1 Are You Stuck? What is a specific result you want that you don t have now, and that you are stuck or struggling with or blaming someone (or yourself) for? If you re not stuck, no problem. When we are not stuck, we are moving effortlessly towards our desired goals. We are completing our projects, getting what we want and experiencing satisfaction and fulfillment. If only that was the case all the time! But it s not. We are often stuck in moving forward. But we don t realize that the stuckness has nothing to do with external conditions or circumstances. We don t have the time, we don t know how to do it, or someone else is thwarting us. These are all reasons for being stuck. And we believe that if we changed the conditions, we d get unstuck. But that s not the case. Conditions and circumstances can change and we often remain stuck. Then we find new reasons and excuses. We are literally stuck inside our own stuckness. Being stuck is a matter of being identified with a constrictive way of being. Constrictive ways of being include overwhelm, confusion, discouragement, fear and perfectionism. When we are being in a constricted way, we are being limited by certain kinds of thoughts and feelings. The first step in getting unstuck is to identify the constrictive ways we are being and how those ways of being are affecting us. No analysis (why am I being this way?), just observation. The next step is to ask how we d prefer to be. We will usually choose an expansive way of being, such as centered, clear, encouraged, fearless and excellence. Who are you being regarding your marketing? The way you are being determines your thoughts, feelings, behavior and results. In the chart below, identify the ways you are being about marketing that are keeping you stuck. Then do the Getting Unstuck Process on page 5.
2 Ways of Being Constrictive ways of being Accusing Angry Apathetic Avoiding Critical Confused Cynical Defensive Depressed Destructive Disappointed Discouraged Disliking Disorganized Exhausted Fearful Frustrated Impatient Insecure Irresponsible Isolated Judgmental Miserable Mistrustful Overwhelmed Panicked Perfectionism Pessimistic Resentful Scarcity Scattered Selfish Self-Conscious Stagnant Struggle Taking Troubled Uncomfortable Withdrawn Withholding Worried Expansive ways of being Forgiving Calm Enthusiastic Engaged Supportive Clarity Trusting Receptive Joyful Creative Satisfied Encouraged Liking Organized Energized Fearless Successful Patient Secure Responsible Integrated Accepting Happy Trusting Centered Peaceful Excellence Optimistic Grateful Abundance Focused Generous Self-Confident Dynamic Ease Contributing Peaceful Comfortable Expressive Participation Hopeful
3 Diagram of Being Beliefs Aversions Thoughts Attractions Feelings Expressions Stories YOUR WAY OF BEING Constrictive or Expansive Generates everything in your life. Attitudes Behaviors Body Language Actions Tone of Voice
4 Marketing Areas to Work On In my experience in working with thousands of Independent Professionals, I ve found there are several areas where people get stuck with their marketing. In which areas do you get stuck? This is the first part of the process to identify areas where you want to produce a result but find yourself stuck, struggling and not moving forward. 1. Making marketing a game or a process that is played methodically, with focus and discipline as well as fun. Many people just avoid the whole idea of marketing altogether and never really join the game. You can t get started with your marketing. 2. Marketing message and talking about your business. Do you find it difficult to communicate the value of your business to others? Do you feel you never have the message right? 3. Written marketing materials. Do you find it hard to come up with ideas to write about? It is a chore and drudgery to write an article on information about your services? Do you feel you re not a good writer? Or do you struggle with perfectionism with your writing? 4. Marketing strategies and activities. There are many possible marketing activities. Which ones do you find most difficult? Networking and meeting new people Speaking and giving presentations Following up with leads and contacts Creating joint ventures and alliances Doing online marketing activities such as web site and ezine 5. The selling process. Do you hesitate to set up meetings and appointments to talk about your services? Do you hold back when it comes time to close? Is it hard for you to charge what you re worth? 6. The planning process. Do you find it hard to get focused and organized and create detailed action plans? Do you find that you are scattered and unclear about your direction and what you will do next? Do you have issues with time management and find it hard to carry things to completion? Do you find yourself continually procrastinating?
What is a specific result you want that you don t have now, and that you are stuck or struggling with or blaming someone (or yourself) for? Who are you being that is preventing you from having that result? How are you reacting and behaving when you are being that way? Is that way of being, reacting and behaving getting you what you want? YES or NO If it were impossible to be that way, who would you prefer to be instead? If you could be that new way, what would things be like? What would happen? Now, who do you to choose to be? Who I choose to be is: What are the first actions you will take that express this new way of being and that will move you towards your desired result? Copyright 2008, Robert Middleton - www.actionplan.com