The Silver Bullet For Success: Revealed

By Kim A. Castle
Posted Saturday, January 29, 2005

Looking for the magic formula or the whiz-bang approach that will unlock your business success? Are you willing to pay hundreds for it? How about thousands?

Guess what, you are not alone. Just as people, for ages, have searched for the fountain of youth, entrepreneurs and small business owners around the world are looking for the silver bullet for success: that one sure-fire way to achieve the success that they want without doing a thing. This demand for this magic "success" pill has grown even more desperate and confusing. This need, especially for entrepreneurs, is understandable; time is limited, budgets are not yet created and... lives are at stake... yours.

Well you can rest easy. Your search is over. Are you ready for the answer? There is no silver bullet.... or is there?

While speaking at seminars around the country with dozens of other experts in their field, I'm amazed at the amount products that can... and will...help business owners create more successful businesses. I mean we're one of them. The plethora of information available today is astounding and often... overwhelming.

This hit home a few weeks ago while I was speaking at a multi-day seminar for small business owners. I was honored to be among a select few outstanding experts speaking about marketing for small business owners. I watched the confusion grow in the audience as program after program (mine included) was rolled out throughout the three days, as the business owners tried to determine which product best served their need at that particular moment.

I watched them. No, I studied them. And, my heart went out to them... mostly because I'm just like them. I'm just like you-- a small business owner with a vision for my business and looking for help to accomplish it. While some people at this seminar invested in a product that met their biggest problem at that specific time, some didn't at all. Often these purchased products are listened to for a short period of time; some are even applied... for a short period of time. These tools are often relegated to a closet or bookshelf-- abandoned for another new tool at another seminar at another time. Thus begins a vicious cycle that leaves the purchaser feeling empty, without the business power they were looking for in the first place. I refer to this to as "shelf-help"--serving only the shelf that these products sit on. Watching and talking to these business owners... no wonder they wanted the silver bullet.

And even though my business success tool, BrandU, breaks down the powerful brand development process into a easy to follow step-by-step system, once in a very blue moon one of my students finds themselves sitting with the power they got from creating their brand asking "Is this it?" "Am I done?" "Where's my success?" While they carefully chose, and found value in, BrandU what they really wanted was... yep that's right... that darn silver bullet.

The bottom line is no matter how much external work you do, learning and application, emulating and testing, there is no single silver bullet to assist you reaching your success goals. Success is more like silver buckshot-- a shower of focused impact full hits. These focused efforts can be distilled down to four major "pellets" or keys of success:

• Deliver Value.

This may sound overtly obvious for most of you, however you must always think of your customer first and be sure that you are delivering the most helpful and valuable content.

• Consistency. Consistency. Consistency.

You just can't get away from this key-- and you shouldn't. Everything you say, write, show and do must support your vision and your... brand. In your presentations, your e-mails, your web site, your content, your marketing materials. The ability for your customer to completely experience your brand depends on consistent communication from you. Only then, will they value you.

• Finish What You Start.

Once you commit to yourself, a partner, your staff, a client or customer always follow-through-- to a fault. The corollary of follow-through is under-promise and over-deliver. Set and keep expectations where they belong-- calm, reliable and consistently in-favor of the other party. You will be rewarded. And finally,

• Own Your Power.

Now for the most misunderstood key. You've heard it stated in a number of ways. To us it means know your power and own the path you travel on and the results you get from it. If your "inner house" is built on a solid foundation, it is imperative that your own the power you know you have. No confusion, no avoidance, no 'victimhood' and no excuses. Be a voracious learning sponge. Stand strong, watch for helpers, take bold steps, lovingly adjust and stand ready to reap the rewards!

With these pellets in your shell, your silver buckshot is sure to hit your target.

Come to think about it, the four keys do have one thing in common: they are all completely in your control. Could that mean there really is a silver bullet for success after all? There is one true, fail-proof thing that you can depend upon for all your business success and that thing is... you. Weld yourself wisely; your success depends on it! Make a plan that is supported by your vision, surround yourself with the right people and tools that specifically support that plan and put the silver bullet that is you in action. You will experience all the success than you can imagine. See, it all comes down to... you.

About the Author
Written by Kim Castle, the Co-founder of BrandU™ — the home of only step-by- step process for developing your business as a brand from the inside out!

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