Photo / Thinkstock
One of the most frustrating things in life is when you get all fired up and decide to make some big improvements in your results.
So you set goals to get in great physical shape, improve your business results, spend a lot more time with your family etc.
You are motivated and for a few days everything goes well.
Then within a few weeks (or months) you notice yourself drifting back to exactly where you started from.
What you need to stop this happening is something I call 'Success Insurance'.
'Success Insurance' is helpful to keep you on track with your new goals and habits.
Here's one way to get 'Success Insurance' that works well...
Get a Support Group of like-minded people and meet with them regularly for both learning and inspiration.
This works well in any area you want to improve in.
Here's a good example...
Many years ago I decided I wanted to learn to be able to speak well in front of a group of people.
So I joined Toastmasters.
Every week I went to a Toastmasters meeting and I had to speak for at least a minute in front of a group. I also received coaching and recommendations after giving each talk.
I also observed dozens of other people giving talks and receiving coaching and recommendations in the same time period.
Over a six month period I managed to get quite good at speaking in front of groups.
One of the reasons that a support group like Toastmasters works so well is that all the members are committed to the same thing - learning how to speak well in front of a group.
Toastmaster's gives you courage and teaches you how to become a better public speaker.
And it's all done in a very positive and friendly environment.
You get a lot of practice and you also see other people improve as well.
The same support group concept applies equally well in business:
If you want to make dramatic improvements in your business results get a small group of successful business people together and arrange to meet with them on a regular basis.
Share your business successes and challenges with this group and ask for input and ideas from them as well.
You can do this yourself and you can also get involved with groups like this that have already been set up.
'Do it yourself' support group:
Stephen Martin is a Web Design and Search Engine Specialist.
He contacted me recently and invited me to participate in a business support group that he had set up.
It has 8 business owners from different industries.
And we all meet for breakfast every two weeks for ideas, input and inspiration.
This works very well because I get positive input from other group members along with helpful feedback and encouragement.
'Done for you' support group:
There are a large number of business support groups that have already been set up to help their members improve their business results.
A good example is something I heard about recently called the 'Love to Grow Business Leadership Programme'
The 'Love to Grow Business Leadership programme' shows small business owners and managers how to regain enjoyment of their business, assume control of its activities and grow their profits.
It brings together New Zealand's best SME experts in leadership, marketing, branding, legal, HR, systems, sales, risk management, business psychology and finance.
The programme is delivered via an easy combination of group workshops, one on one subject matter meetings, buddy sessions and monthly financial coaching to identify the issues and develop an improvement programme tailored to each individual business.
And they have achieved some impressive improvements for their business members.
Having a support group of like-minded business people helping you is definitely worth considering.
You can set up your own support group or find a 'done for you' support group that is a good fit for you and what you do.
Either way, it's a useful way to get some 'success insurance'.
'People achieve more as a result of working with others than against them'
Dr. Allan Fromme
Action Exercise:
What important goal would it be helpful for you to have a support group of positive people for? Who are some people that you can talk to or meet with on a regular basis that would help you with this goal?