Silver Bullets

04.13.10

Silver bullets...don't exist. They live in the same mystical land as the Free Lunch, the Too-Good-to-Be-Trues, their cousins the Amazing-if-Trues, and the Flying Pigs. This may disappoint many of you, but it's true.

Once, after dispensing some of my reliably brilliant counsel to a likewise brilliant client, a successful consultant, he said, with more than a touch of skepticism, "Lenora, I don't see any Silver Bullets here." It's human nature, perhaps especially for eager entrepreneurs who can't wait to make their dream come true, to look for short cuts.

Silver-bullet thinking was the impetus that drove the real estate and financial industries meteoric rise - and disastrous crash - the consequences of which we are all struggling through now.
Like the above-mentioned Free Lunches, it would be nice if Silver Bullets existed. My - and my clients' - processes would be much simpler if I could issue standard one-size-fits-all quick fixes en masse. They wouldn't work, of course - ultimately, the quick fixes would fall just as flat as they did for the real estate market, because of one fact:

For your business to succeed, it has to be uniquely yours, body and soul.

If it isn't, something will always be lacking. This means your vision must be customized and tweaked with the precision of a NASA engineer until your mission and passion comes through to your clients at full volume and power.

So, yes, it is a repetitive process, but each familiar step you take reinforces the path you are clearing toward your goals. Keeping your eyes on the prize, remember that a long journey begins with but a single step, and so forth. The idea is that you are creating a system of habits that free your energy to do your best work - which is how you will succeed.

Keys to Ensure your Success as an Entrepreneur

1. Do highly remarkable, "refer-able" work.
Choose assignments that guarantee the kind of results that distinguish you from the pack. Choose clients who love to talk to their peers about the excellent results they received from those they hire.

2. Get in the habit of providing "warranty work".
Always circle back and check how past clients are doing. Find out what's working and what is not. More importantly, help determine the contributing cause.

3. Do collaborative work only with those who know how to collaborate.
Exponential results occur when brilliant folks get together. Find colleagues whose strengths complement yours, and who are happy to share the work and the results. Often such teamwork sparks off each others' energies creating unexpected innovation.

4. Qualify the client to increase your chance of creating remarkable work.
If your client's values and vision clash with yours, the project is hindered from the start.
(Read more about vetting your clients here - "Ten Commandments".)

5. Position yourself as an expert
Become available as an educational resource. Create webinars, white papers, and web site articles (yes, like this one!); give lectures at professional associations and universities, and consider offering consultative services to colleagues.

6. Practice great relationship management with referral partners.
Your mom was right: manners matter. Distinguish yourself as reliable, considerate and trustworthy by practicing meticulous manners with colleagues. Following up on referrals, reciprocating by making introductions yourself, and of course saying "thank you," all foster goodwill toward you and your relationship. Like decent food at a wedding, people may not notice manners unless they fall short - and then it's all they can talk about.

7. Get clarity around brand and protection of the brand.
Be consistent with who you are. Make sure every aspect of your business - your work, your communication, your website, and even your outgoing voicemail message - dovetail with your brand's voice. If your business is touted as customized and individual, why are you sending mass e-mail blasts to strangers? If your business prizes attention to detail, typos can sink you.

8. Create and sustain business practices that fit your personality and your lifestyle.
Examine your work style and delegate elements that don't fit your preferences to other experts. If it doesn't work for you, it won't work for your clients. For example, if accounting details get lost because math gives you migraines, contract that work out. If you can't remember appointments, find a system on your computer or phone that will send you automatic reminders.

9. Get found--Let professional networking sites such as LinkedIn act as your marketing arm 24/7. You can post your blog and website there and even share slide shows.