1. Are you cloning yourself through teaching others? If you want to be in the right place at the right time, start by being in a lot of places. Self-duplication wins.
2. Are you growth minded? If you’re not, that’s cool. But I urge you to get the hell out of this business. Whatever business you’re in. Growth AIN’T optional.
3. At what point are you making a living vs. building your business? Crucial turning point for entrepreneurs. Lightens your wallet, but loads up your legacy. Equity, not money.
4. Does this client represent long-term business potential? If not, it may be time to pass him along to someone else. Think 14th sale.
5. How are you being stretched and forced to grow? If you can’t come up with at least twenty answers to this question, you need (1) A new job, (2) A new boss, or (3) A new coach. Streeeeeeeeeetching builds muscle.
6. How are you making sure that everything you do is leading to something else you do? That’s the crucial leverage question. Recognize movement value.
7. How are you typecasting yourself? If so, you might be stunting
your growth. Think Napoleon Dynamite.
8. How can you use this to add more value to yourself? Another great leverage question. Add value daily.
9. How do you self-renew? Part of growth is starting from scratch. The willingness to swallow your ego and become a beginning once again. Drawing boards ahead!
10. How often are you bringing in work that improves your skills and keeps you competitive? Challenge yourself. Stretch yourself. See what you’re made of. Emphasize grow-related experiments.
11. In what ways are you currently obsolete? Don’t be naïve. You KNOW there’s at least one. Upgrade something today.
12. What are the most important things for you to work on that will grow your business the fastest? Make a list of those things. Post that list in a visible location in your office. Then make sure anything you’re doing at any given time is congruent with that list. Easy peezy, japaneezy.
13. What are you doing in the next five years that’s going to set you up for the next ten years? Think smart. Think ahead. Think about your kids. Think about your kid’s kids. Think about your retirement. Start planning early.
14. What are you doing to prepare for the next phase? Wait. You’re telling me that there IS no next phase? Wow. Maybe you should stop reading. Think about it.
15. What kind of clients would you like to have in three years? Now you know what to look for when it crosses your path. Affirm to attract.
16. What kind of work would you like to be doing in three years? Knowing that, you can spend the next three years mastering the competencies that will enable you do that kind of work effortlessly. Anticipate the future.
17. What new markets should you be entering? Since you ARE reinventing yourself every 3-4 years, consider new types of customers that you never would have thought of. Let them choose.
18. What percentage of your revenues this year came from products and services you didn’t offer three years ago? Ha! Not much, right? Diversity is equity.
19. What’s next? Most important two-word question you could ever ask, ever-ever-EVER. What IS next?
20. What’s your sequel? Do you think Friday the 13th would have been any good if they stopped at ONE? Never go away.
21. When was the last time you brought new skills to your clients and prospects? They’re tired of the same old song and dance. Show ‘em something NEW for once! Newness is attractive.
22. When was the last time you created new value? If your answer is anything over ‘six months,’ please email me immediately. Write [email protected] today.
23. When was the last time your business embraced change and did something innovative? Ya big chicken. Grow a pair.
24. Will it make your company more competitive? If not, why even bother? Nice litmus test.
