Step One. CHOOSE your TARGET.

[GordonJ]

Not AMAZING. Most of the people who quickly responded are people who have bought from me for years. Some over a decade.

Must be doing something right. I did not, however, offer them something else to buy, but in my thank you email, along with the Hotsheet, I did tell them what I was thinking about, and in this way, the OTO or bonus was an opportunity to be part of the COLLABORATORS GROUP.

Some knew I was testing, others wanted a ground floor position, just in case we had something to work with. Different reasons for different folks, but I think it safe to say, ALL had some idea of what they were going to get.

They have enough Gordonesque items on their computers, they had a good feel for what was headed their way.

Sure, Amazon and the gang thank you for your purchase and try to upsell you, but, few do much with the lifetime value, although Amazon is getting better and better at it.

It was, to me, always the missing element in the old AIDCA formula, sure grab attention, get them interested, give them a decision, conclude with the offer and the action.

I have always added the S, the Satisfaction on that formula, you'll see posts here from 18 years ago with the S added on.

It should be a goal for everyone who wants to build a sustainable business, and the way to do that is on Satisfaction.

Using the Archives again, you will find over the last 25 years I have NOT been satisfied with:

SEARS, RadioShack, hh gregg, Vitamin World, GolfSmith, Gold Circle, May Company...and many others, lesson, if Gordon has bad service, you go out of business.

So don't mess with me.

I think you should make SATISFACTION the first thought, the first thing when you look for opportunity, how can you satisfy your customer?

Now I'll go backwards. These probably are 4 through 10, but I'll go back to ZERO, THEN Minus 1,-2 (getting down to my old golf handicap) and then maybe add and adjust if you have anything to add.

[GordonJ]

Step ZERO: One Collaborator identified it as SELF AWARENESS, AND knowing what you want.

Having shouted that from the rooftops for the last 30 years, hard for me to disagree with him.

He has 7 states, and says people are in a state of suspension along those lines. Again, I can't argue, I just use 5 paths, lanes or rings in the circus.

But we do agree about the knowing what you want. Which may take us back to Minus ONE.

Do you know yourself? Over the years we've discussed many of the instruments of self revelation and as a social worker, for 20 years I worked with assessment instruments and programs like Myers-Briggs, DISC, or as we've discussed, Sun Signs. All kinds of aptitude tests and today, online you can take a ton of them for free.

I like to have people use the SQ1 to identify both their known and often hidden talents and abilities.

The point my collaborator made, and I concur with, is, you need to know YOU, before you begin the Biz Op (or anything really).

Pick a niche which goes against your personality, hard to be success. He gave the example of being money conscious, and how hard it would be for him to sell high end cars. He would struggle because it goes against his own idea of holding onto money, and saving it, not spending it.

He did, however, point out that he could do it, IF, HE was aware of his personal ideals. Walking in your target's shoes goes along way to understanding his needs and wants, and if being of service to him, you sell him the expensive car, and you both win.

And maybe, going back, as I do on the SQ1, it would be good to meet that 12 year old person in side of you, the one that still makes many of your decisions.

So, we have the 7 Steps to use, once you have decided what you want, why and if it is within your wheelhouse of personal ideals, skills, strengths and motivations.

Thoughts?

Gordon