After training over 400 authors, working with numerous non-profits, and consulting with publishers, I’m frequently asked what characteristics define my most successful clients. My answer is simple, but may sound unexpected. My most successful clients are decisive and quick. They’re able to swiftly make choices that lead to business growth, such as writing a new book, developing new speeches, maintaining consistent marketing activities, launching new products, etc. Sometimes, the biggest impact on success is that ability to make a decision to do something and complete that task in a short period of time.
This answer usually catches people by surprise. They wonder, “Aren’t successful people the ones with most creativity, the most money, or the most connections?” Those factors certainly help. But, I find that my clients who have the best time management skills tend to be the most successful. That’s because the internal ability to manage your time well and complete tasks quickly opens up new possibilities that would otherwise remain closed.
For instance, if you know that you can manage your time and complete a task quickly, then your confidence level increases to accept that task, put it into your schedule, and get it finished. In contrast, my unsuccessful clients tend to procrastinate over completing tasks. Or, they worry so much about their ability to undertake a task that they psych themselves out of accepting the task in the first place. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I cannot do it, because my negative mindset won’t let me do it.
Here’s what I mean on a basic level. If you have good time management and the ability to be decisive, you should be able to do the following marketing activities in the following time periods:
• Write a new blog or newsletter article in 45 minutes or less
• Setup the layout and send a complete newsletter issue in less than 2 hours
• Finish a new chapter for a book in less than 2 days
• Develop a new speech in less than 1 day
• Post something interesting on Facebook or Twitter in less than 10 minutes
If you struggle to complete the promotional tasks above in the timeframe that I listed, you are going to naturally take an arduous approach to marketing. That negative mindset will kill your confidence.
When your confidence takes a hit, then you’re less likely to write with purpose, market with creativity, launch new products, or pursue new opportunities. I’ve had people tell me, “Sending newsletters doesn’t work.” When I asked why, they said, “It took too long to do one, so I just stopped doing newsletters altogether.” The problem wasn’t the newsletter, the problem was their lack of speed.
The ability to be a successful marketer lies in the ability to be quick. It’s hard to grow a business when decisions are slowly made, tasks take too long to finish, and your confidence is in the gutter.
I wrote this article in less than 20 minutes. And, I’m confident that I can do it again and again. This positive mindset gives me the momentum to continue providing my free Monday Marketing Tips every week. If writing these tips took half a day and stressed me out, I’d naturally look for reasons to stop doing them.
Examine your time management skills and analyze how long it takes you to make decisions and complete tasks. If you want to be a more successful marketer, remember Tom Cruse’s famous line when he played fighter pilot, Maverick, in the movie, Top Gun, “I feel the need…the need for speed!”
It probably took me longer to write this comment than you spent on your entire article! I’m a painfully slow writer, and by the time I add Pinterest-worthy graphics, hyperlinks, etc., I do get bogged down in blogging, email and social media. “Done is better than perfect,” is a quote that has helped me (Kathi Lipp & Cheri Gregory, The Cure for the Perfect Life) and I think I will also try setting a clock to stay on track.
I look forward to working with you on this Rob! Cuz this is exactly where I get stuck. Can’t wait to learn the secrets of how to do what you have described below.
I wrote this article in less than 20 minutes. And, I’m confident that I can do it again and again. This positive mindset gives me the momentum to continue providing my free Monday Marketing Tips every week. If writing these tips took half a day and stressed me out, I’d naturally look for reasons to stop doing them.
I loved this article Rob. It really spoke to me at a great time in my life. With the onset of 2015, goal setting and lining up what my plans are for next year, it gave me the extra push I needed to finish the tasks at hand. I woke up this morning before I read this and wrote 2 chapters for my current book, because I thought…I need to finish this. Nobody else is going to do it for me and If I want to get it out…I have to write. So, this was encouraging to me. I met you in your class at Allume and I love what you are teaching. I love the saying…”I have a need for speed.” I will remember that now and relate it to my business.
Thanks. Have a great day!
Brenda
I do agree having a successful business and being a writer also means thinking like an entrepreneur, you must be decisive and make quick, yet well thought through decisions. If it takes time initially, don’t be hard on yourself. Keep doing it, so you can get faster. Practice makes perfect! Great tip, Rob!