Apr/090
You, Inc
If you were a business, could you survive?
Funny thing is…
We ARE in business for ourselves, and each one of our lives is susceptible to business principles. Let’s look at the 8 Pillars of Management and how you would compete if you were a business.
1. Money
How is your cash flow? With a growing number of Americans in debt, managing your money is more important than ever. Rather than trying to keep up with the “Jones’s”, how about living like no one else, so later in life you can “live like no one else”.
2. Leadership
This might sound a little silly, but how are you at leading yourself? I wouldn’t tell too many other people that you do this, but it’s no secret that we do a lot of talking to ourselves. What are you saying to yourself? Positive self-talk can lead to a positive self worth and getting everything you want out of life. Somebody has to be great…why can’t it be you?
3. Management
Time management is a myth. You can’t manage time because it’s finite. You can only manage yourself. If you were to break your time into chunks, what would those chunks look like? Are you watching too much TV, checking needless emails, or surfing the web for ridiculous videos? If you really sit down and think about what you are actually getting accomplished everyday, that list might be smaller than you imagined. Remember to stop “playing busy” and focus on what is actually getting done.
4. Sales
A hard thought to swallow is the fact that we are always selling ourselves. We sell ourselves to our boss, our employees, our spouses or potential spouses, and every new person we meet. We even have to sell ourselves to ourselves, yikes! What are you doing to add value to the product (you)? How could you get better at communicating your value to the people that are most important?
5. Leads
In a business you can’t make a sale until you first have a customer. How good are you at recruiting opportunities for You, inc.? In the business of you, who are the people or businesses that you need to target to get what you want out of life? Do they know your story? Are they aware that you need them?
6. Internet
In today’s world businesses can’t live without the Internet, and neither can You, inc. The question is, are you using it properly? Are you spending time on the web looking at mundane entertainment and sifting through spam, or are you networking and looking for more opportunities to get you closer to your goals? The Internet is a great place to strengthen relationships and to build your self as an asset.
7. Clients
Your clients are your relationships. Cultivating these relationships is the key to accomplishing your goals. Millionaires often say, “if I lost everything I have (and most of them have before), the one thing I would keep are my relationships”. They know that if they keep their strong relationships with people that no matter what they need to sell to get back on their feet, those people are buying. Take care of your relationships. Remember, the best way to get what you want, is to get other people what they want.
8. Marketing
How are you at communicating to others what you want? How are you building your personal brand? Do you have ambassadors or people that are out there selling you? Are you fulfilling the wants and needs of others?
Interestingly enough, You, inc. is a concept not that far from the truth and the future. With more and more companies falling from corporate grace, the future of people as businesses is becoming more of a reality. Even if you never actually go into business for yourself, understanding and managing You, inc. will get you what you want as fast as possible.
