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Quickstart - No Clarity - No Business. Is That You?
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Quickstart
Grow a Profitable Consultancy and Still Have Time for a Life
In this issue
Note from Beverley - Do You Get it?
One Step Further - No Clarity - No Business. Is That You?
Upcoming Events - CLARITY Workshop
Personal Reflections - Information or Thought?
Note from Beverley
Last week started with an inspiring meeting with a new business relationship. I love meetings like that. When you look at what's possible by thinking differently and bravely both the creativity and excitement grow - isn't that what we all want from our business life? I know I do.
To me the value of being able to think differently, bring a different perspective and be outrageous and daring provides the challenge I need and extra value to the people I do business with. Now my task is to package that so that potential clients are attracted to it. Only those that have a challenging mind and "get it" will and that's who I want to connect with - Know anyone?
Have a good week
Beverley
bev@onestepfurther.co.uk
+44 (0) 1344 625713
www.onestepfurther.co.uk
Author of Take Control of Your Time: 7 Straight Shooter Strategies for Success
Buy the ebook and/or become an affiliate and earn some extra cash
One Step Further
A couple of weeks ago I was analysing some information gathered through the sign up process to my free ecourse. The replies were all from consultants or those that have a consultancy element to their business. When I distilled down what they said there were 8 questions that kept appearing in some shape or form. How do I…
1. Manage the peaks and troughs in my business?
2. Maintain a consistent flow of the right type of clients?
3. Become known for what I do?
4. Get in front of the right people and get them to buy?
5. Earn more and work less?
6. Package what I offer?
7. Balance my time between getting clients, delivering for clients and doing all the other "stuff"?
8. Differentiate myself and communicate what it is that I do?
When I thought about why these might be consistent problems across the board, I concluded that part of the problem is a lack of CLARITY.
One fundamental reason you need clarity for your business is that it provides a context and a framework for all your business systems, structures and processes and it is the basis for your decision making.
Of course there is no right or wrong way to do this. There is no one method that you must use. There are some principles that I think you should consider.
* Be honest with yourself about what you truly want
* Be clear and specific about what any particular element of your vision means
* Take time to develop a clear picture of what you want your business to be about and why
* Challenge and stretch yourself to go for what you really want not what you think might be possible given your current way of thinking
* Play with the process, get creative - there is no right or wrong answer.
and remember
There is no rule that says you can't change your mind or adapt your thinking further along the development of your plan. This is your business and therefore your choice.
As a result of this information I am now running a 1 day workshop on 26 April, which will focus on CLARITY. See upcoming events for more info and how to register your interest.
Upcoming Events
MORE THAN A PULSE AND A CHEQUEBOOK - 1 DAY WORKSHOP
* Do you struggle with peaks and troughs of business?
* Are you frustrated by the lack of return for your sales and marketing efforts?
* Do you worry how to get in front of the right type of clients and get them to buy?
* Do you stress out trying to spread your time between getting and delivering for clients and doing all the other stuff as well?
You are not alone. From a recent survey of consultants these are 4 of the top challenges they said they faced. So in response I've decided to run a 1 day workshop, which will shed light on how you can overcome some of these challenges.
Date: 26 April
Time: 0900-1630
Venue: Heckfield Place, Near Reading
Investment: £147+vat
To register your interest all you have to do is send me an email with " Pulse And A Chequebook Are Not Enough" in the subject line, as an indication you would like to reserve a place (no obligation or payment required at this stage)
So go ahead and put April 26 in your calendar and send me that email. (I'd love to run this event in the North of UK too, so let me know if you're interested and where would be a good location and I'll see what I can arrange for May)
Find out more by clicking here 26 April Workshop
Personal Reflections
Last week I gave a presentation to a group of consultants on Building Effective Business Systems.
The value to me was
1. I was able to "present" myself to my target audience through another part of my Attraction Pie.
2. I was able to share information on a topic that had value to them and is one of my key strategies for helping consultants grow a profitable consultancy and still have time for their life.
3. It gave me an opportunity to refine that particular presentation (Learning never stops!)
The presentation went OK and yet I know it could have been better. I had a couple of technical hitches and I lost my place as I tried to balance the level of interaction with the flow of the talk and overall I know I can do better. (The more I do this particular presentation, this was the first time, the better I will get)
So what...
After I left and I was back home reflecting on the evening over a cup of tea, the phone rang. It was the guy who had invited me to speak. He was phoning to see how I was.
He had noticed the hitches and slight disjointedness and yet he said
1. You touched a nerve and stuck a chord with quite a few people this evening.
2. Some people came up to me at the end and asked about you and what services you offer
3. There was a higher than usual level of participation and interaction
4. We were engaged in what you were saying
5. The questions and discussion demonstrate that the group connected with what you were saying and the "nerve" you touched has clearly made them think about their own business.
So for me - we all got value. It doesn't need to be perfect. I made them think.
Your clients can get information from many sources. They may only get your perspective and connect with you because you made them think.
Best Regards
Bev
bev@onestepfurther.co.uk
+44 (0) 1344 625713
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