I was reading one of my favorite blogs about home décor. The
blogger was talking about how sometimes we think that the only way
to make our homes look nicer is to go buy something new for it. Her
suggestion was to take all the ‘extras’ out of a room and
sort of start over with what you already have. Often times we will
find that just adding less back into the room is all that is needed
for a fresh look.

Isn’t that true of our business sometimes?

If you are like me – sometimes it is easy to go off getting the
next new thing thinking it will make everything fresh and new…
but, over and over I seem to learn the lesson that the best thing I
can do for my business is look at what I already have and rework it.

I have received more emails than I can count of people who are
always looking at what’s hot that week and spending loads of
money for it. The problem is that if you are always pouring your
energy and money into the latest trend… the chances of it having
an impact on your business are actually pretty slim. The reason is
– that you aren’t able to build up momentum with what you are
currently doing. Instead you are often just adding to all the other
stuff and spreading yourself super thin.

Maybe you are discouraged by slow sales… maybe your mailing list
isn’t growing like you thought it would… perhaps you are
struggling through writing your first ebook… Whatever it is that
you are struggling with in your business today – maybe it’s
time to remove the clutter and focus in so you can gain momentum on
what you currently have doing.

Trouble shooting your business…

If it’s slow sales and you want to continue selling… maybe
you have been in a listing rut and it’s time to take a step
back and re-evaluate how you are listing your items. Or, maybe your
market has changed and you need to take the time to learn how to
best meet the needs of your audience.

If your mailing list isn’t growing like you thought it would,
maybe you need to see how much traffic is coming to your site. Is
the traffic slow? Then, look at improving your traffic. If you have
good traffic but not many joining your mailing list, then maybe you
need a better reason for people to sign up. Do you have an
incentive for people to leave their name and email address with you?

If you are struggling with writing your first ebook… maybe you
need a course walking you through each step involved… or, perhaps
you need to hire someone else to do the writing for you.

Sometimes simply looking at what you already have and improving it
is all you need to see momentum building. You can then use that
momentum to move into new areas to market what you are currently
doing. I recommend starting with a plan that works for YOU.

Building a plan for you and your business…

There are so many ways you can build your business plan. But, I
believe the most important thing is to have a plan and stick to it.
This goes with what we have been discussing… sticking to your
plan helps you build momentum… and that momentum will help your
business grow.

Your plan doesn’t have to be fancy and complicated. In fact, it
could be just a list of things you want to implement. Start with
one and master it… then move on down your list. Sometimes there
might be some overlap – but, remember, the idea is to focus and
build momentum.

Your list might look like this:
1.    List x number of items a week.
2.    Start a blog related to my niche.
3.    Add a mailing list to my blog
4.    Create an email follow up strategy for my mailing list
5.    Create an ebook
6.    publish ebook on Kindle and/or clickbank (I’m leaning
towards Kindle being a better platform for immediate exposure and
results)
7.    build a presence on facebook for my business
8.    Add other social meda
9.    etc., etc…

So – number 1 – ‘list x number of items a week’ would
continue through while you build a blog, write an ebook, etc.

Your plan will probably look completely different than what I have
above… but, you get the idea.

I know I talk about focus and planning a lot… I guess that’s
because I need to be reminded of it constantly. I get drawn into
the next best thing easily but have learned the value in sticking
to my plan even if I feel like I might be missing out on the
current hip marketing venue. If I spread myself too thin and
don’t finish what I started… or don’t remove the clutter
sometimes… I really do myself, my business, and my customers a
dis-service.

Am I the only one who struggles with this? What is your biggest
struggle in growing your business?

I\u00a0was\u00a0reading\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0favorite\u00a0blogs\u00a0about\u00a0home\u00a0d\u00e9cor.\u00a0The
\nblogger\u00a0was\u00a0talking\u00a0about\u00a0how\u00a0sometimes\u00a0we\u00a0think\u00a0that\u00a0the\u00a0only\u00a0way
\nto\u00a0make\u00a0our\u00a0homes\u00a0look\u00a0nicer\u00a0is\u00a0to\u00a0go\u00a0buy\u00a0something\u00a0new\u00a0for\u00a0it.\u00a0Her
\nsuggestion\u00a0was\u00a0to\u00a0take\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0‘extras’\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0room\u00a0and
\nsort\u00a0of\u00a0start\u00a0over\u00a0with\u00a0what\u00a0you\u00a0already\u00a0have.\u00a0Often\u00a0times\u00a0we\u00a0will
\nfind\u00a0that\u00a0just\u00a0adding\u00a0less\u00a0back\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0is\u00a0all\u00a0that\u00a0is\u00a0needed
\nfor\u00a0a\u00a0fresh\u00a0look.<\/p>\n

Isn’t\u00a0that\u00a0true\u00a0of\u00a0our\u00a0business\u00a0sometimes?<\/p>\n

If\u00a0you\u00a0are\u00a0like\u00a0me\u00a0–\u00a0sometimes\u00a0it\u00a0is\u00a0easy\u00a0to\u00a0go\u00a0off\u00a0getting\u00a0the
\nnext\u00a0new\u00a0thing\u00a0thinking\u00a0it\u00a0will\u00a0make\u00a0everything\u00a0fresh\u00a0and\u00a0new…
\nbut,\u00a0over\u00a0and\u00a0over\u00a0I\u00a0seem\u00a0to\u00a0learn\u00a0the\u00a0lesson\u00a0that\u00a0the\u00a0best\u00a0thing\u00a0I
\ncan\u00a0do\u00a0for\u00a0my\u00a0business\u00a0is\u00a0look\u00a0at\u00a0what\u00a0I\u00a0already\u00a0have\u00a0and\u00a0rework\u00a0it.<\/p>\n

I\u00a0have\u00a0received\u00a0more\u00a0emails\u00a0than\u00a0I\u00a0can\u00a0count\u00a0of\u00a0people\u00a0who\u00a0are
\nalways\u00a0looking\u00a0at\u00a0what’s\u00a0hot\u00a0that\u00a0week\u00a0and\u00a0spending\u00a0loads\u00a0of
\nmoney\u00a0for\u00a0it.\u00a0The\u00a0problem\u00a0is\u00a0that\u00a0if\u00a0you\u00a0are\u00a0always\u00a0pouring\u00a0your
\nenergy\u00a0and\u00a0money\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0latest\u00a0trend…\u00a0the\u00a0chances\u00a0of\u00a0it\u00a0having
\nan\u00a0impact\u00a0on\u00a0your\u00a0business\u00a0are\u00a0actually\u00a0pretty\u00a0slim.\u00a0The\u00a0reason\u00a0is
\n–\u00a0that\u00a0you\u00a0aren’t\u00a0able\u00a0to\u00a0build\u00a0up\u00a0momentum\u00a0with\u00a0what\u00a0you\u00a0are
\ncurrently\u00a0doing.\u00a0Instead\u00a0you\u00a0are\u00a0often\u00a0just\u00a0adding\u00a0to\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0other
\nstuff\u00a0and\u00a0spreading\u00a0yourself\u00a0super\u00a0thin.<\/p>\n

Maybe\u00a0you\u00a0are\u00a0discouraged\u00a0by\u00a0slow\u00a0sales…\u00a0maybe\u00a0your\u00a0mailing\u00a0list
\nisn’t\u00a0growing\u00a0like\u00a0you\u00a0thought\u00a0it\u00a0would…\u00a0perhaps\u00a0you\u00a0are
\nstruggling\u00a0through\u00a0writing\u00a0your\u00a0first\u00a0ebook…\u00a0Whatever\u00a0it\u00a0is\u00a0that
\nyou\u00a0are\u00a0struggling\u00a0with\u00a0in\u00a0your\u00a0business\u00a0today\u00a0–\u00a0maybe\u00a0it’s
\ntime\u00a0to\u00a0remove\u00a0the\u00a0clutter\u00a0and\u00a0focus\u00a0in\u00a0so\u00a0you\u00a0can\u00a0gain\u00a0momentum\u00a0on
\nwhat\u00a0you\u00a0currently\u00a0have\u00a0doing.<\/p>\n

Trouble\u00a0shooting\u00a0your\u00a0business…<\/p>\n

If\u00a0it’s\u00a0slow\u00a0sales\u00a0and\u00a0you\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0continue\u00a0selling…\u00a0maybe
\nyou\u00a0have\u00a0been\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0listing\u00a0rut\u00a0and\u00a0it’s\u00a0time\u00a0to\u00a0take\u00a0a\u00a0step
\nback\u00a0and\u00a0re-evaluate\u00a0how\u00a0you\u00a0are\u00a0listing\u00a0your\u00a0items.\u00a0Or,\u00a0maybe\u00a0your
\nmarket\u00a0has\u00a0changed\u00a0and\u00a0you\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0take\u00a0the\u00a0time\u00a0to\u00a0learn\u00a0how\u00a0to
\nbest\u00a0meet\u00a0the\u00a0needs\u00a0of\u00a0your\u00a0audience.<\/p>\n

If\u00a0your\u00a0mailing\u00a0list\u00a0isn’t\u00a0growing\u00a0like\u00a0you\u00a0thought\u00a0it\u00a0would,
\nmaybe\u00a0you\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0how\u00a0much\u00a0traffic\u00a0is\u00a0coming\u00a0to\u00a0your\u00a0site.\u00a0Is
\nthe\u00a0traffic\u00a0slow?\u00a0Then,\u00a0look\u00a0at\u00a0improving\u00a0your\u00a0traffic.\u00a0If\u00a0you\u00a0have
\ngood\u00a0traffic\u00a0but\u00a0not\u00a0many\u00a0joining\u00a0your\u00a0mailing\u00a0list,\u00a0then\u00a0maybe\u00a0you
\nneed\u00a0a\u00a0better\u00a0reason\u00a0for\u00a0people\u00a0to\u00a0sign\u00a0up.\u00a0Do\u00a0you\u00a0have\u00a0an
\nincentive\u00a0for\u00a0people\u00a0to\u00a0leave\u00a0their\u00a0name\u00a0and\u00a0email\u00a0address\u00a0with\u00a0you?<\/p>\n

If\u00a0you\u00a0are\u00a0struggling\u00a0with\u00a0writing\u00a0your\u00a0first\u00a0ebook…\u00a0maybe\u00a0you
\nneed\u00a0a\u00a0course\u00a0walking\u00a0you\u00a0through\u00a0each\u00a0step\u00a0involved…\u00a0or,\u00a0perhaps
\nyou\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0hire\u00a0someone\u00a0else\u00a0to\u00a0do\u00a0the\u00a0writing\u00a0for\u00a0you.<\/p>\n

Sometimes\u00a0simply\u00a0looking\u00a0at\u00a0what\u00a0you\u00a0already\u00a0have\u00a0and\u00a0improving\u00a0it
\nis\u00a0all\u00a0you\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0momentum\u00a0building.\u00a0You\u00a0can\u00a0then\u00a0use\u00a0that
\nmomentum\u00a0to\u00a0move\u00a0into\u00a0new\u00a0areas\u00a0to\u00a0market\u00a0what\u00a0you\u00a0are\u00a0currently
\ndoing.\u00a0I\u00a0recommend\u00a0starting\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0plan\u00a0that\u00a0works\u00a0for\u00a0YOU.<\/p>\n

Building\u00a0a\u00a0plan\u00a0for\u00a0you\u00a0and\u00a0your\u00a0business…<\/p>\n

There\u00a0are\u00a0so\u00a0many\u00a0ways\u00a0you\u00a0can\u00a0build\u00a0your\u00a0business\u00a0plan.\u00a0But,\u00a0I
\nbelieve\u00a0the\u00a0most\u00a0important\u00a0thing\u00a0is\u00a0to\u00a0have\u00a0a\u00a0plan\u00a0and\u00a0stick\u00a0to\u00a0it.
\nThis\u00a0goes\u00a0with\u00a0what\u00a0we\u00a0have\u00a0been\u00a0discussing…\u00a0sticking\u00a0to\u00a0your
\nplan\u00a0helps\u00a0you\u00a0build\u00a0momentum…\u00a0and\u00a0that\u00a0momentum\u00a0will\u00a0help\u00a0your
\nbusiness\u00a0grow.<\/p>\n

Your\u00a0plan\u00a0doesn’t\u00a0have\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0fancy\u00a0and\u00a0complicated.\u00a0In\u00a0fact,\u00a0it
\ncould\u00a0be\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0list\u00a0of\u00a0things\u00a0you\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0implement.\u00a0Start\u00a0with
\none\u00a0and\u00a0master\u00a0it…\u00a0then\u00a0move\u00a0on\u00a0down\u00a0your\u00a0list.\u00a0Sometimes\u00a0there
\nmight\u00a0be\u00a0some\u00a0overlap\u00a0–\u00a0but,\u00a0remember,\u00a0the\u00a0idea\u00a0is\u00a0to\u00a0focus\u00a0and
\nbuild\u00a0momentum.<\/p>\n

Your\u00a0list\u00a0might\u00a0look\u00a0like\u00a0this:
\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0List\u00a0x\u00a0number\u00a0of\u00a0items\u00a0a\u00a0week.
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Start\u00a0a\u00a0blog\u00a0related\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0niche.
\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Add\u00a0a\u00a0mailing\u00a0list\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0blog
\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Create\u00a0an\u00a0email\u00a0follow\u00a0up\u00a0strategy\u00a0for\u00a0my\u00a0mailing\u00a0list
\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Create\u00a0an\u00a0ebook
\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0publish\u00a0ebook\u00a0on\u00a0Kindle\u00a0and\/or\u00a0clickbank\u00a0(I’m\u00a0leaning
\ntowards\u00a0Kindle\u00a0being\u00a0a\u00a0better\u00a0platform\u00a0for\u00a0immediate\u00a0exposure\u00a0and
\nresults)
\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0build\u00a0a\u00a0presence\u00a0on\u00a0facebook\u00a0for\u00a0my\u00a0business
\n8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Add\u00a0other\u00a0social\u00a0meda
\n9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0etc.,\u00a0etc…<\/p>\n

So\u00a0–\u00a0number\u00a01\u00a0–\u00a0‘list\u00a0x\u00a0number\u00a0of\u00a0items\u00a0a\u00a0week’\u00a0would
\ncontinue\u00a0through\u00a0while\u00a0you\u00a0build\u00a0a\u00a0blog,\u00a0write\u00a0an\u00a0ebook,\u00a0etc.<\/p>\n

Your\u00a0plan\u00a0will\u00a0probably\u00a0look\u00a0completely\u00a0different\u00a0than\u00a0what\u00a0I\u00a0have
\nabove…\u00a0but,\u00a0you\u00a0get\u00a0the\u00a0idea.<\/p>\n

I\u00a0know\u00a0I\u00a0talk\u00a0about\u00a0focus\u00a0and\u00a0planning\u00a0a\u00a0lot…\u00a0I\u00a0guess\u00a0that’s
\nbecause\u00a0I\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0reminded\u00a0of\u00a0it\u00a0constantly.\u00a0I\u00a0get\u00a0drawn\u00a0into
\nthe\u00a0next\u00a0best\u00a0thing\u00a0easily\u00a0but\u00a0have\u00a0learned\u00a0the\u00a0value\u00a0in\u00a0sticking
\nto\u00a0my\u00a0plan\u00a0even\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0feel\u00a0like\u00a0I\u00a0might\u00a0be\u00a0missing\u00a0out\u00a0on\u00a0the
\ncurrent\u00a0hip\u00a0marketing\u00a0venue.\u00a0If\u00a0I\u00a0spread\u00a0myself\u00a0too\u00a0thin\u00a0and
\ndon’t\u00a0finish\u00a0what\u00a0I\u00a0started…\u00a0or\u00a0don’t\u00a0remove\u00a0the\u00a0clutter
\nsometimes…\u00a0I\u00a0really\u00a0do\u00a0myself,\u00a0my\u00a0business,\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0customers\u00a0a
\ndis-service.<\/p>\n

Am\u00a0I\u00a0the\u00a0only\u00a0one\u00a0who\u00a0struggles\u00a0with\u00a0this?\u00a0What\u00a0is\u00a0your\u00a0biggest
\nstruggle\u00a0in\u00a0growing\u00a0your\u00a0business?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":null,"protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-370","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-thoughts-on-business"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jennihunt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/370","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jennihunt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jennihunt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jennihunt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jennihunt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=370"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jennihunt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/370\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":371,"href":"https:\/\/jennihunt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/370\/revisions\/371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jennihunt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=370"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jennihunt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=370"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jennihunt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=370"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}