Happy New Year from Spot-On Branding! Here’s to a safe and happy new year – and here’s to an exciting 2012 at The Branding Spot blog!
Since the New Year is both a time for reflection and a time to look forward with hope, I’ve decided to share a few key lessons that I’ve learned over the years. Sometimes I still struggle with some of these ideas – and you might too! It happens. The important thing is to keep everything in perspective, and to always remain positive.
For a happy, successful and prosperous new year…
Do What You LOVE
If you’re not doing what you love, you will fail.
Passion is what sparks achievement and fulfillment. When you don’t allow yourself to do what you love, you get easily sidetracked, or worse, bored. This is your life! Your time is too valuable to be wasted on activities or endeavors that you don’t enjoy or don’t believe in.
Find Your Niche
If you don’t niche, no one will listen to you. A Jack-of-All-Trades is a master of none.
Stop trying to be everything to everybody! It’s just plain impossible. When you hone in on one particular specialty, you will become an expert in your field. You’ll find more people will be interested in you and your business, and more people will listen to you. Experts are influential, and influence means power and respect.
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Get Real
If you’re not honest with where you are now, you can’t define where you want to go.
Take the time to seriously review and reflect upon your previous year. Acknowledge what went well and what fell through before you make your new year goals and plans. If you’re having trouble, check out Benny Hsu’s handy annual review worksheet here.
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Set Goals – Then Reach Them
Without goals, you will not grow. This can apply to both your business and your personal life.
Try this:
- Clearly define your goals for the year. Set specific goals and WRITE THEM DOWN.
- Include an achievable measurement with each goal. (Think # of days or # of dollars or # of items.)
- Set a date of completion for each goal. Nothing gets me hopping like a deadline!
- Hang up your goal list somewhere where you’ll be sure to see it every day.
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Annnnnd…Action!
If you don’t take action in your life or in your business, you won’t achieve anything – 
because when you don’t act, you don’t GO anywhere! The magic only happens when you’re out of your comfort zone. Personally, I’m good at getting stuck in planning mode. I’ll plan and plan and plan and never feel comfortable putting the plan into action. (*This is one thing I’ll definitely be focused on improving this year!)
Bonus Tip: If you really want to get serious about achieving your goals this year (and you should!), get an accountability partner. It’s one thing when you don’t complete a goal for yourself. (Most of us are all too good at rationalizing our mistakes!) BUT, when you have to admit that you flaked out to someone else, now that’s not easy.
I’m really looking forward to sharing an abundance of great branding and business tips and quips throughout 2012 with all of you awesome readers out there. We’re rolling out a lot of great ideas this year, so feel free to visit as much as you like! The Branding Spot blog is updated every Tuesday.