The first year of the new millennium is almost half over! Are you on track to reach your 2000 goals? Sales? New clients? Health and fitness? Personal?
If you've read about people who achieve great things, then you know they have goals that they review often. I know many people who start the year with a bang and have all their goals written and ready to achieve. The problem is most people never look at them after Jan. 15.
Establishing goals is simply not enough. They need to be visited again and again. I like the idea of placing them in several locations that you view often. I used to have a small picture of my wife on my car's rearview mirror. I loved it! I thought of her each time I was in the car.
Have your goals in four to six places that you go to each day. For example, my wife has some posted above her desk so she sees them when she looks up. I know people who have them on their bathroom mirror so they see them at least every morning and every evening. It's also a good idea to have them next to your bed so you can read them before you start your day and as you end it.
Goals are great if you use them. The problem I find with most goals is that people think about them but don't focus on them and take action. You need to see them, be reminded of them and then take action.
Are your clients on track?
The midpoint of the year is a perfect marketing opportunity! This is the time to get your clients' attention with what they need to do to make 2000 their best year ever. I think now is one of the best times of the year for marketing. People are done with the stress of "tax season" and looking forward to a great year.
Staying in contact with your clients is one of the best ways to grow your business! Now is a wonderful time for one more contact this year. I also like this time of year because of all the market volatility. It makes people nervous and wonder what to do. That's a great time to establish contact with them.
If I had clients who were heavily invested with e-businesses, I would meet with them now to see how their financial future has been affected. Some of your millionaire clients are now only worth a few hundred thousand. It's time to help those people rebuild their portfolios.
If you have clients with a long-term approach, this is a wonderful time to talk with them about opportunities. I heard a presentation speaker once say, "It is funny that the financial business is the only time people buy when prices are high and sell when things go on sale!" Now could be a great time for some of your clients to do some summer sale shopping. Stocks and mutual funds that are way down and could be a good buy for some of your clients.
Now is also the time to adjust your focus to make sure you and your clients still have the same goals. I think you're going to find clients looking to pull back and avoid some of the risk of the current market. But the only way you will know that is by asking them. The best time to ask is when you are face to face with them during their six-month review.
Marty's Thoughts On Marketing
Human beings have "will" power while a mule has "won't" power! Are you helping your clients to use "will" power or "won't" power?
Martin R. Baird is president of advisormarketing.com., a Web site that offers free marketing information for financial advisors. Baird may be reached at mbaird@advisormarketing.com or visit www.advisormarketing.com for marketing tactics that will help your business grow.
The views presented in this article represent those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of InvestmentWires, Inc. InvestmentWires, Inc. does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of, or otherwise endorse, these views, opinions or recommendations, give investment advice, or advocate the purchase or sale of any security or investment. 
Martin Baird is president of advisormarketing.com., a Web site that offers free marketing information for
financial advisors. Baird may be reached at
mbaird@advisormarketing.com.
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