Clayton Makepeace has released the latest issue of ‘Total Package’. The featured article by Troy White is titled “Why Are You So Damn Hard to Get a Hold Of?”. [‘Entrepreneurship’ Article]


Clayton Makepeace has released the latest issue of ‘Total Package’.

The featured article:

Why Are You So Damn Hard to Get a Hold Of?

by Troy Whit

Fellow Business-Builder,

Lots of people ask me why I am so difficult to reach.

I answer … “By design, of course.”

I have lost many a potential client by my … ahem … difficult ways.

I don’t answer the phone.

I don’t jump to respond to any and every prospective client e-mail.

I am just a royal pain in the arse to do business with.

Why?

Granted, what I am about to describe here “˜won’t work’ for many … their business model is different.

But, I challenge you on that.

No matter what your business is, marketing is your business. If you aren’t marketing, you aren’t growing.

So if you aren’t giving yourself room to think, without constant interruption, how can you possibly create new marketing systems?

You can’t.

Which is why I don’t understand people who are tied to their cell phone 24×7.

Or always checking the stupid crackberry every time it bellows an order at you to check for new e-mails and texts.

Or those who justify the six hours a day they spend Twittering or Friending themselves.

You just can’t get things done like that.

Things are moving at a frantic pace out there.

The economy is sputtering along.

People are busier than ever.

Distractions abound.

But …

… opportunities have never been greater for marketers.

There are more media channels available.

There are some incredible deals on advertising.

There are some incredible opportunities in areas that others are plain old ignoring (like the one client of mine who is running quarter page ads in a woman’s magazine, with little to no real competition, and is getting 3-5 quality ladies visiting his retail store every single day, thanks to that ad. His first month in business … $60k in sales … not bad for high priced products in a recession! Average purchase price is $1,000.)

So if you are so busy reacting to everything around you, how will you EVER find the real opportunities to grow your business?

I personally have my phone shut off.

I am not tied to e-mail.

I don’t have my e-mail going to my cell phone.

I don’t Twitter myself.

I much prefer doing things that give me a return on my business.

… like focus time on marketing. Time locked away far from distraction, so that I actually CAN put together plans and campaigns.

… like a daily regiment on writing. Every single day, I invest hours writing. For myself. For my clients. For my products.

The question you are asking may be … what if I run a business where I MUST be in reactive mode throughout the day?

First thing, does it have to be you that answers every request? Really? There is almost always an opportunity to bring in someone to help with your customer and prospect communication. They can help weed out some of the chafe.

But, if there is absolutely no possible way you can outsource some of that … you need to do something dramatic.

If you have to be in reactive mode throughout the day (really?), then you have to make the time outside of regular business hours.

Entrepreneurs typically are the hardest workers out there … so this isn’t asking much of you.

You do need to set aside a couple hours a day for focus time.

No phone calls.

No e-mail.

No social media time suckers.

Think about the opportunities around you.

Areas you can improve.

Things you aren’t doing that you should be.

Ways you can get in front of the people who make up your ideal client profile.

Two hours a day is a GREAT start.

If you invest that, you are FAR ahead of 99.9% of your competitors.

I have a challenge for you …

For the next week, set aside two hours a day (take Sunday off :o). Make a sign on your door, or on the table next to you that ensures everyone who could distract you … doesn’t. Invest that time in your marketing.

Think about new headlines you could be testing.

New marketing campaigns you have always wanted to do.

New markets you think would be a great fit, but have never gone after.

Two hours a day.

Not exactly earth shattering.

But I guarantee your two hours a day focus will give you some incredible returns.

If you are in a business that allows this during regular hours … start shutting yourself off from the outside world.

There is nothing more liberating than having your phone and e-mail shut off for … gasp … and entire day.

The world won’t stop spinning.

Your business won’t implode.

But you will get a new outlook on where your time has been going and what you could be accomplishing.

One last thing ““ add a timer into your day. Use the Eugene Schwartz tool of a 33 minute timer.

Need to write? Set your timer for 33 minutes and just write. No distractions allowed.

Need to get that video done? You got 33 minutes ““ get it done.

I realize this is nothing new … but ARE YOU DOING IT?

I get frustrated with entrepreneurs who complain about lagging sales, yet find out that invest less than an hour a week in actual content creation or marketing.

Don’t be that person.

Just get it done and do what you know what needs to be done.

Do it for a week … and see what’s really possible.

One week … that’s all I ask.

You are a smart person, you know that real success comes from doing the simple things… not by following all the magic bullet b.s. that is floating around all over the net.

Time management and focus like this is simple… yet few actually DO IT.

Be the one that does.

Let me know how it goes.

To your success,

Troy White

Editor, Small Business Mastery

Supplement to THE TOTAL PACKAGE

Troy White is a top marketing coach, consultant & direct response copywriter based in Calgary, Canada. He has a powerful approach to growing small businesses and entrepreneurial run ventures on a budget. His FREE Cash Flow Surges newsletter shares tons of great strategies.

He also publishes the incredibly powerful Cash Flow Calendar system that gives you daily, weekly and monthly marketing ideas to promote your business and stand out from the crowd. Click here to get your free tips for growing your business!

Attribution Statement: This article was first published in The Total Package. To sign-up to receive your own FREE subscription to The Total Package and claim four FREE money making e-books go to www.makepeacetotalpackage.com.

The Total Package

*IMNewsWatch would like to thank Clayton Makepeace for granting permission to reprint this article.

Sharing is caring