Can’t Get A Mentor? Get Resourceful

It’s no secret that the fastest way to success is to get a mentor who has been there, done that. We all know that, right? I certainly did, even when I was starting out.

Nonetheless, there was definitely a time in my business when the thought of paying big bucks for a mentor was simply incomprehensible. (Or “Inconceivable!”, as that guy from The Princess Bride would say.)

I knew I needed a mentor, badly. But I honestly didn’t know how I was going to pay for it. I know I’m not alone here!

Straight up: if I were to turn back the clock and change ONE thing about how my business has unfolded, I would have stepped up, invested in myself and FOUND the money to pay for a mentor. Unfortunately, I truly didn’t believe that I had the power to manifest the money I needed for a mentor.

These days, I know that belief is complete and utter crap. (Pardon my French, but it’s true.) But back then, I was so far deep into my self-doubt, lack and limitation that there was just no way I could have found that awareness. There was just no way.

So instead I got resourceful. Instead I asked, “Okay, what COULD I do?”

I looked around, I found an opportunity, and I took it. I found a reasonably priced option and worked it like nothing else. I listened to every call recording in that coaching club like it was going to save my life. (I know that sounds a little dramatic, but it’s how I felt.)

I could have looked at that opportunity and thought, “There’s no way I can afford this, either.” I could have used the same excuse. It was $147 per month and I had no idea where that money was going to come from. But I just couldn’t accept the idea that I couldn’t make $147 per month appear. I couldn’t accept that belief about myself.

Here’s the thing: getting what you want will ALWAYS take an investment in yourself in both time AND money. Investing money in a mentor will save you time, because that person can take you by the hand and show you exactly what to do.

If you’re not able to invest money, you can count on investing a lot of extra time. (I spent 2-3 hours per day – yes, per DAY – just listening to the calls in that coaching program, and many more hours per week implementing what I learned.)

How committed are you to your own success? If you don’t have the money for a mentor, it’s time to get resourceful! What opportunities can you take to change your situation?

I have no doubt that you have at LEAST one great opportunity right in front of you. It’s up to YOU to take it… and to do the work required.

Bright blessings and massive success…

How To Create More Income (And Client Success!) While Working Less

In a recent article, I wrote about a common mistake that soul-based business owners make when creating their packages: Not creating packages or programs that solve a specific problem.

There’s another mistake that soul-based business owners make that’s just as damaging: giving too much away in their programs and packages.

Believe me, I know how tempting it is to stuff, stuff, stuff your packages full of “stuff.”  (It’s one of my personal bugaboos as a coach and copywriter.)  Trouble is, all that stuff is overwhelming for your clients… and it’s actually a form of discounting in disguise.

Instead, select ONE problem to solve. Not 2 problems, not 3 problems – just one problem.  Selecting one problem to start is being of service to your clients AND you.  Here’s why…

1. Focusing on one problem helps your clients get into action. When clients get into action, they get results.  That small success is going to create momentum for them.  They’ll get excited when they see progress, which will help them create more progress.  And (ta da!) they’re going to want to continue working with you, because you helped create that success for them.

One of my mentors likes to say, “Success leads to more success.” There is almost nothing that builds your business faster than the success stories of your previous clients.

2. Focusing on one problem allows you to streamline your solution, which takes up less of your time. It may make you roll your eyes, but the truth is, your clients want their problems solved quickly and easily.  Remember, one of the biggest problems for people today is overwhelm.  Instead of bogging down your clients with a lot of “stuff” – also known as “giving away the farm” – focus on the first step.  When they’ve got that handled, you can (and should!) invite them to take the next step.

A streamlined, quick solution is highly valuable to your clients.  When you provide massive value in a shorter period of time, you’re serving more… and you can ethically charge more.

3. A shorter, more focused package is easier for your new clients to say YES to. Let’s face it – big problems are intimidating.  They also require a higher level of commitment, both in time and money, on the part of your clients.

Often, your clients perceive these big leaps as risky, especially if they’ve never worked with you before.  When you help them get momentum with a single problem, they become ready for the next step.  (Success leads to more success!)

I know you might be thinking, “Okay, well, what if I solve a HUGE problem that requires a lot of time, commitment and resources?” Answer: chunk it down to a smaller problem that is easy for your clients to say yes to.

For example, a wellness coach might work with her clients over a period of 6 months, 12 months or more to change a lifetime of bad habits.  That’s a big commitment!  So what’s an easy way for someone to get started?

Here’s one possibility: a personalized fridge makeover.  In just a few sessions, a wellness coach could support me in making over my fridge so that I always have healthy food on hand.  She could help me create shopping lists tailored to my tastes, full of food I can easily find at the grocery store, so I’m not running all over town to a zillion stores.

Believe me, once I had the fridge thing handled, it’s very likely I’d be eager to take the next step with that coach. (Can you tell that this example comes right out of my own experience? *grin*)

Will you offer longer, more intensive packages and programs?  Of course!  Will these packages and programs solve more than one problem?  Entirely likely.  But not everyone is going to be ready to commit to the big solution.  Your “one problem” packages make it easy for clients to get started, get results, and experience your brand of transformation.

So what’s ONE problem that you can help your clients with today? I’m willing to bet a milkshake (my favorite wager – you can see why the fridge thing is a problem!) that you have at least one or two people in your tribe who could use your support with that problem.  My coach’s challenge to you: give them the opportunity to say yes to getting that problem handled.

Ready to learn how to create irresistible programs that your clients can’t wait to sign up for? I reveal all in my  ”Clients And Cash Flow Secrets” teleseminar series, beginning on October 27.  Reserve your space here: http://www.ClientsAndCashFlowSecrets.com.

© 2009 Elizabeth Genco Purvis.  All Rights Reserved.

Want to use this article on your website, blog or in your own ezine? No problem! But here’s what you MUST include:

Elizabeth Genco Purvis, “The Marketing Goddess” teaches spirited solo business owners and conscious entrepreneurs how to attract an abundance of clients, income, freedom and satisfaction in their business while staying true to their values.  Visit MarketingGoddess.com to claim your copy of “Grow Your Business With Spirit And Soul,” a 7-part audio workshop with everything you need to begin attracting more clients right away.

My Top 7 Take-Aways From The Money, Marketing And Soul Intensive

Just got in from four fabulous days with Kendall SummerHawk at her Money, Marketing And Soul Intensive. As expected, the workshop was a whirlwind of coaching, community… and Money, Marketing And Soul wisdom.

Like many of you, one of the most important parts of any event for me is… the content! For me, the community and connection at an event is always made sweeter when they are accompanied by a fat binder full of notes.  (I blew through nearly an entire notepad this weekend, so that’s covered.)

In that spirit, in this week’s article I thought I’d share 7 of my favorite take-aways. These are my personal “a-ha!”s, the things that moved me from “just thinking about it” to taking action even before the weekend was over.

1. Clarifying your niche is an active, ongoing process. The question of “Who do I work with and what problem(s) do I solve?” is never answered for good – indeed, you must go back to it with each and every new product or program that you launch.  (The great news?  Since it’s an ever-evolving process, you have permission to stop churning and just choose already!)

2. To make more mo’ney in your business, you MUST do things differently. Your current income is simply a reflection of your past beliefs, feelings and actions.  A good Bold Money Goal is one that will require you to think – and do – differently so that you can get different results.  (Note: this usually means giving up the control freak tendencies and working less, not more.)

3. If it’s effortless, you MUST charge more. How often have you found yourself saying, “Oh, it’s no big deal, it’s easy for me?”  We tend to undervalue what comes easy to us and as a result, give away our greatest talents and gifts.  If something comes easy to you, that’s your cue to charge MORE, not less.  (Personally, I have to stay on top of this in a big way.  In other news, my fees for writing have gone waaaaay up…)

4. If it’s not working, you MUST let go of it… and quickly. Your ability to move forward fast is directly related to your willingness to let go of what isn’t working (and what you’re tolerating).  This goes for both in and out of business.  Letting go is a skill to be practiced daily.

5. First and foremost, you money is in your creativity. When it comes to your profitable soul-based business, creativity trumps all else, including your time AND “the list.”  (Compare that mindset to those who say, “It’s all about the list.”)  Do you have a place where you can unplug completely and tap into your inner resources, to create the valuable products and programs that will translate into income?  Even if your business is strictly service-based, you must find time and space to refill the well.

6. Take a big-picture view of your business. Entrepreneurial flexibility is a very good thing (and you’ll always be going with the flow, to a certain extent)…  BUT.  Stepping up means getting out of “flying by the seat of your pants” mode and creating a plan for your income using a proven business model.  The more disciplined you are with your planning, the more freedom you have to create the results that you want.

7. What serves you serves others. Feeling nervous about letting an underperforming team member?  Do you need to have a sit-down with a client about late payments?  Are you letting other people’s priorities come before your own?  When it’s time to stand in your power and you find yourself getting squirrely, remember that what serves you, serves others.  Stand firm!

(One of my favorite quotes from Kendall over the weekend went something like this: “If you’re letting other people’s priorities come before your own, you might as well just hand them your checkbook.”  Amen.)

Bonus Tip: How to make your days focused, calm and productive: Stop multi-tasking!  Ask yourself, “If I was only doing one thing at a time, which would I do first?”  (I love this question!)  Either drop the rest, or hand them off to someone else.

© 2009 Elizabeth Genco Purvis.  All Rights Reserved.

Want to use this article on your website, blog or in your own ezine? No problem! But here’s what you MUST include:

Elizabeth Genco Purvis, “The Marketing Goddess” teaches spirited solo business owners and conscious entrepreneurs how to attract an abundance of clients, income, freedom and satisfaction in their business while staying true to their values.  Visit MarketingGoddess.com to claim your copy of “Grow Your Business With Spirit And Soul,” a 7-part audio workshop with everything you need to begin attracting more clients right away.

How “Like Attracts Like” Shows Up In Your Business

Getting ready to leave for a big event is always a big deal for me.  Feels like there are always a zillion things to do before I get on that plane!  In those moments of getting ready, I always find myself reflecting a little.

As I look back over the year, I’m amazed at how my life has transformed from even just over a year ago.  I feel very blessed by Lady Universe, and – of course! – I also celebrate myself for the decisions I’ve made over this past year.  The projects I’ve completed, the clients I’ve taken (because we know that not every client is a good decision), the programs I’ve chosen to invest my money in, and so on.

In a future article, I’ll reveal how I select programs to invest in.  It’s pretty systematic, actually.  But there’s one step that outweighs all the others.  And it might surprise you.  Here it is.

After running through all of my “practical” criteria, I turn it over to Lady Universe.  If Lady U says invest, I invest. No quibbling, no second guessing, none of that crap. (Pardon my French, but that’s what it is.)  And sometimes that means thousands of dollars.

Why do I do it?  Well, a big reason is that I know I’m not as in control as I like to think I am.  Another biggie – perhaps THE biggest – is that it’s a part of the manifestation process.

We are all master manifesters, whether we’re deliberate about that process or not.  I am very deliberate about the process.  So at any given time, I have a couple of manifestations in the works.  Part of the process is acting on opportunities.

There is another reason.  It’s an energetic reason, but it’s also very practical.  How we show up in the world is ALWAYS mirrored back to us.

Earlier this year, I was filling one of my programs and an opportunity to invest in a home study course came my way.  It was $997.  Not a huge expense, by any means, but significant, certainly. (I value my money and could have put that $997 to other uses!)

I purchased the program.  Then a couple of days later, I started to have second thoughts.  I fretted about it for a few hours, and even considered asking for my money back.  Then I had a realization.  “Oh no you don’t, Elizabeth.  You had better change that line of thinking right now or someone is going to drop out of your program.”

The very next day, someone dropped out of my program, asking for their money back.  You could say “it probably wasn’t a fit anyway” and perhaps that’s true.  But I don’t believe in coincidences!

Like attracts like. How you show up will be mirrored right back to you.  Do you hem and haw and stew over investing in yourself… or do you make the decision quickly, then invest happily, with gratitude, thankful that you are able to make that choice?  (And we can always say yes to the things we want or really need because there is always a way.)

This week, I invite you to show up in the way that you’d like your clients to show up with you.  Bright blessings and massive success to you…

Are You Making This Mistake When Creating Your Packages?

As a marketing coach who serves spirit-rich entrepreneurs, most of whom are working in the mind/body/spirit realm or are aligned with Spirit in and out of their businesses, I regularly check out what people are offering: their packages, programs, and opportunities for their clients to work with them.

Of course, I start with my clients, but I don’t stop there!  In particular, I pay close attention to those who have really high visibility – book deals, are in the conversation in our industry, etc.  And over and over again, I see one mistake being made when it comes to pricing and packaging.

This mistake costs people BIG time – not just in lost income, but in lost opportunities to create deep and lasting transformation.  It also sucks the energy right out of you, takes up waaaaay too much time AND kills your cash flow.  Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of the coaches, healers, consultants and metaphysical practitioners I know are making this mistake.

What’s the mistake? Let’s look at an example of a typical package to find out.

Let’s take a coach, for example.  What do most coaching packages look like?  Most are some variation on this: meeting X times per month for Y months at Z dollars per month.  For example, 3 sessions a month for 6 months at $300 per month.

The question that comes to mind is, what is a client paying for in this scenario?  “Coaching,” you might answer.  Trouble is,  your clients are never paying you for “the thing” that you do.  They are paying you to solve a very specific problem that matters to them.

So what’s the mistake? Not creating packages or programs that solve a specific problem.

Here’s why these kinds of packages suck the energy out of you, take up waaay too much time and kill your cash flow, too…

When you’re focused on a specific problem, you can design the program to address that ONE problem, which means there are boundaries on that program – they don’t go on and on and on.  (And you don’t give too much away – another huge problem for many spirited entrepreneurs who love to give and give and give.)  Focusing on one problem means that you’ll streamline your solution to that problem, which takes less time AND energy.

Most importantly, programs that are not focused on a specific problem (and provide a specific result) are a LOT harder for them to say yes to.  Your clients want to know, “What’s in it for me?” Without results, you’ll be on the phone for hours with your potential clients, only to hear them say, “I have to think about it.”  Yuck!  It’s a time drain, an energy drain, and a cash-flow killer.

You might be thinking, “Well, if a client is paying X dollars per month for 6 months, isn’t that great for my cash flow?” Monthly payments are great for your cash flow… when you’re selling your packages regularly AND for the investment that matches the value.  Trouble is, without focusing on problems and solutions, you’ll struggle with enrolling your programs at a great investment.

Here’s another important tip for you: When you focus on one specific problem in your packages, the investment will be based on value, not time.  And the value of your package will always be more than the time you spend!  (Remember, your clients are paying for a solution, NOT your time.)

Design your packages and programs around results and value to your clients, not your time. When you do, you’ll have more clients eagerly signing up at a higher investment point… it’s a win for you with your cash flow, and a win for them because they’ll finally get to experience the transformation they so desperately want and need.

Ready to learn how to create irresistible programs that your clients can’t wait to sign up for?  You’ll want to reserve your spot in my upcoming “Clients And Cash Flow Secrets” teleseminar series!  Register before tonight at 11:59 pm to take advantage of the generous 3-pay option and to nab some valuable bonuses.  Sign up here: http://www.ClientsAndCashFlowSecrets.com.

© 2009 Elizabeth Genco Purvis.  All Rights Reserved.

Want to use this article on your website, blog or in your own ezine? No problem! But here’s what you MUST include:

Elizabeth Genco Purvis, “The Marketing Goddess” teaches spirited solo business owners and conscious entrepreneurs how to attract an abundance of clients, income, freedom and satisfaction in their business while staying true to their values.  Visit MarketingGoddess.com to claim your copy of “Grow Your Business With Spirit And Soul,” a 7-part audio workshop with everything you need to begin attracting more clients right away.

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