Have you ever had someone tell you that you “Nailed It”? You had such a wonderful feeling of satisfaction for a job well done. Perhaps you spent months planning a product launch, large grand opening or corporate event. Everyone involved celebrated the victory, but the planning process wasn’t without its hiccups. After all… is nothing that goes perfectly 100% of the time. There are numerous vendors, responsible staff that were assigned certain tasks and logistical issues to take into account. They all have to work together toward the common goal – the product launch, corporate party or grand opening – otherwise referred to as the main event!
But what happens when someone doesn’t hold their weight or a vendor lets you down? You begin to scramble to correct the situation, or in worst case scenario, find another vendor. As a business owner or vendor bringing a piece of the puzzle to the party, you don’t want to fail.
We often talk in marketing about putting together a plan. Without a plan everything can come to a dead stop. Case in point… I planned on taking a recent vacation. Weeks prior, I asked a colleague if they would like to submit a blog for our newsletter. We discussed the topic so there was continuity in the newsletter and identified a target day.
Lisa had the article prepared prior to my leaving for vacation, and I was able to go away knowing that part of the plan was handled. This was a trust we had between us that a task would happen. But what if she would have let me down? My reaction would have been quite different.
When you get a nail in the tire of your car – think about how something as small as a one-inch nail can stop a 4,000 machine. Things you had hoped to accomplish are suddenly dead in the water. So, what does all this have to do with business? Identify your nail. Is your nail something that will build and grow your business, or will it stop you in your tracks.
We are well into the 2nd quarter of business and I would ask these questions:
- Have you set a plan for growth during summer months and upcoming vacation season? That includes planning for summer sales, meeting new referral resources, staff vacations and your own down time.
- Are there new concepts or skills you need to set aside time to learn? If so, put learning time on your calendar and stick to it. You may need to hire a consultant to work with you and your team.
- When you rely on others to help you grow, do you give them the proper tools to succeed, or are you a micromanager that everything bottlenecks at your desk.
As you continue to grow your business this year are you going to key the phrase “Nailed It” or will the “Nail in the Coffin” result in stagnant growth for you both personally as well as in your business? To your business success… Nail It!
About the author: Autumn Edmiston is the CEO and owner of the Edmiston Group. The Edmiston Group is a multifaceted Pittsburgh based marketing consulting firm providing senior level marketing management services to businesses and non-profit organizations on a short or long-term basis. Core areas of service are business development, marketing, strategic planning and public relations. The Edmiston Group has consistently delivered and implemented real-world, proven business marketing ideas and strategies for business.