Copyright 2008 Dennis S. Vogel All rights reserved.
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I know many entrepreneurs want "proven methods" so they don't have to struggle with failure & experimentation.
Maybe you learned how somebody did something successfully, but you had little or no success with it. It's not necessarily a bogus method. Maybe you didn't do it the same way somebody else did. Or maybe you did the same things, in the wrong sequence. Even if you did the same things, in the right sequence, your situation is different than somebody else's so you'll get different results.
Rich Schefren (www.strategicprofits.com/) suggests mapping processes so you can identify what works & doesn't work. Then use the process map to be sure you do what you want to do. If you don't get your expected result, you'll have something to check, so you may find what went wrong. If you do everything randomly - unplanned - you'll be acting by chance, not by design.
Without a process map, you may've been distracted by a phone call, a customer or employee, then you may've tried to pick up from where you left off. But maybe you didn't complete the step you started (though you think you did).
In a world of distractions, you need to do all you can to be sure you do the right things at the right times & in the right ways.
When I was in the US Navy, I heard this many times, "If it's got more than 1 moving part, it's not sailor proof." What we should all remember is - If it has more than 1 step, it's not distraction proof.
Many entrepreneurs can't afford to reserve a day each week to work on their businesses. By mapping your processes, you can work on your business in between tasks (working in your business). It means you may need a process to make process maps, so after each interruption; you can get back on track until you finish or are interrupted again.
Because change seems to be the only constant, you can't maintain your past or present success by repeatedly doing the same things for many years. You have to adopt different ways & adapt them to your current situation. As much as you can, adapt them for your future also. Even if that future is only a month away, be ready for it by having the right processes.
You probably learned from others &/or me, you shouldn't test more than 1 thing at a time or you won't really know what went right or wrong. Unless you know how to do multivariate testing, you need a way to track what you do so you'll only change 1 variable. That way of tracking is a process map. Because of rapid changes & client demands, you may end up changing a few things. By mapping your process & the changes, you may determine what to do & not do next time.
A process map is a flow chart like a PERT chart in project management. You should use a process map like a chef uses a recipe to get the same or a similar result each time food is cooked. Everyday, your business is open, it's like you serve a multiple course meal, if it tastes bad once, you may not get another chance to serve to dissatisfied customers again.
Depending on your situation, your process maps may have to be like diagnostic charts. Did a prospect respond to (identify a specific ad)? If yes, go to square 1a. If no, go to square 1b. Then each step has different variations/results until you can determine what happened & why, then what to do about it.
If you don't want to use a flow chart, you can write outlines like you may've learned about in writing classes. Microsoft Word 2000 has Outline View in the View menu (other word processing programs probably have outline formats).
Word 2000 also has AutoShapes including flow chart symbols. You don't necessarily need a project management program, unless you'll make a lot of charts.
Some things, like sales scenarios, should be role played since it wouldn't be good to look at a process map while talking to prospects. After a prospect leaves without buying or a customer buys, the process can be reviewed.
Why do I, & why should you, trust Rich Schefren (pronounced like CHEF wren)? I learned about him from Jay Abraham. After learning about process development from Rich, I know he has more I should learn. Chet Holmes, Dan Kennedy & many others trust Rich also.
Thank you for using my blog. Please let me know if I should clarify anything.
Copyright 2008 Dennis S. Vogel All rights reserved.
When you compete against big businesses with big budgets you need powerful marketing strategies & tactics. You'll find them here-
https://thriving-small-businesses.blogspot.com/
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