Status Update – 90 Days to a SMASHING Success! Goals

November 17, 2011 in 90 Days, A Better Way of Business, A Life Not Wasted with 3 Comments

As I’ve been promising for some time now, here’s the update on my status towards reaching the goals I set for 90 Days to a SMASHING Success!

Let’s refresh everyone’s memory on the goals that were established, here:

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1. I want to work with 20 clients.

2. I would like to speak in a public forum three times.

3. I would like to secure multiple streams of income. a) Business analysis engagements b) 4 affiliate sources c) Become a YouTube partner d) Offer book-keeping services for a limited time

4. 2,000 visits to site over a 30 day period

5. 4,000 page views over a 30 day period

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So how am I doing??? Long story short, I have not reached any of the goals, but am still diligently marching forwards. Here’s a recap:

1. I want to work with 20 clients. Let me rephrase this goal with a little more clarity: I want to work with 20 paying clients. To date, I have worked with zero paying clients. When I started this project I believed I had 2 paying clients lined up. However, neither of those clients have worked out. Behind the scenes I broke the 20 client goal down into 4 clients in the first 30 days, 6 clients in the second 30 days, and 10 clients in the third 30 days. Realistically, I can still reach the goal, but it’s going to be a massive challenge! However, I am not adjusting this goal at this time. It’s still full steam a head towards 20 clients in 90 days.

2. I would like to speak in a public forum three times. This goal has been done away with and replaced with, “Produce a weekly podcast.” which I’m now doing with my good friend Kevin Gainey. I still intend on using public speaking as a way to take my message to the people and eventually as its own revenue stream, but I do not intend on doing that at present. In it’s place I put the Free Agent Toolbox Podcast which Kevin and I put out each Wednesday.

3. Multiple streams of income. a) Business analysis engagements b) 4 affiliate sources c) Become a Youtube partner d) Offer Book-keeping services for a limited time. I have had no traction with this goal, either. In terms of business analysis engagements, that goes back to goal 1., which as previously stated, I’ve had zero paying clients.

In terms of affiliate sources, this is my own fault for not tracking these sources down. I have a few ideas, but nothing worked in stone. However, with the upcoming changes to A Better Way of Business I believe I’ll be able to nail down two of these relatively quickly going forward.

Becoming a YouTube partner, this hasn’t happened either. Although this is still something very much on my mind. Originally I viewed Youtube videos as simply a tool to get my message out. However, over the last few weeks I have come to realize there is massive potential for videos for business and intend on exploring this even more in upcoming months.

In terms of offering book-keeping services, I just haven’t done this. And that’s by design. I’m trying to get away from book-keeping and accounting services, not get more into them. So this is something I’m trying to avoid.

4. 2,000 visits to the site over 30 days. This has been as high as 957 visits in 30 days, but currently resides at 899 visits. I feel I’m loosing a little traction and need to determine how I can get that traction back.

5. 4,000 page views over a 30 day period. This has been as high as 2,126 views over a 30 day period, but currently resides at 1,856. Again, I need to figure out how to take traffic and awareness to the next level.

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So there you have it. I’m not currently meeting any of the goals I have set for the 90 Days to a SMASHING Success! project, but neither am I rolling in the floor crying over my progress or lack there of.

The biggest thing to me is I need to figure out how to convert attention and awareness into paying clients. I seem to get decent attention on this blog, but I’m just not converting any of into clients. So that’s what I’ll be focusing on over the next few weeks. I have some ideas, but am not certain which ones will take me where I want to go.

As always, thanks for joining me. Without you, this adventure would be pretty boring. If you have any comments or suggestions, I’d love to hear them. Throw them in the comment section below and I’ll be sure to respond.

~Ivan

  • http://www.facebook.com/jclevelandpayne J Cleveland Payne

    Hey Ivan,

    I’m not sure if these words will help, but just wanted to let you know that I know exactly what you are going through. And the only way I can put it for myself is with the eloquent words, “Man, does it suck!”

    No one is guaranteed a clear path to success, but it is pretty obvious that failure to launch will bring failure to succeed. You have launched and continue to forge ahead, even if you’re not able to see the progress you thought you would make. As I work on resurrecting some my projects, making a decision on my ability to actually run a small business, and waiting on divine intervention to gauge the state of my sanity, I can honestly tell you that watching you progress since a few weeks before you left your full time job and started on your path of 90 Days To A *SMASHING* Success has been has been fun and enlightening to watch. I am simulations impressed, inspired, and jealous of what you have been able to accomplish.

    Congratulation on having a plan and then working your plan. Loving the work you and Kevein Gainey have put in so far on the Free Agent Toolbox Podcast, and hope you are able to keep the momentum flowing. And praying for the coming of *SMASHING* successes your way. Maybe not in the original 90 day time frame you have set, but at least pretty close to it.

    As I said when I opened this not, I’m not sure that these words will help. I know I have been talked of a ledge or two from some of the most seemingly random comments I have received on my work. When I have the chance to give a little back, I never miss out on that chance.

    - John ‘J Cleveland’ Payne
    usually poorly spellchecked, always sincere

    • http://www.abetterwayofbusiness.com/ Ivan Bickett

      Mr. Payne!

      It’s been a while, sir! Thanks so much for jumping in on this!

      Yeah… I was definitely hoping and expecting that I would be … above average??? I know that realistically speaking you around 18 months to turn a business into a success. But SURLY that rule applies to EVERYONE ELSE? Not ME, right???

      Well I’m smirking right now b/c I’m apparently more “normal” than I’d like to admit.

      Ok. I don’t like that, but I can take that.

      And now I will continue to march forward into the life I want and desire instead of the life I’ve been “handed”.

      I think I have discovered some of what’s been holding me back. And through that discovery I’m starting to make MASSIVE changes here at A Better Way of Business!

      Stay tuned! The rest of this 90 day adventure is going to be one heck of a ride!!!

      ~Ivan

      And I didn’t say it above, but your words could not have come at a more timely point. Thank you, sir! Thank you.

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