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Now or Never Was the Time!

It’s stirring inside of me right now to the point that I cannot stop writing, thinking, talking, and sharing about it. I think we all got fooled or lost track or lost faith. Something went wrong in the marketing madness and the frenzy of buys, sales, promotions, and launches. Now, I do not want anyone getting me wrong.

The only way to make business and money is to sell your services. The way to spread your message is to market. They work and they are necessary, but they are tools… they are not strategy. They are tools… they are not the gift to share.

In all of the marketing hype and sales solutions we have lost sight of our most singular purpose and skill – US. The people.

The movement inside of us to be the change, to shape the world, and to help more people.

Do you know your message? Do you understand the purpose you are to live and share with others? I have been asking people and they are getting a bit stuck – see they put all their focus on the ezines, and the sales copy, blogging, and social media. They focused on learning skills and left behind the calling to serve. Again, don’t get me wrong, I am not shutting down my Twitter account – what better way to get my message out! But, I have to put the message before the marketing. I have to launch the movement above the business model.

Rosa Parks
Harvey Milk
Ghandi
Susan B. Anthony
YOU

Stop Marketing… just for a moment. Can you hear what you are here to change? Pause. Clarify. Identify why. Stop Marketing. Start a Movement.

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 November 23rd, 2009 by admin in mindset | No Comments ».

The Cycle of Quitting

There are two types of quitting:

1) Giving up

2) Walking away from something harmful or hurtful

I will be the first to tell you that business is messy and it can sting. I mean really sting sometimes, especially if you are sensitive like I am. Underneath this whip cracker exterior is someone who cares too much at times, so I often take things personally- someone leaves, someone doesn’t value your program or work and the really interesting part is… the more you serve the more that quit or complain. Phew. Breathe. It can be overwhelming. I am working on taking things less personal as it does not serve me or my clients, but it is a daily practice.

I get a bird’s eye view of – THE QUITTERS. I know some would say we should talk about the winners, but I must say I probably learn more from the quitters. The winners show up, suck up, cry, stomp, celebrate, and then rinse and repeat over and over. Every successful entrepreneur I have EVER worked with, mentored with, or been a colleague to has had the exact same formula.

The quitters are a bit more interesting. They are very creative and it is interesting where and how “quitting” shows up. Now remember the #1 reason businesses fail is people stop- yep-stop. I am thinking of writing a book on the quitters cycle because I have been watching when it starts to creep up on people and kick in. I think it would be useful for people to see a lineage of how it starts and how they might stop themselves, as well as see the difference between something needing to come to an end and just quitting.

It usually appears like this…

Second guessing ~ fear ~ blame ~ projecting ~ overwhelm ~ blame ~ action ~ (the quitting) ~ relief ~ second guessing ~ fear and over again

Fascinating, right? I am using it as a paradigm for myself to catch me and where I am falling into the cycle – you can honestly use it for anything- the gym, your business, a relationship, etc. So, I don’t want you to be a quitter…frankly, seeing people give up on their dreams daily can sometimes overwhelm me and blind me to the people actually living theirs, but I know you are out there. I know you are striving and working and living your gifts.

Here are a few tips to stay in the game, even when you would rather throw in the towel:

1) Have a clear vision of exactly what you want – relationship, money, freedom, environment, and spiritual. If you have a clear vision in writing and in your view, it is harder to let that vision go or the dream die.

2) Get real. One of my mentors says… “It is simple, but it is not easy.” Success is hard work. No one ever won the Oscar, Gold Medal, Nobel Peace Prize, or Fortune 500 by half ass showing up. And don’t fool yourself….are you thinking you are working hard or are you spending a lot of time around thinking about succeeding and processing your next step.

3) Get good advice. The people around me won’t let me quit. I have surrounded myself with a circle of influence. I have a tribe of tough and loving go-getters. A friend and coach emailed me last week and said- “hold fast- we need your confidence. Don’t stop.” That made me cry as I was reminded people were depending on me.

4) Care. I know you have gifts to share. Your life experience has value and people are meant to be transformed by your connection and your talent. Care enough to keep going. Care enough to share and keep going.

If you do what you love and you love people while you do it there is no reason to quit. Stopping is not an option. See you at the finish line!

Posted on November 23rd, 2009 by admin in Business Growth | No Comments ».

Is This Just A Hobby?

Helpingpreneurs want to help. Imagine that. You have a giving heart and a spirit of support, healing, and love. Often times that beauty stops you from being business first. And business first is really important. Gina Ratliffe uses wonderful terms about service professionals asking

Are you a hobbyist?

Are you wealth conscious?

The wealth conscious entrepreneur understands that values, standards, and efficiency not only serve your business model, but serve your clients and customers. Is your business running organically and a little on the fly? Do you have policies, guidelines, and procedures in place? You cannot imagine how it will improve your effectiveness and your clarity.

Here are five must haves to make sure you are a wealth conscious entrepreneur and not just a hobbyist.

1. Honor your Commitments

In business your commitment is your word. Be on time, be ready, and over deliver. I have actually had a coach who did not show up for calls. Now, we all make a mistake, but follow through, show up, and deliver. If you have a product going out, be certain it goes out on time. If you are delivering a service, make certain it is as promised. You may glass these over as obvious, but stop and think. Am I honoring every commitment at the absolute highest level?

2. Set an Example

I read a great quote the other day… “Your sermon is best told by your life and not your lips”. Make certain you are modeling the positive image for your business and services. Your appearance, presence, energy, and language all represent YOU. It is easy to get busy in the day to day and forget what we are sharing. Sometimes it can be the smallest thing that someone picks up on and that is the image they carry forever. Preach through your actions and your words.

3. Run it Like a Business

When you are in the service indsutry, the same best practices business rules apply. You do not avoid policies, efficiencies, and procedures because your business is helping and supporting others. To truly help and support, you run your business clean and clear. Have policies, have your team and your clients understand them, and have them in writing. Keep all conversations and communication on a business level and remind yourself why you are running this business. If you are here to serve, then make sure your business is serving everyone’s highest interest by being clear and being well informed.

4. Have a Mentor

When you have a seasoned person to ask for guidance and support, everything is easier. One of my mentors always says, “Business is messy” and it can be, so to have someone to sound board, ask, and advise is leveraging your best interests in business growth. I am telling you… MENTORS… I don’t leave home without them.

5. Be Uncomfortable

Change is good. Not always easy. Not always comfortable, but it means something is shifting and we are moving. Being uncomfortable in your business and stretching yourself beyond the comfort zone means you are NOT in hobby mode. Begin to worry if everything is perfect and you are care free! It is in the discomfort that we risk, journey, and leap!

Your gifts are unique and only you can share the blessing of you. Make sure you are in wealth conscious business mode. It will serve you, serve your clients, serve your success, and serve your income growth.

Posted on November 19th, 2009 by admin in Marketing, mindset | No Comments ».

The Fastest Path to Authentic Income

In business, there needs to be a systematic way to grow your income and your money mountain. It is easy to “chase the paper” in the words of Jay-Z, but it can be exhausting. There are so many things being thrown at us today as money-makers, such as audio, video, teleclasses, podcasting, social media – I could go on and on. We become excited and obsessed with the latest “gadget” to market and we lose site of our own mission to the latest marketing trick.

Money and clients are ready, willing and waiting for you now. You don’t need to put on fancy bells or ad whistles to make more money. You actually need to go back to the basics. Go back to what inspired you to start your business and share your gift. Go back to what you already know, have and are. Put YOU back in the process. Clients call me wanting to coach and they are ready to focus on tactics to get clients or dig into creating another product.

Before you start creating, developing, and running the marketing rat race, slow down and start here:

Active before Passive – Get active income going in your business ASAP. Active is where you are “doing” the work. Coaching a client, having a session, leading a group, etc. Then you can move into passive income. Passive income is where you might sell a book, product, or program that does not involve your time. Passive income typically requires a larger list and a deeper reach. I am all for passive income–very important–but AFTER you have active income so that you are nurturing relationships, referrals, and your visibility.

Look around you – We often get so busy with the latest marketing trend that we forget to check our backyard for opportunities. Have you emailed friends, family, and associates? Have you set up coffee with people in your circle of influence? Have you had a house party and invited people over for a mini workshop or seminar? Don’t forget the opportunities from people who already know, like, and trust you.

What is within one minute – Next, make a list of all networking and visibility opportunities within about one minute of your home. OK, if you live in the country or deep woods, maybe change this to 10 miles. Churches, schools, cafes, doctor offices, community groups…I mean seriously, do this exercise. Get in your car and drive around for 20 minutes. Look at everything as a potential place to speak, network, and share your business.

Write – Maybe getting out of the house is not that easy for you or you lie in an area that is difficult to reach civilization. Then WRITE! Seek out places to be a guest blogger, guest newsletter writer, article market, post on forums, and use your email like you mean it. Write about your work everywhere and anywhere you can.

Cold Call – I know. THE. DIRTY. WORD. What I mean is cold calling with purpose. Could you call former clients and ask for referrals? Call friends and brainstorm marketing opportunities. Certainly call places to speak, from the local library to the Chamber to the associations within your market. I tell you, making five targeted calls a day WILL grow your business.

Movement over Marketing – Go back to what matters. Your mission, your meaning, and your purpose IS what sells. The fastest path to authentic income is realigning with your WHY! It is what attracts people to work with you.

Accelerating our income becomes elusive when we lose sight of the resources we already have available to us. So–breathe and take a step back. Clients, business, and income are all around you. Reach out and grab it so you can help more people.

Posted on November 16th, 2009 by admin in Business Growth | No Comments ».

How to Be a Better Coach: Learn to Talk to Prospects with End Results Language

www.HelpMorePeople.com/minicourse.htm

People buy solutions, not services and not a process. People are running a race because they want to make it to the finish line. They do the same thing in the marketplace for coaching. People seek solutions to their problems. That’s the finish line for them. They seek answers to their dilemmas. If you package and offer solutions, you can relay a message that people understand and want.

This fact that people buy solutions not services and a process also really ties into your target market. I know for me when I shifted my message to what solutions I have for people’s problems, it totally shifted my business.

It’s easier to attract clients – and I’ll tell you this, it’s a heck of a lot more fun – because instead of being caught in your own process and trying to explain what coaching is and what you do in a coaching call, you’re focused on the benefits and on the finish line. That really motivates people when you’re speaking to them and it’s really important.

Some people in the marketing world call it your unique selling proposition – your USP is another way of saying that.

You need to establish who needs you most. They’re a group who can afford you, they’re accessible, they’re already grouping together, you’re clear about what their problem is, and you’re clear about what solutions they are looking for. You can speak to them about what benefits and solutions you have to offer.

When I first started coaching I would tell people who asked about what I did that, “Coaching is a process in which you ask engaging questions and powerful questions to get somebody to come to their own answers about the problems.”

People’s eyes were glazing over. They were like, “What?”

I did this a couple of times and I kept thinking, “Nobody gets it. Nobody’s excited. Nobody’s going, ‘Tell me more. Can I have a complementary session?’” Then it just hit me that I was talking about the process and nobody really cares about the process.

So I went back and created a stress test. I decided to ask people if they want to take a stress test to see where some of the stressors are in their life. Then I was going to talk about the benefits of coaching and not what coaching is.

I had people take the test, and then they would ask, “Well, tell me what coaching is.”

I would say, “Do you see where you scored low on your job and you’re not really satisfied in your job? Coaching would take you from a place of dissatisfaction in your job to finding out what your real passion is and help you get excited about going to work every day. It would be creating a strategic plan to move from where you are now, unhappy in your job, to bliss in a new career.”

What do you think people did? Their faces lit up and they were like, “Tell me more and where do I get this bliss? Where do I get this new excitement in my new job?” So it’s really important that we talk about the benefits.

When you go into a networking event, try using end result benefits in describing what you do. For instance, if you work with ADHD and families you could say something like –

“You know how there are some families who have children with ADHD and the entire family always seem overwhelmed and stressed out? They’re not able to focus and really enjoy all the things in their life because all of this is so consuming?

What I do is I step in and work with those families, and I take them from chaos to calm. I show them strategies, techniques, and tips so that they can all work together through the children and maybe their own ADHD. We systematize their entire lives and family process so they can really enjoy each other and they can all be successful.”

It’s all about what you can help achieve for someone in pain, and not about the process or about you. Keep this in mind for much more powerful results when talking to people who need what you offer.

I’d like to invite you to learn how to help more people, make more money and enjoy more freedom with the free 5-day mini course, “Awakening Your Authentic Entrepreneur,” at http://www.helpmorepeople.com/minicourse.htm

How to Be a Better Coach: Learn to Talk to Prospects with End Results Language [3:56m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

How to Be a Better Coach: Learn to Talk to Prospects with End Results Language [3:56m]: Download

Posted on November 2nd, 2009 by admin in Marketing | No Comments ».

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