It is all too easy to forget the bigger scheme of things - and that applies just as much to the day-to-day running of a business as it does to your long-term plans and vision. Here are some suggestions to help you keep a bigger picture in focus.

1. Day dream

If you were told you could not fail in business, what would you do?

No, I mean you absolutely cannot fail! Success is guaranteed.

Dare to dream. The results of dreaming are so exciting that they motivate you as nothing else can. Not only that, but the truly amazing thing is that, if you can imagine it, you can make it happen.

That's how man landed on the moon. Kennedy didn't say, 'Now, I wonder if we can get to the moon?' He said: 'I want to land men on the moon by the end of the decade.' Having given people this goal, he let other people run with it. Today we all know Neil Armstrong's famous words as he walked out onto the moon: 'One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.'

But make your dreams big, really big.

If you write them down, and then work out what you need to do to get you from here to there, your chances of success increase exponentially.

2. Reconsider your objectives

Ultimately, do you want to build an empire? Do you want to sell your business for a fortune? Or do you just want a comfortable living with not too much effort?

Whatever you want in the future will determine what you should be doing now.

If you want to grow an empire, you will be going for steady growth, hiring for the long-term, investing in the right kinds of equipment, websites, marketing and so on.

But if you want to sell out, your aim will be to slash costs, dramatically increase profits, improve your balance sheet, and plan how to avoid donating all your hard-earned money to the taxman.

On the other hand, you may want a quiet life with a few customers. In this case, you will want to think about systematizing aspects of your business so you can achieve more in less time, and maybe outsourcing non-core work, such as book-keeping.

3. Cut your bills

When did you last assess how much it costs you to do something? Could you do it for less? Set up a procedure so that every six months you systematically get quotes from other suppliers. Even if you don't change suppliers, you could be in a stronger position to negotiate a better deal from your current ones.

And those utility bills! Have you switched suppliers for the best deal in terms of cost and service?

4. Become more charismatic

When meeting new people, one of the dullest introductions in the world is your job title. 'Hello, I'm a solicitor' or 'I'm the marketing manager for Bloggs and Co.' Such introductions are guaranteed to glaze eyes.

But I know of one person who says: 'Hello, I help people acquire wealth and pass it on to their children intact.'

Now here is a person most people in a room will want to talk to. Actually, he's a financial adviser.

How can you be as charismatic? Simple. Stop thinking in terms of your job, and simply describe the benefit you provide. It takes time to perfect but is well worth the effort. Start with: 'I help...' and go on from there.

5. Attend a networking meeting

Many people find it awkward to attend meetings where they don't know anyone because, well, it's tough walking up to complete strangers and engaging them in conversation.

However, I met someone at a business club who changed the way I thought. He'd march up to the biggest group of people, break into the circle and say: 'Hello. I'm Christopher Jones,' thrusting his hand out to the nearest person, which they would automatically shake giving their own name in response: 'Hi. I'm Laura Williams.' At this point he would reply: 'What do you do, Laura?' And, of course, the ice was broken.

The trick, I realized, is not to worry about interrupting other conversations in mid-flow, and to do this with great confidence, no matter how shaky you are on the inside. Tip - most people will admire you for your courage.

Of course, it helps if you have worked out a really good introductory line in advance for when they inevitably ask, 'And what do you do?'

6. Set up an event

Staging an event, giving a talk or putting on a seminar on your pet subject are great ways to find prospects and boost your credibility.

It worked for Dee Brain. When she opened a shop selling designer dresses, she didn't have any money to spend on advertising. So she contacted the local Cancer Research Campaign office and offered to put on a fashion show for them.

They were thrilled. They worked on their contacts and got a lot of publicity for the show. They also had a gigantic address list of likely donors whom they invited to the show. The show was a sell out and a great success; the charity kept all the ticket money and Dee sold her clothes and had launched her shop memorably.

This technique works just as well for people offering advice. A financial adviser could put on a talk about the latest tax breaks available for people nearing retirement. An accountant could run a seminar on debt collection techniques.

7. Write an article for your trade press

Consultant Nick Rampley-Sturgeon found that raising your profile is not as difficult as it might seem. Work out who your target audience is. 'If you are a household decorator, ' says Nick, 'you know who your clients tend to be. If you are a consultant, be very clear about who pays for your services. Are they corporates, family businesses or public sector bodies?'

There are thousands of editors of magazines, trade journals, company and club newsletters, and websites who all need content. Work out what media your target audience reads and what they want to read about, and then approach relevant editors with a suggestion for an article.

Titles that go down well begin The secrets of... A beginner's guide to... How to...

8. Improve your search engine rating

If you have a website, do a search for your site on the search engines. Unless you are ranked first, you have some work ahead of you to improve your ratings. There are ways and means of doing this. If you are not an expert, ask for some advice.

9. Conduct a survey

If you sell baths, how many baths per household do people have in your town, how often do they bath, how deep do they run them and what else do they do in them, apart from bath? If you conduct a survey, even stopping people outside the local supermarket with a quick questionnaire, you will generate some fascinating statistics.

You then send a press release to the relevant press - in this case, the local paper and radio and TV stations - announcing your findings. When this is published, you will be perceived as the bath expert.

And if you want to generate enquires, you might create a free tip sheet on The secrets of buying a good bath, which you also note in that press release.

When the details of how to get hold of the tip sheet are published along with your statistics, you have yourself some free advertising. If the tip sheet has a good enough title to entice people to pick up the phone to request a copy, you have a ready-made hot prospect list!

10. Write a letter to the Editor

Write a letter to the Editor of the local paper, a trade magazine or even a national daily. They will generally publish your name, address and relevant details at the end. This raises your profile as an expert, and can generate sales leads.

What can you write about? Search for articles that you agree or disagree with or can add to. Then there is a clever formula to writing your letter.

You start with a reference to the name and date of the article you are responding to. Then present your comment using the formula: 'As an expert on..., I...' For instance:

'As a expert on environmental disasters, I would like to defend ship owners...'

Keep your letter short - around two paragraphs. You want to ensure that your provocative point gets printed.

Remembering to remember

With a little bit of effort, putting any or all of these suggestions and all the others you can think of isn't so hard, and the pay-offs can be tremendous. The day-to-day is just that - remember to keep the big picture firmly in mind.

This information is meant as a starting point only. Whilst all reasonable efforts have been made, the publisher makes no warranties that the information is accurate and up-to-date and will not be responsible for any errors or omissions in the information nor any consequences of any errors or omissions. Professional advice should be sought where appropriate.

© 2008 Published by Cobweb Information Ltd