We’re all planners here! We can pull together a multi-faceted, high budget event that spans 4 locations, and has a ten-page production schedule. We live for logistics and strategic planning. And we even do it in heels!
So in true planner form, you likely sat down at the beginning of January and created some business plans for this year. You may have even figured out logistically how you’re going to make those things happen. Intrinsically you see the path you’d like to walk down. Somehow though, that perfectly planned business goal document is still in your computer with empty checkboxes. You have the plan - but you can’t seem to figure out how to execute it. You have “failure to launch” syndrome.
Or maybe you wrote the plan, started making forward momentum, had an awesome month, and now you’re back at square one feeling like you didn’t actually get anywhere. You might also be ticking things off your list, doing your best to follow through with your plans, and then something huge surmounts and your list fell to the wayside. Who can relate?
Everyone can! That’s what makes us real people who own living businesses. But here’s the problem with inaction. The second you stop doing you also stop earning. And, the longer you’re not taking action; the more money you lose!
Action is literally the engine of your business. Failing to act on your plans, regardless of how amazing they are, can ultimately be your greatest downfall. So, let’s discuss ways for tackling those actions so that you can begin to see forward progress and measurable revenue.
Prioritize
I know what you’re thinking. "I tell my brides this all the time! I get it!" You might have even already ordered your list based on what you’d like to get done first. But I’d like to propose a different method for prioritizing your goals.
Have you ever seen the “junk house” shows where they sort items into the keep, sell, or toss piles? Well, let’s look at your list in this fashion. Sort the goals that will make you the most revenue in the fastest possible time into the keep pile. From there, sort the next level of goals that can be easily handled by another member of the team or outsourced into the sell pile. Then look through the list for non-revenue generating goals. These can often be harder to identify but it might be that 5th stylized shoot you’re planning, or the blog every single day notion. Move these into the toss pile for now. By doing that you easily sorted goals into categories and prioritized what you should be taking action on first.
Find A Team
Now you’d think I’d tell you to move onto the highest revenue generating items now, right? But I’m not! Because typically those tasks are going to be the most time consuming and will require you to be very much involved. By first concentrating on finding a support team you can then remove items from your goals that can be handled by a wedding business architect, your internal team, or a consultant.
Spend the time required investing your energy into instructing the team on your wishes and next step goals. Then break down those specific goals into action with your team. Because, when you have the support of a team you can have more time for the projects that will generate the most revenue.
Dive In
Now onto the big goals. You likely have a few large goals in your keep pile. Each of these large goals will have several steps of action or decisions that will need to take place. Take one goal at a time and create an action recipe.
Tools or Ingredients - Write down what tools you need to get the job done. Do you have the tools or do you need to obtain them? What products or innovations do you need to complete the task. Do you have all of the ingredients needed to complete the task? Concentrate first on gathering the tools you need to get the job done.
Instructions - Break down the steps you’ll take in order to complete the main objective. List even the smallest, most detailed tasks in the order that you’ll need to complete them.
Set the timer - Add specific dates and workflow to the plan so that each step of your large goal instructions will be completed on a pre-set schedule. Giving yourself deadlines for completion allows for accountability and pushes you to keep moving towards the overall goal. Remember doing something is always better than doing nothing! Achieve those intentions through daily progress and action planning. Use the resources available to you by adding to your team! Toss out or store tasks that don’t produce immediate revenue. And create a recipe for completing those big goals through step by step actions with specific deadlines.
By doing this, you’ll easily turn your intentions into actions!
Hero photo courtesy iDo Collective
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