1. My question to you is this: Does your business reflect who you are today or does it reflect who you were?
   
   Recognizing how hard it is to keep current in a changing environment my hat is off to you if you said your business reflects who you are as of today!

   If you are like the majority, however, your business more than likely still reflects the you of the past. How do you know if your business still reflects the old you?

   Here are some signs:

   1. You have skills that are not listed on your website and your current clients don’t know about these skills.
   2. You are being asked by your client to do things that are beyond your skillset and you cringe thinking about doing them.
   3. You no longer like/want your current clients (or a majority of them)!
   4. You have a static website rather than a dynamic one.
   5. Your Welcome Packet hasn’t been updated since you opened your doors for business.
   6. Your work seems like work – the thrill is gone!
   7. Your clients no longer refer you.
   8. You’ve entertained the idea of getting a J-O-B.

   If you found yourself nodding your head yes to any or all of the above questions, it’s time for you to spend some quality time working ON your business and giving it a new lift! Put some business bounce back into your business!

   Here are some things you can do:
   
   1. Take an honest look at your skillset. See what still works and what you still enjoy doing. Purge the rest.
   2. Make a list of new skills you would like to acquire. (Hint: If you find yourself putting the word ‘should’ in front of a new skill, ask yourself this question: Is it because *I* want to learn more information about this particular skill OR is it because I think I *should* know how to do this because everyone is doing/needs this?)
   3. Update your Ideal Client profile! (This is also a good exercise as it helps you to determine what skills to keep, what skills to acquire, and what skills to purge.) I’m happy to help you with this. Schedule a 3-hr Focus Day and get it done!
   4. If you can’t create a new website yourself, put on your CEO hat and find someone who can capture the new you in your new website.
   5. Do you still need a Welcome Packet? If so, update it and keep is short, sweet, and simple! Only collect the information you need.
   6. You may want to consider hiring a business coach to refresh, refocus, and re-energize both you and your business.
   7. If your clients no longer refer you, see the above 6 items and begin to work on them now!
   8. Hire a business coach to figure out if this is really where you need to be or if you are just feeling dead-ended in your current incarnation.

   It is important to continually adjust and tweak your business as the environment changes. If you don’t, you risk becoming out-of-date and obsolete. You’ll be like the food item in the pantry that has an expiration date stamped on the bottom – Best if used by xx-xx date!

Almost half-way through 2012! Can you believe it?

I’ve had some questions about when the next Master Mind group would be starting and I want to let you know the next group starts in June!

The members in the last two groups accomplished a great deal, and you can do the same.

I’ve set up two different groups: one for those of you who’ve been in business 3 years or less and one for those of you who’ve been in business 3 years or more.

Let’s get some like-minded entrepreneurs together and create a space where you can get some support and ideas! I’m looking forward to supporting you.

Won’t you join me? Click here for all the details. We start June 12th & 13th!

Here are ten things to consider between now and December 31st:

1. Do you have boundaries around your business practices (i.e., hours, availability, rates, turnaround times)?

Boundaries are simple a way for you to say ‘yes’ to yourself and your business. Boundaries also show your clients that you take yourself seriously as a business owner and respect not only your time but their time.

2. Do you know what you are going to charge and why?

It is important that you are solid in your decision to charge a certain price. It does not matter if this price is hourly, per package, or a retainer. If you waffle on this important piece of your business you set the tone with your clients that they can bargain rates with you. The ‘why’ part of this question is important for YOU only, as you do not (and should not) feel you have to justify your rates. Just be sure you are solid and comfortable in your reasoning.

3. Do you know who your Ideal Client is?

If you don’t know "who you are doing what to" how can you expect to be successful? You can’t, and shouldn’t, be all things to all people. A Target Market or Niche Market is not your Ideal Client. You need to be much more specific in "who you do what to" in order to be more successful.

4. Do you have a website?
   
There really is no excuse for not having a website. If you are not web-savvy either use a template based website or think about hiring someone to create the website for you. The WordPress blog platform is a very popular format today. (I know several savyy VA’s who can help you create one if you need help. Get in touch with me if you need some names.) Make sure your website speaks to your Ideal Client.

5. Do you have a marketing plan?

Like a business plan (and you do have one, right?), this is an important detail! How do you know where you’re going if you don’t have a plan or a map? It’s like getting dressed up with no place to go. Take some time and lay out a plan. This does not have to be 50 pages. If you can lay out a plan in 1 or 2 pages, then go for it! As long as it makes sense to you and you have a map to follow that’s all that is important. Napkins work well in keeping it short, sweet, and to the point!

6. Do you have specific, measureable goals for 2012?

Without specific, measureable goals anything you achieve will be fine, but it is really?  Make the goal a bit of a stretch. If it’s too easy you won’t do it, and if it’s too hard you won’t do it. Find a happy middle ground and go for it!!

7. Have you identified your opportunities?

In looking at your business, do you know where the opportunities for continued success lie? If no, now would be a good time to take a look. Do you need to do something different in 2012?

8. If you answered yes to above question, do you have specific plans to capitalize on those opportunities?

Again, without a plan anything you do is fine, right? Do you need to investigate the opportunity further? Do you need to spend time creating ‘it’? Whatever you need to do be sure and create a plan of when you are going to actually DO it and not just think about it.
 
9. Have you analyzed your success in 2011 so you can continue to capitalize on those strengths in 2012?

You should always know what is working for you and what is not working for you. Always. And if you haven’t kept track, now is a wonderful time to set up a system so that next year you can answer ‘yes’ to this question!

10. Does your 2012 calendar have a day set aside each quarter where you are analyzing and planning?

You should have at least one day each quarter where you work ON your business. Plan a day out of the office where you can let the creative juices flow. Don’t limit yourself! Write everything down. You never know when a crazy idea may be the perfect idea!

To help you with your planning, I’ve attached an Action Sheet here for you.
Here’s to a successful 2012!

Recently, I’ve had several  conversations with clients and colleagues who’ve indicated that they have been looking for a J-O-B. Some are considering making some changes in their life and some are just plain frustrated with where their business is currently. What I have found interesting in these conversations is this: Looking for a J-O-B has been done on the sly and no-one but immediate family/friends has been aware that this is what they have been doing. It’s as if looking for a J-O-B is a dirty little secret!  Why is that?

Of course the global, national, and local economic conditions came immediately to mind, yet it struck me as odd that all would feel the need to change at the same time three years after the Wall Street "crash". Mentally looking around, it occurred to me that the strong sense of change and the notion that something big is happening was impacting many folks, even if they could not articulate that sense. I am no different. I’ve been feeling that a big change is coming, and I, too, have been feeling frustrated in my business. (Confession time folks!) Many of you will note that I’ve been laying low for the past several months. I’ve been taking a look around and trying to decide what’s next for me and does a business fit into that?

I, too, thought a J-O-B was the answer. And it was until the interview! LOL That interview made me stand back and take a good look at what I really wanted and why. As I looked at the two men sitting across the table from me, I thought to myself "What the hell am I doing here?" (Believe me, those guys where thinking the same thing! They were just too polite to ask. ) So, I left that interview, came home and sat with myself for a while and asked some really hard questions. I came to the conclusion that I was where I was supposed to be, doing what I’m supposed to be doing. So, I’m not going any where anytime soon!! Yay!

For me, a re-imagining of my business was the necessary next step. Is that your next step? Are you still doing business the way you did two, four, five years ago? If so, it’s time for a business face-lift! It’s time to take a look at what you do, who you do it to, and why you do it. What needs to change? (I promise you something does!) Perhaps it’s a small tweak you need to make. Perhaps it’s a complete about-face. Either way, take some time now to envision what 2012 is going to look like for you and your business. You’ll be glad you did (and you won’t have to sit in an interview wondering why you are there)!

I would love to hear either where you are stuck or what you are doing to make changes. Let’s have some conversation around this topic!

Much has been expressed about his brilliance, prescience, and so on. Much of this was indeed mentioned during his lifetime. 

I found this quote from 1989 (from Inc. Magazine, April 1989):

"You can’t just ask customers what they want then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they’ll want something new".

The sense of it registered first, then the date really hit me.

Do you hear this philosophy very often? No. Quite the opposite.

What I hear from all the internet "geniuses" is that you find out what the market (customers) want and give them exactly what they asked for.

In the first case, you create something that people come to desire, believe in, utilize, and make a necessity.

In the second case you create something that people briefly embrace, than dispose of.

Therein lies the difference in the approach.

Given the past successes of both approaches, which would you choose?

I can only surmise that the biggest reason behind this proliferation of descriptors is an attempt to distinguish oneself from others offering the same sort of expertise.

But I can tell you what one of the consequences of this effort is: the devaluing of the descriptor and the resulting confusion in consumers. I don’t think this is your goal as a business person, right?

What exactly is a business goddess and what does she do?

How much conjuration is there in business?

Unfortunately, the desire to distinguish through such descriptors has only resulted in a confusing and somewhat boring sameness. What was originally thought to be clever and provide some meaningful insight now only provides non-meaning (i.e. nonsense). Much of this devaluation has bled through to products and programs so that they too are full of words of such exaggerated connotation that meaning has been largely lost.

Why not just say what you mean and what you do in clear precise language devoid of descriptors which dilute your message? Compared to some of the wild proclamations that exist, your text may seem rather bland, but ask yourself these questions: does it convey what you do, who you are, and what it means clearly, unambiguously, and concisely? If so, then you’ve covered what you need to cover! The consumer will overlook the blandness you perceive if the message is one they are looking for.

Again, if I am looking for an expert, I am not at all sure why I need a goddess, maven, wizard, etc.

Simplicity, clarity, and conciseness facilitate communication not impede it.

If your Ideal Client is looking for something…what will she hear from you?

So far.

The fact is many people really are tired of the way things are (yay!), especially in their immediate circle, the one they interact with on a daily basis. So they express their dissatisfaction and desire to change but really are stymied as to how to affect that change.

So, what does it mean to "get out of the box"?

It means to be or do in a way that is not normative but is highly effective. That doesn’t sound so hard now, does it? But we all know it can be extraordinarily hard! This is because of a couple of things not mentioned in the meaning. One is that if one is to be simply different, it is easy–just act out of character. The unstated part is that it has to be in character (must be something comfortable and agreeable for you to do) to be effective. Secondly, it has to be effective. Just being different is not necessarily mean efficacy. 

Here’s my version of "getting out of the box": to be or do in a way that is not normative on a large scale but is consistent with your personality and the being and doing are highly effective on that large scale.

Sounds good, but HOW does one "get out of the box"?

You must forget about the box to get out of it! Simply doing the opposite just produces another box…the anti-box, which is still a box.

Forgetting the box itself is not easy at all because it is what we know. How do you forget the box? Ask yourself what would you like to do/be? What does that look like? This will get you started on the right road. You will find some correspondences within you to the box but that is ok. If you continue your exploration simply from your own perspective, you will find yourself in some pretty fresh surroundings. If you are unique (and there is little doubt of that anymore) then your "box" has to be in many ways also unique. AND it is completely in agreement with who you are!

Go ahead…if you are tired of what is there and want a change, design the change by asking yourself what you want to be/do and write it down. Then commit to taking one action daily to work toward the change. If you need help with this, hire a coach. A coach can help you make these changes so that you are ‘outta of the box’!

Here’s to you and no more boxes!!

My first reaction was, "Are you serious?" If people have a money problem is it really a good idea to sell items you don’t need or borrow money from someone you know to invest in a program that may or may not work for you? After all, these programs not only come with no guarantees, but are usually promoted as blueprints, done for you systems, etc.

If money is that big of an object, perhaps you should take another look at your business and determine if you need to get a part-time job to bring in some money, take another look at how you are spending your money, or look at how you can bring in some new clients based on what you know right now.

If you are going to sell items or borrow money with the promise of making 6-figures within XXX period time, I want you to ask yourself this question: Is this someone you really want and should do business with if they are asking you to sell or borrow money? Whose best interest do they have at heart? Is it really you or are they concerned with preserving their lifestyle at your expense?

Please don’t become like a person I know who spent untold thousands of dollars for all these programs that in the end didn’t get her anything but a J-O-B. She was told repeatedly to follow the process again and again in the hopes that it would finally work for her. There was no deviating from the program because don’t you know it works for everybody!?!?

And so on….and so on!

Every day you see and hear these types of claims for all types of products and services. As Business Owners/Entrepreneurs we are inundated by such messages offering some version of success, and it is the rare Business Owner/Entrepreneur that is totally satisfied with how their business is performing. Therefore, there is usually some type of temptation in those claims. You begin to think, hmmmmm, I wonder IF XY&Z would work for me?

This, then, should lead to you asking yourself this question: How can I know if this person and/or product/service is right for me? How do I can I can trust this person to deliver what they say they will? Of course we all realize that the real issue here is, as Lou Reed sang, ‘how do you tell the good act from the bad?’.

Here are some questions you should be asking yourself as you contemplate whether or not to purchase that product or service:
 
    1. Do you know the entity making the claim? 

    2. Do you know someone who does know them? If so, what do they say? Good word of mouth is usually a reliable indicator that they are "good".

    3. How do you feel reading the ‘salespage’ or hearing the claims? Your intuitive reaction is a pretty reliable indicator as well. 

    4. What is the "hype" factor?  Is it believable? Does it violate your own sense? Are they caught up in the one-upmanship of exaggerated claims? Apparently the simple truth does not have a chance in a hyped up environment…do you believe this? 

    5. What is the ego factor? Is the person believable? Does it seem real or just exaggerated? 

    6. What are the contradictions? Do they claim one thing but in such a way that it seems incompatible (for example: everyone is unique and they are offering a one size fits all program)? 

    7. What is the length of the salespage? Why so long? (As Norm Levine once said: "the thicker the proposal, the dumber the salesman.").

If you go through these questions, you should be able to figure out if the person or entity is worth listening to. Of course, from there you still have to consider if it is the right fit for you. There are many good programs by many good people that may not be right for you. It is important to recognize what you are looking for and then find someone who matches your criteria!

Obviously there’s a  conflict within this particular message, right? How can anything as rigid as steps one through twenty-five (or pick any number here) fuel innovation? By its very nature of having steps, the innovation and creativity has been removed from the process. Let me go on record here and say that innovation IS critical to your business and it is NOT in a systematic form! Innovation can be messy and fun. Think about the child who grabs a blank piece of paper, some finger paints, and begins to create a whole new world complete with details about everything on that paper. This is what you need to do with your business! "Paint" a new picture for your business. You should do this on a fairly regular basis in order to be not just current, but ahead of the game.

Do you think that Bill Gates and Steve Jobs followed someone else’s step-by-step blueprint? Think of any successful, vibrant, out-of-the-box company, and ask yourself how they managed to create what they did? The answer is, they did not follow someone else’s steps! They did not use a system that worked last year or the year before to develop and create the ideas of tomorrow.

I know if can feel very scary, unnerving, etc. to step out of the ‘norm’ and go with your intuition about your business, but who knows your business better than you? Who knows what unique gifts you bring to your clients better than you and your clients? Things are changing very quickly in our world today. No-one knows what the next big thing will be.  Or who will be bringing that next new thing to the forefront. Being flexible, allowing yourself the time to dream about your business, and trusting your instincts are all steps in the innovation process. Do yourself and your clients a favor and innovate!