Success doesn’t happen by accident. It’s up to you to decide what you want and then create a growth plan to make it happen.
Every year, I start setting my vision for the new year in November. I play around with all the possibilities, and in December, I nail down the specifics of what I want to do and how I plan to do it.
Growth planning isn’t hard. But it does take some time to think about what you really want. It involves content planning, marketing, sales, and activities that will build your authority.
Here’s the 5-step growth planning process I use to hit my biggest goals:
- Projected income
- Products and services
- Current and prospective clients
- Marketing plan
- Big ideas for taking things to the next level
LISTEN – Goal Setting: What Do You Want?
Step 1: Projected Income
How much money do you want to earn? Is it realistic to jump to that number right away, or do you need to create milestones that are achievable in the coming months?
For instance, if you earn $5K/month now and you’d like to earn $50K/month, you probably need to break that down into stages of growth. First, get to $8.5K/month, so you can hit 6 figures. Then aim for $12.5K/month, and so on.
It is true that you can fasttrack success and hit multiple 6-figures quickly. But most of us need to uplevel our thinking and skills before we can do that. By setting a slower growth track, you give yourself time to work on your business skills and craft, so you’re worth $50K/month.
Step 2: Products and Services
Evaluate your current income streams. Can you scale them to reach your income goals? Are you leaving money on the table, or is there more profit available with your current products and services?
Start with your biggest income generators. Can you add value and raise your prices? Do you have an upsell that you can offer your existing clients? Can you create a recurring revenue model, so clients pay you monthly to keep your services?
Spend time thinking about passion projects as well. What would you like to do that you aren’t currently doing? Could it give you another income stream? How easy would it be to get it off the ground?
Step 3: Current and Prospective Clients
Are you happy with your clients? What type of businesses would you like to work with in the future. Are there specific qualities you like or dislike in a client?
Now is a good time to niche down or update your ideal customer profile. Describe your best customer, and look for those qualities in future clients.
By the way, it’s also a good idea to create a list of dream clients — specific brands or people you’d like to work with. Then brainstorm ideas for getting on their radar.
Step 4: Marketing (and Growth) Plan
At this point, you should have a vision of the income streams you want to generate and the people you want to work with. Now, you need a plan to make it happen.
A good marketing plan isn’t just about selling your wares. It’s about driving growth. That’s important if you’re going to 10X your income.
Start by thinking high-level. Then as your ideas clarify, get more granular. A good marketing and growth plan includes:
- Activities that will build your authority, so clients come to you instead of you having to chase them down.
- Activities that will get your prospects’ attention.
- Ways to build relationship with your peers, thought leaders, prospects, and customers.
- Specific campaigns for selling your products and services.
Step 5: Big Ideas for Taking Things to the Next Level
If you aren’t hitting your big audacious goals, it’s possible you’re holding yourself back so you don’t have to deal with the changes they would bring into your life.
If you aren’t comfortable with any element of your growth plan, you won’t reach your goals. Period.
It’s worth taking some time to check in with yourself. Think about what it will take to reach your goals. Are you unnerved by those activities? Are you okay with stepping outside your comfort zone, learning new skills, or working harder or differently? On any level, do you feel you don’t deserve more money or recognition?
Growth takes courage. It changes the status quo. It changes you, the way you think, and who you hang out with. You must decide you want it, even if it changes everything you’re comfortable with.
Write It Down
The difference between a daydream and a plan is that a plan is documented.
You can meet or exceed your wildest dreams, but only if you’re willing to write them down, break them down into daily tasks, and put those tasks on your calendar.
So do that now. Write it down, and do it.
