So you’ve set out on a new adventure, but soon comes the reality check. Starting your own business is one thing that’s not so challenging. But building your brand, which is beyond challenging, is yet another. The reality is you’re both excited and terrified at the same time. Everywhere you look there’s another business guru giving you seemingly simple advice on how to succeed.
The truth is building a flourishing brand is anything but simple. So what now?
Starting something new can be daunting. Building something that’s yours is even harder. You can quickly find yourself overthinking, stressed, and hyperextended.
The first step in creating a successful plan requires shifting your mindset from survival mode to strategy mode. To launch your business and move past the startup stage requires more than research. You need sound counsel and innovative ideas. Finding those two critical elements is easier said than done. Your goal is beyond surviving, you want to flourish.
Making decisions out of desperation and fear is not the way to go. Without clarity, your best ideas won’t have the right impact.
For the last fifteen years, I’ve successfully coached hundreds of clients in my executive coaching program, moving them from struggling entrepreneurs to thriving brands. With dedication and perseverance, they established the clarity and intention needed to move their professional ambitions forward. And they did it without compromising their values and their overall health.
Building a successful business isn’t something you can do without a plan.
Why Should You Have a Success Plan?
We never plan to fail. But many of us fail to plan when it comes to doing ordinary tasks or taking on life-changing experiences. The same thing applies when building a brand. How can you succeed if you don’t anticipate potential problems? It’s imperative that you create realistic, strategic backup plans.
Pushing yourself harder than you need to isn’t the answer either. You need to work smarter, not harder. If you struggle to set boundaries with yourself and others, how can you ensure your success? Clarity and perspective are everything.
While your process will look different than any other, there are steps you can take that will make the path to success easier. Whether you’re trying to figure out how to succeed in life or how to succeed in business.
Don’t Ignore These Critical Steps
Every entrepreneur, licensed professional, and high-profile individual has different experiences, values, and goals. But they also have one thing in common: if they’re not clear on any of these aspects – they’re doomed to fail. Let’s break down the importance of these steps in your success plan.
- Pinpoint your mission and vision and revisit both every time you have a decision to make.
The last thing you want to do is sacrifice intention. If a decision doesn’t line up with your goals and your mission, you won’t get the results you seek.
2. Align your business goals and personal goals.
These will likely overlap, especially when you are the brand. There may be times you have to sacrifice your business goals in pursuit of your personal goals and vice versa.
Your business goals and personal goals must align themselves. You will sacrifice one for the other at some point. The question is when and how. You have to constantly weigh the potential benefits against the possible consequences.
It’s much easier to make effective decisions when you know what you’re working toward.
3. Keep track of your progress.
When you track your progress, it gives you the ability to see what’s working and what isn’t¹. If your goals and mission have slightly shifted or changed completely, it’s important to revisit your success plan.
There’s no secret ingredient for success, but if you pay attention to these factors, put them into practice, and get the right help, you won’t be dependent on a backup plan.
How to Succeed by Executing Your Plan
Having a plan is one thing – but executing it is far more difficult. Though you’re aware of your goals, mission, and progress, you can still stray without realizing it.
That’s why it’s crucial to set actionable goals to make sure you’re following through.
One way to do this is by monitoring your time. Time is your most precious asset – be careful how you use it.
It can be challenging to stay on track if you look at your goals in terms of completion.
If you have two huge goals and you spend two weeks working on those goals without completing them – you might feel like you haven’t done anything. In reality, you spent a lot of time working toward those goals. The question is what have you learned in the process? What adjustments did you make?
Use that feedback to reset time parameters. If your goal is to work 20 hours per week toward a certain goal – you’ll be more productive and better able to track your progress.
You won’t feel guilty or be easily frustrated when you don’t complete your long-term goal overnight. Because you’ve broken down your main goal into smaller, realistic goals – you’ll get much further faster².
The moral of this story is – slow down and accept that there’s a natural order to success.
Durable success doesn’t happen overnight. Stick to your success plan and find a way to celebrate small successes. This way – you’re keeping yourself motivated for your bigger wins.
The Clear Path to Success
Odds are you have what you need at your fingertips. There’s no secret sauce, except your own personal recipe for success containing your values, mission, and goals. Research others who have succeeded in the same arena, but keep in mind you’re not them. Learn from what they experienced.
Your goals and mission are unique to you. You’re likely going into a field that already exists, offering a service that’s similar to others, or doing something someone else has done before. What’s critical is discovering your niche. Celebrate what makes you unique.
For more information schedule an exploratory consultation call with me today. Together we can figure out the best approach for your unique gifts and talents. You’re a unique individual who can offer something nobody else can. Let’s make your success plan airtight for you to accomplish your goals and show the world what you have to offer.
https://drdivanyoung.com/executive-coach-diversity-coach-black-male/
Dr. D Ivan Young is an expert on human behavior and relationships. He’s a Master Credentialed expert on personality type, an ICF Credentialed Master Certified Coach Certified Professional Diversity Coach, and a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach. Dr. Young is also a member of the prestigious Forbes Coaches Council.