Hope this finds all of you happy, healthy, and looking forward. There is a really cool business local to me called Open Mind, and Michael and I love to shop there and visit with the owner, Diane. Below is the article she wrote in her ezine this month, and I thought it was such a great article that I asked her if I could share it with all of you. She graciously said yes.

I invite you to read though Diane’s article and take a few minutes to answer the questions she has posed. Once you’ve answered the questions, I’d like you to think about what happens if you don’t share who you really are with the world. What gifts do you, and the rest of us, miss out on?

Ok, on to Diane’s article:

How are you enjoying the weather? Winter a few days, Spring a few days….Repeat. This weather is not "normal" for this time of year which is a perfect lead-in for my write-up.
 
What is the word "normal"?

The word "normal" is a box. A box that we contort ourselves into in order to, through guilt and fear, remain in the comfort zone of others, a comfort zone that restricts who we are and provides one a narrow path to follow.

"Why can’t you be normal!" translates to "why can’t you be like me, behave like me, think like me, believe like me" (and why does that frighten me so?). The reality is they are saying "I am feeling uncomfortable with who you really are, change back for me, so I can sit in my box and be comfortable again".
 
What is the cost or benefit of this?

Who are we in this box?

Does this feed our hearts, minds, souls, spirits?

What would happen if we were to step out of this box, loosen the grip of others expectations or plans for our lives?

Who would we become, how would we think?

What would freedom feel like? Thrilling – the chance to unfurl your wings and fly; scary – the desire to meld once again into the box mentality?
 
"Comfort" is a soothing balm to the heart, mind, soul, spirit.
"Love" is food for the heart, mind, soul, spirit.
"Becoming who we are" is our heart, mind, soul, spirit.
 
Namaste,
Diane

Thank you, Diane, for letting me share your article. You can find out more about Diane at www.omrockford.com

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!

One of the questions she asked the attendees was this: How much is enough?

Isn’t that a great question?! I was jumping up and down with excitement because I, for one, am tired of hearing about 6-Figure Income. Just do blah, blah, blah, and you too can have a 6-Figure Income just by working 5 hours a week (or month or year. Insert whatever other claim you’ve heard in this space.). It’s not that I don’t think peeps should make 6-figure incomes. It’s just that I’m tired of hearing that this is the magic number needed to either be successful or to no longer have a business that functions as a hobby.

I’ve personally always believed, and tell my clients, that success is THEIR version of success. No matter what that looks like to others.

All of this to say, don’t have any regrets when it comes to your business and your life. Michael sent me this article about the Top 5 Regrets People Have On Their Deathbed.

What if we look at these regrets from a business perspective?

    1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
   
What if you went ahead and tried that really crazy idea you had? What if it was wildly successful? What if it was mildly successful? Would you feel better for having had the courage and opportunity for trying? You bet!

    2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.
   
Does your business feel like work? Has it lost the fun factor? If so, what can you do to put some more fun into the gift you bring to the world? Go ahead. Take some time to really think about it, and then implement it. Don’t wait for someone to tell you it’s ok. Have the courage to believe in your ideas.

    3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
   
Does this sound like you? Do you think because you are an entrepreneur that you must always be stoic and business-like? I have some news for you…your clients need, and want, to see/hear you express your feelings. This does not mean you share everything! Please. Be cognizant of your audience and the fact that TMI (too much information) can have the opposite effect.

    4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
   
Do you get SO busy in, and with, your business that you forget to stay in touch with those around you? While it’s fun to own, and grow, a business let’s remember that all business and no play makes for an extremely dull and unhappy you. Just like you schedule business appointments, take the time to schedule personal appointments. These are the peeps who will be there for you through thick and thin. Make the time now (really, it’s all you have!) to reach out and schedule time with your friends.

    5. I wish I had let myself be happier.
   
Wow! Do you really want to get to the end of your business and say the above words? No, I didn’t think so! There is only one person you need to get permission from to be happy and that one person is YOU!! Go ahead, give yourself permission to be happier. Your business, your clients, and your family/friends will thank you.

Let’s try business with no regrets. Let’s make this the new model!!

Let’s set the record straight once and for all and get rid of the term “basics” and replace it with “essentials.” Essentials are not a once and done type of thing. You must come back from time to time to review them to be certain what you created still applies to where you are today and where you want to go tomorrow.

I firmly believe there are four categories that cover the Essentials in business. They are: Ideal Client (Who are you doing what to?), CEO/Business Owner (Who is running your business?), Marketing (Getting the word out), and Vision (Seeing your success/Seeing your future). In order for your business to be running optimally, all four of these elements need to be addressed. Granted, you may spend more time on one area than another, but you will still spend some time in all areas. In order to gain the benefits from many of the programs out there, you need to be solid in these Essentials; otherwise you are going to struggle with what you are learning and trying to do. This usually results in frustration with the program, the person teaching the program, and/or yourself and your business.

Let’s do a little exercise around the Essentials, shall we? I’ve developed a checklist that will let you know where you stand on these four Essentials. As you go through this checklist and answer the questions, be honest with yourself about where your business really is right now. The nice thing about this form is that you can use it at any time to check where you are relative to the core elements and any changes you wish to make in your business.

Click here to download a PDF version of my Business Essentials Checklist.

©2010 Cindy Hillsey, CPC

There are some important ideas wrapped up in this concept of tracking your progress. First, writing a goal makes it more likely that it will be achieved. Writing down your progress toward that goal, i.e., activities and actions, also makes it more likely that you’ll reach your goal. Writing makes it real! The second idea is that people often remember setting goals and achieving them, but have a much more difficult time recalling how they did it. From the perspective of having a profitable business, the how is in many ways more important than the goal itself. Tracking your progress lets you see what worked and what didn’t work. It is a blueprint for success. When dealing with a new goal, the ability to look at methods, techniques, and activities that have been successful is invaluable – not to mention a huge timesaver. The cool part about writing all this down is that you now have the resources, methods, and techniques that work for you. In effect, you have a case study.

If you are working with a coach/mentor this tracking is hopefully part of your program. It allows you to be very specific with your coach/mentor about your activities and the results of those activities. Speaking from the coach perspective, the client who utilizes the Action Plan and then tracks their progress is always successful, because it combines both thought (planning and goal setting) and action (activities and actions), the perception of progress is matched by actual progress. The client is more energized, focused, and likely to reach their goal ahead of target. One of the positive spinoffs of this process is a heightened creativity by you, the client.

Download a copy of the form I use with my clients. Feel free to modify it to suit your needs. Happy tracking!

©2010 Cindy Hillsey

Those of you who are familiar with me know that I practice what I preach. Because I believe very strongly in what I wrote above, I’ve put together a Client Appreciation Program (C.A.P.) for my clients to show them just how much I appreciate them and their business.

Here’s what my program looks like:

Why I came up with this Program?

I have a number of clients who’ve worked with me for some time, and I’ve always felt that businesses should reward those clients that do repeat business. Therefore, I’ve decided to offer a Client Appreciation Program!

How will the Program work?

Basically, the program will work like this: Your 4th purchase will qualify you for 10% off; your 7th purchase will qualify you for 15% off; and your 10th purchase and beyond will qualify you for 20% off.

So how do you receive your reward? You will need to keep track of your purchases and once you’ve qualified you will send an email to Jackie@virtualpartnering.com listing the purchases you’ve made. Upon verification, Jackie will then send you via email a coupon code. This code will be good until you reach the next level, at which time you will again email Jackie with your purchases and she will send you the new coupon code. You will repeat this process until you reach the 20% limit. Once you reach the 20% limit, all future purchases will receive 20% off as long as you use the code Jackie has provided you. (It goes without saying this code is to be kept private and for your use only! If the code is abused, it will be revoked.)

Example of how the Program will work:

Amanda purchases a coaching package. This is her first purchase with Virtual Partnering (VP). She has a good experience and books another series of coaching sessions. This is now her second purchase with VP. Amanda then decides to purchase a product. This product is her third purchase. This third purchase qualifies Amanda to receive 10% off her next purchase. Now would be a good time for Amanda to email Jackie and let her know what three purchases she’s made. Jackie will then verify the purchases and send Amanda the coupon code for a 10% discount on the next item Amanda purchases. The next item that Amanda purchases will receive 10% off, providing she uses the coupon code that she was given. This means Amanda will receive 10% off purchases four, five, and six, at which time she again emails Jackie for the coupon code of 15% off her next (or seventh) purchase. Again, purchases seven, eight, and nine will receive 15% off until Amanda has purchased her tenth item, at which time she emails Jackie for the coupon code of 20% her next (or tenth) purchase. Amanda has now qualified for 20%off all future purchases. Woo hoo!

Here is how it looks visually:

What products/programs are eligible for this program?

All fee-based products and programs are eligible for the Client Appreciation Program, with the exception of ChatsOnDemand*. The Free Taste and any other free items are *not* eligible for the Program.

• 1:1 Coaching packages are eligible based on each package purchased (not each session).
• Products are eligible per product purchased.
• Focus Days are eligible per purchase.

*ChatsOnDemand is NOT eligible for either a product purchase discount or eligible to receive a discount due to your other purchases. This is due to the nature of the program.

Who is eligible for this program?

Everyone!

If you want to see the “pretty” version, click here.

Now it’s your turn! What are you doing to show your clients you appreciate them?

©2010 Cindy Hillsey

Click here to download a printable version of the Action Plan

The first thing you will need to do on the form is fill in the center circle. This circle is the goal. You will want to be as specific as possible in this section. I usually tell my clients to pull this circle out, put it on a clean sheet of paper, and write down all the specifics pertaining to the particular goal. This way you can see in detail what you want to accomplish.

Once this step has been completed, the next step is to complete each of the squares that surround the circle. These squares are the implementers. They are the means by which you make your goal real. Let’s take a look at each one.

• The right box is where you will list the resources you have available to help you attain your goal. These resources can be people, places, and/or things (i.e., books, music, Internet, coffee, tea, candles, etc.).
• The bottom box is where you will list the reasons and benefits for achieving your goal. This is your motivation. It is important to understand what motivates you and what the pay-off will be when you reach your goal.
• The left box is where you will list the successes and strengths of previous goals/things you’ve achieved. This is to remind you that you DO have what it takes to make it happen.
• The top box is where you will list the steps necessary to achieve your goal. This box is important because you can’t eat an elephant in one bite. You must make the steps bite size or you risk frustration and self-doubt.

OK, take some time and do this exercise for a goal you have. See how you feel when you have all of this written out in front of you. Are you excited? Do you see the possibilities? Hopefully, you do.

One of the biggest benefits of doing this exercise and going through the process is the act of writing it down! This is where most people fail. They fail not because they can’t do what’s necessary to achieve the goal. They fail because they don’t take the time to think through the process and write it down.

Have some fun…implement a goal today!

©2010 Cindy Hillsey

The biggest challenge as I see it is this: Many people are used to being the Technician and not the Owner. As the Technician, you are very good at what you do (your craft), and typically this skill is what leads you to opening your own business. Where the challenge comes in is when the Technician has to operate her business as a CEO/Owner.

First and foremost, being a CEO/Business Owner involves a mindset shift. For many of us, especially “corporate refugees,” the shift from employee to owner can be very difficult. As an employee, you are discouraged from thinking outside the box. In fact, this type of thinking usually begets trouble! As a CEO/Business Owner, thinking outside the box is essential! So how does one get from inside the box to outside the box?

Here are 6 steps to help you get outside the box:

1) You need to be aware that you are it! This may sound simple, but it’s not. You report to you. There is no Manager. There is no CEO. There is no Board. You are it. Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of all titles. You are now the CEO/Board of Director/Manager/Customer Service Department/Chief Cook and Bottle Washer all rolled into one.

2) The good news? All decisions are yours. The bad news? ALL decisions are yours. This means everything from setting your fees to taking care of unhappy customers to answering the phone to marketing to motivating yourself. All are up to you!

3) You need to surround yourself with those who think like CEOs/Business Owner’s. Get involved. Ask questions. Seek advice. Ask to be mentored. Join a MasterMind group. Hire a business coach. Don’t go it alone! Remember, the most successful businesses don’t get there by going it alone.

4) Act like a CEO/Business Owner rather than the Technician. Easier said than done sometimes, but if you put yourself in the frame of mind of a CEO/Business Owner and ask yourself, “What would a CEO/Business Owner do about this decision?” you might find the task a bit more manageable. Make decisions. Don’t procrastinate! Think about what you want for your business, and then make decisions accordingly.

5) Do you want to work with just anyone? (The answer to this question should be NO!) Do you have an Ideal Client in mind? (The answer should be YES!) Be clear on who you are doing what to. If you are not clear, your time and energy will be spent dealing with less than ideal clients on a daily basis, and who wants that? Don’t say “yes” to everything that comes your way. Remember, saying “no” allows you to say “yes” to your business vision. Be consistent, and be sure it matches the vision you’ve set out for your business.

6) Be sure you have standards and boundaries around your business. This is just another way of saying, “What will you tolerate in your business?” Good and bad. Then make sure to respect those standards and boundaries. If you don’t respect them, trust me, your clients won’t either! Your clients want to work with a business owner that knows who they are and what they stand for. Make sure that person is you!

Remember, the object of going into business is to create a profit. In order to do this successfully, you’ll need to shift your thinking from that of Technician to that of CEO/Business Owner when it comes to making decisions about your business. Are you ready to think like the CEO/Business Owner you are? I’m tipping my CEO/Business Owner hat off to you as you either begin or continue on this adventure!

©2010 Cindy Hillsey