An old management adage is that you can’t manage what you don’t measure.  The underlying meaning of that saying is that when you measure, you are better positioned to determine if your initiatives are working or if they are not.  If you’re off target, then you can make adjustments to your plan. 

Measure how well your small business is doing through metrics.  Metrics are a set of measurements that quantify results.   They are like gauges on your car’s dashboard.  At any given moment, you can determine how much gas you have in the tank, if you have enough oil, and your rate of speed.  Metrics are used to determine how well you are performing to the benchmarks.  In this example, a benchmark might be the speed limit so you can determine if you need to speed up or slow down. 

When using metrics, remember to:

Measure results that are important to the success of your annual goals.  While each business is different in what they measure, for many entrepreneurs, the Prospect-to-Client Conversion Rate is a common metric to see if your sales process is working.  As you implement your marketing strategies, you can use that metric as a gauge to see what is working and what is not.

Keep it simple.  If you set up too many metrics and spend more time tracking rather than bringing in revenue, it’s time to rethink your most important measurements or the way you’re tracking.

Communicate your metrics throughout your company.  When your team knows the standards, they are more apt to be motivated to be a part of the solution to meet those standards. Post your results by hanging your charts on the wall.  Use line charts or other graphs to easily, quickly and visually communicate your progress.

Use metrics to guide your decisions. With your metrics in place, you can better assess which strategies are working, adjustments that need to be made, or training that needs to be implemented.   When you make changes, use the metrics to tell you whether or not the changes moved you closer to your goals.

Celebrate your achievements when the metrics show improvement. Remember, it’s not all about the numbers.  Reward and thank the people who were responsible for the success.  Whether it is a referral partner, your Mastermind partner, or your team, send a personalized thank you note specifically outlining the improvement and their role in that improvement.  If you’re a solopreneur, then treat yourself for meeting your metrics.

When you measure what’s most important, monitor the metrics, publish your metrics, and reward those involved, you will start creating massive momentum for your small business.   You will also be able to check your assumptions and make more effective decisions putting you back in the driver’s seat.

To get started on the road to small business success, take these action steps today:

1.  Outline the specific metrics that will act as gauges for your business

2.  Review the metrics on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis.

3.  Make adjustments as necessary.

If you’re struggling with developing metrics for your small business, you’ll want to get your hands on my Business Blueprint^TM process which is explained in my Entrepreneurial Edge System Self-Study Program.  When you have a Business Blueprint^TM, you magnificently map out how to get from where you are today, to where you want to be while bringing amazing clarity and focus to your business.   It realistically operationalizes all of your activities in one spot. It’s something I’ve used for years and is an integral tool for my clients helping them create systems and massive momentum in their business.  Learn more at www.getmoreclientsnowvideos.com

Hi!

Have you attended any graduations this year? 

Last weekend, I headed to beautiful Northern Michigan to see my niece graduate from high school with honors.  My nephew also graduated with honors from college last month! It seems like only yesterday when these two were crawling. 

Now, one is just beginning college and the other is going to be working in chemical engineering.  Yes, I’m a very proud aunt. 🙂 

Speaking of graduating, many of my Entrepreneurial Edge System 3-Day Intensive Graduates are attending next week’s complimentary Business Growth Webinar.  Are you registered yet?

7 Amazingly Desirable Strategies to Double Your Income This Year 

My special guest is author and renowned national speaker, Tim R. Green, President of Referral Institute.  Discover why most entrepreneurs fail to increase their income year after year and what you can do TODAY to skyrocket your sales!  Register now before the last 3 seats are taken!  

Today’s Tip:

My Entrepreneurial Edge System graduates are broadening their reach and becoming known in the marketplace by adding Article Marketing to their Marketing Mix. 

When you have your Article Marketing systematized, you become known and noticed for your area of expertise.  You will be asked to write for other sites, like I was by Dr. Mollie Marti, who asked me to write an article for her community at .  I thought you would enjoy reading it. It’s also this week’s High Content Article.

Create a great life,

Lisa

 HIGH CONTENT ARTICLE 

In my Success Circle, I meet one-on-one with entrepreneurs.  In their monthly Laser Coaching Call, some business owners get apprehensive when they are taking a really big step.  Sometimes, a little self-doubt rises up.  If only for a moment, they tend to focus on what they need to give up versus what they will gain when taking his step.

Sometimes they even get stuck and procrastinate.  They want to be committed to their intentions, but they just can’t think beyond the hurdle.   

Can you relate?
 
Recently, I was asked to address the area of Leaping in Faith when running your small business for the website: BestLifeDesign.com.    Please forward this on today to anyone who could use it! 

Leaping in Faith 

“…Faith is knowing one of two things will happen:
There will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.”
-Patrick Overton

Have you noticed that when you’re making a really big leap, your mind tends to think about what you have to give up rather than what you could gain?  

For example, when you want to shed some extra pounds, you think about what foods or habits to give up, not how healthy you will be when you’ve done so.  When you invest in your business, you look at the cost involved and not new opportunities it may open up for you.    > > > > > > >

Are you inspired to double your income this year yet get there more effortlessly?  

Then join me (and my special guest) for a free 70-minute information-rich call on June 16 at 6 p.m. for 

7 Amazingly Desirable Strategies to Double Your Income This Year. 

Bring a big notebook because if you’ve been to one of my high-content webinars, you know I give a lot of implementable strategies and tactics.  This webinar is no different (and, at the end of this high-content webinar, I’ll share more about several upcoming programs to help you rev up, recharge and renew yourself and your business this year).

Register now to reserve your spot.  Enjoy this week’s article, on how to create unstoppable momentum for your small business. 

Create a great life,

Lisa Mininni

P.S. Did you catch my 5 part video series at www.getmoreclientsnowvideos.com?

…and, now for this week’s high-content article

2 Keys to Building Unstoppable Momentum in Your Small Business

If you have worked harder for someone else than you have in your own business, you’re not alone.  In my recent Entrepreneurial Edge System 3-Day Intensive, this self-limiting habit seemed to be a popular pattern.  It shows up by procrastinating, justifying a delay (it can always be done tomorrow), and not following up with a sense of urgency.

So how do you build unstoppable momentum when you just feel like being lazy?  There are two keys critical to building unstoppable momentum:

The first key is clarity.   There are a number of things to implement in your business. As a small business owner, you are wearing different hats and it’s impossible, not to mention ineffective, to try to keep it all in your head.  The key is to clearly outline your:

·     Preferred Client.  When you’ve done your homework and know exactly who your preferred client is, you understand their habits and are familiar with where they hangout.  It makes it a lot easier to know where you should also be inserting your marketing messages and networking.

·     Goals.  Goals are broad and describe a general direction.  Establish 3-5 goals each year setting at least one stretch goal each year. 

·     Objectives.  Objectives are more narrow and specific.  They support each goal and can be measured. Each objective is grounded in a timeframe.  With a timeframe, you can determine if that objective is realistic and creates a sense of urgency.

·     Metrics.  Metrics are like gauges on your dashboard.  Tracking metrics quarterly will give you an idea how your plan is working out and what you may need to do differently to meet your yearly goals.

With a plan to follow, you will begin setting something to look forward to.  Start sharing your plan with others and blog about it.  There’s nothing better than mentioning to your clients that you have something coming up in a few months to get you committed to deliver on that promise.

The second key is consistency through systematization.  If you don’t have a consistent day in which you blog or keep in touch with your client base, you’re missing an important part of building unstoppable momentum. 

When you deliver consistent high-content messages, your prospects will see you as the go-to expert in your field.  As you consistently provide information-rich topics, your prospects begin to look forward to your messages.  The systematization of your messaging creates a rhythm.  The rhythm leads to an expectation.  When you meet that expectation you’ve created, it creates trust over time with your prospects.  You’ve just created an ongoing system for staying in touch – a critical component in creating unstoppable momentum in your business.

Notice other areas in your business where you can create a cadence.  If you belong to a networking group and that networking group meets a certain date of the week, you’ve already started that rhythm.  Now, start plugging in your other marketing strategies onto your calendar.  Once you take all of your marketing tactics and regularly apply them, you’ll notice a synergy begin.  Continue until your entire year is planned out.  Before you know it, you are getting your message out in a really harmonious way and building unstoppable momentum.

Would you like to use Lisa’s High-Content Article above on your own website or Ezine?  
Please do so, but add the following attribution:

Lisa Mininni is a Best Selling Author and President of Excellerate Associates – home of The Entrepreneurial Edge System^TM a national program showing small business owners how their clients find them, choose them, and buy from them. 

To receive your FREE eBook, Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3 Steps to Jump Start Your Start-Up and receive weekly high-content articles on how to grow your business quickly, visit http://www.freebusinessplanformat.com