Unravel Your Success Strings
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If you’ve ever been stuck on a problem in your online business and didn’t have a clue where to start, here’s a technique that may work for you. It’s called “unraveling the strings of success.” You’ll be able to visualize those strings as you see how it works.
1. Figure out what you want. It may be a new website, more subscribers, fewer support tickets. In online business terms, let’s say I want “more sales.”
2. Now take that goal and ask yourself “What do I need to get more sales?” Again, for the online business owners, it’s probably something like better website sales conversions, more traffic, better followup.
3. Next take one of those topics and start unraveling it. “If I want more traffic, what do I need?” More links to my site, more affiliate referrals, more clicks from my ads.
4. Now take one of those topics and continue to unravel it. “If I need more links to my site, what do I need?” More links from articles, more directory links, more blog posts linking back to my site.
5. Now take one of those topics and keep repeating the process of unraveling it. “If I need more article links, what do I need?” Write more articles, hire others to write more, distribute them to a broader audience. Your answers can be broad or precise. The idea is to identify the factors that are stopping you.
You can see the pattern. I generally use a sheet of paper or a spreadsheet and keep writing the links from one item to the next – making the string longer as it unravels. Eventually you will reach the point where you say I don’t need anything else except Action. And that’s where you start.
The unraveling process is simple and often points out a flaw in your thinking or your business planning processes. For example, the longest strings are the parts of your business that you neglect. The shortest strings may give you the fastest results.
If the same item shows up in more than one string, it may mean you have a crossover in your processes. It may be a source of confusion for you and your staff. Or it may be a way to complete a single item and shorten two strings.
When using this unraveling process on your business, you are able to move to the Action phase of your planning sooner. Plus you’ll have a visual map of how your business works.
Dr. Jeanette Cates is an Internet strategist who works with new online business owners to create Online Success. She is the creator of Organize Your Online Business.
14 Comments
June 10th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
great article Jeanette. its true that you gotta drill down to get results. its the little things done right that turn into big things done profitably. thanks for the article. take care,
pm
June 10th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Paul – great to hear from you. I agree – it’s the little things that make you successful – or hold you back!
Jeanette
June 10th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Great article. This process sounds a lot like the Mind Mapping software I used a while ago, (I think its called Freemind).
I completely agree with your strategy, I struggle with the disciple to do what I know I should. o;)
Joe
June 10th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Jeanette,
This is a very intelligent and simple approach — it’s almost exactly like the one I use! It’s great because it makes you focus on the task at hand.
I have found most people procrastinate because they visualize a picture that just isn’t attractive at all — it’s usually a long, unfocused list of “things to do” with dark or dreary colors.
What I do instead is make a picture of the ONE — and only one — most important task I need to do now. Then I make it very focused and bright in color.
Then motivation becomes easy because I’m drawn toward the task simply by the picture in my mind. By focusing on only one simple task at a time, I very rarely delay in taking action.
I like your process because it helps narrow down what that ONE specific task is to focus on.
-Jason
June 10th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Sounds like a mind/process map to me
There’s some software (can’t remember where now) you can get free that would allow you to store all that with notes alongside.
Good for setting up/refining processes.
June 10th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Joe & Roger – I agree – it sounds like a mind map application although I’m not a mind mapper. I’m a list maker – and outliner. I always take any mind map I’m forced to do and convert immediately to the outline view. (Mind mappers are usually horrified!)
I tried using Inspiration (an old copy from my educational technology days), but it wasn’t as efficient as my piece of paper.
So if either of you finds that software (especially the one that lets you add notes next to it, Roger) post it here, please. I know everyone will appreciate it.
Thanks!
June 10th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Jason – I love your idea of choosing that ONE thing, then making it brighter. We all tend to follow the “bright shiny object” – which is how we get distracted from what we should be doing. So by making our OWN top priority the bright shiny object, we do what we need to do – and can still chase that ball!
Jeanette
June 10th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Excellent article Jeanette! You said: “If the same item shows up in more than one string, it may mean you have a crossover in your processes.
Often I find that there is one thing that is blocking many undone projects. And once you solve that issue, multiple projects move forward at once.
Your process is a great way to shine the light on that one thing!
June 10th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Isn’t it great when you find that ONE thing that helps you work out of multiple problem areas? I love that!
Thanks for sharing that insight, Lisa!
June 10th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Great article…and a great “get to the bottom of my resistance” technique.
I find the process of writing…pen/pencil to paper pierces through resistance and confusion much quicker than fingers on keyboards. It is just more connected from fingers to mind.
And, it can be done anywhere…on any topic….using any scrap of paper/back of a napkin/idea notebook/or even my own hand in a pinch.
And, of course we all know…just one thing, done consistently, can move mountains…or get a web site/new product finished.
June 10th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
A fellow paper-lover like me! Great to see you here, Pat, in between your travels.
I use a pad of paper for all of my “thinking” – and because I like to do it away from the computer and out of the office, I usually take a couple hours for “lunch” – and thinking and reading. I find I’m much more efficient when I come back, because I already have the plan for what to do with the rest of my work day.
Here’s to old-fashioned paper!
Jeanette
June 11th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Hi Jeanette,
I use Mind Jet’s mind mapping software…although I too am a list maker. It has a free trial and free viewer that allows you to share maps with others. Pretty cool.
June 11th, 2008 at 8:36 am
This process is brilliantly simple and simply brilliant, Jeanette.
I am a paper user too — I’m glad there are still a few of us around. Don’t you love the feel of a beautiful pen gliding on quality paper? And of course there’s also a place for a cheap ballpoint in a notebook full of wisdom caught in the moment!
Helen
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Great idea as ever Jeanette !
I agree that for the more visually inclined a mind map could really help – especially if you do as i do and use different coloured pens. Simple but it works.