I've observed that one of the main things that keeps people from marketing themselves is fixating about "getting it right." But this is where the famous popular sneaker phrase pops up, because it seriously is about jumping in and doing "it" and by that I mean ANYTHING. Just get moving. It's better to do it wrong than not do it at all. At least the marketing energy is moving.
Any shortcoming or small blunder will hardly ever wreck a business. But getting so stuck in preparation that you never get started, will stop you right in your tracks every time.
Worrying about making a mistake reminds me of my freshman year in high school. Somehow, in Junior High I was confident enough to perform a solo version of King Lear (for extra credit in 8th grade), but when I crossed over the football field into the High School, everything changed. I suddenly second guessed my every move. It was agonizing and a BIG expenditure of energy. I shudder just thinking about it. I can tell you one thing, I felt much more powerful in 8th grade. So, let's ask ourselves, which is a better way to do business:scared and second guessing, or powerful and performing?
In my EnergyRICH' Business Bootcamp, we underline three major causes and effects you need to focus on in order to market miraculously. Ignore these and we?re floundering. And I hate to say it, but we do ignore them. Not on purpose, but because we?ve got our attention on our fear of making a mistake.
Let's look at the three major "mistake blocks" we can bump up against and how to turn them into minor miracles:
1 Talking ourselves out of it
We can spend so much time, attention, and energy talking ourselves out of something before even starting it. We need to develop a marketing way of thinking that focuses on making a difference in the lives of the people we serve, instead of tormenting ourselves about rejection.
I was considering a joint-venture project with someone once who, as we prepared our proposal, came up with over 10 reasons why it wasn't a good idea. I'm sure you already realize I did not continue collaborating with this person. Why sink the ship before it has even sailed!?
Minor Miracle: Declare, "My services are valuable. I will speak this, feel this, believe this when connecting with my prospects, and they will then see the value as well". If you don't, who will? If you don't, why would anyone give you money for what you have to offer?
2 Getting ourselves tongue-tied
The bottom line of business building as a solo-entrepreneur is conversation. It's connecting with people in a way that has them relating to what you have to offer.
However, obsessing about the perfect wording is death to productivity. Many of us don't even realize that there's a certain way of communicating that gets the attention and interest from prospects, and it isn't about choosing the biggest, best words in the dictionary.
Minor Miracle: Talk about who you are best at serving, the problems they have, and the benefits they will get from working with you. Believe it and the words will take care of themselves. People will be drawn to you and be happy to work with you (and don't forget to charge them when they show up). :)
PS: The same rule applies for verbal and written.
3 Becoming paralyzed
There are thousands of different marketing approaches you could use to get the word out from networking to skywriting. How do you know what's most effective for your business? Where do you start?
Well, the answer is there is never just one-way, don't do something you hate and don't use something just because everyone else in your field is. We tend to shoot ourselves in the foot by using only one mode of marketing, forcing ourselves to do something because it's the "right thing to do when building a business" and just following what everyone else is doing (which isn't necessarily working that well for anyone).
Minor Miracle: Start with what you really love and then build up from there. (I always say we have to have a marketing ladder that reaches into the sky.) I personally like speaking and writing, so I do both to connect with those people who will benefit from what I have to offer. I always make sure I offer the highest value and then I keep building from there. What do you love to do? Start there.
EnergyRICH Call-To-Action:
1 Identify something you've wanted to do or implement in your business, but you've been a bit afraid.
2 Answer this: why aren't you doing it?
3 Give yourself a small step to take in the direction of "getting started" and DOING IT.
4 Mark on your calendar when you'd like it done by.
5 Find someone you can make a commitment to that you will do this.
6 Go for it! "Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere". Glenn Turner
Heather Dominick, Solo-entrepreneur expert, has over 10 years of teaching and coaching experience. Heather's primary focus is in helping others identify sources for increasing
business profit and making successful business changes. http://www.energyrichcoach.com
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