What a trip it’s been!

Welcome to Week 46 of my adventure as a member of the Marketing Plan Group. In my posts, I talk about my voyage down the road of self-employment as a website copywriter, my achievements and roadblocks along the way, and what I’m learning from my group experience.

Today was the last group call for my Marketing Plan Group. It’s been almost a year since we started (we did a 6-month program and then all continued together for another 6).

I’ve seen the members of group progress in leaps and bounds with their marketing efforts. I’ve seen us do things we never thought we could or would, and I’ve experienced, first-hand, the seemingly magical nature of “accountability.” 

Personally, I’ve come a long way too.

In addition to implementing so many practical tools into my business, I’ve also developed some really good habits regarding pricing, estimates, time-tracking, financial-tracking, and scheduling. I have a new mindset about financial goals and how to achieve them – and I’m proud to say that for the past 3 months, I have achieved them!

I’m walking away from this group process with a whole new outlook about my business.

What did I learn?

Self-employment success -- is about discipline.

• It’s about setting goals, and working towards them.
• It’s about scheduling your efforts, and doing them on-time.
• It’s about learning the tools, and making them work for you.
• It’s about taking action, instead of just spinning things around inside your head.
• It’s about finding others to stay accountable to.
• If you get off-track, confused, or discouraged, it’s about picking yourself up, and getting back on-track.

Here are a few words of business wisdom from Ilise on today’s final call:

• When you are trying to reach a goal, there really are no rules. There is no set way to do something, every time. Every scenario is different. Ask yourself, “What would be most creative, potentially effective action I could take right now, that will get me closer to this goal?” Sometimes, it’s sending a note, picking up a phone, or simply asking for what you want… but the idea is, to look at each situation independently, and getting to the goal by using your head.
  
• The ball is always in your court.  In life, people sometimes assume when they take an action, the ball is supposed to be in the other person’s court. In business, the ball is never in their court. It’s always in your court. Keep asking, what will I do next? And if they respond, or take an action, consider it a bonus.

Working with Ilise, and my group members, in the Marketing Plan Group setting, has been a tremendous privilege.

If you are wandering through your business, uncertain, and you need a jumpstart, I can tell you, from the bottom of my heart, participating in the Marketing Plan Group will make a difference.

The Marketing Plan Group has changed me, and my business, for the better.

I’m going to continue posting here on the Marketing Mix about my self-employment adventures, triumphs, and struggles – as I continue on my journey.

Is there anything you want to hear from me about? If you have any questions about my experience in the Marketing Plan Group, or about my business in general, please post them here or send me an email.

 

Comments

[Andy Strote]

Deidre,
Your insights are right on. Can I make a suggestion to amplify them, to help give direction to goal setting, overcoming obstacles and taking action? Read Anthony Robbins book, Awaken the Giant Within. If you have any negative perceptions about Robbins, and many do, set them aside. This book is all about the points you have covered, and gives you specific guidance on how to get from where you are to where you want to be. And his first question would be - "Do you know where you want to be?"

Andy