When was the last time you really sat down to THINK about your business? I don't mean a passing thought or 30 seconds at a traffic light. I mean got serious about THINKING? I'm witnessing a trend among some very smart people I coach and train and that is they're not taking the time to think. If you don't know what it looks like, here it is.
You find a great location where you won't be disturbed...at all. No dogs. Kids. Spouses. Bosses. Employees. Nothing, but you. Believe me, until you get good at this you will distract yourself enough...you don't need any help. My favorite location is the front seat of my Mercedes S550...it's the most amazing seat!
Next you should have a journal with a spine to it so your thoughts are collected over time. Why paper and pen? Paper and pen don't notify you when you get a text message. It doesn't need rebooting or requires updates. Plus, there is an amazing biological connection between hand and mind that allows for creation.
I'm also a fan of putting the phone on 'do not disturb', putting earbuds in my ears, and playing a white noise app called Brainwave. If you listen to music, don't listen to anything with words. Whatever works for you. Settle yourself. Scratch what needs scratching. Itch what needs itching. Then get to work for 20+ minutes. What do you think about? Anything that's on your mind.
However, if you're running a business, business unit, or sales territory here is a list to ponder:
- Who really is our ideal customer? Describe them in intense detail. Name them.
- What areas am I really strong? Where do I need to improve?
- How would I act if I my business were 2X the size it is today? 10X?
- What customer do I need to fire?
- What customers do I need to reach out to that has been on my mind lately?
- What's the #1 thing that if it happened to my business would be terrible? What can I do to prevent or reduce the problem?
- What are our strengths? How would I leverage them even more than I am today?
- If our biggest customer did _____ it would be catastrophic. How do I do it to them first?
If you're a leader, this is called 'work' and if you're passionate about being the best, it's also called 'fun!'