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"Procrastination
Marketing -- It Actually Works!"
by Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen"
I'm guessing that right now there are several marketing tasks you've
been putting off. Perhaps it's revamping your website. Or sending out
your first e-zine. Or getting listed in the search engines. Or putting
together a media kit.
So why haven't you done it?
Believe me, this is a battle I fight with myself too. But you know
what I realized?
Procrastination is NOT
evil!
Instead of seeing procrastination as a terrible thing, I now see it
as a tool that helps me learn how I work best.
In fact, I've arrived at six different reasons why we all seem to
procrastinate. Here they are, along with what you can learn from (and do
for) each.
Reason 1: You are
procrastinating because you don't enjoy the entire task or job.
Solution: One of
my life coaches told me several years ago that if I didn't like doing
something, I should "delete it, delegate it, or automate it." What a
great way to look at things! I'm a big fan of ONLY doing tasks I enjoy
or am good at. The rest I outsource to people who are good at it and/or
enjoy it.
Reason 2: You are
procrastinating because you don't enjoy a PART of the entire task or job.
Solution: If
you're putting off a whole project just because there's one part you
don't want to do, figure out how you can get away without doing that
part. Again, delete it, delegate it, or automate it.
Reason 3: You are
procrastinating because you don't know how to handle the task or job.
Solution: The
answer will not drop in your lap. Get help -- a consultant to teach you
how, a book or home study course to show you how, or even better,
outsource it to someone who can just do it for you.
Reason 4: You are
procrastinating because you simply can't find the time.
Solution:
Schedule future time to do it, or get rid of other tasks to create
the time you need. If you still can't do this, then you need to find
someone to do it for you.
Reason 5: You are
procrastinating because you feel stuck.
Solution: You
may just need to get momentum going. Give yourself permission to do just
one small part of the project only. Or do the easiest part first.
(That's how I started writing my entire home study course.) This usually
creates momentum, and you end up doing a lot more than you intended to!
Reason 6: You are
procrastinating because you don't really want to do what you thought you
should do.
Solution: This
means you may have the wrong objective or strategy in the first place!
Is this something you really want to do, or do you just think you SHOULD
do it? Or is it an old goal that doesn't fit you or your business
anymore? Your answer may surprise you. Let the goal go for awhile and
see what happens. : )
Start Paying Attention!
Once you start paying attention to which activities you put off
regularly, you'll know sooner when to be stricter with yourself or find
help to get those tasks accomplished in a more timely manner.
So take a minute and make your list right now of what marketing
tasks you've been putting off! Don't beat yourself up about it, just
make a note and figure out how to get them done. (Or delete them
entirely. : ))
Online entrepreneur Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen,"
publishes the award-winning 'Straight Shooter Marketing' weekly ezine
with 18,000+ subscribers. If you're ready to jump-start your marketing,
make more money, and have more fun in your small business, get your FREE
tips now at
www.EzineQueen.com
3 'A-Ha' Success Principles That Have Reshaped My Business
by Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-Zine Queen"
Over the past two years I've immersed myself in learning. Because my
business is marketing, I have mostly attended and spoken at marketing
seminars. But I also make time to attend seminars and listen to audio
programs on personal development as well.
Why?
You should actually work harder on yourself than you do on your job.
I first learned that from
Jim Rohn, whom
some call the father of personal development. Some call him America's
foremost business philosopher, but I just call him brilliant. (Jim was
one of Tony Robbins' first mentors, too.)
There are three success principles I learned over the past year that I
wanted to share with you. I call them my "a-has" because they put my
attention on areas I'd never thought of. And following these guidelines
has helped me skyrocket my income.
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1. You are the average of the five PEOPLE you hang around the most.
When I first heard this quote from Jim Rohn, it struck a big nerve in
me. Robert Allen says something similar, that your income is the
average of the five people you hang around the most. (Yikes!) I realized
I needed to surround myself with people whom I wanted to be like. I
still love my old friends, but I needed to be around people who take
risks, think big, and talk about great ideas instead of the latest
celebrity gossip or how much they hate their jobs.
What first opened up my circle of influence was attending seminars. I
continually go to seminars on marketing, business, and personal
development. There are so many great seminars going on every month all
around the country, at all price points. You have no excuse not to get
out there and meet people who are playing big!
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2. Your HABITS create your future.
Brian Tracy
talks a lot about this. Your daily habits create your long-term results.
Your habits today will determine your outcomes tomorrow. If you want to
be a millionaire, you've got to have millionaire habits. If you want to
be a great leader, you must have the habits of a great leader. If you
want to get in shape, you've got to have the habits of a fit person.
What new habit can YOU put into place right away? I wanted to put into
place a millionaire habit. Because I detest budgets (and enjoy
spending), I needed an easy way to save money. So now I have 10% of my
income automatically go into a savings account that I cannot touch.
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3. Make sure your ENVIRONMENT supports you in playing big.
I recently had the chance to hear a dynamic woman named
Artemis
Limpert speak at an event in Dallas.
There she pointed out that when you have a pet fish that's sick, you
treat the water, not the fish. Your success depends more on your
environment than you know, but it's extremely important that you give
yourself an environment that supports you at the level you want to BE
at. (Note that she did NOT say the level you are at now!)
My add-on to that is pay attention to these three areas of your
environment:
First, your physical environment. Do you love your office? Are
you surrounded by attractive things? Do you have a nice view or at least
a beautiful piece of art to look at? I pay a pretty penny for my
waterfront pad, but I can't tell you how inspiring it is every day to
look out at the peaceful water, sailboats, blue sky, and palm trees. You
don't have to spend a lot of money on your environment. Little touches
like candles, flowers, music you love, and photos of friends and family
can go a long way. (Even if your office is the kitchen table!)
Second, your emotional environment. Are you getting the support
you need from your family and friends? It's up to YOU to ask for what
you need. If they cannot provide it, find a support group, a mastermind
group, or a coach. I recently joined a mastermind with 4 other
entrepreneurial friends, and I'm finding it wonderful to have an instant
advisory board for support. I can bounce ideas off them, ask for help
with problem solving, share my victories, and sometimes just vent!
Don't forget your intellectual environment as well. Jim Rohn
says, "Are you feeding your brain protein every day, or are you just
giving it candy?" Most Americans sustain their brains solely on candy -
that is, useless television shows, news, and gossip. Are you stimulating
yourself with big ideas and new learning? Again, check out a seminar,
take a teleclass, or buy some books or audio programs. (I love listening
to programs on CD, so I can learn while driving around in my car.)
Online entrepreneur Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen," publishes
the award-winning 'Straight Shooter Marketing' weekly ezine with 18,000+
subscribers. If you're ready to jump-start your marketing, make more
money, and have more fun in your small business, get your FREE tips now
at
www.EzineQueen.com
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