Now that it’s mid-February, I’d like to ask you, how are your new years resolutions doing?  Are you still resolute in keeping your commitments? 

Here is a list of the top Resolutions people make every year in alphabetic order:

• Drink Less Alcohol
• Get a Better Education
• Get a Better Job
• Get Fit
• Lose Weight
• Manage Debt
• Manage Stress
• Quit Smoking
• Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
• Save Money
• Take a Trip
• Volunteer to Help Others

Notice there aren’t any resolutions such as:

• Increase Annual Sales
• Double Customer Contacts
• Generate More Income
• Implement a New Marketing Plan
• Invest More Time and Effort in My Business

There is really no reason why these suggestions can’t be implemented today, tomorrow or any day for that matter.  These are goals that all business people should be focused on and determined to achieve.  Why else are you in business? 

Now think about your customers and prospects, what might their resolutions be for 2011?

• Increase My Retirement Plan Contributions
• Determine What My Income Will Be at Retirement Age (Based on My Current Social Security Benefit and Other Retirement Plan Income) 
• How Can I Increase This Amount
• Determine How to Increase Investment Returns with Minimal Risk

It’s quite likely that these goals are at the forefront of your customers and prospects minds.  And the closer they are to retirement age the more these goals will become major concerns.  If you focus on helping your clients achieve their goals it’s likely that you’ll achieve your goals too.

So get out there and develop a marketing plan to help your customers and prospects achieve their objectives for 2011 and beyond.  Tell them you’re taking a survey and begin by asking, “What financial goals did you set for yourself this year”?  This is an open-ended question that can’t be answered with a simple yes or no response.  You can add more questions if you’d like but this one by itself is adequate.

Ask and listen to what they have to say.  This is a door-opener that will easily generate new business for you in 2011.  You’ll learn a lot about your customers.  Did they make any financial resolutions or not?  It really doesn’t matter one way or the other.  Either response presents multiple sales opportunities.

Whatever answer they give you will open the door to new business in 2011.  All you have to do is ask.