Deadlines, Deadlines...
Dear Friend,
Duke Ellington once said "Without a deadline baby, I wouldn't get anything done."
So now let's take a look at a few of the business goals I set last year and the outcome of them. Hopefully you can get an idea or two to use for yourself in your own business.
Before we get into it, I just wanted to remind you that you only have 3 days LEFT, to take advantage of the early-bird registration discount on my seminar in March. As of January 1st, it'll cost you $250 more to register, so get yourself on down to http://www.informationmarketingexpo.com and check it out pronto!
Here are my actual goals as I wrote them down, this time last year:
1. Working Hours
"I never work on Fridays after 4 p.m., and I never ever work after 6 p.m. on Monday through Thursday.
On Saturday mornings, if I have to work, I’ll stop working by 12 noon latest. And I NEVER EVER work on Sundays -- period.
In fact, the computer stays OFF on Sundays."
Did I accomplish this goal?
No freakin' way!
But I'm not at all sure they were realistic, either. I'm in the middle of so many different things right now, and "building" them all up is critical, if I want to accomplish my long-term financial and lifestyle goals.
In hindsight, I don't think this is a realistic goal for me to try and set for myself right now. I think "backing into" this goal is going to be better for this year. Meaning, instead of saying what I'm NOT going to do, I'm going to make time commitments for what I AM going to do outside of work, like spending time with my wife and kids regularly, and then just making sure this happens.
2. Time Management
"First, I’m scheduling ALL my time and I never schedule anything after 6 p.m., or before 9 a.m."
I do this and I'm pretty consistent with it -- what you'll find though, is that things usually take a lot more time than you budget for, so working against the timer is a HUGE help here.
"And also, outside of first thing in the morning and then again at the end of the day, unless I’ve completed my tasks within the scheduled time frame allotted, I will NOT surf the web or waste time on ANY other bullshit."
I have NOT been consistent with this and I'm determined to "tighten up" in this area in 2006. Time management is my biggest asset if I do it correctly, and if I don't -- it's going to be my worst nightmare.
And what with all the projects I'm involved in at any given point in time, I'm only going to make out like a bandit by tightening up my time even more -- although I am doing much better this year than last.
In fact, time management is my number ONE priority for 2006.
3. Projects
"I’m rolling out AT LEAST 4 new projects a year: 3 direct-response marketing projects, and 1 public domain book."
I have failed miserably on this one. Last year, I managed to create one information product, and it's selling well -- http://www.kingofcopy.com/22ways -- but as prolific as I am, and as many projects as I have "in motion", I should have EASILY hit this goal.
And as many people as I have asking me almost DAILY, for new products to buy -- I'm actually ashamed of myself on this one.
The thing is, and this is where I fell short of grasping -- "almost done" means NOT done -- the same way "almost pregnant" means NOT pregnant.
So here you have it, straight from the horses mouth: By February 28th -- I will roll out 3 -- yes THREE - new information products, including an offline newsletter and a coaching program.
And I should have another product ready to roll out by the end of March.
I've gone public with this, so if I don't deliver, I expect you to rain down a tirade of verbal embarrassment upon me -- and deservingly so.
Tomorrow I'll go over a few more goals and we'll talk some more about how you can accomplish the things you're looking to do in 2006, to better yourself and change your life.
Now go sell something,
Craig Garber
Any comments?
Send them to me by scooting over to the contact form on my "Here's How To Contact Craig" page, and maybe I'll publish them -- I appreciate your feedback!
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| “Craig Garber is America's top direct-response copywriter. Join the ranks of Garber's swelling list of global VIP's who subscribe to his unconventional weekly marketing moments, and discover how to dramatically boost your sales and improve the response to your sales copy, on his website at http://www.kingofcopy.com. Copyright © Craig Garber. All rights reserved.” |