WHY BREAKING WITH ROUTINE IS ESSENTIAL FOR STAYING FOCUSED AND GROWING YOUR BUSINESS
Do you follow the same process every day and do you have excuses of why you can’t change a process in your life? If you are like most the answer is probably “Yes.”
This column is all about how you need to start embracing change in both your personal and professional life. Yes, change can be a feared word for most since it represents the unexpected and unplanned. Change is happening all around you, but what changes to your process in marketing and sales have you made? Here’s some food for thought when it comes to automotive retailing:
Shoppers have changed the buying cycle
- Google changes its algorithm every 17.5 hours;
- Smart phone users are 67 per cent of the total population;
- Millennials spend 1 hour per day shopping online;
- Online shoppers spend more online than in-store;
- Streaming TV viewership has surpassed standard TV viewership;
- People spend more time online than with TV, print, radio and magazines combined;
- Car shoppers visit an average of 22 websites gathering research prior to purchase;
- 49 per cent of car shoppers will only visit one dealership (in person);
DON’T LIMIT YOUR FUTURE BY CELEBRATING YESTERDAY’S PROFITS
To remain competitive you must change the sales and marketing strategy for your company. Yes change is not wanted by most individuals, but it’s not an option due to today’s consumer. Running a growing and profitable business is like being an athlete. An athlete must always be training to increase endurance, speed and skill to be the best or to just remain competitive.
You as an individual working for someone else, or you as a business owner must have the same disciplines as a top athlete. When you stop growing personally and professionally, you lose value to your employer and your clients. Celebrating profits from last year or last week only provides excuses not to become better or remain competitive.
IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW, HOW WILL YOU KNOW?
Today is the day you will start the process of change. Follow this process and you will increase your value as an employee and as a business owner. Learning is the first step to everything and anything. Below I will list some items to get you started and as you change some habits and become a student of the different processes you will experience.
- Wake up at a different time and gather news or information by a different website e.g. mashable, potratz think tank, etc;
- Drive a different way to work;
- Have lunch at a different place;
- Have dinner at a different place;
- Purchase an item(s) from a different company online — try amazon or a speciality e-commerce store;
- Change to a new search browser/engine;
- Watch TV online via Google TV, Amazon On-Demand, ROKU (some limitations in Canada);
- Greet complete strangers and talk with them, ask them questions e.g. Do you prefer shopping online or in-store? How do you like your cell phone and why?
- Pick an industry different than yours and research it. One I find to be progressive is the CRM business with firms like SalesForce.com and their competitors. I would also suggest checking out Revzilla Motorcycle Gear (purchase a small item to see their excellent process);
- Listen to podcasts like MarketingSherpa, Landing Page Optimization by Tim Ash, Think Tank Tuesday and Fact Finder Friday.
THE LEARNING JOURNAL OF PROSPERITY IS YOURS TO HAVE
As you go through the change of your habits it’s important to make a journal of what was different, what was unique and how you can adapt it to your personal and professional life.
Also, really think and analyze the questions people ask you during your day, questions where people are asking for your personal advice. The challenge I am presenting to you is simple. You must always be learning, challenging and adapting in your personal and professional life. You must always challenge the people that surround you, and this is done by just challenging yourself. I promise you, if you embrace learning and change you will lead a happier and more prosperous life.
You only have one opportunity to make a difference in this short period of life so never take it for granted. By the way I met my wife by taking the chance of changing my habits and talking to complete strangers.
