Are You Selling Yourself Short by Hiding in the Background

Many, many years ago when I worked as a professional singer and actor in New York I was just like many people in my profession. I wanted the starring role so I could really shine and show my stuff. But there were times when instead I was cast in a supporting or even background role. I still cherished and learned from those experiences but it just wasn’t the same as the experience of being able to directly influence the audience and have an emotional impact.

What surprised me though was that there were some performers who were more comfortable staying in the background even though they were very talented. Fear kept them from stepping into the spotlight even though a part of them yearned to be there. If you aren’t working on developing an entrepreneurial mindset that allows you to be a star in your niche, you may be experiencing this too.

Are you settling for the background, hiding behind your computer? Are you afraid to stand in the spotlight in your business or in your niche for fear that it might turn some people away? I see this often. This manifests as –

Fear of charging what you’re worth because you’ve decided “they” can’t afford it. Instead let your prospects decide if the results you help them get are worth it.

Fear of putting your work out there until its “perfect”. Act now and perfect later. Something is better than nothing.

Fear of failing and just confirming what all the naysayers around you who lack vision have been telling you. You know…the ones who want you to stay right where you are.

Fear of sending out too many emails because someone might unsubscribe. It’s normal for people to unsubscribe almost every time you email your list. These are people that would never buy from you or whose lives have changed and they are no longer in need of your expertise. Don’t be offended. The ones who stay are interested in what you have to say.

Fear of speaking in front of a group because there’s a chance your message won’t resonate. The truth is that if you speak with passion, people will listen, especially if you’ve made sure you’re speaking to people in your target market.

Fear of picking up the phone to talk with prospects because they may say “no”. The truth is that many more will say “yes” and you’ll have many more high quality clients.

Fear of selling and of being too “salesy” results in no promotion at all. Being salesy is being false. If you have a great solution for someone’s problem and you offer it to them sincerely, you will not be perceived as salesy. A business without sales is a failed business, right?

Fear of taking the time to invest in planning out a strategy and getting help. Who will invest in you if you don’t invest in yourself and your dream?

The result of fading into the background is that you’re not standing in your potential and power. That means being willing to shout out your most powerful and passionate message in a way that is very visible and that makes it clear what you stand for, even if that’s a bit scary.

The statistics back this up. More women than ever are opening businesses but few of them ever get to six figures. Women are striving but not thriving. Are you willing to settle for that?

Wearing a dull shade of gray and hiding in the background will keep you from attracting the attention of those people who might benefit from working with you. It will keep you stuck and small. It will keep you invisible. You might have stage fright. I did. But do it anyway. Hearing the applause of hundreds of people who resonate with you and your message is an amazing experience and it will make you a leader. Most importantly it will make you feel that you are making a living by living your purpose.

If you are truly ready to shift your thinking and step into the spotlight with a powerful message that attracts high quality clients who seek you out then please schedule a time to speak with me. Just a few spots remain for my next Step Up & Soar Private Mentoring and Mastermind.

This Private Mentoring Program will not only provide you with the exact blueprint, plan and action steps you need to turn you knowledge and passion into an impressive income; but in our powerful private retreats you will learn how to become free and overcome those fears that are holding you back so you powerfully step up as a leader with lots of raving fans.

For more information please visit: www.smallbusiness-bigresults.com

Are You Missing Your Blind Spot

Over the years while driving I’ve been surprised many times when I found someone hidden in my blind spot. Of course I’ve made it a habit to check my blind spot before making a move, and it’s certainly avoided many potential collisions. I’m sure you do the same.

However, are you taking a similar approach to other life and small business coach situations? All of us have blind spots. Maybe it’s in a relationship that’s having problems, maybe it’s around keeping in shape and healthy. But without a doubt most of us have blind spots in our businesses.

These blind spots can cause you to keep doing things even though they aren’t working. Are you working hard and not getting the results you want? Chances are you’ve got a blind spot. Most often, I see people trying to market their business in a way that just doesn’t work simply because they don’t know what they don’t know. You may be trying certain marketing activities and assuming they will bring in new subscribers and clients, only to be disappointed.  I call this your Marketing Blind Spot. Very simply, you need to pay attention to your blind spot and eliminate it so you can move forward.

What you don’t know can keep you stuck and frustrated. There are many areas in your business where you can unconsciously overlook a blind spot. This is often caused simply by a lack of knowledge or skills. I see people overspending on poor web design, or spending huge amounts of time doing things manually that could be automated, or chasing after every idea that comes along.  I see people struggling year after year with ineffective marketing because they don’t know enough about how to best promote their products and services.  But if you don’t know the elements of an effective website, or what it should cost, or if you don’t know what tools to use to automate, or that they even exist, or you really don’t have a proven marketing system, then those blind spots will cost you lost time and money.

Your blind spot could also fall in the area of what I call the “entrepreneurial mindset”. You could be blind to the true value of your services and what you really could be charging. Or you could be blind to an ingrained belief or habit that’s sabotaging your best efforts. That’s why it’s so important to get feedback from people who you trust and who will be very honest with you and hold you accountable. It doesn’t matter how successful you are, we all have our blind spots.

Here are a few steps you can take to identify and begin to eliminate your blind spots:

1. For one week make a list of situations in your business that make you feel stuck, overwhelmed, frustrated or confused.
2. Hold a magnifying glass up to each one and ask yourself—“Is there something I’m not seeing here that is causing this problem and that I need to change?”
3. Then ask yourself where you can go to brainstorm the problem and get a new, fresh perspective. Make sure you go to someone who doesn’t have the same problem. So for example, if I had a rough time being organized in my business, I’d seek feedback from someone I trust who is very organized.

Sometimes you will not be able to see your blind spot, so you’ll need to work with a coach, mastermind group, or trusted colleague who will delve deeper to identify where you are overlooking something important or where you need to learn a new habit, change a belief, learn a new system, gain a new skill or master new knowledge.

Make it a habit to check for blind spots every time you feel stuck or you’re not happy with the results you’re getting. Maybe you had a product launch that didn’t work (we’ve all been there). Maybe you’re trying your hand at article marketing and you don’t see any results. Maybe you’re having trouble closing sales with people that you know need your help. You can be sure there’s something you’re not aware of, something you’re not seeing, or something you need to learn to turn it around.

If you keep asking yourself and those you trust, “where is my blind spot in this situation”, rather than just feeling disappointed and discouraged, you’ll be able to not only avoid potential “collisions”, but you’ll gain the sight you need to really soar.

For more information please visit : www.smallbusiness-bigresults.com