Keeping the Momentum Post-Dreamforce
It is a couple weeks removed from Dreamforce 12 and like any other Dreamforce, one of the biggest questions leaving is how do you keep the momentum going? Everyone that I have ever spoken to through the years (including myself) leaves with such excitement or juice (Tony Robbins term) about what they saw, learned, and what it can mean for them or their company. The problem is, if you don’t strike while the iron is hot, the juice fades. By applying some basic steps, you could keep that juice alive in your business/career. Salesforce gave you a gift with a special session on the last day of DF12 featuring Tony Robbins to help you realize that all that excitement you felt can be a way of life. By applying his RPM (Rapid Planning Method) strategy shared in his many seminars and programs you can easily set achievable goals that will create lasting change. Here is a deeper dive into RPM and how you can apply it to keep that momentum going and create success within your company.
Results
The Rapid Planning Method is broken down into 3 parts with the first being “Results”. After you left Dreamforce I am sure you have spoken to your fellow colleagues about what you “should” do now. Maybe it is implement service cloud, build a mobile app or begin social monitoring for better customer service. At this point it is a lot of talk and unless you start to do something about it, it will just fade away and you will just end up “shoulding”[a] all over yourself. Most companies are reactive and do not act unless something is broken. You need to turn the “should” into a “must” and you start by setting clear and specific results you want to achieve that are measurable. Be specific about exactly what you are going to do and by when. If there is no timeline, there is no way to measure it.
Purpose
The second part of RPM is “Purpose”. Here is where you state the “Why”. If your goal is to implement service cloud or Radian6, why are you doing it? To just say that you can afford something or you need to do better in customer service, is not something that is going to get approved or much backing from your boss or fellow colleagues. To say that you will get 100% ROI and a reduction in headcount by implementing service cloud, now that will get someone’s attention. The “why” you want to do something is where all the passion is and knowing it will keep you focused and driven.
Massive Action Plan
The third and final part is a Massive Action Plan or MAP. Once you have decided on what the specific outcome is going to be and why, you now must put together a plan to achieve it. This is a great time to pull out a blank piece of paper and start writing all the different things you can and will need to do to make the project a reality and a success. Perhaps even doing a mind mapping exercise. How will I get the budget approved? Who will be part of the project? How is it going to be implemented? List out more than one option in case one approach doesn’t work and most importantly do something now. Most failures stem from the inability of people to act immediately. If you don’t know how to do something, I am 100% positive someone you know does and you just have to find them and ask.
