Live for today, plan for tomorrow. It is often very hard to get the balance quite right, especially when you are stuck working in your business, desperately trying to make ends meet.

However, it is so important to keep a focus on what is happening right now, because before you know it the time has passed, and an opportunity is missed. How often do you hear people say, once something or some time period is done, that everything will be a lot easier? The specific “obstacle” can be in work or in home life, but the trouble is you can become so focussed on getting past that period, that you miss all the good things that happened or could have happened in that time.

So whilst it is of course essential that you set long term goals and aims, it is vital that while planning for what is yet to come in the months and years to ahead, you do not miss something which could be significant right then, or even potentially life changing for the future. It may even help you to change your mind about future goals.

So, as I have no doubt said before, make sure you enjoy the journey, not just the getting there, because all too often the “pot of gold” is always just out of reach, and there are plenty of gems and good times to be had whilst you are still striving to reach your utopia. Be prepared to be buffeted along the way, and accept a little of what life brings, and then adapt your goals according. Instead of fighting things all the time, perhaps it may be worth embracing life’s events, enjoy what they bring, and be more aware of the now and the fun it can be.

“No” is never “no” until it really is. Perhaps some of you wonder what on earth I mean by that, but it is all to do with not giving up on leads, because time and time again I find that people say “No” for all sorts of reasons, but they don’t always mean no forever, just at that time.

I have always believed in the need to follow up and follow up again, and have been rewarded on many occasions by being persistent. Recently this has happened to me in 3 separate examples. The first had originally said he would work with me, but then was persuaded by a colleague to shelve it as they could change things on their own. When I called 6 months later, as agreed, nothing had changed and he has decided to give it a go. The second has been on the edge of starting for 18 months, but kept finding reasons not to make the final leap of faith. She always was pleased that I had maintained contact over that time, and was in fact impressed that I always called when I said I would. In the end she too has decided to take the plunge and start a programme. The third example was one that I originally met 4 or 5 years ago, and to be honest I hadn’t kept in touch all the time, but fortunately I had obviously left enough of a good impression that when the time came it has been me they turned to.

So whilst some people will take “no” as the final answer, and in fact some don’t even follow up the leads they work so hard to get in the first place, just remember keep going until you are really certain they do not need or want you services. After all you know that your service or product is the best, so why wouldn’t people want to work with you?