Here’s the short version of this blog post: if you want different results, you have to do something different.
Now let’s go a little deeper.
What's a normal workday (or week or month or even year) like for you? Who are you talking to? What are you doing? What tasks, or even relationships, have become so ingrained that they're more habit than anything else?
We all fall into these patterns and find that we build our lives around them. Some serve us well, but others are simply part of our normal routine and are taking up time that we could otherwise be using for personal or business growth. But they're our normal -- so what can we do?
Let’s face it, though – “normal” hasn’t been available for quite a while now, so it’s a good time to shake things up a little.
Are there vendors, partnerships, clients, or other relationships that were once beneficial but no longer feel like a good fit for you or your business? When you sit down and actually look at your best clients, is it who you expected? Probably not. As you grow your organization or business, things change.
Do you have clients who you took on early in your business out of need or desperation? Do you notice that those clients take a lot of bandwidth, extra customer service, and more time? Do you still charge those clients what you charged them three years ago because they were grandfathered in at that price?
Now think about the clients who you love to work with. The ones who pay you before the invoice is due, who never complain about the price, and who send you great referrals. Those are your Grade A clients. You want a dozen more like them. Think about your traditional vendors the same way.
Once you have a clear picture of the clients and vendors you want, it’s time for the actionable part of this exercise. Review the clients and vendors that aren’t keeping up with the needs of your company as it grows, and set them free. I know this isn’t an easy process, and it can feel a little frightening. But remember once it’s over, you’ll have the capacity and bandwidth to take on the Grade A clients you would love to work with.
It’s time to build a new normal and try a new way to get different (and better) results.
Do you know who your ideal client really is? Have you ever made an assessment of the performance of your vendors? Let’s set up a time to look at this information and make some changes.