Life can be busy, especially for an entrepreneur. There seems to be a never-ending list of things vying for your attention. But the best entrepreneurs, the ones creating seriously impressive results, can look past the chaos of the moment and see what most can’t!
They see what’s coming NEXT!
Clearly there is a balancing act that all entrepreneurs face between the present and the future. The reality is if you are so consumed by the now, then your chances of longer term success may be diminished.
You see, we must be able to see both points in time, both present and future, if we are truly to succeed.
The world is an ever evolving and changing place.
It was once common place for people to smoke in their office; now that is a thing of the past. Alcohol was advertised widely at sporting events; not anymore. And people made sure they got the necessary cash out of the bank before it closed on Friday; now we can access an ATM at our leisure.
Every marketplace is changing and evolving.
The expectations of your buyers are SHIFTING.
The once all dominant retail giants are being replaced by smaller, more nimble online retailers. The powerhouses of the Australian automotive industry have lost their mantel as our favourite car companies.
The changes are happening all around us, constantly, in every industry imaginable, but perhaps like so many others, you have been too busy working to notice?
The question is, what is NEXT for you?
What is it that will propel you to the next level?
Do you need to hire someone? Develop a system to automate a recurring task?
Develop a new program or acquire a new skill?
What is the NEXT thing your customers will be looking for that you don’t currently offer, but if you did, they would pay you handsomely?
If you have no time to see NEW and ALTERNATIVE ways of doing and thinking, then you could be placing yourself unwittingly on the path to becoming redundant.
It is something I have witnessed repeatedly in the speaking and consulting world. People who hurtled to stardom achieving accolades and notoriety, only to find they come plummeting back to earth at the same breakneck speed in which they rose.
In the world of marketing, one of the most powerful words is NEW.
People are always interested in knowing what the latest trend or idea is. But there is a reality that everything that was once new eventually becomes old. What is cool and trendy today will be tomorrow’s daggy (just ask anyone with an apricot coloured bathroom).
Take for example the topic of leadership.
Leadership is by no means a new concept. People have been delivering leadership training in one shape or another for decades. While the topic of leadership remains highly relevant, what has changed are the labels and approaches that have been used and practiced.
Here is a short list of examples: classroom style training programs, experiential team building programs, leadership retreats, journaling, 360 degree feedback, individual coaching and mentoring and emotional intelligence for leaders.
While the message to market has remained the same for 50+ years that leaders need training, the methods and nature of the training being delivered has varied substantially.
There is always something new on the horizon, a different approach to solving a common problem, and consumers are always looking for a better way.
While the truth may be that there is little difference between some of these approaches, it is incumbent on you as an entrepreneur to ensure you are on the crest of the new wave, and not lost in the wash behind it.
It was Peter Drucker who said, “Business only has two primary purposes: marketing and innovation, everything else is details.”
As entrepreneurs, it is important to be constantly be innovating, not only your marketing, but everything you do.
When we get so busy doing what we are doing, we can easily miss all the warning signs of what is coming NEXT!
One of the keys to marketing success is being first in the mind of your buyer, so it pays to be at the front end of an innovation rather than the tail end.
Despite the constant busyness we all face as entrepreneurs, it’s vital therefore you continue to lift your gaze from the day to day operations of your business and make the time to look at what is coming next in your space.
Who knows, if you allow yourself a little time to stop and think about the future, you might be the one who finds the NEXT BIG THING.
Good luck.