How to Let Good Advice Into Your Life
You’re reading this, so chances are that you’re like me and have intentions of improving your business. I read numerous advice columns with great ideas that I’d like to apply to my life, but too often I forget about them as soon as I close the book or exit the website.
We all have a daily regime — successful or not. And, that’s pretty hard to break. So, new advice or business tactics should be taken in stride. Gradually.
Do you have a priority list? Almost every successful business guru suggests this from the beginning. But, have you taken the time to create one? Is it up to date and do you look at it each day?
Make sure that you have an up-to-date priority list that you review briefly each day – at least to make sure that you are on track with your current goals.
When a new system is to be set in place – add it to your goal/priority list. But also physically write it down multiple times and place it where you will notice it (bathroom mirror, your desk, fridge, whatever). Maybe it sounds corny, but you’re an extremely busy person and it may just get easier to revert to old methods unless you are consistently reminded of the new ones.
Try to implement one or two ideas into your life at a time, but also try to act immediately on those ideas. For example: if you read a book that suggests as seemingly more effective way of cold calling (which we all hate to do), try this immediately. But give yourself time to make the method your own before attempting another new idea.
Know that advice rarely works the same way for two different people. Most of us cannot directly follow all of the advice given to us. We have to personalize it. We have to figure out how it can benefit our business.
I read a book called The Well Fed Writer by, Peter Bowerman, which I believe has given me the most practical advice (that I can take) about how to make money as a writer. But it also suggests great inexpensive ways of setting up a home office, dealing with clients who don’t pay on time, the dreaded contracts and organization stuff. Bowerman’s book would be a great reference for any start-up. He makes things very practical and easy to follow, and writes from a very human, funny perspective.
Being an entrepreneur is about perseverance. You’re going to come across new advice for improvement each day. But don’t feel that you have to take it all, or that you have to re-invent your business every time you meet some successful 20 year old.
Take the good advice gradually and give it time to work for you.
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