Tag Archives | Clarity

Goofing Up and Growing Up in Business





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Several weeks ago I wrote an article entitled “Are You A HO?” The article was about making the distinctions between being a Hobby Owner vs being a Business Owner in your business.  To my surprise, that article generated some interest – and not all of it positive.

While there were new subscribers and some wonderful email responses, there were also some unsubscribes, and one colleague got upset and challenged my appropriateness in using the word “HO.”

 

Worst of all, I learned that I had not given credit where credit was due.  Uh-Oh.  Time to take care of that.

So, first things first:  “Are You a HO?” is Suzanne Evans’s brilliance, which came from her recent event “Be the Change.” I completely loved the cleverness of the idea and wanted to share it with all of you.  (Next time, I’ll remember to give credit, right?)

Here’s what’s especially interesting: during the  same week I wrote the “HO” article and I was publicly challenged by my colleague, I was participating in a class called “Money, Marketing & Sales Mastery” led by my wonderful coach, Pamela Bruner.  Not only was the class on learning how to better market your business, but it also had lots of tapping (doing EFT – the Emotional Freedom Technique) opportunities.

The very day that my ezine came out, someone in the class was tapping with Pamela over the phone on her fears of being judged for putting herself “out there.”

Two days later, my colleague stepped forward with judgment and accusations about my using the word “HO.”  (By the way, she later  also publicly apologized because she realized she had been triggered (hello, who can’t relate to that, right?); I thought that was really great of her.)

 

So, here’s the thing with all of this:

1)      When you are building your business, you’ll make mistakes.  Sometimes ones you cannot completely fix.  It’s ok.  Just move forward.  Learn from them and grow.

In my particular situation, I had already submitted that article to article directories.  I can’t chase down each one and give credit to Suzanne, much as I may want to.  But I can do it here and on my website.

2)      When you are putting yourself out there, not everyone will like the way in which you do it.  It’s ok.  You’ve got to realize that it’s their stuff.  And you are not responsible for their stuff.

In this particular situation, I was not responsible for my colleague’s trigger regarding my use of the word “HO” in marketing.  She was.  And I was able to let it be ok with me that she didn’t approve or like what I did.

3)      If putting yourself out there or making a mistake brings up your stuff, well, then, guess what?  Yup.  It’s your stuff, and that’s your work to clear up and take care of.

So, in my situation, my stuff was that when I realized I hadn’t given credit to Suzanne, I felt like I’d been taken to the principal’s office and I’d gotten in trouble – and everyone knew.  :-)

It was old stuff that was coming up for me to clear (yes, that happened when I was a kid, more than once!) – and I am grateful to be able to clear it out.

 

It is important to realize that mistakes are a part of the learning curve; they are a part of putting yourself out there.  And it’s ok to make them.  And sometimes you won’t make a mistake and someone will want to let you know that they think you did.  To the degree that you can let them have their opinion and not let it affect you, you will be free.

And isn’t that what we all want, both in our businesses and in our lives?

 

So go, grow in your business and be ok with the goofs.  :-)

 

Hugs, Anne

 

 

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Rich in Your Niche?





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Last week, Karen*, a new client said to me, “I’m so frustrated, I’m not getting any clients to come in for sessions.  I’m panicking and I need to talk with you!”

 I gotta tell you, nothing bothers me more than this.  And it happens to spiritual entrepreneurs all the time!  

Gifted healers, heart-centered service professionals, and spiritually-oriented coaches frequently find themselves in this position.  Why?

It isn’t because they aren’t amazing.  And it isn’t because their gifts don’t matter.  And it sure as heck ain’t because they aren’t trying!

 Nope.  It’s none of that. 

 Let me tell you what it is … well, my opinion anyway. 

 It’s because they aren’t specific about who their niche is.  Their Divine Niche.  You know, the people they are meant to serve.  The people who are actually looking for them – they are googling for them – even as you read this!

 During our session, when Karen told me what she had told someone at her networking event, I could understand why no one was coming in the door.  Even I was confused because it seemed she was offering at least 3 different specialties! 

 So we worked through her offering, and she became clearer and clearer about what she was to say – and to whom.

 The VERY next day I opened an email from her saying, “I just sold my first ever package for $1200!  Thank you so much!”

 When you become clear about your Divine Niche – or your perfect market (if you prefer to say it that way), then your potential clients respond to that clarity in a way that is incredibly powerful.
*By the way, Karen is not her real name.  (I haven’t asked permission to share that yet.)

 

 

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Got Choices? Get Answers!





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“I don’t know what to do!”

 

I overheard this statement as I walked back into the auditorium at the event I was attending.

 

Two women were behind me discussing a coaching program that was being offered at the event.  I could still hear them talking.

 

“What are you going to do?” one asked the other.

 

“I’m not sure.  I really want to, but that’s so much money!”

 

“I know!  But I really think it will make a difference if I do it,” the first one said, finally.

 

The women sat down at my table.  I smiled and said hello, and we began to discuss the event.  They began to talk again about the coaching program and asked me if I was going to participate in it.

 

“No,” I replied.  “I have my hands full with my coach.” I smiled.  “How about you?” I asked.

 

“I really want to,” one of them replied.  “But I’m just not sure.  I mean, I really like what she’s offering, but it’s so much money!”

 

“I know something that would help.  Would you like to hear what it is?” I asked.

 

“Sure!” she said.

 

“Ok, then, close your eyes,” I began.  “And imagine that you have two roads in front of you.  One leads to the left, and one to the right.  The one leading to the left is the road of not doing the program.  The one to the right is the one of doing the program.  Now take a deep breath.  And ask yourself, which of these is the right decision?”

 

“Oh, my God!” she exclaimed.  “The one to the right!”

 

“Great!  How do you know?” I asked.

 

“Because it’s really bright and has all of these flowers that appeared.  Am I making this up?”

 

“No,” I said, “You are just connecting to your intuition as you make a decision.”

 

 

In my experience, most people don’t take the time to consciously check in with their intuition before they make a decision.  But when you do this, you give yourself a huge advantage.  Here’s why:

 

1)  You get very clear about which road or decision is the right one for you.

 

2)  You trust your decision far more, which results in a lot less energy spent second-guessing yourself.

 

3)  You discover that your world begins to flow – situations work more smoothly, the right people show up when you need them, and information shows up at the time you need it to.

 

4)  You gain confidence in yourself and in your ability to make good decisions.

 

5)  You discover that you begin to have that magnetic attractor factor that draws clients and people to you like magnets.

 

6)  Things work for you and not against you.

 

7)  Your business grows, more easily than you could imagine.

 

I could go on, but you get the idea.

 

So, next time you have a decision to make, take a moment and check in with your intuition.

 

1)  Close your eyes.

2)  Breathe deeply.

3)  Imagine your options in two (or three) roads.

4)  Ask which is the correct one for now.

5)  Wait. See which reveals itself to you.

6)  Trust what you get.

7)  Take action upon it.

 

Your intuition will never guide you wrong.  Never.  Your job is to ask, and then to recognize what it is telling you.  Then trust it enough to take action.

 

Hugs, Anne

 

 

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What the Rat in my Garage Taught Me about Marketing!

 


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As you reach out to your target market to share with them about your services, you’ll want to connect to their “pain.”  Their pain is the area in which they are struggling, and the area that you have the solution to their problem.

 

Here is a really great example of how my pain met up with a service provider’s solution … beautifully.

 

One night recently, as I was taking some trash to the garbage can which is stored in my garage, I saw a BIG rat crawling above the top of the garage door.  I hurriedly opened the garage door about a foot, and left it open for some time,  praying that the rat would run outside.

 

EEEEUUUUUWWWW!!!

 

Living in South Florida, rats are a part of the lifestyle here, and they get into people’s homes all the time.  Who can blame them?  It’s warm, safe and a great place to raise their young.  Still, this was MY home!  (My pain, right?)

 

I immediately looked on the internet about what to do, and I discovered that you have to rat-proof your home because there are myriad ways for them to get in.  I called a guy from a website, and he immediately called me back. (Score one for him!  Immediate response.)

 

He gave me more information which intensified my fears (or pain):  maybe I have rats in the attic or walls.  Listen to see if I hear scratching or movement.  Do you think I was listening that night?  HECK YEAH!  (I didn’t hear anything, but that didn’t necessarily mean that there wasn’t anything.)

 

When he came the next day, he checked our attic (nope, no rats, thank God!).  He then looked at our roof and took pictures of all the places rats could get in, and showed me how the rat had gotten into the garage.  Seriously, there was a 3/4″ x 3″ gap at the bottom of our garage door.  THAT was how it got in.

 

My pain had increased significantly!  I was so grossed out, and was now horrified that I could have a whole bunch of rats living in my garage.

 

Then, he took me through his sales process.  He could fix the places in the attic, set traps in the garage, fix the garage door gap, and just as a matter of caution, set traps in the attic – just in case.  (Score two for him!  Great service.)

 

Do you think I was ready to sign my credit card to him?  ABSOLUTELY!  While it was only $600, I would have paid more, believe me, to get out of my pain.

 

So, here’s the point:  My pain met up with his solution, and I readily – even happily – paid.  He set the traps, fixed my open areas in my roof, and now I feel MUCH safer.  (Score three for him!  Problem solved.)  My peace of mind was worth that and so much more!

 

We talked about his business, a little, too.  He said it’s pretty much recession-proof, which I can believe.  And he did all the “dirty” work.  I didn’t have to do anything.  (Score four for him!  Easy-peasy.) Was he of service to me?  Absolutely!  Will I tell all my neighbors?  Heck, yeah!

 

You see, pain is not a bad thing. And for your clients, their pain is not a bad thing.  We all go through pain of a various nature, depending upon our situations.

 

When I went looking for someone to solve my pain, I was clear that I wanted someone who specialized in this field, someone who could take care of my problem (and even tell me what my problem was, i.e., openings to my attic via the roof), and who would do it quickly.

 

When we market ourselves, we truly need to connect to someone’s specific pain, and be clear with them about our solution to it.  Once we do that, we invite them to take the next step in resolving their pain: hiring us.  If your solution meets their pain, I promise you, they will happily work with you.  Your job is to be clear about what you offer, and what your prospective client’s pain is, and then ask them for the business.

 

Score a BIG one for me!  I learned the lesson!

 

Hugs, Anne

 

 

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Eliminating Impatience & Developing Trust in Your Intuition

 


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Many gifted healers ache to bring their gifts to the world, but then find themselves stuck when it comes to marketing those gifts.

 

In coaching these dedicated, spiritual entrepreneurs, it is clear to me that their marketing challenges occur because they are unclear about one of the following three elements:  their message, their market (whom they are serving), or their media (the vehicle through which they are conveying their message).

 

If your message is not clear – if the people you are meant to serve do not even know what you are offering, then how can they decide that they need you and want to work with you?

 

In addition if you are not clear about who your market is (or what your niche is), then it is very difficult to find the people to even share your message with them.  And let’s not even talk about the media!

 

Marketing always starts with knowing what your business’s message is – what your message to the world is.  But here’s the thing — you can’t figure out your message to the world unless you know why you’re in business to begin with, can you?  (We’ll work on your message in the future.  For now, let’s just concentrate on this first step.)

 

Answering these questions will help you figure this out, if you don’t know already.  Ask yourself: 

 

1.  Why am I in business for myself? Or… Why am I doing this business?

 

2.  What is my vision for my business or for my work?  What do I stand for? Or… What does my business stand for?

 

3.  What is it that I want my business to create?  What change do I want my business/work to create in the world?

 

Make a list to answer each of these questions because if as you get clearer about why you are in business, you will get clearer about how to market your business.  But it starts first with having your vision and being clear about what that is that you do and what gifts you are bringing to the world.

 

If you take the time to do this, you will begin to clarify a big piece of your marketing message.  And that, in turn, will attract more clients!  It cannot help but attract more clients.  Clarity always equals attraction.

 

 

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