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10 Things You Can Do To Grow Your Business Before Christmas!
| Guest post by: Pat Mussieux |
Article Overview: This is an interesting time of year – a time of Thanksgiving and celebration and early preparations for Christmas, too. For many entrepreneurs, this can be a time of frustration and panic if, in fact, you have not reached your goals for the year. What to do?
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Free Download - Fear – A Barrier To Service! By Pat Mussieux |
10 Things You Can Do To Grow Your Business Before Christmas!
This is an interesting time of year – a time of Thanksgiving
and celebration and early preparations for Christmas, too. For many
entrepreneurs, this can be a time of frustration and panic if, in fact, you
have not reached your goals for the year. What to do?
In my conversations with many solopreneurs, in particular, I
have learned that time management skills are an area for improvement.
Time management and self-discipline are essential when
growing and developing your business. Lack of focus can be the culprit too
if/when you have not reached your goals.
“If we did all the things we are capable of doing we would
truly astound ourselves.” – Thomas Edison
My intention, with this article, is to provide you with hope
and information that you can apply today – to get your business where you want
it to be!’ All you need is the sincere desire to make things happen (you’ve got
to be hungry!), belief in yourself and in your products/services, and a
commitment to take action.
1. Get to every
networking event you can. There are plenty of opportunities out there, local
and virtual, with which you can get involved. You are not typically going to
grow your business by staying behind your computer, day in and day out. Get out
there – take lots of business cards – practice your (results-based)
introduction……..and let people know who you are and the solution you provide.
2. Hire a VA
(virtual assistant). If you are acting like a ‘lone ranger’ and doing
everything in your business all by yourself, that’s one of your biggest
mistakes! Hire a VA right now, delegate everything that is not your talent –
thus, freeing up the time for you to do Step #1 – Get out there!
3. Call your “A”
clients and ask for referrals. I trust that you have at least one happy and
satisfied client. Call them – be bold – and ask for a referral. Do not let your
shyness, your mindset or any other thing get in the way of doing this. I’ve
heard some of my clients say ‘well, I don’t want to bother them” – excuse me!
The way I described this to an individual the other day was simply this – ‘do
you actually believe in your product and/or service? Yes? Who do you think
should NOT have access to your product/service? Consider it like you are in a
boat and you are rowing by someone who is in the water and struggling to keep
afloat……..would you just row on by and let them sink? NO, of course not. You
would provide a service and help them. Well, no different in your business!
Happy and satisfied customers will know other people who need your help.
If/when you truly b elieve in what you are doing/providing, then you have a
moral obligation to do anything and everything you can to get that out there to
the world. So, do it.
4. Take a look at
all the business cards you have gathered over the past few months. Have you
connected with those people again? Pull out 5 cards, call those people and make
a ‘date’ to meet with them this week. I call that a ‘get acquainted’ meeting –
keep it to 30 minutes – go with a clear intention of getting to know them and
helping them to know you and what you do. (You had best be very clear on
describing what you do and the transformation you help to create.)
5. Begin each day
with a revenue-generating activity. That means back away from e-mail! I
guarantee you that when you begin each working day with a revenue-generating
activity, you can double your business in a month. Focus, focus, focus.
6. Sign up as an
affiliate to someone’s program/products that you know, trust and believe in. I
know that many of you have not created any products yet. That’s ok. You
certainly must be aware of other good products on the market, and on line. Sign
up as an affiliate, start actively promoting that product and get paid as an
affiliate.
7. Ensure that your
voicemail message is ‘client attractive’ – keep it clear and succinct with a
message about what you do and invite them to your website. This is an
incredible way to build your list, raise awareness about your work and invite
people to get engaged with you. This is so simple that I want you to stop
reading, right here, and go do this now.
8. Raise your
rates. In the words of my good friend, Suzanne Evans, “Your rate is your
message to the world about the confidence you have in what you do.” Many of you
are severely undercharging for what you do – and/or you are not charging
anything at all. You are giving away your services. Stop that. Do not
under-value what you do and/or what you offer – if you do, so will your
potential customers. Raise your rates today – and get on the phone and round up
some new customers.
9. Get booked as a
guest on radio, or blog talk radio. This is another way, and a very effective
way, of getting out there. Blog talk radio hosts are always looking for good
guests. Here are a few tips though: research, on the internet, what shows are
being aired; listen to a few to ensure you have synergy and rapport with the
host; prepare a brief overview of what you have to offer as a guest (be aligned
with the theme/intent of the show) and then start making contact. Fill your
calendar!
10. Get into a
master mind group! There is no better place for an entrepreneur (solopreneur,
homepreneur, speaker, coach, healer, author, consultant, virtual assistants,
etc.). You can not do it alone. I know that, again, at this time of year, many
of you are feeling isolated and overwhelmed. There is no reason to be going
through those emotions. Find a master mind group and get involved. It is
critical to the success of your business. (Read “Think and Grow Rich” by
Napolean Hill to learn more.)
There are so many
things you can be doing, right now, to grow your business. What I have learned
from my coaching clients is that you simply do not know what you do not know.
As well, it is a ‘new day’ out there – we must do business different in order to
succeed and live our legacy.
CONCLUSION
It is easy to grow your business at any time of the year. If
you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting – to
expect otherwise is the definition of insanity. It takes excellent time
management skills, self-discipline, focus, good information and surrounding
yourself with the right people. I also advocate having fun! It is easy to turn
the feelings of panic and frustration into joy and satisfaction.
Make a commitment today to implement the steps listed above
and watch the difference a day can make.
What is the first step you will take today to grow your
business?
YOUR ASSIGNMENT
1. Choose 7 of the
steps listed above and start ‘working those steps’ each day this week.
2. Be aware of your
mindset and your self-talk as you take action on these steps – keep it positive
and uplifting.
3. Keep track of
your successes and celebrate YOU at the end of the week. You can do this!
4. Get into a
Master Mind group!
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Use Christmas to promote your business
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Are You Suffering From Post Christmas Bulge?
Make this Christmas your best ever
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Did you really get what you wanted for Christmas?
Closing Too Early- The Risk of Overdoing it
Cool Sales Idea You Can Learn From a Christmas Orange
Christmas Carols can help you manage holiday stress!
Your thought leadership is like a Christmas tree
The Christmas Close - Insurance Sales Training
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About the Author: Pat Mussieux RSS for Pat's articles - Visit Pat's website Pat has been featured as an expert in both print media and on TV. She was nominated as one of the 2010 and 2011 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneurs of the Year; as well, Pat has been nominated for the Chatelaine magazine "Woman of the Year for 2011". Pat is Founder of Wealthy Women Leaders, and provides business and success advice and resources to clients around the world. Pat is the author of "The 7-Step Guide To Growing Your Business by Getting Out of Your Own Way ", teaching women entrepreneurs how to get their message out, close the sale, enjoy massive results, and create some simple systems and processes for success! Through her coaching programs and products, Pat teaches her clients how to experience freedom inside and out and create the life they truly want to live, now! It's a 'no-excuses' approach! You can reach her at http://www.wealthywomenleaders.com Click here to visit Pat's website   One Thing You Must Do to Survive Theres no standing still in business YOU MUST KEEP LEARNING WEIGHT LOSS AND BUSINESS THE SUCCESS CONNECTION NETWORKING IS A SKILL |
Related Forum Posts
Re: Promote the Forum using Modeling the Masters
- Hi GT
IM Faceplate is still on my to do list. Things have been pretty hectic for me over the past month or two, but will be taking a bit of time off from my offline work over the Christmas period which means more time for my internet activities and plan on joining IMF then. Will also promote the Masters series with more effort once I have this extra time.
MichelleJ
Being generous has its rewards!
- My friend wants to go around the streets on Christmas night giving homeless people $20 bills. Maybe I'll tell him to start a fundraiser, find a few sponsors and hold an event instead? It could be for everyone who don't have a families to be with during Christmas? They can all get together on Christmas day and have some fun and get to know each other. (sort of like a little family?) It probably sounds better in theory though, lol.
Re: Moderators on vacation
- Off on my Christmas holidays with my family later today! Actually, we are flying to England and have been watching BBC World News reports about Heathrow struggling to cope with the snow... Hope the trains manage to run on Christmas Eve...
I probably won't appear on the forum very often until around 5th January, DV...
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everybody!
David H
My entry
- 1. The Best Business Books Ever: The 100 Most Influential Business Books You'll Never Have Time to Read
- this is a fascinating book about the history of Business theory, and I'd recommend it to anybody.
2. The Big Book of Small Business: You Don't Have to Run Your Business by the Seat of Your Pants, by Tom Gegax. Ditto.
3. PADI: The Business of Diving Book
Okay, so this book won't be of use to anyone who doesn't want to start a scuba store, but I did, and this book was of course invaluable to me in reaching that goal.
Re: What are reasons to stay in touch with your customers?
- To remind them of a holiday for which they may want to buy a gift from your business and give to the person (such as Mother's day or Christmas).
Although I've never done it, I've heard that off holidays (such as Memorial Day) for which we don't think of getting a card on, are the best ones to send them on so they don't get lost in all the other Christmas or Easter cards people are sending at the typical times.
I don't know if that's what you're looking for or not. That's all I can think of right now.
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