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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!
You have a detailed customer description. You educate, inspire and love them. As a business owner or solopreneur – your motivation and intentions are righteous. Helping your best people is why you do what you do. It’s what gets you up in the morning and motivates you to tweet, and skype and engage until the wee hours.
You’ve spent time and energy making sure you understand your right people. You ask for feedback, you design programs and write e-books about things they need. And want.
Are you missing the other side of the equation?
In a recent conversation with Tami who writes at Targeted Traffic Strategies she asked “What do you want to be known for?”
Could it be that your right people can’t find you?
You may be sure about who you want to reach, but are you certain about you?
I recently wrote about being an expert. We often resist the designation out of a sense of modesty or discomfort with self promotion.
But the resistance is misguided. Being clear and intentional about what you do and who you serve is the only way your right people are going to recongnize you when they show up!
They need to be as sure about you and what you offer as you are about them. Finding you will be easier. Connecting will be simpler and moving them from contact to client will be the natural next step. For both of you.
I mentioned in another post that I’m in an exercise class that’s “boot-camp” style. The goal is to really push yourself physically, and see results quickly. It’s also meant to be diverse and mix things up so you are always working different muscles, balance, flexibility and core strength all at once.
It’s hard. But I love it.
The best part is that I just show up. Yes, once I’m there I do the work – but I don’t have to plan it, or figure it out or keep track of upper body/lower body/strength training/cardio… you get the idea. Someone else does. They provide the plan of action and I execute – as best I can.
I’ve decided to put my sales training modules into a concentrated “Back to Business Boot Camp” that will start in a few weeks. Let me know if you’d like info. I’m excited to put everything together and I know you’ll love the step by step instructions that you can implement for your own quick results.
SoundAdvice Sales Rx:
I often use time on Sunday’s to look forward to the week ahead. You know, plan ahead and make sure I have things like paying bills and sending invoices all done. One thing that I also schedule is sales time.
Income Producing Activity. It’s easy to get busy doing lots of other things. Important things too. It’s not like you’re spending all day sitting on the sofa eating bon bons. But you know how things happen. You really mean to make the phone calls or follow up on your proposals and then you get busy, and then it’s time for lunch and the next thing you know, Monday is pretty much over so you decide to do it the next day. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
So – take the time. Now. Put some sales time on your calendar for whatever your income producing activity is. When you get a new client, or make a sale/sales, you’ll be glad you made time for it.
I’d love to know how you plan your week. It’s nice to share.
I just started a workout program this past week. It’s a high intensity bootcamp style class with an instructor who really makes me push myself. For those of you who don’t know me well, I am in serious need of this type of fitness instruction. On a fitness scale of 1 to 10 I’d rate myself a 3. I can jog slowly for a mile or so and I’m coordinated enough to not fall over or trip on the stairs, but that’s about it.
It wasn’t always this way, but that really doesn’t matter now. What matters is what I decide to do today.
In the class - they are at 5 AM, did I mention that part? Just getting up and being there on time is a big win for me – there are others who are in much better shape, older, younger, men and women.
After class on Friday a nice guy I that I met the day before came up and said he was glad to see I came back (I think I looked really pathetic at the end of class on Thursday) He began to relay his story. He started working out 9 months ago and has lost over 100 pounds. Looking at this super fit guy you’d never guess he’d been heavy.
The best part was that he wanted to encourage me. He gave me some advice about what worked for him. He told me not to worry about what I couldn’t do in the class (and there’s alot) and not to compare myself to others. He also said I can do more than I think I can. Like so many things in life, results come with persistence and a willingness to put in the time to master new skills.
So what do you want to master? Where can you push yourself? What have you mastered lately? It’s nice to share!
I’ve been juggling lots of things lately and sometimes I feel like I’m not really getting as much done as I should. It’s not lack of effort, but a lack of focus. I came across some notes that I took at a seminar that helped me get back on track and I thought I’d share it with you. (I don’t recall whose seminar it was – and the notes aren’t dated. I apologize that I can’t credit the person who shared this idea with me originally.)
Sometimes the simplest thing is what works. I like to think I’m pretty smart, and can handle more than one thing at a time. I’m sure you do too. But for the next few days I’m going to try this. Pick the ONE thing that will help me move forward and make progress on a lengthy to do list and DO IT. Not start it, or spend some time on it but make it my focus for the day.
Now the tricky part. What is the one thing? I’m betting you know what yours is. I know what mine is. Making changes to this site. I was lucky enough to get some great advice from Catherine Caine of www.BeAwesomeOnline.com and Teresa Cleveland of www.TeresaCleveland.com almost 2 weeks ago. That’s my one thing for tomorrow. And the next day and the next until it’s done.
What’s Your One Thing? Please share and let me know – we can all encourage each other!
