You might not think the song is about you, but this newsletter 100% is It's already almost February!

By the time you read this, January will almost be over. Meaning 1/12th of the year is gone.

Isn't that NUTS.  I feel like there are two times - the covid slog and the before times.  But I digress.

 Hopefully you're on track to hit all of your numbers, metrics, goals, etc.  If you're not, though, what are you waiting for?

I wrote about habits > goals on an earlier newsletter so I don't want to belabor that point, instead I want to flip it this way.

 If you're not getting the results you want - it's your fault.

 I haven't lost as much weight as I wanted to this month...but guess what, I didn't exercise enough and I ate too much food.  And it was DELICIOUS!

My law firm didn't close as many cases this month as we wanted to, but guess what...I didn't get our new system implemented in time to get them filing cases faster, etc.

 While at first it sounds shitty to blame yourself for everything, it's actually liberating.  And here's why: I truly believe people can change, but guess who you have an easier time changing - Yourself or someone else?  I hope you agree with me on that answer.

So seriously, if it's all your responsibility, and you're the easiest person to change...you got this!

Some examples:

You're too busy: listen...Carly Simon didn't write the song about you.  I promise you other people can do a LOT of what you're currently doing.  You need to build your magical ice cave and LET IT GO...LET IT GO...but make sure you're either delegating, automating, or outsourcing the process smoothly and correctly.

Not getting enough referrals: are you putting in the same amount of time with your referral sources as you did before?  Are you stretching yourself too thin?  Being impersonal?  Did you hide in a 1950 nuclear bunker for the last 20 months and now wandered out like Brendan Fraser trying to meet someone?

Low performing employees: make sure they have the time and system and training to be successful, and if they're not (or they aren't a good culture fit) find someone else 

Low performing marketing: make sure you identify the real problem (could be the ad, could be your website, could be your contact forms, could be who answers the phone, could be a bad sales process, etc), but tweak the real problem and see how it impacts the rest of things, and if you're stuck - call us for help

I don't want to get too deep into your personal life, but it applies there too.  My wife and I doled out Fair Play cards this week, and I think both of us were surprised to see how evenly we shared them.  So guess what, we don't have that excuse with our son, or friends, or unicorn space either.

Seriously, it's all on you, but also you're not alone.  Hire that extra help, sign up for instacart, bring on that new vendor, get a housekeeper, whatever it is that will free up your time, money or effort to solve that problem that's been holding you back - I give you permission to address it and see where it gets you.

Also, bonus tip - Valentine's Day is coming up.  Make your reservations now.  Buy your gifts now.  Etc.  

Remember, you're doing this to have a life.  So don't take a rough year out on your spouse, but do lavish them if it's been a great one.  

My wife is getting a trip to Hawaii and I am getting the gift of taking my wife to Hawaii... I kid, I kid.

But seriously, the only thing standing between you and that thing you really want...is also you...and maybe some security measures, but still...you know what I mean by now or you've long since unsubscribed to this.

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