5 steps to stay consistent (That actually work)

Wait, did I just hear someone use the C-word? Right here, within ear-shot of an entrepreneur? That’s just wicked.
The first question that I ask a new client is “what’s the #1 thing that you do in your business that brings results”
….Pause….
Depending on the industry, the answer always changes, and that’s ok because it isn’t the answer that I’m looking for, it’s the solution.
The C-word is like a napalm death-bomb to entrepreneurs. We all know we should be doing it more often, and that it holds the guaranteed path to success. So why don’t we do it more often?
Because now, we’re the boss, and that isn’t always the best thing. Self-starters are great with vision and planning, but we’re terrible at spending time on the minutia, those lower-end repeatable tasks like running our analytics, or updating the SEO on our website.
If you have the following symptoms, then you too may suffer from Entrepreneur-itis
Do you collect tons of business cards or leads, and fail to follow-up?
Do you find yourself creating lists with complete titles for all the blogs you want to write but never get them done?
Do you do all the research on how to run ads, then fail to run them regularly, if at all?
If you’ve answered yes to the questions above, then fear not, there is a cure.In order to truly end this affliction, we first have to ask the question: Why you are not following-through?
Are the tasks you don’t repeat the ones you hate doing? If so, the why are you still doing them? At any stage of your business, you need to create a way to hire someone for 10 hours/month to handle the “stuff” you can’t bring yourself to do on a regular basis.
Not sure if you’re ready for that yet? I hear you, go-getter. Then follow the steps below, which are guaranteed to raise your consistency game to the next level!
5 steps to be more consistent:
- Hire your calendar. From today forward, I want you to think of your calendar as the boss that signs your paycheck. Plan out your repetitive tasks, and don’t pay yourself until this week’s work is done.
- Reverse engineer your goals. Figure out the one BIG goal that you want to accomplish for the month. (Set up my email drip campaign) Then, break it down to 4 weeks, and one goal to achieve it week that will get to your monthly goal. Then, figure out what you need to do each week and add it to your calendar. You will be amazed.
- Do not rely on motivation. It is the most fickle feeling we have, and we cannot always control it’s strength. Just do the work, for less than an hour each day. People overestimate what they can do in a week, and underestimate what they can get done in a month. Start here.
- Keep your eye on your “why”. What is the biggest reason you want to achieve this? Write it down on the top of your weekly calendar. Say it every single day, OUT LOUD. There is power in the spoken word.
- Forgive and forget, baby! We are bound (almost determined) to fall off the action train and get dropped off at “lack-of-motivation” station. Release any guilt you have and say today, I will do better. Then do better.
You can achieve anything you put your *calendar* to, but not your mind. Your brain will forever be a the mercy of your mood, so don’t listen to it. Stick to your calendar, and at the end of your week, pay yourself!
I really hope this list helps you to meet your small business goals, as it has helped me.
When you find yourself looking for more entrepreneurial life hacks, reach out to me via e-mail or on LinkedIn
- Bridgette Hannigan, CEO, Sales and Marketing consultant
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgette-hannigan/