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Yes, there is a real face behind the e-mail!
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It's Time
To Get Off The Hamster Wheel!
Just being in motion will never get you to your Big. To do that, you need to be sure you're doing the right things, in the right order, for the right reasons.
This seven-step system clarifies the activities that are mission-critical to your success. It then walks you through a process for creating step-by-step action plans to implement those key activities.
The result? You get off the hamster wheel of motion-without-progress and get on a more direct route to more clients and more money.
Forget about being busy; start getting focused by downloading your no-charge PDF version of the Take Action Now System (tm) today. |
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Want More
Than Just a
Little Nibble?
If you're interested in exploring more ideas on how to step into your particular Big, just sign up for our RSS feed. There are enough blog posts and comments to be of value, but not so many that your head will explode. I promise.
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Greetings!
My husband and I will sometimes joke with each other that "it's all about me." We enjoy our little fantasies about what it would be like to have everything revolve around us. Fortunately, we know better than to try to bring these fantasies to life.
Unfortunately, too many entrepreneurs put their wishes and desires ahead of their clients', acting as if they really are at the center of the universe - and that's a recipe for ultimate failure.
Successful entrepreneurs know that the only reason they're in business is that they're effectively serving the needs of their target market. Keeping the client at the heart of all your tactics and strategies - or, to use an already overworked phrase, being "customer-centric" - is the difference between flying high and crashing.
If you're sometimes challenged to keep your clients front and center, use the following tools to bring yourself back on track.
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Tip of the Week
Do unto others as they would have you do unto them.
This is called the Platinum Rule, and it's the graduate-level version of the more familiar Golden Rule ("Do unto others as you would have them do unto you").
To a large extent, it really doesn't matter what our preferences are. What's crucial to success is giving clients what they want, in the way they want it.
The next time you assume that your clients are bound to love a particular product or service because you do, stop and think about what will really delight them. The answer may surprise you.
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A Really Good Resource
 We may not typically think of love as an important ingredient in business success, but perhaps we ought to start. I'm talking specifically about how to create raving fans by showing your appreciation for their business by speaking their love language. Gary Chapman explores this concept in an intriguing book called The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts . While his primary focus is on personal relationships, the concepts can be readily applied to a wide variety of business situations, as well. The basic idea is to communicate appreciation in a way that the recipient - in this case, your client - can readily accept. In other words, you want to speak in such a way that they can easily hear your message. For example, if a key client's love language is Quality Time, don't waste your time thanking them for their business with a gift. Instead, arrange to treat them to one of their favorite activities, be it golf or a concert. When you show appreciation in a way that your client truly values, you shine. Can you say "rock star"?
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How's This for Success?
Maybe you're sold on the idea of standing out from the competition by appreciating your clients using their love language, but are kind of intimidated by figuring out how to translate that into acts of appreciation that will cement your relationship with them. If that's the case, help is just a click away.
Deb Brown is the founder of Touch Your Client's Heart, and she makes it easy to show your appreciation for your clients so powerfully that they almost can't help but fall in love with you.
Deb realized that one of the most gratifying parts of her job as a personal assistant was coming up with just the right way to make her clients feel special. She realized she had a knack for choosing the right expression of gratitude and appreciation for the right client. She built upon that knack and now offers busy entrepreneurs a simple and stress-free way to systematize their client-appreciation efforts.
This is a great example of a win/win/win: Her entrepreneurial clients are relieved to let Deb take the "let's show our clients how much we love them" tasks off their plates; her clients' customers are delighted with their customized expressions of appreciation; and Deb gets to play in her own personal sweet spot of skills and activities. Does it get much better than that?
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Thanks to my friend Flickr.
Here are this week's heroes who graciously allowed me to use their images, posted in the Creative Commons area of Flickr, in this issue of Stepping Into Big:
hamster on her wheel by Heindraus light bulb by aloshbennett
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While it's vital to take care of and appreciate your clients, it's equally essential to take care of yourself, so that you can continue to be of service.
If you're like most entrepreneurs, you've got more ideas than you can readily implement, and you may find yourself stalled because you can't figure out what to tackle next and how to do it. Who needs that kind of stress and frustration?
Maybe I can help. My specialty is moving people just like you from ideas to action. And my flexibly structured approach will make you feel confident and supported whether you "feel the love" through Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Quality Time, or Acts Of Service. (And if your love language is Physical Touch, I can figure out a way to give you a pat on the back with you, even if it's mostly virtual.)
If that sounds like something that could keep your head from exploding, call or e-mail me to set up a let's-see-what-we-see, get-acquainted call.
Wishing you joy on your journey into Big...
Kathleen
Stepping Into Big
612-716-8239
Life is good.
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