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Is Your Business Investment Portfolio Bankrupt?

I am no expert in the stock market and I certainly do not claim to be, but this I know. To make OR lose money in the market, you have to invest in the market. It goes back to the saying, “You got to be in it to win it.” So take a moment and think about this. Seriously–grab pen and paper.

How much do you spend on your car every year? (payment, insurance, tune-ups, gas, etc.)

Ok, got that number?

Take a long look at it. If you are spending a similar amount or LESS on your business, take a pause. How do we expect to have thriving businesses and help more people if we spend more on our cars than on our passions? It’s scary! I remember the first time I did this and it was a real eye opener. I quickly realized that if I do not treat my business coaching, programs, workshops and seminars as investments in me, my future and those I want to serve, then my business would never grow.The first year I took this idea and applied it, making investments in myself via coaching, programs and building a team, my income doubled. Here’s the best part–the number of people I was serving more than quadrupled. When we invest in ourselves, we build a portfolio for success.

Many people ask me (actually, a client just this morning) about how to determine the BEST investment for business. It is not a cut and dry answer since there are so many variables in business, but there are some sure things:

  • An authentic marketing program where you get one-on-one attention.
  • Opportunities where you will be with other business owners that you could partner with.
  • Programs or coaching that PULL you – in other words, you can just feel the possibility.
  • Programs where you are mentored by people who are where you want to be.
  • Workshops/Events that just raise your JOY level and are fun.
  • Programs that provide a full and fair guarantee.

What and how you invest will be different for each person, but investing is the key. A car cannot run without gas, a stock cannot rise without being purchased and a business cannot run without investment fuel. You must be ready and willing, financially, to invest money in and on your business.

Sometimes this means being certain you have a cash flow from other means until your business is soaring. You may want to build WHILE in a job (this is what I did) or have a part-time job, creating a savings to use for up to a year, or any other plan. But, have a financial plan to invest in your business portfolio.

With our economy and stock market all over the place these days, the only SURE investment is the one you make in YOU. You always know what your return will be. You can always go back to what you learned or the experiences. It will grow immediately. Investing in yourself is a certain way of growing financially and personally.

Last year alone, I have invested over $30,000 in myself and my business.Let me be clear. I don’t mean business expenses. I mean investments:  coaching, events, programs, education and resources. That investment has come back tenfold. Your key to success is believing that you are worth it and investing in your greatest asset – YOU and YOUR BUSINESS.

(c) 2009 Suzanne Evans

About the author:  Suzanne Evans is best known as the ‘action expert’ and has coached hundreds of solopreneurs to model her multiple six figure business. Learn how you can help more people, make more money and have more fun doing what you love by signing up for your free copy of the 5-Part Mini-Course ‘Awakening Your Authentic Entrepreneur’ at http://www.helpmorepeople.com


Posted on January 26th, 2009 by admin in Entrepreneur Ass Kickin | 1 Comment ».


Why Niching Doesn’t Work for Most Helping Professionals

Are you making yourself NUTS with all this niche stuff?

Niching is the mantra for the business world, and for good reason, but if it is so important and so widely discussed, why is it so difficult for many helping professionals to nail it? I figured out why. For many service-centered, heart-based business owners, niching doesn’t work, but mostly it doesn’t feel authentic and service based.

One of the biggest avoidable mistakes helping professionals make is obsessing over niche and not looking at WHO NEEDS YOU MOST! The marketers are right, you do need to find your “tribe” and narrow in on a group, but the niche obsession can ACTUALLY keep you from getting clients. I know. I, too, have been niche phobic. However, when I discovered WHO NEEDS ME MOST, my business grew to six figures. Let’s not belabor what I bet you already know (that a narrow market will serve you well) and instead look at WHY discovering WHO NEEDS YOU MOST will make growing your business so much easier. If you are still in search of that evasive niche, this just might inspire you to look at things differently.

Here are three ways finding your tribe will make your life easier.

(1) Saves you time.  When you know the people you can serve to the greatest good, it cuts out the “I wonder” factor and you can immediately test that community, reach them and show up where they are quickly. Saving time is the most productive way to be successful. There are only so many hours in a day, and if you are scrambling to figure out where your clients might be hanging out (or hiding) then your time is not being used wisely and your business is not running efficiently.

Coaching inspiration:  A man who dares to waste one hour of life has not discovered the value of life. (Charles Darwin)

(2) Saves you money.  You can’t get consistent results if you don’t know your audience and know your gifts. If you are trying to serve everyone, you will have to cover every media outlet, periodical and venue there is, but if your audience is specific and focused, you know exactly where to place your marketing dollars and get the most bang for your buck–literally.

Coaching inspiration:  Spend money on things that deeply matter…your family, your friends, the community, inspiring your clients. Don’t waste money on indecisiveness. You have better ways to use your wealth.

(3) Saves you effort.  There is an enormous amount of energy and effort in playing hide and seek. But mostly, there’s a lot of guesswork. That’s exactly what happens when you don’t identify WHO NEEDS YOU MOST. You work from a place of guessing as to what your next best move will be.

Once you start saving money, time and effort in your business, growth takes place in quantum leaps.

(c) 2009 Suzanne Evans

About the author:  Suzanne Evans is best known as the ‘action expert’ and has coached hundreds of solopreneurs to model her multiple six figure business. Learn how you can help more people, make more money and have more fun doing what you love by signing up for your free copy of the 5-Part Mini-Course ‘Awakening Your Authentic Entrepreneur’ at http://www.helpmorepeople.com


Posted on January 23rd, 2009 by admin in Tell It Like It Is | No Comments ».


I Am Frustrated Just Thinking About This…

Have you ever taken the time to truly look at what successful entrepreneurs are doing to thrive? There is a big difference between successful solo-entrepreneurs, those who make a lot of mo-ney in times of apparent economic crisis, who continue to thrive and double/triple/quadruple their 1ncomes and those that struggle.

Those that struggle seem to bang their head against the wall asking “why hasn’t this happened for me yet”?  I believe that all this “struggle” can be remedied with the right information and guidance, as it has for me.  And the struggle is not from lack of want or trying, it is from lack of solid information that works.  It is from lack of having someone every step of the way to show you how and point you towards success.

I really am frustrated with seeing highly trained caring people strain and struggle to turn their gifts into a profitable business.  I know that when you have unique gifts to offer, YOU need a plan and support to market those gifts in an authentic way. Without marketing, you can’t help anyone. Period.

I know this is a fact because when my business got a BIZ makeover by aligning with my purpose, clarifying my marketing blueprint, and having the support to implement, that’s when I soared and  had a lot more fun!
 

If you are wanting to help more people, make more money, and enjoy more freedom- keep reading!

I’m going to do a LIVE business makeover call where YOU can apply to get a 2009 Business Makeover on the spot! I will be choosing two businesses to focus on, and believe me, if you are not chosen, YOU MUST be on the call with pen and paper anyway.  I will offer Q and A and will be giving tips for every business owner!

On this special call, you can eavesdrop on a LIVE business makeover conversation and benefit from all the tips I will share.  So, there are two things you need to do right away.

  1. Register for the call – even if you can’t be there…I will send you the recording!
  2. Apply to be one of two businesses chosen for the makeover. I am reviewing them on a first come basis, so take a few moments and do it now.  Successful people take action!
     

It’s happening NEXT Thursday!
And yes, it’s F.R.E.E.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Call Topic: 2009 LIVE BUSINESS MAKEOVER

Date: Thursday, January 22 (next week)

Time: 8 PM Eastern (That’s 7 PM Central,6 PM Mountain, 5PM Pacific)

You can REGISTER for this f.r.e.e. call here:

http://www.helpmorepeople.com/bizmakeoverteleclass.html

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To apply for the LIVE business makeover, download the application

http://www.helpmorepeople.com/Biz_Makeover_Application.pdf

On this very cool tele-seminar event, I will not only lead two live business makeovers, but I will talk to you about:

  • The biggest issue holding you back from your financial goals
  • Small tweaks you can make today to start making more money
  • Why knowing your core message is so vital for reaching a wider audience (and more clients)
  • How action is the key to all and how you can stay in action mode
  • The  link between your Purpose and your Profit

AND…. you have the opportunity to submit any question YOU want answered!

Claim your spot for the call here, OK?

Can’t wait to hear you on the call!


Posted on January 15th, 2009 by admin in Tell It Like It Is | 1 Comment ».


5 Steps to Getting A Client This Week

I watch people want clients, but not take action. They are seemingly ready, but they complain more than ACT. I know that’s a bit harsh, but it is the reality of being an authentic entrepreneur. If you are really ready to help more people, you have to market and move. So, I have put together 5 steps that are specific and aggressive. If you really want more clients, then jump in.

(1) DECIDE. GET serious about marketing. Get serious about spending 3-5 hours a day on getting new clients and filling your pipeline. This is not a time for excuses or to “kinda” do it. Are you marketing 3-5 hours a day? If the answer is not YES, then the answer is Hell No. Oops, excuse me. How do you do this? Make a plan. Map out the time. I built my business to six figures working a 60-hour a week day job. You can find the time if you agree to put all EXCUSES in the 2008 pile and burn them today! 

(2) TARGET. Choose one specific pain or problem you will address and market only to that (losing 20 pounds, leaving corporate America, buying first home, making more money, etc.) So, again, choose one pain or problem your clients face and focus only on that for now. Tailor your emails, message and marketing to that one area and get as specific as possible.

(3) FIRE HOSE MARKET.  Don’t trickle, network or mention your business. It’s time to pull out the big guns and take the fast fire hose approach. Email every friend and family member about the target you chose above in Step 2 on how you can help, go to THREE (yes I said three) networking events over a 10-day period, find one place to do paid advertising about this pain, email 10 organizations about speaking to their group on this topic, contact old prospects that did not sign on, email your database, etc, etc…  This is just a start. Create a 7-10 day mega Fire Hose Marketing Campaign to reach every possible person you can, discuss that pain, offer your solution and have a way to bring them in (usually via a complimentary session.)
 
(4) GIVE IT AWAY. Come up with something that is a generous and authentic giveaway during this week that will give clients a “taste” of what you do.  Some ideas are a teleclass, a workshop, complimentary session, audio, e-book, etc.  When you give the very best of you away, people will pay for the rest! Remember to make sure it is clear how they can take the next step to working with you.
 
(5) BELIEVE. Please don’t skip this. I know you may be thinking, “Well certainly I need to believe I can do it.”  If you even thought that for a second, then you don’t already believe your own value and worth. People need your gifts. You can ease their pain, their challenge, their struggle.  You do not attract clients without knowing deeply that YOU are needed and the way you share that is through marketing. Clear the cobwebs out of your inner being and breathe in the possibility not just for yourself, but for all those you will serve.

(c) 2009 Suzanne Evans

About the author:  Suzanne Evans is best known as the ‘action expert’ and has coached hundreds of solopreneurs to take action and seek change. Learn how you can help more people, make more money and have more fun doing what you love by signing up for your free copy of the 5-Part Mini-Course ‘Awakening Your Authentic Entrepreneur’ at http://www.helpmorepeople.com


Posted on January 14th, 2009 by admin in Entrepreneur Ass Kickin | No Comments ».


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