Rich Fettke

Systems, Structure, and Support

Posted on 21. Nov, 2009 by Rich Fettke.

"The happiest life is that which constantly exercises and educates what is best in us." ~Philip G. Hamerton

Creating Positive Momentum by Using Systems, Structures and Support

When he hired me to coach him, Greg wanted to take his business to the next level professionally and personally by giving better service and making more money. A realtor for almost four years, he had become the third highest producer in his office. But Greg wasn’t satisfied. "I’m frustrated with the lousy job I’m doing with my personal service," he told me. "I usually have several clients who are either in the process of buying or selling a home, so I want to stay in touch with them and make sure everything is going okay."

I asked, "What’s stopping you from making the calls?"

"I get so focused on following up with new prospects. Then I always seem to run out of time to make calls to my current clients, which is a bummer because if I served them better they would probably refer new prospects to me."

Here’s what Greg and I came up with:

THE SYSTEM: First, he made a commitment to invest half an hour each day to call the recent clients he had worked with.

THE STRUCTURE: Then, he decided to schedule that half an hour on his computerized calendar with a reminder box that would pop up on his screen.

THE SUPPORT: Finally, Greg promised that he would treat that appointment as if it were a meeting with a prospective new client. If he didn’t keep the appointment he would let me know during our next session, which would hold him accountable for his actions.

Greg’s Lesson:

"The simple habit of making a half hour appointment with my self, and actually putting it on my computer’s calendar, has been very effective for ensuring that I make client calls. Not only do I feel great about giving my clients the attention they deserve, I’m also getting more referrals than ever."

ACTION IDEA:

What is a goal you’ve set for this year that could benefit from a system, structure and support? Identify a daily action (your system) that will help you make progress toward the completion of your goal. Next, identify what type of reminder (your structure) you can set up to help remind you of the system you’ve set up on a regular basis. Finally, set up accountability (your support) around the daily action or system you have planned. You’ll find that this process will help you create and maintain momentum toward your most important goals.

 

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What Are Your Daily Rituals?

Posted on 15. Nov, 2009 by Rich Fettke.

"There is only one success — to be able to spend your life in your own way."-Chistopher Darlington Morley, American Novelist

A "homework" assignment I often give to my coaching clients is to create a list of their helpful daily rituals. So often we just go along without really stopping to think what actions we can take on a daily basis that will add better health, success, joy and peace of mind to our lives.

It’s a pretty simple exercise, really. Make a list of those actions that you know — or you believe — would benefit you (and/or others) if you followed through with them on a daily basis. Below is a list of many "daily rituals" that I have seen from a variety of clients over the years. Many of these I follow myself and I can personally attest to the value of reading my "daily ritual" list on a regular basis.

• Jump out of bed with a smile at 6 am
• Go for a morning walk
• Do Yoga or a stretching routine
• Pray, meditate and/or visualize
• Work on most important project before reading email in the morning
• Plan the day and clarify the three most important items to focus on during the day
• Read or listen to something inspirational/educational every day
• Go for a walk at lunchtime
• Take a risk a day to build my business
• Connect with at least one friend each day
• Connect with at least one business contact each day
• Review my calendar and mail out any birthday or congratulations cards
• Exercise
• Sit in my car for a few minutes after work and give thought to how I want to be when I get home
• Read or tell stories to my kids
• Kids to bed by 8:45 pm
• Set up coffee maker the night before
• Layout clothes for morning walk the night before
• Visualize my top 3 intentions/goals/dreams before bed
• Be in bed by 11 pm

Choose your favorites from the list above and also add your own to create your own list of Daily Rituals that will add better health, success, joy and peace of mind to your life. Once complete, read your Daily Rituals at the beginning and/or end of each day. Over time, notice how these small actions make a big difference.

Winner of the Extreme Success Challenge

Congratulations to AnnaBelle Carrasco from Fort Worth, Texas! She entered last month’s Extreme Success Challenge by sending in her 30-day goal and then reporting the results of her goal back to us. She had made a commitment to join a weight loss center and to hire a fitness trainer. She followed through on both of those commitments. From all the people who replied on the results of their goals, AnnaBelle’s name was randomly chosen as the winner!

AnnaBelle will receive a signed hardcover copy of Extreme Success.

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Inch By Inch, Life’s A Cinch

Posted on 30. Jan, 2009 by Rich Fettke.

"Yard by yard, life is hard. Inch by inch, life’s a cinch."
-Anonymous

Well, January has come to an end. Are you making progress with your dreams and goals for this year? What I’ve noticed with many of my clients (and myself) is that we come up with some great ideas and plans, we begin to take action, and then life "gets in the way."

Creating and using Success Habits is one of the best ways I’ve found to move in the direction of your most important goals, without getting caught in the Struggle Syndrome. Try this. Think of one action that would add to your success if you did it on a daily basis.

After pondering that question for a little while, my client Lisa told me that she had lots of friends who were willing to refer business to her, but she had been slacking off when it came to calling them. Lisa wanted to build her financial planning practice, but she was overwhelmed with all the other "stuff" she had to do. She told me, "If I were to follow up with a couple of my friends each day, I’m sure it would stir up new business for me."

Lisa asked me to hold her accountable each week to following her new Success Habit. She contacted one friend a day and the results were outstanding! Lisa’s client base began to grow almost every week through referrals. She saw, first hand, the benefit of using Success Habits. Since then, Lisa has added four more success habits to her life, ranging from walking three times per week to sending a card to a friend or family member once a week saying what she appreciates about them. Her business is more profitable and her life is more balanced and fulfilling. Lisa learned that yard by yard life is hard…inch by inch, it’s a cinch.

ACTION IDEA:

What is ONE action that would add to your success (at work or in life) if you did it on a daily basis? Make a commitment to yourself to take action this week. If you really to want improve the results of this strategy, come up with a way to track your Success Habit and ask someone to be your partner and to hold you accountable. Tell your partner that at the end of the week you will let him or her know how many times you followed through on your habit. Use the power of partnership and public declaration to increase your chance of success. Enjoy the process!

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