Life Success Strategies for Soulpreneurs®

Give Up the Stress Gremlins...

Well, here I am in my new home. I have once again survived a move – almost… We are over ¾ of the way moved in our house. We still have "stuff" at our previous house, but nothing that takes a mountain of effort to figure out how to fit in our smaller space.

 

During the times I was so exhausted I didn’t see how I could keep going, I was given the gift of insight. These insights relate not only to my recent move, but to life and business in general. I hope they help you in your next big move, whether it’s a move of your home, career, or just a move from one way of thinking to another.

Here are 5 things you can do to survive the stress of moving, or whatever life is throwing your way…

1. Believe you can do it, even when you can’t see how. Trust there is something bigger than you are holding you up and moving you right along to the next step you need to take to get the job done. You don’t have to, nor do you want to, know all the steps to get where you’re going. If I had known what I’d have to do to be where I am today, I probably would have stayed in the corporate prison, where I worked for 24 years. I’m so glad I couldn’t see that far ahead. I have loved every minute of my freedom the last 13 years. The personal growth I have experienced is, as the American Express commercial states, priceless.

2. Have faith. When you’re exhausted doubts creep in and you’ll wonder why you wanted to do this thing in the first place. When these doubts pop up, stay focused on why you decided to go this direction and know that it must be the way to the next best thing in your life. You may not know how it will get here, but you can trust that it will. I still have many ups and downs in my ability to overcome the negative thinking I grew up with, but now I know how to deal with those thoughts. You don’t banish them from your mind, you just learn what tools to use to move into better feeling thoughts and move on.

3. Get help from someone who has been where you are. In the start-up phase of our construction business, we had no experience in marketing ourselves. We hired a coach who had experience in the construction industry to help us get over the learning curve. It took time for our marketing efforts to pay off, but today we are still serving customers who called us 10 years ago as a result of that initial marketing campaign.

4. Keep learning – ask what has worked for other people. In something as generic as moving, this advice works well. In business, however, you may find challenges. Your competition will most likely not be too keen on giving away their secrets to success. In this case, utilizing online sources and surveying your customers are your best bets. We participate in group calls and receive newsletters from our original coach who interacts with contractors across the country. A contractor who lives 2,000 miles away is happy to share their secrets to success, unlike one who lives 2 miles away and is in direct competition with you. You can also approach your previous customers and ask them to respond to a short survey of what they need. Offer them a gift certificate or a discount on your services for responding.

5. Never give up. If you’re doing what you love to do, find someone to help you be successful and, take the time to listen to your inner guidance. Many of the changes we have implemented came to me as ideas out of the blue. If you wake up with an idea at 4am, don’t go back to sleep. Keep a pen with a built in light and a pad of paper by your bed and jot down those ideas when you receive them. If you honor ideas when they come to you, they will begin to show up on a regular basis.

These 5 insights can help you stay on track with whatever project you happen to be working on at the moment. But the most important thing you can do is always, always, always keep your focus on the good things you will experience as a result of what you’re doing, whether it’s in your life or in your business. As long as you stay in that place of enjoying life, all else will work out for your highest good, whether that looks like what you expected – or not…

© 2008   Sandy Reed - All rights reserved

Want to use my articles in your ezine or website?

You're welcome to, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

"Sandy Reed is the President and Founder of the International Association of Women in Family Enterprises (IAWIFE).  She is a professional business coach, writer, and co-owns her own successful family business.  If you're ready to take your family business to the next level of success; receive support, education, and connect with like-minded women, join her members at www.iawife.com.  Sandy's business building articles have been published in True Wealth and Simply Home magazines."

Advertising Your Small Business - Persistence is the Secret!

For all you business owners wondering when enough advertising is too much, here's a timeless reminder of just what it takes to get the attention of your target market.

The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

1. The first time a man looks at an advertisement, he does not see it.
2. The second time, he does not notice it.
3. The third time, he is conscious of its existence.
4. The fourth time, he faintly remembers having seen it before.
5. The fifth time, he reads it.
6. The sixth time, he turns up his nose at it.
7. The seventh time, he reads it through and says, "Oh brother!"
8. The eighth time, he says, "Here's that confounded thing again!"
9. The ninth time, he wonders if it amounts to anything.
10. The tenth time, he asks his neighbor if he has tried it.
11. The eleventh time, he wonders how the advertiser makes it pay.
12. The twelfth time, he thinks it must be a good thing.
13. The thirteenth time, he thinks perhaps it might be worth something.
14. The fourteenth time, he remembers wanting such a thing a long time.
15. The fifteenth time, he is tantalized because he cannot afford to buy it.
16. The sixteenth time, he thinks he will buy it some day.
17. The seventeenth time, he makes a memorandum to buy it.
18. The eighteenth time, he swears at his poverty.
19. The nineteenth time, he counts his money carefully.
20. The twentieth time he sees the ad, he buys what it is offering.

Written in 1885 by Thomas Smith, London, England

The moral of this story is, if you're going to advertise  be persistent!

Create an endless stream of clients and referrals by doing 10 easy things every day!

In just 28 days you can learn a proven marketing system to help you get more clients and turn your business into a highly lucrative, money-making machine!

You are invited to a FREE preview call introducing my Get Clients Now!™ Teleclass Workshop, which begins July 15, 2008.   Ready to register for the preview teleseminar now?  CLICK HERE

If the very idea of marketing your business makes you want to take an extended vacation, even though you know it needs to be done to make you successful, this workshop is for you. 

If you're tired of implementing marketing strategies that don't work, this workshop is for you.

If you're feeling overwhelmed and not sure what steps to take to get your business off the ground, this workshop is for you.

If you feel like you're in business with no help or support to make it work, this workshop is for you.

By finally taking charge of your business marketing and attending this Get Clients
Now!™ Teleclass Workshop, which you attend from the comfort of your own home, you can see results like these.

• Have a specific plan to follow to get more clients than you do with regular advertising.
• Use a proven system that guides you through a menu of possible marketing options, so you can pick the ones that are right for you.
• Help overcoming the fear and resistance of marketing your business
• Help staying motivated with team support and loving accountability.
• Get clear and focused on your business goals, so they become more achieveable.
• Have a feeling of confidence and peace of mind about the direction of your business, because you know what to do to reach your financial goals.

Ready to sign-up for one of the two FREE preview calls coming up on June 24 and July 1, 2008?    CLICK HERE  to get all the details and register!

Leave Your Competition in the Dust by Using These Three Creativity Strategies

Business owners are always trying to figure out how to do things better and different than their competition.  I am always looking for unique ideas that will catch the attention of my clients and help them build a healthy and profitable business.  These ideas are limitless and can be found all around us.

It’s all too easy, however, to lose sight of this creativity when your business is in a slump and the phone isn’t ringing.  Here are 3 tips to stimulate your creative thinking, so you can get back on the track to higher profits and peace of mind.

1.       Keep your creative juices flowing by looking for the TV, magazine, newspaper, and direct mail advertising that motivates you.  Notice what entices you to buy someone else’s product or service.  If you like it, you are probably not alone.  Use the same concept behind those ads in your own advertising.

2.      Research and listen for what people don’t like in your competitors products and services.  This is an ideal way to set your business apart from the competition.  Make sure you address any complaints you may hear by offering your own unique solutions.  Here’s an example.

In our construction business we’re heard many complaints that contractors don’t return phone calls.  We make sure our brochure and website lets prospective clients know that we return phone calls with 48 hours – and then we do it!

 

3.      Trust that you have all the creative solutions inside of you that you need.  I read many publications on a regular basis – spiritual, business, health, etc.  It never ceases to amaze me how ideas can pop into my head from articles that would appear to have nothing to do with business.  Here’s one technique I use to remain open to finding these ideas.

Write down on a sticky-back, post-it note pad the issue you need help resolving.    Put the note in a conspicuous place that you will see several times a day.  I put mine on the mirror in the bathroom.  Read it whenever you see it, and say, “thank you for the ideas and solutions that are coming to me right now!”

Look for evidence of the answer as you go through your day.  Answers may come from what people say, what you read, or what you watch on TV.  Be open to all possible avenues.  When you get an intuitive hit, take it seriously.  Write it down and take action!

I’ve noticed that if I get busy and ignore the ideas I get, they tend to stop coming.  If that happens, never fear!  Just start over and eventually you’ll learn to trust your intuition.  Let your subconscious mind do all the work while you focus on your To Do list.

As you use these three strategies this process will become the most valuable tool you have in your creativity toolbox, and will give you the insights to leave your competition in the dust!

© 2008   Sandy Reed - All rights reserved

Want to use my articles in your ezine or website?

You're welcome to, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

"Sandy Reed is the President and Founder of the International Association of Women in Family Enterprises (IAWIFE).  She is a professional business coach, writer, and co-owns her own successful family business.  If you're ready to take your family business to the next level of success; receive support, education, and connect with like-minded women, join her members at www.iawife.com.  Sandy's business building articles have been published in True Wealth and Simply Home magazines."

Boost Your Business with Target Marketing

Often the most profound bits of wisdom are revealed in mundane situations.  This morning I finished up a bottle of body oil and noticed that it felt really good to know I had used it all up, wasting none of its contents.  This led me to think about my life.  When I get to the end of my life, I want to feel really good about having used it all up, and know that I wasted none of the gifts inside of me.  What a terrible waste it is when any of us leave this world without taking the time to discover our gifts and use them in a way that can benefit our world.

That’s what your business truly is.  It’s a love offering to the world.  It’s an expression of your soul in such a way that it brings value and happiness to your life and to all your clients, whose life it benefits.  It is your privilege, and responsibility, to find ways to let people know what you have to offer them.

What you have to offer will be unique and will express your gifts and talents, that come from expressing what is in your soul.

My definition of a successful business is - a business that provides a vehicle for you to express in the world what makes you happy, expresses your unique gifts and talents, and provides the means to create the lifestyle you long for in your heart and soul.

As I mentioned, in order for this lifestyle to come to fruition, the right people must know what you have to offer.  So, the question becomes, who are the right people?  Do you know who your ideal client is? 

You may ask, “why should I care about who my ideal client is?” 

Here are 3 reasons to take the time to discover the identity of your ideal, or preferred, client.  Choosing an ideal client will help you:

1.       Market your products and services.  If you don’t know who you’re serving, how do you know the right advertising venues to utilize?  For example, if your preferred client is 25 – 35 years old, you would choose a very different marketing approach than you would if your preferred client was 45 – 55.

 

If you decided to place an ad in a magazine or online publication with readers who are 25 – 35 years old, you might choose Cosmopolitan or Working Mother or New Lifestyle Magazine.

If you were targeting 45 – 55 year old readers, you might place an ad in AARP Magazine, Grandparents, or Slate Magazine. 

2.      Get a clear vision of where your company belongs in the market place.  Take home buyers for example.  New home buyers have very different needs than retirees looking to downsize.  You would use a different marketing strategy in both cases. 

3.      Helps you write your ad copy when you can address it to one person who represents your ideal client.  For example, the verbiage and images you use to reach a real estate agent is very different than the words you would use to communicate with corporate executives. 

If you know who your ideal client is, it will help you decide how your gifts and talents can best benefit them.  So, when it comes to the end of your days, you’ll have a feeling of satisfaction and completion knowing that you’ve expressed your talents and gifts to the people who needed it the most – your ideal client. 

© 2008   Sandy Reed - All rights reserved

Want to use my articles in your ezine or website?

You're welcome to, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

"Sandy Reed is the President and Founder of the International Association of Women in Family Enterprises (IAWIFE).  She is a professional business coach, writer, and co-owns her own successful family business.  If you're ready to take your family business to the next level of success; receive support, education, and connect with like-minded women, join her members at www.iawife.com.  Sandy's business building articles have been published in True Wealth and Simply Home magazines."

Make More Money by Discovering the Why Behind the What

What makes a customer call you and hire you?  Is it the ad you put in the newspaper, or the brochure you mailed to them, or the person who referred you?  All of these things may be necessary ingredients in your marketing strategy, but they aren’t the real reason a customer takes time out of their busy day to pick-up the phone and call you.  The real reason lies behind their desire for a particular product or service.

The reason a prospective customer calls you is the way they hope your product or service will enhance their life.  It’s the good feelings, happiness, peace of mind, etc. they anticipate experiencing as a result of what you provide to them.  Here’s an example.

Make More Money by Discovering the Why Behind the What

What makes a customer call you and hire you?  Is it the ad you put in the newspaper, or the brochure you mailed to them, or the person who referred you?  All of these things may be necessary ingredients in your marketing strategy, but they aren’t the real reason a customer takes time out of their busy day to pick-up the phone and call you.  The real reason lies behind their desire for a particular product or service.

The reason a prospective customer calls you is the way they hope your product or service will enhance their life.  It’s the good feelings, happiness, peace of mind, etc. they anticipate experiencing as a result of what you provide to them.  Here’s an example.

I live in a mountain resort area, so requests for our construction services tend to fall into certain categories at certain times.  For a while we were getting many requests to renovate unfinished crawl spaces and make them into finished living space.  Now we are getting more requests to renovate garages and make them into living space.

I have noticed lately that many of these requests are coming from grandparents who want more space for their expanded family when they come up to stay and play.  These are obviously emotional decisions.  Grandpa and Grandma want their family together in a relaxed, fun environment away from the stresses of everyday living.  The amount of money these folks are willing to pay to capture this special time of their life can be astounding.  But then again, you can’t put a price on the joy families bring when they’re together can you?

If you spend much time watching TV, you can’t miss the emotional appeals that are presented in every commercial break.  Some I remember the most are Kodak capturing “the times of your life”, and State Farm letting you know, “like a good neighbor State Farm is there”.

Your marketing strategy also needs to include a strong feeling component.  What can you use in your advertising, brochures, business cards, newsletters, etc. that will touch the heart strings and capture the emotion behind the request for products or services?  Here are 3 tips to help you get to the heart of the matter.

1.       Spend time thinking about the core product or service you provide.  Why would someone want it?  Your first answer doesn’t usually get to the real underlying reason.  Each time you think of an answer to the “why” question, keep digging by asking yourself again and again, why would they want…?  Here’s an example.

In our construction business, we build new homes, additions, and also remodel existing homes.  Why would a customer want us to remodel their home?  Because they want more space or improved usability.  Why would they want more space or improved usability?  Because they want to be more comfortable, and maybe add an office or play room.  Why would they want to add an office or play room?  Because it makes them feel better about their home to have the space they need.  Why would they want to feel better?  Because life’s too short to be uncomfortable and not be as happy as you can be in your home.  You get the idea.  As you uncover each of these “whys” you are finding the value your product or service is providing to your client, so be sure and use these in your advertising copy.

2.      When meeting with prospective clients, focus on and communicate the benefits – how your product or service will enhance their life, how it will make them feel.  Features are fine, in other words what you can do for them, but features don’t sell – benefits, or results, sell.  When you can touch your clients at an emotional level, you’ve found the key to open the door to a successful business.

3.      Finally a use for junk mail…  Look for examples of ads that touch you on an emotional level in your junk mail, newspapers, and TV commercials.  Think about what made you feel a particular way, and how you can communicate that feeling in your own marketing.

Your customers aren’t looking for just your services.  They’re looking for how their life can be improved and enriched by what you can do for them.  So, the next time you sit down with a prospective customer; make sure you communicate to them how much better their life will be because of your products or services. 

If you look for the why, the feeling, behind the wants and/or needs of your customers, you can capture their business and also open yourself up to a deeper understanding of the driving force behind your success.

Wish you didn't have a boss?

I'm in sunny, warm Tucson, Arizona vacationing for a few days.  I will be attending a workshop here to further my education in marketing and branding my business.  It's wonderful building my own business and not having a boss...  I know, because I had one (in fact many bosses) for 24 years.

Wish you didn't have a job or a boss?  You can do it,  just like I did.  If you're ready to (or thinking about it) to move up and on,  make sure you check out my website at www.soulpreneursuccessstrategies.com to learn about my new Soulpreneur and Get Clients Now programs starting soon. 

In the meantime, here's a little humor from the Jokes Journal Blog to get you motivated!

Employed by the human-development center of a corporation
in the Midwest, a young woman trained employees in proper
dress codes and etiquette.

One day as she was stepping onto the elevator, a man
dressed in jeans and a golf shirt got on with her.

Thinking of her responsibilities, she scolded,

“Dressed a little casually today, aren’t we?”

The man shrugged,

“Yeah, well, that’s one benefit of owning the company.”

Wish you didn't have a boss?

I'm in sunny, warm Tucson, Arizona vacationing for a few days.  I will be attending a workshop here to further my education in marketing and branding my business.  It's wonderful building my own business and not having a boss...  I know, because I had one (in fact many bosses) for 24 years.

Wish you didn't have a job or a boss?  You can do it,  just like I did.  If you're ready to (or thinking about it) to move up and on,  make sure you check out my website at www.soulpreneursuccessstrategies.com to learn about my new Soulpreneur and Get Clients Now programs starting soon. 

In the meantime, here's a little humor from the Jokes Journal Blog to get you motivated!

Employed by the human-development center of a corporation
in the Midwest, a young woman trained employees in proper
dress codes and etiquette.

One day as she was stepping onto the elevator, a man
dressed in jeans and a golf shirt got on with her.

Thinking of her responsibilities, she scolded,

“Dressed a little casually today, aren’t we?”

The man shrugged,

“Yeah, well, that’s one benefit of owning the company.”

5 Strategies for Overcoming Your Client’s Erroneous Zones

Ego is the unobserved mind that runs your life when you are not present as the witnessing consciousness.

-         Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now

A couple contacted my husband several months ago about building a new home.  We spent many hours taking them through the design process, finding out specifically what they wanted in their new home, and how their budget could best be utilized.  They spent several thousand dollars purchasing a lot, paying for my husband to do the home design, and installing a septic on the home site.  The building permit is now ready to pick-up.  Our clients are at the final decision making stage.  The only question remaining is will they or won’t they sign the construction contract…

As we were going through this process, the housing market took a nose dive.  Suddenly the perception of our clients, and most of those folks in the market to build a new home, is that they should be paying a price per square foot comparable to existing houses that have decreased in value significantly. 

Consider this scenario.  If you were a home builder paying astronomical gas prices, which affects every part of the building supply industry; you had to deal with suppliers and subcontractors who also have rising costs; and you had employees who expect to eat and pay their bills regularly, does it make sense that any of your costs would be going down?  I think not…

So, here we are at a crossroads with our customer.  Their perception and our reality are very different, and ne'r the two shall meet.  Where does this leave us?  How do we overcome the disparity between us and our customers? 

As well as looking for ways to cut costs and get the best prices on materials possible, it’s part of our job to educate our customers about what’s going on in the building industry, and the value we can add to their project.  What is not in our best interest is criticizing, judging, and allowing bad feelings to dominate our lives until it carries over into our business relationships, which could lead to the death of our business.

Here are five strategies to help you overcome negative feelings and move into a positive mode of caring for your customers and your business, when you are faced with a similar situation.