Are you living in a cave?

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Cave Exit

As a proud mom of four, ranging in age from 5 to 17…I can admit that 95% of the flicks that I see are animated. Honestly – I love the creativity and cleverness of writers, animators and producers in this genre.

And sometimes a kid-flick departs the ‘formula’ and shocks me in a totally profound way.

This was the case with The Croods, a fun portrayal of the only surviving cave family.

No, I’m not writing a movie review blog. But when I saw this movie on opening weekend  – I emailed myself 19 different times during the show with ideas and quotes i wanted to remember and use.

However, I was framing it from a business perspective, the entrepreneur frame of mind. That’s who I am. It’s what I do.

And yet- I set the post to draft and kept hesitating to ‘publish’ …but I wasn’t sure WHY I was resisting.

Now, I know.

Disaster. News. Crisis. Current Events. Terrorism. Accidents. Tragedy.

Our televisions and social streams have been literally going crazy with the events of late. And as media consumers and participants in the interactivity of it all — we have more vested in our souls and brains that we would have, even 5 short years ago.

And all that being said   — I  see a trend.

A trend in caution. A trend in suspicion. A trend in paralysis. A trend in fear.

Now back to The Croods, a family led by Cave Dad whose motto is “Never NOT Be Afraid.”

Read that again.

Never NOT Be Afraid.

His main thought is ‘survival’ and he says over and over ‘Fear keeps us alive. Stop looking for new things. New things are bad. Curiosity kills.”

His daughter Eep, is pretty convinced that there is life beyond the cave. She hates the confines and hates the dark and wants to see light, and beautiful things and….chase the sun towards tomorrow.

Now…what I find super fascinating is the timing of this!! The writers & producers of this film had no idea what we would be dealing with this week, this month, this year.

  • They couldn’t know that Colorado made us second-guess going to midnight movies.
  • They didn’t realize that Sandy Hook would make us list out the pros & cons of homeschool vs public school.
  • It never crossed their minds that an iconic marathon might be turned into a battlefield.
  • And I’m certain they weren’t aware that in a tiny town in Texas, a fire would lead to an epic explosion, creating chaos and confusion.

“Never NOT Be Afraid.”

That’s what he says. That is what keeps him alive, the fear of risk, the fear of new, the fear of beautiful.

We could do the same. We could hide in our caves, extinguish our flames and focus on ‘surviving.’

But as daughter Eep so eloquently says ‘Dad, this isn’t LIVING, this is just NOT dying!’

Yes, we will mourn our comfort zone. Yes, we will be watchful. Yes, we will laud our heroes.

But we cannot adopt the mantra ‘Never Not Be Afraid.’

During a particularly scary trek in the film, there are two distinct voices urging the family on.  One says ‘Never Not Be Afraid’ and the other says ‘You Can Do This! Believe It”

I think we all have those same 2 voices. (I know I do.)

Which voice will you listen to?

  • In relationships.
  • In business.
  • In school.
  • In parenting.
  • In leaving our cave to participate in LIFE.

Which voice?
“Never Not Be Afraid” or “You Can Do This!”

I may not be guaranteed tomorrow. But that is where I’m headed, whatever it may hold.

The uncertain, uncharted, unsure path of LIVING.

Please share if this strikes a chord with you or gives you food for thought. Then let me know below what voice you’ll listen to and how you will move forward.

 

Filed Under: Blog Posts, Motivation & Persistence

Results are not guaranteed, gasp!

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iStock_000018844788XSmall

This will either by my most popular post, or my most UNpopular…it can go either way. It seemed to strike a nerve on my Facebook business page yesterday, so I thought I’d tweak it a bit and share it here too.

Because it has to be said…

It is NO secret that if you want results, you MUST put forth consistent, quality, effective effort.

But…regardless of success stories, before/after photos, testimonials and the promises…results are not guaranteed.

What??? But if I buy this, do that, stay busy 10 hours a day and cut soda, results MUST be guaranteed! Effort = Results, right?

Nope.

  • Sometimes there is a growth period.
  • There are ‘nos’.
  • There is testing, tweaking, refining.
  • There are expenses.
  • There is competition.
  • There are external factors.

The truth about making progress is…

  • Sometimes it is hard.
  • Sometimes it is frustrating.
  • Sometimes we cry, we hurt, we want to quit.

Effort does NOT always = equivalent results.

BUT…results always REQUIRE effort.

Carrie, that doesn’t seem fair. It seems like if I put in the work, I should reap immediate rewards!!

Well, let’s look at a few scenarios, shall we?

** I can go for a run today. I can go for a run tomorrow. I can run every day this week and it still doesn’t mean I am in shape or ready for a half marathon, or even a 5k! To condition myself for a race, for a distance, for a runner’s body and results — I have to hang in there on the hard days, the hurt days, the bad weather days…the seemingly no-result days.

** I can cut my calories today. I can trim fat intake tomorrow. I can add more water to my diet, cut sugar, eat whole foods and journal every bite that goes into my mouth. That still doesn’t mean I’m going to have immediate weight loss or permanent weight loss. My hormones, travel schedule, sleep patterns and metabolism will dictate the fact that I will go up and down on the scale, in inches and more. In order to see meaningful results – I have to hang in there on the tough days, the rough days, the hungry days and the mad-at-skinny-people-days.

One last scenario…

** I can set my alarm and get up early today to work my business. I can use a focused task list and a timer to stay on target. I can manage my social media, prospect wisely, share some great content, tweak my marketing funnel and even pitch my product or service to 3-5 people before supper. I can have the most efficient, effective, amazing day ever. That still doesn’t mean I have a sustainable business, a profitable business, a stress-free income. I have to hang in there on the upset customer days, the zero interest days, the computer crash days and the expenses-outweigh-the-income days.

None of that sounds fun, I know.

  • We want to run and be ready.
  • We want to starve and be skinny.
  • We want to work and be rich.

We’ve been told Effective Effort = Immediate Results.

That is untrue.

How do you get results, make progress, move towards your goals?

  • Work smart.
  • Work consistently.
  • Listen to wise counsel.
  • Focus on one path.
  • Stop seeking miracles.
  • Stop wishing you were like her or him.
  • Show up.
  • Put in the work.
  • Test it.
  • Put in more work.
  • Measure results.
  • Put in more work.

Effort does not always bring immediate results, but results ALWAYS require effort.

Hang in there. It’s not always fun, it’s not always fast, but it will be worth it.

If you agree or if this was something you think your friends need to see, please SHARE on your social networks, pin the image, tweet the post, Like on FB or share on G+ and LinkedIn.

I appreciate you!

Filed Under: Blog Posts, Goal Setting, Mentoring & Leadership, Motivation & Persistence

Your Success Boils Down To Choices

Is it too harsh to say that you succeed or fail because of your choices?

I don’t think so.

Today is ‘Tough Love Tuesday’ — I think you achieving ANY goal boils down to choices.

Today, you CHOOSE your attitude.
Today, you CHOOSE your words.
Today, you CHOOSE what you listen to.

Today, you CHOOSE your tasks.
Today, you CHOOSE what you eat.
Today, you CHOOSE how you react in emotion.

Today, you CHOOSE how you invest (or waste):
+ Your attention.
+ Your energy.
+ Your money.
+ Your time.

Today, you CHOOSE how you will influence (or be influenced by) others.

Today, you CHOOSE whether you pursue your goals or procrastinate again.

Today, you CHOOSE your steps, your path, your life.

CHOOSE wisely.

LIKE & SHARE if you DARE to CHOOSE.

 

Filed Under: Blog Posts, Goal Setting, Mentoring & Leadership, Motivation & Persistence, Productivity, Work/Life Balance

You Were Born to Win!

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Meeting my long-time hero for the first time in 2009. What an honor.

Flashback to 7th grade…such an awkward time for many, and I was no exception. And then I met the man with the funny voice and the funnier name…Zig Ziglar.

Well, I didn’t really MEET him, but my middle school class was being a ‘guinea pig’ for his ‘I Can Kids’ curriculum. THIS is where I learned about goal setting and the power of my own personal attitude. I can safely say, no cliche intended…that Zig changed the course of my attitude and therefore, my life.

You must read this book. I’m not suggesting. I’m not hinting. I’m saying – go get ‘Born to Win’ and read it.

Now, I’m proud to call Zig a mentor and friend and I love his family dearly.  I don’t review books for other ‘influencers’ when I am asked. And trust me, I’m asked a dozen times a week. But this book – you need.

“America’s Motivator” and bestselling author, has written what is sure to become a beloved classic, Born to Win. Zig gathers his 40+ years of teaching about success, what it really is and how to get it, and puts it all in one easy-to-understand book.

In Born to Win you will learn how:

  • You can begin to win right away
  • Two driving forces fuel action
  • To stop worrying about results
  • Being born to win can drive your business to new levels of success

Zig believes you were born to win, but you must plan to win and prepare to win. Then and only then can you expect to win. Zig shares the exact steps you can take to be the winner you are meant to be!  With his humorous writing style and real-life examples, you will find yourself going back to this book again and again.

Purchase the book today and receive over $2184 worth of bonuses FREE!

Order now!

Carrie & Zig sharing the stage in Dallas, 2011. Judging from the look on my face, his humor is still as sharp as ever!

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When a dancing ‘star’ really gets social media right

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In a world where there are so many ‘doing social media wrong’ — I had to share this story…

My girls and I watch Dancing With the Stars.

My daughters are all very musical and dance driven, so we watch, we critique and we get vested in our favorites.

Last week, my 7 year old was distraught over the news that one of her top picks Maria Menounos was suffering from fractures in her feet, along with her previously broken ribs…and STILL dancing!

So my girls and I talked about dreams, goals and perseverance and we also talked about using wisdom regarding your health. Then, we left it at that.

Maybe you can imagine my surprise…when at bedtime, my sweet daughter prayed for Maria. I was so touched that I tweeted her the next morning!

Now…here is where I expected it to stop. I mean, really – the woman is an entertainment reporter, a New York Times best-selling author (her book is excellent, by the way) and is devoting a chunk of her life to Dancing With The Stars…I did NOT expect her to be monitoring her tweet stream.

But she does.

Not only did she ‘retweet’ it to all of her followers, she responded.

At this point…I was shocked. Really. Call me jaded in social media – but I’m very used to the ‘type’ of folks that amass lots of numbers and then don’t attempt to engage. We’ve got divas, snobs and even those that are outsourcing their ‘social activity’ – and let me say that Maria is not any one of those things. I, of course, had to respond.

My daughter was squealing because she was ‘tweeted’ by a celeb!! So I thanked her! After all, Momma taught me to be gracious. (Maria might laud being Greek – but I am Southern through and through — we both have our strengths ;)

At this point…I was thrilled. Maria had restored my faith in non-diva celebs…she had convinced all my girls that SHE was going to be the mirrored ball winner and our other previous top pick was now discarded along the wayside of Maria’s REAL-ness.

But what was interesting…is that it seemed MY family was not alone in being affected by this exchange. Maria was as well.

Maria kept thanking us and retweeting the prayer and note all over. Even @TeamMenounos got into the fun and started circulating this little random act of sweetness by my little girl.

And then…the icing on a fabulous cake…

This injured celeb, who was touched by my anonymous ‘could-be-anybody’ little girl praying for her, asked if she could send her a ‘Team Menough’ hoodie buddie. What she didn’t know is that my daughter is studying the performing arts, dancing, theatre, music and more. PLUS, it was her birthday!! She was OVER the moon.

Oh…and guess who she is cheering for, talking about and finding NO fault with? Yup. Maria!

I don’t share this story just to tell you about my little girl’s exciting week, but because I still firmly believe that social media can be a powerful way:

  • to be heard (as in my daughter’s case)
  • to render influence and genuine-ness (as in Maria’s case) and
  • to show hundreds of thousands of others (as in all the watchers of DWTS) that Maria is real, she is listening and she still cares…even about the littlest fans.

She has my vote. And because you are reading this…whether you watch DWTS or not — I’m going to ask you to vote for Maria too! Vote for her dancing through pain, for her juggling all of her jobs, for her involvement with real people and for her caring about the prayers of a 7 year old fan…who can’t even vote without permission.

I’m not going to open comments up for this post – I’m going to ask, instead of a comment…that you go vote. Really…click on the image above or dial the phone. For Catie’s friend…Maria.

 

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How you react defines who you become

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(This is a classic story that I have used in training and motivational materials for about 10 years now…and every once in awhile, a friend or client’s reaction to something makes me think of it again…I do not know the original author.)

Carrots, Eggs, or Coffee

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil.

  • In the first she placed carrots.
  • In the second she placed eggs
  • In the last she placed ground coffee beans.

She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners.

  • She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl.
  • She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.
  • She ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me what you see.”

“Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma the daughter then asked, “What are you trying to say, mother?”

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Yet wach reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its insides became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

And then she asked her daughter….

“When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

** Note from Carrie: I don’t know that I need to add anything to this – but would love to know some things in the comment section below that help you when you are up against obstacles & adversity.  And as always, please share with your social networks if you found this helpful at all.

Filed Under: Blog Posts, Goal Setting, Mentoring & Leadership, Motivation & Persistence Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Do you need an idea, a pattern or an outline for your business?

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My four children are all amazing and talented in so many ways, but today…I want to talk about Emily. She reminds me of you. A lot.

Emily is a 14 year old sophomore. She skipped 2nd grade. (she was an achiever and ‘rebel’ early on) She is ranked #4 in her class of 256 graduates. She studies hard. She is very competitive, attractive, funny, stylish and driven. She has been getting ‘the friendliest’ award since pre-K and has a tender heart for the underdog. She is musical, a voracious reader, a class officer and artistic. As an adopted child, she has a precious heart for orphans. She loves to travel, rebels against unfairness and she knows there is ‘something big’ she is called to do.

See what I mean? In many ways, she is like you.

But what does this have to do with business, Carrie??

You want to have a profitable business. Yes?

And so next comes the barrage of questions:

  • What can I do?
  • Is that marketable?
  • How do I start?
  • Who wants what I have?
  • What do I know?
  • Is that too saturated?
  • and on and on and on…

But I think there is an even more important FIRST question!

How do you create?

When Emily created this image below, she was 9. The assignment was to create something from scenery you’d imagined in a book or a song.

Being a Texas gal, I really love this. I’m not sure what the scene was she is trying to create…but the fact is – she was happy with it. It achieved HER objectives.

Maybe you are a ‘creator’ or business owner that likes to focus on ideas. Someone who likes to create from free thought and needs in the market. Something from your imagination, using your own palette, medium, shapes and sizes. You don’t want a pattern or need an outline. Just let me create, you say!

This might be your style of business if:

  • You rebel against ‘how others are doing it’
  • You are wildly passionate about something and cannot rest until it’s done.
  • You see the big picture clearly & don’t want anyone else smudging it.
  • You like to read, listen to ideas, etc and then add your OWN style or spin to it
  • You are not easily frustrated
  • You work really well alone
  • You are okay if it isn’t perfect, it’s is YOURS after all
  • You are comfortable with risk-taking.
  • You are not overly concerned with the opinion of others.
  • Steve Jobs was this kind of creator. These are the innovators.

Doesn’t sound like you yet? Keep reading!

When Emily created this image of Taylor Swift, she was 12. The assignment was to take a ‘pattern’ or a ‘likeness’ and complete it. To mirror it using your skills. She chose Taylor, because her younger sister is a big fan.

Sometimes you need a pattern

She did a great job, right?

Maybe you are a ‘creator’ or business owner that likes to have a pattern. Someone who likes to see other peoples’ businesses and ‘model’ after them, using your own skills, talents and whatever flavor of crayon you prefer.

This probably means:

  • You are an independent learner & worker
  • You can receive an ‘overview’ and run with the idea from there
  • You can connect dots on your own & don’t need hand-holding
  • You see ‘the big picture’ and know what steps it takes for you to fashion it into your own
  • You don’t get frustrated easily
  • You don’t require perfection or over-analysis, but allow yourself some ‘flow’ and expression
  • You like the comfort zone of being able to refer back to the ‘original’ pattern
  • You like puzzles and systems and knowing how things will fit to completion (with some trial & error)
  • Working with a coach or mentor is a good fit for you. You really like a sounding board.
  • You like proven methods, BUT want the freedom to blur the lines a bit.

Any of this resonating with you yet? Keep reading!

As the ‘biggest sister’ with two younger sisters…you can imagine that Emily also spends some time doing ‘art’ with them. Emily created this image of Rapunzel from Disney’s “Tangled” during a Saturday morning pj session. The assignment was to complete the picture by coloring in the lines, Right?

This is still art. This is still her creation. This is still work

Maybe you are a ‘creator’ or business owner that likes to have a proven, turn-key, fill in the lines type business model. Someone who likes to know without a doubt that ‘this will work.’ This business owner likes to step into a system or process and be the ‘agent’ of the business.

This might be your ideal model if:

  • Trial and error make you insane.
  • You have failed before and have fear about ‘creating’ something new
  • You really crave the support system of others just like you
  • You like having a company backing you and doing your marketing
  • Ideas are not your best thing…you just want to ‘do’
  • You have limited time to ‘figure’ something out
  • You want to ‘hit the ground running’ right now

This is all art business. Right?

You are like Emily:

  • Talented
  • Intelligent
  • Driven
  • Creative
  • Knowing you having something ‘big’ in you

But before you grab the brushes, pencils and easel and get ready to prep your business canvas…ask yourself, ‘How do I create?’

Don’t worry about how I create, or she creates or ‘they’ create. How. Do. You. Create?

Please, leave a comment or LIGHT BULB moment below!

I always love to continue our conversation and am honored when you share these posts!

Filed Under: Blog Posts, Goal Setting, Mentoring & Leadership, Motivation & Persistence Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What are you worth?

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(my delightful best gal pal reminded me of this story today…thanks Jenny!)


A woman in Paris spots Picasso in a cafe. She begs and pleads him to sketch her…he finally relents, whips out his pad and draws a sketch of her.

She’s delighted. “How much do I owe you?” she asks.

“$5,000,” he replies.

“$5,000!” she exclaims. “But it only took you 2 minutes!”

“No madam,” he replies. “It took me my life”.

>>>This is what your clients are paying you for…not your time, not your ‘effort’ – rather, your WEALTH of experience, knowledge, information and networks which you have built up over YEARS of study, practice, failures, successes and experience.

  • You are valuable.
  • I am valuable.
  • We are worth the price tag.

Have you been tempted to undercharge? Have you had to apologize for price structures? I’d love to hear from you below if you have and how you have beat that mental block.

 

Filed Under: Blog Posts, Marketing, Motivation & Persistence Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Everything is perfect and I want to be like them

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Ever heard anyone say:

  • ‘I could get my baby weight off as fast as those celebs if I had a chef and personal trainer.’
  • ‘I could get keynote fees for speaking like that if someone would offer ME a book contract.’
  • ‘I would get more done if my spouse were more supportive and helpful (or made more money or _____)’
  • ‘My business would be more successful if I had HER email list or HIS twitter followers or _____’
  • ‘I could be happy and positive all the time if my life were perfect, like hers.’
  • ‘I could ______ if ______’

We are quick to see the social media snapshot, the book cover, the CNN spot and dismiss everything that came before. We believe that online celebs (or offline, for that matter) never deal with confidence blows, insecurity, financial trouble, marriage problems (except that for movie stars this is in the job description), kids that misbehave, traffic accidents, plumbing malfunctions or illness.

  • Maybe we want to believe everything is ideal for ‘them’ so we can let ourselves off the hook for the effort to get better results.
  • Maybe we fuel our discontent with jealousy, anger and resentment and we’ve fooled ourselves into believing ‘they’ have ‘magic.’
  • Maybe it’s just easier to chalk ‘their’ success up to ‘luck & good connections’ than to blood, sweat, tears, time in the gym, acting classes, business missteps and more.
  • Maybe we’re not willing to give up who we are for who we want to be and we need someone to blame for that. ‘They’ are handy for that.

Maybe.

I can’t speak for all of ‘them’ – the folks that ‘have it easy’ – you know, those ‘overnight success stories.’ — I can only speak for me. So let me take you back a few years…let’s strip down to some truth.

Carrie at 266 lbs September 2000

This is me. At my heaviest weight. That shirt was a size 26 and those pants were begging to be retired. My shoes were stretched out on all sides from my fat feet and lack of ankles and the day of walking on this tour wore me out. My husband kept having to stop to let me rest. (no, that is not him in the photo.)

Not a pretty truth. But truth.  I am 5’4″ — that is a lot of weight. Oh, and I was just 28 here. I look alot older and felt absolutely ancient.

Furthermore, while doing fair in a part time business, I mismanaged my funds to a degree where I dug us into a crippling six figures of debt, not counting our house & car.

  • I tried shortcuts for weight. I failed.
  • I tried shortcuts for debt. I failed.
  • I tried shortcuts for happiness. I failed.
  • I tried shortcuts for business growth. I failed.

I am just like you. I am successful when I do the right things, with the right consistency at the right times. (psssst, I suspect ‘THEY’ are too!)

  • The inconvenient truth is that we dug out of debt one day at a time, one dollar at a time, one choice at a time. No bankruptcy or bailouts.
  • I dug out of my weight the same way. It’s still a battle…I yo-yo like everyone else. When I quit paying attention or make unhealthy choices, the weight comes back with a vengeance. I am working on that diligently now.
  • I still struggle with discouragement and confidence issues, like you. It helps when you string baby steps and small successes together.
  • My ‘overnight’ success online came as a result of studying people doing it right and then taking action, quickly. It came as a result of 13 years of overnights. As a result of listening to my market, putting in the hours, sacrificing TV shows and some hobbies. It came as a result of me be willing to mess up and fall on my face.
  • I didn’t ‘luck’ into my spouse. I chose him and he chose me back. We work DAILY on our marriage. We choose to stay.

The naked truth is that the ‘successful and highly visible’ people struggle, fail and fall…like you and like me.

  • Maybe they string their failures closer together.
  • Maybe they choose to fail bigger and fall faster.
  • Maybe they put in more hours, take more classes, hang around with positive people.
  • Maybe they consider gym time their ‘job time’ if image is part of their paycheck.
  • Maybe they write 12 books to every 1 best-seller you hear of.
  • Maybe they cry in the shower, so no one sees.
  • Maybe they’re looking at you and thinking…I could sparkle & shine like her, if I only ________

Maybe.

It saddens me…to see anyone limit their amazing-ness because they continue comparing themselves to ‘them’ and falling short.

Don’t let that be you. I won’t let it be me.

Leave a comment below if this resonates with you – and please, today I’m asking that you SHARE this on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, G+ and anywhere you know folks need to hear it. Let them know they’re not alone.

 

 

Filed Under: Blog Posts, Goal Setting, Mentoring & Leadership, Motivation & Persistence, Work/Life Balance Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How Contests Can Grow Your Business

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Contests to grow your business are not a new idea. I grew up with the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes, didn’t you? I still have burned into my brain the commercials of unsuspecting homeowners answering a knock at the door and being surprised by balloon-carrying, giant check-bearing strangers in suits followed by loud, high-pitched screaming.

  •  But why are contests effective?
  •  Doesn’t that just work for BIG companies?
  •  Can small businesses like us afford contests?

I’ve been curious as I’ve seen more and more small businesses (like you) implement these strategies and I wanted to dissect it a bit and see what we could find out (and how you might use in YOUR business!)

1. Use contests to increase engagement & encourage audience members to reach YOUR conclusion!  In this example, Jane Button does a great job on pre-selling her mastermind program by asking her audience ‘If someone offered you $10k to grow your business, how would you spend it?’

Readers were invited to email in their answer (I’d suggest using a Facebook fan page or blog for more public answers and viral engagement) The WINNER would get $10,000 discounted off of Jane’s Mentoring Program!

The goals of this exercise are to educate about the program, increase thinking about the program and lead audience members to understand that a mentor and group program can grow their business much more than $10k in advertising, homestudies or gadgets. After all, investing the experience of someone who has blazed the trail before you is priceless!

(The reason the blog or Facebook page would be powerful is that as folks suggest why the group program or mentoring is valuable and valid – they are providing valuable social proof for others that are considering investing in the program.)

2. Use contests to increase social media sharing & ‘sale’ awareness. Leanne Ely does a great job with contests at her Facebook fan page.

The Saving Dinner audience was tempted with a full-size freezer appliance, Omaha Steaks gift certificates and even a grand prize of Leanne coming to your kitchen to cook! Entries were awarded for purchases of her freezer bundle, Facebook shares, tweeting and more! (Use a contest app like Contest Burner or Wildfire if you attempt a social media contest. Also be aware of the terms & conditions of the social media network you are leveraging.)

The goals here are to increase sales of the freezer menus and to encourage viral sharing by rewarding social media activity with ‘entries’ into the contest! You have to really know your numbers here, so that your sales and increased list size offset the cost of your prize. Better yet, get your prize donated by a company that would love to ‘sponsor’ the contest and get exposure to your audience!

3. Prove that the ‘solution’ you offer your audience works with a transformation contest! This is one of my favorites! Why? Because it’s the same as offering PROOF that your solution or method for __________ works! You see this most commonly in the fitness/weight loss market. I’ll use Tom Venuto and his ‘Go to Hawaii Free’ contest for example.

Tom’s model is great because he can (in the states that allow it) require that you purchase either his Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle program as an entry or require entry into the Inner Circle Forums to participate. This makes total sense, because if you’re going to have results with his program, you need to be aware of what the program IS.

It’s a short period of time (49 days) to show that the process of 1) his program 2) a set time frame 3) extreme motivation and 4) group support make a huge difference in you changing your physique! I’m participating in this myself, and I have to say that the prizes and trips combined with the short time frame were a huge draw for me.

There’s also a ‘shoot for the moon and land among the stars’ element here as well. What I mean by that is – if I participate and adhere to the program, I may NOT get an all expense trip to Maui, iPad or Kindle Fire — but I will lose fat, build muscle and gain some amazing momentum in the meantime! That is attractive to contest participants as well!

This is my favorite model because you are proving your expertise in a compressed time frame, increasing sales, increasing engagement in a BIG way in your community and seeing REAL results for your clients. Tom is a friend and I shot him a few questions about the effectiveness of this in his business:

Carrie, this contest has done more to promote our business, specifically build our ‘social community’ than ANYTHING I’ve ever done in my entire career.

It’s huge, absolutely real & life-changing and anyone can see that who gets into our inner circle, reads our Facebook page or sees the 1,032 comments on my blog from the last few days alone!


Ok — so there you have it — 3 examples of small business owners (like us) that are using contests to reach different goals & motivations in their business!

How can you implement one of these into YOUR business?

And for the record…I’m entering Tom’s 49 Day Transformation and will be keeping tabs on my progress on the blog — if you wanna join me, we’ve got nothing to lose but our love handles!

 

 

 

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