Archive for April, 2009

Individually and globally, we are going through a clearing-out phase of the economic and energetic cycle.  This is one of the most challenging parts of the cycle of abundance and success, because there is nothing to “do” but to “be” with the experience. 

So how are we to respond when we are weary of putting so much energy out through marketing and client outreach, when the money is ebbing (diminishing), and when the flow of customers through our “tried and true” channels drops?  In some cases, this can be a time of profound confusion, knowing we are ready to let go of what no longer excites or interests us…but we are not yet clear what we are moving toward to replace it.

Our most important action at such times is to spend more time alone, being thankful for all of the experiences that have brought us to this moment…and paying attention to the inklings of the new direction that is beginning to come forth. 

There are at least three benefits to the ebb cycle of manifesting:

1)    We become more objective – and gratitude naturally follows.  By taking the “big picture” view of our experiences – in both the recent and distant past – we can see connections and themes that we did not see when going through the experience.  It is like staring at one pearl on a necklace, and then zooming out to a view of the whole strand: we can see how beautiful and connected the whole is!  What lessons have come from your recent experiences, whether you have labeled them positive or negative?

2)    We can release what is no longer working for/serving us.  Nowhere in nature do we see a constant growth cycle without the dropping of leaves, shedding of an old skin, or breaking loose from a cocoon. The old proverb is of the monk pouring tea into a cup and continuing to pour when the cup is full – it cannot hold any more tea until it is emptied out!  This is a time of collective emptying out, of the old systems that no longer work in banking, real estate, and business as a whole – as well as in our individual lives.  What clothes, furniture, relationships, beliefs or attitudes to you need to shed and release now?

3)    We can recreate our business and life in alignment with the new, larger “us” that is emerging now.  It is like getting a “clean slate” in mid-life!  Once the old is gone, we can evaluate what we really want – and go for it!  This is the exciting time of rebirth, whether it be a new business, a new market, a new product, or even taking a sabbatical or picking up a new avocation that feeds our spirit.  What new experience or activity is beckoning to you now? 

In the Western culture, we are taught not to linger in the ebb…but to get through it as quickly as possible.  If we do, we miss its gifts.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, bored, or even angry about how your life and business is right now, consider that this is the gateway through which a brand new expression of you is wanting to emerge.  Cherish it, embrace it – and it will lead you into your new life. 

 And if you would like some support in doing this, we have just 5 spots left in our upcoming Purposeful Branding Retreat May 1-2 in Phoenix – see www.purposefulbrandingretreat.com for details!

If you are spending too much time attracting and keeping clients, and working exclusively one-on-one with them once you have them, then I have good news for you!

There is a magical power in the universe called “leverage.”  It is often used in the financial world to mean “the use of a small initial investment, credit, or borrowed funds to gain a very high return in relation to one’s investment.”  In business, it is the idea of creating something once, and then using that one thing in multiple media, with multiple clients, or morphing it into larger offerings – to the same or a different audience – so that you minimize your development time while maximizing your return.

Even your business goals can shift once you implement this strategy: you think in terms of how much value you can provide through ONE program or product, instead of how many individual clients you can see or how many new products you can create in x period of time.  It is a very freeing idea – and is the key to virtually every successful coach, trainer, author, speaker and information entrepreneur’s success.

The beauty is, by using leverage with your current clients, you can increase your revenues without necessarily having to market more or attract more clients.  Knowing the 3 ways to increase your income are raising prices, selling more of what you already sell, or introducing something new, leverage lets you do all 3 of these at once!

Here is an example:  Coach x specializes in anger management coaching.  When someone visits her web site, they can opt in to get a speci’al report on the 3 Keys to Managing Anger in Everyday Life.  Next steps in her system might be a membership in her Anger Management Forum, purchasing a teleclass or information product on anger management, attending a coaching group, or even becoming certified to coach others in anger management.  All of these services use the same core content – and prospects and customers simply move through the offerings seamlessly according to her product design sequence (what we call the Purposeful Products Planner).

Want to learn more about how to incorporate leverage into your business, build your in’come and stabilize your client base?  Attend our Purposeful Branding Retreat May 1-2 – details are at www.purposefulbrandingretreat.com.

Model #4: Mastermind/Group Coaching Model

Increasingly, people want to connect face to face with others that have similar concerns and interests to theirs. And the Mastermind group is the perfect way to do this. You invite people who attend an event or teleclass preview of the program, have a start date and end date, and request applications for the number of positions you have open in the group (typically 10 to 15 people). The coaching can include one or more two-day retreats with you and the group as well as monthly phone calls and, if you wish, individual coaching of 1, 2 or 3 sessions each. (Price point for this is significantly higher than the typical one-on-one coaching model above.)

Model #5: Training/Certification Model

This has been my primary coaching delivery model with Career Coach Institute and my other coaching companies. People register for a paid teleseries, a live event, e-learning, or other means of obtaining knowledge toward becoming certified in a specific area (e.g., Certified Career Coach or Certified Purposeful Entrepreneur Coach). Either as an add-on or as part of the program, depending on your price point, you offer coaching with you directly or with another coach you have personally trained.

Model #6: Product-Based Coaching Model

The final model is one where your first sale to a customer – and the way they primarily find out about you – is a book, an info product (workbook and audios or DVD and workbook), etc. You then offer up to three levels of coaching that help people implement the content of your product – so they already have some familiarity with your content and welcome the opportunity to have implementation support.

Want to learn which business model is best for your Brand Personality™? Join Marcia for her brand new Purposeful Branding, Marketing and Info Product Creation Mentoring Program 2009 – starting with our kick-off retreat May 1-2! For full details and to reserve your space, just visit www.purposefulbranding.com.

Did you know there are at least 6 very different business models through which coaching is offered? In every case, when someone asks you what you do, coaching is not really the answer…but rather you will tell them the problem you solve. But you can use any of the models summarized below to deliver your services.

What is most important is that everything you do fits within your business model, sends prospects through your business model, and helps them move from a lower level of investment and services into the next higher level of investment and services. Most people, by contrast, do a teleclass here, a blog post there, an article next, and there is no clear relationship between them – nor do they tap into the power of leverage so that you are providing increasing value to the same customers, rather than always seeking out new customers.

Model #1: One-on-One Coaching Model

This is the model that most coaches have been taught: marketing to fill your practice with individual clients with whom you talk/work once a week, 3 or 4 weeks per month. You determine the number of clients you will serve based on how much time you want to be working each month.

Model #2: Coaching Gym

Either used as a standalone or in combination with some of the other models below, this is a model similar to a health club, believe it or not! You set coaching hours each week – e.g., 2-5 pm Eastern each Thursday. And your clients pay a monthly fee in order to get the call-in information and access you during those hours. If they call, great; if they don’t, they don’t – but they still pay. Some people are beginning to return calls if not everyone gets through, just to be sure all of them get their promised access.

Model #3: Membership Model

In this model, you create an online community for your target audience, with a membership platform, and invite them to become a member (at one or more levels) for a monthly fee. They can access downloadable pdf’s and audio mp3’s, perhaps a monthly group call with you, and whatever other benefits you wish to offer. This becomes a group of clients to whom you can provide special pricing for your higher-end programs.

Come back tomorrow for part 2 of this series…models 4-6 from which you can choose! 

And if you want to learn more, join us for Purposeful Branding, Marketing and Info Product Creation, launching May 1 – full details at www.purposefulbranding.com

I was listening to a speaker the other day talk about the spiritual renaissance, and it struck me:  what this new era of entrepreneurship really is is an ENTREPRENEURIAL renaissance!  A reworking of how we do business, an upsurge in people entering self-employment – by choice and due to the mass layoffs – and HUGE opportunities to be had!

Setting aside traditional business strategies of building a business solely around profitability and market size and penetration, now we MUST build our venture around our purpose.  That is the only way we will resonate with the people we are here to serve and maximize our wealth (and theirs) too!

I invite you to check out my latest video about the 4 key principles YOU need to embrace as a participant in this Entrepreneurial Renaissance – it’s here: www.purposefulbranding.com

Enjoy!

Marcia

What would it be like for your business to PERFECTLY express your life purpose…and reve_nue keep flowing in at record levels as you do so?  If this sounds like a dream, it’s not! 

TONIGHT, April 1, at 8 pm Eastern, on a ONE-TIME teleseminar event entitled “Success Secrets of THRIVING Purposeful Entrepreneurs,” you will have the chance to hear from a friend of mine that broke the 7-figure mark last year…and is headed way beyond it this year. 

Whether your goal is to reach that level or something lower, you won’t want to miss the insights of Fabienne Fredrickson of Client Attraction.com on what it REALLY takes to build a purpose-based business and marketing system…and how YOU can reach or exceed your goals too!

You MUST change how you are marketing yourself to prosper in this economy…and to avoid burnout! 

Fabienne, myself and a few other hand picked guests (including your peers!) will share our tips for 90 minutes on this ONE-TIME teleseminar.

If you have not yet reserved your space, join the several hundred people (a new record for us!!) that have already signed up now!  Here is the link to register: www.purposefulentrepreneur.com/pbpreview.html

Know of others that might want to join us too?  Please invite them to register at www.purposefulentrepreneur.com/pbpreview.html (but reserve your own space first!)