Are you making choices that reflect the independent You?

We are “reminded” on a daily basis about who we “should” be. The covers of various magazines remind us that we should look thin and trim at all times. Our family, friends, and colleagues have their ideas of who we “should” be as well.

There have been times in my life when I wanted to be more of someone else and less of who I was. In my 20′s, I was really into fashion and fitness. I wanted to look and dress like many of the women I saw on the cover of the most popular magazines. In my 30′s, when I would meet a successful person in the business world, I wanted to emulate a lot of who they were being as I had a strong desire to be a successful entrepreneur. In my 40′s, I began to feel the “call” to work with women to help them create their spark and realize their Big ideas, dreams and goals. Today, at 51, I’m still passionate about my work with women along with a sense of curiosity about what lies ahead. I know it’s essential to take what works for me and weave that into who I am at my core–my authentic self.

Unfortunately, there are women and young girls in many parts of the world that do not have any freedom. These women have no access to freedom of speech or independent actions whatsoever. Likewise, there may be a woman on your street or in your office who doesn’t feel she has the opportunity to exercise her independence. Her personal circumstances or “limiting” beliefs may leave her feeling “trapped” and unable to move forward with her dreams and desires.

It’s up to you and me to lead the way. In a few days, our country will celebrate its “independence.” We are fortunate to live in a country where we can say, wear, do, or be whatever we choose.

How about you?

– Are you living into your Big Ideas, dreams and goals?
– Are you taking advantage of the fact that you have the opportunity to be exactly who you are?
– Are you walking and talking your independent thoughts?

As you move into the weekend, I invite you to reflect on who you are being now in your life and who you would like to become. The oak and sycamore trees in the park were planted to grow in a straight line along the street. Once planted, they began to take on their own independent shape and size. They are living into their uniqueness and individual beauty. You are a beautiful, brilliant Smart Woman. You have special gifts to bring to the world. Let your own brand of independence and uniqueness shine through. Take advantage of your “Independence Day” and celebrate who you are because there will never be another You.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2011 Joy Chudacoff
 
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your coaching business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report, FREE MP3 and be the first to hear about my exciting new program for coaches and consultants at Creating The Spark.

Marketing really is just like the game of baseball. And once you figure out the rules of the game, you will move around the “diamond” very quickly, scoring successful runs. First, you have to decide what you are marketing (product or service) and second, who your ideal client is. In other words, who benefits from using your product or service. When you have determined who your ideal client is, you can then create a “message” that will appeal to those people. Makes sense, right? Many times, when we start a business what’s the first thing we do? We create a logo, business cards, and possibly a web site. While all these action steps are important to a business start-up, if we don’t accurately communicate the r right “message”, then we have wasted valuable time and dollars with little or no success. Our ideal client must be able to understand how we can help solve their problems with our product or service. It’s essential that you develop your “message” first. Let them know how your product or service can solve the problem they are having.

Once you have your message developed, you can step-up to home plate. Every person that fits the description of your ideal client gives you a “chance at bat.” When you have your message developed correctly, you will connect with the right person.

First Base: When your ideal client becomes interested in what you have to offer, you move to First Base. First Base does not mean that they are ready to buy what you have to offer. They are thinking, “I’m interested in what you have to say.” This might be accomplished through them subscribing to your newsletter, calling for more information after you sent them something in the mail, following you on social media or seeing you speak at a local event and approaching you to ask a few questions.

Second Base: Getting to Second Base is when you realize that your ideal client would like to learn more about what you have to offer. This could be a phone call, a complimentary session with you to see if it feels right for them, or a complimentary teleseminar. You will need to communicate valuable information on who you are, what you have to offer and how it can benefit them.

Third Base: Your ideal client has learned more about you, your product and your service and says, “Yes, I believe that you have what I need and I would like to work with you.”

Score! Your only goal is to get back to home plate and score a run (a new client). This process is where you agree on how you will work together, when you will work together and for what time period.

Every boy or girl that steps up to home plate wants to hit a home run, right? We are no different. When I meet my ideal client (women who are ready to move their business forward to the next level of success), I get excited because I know what I have to offer will really benefit them. However, this is a process, like the game of baseball. Initially, it’s moving around the diamond, one base at a time, creating belief and trust with the ideal client. And by the way, there will be plenty of home runs. The more you follow this process, get your message out there in the field, create belief and trust with your community, you will meet people who will say, “I’ve heard about you and I want to talk with you about your service!” or “I need what you have to offer!” There seems to be only one thing left to say: “Play Ball!”

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****

© 2011 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at Profits With Passion.

In the past week, I’ve had major technology glitches, vendor/supplier challenges as well as a leak in our home from all the rainy weather. (Yes, it’s been one of those weeks.) Being an entrepreneur will test you in every way imaginable. The universe has a way of “checking in” periodically to see how serious you are about your intentions, your dreams, and your purpose. It will throw you curve balls to see how you respond. When these situations arise, you always have two choices: Run for cover (like jumping in your bed and pulling the covers over your head, hoping that this will all go away quickly–not very effective I might add from personal experience) or step into a place of possibility thinking and find solutions (which works beautifully every time).

If you’ve had some challenges lately in your business or personal life, and feel like you need some solutions to help you move into possibility thinking, here are a few tips that I personally use to move me out from under the covers and into being an energized solution seeker:

1. Walk it out – Grab a cup of coffee or bottle of water and hit the pavement. I find that going on a long walk, breathing in some fresh air and taking in some nature helps me refocus and reframe the situation in a more positive light.

2. Dive In – Going inward and allowing my internal voice (also referred to as your “instincts”) to be heard calmly and clearly helps a great deal. Meditation is a wonderful tool in these times. If you have never done meditation before, that’s fine. Just sit quietly, close your eyes and find your breath. Focus on breathing in and out for a few minutes. You’ll be amazed at how much calmer and more focused you feel within 5 minutes of doing this. Solitude is smart practice and one that I engage in regularly.

3. Find your Champions – This is the time to reach out to the people in your life who champion you. These are people who think you hung the moon. Avoid toxic naysayers. You know you’ve got a challenge. The last thing you need is someone to tell you that. Engage with people who have a positive attitude who truly want to see you succeed and provide resourceful contributions to your situation.

4. Take note – Take a good look at what went wrong in the situation. Ask yourself a few questions: What part did I play in this? How can I keep this from happening in the future? Become proactive and set up systems to avoid these types of situations in the future.

There’s an old saying that I’m sure you’ve heard before:  “Life happens on your way to making plans.” This is true especially for women. We wear so many hats and play so many roles for others. There are certain challenges in life that we won’t be able to avoid because life does happen. However, Smart Women set themselves up to survive and more importantly thrive in this wild, wacky world.

Anything is possible.  Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2011 Joy Chudacoff
 
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, 2 FREE Reports and FREE MP3 now at Creating The Spark.

When we entered the front door, we were immediately greeted by an energetic young woman who wanted to know how she could help us. She escorted us to someone who could help our children open their accounts. We were invited to try a beverage from their vast menu (water, coffee, tea, soda, juice and hot chocolate) and of course the children were immediately given lollipops to welcome them as new customers. (By the way, the complimentary drinks were not just for new customers. I could overhear the conversation at the teller window and they were offering this to everyone who entered the bank.)

The representative that helped our children open their accounts was knowledgeable. He answered our questions and he treated our children with respect. He spent a lot of time with us and we never felt rushed or confused about what was going to happen next.

We walked away from the experience feeling like we made a great decision to open the accounts at this bank and it was a great “first” experience in banking for our children as well.

No matter what type of business you’re in, first impressions count – a lot. People want and expect a very personal, high-touch experience. If you are a woman entrepreneur and you want to create raving fans for your business, I invite you to take an inventory of the process you use to create an unforgettable first impression.

Here are a few tips on setting yourself up for success for a great first impression:

1. You had me at Hello – What’s the point of first contact with you and your company? If it’s email, make sure you have a system in place for you or someone on your team to receive email inquiries quickly. If it’s by phone, does your message state clearly what you want the caller to do? Do you have a system set up so that you return calls within 24 hours? Here at Smart Women Smart Solutions® response time is a valuable part of laying a good foundation with our clients. Our goal is to provide “red carpet” treatment to everyone we come in contact with. Review your systems for how someone makes that initial contact with you. Make sure your system works fast and efficiently.
2. It’s contagious – Having a friendly, positive attitude from the initial point of contact is important. People want to associate or be with people who are friendly and helpful. It makes them feel supported and cared for. Several years ago, I walked into my office one day to find my assistant at the time talking rudely to someone on the phone. I was horrified! Needless to say, that particular person did not work out well, however it was a valuable lesson for me. I want to attract support team members who hold quality client interaction to the same standard as I do.
3. Plan Your Process – Create a process for your ideal client so that the first impression with you is seamless and successful. Decide now how you want the process to work and enlist your team to help you roll it out. If you are a solo entrepreneur and don’t have any team members working with you yet, I invite you to sit down and think about what you want your first impression to look like with your ideal client. This is time well spent and can mean the difference between incredible business growth or ho-hum results. (It was when I took this part of my business seriously that I began to see huge jumps not only in my income but in the quality of the clients I serve.)

Spend some time reflecting on your first impression process. I invite you to set the intention to create “royal red carpet” treatment from that first point of contact so that you too can enjoy big leaps in your income along with quality clients who rave about you everywhere they go.

Anything is possible.  Everything is waiting for you.
*****
© 2011 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at Profits With Passion.

Making a decision to do something new or different in your life can get really uncomfortable. It triggers all of your “stuff” down deep inside. You may start to question everything you do and sometimes you wonder if you should continue with your new Big Idea, Dream, or Goal. After all, you may not be overjoyed with your current life situation, job, or business but at least it’s familiar—right? I remember a time in my life when I felt out of sorts, stuck and trapped, but at the same time I wasn’t sure if I had the courage to make the changes that were needed in order to feel whole, passionate and purposeful.

For example, when I decided to give birth to Smart Women Smart Solutions, there were many reasons why it wasn’t the most “ideal” time to begin something new. For example, I had my son who was a toddler and was pregnant with my daughter. My “stuff” seemed to pop up everywhere and follow me around with all of the reasons why now might not be the “right” time to start a new business. “Who will take care of my son?” “Now isn’t the right time” “What if it doesn’t work?” “What if I fail?” Sound familiar?

I have fears just like everyone else. Confronting your “stuff” is not much fun. It means you have to take a look at what is and decide if you have the courage to change and do what it takes to breakthrough to the next level in your life.

Over the last 2 decades, I’ve had times where I was surviving and times where I was thriving, and I will share with you that in order to “thrive”, sometimes you have to go through that “survive” period. It’s essential that you learn about yourself and see what changes or shifts you need to make in order to realize your Big Ideas, Dreams, and Goals. My grandfather used to say, “Joy, no matter where you go, there you are.” Well said Pops. Sometimes, we get in our own way and practice the art of self-sabotage without really even realizing it.

Here are a few solutions that have helped me with my “stuff” and I believe it can help you too:

1. Look for a “Thinking” Partner – Have someone on your side. Someone who can support you in a positive way when your “stuff” comes up. Having a “thinking” partner will help you to see how to move past your “stuff” and stay on the right course to accomplish your goals.

2. Find Successful Role Models – It’s essential to find people who’ve been successful and continue to be growth-oriented. One of the biggest mistakes I see people make as entrepreneurs is they stay in a vacuum. They try to figure out how to accomplish their dreams on their own. Let successful people show you the way. They have paved a road that will be much easier for you to follow. Attend conferences, join Mastermind groups, or hire a Coach to help you stay the course.

3. Make sure your Desire is Heartfelt – When the desire is there, the how-to will come. No matter how much “stuff” you are dealing with around this change you are making in your life, desire will always win if it’s authentic and truly what you want in life. Get really clear and focused on what you want to happen.

Living a life that allows you to achieve and have what you want and deserve is not always easy but it’s certainly worth the effort. Facing your “stuff” along the way not only helps you, but it helps all of the people who come in contact with you now and in the future. You will become a beacon of light that they can look to for guidance when they confront their “stuff.” Remember, it’s not trespassing if you cross your own boundaries.

Anything is possible.  Everything is waiting for you.
*****
© 2011 Joy Chudacoff
 
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, 2 FREE Reports and FREE MP3 now at Creating The Spark .

LeBron James had a difficult decision to make.  Stay in his home state and continue to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers or reach out of his comfort zone and try something new.  He has publicly shared that winning a championship title is his greatest dream.  He knew that he had to make decisions that were in alignment with his goals and that decision was not popular with many people around him.

I’ve been supporting women for over 5 years in my coaching work and one theme that continues to run through women’s lives is the ability to give themselves “permission” to be who they are and pursue their Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals.   I know women who work outside the home and want to be at home with their children and leave the workplace.  There are also women who are at home and they have a strong desire to own a business and combine their love of family with business ownership.  There are scores of women who have Big Ideas about what they’d like to do with their lives.  And yet, many do not take the steps to make their Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals a reality.  Why?  You may be uneasy about what others will think of you or fear you will be perceived as selfish or not loyal to those who depend on you.  You may have that familiar feeling of fear that creeps up every time you have a great idea.  Remember, fear is a natural partner to creativity.

When I was 29 years old and just beginning my journey as an entrepreneur, I had quite a few people who “encouraged” me to stay employed in my current job.  I remember a family member saying, “Joy, don’t rock the boat.”  This advice was out of love and caring for me but it wasn’t what I needed to hear.  I knew that this was the only way for me to feel happy and fulfilled. 

How about you?  Do you dream of doing something new or different with your life?   Here are a few quick tips on how you can get started:

1.  Take a Time Out – Give yourself permission to take some quiet, peaceful time to reflect on what is missing from your life.  Grab a pen and paper and jot down everything you feel abundant about in your life and then reflect on what would make it even more fulfilling.  It hasn’t always been easy for me to blend my family with my business dreams and goals; however I’ve found a way to have both.  Instead of thinking about how it won’t work, get creative and begin to think of how to make it possible.

2.  Ask Yourself a Question – Am I doing what I want in my life or am I doing what other’s think I should be doing in my life?

3.  Find Your Courage – Create a vision about how you would feel if you could have that goal or dream come alive in your life.  Breathe that in for a moment.  Create a vision board about your Big Idea, Dreams and Goals.  This process helps to keep the momentum alive and it’s a visual reminder to those around you.

I watched the interview with LeBron James when he announced his decision to join the Miami Heat.  Some will say it was all about the money and I’d be foolish to think that it wasn’t a motivator.  However, I noticed something different in the interview.  LeBron felt a certain loyalty and sadness about leaving the Cavaliers.  After all, he’d given them 7 years of his gifts and talent.  He realized his dream is to be a part of something new, something bigger, something that would allow him to exercise his gifts in a bigger way.  LeBron had to exercise his confidence and courage to embrace his own dream and take the steps to move closer to his vision.  You have the opportunity to embrace your confidence and courage as well.  You have permission to be exactly who you need to be, and make the necessary changes in order to live a life that is fueled with energy, passion and purpose.

Anything is possible.  Everything is waiting for you.

*****

© 2010 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at http://www.SmartWomenSmartSolutionsCoaching.com .

Back then, I was working as a business manager and marketing consultant for a very prominent physician in Los Angeles.  I was making decent 5 figure money, however I didn’t own my car and I was renting an apartment with a roommate to make ends meet.  The office where I worked was located in glamorous Beverly Hills, however the location of my desk inside the office was anything but glamorous.  I sat in an area that was a “pass through” for every employee so I never had any privacy.  If I leaned really far to my left, I could see some trees outside the window of my boss’s office. I longed for an office with a window view and an apartment all to myself. 

Today, along with my beautiful family, I have my own business, Smart Women Smart Solutions® with an office in my home that has a panoramic view of blue sky, trees and mountains and I’m about a mile from the Pacific Ocean.

What changed?  I changed.  One thing I know for sure is that nothing changes until you do.  If you want something in your life to change, then you have to be willing to make a change.  Sounds simple doesn’t it?  I must admit that it’s not that simple and along the way there have been bumps in the road.  However, I would not change a thing.

I can’t share my entire journey with you in this article however, I do want to share 6 of the key essentials  that took me from where I was – basically “surviving,” to today where I’m fully “thriving.”

1. Get Curious – I became an entrepreneur by accident.  I wasn’t earning the money that I truly desired and when it became apparent that I was never going to in my job, I started to think about another alternative.  I began dreaming, reading, researching and asking questions to anyone who might be able to give me some ideas on starting a business.  Today it’s so much easier because of the internet.  Google is at your fingertips to ask just about any question you can think of.

2. Get Moving – Once I landed on an opportunity that felt right for me in terms of money invested verses profit to be made, I began to look for ways to secure the money I needed to get started.  I was considered a “credit risk” to many banks and was turned down quite a few times before I secured my first loan. 

3. Keep Trying – Anytime you do something new, you’re bound to make mistakes and becoming an entrepreneur is no different.  You will make mistakes.  The key is to get up when you fall down and learn from the mistake.  I’ve made numerous mistakes over the years and I paid attention to what I did wrong and learned how to do it right the next time.

4. Keep Learning – Take classes in areas of learning to get you up to speed on new, innovative ways to build your business.  I enroll in classes all the time both offline and online to learn more about ways to increase my business and marketing.  With all of the teleclasses and webinars there are today, it’s become so easy to learn from anywhere.

5. Get Support – Having coaches and mentors is one of the best investments I’ve ever made.  Having a trusted “partner” on the journey who sees my situation through a different lens has been a big reason for my success.  Having a supportive spouse, family and friends has played a big role for me as well.  Make sure you surround yourself with people who champion your dreams.

6. Stay Focused – Decide what it is you want to accomplish and stay on course to make it happen.  I’ve veered off course myself many times and I have to remember the answer to “Why am I doing this?” so I can ground myself again and stay focused on my desired outcome.

I invite you to stop dreaming and start acting on your Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals.  One of my favorite quotes from Einstein is “Vision Without Execution is Merely Hallucination.”  Stop hallucinating.  Take action today and make it happen.

*****

© 2010 Joy Chudacoff
 
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at http://www.SmartWomenSmartSolutionsCoaching.com.

The thought of building a business “online”—you know sitting behind your laptop in your pajamas all day, never having to leave the house sounds really attractive to many people.  This works well if you are in a products based business where the only contact you have with real people might be the UPS guy or gal.  However, if you are in a service-based business like an attorney, consultant, coach, event planner, real estate,–you get the idea, then it’s essential that you have both an online and offline presence. 

If you are a service provider, you are the product.   I find many entrepreneurs dragging their feet on this part of the business plan and it’s the one area that can guarantee new business.  Today, after 51/2 years, my business is still over 85% referral based.  These referrals come from satisfied clients, speaking engagements and client attraction events that I’ve attended.  Do I enjoy online business?  Absolutely.  However I’ve learned the value of taking my business offline. 

Here are a few solutions for taking your business “offline” to attract more of your ideal client:

1. Public Speaking – this has been the number one  best way for me to build my business “offline.”  It has produced the most highly qualified referrals over the years.  The audience can get a sense of who you are and your presentation can identify more clearly how you can help them.  Make sure you leverage your time well by speaking to groups that are your ideal client.

2. Referral Program – create a “referral” letter that you can send out to all of your current and past clients.  Let them know that you are accepting new clients and explain how your services can benefit people they may know.  You may be surprised that clients (and good friends!) can forget exactly what you do if you don’t remind them often.  I’ve  had  prior clients get my letter and call me to begin working with me again!

3. Attending the “Right” Events – getting out and attending events is key to the growth of your business.  Make sure that you attend events where you truly enjoy the programs being represented and it’s essential that these events attract your ideal client as well.  Let me clarify something: If you are drawn to a particular charity or fundraiser that is not well attended by your ideal client, that’s wonderful.  Giving back or enjoying the spiritual growth you receive is important to your success as a human being.  It’s key to pick one more venue to attend regularly so that you can also work on building your entrepreneurial dream as well.

If you are a woman entrepreneur in a service based business, the tips and solutions above can generate more ideal clients quickly.  In fact, it can happen in as little as 30 days if you put these action steps into place right away. 

Next week, I’ll meet you back here to chat with you about building an “online” presence.  Successful marketing is like cooking:  You need more than one ingredient to make the recipe turn out just right.

*****

© 2010 Joy Chudacoff
 
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at http://www.smartwomensmartsolutionscoaching.com/ .

Your entrepreneurial offense is key to long-term success in your business. When your ideal client says, “Yes, I want to work with you!”, now you have the opportunity to shine. They are excited about the service that you’re going to provide them. However, this is the one area that can easily be overlooked in your business. When we get a new client, sometimes we forget about them because, well, now they are a client. You go out and begin marketing again to find another client and forget about the new client. Am I right?

This is where having a good offense is really important. You want to show them how great you are and give them the experience of working with an “expert.” You want them to feel they made the best decision by hiring you to solve their problem.

Here are a few tips and solutions to help you put on a good offense with your new clients:

1. Build a solid relationship – You want to consistently foster a solid, business relationship with your clients all along the way even after you complete your work with them. Building faith and trust with your clients is one of the keys to success in business.
 
2.  Practice consistent follow-up – this is easy to do but sometimes where the ball gets dropped. When someone becomes a new client, create a welcome packet or welcome letter that continues to remind them what a good decision they made. If you see an article that you know would be of interest to them, send it or email it. Set up a system in your business for follow-up so your clients don’t fall through the cracks. Recently, a client came to me because her current clients were not happy with her service. Once we took a laser view on the process she uses in her business when a new client comes on, it was clear that she needed to provide more “high touch” communication with them.

3.  Keep your word – if you make a commitment to your client, make sure you honor it. If you promise information will be sent out or a call will be returned, make sure that happens when you promised. This is where the trust factor can be strengthened or broken with your client.

4.  Create special packages – you can easily set yourself apart and shine with your client by doing this. Take an inventory of all the services you offer and create special packages or bundle the services together. I offer this to my clients and I know other women entrepreneurs doing this in different types of businesses and it’s working beautifully. People love packages. Don’t you love it when you receive those offers from your favorite getaway offering a weekend package that includes breakfast, dinner, and a massage?

Having a good offense is critical to getting qualified referrals from happy clients in the future. Creating trust with your clients can cause a dramatic increase in your business in a very short period of time. The next time you go to bat for a client, be prepared to hit it out of the ballpark!

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****

© 2010 Joy Chudacoff
 
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your coaching business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report, and FREE MP3 now at http://www.SmartWomenSmartSolutionsCoaching.com .

Women are the most creative beings on earth and I want to make sure when you have these awesome, amazing, wonderful ideas, you ask the “right” person before you give up on your Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals. By the way, I don’t think people intentionally want to hurt your feelings when you share a great idea.  I think it’s because few people are visionary– they aren’t looking through the same lens on life as you are. Many people see the world as black and white. Entrepreneurs have a lot of gray in their thinking. Entrepreneurs are unusual. We are not ordinary people. We think differently.

When I first decided to birth my Women’s Success Circle’s, I was very excited. I could hardly sleep at night as I was up thinking about all of the ideas and possibilities of how I could support women using this concept. I was at an event one evening with my husband and I decided to share my Big Idea with a woman there and she flat out took the wind out of my sails when I told her about it. She laughed and said, (and I quote) “That will never work. Women will never pay for that.” Can you imagine the embarrassment I felt?  Thankfully on the way home as I licked my wounds, my husband Greg reminded me that not everyone will like my ideas but that doesn’t mean they won’t work. He said a lot more than that but I only have room for so much!

When you’ve got a really Big Idea and you feel like you’re going to burst at the seams if you don’t share it with someone, ask yourself a couple of questions:

1. Is this person where I want to be in terms of how I define success and achievement? I’ve found that people who’ve achieved success are willing to listen patiently to ideas and ask very wise questions to help you flush out your idea more fully. Having mentors and coaches in my life who’ve achieved the success I desire has been a key ingredient to the growth in my business. People who’ve had success in their lives are typically more open to possibility.

2. Is this person a positive, nutritious person? Is the person you are about to speak with, someone who you admire for their positive outlook on life? Do they inspire and motivate you? I have a “core” group of people in my life who I turn to when I have a Big Idea, Dream or Goal that I’d like to accomplish. These people are successful, positive, creative, and most of all, they inspire me to be great.

I invite you to think about the people you are surrounding yourself with when you are brainstorming your next Big Idea. It can make the difference between achieving your goals or giving up too soon when success may be just around the corner.

One last thought: As coincidence would have it, I ran across a quote the morning after I wrote this article and it feels like the “perfect” ending: “The girl doesn’t, it seems to me, have a special perception or feeling which would lift that book above the “curiosity” level.”  From the rejection slip for “The Diary of Anne Frank.”

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2010 Joy Chudacoff
 
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions(tm), a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your coaching business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at http://www.SmartWomenSmartSolutionsCoaching.com .