Secret to Success (and More Leads?)

As we near the end of another year… it never ceases to amaze me the number of folks who start crying the blues to me about how slow things are.. or how bad lead flow is.. or how far down sales are this year versus last, etc., etc.

Just like you, I'm constantly seeing advice on how to be successful. Usually it has to do with buying new technology, getting a new attitude, or learning new tricks of the trade. But over the years I've noticed something much simpler that almost always leads to success. I'm sure you've noticed it too: just keep moving!

No matter how little money you have, how little you know, or what your personal problems might be, you can eventually achieve success if you JUST KEEP TRYING.

Life seems to award the spoils to those who show up day after day. In most businesses, the real key to success is just being there.

Lately I'm seeing a lot of successful Internet and real estate businesses that started out in the late 90s with no money and little idea of what they were doing. How did they climb to the top? They didn't give up! They just kept going, putting one foot in front of the other day after day, refusing to throw in the towel.

Nowhere in business is this more true than in marketing and advertising. I can just about guarantee your first ad won't sell much. It's your sixth, seventh, 101st ads that will deliver the goods.

You'll have days that don't go right, and times when quitting seem like the smart thing to do. But keep moving. Eventually your refusal to give up will create momentum for you and your project…and that always seems to lead to lucky breaks and better times.

This advice holds ESPECIALLY true when it comes to your advertising. Seems that when things slow down a bit.. the human tendancy is to pull back on that advertising. "No one is responding to the ads.. so let's cut back right now until things pick back up."

WORST THING YOU CAN DO FOLKS!!

As we enter this new year in just a couple of days… let me encourage you not to become frustrated with an ad that isn't pulling what it once did. Don't give up on a plan. If it was good enough to be a plan to begin with… STICK WITH IT! See it through!

I cannot tell you how much I have had to tell myself this over the past weeks. And so it is my year-end advice to each of you!

Stick with your marketing, even during slow times, it will carry you through and when times are good again, you'll be GLAD you did!
Most of all… go in to 2007 with a clear vision as to where you want to be at this time next year! Plan your attack, and work your plan. If you don't… next year at this time, you will be looking to 2008 in the exact same spot you are in now.

I simply love the line I know you've all seen at the bottom of my signature file, and I leave you with that today:

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."

Albert Einstein

Happy New Year everyone! I look forward to an exciting year in 2007!!
 

Ed