Winter, wood and wool coats

It's getting colder. Jackets thicken while energy bills rise.

That's winter in Canada. Every year it comes and every year, I dread it. But it comes and I know it.

Dad was recently hospitalized with some respiratory problems. While visiting, he told me he didn't have his wood cut yet. This little setback was going to be a problem. It's his main source of heat for survival.

Come to find out, dad wasn't talking about this winter. He was talking about next winter. He's preparing for 12 months ahead of time.

Not all of us plan that far ahead.

Forget about winter and wood and wool coats.
Have you planned out your next 12 month marketing plan?
Do you know what road you're going to use and what kind of car is going to get you there?

January is still a month away but planning can be done any time. Don't wait until the new year to decide what's next.

Formulate your strategic direction. Understand what can take you there. And in the wise words of Larry the Cable Guy, "Git r done".

Someone asked me this morning, "Given the uncertainty of the economy, is it a good time to be in business".

The best time to be in business was 10 years ago. The second best time is today. Do you want to know when the third best time is going to be?

Get the jacket on. Warm up, snuggle next to the fire. Boil a cup of cocoa. And know where you're driving this business of yours.

It's easy to get wrapped up in the day to day grind.
It's easy to delay planning in exchange for doing.

You know as well as anyone, the easy stuff doesn't get the best results.
Do the hard thing. Steven Covey called it, "Move the big rocks" in his book "7 Habits of Highly Effective People".

Strategy is a big rock.

But here's the bad news.
You can't do the strategy on your own.
You're too close to it.
You're biased.
If you try to do it, it will be watered down, ineffective and a waste of money.

This isn't a sales pitch. I don't need your business.

Just trying to help out a friend in need.

I'll give you my jacket if you really need one and can't afford it.
In my experience, you'd complain about the colour and would toss it away after the first week, if I gave it to you.