Get out of your rut!

Definition of a rut- It is a grave with both ends kicked out. It goes on and on and on… Stop the cycle, be intentional and make things happen!

Just last week I talked with a good customer of mine who is an executive of a wholesale company; which is in need of driving sales as the economy slowly bounces back. Sound familiar? One strategy is to have the CEO and founder go visit their almost 600 retail outlets. Yes, literally walk through the doors and reconnect on a personal basis. Lights are out in his office and might be off for quite some time. Early financial returns are in, business in that market segment is up almost 25% and that is giving this company an early cash jolt in 2010.

Also, last Monday, I had the opportunity to have dinner with a CEO of a global sales company. His company seems to be flat in their major markets which are North America, Europe and Asia and growing in the merging markets like the Middle East and Eastern Europe; but this really is only a short term solution. Their sales team is in a rut and they need to wake up, stand up, show up and write up new orders!

Dale Carnegie often said, and we teach it in our executive training…“if you act enthusiastically you will be enthusiastic!” So with enthusiasm, get up out of the rut you or your company may be in. Do not become victims by blaming the economy or other individuals within and out of your organization. Instead, be empowered to take the necessary action to realize your desired outcomes.

The Basics: Action Plan!
1. Review or re-write your vision—your aspirations and values
2. Set major goals or outcomes you desire to achieve
3. For each outcome, write a corresponding current reality
4. Stare at the gap between your reality and your desired outcomes
5. Get mad…start a fire in your belly
6. Clearly make a list of the activities you must do to get from here to there
7. Prioritize your actions
8. Take action and GO!

Oh! Which part of GO did you not understand?!?!