Unless you are extremely lucky or unusually talented, success doesn’t usually happen overnight. It takes thought, strategic planning, and due diligence in every regard. And time efficiency will turn the tables in your favor.
Success is akin to planting a garden; it takes due diligence, patience, and great care.
Landing in corporate sales was among the most difficult challenges ever encountered. Having held a number of jobs, many times I was handed the most lackluster of territories. The men laughed when they heard where my territory was and figured I’d be soon to pack up and leave.
Fifteen months may be been somewhat soon, but I was the one laughing on the way out. The reason was, I knew how to plant success.
Vision: Maintain your fondest vision with you at all times. Create the following lists to assist:
Milestones to be reached
Milestones should be of the caliber to take about six months to reach. Using my example of wanting to be a top producer, the top companies in the territory needed to be contacted. Consider the good challenges you need to claim in order to achieve your current wish.
Monthly projects to reach the milestones
Plan out six months at a time. Each monthly goal should be a little bit over your head with the commitment you will do everything in your power to learn, implement, and make it happen.
Weekly goals
On Friday afternoons, with business fresh on your mind, chart out what has to be accomplished the following week. List it all so that you do not waste time on Monday mornings trying to recall what comes next.
Daily goals
Every evening plan out the next day with the prioritized list of goals. Cross them off one by one and continue to add new ones. By keeping the rhythm going, you actually will achieve 15 months of activity in 12 months.
Safety Net ***
Interruptions will arise and eat up your time. Create the safety nefor an evening or weekend to complete what went missing. Without backup your likelhood of achieving your ultimate goal in a short time period is diminished. This is the crucial element for planting your success.
Focus
Many people will allow idle conversation to get in the way of doing what is required to achieve the set goals. It’s easy to make excuses and get distracted. But if succeeding and doing a superb job in the process is part of your vision, then focus is a prerequisite.
To make up for the hard work, take breaks and take vacation. Enjoy the relaxed days. But on working days, focus will get you to the seemingly Smooth Sale!