I don't care who you are. We all want to know the "secret to success." And we imagine this bit of wisdom coming to us in the form of an elusive gem of an idea ... something we'd never thought of that will magically give us the power to do what we've never quite been able to do before.
Since there are many secrets to success, some of them do come to us in ah ha moments, but what about those that don't? The "secret" I want to share with you this month isn't a secret at all, but that doesn't mean it isn't great advice.
Show up.
What do I mean by that?
Be a yes. Get off the sidelines and in the game. Put yourself in front of the people who need what you have to offer. Place yourself in the company of those who have the ability to help you and collaborate with you and hire you. Not every once in a while. Not when you feel inspired, but every week, as a routine part of what you do, even when you don't see a clear path to tangible results.
How important in this? As Woody Allen said, "Eighty percent of success is showing up." I say amen to that. And yet, Denise and I see so many people come at their marketing efforts half-heartedly or with outright resistance.
They don't show up in a strong, intentional, and focused way. They hold back out of a general discomfort with having to put themselves out there and some "just don't want to bother people." They hope clients will seek them out instead. Sorry. It doesn't work that way, unless you're famous, and you don't get to be famous unless you get yourself known!
Just physically showing up at networking events or sending out brochures isn't enough. You have to show up in mind, body, and spirit in all sorts of venues, from lunch with a friend to a speech before an association to a phone call with a publisher to teaching teleclasses. You have to look for creative ways to make things work and you have to ask for what you want and need, so you can get the chance to serve the people that need you. Nothing pushy. Just pursue opportunities and make requests. Most people want to help you help other people. So, show up and ask!
The thing is that you seldom know exactly where showing up and asking will lead you.
For example, a business group wanted me to give a major keynote presentation, but they didn't have a budget to pay me. Rather than just say "no" or say "yes" and not get anything much out of it, I asked them if I could write an article for their newsletter, which would allow me to reach a larger audience than just the speech attendees.
At the speech, two members of the group who had read the article wanted to republish it in other newsletters. Someone who read one of those reprintings contacted me for another speaking engagement and on and on it goes. When I do a back of the napkin calculation on how much business these contacts have generated, it bowls me over.
Sometimes you wonder why you're showing up and doing things that may not pay off directly, but over time, the results flow in and sometimes in the most unexpected ways. This month, I found out I've been nominated for the National Association of Women Business Owners, San Diego Chapter BRAVO! Signature Award. It's given to "the San Diego woman business owner who has been consistent and persistent in business practices for at least 10 years and who's made a commitment to foster the economic growth of women-owned businesses."
Talk about gratifying. So what made me even worthy of consideration? My blazing insights and special secret knowledge? Not really. More like consistently and persistently showing up and asking for the last 25 years. Because when you show up and ask, people give you the chance to serve them. And there is, without a doubt, no greater privilege in life than being able to offer your "secrets" to others ... to serve them and help make their lives and businesses all they can be.
Regards,
Barbara
