This is tip 3 of my preview series for my upcoming “Six Figure Income Breakthrough Secrets Workshop” .
Do you charge the fees you truly deserve? Or are you leaving money on the table?

Find out
- what really matters to clients – much more so than the price
- how to reposition what you do so clients will be happy to pay what you charge
- specific tips and tweaks you can make to your packages and offers now to make them so attractive that clients will
happily pay what you charge and deserve (hint: this can add money to your bottom line straight away).

The Webinar is on TODAY – Tonight 8PM East Coast Australia Time I am going to reveal my blueprint for six figure income success. You can still join me, register below

You can listen to this blog post here (4min 39sec)

Years of coaching Entrepreneurs through mindset challenges has not meant that I don’t have any myself but it does mean that I am finding it easier these days to recognise my own patterns and stop them.

Here is one that I have personally experienced, have a look and see can you relate:

Imagine having three business opportunities lined up. They all have the potential for a huge payoff. You get excited, you work hard to make them happen. Then one doesn’t eventuate, one shrinks disappointingly and one works successfully but doesn’t get the results you had expected. And suddenly you feel like your business is a house of cards that is so fragile that it can fall down any time.

Has this ever happened to you? It has happened more than once for me, let me tell you. It takes me a bit of courage to talk about this so openly but I think it’s important.

It’s those times that my inner critic comes out to play and tells me this isn’t going to work, I’m wasting my time, I’ve missed the bus when it comes to opportunities, and maybe I wasn’t cut out to run a big business in the end anyway. See, I know my pattern, this is it.

What don’t see in these moments are the other opportunities that came seemingly out of nowhere. That were completely unexpected, are a perfect fit and while not as huge as the others I feel I just lost (and even that’s debatable), they quickly add up to something really solid. So in other words, my perspective on what is going on is heavily skewed and it’s really not serving me.

The truth is, this is the kind of dance that happens for me every time I take a significant step to grow my business and I feel out of my comfort zone.

Luckily I have ways to recover from this very quickly these days. The three tips I’ll share with you here are my safety net. These things keep me sane, get me focused again and have kept me from quitting more than once.

Get a reality check

The voice that comes through in these times is your inner critic who is NOT rational, often not caring and wants to drag you back to the safest path (which is certainly not running a business). This voice is often very dominant and loud. What you need is a reality check. I use my mastermind network and my mentor to do this for me. Whenever I feel this kind of stressful state come on I reach out to them and ask them for their perspective. I don’t know how many times I have blessed my Mentor for finding just the right words or my mastermind network for just being there, giving me a new perspective or cheering me on when I needed it most. Make sure you have a support network of like minded people preferably those that have walked the path before you.

Change your state

It’s almost impossible to find a new perspective or a sensible solution when in an unresourceful state, when you feel down, depressed or stressed. My way out of it is to put my favourite pieces of uplifting music on before I even attempt to shift my perspective. And it works wonders. I feel better, and I see new options. I know this sounds so simple but doing this takes some discipline as it often is tempting to wallow in your depressed mood. So the important thing is to nip this in the butt as soon as possible.

Commit to a bigger game

When you stress about things it is often because you are playing too small. If you fret about losing a client then what does that say about your prospect pipeline? And what does it say about your efforts you put into growing your business to a certain level? What if: What if instead of three big opportunities I had six lined up? How big a deal would it be if one or two didn’t turn out? Not as big. I think one of the biggest dangers is that people underestimate what it takes to get the results they want. So commit to playing big and stop sweating the small things.
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What do you think? What do you do to get yourself back on track? And how is that working for you? Please leave me a note I’d love to know your view.

Clarity and Focus have been a big focus for my platinum group. They wanted to walk away having a clear plan that would add big dollars to their bottom line THIS YEAR, and they did (some of them have a plan for generating more than $100,000).
Listen to some of them here describing their breakthroughs.

June Kitto from www.careerfit.com.au on her breakthroughs on niche, standards and masterminding

Diane Gatto, Heart to Mind, finding the key to really have her business stake off…

Jenny Marshall from www.kidsweightmatters.com sharing numerous breakthroughs

Rosie Hirst www.alignedbusiness.com on her new business approach that will prevent burnout

Tisiola Lear, Coach, watch this space…

Learn how to dissolve the resistance and get yourself out of procrastination www.essentialnlptoolkit.com

still a few seats left! Book by the end of the week and still get the early bird price.

Would love your comments and questions. Please leave me a comment here!

Love and Prosperity

Yvonne

Click here to listen to this blogpost

Have you seen the movie “What Women Want” with Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt? It’s really funny and well worth watching for another reason:

In the movie Mel Gibson, an arrogant and rather ignorant Advertising Executive, gets the gift of hearing women’s throughts, unedited. And it’s not pretty what they think about him. The pay off of this gift is that he is able to present ideas to his female boss that she had thought about and he therefore just repeated from what he heard her thinking.

While that may come across as not very creative (and by no means do I endorse how he uses that to manipulate her) – it’s actually incredibly clever and effective. What if you could hear your clients and potential clients think? And then you offered them exactly what they wanted?

Until you and I aquire that skill, we will rely on things that they tell us. And on what we know of ourselves as clients.

Knowing what works in Marketing and Sales, and having used myself as a study object, I am taking you behind the scenes, into your clients’ head. Letting you read their mind for a moment: What are they thinking when they are wondering whether to hire you or not?

Here are five things that are really high up on your clients’ Want list. Just adapt them to your ‘tribe’ and think about this, isn’t this what you want as well?

I have slipped roles for a moment and am now speaking as your client’s voice. And I’m telling it like it is. So please listen so you can serve me even better…

1. I want you to ‘get’ me

How do I know that what you provide actually works? It can only work if you know what’s going on for me. So do you?
Have you been where I have been? Or at least have you worked with people just like me? My biggest fear is to invest in false hope and then be bitterly disappointed. I’d rather not give it a go at all if I’m not sure.

2. I want you to be ‘real’

If I invest with you, I will need to be vulnerable about my shortcomings because that’s what you will be helping me to overcome. So I need to know that I can open up to you, that I will be emotionally safe.
I also need to know that you are not some kind of ueber-achiever because otherwise I don’t think I can recreate what you show me because I am only human.

3. I want you to be specific about what you do for ME

A lot of marketing out there just doesn’t speak to me, I can’t connect with it, its just generic words. The trouble for me is, I know what my problem is but I don’t know what the solution is. That’s where I need your help. My biggest challenge is to work out whether the solution you offer actually works for my problem. That’s why, the better you describe the problems you solve the easier for me to decide.

4. I want a good deal

I love a deal. Money is precious and it’s never easy to part with it. But if you want me to make a quick decision, just give me a really good deal. It’s easier for me to justify buying from you that way. You know when I want to, it just tips the balance, gives me the extra little nudge I need.

5. I want to feel cared for

I am special. And I want to be treated as special rather than just being one of your many clients. Once I know you are the real deal I am happy to invest a bit extra to get the special treatment I deserve.

Well, what do you think? Does this ring true for you?
Share your view about these ‘thoughts’, I’d love to know how they resonated with you. Do you have any to add? Leave me a comment here.

If you want to work with someone on your business to implement the above and therefore make you really attractive to your clients, then check out my Massive Momentum with Lifestyle Platinum Program. There are still 2 spots available in this 7 months mentoring program. A fantastic group is coming together. Act now, interviews happening as we speak.

Have you ever looked back at the end of the day wondering where the hours went and what you actually achieved? It can be frustrating when a day gets clogged up with unproductive tasks and you don’t get to the money making stuff that you really should attend to.

The number one thing you need in order to grow your business fast and successfully (apart from Passion) is FOCUS!

Focus on Income Producing Activities. What does that really mean? As Solo-Entrepreneurs there are three things that we should be focused on 95% of the time:

Marketing: Marketing takes most of the time, especially when starting out and realistically also when you are already up and running. The good news for all those of you saying you don’t like to market: The lines between Marketing and Working with Clients get blurred when using Attraction Marketing Principles. That means Marketing is actually fun because you educate and build relationships while you do it.

Work with Clients: No brainer. Of course you want to spend time servicing your clients really well. As a Solopreneur YOU and your Expertise are the the commodity so of course this is an important part, and usually the most fun part of your days.

Innovation: It’s critical that you constantly learn new things and innovate within your field. Your clients expect it, it is the lifeblood of your business. And it keeps things exciting for you as well.

You should be spending 95% of your time in any of these three areas. If you are not, you are wasting time. Let me share with you my top tips for ridding yourself of time wasters so you can be as focused and productive as possible to reach your big 2010 goals.

Tip 1: Have set working hours where you ONLY spend time on income producing activities.

During your working hours you should not be focusing on anything else. That means no lower value activities (eg admin), no distracting activities (eg a private email, a youtube video someone sent you etc) and no personal chores like shopping etc. Set your working hours so you can realistically achieve this and stick to it no matter what. You will need to find time for the excluded activities somehwere else. This is critical for you to stay focused.

Tip 2: Batch activities

This is so important as different tasks require a different mindset.  Changing it all the time is a waste. So have a standard diary for the week . Batch all our client work on certain days, your marketing on certain days etc, you get the idea. If  you are not already doing it, you will notice that this saves you heaps of time. It also makes it really easy to plan the week and estimate how long bigger projects will take you to complete.

Tip 3: Outsource all non-income producing activities

As soon as you can afford it, outsource your non-income producing activties. Most people wait too long before they do this. Remember, the more you outsource the more you are able to focus on income producing activities and make money. I know the more I outsource, the more money I make. It is an investment that definitely pays off. If you choose the right team members who are professionals who know their craft and have a service mentality, you will be better off because you have outsourced. Don’t wait too long, do it as soon as possible!

Focus is important not only to get more done but also so you have more time off to spend doing what you love. That’s really important so you replenish your energy and your creativity.

What do you think of these tips? HOw are they working for you? What are your top tips to avoid time wasters?

I would love to hear from you, please leave me a comment here on the blog!

Have you settled on a niche yet? I know it’s not an easy decision to make for most service professionals and it’s the most important decision you will ever make in your business. It can mean the difference between a thriving business and a total lemon.

A lot of people are resisting making the decision for the fear of getting it wrong and losing their business. I used to be one of them. Apart from the fear of losing clients I was also extremely fond of all the different things I was doing and didn’t want to let go of any of them. I love stimulation and variety (probably smiliar to you).

On thing I have learned over the last few years is though: You MUST settle on a niche to be financially successful (beyond the $100,000 ceiling you can just reach without making this decision, but you’ll be working hard to maintain that for the rest of your life).

I have a step by step process that effectively leads you to make that decision. Many of my Market your Brilliance Workshop attendees made the decision on the workshop weekend, they had huge breakthroughs. I want to share with you the fundamental questions that start this process off so you can get yourself into the frame of mind that helps you make this all important decision.

So here it goes, you may want to do this with me as we go through:

Step1: Find out what you are passionate about

There is no point starting a business when your heart is not 100% in it. That’s why it makes sense to do this process from the inside out and start with what your heart tells you. When you do this, don’t think about how you will make it happen, will someone buy it etc. that just sabotages the process. That comes later. For now just focus on what you are really passionate about. Believe me without this passion you won’t have the commitment you need to make your business a success. This is especially true for us heart-centred entrepreneurs. Being an NLP Expert I use processes here that uncover your passion by engaging the unconscious mind.

Step 2: Your ideal client and their problem

Who is it that you want to work with and what problem do you solve for them? This is the time to get really specific in articulating these things. The clearer you are the better. And yes that means some people won’t fit into your profile anymore. That’s the point.
If you don’t set a clear boundary around who you work with, then nobody in particular will feel spoken to. And here is the crux of it: If you can find 5 people that want to work with you because you offer exactly what they need and you are confident your solution will solve their problem, then you have a good chance of building a viable business. Because if you can find 5 then you can find more. It’s then just a question of how do you find them and that can be solved.

Step 3: Does your ideal client have enough spending power?

So you know they have a problem you can solve. Do they want to solve it? Is it important enough for them to spend money on solving it? Do they have the spending power to buy your solution? This is critical and sometimes overlooked. Some of the biggest problems we have are not the ones we spend the most money on solving. Ever thought about it that way? Look at your own life and your spending patterns, what do you really need (be honest) and what do you spend the most money on?

How did you go? Has your view of your niche changed at all? still undecided? If you need a way to tighten this up and really nail it down, if you are having a couple of alternatives to choose from here is what I suggest:

1. Go out and test your ideas on an audience of your envisaged ideal clients

2. Get help from a mentor who is unbiased and can ask the questions that you may be avoiding to look at because of fears or emotional attachments to a particular niche.

This is one focus of our Platinum 2010 Program. All my Platinum Program Members will be guided to making sound decisions on their niche so they have a solid base to build their business on. It’s much easier to see your vision unfold once you have made these basic decisions. Could it be time for you to step up and become part of a Mentoring Program that holds you to your goals and helps you to realise them with sound advice, savvy coaching and a great sense of community?
Go to www.clientprosperity.com/platinum to get your Platinum Invitation letter and application form.

If you are not doing this, you might be missing out on business:
Since I mentioned on one of my calls that I get a lot of business out of attending live events, a few people have asked me “How do you do it?”.

I actually see attending live events as an important part of my business development strategy. In fact, it is one of my most important ones. My business wouldn’t be where it is today without this strategy, I am totally serious about that.

Let me explain.

Apart from the knowledge and new ideas you attend a workshop for in the first place, it’s the people you meet that are one of the greatest assets a live event has to offer. It’s a unique opportunity to create Joint Venture Partnerships, meet new clients and create business relationships with people who supply exactly the missing ingredient to solve a problem you are having.
Sometimes payoffs from these side effects are much greater than what you expected from the workshop in the first place.

So do you want to know how I do it? I am going to share with you the 5 things I do to make sure every workshop I attend more than pays for itself. They are so easy everyone can do them now – immediately. It’s the fastest way I know to get business. So read on.

1. Set your intent
When I went to the States my intent was to create one new business opportunity and make a firm arrangement for my own mentoring for 2010. I was very clear about that, thought about it on the plane going there and wrote it down.
Then when getting there I trusted that it would all sort itself out and while it was in the back of my mind, I was unattached to this outcome and focused on having a good time. And it did all work itself out, I got exactly what I wanted.

2. Be strategic about who you hang out with
While good things often come from unexpected places, I still recommend you make some educated guesses as to who would be useful to spend time with, have conversations with, get to know.
If you know who is attending, plan in advance who you would like to meet and connect with.

3. Give and you shall receive
Listen and watch out for opportunities to add value. Be generous with your knowledge and give so others benefit from having spoken to you. I always aim to leave someone I spoke to a bit richer for having had our conversation. Sometimes it’s not your knowledge they need, sometimes it’s simply an opinion, an open ear, a compliment, a connection to someone who can help them.
All of these things will be appreciated and you will be remembered for it.

4. Be clear about what you can offer people you meet
If people want to know more about what you do, be sure to be prepared. What is the introdctory offer you can make them?
Is there a way to get started while you are there (if you are both travelling), or can you make an appointment for the near future.
Lock it in, it’s much more likely to happen if it’s in the diary straight away.

5. Don’t push your business cards onto others
This is a ‘Don’t’ that you are probably already familiar with. I generally don’t give my business card to anyone these days unless they ask for it. Otherwise the card will most likely end up in the bin or the drawer anyway and I don’t want that. Be choosy and don’t give your card to just anyone. They have to be qualified and really interested (they kind of have to earn the right to have your card).

If you do these things, then I’d be surprised if you didn’t generate new business from attending a life event. It has worked for me for years. I’d love to know what you think. What are your tips? Please leave me a comment!

One such life event that can bring a lot of opportunities is my Market your Brilliance Intensive, coming up this coming weekend, 14-15 November in Sydney. We still a handfull of tickets, hurry before they are all gone. Feel free to contact me if you want to know more. You can call 02 9879 5850 or use the contact us form on the webpage.

Last week was a big week here at Client Prosperity. We launched the Market your Brilliance Workshop and we we have already sold more than 1/3rd of the tickets! You can secure yours here at www.clientprosperity.com/workshop.html
The feedback on last week’s teleseminar has been fantastic thank you for all of you who wrote to me saying how much you loved it! It really means a lot to me!
My husband Bruce and I spent most of the weekend at the sunny Central Coast relaxing and escaping smokey Sydney, it was lovely!

Enjoying a glorious Sunday

I have had many conversations lately with people who tell me what their passion is and then in the next sentence tell me what they do to pay the bills, thinking that this is how it has to be and that they can’t make good money from their passion. I’m here to tell you: You can absolutely make good money from your Passion! It simply depends on how you market it!
I feel so strongly about this that I want to devote an entire teleclass to this topic “How to turn your Passion into a profitable business with smart Marketing”. Read my Teleseminar section for more details.

Today’s article is giving you one key element of your Marketing Strategy that turns your Passion into a profitable Business: Your Signature System. It’s the lynch pin of your business as it is how you create the value you create step by step. People love step by step, and a business with a signature system attracts ideal clients a lot easier than one without a signature system. Read on for the full scoop of what a signature system is, why you should create one and how to do it.

P.S. Workshop Bookings for the ‘Market your Brilliance Intensive’ are now open at the early bird price, check it out here at http://www.clientprosperity.com/workshop.html and secure your ticket as they are going fast! An amazing group of people is coming together and I can’t wait to share with you the powerful tools and systems that will totally transform not only your business but your life!