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Sometimes I have so many things to do that I nearly whirl around in a circle trying to choose which one to do next. Does that feel familiar? It probably does if you are excited about accomplishing a lot of projects. I work a lot of hours because I love what I am doing, and I've even begun to make acknowledgement lists in order to give myself a periodic pat on the back. When I write down how much I have already done, I notice the progress I have made instead of all there is still left to do. After I mentioned this whirling dervish act I kept falling into, a good friend pointed out that I naturally wear many different hats and have so throughout my life as wife, mother, teacher, coach, writer, and all those other things I have done. He said the trick was to wear one hat at a time and wear it 100%. What a wonderful idea that was! What a relief I felt when I considered it. However, as is usual for me, I quickly adapted it for my own needs and took it one step further. In hockey there is something called a "hat trick" which is when one person scores three goals in a row, which I have turned into my "Marketing Hat Trick." Each week I will wear a different "hat." It could be focused on writing chapters of a book, or weeding sections of my garden, or taking steps of a business project. However, I've chosen to focus on a different aspect of marketing each week and during that week, I will wear that particular hat 100%. I have chosen:
I know that spending whatever time I have set aside toward growing my business will be amplified when I focus on one aspect. I will be able to concentrate better, I will see more results because I will have spent more consecutive time on that aspect, and my accomplishment list is bound to look great in that area. It is important to spend time every week on marketing your business, ten hours if you can. Every moment spent will reward you handsomely in the long run.
I have set aside Mondays and Tuesdays to focus on developing my business. Some of that time is spent in taking classes like The Product Factory and Traffic School and then spending time putting what I have learned into action. I try to spend ten hours a week on marketing. When I'm doing things like developing my affiliate program and writing an Affluent Affiliate Manual it requires more time. However, once that is set up it can have a life of it's own. I have long saved Saturdays as my creative day. I never know what I am going to write but my intuition knows I have set aside that time to listen and allow wonderful words to pour forth. I never pre-choose the project, it comes to me, and sometimes it's a grand surprise. The hat trick makes me more focused on one area for a longer period of time and my sense of accomplishment has risen because I see myself getting more things done in each area. Use the Hat Trick to plan your marketing efforts for the month and see how that helps you. I haven't gone so far as to get a writers cap, a partnership cap, and a new products cap but I might just do that if it helps keep me on target! © Cara Lumen 2006 Feel free to reprint this article if you include the following: Cara Lumen, MA, Your Idea Optimizer helps you turn your ideas into steady profit. As a business developer, content developer and educator, Cara helps you make money from what you already know. You can learn more about how to put your wisdom to work through her radio show www.blogtalkradio.com/passioantelyonpurpose and her Passionately On Purpose emagazine at www.caralumen.com
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Cara Lumen |