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Today’s Sound Bite is inspired by a conversation I had with Sandi Amorim of Deva Coaching. Today is my someday!
Get a copy of the book today.
Right now.
It’s been made available at no cost to you. (see below)
You have no excuse.
Anyone who has struggled to get things done – big things – your dream things – will find your internal weapon to resistance.
“a child has no trouble believing the unbelieveable, nor does the genius or madman…it’s only you and I, with our big brains and tiny hearts, who doubt and overthink and hesitate.” Listen to your dream, and work hard to beat “resistance” and “rational thought.,” that inner voice that chatters with all the reasons why you can’t.
With chapters titled: Start Before You’re Ready; Stay Primitive; and Swing for the Seats – this isn’t just an intellectual exercise, but a map for getting your stuff – your work – done.
The book is an easy read. I followed the suggestion in the forward and read it through, stopping just once. I went back and read it again – this time, noting things that really resonated with me. I suspect this is the type of book that I will read again when I’m in a different place in my life and I’ll glean other bits of wisdom that make sense to me just then.
The kindle version of the book is available at no cost thanks to GE.
No kindle? No problem.
Download the free Kindle for PC and then claim your free copy of the book.
Or go old school and buy a copy.
Steven Pressfield’s book Do The Work is part of the Domino Project. Created by Seth Godin and “powered by Amazon”. The concept is simple. The name is from the idea of the domino effect; that powerful ideas spread quickly and easily from one person to another.
Click to hear the audio – 2:20
Text Version
This is an issue that solopreners and business owners bring up when we’re talking about sales results or the lack of results.
Being confident in what you’re offering is key if you want people to opt in, hire you, buy your thing.
If you’re not sure about what you’re offering – how can your customer be sure?
Let your confidence come from a place of service and value.
I’ll explain.
This is what I like to call quiet confidence.
Quite confidence is about being helpful – offering hope – offering solutions.
Because it comes from a place of value and service.
If you know you deliver value, your products and services deliver and clients will feel better, look younger, be happier, lose weight, see real results – Then it isn’t just a good idea to share that – it is part of your mission – to make sure that those who need what you have can find you – get access – and get results.
When you are selling from a place of service – the focus and emphasis is always on the customer.
What will they receive? how will they feel? what will they learn?
What results can they expect?
Have that conversation – and give them the chance to say YES!
When you sell with this kind of confidence, your customers will be confident about working with you or buying from you as well.
That’s todays SoundBite – let me know in the comments if you have any questions or thoughts about your sales confidence.
It’s Monday.
A good day to start something.
Or finish something.
What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step.
C.S. Lewis
You know which one.
The one that keeps nagging at you.
The one that keeps tugging at you when you’re trying so hard to ignore it.
It won’t go away for a reason.
You are meant to take action.
Make the phone call.
Send the email.
Ask for the sale, the meeting, the referral.
Write your book or post or manifesto.
Take the ideas and make the outline.
Put the buy button on your site.
If your thing is scary, or hard or complicated that’s okay.
Decide right now that there is one little part that you can totally manage.
Then do it.
There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range risk of comfortable inaction.
John F. Kennedy
You’ve spent the better part of your adult life learning and sharpening your skills. Time, talent and energy invested bring you to where you are today. Why is it then, you are so reluctant to claim it?
Expert Defined: A person with special knowledge or ability who performs skillfully
That’s you. That’s me. You’re an expert at what you do; what you know. You bring your special style and flavor along with your knowledge, experience and skill. It’s time to quit hiding. Being modest and doesn’t mean denying who you are and what you know.
You downplay your expertise. Sometimes out of modesty, but sometimes because you don’t want to draw the line in the sand, take a stand and say “This is who I am, what I’m good at and why you should care.
The why you should care, is the most important part (of course) but you have to be clear about the who and the what if you want anyone else to care about the why.
Being an expert doesn’t mean you know every single last thing there is to know in your field. It doesn’t mean that you are the worlds best or most qualified person in your area of expertise. Skills and knowledge and abilities are not absolutes. There is no zero sum game to win.
You know what you know. You’re good at what you do and what you have to offer has value. It’s time you let us all know!
I’ll start. I’m the sales chick. I love sales and selling. All of it makes me happy. The strategy, and of course the tactical “doing” part. I’m good at it and I know how to teach others to be good at it too. Making a sale is great. Landing a new client who is thrilled = awesome. Know what’s even better? Having someone who thought they couldn’t sell, learn to do it and get the awesome feeling that comes from making a difference, doing what you love.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Marianne Williamson from her book A Return To Love: Reflections On The Principles of “A Course In Miracles”
Kid Rock lyrics from the song Cocky.
I love them.
I want one! Check out the video of the tiny one doing his workout on the treadmill. Genius.
The folks at DirecTV realized they were on to something and took it a step further.
The petite lap giraffe web cam! Seriously!
This got me thinking about you and your business.
And I started thinking about how you can use this concept to promote your products!
How can you get us behind the scenes? Can you show us how you do your work?
Building credibility and trust is a blend of who you are, how you interact, but most importantly how you treat your clients.
You already know it’s about them.
Invite them in, give them a tour, throw open the door!
Show us how you do your thing like Vanesa does.
If you do commission work, you could add a DVD with the “creating of” to your services!
Teach me how to do something.
I may never be a great photographer like you, but I’d love to have your show me how you frame a landscape photo.
Let me in on how you write your songs, or collaborate in the studio.
Invite me to your kitchen – show me how you’re creating my cake, or the best way to cook an artichoke.
Take me on a tour of your facility.
Introduce me to the people who answer the phone, or make your products.
I once took a tour of the Longaberger basket factory and watched the weavers work.
Do the same thing at your place, virtually.
Take us shopping for the supplies you select for your jewelry.
Show me how to select a frame and mat for the prints you sell.
Let us “listen in” to a coaching call (with your clients permission – and where appropriate)
Do you have a killer system for follow up? Let us in on it!
Let us watch a class and get a taste of what working with you is like.
Share a productivity tool that makes your work day easier.
Are you in a highly regulated business where you can’t do the behind the scenes stuff?
Do an animoto video of the steps involved in my mortgage application/approval process.
Tell me what to expect when meeting with you for legal advice.
Looking for some amazing people to follow? Want to join a community that’s getting things done and making things happen? Check out these people and join the conversation! (I’ve written about Customer Love here)
The amazing force behind the customer love movement, LaVonne is perfect at building a community, connecting people together and making things happen. She’s likely to be tweeting about what someone else is doing, leading a tweetchat or asking about your thing. She’s the ringleader and chief instigator and encourager. Follow along!
I met Eleanor back in November during the first Customer Love challenge. I was lucky enough to win a free re-write of my About page. Working with her was a great experience. Eleanor is fun to talk to, super smart and very talented. She’s a word traveler who writes beautifully. The last time we skype-chatted she was in Puerto Rico. Follow her and read more here.
A self described chief instigator, Sandi is not your typical coach. She’s taken a stand for her clients. She’s knows that you deserve to shine even if you don’t! Her blog is inspiring; not just because she write so well, but because she has something important to say. I love her generous spirit, her sense of humor and I know you will too!
Share your follow Friday suggestions in the comments!
