You Can’t Score Without a Goal!

I know I have been talking about this in a previous post, but it is so very important for business success, that I have to talk about it again.

Have you ever witnessed a chicken getting it’s head cut off? Well, it is not a pretty sight I tell ya!

A headless chicken will run around for several minuets (if you don’t grab it and hold it) before surrendering to the eternal peace. But running around without your head might look funny or at least weird, but it makes no sense. The chicken runs without a plan, without intention. This is exactly what you are doing if you don’t sit down at make a plan of what you want to do!

You might even know this already… if you know this and have never done it, I suggest you read my blog post about procrastination before continuing here.

OK, so now you have probably decided that it is time to make some plans, so you dont run around looking like a headless chicken. Great! but what to plan and how to do it?

How To Make A Great Plan

Life (and business) is funny… you live your life forward, but in order to get where you want to be, you have to plan backwards, you have to start with the end in mind. Here is what i mean. If you would like go on a trip around the world, you start by figuring out a time frame and a budget for your trip. Then you start brainstorming where you would like to go. .. then you map out a good route between your destinations in a logical order and make sure it fits in your budget and time frame…. etc.

See, you dont start by jumping on the next train or plane and just go with the flow… Well, some actually do, but they usually look like headless chickens

What you start with is a framework (the money and time you will spend). Then you make a map, find the ending and starting zone and start mapping the best route. Then you will go into details about accommodation, transport, things to see etc. The trick is not to get overwhelmed by the level of details. You don’t have to plan every step you will make on the trip. Stop at a detail level that makes you have a clear path, but room for unexpected things to happen.

So how to make plans for your business?

1) Start by defining a goal for your business. It can be a financial goal, a performance goal or maybe a branding goal. Remember your goal has to be SMART (See procrastination post) – Specific, measurable, attractive, realistic and time bound.

2) Define the framework – Time, money and other resources. Break the “trip” down to small steps, they have to be small enough for you to be able to do them, but not so small that you get annoyed by their insignificance.

3) When executing your plan, keep refining the way you perform. Find a way to constantly get feedback so you can improve the quality of your work. This concept is known as LEAN and has been made very famous by the Toyota Factory. Breaking the tasks down into small steps, get continues feedback and always finding ways to improve is what LEAN is all about. 

What To Plan?

You probably already know you want to make plans for your business, right? But being an entrepreneur it is very important that you don’t stop your planning here. Make plans for your life as well. Your work and life is interdependent and will grow from mutual success!

Many people tend to overestimate what can be done in a month and under estimate what can be done in a year. I really recommend creating a set of plans, for your business and life, that has both long term goals (5-10 years) and short term objectives (every day, 1 week plans).

Make a piece of paper or open up your favorite textpad on your computer…

State your 10 year goal for business:__________________________  and for your life:____________________________

Your 5 year goal for your business:___________________________ and your life:_______________________________

Make 1 year plans, break them into 1/4 plans, monthly plans, weekly plans and even daily plans. Put it where you see it, don’t lock your plans away in a dusty drawer. You have to look at your plans every day (at least your monthly, weekly and daily plans)

Plan your tomorrow today!

There is nothing more satisfying then a to-do list, when you wing each task of… and looking at the completed list when going to bed

If some of your plans don’t work out, remember to review why they went bad…. what can you do to prevent it in the future. Also look for ways to automate some of your repeatedly tasks and always make a task prioritization so you do the most important tasks first (they have to fit the time schedule of cause).

Wow, you really have your work cut out for you here… But once you get started, you wont ever go back I promise!

Love Marlene

PS… I have more gold business nuggets coming soon.

How To Overcome Procrastination

The number one reason most business entrepreneurs don’t achieve what they want in their business is caused by inner resistance - also called procrastination.

The problem is so bad and widely spread it’s like a disease!

When asked, business owners often knows what actions to perform in order to move their business forward, but they seem to lack the focus, time, money, resources, skills, knowledge or what ever excuse they come up with to do it…. There are no excuses in business, only lack of courage (even laziness is a form of fear…. fear of loosing quality of life or even fear of succeeding). Because that is what inner resistance is all about. We lack the nerve to go into the unknown, to do what we have not done before, to rice above the ground and stand tall. We want to be safe and sound in our comfort zone.

The Comfort Zone

The comfort zone is the Green Zone. It is where business as usual is the norm. It’s where we feel safe. Our business can only grow and move on the other side….in the Yellow Zone. Yellow Zone is where we take chances, make mistakes, follow intuition and learn. But to go there takes courage. If you lack courage… you might want to find a guide to help you. A guide is a trusted person or a mentor, who will help you and motivate you on the way. But… beware of the last zone, the Red Zone. This is the crisis zone, where you simply freeze or collapse. you don’t want to go there… small steps, to push your comfort zone is the way to go!

So, how to move into the Yellow Zone? - You Need A Plan!

Before you can move anywhere, you need a direction, you need a destination, you need a goal — and you need a map.

What is a goal and how to get a map?

Goals has to be SMART to work!

Specific- What exactly do you want to achieve?  – I want to outsource tasks in my business

Measurable- How do you know, when you have reach your goal? - When I hire a web designer I trust

Attractive- On a scale of 1-10 where 1 is: I couldn’t care less and 10 is: I really really want this, how attractive is this goal? If it is less than 8, what would make it a 10?

Realistic – Is it possible to reach this goal, have others done it, do you have the time…

Time Bound – When is the deadline for this goal, when will you do it… Make a timetable

This goal setting is all fine, and you might even use this method already, but sometimes it just ain’t enough! You have inner resistance.

In my communication, organisation and leadership classes we have been using the theories of A. J. Schuler to understand the resistance to change

Resistance to Change: Risk of Change is greater than risk of standing still, Feel connected to people who like the old way, No role model, Fear lack of competence to change, Feel overloaded/overwhelmed, Healthy skepticism, Fear hidden agenda, Change threatens notion of themselves, Fear loss of status or life quality, feel change is not a good idea.

When we have identified the reasons to resistance, we have been using Kotter’s 8 step model to overcoming the resistance

1. Create Urgency
2. Form powerful coalition
3. Create a vision for change
4. Communicate vision
5. Remove obstacles
6. Create short-term wins
7. Build on change
8. Anchor change in culture

Now you might think it is silly to bring in organisations theories to overcoming your own resistance….. but bear with me, I’ll explain!

You have an entire organisation inside your head!

Think about it. When you want to go on a diet, you set goals for exercising and eating healthy. But what happens when you get that craving? Your internal craving manager gets alerted, he sends a questionnaire to your taste-counselor.. do you want chips, candy, chocolate or ?… He get a response back… we want chocolate! Then he ask for a money check from the economic advisor: Do we have the funds for buying chocolate? No – wallet empty! OK, the manager then sends for the creative and innovation team… Come up with new idea on how to get chocolate. Brainstorming ….Hmm… we could make some, steal it, borrow money from Little Linda’s secret drawer… and it just goes on… and on… and on.

Who do you have in your internal organisation? Who is in charge? What motives/objectives do they have? Do you lead your internal organisation or does it lead you?

 Some smart guy said: You have to be able to lead yourself in order to lead a family and you have to be able to lead a family before you can lead an organisation… it really make sens since you use the same skills but in lager frameworks as you increase your influence.

If you don’t take charge of your internal organisation and learn how to lead it… You are going to have to learn to live with procrastination – but that is not all – you have to learn to live without control in your life!

So the next question is….

How do you lead an internal organisation?

First you need to ID who is in the organisation. Some ”employees” are shy, and you don’t notice them all at once. Keep a record and adjust as you go along. Find the most important ones and get to know them. Think of it like this – you are a manager of a large organisation…. but you have been away on vacation for quite some time… years maybe, now you have comeback, but realise you don’t know half of your employees and the ones you have been in contact with you don’t know well enough to coach or mentor…. So, your task is to get your organisation aligned under one vision…

Your vision, for who you want to be!

 So, start with who you want to be… And do employee meetings with everybody in your internal organisation following Kotter’s 8-step model.

You do that by finding time to sit and relax without interruptions, noise and distractions. Start with 10 minuets at a time (maybe when you lay in bed, take a shower or while running).

Start by thinking of the goal you want to reach. What inner voice is blocking you, does this voice have a name, a face…. what occupation does it have.

 - All inner employees are there for a good reason – they want to help you! Even if it does not look like it at first glance. The craving guy, might be there to prevent you for being nervous when doing scary things…. helps to distract you from what scares you, right? The trick is to find out what your resistance is trying to do for you, and then convince it to help you in another way… Never make your resistance feel unimportant or not wanted. That will only make it act out more! Get your craving manager to alert your grounding expert next time you have to do something scary!

You can even use coaching questions on your inner employees… What do you want to achieve? Why is that important? Why now? What will happen if you don’t achieve it? How else could you reach your goal? etc…

Good Luck, you have your work cut out for you, but it is worth it, I promise!

Love Marlene

PS. Next business lesson is on the way… stay tuned I have something great planned!

Sounds too crazy to be real, but this is in fact what this post is all about!

Now, I want you to listen and listen well to what I have to offer you here on this very blog post. This could be the single most amazing and life chancing blog post you have ever read….

First a small intro…

Before I started online I had a computer programmer education that was obsolete because of a car crash (see the about me page). I had just finished a $8000 coaching education with top grade and tried to start a life coaching business offline. The financial crisis stopped me from succeeding. I got on an AP degree in marketing economics course that I still attend today (have 1 year left). I had and still have a burning desire to help people use their full potential in life and also become successful in business.

I have always had a thing for computers (got my first when I was 10, bought it from my own money) and I wanted to connect my passion for technology, helping others succeed and creating successful businesses in one package. So I started do what every other newbie does… buying into every new shiny object in the IM niche.

I am a very fast learner and I quickly realized that I needed a plan and some coaching to get things moving so I joined Chris Frevilles mentoring program. This got me started in the right direction but I wanted more so I joined John Thornhills Masterclass and Alex Jeffreys Coaching 3.0 program.

A couple of days ago I had a nervous breakdown, read my post below…. I finally realized what it takes to become successful online and it scared the living …. out of me!

But, this has lead me to a breakthrough in my own understanding of marketing and got me creating a vision for my business.

This is where you and this blog post comes in…. I created a plan to get some leverage to my name. I know a lot about IM, far from everything but enough to help others move forward. I also know a lot about overcoming inner and outer obstacles from my coaching experience. What I don’t have is leverage.

To get what I want I will give you what you want, sounds fair?

So what do you want? Hopefully you want personal one-on-one coaching from someone who knows about the technical side of IM as well as setting up a profitable IM funnel, creating products, using the best software and services and also knows how to get you out of your comfort zone. Truth be told… most internet marketers ride blindfolded because they are too scared to face the truth about their dreams, business methods, lack of knowledge, strategies and so on. They simply focus on what they are comfortable doing and that is just not enough.

To become really successful you have to swallow a camel or two!

That is why I have decided to help a limit of 100 people for 8 weeks to get on the right track in their business.

And I am doing this totally free!

Here is what I have planned for the coaching:

• Training directed at the students current needs (Everything from getting a domain, WordPress, video marketing, list building, traffic generation and so on)
• All students gets a fully created product to giveaway to quickly build a list
• Weekly live webinars + training modules
• Access to me by email and Skype (use responsibly)
• Forum access to all the students

I have my summer vacation coming up and I have decided to spend my 8 week vacation on training YOU!

How about that, have you ever seen anything like this… So why am I really doing this?

Well, first of is the leverage I will get from your testimonials, I will also get a huge amount of coaching training and I will find out exactly what is the main problems for succeeding online. I also know that I work and learn best when I help others.

From this live coaching program I will create a $97 home study course that all students can become an affiliate of getting at least 75% commissions.

So who would want to join me?

If you are just starting out or have been trying to make it online without much success you are a candidate. Maybe you don’t know how to setup a blog or how to build a list. Maybe you want help building a good marketing funnel or you might want to create an information product from scratch, then this is for you too. If you are looking to get rich over night, then keep moving, we are building the basics to real online success here. I don’t know much about AdWords and PPC so this is not what I will teach.

Remember I have been taught (and still is) by some of the top marketers online. Chris Freville, John Thornhill, Alex Jeffrey and Liz Tomey to name a few. I will also start my coaching with the guru of the gurus Rich Schefren in his famous founders club so you get the best of the best here.

So how do you apply to this once in a lifetime opportunity?

The process is simple and straight forward… all you have to do is show a bit of commitment.

Step 1: You fill out a short questionnaire found here: Survey

Step 2: You comment on this blog post about what you would like me to teach you

See I told you it was simple…

When does the coaching start?

I have planed the coaching to begin early July. To know when to schedule the webinars, I have put in a question in the survey about  what days are best for you. I will reveal the times when I get the results from the survey.

If you are worried about this being too good to be true, maybe I am pulling some kind of scam?, I suggest you read my comments on this blog and also you get a cool free gift on the questionnaire. Hint –  it is a product I created so you can see my teaching style and knowledge before you decide….

But there really is no reason why not to act on this; you have all to win and nothing to lose.

What I want you to do right now is fill out the survey and comment on this blog. This offer will end on the 30th of June and everybody who has fulfilled the terms will be offered a spot in the program on a first come first served basis. I only take on 100 students in order to do a prober job!

I look forward on coaching you and watching you succeed – Now, take action!

I found this great resource for you today… Alex Jeffreys is giving away his insider secrets to how he earns hundreds of thousand of dollars each month.

You are getting a full 60 min free webinar with mister Alex Jeffrey himself, telling you everything you need to know.

Get the free webinar here: http://www.marlenekristensen.com/EasyCashWebinar

I am really learning a lot of stuff on Alex’ Coaching Program. He is the real deal and he is very big on delivering value and even over delivering!

I hope you check this webinar out, he is the real thing!

I have been doing this myself on and off, but I recently joined Alex Jeffrey coaching program and he reminded me how important this is. Now I want to pass on the basic rules to you.

I hope you watch this video and take action right away! Have a pen and some paper ready, you are going to need it!

Talk soon!

If you want access to these videos, I have 13 planed so far, just sign up to my IM Coaching News Letter to the right ——>

You will get very helpful videos, PDF action steps and more helpful information, sent directly to your email!

To get a taste of whats inside Watch This:

Hope you like it

Remember, I see potential in you, use it!

Kind regards

Marlene Kristensen

 - Knowledge is power when used to understand the circumstances in which one makes decisions an influences others to accomplish the desired goals. Begin to explore the organizations you belong to. It could be church, work, school or any other kind of organization. Find out how it is structured?, How decisions is made? Who is chosen for which jobs and why? Try to get the feel of the organization.

 2. Create a satisfied customer

 - Every organization has a base of customers that they serve and tries to keep satisfied and every individual is like an organization and has their own group of customers to keep happy with their talents and energy. Who are your customers? What are their needs? How do they prefer to receive your product or service? You need to learn not only what you want in life but also what your customers need and crave.

 3. Develop a personal mission

- To help serve your customers effectively you first need to know who you are and where you are going, second you need to write it in a clear statement for your customers. Write a personal mission statement that defines what you have to offer and what your values are. Start by writing several drafts until you have a single statement of about 20 words or less. It has to show the world what you are all about and what you seek to become.

4. Find out how information flows in organizations

 - Begin to map the information flow between subsystems of the organization. Sketch out the relations between the different departments or activity centers. Keep an eye on the information flow in and out of the organization. What kind of information is exchanged, where are the bottlenecks or possible problems? Analyze the system and look for opportunities, when needs arise you will be ready.

5. Broaden your managerial role

- Even though you may not be a manager yet, you can begin to develop the skills and roles of a manager. As your day goes by, use your information on how the organization works and ask yourself, what role am I plying now? What role is needed? How can I make a difference to my customers?

6. Chose a target for organizational change

 - When you analyze the organization, find the weak links where you think “This isn’t working right”. Make one of your findings your primary target for optimizing the organization. First ask yourself: What is the task to be performed? What technology is used/needed, Who is involved, How would a change interfere with the culture/structure of the organization? What do I want to change? How do i change it?

7. Balance efficiency and effectiveness

 - Define what will be your output or result effective. You need to do things right (no cheating) and keep your customers happy. Organize your activities so you are efficient and getting the most output for the least input.

1) First craft a personal mission to identify your purpose. All organisations and professional needs a mission statement.
-> Write out your own personal mission statement….
The mission statement should summarise what you are commited to achive and who you intend to serve. Answer the question “What is my purpose?”
-> Recite your statement on a weekly basis

2) Emphasise adding value to customers (or relationships). When crafting a mission do not focus on your own gain, but on helping others. Ask yourself the question “What will I do to add value to my customers or relationships?” or “What have I done to ad value to someone this week?”

3) Know your business as it is and what it should become. Every person has strategies and every person could think of him- or herself as a buisness.
-> Identify your “customers” and what they value…. attention, respekt, interest, knowledge an so on…
-> What will it take to strengthen your business (in these fields of adding value) in the next 5 years?

4) Visualise goals as true scenarios. A mission is a guide to lean on when deciding on actions, visions are more focused and exact. Visions are graphic or discriptive scenarios of what success looks like when it is achieved in the future.
-> Practise doing visions on every are in your or your buisiness life….Make the vision with emotions so it can drive you to the end goal.
-> What is your vision for your business life in 5 years? What does your relationships look like? Where are you living? Put on a great deal of detail.

5) Focus on your main advantage for competing. People are not created the same way, we all have our individuality. Appraise your particular skills and use them as an advantage. It is easier to build on your known strengths than to try to compensate your weaknesses.
-> Identify your strength. What are you good at? Write them down.

6) Scan your surroundings. You are not an isolated island. Use your environment by looking for feedback on how well you are performing. Do you get closer to your goals? Does your vision and mission statements keep you on track? Remember to make changes in your behavior to reflect your mission. Also analyze once in a while if your mission is still a desired goal.

7) Create a plan. Use a creative brainstorm to plot down ideers on how to acomplish your mission… Do a pro/con on each element and make a timeline of the chosen activities… Stick to the plan, but remember to check if it is still relevant once in a while.

Evaluate your results. Self management is a dynamic task, meaning that you should continuously make changes and keep track of your progress, to make shure you stay on track.

Keep doing these steps and you’ll soon have the success you deserve!