Audio version of
The Disappearing Entrepreneur.
When I advise people on Internet marketing, visibility
plays a big factor. Making sure your site can be found in the search engines,
building a brand, promoting your events, almost everything I teach seems focused
on making you more visible to prospects.
So how could the skill of ?disappearing? possibly help your
business?
Most small business owners are trying to do too much. Marketing and managing
your business, keeping your customers happy and trying to have a family life
seem to take up much more than the 24 hours a day we?re given in life.
So most of us just work in our business and rush through
our lives and don?t take the time to properly craft the vision for our business
or for planning our life?s success.
This is where disappearing can help.
Before I launched my successful business, I went away to a
mountain retreat for 3 days. I walked along the river, letting the natural,
peaceful sounds of nature relieve my stress and clear my mind. I took along a
small jackknife and whittled on some small pieces of driftwood. I had a note
pad along so that I could plan and jot down ideas. I had NO cell phone.
In my three days of relaxing disappearance, I clearly
defined my vision for my business and the direction for my life. This was
instrumental in the success I?ve enjoyed.
Since then, I have regularly taken time to disappear so
that I could reenergize myself, unlock my creativity, further define my vision
and ensure I was on the right track.
Here are some tips on how you can do this for yourself.
-
Every month or two, take a weekend just for you where you
are out of contact with work, family and friends except for dire emergencies.
-
Each week, take a few hours and find a quiet place away
from your business, friends or family where you can plan and think.
Not sure where to go for local quiet places? One business
owner I know rents a local hotel room for a couple of days so that he can plan
uninterrupted. Here are some other ideas:
Here are some suggested rules to make your quiet time as
effective as possible:
-
NO cell phone, e-mail or phone access.
-
Go alone! Other sessions can be scheduled for bringing
together team members to brainstorm, but this one?s for you.
-
Don?t take your session in your normal surroundings like
your home or office. There are too many distractions lurking.
-
No interruptions except for real, dire emergencies such as
an illness or death in the family.
-
Take along pen and paper or a voice recorder to take
notes.
-
Set goals for the session. What is it that you would like
to have achieved at the end of your time?
-
Focus on what you?re there to work on and don?t get
distracted.
-
Don?t use this session as a time to catch up on work.
This time is for planning and developing your vision.
Setting aside time for planning is THE most important role
of a small business owner and the role that is most neglected.
So go ahead and disappear! Success comes to those with a
clear vision and a strong plan to reach their goals.
Garland Coulson, ?The E-Business Tutor?
is an acclaimed speaker, author and coach in the field of Internet marketing for
small business and home business. For more information, visit The E-Business
Tutor web site at
www.ebusinesstutor.com or call toll-free in North America at 1-866-413-0951.
Last Updated Sunday, December 26 2004 @ 02:02 PM CST 
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