Ready, Fire, Aim!

You probably read my headline and thought, wait a minute, isn't that backwards? Isn't it supposed to be "Ready, Aim, Fire?"

Well, a year ago I might have agreed with you. But not anymore. What changed? I did! And boy am I glad I did.

Let me tell you a little story. Up until last year, I was one of those people who planned everything down to the smallest detail. I guess you could say I planned things to death!

Ever heard of "analysis paralysis?"

Well I had it big time! I just was not comfortable doing anything, especially in business, until I had done ALL my research and put all my ducks in a row. As a result, it often took a long time to get up and running with new ideas.

Then I experienced "Ready, Fire, Aim"

Last fall, I was first introduced to the concept of "Ready, Fire, Aim" at a seminar where I was thrown full bore into this way of thinking and acting. Talk about baptism by fire!

Not only did it change me, I learned something. That I could learn more and do more faster if I didn't get caught up in overanalyzing everything. I came home excited about adopting this new approach to my life.

What happened?

Well, my business and I have grown more in the last eight months than either had grown in the past seven years.

I've made some mistakes, but another funny thing happened along the way. I realized the mistakes DIDN'T KILL ME! In fact, I've learned more from my mistakes than from my successes.

I learned mistakes are a GOOD thing!

Suddenly everything I learned in school about NOT making mistakes just didn't fit anymore. Mistakes don't make you a bad person or even an unlucky person. They make you a smarter person!

They say Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times before he successfully invented the light bulb. I hope we don't have to fail that many times before we find success, but what I do know is every mistake and every failure brings us one step closer to success.

Don't get stuck

You may be wondering why someone who advocates planning (The 10stepmarketing? System is ALL about creating a marketing PLAN for your business) is touting the virtues of "Ready, Fire, Aim," the seeming antithesis of planning.

It's because I don't want you to get stuck like I was for so many years.

Get into the game, even if you think you're not ready

Not getting out there and into the game because you're afraid you're not quite ready or might make a mistake, IS the mistake. Don't make it!

My advice? Take the time to create a marketing plan for your business but don't get bogged down if you still have questions or uncertainty about how to market effectively. Just start. Do the best you can and KNOW you will learn more every step of the way.

It's the only way to discover YOUR "magic marketing" formula

The longer you're out there actively marketing and tracking your success and your failures, the closer you'll be to finding your "magic marketing" formula.

Your "magic marketing" formula brings together exactly the right marketing activities with the right marketing message and the right audience in the right place at the right time for YOUR business to result in HUGE success!

While there are some basic marketing principles that will help you get to your magic formula quicker, nothing replaces good old testing and fine-tuning. After 20 years in the business, I still practice it regularly. Because I know there are certain things you can do to set yourself up for success, but at some point you just have to go for it.

Are you stuck?

If you're stuck without a marketing plan or you'd like to learn some simple steps you can take to position your business for marketing success, The 10stepmarketing? System can help. This simple system tells you exactly what you need to do, step-by-step, so you can uncover your "magic marketing" formula quicker. Don't get stuck trying to figure it out on your own. Get help at www.10stepmarketing.com.

Learn "Ready, Fire, Aim" the way I did

I can teach you how to market your business more effectively, but sometimes to find true success we also need to change ourselves. If you're committed to being healthier, happier and richer and you're willing to be pushed beyond your comfort zone to accomplish that, I highly recommend T. Harv Eker's Peak Potentials program. It's where I learned to live "Ready, Fire, Aim!" and I know I'll never go back to the way I used to be. You can learn more here.

(C) Copyright 2005 Debbie LaChusa

20-year marketing veteran Debbie LaChusa created The 10stepmarketing System to help small business owners and solo-preneurs successfully market their business, themselves without spending a fortune on marketing. To learn more about this simple, step-by-step program and to sign up for her FREE audio class and FREE weekly ezine featuring how-to articles, tips and advice, visit http://www.10stepmarketing.com

---

Why Most Marketing Videos Dont Work

Every now and then I will meet someone who has... Read More

The Surprise Inside!

Think about all those Cracker Jacks you ate as a... Read More

Where to Find New Customers Using B2B Direct Mail

The challenge in business-to-business direct mail is knowing where to... Read More

5 Print Ad Essentials!

Writing an effective print ad, particularly a classified advertisement, requires... Read More

Stretching Your Marketing Dollars--7 Cheap and Easy Ways to Market on a Budget

Just because you have to stretch your marketing dollars doesn't... Read More

A Different Perspective On The No-Call List

The other day I received an e-mail from an internet... Read More

The Magic of Using Booklets for Tradeshow Giveaways

Candy, squeeze balls, pens, and key chains -- these provide... Read More

Most Wanted Response... How To Make It Work

"When I walked into the grocery store last Saturday, I... Read More

The 5 Minute Marketing Plan

If I were to ask you right now, what marketing... Read More

Corporate Branding and Trade Shows - 8 Tips for Marketing Managers

Trade shows are part of the marketing mix and the... Read More

Private Practice Marketing: 3 Secrets I Wish I Knew When I First Started Out

I don't know about you, but I am still waiting... Read More

Mobile Marketing a New Age Strategy

More and more companies seem to be looking for new... Read More

Dramatically Improve Your Marketing Results With These 6 Simple Steps

What if there were things you could start doing now... Read More

Whats Your NICHE Market ? III ?

What effect are the baby boomers having on the economy... Read More

Marketings Nuclear Weapon

Three seconds. That's what you have to convey your message.... Read More

How To Successfully Launch A New Business Activity

I often talk with business owners who tell me how... Read More

Attracting New Business on a Shoestring Budget

In a recent marketing workshop I attended, I discovered that... Read More

5 Reasons Your Marketing Communication is Falling Flat

One of my associates sent me a promotional email she'd... Read More

Go Guerrilla

Jay Conrad Levinson coined the term guerrilla marketing, which I... Read More

Open Doors by Building Relationships

"You can make more friends in two months by becoming... Read More

Do You Have This Important Tool in Your Marketing Arsenal?

Many business owners do not understand the authenticity and validation... Read More

How To Bond With Customers So That They Stay With You Longer

How many of your customers are loyal customers? More importantly... Read More

Tipical Mistakes in Marketing

To prevent the risks of a promotion campaign for our... Read More

Top 3 Reasons Why Your Headlines Fail

Many professional copywriters estimate that the headline contributes to 80%... Read More

Work Backward And Make More Sales!

It goes against the grain, especially for those of us... Read More

Networking Basics Turn Yourself Into A Profit Making Giant

I would like to introduce you to one of my... Read More

Marketing Planning - Preparation and Accountability

We all know the saying, "Failing to plan (prepare) is... Read More

Trade Show Promotional Products ? Boosting Booth Traffic

I was about seven or eight years old when I... Read More

The Top 10 Ways to Market your Business or Professional Practice Without Networking

While focused, strategic networking is usually the most efficient way... Read More

Strategic Internet Marketing

I met Sue at a recent networking event. She is... Read More

Reasons Why People Usually Dont Buy Again

There are many psychological reasons why people will buy from... Read More

How to Really Get Your Customers

What Really Makes Your Postcard Mailing Successful? The biggest single... Read More

Three Simple Keys Will Make Your Customers Stick

Do you spend a lot of time and energy courting... Read More