When business planning becomes necessary.Recently we watched an exciting video 'Bear and the Potty.' I think that was the title. Anyway, it was about a big brown bear teaching all these little animals, who were outgrowing their diapers, to use the potty. Of course, we were watching it as we were babysitting a four year-old for some friends. There was a line in the video that said something about how great it was to wear diapers and be free, except that diapers slow you down.
How to integrate two or more businesses.'I do massage,' she was telling me. 'But, I also do Reiki and reflexology. Plus, I'm a nutritionist, and I'm studying herbs.' 'I feel like I'm running five businesses. I have no idea how to market them all, much less how to charge. I'm going nuts- how do I bring them all together?' Five businesses, my goodness. She could go for an even dozen, and call it quits, but I think there's a better solution.
Why dreaming big can keep you small.I remember when I was in another business, and as part of my support network we were dreaming up vision statements. I don't exactly remember what I came up with, but something that included words like 'huge,' 'global,' 'number one,' 'best-known.' It was fun to dream that big for a little while. But... we're only a year or so from finally clearing the debt from that failed business. Something didn't work.
When being pushy is the best thing to doYour business is here to serve people as much as you can. And, incidentally, that's where profit comes from as well. If you've ever gone through feast and famine in your business, then you know that it takes a lot more effort and energy to gain a new customer, than it does to continue to serve a customer that already loves and trusts you.
Should you let clients who cancel get away with it?Another knock, I open the door, and again I'm surrounded by monsters who come up to my knees. 'Trick or treat!' In the US, October 31 is Halloween, when it's a tradition for parents to take their children knocking on neighbors' doors, to get their bags filled with goodies. It's too much fun. There's no chance these kids are going to no-show for their appointment with the neighborhood.
Why your best clients give blah testimonialsYour client loved you. Luurrrved you! Working with you, the results they got. Oh happy day. Then why is it so darn hard to get a testimonial from them? And, if you do get a testimonial, it's of the blah-blah 'John Smith is great. Recommend him highly.' variety.
How to write a 300 page book in four monthsThere's a lot of hoopla about becoming an author of your very own business book. The promise of fame and fortune is very alluring. Yet your book remains perpetually 'about to be' written. Or, you've sequested yourself for weeks or months to write your book, only to come out with something you feel luke-warm about.
How to get feedback from colleagues that makes sense.Okay, you've just written a new website, or a new sales page. Or maybe you've just created a new product or offer. Or even just tried on a new suit. And you turn to your friend and ask: 'Can I get some feedback from you? What do you think?' So they tell you what they think. They tell you, 'It's nice.' or 'I like it.'
Avoiding the Third Degree Syndrome in Marketing.When you last wrote a flyer or a webpage, or when you last read one, what was the first bit of text on it, after the headline? I'm willing to bet you beads to bogarts that it was a series of questions. Like this list I just saw on a website I randomly picked off of Google: 'Are you: Feeling that more meaningful success and far better results are possible in your life, career or business?
Grief--Your Surprising Tool for Business Momentumusiness momentum is when a series of events build upon each other and multiply their efforts. It's when your business starts to have some steam of its own, and you get carried along for the ride. For instance, we had some December sunshine here in Portland, and I went bicycling. Each time I pedaled was an event. But that pedaling only creates momentum that carries me forward even when I'm not peddling IF...
How a Personal Secretary is Critical to Your Response RateIn a past Moneyflow class, one of the participants was promoting a seminar. 'People aren't responding to my emails. What do I do?' 'Well, tell me what you've done,' I said. 'Today the second email went out. I've only had 5 people respond so far on my list of 100. And I've been networking, and making phone calls, and sending out flyers.' What wasn't working?
Spirituality in Your Business Without Scaring Clients.You've been deepening your spirituality, and it has seeped into everything you do, or is starting to. The thing is, will it freak your clients out if you go all woo-woo and bizarre on them? Even if you're already using spirituality strongly in your business, I'm guessing there are places you just don't want to go, things that are too blatant or strong. You don't want to evangelize, you're not looking to convert anyone.
Marketing Without Spending Your Life Trolling the Internet'I'd rather be rock climbing, hiking, spending time outside than in front of a computer. And, it all feels so useless, like nothing works anyhow. I'm spending my life energy in front of the computer, I feel like , and it's not moving my business forward!' That's what a client of ours was telling us. And how about you? You're staring at a screen now. How many hours do you spend in front of a computer to make your business work?
Avoiding Financial Trauma Stress DisorderDay after day we're being treated to news of the global financial markets being flushed further and further down the toilet. If you run a small business, it can be hard to hold onto hope and inspiration, because maybe this time things really are doomed. Makes you wonder and doubt--did someone not buy simply because they didn't buy, or is this the beginning of the end of your business?
Why Clients Don't Buy--The Hierachy of ChoiceSo you struggle over getting all the details just right, like pricing and timing, and all the other features included in your offers so your best clients will buy from you. So why aren't they buying? It's because all of those details are actually the least important part of a purchasing choice.
The How and Why of Wrestling Your Inbox to ZeroHave you ever ended up TWO weeks behind in answering emails? An inbox full of missed opportunities, deadlines, and people you care about left with the sour taste that maybe you don't like them. Not good for business. Very good for encouraging an unhealthy sense of guilt, shame and pressure.
Can Branding Ever Be Heart Centered?Sometimes the world delivers up vocabulary words that are just plain wrong. Painfully wrong. Words like 'branding,' which the world of marketing seems to love, but regular folks and cows just seem to hate. And it's because of how branding has often been used. Companies have done psychological studies on how to craft an environment that gets you to react in the way they want you to. It's like herd
How Do You Be Unique When What You Do Isn't Yours?You come off the freeway exit ramp, and bam, you're stuck behind a long line of cars at the stop sign, all wanting to turn left, the same way you want to go. Slowly, one by one, they go through the stop sign. You inch imperceptibly forward. Suddenly one of the cars peals off and goes right, instead of left. You're bored by this time, so you figure, what the heck--let's try it out.
Why You Shouldn't Handle More Than Three ProjectsAs I write this, my wife Holly, myself, and our assistant Kate are planning to meet in a couple of hours. And why? So we can put a bunch of absolutely amazing and wonderful ideas on the back burner, and do nothing about them. It's probably not such a surprising idea for you, that you're supposed to prioritize your projects, and only focus on a few things at a time.
Cookie Grandma's Secrets to a Unique and Powerful Business.Your business probably seems like many others. There are billyuns and billyuns of therapists, consultants, retailers, and healers. Yet, in order to make an impact and deeper connection with customers that is so necessary for a sustainable business, you need to distinguish yourself. However, just 'finding your voice' and 'developing your uniqueness' aren't often helpful strategies.
Why your business needs a peer-led Mastermind groupEvery time I teach a class, and build in the buddy system, people are blown away by how much -easier- everything is, just from not doing it alone. And not just getting stuff done, but the insights, the perspective shifts. Everything changes when you aren't solo.
The Curse of Professionalism in Your BusinessHave you ever received (or written) an email like this one? 'Thank you for your correspondence. We appreciate your desire to contact us, and someone will get back to you shortly.' Kinda cold and stale, eh? I'm used to seeing things like this from corporations, and from the back of our refrigerator, but how about us teensy business folks?
Why Attraction is a Mistake in Marketing.Coffee shop. The background beat of some silly pop music. Buzz of conversation. The glow of laptop screens. And then, one near the counter, the other in a window seat, they both look up, and their eyes meet. Attraction! Next thing you know, they're picking out paint colors, and sharing chores in some nice little house in the neighborhood. It's a cozy picture, isn't it? If only your clients would
Smoothing cashflow when your business is small or newA participant in the Opening the Moneyflow Course has a fairly minimal email list of potential clients, about 80 or so. It's enough to bring in a few clients, but not enough to keep her pipeline full. While she's ramping up to increase the list, which is growing every week, she's still facing that cashflow issue: how can you keep a steady cashflow with just a handful of clients, before your market
Why you make some business mistakes over and overWhy do you make certain mistakes over and over again? No matter how hard you try to fix or control the situation, they seem beyond your control. For instance, I was working with a client recently who has a number of staff working under him, and wanted to delegate to them efficiently. And the same problem showed up in employee after employee.
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