“Zero-Based Thinking”

Hi Business Owner,

My name is Bob Britton, a fellow small business owner and President of Marketing Automation Group.

Here to fill you in on something you may not be aware of.

This is a life strategy that I know has the power to reduce your stress, make money flow to you from unexpected places, help you at least double your productivity, and ultimately, make you a much happier person.

Are you wondering what the heck I’m talking about?

It’s so important and has helped me so much over the years; I just have to tell you about it so you can put it to use in your own life.

Once you try this you’re going to wonder why everyone doesn’t do this at least once per month.

I have found over the years that it’s the SIMPLE principals that work best for me. It seems that every time something gets complicated or too many people get involved or there are too many moving parts it turns out to be just a big pile of useless crap that doesn’t work.

Is it like this for you?

Good, we have one more thing in common.

This strategy was personally taught to me 7 years ago on a tele-seminar with Brian Tracy.

You’re thinking, “Who the heck is Brian Tracy and why would anyone listen to him?” Right?

Brian Tracy is the leading authority in the WORLD on personal achievement. He has written over 20 books and recorded over 100 programs, which are sold in just about every county in the world. There is no other human being on the planet who knows more about success and achievement. Go to his web site at BrianTracy.com and you’ll see for yourself everything he does.

Trust me, he is the real deal.

Anyway, about the tele-seminar, (which cost me $79 bucks!) I was explaining to Brian all the stuff going on in my life at that time; all the business projects, friend/family commitments, recreational stuff…everything. Some of the stuff was working but most of it was NOT. It was all intertwined together and I was getting pulled in every direction. I was just about at the breaking point.

This is what he told me to do, and I still do this 3 years later about once every two weeks.

He said, “Get two large pieces of paper; you know the kind they use in meetings on the big pad.”

He said, “Tape the two pieces to the wall in your office. At the top of one paper write, “WHAT’S WORKING,” and at the top of the other write, “WHAT’S NOT WORKING.”

He then said to list everything that’s working in your life under “What’s Working”. Everything in business, relationships, finances, fitness, etc. Everything.

And then he said list everything that is NOT working in your life under “What’s Not Working”.

Now if you are like me when I started this exercise you will have a lot more stuff under “What’s Not Working”.

A lot more.

Then Brian said something to me I will never forget; He said, “If something can be fixed immediately, under “What’s Not Working,” fix it or STOP it and get out as fast as you can.”

Ask yourself this question….

“If I knew what I know now about (your item), would I have gotten into it in the first place?” (This is called zero-based thinking.)

If your answer is NO, then get out of it as fast as you can.

He called it creative abandonment. STOP doing what is not working in your life. End a relationship that is not working. Stop an advertisement that is no longer working. Fire an employee that is no longer pulling their weight. Etc.

Get out of ALL the energy sucking, time consuming, high stress activities you have gotten yourself into as FAST as you can.

And then he said, “Look at the list of “What Is Working” in your life and do more of it. A lot more of it, as fast as you can!

If a marketing method is working – expand it. If you have a good relationship going – make it better. If you fitness program is working – get more fit.

You get the idea, right?

I told you that this was simple, but it’s also brilliant, isn’t it?

After you start doing this you will see the headaches in your life disappear; money will start flowing to you from unexpected sources, you will laugh at stress and you will feel much much happier.

A few cautions:

1. Don’t tell people what you are doing. (They will think you’ve lost your marbles.”

2. Learn to say NO to new opportunities a lot more and be very selective with new ventures so that you don’t keep piling more stuff to your “What’s Not Working” list.

3. The grass is NOT greener somewhere else; Tt’s greener where you water it! I talk to people all the time who want to get out of the business they are in and get into another totally unrelated business because the think another business will be better or easier. Every business has its own set of problems. Stay with what you know, get good at marketing, and you will make all the money you want.

So I challenge you to do this exercise right now. 

Just getting all this crap out of your head will be a stress reliever in and of itself.

After you do this for a while, your “What’s Working” list will be much longer than you’re “What’s Not Working” list.

And you will be very selective what you will now say YES to.

If you have any questions, need some immediate advice, or would like to get involved with my program please give me a call at 585-633-7563.

To your success,

Bob Britton