The roads and sidewalks are full of runners and many of my friends on Facebook are posting pics of their 5K, 10K, Half – Marathons and my die hard Marathoner friends. Summer time is here (the pool is open right?), and I am reminded of the draw of the outdoor sports to many of us.
All of this training is leading up to an event or competition where the goal is to finish, improve your personal results over last trip, or win. Social media allows us to follow our friends along on a journey and I am constantly reminded of the amount of effort put into preparing for these events. A lot like setting your goals for sales results this year and then committing to the action plan to attain.
Today’s post is about maintaining your pace even when you get tired or distracted by mid-year stuff.
Halfway through the race, you typically can’t see the finish line, you know you are halfway there, but it’s not real what that actually represents. I know many folks give up at the mid year point, we can see the activity remains consistent until the kids get out of school, vacations hit, prospects go out of town or they get wrapped up in their own activities. I am not picking on those who have other pursuits beyond their sales careers. With 4 kids, 2 businesses and the host of challenges experienced by the sandwich generation, I’m right there with you which is why I’m sharing 5 tips to keep the activity consistent and not lose ground at the mid year mark.
1. Recognize the minimum results you have to have each and every day, week and month to stay on track for your goals. It’s a lot hard to catch up when you get further and further behind, so measuring activity frequently (daily or weekly) ensures you don’t get too far behind.
2. Find an accountability buddy. It’s lonely at the top. Many sales pros think they’re an island, and they don’t have to be. Enlist the aid of a co-worker, buddy you network with or referral partner. Or better yet, hire a coach. You are much more likely to stay on track with accountability than just winging it. And it’s too easy to let yourself down.
3. Treat yourself. When you accomplish your goals to the mid-year point, have a mini-celebration. Set a mid point goal reward for something really nice you’d like to do, buy or experience. Journal the experience, take pics and share with friends.
4. Create a surge of activity. In the middle of summer is the toughest time to get people engaged in the same old, same old. Initiate a cross marketing effort with a referral partner that allows you to engage their client base and yours. Relationship building with current clients and inviting them to bring a valued colleague (who looks a lot like them) opens the door to entirely new opportunities.
5. Do less but with better follow through. I watch so many professionals initiate a host of new activities with very little follow through. Quality over quantity will win the day. Summer can be your best opportunity to make a good year great. The same challenges you face are also dealt with by your competitors.
By staying on course each and every day you will recognize why the tortoise always beats the hare. And if you really want to do a check in on your effort to this point, download our free white paper to conduct a mid-year review! Remember to get what you want, you must help others get what they want!