My last blog, “Taking Time To Think”, discussed using a log method to list ideas that float around in your mind. I have been using this method and call it a “think journal”—logging ideas so I won't lose track of possible thoughts that can become basic foundations to increase business as well as to accomplish personal goals.

Will this idea work for you? I don't know. It is working for me. I don't see any risk involved in trying this idea. American writer John Greenleaf Whittier said it best: "For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest words are these: “It might have been”.

So often we hear of ideas of others that seem okay but we just never put them into practice. I have been able to do this very successfully for many years, letting many great ideas fall on unfertile soil. However, we often retain some things from stories we hear, ideas we hear about, people we come into contact with, sometimes movies we see, as well as the many experiences that we have. I must mention here that often the mind will favor us by sifting out the junk. We just have to be sure that we don't eliminate the jewels along with the junk. We often don't use ideas or thoughts that we have because at the moment it just doesn't seem to fit in with our situation. The great thing about this is that, once our minds have been infiltrated with various materials, it remains possible at some point in time to be retriggered into great ideas. Our “think journal” can come to the rescue when we reread it from time to time.

I love to read and I read all types of books. I don't always retain everything I read. It is for sure that a lot of good ideas have come my way in the many years that I have been in the business world. I'm sure if I had tried more of them I would have had success in some instances, although we will never truly know that for sure. That is why Mr. Whittier's words ring so true. Procrastination is a word that we usually prefer not to be connected with, but when we think of all the good ideas that go past us we know that it must fit some of us at least some of the time.

I want this year to be a turning point on trying new ideas for personal endeavors, sales, production, and displays. I want to look back at this year and compare ideas with actual progress. How can this work out? Just to want to do better or advance doesn't get us where we want to be. Do you know another company that is within your industry that has the success that you are struggling to achieve? Dare to ask questions from them. Listen to the answers and use your think journal for easy reference.

Don't ever use your mentors’ ideas against them. You do not want to seek help in order to try to steal another business's clients. You are only seeking ideas to build, recruit, and develop your own business.

There is, of course, advertising in various forms; the social networking pages now available may be useful as well. I like enlisting incentives to current employees, other clients, and even friends. I don't ever want to ask for references to the extent that it would offend anyone but rather do it in a fun manner. As an example, Oh! By the way, I'm giving a $50 Visa card (could be a gas card, Starbucks or whatever) to anyone that sends me a new client with an opening order of $250 or more during March, April, and May. Put a time limit on the offer. If they think of someone even at a later date, they will let you know. Don't forget to still give a referral award whenever you receive the referral on time or even if the time frame is over.

We are currently adding a new area for ASI and all types of new items. I'm excited to get it finished. We have ten new showcases just waiting to be filled with all kinds of neat items.

Don't forget to attend the next NBM Show that comes to your area and to enroll in the classes. I always get some new ideas that keep me busy until the next time. Stay excited about your business and your products. As the old saying goes, “like makes like”.

If you have a good business, work to make it a great business, and do this while striving to perfect some type of new product or new process each month. After the product and the process have been perfected, go for the gold! Put your sales force out to reach those new clients. If you don't have a sales force, use what you do have. Perhaps some of the ideas in this blog will fit in to help to grow a lasting client base.