My various careers have been good to me. When I first got out of graduate school I was hired as the very first female and the first “out-of-stater” in a state government job in Louisiana. When we moved to Colorado I became the first female supervisor (of much older men) in another state job, going on to win the State of Colorado's Outstanding Supervisor Award. I was also the first (along with my co-worker) to propose and get approved a job-share as a state employee. And when the time came to move away from Colorado I was the first (and probably still the only person) to continue working for a state government when I no longer lived there, because they “didn't want to lose me.”
After we moved to Tennessee I was once again the first “outsider” hired for a regional economical development position. After that, I took a risk and signed on as a 3-month temporary researcher for a university consortium and within 2 years I was in a senior manager position. Once again, I ended up developing a nation-wide program for a totally male industry and leading that organization from nothing to a vibrant organization that even now, decades later, flourishes with over 1000 members. A year later I went to a senior executive level position, and in two years had increased the staff in my program from a lowly 7 to 52 people. When I left to go out on my own I established a service-based business that was booked a solid year in advance after 24 months in business.
I say all this to point out why I was able to wildly succeed over and over again, because when I'm interviewed I'm always asked how I did all this. I'm not smarter than anyone else. I'm not better educated. I didn't come from family money, I started from absolute scratch out of high school the same as most people I know. But I do two things that many people don't do. Those two things are
- Follow-up
- Consistency
Frankly, I see both of those lacking in the entrepreneurial world. And that's a shame, because follow-up and consistency are the two things that build relationships. And those relationships, in turn, build your success. Do you see yourself doing any of these things?
- Have you signed up for mastermind or other paid programs but then failed to be on the calls?
- Have you volunteered to comment weekly on other people's blogs but then fail to follow-through and offer up excuses about being on travel or being busy?
- Have you committed to be in a group for mutual support but then let the press of your own business keep you from attending the meetings or the calls?
- Do you engage in a joint venture with another entrepreneur but then fail to follow through with the publicity for the event that you were tasked to do?
- Do you think constantly that you need to write a book, or develop a product only to find that a year later you've done not much toward either one?
- When someone asks you for an interview do you conjure something up at the last minute that isn't as rich in content as it might be, figuring that “it's good enough.”
- When clients or customers cancel appointments with you do you follow through with other prospects until your book is full for the week, or do you figure “oh well” and go off to the movie?
- Do you find yourself canceling appointments on the day they are to take place, appointments that have been on your calendar for weeks?
- Do you find yourself offering “I'm overwhelmed” or “I'm just ADD” or “I'm extremely busy right now” or “I'm a working mom” as excuses for not keeping your commitments?
Maybe this comes off sounding harsh to you. But the fact is, when you agree to participate in a group, it isn't only what you will get from that participation, it is what you also are there to give. So when you don't show up you basically break your commitment to be there for other members, even if you feel like you personally won't benefit. You are showing a lack of follow-up and a lack of commitment. You are saying “my time is more important than your time.” You are saying “I don't have anything to learn from this group.”
Personally, I take it as a sign of a weak business owner if I hear “I can't attend what I committed to, I'm just so busy right now.” Believe it or not, you are no busier than anyone else who owns their own business. I know right away that you are weak in scheduling out your time to include what you committed to, often months ago. My friend Fabienne Fredrickson often says she teaches a “no excuses” approach to business building, something I've admired in her. Over the past months I've realized that my approach is pretty much the same. Busy, on vacation, and sick family members are, in my opinion, poor excuses 99% of the time. The multi-millionaires who mentor me don't use those excuses, ever. They know that no other successful business owner wants to hear how busy they are, even though they are, in fact, incredibly busy.
My grandfather used to say “If you want something done well, ask the busiest person you know to do it.” He knew those were the strongest and ablest in business. We all have the opportunity to build sterling reputations and relationships that will stand the test of poor economic conditions, changes in personal life, and whatever else the world has to throw at us. It takes follow-up and consistency, and nothing else will substitute for those two behaviors.
A sister entrepreneur I know came to me a few months ago asking for a $3000 investment to work with her in her business. I was interested and even somewhat intrigued. But this same woman, I've noticed, has agreed to be in two groups I'm involved with and after signing up has failed to show up one single time over the past few months. She has no credibility with me, and while she'll never realize it, that lack of commitment made me feel like she just might do the same with my $3000. She lost the business not because her business plan isn't sound, but because I don't see her keeping her commitments – no follow-up, no consistency. The world responds to both of those – it has for me, over and over and over again. It will for you, too.
I’ll be sure to pass this nugget along to my clients. And what a great topic for the upcoming telesummit.
Well done, Sue!
Carolyn
Thanks, Carolyn. Be happy to talk about it in your upcoming summit.
Sue,
I heard the sounds. Did you? Dream balloons bursting as readers see your post. Some folks just want the social aspects and are toying with their business ideas. They will never have a successful business because they just don’t show up. Great job writing about this in the open.
Mitch
Thanks for your comment, Mitch. True, one has to show up!
Sue
Hi Mitch – Love your “dream balloons” comment. Showing up for many is half the battle, isn’t it?
Take care,
Carolyn
I see this at work in my BNI group. Some don’t know what to do, but there are others in the group that know what to do but just don’t ever follow through. They don’t send thank yous, they don’t utilize newsletters, ezines, blogs, referral programs, building out their network, etc, etc. Then they tell you that they “just aren’t getting enough out of the group”! Simply amazing – and very frustrating to watch!
Yes, it IS frustrating, Jeff. The short sightedness on their part tells you they are not true visionaries and won’t ever be as successful as they have the opportunity to be.
Sue
Great post as always Sue. You inspire me with all you have done. Follow-up & Consistency. I do understand how important they are as once I started being consistent about my email newsletter publishing times and day, my open rate almost doubled. Just think what I would achieve if I added a good follow-up routine. You’ve inspired me again Sue, I’m going to set a plan to add more consistency and follow-up in my business. Thank You
Thanks for saying I inspired you, Debbie. Wow!
Sue
Great post on many different levels – very to-the-point and really got me thinking. Love your grandfather’s advice and hearing about your success too!
Thanks
Trudy
Thanks so much, Trudy.
Love this post, Sue. I’ve been thinking about this “no excuses” thing for a while and am better now at catching myself making excuses. What this is lighting up in me is the challenge to be clearer about what I agree to do…I want to be a little more like a dog and sniff that bone before I decide if I want to pick it up. That way, I will, hopefully, be excuse-free.
And, I agree, hard to imagine Jeff being a har ass!
I agree that one part of this is being very clear about what one agrees to. “Oh, yeah, that sounds good” without taking into consideration the true commitment of energy and time.
Great post Sue!!
You are speaking my language. This is a topic I’ve blogged about, delivered teleclasses about and beyond. We must be fully invested and engaged in our investments to truly achieve success.
Also loved learning about your “past life” and positions. Way to go!
Write on!~
Lisa
Glad that you enjoyed reading of my past lives, LOL!
Sue
Outstanding post Sue! I wholeheartedly agree with you. One of my favorite expressions is “If you want something done ask the busy person. The other kind has no time!”
Sounds like you knew my grandfather, LOL!
Sue
Sue – I love that you tell it like it is! We were just having a similar conversation in my small mastermind group the other day – you’ve got to show up consistently and BE your brand, BE the value you deliver, BE the trusted resource you want to be seen as, BE the person people can depend on, BE the giver you are meant to be…
I too wonder about those who talk a big talk about how successful they are and what great teams they have, but then fail to show up because of the “I’m too busy” excuse.
Let’s be honest. It isn’t about being to busy, it’s about setting priorities.
Great post Sue!
Jennifer Bourn, Bourn Creative
Yes, it’s about setting priorities, Jennifer. 🙂
No excuses!! LOVE it! ♥
Great post, Sue. It is harsh to hear, especially since I have been guilty of a few of those on the list. I’m inspired to do better, and also look at others I work with to see if they are serious about their business. Thanks so much for sharing!
Glad to be inspiring, Kristina. 🙂
Wow, Sue–great post! I love your “tell-it-like-it-is” attitude. Thanks for being so real–that’s why I truly value your advice.
You’re welcome, Tiffany.
Bless you, Sue for saying what needs to be said. You are absolutely right that follow-up and consistency is key. And your post inspires me to take a closer look at how I’m doing (or not doing) with both. Thanks for the kick in the pants.
Glad to hear you got inspired. We all need that now and then, ha!
First of all … Amen!
Commitment is follow-up and follow-through. When one makes a commitment then providence moves too. But only if those commitments – no matter the size – are kept!
Thank you for this post. I rant and rave about this all the time with those who know me well. You put it is perfect context for learning. For a while I wondered if something was wrong with me over how many things – collaborations, etc. – didn’t seem to work. Was I a hard-ass?
Finally I admitted to something – with no apology. All I ask is that you commit, follow-up with what is unfolding, and follow-thru on promised action. That’s it. That is a great relationship for me.
Thanks again Sue,
Jeff
Thanks, Jeff. Would be hard for me to see you as a “hard-ass”!