Committing To Your Business

Do you ever go to exhibitions or conferences, and end up coming home with every free cup, mousemat, stress ball and pack of candies?

Of course you did - in fact it is not unusual to end up with one of the free bags given out in order to carry the things that you pick up from every stall.

But how many do you use?

How many stay in the bag because you actually have no use for it?

You got it because it was free and well, why not?

Online goodies are also on the rise - free courses, workshops, and downloads.

All it takes is your email address.

And you may be tempted to sign up for all of it - because well, why not?

But take a step back before you give your email address away too freely.

First, almost every free pack you will be given is a way to get your email address for further promotions.

Some of it may be useful, but most will end up in spam with you forgetting how they got your email address in the first place.

Second, it can feel really empowering to give yourself a goal of completing lots of programs and workshops that are going to help you take your business to the next level.

But it can also become the items on your to do list that just sit in judgement on you, knowing you will never do them.

For the sake of your to do list and inbox, think strategically about what help you really need this year.

Where is your focus?

What will take your business to the next level?

Research a number of free offerings before selecting one.

Just one.

Then schedule the time to complete the course into your calendar.

Don't just promise yourself to get it done - commit to it.

Your business won't improve through a list of courses you signed up to just because they were free.

Just as much as your desk really doesn't need a mountain of stress balls.