Tightening Our Circle of Influence

“When you are seeking to bring big plans to fruition it is important with whom you regularly associate. Hang out with friends who are like-minded and who are also designing purpose-filled lives. Similarly be that kind of a friend for your friends.” – Mark Twain

Strategies abound this time of year and with the exception of our preferred weight, most are focused on "increase". We talk about increasing our income, the size of our business, our knowledge, our influence, etc. As I look toward 2016, there is one specific area in which I plan to make a substantial reduction -- associations. On the surface it might sound somewhat negative, but in reality it is a necessary strategy.

Where we spend our time and who we spend our time with, are important factors in maximizing our effectiveness and ultimately, the profitability of our business. We need to get out and tell our story. We need to build trust with key referral partners and strategic alliances. We also need to be sure we are doing so with the right people, in the right places, at the right time, and for the right reasons. All meetings, events, and associations are not created equal -- and the longer we're in business the more apparent this becomes. Our goal is not to simply fill the marketing calendar, but to leverage it. It is a matter of quality over quantity. And while we somewhat instinctively know this to be true, a careful examination of our current practices can be somewhat eye-opening.

Our circle of influence, and the people we allow to be a part of it, can be a great predictor of our business success -- or at the very least impact the rate at which we grow professionally and personally. We definitely need to find good mentors and like-minded people, but we also need to be selective in terms of how these associations fit into our goals, plans, and strategies. We need to constantly ask ourselves whether this association or this group is moving us toward our objectives or pushing us farther away. We simply cannot be all things to all people and tightening the circle helps us invest our time, talents, and treasure more effectively -- which substantially increases the quality of our business relationships and quite possibly, our reputation.

Is it time to take a meaningful look at your associations and where your business development time is spent? Is what you see truly what you want? Is it time to make some changes and tighten up the circle? For me, the answer is yes.

Your comments are always welcome and appreciated.

Also featured on LinkedIn on 12/29/2015

About the Author: Terry Crouson is the Owner and Head Coach at Silver Coach Solutions, LLC and is currently doing business as The Growth Coach of West Metro Detroit. He is dedicated to helping business owners, entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and self-employed professionals find their way by finding their why. He is a highly respected business coach, speaker, facilitator, and community builder. Terry is certified in the Strategic Mindset Process, and is also a Certified Behavioral Consultant. As a member of LIFE Leadership, he is passionate about helping people from all walks of life discover the joy of learning, the joy of leading, and the joy of building a profitable business.

Do You Hear What I...

"I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say today will teach me anything. So if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening." -- Larry King

I swallowed a little hard when I first read this quote from Larry King. As a business coach, speaker, and facilitator, I find myself frequently talking about the benefits of effective listening, and there lies the rub. Even though the subject matter is about hearing and listening, at that moment, I am doing all the talking. Now, I understand that is my role at that time and break-out exercises will certainly give participants a chance to practice their own listening skills. But, it is the link between listening and learning that caught my attention, here.

Those who know me well, and probably even those who don't know me as well can tell you I like to talk. If you ask me, I'll tell you that I like to teach and so talking is a big part of the teaching process-- and certainly it has its time and place. So does listening -- and I mean listening with a closed mouth and an open mind. While I may in some respects be preaching to the choir, I'm really preaching to myself and reminding myself of my commitment to learn something new and hopefully, from someone new, every day. My love for "teaching" is most likely pushing me to talk too much at times when a little listening might just be what is needed most.

I really hate to think about the nuggets of wisdom I may have missed in my eagerness to share what I know. Worse yet, I hate to think about the number of people who may have given up trying to share those nuggets of wisdom.

One of my main goals for 2016 is to work harder at becoming a more effective listener and a more effective student of the wonderful information available to me. I will ask some trusted advisers to monitor me and hold me accountable for making some of the crucial adjustments in this important area. I want to talk less and listen more. I'm looking forward to what I can learn by following a better listening process.

Actually, while we are talking about it, I'd like hear what YOU think about the subject.

About the Author: Terry Crouson is the Owner and Head Coach at Silver Coach Solutions, LLC and is currently doing business as The Growth Coach of West Metro Detroit. He is dedicated to helping business owners, entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and self-employed professionals find their way by finding their why. He is a highly respected business coach, speaker, facilitator, and community builder. Terry is certified in the Strategic Mindset Process, and is also a Certified Behavioral Consultant. As a member of LIFE Leadership, he is passionate about helping people from all walks of life discover the joy of learning, the joy of leading, and the joy of building a profitable business.