Are you playing victim in your business?

One of the principles I’ve chosen to live by is that of taking personal responsibility for my experience – 100%, no excuses.

I happen to find personal responsibility to be incredibly exciting. At first, though, it completely shook me up. The discovery of personal responsibility forced me to confront how I had been playing victim and giving up my power, usually to other people. Not just once or twice, but for years.

(“You mean instead of just sitting here and suffering, I have the power to change my experience?” I have to tell you, it completely blew my mind.)

Here’s the thing about personal responsibility: there are no shades of gray. You are either accepting responsibility for your experience, or you are not – even when circumstances look like they are the quote-unquote “fault” of someone or something else. And when you are not, the strong coaching truth is… you are playing the victim. Every time.

Common occurrences of victimhood in business include:

• “I’m doing everything I’m supposed to be doing and it’s still not working” (otherwise known as whining instead of troubleshooting and course-correcting)
• “My business is different!” (discounting proven systems instead of shifting what needs to be shifted, or adapting the model to their audience)
• “I’m brand new in my business, so I can’t [fill in the blank]…”
• “I don’t have a list yet, so I can’t [fill in the blank]…”
• “My list is small, so… [fill in the blank]“
• Expecting your coach, mentors or their staff to do your work for you (don’t get me started on this one)

We all play victim at some point or another, and believe me, I am not immune! The key is how quickly you see it for what it is, take ownership of what’s going on, and shift OUT of it.

For example, recently I signed up for a class with another coach who I admire and respect. Long story short, let’s just say that the client care experience has been less than optimal. (Okay, okay – from my perspective, it completely sucked.)

Now, I can sit here and imagine that I had nothing to do with it, but the truth is, I had everything to do with it. I clicked on the dang ‘Buy’ button and gave her my credit card! Hello! Not a mystery why the experience was in my life.

So how do you get out of victim mode? Remember that you are personally responsible for your experience, which means you are always at choice. Even when the choices don’t “look” good, they exist. Always.

In my case, I decided to loosen my grip on that particular class and funnel my energy elsewhere. I used the experience as an opportunity to work on my own client care systems, which are a work in progress as I grow. I also I blessed the coach (once I calmed down!), because she does incredible work in the world. I hope she continues to succeed and gets the support she needs to do just that.

This week, my coach’s request to you is to take a look at where you are playing victim in your life or business. Then ask yourself, “What’s the choice I’d like to make, here?”

Resist the temptation to dismiss the choices in front of you because they don’t look good. Instead, use your creative powers to create more choice and possibilities, or ask someone with an outside perspective, such as a coach or mentor, to help you perceive the choices you can’t see right now.

Bright blessings and massive success to you…

Spirit Rich Entrepreneur Spotlight: Tracie Nichols

Tracie Nichols, TTNTherapy.com:

“Before Elizabeth’s MMM program, my business was struggling.  I’d stepped out of my power and stopped listening to my inner wisdom and guidance from Spirit/the Universe. My energy was pouring into “just getting by”, ignoring my most potent skills and resources.  I was undervaluing my services, giving way too much away, and missing out on helping lots of people who could have used my unique knowledge to transform their lives.

In the first 60 days of the MMM, I created, promoted and filled my first “Shift Happens” transformation intensive in just 5 days- woo hoo! I’m in the process of creating a signature system I’m really excited about, and have 2 clients enrolled already.  I’ve created 2 juicy joint ventures allowing me to share my work with lots of new people.

The most significant shift I’ve made is my business is now focused on sharing my skills as a transformative educator and mentor.  Now I totally value my wisdom and the services I offer.  Withholding any of that from people whose lives could be transformed is just not an option anymore!  My business is now vibrant, dynamic and growing at the perfect pace for me.

With all of the recent successes, it’s hard to believe that I’ve been doing this for such a short time!   I plan to continue standing in my power and loving what I’m doing while launching my signature system, creating more wonderful joint ventures, and reaching my six-figure bold goal!”

The Top 3 Marketing Money Leaks (And How To Fix Them)

So you’ve been busy implementing all you’ve been learning from the experts and you have all the marketing stuff you’re “supposed to” – a website, an ezine, all that stuff. Trouble is, you’re stuck at the same level of clients and income. What gives?

Unfortunately, just because you have your marketing machine up doesn’t mean it’s humming – ie., working for you the way it could be. If you have all the marketing pieces in place and are still constantly on the lookout for the next client or opportunity, chances are there’s a leak somewhere – and it might as well be in your handbag or wallet.

Here, then, are the top 3 “marketing money leaks” affecting heart-centered service business owners, and quick fixes for each…

Marketing Money Leak #1: Your Website.

Most solo business owners think that the primary job of their website is to provide their prospective clients with information on who they are and what they do. Trouble is, you have only seconds (if that) before your client makes a decision about you and clicks away forever. If you don’t collect their name and email address, chances are you’ve lost them for good… along with the opportunity to help them.

The fix: Make sure to have an irresistible free offer on your website if you don’t have one already… and don’t stop there. To truly plug the money leaks on your website, you need to know how many of your visitors are saying YES to your free offer.

Install a free program like Google Analytics (which you’ll find by Googling on the phrase “Google Analytics”) and check your numbers. Aim to have at least 3 of every 10 visitors to your site opt-in to get your offer. If you’re not hitting the mark, test and tweak each piece, starting with your headline and freebie.

Marketing Money Leak #2: Your Ezine.

I’ve noticed that ezines that DON’T produce sales usually suffer from one or more of 3 big problems:

• The business owner sends it out once a month, if at all
• The ezine contains only “feel good” or “deep transformation” articles and no promotion
• The ezine is merely a laundry list of upcoming appearances, announcements, or other pitches (otherwise known as “Buy my stuff” syndrome)

The fix: Ezines that create sales contain a balance of personal information, valuable content, and promotion and are published consistently. Aim for a mix of 15-65-30 (personal info, content and promo, respectively) and get those ezines out weekly!

Marketing Money Leak #3: Your Follow-Up.

Quick question: when a potential client reaches out to inquire about working with you, what happens next? Clients pay close attention to the experience you provide… and that experience starts from the moment they contact you. How about clients who contacted you 6 months ago – have they heard from you again, personally?

The fix: Create a simple system to handle inquiries from people who contact you personally about working together. Ask yourself what experience you want them to have, and design your system to give them that experience. Be sure to include a way to keep track of each and every one, such as a contact management system. (And no, your ezine list does NOT count!)

If you think keeping track of contacts has to be difficult or technically challenging, think again. Until now, my contact system has been very low tech – paper and pen using the recipe card box system I share in my homestudy course. The “paper and pen” method helped me create well over 6-figures in under a year, and can help you do the same. What’s important is that you use your system to show your potential clients you care.

Remember…

If you have any of these money leaks, don’t beat yourself up because you don’t have to be perfect! I invite you to look at each one as an opportunity to connect more, serve more, and in the process, receive more income for doing what you love and sharing your gifts.

© 2010 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.

Mindset + Manifestation Insights: Do you give up too soon?

When I tell people that I will be leaving my beloved New York City for Portland, Oregon in just a few weeks, the reaction I usually get is something along the lines of “So, are you excited?” Most of the time, the question is delivered with some reservation, a checking out if I’m really okay with it.

The answer is, I’m thrilled. For one thing, it’s just not that hard to get back to NYC. It just isn’t. (There are these crazy mini-miracles called airplanes. Hello!) Plus, in my heart I know it’s time for something different, and that a bigger game is waiting for me on this side of the country.

That said, it’s not like I haven’t been feeling some resistance. It takes time to learn a new city. If there’s one thing my manifesting mind craves, it’s information so I can get a clear picture of what I am creating. And I will admit that the inability to picture exactly what we want when it comes to finding a new place to live has been frustrating.

One of the ways resistance shows up for me is in an unpleasant state that I’ve termed “crankypants” – negative, poor me, doom-and-gloom thinking. At the end of day 3 of our house-hunt, I was wearing the crankypants. “We’ll never find a place! We may as well give up now. Wah!”

(Don’t you love it when I get transparent in this ezine? )

A curious phenomenon happens when I’m rocking the crankypants: Leland gets very annoying. Why? Because he’s very good at talking me out of it. He said, “Have you ever accomplished anything this significant and important in just 3 days?”

One of the most important skills you can ever develop as an entrepreneur is the ability to take action on what you CANNOT see. Looking at the evidence in front of you, such as an early failure or something not working out as you expect, and taking action based on that alone will cause you to stop. Creating what you want takes faith and courage, and a persistence even when all the external signs seem to say that you “failed.”

My breakthrough on the rental front is that I needed to better understand what, exactly, we’re looking for in a new home in order to find it. Those early failures were not failures at all, because now I have a clear picture of what our perfect “starter digs” in Portland look like.

So my question to you is, what’s one thing you set out to manifest in your life and business, but you gave up too soon? Where did you give up on something you truly wanted because it wasn’t quite working out as you expected?

(Of course, it’s perfectly fine to change your mind on decisions sometimes, especially as you get feedback. But there’s a difference between course correcting and hiding out. In your heart, you know the difference.)

My coach’s request to you is to revisit your goal and that early failure – what else could that failure be telling you, that allows you to move forward with confidence? And what’s the next step you need to take?

Bright blessings and massive success to you…

Spirit Rich Entrepreneur Spotlight: Brenda Rivas

Brenda Rivas, AOEConnect.com:

Before the Marketing & Manifestation Mastermind (MMM), I had designed a brand new business that I knew was going to be great!  But I wasn’t sure how to market it, and I wasn’t clear on who, specifically, my work was intended for.  I knew that if I wanted to move through these issues quickly and meet my goals, I would have to hire a mentor.  Elizabeth and the MMM program came along at just the right time.

Since the MMM began, so much has happened that it’s hard to narrow it down!  I got crystal clear on who I serve and what I help my clients with, created my signature system, and created a generous monthly income of recurring revenue. I designed a virtual intensive, an in-person VIP program and 2 other products that I am in the process of creating.  New clients are starting to find me – in fact, just yesterday I enrolled my first virtual intensive client from Facebook!

Most significantly, I have zapped limiting beliefs I’ve been carrying around, especially about money.  The relationships between the other women in the group have helped me really step it up because I know I have a safe and supportive network behind me.

My business is now on track for expansion and swift growth. I am clear and that clarity allows me to articulate my gifts to my audience.  I have a plan that I am comfortable with and skills that I have implemented quickly.  In the next three months, my goal is to continue to develop my brand awareness and reach my next milestone of $10K per month of recurring income.

The skills and the mindsets that I am learning from Elizabeth are setting me up to reach my goal of owning a six figure business!

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