How To Fix The Mistakes You Made In 2007
Posted December 3, 2007 in Productivity 10 Comments »
Nobody’s perfect, and we’ve all made our share of business-building mistakes in 2007. But your results come from your daily habits, and if you don’t want to make the same mistakes in 2008, you need to have a plan to change the right habits, right from the start. Here’s how kick it all off.
Step #1: Get Clear On What You Should Have Done Differently
Take five minutes (ten max) to sit down with pen and paper and reflect how you ran your business in 2007. What were the key things that held back your business? Was it a personal issue like procrastination or lack of focus? Or was it a more strategic failing such as not spending the time to improve a neglected segment of your business or marketing? Just ask yourself, “what issues sting the most,”and your gut will tell you what you need to know.
Step #2 – Get Clear On The Next 1 to 3 Action Steps
Building a full-out action plan for 2008 is likely to be overwhelming, especially when you’re talking about making potentially uncomfortable habit changes. Pump up your chances of success by just focusing on the next few actionable items and getting them down on paper. You may not be able to turn your marketing around tonight, but you can get something tackled (and the more little actions you stack, the more you’ll be motivated to continue taking action like the bada$$ you are). Start small, so you can start off with momentum-building victories.
Step #3 – Get Accountable For Taking Action
Freelancer or not, we all work harder when there’s someone checking up on us who we don’t want to disappoint. So find that someone (preferably someone who’s more successful than you, so the pressure is on). Set regular check-in points, such as once a week, and make sure that special someone gets to see you making massive progress. And get yourself on the fast track to making 2008 you’re most kick-a$$ year ever.
Bonus Step #4 – Take Your 5 Minutes Right Now
Why not take your 5 minutes right now and sketch out your “make it better” plan for 2008? Then post your commitment to rock out in the comments below. Let’s not B.S. each other – we’re all human, and instead of hiding behind the “Ooh, I’d hate for anyone to see that I’m not perfect” fear that limits us, get real instead and admit that something needs to change. You might be surprised at how much moral support you get out here at Freelance Folder. I’ll tell you what – I’ll even go first (I’m human too!).
Keep on rocking,
Dave
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Dave Navarro is Freelance Folder’s Get-More-Done expert. Take the December Challenge with him (after you’ve left a comment) and rock your 2008.
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About the author: Dave Navarro is a business productivity coach who loves showing freelancers how to make more money and have more time for themselves. Get more of the good stuff at Rock Your Day or follow Dave on Twitter.
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10 Comments
Dave Navarro
December 3rd, 2007 at 6:13 amMy #1 “wish-I-would’a” for 2007 is that I should have focused more on marketing and building my oneline presence. I got fractured trying to start multiple blogs at once and diluted my efforts. So while I have solid products and my “power networking” has been insanely successful for this year, I don’t have the word out about my stuff yet (which in turn = relatively low sales).
My top 3 action steps:
Now, I’ve aired my dirty laundry. Cowboy up and do the same :-p
Susan
December 3rd, 2007 at 6:21 amThis is very timely for me. I have several ongoing gigs right now, and they’re great, but I need to hunker down and figure out the estimated dollars and cents per month to figure out if I should be doing more. I’m sure it’s plenty to get by on, but I need to set solid financial goals and make ‘em happen. Being newer in the freelance world, I was mostly focusing on locking down some repeat customers before worrying too much about saying “This is what I want to make.” In the beginning, it was just “I need to make enough for my mortgage.” :)
Zakman
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:56 amThanks Dave for sharing your thoughts.
I like this: Just ask yourself, “what issues sting the most,”and your gut will tell you what you need to know.
You can never go wrong when you listen to your heart, cause that tells you instinctively what you gotta do!
John D
December 3rd, 2007 at 4:18 pmThank you for the great suggestions. I would also had not to dwell on the mistakes but to learn from them and move on.
Danny Outlaw
December 3rd, 2007 at 5:32 pma basic post that makes some great points. Thanks for the advice for 2008!
Joefrey Mahusay
December 4th, 2007 at 8:36 pmThis article is very informative, This is a good start to know what should I do to improve my freelance lifestyle…
Thanks for sharing. :)
Jennifer
December 6th, 2007 at 7:19 pmOkay, sign me up…I need to start setting some goals for 2008 too.
apurvajk
December 7th, 2007 at 5:49 amWell this is a very nice post. I was trying to start my own marketing business few months back, But still the programmer who is working on my site has stopped and not going ahead. I am worried as I have paid him already. and nothing is working. The main thing is not done. How can I go forward. I made mistake but not nothing I can do. Hope till the new year my this site will be ready.
Mark Abucayon
December 7th, 2007 at 11:40 amAnother thing is that always Regret at the end, and confis what you did, I like the article, very informative.. two thumbs up.
redspace
December 11th, 2007 at 11:32 amThanks Dave for reminding all of us how to make us better in managing our biz. i definitely want to make 2008 the year i finally made a big jump in my life. i got to make better plan and organize a lot more. successful people have a plan and they are good organizer too so i got to be one if i want to be like them. and acknowledge our own mistake is good thing too that can move us forward quickly.