Recently I was giving a presentation on building relationships to a room full of architects. One of the things I kept saying was that a plan and strategy are important, but you must actually implement it. A plan… a dream… a design… a strategy… all those are good, but they don’t mean much if you can’t turn them into reality. As AEC professionals, we all have ideas and want to change and improve processes, procedures, systems, etc., in our lives, but we actually have to do the hard work to make it happen.
Everyone is SUPER busy these days. We seem busier than ever. I’m not sure how that is possible, but it is. Still, that’s no excuse for not implementing the plans, visions, designs, and dreams you have in mind. You don’t have to do EVERYTHING, but you need to do something. That’s why a plan and strategy matter: they help you prioritize everything on your list. The list could be 20 items long, but once you think through your goals, you’ll narrow it down to three or four priorities. It’s not that the other ideas aren’t good; you just have to pick a few and work toward those. Once you get through those three or four, you can re-evaluate and move on to the next ones.
As the old saying goes, “Nothing happens until someone sells something.” It’s the same with a marketing strategy. Nothing gets done until the plan is implemented. Nothing gets accomplished until you start DOING. Getting things done is the hard part for many people. For me, it’s my superpower. If you put something in front of me to accomplish, I’m going to do everything in my power to turn that plan into something tangible. Is it easy? No. It’s especially hard when you have to rely on others who aren’t quite as Type A or “get ’er done” as I am. Many plans take a team, and motivating that team to prioritize the plan can be tricky. It also doesn’t happen overnight.
Implementation is the secret sauce in any business. It’s easy to get caught up in systems and processes, which are both important, but you’ve got to take action. Marketing may not be your favorite thing to do or a a priority for you. I get it. I’m a business owner, and doing the accounting isn’t my cup of tea either. But sometimes you have to do the hard stuff so you can do the fun stuff. Implementing and doing the activities is what’s going to help grow your business.
For AEC technical professionals, implementing a marketing and business development plan starts with reaching out to past and existing clients. The system and process aren’t the most important thing. The most important thing is that you reach out and go to coffee or lunch with the client or prospect. Don’t be afraid of rejection. Reach out and show you care by asking about their business, family, and life. It’s about connecting with people. People do business with people they like and trust. Period. The end. Relationships are built on trust, and strengthening them takes time and intention. It’s the doing. You can think about it… dream about it, but you must DO IT in order to make forward progress. What are you doing to implement your goals, dreams, and vision in your business?
Need help with your strategic marketing plan for 2027? Now is the perfect time to start PLANNING, so nu marketing can help you DO IT. Implementation is what we do best. We’ll work alongside your team to turn your goals into a focused plan, then make sure it actually gets done, so you can stay focused on your clients and projects. Reach out today to schedule a conversation (Contact Us for Business Development Solutions | Nu Marketing) or call us at 316.680.3097 or send us an email at [email protected]. We’d love to learn about your firm and help you grow your client relationships and your business.
