10 ways to think big
Unlike your belly, it’s very healthy if your ambition is big and bulging!
The ability to achieve is often limited by your willingness to think big and aim high. Here are ten sensible ways that almost anyone can think and do big!
1. Add noughts – When setting targets for yourself, add noughts to make the numbers bigger. Add them to your project size as well, so that you target bigger jobs than you’ve gone for to date.
2. Take away doubts – list the reasons you think you can’t do bigger things. Then reflect on each and work out ways around each. You’ll soon have them all crossed out.
3. Go wider – national customers are just like local buyers. They’re people you have to persuade of your ability to deliver. The only difference is scale; they have more to spend.
4. Delegate more – sub-contract out the small stuff you’ve outgrown and focus on your future. In fact where it’s appropriate, recruit a network of supporters able to help you meet the needs of your bigger business.
5. Manage more; do less – you only have one pair of hands. Let go of the operational stuff and concentrate on getting things done. Using your head not your hands will make big possible.
6. One step at a time – you can climb a skyscraper if you take the stairs one at a time. This allows you to get used to each level you reach and means that when you reach the top you’re ready to meet the challenges at the top. The lift might get you there quicker, but before you’re ready. Take your time and succeed.
7. All big players start small – benchmark your journey against that of those you admire. Plot your progress against theirs. Aim to be just ahead of where they were at your stage of development.
8. Make it real – imagine what big means to you and illustrate the vision with the things you’ll have or do when you arrive. The brighter you paint that visionary picture, the better you’ll remember it when challenged along the way.
9. Choose the right pool – big things don’t happen everywhere. Fish in the pool where the big fish swim. Remember that big fish can be easy to hook, but hard to hang on to. Small ones are easy to catch and keep, but provide little reward!
10. Be sure you want big – big is not always beautiful. Big enough is what you need to shoot for. Accept that we all have different ideas of what big enough is and don’t let others drag you further than you really want to go. Put happiness ahead of big!
