Business development

Ring in the new year with a renewed commitment to success

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It’s that time of year again. Time to start implementing all those grand resolutions we make every year. On the professional side, we set new goals for ourselves, hoping again to do better than the year before.

I realize this sounds a bit sarcastic, and in a way it is. But that’s because many of our resolutions, especially those having to do with diet and exercise, tend to fall by the wayside rather quickly. Professional goals usually are taken more seriously, if only because the bottom line is on the line.

If you’re in network marketing / MLM, you have an extra set of responsibilities: that of your teammates. That may sound like a heavy burden, but remind yourself this: the more successful your teammates are, the more successful you are.

Let’s discuss how you can recommit to your teammates, then take a look at some goals for yourself.

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Need to make a decision? Get SMART

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In life, as in business, we’re constantly making decisions. Decisions about what to do next. Where to go. What to buy. How to spend our time.

For the most part, the decision-making process isn’t very long or involved. Some decisions can be made quickly, while others require a bit more thought.

Sometimes a particular task or project is more involved or very important. You don’t want to be too quick about it. Some people have a systematic process for deciding what to do. If you don’t, and you often find yourself mulling over an issue for a lot longer than you should, consider the SMART principles.

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Study and apply strong principles to become a great leader

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To some, quality leadership seems to be a thing of the past. For others, like Kevin Eikenberry, there is hope and potential for America’s leaders and potential leaders.

Eikenberry is president of Indianapolis-based Kevin Eikenberry Group and author of Remarkable Leadership: Unleashing Your Leadership Potential One Skill at a Time.

In his book, Eikenberry lists 13 qualities of a great leader. Foremost is a desire to continue learning. “Remarkable leaders are continual learners,” he says, and they want others to do the same. “What better way to do that than to model that yourself? I’ve never met a leader who didn’t want those that follow them to continue getting better.”

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Social media important for many businesses

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It seems nearly every day someone is offering a seminar or webinar on social media. We’re told to sit in and learn about the various social media tools and social media strategies. You wonder: What more could be said about social media? What does all this mean for me and my business? Good questions.

Too often presenters talk about the various components of social media without fully explaining why businesses should be involved. Without understanding the why, you can’t fully appreciate what you’re missing. You also won’t know how to properly use those powerful marketing tools. Without that understanding, business people blindly post tweets, blog columns, and videos, and then wonder why they don’t get a reaction. They also quickly lose faith and stop their efforts.

Regardless of the industry they’re in, many businesses benefit from incorporating a social media strategy in their overall marketing efforts. You may still use some traditional media, but if you are trying to reach consumers, you should consider social media, as well.

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Ensure your conference is a success

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Conferences can be really valuable for an organization or association. With hundreds of people under one roof, you have the chance to impart a lot of information quickly and efficiently. Plus, attendees benefit by sharing and learning from each other.

In my other column about conferences, I offer some tips on how to run a smooth conference.  In this post, I dig deeper. It’s based upon my experiences attending numerous conferences over the years. In some cases the conference was well planned and executed. Other times the event left room for improvement. Here are more suggestions for you as you plan your next conference.

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