Marketing Climbing

Imagine being the greeter (if there is such a person) at Everest Base Camp and welcoming those who were about to ascend the mountain the next day. And your job was to certify them before they were allowed to continue their expedition. You didn't want anyone to die on the mountain, so you were very careful to screen out those who were not prepared.Outer preparation would be important, of course. Clothing, equipment, training, maps, support and physical fitness would all be carefully scrutinized. But inner preparation would be just as, if not more, important. Clarity of purpose, teamwork skills, attitude, persistence, and the ability to overcome hardship might mean the difference between life and death.As an Independent Professional, you've embarked on the climb to grow your business and reach the pinnacle of success. But how well are you prepared? If you had to pass a readiness test would you be sent back for more training?Take this seven-question test and see how ready you are. Rate yourself from one (low) to 5 (high) in terms of your readiness to climb the mountain of marketing success.
1. You have a clear purpose, goals and plan for your journey. You haven't necessarily mastered everything you need to do, but you "know what you don't know" and have a plan to get the information and skills you need.
2. You feel comfortable with the process of marketing yourself and your services. You realize you're not an expert, but that you have a grasp of the fundamentals. You know how to effectively use the marketing tools of networking, writing and speaking.
3. You are completely comfortable with the electronic aspects of marketing your services. You can get a web site developed, create an eZine, set up an online discussion group, and coordinate a teleclass with relative ease.
4. You have packaged your services for high value. You are well prepared to offer a very high level of service to your clients. You are confident in your ability to produce consistent results.
5. You are extraordinarily persistent and tenacious. You realize that it takes a certain amount of time, energy, and money to get the attention and interest of a prospective client. You can be counted on sticking with it until you land the project. And when you experience setbacks, you bounce back quickly.
6. You see business and marketing as a game. You like to play hard, play with integrity and excellence, and play to win. You are confident in winning because you have the knowledge, skills and commitment to make things work.
7. You get all the support you can. Realizing that mastering business and marketing takes knowledge and expertise, you tap into resources such as magazines, books, workshops, coaching and masterminding to keep you focused and on track.
Possible high score: 35 -- Your score: _____How did you score? Are you ready to embark on your expedition or would you be sent back? Perhaps you've been on the expedition for awhile and you realize why you've been struggling so much. What is your plan to get prepared to succeed?