Each targets a different audience, and has a different set of products and services.  And here’s what I’ve noticed about this year.

I’ve had to learn a ton. As a successful professional speaker for the past 16 years, I know about speaking.  As a consultant and executive coach for the last 25 years, I know about coaching and about how to get people to their goals.

Yet, the world of internet marketing and all that goes along with it was new  to me.  I had a steep learning curve.  I knew nothing about sales pages, auto responders, joint ventures, telesummits, list building, and all that goes into what I needed to know to build Big Impact Speaking.

I needed to meet new people, learn new things, attend new events, network differently, and be willing to stretch myself. I could rely on what’s served me well all these years.

You see, it all started with a decision.  Once I decided to start this company, I knew that I would do what it took to learn what I needed to learn for it to be successful.  I invested in myself.  I hired coaches who understood the internet marketing world.  I read. I studied. I learned.

In today’s world, it’s “growth or stagnation.” We must be willing to continually evolve, to innovate and reinvent, to move beyond our comfort zones and step into the unknown. That’s the path to success. 

So here are some lessons I’ve learned this year. 

1. It starts with a decision.  Nothing happens until you make a decision.  I’d been considering starting Big Impact Speaking for several months.  I toyed with the idea. I dreamed about it. Nothing much happened.

But once I made the decision, I went into action. I figured out what I had to do.  And I began to do it.

2.  You have to be all in.  The path before me seemed a bit daunting.  But I was all in.  I knew I would do whatever it took.  I would learn what I needed to learn, and do what I needed to do.  I was on a mission—to help entrepreneurs learn to use speaking to get more clients, make more money, and have a bigger impact.  And I was super focused on helping as many entrepreneurs as I could.

3.  Strategy rocks!  There are a lot of moving parts in any business. There are a lot of opportunities and bright shiny objects that could be pursued (and I love me some bright, shiny objects!).

Having a strategy, and taking the action steps to make that strategy a reality keeps me focused. 

4.  It takes a village.  I wrote about this in my newsletter a couple of weeks ago. You can read the post here if you missed it. http://www.feistywomenrock.com/got-a-village.html   I’ve finally learned that I can’t do it all. I have a fabulous team and great resources that help me make it all happen.

5.  Become more.  With every thing I learn, every stretch goal I accomplish, every new thing I create, I evolve.  I reach more of my potential.  I grow.  I’m able to help more people.  I “rinse and repeat” and grow some more.  It’s exhilarating!

So what about you?

• Are you willing to grow, to evolve, to move out of your comfort zone?
• And what will you do TODAY to begin to make that happen?

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Over these last few weeks, I’ve been working with an organization that is undergoing a huge amount of change. They’re looking at changing their organizational culture,  the way services are delivered, and the way they’re organized.

I’ve had the opportunity to teach their leadership team how to lead change, and to deliver a “How to Thrive and Stay Sane in the Midst of Change” workshop for all of their employees.

When I came across Eric Shinseki’s quote, I knew I had to share it with this organization.  And I knew I had to share it with you.

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

The nice thing about staying in our comfort zone is that we get to be, well, comfortable. We can relax, put it on “cruise control” and never really have to stretch or feel hesitant, anxious, or insecure. We know where we’re headed, what to do, and how to do it. It’s easy.

It’s also a recipe for staying stuck, for not growing, and for not tapping all of our passions and gifts.

Whether we are a business owner, or are employed in an organization, remaining in our comfort zones is a sure path to irrelevance.  And a quick one.

Be Willing to Continually Reinvent Yourself

The world is changing at an unprecedented pace. Those who excel in today’s environment have several things in common:

A willingness to learn something new every day. Do you set aside time to read blogs, listen to teleseminars, read books, attend events, watch webinars? Are you growing and learning and staying ahead of the curve? Are you staying relevant?

A commitment to being unique. In today’s world, you can’t be a commodity.  You can’t be just like everyone else.  You have to stand out, be known for something, be the go-to person for the area of your expertise.  You have to have expertise, and then add your own sumtin’ sumptin’ to make it unique.

The ability to be flexible and to adapt. Markets change. Customer needs are ever evolving. Consumers are faced with a mind-blowing array of choices.  Those who excel stay on the leading edge. They ask their customers what they need. They innovate. They are willing to change and reinvent themselves.

A clear message that they communicate in multiple forums.  Be clear about what you stand for what others can count on you for. Build your reputation. Be visible. Then be more visible.

An emphasis on relationships. In the end, it’s all about relationships. It’s about how you can help other people.  Whether through your services, your products, or just your presence, it’s about how you can be of service to other people. Be amazing at follow up, at staying in touch, at sharing what you can offer to help others.

Seize the Moment- NOW!

“If you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevance even less.”

Please don’t read this post and say to yourself, “Hey, those were some good ideas,” and then go back into the safety of your comfort zone. Identify one BOLD step (and if that’s too scary, one small step) that will take you toward the success you dream of, and away from irrelevance.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. What’s one change you can make to make you more successful, and reduce your chances of becoming irrelevant? Share it below.

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