of research on your part. Reviewing what your potential clients hang out, what they like to do and what are then really looking for. Four Growth Areas — The Key To Your Ultimate Marketing Plan The secret lies in learning how to grow your business effectively. There are several
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strategies you can use to grow your business, but they all fall under four general categories. 1. Attract more new customers. 2. Increase the average sales amount. 3. Make your customers buy from you more often. 4. Hold on to your customers for life.
A great place start is with creating your marketing message.
Marketing Message Worksheet Plan your marketing messages – like USP, tagline and elevator pitch. Be inspired by businesses around you. Describe your business offering in one sentence (Make it interesting!)
Describe your main point of differentiation from competitors (What makes it better?)
What is your unique selling proposition (USP)? (Try combining the above two answers.)
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Capture the essence of your business offering into a tagline or slogan.
Elevator pitch: How would you describe your business in 30 seconds (Time it!)
Notes:
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30 Day Marketing Action Plan Week 1:
Week 3:
__ Get clear on your personal teaching philosophy. __ Create a student profile. What businesses are nearby? __ Journal on your big “Why.” Why did you start teaching? __ What do you want your students to receive from you? __ Practice Authentic Conversations.
__ Pick one networking group to attend regularly. __ Be sure to offer an incentive to try a class. Collect email addresses. __ Begin following up with new students you’ve made a connection with.
Week 2: __ Start strategically collecting email addresses. __ Create your free gift. __ Start including your Irresistible Offer in your marketing materials __ Spread marketing flyers with your Irresistible Offer
Week 4: __ Create an editorial schedule for your newsletter for the next 3 months. How often? Article ideas? Remember; add lots of value through content. __ Develop a referral incentive for loyal clients for friends. __ Mention your referral incentive in your newsletter. __ Smile! Your classes/clients are growing! Congratulate yourself and acknowledge your follow-through. Keep sharing your gifts!
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Thanks and Attributions Thank you so much to every one that made this months magazine a success!
Images: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
By Missoula Public Library By Official GDC By Incase By Chris Owens By KJGarbutt By andreaslindmark By Kuba Bożanowski By this lyre lark By Ben Fredericson (xjrlokix) By ginnerobot By the bbp By » Zitona « By blhphotography By Ian Sane By » Zitona «
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Contact Info Email Mail Info@SacredEarthPartners.com Snail Mail
Website: www.SacredEarthPartners.com
Sacred Earth Partners Training and Retreat Center Inc. 6326 37th Ave NW Edmonton AB Canada T6L 1H8
Email: Info@SacredEarthPartners.com Twitter: @LoriLynnSmith Facebook: www.facebook.com/lori.smith Google+: www.gplus.to/lorilynnsmith Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/lorilynnsmith Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/thepassiondiva
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