After I released my first book, “What's Next?: The 7 Steps to Discover Your Big Idea and Create a Wildly Successful Business” in the fall of 2013, I was overcome with a feeling of emptiness. I was living in my body but there should have been a sign around my neck that said “unoccupied.” I had given so much of my creative energy to the writing process for the book. Oddly enough, I was beginning to feel the “What's Next?” question floating around inside my own head.
Here's what I know for sure: I LOVE my business and my clients – Period. I sometimes feel like I'm in a dream and someone is going to wake me up and tell me it's all over, get dressed and report to my cubicle by 9am.
But…something was stirring inside of me…
I knew change was on the horizon. I just didn't know what it was.
I took the same advice I give to all the fabulous women entrepreneurs and business owners I work with: “Don't rush the process. Allow the idea to unfold organically in it's own time.” Intuitively, I knew that if I rushed this evolution, I would waste valuable time, energy and effort and wind up in the wrong direction.
So…I waited, watched and listened…
Over the next 180 days, I gave myself permission to spend time alone, allowing my mind to wander on a deeper level about how I wanted to support women entrepreneurs in the future. I wanted to make sure that what I created was actually a catalyst for growth for these women who trust me with something so personal as their business goals and dreams. Whether it was on a long walk or a relaxing bubble bath, I used these solo moments to reflect and renew my vision.
Through my observation of working with 1,000's of women entrepreneurs, many are challenged by:
Prioritizing Projects (otherwise known as bright shiny object syndrome)
Too many ideas and too little time (sometimes wondering if a clone might not be a bad idea)
Struggle to find enough time for yourself (time to refresh and refuel is essential for your soul and the soul of your business)
Relying on the current team or no team to move things forward when a BIG change is in order (this is common and I cannot stress enough that the team that got you where you are now might not get you where you want to go)
Being stuck at a certain level of success because earnings are capped (if things stay the way they are there is no room for more clients or more profit)
Lack of systems to streamline your business (you're likely still making sales but you haven't yet figured out how to replicate the process)
The New Idea
For quite some time now, I've been supporting women in growing a successful, profitable business without burning out in the process. I, myself, have created a “lifestyle” business which allows me the freedom to enjoy my family while making a strong, consistent six figure income. The problem was, my website didn't reflect that.
The New Brand
Through journaling (always on unlined paper!) I began to write and sketch out what I wanted my new messaging and branding to convey to women entrepreneurs and business owners. I hired the world-class web design firm, Bourn Creative to help me bring my web site design to life, the incredible wordsmith, Lisa Manyon to help me strategize messaging, Linda Cotter for outstanding photos that bring my work to life and the talented Eric Cosh of Paradigm Video Productions to capture the amazing stories of my clients on video.
A few notables:
The color sea foam green (or “teal” as some may call it) kept showing up everywhere during that 180 days of exploration and discovery. It was a clear signal to me that this color was going to be part of the new brand.
Video needed to play a key role. Everyone has a preference on how they like to consume information. I wanted to appeal to both their auditory and visual experience.
Testimonials and rave reviews are key to success in business but I wanted to take it a step further by offering real, in-depth case studies of the work and results my clients and I achieve together. Fortunately, when I approached these women with the idea, they said “Yes!”
I wanted to create a tool – something you can use as a benchmark to assess where you are in your business and help you decide where you want to go – a What's Next? so to speak. You'll find a free assessment on the website that will help you evaluate where you are now and what you need to do to get where you want to go in 2015.
Being completely vulnerable here, I'm tearing up as I write this email to you today. They are tears of gratitude and abundance and at the same time a release… a letting go of what no longer serves me and the women I work with.
I hope you'll hop on over and take a look at the new web site. Make sure you grab my free, complimentary 7 Question Entrepreneurial Self-Assessment and Case Study Videos to help you evaluate your business.
I'm over the moon about the possibilities for women in 2015 and beyond. My team and I are here to support in whatever way we can. : -) Just reach out and let us know how we can help…
Never before have we, as women, been holding so much power to shape the future.
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