This article is by Robert Middleton of Acton Plan Marketing. Originally published in Horsesmouth, it is reproduced with his permission.

Intentions are not actions. If you are forever making plans to upgrade your marketing but never doing it, you need to up the stakes. Playing it safe will only get you what you've been getting.

If you've procrastinating, here's how to get out of your rut.

When it comes to promoting their business, a large number of advisors are looking for what I call "silver-bullet marketing".

A silver bullet is that magical, all-in-one solution that will cure all your marketing or business-development ills in one shot. It's what we all want and hope we'll find one lucky day.

Well, sorry to disappoint you, but there ain't no silver bullet.

Stop playing it safe

However, there is a marketing approach that is more powerful, more certain and more reliable than any sliver bullet. It's something that we all have the power to implement immediately and it almost always produces favourable results.

I call it "bet-your-car marketing."

Most human activites are based on trying. That is, we try to produce results. We make an effort. We struggle. We give it our best shot. You know the drill:

"I tried to get that article written, but I'm just not a very good writer." Or "I tried to do speaking engagements but nobody returned my call" or " I tried to get my newsletter started but the technical part is just too complicated."

(Note from Dan Richards - To this list could be added "I meant to get around to calling that difficult client I'm overdue to get in touch with or to follow up with that prospect I met at the lunch I attended, but I got distracted by other things that came up.")

Trying includes a degree of effort accompanied by an excuse.

Imagine this scenario instead: You are talking to friend or perhaps your business coach. (Feel free to substitute any project you are procrastinating about.)

"I'm going to try to get that article written this week."

"Will you bet your car?"

"What do you mean?"

"You've been futzing over that article article for weeks. Will you bet your car that you'll complete it?"

"Well, like I said, I'll try my very best. It isn't easy, you know, and besides, I have of other priorities I'm juggling."

"Fine, but either you do it or you don't do it. If you're going to commit to writing it, I suggest you make it real and bet your car."

"What exactly does that mean?!"

"It means that you commit to completing the article and if you don't complete it, you forfeit your car. You can give it to a local charity."

"Are you crazy?"

"I'm not crazy. At a certain point it takes putting something at stake to get something done. You could agonize over that article for another several weeks or you could just write it. And if you don't, you lose your car. Let me tell you, if you put your car at stake, don't you think the article would get done?"

"I guess it would. I hadn't thought of it that way."

"No, because you're reasonable. And when you're reasonable, you always have an excuse that undermines your goals. Everyone buys into those excuses. But can you honestly say that the excuses are as fulfilling as actually completing the article?"

"No, I guess not. But what if I make the bet and I don't succeed? What if I lose the car?"

"Well, that's the game you've been playing for years. You always hedge your bets; you never commit. You play it safe. And look at your results. It's time to change the game. Will you bet your car or keep making excuses?"

"OK, I'll do it."

Making this work for you

I've actually had similar conversations with clients. A couple of weeks ago, I put pressure on a group I'm working with. In that case, they didn't bet their cars, but they agreed to write checks to certain unsavory political organizations if they didn't complete the projects they were procrastinating about.

Guess what? Everyone got their projects done.

Want to produce breakthrough results in your marketing? Want to accomplish things you thought were impossible? Want to step outside your comfort zone and make something happen?

Don't wait for a silver bullet. Bet your car instead.

If you'd like more information about Robert Middleton and Action Plan Marketing or to sign up for his free newsletter visit www.actionplan.com.