Whether you are enjoy fishing or not, undoubtedly, you have dropped a line in the water at least once in your life. The parallels that exist between fishing and business are quite obvious.
1. Are you fishing in the right spot? Throwing a line into a pile of garbage may not be the best tactic for pulling in the kind of fish that you desire. The same is true for your business. Are you "fishing" for your ideal clients where they are, or where you feel most comfortable? I don't mean just the physical location. Are you tapping into the mental mindset that you customer has? Where are they at?
2. Business is down. Time to stop training and marketing. Yes folks, this belief embodies a special kind of stupid. Would it make sense to pull the bait off of your line if the fish were not biting? (Note: this is different than changing the bait) Most people realize that Fish= Bait + Location + Technique. Businesses (this includes solo-preneurs such as realtors, mortgage professionals, and network marketers) Need to realize that Sales = Marketing + Training + Branding.
The groups that are doing the best in their peer group in this economy realize that training and coaching are an investment, not an expense.
3. A line in the water while boating at 30 mph is not going to work too well. Neither will using the same "time tested" marketing and training techniques that worked several years ago. The most effective marketers understand that multiple step marketing tactics are essential to their success.
Continue growing your skills by investing in yourself. Great ideas really don't care where they come from. I would suggest that you chart your efforts, and modify as needed.
