Bright Ideas # 86 - Are You Getting What You Really Want?

Have you ever watched a scene in a movie that goes something like this…?

A self-conscious nerd or newbie is going through a cafeteria line. When they reach the main course, they are faced with an evil-looking women wielding a serving spoon like a machete and screeching “Wadda you want?”

Startled and intimidated, they freeze. Then start stuttering.

In seconds, the line of people behind them gets antsy and begins grumbling and pushing.

It’s clear our hero hadn’t really thought about what they wanted beforehand. And now, with the pressure on, they can’t seem to make a choice.

So the scowling server impatiently slops a heaping spoonful of vile looking glop onto their tray.

Then, without warning, the crowd shoves our hero forward. And he either face plants into his lunch tray or is forced to endure some other awful embarrassment.

At that moment, I always think “Is it really so hard to choose between the pizza, the hamburger and that pukey brown glop? Make a decision man! What are you so afraid of?”

Clearly they’re going to get the short end of the stick by not making a choice. How much worse could choosing be?

The crazy thing is…This behavior doesn’t just happen in the movies.

I realized years ago that if you don’t know what you want, there’s no telling what you’re going to get.

It might be something you like. Or something you hate.

Or you might get nothing at all.

But if you can’t get clear about what you want and make a choice, you have to take whatever is dished out.

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Not choosing is a choice
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Sadly, the vast majority of clients I’ve worked with over the last five years aren’t clear about what they want. They just know they don’t want what they have right now.

How do I know this?

Because the first questions I usually ask my clients are “Where do you see your life in 2, 5, or 10 years?”, and “What do you want your business to look like in 2, 5 or 10 years?”

And most have no clue on either count. All they know is, “My business isn’t where I want it to be.”

They can’t tell me what they really want—other than more clients, sales, money, etc.

Or they’ve talked themselves out of getting what they really want by thinking about what might go wrong. Even though the worst case scenario isn’t very likely to happen (except in the movies).

Or, they simply get stuck in analysis paralysis mode.

So by the time they are ready to take action (if that time comes at all), the train has already left the station.

The result?
- When faced with opportunities or choices, they freeze up and let amazing opportunities slip by.
- They are unable to make good decisions.
- They get clients that are a poor fit or employees that don’t “get it”.
- Or they just get more of the same things they aren’t happy with.

In other words, because they aren’t clear on what they want or need, they get served glop by a scowling cafeteria lady.

In my marketing plan e-workbook ‘Putting Your Business on the Road to Success’ I like to say operating like this is akin to getting in your car for a road trip with no goals, no timeline, and no idea where you want to go.

Because when you do that, there’s no telling where you might end up—or if you’re going to have a good trip.

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Getting clear is the key to getting what you want
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This week, my homework for you (yes, I know, I’m a tough taskmaster lately) is to get clear about what you really want in your business—and in your life. Then write it down in detail.

Don’t worry about what it’s going to take to get there right now. Or what might happen if you go down that road. Just answer the same two questions I ask my consulting clients:

“Where do you see your life in 2, 5, or 10 years?”

“What do you want your business to look like in 2, 5 or 10 years?”

Then start making choices and plans based on achieving these dreams and goals.

If you’re struggling with this, grab a copy of my e-workbook to help you along. It’s filled with simple worksheets and checklists that take you step-by-step through the process of clarifying what you want for your business. Then it guides you through every aspect of making a practical plan for getting there.

You can find it at www.success-stream.com/products.htm. And if you don’t feel comfortable shopping online, feel free to give a ring at 206-200-7594 to purchase your copy.

Here’s to your future success!

©2002-2006 Success Stream. All Rights Reserved. www.success-stream.com

Do you have a marketing, advertising or writing question you’d like to have answered? Email me and you might see the answer in a future edition of Bright Ideas.

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