by guest blogger Lisa Marie Platske, www.LeadershipSuccessSummit.com
Born with the gift of hospitality, I fell in love with the art of leadership in my teens. Leadership is influence — nothing more and nothing less. As a small business owner, leadership can be the difference between a waiting list for your services, and happy, successful clients, or just eeking by.
Ask yourself, where are you headed? Who is following you? Are you going someplace worth following?
Sometimes it’s just a little tweak, sometimes it’s a major overhaul of where you are but change is part of being a small business owner.
Unfortunately, many people aren’t sure where to start. Through my years of working with success minded entrepreneurs, I’ve narrowed it down to 7 key areas to guide unprecedented success. I’ve seen so many businesses try and fail, but with a simple refocusing onto these 7 steps, lives have been changed. Failure to have these 7 areas in place will cost you up to 21 hours a week, and tens of thousands of dollars a month. Can you really afford that?
1. Create a Written Plan
Know what you want and why you want it. Then, write it down!
2. Know Thy Personality
Be aware of your strengths and understand how your personality affects what you want and the process of getting it. Identify the 5 traits that are your strengths and what make you uniquely you AND identify the 5 traits that get in the way of your success. If you aren’t sure, ask someone close to you what they would change about you if they could. You may be surprised. Then, choose one action that you will work on to move you towards being the best version of you.
3. Create powerful Partnerships
Invest in what you do best and network the rest. Create powerful partnerships through shared interactions. Create a board of advisors who can help you see the blindspots you might be missing or the strengths you need to tap into.
4. Presence
Understand how your physical image affects getting what you want. Hire someone to help you look great, even if you think you already do. Be present to life’s miracles, lest you miss out on living your life to the fullest. Have an attitude of gratitude and be grateful for the challenges as well as the opportunities. And, choose to be kind over choosing to be right. Employ the 15-second rule.
5. Set Your Priorities
Identify where you are spending the best hours of your day and ensure that you are in alignment with your values. Are you REALLY walking your talk? Your priorities will reveal what you truly value.
6. Chart Your Progress
Evaluate! Evaluate! Evaluate! Examine your P&L statements, and spend time identifying what is working and what is getting in the way.
7. Invest in Personal/Professional Development
Life-long learning is critical to your success. Leaders are readers, and learners are earners. What will you do to further develop who you are to get you closer to your definition of success?
In a changing world, what are you investing in or doing differently ensure that you get the results you want in business and in life?
May you experience incredible success as you choose to lead yourself personally and professionally in a manner that inspires others to do the same!
Lisa Marie Platske, creator of the Leadership Success Summit
About the author:
Lisa Marie Platske, President of Upside Thinking, Inc and creator of the Leadership Success Summit is an award-winning entrepreneur and dynamic inspirational speaker/trainer, known for her contagious high energy. In addition to conducting seminars throughout the U.S., she works one-on-one with coaching clients on her “Gateway to Greatness: Million-Dollar Make-over” 7-step leadership process. Client results include tripling their income, and up to 3 “extra” hours in their day. She is the author of Designing Your Destiny: Achieving Personal and Professional Success which has been hailed as “life-changing” by clients and colleagues alike. Her most recent book, Connection: The New Currency was released in August 2011. Visit Lisa Marie live by attending the annual Leadership Success Summit and put her 7 Pillars to work in your business and life.
