10 New Year’s Success Habits For The Divine Entrepreneur
So the tree is taken down, the Yule log burned out, the eggnog all gone and the lights put away. The new year is here! It’s a time of reflection, looking forward, and making positive changes. Perhaps you’ve made a few New Year’s Resolutions for your life and business.
Personally, I’ve never had much luck with New Year’s Resolutions because the vibe feels punishing, not promising – like I’m going to have to work hard or struggle to create the positive change that I want.
That’s when I hit upon the idea of creating New Year’s habits. Habits are small, simple shifts that support you. They’re manageable, so you’re much more likely to succeed, especially if you take them one at a time. Best of all, habits create an environment that pull you forward and add up to BIG results over the long haul.
Below are 10 tried, true and simple Divine Feminine success habits for the new year. Turn even 2 or 3 of them into new habits and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you make positive shifts in your life and business – without effort, strain or struggle.
1. Honor your Divine Feminine Gift of Creativity daily. Your creativity, not your list, is your true source of income because it’s your creativity behind your programs, services, partnerships, relationships, marketing and all the other yumminess in your business.
That’s why you MUST protect your creativity (and creative time) like the valued asset it is. Remember, you simply can’t manifest when your energy is depleted!
2. Receive support daily. Consistent daily support is a necessity, not a luxury, for the Divine Feminine Entrepreneur. You simply cannot go it alone and expect to succeed. Coaches, mentors, assistants, web designers, and your emotional support system are all critical members of your team.
Receiving power tip: When you feel yourself pushing or struggling, that’s your cue to stop and check in: “Would a million dollar business owner be doing this task?” If not, delegate!
3. Pay yourself twice per month. Yes, you can do it! The secret is to focus on the action, not the amount, and take a no-excuses policy. Paying yourself first is a key practice in activating the Divine Feminine Gift of Receiving, which will allow you to receive even more.
4. Follow up with potential clients. Contrary to popular belief (and what your squishy mind is probably telling you), follow-up is a gift. When you get out of your ego (“they’re not really interested,” “I don’t want to pester,” etc) and check in from a place of caring and consideration, your clients will feel seen, acknowledged, and deeply appreciated. Check in at just the right time, and they’ll hire you.
5. Reconnect with current and past clients. Most spirit-driven entrepreneurs neglect past clients – a big mistake. A high percentage of satisfied clients will want more support from you, once the first program or contract is finished.
Make a habit of personally connecting and checking in with your peeps from time to time. They’ll feel the love, and you’ll both get the benefit of working together more often.
6. Track your income daily. This deceptively simple practice is one of THE most powerful, potent steps you can take to automatically start making more. (One of my clients reported 3 five figure months in a row shortly after starting this practice.)
Important tip: your motto when tracking is “it all counts.” Spouse’s income, gift money from Grandma, pennies on the street – it all counts. (Got a question about this? The answer is, “it all counts.”)
7. Commit to “just one thing” daily. To keep your marketing truly simple, stick to basic tried and true principles and adopt the magical practice that I like to call “just one thing”: every day, do just one thing to build your business, no matter how small.
“Just one thing” uses the Japanese principle of kaizen: big results come in continuous small increments over time. Commit to just one thing daily and you’ll never have to worry about where your clients are coming from ever again.
8. Let go of just one thing daily. Obligations, mundane tasks, and administrivia all chew up your precious Divine Feminine energy. So do damaging emotional habits like comparison, fear and doubt, and being too hard on yourself. Create the space for your Divine Feminine Gifts to flourish by asking yourself this question daily: “What can I let go of?” (Here, too, it all counts!)
9. Invest in your learning, growth and expansion. When you invest time, energy, attention and money in your own growth, you are essentially paying yourself… and the results can never be taken away. Find a coaching group or mastermind, schedule time to read or listen to the content, and implement.
10. Gratitude. You know it feels good. You know it works! Now all that’s left is to make it a habit. If you haven’t been giving thanks DAILY for all the money, business and success you DO have, now is the perfect time to start. Complete this sentence 5 times: “Today, I feel rich because…”
Best wishes for a rich and successful New Year!
10 Ways To Practice Gratitude, Every Day
Back when I was struggling in my business (and well before I figured out the practical steps to generate more clients and income), I was blessed by the Goddess with a powerful awareness:
In order to change your life, gratitude must come FIRST.
It was giving that gratitude FIRST that opened the space for the way to solve the problem of creating a thriving business to finally show up. Without gratitude, I never would have seen my way clear to a solution. And I never would have healed.
As a spirit-driven entrepreneur, you’re undoubtedly already familiar with the transformative power of gratitude. One thing is certain: gratitude is NOT for a single day in the year. Gratitude is a practice.
Which means it’s not always easy. You won’t always be perfect! (Who wants perfection, anyway?) But…
When you make the commitment to LIVE in gratitude, it will create a space for you to experience the ultimate blessing: to change your life while transforming the lives of others.
That is what I wish for you, and that’s why I’ve created what might be my most life-changing checklist ever:
10 ways to practice gratitude, every day.
- First thing in the morning.
My very first step with gratitude was to choose gratitude first thing in the morning – to condition myself to be in gratitude the very second I opened my eyes. To this day, “moment of awakening” gratitude is still my favorite practice. May it transform your life as it has mine. - Last thing at night.
If your last thought at night is the thing your mind is going to work on all night long, it only makes sense to choose gratitude as your last thought, as often as you can. - Keep a journal.
There are so many ways to keep a gratitude journal! One way is to make a list of at least 10 things you’re grateful for, every day. My favorite sentence starter: “I feel rich because _____________” . - Bless the jerks.
One of the most powerful business and life lessons I have ever received is this, from my mentor Maria Gamb: people are in pain, and you have a choice as to how you react.
The next time someone cuts in front of you, cuts you off on the highway, says something nasty or whatever it is, I invite you to take part in the ultimate gratitude practice: remember that this person is a human being, and as a human being, they are in pain. Bless them. - Smile at strangers
What’s free to give, fun to give, and a joy to receive? A smile. Yes, I know that may sound corny. Try it.
What’s also fun about smiling at strangers is that it’s a little subversive. Forget about what the other person will think, and give freely. - Thank your clients.
Your clients have given you a great gift: they chose YOU to change their lives with. Thank them! Your gratitude will come back to you (in the form of referrals, repeat business and word-of-mouth marketing) as it expands and enriches them. - Thank your team.
Without your team, you can’t grow. Thank them! You gratitude will come back to you in the form of amazing contribution on the part of your current team, and perfect team members showing up in your life.’ - Thank your mentors and mastermind.
When I think about where I’d be without my mentors and mastermind partners over the years…
On second thought, let’s not go there.
What you create with the help of brilliant mentors and mastermind partners simply cannot be created on its own. Thank these people for enriching your life. - Call home.
Have you told your family you love them lately? Whether it’s your family by birth or your “heart family,” there is nothing that can shift experience and put you in a state of grace like thanking and honoring those you love. (For those closest to you, one of my favorite ways is to tell them at the end of every day, “You did great work today.”) - Give back.
The power to give is one of the greatest joys of being in business for yourself. Freely give of your time, energy, attention and money, in a way that is in integrity with yourself and supports you… so you can continue to give and receive.
A Simple Way to Boost Your Holiday Cash Flow: The VIP Day
Have you heard about this format for your streamlining your service that’s simple, fun and oh-so-gratifying to deliver? I’m talking about the VIP Day, or VIP Intensive.
In a VIP day, you come together with your client in a very focused fashion to support them with a particular challenge or problem. Instead of spreading out your coaching or consulting time over a matter of weeks or months, you “go deep” over a period of a single day.
The VIP day is a tremendous opportunity to serve your clients at a higher level. They are also a great way to deliver a great deal of VALUE without a lot of your time. That means you can charge a healthy fee while staying firmly in your integrity.
Clients love VIP days. Because you’re focusing on a single problem in a single day, you can go really deep with your clients. And if you design your VIP day in the right way, your clients can get results very quickly, leaving them thrilled with you and likely to return for more of your help.
Best of all, VIP days are simple to enroll, making them the perfect offer during the holiday season when you want to take a little more time off. (Bonus tip: design a VIP day that’s tied in with the end-of-the-year planning or beginning-of-the-year goals.)
Here are 4 tips for designing your VIP days:
- Select one topic, outcome and/or result. Remember, simplicity and focused attention will create a better experience for your clients and support them in getting the result that they want. You’re also not “giving away the farm” by overloading your packages with extras you should be charging for.
- Select a topic that your clients can take action NOW. Call it stalling, procrastination, “sitting on the fence,” resistance – one of the biggest problems clients face is inaction. As a coach, practitioner or healer, one of the things clients are investing in when they work with you is being held accountable to taking action. Help them experience what it’s like to finally get moving and get some results – they will love you for it (and come back for more).
- Don’t undercharge your VIP offering. Because you’re handling the problem in “only” one day, you may be tempted to discount your VIP package. Resist that urge!A deeper, richer experience (with more of your focused, personalized attention, and quicker results) is actually more valuable to your clients, not less. When you design your package correctly, your investment should be several times more than the monthly fee you’re probably charging your clients now (hence the title of this article).
- Give your clients everything they need to repeat their results. Your VIP day offering will likely include some form of teaching and instruction as well as coaching and mentoring. Make sure to give your clients this system in a way that they can refer back to – and repeat! – again and again. You can do this by including materials such as an ebook, audios, worksheets, etc.
Want my proven template to design and lead your VIP days? It’s my gift to you when you claim your “virtual seat” in my complimentary video training series. Grab it now and get your first VIP day client BEFORE the year is out: http://www.6figuregoddessvideos.com
Are You Creating “Marketing That Matters” To High-Paying Clients?
I hear it over and over again: “Elizabeth, I’m Tweeting, I’m Facebook-ing, I’m updating my blog, I put myself out there… and I’m still not getting any clients.”
It’s frustrating. I get it. Can I let you in on a little secret?
The question is NOT “Are you marketing?”
The question is, are you creating marketing that matters? Specifically, marketing that matters to high-paying clients?
Truth is, if you’re getting out there like crazy and yet NOT getting the clients you want, chances are you’re sinking a lot of time and energy into stuff that, when the rubber meets the road, simply doesn’t have as much of an impact on your clients’ buying decisions as you might think.
Remember, your clients seek your help to solve the hard challenges they face in their lives. While having a presence and “getting out there” is important, the secret question your clients want answered – the one they don’t even realize they’re thinking about – is this: “Can this person really help me get what I want?”
Does YOUR marketing answer that critical question? To see where you stand, here’s a quick checklist of the 5 marketing essentials that matter most to high-paying clients who are ready to take action.
1. Copy that’s rich with problems, results & benefits.
To attract the right clients, you must learn to think like a client – which means getting into their world of challenges and struggles. For the compassionate entrepreneur, this is a place of highest service. What’s going on for them, in their own words? What can unfold for them when they work with you – in language that THEY understand? (I.e., NOT your process!)
2. Your Signature System.
Remember, your clients want to know that you can help them. They want to know that you have it all figured out! Packaging your deep process into a clear step-by-step system instantly conveys that YOU have the magic to take them from where they are to where they want to be in the simplest and most elegant way possible. Your system also gives you enormous credibility, whether you’re just starting out or have been in business for years.
3. Your expertise.
High-paying clients want you to BE the expert, not a buddy or peer. As an entrepreneur, you ARE that expert. But are you claiming it? Your credibility is within your control, so you can always be taking actions to build it, such as being interviewed (sooo many sites are looking for content), getting published (ditto), or creating an information product or teleseminar.
4. Testimonials and case studies.
Neglecting case studies and testimonials is a classic symptom of heart-centered hiding out. So if that’s you, I’m calling YOU out. (You know I do it with love!)
Nothing proves that you can help people better or more persuasively than benefit-rich case studies and testimonials. We all hear the blah-blah-blah about listbuilding all day long, but truth is, if you have a big list but NO results-based testimonials, you will still have a very tough time attracting clients who will pay high fees. Start – or update – your testimonials collection today.
5. Regular, consistent follow-up with free content that demonstrates your expertise.
You know what’s coming. If you want to get clients and fill your programs, you need to be publishing a newsletter or some kind of consistent follow-up – like a blog that people actually read. (Big hint: there’s a reason why top bloggers use email to keep their peeps informed of posts.)
Why is regular follow-up SO important? Your clients are asking themselves things like “can this person be counted on?” and “are they a legit business?” Staying in touch will go a long way to easing these subconscious questions. Plus, there’s that all-important relationship. Not everyone is going to buy from you right away!
So if you’re not publishing a newsletter now – start NOW. The payoff is priceless: freedom and doing what you LOVE.
Remember, your business is NOT about you…
You are in business to help your clients. You can’t help them until they say YES! And they won’t say YES until they know you can help them.
My coach’s request to you? Stop wasting time on the “marketing churning” and take a strong stand with the 5 essentials above – your high-end clients are waiting!
If you’re ready to create “marketing that matters” so you can attract the right clients, but you’re not sure how, or the prospect just seems overwhelming, we’re going to break it down step by step in Goddess Business School. It’s my signature training for spirit-driven entrepreneurial women who want to create a sustainable 6-figure business in just 12 months or less. Registration opens soon for a January 2012 start! For priority notification of when we open (so you can get in on early savings), email my team at teamgoddess@marketinggoddess.com with “GBS priority list” in the subject line.
7 Essential Business Systems To Make 6-Figures Without Burning Out
Running your own business involves a zillion details and moving parts. If you’re relying on yourself to remember all of these, you WILL get burned out. Things WILL fall through the cracks. Make no mistake: you need systems.
A system is simply a series of steps for a particular task or project. The cool part? You shouldn’t be the one executing the system. Once you have systems documented, you can hand them off to key team members – this is how you begin to create a business that runs without you.
The first step to getting your systems house in order is creating an operations manual. This can be a simple Word document (shared online in a program like Google Docs) or I like to use Basecamp (from 37signals.com). Your manual is a collection of systems, or lists that detail the key steps involved in running and growing your business.
If you’ve never systematized anything in your business before, take heart – if you take the same steps to achieve particular tasks in your business more than once, you already have the makings of a system for that task. The key is to hone, refine and ultimately delegate the RIGHT systems that are going to grow your business.
Which systems should you implement FIRST? Below are my top 7 systems that I used to create over $500k in revenue in just two years:
1. A system to attract new clients.
Your business growth depends on your ability to attract new, highly qualified, highly awesome ideal peeps into your world, month in and month out. (The easiest way to get started? A signature system, a signature talk, and local speaking gigs. Simple, streamlined and proven.)
2. A system to turn interested clients into invested clients.
Pop quiz: what happens when a potential new client contacts you or your team out of the blue? When you invest time, energy and attention to attract new clients, it only makes sense to have a system that kicks in to turn these interested potential clients into invested new clients.
3. A system to follow up with potential clients (after events, networking, or in-person meetings).
Nothing closes the “know-like-trust” gap faster than face-to-face connection, which means that every event you attend can mean thousands of dollars in business for you – if you follow up. Next time you find a stack of business cards in your purse, ask yourself, “How can I systematize follow-up within 48 hours of the event?” (Hint: get your assistant involved! )
4. A system for “keep in touch” follow-up (such as a newsletter).
There is no way that you can expect to fill your programs easily if you’re not doing SOME kind of follow-up. Period. (I don’t make the rules, Goddess, I just profit from them. )
Whether it’s a newsletter, a video newsletter, an evergreen autoresponder, or a blog (used in conjunction with email), you’ve got to do something and do it consistently. Which means… you need a system.
5. A system to welcome new clients.
When a new client signs up, there’s excitement… and terror. She’s thinking a zillion things, not the least of which is, “Did I really make the right move, giving $5000 to this person?” And, “I just gave $5000 to this person… what happens now?” Systematize the love to reassure them, get them in motion (to create results faster) and minimize the chances of them backing out of their commitment to themselves.
6. A system to serve clients in your programs.
Every program you offer needs to have a system behind it for scheduling the calls, delivering the calls, recording calls, distributing the calls, communicating with your peeps and whatever else you do to deliver the goods. Your clients DO notice these details, which, when done well, leads to better results and repeat business.
7. A system to manage your cash.
Your cash flow system should include “buckets” for incoming money (X for taxes, Y for expenses, Z for your salary, and so on). And always pay yourself, even if it’s just one dollar – the action matters more than the amount when you’re just getting started.
3 More Systems To Automate Your Business Growth:
8. A system to fill your programs.
Whether you’re just getting started or an empire builder in the making, your revenue comes from filling your programs – i.e., launching. Without launching, your income will dwindle. Without systems, launches can quickly take over your life.
9. A system to generate referrals.
The best clients come from your awesome current clients. Awesome current clients love to refer, so make it easy on them. (Which makes your business growth easy on you – win!)
10. A system to host teleseminars with partners.
This one’s a little more advanced, but it can’t be beat for building your list, creating great relationships, and signing on clients. Once you have a signature talk, you can turn it into a teleseminar that you host for your partners’ communities. Follow-up and sales are easy to automate with a shopping cart or email management software like Aweber.
Are you working too hard in your spiritual business? Do you know you’re missing out on clients, losing opportunities to serve and bleeding income because you don’t have your systems in place? Get ready to get excited because my signature 6-figure training for spirit-driven entrepreneurs, Goddess Business School, returns in January 2012! I’ve got lots of high-value no-cost goodies planned for you as we get closer to registration this fall. Want to be put on the priority notification list for when we open? Email Client Care Goddess Gretchen at teamgoddess@marketinggoddess.com with “Goddess Business School priority list” in the subject line.
Elizabeth Purvis, a.k.a. “The Marketing Goddess” mentors extraordinary spiritual women entrepreneurs to 6-figures and beyond.
