How do you know when it’s time for a change?

Change is hard and it is scary. But it can also be exhilarating. I got to thinking about this as I change my exercise rotation. I’ve had a very successful run at doing barre (ballet-type) exercises. I think it’s time for a change though and so I’ve been doing P90X3. (Which stands for Power 90 Extreme 3.) And, yes, as the name suggests, it’s a pretty intense program. You do plyometrics, metabolic training, strength training, balance moves and stretching. It’s a blast!

I was nervous about starting this program since I was afraid that I would lose all the gains I had made with Barre. The exact opposite has happened; I am stronger and more flexible than ever. Plus, my mind is sharp and I literally leap out of bed at 4:30 am, ready to take on the exercise challenge for the day. Of course, being a morning person helps too!

Since my theme for these weeks is marketing, I pose the question:

How do you know it’s time for a change in your marketing?

1.  Is your current strategy still working?

I know when I stop getting the results I want from my exercise, it is most definitely time for a change in my routine.

The same holds true for your marketing.  If you are no longer getting results, however you define that, it is time for a change.  For example, if your conversion rate (from people looking at your website to people actually making a purchase from you), is dropping, it is time to do something different.

2. Are you very comfortable with what you’re doing?

If so, it may become rote and you aren’t challenging yourself. You can’t make progress if you’re not challenging yourself to be better, faster or whatever.

You may subscribe to the philosophy, “if it’s not broken, why try to fix it?”  Comfort leads to complacency and this is when your competitors may swoop in and steal away your customers.

3. Is it easy for you?

I’ll never be a graceful ballerina, but the moves were getting easier. I still have a ways to go and someday I will go back to an all-barre routine.

You never know what you are capable of unless you challenge yourself.  I find that trying a new activity sparks my creativity like nothing else.  I make new connections, both in my brain and with new people.  This will be the case for your marketing too.

4. Does your mind wander while you’re doing the activity?

I love P90X3 because I really have to focus on what I’m doing. All those balance moves and compound exercises require focus. If you lose focus, you end up falling over and that’s never a pretty sight.

I subscribe to the philosophy that if it isn’t fun or enjoyable, why do it?  Of course there are things that we must do, both personally and professionally that are not fun, but overall I believe life should be enjoyable.

5. Change doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

My main focus is functional fitness right now, but I still do a barre workout now and then. I find I am better at these workouts now that I am cross-training.

You don’t have to make drastic changes to your marketing.  Try  a little something new.  If starting a blog is overwhelming to you, start small by commenting on other blogs which have similar subjects.

So what about you? How do you know when it’s time for a change in your life and in your business?

This intriguing picture is courtesy of Steve Juretson’s Flickr Photostream.