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So you have an idea? What to do next? Well you think about everything that can go wrong. You worry about how it will affect everyone…yourself included. You do research…maybe read a few books. But ultimately you do nothing because you can’t decide whether it’s the right thing to do.

You know what I mean? You analyze and think so much and eventually do NOTHING!

It’s the wrong time, you’re broke, what if people don’t like me! Good lord we drive ourselves nuts worrying about what might happen instead of actually DOING something. Most of the things we worry about never happen.

All this spinning around actually gives us the illusion that we are getting somewhere. I do it. So do other people I know. It’s a lie. So what’s stopping us?

Fear.

Fear of failure. Fear of success. Who knows, it’s different for everyone.

So what would happen if we took the risk? Just went for it? Well, if we failed we would end up back where we started but at least we took a leap. Not doing it well; we’d still be in the same place. But only then we’d be wondering what would happen if we had. We might even still keep doing “research”.

Just stop. Failure doesn’t kill you. It might feel soul crushing at times but ultimately it’s a growth experience.

Take a risk. Start with something small and build to the stuff outside your comfort zone.

Start today.

If not now, when?

You do NOT have to have everything figured out in order to succeed in business. You just have to know what the next question is, and who to ask. – Pamela Slim

That quote applies to life as a whole in my opinion. We don’t have to have all the answers to be happy and fulfilled.

There is a simple formula to start with “I help…” and what ever it is you do for your target market. Another way according to IIise Benun, author of Self Promotion Online, is to come up with a 10 word blurb in various ways. First by asking the questions “What do you do”, then “For whom” and finally “What do they get”. You then write the blurb from the problem-solving perspective.

Your “who and do what” is an important part of your marketing strategy. If you can’t explain what you do to someone they won’t see any value in your services.

Spending time crafting different ways of explaining what you do to others is important. It helps you focus on who you really want to work with and what your target audience needs to hear in order to trust you.

I went to Advertising Week a few weeks ago and picked up a booklet produced by Google. The booklet had information about Google’s history but what I found most interesting was their formula for success.

10 things Google has found to be true:

1. Focus on the user and all else will follow
2. It’s best to do one thing really, really well
3. Fast is better than slow
4. Democracy on the web works
5. You don’t need to be at your desk to need an answer
6. You can make money without doing evil
7. There’s always more information out there
8. The need for information crosses all borders
9. You can be serious without a suit
10. Great just isn’t good enough

I love number 9 since I know that to be true but on the other hand you can wear a suit and not be boring. I also think that number 6 is a great goal. I think in recent years Google has come under fire for being a monopoly.

I am inspired to come up with my own formula for success. Acknowledging my current successes will help to create more in the future.