Letting Go Does Not Mean Giving Up!!!!

I was talking with a dear friend and fellow entrepreneurial mom. We have been taking care of each other for the last 7 years. She was sharing how she made a difficult decision to turn down an opportunity to work with a client that could have been worth $1,000 to $1,500. We talked about why she needed to make this decision and the process she used to come to the decision. Here is what I learned from her wisdom:

• When she said no to a client that was not a good fit for her, she opened herself up to a yes from a potential client that was a good fit;
• She felt stronger, and more assured as she made and implemented the decision which intern built a level of confidence that was amazing to see; and
• She chose to honor herself and not sell herself for a sum of money.

With this decision she bought back a week of production, time with her family and a sense of self worth that is immeasurable. Are you selling your soul for a few dollars? I think it is easy to make decision on immediate need without thinking about the long-term ramifications. Be sure as you build your business that you do so with integrity for your self and your clients.

Napoleon Hill - Always Relevant

"The great master key to riches is nothing more or less than the self-discipline necessary to help you take full and complete possession of your own mind. Remember, it is profoundly significant that the only thing over which you have complete control is your own mental attitude." Napoleon Hill

This year I am personally focusing on self-discipline in both my business and personal life. I like to pick a new character trait that I want to improve each year and this is what I have been led to pick for this year. I know for me it is very hard to be disciplined; why? Because it is boring and routine. Although I have never been diagnose, I am sure I have a touch of ADD. Okay, more than a touch. That is why being an entrepreneur fits me so well. However, that does not give me an excuse to not behave properly. I plan on behaving like someone who is focused and disciplined. In the beginning it will be an act, yes I will have to fake it. And I know in time, with practice, I will become the person I want to be, self-disciplined and successful.

What are you working on this year? Do you have a plan to become that person?

If it's to be . . . It's up to me!

As most people do when they go into a new year, they tend to become reflective. I am no different. I started to think about what I could have done differently, what I did well and what I want to do for this year - 2010! It is an exciting time, a time of rebirth and renewal. Then I stumbled on this quote:

“The best way to sell yourself to others is first to sell the others to yourself.” Napoleon Hill

I realized that unless I truly believe in myself, I will not be able to pass that on to my clients. This is not new information, just a reaffirmation. So today I pledge to continue the path of self-development. I will read good books, listen to good lessons on CD, watch great videos and spend time with great people.

What are you going to do with this year?

Focus & Discipline . . . That is the Answer

Today I found myself frustrated by the lack of quality work time I had. I felt like I did not have time to think. Then I thought about all the hours I squander when I do have it.

Each year I pick a different character trait to work on. With the above in mind, I decided to work on discipline of thought and action this year. Here is a quote to help keep me focussed.

The ability to concentrate and to use your time well is everything if you want to succeed in business--or almost anywhere else for that matter.
Lee Iacocca

What are you working on this year?

Lessons Learned

Today I was privileged to train a group of 20 insurance sales professionals. I must admit I was nervous going in, especially when I found out the President of the group was going to stay. As we got into the training, I felt more relaxed and felt I was able to connect with most of the team. I really love what I do because of the people I get to meet. They are so awesome.

When I got back to the office I took time to look at the evaluations. Overall they were favorable. After reflecting on the evaluations and thinking back on the training I was struck by a common theme. The Get Clients Now! systems was well received. It is easy to put together and easy to implement. The need for follow-up is critical. There needs to be accountability built in through the on-going coaching. Finally, if you get just one thing from the program, you are already ahead of the game.

I want to elaborate on the last comment. You see all of these sales professionals are very busy, working under tight deadlines with high expectations. On top of that, some of the seasoned professional are already successful doing business the way they currently do business. So the idea of adding something new to their already full plate may seem a bit daunting to say the least.

The take aways I tried to leave them with were:

• If you do one thing different, you will improve sales.
• It only takes a little extra effort to make a big difference in your sales.
• When they suddenly become distracted by some new initiative, they now have a plan to go back to refocus their efforts. With out the plan, they would just feel lost as to what to do next. That was very frustrating.
• Having a plan is better than not having a plan. It's a place to start and then restart.

Get Clients Now! It Works if You Work It

I had a great training session today with a group of 8 entrepreneurs. Each was unique in their offerings and business models. They all shared one goal, to get more clients. As we worked through the program and developed the plan, it became clear that they were feeling alone in their struggle to build their business; frustrated and feeling isolated. It was very nice to see the room relax and lighten up as each shared their struggles, goals and aspirations. It was amazing how they all had so much in common even though their businesses are so very different.

I share this because I think there are a lot of entrepreneurs out there thinking, no one understands what it's like to have someone hang up the phone on them. No one knows what its like to get rejected. And yet, I find that cannot be further from the truth. Owning your own business, being your own boss can be very rewarding and also very daunting. The key is to create a community so you are not alone. For me the Get Clients Now! program does just that. The eight people that sat at that table today will always have a connection. Whether they stay in touch or not, there is someone out there that knows what they are going through and is rooting for them. And if they are lucky, if they use the system, they are helping them stay accountable.