Tackle It “Tool” Tuesday – today in our Weekly Productivity Program we focus on tackling a task or a project we have been putting off – sometimes this happens to be a resource we purchased to use in our business or a tool of some sort to help with marketing, social media, organization and we are excited we have it but totally avoid jumping in to use it.  Take today to focus on one of those and figure it out so you can start using resources and tools you have bought.

Are you a collector of resources & tools?

There are many times we as business owners, internet marketers – network marketers – brick and mortar store owners, attend seminars or trainings.  We learn not only what other business owners that are in the same line of business we are in use but what the trainers are teaching about and it sounds SOOOO cool and we are not using it that we “gotta have it”, right?  I know I have collected my share.  How about you?

Did you buy that trainer’s resource book or set of CD’s because it was going to walk you through this “system” or teach you a new approach, a must have resource?  How about the ones that are “coaching platforms” that walk you through the resources without the speaker/trainer being involved like a membership platform?  Or you read about this new tool for email marketing or social media management and you had to have it!

It is very easy to – get caught up in what these speakers/trainers are saying and the resources/training tools they are offering.  It is even easier to read about resources/tools on the internet watch a video and decide you have to have that now. No blame at all – we all have done it and still do it to some extent today.

We tend to feel if I have the right resource/tool my business will soar!

WRONG! It is not if you HAVE the right resource or tool it is if you USE the right resource/tool!

It is important as business owners ANY type of business owner that you keep that in perspective when you are purchasing training tools/resources or business tools/resources that you must USE them.  Being a “collector” will not explode your business.

How do you go into “Resource & Tool” Collector Recovery??

You start today… make a list of all of the resources and tools you have and can find.  On the list separate them in categories like training materials and training programs vs actual resources you can implement and use the tool.  Then clean up the list and create new lists – with the ones that you have a monthly billing associated with them at the top of the list and to dollar amount you are paying monthly with the ones you own outright on the bottom of the list.  Next to each resource/tool write a brief description of what it is and what you can learn or use it for.

Once the list is created – review it.  What of the monthly “paying” items are you currently using – hi light them green because you are actually using them! Great job!  What of the monthly “paying” tools/resources are you NOT using and have or have not touched – hi light them orange (closest hi lighter to red).  Now go down to the items that you own that  do not have any billing associated with them – if you have read or used that tool/resource again hi light those green and the ones that are still in the box they came in or have not even been reviewed, used, touched or put into motion hi light them orange.

Review your list – is it more green or more orange?  Mine some time back was definitely more ORANGE!  I loved collecting those resources and tools. I was addicted to it not unlike collecting all those stickers and bonding agents that were so cool for scrap booking, oh don’t get my husband started on my stamp collection too – they were tools I had to have!

Once I took the time to go through all of the business materials/tools/resources I had and organize them this way it was clear to see what types of tools/resources I would not ever use.  I could evaluate what kinds of resources/tools “spoke” to me and I enjoyed reading or using and what kinds I actually was intimidated by and avoided trying to use them.

From this list I sat down and created two more lists from the orange hi lighted ones – items I would share or give away to other business owners notating what I was going to do with a S for Share and a GA for Give Away and tools/resources I wanted to try and use.  I then numbered the tools/resources I wanted to use in the order I was going to commit to learning them/reading them/putting them into motion. It was cool!

For the ones I listed as “share or give away”, first I spoke to my inner circle people to see if they wanted any of these tools/resources and got a commitment from them they would either use it or give it back – when all of those were distributed, I then took what I had to my networking meetings and shared – gave them away there with the same requirement that they would commit to using them of give them back – what was left from there I donated to the local library!

It was awesome to feel the weight of those “oh I need to still read this, or start this, or learn this too” all cleaned out and narrowed down to what I would actually use and read!

Evaluation of your resource and tool collection also makes it clear…

By reviewing your initial hi-lighted list you can see a pattern of types of resources and tools that really speak to you and you take advantage of and those kinds you don’t.  By reviewing the list you commit to learning or reading that tool or resource you can also see what kinds of tools and resources you feel are important.  This allows you now to be a smarter shopper when you are at seminars and training events – is what the speaker trainer offering a fit for you?  I am sure it is a great product but does that type of tool/resource fit with what you will use and implement? Be sure it will and your purchases will go a lot further in helping to explode your business!

Resources and Tools are a MUST for business owners and successful people!

Don’t stop getting your resources and tools – just be sure to USE them!  All successful business owners from Trump through your local successful business owner all use, read and rely on resources/tools and training materials. They are avid readers and dedicate time set aside for not only using tools and resources but for personal development – how about you?  They have grown by the knowledge they have taken in over the years and it is something as BUSY solo-preneurs  we too have to be in the habit of taking and setting that time aside for this as well.  BUT remember it is only valuable when you implement what you are learning!