Page 113 - Social Media Marketing

Hosting Your Own Hour of Power 95

Consider extending your Hour of Power to different aspects of
your marketing plan. Set aside an Hour of Power once or twice a
week for writing blog postings or articles. Set aside another Hour of
Power for contacting reporters. Spend an Hour of Power reviewing
your marketing plan, improving what works, and removing what
doesn't. Spend an Hour of Power networking with other profes-
sionals in your industry or sending greeting cards to past clients.
Your Hour of Power could even be an hour meeting at the local
Rotary or Lion's Club or another community event.

When establishing an Hour of Power for any activity, keep the
following key points in mind:

• Expand work; condense time. Pack as much work into that
hour as possible, so the task seems nearly impossible.

• Set a clear, measurable goal. You can't get much clearer or more
measurable than 100 phone calls in one hour.

• Stick to one hour. Do not fall for the temptation of giving your-
self more time. At the end of the hour, stop.

• Schedule a specific hour of the day or week. If it is not written
down on your calendar, it is too easy to push off your schedule.

• Eliminate distractions. Devote your hour to a single task.

• Keep accurate records to keep yourself honest.

You need to hold yourself accountable for your Hour of Power
commitments. When I coach people, I tell them from the very start
that I can offer them many ideas and systems for boosting sales,
but they have to put these ideas and systems in action. I require all
those I coach to submit weekly Hour of Power reports, showing the
number of calls they made each day. I often receive only apologies
and excuses. Apologies and excuses do not boost sales.

Prohibiting interruptions is critical, especially if you're work-
ing with someone on a task. Whether you are reviewing e-mail
messages, files, or correspondence; preparing a PowerPoint pre-
sentation; developing a marketing campaign; or performing any
other task, keep two things in mind: (1) Your assistant's time is