This article was originally published in The Simplifier #74.

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Article: Amplify Your Business with the Power of Love

By Shawn Tuttle

We are at a fascinating time in U.S. history in which the lives of millions can change drastically overnight. Institutions we once thought solid are crumbling or vanishing. News sources are reporting startling statistics and constant stories about the economic crisis. According to the “experts”, our raft is racing uncontrollably on fast, relentless water toward a huge drop. Even making it past the rocks jutting into the air is uncertain, surviving the plunge even less so.

While a freak-out response might seem natural, staying the course in these turbulent waters is necessary for healthy survival. Activities to help clarify your purpose, connect with your best self, and develop community are powerful antidotes for holding steady in these unpredictable times. And it just so happens that these activities greatly benefit from simplifying. Booya! =)

You have a well-spring of dedicated strength around you that is likely under-tapped: your friends and family. Their help tends to be gentle on the wallet and provides an excellent opportunity to discover the skills and expertise they’ve gained through their own professions.

I’ve been writing a lot about becoming a Natural Professional. The second phase, Framework, is about customizing the systems that support the specific work you do. Tracking and focusing on your goals is one of the most important activities you can do to stay on track. It’s also one of the easiest things to let slide when getting inundated by day-to-day responsibilities. Invite friends and family to be a part of your crew. Let them help maneuver your raft through the rapids of building your business–and help contribute to your success!

Below are two suggestions for staying afloat and heading in the right direction through the help of friends and family.

Goals Timeline Chart
We are masters of coming up with a gazillion reasons not to settle down for a good planning session (especially us self-employed types who don’t have deadlines imposed on us from upper management). Yet planning is crucial for taking a birds-eye view of your project, staying realistic, and keeping on track.
Here’s the idea: make an appointment with a friend to make a goals timeline chart (one for each of you).

Bring to the date:

• large paper, for ex. big pieces of butcher paper, flip chart paper, or newsprint sketch paper

• stickies (a.k.a. Post-Its)

• pens and markers

• a long straight edge if you prefer precision lines

• your schedule for the upcoming year

Step #1: Define main and supporting goals

Complete this process for one person, then switch and repeat it for the other person. Use a big piece of paper for each person.

1. Decide who will do the writing. (If you like to pace or do headstands while you brainstorm, then have your partner write. If writing assists your thinking process, then you write.)
2. Write down your primary goal–for example, “Make at least $2,000/month playing music by Oct. 2009”.
3. Make sure it’s a SMART goal: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely.
4. Write down several supporting goals to support your main one. For example: make a CD, get paid gigs playing for parties and wedding receptions, publicize in newspapers, write new music, find backup musicians, develop email list. If your list gets really long, say more than 10 items, you may want to group in broader categories.

Note: while you are welcome to contribute ideas for the other person’s goal, take care not to micro-manage the process. Each of you are ultimately responsible for your own commitments. 

Here’s an example of doing this in a mind-mapping style:

Step #2: Make a Timeline Chart

Now, working individually,

1. Write on another piece of the paper your goal as the title of your chart, write the months across the top, and then your supporting goals down the left side.
2. On the stickies, write down significant tasks to get to each of the supporting goals and place them in the month when you think they should happen.

An example:

Once you’ve placed all the stickies, go back and look at your chart month by month. With a sharp eye, review each month. The question to ask isn’t: “Do I think I’m capable of doing all this?”, it’s: “In a realistic world, considering my resources, other responsibilities, and the unexpected stuff that inevitably happens, what can I commit to?” Move your stickies accordingly. Remember that no matter how impatient you are to realize your goal, putting down less for each month can help keep your stress level down and increase your success rate.

Finally, time to decide where to put your chart. Many prefer a visual reminder of their high priorities, therefore would post the chart on the wall. Make sure its home is easily findable because you should refer to your chart at least once a month to review your goals for the upcoming month. (Remember rule #1 of the ToDo list–it’s for tasks, not projects. This means that you’ll take each goal and then list out a number of tasks to spread out over the weeks.) Your completed chart may morph over the year–no biggie, just move the stickies.

Does this chart-making activity require two people? Not necessarily. Sure you are capable of learning the currents of the river on your own, but it’s so much more fun navigating the eddies with a friend! Amp up the goal planning activity by inviting in a spirit of exploration and camaraderie!

Co-coaching

When you feel like you are spending all of your time on day-to-day details and not spending any time making your dreams come true, try a co-coaching relationship with a friend.

Choose someone you have a good rapport with. This isn’t a time to be watching what you say or feeling like you need to defend your viewpoint.

Suggested format:

• weekly or bi-weekly; in person or on the phone. On the phone can be easier for a long-term commitment. Plus, it opens up the option of engaging with a friend in another location.

• make appointments 1 hour long: 30 minutes focused on you and 30 minutes focused on your friend. When it’s your turn, you get to talk about whatever you want.  I suggest a setup along the lines of:

1. reporting on progress on goals from last week
2. acknowledging challenges and successes since last session
3. coming up with a goal to accomplish before the next session

Your friend can help you stay rooted in reality by asking, “Is this a realistic goal?” and “What is the very next action you’ll take toward this goal?” You can also help each other define your goals by putting them through the SMART test explained above.

In addition to getting support to make progress, you also get someone to brainstorm solutions with when faced with sticky or confusing situations. Accountability and friendship can help you get through some pretty challenging times!

Obviously, creating a goals timeline chart and co-coaching dove-tail beautifully with each other–you can reference your timeline as a guideline for your co-coaching calls.

Whitewater rafting is challenging and exhilarating–and dangerous–no matter how long you’ve been doing it. While you might not get the same amount of endorphins rushing from growing your business, it is no less challenging. With each turn of the river your strength and skills are pushed. In one way, rafting is easier because you get to take advantage of the momentum of the current.

In your business,  patience and perseverance are the critical elements that will push you to the brink of your limits time and again. Let it be easy (or at least easier) with the help of those who love you. After all, we are in these rocky times together.   
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Shawn Tuttle is founder of Project Simplify.