Mari Broman's "The Column"

Ah yes, a New Year dawns so…
Resolutions or Actions???

The New Year brings with it promise of new challenges, new skills learned, and new roads traveled.
I worked in sales many years and I remember one year the company I represented encouraged us to look at the dates January 1-7 as a sort of push week. With extra efforts that week they assured us we could start a fabulous year. So those of us that decided to try it were taught how to fill that Sunday to Saturday with solid sales contacts.
The company offered many incentives to the customers that week and many incentives to us sales people. This sales job was strictly commission so if you didn't work you received no income.
I decided I would really push that week after the holidays were over. So I did the preliminary contacts and set appointments. I reminded everyone of the time slots and the incentives if orders were received in the time allowed. I made sure everyone had books and order forms or tools to make sure they could reach the amount of sales they had chosen after I had coached them to set an actual amount.
All went well, most every contact held and sales came in quite easily,. The week ended up being a record breaker for me, more then twice the amount I had done in a previous push week. The sales meeting for that week was wonderful, as I came home with prizes, and bonuses including a ruby and diamond ring I had won in a special drawing for achievers.
It was lots of fun, and great memories.
But why was this week so successful? As we talk about resolutions and new plans, and goals for the New Year in January what made this week better then other weeks.
-Dates-time specifics-certain slots available
-Tools were given -books order forms-contact times
-Goals were set-actual sales amounts to shoot for
-Incentives-for the customer-the order taker-the sales person
As anyone can see this was a structured, organized, time specific, action oriented set of tasks that were completed.
So in considering your New Years resolution remember to make a road map to the destination, add organization, specificity and structure then as Nike says "Just Do It".

The Best to you in 2006!!!