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The People & The Patterns
Last year I talked about how over time the veterans of BuSo have watched new members come and go, establishing themselves and then disappearing. Why they decide to stop involving themselves is of their own concern, but you can always see a pattern in those that do.
Many don't set goals. They blow where the wind takes them, chasing shiny nickels, with a fire that's bright. Their energy and passion is marvel to behold. But this means they're also susceptible to being blown to other hobbies or ventures. That only happens because they don't succeed. And they don't succeed because they don't have goals. They don't have a framework within which to work and stay accountable.
Many set bad goals. We talk in the Digital Strategy Crash Course about setting S.M.A.R.T. goals. You can't just say (and we're all guilty of this) that you're going to bust X revenue this year. Goals have to be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. "In order to bust X profit this year, I need to earn X profit per month on average, which is realistic based on last year's earnings, using my current projects." That's a much better goal. But there's still a problem...
Many have good goals but no processes. It's all well and good knowing what you need to earn on average per month to meet your annual goal. But how is it that you'll earn that money? What exactly are the actions it will take to support those earnings? And if you require help then you definitely need operating procedures, training manuals, checklists, and anything else to cut down on ramp up time and human error.
The Paradigm Shift
All of us have long-term goals in mind that we aren't reaching yet. If you're like me then too many years have gone by using the same methods to achieve the goals. Maybe you've resisted hiring and training help in order to scale your business. Maybe you're still hanging your hopes on getting a favorable SEO response from Google. In both of those scenarios you're going to be sitting on your hands waiting and the results are never going to come. Something has to change.
I don't mean that you need to work more hours, get more backlinks, throw more money at a problem. We need a fundamentally different approach. Being married to a method is one of the leading causes for not reaching our goals. Who cares what the method is as long as we reach the end goal. And that's what I'm dedicating this thread to... the paradigm shift, a completely different, parallel path to getting to the same goal. Because continuing down the same road that isn't moving us forward is frankly stupid.
Take a look back at the previous four years if you've been along for the ride and see if you've set smart goals and created frameworks for achieving them. See what has knocked you off course, what surprises came, and what you can do to remain rigid but flexible within that rigidity. And most importantly, see if you're still doing the same old shit that's not getting you where you want to be:
// Goals for 2015
// Goals for 2016
// Goals for 2017
// Goals for 2018
If you have something crushing it, focus on that and exploit it. If you're spinning your wheels for too long, don't refine the method. Change the method.We also need to be dancing on that razor's edge every month and every week, making sure to review and modify what we're doing so we're always driving down the most optimal and rewarding path. That's what the monthly threads are for:
Don't just say "This year is my year. This is the year I make this shit happen." Saying it is easy. Making it happen is different. And one of the best ways to do that is having data you can review, split test your methods, and hold yourself accountable. Join us this year in tracking your goals, actions, and results. You will experience the difference.
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