But why do I have to pick just one thing?

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Wow!! Retail multi-tasking. One stop relationship shop

Wow! What a great option…you can plan your marriage and learn how to battle with your bride in the same locale!

This may seem like a silly example…but I think you see my point – that when you try to meet too many needs in the same location, either virtual or physical, you only end up confusing (or amusing) your prospects.

Has this been a challenge for you?

But Carrie…

  • I have so many ideas!
  • I am so good at lots of things!
  • I know people NEED these things!
  • This helps me be a one-stop-shop!

And yes, that’s all true.

  • True…we entrepreneur types are never at a loss for ideas.
  • True…we are often jack of all trades.
  • True…there will always be prospects that need what you provide.
  • True…Wal-Mart sells batteries, bras and buttermilk in the same store and it seems to work for them.

But – you don’t have the marketing dollars, the real estate, the team support or the brand power that Wal-Mart does.

But – Wal-Mart is a discounter and that’s how they get you in the door. (That thinking will kill a solopreneur or small business.)

I know it’s hard to focus. I know it’s hard to reign it in. I know, because this is a challenge I  face too.

But you need to CHOOSE.

  • Choose what you ROCK at.
  • Choose what solves a consumer problem.
  • Choose what is marketable.
  • Choose where to laser focus your energies & avoid the ‘spray & pray’ method.

It’s difficult to wrap our minds around sometimes.

  • I choose to train, educate and encourage men and women who are building and growing a business from home.
  • I choose to work virtually with my clients, primarily via e-coaching and mentoring.
  • I choose to mass train via webinars, teleclasses, my blog and video.
  • I choose to help you grow in impact and profitability while keeping your priorities intact and your integrity steadfast.
  • I choose you.

What do YOU choose? Let’s talk below about the ‘challenges of choosing’ or some affirmations in your choices!

 

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Can there be TOO many choices?

47 Comments

This is a dry goods candy store in the Fort Worth Stockyards historical district. The kids and I love going down there to watch the cattle drive, wander through the shops and just ‘cowgirl’ up in general.

I wanted to treat them to a little something while we waited on lunch, which brought us here…

The problem? They couldn’t decide! They literally wandered back and forth from barrel to barrel, afraid to choose because they might miss the ‘best’ choice!

It took us 30 minutes for each of them to choose 4 candies. Wow. (For a decisive person, that’s me, it was driving me insane!)

You might think this is an oversimplistic example…but I think it’s very accurate!

In a society that is demanding “half caff, no whip, less sweet, 1 pump of mint, add soy” lattes – the truth is – I believe consumers are overwhelmed with choices.

I think prospects are more encouraged to buy, to invest and to trust – when things are simplified. This goes beautifully with ‘the box’ example from a previous post.

When you can clearly communicate to your prospect:

  • What is the result for you?
  • What is the promise from me?
  • What is your cost?
  • What are your choices?

Then you can move it to ‘yes or a no’ and move on with business.

The ‘let me decides’ and the ‘wandering from barrel to barrel’ are killing your confidence, your conversions & your cash flow.

And that doesn’t leave a very sweet taste in a business owner’s mouth.

Let me know below when you have experienced this either in the candy store, the coffee shop OR in your business!

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Maybe we should be in the box after all…

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Wait! Maybe small businesses are doing it wrong!

After years of being told to think ‘outside of the box’ and embrace non-conformity…I am ready to challenge that thinking!

Perhaps the box is where we should be focusing!

Seen this??

 

Or maybe this??

Yep, thought so!

Yum Brands, Inc. happens to encompass Taco Bell & Pizza Hut chains and reports a ‘sharp 30% growth in overseas and US markets.’ – A striking 10% of that came from a ‘rebound’ in Pizza Hut on domestic soil alone! They are thinking deep inside the box!

What does this mean?

This means our consumers, our buyers, our prospects – the folks that are making buying decisions – are shopping for ‘the box.’

Now, this might not apply to you if you are a ’boutique’ or ‘high end’ service for the affluent…but then again, it might. So get your nose out of the air and be open to another opinion ;)

But, why the box?

The reasons this (likely) works are:

  • You are keeping choices simple! (A confused mind does nothing, so too many choices decreases sales)
  • You are exposing the client to a variety of your product line (they came in for a taco or pizza & got a variety of tastiness).
  • You are rewarding buyers with a slight discount or an extra bonus.

How does ‘the box’ apply to you?

Hmmm – this is where you need to get creative! My coaching clients will tell you that I love to ‘bundle’ and group things together! You can get the consumer to consumer more of ‘you’ and also reward them with an extra bonus or discount. (Pssst, if pricing is an issue with you, make sure to revisit yesterday’s post on your worth!)

But…I have a service business…

  • In my virtual service business, I used to offer “buy 3 get 1 free” for paying up front. In other words, they paid for 3 months of service and got their 4th free. This is great for generating cash flow up front as well as getting vested clients.
  • I got a proposal from a vendor the other day and a bonus with their bundle was a free 20 point website evaluation & conversion testing, something they normally charge $1,500 for. Nice ‘bundling’

But…I have an info product business?

I have (and have advised clients to) bundle related products together for a ‘whole enchilada’ or ‘get it done’ type package. This works beautifully, especially with an urgency of time.

But…I have a coaching business?

I still bundle my group coaching into annual programs and my private e-Coaching into 3 month programs. This makes sure I am not dealing with month-to-month wishy washy clients (not you, those other folks ;) and they know I’m committed too! This allows me to charge less than what my typical hourly would’ve been and it’s a win-win.

But…I have a merchandise business?

Then offer a quantity discount, a bonus with purchase or add in something ‘else’ of use. Look back at the pizza box example…there is more than just pizza there! If I walk in the door, I’m likely there JUST for pizza…but look at how they are introducing the rest of their product line to me! Genius!

Listen…there are few things I know for certain – but I can speculate, I can test the market and I can draw some conclusions.

And today, I am saying – 10% in rebound growth for Pizza Hut is strong. Taco Bell tested it first, last year. And now they’re transferring it across the brands.

That is compelling. That is telling and that is reason enough for me to consider climbing back INTO the box!

Meanwhile…I’ve just opened the box on the Spring Success E-Coaching Program…I’m working with just 15 folks on this, so head over there & check out that ‘box’

I’d love to hear some of your ideas below on ‘boxing’ up your products, services or self!

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For better for worse, for richer for poorer: How committed are you?

102 Comments

Nineteen years ago today I was this girl…getting ready to marry. I had just turned 20 years old.

My father was the preacher that performed the ceremony and I will never forget his words. (You might imagine that he went a little ‘off’ the script when he was marrying his only daughter.)

“Carrie and Eddie, making the decision to get married is easy. Making the decision to stay married is much more difficult. Being married is not really about being in love, but about making a choice every day to make your marriage work.”

He was right. (Of course) He and Mom do have 48 years of practice, after all.

  • Am I just lucky because I’m married to the man of my dreams?
  • Am I just fortunate because all the conditions are always right?
  • Have we just had no bumps, no trials, no misfortune?

Well…in truth, I’m married to the man I chose, no one assigned him to me and he is the man of my reality.We have 4 amazing kids, a fun life and still enjoy a great relationship! We have had trials, tragedy and lots of learning opportunities (code for fights, LOL)

We make daily choices to spend time together, to talk, to be a team and to make this difficult thing called marriage successful. It doesn’t mean I’m perfect (far from it). Doesn’t mean he’s perfect (although he IS a saint for putting up with me all these years!)

We choose. We persist. We mess up. We figure things out. We press on.

My business has been the same way. I’m not lucky. I’ve not been blessed with the dream business falling out of the sky. And I’m not sure I believe there is one ‘ideal’ business for anyone and everyone.

I believe it’s like a marriage.

You choose. You persist. You mess up. You figure things out. You press on.

Why are we sometimes disillusioned with our business? I think this quote perhaps sums it up.

~  Dreaming about being an actress, is more exciting then being one.  Marilyn Monroe

We get attached to the dream, the hope, the wishing, the stars…and when you wake up the next morning with a full dose of reality and it isn’t quite what you painted it to be, you get frustrated or fearful.

So what are some of my secrets to a great marriage business?

  1. Remind yourself that you chose this path, this spouse business – you were not assigned
  2. Daily, find things to compliment, celebrate & be thankful for
  3. Keep learning & improving (don’t let yourself go)
  4. Surround yourself with others that are also successful in marriage business
  5. Have a mentor or coach that has walked the path before you
  6. Spend time every day on the growth of your relationship business

Just a few thoughts today…another parallel, if you will.

I’m proud of the longevity & persistence of my marriage AND my business. I’d love for you to comment below ONE thing this week that you’re going to do to improve the growth of your business!

 

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

You don’t have to be fearless to be successful in business

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My dear friend Jenny sent me this card recently. She said it was OBVIOUS that this card was meant for me.

  • Clearly, I love to be barefoot.
  • Yes, I live in a place that looks very much like the background.
  • But, Fearless? She was just plain wrong.

The truth is…I’m not fearless.

I’m reaching outside of my comfort zone on a regular basis.

I am just functioning even when I am afraid.

“But Carrie, you speak on big stages, you have an online TV channel, you have a huge social media audience, you have written a book, etc”

That doesn’t mean I’m not scared. I am. Daily.

But I’ve decided, “a chick has to learn to stretch beyond her comfort zone or she’s forever stuck in her egg.”

I decided that the egg was limiting. It was dark. And while it did serve a purpose for my growth at one point…the time comes to step out, embrace the light and stretch your muscles into a really great place.

So, while I love that my friend recognized my ‘brand’ and my footwear in this shot….while I’m really flattered that she thinks I’m brave, the truth is — I am afraid of big steps, new moves and choices daily.

I have just become really comfortable being UNcomfortable.

You can be scared and broke. Or afraid and well-paid.  Which do you choose?

I’d love to hear some of the things that scare you or make you uncomfortable in your business below.

Be honest. Be open. Be interactive. Let’s talk.

 

 

 

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

Why do you want to build or grow your business?

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Today I want to talk to you about something that you might think is not very core business principal and I have to disagree, respectfully, but I’ll still disagree.

We know that cows eat grass, we know that our body needs food to function, and we know that our vehicle that we drive needs gasoline, but what I want to know is what does your business need? More importantly, what do you need as a business person to keep going in your business?

What fuels you?
fuelgauge

I think the answer is your ‘why,’ your reason, your purpose.

Here’s a hint: It’s never about the money. It’s never about the status or the fame or the notoriety, whatever the case may be.

What fuels you? What changes will that money bring about? What projects are you passionate about that you can fund? What cause has you doing what you’re doing?

When I started my business my “why” was to be home with the two beautiful children I had just adopted. That was more powerful than any paycheck or any purpose or any passion that I could have pinpointed at that time in my life.

It has since evolved. My children are a little older now and now I am really passionate and fueled by the cause of parentless children through adoption and through orphanages, so I love to work and to generate income so that I can effect change in causes that I’m excited about and enthusiastic about.

I like to help my parents with projects and to know that they have choices as they get older. I like to know that my children can have enrichment experiences and educational experiences and travel the world to expand their horizons. That is more powerful to me than any paycheck.

But, we all live in ‘reality.’ We need money to function, we need it to survive.

My point today is this. We don’t get really excited about money, but what change does that money bring about, what choice does that money allow you to have.

I know that even when things are hard, frustrating, heart-breaking and even disappointing…these WHYs keep me going regardless.

I wholeheartedly BELIEVE that when you’re clear on your ‘why,’ on what fuels you, that there is no obstacle that will slow you down for very long when you are passionate about your purpose.

What is your ‘why?’ I’d love to know below!

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